HSBC’s charity arm continues decades of work lending helping hand to Hong Kong community
By Nick JonesKristie KoMorning Studio editors
The year’s end is often a time when people look back and take stock of their past achievements and the lessons they have learned. For some, it may mean recalling memories of discovering new talents and dreams, or taking pride in achieving something great for yourself or others. Often, such successes will have been achieved thanks to a helping hand.
Since its founding in 1865, HSBC has been committed to enhancing the social well-being of disadvantaged communities in the city it calls home. The establishment of The Hongkong Bank Foundation in 1981 reflected the bank’s deep commitment to the welfare of the city.
Philanthropic efforts have people at their core
The work of the foundation is focused on three core areas – elderly care, youth development and sustainability – showing the bank’s recognition of the progress the city has made and its vision for supporting both the near and long-term future of its needy community.
Over nearly four and a half decades, HSBC has supported more than 10,000 projects through its foundation, while distributing more than HK$2.6 billion (US$334 million) in grants to address community needs.
However, the bank’s philanthropic efforts go beyond mere financial support. At the heart of the foundation’s mission is a people-centric approach. Since 1993, the HSBC Volunteers Scheme – formerly known as the Wayfoong Volunteers Scheme – has contributed more than one million hours to help disadvantaged communities, mentor young people and respond to environmental issues.
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By Nick JonesKristie KoMorning Studio editors
The year’s end is often a time when people look back and take stock of their past achievements and the lessons they have learned. For some, it may mean recalling memories of discovering new talents and dreams, or taking pride in achieving something great for yourself or others. Often, such successes will have been achieved thanks to a helping hand.
Since its founding in 1865, HSBC has been committed to enhancing the social well-being of disadvantaged communities in the city it calls home. The establishment of The Hongkong Bank Foundation in 1981 reflected the bank’s deep commitment to the welfare of the city.
Philanthropic efforts have people at their core
The work of the foundation is focused on three core areas – elderly care, youth development and sustainability – showing the bank’s recognition of the progress the city has made and its vision for supporting both the near and long-term future of its needy community.
Over nearly four and a half decades, HSBC has supported more than 10,000 projects through its foundation, while distributing more than HK$2.6 billion (US$334 million) in grants to address community needs.
However, the bank’s philanthropic efforts go beyond mere financial support. At the heart of the foundation’s mission is a people-centric approach. Since 1993, the HSBC Volunteers Scheme – formerly known as the Wayfoong Volunteers Scheme – has contributed more than one million hours to help disadvantaged communities, mentor young people and respond to environmental issues.
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Seoul must stop using North Korea threat as an excuse to suppress democracy
By Gabriela Bernal
The unthinkable has happened in South Korea – its president declared martial law in a move that evoked traumas from the past. According to President Yoon Suk-yeol, the move was necessary due to the presence of “anti-state” and “pro-North Korean” elements among opposition politicians. Although the decree lasted only six hours, it was enough to shake the country to its core.
The last time martial law was declared in the country was over four decades ago. The path to democracy was a hard-won battle that stretched across generations.
While Article 77 of the Korean constitution gives the sitting president the power to declare martial law in response to the threat of war and other national emergencies, this power has been misused too often. Conservative forces have a long and bloody history of using the threat posed by North Korea as an excuse to quash dissent and remove checks and balances on the president.
Martial law has been declared some 16 times in the country’s history. The roots of such policies date back to 1948, when the Korean republic was established and president Syngman Rhee introduced the national security law, under which any pro-communist speech or activities were criminalised.
This law was used by the president – and his successors – to arrest, imprison and sometimes execute political opponents by accusing them of being communist or North Korea sympathisers.
Park Chung-hee did the same after he took power in a 1961 coup and declared martial law. He then declared martial law again in Seoul in 1964 to suppress growing student protests against the normalisation of relations with Japan.
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By Gabriela Bernal
The unthinkable has happened in South Korea – its president declared martial law in a move that evoked traumas from the past. According to President Yoon Suk-yeol, the move was necessary due to the presence of “anti-state” and “pro-North Korean” elements among opposition politicians. Although the decree lasted only six hours, it was enough to shake the country to its core.
The last time martial law was declared in the country was over four decades ago. The path to democracy was a hard-won battle that stretched across generations.
While Article 77 of the Korean constitution gives the sitting president the power to declare martial law in response to the threat of war and other national emergencies, this power has been misused too often. Conservative forces have a long and bloody history of using the threat posed by North Korea as an excuse to quash dissent and remove checks and balances on the president.
