🔥 Top Stories
Iran's state media reported that the United States and Israel launched an attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran on the evening of the 25th. According to Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, a projectile struck the area surrounding the nuclear facility. The statement confirmed no casualties and no damage to the plant, with all operations continuing normally. This marks the second such attack on the facility's vicinity in recent weeks.
According to Israeli media reports, the United States has set April 9 as a deadline for US-Iran negotiations. Iran's foreign minister has secretly informed US envoys that Iran's new supreme leader has agreed to negotiate with the US to reach an agreement. Pakistani officials revealed that US Vice President Vance, envoy Witkoff, and presidential son-in-law Kushner are expected to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad this week.
According to the New York Times, U.S. Department of Defense officials are assessing a military operation plan led by the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to control Kharg Island, a critical Iranian oil hub. The plan involves the division's rapid response force with approximately 3,000 paratroopers capable of deployment within 18 hours. The proposal remains under evaluation.
According to Israeli media reports, a US official revealed that the United States plans to conclude military operations against Iran by April 9, leaving approximately three weeks for negotiations. Multiple English and American media outlets report that the US and Iran may hold talks in Pakistan this weekend. The plan aims to address US-Iran relations through concurrent military and diplomatic efforts.
A Chinese-born woman surnamed Xu, who previously served as director of the Taiwan People's Party's New Resident Committee, has been indicted for allegedly maintaining long-term contact with Chinese officials through the Cross-Strait Marriage Coordination Association and reporting domestic political information. Prosecutors allege she campaigned for Democratic Progressive Party legislator Huang Shan-shan and former party chairman Ko Wen-je during the 2022 Taipei mayoral and 2024 presidential elections, violating the Counter-Infiltration Act.
🏛 Politics
Iran's state media reported that the United States and Israel launched an attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran on the evening of the 25th. According to Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, a projectile struck the area surrounding the nuclear facility. The statement confirmed no casualties and no damage to the plant, with all operations continuing normally. This marks the second such attack on the facility's vicinity in recent weeks.
According to Israeli media reports, the United States has set April 9 as a deadline for US-Iran negotiations. Iran's foreign minister has secretly informed US envoys that Iran's new supreme leader has agreed to negotiate with the US to reach an agreement. Pakistani officials revealed that US Vice President Vance, envoy Witkoff, and presidential son-in-law Kushner are expected to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad this week.
According to the New York Times, U.S. Department of Defense officials are assessing a military operation plan led by the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to control Kharg Island, a critical Iranian oil hub. The plan involves the division's rapid response force with approximately 3,000 paratroopers capable of deployment within 18 hours. The proposal remains under evaluation.
According to Israeli media reports, a US official revealed that the United States plans to conclude military operations against Iran by April 9, leaving approximately three weeks for negotiations. Multiple English and American media outlets report that the US and Iran may hold talks in Pakistan this weekend. The plan aims to address US-Iran relations through concurrent military and diplomatic efforts.
A Chinese-born woman surnamed Xu, who previously served as director of the Taiwan People's Party's New Resident Committee, has been indicted for allegedly maintaining long-term contact with Chinese officials through the Cross-Strait Marriage Coordination Association and reporting domestic political information. Prosecutors allege she campaigned for Democratic Progressive Party legislator Huang Shan-shan and former party chairman Ko Wen-je during the 2022 Taipei mayoral and 2024 presidential elections, violating the Counter-Infiltration Act.
Taiwan's CDC announced 2025 tuberculosis prevention results, with new cases dropping below 6,000 to 5,742 for the first time. The incidence rate fell to 25 per 100,000 population, a 66% decrease from 73 per 100,000 in 2005. The CDC will strengthen screening and treatment for elderly and foreign populations, promote short-course therapy to improve completion rates, targeting 10 cases per 100,000 by 2030.
Hsu Han, former head of CPC's Refining Division, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in first trial for alleged bribery and corruption involving over 20 million NT dollars. After destroying his electronic ankle monitor and jumping bail before sentencing, Hsu was apprehended in Taitung's Taimali district last night. He was immediately transferred to custody by prosecutors and police, with the case handled by Qiaoton District Prosecutors Office.
Lebanon's Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of Iran's newly appointed ambassador, prompting Hezbollah to denounce the decision as a "sin" and demand immediate reversal. The move occurs amid escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting internal divisions within Lebanon over its relationship with Iran.
US President Trump stated negotiations with Iran are underway and announced a pause on attacks against Iranian power facilities, with talks scheduled in Pakistan this week. However, Israel and Iran continued military exchanges on the 24th, while Iran denied ongoing negotiations with the US, escalating Middle East tensions and driving international oil prices higher during trading on the 24th.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a one-year national energy emergency on the 24th in response to global supply chain disruptions caused by Middle East conflicts. International oil prices face significant volatility, posing security concerns for the nation. The government has established a special committee to manage the supply and distribution of fuel, food, medicine, and other essential goods.
