分类： technology

In a landmark achievement for unmanned aerial logistics, China’s indigenously developed FP-985 ‘Taurus’ large fixed-wing drone has successfully completed the nation’s first high-altitude plateau logistics validation flight. The pioneering mission covered over 1,100 kilometers between Nyingchi in the Xizang Autonomous Region and Beichuan County in Sichuan Province on January 13, 2026.

Engineered by Aerospace Times Feipeng Co., Ltd., the Taurus represents a technological leap in extreme-environment cargo transport capabilities. The aircraft boasts impressive specifications: a maximum takeoff weight of 5.7 tonnes, payload capacity exceeding 2 tonnes, and a ferry range surpassing 2,000 kilometers. Its specialized design enables operations in challenging environments ranging from high-altitude plateaus to island salt-fog conditions.

The drone’s successful maiden flight carried symbolic regional products including traditional butter tea and yak dairy products, demonstrating practical logistics applications. Chief designer Wei Yachuan revealed key technological innovations: ‘We modified the piston engine to maintain operational efficiency at 4,000 meters above sea level equivalent to平原 performance.’ This engineering breakthrough allows all-weather continuous operations with advanced anti-icing/de-icing systems, lightning protection, and high wind resistance.

This achievement transforms the economic connectivity between the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Sichuan Basin. The new aerial route dramatically reduces transport time from over 40 hours by land to under 6 hours by air. The corridor establishes a vital economic bridge that will facilitate two-way commerce: enabling swift distribution of plateau specialties like Xizang yak meat and herbal medicines to national markets, while efficiently delivering industrial products and essential supplies to remote high-altitude regions.

Beichuan County, designated as a provincial pilot zone for low-altitude economy, has developed a comprehensive industrial ecosystem covering R&D, manufacturing, operations, and training. County Party Chief Li Haotian anticipates the regular operation will attract numerous logistics and e-commerce enterprises to the region.

The breakthrough promises significant socioeconomic impact by enhancing commercialization of specialty agricultural products, directly supporting income growth and industrial upgrading in ethnic regions. This successful flight paves the way for expanded ‘aerial bridges’ across western China’s challenging terrain, injecting robust low-altitude momentum into regional development initiatives and China’s broader common prosperity goals.

A provocative digital innovation has emerged from China’s tech landscape, capturing the attention of solitary urban dwellers worldwide. The application, bluntly titled ‘Are You Dead?’, represents a stark technological response to modern isolation, enabling users to transmit instantaneous proof of life to designated contacts through a single interface interaction.

Developed by three twenty-something entrepreneurs, the platform operates on a minimalist premise: users activate an oversized green circle on their smartphone displays, automatically notifying selected individuals of their wellbeing. This digital lifeline comes at a nominal cost of 8 yuan (approximately $1.10), offering peace of mind through technological simplicity.

The application’s meteoric rise saw it become the most downloaded paid application on China’s Apple App Store recently, with significant adoption rates emerging across diverse international markets including Singapore, Netherlands, Britain, India, and the United States. This global resonance underscores the universal nature of contemporary solitude concerns that transcend cultural boundaries.

Co-developer Ian Lü, 29, drew inspiration from his five-year experience living alone in Shenzhen. ‘Every country has young people who move to big cities to chase their dreams,’ Lü remarked, highlighting the particular appeal for introverted individuals who find daily check-in messages impractical yet desire connection.

Demographic shifts in China have created fertile ground for such innovations. Recent statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal over 100 million single-person households nationwide, reflecting dramatic social transformation driven by urbanization and economic migration that has dispersed traditional multi-generational living arrangements.

User testimonials reveal complex relationships with the application. Kunming resident Chen Xingyu, 32, expressed both curiosity and data security concerns, particularly regarding female users’ vulnerability. Shanghai designer Yuan Sangsang, 38, articulated more existential motivations: ‘I just don’t want to die with no dignity, like the body gets rotten and smelly before it is found.’

Despite its morbid nomenclature—a deliberate challenge to cultural taboos surrounding mortality discourse—the application has sparked meaningful dialogue about contemporary existence. Chinese media commentary interprets its popularity as ‘a darkly humorous social metaphor’ that addresses young people’s need for recognition and understanding beyond mere functionality.

