The Central Bank of Russia has introduced a detailed proposal aimed at bringing cryptocurrencies under a unified regulatory framework, marking a significant step towards formal legal recognition of digital assets.
Under the proposal, both qualified and non-qualified investors would be permitted to purchase cryptocurrencies. Investor status would be determined by factors such as education, professional background, income level, and asset holdings.
Non-qualified investors would be restricted to buying up to 300,000 roubles worth of crypto per year through authorised intermediaries.
Digital currencies and stablecoins would be classified as currency values under Russian law, yet their use as a means of payment for goods and services would remain prohibited. The framework maintains the state’s long-standing opposition to domestic crypto payments.
Russian residents would also gain the right to purchase and transfer crypto assets abroad, provided such transactions are reported to the Federal Tax Service. The central bank aims to finalise the legislative groundwork by 1 July 2026.
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AI is transforming how news is produced and consumed, moving faster than audiences and policies can adapt. Journalists increasingly use AI for research, transcription and content optimisation, creating new trust challenges.
Ethical concerns are rising when AI misrepresents events or uses content without consent. Media organisations have introduced guidelines, but experts warn that rules alone cannot cover every scenario.
Audience scepticism remains, even as journalists adopt AI tools in daily practice. Transparency, apparent human oversight and ethical adoption are key to maintaining credibility and legitimacy.
Europe faces pressure to strengthen its trust infrastructure and regulate the use of AI in newsrooms. Experts argue that democratic stability depends on informed audiences and resilient journalism to counter disinformation.
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TikTok removed fake adverts for weight loss drugs after a company impersonating UK retailer Boots used AI-generated videos. The clips falsely showed healthcare professionals promoting prescription-only medicines.
Boots said it contacted TikTok after becoming aware of the misleading adverts circulating on the platform. TikTok confirmed the videos were removed for breaching its rules on deceptive and harmful advertising.
BBC reporting found the account was briefly able to repost the same videos before being taken down. The account appeared to be based in Hong Kong and directed users to a website selling the drugs.
UK health regulators warned that prescription-only weight loss medicines must only be supplied by registered pharmacies. TikTok stated that it continues to strengthen its detection systems and bans the promotion of controlled substances.
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Rising demand for AI is pushing data centre servers to operate at extreme speeds and temperatures. Traditional air cooling is no longer sufficient for the most powerful computer chips.
Liquid cooling systems use sprays or immersion baths to remove heat more efficiently. These methods allow continuous high performance while reducing the risk of hardware failure and overheating.
Environmental concerns are growing as data centres consume vast amounts of energy and water. Closed-loop liquid cooling cuts electricity use and limits water withdrawal from local supplies and ecosystems.
Concerns persist regarding certain cooling chemicals and their potential climate impact. Researchers and companies are developing safer fluids and passive cooling inspired by natural systems and biological processes.
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An EU-funded project, AIOLIA, is examining how Europe’s approach to trustworthy AI can be applied in practice. Principles such as transparency and accountability are embedded in the AI Act’s binding rules. Turning those principles into design choices remains difficult.
The project focuses on closing that gap by analysing how AI ethics is applied in real systems. Its work supports the implementation of AI Act requirements beyond legal text. Lessons are translated into practical training.
Project coordinator Alexei Grinbaum argues that ethical principles vary widely by context. Engineers are expected to follow them, but implications differ across systems. Bridging the gap requires concrete examples.
AIOLIA analyses ten use cases across multiple domains involving professionals and citizens. The project examines how organisations operationalise ethics under regulatory and organisational constraints. Findings highlight transferable practices without a single model.
Training is central to the initiative, particularly for EU ethics evaluators and researchers working under the AI Act framework. As AI becomes more persuasive, risks around manipulation grow. AIOLIA aims to align ethical language with daily decisions.
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ChatGPT Atlas has introduced an agent mode that allows an AI browser agent to view webpages and perform actions directly. The feature supports everyday workflows using the same context as a human user. Expanded capability also increases security exposure.
Prompt injection has emerged as a key threat to browser-based agents, targeting AI behaviour rather than software flaws. Malicious instructions embedded in content can redirect an agent from the user’s intended action. Successful attacks may trigger unauthorised actions.
