Channel News Today — July 17, 2026

The world of technology is always full of surprises, and today is no exception. On one hand, we're seeing some significant investments and valuations in the tech space, with AI-powered travel agency Fora hitting unicorn status after raising $60M, a clear indicator that investors are betting big on innovative solutions. Meanwhile, fitness tech company Whoop is offering discounts to its customers, showing that even in a crowded market, there's still room for growth and promotions.

However, not all news is positive, as some major players are hitting the brakes on their operations. Phone maker OnePlus has announced that it won't be releasing new phones in the U.S. and Europe, a move that raises questions about the company's future strategy in these key markets. Similarly, oil giant BP is shutting down its corporate venture arm after 20 years, suggesting that even established players are reevaluating their priorities and focus areas. And in a dramatic turn of events, SpaceX has abruptly aborted the second Starship V3 launch after ignition, a setback for the ambitious space exploration program. These developments highlight the ever-changing nature of the tech landscape.

Today's signal:
• Whoop Promo Codes: 20% Off This July 2026 (wired.com)
• SpaceX suddenly aborts second Starship V3 launch after ignition (techcrunch.com)
• Oil giant BP shutters its corporate venture arm after 20 years (techcrunch.com)
• AI-powered travel agency Fora hits unicorn status, raises $60M (techcrunch.com)
• Phone maker OnePlus says it won’t release new phones in the U.S. and Europe (techcrunch.com)