分类： technology

A transformative shift is underway in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, as autonomous vehicles take to the streets, marking a significant leap in China’s smart transportation ambitions. Ding Pingshun, a seasoned bus driver with 22 years of experience, now finds himself in a new role as a safety officer for self-driving buses. ‘It’s quite a change from driving manned buses to monitoring autonomous ones,’ Ding remarked as he observed a self-driving bus navigating Huanghe Avenue in Jinan’s autonomous driving demonstration area. This bus, part of a pilot initiative by Jinan Public Transport Group, has been rigorously tested on a 6.4-kilometer route since June 2025. The route, which includes traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and complex maneuvers like U-turns and lane changes, is monitored by an onboard system that provides real-time alerts based on proximity to nearby objects. Measuring 5.5 meters in length, the bus is equipped with nine seats and relies entirely on Chinese-made components, from its body to its control software. Advanced sensors, including HD cameras, lidar, and radar, enable the vehicle to navigate independently. ‘The bus has performed exceptionally well, making decisions to detour or stop when encountering obstacles,’ Ding noted, emphasizing his role as a monitor rather than an active driver. The test route is open to the public, with eight slots available for weekend reservations, allowing families to experience this futuristic mode of transportation. Beyond road tests, the project integrates smart infrastructure, such as a low-carbon green charging station where the bus autonomously parks at a V2G charger. A robotic arm, developed by State Grid’s Jinan power supply company, inserts the plug in about 40 seconds, showcasing the seamless automation of the system. Wang Shuai, deputy station head, explained, ‘Our self-developed arm uses pure vision recognition to identify vehicles and enable smart charging, significantly boosting efficiency.’ Similar initiatives are spreading across China. In Guangzhou, 19 autonomous minibuses began operating on five routes on November 3, 2025, in preparation for the 15th National Games. In Chengdu, six-meter-long self-driving buses were tested in May, alongside the release of a white paper on integrated vehicle-road-cloud systems. In Wuhan, robotaxis crossed the Yangtze River via bridges last year, launching commercial inter-river services. Experts predict 2025 to be a pivotal year for smart city-vehicle synergy under the ‘vehicle-road-cloud integration’ framework, with a rise in functional autonomous vehicles such as logistics and sanitation trucks, reshaping urban landscapes.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has called on the Commerce Department to investigate and potentially ban the sale of TP-Link Technologies’ networking products by the end of November, citing significant national security risks. In a formal letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the legislators expressed concerns that TP-Link’s routers and internet-connected cameras, produced by a company with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), could be exploited for espionage against US military personnel, critical infrastructure, and households. They emphasized the rapid expansion of TP-Link’s market share in internet-connected security cameras and the potential for CCP-linked entities to misuse these devices for surveillance, blackmail, or extortion. The lawmakers urged the Commerce Department to assess the risks and determine whether existing information and communications-technology security measures are adequate. They also requested recommendations on adding TP-Link to the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List, conducting a broader study on CCP-linked camera manufacturers, and issuing public advisories through the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. This potential ban could mark the largest removal of Chinese telecommunications equipment from the US market since the 2019 crackdown on Huawei. TP-Link has denied the allegations, asserting its commitment to providing secure products and resolving concerns through measures like onshoring development functions and enhancing cybersecurity. The company also highlighted its restructuring efforts, including the establishment of TP-Link Systems in California, which operates independently from its China-based counterpart. The controversy follows a multi-agency investigation into TP-Link’s routers, which dominate 65% of the US home and small-business market, amid evidence of their involvement in cyber campaigns traced to China-backed threat actors.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled a significant upgrade to the Nol Pay app, introducing a suite of new features designed to enhance user convenience and efficiency. The updated app now allows users to renew expiring cards, extend the validity of travel passes, and manage family members’ Nol cards with ease. Proactive notifications remind users to top up low balances, while instant top-ups and real-time balance enquiries ensure seamless transactions. Additionally, users can schedule automatic top-ups for family cards at predefined intervals and purchase travel passes instantly. The app also supports digitized Nol cards on Samsung and Huawei devices, enabling payments across public transport and retail outlets with a simple tap—without opening the app. This upgrade is part of RTA’s broader initiative to integrate Account Based Ticketing (ABT) technology, aligning the app’s interface with the unified digital ecosystem of RTA. By the end of 2024, over 33,000 digital cards had been sold, marking a 460% increase from the previous year, while app downloads surged to 1.5 million, reflecting a 150% year-on-year growth.

