LT Weekly: Jul 10, 2026

Advertising/Ad Agencies/Ad Tech

• Google appealed an Indian court ruling that found its ads platform enabled trademark infringement by letting rivals buy brand names such as Hindware as keywords. Google argued the decision could harm consumers, competition and the digital ads market, calling India a global outlier. The appeal says keywords are backend ad triggers, not trademark use, and a hearing is due soon. (Reuters)

• Google said it will begin disclosing when ads are created or edited using AI through a new “How this ad was made” option in My Ad Center, available from ads on Search, YouTube and Discover. The move aims to help consumers identify AI-generated or altered content as AI increasingly lowers ad-production costs and replaces some product photography. AI disclosures will be automatic for Google tools, while external creators must self-report; local laws may also require labels. (TechCrunch)

• OpenAI accelerated ChatGPT Ads updates, adding custom audience uploads and advanced audience bid adjustments to improve targeting and ROI. Advertisers can upload customer email or phone lists, though match rates may be partial. A June ad-generation feature lets ChatGPT create ad variations for review and approval. (MediaPost)

• Vista Equity Partners and Quinti Capital submitted an offer to acquire French ad-tech Co Criteo. Sources said the bid, made last week, values Criteo at more than a 50% premium to its recent share price. Criteo shares rose 21.4% to $23.17, giving the Co a mkts value of ~ $1.16bn. The Paris-based Co has not yet decided how to respond to the takeover approach. (Reuters)

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

• Anthropic will require subscribers on its $20, $100 and $200 monthly plans to pay usage-based fees to access Claude Fable 5 beginning Jul 12 at 11:59 PM PT. Charges match API pricing: $10 per 1mn input tokens and $50 per 1mn output tokens, meaning a user could pay $80 total in a month. The move marks a shift from flat-fee AI subscriptions, which labs have traditionally used to generate rev and manage demand. (WIRED)

• CVC Capital Partners used AI instead of investment bankers to run the sale process for Greek e-commerce biz Skroutz, highlighting how rapidly evolving tech is reshaping finance. Potential buyers received access to a data portal that functioned like an investment memo, while an AI chatbot “analyst” handled questions on financials and due diligence. The bot also directed interested parties to contact management for further discussions when needed. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Cos are increasingly relying on internal AI “champions” to encourage adoption of AI tools among workers who are hesitant or unfamiliar w/ the tech. Executives view employee resistance as a key obstacle after investing heavily to remake their biz around AI. Supporters help colleagues understand benefits and address concerns, particularly in fields such as law, where fears about AI errors and hallucinations have slowed acceptance. (The Wall Street Journal)
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for lethal autonomous weapons, or “killer robots,” to be banned under international law, describing machines that select and engage targets without human control as “morally repugnant.” His remarks revived a dispute over military AI use that emerged earlier this yr between Anthropic and the Pentagon. The debate centers on how AI should be deployed in warfare, when humans should intervene and who sets the limits. (The Wall Street Journal)

• Italian trade unions Slc Cgil, Fistel Cisl and Uilfpc Uil have called a nationwide 15-day strike in the call centre and biz process outsourcing sector, warning that rapid AI adoption is causing large-scale job losses. The unions said chatbots, virtual assistants and automated customer management systems are increasingly replacing human roles, often without worker consultation, retraining plans or guarantees to protect employment and job security. (Telecompaper)

• Anthropic said it will lease a renovated 16-story building at 330 Hudson St in Manhattan’s Hudson Square and double its New York City workforce to 1,000 employees this yr. The New York office is already its largest outside San Francisco and the new site can hold 1,700+ desks. The expansion reflects a broader A.I. hiring and office-growth boom in the city, despite concerns about potential workforce and economic disruption. (The New York Times)

• Microsoft is replacing some OpenAI and Anthropic AI usage in Excel and Outlook w/ its in-house MAI models to cut costs. Tens of thousands of prompts each week are now handled by MAI, though it remains a small share of overall usage. AI chief Mustafa Suleyman said the goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate Anthropic-related costs. Microsoft also expanded MAI offerings, including models for GitHub Copilot and future Teams transcription features. (Bloomberg)

• Perplexity confirmed it plans to use Nvidia’s new Vera CPU, backing Nvidia’s push beyond AI chips into the broader CPU market long dominated by Intel and AMD. Nvidia expects Vera to generate $20bn in sales by fiscal yr-end as it diversifies amid rising in-house chip development by AI cos. Perplexity said Vera ran AI agent coding workloads ~1.5x faster than traditional CPUs and was a strong fit for its infrastructure needs. (Reuters)

• Amazon said it plans to raise at least $25bn through an eight-part bond sale to support its AI buildout and told underwriters it does not expect to issue additional debt in 2026. The filing disclosed the offering but not the size. The move follows ~ $54bn raised in US and European bond deals earlier this yr, plus a $10bn Canada sale in Jun. Proceeds will fund general corporate purposes, investments, capital expenditures and debt repayment. (CNBC)

