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Monday 7 July 2025
Ennostar divests Kfes Lighting in strategic pivot to high-growth sectors

Ennostar, through its subsidiary Epistar JV, announced Monday that it will divest its entire stake in Kfes Lighting, as part of a broader strategic shift to streamline its operations and sharpen its focus on high-growth sectors. The transaction, valued at US$35.73 million, was approved by Ennostar's board and is expected to improve the group's financial flexibility

Monday 7 July 2025
South Korea seeks US tariff extension, proposing manufacturing partnership
South Korea is seeking to extend a looming tariff grace period tied to US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff policy. South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo traveled to Washington last week to present what officials describe as a "technology-driven framework" aimed at reshaping the conversation around tariffs into one of strategic industrial cooperation
Monday 7 July 2025
Nissan reportedly in talks with Foxconn to explore electric vehicle production at Oppama plant
Nissan Motor is engaging in discussions with Taiwan's Foxconn to potentially use its Oppama plant in Kanagawa Prefecture for electric vehicle (EV) production. This move forms part of Nissan's broader plan to restructure and optimize its manufacturing operations, according to Nikkei, Reuters, and Yomiuri
Monday 7 July 2025
Samsung's 1H25 performance incentive rates: Samsung foundry bonus drops to 0

Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division, which oversees its semiconductor operations, has capped its performance bonus for the first half of 2025 at just 25% of the base monthly salary — the lowest among the company's major business units

Monday 7 July 2025
Xiaomi's 'toys for grown-ups' strategy fuels hype for YU7 EV, smart glasses
Xiaomi's latest breakout products, the YU7 electric vehicle and AI-powered smart glasses, are making waves not just for their functionality, but for how they're being positioned and sold. In today's digital-first consumer economy, tech is no longer just about utilities; it's a lifestyle marker. Analysts are increasingly framing this shift as "hype-driven tech consumption," with some even likening it to the rise of "tech collectibles.
Monday 7 July 2025
Huawei rejects allegations that its Pangu AI model copied Alibaba's Qwen
Huawei has pushed back against claims that its newly open-sourced Pangu Pro MoE 72B model plagiarized Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen-2.5 14B), after a technical analysis flagged unusually high parameter-level similarities between the two large language models (LLMs)
Monday 7 July 2025
Talent crunch in Vietnam puts Luxshare's investment plans in limbo
Apple supplier Luxshare-ICT (also known as Luxshare Precision) has called on the Vietnamese government to address ongoing skilled labor shortages and bureaucratic inefficiencies in Nghe An province, warning that unresolved issues could limit its future investment plans in Vietnam
Monday 7 July 2025
US tariff rates: 10% or 70%? Industry says it will determine chip supply direction
Following the announcement of a preliminary tariff agreement framework with Vietnam, US President Donald Trump recently told the media that letters would soon be sent to several related countries outlining subsequent tariff regulations. Regarding the scope of tariffs, Trump's statements were ambiguous, indicating some countries would face rates between 10-20%, while others could see tariffs as high as 60-70%, a significant disparity
Monday 7 July 2025
China's solar overcapacity campaign targets US-hit industries
China launched a "de-involution" campaign targeting solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle sectors since mid-March following the Two Sessions, focusing on industries hit by US trade restrictions under the Inflation Reduction Act
Monday 7 July 2025
Unclear US definitions on origin washing put Vietnam in crossfire of both superpowers
The US and Vietnam recently agreed on tariffs up to 40% on certain goods transshipped through Vietnam, targeting origin washing used to evade US duties. This move is part of a broader US effort against China and others, creating uncertainty for trade and impacting China-Vietnam relations and Taiwanese firms in the area
Monday 7 July 2025
Weekly news roundup: Samsung secures patents, Intel leadership shakeup, Apple foldable prototype
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from June 30 to July 6, 2025. This week's highlights include Samsung's strategic licensing of Intel patents to avoid global IP battles, Intel's executive shakeup, and Apple edges closer to launching a foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, China's domestic AI chipmakers face steep uphill battles, while Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem formed a new alliance backing TSMC's international expansion
Monday 7 July 2025
US plans AI chip curbs on Malaysia, Thailand over China concerns
President Donald Trump's administration plans to restrict shipments of AI chips from the likes of Nvidia Corp. to Malaysia and Thailand, part of an effort to crack down on suspected semiconductor smuggling into China
Monday 7 July 2025
Tariff pressure pushes South Korea down on list of top US import sources
South Korea's exports to the US have declined due to growing protectionist measures under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the competitiveness of South Korean products in the US market. A recent Korea International Trade Association (KITA) report highlights the impact of tariffs on key export sectors and warns of further challenges ahead if reciprocal tariffs are fully enforced
Monday 7 July 2025
China trains AI natives as it closes the algorithm gap with the US
As global competition in artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies, the US-China rivalry has expanded beyond chips and models to include the competition for talent and education integration
Monday 7 July 2025
Australia sues China-backed firm over rare earths stake in national security move
Australia has filed a lawsuit against China-backed Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company for violating foreign investment laws, demanding it divest from rare earths producer Northern Minerals, as rare earths become a focal point for geopolitical and technological competition