4 d. ago China shuns US software for documents, Tim Cook boosts iPhone Air: 7 highlights

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. Images of hull sections suggest progress on China’s fourth aircraft carrier China appears to be making progress on its fourth aircraft carrier at a shipyard in the country’s northeast, according to satellite images, another key part...

Society

6 d. ago China's Sicarrier unit unveils new chip design software, media reports

China's Sicarrier unit unveils new chip design software, media reports  Reuters

Events

6 d. ago Huawei supplier SiCarrier’s subsidiary launches new EDA software

A subsidiary of SiCarrier – a semiconductor equipment maker backed by the Shenzhen municipal government and a supplier to Huawei Technologies – has released proprietary electronic design automation (EDA) software, bolstering China’s broader push towards self-reliance in chipmaking. Qiyunfang, the SiCarrier unit, on Wednesday launched two EDA products – one for schematic capture and another for printed circuit board (PCB) design – at the three-day WeSemiBay Semiconductor Ecosystem Expo 2025 in...

Events

6 d. ago Chinese chip equipment supplier SiCarrier’s subsidiary launches new EDA software

A subsidiary of SiCarrier – a semiconductor equipment maker backed by the Shenzhen municipal government and works with Huawei Technologies – has released proprietary electronic design automation (EDA) software, bolstering China’s broader push towards technology self-reliance. Qiyunfang, the SiCarrier unit, on Wednesday launched two EDA products – one for schematic capture and another for printed circuit board (PCB) design – at the three-day WeSemiBay Semiconductor Ecosystem Expo 2025 in Shenzhen...

Events

8 d. ago Sending a message: Beijing issues documents without Word format amid US tensions

China’s expansion of its rare earth export controls appeared to mark another escalation in the US-China trade war last week. But the announcements were also significant in another way: unusually, the documents could not be opened using American word processing software. For the first time, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a slew of documents that could be directly accessed only through WPS Office – China’s answer to Microsoft Office – as Beijing continues its tech self-reliance...

Events

8 d. ago China Software Firm’s Stock Surges on Government Use of Product

China Software Firm’s Stock Surges on Government Use of Product  Bloomberg.com

Politics

8 d. ago US trade envoy Jamieson Greer calls China’s new rare earths curb a ‘power grab’

The outlook for US-China relations appeared to hit another snag on Sunday when the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that China had rebuffed an attempt to communicate, even as US President Donald Trump appeared to downplay the ongoing trade differences. This follows Trump’s threat on Friday to impose an extra 100 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods starting November 1 and to curb the export of “any and all critical software”, a doubling down on his China trade policy a day after...

Politics

1 week ago Trump strikes back at China with a 100% tariff and critical software ban — major escalation retaliates for China's rare earth restrictions

Trump strikes back at China with a 100% tariff and critical software ban — major escalation retaliates for China's rare earth restrictions  Tom's Hardware

Events

1 week ago Japan’s relaxed shooting rules to lessen bear attacks trigger new safety concern

A surge in bear attacks in Japan has forced the government to relax rules on “emergency shootings” in populated areas, amid concerns over whether municipalities can secure hunters skilled enough to respond without putting residents at risk. From April this year, Japan, mainly in its northern parts, saw a high number of attacks and damage caused by bears, resulting in six human deaths, matching a record set in the year from April 2023 to March of the following year, according to Ministry of...

Events

1 week ago US to hike China tariffs to 130%: What deadline Trump has set for 'banning' software exports to China

US to hike China tariffs to 130%: What deadline Trump has set for 'banning' software exports to China  Times of India

Events

1 week ago Trump’s latest tariffs trigger over US$6 billion in cryptocurrency liquidations

Cryptocurrency market traders have been hit by record liquidations just days after bitcoin hit a fresh all-time high, with volatility triggered in large part by the latest round of tariffs from US President Donald Trump. Crypto prices tumbled on Friday after Trump said he would impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on China and export controls on software. The declines precipitated – and then were made worse by – what data tracker Coinglass described as “the largest liquidation event in...

Economics

1 week ago Trump’s latest tariffs trigger record cryptocurrency liquidations

Cryptocurrency market traders have been hit by record liquidations just days after bitcoin hit a fresh all-time high, with volatility triggered in large part by the latest round of tariffs from US President Donald Trump. Crypto prices tumbled on Friday after Trump said he would impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on China and export controls on software. The declines precipitated – and then were made worse by – what data tracker Coinglass described as “the largest liquidation event in...

Politics

1 week ago Trump to hike China tariffs to 130% and impose software export controls next month, as trade war reignites to nearly 'Liberation Day' levels

Trump to hike China tariffs to 130% and impose software export controls next month, as trade war reignites to nearly 'Liberation Day' levels  Fortune

Politics

1 week ago Trump to hike China tariff to 130% and impose software export controls next month, as trade war reignites to nearly 'Liberation Day' levels

Trump to hike China tariff to 130% and impose software export controls next month, as trade war reignites to nearly 'Liberation Day' levels  Fortune

Politics

1 week ago Trump threatens new tariffs, software export curbs on China amid rare earths row

Trump threatens new tariffs, software export curbs on China amid rare earths row  Anadolu Ajansı

Events

1 week ago Mirxes wins China’s approval to launch groundbreaking gastric cancer blood test

Cancer screening device developer Mirxes Holding has won approval from Beijing to launch a gastric cancer test, the first blood test for the disease in China’s vast oncology diagnostics market. Its leading product, GastroClear, an in-house-developed non-invasive blood test, was approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China, the Singapore-based micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) technology firm said in a filing to Hong Kong’s stock exchange on Thursday. “GastroClear is the world’s...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s No 2 official vows to enhance East Dam travel with better Wi

Hong Kong’s No 2 official has pledged to further improve travellers’ experience at High Island Reservoir’s popular East Dam by strengthening Wi-fi connectivity and improving traffic arrangements there. Chief Secretary of Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki’s remarks came on Wednesday, the first day of the National Day “golden week” holiday, as over 1,000 visitors descended on the site earlier in the morning, with many expressing their approval of government measures to handle the surge in tourist...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong’s office market picks up amid IPO boom, demand from Chinese law firms

Hong Kong’s office segment is picking up due to leasing demand from mainland Chinese law firms and financial groups, supported by a buoyant stock market that has seen an increasing number of companies launch initial public offerings (IPOs) in the city. Office-leasing activity in August grew for a fifth straight month, with tenants absorbing 313,800 sq ft of net space, according to data compiled by JLL. The overall vacancy rate in the city increased 0.1 per cent to 13.5 per cent month on month in...

Economics