We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Controlled escalation? Trump hails ‘victories’ in Iran but vows more strikes US President Donald Trump declared the US‑Israel war agai...
We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Controlled escalation? Trump hails ‘victories’ in Iran but vows more strikes US President Donald Trump declared the US‑Israel war against Iran had delivered “decisive, overwhelming victories”, even as he signalled that key military...
In this article 981-HK 1347-HK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT China is focusing on large language models in the artificial intelligence space. Blackdovfx | Istock | Getty Images Chinese semiconductor firms have reported record revenue last year driven by AI demand, a shortage of memory chips and U.S. export restrictions that have pushed Beijing to bolster its homegrown tech indust...
In this article 981-HK 1347-HK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT China is focusing on large language models in the artificial intelligence space. Blackdovfx | Istock | Getty Images Chinese semiconductor firms have reported record revenue last year driven by AI demand, a shortage of memory chips and U.S. export restrictions that have pushed Beijing to bolster its homegrown tech industry. Analysts and the companies themselves are also expecting further revenue surges this year, underscoring how Chinese chip players are capitalizing on strong demand from domestic tech giants looking to build their AI infrastructure. U.S. export restrictions on China's tech sector over the last few years have added "rocket fuel" on chip demand, amplifying growth from other areas like electric vehicles and AI data centers, according to Paul Triolo, a partner at Albright Stonebridge Group. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC), China's largest chip manufacturer, said revenue for 2025 rose 16% from a year ago to a record $9.3 billion. Revenue could top $11 billion in 2026, according to LSEG analyst estimates. Hua Hong , another Chinese chipmaker, said fourth-quarter revenue came in at a record $659.9 million and forecast sales of between $650 million and $660 million. Moore Threads , which is aiming to rival Nvidia , guided that 2025 revenue would be between 1.45 billion yuan ($209.8 million) and 1.52 billion yuan, a 231% to 247% year-on-year increase. What is driving sales records? There are multiple factors at play. The growth of electric vehicles and related infrastructure has provided support for less-advanced or "mature node" semiconductors, while demand for more advanced chips is "through the roof because of AI," Triolo told CNBC. U.S. restrictions over the past few years, which cut off China from key technologies, have accelerated a self-sufficiency push from Beijing to wean itself off American tech. watch now VIDEO 5:22 05:22 China's 'Delete America' pr...
lcva2 Microsoft said it will invest about $10B ( 1.6 trillion yen ) over the next four years to develop its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, building on a previously announced $2.9B investment in April 2024 aimed at strengthening its hyperscale cloud and AI capabilities. The Redmond, Washington-based company will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train one million AI engineers by 2029,...
lcva2 Microsoft said it will invest about $10B ( 1.6 trillion yen ) over the next four years to develop its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, building on a previously announced $2.9B investment in April 2024 aimed at strengthening its hyperscale cloud and AI capabilities. The Redmond, Washington-based company will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train one million AI engineers by 2029, which was unveiled during a visit to Tokyo by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. The project will be carried out in partnership with Sakura Internet and telecom operator SoftBank, the telecom unit of investment group SoftBank Group Corp, with the two Japanese firms providing graphics processing units and other computing resources. Microsoft’s commitment in Japan comes after similar announcements earlier this week of a $5.5 billion investment in Singapore and a $1 billion investment in Thailand. More on Microsoft Microsoft Is 11% Of My NAV And I'm Targeting Monster Returns Microsoft's AI Reset Created A Rare Bargain Microsoft: A Gift At 22x P/E (Rating Upgrade) OpenAI acquires daily tech talk show TBPN to help support AI story SA analyst upgrades/downgrades: MU, NEM, LNG, MSFT
lcva2 Microsoft said it will invest about $10B ( 1.6 trillion yen ) over the next four years to develop its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, building on a previously announced $2.9B investment in April 2024 aimed at strengthening its hyperscale cloud and AI capabilities. The Redmond, Washington-based company will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train one million AI engineers by 2029,...
