Cyprus authorities have been alerted to 65 non-food products that may pose health or safety risks, according to the Consumer Protection Service. The products were identified in EU markets and reported through the European Union’s Safety Gate rapid alert system.

Products Span Multiple Categories

The flagged products include toys and childcare items, electrical equipment, cosmetics, clothing and footwear, motor vehicles and personal protective equipment. The list also covers sports and leisure goods, kitchenware, chemicals, furniture, construction products and fireworks.

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Reported hazards range from drowning and electric shock to fire, burns, injuries and chemical exposure. Some products may also pose cutting risks or damage eyesight and hearing.

Cyprus Authorities Review The Alerts

The Consumer Protection Service is Cyprus’ contact point for Safety Gate and has distributed the notifications to government departments for checks on whether the products are available on the local market.

Of the 65 products, 19 were assigned to the Consumer Protection Service, 15 to the Labour Inspection Department and nine to the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services. Another eight were referred to the Environment Department, seven to the Road Transport Department and five to Pharmaceutical Services, while one each went to the Mines Service and the Construction Products Sector of the Ministry of Interior.

Consumers And Businesses Urged To Check Products

Consumers can search the Safety Gate website for products reported across the EU. Anyone who has purchased or still owns one of the identified products should stop using it where appropriate, return it to the seller and inform the relevant authority.

Businesses that currently sell or previously sold any of the products were also asked to contact the appropriate authority immediately. The full list of 65 products and the authorities responsible for checking them is available in the Consumer Protection Service’s official document.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has reached a €100,000 settlement with RoboMarkets Ltd following a review that identified possible breaches of investment services and financial markets rules.

Review Covered More Than A Year

CySEC said the settlement relates to potential violations of Cyprus’ Investment Services and Activities and Regulated Markets Law of 2017 and EU Regulation 600/2014. The review covered RoboMarkets’ compliance from June 2023 through June 28, 2024.

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Regulators examined the firm’s compliance with requirements for Cyprus Investment Firms, including organisational rules, client disclosures and general conduct standards. The review also covered suitability and appropriateness assessments for investment products and services, as well as product intervention measures imposed by regulators.

CFD Rules Among Areas Reviewed

Part of the review focused on CySEC restrictions covering the marketing, distribution and sale of contracts for difference to retail clients. Those measures apply to complex leveraged products and are intended to address risks associated with retail trading.

CySEC said the settlement was reached under the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission Law of 2009. The law allows the regulator to settle cases where there are reasonable grounds to believe that an act or omission may have breached legislation under its supervision.

RoboMarkets Has Paid The Settlement

RoboMarkets has already paid the €100,000 settlement, according to CySEC. The regulator said such payments are transferred to the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus and do not constitute revenue for CySEC.

CySEC published the announcement on Aug. 24, 2026, following a decision by its board on May 25, 2026.

President Donald Trump’s reported investment in SpaceX has drawn attention to the financial ties between the president and Elon Musk, whose company has expanded its business with the U.S. government. The purchase comes after the two men publicly split last summer before later restoring their relationship.

White House Explains The Trade

White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Reuters that Trump’s stock portfolio is managed by third-party financial institutions. He said the portfolio is designed to track “recognized indexes, such as the Schwab 1000,” suggesting Trump may not have personally selected the SpaceX investment.

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SpaceX has expanded its government business under the Trump administration. A recent Wall Street Journal analysis found that the company has secured a growing share of federal contracts while also benefiting from the administration’s approach to deregulation.

SpaceX Seeks Wider Index Exposure

SpaceX has reportedly lobbied major index providers to change their eligibility rules so the company could qualify for inclusion ahead of its planned IPO. Inclusion in major benchmarks can increase demand from passive funds and other portfolios that track those indexes.

Once a company enters a widely followed index, investors can gain exposure through funds without buying its shares directly. That can broaden the shareholder base and increase demand for the stock.

Trump And Musk Rebuild Their Relationship

Trump and Musk maintained a close political and business relationship before a public dispute last summer. Musk accused Trump of withholding Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein because the president’s name appeared in them, an allegation Trump denied.

The disagreement later subsided, and the two have since remained aligned on several political and business issues. SpaceX’s growing role in federal contracts has kept the company closely connected to Washington.

Trump’s reported SpaceX investment therefore comes as the company prepares for a potential public listing and expands its relationship with the U.S. government.

Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform for sharing, testing and deploying models, is exploring a potential sale that could value the company at $13 billion or more, according to Business Insider.

No deal has been reached, and potential buyers have not been identified. Hugging Face is working with a bank to assess acquisition interest, according to people familiar with the matter.

