E-commerce and trade

Yahoo launches AI-powered search Scout

Yahoo has introduced Scout, a new AI-powered search engine designed to compete with Google AI Mode and Perplexity. The tool transforms traditional search results into direct answers, interpreting natural language queries with the help of Yahoo’s extensive user data and content.

Scout combines the Claude AI model from Anthropic with Bing’s grounding API to ensure information is accurate and drawn from authoritative sources. Users can access personalised insights, whether checking the weather, tracking stock prices, or verifying news stories.

The platform also includes shopping and finance features, offering quick comparisons between products and synthesised financial information refreshed every ten minutes. Currently in beta, Yahoo Scout is available to US users via the Yahoo Search app and website, with plans to expand its personalisation features.

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Crypto payments edge closer to everyday retail

Cryptocurrency payments are entering mainstream US commerce as rising customer demand drives more merchants to accept digital assets at checkout.

New research from the National Cryptocurrency Association and PayPal shows that 39% of merchants already accept crypto, while 84% expect it to become a standard payment method within five years.

Customer demand is driving adoption, with 88% of merchants receiving crypto payment enquiries and 69% reporting monthly interest from customers.

Many businesses view crypto as a tool for expansion, with 79% believing it can help attract new customers, while those already accepting crypto report rising transaction volumes and stronger engagement.

Large enterprises lead adoption, with half of firms earning over $500 million accepting crypto, compared with about one-third of smaller businesses. Among adopters, crypto accounts for 26% of sales, while 72% report annual growth, underscoring its shift toward a practical payment method.

Younger consumers are driving much of the momentum, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, while sectors such as hospitality, travel, digital goods, gaming, and e-commerce are seeing the fastest uptake.

Despite strong interest, simplicity remains a key barrier, as 90% of merchants say they would adopt crypto if setup and usage matched the ease of traditional card payments.

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EU and India deepen strategic partnership at the 16th New Delhi summit

The European Union and India have opened a new phase in their relationship at the 16th EU-India Summit in New Delhi, marked by the conclusion of a landmark Free Trade Agreement and the launch of a Security and Defence Partnership.

These agreements signal a shared ambition to deepen economic integration while strengthening cooperation in an increasingly volatile global environment.

The EU-India Free Trade Agreement ranks among the largest trade deals worldwide, significantly reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and unlocking new opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

By improving market access and establishing clear and enforceable rules, the agreement supports more resilient supply chains, greater trade diversification and stronger joint economic security for both partners.

Alongside trade, leaders signed an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership covering maritime security, cyber and hybrid threats, counterterrorism, space and defence industrial cooperation.

Negotiations were also launched on a Security of Information Agreement, paving the way for India’s participation in EU security and defence initiatives.

The Summit further expanded cooperation on innovation, emerging technologies, climate action and people-to-people ties.

Initiatives include new EU-India Innovation Hubs, closer research collaboration, enhanced labour mobility frameworks and joint efforts on clean energy, connectivity and global development, reinforcing the partnership as a defining pillar of 21st-century geopolitics.

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NVIDIA invests $2 billion as CoreWeave expands AI factory network

CoreWeave’s long-running partnership has deepened with NVIDIA to accelerate AI infrastructure deployment, including ambitious plans for multi-gigawatt AI factory capacity by 2030.

As part of the agreement, the US company is investing $2 billion in CoreWeave through the purchase of Class A common stock, signalling strong confidence in the company’s growth strategy and AI-focused cloud platform.

Both companies aim to deepen alignment across infrastructure, software and platform development, with CoreWeave building and operating AI factories using NVIDIA’s accelerated computing technologies and early access to upcoming architectures such as Rubin, Vera CPUs and BlueField systems.

The collaboration will also test and integrate CoreWeave’s AI-native software and reference designs into NVIDIA’s broader cloud and enterprise ecosystem, while NVIDIA supports faster site development through financial backing for land and power procurement.

Executives from both firms described the expansion as a response to surging global demand for AI computing, positioning large-scale AI factories as the backbone of future industrial AI deployment.

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The EU Commission opens DMA proceedings on Google interoperability and search data

The European Commission has opened two specification proceedings to spell out how Google should meet key obligations under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), focusing on Android’s AI-related features and access to Google Search data for competitors.

The first proceeding targets the DMA’s interoperability requirement for Android. In practical terms, Brussels wants to clarify how third-party AI services can get access, free and effectively, to the same Android hardware/software functionalities that power Google’s own AI offerings, including Gemini, so that rivals can compete on a more equal footing on mobile devices.

The second proceeding addresses Google’s obligation to provide rival search engines access to anonymised search data (such as ranking, query, click, and view data) on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. The Commission is also considering whether AI chatbot providers should qualify for that access, an essential question as ‘search’ increasingly blurs with conversational AI.

These proceedings are designed to define how compliance should work rather than immediately sanction Google. The Commission is expected to wrap them up within six months, with draft measures and preliminary findings shared earlier in the process, and with scope for third-party feedback. A separate non-compliance track could still follow later, and DMA penalties for breaches can reach up to 10% of global turnover.

Google, for its part, says Android is ‘open by design’ and argues it is already licensing Search data, while warning that additional requirements, especially those it views as competitor-driven, could undermine user privacy, security, and innovation.

Why does it matter?

