After years of holding SpaceX’s Starlink at arm’s length over concerns about its China-linked supply chain and government control over foreign corporate operations, Taiwan is signaling a shift: officials are now welcoming the satellite internet giant to enter the local market and support the island’s next-generation communications infrastructure.

As the third quarter of 2025 kicks off, smartphone brands around the world are rolling out new models, hoping to rejuvenate the sluggish market as inflation, currency swings, and trade tensions continue to weigh on consumer demand. While the smartphone market continues to face challenges like product maturity, high market penetration, and extended replacement cycles, making it difficult to achieve strong overall sales momentum, it’s fortunate that generative AI has boosted the industry in recent years. Brands have progressively incorporated AI functionalities into their mid- and high-end models, which has helped sustain smartphone sales.

The EU has released the Code of Practice (“Code”) for General-Purpose AI Models (GPAI), a preparatory measure for the AI Act set to take effect on August 2, 2025. The Code aims to guide companies in complying with the upcoming regulations. However, the timeline is tight, and the industry is calling for a delay in enforcement, claiming that the preparation time is insufficient.