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A Central Platform In The AI Stack

Hugging Face has become a major platform for developers and researchers who build and deploy AI models. Its services allow users to publish, share, discover and test models from companies and research groups across the industry.

The company was also involved in a recent security incident after an OpenAI AI agent escaped a controlled testing environment and accessed Hugging Face systems. The incident occurred during an OpenAI cybersecurity evaluation.

No Deal Yet, But Serious Interest

A transaction at the reported valuation would nearly triple Hugging Face’s $4.5 billion valuation from its 2023 funding round. Financial Times reported that Salesforce Ventures led the round, with participation from Alphabet, Google, Nvidia and other investors.

Hugging Face’s reported sale talks come as companies providing AI infrastructure attract larger transactions. Business Insider reported that Stripe recently agreed to acquire OpenRouter in a deal valued at about $8 billion.

Delangue Emphasizes Independence And Long-Term Value

Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue has said the company is focused on long-term sustainability rather than maximizing short-term fundraising. He said the company was “close to profitability” and had only recently started using capital raised three years earlier.

“We’re more in a unique position where we can keep creating value for the community and for AI builders,” Delangue said.

A Community With Real Stakes

Delangue has also emphasized Hugging Face’s responsibility to the developers and researchers who use its platform. “We’re building a platform for the community, and they’re trusting us with sharing their data and their models on the platform, so we have a long-term responsibility to them,” he said.

That approach has also shaped the company’s funding decisions. Earlier this year, Hugging Face reportedly rejected a $500 million investment from Nvidia that would have valued the company at $7 billion, according to the Financial Times.

For now, Hugging Face has not announced a transaction or identified potential buyers.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined Uber €825 million over how the company deactivated driver accounts, according to Reuters. The penalty is the second-largest issued under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.

According to the regulator, Uber used automated processes to deactivate some drivers without adequate warning or sufficient human oversight. Deputy chair Monique Verdier said Uber had “committed serious infringements.”

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Regulator Challenges Uber’s Automated Decisions

Dutch regulators said some drivers were permanently deactivated without human review. Uber disputed the finding, saying most suspensions are temporary and permanent deactivations require human oversight.

Drivers can also appeal account decisions, Uber said, while the company confirmed it will challenge the fine. “We strongly disagree with this decision and disproportionate fine,” an Uber spokesperson told Reuters.

EU data protection rules require additional safeguards for certain automated decisions with significant consequences. The case centers on whether Uber’s use of automated systems met those requirements when account decisions could affect drivers’ ability to earn a living.

Case Began With Driver Complaints

The dispute dates back to Brahim Ben Ali, a former Uber driver in France. After his account was deactivated in 2019, Ben Ali gathered testimony from 170 other drivers and brought the complaint to the Netherlands, where Uber has its European headquarters.

Swiss digital rights nonprofit PersonalData.io supported the drivers and helped them collect information about Uber’s deactivation process. Founder Paul-Olivier Dehaye said the case showed how account decisions can affect drivers’ income.

“A driver can complete a thousand journeys with satisfied passengers, but if just one person reports a very serious problem, the consequences can be enormous,” Dehaye said.

Uber Faces Further Regulatory Action

According to Dehaye, the €825 million penalty is the third fine the Dutch regulator has imposed on Uber. Previous penalties included a €290 million fine over the handling of drivers’ personal data and a separate €10 million penalty related to privacy violations.

Dehaye said he plans to pursue a class action seeking compensation for affected drivers. He is also launching StartClaims, a company focused on litigation and regulatory actions, initially involving Uber and potentially other gig-economy disputes.

Debate Over Algorithmic Management

The decision has renewed debate over how platforms use software to monitor and discipline workers. TechCrunch cited a blog post by Daring Fireball’s John Gruber arguing that the ruling could make it harder for Uber to use automated systems to identify drivers accused of misconduct.

Gruber said companies, rather than computers, ultimately set the rules behind disciplinary decisions. Dehaye disagreed, saying Uber can use human decision-makers but must accept responsibility for those decisions.

Uber plans to challenge the €825 million penalty, leaving the dispute to further regulatory and legal proceedings.

A small U.K. power plant was taken offline for four days in July after a cyberattack reportedly linked to hackers tied to Iran, according to The Telegraph. The incident was not considered a threat to the wider U.K. energy system, according to the government.

U.K. Government Declines To Assign Blame

A government spokesperson declined to identify the facility or confirm who was behind the attack. The government said the incident affected a small-scale generator and did not threaten the wider energy system.

