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In China, the outdoor boom is starting to look more like a fashion cycle than a lifestyle shift

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BYD issues biggest recall to date

just now
Reuters
BYD will recall more than 115,000 Tang and Yuan Pro vehicles produced between 2015–2022 over design and battery safety defects, China’s market regulator said. The automaker’s largest recall to date follows earlier actions involving the Bao 5, Dolphin, and Yuan Plus models amid heightened scrutiny of EV manufacturing quality.

Nexperia staff uneasy amid Dutch takeover

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SCMP
Workers at Nexperia’s Dongguan plant are anxious amid a political standoff between the Dutch government and Chinese owner Wingtech. The Netherlands’ seizure of the semiconductor maker and removal of its Chinese CEO prompted Beijing to impose export curbs on Nexperia’s mainland operations, deepening uncertainty at the key production site.

Meituan expands to Brazil with Keeta

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Dao Insights
Meituan will enter Brazil on October 30 under its international brand Keeta, marking its first expansion into the Americas. The Chinese delivery giant reportedly plans to invest about USD 1 billion over five years, starting in the coastal cities of Santos and Sao Vicente as pilot markets to challenge local leader iFood.

Nio faces lawsuit from Singapore’s GIC

just now
Bloomberg
Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC has sued Chinese EV maker Nio in New York, accusing the company of inflating revenue through its battery subscription business. The rare lawsuit has heightened scrutiny of Nio’s accounting and governance as it battles intense competition and financial headwinds in China’s EV market.

Cambricon, SenseTime form AI alliance

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SCMP
Cambricon and SenseTime have partnered to advance China’s AI self-reliance under the national “AI Plus” initiative. The alliance merges Cambricon’s chip design capabilities with SenseTime’s foundational models to develop integrated AI computing solutions and industry-focused enterprise services.

Anthropic projects sharp 2026 growth

just now
Reuters
Anthropic expects its annualized revenue run rate to climb from USD 9 billion in 2025 to more than USD 20 billion in 2026, driven by rising enterprise adoption of its Claude AI tools. The company, now approaching USD 7 billion in revenue, was recently valued at USD 183 billion after a USD 13 billion funding round.

Honor plans phone with robotic camera

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CNBC
Honor is developing a smartphone with a camera that folds out using a robotic arm, marking its latest move to merge AI with hardware design. The Chinese company plans to reveal more details at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next year as part of its USD 10 billion drive to expand AI integration across its devices.

Ant Group unveils fast AI framework

just now
SCMP
Ant Group has open-sourced dInfer, an inference framework for diffusion-based language models said to run up to ten times faster than Nvidia’s Fast-dLLM and Alibaba’s vLLM model. The framework seeks to boost AI efficiency and cut computational costs as China accelerates software innovation to offset limits in advanced chip access.

Pony.ai, WeRide secure HK listing nods

just now
CNBC
Autonomous driving firms Pony.ai and WeRide have received approval from China’s securities regulator for secondary listings in Hong Kong. The Guangzhou-based companies, already listed in the US, plan to issue about 102 million shares each to fund global expansion, joining a growing wave of Chinese firms pursuing dual listings in the city.

Singapore plans new online watchdog

just now
Bloomberg
Singapore will establish an agency to block harmful online content and enforce takedowns on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook. Initially addressing harassment and image-based abuse, the agency will later expand to impersonation and data leaks under a new bill aimed at strengthening online safety protections.

Hymson acquires Germany’s Xteg

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Hymson
Shanghai-listed Hymson has acquired German laser equipment maker Xteg, reinforcing its presence in Europe’s laser cutting market. The acquisition combines Hymson’s R&D and manufacturing capabilities with Xteg’s localized sales and service network. Their first joint product lineup will debut at the Blechexpo in Stuttgart on October 21.

OpenAI pursues funding for AI buildout

just now
Financial Times
OpenAI has reportedly outlined a five-year plan to fund over USD 1 trillion in AI infrastructure through new revenue lines, partnerships, and debt financing. The company aims to grow its enterprise and consumer base, roll out AI hardware with Jony Ive, and explore advertising while leveraging chip and cloud deals with Nvidia, AMD, and Oracle to sustain its expansion.

Aridge completes Dubai flight, expands orders

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KrASIA
Aridge (formerly Xpeng AeroHT) has completed a manned flight of its “Land Aircraft Carrier” in Dubai and signed purchase deals for 600 units with Gulf partners, bringing its global order count to more than 7,000. The UAE debut marks its first international expansion as it advances certification in China and targets consumer sales in 2027. Aridge is currently exhibiting at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai.

OpenAI partners with Broadcom on AI chips

just now
Reuters
OpenAI has partnered with Broadcom to produce its first custom AI chips, set to roll out from 2026 with a total capacity of ten gigawatts. The move expands OpenAI’s chip strategy after major deals with AMD and Nvidia, highlighting its drive to secure computing power and reduce dependence on external suppliers.

China Mobile to go all-in on local chips

just now
SCMP
China Mobile said it plans to use only domestically made chips in its AI network by 2028, targeting 100 exaflops of computing power through a 100,000-GPU cluster. The plan, announced by chairman Yang Jie, aligns with Beijing’s “AI Plus” initiative to promote technological self-reliance and expands the firm's role in national AI infrastructure.

Fatal EV fire hits Xiaomi stock

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CNBC
Investor sentiment toward Xiaomi turned negative after a fatal crash in Chengdu involving its SU7 EV, in which bystanders were reportedly unable to open the car’s doors during a fire. The incident, the second deadly SU7 crash this year, has heightened scrutiny of electronic door handles, which are now under safety review in both China and the US.

HKEX opens Dubai unit for metals pricing

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HKEX
HKEX has opened a subsidiary in Dubai to provide independent pricing and analysis for the global metals market. The new unit will oversee sustainable metal premia for the London Metal Exchange and broaden HKEX’s commodities presence in the Middle East.

Dutch takeover of Nexperia fuels tensions

just now
Bloomberg
The Dutch government has taken control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia under a Cold War-era law aimed at safeguarding Europe’s semiconductor supply, marking the first use of the country’s "Goods Availability Act." The move adds to trade tensions between the EU and China, with Nexperia’s parent company, Wingtech, calling the decision discriminatory after its shares fell sharply.

Binance explains October 10 volatility

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Binance
Binance said the October 10 crypto crash was triggered by global macro volatility, not platform faults. The exchange confirmed brief glitches and asset depegs, compensating users about USD 283 million. It said trading systems stayed largely stable and pledged transparency as it investigates and refines platform safeguards.

Meta hires Thinking Machines co-founder

just now
WSJ
Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab and a former researcher at Meta and OpenAI, has rejoined Meta. His return highlights Meta’s ongoing effort to recruit leading AI experts as it expands its superintelligence division under CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
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