Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

Starbucks's UK retail arm secured a significant £13.7m corporation tax credit last year, even as it reported a 6% increase in sales to £556.3m and added over 90 new stores, bringing its total to 1,304. The tax credit, which can be used to offset future tax bills, follows losses widening to £41.3m in the 12 months to September.The company's financial performance was impacted by £40m in royalty and licence fees paid to its parent company, Starbucks Emea. These fees, which are paid to a UK-based entity that collects similar fees from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, significantly contributed to the losses.Despite the losses, Starbucks UK's sales growth was driven by price increases, new loyalty schemes, and the introduction of “freshly baked in-store food”. The company also shifted its workforce towards full-time staff, reducing overall staff numbers by 244 to 5,352.Critics, such as the Fair Tax Foundation, argue that this situation highlights a recurring issue where large corporations like Starbucks use complex financial structures to minimize their tax liabilities. “This all feels so very Groundhog Day,” said Paul Monaghan, chief executive of the Fair Tax Foundation. “As per a decade ago, Starbucks UK reports annual growth in income and store numbers, whilst at the same time declaring a loss due to the payment of hefty royalty fees to other Starbucks subsidiaries. The end result, no corporation tax is paid.”In response, a Starbucks spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to paying all taxes due, stating that it “manages its global tax responsibilities in keeping with its mission and values.”The company's financial challenges are expected to continue, with Starbucks UK citing a “challenging consumer environment” characterized by inflationary pressures, reduced discretionary spending, and increased competition. The company has received financial support from its parent group, including £30m in cash to keep the business afloat and a further £60m in February.

European airports have issued an urgent warning that jet fuel shortages could materialise within the next three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.Airports Council International (ACI) Europe addressed a letter to EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stating the bloc is only three weeks away from a systemic shortage.The threat is linked to the ongoing US‑Israel conflict with Iran, which has effectively shut the strait—a key shipping lane for Gulf oil exports—pushing Brent crude to around $96 per barrel, up from roughly $72 before the hostilities.ACI warned that without a stable resumption of traffic through Hormuz within three weeks, a “systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU.”Jet‑fuel prices have more than doubled year‑on‑year, reaching $1,650 per tonne according to IATA data. Europe’s price surge stands at 138%, while Asia has seen a 163% increase.Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary highlighted that the United Kingdom, heavily dependent on Kuwaiti supplies, is the most vulnerable market in Europe.Shipping data from Vortexa shows the last Gulf‑origin jet fuel cargo for Europe is due in Copenhagen tomorrow, following a partial delivery to Rotterdam earlier this week. The final tanker bound for the UK arrived in Kent on Tuesday.More than 60% of Europe’s jet fuel traditionally comes from Gulf refineries, with over 40% shipped via the Hormuz corridor. The blockade forces European buyers into direct competition with Asian carriers for alternative cargoes.Australian investment bank Macquarie notes that jet fuel lacks the pipeline alternatives available to crude oil, making the market especially vulnerable. Even if shipments resume, the refined‑product market could take two to three months to normalise, lagging behind crude markets.Airlines have already begun trimming schedules and raising fares, a trend that will feed into broader inflationary pressures. A genuine shortage could force travelers and businesses to postpone trips and shipments, deepening economic damage.ACI called for proactive EU monitoring and action, warning that the peak summer travel season—critical to many economies—could be hit hard if fuel supplies falter.IATA director‑general Willie Walsh cautioned that even with the strait reopened, restoring adequate supply will take months due to disrupted refining capacity in the Middle East. IATA had previously projected a 4.9% year‑on‑year growth in passenger traffic for 2026.

Mom’s mantra – “don’t borrow trouble” – became the compass that steadied Feimster during the uncertain early years of her comedy career. She says the simple advice helped her shift focus from endless worry to actually performing. Growing up, Feimster was captivated by Carol Burnett’s slapstick brilliance, a love sparked by her grandmother’s nightly reruns. The legendary comedian’s on‑ and off‑screen silliness shaped Feimster’s own comedic sensibility. When she was cast as the beaver Nibbles in the upcoming Zootropolis 2, the process was anything but typical. “The script was top‑secret,” she recalls, noting that she entered the recording booth with only a brief scene description from director Jared Bush, never knowing how pivotal her character would become. Feimster also laughs about a nightmare charity gig in a Virginia biker bar, where the stage was literally a wooden crate, the lighting resembled a construction site, and a karaoke machine served as the sound system. “Nobody, including me, enjoyed the show,” she admits. Unlike many performers, she has no elaborate pre‑show rituals. She arrives minutes before the curtain rises, chats with the audience, and treats each performance like a regular day, much to the amusement of co‑host Tom Papa. The relentless travel schedule is a double‑edged sword. Feimster describes the constant touring as exhausting, with the added pressure of having to write fresh material after every special. “You finish one project and must start from scratch,” she says, highlighting the creative churn that fuels her growth. On set with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the film Fubar, Feimster found the experience inspiring. She notes that the legendary actor’s varied career – from bodybuilding champion to governor – made every day on set feel like a master class. Looking ahead, Feimster has wrapped two Netflix comedies: one starring Will Ferrell as a washed‑up pro golfer where she plays his caddie, and another ensemble with Kim Kardashian, Nikki Glaser and Brenda Song. She hints at a future shift toward a more serious, less self‑referential role. Meanwhile, her current stand‑up show “Takin’ Care of Biscuits” continues its North American and European leg, with a stop at London’s Hackney Empire on 3 June and the tour running through 9 August.

