**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 41-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,873

on turnover of 2.2-billion N-T.

The market ended higher on Friday, as investors opted to shrug off concerns

about America's banking sector despite risks of recession overshadowing gains

on Wall Street overnight.

**US Backs Engagement with Taiwan **

The United States is vowing to deepen its engagement with Taiwan and is

encouraging all countries to do the same after Honduras severed formal

diplomatic ties with the island.

According to a statement issued by the National Security Council and the

American Institute in Taiwan, "regardless of Honduras' decision, the U-S will

continue to deepen and expand its engagement with Taiwan in line with its

longstanding one China policy."

The statement described Taiwan as "a reliable, likeminded, and democratic

partner" and went on to say the U-S "strongly encourages all countries to

expand engagement with Taiwan" and to continue to stand on the side of

democracy.

**Tainan Temple Head Detained as Part of Shooting Probe **

The Tainan District Prosecutors' Office has detained the head of the Ci-Ji

Temple in connection with its investigation into November's shooting

incidents on the city's Xue-Jia District.

The shootings targeted the a technology company run by former D-P-P Central

Executive Committee member Guo Tsai-qin and the local election campaign

headquarters city councilor candidate Hsieh Shu-fan.

According to the prosecutors' office, it has detained Ci-Ji Temple chairman

Wang Wen-cong on charges of possession of illegal firearms and of harboring

known criminals.

Wang was first questioned in connection with the case late last month

following the extradition from China of two other suspects.

**US House Speaker on TikTok Legislation **

US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says "The House will be moving forward with

legislation" on TikTok, following the platform's CEO's congressional

testimony last week.

McCarthy said the legislation would protect Americans from" what he called

"the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party."

Jagruti Dave reports from Washington.

**Florence Invites US Parents Students to View David **

A Florence museum and the city's mayor are inviting parents and students from

a Florida charter school to visit and see Michelangelo’s sculpture of David.

The invitation comes after the school principal was forced to resign

following parental complaints that an image of the nude Renaissance

masterpiece was shown to a sixth-grade art class.

The board of the Tallahassee Classical School pressured Principal Hope

Carrasquilla to resign last week after the image of the David was show to the

art class.

Carrasquilla has said two parents complained because they weren’t notified

in advance that a nude would be shown, while a third called the iconic statue

pornographic.

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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