🔥 Top Stories
Security researchers discovered that hackers exploited AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI to attack Mexico's water and drainage systems. This incident marks an escalation from traditional corporate IT attacks to critical infrastructure targeting, raising significant concerns about AI security safeguards and potential risks to essential services.
On May 7, security firm Ivanti announced five high-risk vulnerabilities in its Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) platform. Notably, CVE-2026-6973 has been actively exploited in real-world attacks. The vulnerabilities affect EPMM versions below 12.8.0.0. Ivanti has released patched versions 12.8.0.1, 12.7.0.1, and 12.6.1.1 for users to deploy.
Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, former Chinese defense ministers, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a military court on the 7th for corruption-related charges. This represents the heaviest sentence imposed on senior military officers during Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, reflecting strict Party discipline enforcement in the military.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced multi-billion dollar prepayment to Corning for building new U.S. factories to expand fiber optic and optical connectivity component production. The funding is separate from this week's equity investment announcement. The collaboration is expected to create thousands of jobs and strengthen the AI data center supply chain.
U.S. President Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14-15 for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting represents one of the most significant high-level U.S.-China diplomatic engagements during Trump's second term, testing the personal diplomatic relationship the two leaders have cultivated over years amid evolving international circumstances.
🏛 Politics
Oil prices surged following a military confrontation between US and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz. WTI crude climbed 4% to approach $99 per barrel, while Brent crude closed around $100. The US Central Command stated it intercepted Iranian attacks and conducted defensive strikes, though emphasized no intent to escalate. President Trump warned of stronger retaliation if Iran fails to sign an agreement soon. The strait has been effectively blockaded since late February, disrupting global energy supplies.
U.S. President Trump will visit China for a two-day summit with President Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by a sitting American president in nearly a decade. The two leaders, both over 70 and born a day apart, have met at least six times over the past decade. While both emphasize their personal diplomatic relationship, tensions over trade, Taiwan, and technology continue to escalate, reflecting intensifying U.S.-China competition.
According to sources, a key company behind Thailand's national AI initiative allegedly assisted in smuggling billions of dollars worth of Supermicro servers containing advanced Nvidia chips to mainland China, with Alibaba among multiple end customers. The case involves illegal export of high-tech products and raises concerns about international trade controls enforcement.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the Special Military Procurement Act today, reducing the budget ceiling from 1.25 trillion to 780 billion Taiwan dollars, a 37% decrease. Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson Li Kunzheng expressed regret, arguing the move ignores international warnings and defense needs, potentially weakening Taiwan-US relations and risking cancellation of the HIMARS rocket system deal due to payment delays.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement." The first batch of military purchases has a budget ceiling of NT$30 billion, while the second batch is capped at NT$48 billion, totaling NT$78 billion. The Executive Yuan must submit a special report within one month of the act's passage, requiring Legislative Yuan approval before budget compilation, with submission to the legislature within two months.
Allergan Medical Beauty Group is embroiled in a hidden camera scandal at its clinic. The company's CEO Chang Rushan, an executive assistant, and an engineer face charges for illegally recording customers' privacy. The court ordered their detention without bail, citing concerns about evidence tampering and flight risk. The case involves sexual images of minors, raising serious privacy protection issues in the medical aesthetics industry.
Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, former Chinese defense ministers, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a military court on the 7th for corruption-related charges. This represents the heaviest sentence imposed on senior military officers during Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, reflecting strict Party discipline enforcement in the military.
U.S. President Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14-15 for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting represents one of the most significant high-level U.S.-China diplomatic engagements during Trump's second term, testing the personal diplomatic relationship the two leaders have cultivated over years amid evolving international circumstances.
The Philippine Coast Guard deployed aircraft on the 7th to issue a radio warning to a Chinese scientific research vessel operating in disputed South China Sea waters. Philippine authorities also reported discovering dozens of Chinese "maritime militia" vessels in the area, alleging that Chinese ships entered Philippine exclusive economic zones without authorization. The incident reflects ongoing territorial tensions in the South China Sea amid increasing activities by various parties in the disputed region.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan is scheduled to vote today on the defense special budget bill. The blue and white camps propose setting a spending cap of 800 billion NT dollars, with the first batch allocated at 3,000 to 4,000 billion NT dollars. The second batch will be determined after receiving the pricing list. The bill will proceed to a floor vote after multiple negotiations failed to reach consensus.
