Rome

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says he will remain a member of the central bank's Board of Governors after his term as chair expires next month. The announcement means Powell, whose leadership of the Fed has been marked by battles over inflation and repeated clashes with the Trump administration over interest rate policy, does not plan to step away from the institution entirely. The move has drawn attention to who will succeed him as chair and how much influence he may retain as a governor.

An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites to measure density variations in the upper atmosphere, effectively turning the satellite constellation into a global 'planetary barometer'. The approach exploits how satellites sink faster when the thermosphere thickens, offering dense atmospheric data from thousands of spacecraft. Readers are debating the ingenuity of repurposing satellites many astronomers consider a nuisance for observational science.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has revised its plan for Google, proposing a 12-slot search choice screen for Android and Chrome users that would include AI assistants alongside traditional search engines. The proposal also requires clear attribution of publisher sources. It signals UK regulators moving to extend choice-screen remedies beyond search into the AI era.

Students and school workers rallied outside Italy's parliament in Rome on Friday to protest a government decree that would cap foreign pupils at 30% per class and restrict face coverings in schools. Demonstrators say the rules stigmatise migrant students and undermine integration. The measures, backed by the Meloni government, have sparked a heated national debate over classroom composition and inclusion in Italian schools.