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Ukraine's digital minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, says Kyiv wants European countries and companies to use Ukraine as a sandbox for developing and testing artificial intelligence technologies. The proposal positions the country, which has built deep digital expertise during the war, as a live testing environment for EU AI innovation and regulation.

American Cardinal Robert McElroy has laid out a vision for how the Catholic Church can operate in the digital age, arguing that online communication is now central to evangelisation and pastoral life. Published through Vatican News, his reflections touch on how the Church should engage people where they increasingly live: on digital platforms and social media.

Booking.com has removed external price checks from a key part of its offering, a change attributed to compliance with the EU's digital rules. The move affects how travellers compare rates on the platform and follows mounting regulatory pressure on large online platforms under the Digital Markets Act. Observers are watching how the change affects competition and pricing transparency for consumers.

GitHub says it discovered 24 vulnerabilities in Android using its open-source AI security agent, describing it as automated vulnerability discovery at scale on real production software. The company published details in a blog post, and the report is drawing attention as a notable demonstration of AI agents doing practical security research on widely used code.

The digital euro has made its first appearance in wholesale financial markets, marking a step in the European Central Bank's push toward a central bank digital currency. The debut signals that the eurozone is moving beyond research stages and testing how a digital version of the currency could function for institutional financial transactions. Details on scale and participants remain limited, but the development is being closely watched as Europe weighs a broader rollout.

GitHub says its AI agent identified 24 vulnerabilities in Android applications, adding to growing evidence that autonomous coding assistants can take on security research tasks. The finding, reported by Help Net Security, highlights both the potential of AI-driven bug hunting and the questions it raises about verifying machine-discovered flaws. Security teams are watching closely as AI agents move into vulnerability discovery.

A dispute over US visa restrictions has renewed scrutiny of Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's legitimacy, according to a Sudan expert cited by The National. The exchange adds to ongoing debate over the authority of Sudan's military leadership amid the country's civil war, with analysts weighing whether Washington's measures signal eroding international acceptance of Burhan's rule.

China's artificial intelligence industry is moving beyond playing catch-up with global leaders and entering a phase focused on commercialization, according to DigiTimes Asia. The report suggests domestic chipmakers and hardware suppliers are now positioning AI products for real market deployment rather than simply narrowing the technology gap, a shift with implications for the global semiconductor supply chain.

Erik Thedéen, Sweden's central banker, is featured discussing quantitative easing, the independence of central banks, and the future of digital payments. The conversation touches on how monetary policy tools used since the financial crisis are being reassessed, alongside ongoing debates over political pressure on central banks and the shift toward digital means of payment.

U.S. regional bank Valley National has agreed to buy Israeli fintech Bluevine for $340 million. The deal gives the bank a digital small business lending platform and is expected to accelerate its technology and artificial intelligence strategy. Industry commentators are watching it as another sign of traditional banks buying fintech capabilities rather than building them in-house.

GrapheneOS has released version 16 of its Messaging app, the secure messaging application developed alongside its privacy-focused Android operating system. The release notes summarize improvements over the previous version, with a full changelog available on GitHub and a forum thread open for user discussion. Users of the hardened mobile platform are discussing the update in privacy and security communities.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is highlighting digital solutions for rice cultivation as a way to cut super pollutants such as methane across food and climate systems. Rice paddies are a major source of methane, a potent short-lived greenhouse gas, and the initiative points to technology-driven practices that can reduce emissions while supporting food production and climate goals.

Television presenter and actress Nadia Sawalha has given an interview to journalist Sangita Myska discussing the situation in Gaza and her removal from ITV. The conversation touches on her views on the conflict and the circumstances surrounding her departure from the broadcaster. The interview is drawing significant attention, with hundreds of thousands of people engaging with it as it circulates widely online.

The Bruegel think tank argues that the European Union should lift its prohibition on paying interest on digital money, including any future digital euro. The piece contends that banning interest undermines the attractiveness of digital cash compared with bank deposits and hampers monetary policy transmission. The debate touches on how a central bank digital currency could coexist with commercial banking without draining deposits.

Indonesia's financial regulator is emphasising the importance of security testing as digital financial services expand across the country. The regulator's message, reported by MLex, highlights growing concern that rapid growth in digital finance must be matched by robust cybersecurity safeguards to protect consumers and the financial system.

South Korea's Shinhan Financial Group is looking to strengthen cooperation with Japan in climate finance and digital financial services. The announcement signals the bank's interest in cross-border partnerships as both countries push greener investment and fintech innovation. Details of specific initiatives or partnerships were not disclosed, but the move reflects warming business ties between Seoul and Tokyo.

A new report estimates that $3.5 trillion in economic value is being lost because billions of people remain offline or underconnected. The figure highlights how limited internet access, unaffordable devices and weak infrastructure exclude large populations from the digital economy, costing businesses potential markets and governments potential growth.

Walmart says it does not use customers' personal information to set prices, pushing back on privacy concerns as it rolls out digital shelf labels across more of its US stores. The retailer says the electronic tags allow faster price updates and clearer labelling, but the expansion has raised questions about whether dynamic, personalised pricing could follow. Walmart maintains prices will not vary based on individual shopper data.

Analysts are warning that solar storms pose a serious risk to power grids and digital infrastructure worldwide. A major solar event, similar to historic geomagnetic storms, could damage transformers, knock out electricity for extended periods, and disrupt satellites, communications and internet networks. The discussion highlights gaps in preparedness and calls for stronger protections and forecasting of space weather.

A new analysis pits Bitcoin against gold heading into 2026, asking whether the cryptocurrency has earned status as a digital store of value or remains a high-beta, risk-on trade. The debate comes as investors weigh where to shelter wealth amid economic uncertainty, with gold's traditional safe-haven role contrasted against Bitcoin's sharper drawdowns and closer correlation with equities.

Weather maps indicate a -1C cold snap is on the way, with temperatures across every part of the UK falling into single digits. The forecast, reported alongside Met Office guidance, suggests a widespread chill is approaching, prompting interest in how cold it will get and when the wintry conditions will arrive.

Andrew Garfield's Robin Hood film, which reached theaters with little advance promotion, is already set for a digital release. The quick turnaround has drawn attention from film outlets and fans, who note the unusually short theatrical window for a big-budget adventure movie starring Garfield in the iconic outlaw role.

A proposed law in Pennsylvania would require game publishers that shut down an online game's servers to either provide an offline mode, release an independent server patch so players can host the game themselves, or issue a refund of at least 25%. The bill targets the growing problem of digital games becoming unplayable when publishers end support, and is being discussed as a potential model for consumer protection in the games industry.

Apple's upcoming iOS 27 will allow users to digitize many types of physical cards directly into Apple Wallet, according to Gadget Review. The feature would let people store more of their everyday cards digitally, reducing the need to carry physical versions. Details on which cards will be supported have not yet been confirmed, and reaction so far appears limited to early coverage of the announcement.

India's central bank digital currency is being examined as a tool to help the government deliver on its welfare promises. By transferring benefits directly to citizens in digital rupees, authorities can reduce leakages and delays in subsidy schemes and track funds more transparently. Commentary so far focuses on how the e-rupee could improve the efficiency of social programmes, though broader adoption and public trust remain key challenges to be addressed.

A newly published book argues that digital screens are driving growing social disconnection, examining how constant device use reshapes relationships, attention and everyday face-to-face interaction. The work adds to ongoing public debate about the psychological and social costs of screen time, joining a wider wave of recent writing on technology's effects on community and mental health.