Alibaba has instructed employees to stop using Anthropic's Claude Code for work and remove Claude models from company computers, according to respective sources cited by Yicai, The Information, and Reuters. The move comes after concerns emerged over features in Claude Code that developers said could identify whether users were located in China or affiliated with Chinese research labs.
China began enforcing its Laws on Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion on July 1, prompting Taiwan officials to warn that the measure could extend Beijing's legal reach beyond its borders. The development is likely to affect companies, travelers, and cross-strait investment decisions, with implications for businesses and regulators across global supply chains.
Meta is reportedly exploring a new AI cloud infrastructure business that would let enterprises use its AI models and some unused GPU capacity, a move that could lift hardware utilization and create a new revenue stream from its heavy artificial intelligence spending. The proposal has revived talk of an AI bubble, but key industry barometers Nvidia and TSMC still show no sign of a broad demand slowdown.
Sea and air freight capacity stayed tight as the second-half shipping season approached, with strong exports of AI and semiconductor products from Taiwan to the US continuing to pressure rates. At the same time, freight operators said heavy front-loading in the first half of 2026 could leave peak-season demand weaker later in the year.
Transcom Technology reported June 2026 revenue of NT$78.05 million (US$2.44 million), up 30.78% from the prior month, and second-quarter revenue of NT$228 million, up 28.63% from the first quarter, as domestic and overseas military shipments accelerated. The power amplifier maker said the gain reflected stronger defense-related deliveries in Taiwan and abroad.
The US, Mexico and Canada have moved into annual review talks on the USMCA after Washington declined to approve a straight 16-year extension under the current text, according to PwC Taiwan. The shift matters for Taiwan-based manufacturers that use Mexico as a production base before shipping goods into the US market.
The global semiconductor market is entering a historically significant growth phase. According to WSTS's latest June forecast, global semiconductor revenue is projected to grow by nearly 90% in 2026, reaching approximately US$1.5 trillion. Growth is expected to remain exceptionally strong in 2027, with year-on-year expansion of around 27%, pushing total market revenue close to US$1.9 trillion.
India accelerated its semiconductor ambitions through deeper Japan cooperation, policy advances, new manufacturing partnerships, and local technology investments, reinforcing efforts to strengthen resilient supply chains and expand domestic electronics production despite infrastructure challenges and rising component costs amid intensifying global competition.
Taiwan's chipmakers walked into the 2026 helium supply shock more exposed to Qatar than any other major buyer, sourcing nearly 88% of their rare-gas imports from the Gulf state in 2025, up from 46% four years earlier. With war disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, that concentration leaves fabs vulnerable and the outlook uncertain.
The AI boom is reshaping global supply chains and accelerating manufacturing's shift toward smarter operations. Tong Ming, the world's largest single stainless-steel fastener maker, said it will invest about NT$140 million (US$4.4 million) in the second half of 2026 to automate a semi-finished goods warehouse at its Changsheng plant, while strengthening automation, digital management, and precision services to boost competitiveness and address challenges from the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and supply-chain restructuring.
Manhattan is where financial giants gather. By the weekend, the crowds become so dense that near Times Square, even moving through the streets can be difficult. At moments like this, a walk through Central Park becomes the best choice. With its forests, streams, and seemingly natural ecology, and with plane trees, pines, and olive trees arranged in irregular patterns, Central Park truly is the best place for New Yorkers to rest in the heart of the city.
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