1. Homeland security is in focus following a pair of attacks over New Year's 2025; 2. The FBI is investigating connections between the incidents, including shared military links and rental vehicles; 3. There is a potential for increased investment in law enforcement and prison operators due to the heightened security concerns.

➀ 6 robotics startups competing in RoboBusiness Pitchfire; ➁ North American robot sales decline 8% in first half of 2024; ➂ Robotics investments top $1.3B in July; ➃ Unpacking Amazon’s unique Covariant AI deal; ➄ BlackBerry QNX provides guidance on minimizing jitter, latency in robotics; ➅ Women in robotics at Boston Dynamics give career advice at MassRobotics event; ➆ Humanoid robotics developers must pick which problems to solve, says NVIDIA; ➇ China bets on robots for rapid growth, says IFR; ➈ Pudu Robotics debuts ‘semi-humanoid’ robot for versatile applications; ➉ Rethink Robotics relaunches with cobots, AMRs, mobile manipulation

➀ Malaysia is leading in attracting investments in ASEAN's semiconductor chip sector due to its established supply chain, talent pool, land, energy, and affordable business costs. ➁ Approved investments in Malaysia's electrical and electronics (E&E) sector nearly tripled in 2023 and soared nearly 20-fold in 1Q2024. ➂ ASEAN is the world's largest semiconductor exporter, with Singapore and Malaysia being regional leaders. ➃ Malaysia's strength is in downstream assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP), holding the largest ATP capacity in ASEAN. ➄ The region benefits from global chipmakers diversifying their supply chains beyond North Asia, driven by U.S. tech sanctions on China and tensions between China and Taiwan. ➅ Malaysia's National Semiconductor Strategy aims to attract RM500 billion in domestic and foreign direct investments and develop a global R&D hub for semiconductors.

1. IBM's Software and GenAI segments are driving high-single digit revenue growth and expanding margins by 100 bp. 2. Free cash flow has been growing healthily since 2020, expected to increase by 7% in 2024. 3. Valuation indicates potential upside as IBM's free cash growth is currently discounted.

1. Alphabet's Q2 results showed strong revenue growth and expanded profit margins, despite a slight stock drop. 2. The company's focus on Search, Cloud, and AI initiatives positions it well for future growth. 3. Despite challenges, Alphabet's consistent growth and strategic investments make it an attractive investment option.