🔥 Top Stories
Taiwan has experienced multiple fatal drug-driving accidents in recent days. Premier Cho Jung-tai expressed deep regret and sorrow over the incidents. Government spokesperson Lee Hui-chih announced that the premier has instructed the Ministry of Justice to comprehensively review criminal law, focusing on increasing penalties for drug-driving and implementing preventive measures, acknowledging that previous amendments remain insufficient.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that he and US President Trump have reached consensus that any agreement with Iran must address Iran's nuclear program. The statement comes as Washington and Tehran are expected to negotiate a deal to end Middle East conflicts, reflecting Israel's ongoing concerns about Iran's nuclear threat.
US President Trump announced on the 23rd that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been "largely finalized," with the Hormuz Strait set to reopen and an official announcement expected shortly. Secretary of State Rubio stated on the 24th that good news regarding the Hormuz Strait situation is expected within hours, leading markets to anticipate a breakthrough in the three-month-long Iran-related situation.
US consumer inflation expectations for May increased further, with long-term inflation expectations rising significantly. Economists anticipate the April Personal Consumption Expenditures deflator to be released this week will show expanded growth. These developments suggest inflation pressures may intensify and persist longer, potentially strengthening market expectations for Federal Reserve tightening and pushing long-term Treasury yields higher.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Taiwan on March 23rd with a packed schedule. After attending a dinner hosted by TSMC founder Morris Chang on the evening of March 24th, he revealed plans to meet with major figures in Taiwan's tech industry, including Quanta Chairman K.C. Lin and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei, over the coming days. He confirmed his attendance at NVIDIA's Taiwan headquarters groundbreaking ceremony on March 27th.
🏛 Politics
Taiwan has experienced multiple fatal drug-driving accidents in recent days. Premier Cho Jung-tai expressed deep regret and sorrow over the incidents. Government spokesperson Lee Hui-chih announced that the premier has instructed the Ministry of Justice to comprehensively review criminal law, focusing on increasing penalties for drug-driving and implementing preventive measures, acknowledging that previous amendments remain insufficient.
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare reports a 17% increase in hearing impairment cases among people aged 65 and above over the past five years. Audiologists estimate approximately 450,000 people in Taiwan experience hearing loss, though many lack disability certificates. Early cases often go untreated, worsening conditions. Experts recommend enhanced screening to identify unreported cases and warn that hearing loss may increase dementia risk.
A hit-and-run incident in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City left one person dead and another seriously injured when driver Wang Changquan collided with a motorcycle carrying two passengers. Police found Wang had three prior methamphetamine use convictions that resulted in light sentences without imprisonment. Wang admitted to using zombie inhalant before the crash and claimed vehicle malfunction caused the collision. New Taipei District Prosecutors Office determined he had evidence tampering and repeated drug offenses.
President Lai Ching-te announced an increase in the national pension baseline from the current 4,049 NT$ to 5,000 NT$ per month, citing improved economic performance and increased tax revenue. The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that the amendment has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan and will take effect upon passage, benefiting over 1.76 million citizens.
A Chinese Coast Guard vessel entered Dongsha Island waters on the 23rd and was intercepted by Taiwan's Coast Guard patrol ship Taichung. The two sides engaged in heated radio exchanges over sovereignty claims, with a 33-hour standoff ending when the Chinese vessel departed the restricted waters on the 24th at 5 PM. The incident highlights ongoing cross-strait disputes over South China Sea sovereignty.
The Democratic Party caucus in the Legislative Yuan proposed amending Article 26 of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, allowing those receiving alternative sentences such as fines or community service to remain eligible for election. Critics argue this amendment is tailored specifically for Hsinchu Mayor High Hong-an's perjury conviction to remove barriers to her re-election bid. The Citizen Supervision Alliance condemned the move as undermining Taiwan's democracy.
Taiwan's Interior Ministry has established a proactive drug-driving prevention mechanism requiring drug users to complete treatment before obtaining or maintaining driving licenses. The National Police Administration identified over 4,700 potential traffic safety risk cases in four months. Individuals caught using drugs must undergo professional treatment and provide assessment documentation to demonstrate fitness for driving, aiming to eliminate drug-driving hazards on roads.
US Secretary of State Rubio stated that while the US and Iran are seeking an agreement to end Middle East conflicts with support from some regional countries, a nuclear agreement cannot be reached within 72 hours. The negotiations face substantial obstacles requiring extended timeframes for resolution.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that he and US President Trump have reached consensus that any agreement with Iran must address Iran's nuclear program. The statement comes as Washington and Tehran are expected to negotiate a deal to end Middle East conflicts, reflecting Israel's ongoing concerns about Iran's nuclear threat.