In a surprising development, the developers recently announced plans to rebrand the application following public feedback, initially selecting the ambiguous ‘Demumu’ before launching a public naming competition with a 666 yuan prize. This evolution demonstrates the creators’ responsiveness to cultural sensitivities while maintaining their mission to serve globally dispersed solitary individuals.

At the Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City in Sanya, Hainan province, agricultural innovation is undergoing a radical transformation. The Future Agriculture Nexus (Fan) project, a collaborative endeavor between Yazhou Bay National Laboratory and Huawei Technologies Co., is leveraging artificial intelligence to redefine traditional crop breeding methodologies.

This groundbreaking initiative represents a paradigm shift from conventional breeding practices that typically required approximately ten years of development. Through advanced computer algorithms and data analytics, the project aims to condense this timeline to just three to four years while simultaneously enhancing crop resilience and yield potential.

The strategic importance of this technological advancement aligns with China’s national food security objectives, where agricultural self-sufficiency has become increasingly crucial. During his 2022 inspection of the Yazhou Bay facility, President Xi Jinping emphasized the critical need for technological independence in the seed sector, comparing seeds to the ‘chips’ of global agriculture.

Yuan Xiaohui, a senior scientist at the laboratory, highlighted the project’s mission to develop strategic crop varieties that address practical agricultural demands. However, the implementation faces significant challenges, particularly regarding data integration. ‘While AI demonstrates tremendous potential for agricultural science,’ Yuan noted, ‘data accessibility remains the primary constraint limiting its practical application.’

Chen Fan, deputy director of the laboratory, explained the fundamental transition occurring within the field: ‘Traditional breeding has historically depended on experiential knowledge. The shift toward precision agriculture necessitates comprehensive analysis of correlations between extensive datasets concerning crop characteristics and genetic information.’

The project represents a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive system capable of aggregating global field and laboratory data while providing sophisticated analytical capabilities. This development comes at a critical juncture for global food security, particularly as climate variability presents increasing challenges to agricultural production worldwide.

The Chinese-developed personal safety application that garnered international attention for its provocative name “Are You Dead?” has officially announced a comprehensive rebranding strategy. The app, which surged to the top of China’s paid App Store rankings following extensive media coverage, will now operate globally under the name “Demumu.”

Originally launched as “Sileme” (a Mandarin phrase translating to “are you dead?”), the application serves as a digital safety net for individuals living alone. Users register emergency contacts who receive automated alerts if the user fails to check in within a 48-hour period, potentially indicating an emergency situation.

The developer stated Tuesday evening that after considerable deliberation, the application would adopt its existing international brand name “Demumu” across all markets in upcoming releases. Company representatives attributed their explosive overseas growth to coverage by international media outlets including the BBC and Agence France-Presse.

While the application’s functionality remains unchanged, the name alteration has sparked mixed reactions among users. Some Chinese social media commentators expressed skepticism about the rebranding, with one Weibo user noting: “Don’t you think your virality is precisely due to your name? Without it, no one would have installed this app, except in cases of absolute emergency.” Another added: “With this new name, it loses its flavour.”

The original name constituted a linguistic play on “Eleme,” a popular food delivery platform in China. The app’s emergence coincides with significant demographic shifts, as official data reveals solo dwellers now constitute approximately one-fifth of Chinese households—a notable increase from 15% just a decade earlier in 2024.

The company affirmed its commitment to its founding mission: “Demumu will remain steadfast in its founding mission of safeguarding safety, bringing China-originated protection solutions to the world and serving more solitary individuals globally.”

The Trump administration has authorized Nvidia to export its H200 artificial intelligence chips to Chinese buyers under newly established security protocols, marking a significant shift in semiconductor trade policy. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security unveiled regulations that effectively lower export barriers while implementing specific safeguards.

Under the revised framework, Nvidia must guarantee adequate domestic supply within the United States prior to any international shipments. Additionally, all H200 chips destined for Chinese markets will require comprehensive third-party verification. The policy explicitly prohibits military applications and caps China’s import volume at 50% of chips sold to American customers.

