The Wall Street Journal reported that US Central Command Chief Kobber has proposed an intensified bombing campaign against Iran lasting 10-14 days, aimed at degrading Iran's missile retaliation capabilities. The plan was discussed by President Trump with Defense Secretary Hagerty and Joint Chiefs Chairman Kane. However, experts warn the operation would significantly escalate regional tensions in the Middle East.
Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang announced plans to petition the Constitutional Court in early August to dissolve the China Unification Promotion Party, led by Chang An-le. The party faces charges under the National Security Act and attempted murder, with allegations of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party to establish organizations, conduct cognitive warfare, infiltrate grassroots levels, and introduce Chinese capital into elections, posing serious threats to national security.
Chen Li-ming, a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company engineer, was convicted of stealing advanced chip manufacturing secrets including 2-nanometer and 14-angstrom processes after joining Tokyo-based company. He conspired with three TSMC engineers: Wu Bing-jun, Ge Yi-ping, and Chen Wei-jie. The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court sentenced Chen to 10 years, Chen Wei-jie to 6 years, Wu Bing-jun to 3 years, and Ge Yi-ping to 2 years under national security laws. The verdict is final.
Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang announced plans to petition the Constitutional Court for dissolution of the China Unification Promotion Party. The Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that 141 party members have been involved in 98 organized crime cases since 2010, including attempted murder and drug offenses. The ministry cited evidence of bribery, cross-border suppression, and coordination with Chinese Communist Party united front operations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian military forces attacked a Ukrainian village using North Korean missiles, resulting in the deaths of five family members. The incident highlights the involvement of third-party military support in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US Central Command Chief Kobber has proposed an intensified bombing campaign against Iran lasting 10-14 days, aimed at degrading Iran's missile retaliation capabilities. The plan was discussed by President Trump with Defense Secretary Hagerty and Joint Chiefs Chairman Kane. However, experts warn the operation would significantly escalate regional tensions in the Middle East.
Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang announced plans to petition the Constitutional Court in early August to dissolve the China Unification Promotion Party, led by Chang An-le. The party faces charges under the National Security Act and attempted murder, with allegations of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party to establish organizations, conduct cognitive warfare, infiltrate grassroots levels, and introduce Chinese capital into elections, posing serious threats to national security.
Chen Li-ming, a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company engineer, was convicted of stealing advanced chip manufacturing secrets including 2-nanometer and 14-angstrom processes after joining Tokyo-based company. He conspired with three TSMC engineers: Wu Bing-jun, Ge Yi-ping, and Chen Wei-jie. The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court sentenced Chen to 10 years, Chen Wei-jie to 6 years, Wu Bing-jun to 3 years, and Ge Yi-ping to 2 years under national security laws. The verdict is final.
Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang announced plans to petition the Constitutional Court for dissolution of the China Unification Promotion Party. The Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that 141 party members have been involved in 98 organized crime cases since 2010, including attempted murder and drug offenses. The ministry cited evidence of bribery, cross-border suppression, and coordination with Chinese Communist Party united front operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Trump met at the White House to discuss multiple approaches to curbing Iran's nuclear program, including diplomacy, economic pressure, and military options. Israeli officials stated that while Israel favors further military action, it will defer to Trump's decision. Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel will respond forcefully if Iran attacks Israeli territory.
Taiwan's Mental Health Law takes effect August 1st, transferring involuntary hospitalization decisions from administrative review boards to courts under the judicial reserve principle. The reform introduces expert panel adjudication combining judges, psychiatrists, and patient advocates. Seven family courts designated to handle cases within 14-30 days. The reform aims to balance patient rights protection with medical expertise and community safety.
Taiwan's Executive Yuan approved amendments to the Inheritance and Gift Tax Act, introducing the "second spouse clause." The new provision requires that gifts made by the deceased to spouses, heirs, and their spouses within two years before death be taxed as part of the estate, with recipients bearing the tax burden. The measure aims to prevent tax evasion through strategic pre-death transfers to specific family members.
Taitung County's Jianhe Farm Road improvement project is under investigation for allegedly favoring a resort owned by County Council Speaker Wu Xiuhua's family. Prosecutors have charged five county officials. Councilor Lin Shen-tian revealed that besides the county's NT$28 million budget, seven councilors contributed NT$3.8 million through their own project proposals, expanding the favoritism allegations to the legislative level.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian military forces attacked a Ukrainian village using North Korean missiles, resulting in the deaths of five family members. The incident highlights the involvement of third-party military support in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ongoing military exchanges between the United States and Iran are intensifying, with conflict spreading to other Middle Eastern regions. International oil prices have surged amid geopolitical concerns. Brent crude closed above $90 per barrel on the 29th, marking the first time this week, and briefly reached $93.3 per barrel during Asian trading on the 30th before gains moderated.
