Meta has signed a cloud computing deal with Google worth more than $10 billion, marking one of the most significant agreements in the industry.
The six-year partnership will see Meta use Google Cloud’s servers, storage, networking and other services to power its massive AI projects.
The deal comes as Meta accelerates its AI infrastructure spending, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg pledging hundreds of billions of dollars for new data centres.
Last month, Meta raised its capital expenditure forecast to $72 billion and disclosed plans to offload $2 billion in data centre assets to outside partners.
The partnership highlights a growing trend of rival technology giants collaborating on AI infrastructure. Just weeks earlier, OpenAI struck a similar deal to use Google Cloud services despite being a competitor in the AI field.
These agreements have boosted Google Cloud’s performance, which saw a 32% jump in second-quarter revenue in July, surpassing market expectations.
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Russia will require all new mobile phones and tablets sold starting in September, including a government-backed messenger called Max. Developed by Kremlin-controlled tech firm VK, the app offers messaging, video calls, mobile payments, and access to state services.
Authorities claim Max is a safe alternative to Western apps, but critics warn it could act as a state surveillance tool. The platform is reported to collect financial data, purchase history, and location details, all accessible to security services.
Journalist Andrei Okun described Max as a ‘Digital Gulag’ designed to control daily life and communications.
The move is part of Russia’s broader push to replace Western platforms. New restrictions have already limited calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, and officials hinted that WhatsApp may face a ban.
Telegram remains widely used but is expected to face greater pressure as the Kremlin directs officials to adopt Max.
VK says Max has already attracted 18 million downloads, though parts of the app remain in testing. From 2026, Russia will also require smart TVs to come preloaded with a state-backed service offering free access to government channels.
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Many data centre developers face delays due to grid constraints or unreliable utilities. To circumvent these challenges, they are embracing alternative power setups.
Popular options include solar arrays paired with battery storage, microgrid deployments, mobile gas generators, and even hydrogen fuel cells. These systems offer more control, robust uptime and faster deployment than waiting for utility upgrades.
Such energy independence also increases site flexibility. Operators can choose locations without worrying about grid strengthening or local permitting delays, enhancing both scalability and disaster resilience.
As demand for cloud and AI capacity grows, hybrid energy architectures are proving vital. They ensure continuity and avoid overtaxed grid infrastructure.
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Security researchers at Kaspersky discovered that hackers used Skype to distribute a Remote Access Trojan known as GodRAT. Initially spread via malicious screensaver files disguised as financial documents, the malware employed steganography to conceal shellcode inside image files, which then downloaded GodRAT from a remote server.
Once activated, GodRAT collected detailed system information, including OS specs, antivirus presence, user account data and more. The trojan could also download additional plugins such as file explorers and password stealers. In some cases, it deployed a second malware, AsyncRAT, granting attackers prolonged access.
GodRAT appears to be an evolution of previous tools, such as AwesomePuppet, and shares artifacts with Gh0st RAT, suggesting a link to the Winnti APT group. While Kaspersky did not disclose the number of victims, the campaign primarily targeted small and medium-sized businesses in the UAE, Hong Kong, Jordan, and Lebanon. Cybercrime using Skype as a vector reportedly ceased around March 2025 as criminals shifted to other distribution channels.
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Microsoft has limited certain Chinese companies’ access to its early warning system for cybersecurity vulnerabilities following suspicions about their involvement in recent SharePoint hacking attempts.
The decision restricts the sharing of proof-of-concept code, which mimics genuine malicious software. While valuable for cybersecurity professionals strengthening their systems, the code can also be misused by hackers.
The restrictions follow Microsoft’s observation of exploitation attempts targeting SharePoint servers in July. Concerns arose that a member of the Microsoft Active Protections Program may have repurposed early warnings for offensive activity.
Microsoft maintains that it regularly reviews participants and suspends those violating contracts, including prohibitions on participating in cyber attacks.
