A delegation of pro-Taiwan lawmakers from Japan's ruling party, led by Senator Takiha Hirohumi, met with Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress in Washington. Both sides confirmed that Taiwan's security is closely related to the Japan-US alliance. The talks emphasized the importance of maintaining the first island chain, including Taiwan, amid China's upcoming presidential visit to the United States.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced a rate hike of 25 basis points today, marking the first rate increase since 2023. The decision comes amid rising international oil prices driven by Middle East tensions and persistent U.S. inflation pressures. The move reflects the Fed's response to ongoing price pressures in the economy.
The Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate target to 3.75%-4.00% on the 16th, marking its first rate increase since July 2023 under new Chair Kevin Warsh. The Federal Open Market Committee unanimously approved the decision, aligning with market expectations. The latest dot plot indicates most officials expect rates to reach 4%-4.25% by year-end, suggesting one more potential rate hike this year. Markets had already priced in over 90% probability of the increase.
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%, up from 3.50%-3.75%, marking its first rate increase in over three years. The decision aligns with market expectations and represents a significant shift in the Fed's monetary policy stance.
Following the US Supreme Court's February 2026 ruling that invalidated reciprocal tariffs, the Trump administration implemented a new round of tariffs on 60 trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act. Tariff rates range from 10% to 12.5%, with China facing the highest rate at 12.5%, marking a significant shift in US trade policy.
According to foreign media reports, Taiwan and US military are advancing an unmanned drone defense concept to increase the cost of military aggression and buy time for US military support. Taiwan's defense technology center has unveiled an augmented reality headset display system for armored vehicles, enabling real-time turret control for precise strikes against adversaries, enhancing domestic defense capabilities.
EU Commission President von der Leyen announced on the 16th her intention to deepen cooperation with Canadian Prime Minister Carney in trade, defense, and energy sectors, inviting Canada to become an EU associate member. US President Trump criticized the move as absurd and warned of imposing high tariffs on Europe and potentially halting trade if deemed hostile.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an exclusive NHK interview on the 16th that North Korea has deployed tens of thousands of troops to participate in Russia's war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy characterized this as a low-cost military training opportunity for North Korea while posing security threats to East Asia. The development highlights deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Rodrigo Duterte, former president of the Philippines, appeared before the International Criminal Court in The Hague on the 16th for the first time, facing charges of crimes against humanity related to extrajudicial killings during his drug war campaign. The 81-year-old made his first public appearance since his arrest in Manila 18 months ago.
The US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman has directed military preparation for combat operations near the moon. The US Air Force secretary confirmed weapons deployment in space, with the Space Force set to double in size within five years. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty only prohibits nuclear and weapons of mass destruction. UN attempts to strengthen regulations in 2024 failed twice, leaving conventional weapons rules in space unclear.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported on the 17th that 15 PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait centerline starting at 8:45 AM, entering Taiwan's southwestern and central airspace. Coordinating with PLA naval vessels under the guise of joint combat readiness patrols, they conducted activities in Taiwan's surrounding air and sea domains. The ROC military maintains close monitoring and appropriate responses.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine stated that the U.S. military must prepare for combat operations not only in Earth orbit but also around the Moon. The U.S. government publicly confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, with potential conflict zones extending into cislunar space.
US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet on the 24th. The discussion is expected to cover tariffs, agricultural products, artificial intelligence, and Iran-related issues, with Taiwan also anticipated as a key negotiation point. China is expected to continue applying pressure on the United States across multiple strategic topics.
A delegation of pro-Taiwan lawmakers from Japan's ruling party, led by Senator Takiha Hirohumi, met with Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress in Washington. Both sides confirmed that Taiwan's security is closely related to the Japan-US alliance. The talks emphasized the importance of maintaining the first island chain, including Taiwan, amid China's upcoming presidential visit to the United States.
To counter China's rapid naval expansion and address domestic shipbuilding capacity constraints, the US Navy and White House are exploring breaking over a century-old tradition by acquiring next-generation frigates designed and built by Japan, South Korea, and Turkey. This reflects concerns about declining US relative advantage in the Asia-Pacific region and the need for international cooperation to strengthen naval capabilities.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated on the 14th that chips may become unable to be shipped from Taiwan to the US in the future, potentially disrupting Tesla and SpaceX's AI, robotics, and automotive operations. He noted that existing foundry capacity may be insufficient for rapid AI expansion, prompting Tesla and SpaceX to build their own large-scale chip manufacturing facility, Terafab, to ensure stable chip supply amid geopolitical uncertainties.