Martial law has been declared some 16 times in the country’s history. The roots of such policies date back to 1948, when the Korean republic was established and president Syngman Rhee introduced the national security law, under which any pro-communist speech or activities were criminalised.
This law was used by the president – and his successors – to arrest, imprison and sometimes execute political opponents by accusing them of being communist or North Korea sympathisers.
Park Chung-hee did the same after he took power in a 1961 coup and declared martial law. He then declared martial law again in Seoul in 1964 to suppress growing student protests against the normalisation of relations with Japan.
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China’s massive Yiwu wholesale hub at the forefront of trade-reform efforts
By Kandy Wong
The world’s largest wholesale hub for small manufactured items is expected to be enhanced as a symbol for international trade following the State Council’s approval of plans to more comprehensively deepen and reform its development.
Yiwu, a small city in China’s Zhejiang province known for funnelling huge quantities of dollar-store products to the West, will undergo efforts to resolve deep-rooted institutional problems, strengthen the building of integrated standards of domestic and foreign trade, and promote greater cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Specific items on the deepening-development list included maximising the function of tariff-free zones, reforming procurement systems, proactively connecting to international trade standards, improving management of export companies’ categorisation, and building 100 good-quality international trade corporations.
“The more intensive development this time will bring more opportunities to Yiwu,” Zhu Keli, the founding head of the International New Economic Research Institute, was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Securities News. “Yiwu can go deep into reforming and innovating the area of international trade, improve its trade structure and enhance quality.”
Yiwu saw its total trade value reach 560.2 billion yuan (US$77 billion) in the first 10 months of this year – 18.3 per cent more than the same period last year, according to customs figures.
The deepening-development plan will also support the high-quality development of China-Europe express trains to enhance the circulation of goods.
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By Kandy Wong
The world’s largest wholesale hub for small manufactured items is expected to be enhanced as a symbol for international trade following the State Council’s approval of plans to more comprehensively deepen and reform its development.
Yiwu, a small city in China’s Zhejiang province known for funnelling huge quantities of dollar-store products to the West, will undergo efforts to resolve deep-rooted institutional problems, strengthen the building of integrated standards of domestic and foreign trade, and promote greater cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Specific items on the deepening-development list included maximising the function of tariff-free zones, reforming procurement systems, proactively connecting to international trade standards, improving management of export companies’ categorisation, and building 100 good-quality international trade corporations.
“The more intensive development this time will bring more opportunities to Yiwu,” Zhu Keli, the founding head of the International New Economic Research Institute, was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Securities News. “Yiwu can go deep into reforming and innovating the area of international trade, improve its trade structure and enhance quality.”
Yiwu saw its total trade value reach 560.2 billion yuan (US$77 billion) in the first 10 months of this year – 18.3 per cent more than the same period last year, according to customs figures.
The deepening-development plan will also support the high-quality development of China-Europe express trains to enhance the circulation of goods.
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New Zealand to tweak ‘golden visa’ rules to reel in more rich investors
By Bloomberg
New Zealand’s government is planning changes to its so-called “golden visa” programme to attract more wealthy immigrants who invest in the country.
The Active Investor Plus Visa that historically lured rich individuals to New Zealand and raked in an average NZ$1 billion (US$580 million) a year has languished after rule changes in 2022. Just 35 applications have been fully approved in the past two years, equating to NZ$352 million of nominated investment funds, according to data from Immigration New Zealand.
“We are conscious that the last government changed those settings and we saw a marked decline in the number of investors,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis said in an interview on Thursday in Wellington. “You can expect to see announcements from us on that in the coming weeks.”
Willis said the centre-right government has already progressed reforms to speed up overseas investment applications and will change legislation next year to emphasise that the nation requires foreign capital to achieve its economic objectives. She said investor migrants bring much more than just money.
“It’s also the networks, the expertise, the experience, the ideas that they bring with them,” Willis said. “There are many examples throughout the country where investor migrants, while they may make initial investments, then go on to make other investments and become more engaged in the economy in a range of ways which are helpful.”
Under current settings, applicants for the visa must commit to at least NZ$5 million of direct investment or NZ$15 million of passive investment such as in listed equities. That compared to a NZ$3 million starting threshold under the old criteria. Bonds and property, historically popular investments in New Zealand, are no longer eligible.
