Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved on the 29th the special budget for national security protection and asymmetric warfare enhancement for fiscal year 2026, with first-year expenditure of 8.81 billion yuan. The budget aims to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities and address security gaps through enhanced procurement, following joint committee review and cross-party negotiations.
The US Central Command confirmed to Congress on April 14 that American military personnel deployed in the Persian Gulf and Middle East regions have been monitored and targeted by hostile forces using commercial location data. The disclosure has prompted bipartisan congressional concern about national security risks posed by the global digital advertising and data broker industry. This marks the first official US government acknowledgment of security threats to troops from commercial location data.
According to US officials and sources, negotiations between the United States and Iran on a ceasefire agreement have progressed significantly, with Iran prepared to sign. The agreement awaits final confirmation and approval from US President Trump. The negotiations have involved compromises on multiple key issues between both parties.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced he has instructed the Israeli military to expand its control over the Gaza Strip, with an initial target of controlling 70% of the Palestinian territory. The directive further compresses the living space of local residents, who are already confined to a narrow coastal area.
After three months of conflict, US and Iranian negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement today. According to a US official familiar with the matter, both sides agreed to extend the ceasefire for 60 days and initiate nuclear negotiations. The agreement aims to provide time for diplomatic talks and advance peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to escalate, with the WHO declaring it a public health emergency on May 16. As of May 29, confirmed and suspected cases reached 576, with 136 deaths reported. Data has doubled within 10 days, indicating the outbreak may be out of control. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, with a fatality rate of 30-50 percent. Currently, no vaccine is available for prevention, leaving frontline healthcare workers at significant risk.
The United States and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement draft that includes extending the ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and formally initiating nuclear negotiations. The memorandum awaits final confirmation from US President Trump and Iranian leadership. Both governments remain cautious, emphasizing that no agreement is finalized until core interests are secured.
The UN World Meteorological Organization released a report indicating that record-breaking global temperatures are highly likely within the next 5 years. The report predicts a 91% probability that at least one year will see global average temperatures exceed the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, the Arctic will experience rapid warming, while the Amazon rainforest faces severe drought and fire threats, reflecting increasingly frequent extreme weather events caused by global warming.
According to military officials' reports, U.S. troops deployed in combat zones have been targeted using commercially available location data. The incident highlights national security risks posed by the global surveillance economy, demonstrating how location information collected by commercial entities could be exploited by adversaries to threaten military operations.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved on the 29th the special budget for national security protection and asymmetric warfare enhancement for fiscal year 2026, with first-year expenditure of 8.81 billion yuan. The budget aims to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities and address security gaps through enhanced procurement, following joint committee review and cross-party negotiations.
The US Central Command confirmed to Congress on April 14 that American military personnel deployed in the Persian Gulf and Middle East regions have been monitored and targeted by hostile forces using commercial location data. The disclosure has prompted bipartisan congressional concern about national security risks posed by the global digital advertising and data broker industry. This marks the first official US government acknowledgment of security threats to troops from commercial location data.
According to US officials and sources, negotiations between the United States and Iran on a ceasefire agreement have progressed significantly, with Iran prepared to sign. The agreement awaits final confirmation and approval from US President Trump. The negotiations have involved compromises on multiple key issues between both parties.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced he has instructed the Israeli military to expand its control over the Gaza Strip, with an initial target of controlling 70% of the Palestinian territory. The directive further compresses the living space of local residents, who are already confined to a narrow coastal area.
US-Iran ceasefire negotiations encounter complications. The White House confirmed that the US and Iran have largely agreed to a 60-day interim ceasefire agreement, but Iran's military subsequently launched missile strikes against targets in southern regions on the 28th. The military action highlights significant risks to the fragile ceasefire agreement and escalates Middle East tensions. Final approval from President Trump remains pending.