US President Trump announced on the 23rd that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been "largely finalized," with the Hormuz Strait set to reopen and an official announcement expected shortly. Secretary of State Rubio stated on the 24th that good news regarding the Hormuz Strait situation is expected within hours, leading markets to anticipate a breakthrough in the three-month-long Iran-related situation.
💰 Finance
From Q3 2016 to Q3 2025, New Taipei and Taichung added approximately 174,700 housing units each. In contrast, Taipei added only 17,300 units over the decade, averaging 1,730 units annually—roughly one-tenth of New Taipei and Taichung's growth rates. This reflects Taipei's significantly constrained housing supply expansion.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of Interior real estate information platform, national residential housing inventory reached 9.576 million units in Q3 2025, with projections to exceed 10 million units by 2030. Against the national population of approximately 23 million, the future ratio will be approximately 2.3 people per housing unit. Over the past decade, housing inventory has shown consistent growth, reflecting increasing housing supply.
South Korea's first individual stock leveraged exchange-traded funds launched this week, offering two-times leverage on stocks including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Authorities aim to attract retail investor capital, though experts warn these high-risk products could amplify market volatility and require careful risk assessment.
US consumer inflation expectations for May increased further, with long-term inflation expectations rising significantly. Economists anticipate the April Personal Consumption Expenditures deflator to be released this week will show expanded growth. These developments suggest inflation pressures may intensify and persist longer, potentially strengthening market expectations for Federal Reserve tightening and pushing long-term Treasury yields higher.
Despite strong profitability in South Korea's semiconductor and electronics component sectors, worker compensation increasingly diverges based on employment type. The wage and bonus disparities between permanent and temporary employees are widening, creating a K-shaped distribution pattern that reflects unequal benefit distribution despite industry growth.
Brazil faces a deepening household debt crisis, with nearly half of adults struggling with repayment obligations. Despite high interest rates, rapid fintech development has led to excessive borrowing. President Lula will launch a major debt restructuring program that reduces debt amounts and relaxes repayment terms, effectively providing debt relief to address surging defaults.
Delivery Hero, the parent company of foodpanda, announced it received an acquisition offer from Uber valued at 10 billion euros (approximately 11.6 billion US dollars), equivalent to 33 euros per share. The company has rejected the initial bid, with market observers speculating whether Uber will increase its offer and whether negotiations may resume between the two parties.
An increasing number of family offices are directly investing in unlisted companies rather than going through private equity institutions, allowing them to reduce fees and gain greater transparency and flexibility. These wealthy families are currently most interested in growth-stage technology companies and commodities such as rare earth elements.
💻 Technology
Following Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation regulatory approval, cabin motorcycles with enclosed cabins and steering wheel systems are set to launch in the second half of the year. Lean Mobility's Lean3, a Taiwan-Japan collaborative product, becomes Taiwan's first cabin motorcycle. Deliveries to pre-order corporate users are scheduled for August, with personal reservations opened in April.
The Dutch ambassador to South Korea stated that multiple regions worldwide are simultaneously developing next-generation lithography technology, which represents normal industry competition rather than targeting China specifically. Dutch-South Korean cooperation spans equipment manufacturing, research institutions, and talent development. Driven by AI industry growth, demand for advanced memory chips continues rising. SK Hynix stock surged this year and signed a 6.9 billion euro equipment purchase order in March.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged in a recent podcast interview that while Google excels in text, multimodal, and reasoning capabilities, the company temporarily trails in agentic coding. He noted that despite being at the AI frontier, Google does not lead in all directions, particularly facing challenges in tool use, instruction following, and complex long-running tasks.
The Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft launched on the evening of the 24th and conducted the first dynamic perovskite battery service experiment aboard China's space station. The experiment monitors conversion efficiency degradation data in extreme space environments. This research is considered a crucial step in developing energy systems for future lunar bases.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Taiwan on March 23rd with a packed schedule. After attending a dinner hosted by TSMC founder Morris Chang on the evening of March 24th, he revealed plans to meet with major figures in Taiwan's tech industry, including Quanta Chairman K.C. Lin and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei, over the coming days. He confirmed his attendance at NVIDIA's Taiwan headquarters groundbreaking ceremony on March 27th.
China's Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft successfully launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on May 24 evening, carrying three astronauts to the Tiangong space station. The mission transports approximately 54 kilograms of scientific experimental samples and equipment, with plans to conduct over 100 scientific and applied research projects. One astronaut will conduct a year-long in-orbit residence experiment.
Volvo Cars and Google announced a partnership to develop next-generation driving assistance with contextual awareness capabilities. The companies unveiled a Volvo EX60 equipped with Google Gemini technology at Google I/O conference. With driver consent, the AI system can real-time perceive and understand the vehicle's surroundings from the car's perspective, marking an industry-first application.
