Smart

A foreign investor in Australia has been fined $508,000 over land banking, in an enforcement action reported by Smart Property Investment. The penalty relates to rules governing foreign ownership of residential land, with authorities targeting investors who hold land without developing it. The case highlights increased scrutiny of foreign buyers in the Australian property market.

Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng has announced a partnership with autonomous driving firm Momenta to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The deal, reported by Reuters, deepens the automaker's push into advanced driver assistance in the world's largest car market, where smart driving features are increasingly central to competing with local electric vehicle brands.

EUobserver reports that a Chinese company best known for making app-connected sex toys has been supplying components used in Russian military technology deployed against Ukraine. The investigation says the firm's dual-use electronics slipped through because the EU's sanctions regime does not adequately cover such indirect component suppliers, exposing what the outlet calls a sanctions blind spot that European policymakers have yet to close.

Apple's reported decision to skip a so-called iPhone 18 release this year has sparked debate about whether the iPhone 17 remains a smart purchase. Shoppers weighing an upgrade are asking whether the current lineup is still competitive or whether waiting for future models makes more sense given the unusual naming gap.

Apple has announced that its first foldable iPhone, part of a new iPhone Duo, will go on sale October 23, with pre-orders opening ahead of the launch. The announcement confirms Apple's long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market, putting it in direct competition with Samsung and other makers. Attention is now on pricing, availability and how the device compares to rival foldables.

A new survey finds 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 believe their smartphone use harms their everyday life. The figure, reported in the Netherlands, points to growing concern among young adults about screen time, attention, sleep and wellbeing, even as phones remain central to work and social life.

Apple has taken the lead in China's smartphone market following the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, according to a South China Morning Post report. The report questions whether Apple can hold onto the top spot, amid intense competition from domestic Chinese brands and shifting consumer demand in one of the world's largest smartphone markets.

The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology has published a review raising doubts about how accurately smartwatches measure health and fitness metrics. The findings challenge the reliability of consumer wearables for tracking activity, heart rate and related data, adding to ongoing debate about whether the devices deliver on their health claims.

Finnish smart ring maker Oura has delayed its planned initial public offering, with the company describing the postponement as 'a common problem'. The move comes despite growing interest in its health-tracking wearables, and it fuels ongoing debate about whether volatile market conditions are pushing ambitious tech and health companies to hold off on going public.

A new commentary argues that AI risk goes beyond building smarter models, warning that companies face growing exposure as autonomous AI agents spread through enterprises. It calls on corporate boards to put governance around autonomy, access, accountability and resilience in place before AI agents scale, framing security as a board-level duty rather than a purely technical one.

The Smarter Web Company has priced its "MORE" preferred shares for an IPO on the London Stock Exchange Main Market. The listing gives the company access to London's flagship market, and the move is drawing attention from investors tracking new share offerings and the company's expansion plans.