What's happening in Europe?
Belgium
The front page of De Standaard highlights the growing concerns and resistance against datacenters across Europe, particularly focusing on their energy consumption and impact on local populations and nature, while also covering domestic Belgian politics regarding budget savings and international…
Datacenters currently consume 4% of Belgium's electricity, a figure projected to triple by 2035, raising questions about whether this energy could be better used for industry and households.
Resistance against datacenters, seen as symbols of tech oligarchs' power, is growing in Europe, with Spain being an example where local populations and nature bear the burdens while the US reaps the profits.
A diverse coalition in Europe, from both left and right, is opposing datacenters, the engines of AI, with a particular surge of activism in northern Spain.
The article questions whether Europe should invest heavily in datacenters for AI applications, considering the vast investments already made in the US and the potential strain on resources.
A looming crisis was averted over the weekend, but the path to a 10 billion euro budget consolidation remains challenging due to significant divergences.
Flávio Bolsonaro and current president Lula da Silva will face a second round of elections to determine Brazil's next president, with Bolsonaro currently holding a slight lead.
