The latest updates from Asia highlight significant strides in technology and infrastructure across Japan, Taiwan, and India.

Japan's tech sector is intensifying its focus on artificial intelligence, marked by a recent visit from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to Tokyo. The country aims to accelerate "AI transformation" across all sectors.

In Taiwan, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chipmaker, plans to increase prices for both advanced and mature chip production services by up to 10% next year, according to Nikkei Asia's chief tech correspondent Cheng Ting-Fang. Additionally, Taiwan is pursuing a strategic mission to strengthen national security and develop its space economy. Wu, known as the island's "Rocket Uncle," emphasized the importance of helping local companies move up the value chain and build a space economy, stating, "The key mission is to strengthen our national security, which is critically important, while also helping local companies move up the value chain and build a space economy."

India marked a milestone on July 17 with the launch of its first hydrogen-powered train on an 89-kilometer route connecting Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, near New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as "a big step toward the modernization of the Indian railways," with potential plans to expand the technology to other routes.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki Heavy Industries is exploring alternative hydrogen technologies for producing naphtha at its plant near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital.

These developments come amid Japan experiencing its hottest summer temperatures so far, with central regions like Nagoya's Tokai area reaching over 40°C.

Sources