Reporters Without Borders released its latest press freedom survey on Thursday, showing Taiwan ranks first in Asia. The report indicates the global news environment has reached a new low point. Hong Kong faces declining rankings. The organization regularly publishes country-by-country press freedom assessments as an international media environment monitoring indicator.
Rising tensions in Iran have driven up oil and commodity prices, entering a new super cycle. American economists recommend investors reassess their portfolios and consider shifting away from technology stocks toward alternative asset allocations to address economic impacts from rising commodity prices.
Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics announced first-quarter economic growth of 13.69%, marking the highest rate in nearly 39 years. The figure exceeded economist expectations, demonstrating Taiwan's economic resilience amid international challenges including the Iran conflict. The growth reflects strong support from both export and domestic demand sectors.
US stock markets advanced Thursday, driven by optimistic corporate earnings reports and reduced investor concerns about US-Iran tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 790.33 points, up 1.62%, while the S&P 500 rose 1.02% and closed above 7,200 for the first time. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ADRs also moved higher alongside the broader market gains.
International oil prices fell on the 30th after touching near four-year highs. Brent crude futures surged to $126.41 per barrel intraday, marking the highest level since March 2022, but subsequently declined to $114.01, down 3.41%. US WTI crude fell 1.69% to $105.07. Market volatility remains elevated due to escalating US-Iran tensions, with persistent concerns about potential disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies. Supply risks remain unresolved.
The KMT party faced internal disagreement over different versions of a military procurement special bill. Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien expressed dissatisfaction with Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu's support for an 8 billion military purchase plan during a party standing committee meeting. The disagreement highlights differing positions within the KMT regarding defense spending policy.
Reporters Without Borders released its latest press freedom survey on Thursday, showing Taiwan ranks first in Asia. The report indicates the global news environment has reached a new low point. Hong Kong faces declining rankings. The organization regularly publishes country-by-country press freedom assessments as an international media environment monitoring indicator.
Eswatini's King appointed Vice Prime Minister Thandi Dlamini as special envoy to meet with President Lai Ching-te in Taiwan. This diplomatic move follows China's pressure that led Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to revoke flight permits, forcing postponement of Lai's planned African visit on the 22nd. President Lai stated this action sends a clear international message that Taiwan-Eswatini relations remain unshaken by Chinese pressure and both nations will not yield to hegemonic coercion.
New Taipei Mayor Hsiou Yu-yin publicly stated his position on the military procurement case for the first time, reiterating his stance from his 2024 presidential campaign that defense spending should not fall below 3% of GDP. The KMT party has differing opinions on the procurement amount, with party chair Cheng Li-wen's proposal of 38 billion plus N lacking majority support among legislators. Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen suggested the amount should reasonably be between 800 billion and 1 trillion. Hsiou emphasized that professional matters should be evaluated by the Defense Ministry and urged expedited review.
US President Trump is considering further military action against Iran. According to multiple media reports, Trump is expected to receive a comprehensive briefing from senior US military officials on Thursday, covering military options to escalate the conflict. The US Central Command will present plans including new strikes on Iranian infrastructure and potential special operations to address the two-week stalemate, with possible measures involving uranium stockpile seizure and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a hardline statement Thursday, signaling a new chapter in Iran's control over the Hormuz Strait. He emphasized Iran's commitment to protecting its nuclear program and missile capabilities against U.S. pressure. Khamenei stated that the future of the Persian Gulf region will not include American presence. The statement was released on Iran's Persian Gulf Day and read by state television.
US President Trump announced Thursday that he will eliminate certain tariffs and trade restrictions on Scottish whisky following a White House visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Trump stated the move will facilitate cooperation between Scottish whisky and Kentucky bourbon industries, providing a breakthrough in the long-standing whisky tariff dispute and promoting bilateral trade between the US and UK.
The KMT faces internal turmoil over military procurement budget controversies. Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien named Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu at a Central Standing Committee meeting, stating he would request Han's party expulsion if allegations of betraying the party prove true. Senior media figure Chao Shao-kang responded forcefully, declaring that Han should not be expelled before him, intensifying the party's internal conflict. Han subsequently issued a statement addressing the dispute.
