🔥 Top Stories
US President Trump stated on the 12th that talks with Iran reached consensus on multiple issues, but the nuclear question remains unresolved. Trump announced the US Navy will immediately begin blocking vessels entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with the ultimate goal of ensuring all ships can freely transit the strait.
U.S. President Trump issued a statement on the 12th via social media, stating that peace negotiations with Iran in Pakistan collapsed due to disagreement over nuclear weapons issues. Trump announced hardline countermeasures in response, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The negotiations centered on Iran's nuclear program, a longstanding point of contention in U.S.-Iran relations.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan ended after 21 hours on the 12th, with US Vice President Vance departing immediately. The main disagreements centered on uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz management. Iranian state media criticized the US for excessive demands, including halting uranium enrichment activities, relocating uranium stockpiles abroad, and managing the Strait of Hormuz according to US conditions.
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 Tainan District Prosecutors Office has indicted two caregivers, identified as Ms. Zheng and Ms. Zhang, for allegedly committing at least 21 acts of violence against infants under one year old, causing brain hemorrhage in victims. The case emerged in late December 2025 when parents held a press conference. Six families filed injury complaints, leading prosecutors to charge the defendants with aggravated abuse of children under seven years old.
🏛 Politics
US President Trump stated on the 12th that talks with Iran reached consensus on multiple issues, but the nuclear question remains unresolved. Trump announced the US Navy will immediately begin blocking vessels entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with the ultimate goal of ensuring all ships can freely transit the strait.
U.S. President Trump issued a statement on the 12th via social media, stating that peace negotiations with Iran in Pakistan collapsed due to disagreement over nuclear weapons issues. Trump announced hardline countermeasures in response, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The negotiations centered on Iran's nuclear program, a longstanding point of contention in U.S.-Iran relations.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran over nuclear issues have failed to reach agreement. US President Trump subsequently announced that the US Navy will immediately begin blocking all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz. The move reflects the stalled negotiations and represents a hardline stance by the United States.
High-level negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan's capital concluded without agreement after 21 hours of marathon discussions. The US stated Iran refused to accept key conditions regarding nuclear weapons abandonment. Iran's Foreign Ministry emphasized that parties did not expect a single round of talks to produce an agreement. This failure in the highest-level dialogue in nearly 50 years adds uncertainty to Middle East tensions.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense launched the Wan Light 42 military exercise yesterday, running continuously for 14 days and 13 nights. The drill coordinates closely with the Executive Yuan's Central Joint Response Center, emphasizing military-civilian integration. Sources indicate intelligence units are included in the exercise for the first time to comprehensively simulate potential PLA actions and enhance national defense response capabilities.
US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan lasted over 21 hours but failed to reach consensus. President Trump reposted an article on the 12th hinting at increased US military control over the Hormuz Strait. The move signals potential US actions following the collapsed talks and has drawn international attention regarding regional tensions.
The United States and Iran held their highest-level talks in nearly half a century in Islamabad, Pakistan, with direct negotiations conducted over three rounds. The talks broke down as the US delegation announced its return home. The primary sticking point was Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear program, preventing any agreement between the two sides.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan ended after 21 hours on the 12th, with US Vice President Vance departing immediately. The main disagreements centered on uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz management. Iranian state media criticized the US for excessive demands, including halting uranium enrichment activities, relocating uranium stockpiles abroad, and managing the Strait of Hormuz according to US conditions.
Taiwan's Tainan District Prosecutors Office has indicted two caregivers, identified as Ms. Zheng and Ms. Zhang, for allegedly committing at least 21 acts of violence against infants under one year old, causing brain hemorrhage in victims. The case emerged in late December 2025 when parents held a press conference. Six families filed injury complaints, leading prosecutors to charge the defendants with aggravated abuse of children under seven years old.
