TCL has been making its E Ink-inspired Nxtpaper phones for years, but it’s taken the company until now to realize that parents are a likely demographic for it. That’s finally been remedied with the Nxtpaper 5G Junior, a kids phone launching in Europe with a focus on eye health and screentime, which arrives alongside the more mainstream Nxtpaper 60 Ultra.
The Nxtpaper 5G Junior has been announced at the IFA trade show, but it won’t go on sale in Europe until December and will cost £159 / €249 (around $250). It will also include a protective case. So far, there are no plans for a US launch.
Like other recent Nxtpaper phones, the key selling point is a dedicated button that activates Max Ink Mode, which switches the matte display to a monochromatic mode that looks a lot like E Ink and is easier on the eyes for reading. The appeal to parents will be an extra way to manage screentime: not just a binary on / off, but an in-between option that’s better for kids’ eyes and not particularly well-suited to playing Fortnite. It extends the device’s battery life, too.
The phone includes a variety of parental controls powered by Google’s Family Link, along with a “Digital Detox” mode to encourage healthy phone use. TCL has also created a range of cutesy characters called the AI Genius Squad, which look like they’ve been lifted from a slightly subpar Pixar movie.
One immediate downside is that this is a pretty big phone. With a 6.7-inch screen and the included case, this will be a bulky, heavy device that might be a little tricky for smaller hands. It comes with 256GB of storage — enough for plenty of apps and games — and dual rear cameras.
TCL is also launching the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra, the first phone to ship with the latest Nxtpaper 4.0 tech, with reduced glare and display flicker. It’s even bigger, with a 7.2-inch display and has a triple rear camera, including a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, plus optional stylus support. It’s launching today in Europe from €449 (around $525), as well as Asia and Latin America.
CINEA has signed a grant agreement worth EUR 645.2 million under the CEF Energy programme to support the Danish side of the Bornholm Energy Island (BEI) Hybrid Offshore Interconnector – one of Europe’s most ambitious and strategic energy infrastructure projects.
The grant signature ceremony took place on 4 September 2025 in Copenhagen, during the Informal meeting of energy ministers, marking a significant step towards a more resilient, interconnected, and sustainable European energy system.
Connecting offshore wind to millions of consumers
Led by Energinet (Denmark) and 50Hertz (Germany), this innovative and visionary project will connect multiple wind farms together via a single offshore energy hub on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. From there, 3 GW of offshore green electricity will be brought onshore and distributed through Denmark and Germany, helping to power millions of homes and businesses with clean electricity.
To make this possible, CEF Energy is funding the construction of two new converter stations (one on Bornholm and one in Zealand), and the installation of an extensive submarine cable system of around 200 kilometres, complemented by a 17-kilometre onshore connection, between Zealand and Bornholm. This infrastructure will serve as a crucial bridge between offshore generation and consumers, enabling electricity to flow flexibly where it is needed most. This innovative setup supports energy security, price stability, and the integration of renewable energy on a much larger scale than before.
A milestone for Europe’s clean energy transition
As the world’s first hybrid direct current interconnector, the Bornholm Energy Island project represents a new era of energy cooperation in Europe. By pooling offshore generation and connecting national grids, offshore wind energy is no longer harvested by individual countries alone. This cooperation will create a stronger, more flexible energy network capable of adapting to demand, keeping energy prices stable, and supporting Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA, said:
“The Bornholm Energy Island interconnector is a landmark project for Europe’s clean energy transition. By supporting this initiative with one of the largest EU contributions under CEF Energy, we are demonstrating CINEA’s continued commitment to boosting cross-border cooperation, integrating offshore renewables at scale, and ensuring a secure, independent, affordable and sustainable energy supply for European citizens and businesses.”
CEF Energy driving Europe’s future
This major EU contribution illustrates how CEF Energy funding is driving Europe’s energy transition, investing directly in infrastructure that connects clean energy to consumers, strengthens Europe’s competitiveness, and secures a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supply. By supporting projects of common interest like Bornholm Energy Island, CEF Energy plays a crucial role in delivering the EU’s energy and climate objectives and building the next generation of European energy infrastructure.
