Paisabazaar has integrated AI to write 86% of its new code, boosting production releases without reducing its engineering workforce. CTO Mukesh Sharma stated that AI's productivity gains allow engineers to handle a larger backlog of products. The company is expanding its technology team to manage more products within budget constraints, with AI aiding in code reviews, quality assurance, and test case generation. Sharma anticipates varying impacts of AI on engineering headcount depending on the organization's focus on new development.

Binance disclosed user data to Russian authorities, contradicting its 2023 claim of exiting Russia. The data was used to charge a Russian IT specialist with terrorism financing for donations to Ukrainian causes. This raises concerns about privacy, compliance, and the balance between law enforcement demands and user data protection in the crypto industry.

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) successfully launched the SEO satellite, part of the National Space Science and Technology Centre's efforts to bolster national space projects and sustainability research. The satellite, launched from China, will aid in environmental protection and resource management, supporting UAE's vision for leadership in space technology and sustainable development.

Microsoft is working on a security patch for the "ShieldBreak" zero-day vulnerability disclosed last week by security researcher "Nightmare Eclipse" and now tracked as CVE-2026-69414. […]

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a warning to Google Chrome users on desktop computers, including macOS, Windows, and Linux, about high-severity security flaws that could lead to data exposure or remote code execution. Users are advised to update Chrome immediately to avoid potential cyberfraud that could exploit these vulnerabilities through specially designed webpages or malicious web requests, leading to arbitrary code execution or system disruption.

Huawei has open-sourced the AscendNPU Intermediate Representation (IR), which is central to the BiSheng Compiler. This release includes Triton and multi-language support for the Ascend 950 platform, enhancing its AI capabilities.

Japan, facing extreme heat and heavy rainfall, is emerging as a leader in climate adaptation, with widespread air conditioning and new workplace heatstroke-prevention measures. Despite cultural challenges in adapting office attire to the heat, the government and companies are taking steps to protect workers and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Brian Eno, among over 200 musicians, has signed an open letter opposing the development of the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea, citing climate change threats and the ineffectiveness of such projects in lowering UK energy bills. The letter, supported by artists like Robert Smith, Thom Yorke, and Olly Alexander, highlights the impact of extreme weather on live events and the music industry. The artists urge the government to reject the oil plans, aligning with Eno's previous advocacy for ending fossil fuel expansion.

A review of thousands of scientific papers on quantum computing reveals that most cannot be replicated on independent devices, casting doubt on the credibility of reported advances and potentially triggering a replication crisis in the field. Researchers found that the reproducibility of results is crucial for the practical application of quantum computing in various industries, but current literature lacks sufficient code and documentation for independent verification.

The Green Data Center Market Report forecasts a significant expansion of the global market from USD 83.81 billion in 2026 to USD 525.8 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 20.16%. Growth is driven by AI, renewable energy, and sustainability mandates, with key opportunities in renewable-powered facilities, advanced cooling systems, AI-based energy management, and modular infrastructure. Stricter environmental regulations and corporate carbon reduction commitments are also contributing factors.

Rothschild upgrades Apple to 'Buy' following the company's announcement of a foldable iPhone and a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence, signaling confidence in Apple's innovation and market potential.

Anthropic has developed a text-watermarking system for future Claude models to estimate AI involvement in text. The watermark, based on Google DeepMind’s SynthID-Text approach, will create a detectable pattern through word choices without visible labels or hidden characters. It will not add tokens, increase costs, or carry identifying information. Anthropic plans to apply this globally at launch and introduce a detection API, though no specific release date or model support has been announced.

Berkshire Hathaway is diversifying its cash reserves by investing in external stocks and repurchasing its own shares, marking a shift from its previous strategy of net selling. In the second quarter, Berkshire bought $23.5 billion in stocks, sold $3.7 billion, and repurchased $4.5 billion of its shares, resulting in a net purchase of $19.8 billion. The company's cash reserve decreased slightly from $380.2 billion to $364.7 billion. Berkshire significantly increased its stake in Alphabet, making it the conglomerate's third-largest listed stock holding, and also boosted its Delta Air Lines investment by 44%. The capital allocation decisions are a collaborative effort between Warren Buffett and Greg Abel.

Yes Bank is making a comeback in the bond market after writing off a risky local note in 2020. The bank plans to sell a three-year US currency note and is engaging with fixed-income investors. This move coincides with other Indian lenders raising significant capital, supported by the Reserve Bank of India's measures. Yes Bank, which was rescued by State Bank of India, has seen a steady turnaround and has received ratings upgrades for its local-currency notes. The bank's dollar bond is rated below investment grade by Moody's and S&P Global Ratings.

