The HK government is mulling measures to regulate online ride-hailing services. Prof. Donald LOW, the Professor of Practice of Division of Public Policy (PPOL), made reference to Singapore, where ride-hailing platforms have already been legalized, pointing out that the legalization process in HK would be easier, and there will certainly be some "losers" in the process. (Various media)

Two HKUST students, Tommy NGAN (Year 2, Dual Degree Program in Technology & Management) and Johnny HO (Year 2, BBA in Information Systems), have clinched numerous accolades in various I&T competitions. They are poised to launch an AI-driven DSE exam preparation platform, designed to help DSE candidates to level-up their study strategies. (HK Economic Times)

A team led by Prof. Harry YANG, the Assistant Professor of Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC), has developed a new, highly-efficient image generation model LightGen in collaboration with Everlyn AI and the University of Central Florida (UCF). The findings were unveiled in their paper titled "LightGen: Efficient Image Generation through Knowledge Distillation and Direct Preference Optimization". (Sina and Sina HK)

A column article by Prof. Erwin HUANG, the Adjunct Professor of Division of Integrative Systems & Design (ISD), on how to cope with the changing world in AI era. (HK Economic Times)

An article by Prof. Michael EDESESS, the Adjunct Professor of Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR), on US under Trump administration. (China Daily - HK)

An article by the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) student, Mr. David YU Chak-Wai, on how businesses in Hong Kong should address workplace harassment and provide a safe environment for their employees. (SCMP)

In an article on the population issue in South Korea, Prof. Stuart GIETEL-BASTEN, the Professor of Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and Division of Social Science (SOSC), was quoted as saying that he would be surprised to see a dramatic and pronounced increase over the next few years, because the policies based around childcare and financial incentives do not address some of the root causes: issues around the fragility of work, sexism and discrimination, and the high expectations of what parents have to do for children. (msn.com)

An advertorial about HKUST’s two-year Master Program in Public Policy (MPP), featuring interview of Program Co-Directors Prof. Alex HE and Dr. Marie BERNAL. They shared how the program provides comprehensive training and an 8-month policy analysis component to cultivate public policy professional. (HK01)

A collaborative research team has introduced a nitrogen-centric framework that explains the light-absorbing effects of atmospheric organic aerosols. The study was jointly led by Prof. YU Jianzhen, the Chair Professor of Department of Chemistry (CHEM) and Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR), Prof. FU Tzung-May, Professor of the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and National Center for Applied Mathematics Shenzhen (NCAMS). The study, entitled “Nitrogen Dominates Global Atmospheric Organic Aerosol Absorption”, was published in the top-tier international journal Science. (Various media)

In a feature on GBA collaborations, WWP interviewed the Research Professor of the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas (EMIA), Prof. Kei-May LAU, and HKUST alumnus LEUNG Foo about their journeys in developing innovative semiconductor technologies to contribute to Hong Kong. The duo shared insights into how HK’s unique advantages have fueled the growth of their start-ups and how the collaborative ecosystem within the GBA offers a fertile ground for further advancements. Meanwhile, WWP also talked to SHCIRI General Director Prof. YANG Jinglei, who elaborated on HKUST's strategic developments in Hetao. He emphasized SHCIRI's pivotal role in driving the integration of Shenzhen and Hong Kong's strengths, aiming to establish a world-class I&T hub in the region. (Various media)