**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 40-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,584

on turnover of 2.1-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Monday and followed most other regional indexes

lower, as investors awaited a U-S inflation update that traders worry might

lead to more interest rate hikes by America's central bank.

**Hsiao Bi-khim Touts More US Congressional Taiwan Visits **

Taiwan's top envoy to the U-S says American congressional representatives

remain highly interested in visiting Taiwan and such delegations will

continue to visit Taiwan, regardless of (無論如何，不顧) threats from China.

The statement comes amid reports that members of a U-S House of

Representatives special committee on China are planning to visit Taiwan in

the coming months.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with members of the Legislative

Foreign and National Defense Committee, Hsiao didn't say whether it has been

confirmed that members of the U-S special committee on China will be holding

"a field hearing in Taiwan."

According to Hsiao, no details concerning such a visit have been discussed,

but her office would help make the arrangements if need be.

()

**KMT Vice Chairman Touts Aims of China Trip Met **

K-M-T Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia says his visit to China has achieved the

three main goals of its trip and expects more such exchanges in the future.

Hsia says the main purposes of the trip were to look after the needs of

Taiwanese based in China, convey the problems regulations have caused small

and medium-sized enterprises and to get to know the new Chinese officials in

charge of Taiwan affairs.

Hsia arrived in China last Wednesday, and since then he has held talks with

officials including Sung Tao, the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office.

And he says he will continue to meet with Taiwanese businessmen in other

Chinese cities to learn of their difficulties (困難).

**Syrian President Approves More Border Crossings for UN **

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has approved the use of two additional

border crossings to be used by the United Nations.

The U.N met with al-Assad on Monday to urge (敦促) him to open the crossings

as they needed to get more to rebel controlled north-west Syria.

Jody Jacobs has more from the UN.

**Pakistan to Impose New Taxes for Bailout **

Officials and analysts say cash-strapped Pakistan will impose billions in new

taxes to help secure a massive bailout, but they warned the move could cause

inflation to escalate.

The grim outlook came as the impoverished nation prepares to impose taxes of

170 billion rupees in a bid to convince the International Monetary Fund to

revive a $6 billion bailout.

Last week, the IMF delayed the release of a crucial $1.1 billion portion

(]部分) of the bailout that has been on hold since December over Pakistan's

failure to meet the terms of a previous deal.

The stalemate in talks was seen as a blow to the government of Prime Minister

Shahbaz Sharif, who is struggling to avoid a default.

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 _____.

--

Hosting provided by SoundOn