Major US stock indices reached record levels on April 30th, with the S&P 500 breaking through 7200 for the first time and the Nasdaq closing at an all-time high. April saw the S&P 500 gain nearly 10% for the month while the Nasdaq surged approximately 15%, marking the best monthly performance since 2020. The rally was driven by recovery from March's Middle East conflict-related losses and optimism from ceasefire agreements and President Trump's statements about potential conflict resolution.
Rising tensions in Iran have driven up oil and commodity prices, entering a new super cycle. American economists recommend investors reassess their portfolios and consider shifting away from technology stocks toward alternative asset allocations to address economic impacts from rising commodity prices.
Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics announced first-quarter economic growth of 13.69%, marking the highest rate in nearly 39 years. The figure exceeded economist expectations, demonstrating Taiwan's economic resilience amid international challenges including the Iran conflict. The growth reflects strong support from both export and domestic demand sectors.
US stock markets advanced Thursday, driven by optimistic corporate earnings reports and reduced investor concerns about US-Iran tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 790.33 points, up 1.62%, while the S&P 500 rose 1.02% and closed above 7,200 for the first time. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ADRs also moved higher alongside the broader market gains.
India's government has announced reductions in export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to ease cost pressures on refineries and airlines. Diesel export duty has been cut from 55.5 rupees per liter to 23 rupees, representing a decline exceeding 50 percent, while aviation fuel duty decreased from 42 rupees to 33 rupees. Domestic fuel consumption tax rates remain unchanged. As the world's third-largest crude oil importer, India faces mounting pressure from elevated international oil prices and supply constraints.
Intel's stock surged 114% in April, marking its best monthly performance since listing on Nasdaq 55 years ago, with market capitalization exceeding $470 billion. Following the April 24 earnings report, the stock jumped 24% in a single day and reached its highest level since 2000. This gain surpasses the previous record of 70% in July 1973, reflecting renewed market confidence in the company's transformation prospects.
International oil prices fell on the 30th after touching near four-year highs. Brent crude futures surged to $126.41 per barrel intraday, marking the highest level since March 2022, but subsequently declined to $114.01, down 3.41%. US WTI crude fell 1.69% to $105.07. Market volatility remains elevated due to escalating US-Iran tensions, with persistent concerns about potential disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies. Supply risks remain unresolved.
Chinese semiconductor manufacturer Wentai Technology received delisting risk warning after auditors issued qualified opinion on 2025 financial statements. The company's stock was renamed *ST Wentai with daily trading limit reduced to 5%. Revenue declined 57.54% to 312.53 billion yuan with net loss of 87.48 billion yuan. Failure to remediate by 2026 could result in listing termination.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde rejected market concerns about eurozone stagflation on Thursday, emphasizing that current economic conditions differ fundamentally from the 1970s stagflation era. She noted that the 1970s featured uncontrolled inflation, high unemployment, and less mature monetary and fiscal policy frameworks. While Middle East tensions have raised energy prices and eurozone growth has slowed, Lagarde argued the stagflation label is inappropriate for the current situation.
The Japanese yen rebounded more than 3% after the Bank of Japan and government intervened in currency markets. The yen had weakened past the 160 per dollar level, prompting authorities to signal decisive action and directly intervene, reversing the currency's recent downward trend and capturing market attention.
Taiwan's Investigation Bureau uncovered a fraud ring importing "modem pools" (devices for sending spoofed calls and SMS messages) from overseas in small quantities to evade detection. The gang used local couriers and high-speed rail lockers to distribute equipment, then operated from rented student housing to impersonate banks and defraud elderly residents. The main suspect has been detained.
Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics announced first-quarter economic growth of 13.69%, marking the highest rate in nearly 39 years. The figure exceeded economist expectations, demonstrating Taiwan's economic resilience amid international challenges including the Iran conflict. The growth reflects strong support from both export and domestic demand sectors.
Taiwan's first quarter GDP growth rate was announced at 13.69%, revised upward by 2.23 percentage points from February's forecast, marking the highest single-quarter growth in nearly 39 years. Strong exports drove domestic production and investment, while private consumption also performed well. The growth rate significantly outpaced neighboring economies including China at 5%, Singapore at 4.6%, and South Korea at 3.6%.
