Authorities in China’s Guizhou Province have begun using joint custody centres and cold wallets to manage cryptocurrencies seized from unlawful activities, particularly in Duyun City. The move represents a strategic adjustment amid the country’s ongoing ban on crypto trading.
Adopting cold storage and joint custody addresses practical challenges in preserving and disposing of seized assets. Experts warn that selling seized crypto could breach trading bans, cause risk compliance issues, and cause market disruption.
China’s approach may influence international handling and regulation of digital assets. Analysts suggest these protocols could integrate regulatory compliance with financial stability goals, shaping broader policies for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies worldwide.
Scholars describe the current measures as temporary solutions that do not fully align with the nation’s crypto prohibition.
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Google has agreed to pay a fine of A$55 million (US$35.8 million) in Australia after regulators found the tech giant restricted competition by striking deals with the country’s two largest telecommunications providers. The arrangements gave Google’s search engine a dominant position on Android phones while sidelining rival platforms.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed that between late 2019 and early 2021, Google partnered with Telstra and Optus, offering them a share of advertising revenue in exchange for pre-installing its search app. Regulators said the practice curtailed consumer choice and prevented other search engines from gaining visibility. Google admitted the deals harmed competition and agreed to abandon similar agreements.
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the outcome was essential to ensure Australians have ‘greater search choice in the future’ and that rival providers gain a fair chance to reach consumers. While the fine still requires court approval, Google and the regulator have submitted a joint recommendation to avoid drawn-out litigation.
In response, Google emphasised it was satisfied with the resolution, noting that the contested provisions were no longer part of its contracts. The company said it remains committed to offering Android manufacturers flexibility in pre-loading apps while maintaining features that allow them to compete with Apple and keep device prices affordable. Telstra and Optus confirmed they have ceased signing such agreements since 2024, while Singtel, Optus’ parent company, has yet to comment.
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Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said employment for citizens will remain the government’s top priority as the nation confronts global trade tensions and the rapid advance of AI.
Speaking at the annual National Day Rally to mark Singapore’s 60th year, Wong pointed to the risks created by the US–China rivalry, renewed tariff policies under President Donald Trump, and the pressure technology places on workers.
In his first primary address since the May election, Wong emphasised the need to reinforce the trade-reliant economy, expand social safety nets and redevelop parts of the island.
He pledged to protect Singaporeans from external shocks by maintaining stability instead of pursuing risky shifts. ‘Ultimately, our economic strategy is about jobs, jobs and jobs. That’s our number one priority,’ he said.
The government has introduced new welfare measures, including the country’s first unemployment benefits and wider subsidies for food, utilities and education.
Wong also announced initiatives to help enterprises use AI more effectively, such as a job-matching platform and a government-backed traineeship programme for graduates.
Looking ahead, Wong said Singapore would draw up a new economic blueprint to secure its future in a world shaped by protectionism, climate challenges and changing energy needs.
After stronger-than-expected results in the first half of the year, the government recently raised its growth forecast for 2025 to between 1.5% and 2.5%.
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The British Treasury has linked state-backed North Korean hackers to a significant theft of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies from the Swiss platform Lykke. The hack forced Lykke to suspend trading and enter liquidation, leaving founder Richard Olsen bankrupt and under legal scrutiny.
The Lazarus Group, Pyongyang’s cyber unit, has reportedly carried out a series of global cryptocurrency heists to fund weapons programmes and bypass international sanctions. Although evidence remains inconclusive, Stolen Lykke funds may have been laundered through crypto firms.
Regulators had previously warned that Lykke was not authorised to offer financial services in the UK. Over 70 customers have filed claims totalling £5.7 million in UK courts, while Olsen’s Swiss parent company entered liquidation last year.
He was declared bankrupt in January and faces ongoing criminal investigations in Switzerland.
