Trump–Xi Summit Countdown: US President Donald Trump heads to Beijing for talks with Xi on trade, AI, Iran and Taiwan, with the White House signaling low expectations beyond keeping relations stable while Iran’s ceasefire stays “life support” and the Strait of Hormuz remains a pressure point. Taiwan Security Budget Shock: Taiwan’s legislature cut the equipment budget tied to the porcupine strategy, a move that could weaken deterrence just as US lawmakers push for a $14B arms sale to be formally notified before the summit. AI Supply Chain, Taiwan in the Middle: Taiwan’s AI boom keeps lifting the island’s economy—TSMC’s record Q1 revenue and export surge—while TSMC’s “AI infrastructure monopoly” narrative and Intel’s Apple-foundry deal hype the broader foundry race. Semiconductor Race Signals: China’s wafer push and DeepSeek’s shift to Huawei chips underscore how fast AI compute is diversifying away from Nvidia. Markets & Energy: Oil climbs on US-Iran deadlock, and Asia trades mixed as investors chase AI winners. Local Tech & Health: Vietnam’s Hung Yen province is exploring AI in healthcare, while Taiwan’s ITRI-linked Micro LED smart-glasses work moves closer to reality. Climate Science: Korea’s newly found woody mangroves on Jeju add a visible warning that warming seas are reshaping coastal ecosystems.