https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/517332/feed Latest news on billionaire Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter) and the founder of SpaceX, Tesla and The Boring Company. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Unitree Robotics is developing a “self-evolving” feedback loop designed to allow humanoid robots to write code, run simulations and improve their real-world performance independently, founder Wang Xingxing said, in a move that mirrors a broader push towards “self-improving” artificial intelligence. Speaking on Thursday at a physical AI conference hosted by Unitree in Hangzhou, Wang unveiled the project, dubbed “Unitree Rehearsal”, which he called the company’s most important initiative of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371818/unitree-developing-ai-system-let-humanoid-robots-improve-themselves https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371818/unitree-developing-ai-system-let-humanoid-robots-improve-themselves Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:30:12 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Tesla’s “flying” Roadster stunt has set social media alight worldwide, turning a car launch into a debate about technological innovation and China-US rivalry. At an event in Texas on October 15, Tesla unveiled its redesigned sports car, the Roadster, with stunts including a takeoff from a steep, curved ramp and a leap over parked cars. Pre-orders are open in China with a deposit of 332,000 yuan (US$50,000) for the street-legal, two-seat “Performance” package. The flying-car reveal quickly turned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3371781/chinese-public-urged-stay-confident-domestic-innovation-after-tesla-flying-car-debut https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3371781/chinese-public-urged-stay-confident-domestic-innovation-after-tesla-flying-car-debut Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Tim Yuen Lingk Tim Yuen Lingk China has taken a major step in spearheading the standardisation of brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, as it now chairs the secretariat of a subcommittee jointly overseen by two key international organisations and lists the technology applications as a national development priority. The China-led subcommittee, known as ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 43, was set to formulate global standards regarding the communication and interaction between brains and computers that are applicable across... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3371742/china-moves-set-global-standards-brain-computer-interface-technology https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3371742/china-moves-set-global-standards-brain-computer-interface-technology Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:26 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump’s pivot away from Ukraine has triggered fresh questions about his attachment to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the man a top American envoy flattered on Wednesday as a “humanitarian”. Trump has cast his dealings with Putin as part of a mega-deal that has secured the release of American detainee Stephen Hubbard – and which Trump says will end Russia’s war on Ukraine. At the same time, he has repeatedly berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and called for him to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371687/trump-faces-fresh-questions-over-ties-humanitarian-putin https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371687/trump-faces-fresh-questions-over-ties-humanitarian-putin Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:08:51 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India’s Jamnagar this week – home to the world’s largest oil refining complex – signals energy cooperation as the anchor for bilateral ties even as broader policy friction frays relations, according to analysts. On Tuesday, Rubio indicated that India’s largest private company, Reliance Industries, which owns the Jamnagar oil refinery complex, will buy more Venezuelan oil. “India is a refining superpower. They have the capability to refine heavy crude.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371651/why-us-secretary-state-rubio-skipping-delhi-indian-oil-refinery https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371651/why-us-secretary-state-rubio-skipping-delhi-indian-oil-refinery Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:30:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine as soon as next month, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, after Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington’s latest push to stop Europe’s bloodiest conflict since second world war. The talks in a grand imperial palace in St Petersburg, the ninth time that Witkoff has met Putin in person, began with a goodwill gesture from Russia – the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired US teacher held in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371659/putin-holds-ukraine-peace-talks-trumps-envoy-witkoff-frees-american-hubbard https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371659/putin-holds-ukraine-peace-talks-trumps-envoy-witkoff-frees-american-hubbard Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:17:27 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Elon Musk said SpaceX and Tesla Inc have formed special committees to explore a potential merger, a preliminary step towards what would rank as the largest corporate tie-up of all time. “I do think there’s a lot of merit to combining the companies,” Musk, the chief executive officer of both companies, said on Tuesday on SpaceX’s earnings webcast. “There’s a lot to be gained from cooperating on developing superintelligence software.” Musk said he is not taking part in the committee discussions... