EU eyes tariffs on Chinese PHEVs as BEV curbs prove ineffective
Super El Niño and AI power demand boost fuel cells
The rising chance of a 2026 super El Niño, combined with surging power demand from AI data centers, is intensifying pressure on power systems and the grid. Bloom Energy said in a new report that on-site power generation is the answer for meeting data center electricity needs, and suppliers such as Kaori and Acbel Polytech are also upbeat on fuel-cell demand.
Nvidia targets robot safety as humanoids edge toward factory floors
Getting humanoid robots into factories and warehouses has always depended on two things: making them smart enough to be useful and safe enough to work alongside people.
China’s Starlink challenger Qianfan seeks US$740M backers for LEO satellite expansion
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST, also known as Ambandha), operator of China’s Qianfan low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation, has launched a new funding round as the country’s commercial space sector transitions from proof-of-concept to scaled deployment.
AI data center buildout fuels optical interconnect race, but 6-inch InP wafers hit supply wall
Technology giants are continuing to expand AI computing infrastructure, driving demand for high-performance optical interconnect components. US optical communications leaders Coherent and Lumentum are actively developing 6-inch indium phosphide (InP) wafer production technology. Industry sources said 4-inch wafers remain the mainstream format, but fast-growing demand in optical communications is accelerating the shift toward 6-inch substrates. Supply constraints, however, persist, with substrate technology maturity and supply availability cited as the main bottlenecks.
Nippon Sanso raises helium prices over 30% on Middle East instability-driven supply crunch
Industrial gas manufacturer Nippon Sanso Holdings announced it will raise prices for all helium products in the Japanese market starting in July 2026, with an average price increase of more than 30%. Affected products include helium used in key applications such as semiconductor front-end process wafer cooling and medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. The move is mainly driven by geopolitical instability in the Middle East.
Huawei renews Wi-Fi 6 patent push, putting networking equipment makers on alert
Huawei has continued to pursue patent litigation against networking equipment makers in Europe in recent years, with its latest case targeting a Taiwanese vendor. Sercomm recently disclosed that its German subsidiary, Sercomm Deutschland GmbH, had received a lawsuit from Huawei over certain Wi-Fi 6 products sold in Germany and other markets.