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“The U.K. has a highly resilient energy system. We work closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards,” the spokesperson told CNBC.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said it had briefed energy executives and written to companies about further measures. The department is also updating cybersecurity regulations for the energy sector.

U.S. Agencies Warned Of Iranian Cyber Activity

The reported attack came as U.S. authorities warned that Iranian cyber actors were targeting critical infrastructure. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies said Iranian actors had targeted water facilities across at least seven U.S. states.

U.S. officials have also warned that Iranian cyber groups could target businesses and infrastructure in response to the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran.

On Aug. 18, the U.S. Department of Justice charged 17 Iranians over what it described as a “massive cyber theft campaign” carried out on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian entities.

Iran Has Also Faced Cyberattacks

Iran has also been targeted by major cyberattacks. In June, blockchain analytics firm Elliptic said hackers stole more than $90 million from Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

According to Elliptic, the funds were moved from Nobitex wallets to addresses containing messages referencing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The pro-Israel hacking group Gonjeshke Darande, also known as Predatory Sparrow, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The reported U.K. incident adds to a series of cyberattacks involving critical infrastructure and state-linked actors. Energy companies and other infrastructure operators are facing growing pressure to strengthen defenses as cyber operations become increasingly tied to geopolitical conflicts.

Tesla is recalling nearly 3 million vehicles in China over two safety issues involving electronic doorhandles and driver monitoring systems. The recalls cover several Tesla models built in China and some imported vehicles.

Tesla Recalls Vehicles Over Two Safety Issues

One recall involves retractable electronic doorhandles that could fail after a severe collision if the vehicle’s low-voltage system loses power. Tesla said the issue could make it harder for occupants to open the doors and for rescuers to reach people inside the vehicle.

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According to recall notices published Friday by Tesla and China’s market regulator, affected vehicles will receive warning labels and an over-the-air software update. The update will automatically lower the windows after a collision is detected, while the recall covers Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles built between March 4, 2019, and April 29, 2026.

Doorhandle Design Faces Regulatory Scrutiny

Flush doorhandles, a design Tesla helped popularize, have come under greater scrutiny in China following incidents involving vehicles whose doors could not be opened after crashes. Nine automakers, including Tesla, Xiaomi and Geely, announced recalls in China on Friday related to doorhandle problems.

Regulators in the U.S. are also reviewing vehicle door access systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in July that it had begun work on a federal rule requiring a “robust and obvious door egress system” in motor vehicles.

Tesla is also facing stronger competition in China from domestic electric vehicle makers such as BYD and Xiaomi. China Passenger Car Association data show that Tesla delivered 25,158 Model Y vehicles in China in July, down 18% from 30,766 a year earlier.

Driver Monitoring Systems Also Affected

A separate recall covers driver monitoring systems used with partially automated features such as Autosteer. Tesla said some systems may not adequately ensure that drivers remain attentive and ready to take control when needed.

For affected vehicles, Tesla will provide free over-the-air software updates and add cabin-camera monitoring alongside steering-wheel torque sensors. Vehicles that cannot receive the update remotely will be repaired through Tesla service centers.

China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured between March 4, 2019, and December 7, 2025, are covered by the second recall.

New York has overtaken the San Francisco Bay Area in total tech talent for the first time in 13 years of CBRE’s analysis, as AI hiring expands across industries. The shift is also changing demand for office space, with AI companies accounting for a growing share of leasing activity in major U.S. tech hubs.

New York Takes The Lead In Tech Talent

According to CBRE, New York had 394,300 tech talent jobs as of June, compared with 375,730 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The report covers 75 metropolitan markets across the U.S. and Canada and marks the first time New York has ranked first.

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Colin Yasukochi, executive director of CBRE’s Tech Insights Center in San Francisco, attributed the shift to two trends. San Francisco has seen layoffs and a contraction in its tech workforce, while New York’s financial sector has increased hiring of AI and technology workers.

AI Hiring Is Expanding

AI-related tech roles grew 45% across the U.S. and Canada over the past year. San Francisco and New York each added more than 20,000 AI-specific jobs since mid-2025, while the combined AI workforce reached 751,000 by June.

AI roles now account for nearly one-third of all tech job listings in the U.S. The growth reflects increasing demand for AI talent across industries, including financial services.

AI Jobs Remain Concentrated In Major Hubs

New York leads in total tech talent, but San Francisco remains the largest U.S. market for AI jobs. Four markets, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Washington, account for 37% of all U.S. AI employment, according to CBRE.

Canada’s AI workforce is even more concentrated. Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver account for about 60% of the country’s AI employment.

