🔥 Top Stories
According to Bloomberg, the United States has requested European NATO allies submit concrete military plans to ensure Hormuz Strait shipping security within days, with multiple diplomats characterizing the demand as an ultimatum. The request was made during talks at the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, with President Trump discussing the matter with NATO Secretary General Rutte on the 8th. The demand reflects tensions stemming from US-Iran and Israel conflicts, further straining relations between the US and its NATO allies.
US and Iranian delegations have arrived in Pakistan for a two-week ceasefire negotiation, with Trump demanding progress within 24 hours. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel will hold talks in Washington next week, though Israel refuses to engage with Hezbollah and continues military operations. The Middle East situation faces critical challenges amid these two key negotiations.
Film producer Li Neng-qian, husband of actress Liu Hsiang-chun, is accused of being recruited by Chinese military intelligence operatives to steal military secrets and collect personal data of over 3,000 military personnel. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Li and four others under the National Intelligence Work Act, seeking a sentence of at least 12 years. The court ordered Li to remain in custody.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Zhang Mingda, speaker of Chiayi County Council, allegedly received luxury gifts worth over 130,000 NT dollars and subsequently pressured the county health bureau to reduce a company's fine from over 6 million NT dollars to approximately 900,000 NT dollars. Prosecutors have charged Zhang with bribery and abuse of authority based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
US Vice President Harris will lead a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan on the 11th for US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. Harris expressed confidence that the talks will yield positive results while warning Tehran against attempting to deceive the United States. Analysts suggest the outcome of these negotiations could shape the global order for decades to come.
🏛 Politics
US President Trump posted on social media claiming Iran's navy, air force, and air defense systems have been destroyed, with missile and drone factories demolished. He stated the US is clearing the Hormuz Strait. The post regarding Iran's military infrastructure has drawn international attention.
According to International Maritime Organization data, approximately 2000 vessels are stranded in Persian Gulf waters carrying over 20000 seafarers. Most ships have been stuck for more than one month, with fewer than 200 successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Crews face severe conditions including flammable cargo, deteriorating goods, and inability to evacuate injured or deceased crew members, leading to rising psychological health risks and incidents of crew refusal to work.
According to Bloomberg, the United States has requested European NATO allies submit concrete military plans to ensure Hormuz Strait shipping security within days, with multiple diplomats characterizing the demand as an ultimatum. The request was made during talks at the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, with President Trump discussing the matter with NATO Secretary General Rutte on the 8th. The demand reflects tensions stemming from US-Iran and Israel conflicts, further straining relations between the US and its NATO allies.
As US-Iran negotiations prepare to commence in Islamabad, both sides maintain hardline positions. Iran's delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi, has arrived and warned of strong retaliation if agreements collapse. The US insists on preventing Iran's nuclear weapons acquisition as a core red line while increasing military presence in the Middle East, creating heightened tensions before talks begin.
US and Iranian delegations have arrived in Pakistan for a two-week ceasefire negotiation, with Trump demanding progress within 24 hours. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel will hold talks in Washington next week, though Israel refuses to engage with Hezbollah and continues military operations. The Middle East situation faces critical challenges amid these two key negotiations.
President Trump claimed Iran has no leverage and can only use the Strait of Hormuz for short-term extortion. However, US intelligence officials revealed that Iran actually retains thousands of ballistic missiles and can deploy them through underground storage facilities and launchers, contradicting Trump's assessment of Iran's capabilities.
