Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Coverage
Market / Trends / North America Trends / North America Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 4 briefingsG20 talks on global tax deal continue amid US tariff threat
Negotiations on a global tax agreement have extended beyond June 30, with governments eyeing progress at the upcoming G20 meeting. The high stakes of these negotiations could lead to the reinstatement of taxes on US tech giants by several countries if a final agreement is not reached.
Tencent unveils Xingmai 2.0: Advancing AI training amid US restrictions
OUR TAKEThe rapid growth of the AI industry has created data demands that traditional networks can’t support. Tencent’s Xingmai network addresses this with high bandwidth and zero packet loss, enhancing training efficiency. The launch of Xingmai 2.0 amidst US restrictions highlights Tencent’s R&D ca…
Meta’s reduced role in the 2024 election
OUR TAKEMark Zuckerberg has refused to endorse Donald Trump or Joe Biden and said he does not plan to get involved in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in any way. Zuckerberg’s comments come as several influential figures in Silicon Valley, including Tesla boss Elon Musk and venture capitalist…
Microsoft cloud downtime halts flights in the U.S.
Microsoft cloud service issue led to flight delays and cancellations, notably at Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines on July 18. The disruption was linked to Microsoft’s Azure platform, affecting key airline operations and prompting responses from affected carriers.
Coverage
Market / Trends / Asia-Pacific Trends / Asia-Pacific Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 9 briefingsGrab expands dinner reservation services with Chope acquisition
Grab acquires Singapore’s Chope to expand its services, including dinner reservations, to outcompete rivals in the Southeast Asian market. The acquisition sees Chope’s team joining Grab, with no job losses, and strengthens Grab’s ecosystem and advertising capabilities.
Hong Kong to launch Asia’s first inverse bitcoin ETF
OUR TAKEHong Kong is set to make a big move in the cryptocurrency market with the launch of Asia’s first inverse bitcoin ETF, the CSOP Bitcoin Futures Daily (-1x) Inverse Product. This innovative financial product, which is set to launch on a Tuesday morning, will allow investors to bet against the …
Top tech news stories today: July 23, 2024
Fintech 1. Hong Kong to launch Asia’s first inverse Bitcoin ETF CSOP’s new inverse Bitcoin ETF aims to profit from BTC price declines following their successful 2022 launch of the firm’s Bitcoin Futures ETF. (Cointelegraph) IT infrastructure 2. Google scraps plan to remove cookies from Chrome Google…
Google Pixel’s new series set to launch
OUR TAKEGoogle’s Pixel devices have increasingly asserted their dominance, emerging as the top Android brand in Japan and making notable inroads in North America and Australia. The upcoming Pixel 9 series exemplifies this progress with its advanced hardware and photography enhancements. Comprising t…
Nvidia tailors AI chips for China market under U.S. export controls
OUR TAKEThis movement could help Enflame, which is backed by Chinese companies such as Huawei and Tencent, grab a bigger share of the market for advanced AI processors.-Rae Li, BTW reporter What happened Nvidia is developing a version of its Blackwell family of AI chips, called the “B20,” designed s…
Australia on alert: Cyber scams emerge following global outage
The Australian Signals Directorate has issued an alert on the appearance of malicious websites and code after a global digital outage. The digital outage has had a wide-reaching impact on various sectors, including banking and aviation. CrowdStrike has released a fix currently, but it could take day…
‘City not city’: Foreign blogger’s charming TikTok vid goes viral
OUR TAKE“City not city” originated from a foreign blogger’s China travel video, where he asked in unpolished Chinese if places felt “city” (urban, fashionable). Its humor and relatability sparked online interest. Remember that time when “Gangnam Style” took over YouTube? Well, “City Not City” is doi…
Hyundai begins local assembly of Ioniq 6 EV in Singapore
OUR TAKEHyundai Motor has started local assembly of the Ioniq 6 electric sedanat its Jurong plant in Singapore on Friday, making it the second electric vehicle model to be produced at its Jurong plant. This strategic initiative is in line with Hyundai’s commitment to expand its manufacturing footpri…
Manycore Tech plans $200M Hong Kong IPO this year
OUR TAKEManycore Tech of China, a maker of 3D design software, is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong to raise up to $200 million. The Hangzhou-based company, which was originally targeting a US listing in 2021, has shifted its focus to Hong Kong following market uncertaintie…
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 29 briefingsImpact of blocking third-party cookies on your browsing experience
Blocking third-party cookies offers significant privacy benefits, however, it comes with trade-offs as well.
Find out where third-party cookies are stored
Third-party cookies are stored in the same way as first-party cookies while the key difference is who places them and what they are used for.
