Congo-Kinshasa: Why Minerals-for-Security Deals Won't Save the DR Congo
The United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement that gives U.S. firms preferential access to the DRC’s mineral wealth in exchange for limited security cooperation. The deal follows U.S. sanctions on Rwandan officials for backing the M23 rebels and builds on earlier resource‑for‑security proposals by President Félix Tshisekedi. Past attempts, such as the 2023 UAE‑DRC gold partnership, collapsed amid transparency concerns and low export volumes. Analysts argue that these asymmetric bargains rarely deliver lasting stability and may deepen the DRC’s institutional fragility.
Chancellor Rallies Retail Banks Behind Her Economic Plan
Chancellor Rachel Reeves gathered the CEOs of Barclays UK, Lloyds, Santander UK, NatWest, Nationwide and HSBC to outline her economic plan amid heightened global uncertainty. She emphasized the financial services sector’s role in stabilising households and businesses while unveiling progress...
'This Must Be a Wake-Up Call': Brussels Pushes for Faster Clean Power Drive
The European Commission unveiled an emergency policy package aimed at slashing Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. The plan accelerates electrification and renewable‑energy deployment, backed by a €50 billion (≈$54 billion) fund and stricter emissions rules. Member states must revise their energy...
Immunotherapy Offers Hope in Avoiding Bladder Removal for Cancer Patients
A new immunotherapy regimen combining checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab with standard chemoradiation has demonstrated a high rate of bladder preservation in patients with muscle‑invasive bladder cancer. In a multinational Phase III trial of 560 participants, 68% of patients avoided cystectomy at...
AMA: Energy 2026: How Addept3D Sees the Gap Between AM Value and Industrial Adoption in Energy
Additive manufacturing (AM) is delivering measurable savings in the energy sector, exemplified by Equinor’s roughly $100 million cost reduction, yet large‑scale, high‑value components remain stuck in proof‑of‑concept stages. Tarun Chand of Addept3D explains that the primary barrier is cost – both...
Bambu Lab Discontinues the X1 Series After Four Years on the Market
Bambu Lab announced that production of its X1, X1 Carbon, and X1E 3D printers will cease on March 31, 2026, with after‑sales support guaranteed until March 2031. The X1 series, launched in 2022 via a $7 million Kickstarter, reshaped desktop printing by popularizing CoreXY...
Bureau Veritas Expands Offshore Services with New Asia Hub
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore has opened an Offshore Center of Excellence in the Asia‑Pacific region, uniting teams in Singapore, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur with its global technical network. The hub will deliver classification, certification, verification and advisory services for...
AMT and GreatAmerica Turn Vapor Smoothing Into a Monthly Subscription
AMT and GreatAmerica have launched a bundled subscription for the PostPro SFX vapor‑smoothing system, charging North American manufacturers $999 per month. The all‑inclusive fee covers hardware, shipping, consumables, warranty and import duties, eliminating upfront capital outlay. The service is fulfilled from...
Scrap Labs Debuts Scrap 1 Metal 3D Printer at RMRRF 2026
Scrap Labs unveiled the Scrap 1, a low‑cost Laser Powder Bed Fusion metal 3D printer, at the Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival 2026. The kit is priced at $9,600 for a limited launch period, increasing to $14,200 after April 30, 2026, with fully assembled units...
Amid US Ordeal, Moderna Wins EU Approval for Flu/COVID-19 Combo Shot
Moderna received European Commission approval for its mCOMBRIAX vaccine, a combined flu and COVID‑19 shot targeting adults 50 and older across all 27 EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The combo pairs Moderna’s next‑generation COVID vaccine mNEXSPIKE with the...
SLICED: Latest News From the 3D Printing Industry
The additive‑manufacturing ecosystem saw several strategic moves in April. AMGTA promoted Michigan’s MTDG to Principal Member and added its CEO Dean Bartles to the board, while Materialise spun off its RapidFit division to sharpen its focus on software and medical...