The EU is trying to prevent dominant platforms from turning control over operating systems and data into an ‘unfair advantage’ in the next wave of consumer tech, particularly as AI assistants become built into phones and as search data becomes fuel for competing discovery tools. The move also sits within a broader DMA enforcement push: the Commission has already opened DMA-related proceedings into Alphabet in other areas, signalling that Brussels sees gatekeeper compliance as an ongoing, hands-on exercise rather than a one-off checkbox.

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Nova ransomware claims breach of KPMG Netherlands

KPMG Netherlands has allegedly become the latest target of the Nova ransomware group, following claims that sensitive data was accessed and exfiltrated.

The incident was reported by ransomware monitoring services on 23 January 2026, with attackers claiming the breach occurred on the same day.

Nova has reportedly issued a ten-day deadline for contact and ransom negotiations, a tactic commonly used by ransomware groups to pressure large organisations.

The group has established a reputation for targeting professional services firms and financial sector entities that manage high-value and confidential client information.

Threat intelligence sources indicate that Nova operates a distributed command and control infrastructure across the Tor network, alongside multiple leak platforms used to publish stolen data. Analysis suggests a standardised backend deployment, pointing to a mature and organised ransomware operation.

KPMG has not publicly confirmed the alleged breach at the time of writing. Clients and stakeholders are advised to follow official communications for clarity on potential exposure, response measures and remediation steps as investigations continue.

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France proposes EU tools to map foreign tech dependence

France has unveiled a new push to reduce Europe’s dependence on US and Chinese technology suppliers, placing digital sovereignty back at the centre of the EU policy debates.

Speaking in Paris, France’s minister for AI and digital affairs, Anne Le Hénanff, presented initiatives to expose and address the structural reliance on non-EU technologies across public administrations and private companies.

Central to the strategy is the creation of a Digital Sovereignty Observatory, which will map foreign technology dependencies and assess organisational exposure to geopolitical and supply-chain risks.

The body, led by former Europe minister Clément Beaune, is intended to provide the evidence base needed for coordinated action rather than symbolic declarations of autonomy.

France is also advancing a Digital Resilience Index, expected to publish its first findings in early 2026. The index will measure reliance on foreign digital services and products, identifying vulnerabilities linked to cloud infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Industry data suggests Europe’s dependence on external tech providers costs the continent hundreds of billions of euros annually.

Paris is using the initiative to renew calls for a European preference in public-sector digital procurement and for a standard EU definition of European digital services.

Such proposals remain contentious among member states, yet France argues they are essential for restoring strategic control over critical digital infrastructure.

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UK banks block large share of crypto transfers, report finds

UK banks are blocking or delaying close to 40% of payments to cryptocurrency exchanges, sharply increasing customer friction and slowing market growth, according to a new industry report.

Around 80% of surveyed exchanges reported rising payment disruptions, while 70% described the banking environment as increasingly hostile, discouraging investment, hiring, and product launches in the UK.

The survey of major platforms, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Gemini, reveals widespread and opaque restrictions across bank transfers and card payments. One exchange reported nearly £1 billion in declined transactions last year, citing unclear rejection reasons despite FCA registration.

Several high-street and digital banks maintain outright blocks, while others impose strict transaction caps. The UK Cryptoasset Business Council warned that blanket debanking practices could breach existing regulations, including those on payment services, consumer protection, and competition.

The council urged the FCA and government to enforce a risk-based approach, expand data sharing, and remove unnecessary barriers as the UK finalises its long-term crypto framework.

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WorldLeaks claims massive Nike data leak

Nike has launched an internal investigation following claims by the WorldLeaks cybercrime group that company data was stolen from its systems.

The sportswear giant said it is assessing a potential cybersecurity incident after the group listed Nike on its Tor leak site and published a large volume of files allegedly taken during the intrusion.

WorldLeaks claims to have released approximately 1.4 terabytes of data, comprising more than 188,000 files. The group is known for data theft and extortion tactics, pressuring organisations to pay by threatening public disclosure instead of encrypting systems with ransomware.

The cybercrime operation emerged in 2025 after rebranding from Hunters International, a ransomware gang active since 2023. Increased law enforcement pressure reportedly led the group to abandon encryption-based attacks and focus exclusively on stealing sensitive corporate data.

An incident that adds to growing concerns across the retail and apparel sector, following a recent breach affecting Under Armour that exposed tens of millions of customer records.

Nike has stated that consumer privacy and data protection remain priorities while the investigation continues.

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China gains ground in global AI race

US companies are increasingly adopting Chinese AI models as part of their core technology stacks, raising questions about global leadership in AI. In the US, Pinterest has confirmed it is using Chinese-developed models to improve recommendations and shopping features.

In the US, executives point to open-source Chinese models such as DeepSeek and tools from Alibaba as faster, cheaper and easier to customise. US firms say these models can outperform proprietary alternatives at a fraction of the cost.

Adoption extends beyond Pinterest in the US, with Airbnb also relying on Chinese AI to power customer service tools. Data from Hugging Face shows Chinese models frequently rank among the most downloaded worldwide, including across US developers.

Researchers at Stanford University have found Chinese AI capabilities now match or exceed global peers. In the US, firms such as OpenAI and Meta remain focused on proprietary systems, leaving China to dominate open-source AI development.

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