Driving

• AI startup funding reached $510 billion in the first half of 2026, already surpassing the total investment recorded for the entire year of 2025. • The investment surge is primarily driven by a focus on critical infrastructure, semiconductor chips, robotics, and enterprise-level AI solutions. • This boom is fueled by growing commercial demand as businesses integrate AI tools into sectors such as healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, and manufacturing.

• South Korea has announced new AI initiatives involving $950 billion in partnerships with major industry players, including Samsung Electronics and SK Group. • The collaboration includes partnerships with U.S. tech firms to address the critical global shortage of high-speed chips required for advanced AI systems. • This move is significant as it aims to secure the hardware infrastructure necessary for global AI leaders to develop and power more sophisticated technology.

• French politician Laure Miller is championing Europe's first age-threshold law to restrict teenage social media access, driven by a desire to protect children from online harms. • France, Greece, Denmark, Italy, and Spain recently tested "zero knowledge proof technology," allowing users to verify their age via national ID apps without exchanging additional personal data. • This initiative signals a shift toward more stringent restrictions than those currently implemented by Australia, the primary mover in global social media bans.

• Diplomatic consultations were recently held in Cairo to address the strategic stability and security of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. • The meetings focused on the region's growing geopolitical importance, specifically regarding maritime security and international trade routes. • These discussions matter as the area faces increasing volatility, requiring coordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict and ensure economic flow.

• NASA is utilizing the SPHEREx mission to conduct an all-sky spectral survey of the galaxy to better understand the origins of the universe. • The mission aims to collect extensive data on over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars located within the Milky Way. • Astronaut Sunita Williams highlights that space exploration drives innovation and problem-solving by pushing humans to think beyond Earth's known physics.

Adelaide-based Olympian was banned from driving for five years over Melissa Hoskins’ 2023 deathFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer professional cyclist Rohan Dennis faces a jail sentence after admitting he drove while disqualified over the events leading up to the death of his Olympian wife, Melissa Hoskins.A judge had previously warned the former Olympian he would be jailed if he drove while banned. Continue reading...

• IBM shares plummeted over 25% on Tuesday after the company signaled that its second-quarter revenue would likely miss Wall Street expectations. • Preliminary results project quarterly revenue of $17.2 billion, falling short of the $17.86 billion estimate forecasted by analysts according to LSEG data. • The crash reflects investor disappointment over the company's inability to meet growth targets, impacting its overall market valuation.