The Justice Family Group and Kennedy Lewis Investment Management have formed a joint venture to stabilize The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, aiming to support its long-term plans and provide funding and operational expertise. Kennedy Lewis now holds majority ownership, with Lloyd Nathan named as chair of the board. The resort will continue normal operations during the transition, with existing reservations and events proceeding as scheduled.

China's energy grid reached capacity, turning away enough clean energy to power Mexico for a year in the first half of 2023. This issue is not isolated, as Australia and Japan also experienced grid limitations due to a rapid increase in renewable energy sources. Curtailments are becoming a global challenge, highlighting the ongoing dependence on fossil fuels despite the growth in renewable energy.

Sunil Singhania-backed Abakkus Flexi Cap Fund increased its stake in Reliance Industries, Vedanta Power, and 32 other stocks in July. The fund added shares of NTPC, Edelweiss Financial Services, Vedanta Aluminium Metal, SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank, while reducing holdings in Bajaj Auto, Cyient DLM, and Avalon Technologies. The fund's portfolio grew to 15 lakh shares in Reliance Industries and 2.23 crore shares in Vedanta Power.

Oil prices hover near $90/bbl amid Middle East tensions and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent Oil Futures extending gains. Gold, Copper, Silver Futures, and US drilling activity are also analyzed. Copper prices hit a record high, continuing a rally for seven weeks. US oil production is expected to rise, influenced by the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

Oil prices hover near $90/bbl amid Middle East tensions and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent Oil Futures extending gains. Gold, Copper, Silver Futures, and Sterling are also analyzed. US drilling activity rises, with the rig count at 455, contributing to increased production estimates. Copper hits a record high, continuing its rally for the seventh consecutive week.

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S. has received approval to issue $400 million and €100 million in bonds under its Global Medium Term Notes program. The first bond series, with ISIN XS3470749857, amounts to $400 million, while the second series, with ISIN XS3470749931, totals €100 million. Both bonds were issued on Wednesday and will mature on August 16, 2029.

Billionaire James Packer has shifted his investment focus from gaming to artificial intelligence, increasing his stake in Nvidia to 1.5 million shares, which rose in value by 14% to $US296 million in the last quarter. His holding company, Palidye Holdings, also holds significant positions in Meta Platforms and Microsoft, with a total portfolio valued at $US558 million.

Research suggests that animals have been consuming microbial storage polyhydroxyalkanoates, a form of nature's original bioplastic, for hundreds of millions of years, indicating a long-standing interaction between wildlife and these biodegradable materials.

Ahead of the Game introduces GOBO: The Maze Tower, a mobile game where players control a little goblin to save the Demon King from human adventurers. The game features tower-climbing, customization options for the goblin, and inventory management. Despite its unofficial launch, the game has garnered interest for its villain-centric narrative and adorable gameplay.

The NFL has partnered with Microsoft to enhance game-day operations using Copilot Studio and Power Platform, aiming to improve efficiency and streamline processes.

Vista Oil & Gas stock surged 3.2% after billionaire Peter Thiel's Thiel Macro LLC acquired 1.2 million American Depositary Shares, representing a 1% stake valued at $76 million. This high-profile investment, disclosed on August 15, followed Vista's acquisition of Equinor's interests in the Bandurria Sur and Bajo del Toro blocks, increasing production to 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The company also repurchased shares and has a 'Strong Buy' rating with a 12-month price target of MXN 1,647. The S&P/BMV IPC slightly declined, while oil prices held firm, supporting the energy sector.

A Wildberries warehouse in Moscow Oblast, Russia, was set ablaze, likely due to Ukrainian attacks on e-commerce facilities. CNN used geolocation to identify the incident.

Lupin Ltd has received final approval from the US FDA for its generic Pitolisant tablets, which are indicated for treating excessive daytime sleepiness. The approved tablet strengths are 4.45 mg and 17.8 mg, and they are bioequivalent to the prescription medicine Wakix by Harmony Biosciences.

Brussels is actively monitoring unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) as part of the European Commission's defence department, according to documents seen by Euronews. The EU is improving its technological capabilities to better identify and understand UAPs, which were previously known as UFOs. The term UAP was introduced by the Pentagon in 2020, and the EU's interest in UAPs was highlighted by a letter from a Malaysian father and son, amateur astronomers, who sent footage of alleged UAPs to the Commission.

Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries is preparing to file for an initial public offering of its Indian renewable energy arm, Sembcorp Green Infra Ltd., which could raise up to $500 million. The offering, in collaboration with major banks, would be Sembcorp Green Infra's second attempt at going public. This move follows the trend of successful renewable energy IPOs in India, with companies like Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions and Powerica performing well post-IPO.

