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India, Pakistan Trade Strikes as Kashmir Tensions Spiral Toward Conflict

A local resident inspects his house that was damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Uri, about 100kms from Srinagar, on May 9, 2025. India said on May 9 it had repulsed a wave of Pakistani drone and artillery attacks overnight, and Islamabad insisted it had not struck targets across the border, as the latest conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours showed no signs of relenting. (Photo by Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP)

The conflict between India and Pakistan has entered a dangerous new phase, with both sides reporting missile strikes, drone incursions, and military engagements across the contested Kashmir region.  

Pakistan’s military reported on 10 May that India launched a new wave of missiles targeting three Pakistani air bases, including one near the capital, Islamabad. 

The latest escalation follows weeks of rising hostilities that began after a terror attack on Indian-administered Kashmir in April, which killed 26 civilians. 

The Pakistani government condemned the latest strikes, accusing India of steering the region toward a “dangerous war” and vowing a strong response.

In what they called an “eye for eye” retaliation, Pakistan claimed it had launched strikes on Indian military installations, including airbases in Udhampur and Pathankot, as well as a missile storage site. 

The operation was dubbed Bunyan al-Marsus by the Pakistani military. In response to the escalating conflict, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the National Command Authority, which oversees Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

Origins of the Hostilities

The hostilities, sparked by the 22-April militant attack that killed 26 people in India-controlled Kashmir, have grown into the most serious conflict in decades. 

The assault is being described as the worst civilian massacre in the region in years. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi labeled it a “terror attack,” vowing swift justice, and cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia in response. “Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice,” Modi declared.

Witnesses described chaos as gunmen opened fire from behind bushes, targeting a group of hikers. Survivors, including Binu Bhai, who was shot in his arms and legs, recounted scenes of devastation, with victims evacuated on horseback and by all-terrain vehicles. 

India blamed the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist organization. Pakistan denied involvement and called for an independent investigation.

The Indian government has intensified its military presence as calls grow for accountability and prevention.

India believes Pakistan is responsible for the attack and initiated airstrikes on 7 May. Since then, both nations have engaged in drone warfare, artillery shelling, and aerial confrontations. 

Pakistan claims it has shot down 25 Indian drones, while India reported 36 attempted drone incursions.

Residents in Kashmir and along the India-Pakistan border report intense shelling, power blackouts, and rising fears of prolonged war. 

Civilians on both sides have started stockpiling food and withdrawing cash as uncertainty grows. In Jammu, a city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, residents described the heaviest bombardment in nearly 30 years.

Timeline: 

April 2025

  • 22 April: Militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-controlled Kashmir kills 26, including a Navy officer. India blames Pakistan-based militants.
  • 25 April: Indian forces demolish homes of two suspected attackers.
  • 28 April: Pakistan warns of an imminent Indian attack; shoots down two Indian drones near the Line of Control.

May 2025

  • 1 May: Indian Home Minister vows to punish all attackers. Pakistan was accused of repeated ceasefire violations.
  • 3 May: Indian Border Security Force soldier captured after crossing into Pakistan.
  • 5 May: India conducts nationwide civil defense drills. Ceasefire violations reported across 8 Line of Control sectors.
  • 6 May: Pakistan claims to shoot down 12 Indian drones; closes airspace. Srinagar Airport placed under military control.
  • 7 May: India launches Operation Sindoor, striking alleged terror sites in Pakistan; claims 100 militants killed.
  • 8 May: Pakistan reports drone intrusions; denies Indian missile strike in Amritsar, calls it a misfire.
  • 9 May: Pakistan begins Operation Bunyan al-Marsus, targeting Indian sites.
  • 10 May: Pakistan expands strikes on Indian military facilities. India mobilizes reserve forces; both countries suspend major sporting events.
Dozens Killed as India, Pakistan Clash in Worst Violence in Decades

A bulldozer carries a damaged part of an aircraft in Wuyan, near Srinagar on 7 May, 2025. (Photo by Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP)

Global Leaders Raise Alarm

Global leaders, the G7 group called on 9 May for “immediate de-escalation” and “maximum restraint.”

