At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers highlighted their rapid rise to global dominance. Companies like BYD, XPeng, and Geely showcased cutting-edge technologies including ultra-fast charging and autonomous systems. Backed by strong government support and innovation, EV and hybrid sales now make up over 50% of new car purchases in China. Despite growing global scrutiny—especially after incidents like Xiaomi's SU7 crash—and increasing tariffs from the U.S. and EU, Chinese automakers continue expanding overseas. Foreign giants like Volkswagen and Toyota are now localizing strategies to compete in China's booming EV market. (PC: Reuters)

At the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, declared that India is not just following but leading the technological revolution in the media and entertainment sectors. Ambani pointed to the country's unique blend of rich storytelling traditions and innovative technologies like AI and immersive media. He highlighted India's growing position as a global content creation hub. The sector is currently valued at $28 billion and is expected to surpass $100 billion in the next decade, fueling entrepreneurship and job creation. (PC: ANI)  

China has launched the world's first 10G public broadband network, achieving a data transmission rate of 1.2 terabits per second (1,200 gigabits per second). This milestone was accomplished through a collaboration between Tsinghua University, China Mobile, Huawei Technologies, and Cernet Corporation. The network connects Beijing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou via over 3,000 kilometers of optical fiber cabling. Capable of transferring the equivalent of 150 high-definition films in one second, the network surpasses most existing major internet routes by more than tenfold. This development positions China at the forefront of next-generation internet infrastructure, two years ahead of industry forecasts. (PC: TechGig)

Huawei Technologies is preparing to commence mass shipments of its advanced 910C AI chip to Chinese customers as early as next month. This development comes as Chinese AI firms seek alternatives to Nvidia's H20 chip, now restricted by U.S. export licensing requirements. The 910C chip, an evolution of Huawei's 910B, combines two 910B processors, effectively doubling computing power and memory capacity, and enhancing support for diverse AI workloads. Several Chinese tech firms have already sampled and pre-ordered the chip. Some components are manufactured by China's SMIC using 7nm process technology, albeit with low yield rates. The U.S. has imposed these restrictions to limit China's access to advanced semiconductors, aiming to curb its military technological advancements. This scenario presents an opportunity for Huawei and domestic GPU startups like Moore Threads and Iluvatar CoreX to fill the gap left by restricted Nvidia chip sales. (PC: Reuters)

On April 19, 2025, Beijing’s Yizhuang district became the venue for a groundbreaking event: the world’s first half-marathon race between humanoid robots and human runners. A total of 21 robots, developed by top Chinese tech companies, raced alongside approximately 12,000 participants in the 21-kilometer race. These robots, designed to replicate human movement without the use of wheels, were challenged to complete the course. The standout performer, Tiangong Ultra, completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, showcasing China’s advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and their integration into real-world applications. (PC: Mathurbhumi English)

On April 12, 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Thirteen of these satellites feature advanced Direct-to-Cell technology, enabling direct communication between satellites and mobile phones, aimed at removing cellular dead zones globally. The Falcon 9’s reusable first-stage booster completed its 10th mission and safely landed on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean. This marks another milestone in SpaceX's plan to provide global high-speed internet, with over 7,000 satellites now part of the Starlink constellation. (PC: Republic World)  

On April 12, 2025, WhatsApp experienced a significant outage, leaving numerous users unable to upload status updates or send messages. The disruption began around 7:00 PM IST, with users across India reporting issues on social media platforms. Downdetector, a website that tracks service outages, showed a sharp increase in problem reports during this period. Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, acknowledged the issue and confirmed that they were working to resolve it promptly. By approximately 8:30 PM IST, services began to restore gradually, with many users regaining full functionality. The company has since issued an apology for the inconvenience caused and assured users of measures to prevent future disruptions. (PC: Freepik)

Meta has introduced Llama 4, its latest open-source AI model, to boost its role in artificial intelligence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "Our goal is to build the world's leading AI and make it accessible to all." The first models, Llama 4 Scout and Llama 4 Maverick, are available for download. A powerful version, Llama 4 Behemoth, is in development. Meta says its AI outperforms competitors like OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini 2.0. The company has invested billions in AI research and expects Llama 4 to play a key role in the future of AI technology. (PC: AFP)

On April 4, 2025, ISRO’s POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) from the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission made a successful controlled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and fell into the Indian Ocean at 8:03 IST. Launched on December 30, 2024, POEM-4 carried 24 payloads—14 from ISRO and 10 from private and academic entities. Its mission showcased India's progress in space docking and reusability experiments. The planned re-entry supports ISRO’s Debris-Free Space Mission, reflecting India's proactive approach to space debris mitigation and sustainable space exploration practices. ISRO confirmed the atmospheric re-entry without leaving behind any orbital debris. (PC: Times of India)  

UPI services went down again on Wednesday, causing problems for many users. This was the second outage in a week. People reported issues while transferring money on major payment apps. According to DownDetector, 449 complaints were registered by 8 PM. Users took to social media to express frustration. "Why is UPI failing so often?" one person posted. Last week, on March 26, a similar outage disrupted transactions. NPCI, which manages UPI, said the issue was fixed. UPI is a key part of India's digital payment system, handling billions of transactions every month. (PC: Hindustan Times)