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Topic: China

China's Xuntian space telescope launch delay shifts global cosmology dynamics. (Representative image) (AP) Space 

Rev Up the Space Race: China Delays Launch of Xuntian Telescope

Nitin Misra, ,

China has made an unexpected decision to postpone the launch of its eagerly awaited Xuntian Space Telescope, altering the global race to uncover the enigmas of the universe. Initially planned for takeoff from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China before the year’s end, Xuntian’s launch has been rescheduled for mid-2025. This delay now places it in direct rivalry with the European Space Agency’s Euclid and NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Zhan Hu, a project scientist for the Xuntian Space Telescope System, revealed that the delay was necessary…

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Musk, the CEO of Tesla, attended a banquet on the evening of Nov. 15 to welcome Xi. (via REUTERS) News 

Tesla and China: A Bond That’s Growing Stronger Thanks to Elon Musk and Xi Jinping!

Adriana Marais, ,

President Xi Jinping of China showed his support for Tesla Inc., the electric carmaker owned by Elon Musk, during a recent event. In response, Musk expressed his gratitude for the warm reception from China, highlighting the close relationship between the two entities. According to a Weibo post from Tesla’s official China account, Tesla CEO Musk attended the party on the evening of November 15 to welcome Xi, who is in San Francisco to meet and talk with US President Joe Biden as part of it. week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’…

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Know what’s happening in the AI universe today, October 9. (Pexels) AI 

Google Cloud Unveils Vertex AI Search, UK Hosts AI Hackathon, and Other AI News You May Have Missed

Adriana Marais,

Google Cloud has unveiled Vertex AI Search, granting healthcare professionals early access. Additionally, the UK has revealed plans for an AI hackathon focused on exploring the applications of AI in education tasks, scheduled for the end of this month. Furthermore, China has set a target to boost computing power by almost 50 percent by 2025. All this and more in today’s AI review. 1. Google Cloud introduces Vertex AI Search for healthcare professionals Expanding on its already vast portfolio of AI services and products, Google Cloud announced in a blog…

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Despite the tacit consensus on the future of drivetrains, obstacles remain for electric cars to meet their emissions-reduction potential. (Bloomberg) Gadgets 

Electric Cars Powered by Batteries Are the Future

Nitin Misra, , , , , , , , , ,

The increase in electric vehicles is truly remarkable. Over the past decade, Teslas have gone from cars for the uber-rich to cars for Uber drivers. All the major automakers have invested in electric cars, lowering prices and expanding the options available. According to BloombergNEF, more than 14 million electric cars will be sold globally this year, up from just 700,000 in 2016. And some 23 countries have now passed the crucial electric car tipping point – 5% of new car sales – after which adoption will begin. up dramatically. In…

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China's self-built space station, also known as Tiangong, or Celestial Palace in Chinese, has been fully operational since late 2022, hosting a maximum of three astronauts at an orbital altitude of up to 450 km. (Reuters) Space 

China Plans to Expand Space Station, Offering Alternative to NASA’s ISS

Jim Hendler

China intends to increase the number of modules in its space station from three to six in the upcoming years. This expansion aims to provide astronauts from various countries with an alternative platform for near-Earth missions, as the International Space Station (ISS) led by NASA approaches the end of its operational period. China’s space station will have a lifespan of more than 15 years, the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a unit of China’s main space contractor, said at the 74th International Space Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday.…

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Chinese national flags are seen in front of the financial district Central on the Chinese National Day in Hong Kong, China October 1, 2023. (REUTERS) News 

China Proposes Joint Lunar Exploration as Time Runs Out

Adriana Marais,

China, with aspirations to become a prominent space force by 2030, has initiated collaboration with international partners for a crucial lunar mission. This move comes as the deadline approaches for establishing a lasting habitat on the moon’s south pole. China welcomes countries and international organizations to join its Chang’e-8 unmanned mission and jointly implement “mission-level” projects, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said at the 74th International Space Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday. The mission-level projects mean China and its international partners could launch and operate their spacecraft, conduct…

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A Nio Phone is displayed next to a Nio ES8 SUV during the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker's tech day in Shanghai, China September 21, 2023. (REUTERS) News 

Nio Launches Mobile Device for Chinese EV Drivers

Adarsh V.K

Nio Inc., an emerging player in the electric vehicle sector, has taken a different approach by launching its inaugural mobile phone, despite the longstanding desire of Chinese tech firms to enter the EV industry. The unprofitable automaker is targeting its loyal customer base with a phone that syncs with Nio cars as a key fob, displays information such as battery charge and controls such as self-parking and the cockpit infotainment system. The Android-based handset will be priced from 6,499 yuan ($890) – the same as Huawei Technologies Co’s latest flagship,…

