SAMWISE
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Thursday, July 02, 2026
DRIVER MARKET
Verstappen's Camp Opens McLaren Talks as Red Bull Exit Clause Threatens 2027 Market Chaos
Verstappen's camp has initiated talks with McLaren over a potential 2027 move, a development Sky Sports reports would trigger 'chaos' across the F1 driver market if he activates his Red Bull exit clause. That clause allows Verstappen to leave for a rival in 2027 if he is outside the championship's top two at the summer break. With three rounds remaining before August's break, Verstappen sits seventh, 58 points behind second-placed Russell. McLaren CEO Zak Brown dismissed the reports directly, insisting he is “not in the market” and expressing full confidence in Norris and Piastri. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies admitted his team must prove Verstappen should stay.
British GP Sprint Weekend at Silverstone Sets Stage for Intensifying Antonelli–Russell Title Battle
Formula 1 heads to Silverstone this weekend for the British Grand Prix, marking the circuit's first Sprint format since 2021. The single practice session takes place Friday at 12:30 BST, with Sprint Qualifying at 16:30, the Sprint and full qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday at 15:00 BST. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives 40 points clear of teammate George Russell after the Austrian GP. Russell has never won at Silverstone, with a best result of fifth. Lewis Hamilton, a nine-time British GP winner, returns seeking to reverse Ferrari's Austrian momentum.
Verstappen Calls Red Bull's Seven-Part Austrian Upgrade a “Very Big Step Forward”
Max Verstappen described Red Bull's seven-part Austrian upgrade as a “very big step forward” after finishing second behind George Russell at the Red Bull Ring. The package included a revised sidepod inlet and engine cover, changes to the RB22's floor and floor board, a reprofiled rear suspension layout, and a new rear wing and exhaust tailpipe. Verstappen said it was the first time this season he felt capable of “actually fighting for the win,” though he noted something felt off in the car's rear in the second half. Team principal Laurent Mekies conceded the upgrade alone would not be sufficient to close the gap to the leading teams.
Ferrari and Hamilton Took an “Alarming Step Backwards” at the Austrian Grand Prix
Ferrari left the Austrian Grand Prix with both Hamilton and Leclerc struggling after a weekend observers described as an “alarming step backwards.” Hamilton, who started third, finished fifth on a three-stop strategy as severe tyre degradation cost the Scuderia throughout the race. Hamilton said Ferrari “really struggled on pace, degradation was really, really high, much worse than anticipated.” Leclerc finished eighth. The result left Ferrari 98 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship heading to Silverstone — a sharp contrast to Hamilton's win at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona two rounds earlier.
Pirelli Goes One Step Softer at Silverstone as Sprint Format Trims Tyre Allocation
Pirelli has selected softer compounds than usual for this weekend's British Grand Prix Sprint at Silverstone, bringing the C2, C3, and C4 tyres — one step softer than previously used at the circuit. The change is designed to make the hardest compound slower over a stint and encourage teams to run the softer options even at the cost of an extra stop. The Sprint format also reduces each driver's allocation from 13 sets of slicks to 12. With Silverstone's demanding high-speed layout and dry, hot conditions forecast across all three days, tyre management is set to be a decisive factor in both the Sprint and Sunday's main race.
Jenson Button Backs Hamilton to Challenge for British GP Victory After Ferrari's Austrian Slump
Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton will be confident of challenging for victory at the British Grand Prix this weekend, telling Sky Sports that Hamilton knows Silverstone intimately and has every reason to believe Ferrari can bounce back from Austria. Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix nine times. Hamilton struck a lighter note about the conditions, joking to reporters it “could snow” at Silverstone — though the weekend forecast shows dry conditions throughout. Ferrari will be hoping Hamilton can rediscover the form that brought his maiden Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona two rounds ago.
Verstappen Admits Red Bull Has “Too Many Issues” for a Realistic 2026 Title Challenge
Despite his strongest 2026 result at the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen acknowledged Red Bull still has too many issues to mount a realistic championship challenge. Verstappen sits seventh with 73 points, 98 behind leader Kimi Antonelli. The seven-part Austrian upgrade let him race second for the full distance and battle at the front — a marked improvement. But both Verstappen and team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the gap to Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren remains too large to close quickly. With three rounds before the summer break and Verstappen's exit clause tied to a top-two standing, Red Bull's development trajectory is under intense scrutiny.
Analysis: Why Silverstone Represents Russell's Strongest British GP Championship Opportunity Yet
Autosport analysis ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix argues Silverstone offers George Russell his strongest championship opportunity yet at his home circuit. Russell arrives having closed Kimi Antonelli's lead from 68 to 40 points with his Austrian victory — his second win of the 2026 season. The result also moved him above Lewis Hamilton into second in the standings. Despite Silverstone being a historically difficult venue for Russell, with a best result of fifth, his recent form gives him momentum. Three rounds remain before the August summer break, and Silverstone's Sprint format adds an extra points opportunity on Saturday, making every session critical for the championship picture.
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 171 pts
2. George Russell — 131 pts
3. Lewis Hamilton — 125 pts
4. Oscar Piastri — 80 pts
5. Lando Norris — 79 pts
6. Charles Leclerc — 79 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 73 pts
8. Isack Hadjar — 42 pts
9. Pierre Gasly — 41 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 30 pts
11. Oliver Bearman — 18 pts
12. Franco Colapinto — 16 pts
13. Arvid Lindblad — 14 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 6 pts
15. Alexander Albon — 5 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 3 pts
17. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
18. Fernando Alonso — 1 pts
19. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
20. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
21. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
22. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 302 pts
2. Ferrari — 204 pts
3. McLaren — 159 pts
4. Red Bull — 115 pts
5. Alpine — 57 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 44 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
DRIVER NEWS
Dixon and Rosenqvist Set to Join Arrow McLaren for 2027
Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon is set to leave Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of 2026 after 25 seasons, joining Arrow McLaren for 2027. Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist simultaneously departs Meyer Shank Racing to join Dixon and Pato O’Ward at Arrow McLaren. The move would end the most successful partnership in American open-wheel racing history — Dixon claimed six championships and an Indy 500 victory with Ganassi. Multiple sources within Arrow McLaren confirmed Dixon’s imminent arrival to colleagues, suggesting the deal is effectively sealed despite no official team announcement.
