Sustainable development

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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Meteorological authorities in China embrace AI for next-gen climate risk prediction

At a national meteorological work conference, the China Meteorological Administration said it will pilot an ‘imminent warning’ system and apply AI technologies to enhance detailed forecasts for extreme weather, including typhoons and heavy rain.

The initiative is part of a broader effort in 2026 to build new meteorological service systems, such as for agriculture, and improve disaster preparedness and climate risk management across the country.

Officials highlighted progress over the past year, including improved flood-season forecasting and reduced typhoon track-prediction errors. Strengthened interagency coordination and the development of new prediction products aim to support earlier warnings and better resource allocation for extreme climate events.

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Australia’s green energy under pressure

The renewable energy sector in Australia encounters new challenges as major tech companies establish AI data centres across the country. Projects once planned to export solar power internationally are now influenced by domestic energy demands.

Sun Cable, supported by billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest, aimed to deliver Australian solar energy to Singapore via a 4,300-kilometre sea cable. The project symbolised a vision for Australia to become a leading exporter of renewable electricity.

The rapid expansion of AI facilities is shifting energy priorities towards domestic infrastructure. Tech companies’ demand for electricity is creating new competition with planned renewable export projects.

Energy policy decisions now carry broader implications for emissions, the national grid, and Australia’s role in the global clean energy market. Careful planning will be essential to balance domestic growth with long-term renewable ambitions.

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AfricAI positions Africa for large-scale adoption of intelligent machines

Through exclusive rights to Micropolis Robotics, AfricAI is the gateway to autonomous systems in Africa. This partnership deploys advanced robotics into industry, security, logistics, and regional infrastructure. The collaboration establishes a single entry point for high-tech automation and sustainable growth.

Micropolis will not pursue direct sales or other distributors in Africa, leaving the pan-African AI and tech platform responsible for localisation, regulation, and market rollout across the continent.

Company leaders described the partnership as a shift from software-focused AI to intelligent machines in real-world environments. According to Micropolis CEO Fareed Aljawhari, Africa is becoming the exclusive route for robotics expansion across the continent.

The agreement allows AfricAI to integrate autonomous robotics with its broader AI infrastructure stack, supporting security systems, smart cities, automated logistics, and industrial operations adapted to local conditions. Initial deployments will begin in security and infrastructure.

Analysts say the deal positions as one of Africa’s first large-scale robotics gatekeepers, potentially accelerating industrial transformation through autonomous technologies. Both firms highlighted commitments to responsible innovation and sustainable technology ecosystems.

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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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UK firms prioritise cyber resilience and AI growth

Cybersecurity is set to receive the largest budget increases over the next 12 months, as organisations respond to rising geopolitical tensions and a surge in high-profile cyber-attacks, according to the KPMG Global Tech Report 2026.

More than half of UK firms plan to lift cybersecurity spending by over 10 percent, outpacing global averages and reflecting heightened concern over digital resilience.

AI and data analytics are also attracting substantial investment, with most organisations increasing budgets as they anticipate stronger returns by the end of 2026. Executives expect AI to shift from an efficiency tool to a core revenue driver, signalling a move toward large-scale deployment.

Despite strong investment momentum, scaling remains a major challenge. Fewer than one in 10 organisations report fully deployed AI or cybersecurity systems today, although around half expect to reach that stage within a year.

Structural barriers, fragmented ownership, and unclear accountability continue to slow execution, highlighting the complexity of translating strategy into operational impact.

Agentic AI is emerging as a central focus, with most organisations already embedding autonomous systems into workflows. Demand for specialist AI roles is rising, alongside closer collaboration to ensure secure deployment, governance, and continuous monitoring.

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The UK labour market feels a sharper impact from AI use

Companies are reporting net job losses linked to AI adoption, with research showing a sharper impact than in other major economies. A Morgan Stanley survey found that firms using the technology for at least a year cut more roles than they created, particularly across the UK labour market.

The study covered sectors including retail, real estate, transport, healthcare equipment and automotive manufacturing, showing an average productivity increase of 11.5% among UK businesses. Comparable firms in the United States reported similar efficiency gains but continued to expand employment overall.

Researchers pointed to higher operating costs and tax pressures as factors amplifying the employment impact in Britain. Unemployment has reached a four-year high, while increases in the minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions have tightened hiring across industries.

Public concern over AI-driven displacement is also rising, with more than a quarter of UK workers fearing their roles could disappear within five years, according to recruitment firm Randstad. Younger workers expressed the highest anxiety, while older generations showed greater confidence in adapting.

Political leaders warn that unmanaged AI-driven change could disrupt labour markets. London mayor Sadiq Khan said the technology may cut many white-collar jobs, calling for action to create replacement roles.

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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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EU classifies WhatsApp as Very Large Online Platform

WhatsApp has been formally designated a Very Large Online Platform under the EU Digital Services Act, triggering the bloc’s most stringent digital oversight regime.

The classification follows confirmation that the messaging service has exceeded 51 million monthly users in the EU, triggering enhanced regulatory scrutiny.

As a VLOP, WhatsApp must take active steps to limit the spread of disinformation and reduce risks linked to the manipulation of public debate. The platform is also expected to strengthen safeguards for users’ mental health, with particular attention placed on the protection of minors and younger audiences.

The European Commission will oversee compliance directly and may impose financial penalties of up to 6 percent of WhatsApp’s global annual turnover if violations are identified. The company has until mid-May to align its systems, policies and risk assessments with the DSA’s requirements.

WhatsApp joins a growing list of major platforms already subject to similar obligations, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X. The move reflects the Commission’s broader effort to apply the Digital Services Act across social media, messaging services and content platforms linked to systemic online risks.

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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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