REMOVE CHINA APPS
China, Hong Kong stocks rise as AI shares rally, oil prices slide
Chinese and Hong Kong stocks edged higher as a rally in global technology shares and falling oil prices lifted sentiment. AI-linked stocks led gains, while energy shares declined amid a broader regional market rebound.
First Apple Intelligence features land in China, with Alibaba’s Qwen on board
The tech giant has partnered with Alibaba to bring its Qwen model into some of the experiences. Chinese users will be able to use Qwen through Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence, enabling text and image understanding. Users can access it by signing in with a Qwen account or through Apple, the company said in a blog post.
TRAI’s internet TV proposal raises concerns over wider OTT regulation, say legal experts
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has proposed a new framework for internet-based linear television distribution. This recommendation could broaden the interpretation of the Telecommunications Act and affect other digital content. Legal experts express concerns over TRAI's jurisdiction regarding OTT services and the implications for freedom of speech. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting must decide whether to adopt these recommendations.
Rhode Island sues Meta over alleged tolerance for scam advertising
The suit, filed by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha in Providence Superior Court, accuses Meta of unlawfully profiting from and participating in the creation of billions of dollars in scam advertising - even as it assured its billions of users that it was working diligently to protect them.
These mid-caps have ‘strong buy’ & ‘buy’ recos and an upside potential of over 25%, according to analysts
The last few weeks have made one thing clear. Oil prices, US bond yields, corporate earnings, and the state of the world – all point the same way. So, the market is more likely to stay in this jumpy and uncertain mood for quite some time. But then there is something called history, and it provides some interesting lessons.
Fed sneezes, but emerging markets aren't catching a cold yet: McGeever
Emerging markets are displaying surprising economic resilience in light of the Federal Reserve's tightening measures. Stronger fiscal fundamentals and high bond yields provide emerging market central banks with greater flexibility. Some countries are even considering rate cuts, which may not have been possible in the past. Investor sentiment is shifting towards emerging markets as they are viewed more favorably compared to developed economies.

From Rome to Washington, why governments are pulling DeepSeek off official systems
At least eight governments, now including the US, have restricted the Chinese AI company's products. Most cite the same concern – user data stored in China, where the law gives the state wide powers to access it.

Lessons from Chinese AI Firms on Owning Customers’ Habits
As U.S. AI firms compete in an escalating race for superior models, bigger benchmarks, and more advanced features, Chinese companies are pursuing a fundamentally different strategy: embedding AI into users’ everyday habits. The authors argue that this “habit moat” approach may prove more durable than competing on raw capability alone. Whereas Western firms position AI as a destination consumers consciously visit, companies like Alibaba integrate AI into existing routines such as shopping, payments, food delivery, and travel booking, reducing friction until using AI becomes automatic behavior. Once AI capabilities become “good enough,” marginal technical improvements matter less than becoming the default path through recurring customer tasks. The authors outline four strategic imperatives for Western leaders: focus on behavioral cues rather than feature gaps, subsidize customer behavior instead of subscriptions, embed AI invisibly into existing workflows, and optimize for repeat usage rather than first-time adoption. The central warning is stark: AI may not replace employees first—it may instead capture the critical customer moments businesses currently own.

Caffeine clash: Starbucks slayer now brews a global coffee blend
Luckin Coffee is looking to expand into Gulf countries with a focus on local tastes and preferences. The company's recent $1 billion investment from Mubadala signals strong institutional support for its growth strategy. After previously overcoming an accounting scandal, Luckin aims to replicate its successful model from China. The venture into the Gulf marks a strategic test of its adaptability in different markets.

PhonePe and Visa partner to bring borderless, cardless payments to Indian consumers and merchants
Announced at Global Fintech Fest 2026, the partnership positions PhonePe as India’s first app to offer a unified suite of Visa-powered cardless payment solutions for consumers and micro-merchants.

Decoding MDR’s impact; EV bikes’ policy change sparks debate
Happy Thursday! The return of MDR is set to change UPI's market share game. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.

Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Ressa
The Filipino and American journalist, who jointly won the 2021 award in part for her work documenting the power of large tech companies, serves as co-chair of the United Nations' international scientific panel on artificial intelligence, tasked with assessing how AI is transforming lives worldwide.

Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Maria Ressa
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa expresses urgent concerns about the risks that artificial intelligence poses to human agency, emphasizing the need for immediate regulation. She encourages citizens to drive legislative changes aimed at holding tech corporations accountable. Ressa outlines AI's progression through social media and manipulation, and highlights the importance of creating platforms that serve the public interest, along with ensuring tech firms face consequences for harm caused.

Amazon Now’s sales surge; govt’s stance on UPI charges
Happy Tuesday! Amazon's quick commerce arm is scaling fast, India head Samir Kumar told us. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

Tim Cook hands Apple to Ternus: bigger and richer, but catching up in AI race
Fifteen years on, having taken the iPhone maker from a $350 billion company to a more than $4.5 trillion behemoth, Cook will pass the baton to Apple hardware chief John Ternus, who will be steering the company in the AI era.

Tim Cook hands Apple to Ternus: bigger and richer, but catching up in AI race
Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO on September 1 after 15 years, handing over the role to hardware chief John Ternus, while becoming executive chairman. Under Cook, Apple’s annual revenue rose from $108 billion to $416 billion and profit grew more than fourfold to $112 billion, helped by services, wearables and a massive iPhone user base.

Chinese censors order gay dating apps be pulled from stores: Apple
Chinese authorities have ordered the removal of two prominent gay dating applications, Blued and Finka, from app stores. Apple confirmed the action, stating compliance with Chinese law.

Apple says it was ordered to pull WhatsApp from China app store
Several other global messaging apps had also been removed from Apple's App Store in China on Friday, including Signal, which is based in the US, and Telegram, which is based in Dubai, UAE, according to Appfigures, a market research firm that analyses the digital economy.

Google axes ‘Remove China Apps’ citing policy violations
Little is known about the app, except that it had been developed by a firm named OneTouch AppLabs, based out of Jaipur, Rajasthan. According to sources, two developers were involved in building the app, which has over the last two weeks been popularised & endorsed by some of India’s leading right-wing activists online.
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