Taiwan's stock market fell as much as 3,737 points in early trading today, the largest intraday point drop on record. The market closed down 1,873 points, the fourth-largest closing point decline in its history.
Taiwan's stock market fell more than 3,700 points intraday today, nearly 9%, with the index touching a low of 37,837 points, the largest intraday point drop on record. Japan's Nikkei fell more than 3,200 points intraday, South Korean shares dropped over 8% and triggered a circuit breaker, and Asian markets broadly declined. The New Taiwan dollar weakened past 33. President Lai Ching-te urged the public not to panic, and Premier Cho Jung-tai said the Financial Supervisory Commission has been ordered to draft measures to stabilize the market.
Following sharp losses in major US stock indexes, Taiwan's stock market opened down nearly 3,800 points on the 6th, and TSMC briefly fell to its daily limit-down. Premier Zhuo Rongtai instructed the Financial Supervisory Commission to closely monitor market movements. Ruan Qinghua, deputy minister of the Ministry of Finance and executive secretary of the National Stabilization Fund, said Taiwan's economic fundamentals remain sound and that the fund's committee may convene an interim meeting to discuss buying shares if market confidence collapses.
Taiwan's High Prosecutors Office has indicted independent legislator Kao Chin Su-mei and her office director, Chang, on charges including violating the National Security Act, seeking prison terms of 14 and 15 years respectively. Two assistants, who are in detention, were also indicted. Prosecutors allege that Kao, under instructions from Chinese Communist Party officials, set up a development organization for a Chinese public agency and used legislative proposals on arms purchases, cross-strait affairs, foreign affairs and defense to influence legislative proceedings.
After meeting with his national security adviser on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the midterm elections are over and he will soon decide whether to resume full-scale military operations against Iran. According to Axios, Trump is weighing three options: renewed airstrikes, continued economic pressure, or major concessions to Iran in exchange for a deal.
Bloomberg, citing a diplomat familiar with the talks, reported that Iran is studying a nuclear proposal from Qatar, the main mediator, and is showing willingness to discuss an issue it previously avoided. US-Iran negotiations have been deadlocked since a temporary peace agreement reached in June collapsed, and the nuclear issue is back on the table as a possible opening to end the war. Qatar's royal office said US President Donald Trump recently spoke with Emir Tamim about how Qatar could help bridge differences between the two sides. Qatari officials have also shuttled between Doha and Tehran several times ahead of the US midterm elections this week.
Macau's first national security law case reached a verdict, with former pro-democracy legislator Ou Jinxin sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for violating the law. Earlier, Huang Zhifeng, secretary-general of Hong Kong's Demosisto, was sentenced to 10 years under the same law. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council expressed deep regret and concern that the basic human rights of Macau residents may be further restricted.
In response to Papua New Guinea's government again unilaterally pushing for the closure of Taiwan's office, Taiwan's government, citing national dignity, diplomatic autonomy and overall national interests, has decided to proactively close its representative office in Papua New Guinea, withdraw all posted personnel, and comprehensively review and adjust bilateral cooperation.
After Republican losses in the U.S. midterm elections, how the Iran war will end has become a pressing challenge for the Trump administration. Trump acknowledged that the war raised oil prices and hurt the party's electoral prospects, but said deploying troops was necessary. Defense Secretary Hegseth has defended the operation, and reports suggest his position may change. Secretary of State Rubio was reported to be considering resignation; he denied this and denied running in the 2028 presidential election. Democrats are preparing congressional leadership changes, and Liu Yunping is expected to become chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
The Legislative Yuan on the 6th approved raising the old-age farmer welfare allowance to NT$15,000 per month, with support from KMT and TPP legislators. The Executive Yuan said the opposition version was not coordinated with it. Compared with the Executive Yuan's proposed NT$10,000, the higher amount would add about NT$32 billion in spending, exceeding current budget capacity and squeezing other agricultural programs. The Executive Yuan said it will respond through legal and constitutional means.
The Legislative Yuan passed an amendment to Article 22 of the Elderly Welfare Act in three readings, and the Executive Yuan decided today not to countersign it. The Executive Yuan said the amendment has three problems: it removes some medical subsidy legal basis, leaving a gap in healthcare coverage for economically disadvantaged elderly; it adds huge fiscal burdens, violating intergenerational justice; and it infringes on the Executive Yuan's constitutional power to formulate policy plans and propose budgets, violating the principle of separation of powers.
