Clean Energy (opens original source in a new tab)CleanTechnicaOp-Ed: Hiroshi Okuda–The Man Who Saved Toyota by Forcing It to Change(Note: This article has been updated with photos of the Prius and the RAV-4 EV -The author) THE automotive world lost a visionary on August 8. Hiroshi Okuda, the former chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, who passed at 93, was the first outsider to break the Toyoda family’s grip on ... [continued] The post Op-Ed: Hiroshi Okuda–The Man Who Saved Toyota by Forcing It to Change appeared first on CleanTechnica. (opens original source in a new tab)Raymond Tribdino·16 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyPhysicists discover a hidden gluon structure inside protons that could rewrite textbooksPhysicists may have uncovered a hidden feature inside protons that helps preserve one of matter’s most fundamental properties. RHIC collision data suggest baryon number is carried not simply by three quarks, but by a Y-shaped junction of the gluons connecting them. The finding challenges a decades-old textbook picture and could deepen our understanding of why protons—and ultimately matter itself—remain stable. (opens original source in a new tab)16 August 2026
Technology (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AsiaNIELIT Launches National Cybersecurity and AI Decision-Making HackathonThe National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), under India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has launched Cyber Kushti 2026, a national cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) hackathon designed to test participants’ judgement and decision-making skills in security assessment. According to the official announcement, the competition shifts the focus from simply identifying vulnerabilities […] (opens original source in a new tab)OpenGov AI·16 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyScientists reveal why walking gets so much harder with ageAs we age, the body appears to sacrifice walking efficiency in exchange for stability. Older adults stiffen the ankle more with each step, which may help prevent falls but also forces the muscles to work harder while producing less forward motion. This leads to shorter strides, slower walking, and faster fatigue. Exercises targeting balance, coordination, and lower-leg strength could help preserve mobility. (opens original source in a new tab)16 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosScoop: Inside Trump's secret backchannel to Iran's Revolutionary GuardIn mid-May, U.S. negotiators trying to reach a deal with Iran to end the war ran into a problem: They couldn't tell if the people across the table actually spoke for the country's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).So Trump administration officials did something unconventional — they went around Iran's negotiators and reached out directly to IRGC leadership. The (opens original source in a new tab)Barak Ravid·16 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostI gave Tencent’s WeChat AI agent control for 24 hours: where it excelled – and stumbledTencent Holdings’ WeChat is already the undisputed super-app for over a billion people in China, handling everything from splitting dinner bills to hailing taxis. Now, Tencent is embedding an artificial intelligence agent named Xiaowei into the platform, adding a hands-free, automated assistant to its vast digital ecosystem. In its latest earnings results announced on Wednesday, Tencent highlighted Xiaowei for the first time, touting its focus on user privacy and inference efficiency. After... (opens original source in a new tab)Ben Jiang·16 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyA new Ice Age species was hiding in la brea tar pits fossils for decadesScientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find—only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America. Its bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before a researcher noticed features that set it apart from known species. (opens original source in a new tab)16 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)WamdaMobility fintech Naran secures $10 million in debt-equity financingUAE-based mobility fintech Naran has raised $10 million in equity and debt financing from UAE investment firm Landel. Founded in 2025 by Bayaskhalan Alexeev and Alexander Gubarev, Naran provides rent-to-own financing for cars and motorcycles to ride-hailing and delivery drivers. Naran currently operates in Colombia, Peru, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, and plans to launch in Paraguay in September 2026. The funding will support fleet expansion across existing markets, entry into new marke (opens original source in a new tab)16 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostWhy are some Chinese students choosing Spain despite its tough job market?For Daisy Chen, a graduate of one of China’s top medical universities, choosing Spain over Britain, the United States and Australia puzzled many of her friends. Instead of following the well-trodden path to an English-speaking country, she began a master’s degree programme in healthcare management in Barcelona. “I didn’t choose the US, the UK or Australia because they were too expensive, and I felt the competition there would probably be just as intense as in China,” she said. “I wanted to study (opens original source in a new tab)Mia Nurmamat·16 August 2026
Clean Energy (opens original source in a new tab)CleanTechnicaI watched Vietnam Fall for the VinFast VF 3HANOI, Vietnam — I have driven through enough of Vietnam to get a good sense of what belongs on its roads. Over the past two years, my trips have taken me from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Hai Phong and Can Tho, and through Dong Nai, ... [continued] The post I watched Vietnam Fall for the VinFast VF 3 appeared first on CleanTechnica. (opens original source in a new tab)Raymond Tribdino·16 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyA black hole shredded a “super sun” — but something strange may have survivedAstronomers have witnessed a black hole violently shredding a massive star, creating one of the most energetic stellar explosions ever observed. The event, nicknamed “the Whippet,” briefly released about 400 billion times the Sun’s energy and sent a shock wave racing outward at one-fifth the speed of light. Months later, scientists spotted unexpectedly fast-moving helium, suggesting that some structure may have survived the destruction. (opens original source in a new tab)16 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyCOVID-19 awakens dormant viruses — and one is linked to long COVIDCOVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses hiding in the body, including Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, and several herpes viruses. One poorly understood viral family was strongly associated with long COVID and lasting disability, offering a potentially important clue to why some patients struggle to recover. (opens original source in a new tab)16 August 2026