• Tencent annc’d the official release of Hy3, an AI model delivering stronger performance, stability and cost efficiency, w/ intelligence comparable to much larger models. Built on a MoE architecture w/ 295bn parameters (21bn active), it supports 256K context length and is integrated across products including WorkBuddy, Yuanbao, Marvis and ima. Hy3 is also available via Tencent Cloud and open-source channels under Apache 2.0. (Tencent)

• Chinese AI models from DeepSeek and Z. ai are gaining traction among US firms as costs for leading US models from OpenAI and Anthropic rise. Developers are increasingly routing workloads to lower-cost Chinese alternatives, which can be 60%-90% cheaper, while delivering performance close to frontier systems. Adoption has surged across AI platforms, driven by cost savings, growing capabilities and broader use of open-source/open-weight models. (CNBC)

• Syntiant, an Intel-backed semiconductor and AI software Co focused on “physical AI,” filed for a US IPO as investor appetite for AI listings and computing firms remains strong. Founded in 2017, the Co develops low-power AI processors that run machine-learning models on devices. Syntiant plans to list on Nasdaq under ticker SYTN. (Reuters)

• Anthropic says Claude developed an emergent “J-space,” a small internal workspace of word-linked neural patterns used for deliberate reasoning. Researchers found Claude can report, manipulate and reason through these hidden representations, while most automatic processing occurs outside them. The work draws parallels to global workspace theory and may help monitor hidden goals, fabricated data and other AI safety risks, though it does not claim Claude is conscious. (Anthropic)

• Anthropic signed a 20-yr lease for a TeraWulf data center in Hawesville, Kentucky, about an hour southwest of Louisville. The facility is expected to provide ~400 megawatts of capacity, w/ first power delivery targeted for the second half of 2027. TeraWulf said the deal could generate ~$19bn in rev over the initial term. (CNBC)

• China’s DeepSeek is developing its own AI inference chip, according to sources, a move that could reduce reliance on Nvidia and Huawei hardware. The Co has quietly boosted hiring of chip-design engineers and is exploring partnerships across design, foundry and memory firms. The effort, begun ~1 yr ago, marks a major strategic shift as DeepSeek seeks greater control over AI infrastructure amid U.S. export curbs. (Reuters)

• ByteDance’s Doubao and Alibaba’s Qwen will disable customized, humanlike AI agent features ahead of new Chinese rules taking effect on July 15th. Doubao will take its agent feature offline Jul. 15, while Qwen begins disabling related functions Jul. 10. The rules target AI svs that simulate human personalities for sustained emotional interaction, citing risks such as privacy leaks, addiction and mental-health harms. User backlash followed. (South China Morning Post)

• Nvidia’s next-gen Kyber NVL144 AI rack system, built for 2027 Rubin Ultra chips, has been delayed to 2028, citing SemiAnalysis. The delay stems from manufacturing challenges involving a key PCB midplane. SemiAnalysis said the larger NVL576 system may also face delays or limited volumes. (CNBC)

• A draft Treasury report warns the AI sector could pose systemic risks similar to the dotcom bubble, despite officials publicly backing aggressive AI investment. Analysts say AI firms are deeply embedded across mkts, private credit, cloud svs, chip makers and utilities, raising the risk of wider economic impacts if funding slows, productivity gains disappoint or growth targets are missed. Stronger rev and healthier balance sheets may reduce, but not remove, potential fallout. (NOTUS)

Broadcast/Cable Networks

• Nexstar filed a legal brief, urging the Ninth Circuit Court to scale back the nationwide “hold separate” order blocking its $6. 2bn acquisition of Tegna. The Co argued any potential reduction in competition is limited to 31 local TV mkts where both firms own overlapping major network affiliates, rather than the entire combined biz. A federal judge’s preliminary injunction froze integration, citing concerns Nexstar could gain leverage over pay TV providers and raise costs or reduce local news investment. (The Wrap)
• TV broadcasters and NAB are urging Congress and regulators to curb the NFL’s shift of games to streaming, arguing fans face rising costs and confusion from needing multiple subscriptions. FCC and DOJ reviews are examining whether the league’s antitrust exemption still fits today’s media landscape. The NFL says most games remain on broadcast TV and warns changes could raise costs. Lawmakers are weighing updates, but major reforms would require legislative action. (TV Technology)

Cable/Pay-TV/Wireless

• Verizon Biz annc’d a deal w/ KDDI to provide 5G SA and 4G telematics connectivity for new BMW Group vehicles in the US. KDDI’s IoT platform will manage connections supporting firmware and map updates, subscription-based features and vehicle health functions across BMW, Mini and other brands. Verizon said the rollout includes nearly all new production cars and could later use 5G network slicing. (Light Reading)

• French billionaire Xavier Niel, via family investment vehicle Vega, agreed to buy UAE telecom group e&’s ~16. 2% Vodafone stake for £4.4bn (~$5.9bn), making him Vodafone’s largest shareholder. The deal values the stake at a 13% premium to Vodafone’s prior close. Analysts said Niel could push greater strategic influence, cost cuts and cash-flow growth, while Vodafone welcomed him as a supportive long-term investor. (Reuters)