Taiwan's High Prosecutors Office has indicted independent legislator Kao Chin Su-mei and her office director, Chang, on charges including violating the National Security Act, seeking prison terms of 14 and 15 years respectively. Two assistants, who are in detention, were also indicted. Prosecutors allege that Kao, under instructions from Chinese Communist Party officials, set up a development organization for a Chinese public agency and used legislative proposals on arms purchases, cross-strait affairs, foreign affairs and defense to influence legislative proceedings.
Taiwan's High Prosecutors Office concluded its investigation on the 6th and indicted Legislator Gao Jinsumei, Zhang Junjie and two others. Prosecutors allege that the group, known as the "Ancestral Spirit Homeland Team," received more than NT$170 million in funds from Chinese Communist Party sources and sought to develop an espionage network in Taiwan. The charges include violating the National Security Act and the Anti-Corruption Act. Prosecutors are seeking 14 years in prison for Gao and 15 years for Zhang.
After meeting with his national security adviser on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the midterm elections are over and he will soon decide whether to resume full-scale military operations against Iran. According to Axios, Trump is weighing three options: renewed airstrikes, continued economic pressure, or major concessions to Iran in exchange for a deal.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña announced his resignation on the 5th in a social media post, saying the decision was made in consideration of national stability, social peace and the functioning of public institutions. The move follows the collapse of Banco Ueno, a privately owned major bank that authorities have closed and placed into resolution and liquidation proceedings. Thousands of depositors are unable to access their funds.
The Democratic Party won a decisive victory in the United States midterm elections, prompting market concern that data center construction could face stricter regulation. The worry weighed on the outlook for artificial intelligence investment, pushing down global AI and semiconductor stocks and wiping out 115 trillion yuan in global stock market value in a single day.
After a sharp sell-off in US stocks, Taiwan's stock market plunged 3,737 points at one point during morning trading and closed down 1,873 points at 39,702, the fourth-largest point drop in its history. The Executive Yuan said it had held multiple meetings over two consecutive days. The National Stabilization Fund Management Committee resolved to authorize its executive secretary to carry out market stabilization measures as market conditions warrant.
Micron is reportedly considering pausing its 4.5 billion US dollar expansion plan in Taoyuan due to unresolved labor disputes, according to Bloomberg. Today, Micron and the Taoyuan union held their third round of negotiations, attended by Taoyuan Mayor Chang Shan-cheng. Micron will develop an employee bonus calculation system in line with union demands, expected to go live next week. The fourth negotiation session is tentatively scheduled for November 17.
Democrats captured control of both chambers of Congress in the U.S. midterm elections, prompting market concerns that Elon Musk could face a new wave of congressional investigations. Tesla and SpaceX could also face stricter regulation. Shares of both companies fell sharply on Thursday, wiping out a combined $456 billion in market value, roughly NT$14.93 trillion.
Democrats won a decisive victory in the U.S. midterm elections, raising market concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) regulation could tighten. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 5.5% on the 5th, with market value shrinking by NT$82 trillion in a single day.
Taiwan's stock market fell as much as 3,737 points in early trading today, the largest intraday point drop on record. The market closed down 1,873 points, the fourth-largest closing point decline in its history.
Taiwan's stock market fell more than 3,700 points intraday today, nearly 9%, with the index touching a low of 37,837 points, the largest intraday point drop on record. Japan's Nikkei fell more than 3,200 points intraday, South Korean shares dropped over 8% and triggered a circuit breaker, and Asian markets broadly declined. The New Taiwan dollar weakened past 33. President Lai Ching-te urged the public not to panic, and Premier Cho Jung-tai said the Financial Supervisory Commission has been ordered to draft measures to stabilize the market.
Following sharp losses in major US stock indexes, Taiwan's stock market opened down nearly 3,800 points on the 6th, and TSMC briefly fell to its daily limit-down. Premier Zhuo Rongtai instructed the Financial Supervisory Commission to closely monitor market movements. Ruan Qinghua, deputy minister of the Ministry of Finance and executive secretary of the National Stabilization Fund, said Taiwan's economic fundamentals remain sound and that the fund's committee may convene an interim meeting to discuss buying shares if market confidence collapses.
