**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 5-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,874

on turnover of 2-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Tuesday amid investor pessimism over global

uncertainties despite China reporting better-than-expected economic growth

data.

Analysts also say that news that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing could

report a 5-per cent decline in first-quarterly net profit also weighed on

investors minds during the trading day.

T-S-M-C is set to announce its first-quarter figures tomorrow.

**G7 Foreign Ministers Issues Communique Warning China on Taiwan **

The G-7 foreign ministers are stressing their solidarity against China's

moves to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait following talks in Japan.

According to a communique, the G-7 "reminds China of the need to uphold the

purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and abstain from

threats, coercion, intimidation, or the use of force."

The G-7 stated it "strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to change the

status quo by force or coercion" and said that peace and stability in the

Taiwan Strait are "an indispensable (必不可少) element in security and

prosperity in the international community.”

And the communique also called for "peaceful resolution of relevant issues."

**Monkeypox Cases See Marked Rise **

The Centers for Disease Control is reporting a new weekly high of 13

domestically transmitted monkeypox cases over the last week.

C-D-C deputy head Philip Luo says, of the new domestic cases six are from New

Taipei, five from Taoyuan and one from Taipei, while the other case is from

Kaohsiung.

According to Luo, the infected individuals have received medical treatment at

hospitals and health officials have identified 19 high-risk close contacts,

who have been asked to observe (遵守) self-health management for 21 days.

Taiwan has reported a total of 31 domestic monkeypox cases and nine imported

one since June of last year.

**NKorea Kim Claims Spy Satellite ot Launch **

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says his country has completed the

development of its first military spy satellite and ordered officials to go

ahead with its launch (發射).

He didn't say when it would be, but an outside expert expects a launch in

coming months.

Putting a satellite into orbit requires a long-range missile launch.

Kim was quoted in state media as saying space-based surveillance is needed to

deal with U.S.-led security threats.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries began a 12-day aerial exercise this week

and also held a naval exercise with Japan.

**US Fox News Settles with Dominion Voting System **

Fox News has settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million, just

ahead of the start of a much anticipated trial for defamation.

As part of the settlement, the network admitted (承認) that some of the

claims made on air related to voter fraud in the 2020 election were false.

US correspondent Ira Spitzer has more.

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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