Film producer Li Neng-qian, husband of actress Liu Hsiang-chun, is accused of being recruited by Chinese military intelligence operatives to steal military secrets and collect personal data of over 3,000 military personnel. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Li and four others under the National Intelligence Work Act, seeking a sentence of at least 12 years. The court ordered Li to remain in custody.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Zhang Mingda, speaker of Chiayi County Council, allegedly received luxury gifts worth over 130,000 NT dollars and subsequently pressured the county health bureau to reduce a company's fine from over 6 million NT dollars to approximately 900,000 NT dollars. Prosecutors have charged Zhang with bribery and abuse of authority based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
Japan released its 2026 diplomatic bluebook on the 10th, downgrading its characterization of Sino-Japanese relations from "one of the most important bilateral relationships" in the 2025 version to "important neighbor." This reflects the rapid deterioration in bilateral ties following Prime Minister Takayaki Koichi's remarks on Taiwan contingencies in parliament last year.
US Vice President Harris will lead a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan on the 11th for US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. Harris expressed confidence that the talks will yield positive results while warning Tehran against attempting to deceive the United States. Analysts suggest the outcome of these negotiations could shape the global order for decades to come.
💰 Finance
Taiwan's March exports reached 80.18 billion USD, marking a record 61.8% year-on-year growth rate. However, manufacturing fixed asset purchases in Q4 2025 showed negative growth for the first time in seven quarters. Experts warn that while electronics industry output increases, investment levels remain relatively flat, warranting continued monitoring of industrial investment trends.
Middle East conflict has caused international oil prices to surge, pushing up inflation. The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.3 percent year-over-year in March, reaching a four-year high and significantly impacting household costs. This increase may prompt the Federal Reserve to delay its planned interest rate cuts, affecting future monetary policy decisions.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that conflict-related energy price increases, particularly gasoline surging 21.2%, pushed March's Consumer Price Index up 0.9% month-over-month, marking a 4-year high. The annual CPI growth rate reached 3.3%, reflecting persistent inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy.
International oil prices declined across the board on Friday, with Brent crude falling 12.7% for the week and WTI dropping 13.4%, marking the largest weekly declines since 2022. Despite the price pullback, market concerns persist over potential supply disruptions from Strait of Hormuz shipping obstacles and Middle East energy infrastructure damage. Geopolitical risks remain elevated ahead of US-Iran ceasefire negotiations.
Sources revealed that the Senate confirmation hearing for Federal Reserve chair nominee Bessent has been delayed and will not proceed as scheduled next week. The postponement disrupts the White House's plan for Bessent to assume office in mid-May, replacing current Chair Powell.
Optical communications manufacturer Lumentum announced accelerating demand from U.S. hyperscale cloud providers for optical components, extending its order backlog through 2028, beyond the previously projected 2027 timeline. The positive outlook drove Lumentum's stock up over 1% in early U.S. trading on the 10th, lifting the broader optical communications sector.
Military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran have escalated geopolitical tensions, creating economic uncertainty worldwide. Following tariff-related disruptions, markets worry this conflict may trigger another wave of global economic impact, potentially forcing central banks to initiate new tightening cycles. Year-end interest rate expectations have risen accordingly.
The US March Consumer Price Index surged due to rising oil prices, while core CPI remained stable, indicating inflation pressures have not spread to other sectors. Economists worry April oil shocks may trigger a second wave of price increases. The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain a cautious stance, holding steady at its next meeting while monitoring Middle East developments' impact on inflation and employment.
As de-dollarization accelerates globally, the market value of gold held by central banks worldwide has exceeded dollar assets excluding interest income, reaching approximately 5.6 trillion US dollars. Analysts note that recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have caused long-term damage to the dollar system, prompting central banks to increase gold allocations.
Taiwan's Taipei District Prosecutors Office continues investigating the Absolute Energy Group's alleged fraud scheme, with 17 people previously indicted. Prosecutors recently apprehended 9 individuals including an operations manager. Three defendants were granted detention without bail in the evening, while two business employees await bail decisions and one faces residence restrictions. Three additional suspects' detention hearings remain ongoing.
💻 Technology
The Japanese government has approved an additional 631.5 billion yen subsidy for semiconductor manufacturer Rapidus to accelerate its entry into the competitive AI chip manufacturing sector. The funding aims to support Rapidus in achieving mass production of AI chips and strengthen Japan's competitive position in the global semiconductor industry.
