The Tai-Ex opened up 217-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
27,685 on turnover of $8.7-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Thursday as renewed concerns about an artificial
intelligence bubble drove Wall Street down overnight.

Analysts say renewed fears over an A-I bubble triggered selling in large-cap
AI-related stocks and investors seized on the lead as an excuse (藉口) to
pocket recent gains.

However, the Tai-Ex still recovered from its initial downturn by the end of
the session and the index saw strong technical support ahead of the
27,400-point mark - which is around the 60-day moving average.

The central bank has opted to leave its key interest rates unchanged after
wrapping up (結束) it final quarterly policymaking meeting of this year.

The market had widely anticipated the bank would leave interest rates
unchanged for the seventh consecutive quarter - despite the U-S Federal
Reserve cutting rates for the third straight policymaking meeting last week.

The decision by the central bank means that the discount rate remains at
2-percent and that's still the highest level in 15 years.

Economists have said it's currently difficult for the central bank to follow
the U-S Fed's lead and cut interest rates as the local economy remains strong
and inflation stable.

According to government estimates, the island's economy will grow 7.37-per
cent for the whole of this year, largely on the back of an increase of
8.21-per cent in the third quarter due strong global demand for artificial
intelligence applications.

The European Commission says the European Union is delaying a massive
free-trade deal with South American countries after fiery protests by farmers
and last-minute opposition by France and Italy.

Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur in Brazil this weekend,
after more than 25 years of negotiations.

Instead Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed that the
signature had been put off until January.

Experts say the delay will dent the EU’s negotiating credibility globally as
it seeks to forge (創造) new trade ties amid commercial tensions with the
U.S. and China.

dangerous drug

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order labeling (標示，標籤)
marijuana a less dangerous drug.

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports

Italian restorers have used laser beams to clean an ancient Roman marble
column in the piazza outside the prime minister’s office, removing layers of
dust and grime that had covered the monument for decades.

The 47-meter-tall column, built between A.D. 180 and 193, features a relief
that spirals (盤旋上升) upward and recounts the battles of one of Rome’s
best-known emperors, Marcus Aurelius.

During the column’s last restoration, in the 1980s, restorers used tiny
brushes to remove the dirt.

The $2.3-million dollar restoration is funded by the post-pandemic European
recovery fund, and includes a new system to illuminate (照亮) the column at
night.

Work began in April and the restoration (恢復) is expected to finish in June.

The Tai-Ex opened down 77-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
27,447 on turnover of 9-billion N-T.

The market closed marginally lower on Wednesday as Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing saw its early gains eroded due to futures-led selling on the
settlement day for December futures contracts.

The U-S Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the
Environment says Taiwan made essential contributions after being invited to
participate in the first summit of the US-led AI supply chain strategy
initiative.

The inaugural Pax Silica summit took place in Washington D.C. last Friday.

According to Jacob Helberg, Taiwan was at the table and was absolutely
present in all of the sessions in which one would expect Taiwan to play an
important role, and Taiwan participated in discussions on manufacturing and
semiconductors.

The statement comes after the U-S State Department didn't list Taiwan as
being includes on a list of participants and guest contributors (貢獻者)
slated to meet for the summit.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government is hoping to sign a land
rights agreement with Nvidia before the Lunar New Year holiday.

According to Chiang, his administration initiated (發起) the urban planning
change process last week and a public exhibition period is set to end within
one month.

Chiang made the statements while inspecting the T-17 and T-18 sites at the
Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, where the Nvidia headquarters will be built.

Chiang also said he believes Nvidia's headquarters at the technology park
will prove to be transformative development that will establish Taipei as a
major artificial intelligence hub.

Israel’s military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian
residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the
tenuous (脆弱的) ceasefire with Hamas.

Health officials on Wednesday said at least 10 people, were wounded, and the
army said it was investigating.

The military said the mortar was fired during an operation in the area of the
“Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement that divides the
Israeli-held majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory.

The military said the mortar had veered from its intended target, which it
did not specify.

The Tai-Ex opened up 59-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,596
on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T.

The market tumbled once again on Tuesday, ahead of the release of U-S
employment and inflation reports that could drive the direction of interest
rates.

While mixed performances for artificial intelligence-related stocks on Wall
Street overnight also did nothing to lift investor concerns about an A-I
bubble.

Lawmakers have passed amendments to four separate acts governing ships,
ports, meteorological facilities and telecommunications (電信).

Passage of the amendments is part of the Cabinet's moves to update Taiwan's
so-called "seven undersea-cable laws."