Schneider National Is Moving Digital Freight Execution Forward
Schneider National is advancing digital freight by embedding its FreightPower platform within its multimodal network and disciplined operations. The company launched Fast Track, a premium intermodal service promising up to two days faster transit and 95% on‑time performance backed by...
Eplus3D IPO Collapse: Growth Trajectory Meets Structural Headwinds
Eplus3D, a Hangzhou‑based metal 3D printer, withdrew its Shanghai STAR Market IPO, cancelling a planned $176.6 million raise. The funds were intended for capacity expansion, equipment industrialization, a new R&D center, and a global service network, all now on hold. Despite...
The Invisible War on GPS and What It Means for Mining Operations
GPS jamming and spoofing incidents have surged, affecting over 122,000 flights and thousands of ships in early 2026, and exposing mining fleets that depend on satellite positioning for dispatch, autonomy and safety. A single jam can erase vehicles from live...
Commission Outlines AccelerateEU Energy Package
The European Commission unveiled the AccelerateEU package to curb soaring energy costs and reduce fossil‑fuel dependence after an extra €24 billion (≈$26 billion) was spent on imports in just 50 days. The plan mixes immediate household and industry relief with a long‑term...
Streamline Multi-Country Travel with Holafly: One eSIM for Several Places
Holafly’s eSIM platform lets travelers stay online across more than 200 destinations with a single digital SIM, eliminating the need for physical cards or frequent roaming switches. The service offers regional prepaid bundles for fixed itineraries and subscription plans—Unlimited or...
German Utility Deploying 30 MW Heat Pump for District Heating
German utility Enercity AG has started constructing a 30 MW wastewater‑based heat pump at Hanover’s central treatment plant, targeting district heating for about 13,000 households. The system will generate roughly 130 GWh of heat per year, covering 7‑8% of the city’s demand...
An ‘AI Scientist’ Can Tackle Drug R&D. What Does that Mean for Pharma?
AI agents are moving from analytical tools to autonomous coworkers in pharma, with Owkin’s K Pro platform acting as an “AI scientist” that can answer complex research questions in hours rather than weeks. The system pulls together literature, gene‑expression data, and...
5 Big Food Trends in Sweden
Swedish consumers are putting price first, driving a surge in private‑label products that mimic premium quality while staying affordable. Sustainability remains a key secondary concern, with brands emphasizing local sourcing and recyclable packaging to meet consumer expectations. High‑protein foods have...
Calls for Tech Regulators to Keep Pace with Rapid Tech Changes
Industry leaders gathered in Sandton to debate South Africa’s evolving ICT regulatory landscape, highlighting the complexity of competition law, merger approvals and the draft National AI Policy. The panel examined recent high‑profile deals such as Vodacom’s 30% stake in Maziv...
Targeting Risk, Tracking Results: A New Approach to Safety
In an interview for National Work Zone Awareness Week, Scott Marion, president of infrastructure at Lindsay, advocated moving away from blanket safety mandates toward risk‑based decisions that factor traffic speed, worker exposure, and roadway geometry. He highlighted the high‑risk nature...
How Block Built a $200 Billion Credit Operation by Seeing Customers Traditional Lenders Can’t
Block has scaled its credit operation to $200 billion by leveraging first‑party data from Cash App, Square, and Afterpay. Head of credit Juan Hernandez explains that the company replaces traditional bureau scores with native transaction signals, enabling loans for 100 million Americans...
Dnata to Operate Cargo Terminal at Western Sydney International Airport
Global air services firm dnata will spend roughly A$32 million (about $21 million USD) to build a dedicated cargo terminal at Western Sydney International Airport. The 5,000 sqm warehouse, plus 4,000 sqm of surrounding land, will be fitted out with a semi‑motorised handling system...
EU Unveils Energy Crisis Plan
The European Union unveiled a new energy‑crisis plan that prioritises cheaper electricity and accelerated electrification to mitigate the fallout from the Iran‑Russia war’s impact on energy markets. A core element is taxing electricity at a lower rate than fossil fuels,...
