Product

• The International Monetary Fund warned that artificial intelligence could increase the productivity of the European economy by approximately 1% over the next five years. • This growth comes with risks including wider economic inequality and increased pressure on existing energy grids. • European workers and energy providers face potential instability as the technology spreads into sectors already experiencing labor and power pressures.

• China has established dominant control over the global home battery market by securing the production of cells, raw materials, and energy sources. • The country achieved this position by prioritizing long-term strategic planning over the short-term quarterly financial goals common in other markets. • U.S. homeowners relying on residential battery backup systems for energy independence and storm resilience are largely dependent on Chinese manufacturing.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the Semicon India 2026 opening that India's semiconductor mission has transitioned from pilot lines to commercial production. • The government has increased funding for the mission's second phase to US$13.5 billion, up from approximately US$8 billion in the first phase. • This shift signals to global equipment, materials, and chemicals suppliers that India is now a viable market for shipping commercial hardware rather than just planning factories.

• Credo Technology Group shares rose 3.61% to $166.98 following the company's first-quarter financial results and the debut of new connectivity products. • The company reported a 115% jump in revenue for the first quarter. • This growth and product expansion increase market momentum for the company's stock value.

• Asia-Pacific enterprises are projected to increase their spending on artificial intelligence to $555.2 billion by 2030. • This growth is driven by the transition of generative AI and agentic AI—AI systems capable of acting independently to achieve goals—into full production. • The surge in investment indicates a shift for regional businesses from testing AI prototypes to deploying scalable, autonomous tools in live operations.

• A study commissioned by the Motion Picture Association estimated that federal filming incentives could generate $125 billion in additional production spending. • The report projects that these tax incentives would add 143,500 new jobs to the economy through 2035. • This potential investment suggests that the absence of federal support could negatively impact production spending and employment within the film and television industry.

TGA issues alert after person was hospitalised after believing they were taking experimental weight loss drug retatrutideFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA patient who tore their oesophagus after taking a counterfeit version of an experimental weight loss drug has prompted Australia’s medicines regulator to warn of serious risks of such products.The concern relates to retatrutide, a type of drug known as a peptide. Retatrutide has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or regulators overseas, and it cannot be legally prescribed or sold in Australia. Continue reading...

• Fintech companies launched several new products at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, including Android ATMs and AI assistants for merchants. • The new Tap to Pay feature allows Android users to tokenize Visa cards for phone payments starting September 9. • Cross Border Scan to Pay enables users to make payments via Visa QR codes across 14 markets, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

• McLaren is investing £450 million into its Woking manufacturing and research center to overhaul its product strategy. • The investment will create 1,000 UK jobs, including roles for agency and indirect workers. • This expansion occurs as other UK automakers face pressure from Chinese competition and tariffs, such as Jaguar Land Rover cutting 4,000 positions.

Creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris return as writers and directors, with the original cast reprising their rolesNetflix has announced that production has begun on a new Inbetweeners film, with the original cast members reprising their roles.It will be a continuation of the popular Channel 4 sitcom, which aired on E4 from 2008 to 2010, followed by two films in 2011 and 2014. Continue reading...

• Philippine television and streaming productions achieved significant success at the 2026 ContentAsia Awards, securing multiple top honors. • Major industry players GMA Network and ABS-CBN Studios were among the primary winners, earning gold, silver, and bronze awards across various categories. • These accolades highlight the growing competitiveness and quality of Filipino content within the broader Asian media landscape.

• NEPCON ASIA 2026 has been announced in Shenzhen, China, as a hub for global electronics manufacturers to source next-generation production solutions. • The event comes amid a period of profound industry transformation driven by AI-led innovation, advanced packaging evolution, and global supply-chain realignment. • The exhibition highlights Asia's dominant role in the sector, as the region currently accounts for more than 58% of worldwide electronics production output.

Comté, beaufort and abondance makers can temporarily supplement cows’ diets as there is ‘no grass left to eat’Strict production rules will be loosened for some of France’s most famous cheeses after drought and repeated heatwaves dried out grazing pastures, threatening the livelihoods of traditional dairy workers.Comté, a hard cheese made from raw cows’ milk in the Jura mountains, is France’s top-selling traditional cheese, with more than 62,000 tonnes produced last year. The government announced on Wednesday that its producers would be granted a temporary change to strict rules on grazing after farmers said extreme heat had scorched their pastures, putting production at risk. Continue reading...

Angela Jackson, a PC commissioner, also said it was ‘disappointing’ that Anthony Albanese had ruled out changes to Western Australia’s GST arrangementsThe Productivity Commission has slammed attacks on its integrity as “unacceptable”, after its scathing assessment of Western Australia’s sweetheart GST deal as a costly mistake sparked a fierce political backlash and name-calling.Angela Jackson, a PC commissioner and co-author of the report, said the country’s leading independent economic advisory body welcomed criticism and comments on its work. Continue reading...