Japan's government approved an additional 63.15 billion yen (approximately $4 billion) subsidy for semiconductor manufacturer Rapidus to accelerate 2-nanometer chip production. The funding supports research for major clients including Fujitsu. With this supplement, Japan's total investment in Rapidus will reach 2.6 trillion yen (approximately $16.3 billion) by March 2027, aiming to narrow the technology gap with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Japan's government approved an additional 6.315 billion yen (approximately 4 billion dollars) in subsidies for Rapidus on the 11th, bringing total investment to 163 billion dollars. The move aims to accelerate the company's competitiveness in AI chip manufacturing and achieve Japan's semiconductor technology independence.
Tesla's Full Self-Driving Supervised system has been approved by Dutch regulator RDW, allowing it to perform most driving tasks on highways and city roads under driver supervision. After analyzing 18 months of testing data, RDW determined the system helps improve road safety when used correctly. This marks the first regulatory approval of this technology in Europe and may pave the way for other European countries to adopt it.
NASA's Artemis 2 spacecraft carrying four astronauts successfully splashed down off the California coast as planned today. This mission marks NASA's first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, representing a significant milestone in the agency's space exploration program and paving the way for future lunar missions.
NASA's Artemis 2 mission successfully returned four astronauts to Earth on day 10 after completing humanity's first crewed lunar orbit in over 50 years. The Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration and paving the way for future lunar missions.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced in his shareholder letter that the company's custom chip business has achieved over $20 billion in annualized revenue. Amazon is considering selling its chips to external customers through a potential public offering, which could generate up to $50 billion in annualized revenue, positioning the company as a potential competitor to Nvidia.
Amazon announced an additional 12 billion dollar investment in Mississippi to build two new data centers in Richland and Clinton. The investments of 11 billion and 1 billion dollars respectively will bring total state investment to 25 billion dollars across four data centers, creating 2,000 jobs.
AI company Anthropic's Mythos model has prompted urgent action from US Treasury Secretary Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Powell, who convened multiple bank executives this week to discuss risks posed by the model and similar systems. The meeting aimed to ensure banks understand potential threats and implement protective measures for financial system security. Anthropic is also exploring the possibility of designing its own chips.
OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Pro at $100 per month, offering Codex code model usage limits five times higher than the Plus plan and priced lower than the previous $200 Pro tier. The plan targets competition with Anthropic's Claude Code. Additionally, OpenAI began testing ad placements on free and Go versions in the US starting January, with annualized revenue reaching $100 million.
🎬 Entertainment
The Taipei Fubon Warriors held a retirement game for legendary Taiwanese basketball player Lin Chih-Chieh at Taipei Arena on November 11-12. The two-day event is expected to attract approximately 27,000 spectators to witness the career finale of this iconic player. Both games drew full-capacity crowds.
Chinese Olympic diving champion Quan Hongchan experienced organized online harassment from specific fan groups, expressing distress in interviews. The incident sparked public concern, highlighting the harmful effects of unhealthy fan culture on athletes. Authorities have launched investigations, prompting greater attention to athlete mental health and rights protection.
A pediatrician shared a case where an 11-year-old patient presented with persistent cold and fever symptoms. Upon examination, the doctor discovered dense petechiae on the child's feet and foot pain complaints, indicating the condition was not a simple cold. The physician immediately recommended further evaluation, which confirmed acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis. The case highlights the importance of parental vigilance when children experience recurrent illness and fever.
A multinational study reveals that people aged 60-69 experiencing frequent disturbing dreams face nearly four times higher risk of developing dementia. Experts note that occasional unpleasant dreams are normal, but frequent occurrences after age 60 warrant medical attention as a potential early warning sign of cognitive decline.
