Semiconductor Tariffs & Taiwan’s Playbook: Taiwan is pushing to preserve chipmakers’ tariff exemptions as the US drafts Section 232 semiconductor duties, using existing Taiwan–US MOUs and government-to-government channels to keep preferential treatment intact. AI Chip Supply Chain Shock: The US trade deficit widened sharply in July as AI buildout drove imports of semiconductors and computer parts, while investors also digested massive AI revenue momentum from Broadcom and the ongoing scramble for chip capacity. Foundry School Workforce Push: The US launched “Foundry School” to train millions of skilled manufacturing workers, with Stanford shaping curricula and the State Department coordinating international participation tied to Pax Silica. Local Tech Governance: A municipal AI proposal in Prince Albert aims to connect city departments’ data to find “recoverable value” like duplicated work and underused funding, with safeguards that require staff review. Health Tech Research: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in mice appears to rejuvenate ageing muscle by shifting gut microbes, spotlighting a gut–muscle pathway. Education & Testing Integrity: Smart-glasses cheating is spreading, with exam proctors increasingly disciplining test-takers—an issue that will matter for Taiwan’s AI-in-education debates. Cross-Strait Politics: Taiwan’s opposition parties split over a Zhubei mayoral race, threatening trust needed for a potential 2028 alliance. Tech Diplomacy: Taiwan donated computers to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force to support operations, a small but clear signal of tech-enabled public safety cooperation.