Online

• European ministers have agreed to implement new measures to combat online misinformation following a crisis in Ceuta. • To improve shared situational awareness, member states plan to develop early-warning systems, including social media monitoring and pre-frontier intelligence. • EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, called for increased international cooperation to dismantle powerful smuggling networks.

• Kidtopia Mini Stations have opened educational play areas at GH Mall through August 31 and at Estancia until September 30. • Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi will share her personal experiences and challenges in a new reality docuseries titled "Celeste Unscripted." • The six-part series is available for streaming on Spotify, with new episodes releasing every Monday at 8 p.m. Korea time.

• Indian tennis is transitioning to a digital-first approach with the launch of a new integrated online platform to streamline operations. • In international golf, 54 players from 11 different countries, including China, South Korea, and Singapore, are currently competing in a regional event. • These updates, reported on July 28, highlight India's efforts to modernize sports administration and its engagement in international athletic competitions.

• WWE is hosting SummerSlam 2026, a premium live event taking place over two nights in Minnesota starting Saturday, August 1. • The event will feature six major title bouts, including competitions for the World Heavyweight, Women’s World, and WWE Intercontinental Championships. • This event serves as a marquee summer spectacle for the organization, following the momentum from the recent Night of Champions.

Truth Social, where Trump’s account is by far the largest, to offer users early access for up to $100,000 per monthDonald Trump is now offering early access to his Truth Social posts in a move that has been seen as corruption benefitting a sitting president.Trump Media and Technology Group officially rolled out its new subscription-based data service on Saturday, giving paying customers faster, real-time access to Truth Social posts from Trump and other high-profile accounts. Continue reading...

FSB puts Pavel Durov on international wanted lists and says his messaging app is used for sabotage and murderRussian officials have charged Pavel Durov, the founder and chief executive of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism.The charges against the 41-year-old Russian-born billionaire, who lives in the Gulf, are the latest step by the Kremlin to bring the internet and digital communications under its control after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Continue reading...

• The global supply of AI chips is doubling every nine months, creating an unprecedented surge in computing power for the technology industry. • According to research firm Epoch AI, there are currently approximately 20 million AI chips deployed across data centers worldwide to support evolving AI capabilities. • This rapid scaling is critical because breakthroughs in AI performance are directly tied to corresponding jumps in available hardware and processing power.

• GMMTV has issued a formal apology following a physical or verbal altercation between an event staff member and a Chinese attendee at the International Novel Festival 2026. • The incident triggered a widespread online dispute between Thai and Chinese fan communities, with the controversy expanding to include fans in Indonesia. • This clash highlights growing tensions regarding accountability, nationality, and the fair treatment of international fans at high-profile entertainment events.

• Moving Eyelands PH will host a free screening of Cebuano films on July 29 at 6 p.m. at the Chapterhouse Creative Hub in Quezon City. • Film Concerts PH is organizing two symphony tours in the Philippines, including "UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony" to celebrate the game's 10th anniversary. • The Undertale symphony performance is scheduled for October 17 at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

Pop star aims to use legal process to name ‘wrongdoers who hide in the shadows and wreak technological havoc with impunity’Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit against hackers who she alleges have stolen unreleased music, as well as private photos and video footage, and sold them online.Grande filed the lawsuit in a Los Angeles court on Monday. It doesn’t name the hackers, who are referred to with the generic name John Doe. Grande will look to have them identified during the legal process “in order to hold them accountable for their invasive and reprehensible conduct”, the lawsuit reads. Continue reading...

• Moving Eyelands PH will host a free screening of Cebuano films on July 29 at 6 p.m. at the Chapterhouse Creative Hub in Quezon City. • Film Concerts PH is organizing two symphony tours in the Philippines, including "UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony" to celebrate the game's 10th anniversary. • The Undertale symphony performance is scheduled for October 17 at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.

• The EU is intensifying efforts to improve online child safety by targeting platform design flaws and implementing stricter age verification requirements. • Critics argue the initiative is undermined by bypassable technology, privacy risks, and a lack of accountability for parents in supervising their children's digital habits. • The push highlights a tension between regulatory crackdowns on tech companies and the need for improved digital literacy and parental involvement.

Hot weather and World Cup fever help defy analyst expectations of decline, with sales volumes up 1% in JuneOnline sales accounted for the highest level of retail sales in five years last month as record hot weather spurred a rush for air conditioning, outdoor products and clothing.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of retail sales in Great Britain grew 1% month on month in June, as the hot weather and a World Cup retail rush defied analyst expectations of a 0.3% decline. Continue reading...

• The European Commission fined Alphabet's Google €890 million ($1 billion) on Thursday for violating EU regulations designed to limit the dominance of Big Tech companies. • The penalty stems from the company's failure to adhere to specific rules aimed at ensuring fair competition within the European digital market. • Despite the fine, EU regulators reported "good progress" in Google's recent efforts to comply with the regulations, suggesting the company is taking corrective action.