After three months of conflict, US and Iranian negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement today. According to a US official familiar with the matter, both sides agreed to extend the ceasefire for 60 days and initiate nuclear negotiations. The agreement aims to provide time for diplomatic talks and advance peaceful resolution of disputes.
Apollo Global Management and Blackstone are assembling approximately $36 billion in debt financing to help AI company Anthropic acquire Google's custom TPU chips. The financing will become one of the largest private credit transactions ever and the largest chip-focused debt deal. Broadcom will support the largest portion of the transaction, leveraging its credit standing to provide Anthropic with computing capacity access. Investors are required to submit subscription commitments this week, with the deal expected to close next week.
Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics revised Q1 2026 GDP growth to 14.55%, the highest in 48 years, with full-year growth forecast at 9.64%, the highest in 16 years. Driven by AI momentum, Taiwan's stock market surged 1,096 points to a record 44,732, with trading volume reaching a new high of 1.8 trillion.
Fed Chair Powell faces a different landscape than when he won the position. Energy shocks from Iran conflict have closed the door to rate cuts, with markets shifting expectations toward hikes. Powell must manage market expectations and prevent rate increases—maintaining current levels may be a victory. Despite Trump's support for Fed independence, political pressure persists. Surging AI investments also push broader inflation pressures, prompting Fed officials to issue recent warnings.
Gary Dickerson, CEO of Applied Materials, a leading semiconductor equipment supplier, stated that accelerating artificial intelligence demand is driving the semiconductor industry into what he considers its strongest golden period in history. He believes this represents the best moment for both the overall industry and Applied Materials, as AI is driving remarkable computing demand. Applied Materials is a key supplier of equipment needed to manufacture advanced semiconductors.
Dell Inc. raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts today, reflecting strong customer demand for data center expansion. The company benefits from growing artificial intelligence adoption, with increased orders for servers equipped with Nvidia's advanced chips. The positive outlook drove Dell's after-hours stock price up 39%, signaling market confidence in the company's growth prospects.
Taiwan becomes the first country globally to receive US 232 tariff exemptions. The US government officially announced non-semiconductor 232 tariff benefits for Taiwan, including reducing auto parts tariff rates to 15% to implement the Taiwan-US investment cooperation memorandum. The benefits are retroactively effective from May 1st.
Swiss pharmaceutical group Sandoz has filed an anti-dumping complaint with the European Union, alleging that imported Chinese amoxicillin raw materials are being dumped on the market. Amoxicillin is a widely used antibiotic. The complaint reflects European pharmaceutical manufacturers' concerns about competition from low-priced Chinese imports and will trigger an EU anti-dumping investigation.
US stock markets closed at record highs today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices both reaching new peaks driven by strength in technology stocks. Market participants are also monitoring developments regarding US-Iran negotiations. Technology sector strength continues to be the primary driver of market gains, reflecting investor optimism about the industry's outlook.
Contradictory reports regarding a potential US-Iran ceasefire extension agreement have created market uncertainty. As traders assess the conflicting messages, international oil prices experienced volatile trading today, closing with mixed results reflecting investor concerns about the negotiation outcome.
A UBS survey reveals that wealthy families worldwide are decreasing their US dollar allocations and turning to euros and Swiss francs. This shift is driven by geopolitical tensions and rising sovereign debt, prompting families to reassess portfolio risks in response to changing global conditions.
AI startup Anthropic announced it has raised $6.5 billion in its latest funding round, achieving a post-money valuation of $96 billion, approaching the $1 trillion mark. The funding round reflects continued investor confidence in generative AI technology. As a major competitor to OpenAI, Anthropic is accelerating development of its Claude AI model.
TSMC Chairman Wei Te-sheng confirmed during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Takayoshi Takaichi that the Kumamoto Fab 2 will transition to advanced 3-nanometer process technology for future production. This upgrade represents a significant advancement in TSMC's manufacturing capabilities in Japan. The company plans to announce detailed information about the new investment plan shortly.