The Lazarus Group continues to be implicated in high-profile cryptocurrency attacks worldwide, highlighting vulnerabilities in digital asset exchanges and the challenges authorities face in recovering stolen funds.
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The US government is reportedly considering acquiring a stake in Intel to support its domestic chip manufacturing plans. Talks began after Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with Trump administration officials on 11 August, following calls for his resignation over alleged China ties.
President Trump has pushed for greater control over the semiconductor sector and recently criticised Tan, prompting political pressure on Intel’s board.
While Intel declined to comment on a possible deal, it stated its commitment to supporting US technology and manufacturing leadership.
The proposed stake would aid Intel’s delayed Ohio chip factory project and expand its US production capacity.
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Zoom has patched a critical Windows vulnerability that could let attackers fully take control of devices without needing credentials. The flaw, CVE-2025-49457, stems from the app failing to use explicit paths when loading DLLs, allowing malicious files to be executed.
Attackers could exploit this to install malware or extract sensitive data such as recordings or user credentials, even pivoting deeper into networks. The issue affects several Zoom products, including Workplace, VDI, Rooms, and Meeting SDK, all before version 6.3.10.
Zoom urges users to update their app immediately, as the flaw requires no advanced skill and can be triggered with minimal access. However, this highlights the increasing cybersecurity concerns associated with the digital world.
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Enterprise employees are increasingly building their own AI tools, sparking a surge in shadow AI that raises security concerns.
Netskope reports a 50% rise in generative AI platform use, with over half of current adoption estimated to be unsanctioned by IT.
Platforms like Azure OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, and Vertex AI lead this trend, allowing users to connect enterprise data to custom AI agents.
The growth of shadow AI has prompted calls for better oversight, real-time user training, and updated data loss prevention strategies.
On-premises deployment is also increasing, with 34% of firms using local LLM interfaces like Ollama and LM Studio. Security risks grow as AI agents retrieve data using API calls beyond browsers, particularly from OpenAI and Anthropic endpoints.
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Google has rolled out Flight Deals, a new AI‑powered tool for flexible, budget‑conscious travellers within Google Flights. It allows users to type natural‑language descriptions of their ideal trip, such as favourite activities or timeframe, and receive bargain flight suggestions in return.
Powered by Gemini, the feature parses conversational inputs and taps real‑time flight data from multiple airlines and agencies.
The tool identifies low fares and even proposes destinations users might not have considered, ranking options by percentage savings or lowest price.
Currently in beta, Flight Deals is available in the US, Canada, and India without special opt‑in. It is also accessible via the Google Flights menu.
Traditional Google Flights remains available, with a new option to exclude basic economy fares in the US and Canada.
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The deal, still at an early stage, would push the company’s valuation to $500 billion, up from its current $300 billion.
SoftBank, Thrive and Dragoneer Investment Group are already among OpenAI’s backers, and their participation in the secondary share sale would further strengthen ties with the Microsoft-supported AI company.
Reports suggest the size of the sale could still change as discussions continue.
The planned deal follows SoftBank’s leadership role in OpenAI’s $40 billion primary funding round earlier this year. Employee share sales often reflect strong investor demand and highlight the rapid growth of companies in competitive markets.
OpenAI has seen user numbers and revenues soar in 2025, with weekly active ChatGPT users climbing to about 700 million, up from 400 million in February.
The company doubled its revenue in the first seven months of the year, hitting an annualised run rate of $12 billion, and is expected to reach $20 billion by the end of the year.
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Bas van Opheusden, who joined OpenAI as a technical staff member in July, has published a comprehensive eight-page guide for aspiring applicants, offering strategic advice spanning recruiter calls, coding interviews, compensation discussions and more.
He suggests treating recruiter conversations as strategic briefings, which are key for understanding the hiring manager’s priorities, team dynamics, role expectations, and organisational goals.
Van Opheusden recommends taking notes during calls, ideally using a dual-screen setup, and arranging windows so it appears you’re maintaining eye contact.