AI stocks in the United States sold off sharply, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index falling 12%. Taiwan's stock index fell more than 3,700 points in early trading at one point, breaking below its annual moving average. Premier Cho Jung-tai said he had instructed the Financial Supervisory Commission to closely monitor domestic and international stock markets and take measures as needed to stabilize the market and help it return to normal.
Taiwan's weighted index fell sharply at the open on the 6th, dropping below 40,000 to a low of 37,837.05 points, down 3,737.67 points and below its annual moving average. The chipmaker opened at its limit-down price of NT$2,020, and margin calls triggered forced selling. More than 240 listed stocks hit their daily limit-down. The market has now closed lower for six straight sessions, losing a cumulative 5,460.86 points, after heavy losses on US stocks and a circuit breaker triggered in South Korea.
According to people familiar with the matter cited by foreign media, Nvidia has approached Apollo Global Management about converting more than 130 older telecom buildings owned by Brightspeed, a financially strained broadband provider, across 20 U.S. states into small AI data centers. Installing servers in existing buildings could reduce the lengthy permitting required for new construction, though cooling systems still need some local approvals. The move comes as several newly elected governors, including in Texas, have called for pausing new data center construction or adopting stricter rules.
At Phison's investor conference, CEO Pan Jian-cheng said AI ecosystem business accounted for 65% of October revenue, and enterprise SSD demand is expected to keep growing next year. He said sustaining gross margins above 60% over the long term is unreasonable as low-priced inventory is worked off; maintaining above 50% in coming quarters would be good, with growth in absolute revenue more important. Phison's October consolidated revenue was NT$31.53 billion, up 346% year over year; cumulative revenue for the first ten months reached NT$226.46 billion, up 298%.
Phison held an investor briefing hosted by CEO Pua Khein-seng to announce its third-quarter financial results and future strategy. Driven by strong demand related to AI, the company reported record third-quarter revenue. Pua said Phison will actively expand its AI ecosystem and in-house platforms.
The Information reported, citing two sources, that Nvidia has approached private equity firm Apollo Global Management about using more than 130 buildings owned by its Brightspeed unit to build a distributed network of small AI data centers across up to 20 U.S. states, with about 1 gigawatt of usable power. The report said the approach aims to avoid regulatory resistance facing new data center construction.
Markets fear a slowdown in US data center construction after the midterm elections, dragging down global tech stocks. In a CNBC interview on the 5th, Arm CEO Rene Haas said that if some states raise barriers to data center construction, other states could take over. If the US slows overall, other countries are ready to push ahead. He said global computing demand remains huge, China has not slowed, and Western investment will continue. Arm expects its data center business to surpass its smartphone business.
Reuters, citing two people with knowledge of the matter, reported that Nvidia has about 600,000 advanced AI graphics processing units, the H200, stored in Hong Kong awaiting shipment to mainland China. Despite demand from Chinese technology companies, Beijing has not yet approved large-scale imports.
National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen recently said a large new park will emerge in Tainan next year, hinting that a 1-nanometer wafer fab could be located there. The Shalun park aims to complete its second-stage environmental impact assessment by mid-next year to support TSMC's 1-nanometer plans.
Google, Meta and TikTok each filed lawsuits on the 5th, seeking to stop California from enforcing a new law on teenagers' use of social media. The companies argue the law infringes on freedom of speech.
Google announced it will invest $15 billion in Malaysia between 2027 and 2028 to build a data center campus and develop clean energy and water infrastructure. The investment is intended to support its services and the country's digital innovation.
Apple's new chief executive took office about two months ago, and the company has now launched its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. Strong demand has pushed Apple's shares higher, but supply chain bottlenecks, surging memory costs and lagging AI development are drawing attention. In his first earnings call as CEO on Monday, he expressed confidence but left many questions to the chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Apple said both executives will regularly join earnings calls going forward.
Japan's government held a ministerial meeting on cybersecurity today in response to a series of recent unauthorized access incidents. It formulated an emergency countermeasures plan that calls for a cyber rescue team made up of public and private sector professionals.
Japanese mobile carrier NTT Docomo confirmed on November 4 that its online store and My docomo service were accessed without authorization by a third party. The company said up to 300,000 user records, including phone numbers, may have been leaked. Around 1:05 a.m. on November 5, Docomo suspended procedures on the online store and My docomo to prevent further damage and investigate.
OpenAI on Thursday (November 5) released GPT-6 Cyber, an AI model developed for cybersecurity research. The model has identified 81 previously unknown high-risk vulnerabilities in the Firefox browser and developed working attack programs targeting 948 vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel.
