Japanese multinational, shaping electronics, entertainment and AI ventures
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has opened to an estimated $355 million in North America, nearing Avengers: Endgame’s record and signaling a summer box-office revival. The film’s debut is bolstered by strong Thursday previews and premium-format screenings, while rival studios watch closely as industry momentum builds toward a busy August.
Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man in Brand New Day, a fourth solo film that shifts away from multiverse spectacle toward a more personal NYC-centered story. Parker faces evolving powers, memory-wiped friendships, and a new villain, with Sadie Sink's enigmatic role driving future crossovers.
Automakers have announced strategic shifts as Chinese brands and US trade rules upend the sector. Volkswagen has proposed deep job cuts to cut costs, Jaguar Land Rover is adding hybrids and prioritising the US, and the Commerce Department has denied Polestar permission to sell new connected models in the US from 2027, pushing the brand to refocus on Europe.
Prime Day shelves Apple gear discounts despite price hikes, with iPads, MacBooks and AirPods on sale. Deals span AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2, and MacBook lines, while AirPods, Watches and iPads see varying discounts. Authorities note time-limited, inventory-driven pricing while Apple prices have increased.
Sony has announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028. New titles will be sold via the PlayStation Store or as retailer-issued download codes; games releasing before 2028 remain unaffected. The move follows years of rising digital sales and has provoked consumer backlash over ownership, preservation and the second‑hand market.
Prime Day has updated with a curated set of deals our editors test and trust. We highlight the standout kitchen, home, tech and travel offers and explain why they’re worth buying while prices may vary across retailers.
Supergirl has opened to disappointing box office figures, prompting DC Studios to reassess its plans. Critics have praised Milly Alcock’s performance but criticize pacing, tone, and ambition. The film expands DCU’s reach with space-set adventures while raising questions about future direction and character use.
Comcast has announced a tax-free spin-off that will separate NBCUniversal and Sky into a standalone, publicly traded media company while leaving Comcast focused on broadband, wireless and business services. The company has said the separation will complete in about a year, executives told investors, and Comcast will initially keep up to 19.9% of the new media group.
Major device makers have raised prices and warned consumers after memory and storage costs have surged because AI data‑centre buildouts are buying up DRAM and flash. Apple has increased Mac and iPad prices; Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have signalled or implemented console and hardware hikes. Analysts say shortages will persist into 2027.
Prices for Xbox consoles and various Apple devices have surged as AI-driven demand strains memory and storage components, pushing manufacturers to raise prices by hundreds of dollars. The trend affects consumers globally as memory costs double and memory shortages loom. The changes come as several publishers report price increases from Microsoft, Apple and others amid an AI infrastructure boom.
Japan has secured a spot in the round of 32 in the World Cup, while Chinese supporters in Tokyo celebrate Japan's form. Chinese brands are making inroads at the event, with marketing campaigns elevating their presence across host venues.
Microsoft has announced 4,800 job cuts companywide, including 3,200 roles in Xbox during fiscal 2027 and 1,600 Xbox positions eliminated immediately. Xbox will spin out or divest five studios and reduce management layers as it restructures to strengthen margins while shifting resources toward AI and core franchises. The move has reduced Xbox headcount by about 20%.
A roundup of recent headset reviews compares Jabra, Lenovo, Sony, Sennheiser, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins models, highlighting battery life, ANC quality, codecs and comfort. The stories cover hands-on impressions from multiple outlets across Europe.
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday features a multi-universe lineup with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. The film, slated for December 18, 2026, follows Doomsday’s clash with the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, as Comic-Con previews reveal. Gosling is cast as Ghost Rider, while Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and others reprise or join roles across a sprawling ensemble.
Nvidia has deepened its push in Japan, signing deals with leading manufacturers to build a homegrown “physical AI” stack for factories, robots and vehicles. Tokyo will invest up to 1 trillion yen over five years as it coordinates with firms like Fanuc, Sony and Hitachi to create domestically developed AI for industry, with Nvidia supplying hardware and model support. Projects range from edge-running Cosmos 3 Edge to lab collaborations and drug-discovery initiatives.
China is steering consumption toward offline, experience-driven spending as policymakers back in-person venues and events. Investors see the consumer as king even as retail growth remains tepid, with policymakers highlighting experience-focused sectors and venues like Wangfujing to attract locals and tourists.
Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles to identify John Does who hacked collaborators’ accounts, leaking 45 unreleased songs in 2023 and claiming ongoing theft and disruption to her career.
A wave of new TVs blends advanced picture tech with home aesthetics. Micro RGB and SQD panels deliver bright, vivid images, while midrange models offer strong value. Reviewers praise color and brightness but flag blooming, off-axis viewing, and price as drawbacks.
Microsoft has launched Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC, bringing four original Xbox games to Windows with added graphical features. The rollout signals a broader push to merge Xbox and PC ecosystems, with access extended to Game Pass and existing licenses. The initial batch includes Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies, and Fuzion Frenzy, with more titles planned.
A stream of headphone deals from major outlets highlights a shift toward affordable high-performance audio gear as students return to campus. New launches and discounts cover brands from Bose to Soundcore, with emphasis on noise cancellation, battery life, and comfort for long study sessions.
The PlayStation brand has announced it will end physical disc production for new games starting January 2028, shifting to digital-only releases. Boxed versions will include download codes. Analysts say the move will improve margins, but consumers will lose resale options and used-book value.
Ford and Geely have unveiled a two-thirds/one-third joint venture to build five vehicles at Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain, starting 2028. The deal seeks to reassert Ford’s presence in Europe amid rising Chinese competition, cost pressures, and tightening regulations. Production of the Kuga PHEV will continue; two Geely electric SUVs will be built; a new multi-energy crossover is planned for 2028. The move signals broader global partnerships as U.S. policy tightens access for Chinese firms.
Amazon is integrating its Luna cloud gaming service into Prime Video, making Luna games accessible within the Prime membership. The move follows Luna's prior standalone rollout and aims to broaden gaming access by removing hardware barriers. Publications discuss the potential for ads, the impact on traditional consoles, and the ongoing challenges of latency.
Xbox reports an outage lasting about 20 hours, affecting sign-ins and game launches. CTO Scott Van Vliet apologises and says a licensing service failure caused entitlement checks to fail. Microsoft will harden dependencies and roll out a fix to prevent future disruptions, amid renewed worries about a digital-only future in gaming.
A powerful earthquake on Kyushu’s Kumamoto prefecture has injured dozens and damaged infrastructure. A mall explosion is being investigated. Authorities have ordered evacuation centres for around 300,000 residents and are monitoring aftershocks.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, knocking out power for tens of thousands, suspending rail services, and prompting tsunami warnings. Authorities report injuries and structural damage as emergency responses unfold and assessments continue.
A major earthquake has struck Kyushu, Japan, triggering a collapse at a shopping mall and a mill chimney, with dozens dead or missing. Power and water outages affect tens of thousands as temperatures rise. Rescuers are racing to reach survivors amid aftershocks and ongoing heat.