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By Bloomberg
New Zealand’s government is planning changes to its so-called “golden visa” programme to attract more wealthy immigrants who invest in the country.
The Active Investor Plus Visa that historically lured rich individuals to New Zealand and raked in an average NZ$1 billion (US$580 million) a year has languished after rule changes in 2022. Just 35 applications have been fully approved in the past two years, equating to NZ$352 million of nominated investment funds, according to data from Immigration New Zealand.
“We are conscious that the last government changed those settings and we saw a marked decline in the number of investors,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis said in an interview on Thursday in Wellington. “You can expect to see announcements from us on that in the coming weeks.”
Willis said the centre-right government has already progressed reforms to speed up overseas investment applications and will change legislation next year to emphasise that the nation requires foreign capital to achieve its economic objectives. She said investor migrants bring much more than just money.
“It’s also the networks, the expertise, the experience, the ideas that they bring with them,” Willis said. “There are many examples throughout the country where investor migrants, while they may make initial investments, then go on to make other investments and become more engaged in the economy in a range of ways which are helpful.”
Under current settings, applicants for the visa must commit to at least NZ$5 million of direct investment or NZ$15 million of passive investment such as in listed equities. That compared to a NZ$3 million starting threshold under the old criteria. Bonds and property, historically popular investments in New Zealand, are no longer eligible.
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Will Chinese President Xi Jinping attend presidential inauguration at Trump’s invitation?
By Orange Wang
China appears unlikely to accept US president-elect Donald Trump’s invitation for the Chinese president Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month given diplomatic protocol and historical precedents.
There is no record of any Chinese heads of state joining a US presidential transition ceremony. Since becoming China’s paramount leader, Xi has never attended such events personally in foreign countries, instead sending a special representative or envoy.
Meanwhile, it would generally take rounds of preparation for a Chinese president to visit the United States, a process that could span several months.
In early November, shortly after winning the US election, Trump invited Xi to attend the ceremony scheduled for January 20, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources.
However, Washington records dating back to 1874 show that no foreign heads of state have been involved in a US presidential inauguration, although it is common for foreign dignitaries and diplomats to attend, a practice Beijing has also adopted.
For instance, then-Chinese ambassador to the US Zhou Wenzhong attended Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 as the Chinese government’s representative.
But in 2021, Beijing only stated that the Chinese embassy had received an invitation to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration and “extended congratulations” to him without confirming whether it had sent any officials.
“I noticed that the US government has reiterated many times that it only invites diplomatic envoys posted in the country to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony, and does not invite or encourage other countries or regions to send delegations to the ceremony,” said Hua Chunying, then a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry and now vice-foreign minister, in 2017 when asked about Trump’s first presidential inauguration.
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By Orange Wang
China appears unlikely to accept US president-elect Donald Trump’s invitation for the Chinese president Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month given diplomatic protocol and historical precedents.
There is no record of any Chinese heads of state joining a US presidential transition ceremony. Since becoming China’s paramount leader, Xi has never attended such events personally in foreign countries, instead sending a special representative or envoy.
Meanwhile, it would generally take rounds of preparation for a Chinese president to visit the United States, a process that could span several months.
In early November, shortly after winning the US election, Trump invited Xi to attend the ceremony scheduled for January 20, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources.
However, Washington records dating back to 1874 show that no foreign heads of state have been involved in a US presidential inauguration, although it is common for foreign dignitaries and diplomats to attend, a practice Beijing has also adopted.
For instance, then-Chinese ambassador to the US Zhou Wenzhong attended Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 as the Chinese government’s representative.
But in 2021, Beijing only stated that the Chinese embassy had received an invitation to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration and “extended congratulations” to him without confirming whether it had sent any officials.
“I noticed that the US government has reiterated many times that it only invites diplomatic envoys posted in the country to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony, and does not invite or encourage other countries or regions to send delegations to the ceremony,” said Hua Chunying, then a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry and now vice-foreign minister, in 2017 when asked about Trump’s first presidential inauguration.
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Singapore police explain why they did not arrest Chinese fugitive on Interpol Red Notice
By Jean Iau
Authorities in Singapore do not have sufficient evidence that a Singapore-based Chinese fugitive who was arrested in Indonesia had committed money-laundering offences, the local police said, explaining why his detention occurred in Batam rather than within the city state.
The police’s comments were in reference to the case of Yan Zhenxing, a Chinese national in his early 40s who is a Singapore permanent resident and on Interpol’s Red Notice list.
