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Hong Kong’s technology sector soared as benchmarks hit their highest point since 2021, supported by mounting investor confidence in China’s artificial intelligence ambitions. The Hang Seng Tech Index jumped about 4.2%, reaching a level not seen since November 2021, while Alibaba, Baidu and other major players saw robust gains on optimism around AI innovation.

Baidu led the charge, climbing roughly 16% in Hong Kong trading—its biggest surge since March 2022—as analysts upgraded its outlook in light of growing belief in its chip-development strategy. Alibaba also rose strongly; its Hong Kong-listed shares have reached levels unseen since late 2021, bolstered by its expanding cloud and AI-linked operations. Market watchers noted increasing activity in China Unicom and internal chip design projects contributing to the momentum.

This surge comes amid broader trends: domestic AI developers are accelerating roll-outs of proprietary chips, cloud computing investment is rising, and regulatory signals suggest stronger support for technology self-reliance. Meanwhile, progress in international matters—such as negotiations over TikTok’s operations—has reduced investor uncertainty, further boosting risk appetite in equity markets.

While enthusiasm is widespread, concerns persist among analysts over the sustainability of growth. High valuations have raised questions about how quickly revenue from AI and cloud services can scale. The technical challenge of chip design and the global competition in semiconductor technology remain formidable barriers.

Shiba Inu is drawing increased attention after the project’s team outlined how a prospective spot SHIB exchange-traded fund could enhance demand for its Layer-2 blockchain, Shibarium, and its gas/governance token, BONE.

Speculation about a SHIB ETF has intensified as SHIB retains a multi-billion dollar market cap, maintains listings on major global exchanges, and commands one of the stronger retail investor communities in crypto. The Shib Inu ecosystem team emphasised that while no asset manager or regulator has yet submitted an approved SHIB ETF, the token’s scaling infrastructure and utility features parallel those that aided Bitcoin and Ethereum. Analysts suggest these attributes may not only raise SHIB’s institutional legitimacy but also funnel value into Shibarium and BONE.

Shibarium, launched in August 2023, serves as Shiba Inu’s native Layer-2 network. Its design aims for fast, low-cost transactions while pushing gas fees to be paid in BONE. Any amplification of SHIB demand could indirectly drive more activity on Shibarium, reinforcing BONE’s utility. In commentary, the SHIB team has framed this as a rising inflection point: greater visibility for SHIB might translate into growing network usage, with BONE benefiting from both transaction volume and staking demand.

Events in the Shibarium ecosystem heighten the urgency. A flash-loan exploit allowed an attacker to purchase about 4.6 million BONE tokens, gain validator voting power, then execute a malicious state change to siphon assets from the Shibarium bridge. The team paused staking operations, moved certain funds to a secure multi-signature hardware wallet, froze the compromised BONE, and launched investigations with security firms. While the exploit dented confidence temporarily, it also drew attention to the importance of infrastructure security in scaling projects.

Market response to these developments has been mixed but leaned positive in some respects. BONE surged by about 40 % at one point after the exploit was revealed, before correcting. SHIB also saw modest gains as traders reacted to the possibility of more institutional participation. Some analysts caution, however, that regulatory hurdles and timing remain uncertain. A SHIB ETF would likely require clear alignment with securities laws in multiple jurisdictions, plus concrete backing from major asset managers.

Institutional exposure is being eyed not just via a direct SHIB ETF but through alternate paths: DeFi-oriented funds, layer-2 infrastructure products, or token baskets that include SHIB and BONE. Shibarium’s base of wallets—numbering over 21 million during earlier phases—and its integration with Ethereum and DeFi protocols are being cited as evidence that usage is scaling.

Space42, listed in Abu Dhabi, and Viasat, a US communications company on Nasdaq, have joined forces to launch a new entity called Equatys to deliver Direct-to-Device and mobile satellite services worldwide leveraging 5G standards.

Equatys will combine satellite and terrestrial networks under a 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network architecture so that standard smartphones and IoT devices can connect even where ground-based networks cannot reach. It will use over 100 MHz of harmonized Mobile Satellite Services spectrum across more than 160 markets. The venture aims to begin commercial service within three years.

The “space tower” model at Equatys is built on shared multi-tenant infrastructure covering both space and ground components. This setup is designed to cut redundant investment, improve spectrum utilisation, and reduce overall capital costs for operators. Licensed terrestrial and satellite operators will be able to tap into this infrastructure for D2D and next-generation MSS offerings.

Space42 was formed in 2024 through a merger combining the operations of Bayanat and Yahsat. Its business units include upstream satellite operations and geospatial analytics/AI-powered smart solutions. Major shareholders include G42, Mubadala, and IHC. Viasat, having acquired Inmarsat in 2023, operates globally in secure satellite communications, for government, enterprise, and consumer markets.

While financial terms of the venture were not disclosed, Equatys is expected to issue equity in phases, opening opportunities for strategic and financial partners as the system scales. The model is pitched as infrastructure-grade, aiming to offer returns tied to long-term deployment and spectrum utilisation rather than short-term hardware sales.