• Cable One shares fell -12% on July 9th to $35. 87 after the Co said it expects higher residential data subscriber losses and is weighing a financing change. For Q2, it projects rev of $346mn-$352mn, capital expenditures of $72mn-$76mn, and residential data subscriber losses of 16,000-18,000. The Co. is considering not completing its previously annc’d Mega Broadband Investments term loan exchange offer and instead keeping MBI’s senior secured term loans in place. (Market Watch)

• Angola plans to raise as much as $320mn by selling shares in Unitel SA, the nation’s largest telecom operator, to help finance its budget and deepen capital mkts. The government is offering a 15% stake, according to BFA Capital Mkts, a unit of Banco Fomento Angola SA and a Unitel co-owner. The offer includes 7.5mn shares and runs through Jul. 24, w/ an indicative price range of 36,000–40,000 kwanzas per share, potentially raising 300bn kwanzas. (Bloomberg)

Capital Market Updates

• PitchBook-NVCA reported US venture funding reached $412. 7bn in H1 2026, up nearly 30% from all of 2025, driven by AI deals that captured $355.9bn, or 86% of total funding. Mega-rounds of $100mn+ made up 87.5% of capital deployed, led by Anthropic’s $65bn raise. Exit activity hit records largely due to SpaceX’s $1.7tn IPO and major transactions, while fundraising remained concentrated among a few large venture firms. (SiliconANGLE)

• Europe posted its strongest venture-funding quarter in four yrs, w/ startups raising $24bn in Q2 2026, up ~33% q/q and ~67% y/y. The U.K. led w/ $10.4bn, its third-largest quarter on record. Funding was driven by large $100mn+ rounds, including four $1bn+ deals, many tied to AI and deep tech. H1 funding reached $42bn, up 50% y/y, while venture-backed M&A remained strong at $11.5bn+ across 154 acquisitions despite muted IPO activity. (Crunchbase)

Cloud/DataCenters/IT Infrastructure

• Meta annc’d it will invest more than C$13bn (~US$9. 2bn) to build its first Canada data centre, a 1-gigawatt AI-optimized facility in Sturgeon County, Alberta. The project, the 33rd in its global fleet, is expected to create 3,000+ construction jobs at peak and 300+ operational roles. Meta also plans to invest ~$60mn in local infrastructure and nonprofit funding, and said it will cover energy, water and wastewater costs. (Yahoo Finance)

• Ireland’s data centres recorded a 10% increase in electricity use in 2025, according to figures from the national statistics agency CSO. The rise significantly outpaced growth among other electricity users, including residential and biz users, whose consumption increased by 2%. The data highlights that electricity demand from data centres grew at a much faster rate than demand from the broader group of users during 2025. (Telecompaper)

• Orange is pursuing the sale of a minority stake in the biz that operates its data centres in France, according to information gathered by L’informe. The potential deal is intended to raise capital and support the group’s strategic priorities, including planned AI investments. In the bidding process, New Zealand-based infrastructure asset manager Morrison is reportedly favoured over rivals Vauban Infrastructure Partners and Macquarie. Orange declined to comment on the matter. (Telecompaper)

• Thailand has approved several high-value investment projects focused on digital and AI infrastructure as international tech firms expand their networks across Southeast Asia. The move aims to strengthen the country’s position as a regional hub for data and telecom infrastructure. The government also introduced a grid action plan offering dedicated utility tariffs, direct green power trading (Direct PPAs), and faster grid connection investments to support operators. (Telecompaper)

• Brookfield-backed data center Co Csquare filed for a US IPO seeking up to $1. 35bn by offering 50mn shares at $23-$27 each, implying a ~$4.18bn valuation. Q1 rev rose to $270.5mn from $232.8mn, while net loss widened to $66mn from $34.9mn. The Dallas-based Co operates 60+ sites across the US, Canada and UK, and plans to use proceeds to repay debt. Brookfield is expected to retain voting control after the offering. (Yahoo Finance)

• Google backed Germany-based Proxima Fusion in a €411mn ($468mn) funding round, valuing the Co at $2. Proxima aims to build Europe’s first commercial fusion power plant and have a fusion demonstrator operating in the early 2030s. The round was led by XTX Ventures and East X Ventures, w/ Google and RWE as strategic investors. Funding will expand HTS magnet production and accelerate engineering, manufacturing and operations. (CNBC)

Crypto/Blockchain/web3/NFTs

• Polymarket is seeking US regulatory approval to offer margin trading, allowing users to place prediction-market bets w/ less upfront capital by borrowing from the platform. Rival Kalshi received approval in Mar. Prediction mkts let users wager on events such as weather, sports and elections. Industry trading volume rose from $51bn in 2025 to $240bn through the first six months of 2026, while Polymarket continues efforts to rebuild trust w/ regulators. (Yahoo Finance)

• Senate Democrats Charles Schumer, Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden sent letters to Kalshi, Polymarket and other Trump-linked cos seeking details on whether they could benefit from President Donald Trump’s IRS audit-immunity settlement. Lawmakers cited concerns that affiliated biz entities may be shielded from audits, penalties or prosecution. The companies were asked to answer questions by Jul. 20, as Democrats intensify scrutiny of the agreement. (Bloomberg)

