🇮🇷 Iran Eases Some Internet Restrictions, as Wider Blackout Passes 50th Day

Iran’s government would restore wider internet access to most online sites for the country’s university professors and researchers, even as the rest of the population heads into its 51st day of a near-total internet blackout.

Access to Google searches and Google Maps has been restored. But users still cannot actually open the sites that, for example, a Google search pulls up, and almost all other internet access remains blocked.

@QSIMedia

🇨🇳 Humanoid robot sprints to victory in Beijing, beating human half-marathon record

The winner from Honor, a Chinese smartphone maker, at a Beijing half-marathon for humanoid robots finished the race today in 50 minutes and 26 seconds — significantly faster than the human world record of 57 minutes recently set by Jacob Kiplimo. But the race wasn’t without hiccups — one robot fell flat at the start line, another bumped into a barrier. 😁

#BRICS

@QSIMedia

🤖 Bio-based foam replaces petroleum-based materials—without changing production processes

The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE under the PBS Extrusion Foam (xPBS) project has successfully developed a bio-based foam made from polybutylene succinate. Thanks to its unique properties, it can replace conventional polyethylene (PE) foams in key applications — such as packaging, protective and transport solutions, and construction applications.

This approach simultaneously addresses CO₂ reduction, compliance with regulatory requirements, and economic efficiency. PBS is bio-based, biodegradable, and can be recycled due to its thermoplastic nature. The xPBS project demonstrates that sustainable plastic solutions are already economically and industrially viable today — and opens up concrete opportunities for companies to actively shape the transformation.

@QSIMedia

🇨🇷 Starlink Mobile will soon be available in Costa Rica with Liberty Latin America

From mountains to national parks and the ocean, customers will stay connected with data apps and messaging. 🏔🛰

@QSIMedia

🇩🇪 Germany's Merz says industrial AI needs less stringent EU regulation

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that AI for industrial use will require ‌more regulatory freedom in the European Union than other AI areas such as consumer ​use to boost productivity. Last month, Berlin to encourage investments to ⁠boost ​AI data processing capacity ​at least fourfold by 2030.

"I will ​push to ease the regulatory burden ⁠in the EU on AI and, ​where possible, to exempt industrial AI ​from the current regulatory straightjacket that is too tight for AI within the European Union," — ​Merz said.

@QSIMedia

🇩🇪🇧🇷 Germany's Merz, Brazil's Lula stress close European-Brazilian cooperation

Both welcomed the entry into force of the EU-Mercosur free ​trade agreement on May 1. Lula also ⁠wanted to discuss the full range of economic cooperation with Merz, including AI, critical minerals and data centers.

"This shows that we ​are sticking to the multilateral order, that we ⁠want a rules-based economic system, and that we want ​this cooperation with as few tariffs as possible – ideally none at ​all," — Merz said. 🤝

@QSIMedia

🤖📈 Siemens AG will prioritize AI investments in the US and China if the EU doesn’t adapt its restrictive regulations

Most of the company’s €1 billion ($1.2 billion) investment in industrial AI will be directed to the US due to Europe’s regulatory burden, according to CEO Roland Busch. The EU’s AI Act and Data Act “miss the mark” by treating industrial AI like consumer applications, adding new layers of oversight to areas already subject to sector-specific rules, he added.

@QSIMedia

Hi everyone 👋

🤑 We’re excited to invite you to the next Q&A + Meet & Greet Call — our first online study hall session! 🎓🎉

This is more than just a session.🎲It’s your chance to:
➡️explore the QSI and the Stellar ecosystem absolutely for free✨
➡️connect with the growing community 📈
➡️get answers to your questions 🧩
➡️share your thoughts and ideas 🗣
➡️get involved and grow 🧠
➡️learn more about tokenization 🤪

The main mechanism of control is money. 💸
❤️ Tokenization provides major benefits to people as well in terms of costs, convenience, economic equality, new opportunities and many other things. Virtually anything can be tokenized!
🔄 It's the process of converting something into a digital token that can be used on a blockchain or another distributed ledger.

Tokenization has already begun worldwide! Stellar is where blockchain meets the real world 🌎✨

📚 How to prepare:
🟠 Watch the Mini Proofs video #1 on Tokenization in the QSI Training Q&A 💙
🟠 Take notes and reflect on key insights ✍️
🟠 Come ready with questions you want to explore deeper 🧠

Do your best, be active and get involved!
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect and contribute. 🚀

🔘 Wednesday, April 22 @ 3pm CDT / 10pm CET / Midnight GST / 6am AEST 🌐

⚡️ For beginners: Access to the channel will be available only after completing the course and passing the test in → @QSITrainingBot. Here you will find a link to Q&A + Meet & Greet Call in Zoom.

See you soon — we’re looking forward to meeting all of you! 💙

#Stellar

@QSIMedia

🇺🇸 Trump Administration to Begin Refunding $166 Billion in Tariffs

The ​refund system set up to allow companies to recover illegally collected tariffs from the U.S. government went ‌live on Monday as thousands of companies rushed to file claims.

"We’ve got over 50% of our invoices loaded so far. We are hoping in the ​next few hours to have them all loaded. I’m very happy we got this process started early," — Foreman said.

@QSIMedia

🇨🇳🇪🇺 BYD has applied to become a member of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. The company is starting production at its new plant in Hungary, aiming to serve European customers from within the region. BYD pushes to be first Chinese member of Europe’s Car Lobby

#BRICS

@QSIMedia

🇮🇳🇰🇷 India and South Korea plan $50 billion trade push with new deals

India and South Korea would boost their economic ties by expanding cooperation in ‌energy, critical minerals, shipbuilding, semiconductors and steel as they seek to double their trade to $50 billion by 2030. It's the first South Korean presidential state visit to India ​in 8 years.

"We decided to upgrade the framework of economic ⁠cooperation between the two countries to create a new engine for shared growth," — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said. 🤝

The ​two countries created a ministerial-level economic cooperation committee for the first time, and they would also strengthen cooperation in areas such as nuclear ​power plants, clean energy as well as trade and investment.

#BRICS

@QSIMedia

🇨🇳🇻🇳 Huawei signs deal with Vietnamese bank SHB to expand Vietnam footprint 🤝

Vietnamese lender SHB and China's Huawei Technologies Group signed a ​strategic cooperation agreement, a move that will allow the Chinese technology giant to expand its presence ​in Vietnam. Under the agreement, Huawei will ​support SHB in designing technology architectures ⁠and building data platforms. It will also support the ​bank in ensuring stable and safe operations.

#BRICS

@QSIMedia

🍏 Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman. John Ternus to become Apple CEO

Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. The transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.

Tim Cook joined Apple in 1998. He became CEO in 2011 and has overseen the introduction of numerous products and services, including new categories like Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro, and services ranging from iCloud and Apple Pay to Apple TV and Apple Music.

@QSIMedia