🌏 International
US President Trump announced on the 23rd that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been "largely finalized," with the Hormuz Strait set to reopen and an official announcement expected shortly. Secretary of State Rubio stated on the 24th that good news regarding the Hormuz Strait situation is expected within hours, leading markets to anticipate a breakthrough in the three-month-long Iran-related situation.
Russia conducted a large-scale military attack on Ukraine, resulting in at least four deaths and dozens of injuries. Russia confirmed the use of the Oreshnik missile, which travels at speeds exceeding Mach 10. This attack represents a significant military operation in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced on Sunday that Ukraine is requesting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and a gathering of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in response to massive Russian air strikes. The overnight attacks primarily targeted the Kyiv region and involved the deployment of medium-range Oreshnik ballistic missiles. Ukraine is calling for an appropriate and strong international response to the aggressor.
Taiwan has experienced multiple fatal drug-driving accidents in recent days. Premier Cho Jung-tai expressed deep regret and sorrow over the incidents. Government spokesperson Lee Hui-chih announced that the premier has instructed the Ministry of Justice to comprehensively review criminal law, focusing on increasing penalties for drug-driving and implementing preventive measures, acknowledging that previous amendments remain insufficient.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that he and US President Trump have reached consensus that any agreement with Iran must address Iran's nuclear program. The statement comes as Washington and Tehran are expected to negotiate a deal to end Middle East conflicts, reflecting Israel's ongoing concerns about Iran's nuclear threat.
US consumer inflation expectations for May increased further, with long-term inflation expectations rising significantly. Economists anticipate the April Personal Consumption Expenditures deflator to be released this week will show expanded growth. These developments suggest inflation pressures may intensify and persist longer, potentially strengthening market expectations for Federal Reserve tightening and pushing long-term Treasury yields higher.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Taiwan on March 23rd with a packed schedule. After attending a dinner hosted by TSMC founder Morris Chang on the evening of March 24th, he revealed plans to meet with major figures in Taiwan's tech industry, including Quanta Chairman K.C. Lin and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei, over the coming days. He confirmed his attendance at NVIDIA's Taiwan headquarters groundbreaking ceremony on March 27th.
Russian President Putin's visit to China resulted in signing approximately 40 documents strengthening Beijing-Moscow partnership. Occurring shortly after US President Trump's Beijing trip, the visits demonstrate that global order is increasingly shaped by a fluid China-US-Russia triangle, with Beijing assuming a more central role in international relations.
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare reports a 17% increase in hearing impairment cases among people aged 65 and above over the past five years. Audiologists estimate approximately 450,000 people in Taiwan experience hearing loss, though many lack disability certificates. Early cases often go untreated, worsening conditions. Experts recommend enhanced screening to identify unreported cases and warn that hearing loss may increase dementia risk.
A hit-and-run incident in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City left one person dead and another seriously injured when driver Wang Changquan collided with a motorcycle carrying two passengers. Police found Wang had three prior methamphetamine use convictions that resulted in light sentences without imprisonment. Wang admitted to using zombie inhalant before the crash and claimed vehicle malfunction caused the collision. New Taipei District Prosecutors Office determined he had evidence tampering and repeated drug offenses.
President Lai Ching-te announced an increase in the national pension baseline from the current 4,049 NT$ to 5,000 NT$ per month, citing improved economic performance and increased tax revenue. The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that the amendment has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan and will take effect upon passage, benefiting over 1.76 million citizens.
A Chinese Coast Guard vessel entered Dongsha Island waters on the 23rd and was intercepted by Taiwan's Coast Guard patrol ship Taichung. The two sides engaged in heated radio exchanges over sovereignty claims, with a 33-hour standoff ending when the Chinese vessel departed the restricted waters on the 24th at 5 PM. The incident highlights ongoing cross-strait disputes over South China Sea sovereignty.
The Democratic Party caucus in the Legislative Yuan proposed amending Article 26 of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, allowing those receiving alternative sentences such as fines or community service to remain eligible for election. Critics argue this amendment is tailored specifically for Hsinchu Mayor High Hong-an's perjury conviction to remove barriers to her re-election bid. The Citizen Supervision Alliance condemned the move as undermining Taiwan's democracy.
Taiwan's Interior Ministry has established a proactive drug-driving prevention mechanism requiring drug users to complete treatment before obtaining or maintaining driving licenses. The National Police Administration identified over 4,700 potential traffic safety risk cases in four months. Individuals caught using drugs must undergo professional treatment and provide assessment documentation to demonstrate fitness for driving, aiming to eliminate drug-driving hazards on roads.
US Secretary of State Rubio stated that while the US and Iran are seeking an agreement to end Middle East conflicts with support from some regional countries, a nuclear agreement cannot be reached within 72 hours. The negotiations face substantial obstacles requiring extended timeframes for resolution.