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
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will hold its earnings conference on the 16th, serving as a bellwether for the AI industry this quarter. Market participants are watching Q1 financial results and guidance, AI chip demand, potential capex increases, 2-nanometer production progress, geopolitical risks, and competitive developments. TSMC projects Q1 gross margin of 63-65%, with analysts optimistic it could reach 66% and generate earnings exceeding two times book value. Q2 is expected to see 3-nanometer capacity fully utilized driven by AI demand.
Saudi Arabia's energy ministry announced on the 12th that it has fully restored the transmission capacity of its East-West Pipeline, a major crude oil export route spanning the country's eastern and western coasts. The pipeline serves as critical infrastructure for Saudi Arabia to bypass Hormuz Strait risks, enabling direct crude transport from eastern oil fields to Red Sea ports for export.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven up oil and key commodity prices, impacting the supply chains of home appliances and information technology products. Facing increased cost pressures, manufacturers are planning price adjustments, with markets expecting a new wave of price fluctuations.
Escalating Middle East tensions have pushed international oil prices upward, causing aviation fuel costs to surge significantly. Hong Kong airlines announced flight reductions in response to increased expenses. Continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts maritime shipping, with India's coffee export association warning of export challenges. Global supply chains and consumer prices face mounting pressure.
According to The Economist, Japan's automotive industry is facing its most severe structural crisis in decades. Honda may report its first annual net loss since 1957, while Nissan undergoes major restructuring. Japanese automakers are struggling with declining profitability, lagging electric vehicle transition, and intense competition from Chinese manufacturers, threatening their traditional competitive advantages.
Taiwan's weighted index surged 2,845 points last week, closing at a record high above 35,000 points. Easing Middle East tensions and progress in US-Iran negotiations drove capital into risk assets. This week, the index may challenge the historical high of 35,579 points, with TSMC's earnings call expected to catalyze supply chain momentum. However, investors should monitor Trump's policy reversals and inflation risks. Three major institutional investors simultaneously bought last week, the first time since mid-February.
Taiwan's stock market reached a new closing record of 35,417.83 points last Friday, driven by continued buying from foreign institutional investors amid easing international tensions. Market analysts expect leading semiconductor manufacturers to increase capital expenditure next year, signaling positive outlook for the industry.
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.
💻 Technology
A Japanese company with over a century of history maintains significant positions in both food additives and semiconductor manufacturing. The enterprise controls key technologies in monosodium glutamate production and AI chip fabrication, demonstrating its diversified business strategy. Through specialized expertise across different industries, the company plays a crucial role in global supply chains, impacting consumer daily life and technological applications.
Medical students from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed an AI technology that uses smartphone cameras to detect carotid artery stenosis, achieving fifth place in a global competition. The non-invasive method shows potential for improving early screening of cardiovascular diseases and has promising clinical applications.
Security researchers have identified a critical integer overflow vulnerability in the macOS XNU kernel. Affected systems may experience network functionality failure after approximately 49 days and 17 hours of continuous operation, requiring a Mac restart to restore normal function. This vulnerability impacts macOS system stability and availability.
SoftBank, Sony, Honda, and NEC have partnered to establish a new company focused on embodied artificial intelligence technology. This national-level strategic initiative aims to narrow Japan's gap with the United States and China in generative AI development, strengthening the country's competitive position in the AI sector through industrial collaboration.
NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully completed its lunar orbit test. The agency plans to achieve crewed lunar landing by 2028, relying on private companies including SpaceX and Blue Origin to provide critical infrastructure such as orbital refueling stations to support deep space exploration objectives.
As artificial intelligence computing demands surge, optical communication technology emerges as an industry focus. Leading optoelectronic manufacturers Lextar and Epistar report that MicroLED co-packaged optical (CPO) components are progressing faster than expected, with large-scale deployment anticipated by 2027. The technology can reduce power consumption by 70-90%, replacing traditional copper wire transmission and addressing data center energy and heat dissipation challenges.
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.
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.