Ganassi’s Coveted No. 9 Seat Wide Open After Dixon Departure
The departure of Scott Dixon from Chip Ganassi Racing leaves the No. 9 Honda as the most sought-after seat in IndyCar for 2027. IndyCar.com’s Inside Line column Wednesday examined the leading candidates: Marcus Armstrong, currently at Meyer Shank Racing under a Ganassi development arrangement, is considered a frontrunner. Christian Lundgaard — who may lose his Arrow McLaren seat in the same shuffle — is also in the mix, as is Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger, the 2025 Indy NXT champion. Ganassi is expected to take its time evaluating options rather than rushing a decision on the marquee seat.
Palou’s 60-Point Lead Heads to Mid-Ohio as IndyCar Title Battle Intensifies
Alex Palou enters the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Sunday holding a 60-point championship advantage over David Malukas and 61 over Kyle Kirkwood, with eight races remaining in the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. Palou has assembled a formidable record at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile Ohio road course, standing on the podium in all five previous starts with Chip Ganassi Racing, including victory in 2023. In 2026, the Spaniard has posted four wins from 10 starts, conceding significant ground only twice. Rivals view Mid-Ohio’s road-course characteristics as among their strongest remaining opportunities to trim Palou’s commanding lead before the season’s oval stretch.
Lundgaard Eyes Mid-Ohio Upset to Press IndyCar Title Challenge
Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard views the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Sunday as a key opportunity to trim Alex Palou’s championship advantage. Lundgaard sits fourth in the standings, 77 points adrift of Palou, but has claimed both of his 2026 wins on natural road courses — at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in May and at Road America in late June. He entered the current stretch believing the sequence of road-course venues, including Mid-Ohio and Portland, represents his strongest remaining opportunity to close the gap. His Road America victory arrived despite early wing damage that briefly left him at the back of the field.
Hauger’s Rookie IndyCar Season Filled With Potential at Halfway Point
Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger has impressed in his debut NTT IndyCar Series season, with Motorsport Week calling the Norwegian’s campaign “filled with potential” heading into the second half. The 2025 Indy NXT champion, in the No. 19 Honda alongside teammate Romain Grosjean, has recorded two top-10 finishes, including a career-best eighth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course in May. He leads the Rookie of the Year standings by 30 points over Caio Collet. Mid-Ohio holds personal significance for Hauger — the circuit where he first tested an IndyCar and where he took his final Indy NXT win from pole.
Hauger Done Playing Patience: ‘I Don’t Want to Fight Midfield’
Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger says his patience with the IndyCar learning curve is officially over. “I don’t want to fight midfield,” the 23-year-old Norwegian declared ahead of Mid-Ohio, insisting his ambition is top-five finishes and race wins. Hauger — effectively on loan to Coyne from Andretti Global — leads the Rookie of the Year standings, buoyed by his gain of 16 positions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course in May to finish eighth. Now fully accustomed to the heavy Dallara, he is benchmarking himself against teammate Romain Grosjean and believes a stabilizing engineering group can unlock the car’s true pace at Mid-Ohio and beyond.
Drivers’ Championship
1. Álex Palou — 374 pts
2. David Malukas — 314 pts
3. Kyle Kirkwood — 313 pts
4. Christian Lundgaard — 297 pts
5. Pato O’Ward — 257 pts
6. Felix Rosenqvist — 248 pts
7. Scott McLaughlin — 248 pts
8. Josef Newgarden — 247 pts
9. Marcus Ericsson — 213 pts
10. Scott Dixon — 211 pts
11. Marcus Armstrong — 203 pts
12. Graham Rahal — 200 pts
13. Rinus VeeKay — 187 pts
14. Will Power — 180 pts
15. Alexander Rossi — 180 pts
16. Kyffin Simpson — 179 pts
17. Santino Ferrucci — 168 pts
18. Louis Foster — 147 pts
19. Dennis Hauger — 143 pts
20. Romain Grosjean — 132 pts
21. Nolan Siegel — 125 pts
22. Christian Rasmussen — 117 pts
23. Caio Collet — 113 pts
24. Mick Schumacher — 102 pts
25. Sting Ray Robb — 100 pts
26. Conor Daly — 24 pts
27. Takuma Sato — 20 pts
28. Jack Harvey — 8 pts
29. Jacob Abel — 6 pts
30. Helio Castroneves — 5 pts
31. Ed Carpenter — 5 pts
32. Ryan Hunter-Reay — 5 pts
33. Katherine Legge — 5 pts
Teams’ Championship
1. Team Penske — 657 pts
2. Chip Ganassi Racing — 640 pts
3. Arrow McLaren — 576 pts
4. Andretti Global — 564 pts
5. Meyer Shank Racing — 451 pts
6. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing — 380 pts
7. Ed Carpenter Racing — 297 pts
8. Juncos Hollinger Racing — 287 pts
9. A.J. Foyt Enterprises — 281 pts
10. Dale Coyne Racing — 275 pts
11. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing — 32 pts
12. Abel Motorsports — 6 pts
13. HMD Motorsports — 5 pts
WEC
Aston Martin Fields Two-Driver Valkyrie Crews for São Paulo as WEC Entry List Released
The FIA World Endurance Championship has confirmed a 35-car entry for the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo on July 12, with Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin Valkyrie pair adopting two-driver configurations for Round Four. Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble will share the No. 007 Valkyrie, while Alex Riberas and Marco Sørensen will drive the No. 009, reverting to the lineups previously used at Imola and Spa. The 35-car field comprises 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3s, with adjustments across both classes caused in part by conflicts with the concurrent IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on the same weekend.
Lynn’s Neck Recovery Continues as Cadillac Fields Two-Driver Crew for Interlagos Defense
Will Stevens and Norman Nato will defend Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s Interlagos title as a two-driver pairing in the No. 12 V-Series.R after Alex Lynn confirmed he remains sidelined following neck and shoulder surgery to address a problem he had been managing since the end of 2024. Lynn has been absent for the entire 2026 FIA WEC season. Stevens and Nato won at Interlagos in 2025 alongside Lynn, delivering Cadillac’s maiden FIA WEC victory. Despite front-running pace throughout 2026, Cadillac is still searching for its first podium of the current campaign, the No. 12 crew having finished fourth at Le Mans.