• The European Union has fined Google €890 million ($1 billion) for violating competition rules designed to protect digital service rivals. • This marks the first penalty issued under the landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), targeting Google's practice of prioritizing its own services in search results through enhanced visuals and filters. • The commission further alleged that Google restricts app developers from promoting offers or contracting with customers via third-party app stores.

Global increase in cases of predators coercing children to harm themselves or produce child sexual abuse materialCases of predators coercing children into producing sexual photos and videos of themselves have surged globally in the past year, a cruel phenomenon known as “sadistic online exploitation”, child safety experts and law enforcement officials warn.In cases of sadistic online exploitation, perpetrators target vulnerable teens on social media platforms and online games. These predators then compel their victims into producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), harming themselves and others, or, in extreme cases, attempting suicide.In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit their website for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at ascasupport.org. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International Continue reading...

Despite spending increase in June, Barclays says most people still pessimistic about economyRelentless sunshine and the World Cup coaxed consumers to spend more on beer and online shopping last month, with purse strings expected to remain loose as England fans gear up for Wednesday’s semi-final.Most people remain pessimistic about the UK economy, according to data from Barclays Bank based on debit and credit card transactions. Continue reading...

In six months last year, more than 2,000 such complaints were made to eSafetyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA new report by Australia’s online safety regulator has found “significant gaps” in how major tech platforms tackle online sexual extortion and child sexual exploitation, as “reports of this abuse continue to rise”.The findings come from eSafety’s latest transparency report, examining how tech companies – including Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Snap, Discord and WhatsApp – are addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. Continue reading...

• The PARTNERS trial has begun enrolling patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to scientifically determine effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease. • This initiative is a joint collaboration between the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, and Oxford's Pandemic Sciences Institute. • Sponsored by the World Health Organization and conducted with the DRC's Ministry of Public Health, the trial represents the first rigorous scientific attempt to find a cure for the virus.

• Prime Video has announced its July 2026 content lineup, which includes a diverse selection of global and local films, documentaries, series, and animé. • Manalo praised the Recording Academy for introducing the new GRAMMY Award for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, noting its potential to increase global visibility for Filipino and Asian artists. • Filipino pop-rock band The Itchyworms will expand their "Akin Ka Na Lang" tour to Hong Kong on July 26, performing two shows at The Wanch in Wan Chai.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the end of the hantavirus outbreak that was linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. • While the hantavirus threat has subsided, the WHO issued a critical warning regarding an escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). • The situation in the DRC is deteriorating rapidly, with health officials reporting nearly 40 new Ebola infections occurring on a daily basis.

UK consumer group says lives are at risk because platforms fail to prevent dangerous items reaching customersBabies are being put at risk by dozens of potentially lethal infant products sold to UK parents on major online marketplaces, an investigation has found.The consumer champion Which? identified 150 products, including self-feeding prop feeders that pose a choking risk and baby sleep pillows linked to suffocation. Continue reading...

• The illegal online gambling market targeting EU consumers reached €91.6 billion in 2025, resulting in a loss of over €22 billion in tax revenue for member states. • Unlike licensed casinos, these illegal operators typically base their activities outside the EU and bypass strict regulations regarding anti-money laundering and responsible gambling. • The surge in unregulated activity poses significant risks to consumers due to a total lack of oversight and safeguards.

• On November 25, 2025, gambling regulators from Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Spain signed a formal agreement to combat unlicensed online gambling. • The pact establishes a framework for these seven nations to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement measures against illegal operators. • This initiative matters as it represents a unified European front to protect consumers and ensure tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

• South Korean police launched an investigation on July 6 to track down an individual who posted an online death threat against President Lee. • Authorities are working to identify the suspect and determine the origin of the threat to ensure the president's security. • This action highlights the government's zero-tolerance policy toward online violence and threats targeting high-ranking state officials.

Thousands of people begin receiving their first deliveries of once-a-day medication made by Novo NordiskBusiness live – latest updatesA once-a-day Wegovy weight-loss pill has gone on sale at high street and online pharmacies in the UK, but is not yet available on the NHS.Thousands of people began receiving their first deliveries of the pill, made by the Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, on Monday. It contains the same active GLP-1 ingredient as the Wegovy jab, semaglutide, and is similarly effective, according to studies. Continue reading...

• A Polish travel creator, Agni (@the_polishtravelgirl), sparked a viral online debate by criticizing the disparity in how global media covers heatwaves in Europe versus India. • She argued that while European heatwaves are reported as tragedies focusing on infrastructure strain and elderly vulnerability, similar suffering in India is often dismissed or treated as a joke. • The post highlights systemic biases in international news reporting and the perceived devaluation of human life in the Global South.

Reports say up to 80,000 people waiting by mid-afternoon for chance to see historic artwork at British MuseumPeople keen to see the Bayeux tapestry faced online queues of up to nine hours when tickets went on sale for the first time on Wednesday morning.The British Museum, which is hosting the wool-on-linen artwork from September, saw huge traffic to its ticketing website as a scramble for access began. Continue reading...