The U.S. Federal Reserve unanimously approved a 25-basis-point rate hike on the 16th, raising the federal funds rate to 3.75%-4%, marking the first increase in over three years. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh emphasized that U.S. inflation remains too high and defended the central bank's independence against market expectations and White House pressure for rate cuts. President Trump subsequently called for lower rates.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points on the 16th, bringing the federal funds rate target range to 3.75%-4%, marking the first rate hike since July 2023. The Dow Jones fell over 630 points to its lowest level since June 12, while the S&P 500 declined 0.45% to its lowest close since July 31. Fed Chair Powell reiterated the commitment to fighting inflation and hinted at possible additional rate increases this year, raising market concerns about future tightening measures.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced a rate hike of 25 basis points today, marking the first rate increase since 2023. The decision comes amid rising international oil prices driven by Middle East tensions and persistent U.S. inflation pressures. The move reflects the Fed's response to ongoing price pressures in the economy.
The U.S. Federal Reserve unanimously voted to raise the federal funds rate target range to 3.75%-4% on the 16th, marking the first rate hike since July 2023. Chair Powell emphasized in a press conference that inflation remains elevated and recent data has not demonstrated sufficient progress toward the 2% target. The dot plot indicates most officials expect one more rate increase this year, though Powell declined to specify timing, preserving options for further action.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced on December 16 a 25 basis point rate increase, bringing the federal funds rate to 3.75%-4%, marking the first hike since July 2023 and meeting market expectations. Fed Chair Powell resisted pressure from President Trump to cut rates, a decision that may strain their relationship.
The Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate target to 3.75%-4.00% on the 16th, marking its first rate increase since July 2023 under new Chair Kevin Warsh. The Federal Open Market Committee unanimously approved the decision, aligning with market expectations. The latest dot plot indicates most officials expect rates to reach 4%-4.25% by year-end, suggesting one more potential rate hike this year. Markets had already priced in over 90% probability of the increase.
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%, up from 3.50%-3.75%, marking its first rate increase in over three years. The decision aligns with market expectations and represents a significant shift in the Fed's monetary policy stance.
Following the US Supreme Court's February 2026 ruling that invalidated reciprocal tariffs, the Trump administration implemented a new round of tariffs on 60 trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act. Tariff rates range from 10% to 12.5%, with China facing the highest rate at 12.5%, marking a significant shift in US trade policy.
Taiwan's Taipei District Prosecutors Office busted a fraud scheme involving Ansheng Wealth and Ansheng Capital. Since 2018, the companies held briefings promoting overseas real estate, artwork, green energy, and Japanese wagyu investments with promised annual returns up to 62%. The scheme defrauded over 200 people, accumulating over 600 million NTD in illicit funds over eight years. Prosecutors sought detention of executives Tu Chia-hui and Lin Chieh-fu with travel restrictions; four other employees were released on bail ranging from 300,000 to 2 million NTD.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated at the UK AI summit that the company's chip sales next year will double compared to this year. He emphasized that AI safety is critical and that unsafe AI products should be blocked to ensure responsible technology development.
Japanese police in Aichi Prefecture arrested Shoichi Furukawa, a former employee of chemical giant Asahi Kasei, on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act by leaking trade secrets. Asahi Kasei confirmed that semiconductor-related technical secrets were stolen, with the information allegedly flowing to Chinese companies. The case raises national security concerns regarding Japan's critical industrial intellectual property.
Aichi Prefectural Police arrested Shoichi Furukawa, a former employee of Japanese chemical giant Asahi Kasei, on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act by leaking trade secrets. Asahi Kasei alleges the employee stole semiconductor-related technical information. The case involves industrial espionage concerns and potential security implications for Japan's technology sector. Authorities are investigating the extent of information disclosure and identifying additional parties involved.
Japan and the United States are negotiating the construction of a semiconductor factory as part of their 550 billion dollar investment agreement. The project is estimated to cost between 20-30 trillion yen (approximately 12.85-19.27 billion dollars) and will be operated by foundry GlobalFoundries, focusing on logic semiconductors. The plan remains in consultation phase, with details regarding factory scale, location, process technology, and production timeline still to be determined.
A multinational research team led by Academia Sinica discovered that Sepioteuthis lessoniana (squid) exposed to acidified seawater for extended periods maintain normal basic vision but experience impaired visual lobe neurometabolic networks, resulting in brain shrinkage. The study reveals that climate change-driven ocean acidification, caused by increased CO2 absorption, has long-term damaging effects on marine organisms' nervous systems.
Intel's advanced 18A process has achieved approximately 80% yield rate for Panther Lake processor compute chips in Q2 2026, according to industry analysis reports. The chip measures approximately 114.304 square millimeters, with the yield rate indicating stable defect control and electrical performance. While not officially confirmed by Intel, the data suggests the 18A process is advancing toward mature mass production stages.
