Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je was convicted on first trial on the 26th in connection with the Jinghua City case and political donation case. He was found guilty of four charges including breach of duty bribery, abuse of official position for profit, public property embezzlement, and breach of trust. The Taipei District Court issued a combined sentence.
Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict in the Jinghua City case, sentencing former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years imprisonment and Weijing Group Chairman Shen Qingjing to 10 years. The court found that Shen transferred 2.1 million yuan through seven proxy accounts to Ko, establishing a quid pro quo relationship constituting bribery.
Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict in the Jinghua City zoning density bribery case involving former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, sentencing him to 17 years imprisonment and six years of deprivation of political rights. Ko subsequently held a press conference denying the charges and criticizing the judicial process.
Taipei District Court sentenced former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to 13 years for bribery related to the Jinghua City case, with additional sentences for breach of trust and public interest embezzlement totaling 17 years imprisonment and six-year deprivation of civil rights. Confiscated criminal proceeds amount to 126 million NT dollars. Wei Jing Group Chairman Shen Qingjing received 10 years for complicity.
President Trump announced that the US government will postpone military strikes against Iranian energy facilities by ten days. The decision is interpreted as a more cautious approach by the US administration on Iran issues, allowing time for diplomatic negotiations. This reflects the complex situation in US-Iran relations and potential diplomatic opportunities.
Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je was convicted on first trial on the 26th in connection with the Jinghua City case and political donation case. He was found guilty of four charges including breach of duty bribery, abuse of official position for profit, public property embezzlement, and breach of trust. The Taipei District Court issued a combined sentence.
Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict in the Jinghua City case, sentencing former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years imprisonment and Weijing Group Chairman Shen Qingjing to 10 years. The court found that Shen transferred 2.1 million yuan through seven proxy accounts to Ko, establishing a quid pro quo relationship constituting bribery.
Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict in the Jinghua City zoning density bribery case involving former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, sentencing him to 17 years imprisonment and six years of deprivation of political rights. Ko subsequently held a press conference denying the charges and criticizing the judicial process.
Taipei District Court sentenced former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to 13 years for bribery related to the Jinghua City case, with additional sentences for breach of trust and public interest embezzlement totaling 17 years imprisonment and six-year deprivation of civil rights. Confiscated criminal proceeds amount to 126 million NT dollars. Wei Jing Group Chairman Shen Qingjing received 10 years for complicity.
President Trump announced that the US government will postpone military strikes against Iranian energy facilities by ten days. The decision is interpreted as a more cautious approach by the US administration on Iran issues, allowing time for diplomatic negotiations. This reflects the complex situation in US-Iran relations and potential diplomatic opportunities.
U.S. President Trump announced via social media that he has delayed military action originally scheduled for March 27 by ten days to April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (April 7, 8 a.m. Taiwan time), citing ongoing negotiations with Iran. Trump did not specify the exact targets of the potential military operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that an explosion occurred at a US military base in Florida housing Central Command. The primary suspect remains at large, while an associate has been arrested in the United States. Authorities are investigating the incident and its motives.
The White House announced that US President Trump will visit China on May 14-15 and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing aligns with Trump's previous statement that the Iran situation would be resolved within four to six weeks.
Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, stated that the US expects Taiwan to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP and called on the Legislative Yuan to expedite budget approval. The statement reflects US expectations for Taiwan's defense investment.
Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment and stripped of political rights for six years in a first-instance trial on charges including corruption related to Jinghua City floor area ratio incentives and political donations. The sentence exceeding 10 years raises questions about his eligibility for the 2028 presidential election. The Interior Ministry stated it will determine eligibility based on the latest judgment at the time of registration. The case remains subject to appeal.
Uncertainty over US-Iran ceasefire agreement escalated with VIX fear index rising to 27, oil prices climbing, and US Treasury yields surging. US stocks fell broadly on the 26th: Dow Jones declined 469 points, S&P 500 dropped 1.74%, and Nasdaq plunged 2.38%, falling over 10% from its peak into correction territory. Tech stocks faced broad pressure as memory chip sector weakened due to Google's new AI technology reducing memory requirements.
US stock markets declined Thursday due to rising oil prices amid concerns over Middle East developments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 469.38 points (down 1.01%), the S&P 500 dropped 1.74%, and the Nasdaq declined 2.38%. TSMC ADR fell over 6%. Markets are closely monitoring geopolitical developments affecting oil prices.
International crude oil surged significantly on the 26th, with Brent crude futures rising 5.7% to 108.01 dollars per barrel and WTI crude climbing 4.6% to 94.48 dollars per barrel. Escalating Middle East conflict and fading ceasefire hopes prompted investors to reassess global energy supply risks. The U.S. Middle East envoy presented a negotiation framework to Iran in efforts to end the conflict.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that Middle East conflicts may elevate US inflation rates. Released on March 26, the OECD's forecast projects US inflation will reach 4.2% this year, reflecting geopolitical tensions' impact on the global economy. The organization cautioned that regional conflicts could intensify energy price volatility, subsequently driving up price levels.
SMIC announced full-year 2025 audited results with record-high revenue of $9.327 billion, up 16.2% from $8.030 billion in 2024. Net profit attributable to shareholders reached $685 million, representing 39.0% year-over-year growth. Gross margin improved to 21.0% from 18.0%, driven by increased wafer shipments, higher capacity utilization, and optimized product mix.
US President Trump stated negotiations with Iran continue while threatening strong action against Iran, raising market concerns about peace prospects. Heightened geopolitical risks prompted US stock market declines at close.
