China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a ban on hidden car door handles for all electric vehicles, effective January 1, 2027. The move, aimed at enhancing crash safety, requires mechanical release mechanisms for all passenger car doors, addressing concerns over emergency egress and rescue.
Liang Jie, recognized as North America's leading computer vision scientist, has returned to China to assume a chair professorship at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo. His expertise, including work on Microsoft tech products and sensor systems, is set to significantly enhance the university's burgeoning AI and technology research initiatives.
Germany is moving forward with a €600 million procurement of loitering munitions from Helsing and Stark Defence, with parliamentary approval anticipated in late February. This decision is heavily influenced by lessons from Ukraine's drone warfare, particularly the critical need for electronic warfare resilience in modern combat scenarios.
China is rapidly advancing its low-altitude economy, encompassing uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Supported by new regulations and technical standards, the sector, which exceeded CNY 500 billion in 2023, is projected to reach CNY 3.5 trillion by 2035, with applications spanning logistics, transportation, and public services.
Uber co-founder Garrett Camp has made a significant donation of €5 million to the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). This funding is earmarked to advance human-centered artificial intelligence research, emphasizing the development of trustworthy and socially beneficial AI technologies. The gift marks Camp's first contribution to a European research institution.
A rifle-wielding drone developed by China's Wuhan Guide Infrared Company and the Chinese Ground Forces Special Operations Academy achieved a 100% hit rate in a recent 100-meter-range test. The drone fired 20 single shots at a human-sized target, with half landing within an 11-centimeter radius, demonstrating significant advancements in autonomous targeting technology.
The French Armed Forces have signed a contract with MBDA for the One-Way Effector, a new long-range loitering munition. This rapid procurement decision, influenced by lessons from the war in Ukraine, aims to enhance France's long-range strike capabilities with a mass-producible, cost-effective drone.
UK defence tech startup Shield Space has successfully raised £2 million in funding to develop autonomous systems for safeguarding satellites against orbital threats. The investment will support expansion into new premises in Lincoln, team growth, and preparations for its inaugural test flight in early 2027.
Chinese humanoid robot developer UBTECH has partnered with European aviation giant Airbus to supply its Walker S2 robots for use in manufacturing facilities. This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating advanced robotics into complex aerospace production, with a focus on exploring applications in aircraft assembly and enhancing operational efficiency.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PEO UAS/CUAS) to rapidly acquire and deploy drone and counter-drone technologies. This initiative, backed by a significant $115 million investment, aims to enhance American airspace sovereignty and secure major events like America250 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Australian authorities have initiated a nationwide road safety crackdown in 2026, introducing significantly higher penalties, faster license cancellations for repeat offenders, and expanded use of advanced enforcement technology. The measures target dangerous driving behaviors like speeding and mobile phone use to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.
Italian technology company Avacam has developed an AI-powered system, featuring the GEO T8 optical unit, that provides real-time, millimeter-level monitoring of ground movements to predict landslides. This innovation aims to enhance safety in Italy, a country with over 635,000 recorded landslides, by offering early warnings and optimizing intervention times.
Chinese automaker BYD has officially surpassed Tesla in 2025, becoming the world's largest seller of battery-electric vehicles. BYD reported approximately 2.26 million BEV deliveries, while Tesla's deliveries fell to about 1.64 million units, marking a significant shift in the global EV market.
Engineers from Balfour Beatty VINCI have successfully completed two parallel viaduct spans for the HS2 project near Water Orton, Warwickshire, over the Christmas period. These crucial structures are part of the complex Delta Junction, designed to carry high-speed rail over existing transport links, marking a significant milestone for the UK's new railway network.
Belgian-American startup Aidoptation has successfully raised €20 million in additional financing. This funding will accelerate the development and industrialization of its advanced AI-driven autonomous systems, particularly its EdgeDrive technology, for dual-use applications in commercial automotive, police, first-responder, and defense sectors. The company, a spin-off of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, is headquartered at DronePort in Sint-Truiden, Belgium.
The latest NVIDIA AI GPU chips have arrived in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step in the Kingdom's drive to become a global AI hub. HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin confirmed the delivery, which follows new agreements between Washington and Riyadh, enabling the deployment of advanced AI infrastructure for large-scale model training.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has officially deployed the Iron Beam laser air defense system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. This marks a historic milestone as the world's first operational high-power laser interception system, designed to counter short-range threats like rockets, mortars, and drones with unparalleled cost-effectiveness and an unlimited magazine.
Baykar's Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aircraft successfully executed the world's first fully autonomous close-formation flight by jet-powered drones on December 28, 2025, in Türkiye. This milestone, involving two Kızılelma prototypes, demonstrates advanced smart fleet autonomy and marks a significant leap in unmanned air combat capabilities.
China is set to enforce the world's first mandatory energy consumption limits for electric passenger vehicles starting January 1, 2026. The new national standard, 'Energy Consumption Limits for Electric Vehicles Part 1 Passenger Cars' (GB 36980.1—2025), tightens efficiency requirements by approximately 11% and links compliance to crucial purchase tax exemptions.
China's National University of Defense Technology has achieved a new global benchmark in magnetic levitation technology, accelerating a tonne-class test vehicle to 700 km/h (435 mph) in less than two seconds on a 400-meter track. This breakthrough in superconducting electromagnetic propulsion positions China at the forefront of ultra-high-speed transport research.