💰 Finance
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that April saw 115,000 new non-farm jobs added after seasonal adjustment, significantly exceeding market expectations of 55,000. While lower than March's robust 185,000 additions, the figure demonstrates labor market resilience. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3%, indicating no deterioration in employment conditions and further confirming the strength of the US economy's employment sector.
According to sources, US prosecutors allege that Bangkok-based OBON Corp. helped smuggle approximately $2.5 billion worth of Supermicro servers containing Nvidia chips to China, with Alibaba as a major customer. The case involves Supermicro's co-founder collaborating with Southeast Asian companies and multiple brokers in violation of US trade regulations. The March indictment triggered a significant stock decline for Supermicro, marking the most serious chip smuggling case since the US restricted Nvidia sales to China in 2022.
US law enforcement is investigating the smuggling of advanced NVIDIA chips worth billions of dollars. According to sources, a company linked to Thailand's national AI initiative allegedly helped smuggle US supercomputers equipped with NVIDIA chips through Thailand to Chinese company Alibaba. The case involves violations of US export controls and national security concerns.
Taiwan's Ministry of Finance reported April export figures of $67.62 billion, representing 39% year-on-year growth and the second-highest monthly record. Driven by AI, high-performance computing, and cloud services demand, exports have grown for 30 consecutive months. Cumulative exports for January-April reached $263.35 billion, up 47.8% year-on-year. US exports accounted for 33.1% of total exports, reaching a 36-year high for the same period.
Based on estimates derived from Bank of Japan data, Japan has deployed approximately 10 trillion yen (about 2 trillion New Taiwan dollars) in currency market intervention since last week to support the yen's exchange rate and prevent further depreciation. This action reflects Japanese authorities' concern about currency fluctuations.
Global stock markets declined today amid uncertainty over US-Iran diplomatic talks. The US government awaits Iran's response to its Middle East peace proposal, which aims to end regional conflicts and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 313.62 points, with major indices retreating from record highs as investors cautiously monitor negotiation developments.
Taiwan's CPC Corporation has completed a 25-year liquefied natural gas procurement agreement worth USD 15 billion with Cheniere, America's largest LNG exporter, with deliveries beginning in June. The deal represents Taiwan's strategic effort to diversify energy sources away from Middle Eastern suppliers amid regional geopolitical tensions. The agreement was finalized during the SelectUSA summit, signed by Economic Minister Kung Ming-hsin and CPC Chairman Chang Min-hui.
US President Trump announced Thursday that the European Union has until July 4 to fulfill previously agreed trade commitments, or the US will impose additional tariffs on EU goods. EU automobiles could face new tariffs as high as 25 percent. After a call with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump's tone softened somewhat, though he criticized the European Parliament for failing to complete the agreement's ratification process.
Multilateral negotiations on the WTO's electronic transmission tariff moratorium have failed due to Brazil's opposition. The United States and 19 other countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, have signed a plurilateral agreement to maintain tariff-free treatment for electronic transmission products, bypassing the stalled multilateral process.
Shipping giant Maersk delivered first-quarter earnings that exceeded market expectations, though the company maintained its full-year revenue guidance unchanged. Maersk warned that the Iran conflict adds uncertainty to freight rates and cost outlook, and cautioned that energy crisis will persist even if a US-Iran peace agreement is reached.
💻 Technology
AWS's US-EAST-1 region in Northern Virginia experienced power and cooling system anomalies at a single data center, causing partial EC2 and EBS service impairment and affecting related services. AWS has initiated repair efforts with initial recovery signs observed, though complete restoration timeline remains uncertain. US-EAST-1 is one of AWS's most critical service regions, making this incident noteworthy to the industry.
AMD is in talks with Samsung Electronics to utilize Samsung's 2nm technology for manufacturing next-generation AI processors and accelerators. With TSMC's production capacity fully booked through 2028, AMD aims to diversify its 2nm chip sourcing through partnership with Samsung to meet growing AI chip demand.
Semiconductor equipment giant Applied Materials announced a definitive agreement to acquire the NEXX business from ASMPT Limited. The acquisition aims to expand its panel-level advanced packaging product portfolio and strengthen its competitive position in the advanced packaging sector. The transaction is expected to close within the coming months.