More information
More information on the project is available on its website.
Baseus has announced a new accessory that can wirelessly charge a Qi2-compatible smartphone directly on an outlet, making it useful as a hands-free wall mount. It’s reminiscent of a similar wireless charger that Zens released last year, but Baseus’ new EnerGeek GT01 has additional functionality, including a 10,000mAh battery that can be separated from the adapter’s AC plug for use as a portable power bank and wireless charger, leaving behind a simple 27W USB-C charger still stuck in the wall.
Wireless charging is limited to Qi2 rates so your phone will only charge at 15W instead of the faster 25W that you’ll get from new Qi2.2 chargers. If you’re in a hurry to revive a dying phone, or want to charge a device that’s not Qi-compatible, the EnerGeek GT01 also has a USB-C port that outputs 45W on the device’s power bank half. The Qi2 pad and both USB-C ports can all be used simultaneously when the two halves are connected, but while wireless charging will maintain a steady 15W rate, the two USB ports will dynamically share the remaining available power.
Rounding out the novelties is a small LCD display on one side that shows the battery’s remaining charge level and an estimate of how many hours and minutes are left before it’s fully depleted based on what’s currently drawing power.
It’s expected to launch later this year for $89.99, which is a bit pricey for a 10,000mAh power bank — even with wireless charging capabilities (Anker has one for $60). You’re paying a premium for the convenience of fewer cables and adapters.
From well-being to energy efficiency, Bespoke AI, Vision AI, and Galaxy AI transform the way we live and connect.
9/4/2025
At Innovation For All (IFA) 2025, Samsung Electronics showcased its vision for “AI Home: Future Living, Now”. Samsung’s AI Home aims to be a reality people can experience today — not just in the future — and one designed for everyone, not just a select few.
“At Samsung, we’re not just imagining the future of AI; we’re building it into everyday life. Samsung’s AI Home moves beyond smart devices to homes that truly understand you, adapt to your needs, and care for what matters most,” said Cheolgi Kim (CK), Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Appliances (DA) Business. “This is the beginning of a new era – where technology supports your life in the background so that you can live it more fully.”
The Samsung AI Home experience is designed to make everyday living more convenient, efficient, healthy, and safe.
Samsung research1 reveals that 66% of consumers find the idea of an AI-enabled home appealing, with many envisioning streamlined daily tasks (44%) and greater control via phone or voice commands (45%). AI Home, with SmartThings automated routines, delivers on this vision – automating lighting, temperature, and even syncing blinds with the weather for effortless living2.
The home is a sanctuary for 93% of people and a social hub for 80%. As families spend more time together, AI Home enhances shared moments with wellness checks, personalized sleep settings, and nutrition planning.
Energy efficiency is one of the main benefits consumers look for from AI. 66% believe an AI enabled home can help track costs and save money. With SmartThings Energy, AI Home can reduce washing machine energy use by up to 70%34.
Security remains critical, with 40% expecting AI to improve home protection through timely alerts. Samsung Knox Vault safeguards sensitive data at the hardware level, while Knox Matrix extends protection across connected devices with ecosystem-wide security5.
Bespoke AI Enhances AI Capabilities
The latest Samsung Bespoke AI appliances have taken AI features to a new level, offering a better living experience in both the kitchen and other spaces:
Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra: Upgraded with improved AI Object Recognition6, it can now detect liquids8, even transparent ones.
Bespoke AI Washer: AI Wash+ enables a laundry experience that better fits your clothes. It clears the minimum threshold for a Grade A in energy efficiency testing by 65%8.
Bespoke AI Dishwasher: AI Wash optimizes the cleaning cycle based on how dirty the dishes are9, and Auto Open Door allows steam to escape, accelerating the drying process.
Extractor Induction Cooktop: Integrating the extractor into the cooktop maximizes kitchen space.
