Bollywood Star Jacqueline Fernandez Launches AI Avatar
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has launched an AI-powered digital avatar that shares her personal book recommendations, late-night reflections and life stories.
Saturday, August 29, 2026
News in Brief
Short updates, all on one page — read straight down like a newspaper.
Andy Burnham to become UK Labour leader
Andy Burnham, British member of parliament for Makerfield, is set to be elected as the new leader of the UK Labour Party following a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester on June 29, 2026.
Hygon forecasts strong first-half 2026 performance
Hygon Information Technology expects a significant increase in its first-half 2026 revenue and profit, driven by growing demand for domestic high-end chips amid AI and cloud computing trends.
Wildlife officers treat heat-stressed birds in Pakistan
Wildlife officer Zaheer Ahmed is treating dehydrated and heatstroke-affected Asian koels as part of rehabilitation efforts in Islamabad.
SK Group chairman proposes ‘memory as a service’ model for SK Hynix
SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won has proposed a 'memory as a service' model for SK Hynix, aiming to build a higher-value business beyond chip manufacturing.
'memory as a service'
Chey Tae-won, SK Group chairman
Nvidia launches Thor-based modules for robots and edge AI
Nvidia has unveiled new Thor-based modules designed to power robots and autonomous machines, catering to growing demand for compact, efficient AI hardware.
South Korean suppliers intensify hybrid bonding R&D for HBM5
South Korean suppliers are increasing their research and development efforts in hybrid bonding technology to meet the growing demands of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) stacks with more layers.
Japan Launches Multimodal AI Project
Japanese company Noetra has initiated full-scale R&D for a Japan-developed multimodal foundation model, aiming to advance AI in robotics and industrial automation.
Microsoft readies AI tool for automated bug hunting and remediation
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to launch a new AI cybersecurity product aimed at identifying software vulnerabilities and automatically fixing them.
China’s Xi calls for global AI cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged greater international cooperation on artificial intelligence development and governance, warning against single-country dominance at a conference in Shanghai.
Japan enacts new imperial succession rules
Japan's parliament has enacted changes to the imperial succession laws, allowing male distant relatives to join the royal family and women to retain royal status after marrying commoners. The ban on female emperors remains in place.
God of War TV Series Recasts Kratos Role Due to Actor’s Injury
Prime Video has recast the lead role in its upcoming adaptation of 'God of War' after star Ryan Hurst was injured on set.
Trump declassifies intelligence linking China to 2020 US election interference
US President Donald Trump has declassified intelligence suggesting China interfered in the 2020 US election, during an address at the White House on July 16, 2026.
Micron secures key automotive supply deals
Micron Technology has finalized strategic agreements with several tier 1 suppliers and ecosystem partners for the global automotive industry, including Qualcomm, Visteon, Harman, Joynext, Denso, Astemo, and Hyundai Mobis.
Jabil opens automated logistics hub in Penang
Jabil has launched a new automated logistics hub in Penang to enhance global supply chain support through advanced technology.
TSMC to Invest $100 Billion in US
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced on July 16 that it will invest an additional $100 billion in the United States, bringing its total investment there to $265 billion.
Trump threatens to declassify intelligence on alleged China election data compromise
President Donald Trump accused China of compromising US election data and vowed to declassify intelligence related to 'shocking vulnerabilities' in the system, despite no evidence of fraud being found.
Tamil Drama Opens Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
Tamil-language drama 'Members of the Problematic Family' will open the 2026 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, running from August 13-23.
South Korean lawmaker proposes bill to ease SK Hynix investment rules
A South Korean lawmaker has introduced a bill that would allow a second-tier subsidiary of a general holding company to retain at least 50% in a jointly funded semiconductor venture, easing current requirements under the country's holding-company rules.
Australia removes voting rights from Chinese investors in rare-earths firm
Australia has stripped voting rights from three China-linked shareholders of Northern Minerals Ltd., a heavy rare-earths developer, following their defiance of divestment orders.
China’s passenger car sales decline sharply
China’s private passenger car sales fell by 20% year on year in the first half of 2026, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
Truth Social to offer paid API for trader access to Trump posts
Truth Social has launched a paid Truth API service, providing banks and trading firms with faster access to former U.S. President Donald Trump's posts.
EU lagging in critical raw materials as tech demand surges
Europe is struggling to keep up with rising demand for critical minerals due to the growth of AI, software-defined vehicles, and electric vehicles, according to DigiTimes.
Ubiqconn boosts North American output amid sales recovery
Ubiqconn Technology reported improved performance in its North American operations in June 2026, with increased revenue from its US subsidiary and enhanced manufacturing capacity to better serve local demand.
US strikes Iran’s bridges and transport links
The United States launched fresh strikes on Iran targeting bridges and transport infrastructure, according to a US military handout video.
US VP Vance warns of Israeli influence on Iran deal
US Vice President JD Vance has stated that some in the Israeli government attempted to influence US policy regarding the Iran deal.
US electric vehicle market stabilizes post-tax credit expiry
The US electric vehicle market showed signs of stabilization in the second quarter of 2026 following the expiration of federal clean-vehicle tax credits in September 2025, though sales remain below year-earlier levels.
Volkswagen expands production cuts and layoffs
Automaker Volkswagen has expanded its production cuts and layoffs, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing Europe's auto industry.
China’s AI chip industry shifts focus to memory technology
China's AI chip industry is expanding its focus beyond process nodes, now competing in areas such as memory, advanced packaging, chip interconnects and system architecture.
AI infrastructure investment continues despite component shortages
Global investment in AI infrastructure is increasing, but persistent shortages of components are tightening supply constraints across multiple product categories.