The Tai-Ex opened down 167-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

22,093 on turnover of 5.4-billion N-T.

The market closed little changed on Wednesday, as many investors opted to

stay on the sidelines amid lingering concerns over tariff threats from the

Trump administration.

The slump came after tech stocks took hit on Wall Street overnight - as the

Nasdaq lost 2-per cent.

Turnover stood at 214-billion N-T and market watchers say the low turnover

was evidence that investors are reluctant to chase prices for now before the

White House announces its reciprocal tariff policy - which is expected by

April 2.

Analysts say the local main board is expected to continue to move in a narrow

range at around the 240-day moving average of 22,330 points before those

reciprocal tariff actions are launched.

The Taipei District Court has sentenced four former military personnel to

prison terms after finding them guilty of selling documents to a middleman

for the Chinese intelligence services.

Three of those sentenced were members of the 211th Military Police Battalion,

which guards the Presidential Office, while the fourth served in the

ministry's Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command.

The four were convicted for breaching (違反) national security laws and

accepting bribes and given sentences of between five and seven years.

The sentences can be appealed.

Some 75 academics are accusing President Lai Ching-te of using populism to

rally supporters, leading to the rapid erosion of free speech in Taiwan ..

.. and have all co-signed a statement titled "Defending Taiwan's Democracy,

Rule of Law, and Peace."

They're calling on the government to the government to halt its actions and

avoid (避免) further harming Taiwan's democracy and rule of law for the sake

of short-term political gain.

They're also arguing that "in order to defend" Taiwan's "democracy, rule of

law, peace and security," the government should "adhere to the constitutional

system and take immediate and effective measures to improve cross-strait

relations."

North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed

reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased

production.

Photos released by state media Thursday showed Kim observing what appeared to

be a large reconnaissance (偵察) drone roughly resembling Boeing’s E-7

Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft.

Other images showed exploding drones crashing into targets.

The report said the exploding drones feature unspecified artificial

intelligence capabilities.

State media said Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones’ performance and

approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be

top priorities in efforts to advance his military and adapt it to modern

warfare.

Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all automobiles imported into the

United States.

The US president says the move is intended to boost (增強；推動) domestic

manufacturing but it's expected to raise prices for US car buyers.

Ira Spitzer has more.

That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____.

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