Mirai Botnet Targets Flaw in Discontinued D-Link Routers
A Mirai botnet is exploiting CVE‑2025‑29635, a command‑injection flaw in discontinued D‑Link DIR‑823X routers. The vulnerability resides in firmware versions 240126 and 24082, which no longer receive patches because the products were retired last year. Akamai observed attackers using a...
Strong Results for Efteling in 2025
Efteling Theme Park reported 5.78 million visits in 2025, generating roughly $382 million in operating income and $30 million net profit. The park achieved a record 80 days with a 9+ visitor rating, moving toward its 2030 goal of half the days reaching...
Marineland Requesting Federal Loan to Export Belugas to US
Marineland, the closed Niagara Falls theme park, has asked the Canadian government for a $10‑20 million federal loan to relocate up to 30 beluga whales and four dolphins to U.S. aquariums. While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has tentatively approved...
VLSFO Premiums up in UAE's Fujairah as Supply Dwindles
Very‑low‑sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) premiums in Fujairah surged to over $50 per tonne on 21 April, up from $15 the week before, as local producers face an acute shortage of low‑sulphur feedstock. The shortage stems from US‑Iran blockades in the Strait...
How to Sublease Your Office Space
Businesses with excess office space can mitigate costs by subleasing, allowing them to retain the original lease while generating rental income. Subleasing differs from a lease assignment because the original tenant remains liable to the landlord, making landlord consent and...
Fincantieri to Upgrade PPA Vessels with Combat Systems
Italy’s shipbuilder Fincantieri has secured a contract with European procurement agency OCCAR to upgrade the PPA‑class multipurpose combat ships to a full combat system configuration. The deal, part of a temporary consortium with Leonardo, allocates roughly $73 million (about €62 million) to...
EU Publishes Energy Crisis Plans
The European Commission unveiled a package of measures to tackle a looming fossil‑energy crisis intensified by the Middle East war, which has forced the EU to spend an extra €24 bn (about $26 bn) on imports. The plan emphasizes tighter coordination among...
Romania: Construction Work to Begin on Bus Station at Henri Coandă Airport
Bucharest National Airports Company has broken ground on a new bus station at Henri Coandă Airport, following a tender that secured feasibility studies for the project. The 4,300‑square‑metre facility, located beside the departures terminal, will accommodate at least six coaches,...
Why Your Password May Not Be Good Enough No Matter How Long and Complex It Is
World Password Day highlights that even long, complex passwords can be compromised when reused across services. Brett Russell explains that breaches expose passwords, turning a single weak point into a cascade of compromised accounts. He urges users to check their...
A Steady First Quarter, but Port of Rotterdam Waits for Hormuz Ripples
Rotterdam handled 103 million tonnes in Q1 2026, a modest 0.7% dip from the same period last year, reflecting stable container volumes but weaker dry‑bulk traffic. Container throughput rose 0.3% in TEU terms while tonnage fell 3.2% due to a surge...
Competition and Scaling: Tech.eu Summit London 2026
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) used its Tech.eu Summit slot to shift from pure enforcement toward becoming an enabler of competition for startups and scale‑ups. It outlined a three‑year strategy that ties competition policy to the UK’s industrial...
New Data Build Case for Roche's Oral BTK Drug for MS
Roche reported that its oral BTK inhibitor fenebrutinib dramatically reduced relapse rates and MRI lesions in two phase 3 FENhance trials for relapsing multiple sclerosis, outperforming Sanofi's Aubagio. The drug cut annualised relapse rates by 51.1% and 58.5% and lowered inflammation...
Milka-Tafel: Schlechte Karten Für Mondelez Im Shrinkflation-Streit
Mondelez International faced legal scrutiny in Germany after it reduced the weight of its Milka chocolate bar from 100 g to 90 g in January 2025 while raising the retail price. A Bremen district court judge ruled the unchanged packaging could mislead consumers,...
AT&T Q1 2026 Results: Revenue, Subscribers, Fiber and 5G Drive Growth Across All Business Segments
AT&T reported Q1 2026 revenue of $31.5 billion, a 2.9% year‑over‑year increase, driven by growth in its Advanced Connectivity segment. The company added 584,000 internet subscribers—including 292,000 fiber and 292,000 fixed‑wireless users—and 294,000 postpaid phone customers, underscoring momentum in its 5G...