Varrone Steps Into Le Mans-Winning TF Sport Corvette as Catsburg Misses São Paulo
Argentinian driver Nico Varrone will join TF Sport’s No. 33 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R for the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo after Nicky Catsburg was ruled out by a clash with his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship commitments. Varrone will share the car with full-season drivers Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating aboard the same Corvette that claimed the LMGT3 class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Varrone has a long association with Keating and the Corvette brand, having won the LMGTE Am World Endurance title with Keating in 2023, and retains Corvette factory driver status alongside his 2026 Formula 2 campaign with Van Amersfoort Racing.
Toyota Leads WEC Championship into São Paulo Following Back-to-Back Victories
Toyota Gazoo Racing heads to the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo as FIA World Endurance Championship leader after Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Nyck de Vries won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, adding to the team’s season-opening victory at Imola. Toyota has won two of the five previous WEC races held at Interlagos, more than any other manufacturer. BMW M Team WRT and Ferrari remain firmly in contention, with BMW’s René Rast and Robin Frijns only four championship points behind the leading Toyota crew after finishing second at Le Mans. Cadillac, winner at Interlagos in 2025, returns seeking its first podium of the 2026 campaign.
LMP2 Takes Headline Class Honours as IMSA Files 33-Car Entry for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has filed a 33-car entry for the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 12, with the LMP2 class taking on headline status due to the absence of GTP cars, whose drivers are committed to the concurrent WEC 6 Hours of São Paulo. Ten LMP2 entries will contest overall honours, joined by 10 GTD PRO and 13 GTD cars in what marks LMP2’s first sprint event of the 2026 season. Five Canadian drivers feature in the LMP2 field, including Phil Fayer, John Farano, Tobi Lutke, and Chris Cumming, providing a strong national presence for the event at Mosport.
GTP Regular Ricky Taylor Joins Bryan Herta Autosport LMP2 Entry for Mosport Sprint
Ricky Taylor, a regular in Wayne Taylor Racing’s Cadillac in the GTP class, has joined Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports for the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, substituting for Harry Tincknell in the No. 52 Oreca 07 Gibson. Tincknell is absent due to his concurrent FIA WEC commitments at São Paulo. The only other driver change in LMP2 resulting from the WEC clash sees Ben Hanley replace Paul di Resta in the No. 22 United Autosports Oreca, with the concurrent São Paulo and Mosport events on July 12 creating lineup adjustments across half of the LMP2 entries.
Car Blanche Steps Up to GTD PRO at Mosport One Race After IMSA Debut at Watkins Glen
Car Blanche, the new IMSA team launched by YRB Racing following its acquisition of van der Steur Racing, will compete in the GTD PRO class at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park just one race after its series debut at Watkins Glen International. Valentin Hasse Clot and Scott Andrews will share the renumbered No. 68 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo in the higher class, having finished third in GTD on debut at the Glen. The team ran under a blank white livery at Watkins Glen to mark a fresh start under new ownership, with the immediate class promotion underscoring its ambitions for the 2026 IMSA campaign.
GT3 Revival Series Opens at Le Mans Classic Legend with 41-Car Grid Celebrating Racing History
The inaugural season of the GT3 Revival Series begins at Le Mans Classic Legend from July 3 to 5, with a 41-car field of GT3 machinery built between 2006 and 2013 racing on the full Le Mans circuit. Developed jointly by Peter Auto and SRO Motorsports Group to mark the 20th anniversary of GT3 racing, the series divides its grid into Generation I cars from 2006 to 2009 and Generation II machines from 2010 to 2013. Among the high-profile entrants are IMSA president John Doonan and SRO founder Stéphane Ratel, who will race a Barwell Motorsport-run Aston Martin DBRS9 alongside Robert Hissom in the Gen I Am class.
WEC Hypercar — Drivers
1. Kobayashi / Conway / de Vries — 75 pts
2. Rast / Frijns — 71 pts
3. van der Linde — 61 pts
4. Hartley / Hirakawa / Buemi — 56 pts
5. Ferrari #51 crew — 5th
1. Toyota — leads
2. BMW — close behind
3. Ferrari — in contention
After Round 3 — 24 Hours of Le Mans
IMSA GTP — Drivers
1. Aitken — 2,145 pts
2. Heinrich — 1,942 pts
3. Andlauer / Nasr — see imsa.com
1. Cadillac — 1,797 pts
2. Porsche — 1,772 pts
3. Acura — 1,676 pts
After Round 6 — Watkins Glen
TRANSACTIONS
“I’m Back”: Alex Ovechkin Re-Signs With Washington Capitals for 18th Season
Alex Ovechkin, 40, confirmed he will return for an 18th NHL season after signing a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday worth $4.25 million in base salary, plus a $4.75 million bonus for playing in at least 10 games. The all-time goal-scoring leader — who reached 929 career goals — said simply, “I’m back,” in announcing the deal. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick had expressed confidence the team had cap room and roster space to bring back its longtime captain after Washington missed the playoffs last season. Ovechkin turns 41 in September.
Sergei Bobrovsky Leaves Florida for Toronto, Signs Three-Year Deal With Maple Leafs
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, joining the club as a free agent after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025. The 37-year-old posted a 27-23-1 record and a .877 save percentage in 52 games for Florida last season. Bobrovsky’s 456 career regular-season wins rank seventh all-time among NHL goaltenders. Toronto general manager John Chayka called the signing part of a broader offseason overhaul intended to address a long-unaddressed need in net for the Maple Leafs.
Rasmus Andersson Re-Signs With Vegas Golden Knights on Seven-Year, $59.5M Deal
Defenseman Rasmus Andersson re-signed with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1, agreeing to a seven-year contract through the 2032–33 season worth an average annual value of $8.5 million. Andersson, 29, was acquired from the Calgary Flames in January and played 33 regular-season games for Vegas before appearing in all 22 of the club’s 2026 playoff games, recording six assists and a plus-two rating. The Golden Knights waited until the new $104 million salary cap took effect July 1 to create the necessary cap room. GM Kelly McCrimmon announced the signing.
Mason Marchment Signs Five-Year Deal With San Jose Sharks in Family Homecoming
San Jose Sharks forward Mason Marchment signed a five-year, $33.75 million contract on July 1, returning to the city where his late father, Bryan, played six seasons for the Sharks from 1997–2003. The 31-year-old split the 2025–26 season between the Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets, totaling 47 points — 19 goals and 28 assists — in 68 combined games. Marchment described the move as “full circle,” citing his family’s deep connection to San Jose. The deal carries an average annual value of $6.75 million and runs through the 2030–31 season, keeping Marchment with a rebuilding Sharks club through his mid-30s.
