The Tai-Ex opened up 267-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
39,571 on turnover of 16.8-billion N-T.

The market bucked rises registered in other neighboring markets and lost
ground on Wednesday, as investors reacted to a slump in A-I related stocks on
Wall Street.

Premier Cho Jung-tai is guaranteeing that the monthly minimum wage will
exceed 30,000 N-T next year.

Cho made the pledge (保證) during an award ceremony honoring model workers.

According to Cho, he's guaranteeing the monthly minimum wage will exceed
30,000 N-T in 2027 based on the rapid development of the island's economy and
markets across the country showing strong momentum.

The current monthly minimum wage is 29,500 N-T, while the current hourly
minimum wage to 196 N-T.

The Taiwan Coffee Association says competitors will be competing under the
name "Chinese Taipei" in events organized by the World Coffee Championships.

Competitors in the event have participated under the name "Taiwan" since 2007.

According to the association, the change is an unavoidable (不可避免的)
condition to safeguard participation rights and the new rules must be
followed to ensure continuing participation in international events.

Baristas from Taiwan regularly takes part in six major World Coffee
Championship events.

Two Jewish men have been stabbed in North London in what police are
describing as a terrorist incident.

Counterterrorism police are investigating possible links to recent arson
attacks on synagogues (猶太教堂).

Lara Bentley reports from London

Hundreds of South Africans have protested in Johannesburg against illegal
migration.

Demonstrations have been held across the country, including Pretoria, with
anti-migration groups demanding stricter immigration enforcement
(執行，執法).

South Africa is a major economic hub that attracts many migrants seeking
opportunities.

Estimates of undocumented immigrants range from 3 to 5 million.

Protesters claim illegal immigration causes urban overcrowding, labor
tensions, and security threats.

The protests led to shop closures amid fears of looting.

The U.N. secretary-general has expressed concern over xenophobic (仇外的)
attacks.

South Africa plans to rebuild its busiest land ports to enhance security and
reduce illegal migration.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be released from a
Bangkok prison next month after a Justice Ministry panel decision to grant
him parole (假釋).

The Corrections Department announced on Wednesday that the 76-year-old
Thaksin will be released from Klong Prem Central Prison on May 11.

He has completed two-thirds of his one-year sentence, the minimum required by
law.

Thaksin was sentenced in 2023 for abuse of power.

His release marks the end of a legal saga that began when he returned to
Thailand after more than a decade of self-imposed exile.

The Tai-Ex opened down 345-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
39,176 on turnover of 19.3-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Tuesday after selling set in just off the
40,000-point mark as investors remained cautious ahead of key U-S tech
earnings this week.

Former Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan of the K-M-T has been selected as
the joint nominee for New Taipei mayor after beating Taiwan People's Party
Chairman Huang Kuo-chang in a poll conducted by the two parties.

The results found Lee leading D-P-P candidate Su Chiao-hui in both surveys

Lee says the results marked "the beginning of responsibility" and he's
pledging (保證) to honor agreements between the K-M-T and the T-P-P -
including incorporating policy proposals put forward by Huang.

While Huang is pledging his full support for Lee's campaign, saying the
process reflected democratic values through dialogue and fair competition.

The High Speed Rail Corporation has announced plans to install platform
screen doors at all of its stations.

According to the company, construction is underway at its Hsinchu and Banqiao
stations - where the new screen doors are expected to be operational
(運作中的) in the fourth quarter of this year.

Screen doors will be next installed at Taichung, Taoyuan, Miaoli, Changhua,
Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan stations.

Full installation of platform screen doors across the network is scheduled
for completion in the first quarter of 2028

The project is costing the corporation about 2-billion N-T.

Ukraine is accusing Israel of allowing the import of grain it claims Russia
stole from occupied areas.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a vessel carrying grain arrived at an
Israeli port, calling the trade illegal and warning of sanctions.

Israel denies the vessel entered the port, although tracking shows it in
Haifa for days.

Israel's foreign minister dismissed (不理會，不考慮) the comments as "Twitter
diplomacy” and says Ukraine hasn't provided enough information.

kraine's Foreign Ministry says more vessels have arrived with grain it
describes as stolen.

Kyiv urges Israel to stop these imports, warning it could harm relations
between both countries.

A man accused of plotting a terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert in
Austria is set to stand trial from today.

The 21-year-old is alleged to have planned to target a venue in Vienna in
August 2024. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted (被定罪的).

Europe correspondent William Denselow reports

Australia is proposing to tax digital giants Meta, Google and TikTok a
proportion of their revenue (收入) to pay for news reporters.

The government released draft legislation Tuesday that it intends to
introduce to Parliament by July.

It would create a financial incentive (財務誘因) for the social media
companies to strike deals with news organizations to pay for journalism.

