Daily Strategic Briefing

Forget disappearing messages – now Signal will store 100MB of them for you for free

Including messages sent to users, a potential problem for the privacy-conscious Encrypted messaging app Signal is rolling out a free storage system for its users, with extra space if folks are willing to pay for it.…

Citrix products sold under old licenses will get glitchy unless users upgrade

Brace for ‘loss of functionality’ next April, and an upsell conversation before that deadline Citrix on Monday advised its customers that products acquired under its current file-based licensing system will experience “loss of functionality and potential impacts on end-users” next April, and that upgrading to a new cloudy licensing scheme is the way to avoid potential problems.…

Intel shuffles executive deckchairs, tosses 30-year veteran chief overboard

Michelle Johnston Holthaus' tenure as Intel Products CEO lasted just ten months Intel’s CEO of Products, Michelle Johnston Holthaus, will leave the business, as part of the latest executive shake-up since CEO Lip Bu Tan seized the company's reins.…

WhatsApp's former security boss claims reporting infosec failings led to ousting

Meta shrugs off allegations of improper dismissal, ignoring privacy and security WhatsApp's former head of security, Attaullah Baig, has filed a lawsuit against its parent company, Meta, alleging that the social media megalith retaliated against him for reporting security failings that violated legal commitments.…

Chip designer SiFive aims to cram more RISC-V cores into AI chips

Why reinvent the CPU wheel when you can spend your time engineering a way out of your dependence on Nvidia? Every quarter, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is asked about the growing number of custom ASICs encroaching on his AI empire, and each time he downplays the threat, arguing that GPUs offer superior programmability in a rapidly changing environment.…

Intel’s chief executive of products departs among other leadership changes

Summary:

Intel also announced the creation of a central engineering group that will build custom chips for outside customers.

Sam Altman says that bots are making social media feel ‘fake’ 

Summary:

After watching Reddit’s OpenAI and Anthropic communities, Sam Altman thinks social media cannot be trusted. And bots are to blame.

Pinecone founder Edo Liberty discusses why the next big AI breakthrough starts with search, at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Summary:

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Pinecone founder and CEO Edo Liberty will explain why the next wave of AI-native apps won’t be driven by bigger models, but by smarter search.

Cognition AI defies turbulence with a $400M raise at $10.2B valuation

Summary:

Founders Fund, the Peter Thiel-backed VC, led Cognition’s latest round, with participation from existing investors like Lux Capital, Joe Lonsdale’s 8VC, Elad Gil, Definition Capital and Swish Ventures. 

Google’s AI Mode adds 5 new languages including Hindi, Japanese, and Korean

Summary:

Google’s AI Mode is rolling out in Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese.

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.

Interior design firm Flipspaces raises $50M to expand, boost AI tech

The fresh capital came from investors, including UAE-headquartered CE-Invests, Singapore-headquartered Panthera Growth Partners, and Japan-headquartered SMBC Asia Rising Fund.

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.

PlatinumRx is betting on generic substitutes to cut India’s soaring medicine bills

The Bengaluru-based online pharmacy, which has raised $6 million funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners, wants to break India’s branded generics cartel with cheaper, vetted substitutes for chronic care patients.

Voltamp Sees ₹618 Cr Block Deal at ₹7,611/Share

Voltamp Transformers witnessed block deals of 8.12 lakh shares. The transaction, valued at ₹618 crore, was executed at ₹7,611 per share. Source: ScoutQuest

Infosys to Mull Buyback as Stock Falls 24% YTD; Cuts FY26 Growth Outlook

Infosys to consider equity buyback proposal amid 24% YTD stock drop. Q1 FY25 net profit rose 9% YoY; FY26 revenue guidance lowered to 1-3% CC. Source: The Economic Times

RailTel Bags ₹713.5 Cr Deals for Digital Learning in Bihar

RailTel Corp secures Rs 713.5 crore worth contracts for digital learning projects in Bihar. Major orders include Rs 262.1 crore for Smart Classrooms and Rs 59.8 crore for innovation labs. Source: The Economic Times

Glenmark Gets ₹700M from AbbVie for ISB 2001 Deal

Glenmark secures INR 700M upfront from AbbVie for ISB 2001 deal. Source: ScoutQuest

SBI Funds Buys 4.73L Shares at ₹1,230

SBI Funds acquires 4.73 lakh shares at ₹1,230 each; DIPAM rejects RVNL's subsidiary proposal. Voltamp promoter may sell 7% stake at ₹7,600/share; Arkade faces IT malware incident. Source: ScoutQuest

HK 10Y Bond Yield Hits 9-week Low

Country: Hong Kong, Description: HK 10 Year Government Bond Yield decreased to 2.98%, the lowest since July 2025. Over the past 4 weeks, Hong Kong 10Y Bond Yield gained 4.70 basis points, and in the last 12 months, it increased 28.20 basis points.

Silver Holds at 14-Year High on Dovish Fed Bets

Country: Commodity, Description: Silver hovered around $41.2 per ounce on Tuesday, near its highest level since 2011, as mounting expectations for US Federal Reserve rate cuts underpinned demand for precious metals. Investors awaited benchmark revisions to US jobs data covering April 2024 to March 2025, with economists forecasting downward adjustments of up to 800,000 jobs, signaling the Fed may be trailing its full-employment mandate. Focus also turned to two key inflation readings this week that could guide the next policy move, with the August producer price index due Wednesday and the consumer price index on Thursday. Markets are currently pricing in an 89% probability of a 25 basis point cut at next week’s meeting, while some traders continue to position for a larger 50 basis point move. On the industrial front, resilient demand from solar, electric vehicles, and electronics has tightened the physical silver market at a time when supply remains constrained.

