**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 3.2-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

15,592 on turnover of $3.95-billion N-T.

The market continued to gain ground on Thursday from the session earlier, as

investors reacted positively to the U-S Federal Reserve announcing that

America's economy is moving toward lower inflation.

The semiconductor sectors attracted strong buying, as foreign institutional

investors continued to move funds into the region, which is expected to have

positive effect on the local main board for the near future.

**NT$6,000 Tax rebate to be Accessible at Most ATMs **

The Ministry for Digital Affairs says the government's planned one-off 6,000

N-T tax rebate payment will be available via most ATMs.

According to the ministry, some 80-per cent of the ATMs islandwide will

provide access to the payment.

And the ministry says it is currently working on ways to directly deposit the

funds into the bank or post office accounts without the need for recipients

(領受者) to register first.

**Traffic Control Plan for Wuling Farm's Cherry Blossom Season **

Police in Taichung say traffic control measures will be implemented for the

cherry blossom season of Wuling Farm in the city's Heping District.

The cherry blossom season begins next Tuesday.

According to police, the daily number of visitors to the farm will be capped

(限制) at 6,000 during the 22-day season.

People will only be allowed to enter the farm run by the Veteran Affairs

Council with a pass issued to those who have made a booking.

The passes are issued to tour groups, people who have booked accommodation on

the farm, and individual visitors who have purchased bus tickets bundled with

tickets to the farm.

Visitors are being encouraged to use public transport.

**US: Chinese Spy Balloon Spotted **

The Pentagon says a Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western US.

AP's Lisa Dwyer has details.

**Guyana Death Sentence for Piracy Attacks **

A Guyanese court has handed down death sentences for two men found guilty of

high seas piracy attacks that killed seven fishermen off the nation’s coast

in 2018.

Authorities say the men were found guilty of attacking a group of fishing

vessels in waters near Suriname in a turf row over fishing grounds.

Seven fishermen perished (滅亡), while about a dozen others were rescued

after drifting on the waters for days.

The men can appeal the ruling to the local court of appeals and also to the

Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice, which is the final court for

Guyana.

**Brazil Bolsonaro Elections Plot Controversy Continues **

A Brazilian magazine has released audio of a senator claiming then President

Jair Bolsonaro sought help in a plot to annul the October elections and keep

himself in power.

In the recording, Sen. Marcos do Val tells the magazine Veja that the idea

was discussed at a meeting Dec. 9, three weeks before leftist Luiz Inacio

Lula da Silva was set to take office.

Veja released the audio after the senator issued denials following the

magazine’s report Thursday morning about the purported (據稱) plot, which

had not cited him as its source.

Bolsonaro is already under investigation following the Jan. 8 riot in the

capital by his supporters.

He is in Florida and did not comment on any of his social media channels.

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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