Daily Strategic Briefing

No more waiting for lines: New Windows keyboard shortcuts output em and en dashes with ease

Insider builds have them now. Everyone else will have to employ other methods Hands on  Writers rely on the humble em dash (—) and en dash (–) to add flavor and function to their sentences. But typing these characters, which are slightly longer than a hyphen, has been a challenge in Windows, up until now.…

Reg hack attends job interview hosted by AI avatar, struggles to exit uncanny valley

If an employer asks you do to this, demand a trial run so you can learn the rules of this strange new world A startup called Job Bolt has created AI avatars that conduct job interviews. The Register couldn't help but give it a try and can report that it's an unnerving experience.…

OpenAI reorg at risk as Attorneys General push AI safety

California, Delaware AGs blast ChatGPT shop over chatbot safeguards The Attorneys General of California and Delaware on Friday wrote to OpenAI's board of directors, demanding that the AI company take steps to ensure its services are safe for children.…

US cuffs 475 at Hyundai–LG battery plant – feds tout largest single-site raid

South Korean government protests as workers left up s**t creek The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arm of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it executed its largest single-site raid to date, detaining 475 people at the Hyundai–LG battery plant under construction in Georgia.…

Let us git rid of it, angry GitHub users say of forced Copilot features

Unavoidable AI has developers looking for alternative code hosting options Among the software developers who use Microsoft's GitHub, the most popular community discussion in the past 12 months has been a request for a way to block Copilot, the company's AI service, from generating issues and pull requests in code repositories.…

Why is an Amazon-backed AI startup making Orson Welles fan fiction?

Summary:

This is a bad idea.

OpenAI reorganizes research team behind ChatGPT’s personality

Summary:

OpenAI is shuffling the team that shapes its AI models’ behavior, and its leader is moving on to another project within the company.

Screw the money — Anthropic’s $1.5B copyright settlement sucks for writers

Summary:

Writers aren’t getting this settlement because their work was fed to an AI — this is just a costly slap on the wrist for Anthropic because it illegally downloaded books instead of buying them.

Personalized AI companion app Dot is shutting down

Summary:

Dot, a personalized AI companion, is shutting down.

Attorneys general warn OpenAI ‘harm to children will not be tolerated’

Summary:

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings met with and sent an open letter to OpenAI to express their concerns over the safety of ChatGPT, particularly for children and teens. 

Short-form video learning platform Seekho bags $28M led by Bessemer

Seekho plans to invest in new content formats, primarily powered by AI, blending video with interactive elements to create more personalised learning journeys.

Reveal HealthTech raises $7.2M to push AI deeper into US healthcare

Reveal plans to use fresh capital to scale platforms like BioCanvas and strengthen US market push.

L Catterton’s India-focused consumer fund raises $200M in first close

L Catterton aims to make between seven and nine deals with cheque sizes ranging $25 million to $150 million.

[Weekly funding roundup Aug 29-Sept 5] VC inflow shows a modest increase

The month of September has not exactly started on a bright note for the Indian startup ecosystem, as venture capital funding continues to remain at a modest level.

FirstClub secures $23M to push quality-first quick commerce platform

Backed by Accel and RTP Global, FirstClub is betting that India’s quick commerce boom will shift from speed to standards, with families paying more for quality everyday essentials.

Reliance, Meta Partner on AI; ₹855M Investment

Reliance and Meta Platforms announced a joint venture to offer enterprise AI solutions, with an INR 855M investment and Meta holding a 30% stake. The partnership leverages Meta's Llama models and Reliance's infrastructure, targeting Indian enterprises, SMBs, and select global markets. Source: Simply Wall Street

Haria Exports Sets 55th AGM for 30 Sep via Virtual Mode

Haria Exports Ltd announces its 55th AGM on 30th Sept 2025 via VC/OAVM. Newspaper ads published in Active Times and Mumbai Lakshadeep per SEBI regulations. Source: BSE

Affordable Robotics Sets AGM for Sep 29, Key Resolutions on Agenda

Affordable Robotic & Automation Ltd announces its 16th AGM on Sep 29, 2025, at Pune office. AGM agenda includes financial statement adoption, director reappointments, and resolutions on related-party transactions. Source: BSE

Tolins Tyres Sets AGM for Sep 30, Key Decisions on Financials & Auditors

Tolins Tyres Ltd announces its 22nd AGM on Sep 30, 2025, via video conferencing. Agenda includes financial statement adoption, director reappointment, and statutory auditor appointment. Source: BSE

Devoted Construction Sets AGM for Sept 30; FY25 Results & Director Reappointment on Agenda

Devoted Construction Ltd announces its 9th AGM on Sept 30, 2025, at 2:30 PM in New Delhi. Agenda includes adoption of FY25 audited financials and reappointment of Director Suresh Bohra. Source: BSE

FDI into Vietnam Rises 8.8% in Jan-August

Country: Vietnam, Description: Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam increased 8.8% year-on-year to USD 15.4 billion from January to August 2025 — the highest level for an eight-month period in at least five years. Meanwhile, FDI pledges, which indicate future disbursements, reached USD 26.14 billion, up 27.3% from the same period last year. The manufacturing and processing sectors attracted the most foreign investment, totaling USD 12.57 billion (81.6% of the total), followed by real estate with USD 1.24 billion (8.0%). Investment in the production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam, and air conditioning reached USD 563.6 million, accounting for 3.7%. By source, Singapore remained the top investor with USD 3.1 billion, representing 27.8% of total foreign inflows, followed by China (USD 2.65 billion), Sweden (USD 1 billion), and Japan (USD 0.9 billion).