Vision AI Companion Enables Conversational Viewing
Samsung Vision AI Companion is your trusted TV companion – allowing you to engage naturally with your Samsung TV and receive human-like responses – redefining personalized home entertainment. Pursuing an open platform approach, Samsung is strengthening its partnerships with global AI technology leaders, including Google, Microsoft and Perplexity, to further extend the platform’s functionality.
Other highlights include:
Micro RGB TV: The world’s first10 display to feature a micro-scale RGB LED backlight behind a super big 115-inch screen, achieving an industry-first 100% of the BT.2020 color standard11.
The Movingstyle: A portable touchscreen TV with built-in battery, integrated handle and soft-wheeled floor stand – perfect for any room or on the go.
Samsung Sound Tower: Powerful, portable sound with an up to 18-hour battery12. You can strengthen the party mood with customizable lighting and sound effects via the dedicated app.
Galaxy AI Expands with New Devices
Starting with the Galaxy S24 series and a commitment to democratize Galaxy AI to over 200 million devices in 2024, Samsung Galaxy has defined a new era of mobile AI innovation.
Now, the latest Galaxy AI experience comes to new products, designed to ensure a seamless mobile experience on a wider range of devices with multimodal capabilities.
By the end of 2025, Samsung aims to bring the Galaxy AI experience to over 400 million devices worldwide.
Experience Future Living, Now at IFA 2025
The Samsung exhibition at IFA will be open from September 5 – 9 at the CityCube, Berlin.
Samsung Electronics is also showcasing a large-scale media art installation created in collaboration with world-renowned digital artist Maotik on a massive 50-meter-wide digital façade at the entrance of the exhibition hall.
The video, themed around “wind,” features dynamic waves formed by the organic movement of data, symbolizing how Samsung’s AI technology contributes to enhancing everyday life for its customers.
For more information on the products mentioned within this release, please visit Samsung.com.
1 All consumer statistics referenced in this release are sourced from EO CMI Quantitative Survey, UK/DE/FR, consumers owning 1+ smart home appliances or devices, sample 1200.
2 Requires a wireless network, a Samsung account and the Samsung SmartThings App. AI Home routines must be manually set up by the user before AI Home can assist with their automation.
3 Savings amount estimated based on tests performed by Samsung. Estimated savings may differ from users actual savings. https://www.samsung.com/uk/home-appliances/smartthings/energy/#energy
4 Wi-Fi connection, Samsung account and SmartThings required. Can be applied when the selected washing temperature is 20~40°C. Max saving results from washing a 40 degree cycle as a cold wash. Savings based on internal testing on the WW11BB944AGB model in normal usage conditions. Results: Power consumption without AI Energy Mode = 0.539 KWh. Power consumption with AI Energy Mode = 0.145 KWh. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions.
6 Based on our deep learning model trained using a predefined set of data and may yield incomplete or incorrect information. New datasets may be introduced to our learning model from time to time to enhance its accuracy. Object recognition may be affected by an object’s shape or the environmental conditions. Only certain object types can be recognized. Stained Area Recognition needs to be activated beforehand via the SmartThings App. A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account are required.
7 A liquid spill is defined as a colored or transparent liquid, such as water or juice, having a size of 7cm x 7cm (15 ml in volume) or larger. Identification may be affected by the size of the liquid or the environmental conditions of the floor, such as the floor pattern, color of the floor, direct or reflected light, or shape of the liquid. Excessive amount of liquid on the floor may cause secondary contamination.
8 Based on Samsung internal testing. The energy consumption of this 9kg model is EEI 18.2, which is 65% more energy efficient compared to the minimum threshold of energy efficiency class A (EEI 52 for 9kg models). Energy ratings tested with Eco 40-60 program, 65% savings tested with the Eco 40-60 program.
9 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.
10 Each Red, Green, and Blue LED backlight is the smallest available in any RGB LED TV.
11 VDE’s verification evaluates products based on the test criteria established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for UHD (4K) color standards, BT2020, and certifies Micro RGB Color 100%.
12 18 hours of battery tested with lighting off and at volume level of 12~13.
