China
Worried about Strait of Hormuz inflation to come? The world economy has one word for you: Plastics
Jeff Greenberg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images The price of naphtha may not keep you up at night when you think about the inflation yet to hit the economy from the U.S.-Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure, but perhaps it should. As gas prices continue to rise alongside crude oil, costs of petroleum derivatives […]
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How Chinese, Russian Arctic ambitions are fueling a U.S. polar icebreaker mission
The once-impenetrable Arctic waters have become the latest battleground for sea dominance among military and maritime vessels, as increased activity by both the Chinese and Russian Coast Guard and naval ships in recent months has raised concern in the U.S. The Northwest Passage, a sea route extending north of Canada that connects the Arctic Ocean […]
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China’s BYD sees first profit drop since 2021, even as the Tesla-rival takes global EV crown
BYD new energy vehicles awaiting shipment for export in Yantai Port, Shandong, China on March 26, 2026. CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images Chinese automaker BYD said Friday its annual sales rose to a record $116 billion, outpacing Tesla’s, but its profit fell for the first time since 2021 under pressure from cutthroat competition. BYD, the largest […]
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Beijing’s surprise intervention on Meta’s Manus rattles tech founders, VCs eyeing ‘China shedding’
CHONGQING, CHINA – JANUARY 07: In this photo illustration, the Manus logo is displayed on a smartphone screen, with the Chinese national flag visible in the background, on January 7, 2026 in Chongqing, China. Cheng Xin | Getty Images News | Getty Images Tech circles from Silicon Valley to Shenzhen buzzed when Meta acquired Manus, […]
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The Tech Download: How Russia could profit from Iran war helium supply chain disruption in the chip sector
This report is from this week’s The Tech Download newsletter. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. Helium has emerged as a key focus for the tech sector as industry watchers cast their minds to the implications of a prolonged Iran war. A byproduct of natural gas production, helium is crucial to semiconductor manufacturing and […]
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‘Not unlike tariffs’: Iran war threatens to deepen Asia private equity’s worst fundraising slump in a decade
Blackstone Group’s logo on display during the opening of the company’s new office in Singapore. Munshi Ahmed | Bloomberg | Getty Images Since the pandemic, private equity funds focused on Asia have struggled to raise money, as the industry sat on massive unsold assets and idle dry powder. Signs of growing confidence began to emerge […]
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Huawei’s new AI chip finds favor with ByteDance, Alibaba which plan to place orders, Reuters reports
SHENZHEN, CHINA – MARCH 24: Pedestrians walk past a Huawei retail store inside a shopping mall on March 24, 2026 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. Huawei continues to expand its offline retail presence as competition in China’s consumer electronics and smart device market remains intense. (Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images) Cheng Xin | Getty Images […]
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China industrial profits surge 15% to start year, but oil price shock threatens outlook
An oil tanker unloads crude oil at a terminal at the port in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong province on March 11, 2026. – | Afp | Getty Images Chinese industrial firms saw their profits surge in the first two months of this year as officials pressed ahead with efforts to contain the fallout from […]
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Electronic warfare in the Persian Gulf: How GPS interference is disrupting the Middle East
The screen of a GPS attached to the dashboard of a vehicle as residents of Dubai face GPS disruptions on March 9, 2026, in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates decried that it was being targeted “in a very unwarranted manner” in the war, stressing it would “not partake in any attacks against Iran”, which has […]
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Amazon acquires ‘approachable’ humanoid maker Fauna Robotics
Fauna CEO Rob Cochran with a Sprout robot. Courtesy: Fauna Robotics Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, a startup that builds “approachable” humanoid robots for consumers and businesses, the company confirmed Tuesday. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. “We are excited about Fauna’s vision to build capable, safe, and fun robots for everyone,” an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC […]
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