Author: Resham

EU to Phase Out High-Risk Tech Suppliers in Critical Sectors Under New Cybersecurity Rules The European Union plans to gradually remove components and equipment supplied by high-risk vendors from critical sectors, according to a draft proposal published by the European Commission on Tuesday. The measures, set out in revisions to the EU’s Cybersecurity Act, are aimed at bolstering digital resilience and reducing dependence on foreign technology suppliers such as Huawei and other Chinese firms. The new framework follows a rise in ransomware and cyberattacks across Europe, alongside mounting concerns over espionage and foreign interference. Although the Commission avoided naming specific…

Taiwan and U.S. Forge Strategic AI and Semiconductor Partnership Under New Tariffs Deal Taiwan plans to deepen technological cooperation with the United States through a “democratic” high-tech supply chain and a strategic partnership in artificial intelligence, following a new tariffs agreement signed last week. Taipei’s top negotiator, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun, said the deal strengthens Taiwan’s global reach rather than shifting its semiconductor industry abroad. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Taiwan, one of the world’s leading semiconductor producers, to increase investment in the United States, especially in AI-related chip manufacturing. Under the new deal, Taiwanese chipmakers such as TSMC…

China Moves to Curb ‘Flash Boys’ Access to Exchange Data China’s securities regulator has ordered brokers to remove client-specific servers from data centres operated by local exchanges, a step that will limit high-frequency traders’ ability to gain an ultra-fast advantage over other market participants, according to people familiar with the matter. Regulators Target Speculation and Uneven Trading High-frequency traders in China have long benefited from locating their servers close to exchange systems, reducing trade execution times by mere microseconds. However, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is now taking steps to prevent what it sees as excessive speculation and unfair…

China’s Damaged Shenzhou-20 Capsule Returns Safely to Earth China’s first emergency space mission concluded successfully on Monday as the debris-damaged return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft landed safely at the Dongfeng Landing Site in Inner Mongolia. The recovery marked the end of a complex and unprecedented operation, with ground teams overcoming severe weather and unique technical challenges to secure the unmanned capsule. Safe Landing After Debris Impact Incident The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed that the capsule touched down at 09:34 local time, following its undocking from the Tiangong space station shortly after midnight in Beijing. The Shenzhou-20 mission,…

Micron to Acquire Powerchip’s Taiwan Plant for $1.8 Billion Shares in Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp surged nearly 10% on Monday following Micron Technology’s announcement that it will purchase a fabrication plant from the Taiwanese company. The deal underscores Micron’s strategy to expand its memory chip production capacity as global demand continues to soar. Major Expansion in Taiwan Micron confirmed on Saturday that it had signed a letter of intent to buy Powerchip’s P5 fabrication facility in Tongluo, Miaoli County, for $1.8 billion in cash. Powerchip, one of Taiwan’s key semiconductor foundries, manufactures both legacy and memory chips for global clients.…

TikTok to Introduce New Age-Detection Technology Across Europe TikTok will begin rolling out new age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, the company confirmed on Friday. The move comes as the ByteDance-owned platform faces mounting regulatory pressure to strengthen its efforts in identifying and removing accounts belonging to children under 13. A New System to Detect Underage Users The new system, which has not been reported previously, follows a year-long pilot programme in Europe. It analyses user profiles, uploaded videos, and behavioural signals to assess whether an account may belong to someone underage. Accounts flagged by the system will…

U.S. and Taiwan Finalise Trade Deal to Boost Semiconductor Cooperation The United States and Taiwan finalised a significant trade agreement on Thursday, 16 January, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the technology sector. The deal reduces tariffs on many of Taiwan’s key semiconductor exports and directs new investments into the U.S. technology industry, a move expected to provoke a sharp response from China. Strengthening Semiconductor Ties Semiconductors, a cornerstone of modern technology, were first invented in the United States. Although many are still designed there, a large share of global manufacturing now takes place abroad, particularly in Taiwan. The new trade…

China Launches Algerian Remote Sensing Satellite AlSat-3A into Orbit China successfully launched a remote sensing satellite for Algeria on Thursday, marking another milestone in its expanding international space cooperation. The satellite, named AlSat-3A, was carried into orbit by a Long March-2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The launch took place at 12:01 p.m. Beijing time, and the satellite entered its planned orbit shortly afterwards. Strengthening Sino-Algerian Space Cooperation The AlSat-3A mission reflects growing collaboration between China and Algeria in space technology and scientific research. The satellite will primarily support land-use planning, as well as disaster…

China Bans U.S. and Israeli Cybersecurity Software over National Security Concerns Chinese authorities have instructed domestic firms to stop using cybersecurity software from more than a dozen U.S. and Israeli companies, citing national security risks, according to three people familiar with the directive. The move highlights Beijing’s ongoing campaign to reduce reliance on Western technology amid escalating tensions with Washington over trade and technological dominance. The ban targets several major U.S. firms, including Broadcom-owned VMware, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet. Israeli companies affected include Check Point Software Technologies, CyberArk, Orca Security, and Cato Networks. Other U.S. firms reportedly on the…

U.S. Approves Conditional Nvidia AI Chip Sales to China The Trump administration has formally approved the sale of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips to Chinese customers under new restrictions designed to limit military use and protect U.S. technological advantages. The decision, announced on Tuesday, is expected to restart shipments of Nvidia’s second most powerful AI processor despite strong opposition from U.S. lawmakers concerned about national security. Conditional Approval with Security Oversight Under the new export regulations, all China-bound H200 chips must undergo review by an independent third-party testing laboratory to verify their technical capabilities. Nvidia will be required to certify…