UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham cut VAT on household electricity to zero from October 2026, saving the average household about 45 pounds a year in his first major economic policy. The 850 million pound measure is funded by cancelling the Digital ID programme.

Google released three new Gemini AI models on Monday, including Gemini 3.6 Flash and the ultra-fast 3.5 Flash-Lite, both designed for efficiency and cost reduction. A third model, Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber, is restricted to governments for cybersecurity applications.

France became the first European Union country to formally ban social media for children under 15 after parliament completed the vote on Tuesday. Major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Meta are now legally required to verify and block underage users before the new school year begins.

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. froze over $1 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to California and Minnesota, citing a fraud review with no specific cases disclosed. Both Democratic states said no evidence was presented and vowed to pursue legal challenges.

An Israeli airstrike killed six members of a Palestinian family in Gaza City, the Gaza Health Ministry confirmed. The deaths pushed the toll since October's ceasefire to 1,144 as Israeli operations across the strip continue and talks to restore the truce remain stalled.

General Motors is returning gas vehicles to the Cadillac lineup, ending the brand's all-electric positioning as US luxury EV demand falls short of projections. The move follows GM's Q2 results showing 43% North America profit growth driven by combustion trucks and SUVs.

One in three people globally cannot afford a healthy diet, according to the 2026 UN State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. The annual assessment found 733 million people still experiencing hunger and the 2030 zero-hunger target now considered out of reach.

Wednesday marks the single most anticipated seasonal shift of July 2026. The Sun crosses into Leo, officially ending Cancer season and inaugurating a month of fiery confidence, creative ambition, and heightened visibility for every zodiac sign. What makes this particular Leo season extraordinary is the presence of Jupiter, already stationed in the sign of ...

Ukrainian drones struck two Wildberries logistics warehouses near Moscow on Monday night, killing at least eight people and leaving marketplace sellers facing more than $1 billion in losses. Reuters confirmed the Kremlin acknowledged the attack on Russia's largest e-commerce platform.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at its London Unpacked event this week, delivering its largest camera and battery upgrade yet in a foldable phone that costs $1,999 to start. The timing puts Samsung's best foldable in direct competition with Apple's first, expected in September.

A US federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday halting the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger through August 3, delivering the most serious legal blow to a deal already facing antitrust challenges from 12 state AGs and the Writers Guild of America.

Israel has built a 23-kilometer earthen barrier through central Gaza along the October ceasefire line, Planet Labs satellite imagery confirms. With Hamas refusing to demilitarize and talks stalled, the berm near Maghazi camp raises questions about the permanence of a divided territory.

The first Avengers: Doomsday trailer broke viewing records within three hours of release, revealing Doctor Doom's full armor, Steve Rogers lifting Mjolnir, and the X-Men joining the MCU. The Russo Brothers-directed film opens December 18, 2026.

Walt Disney Co. is cutting several hundred jobs at Pixar, ESPN, and National Geographic in its third round of layoffs in 2026. Pixar bears the brunt as the studio shifts to a 'long and lean' model after Hoppers underperformed at the box office.

An estimated two million people lined Madrid's streets Tuesday as Spain brought the FIFA World Cup home, days after beating Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium. Lamine Yamal sang Bad Bunny from the open-top bus as Spain climbed to number one in the FIFA world rankings.

Kaylee Hottle, who played deaf child Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and the 2024 sequel, died in a Maryland car accident Tuesday at 18. She was one of the first deaf actresses to lead a major Hollywood franchise, and her portrayal brought rare visibility to deaf representation in cinema.

Rich Paul declared Monday that the teams pursuing LeBron James have done enough, signaling the 41-year-old's 2026 NBA free agency is entering its final chapter. James is weighing the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers with no stated deadline on his decision.

Hungarian prosecutors raided Fidesz party data centers Tuesday in an embezzlement probe, the first major criminal investigation of Orbn's party since PM Pter Magyar took office. The raid is the sharpest sign yet that Hungary's post-Orbn institutions have broken from their maker.

Tesla is set to report Q2 2026 earnings with more than $25 billion in AI spending and negative free cash flow expected all year. Investors are demanding FSD milestones, Optimus production data, and energy division growth to validate Elon Musk's autonomous driving and robotics bet.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Tuesday that Washington may sanction China over AI model IP theft, as Kimi K3 from Moonshot AI draws scrutiny over training data. The statement marks the first time a senior US Treasury official has connected AI IP concerns to the sanctions toolkit.

Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan-born man, died under police restraint in Bologna's Pilastro district Sunday, with video showing him pleading for help before losing consciousness. Six people, including two police officers and four ambulance workers, are now under manslaughter investigation.

General Motors reported Q2 revenue of $48 billion and raised full-year guidance Tuesday, with North American profits jumping 43 percent on strong truck and SUV demand. Adjusted EBIT of $3.9 billion exceeded estimates as the company maintained its quarterly dividend at $0.18 per share.

The Pan Am Clipper Endeavor, missing since 1952 with 52 people aboard, has been found on the Atlantic floor off Puerto Rico by Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown. The Boeing Stratocruiser vanished without a distress call on Easter weekend, ending a 74-year aviation mystery.

Andy Burnham appointed former Defence Secretary John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday, sending defence shares higher and signalling that Britain's commitment to higher military spending will remain central to his government's economic priorities.

Carl Icahn's Icahn Enterprises has agreed to sell the Pep Boys auto-service chain to Mavis Discount Tire for $700 million in cash, the Wall Street Journal reported, combining two of the largest independent vehicle service networks in the United States in a deal that values Pep Boys at roughly half what Icahn paid for it a decade ago.