The OpenSSH development team released an urgent update, version 10.6p2, on November 5. It patches SSHole (CVE-2026-123158), an authentication bypass vulnerability that can be exploited through long passwords. The flaw stems from how OpenSSH and the musl C library handle password verification, and it has drawn high attention in the security community.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance was recently hacked, and crypto assets worth billions of dollars were stolen.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has outlined four preparedness priorities for strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure. CISA urges operators to plan in advance for responding to and recovering from disruptions to essential services, in addition to defending against cyberattacks, in order to reduce the operational impact of cybersecurity incidents and other disruptions.
The UK Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (IPCO) has revealed that Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the UK intelligence agency, has for years been tracking the whereabouts of its internal removable storage media. It estimates that thousands of devices remain unaccounted for, and some may contain data related to intelligence surveillance and investigative activities.
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued an assessment of AI-enabled cyber intrusion threats, concluding that attackers are highly likely to use AI-driven malware to launch ransomware attacks on UK critical infrastructure by 2028. The NCSC said AI could help attackers find and exploit system vulnerabilities more quickly, increasing the scale and speed of cyberattacks. Even if they lose an existing entry point, attackers may find other intrusion routes at lower cost. The agency noted that AI does not necessarily introduce entirely new attack methods, but could make existing cyberattacks more efficient.
Kaohsiung City Criminal Investigation Brigade arrested a suspect who allegedly used AI generation tools to hack private and government websites, stealing more than 230,000 personal data records. The suspect allegedly sold the data to overseas buyers on the dark web, with illicit proceeds exceeding NT$2.7 million. Police have referred the suspect to prosecutors under the Computer Crime Act for obstructing computer use.
Taiwanese e-commerce service providers 1shop, Cyberbiz, meepShop and ERP provider Mo Bi Ke Technology have reported security incidents or concerns, following a breach at 91APP. Some customers' orders and personal data may be affected. Separately, Yongfeng Bank said abnormal transfers from customer accounts were caused by hackers exploiting a security configuration flaw in the system of its online banking transaction provider.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from the Portugal national team, ending a 23-year international career. The 41-year-old posted a farewell video on social media and returned his No. 7 shirt, which symbolizes his legacy. According to reports, the decision followed a serious dispute he had recently with the national team's head coach.
Chen Minxin, a 17-year-old Taiwanese table tennis player, faced Singapore's Li Mingying in the women's singles final at the Youth Olympic Games on the 5th, local time. After a six-game battle, Chen won 4-2, securing Taiwan's first-ever Youth Olympic table tennis gold medal.
Iran said three more tankers were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, indicating that shipping would remain at risk as long as the war continues.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña resigned on Thursday as calls for his removal grew following the collapse of digital lender Ueno, which left millions of customers unable to access their accounts. In a video-recorded address, Peña said he was acting with the stability of the country, social peace and the need to preserve democratic institutions in mind. Peña, an ally of US President Donald Trump, stepped down after the opposition called an extraordinary session.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards and army said in separate statements that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, according to local media on Thursday. Since the Iran war broke out in late February, Tehran has severely restricted traffic through the strategic waterway, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption. Iran regularly attacks ships it accuses of transiting without authorization, and the United States military has responded by imposing restrictions.
A High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, on Friday sentenced Pastor Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, to 200 years in prison. He was convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult, 191 people in total. The cult is linked to the deaths of more than 400 people. Justice Diana Kavedza said Mackenzie bore the primary responsibility.
A joint task force targeting bid rigging in building maintenance works carried out its first operation, dismantling a bid-rigging syndicate and arresting 28 people, including directors and staff of contractors, consultancy firms and property management companies. The Independent Commission Against Corruption said members are suspected of using corruption to help contractors win maintenance contracts, while the Competition Commission said the group is suspected of bid rigging, price fixing and exchanging sensitive information. Security Bureau director Deng Bingqiang said further operations will follow.
Governor Newsom announced Thursday that, before his term ends, he will use his constitutional clemency power to commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates on California's death row to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The move clears the largest death row in the United States and the Western Hemisphere and is the largest death penalty commutation in modern U.S. history.
Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel. Traders are weighing renewed security threats to Middle Eastern oil shipments.
