(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostEuropean wine producers seek new markets as China sales dream soursChinese-French wine merchant Arsen Zhao says business remains strong in Paris, but he is welcoming far fewer customers from Asia than before. “We’ve seen a much sharper drop in customers from China,” Zhao said. “Consumers are trading down, while large volumes of European wine imported previously have yet to be sold, leaving inventories high and weighing on new orders.” As demand has weakened and unsold inventory has piled up, prices have come under pressure. “Some high-end French wines are now.. (opens original source in a new tab)Mia Nurmamat·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostAfter gaining EV dominance, Chinese carmakers shift goal to take on full-hybrid behemothsChinese carmakers, already at the vanguard of electric vehicle (EV) technology and production, are looking to make a dent in international marques’ full-hybrid vehicle stronghold as they continue to disrupt the global car industry’s pecking order. Major car builders including Geely Auto and Changan Automobile have reported impressive sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), luring domestic consumers away from the likes of Toyota’s Prius. “Chinese-developed HEVs, banking on the carmakers’... (opens original source in a new tab)Daniel Ren·23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyScientists turn tiny “defects” into a 5.5x heat transfer boostScientists have developed an ultrathin coating that could dramatically improve how efficiently heat is transferred during condensation. By turning tiny polymer structures once considered “defects” into places where water droplets can form, then helping those droplets detach quickly, the new surface keeps exposing fresh areas for condensation. In tests on copper tubes, it transferred heat up to 5.5 times more effectively than conventional copper and more than 50% better than a standard water-repe (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyCannabis use linked to 37% higher stroke risk in massive studyA massive analysis involving more than 100 million people has found strong links between recreational drug use and stroke, including among younger adults. Cocaine was associated with nearly double the risk of stroke, amphetamines with more than double the risk, and cannabis with a 37% increase. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostAlibaba to issue HK$80 billion in new shares for global AI pushAlibaba Group Holding will issue HK$80 billion worth of new shares and use the entire proceeds to invest in AI, the Chinese tech giant said on Sunday. The move aims to “extend the company’s global AI leadership”, according to the company. It will use the funds raised to “invest in its full stack AI capabilities”, including expanding and enhancing its AI infrastructure, Alibaba said. Last week, Alibaba announced a 45 per cent of year-over-year jump in its second-quarter revenue in cloud and AI... (opens original source in a new tab)Xinmei Shen,Ann Cao·23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyThis common vitamin was linked to 13% better cognitive scoresOlder adults with mild cognitive impairment and sleep problems who took at least 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily scored more than 13% higher on a cognitive test than those taking none. The preliminary findings suggest vitamin D could be worth studying as a potentially modifiable factor during an early window of cognitive decline. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyBlack holes keep tearing these stars apart, but they surviveAstronomers have found stars that repeatedly skim past supermassive black holes, surviving each encounter while producing a new burst of light. In some systems, those flares mysteriously fade with every return. Researchers now think the key may be stars that were already spinning extremely fast before being captured. That rapid rotation could explain both the fading flares and how the stars ended up in such extraordinarily tight black hole orbits. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyThis shark can live 400 years. Its eyes barely seem to ageGreenland sharks may live for 400 years without suffering the kind of retinal decline normally associated with aging. Researchers found healthy eye tissue and active proteins specially adapted for seeing blue light in the dim Arctic depths. DNA repair mechanisms may help keep their eyes functioning across centuries. The discovery could eventually offer new clues for protecting human vision as we age. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostAre humanoid robots the future? Chinese makers instead highlight practical designHumanoid robots were still among the biggest crowd-pleasers at this year’s World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing, though other types of robots, such as wheeled machines, were gaining momentum as the industry moves from demonstration to deployment. At Unitree Robotics’ packed booth at the conference, bipedal models played table tennis or squared off in fighting matches, showing off levels of speed, balance and coordination that the industry has only seen in the last few years. But elsewhere... (opens original source in a new tab)Howard Liu·23 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)TechCrunchTwo years after launch, Walmart’s Flipkart is closing in on India’s quick-commerce leadersFlipkart's quick-commerce venture is delivering 1.1 million to 1.2 million orders a day, nearly triple its November volume. (opens original source in a new tab)Jagmeet Singh·23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyQuitting alcohol may prime the brain for relapseMice that developed compulsive drinking after alcohol abstinence showed more than double the activity in a brain region associated with stress and addiction. Because the signal appeared before they drank again, researchers think it could eventually help predict who is most at risk of relapse. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
