Business & Markets

Aclara Resources, a Canadian mining company, plans to establish a rare-earth supply chain in Brazil and Chile by 2028. The company aims to refine the minerals using U.S. technology to produce enough materials for half of U.S. electric vehicle battery needs, reducing reliance on China. This move responds to tensions between the U.S. and China over supply chains.

Published: 06/06/2026 - 11:33 Hello everyone, today is Saturday, June 6, an 11-year-old girl in France disappeared and was suspected of being killed, which not only shocked the whole country, but also triggered social criticism of the failure of the judicial system and became the focus of the front page of the French mainstream daily newspaper at the weekend. In addition, under US sanctions, the key for Beijing is not to produce “perfect” semiconductors, but to produce a domestic chip that can continue to improve in the coming years, according to Robin Rivadon, CEO of Stonal, a technology expert, in the economic column of the French weekly Express. Rivadon wrote in his op-ed that computer enthusiasts like to “lift the lid” to find out. One of the enthusiasts made a rather revelatory discovery. At the end of May, a user checking a memory bar on a US pirate ship (Corsair) accidentally found that it was a Chinese chip, not a Korean or American silicon chip that was commonly seen. The memory module is stamped with the CXMT (Changxin Memory) logo - people thought (wrongly) that it only serves the Chinese domestic market....

The US-China Summit of May 14, 2026 in Beijing was an attempt to mitigate great power competition and promote bilateral ties through “constructive strategic stability.” Chinese President Xi Jinping argued against the inevitability of the “Thucydides trap,” which expects an emerging power to go to war against a declining power that it is displacing. China got a predictable trading environment to cushion the impact of declining export volumes and foster domestic technological advances.

Mao Ning stated that AI should be people-centered and open, advocating for global consensus and cooperation to ensure that AI benefits all of humanity. China will host the 2026 World AI Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. Regarding environmental issues, Mao noted the growing trend of green consumption in China, which contributes to a more inclusive global green supply chain.

On June 4, 2026, China successfully launched 18 "Qianfan Constellation" network satellites into their intended orbit using the Long March 6A carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The satellites are in normal condition, and the launch mission was a complete success. The "Qianfan Constellation," developed and commercially operated by Yunchen Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Yunchen Satellite), is a low-orbit satellite Internet constellation using Ku and Q/V bands. It primarily provides broadband communication, internet access, and other services. To date, 182 satellites have been launched for the project. The Long March 6A carrier rocket used in this mission was developed by Institute Eight of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CAST), and it is one of China's new generation of solid-liquid hybrid medium-sized launch vehicles that can meet diverse concentrated launching needs. Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology guided the domestic frequency coordination for related satellites and issued a batch of space radio station licenses and radio frequency usage permits, providing strong support for the smooth implementation of the "Qianfan Constellation" project.

Aclara Resources, a Canadian mining company, plans to establish a rare-earth supply chain in Brazil and Chile by 2028. The company aims to refine the minerals using U.S. technology to produce enough materials for half of U.S. electric vehicle battery needs, reducing reliance on China. This move responds to tensions between the U.S. and China over supply chains.

Australian lawyer Samuel Monkivitch received a fine and a suspended 18-month jail term after pleading guilty to charges related to a dine-and-dash spree across the territory. The lawyer got into an altercation with a bystander and said to him, "Do you want your head smashed in?" Monkivitch was also accused of leaving before paying a bill of HK$586 at Footaholic, a massage parlour in Wan Chai, on March 25.

On June 4, 2026, China successfully launched 18 "Qianfan Constellation" network satellites into their intended orbit using the Long March 6A carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The satellites are in normal condition, and the launch mission was a complete success. The "Qianfan Constellation," developed and commercially operated by Yunchen Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Yunchen Satellite), is a low-orbit satellite Internet constellation using Ku and Q/V bands. It primarily provides broadband communication, internet access, and other services. To date, 182 satellites have been launched for the project. The Long March 6A carrier rocket used in this mission was developed by Institute Eight of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CAST), and it is one of China's new generation of solid-liquid hybrid medium-sized launch vehicles that can meet diverse concentrated launching needs. Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology guided the domestic frequency coordination for related satellites and issued a batch of space radio station licenses and radio frequency usage permits, providing strong support for the smooth implementation of the "Qianfan Constellation" project.

President Lai Qingde visited the "Watershed in the─ Age of March 23, 1996" Presidential Direct Election 30th Anniversary Series Special Exhibition and the "Democratic Dining Car Market" at the Presidential Office today (6) to review and experience with the public the important history of Taiwan's democratic development. (Taken from Lai Qingde's Facebook page) This year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the direct election of the president. President Lai Qingde visited the "Watershed in the─ Age of 1996.03.23" 30th Anniversary Series Special Exhibition and "Democratic Dining Car Market" at the presidential palace this morning (6) to review and experience the important history of Taiwan's democratic development with the public. The President also sent a Facebook post inviting him to visit the presidential palace and learn about Taiwan's democracy story! After Lai Qingde arrived, he sent the "30th Anniversary Edition of the Direct Election of the President" to the public in the open room for friendly interaction. Subsequently, he visited the special exhibition area, including the three exhibition areas "When the World Turned: Taiwan-U.S. Relations in the 1990s and Taiwan in the World", "People Racing: The 1996 Presidential Election Chronicle" and "The First Vote of Democratic Taiwan: The First Direct Election of the President and the Taiwanese Missile Crisis", reviewing the important historical context and historical significance of the democratization process. Read on... Next, the President visits the Democracy Food Truck Market in Nanyuan, where he tastes Taiwanese delicacies such as almond tea, lice sausage, wheel cakes, pink dragon fruit, and lemon brown sugar jade, and interacts with vendors and visitors....