The changes to the Law of Ships, Meteorological Act, Telecommunications
Management Act and Commercial Port Law are aimed at strengthening protections
for submarine cables ...

.... which the government has said could pose a threat to national security
if cut or otherwise damaged.

The Ministry of Transport has announced that new regulations governing tinted
vehicle windows will be taking effect in the first quarter of next year.

According to the ministry, owners of new vehicles must ensure that the tint
on the front windshield has visible light transmission (透射) of no less than
70-per cent, while front, side windows must allow at least 40-per cent light
transmission.

The new regulations are being introduced as part of proposed amendments to
the Road Traffic Safety Rules to address concerns over safety risks posed by
tinted windows.

The proposed amendments will apply to all newly registered and licensed
vehicles.

The US military says it has blown up three more alleged drug boats in the
Eastern Pacific - killing eight people.

The total death toll in the Trump Administration's revamped war on drugs is
now closing in on 100.

The latest strikes come as the Trump Administration ramps up its war on
drugs, designating illicit (非法的) fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.

Toni Waterman

Israel has barred a private Canadian delegation that included six members of
Parliament from entering the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli Embassy in Canada said the group was denied entry on Tuesday
because of its links to Islamic Relief Worldwide, a nongovernmental
organization that Israel lists as a terror group.

Ontario Member of Parliament, who was part of the delegation, said she was
shoved several times by Israeli border officials at the Allenby crossing
between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said in a post on social media that
Canada has expressed its objections (反對) over the barring.

Fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the author's 250th birthday with events
in Britain and beyond.

Austen enthusiasts gathered Tuesday for a church service in her home village
and festive visits to her house.

A virtual birthday party allowed fans worldwide to join in.

Thousands have participated in a yearlong celebration of the author, known
for "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility."

Jane Austen’s House in the southern English village of Chawton hosted talks,
tours, and performances.

Fans have marked the occasion (慶祝/紀念這個時刻) with Regency balls and
festivals in the U.K., U.S., and elsewhere around the world.

The Tai-Ex opened down 145-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
27,721 on turnover of 7.5-billion N-T.

The market took a beating on Monday, on the back of a decline in investor
interest in artificial intelligence-related stocks, as selling followed heavy
losses on Wall Street last Friday amid lingering concerns of an A-I bubble.

The Mainland Affairs Council is expressing his "deep regret" over the
conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under the territory's national
security law.

The council says it "strongly condemns the Hong Kong government for using the
malicious (惡意的) national security law to curb freedom of speech and press
freedom, and to politically persecute pro-democracy figures."

The statement issued by the council also says the ruling was "tantamount to
declaring to the world" that Hong Kong's freedom, democracy, and judicial
independence have been "gradually eroded."

The Administration of Commerce has announced plans to invest at 2.5-billion
N-T over the next two years to expand support for the adoption of artificial
intelligence within the island's commercial service sector.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the program will targets
businesses in wholesale, retail, food and beverage, and logistics as more
companies in those fields are seeking to adopt A-I tools.

The ministry says it expects to help over 30,000 businesses adopt A-I through
the funding program.

The Department of Commerce says the service will help businesses evaluate A-I
adoption conditions and provide guidance (指導) based on scale and digital
capability.

US authorities have arrested four people who were allegedly planning a New
Year's Eve terror plot (陰謀) in southern California.

Nick Harper reports.

A small plane has crashed in central Mexico while attempting an emergency
landing, killing at least seven people.

Mexican officials say the accident happened Monday in an industrial area near
Toluca airport.

The plane had taken off (起飛) from Acapulco.

Authorities say the private jet had eight passengers and two crew members,
but only seven bodies have been recovered.

The plane apparently tried to land on a soccer field but hit a nearby
business, causing a large fire.

The crash is under investigation, and the fire forced the evacuation of about
130 people.

South Sudan’s government has grounded four aircraft registered under the
United Nations mission there, alleging that they were used for illegal
surveillance and smuggling.

The U.N. denied it.

South Sudan’s foreign minister said a government committee was examining the
aircraft after intelligence reports raised security concerns, and two were
found with advanced (先進的) surveillance and intelligence recording systems.

A U.N. mission spokesperson said the mission has been talking with South
Sudan’s government “for a while now to resolve this issue” and said the
mission works transparently (透明地) with it on U.N. operations.

South Sudan's government in 2017 grounded U.N. aircraft after peacekeepers
were deployed to guard the country's main airport.

The government said that was not part of their mandate.