The UK has raised its terrorism threat level to severe, the second-highest classification. The country previously reached this alert level in November 2021 following an attempted bombing and the murder of a Member of Parliament. The elevation reflects authorities' reassessment of the current security situation.
The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission heard expert testimony Thursday that China is conducting a state-driven campaign to collect American data and weaponize it as a strategic asset, potentially critical in conflicts including over Taiwan. Experts warned that Washington is falling short in countering Beijing's data-collection drive, which could have far-reaching implications for American society, economy, and wartime capabilities.
International oil prices fell on the 30th after touching near four-year highs. Brent crude futures surged to $126.41 per barrel intraday, marking the highest level since March 2022, but subsequently declined to $114.01, down 3.41%. US WTI crude fell 1.69% to $105.07. Market volatility remains elevated due to escalating US-Iran tensions, with persistent concerns about potential disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies. Supply risks remain unresolved.
US President Trump is considering further military action against Iran. According to multiple media reports, Trump is expected to receive a comprehensive briefing from senior US military officials on Thursday, covering military options to escalate the conflict. The US Central Command will present plans including new strikes on Iranian infrastructure and potential special operations to address the two-week stalemate, with possible measures involving uranium stockpile seizure and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
A security vulnerability in cPanel, widely used for website hosting management, is currently being exploited by hackers. Web hosting companies are rushing to patch the flaw. According to reports, attackers have been abusing this vulnerability for several months, posing significant risks to millions of websites worldwide.
Reporters Without Borders released its latest press freedom survey on Thursday, showing Taiwan ranks first in Asia. The report indicates the global news environment has reached a new low point. Hong Kong faces declining rankings. The organization regularly publishes country-by-country press freedom assessments as an international media environment monitoring indicator.
Rising tensions in Iran have driven up oil and commodity prices, entering a new super cycle. American economists recommend investors reassess their portfolios and consider shifting away from technology stocks toward alternative asset allocations to address economic impacts from rising commodity prices.
US stock markets advanced Thursday, driven by optimistic corporate earnings reports and reduced investor concerns about US-Iran tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 790.33 points, up 1.62%, while the S&P 500 rose 1.02% and closed above 7,200 for the first time. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ADRs also moved higher alongside the broader market gains.
Eswatini's King appointed Vice Prime Minister Thandi Dlamini as special envoy to meet with President Lai Ching-te in Taiwan. This diplomatic move follows China's pressure that led Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to revoke flight permits, forcing postponement of Lai's planned African visit on the 22nd. President Lai stated this action sends a clear international message that Taiwan-Eswatini relations remain unshaken by Chinese pressure and both nations will not yield to hegemonic coercion.
Taiwan's Investigation Bureau uncovered a fraud ring importing "modem pools" (devices for sending spoofed calls and SMS messages) from overseas in small quantities to evade detection. The gang used local couriers and high-speed rail lockers to distribute equipment, then operated from rented student housing to impersonate banks and defraud elderly residents. The main suspect has been detained.
The Japanese yen rebounded more than 3% after the Bank of Japan and government intervened in currency markets. The yen had weakened past the 160 per dollar level, prompting authorities to signal decisive action and directly intervene, reversing the currency's recent downward trend and capturing market attention.
Major US stock indices reached record levels on April 30th, with the S&P 500 breaking through 7200 for the first time and the Nasdaq closing at an all-time high. April saw the S&P 500 gain nearly 10% for the month while the Nasdaq surged approximately 15%, marking the best monthly performance since 2020. The rally was driven by recovery from March's Middle East conflict-related losses and optimism from ceasefire agreements and President Trump's statements about potential conflict resolution.
India's government has announced reductions in export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to ease cost pressures on refineries and airlines. Diesel export duty has been cut from 55.5 rupees per liter to 23 rupees, representing a decline exceeding 50 percent, while aviation fuel duty decreased from 42 rupees to 33 rupees. Domestic fuel consumption tax rates remain unchanged. As the world's third-largest crude oil importer, India faces mounting pressure from elevated international oil prices and supply constraints.