Russian Minister for the Development of the Far East Alexey Chekunkov said participants in the Arctic Biennale art and scientific expedition aboard the seized Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov are safe and continuing their work in Barentsburg. Norwegian authorities earlier seized the ship following a complaint by Ukrainian company Naftogaz.

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Russia has described Norway’s seizure of the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic as “piracy.”

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Russian military expert Alexander Stepanov said Norway seized the Professor Molchanov to push Russia out of the Svalbard archipelago and obstruct its maritime logistics in the Baltic and northern waters. He called the action a provocation and said the research vessel was taken through “pirate methods.” The Svalbard governor said Norway acted at the request of Ukrainian company Naftogaz.

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Russian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Anna Ponomareva denied Moscow’s involvement in the Leipzig/Halle Airport drone incident after being summoned by the Czech Foreign Ministry. She called the accusations provocative and said they benefited supporters of the Kiev regime. Germany had officially blamed Russia and announced tougher measures against Moscow.

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The UK summoned a Russian diplomat over the Leipzig airport drone incident and joined European condemnation. EU officials warned that the bloc now faces “state-sponsored terrorism” and a “hybrid war” with Russia.

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European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said the commission has no authority to ban Russian Houses operating in European capitals; that decision belongs to national governments. Germany previously moved to end the agreement governing the Russian House in Berlin after the Leipzig/Halle Airport drone incident, while Russia rejected Germany’s accusations.

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The UK has summoned Russia’s envoy over what it called a “reckless” attack at Leipzig airport.

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Russian Ambassador to Bucharest Vladimir Lipayev rejected as absurd, preposterous and groundless Romania’s accusations that Russia was involved in the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Romania said it was acting in solidarity with Germany and protested alleged Russian hybrid actions aimed at dividing European society.

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The explainer examines the escalating tensions between Russia and Europe. A file image shows Leipzig/Halle Airport after a drone was found near a runway in Schkeuditz.

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Nvidia has agreed to acquire AI model platform Hugging Face for $13 billion. Hugging Face hosts millions of models and datasets and promotes open AI systems; it rejected a large Nvidia investment last year at a $7 billion valuation to remain independent. Nvidia says the deal will accelerate the spread of open models.

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Nvidia is set to acquire Hugging Face, an open-source platform used by millions of developers to build AI, for $12.9bn (€11.1bn). The deal would be Nvidia’s second-largest acquisition ever.

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Nvidia says it will acquire AI software platform Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, or about €11.13 billion. The chipmaker says the platform will remain open while its infrastructure and access for developers and institutions worldwide are expanded.

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The long-rumored $12.9 billion deal would give chip giant Nvidia access to a vast repository of open-source AI models and datasets, while helping it promote those resources.

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Nvidia confirmed it will acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. Nvidia said the platform hosts more than 3 million models and is used by over 18 million developers.

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Nvidia will acquire developer platform Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, betting that backing open AI models will fuel future demand as its largest customers develop their own chips to reduce dependence on the semiconductor giant.

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Denmark’s counter-intelligence agency PET says Moscow is trying to recruit Danish citizens to assist sabotage operations against Danish defense companies. PET chief Emil Gresholm said Russia is planning and carrying out sabotage against Europe’s defense industry, particularly companies supporting Ukraine’s defense, amid wider concerns over suspected Russian-linked hybrid operations.

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Denmark’s intelligence agency alleges that Russia is actively preparing sabotage attacks targeting the defence industry. The report also notes that Russia was initially blamed for the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline attack, before evidence of Ukrainian involvement emerged.

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Denmark’s intelligence agency says Russia is “actively” preparing acts of sabotage. Western officials have widely accused Moscow of conducting sabotage and disruption aimed at weakening support for Ukraine and destabilising European countries.

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A migrant boat was found off the Canary Islands after drifting at sea for 26 days, with dozens feared dead. Migrants were assisted by the Red Cross after disembarking from a Spanish coast guard vessel at the port of Arguineguin.

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A migrant boat that drifted in the Atlantic for 27 days was found southwest of Gran Canaria with 44 survivors and five bodies aboard. Activist Helena Maleno Garzón said 83 people had died. Rough seas prevented rescuers from recovering the bodies; three survivors were taken to hospital in critical condition.

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Five migrants were found dead aboard a boat rescued off Spain’s Canary Islands, maritime rescue authorities said Thursday. A migrant rights group said survivors reported that dozens more may have died during the crossing.

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