Some of the world's top solar power companies have teamed up to launch the first large-scale recycling system for solar panels in Europe, to stay one step ahead of regulators by showing an industry-led scheme can work. The goal is to set up a voluntary take-back system for solar modules by the end of 2008, the group handling the project said.

"...Yun's departure and Lee's appointment were two parts of today's bigger management shakeup. Samsung also announced the replacement of President Hwang Chang Gyu, head of the semiconductor division, with Kwon Oh Hyun, who has been running the non-memory chip business. Hwang will become the new CTO..." "

"... ASE and ProMOS are being wooed by mainland Chinese officials to build a 300mm wafer fab onshore...Authorities in China are said to be opening wallets to spend up to $20B for three 300mm fabs in Chongqing..."

"...The assembly test facility is running under backup power as local power and water have been disconnected pending a full seismic assessment. As a result employees have been sent home until Wednesday...said Nick Jacobs, an Intel spokesman in Singapore...."

Under the deal, LDK Solar will deliver roughly 540 megawatts of solar wafers to Qimonda or its new joint venture with Centrosolar from 2009 through 2013.

Are chip makers building electronic trapdoors in key military hardware? The Pentagon is making its biggest effort yet to find out.