Wuhan tops news: China blocks Manus–Meta deal; robotaxi woes with Apollo Go; Beijing counters PPE lawsuits. Wuhan, Hubei capital (pop ~13.7M).
Over 100 driverless Baidu robotaxis stopped due to system malfunctions in Wuhan, China, causing passengers to be stranded in traffic. No injuries reported. The incident marks the first mass shutdown of autonomous taxis in China, raising safety concerns for the technology's deployment.
China's National Development and Reform Commission has ordered the unwinding of Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, saying it is prohibiting foreign investment in the project. Manus had relocated to Singapore in 2025; Meta has integrated Manus teams into its Singapore office and said the transaction complied with law. The decision is sharpening US–China tech separation.