Cutting-Edge TEC
US Considers Ending Semiconductor Exemptions for China Factories
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is planning to revoke "blanket exemptions" that allow TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix to use American technology in their Chinese mainland facilities without prior approval, The Wall Street Journal reported on June 20. If implemented, the move would force these companies to apply for individual licenses for U.S.-made semiconductor equipment shipments to China, with approval processes potentially dragging on for months and disrupting production upgrades and capacity expansion .
China, Hong Kong Launch Cross-Border Payment Connect System
China’s central bank and Hong Kong’s monetary authority launched "Payment Connect" on June 22, linking mainland China’s Online Interbank Payment Clearing System (IBPS) with Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS) to enable real-time cross-border remittances. The initiative, announced in a joint statement on June 20, aims to streamline cross-border transactions for residents in both regions.
U.S. Department of Defense Secures $200M AI Contracts with OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, xAI for National Security
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 14 it has awarded up to $200 million in AI contracts to OpenAI, Google parent company Alphabet, Anthropic, and xAI, aiming to accelerate the deployment of advanced AI capabilities across national security systems. The contracts, managed by the DoD’s Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO), will fund the development of "agentic AI workflows" to address critical defense challenges, including cybersecurity, intelligence analysis, and operational decision-making .
U.S. Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Ban "Adversarial AI" from Foreign Adversaries
U.S. bipartisan lawmakers introduced a new bill, the No Adversarial AI Act, on June 25 local time. It aims to restrict federal government procurement and use of AI technologies developed by "foreign adversaries" like China, strengthening technical security for national critical systems.
UK Unveils New Policies to Bolster AI, Quantum Computing with Funding and Talent Drive
The UK government has introduced a series of new policies to significantly boost support for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. On June 22, it announced the establishment of a “Global Talent Fund” with an investment of £54 million to attract world-leading researchers to the UK. A “Global Talent Taskforce” was also set up, dedicated to recruiting scientists, engineers, and creative talents—with a special focus on key areas like AI and green technology—and encouraging them to innovate and develop long-term in the UK.
Hydrogen Plasma - based Extraction of High - Purity Iron from Red Mud Drives Green Metallurgy
European scientists have developed a new method that uses hydrogen plasma to reduce iron oxide in red mud, capable of producing liquid iron with a purity of over 95% in just a few minutes. This process contains almost no harmful elements and is suitable for steel - making. Meanwhile, it can consume red mud, an industrial solid waste, and is expected to solve the environmental problem of 180 million tons of red mud produced annually.
Medical Breakthroughs to Transform Healthcare Over Next 30 Years
Over the next three decades, scientific and technological advancements will revolutionize medicine. Genomics will enable truly personalized drugs, allowing treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles to tackle cancer, cardiopulmonary diseases, Alzheimer's, and other currently intractable illnesses.