CONNECT WITH US
Thursday 16 April 2026
Gulf states turn to alternative air defenses as US delivery delays persist

Middle Eastern Gulf states are seeking alternative air defense systems as delays in US weapons deliveries and rising regional tensions strain existing stockpiles, according to The Wall Street Journal. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expanding procurement beyond traditional US suppliers, turning to South Korea, Ukraine, and the UK to secure faster access to missile defense capabilities

Thursday 16 April 2026
China reportedly considers export curbs on advanced solar manufacturing equipment to the US
Chinese officials have held early-stage discussions on potential restrictions on exports of advanced solar panel manufacturing equipment and technology to the US, Reuters reported, citing five people familiar with the matter. The reported move remains under consideration and has not been finalized, underscoring that it is still at a preliminary and potentially fluid policy stage
Thursday 16 April 2026
YMTC to ramp Wuhan fab in 2026, new capacity unlikely before 2028, oversupply risks seen limited

China-based Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) is advancing an aggressive expansion plan that could become the world's third-largest NAND maker by 2026. The company is set to begin volume production at its third fabrication plant in Wuhan in the second half of 2026

Thursday 16 April 2026
Rockchip reports record results, scales AIoT chips across industries
China-based chip designer Fuzhou Rockchip Electronics posted record full-year 2025 results, with AIoT processors driving growth across automotive, robotics, and industrial markets
Thursday 16 April 2026
SkyeChip IPO signals Malaysia's push into high-value chip design
Malaysia-based semiconductor design firm SkyeChip has appointed Maybank Investment Bank and CIMB Investment Bank as underwriters for its planned Main Market listing, according to a report by The Edge Malaysia
Thursday 16 April 2026
Humanoid robot half-marathon draws Alibaba, Honor in embodied AI test
Embodied AI is moving into real-world testing, and China's tech giants are stepping in. The Beijing Yizhuang humanoid robot half-marathon on April 19 is set to serve as a high-profile stress test for performance, endurance, and autonomy in next-generation robotics
Wednesday 15 April 2026
YMTC to more than double capacity with new fabs amid China chip push
Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) plans to build two additional fabrication plants, alongside a third facility nearing completion — a move that would more than double its production capacity once all three sites are operational, according to people familiar with the matter
Wednesday 15 April 2026
South Korea's 97.5% reliance on Israeli bromine puts chip supply chain at risk
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are stoking concerns over semiconductor materials supply chains, as key inputs such as helium and bromine face potential disruptions amid ongoing conflict in the region
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Stanford AI report: US-China AI gap narrows as China accelerates industrialization
The Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute (HAI) released its 2026 AI Index Annual Report, highlighting a pivotal shift in the global AI race. The report reveals that the performance gap between China and the US in AI model capabilities has significantly narrowed, with both countries now entering a phase of "parallel competition." However, this progress comes alongside sharply rising capital and resource costs
Wednesday 15 April 2026
China ICT firm Tsinghua Unigroup grows revenue, scales AI infrastructure through H3C
China's Tsinghua Unigroup reported full-year 2025 revenue of CNY96.75 billion (US$13.4 billion), up 22.43% year on year, with net profit rising a more modest 7.19% to CNY1.69 billion, reflecting continued investment in AI infrastructure and cloud platforms
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Japan forges physical AI alliance to challenge US and China
Japan is accelerating efforts to build domestic AI capabilities, with SoftBank and major industrial partners forming a new company focused on physical AI to power robots, vehicles, and factory systems. Referred to as the Japan AI Foundation Model Development, the new venture was established by SoftBank, NEC, Honda Motor, and Sony Group, each holding stakes of more than 10%, according to Nikkei Asia and TechWire Asia. Additional investors include Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, and major Japanese banks such as MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, reflecting broad backing from Japan's industrial and financial sectors
Wednesday 15 April 2026
China seeks energy self-sufficiency as geopolitical risks rise
China is preparing to shift the focus of its energy strategy from building power plants to transforming how energy is consumed, as leaders seek to reduce reliance on imported fuels and strengthen national security
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Apple supplier Luxshare guides 1Q26 profit up 20%, expands into AI PCs and data centres
China's Luxshare Precision expects net profit for the first quarter of 2026 to reach CNY3.65–3.71 billion (US$507–515 million), marking a 20%–22% year-on-year increase, even as rising component costs and shifting product cycles weigh on near-term operations
Wednesday 15 April 2026
SK Hynix may cut Nvidia HBM4 shipments as Rubin ramp reportedly faces delays

SK Hynix is reportedly considering reducing its planned 2026 shipments of high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) to Nvidia by about 20-30%, amid delays in ramping up Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin platform, according to ZDNet Korea

Wednesday 15 April 2026
China chip tool imports shift to Southeast Asia as US tightens export controls

China's imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from Southeast Asia surged in 2025, surpassing direct shipments from the US, according to a Nikkei Asia analysis, as Washington moves to tighten export controls on advanced chipmaking tools