Google introduces Gemini Spark, an AI agent, in Hong Kong, enabling users to manage complex digital workflows without VPNs, leveraging native integration with Google Workspace.
Google is rolling out its Play Signal API globally by 2026, starting with Australia and Canada in mid-August, to help Android developers provide safer experiences for younger users without accessing personal data.
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) debuts on Shanghai exchange with a 466% share price surge, achieving a market capitalisation of 3.28 trillion yuan, surpassing all mainland China onshore listings. The semiconductor firm's unprecedented trading volume exceeded 140 billion yuan, prompting regulatory meetings to address market stability concerns.
Decentralized exchange aggregator Odos Protocol announced its shutdown, giving users until July 30 to withdraw assets. The team did not provide a rationale, but the protocol's volume declined significantly from a peak of $7.8 billion in December 2024 to $169 million in July 2026.
The Unite union is pressuring the UK government to award a £2.4bn military satellite contract to European manufacturer Airbus, rather than US rival Lockheed Martin, to protect up to 600 jobs in Stevenage and Portsmouth. The decision is seen as a test of Labour's pledge to back British industry.
UK homes are ill-equipped for rising temperatures, with past policy failures like the Green Homes Grant exacerbating the issue. London's mayor proposes a heat-ready plan, but its implementation faces significant public investment challenges amidst political quietness on the climate crisis.
Google has been fined a total of €890m by the EU for breaching online competition laws under the Digital Markets Act. The European Commission cited Google's prioritization of its own services in search results and restrictions on app developers from steering consumers to cheaper offers.
The EU fined Google's parent company Alphabet €890 million for two Digital Markets Act violations: preferential treatment of its own products in search results and blocking Android developers from offering alternative payment options. Google has 60 days to comply or face further penalties.
Judy Bain, 81, discovered her grandfather was aviation pioneer Arthur Whitten Brown, who completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight. Her mother, Elsie Barber, gave her up for adoption after a wartime affair with Brown's son, Buster, who died on D-day.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has withdrawn its appeal to use two rural Pennsylvania warehouses as detention centers, abandoning a plan that was blocked by the state's denial of water permits due to inadequate local services. Governor Josh Shapiro stated the sites were unsuitable and posed risks.
Alphabet's Q2 revenue rose 24% to $119.8B, beating expectations, but earnings (excluding a $99B equity gain) missed due to high capital spending, causing a 3% after-hours stock drop.
Tesla reported Q2 2026 earnings, showing a 26% revenue increase to $28.2 billion and 25% higher vehicle deliveries at 480,126 units year-over-year. Despite exceeding revenue expectations, the company posted a negative free cash flow of $1.1 billion due to significant investments in AI, robotics, and manufacturing, while facing ongoing FSD safety concerns.
Substack integrated Pangram's AI detection software, allowing users to scan content for AI-generated text. This move aims to build trust and combat "AI slop," though it might initially expose AI use in newsletters.
Queensland's Liberal National government buried a report by domestic violence victim-survivors that criticized police handling of cases and advocated for civilian review mechanisms, despite promises to prioritize victims in justice policies.
The final album, "The Final Painting," by under-the-radar US psych-folk artist Ed Askew, who died a year ago at 84, is being released posthumously this month. Askew's unique artistry influenced contemporary musicians like Bill Callahan and Sharon Van Etten, despite his lack of mainstream acclaim.
The NSW government has launched an Aboriginal family preservation program with a $350m investment to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in out-of-home care. Co-designed with First Nations families and ACCOs, the program offers culturally safe support and is already showing success at Abcare in Coffs Harbour.
Goldman Sachs has introduced a new alternative investments platform to offer wealthy clients and family offices direct stakes in fast-growing private companies, including those benefiting from the AI investment boom, and to facilitate secondary market transactions for private holdings.
Powerball lottery ticket sales will begin in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, allowing UK players to compete for the same large jackpots as US players. This expansion, a first for Powerball outside the US, is a result of an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK.
Malaysia's Cybercrimes Bill 2026 passed both houses of Parliament, replacing the 1997 Computer Crimes Act. The bill addresses a surge in online fraud, with 8,014 charges recorded between January and May this year, surpassing 2025 figures.
Andy Burnham has entered 10 Downing Street as the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade, receiving warm congratulations from world leaders like Macron, Merz, von der Leyen, Meloni, Trump, Zelenskyy, and Albanese. However, international media largely focused on the immense challenges he faces, including economic instability and fiscal constraints.
Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez spoke publicly for the first time since his team's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, expressing pride in representing his country despite the defeat and his red card. He thanked fans for their unconditional support.
Smartglasses, like Meta's, are sparking privacy fears due to their potential for covert filming, especially of children, and the risk of AI-generated abuse material. While offering benefits for users like parents and blind people, the technology poses significant regulatory challenges for manufacturers and lawmakers.
The Model Context Protocol (MCP), a key component for AI interoperability, is set to receive a significant update next week. This change, particularly in how session IDs are handled, aims to make it easier and cheaper for AI agents to connect securely to external data sources and services at scale, addressing current infrastructure challenges.
Spain secured a deserved World Cup victory against Argentina in New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the sole goal. The match marked a somber occasion for Lionel Messi, whose third World Cup final is widely considered his last, as Argentina offered little beyond resistance.