Driven by surging AI demand, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) has become critical. SK Hynix, South Korea's major memory manufacturer, is receiving multiple aggressive partnership proposals from global tech companies willing to fund production line expansion and equipment purchases. Some proposals involve direct investment in dedicated manufacturing facilities to ensure stable memory chip supply for the AI era.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced multi-billion dollar prepayment to Corning for building new U.S. factories to expand fiber optic and optical connectivity component production. The funding is separate from this week's equity investment announcement. The collaboration is expected to create thousands of jobs and strengthen the AI data center supply chain.
As global technology giants compete for memory chips, multiple customers are actively courting SK Hynix with proposals to invest in new production lines and help fund expensive manufacturing equipment purchases, reflecting the current tight supply situation in the chip market.
SoftBank Group has begun discussions with Nvidia and Foxconn to explore developing Japan-made AI servers, according to Nikkei. The collaboration aims to strengthen Japan's autonomous capabilities in AI hardware manufacturing, reduce dependence on overseas suppliers, and advance the nation's technology industry development.
Semiconductor IP giant Arm delivered earnings and guidance that exceeded expectations, but cautioned that weak smartphone industry demand will negatively impact revenue. The company emphasized that growth in AI data center business will offset these headwinds. Arm also disclosed for the first time that its data center CPU has accumulated over 2 billion orders, demonstrating progress in high-performance computing.
According to Bloomberg, Microsoft is reportedly discussing adjustments to its 2030 clean energy goal. The company aims to remove potential obstacles that could slow data center construction. This reflects Microsoft's balancing act between ambitious environmental commitments and accelerating infrastructure development to support its operations.
As artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing expansion drive increased domestic electricity demand, geothermal energy is gaining attention as a clean, greenhouse-gas-free power source. Next-generation geothermal technology extracts hot water and steam from rock fractures 1.5 to 2 kilometers underground, achieving tenfold greater power output compared to conventional geothermal methods. This advancement positions geothermal energy as a key technology for future energy supply.
🔒 Security
Security researcher Hyunwoo Kim has disclosed the Dirty Frag vulnerability chain affecting the Linux kernel. The flaw impacts all major Linux distributions, allowing low-privilege accounts with code execution capability to obtain root access. Third parties released exploit code and vulnerability details before vendors issued patches and CVE assignments were completed, forcing researchers to disclose full technical information prematurely.
Security researchers at Mitiga discovered a design vulnerability in Anthropic Claude Code that could allow attackers to conduct MCP hijacking attacks and steal OAuth credentials without developers' awareness. The flaw could potentially be exploited in supply chain attacks, expanding the impact to downstream users and organizations relying on Claude Code for development purposes.
Security researchers discovered that hackers exploited AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI to attack Mexico's water and drainage systems. This incident marks an escalation from traditional corporate IT attacks to critical infrastructure targeting, raising significant concerns about AI security safeguards and potential risks to essential services.
Chinese navigation application Amap has gained rapid popularity in Taiwan due to features like precise traffic light countdown displays. However, concerns have been raised regarding its data sources and personal information collection methods. Taiwan's government is evaluating potential security risks related to user call records and personal data collection.
Mozilla Foundation released Firefox 150.0.2 on May 7th, addressing three high-risk security vulnerabilities identified as CVE-2026-8090, CVE-2026-8092, and CVE-2026-8093. All vulnerabilities are memory-related issues. Users are advised to update to the latest version promptly to ensure browser security.
Security firm Malwarebytes last month exposed a cyberattack campaign where hackers created fake Claude websites to distribute the PlugX remote access trojan. New investigation findings released this week reveal additional details about the attack, warning users to avoid unofficial websites and verify authenticity before downloading.
On May 7, security firm Ivanti announced five high-risk vulnerabilities in its Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) platform. Notably, CVE-2026-6973 has been actively exploited in real-world attacks. The vulnerabilities affect EPMM versions below 12.8.0.0. Ivanti has released patched versions 12.8.0.1, 12.7.0.1, and 12.6.1.1 for users to deploy.
