A flash report compiled by 消防庁 on damage from the Kumamoto earthquake that struck at around 16:27 on July 28, Reiwa 8 (Report No. 66, updated Oct. 5), and the response of fire-fighting agencies and others. A maximum seismic intensity of 7 was observed in Uki City, Hikawa Town and elsewhere in Kumamoto Prefecture. Human casualties were 38 deaths and 376 injured; housing damage was 2,408 completely destroyed, 7,802 half-destroyed and 59,394 partially damaged, for a total of 69,604 buildings. All 11 fires and 64 rescue cases have been dealt with, all evacuation orders have been lifted, and 緊急消防援助隊 have been withdrawn in stages.
Facts
Seismic intensity 7 Kumamoto Prefecture: Uki City, Hikawa Town
Kumamoto Prefecture 38
Total 38 43 333 376
Fires: all 11 fires that had occurred have been extinguished
Rescue: all 64 cases that had occurred have been dealt with
Number of people rescued … total 98
Support teams from within the prefecture assisted the local emergency medical system with a force of about 30 personnel
Representative Katayama Kazuyuki of 日本台灣交流協會 visits 中央研究院 to discuss academic cooperation between Taiwan and Japan and experience cultivating Nobel Prize-level talent
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央研究院
Representative Katayama Kazuyuki of 日本台灣交流協會 met with 中央研究院 President Chen Chien-jen. The two sides exchanged views on academic cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, experience cultivating Nobel Prize-level talent, and the industrial economy. President Chen stressed that basic research and talent cultivation require stable support, and also mentioned 中央研究院's cooperation with 東京大學, 京都大學 and other institutions, as well as Taiwan's achievements in hepatitis prevention and treatment.
Facts
The 11th
Fiscal year 2026
23rd edition
More than 20 people
9 people
2025
2030
More than 40 years
1983
November 2023
Companies mentioned:中央研究院、日本台灣交流協會、教育部、臺灣大學、近代史研究所、東京大學、京都大學、名古屋大學、理化學研究所、RIKEN、臺大醫學院、亞太肝臟研究學會、Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver、APASL、世界衛生組織、WHO、日本外務省
The secret of how leaves breathe lies in the cell nucleus: researchers uncover a new mechanism behind plant “stomata” formation
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央研究院
A team led by Ho Chin-min at Academia Sinica discovered that the key protein HDL 1 can regulate chromatin structure in the cell nucleus, affecting the number of stomata and trichomes in plants. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
One sentence to capture a century and the future! 中研院 launches contest for centennial slogan
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央研究院
中研院 is preparing for its 2028 centennial celebrations and is soliciting submissions for a “centennial slogan” from now through December 6, 2026. The winning entry will be used in future anniversary events.
Academician Li Yuan-che celebrates 九十th birthday; academic peers and friends gather to offer congratulations.
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央研究院
中央研究院 held a celebration and banquet for Nobel Prize-winning chemist and Academician Lee Yuan Tseh's ninetieth birthday. President Chen Chien-jen and academic friends gathered to offer their congratulations and recognize Lee's contributions to Taiwan's scientific research and academic freedom.
Facts
Ninetieth birthday
More than a hundred people gathered
Won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1986 for the crossed molecular beam method
In 1982, joined several academicians of this institute in proposing the establishment of 原分所
During his tenure as the institute's seventh president from 1994 to 2006
Event Registration | 2026 Knowledge Feast—Hu Shih Director’s Popular Science Lecture: “From Western Europe to East Asia: The Early Development of Public Museums After Their Introduction to China”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央研究院
Research Fellow Tai Li-chuan of the 本院歷史語言研究所 will give a Hu Shih Director’s Popular Science Lecture on Dec. 8, 2026, on the early development of public museums after their introduction to China. Registration is online, with 30 spots available for in-person attendance. Popular science publications will be given away, and continuing education credit hours are available for civil servants and teachers.
Facts
Dec. 8, 2026
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Room 1, 2nd Floor, 本院 Academic Activities Center
By Dec. 7, 2026
30 spots available for same-day, on-site registration
Call for Entries〉“Science in Shorts 2027” Science Communication Short Video Competition
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央研究院
Nature Awards, part of Springer Nature, is holding the global “Science in Shorts 2027” science communication short video competition, inviting researchers with specified qualifications to introduce their research in 1-minute English-language vertical videos. Each video will receive prize money of 5,000 euros, and the submission deadline is December 2, 2026。
Jensen Huang's departure from Nvidia: Is China the biggest loser? Foreign media column highlights 2 major impacts
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
A Bloomberg columnist's analysis says Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's departure could lead the United States to further tighten restrictions on chip exports to China and deprive China's AI industry of an important supporter of open models. Although China is promoting domestic substitutes, local suppliers such as 華為 have yet to fill the gap in advanced chips, leaving Chinese AI companies facing resource pressures and uncertainty over overseas expansion.
Facts
Bloomberg columnist Catherine Thorbecke argues that the impact of Jensen Huang's departure on China's AI industry could be more far-reaching than the stock price and succession issues that have captured market attention.
