Hong Kong reclaims its finance lead with mainland Chinese capital, Washington’s policy swings boost Beijing’s strategic gains, Germany’s BMW bets big on new software but wrestles with costs, Chinese automakers face global trade frictions, and US renewables stumble with shifting policies.

China’s challenges in accommodating renewables in its grid, South Korea and Turkey’s exploitation of Western defence gaps, Vietnam’s pursuit of private sector champions, and China’s AI wearables boom exposing limits to the country’s manufacturing capabilities.

China targets foreign stockpiling of rare earths, Toyota turns to Chinese parts to help cut EV cost production in Thailand, Japan advances plans to build its first nuclear reactor since Fukushima, Vietnam accelerates infrastructure spending amid export headwinds, and fusion’s breakthrough moment triggers a race to harness artificial stars.