Dubai Police has etched its name in the annals of technological innovation by setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest drone ever developed. The unmanned aerial vehicle, crafted at the Dubai Police Unmanned Aerial Systems Center, achieved a staggering top speed of 580 kilometers per hour. This remarkable feat was accomplished in collaboration with South African developers Luke Bell and Mike Bell, who previously held the record with their Peregreen 2 drone, which peaked at 510 km/h in June 2024. The newly unveiled Peregreen 3, a battery-powered remote-controlled quadcopter, now officially holds the title for the ‘fastest ground speed by a battery-powered RC quadcopter.’ The record-breaking flights were conducted at Al Qudra in Dubai, where the drone completed two runs in opposite directions to neutralize any wind advantage. Dubai Police emphasized that this achievement underscores their commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to bolster security, enhance rapid response capabilities, and ensure operational readiness. The milestone aligns with Dubai’s broader vision of fostering innovation and integrating smart systems into public safety frameworks.

Samsung, the South Korean tech giant, is embroiled in a global controversy as users and cybersecurity experts raise alarms over pre-installed bloatware on its devices. The software in question, AppCloud, initially reported in Samsung Galaxy A and M series phones in West Asia and North Africa, has now been found in devices across Europe and South Asia. Users claim the app is unremovable without root access, the highest level of system control, raising significant privacy and ethical concerns.

AppCloud, linked to the Israeli firm ironSource, has been accused of secretly harvesting user data and lacking a transparent privacy policy. IronSource, now owned by American company Unity, has a notorious history of creating invasive programs that bypass user permissions and security checks. Despite being disabled, AppCloud persists on devices, reappears after updates, and can covertly install additional software.

Digital rights organization SMEX has highlighted these issues, noting that Samsung’s terms of service fail to address AppCloud or ironSource explicitly. In May, SMEX sent an open letter to Samsung, but the company has yet to respond. The issue has gained traction online, with users sharing screenshots of AppCloud’s extensive permissions, including full network access and the ability to download files without notification.

Cybersecurity experts warn that while AppCloud’s behavior doesn’t confirm it as classic spyware, its aggressive data collection and unremovable nature blur the line between ad-tech and surveillance. As the controversy grows, Samsung faces mounting pressure to address these privacy concerns and provide users with greater control over their devices.

Tenable (NASDAQ: TENB), a leading exposure management company, has been recognized as a Leader in the inaugural 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Exposure Assessment Platforms. The company achieved the highest position for Ability to Execute and was placed furthest to the right for Completeness of Vision. This recognition underscores Tenable’s leadership in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. Additionally, Tenable was named a Leader in both the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Exposure Management 2025 Vendor Assessment and The Forrester Wave: Unified Vulnerability Management, Q3 2025. Tenable’s mission is to help organizations understand and mitigate risk by providing a comprehensive view of vulnerabilities across modern attack surfaces, including AI, cloud, IT, identity, third-party systems, web applications, and operational technology (OT). The Tenable One Exposure Management Platform offers organizations actionable insights to identify and address exposures swiftly. Mark Thurmond, co-CEO of Tenable, emphasized the significance of this recognition, stating, ‘Being named a Leader in the first Gartner Magic Quadrant for Exposure Assessment Platforms validates our proactive approach to cybersecurity. We’ve moved beyond reactive measures to help customers stay ahead of threats.’ Tenable’s platform integrates risk-based analytics and over 300 ecosystem integrations, trusted by more than 44,000 organizations globally. The company’s focus on Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), a framework introduced by Gartner, has positioned it as a pioneer in the shift from vulnerability management to exposure management. Thurmond added, ‘In an era where AI is weaponized, detection and response alone are insufficient. Exposure management provides a preemptive, holistic view of the attack surface, and Tenable One is uniquely equipped to deliver this.’

FVC, a prominent provider of unified communications, audio-visual solutions, and cybersecurity across the Middle East and Africa, has entered into a strategic partnership with X2O Media, a global leader in visual communication and immersive hybrid collaboration technologies. This collaboration is set to transform the landscape of hybrid communication and learning across the MEA region by combining FVC’s extensive regional expertise and distribution network with X2O Media’s innovative X2O oneroom platform and unified visual communication solutions. The partnership will enable enterprises, educational institutions, and public-sector organizations to deploy immersive hybrid learning and meeting environments, enhance workforce collaboration through dynamic messaging and digital signage, and leverage FVC’s robust regional presence for seamless deployment and support. Rob Brinklow, Director of Sales for EMEA & APAC at X2O Media, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating that FVC’s market reach and commitment to high-quality service make it the ideal partner to bring X2O oneroom to the region. Parag, Managing Director of FVC, expressed enthusiasm about introducing X2O Media’s cutting-edge technologies to regional clients, highlighting the partnership’s potential to deliver tailored, future-ready solutions that address real business challenges. The alliance will accelerate the adoption of X2O Media’s technologies across various sectors, including corporate, education, life sciences, and government, offering clients advanced visual communication platforms that integrate immersive hybrid environments with real-time collaboration and centralized content delivery.