Global markets steady as Biden withdraws; MSCI index up 0.75%
OUR TAKEBiden’s announcement that he’s stepping down barely moved the markets—they’re as steady as ever. The MSCI index even rose, bouncing back from last week’s sharp drop. On Wall Street, tech and communication stocks led the charge, with Nvidia’s new AI chip sending its stock price soaring. Howev…
Tesla’s Q2 margins hit five-year low as focus shift to robotaxi and AI
OUR TAKETesla’s sharp drop in profits for the second quarte is quite like a rollercoaster. Remember when Apple faced a sales slump due to aging product lines but quickly rebounded through innovation? Tesla’s decision to cut 10% of its workforce may seem drastic, but it’s a desperate measure for surv…
Monarch Tractor secures $133M funding to tackle challenges
OUR TAKEMonarch Tractor’s autonomous electric tractors are charging ahead with $133 million in Series C funding. It’s crazy to think they’re now worth over half a billion. But with 400 customers already on board, they’re clearly doing something right. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room – …
Startup Kandji’s valuation hits $850M after $100M funding round
OUR TAKEKandji, the Apple device management platform founded in 2019, is truly a dark horse in the funding world. In an environment where startups are generally struggling for funding, they effortlessly secured an additional $100 million, with the funds split evenly between equity and debt. Kandji’s…
A cyberattack knocked out the heating system in Lviv, Ukraine
OURTAKEIn the middle of a bitter winter in Lviv, residents spent two long, cold days without central heating. This was not just a simple technical glitch, but a direct consequence of a cyberattack that ruthlessly cut off people’s source of warmth and exposed them to biting winds. At such moments, pe…
Third-party cookies: Integral part of digital advertising ecosystem
Third-party cookies have become an integral part of the digital advertising ecosystem, but have also sparked debates about privacy, user consent and data security in the online world. As privacy awareness increases and regulations are introduced, the future is likely to see more alternatives and tec…
SAP cloud revenue soars 25% in Q2, beating market expectations
OUR TAKESAP’s recent financial report not only showcases its performance, but also strongly demonstrates its competitiveness and market prospects in the cloud computing space. Despite short-term challenges such as lower profits due to restructuring costs, the company’s strong confidence in long-term…
Nvidia develops new AI chip for China amid US export control
Nvidia is developing a version of its new AI chip tailored for the Chinese market, in response to tightened US export controls.
Google reverses decision to phase out third-party cookies
Google reversed its pledge to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome, instead introducing a new experience.
Tesla to launch humanoid robots for internal use in 2025
OUR TAKE Tesla unveiled the first generation of the Optimus Prime humanoid robot, known as Bumblebee, in September 2022. On January 17, Musk posted a video of the second-generation Optimus Prime humanoid robot folding a shirt by itself at the company’s factory. Humanoid robots would be an important …
Wiz rejects $23B offer from Alphabet, stays independent
OUR TAKEWiz turning down $23 billion from Google’s momma? That’s like saying no to a golden ticket to the candy store. But hey, Assaf Rappaport and his crew are no strangers to success. Remember Adallom? They cashed out big with Microsoft. Now, with Wiz, they’re betting on themselves again. It’s a r…
Mind-reading helmets are now a thing – should we be scared?
OUR TAKE In the X-Men series, Professor Charles’ ability to read minds is often the key to the main characters’ fight and survival. He reads other people’s minds to gain important intelligence on the battlefield, including enemy plans and intentions, which allows the X-Men to respond to enemy moveme…
Oracle settles $115M privacy lawsuit over data collection
Oracle has agreed to a $115 million settlement over allegations it illegally collected and sold personal data, creating unauthorized “digital dossiers” on millions of people.
MUFG executives face pay cuts due to ‘firewall’ breaches
MUFG cuts CEO and executives’ pay after “firewall” breaches, with CEO’s salary reduced by 30% for several months.
What is DataRobot: Revolutionising machine learning and AI
DataRobot is a game-changer in machine learning and AI, offering a robust platform that automates and simplifies the entire ML lifecycle.
Renault CEO calls for a flexible European EV transition timeline
Renault CEO Luca De Meo expressed the need for flexibility in the EV transition timeline due to cost challenges, emphasising that abandoning the objective amid market slowdown would be a strategic error.
AI boom propels TSMC to trillion-dollar club, now 8th globally in market value
OUR TAKEAI is revolutionising the chip industry, with TSMC leading the charge. NVIDIA’s H100 GPU sets the standard in data centres, pushing design boundaries and enhancing devices with NPUs. Key players like NVIDIA, AMD, Qualcomm, Apple, and Intel are driving significant innovation. TSMC’s critical …
Google’s next big reveal: Pixel 9, Gemini, and more this august
OUR TAKEGoogle will be showcasing its highly anticipated Pixel 9 series, which will feature Gemini’s latest AI technology, at an event on 13 August. With new devices such as the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Fold, as well as the launch of Android 15 updates and the smart home category, Google will make a
Global outage: CrowdStrike update cripples key services
A defective software update from CrowdStrike caused a global outage disrupting essential services across multiple sectors.
