- 11h ago
China approves Apple Intelligence with Alibaba and Baidu AI models for local iPhone rollout
The Cyberspace Administration of China approved Apple's generative AI service on Wednesday after the company integrated Alibaba's Qwen and Baidu's models to meet local content rules, ending a regulatory process that began in 2024.
- 11h ago
Hong Kong police raid two independent bookstores, arrest five booksellers under national security law
Police seized boxes of books from Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store in Mong Kok, a day after one shop announced its closure, citing financial strain and elusive 'red lines'.
- yesterday
China's economic growth slows to 4.3% in Q2, missing forecasts as exports surge and domestic demand falters
The world's second-largest economy expanded at its weakest pace since late 2022, as a property slump and weak consumer confidence offset a 27% surge in June exports.
- yesterday
China expels former Xinjiang chief and space programme veteran Ma Xingrui from Communist Party in deepening Politburo purge
Ma Xingrui, the 66-year-old who led China's space programme before running Xinjiang, was expelled from the party and stripped of all posts on Tuesday after anti-graft investigators accused him of bribery, nepotism and trading power for sexual favours.
- 3d ago
China exports jump 27% in June, car shipments top one million, while oil imports hit decade low
Exports climbed 27% year-on-year in dollar terms, far above forecasts, while imports jumped 36%. Crude oil imports, however, fell to their lowest since October 2016 as the Iran conflict and weak domestic demand hammered refinery runs.
- 4d ago
Mercedes expands Hungary plant to become its largest in Europe as German carmakers shift production east
The Kecskemét site, now capable of producing up to 400,000 vehicles a year, will build the electric C-Class alongside existing A-Class and GLB models. Production costs in Hungary run roughly 70% below German levels.
- 5d ago
Typhoon Bavi weakens to tropical storm after slamming eastern China, forcing 2.8 million evacuations and injuring 134 in Taiwan
Typhoon Bavi made two landfalls in Zhejiang province late Saturday before weakening to a tropical storm early Sunday, with authorities evacuating more than 2.8 million people across eastern China.
- 5d ago
China's export flood hits German industry as trade deficit surges to 89.3 billion euros
The EU's trade deficit with China reached 365 billion euros in 2025. Germany alone ran an 89.3 billion euro deficit as imports more than doubled exports, and the pressure now extends from cars to machinery and batteries.
- 6d ago
TikTok to target 'AI slop' accounts: detection system upgrades for spam on politics, health, and finance
The platform will test enhanced detection in the coming weeks for accounts that exclusively post AI-generated videos on politics, health, and finance, citing risks to public trust.
- 6d ago
SK Hynix raises $26.5B in record foreign IPO, CEO warns memory shortage will last past 2030
The South Korean memory giant debuted on the Nasdaq on July 10, raising $26.5 billion and opening 14% above its offer price. CEO Kwak Noh-jung warned that memory supply will fall short of demand through 2030, with 2027 set to be the worst year on record.
- Jul 8
Marine Le Pen launches presidential campaign in La Fleche after court upholds conviction but permits candidacy
Marine Le Pen officially launched her presidential campaign in La Fleche on Wednesday, a day after an appeals court upheld her embezzlement conviction but shortened her ban on running for office, drawing both cheers and jeers from the crowd.
- Jul 8
SpaceXAI plans Wednesday launch of first AI model built with Cursor, as Musk rebrands xAI
SpaceXAI, the newly rebranded AI arm of Elon Musk's SpaceX, plans to release its first jointly developed model with AI startup Cursor as early as Wednesday, according to a staff memo seen by The Information.
- Jul 8
China weighs curbing overseas access to its top AI models as DeepSeek develops own chip
Beijing discusses restricting foreign access to advanced AI models, while startup DeepSeek works on an inference chip to cut reliance on Nvidia and Huawei.
- Jul 7
IOC drops Nordic combined from 2030 Winter Olympics, adds freeride and synchro skating
The International Olympic Committee removed the 102-year-old discipline from the 2030 French Alps program on Tuesday, while adding freeride skiing and synchronized skating to attract younger audiences.
- Jul 7
IOC lifts suspension of Russian Olympic Committee, clearing path for LA 2028 but keeping flag ban
The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday, allowing Russian athletes and teams to return to international competitions and Olympic qualifiers for Los Angeles 2028. The flag and anthem ban remains in place, with no decision yet on their use at the Games.
- Jul 7
IOC removes Nordic Combined from 2030 Winter Olympics after 102-year run
The International Olympic Committee has voted to exclude Nordic Combined from the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, ending a continuous Olympic presence dating back to 1924. The decision also closes the door on women's participation, which had never been allowed in the sport's Olympic history.
- Jul 7
Japan and China trade accusations after coast guard standoff near disputed Senkaku Islands
Japanese and Chinese coast guards traded accusations on Tuesday after a confrontation near the disputed Senkaku Islands, with each side claiming to have expelled the other's vessels from its territorial waters.
- Jul 7
Deadly tornadoes and floods batter China as Super Typhoon Bavi looms
At least 11 people died in Hubei province after rare tornadoes swept through, while a dam breach in Guangxi forced thousands to evacuate and a super typhoon approaches Taiwan.
- Jul 7
China tests submarine-launched ballistic missile in Pacific, drawing sharp rebukes from Australia, Japan and New Zealand
A Chinese nuclear-powered submarine fired a strategic missile into the South Pacific on 6 July, triggering protests from Australia, Japan and New Zealand who called the launch destabilising and lacking transparency.
- Jul 7
China tests submarine-launched ballistic missile and begins naval drills with Russia, drawing US and allied protests
The Chinese military launched a nuclear-capable missile from a submarine in the Pacific on Monday and kicked off week-long joint naval exercises with Russia, prompting the United States, Japan and Australia to voice alarm over opaque nuclear build-up.
