The Tai-Ex opened up 79-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 41,830
on turnover of $17.7-billion N-T.

The market closed higher on Thursday as the electronics sector was in focus,
but the gains were capped by technical resistance ahead of the 42,000-point
mark - as the main board followed a rally on Wall Street overnight, led by
large-cap AI-related electronics stocks.

The Taipei Zoo says one of its Asian small-clawed otters has arrived at New
Zealand's Auckland Zoo to participate in an international conservation
program aimed at contributing to biodiversity.

According to the zoo, the otter departed for Auckland on Tuesday evening to
participate in the program, which is being coordinated by the European
Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

The program selected the Taiwan-born otter to help conserve the Asian
small-clawed otter population by contributing to genetic diversity through
its transfer (搬遷) to the New Zealand zoo.

The otter is currently undergoing quarantine procedures in Auckland, after
which it will join the zoo's Asian small-clawed otter family.

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and is commonly
found in the wetlands, rivers, and lakes of Southeast and South Asia.

It is listed as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of
Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister says he told top Indian officials that Tehran
would welcome any diplomatic initiative (新措施) by New Delhi regarding the
West Asia war.

This comes as the Foreign Ministers of BRICS nations, which include India,
Russia, China, Iran, and the UAE are meeting in New Delhi.

Ishan Garg tells us more.

Clashes have erupted in Bolivia's capital as police use tear gas to disperse
miners trying to breach the government palace.

The miners set off small dynamite charges, a tactic that's become common
during this second week of nationwide unrest.

The unrest challenges President Rodrigo Paz, who was sworn in late last year,
marking a new era after nearly 20 years of one-party rule.

Thousands of miners descended (降臨) on downtown La Paz to demand labor
reforms and fuel.

As the hours passed, they began chanting for the president’s resignation.

Blockades and marches have paralyzed the Bolivian capital in recent days.

The Eurovision Song Contest final lineup is set after Thursday's second
semifinal.

Fifteen countries competed for 10 spots in Saturday's finale, with votes from
national juries and viewers worldwide deciding the outcome.

Denmark, Australia, and Bulgaria are among those advancing.

The U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and host Austria automatically qualify.

Political tensions are clouding the pan-continental pop contest, with
protests against Israel's participation and a five-country boycott.

Despite challenges, Eurovision plans to expand with a spinoff (分支，番外篇)
in Asia later this year. Organizers also hope Hungary will return to the
contest for the first time since 2016.

The Tai-Ex opened up 121-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
41,496 on turnover of 18.4-billion N-T.

The market moved sharply lower on Wednesday, as the bellwether electronics
sector was dragged down following losses by U-S tech companies on Wall Street
overnight amid a surge in inflation in America.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is insisting that Taiwan remains a full APEC
member.

It comes after China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan's participation in
the forum is conducted under the "one-China principle."

China is hosting this year's APEC events.

The foreign ministry here in Taipei says Taiwan formally became a full APEC
member economy in 1991 under the name "Chinese Taipei" through the signing of
an accession (正式加入) MOU.

The ministry is also calling on Beijing to "fulfill its duties and
commitments as APEC host in accordance with APEC guidelines, standards, and
practices."

And,

The Taipei City Government's Department of Environmental Protection says its
stepping up efforts against rodent infestations by expanding tracking methods
...

.. while also call central government to establish a unified national
monitoring system to better assess (評估) pest control effectiveness.

According to the department, until such a system is established, the city
will expand its use of the "trap-night" method, while also tracking active
rat burrows and public reports as indicators of infestation trends.

The department also says it currently has more than 80 disinfection
specialists, each assisted by one or two cleaning workers, which should be
sufficient to meet current demand.

Russia has launched a massive daytime drone attack on Ukraine, firing at
least 800 drones across 20 regions of the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at least six people were killed
and dozens wounded, including children.

Wednesday’s targets included the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.

Zelenskyy is warning of possible cruise and ballistic missile attacks by
Moscow following the drone barrage (猛烈的攻擊).

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have
suggested the war could be nearing an end.

However, they provided no evidence or details to support those statements.

BRICS foreign ministers are arriving in India today ahead of a key meeting
later this week - with the grouping facing fresh internal strain.

The Iran conflict is casting a shadow over the bloc - even as New Delhi looks
to keep the focus on economic cooperation and Global South priorities.

Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.

King Charles III has outlined the British government's legislative plans as
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces pressure to stay in power.

In a ceremonial speech to Parliament, the king emphasized the U.K.'s focus on
energy policy, defense, and national security amid the conflicts in Iran and
Ukraine.

He also pledged action against antisemitism, highlighting British values of
decency (正直) and tolerance.

Starmer's leadership is under scrutiny (密切觀察，詳細檢查) after significant
losses in local elections.

Some Labour Party members have urged him to set a departure timetable, and
Health Secretary Wes Streeting might challenge him.

The Tai-Ex opened down 102 points this morning from yesterday's close, at
41,795.

Turnover (成交金額) stood at 12.8 billion NT.

The market rose again on Tuesday after briefly reaching the 42,000-point mark.