Jensen Huang and Huang Le's relationship reportedly helped Chinese companies obtain at least $7.5 billion worth of Nvidia chips.
Nvidia is alleged to have intervened in a U.S. investigation into Megaspeed, its largest buyer in Southeast Asia. Both companies deny any wrongdoing.
Chinese AI company 月之暗面(Moonshot) reportedly continues to obtain Nvidia's advanced chips, while 華為 has acknowledged that it cannot meet demand in the Chinese market.
In an X post first published in July, Jensen Huang called on the U.S. tech industry to support open-weight AI and described model “distillation” as a widely used technique.
Megaspeed said in a statement Thursday (12) that it had cooperated with an inspection by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and had hired a U.S. law firm to lead a comprehensive inventory of its GPUs and independently review its export-control compliance measures.
Original輝達創辦人黃仁勳於2025年6月12日辭去執行長職務,由財務長克雷斯暫代。
Singapore police and customs have been investigating since February 2025 whether Megaspeed was involved in false declarations related to server procurement. The investigation is ongoing.
Lutnick is facing criticism from lawmakers, including over the government's failure to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key trade blacklist.
Original民主黨議員已要求政府保留輝達先進AI晶片對中出口及相關國安風險的文件。
Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mast said Congress must investigate the Commerce Department's process for approving chip exports.
Jensen Huang announced his departure on Thursday, after foreign media reported his extramarital relationship with Huang Le and U.S. authorities suspected Huang Le might be working as a spy for China.
A White House official said Trump has complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to perform his duties.
Does the Fed want to avoid moving markets at every meeting? Warsh proposes new system, with only 7 rate votes next year
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Fed Chair Warsh is pursuing reforms, announcing that the October 2027 FOMC meeting will discuss strategy only, with no rate vote, in a bid to reduce market volatility and focus on long-term policy.
Facts
The Federal Reserve (Fed) released its 2027 meeting schedule on Thursday (12), changing the October 26-27 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting into one devoted solely to discussing monetary policy strategy, with no rate vote or post-meeting statement.
The change is part of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's effort to reform the central bank's communications, aiming to reduce the Fed's impact on markets and give policymakers more time to discuss long-term policy issues.
According to a Fed announcement, the October 2027 meeting will be used to “discuss broad monetary policy strategy issues.”
Warsh used the phrase “focus to the left of the decimal point” as a metaphor for policy discussions that should concentrate on major directions and avoid getting bogged down in details.
Powell also said last month that the number of meetings without formal votes in 2028 is expected to increase to 2, further expanding the scope for strategic discussions.
New probe erupts after Jensen Huang steps down! U.S. investigates Huang Le’s links to 美超微 product smuggling
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Huang Le, a business partner of former 輝達 CEO Jensen Huang, on suspicion of involvement in smuggling 美超微 products and espionage. The probe is led by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. Although no link has been confirmed to the case involving 美超微 co-founder Liao Yi-hsien, who was previously indicted, the investigation has drawn renewed attention to U.S.-China relations.
Facts
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether entities linked to Huang Le were involved in smuggling 美超微 products to China.
Huang Le currently lives in Beijing and is not related to Jensen Huang.
美超微 co-founder Liao Yi-hsien was accused in March this year of allegedly shipping servers equipped with 輝達 chips to China.
Jensen Huang is not currently a target of an investigation by U.S. law enforcement agencies.
The Chinese government rejected espionage allegations against Huang Le, calling them “smears.”
輝達’s risks go beyond its stock price! How its $400 billion commitments could affect the AI funding chain
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
輝達 is supporting an AI financing network through about $4,000億 in purchasing and guarantee commitments. Experts warn that an economic downturn could trigger credit risks that spread to financial markets, but regulators believe safeguards are in place and a repeat of the financial crisis is unlikely.
Facts
輝達 is helping customers expand through arrangements such as cloud-service purchases and project guarantees, with the related commitments estimated by scholars at about $4,000億.
輝達 disclosed in July that it had committed to purchasing up to $36 billion in services from emerging AI cloud providers.
輝達 is providing $105 billion in phased guarantees for an Ohio data center project planned by OpenAI and SB Energy.
輝達 is providing up to $125 billion in support for a $500 billion credit program for Wall Street financial institutions.
CoreWeave(CRWV-US) credit default swap spreads widened 94% from Oct. 1 to Nov. 5.
A convertible bond issued by IREN(IREN-US) and maturing in 2029 fell 23% from Nov. 3 to 5.
Jason Wu, an official at the 國際貨幣基金(IMF), called arrangements like those of 輝達 “circular financing.”
New revelations in Jensen Huang affair scandal: Reuters reveals he had an intimate relationship with another employee
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
路透社 reported that former 輝達 CEO Jensen Huang had an intimate relationship with another employee, in addition to extramarital affairs with Huang Le and Powell. Huang has resigned as CEO, and the parties involved declined to comment.
