Taiwan's legislature approved a six-year drone buying program worth about US$7.6 billion, a win for the island's defense buildup but one passed over government objections.

• Opposition lawmakers pushed through their own version of the drone bill, capping spending at NT$240 billion over six years.
• The bill dominated front pages across Taiwan's main papers, with the process itself drawing criticism.
• Drones have become central to Taiwan's plan to deter a Chinese attack, following lessons from Ukraine.
• On the economy, Taiwan's official activity gauge stayed at its hottest reading for an eighth month in a row.
• Nvidia expects sales to grow 70% next year, lifting Taiwan's chip-heavy stock market at the open.

Outlook: Expect fights over how the drone money is actually spent, while Taiwan's AI-driven export boom keeps the economy running hot.