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• The BCCI has implemented stricter fitness standards for Team India, specifically removing previous exemptions granted to senior players. • As part of these new norms, the board has raised the benchmark for the Bronco test, a high-intensity shuttle run used to measure aerobic capacity. • These changes aim to ensure all squad members maintain peak physical condition regardless of experience or tenure to improve overall team performance.

Some in party are delighted by leader’s tack rightwards but opponents have savoured latest Conservative controversyThere was a moment in the middle of this week when a news alert raised eyebrows among the politically committed. It read: “Kemi Badenoch: Former neo-Nazi candidate would just be sorting out bins.” It was a collection of words that might prompt palpitations in the most sanguine of communications professionals, followed by panicked advice that retreat was necessary. But as a deeply weird week for the Conservative party came to a close on Friday, its leader appeared adamant she would hold the line.With Badenoch accused of aping Reform UK on policy and purging centrists from her party in recent weeks, her decision to stand by a man who was jailed after creating sexualised images of a Jewish MP and calling her a “rodent” has prompted concerns about the leader of the opposition’s political antennae and the Tories’ wider strategy. Continue reading...

• Hadrian has raised $1.37 billion in a Series D funding round to develop "Factories of the Future." • This investment has significantly increased the company's valuation to $7.87 billion. • The funding is intended to scale advanced manufacturing capabilities and automate the production of critical aerospace and defense components.

• European AI startups raised $23 billion in the first half of 2026, reflecting a significant investment gap compared to the United States. • US funding for AI reached approximately 14 times the European total, with Europe accounting for only 7% of the global investment share. • This disparity highlights a concentration of capital within a few dominant US companies and markets, threatening Europe's competitive edge in AI development.

Exclusive: Warren Pickering told 2025 podcast mass deportations ‘not a reality’ in Australia and suggested politicians over 55 should ‘handball it to the next generation’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation’s Victorian leader has previously said mass deportations in Australia are “not a reality” and “won’t happen”, in newly unearthed comments which raise further questions about Pauline Hanson’s signature policy to deport 75,000 people she says have overstayed visas.Warren Pickering, on Monday unveiled as the party’s leader for Victoria’s November state election, also previously conceded in niche podcast interviews that the party ran so-called “ghost candidates” who didn’t actively campaign in order to harvest more Senate votes. Continue reading...

• Index Ventures has raised approximately €1.7 billion ($2 billion) in new funding, increasing its total investing capital to nearly €3 billion. • The fundraise coincides with the 30th anniversary of the firm, which was founded in 1996 to support entrepreneurs across seed, venture, and growth stages. • This capital expansion strengthens the firm's ability to back high-profile portfolio companies such as Adyen, Figma, Revolut, Robinhood, and Wiz.

• 17-year-old Indian badminton player Tanvi Sharma secured a historic victory at the Taipei Open, becoming the youngest winner in the tournament's history. • Sharma achieved this milestone at the age of 17 years and 223 days, marking a significant breakthrough for the teenage shuttler. • The victory earned her public praise from Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu, highlighting Sharma's emergence as a rising talent in Indian badminton.

• Sifted published a report on July 31, 2026, identifying the top European AI Materials Discovery companies that have secured the highest levels of investment to date. • The report provides a comprehensive ranking of these firms and establishes a formal definition of what constitutes an AI Materials Discovery company. • This data highlights the growing financial interest and strategic importance of using artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of new materials within Europe.

• SemiAnalysis, a research firm specializing in chips and AI infrastructure, is raising a $400 million venture fund according to a U.S. SEC filing. • The move allows the firm to transition from providing research to directly investing in the industries it tracks, building on founder Patel's existing stakes in 20 startups, including Enfabrica and Thinking Machines Lab. • This expansion follows a previous $50 million investment specifically targeted at the AI infrastructure company Fluidstack.

• Economist Levious Chaukura has warned that a surge of counterfeit products flooding Zimbabwe's informal market poses a direct threat to the national economy. • The influx of fake goods is stifling the growth of locally produced products and undermining domestic industries. • Chaukura emphasizes that this issue extends beyond economic crime, endangering consumer safety, national development, and existing jobs.

• Several Indian deeptech and AI startups, including Arboreal Bioinnovations, Revspot, and Fixxly, secured significant investments in July 2023. • Arboreal Bioinnovations raised ₹230 crore in a Series A round led by EAAA Alternatives, with participation from Omnivore and Rainmatter by Zerodha. • The funding is critical for Arboreal to expand its manufacturing capacity, enhance R&D, and accelerate the commercialization of next-generation functional ingredients.

• Asian enterprises are increasing their AI budgets, with a primary focus on infrastructure spending to support deployment. • A mid-2025 survey of 1,000 IT decision-makers across eight markets—including Japan, Singapore, and South Korea—revealed that 69% expect IaaS spending to rise by over 20%. • Despite budget growth, wider AI adoption is currently constrained by challenges regarding security, costs, integration, and a lack of specialized skills.

