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Virgin Galactic is set to launch the first private citizens to space on Wednesday. The two passengers will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico on the VSS Unity spacecraft. The spacecraft will climb to an altitude of approximately 50 miles, where the passengers will experience weightlessness and have panoramic views of the Earth below. The flight is a major milestone for Virgin Galactic and the commercial space tourism industry.

President Biden signed an executive order that will restrict US investments in Chinese companies that are involved in sensitive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors. The order is part of Biden's broader efforts to counter China's growing technological prowess. The order is expected to have a significant impact on US-China relations and is a significant escalation of the US-China technology war.

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced price hikes for Disney+ and layoffs to reassure investors about the company's streaming business. The price hikes come as Disney faces increasing competition from rivals like Netflix and Amazon. The layoffs are part of a $1 billion cost-cutting initiative. Iger said the moves were necessary to make Disney more efficient and to position the company for long-term growth. Investors welcomed the moves, sending Disney shares up more than 5% in after-hours trading.

CapitaLand has launched a new India fund, CIGF2, to invest in Grade A business parks in prime locations. The fund has already secured $263M and is targeting $525M in total. It is well-positioned to capitalize on India's growing economy and demand for office space.

India's imports from China rose across 25 major commodity groups in FY2023, driven by China's low cost of production, strong manufacturing base, and proximity to India. The increase in imports is likely to have a number of implications for India, including a trade deficit with China, job losses in some domestic industries, a boost to India's economy, and technology transfer.

Bata India, IRCTC, ZEE, Hero MotoCorp, and rate-sensitive stocks are likely to be in focus on Thursday, August 11, 2023, as they are scheduled to announce their earnings for the quarter ended June 2023. Analysts anticipate Bata India to report a profit of ₹100 crore, up from ₹80 crore in the same quarter last year. IRCTC, ZEE, and Hero MotoCorp are also expected to report profits, while rate-sensitive stocks are likely to be in focus due to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) anticipated interest rate hikes in the coming months.

Verizon raises prices on legacy Mix and Match plans, effective September bill cycle. $3 increase for single-line, $5 increase for multi-line. New unlimited data plan for $80 per month, new 15GB data plan for $60 per month.

WeWork India to continue operating as usual despite global bankruptcy warning. Profitable, strong management team, long-term lease, Karan Virwani, customer service, high quality facilities, clear vision for the future of co-working in India, resources, team, weather the storm, best possible experience.

Disney is raising the prices of its streaming services, Disney+ and Hulu, effective October 1, 2023. The price increases are necessary to offset rising content costs and to continue to invest in new content. Disney is also taking steps to cut costs, such as laying off 30,000 employees and cutting back on marketing expenses. The price increases and cost-cutting measures are a sign that Disney is committed to its streaming strategy, even in the face of increasing competition. It remains to be seen if Disney's gamble will pay off.

The U.S. government is taking steps to restrict investment in key Chinese technologies, such as semiconductors, microelectronics, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. The move is part of a broader effort to counter China’s growing technological prowess and to protect U.S. national security interests. The restrictions are likely to be met with resistance from China, but the Biden administration has said that they are necessary to protect U.S. interests. The restrictions could have a significant impact on the U.S.-China relationship and could lead to retaliation from China.