**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 46.8-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

15,504 on turnover of $2.7-billion N-T.

**4.6 Earthquake in Eastern Taiwan **

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has shaken parts of eastern Taiwan.

The Central Weather Bureau says the tremors struck at 9:22am, and was

centered 15.2-kilometers west-southwest of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of

18.7-kilometers.

The quake was felt most strongly in Hualien City and County, measuring an

intensity of 4 on the CWB's intensity scale.

The tremors were an intensity of 3 in Nantou County, and 2 in Taichung City.

(NS)

**Navy launches third domestically made missile corvette **

Taiwan's Navy on Thursday held a launch ceremony in Yilan County for its

third domestically (在國內) built Tuo Chiang-class corvette, naming it the

"Hsu Chiang" after a river in Keelung.

The Tuo Chiang-class corvette is a class of Taiwanese-designed fast and

stealthy multi-purpose corvette, built by Lungteh Shipbuilding Co. for the

Taiwanese Navy.

The Navy is set to build a total of 11 Tuo Chiang-class corvettes by the end

of 2026.

Based on a recent Ministry of National Defense report presented to the

Legislative Yuan, aside from the prototype, five of the Tuo Chiang-class

corvettes will be fitted with eight subsonic missiles, and four supersonic

missiles.

**Keelung Water Suspension After Burst Pipe **

Parts of Keelung are seeing their water services suspended today.

The Water Resources Agency says leaks were discovered earlier this morning,

resulting form a damaged pipeline, and repairs (維修) are underway.

But in the meantime, the WRA says water stoppages are in place for some

residents in Keelung City's Ren-ai, Xin-yi, Zhong-zhen, Zhong-shan, and An-le

Districts until around 11am today.

Officials say around 20-thousand households will be directly affected.

And another 40-thosuand will see their water pressure lowered.

(NS)

**Japan Moves Toward Shooting Down Aircraft **

Japan’s ruling coalition is agreeing to empower (授權) the defense force to

shoot down flying objects in its airspace.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo

**Canada to Send Navy Vessels to Haiti **

Canada says it will send navy vessels to Haiti for intelligence-gathering as

part of efforts to quell (制止，平息) worsening gang violence in the

Caribbean nation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement Thursday in the

Bahamas at an annual meeting of Caribbean leaders.

A key topic at the meeting has been Haiti’s surge in killings, rapes and

kidnappings blamed on gangs emboldened since the July 2021 assassination of

President Jovenel Moise.

Also at the meeting is Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry who has pleaded for

a full-fledged international military intervention to stem the mayhem.

Haiti requested help from the U.N. Security Council in October and has

suggested the U.S. and Canada lead a force.

No such intervention has come together.

**Mexico Expedites Visa Application Process for Some Cubans **

Mexico has announced it will set up an expedited visa application process for

Cubans who already have relatives in Mexico.

The Foreign Relations Department said Wednesday the special visa appointments

will be handled at the Mexican consulate in Havana.

Economic and political problems in Cuba have caused an exodus from the

island, and many Cubans cross into Mexico seeking to reach the U.S. border.

Of the 40,000 Cubans who entered Mexico in 2020, 5,000 were returned to the

island and 20,000 were given some form of residency or humanitarian visa in

Mexico.

It was not clear what happened to the remainder, though many enter the United

States.

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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