Rupiah Weakens as Market Reels from Finance Minister Shake-Up

Country: Indonesia, Description: The Indonesian rupiah slipped to around 16,480 per dollar on Tuesday morning before recovering slightly after the central bank confirmed it was intervening in the market to stabilize the local currency. Pressure on Indonesian assets mounted following the sudden removal of Sri Mulyani Indrawati as finance minister Monday, a move that unsettled investors given her reputation for fiscal prudence and global credibility. Her exit came just days after the country was rocked by its largest anti-government protests in years, adding to political and economic uncertainty. Newly appointed finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa pledged to safeguard Indonesia’s fiscal health, but markets remain cautious. So far this year, the rupiah has fallen 2.3% against the US dollar, making it Asia’s second-worst performing currency after the Indian rupee. Meanwhile, the dollar index steadied at 97.4, near its weakest in almost seven weeks, as soft US labor data fueled bets of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Offshore Yuan Holds Ground

Country: China, Description: The offshore yuan held its recent advance around 7.12 per dollar on Tuesday, after three straight sessions of gains, supported by weakness in the US dollar. The greenback continued to struggle as mounting concerns over a cooling labor market fueled expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Traders are now pricing in an 89% chance of a 25 bps cut at next week’s meeting, with some even positioning for a larger 50 bps reduction. Domestically, the yuan came under pressure after recent data showed China’s trade performance weakened in August, with exports slowing to six-month low and softer-than-expected imports adding pressure on growth. Meanwhile, China is pressing ASEAN to finalize an upgraded free trade pact by year-end to boost exports and counter US tariffs, highlighting its push for greater market access and multilateral cooperation. Looking ahead, market attention turns to key data this week, including August consumer prices, which are expected to reignite deflationary concerns.

Indonesia Stocks Drop to 4-Week Low After FM Replacement

Country: Indonesia, Description: The IDX Composite fell 110 points, or 1.4%, to 7,657 in morning trade on Tuesday, retreating for the third straight session and hitting its lowest level in four weeks. The decline followed the government’s replacement of Finance Minister (FM) Sri Mulyani in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday. Purbaya Y. Sadewa, an economist and Chairman of the Deposit Insurance Corporation, was appointed as the new FM. Investors fear that populist spending plans under President Prabowo Subianto could erode hard-fought fiscal credibility. On Monday, Purbaya vowed to accelerate growth, telling reporters the president’s target of 8% economic growth was “not impossible.” However, an upbeat session on Wall Street overnight capped the fall, amid hopes of Fed interest rate cuts following a disappointing August jobs report. All sectors traded in the red, led by finance and primary consumers, with the biggest laggards including Gudang Garam (-9.0%), BRI (-3.1%), BNI (-3.1%), BCA (-2.6%), and Bank Mandiri (-2.2%).

Nepal lifts social media ban after protests kill 19

Summary: Government reverses platform restrictions following deadly crackdown on Gen Z demonstrators who opposed corruption and censorship attempts., Description: Nepal's government lifted its ban on social media platforms Tuesday morning after deadly protests left 19 people dead and triggered the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who cited moral responsibility for the violent crackdown on largely student-led demonstrations. The rapid reversal came just hours after police opened fire on thousands of protesters in Kathmandu and other cities...

Senate GOP goes nuclear to speed Trump nominees

Summary: Republicans plan to bypass Democratic obstruction through rule changes allowing batch confirmations of dozens of stalled sub-cabinet picks., Description: Senate Republicans initiated the "nuclear option" on Monday to bypass Democratic obstruction and fast-track President Donald Trump's stalled nominees, marking an escalation in the confirmation battles that have paralyzed the administration's staffing efforts for months. Senate Majority Leader John Thune began the procedural process to change chamber rules, allowing multiple sub-cabinet nominees...

Norway's Labor Party wins narrow second term

Summary: Prime Minister Støre's coalition secured 87 seats while the anti-immigration Progress Party achieved its best-ever performance with 47 seats., Description: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's Labor Party secured a second term in Norway's closely contested general election on Monday, successfully maintaining power while the right-wing populist Progress Party achieved its best electoral performance in history. With nearly all votes counted from the September 8 election, the center-left coalition led by Støre's Labor Party claimed 87 seats in the...

Judge rejects Anthropic's $1.5B author copyright settlement

Summary: Federal judge called the AI company's deal with authors incomplete and worried industry groups were pressuring writers behind the scenes., Description: A federal judge on Monday delivered a stinging rebuke to Anthropic's proposed $1.5 billion copyright settlement with authors, expressing deep skepticism about the agreement and scheduling another hearing to review whether his concerns have been addressed. U.S. District Judge William Alsup spent nearly an hour "lambasting" the settlement during the September 8 hearing in San Francisco, according...

Trump loses appeal of $83M E. Jean Carroll defamation ruling

Summary: Federal appeals court rejects presidential immunity claims and upholds damages for Trump's comments denying Carroll's sexual assault allegations., Description: A federal appeals court in New York on Monday upheld the $83.3 million defamation judgment against President Donald Trump for repeatedly attacking writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault, dealing a significant blow to Trump's attempts to escape liability for his comments made during his first presidency. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S....