• Judge Analisa Torres, known for the Ripple/XRP ruling, denied Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction against New York gaming regulators, finding state gambling laws are not preempted by the federal Commodity Exchange Act. The decision lets the case move to the motion-to-dismiss stage and weakens Kalshi’s position despite prior wins elsewhere. Legal experts called it a major setback that could affect related cases, including in Connecticut. (com News)
• Trump said Bitcoin could someday be included in Trump Accounts, a tax-advantaged savings program launched Jul 4 for children born 2025–2028. The program provides a $1,000 Treasury seed deposit and allows up to $5,000 annual contributions, but current law limits investments to low-fee U.S. equity index funds, making BTC inclusion unlikely without new legislation. (Yahoo Finance)

Cybersecurity/Security

• New Jersey enacted A5328, banning websites and online svs from selling sensitive data, including precise location information that identifies a person within a 1,750-foot radius. The law, signed Jun. 30 after passage on Jun. 28, also covers data revealing race, religion, health status, immigration status and certain genetic or biometric details. It requires data brokers to register and pay fees, with the state expecting rev in the mns annually. (MediaPost)

• Telefónica launched a managed cybersecurity svs for mid-market organizations w/ 150–1,000 devices through Telefónica Tech. The MxDR offering combines CrowdStrike’s AI-native Falcon platform w/ Telefónica SOC analysts to continuously monitor, detect, investigate and respond to threats across endpoints, cloud, email, identities and networks. Offered in Essential, Advanced and Premium tiers, it aims to strengthen biz continuity and support NIS2 and DORA compliance. (Telefónica)

• The European Commission annc’d an EU Action Plan on Cybersecurity and AI to support safe, responsible AI use while strengthening cybersecurity. The plan targets 3 goals: secure deployment of advanced AI, stronger cyber resilience, and expanded AI capabilities. Measures include AI model evaluation under the AI Act, ENISA-led testing tools, support for critical sectors, faster vulnerability detection, and an EU Grand Challenge to boost AI-driven cyber tech. (European Commission)

• CISA is using Anthropic’s Mythos AI model to audit US government code repositories for security flaws, according to three sources. The agency’s Attack Surface Evaluation team is scanning software for vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign spies or cybercriminals, and audits have reportedly uncovered numerous issues. (Reuters)

eCommerce/Social Commerce/Retail

• Kohl’s said it is offering thousands of back-to-school items under $25 as budget-conscious shoppers seek value. The assortment includes brands such as Nike and Levi’s plus private labels, alongside revamped displays and an AI-powered shopping assistant. A third of consumers plan purchases around summer promotions, while spending is expected to rise. The season is important for Kohl’s turnaround effort after Q1 net sales fell 1.7% and comps declined over 1%. (Retail Dive)

• Retailers are increasing digital tech spending, w/ 52% investing $50mn+ annually and 28% allocating $100mn-$250mn, according to a KPMG survey of 250 executives. While 48% say technical debt limits new investments, 86% report tech improvements are boosting biz value. AI adoption is accelerating: 42% of retailers deploy AI at scale today, rising to 74% within 12 months. Cybersecurity, AI/automation and data analytics are the top investment priorities. (Retail Dive)

• Walmart said it cut prices on summer barbecue staples after President Trump stated the retailer acted at his administration’s request. The Co lowered the price of its 73% ground beef roll to $5.94/lb from $6.74, alongside reductions on soda and chips. Record beef prices have pressured consumers due to drought-driven herd cuts and higher feed costs. Walmart also reduced prices on 250+ items at Sam’s Club. (Reuters)

Electric & Autonomous Vehicles

• GM-backed autonomous-driving Co Momenta made a muted Hong Kong trading debut after raising $751mn in an IPO that valued the Co at ~ $9bn. Shares rose 2.8% from the IPO price to HK$303.80 despite strong investor demand. The retail portion was 413.6 times oversubscribed and the institutional tranche 20.3 times covered. Momenta, based in Suzhou, joined a growing group of self-driving cos seeking capital and investor exposure in Hong Kong, though profitability concerns continue to weigh on the sector (The Wall Street Journal)

• New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill requiring fully autonomous vehicles to use cameras plus two additional sensing systems, typically lidar and radar. The proposal would create a 3-yr pilot program, mandate state approval, crash reporting, and 50,000 miles of supervised testing before driverless operation. If passed, it could effectively block Tesla’s camera-only Robotaxi service unless its hardware changes. (The Verge)

• Shanghai-based Hesai Tech, a lidar sensor maker blacklisted by the Pentagon as a Chinese military entity, is expanding its US presence, including through a partnership w/ Nvidia. Critics and researchers warn lidar systems could pose cybersecurity and data-security risks if compromised, while CEO David Li rejects those claims. Hesai says its sensors are for civilian use and cannot store data, but lawmakers and security experts remain concerned. (CNBC)

• Tesla annc’d its robotaxi svs is now available in Miami, its first expansion beyond Texas and California. The service covers a limited area around West Miami, Doral and Sweetwater, excluding Miami Beach, the airport and downtown. The launch comes as Austin operations remain small, w/ ~50 vehicles and reported availability issues. Tesla says safety improvements are needed before wider growth, and meaningful rev from the biz is unlikely before 2027. (Yahoo Finance)