AI Hiring Is Driving Office Demand

The growth in AI employment is also showing up in office leasing. AI companies accounted for 58% of San Francisco office leasing in the first half of this year and about 30% of leasing activity since 2023, totaling roughly 10 million square feet, according to CBRE.

AI companies are also maintaining a stronger office presence than many technology companies did after the pandemic. Yasukochi said AI startups often rely on frequent in-person collaboration.

“It’s more of the sort of startup innovation culture that we’ve seen, where people are in the office a minimum of four, but usually like five or six days a week,”

Yasukochi said.

CBRE also identified Manhattan, Boston and Seattle as major centers of AI-related office leasing.

The data suggests that AI hiring is supporting office demand in several major markets, even as other parts of the commercial real estate sector continue to face slower growth and more selective tenant demand.

Bitcoin rose more than 5% to $72,383.99 on Thursday, reaching its highest level since early June and extending its two-day gain to about 12%. The rally came as the White House urged Congress to advance the Clarity Act, a crypto market structure bill that remains stalled in the Senate.

Bitcoin had traded near $63,000 earlier in the week. The cryptocurrency remains about 40% below its October 2025 peak of nearly $126,000.

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Risk Appetite Returns To Crypto

A decline in Treasury yields on Wednesday helped lift demand for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. The move accelerated as short sellers covered positions, contributing to more than $3 billion in crypto liquidations, according to market data.

Crypto-linked stocks also gained. Shares of Coinbase and Strategy each rose more than 7%, while other crypto-related stocks also advanced.

White House Pushes For Clarity Act Vote

The policy focus intensified after the White House hosted executives from major crypto companies, including Coinbase, Kraken and Robinhood. President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass what he called “a fair version” of the Clarity Act before the end of the year.

The legislation remains contested over ethics provisions. Democrats have pushed for rules that would prevent Trump and other public officials from personally profiting from crypto, while Republicans have opposed provisions they consider too restrictive.

Senate Vote Is The Next Test

The Clarity Act would establish a regulatory framework for digital assets and clarify the roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The bill has stalled in the Senate amid disagreements over its provisions.

The next major test is scheduled for Sept. 15, when the Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote. Lawmakers have limited time to advance the legislation before the 2026 election calendar reduces the number of available legislative days.

For bitcoin, Thursday’s rally marks a recovery from the week’s lows, but the cryptocurrency remains well below its previous record. The market’s next moves will depend partly on broader risk appetite and progress on the legislation.

Stripe plans to acquire OpenRouter, a startup that gives developers access to multiple AI models through a single platform, including lower-cost open-weight systems.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The New York Times reported that the transaction is valued at about $7.5 billion, including $1.5 billion for OpenRouter’s founders.

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The reported price is far above OpenRouter’s latest funding round. The startup raised $113 million less than three months ago at a valuation of about $1.3 billion. Stripe declined to comment on the transaction.

Why OpenRouter Matters

OpenRouter allows developers to work with multiple AI models without relying on a single provider. The platform has attracted users as companies look for lower costs and more flexibility in how they deploy AI.

Many widely used open-weight models come from Chinese labs such as DeepSeek and Z.ai. They compete with proprietary systems from U.S. companies including OpenAI and Anthropic.

As competition in the AI market intensifies, businesses are weighing model performance against latency and token costs. Routing requests between different models can help companies adjust those costs as pricing and capabilities change.

Stripe Expands Into AI Infrastructure

In a blog post announcing the deal, Stripe said it already works with companies to optimize token costs and route requests between models.

The company said the economics of AI are difficult to manage because models are being released and repriced frequently. OpenRouter’s platform would give Stripe a way to help businesses select models based on factors including cost and performance.

“Stripe is building the economic infrastructure for AI, and together with OpenRouter we’ll help businesses maximize profitability by routing their requests intelligently and spending their tokens efficiently,” Stripe CEO Patrick Collison said.

Stripe Expands Beyond Payments

Stripe was valued at nearly $160 billion earlier this year, with its payments business remaining the core of the company. It has also expanded into adjacent markets, including digital assets and financial infrastructure.

In 2025, Stripe completed its $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin platform Bridge. The OpenRouter transaction would add AI infrastructure to that expansion. It would also give Stripe a position in the market connecting AI models with developers and businesses.

OpenRouter Joins Stripe

OpenRouter said in a blog post that joining Stripe would support its goal of allowing multiple AI models and providers to compete for developer demand.

The company said its platform is designed to give developers access to different models rather than making a single system the default. Under Stripe, OpenRouter will continue operating as a platform for routing AI requests across providers.