🔥 Top Stories
Security researcher Haifei Li discovered a zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader being actively exploited in the wild. The flaw affects the latest version 26.00121367 and has multiple attack variants documented. Adobe has disclosed and released patches for the vulnerability. The company recommends users update their systems within 72 hours to mitigate security risks.
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded on the 10th when the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California at 5:07 PM Pacific Time. The mission marked the first crewed lunar flyby in over fifty years. The splashdown proceeded smoothly and precisely. U.S. President Trump praised the mission's accomplishments.
Bloomberg reports that the United States and European Union are finalizing a cooperation agreement to coordinate critical minerals production and supply, reducing dependence on Chinese sources. The agreement includes measures such as establishing minimum prices to incentivize non-Chinese suppliers. Brazil, with the world's second-largest rare earth reserves after China, becomes a key partner. The two powers will deepen collaboration on standards and investment.
Japan's government approved an additional subsidy of 6.315 billion yen (approximately 4 billion dollars) for Rapidus on the 11th. As Japan's representative semiconductor national champion, the funding accelerates the company's entry into the competitive AI chip manufacturing sector, aiming to strengthen Japan's global semiconductor competitiveness.
Taiwan's Executive Yuan proposed an 8-year defense special budget of NT$1.25 trillion, but faces obstacles in the Legislative Yuan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Christy Choi expressed optimism that the military procurement special act will ultimately pass, noting majority public support. The US also hopes to expedite completion of a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.
🏛 Politics
Bloomberg reports that the United States and European Union are finalizing a cooperation agreement to coordinate critical minerals production and supply, reducing dependence on Chinese sources. The agreement includes measures such as establishing minimum prices to incentivize non-Chinese suppliers. Brazil, with the world's second-largest rare earth reserves after China, becomes a key partner. The two powers will deepen collaboration on standards and investment.
Legislators and legal experts highlight multiple gaps in Taiwan's protection order system. Beyond legislative amendments, first-line personnel lack sufficient risk assessment capabilities, institutional support remains incomplete, and inter-agency coordination and information sharing gaps hinder timely intervention and prevention. Experts argue that legislative changes alone are insufficient; comprehensive improvements in staffing and inter-departmental coordination are needed.
KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wun completed her China visit, meeting with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping in Beijing. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, 25 military aircraft and naval vessels conducted activities around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on the 10th and 6 a.m. on the 11th. Scholars emphasize that without sufficient deterrence capabilities, meaningful peace negotiations are unlikely given Beijing's non-recognition of Taiwan's sovereignty.
The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece warning American policymakers to be vigilant against China's "divide and conquer" strategy toward Taiwan. The editorial states that Xi Jinping is attempting to undermine confidence in America's commitment to defending Taiwan, and urges President Trump to avoid falling into Beijing's trap. The article references recent visits by Taiwan's opposition KMT party leader Chao Li-wen to China.
On the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, multiple US congressional members expressed support on social media, affirming the law as the foundation of US-Taiwan relations. The Republican group of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee emphasized that the act has long ensured Taiwan's security and serves as a crucial safeguard. Related posts featured photos of US President Trump and Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to adjust pediatric healthcare reimbursement rates due to declining birth rates impacting pediatric medical capacity. The National Health Insurance Administration will review pediatric payment standards, potentially doubling pediatrician consultation fees and increasing reimbursement for specialized pediatric services. The proposal is scheduled for discussion at the health insurance committee meeting in June, with potential implementation as early as July if approved.
Former US Pacific Army Commander Flynn stated that military sales between the United States and Taiwan are purely bilateral affairs unrelated to China's position. He emphasized the long-standing US-Taiwan relationship, noting that equipment sales have spanned decades and will continue. Flynn's remarks clarify that US-Taiwan military sales should not serve as leverage in US-China negotiations.
The United States and Iran held talks on the eleventh in Pakistan, with Iranian media reporting both sides reached agreement on some preconditions. Following indirect discussions and Israel's reduction of attacks on southern Lebanon, Pakistan joined to form trilateral negotiations. Simultaneously, a US naval fleet transited the Hormuz Strait for the first time since the war began. The US has not commented, and negotiation details remain undisclosed.
