The upcoming live-fire phase of the annual Han Kuang military exercises will

be focusing on testing troops' responses to decentralized command, the

updated Rules of Engagement), and 24/7 operational scenarios.

This year's 40th edition began with the tabletop war games phase, conducted

from April 19 to 26.

The live-fire exercise component (部分) is scheduled to take place from July

22 to 26.

According to defense officials, the live-fire exercises will prioritize tests

on troops' capabilities to fend off Chinese invasion 24/7, grassroot troops'

preparedness to launch counterstrikes individually, and troops' ability to

follow updated R-O-E during counterstrikes.

And,

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of a blaze at a pet store in

Hualien that destroyed five two-story houses.

Officials say due to the degree of destruction, the exact cause of the fire

has not yet been determined.

According to the Hualien County Fire Department, it received a report

Saturday evening that flames were spotted coming out of a house.

The house was later identified as a pet store next to a Burger King chain

restaurant.

The flames quickly spread to the adjacent (鄰近的) stores, which were all

between 40 to 50-years-old.

More than 20 pet dogs were rescued from the scene, including 20 owned by the

fire-hit pet store.

One dog died.

North Korean leaders are set to hold a key party meeting this week following

the signing of a security treaty with Russia.

The two countries on Wednesday agreed to mutually (互相) assist each other if

they are attacked,.

Chris Gilbert has more.

An aerial drone launched (發射) by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck and damaged

a vessel in the Red Sea.

The drone attack happened around dawn Sunday off the coast of the rebel-held

port city of Hodeida.

That's according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade

Operations center.

The U.S. military’s Central Command said several mariners on the bulk

carrier suffered minor injuries from the attack.

More than 1,300 people died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as the

faithful faced soaring (上升) temperatures at Islamic holy sites in Saudi

Arabia.

The Saudi health minister said 83% of the fatalities were among unauthorized

pilgrims who walked long distances in soaring temperatures.

Egyptian officials said more than 660 of the dead were from Egypt.

The fatalities included 165 pilgrims from Indonesia, 98 from India and dozens

more from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Malaysia, according to an

Associated Press tally.

Two U.S. pilgrims were also reported dead.

Daily high temperatures exceeded 46 degrees Celsius, on some days.

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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