Seeks

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that a new round of technical negotiations between the United States and Iran will resume in Switzerland at the end of June. • The announcement followed a high-stakes tour of the Persian Gulf, where Rubio sought to reassure regional allies regarding security and Washington's tentative accord with Tehran. • This diplomatic push aims to calm regional concerns and signal a return to normal operations after months of conflict and disruption.

Denunciation comes after former Democratic Unionist leader convicted of child sexual offencesThe Democratic Unionist party has denounced Jeffrey Donaldson as a “wicked deceiver” who led a “double and duplicitous life” a day after its former leader was convicted of child sexual offences.Leaders at the Stormont assembly on Tuesday sought to distance the DUP from Donaldson and described him as a manipulator who had hoodwinked Northern Ireland and hid his crimes behind a facade of respectability and Christian faith. Continue reading...

• Xbox is celebrating its 25th anniversary by entering a new era focused on expanding ways to play and increasing Hollywood adaptations of its titles. • The company's leadership, including the new CEO, attributes the rise in game-to-film adaptations to the medium's dominant position in modern pop culture. • This shift is supported by massive spending gaps, with U.S. consumers spending $60.7 billion on video games in 2025 compared to just $8.87 billion on movie tickets.

Simone Venturini says proposal aimed at discouraging arrivals in ‘periods of heightened tourist pressure’Venice’s new mayor has said he hopes to raise a controversial entrance fee for day-trippers to the lagoon city to as much as €50 (£43).Simone Venturini, the rightwing former tourism councillor who was elected mayor in late May, said the proposal was aimed at further discouraging arrivals “during periods of heightened tourist pressure”. Continue reading...

• The European Union is deploying 19 AI Factory hubs and planning nine new supercomputers to integrate industrial AI into its manufacturing sector. • This strategic push aims to close the competitive gap with the US and China, leveraging Europe's existing manufacturing expertise as a "competitive moat." • A significant funding disparity persists, with the US receiving 75% of global AI venture capital compared to less than 12% flowing into Europe.

• Canada's men's national team will face Qatar in Vancouver on Thursday for their second World Cup group stage match, with star player Alphonso Davies available. • The tournament officially began on June 12, and Canada is currently seeking its first victory of the competition. • In a separate incident, an Ivory Coast player was reportedly denied entry into Canada due to an ongoing investigation into betting.

• Mistral AI is seeking €3 billion in new funding to support its expansion and growth. • The company is targeting a valuation of €20 billion, aiming to establish itself as a sovereign European alternative to dominant US AI giants. • This capital injection is critical for Mistral AI to scale its infrastructure and compete globally in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market.