The International Crisis Group, however, said “foreign powers appear to have been somewhat indifferent” to the prospect of war, despite warnings of possible escalation, AFP reported.

The conflict has also disrupted major sporting events, with both the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League suspending or relocating matches for safety reasons.

While both countries lack nuclear-capable drones, analysts warn that continued escalation, especially involving ground troops, could push the region into unprecedented danger. 

The escalating conflict has severely impacted international air travel, forcing airlines to cancel flights or reroute to avoid the India-Pakistan airspace. 

India has shut down operations at 24 airports, and schools near the border in both countries have been closed as a precaution.

Major sporting events have also been affected. The Indian Premier League was paused for a week, while Pakistan indefinitely suspended its domestic T20 cricket league.

“Justice for Daniel Pearl”: US Activist Praises India

Amid the ongoing military escalation between India and Pakistan, Amy Mek, founder of the Rise Align Ignite Reclaim Foundation, has publicly commended India for eliminating Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior commander of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). 

Azhar, who has been linked to the 2002 kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, was reportedly killed in an Indian airstrike during Operation Sindoor on 7 May.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mek stated, “Justice for Daniel Pearl: India Strikes Back!”

She further praised India for targeting what she described as “the very Islamic terror infrastructure that breeds jihad,” and criticized Western nations for tolerating Pakistan’s alleged support of terrorism.

The operation, which also resulted in the deaths of 31 Pakistani civilians, has significantly heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan has not confirmed Azhar’s death and has labeled the Indian strikes as unprovoked aggression. 

Both sides have reported casualties and military engagements along the Kashmir border. 

The longstanding India-Pakistan rivalry stems from their territorial dispute over Kashmir since their 1947 independence. 

The ongoing violence has renewed fears of a large-scale conflict in the region.

Jointide Law Firm Launches a New Ecosystem for International Commercial Legal Services, Creating a New Paradigm for Law Firm Globalization

QINGDAO, China, May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On May 7, the “Law Firm Internationalization Strategy Exchange Conference and the Launch Ceremony of the International Commercial Legal Service Hub” hosted by Jointide Law Firm and H&H Jointide(Qingdao) Law Firm, was held in Qingdao, China. This conference, which brought together figures from government, business, and academia, deeply explored the forefront trends in foreign-related legal services. It showcased Jointide’s strategic vision and commitment as a leading Chinese law firm in the field of international legal services.

The launch of the “International Commercial Legal Service Hub” marks a key strategic move in response to national priorities. Spearheaded by Jointide, the Hub is a boundaryless platform integrating global legal resources. It aims to establish a bridge for dialogue among governments, enterprises, law firms, and international organizations, providing comprehensive legal services in cross-border investment, trade dispute resolution, and international compliance. The initiative also supports Qingdao’s goal of becoming a legal services hub for Northeast Asia and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Jointide has accumulated experiences in international commercial legal services in recent years. “Qingdao has a unique geographic advantage and industrial base. Jointide’s practice in globalization offers a replicable model for regional law firms to overcome local boundaries and compete globally,” said Li Chen.

“The launch of the International Commercial Legal Service Hub signifies our transformation from ‘service provider’ to ‘ecosystem builder'” said Gong Lixin, Director of Jointide Law Firm. Their efforts not only offer methodological guidance for Chinese law firms in international development but also send a strong signal of China’s continued opening-up in the legal services sector.

By building this Hub, Jointide demonstrates the evolution and growth of China’s legal service industry to the world. It connects domestic insights with a global perspective and paves a legally secure path for Chinese enterprises to venture abroad.

 

The Secret to Turning Back Time: DermRays Skincare Device Makes Women Look 10 Years Younger

PLEASANTON, Calif., May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Every woman dreams of reversing the clock and reclaiming youthful, radiant skin. This Mother’s Day, make that dream a reality with DermRays Skincare Device-the perfect gift for moms and yourself! From May 1-15, enjoy an exclusive $120 OFF during our Mother’s Day Sale. 