Amazon reported Q2 2026 earnings with revenue of $200.61 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $196.47 billion. Net income reached $62.6 billion, up over 243% year-over-year, with EPS of $5.75 versus expected $1.82. AWS revenue achieved its fastest growth rate since 2021, driven by strong performance in cloud computing, advertising, and AI businesses. Stock surged over 9% in after-hours trading.
Microsoft's strong financial results and declining international oil prices eased market concerns about rising US Treasury yields. The positive sentiment drove major Wall Street indices significantly higher today, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gaining over 8%, leading the overall market rebound.
The World Gold Council reported that central banks purchased significantly less gold than expected in the first quarter, acquiring only 57 tonnes, representing a 76% decline from forecasts. This indicates weakening momentum in a major driver of gold demand. Although central bank demand has recovered since then, annual gold purchases in 2026 may still decline.
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced that Japan will reduce the food consumption tax rate to 1% for two years starting April 2027, while providing subsidies to low and middle-income households to achieve a "virtually zero tax rate." The policy aims to ease financial burden on citizens but may further strain Japan's already deteriorating fiscal situation.
Toyota Motor Corporation released its latest sales data showing a decline in both global production and sales for the first half of the year, marking the first such drop in two years. The decline is attributed to geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East and sluggish sales in the Chinese market. Despite strong demand in North America and Japan, these markets could not offset the losses in China.
The Federal Reserve's FOMC decided on the 29th to maintain the federal funds rate target at 3.5%-3.75%, though three policymakers advocated for a 25-basis-point increase. The decision was characterized as a hawkish hold, reflecting elevated internal hawkish sentiment without action. Markets questioned Chair Powell's inflation-fighting commitment, driving long-term Treasury yields significantly higher.
South Korea's financial regulators held an emergency meeting on the 29th, deciding to limit individual investments in single-stock leveraged ETFs and increase trading costs. The short-selling ban, lifted last year, may be reinstated. The Korea Exchange has assessed the technical feasibility of temporarily prohibiting short sales and is reviewing the possibility of narrowing the current 30% daily trading limits to stabilize the market.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell stated commitment to controlling inflation but refrained from raising interest rates immediately, prompting market concerns about policy resolve. The 30-year Treasury yield surged 14 basis points to 5.23%, reaching its highest level since 2007. Market reaction indicates investor confidence in the Fed's inflation-fighting capability has weakened, suggesting verbal commitments alone are insufficient to address persistent inflation pressures.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell's latest meeting signals a hawkish hold stance, with tough rhetoric but no corresponding action. Analysts warn that the central bank's contradictory guidance on interest rate outlook could disrupt stock and bond markets, increasing market volatility risk. Investors are advised to remain cautious amid this uncertainty.
US stocks surged on March 30 following Microsoft's better-than-expected earnings report and easing concerns about AI investment. Tech stocks rallied broadly, lifting Taiwan stock index futures to gain over 1,100 points and reclaim the 41,000-point level. Market participants anticipate whether Taiwan stocks will sustain momentum on March 31.
According to reports, TSMC is collaborating with Taiwan substrate manufacturer Unimicron Electronics to develop an advanced packaging solution internally called "EMIB-like technology," targeting parity with Intel's EMIB approach. The technology has undergone preliminary discussions with select customers but remains in early stages without a clear mass production timeline. As AI chip demand surges, advanced packaging has become a critical industry bottleneck, with TSMC's existing CoWoS platform facing capacity constraints.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon stated that while consumer demand for smartphones remains strong, rising memory prices and tight supply are driving up manufacturing costs and hindering market growth. He noted that manufacturers may face margin pressure, with some costs potentially passed to consumers, forecasting the overall market will remain sluggish in the near term.
Qualcomm's current quarter revenue outlook fell short of expectations due to weak smartphone market demand. Meanwhile, Arm reported better-than-expected financial results and guidance, though growth in mobile-related royalties slowed, reflecting broader industry challenges.
According to Japanese media reports citing multiple sources, SpaceX under Elon Musk's leadership is building a dual supply chain system. One supply chain serves the Chinese mainland market, while another operates outside mainland China for other markets. This approach ensures that changes in the Chinese market will not affect the company's overall operations or supply chain security, protecting technology critical to U.S. national security.
NextEra Energy, the largest U.S. power company, is partnering with Brookfield Asset Management to construct a $100 billion artificial intelligence data center on a former uranium enrichment facility site in Kentucky. The project includes an attached natural gas power plant and is expected to be completed by 2032, supporting 1.8GW of power generation capacity and over 1.2GW of computing power.