Veteran Defenseman John Carlson Signs Two-Year Deal With Tampa Bay Lightning
Veteran defenseman John Carlson agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, reuniting him with a contender after a career spent primarily in Washington. The 36-year-old had 60 points in 71 regular-season games last season between Anaheim and Washington before becoming a free agent. Carlson’s 785 career points — 170 goals and 615 assists in 1,159 games — rank him fifth among active NHL defensemen. Tampa Bay had acquired his negotiating rights from Carolina prior to the opening of free agency but could not secure a deal with the Hurricanes.
Seattle Kraken Acquire Mackie Samoskevich From Florida, Sign Him to Three-Year Deal
The Seattle Kraken acquired forward Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers in exchange for the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a 2027 second-round pick, then signed the 23-year-old to a three-year extension at $3.85 million annually on July 1. Samoskevich had career highs of 12 goals and 32 points in 77 games for Florida last season and won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2025. The trade gives Seattle a young forward they can develop, while Florida received immediate draft capital in return for the restricted free agent.
Montreal Locks Up Rookie Star Ivan Demidov on Eight-Year, $73 Million Extension
Montreal Canadiens standout rookie Ivan Demidov, 20, signed an eight-year, $73 million contract extension on July 1, locking in the Russian-born forward through the 2033–34 season. Demidov led all NHL rookies in scoring during 2025–26 with 62 points — 19 goals and 43 assists — in 82 games and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team. He finished second in Calder Trophy voting to New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The contract carries a $9.125 million average annual value and includes a 10-team no-trade clause that applies during the final three years of the deal.
Five Winners From Day 1 of NHL Free Agency: Capitals, Leafs, and Lightning Make Big Moves
The Washington Capitals emerged as one of the biggest winners on the opening day of NHL free agency after signing Alex Ovechkin to a one-year deal while also acquiring forward Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade with Buffalo and trading for Jordan Kyrou. The Toronto Maple Leafs made significant moves by landing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and acquiring defenseman Darren Raddysh on an eight-year deal. The Hockey News identified Washington, Toronto, Vegas, Tampa Bay, and San Jose as Day 1 winners, citing each club’s ability to address roster needs with the cap rising to $104 million.
RECAP
Swanson Hits 3 Homers, 8 RBI as Cubs Torch Padres 23-3 for Three-Game Sweep
The Chicago Cubs crushed the San Diego Padres 23-3 Wednesday at Wrigley Field to complete a three-game sweep. Dansby Swanson, batting ninth, slugged three home runs — including a grand slam — and drove in eight runs, the second-most by a ninth-place hitter in major league history. Swanson, who homered twice Tuesday, became the first Cub with back-to-back multi-homer games since Patrick Wisdom in August 2021. Michael Conforto hit two home runs, and Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch also went deep. The Cubs smashed eight home runs, tying the franchise record set last year on July 4. Colin Rea pitched five innings for the win. Chicago is 49-38.
Tigers Complete First Yankee Stadium Sweep Since 2008 as New York Skid Reaches Seven
The Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees 6-2 in 11 innings Wednesday at Yankee Stadium to complete their first sweep at the venue since 2008. New York's losing streak stretched to seven, their longest in three years. After the Yankees tied it 2-2 in the ninth, Detroit scored four times in the 11th. Camilo Doval issued a bases-loaded walk to Spencer Torkelson, then Zach McKinstry drove in two with a single and another run scored on a throwing error. Keider Montero struck out the side in the 10th to strand two Yankees runners, and Troy Melton held New York to two hits over 6.1 innings.
Aaron Judge Approaching Four Weeks on IL With No Scan Update as Yankees Slide Deepens
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge remained sidelined Wednesday, approaching four weeks on the injured list with a stress fracture in his right rib, with no updated scan results available. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Judge was not expected to be ready for re-evaluation at the four-week mark. Judge believes the injury stemmed from a diving play in a late-April series at Houston. The prolonged absence has weighed on a struggling New York offense. The Yankees lost their seventh consecutive game Wednesday, a 6-2 extra-innings defeat to the Tigers, their longest losing streak in three years. New York sits at 48-38 on the season.
Langeliers Hits 20th Homer, Ginn Dominates as Athletics End Four-Game Skid With 7-1 Win Over Dodgers
Shea Langeliers hit his 20th home run and J.T. Ginn pitched six innings to lead the Athletics to a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. Ginn, who improved to 7-4 and allowed one run on three hits, has won four of his last five starts. Jonah Heim and Alika Williams also homered for Oakland, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Freddie Freeman homered for Los Angeles, extending his on-base streak to 16 games. After back-to-back losses to begin the series, the A's seized an early lead on Heim's leadoff homer in the second. The major-league-leading Dodgers fall to 56-31.
Woods Homers as Nationals Rout Red Sox 10-2 for Road Series Win
James Woods slugged a three-run home run for his 22nd of the season, and Andrés Chaparro and Nasim Nuñez each went deep Wednesday as the Washington Nationals routed the Boston Red Sox 10-2 at Fenway Park. Red Sox starter Payton Tolle surrendered six runs on seven hits and three walks in three-plus innings, falling to 4-6. Brad Lord, Andrew Alvarez, Riley Cornelio and Carson Palmquist combined to allow just two runs for Washington. The Nationals improved their road series record to 11-3-1, among the best in the majors. Washington is 45-43 after taking the series.
Bradley Strikes Out 11 as Twins Top Astros 8-3 for Third Straight Road Series Win
Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley struck out 11 batters, tying his career high, as Minnesota beat the Houston Astros 8-3 Wednesday night. Bradley, who improved to 7-3, allowed one run and four hits in five innings. Josh Bell, Kody Clemens and Luke Keaschall each homered for the Twins. Trevor Larnach went 3-for-5 with a double and a two-run single. Bell extended his career-high road hitting streak to 16 games, the longest active streak of its kind in the majors. Minnesota won its third consecutive road series for the first time since May 2025. The Twins are 42-46.
McClanahan Shuts Out Royals for Six Innings as Rays Extend Win Streak to Seven
Shane McClanahan allowed just three hits over six shutout innings Wednesday as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-0, extending Tampa Bay's winning streak to seven games. The victory moved the Rays to 50-33, the best record in the AL East and 3.5 games ahead of the slumping New York Yankees, who have lost seven straight. Kansas City, which has dropped to 35-52 and sits 11 games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox, managed little against McClanahan throughout the night. Tampa Bay continues its run as the American League's hottest team heading into July.
