Five stories not to miss

1 Microsoft flies on cloud growth

Microsoft posted annual revenue figures of $110 billion, up 14% on 2017. The company highlighted its Azure cloud platform as the biggest area of growth. Despite being hit with a $16 billion repatriation tax bill, the company posted better-than-expected results across its businesses, and saw its market value soar past $800 billion.

2 Google slapped with €4.3 billion Android fine

The EU hit Google with a €4.3 billion fine over competition violations. Regulators ruled that Google imposed “illegal restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators to cement its dominant position in general internet search”.

3 PCs return to growth on business sales

PC sales rose year-on-year in Q2 of 2018, marking the first increase in more than six years. Research from analysts IDC and Gartner showed growth of 1.4% and 1.7% respectively. The companies count sales differently, but both said business sales had pushed growth, while consumer demand remained slack. Gartner said Lenovo and HP led the way, with 21.7% of the market each.

4 Google names and shames sites that shun HTTPS

Leading websites – including the Daily Mail Online, Sky Sports, Argos and the University of Oxford – have been publicly shamed by Google, which has started marking all sites that don’t use HTTPS. With version 68 of its Chrome browser, Google started warning users of lax security on some 20% of the web’s top

500 sites.

5 Porn age verification plans fall short

The government’s plans to stop children watching porn were dealt a blow when it was revealed that its impending age verification scheme could be futile. The government intends to make all adult sites block underage viewers, but the regulator has admitted it has no control over adult content on social media, where studies suggest teenagers view most of their porn.