Power

• The European Union is introducing a "Tech Sovereignty Package" consisting of four interconnected measures, including two new laws, to reshape its digital infrastructure. • The initiative focuses on enhancing how Europe invests in and governs critical technologies, specifically semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and software. • This move matters as it aims to reduce dependence on foreign technology and strengthen European digital power to protect its economic stability.

• Google DeepMind has launched the "Google DeepMind Accelerator: Robotics," a new three-month program designed to support early-stage robotics startups across Europe. • The initiative focuses on integrating AI advances in language, vision, and action models to create intelligent machines capable of safer and more adaptive real-world interactions. • This program matters as it aims to bridge the gap between digital AI and physical robotics to solve complex global challenges.

But Australian government will expand offences covered by rules to include promotion of communal violence and attacks on defence systemGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has quietly backed down on moves to make spy agency Asio’s powers for compulsory questioning permanent, but will expand offences covered by the rules to include promotion of communal violence and attacks on Australia’s defence system.The laws were introduced in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US and give intelligence operatives powers to issue a questioning warrant requiring a person as young as 14 to give information or produce items that may assist in a serious investigation. Continue reading...

• Enda McElhinney has released power rankings for all 48 nations competing in the upcoming World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. • The analysis highlights challenging group draws, including Australia facing France, Norway, and Senegal, while Iceland must contend with Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in Group H. • Scotland enters the tournament with low expectations following a 4-1 victory over New Zealand, facing a potential upset against Haiti on June 14 in Foxborough.

• Reporters have released power rankings for the top 15 contenders ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which begins in 48 hours. • Spain, currently unofficial FIFA rank 3, faces scrutiny after a lackluster 1-1 draw with Egypt where they struggled to convert possession into scoring chances. • Spain is placed in Group I and will open their tournament play against Senegal on June 16 in New York/New Jersey.

• Apple investors are anticipating a major artificial intelligence overhaul to drive the company's next phase of financial growth. • The company is expected to unveil its AI strategy this week during the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. • This announcement follows nearly two years of investor pressure for the iPhone maker to compete more aggressively in the generative AI space.

As Trump officials take aim at vaccine schedule, scientists encouraged by companies’ desire to continue coverageA group of insurers will continue covering routine vaccines through 2027 as the Trump administration once again takes aim at the shots and outbreaks of preventable illnesses such as measles and whooping cough lead to hospitalizations and deaths.Experts told the Guardian that the move has raised questions ahead of the November midterms, but certainly indicates that insurance companies believe vaccines are “safe and effective”. Continue reading...

• The 6th Joint Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting recently took place in Taipei to focus on the importance of connection in population management. • The event highlighted a new framework developed over 18 months by the WAZA Committee for Population Management (CPM). • This initiative aims to strengthen the governance, management, and long-term sustainability of international studbooks.

• The European Commission is developing new standards under the Cloud and AI Development Act to enhance Europe's competitiveness in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. • These rules aim to address the significant power costs and energy demands associated with the expansion of data centers required for AI infrastructure. • The initiative matters as the EU seeks to balance its technological ambitions with sustainability goals and energy security.

• Several U.S. jurisdictions have reduced the legal authority of public health officials following backlash over COVID-19 mandates, including lockdowns, school closures, and vaccine requirements. • These legislative changes limit the ability of state and local health departments to implement restrictive measures during future health crises. • Experts warn that weakened powers increase the risk of uncontrolled outbreaks as concerns grow over diseases such as hantavirus and Ebola.

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to uphold the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) authority to use "disgorgement" to recover illegal profits. • This decision preserves a critical financial remedy used by the Wall Street watchdog to strip wrongdoers of illicit gains. • The ruling follows a separate 2024 decision where the Court limited the SEC by rejecting its ability to handle certain securities fraud penalty proceedings in-house.

US president accused of ‘putting polluters first’ by invoking Defense Production Act to prop up coal outputDonald Trump is to use a wartime presidential authority to hand $700m to coal-fired power plants in the US, the latest move by the president to bolster what he calls “beautiful clean coal” despite it being the dirtiest of fossil fuels.Trump is using the Defense Production Act, a cold war-era statute used to accelerate American industrial output in times of national need, to provide grants to more than a dozen existing coal plants across the US, including facilities capable of exporting coal. Continue reading...

Lebanese government agrees ceasefire but Israeli drone strikes continue. Plus the story of the man who launched Cuba’s first independent magazineGood morning.Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire to end hostilities, the Trump administration has announced – but it comes with caveats. Not only is the deal contingent on a complete cessation of fire from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah armed group, and on the evacuation of all its fighters from the area south of the Litani River – but Hezbollah have not been part of the talks.Where has Israel been targeting? William Christou in Beirut reports that three hospitals in southern Lebanon have been attacked by Israel in under a week, wounding more than 150 people and killing nine. Analysts and human rights experts have said the attacks on healthcare facilities were aimed at degrading the conditions for life in south Lebanon.What did Israel say about it? The military said it had struck “Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Tyre” and acknowledged a hospital was “affected incidentally”. It accused Hezbollah of “taking over” one of the hospitals it struck.Is that number significant? Yes, the 90-day threshold is important because the 1973 War Powers Resolution lays down that a president must seek congressional approval to continue waging war after hostilities have continued that length of time. Trump’s White House has rejected that argument, citing a temporary ceasefire that has been in place since 8 April – although it has been broken several times by the US, Israel and Iran. Continue reading...

