Daily Strategic Briefing

Cyber-scam camp operators shift operations to vulnerable countries as sanctions strike

PLUS: Japan woos Micron, again; China launches chip dumping probe; Mitsubishi expands opsec empire; and more! Criminals appear to be moving cyber-scam centers to vulnerable countries.…

15 ransomware gangs ‘go dark’ to enjoy 'golden parachutes'

PLUS: China's Great Firewall springs a leak; FBI issues rare 'Flash Alert' of Salesforce attacks; $10m bounty for alleged Russian hacker; and more Infosec In Brief  15 ransomware gangs, including Scattered Spider and Lapsus$, have announced that they are going dark, and say no more attacks will be carried out in their name.…

Data destruction done wrong could cost your company millions

Doing a simple system reset may not be enough to save you from fines and lawsuits With the end of Windows 10's regular support cycle fast approaching, and a good five years since the COVID pandemic spurred a wave of hardware replacements to support remote work, many IT departments are in the process of refreshing their fleets. But what they do with decommissioned systems is just as important as the shiny new ones they buy.…

It's time mobile devs started to think seriously about foldable smartphones

The hardware is now compelling, sales are rising, and there's the chance to create a new experience hands on  Folding smartphones have been with us for six years without winning much market share, but after two weeks using Samsung's latest model, and recent reports of surging sales in the category, it feels to me like dual-screened devices are something developers now need to consider.…

Bring back your old Mac: 5 ways to refresh the OS on elderly Apples

Newer OSes for unsupported kit, and new browsers for older OSes. There's always a way Any day now, a new version of Apple's macOS is due to launch, and it will exclude the bulk of the Intel-powered models the company has ever sold. However, there are multiple ways to breathe new life into Macs that go back as far as 10 or even 15 years.…

OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor says we’re in an AI bubble (but that’s okay)

Summary:

Like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Bret Taylor thinks we’re in an AI bubble — but he doesn’t sound too worried about it.

Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it

Summary:

TechCrunch spoke to experienced coders about their time using AI-generated code about what they see as the future of vibe coding.

Users turn to chatbots for spiritual guidance

Summary:

At least one website claims to allow users to chat with God.

Karen Hao on the Empire of AI, AGI evangelists, and the cost of belief

Summary:

OpenAI’s rise isn’t just a business story — it’s an ideological one. On Equity, Karen Hao, author of Empire AI, explores how the cult of AGI has fueled a billion-dollar race, justified massive spending on compute and data, and blurred the line between mission and profit.

Rolling Stone owner Penske Media sues Google over AI summaries

Summary:

Penske’s lawsuit accuses Google of abusing its monopoly power in search to force publishers to support AI summaries.

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.

ElevenLabs begins $100M employee tender at $6.6B valuation

The transaction is being led by existing backers Sequoia Capital and ICONIQ Growth, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Smash Capital, World Innovation Lab and others.

Venture Catalysts raises Rs 150 Cr to launch new funds, expand leadership

The round was backed by public-market veterans, corporates, and Bollywood family offices.

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.

Offgrid Energy Labs raises $15M in Series A funding round

The company will use the funding to set up its pilot facility in the UK and to kick start production of the firm’s ZincGel technology cells.

EIL, Railtel Jump 5% on Order Wins

EIL and Railtel shares surge over 5% after securing order wins. Source: ScoutQuest

NPCI Hikes UPI P2M Limit to ₹5L/Txn

NPCI revises UPI limits; P2M transactions raised to Rs 5L per transaction, Rs 10L daily. Fintech firms like Paytm welcome the move; P2P limits remain at Rs 1L per day. Source: Financial Express

Corporate Borrowing via CPs Falls in Aug; Bank Loan Demand May Rise

Corporate borrowing via commercial papers fell 23% MoM and 12% YoY in August. Banks like Canara Bank, Indian Bank, and SBI may see higher loan demand if bond yields rise. Source: The Economic Times

DAM Capital: 'Buy' on Northern Arc; Jefferies Bullish on Alcobev Stocks

DAM Capital initiates a Buy call on Northern Arc, signaling positive outlook. Jefferies remains bullish on alcohol-beverage (alcobev) sector stocks. Source: ScoutQuest

Bajaj Finance, GMDC Hit 5-Yr Highs, Signal Bullish Trend

Bajaj Finance and GMDC hit 5-year swing highs, signaling bullish trends. Swing highs mark significant resistance, hinting at potential upward movement. Source: The Economic Times

Hong Kong Equities Kick off Week Higher

Country: Hong Kong, Description: Hong Kong stocks rose 93 points, or 0.4%, to 26,480 in early trade on Monday, marking gains for the second session. Sentiment was supported by a modest rise in U.S. futures ahead of the Fed’s policy meeting later this week, where the central bank is widely expected to cut rates by 25bps, though some traders are betting on a deeper half-point reduction amid cooling labor markets and mild inflation. Meanwhile, U.S.-China trade talks in Madrid entered their second day, signaling an intensification of diplomacy between the two countries. Tech and consumer names led the gains. However, the upside was capped by weak data from China, showing industrial production growth at its slowest in a year, retail sales growing the least in eight months, and the jobless rate rising to a six-month high.