Film/Studio/Content/IP/Talent

• Boxoffice Pro’s weekend preview projects Disney’s live-action Moana to lead the Jul 10–12 domestic box office w/ a $45mn–$55mn debut, though weaker momentum, franchise oversaturation, and 33% Rotten Tomatoes reviews may limit upside. Evil Dead Burn is forecast to open at $25mn–$30mn as a solid horror counterprogrammer. In week 2, Minions & Monsters is expected to earn $15mn–$20mn after a disappointing $37mn opening despite strong audience and critic scores. (Boxoffice Pro)

• HBO Max led 2026 Emmy nominations by platform w/ 122 nods, narrowly ahead of Netflix’s 111, driven by strong performances from Hacks and The Pitt. Apple TV posted its best-ever result at 87 nominations, boosted by Pluribus, Widow’s Bay, The Studio and Severance. Disney totaled 111 across its outlets, while Prime Video rebounded to 28 nominations. Broadcast networks collectively rose to 105 nominations, showing a modest recovery. (Deadline)

• “Minions & Monsters” led the Jul 4 holiday box office but delivered the franchise’s weakest launch, earning $61mn since Wed vs expectations of ~$80mn. Despite strong reviews and a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, analysts cited franchise fatigue after seven films. International sales lifted its worldwide total to $159.8mn. Meanwhile, “Supergirl” plunged 77% in its second weekend, reaching $57.4mn domestic and $99.5mn globally, raising concerns over profitability. (Variety)

FinTech/InsurTech/Payments

• Kalshi is in advanced talks w/ the CFTC to expand never-expiring “perpetual” futures beyond crypto into metals, foreign exchange, energy and potentially stock-related products. The prediction-mkts platform said perps have generated $16.1bn in trading volume since launch. Critics, including CME, warn the leveraged contracts pose risks to retail investors, while Kalshi says demand is increasingly driven by institutional participants. (Reuters)

Handheld Devices & Accessories/Connected Home

• Samsung Electronics Co annc’d its next Galaxy Unpacked event for Wed, Jul 22nd in London, where it’s expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8, featuring a shorter, wider design similar to Apple’s planned foldable iPhone. The lineup is likely to include three foldable phones, a smartwatch and wireless earbuds. Samsung aims to gain momentum ahead of Apple’s foldable launch later this yr, while highlighting AI-driven growth and ongoing memory-chip supply constraints. (Bloomberg)

• Google annc’d its Made by Google 2026 event for Wed, Aug 12 in New York City, a week earlier than last yr. The keynote starts at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET and will showcase the “next generation of Pixel.” Expected launches include Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 5 in two sizes. New Pixel Buds Pro may also debut. (9to5Google)

• China’s 618 shopping festival saw smartphone sales fall -13% y/y, according to Counterpoint, as rising memory-chip costs limited discounts and pushed handset prices higher. Huawei was the only major brand to post growth, with sales up +19% and a 21% market share. Apple ranked No. 2 despite a 9% sales decline. Honor and Xiaomi fell 33% and 24%, respectively. Counterpoint expects China smartphone shipments to decline by a double-digit % this yr. (Reuters)

Investor & Market Sentiment

• The two Millennium Management trading pods focused on index rebalancing generated ~ $3. 7bn in Jun, accounting for more than half of the hedge fund’s ~$6.6bn profit before fees that month. Teams led by Glen Scheinberg and Pratik Madhvani benefited from major index and portfolio rebalancing events, including S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and Russell changes. Their performance helped Millennium post a 4.1% monthly gain and 10.5% yr-to-date return. (MSN)

• Lone Pine Capital reported a 43% gain for hedge fund investors through Jun, marking one of the strongest starts in the firm’s history and placing it among 2026’s top performers. The firm, founded in 1997 by Stephen Mandel, manages more than $25bn across its hedge and long-only funds, according to a person familiar w/ the firm. A spokesman declined to comment on the fund’s performance or the firm’s assets. (Bloomberg)

• Thrive Holdings, a 1-yr-old holding Co started by OpenAI investor Thrive Capital, was reported to be raising ~$2bn from Altimeter Capital, D1 Capital Partners and SoftBank. The capital is intended for acquiring traditional svs firms and transforming their operations using AI. The fundraising reflects a strategy of buying established bizs and “rewiring” them through AI-driven changes, according to The Information. (PYMNTS)

Last Mile Transportation/Delivery

• Amazon Shipping is using lower pricing, fewer surcharges and waived fees to win parcel-delivery customers from FedEx, UPS and even USPS, according to logistics experts. The svc, opened to all biz earlier this yr, reportedly delivers savings of up to $6 per package and >33% annually for some shippers. While competitive for high-volume, lightweight shipments, its offering remains narrower than rivals, lacking options such as overnight delivery. (Supply Chain Dive)

• Lyft annc’d plans to acquire Serveo’s bikeshare biz in Spain, subject to closing conditions. The deal combines Lyft Urban Solutions’ tech and operational expertise w/ Serveo’s local experience operating systems in Barcelona, Bilbao, Valladolid and Zaragoza, while supporting other Spanish programs. Lyft said the transaction is not expected to materially affect financial results and will expand its bikeshare operations across Europe and beyond. (Lyft)

