Hong Kong issues pilot licence for autonomous vehicle trial for inter-station passenger connection
HONG KONG, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Transport Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Tuesday that it has issued a pilot licence for an autonomous vehicle trial connecting Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express.The trial will involve four private cars operating in autonomous mode, each monitored by an on-board backup operator to take over control when necessary.A spokesperson for the Transport Department said that the HKSAR government has been actively supporting autonomous vehicle development through policy, regulation, and funding. This project aims to demonstrate the safety, stability and operational feasibility of autonomous vehicle technology in complex traffic conditions.Once the autonomous vehicles commence regular operation, a seamless autonomous link will be formed to enhance the travel experience and attract more travelers to use the XRL and the Hong Kong International Airport, the spokesperson added.
21:25
Chinese AI firms support local large language model development in emerging markets
HEFEI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Inside the smart exhibition hall of Safaricom, Kenya's largest telecommunications operator, a digital human supported by a Chinese tech company delivers live demonstrations of core business services and interprets financial report data for visitors through intelligent interactive functions.Across emerging markets with huge digital-economy potential, Chinese AI companies are partnering with host nations to build home-grown large language models adapted to local languages and industrial demands.Leading global large language models have long prioritized widely spoken languages, leaving minor-language communities underserved. Multiple experts warn that countries with less-used languages run real risks of being sidelined by AI, and this technological gap has become a key focus for Chinese AI firms.Leveraging its expertise in speech intelligence and natural-language processing, Chinese tech company iFLYTEK has ramped up research and development for multilingual technologies. Its speech large language model Spark supports speech recognition and simultaneous interpretation for more than 130 languages.With the ASEAN market in mind, iFLYTEK has forged deep cooperation with south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Drawing on this region's pool of language talent for ASEAN countries, rich language corpora and digital infrastructure, the company has rolled out the Spark ASEAN Multilingual Large Model Base.The base covers 10 languages including Malay, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai. It delivers performance comparable to top international models with smaller parameter sizes, enabling efficient and secure deployment of industry-specific AI applications across ASEAN member states.The company has signed cooperation deals with partners in countries such as Laos, Malaysia and Thailand. In Malaysia, it has jointly set up an AI multilingual intelligent dubbing and translation center with Enjoy TV & Film Broadcasting Corporation. Powered by the model...
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China's Xinjiang upgrades payment services for inbound travelers
More than 180,000 overseas visitors to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region used mobile payment services in the first half of 2026, up 45 percent year on year, local authorities announced Tuesday.
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China approves first domestically developed drug to prevent altitude sickness
China has taken another step forward in high-altitude healthcare with the approval of its first domestically developed drug designed specifically to prevent acute altitude sickness.
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AI meets history | Secrets locked in bronze: the Sword of Goujian
This AI video decodes the secrets of the Sword of Goujian, a national treasure, taking viewers back to a magnificent past more than 2,500 years old. The bronze sword belonged to Goujian, king of the Yue state during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC). It was unearthed in Jingzhou, Hubei Province in 1965 and is now housed at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan. The sword is renowned for its exceptional sharpness and remarkable resistance to corrosion, representing the pinnacle of bronze craftsmanship of that era. (Produced by Cheng Weidan, Zhu Yingqi, Liang Peiyu, Xie Runjia, Di Jingyuan, Chu Chu and Wu Jun. Interns Ding Man and Wang Zhuoqian also contributed to the story.)
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Bozhong 19-6 gas field goes into production in Bohai Sea
Phase I of the Bozhong 19-6, the first gas field in the Bohai Sea with reserves exceeding 200 billion cubic meters, has gone into production, adding to the energy supply of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas.
20:13
China urges secretariat of PIF to abide by one-China principle: spokesperson
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China urges the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to abide by the one-China principle and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said here Tuesday.A correspondent cited an official from the PIF as saying that Taiwan will attend the annual leaders meeting scheduled to be hosted in Palau from August 30 to September 4. The Taiwan region was barred from attending last year's meeting hosted by the Solomon Islands following protests from China.Guo pointed out that on the participation of China's Taiwan region in the events of international organizations, China's position is consistent and clear, that is, it must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, which is a basic norm in international relations confirmed by UNGA Resolution 2758 and a prevailing international consensus.China urges the Secretariat of the PIF to abide by the one-China principle and properly handle Taiwan-related issues to avoid disrupting the sound and steady development of the relations between China and the PIF, Guo said.
19:55
China's mega water project transfers over 90 billion cubic meters of water
The first phase of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project has diverted a cumulative total of more than 90 billion cubic meters of water through its eastern and middle routes as of Monday, marking a new milestone for the world's largest water diversion initiative.
19:55
Chengdu creates ventilation corridors to refresh urban air
In southwest China's Chengdu, a city of 21 million people, authorities have taken an unconventional approach to urban planning. Instead of filling every inch of valuable land with concrete and steel, they've deliberately set aside open spaces to help the city breathe.
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China's NEV penetration hits new high of 65.1 pct in July: survey
China's penetration rate of new energy vehicles (NEVs), a major gauge of popularity, has reached a new high of 65.1 percent of total passenger car retail sales in July, an industry survey showed Tuesday.The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 11.6 percentage points and month-on-month
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China to send new naval escort fleet to Gulf of Aden, Somali waters
China will send a new naval escort fleet to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia in mid-August to carry out an escort mission, the country's Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday.
18:14
China's EREV market splits as budget models falter, premium SUVs thrive
China's extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) market is seeing a shift in 2026. Wholesale passenger car sales fell 13.1% to about 504,000 units in the first half, while June sales dropped 25.2% to 94,000 units, accounting for 6.4% of the market.
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China's AI breakthroughs go beyond model performance: expert
From DeepSeek to Kimi K3, China's AI industry is entering a new phase of rapid development. Wu Chaoze, Member of the Executive Committee at China Securities and Head of the CSC Future Industries Institute, shares key insights into what is driving this momentum — from open-weight models and AI computing to domestic market demand and homegrown innovation.
(Produced by Han Xiaomeng, Zhu Yingqi, interns Liu Xinru, Deng Jinghao and Zhou Huiru)
18:06
China launches Level-IV geological disaster response in Beijing
China's Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday activated a Level-IV emergency response for geological disaster prevention in Beijing, as heavy rainfall is forecast to hit parts of the capital over the next three days.
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