**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 65-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,425

on turnover of 4.3-billion N-T.

The market moved sharply lower on Tuesday.

Analysts say although investors are anticipating the U-S Fed will hold back

on its rate hikes to prevent liquidity risks following the collapse of the

Silicon Valley Bank, concerns are lingering that rate increases will not be

strong enough to tame (馴服) inflation.

**NCSIST Unveils 'Suicide Drone' **

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has unveiled

nine domestically developed drones - including a loitering munition, or

"suicide drone.

The domestically made "suicide" drone is based on the U-S made AeroVironment

Switchblade 300, which is currently being used by Ukrainian forces in the

country's war with Russia.

According to the institute's Aeronautical Systems Research Division, the

miniature loitering munition drone has a range of 10-kilometers, can fly for

15 minutes and can be carried by a single soldier.

It's equipped with a high-performance electro-optical and infrared sensor and

can be used to destroy high-value and high-risk targets.

**Limited Cross-Strait Ferry Services to be Expanded in Coming Week **

K-M-T lawmaker Chen Yu-zhen says the eligibility and scope of the limited

ferry services between Kinmen and Xiamen in China will be expanded later this

month.

According to Chen, R-O-C passport holders from Taiwan proper and their

spouses (配偶) will be able to use the ferry services, while daily trips

between Kinmen and Xiamen will also be increased from two to 12.

Chen says the expansion of ferry services follows talks between the Mainland

Affairs Council and other related agencies - at which it was decided to bring

forward the expanded service ahead of the five-day long weekend Tomb Sweeping

Day holiday.

However, Chinese independent travelers are still not included in the expanded

service.

**US Drone Crashes After Russian Jet Encounter **

The U.S. military says a Russian warplane struck the propeller (螺旋槳) of a

U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.

The U.S. European Command said two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted the

drone while it was operating within international airspace.

It said one of the Russian fighters struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing

U.S. forces to bring it down in international waters.

US Air Force officials say the "unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians

nearly caused both aircraft to crash".

Moscow says the U.S. drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into water

following an encounter with Russian fighter jets scrambled to intercept it

near Crimea, but insists its warplanes didn’t fire their weapons or hit the

drone.

**US Biden Takes Steps to Strengthen Gun Control **

US President Joe Biden has taken steps to strengthen (加強) gun background

checks.

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

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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