DermRays offers two cutting-edge devices tailored to different skincare needs: 

  • DermRays Revive: Designed for mature skin, this device combats wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of elasticity with advanced 1064nm laser therapy, restoring a lifted, firmer look.
  • DermRays FusionGlow: Ideal for younger users, it tackles acne, dullness, and uneven texture with red and blue light therapy, promoting clearer, glowing skin.
  • DermRays LED: Your daily skincare companion: blue, red, infrared, and mixed light for every need. FDA-cleared safety with built-in eye cups for added protection. Only 15 minutes a day for youthful and radiant skin.

According to the DermRays R&D team, an exciting 1450nm laser skincare device is currently in development and is expected to launch later this year. “We are committed to continuously innovating to meet women’s skincare needs,” says Dr. Yang Lin, dermatology consultant for DermRays. “Our upcoming laser technology will further enhance skin rejuvenation, offering even more transformative results.

“Looking 10 years younger isn’t just a fantasy-it’s achievable with the right technology,” says Dr. Yang Lin, dermatology consultant for DermRays. “Our devices provide salon-quality results at home, making skincare effortless and effective.” 

Don’t miss this limited-time offer! Visit DermRays.com and use code MOTHER120 at checkout. Give the gift of timeless beauty this Mother’s Day-because every woman deserves to feel her best. Stay tuned for the groundbreaking 1450nm laser device and witness how DermRays continues to revolutionize women’s skincare. 

Graid Technology to Showcase Breakthrough AI and HPC Storage Solutions with Leading Partners at AI EXPO KOREA 2025

SEOUL, South Korea, May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Graid Technology is pleased to announce its participation in AI EXPO KOREA 2025, Asia’s premier artificial intelligence exhibition, held from May 14–16 at COEX Hall A in Seoul. During this prestigious event, Graid will showcase its comprehensive solutions in AI and high-performance computing (HPC) storage, demonstrating how SupremeRAID™ is revolutionizing data infrastructure for next-generation workloads. Founded in Silicon Valley in 2021, Graid Technology has quickly become a trailblazer in the storage industry, pioneering GPU-based RAID data protection acceleration, which offers unparalleled speed, security, and reliability—outpacing traditional RAID technologies.

SupremeRAID™ featured at AI expo Korea 2025
SupremeRAID™ featured at AI expo Korea 2025

Backed by two U.S. patents, Graid’s technology excels in both speed and security. The first patent,Data Transmission and Protection System and Method Thereof, introduces a GPU-based RAID controller that eliminates data bottlenecks between applications and SSDs, significantly enhancing transfer speeds compared to traditional solutions. The second patent, granted in April 2025, Distributed Journaling for Write Operations to RAID Systems, focuses on a breakthrough in data integrity, ensuring critical data is protected and quickly recoverable in the event of a system crash or unexpected shutdown—setting a new benchmark for RAID data protection.

Graid Technology will also highlight its edge-to-cloud strategy, delivering next-generation infrastructure across the AI pipeline. On the edge, Graid will unveil one of the most powerful edge computing workstations, Supreme100, at the show—supporting eight Gen5 NVMe SSDs and a 450W GPU, the system delivers transfer speeds up to 100GB/s, with quiet acoustics suitable for office environments. In the cloud, Graid’s HPC cluster solution integrates the SR-1010 with BeeGFS over InfiniBand, achieving 80GB/s speeds with scalable capacity and linear performance. Built-in high-availability (HA) services reduce infrastructure costs while maintaining optimal uptime—ideal for AI, HPC, and ML workloads.