🌏 International
Film producer Li Neng-qian, husband of actress Liu Hsiang-chun, is accused of being recruited by Chinese military intelligence operatives to steal military secrets and collect personal data of over 3,000 military personnel. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Li and four others under the National Intelligence Work Act, seeking a sentence of at least 12 years. The court ordered Li to remain in custody.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Zhang Mingda, speaker of Chiayi County Council, allegedly received luxury gifts worth over 130,000 NT dollars and subsequently pressured the county health bureau to reduce a company's fine from over 6 million NT dollars to approximately 900,000 NT dollars. Prosecutors have charged Zhang with bribery and abuse of authority based on evidence gathered during the investigation.
US Vice President Harris will lead a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan on the 11th for US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. Harris expressed confidence that the talks will yield positive results while warning Tehran against attempting to deceive the United States. Analysts suggest the outcome of these negotiations could shape the global order for decades to come.
According to Bloomberg, the United States has requested European NATO allies submit concrete military plans to ensure Hormuz Strait shipping security within days, with multiple diplomats characterizing the demand as an ultimatum. The request was made during talks at the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, with President Trump discussing the matter with NATO Secretary General Rutte on the 8th. The demand reflects tensions stemming from US-Iran and Israel conflicts, further straining relations between the US and its NATO allies.
As US-Iran negotiations prepare to commence in Islamabad, both sides maintain hardline positions. Iran's delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi, has arrived and warned of strong retaliation if agreements collapse. The US insists on preventing Iran's nuclear weapons acquisition as a core red line while increasing military presence in the Middle East, creating heightened tensions before talks begin.
US and Iranian delegations have arrived in Pakistan for a two-week ceasefire negotiation, with Trump demanding progress within 24 hours. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel will hold talks in Washington next week, though Israel refuses to engage with Hezbollah and continues military operations. The Middle East situation faces critical challenges amid these two key negotiations.
US President Trump posted on social media claiming Iran's navy, air force, and air defense systems have been destroyed, with missile and drone factories demolished. He stated the US is clearing the Hormuz Strait. The post regarding Iran's military infrastructure has drawn international attention.
According to International Maritime Organization data, approximately 2000 vessels are stranded in Persian Gulf waters carrying over 20000 seafarers. Most ships have been stuck for more than one month, with fewer than 200 successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Crews face severe conditions including flammable cargo, deteriorating goods, and inability to evacuate injured or deceased crew members, leading to rising psychological health risks and incidents of crew refusal to work.
Lebanon and Israel have agreed to hold direct negotiations in Washington scheduled for next week. This marks the first direct talks between the two countries in over four decades. The talks represent a significant diplomatic development in Middle Eastern relations, with the United States hosting the negotiations.
US consumer prices hit their highest level in two years during March, with gasoline prices posting a record monthly increase. Geopolitical tensions have driven energy costs significantly higher, causing consumer sentiment to plummet to historic lows as households express growing concerns about economic prospects.
Iran's implementation of a "toll booth" system in the Strait of Hormuz is challenging the U.S.-led international maritime system that has facilitated global trade prosperity for decades. This development threatens to disrupt established shipping routes and potentially increase costs for global commerce and consumers worldwide.
BBC Middle East Correspondent Hugo Bachega reports on how Beirut residents are dealing with the aftermath of this week's airstrikes. The local community faces significant challenges as they address the destruction and casualties caused by the attacks, working toward recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Direct peace talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Islamabad, with US Vice-President J.D. Vance leading the American delegation. Iran's delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early Saturday. These are the first direct negotiations since the conflict began over five weeks ago, though deep mistrust continues to overshadow discussions.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that conflict-related energy price increases, particularly gasoline surging 21.2%, pushed March's Consumer Price Index up 0.9% month-over-month, marking a 4-year high. The annual CPI growth rate reached 3.3%, reflecting persistent inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy.
Lebanon's national security agency reported that Israel conducted an airstrike on the southern city of Nabatiyeh, resulting in 13 security force deaths. The strike is part of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with the conflict causing mounting casualties in the region.