China 10Y Yield Hits Over 5-Month High

Country: China, Description: China’s 10-year government bond yield climbed to around 1.87% on Monday, hitting its highest level since early April, as markets scaled back expectations of further monetary easing despite disappointing economic data. Reports showed retail sales and industrial output growth both missed forecasts in August, underscoring persistent weakness in domestic demand, while fixed-asset investment slowed further and the jobless rate rose to a six-month high. The National Bureau of Statistics acknowledged these risks, urging full implementation of macro policies to stabilize employment, businesses, and market expectations while deepening reform and innovation—a stance that investors interpreted as limiting scope for near-term stimulus, pushing long-term yields higher. Meanwhile, markets also tracked US-China talks in Spain, the fourth meeting in four months, focused on national security, trade, and economic issues, including TikTok’s divestment deadline and planned US tariffs.

Japanese Yen Firms Ahead of BOJ Meeting

Country: Japan, Description: The yen strengthened to around 147.5 per dollar on Monday, recovering part of last week’s losses as markets turned their focus to the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting. The BOJ is widely expected to leave rates steady at 0.5% as officials weigh domestic headwinds and global risks, including the effects of US tariffs. Traders also await fresh trade data, with both exports and imports projected to stay subdued, as well as inflation figures, where core CPI is forecast to slow to 2.7%, the lowest since November 2024. Externally, the Federal Reserve is anticipated to deliver a 25 basis point rate cut this week, with recent US data signaling softer labor conditions and muted inflation. Meanwhile, trading volumes are likely to remain light as Japanese investors observe a national holiday.

Australian Dollar Rises Amid Softer Greenback

Country: Australia, Description: The Australian dollar rose to around $0.66 on Monday, extending gains from the previous week amid a softer greenback ahead of the highly anticipated FOMC policy decision later this week. Markets are currently pricing in a 96% probability of a 25 bps rate cut on Wednesday, with only a slim 4% chance of a larger 50 bps move. On the domestic front, Australia’s economic calendar remains relatively light this week. However, investor focus is shifting toward the upcoming employment report and scheduled speeches from RBA officials, which could offer further insight into the central bank’s policy trajectory. Last week, RBA Governor Michele Bullock highlighted encouraging signs of “a little bit more growth” in the private sector, characterizing this as a positive signal for the broader economy. Her remarks reinforced the RBA’s cautious stance and supported market expectations that the central bank will keep rates on hold at its upcoming policy meeting at the end of the month.

Offshore Yuan Holds Steady

Country: China, Description: The offshore yuan steadied to around 7.12 per dollar on Monday, halting the previous session's losses, as investors monitored US-China talks and digested weaker-than-expected domestic economic data. US and Chinese officials began discussions in Madrid on Sunday aimed at easing tensions over national security and trade, including a looming deadline for Chinese short video app TikTok to divest and Washington’s push for allies to impose tariffs on Beijing over Russian oil. The talks marked the fourth such meeting in four months across European capitals. Meanwhile, fresh Chinese data underscored a fragile outlook, with retail sales up just 3.4% in August, the slowest in eight months, and industrial output growth easing to 5.2%, its weakest in a year. Fixed-asset investment rose only 0.5% in January–August, well below forecasts, while the jobless rate climbed to a six-month high of 5.3%. Markets now turn to this week’s loan prime rate decision, with expectations pointing to no change.

Global oil prices hold steady as Russian supply risks loom

Summary: Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries support prices while global supply forecasts and Fed rate cut expectations weigh on markets., Description: Oil prices remained largely steady on Monday amid a complex market environment where traders balanced concerns over Russian supply risks against a looming global oversupply and persistent uncertainty about U.S. demand growth. Brent crude futures traded near $67 per barrel, up 0.4% to $67.26, while West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.5% to $62.72 by Monday evening. The benchmarks ended the...

China’s economic slowdown deepens amid sluggish output and spending

Summary: Industrial output grew 5.2% while retail sales rose just 3.4% in August, both falling short of forecasts., Description: China's industrial production and retail sales slowed significantly in August 2025, falling short of analysts' expectations and underlining persistent economic challenges in the world's second-largest economy. The disappointing figures, released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday, intensify pressure on Beijing to implement additional stimulus measures as the housing market continues...

Korean national detentions at Georgia plant drive Trump’s foreign expert training proposal

Summary: The president's shift follows a Georgia ICE raid that detained 475 workers, including 300 South Koreans, sparking diplomatic tensions., Description: President Donald Trump announced on Sunday his support for a temporary program allowing foreign experts to train American workers, marking a notable shift in tone following a diplomatic crisis triggered by an immigration raid at a Korean-owned manufacturing facility in Georgia. In a post on Truth Social, Trump outlined his vision for foreign companies making "massive Investments" in the United...

Russia, U.S. test rival weapons in Arctic waters

Summary: Competing demonstrations saw Russia fire hypersonic missiles in the Barents Sea while America tested ship-killing bombs off Norway., Description: Russian MiG-31 fighter jets equipped with hypersonic ballistic missiles conducted a four-hour flight over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea during the ongoing Zapad 2025 military exercises, while the United States tested its anti-ship bomb technology off Norway's coast, highlighting escalating military activity in the Arctic as both superpowers demonstrate their weapons capabilities amid...

Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing refuses to cooperate

Summary: Tyler Robinson, 22, allegedly joked in Discord chats about resembling the FBI's surveillance photos after Wednesday's Utah shooting., Description: Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, is refusing to cooperate with authorities as the investigation continues into the politically-motivated shooting, Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed Sunday. Cox told ABC News' "This Week" that Robinson "has not confessed to authorities" and "is not...