US officials disclosed to the New York Times that China may have shipped shoulder-fired missiles to Iran in recent weeks. However, intelligence agencies cannot yet confirm whether the equipment has actually been delivered, and there is no evidence that Chinese missiles have been used in Iran's conflicts. The report has drawn attention, particularly following previous incidents involving suspected shoulder-fired missile attacks on US aircraft.
Taiwan's Executive Yuan proposed an 8-year defense special budget of NT$1.25 trillion, but faces obstacles in the Legislative Yuan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Christy Choi expressed optimism that the military procurement special act will ultimately pass, noting majority public support. The US also hopes to expedite completion of a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.
💰 Finance
US stock market achieved its largest weekly gain since November last year. Investors are hopeful that diplomatic efforts can resolve the conflict between the United States and Iran, easing war-related market concerns. The earnings season begins this week, with corporate financial reports expected to be a major market focus. Investors are looking to these earnings for clues about economic prospects.
International credit rating agency AM Best released a report warning that insurance companies currently face greater risk exposure than before the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. The agency cautions that if another major economic crisis occurs, the insurance industry may struggle to withstand the impact.
The US International Trade Court raised doubts on March 10 regarding the legality of President Trump's February decision to impose a 10% tariff on most imported goods, arguing that the large trade deficit may not be sufficient justification for implementing universal tariffs. Meanwhile, US Customs, following a Supreme Court ruling, began accepting applications for comprehensive tariff refunds on the 20th.
South Korea announced subsidies of 100,000 to 600,000 won (approximately 12,000 TWD) to be distributed by end of April to the lower 70% income bracket, benefiting approximately 3.25 million people. Thailand approved a 115 million USD relief package on the same day, including fuel subsidies and cash assistance to address rising energy costs.
💻 Technology
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded on the 10th when the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California at 5:07 PM Pacific Time. The mission marked the first crewed lunar flyby in over fifty years. The splashdown proceeded smoothly and precisely. U.S. President Trump praised the mission's accomplishments.
Taiwan's National Science Council is accelerating silicon photonics development to support AI data center growth. With an additional 500 million yuan budget this year, the technology currently achieves 200GB per second per channel transmission speeds, with plans to reach 400GB within two years. The goal is to build the world's first all-optical network with smart city applications.
Counterpoint Research estimates global smartphone shipments fell 6% year-over-year in Q1 2025, primarily due to DRAM and NAND memory shortages combined with weak demand. Apple achieved 21% market share, capturing the top position for the first time in Q1, with shipments up 5% year-over-year, driven by strong iPhone 17 demand, proactive supply chain management, and improved performance in mainland China.
Japan's government approved an additional subsidy of 6.315 billion yen (approximately 4 billion dollars) for Rapidus on the 11th. As Japan's representative semiconductor national champion, the funding accelerates the company's entry into the competitive AI chip manufacturing sector, aiming to strengthen Japan's global semiconductor competitiveness.
AI startup Anthropic has signed a multi-year contract with cloud computing company CoreWeave to leverage its data center computing capabilities. The partnership aims to support Anthropic's growing AI service demands by providing access to CoreWeave's infrastructure resources, enabling the company to scale its operations effectively.
New observational data from the HETDEX project reveals that over 30,000 galaxies in the early universe, approximately 10 to 12 billion years ago, are surrounded by enormous hydrogen gas halos. These gaseous envelopes immersed the galaxies in a hydrogen-rich environment during the early cosmic era. The discovery provides insights into galaxy formation and evolution in the early universe.
🌏 International
NASA's Artemis II mission successfully concluded on the 10th when the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California at 5:07 PM Pacific Time. The mission marked the first crewed lunar flyby in over fifty years. The splashdown proceeded smoothly and precisely. U.S. President Trump praised the mission's accomplishments.
Delegations from the United States and Iran engaged in high-level negotiations to discuss ending a regional conflict that has spread across the Gulf and triggered a global energy crisis. The talks represent the highest-level dialogue between the two nations in fifty years, aimed at seeking political solutions to ease regional tensions.