McDonald Pitches Six Scoreless Innings as Giants Finally Beat Diamondbacks 6-4
Trevor McDonald pitched six scoreless innings as the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 Wednesday night in Phoenix. McDonald, who entered the game 0-6 with a 6.47 ERA in his previous seven starts, allowed just one hit — a leadoff single by Ketel Marte in the fourth — and struck out five. Heliot Ramos delivered a solo home run and an RBI triple, and Victor Bericoto added a two-run home run. The Giants avoided being swept by Arizona for the third time this season, preventing what would have been their first 0-9 start against a single opponent in franchise history. Caleb Kilian earned his seventh save.
Dean Kremer Returns From Nine-Week IL Stint, Pitches Six Strong Innings in Orioles Win
Dean Kremer returned from a nine-week stint on the injured list Wednesday and pitched six innings of one-run ball, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Camden Yards. Kremer, a right-hander, had been sidelined with a significant strain of his right quadriceps. The Orioles reinstated Kremer from the 60-day injured list and optioned pitcher Trey Gibson and left-hander Josh Walker. Tyler O'Neill homered on Canada Day for Baltimore, which snapped a four-game losing streak. The Orioles improved to 40-48 with the series finale win.
Fry, Hedges Homer as Guardians Snap Rangers’ Six-Game Winning Streak With 9-4 Win
David Fry hit a three-run home run in a five-run second inning, Austin Hedges added a two-run shot in the eighth, and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Texas Rangers 9-4 Wednesday to snap the Rangers' six-game winning streak. Fry's homer came off MacKenzie Gore. Hedges drove in three runs total. Rookie Chase DeLauter added three hits for Cleveland. Starter Joey Cantillo won for the third time in his last four outings, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings. Elias Díaz homered for Texas and drove in two runs. Cleveland improved to 45-42, while Texas fell to 44-43.
American League
1. Tampa Bay Rays — 50–33, —
2. New York Yankees — 48–38, 3.5
3. Toronto Blue Jays — 41–46, 11.0
4. Baltimore Orioles — 40–48, 12.5
5. Boston Red Sox — 37–48, 14.0
1. Chicago White Sox — 45–40, —
2. Cleveland Guardians — 45–42, 1.0
3. Minnesota Twins — 42–46, 4.5
4. Detroit Tigers — 38–49, 8.0
5. Kansas City Royals — 35–52, 11.0
1. Texas Rangers — 44–43, —
2. Seattle Mariners — 44–43, —
3. Houston Astros — 43–46, 2.0
4. Athletics — 41–46, 3.0
5. Los Angeles Angels — 36–51, 8.0
National League
1. Atlanta Braves — 50–34, —
2. Philadelphia Phillies — 49–38, 2.5
3. Miami Marlins — 46–41, 5.5
4. Washington Nationals — 45–43, 7.0
5. New York Mets — 36–51, 15.5
1. Milwaukee Brewers — 53–31, —
2. Chicago Cubs — 49–38, 5.5
3. St. Louis Cardinals — 44–39, 8.5
4. Pittsburgh Pirates — 43–44, 11.5
5. Cincinnati Reds — 39–46, 14.5
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — 56–31, —
2. San Diego Padres — 43–42, 12.0
3. Arizona Diamondbacks — 43–43, 12.5
4. San Francisco Giants — 36–50, 19.5
5. Colorado Rockies — 34–53, 22.0
AI
Anthropic Restores Global Access to Claude Fable 5 After U.S. Lifts Emergency Export Controls
Anthropic restored global access Wednesday to Claude Fable 5, its most powerful publicly available AI model, after the U.S. Department of Commerce withdrew an emergency export control order issued June 12. The restriction had forced Anthropic to suspend international access to both Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 within days of their launch, drawing criticism from cybersecurity experts including former Facebook security chief Alex Stamos, who called the controls a “huge own goal for the US.” Fable 5 is now live across the full Claude ecosystem, including Claude Platform, Claude.ai, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork. Enterprise access tiers and API pricing remain unchanged.
Microsoft Launches $2.5 Billion AI Deployment Business With 6,000 Enterprise Specialists
Microsoft announced Thursday the creation of Microsoft Frontier Company, a new operating business backed by a $2.5 billion commitment and 6,000 industry and engineering specialists focused on delivering successful enterprise AI deployments. The venture will work directly with organizations to ensure Microsoft’s existing AI tools, including Copilot, Azure AI, and Microsoft 365 agentic features, translate into measurable business outcomes rather than stalled pilots. The announcement coincides with Microsoft’s broader push into independent AI research following a restructured partnership with OpenAI that gives Microsoft autonomy to pursue its own frontier model development under the MAI Superintelligence Team.
Cloudflare Will Block Mixed-Use AI Crawlers From Ad Pages by Default Starting September
Cloudflare announced Wednesday that starting September 15, 2026, its default settings will block mixed-use AI crawlers from any pages hosting advertisements. The change targets crawlers that blend search, agent use, and model training in a single request stream, and will apply automatically to all free customers and new sites. Cloudflare is launching the policy alongside two monetization partners, Ceramic.ai and You.com, giving publishers a direct revenue share when AI systems consume their content. The company is simultaneously evolving its Pay Per Crawl tool into Pay Per Use, charging AI companies when their content creates value rather than simply when it is fetched.
AI Neocloud Together AI Raises $800 Million Series C at $8.3 Billion Valuation
AI infrastructure neocloud Together AI raised an $800 million Series C on Wednesday, valuing the company at $8.3 billion, up from $3.3 billion following its Series B 16 months ago. The round was led by Aramco Ventures, with participation from Vista Equity Partners, General Catalyst, Emergence Capital, Nvidia, March Capital, Pegatron, and SentinelOne’s S Ventures, among others. Together AI rents out Nvidia GPU clusters and other AI-specific infrastructure to companies building and running AI models, competing directly with major cloud providers. The raise comes as enterprise demand for dedicated GPU access continues to outpace the capacity that hyperscalers can allocate to individual customers.
