Elon Musk said xAI's next-generation AI computer cluster Colossus 2 could more than double its number of NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA.US) chips by the end of this year.

Musk said in a post on social platform X that Colossus 2 so far has 110,000 Nvidia GB200 chips and 440,000 GB300 chips. Another 220,000 GB300 chips are expected to begin operations next week, with an additional 220,000 chips expected in November.

If all goes well, another 220,000 chips may be put into operation in late December, he added.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
Website: www.aastocks.com

Citi's research report cited management as saying that UBTECH ROBOTICS (09880.HK) maintained its 2026 industrial humanoid robot shipment target of 4,000-5,000 units, with bipedal and wheeled robots each accounting for half. Although around two-thirds of current humanoid robot demand comes from government data training centers, industrial user orders are expected to gradually replace training center demand over the next one to two years.

UBTECH ROBOTICS believed EBITDA may turn profitable in 2H26, and net profit may be recorded in 2027. In addition, UBTECH ROBOTICS is set to launch its self-developed simulation platform to reduce reliance on NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA.US) robotics toolkits and pave the way for import substitution across the broader ecosystem in the future.

The broker maintained its Buy rating on UBTECH ROBOTICS with a TP of HKD125.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
Website: www.aastocks.com

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan attended a welcome banquet hosted by US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the White House.

According to a White House press release, more than 100 people attended the state dinner, mainly US government officials, business leaders and their spouses, including Apple Inc. (AAPL.US)'s Tim Cook, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA.US)'s Jensen Huang and his wife, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US)'s Elon Musk, Meta Platforms, Inc. (META.US)'s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US)'s Jeff Bezos and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD.US)'s Lisa Su. Anthropic, however, was not on the guest list.

For China, the list included only seven officials accompanying Xi and Trump and their spouses, including Cai Qi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng, Zheng Shanjie, Wang Wentao, Ma Zhaoxu and Xie Feng.
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Google, OpenAI and Anthropic are pushing ahead with the establishment of an industry self-regulatory body named Standards Authority for Frontier AI (SAFA), which will operate independently without government regulation, The Information, citing sources, reported. The new organization could be established as early as the end of 2026 or early 2027.

The organization will focus on specific testing and audit frameworks, including support for third-party pre-deployment safety testing, incident reporting requirements and auditor qualification standards. The concept originated from a proposal put forward in July by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.

The three companies initially sought to establish a public-private partnership mechanism under US federal regulation, but shifted to a purely industry self-regulatory approach after a draft White House executive order was shelved. Candidates for the organization's CEO role include former White House artificial intelligence policy adviser Sriram Krishnan. However, whether SAFA can gain broad industry recognition and clarify its division of responsibilities with government regulators remains to be seen.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
Website: www.aastocks.com

• This milestone marks the first IND submission from XtalPi's proprietary pipeline, recently unveiled in its interim results, validating the company's AI and robotics-driven drug discovery platform and its transition to a clinical-stage organization.
• Preclinical data demonstrate sub-nanomolar potency (< 1 nM) alongside a gut-to-blood exposure ratio exceeding 1,000:1, confining pharmacological activity to the gastrointestinal tract to limit systemic exposure.
• The candidate is the industry's first gut-restricted pan-TRK inhibitor developed for IBS and IBD, targeting a critical therapeutic gap in the long-term management of chronic pain without the neurological liabilities of systemic inhibitors.

BOSTON and SHENZHEN, CHINA, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- XtalPi (HKEX: 2228), an AI- and robotics-driven drug and materials discovery company, today announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for KQTD-126. Developed internally, the candidate is a potential first-in-class gut-restricted pan-tropomyosin receptor kinase (pan-TRK) inhibitor designed to treat chronic intestinal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

IBS affects approximately 10%–15% of the global population, while more than 10 million people live with IBD. Chronic abdominal pain is a major burden for patients with IBS and can persist in some patients with IBD even when standard therapies control their underlying inflammation. Despite available treatments, additional options that provide sustained pain relief and are suitable for long-term use remain an unmet clinical need. According to BCC Research, the global IBS and IBD therapeutics market is projected to reach US$52.6 billion by 2030.