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Know what’s happening in the AI universe today, September 15. (Pixabay) AI 

Tencent Receives Approval for AI Model, Plus Other AI Developments You May Have Missed

Febin Mathew,

Tencent has received regulatory clearance to introduce its AI model, Hunyuan, in China. This advanced technology is already utilized in more than 50 of Tencent’s offerings. Researchers from Finland and Norway have discovered that AI chatbots such as ChatGPT-3 and ChatGPT-4 exhibit greater creativity in generating unique concepts for ordinary objects compared to the average human. Additionally, MIT experts have developed Style2Fab, an innovative generative AI tool that enables users to personalize 3D-printable designs using natural language instructions while maintaining functionality. All this and more in today’s AI review. 1.…

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China expands the government ban on iPhones as retaliation, US says (AFP) News 

US Accuses China of Retaliation Through Apple iPhone Ban

Adriana Marais, ,

In its first response to the backlash against Apple Inc., the White House has stated that it perceives China’s actions of implementing and extending a government prohibition on iPhones as a retaliatory measure against the United States. “We’re watching this with concern, obviously. It appears to be part of — the kind of aggressive and inappropriate retaliation against U.S. companies that we’ve seen from China in the past. That’s what this appears to be,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday, referring to the People’s Republic of China.…

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Chinese music producer Zhang Yadong (L) attends an event celebrating Apple's 30th anniversary in China at an Apple retail store in Beijing on August 18, 2023. (AFP) News 

Apple’s iPhone 15 Release Overshadowed by Issues in China

Adriana Marais,

The world’s most valuable listed company, Apple, is anticipated to introduce its new iPhone 15 lineup on Tuesday amidst concerns regarding market access in China and competition. The iPhone accounted for more than half of Apple’s $394.3 billion in sales last year, but it faces new challenges for sales in China, the Cupertino, California-based company’s third-largest market. Apple’s latest phones are expected to feature new charging ports, titanium cases and cameras, but their debut at Apple Park headquarters at 10 a.m. PT (1700 GMT) comes as the Chinese government has…

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Morgan Stanley said on Friday Apple could see at most a 4% hit to its revenue this year after China widened existing curbs on the use of iPhones by state employees. News 

Report Suggests Apple’s Future in China Could be Impacted by iPhone Ban

Adriana Marais, ,

Morgan Stanley reported on Friday that US tech giant Apple’s revenue could fall by up to four percent this year after China ordered central government officials not to use Apple iPhones and other foreign-branded devices at work or bring them into the office. Analyst Erik W Woodring said Apple’s stock losses over the past two days were “extraordinary” because he doesn’t think the restrictions will lead to anything wider, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, under the government of Xi Jinping, China has grown more concerned about information security and introduced…

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The use of the WFST will greatly improve China's near-Earth object monitoring and early warning capabilities, says Lou Zheng, chief engineer of the observatory's Qinghai observation station. (REUTERS) Space 

China to Launch Most Powerful Wide-Angle Telescope This Month

Sanjay Patil,

According to official media reports on Tuesday, China is preparing to launch a highly advanced wide-field survey telescope, which is expected to become the most dominant sky survey telescope in the Northern Hemisphere. This telescope will assist scientists in monitoring dynamic astronomical occurrences and conducting research on time domain astronomical observations. The telescope has been jointly developed by the University of Science and Technology of China and the Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The telescope is likely to start operating in mid-September, which will help scientists…

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Know what’s happening in the AI universe today, September 5. (Pixabay) AI 

G20 Summit Sees AI Avatar, China Introduces New AI Models and More: 5 Highlights from Today’s AI News

Febin Mathew, , , ,

World leaders attending the G20 Summit in Delhi will be greeted by an AI avatar, which will offer a summary of the ‘Mother of Democracy’ exhibition. The head of Meta India has disclosed that the social media giant is utilizing AI to combat hate speech and false information. Additionally, China has unveiled two new AI models to the public. All this and more in today’s AI review. 1. AI avatar to greet world leaders at G20 summit The G20 summit in India will begin on September 9 and world leaders…

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It follows continued trade sanctions from the US. News 

