AI Cash-Back Push: Taiwan plans to hand every resident NT$10,000 (about 450,000 won) next year, as the government tries to spread AI-driven growth beyond tech winners. Semiconductor Supply Chain: WEISUN Industrial added a dedicated 310mm chamber configuration for its AQWOL-5S smart clean room and inert gas oven, targeting FOPLP lines where cure/anneal warpage can make or break yields. AI Chip Funding: Etched raised $700M at a $21B valuation, led by Jane Street, as it starts shipping inference hardware and moves from development into customer deployments. Market Mood: Asian tech stocks slid again as bond yields jumped and oil prices rose amid uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz; Taiwan’s Taiex also fell. Regional Finance: Franklin Templeton named Rene Buehlmann Asia-Pacific chief, signaling continued push into Taiwan and broader Asia wealth markets. Cross-Strait/Defense Context: Taiwan staged Han Kuang drills using older Patton-derived Brave Tiger tanks, underscoring how legacy hardware still supports deterrence. Business Diplomacy: Taiwan pledged grant funding to help capitalize St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ national development bank and expand social programmes, as Taipei courts new investment links. Cyber & AI Risk: Coverage highlights how AI-driven cyberattacks are emerging as a real operational threat for Taiwan’s government and banks.