Supply Chain

North Korea Unveils New Nuclear Warheads as Kim Orders More Weapons-Grade Materials

North Korea unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads as leader Kim Jong Un called for scaling up the production of weapons-grade nuclear material to expand the country’s arsenal, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. KCNA released photos of the warheads, dubbed Hwasan-31, during Kim’s visit to the Nuclear Weapons Institute, where he inspected new tactical nuclear […]

China Gives Chipmakers Easier Subsidy Access to Help Guide Industry Recovery - FT

China is facilitating easier access to subsidies and more control over state-backed research for a handful of its chip companies, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Chipmakers such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC), Hua Hong Semiconductor and Huawei, as well as equipment suppliers like Naura and Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc China might benefit from the […]

Germany, Japan Seek Cooperation on Economic Security Amid Supply Chain Strains

Germany and Japan agreed to cooperate closely on economic security on Saturday during their first ever high-ministerial government consultations, held amid tensions over global supply chains and economic disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, accompanied to Japan by six ministers, is looking at ways to reduce German dependence on Chinese […]

TSMC's Germany Chip Plant Talks Hone in on Govt Subsidies - Sources

Taiwan chipmaker TSMC’s talks with the German state of Saxony about building a new factory are at an advanced stage and are now focused on government subsidies to support the investment, two people familiar with the matter said. TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and Asia’s most valuable listed company, flagged in 2021 that it […]

Dutch Trade Minister: China Protest Over Export Rules Is 'Understandable'

The Netherlands’ Trade Minister said a Chinese protest over the Dutch decision to impose restrictions on computer chip technology exports was “understandable”, but on Thursday said she expected diplomatic relations would remain good. Liesje Schreinemacher was speaking in Stockholm after the Netherlands said on Wednesday it would follow the U.S. in imposing stricter export rules. […]

India, US to Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Semiconductors

The United States and India will sign a memorandum of understanding on semiconductors as both countries discuss coordination of investment and continue dialogue around policies to spur private investment, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Thursday. Raimondo, who is on a four-day trip to India, is accompanied by the chief executive officers of 10 […]

S.Korea’s Yoon Says Cooperation with US, Japan Key to Overcoming N.Korea Threats

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan has become more important than ever to overcoming North Korea’s growing nuclear threats and other crises. Yoon spoke at an event commemorating the country’s historic March First independence movement against Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of Korea. “Japan has transformed […]

Logistical Challenges for Doing Business in South Africa

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is witnessing a recession of epic proportions. In a November article on BUSINESSTECH, BNP Paribas chief economist for the Middle East and Africa, Jeff Schultz, stated that considering the recession in 2023 that the U.S and Europe will be facing soon and China’s attempts to tweak its zero-Covid policy, […]