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare will conduct a mid-term review of its Health Taiwan Deepening Plan, with the third scope focusing on cybersecurity governance, data governance, and AI governance. Chung Shan Medical University Hospital recommends that hospitals allocate at least 3% of their total budget to cybersecurity to establish basic protective capabilities. Additionally, the revised Personal Data Protection Law requires notification to authorities and affected individuals within 72 hours if a data breach involves over 100 records of sensitive personal information.
Web hosting provider Austin Ginder reported that the widely-used WordPress plugin Quick Page/Post Redirect contains a hidden backdoor that has existed for five years, affecting over 70,000 websites. The backdoor could enable content injection and malware distribution. WordPress.org has removed the plugin from its repository, and users with installations are advised to uninstall it immediately to mitigate security risks.
Leading medical aesthetics group Airlier Medical Beauty Group is under investigation for suspected hidden camera surveillance in treatment rooms. Three individuals—CEO Chang Rushan, executive assistant Zhang Yuanling, and engineer Xie Jinaheng—have been detained and prohibited from meeting visitors. Kaohsiung police conducted a surprise search at the Zhongshan branch this morning to collect evidence and equipment. The Boai branch is also under investigation with prosecutor oversight, pending further search authorization.
🎬 Entertainment
An art exhibition at "Absolute Space" gallery in Tainan's West Central District has been shut down following controversy over inappropriate content. The artist conducted unauthorized photography at a girls' school entrance, which was deemed to contain inappropriate implications, sparking complaints from female students and parents. Tainan's Cultural Affairs Bureau has ordered the exhibition's removal and will recover the subsidies provided.
As marriage immigrants have settled in Taiwan for over 30 years, their adult children, known as the "new second generation," are finding their cultural identity. Some have overcome early discrimination, now taking pride in their mothers' homeland cultures and actively promoting them. For example, one has become the only Thai language teacher in Yilan County's elementary and middle schools. After years of self-denial, these individuals have resolved their identity struggles and no longer feel anxious about their origins.
A major beauty clinic chain discovered hidden pinhole cameras disguised as smoke detectors in 18 locations, sparking public alarm. Similar concerns emerged at another large clinic chain. Celebrity Xu Ruoxuan expressed fear about privacy violations at a recent event, hoping such incidents cease. The scandal highlights consumer concerns about privacy protection in medical beauty clinics.
Taipei faces growing rodent infestation concerns. Dr. Huang Chien-hsien from Shin Kong Hospital's infectious disease department warns that even without being bitten, contact with rodent droppings, saliva, or contaminated items can transmit hantavirus and leptospirosis. Food packages with rodent damage should be discarded immediately to prevent infection.
Negotiations for broadcasting rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in mainland China remain deadlocked with less than 40 days until the tournament begins. FIFA's initial asking price was approximately 2.1 billion yuan, later reduced to around 1 billion yuan, but China Central Television insists on lowering it to 400-500 million yuan. The significant gap between the two sides raises uncertainty about whether mainland Chinese viewers will be able to watch the matches on television.
🌏 International
Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, former Chinese defense ministers, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a military court on the 7th for corruption-related charges. This represents the heaviest sentence imposed on senior military officers during Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, reflecting strict Party discipline enforcement in the military.
U.S. President Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14-15 for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting represents one of the most significant high-level U.S.-China diplomatic engagements during Trump's second term, testing the personal diplomatic relationship the two leaders have cultivated over years amid evolving international circumstances.
Security researchers discovered that hackers exploited AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI to attack Mexico's water and drainage systems. This incident marks an escalation from traditional corporate IT attacks to critical infrastructure targeting, raising significant concerns about AI security safeguards and potential risks to essential services.
On May 7, security firm Ivanti announced five high-risk vulnerabilities in its Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) platform. Notably, CVE-2026-6973 has been actively exploited in real-world attacks. The vulnerabilities affect EPMM versions below 12.8.0.0. Ivanti has released patched versions 12.8.0.1, 12.7.0.1, and 12.6.1.1 for users to deploy.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced multi-billion dollar prepayment to Corning for building new U.S. factories to expand fiber optic and optical connectivity component production. The funding is separate from this week's equity investment announcement. The collaboration is expected to create thousands of jobs and strengthen the AI data center supply chain.
According to sources, a key company behind Thailand's national AI initiative allegedly assisted in smuggling billions of dollars worth of Supermicro servers containing advanced Nvidia chips to mainland China, with Alibaba among multiple end customers. The case involves illegal export of high-tech products and raises concerns about international trade controls enforcement.
