8 h. ago EU hits Musk’s X with US$140 million fine, risking Trump’s ire

The European Union hit Elon Musk’s X with a €120 million (US$140 million) fine on Friday for breaking its digital rules, in a move that risks a fresh clash with US President Donald Trump’s administration. The high-profile probe into the social media platform was seen as a test of the EU’s resolve to police Big Tech. US Vice-President J.D. Vance fired a warning against “attacking” US firms through “censorship” before the penalty was even made public. Imposing the first fine under its powerful...

Events

15 h. ago China’s Xiaomi says returns from AI investments ‘far exceed expectations’

Chinese tech firm Xiaomi reaped returns from its artificial intelligence spending in 2025 that “far exceeded expectations”, the company’s president Lu Weibing said in a recorded video posted on Chinese social media platform Douyin. Lu said the Beijing-based company was pivoting to embodied AI after heavy investment in general AI over the past few quarters. The Beijing-based company’s efforts to apply AI in electric vehicles (EVs) and robotics are similar to Elon Musk’s plan of using the advanced...

Politics

63 h. ago Elon Musk reiterates aim to transform X into a ‘WeChat++’ super app

Elon Musk says he aspires to transform his social media platform X into “WeChat++”, akin to Tencent Holdings’ flagship super app, by integrating various social and finance features. On a recent People by WTF podcast hosted by entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, Musk cited the extensive utility of WeChat as a model for X – previously known as Twitter, which he bought for US$44 billion in October 2022. “You can exchange information, you can publish information, you can exchange money,” Musk said,...

Politics

5 d. ago China’s National Security: The People’s Liberation Army’s Shrinking Role in Protecting the Nation’s Core Interests

China’s National Security: The People’s Liberation Army’s Shrinking Role in Protecting the Nation’s Core Interests  China Leadership Monitor

Events

5 d. ago China boy, 14, acts like ancient scholar, turns bedroom into museum of artefacts

A 14-year-old Chinese boy who turned his bedroom into a small history museum and spoke like an ancient scholar has attracted an army of followers online. The secondary school student from central China’s Henan province, Xie Zhaoyutong, loves ancient Chinese history and literature and has filled his bedroom with his antique collections. A recent video of Xie passionately introducing his collections went viral online. It attracted 837,000 likes and 40,000 comments. Xie collects pottery, china,...

Politics

8 d. ago China’s Robot Fever Meets the Iron Hand of State Planning: Beijing Demands Innovation Over Imitation

China’s Robot Fever Meets the Iron Hand of State Planning: Beijing Demands Innovation Over Imitation  WebProNews

Politics

8 d. ago China state planner asks humanoid robot firms to avoid repetitive products

China state planner asks humanoid robot firms to avoid repetitive products  Reuters

Politics

1 week ago Why China’s space sector is grabbing attention – including from Elon Musk

On Saturday, the Beijing-based start-up LandSpace reportedly plans to conduct the maiden launch of its Zhuque-3 rocket – a reusable launch vehicle that could significantly boost China’s space industry by lowering the cost of lifting equipment such as satellites into orbit. The prospect of China mastering reusable rockets – a technology pioneered by US-based SpaceX – has attracted significant attention from aerospace experts, and even drew comment from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk last month. Beyond the...

Technology

1 week ago Why China’s PLA is wary of Japanese submarine and missile strengths

Japan’s submarine fleet could prove a major strategic headache for China, military analysts have said, as Tokyo moves to strengthen its armed forces. The two Asian powers have become embroiled in one of their most serious diplomatic crises in years after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said earlier this month that an armed attack against Taiwan could be seen as a “survival-threatening situation” that would justify Japan deploying its military. Her remarks were the most explicit by a sitting...

Events

2 w. ago Could Civilian Deck Cargo Vessels Carry China's Army to Taiwan?

Could Civilian Deck Cargo Vessels Carry China's Army to Taiwan?  The Maritime Executive

Transport

2 w. ago As Elon Musk plans a robot army, China’s humanoid bots are already on the market

As Elon Musk plans a robot army, China’s humanoid bots are already on the market  Los Angeles Times

Technology

2 w. ago Ronaldo, Musk attend Trump’s White House dinner with Saudi crown prince

Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and billionaire Elon Musk were among the guests at a lavish White House dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump for the visiting Saudi crown prince on Tuesday. Ronaldo plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, one of a number of ageing players who have been attracted to the desert kingdom’s heavy spending on stars despite its rights record. The 40-year-old, whose contract with the Saudi club ends this summer, took his place near the head of Trump’s table a...

Politics

2 w. ago Brazil OKs China naval visit while US research ship plans call nearby

Brazil has cleared a Chinese navy hospital ship to dock in Rio de Janeiro in January, ending a months-long review that drew quiet pushback inside the country’s military, according to local media. The approval, dated November 13 and published Tuesday in the government’s official gazette, allows the Ark Silk Road to remain in Rio from January 8 to January 15 next year. The 178 metre (584 feet) vessel operates under China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy. Records show a United States ship will...

Politics

2 w. ago Brazil approves China’s naval visit while US research ship plans call nearby

Brazil has cleared a Chinese navy hospital ship to dock in Rio de Janeiro in January, ending a months-long review that drew quiet pushback inside the country’s military, according to local media. The approval, dated November 13 and published Tuesday in the government’s official gazette, allows the Ark Silk Road to remain in Rio from January 8 to January 15 next year. The 178 metre (584 feet) vessel operates under China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy. Records show a United States ship will...

Politics

2 w. ago Shanghai dreams of a new era of ‘AI restaurants’. But can diners stomach it?

China’s premier metropolis has a vision for the future of dining – and it is one involving restaurants run by artificial intelligence, with automated kitchens, robot servers, data-driven menus and intelligent supply chains. The spread of automation in the catering sector has become a hot-button issue in China over recent months, but Shanghai appears committed to charging ahead with a plan to transform local eateries using smart technology. The city has set a target of becoming a “nationally...

Politics

2 w. ago 'Army of robots': China's humanoid bots marching in unison spook the internet in viral video

'Army of robots': China's humanoid bots marching in unison spook the internet in viral video  Times of India

Technology

3 w. ago Tencent expands into AI ‘world models’ as tech giants chase spatial intelligence

Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings is laying the groundwork for what many see as the next frontier of artificial intelligence by investing in “world models” that simulate the physical environment, according to its head of 3D generation and world modelling. China’s most valuable tech conglomerate joins a fast-growing cohort that includes Google DeepMind and Elon Musk’s xAI in exploring “spatial intelligence”, which some experts have described as “AI’s next great frontier”. On Wednesday, AI...

Politics

3 w. ago Uncommon Knowledge: What a Russian AI Robot Says about Elon Musk and China

Uncommon Knowledge: What a Russian AI Robot Says about Elon Musk and China  Newsweek

Technology

3 w. ago ‘300 Percent More Lethal’: The U.S. Army Is Putting China and Russia on Notice

‘300 Percent More Lethal’: The U.S. Army Is Putting China and Russia on Notice  National Security Journal

Politics

4 w. ago Elon Musk Says Tesla FSD May Roll Out In China Next Year — Can It Beat Xpeng, Baidu and Local Rivals?

Elon Musk Says Tesla FSD May Roll Out In China Next Year — Can It Beat Xpeng, Baidu and Local Rivals?  Stocktwits

Politics