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has obtained approval from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to commercially deploy fully driverless robotaxis without steering wheels or brake pedals, marking the first such authorization in the U.S. ridesharing industry. Zoox plans to launch paid services in Las Vegas first, then expand to other markets pending state compliance. This decision signals that purpose-built autonomous vehicles no longer need to fully comply with safety standards designed for human-driven vehicles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US Central Command Chief Kobber has proposed an intensified bombing campaign against Iran lasting 10-14 days, aimed at degrading Iran's missile retaliation capabilities. The plan was discussed by President Trump with Defense Secretary Hagerty and Joint Chiefs Chairman Kane. However, experts warn the operation would significantly escalate regional tensions in the Middle East.
Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang announced plans to petition the Constitutional Court in early August to dissolve the China Unification Promotion Party, led by Chang An-le. The party faces charges under the National Security Act and attempted murder, with allegations of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party to establish organizations, conduct cognitive warfare, infiltrate grassroots levels, and introduce Chinese capital into elections, posing serious threats to national security.
Chen Li-ming, a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company engineer, was convicted of stealing advanced chip manufacturing secrets including 2-nanometer and 14-angstrom processes after joining Tokyo-based company. He conspired with three TSMC engineers: Wu Bing-jun, Ge Yi-ping, and Chen Wei-jie. The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court sentenced Chen to 10 years, Chen Wei-jie to 6 years, Wu Bing-jun to 3 years, and Ge Yi-ping to 2 years under national security laws. The verdict is final.
Taiwan's Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang announced plans to petition the Constitutional Court for dissolution of the China Unification Promotion Party. The Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that 141 party members have been involved in 98 organized crime cases since 2010, including attempted murder and drug offenses. The ministry cited evidence of bribery, cross-border suppression, and coordination with Chinese Communist Party united front operations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian military forces attacked a Ukrainian village using North Korean missiles, resulting in the deaths of five family members. The incident highlights the involvement of third-party military support in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ongoing military exchanges between the United States and Iran are intensifying, with conflict spreading to other Middle Eastern regions. International oil prices have surged amid geopolitical concerns. Brent crude closed above $90 per barrel on the 29th, marking the first time this week, and briefly reached $93.3 per barrel during Asian trading on the 30th before gains moderated.
Kumamoto Prefecture experienced a maximum magnitude 7 earthquake on the 28th, causing significant damage. The Japan Meteorological Agency warns residents to remain alert for similar magnitude 7 earthquakes over the next week. Additionally, Kumamoto is expected to face extreme heat on the 31st, and residents are advised to take precautions against heat stroke.
Kumamoto Prefecture announced on the 30th that 34 people have died in the recent earthquake, including cases still under investigation. The figure was released during a disaster countermeasures headquarters meeting and represents the official death toll count by the prefecture.
The US military struck dozens of Iranian military command centers and facilities, while Iran retaliated with attacks on American forces stationed in the Middle East. The tit-for-tat strikes raise concerns about further escalation in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Thursday that Russia used a North Korean missile to strike a village, killing five members of the same family. This marks the first deployment of such weapons in the Ukraine war in nearly a year. Military sources indicate that while Russia has previously used North Korean missiles, this recent deployment since August suggests Moscow has access to fresh weapon stocks for intensified missile attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Trump met at the White House to discuss multiple approaches to curbing Iran's nuclear program, including diplomacy, economic pressure, and military options. Israeli officials stated that while Israel favors further military action, it will defer to Trump's decision. Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel will respond forcefully if Iran attacks Israeli territory.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell stated commitment to controlling inflation but refrained from raising interest rates immediately, prompting market concerns about policy resolve. The 30-year Treasury yield surged 14 basis points to 5.23%, reaching its highest level since 2007. Market reaction indicates investor confidence in the Fed's inflation-fighting capability has weakened, suggesting verbal commitments alone are insufficient to address persistent inflation pressures.
Amazon reported Q2 2026 earnings with revenue of $200.61 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $196.47 billion. Net income reached $62.6 billion, up over 243% year-over-year, with EPS of $5.75 versus expected $1.82. AWS revenue achieved its fastest growth rate since 2021, driven by strong performance in cloud computing, advertising, and AI businesses. Stock surged over 9% in after-hours trading.
Global mergers and acquisitions reached a record $2.8 trillion in the first half of 2024, driven by intense competition for artificial intelligence leadership. Companies across technology and traditional industries are actively pursuing strategic acquisitions to strengthen their AI capabilities and competitive positioning in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Taiwan's Mental Health Law takes effect August 1st, transferring involuntary hospitalization decisions from administrative review boards to courts under the judicial reserve principle. The reform introduces expert panel adjudication combining judges, psychiatrists, and patient advocates. Seven family courts designated to handle cases within 14-30 days. The reform aims to balance patient rights protection with medical expertise and community safety.