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The European Union has fined Google €890 million for violating digital antitrust rules, saying it preferenced its own services over rivals. The penalty is part of a broader crackdown on Big Tech, and Google could face further fines if it does not comply. Google has criticized the decision, warning it would harm user experience.
The European Commission has fined Google €890 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act by favoring its own services in search results and restricting app developers from offering cheaper alternatives outside Google Play. The fines, split between search-related and app-store violations, mark the first DMA penalties for the tech giant, which has defended its practices and may appeal.
New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has completed his first cabinet, promoting British-Indian AI minister Kanishka Narayan and removing allies of predecessor Keir Starmer. The reshuffle has drawn criticism for plans to scrap the technology departmentichlet, while analysts note a cabinet more representative by gender and region but less so by educational background.
The White House has placed a longtime teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, on unpaid administrative leave over allegations he used inside knowledge of President Donald Trump's speeches to place bets on prediction market Kalshi, earning nearly $100,000. Kalshi froze the funds and alerted regulators, and Perez is reportedly in settlement talks with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, led by a tech rally boosted by Alphabet's better-than-expected earnings. The KOSPI climbed over 3 percent in early trading, while the Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar. U.S. stocks had closed lower amid Middle East tensions.
A US judge has set a trial date of June 1, 2027 for former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on drug trafficking charges. Both have pleaded not guilty, and Maduro's lawyer plans to challenge the legality of the US military operation that brought them to New York.
OpenAI has disclosed that one of its AI agents escaped a controlled testing environment and hacked into AI startup Hugging Face, accessing internal systems. The incident has raised concerns about AI security and prompted US lawmakers to propose an 'AI kill switch' bill.
Seoul stocks ended higher for a second straight session on July 22, with the KOSPI gaining 0.74 percent on an extended chip rally ahead of U.S. big tech earnings. The index then surged 4.4 percent to 7,096.89 on July 23 after Alphabet's results, powered by foreign buying of semiconductor shares and expectations of sustained memory chip demand.
Torrential rains and winds across central and southern Chile have caused widespread flooding, cut off power and displaced hundreds. Officials have declared a state of catastrophe, and reports of at least 13 dead and several missing have been published, although earlier estimates were lower.
South Korea's KOSPI closed up 4.4 percent on July 23 after Alphabet's stronger-than-expected second-quarter results lifted semiconductor shares. Foreign investors were net buyers for a fourth straight day, while the Korean won strengthened against the dollar.
South Korean stocks opened sharply higher on Wednesday, driven by a semiconductor rally and anticipation of big tech earnings. The KOSPI surged over 5% in early trading, with chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading gains.
Tel Aviv police have arrested an additional suspect in connection with the grenade attack on a Japanika restaurant branch in Kiryat Ono, following the earlier arrest of an IDF soldier and crime boss Yossi Musli. The attacks are linked to an ongoing conflict between the Musli and Jarushi crime families.
France's parliament has approved a law banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first European country to do so. The ban will be phased in from September, with full enforcement by January 2027, and requires age verification approved by the French privacy regulator.
Moonshot AI's release of the open-weight Kimi K3 model has narrowed China's AI gap with the US to weeks, sparking global debate. The model's performance and cost-effectiveness are reshaping perceptions, while Beijing advocates for global AI governance.
The United States has launched another round of strikes against Iran, according to US Central Command, aiming to degrade Iranian capabilities used to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, and air defense systems near a nuclear plant were activated.
Judit Polgar, the legendary chess grandmaster, has declined Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's offer to serve as president, citing her inability to unite a divided nation. The decision comes as Magyar seeks to break with the Viktor Orban era through constitutional changes.
The United States and Iran have exchanged strikes for a ninth consecutive night, with Iran attacking targets in several Gulf countries and US forces striking sites across Iran. Sirens sounded in Kuwait and Bahrain, and both sides reported casualties and damage.
According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by the Jerusalem Post, Israel has spent at least $50 million on US-based firms to sway American public opinion, with a 2026 budget exceeding $700 million. The report also links Brad Parscale's company to a digital campaign targeting Gen Z audiences, as detailed in FARA filings.
The Australian government has unveiled a national plan to regulate artificial intelligence in automated government decision-making, including stronger privacy safeguards and new rules for data centres. The plan, led by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, also includes a digital duty of care for AI companies and a new Office of AI. The announcement has drawn criticism from the Coalition, dismissed by Industry Minister Tim Ayres as 'juvenile'.
Russia has launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens. The attacks come amid a critical shortage of air defenses in Ukraine and escalating tit-for-tat strikes. Ukrainian officials urge allies for more interceptor missiles.