Yan was detained on December 2 by Indonesian authorities after he arrived at a ferry terminal on the resort island of Batam, located some 23km (14 miles) southeast of Singapore, having travelled there for a holiday, Indonesian media reported.
The case has sparked discussion around why Yan was not arrested in Singapore but only when he travelled to Indonesia.
Responding to queries from This Week in Asia, the Singapore Police said on Thursday: “To date, we do not have enough evidence that Yan may have committed money-laundering offences under Singapore’s laws, that would allow us to commence formal investigations against him.”
When Yan was granted Singapore permanent residency, there were no Interpol Red Notices against him, they added.
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By Jean Iau
Authorities in Singapore do not have sufficient evidence that a Singapore-based Chinese fugitive who was arrested in Indonesia had committed money-laundering offences, the local police said, explaining why his detention occurred in Batam rather than within the city state.
The police’s comments were in reference to the case of Yan Zhenxing, a Chinese national in his early 40s who is a Singapore permanent resident and on Interpol’s Red Notice list.
Yan was detained on December 2 by Indonesian authorities after he arrived at a ferry terminal on the resort island of Batam, located some 23km (14 miles) southeast of Singapore, having travelled there for a holiday, Indonesian media reported.
The case has sparked discussion around why Yan was not arrested in Singapore but only when he travelled to Indonesia.
Responding to queries from This Week in Asia, the Singapore Police said on Thursday: “To date, we do not have enough evidence that Yan may have committed money-laundering offences under Singapore’s laws, that would allow us to commence formal investigations against him.”
When Yan was granted Singapore permanent residency, there were no Interpol Red Notices against him, they added.
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SpaceX and the 7 dwarves: Chinese space firms line up to enter reusable rocket race
By Ling Xin
Chinese space launch start-ups are racing to debut their reusable rockets next year, driven by the nation’s push to build internet megaconstellations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) in a challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink.
At least seven new private rockets, all featuring vertical recovery and reusability, are aiming to reach orbit in 2025 and compete for launch contracts to deploy tens of thousands of broadband satellites in the coming years.
Leading the charge is the Tianlong-3, a 71-metre, two-stage kerosene and liquid oxygen rocket being assembled by Space Pioneer in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, in eastern China.
Tianlong-3 is the second most powerful rocket developed in China, surpassed only by the Long March-5B. With a payload capacity of 17 tonnes for LEO, it is designed for batch satellite deployments and could carry 30 or more satellites per launch, Jiangsu Television reported on Sunday.
The rocket, which had an unexpected launch and crash during a static fire test in June, has incorporated a suite of advanced technologies, according to Liu Yang, an engineer at Space Pioneer.
“These technologies, including 3D-printed stainless steel engines and liquid nitrogen gasification pressurisation, were developed specifically to meet the ‘low-cost, high-reliability and high-frequency’ demands of internet satellite launches,” Liu told Jiangsu Television.
The first stage of Tianlong-3 is powered by nine Tianhuo-12 engines and can be used up to 10 times, according to the company’s website.
Hot on Tianlong-3’s heels is Zhuque-3, a medium-lift reusable rocket being developed by LandSpace in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. Zhuque-3 is the only one of the seven set to attempt both orbital insertion and first-stage recovery during its maiden flight next year.
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By Ling Xin
Chinese space launch start-ups are racing to debut their reusable rockets next year, driven by the nation’s push to build internet megaconstellations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) in a challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink.
At least seven new private rockets, all featuring vertical recovery and reusability, are aiming to reach orbit in 2025 and compete for launch contracts to deploy tens of thousands of broadband satellites in the coming years.
Leading the charge is the Tianlong-3, a 71-metre, two-stage kerosene and liquid oxygen rocket being assembled by Space Pioneer in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, in eastern China.
Tianlong-3 is the second most powerful rocket developed in China, surpassed only by the Long March-5B. With a payload capacity of 17 tonnes for LEO, it is designed for batch satellite deployments and could carry 30 or more satellites per launch, Jiangsu Television reported on Sunday.
The rocket, which had an unexpected launch and crash during a static fire test in June, has incorporated a suite of advanced technologies, according to Liu Yang, an engineer at Space Pioneer.
“These technologies, including 3D-printed stainless steel engines and liquid nitrogen gasification pressurisation, were developed specifically to meet the ‘low-cost, high-reliability and high-frequency’ demands of internet satellite launches,” Liu told Jiangsu Television.