At AI expo Korea, Graid will collaborate with leading partners Infinitix and Teratec to present a comprehensive AI ecosystem. Infinitix will showcase its flagship platform AI-Stack, which enhances GPU resource utilization across AI development and deployment workflows. Widely adopted across industries including finance, healthcare, and semiconductors, Infinitix is making its AI EXPO debut, emphasizing its strategic expansion in Korea. Teratec, a leading Korean technology provider, specializes in HPC, enterprise networking, and IT infrastructure, delivering integrated platforms that power scalable AI and analytics solutions for local enterprises.

Visit Graid Technology at Booth K27 to discover how next-gen storage and infrastructure are powering the future of AI.

PINTEC TO HOLD EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING ON JUNE 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pintec Technology Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: PT) (“Pintec” or the “Company”), a Nasdaq-listed company providing technology enabled financial and digital services to micro, small and medium enterprises in China, today announced that the Company will hold its extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “EGM”) at 4/F, Vanke Times Center, Chaoyang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the People’s Republic of China on June 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., Beijing time.

Holders of record of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares of the Company at the close of business on May 13, 2025, Beijing time, are entitled to attend and vote at the EGM and any adjourned or postponed meeting thereof. Holders of record of ADSs as of the close of business on May 13, 2025, New York time, who wish to exercise their voting rights representing the underlying Class A ordinary shares will be able to directly instruct The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Depositary”) if ADSs are held directly by holders on the books and records of the Depositary, or indirectly through a bank, brokerage or other securities intermediary if the ADSs are held by any of them on behalf of holders, as to how to vote the Class A ordinary shares represented by such ADSs at the EGM.

The Notice of EGM, form of proxy card for the EGM and voting card for ADS holders are available on the Company’s website at https://ir.pintec.com/

About Pintec

Pintec is a Nasdaq-listed company providing technology enabled financial and digital services to micro, small and medium enterprises in China. It connects business partners and financial partners on its open platform and enables them to provide financial services to end users efficiently and effectively. Pintec empowers its business partners by providing them with the capability to add a financing option to their product offerings. It helps its financial partners adapt to the new digital economy by enabling them to access the online population that they could not otherwise reach efficiently or effectively. Pintec continues to deliver exceptional digitization services, diversified financial products, and best-in-class solutions with innovative technology, to solidify its relationship with its business partners and satisfy its clients’ needs. Pintec currently holds internet micro lending license, fund distribution license, insurance brokerage license and enterprise credit investigation license in China. For more information, please visit ir.pintec.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “target,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Pintec’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Pintec may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company’s limited operating history, regulatory uncertainties relating to the markets and industries where the Company operates, and the need to further diversify its financial partners, the Company’s reliance on a limited number of business partners, the impact of current or future PRC laws or regulations on wealth management financial products, and the Company’s ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain the listing of its ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing criteria. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

Education Cannot Wait Scales-Up Funding for Education in Somalia with US$17 Million Catalytic Grant

Total ECW funding in the Federal Republic of Somalia now tops US$64.2 million. The Multi-Year Resilience Programme will be delivered by a consortium of international and local civil society organizations, reaching 43,000 children with life-saving education.

NEW YORK, May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — For over 25 years, Somalia has faced persistent conflict, insecurity and climate change-related crises, severely impacting the lives and lifelong trajectories of the nation’s children.

“The children and adolescents of Somalia have suffered far too long. Yet, they have so much to give – provided they are empowered with a quality education. We will not allow Somalia to be another ‘forgotten crises.’” - ECW Director Yasmine Sherif.
“The children and adolescents of Somalia have suffered far too long. Yet, they have so much to give – provided they are empowered with a quality education. We will not allow Somalia to be another ‘forgotten crises.’” – ECW Director Yasmine Sherif.

In response to the ongoing situation, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic partners announced today a new US$17.1 million grant that will reach over 43,000 children with safe, quality education opportunities. Total ECW funding in Somalia now tops US$64.2 million.

The humanitarian needs far outpace the resources available in Somalia and other forgotten crises worldwide. Somalia’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 remains severely underfunded, according to OCHA’s Financing Tracking Service. Prior to the new tranche of ECW funding, only 29% of the overall US$68.6 million humanitarian appeal for education was funded.