Japan's government approved an additional subsidy of 6.315 billion yen (approximately 4 billion dollars) for Rapidus on the 11th. As Japan's representative semiconductor national champion, the funding accelerates the company's entry into the competitive AI chip manufacturing sector, aiming to strengthen Japan's global semiconductor competitiveness.
Taiwan's Executive Yuan proposed an 8-year defense special budget of NT$1.25 trillion, but faces obstacles in the Legislative Yuan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Christy Choi expressed optimism that the military procurement special act will ultimately pass, noting majority public support. The US also hopes to expedite completion of a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.
Security researcher Haifei Li discovered a zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat Reader being actively exploited in the wild. The flaw affects the latest version 26.00121367 and has multiple attack variants documented. Adobe has disclosed and released patches for the vulnerability. The company recommends users update their systems within 72 hours to mitigate security risks.
The United States deployed two destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time during the conflict, creating a tense confrontation. The transit occurred as high-level American negotiators prepared to meet with Iranian counterparts in Pakistan, highlighting the complex dynamics and high stakes involved in U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts.
Hong Kong has become a crucial financial center enabling Iran to circumvent international sanctions, drawing concern from U.S. officials. The city's financial networks facilitate the flow of Iranian capital, allowing the country to mitigate the impact of economic restrictions. This situation highlights Hong Kong's unique position in the global financial system and its close ties with China.
A ceasefire aligned with Christian Easter, announced by Russian President Putin, officially commenced on the evening of the 11th local time. Ukraine has indicated willingness to participate in the ceasefire, though whether combat will completely halt remains uncertain. The measure aims to reduce military operations during the religious holiday period.
Bloomberg reports that the United States and European Union are finalizing a cooperation agreement to coordinate critical minerals production and supply, reducing dependence on Chinese sources. The agreement includes measures such as establishing minimum prices to incentivize non-Chinese suppliers. Brazil, with the world's second-largest rare earth reserves after China, becomes a key partner. The two powers will deepen collaboration on standards and investment.
Legislators and legal experts highlight multiple gaps in Taiwan's protection order system. Beyond legislative amendments, first-line personnel lack sufficient risk assessment capabilities, institutional support remains incomplete, and inter-agency coordination and information sharing gaps hinder timely intervention and prevention. Experts argue that legislative changes alone are insufficient; comprehensive improvements in staffing and inter-departmental coordination are needed.
KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wun completed her China visit, meeting with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping in Beijing. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, 25 military aircraft and naval vessels conducted activities around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on the 10th and 6 a.m. on the 11th. Scholars emphasize that without sufficient deterrence capabilities, meaningful peace negotiations are unlikely given Beijing's non-recognition of Taiwan's sovereignty.
The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece warning American policymakers to be vigilant against China's "divide and conquer" strategy toward Taiwan. The editorial states that Xi Jinping is attempting to undermine confidence in America's commitment to defending Taiwan, and urges President Trump to avoid falling into Beijing's trap. The article references recent visits by Taiwan's opposition KMT party leader Chao Li-wen to China.
On the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, multiple US congressional members expressed support on social media, affirming the law as the foundation of US-Taiwan relations. The Republican group of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee emphasized that the act has long ensured Taiwan's security and serves as a crucial safeguard. Related posts featured photos of US President Trump and Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.
Taiwan's National Science Council is accelerating silicon photonics development to support AI data center growth. With an additional 500 million yuan budget this year, the technology currently achieves 200GB per second per channel transmission speeds, with plans to reach 400GB within two years. The goal is to build the world's first all-optical network with smart city applications.
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to adjust pediatric healthcare reimbursement rates due to declining birth rates impacting pediatric medical capacity. The National Health Insurance Administration will review pediatric payment standards, potentially doubling pediatrician consultation fees and increasing reimbursement for specialized pediatric services. The proposal is scheduled for discussion at the health insurance committee meeting in June, with potential implementation as early as July if approved.