Decorated catacomb saints at Bavaria's former Banz monastery continue to attract visitors centuries after arriving from Rome.
The European Parliament has voted on its negotiating position for the digital euro, paving the way for talks with member states. The digital euro, backed by the ECB, aims to complement cash and banking services, offering privacy and supporting online/offline payments. Key negotiation points include compensation models for financial institutions and fee sharing, with retail availability expected from 2029.
Volkswagen is set to discuss significant job cuts and factory closures, potentially impacting 100,000 global roles and four German plants. Unions are protesting, and labor representatives hold a majority on the supervisory board, complicating approval.
Cerebras, a US-based AI chip maker, announced plans to launch its first European data centre by the end of 2026, followed by rapid expansion across France and the Nordics by 2027. The initiative aims to boost AI computing capacity in Europe, addressing demand for local, low-latency infrastructure and offering an alternative to US and Asian compute capacity.
Iranian authorities report at least 14 dead and 78 injured following recent US strikes targeting five provinces, causing damage to transport and maritime facilities, including railway lines and ports. In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have hit US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles and drones, warning of further action.
Europe must accelerate AI development in sovereignty, scale, security, and sustainability to remain competitive. Key strategies include a hybrid approach to tech sovereignty, supporting smaller businesses, shifting from reactive to proactive security, and adopting a frugal approach to AI's energy consumption.
France and Morocco, rivals from the 2022 World Cup, face off in a highly anticipated 2026 World Cup quarterfinal in Boston. Beyond the pitch, the match carries historical weight due to Morocco's colonial past with France and its large diaspora, raising concerns about potential unrest.
