February 16, 2026

Alibaba Launches Qwen-3.5 AI Model, Boosting Global AI Competition

Alibaba has released its new AI model Qwen-3.5, featuring 397 billion parameters and strong performance. This launch intensifies the AI race between China and the US.

February 16, 2026

US Lawmakers Demand $10M Funding for VPNs to Help Iranians Access Free Internet

US officials urge quick funding of $10 million for VPNs to help 25 million Iranians bypass strict internet censorship amid protests. The Open Technology Fund faces delays in receiving funds, risking millions losing safe internet access.

February 16, 2026

China’s Xi Pushes AI and Consumer Spending to Combat 2026 Economic Challenges

Chinese President Xi Jinping stresses boosting incomes and AI innovation to drive domestic demand and steady China’s economy in 2026.

February 16, 2026

Indian IT Firm Sues US AI Company Anthropic Over Name Rights

Anthropic Software Private Limited from Belagavi is fighting US-based Anthropic PBC for the rights to the 'Anthropic' name. The US firm missed court dates and now faces fresh summons in India. The Indian company claims prior rights and wants the US firm to stop using the name online and offline.

February 16, 2026

Inner Mongolia to Build Flexible Coal-Green Energy Power Plants for Shanghai and Jiangsu

Inner Mongolia will start building two new flexible power plants this year. These plants mix coal and green energy to support eastern China's cities like Shanghai and Jiangsu. Coal will back up wind and solar power, not lead it. This marks a big change in China's energy use.