Vietnam Tourist Arrivals Grow 16.6% YoY

Country: Vietnam, Description: International arrivals to Vietnam increased by 16.5% year-over-year to 1.68 million in August 2025, marking a notable slowdown from the 35.7% surge in the previous month. Visitors from Asia rose 14.2%, led by strong gains from China (34.9%), Japan (12.0%), Malaysia (25.0%), Cambodia (23.7%), and the Philippines (63.7%). Arrivals from America grew 2.2%, driven mainly by Canada (10.8%). Meanwhile, European tourists surged 44.1%, with notable increases from Russia (217.3%), the UK (19.0%), France (19.7%), and Germany (23.6%). Visitors from Australia gained 2.6%, while those from Africa went up 14.0%. For the first eight months of the year, total international arrivals climbed 21.7% to 13.91 million.

Vietnam Trade Surplus Narrows in August

Country: Vietnam, Description: Vietnam’s trade surplus narrowed to USD 3.72 billion in August 2025, down from USD 4.05 billion in August 2024, as exports grew at a slower pace than imports. Exports rose 14.5% year-on-year to USD 43.39 billion, while imports surged 17.7% to USD 39.67 billion. In the first eight months of 2025, Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of USD 13.99 billion, with exports and imports increasing by 14.8% and 17.9%, respectively. During this period, the United States remained Vietnam’s largest export market, with turnover reaching USD 99.1 billion. China continued to be Vietnam’s top source of imports, totaling USD 117.9 billion. In July, the US and Vietnam signed a trade agreement under which the US will impose a 20% tariff on imports from Vietnam — a significant reduction from a previously threatened 46% levy. In 2024, shipments to the US accounted for approximately 30% of Vietnam’s GDP.

Vietnam Retail Sales Rise the Most in 4 Months

Country: Vietnam, Description: Vietnam’s retail sales rose 10.6% year-on-year in August 2025, quickening from a 9.2% increase in the previous month and reaching the fastest pace since April. Growth was recorded across all sectors: goods (10.2% vs 7.7% in July), accommodation and food services (13.2% vs 16.3%), tourism (15.2% vs 12.6%), and other services (9.8% vs 11.4%). For the January–August period, retail turnover expanded 9.4%. On a monthly basis, sales increased 2.6%, faster than a 1.1% gain in July.

Vietnam Inflation Rate Accelerates Slightly to 3.24%

Country: Vietnam, Description: Vietnam’s annual inflation rate edged up to 3.24% in August 2025, up from July’s three-month low of 3.19%. Inflation accelerated slightly for beverages and narcotics (2.25% vs 2.24% in July), clothing and footwear (1.49% vs 1.37%), and household equipment and goods (1.73% vs 1.71%). Inflation moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.58% vs 2.92%), housing and construction materials (6.99% vs 7.07%), medicine and health care services (12.64% vs 12.81%), and other consumer goods and services (2.91% vs 3%). Additionally, transport costs fell at a softer pace (-2.92% vs -3.74%). Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile items, eased to a four-month low of 3.25% in August, down from July’s 3.30%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.05%, easing from a 0.11% increase in the previous month, marking the softest monthly increase in five months.

Trump administration to send Abrego Garcia to Eswatini

Summary: Kilmar Abrego Garcia has no ties to the African kingdom but has claimed persecution fears in 22 countries., Description: The Trump administration notified Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Friday that he will be deported to Eswatini, the tiny African kingdom formerly known as Swaziland, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement email obtained by multiple news outlets. This marks the latest destination in the contentious deportation case that has become a flashpoint in President Trump's immigration crackdown.

China unveils first asteroid defense mission this year

Summary: The dual-spacecraft demonstration will use an impactor and observer to deflect a small asteroid, making China the second nation with deflection capability., Description: China revealed its first kinetic asteroid defense mission at a major space conference this week, signaling its intention to become the world's second country capable of deflecting potentially dangerous asteroids while calling for expanded international cooperation on planetary defense. Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, disclosed the ambitious mission during the...

RFK Jr. to link Tylenol to autism in upcoming report

Summary: Health secretary's controversial findings trigger 14% drop in Kenvue stock as medical experts dispute claims about acetaminophen., Description: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to release a controversial report this month linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The announcement has triggered an immediate market selloff, with Kenvue stock plummeting more than 14% on Friday following reports from The Wall Street Journal. The forthcoming Department of Health and...

ICE launches 'Operation Patriot 2.0' targeting Boston

Summary: The multi-week enforcement surge coincides with a federal lawsuit challenging the city's sanctuary laws and expanded detention capacity., Description: Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched a major enforcement operation dubbed "Operation Patriot 2.0" in the Boston area, marking the latest escalation in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown targeting sanctuary cities. The multi-week operation, which began late this week, comes as federal officials seek to compel progressive municipalities to cooperate with federal...

Alcaraz dominates Djokovic to reach US Open final

Summary: The Spaniard won 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 for his first victory over Djokovic on hard courts, ending the Serbian's quest for a record 25th Grand Slam., Description: Carlos Alcaraz dominated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the US Open semifinals on Friday, September 5, securing his first victory over the Serbian legend on hard courts and advancing to his second US Open final. The 22-year-old Spaniard maintained his perfect tournament record without dropping a set, avenging recent losses at the Australian Open and Olympics while ending the 38-year-old's...