TSMC Senior Vice President Chang Hsiao-chiang stated that surging electricity demands from artificial intelligence applications have made energy efficiency the primary limiting factor for future chip development, replacing computational power. This reflects industry challenges in power supply and thermal management.
Wistron, a major manufacturer of Nvidia servers, has warned that artificial intelligence industry bottlenecks extend beyond memory shortages to include critical data center components. The Taiwan-based company projects that supply chain constraints will persist until 2028 before relief becomes apparent. This warning highlights the complex infrastructure challenges facing the rapid expansion of AI deployment globally.
Anthropic announced completion of its H-series funding round of $65 billion on Thursday, bringing the company's valuation to $965 billion and surpassing OpenAI's $852 billion valuation as the world's most valuable AI startup. By S&P 500 market capitalization rankings, Anthropic now ranks among the top 12 largest U.S. companies. The funding round was led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks, and Sequoia Capital.
Meta has introduced paid subscription services for its Meta AI chatbot, offering two monthly plans at $7.99 and $19.99. This marks a significant step in the company's AI business model development, helping offset billions of dollars invested in AI infrastructure. CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated that excess computing resources could position the company to enter the cloud computing market.
Software company Snowflake has signed a chip procurement agreement with Amazon's AWS division worth approximately $6 billion. The deal makes Snowflake the latest customer for Amazon's custom chips, aimed at meeting growing computational hardware demands driven by the expansion of AI agent technologies.
French AI startup Mistral AI is exploring the design of proprietary artificial intelligence chips with potential future development. The company is also expanding into advanced manufacturing sectors utilizing edge AI technology, having recently signed agreements with new clients including Airbus and BMW.
Apple will reveal significant iOS 27 updates at its June 8 Worldwide Developers Conference, featuring a major Siri redesign as a core feature. The new Siri will introduce a fresh interface and chatbot mode while integrating AI technologies like Google Gemini. This represents the largest update to Siri in nearly 15 years and is expected to launch with iPhone 18 in September, marking a key product initiative under CEO Tim Cook.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang emphasized that energy is fundamental to AI development during an event. A Greenpeace representative presented a five-layer cake inscribed with "AI Needs Renewable Energy," which Huang signed. When asked if NVIDIA would invest in renewable energy alongside Taiwan's supply chain partners, Huang affirmed the commitment, stating that market forces will naturally drive renewable energy investments.
Dutch cybersecurity company Hadrian announced the open-source release of OpenHack, an AI vulnerability research framework. The framework employs multi-agent workflows to help researchers automate source code security reviews and white-box penetration testing, enhancing software security detection efficiency.
In response to AI-accelerated cyberattacks, India's cybersecurity authority CERT-In has issued new guidelines requiring organizations to patch software vulnerabilities within 12 hours of public disclosure. CERT-In warns that AI-assisted tools enable attackers to rapidly identify, weaponize, and exploit vulnerabilities, with exploitation occurring within hours of disclosure becoming the new norm, significantly shortening attack timelines.
Security firm Theori disclosed a local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerability in the Linux kernel called Copy Fail (CVE-2026-31431) in late April. Subsequent research identified multiple variant vulnerabilities, including Dirty Frag (CVE-2026-43284 and CVE-2026-43500) and Fragnesia. These vulnerabilities could compromise Linux system security, and users are advised to update their kernel versions promptly to patch the identified weaknesses.
Security firm Rapid7 discovered a critical zero-day vulnerability in Gogs, a lightweight self-hosted Git system, reported to developers two months ago but remains unpatched. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to compromise servers, steal cross-tenant data and credentials, perform lateral movement, and launch supply chain attacks.
SpeedX, a US-based last-mile e-commerce logistics company, exposed over 840 million delivery records due to a misconfigured cloud storage bucket. Founded in 2022, the company handles deliveries for Amazon, Temu, TikTok Shop, and SHEIN, processing 350,000 to 400,000 items daily. The breach compromises data of e-commerce customers, packages, and delivery drivers, potentially ranking among the largest data breaches on record.
