US MILITARY OFFICIALS ARE PLANNING POTENTIAL GROUND ASSAULTS INSIDE IRAN, INCLUDING TARGETING KHARG ISLAND AND SEIZING ENRICHED URANIUM SITES - THE ATLANTIC, CITING PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER

NASA astronauts are set to launch Wednesday on a 10-day lunar flyby—the first return near the Moon in over 50 years. The Orion capsule atop the Space Launch System will lift off from Kennedy Space Center. The mission is a key rehearsal for the Artemis program, aiming for a Moon landing by 2028. The four-person crew may travel farther than any humans, advancing goals beyond the Apollo era toward a long-term lunar base.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs approved Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s plan to deploy its 3nm process at its second fab under construction in Kumamoto, Japan, upgrading from a previously authorized 6–12nm node, according to a ministry statement. The facility, scheduled to begin equipment installation and start operations in 2028, is expected to have a monthly capacity of 15,000 12-inch wafers. The original investment plan of US$5.26 billion was approved in June 2024. TSMC CEO C.C. Taiwan authorities also approved an additional US$30 billion investment by TSMC into its financial arm for USD deposits and US Treasuries to enhance returns and manage foreign exchange hedging costs. (Taipei Times)