• Uber has paused most planned Europe food-delivery expansion just months after annc’d plans to enter seven new mkts, as it continues pursuing a takeover of Delivery Hero. Uber no longer expects launches in five of the seven targeted countries, including Austria, Norway and Greece. The expansion had been projected to add $1bn in gross bookings over three yrs. Uber said it is focusing on momentum in existing mkts after strong launches in Finland and Denmark. (Reuters)

M&A

• Morgan Stanley said global M&A activity is on track to reach a record $6. 4tn in 2026, surpassing the 2021 deal boom as strong equity mkts and improving corporate confidence drive transactions. Annc’d deals jumped >64% yr/yr in Q2, while completions rose >33%, led by software, utilities, energy and healthcare. The bank cited a more supportive U.S. regulatory backdrop and noted private-equity firms hold ~$4.3tn for potential deals, though higher rates remain a risk. (Reuters)
• JPMorgan said it is expanding its M&A push by creating a small-cap investment-banking team focused on cos valued at $100mn-$500mn, targeting opportunities including baby boomers planning biz successions. The move builds on its middle-market effort serving cos worth ~$500mn-$2bn, which generates over $1bn in annual rev and has posted more than 20% yr-over-yr growth. (The Wall Street Journal)

Macro Updates

• NY Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index fell to 1. 25 in June from a revised 1.81 in May, signaling easing supply-chain strains as disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict began to fade. Conditions improved as traffic partially returned through the Strait of Hormuz. While pressures remain elevated versus recent levels, economists and Fed officials expect inflation to moderate if disruptions cont’d to ease. (Reuters)

Media Conglomerates

• ITV said Sky’s planned $2. 13bn (£1.6bn) takeover of its networks and streaming biz will face a “thorough and comprehensive” antitrust review that could take 12–18 months. ITV argues U.K. media mkts have changed due to competition from Netflix, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Apple. The Co said the deal would preserve public-service commitments, while ITV Studios remains separate and shareholders are set to receive £950mn. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Regulatory

• Investor groups urged the SEC to retain quarterly reporting for publicly traded cos, opposing a proposal that would let firms report semiannually. Fund-industry feedback showed quarterly disclosures are viewed as critical for investment decisions, despite compliance-cost concerns. Supporters, including JPMorgan and Nasdaq, said the change could reduce short-term pressure and aid capital mkts, while critics warned it may weaken transparency and delay detection of accounting issues. (Reuters)

Satellite/Space

• Blue Origin is raising $10bn at a $130bn pre-money valuation, w/ Coatue expected to invest ~$4bn, Jeff Bezos $2bn, and other investors supplying the balance. The round would be the space Co’s first external fundraise. Funding follows the late-May New Glenn test explosion and may support rocket operations, launchpad repairs, Artemis moon missions, space-based data-centre plans, and a satellite internet network. (TechCrunch)

• SpaceX filed an FCC request to deploy up to 100,000 Gen3 Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellites, aiming to provide ultra-low-latency, multi-gigabit symmetrical broadband and handle much of global internet traffic. The Co says the network would support consumers, enterprises, governments and billions of AI-powered devices. Analysts said the plan positions Starlink as AI-connectivity infrastructure, while raising questions about spectrum use, space debris and competition w/ terrestrial broadband. (Fierce Network)

• Colombia’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies said Starlink, Hughes and Claro submitted proposals for rural satellite-connectivity pilots under the first 2026 Sectoral Regulatory Sandbox call. Developed w/ the CRC and ANE, the initiative aims to expand internet access in remote and underserved areas by testing satellite tech, service models and operational capabilities to assess connectivity solutions and support broader digital inclusion. (Telecompaper)

• Amazon Leo launched 29 more LEO satellites via ULA’s Atlas V, bringing its in-orbit total to 396 and completing its Atlas campaign before shifting to ULA’s Vulcan rocket. The Co again moved its commercial broadband timeline, with executives now pointing to an initial service rollout later this yr rather than prior mid-2026 expectations. Analysts cited constrained launch capacity, while rival Starlink retains a major coverage advantage. (Fierce Network)

Social/Digital Media

• Virginia AG Jay Jones asked the 4th Circuit to allow enforcement of SB 854, a law requiring social platforms to verify ages and limiting users under 16 to 1 hour of daily access without parental consent. A federal judge blocked the measure on First Amendment grounds, citing impacts on minors’ access to protected speech and age-verification burdens. Jones argues the law addresses social media addiction and imposes only limited hurdles. (MediaPost)

• Reddit said it is using its own AI tools to combat stealth marketing content aimed at influencing responses from chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini. The Co annc’d improved automated systems detected ~25,000 spammy posts and comments per day in Q1, cutting user exposure 20% vs. a yr earlier. Reddit said large language models help identify coordinated fake behavior as brands increasingly pursue generative engine optimization (GEO). (Yahoo Finance)