China’s Z.ai Launches Free AI Coding Tool ZCode to Challenge Cursor and GitHub Copilot
Chinese AI lab Z.ai launched ZCode on Thursday, a free integrated development environment powered by its open-weight GLM-5.2 model, positioning it directly against Cursor, Claude Code, and GitHub Copilot. ZCode’s subscription pricing undercuts Western competitors by a wide margin, and the underlying model was trained without American chips. The tool offers deep first-party integration with GLM-5.2 that third-party editors cannot replicate, and the MIT-licensed model weights allow enterprises to self-host. JPMorgan raised its 2026 to 2030 revenue forecast for Z.ai parent Zhipu AI following the announcement, citing the product’s potential to accelerate developer adoption in markets outside the United States.
Humble Robotics CEO: Vision AI Has Made Cabless Autonomous Freight Trucks Feasible
Humble Robotics CEO Eyal Cohen told TechCrunch Tuesday that modern vision AI has finally made fully autonomous, cabless freight haulers practical after decades of false starts. Cohen’s company, which raised $24 million in seed funding after emerging from stealth in April, builds the Humble Hauler, a cabless electric truck designed from the ground up for autonomous port, railyard, and warehouse freight movement. By eliminating the driver’s cab, the vehicle is significantly lighter than conventional Class 8 tractors. Cohen said vision models now perform obstacle and sign recognition tasks that previously required months of manual code, calling the shift a fundamental change in what small robotics teams can realistically ship.
OpenClaw AI Agents Are Being Repurposed for Dating, Raising Privacy Alarms
Users are repurposing OpenClaw, the popular open-source AI agent platform, to automate personal dating efforts, using the tool to trigger AI-written social media posts and research restaurant options for dates across neighborhoods. One user combined OpenClaw with Claude and Instagram trial reels to reach potential romantic contacts at scale. Security experts warn the trend carries significant privacy risks, with NanoClaw co-founder Lazer Cohen stating that giving agents access to personal accounts and information requires human-in-the-loop approval at every step. TechCrunch noted the pattern reflects broader consumer behavior as agentic AI platforms shift from productivity tools toward personal automation tasks.
INDUSTRY
Sony to End Physical PlayStation Disc Manufacturing by 2028
Sony has confirmed it will cease all physical disc manufacturing for PlayStation consoles by 2028, ending the optical media era in gaming. The move follows years of declining physical media sales as digital distribution has come to dominate consumer game purchases. For hardware enthusiasts, repairers, and archivists this matters directly: PlayStation optical drives are already becoming scarce, and disc manufacturing’s end will accelerate console obsolescence over time. Physical game preservation becomes increasingly urgent as manufacturers exit the format. The closure mirrors broader consumer electronics trends, raising the familiar maker concern: when companies abandon physical media, long-term hardware repairability and software preservation both suffer.
Denmark Sets a Sensible Standard for Hobby Drone Regulation
Denmark has introduced drone regulations that Hackaday flags as a rare example of common-sense policy-making: the new framework explicitly distinguishes hobbyist flyers from commercial operators, reduces registration requirements for sub-250g recreational craft, and creates clear carve-outs for educational and maker use cases. This stands in contrast to the European Union’s blanket drone rules, which have frustrated makers and hobbyists across the continent with disproportionate compliance burdens. Denmark’s tiered approach demonstrates that regulators can protect airspace safety while remaining genuinely friendly to innovation. Other EU member states and regulators worldwide might look to Denmark’s framework as a workable model.
OrthoRoute Brings GPU Acceleration to PCB Autorouting
OrthoRoute is a new open-source PCB autorouter that offloads the computationally intensive routing problem to the GPU, enabling it to handle densely packed boards that would stall conventional CPU-based tools. The project was demonstrated on complex designs with thousands of nets, completing in time frames no traditional router can match through GPU parallelism alone. For electronics designers dealing with high-density layouts — particularly mixed-signal, RF-heavy, or multi-layer boards — this represents a meaningful workflow shift. OrthoRoute is currently in active development and openly available, making it an early but immediately promising addition to the open-source EDA toolchain.
Researchers Engineer Fish-Inspired Micro-Submarines for Environmental Monitoring
Researchers have developed miniaturized autonomous submarines designed to replace fish as environmental monitoring platforms in aquatic ecosystems. These micro-submarines carry sensor arrays measuring water quality, temperature gradients, and biological activity while navigating via fish-inspired undulating propulsion. The engineering challenge spans multiple disciplines: the craft must be small enough to move invisibly through sensitive ecosystems, mechanically durable for extended deployments, and intelligent enough to navigate unpredictable currents without operator intervention. For makers interested in underwater robotics this research highlights a meaningful frontier — waterproof electronics enclosures, low-power acoustic sensing, and buoyancy control are all areas where community innovation can accelerate real scientific progress.
Terra System Navigates Without GPS Using Existing FM Radio Infrastructure
Terra is a positioning system that uses FM radio broadcast signals — already deployed across most inhabited areas — as a navigation reference, achieving meter-level accuracy without GPS satellites, dedicated base stations, or any specialized infrastructure. The system works by passively analyzing timing and signal characteristics from existing FM broadcast towers, requiring only a standard receiver on the device being located. For makers, this opens practical possibilities: positioning in GPS-denied environments such as tunnels, dense urban canyons, and GPS-jammed zones becomes achievable with commodity hardware. The approach also enables very low-power location systems, since passive FM reception is dramatically less power-hungry than active GPS acquisition.
Terminus: An ESP8266-Powered Text-Only Cellular Phone Built by a Maker
[Bolan Xu]’s TERMINUS project reduces the smartphone to its most essential function: a QWERTY keyboard, a small OLED display, and an ESP8266 microcontroller connected to a cellular modem for SMS. The device deliberately excludes voice calls, a camera, a web browser, and spyware in favor of simple private text communication. Built inside a skeletal 3D-printed frame, it bridges WiFi-based SMS over IP with traditional cellular messaging. The project exemplifies the maker spirit of stripping commercial hardware down to its core value and rebuilding it lean. An ESP8266 and a cellular modem, both common in maker parts bins, are genuinely sufficient for a working personal communicator.
Tanmatsu One Year On: The Open-Source ESP32-P4 Palmtop Has Matured
Hackaday’s Jenny List delivers a one-year review of the Tanmatsu, the open-source ESP32-P4 palmtop computer that grew from Dutch conference badge culture. Twelve months after launch, the device now features a stable OS, a growing app repository, MicroPython support, LoRa radio (868 or 915 MHz), WiFi via the onboard ESP32-C6, and a well-developed expansion ecosystem with Qwiic, PMOD/SAO, CSI camera, and large GPIO headers. At EUR 99, it occupies a practical niche: more capable than bare development boards, more affordable than Linux handhelds, and fully open-source from schematics to firmware. Real-world use for Meshcore mesh messaging and camera add-ons confirms it as a mature, genuinely hackable palmtop.