💰 Finance
International oil prices rose significantly today as market sentiment turned cautious regarding prospects for ending Middle East conflict through US-Iran negotiations. Geopolitical risks have increased due to uncertain diplomatic outcomes. Analysts expect ongoing Middle East tensions will continue supporting elevated oil price levels in the near term.
President Lai Ching-te addressed the Taiwan Capital Market Forum, highlighting that Taiwan's stock market capitalization has risen to seventh place globally as of early this year. He emphasized that the capital market is crucial for supporting industrial growth and innovation. President Lai outlined three strategies to attract promising unicorn companies to remain in Taiwan, with the goal of establishing Taiwan as Asia's Nasdaq and a key engine for industrial development.
Taiwan has reached its highest position in global export rankings, climbing to 12th place worldwide. This achievement reflects the competitiveness of Taiwan's manufacturing sector and the strengthening of its international trade position. As a major global supplier of electronic products and semiconductors, Taiwan plays a crucial role in the global supply chain, with the improved export ranking demonstrating its sustained economic strength and industrial advantages.
US President Trump announced a delay in attacking Iranian energy facilities and stated that talks with Iran are progressing "very well." Markets remain cautiously optimistic about prospects for a US-Iran agreement to end hostilities. Following these developments, European stock markets closed higher.
Japan's February core inflation rate dropped to 1.6% year-on-year, marking the first time in nearly four years below the Bank of Japan's 2% target. Fuel subsidy measures offset price pressures from yen depreciation. While unlikely to alter the BOJ's monetary tightening plans, the data complicates future rate hike communications.
EU Commission President von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Albanese signed a free trade agreement on the 24th, concluding nearly ten years of negotiations. The agreement strengthens bilateral relations and aims to provide mutual support against tariff pressures while reducing dependence on Chinese critical minerals.
The Trump administration announced plans to establish an investment alliance with one trillion dollars committed to energy, mineral, and semiconductor projects, aiming to create a US-led critical supply chain. The US plans to contribute 2.5 billion dollars and has invited allies including Singapore, Qatar, and Sweden to participate.
South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix is seeking to raise approximately $10 billion (10-15 trillion Korean won) through an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) listing in the United States. The company plans to use the funds to expand production capacity amid surging memory demand driven by AI growth. Additionally, SK Hynix will purchase an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system from ASML Korea for 11.9 trillion Korean won.
Global economies show synchronized weakness amid Middle East tensions. US March PMI fell to 51.4, marking an 11-month low, while eurozone business activity dropped to a 10-month low. Rising inflation from conflict threatens fragile economic recovery, with stagflation concerns mounting as war-driven price pressures persist.
Following President Trump's signals of good dialogue with Iran on the 23rd, both sides continued verbal exchanges while military tensions remained unresolved, causing market optimism to fade rapidly. Wall Street weakened on Tuesday, with U.S. stocks retracing some of the previous day's gains, while international oil prices rebounded after falling.
💻 Technology
Taiwan and US scholars held an online forum in Washington to discuss artificial intelligence collaboration. Participants noted that Taiwan excels in hardware manufacturing while the US leads in software development. Scholars suggested leveraging complementary strengths to expand international AI cooperation with other democratic nations and address shared challenges.
Nvidia plans to use networking technology to make its server cabinets compatible with AI chips from competitors, while generating revenue from such integration. The move aims to address intensifying market competition and navigate regulatory restrictions in mainland China's market.
Bloomberg reports that Microsoft has agreed to lease a data center project in Abilene, Texas with approximately 700 megawatts capacity. The facility was originally planned by Oracle and OpenAI but the deal fell through. Microsoft signed a lease agreement with developer Crusoe after both companies withdrew, expanding its AI infrastructure deployment.
British chip design company ARM announced a new artificial intelligence data center chip called "AGI CPU" on Tuesday, targeting agentic AI applications. The move is expected to generate billions of dollars in annual revenue and marks a significant strategic shift from its traditional IP licensing model to direct chip manufacturing, capitalizing on surging demand for AI processors.
Japan's construction industry faces significant labor shortage, with an estimated deficit of approximately 1.29 million workers by 2035. Shimizu Corporation launched the "Shimizu Smart Construction Site" project in 2017, deploying various construction robots including steel welding robots and fireproof coating spray robots to collaborate with human workers on high-difficulty and high-risk tasks, improving construction efficiency and safety.