Kelli Lehto, Associate Professor of Neuropsychiatric Genomics at the University of Tartu, is leading a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grant project that brings together genetics, psychology, and data science to investigate the causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and enhance diagnostic methods.
ADHD is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental condition, which has been primarily diagnosed in children and is characterised by impulsivity, hyperactivity and attention problems. Recently, an increasing number of adults are being diagnosed with ADHD. According to data from the Estonian Biobank over the past five years, the number of ADHD diagnosed among adults has multiplied. This trend is also confirmed by international studies.
According to Lehto, the rapid increase in the number of diagnoses suggests that symptoms characteristic of ADHD – such as restlessness and difficulties with concentration, planning, and completing tasks – are affecting a growing number of adults. While ADHD has been thoroughly studied in children, the causes and mechanisms behind the increasingly common adult ADHD remain unknown.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that, in adults, ADHD symptoms often significantly overlap with those of many other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. These problems can also arise due to environmental factors like fatigue and stress. “However, existing data suggest that ADHD is associated with a large number of specific gene variants, which are not yet used in diagnosis but could prove to be very helpful,” Lehto explained, referring to the issue that inspired her research project.
Genetics related to ADHD
Over the next five years, Lehto’s research group plans to investigate the causes of adult ADHD-related issues using genetic data alongside environmental and lifestyle information, including data on the use of smart devices. In addition to the University of Tartu Estonian Biobank, the analysis will also draw on data from biobanks in Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The study will focus on the genetics of ADHD symptoms to determine which traits are most strongly linked to ADHD genetically, and which may stem from other factors.
Lehto acknowledges that the tools currently available to doctors do not allow for sufficiently accurate differentiation between mental health conditions.
Currently, no diagnostic biomarkers are used in psychiatry. All diagnoses are still based primarily on what the patient reports.”
Kelli Lehto, Associate Professor of Neuropsychiatric Genomics, University of Tartu
More accurate diagnostic methods
The ultimate goal of the project is to develop an innovative tool for more precise identification of adult ADHD. Using machine learning methods, the team will analyse questionnaire data on hundreds of mental health symptoms, lifestyle and personality traits to identify clusters of symptoms that are strongly associated with genetic risk for ADHD. Based on these findings, the research group aims to create a more accurate screening questionnaire that could help diagnose adult ADHD without the need for costly genetic testing. “This is where the innovation of our project lies. The result will be a novel biology-based assessment tool that will hopefully make it possible to more accurately identify adults who were not diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and who can finally receive the appropriate treatment for their lifelong problems. Even more importantly, this approach could also help to better identify other mental health conditions that are currently difficult to distinguish,” Lehto explained.
The research project has a budget of nearly €1.5 million, funded by the European Commission. European Research Council grants are among the most prestigious in the scientific world. The competition attracted over 3,928 proposals,12% of which were funded.
Nearly a decade ago, a reserve batch of Canada’s Crown Royal whisky struck awe in the hearts of critics. “To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice,” wrote the British reviewer Jim Murray, adding that the company’s upmarket offering took rye to “new heights of beauty and complexity”.
But earlier this week, holding a hulking glass bottle in front of a gaggle of cameras, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, slowly poured the hazel liquid on to the ground.
“This is what I think of Crown Royal,” he said, standing defiantly next to the puddle. He said the company’s owners were “a few fries short of a Happy Meal” and “dumb as a bag of hammers”.
For months, staff at liquor stores across Canada have dutifully kept American wines and spirits off the shelves, retaliation for a trade war provoked by Donald Trump. Sales of US brands have cratered and executives have fretted over the “significant headwinds” from the boycotts which have seen millions of dollars in sales slip away.
This week, the multinational owners of Crown Royal provoked the wrath of Ford – head of Canada’s most economically powerful province – when they announced plans to shutter its plant in Ontario and move operations to the US.
Ford, who has emerged as one of Canada’s fiercest critics of US protectionism, said the planned move was a betrayal and called on others to dump the product in protest.