🎬 Entertainment
Fubon Braves star Lin Chih-Chieh played his final retirement game at Taipei Arena today. The team invited his mentors, former teammates, opponents, and domestic and international players to record tribute videos sharing their stories and well-wishes. Lin Shuhao and other basketball stars participated in the touching retirement ceremony, marking the veteran player's career farewell.
A stampede occurred during a festival celebration at Laferrière Citadel in northern Haiti, resulting in at least 30 deaths. Heavy rainfall exacerbated the chaos at the entrance, and officials warned that the death toll could rise further. Local authorities are investigating the incident and conducting rescue operations.
According to the latest cancer registry report, colorectal cancer has consistently ranked as the second most common cancer in Taiwan for multiple years, with a trend toward younger patients. Colorectal surgeon Dr. Lin Geng-yi clarifies that hemorrhoids do not transform into colorectal cancer and shares three methods to help patients quickly distinguish between hemorrhoid and colorectal cancer symptoms for timely medical consultation.
🌏 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.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan ended after 21 hours on the 12th, with US Vice President Vance departing immediately. The main disagreements centered on uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz management. Iranian state media criticized the US for excessive demands, including halting uranium enrichment activities, relocating uranium stockpiles abroad, and managing the Strait of Hormuz according to US conditions.
Taiwan's Tainan District Prosecutors Office has indicted two caregivers, identified as Ms. Zheng and Ms. Zhang, for allegedly committing at least 21 acts of violence against infants under one year old, causing brain hemorrhage in victims. The case emerged in late December 2025 when parents held a press conference. Six families filed injury complaints, leading prosecutors to charge the defendants with aggravated abuse of children under seven years old.
US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan lasted over 21 hours but failed to reach consensus. President Trump reposted an article on the 12th hinting at increased US military control over the Hormuz Strait. The move signals potential US actions following the collapsed talks and has drawn international attention regarding regional tensions.
The United States and Iran held their highest-level talks in nearly half a century in Islamabad, Pakistan, with direct negotiations conducted over three rounds. The talks broke down as the US delegation announced its return home. The primary sticking point was Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear program, preventing any agreement between the two sides.
U.S. President Trump issued a statement on the 12th via social media, stating that peace negotiations with Iran in Pakistan collapsed due to disagreement over nuclear weapons issues. Trump announced hardline countermeasures in response, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The negotiations centered on Iran's nuclear program, a longstanding point of contention in U.S.-Iran relations.
US President Trump stated on the 12th that talks with Iran reached consensus on multiple issues, but the nuclear question remains unresolved. Trump announced the US Navy will immediately begin blocking vessels entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with the ultimate goal of ensuring all ships can freely transit the strait.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran over nuclear issues have failed to reach agreement. US President Trump subsequently announced that the US Navy will immediately begin blocking all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz. The move reflects the stalled negotiations and represents a hardline stance by the United States.
High-level negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan's capital concluded without agreement after 21 hours of marathon discussions. The US stated Iran refused to accept key conditions regarding nuclear weapons abandonment. Iran's Foreign Ministry emphasized that parties did not expect a single round of talks to produce an agreement. This failure in the highest-level dialogue in nearly 50 years adds uncertainty to Middle East tensions.
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.
Iran's chief negotiator stated that Washington must regain Tehran's trust following unsuccessful talks in Islamabad. The negotiations concluded without reaching any agreement between the two sides. Disagreements persist over nuclear agreements and regional security issues, with Iran emphasizing the importance of trust-building measures.
US President Trump posted on social media on the 12th, stating that negotiations with Iran in Pakistan reached agreement on most points but failed on the critical nuclear issue. Trump announced the US Navy will begin a blockade process against all vessels attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz, and instructed the Navy to search and intercept vessels that paid transit fees to Iran in international waters. The move is seen as a countermeasure against Iran's claim to manage the strait.
US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy will immediately begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, preventing ships from entering or leaving. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, and this move risks escalating a global crisis. Trump stated that eventually all vessels will be allowed passage, but a comprehensive blockade is being implemented now.
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.