Nvidia expressed approval of the decision, stating: “We applaud President Trump’s decision to allow America’s chip industry to compete to support high-paying jobs and manufacturing in America. Offering H200 to approved commercial customers, vetted by the Department of Commerce, strikes a thoughtful balance that is great for America.”

The approval excludes Nvidia’s most advanced Blackwell and upcoming Rubin architectures, which remain under export restrictions. This development follows August negotiations where Nvidia and AMD agreed to allocate 15% of their Chinese semiconductor revenues to the U.S. government as part of their export licensing arrangement.

Democratic legislators have raised national security concerns, arguing that these exports could potentially enhance China’s military capabilities, cyber warfare effectiveness, and manufacturing sector. The decision reflects Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s growing influence within administration circles, though experts caution about potential technology transfer risks that could advance China’s AI development programs.

China has successfully deployed a new cluster of internet satellites using its Long March 8A carrier rocket, marking another significant step in the nation’s ambitious space infrastructure development. The launch occurred on January 13, 2026, at 23:25 Beijing Time from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province.

The mission successfully placed the 18th group of low-orbit internet satellites into their predetermined orbits, expanding China’s growing satellite network designed to provide global internet coverage. This launch represents the continuing advancement of China’s commercial space capabilities and its strategic positioning in the global space technology sector.

The Long March 8A rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, represents China’s newer generation of launch vehicles designed for medium-lift capabilities with cost-effective operational parameters. The successful deployment demonstrates China’s growing proficiency in frequent, reliable satellite launches necessary for maintaining and expanding constellation networks.

This launch forms part of China’s broader strategy to establish a comprehensive space-based internet infrastructure, potentially offering worldwide connectivity services while enhancing the country’s technological competitiveness in the global space economy. The expansion of satellite internet constellations has significant implications for global communications, rural connectivity, and emergency response capabilities worldwide.

In a strategic expansion of its Middle Eastern operations, Zoho Corporation has officially inaugurated its first United Arab Emirates data centers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This infrastructure deployment represents a significant portion of the company’s previously announced Dh100 million ($27 million) investment commitment to the UAE market made in 2023.

The twin facilities will host over 100 cloud-based solutions from both Zoho’s core business platform and its enterprise IT management division, ManageEngine. The launch strengthens Zoho’s physical presence in what company leadership identifies as one of their largest regional markets.

Shailesh Davey, Co-founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, emphasized the strategic importance of this development: ‘Our new data centers enable local businesses to maintain data sovereignty while supporting the National Cybersecurity Agenda. This infrastructure will empower organizations of all scales—from small enterprises to government entities—to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives, directly contributing to Dubai’s Vision 2030 economic diversification goals.’

The facilities have obtained critical security certifications, including the CSP Security Standard Certificate from Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC). This accreditation qualifies Zoho to provide services to government and semi-government entities. The centers maintain compliance with multiple international standards: ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 27017, and CSA STAR Level 2 certification.

Zoho’s growth metrics in the UAE demonstrate remarkable momentum, with a 38.7% revenue increase in 2025 and a 29% expansion of its partner network. The company has simultaneously increased its local workforce by 35% to support growing client demands. Key drivers of this growth include Zoho’s Customer Experience platform (featuring CRM and Desk solutions), VAT-compliant accounting software Zoho Books, low-code development platform Creator, and the comprehensive Zoho One suite.

Concurrently, ManageEngine has achieved 20% growth in the UAE enterprise sector, with particular strength in unified endpoint management and cloud observability solutions. The banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI), government, and manufacturing sectors have demonstrated especially strong adoption rates, with cloud solutions growing at approximately 35% annually.

Hyther Nizam, President of Zoho MEA, confirmed upcoming workforce expansion: ‘Following our 30% staff increase last year, we will now ramp up our data center operations team, including Network Operations Center personnel, to meet both operational needs and compliance requirements.’

Over the past five years, Zoho has invested Dh80 million in digital transformation partnerships with entities including Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Culture, supporting over 7,000 businesses in their technological evolution.