Politico

• The European Commission is developing a "tech sovereignty plan" designed to strengthen domestic digital champions and reduce reliance on American technology. • A central component of this strategy is the Cloud and AI Development Act, which empowers the Commission to vet whether countries are trustworthy enough to handle sensitive public sector data. • This initiative marks a strategic shift toward fostering internal EU capabilities rather than simply implementing restrictive measures against US competitors.

• The EU's Energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, is urging Big Tech to adopt sustainable AI practices. • Energy-hungry data centers must support the EU's shift to carbon-free power, according to Jørgensen. • This push for sustainability is part of the EU's broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet climate goals.

• European Union officials are warning Big Tech companies to implement sustainable AI practices or face potential regulatory restrictions. • The urgency is highlighted by Ireland, where data centers now consume over 20% of the nation's total electricity, the highest share per capita in the region. • This energy crisis underscores the environmental strain caused by the massive computing power required for AI, threatening EU climate goals.

• An FDA advisory panel will convene this Thursday to determine which Covid-19 strain vaccine manufacturers should target for the 2026-2027 season. • The meeting occurs as the United States continues to navigate a shifting vaccine infrastructure and evolving public health needs. • Separately, an experimental Ebola vaccine developed by an Oxford team is approaching the production phase for upcoming clinical trials.

• An FDA advisory panel overwhelmingly recommended on Thursday that manufacturers base the 2026-2027 Covid-19 vaccine formulas on the dominant XFG variant. • This recommendation ensures that future vaccine iterations remain effective against evolving strains of the virus to maintain public health protections. • Separately, World Health Organization experts are urging that all prevention and treatment products for the Ebola Bundibugyo virus be used exclusively within clinical trials.

• Germany has rejected warnings from the U.S. regarding a proposed law that would require streaming services to invest in local content. • Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius dismissed claims that the plan violates the Turnberry Agreement, arguing the obligations are "very moderate by European standards." • The dispute highlights a tension between U.S. trade interests and Germany's desire to protect its cultural policy and domestic media production.

• Germany rejected U.S. accusations on Friday that its proposed streaming investment law violates the recently established EU-U.S. Turnberry trade pact. • Berlin defends the legislation as a "very moderate" cultural policy tool by European standards rather than a digital trade barrier. • The dispute highlights tensions between U.S. digital trade interests and European efforts to mandate local content investment from streaming platforms.