LAYOFFS
Employers Who Laid Off Workers Citing AI Are Reversing Course as Majority Admit the Decision Was a Mistake
A growing reversal is underway at U.S. employers that eliminated workers under the banner of AI efficiency. Research firm Orgvue found that 39% of business leaders laid off employees citing AI—and 55% later admitted it was a mistake. Staffing giant Robert Half reports 32% of hiring managers who cut AI-cited roles have already rehired for the same positions. The reversals reflect real operational pain: Ford rehired and promoted more than 350 experienced engineers after AI-driven quality controls failed on the production line. Meanwhile, IBM is tripling its U.S. entry-level hiring in 2026, signaling that AI augmentation—not replacement—is emerging as the more sustainable workforce model.
June Jobs Report Disappoints as U.S. Employers Add Just 57,000 Payrolls in Labor Market Slack Water
The U.S. labor market barely moved in June, with employers adding just 57,000 nonfarm payrolls—far below expectations and the weakest reading in months. The unemployment rate held at 4.2% while labor force participation slipped 0.3 percentage points to 61.5%. Indeed Hiring Lab described conditions as “slack water,” reflecting a market neither gaining nor losing momentum. Professional and business services led gains at 36,000, while leisure and hospitality shed 61,000 jobs. April and May totals were revised down by a combined 74,000. Average hourly earnings ticked up 0.2% to $32.38, a 3.5% year-over-year gain, offering modest compensation relief in an otherwise stalled hiring environment.
June Tech Job Cuts Fall 53% From May but AI Cited in Record 101,743 Layoff Announcements Through First Half of 2026
June brought relief to a battered labor market: U.S. employers announced 45,849 layoffs, down 53% from May and the lowest monthly total since December 2025, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The mid-year picture is more sobering. For the fourth straight month, AI was the top-cited reason for job cuts, accounting for 31% of June’s reductions (14,029 positions). Through the first half of 2026, AI-related eliminations reached a record 101,743. Tech companies led all sectors in June with 15,503 cuts, and the sector’s H1 total of 139,156 represents an 83% surge from the same period last year, with Andy Challenger calling tech “the epicenter of this year’s cuts.”
Microsoft Prepares Annual July Workforce Restructuring Targeting Xbox, Sales and Consulting as New Fiscal Year Begins
Microsoft is preparing its annual summer restructuring, with thousands of job eliminations expected across Xbox, sales, and consulting divisions as the company begins its new fiscal year. The cuts affect less than 2.5% of Microsoft’s roughly 220,000 global workforce. They follow a voluntary retirement program earlier in 2026 that drew about one-third of the approximately 9,000 eligible employees, reducing the scale of forced reductions. July restructurings have become a pattern at Microsoft as the company realigns around AI and cloud priorities. The software giant has committed more than $100 billion to AI and cloud infrastructure while simultaneously reshaping the human workforce that supports it.
ADP June Jobs Report Shows Private Sector Added Just 98,000 Jobs as Pay for Job-Changers Climbs 6.6%
Private sector hiring cooled further in June, with ADP’s National Employment Report showing just 98,000 jobs added—well below economist forecasts of 118,000. Wages, however, told a stronger story. Pay for workers who stayed in their jobs rose 4.4% year-over-year, while job-changers commanded a 6.6% premium, suggesting employers are still paying up to attract talent willing to switch roles. Service-providing industries drove nearly all job gains at 96,000, led by education and health services with 48,000 positions. Small businesses led by establishment size, adding 53,000. The ADP data arrived one day before the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its official June employment report.
POLICY
Federal Courts Block Trump Rule That Would Have Stripped PSLF Eligibility From Nonprofit Workers
Two federal courts on Tuesday vacated a Trump administration rule that would have allowed the Department of Education to deny Public Service Loan Forgiveness benefits to employees of nonprofits deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose.” U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun in Washington, D.C., ruled the regulation was “contrary to law,” exceeded statutory authority, was arbitrary and capricious, and violated the First Amendment. A Massachusetts court struck down the rule hours before its July 1 effective date. The rule had targeted nonprofits whose work conflicted with administration priorities, raising concern that it would deter workers from choosing lower-paid public service careers.
House Ways and Means Committee Advances Nonprofit Hospital Reporting Bill on Party-Line Vote
The House Ways and Means Committee on July 1 approved H.R. 9504, the Tax Exempt Hospital Transparency Act, on a 25–15 party-line vote. The bill would require nonprofit hospitals to report community benefit spending on a facility-by-facility basis, including charity care data, 340B Drug Pricing Program participation, and service-line expenditures. Large nonprofit hospitals with more than 100 inpatient beds or $100 million in net patient revenue face additional requirements. Supporters contend the bill is needed to justify the $37.4 billion in federal tax breaks nonprofit hospitals received in 2021. The American Hospital Association warned the legislation would impose significant administrative burdens on nearly two-thirds of all hospitals.
Fundraising Platform Carey & Co. Acquires Lautman Maska Neill in Third Deal in 18 Months
Carey & Co., a growing nonprofit fundraising platform, on July 1 announced its acquisition of Lautman Maska Neill & Company, a Washington, D.C.–based direct response and donor acquisition firm. The deal marks the company’s third acquisition in approximately 18 months, following the purchases of Noble Accounting and Schultz & Williams. Carey & Co. is building a comprehensive service platform spanning donor acquisition, direct response fundraising, major and planned giving, capital campaigns, strategic planning, financial management, organizational development, and executive leadership. Lautman Maska Neill brings decades of experience serving major national charities. The consolidation reflects a broader trend of private-equity-backed rollups entering the nonprofit fundraising services sector.
Dataro Launches AI Predictive Donor Intelligence Inside Bloomerang, Reaching 24,000 Nonprofits
Dataro, an AI fundraising company, on July 1 launched a native integration with Bloomerang’s donor management platform, making predictive donor modeling available to more than 24,000 nonprofits. The integration adds AI-generated scores to every donor record within Bloomerang, identifying which donors are at risk of lapsing, ready to upgrade their giving, or strong candidates for conversion to monthly or major-gift status. Fundraisers also receive daily recommended next-best-action prompts and on-demand AI prospect research. The integration is generally available to Bloomerang customers on select plans, designed to help constrained fundraising teams surface data-driven donor priorities automatically.
