Illicit Chip Flows to Russia Decline, But China and Hong Kong Persist as Key Transshipment Hubs
Semiconductors and other restricted goods shipped through China and Hong Kong to support Russia’s war efforts have decreased by a fifth this year, according to previously undisclosed U.S. Commerce Department…
Italian State-Owned Bank Tests Digital Bonds on Polygon Blockchain
Italy’s state-owned bank, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA, in collaboration with the trillion-dollar investment bank Intesa Sanpaolo, has successfully completed a digital bond issuance valued at $27.2 million using the…
Kraken Custody Extends Services to UK and Australia
Kraken, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has officially announced the expansion of its Kraken Custody services to institutional clients in the United Kingdom and Australia. This strategic move marks Kraken Custody’s…
Greek Government Set to Enforce Cryptocurrency Taxation by 2025
As reported by the Greek daily paper Ekathimerini on July 15, the Greek government is taking decisive steps to incorporate cryptocurrencies and digital assets into its national tax framework. This…
Ubisoft Pushes Back Mobile Releases for Rainbow Six and The Division
Ubisoft has announced delays for the mobile versions of its popular franchises, Rainbow Six and The Division, pushing their release until at least April 2025. This update was shared in…
UK Government Sets Sights on Regulating Advanced AI Models
Britain’s newly elected Labour government announced plans to explore effective regulation of artificial intelligence models. However, they stopped short of proposing specific laws. In a speech on Wednesday, King Charles…
OKX Chooses Malta as MiCA Hub to Ensure EU Crypto Compliance
OKX, a prominent crypto exchange and Web3 technology company, has announced that it will establish Malta as its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) hub. This decision aims to ensure compliance with…
Meta Won’t Launch Its AI Models in Europe Due to Uncertain Regulations
Meta will withhold its multimodal AI models from the EU amid regulatory uncertainty. This decision could prevent services using Meta’s AI models from being offered in Europe. Meta announced that…
EU Blockchain Initiatives Progress from Hype to Practical Implementation, Report Reveals
The International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA) has released an insightful report indicating a significant shift in the nature of blockchain projects within the European Union. According to the…
UK Video Game Sales Plummet by 30% in First Half of 2024
UK video game sales have seen a substantial decline, dropping by 30% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This trend aligns with a…
New ‘Crypto Ring’ Brings Bitcoin Self-Custody to Everyday Users
The concept of cryptocurrency self-custody is undergoing a transformation with the introduction of wearable technology. Tangem, a hardware wallet company, has announced the launch of the Tangem Ring on July…
Huma Secures $80M Funding to Revolutionize Healthcare Apps Using Generative AI
The influence of AI is expanding across various industries, including the strictly regulated healthcare sector. London-based health-tech company Huma has unveiled an AI-powered cloud platform designed to help startups create,…
You Can Now Add Multiple Audio Tracks to Instagram Reels
Instagram announced a new feature allowing users to add multiple audio tracks to their Reels, available globally starting Tuesday, July 16. This update enables creators to incorporate up to 20…
Microsoft’s Hiring of Inflection Staff Faces UK Merger Probe
Microsoft’s recent hiring of employees from Inflection AI has prompted the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to initiate a merger investigation. This hiring includes key figures such as Mustafa…
German Government’s Bitcoin Sale Nets $2.8 Billion
The German government has confirmed a substantial emergency sale of Bitcoin, which commenced in June 2024. An official statement from the state of Sachsen on July 17 detailed the sale…
Stripe Enables Cryptocurrency Purchases for European Clients, Report Reveals
Stripe, a leading financial services provider, has recently broadened its cryptocurrency offerings in the European market. This expansion enables European consumers to purchase cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether using their…
Kaspersky to Shut Down U.S. Operations and Lay Off Staff After Ban
Kaspersky will exit the U.S. market and lay off dozens of employees following a U.S. government ban on its software due to security concerns. Starting July 20, the Russian cybersecurity…
Agility Robotics’ Digit Starts First Official Job at Spanx Factory
Agility Robotics’ humanoid robot, Digit, has begun its first official job at a Spanx factory in Connecticut. This deployment follows a multi-year agreement with GXO Logistics Inc., the world’s largest…
New EU AI Regulations Increase Operational Costs for Chinese Tech Companies
The European Union (EU) is set to implement the world’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) regulations on August 1. These new rules are expected to significantly increase compliance and assessment…
Users Can Now Try iOS 18 and More as Apple Releases Public Betas
Apple has launched public betas for iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18, providing users early access to the upcoming features across its devices. The iOS…