Asian semiconductor manufacturers are ramping up production to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom, but face a critical talent shortage. To attract workers, companies are expanding recruitment channels, relaxing educational and experience requirements, offering employee referral bonuses, and planning to recruit foreign workers to meet growing workforce demands.
Shane Legg, co-founder of Google DeepMind, disputes claims by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI President Greg Brockman that AGI has arrived. Legg argues that while GPT-6 Astra can perform impressive tasks, it remains unclear whether it possesses the ability to execute most economically valuable cognitive work, making current AGI declarations premature.
AI experts' warnings about development risks have sparked significant industry divisions. Proponents of stronger regulation include Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk from leading AI labs. Opponents of excessive regulation include US President Trump, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, and former White House crypto official David Sacks. The two camps hold opposing positions on AI safety and development strategy.
Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio warned in an interview with Agence France-Presse that humanity is gradually losing control over artificial intelligence. He proposed that the international community should establish regulatory mechanisms similar to nuclear weapons control to mitigate potential risks from AI development.
According to US officials, American government agencies are monitoring cyber threats targeting approximately 20 vessels worldwide. The incident highlights growing cybersecurity risks in maritime transportation. US authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent potential disruptions to shipping operations and address security concerns.
Acronis released a security advisory last week warning of a critical vulnerability in Acronis Backup plugin for cPanel & WHM that is actively being exploited. The company urges users to update immediately to versions 1.9.3 HF3 and 1.9.4 to mitigate the risk. Acronis has not disclosed additional technical details about the vulnerability.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert on September 16, warning that vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Acronis web hosting management platform backup tools are being actively exploited. The agency has confirmed evidence of ongoing attacks targeting these weaknesses, including CVE-2026-76460 affecting Cisco ISE's improper API privilege usage, urging users to implement protective measures immediately.
Google released a security update for Pixel devices on September 15, applying the latest Android operating system patch (security patch level 2026-09-05) and fixing 110 Pixel-specific vulnerabilities. Of these, 63 are classified as critical severity and 46 as high risk. Notably, vulnerability CVE-2026-58704 appears to have been exploited in limited, targeted attacks.
Google released a Pixel device security update on September 15 to patch CVE-2026-58704, a zero-day vulnerability in the modem component. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) subsequently confirmed evidence of active exploitation and added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring federal agencies to implement protective measures.
The Spanish government announced this week its first reported case of a company experiencing personal data leakage due to an attack involving an AI agent powered by a well-known large language model. The incident highlights emerging security risks associated with AI technology and raises concerns about safeguarding AI agents against malicious attacks.
A critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-5430) in WSO2's enterprise software allows attackers to bypass authentication using forged JSON Web Tokens. Security firm watchTowr detected actual exploitation attempts on September 13th. Successful exploitation could lead to account takeover. The flaw affects WSO2's API management product and is rated as Critical severity.
CenterPoint Energy, a utility company serving approximately 7 million customers across four U.S. states, confirmed a security incident where unauthorized third parties accessed customer personal information through an external-facing system. The attackers claimed to have obtained 7.49 million records. The company has initiated an investigation into the breach and is working to address the security vulnerability.
Security firm Huntress disclosed an attack campaign where threat actors exploit Google Docs to trick users into executing ClickFix operations. The malicious documents serve as part of a malware infection chain targeting both Windows and macOS systems, with security researchers among the intended victims.
Five blind perfumers trained by Taiwan's Love of Light Public Welfare Association recently represented Taiwan at a global aesthetic live perfume blending competition held in South Korea. Despite visual impairment, they competed against international perfumers and won double championships by leveraging their acute sense of smell, deep olfactory memory, and rigorous training, demonstrating the professional capability and international competitiveness of Taiwan's persons with disabilities.
Indonesian conservation organizations have launched an initiative encouraging local residents to photograph wildlife instead of hunting them for income. By offering monetary rewards for wildlife photography, the program provides an alternative livelihood while protecting endangered species and promoting sustainable conservation practices in the region.
Taiwan will compete in seven esports events at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games with 33 athletes, making it the second-largest delegation after track and field. The roster includes League of Legends, which earned Taiwan a silver medal at the previous Asian Games. Since most esports lack domestic professional leagues in Taiwan, athletes have been training intensively at Cheng Shiu University since April to enhance their skills and team coordination.
An NBC television helicopter crashed while covering a traffic accident in Los Angeles on the 16th, killing the pilot, a reporter, and a bystander. According to the Associated Press, at least eight news helicopter crashes have occurred across the United States since 2000, resulting in a total of 16 deaths. Television stations frequently use helicopters as reporting tools, and safety risks remain a concern.
Taiwan's delegation of 96 athletes departed today for the Nagoya Asian Games, which opens on the 19th. The team covers eight sports including gymnastics, table tennis, karate, and wushu, representing the largest group sent for this Asian Games.
