Day: November 3, 2025

Chinese AI, humanoid robot make Time magazine’s ‘Best Inventions of 2025’ list

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Over 20 Chinese companies have earned a place on Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2025” list, with innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) recognised for the first time alongside advances in robotics and consumer electronics. Advertisement This year’s edition – covering 300 innovations across 36 categories, the most ever – marks the first time Chinese advances in AI have been highlighted since the sector was introduced in 2020. “The abrupt appearance of DeepSeek’s R1 advanced reasoning model at the start of the year was akin to the ‘shot heard ‘round the…

The dark side of Japanese convenience stores

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After Akiko married in 2021, her new husband worked around the clock as a store manager at a 7-Eleven in Japan’s southern Oita prefecture. He did not have a single day off before he died by suicide almost 16 months later, she said. “He himself had said several times to the owner that it was too hard and he wanted to quit. But there weren’t enough staff, and because he was the manager, there was no one to replace him,” said Akiko, who asked to speak under a pseudonym. “It…

China must more actively seek global lead in quantum race: think tank

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China should more actively pursue the global lead in quantum governance to secure a strategic edge, an influential mainland think tank has urged, as dual-use quantum tech emerges as an increasingly important front in the country’s wide-ranging rivalry with the United States. Advertisement China could also diversify its technological partnerships by deepening cooperation with EU countries and the United Arab Emirates, according to Grandview Institution, as the country prepares for its next five-year plan. Beijing could exchange expertise to advance quantum computing and actively engage in global rule-setting in the…

Has Modi’s big tax reform worked?

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This article is an on-site version of the India Business Briefing newsletter. To receive it in your inbox regularly, sign up if you’re a premium subscriber, or upgrade your subscription here. Good morning from cold and wet London, but anywhere is better than polluted Delhi right now. It looks like a trade deal with the US is in the offing. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal has mentioned in several forums that India is at an advanced stage of trade talks. But we have been close before, so fingers crossed for this time…

China offers tech giants cheap power to boost domestic AI chips

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Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Technology sector myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. China has increased subsidies that cut energy bills by up to half for some of the country’s largest data centres, as Beijing steps up efforts to boost its domestic chips industry and compete with the US. Local governments have beefed up incentives to help Chinese tech giants such as ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent, which have been hit with higher electricity costs following Beijing’s ban on purchasing Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips,…

As China pushes for East Asia trade pact amid US tensions, hurdles remain

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As Beijing continues advocating for deeper regional economic cooperation in East Asia amid ongoing tensions with Washington – including by working towards a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Japan and South Korea – analysts say that making substantial progress remains challenging, given the existing trade framework and conflicting interests. Advertisement In a meeting with South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan on Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pledged to promote the resumption of negotiations on a trilateral…

Starbucks to sell majority stake in China business

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Starbucks says it is selling a 60% stake in its business in China as part of a $4bn (£3.04bn) deal with investment firm Boyu Capital. Under the agreement, the world’s biggest coffee chain will have a 40% stake in the Chinese retail operation and retain ownership of the Starbucks brand there. Starbucks entered China in 1999 and the country is now its second-largest market outside the US, but has struggled in recent years with the rise of homegrown brands like Luckin Coffee. The business will continue to be headquartered in…

Hong Kong positioned as stablecoin bridge for mainland Chinese firms: Ebanx

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Brazilian fintech unicorn Ebanx sees Hong Kong emerging as a stablecoin payment hub for mainland Chinese companies engaged in international trade, as its CEO visited the city’s largest-ever Fintech Week to explore expansion opportunities. Advertisement Hong Kong could serve as “a kind of initial validation, initial test” for Chinese companies exploring stablecoin use in cross-border commerce, said Joao Del Valle, CEO and co-founder of global digital payment services provider Ebanx, in a recent interview with the Post. Del Valle said he expected more mainland companies would use stablecoins for international…

Counter-terror police investigate claim UK university halted research after Chinese pressure

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An investigation into allegations that a British university was subjected to pressure from Beijing authorities to halt research about human rights abuses in China has been referred to counter-terrorism police. The Guardian reported on Monday morning that Sheffield Hallam University, home to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC) research institution, had ordered professor Laura Murphy to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in the country in February. Murphy’s work focuses on Uyghurs, a persecuted Muslim minority in China. A South Yorkshire police spokesperson said the force…

Satellite maker Uspace pivots to AI applications at new tech centre in Shenzhen

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Advertisement A unit of Uspace, Gang Hang Ke, will spearhead the centre’s establishment, the company said in a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday evening. It said the new facility will focus on intelligent decision-making for satellite remote sensing data as well as AI-based satellite data processing and analysis to drive satellite-ground computing synergy, among others. Gang Hang Ke was described by Uspace as a hi-tech enterprise focused on the integration of research and development as well as sales and services. Uspace – previously known as Hong…