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Classified budget estimates indicate the National Security Agency is committing billions of dollars to testing artificial intelligence models. The reported spending suggests US intelligence agencies are moving aggressively to evaluate AI capabilities, likely for both intelligence gathering and defensive purposes. The scale of the funding has drawn attention to how deeply spy agencies are investing in commercial AI systems.

The Reserve Bank of India's heavy intervention in foreign exchange markets has drained close to $20 billion from the country's surplus liquidity, according to bankers. The central bank has been selling dollars to support the rupee, absorbing rupee funds in the process and tightening cash conditions in the banking system.

Nvidia has authorized an additional $150 billion for its stock buyback program, which the New York Times describes as the largest ever. The move underscores the chipmaker's enormous cash generation from the artificial intelligence boom and its decision to return capital to shareholders. Market watchers are weighing what the unprecedented repurchase signals about Nvidia's confidence in future earnings and its valuation.

Russia is raising $178 billion for defense, its largest military budget since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The figure signals a continued prioritization of war spending over other areas of the economy. Observers say the allocation underlines Moscow's commitment to sustaining its military campaign, and the scale of the budget is drawing attention to how long Russia can maintain such expenditure.

Russia plans to spend 17.1 trillion rubles, roughly US$202.58 billion, on defence in 2027, about 27% more than previously budgeted, according to Reuters. The increase signals Moscow's continued prioritisation of its military amid the war in Ukraine, drawing attention to how long Russia can sustain elevated wartime expenditure and what it means for NATO planning.

The European Union has committed €61 million in new humanitarian funding for Ethiopia, citing a rapidly deteriorating situation in the country. The aid, announced by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, is intended to support relief efforts as conditions worsen on the ground.

Samsung has committed $1.0 billion to an AI infrastructure company backed by KKR and Nvidia, according to the Wall Street Journal. The investment signals Samsung's push to deepen its role in the AI buildout, aligning itself with major players financing data centers and computing capacity. The move adds to a wave of large corporate investments flowing into AI infrastructure as demand for computing power surges.

A data breach at the Pentagon has exposed the personal information of more than 3 million people. Details about how the breach occurred, who is responsible, and exactly what data was compromised have not yet been confirmed. The incident adds to growing concerns about the security of sensitive government-held records and the potential risks to those affected.

AMD has agreed to an $8.2 billion deal to bring in Fei-Fei Li, the Stanford AI researcher widely known as the 'Godmother of AI'. The move signals AMD's push to compete more aggressively with Nvidia in artificial intelligence chips and computing. Analysts are weighing what the deal means for the AI hardware race.

European governments are racing to rearm amid security concerns, but their lack of coordination in defence procurement is costing billions. An investigation argues that each country buying separately, rather than jointly, drives up prices, duplicates effort and delays delivery of weapons and equipment. The report adds to ongoing debate about whether the EU and NATO members should pool orders and standardise military capabilities to get better value from rising defence budgets.

A data breach at the Pentagon affected nearly 3 million people, according to reports from WQAD. Details on what information was exposed, who was behind the breach, and how many of those affected are current or former employees and contractors have not yet been confirmed, and officials have not outlined steps being offered to those impacted. The story is drawing attention as US government agencies face growing scrutiny over their cybersecurity defenses.

Apple has agreed to a $250 million class-action settlement that clears the way for payments to iPhone owners. Under the deal, eligible customers who bought certain iPhone models will receive payouts, with claims expected to open once the settlement receives final court approval. The agreement follows years of litigation brought on behalf of consumers.

The United States and China are reportedly exploring a package of tariff relief worth around US$60 billion, covering a range of goods affected by their ongoing trade disputes. Semiconductors, however, remain excluded from any potential easing, with both sides keeping chip-related restrictions firmly in place amid continued strategic competition over the semiconductor industry.

The Reserve Bank of India has completed net sales of government debt totalling 1 trillion rupees, the first time it has reached that level in ten years. The move reflects the central bank's efforts to manage liquidity in the banking system, and is drawing attention from bond market participants watching its impact on yields.

Researchers have found that ordinary cleaning sponges shed trillions of microplastic fibers during use, sending the tiny particles into wastewater and the environment. The finding adds everyday household cleaning to the growing list of routine activities contributing to microplastic pollution, prompting discussion about safer alternatives and how much plastic people unknowingly release in their homes.

More than 60 million people along the US East Coast are bracing for severe weather as a Nor'easter is forecast to strike over the weekend. Forecasters warn of strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy precipitation across major population centres from the Mid-Atlantic to New England, with residents urged to prepare for travel disruptions and possible power outages as the storm approaches.

Washington State imposed a tax on high earners, and wealthy residents are now pressing to have it repealed. The clash has become a focal point in the broader American debate over taxing the rich, with critics arguing the levy drives millionaires out of the state and defenders saying it funds essential public services. The fight over the tax's future is drawing national attention.

AMD has acquired the startup cofounded by Fei-Fei Li, the Stanford AI researcher often called the 'godmother of AI', in a deal reported at $8.2 billion, according to Fortune. The move marks one of AMD's largest acquisitions as chipmakers race to secure position in the fast-growing artificial intelligence market. Li, renowned for her pioneering work in computer vision and ImageNet, cofounded the company, and the deal is drawing wide attention across the tech and investment worlds.

Samsung is set to invest $1 billion into an AI infrastructure company backed by Nvidia and private equity firm KKR. The deal reflects Samsung's push to deepen its role in the AI hardware and data centre supply chain, as major chipmakers and investors compete for positions in the fast-growing market for AI computing capacity.

President Trump has cancelled roughly $100 million in education funding that Congress had already approved, according to Education Week. The move bypasses lawmakers for the second time in this area, drawing criticism that the administration is overriding congressional spending decisions. The cancelled programs and the legal grounds for the rescission were not specified in the report, but the decision is likely to intensify disputes between the White House and Congress over control of federal spending.

Meta's stock fell 4%, cutting billions of dollars from Mark Zuckerberg's paper wealth as the company's market value took a sharp hit. The drop ranks among the day's most-watched market moves, with investors closely tracking Meta's valuation and what it signals for the broader tech sector.

The Reserve Bank of India has carried out a ₹1 trillion bond sale, reportedly the first such sale in ten years. The move is being discussed for what it signals about liquidity conditions and the central bank's policy stance, with analysts weighing implications for bond yields, interest rates and Indian financial markets.