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Inside one US company’s attempt to shake China’s grip on graphite

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Nvidia builds tool to trace chip use

just now
SCMP
Nvidia has developed location verification software for its GPUs to help prevent smuggling to restricted markets. The optional open-source tool will debut on Blackwell chips, using telemetry data and confidential computing to estimate chip locations while ensuring there is no remote access or “kill switch” function.

OpenAI flags high cybersecurity risks

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Reuters
OpenAI warned that its upcoming AI models could present a “high” cybersecurity risk, with potential to develop zero-day exploits or assist complex cyber intrusions. To mitigate threats, the company said it will strengthen defensive capabilities, launch tiered access for cyberdefense users, and establish a "frontier risk council" for expert oversight.

H World targets 20,000 hotels by 2030

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Nikkei Asia
Chinese hotel chain H World Group plans to add more than 7,000 hotels over the next five years, targeting 20,000 worldwide by 2030. Despite China’s slowing economy, the company is betting on strong domestic travel demand and expanding through low-cost franchising to boost its presence in the budget and midrange segments.

Alibaba enhances Qwen3-TTS model

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Alibaba
Alibaba’s Qwen3-TTS, a speech synthesis model available via the Qwen API, has been updated to support over 49 voice profiles across ten languages and multiple Chinese dialects. The upgraded model is said to deliver more natural prosody, humanlike tone, and superior accuracy, outperforming leading systems in multilingual benchmarks.

Nvidia denies DeepSeek chip smuggling

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CNBC
Nvidia has refuted reports that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek used smuggled Blackwell chips to train one of its upcoming models, saying it has found no verified evidence of such activity. The advanced GPUs are banned from export to China under current US trade rules, heightening scrutiny of Nvidia’s role in the global chip race.

Hygon scraps merger plan with Sugon

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Nikkei Asia
Chinese chipmaker Hygon has canceled its planned merger with top shareholder Sugon, citing changing market conditions and the scale of the transaction. Announced in May, the deal would have been one of China’s largest semiconductor mergers this year. Shares of both companies fell following the announcement.

GAC to launch EVs in Japan next summer

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Nikkei Asia
GAC will launch its Aion EVs in Japan next summer through local agent M Mobility, introducing the Aion UT and Aion V models priced at JPY 3.3 million and JPY 5 million, respectively. The company targets 2,000 orders by 2027 as it expands overseas to offset slowing sales in China.

Madfinger taps Tencent Cloud for latency fix

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Tencent Cloud
Tencent Cloud has formed a partnership with Czech studio Madfinger Games to enhance network performance for its title Gray Zone Warfare. Using Tencent Cloud’s global application acceleration platform, the partnership has reportedly reduced median latency by up to 62.5% to 60 milliseconds, enhancing gameplay stability and connectivity for players worldwide, particularly in China.

Filmora adds Google, Sora, Veo models

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Wondershare
Wondershare has upgraded its video platform Filmora with Google’s Nano Banana Pro for image generation, and Sora 2 and Veo 3.1 for video creation. The update aims to enhance creative precision and speed while equipping users with advanced tools for ideation, storyboarding, and professional video production.

GAC launches Aion, Hyptec EVs in Riyadh

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GAC
GAC launched its Aion and Hyptec new energy vehicle series at the Riyadh Motor Show, unveiling the Aion V, Aion ES, and Hyptec HT for the Saudi market. The company also announced enhanced after-sales services and an eight-year warranty, supporting its efforts to localize operations and boost competitiveness across the Middle East.

Aspire expands Wise tie-up to Hong Kong

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Aspire
Aspire has launched cross-border payments in Hong Kong powered by Wise, allowing users to transfer funds in more than 40 currencies directly from its finance platform. The rollout builds on a partnership that began in Singapore in 2019, supporting payments for startups and SMEs worldwide.

Huya sets open beta for Goose Goose Duck

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Huya
Huya’s Goose Goose Duck, co-published with Kingsoft Shiyou, will begin open beta testing on mobile platforms in mainland China on January 7, 2026. The social deduction game has attracted more than ten million pre-registrations, marking a milestone in Huya’s expansion into game publishing.

Sany, Pony.ai near mass truck rollout

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Sany
Sany Group and Pony.ai said their fourth-generation autonomous heavy duty truck is nearing mass production, with rollout expected in 2026. Equipped with a 400 kWh battery and a redundant drive-by-wire chassis, the model could cut 60 tons of carbon emissions annually while reducing freight costs by 29% and increasing profits by 195% through a “1+4” platooning solution.

DeepSeek model tied to banned Nvidia chips

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The Information
DeepSeek reportedly used Nvidia’s Blackwell chips—banned from import into China—to develop one of its upcoming AI models. The chips were said to have been smuggled into China via third countries and dismantled before arrival. Backed by hedge fund High-Flyer, the startup previously drew attention for developing cost-efficient models that rival Western AI systems.

JD.com buys 50% stake in CCB Tower

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Bloomberg
A JD.com unit will acquire a 50% stake in Hong Kong’s CCB Tower from Lai Sun Development for HKD 3.5 billion. The deal follows similar moves by tech firms such as Alibaba and Ant Group, as they seize on steep declines in Hong Kong office values. Lai Sun’s USD-denominated bond rose after reports of the sale.

Alibaba builds Qwen consumer arm

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SCMP
Alibaba has formed a new business group, led by vice president Wu Jia, to expand consumer adoption of its Qwen AI model. The unit combines the Qwen chatbot, Quark assistant, UC Browser, and AI hardware, signaling a shift from developer tools to consumer applications as Alibaba positions Qwen for “superapp” status.

xTool reports RMB 100 million sales day

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36Kr
xTool’s GMV during Black Friday and Cyber Monday rose about 50% YoY, with single-day sales topping RMB 100 million for the first time. CEO Jasen Wang said the milestone highlights xTool’s shift from STEAM education to a D2C laser tools brand. The company will also merge its Makeblock brand under the xTool name.

Creality opens Shenzhen flagship store

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36Kr
Creality has opened a 600-square-meter flagship store in Shenzhen’s Bay City, combining product display with hands-on learning. Visitors can see, touch, and test 3D printing across fused deposition modeling (FDM), resin, and laser systems. Serving as both classroom and showroom, the site anchors Creality’s move toward service-based, ecosystem-driven retail.

Huawei-led carmaking alliance deepens ties

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Xinhua
Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) has announced a comprehensive cooperation upgrade with partners Seres, Chery, BAIC, JAC, and SAIC in Shanghai. The alliance will standardize smart systems, services, and charging networks while jointly developing next-generation automotive technologies.

China car sales surpass South Korea in Europe

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Nikkei Asia
Chinese automakers overtook South Korean rivals in Western Europe for the first time in September, claiming 8% of the market versus South Korea’s 7.8%, according to Schmidt Automotive Research. Sales rose 77.5% YoY despite EU tariffs on Chinese EVs. Analysts expect momentum to continue as BYD, Chery, and Changan Automobile expand production and model offerings across Europe.
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