PRI

Forest fires in Indonesia are pushing smoke and haze toward Singapore just as the city prepares to host its Formula One Grand Prix. Organisers are drawing up contingency plans as the regional haze threatens the major sporting event, with air quality becoming a growing concern ahead of the race weekend.

The All-In Podcast has released a new episode covering a string of major AI industry developments: reports that Anthropic's IPO could be at risk, Meta's Muse chatbot drawing attention, falling prices for AI tokens, growing market share for open-source models, and new concerns that alignment efforts are failing. The episode touches on the shifting economics of the AI business and the competitive pressure on closed-model providers.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has taken place on the Baku street circuit, with Formula 1 releasing its official race highlights. The package is drawing heavy attention from motorsport fans worldwide, ranking among the most-watched sports content at the moment as viewers catch up on the key overtakes, incidents and finishing order from the race.

As the world marks the anniversary of Princess Diana's death, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly dealing with unresolved questions about their security arrangements. The couple, who stepped back from royal duties and lost their taxpayer-funded UK protection, face ongoing uncertainty over who pays for and provides their safety during public appearances and travel. The timing has drawn renewed attention to Harry's long-running dispute with the British government over his security detail.

SpaceX conducted the orbital launch of Starship's 14th test flight, streamed live from its launch site as mission control tracked the vehicle in real time. The event drew large audiences watching the rocket's progress, with viewers following the countdown, liftoff, and flight milestones. Interest centres on Starship's continuing development as SpaceX pushes toward orbital capability and future deep-space missions.

Formula 1 has released qualifying highlights from the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, drawing millions of views as fans catch up on the session results ahead of the race. The street circuit's tight walls and low grip typically produce unpredictable qualifying sessions, adding to interest in how the grid order shaped up.

China has expanded overseas travel restrictions covering top artificial intelligence professionals at private companies, with the rules now extended to the families of key personnel. The move means relatives of leading AI workers may also be barred from travelling abroad, in what is widely read as an effort to prevent the loss of sensitive expertise and technology as competition with the United States over artificial intelligence intensifies.

OpenAI has introduced GPT-6.1 Sol, a new model it describes as offering intelligence close to its top-tier Astra models at roughly a fifth of the cost. The announcement is drawing heavy attention among developers and AI watchers, who see aggressive price cuts as the latest move in an intensifying battle over the economics of frontier AI models.

Lawyers linked to India's Congress party clashed with police at the Sansad Marg police station in New Delhi during a protest connected to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Witnesses reported that a female lawyer confronted officers during the confrontation. The demonstration has drawn wide attention amid ongoing tensions between the opposition party and the Election Commission.

Russia is deploying the relics of Orthodox saints and medieval princes with its troops, blending religious symbolism with the war effort. The practice, championed by the Russian Orthodox Church, is framed as spiritual protection for soldiers and a way to cast the conflict as a holy cause. Critics see it as the church being used to sanctify and legitimise the invasion of Ukraine.

A new research paper analyses the privacy practices of web and mobile conversational AI agents, examining what user data these tools collect and share. The paper, titled 'Prompt Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Tracker', is drawing attention among developers and privacy-conscious readers who are weighing how much personal information popular chatbot services expose through tracking.

Euronews is broadcasting a live edition of Europe Today covering three leading stories: rising energy prices across the EU, a vote in Spain's Congress on housing decrees, and Romania's warning about new hybrid threats attributed to Russia. The broadcast bundles the day's top European political and economic developments into one live programme as the issues unfold.

Singapore's government has launched a pilot scheme for a government-backed dating service built on a matchmaking algorithm recognised with a Nobel Prize. The move reflects the city-state's ongoing efforts to encourage dating and marriage among its declining-birthrate population, and observers are debating whether state involvement in romance is effective or intrusive.

Prince Harry remains in the news as royal watchers debate a recent appearance by Kate Middleton and Prince William. InStyle reports the couple's public showing may have carried a subtle message aimed at Harry and Meghan Markle, fuelling fresh speculation about tensions within the royal family.

Amazon is lowering the annual Prime subscription price for long-standing German customers from 90 euros back to 69 euros, following a ruling by Germany's Federal Court of Justice. The company has not said how long the discounted legacy rate will remain in place, leaving existing subscribers uncertain about future price increases.

Donald Trump will not win this year's Nobel Peace Prize, according to Reuters, but the US president may still influence the committee's decision and the broader debate over who receives the award. Trump has openly campaigned for the prize, and attention is focused on how his lobbying and peace initiatives could weigh on the committee's choice.

The German Physical Society (DPG) has opened abstract submission for its 2027 Spring Meetings, inviting researchers to present their latest scientific work. Deadlines differ by meeting: 1 December 2026 for Hannover (SAMOP) and Regensburg (SKM), and 15 December 2026 for the SMuK meetings in Darmstadt and Mainz. Physicists across Germany are now preparing their submissions.

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor widely seen as a potential Labour leadership contender, has pledged to scrap the state pension triple lock after the next general election. He said that from April 2030 the pension would instead rise every year by at least prices or 2.5%. The proposal has drawn heavy attention in the UK, with pensioners' incomes a sensitive issue and the triple lock long considered politically untouchable.

Researchers studying wave activity in the brain have found patterns far more intricate than previously expected, and the complexity appears to offer a new window into how the organ processes information. The work, reported by Quanta Magazine, suggests these complex waves could shed light on cognition and neural communication. Readers are engaging with the findings as an intriguing intersection of physics and neuroscience.

Formula 1 fans are searching for the Bahrain Grand Prix, a staple of the sport's calendar often used for pre-season testing and the season opener. Interest comes as attention on the paddock is high: NOS reports Verstappen set the fastest time in the first practice session, with Russell second after running an updated car. Concrete details on what prompted the spike in searches for Bahrain specifically are limited.

Amazon Web Services has increased prices for reserved GPU capacity by 15%, citing surging demand for AI computing. The move affects companies relying on cloud GPUs for training and running machine learning models. Commenters are debating whether cloud providers are passing on genuine capacity costs or using tight AI supply to raise margins, with some warning startups of higher infrastructure bills.

A new effort called the Partnership for a Competitive Puget Sound has launched in Washington state, arguing the state cannot become economically competitive without fixing its tax system. The coalition says Washington must prioritize tax fairness and secure sustainable, reliable revenue by creating tax structures that are simple, fair and competitive, framing tax reform as an economic strategy rather than just a budget question.

Candidates in the French left's Socialist primary faced off in their second televised debate, and the tone was notably combative. Libération's account of the exchange described the candidates as less united than ever, with clashes over strategy and direction underscoring the fractured state of the party ahead of the vote. The debate is drawing close attention as the left weighs who should carry its banner into the next election.

A large fire broke out in the early afternoon at a company in Malo, in the province of Vicenza, in Italy's Veneto region. Residents in the areas of Malo, Vicenza and Thiene are being advised, as a precaution, to keep all windows closed while emergency crews respond to the blaze.