The NBA Board of Governors announced significant progress on the league's expansion to 32 teams. According to ESPN, Las Vegas and Seattle have emerged as the leading candidates for expansion franchises. The Las Vegas team's valuation is estimated at $10 billion USD, marking a record high for NBA expansion team valuations.
A delegation of pro-Taiwan lawmakers from Japan's ruling party, led by Senator Takiha Hirohumi, met with Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress in Washington. Both sides confirmed that Taiwan's security is closely related to the Japan-US alliance. The talks emphasized the importance of maintaining the first island chain, including Taiwan, amid China's upcoming presidential visit to the United States.
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced a rate hike of 25 basis points today, marking the first rate increase since 2023. The decision comes amid rising international oil prices driven by Middle East tensions and persistent U.S. inflation pressures. The move reflects the Fed's response to ongoing price pressures in the economy.
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in over three years to combat persistent inflation. Amid rising oil prices due to Middle East tensions, U.S. stock markets declined, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 631.21 points, or 1.21%, as all three major indices closed lower.
The Federal Reserve announced a rate increase of 25 basis points today, marking its first rate hike since 2023. Fed Chair Powell stated that elevated U.S. inflation has persisted too long, with maintaining price stability as the primary focus. This move signals a policy shift reflecting the Fed's reassessment of the inflation situation.
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%, up from 3.50%-3.75%, marking its first rate increase in over three years. The decision aligns with market expectations and represents a significant shift in the Fed's monetary policy stance.
Following the US Supreme Court's February 2026 ruling that invalidated reciprocal tariffs, the Trump administration implemented a new round of tariffs on 60 trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act. Tariff rates range from 10% to 12.5%, with China facing the highest rate at 12.5%, marking a significant shift in US trade policy.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points on the 16th, bringing the federal funds rate target range to 3.75%-4%, marking the first rate hike since July 2023. The Dow Jones fell over 630 points to its lowest level since June 12, while the S&P 500 declined 0.45% to its lowest close since July 31. Fed Chair Powell reiterated the commitment to fighting inflation and hinted at possible additional rate increases this year, raising market concerns about future tightening measures.
The Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate target to 3.75%-4.00% on the 16th, marking its first rate increase since July 2023 under new Chair Kevin Warsh. The Federal Open Market Committee unanimously approved the decision, aligning with market expectations. The latest dot plot indicates most officials expect rates to reach 4%-4.25% by year-end, suggesting one more potential rate hike this year. Markets had already priced in over 90% probability of the increase.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine stated that the U.S. military must prepare for combat operations not only in Earth orbit but also around the Moon. The U.S. government publicly confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, with potential conflict zones extending into cislunar space.
A critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-5430) in WSO2's enterprise software allows attackers to bypass authentication using forged JSON Web Tokens. Security firm watchTowr detected actual exploitation attempts on September 13th. Successful exploitation could lead to account takeover. The flaw affects WSO2's API management product and is rated as Critical severity.
The U.S. Federal Reserve unanimously approved a 25-basis-point rate hike on the 16th, raising the federal funds rate to 3.75%-4%, marking the first increase in over three years. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh emphasized that U.S. inflation remains too high and defended the central bank's independence against market expectations and White House pressure for rate cuts. President Trump subsequently called for lower rates.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported on the 17th that 15 PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait centerline starting at 8:45 AM, entering Taiwan's southwestern and central airspace. Coordinating with PLA naval vessels under the guise of joint combat readiness patrols, they conducted activities in Taiwan's surrounding air and sea domains. The ROC military maintains close monitoring and appropriate responses.
Aichi Prefectural Police arrested Shoichi Furukawa, a former employee of Japanese chemical giant Asahi Kasei, on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act by leaking trade secrets. Asahi Kasei alleges the employee stole semiconductor-related technical information. The case involves industrial espionage concerns and potential security implications for Japan's technology sector. Authorities are investigating the extent of information disclosure and identifying additional parties involved.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an exclusive NHK interview on the 16th that North Korea has deployed tens of thousands of troops to participate in Russia's war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy characterized this as a low-cost military training opportunity for North Korea while posing security threats to East Asia. The development highlights deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
The US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman has directed military preparation for combat operations near the moon. The US Air Force secretary confirmed weapons deployment in space, with the Space Force set to double in size within five years. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty only prohibits nuclear and weapons of mass destruction. UN attempts to strengthen regulations in 2024 failed twice, leaving conventional weapons rules in space unclear.
A 38-year-old nurse from Changhua was struck and run over twice by a 30-year-old driver in a Mercedes-Benz on the morning of the 8th while returning home from Taichung Jen Ai Hospital. The driver failed to attend the victim's funeral on the 17th, citing fear of being attacked, prompting the victim's mother and colleagues to express concerns about the justice system's handling of the case.