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Monday 9 February 2026
India reportedly explores linking UPI with China-linked Alipay+ to expand cross-border digital payments
India is in talks with Ant International, the Singapore-based payments firm with roots in China's Ant Group, to link its Alipay+ cross-border payments platform with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a move that could significantly expand the overseas usability of India's dominant digital payments system, two government sources told Reuters
Sunday 8 February 2026
Record Japan blizzard threatens AI chip supply chains
A record-breaking blizzard driven by extreme weather has battered Japan's northern Aomori Prefecture, dumping snow at more than two and a half times the historical average. The storm has claimed lives, paralyzed local commerce, and raised fresh concerns about the resilience of global technology supply chains
Sunday 8 February 2026
Next-gen Ku/Ka metasurface antenna to launch through JDI-Kymeta collab
Japan Display Inc. (JDI) has entered a strategic master supply agreement with Kymeta, a global leader in mobile satellite communications powered by metamaterials technology, to develop glass substrates for a next-generation multi-band metasurface antenna. The collaboration aims to create the industry's first metasurface terminal capable of operating concurrently across Ku and Ka-band satellite frequencies
Sunday 8 February 2026
Shanghai's AI chip boom powers China's homegrown computing future
In 2025, Shanghai's domestic AI chip sector surged alongside capital market activity. MetaX reported CNY740 million (US$106 million) in revenue in 2024, rising to CNY915 million in the first half of 2025. The company listed on the STAR Market in December, raising over CNY2 billion and reaching a CNY200 billion valuation to fund sub-7nm R&D
Saturday 7 February 2026
SK Hynix clears power hurdle in Yongin as Samsung faces site delays

South Korea is moving ahead with plans to develop what it bills as the world's largest semiconductor cluster in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, where SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics plan to build up to 10 advanced wafer fabs. Infrastructure issues that once drew intense scrutiny, particularly power supply, have eased after authorities adopted an unconventional approach that integrates power grids into road construction

Friday 6 February 2026
South Korean president meets conglomerate chiefs as Samsung, others pledge US$186b in regional investments

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung recently convened a meeting at the Blue House titled the "Corporate Roundtable on Youth Employment and Expanded Regional Investment," bringing together leaders from the country's 10 largest conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and LG Group, along with representatives from the financial sector. Lee urged companies to work with the government to promote youth employment, entrepreneurship and more balanced regional development

Friday 6 February 2026
India's 2026–27 budget signals systemic overhaul for manufacturing, semiconductors, and digital investment
India's Union Budget for fiscal year 2026–27, unveiled on February 1, 2026, emphasizes manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI-linked infrastructure as central pillars of economic growth. The measures aim to strengthen supply chains, reduce import dependence, and institutionalize compliance frameworks for both domestic and foreign investors
Friday 6 February 2026
Japanese firms in Vietnam see Chinese counterparts as expansion competitors
A recent survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) shows that Japanese companies operating in Vietnam remain committed to expansion, even as they increasingly view China as their main competitive threat
Friday 6 February 2026
Samsung foundry said to plan 10% price hike for 4nm, 8nm nodes
Samsung Electronics' foundry business is reportedly preparing price increases for certain process technologies, including 4nm and 8nm nodes, with hikes reportedly around 10%. Despite the adjustment, Samsung is expected to maintain a pricing advantage over TSMC as TSMC continues to raise its own wafer prices
Friday 6 February 2026
TSMC’s 3nm bet in Japan signals a deeper Taiwan-Japan tech pact
To meet the surging demand driven by AI, TSMC is upgrading its second wafer fab under construction in Kumamoto, Japan, to use more advanced 3nm process technology. This development was personally conveyed by TSMC chairman C.C. Wei to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
Friday 6 February 2026
APE 2026 Singapore: Opto Precision highlights smart glass modules with Taiwan supply chain
The smart glasses market drew attention at the third Asia Photonics Expo (APE 2026), where Singapore-based Opto Precision showcased smart glasses module solutions that integrate artificial intelligence features while addressing myopia, a long-standing challenge for some potential users
Friday 6 February 2026
PC makers reportedly eye China DRAM for the first time as global memory supply tightens
Global DRAM supply remains tight, pushing major PC makers, including HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus, to consider sourcing memory chips for the first time from Chinese suppliers such as ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) to offset price surges driven by booming AI demand
Friday 6 February 2026
Intel, AMD warn of extended server CPU delays in China
Intel and AMD are facing acute server CPU shortages in China, with delivery times for some Intel products stretching to as long as six months, driven by surging AI data center demand and intensifying pressure across the global chip supply chain
Friday 6 February 2026
South Korea aims to lead global quantum chip manufacturing by 2035
Global quantum technology is shifting from research to commercialization. South Korea is advancing its national strategy centered on its first quantum comprehensive plan. The government recently unveiled its first quantum cluster basic plan. The aim is to build a robust quantum ecosystem and catch up with the currently leading countries
Friday 6 February 2026
The Kumamoto master plan: behind TSMC's strategic leap to 3nm supremacy
TSMC is doubling down on Japan. By upgrading its second Kumamoto facility to 3-nanometer production, the chipmaking giant has turned what was once a secondary supply-chain hedge into a cornerstone of its global strategy to dominate advanced AI silicon