The European Parliament's decision to block the extension of a law that permits big tech firms to scan for child sexual exploitation on their platforms has created a legal gap that child safety experts say will lead to crimes going undetected. The law, which was a temporary measure allowing companies to use automated detection technologies to scan messages for harms, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), grooming, and sextortion, expired on April 3.Google, Meta, Snap, and Microsoft have expressed disappointment over the EU's decision, stating that they will continue to voluntarily scan their platforms for CSAM. In a joint statement posted on a Google blog, the companies said, 'We are disappointed by this irresponsible failure to reach an agreement to maintain established efforts to protect children online.'Child protection advocates had warned that allowing the legislation to lapse would probably trigger a steep fall in reports of child sexual abuse. They point to a similar legal gap that occurred in 2021, when reports of such material from EU-based accounts to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) fell by 58% over a period of 18 weeks.The EU's decision to prohibit scanning will have ripple effects in other regions around the world, child safety experts said. Many internet crimes are cross-border, with perpetrators sending illegal images to people or targeting children in other countries. 'The offender can be anywhere in the world, but they could have unfettered access to minors in Europe now that there's legal uncertainty around those safeguards and protections to identify when a child is being groomed,' said John Shehan, vice-president at NCMEC.In 2025, NCMEC received 21.3m reports that included more than 61.8m images, videos, and other files suspected of being related to child abuse, from around the world. About 90% of these reports are related to countries outside the US.

The Gulf Cooperation Council is reassessing its security model after the brief but intense US‑Israel campaign against Iran. With American bases on Gulf soil turning the region into a target for Tehran’s missile and drone barrage, Gulf capitals are looking to diversify their defence partners beyond the United States. Iran’s lingering missile arsenal and its demand to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz remain the central security dilemma. The strait channels the bulk of Gulf oil trade, and Tehran’s insistence on keeping a foothold there was a sticking point in the cease‑fire talks scheduled to begin in Islamabad. Gulf air defences boasted a high interception rate, claiming to have neutralised more than 90% of the 2,256 drones and 563 missiles that struck the United Arab Emirates, the hardest‑hit member of the bloc. Nevertheless, the Gulf is split on how to engage Iran moving forward. A hawkish bloc led by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain favours a tougher stance, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others are open to restoring diplomatic ties. In a rare development, Saudi Arabia and Iran held their first official conversation since the conflict began, with foreign ministers discussing measures to lower tensions and restore regional stability. Security scholars such as Bader Mousa Al‑Saif of Kuwait University argue that Gulf states must broaden their security network, forging alliances with regional powers like Turkey and Pakistan rather than relying solely on the United States. He warned that the region needs a model that shields it from a perpetual state of war. Pre‑war trends are now accelerating: Saudi Arabia recently signed a defence pact with Pakistan, the UAE announced a partnership with India, and all three Gulf states – Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar – entered rapid defence agreements with Ukraine to counter Iranian drone threats. Talks of a “Muslim NATO” have largely faded, but a new alignment dubbed “Step”, involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, is taking shape. The coalition’s purpose remains ambiguous, oscillating between counter‑Iran and counter‑Israel objectives, and internal rivalries complicate cohesion. The United Kingdom, which helped protect Gulf airspace during the hostilities, is also seeking deeper defence‑industrial cooperation with Saudi Arabia, as discussed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Jeddah. UAE political scientist Abdulkhaleq Abdulla predicts tighter security ties with the United States and a growing willingness among Gulf states to engage with Israel on military and intelligence fronts. Analysts such as Yasmine Farouk of the International Crisis Group note that Saudi Arabia’s extensive oil infrastructure, Red Sea ports and sheer geographic size give it a strategic advantage in post‑war reconstruction, though the cost of rebuilding could strain its Vision 2030 diversification agenda. Looking ahead, the Gulf is expected to layer additional security partnerships—particularly with European nations—while investing heavily in air and missile defence, hardened ports, desalination facilities, maritime surveillance and alternative export routes. As Andreas Krieg of King’s College London observes, the United States remains the only power with a full‑scale military architecture in the Gulf, but its bases are increasingly viewed as “tripwires” rather than protective shields.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has urged NATO allies to stand united in defending international law, following US President Donald Trump's recent comments about the Arctic island. Trump's remarks described Greenland as a 'big, poor, poorly run, piece of ice.'Nielsen firmly rejected this characterization, stating, 'We are not some piece of ice. We are a proud population of 57,000 people, working every single day as good global citizens in full respect for all our allies.'The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining the post-war geopolitical order, including NATO's defence alliance and globally respected international law. 'Those things are being challenged now, and I think all allies should stand together to try to maintain them. I hope that will happen,' he said.NATO allies had been scrambling earlier this year to keep the alliance together after Trump revived his push to seize Greenland from Denmark, a fellow NATO member. The White House in January said Trump was weighing the use of military force in Greenland, prompting Germany, France, and other European nations to send troops to the island in a show of solidarity and deterrence.Trump later backed down after talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, stating that 'the framework of a future deal' had been formed and moving the Greenland dispute to a diplomatic track. Diplomatic talks between Greenland, Denmark, and the US are ongoing, with more meetings scheduled.Despite the talks, Nielsen made it clear he did not believe Trump had abandoned his ambitions regarding the island: 'I cannot see that his desire to either take over or control Greenland has been taken off the table,' he said.