China to Invest $40 Billion in Semiconductor Industry

Adarsh V.K, ,

According to Reuters, despite the United States’ ongoing attempts to restrict China’s chip manufacturing, their efforts may not yield significant results. China intends to establish a fund with the aim of strengthening its semiconductor sector. This state-supported initiative, which marks the third fund from the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, seeks to generate 300 billion yuan ($41 billion) in funding. In 2014 and 2019, the previous two funds successfully raised 138.7 billion yuan ($19 billion) and 200 billion yuan ($27 billion) respectively. About 60 billion yuan ($8 billion) is…

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Acharya Vipin Joshi performs special ritual prayers for the the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 ahead of its landing on the moon on August 23, at Vaishno Devi Cave temple Tapkeshwar Temple, in Dehradun on Tuesday. (ANI Pic Service) Space 

ISRO’s Moon Landing Attempt Today Draws Attention

Sanjay Patil

With the Chandrayaan-3 mission, initiated by ISRO on July 14, 2023, drawing nearer to its lunar touchdown, individuals from every part of the nation are anxiously awaiting its outcome. From Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh to Aliganj Hanuman Temple in Lucknow, special rituals, prayers and ceremonies are held to seek blessings for the success of Chandrayaan-3. A special Ganga Aarti was performed with the tricolor in hands at the Parmarth Niketan Chat in Rishikesh Mis before the Chandrayaan-3 mission landed on August 23. Before the Aarti, devotees performed Havan Pujan for…

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A combo photo of the Lunar far side area from the Chandrayaan-3 Mission captured by the Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera on Monday. (ISRO Twitter) Space 

ISRO May Delay Chandrayaan-3 Landing to August 27 – Here’s the Reason

Sanjay Patil, , , , , , ,

The Space Applications Centre-ISRO announced on Monday that if any aspect of the lander module is deemed unfavorable, the landing date for Chandrayaan-3 will be rescheduled to August 27. Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre-ISRO Director Nilesh M Desai said the decision to land will be taken based on the condition of the lander and the conditions on the moon. “On August 23, two hours before Chandrayaan-3 will land on the Moon, we will decide based on the condition of the landing module and the conditions on the Moon, whether it is…

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Intel reportedly didn't get regulatory approval in China on time. News 

Intel Abandons Acquisition of Tower Semiconductor for $5.4 Billion

Nitin Misra,

Intel has announced that it will not proceed with its planned acquisition of Tower Semiconductor for $5.4 billion, citing difficulties in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, particularly in China. Tower Semiconductor is known for producing a range of chips for clients in various industries. Intel had intended to acquire the company in order to enhance its foundry business and better compete with competitors such as TSMC from Taiwan. Tower has seven production facilities (located in Israel, Italy, USA and Japan) that manufacture 6-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch wafers. Although the company…

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The race to the Moon is heating up with countries such as the USA, Russia, China, and India planning uncrewed and crewed missions. (NASA/USGS) News 

Competition to Reach the Moon Heats Up

Febin Mathew, , , , ,

The upcoming launch of Russia’s lunar lander on Friday is part of a global effort, involving major world powers as well as emerging participants, to return to the Moon. Technology, science, and politics are all essential factors in the Race for the Moon. Here’s the latest: – China’s Great Leap Forward – China plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2030 and plans to build a base there. The world’s second largest economy has invested billions of dollars in a military space program in an effort to…

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China will require all mobile app providers in the country to file business details with the government, its information ministry said, marking Beijing's latest effort to keep the industry on a tight leash. News 

China to Implement Stricter Regulations on Businesses Through App-Based System

Jim Hendler

HONG KONG: China will require all of the country’s mobile app providers to submit company information to the government, China’s information ministry said, marking the latest push by Beijing to keep a tight rein on the industry. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced late on Tuesday that apps without proper notifications will be penalized after a grace period that ends in March next year, which experts say would potentially limit the number of apps and hit small developers. hard. You Yunting, a lawyer at Shanghai-based DeBund Law…

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The order targets semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. AI 

Biden Administration Imposes Limits on Investment in Chinese Tech Firms

Jim Hendler, ,

President Joe Biden has issued an executive order imposing restrictions on American investment in specific Chinese tech companies, aiming to tackle national security risks associated with enterprises involved in “sensitive technologies” such as semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. “In these sectors, the development of sensitive technologies and products will accelerate the development of advanced computing capabilities, enabling new applications that pose significant national security risks, such as the development of more sophisticated weapons systems, breaking encryption codes, and other applications that can provide these countries with military advantages,” the…

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