SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a strategic partnership with SB Energy, involving a combined investment of $1 billion to support the development of large-scale AI data centres and energy infrastructure in the US.
The agreement forms part of the broader Stargate initiative, which aims to expand domestic AI computing capacity.
As part of the arrangement, OpenAI signed a lease for a 1.2 gigawatt data centre project in Milam County, Texas, with SB Energy selected to develop and operate the facility.
The partners stated that the project is designed to support the rising demand for AI computing while minimising water usage and enhancing local energy supply.
SB Energy also secured an additional $800 million in redeemable preferred equity from Ares, strengthening its financial position for further expansion.
The companies stated that the collaboration is expected to generate construction employment, long-term operational roles and investment in grid modernisation, while establishing a scalable model for future AI-focused data centre developments.
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Tether has joined the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance cybersecurity and digital asset education across Africa. The collaboration aims to reduce vulnerabilities to cybercrime and safeguard communities against online scams and fraud.
Africa, emerging as the third-fastest-growing crypto region, faces increasing threats from digital asset fraud. A recent Interpol operation uncovered $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat across Africa, highlighting the urgent need for stronger digital security.
The partnership includes several key initiatives. In Senegal, youth will participate in a multi-phase cybersecurity education programme featuring boot camps, mentorship, and micro-grants to support innovative projects.
Civil society organisations across Africa will receive funding to support human trafficking victims in Nigeria, DRC, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda. In Papua New Guinea, universities will host competitions to promote financial inclusion and prevent digital asset fraud using blockchain solutions.
Tether and UNODC aim to create secure digital ecosystems, boost economic opportunities, and equip communities to prevent organised crime. Coordinated action across sectors is considered vital to creating safer and more inclusive environments for vulnerable populations.
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BBC Children’s and Education has launched Solve The Story, a new series tackling online misinformation among teenagers. The six-part programme is designed for classroom use across UK schools.
The British series follows research showing teachers lack resources to teach critical thinking effectively. Surveys found teenagers struggle with online content volume, while one in three teachers find media literacy difficult to deliver.
Solve The Story uses mystery-style storytelling to help pupils question sources, spot deepfakes and challenge viral claims. Each episode includes practical classroom guides supporting teachers and lesson planning.
BBC figures say two thirds of teenagers worry about fake news causing confusion and stress. Educators argue AI-driven misinformation makes structured media literacy support increasingly urgent.
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Most Americans now use the internet daily and own smartphones, according to new Pew Research Center data. Around four in ten adults describe their internet use as almost constant.
Broadband access remains widespread, yet sharp income gaps persist across the US. Just over half of households earning under $30,000 subscribe, compared with almost all higher earners.
Smartphone ownership is nearly universal, even among older age groups. Many lower-income and younger adults increasingly rely on phones as their primary internet connection.
Researchers say digital inequality remains a defining challenge despite technological progress. Policymakers face pressure to address affordability, access, and long-term digital inclusion nationwide.
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AI-powered image analysis helped Italian rescuers locate a missing mountaineer in the Alps. Traditional searches had failed across vast, remote terrain despite days of effort.
Drones captured thousands of images which AI software scanned for unusual colours and shapes. A small red object, later confirmed as a helmet, guided teams to the site.
The climber’s body was found in a steep gully on Monviso, in Italy, after AI narrowed search zones. Manual checks and human judgement remained essential to confirm findings.
Rescue experts say AI can cut search times dramatically but cannot replace human oversight. Terrain complexity, weather, and ethical concerns still limit wider deployment.
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The global market for industrial robot installations has reached a record value of $16.7bn in 2025. The International Federation of Robotics expects further growth through technological change and labour pressures.
AI-driven autonomy is becoming central to robotics development, enabling machines to learn tasks and operate independently. Agentic AI combines analytical and generative models to improve decision-making in complex environments.
Robots are also becoming more versatile as IT and operational systems converge across factories and logistics. Humanoid robots are moving beyond prototypes, with reliability and efficiency now critical for industrial adoption.
Safety, cybersecurity and workforce acceptance remain key challenges for the sector. Industry leaders see robots as allies addressing labour shortages while governments expand skills and retraining programmes.
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Universiti Malaya Medical Centre has carried out what it described as one of the world’s first real-time, multi-country live surgeries using a 5G-enabled AI and extended reality platform.
The ear, nose, and throat procedure took place in Petaling Jaya using apoQlar’s HoloMedicine Robotics extended reality system. Surgeons were connected with international students and specialists through CelcomDigi’s 5G network.
The platform delivered three-dimensional views, live annotations, and two-way communication between the surgical team and international experts. CelcomDigi said its ultra-low-latency 5G connectivity enabled high-definition video and synchronised audio throughout the procedure.
UMMC said the live surgeries initiative demonstrated how extended reality and AI tools can support remote training and specialist collaboration without disrupting clinical workflows. The hospital plans to conduct further live urology, colorectal, and ENT sessions using the same system.
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Portugal has announced a €400 million investment in AI over the period 2026-2030, primarily funded by European programmes. The National Artificial Intelligence Agenda (ANIA) and its Action Plan (PAANIA) aim to strengthen Portugal’s position in AI research, industry, and innovation.
The government predicts AI could boost the country’s GDP by €18-22 billion in the next decade. Officials highlight Portugal’s growing technical talent pool, strong universities and research centres, renewable energy infrastructure, and a dynamic start-up ecosystem as key advantages.
Key projects include establishing AI gigafactories and supercomputing facilities to support research, SMEs, and start-ups, alongside a National Data Centre Plan aimed to simplifying licensing and accelerating the sector.
Early investments of €10 million target AI applications in public administration, with a total of €25 million planned.
Sectoral AI Centres will focus on healthcare and industrial robotics, leveraging AI to enhance patient care, improve efficiency, and support productivity, competitiveness, and the creation of skilled jobs.
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Netomi has developed a blueprint for scaling enterprise AI, utilising GPT-4.1 for rapid tool use and GPT-5.2 for multi-step reasoning. The platform supports complex workflows, policy compliance, and heavy operational loads, serving clients such as United Airlines and DraftKings.
The company emphasises three core lessons. First, systems must handle real-world complexity, orchestrating multiple APIs, databases, and tools to maintain state and situational awareness across multi-step workflows.
Second, parallelised architectures ensure low latency even under extreme demand, keeping response times fast and reliable during spikes in activity.
Third, governance is embedded directly into the runtime, enforcing compliance, protecting sensitive data, and providing deterministic fallbacks when AI confidence is low.
Netomi demonstrates how agentic AI can be safely scaled, providing enterprises with a model for auditable, predictable, and resilient intelligent systems. These practices serve as a roadmap for organisations seeking to move AI from experimental tools to production-ready infrastructure.
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Around $500 million in bonds issued by Telegram remain frozen within Russia’s financial settlement system following the application of international sanctions.
The situation reflects how global regulatory measures can continue to affect corporate assets even when companies operate across multiple jurisdictions.
According to reports, the frozen bonds were issued in 2021 and are held at Russia’s National Settlement Depository.
Telegram said its more recent $1.7 billion bond issuance in 2025 involved international investors, with no participation from Russian capital, and was purchased mainly by institutional funds based outside Russia.
Telegram stated that bond repayments follow established international procedures through intermediaries, meaning payment obligations are fulfilled regardless of whether individual bondholders face restrictions.
Financial results for 2025 also showed losses, linked in part to a decline in cryptocurrency valuations, which reflected broader market conditions rather than company-specific factors.
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