“The children and adolescents of Somalia have suffered far too long. Yet, they have so much to give – provided they are empowered with a quality education. We will not allow Somalia to be another ‘forgotten crises,'” said ECW’s Director Yasmine Sherif. “More than half of Somalia’s school-aged children – 4.5 million – are out of school today. ECW is a pooled funding mechanism advancing joint programming. Our additional financial investment will thus enable all our partners in Somalia to jointly deliver continued quality education. Clearly, education is the best investment to empower crisis-affected communities to take the reins, steer their own destiny and end dependency on aid.”

The United Kingdom is ECW’s second-largest donor, with US$277 million in total contributions to date. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the donor group in Somalia and was instrumental in developing the expanded programme.

“The UK is absolutely committed to working with the Federal Government of Somalia and partners like Education Cannot Wait for a more secure and stable future for all Somali children,” said British Ambassador to Somalia Mike Nithavrianakis. “Today’s programme launch is unique because it provides predictable, long-term funding for some of the most vulnerable, crisis-affected children in Somalia. It will also support the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts to strengthen the education system. Education gives children normality, protection and hope. Educating children is the best way to ensure a better future for Somalia, which is why we’re proud to partner with Education Cannot Wait.”

The programme builds on ECW’s US$47.1 million in total investments in Somalia, which have already reached more than 300,000 children and adolescents with a quality education. The programme will be delivered by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in coordination with the Federal Republic of Somalia. Consortium partners include Save the Children, Concern Worldwide and the Formal Education Network for Private Schools (FENPS). 

“Education is the foundation of opportunity and progress, and ensuring that every child in Somalia has access to quality learning is a priority for our ministry. The partnership with Education Cannot Wait represents a vital commitment to expanding educational access for children affected by the crisis, enabling them to continue their studies and build a brighter future. Through this collaboration, we reaffirm our dedication to providing safe and inclusive learning environments, and empowering the next generation with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive,” said Farah Sheikh Abdulakdir, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, Federal Republic of Somalia.

“This Multi-Year Resilience Programme is more than a programme – it is a lifeline for thousands of children across Somalia who have been denied their right to education due to conflict, climate shocks and displacement. ADRA is proud to lead this transformative effort alongside our partners Save the Children, Concern Worldwide and FENPS – organizations deeply rooted in the communities we serve and experienced in delivering education in emergency contexts,” said Jorge Silva, Country Director, ADRA Somalia. “Together, we will work hand-in-hand with government, ECW, local organizations, Somalia’s education cluster and communities to ensure that children not only access school, but thrive in safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments. This is how we build resilience. This is how we build the future.”

Political, social and economic instability, compounded by climate change-induced disasters, has led to widespread displacement, acute food insecurity and limited access to essential services including education in Somalia.

Progress is being made, but it is uneven. Seven out of ten Somalis still live below the poverty line. The number of people requiring humanitarian assistance in Somalia peaked in 2023 at 8.25 million. That number is projected to decrease to approximately 6 million in 2025. Nevertheless, protracted conflict, political and economic instability, climate change, and other social and cultural barriers have created wide and systemic fragility in Somalia’s education system.

The new programme will be delivered in six locations within the Federal Republic of Somalia. Programme interventions focus on ensuring access to safe and protective learning environments for vulnerable girls and boys, including refugees, returnees and other at-risk groups such as children with disabilities. It also seeks to improve holistic learning outcomes such as basic numeracy, literacy and social-emotional learning, and strengthen the resilience of the education system.

Note to Editors

About Education Cannot Wait (ECW): 
Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations. We support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected girls and boys, so no one is left behind. ECW works through the multilateral system to both increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year programming. ECW works in close partnership with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to increase efficiencies and end siloed responses. ECW urgently appeals to public and private sector donors for expanded support to reach even more vulnerable children and youth.