• K-pop group BTS has announced they will not submit any music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. • The decision follows the Recording Academy's recent addition of a specific "Asian pop" category to the awards line-up. • This move highlights ongoing tensions regarding how the Grammys recognize K-pop, a genre that maintains a massive global following but has historically been under-celebrated by the institution.

• Lam Research reported record fiscal fourth-quarter results on July 29, accompanied by stronger-than-expected future guidance. • The company's growth is driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence, which is accelerating global investments in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. • This trend is fueling expansion across Lam Research's core business segments, specifically in etching, deposition, and related services.

• London-based startup Inforcer has raised $50 million in a Series C funding round led by Insight Partners to help small businesses manage AI and cybersecurity risks. • Since launching in 2023, the company has focused on product development, including a "Shadow AI" detection tool to identify unauthorized AI usage on corporate devices. • The funding follows rapid evolutions in cyber threats, prompting Inforcer to launch a real-time threat detection and response tool to mitigate security vulnerabilities.

• Iran and the United States have resumed military strikes in West Asia following a brief pause in hostilities. • The Opposition is planning to raise concerns in Parliament regarding an alleged "scam" involving donations made to the Ram Temple. • The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hold a hearing concerning the ongoing Bhojshala case.

• The Federal Reserve's FOMC decided in a 9-3 vote on Wednesday to keep interest rates steady between 3.5% and 3.75% for the fifth consecutive time. • The decision comes as rising tensions in Iran threaten to trigger energy price shocks, which could increase inflationary pressures on the economy. • While rates remain unchanged, some Fed officials indicated that further interest rate hikes may still be necessary later this year to maintain stability.

• Enterprise AI startup Freehand has raised $75 million in a Series B funding round to scale its autonomous AI agents. • The company's technology is designed to automate complex supply chain spending and back-office operations specifically for Fortune 500 companies. • This investment aims to reduce manual overhead and increase efficiency in how large enterprises manage their procurement and financial workflows.

• GSK is investing £400 million to relocate its research and development center to Cambridge, a move praised by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as a significant "vote of confidence" in the UK's life sciences sector. • The investment aims to strengthen the UK's position as a global hub for medical innovation and scientific research through the development of a state-of-the-art facility. • Simultaneously, global markets are facing volatility as a sell-off in AI stocks has pushed South Korea’s stock market to its lowest level in three months.

• Spanish AI firm Multiverse Computing has raised $570 million in a Series C funding round, bringing the company's total valuation to $1.7 billion. • The round was co-led by Forgepoint Capital International, BNPP Solar Impulse Venture Fund, and Bullhound Capital, with support from various institutional investors including HP and Orange Ventures. • This investment is driven by an increasing market demand for more cost-effective and energy-efficient methods of deploying AI models.

Average 25% increase for letters such as marketing, bills and medical appointment notices from 5 OctoberRoyal Mail will increase the price of its wholesale postal service by as much as a third, in a multimillion-pound blow to the NHS and other large organisations.The postal company has warned customers who use its wholesale postal service for mail including marketing letters, household bills and medical appointment notices that it is raising prices by an average of 25% from 5 October. Continue reading...

Secretary and president of Australian Council of Trade Unions announced surprise departures on Monday eveningThe leadership of the trade union movement is set for a major shakeup after the secretary and president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions announced their surprise departures.The ACTU’s secretary, Sally McManus, and its president, Michele O’Neil, revealed on Monday night they would be stepping down after eight years together. Anthony Albanese described both as personal friends and “giants of the labour movement”. Continue reading...

Prime minister pays tribute to secretary and president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions after surprise announcement. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn a statement, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, described Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil as personal friends and “giants of the labour movement”.He said:Working families are in a stronger financial position today than they would otherwise be because of the tireless advocacy and strong leadership of Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil.Sally and Michele secured incredible successes for working people in their eight years together leading Australia’s union movement – the first all-female leadership team in the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ 99-year history.Union membership is growing, and workers have over 47 new workplace rights. But of course, there are still big challenges with cost-of-living pressures, AI, and billionaires who have too much wealth and power. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump visited suburban Detroit on Monday, July 27, 2026, to deliver a speech focusing on the national economy. • During the event, Trump praised his administration's implementation of sweeping tariffs, framing them as a key driver of economic success. • The visit highlights the administration's strategy to leverage trade protections to bolster domestic industry and appeal to voters in industrial hubs.

• San Sebastián-based Multiverse Computing has raised $570 million (€500 million) in a Series C funding round. • The investment, co-led by Forgepoint Capital International, BNPP SIVF, and Bullhound Capital, places the company at a $1.7 billion (€1.5 billion) pre-money valuation. • This capital injection represents a five-fold increase from its Series B valuation and will be used to expand into new regional markets and develop sovereign AI infrastructure.