• Tencent Mobility raised ~$1. 5bn by selling 272.9mn Kuaishou Class B shares at HK$43.25 each, a ~6% discount to the prior close. The deal is fully secondary, so Tencent receives all proceeds. After the sale, Tencent’s stake falls to 9.37% from 15.68%, ending its status as a substantial shareholder. Kuaishou also repurchased 174.84mn shares for HK$8.35bn under its HK$16bn buyback program. (Reuters)

• Getty Images has terminated its planned $3. 7bn merger w/ Shutterstock, ending a deal that would have created a larger visual-content Co offering a broader library to users. The companies first annc’d the tie-up in Jan. 2025. Getty delivered written notice to Shutterstock about a week after the transaction faced a setback from a U.K. regulator. The deal had previously received U.S. Justice Department clearance in Apr. 2026. (The Wall Street Journal)

Software

• Apple lost its challenge against EU Digital Markets Act rules after the General Court upheld the designation of its App Store ecosystem and iOS as “gatekeepers,” requiring measures that give rivals more room to compete. The court also ruled Apple’s action concerning iMessage inadmissible. Apple reiterated criticism of the DMA, citing privacy and security concerns, but retains the right to appeal on points of law. (Reuters)

Sports/Sports Betting

• Major Wall Street banks tightened employee rules on prediction-market betting. Goldman Sachs bars staff from event-based contracts tied to financial mkts and political events that could create real or perceived conflicts of interest. Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Bank of America also maintain or updated policies restricting certain prediction-market activity, while sports and entertainment contracts may remain permitted in some cases. (Reuters)

• Michael Burry said he bought shares of Flutter and DraftKings, with the position weighted ~60/40 toward Flutter, betting the threat from prediction mkts will fade. Burry argues sports-event contracts offered under CFTC oversight exploit a regulatory loophole by avoiding state gaming taxes and may eventually face regulation and taxation. He called both cos attractive despite share declines and also disclosed buying more JD.com stock. (Reuters)

• DraftKings annc’d it will launch DraftKings Sportsbook, DraftKings Casino and Golden Nugget Online Gaming in Alberta on Jul 13, making Alberta its 2nd Canadian province and 34th North American jurisdiction. The Co will host a World Cup watch party in Calgary on Jul. 11 and donate $150,000 to Food Banks Alberta. Eligible customers will gain access to sports betting, live wagering, parlays and online casino games, alongside responsible gaming tools. (Business Wire)

• APEX annc’d a strategic stake in Canada’s Northern Super League (NSL), the first completed private-equity investment in a professional women’s soccer league globally. The NSL drew 275,000+ fans across 80 matches in its inaugural season and generated $30mn+ in rev before media-rights monetization. The investment will support commercial expansion, audience growth, digital tech initiatives and international distribution as the league scales. (Northern Super League)

• Nielsen is preparing a major change to sports TV ratings, targeting Sept 2026. The expanded co-viewing methodology will use wearable devices from panelists to better measure group viewing within households and become official audience “currency.” A pilot showed a 4.19% audience lift across major events, including Super Bowl LX and the Winter Olympics. Networks and leagues, especially the NFL and NASCAR, support efforts to improve accuracy and better reflect actual viewing. (Front Office Sports)

• Rogers Communications agreed to buy Kilmer Sports’ remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for CAD $4. 35bn (~$3.06bn), giving the Co 100% ownership of MLSE, which owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors and Toronto FC. The deal is expected to close in Q4. Rogers said it plans to later sell a minority stake in its combined sports, media and entertainment biz and use proceeds to reduce debt, while pursuing long-term shareholder value. (Sportico)

• Versant annc’d a definitive deal to acquire sports tech Co Full Swing from Bruin Capital and other investors for ~$530mn cash. Full Swing’s platform spans golf, baseball and multi-sport simulators, launch monitors, software and performance data. The acquisition expands Versant’s golf-focused biz into interactive sports, training and entertainment, creating opportunities across content, commerce, venues and data. (Business Wire)

Tech Hardware

• SK Hynix raised $26. 5bn in a US share offering, the largest first-time US listing by a foreign Co, selling 177.9mn ADRs at $149 each. Demand was reportedly 7x available shares. The South Korean chipmaker, a key Nvidia supplier, plans to expand manufacturing capacity amid AI-driven demand for memory and storage chips. The listing gives US investors easier access to the stock, which has surged sharply over the past yr. (Yahoo Finance)

• South Korea’s plan to build a major new chip production hub involving Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix is facing scrutiny over timing and long-term demand. While both firms aim to benefit from the AI-driven chip boom and ongoing supply constraints, concerns remain about the cyclical nature of the memory chip market. Analysts are questioning whether large-scale investment can be sustained if demand weakens, despite current growth linked to AI applications. (Nikkei Asia)

• A growing shortage of high-skilled workers in the US could delay construction of billions of dollars’ worth of new semiconductor plants and limit future chip production, according to a report by McKinsey & Co. , SEMI and the National Science Foundation. The deficit is expected to be most severe in Texas, California, Arizona, New York and Ohio, where many facilities are planned. The study projects a skilled labor shortfall of up to 157,000 full-time workers by 2030. (Bloomberg)