KQTD-126 targets the TRK family of receptors (TRKA, TRKB, and TRKC), which directly regulate nerve activity and pain-signal amplification in the gut. While inhibiting these pathways can effectively manages this pain, TRK receptors also operate throughout the central nervous system. Consequently, traditional systemic TRK inhibitors carry a high risk of neurological side effects. A viable chronic pain treatment must therefore confine its activity strictly to the gastrointestinal tract.

Achieving this precise biological profile required navigating a vast chemical space to balance target affinity and kinase selectivity with properties governing tissue distribution. To resolve these competing design objectives, XtalPi leveraged its generative and predictive AI models integrated with its fleet of automated chemistry robots. This closed-loop process of computational design, automated synthesis, empirical screening, and molecular refinement allowed the company to iterate across structural variants and achieve robust gut restriction while preserving strong target activity and selectivity.

In preclinical studies, KQTD-126 achieved pan-TRK inhibition at sub-nanomolar concentrations (IC₅₀ < 1 nM) and maintained high selectivity over other kinases. The candidate also demonstrated a gut tissue-to-blood exposure ratio exceeding 1,000:1. Together, these findings support KQTD-126's development as a locally acting treatment intended to deliver sustained pain relief with a wider therapeutic window.

KQTD-126 is the first program in XtalPi's proprietary pipeline to reach an IND submission since the portfolio was unveiled in the company's recent interim results. As a global scientific utility platform, XtalPi draws on a shared foundation of quantum physics, AI, and robotics to deliver discovery capabilities spanning small molecules, antibodies, peptides, siRNA therapeutics, and molecular glues. This comprehensive infrastructure empowers the company and its partners to pursue high-value targets using the modality best suited to the underlying biology. By advancing internal assets alongside established collaborations, XtalPi maximizes the impact of its technology to resolve complex drug design challenges and deliver transformative therapies for patients worldwide.

About XtalPi

XtalPi Holdings Limited (XtalPi, 2228.HK) was founded in 2015 by three physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is an innovative R&D platform powered by quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and robotics. By integrating first-principles calculations, AI algorithms, high-performance cloud computing, and standardized automation systems, XtalPi provides digital and intelligent R&D solutions for companies in the pharmaceutical, materials science, agricultural technology, energy, new chemicals, and cosmetics industries.

ORACLE (ORCL.US) is taking measures to avoid incurring substantial costs related to a large data center being built in New Mexico. The company issued a force majeure notice to an affiliate of project developer BLUE OWL CAPITAL (OWL.US), requesting deferred payments if the data center fails to commence operations as scheduled in 2028.

The data center is facing regulatory hurdles due to local opposition. An Oracle spokesperson said force majeure notices are common in development projects of this scale and are typically used to preserve contractual rights. The notice itself does not constitute a project delay nor does it alter delivery expectations.

Overnight (24th), shares of ORACLE (ORCL.US) dived 3.5% to USD139.54, while BLUE OWL CAPITAL (OWL.US) also slid 3.6% to USD9.25.
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OSLO, Norway, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On 24 September 2026, CATL opened its largest NING SERVICE centre outside Asia in Oslo, extending its battery lifecycle service network in Europe.

The 8,000 square metre centre will serve Norway and the wider Nordic region, providing battery services, training local technicians and supporting circular economy efforts across the region.

Norway is one of the world's most advanced EV markets. In August, battery electric vehicles made up 98.7% of new passenger car registrations, and electric buses accounted for more than 60% of bus and coach registrations. As this fleet grows and ages, demand for battery diagnostics, repair and life extension is rising. The Norway Centre is built to meet it.