The rise was led by major electronics stocks (電子類股), after U.S. tech
shares gained on Wall Street overnight.

authoritarianism

President Lai Ching-te says China’s alleged obstruction (阻撓) of his state
visit to Eswatini shows that authoritarian governments are becoming more
united.

Lai made the comments in a pre-recorded speech for the Copenhagen Democracy
Summit.

He said the world is now at an important turning point in the competition
between democracy and authoritarianism (威權主義).

Lai said authoritarian governments are using military threats, economic
pressure, cyberattacks, and grey zone tactics.

He said these actions are creating serious challenges for peace, stability,
and democracy.

Lai also said China is willing to damage aviation safety and order for
political reasons.

The Centers for Disease Control says it plans to buy more than 7 million
trivalent (三價的) flu vaccine doses (疫苗劑量) this year.

That is 35,000 more doses than last year.

The CDC says the vaccines will include about 6.85 million standard flu
vaccine doses and about 200,000 enhanced immune-response vaccine doses.

This is the first time the CDC has bought enhanced immune-response flu
vaccines for the government-funded immunization program (免疫接種計畫).

The vaccines are being bought from GSK, Sanofi, Adimmune, and TTY Biopharm.

The first phase of the free government flu vaccine program will begin as
usual on October 1.

The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is calling on Lebanon to
withdraw (退出) from direct talks with Israel.

Naim Kassem said the talks are a concession (讓步).

He said Lebanon should hold indirect talks instead, through a third party.

Lebanon and Israel are set to hold another round of talks in Washington
starting Thursday.

The talks will focus on how to end the war and discuss future relations.

Although the U.S. helped arrange a ceasefire (停火) on April 17, Hezbollah
and Israel have continued to attack each other every day.

Hezbollah confirmed that one of its commanders was killed in an airstrike
near Beirut last week.

Lebanon’s health minister says 380 people have been killed since the
ceasefire.

That brings the total death toll to more than 2,800 since the war began in
March.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the Middle East and Europe
this week.

The trip is being seen as one of his most important diplomatic visits
(外交行程) of the year.

Energy and trade (貿易) are expected to be major topics during the trip.

Ishan Garg has more from New Delhi.

Ten countries have moved on to the Eurovision Song Contest final after the
first semifinal (準決賽).

They include Finland, one of the favorites, and Israel.

Israel’s participation has led five countries to boycott (抵制) the contest.

Israeli singer Noam Bettan heard both cheers and protest shouts when he
performed the rock ballad "Michelle."

Moldova, Croatia, and Sweden also made it to the final.

Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Portugal, and San Marino were eliminated.

The second semifinal will be held Thursday.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators (示威者) are planning to protest Israel’s
participation before Saturday’s final.

The Tai-Ex opened up 90-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 41,880
on turnover of 18.5-billion N-T.

The market closed higher once again on Monday, but the gains were muted after
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw losses following a the Wall Street
Journal report that Apple could shift its orders to Intel.

The Ministry of Health has announced draft amendments to Sexual Assault Crime
Prevention Act and the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act.

According to the ministry, the planned revisions seek to change the starting
point for the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases involving minors
to when a victim turns 20.

The head of the ministry's Department of Protective Services says the
proposed amendments are aimed at ensuring victims can seek justice after
gaining a better understanding of their victimization (受害) and having
greater resources to speak out.

Under current regulations, the statute of limitations begins from the date
the offense was committed, making it difficult for victims abused as minors
to pursue legal action after reaching adulthood.

The Taipei City government is continuing a cleaning and sanitation (衛生)
drive across all 12 administrative districts this week, as it seeks to combat
concerns about recent increases in rat sightings.

According to the city government, the cleaning drive that began last Friday
in Zhongshan District is is now being expanded to other city districts
through Thursday.

City officials say sanitation work will focus on Nangang, Wenshan and Neihu
districts today.

It will continue tomorrow in Songshan, Daan and Xinyi districts, before
concluding on Thursday in Shilin and Beitou districts.

US health officials say eighteen passengers from a cruise ship linked to a
hantavirus outbreak have now been flown back to the US and placed under
monitoring.

One passenger who tested positive for the rare virus strain is being treated
in a biocontainment (生物隔離) unit.

Ira Spitzer has more.

Indigenous organizations from across the Amazon and Latin America have sent a
letter to the United Nations warning that organized crime — including
illegal mining, drug trafficking and logging — is driving violence and
environmental destruction in Indigenous territories.

The groups urged governments to avoid heavily militarized responses and
instead strengthen Indigenous-led protections.

Leaders from Peru’s Amazon warned criminal networks are increasingly
recruiting Indigenous youth, exploiting girls and expanding influence in
remote communities where state presence is weak.

Signatories say the expansion of organized crime is undermining Indigenous
governance systems and threatening communities that have long acted as
stewards (管理員) of some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

The letter calls on the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to conduct
a dedicated study on organized crime and illicit economies in Indigenous
territories and urged U.N. agencies to include Indigenous perspectives in
anti-crime and anti-corruption policies.