• Samsung Electronics flagged a 19-fold jump in Q2 operating profit to 89. 4tn won ($58.4bn), beating expectations as AI-driven demand lifted DRAM and NAND prices. Rev was estimated to rise 129% to 171tn won. Despite the strong results and a third straight record quarterly profit, shares fell 6.9% as investors worried AI infrastructure spending may slow, potentially weakening future chip demand and pricing. (Reuters)

• Agility Robotics plans to go public via a SPAC merger w/ Churchill Capital Corp XI, valuing the Co at ~$2. 5bn and targeting >$620mn in gross proceeds. CEO Peggy Johnson said the focus remains warehouse and factory deployments, not homes, where humanoid robots may be 10+ yrs away. Agility cited >$300mn in booked multi-yr rev and customers including Amazon, GXO Logistics, Toyota and Mercado Libre. (TechCrunch)

• David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management posted a 32% gross gain in H1 2026, w/ all gains generated in Q2, according to a report cited by Bloomberg. The $23bn hedge fund benefited from concentrated bets on memory-chip makers including Micron, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kioxia and Sandisk, driven by AI data-center demand for HBM and NAND memory. Despite holding ~40% cash on average, the fund delivered strong returns and extended its multiyr outperformance streak. (Yahoo Finance)

• Broadcom said it extended its partnership w/ Apple through 2031 to develop and supply custom chips, reinforcing its role as a key iPhone supplier. The deal reduces concerns Apple could replace Broadcom components w/ in-house designs. Apple represents ~20% of Broadcom’s annual rev, according to analysts. The extension builds on a multibillion-dollar agreement annc’d in 2023 covering 5G radio-frequency components. (Reuters)

Towers/Fiber

• AT&T moved closer to retiring its copper network in California after the FCC approved a transition affecting ~184,000 customers. Users may keep existing service until discontinuation on or after Jun. 1, 2027, with AT&T offering Phone-Advanced over fiber or wireless. The move is part of a broader plan to phase out most copper infrastructure by 2030, while legal and regulatory disputes w/ California over retirement rules cont’d. (Light Reading)

• Telecel Group is among bidders seeking to acquire TalkTalk Telecom Group’s wholesale telecom biz, according to people familiar w/ the matter. Africa-focused Telecel has submitted an offer for PlatformX Communications, TalkTalk’s wholesale unit. The discussions are confidential, and the people cited were not identified. The potential deal highlights interest in PlatformX as TalkTalk evaluates options for the communications biz. (Bloomberg)

Video Games/Interactive Entertainment

• Nintendo said it will stop selling all original Switch systems in Europe from mid-Feb 2027, ending sales of Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED nearly 10 yrs after the console launched in Mar 2017. The move was disclosed in an updated FAQ tied to EU rules requiring user-replaceable batteries. Nintendo will roll out revised versions of Switch 2 and several controllers, w/ no functional changes, ahead of the 2027 deadline. (The Verge)

Video Streaming

• Fubo annc’d that veteran media executive Alisa Bowen will become CEO effective Jul 10, succeeding co-founder David Gandler. Bowen, formerly president of Disney+ and a key leader behind Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ streaming growth, is expected to join the Board after the Jul. 28 shareholder meeting. The Board said she will help advance strategy, growth and profitability following Fubo’s combination w/ Hulu + Live TV, while Gandler steps down after 11 yrs leading the Co. (Fubo)

• TF1 said its new Netflix carriage deal in France has already exceeded expectations. Just 3 weeks after launch, Netflix began carrying TF1 live channels and on-demand content, helping TF1 reach record streaming levels, including 8.3mn unique daily streams for a Koh-Lanta finale. TF1 reported a 16% rise in unique daily streams during the first week, strong ad performance, and achieved audience goals set for an 18‑month period in under 3 weeks. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• The Weather Channel raised the price of its direct-to-consumer streaming svs from $2. 99/month to $4.99/month, while the annual plan is now $49.99/yr. The TWC TV app continues to provide live channel access, forecasts, radar, severe-weather alerts and on-demand content on devices such as Roku. The increase reflects broader streaming-industry cost pressures as the Co maintains live coverage, data accuracy, app support and content development. (Cord Cutters News)

• Netflix is rolling out multi-factor authentication for business customers starting July 21st to further curb password sharing. After a one-time verification setup, users will authenticate future logins via options such as authenticator apps or passkeys, while SMS authentication will be discontinued. Netflix said it will disable unapproved shared accounts and require individual accounts. The Co has also enabled secondary profile holders to use their own email addresses for sign-ins. (The Streamable)

• Netflix signed a video-licensing pact w/ top publishers including Variety and other PMX brands, plus BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst, People Inc. and Tastemade. Starting Aug. 3, Netflix will add selected short- and long-form videos across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Content spans travel, food, fashion, celebrities and lifestyle, including Variety’s “Know Their Lines?”, as Netflix expands offerings beyond films and TV. (Variety)

• Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video launched legal appeals against updated French content rules requiring 20% of their annual investments in France to be allocated to animation, documentaries and live performances. The streamers argue the rules unfairly target streaming svs, limit editorial freedom and ignore audience demand. The challenge seeks changes to a 2021 decree tying French-content investments to local rev. (Yahoo Finance)