A Chinese private firm, among others, invested in Indonesia in 2009 to secure nickel, crucial for stainless steel and advanced battery production, fostering deeper economic ties between China and Indonesia.
Chinese battery giant CATL reported record second-quarter revenue of 147.79 billion yuan and net profit of 22.5 billion yuan, up 56.92% and 36.5% year-on-year respectively. However, these figures slightly missed market estimates, attributed to weakening EV demand in China. The company also announced a plan to buy back up to 40 billion yuan in shares.
Andy Burnham faces a political row over pausing early prisoner releases amid prison capacity concerns. Separately, the government considers providing low-income households with plug-in batteries to reduce energy bills. Meanwhile, former Top Gear stunt driver Paul Rees is suing BBC Studios over a 2022 crash that left him with a broken back.
Colorado has enacted a law (SB26-003) making automakers responsible for collecting and processing unwanted EV batteries and banning their disposal in landfills by July 2029. The legislation sets specific recycling targets for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, aiming to establish a blueprint for other states facing similar end-of-life battery challenges.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, focusing on improved battery life and new preventive health metrics. The Ultra 2 features an 800mAh battery and a 5,000-nit display, while both models switch to Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite chips. Prices for both watches have increased.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at its Unpacked event, featuring a shock-resistant titanium casing, IP69K and 10 ATM ratings for extreme durability and diving, a larger 800mAh battery, and a Snapdragon Wear Elite Platform chipset. Available for pre-order in the US for $700, with general availability starting August 7.
Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 offers a brighter 5,000-nit display, a 35% larger 800mAh battery, and a thinner, lighter design. The review highlights new health features like Trail Run and diving assistance, alongside improvements in comfort and navigation, despite some flaws in the antioxidant tracking.
Latest tech and automotive news: Range Rover GT's impact on Jaguar, OpenAI models hacking Hugging Face, Best Buy's July sales, and Nvidia's AI chip ambitions.
Battery materials startup Sila secured $300 million in funding to expand its Moses Lake, Washington factory, aiming to produce enough silicon-carbon anode material for over 100,000 electric vehicles annually. This expansion supports EV and energy storage markets amidst global sales growth and a search for alternatives to Chinese graphite.
The Shark Detect XL LA791UKT corded upright vacuum, featuring Duo Clean dual-roller and new Detect surface sensing, excels in cleaning tests on various floor types. It offers a 2.5-litre capacity and versatile attachments, though its weight and cord management present minor drawbacks.
Spotify's default music video playback, which consumed bandwidth and battery, annoyed many users due to its distracting nature and lack of an obvious disable option. A recent update introduced toggles in settings for mobile and desktop apps to entirely disable music videos, Canvas, and video podcasts, addressing user concerns about unwanted visual content.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed an affordable, 3D-printed iron-based flow battery, offering its design free to the global research community. This innovation aims to standardize renewable energy storage research, accelerate net-zero goals, and overcome cost and geopolitical constraints of traditional vanadium batteries.
Vertu's $6,880 Alphafold targets affluent executives with a luxury foldable phone and AI agent, Hermes. While materials and service are premium, the AI's autonomy sometimes leads to incomplete tasks, and the hardware resembles a significantly cheaper ZTE model.
The Surface Laptop 8 offers snappy performance, long battery life, and a premium feel, but comes with a significant price increase due to high memory and chip costs.
Global innovators are developing diverse energy storage solutions beyond traditional lithium-ion batteries. Projects in the UAE, UK, US, Denmark, Finland, and Japan are exploring liquid air, molten salt, sand, and even human sweat to power homes, industry, and wearable tech, addressing critical mineral concerns and enhancing grid stability.
iQoo's upcoming Z9 Turbo leaks reveal a 1.5K display, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, 6000mAh battery, 144Hz refresh rate, 50MP dual camera, and 80W fast charging, potentially priced at Rs 19,999.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts a privacy display, enhanced quad cameras, AI features, and a long-lasting battery, but its high price and generic design may deter some buyers.
Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, disclosed that a fall, which caused him to be briefly unconscious, led to his hospitalization and subsequent pneumonia. He cited generational reluctance to share vulnerability as the reason for the initial silence and stated he is now in rehabilitation and will not return to the Senate floor immediately.
Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, revealed a fall caused his recent hospitalization, addressing weeks of health speculation. He stated he underwent extensive tests, suffered no broken bones or concussion, and had a mild case of pneumonia. He is in rehabilitation and working with staff.
Russia has deployed its new Zavarukha acoustic reconnaissance system, designed to detect enemy firing positions, to the special military operation zone in Ukraine. The compact system has undergone combat testing and demonstrated high detection accuracy.
A landslide near Himkoti on the new Vaishno Devi pilgrimage track in Reasi district, J&K, caused by heavy rainfall, led to a temporary suspension of battery car services. The old route remained unaffected, and authorities are working to clear debris.
Xiaomi is intensifying its electric vehicle (EV) research and development, announcing a new SUV line called Sky Nomad to counter slowing domestic sales and compete with rivals like Li Auto and Xpeng. Analysts anticipate the new models will feature extended-range battery technology.
Goldman Sachs forecasts a 50% surge in CATL's share price over the next 12 months, driven by rising demand for energy independence and its battery energy storage system business. The investment bank set target prices for its Hong Kong and Shenzhen stocks, anticipating significant growth.
President Xi Jinping presented China's top science awards, emphasizing tech innovation's role in modernization and global competitiveness. He acknowledged challenges like insufficient original innovation and talent structure issues.
