The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from Friday's close, at

20,228 on turnover of 5.9-billion N-T.

The market closed higher on Friday, even though it lost some momentum from

gains made in previous sessions.

Wall Street tapped fresh records overnight, led by big gains for chipmakers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Vice President-elect Hsiao

Bi-khim visited the European Parliament at the invitation of lawmakers there

last week.

The statement comes as Hsiao has been making low-key (低調) tours of the U-S

and Europe in recent weeks.

According to the foreign ministry, Hsiao was welcomed by the president of the

European Parliament and the European Parliament's first minister.

Hsiao is now the first vice president-elect of Taiwan to have visited the

European Parliament.

Hsiao also visited Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Poland.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office has detained a 43-year-old man

wanted for firing several shots into a police stations this past weekend.

Police exchanged gunfire with the suspect as he fled the scene.

One officer sustained (遭受) a gunshot wound to his left shoulder.

Police managed to arrest the suspect after stopping his vehicle and seized

two handguns and a submachine gun.

Authorities say the man was recently investigated for the illegal possession

of firearms and a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Prosecutors says they are investigating how the man came into possesion of

the weapons.

Four men accused of staging the Russia concert hall attack that killed more

than 130 people have appeared before a Moscow court to face formal terrorism

charges.

Russian media had reported that the men were tortured during interrogation by

the security services.

According to the Associated Press, one appeared to be barely (幾乎沒有)

conscious during Sunday's hearing.

A court statement says two of the suspects accepted their guilt after being

charged in the preliminary hearing.

The court formally charged the men with committing a group terrorist attack

resulting in deaths.

The offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The court ordered that the men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, be

held in pre-trial custody until May 22.

The US and Japan are expected to announce a major security pact (協定) update

when leaders from the two countries meet in Washington next month, according

to the Financial Times.

Reports expect it to be the biggest security upgrade in 60 years as both

countries look to counter China’s military positioning in the region.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo.

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