The Tai-Ex opened down 50-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

20,713 on turnover of $4.5-billion N-T.

The market closed slightly lower on Wednesday after moving in a narrow range

throughout the session.

Investor were waiting for the release of key U-S inflation data.

The Wild Bird Society of Keelung has confirmed that type of aquatic firefly

discovered in the city is a new species.

According to the society, the new species was discovered while its members

were working on a project focusing firefly ecology and rehabilitation (復原).

The project began in 2022 and was commissioned by the Keelung City Government.

The society says the fireflies were first spotted in Keelung's Nuan-Nuan

District in the first year of the project.

They were confirmed to be part of a new species with the help of a firefly

expert and a faculty member at the National Museum of Natural Science.

It is the fourth aquatic firefly species discovered in Taiwan.

The species has been temporarily named, "Bei-Miao" firefly.

This is because it was discovered in northern Taiwan and flies at canopy

height.

Iran is primed to launch "significant" (重要的) missile or drone strikes

against Israeli government and military facilities, according to US President

Joe Biden.

He gave the warning at a press conference on Wednesday alongside Japanese

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House, where Benji Hyer reports.

Guatemala’s president has issued a natural disaster declaration.

44 forest fires continue to burn across the Central American country.

President Bernardo Arevalo made the announcement Wednesday, and said that 80%

of the fires were started by people.

Authorities canceled classes across three central provinces to protect

students from the prevailing (盛行的) smoke.

One of the largest fires is near a suburb of Guatemala City, the capital.

The president's declaration now frees up funding for fire fighting efforts.

Reporters Without Borders says its representatives was denied (被拒絕) entry

into Hong Kong.

RSF says its Taipei-based staffer Aleksandra Bielakowska was stopped at the

Hong Kong airport on Wednesday by immigration officers earlier in the day.

She was detained, questioned and had her belongings searched three times

before she was denied entry to Hong Kong.

RSF says this "marks a new decline in the already poor press freedom climate

in the territory.”

Bielakowska was to meet journalists and attend the trial of Jimmy Lai.

The media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper is

currently facing national security charges.

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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