AnewZ Morning Brief – 13 June 2026
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 13 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
China is expected to remain the top investor in chipmaking equipment in 2025, despite a 24% year-over-year decline, with global semiconductor investments rising 2% to $110 billion, driven by the growing demand for AI chip production.
China is set to maintain its position as the largest investor in new computer chipmaking equipment in 2025, despite experiencing a significant year-over-year decline, according to a report by the industry group SEMI. The country, which has long been the largest consumer of chips, is expected to invest $38 billion in chip manufacturing tools next year, down 24% from $50 billion in 2024. However, this spending still surpasses that of South Korea, where investments are projected to reach $21.5 billion in 2025, and Taiwan, which is expected to invest $21 billion.
Global investment in semiconductor equipment is forecast to rise 2% in 2025, totaling $110 billion. This marks the sixth consecutive year of growth, driven largely by the demand for tools to produce chips for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. SEMI has also predicted that the impact of AI on chipmaking will accelerate in 2026, with a projected 18% growth in investment.
China's increased spending in the chip sector is part of a broader strategy to reduce the country's dependence on imported chips, spurred by U.S. government restrictions. Since mid-2023, China has ramped up efforts to expand its chipmaking capacity with strong governmental support.
While Chinese investments are declining, the country remains ahead of other regions, such as South Korea, where major companies like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics are expanding memory chip production. Taiwan, home to the world’s leading foundry TSMC, continues to be a major player in the AI chip market, manufacturing chips for companies like Nvidia.
The global shift towards AI-driven chip demand has bolstered the fortunes of major equipment manufacturers, including ASML, Applied Materials, and KLA. ASML, in particular, is forecast to achieve sales between $32 billion and $38 billion in 2025, holding a dominant share in the lithography market.
Despite the decline in China’s spending, its ongoing investment in the semiconductor sector highlights its commitment to strengthening domestic chip production, with plans to reduce reliance on foreign technology amid rising geopolitical tensions.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
While France hosts next week’s Group of Seven summit, businesses in neighbouring Switzerland have already begun taking precautions, with many shops in Geneva boarded up ahead of a large anti-G7 demonstration expected on Sunday.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have criticised Britain, France and Germany for leaving them out of talks with Russia about a potential future peace deal for Ukraine.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of colonialism and disputed ownership.
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
Georgia is overhauling its migration laws in one of the most significant legal reforms in years, introducing criminal penalties for fake marriages, tighter controls on foreign students and expanded investigative powers for the migration authorities.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 13 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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