25 received, 25 listed, 2 sources
One place for news and notices from 2 countries/regions: Taiwan, 16 items from 1 source; Japan, 9 items from 1 source.
One edition every 180 minutes: every item from every source received in the period, with the original link.
Israel launched large-scale airstrikes on Lebanon, and reports say Iran may stop oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s prime minister had said Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement, but the Israeli military said it would continue attacking Hezbollah.
Companies mentioned：CNN
Signs of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran improved market sentiment, sending European stocks surging and oil prices plunging. Major stock indexes in London, Frankfurt and Paris rose sharply.
Israel launched a large-scale attack on Lebanon, killing 89 people. Iran views the move as a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. Iran’s foreign ministry and the Revolutionary Guard warned that if Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon, Iran will withdraw from the ceasefire and retaliate. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged all countries to abide by the ceasefire agreement, while Israel insisted that Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire.
Israel launched its largest airstrikes on Lebanon since the war began, targeting Hezbollah positions and killing dozens and wounding hundreds. Despite a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, Israel’s prime minister said the agreement does not apply to Lebanon and the conflict will continue.
The Executive Yuan announced at a meeting of its price stabilization task force that it had applied a minimum-price principle and a special stabilization mechanism to domestic gasoline and diesel prices in response to soaring oil and gas prices amid tensions in the Middle East. Cheng Li-chun said measures including extended tax cuts and exemptions on raw materials, holding natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas prices steady, freezing electricity rates, holding public transit fares steady and freezing fertilizer prices helped bring the year-on-year CPI increase in the first quarter to 1.23%, below the forecast of 1.38%. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said increased production of ethylene and polyethylene was sufficient to meet domestic demand, and that it was also promoting a price-stabilized plastic bag program. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Economic Affairs are helping medical-device and pharmaceutical companies secure raw materials, with a plan to allocate NT$20 billion from the National Health Insurance Fund's reserve to cover increases in raw-material costs. The joint price inspection task force conducted 1376 inspections and will step up investigations, particularly into imbalances in the supply and demand of plastic products.
Swiss media outlet Swiss Look at the World broadcast interviews with Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung and National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan, reporting that Taiwan is building trust with the international community through practical cooperation rather than confrontation in the face of Chinese aggression. Wu emphasized that Taiwan is rarely mentioned officially on the international stage because of China's opposition, but that it engages in multilateral cooperation in areas including public health, science and technology, and supply-chain security. Taiwan has drawn 3 lessons from the war in Ukraine: never underestimate a major power, self-defense can succeed even under difficult circumstances, and preparations should be made before war breaks out. Taiwan is investing in asymmetric capabilities, drones, AI technology and air-defense systems. Lin said the only way to avoid war is to be prepared, and that public morale and social resilience are as important as military preparedness. Taiwan controls about 60% of the world's chip supply and holds a strategic position in U.S.-China competition. China is attacking Taiwan not through direct war but through “infiltration,” with social media being used in particular to influence young people, the report said.
Special envoy Lin Chia-lung visited the Marshall Islands from the 7th to the 9th, leading a trade delegation made up of government agency and industry representatives. He said he hoped to deepen bilateral ties through trade and investment by implementing the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which takes effect in January 2025. Lin announced that Taiwan would contribute an additional US$1 million to the Women's Entrepreneurship Fund to help strengthen the lending system for local women entrepreneurs. The Marshall Islands described Taiwan as a “reliable development partner” and said it looked forward to cooperation in fisheries, smart aquaculture, tourism, handicrafts and renewable energy.
In the TPBL basketball game, the Hsinchu Lioneers were led by Kao Kuo-hao, who scored a team-high 26 points, to beat the CTBC DEA by 17 points and claim 3 straight wins.
Companies mentioned：攻城獅 (New Taipei Kings)、特攻 (Taoyuan Pauian Arans)
A student was involved in a live-fire shooting accident at 台灣警察專科學校. The student was taken to hospital and was not seriously injured. The school will strengthen training and safety measures and provide psychological counseling.
Companies mentioned：台灣警察專科學校
Original芬蘭教師工會（OAJ）在美托波利亞的4個校區發動一日罷工，涉及約1萬9000名學生和1170名員工。罷工起因於國際學程擴張導致教學資源不足及薪資加給爭議。雇主代表機構「芬蘭教育文化產業聯合會」認定罷工違法，並已向勞動法院提告。教師工會已對多所大學發出罷工通知，並宣布對全芬蘭科大實施「延長禁令」至新協約談妥。
The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) announced that it imposed a total of NT$22.38 million in fines in the first quarter of this year, a sharp 63% decline from the same period last year. Both the number of cases and the total amount of fines fell.