Goo.gl URL shortening service to end by August 2025
OUR TAKEThe closure of Google’s goo.gl, a crucial tool for link shortening and analytics tracking, marks a significant shift for users. Without the ability to create or manage new links, users must seek alternatives, leading to increased migration costs and the need for services that match goo.gl’s …
Tech support scams worsen chaos after global system outage
OUR TAKEPhishing emails and phone calls attempting to steal user information will further damage CrowdStrike’s already tarnished reputation. Despite warnings, some individuals may still fall for these scams. Although CrowdStrike is prepared to spend billions to restore its reputation and provide com…
Kakao’s Kim faces possible arrest over stock manipulation
Tech giant Kakao Corp faces a new legal challenge as the South Korean court reviews an arrest warrant for its billionaire founder, Brian Kim. This scrutiny may complicate Kakao’s venture into AI services and the fundraising plans of its subsidiaries, including potential IPOs.
AI is 25% more accurate at detecting cancer than doctors
OUR TAKE Cancer has always been one of the most challenging diseases facing humanity, with more than 19 million new cases and 10 million deaths each year. Early detection of cancer, combined with existing treatments, can significantly improve survival and treatment outcomes for various cancer types.…
Key findings on the current state of global AI governance
OUR TAKEIn this regulatory evolution, a gap has emerged between regulation and the status quo of the technologies and tools used to monitor and control AI systems. This gap poses significant risks and highlights the need to advance tools to ensure effective AI governance.-Tuna Tu, BTW Reporter What …
OpenAI talks new AI chip with Broadcom
OpenAI is in talks with Broadcom to create a new AI chip, aiming to tackle the shortage of graphic processing units, Information reported. Open AI is hiring ex-Google staff who produced Google’s own AI chip, the TPU and is set to develop its own AI server chips.
Figma disabled AI tools similar to Apple’s weather app
OUR TAKEFigma has decided to temporarily disable its AI design tool because is too similar to Apple’s Weather app which can cause raise copyright issues. Moreover, Figma introduced other AI tools and provided the option for user data to be used for future model training, allowing users to choose whe…
AI influencer sparks debate in SheerLuxe
OUR TAKEThe debate focuses on the role of AI in fashion and lifestyle magasines and its impact on human workers. SheerLuxe has introduced AI editor Reem as a new member of its team, aiming to use technological innovation to provide personalised content recommendations such as fashion and travel advi…
Coverage
Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Cloud Services Trends
In this section: 3 briefingsRenault CEO calls for flexible EV adoption timeline
Renault’s CEO Luca De Meo expressed concerns about Europe’s timeline for transitioning to electric vehicles, calling for more flexibility.
Linx raises $33M to disrupt identity management with AI
OUR TAKELinx, the Tel Aviv stealthy startup, just pulled off a $33M funding feat. It’s like the cyber world’s new superhero, swooping in to tackle identity management chaos. With founders from Israel’s elite cyber unit and stints at giants like Checkpoint and Microsoft, they’re bringing the heat to …
Spain arrests pro-Russian hackers in major cybercrime operation
OUR TAKESpanish police have arrested three pro-Russian hackers involved in cyberattacks against NATO countries supporting Ukraine. The arrests, made in Manacor, Huelva, and Seville, underscore the ongoing cyber threat from groups retaliating against anti-Russian actions amidst the Ukraine conflict. …
Coverage
Market / Trends / Europe and Middle East Trends / Europe and Middle East Institutional Trends
In this section: 1 briefingPortugal’s ambitious renewable energy targets: A vision for 2030
OUR TAKEPortugal’s renewable energy ambitions are sky-high, aiming for a 93% share by 2030. That’s a major leap from the 85% target set by the previous government. It’s like Portugal’s saying, “We’re all in on renewables, and we’re going big!” But there’s a catch – the electrolyzer capacity target t…
Coverage
Market / Trends / Latin America and Caribbean Trends / Latin America and Caribbean Institutional Trends
In this section: 1 briefingArgentina regulates $85B crypto market amid laundering concerns
OUR TAKEArgentina’s crypto market is as hot as a barbecue stand right now, and the government can’t just sit back any longer. With last year’s $85.4 billion trading volume catching global attention, the issues behind it are equally significant—money laundering and financial crimes are just as troubl…
Coverage
Market / Trends / Africa Trends / Africa Institutional Trends
In this section: 1 briefingNigeria imposes $220 million fine on Meta for data and privacy violations
OUR TAKEThe penalty will significantly damage Meta’s reputation. To recover, Meta should not only address the immediate issues but also strategically enhance its global data protection and compliance management, ensuring more stable and compliant business operations in the future.— Yasmine Luo, BTW …
Coverage
Market / Trends / Global Trends / Global National Telecom Trends
In this section: 1 briefingVodafone sells $1.4 billion Vantage Towers stake to pay off debt
OUR TAKE Vodafone’s recent sale of a 10% stake in Vantage Towers for $1.4 billion is an example of the company’s strategy to streamline operations and reduce debt. The move is part of a calculated plan led by CEO Margherita Della Valle to exit non-core assets and focus on more lucrative markets. Vod…
Coverage
Governance / CASE FILE
In this section: 1 briefingSouth Korean court to rule on arrest warrant for Kakao founder
A South Korean court is reviewing a warrant to arrest Kakao Corp founder Brian Kim for alleged stock manipulation in a 2023 acquisition.