How Dual-Use Solar Gets Built: A Field Guide to Partnerships that Work
Dual‑use solar—integrating grazing, beekeeping, pollinator habitats, or shade‑grown crops—has moved from niche experiments to a mainstream practice for developers seeking land‑friendly projects. Early site assessments that match climate, vegetation and community priorities enable partnerships with service providers or mission‑driven nonprofits,...
Epstein-Barr Virus Methylation Aids Nasopharyngeal Cancer Screening
Researchers led by Wu, Z.C. and colleagues introduced an Epstein‑Barr virus (EBV) Cp methylation assay that triages individuals for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk. The method, published in Nature Communications, leverages viral DNA methylation patterns from nasopharyngeal swabs to achieve higher...
Nearing Highest Level: Jet Fuel Surcharge Soars in Mid-April
The Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) lifted the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 19 on April 16, pushing domestic fees to ₱627‑₱1,834 (≈$11‑$33) and international fees to ₱2,071‑₱15,397 (≈$37‑$275). This marks a 148% jump from the early‑April Level 8 rates and approaches the...
Oil Spill Continues in Gulf of Mexico Vulnerable Habitats, While Pemex Admits Fault
An oil spill has polluted roughly 933 km (580 mi) of Gulf of Mexico shoreline across Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Campeche and Tabasco. After two months of speculation, Pemex confirmed the leak originated from a pipeline at its Cantarell platform. The contamination threatens over...
EBay Publish AI Activate Prompt Library
eBay has launched an AI Activate Prompt Library as part of its AI Activate programme, which gives UK small businesses free access to ChatGPT and tailored training. The library offers plug‑and‑play prompts covering listing optimisation, customer communication, market research, performance...
Trapped in an Elevator? AI System at Namo Bharat Stations Can Raise Alarm in 60 Seconds
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has deployed an AI‑powered system that can detect commuters trapped in elevators at Namo Bharat stations within 60 seconds and automatically alert the Operations Control Centre. The solution uses existing CCTV cameras, processes...
Tees, Esk and Wear Talking Therapies Improvement Challenge Highlights Steps to Improve Uptake of Digital
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust completed a 100‑day improvement challenge aimed at boosting confidence among adults 65+ in using digital talking‑therapies. Over 240 seniors participated, with 96% reporting regular use of phones, tablets or laptops. Video‑based therapy...
Komatsu Hits Autonomous Milestone
Komatsu announced it has commissioned its 1,000th autonomous ultra‑class haul truck, cementing its role as a pioneer in driverless mining equipment. The milestone centers on the company’s 930E‑5 electric haul truck, which can transport a 290‑metric‑ton payload. By reaching this...
Southern Poverty Law Center Hit With 11-Count Indictment
The U.S. Department of Justice filed an 11‑count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, accusing it of wire fraud, false statements to banks and money‑laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege SPLC diverted at least $3 million of donor money intended to dismantle...
Kyrgyz Republic & Tajikistan Parametric Cat Bonds From the ADB Could Upsize Slightly
The Asian Development Bank is upsizing its first parametric catastrophe bonds for the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to between $75 million and $80 million each. The earthquake sub‑limit will rise to $65‑70 million while the extreme‑precipitation cover remains at $10 million. Investor risk margin...
Easing Capital Rules Will Require Banks to Rediscover Self-Discipline
U.S. regulators have softened the Basel III endgame, cutting capital buffers for both global systemically important banks and smaller institutions. The change coincides with a surge in AI‑driven cyber attacks, with 90% of financial firms reporting more incidents and global fraud...
Regeneron Reports P-III (NIMBLE) Trial Data on Cemdisiran for Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)
Regeneron presented Phase III (NIMBLE) data showing that subcutaneous cemdisiran 600 mg every 12 weeks significantly improved symptoms in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and anti‑AChR antibodies. Over 24 weeks, the cemdisiran arm reduced MG‑ADL scores by 4.5 points versus 2.2...