Middle East, Technology and Science Briefing: Tencent Releases Open-Source AI for Coding and Research, and 6 More Stories From 29 August 2026

A roundup of 7 developments reported across the Middle East, technology and science on 29 August 2026 (Part 2). Each item summarises what happened and why it is worth watching. Readers should consult primary sources for full detail.

Tencent Releases Open-Source AI for Coding and Research:

Tencent launched a new open-source model designed for programming and research tasks. The release intensifies competition over capable models that developers can inspect, adapt and deploy themselves.

BIS Chief Rejects Stablecoins as Mass-Market Money:

The head of the Bank for International Settlements said stablecoins are not a credible payment instrument at scale. The warning strengthens the case for tighter rules and for central-bank-backed alternatives.

French Quantum Firm Pasqal Soars on Nasdaq Debut:

Pasqal shares jumped as much as 73% in their first session before paring gains. The volatile debut shows both the excitement and speculative risk surrounding commercial quantum computing.

NASA’s New Telescope Targets the Dark Universe:

A new NASA telescope is set to investigate dark energy, dark matter and worlds beyond the solar system. Its observations could transform understanding of cosmic expansion and the distribution of matter.

Satellite Boom Threatens the Night Sky for Astronomers:

A study warns that the rapid proliferation of satellites is increasingly interfering with astronomical observations. The findings add urgency to efforts to balance commercial constellations with protection of scientific access to the sky.

LandSpace Joins the Reusable-Rocket Elite:

Chinese company LandSpace successfully recovered the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket, joining a small group capable of landing orbital-class boosters. Reusable launch technology could lower costs and narrow the gap between China’s private space sector and US leaders.

Fastest-Known Star Races Around the Milky Way’s Black Hole:

Astronomers have identified the fastest-known star orbiting under the influence of the supermassive black hole at our galaxy’s centre. Its extreme path may help scientists measure the black hole’s spin for the first time.

These items are summarised from reporting available on 29 August 2026. Developments in fast-moving stories may have changed since publication.