Global cruise operator Carnival and third-largest U.S. cable provider Charter both confirmed data breaches this week. Ransomware hacker group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the attacks. Both companies are major players in their respective industries, highlighting significant cybersecurity threats facing large enterprises.
Google released Chrome updates for desktop and Android versions on May 27, addressing 151 security vulnerabilities. This update significantly increased the number of patched vulnerabilities compared to the previous week's security release. Users are advised to update promptly to protect their systems from potential security risks.
Avada Builder, a graphical page builder plugin for the popular WordPress theme Avada, has patched four security vulnerabilities including arbitrary code execution and SQL injection flaws. With over 1 million WordPress sites deployed across the Avada ecosystem, these vulnerabilities potentially impact a large number of users. Avada is a best-selling paid WordPress theme, and many users combine it with Avada Builder for page editing functionality.
Taiwan's Teamplus SMS platform EVERY8D suffered a cyberattack causing suspected service disruption and data breach risks. The Financial Information Sharing and Analysis Center (F-ISAC) issued a yellow-level alert, requiring member institutions to inventory exposure and activate response measures. Additionally, Mackay Memorial Hospital reported another data breach, and Amap was found to access clipboard contents without permission, raising privacy concerns.
The development of AI digital actor technology is creating significant challenges for extras working in Hengdian Film City, China's major film production hub. Job opportunities and wages for these temporary performers have declined as AI replaces traditional roles. Even basic roles such as playing corpses are increasingly being filled by digital actors, intensifying the difficulties faced by the extras community that was documented in the 2015 film 'I Am a Passerby.'
The annual Hajj pilgrimage commenced on the 25th, lasting six days with Eid al-Adha on the 27th. This year's pilgrimage faces extreme conditions including 48-degree Celsius heat, over one million pilgrims, regional tensions, and rising prices, creating significant hardship for lower-income participants.
The Spurs defeated defending champion Thunder in a crucial Game 6 playoff matchup. Team leader Victor Wembanyama led all scorers with 28 points and established multiple franchise records, surpassing legendary player Tim Duncan's achievements. The victory keeps the Spurs competitive in the series.
Taiwan's badminton player Chi Yu-jen defeated world No. 4 and European champion Christophe Popov in a three-set comeback victory at the Singapore Open on the 29th. Chi won 20-22, 21-19, 23-21 in a match lasting 1 hour and 12 minutes, securing his first career victory over Popov. He became the only Taiwanese player in both men's and women's singles to advance to the quarterfinals at this tournament.
According to US officials and sources, negotiations between the United States and Iran on a ceasefire agreement have progressed significantly, with Iran prepared to sign. The agreement awaits final confirmation and approval from US President Trump. The negotiations have involved compromises on multiple key issues between both parties.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced he has instructed the Israeli military to expand its control over the Gaza Strip, with an initial target of controlling 70% of the Palestinian territory. The directive further compresses the living space of local residents, who are already confined to a narrow coastal area.
After three months of conflict, US and Iranian negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement today. According to a US official familiar with the matter, both sides agreed to extend the ceasefire for 60 days and initiate nuclear negotiations. The agreement aims to provide time for diplomatic talks and advance peaceful resolution of disputes.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved on the 29th the special budget for national security protection and asymmetric warfare enhancement for fiscal year 2026, with first-year expenditure of 8.81 billion yuan. The budget aims to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities and address security gaps through enhanced procurement, following joint committee review and cross-party negotiations.
The US Central Command confirmed to Congress on April 14 that American military personnel deployed in the Persian Gulf and Middle East regions have been monitored and targeted by hostile forces using commercial location data. The disclosure has prompted bipartisan congressional concern about national security risks posed by the global digital advertising and data broker industry. This marks the first official US government acknowledgment of security threats to troops from commercial location data.