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) reported a 48% increase in investment income to RM57.5 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by strong global equity markets and unrealised mark-to-market gains. Total income for the second quarter was RM29.77 billion, up 44% from the previous year. Equities were the largest contributor, followed by fixed-income instruments, real estate, infrastructure, and money market instruments. The fund's CEO emphasized a focus on sustainable long-term returns despite market volatility.

A.P. Moller Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Moroccan logistics company Globex Investissement, with CEO Omar El Kadiri remaining at the helm. The acquisition aligns with A.P. Moller Capital's focus on transportation and logistics in Morocco, leveraging Globex's established market positions in express delivery, road freight, freight forwarding, and customs brokerage.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy proposes a moratorium on AI data centres to allow for a study of land use planning policies. The motion will be voted on at the Sept. 8 town council meeting. Essex County Council has decided to collect preliminary information on data centre planning and report back with details of a possible larger study. The province has unveiled a new AI data centre framework prioritizing closed-loop systems and higher electricity rates for large new data centres.

Google has released Gemini 3.7 Flash, a refined version of its AI model for coding and agent tasks, with significant improvements in software engineering, web development, and document-heavy work. Available now, it offers half the usual rate through the end of 2026, with prices doubling in 2027. The model shows marked gains in benchmarks across various tasks, including software engineering, web development, and document comprehension.

India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has obtained a U.S. license to resume operations in Venezuela, aiming to capitalize on over $500 million in dividends from its stakes in the San Cristobal and Carabobo oil projects. The move comes after sanctions eased, allowing ONGC's overseas arm, ONGC Videsh, to pursue opportunities in Venezuela. The company is in discussions with Venezuela's government for new partnership deals, potentially taking over project operatorship. India has increased crude imports from Russia, Brazil, and Venezuela to offset Middle Eastern supply losses due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has come to a halt as the U.S.-Iran ceasefire nears its expiry, amid rising tensions in Lebanon and concerns over oil market stability. Oil prices have advanced, with markets showing mixed reactions ahead of U.S. inflation data.

The rise of shadow AI, where employees use AI tools without organizational approval, is creating significant risks for businesses. Despite 90% of executives believing they have visibility into AI tools, only 52% of employees admit to using them without consent, often through personal accounts. This leads to a gap between AI adoption and governance, increasing the risk of errors, regulatory breaches, and data leaks. As AI systems become more autonomous, the potential for harmful actions without oversight grows, necessitating stronger governance frameworks to manage these risks.

Emirates NBD has introduced the UAE's first Transition Finance Framework to support lower carbon investments, targeting $30 billion in sustainable finance by 2030. The framework aids corporate and institutional clients in financing emissions reduction, cleaner technologies, and hard-to-abate sectors. It provides guidance for businesses taking credible steps towards lower-carbon models, referencing international standards and seeking a second-party opinion from DNV Assurance. The initiative aims to facilitate the transition of the real economy in the UAE and the region.

A new website, 'Have I Been Flocked,' enables drivers to verify if their car's license plate has been checked by Flock Safety's surveillance network. Flock Safety, with over 120,000 cameras in the US, has faced privacy concerns and misuse allegations. In response, Flock Safety will reduce data retention from 30 to seven days and introduce an audit tool to monitor search behavior and lock out users during investigations.

Alibaba's Q2 earnings will be crucial in determining if its AI investments are driving sustainable growth. The company's stock has recovered from a low of $92 to $123, but the earnings report on August 20 is expected to reveal whether this rebound is due to strong AI adoption, particularly with Qwen AI models, and cloud growth. Despite a 38% year-on-year increase in cloud revenue, Alibaba's operating profit fell 84% in the March quarter due to heavy AI spending. Analysts predict an 8.35% revenue increase to about $39.74 billion, but EPS may drop to $1.48 from $2.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has launched two new portals: the Incident Reporting Portal to streamline cybersecurity incident reporting, and the Cyber Suraksha Portal as a central hub for information sharing. These initiatives aim to improve alerts and communication regarding cybersecurity incidents in the securities market. Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey emphasized the need for a resilient ecosystem and continuous vulnerability management, especially with the advent of AI and quantum computing threats.

Greaves Cotton has completed the acquisition of Excel Controlinkage, securing a 100% stake in the company. The transaction, finalized on August 13, 2026, marks the end of a multi-tranche acquisition process that began in 2023. With this move, Excel Controlinkage will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Greaves Cotton.

Lupin's Pitolisant Tablets, 4.45 mg and 17.8 mg, have received USFDA approval as bioequivalent to Wakix for the same indications.

Sky Gold & Diamonds has been added to the MSCI India Domestic Small Cap Index, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey. Mangesh Chauhan, Managing Director, expressed pride in the recognition and outlined the company's focus on sustainable growth, financial discipline, and strengthening governance. The inclusion is expected to enhance Sky Gold's visibility among institutional investors and reaffirm its commitment to long-term value creation.