On X/Twitter, please follow:@EduCannotWait @YasmineSherif1 @KentPage

Additional information available at:www.educationcannotwait.org

 

Forging an AI Cloud Foundation: Huawei Cloud Accelerates Intelligence with APAC Partners

PHUKET, Thailand , May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On May 9, Huawei Cloud successfully hosted its APAC Partner Summit 2025 in Thailand, centered around the theme “Go Together, Grow Together” and the transformative power of AI across industries. The conference brought together over 400 partners from more than 10 countries and regions to discuss ecosystem development in the AI era and collectively accelerate intelligence.

In her opening remarks, Jacqueline Shi, President of Huawei Cloud Global Marketing and Sales Service, underscored Huawei Cloud’s strong commitment to collaborating with partners to capitalize on strategic AI opportunities within the Asia Pacific region. Recognizing the growing demand for accelerated AI deployment across government, finance, carrier, and Internet sectors globally, Huawei Cloud is comprehensively enhancing the competitiveness of its AI cloud service products and solutions to empower partners in expanding their market reach. By working closely with partners to co-develop industry-specific solutions and explore high-value application scenarios, Huawei Cloud aims to drive new growth through precise alignment with customer needs. Furthermore, Huawei Cloud has established a dedicated competence center in Asia Pacific to systematically build a robust enablement framework for partners, encompassing technical training, delivery support, and collaborative market initiatives. This strategic investment is designed to enhance partners’ business monetization and ensure their sustainable development.

Jacqueline Shi, President of Global Marketing and Sales Service, Huawei Cloud
Jacqueline Shi, President of Global Marketing and Sales Service, Huawei Cloud

Increasing Local Presence, Activating Growth Momentum

As a pivotal engine of global economic expansion, the Asia Pacific region stands as a significant force driving technological innovation and intelligent upgrades. Within this dynamic landscape, characterized by massive digital economy opportunities, Huawei Cloud continues to prioritize localization and technological advancement. It has deployed five Regions and 18 availability zones across Asia Pacific, achieving an impressive 50 ms low-latency network coverage spanning the region. Leveraging its industry-specific expertise, global experience, and ongoing talent development initiatives, Huawei Cloud has become the preferred cloud service provider for leading enterprises. The company’s overall business scale in the region has grown thirtyfold in the past five years, positioning Huawei Cloud as the fastest-growing cloud service provider in Asia Pacific. Currently, Huawei Cloud collaborates with over 2,500 local partners in Asia Pacific. In 2024, partner revenue experienced a substantial 75% increase.

Sunny Shang, President of Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific, emphasized: “Huawei Cloud has always recognized the power of a strong ecosystem. Our partners are the core driving force behind our sustained growth.” To further empower partners in accelerating their market expansion within Asia Pacific, he unveiled the Partner Sales Acceleration Program 2.0, a comprehensive initiative providing support across three key pillars: technological innovation, capability enhancement, and resource sharing. This program includes the joint development of 50 industry solutions with partners, backed by millions of dollars in test coupons, the establishment of partner competence centers to strengthen joint go-to-market strategies, a threefold increase in the market development fund (MDF) investment, and an optimized opportunity-sharing mechanism. Through these efforts, Huawei Cloud is working hand-in-hand with its partners to unlock new avenues for growth.

Sunny Shang, President of Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific
Sunny Shang, President of Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific

To expedite the expansion of key industries within Asia Pacific, Huawei Cloud launched the Industry Deep-Dive Initiative, focusing on the Internet, finance, and carrier sectors. Huawei Cloud is committed to collaborating with partners to construct an open, collaborative, and sustainable digital ecosystem, deeply exploring industry value through scenario-specific innovation and achieving a comprehensive upgrade of customer service capabilities.

