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Anthropology professor Biao Xiang has become an unexpected favourite among young people in China, who praise him for articulating the anxiety and pressures they face over work, education and an uncertain future. BBC coverage highlights how his commentary resonates with a generation feeling squeezed by intense competition, with many fans saying he understands their struggles better than most public figures.

Xiaomi has announced that its Android smartphones can now work with the Apple Watch, a notable cross-brand move since the smartwatch has long been limited to iPhones. The news is drawing attention in the tech press as an unusual instance of Apple and Xiaomi ecosystems overlapping, raising questions about what features will actually be available to users pairing the two devices.

China's Mengxiang, the country's deep-sea drilling vessel, has achieved a series of milestones during its voyage in the South China Sea, according to China Daily. The achievements mark progress for the ship, which is designed to drill deeper into the ocean floor than any previous vessel. The development highlights China's growing capabilities in deep-sea exploration technology.

Xiaomi has launched a new 10,000mAh power bank globally, featuring a built-in cable and 22.5W charging output. The company is promoting the device as safer than previous models, with improved protection features. The accessory targets users seeking a compact, all-in-one portable charger without carrying separate cables.

Solus Linux, the independent Linux distribution, has introduced a formal policy governing contributions created with AI and large language models. The move, reported by Linuxiac, sets clear rules for how AI-assisted code is handled in the project. It reflects a broader debate in open-source communities about how to manage the growing volume of AI-generated submissions to volunteer-maintained software projects.

A new maintenance release of Flatpak, the Linux application sandboxing and distribution framework, is out with version 1.18.4 addressing six security vulnerabilities. Linux users and system administrators are being encouraged to update their installations promptly. The release is drawing attention in the free and open-source software and cybersecurity communities, where Flatpak updates are closely watched because the tool is widely used for running sandboxed desktop applications across Linux distributions.

Xiaomi has introduced a Pocket Guitar, a compact gadget designed to attach to smartphones and let users play a portable string instrument. The announcement has drawn attention among gadget enthusiasts curious about how the device works and who it is aimed at. Details on pricing and availability were not included in initial reports, and reactions to the product are still limited.

The self-hosted Git service Gitea has released version 28.0, dropping its long-standing 1.x version numbering scheme. The release introduces audit logs for tracking instance activity and dedicated bot accounts to help administrators manage automated access more cleanly. Coverage from Linuxiac is circulating among Linux and open-source communities, with users discussing what the versioning change signals for the project's future and how the new security and automation features will affect self-hosted deployments.

Microsoft has introduced native Linux container workflow support in WSL, letting developers run containers directly within the Windows Subsystem for Linux. The move, reported by Linuxiac, is being discussed among Linux and open-source enthusiasts, who see it as another step in Microsoft's broader embrace of Linux tooling for developers working across Windows and Linux environments.

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro has become the top-selling phone in China, outselling rival flagship models from Huawei and Xiaomi, according to Forbes. The result is notable in a fiercely competitive Chinese market where domestic brands have been gaining ground, and it suggests continued strong demand for Apple's premium devices among Chinese consumers despite intense local competition.

Applied Materials and Kioxia have announced a collaboration to develop memory technology aimed at artificial intelligence applications. The partnership pairs the US semiconductor equipment maker with the Japanese flash memory producer as demand grows for advanced storage to support AI workloads. Further details on the scope and terms of the agreement were not provided in the initial report.

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro has become China's best-selling phone, outselling flagship models from domestic rivals Huawei and Xiaomi. The result is notable in a market where Chinese brands have gained ground and government pressure has discouraged iPhone purchases. It suggests demand for Apple's premium devices remains strong among Chinese consumers despite intense local competition.