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371564/musk-says-spacex-and-tesla-are-exploring-blockbuster-merger-deal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371564/musk-says-spacex-and-tesla-are-exploring-blockbuster-merger-deal Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:35:28 +0000 Reuters Reuters US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that decisions regarding Ukraine’s access to Starlink were up to SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House, comments that suggested ‌Musk may have restricted Kyiv’s access to the service. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk had ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink that Ukraine relies on to defend itself against missile attacks from Russia. The Journal cited one source saying that Musk, President Donald... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371563/musk-ordered-slowdown-starlink-service-ukraine-military-relies-report-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371563/musk-ordered-slowdown-starlink-service-ukraine-military-relies-report-says Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:49:12 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The coming launch of India’s largest-ever initial public offering (IPO) will test investor confidence in the country’s leading telecoms operator, Jio Platforms, the digital arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries. Jio’s public share offer on Wednesday comes close on the heels of an escalating row between Ambani and Elon Musk. The SpaceX founder has accused the Indian industrialist of using monopolistic influence to block Starlink’s entry into India – a charge Reliance has denied,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371536/indias-record-us108b-jio-ipo-tests-market-faith-musk-rivalry-heats https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371536/indias-record-us108b-jio-ipo-tests-market-faith-musk-rivalry-heats Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:43:36 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China’s recent milestone in extending its home-grown satellite internet coverage to polar regions has given the country “fully self-controlled polar communications”, ending its long-time reliance on foreign technology to achieve the same capability, according to state media and industry experts. The breakthrough came during trials conducted as part of China’s 16th Arctic expedition – launched in early July and expected to conclude this month – when scientists aboard vessels in the Arctic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371386/chinas-milestone-polar-region-satellite-broadband-narrows-gap-elon-musks-starlink https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371386/chinas-milestone-polar-region-satellite-broadband-narrows-gap-elon-musks-starlink Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday that he would give every child in the United States a share in his SpaceX rocket company. “Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America,” Musk, the richest man in the world, said on X. “This will be the first of many,” he said, without providing details about how the scheme would work. There are around 73 million children under the age of 18 in the United States, according to 2024 data from the US Census Bureau. Musk owns 38... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371389/elon-musk-says-he-will-give-spacex-share-every-kid-america https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371389/elon-musk-says-he-will-give-spacex-share-every-kid-america Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:01:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has been urged to learn from a Pentagon project to assess future warfare but warned to avoid the potential conflicts of interest and other shortcomings of the US defence review. Project Meridian, launched late last month, is designed to identify future battlefield requirements and prioritise investment, with a focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, directed energy, robotics and biotechnology. In an analysis published on Friday, the Beijing-based think tank Blue... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371286/china-urged-copy-pentagons-hi-tech-warfare-project-without-us-conflicts-interest https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371286/china-urged-copy-pentagons-hi-tech-warfare-project-without-us-conflicts-interest Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:00:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled what he described as a “flying” car, equipped with thrusters, during a live-streamed event at his SpaceX rocket company’s facility on Thursday. Technical and regulatory challenges have so far prevented the much-hyped flying car sector from getting off the ground. Musk revealed his new Roadster sports car during a launch event at a SpaceX test facility in Texas. During the demo, which was live-streamed on Tesla’s X account, the car launched from a steep steel ramp and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371209/elon-musk-unveils-teslas-flying-car https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371209/elon-musk-unveils-teslas-flying-car Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:19:46 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse European leaders on Friday rallied around Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky as Kyiv’s ties with US President Donald Trump have nosedived and worries grow that US leader is increasingly siding with Russia. Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured since last week, when Trump eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing large amounts of diesel onto global markets. Zelensky infuriated Trump further by ordering Ukraine’s forces to restart strikes on Russian oil refineries in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371174/european-leaders-back-zelensky-ukraine-us-ties-fray-over-trumps-russia-sanctions-lift https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371174/european-leaders-back-zelensky-ukraine-us-ties-fray-over-trumps-russia-sanctions-lift Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:14:29 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow A 17-year-old artificial intelligence researcher formerly with Moonshot AI has announced his departure for the United States, sparking intense speculation about his next move amid heated competition for elite talent between Silicon Valley and China’s tech hubs. Nathan Chen Guangyu wrote on social media on Thursday that he had left the Beijing-based start-up after less than a year, describing his time there as “the best [year] of my life so far”. The announcement caught many industry observers by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371117/who-nathan-chen-chinese-teen-ai-prodigy-being-courted-silicon-valley https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371117/who-nathan-chen-chinese-teen-ai-prodigy-being-courted-silicon-valley Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:30:13 +0000 Howard Liu Howard Liu Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is in discussions regarding a potential role in Elon Musk’s proposed Terafab project in Texas, according to company chairman and CEO C.C. Wei, although he stressed that TSMC would retain operational control of any partner factory. The plant “has got to be run by TSMC”, Wei said during the third-quarter earnings call on Thursday. TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, has sent teams to Texas to assess expansion opportunities beyond its US hub in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371010/tsmc-confirms-talks-elon-musk-over-texas-terafab-insists-operational-control https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3371010/tsmc-confirms-talks-elon-musk-over-texas-terafab-insists-operational-control Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:31:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery ⁠on Thursday after President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Kyiv was abandoning a ceasefire covering energy sites announced by US President Donald Trump, and criticised Trump’s willingness to strike deals with Moscow. By effectively walking away from Trump’s demand that Ukraine halt attacks on Russian refineries and openly criticising the US leader, Zelensky risks deepening the biggest rift between Kyiv and Washington since Russia’s February 2022 invasion... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370993/were-done-ukraine-resumes-russian-refinery-strikes-zelensky-defies-trump https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370993/were-done-ukraine-resumes-russian-refinery-strikes-zelensky-defies-trump Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:08:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tech billionaire Elon Musk called on Wednesday for Volodymyr Zelensky to “go” as Ukraine’s leader, after insisting any disruption to the war-torn country’s use of his satellite communications system was the fault of the US government, not his company. The comments came as Kyiv raised doubts over US support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, accusing Washington this week of helping Moscow by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and hobbling Kyiv’s military response through changes to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3370923/musk-suggests-us-government-behind-any-slowdown-ukraines-starshield https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3370923/musk-suggests-us-government-behind-any-slowdown-ukraines-starshield Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:29:05 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The White House’s bid for a US “golden age” of science should put China on alert, Chinese analysts have warned, but they remain sceptical as to whether President Donald Trump’s alliance with Silicon Valley billionaires can pull it off. This comes as Trump, in another arguably unconventional move, handed the country’s highest science and engineering awards to top American tech bosses. Elon Musk, head of electric-vehicle maker Tesla and aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, received the National Medal of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370777/trumps-golden-age-push-hands-top-science-honours-big-tech-will-it-work https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370777/trumps-golden-age-push-hands-top-science-honours-big-tech-will-it-work Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Howard Liu Howard Liu A sharp sell-off in Asian memory chip stocks this week signals growing investor doubts over whether the sector’s AI-driven profit boom can last, even as soaring prices drive strong quarterly earnings across the sector. Shares in market leaders Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plunged in Seoul on Tuesday, extending a days-long slide that has also swept up Chinese rival ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). Samsung and SK Hynix closed down 7.4 per cent and 10.1 per cent, respectively. The companies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3370739/why-samsung-sk-hynix-and-cxmt-shares-are-under-pressure-despite-strong-ai-demand https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3370739/why-samsung-sk-hynix-and-cxmt-shares-are-under-pressure-despite-strong-ai-demand Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:30:05 +0000 William Zheng,Nayan Seth,Khushboo Razdan William Zheng,Nayan Seth,Khushboo Razdan Some senior American executives are lukewarm about attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and related business events in Shenzhen next month, according to people familiar with the matter. They cited limited scheduling details, few expected breakthroughs and a lack of opportunity for meaningful engagement. Beijing has invited multiple US business leaders – particularly those who joined President Donald Trump’s May trip to China and later attended the White House state dinner for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370574/china-keeps-extending-shenzhen-apec-deadline-why-are-us-execs-so-unenthused https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370574/china-keeps-extending-shenzhen-apec-deadline-why-are-us-execs-so-unenthused Tue, 13 Oct 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Elon Musk, the world’s only trillionaire, has quietly become