• Canada announced on Tuesday that it will impose retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on hundreds of American products. • This move follows the collapse of trade negotiations and the implementation of punishing levies by the United States. • The escalation marks a significant breakdown in U.S.-Canada trade relations, threatening economic stability for affected industries.

• Despite a booming summer box office, film and TV production in Los Angeles has failed to return to pre-slump levels. • Data from nonprofit FilmLA shows that feature film shoots dropped 20% and TV production plummeted 30% in the second quarter compared to last year. • The decline persists even with the implementation of new state tax credits designed to incentivize local production.

Resolution Foundation suggests economy may finally be emerging from shadow of 2008 financial crisisProductivity in the UK – a vital measure of economic health – is growing more strongly than official figures suggest, according to analysis from the Resolution Foundation.The thinktank suggests the chancellor, John Healey, may have inherited an economy finally starting to emerge from the long shadow of the 2008 global financial crisis. Continue reading...

Even products labeled ‘eco’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’ can contain dangerous compounds including PfasCommon personal care products widely contain unlabeled toxic chemicals, results from a new peer-reviewed study suggest. The testing of more than 110 items ranging from shampoo to baby lotions found evidence of unlabeled toxic chemicals in about 85%.Many contained multiple ingredients known to be carcinogens or health hazards, and even 26% of products labeled “eco”, “green” or “natural” contained at least one dangerous compound. The products averaged more than three times as many chemicals than were listed on labels. Continue reading...

Prestige Brand Holdings has voluntarily recalled a batch of its Clear Eyes eye drops after FDA alertNearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops are being pulled from store shelves across the US over concerns about potential contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Prestige Brand Holdings, based in Tarrytown, New York, has voluntarily recalled 39,060 bottles of Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops because of a “lack of assurance of sterility”, an FDA enforcement report states. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall, defined on the agency’s website as a moderate-risk situation “in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote”. Continue reading...

• The UK and numerous EU member states, including France, Germany, and Italy, have banned the use of Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) in gel nail products. • TPO is a photoinitiator used to cure gel polish under UV light, but it has been flagged for potential reproductive toxicity. • This regulatory shift forces manufacturers to reformulate products to ensure consumer safety and compliance with updated chemical safety standards.

• U.S.-based Denison Global Entertainment, LLC has established a new European production hub in Albania through the creation of Denison Entertainment Sh.p.k. • The expansion was facilitated by Fare Impresa®, an international legal and business advisory firm led by attorney Egli Haxhiraj. • This strategic move aims to enhance the company's capacity for international film and television production by leveraging Albania's regional advantages.

• The Busan Asian Cinema Fund has awarded a total of $100,000 to three international co-productions led by filmmakers Fukada Koji, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, and Boo Junfeng. • One project focusing on shared Asian wartime history received KRW 40 million (approximately $28,600) to support its development. • Director Boo Junfeng's film "Trinity" features a massive collaboration between majority partners Taiwan, France, and Singapore, alongside eight minority partner countries including Poland, Germany, and Brazil.

Interim report calls for carve-up deal that has only benefited Western Australia to be ‘reshaped’ as it has achieved almost none of its objectivesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Productivity Commission (PC) has criticised the controversial GST deal with Western Australia as a costly mistake that should be reversed, saying tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money has since gone to the country’s richest state.An interim report from a PC review of the deal said the reform – requested by WA and implemented under the former Morrison government with Labor’s support – had achieved almost none of its objectives and had made the system less equitable. Continue reading...

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded following weeks of intense protests and political deadlock between the BJP and the INDIA bloc. • Legislative efficiency plummeted, with the Lok Sabha recording a productivity rate of only 19% throughout the session. • Rival demonstrations occurred near Makar Dwar, featuring BJP attacks on Rahul Gandhi regarding Jharkhand protests and Opposition campaigns against the government.

• India's Parliament Monsoon Session concluded on Thursday, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die. • Despite low productivity in the Lok Sabha, which stood at only 19%, the government successfully passed 12 Bills during the session. • Union Minister Kiren Rijiju highlighted a dichotomy in the session's outcome, suggesting the government was successful in legislative business even if parliamentary debate was limited.

• Rajya Sabha Chairperson expressed regret over frequent disruptions during the Monsoon Session, which resulted in a low productivity rate of only 39%. • The Chairperson urged members to prioritize better parliamentary engagement to ensure the effective functioning of the House. • To support legislative efficiency, an orientation programme was organized for newly elected and nominated Members of the Rajya Sabha.

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded on Thursday with the Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die following a persistent logjam over police action. • Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Opposition, noting that productivity plummeted to 19% in the Lok Sabha and 39% in the Rajya Sabha. • Opposition members countered these claims, alleging that the government displayed "stubbornness" by forcibly passing several bills amidst chaos and noise.