The platforms’ have said the proposal was a “digital services tax” that
misunderstood the evolving advertising industry and would fail to deliver a
sustainable news sector.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a monetary value needs to be
attached to journalists’ work.

The Tai-Ex opened down 84-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
39,531 on turnover of 24-billion N-T.

The market closed nearly 2-per cent higher on Monday, despite pulling back
after topping the 40,000-point mark for the first time in history.

The newly appointed chair of the Central Election Commission has been
sworn-in.

Speaking at a handover ceremony, Michael You thanked President Lai Ching-te
and Premier Cho Jung-tai for their support and he pledged to lead the
commission as a neutral, fair, objective (客觀的) and professional body.

You also outlined the agency's key priorities - those being upcoming
elections, referendum procedures, absentee voting (缺席投票) and the
political rights of naturalized Chinese spouses.

You was a member of the D-P-P before leaving the party in 2019 and previously
served as the chairman of the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation.

The Pingtung District Prosecutors' Office says a man filmed holding a sea
turtle while visiting Xiaoliuqiu is facing a fine of up to 300,000 N-T.

The statement comes after the man was reported by a member of the public on
Sunday afternoon after he was seen touching a sea turtle near Vase Rock.

According to the Coast Guard Administration, the person who reported the
incident also provided video footage of the encounter and officers later
identified the man based on his clothing in the video.

He was found by Coast Guard personnel near the shoreline (海岸線) and taken
in for questioning.

Coast Guard officials say the man, in his 50s, is a Chinese national who is
visiting relatives in Taiwan.

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilia have arrived in the US for a
4-day visit, which will include a state dinner at the White House and an
address to Congress.

The royal visit is seen as an opportunity to smooth over (緩和) tense
relations and bolster ties between the UK and US.

Toni Waterman has more from Washington.

Canada's prime minister says the country is developing a government-owned
investment fund.

The fund will invest in major Canadian industrial projects in areas like
energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture and technology.

It will start at $18 billion.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that the federal government will
provide funds alongside private investors.

The money will help fund projects that Carney's government is focused on
building as Canada seeks to diversify away from the United States.

Sovereign wealth funds invest in assets such as stocks, bonds and real
estate.

They are typically funded by a country’s budgetary surplus (預算盈餘), which
Canada currently doesn't have.

The announcement came a day before Carney's government is due to announce its
spring economic update.

The Tai-Ex opened up 926-points this morning from Friday's close, at 39,858
on turnover of 26.4-billion N-T.

The market surged more than 3-per cent Friday as Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing closed at a new high after the Financial Supervisory Commission
raised the investment ceiling for the stock by active exchange-traded funds.

A village chief in Yilan has been recalled following controversy over his
handling of a mining project in an Indigenous traditional territory.

The recall vote against Lunpi Village chief Wu Ping-tsung in Datong Township
passed with 214 in favor of the recall, 120 against, and four invalid
ballots.

Accordibg to the Yilan County Election Commission, votes in favor accounted
for 35.31-per cent of the village's 606 eligible voters, exceeding both the
legal threshold and the number of opposing votes.

Initiators of the recall argued that Wu ignored local opposition to the
mining project and instead supported the developer under the guise of
(假借…的名義，以…為藉口) administrative neutrality.

They also says the recall was aimed at protecting future generations from
potential environmental harm.

Wu said in a Facebook post in March that the project proceeded in accordance
with the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law and he denied claims he supported the
company that won the bid.

The Central Weather Administration says temperatures will rise further today,
with clear skies are forecast a across much of the island both today and
tomorrow.

However, new frontal system combined with a cloud system moving eastward from
southern China, is expected to pass Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday.

That front is expected to bring cloudy skies and brief showers or
thunderstorms to the west on Wednesday, while eastern parts of the island
will scattered showers.

Showers are likely to continue across much of the island on Thursday.

The rain is forecast to ease off on Friday as northeasterly winds weaken and
we'll see mostly cloudy to sunny skies islandwide.

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory and Russia have killed at
least 16 people.

The attacks on Sunday coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl
disaster, prompting warnings about risks near the plant.

Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Russia, sparking fires.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian attacks risk
repeating history.

Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency stresses the need for
immediate (即時) repairs to Chernobyl's protective shell.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimates (估計) that
the repairs will require at least $586 million US dollars.

of violence

The death toll has risen in the weekend bombing attack on a bus in Colombia.

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook part of northern Japan early today, but no
damage or casualties have been reported.

No tsunami advisory was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter was west of the small town of
Sarabetsu on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido.

The USGS said the magnitude was 6.1 and the quake was about 81 kilometers .

A week ago, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake prompted Japan to issue an advisory
(公告，警告) of a slightly higher risk of a possible megaquake for the
nation’s northeastern coastal areas.