technology sector

Russia has started rationing fuel after a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike damaged refinery and energy infrastructure, according to the headline being widely shared. Reports say Ukrainian long-range drone technology has outpaced Russian air defences, hitting targets deep inside Russian territory and disrupting fuel supplies. The move highlights growing pressure on Russia's energy sector as the war continues.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, citing alleged violations of Palestinian human rights. The updated list identifies businesses across sectors including construction, finance and technology. The move is expected to draw criticism from Israel and the United States, which have previously condemned the database, while human rights groups have welcomed it as a step toward corporate accountability.

Companies are increasingly adopting open-weight AI models as a way to manage the heavy costs of proprietary technology. With licensing fees and computing expenses climbing, open-weight alternatives offer firms more control and lower spending. The trend suggests a shift in how businesses balance cutting-edge AI capabilities against budget pressures, drawing attention across the tech and finance sectors.

Geely has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in the battery-swapping business of rival Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio. The move would link two competing automakers in the infrastructure segment that Nio has built out as a differentiator for its cars, allowing drivers to exchange depleted batteries for charged ones in minutes. The reported deal highlights growing consolidation and cooperation in China's crowded electric vehicle market.

Reports suggest China could permit Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase Nvidia chips, easing earlier restrictions on access to US-made semiconductors. A green light would be significant for China's cloud computing and artificial intelligence sectors, where demand for Nvidia's hardware remains high, and would mark a notable shift in the technology trade standoff between Washington and Beijing.

Major technology companies are using guarantee structures to keep roughly $300 billion in AI-related financial commitments off their balance sheets, according to a Financial Times report. The arrangements, often backing data centre and infrastructure deals, raise questions about how much risk the sector is actually carrying as AI spending accelerates.

Chinese car companies are pushing ahead in electric vehicle technology with ultrafast charging that can refill a battery in about five minutes. Reports carried in US regional newspapers highlight the advance, which would put Chinese manufacturers well ahead of Western rivals on charging speed and reinforce concerns about China's growing lead in the EV sector.

Former Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Fedorov has announced a new initiative called the Army of Robots, aimed at developing robotic systems, according to Ukrainian media. The project signals continued efforts to expand unmanned and automated technology in Ukraine's defence sector. Details about funding, timelines and the specific systems involved have not yet been disclosed.

A former United Nations cyber negotiator has warned that Australia's government and critical infrastructure still run on outdated legacy computer systems that AI-powered agents could easily exploit. The warning highlights growing concern that artificial intelligence tools are advancing faster than the security of ageing public-sector technology, leaving national systems exposed to new forms of automated cyber attack.

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced it will support startups working on unmanned aerial vehicle development, according to the Japan Times. The move aligns with Tokyo's broader push to strengthen its defense industrial base and tap private-sector innovation for military technology. Details on funding amounts and selected companies have not yet been reported.

New data from South Korea shows that nearly four out of ten reported leaks of industrial technology involve semiconductor-related know-how. The figures underline growing concern in Seoul over the theft of critical chip technology, a sector central to the country's economy and to intensifying global competition over semiconductor supply chains.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged increased investment in artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. She positioned the sectors as key to India's economic and technological ambitions, aligning with the government's push to attract chip fabrication projects and build AI capacity. The remarks come as countries compete for investment in these strategic industries.

OpenAI has asked a judge to exclude newly submitted evidence from Apple in an ongoing trade secrets dispute between the two companies. The legal fight centers on claims involving confidential information, and OpenAI argues the fresh Apple material should not be considered. The case continues to draw attention as it involves two of the most prominent companies in the technology sector.

Japan's Defense Ministry announced it will support startups involved in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones. The initiative aims to bring private-sector innovation into the country's defense technology base, as Tokyo moves to strengthen its domestic defense industry and catch up in areas where established contractors have lagged behind global peers.

Chinese companies are bringing exoskeleton robots beyond industrial and medical settings and into the consumer mainstream. The wearable robotic devices, which assist with walking, lifting and mobility, are being marketed to ordinary users rather than factories or hospitals, a shift that signals China's ambitions to lead in consumer-facing robotics as global interest in the technology grows.

China now accounts for roughly 60% of patents related to humanoid robots, underlining its growing dominance in the sector. The figure highlights the country's aggressive investment in robotics innovation and intellectual property, raising concerns among competitors in the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea about falling behind in a technology seen as key to future manufacturing and automation.

Startups are increasingly supplying new technology and fresh thinking to the defense industrial base, a sector long dominated by large legacy contractors. The report highlights how smaller, faster-moving companies are helping modernize defense manufacturing and capabilities. Defense innovation has drawn growing attention as governments look to speed up procurement and adopt commercial technology.

Bloomberg Intelligence analysts argue Chinese technology stocks are trading well below global peers and need a fresh catalyst around artificial intelligence to narrow the valuation gap. Renewed optimism about China's AI capabilities and its tech sector's prospects has drawn investor attention to whether the market can re-rate.

Walmart is investing in employee training programmes while introducing artificial intelligence-powered shopping tools for customers. The retailer is pairing workforce upskilling with new AI features aimed at personalising and streamlining the shopping experience, positioning itself as a technology-forward company in the competitive retail sector.

Politico examines whether the fast-moving, test-heavy development approach that made SpaceX successful could be applied to the nuclear power industry. The question taps into ongoing debate about how to accelerate new reactor technologies and cut costs in a sector long criticised for slow timelines and regulatory bottlenecks, as governments push to expand nuclear capacity for energy security and climate goals.