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

11 h. ago PLA holds urban warfare drill as Taipei looks to boost ‘asymmetric capabilities’

The People’s Liberation Army has carried out an urban warfare drill, according to state media, in what appears to be a response to Taipei’s bid to fund improved “asymmetric capabilities”. In a report on Wednesday, state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of troops carrying out an operation to seize a built-up area in a war-torn city. The drill – involving reconnaissance, clearing and occupation – was part of a live-fire exercise conducted by a PLA Ground Force brigade that aimed to “test multiple...

Events

13 h. ago China breaks ground on 30 MW power plant in Inner Mongolia using a 100% hydrogen turbine

China breaks ground on 30 MW power plant in Inner Mongolia using a 100% hydrogen turbine  Energies Media

Politics

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

17 h. ago Why Gulf region’s dreams of aviation domination are built on sand

We should call it the “Neom factor”: the force that transforms reasonable aggressive ambition into hallucinogenic fantasyland. It glared out at me last week in a Financial Times headline: “Three ‘Heathrows’ of growth: the unstoppable rise of Middle East airports”. In short, Dubai, Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi in aggregate have airport expansion plans to lift passenger capacity almost threefold to around 750 million a year over the coming decades. In the words of Paul Griffiths, chief...

Politics

24 h. ago Emerging markets to outperform US stocks as dollar weakness continues: report

Global investors should consider reducing their US equities exposure as emerging market stocks are on track to outperform those in developed nations for the first time in five years amid a weakening US dollar, according to global investment firm Cambridge Associates. The recommendation comes as the dollar has experienced significant weakness this year, falling by 10 per cent at one point after a decade-long bull run that started in 2011. However, the greenback still remains 29 per cent above its...

Politics

27 h. ago Admiral denies ‘kill them all’ order in boat attack but video alarms lawmakers

A Navy admiral commanding the US military strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean told lawmakers on Thursday that there was no “kill them all” order from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth but a stark video of the attack left grave questions as Congress scrutinises the campaign that killed two people. Admiral Frank Bradley appeared for a series of closed-door classified briefings at the Capitol as lawmakers conduct an investigation after a report that he ordered the follow-on attack that...

Events

27 h. ago US admiral denies ‘kill them all’ order in Caribbean boat strike

A US Navy admiral commanding the US military strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean told lawmakers Thursday that there was no “kill them all” order from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, but a stark video of the attack left grave questions as Congress scrutinises the campaign that killed two survivors. Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley appeared for a series of closed-door classified briefings at the Capitol as lawmakers conduct an investigation after a report that he ordered the follow-on...

Events

31 h. ago Huang Says U.S. Risks Trailing China in AI Without Energy Reforms

Huang Says U.S. Risks Trailing China in AI Without Energy Reforms  Broadband Breakfast

Events

32 h. ago EU to review, possibly exempt tariffs on Volkswagen EVs built in China

EU to review, possibly exempt tariffs on Volkswagen EVs built in China  Automotive News

Politics

32 h. ago Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Visits Republicans as Debate Over AI Chips Race with China Rages

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Visits Republicans as Debate Over AI Chips Race with China Rages  Broadband Breakfast

Politics

33 h. ago EU reviews removing tariffs on VW electric cars built in China

EU reviews removing tariffs on VW electric cars built in China  Automotive News

Politics

34 h. ago EU reviews removing tariffs on Volkswagen EVs built in China

EU reviews removing tariffs on Volkswagen EVs built in China  Reuters

Politics

36 h. ago As Macron eyes China deals to revive industry, trade shows tables have turned

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Chinese companies to invest in France and transfer know-how in emerging sectors like batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels – highlighting growing concerns over the widening technological gap between the two countries. “We want to welcome more Chinese investment through projects and re-industrialisation strategies, and this is what will allow us to break the cycle we’re currently in,” he said on Thursday in Beijing, where he attended a...

Politics

37 h. ago ‘Strong breakwaters’: China’s central bank vows to shield from external shocks

Central bank governor Pan Gongsheng has stressed the importance of China maintaining a sound monetary system that remains resilient to external shocks and systemic risks, signalling a focus on stability ahead of a key policy meeting. Pan said monetary policy must balance internal and external pressures, “primarily taking into account domestic economic and financial conditions”, while also factoring in the “spillover effects” from other economies, in an editorial for the Communist Party’s...

Events

38 h. ago Cyber scams threaten confidence in India’s outsourcing industry

India’s hard-won reputation as the world’s back office, built on trusted call-centre and IT services, is coming under pressure as increasingly sophisticated cyber scam networks emerge within the same digital ecosystem that underpins its outsourcing success. A police raid late last month on a Hyderabad call centre that allegedly trained tele-callers to mimic Australian accents has sharpened those concerns, with analysts warning that organised fraud rings could erode confidence in India’s service...

Events

39 h. ago China’s Biggest Beauty Firm Lays Out Strategy to Rival L’Oréal

China’s Biggest Beauty Firm Lays Out Strategy to Rival L’Oréal  The Business of Fashion

Politics

51 h. ago A Chinese firm attempts to bring a rocket stage back to Earth

A Chinese firm attempts to bring a rocket stage back to Earth  The Economist

Events

52 h. ago BREAKING: Our fake Chinese AI investor bought access into heart of Labour government

BREAKING: Our fake Chinese AI investor bought access into heart of Labour government  Democracy for Sale | Peter Geoghegan

Politics

57 h. ago Property firm ISS insists it has ‘admin role’, but Hong Kong watchdog disagrees

Hong Kong’s property management watchdog has vowed to rigorously follow up on any suspected breaches over the Wang Fuk Court fire that has claimed 159 lives, even as the estate manager described its role as confined to providing administrative support and managing day-to-day security services. In reply to the Post’s queries, the Property Management Services Authority said on Wednesday that under its Code of Conduct, licensed managers were required to follow up in a timely manner with the engaged...

Politics