Series

• A new series produced in partnership with the AI Now Institute examines the current state of the European AI market and challenges assumptions found in EU policy documents. • The series highlights strategic partnerships between European firms and US tech giants, such as DeepL with Amazon Web Services and Mistral with Nvidia. • It explores the competitive pressures facing regional startups, illustrating how US-based companies like Anthropic may threaten the market share of smaller players like Sweden's Lovable.

• India has launched a new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series to provide more accurate data on an economy now driven by renewables, infrastructure, and manufacturing. • The update addresses gaps in industrial tracking, reflecting the modern shift in how the country produces goods and manages resources. • This change is critical because the previous data failed to capture the rapid evolution of industrial sectors, which are key drivers of national growth.

Doug Burgum complains some musicians ‘segmented their audiences’ after artists back out of 250th anniversary eventThe Trump administration’s interior secretary, Doug Burgum, complained on Sunday that some musicians “seem to have segmented their audiences” after artists bailed on participating in a concert series planned for the 250th anniversary of the US’s independence.In the interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Burgum also dismissed calls to publicly identified who had made donations for the concert series – and maintained it was a “nonpartisan” event despite Donald Trump referring to it as a rally. Continue reading...

Morris Day, Young MC and others balk at appearing at US’s 250th anniversary events organized by administrationAt least five of the nine featured musical acts set to play in a concert series organized by the Trump administration to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary have dropped out, just one day after the lineup was announced.The first to drop out, hours after Wednesday’s announcement, was Morris Day, who called his scheduled participation in the summer concert series on Washington DC’s National Mall a baseless “rumor”. Continue reading...

Head of Early Years Alliance says additional charges paid by parents represent ‘cross-subsidy’Parents of nursery children in England are being charged extra fees to cover for government underfunding of free childcare hours, with some paying thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes and nappies, campaigners have said.The comments came as the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, asked the competition watchdog to investigate hidden extra charges that parents have encountered when trying to access government-funded childcare. Continue reading...

• Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards is reportedly planning to "state his case" in an upcoming series on Channel 4. • The move has drawn criticism from some, with one employee allegedly describing the potential project as a "desperate publicity stunt." • Sources indicate that Edwards is not seeking appearances on reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother or I'm a Celebrity, despite media speculation.

• Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) has launched the "Light Up the World" video series and campaign to commemorate its 20th anniversary. • The celebration features lighting displays across four major global cities: Suzhou, Xi’an, New York, and Liverpool, symbolizing the institution's international connectivity. • This initiative serves to reflect on the university's two decades of milestones, academic achievements, and its overarching vision for the future.