the biggest known donor in this year’s midterm elections, doling out more than US$276 million since July to try to save Republican majorities in Congress. The numbers, first reported by The New York Times ahead of this week’s federal filing deadline, were confirmed by Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for Musk’s super PAC (Political Action Committee). The money includes US$158 million given to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370645/elon-musk-becomes-biggest-known-donor-midterm-elections-bid-save-republicans https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370645/elon-musk-becomes-biggest-known-donor-midterm-elections-bid-save-republicans Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:20:29 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple executive chairman Tim Cook has begun his third visit to China this year, following the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro line-up and the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable device, in one of its biggest markets. Cook met Meng Fanli, governor of the southern province of Guangdong, on Sunday and said Apple was willing to expand its presence, including in smart manufacturing and sales channels. As an important manufacturing powerhouse, Guangdong had been essential to Apple’s growth in China,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3370500/apples-tim-cook-kicks-china-visit-amid-mixed-signals-new-iphone-demand https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3370500/apples-tim-cook-kicks-china-visit-amid-mixed-signals-new-iphone-demand Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Cory Alpert Cory Alpert The world’s wealthiest man has just been appointed to a Pentagon commission that will help decide what the future of warfare looks like. Elon Musk, alongside Anduril Industries co-founder Palmer Luckey and former House speaker Newt Gingrich, is to lead “Project Meridian”. It follows a strategy by this White House that moves government and the tech sector ever closer. Project Meridian goes much further than the influence of defence contractors in Washington. It marks the beginning of Silicon... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369824/war-project-us-tech-ecosystem-beginning-look-lot-chinas https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369824/war-project-us-tech-ecosystem-beginning-look-lot-chinas Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:30:04 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Elon Musk’s accusation that powerful Indian business interests are blocking Starlink’s entry into India has sparked a political row, but analysts say the dispute also highlights security concerns, regulatory hurdles and strategic calculations shaping the satellite service’s expansion across Asia. In a post on social media, Musk said Starlink was licensed in more than 165 countries and had spent five years complying with Indian laws and regulations. “So why still no licence? Is Ambani the real... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370387/elon-musks-starlink-row-india-exposes-asias-deeper-battle-over-satellite-power https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370387/elon-musks-starlink-row-india-exposes-asias-deeper-battle-over-satellite-power Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:12:28 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Elon Musk accused unnamed rivals of blocking SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband network in India, an apparent swipe at billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal. SpaceX has been awaiting approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to offer Starlink service in India, where companies controlled by Ambani’s Reliance Industries and Mittal’s Bharti Airtel have spent years building formidable positions in telecoms. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3370110/elon-musk-hits-out-certain-oligarchs-blocking-starlink-india https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/south-asia/article/3370110/elon-musk-hits-out-certain-oligarchs-blocking-starlink-india Thu, 08 Oct 2026 01:03:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse President Donald Trump will present close ally Elon Musk and other tech bosses with the top US scientific award at a ceremony on Thursday, the White House said. Google co-founder Sergei Brin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD chief Lisa Su will also receive the National Medal of Science at the “Science: A New Golden Age” summit. Computer mogul Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will get the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the top award in its field. “The Trump administration... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370106/trump-give-musk-top-us-science-medal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370106/trump-give-musk-top-us-science-medal Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:29:00 +0000 Chong Ming Lee Chong Ming Lee US President Donald Trump wants to retire one of the technology sector’s most recognisable acronyms, arguing that the term “artificial intelligence”, or AI, is no longer fit for purpose. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order directing US federal agencies to replace “artificial intelligence” and “AI” with “super intelligence” and “SI” in official communications and non-statutory documents. He also instructed the White House science adviser to draft a new federal definition. The move... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3369617/whats-name-why-trump-wants-rebrand-ai-super-intelligence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3369617/whats-name-why-trump-wants-rebrand-ai-super-intelligence Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:00:30 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan As Beijing and Washington take tentative steps to keep a military crisis from erupting, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is reshaping the top ranks of the American military while facing questions about his own future at the Pentagon. Hegseth told junior officers and sergeants on Wednesday that the military had already cut its generals and admirals by 10 per cent and planned to cut another 10 per cent. He called the 20 per cent reduction the bare minimum, dismissing critics who called the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369478/no-beardos-no-weirdos-hegseth-deepens-pentagon-purge-china-channels-reopen https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369478/no-beardos-no-weirdos-hegseth-deepens-pentagon-purge-china-channels-reopen Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:52:15 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Anti-South Asian hate in the United States has spiked since Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office for a second term, with racist, dehumanising and xenophobic slurs and narratives proliferating across both mainstream and fringe social media platforms, a US-based report has revealed. The report, titled “The Rising Tide of Anti-South Asian Hate in the United States”, by the Washington-based Centre for the Study of Organised Hate (CSOH), found that the monthly volume of hate towards South Asians... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369473/anti-south-asian-online-hate-surges-us-under-trump-20-study-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369473/anti-south-asian-online-hate-surges-us-under-trump-20-study-finds Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:28:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tech billionaire Elon Musk will make a return to officially advising US President Donald Trump’s government by co-leading what the Pentagon called a study on the future of war. Musk served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency before departing in May last year, having publicly fallen out with Trump. In a speech at the Quantico military base, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said “Project Meridian” will be “an effort led by America’s best minds to study the future of warfare”. “We are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369460/elon-musk-returns-us-government-pentagon-war-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369460/elon-musk-returns-us-government-pentagon-war-study Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:03:29 +0000 Zoe SL Chan,Enoch Yiu Zoe SL Chan,Enoch Yiu Funds raised through Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPOs) doubled in the first nine months of 2026, reaching the highest level for the period since records began in 1980. A total of 112 companies raised US$48.4 billion on Hong Kong’s main board during the first nine months, according to data released by LSEG Data & Analytics on Wednesday. A further two companies listed on the city’s Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). By deal count, the combined total of 114 new listings on the main board and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369316/hong-kongs-ipo-haul-first-9-months-smashes-record-despite-nasdaqs-fundraising-lead https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369316/hong-kongs-ipo-haul-first-9-months-smashes-record-despite-nasdaqs-fundraising-lead Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:27 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As Chinese carmakers diversify beyond CATL, Beijing warns of market overreaction A publication under China’s industry ministry has pushed back against market chatter of “de-CATLisation” as a growing number of the battery giant’s automotive partners diversify their suppliers, with the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3369306/chinas-2030-solid-state-battery-goal-chinese-carmakers-see-boost-europe-7-ev-reads https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-evs/article/3369306/chinas-2030-solid-state-battery-goal-chinese-carmakers-see-boost-europe-7-ev-reads Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim As American billionaires gathered at the White House to honour Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan last Thursday, a group of Chinese business leaders spent the evening on the sidelines. They had travelled to the US capital to join the state dinner. But their invitations never arrived. For weeks, their participation was the subject of intense discussion between Washington and Beijing. While it was under consideration until the summit’s final hours, they were ultimately excluded... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369238/xi-trump-summit-drew-chinese-ceos-so-why-couldnt-they-get-seat-table https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369238/xi-trump-summit-drew-chinese-ceos-so-why-couldnt-they-get-seat-table Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:00:05 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not want to work with China on addressing artificial intelligence (AI) risks, arguing that cooperation could undermine America’s lead in the fast-moving technology, as he announced a voluntary accord signed by the leaders of six major US tech companies to address growing concerns surrounding the technology. “Whoever wins superintelligence wins. You’re gonna have a winner and a loser, and you’re probably not gonna have a second place,” Trump said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369254/trump-rejects-calls-work-china-ai-safety-despite-xi-summit-progress https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369254/trump-rejects-calls-work-china-ai-safety-despite-xi-summit-progress Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:32:03 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Armageddon is what will happen when billionaires, or even trillionaires, are given free rein. Could this be the final outcome of late-stage American capitalism and democracy? Imagine a human-extinction event: a rogue artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, a new world war or runaway climate change. You likely already have a fair idea of where the safest places on earth and beyond are, if you have been following the ultra-wealthy individuals from Silicon Valley and Wall Street. They are building... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369007/its-end-world-and-i-dont-feel-fine https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3369007/its-end-world-and-i-dont-feel-fine Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Pope Leo on Monday ⁠said concerns that artificial intelligence ⁠could destroy the world are not “fake news” and should be taken seriously, in an apparent rebuke of US President Donald Trump. The first US pope, who has warned of the dangers of AI throughout his 16-month papacy, also directly criticised technology CEOs ‌who argued there should be no guardrails on the technology. “I do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI, should be taken seriously,” the pontiff... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369117/pope-leo-says-concerns-about-ai-doom-scenarios-are-not-fake-news https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369117/pope-leo-says-concerns-about-ai-doom-scenarios-are-not-fake-news Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:45:41 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press SpaceX launched its enormous Starship into orbit for the first time on Monday and successfully delivered the most advanced Starlink satellites yet, but cut the flight short to ensure safety. The spacecraft re-entered over the Pacific and splashed down north of Hawaii three hours after blasting off from Texas. The company had been aiming for a 10-hour flight, spanning six full laps around Earth, to prove its readiness for Nasa’s Artemis moon programme. Starship tipped over and erupted in flames... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369106/spacexs-starship-rocket-reaches-orbit-first-time https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3369106/spacexs-starship-rocket-reaches-orbit-first-time Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:52:05 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Chinese President Xi Jinping has completed a whirlwind 43-hour trip to the United States, his first state visit to the country in more than a decade, with US President Donald Trump pulling out all the stops to make it a grand affair. The two leaders met several times during the visit, including at a ceremonial airport welcome, the White House reception and bilateral talks on a wide range of topics including trade, tariffs and Taiwan. They also attended a state dinner in Xi’s honour with top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368870/trade-deliverables-taiwan-push-and-strategic-stability-key-xi-trump-takeaways-overall https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368870/trade-deliverables-taiwan-push-and-strategic-stability-key-xi-trump-takeaways-overall Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:47:09 +0000 Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin,Josephine Ma Nayan Seth,Lucy Quaggin,Josephine Ma In a surprise nod to shared history, US President Donald Trump called China a World War II ally as he welcomed Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday ahead of summit talks. But the historical reference was far from one-sided, with both leaders repeatedly referring to the joint fight against Japanese aggression as they sought to emphasise the long history of US-China friendship and the need to seek common ground. “If we focus on our common interests, I’m confident there is much we can... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368844/trump-hails-wwii-ally-china-xi-tells-bonds-forged-blood-and-fire https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368844/trump-hails-wwii-ally-china-xi-tells-bonds-forged-blood-and-fire Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:06:23 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow If the American guests seated at the head table with President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump at Thursday’s White House state dinner were any indication, Washington now views its relationship with Beijing largely through the prism of technology. Analysts said the seating arrangement underscored how tech industry titans driving the global AI infrastructure boom were pushing to draw the two economic superpowers closer together. Sitting alongside Xi, Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan, Trump... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3368774/xi-trump-dinner-puts-us-tech-titans-spotlight-what-does-it-mean-china-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3368774/xi-trump-dinner-puts-us-tech-titans-spotlight-what-does-it-mean-china-ties Fri, 25 Sep 2026 07:00:17 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Before setting off for Washington on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping had some correspondence to attend to. Dozens of students from 10 US universities, including Harvard, had written to Xi about their experiences on an exchange trip to China this year. According to the State Council, Xi responded with a call to the students to advance cooperation between the two countries. The gesture extended a pattern. For decades, Beijing has often turned to unofficial channels, from prominent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368733/ping-pong-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-diplomatic-messaging https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368733/ping-pong-pickleball-chinas-unofficial-approach-diplomatic-messaging Fri, 25 Sep 2026 01:30:39 +0000 Dewey Sim,Ji Siqi,Holly Chik Dewey Sim,Ji Siqi,Holly Chik Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump addressed top American business executives and officials in the White House’s East Room on Thursday evening, ahead of a state dinner. The dinner capped a tightly scheduled day for the two leaders, who delivered speeches in the morning hailing close ties and urging deeper cooperation. During the day, Xi and Trump held their second face-to-face meeting this year – which Trump called a “great meeting” – touching on issues including Taiwan, the Middle East... