Italy and the US are set to sign a cooperation agreement tied to the US-led Pax Silica initiative on July 31, as Rome expands efforts to secure critical raw materials and semiconductor supply chains.
Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division posted the most profitable quarter in its history in 2Q26, generating operating profit of KRW89.2 trillion (approx. US$61.6 billion) on sales of KRW127.5 trillion (approx. US$88.1 billion) — a 70% operating margin — as the AI-driven memory supercycle intensified.
India has launched two indigenously developed silicon photonics solutions to strengthen local chip design and testing capabilities. The move could matter beyond India, as it could expand global supply chains, lower development barriers, and accelerate the adoption of photonic chips used in communications, sensing, quantum systems, and advanced computing worldwide.
While humanoid robots have yet to achieve meaningful economies of scale, service robots have already entered an intensely competitive phase.
The US has barred new foreign-produced advanced robots and power inverters from receiving regulatory approval, extending its technology restrictions into two industries considered critical to artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure and industrial automation.
