U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in June as households cut back on purchases of automobiles and a range of other goods, raising concerns the economy was slowing again.

Oil and gas producer WPX Energy Inc (WPX.N) said it would acquire privately held RKI Exploration & Production LLC [REPI.UL] for $2.35 billion, the latest in a series of deals brought on by a steep drop in crude prices.

For the first time in history, Pluto, a declared dwarf planet in 2006 will take center stage as NASA's New Horizon spacecraft moves closer to it for a fly-by expedition. The team will be observing curious shapes that could reveal the characteristics and composition of Pluto's surface.

Universal and Illumination Entertainment's Minions had made it as the second biggest animated movie when it was first shown in cinemas on July 12, ending the week with $115.2M next to Shrek the Third ($121.6M) in 2007 and beating Toy Story 3 ($110.3M) in 2010.

After a massive guesswork, the company declared a new sensible remedy for its shoppers. The clothing line J. Crew announced the opening of a low cost shop, J. Crew Mercantile, the first in a row of the company's retail sites which will attempt to rally trades between the budget-conscious bargain hunters.

Alcatel's most recent flagship smartphone, the OneTouch Idol 3 is set to receive its very first and big performance update soon. Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 is deemed to be a solid contender for OnePlus One.

Google's android update has been equipped with several new features taking the smart watches further up on the value chain. Android wear watches update is available with Moto 360, LG G Watch R, Samsung Gear Live, Sony Smart watch, etc. The rolling out of android wear update is being expanded gradually to other devices.

Battery life has always been one of the strongest points of the Motorola Droid Turbo. At 3900mAh, it can last up to 28 days on standby and two days with careful use. The fact that it comes with a 5.2-inch AMOLED display and quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and charges rapidly with the unique Turbo Charger gives it even more edge over pricier competition. However, after installing the latest update, Droid Turbo users have begun complaining.

The US Office of Personnel Management's 21.5M stolen data could compromise the lives of individuals directlyand indirectly connected to the US government. The hack stole security information, backgrounds and filed fingerprints that could potentially reveal identities of US secret agents around the world. OPM director's resignation could be a justified move but it hardly offers solution to the crisis.

Fitness and food tracker apps MyFitnessPal and Endomondo have started sharing content with one another, several months after both companies were acquired by sports apparel and fitness technology maker Under Armour in a deal worth $560 million.