Beijing has denied involvement in the hacking, while Microsoft has refrained from disclosing which companies were affected or details of the ongoing investigation.
Analysts note that balancing collaboration with international security partners and preventing information misuse remains a key challenge for global cybersecurity programmes.
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Europol has warned that a reported $50,000 reward for information on two members of the Qilin ransomware group is fake. The message, circulating on Telegram, claimed the suspects, known as Haise and XORacle, coordinate affiliates and manage extortion operations.
Europol clarified that it does not operate a Telegram channel and that the message does not originate from its official accounts, which are active on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook.
Qilin, also known as Agenda, has been active since 2022 and, in 2025, listed over 400 victims on its leak website, including media and pharmaceutical companies.
Recent attacks, such as the one targeting Inotiv, demonstrate the group’s ongoing threat. Analysts note that cybercriminals often circulate false claims to undermine competitors, mislead affiliates, or sow distrust within rival gangs.
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A new study in Robot Learning has introduced a robotic system that combines machine learning with decision-making to analyse water samples. The approach enables robots to detect, classify, and distinguish drinking water on Earth and potentially other planets.
Researchers used a hybrid method that merged the TOPSIS decision-making technique with a Random Forest Classifier trained on the Water Quality and Potability Dataset from Kaggle. By applying data balancing techniques, classification accuracy rose from 69% to 73%.
The robotic prototype includes thrusters, motors, solar power, sensors, and a robotic arm for sample collection. Water samples are tested in real time, with the onboard model classifying them as drinkable.
The system has the potential for rapid crisis response, sustainable water management, and planetary exploration, although challenges remain regarding sensor accuracy, data noise, and scalability. Researchers emphasise that further testing is necessary before real-world deployment.
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Citi has expanded its digital client platform, CitiDirect Commercial Banking, with new AI capabilities to improve customer service and security.
The platform now supports over half of Citi’s global commercial banking client base and handles around 2.3 million sessions.
AI features assist in fraud detection, automate customer queries, and provide real-time onboarding updates and guidance.
KYC renewals have been simplified through automated alerts and pre-filled forms, cutting effort and processing time for clients.
Live in markets including the UK, US, India, and others, the platform has received positive feedback from over 10,000 users. Citi says the enhancements are part of a broader effort to make mid-sized corporate banking faster, more innovative, and more efficient.
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Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman has warned that banks must embrace blockchain technology or risk fading into irrelevance. At the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium on 19 August, she urged banks and regulators to drop caution and embrace innovation.
Bowman highlighted tokenisation as one of the most immediate applications, enabling assets to be transferred digitally without intermediaries or physical movement.
She explained that tokenised systems could cut operational delays, reduce risks, and expand access across large and smaller banks. Regulatory alignment, she added, could accelerate tokenisation from pilots to mainstream adoption.
Fraud prevention was also a key point of her remarks. Bowman said financial institutions face growing threats from scams and identity theft, but argued blockchain could help reduce fraud.
She called for regulators to ensure frameworks support adoption rather than hinder it, framing the technology as a chance for collaboration between the industry and the Fed.
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Indian firms are accelerating the adoption of AI, with many using AI agents to enhance workforce capabilities rather than relying solely on traditional methods.
According to Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index, 93% of leaders in India plan to extend AI integration across their organisations within the next 12 to 18 months.
Frontier firms in India are leading the charge, redesigning operations around collaboration between humans and AI agents instead of following conventional hierarchies.
Over half of leaders already deploy AI to automate workflows and business processes across entire teams, enabling faster and more agile decision-making.
Microsoft notes that AI is becoming a true thought partner, fuelling creativity, accelerating decisions, and redefining teamwork instead of merely supporting routine tasks. Leaders report that embedding AI into daily operations drives measurable improvements in productivity, innovation, and business outcomes.
The findings are part of a global survey of 31,000 participants across 31 countries, highlighting India’s role at the forefront of AI-driven organisational transformation rather than merely following international trends.
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