lcva2 Microsoft said it will invest about $10B ( 1.6 trillion yen ) over the next four years to develop its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, building on a previously announced $2.9B investment in April 2024 aimed at strengthening its hyperscale cloud and AI capabilities. The Redmond, Washington-based company will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train one million AI engineers by 2029, which was unveiled during a visit to Tokyo by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. The project will be carried out in partnership with Sakura Internet and telecom operator SoftBank, the telecom unit of investment group SoftBank Group Corp, with the two Japanese firms providing graphics processing units and other computing resources. Microsoft’s commitment in Japan comes after similar announcements earlier this week of a $5.5 billion investment in Singapore and a $1 billion investment in Thailand. More on Microsoft Microsoft Is 11% Of My NAV And I'm Targeting Monster Returns Microsoft's AI Reset Created A Rare Bargain Microsoft: A Gift At 22x P/E (Rating Upgrade) OpenAI acquires daily tech talk show TBPN to help support AI story SA analyst upgrades/downgrades: MU, NEM, LNG, MSFT
Cuba’s government announced on Thursday that it was pardoning 2,010 prisoners as a “humanitarian” gesture during Holy Week, after pledging in March to release dozens amid heightened US pressure on Havana. The major announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude to the fuel-starved island. The Trump adminis...
Cuba’s government announced on Thursday that it was pardoning 2,010 prisoners as a “humanitarian” gesture during Holy Week, after pledging in March to release dozens amid heightened US pressure on Havana. The major announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude to the fuel-starved island. The Trump administration has called for change in communist-run Cuba’s system of government and the US president has...
Shares of Chinese companies that offer cross-border payments rose, after the commerce ministry noted that the yuan is being used to pay tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. CNPC Capital Co. , a financial services unit of China National Petroleum Corp., jumped by as much as the 10% daily limit in Shenzhen. Lakala Payment Co. , a leading Chinese third-party payments provider, climbed as m...
Shares of Chinese companies that offer cross-border payments rose, after the commerce ministry noted that the yuan is being used to pay tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. CNPC Capital Co. , a financial services unit of China National Petroleum Corp., jumped by as much as the 10% daily limit in Shenzhen. Lakala Payment Co. , a leading Chinese third-party payments provider, climbed as much as 7.9%, while financial-technology firm Shenzhen Forms Syntron Information Co. rose 9.4% before paring gains. While China has long been striving for yuan internationalization, actual application in the Hormuz provides a concrete use case that markets have been waiting for. Analysts said the development reinforces expectations that geopolitical conflicts may channel incremental capital toward China. A post on the Ministry of Commerce website, which cited a recent Lloyd’s List report, said that vessels are paying $2 million fees to Iran for transit of the key energy transportation waterway, and that these can be paid in yuan. “As the Iran war continues, the yuan is emerging as a key alternative for global capital due to China’s good relationship with Iran,” said Shen Meng , a director at Beijing-based investment bank Chanson & Co. “Thus, related sectors such as oil & gas capital companies and electronic payment stocks will receive more capital flows.” Shen added that China’s push for yuan internationalization has been a key driver for promoting the currency’s use in Hormuz. Iran has been exerting control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with tolls starting at around $1 per barrel, paid in yuan or stablecoins, people with knowledge of the situation have told Bloomberg. A very large crude carrier, or VLCC, typically has a capacity of around 2 million barrels.
An Indonesian woman who spent nearly 15 years on death row in a Malaysian prison for drug trafficking has returned home after receiving clemency, in a case rights groups say highlights the exploitation of poor migrant women in cross-border drug operations. Ani Anggraeni, also known as Asih, boarded a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta late on Thursday after being freed from custody. In a video me...
An Indonesian woman who spent nearly 15 years on death row in a Malaysian prison for drug trafficking has returned home after receiving clemency, in a case rights groups say highlights the exploitation of poor migrant women in cross-border drug operations. Ani Anggraeni, also known as Asih, boarded a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta late on Thursday after being freed from custody. In a video message shared with This Week in Asia while en route, the 66-year-old said she was still struggling to...