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Tai-Ex opening
The Tai-Ex opened up 178-points this morning from yesterday's close to surge past the 19,500-point mark and hit 19,678 on turnover of 10 -billion N-T.
The market ended the trading day at yet another record high on Wednesday, after recovering earlier losses, as investors opted to ignore a downturn on Wall Street overnight.
The bellwether electronics sector led the broader market higher - with artificial intelligence development-related stocks continuing to be the main focus of investor interest.
US Urges Beijing to 'Engage in Meaningful Dialogue' with Taiwan
The U-S State Department is calling for China to cease its pressure campaign against Taiwan and "engage in meaningful dialogue."
The statement comes after China's Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiao-gang reiterated Beijing's sovereignty over Taiwan during a press conference - and went on to say "there is no so-called 'central line' across the Taiwan Strait."
According to a State Department spokesperson, the United States has "consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo," a policy that has preserved (保護，維護) peace in the region for decades and is a matter of global concern.
MAC Bans Group Travel to China from June 1
The Mainland Affairs Council has banned group travel to China after June 1 - saying such tours will not be allowed unless China allows group travel to Taiwan.
According to the council, the reopening of group travel to China is unacceptable, as it would widen Taiwan's tourism deficit with China.
The council says prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Taiwan's tourism deficit with China stood at 6.6-billion N-T and if tour groups are allowed to travel there after June 1 that deficit will substantially (在很大程度上) increase.
Speaking at a legislative hearing council minister Chiu Tai-san told lawmakers the decision to ban such tours is also related to China's unilaterally changing its M-503 flight route, as it is clearly a political move aimed at interfering with Taiwan's affairs.
UN: Migrant Deaths Hit New High Last Year
The U.N. migration agency says more than 8,500 migrants died on land and sea routes worldwide last year, a record high since it began counting deaths a decade ago.
The International Organization for Migration says the biggest increase in deaths last year was on the Mediterranean Sea crossing, with more than 3,000.
It said most of the deaths last year came from drowning.
The count also includes migrants who vanished — often while trying to cross by sea — and are presumed (假定，假設) dead.
Rust Armourer Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
The armourer who loaded the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna [HA LEEN A] Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
The actor Alec Baldwin who was holding the weapon when it discharged (開（槍）), faces the same charges at a trial set to take place this summer. Ira Spitzer reports.
SpaceX to Acquire Land from Texas
SpaceX is set to acquire (購得) public land from Texas after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a land-swapping deal that would cede 17 hectares to entrepreneur Elon Musk's company in exchange for about 190 hectares that are yet to be bought.
The business is looking to expand its rocket-launch operations in the property close to Brownsville, Texas.
Local stakeholders voiced their opposition to the deal, but the commission voted unanimously in favor of it.