“They’re sitting around, just absolutely as smug as they come … they’re hurting Ontario residents,” Ford said of the company’s executives. “A message to the CEO in France: you hurt my people, I’m gonna hurt you. You’re gonna feel the pain in February when these people don’t have a pay cheque.”
The Canadian whisky, first introduced 86 years ago to mark a visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, has long stressed its roots in both domestic and international advertising. Sold in a distinct purple cloth bag with gold stitching, the drink is made with Canadian grains and water from Manitoba’s Lake Winnipeg. While it was initially only available in Canada, a decision to sell it south of the border in the 1960s has made it the top-selling Canadian whisky in the US.
Once part of the Seagram empire, the brand was acquired in 2001 by Diageo, the London-based multinational company, when the Canadian beverage and entertainment conglomerate collapsed.
Its Northern Harvest Rye was named the 2016 World Whisky of the Year, the first time a Canadian whisky had ever received the honour.
Production has remained in Canada for decades, but last week, Diageo said it would shift its bottling operations to the US in February. The move will cost 200 jobs but has taken on outsized political importance amid the backdrop of trade war between Canada and the US.
A spokesperson for Diageo said the company’s “focus at this time remains on their commitment to Canada”, adding: “Crown Royal will continue to be mashed, distilled, and aged in Canada, just as it has been since 1939.”
Still, the decision has faced strong criticism from Ontario provincial lawmakers. Lisa Gretzky, a New Democratic party member, says the government should pull the whisky from provincial liquor stores – something Ford has said is possible.
“We’re not going to stand by and let you just try and squeeze a little more money out for those wealthy shareholders at the risk of 200 people in our community,” she told local media.
Canada is the largest importer of US wine and the second largest export market for US spirits, with sales totalling $221m last year, according to the US Distilled Spirits Council.
According to Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s, sales to Canada dropped 62% during the latest fiscal quarter compared with last year. The company’s chief finance officer said the “significant headwinds” in global trade, including Canada’s boycott, had “had a significant impact on our first quarter of fiscal 2026, which will impact our full fiscal year results”.
In recent weeks, Canada has made conciliatory gestures to the US in an attempt to move past the trade impasse. Mark Carney said his government would drop retaliatory tariffs against the US in order to help the two countries reach a trade deal.
But Canada’s provinces appear resistant to caving on the liquor boycott.
Alberta and Saskatchewan lifted moratoriums on buying and selling US liquor in June and remain the only two provinces which stock US drinks.
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island said they have no plans to bring wine and spirits back until US tariffs are dropped.
“It’s still going to be banned until they cut the tariffs, or we make a deal with them,” said Ford. “It’s not coming on our shelves.”
BEIJING, Sept. 4 — China on Thursday issued a set of guidelines to unleash the consumption potential of the sports economy, as part of broader efforts to drive the high-quality development of related industries.
By 2030, China plans to cultivate a batch of sports companies and events with global influence, propelling its domestic sports industry to a scale of over 7 trillion yuan (about 985.2 billion U.S. dollars), per the guidelines, which were issued by the General Office of the State Council.
The guidelines outline 20 measures in six fields, including those related to the expansion of the supply of sports products and events, the boosting of sports consumption, support for sports businesses, and the cultivation of new growth drivers in relevant industries.
Specific measures include those to develop the outdoor sports industry, boost the snow-and-ice economy, upgrade sports equipment, expand consumer scenarios, and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
The guidelines also urge efforts to improve the digitalization of sports industries, and to step up support for talent, financing and services in those industries.
Virgin Music Group has appointed industry executive Cindy Gu as general manager of Southeast Asia.
In her new role, Gu will oversee Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam for Virgin Music Group. Gu will be based in Virgin Music Group’s Singapore offices.
“Cindy has a long track record of building successful businesses throughout Asia,” said JT Myers, co-CEO of Virgin Music Group. “An entrepreneur herself, she knows first-hand what it takes to build successful independent music businesses and will be a valuable partner to entrepreneurs in one of the world’s most important high growth regions.”
