Japanese izakaya closures surge as drinking declines and operating costs soar Alcohol demand plunges amid weakening household purchasing power and widespread price increases “You Don’t Need Alcohol to Have Fun”: Drinking culture shifts among younger generations

China’s Shein reduces leased space at major Vietnamese logistics hub End of US de minimis exemption and tariff adjustments erode advantages as production constraints emerge Earnings deteriorate sharply ahead of Hong Kong IPO, sending valuation plunging

China’s AI industry struggles to adopt domestic chips amid software ecosystem deficiencies “Four Huawei accelerators needed to match one Nvidia chip,” underscoring hardware performance gap Beijing sustains massive state support, but the industry’s ecosystem foundations remain fragile

Beijing actively steers private capital into semiconductor and AI sectors China lowers financial-market barriers and accelerates renminbi internationalization Foreign holdings of Chinese bonds and renminbi’s share of global trading remain subdued

Global insurers accelerate development of products targeting data center operators Rapid expansion of data center market drives corresponding surge in risk exposure Existing insurance frameworks leave clear coverage gaps, intensifying competition during market transition

Iran and Oman Near Agreement on Service Fees for Strait of Hormuz Transit Europe Signals Willingness to Compromise as Cost of Upholding Freedom of Navigation Rises Gulf States Face Diverging Fortunes Depending on Access to Bypass Infrastructure Ir

CXMT Builds New Beijing Fab Following Hefei and Shanghai Projects LPDDR6 Race Heats Up Across Memory Industry as CXMT Accelerates Development China’s Semiconductor Self-Sufficiency Stagnates, Raising Doubts Over Process and Equipment Capabilities Ch

China’s Semiconductor Industry Posts Explosive Profit Growth and Pushes for Technological Self-Reliance CXMT Makes a Splashy Market Debut, With Solid Growth Foundations Despite Technology Gap Korea and Taiwan, Semiconductor Powerhouses, Bolster Division of Labor to Stay on Guard

Louis Vuitton Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against China’s Molly Tea Legal Disputes Mount Between Western and Chinese Brands Over Alleged Trademark Theft China Shifts Its Response as Investment Concerns Meet the Rise of Domestic Industry Lou

“Exit While Asset Values Are High”: US Data Center M&A Accelerates “Data Center-Ready Sites” with Transmission Lines and Substations Also Command Premium Prices Bidding War Emerges for SK’s Ulsan AI Data Center in South Korea A wave of sta

France, Germany, and Spain’s FCAS fighter development program ultimately collapses UK-Italy-Japan GCAP secures crucial funding after repeated setbacks US presses ahead with independent sixth-generation fighter development, while mid-tier defense powers focus on fifth-generation capabilities

Shein’s Hong Kong IPO Push Following Failed U.S.

NATO members unveil sweeping defense spending plans under U.S.

India ramps up biofuel drive, aggressively leveraging sugarcane and related feedstocks Era of discounted Russian crude fades, intensifying search for alternative fuels Major economies also expand biofuel adoption amid Middle East energy supply risks

Chinese tech giants discontinue personalized AI agent services under government regulatory pressure Rapid expansion of AI companion services fuels growing concerns over unintended consequences AI's tendency toward flattery heightens dependency risks while exposing users to privacy vulnerabilities

German automakers face a wave of restructuring as labor unions mount fierce resistance Surging Chinese EV presence across Europe turns labor disputes into a critical liability Japan embraces industry-wide cooperation to navigate a similar structural crisis

Uniqlo Gains Momentum Across North American and European Markets EU Tightens Crackdown on Chinese Fashion Platforms Including Shein Mid-Market European Fashion Brands Collapse Under Pressure from Chinese Competition Japanese specialty retailer of

U.S.

Crushed by Its Trade Deficit With China, EU Establishes Formal Consultation Framework With Beijing Commitment among EU member states to a tougher stance raises prospects of additional trade restrictions China vows countermeasures, warning both sides could face backlash if negotiations collapse

Apple Lobbies to Secure Approval for Adopting China's CXMT Memory Chips Apple's Traditional Cost-Reduction Strategy Loses Effectiveness Amid the Memory Supercycle China's Semiconductor Industry Closes the Gap with Technology, Production Capacity, and Government Support