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Pulses

Nvidia CEO to meet Trump ahead of China trip

just now
Bloomberg
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on July 11, ahead of a trip to China where he’ll meet senior officials and attend a major industry event. The visit comes as Nvidia faces steep revenue losses from US chip export curbs and rising tensions in the US-China tech rivalry.

Mercedes-Benz to adopt Flyme Auto in China

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KrASIA
Mercedes-Benz plans to equip future car models in China with Flyme Auto, a smart cockpit system developed by Geely units Ecarx and DreamSmart, starting with the long-wheelbase E-class in 2027. The move reflects a shift toward local tech partnerships as the automaker looks to close the gap with Chinese rivals in smart vehicle features.

TikTok denies report on US-only app

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TikTok
TikTok has denied a Reuters report claiming it is developing a US-only version of its app with a separate algorithm and data system. The report linked the move to divestment pressures under US law, but TikTok said no such project is underway. ByteDance has not commented on the specifics.

Indonesia’s Sirsak nets pre-seed funding

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Sirsak
Sirsak, an Indonesian startup, has raised USD 600,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Openspace Ventures to grow its tech-enabled packaging recovery system and expand waste collection. The startup aims to recover 4,000 tons of packaging waste, expand to 1,000 sites, and improve traceability while supporting EPR compliance across Indonesia.

Nothing launches Phone (3) in China

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KrASIA
British tech brand Nothing launched its Phone (3) in China at USD 799, alongside its first over-ear headphones, the Headphone (1). The midrange phone prioritizes design over performance, featuring a customizable LED subdisplay and software suite aimed at younger users.

Amazon eyes deeper stake in Anthropic

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Financial Times
Amazon is weighing a new investment in Anthropic that would build on its existing USD 8 billion commitment and deepen its role as a key shareholder and cloud solutions partner. The move would bolster its position against rivals like Google and Microsoft in the AI race.

Huawei pitches Ascend chips overseas

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Bloomberg
Huawei is offering limited quantities of its Ascend 910B chips to potential buyers in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Thailand, and Malaysia. The company is reserving newer chips for domestic use. No deals have been finalized, and the effort is drawing increased scrutiny from US officials.

China, Malaysia to waive visas from July 17

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CCTV
China and Malaysia will implement a mutual visa exemption starting July 17 for ordinary and service passport holders, allowing stays of up to 30 days per visit and 90 days per 180-day period. The move coincides with peak summer travel and is driving a surge in Malaysia-bound searches and bookings from Chinese travelers.

Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles

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Reuters
xAI's Grok will be integrated into Tesla vehicles imminently, per Elon Musk, following the launch of Grok 4. The rollout coincides with controversy over the chatbot's content, including posts flagged on X for antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf Hitler.

Be Friends logs steady GMV growth

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Guandian
Be Friends Holdings reported RMB 3.78 billion in GMV for Q2 2025, up 7.08% YoY, and RMB 6.98 billion for H1, marking a 17.11% increase from 2024. The company offers live streaming, product sales, and video services to broadcasters, platforms, and industry clients.

Samsung’s trifold phone nears launch

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The Verge
Samsung plans to launch its trifold phone this year, per hardware chief TM Roh, though its final name is undecided. The device didn’t appear at the July 10 "Galaxy Unpacked" event, but execs say development is nearly complete, with internal debate ongoing over its market viability.

Pony.ai starts mass production of Gen-7 robotaxis

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Pony.ai
Pony.ai has begun mass production of its Gen-7 robotaxis using car models from GAC and BAIC. Road testing has commenced in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The new system uses automotive-grade components and reportedly cuts kit costs by 70%. The company aims to expand its fleet to 1,000 vehicles by the end of 2025.

AliExpress rolls out hourly UK delivery

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36Kr
Alibaba's cross-border platform AliExpress has rolled out a new hourly delivery feature in the UK this month, offering groceries and daily essentials. The service builds on its local fulfillment push and is operated by Hungry Panda, a local partner known for food delivery.

Huawei eyes Brazil data center expansion

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Reuters
Huawei is interested in investing in Brazil’s data center market but is awaiting the potential rollout of a tax break for tech investments. The company could provide storage, connectivity, and energy support if the policy is implemented. A government proposal is expected to reach Congress soon.

BYD expands DiPilot features, commits support

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BYD
BYD said it is the first automaker to offer full liability coverage for assisted parking under its DiPilot system in China, allowing users to bypass insurance claims for eligible incidents. The pledge reflects growing confidence in its technology and coincides with the largest DiPilot upgrade to date, adding new features across parking, driving, and safety.

Augmentus raises Series A+ funding

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Augmentus
Singapore-based Augmentus has raised USD 11 million in Series A+ funding to scale deployment of its AI-powered no-code robotics systems for manufacturing. The round, led by Woori Venture Partners with participation from EDBI, Sierra Ventures, and Cocoon Capital, will support the startup's regional expansion, order fulfillment, and R&D into adaptive automation.

Codelco signs tech pact with Huawei

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Codelco
Chile's Codelco and Huawei have signed an MoU to explore joint pilot projects aimed at advancing digital transformation and operational efficiency in mining. Focus areas include AI for automation, cloud services, and site connectivity. The partnership follows Codelco’s tech-focused visit to China earlier this year.

New OpenAI browser to challenge Chrome

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Reuters
OpenAI is set to launch an AI-powered browser built on Chromium in the coming weeks, according to sources. Designed to integrate agentic tools and keep users within a native chat interface, the browser could challenge Google Chrome’s dominance and erode Alphabet’s ad data advantage. Chrome currently holds over two-thirds of the global market.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigns

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Semafor
Linda Yaccarino resigned as X CEO on July 9, a day after the platform’s Grok chatbot posted antisemitic and threatening content. Appointed in 2023 to help restore ad revenue following Elon Musk’s loosening of content rules, Yaccarino gave no reason for her departure. Her tenure focused on rebuilding advertiser relationships.

Douyin saves sellers RMB 14 billion in H1

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Sina
Douyin E-commerce said its merchant support policies saved sellers over RMB 14 billion in the first half of 2025, including RMB 3 billion in June alone. A key deposit reduction policy reportedly unlocked more than RMB 15 billion in withdrawable funds. The platform plans to expand support in the second half to ease costs and improve business stability.
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