Full-lifecycle battery services

• Drawing on CATL's R&D and manufacturing expertise, NING SERVICE covers the full battery lifecycle: testing, maintenance, repair, insurance, second life and recycling. Its services span transport, energy storage and robotics.
• NING SERVICE is helping shift the aftermarket from replacing batteries to repairing them, and has cut turnaround for complex repairs from 72 to 48 hours.
• Its deep repair capability covers 76.8% of EV models and applies CATL's production-line quality standards. The Intelligent Eagle Eye System, used in more than 150 repair facilities, provides full traceability and quality control.
• The centre will also serve as a brand experience space and sales agent for emerging electric applications, including vessels, eVTOL aircraft and robotics. NING SERVICE already manages agency sales for CATL's ecosystem partners, such as AutoFlight and Galbot.

Circularity and local skills

CATL launched the Global Energy Circularity Commitment (GECC) in strategic partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. In line with its vision, NING SERVICE is building an aftermarket ecosystem that keeps batteries in use for longer and returns their materials into new batteries.

"In a circular economy, batteries stay in use at their highest value for as long as possible, and their materials are recovered to make new ones. Inspection, maintenance and repair services are an important part of making that happen at scale," said Miranda Schnitger, Climate Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The centre will create skilled green jobs and become NING SERVICE's main training hub in the Nordics. Drawing on a training network across 39 European countries and a team of 14 experienced instructors, it will offer courses certified by CATL and practical training for local technicians. NING SERVICE also plans to work more closely with Norwegian universities and technical institutions to build local expertise.

Bringing service closer to customers

CATL is expanding its local presence worldwide through local infrastructure and ecosystem partnerships. The Norway Centre will be a key hub in NING SERVICE's European network, bringing high-quality service closer to customers in line with its promise to be "Your Nearby New Energy Service Expert."

"CATL brings technology, industry expertise and a trusted brand. Combined with YES-EU's local knowledge and service capabilities, we can build a stronger battery service ecosystem across the Nordics and support the long-term growth of Europe's EV market," said Benedikt G. Gudmundsson, Founder and Chairman of YES-EU Group.

"Customers are at the heart of everything we do at NING SERVICE. Working closely with our local partners, we will provide reliable battery lifecycle services that meet the needs of Norway's EV market and support its continued electrification," said Bruce Li, President of Quality Systems, Aftermarket Business Division, CATL.

NING SERVICE operates 1,394 service locations across 85 countries and regions. It aims to reach 100 countries and regions by 2027 and 10,000 service locations by 2030.

Ahead of the Xi-Trump meeting, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US) CEO and SpaceX (SPCX.US) founder Elon Musk said in an interview with CGTN that he called on the two countries to lower tariffs and reduce trade restrictions, while urging the US and China to reach an agreement on a joint AI regulatory platform.

Musk said that Xi Jinping is an outstanding leader and that China has achieved tremendous development during his tenure. He also praised China's manufacturing capabilities, saying this is where the magic of Tesla's Shanghai factory lies.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
Website: www.aastocks.com

Goldman Sachs published a research report covering XIAOMI-W (01810.HK), which launched the open-source MiMo-V2.6 AI model series on Sep 22-23, alongside the latest flagship Xiaomi 18 Pro smartphone series, and introduced multiple AIoT devices covering tablets, smartwatches and smart home products.

The broker believed MiMo-V2.6 consolidates Xiaomi's position as a leading foundation model developer and was positively surprised that its API pricing remained unchanged.

MiMo-V2.6 is among the few open-source frontier AI models supporting multimodal reasoning with trillion-parameter scale capabilities. Pricing for its real-time API and personal token plans remained unchanged from the V2.5 series, making it one of the most cost-effective Chinese AI models.

The broker believed the competitive pricing does not reflect weakening pricing power, but instead stems from Xiaomi's long-term AI monetization strategy, leading training/inference efficiency and strong balance sheet. The broker was also optimistic about Xiaomi expanding API/token plans and large language model applications within its Human x Car x Home ecosystem.