China's top legislature passed the Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law on Friday, at the close of the 25th session of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee. The law took effect immediately, according to Xinhua. It establishes formal mechanisms to pursue illicit offshore assets and to counter foreign attempts to investigate wrongdoing in China.
Regional negotiators, led by Qatar, have stepped up efforts to broker an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Bank of England policymakers said that after months of high energy prices, inflation pressure is expected to build in the coming period, which they said required a rate rise now.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a video message on Thursday vowing to fight efforts in Congress to impeach him. In the message, he defended the Iran war, calling it "courageous and…"
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney presented his second budget since taking office to parliament on Thursday. The budget calls for "economic independence" and says reducing reliance on the United States will take time, but "the shift is under way." The budget was tabled two days after President Donald Trump suffered a sweeping defeat in the US midterm elections.
The Macau Court of First Instance handed down a first-instance verdict this morning in the national security case against former Macau legislator Au Kam-san. He was charged with subversion of state power, conduct endangering national security through contact with organizations, groups or individuals outside the Macau SAR, and breach of confidentiality. The court sentenced him to 12.5 years in prison.
Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official on Thursday (5th), reported that the United States is reviewing a nuclear proposal Iran submitted through Qatar. The official did not disclose the contents of the proposal and said Washington must first meet seven demands set by Tehran before the two sides discuss it.
The Nikkei 225 fell more than 7% following declines in AI-related stocks on Wall Street. Concern is growing over tech investment after the Democratic Party's resounding victory in the U.S. midterm elections.
On February 19, during the Lunar New Year holiday, at Chiayi Station, a man surnamed Chen suspected a man surnamed Zhang of stealing money and belongings. Chen and three other street people attacked Zhang, and Zhang was kicked in the head and died. The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office indicted Chen, a man surnamed Qiu and a woman surnamed Lin for causing death through injury. The court sentenced them to terms ranging from 6 years 8 months to 9 years.
The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) released a report warning that if global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, melting ice and snow could cause large-scale and potentially irreversible impacts. The report cites collapse risks in the Himalayas, shrinking European glaciers and the loss of polar ice sheets. The COP31 climate summit will be held in Turkey next week.
Flights in several European countries have received false alarms this week, and authorities said today that flights in Prague, Czech Republic, and Sofia, Bulgaria, were affected.
The New Taipei City Government invested over NT$100 million to build the Chongyang Laboratory, which Mayor Hou You-yi attended for its opening ceremony today (6th). The 580-ping facility covers four testing fields: chemistry, microbiology, radionuclides, and molecular biology. It introduces AI-based detection and automated processes, which are expected to raise overall testing capacity by 40%, strengthening food safety and infectious disease prevention with scientific data.
The Keelung City Government's Department of Transportation has officially launched a campus-area traffic improvement plan. The plan will survey roads around all elementary schools and kindergartens citywide. Engineering measures include school-zone entrance signage, visual speed-reduction markings, upgraded pedestrian crossings, pedestrian-only signals, and optimized parent pick-up areas, aiming to systematically improve road safety and create safer walking routes for students.
Japanese authorities said a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Tokyo today, and no tsunami warning has been issued.
In Bengaluru, southern India, a 45-year-old taxi driver is suspected of killing his wife and six of her relatives over two days, reportedly amid long-running marital discord. The victims' bodies were dumped at different locations, including that of a 7-year-old boy. The man has been arrested by police.
Opening statements were held in a New York federal court in the case of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who are accused of manipulating pitches to aid gambling. Prosecutors allege the two pitchers tipped off bettors about pitch information in advance to help them profit from wagers. Defense attorneys countered that the scheme was led by a man described as a habitual liar with a gambling addiction, and that the players were exploited.
Fake bomb threats again emerged across Europe today, disrupting at least 27 passenger flights. Some aircraft were forced to make temporary landings, and fighter jets were scrambled to escort or intercept planes.
The New Taipei District Court concluded closing arguments on the 5th in the case of a 25-year-old alternative-service soldier surnamed Wen, who died after being left on a road along Taiwan's Route 64 in January. A taxi driver surnamed Lin, accused of dropping off the intoxicated man in the early hours of January 25, admitted telling police that Wen had got out of the car himself, but denied abandonment causing death. Prosecutors seek 11 years under the abandonment-causing-death charge. The victim's family believes Lin intentionally killed Wen and seeks a life sentence. The verdict is scheduled for 4 p.m. on the 6th.