“Virgin Music Group is an incredible global brand and a powerful partner to independent labels and artists,” said Cindy Gu. “I am excited to work with Nat, JT, Michael Roe and the rest of the Virgin leadership team to further establish the company’s influence and success throughout the Southeast Asia region.”
Gu has joined Virgin after serving as managing director of Fabled Records, a joint venture between Live Nation and UMG’s Astralwerks Records. At Fabled, Gu led artist signings, strategic growth initiatives and overall operations.
“With over a decade in electronic music across both major labels and independent ventures, Gu has been a driving force behind some of Asia’s most globally successful releases, championing regional talent with world-class resources,” said a statement.
Her portfolio includes Indonesia’s breakout hit Lathi by Weird Genius (500 million streams); the Indo-Thai crossover Future Ghost by Weird Genius & Violette Wautier (50 million streams); Singapore producer Myrne’s collaboration with US artist Shallou, Falling Back; and the K-pop dance crossover Way Back Home by Sam Feldt, Shaun and Conor Maynard, which has surpassed two billion streams worldwide.
She signed and developed these projects while holding senior leadership roles across Asia at Fabled, Astralwerks and WMG’s Spinnin’ Records.
Gu has joined Liza Fuady, regional director at Virgin Music Group SEA, who has spearheaded the region’s commercial strategy and business growth in the past 15 months. Fuady will continue to be based in Jakarta and report to Gu.
For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter
Certification affirms Samsung’s strength in device security and data protection, meeting Europe’s IoT security standard
Samsung Electronics has announced that two series of robot vacuum cleaners, the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam[1] and the Bespoke Jet Bot Combo,[2] and Bespoke AI Refrigerators[3] have received IoT security certification from TÜV Nord, a global certification organisation based in Germany.
This marks the first time Samsung’s digital appliances have received TÜV Nord security certification, further underscoring the company’s leadership in both home appliance technology and data security.
“As the global focus on smart home security intensifies, Samsung continues to deliver robust protection through our Knox security platform,” said Jeong Seung Moon, Executive Vice President and Head of the R&D Team for Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “This certification validates the strength of our security technologies, and we will continue to enhance differentiated protection to safeguard customer data.”
TÜV Nord is a globally renowned institution, acknowledged as an IECEE-accredited National Certification Body. The certification is based on the ETSI EN 303 645 standard, established by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), which defines security and privacy requirements across the lifecycle of consumer IoT devices — from design and development to distribution and operation. Key criteria include data encryption, authentication and access control, secure software updates, personal data protection and vulnerability management.
The European market is already tightening security requirements with updates to the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and upcoming implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Against this backdrop, TÜV Nord certification demonstrates Samsung’s readiness to meet evolving international standards and its commitment to protecting users in connected environments.
Samsung has strengthened its home appliances with a wide range of Knox security technologies that safeguard user data through multiple layers of protection. These include the verification of unauthorised firmware modifications when the device is turned on. Additionally, all monitoring video footage and user commands from the robot cleaner are encrypted and only decrypted at their intended destination.[4]
The certified 2025 Bespoke AI Refrigerators and the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam further enhance security capabilities by integrating Knox Matrix and Knox Vault. Knox Matrix enables mutual security checks between devices, ensuring users are promptly alerted in the event of data theft risks. Knox Vault secures sensitive personal information, such as passwords, by processing and storing it on a dedicated hardware subsystem.
The Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam will be unveiled at IFA 2025 in September. The Bespoke Jet Bot Combo and Bespoke AI Refrigerators already being rolled out in select markets globally.
Availability in country and price on request.
[1] VR90F*******, VR80F*******, VR70F******* [2] VR7MD97****/**, VR7MD96****/** [3] RM90F**B***, RF90F**A***, RF90F**E***, RM90F**C**, RM90F**D**, RM90F**E**, RM90F**X*, RF90F**B***, RF**DB99***, RF**DB95***, RF**DG9H*** [4] Available on Samsung devices running Android 11 or later, and may not work on some devices.