Companies mentioned：街口電子支付、統振公司、第一銀行、台北富邦商業銀行、新光人壽、國泰產險、中央再保險公司、宏泰人壽、華南永昌證券、致和證券、美好證券
The United States and Iran agreed to a 2-week ceasefire, and the Pentagon declared an overwhelming victory over Iran. At a news conference, Hegseth said the United States had won the war with Iran and destroyed most of its military. He stressed that Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming battlefield victory that had thoroughly destroyed Iran's defense industrial base. He also acknowledged, however, that Iran retained the ability to launch missiles. The ceasefire terms also include the removal of nuclear material that Iran should not possess.
Taiwan Lottery announced the results of Daily Cash 539 Draw No. 115087, with 1 jackpot-winning ticket. The winning number for the 3-Star lottery drawn the same day was 352, with 64 winning tickets, each receiving NT$5,000. The winning number for the 4-Star lottery was 0038, with 11 winning tickets, each receiving NT$50,000. Taiwan Lottery reminded players that the official winning numbers and prize payouts are subject to its final announcement.
Taiwan’s Railway Bureau unveiled a carbon-reduction blueprint, aiming to cut emissions by 50% by 2050 and turn 16 new stations into net-zero smart stations.
An Iranian official said the Strait of Hormuz may be opened on a limited basis under Iran’s control if US-Iran negotiations go well, with vessel passage requiring coordination.
After the US and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, major Wall Street indexes opened higher and surged in early trading, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and 那斯達克指數 posting significant gains. Markets expect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to resume, sending crude oil prices lower and airline stocks higher.
Companies mentioned：道瓊工業指數、標準普爾500指數、那斯達克指數
AI task management tool Suit Up is seeking 3 labor and social security attorney offices for a free trial. In exchange for feedback to improve the product, usage fees will be waived through June 2026.
中日新聞社 will release “A Promise,” an autobiography by Koaki Mototsugu, founder of the Ginza kimono store 銀座もとじ, on April 25. The book chronicles how a young man whose dreams had been dashed built a successful store in a prime location in Ginza, and also highlights his contributions to Japanese kimono culture.
Companies mentioned：中日新聞社、銀座もとじ、東京新聞
Kirin Brewery will launch a nationwide rollout of its new TV commercial, “The Two of Us, Honestly,” featuring actor and artist Hayato Sano and actress and model Mizuki Yamashita, on April 14, 2026 (Tuesday), in conjunction with the relaunch of its light, fruity sparkling drink, Kirin Hanayoi. The commercial shows Sano and Yamashita speaking candidly over Hanayoi, conveying their natural rapport. Interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot will also be released on the same day. The new commercial comes in 30-second and 15-second versions, as well as a LONG MOVIE (2 minutes 55 seconds), and features imase's “Utopia.”
Personal training gym BEYOND will open a new location in Nishikoyama on May 1, 2026. It will be the brand's 2nd location in Shinagawa Ward, with more than 170 locations nationwide. To mark the opening, the gym will offer free trial training sessions.
Companies mentioned：ENSENS株式会社
IT company Palette Link held an induction ceremony and team-building training at a campsite for 9 new employees. The unique initiative, designed to foster initiative and collaboration in an open-ended natural setting, has drawn attention.
Companies mentioned：エナジーアクティブフィールドしらお
Clear-aligner orthodontics provider Oh my teeth has launched “dual whitening” in response to customer demand after orthodontic treatment. Combining in-office whitening at a dental clinic with at-home whitening, the service aims to help customers achieve their ideal white smile.
Companies mentioned：GMOリサーチ&AI社
易控智慧生活科技 provides smart building solutions based on industrial computers. From planning and design through maintenance, the company offers end-to-end services and enhances building value with highly stable, customizable systems.
Companies mentioned：門諾醫院、富宇建設
行雲讀書會 is the official website of a book club based in Taipei, Taiwan. The site appears to provide announcements about activities and related information, and includes technical information about the organization's logo and web design.
BEARBOSS 熊老闆 is a retailer specializing in e-readers and computer backpacks. The website's source code includes CSS style information related to product displays and site design.