TOPIC COLLECTION

Telecommunications

Included topics:
The X2 flying car designed by Xpeng affiliate Aridge is seen at an auto show in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, on July 26, 2025. Photo: Shutterstock
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng’s flying car unit readies Hong Kong IPO for take-off

Aridge, formerly AeroHT, eyes listing this year as it aims to accelerate its efforts in the low-altitude market, sources say.

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Artificial intelligence

Ant International teams up with Google on use of Universal Commerce Protocol

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China deflation

China’s solar firms, once deemed too competitive, now face monopoly accusations

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Alibaba’s Qwen family hits 700 million downloads to lead open-source AI adoption

Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen family is the world’s most widely used open-source AI system as of January, Hugging Face data shows.

The volume of Qwen downloads on Hugging Face reinforced its position as the world’s leading open-source ecosystem. Photo: Shutterstock

Australian social media ban: Meta shuts 550,000 children’s accounts

Australia’s ban on social media usage for under 16s, a world’s first, came into effect on December 10.

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China’s AI unlikely to surpass US soon despite progress, researchers say

China’s top AI scientists warn of chip deficits and resource limits, though some predict breakthroughs within five years.

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Opinion | Hong Kong’s fertile ground for AI IPOs aligns with China’s tech strategy

If Hong Kong remains a stable offshore bridge linking global capital with priority technologies, it will bolster China’s innovation funding.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 30. China is increasingly using Hong Kong as an offshore capital platform for funding priority technologies. Photo: Sun Yeung

Malaysia suspends Grok access amid global backlash on Musk’s AI

The regulating commission deemed the platform’s safeguards inadequate, adding that access would resume only after the required changes are verified.

China applies to put up 200,000 satellites after calling Starlink a crash risk

US Federal Communications Commission says it approved SpaceX to launch 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites.

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‘Strictly forbidden’: China warns hikers off Aotai Line after 3 die on trail

Group reportedly switched phones to flight mode while in restricted area, hampering emergency contact and rescuers’ attempts to find them.

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Rescuers and mountaineering officials in China’s General Administration of Sport warn that hikers should not be walking the Aotai Line after three people died on the trail recently. Photo: CCTV

Nvidia, Tesla chase same self-driving goal via different paths

Tesla is betting on winning autonomy as a specialist, while Nvidia is positioning itself as an arms dealer, selling tools to the entire industry.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang used his speech at CES to extol the virtues of Alpamayo, an open-source AI model designed to speed development of level 4 self-driving cars. Photo: AFP

Elon Musk to open source X algorithm in 7 days amid global scrutiny

The company has been working to incorporate more AI into its recommendation algorithm through Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot.

This Chinese-Vietnamese plant-based influencer makes even haters love tofu

Wendy the Food Scientist is on a mission to make plant-based eating simple, healthy and satisfying – no ultra-processed ‘fake meat’ required.

Musk blasts ‘prison island’ UK in showdown over Grok AI sexual images

The billionaire accused the government of being ‘fascist’ after it threatened to ban X over the deepfake photos.

Billionaire Elon Musk’s xAI operates Grok. Photo: AFP

Opinion | The global AI race: 3 scenarios the world must prepare for

From US-China dominance to regulatory reset or systemic disruption, the AI race is heading towards three very different outcomes.

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A man plays chess with an AI-powered chess robot at the exhibition area of Chinese company SenseRobot at a pre-show event of the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, US, on January 5. Photo: Xinhua

8 new TV series to watch this winter, including Bridgerton Season 4

There’s also The Pitt Season 2, The Night Manager Season 2, Nicole Kidman crime thriller Scarpetta and more to look for in early 2026.

China actor rejects US$2,800 mountain-climbing companion fee, plans to change jobs

Buff, struggling performer who adheres to a strict ‘non-sexual’ service policy plans to branch out into becoming a swimming buddy.

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How China’s global investment model is changing – and what it means for the yuan

The trade war, weak domestic demand and stronger policy support push more firms to invest overseas, with growing implications for currency.

The logo of China’s Huawei Technologies Co is displayed on the middle of city road in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: EPA-EFE

Chinese smart eyewear makers shine at CES with focus on challenging Meta

‘The rise of smart glasses is riding directly on advances in AI,’ LLVision founder and CEO Wu Fei says.

‘No taste’: Malaysia’s Life of Pi and Squid Game artists warn against AI rush

After viewers slammed AI-enhanced films for looking ‘cheap’, local experts warn that algorithms serve profit, not storytelling.

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Review of Meta-Manus deal underscores China’s tightening grip on AI exports

AI agent start-up may face half a year of regulatory checks on data security, dual-use technologies and overseas investment rules: analysts.

The Ministry of Commerce says it will work with other Chinese regulators to assess whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus complies with the country’s export controls and technology transfer rules. Photo: Shutterstock

Will X be banned in the UK? Elon Musk hits back at shutdown warnings

Despite an outcry over AI abuse images, Musk called the warnings ‘censorship’ and reposted threats to sanction Britain if X is blocked.

Elon Musk’s website X faces the threat of being shut down in Britain over deepfake pornography and child abuse images. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Being Chinese | Where do lonely hearts in China go now? Late-night live streams

I was swiping past the noise on Douyin when a calm, warm voice stopped me. So began my evenings in the world of companionship live streams.

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Video | Why has America’s ‘kill line’ gone viral in China?

The public debate has inevitably drawn parallels with problems faced by China’s own population.

US government abandons plan to blacklist Chinese-made drones

Commerce Department, FCC make U-turn after barring imports of new Chinese drone models in December to address national security concerns.

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A US farmer uses a DJI drone to put crop cover on his farm in Hickory, North Carolina. The Trump administration has dropped a plan to impose restrictions on Chinese-made drones. Photo: AP

The great chip leap: China’s semiconductor equipment self-reliance beats targets

Domestic suppliers capture 35 per cent share as China accelerates push for semiconductor self-sufficiency.

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China’s semiconductor industry is being encouraged to favour local suppliers over US rivals. Photo: Reuters

Chinese firms, led by AgiBot, outpace US rivals in 2025 humanoid robot shipments

‘Chinese vendors are setting benchmarks in large-scale production,’ Omdia analyst Lian Jye Su says.

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Alibaba logistics unit Cainiao opens US-Mexico cross-border service

Cainiao is expected to control key nodes including sorting, line-haul transfer and last-mile delivery for the service.

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Telecommunications
The latest news on telecommunications and networks, including wired and wireless networks, broadcasting and radio communications. Also covers satellite, telecoms companies, optical communications, plus 4G, 5G and mobile phone networks.