**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 21-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,259

on turnover of 5.3-billion N-T.

The market closed slightly higher on Wednesday despite investor interest in

the bellwether electronics sector dropping off following gains in recent

sessions.

Analysts say many investors remained cautious ahead of the outcome (結果) of

this week's policymaking meeting of the U-S Federal Reserve and the central

bank's comments on America's economy.

**Vice President of Italian Senate Arrives in Taiwan **

The vice president of the upper house of the Italian parliament has arrived

in Taiwan for a six-day visit.

The visit to Taiwan this week by Gian Marco Centinaio is the highest-level

Italian parliamentary trip to Taiwan since 1970.

Centinaio is heading a three member delegation that includes one senator.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Centinaio and his

delegation will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen for formal (正式的) talks.

The foreign minister says the delegation is seeking to gain a deeper

understanding of Taiwan and explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration

in the fields of politics, trade, technology, and culture.

**Rain Helping Further Ease Drought in South **

The Water Resources Agency says the heavy rain that has lashed parts of the

island over the past few days has contributed some 23-million cubic meters of

water to major reservoirs.

According to the agency, the Xinshan, Feitsui, Shihmen, Second Baoshan

reservoirs in the north have received an estimated 7.1-million cubic meters

of rainfall.

In central Taiwan, the Techi Reservoir is now at 74-per cent of capacity, and

the Liyutan Reservoir has reached 73.6-per cent of its capacity.

While in the south, the Tsengwen and Wushantou Reservoirs have now

accumulated more than 100-million cubic meters of rain water in total.

The Water Resources Agency says levels are expected to continue to rise as

the current plum rain front is forecast to last until June 18.

**Japan Investigating Defense Force Shooting **

Japan’s Self Defense Force is launching an investigation after a trainee

shot and killed two others at a shooting range on Wednesday.

The 18-year old was arrested and all shooting ranges (射擊場, 靶場) across

the country shut down following the incident.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo.

**Myanmar Army and Resistance Clash Leaving Dead **

Reports say recent fierce fighting between Myanmar’s army and resistance

fighters in an area east of the country’s capital has killed at least two

dozen civilians.

The fighting has taken place in Shan State’s Pekon township, a hotly

contested (有爭議的) area of the armed struggle that arose after the army’s

February 2021 seizure of power from the elected government of Aung San Suu

Kyi.

A local resident said at least 26 people were killed, either shot dead in

their homes or when they went out onto the street, or killed by artillery

strikes.

**Pope and Imam Call for Human Fraternity **

Pope Francis and a leading Sunni imam have made calls for peace as the U.N.

Security Council met to discuss the importance of human fraternity.

The pope sent a statement calling for an end to war.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, grand imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, said in a virtual

briefing that human fraternity was the key to global peace.

After their appeals, council members adopted a resolution recognizing that

hate speech, racism, xenophobia, intolerance and gender discrimination can

contribute to conflict.

he resolution urges all countries to condemn (譴責) these acts.

It was adopted unanimously even though some of the council’s 15 members have

been accused of some of the same actions they are condemning.

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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