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• The Retail Technology Innovation Hub released a June briefing highlighting the dominant role of AI at Shoptalk Europe 2026. • The report reviews key technological developments and stories involving major retail players, including Ocado Group, Asda, Tesco, M&S, and WHSmith. • Other featured companies include Hanshow, Starship Technologies, Bringg, SOLUM, Bodycare, and PMC, reflecting a broad spectrum of retail tech innovation.

• A deep run by the USMNT in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to serve as a high-profile "shop window," increasing transfer interest in several national team players. • The tournament's visibility allows stars like Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic to showcase their skills to global clubs, as seen during the June 12 match against Paraguay. • This trend is significant because strong tournament performances often trigger lucrative moves and higher valuations for players in the international market.

Sarah Mullally ends visit to region with call for two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live in peaceThe archbishop of Canterbury has called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine after a pilgrimage in which she met Palestinians attacked by settlers and others detained without trial.Sarah Mullally, the head of the Church of England, and the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, issued a joint letter on Thursday urging Anglicans around the world to press politicians “to take all necessary measures to establish a credible path towards ending the occupation”. Continue reading...

Customers report having to use cash at stores such as Tesco and to buy drinks due to outage at payments processor WorldPayShoppers reported problems with making card payments at British pubs and supermarkets on Tuesday after a power outage affected one of the world’s largest payment processing platforms.Customers said contactless payments were not working at a number of stores including Tesco branches at a time when football fans were watching the World Cup group game between England and Ghana at pubs, screenings and restaurants. Continue reading...

• NASA has extended the deadline for submitting abstracts and mission concepts for the Ad ASTRA Workshop. • The new submission deadline is now set for July 1, 2026. • This extension provides researchers and innovators more time to develop proposals for the agency's science-driven initiatives.

• Major Chinese tech giants Alibaba, JD.com, and ByteDance have integrated advanced AI tools into the 618 shopping festival to optimize the e-commerce experience. • The deployment includes AI-powered shopping assistants, digital hosts for live-streaming, and smart logistics systems to improve efficiency and customer engagement. • This shift matters as it signals a transition toward "AI-first" retail, leveraging automation to personalize consumer journeys and reduce operational costs.

Convenience store employee Eileen Fox, 56, said suspect ‘banged into metal stand’ but no one was injured in incident• Waitrose employee sacked after stopping shoplifter from taking Easter eggsA convenience store worker was sacked after trying to tackle a woman who she suspected was shoplifting bacon.Eileen Fox said the suspected thief was “well known” in Bootle, Merseyside, and claimed she had been stealing from the shop for years. Continue reading...