Nonprofit Quarterly Examines the Ideological Shift Behind the Rise of Progressive Philanthropy
Nonprofit Quarterly on July 1 published a detailed analysis examining the growth of what scholars are calling “progressive philanthropy,” a movement that explicitly links charitable giving to systemic change rather than traditional charity. The article traces an ecosystem of grantmakers backed by living donors, including multibillion-dollar endowed foundations whose priorities center on racial justice, gender equity, and democratic institutions. Authors argue the shift reflects growing conviction among major funders that incremental service delivery is insufficient to address structural inequality. The analysis notes that the ecosystem of progressive grantmakers is now larger and more powerful than at any previous point, representing a significant reorientation in philanthropic strategy and sector identity.
Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Reflects on a Decade of Mobilizing Southern Black Voters
Nonprofit Quarterly on July 1 published a profile co-produced with The 19th of LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, exploring her decade of voter mobilization work across the South. Brown, inspired by her grandparents’ experiences voting as Black Southerners, co-founded the organization in 2016 to formalize a lifetime of civic engagement work. Since then, Black Voters Matter has orchestrated major ground-level outreach campaigns across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana. Brown frames fundraising itself as a democratic act, arguing that nonprofits mobilizing communities generate civic power that extends well beyond any individual election cycle.
Sikh Coalition Marks 25 Years of Civil Rights Advocacy Rooted in the Aftermath of 9/11
Harman Singh, executive director of the Sikh Coalition—the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States—published an essay in Nonprofit Quarterly on July 2 tracing the organization’s founding in the weeks after September 11, 2001, when Sikh Americans faced widespread hate crimes and misidentification. Singh writes that the community’s resilience was rooted in a centuries-old legacy, and that the crisis galvanized advocates who built institutions to ensure no Sikh would have to choose between their faith and their safety. The Coalition, now 25 years old, continues work on civil rights, education, and religious liberty across the United States.
BOX OFFICE
Minions & Monsters Opens to $14.23M Wednesday, Fourth-Best Animated July Debut Ever
Illumination/Universal’s Minions & Monsters opened to a $14.23 million Wednesday — the fourth-best opening day for an animated July release , trailing only Despicable Me 2, Despicable Me 4, and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The seventh film in the franchise earned an A– CinemaScore and a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score , the highest-ever in the 16-year series. Tracking had projected an $80 million five-day domestic total, with international expected to contribute more than 60% of the global tally. The film opened across 69 territories this holiday weekend on a net production budget of $85 million before global P&A spend.
Illumination’s Meledandri Calls Box Office a ‘Misleading Indicator’ as Minions & Monsters Opens
Speaking to Deadline at the Annecy International Film Festival, where Minions & Monsters world-premiered on June 21 , Illumination CEO Christopher Meledandri pushed back on box-office fixation. “The box office is almost somewhat of a misleading indicator to really what happens in the world today,” he said, citing the shift toward streaming viewership. Director Pierre Coffin said his priority was creative pride over commercial targets. The film draws on Golden Age Hollywood imagery — Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin — while Coffin refined the Minions’ language across successive films. Illumination’s confirmed pipeline includes Sing 3 , The Secret Lives of Pets 3, and original film Not Alone.
GKids Acquires Studio Ghibli’s 23-Film Library for UK and Ireland, Plans Kiki’s IMAX Debut
Toho-owned animation specialist GKids has acquired distribution rights to Studio Ghibli’s 23-film library across the United Kingdom and Ireland, covering theatrical, home video, television, and digital rights. The deal partners GKids with Glasgow-based Anime Limited — recently acquired by Toho — for local market execution. The first release will be an IMAX theatrical run of Kiki’s Delivery Service on August 21 in the UK and Ireland. Future IMAX releases are planned for The Secret World of Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart. The library includes classics such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and 20 additional Ghibli titles .
Sadie Sink Joined Spider-Man: Brand New Day Without Audition in Studio’s Mystery Marketing Play
Variety reports that Sadie Sink — known for her role as Max in Stranger Things — landed a part in Spider-Man: Brand New Day via a direct offer, bypassing the standard audition process . Her role is so closely guarded that Sink has been absent from all trailers and marketing materials for the Tom Holland-led blockbuster despite her standing as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after Gen Z stars. The film opens July 31 . The casting strategy is part of a broader mystery-role approach studios use to sustain social-media speculation and audience anticipation between trailer drops in the weeks before a major release.
Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hits EU Antitrust Crunch With UK Holding Key
The $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger has entered a critical European regulatory phase. The UK Competition and Markets Authority plans to conclude its Phase 1 review by August 7 , but a Phase 2 investigation could extend the process by more than five months , threatening Paramount CEO David Ellison’s self-imposed September 30 closing deadline . Should Ellison miss that date, deal terms require Paramount to pay shareholders a “ticking fee” of several million dollars per day. The UK review is emerging as the pivotal jurisdiction after U.S. Department of Justice clearance was secured in June.
Paramount Pledges to Exit UIP Joint Venture to Win EU Approval for $111B Warner Deal
To clear European Commission approval for its $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition , Paramount Skydance has formally committed to exiting the United International Pictures (UIP) joint venture , a theatrical distribution partnership shared with Universal Pictures across European markets. The concession addresses regulators’ concerns that a merged Paramount-WBD entity would concentrate excessive theatrical distribution power in Europe. Theater operators had flagged UIP as the primary competition risk. The European Commission has set a provisional approval deadline of July 22 , and Paramount believes the pledge will lead to clearance in time for David Ellison to close the deal by September 30 .
Your Name and Ghost in the Shell 2 Land on Disney+ in UK and France Anime Deal
Two acclaimed anime features — Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name and Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence — have been licensed to Disney+ in the UK and France via a new deal handled through distributor Anime Limited , Variety reports. The agreement expands Disney+’s anime catalog across two major European markets and adds two of international animation’s most celebrated titles to its streaming library. The deal reflects accelerating competition among major SVOD platforms for premium anime catalog rights as platforms seek differentiated content to reduce subscriber churn in competitive European streaming markets.
Curated daily by Samwise · samwise.agency