Semiconductor Investment Push (Malaysia): Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy has cleared RM85B+ in approved investments and trained 18,062 skilled workers, while smart-factory recognition is set to reach 134 by end-2026 as the country targets a bigger share of global chip assembly, testing and packaging. AI Chip Demand Jitters (South Korea/Asia): Kospi slid below 8,000 as global chip selloff fears grew after reports that Meta may sell excess AI compute, raising questions about whether the AI spending boom is peaking. Samsung Mega Capex (South Korea): Samsung outlined a $90B Chungcheong plan spanning display panels, batteries, chips and chip materials, including major packaging investment for HBM. Apple Memory Supply Politics (US-China): Apple is reportedly lobbying US officials to ease backlash over sourcing memory chips from Pentagon-blacklisted Chinese firms, as lawmakers push back and Apple cites memory shortages behind price hikes. WhatsApp Username Crackdown (India): India’s MeitY ordered WhatsApp to pause rollout and explain safeguards after concerns about fraud, phishing and impersonation risks. Micro-LED Expansion (China): Chenxian Optoelectronics completed a multi-hundred-million RMB Series B to expand TFT-based Micro-LED mass production capacity. Micro-LED/Quantum/Photonics Funding (China): Nakai Quantum raised a seed round to accelerate neutral-atom quantum computing, while Guangzhou CanSemi is expanding silicon photonics chip lines for AI-driven data transmission demand. Industrial Automation Markets: Datwyler expanded fluorosurfactant-free FKM materials amid tightening PFAS rules, and market reports point to continued growth in deburring machines driven by manufacturing automation. Gaming Safety (India): Roblox rolled out restricted Kids Accounts and age-verified Select Accounts in India as regulators tighten child-safety expectations.