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has identified SilverFox, an active threat group, exploiting AI applications in Asia Pacific. SilverFox distributes fake Claude AI apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, targeting sectors like manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and finance. The group uses phishing emails and malicious files to steal data, with over 90% of attacks originating from Greater China. Their recent campaigns have affected companies in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Russia.

First Gen shares dropped 19% after First Philippine rejected KKR's offer to buy an 8.43% stake, reflecting investor concerns over the deal's impact on the company's future.

Scotiabank warns that the next phase of the Iran crisis could impact the global banking system, not just oil trade. Following Treasury Secretary's hints at new economic-isolation measures, Derek Holt from Scotiabank suggests that the U.S. might extend sanctions to the international banking and payments systems, with China and India being key players in this scenario. The market has been focused on the physical movement of oil, but the financial implications could be more significant.

Scotiabank warns that the next phase of the Iran crisis could impact the global banking system, not just oil trade. Following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's warning of new economic-isolation measures against Iran, Derek Holt of Scotiabank suggests that investors should be wary of potential sanctions extending beyond tankers and refiners to the international banking and payments systems. China, as the dominant buyer of Iranian crude, could be a central player in this scenario, with possible implications for markets and the FTSE 100.

Abu Dhabi's Environment Agency has launched an Innovation Charter with nine commitments to foster environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and community-driven green solutions. The initiative aims to develop practical solutions for environmental challenges by involving the community, universities, entrepreneurs, and private-sector companies. Key commitments include building internal innovation capabilities, supporting research and development, creating open platforms for idea submission, forming partnerships for sustainability projects, and promoting digital technologies for resource management. The Charter also emphasizes transparency, intellectual property protection, and public involvement in environmental innovation.

Mortal Shell 2, developed by Cold Symmetry, is set for a worldwide release on Thursday, Aug. 20, with different release times across time zones. The Devout Edition offers early access from Aug. 17 and includes the Obsidian Skin set. The game is a single-player experience, so early access does not provide a gameplay advantage.

Morgan Stanley's Market Analysis highlights the 81% chance of a strong El Niño this year, with potential impacts on commodities like sugar, cocoa, copper, and credit. Sugar prices may rise due to production threats in Asia and Brazil, while copper output risks in Chile and Zambia could increase prices. El Niño may also drive food inflation, affecting Latin American and African economies. Equity effects will vary by sector, with some soft commodity producers benefiting and others facing higher costs. The phenomenon, which has caused $84 trillion in global economic damage since 2000, is closely monitored by local governments and investors due to its global reach.

El Niño, a weather phenomenon with a history of causing $84 trillion in global economic damage since 2000, is expected to have a significant impact this year. With an 81% chance of being very strong, El Niño could affect commodity production, markets, and economies worldwide. Investors are monitoring its potential effects on commodities like sugar, copper, and credit. In North America, milder winters and stormier conditions are expected, while South America may see heavier rainfall. The phenomenon could lead to increased food inflation in Latin American and African economies, affecting growth and public finances.

Following Operation Sindoor, India's defense strategy has shifted towards larger budgets, new military formations, and record arms exports. The country has invested in indigenous technologies, cyber defenses, and intelligence capabilities to enhance national security and regional influence. Despite Pakistan's claims of destroyed installations, India's Armed Forces confirmed the integrity of their S-400 and BrahMos systems during the May 2025 confrontation.

Molbio Diagnostics' shares surged 6% to Rs 1,044 after a debut that exceeded market expectations by 21%. Despite the strong initial performance, experts advise investors to exercise caution and consider a Rs 900 stop-loss. The company's leadership in molecular diagnostics, growth strategy, and industry prospects are seen as positive factors for long-term investment.

Over 85% of India's $11.4 billion deeptech funding since 2015 was raised in the past six years, with 2025 being the highest funding year at $2.9 billion. The sector has transitioned from early-stage proof points to commercial validation, with notable successes like Skyroot Aerospace's rocket launch and Neysa's $1.2 billion funding round. Blume Ventures led with 51 deals, followed by Speciale Invest and Accel India. Venture debt raised $544 million through 61 deals, and 62% of funds cited exit visibility as a challenge, with secondary transactions accounting for 56% of exits. In 2025, there were 18 exits worth $600 million, compared to 7 exits worth $152 million in 2024.

Shein, the online fast-fashion retailer, is targeting a company valuation of approximately $25 billion for its Hong Kong IPO, a significant decrease from its previous valuation of nearly $100 billion. The Singapore-based company, which offers affordable fashion items globally, plans to launch its IPO later this week. The valuation range of $25 to $28 billion is based on the marketing price band for the offering. The sources of this information are not authorized to speak to the media before the public announcement of the deal terms.