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368731/how-was-dinner-takeaways-xi-and-trumps-evening-white-house https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368731/how-was-dinner-takeaways-xi-and-trumps-evening-white-house Fri, 25 Sep 2026 01:13:56 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Nayan Seth Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng,Nayan Seth A small group of Chinese CEOs holding US visas has arrived in Washington after travelling separately from President Xi Jinping’s official entourage, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. But with the clock ticking and the business optics of the Chinese leader’s White House visit hanging on the final twists of diplomatic negotiations, the executives are still waiting to find out whether they will secure a seat at Thursday’s state dinner for Xi. “Beijing’s security protocol is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368683/chinese-ceos-fly-us-own-await-invites-trumps-state-dinner-xi-jinping https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368683/chinese-ceos-fly-us-own-await-invites-trumps-state-dinner-xi-jinping Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:41:59 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin American tenor Christopher Macchio will perform at the White House banquet for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first state visit to the United States in more than a decade. “An honour to return to Washington DC to perform for the State Dinner with Donald Trump (originally @realDonaldTrump) and President Xi,” Macchio said on social media, tagging the official accounts of Trump, the White House, and the Trump campaign. Often referred to as “America’s Tenor”, Macchio is a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368682/us-tenor-christopher-macchio-booked-xi-trump-state-dinner-performance https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368682/us-tenor-christopher-macchio-booked-xi-trump-state-dinner-performance Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:18:20 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China and the US held their first dialogue on artificial intelligence, with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leading the talks for their respective sides, China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. He Yadong, a spokesman for the commerce ministry, confirmed the completion of the AI dialogue while briefing reporters on the eighth round of US-China trade talks held in New York on Sunday. The dialogue comes as AI technology emerges as a high-stakes... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3368653/china-us-hold-first-ai-dialogue-amid-mounting-tech-tensions-commerce-ministry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/policy/article/3368653/china-us-hold-first-ai-dialogue-amid-mounting-tech-tensions-commerce-ministry Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:20:27 +0000 Chong Ming Lee,Vincent Chow Chong Ming Lee,Vincent Chow When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the sixth part of a series, Chong Ming Lee and Vincent Chow examine what’s behind the call for “pacing” by American AI giants – effectively a slowdown in development – and how the phenomenon is being viewed in China. After years of rapid development, leading US AI executives are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3368503/pacing-problem-can-ai-fears-overcome-us-china-race-dynamics-and-force-slowdown https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-war/article/3368503/pacing-problem-can-ai-fears-overcome-us-china-race-dynamics-and-force-slowdown Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao US President Donald Trump has sold shares worth tens of millions of US dollars in major tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon and Meta Platforms in July, a move that may reveal some of his views on the sector, especially as competition with China intensifies. Microsoft topped the list of sales transactions, with six trades totalling up to US$31 million, according to filings disclosed by the US Office of Government Ethics on Tuesday. The data detailed Trump’s trading activity in July,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3368525/trump-offloads-tens-millions-ai-tech-shares-led-microsoft-amazon-meta https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3368525/trump-offloads-tens-millions-ai-tech-shares-led-microsoft-amazon-meta Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Tesla CEO Elon Musk described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a great leader” and “very capable” during an interview with China’s state broadcaster on Wednesday, just hours before Xi left China for a summit with US President Donald Trump. “He seems like a great leader. Under his tenure, China has prospered immensely. I’ve seen it first hand,” Musk said in one of a series of videos posted on CCTV’s social media account. “And it’s also obvious to see just walking around the streets, the …... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368524/elon-musk-hails-xi-jinpings-leadership-and-chinese-ai-capabilities-state-media https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3368524/elon-musk-hails-xi-jinpings-leadership-and-chinese-ai-capabilities-state-media Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:04:41 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As President Xi Jinping prepares to travel to the United States to meet his American counterpart Donald Trump, attention is turning to the group of business leaders who could join him. The South China Morning Post previously reported that executives from electric vehicle maker BYD, smart manufacturing giant Xiaomi and battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited were likely to accompany Xi on the trip – though Beijing has yet to officially confirm the delegation. What has raised... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368409/why-chinas-frontier-ai-pioneers-are-expected-miss-weeks-xi-trump-summit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368409/why-chinas-frontier-ai-pioneers-are-expected-miss-weeks-xi-trump-summit Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:00:05 +0000