Trump’s plan to impose semiconductor tariffs may be delayed, sources say | Trump tariffs

US officials are privately saying that they might not levy long-promised semiconductor tariffs soon, potentially delaying a centerpiece of Donald Trump’s economic agenda. Officials relayed these messages over the last several days... Read more »

WeChat Account “New New New Silence” and China’s Online “Reincarnation Party”

Last week’s CDT Chinese 404 Archives podcast highlighted the recent revival of the Silent Observer WeChat account. The account, which for several years has provided a platform for philosophically-inclined reflections on Chinese... Read more »

Starmer refuses to rule out freezing tax thresholds as Badenoch criticises budget plans – UK politics live | Politics

Starmer refuses to rule out freezing tax thresholds in budget Badenoch asks Starmer to confirm he won’t break another promise by freezing thresholds. Starmer does not answer that, saying the budget is... Read more »

Ten IP Monetization Mistakes That Quietly Destroy Global Trademark Portfolio Value

IP deals rarely fail because someone forgot to file a trademark. They fail because of small operational gaps that compound over time. The ten mistakes below directly erode valuation, licensing leverage, and... Read more »

China in ‘covert and calculated’ effort to recruit MPs and peers, minister says | Espionage

MPs and peers have been told they face “a covert and calculated” attempt to recruit parliamentarians through two LinkedIn profiles linked to the Chinese intelligence service. After MI5 issued an espionage alert... Read more »

Chinese spying amounts to interference in UK democracy, minister says, after MI5 warns MPs – politics live | Politics

Jarvis tells MPs Chinese spying operation amounts to interference in British democracy Jarvis says MI5 issued an espionage alert earlier today to MPs, peers and parliamentary staff. (See 12.18pm.) He urges all... Read more »

Chinese travellers estimated to have cancelled 500,000 flights to Japan amid rising tensions | China

Chinese travellers are estimated to have cancelled hundreds of thousands of flights to Japan amid reports of suspended visa processing and cultural exchanges as a diplomatic dispute over Japan’s stance on Taiwan... Read more »

The Guardian view on Germany under Merz: Europe’s powerhouse is still struggling | Editorial

Last March, following angst-ridden months as Europe came to terms with Donald Trump’s return to the White House, financial markets in Paris, Milan and Berlin were gripped by a surge of optimism.... Read more »

China travel warning for Japan sends shares in tourism and retail companies plunging | Japan

Shares in Japanese tourism and retail firms have fallen sharply after China warned its citizens not to travel to Japan, while a senior Japanese diplomat was due to travel to Beijing amid... Read more »

China and Japan are in a war of words over Taiwan – what happens next? | Japan

Tokyo and Beijing are embroiled in a deepening row over Taiwan after Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested that her country could potentially become militarily involved in the event of an attempted... Read more »