Daily Strategic Briefing

US spy satellite agency breached, but insists no classified secrets spilled

Plus, leak site for BlackSuit seized, Tea spilt, and avoid crime if you've got a famous dad Infosec in brief  A computer intrusion hit the US spy satellite agency, but officials insist no classified secrets were lost - just some unclassified ones, apparently.…

Seeing is believing in biomedicine, which isn't great when AI gets it wrong

'It looks sexy but it's wrong' - like the improbably well-endowed rat Biomedical visualization specialists haven't come to terms with how or whether to use generative AI tools when creating images for health and science applications. But there's an urgent need to develop guidelines and best practices because incorrect illustrations of anatomy and related subject matter could cause harm in clinical settings or as online misinformation.…

Congress tries to outlaw AI that jacks up prices based on what it knows about you

Surveillance-based pricing? Two lawmakers say enough Two Democratic members of Congress, Greg Casar (D-TX) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI,) have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to ban the use of AI surveillance to set prices and wages.…

Blame a leak for Microsoft SharePoint attacks, researcher insists

MAPP program to blame? A week after Microsoft told the world that its July software updates didn't fully fix a couple of bugs, which allowed miscreants to take over on-premises SharePoint servers and remotely execute code, researchers have assembled much of the puzzle — with one big missing piece.…

Intel to throw networking biz over the side of its rapidly shrinking ship

Chipzilla hopes it can pull an Altera with its NEX division, and is now looking for buyers Intel isn't just laying off employees and closing plants in a bid to cut costs – it's also reportedly planning to get rid of its entire Network and Edge Group (NEX) to help right the ship. …

‘Wizard of Oz’ blown up by AI for giant Sphere screen

Summary:

The massive Las Vegas venue known as Sphere will be screening its first classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” starting on August 28. And as detailed in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, this isn’t just a matter of taking the existing movie and projecting it on Sphere’s 160,000 square foot, wraparound LED screen.

DOGE has built an AI tool to slash federal regulations

Summary:

The Department of Government Efficiency has presented plans to use a new AI tool to eliminate half of the federal government’s regulatory mandates by the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s return to office, according to The Washington Post.

Meta names Shengjia Zhao as chief scientist of AI superintelligence unit

Summary:

Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher, will round out the leadership team at Meta’s new AI lab.

AI referrals to top websites were up 357% year-over-year in June, reaching 1.13B

Summary:

AI platforms in June 2025 generated over 1.13 billion referrals to the top 1,000 websites globally, up 357% year-over-year.

Sam Altman warns there’s no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT as a therapist

Summary:

In response to a question about how AI works with today’s legal system, Altman said one of the problems of not yet having a legal or policy framework for AI is that there’s no legal confidentiality for users’ conversations.

MoEngage to secure $200M from ChrysCapital, A91 Partners, and Goldman Sachs: Report

The funding round is likely to value the Bengaluru and San Francisco, California-based firm between $750 million and $800 million.

[Weekly funding roundup July 19-25] VC money continues to move in the slow lane

Venture capital funding in the month of July has been quite lacklustre, hovering around the $100 million range.

Priyanka Gill's lab-grown diamond startup Coluxe closes friends and family funding round

Coluxe's capital injection is expected to support its digital launch in August 2025 as well as expand its product catalogue and infrastructure.

Semiconductor startup Netrasemi bags Rs 107 Cr from Zoho, Unicorn India Ventures

The startup will use the fresh funding to scale research and development, enhance manufacturing and marketing capabilities, and bring four advanced system-on-chip (SoC) variants into production.

Lifestyle and travel focused startup Escape Plan wings $5M in seed round

Jungle Ventures- and Fireside Ventures-backed Escape Plan plans to build a multi-brand travel gear platform with quick delivery and offline expansion plans.

Kotak Bank Slides 6% on Q1 Miss

Kotak Mahindra Bank shares fell nearly 6% after Q1 results missed expectations. Source: ScoutQuest

TCS Falls 1% on 2% Workforce Cut

TCS shares declined over 1% after announcing a 2% global workforce cut. Source: ScoutQuest

Wockhardt's Zaynich Cures Rare Infection, Eyes Broad Approval

Wockhardt's Zaynich treated a severe pan-drug-resistant infection successfully in a U.S. patient. Zaynich, post-Phase III trials, supports broad marketing authorization after rapid recovery in 11 days. Source: ScoutQuest

Kotak Profit Falls 7%; SAIL Q1 Jumps to ₹685 Cr

Kotak Mahindra Bank's Q1 FY26 net profit dropped 7% to Rs 3,282 cr, income rose 7.9%. SAIL posted Rs 685.5 cr net profit in Q1 FY26, up from Rs 10.7 cr in Q1 FY25. Source: Capital Market

VA Tech Wabag FY25 Revenue Beats Estimates, EPS Hits ₹47.48

VA Tech Wabag's FY25 revenue rose 15% to ₹32.9B, beating estimates by 2%. EPS grew to ₹47.48, in line with estimates; profit margin improved to 9%. Source: Simply Wall Street

Brunei Trade Surplus Falls to Near 2-Year Low

Country: Brunei, Description: Brunei’s trade surplus dropped to BND 252.3 million in May 2025 from BND 404.5 million in the same month a year earlier. It was the lowest trade surplus since a deficit in June 2023, as exports shrank more than imports amid rising global trade barriers. Exports plunged 27.7% yoy to an 11-month low of BND 1,027.9 million, dragged by lower shipments of mineral fuels (-33.8%), chemicals (-9.9%), and machinery and transport equipment (-5.5%). Key export destinations included China (19.4% of total exports), Australia (17.1%), South Korea (10.9%), Taiwan (9.6%), and Singapore (7.7%). Meanwhile, imports dropped 23.7% to BND 775.6 million, mainly due to weaker demand for mineral fuels (-30.4%), manufactured goods (-13.1%), and machinery and transport equipment (-10.5%). Malaysia remained the top import source (39.6%), followed by Russia (24.3%), China (6.8%), Australia (4.9%), and Vietnam (4.1%). For January–May, the trade surplus fell to BND 2.12 billion from BND 2.49 billion a year earlier.