According to military officials' reports, U.S. troops deployed in combat zones have been targeted using commercially available location data. The incident highlights national security risks posed by the global surveillance economy, demonstrating how location information collected by commercial entities could be exploited by adversaries to threaten military operations.
Taiwan's Teamplus SMS platform EVERY8D suffered a cyberattack causing suspected service disruption and data breach risks. The Financial Information Sharing and Analysis Center (F-ISAC) issued a yellow-level alert, requiring member institutions to inventory exposure and activate response measures. Additionally, Mackay Memorial Hospital reported another data breach, and Amap was found to access clipboard contents without permission, raising privacy concerns.
Security firm Rapid7 discovered a critical zero-day vulnerability in Gogs, a lightweight self-hosted Git system, reported to developers two months ago but remains unpatched. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to compromise servers, steal cross-tenant data and credentials, perform lateral movement, and launch supply chain attacks.
SpeedX, a US-based last-mile e-commerce logistics company, exposed over 840 million delivery records due to a misconfigured cloud storage bucket. Founded in 2022, the company handles deliveries for Amazon, Temu, TikTok Shop, and SHEIN, processing 350,000 to 400,000 items daily. The breach compromises data of e-commerce customers, packages, and delivery drivers, potentially ranking among the largest data breaches on record.
The United States and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement draft that includes extending the ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and formally initiating nuclear negotiations. The memorandum awaits final confirmation from US President Trump and Iranian leadership. Both governments remain cautious, emphasizing that no agreement is finalized until core interests are secured.
The UN World Meteorological Organization released a report indicating that record-breaking global temperatures are highly likely within the next 5 years. The report predicts a 91% probability that at least one year will see global average temperatures exceed the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, the Arctic will experience rapid warming, while the Amazon rainforest faces severe drought and fire threats, reflecting increasingly frequent extreme weather events caused by global warming.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to escalate, with the WHO declaring it a public health emergency on May 16. As of May 29, confirmed and suspected cases reached 576, with 136 deaths reported. Data has doubled within 10 days, indicating the outbreak may be out of control. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain, with a fatality rate of 30-50 percent. Currently, no vaccine is available for prevention, leaving frontline healthcare workers at significant risk.
Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics revised Q1 2026 GDP growth to 14.55%, the highest in 48 years, with full-year growth forecast at 9.64%, the highest in 16 years. Driven by AI momentum, Taiwan's stock market surged 1,096 points to a record 44,732, with trading volume reaching a new high of 1.8 trillion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered military forces to take control of approximately 70% of Gaza, stating the operation aims to squeeze Hamas in the enclave. Simultaneously, Israel is escalating military attacks in southern Lebanon. This dual-front strategy reflects Israel's expanded military operations in the region.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has adopted fiber-optic drones as its primary weapon targeting Israeli military personnel and civilians. Fiber-optic drones offer enhanced resistance to electronic jamming and extended control range compared to conventional unmanned aircraft. This development reflects the evolving use of drone technology in Middle Eastern armed conflicts.
On May 29, central and southern Taiwan experienced extreme heat, with Yuanlin in Tainan recording 40.2°C as the nation's highest temperature and Pingtung exceeding 39°C. A clothing store in Pingtung's Chaozhouzhou suffered window breakage due to extreme indoor-outdoor temperature differences. The meteorological agency forecasts temperatures will slightly decrease from May 30, with northern Taiwan and Yilan expecting brief showers from typhoon circulation on Monday and Tuesday next week. Over 340 heat-related hospital visits have been recorded nationwide through May.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration has issued a heavy rain alert for nine counties and cities including Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Tainan, Hualien, Taitung, Green Island, Nantou, and Yunlin. Due to vigorous convective cloud development, localized heavy rainfall is expected today, with Pingtung and Kaohsiung mountainous areas facing heavy to torrential rain. The agency warns of lightning and strong gusts, advising mountain areas to watch for landslides and flash flooding, while low-lying areas should prepare for water accumulation.