The first stage of Tianlong-3 is powered by nine Tianhuo-12 engines and can be used up to 10 times, according to the company’s website.
Hot on Tianlong-3’s heels is Zhuque-3, a medium-lift reusable rocket being developed by LandSpace in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. Zhuque-3 is the only one of the seven set to attempt both orbital insertion and first-stage recovery during its maiden flight next year.
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Hong Kong urged to require private schools to disclose financial status
By Wynna Wong
Hong Kong private schools should be required to disclose their financial status, lawmakers have said after an indebted institution failed to refund at least HK$5.8 million (US$745,970) worth of debentures to parents who withdrew their children from it.
The legislators on Thursday also expressed concerns about the future of 100 pupils enrolled at Han Academy, as education authorities had asked the private school, which is HK$100 million in debt, to stop charging parents a capital levy of HK$600,000 per student.
Lawmaker Edward Leung Hei, who has been handling complaints, said parents had no idea the Aberdeen-based school had been financially struggling until it began failing to pay them back.
“Parents have been continuously asking about the flow of these funds and how much is left, but the school did not make the information public, causing concerns about whether their money is already gone,” he told a radio show.
According to Leung, current policies only require schools to disclose certain accounts, including tuition, transfer and capital fees, while other items such as bonds do not need to be made public.
“Moving forward, it is necessary to disclose the status of these bonds, how much money is left, where it has been spent, not only to be accountable to current students but also to those who will soon enrol and need to purchase school bonds.”
Leung said he had been assisting about 50 parents with children at Han Academy since receiving the first call 1½ years ago.
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By Wynna Wong
Hong Kong private schools should be required to disclose their financial status, lawmakers have said after an indebted institution failed to refund at least HK$5.8 million (US$745,970) worth of debentures to parents who withdrew their children from it.
The legislators on Thursday also expressed concerns about the future of 100 pupils enrolled at Han Academy, as education authorities had asked the private school, which is HK$100 million in debt, to stop charging parents a capital levy of HK$600,000 per student.
Lawmaker Edward Leung Hei, who has been handling complaints, said parents had no idea the Aberdeen-based school had been financially struggling until it began failing to pay them back.
“Parents have been continuously asking about the flow of these funds and how much is left, but the school did not make the information public, causing concerns about whether their money is already gone,” he told a radio show.
According to Leung, current policies only require schools to disclose certain accounts, including tuition, transfer and capital fees, while other items such as bonds do not need to be made public.
“Moving forward, it is necessary to disclose the status of these bonds, how much money is left, where it has been spent, not only to be accountable to current students but also to those who will soon enrol and need to purchase school bonds.”
Leung said he had been assisting about 50 parents with children at Han Academy since receiving the first call 1½ years ago.
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By Reuters
The Pentagon flatly dismissed claims by a US lawmaker that Iran might be launching drones over New Jersey from a “mothership” off the East Coast.
“There is no truth to that,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Wednesday.
“There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there’s no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones towards the United States.”
Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew, whose district in New Jersey includes Atlantic City, said he had uncovered what appeared to be an Iranian plot.
“What we’ve uncovered is alarming drones flying in from the direction of the ocean, possibly linked to a missing Iranian mothership,” he said on social media platform X.Multiple drones over Bernardsville, New Jersey on December 5. Photo: Brian Glenn/TMX via AP
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Australia seals Papua New Guinea security deal with eye on China
By Bloomberg
The Australian government has signed a confidential agreement with Papua New Guinea, its second security pact in the Pacific in just under a week, in the latest move by the US ally to attempt to contain China’s growing strategic presence in the region.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood alongside Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Sydney on Thursday to announce a deal that would see the Pacific nation enter a team in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) from 2028, at the cost of A$600 million (US$383 million) over 10 years to Canberra’s budget.
The sporting deal is accompanied by a second confidential security agreement between Canberra and Port Moresby, which underpins the understanding between the two countries that Australia will remain Papua New Guinea’s security partner of choice, according to a government official who asked not to be identified as they weren’t authorised to speak publicly.
“We belong to one region, our shared space is important in a world that is currently conflicted all over,” Marape said at the press conference. “We want to preserve our Pacific – safe, peaceful, good for all of us to live in, especially our children.”
Albanese said that Australia and Papua New Guinea “are the nearest of neighbours and we are the truest of friends”.
