**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened flat this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,374 on

turnover of 2.5-billion N-T.

The market closed little changed on Wednesday after recouping early losses,

and despite Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing continuing to lose ground on

the back of lingering concerns over inventory adjustments in the global I-C

industry.

Tech heavyweights came off their day's lows on a technical rebound, while

buying also rotated to large cap old economy stocks, to give an additional

boost to the broader market.

**NSB Head Stressing Sharing of Real-Time Intelligence with 'Five Eyes' **

National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen says Taiwan is

maintaining "real-time" intelligence sharing with the all member states of

the "Five Eyes" alliance.

Confirmation of the regular intelligence sharing contact with United States,

the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand came as Tsai was be

questioned during a legislative hearing about recent upgrades to the bureau's

computer equipment.

According to the N-S-B director-general, his office has allocated funds to

establish an "instant online reporting and communication mechanism" with

foreign countries and all intelligence is now shared via "a secure and

encrypted (加密的) system."

**CDC Reporting Highest Number of Severe Flu Cases this Year **

The Centers for Disease Control says 24 severe seasonal flu cases were

reported last week, marking the highest single-week total so far this year.

According to the C-D-C, the patients ranged in age from under 10 to over 90

and developed severe symptoms in the week ending April 22.

All but four of the patients suffer from (患有) chronic illnesses and 18 have

not received a flu vaccine.

Three patients aged in their 50s to their 70s died from severe flu

complications last week - all of whom suffered from chronic illnesses.

A total of 114 cases of severe flu and 20 deaths from the disease have been

reported since the start of the current flu season last fall.

**US House Passes Bill to Cap Gov Spending **

A Republican bill aimed at capping government spending has narrowly (勉強地)

made it through the U.S. House of Representatives.

Nina-Maria Potts reports:

**Brazil Orders Telegram Suspension **

A federal judge in Brazil on Wednesday ordered a temporary suspension of

messaging app Telegram.

The judge says the order was a result of the social media platform’s alleged

failure to provide all information Federal Police requested on neo-Nazi chat

groups.

The judge also increased the daily fine for non-compliance (不合規) to the

equivalent of about $200-thousand NT.

The development comes amid a wave of school attacks, which the federal

government is striving to stamp out.

Brazil has seen almost two dozen attacks or violent episodes in schools since

2000, half of them in the last 12 months.

**NZ PM Plants Native Tree to Mark UK King Coronation **

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has planted a native totara tree in

Parliament’s grounds to mark (紀念) the upcoming coronation of Britain’s

King Charles III.

The ceremony Wednesday was an early start to a campaign to plant 100,000

native trees around New Zealand.

The government has donated 1 million New Zealand dollars toward the effort.

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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