The project is subject to regulatory and customary conditions. It follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2025 between Space42 and Viasat which moved from exploratory technical and commercial studies to forming a jointly owned infrastructure company.

Experts are watching closely how spectrum harmonisation will be maintained across the many markets Equatys aims to cover. Nation-level telecom regulators often impose latency, licensing or usage constraints on MSS and NTN services, which can complicate global rollout. Also, implementing a shared infrastructure model across multiple orbits of satellites presents technical and operational challenges, from latency and hand-off between orbits, to ground station coordination, spectrum interference and service reliability.

Hesai Group’s shares surged in their Hong Kong debut, trading above its IPO price after the lidar‐sensor maker raised approximately HK$4.16 billion in its secondary listing.

Trading under code 2525, the stock opened at HK$229.20, about 7.7 per cent above the offer price of HK$212.80. Demand was strong: the international tranche was oversubscribed around 14 times, while the Hong Kong public tranche drew nearly 168.65 times subscription. Six cornerstone investors including HHLR Advisors, Taikang Life, and WT Asset Management committed some US$148 million worth of shares, agreeing to hold them for at least six months.

Hesai’s second quarter performance helped set the stage. Its revenue rose by 54 per cent year-on-year, shipments more than tripled, and the company reported a net profit of roughly RMB 44.1 million, reversing a loss from the year before. These results support its strategy to scale lidar sensor shipments, especially for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving applications.

A key driver is Hesai’s plan to cut manufacturing costs and selling prices. CEO David Li stated that the company is working to reduce the cost of its sensors dramatically, targeting a price of about US$200 per unit from previous models that sold for tens of thousands of dollars. To assist this, production expansion is underway, and Hesai is also pursuing international customers and counterparties in the autonomous vehicle and robotics sectors.

Geopolitical and regulatory pressures are also shaping Hesai’s approach. The dual listing in Hong Kong while retaining its U. S. listing on Nasdaq reflects efforts to strengthen capital access amid U. S.-China tensions. Hesai had earlier denied accusations of misleading investors over revenue and alleged military links; the company stated its operations are independent and compliant with regulations.

Dubai International Airport has deployed over 520 hearing loops across its three terminals to support passengers with hearing loss. The system, which allows travellers using hearing aids or cochlear implants to hear announcements clearly by switching to the ‘T’ setting, requires no pairing or extra equipment.

The devices are now installed at critical passenger touchpoints including check-in counters, immigration desks, boarding gates and information desks. The initiative is part of DXB’s broader accessibility drive under Dubai’s Universal Design Code, which mandates inclusive access in public facilities and transport infrastructure. Staff across frontline operations have also been trained to assist guests of determination.

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, said this move demonstrates a commitment to enabling every traveller to move through the airport “with ease, dignity, and confidence.” The rollout was supported by oneDXB partners including airlines, airport services, customs, police, and ground handling agencies.

Globally, about 1.5 billion people live with some degree of hearing loss, a figure projected by the World Health Organisation to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. Experts say transport hubs like airports are under increasing pressure to provide accessibility services that do not add friction for travellers. Implementation of hearing loops is among the measures considered most effective because of their unobtrusive nature and compatibility with existing devices.

Abu Dhabi has initiated a landmark pilot for self-driving delivery vehicles in Masdar City, with the Integrated Transport Centre collaborating with K2 and EMX under oversight from the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council. The operation includes the issuance of the emirate’s first licence plate for an autonomous delivery vehicle.

The vehicles, developed by K2’s Autogo subsidiary, are designed to travel urban routes and deliver orders without direct human control, using artificial intelligence and smart mobility systems. Officials say the trial is a stepping-stone toward broader commercial deployment across the emirate.

This pilot follows approved Level 4 autonomous vehicle trials in Masdar City, overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre in partnership with the smart mobility provider Solutions+, a Mubadala firm. Under these trials, vehicles are operating over a 2.4-kilometre geofenced route linking landmarks such as the Siemens building, Central Park, My City Centre Masdar mall, and others. Initially safety officers are onboard; remote control from a central operations hub is planned as trust and performance increase.

Regulators emphasise that safety, compliance, and adaptability are core to the initiative. Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the ITC, stated that the project marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s strategy to support innovation while ensuring legal and operational frameworks protect public welfare. Ahmed Baghoum, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar City, described the undertaking as a leap forward in autonomous mobility capabilities and aligned with the emirate’s vision of sustainable, technological integration.

Tariq Al Wahedi, Group CEO of 7X, said that through its logistics arm EMX, the company views this pilot as part of a broader last-mile delivery ecosystem. He indicated plans to expand coverage beyond Masdar City to areas such as Khalifa City and Dubai, with full commercial rollout expected within the next twelve months.

The moves align with Abu Dhabi’s goals under its smart mobility strategy, including the target that a quarter of all trips in the emirate use smart transport solutions by 2040. The ambitions also dovetail with the UAE’s broader sustainability framework, including its Net Zero by 2050 initiative.