A tragic incident unfolded early on Thursday off the northern coast of France, near Calais, as four people died while attempting to board an inflatable dinghy to cross the English Channel to the UK. The group of migrants waded into the sea to reach a small boat positioned offshore, but things went wrong, and they struggled in the water.Christian Fourcroy, the mayor of Equihen-Plage, confirmed that two women and two men lost their lives in the incident. A fifth person remains in a critical condition. Emergency services launched a rescue operation along the coastline between Equihen and Ecault, France, and 38 other people were rescued, including one with a medical emergency.The Boulogne prosecutor has opened an investigation into the deaths. This incident is part of a surge in attempted crossings and deaths in recent days. French maritime authorities reported rescuing 102 people in two separate operations on Wednesday while trying to cross the channel. Just last week, two people died in a similar incident off the coast north of Calais.Despite heightened enforcement efforts by France and the UK, 4,776 people crossed the channel between January 1 and April 4 this year, following over 41,000 crossings in 2025. The UK remains a destination for many undocumented migrants due to family ties, language, and the prospect of work. However, the journey is frequently perilous, with overcrowded boats and unpredictable conditions putting lives at risk.The issue has intensified political debate across Europe, with Paris and London seeking to deter crossings through a 'one in, one out' scheme, allowing some migrants to enter the UK legally in exchange for the return of others who arrive by boat. Rights groups argue that such measures fail to address the root causes driving people to risk the journey, emphasizing the need for safer pathways to be created.

The global energy crisis has been labeled 'the mother of all crises' by Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate. The crisis, sparked by Iran's retaliatory blocking of the strait, has significant implications for global energy supplies and security.Bayraktar, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, highlighted the importance of diversifying energy routes to mitigate the impact of such crises. He noted that Turkey, with its strategic location between Asia and Europe, has become a pivotal country in the region, hosting key pipelines such as the 'Blue Stream' and 'TurkStream'.The minister emphasized that Turkey is well-suited to weather the crisis, with sufficient strategic energy reserves, including gas storage facilities that are 72 percent full, compared to Europe's 28 percent. However, he warned that rising oil and gas prices still burden the state budget, with an increase of $1 per barrel costing Ankara approximately $400 million.Bayraktar also discussed the potential for a new energy architecture to emerge, driven by the need for diversification. He proposed several projects, including the transportation of Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea to Turkey and Europe, extending the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline to reach Basra, and constructing a natural gas pipeline from Qatar to Turkey.The crisis has significant economic implications, with oil prices potentially rising to $200 per barrel in a worst-case scenario, which could lead to another global recession. Bayraktar stressed the importance of a lasting peace in the region to stabilize energy markets and prevent further economic damage.

President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on NATO, expressing disappointment with the alliance's reluctance to support the US in its conflict with Iran. In a post on his TruthSocial platform, Trump wrote in capital letters: "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again".The remarks came after a two-hour meeting with NATO's Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, at the White House. The meeting took place a day after the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. Trump's comments have raised concerns about the future of the transatlantic alliance, which he has repeatedly called a "paper tiger".Rutte, known as the "Trump whisperer" for his ability to maintain a productive relationship with the US president, said that Trump was "clearly disappointed with many NATO allies". However, Rutte also pushed back against some of Trump's broader criticism, highlighting the contributions of many European nations to NATO.In addition to his criticism of NATO, Trump also appeared to revive his threat to seize Greenland from Denmark, a move that had previously roiled the alliance. "Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!!!" he wrote.The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering punishing some NATO members he believed were unhelpful during the conflict by moving US troops out of their countries. However, Rutte declined to comment directly on the report.NATO, formed in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union, has been the cornerstone of Western security. The alliance has only activated its mutual defence clause on one occasion, following the September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in the US.