**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,525

on turnover of $2.8-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Thursday, despite the U-S House approving a debt

ceiling and budget cuts package to avoid a default crisis.

**Taiwan and Lithuania Ink MOU to Boost Bilateral Digital Resilience **

The National Institute for Cyber Security and Lithuania's Innovation Agency

have signed a memorandum of understanding that seeks to mutually boost the

digital resilience (數位韌性) of both nations.

The agreement was signed remotely by institute head Ho Quan-de and the head

of Lithuania's Innovation Agency using an external communication adapter

during a virtual conference.

According to Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang, the use of the external

communication adapter marked a bilateral milestone as it was issued by

Ministry of Digital Affairs and recognized by Lithuania.

Along with strengthening mutual digital resilience, the M-O-U also aims to

boost bilateral cooperation while seeking talent exchange.

**UN Warns of Russia Blockage of Ukraine Ports **

The United Nations is warning of a new threat to global food security.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Russia is limiting the number of ships

allowed to pick up Ukrainian grain at Black Sea ports in its campaign to get

Kyiv to open a pipeline for a key ingredient of fertilizer to get to world

markets.

He expressed serious concern that only 33 ships departed from Ukrainian ports

in May, half the number compared to April, and exports of grain and other

foodstuffs (食品) totaled just 1.3 million metric tons last month, less than

half the amount of the previous month.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted Wednesday that the port of

Yuzhny is blocked and more than 1.5 million tons of agricultural products are

waiting there for shipment to at least 10 countries.

He urged everyone to pressure Russia to unblock food supplies.

**US President "Fine" After Fall **

The White House says President Joe Biden is doing "fine" after he tripped and

fell Thursday as he was handing out diplomas at a graduation ceremony at the

US Air Force Academy.

Toni Waterman has more.

**Italy Florence Bans ShortTerm Vacay Rentals in City Center **

The city of Florence has announced an immediate ban on new short-term private

vacation rentals in the city's historic center.

The move is part of an effort to bring full-time residents back to one of

Italy’s most popular tourist destinations.

Students in Italian cities, including Florence, Milan and Rome, have been

camping out in tents on campuses to protest a lack of affordable housing.

At the same time, art cities like Florence and Venice have seen their housing

stocks depleted (耗盡) by short-term rentals, defined as covering any period

less than 30 days.

The Italian government is expected to adopt a plan that so far allows only

the city of Venice to cap the number of days a property can be rented out at

120.

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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