The Tai-Ex opened up 16-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,413

on turnover of $3.4-billion N-T.

The Society of Wilderness says a survey has found that the amount of garbage

along the Tamsui River and its tributaries has doubled in the past three

years.

According to the society, nearly 70-per cent of the garbage is comprised of

single-use plastic items.

Society marine specialist Hsu Hsiao-chun says the waste screening survey was

carried out by 36 volunteers and covered the entire Tamsui River basin,

estuaries (河口) and nearby areas, totaling 283-kilometers.

Hsu says a total of 56,600 14-literbags were cleared from river bank and

coastal areas during the survey.

Data shows that 80-per cent of the garbage was concentrated along 6-per cent

of the riverbank and was mostly accumulated in the areas of the Guandu

Bridge, New Taipei's Luzhou District and on the right side of She-Zi Island

in Taipei.

The New Taipei Environmental Protection Department says the city government

will continue to strengthen the promotion of waste reduction, such as

promoting the reduction of online shopping packaging.

House Republicans have pushed through $14.5 billion in military assistance

for Israel without humanitarian aid for Gaza.

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

Colombia’s government says the guerrilla group National Liberation Army,

known as ELN, has kidnapped the father of Liverpool and Colombian national

soccer team striker Luis Diaz.

The peace delegation of the government, which is currently in negotiations

with ELN, said in a statement it was “officially aware” that the kidnapping

had been “perpetrated (犯下的) by a unit that belongs to ELN.”

Both of Diaz's parents were kidnapped by armed men on motorcycles on Saturday

at a gas station in the small town of Barrancas.

The footballer's mother was rescued within hours by police.

Diaz's father remained missing, which triggered special forces to search for

him in a mountain range that straddles (橫跨) both countries and is covered

by forest.

Police also offered a $48,000 reward for information leading to Diaz’s

father.

Diaz currently plays for Liverpool in the English Premier League, which he

joined last year in a deal worth $67 million.

Rwanda announced Thursday that it will allow all Africans to travel visa-free

to the country, becoming the latest nation on the continent to announce such

a measure aimed at boosting free movement of people.

President Paul Kagame made the announcement on Thursday and highighted the

potential of Africa as “a unified tourism destination (目的地)”.

Other countries that allow Africans to enter their territories without visas

are Gambia, Benin and Seychelles.

Kenya’s President William Ruto announced Monday plans to allow all Africans

to travel to the East African nation visa-free by December 31.

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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