Industry Deep-Dive Initiative launch ceremony
Industry Deep-Dive Initiative launch ceremony

Forging an AI-Native Cloud to Embrace Intelligence

AI has firmly established itself as the most influential general-purpose technology across industries. Joy Huang, President of Huawei Cloud Strategy & Industry Development, affirmed Huawei Cloud’s dedication to building AI-native cloud services and spearheading intelligent upgrades through its “Cloud for AI” and “AI for Cloud” strategy. Huawei Cloud offers six fundamental capabilities to support both customers’ intelligent transformation and a thriving partner ecosystem: high-quality, secure, and stable cloud services; global cloud infrastructure KooVerse; cloud native technologies; AI powered by foundational technologies; data-AI convergence based on a knowledge lake; and seamless cloud-network-device synergy.

Joy Huang, President of Strategy & Industry Development, Huawei Cloud
Joy Huang, President of Strategy & Industry Development, Huawei Cloud

William Fang, Huawei Cloud Chief Product Officer, detailed how Huawei Cloud is reshaping cloud infrastructure through full-stack innovation with its AI-native cloud. To address the demands of massive computing power, Huawei Cloud provides AI-native infrastructure CloudMatrix, AI-native storage, and distributed cloud solutions for diverse scenarios. Furthermore, Huawei Cloud integrates Pangu models with specialized expertise and data across product R&D, data governance, security, and service O&M. These innovations are designed to enable enterprises to seamlessly incorporate AI technologies into their core business processes. Underpinned by new AI computing centers strategically located in Asia Pacific, Huawei Cloud is empowering Asia Pacific enterprises to develop and scale their AI services natively on the cloud.

William Fang, Chief Product Officer, Huawei Cloud
William Fang, Chief Product Officer, Huawei Cloud

At the conference, Huawei Cloud introduced the APAC AI Pioneer Plan to foster AI technology innovation and solution development in collaboration with ecosystem partners, in an effort to accelerate the widespread adoption of AI technologies throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Huawei Cloud APAC AI Pioneer Plan launch ceremony
Huawei Cloud APAC AI Pioneer Plan launch ceremony

Building a Thriving Ecosystem by All, for All

In the AI era, a vibrant ecosystem is paramount for maintaining competitive edge and ensuring sustainable development. Ken Kang, President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem, emphasized that the AI ecosystem will be the defining force shaping the future of the intelligent world. Huawei Cloud’s long-term investments in core technologies and ecosystem building are focused on creating an open, full-stack ecosystem encompassing everything from model development to application implementation around AI cloud services. This strategy aims to empower partners with differentiated competitiveness, drive cross-industry AI applications, and unlock significant growth potential.

Ken Kang, President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem
Ken Kang, President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem

Yu Liang, Director of Huawei Cloud Overseas Cloud Ecosystem Development & Operation, articulated Huawei Cloud’s ecosystem philosophy centered on collaborative development, sales, and marketing for mutual success. Huawei Cloud is committed to working alongside partners to expedite the creation of AI-driven industry capabilities, with an emphasis on developing scenario-specific joint solutions. Through the PCE program, Huawei Cloud facilitates opportunity sharing, unlocks access to valuable markets, and ensures the collective success across the ecosystem. Moreover, Huawei Cloud will continue to refine its enablement framework, collaborating with leading local universities and enterprises to cultivate virtual human talent, thereby establishing a robust foundation for the ecosystem’s future.

Yu Liang, Director of Huawei Cloud Overseas Cloud Ecosystem Development & Operation
Yu Liang, Director of Huawei Cloud Overseas Cloud Ecosystem Development & Operation

Dale Chen, Director of Partner Development, Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific, outlined Huawei Cloud’s Asia Pacific partner strategy, which centers on two key priorities: diving into industries and creating more value. The first is to deepen joint innovation within key industries such as Internet, finance, and carriers, establish an Asia Pacific industry ecosystem alliance, and cultivate a robust industry developer ecosystem. The second priority is to enhance the partner sales acceleration program through four key initiatives: precision marketing, partner-centric GTM, TAM support, and healthy market, thereby systematically improving partners’ service delivery capabilities.

