The Tai-Ex opened up 53-points this morning on the new year's first trading

day, at 29,016, on turnover of 6.5-billion N-T.

Taiwan shares closed the final trading session of 2025 at a record high

Wednesday, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, as the benchmark index

capped a second straight year of historic gains fueled by strong demand tied

to artificial intelligence infrastructure.

For the full year, the benchmark surged nearly 26 percent, surpassing the

rise recorded in 2024 and setting a new record for annual point gains for the

second consecutive year.

The index has now risen more than 20 percent for three straight years.

The Pentagon says Lockheed Martin has been given a contract involving foreign

military sales to Taiwan to meet what Washington is describing as an "urgent

operational need" of Taiwan's Air Force.

The contract has a ceiling value of 328-million U-S dollars.

According to the Pentagon, the contract is for the procurement (採購) and

delivery of 55 Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor Pods,

processors, pod containers and processor containers.

The work is expected to be completed by June of 2031

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says a Formosan black bear broke

into a worker's hut in Alishan's Dabang Village and ate food

from a refrigerator and from canned goods.

According to the agency's Chiayi branch, personnel were sent to inspect

(察看) the site and set up infrared cameras to track the bear after receiving

the report.

The agency has released photos showing an open refrigerator, broken eggs in a

carton, and empty food cans inside the hut - which sits at an elevation of

1,190-meters in Alishan.

Experts found footprints near the worker's hut and, based on the damaged

canned food, concluded that a Formosan black bear was responsible.

Although Formosan black bears are occasionally sighted in the Alishan area,

the Dabang Village incident marks the first officially recorded case of a

bear entering a worker's hut and eating food.

Protests over Iran's struggling economy have spread into rural areas, with at

least three people killed.

Authorities reported the fatalities on Wednesday and Thursday in cities home

to Iran’s Lur ethnic group.

The demonstrations are the largest since 2022.

The protests began due to economic pressures, with Iran's currency rapidly

depreciating (貶值).

Demonstrators have also chanted against the country’s theocracy.

The White House says planned tariff hikes on items like furniture and kitchen

cabinets are being pushed back one year.

The delay comes as the administration insists its trade strategy is working -

even as high prices continue to frustrate (感到煩躁) voters.

Toni Waterman has more from Washington.

British boxer Anthony Joshua is initially staying in Nigeria as he

recuperates from injuries sustained after a deadly crash.

A vehicle carrying the former heavyweight champion and two of his associates

crashed (撞擊) into a stationary truck on Monday on a local highway.

The two associates were killed.

Joshua was released from a Lagos hospital on Wednesday afternoon and he paid

his respects to his deceased friends at the morgue.

His promoter, Matchroom Boxing, told The Associated Press that Joshua will

remain in Nigeria over the coming days.”

That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____.

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