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• The European Union is accelerating efforts to finalize its seven-year budget and climate change policies before France holds elections in 2027. • The Financial Times reports that Paris has issued warnings regarding the urgency of securing these key documents. • These agreements determine the long-term funding and environmental regulations that will impact businesses and governments across the EU member states.

• The Department of War and the National Institutes of Health signed an interagency agreement to develop medical countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases and CBRN threats. • The partnership focuses on research and development for pandemic influenza and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards. • This collaboration aims to strengthen the national ability to respond to large-scale health crises and weaponized biological or chemical attacks.

Minister calls for Instagram owner to extend sweeping new safeguards for young users to BritainUK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government expects the Instagram owner Meta to roll out the same protections for children in Britain as those it agreed in the US on Wednesday, as part of a court settlement that could cost the company up to $18bn (£13bn).Pat McFadden, Labour’s work and pensions secretary, said on Thursday that he did not want young people in the US to have “a higher rate of protection” than those in Britain, after Meta settled a lawsuit brought by dozens of US states accusing the company of harming children with dangerous products. Continue reading...

• The new leader of Iran’s top security body, Rezaei, has warned neighboring countries against participating in U.S.-led economic sanctions designed to squeeze Tehran's economy. • Rezaei accused the United States of increasing global nuclear insecurity and cautioned against deploying additional military personnel to the region. • The security chief vowed to overhaul Iran's diplomatic approach and develop new capabilities to prepare for what he termed the "next war."

• A federal judge ruled on Friday that several Arkansas laws restricting the process for citizens to place measures on the ballot are unconstitutional. • The court issued a permanent injunction against the enforcement of these laws after opponents argued they made the petition process nearly impossible to navigate. • The ruling is significant as it removes legal barriers that previously hindered direct democracy and citizen-led initiatives within the state.

• A new field called "tokenomics" is emerging as companies struggle to accurately measure the return on investment (ROI) for their AI spending. • The Linux Foundation's Tokenomics Foundation is working to establish industry-wide standards to help firms evaluate the financial impact of AI investments. • In the absence of standards, some firms are creating internal metrics, such as cybersecurity company Elisity's "bionic head count," which compares AI and human output against revenue.

• London Economics released a report in July 2026 titled "The benefits and costs of international higher education students to the UK economy." • Commissioned by the Higher Education Policy Institute, the analysis provides updated data on the economic impact of international students on UK residents and local communities. • The study is significant as it moves beyond headline figures to measure the specific financial contributions and costs associated with international recruitment.

• The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously to advance the Kids Online Safety Act, moving the legislation toward a potential full Senate floor vote. • The measure aims to enhance protections for children online after previously stalling in the House during the last Congress. • Parallel to this, Senator Kennedy and other Republicans, including Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, have raised concerns regarding the FCC's scrutiny of Disney and television networks.

• The European Union has informed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that Spain must implement special measures regarding the migration situation in Ceuta. • EU officials are demanding that Madrid share verified returns data following doubts over Spain's official claims regarding migrant deportations. • The move comes as leaders from Italy, France, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland express growing concerns over a potential regional migration crisis.

• Former Fed official Kevin Warsh highlighted significant discrepancies in how the Federal Reserve measures inflation, questioning whether the actual rate is 3.7% or 2.2%. • In separate retail news, Costco has reached a $14 million email settlement, allowing eligible customers to claim payments up to $500 by the August 24 deadline. • Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a warning during his latest earnings call regarding a potential "hundred year flood" in memory chip pricing.

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is threatening states with fines and legal charges if they fail to implement specific election security measures. • Required steps include securing voting machines and reviewing voter registration lists to verify the citizenship status of voters. • DHS official Mullin stated that the federal government will investigate voter rolls and hold election officials accountable for non-compliance.

• A public health emergency occurred in May 2026 involving the Bundibugyo virus (Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. • The disease is characterized by high mortality rates, yet it currently lacks licensed vaccines, approved therapeutics, and widespread diagnostic implementation. • This outbreak highlights a critical gap in medical countermeasures and a lack of understanding regarding the virus's reservoir ecology.

• Thailand has established four specific benchmarks to measure progress in Myanmar following talks between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterpart on July 12 in Bangkok. • The initiative is part of a "calibrated re-engagement" strategy designed to advance the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus through direct dialogue. • This move matters as it provides a structured framework to evaluate whether Myanmar is adhering to regional peace and stability agreements.

• A public health emergency occurred in May 2026 across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda due to an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease. • The disease, caused by *Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense*, is characterized by high mortality rates and a lack of understood reservoir ecology. • Current medical responses are hindered by limited diagnostic implementation and a total absence of licensed vaccines or therapeutics specifically approved for this species.

• NASA's Calibration Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory Pathfinder (CLARREO Pathfinder) successfully recorded its first measurements in space this summer. • The instrument is designed to provide high-accuracy calibration for Earth-observing satellites by measuring absolute radiance and refractivity. • This milestone is critical for improving the precision of climate data, allowing scientists to better detect long-term trends in Earth's radiation budget.