• Nscale, a crypto-mining spinout from Arkon Energy, has emerged as a leading provider of AI data center infrastructure in Europe. • The company has raised nearly $4 billion from major industry players, including Nvidia, Dell, and Nokia, recently closing a $2 billion Series C round. • This funding has propelled Nscale to a $14.6 billion valuation, marking one of the largest Series C rounds for any European company.

• The European Audiovisual Observatory released a study on May 29, 2026, analyzing the impact of tax credits, cash rebates, and tax shelters on audiovisual production. • The report maps the legal frameworks governing these incentives, including the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and EU state aid law under Article 107(1) of the TFEU. • This research is critical as fiscal incentives have become primary drivers in determining where and how films and series are financed and filmed globally.

Stunning rebuke to president as lawmakers vote 215-208 for measure forcing him to seek congressional approvalThe US House of Representatives delivered a stunning rebuke to Donald Trump over his war on Iran on Wednesday, as representatives backed a move to force him to seek approval from Congress or withdraw US forces.The House voted 215 to 208 in favor of the war powers resolution, as four Republicans voted with Democrats. Continue reading...

While the technology is set to play a growing role in modern warfare, there remains an unresolved ethical challengeShould the AI-powered drones of the future have a licence to kill? The question is becoming ever more pressing as governments and the defence industry acknowledge that drone systems will play an increasingly crucial role in future warfare.With drones being deployed in huge numbers in the Ukraine war and AI being used to assist bombing missions in the Iran conflict, there is an expectation among some observers that weapons will have to operate with increased operational autonomy, which means they will need something approximating a moral framework. Continue reading...

Watchdog says ‘publishers will now have effective tools to prevent content being used to power AI features in search’Publishers will be able to opt out of their content being used to train Google’s AI models and power its search summaries, the UK competition watchdog has announced as it imposes new conduct requirements on search services.“Publishers will now have effective tools to prevent their content being used to power AI features in search, such as AI Overviews,” the Competition and Markets Authority said. Continue reading...

• India has emerged as a global wealth powerhouse, with liquid financial assets now estimated at more than $2.7 trillion. • This capital is being strategically deployed by a diverse range of investors, including digital investors and family offices, across equity markets and private enterprises. • The trend signifies a shift toward sophisticated wealth management, requiring long-term strategic discipline to navigate complex economic cycles.

• SoftBank announced plans on Saturday to construct 3.1 GW of AI data centers in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France by 2031. • The surge in AI ambitions is driving Big Tech toward alternative energy sources, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to meet massive power demands. • In a similar trend within the U.S., Amazon reached an agreement with Dominion Energy in 2024 to explore the development of SMR technology.

• First Foundation Labs (1FL), a life sciences AI company spun out of Luma Group, announced a collaboration with Microsoft on June 2, 2026. • The partnership aims to integrate 1FL's clinical and translational reasoning platform into Microsoft Discovery, an enterprise AI platform hosted on Azure. • This collaboration addresses the limitations of generic Large Language Models (LLMs), which often struggle to provide reliable reasoning within complex, domain-specific scientific environments.

• NASA confirmed that a massive sonic boom heard over the northeastern US on May 30 was caused by a meteor explosion. • Satellite footage revealed the event released energy equivalent to 300 tons of TNT, creating a powerful shockwave. • The explosion is significant as it provides data on atmospheric entries, though the space rock likely disintegrated during the blast.

• India's data centre industry is entering a multi-year growth phase driven by accelerating digitalization, cloud adoption, and the rising demand for artificial intelligence. • This surge has powered nine specific stocks linked to data centre infrastructure, power, and hardware, with some seeing gains of up to 477% as of 2026. • While India currently lags behind markets like South Korea and Taiwan in direct semiconductor exposure, this infrastructure-led AI theme is creating a new domestic investment momentum.

• Softbank has announced a €75 billion investment plan to develop 5GW of AI data center capacity in France. • The project aims to leverage France's nuclear power infrastructure to support the massive energy demands of artificial intelligence. • While French officials hail the move as a breakthrough for European digital sovereignty, critics argue that the reliance on foreign capital and ecosystems undermines this goal.

• Middle Eastern states are increasingly utilizing digital diplomacy—including strategic communication and online narratives—to project soft power and manage national images on a global scale. • These digital tools allow governments to bypass traditional media to engage directly with international audiences, manage crises, and connect with their respective diasporas. • The trend is significant because the digital domain has become a new extension of fierce geopolitical rivalries, where disinformation and cyber conflict can exacerbate regional instability.

Firm says its RTX Spark PC chip for Microsoft Windows will let AI agents replace the mouse and keyboardBusiness live – latest updatesA new front has opened up in the battle for dominance in AI chips, as Nvidia said its latest development could replace the mouse and keyboard in how people use computers.The $5tn (£3.7tn) US semiconductor company has launched a “superchip” that puts AI capabilities into laptops and desktop computers, a move that will pit it against Intel, Apple, Qualcomm and AMD. Continue reading...

• Germany has approved a draft law expanding the cyber defense powers of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and the Federal Police. • The legislation authorizes these agencies to actively disrupt attacker infrastructure, including the ability to target systems located outside of German borders. • This move follows documented sustained cyber campaigns targeting government bodies, political parties, research institutions, and industrial companies, some of which are linked to state-affiliated actors.

• High-ranking figures from global sport, finance, and foreign investment funds gathered for an exclusive behind-the-scenes summit dinner ahead of the Champions League final. • The meeting focused on the "evolution of the global sports ecosystem," discussing the intersection of professional athletics and international capital. • This summit highlights the growing influence of sovereign wealth funds and private equity in shaping the future of football's financial landscape.