Dale Chen, Director of Partner Development, Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific
Dale Chen, Director of Partner Development, Huawei Cloud Asia Pacific

Jet Liu, Director of Huawei Public Cloud Operations, highlighted in his presentation that the rapid advancements in AI are empowering SMBs with equitable access to foundation model technologies. However, he noted that many enterprises encounter challenges related to data and service integration. To address these hurdles, Huawei Cloud has launched All-scenario LLM Solution for SMBs, leveraging Flexus, a tailored offering for SMBs, and Dify, a widely adopted open-source AI application development platform. The high-availability Dify mitigates open-source risks and performance limitations for enterprises. Furthermore, the RAG solution allows businesses to swiftly implement chat functionalities leveraging their internal knowledge libraries. Foundation model scenario innovation empowers enterprises to seamlessly integrate these models into practical business applications. Huawei Cloud’s vision is to enable SMBs to effortlessly utilize AI models on its platform, inviting more partners and customers to collaborate on AI model scenario innovation and achieve accelerated business growth on Huawei Cloud.

Jet Liu, Director of Huawei Public Cloud Operations
Jet Liu, Director of Huawei Public Cloud Operations

Guided by the principles of joint construction, open sharing, and shared success, Huawei Cloud is steadily cultivating a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. Currently, Huawei Cloud has more than 45,000 partners and more than 12,000 KooGallery offerings. At the conference, partners including AIS, Orange Business, SCash Global, MFEC, Silverlake, OnePro Cloud, Automated Systems, Promes, and Chulalongkorn University shared their successful collaborations with Huawei Cloud, highlighting joint innovation initiatives and business implementation progress, and showcasing the tangible achievements of Huawei Cloud’s ecosystem collaboration. Looking ahead, Huawei Cloud remains committed to working closely with its partners to ground technologies in local needs, build a thriving ecosystem, and accelerate the intelligent transformation of industries.

 

SEMI Applauds New Bill to Clarify Tax Credit Eligibility for Critical Semiconductor Suppliers Under U.S. CHIPS Act

MILPITAS, Calif., May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SEMI, the industry association serving the global semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, today announced support of the Strengthening Essential Manufacturing and Industrial Investment Act (SEMI Investment Act), which clarifies that critical materials suppliers to semiconductor manufacturers are eligible for the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (“Section 48D”) created by the United States CHIPS and Science Act.

Introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), the SEMI Investment Act would help make semiconductor materials an equal part of America’s investment in advanced semiconductors and contribute to a secure, domestic semiconductor supply chain.

“The investment tax credit is a critical tool to accelerate construction of the semiconductor ecosystem in the United States and may be the most powerful incentive to onshore critical technologies powering the AI revolution,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. “Materials manufacturing projects are equally critical to ensuring that leading-edge logic and memory products are available to fuel skyrocketing AI and high-performance computing demand across the world. The SEMI Investment Act will help ensure these critical projects get built in the United States. We are deeply grateful to Senators Blackburn, Bennet, Tillis and Coons for bringing this important legislation forward to clarify Congress’ original intent underlying Section 48D of the CHIPS and Science Act.”

The SEMI Investment Act amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify that 48D Tax Credit includes materials integral to the manufacturing of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The bill will ensure that critical materials projects can access the same 25 percent investment tax credit that semiconductor manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing equipment projects have access to today.

“SEMI looks forward to working with Congress and the Trump Administration to pass the SEMI Investment Act into law,” said Manocha. “The bipartisan support for this legislation highlights it as a critical step for the U.S. to strengthen its semiconductor industry, national security, and economic competitiveness. Additionally, the act would help prevent vital materials companies from moving overseas and ensure that American manufacturers realize the benefits of the semiconductor incentives investment Congress originally intended under the CHIPS and Science Act.”

Visit SEMI Global Advocacy to learn more about public policy efforts and developments.

About SEMI
SEMI® is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management and other programs. Our SEMICON® expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members’ business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more.

Association Contact

Samer Bahou/SEMI US
Phone: 1.408.943.7870
Email: sbahou@semi.org