GMO AI & Robot Commerce launched a humanoid robot staffing service in April 2025, offering rentals of the Unitree G1 developed by Chinese firm Unitree. Standing 130cm tall and weighing 35kg, the robot rents for 100,000 to 500,000 yen daily (approximately 2,000 to 10,000 TWD). Basic rental costs 100,000 yen; with technical support services, 500,000 yen. Currently deployed at events, exhibitions, festivals, and ceremonies for voice-interactive presentations. The service addresses Japan's growing labor shortage.
🌏 International
According to Israeli media reports, the United States has set April 9 as a deadline for US-Iran negotiations. Iran's foreign minister has secretly informed US envoys that Iran's new supreme leader has agreed to negotiate with the US to reach an agreement. Pakistani officials revealed that US Vice President Vance, envoy Witkoff, and presidential son-in-law Kushner are expected to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad this week.
According to the New York Times, U.S. Department of Defense officials are assessing a military operation plan led by the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to control Kharg Island, a critical Iranian oil hub. The plan involves the division's rapid response force with approximately 3,000 paratroopers capable of deployment within 18 hours. The proposal remains under evaluation.
According to Israeli media reports, a US official revealed that the United States plans to conclude military operations against Iran by April 9, leaving approximately three weeks for negotiations. Multiple English and American media outlets report that the US and Iran may hold talks in Pakistan this weekend. The plan aims to address US-Iran relations through concurrent military and diplomatic efforts.
Iran's state media reported that the United States and Israel launched an attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran on the evening of the 25th. According to Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, a projectile struck the area surrounding the nuclear facility. The statement confirmed no casualties and no damage to the plant, with all operations continuing normally. This marks the second such attack on the facility's vicinity in recent weeks.
Russia conducted a massive drone attack on Ukraine, deploying 948 unmanned aircraft over a 24-hour period. Multiple cities across Ukraine were targeted, with local officials reporting at least eight people killed and dozens injured in the strikes.
Israel's defence minister stated that thousands of displaced Lebanese residents will not be permitted to return home until northern Israel is secure. Israel plans to establish and control a large buffer zone in southern Lebanon as part of its security measures.
BBC Verify analyzes the critical moments before an Air Canada aircraft collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The incident resulted in casualties, with investigators reconstructing the specific circumstances and causes of the accident.
Iran's restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are accelerating exports through overland pipelines, with officials warning that naval escorts cannot guarantee safe passage. The geopolitical crisis is increasing the strategic value of Arctic energy resources.
Russia conducted a major drone and missile attack on Ukrainian civilian areas Tuesday, killing 4 people and injuring at least 35 according to officials. Russia fired almost 400 long-range drones overnight in its largest attack in weeks, with strikes continuing into Tuesday targeting the capital Kyiv. The assault coincides with intensified Russian efforts to break through Ukrainian front-line defenses, potentially marking the start of an anticipated spring ground offensive.
A Chinese-born woman surnamed Xu, who previously served as director of the Taiwan People's Party's New Resident Committee, has been indicted for allegedly maintaining long-term contact with Chinese officials through the Cross-Strait Marriage Coordination Association and reporting domestic political information. Prosecutors allege she campaigned for Democratic Progressive Party legislator Huang Shan-shan and former party chairman Ko Wen-je during the 2022 Taipei mayoral and 2024 presidential elections, violating the Counter-Infiltration Act.
EU Commission President von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Albanese signed a free trade agreement on the 24th, concluding nearly ten years of negotiations. The agreement strengthens bilateral relations and aims to provide mutual support against tariff pressures while reducing dependence on Chinese critical minerals.
The Trump administration announced plans to establish an investment alliance with one trillion dollars committed to energy, mineral, and semiconductor projects, aiming to create a US-led critical supply chain. The US plans to contribute 2.5 billion dollars and has invited allies including Singapore, Qatar, and Sweden to participate.
Nvidia plans to use networking technology to make its server cabinets compatible with AI chips from competitors, while generating revenue from such integration. The move aims to address intensifying market competition and navigate regulatory restrictions in mainland China's market.
South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix is seeking to raise approximately $10 billion (10-15 trillion Korean won) through an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) listing in the United States. The company plans to use the funds to expand production capacity amid surging memory demand driven by AI growth. Additionally, SK Hynix will purchase an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system from ASML Korea for 11.9 trillion Korean won.
US President Trump stated negotiations with Iran are underway and announced a pause on attacks against Iranian power facilities, with talks scheduled in Pakistan this week. However, Israel and Iran continued military exchanges on the 24th, while Iran denied ongoing negotiations with the US, escalating Middle East tensions and driving international oil prices higher during trading on the 24th.