Exclusive: Demands include ban on cryptocurrency donations after controversies over Nigel Farage fundingUK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs are to rebel next week over the government’s reforms to political funding, pushing ministers to introduce tougher measures including a ban on cryptocurrency donations and much lower spending limits.MPs on the all-party, anti-corruption group are canvassing support for four amendments to the representation of the people bill that would significantly tighten the government’s plans. Continue reading...

• Over 100 international organizations are calling for stricter AI safety measures to protect children, arguing that AI companies—rather than parents—should bear the primary responsibility for safety. • The demand comes ahead of an upcoming United Nations summit, where the groups aim to influence global policy and regulatory frameworks regarding artificial intelligence. • This initiative highlights a growing concern over the potential risks AI poses to minors, including exposure to harmful content and data privacy violations.

• The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently announced methodological changes to how price changes are calculated across three subcategories of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation measure. • While the BEA asserts these adjustments are technically defensible, the timing is politically sensitive as inflation remains a primary concern for policymakers and the public. • These tweaks are significant because the PCE is a preferred inflation gauge for the Federal Reserve, and changes to its calculation can result in "sunnier" or lower reported inflation data.

• Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA) is expanding national cybersecurity measures to counter the rise of AI-driven threats. • Threat actors are leveraging AI to automate attacks, accelerate exploit development, and scale phishing campaigns, potentially reducing attack timelines from days to hours. • The CSA warns that while AI enhances threat detection and incident response, it also creates new attack surfaces and vulnerabilities within enterprise environments and Critical Information Infrastructure (CII).

• More than 100 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan have issued a joint appeal to the prime ministers of both nations. • The group is calling for meaningful and sustained efforts to restore peace, normalcy, and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries. • This initiative highlights a civil society push for "confidence building measures" to bridge the gap and restart official dialogue.

Barney Glover, head of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, says he will provide advice about degree funding to the government next yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe man tasked with reforming the controversial Job-ready Graduates (JRG) program says he will not recommend any interim measures to reduce the $50,000 cost of arts degrees, despite calling the scheme a failure.Under the scheme introduced by the Morrison government, costs for science and maths courses were slashed to encourage students to take up Stem subjects, while arts and humanities fees rose sharply. The change led to university enrolments of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds falling in some arts subjects, with critics warning of a “segregated” higher education system. Continue reading...

• The ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 have been established to recognize AI solutions that have transitioned from experimental phases to delivering measurable business results. • The awards focus on honoring products that demonstrate technical excellence, scalability, and real-world outcomes within India's enterprise sector. • This shift signifies a broader industry trend where business impact, rather than just technical novelty, is becoming the primary metric for AI innovation.

• The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, reached a three-year high in May. • This surge in prices indicates that inflation remains persistent, complicating the central bank's efforts to stabilize the economy. • The data suggests the Fed will likely keep interest rates steady for now, though the possibility of further rate hikes remains on the table if inflation does not dissipate.

Late-night vote came hours after US president berated GOP senators over opposition to the conflictSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenate Republicans rejected a war powers resolution in a late-night vote, hours after they were berated by Donald Trump over opposition to his controversial war on Iran.The US president was said to have harangued GOP senators during a lunch on Capitol Hill earlier on Wednesday. The previous day, they had angered the White House by allowing a vote to block Trump’s war in Iran. Continue reading...

Ofcom move follows concerns about misinformation and online claims over police response to Henry Nowak killingSocial media companies have been ordered to have emergency measures in place to stop illegal content going viral, as regulators battle to stop the type of misinformation spiral that circulated after the 2024 summer riots.Sites such as X, formerly Twitter, and TikTok will have to have a “crisis protocol” in place to intervene when the sharing of dangerous content begins to spike. Continue reading...

Announcement seeks to close a difficult chapter for the company after the Guardian revealed its platform was used in mass surveillance of PalestiniansMicrosoft has said it will tighten human rights controls when working with national security agencies after an inquiry into how the Israeli military used its cloud technology for the mass surveillance of Palestinians.On Thursday, Microsoft announced the completion of the inquiry and a series of new measures that include changes to how the company oversees employees with security clearances issued by foreign governments. Continue reading...

EU president Ursula von der Leyen says bloc will ‘keep increasing the pressure on Russia’ after drone hits apartment block in GalațiA Russian drone launched against Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in Galati in eastern Romania, a Nato country, leaving two people injured.Romania’s president Nicușor Dan has called a meeting of the national security council for this morning to discuss the response, saying he will “order proportionate measures.” Separately, Romania summoned the Russian ambassador.“What happened today in Galați is the direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression unleashed against Ukraine, the irresponsible and indiscriminate manner in which Moscow operates these weapon systems in the immediate vicinity of Nato borders, as well as the systematic disregard for international law. There is no ambiguity regarding the perpetrator or the cause of this aggression.”“Romania is a Nato member state and will not accept, in any way, the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine to be transferred on to its citizens.”“Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line. A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. On EU territory.” Continue reading...

• The European Union has concluded a consultation focused on establishing standardized methods for measuring AI energy consumption across training, inference, hardware, and performance indicators. • The initiative stems from Annex XI of the AI Act, which mandates that providers of general-purpose AI models document their known or estimated energy usage within technical documentation. • This effort targets a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including AI developers, deployers, and component or service suppliers, to ensure transparency in environmental impact.