Facts
(中央社 San Francisco, 12th, compiled from foreign news reports)
Issued a statement on the 8th of this month admitting to the affair
Jensen Huang scandal widens; multiple U.S. Justice Department probes could ensnare 輝達
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting multiple investigations involving 輝達, Megaspeed and 美超微, concerning antitrust law and links to Huang Le, a central figure in the Jensen Huang scandal. Huang has resigned, and 輝達 shares plunged as much as 14%.
U.S. lawmaker says Jensen Huang agrees to testify before Congress; NYT reveals he has hired a lawyer
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
輝達 founder Jensen Huang resigned as CEO amid an extramarital affair scandal. A U.S. lawmaker said he agreed to testify before Congress, and the New York Times reported he had hired a lawyer.
Facts
(中央社 Washington, 12th, compiled from foreign news reports)
Jensen Huang is expected to testify under oath later this month, before the Thanksgiving holiday
Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 26 this year
(Compiled by: Yang Chao-yen)1151113
Companies mentioned:輝達、Nvidia、中央社、彭博、紐約時報、The New York Times、保羅魏斯
Truck loses control and overturns in UAE, striking multiple vehicles; 14 dead and 30 injured
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
A truck lost control and overturned in the Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, striking multiple vehicles and sparking a fire that killed 14 people and injured 30.
『めちゃイケ』 30th anniversary special 『めちゃ×2メチャってるッ!』 to receive its first terrestrial broadcast on December 5! The latest installment in the 「岡村隆史のオファーが来ました」 series returns to terrestrial TV!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
『めちゃイケ』 30th anniversary special 『めちゃ×2メチャってるッ!』, produced by NTTドコモ Studio & Live, will receive its first terrestrial broadcast on the フジテレビ network on December 5, 2026. It is the latest installment in the documentary series following Okamura Takashi.
【Minakami Town Campgrounds】Make the most of the last 3-day weekend of the season with great deals! 「オートキャンパーズエリアならまた」 and 「ちばむらオートキャンパーズリゾート」 are offering special-value plans for a final multi-night stay as a thank-you to guests
Finally, 70! As she approaches her 30th anniversary as a performer, there are songs she can sing now, having lived a life full of experience. Chie Ayado Concert 2027 『UMAMI』 — Sunday, March 7, 2027, at NHK Hall — confirmed!
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
Jazz singer Chie Ayado will hold a concert, 「UMAMI」, at NHK Hall on March 7, 2027. She will turn 70 that year and is preparing for her 30th anniversary as a performer.
Facts
Sunday, March 7, 2027
SS seats: 12,000 yen (tax included)
S seats: 7,500 yen (tax included)
A seats: 5,500 yen (tax included; same-day exchange ticket)
B seats: 3,500 yen (tax included; same-day exchange ticket)
A sensational Cinderella debut in 1998 as an unknown 40-year-old single mother
株式会社プエンテ will release on YouTube on November 13, 2026, a teaser PV for the theme song of the original anime 「蒼い月の使者」, with a theme song by Mellow. Episode 1 will begin streaming on November 20, with new episodes released every Friday, for a total of 12 episodes.
【Narita City only】December-only campaign | Collect old tatami mats, fusuma, shoji screens and screen doors from year-end replacements all at once | Junk removal by まるっと本舗
Published ・ Source Japan | PR TIMES
まるっと本舗, a junk removal service operated by SYSTR株式会社, is running its 「Old Tatami and Fixtures Collection Campaign」 exclusively in Narita City from December 1 to 31, 2026, offering a discount of up to 1,000 yen when customers use a fixed-price package.
NSTC showcases the innovation capabilities of smart healthcare and chip-driven industries with 15 top teams at the 38th World Congress of Internal Medicine (WCIM 2026)
Nov. 13 morning news briefing | Jensen Huang abruptly quits “3 positions,” woman becomes acting CEO; the 2nd affair that brought him down; “these 4” Taiwan-listed companies rely most on 輝達
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
輝達 co-founder Jensen Huang resigned from all executive positions on the 12th after an extramarital affair controversy crossed corporate governance red lines. Chief Financial Officer Chris is serving as acting CEO. The incident rattled markets: 輝達 shares plunged, Wall Street downgraded the stock, and Taiwanese supply-chain shares were also affected. Attention is now turning to the stability of the new leadership and the upcoming financial results.
Facts
輝達’s board announced on the 12th that co-founder Jensen Huang had resigned as president, CEO and director, effective immediately.
Chief Financial Officer Chris was named interim CEO, while Jones, formerly CEO of 新思科技, became the first chair in 輝達’s history.
Jensen Huang’s resignation was linked to a New York Times report that he had an affair with Powell, his direct report and vice president of the healthcare business, crossing a red line in U.S. corporate governance.
輝達 shares briefly plunged more than 1 tenth after the U.S. market opened, falling by as much as about 13% to 14% and dropping below $150.
伯恩斯坦 downgraded 輝達 to “market perform” and halved its price target from $400 to $200.
Taiwan stocks had already plunged 1,165 points during the day on the 12th amid the controversy, closing at 43,091.
技嘉, 廣達, 京元電 and 奇鋐, whose revenue depends heavily on 輝達, face short-term risks from order adjustments and valuation revisions.