The agreement is confidential and will not be released publicly, but it is believed to bear similarities to statements from the Papua New Guinea leadership that Australia is the Pacific nation’s security partner of choice. Under the agreement, it is understood that any move by Papua New Guinea on security that Australia disapproved of could lead to the NRL deal being cancelled.
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By Bloomberg
The Australian government has signed a confidential agreement with Papua New Guinea, its second security pact in the Pacific in just under a week, in the latest move by the US ally to attempt to contain China’s growing strategic presence in the region.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood alongside Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Sydney on Thursday to announce a deal that would see the Pacific nation enter a team in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) from 2028, at the cost of A$600 million (US$383 million) over 10 years to Canberra’s budget.
The sporting deal is accompanied by a second confidential security agreement between Canberra and Port Moresby, which underpins the understanding between the two countries that Australia will remain Papua New Guinea’s security partner of choice, according to a government official who asked not to be identified as they weren’t authorised to speak publicly.
“We belong to one region, our shared space is important in a world that is currently conflicted all over,” Marape said at the press conference. “We want to preserve our Pacific – safe, peaceful, good for all of us to live in, especially our children.”
Albanese said that Australia and Papua New Guinea “are the nearest of neighbours and we are the truest of friends”.
The agreement is confidential and will not be released publicly, but it is believed to bear similarities to statements from the Papua New Guinea leadership that Australia is the Pacific nation’s security partner of choice. Under the agreement, it is understood that any move by Papua New Guinea on security that Australia disapproved of could lead to the NRL deal being cancelled.
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Apple continues AI roll-out to iPhones with customised emojis amid holiday shopping season
By Associated Press
Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence (AI) into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season with a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customised emojis within a matter of seconds.
The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system, iOS 18.2, extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Google began implanting the revolutionary technology on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October to usher in the AI era for Apple and the iPhone, as well as for the iPad and Mac.
The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis”, Apple’s description for emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. Apple says it is placing some limits its AI’s emoji artistry to prevent the distribution of violent or hateful imagery. Other features include an “Image Playground” for a variety of AI-styled illustrations, writing tools and options for summarising emails.
The technology will not work on iPhones that Apple made before 2023 because it requires a special processor that isn’t in older models. The AI will work on the iPhone 16 line-up that came out in September and the premium iPhone 15 models released last year.
That exclusivity is expected to propel a cycle of iPhone upgrades during the current holiday shopping season into next year, driving up Apple’s profit even higher from the US$94 billion that the Cupertino, California, company pocketed in its last financial year ending in September. That expectation is the main reason Apple’s stock price has climbed by about 30 per cent so far this year to push the company’s market value closer to the US$4 trillion threshold for the first time.
Apple is broadening the AI suite’s appeal by including English versions tailored for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK that are included in the latest software update.
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By Associated Press
Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence (AI) into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season with a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customised emojis within a matter of seconds.
The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system, iOS 18.2, extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Google began implanting the revolutionary technology on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October to usher in the AI era for Apple and the iPhone, as well as for the iPad and Mac.
The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis”, Apple’s description for emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. Apple says it is placing some limits its AI’s emoji artistry to prevent the distribution of violent or hateful imagery. Other features include an “Image Playground” for a variety of AI-styled illustrations, writing tools and options for summarising emails.
The technology will not work on iPhones that Apple made before 2023 because it requires a special processor that isn’t in older models. The AI will work on the iPhone 16 line-up that came out in September and the premium iPhone 15 models released last year.
That exclusivity is expected to propel a cycle of iPhone upgrades during the current holiday shopping season into next year, driving up Apple’s profit even higher from the US$94 billion that the Cupertino, California, company pocketed in its last financial year ending in September. That expectation is the main reason Apple’s stock price has climbed by about 30 per cent so far this year to push the company’s market value closer to the US$4 trillion threshold for the first time.
Apple is broadening the AI suite’s appeal by including English versions tailored for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK that are included in the latest software update.
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By SCMP
We have selected five Trending in China stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
A woman in China who survived being pushed off a cliff in Thailand by her husband is now in a legal battle with him after the attempted murder five years ago, as he demands 30 million yuan for a divorce.
After years of unsuccessful blind dates, a man from southern China found love with a Belarusian woman who is a head taller than him. Tian says he always believed he could find true love, and that’s when Namei appeared.Tian’s journey through the world of blind dates was filled with ups and downs, but everything changed when he met the stunning Namei. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
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