Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
China’s PLA Researchers Tap Meta’s AI Model for Military Purposes
Top Chinese research institutions, including those linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), are reportedly adapting Meta’s Llama AI model for military applications, according to a June academic paper. Researchers from the PLA’s Academy of Military Science (AMS) and other Chinese institutions developed “ChatBIT,” an AI tool that harnesses Meta’s Llama 2 model to aid military decision-making, intelligence analysis, and operational planning.
Development of ChatBIT Using the Llama Model
ChatBIT was built on the Llama 2 13B model released by Meta in February 2023, with additional parameters focused on military applications. Optimized for dialogue and intelligence tasks, this tool reportedly outperformed several existing models, achieving about 90% of ChatGPT-4's performance. The researchers highlight ChatBIT’s potential use in intelligence, planning, and command strategies, though its exact capabilities and deployment remain unverified.
Meta’s Open-Source Policy Under Scrutiny
Meta allows open access to many of its AI models, though its usage policy restricts applications in warfare, espionage, and other sensitive areas. Meta’s public policy director, Molly Montgomery, reaffirmed that any military use by the PLA violates these terms, adding that the company actively enforces its acceptable use policy.
Security Implications of Open-Source AI in Military
China’s use of Llama for military purposes stirs security debates, especially as the U.S. implements measures to curb China’s access to advanced technologies. In 2023, the U.S. government proposed regulations to oversee AI and other tech investments in China, highlighting the complex balance between innovation and security.
