Trend

• Luminate released its 2026 Midyear Report on July 15, 2026, detailing key trends across the global music, television, and film industries. • The analysis is based on 30 trillion data points sourced from hundreds of verified providers and processed by a team of expert analysts. • This report provides critical insights into the entertainment landscape for the first half of 2026, serving as a benchmark for industry stakeholders.

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at making daylight saving time permanent across the country. • The legislation seeks to "ditch the switch," eliminating the biannual practice of shifting clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall. • Supporters of the measure argue that permanent daylight saving time would provide more natural light during the hours when Americans are most active.

• Major U.S. indices closed higher on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing slightly by 0.02% to reach 52,508.27. • Lucid Group (LCID) shares plummeted following reports that the EV maker is considering strategic options, such as filing for bankruptcy or going private. • Lucid has officially denied these reports, labeling the rumors regarding its financial instability as "completely false."

• The House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at making daylight saving time permanent across the United States. • The legislation seeks to "ditch the switch," eliminating the biannual practice of moving clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall. • Supporters of the measure argue that permanent daylight saving time provides more sunlight during the hours when Americans are most active.

• Deloitte Thailand's "2026 M&A Trends" survey reveals a "tale of two markets" where corporate confidence in mergers and acquisitions is returning alongside increased caution. • Organizations are increasingly integrating AI into critical deal phases, including target screening, due diligence, risk assessment, and post-merger integration planning. • This shift matters as AI allows deal teams to analyze larger data volumes and identify risks faster, though human judgment remains essential for final decision-making.

• On July 9, iQIYI, a leading Chinese online entertainment platform, released its Global Trending Content report for the first half of 2026. • The platform recorded a significant 130% growth in engagement, driven by a diverse array of Asian productions from Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. • This growth underscores iQIYI International's expanding appeal and its strategic position as a primary destination for global audiences seeking diverse Asian popular culture.

• OpenAI has publicly launched the GPT-5.6 model family, consisting of Sol, Terra, and Luna, across ChatGPT, its API, and developer tools. • Sol serves as the flagship frontier model, while Terra and Luna are designed for agentic workflows and more affordable, everyday use. • Separately, SK Hynix has begun trading on the Nasdaq following a record-breaking IPO that raised approximately $26.5 billion.