Australia 10-Year Yield Inches Down Ahead of CPI Data

Country: Australia, Description: Australia’s 10-year government bond yield fell to around 4.34% as investors await the release of second-quarter inflation data later this week, which could provide more clues on the Reserve Bank’s path for rate cuts. The figures are seen as pivotal in assessing whether inflation is returning sustainably to the RBA’s 2–3% target band—an essential condition for easing policy. Last week, Governor Michele Bullock reaffirmed that a “measured and gradual” policy approach remains appropriate, particularly as global risks, including trade tensions, appear to be easing. Still, markets are pricing in an 85% chance of a 25bps rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting in August. In the latest trade developments, the US and EU reached a framework agreement on Sunday, raising hopes for more deals ahead of the August 1 deadline.

South Korean Won Rises on Softer Dollar, Trade Developments

Country: South Korea, Description: The South Korean won rose to around 1,380 per dollar on Monday, tracking gains amid a softer dollar and improved market sentiment following the recent US-EU trade agreement. The won's rebound followed renewed investor interest in Asian assets and development in trade discussions between South Korea and US. Seoul proposed a multibillion-dollar shipbuilding investment package dubbed "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA), involving major capital investments by private South Korean shipbuilders in the US. In addition, the package also includes financial support through loans and guarantees from Korean institutions. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a key figure in the ongoing trade negotiations, reportedly responded favorably to the offer. Separately, SK Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol is scheduled to visit Washington later this week and may meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent by Thursday, potentially advancing talks ahead of the August 1 trade deadline.

Japan 10-Year Yield Eases Ahead of BOJ Decision

Country: Japan, Description: Japan’s 10-year government bond yield edged down to around 1.57% on Monday, pulling back slightly from near 17-year highs as investors positioned ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy decision this week. The BOJ is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged amid lingering concerns over the economic impact of recent US tariffs. However, the central bank is likely to revise its inflation forecast higher in its quarterly outlook, reflecting persistent price pressures. Markets will also be watching for the BOJ’s updated guidance on Japanese government bond purchases, which could influence yield dynamics. Last week, JGB yields climbed after the US and Japan reached a trade deal that set a 15% tariff on Japanese exports to the US—well below the 25% initially proposed by President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Tokyo’s July inflation data remained well above the BOJ’s 2% target, reinforcing expectations that further tightening could be on the horizon.

China 10-Year Yield Falls Ahead of US-China Trade Talks

Country: China, Description: China’s 10-year government bond yield fell to around 1.72% on Monday, extending its decline from the previous session amid growing optimism over US-China trade negotiations. The high-level meeting, scheduled for later today in Stockholm, will feature US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Bessent expressed hope that the talks could lead to a prolonged truce, with the agenda expected to go beyond tariffs and include topics such as China’s energy imports from Russia and Iran. Meanwhile, reports suggest both sides are likely to extend the tariff truce by three months, with one source noting that no new tariffs are planned during that period. At home, China’s fiscal revenue saw a slight decline in the first half of 2025, even as government spending continued to rise. Additionally, industrial profits deteriorated further compared to the previous month, weighed down by persistent deflationary pressures and ongoing US-China trade tensions.

Starmer to press Trump on Gaza ceasefire at Scotland summit

Summary: The UK prime minister will meet Trump at his Turnberry resort Monday to revive stalled Israel-Hamas talks and discuss trade issues., Description: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet US President Donald Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland on Monday to press for progress on Gaza ceasefire talks and resolve outstanding issues in their bilateral trade agreement. The meeting comes one day after Trump successfully concluded a landmark trade deal with the European Union, setting 15% tariffs on most EU goods entering the US.

EU chief pushes Ukraine to preserve anti-corruption bodies

Summary: Von der Leyen's intervention prompted Zelenskyy to backtrack on parliamentary vote that would have undermined key anti-graft agencies., Description: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday to preserve the independence of anti-corruption organizations, following a contentious parliamentary vote last week that threatened to undermine Kyiv's European Union accession efforts. The high-level intervention came after Ukraine's parliament voted Tuesday to revoke the autonomy of two...

Israel announces daily 10-hour pause in Gaza fighting

Summary: The tactical pause across three areas comes amid mounting international pressure over what aid agencies warn is mass starvation., Description: The Israeli military announced Sunday it would implement a "tactical pause" in fighting across three Gaza areas for 10 hours daily to address mounting international pressure over what aid agencies warn is a worsening hunger crisis threatening mass starvation. The pause marks the first time Israel has temporarily halted military operations in Gaza since March, when it resumed the war and stopped...

Trump, EU reach trade deal with 15% tariffs

Summary: Agreement includes $750 billion in EU energy purchases and $600 billion in additional US investment, averting potential trade war., Description: President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a landmark trade agreement on Sunday, setting a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the United States and averting a potential trade war between the world's two largest economies just days before an August 1 deadline. The deal, announced after talks at Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, includes...

Ocean temperatures hit record highs in historic 2023

Summary: Marine heatwaves lasted four times longer than normal and affected 96% of global ocean surface, scientists warn of potential climate tipping point., Description: Ocean temperatures soared to unprecedented levels in 2023, with marine heatwaves shattering records for intensity, duration and global coverage, according to a comprehensive study published Thursday in the journal Science. The findings suggest these extreme oceanic events may signal a climate tipping point that could trigger irreversible changes to marine ecosystems worldwide. Scientists found...