International methanol prices surged 72% from February 28 to March 20, with CFR Southeast Asia prices reaching $555 per ton, the highest since March 2021. The Middle East, a major global producer of natural gas-based methanol, relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for exports. Shipping disruptions have increased freight and insurance costs, while panic buying further elevated prices across industrial supply chains.
Crude oil futures rebounded today as investor concerns about prolonged Middle East conflicts weighed on markets. The recovery reversed losses from the previous trading session, reflecting diminishing expectations for a swift resolution to regional tensions. Uncertainty surrounding the geopolitical situation continues to influence energy commodity prices.
A Los Angeles jury ruled on the 25th that Meta and YouTube's platform designs are addictive and caused a teenage girl's mental health deterioration, ordering the companies to pay a combined $6 million in damages. The case is considered precedent-setting and may influence thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) significantly raised inflation forecasts for major economies on the 26th, citing rising energy prices from Middle East tensions. The OECD expects U.S. inflation to exceed 4% this year and projects the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates unchanged over the next two years. The organization also withdrew its previous upward revision to global economic growth estimates.
Mitsubishi Electric, Rohm Semiconductor, and Toshiba plan to merge their power semiconductor divisions to enhance cost competitiveness. The combined entity would become the world's second-largest power semiconductor manufacturer with approximately 10% global market share, trailing only Germany's Infineon at 17%.
Chipmaker GlobalFoundries announced on Thursday that it has filed patent infringement lawsuits against Israeli competitor Tower Semiconductor, alleging violation of 11 patents related to chip manufacturing used in smartphones and electronic devices. GlobalFoundries filed two cases in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and submitted a complaint to the International Trade Commission, seeking to ban the import of products using the disputed technologies into the United States.
Google announced on the 25th that it is significantly advancing its timeline for preparing against quantum computing threats, targeting completion by 2029. Q-Day refers to when quantum computers mature enough to easily break current global mainstream encryption technologies. Google's move aims to deploy defensive measures earlier to protect existing encryption systems.
Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je was convicted on first trial on the 26th in connection with the Jinghua City case and political donation case. He was found guilty of four charges including breach of duty bribery, abuse of official position for profit, public property embezzlement, and breach of trust. The Taipei District Court issued a combined sentence.
Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict in the Jinghua City case, sentencing former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years imprisonment and Weijing Group Chairman Shen Qingjing to 10 years. The court found that Shen transferred 2.1 million yuan through seven proxy accounts to Ko, establishing a quid pro quo relationship constituting bribery.
Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict in the Jinghua City zoning density bribery case involving former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, sentencing him to 17 years imprisonment and six years of deprivation of political rights. Ko subsequently held a press conference denying the charges and criticizing the judicial process.
Taipei District Court sentenced former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to 13 years for bribery related to the Jinghua City case, with additional sentences for breach of trust and public interest embezzlement totaling 17 years imprisonment and six-year deprivation of civil rights. Confiscated criminal proceeds amount to 126 million NT dollars. Wei Jing Group Chairman Shen Qingjing received 10 years for complicity.
President Trump announced that the US government will postpone military strikes against Iranian energy facilities by ten days. The decision is interpreted as a more cautious approach by the US administration on Iran issues, allowing time for diplomatic negotiations. This reflects the complex situation in US-Iran relations and potential diplomatic opportunities.
U.S. President Trump announced via social media that he has delayed military action originally scheduled for March 27 by ten days to April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (April 7, 8 a.m. Taiwan time), citing ongoing negotiations with Iran. Trump did not specify the exact targets of the potential military operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that an explosion occurred at a US military base in Florida housing Central Command. The primary suspect remains at large, while an associate has been arrested in the United States. Authorities are investigating the incident and its motives.
The White House announced that US President Trump will visit China on May 14-15 and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing aligns with Trump's previous statement that the Iran situation would be resolved within four to six weeks.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) significantly raised inflation forecasts for major economies on the 26th, citing rising energy prices from Middle East tensions. The OECD expects U.S. inflation to exceed 4% this year and projects the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates unchanged over the next two years. The organization also withdrew its previous upward revision to global economic growth estimates.
Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment and stripped of political rights for six years in a first-instance trial on charges including corruption related to Jinghua City floor area ratio incentives and political donations. The sentence exceeding 10 years raises questions about his eligibility for the 2028 presidential election. The Interior Ministry stated it will determine eligibility based on the latest judgment at the time of registration. The case remains subject to appeal.
US President Trump has told his aides that he wants to conclude the conflict with Iran within the coming weeks. This statement reflects the administration's intention to quickly resolve regional tensions. Specific details regarding negotiations and timelines have not been publicly disclosed.
US President Trump announced on social media on the 26th that he will suspend military operations targeting Iran's energy facilities until 8 PM Eastern Time on Monday, April 6 (9 AM Japan time on April 7), at Iran's government's request. Trump stated that ongoing negotiations are proceeding very smoothly.
Nicolas Maduro, the former Venezuelan president arrested by US forces, appeared in federal court in New York on Thursday for his second hearing since his capture. The 63-year-old and his wife Cilia Flores remain detained in a Brooklyn jail. During the one-hour hearing, the judge ruled against dismissing the case despite the defendants' apparent inability to afford legal representation without Venezuelan government assistance.
Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, stated that the US expects Taiwan to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP and called on the Legislative Yuan to expedite budget approval. The statement reflects US expectations for Taiwan's defense investment.
US President Trump stated negotiations with Iran continue while threatening strong action against Iran, raising market concerns about peace prospects. Heightened geopolitical risks prompted US stock market declines at close.