To address the risk, OpenAI has deployed a security update to Atlas. The update includes an adversarially trained model and strengthened safeguards. It followed internal automated red teaming.
Automated red teaming uses reinforcement learning to train AI attackers that search for complex exploits. Simulations test how agents respond to injected prompts. Findings are used to harden models and system-level defences.
Prompt injection is expected to remain a long-term security challenge for AI agents. Continued investment in testing, training, and rapid mitigation aims to reduce real-world risk. The goal is to achieve reliable and secure AI assistance.
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Splat is a new mobile app from the team behind Retro that uses generative AI to transform personal photos into colouring pages designed for children. The app targets parents seeking creative activities, free from advertising clutter and pay-per-page websites.
Users can upload images from their camera roll or select from curated educational categories, then apply styles such as cartoon, anime or comic.
Parents guide the initial setup through simple preferences instead of a lengthy account creation process, while children can colour either on-screen or on printed pages.
Splat operates on a subscription basis, offering weekly or annual plans that limit the number of generated pages. Access to payments and settings is restricted behind parental verification, helping prevent accidental purchases by younger users.
The app reflects a broader trend in applying generative AI to child-friendly creativity tools. By focusing on ease of use and offline activities, Splat positions itself as an alternative to screen-heavy entertainment while encouraging imaginative play.
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AI is becoming central to Vietnam’s urban development as major cities adopt data-led systems. Leaders at the Vietnam–Asia Smart City Summit said AI now shapes planning, service delivery and daily operations nationwide.
Experts noted rising pressure on cities, with congestion, pollution and population growth driving demand for more innovative governance. AI is helping authorities shift towards proactive management, using forecasting tools, shared data platforms and real-time supervision.
Speakers highlighted deployments across transport control, environmental monitoring, disaster alerts and administrative oversight. Hanoi and Da Nang presented advanced models, with Da Nang recognised again for achievements in green development and digital operations.
Delegates agreed that long-term progress depends on strong data foundations, closer coordination and clear strategic roadmaps in Vietnam. Many stressed that technology must prioritise public benefit, with citizens placed at the centre of smart-city design.
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Apple has been fined €98 million by Italy’s competition authority after regulators concluded that its App Tracking Transparency framework distorted competition in the app store market.
Authorities stated that the policy strengthened Apple’s dominant position while limiting how third-party developers collect advertising data.
The investigation found that developers were required to request consent multiple times for the same data processing purposes, creating friction that disproportionately affected competitors.
Regulators in Italy argued that equivalent privacy protections could have been achieved through a single consent mechanism instead of duplicated prompts.
According to the Italian authority, the rules were imposed unilaterally across the App Store ecosystem and harmed commercial partners reliant on targeted advertising. The watchdog also questioned whether the policy was proportionate from a data protection perspective under the EU law.
Apple rejected the findings and confirmed plans to appeal, stating that App Tracking Transparency prioritises user privacy over the interests of ad technology firms.
The decision follows similar penalties and warnings issued in France and Germany, reinforcing broader European scrutiny of platform governance.
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TikTok Shop has introduced digital gift cards as part of its wider push into e-commerce. Users can purchase cards for $10 to $500 and choose animated designs for occasions such as birthdays or weddings. Availability is currently limited to the United States.
Recipients must have a TikTok account to redeem a gift card, and the balance is added to their TikTok Wallet instantly. Users can reply with a thank-you message or send a gift card as a return gesture. The approach reinforces TikTok’s focus on social interaction alongside transactions.
The feature puts the digital shop in more direct competition with established e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and eBay, which have long offered digital gift cards. Moves into higher-end retail to broaden its ambitions. The social media powerhouse is positioning itself as a full-scale online marketplace.
Momentum has continued to build, with US sales exceeding $500 million during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period. The results highlight rising consumer confidence in the platform’s ability to drive purchases. Engagement is increasingly translating into measurable commerce.
Further developments are planned, including video messages and an interactive unboxing experience, which are expected to be released in early 2026. Expansion continues despite uncertainty around the platform’s future in the US. Negotiations over a potential sale remain unresolved ahead of January 2026.
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