On smartphones, the broker maintained a cautious view on shipment volumes including the Xiaomi 18 Pro series, as the Xiaomi 17 series was already the best-selling flagship series while demand remains soft and faces price increases. However, the broker opined the 18 Pro series will help solidify Xiaomi's position as China's top-three premium smartphone brand behind Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) and Huawei. The broker maintained a Buy rating with a TP of HKD39.
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AASTOCKS Financial News
Website: www.aastocks.com

內地酒店 5 折、 1元餐飲 連續 5 週限時開搶

香港2026年9月24日 /美通社/ -- 中秋及國慶連假將至，港人出遊熱潮持續升溫。同程旅行（0780.HK）旗下線上旅遊預訂平台 HopeGoo 宣布，於 9 月 22 日至 10 月 23 日推出「週五北上著數Day」企劃，連續 5 個星期五發放酒店及餐飲等多款重磅優惠，全方位滿足香港市民連假及週末北上消費需求。

大灣區度假成港人新常態   深度過夜遊帶動住宿需求 
據香港入境事務處預測，連假期間將有約 876 萬人次經各管制站進出香港，反映短途大灣區度假已成為港人新習慣。同時，港人北上消費模式已由「即日快閃」進一步轉型為「兩日一夜/三日兩夜」。

HopeGoo 平台數據顯示，港人北上住宿需求持續走高。其中，周五假期當日出發的北上高鐵訂單按年增長 36%，高品質酒店預訂熱度亦按年升 26%。熱門目的地更由大灣區進一步擴展，前十名包括深圳、廣州、上海、北京、珠海、重慶、長沙、杭州、成都及佛山等遠途城市。此外，內地秋色漸入佳境，疊加雙節假期效應，帶動 9 月以來港人赴內地秋遊度假訂單按年大增 58%。

HopeGoo 平台相關負責人表示：「隨著高鐵網絡持續擴展，『周五規劃、周末出發』已成為港人高頻度假的新模式。HopeGoo 期待透過『週五北上著數Day』串聯交通、住宿、餐飲及遊玩需求，降低用戶出行成本，打造更便利、高性價比的北上旅遊體驗。」

逢週五三大時段限時開搶   半價住酒店兼享1元餐飲 
「週五北上著數Day」期間，用戶只需於 App 完成指定任務，即可解鎖當周搶購資格，並於週五指定時段憑 G-Coins 參與以下三大搶購：
上午 10:00：內地酒店 5 折優惠券（最高減 HK$200）
下午 1:00：瑞幸咖啡減免券（滿 $21 減 $20）
下午 3:00：奈雪的茶減免券（滿 $21 減 $20）

此外，活動同步開放多項常規優惠，涵蓋國際及港澳台酒店、國際機票等。內地酒店新客更可享低至 93 折，相關優惠均可與 G-Coins 積分抵扣疊加使用。

週四會員日專享權益   G-Coins 升級抵扣享「折上折」
除了週五限時搶購，HopeGoo 亦於每週四推出會員專享權益。用戶於會員日預訂產品，可享 G-Coins 放大抵扣優惠；若配合平台優惠券一同使用，更可實現「折上折」，讓用戶以更具競爭力的價格鎖定優質行程。 

產品線全方位升級   全面滿足北上需求 
為提供一站式北上出行解決方案，HopeGoo 平台全面升級旅遊產品線，整合跨境高鐵、巴士服務、內地景點門票及在地吃喝玩樂體驗，讓用戶輕鬆完成全流程預訂。

因應秋季旅遊熱潮，平台同步推出長線賞秋主題產品，覆蓋阿勒泰、興安盟、大興安嶺及長白山等熱門目的地，提供機票、高鐵、高品質酒店及門票一站式預訂。 

不論是上班族「放工去深圳」快閃放鬆、全家前往高鐵 1-2 小時圈「親子放空」，或是規劃長途深度遊，HopeGoo 均能精準滿足各類北上出行需求。

HopeGoo 相關負責人表示，未來平台將繼續圍繞港人北上及度假需求，聯合更多酒店、交通、餐飲及景區商家，整合多樣化權益與優質產品，將住宿、出行與在地玩樂串聯為更簡單的預訂方案。同時，平台會將「週五北上」打造為貼合港人消費習慣的長期優惠，致力將 HopeGoo 打造成為香港市民北上出行度假的首選旅遊平台。