The Tai-Ex opened up 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,478

on turnover of $2.2 billion N-T.

The market continued to lose ground and turnover slipped once again on

Wednesday as investors awaited the release of U-S consumer price index data

for December later this week, as turnover slipped once again.

Analysts say this week's continuing downward trend and low turnover also

reflect how this weekend's presidential and legislative elections are

weighing on market sentiment.

The Yilan District Prosecutors' Office says 53 people have been listed as

suspects in an ongoing investigation into violations of the anti-infiltration

(反滲透) and election laws.

They were listed as suspects after being questioned and include several

village and neighborhood chiefs.

All of them allegedly traveled to China on trips subsidized by the Chinese

government in December of last year.

According to the prosecutors' office, they were invited by Chinese officials

in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province and Hebei Province and traveled on

schedules arranged by officials from China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

The suspects were were allegedly asked to state that they "support the

parties that boost cross-strait relations," and "oppose Taiwan independence"

during the trips and some reportedly joined Chinese officials in chanting

pro-unification slogans.

Japan’s government is beginning construction (建造) on a new US military

base in the country’s Okinawa islands, overriding the objections of local

officials.

Tokyo approved landfill works to relocate the Futenma airbase to the Henoko

region by proxy after Okinawa’s government refused to green-light the

project, saying it will destroy local ecosystems and attract war.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo.

Officials in Somalia say fighters with al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate

al-Shabab have attacked a United Nations helicopter that made an emergency

landing in territory controlled by the extremists, killing one passenger and

abducting (綁架) five others.

One official told the Associated Press that the helicopter landed due to

engine failure.

He said six foreigners and one Somali national were on board and one was shot

dead while trying to escape.

One was missing.

The United Nations confirmed the incident but didn't give details for the

safety of those on board.

Al-Shabab has not immediately claimed responsibility.

Greece’s center-right prime minister says his government will soon submit

legislation allowing civil marriage for same-sex couples.

That's despite reservations from some of his party's own lawmakers and the

country’s powerful church.

But Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says the proposed (提出的) law will

not extend the right to parenthood through surrogate mothers to same-sex

couples — an issue that has divided Greek society.

Mitsotakis said Wednesday he is confident the law can be approved in

parliament with cross-party support, even though he won't force those of his

lawmakers who are against it to back it.

That was the I.C.R.T. news,

Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded

every day in the afternoon.

Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

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