Seasonal influenza remains a significant global health burden, causing millions of severe infections and significant mortality each year, according to World Health Organisation estimates released in early 2025.
In several regions, flu activity has returned to or surpassed pre-pandemic levels, placing older adults, young children, and individuals with chronic conditions at the highest risk. Such patterns reinforce the need for improved prevention strategies and more effective vaccines.
Efforts to control influenza are challenged by the virus’s rapid mutation and the limitations of traditional laboratory methods. AI and machine learning are emerging as powerful tools for predicting antigenic changes, enhancing vaccine strain selection, and accelerating manufacturing.
Beyond vaccine development, AI-driven models are enhancing infection monitoring and immune response analysis by leveraging routine clinical data. These advances enhance surveillance and pave the way for personalised influenza prevention and treatment.
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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 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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Florida lawmakers are preparing a sweeping AI Bill of Rights as political debates intensify. Senator Tom Leek introduced a proposal to provide residents with clearer safeguards while regulating how firms utilise advanced systems across the state.
The plan outlines parental control over minors’ interactions with AI and requires disclosure when people engage with automated systems. It also sets boundaries on political advertising created with AI and restricts state contracts with suppliers linked to countries of concern.
Governor Ron DeSantis maintains Florida can advance its agenda despite federal attempts to curb state-level AI rules. He argues the state has the authority to defend consumers while managing the rising costs of new data centre developments.
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about young users forming harmful online bonds with AI companions, prompting calls for stronger protections. The legislation now forms part of a broader clash over online safety, privacy rights and fast-growing AI industries.
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Canada’s productivity gap is expected to accelerate nationwide adoption of AI in 2026, according to leading legal and industry experts. Businesses and governments are moving from experimentation to deployment as pressure mounts to improve economic performance.
Canada retains strong research credentials and a responsible AI culture, yet still trails in compute capacity and commercial scaling. Major investments scheduled for 2026 are expected to support emerging demand across sectors.
Firms are seeking clearer national rules to guide the safe adoption of AI, especially regarding privacy and governance. Ottawa’s recent research and talent programme aims to attract global experts and strengthen commercial pathways.
Industry leaders expect AI agents to gain prominence by 2027, increasing the need for human oversight and trust. Policymakers and companies are urged to strike a balance between rapid innovation and clarity, confidence, and long-term productivity goals.
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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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Madrid has strengthened emergency response capabilities through a new collaboration between Orange and Ericsson, integrating a dedicated slice within Orange’s 5G Standalone network.
Advanced radio access and core technologies allow emergency teams to operate on prioritised connectivity during high network demand.
Police, fire and medical services benefit from guaranteed bandwidth and low-latency communications, ensuring uninterrupted coordination during incidents.
The infrastructure by Ericsson enables dynamic switching between public 5G and emergency spectrum, supporting rapid deployment when physical networks are compromised.
Resilience remains central to the design, with autonomous power systems and redundancy maintaining operations during outages. Live video transmission from firefighters’ helmets illustrates how real time data improves risk assessment and decision making on the ground.
By combining telecom innovation with public safety needs, the initiative reinforces Madrid’s role in the emergency communications leadership of the EU and demonstrates how 5G can support critical services at scale.
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Researchers at the University of Tartu and Better Medicine developed an AI tool that speeds up kidney cancer detection and aids radiologists in analysing CT scans. The system, BMVision, was validated in a study published in Nature Communications Medicine.
BMVision utilises machine learning to identify both malignant and benign lesions, enabling radiologists to detect tumours faster and more accurately. In trials at Tartu University Hospital, six radiologists reviewed 200 CT scans with and without AI assistance.
Results showed that AI reduced detection and reporting time by roughly one third, while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.
The tool complements radiologists, letting them focus on complex cases and improve patient outcomes. CE marking confirms BMVision meets European standards, making it the first commercial AI tool for early kidney cancer detection.
BMVision is now being integrated into clinical workflows at Tartu University Hospital, with the potential to process all abdominal CT scans in the future. Experts say the system demonstrates how AI can make a meaningful impact in routine medical practice and improve early cancer diagnosis.
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Scientists have developed an AI model capable of simulating complex fusion plasma in seconds, a process that previously took hours or even days. The tool, named GyroSwin, offers a faster, more cost-effective approach to designing future fusion power plants.
Traditional five-dimensional plasma simulations, which account for spatial dimensions and particle velocities, require immense supercomputing power and long computation times.
GyroSwin uses AI to learn plasma dynamics, producing accurate simulations up to 1,000 times faster than conventional methods. Faster modelling will help optimise turbulence management, a key challenge in achieving practical fusion energy.
The AI tool preserves crucial physical information, such as fluctuation scales and sheared flows, ensuring simulations remain physically interpretable.
Researchers at UK Atomic Energy Authority, Johannes Kepler University, and Emmi AI believe GyroSwin could transform the design and operation of next-generation fusion plants, including the UK’s STEP project.
GyroSwin demonstrates how AI and supercomputing can accelerate the path towards clean, abundant fusion energy while reducing the cost and complexity of plasma modelling, paving the way for a new era of fusion innovation.
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France’s national postal service, La Poste, suffered a cyber incident days before Christmas that disrupted websites, mobile applications and parts of its delivery network.
The organisation confirmed a distributed denial of service attack temporarily knocked key digital systems offline, slowing parcel distribution during the busiest period of the year.
A disruption that also affected La Banque Postale, with customers reporting limited access to online banking and mobile services. Card payments in stores, ATM withdrawals, and authenticated online payments continued to function, easing concerns over wider financial instability.
La Poste stated there was no evidence of customer data exposure, although several post offices in France operated at reduced capacity. Staff were deployed to restore services while maintaining in-person banking and postal transactions where possible.
The incident added to growing anxiety over digital resilience in critical public services, particularly following a separate data breach disclosed at France’s Interior Ministry last week. Authorities have yet to identify those responsible for the attack on La Poste.
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