US law enforcement is investigating the smuggling of advanced NVIDIA chips worth billions of dollars. According to sources, a company linked to Thailand's national AI initiative allegedly helped smuggle US supercomputers equipped with NVIDIA chips through Thailand to Chinese company Alibaba. The case involves violations of US export controls and national security concerns.
Security researcher Hyunwoo Kim has disclosed the Dirty Frag vulnerability chain affecting the Linux kernel. The flaw impacts all major Linux distributions, allowing low-privilege accounts with code execution capability to obtain root access. Third parties released exploit code and vulnerability details before vendors issued patches and CVE assignments were completed, forcing researchers to disclose full technical information prematurely.
Chinese navigation application Amap has gained rapid popularity in Taiwan due to features like precise traffic light countdown displays. However, concerns have been raised regarding its data sources and personal information collection methods. Taiwan's government is evaluating potential security risks related to user call records and personal data collection.
Allergan Medical Beauty Group is embroiled in a hidden camera scandal at its clinic. The company's CEO Chang Rushan, an executive assistant, and an engineer face charges for illegally recording customers' privacy. The court ordered their detention without bail, citing concerns about evidence tampering and flight risk. The case involves sexual images of minors, raising serious privacy protection issues in the medical aesthetics industry.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the Special Military Procurement Act today, reducing the budget ceiling from 1.25 trillion to 780 billion Taiwan dollars, a 37% decrease. Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson Li Kunzheng expressed regret, arguing the move ignores international warnings and defense needs, potentially weakening Taiwan-US relations and risking cancellation of the HIMARS rocket system deal due to payment delays.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement." The first batch of military purchases has a budget ceiling of NT$30 billion, while the second batch is capped at NT$48 billion, totaling NT$78 billion. The Executive Yuan must submit a special report within one month of the act's passage, requiring Legislative Yuan approval before budget compilation, with submission to the legislature within two months.
Oil prices surged following a military confrontation between US and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz. WTI crude climbed 4% to approach $99 per barrel, while Brent crude closed around $100. The US Central Command stated it intercepted Iranian attacks and conducted defensive strikes, though emphasized no intent to escalate. President Trump warned of stronger retaliation if Iran fails to sign an agreement soon. The strait has been effectively blockaded since late February, disrupting global energy supplies.
U.S. President Trump will visit China for a two-day summit with President Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by a sitting American president in nearly a decade. The two leaders, both over 70 and born a day apart, have met at least six times over the past decade. While both emphasize their personal diplomatic relationship, tensions over trade, Taiwan, and technology continue to escalate, reflecting intensifying U.S.-China competition.
According to sources, US prosecutors allege that Bangkok-based OBON Corp. helped smuggle approximately $2.5 billion worth of Supermicro servers containing Nvidia chips to China, with Alibaba as a major customer. The case involves Supermicro's co-founder collaborating with Southeast Asian companies and multiple brokers in violation of US trade regulations. The March indictment triggered a significant stock decline for Supermicro, marking the most serious chip smuggling case since the US restricted Nvidia sales to China in 2022.
📰 Other
A 16-year-old girl died after falling from a zipline at Mariu Rock Adventure Park in Huaying, Sichuan on the 3rd. Video footage circulating online contained shouts of "not secured properly," raising safety concerns. Eyewitnesses revealed the phrase was a joke made by a companion to scare the girl. After turning to inquire about it, the fatal fall occurred. The exact cause remains under investigation.
Medical beauty clinics have sparked privacy concerns regarding surveillance camera installations. Netizens raised alarms about patients being partially or fully nude during procedures like hair removal and body sculpting, fearing unauthorized recording. Shen Yi Clinic clarified that surveillance equipment is used for medical safety, staff and equipment management, and dispute resolution only. The incident has prompted public discussion about privacy protection standards and surveillance regulations in aesthetic medical facilities.
A female guest reported being secretly filmed while showering at an illegal guesthouse on Taiwan's Green Island. The victim was photographed through a window by someone using a mobile phone, causing her severe emotional distress and nightmares. The guesthouse operator dismissed the incident, claiming no surveillance cameras were installed. Local police have filed a report, and authorities confirmed the facility is illegal and scheduled for demolition.