**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 79.6-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

14,933 on turnover of $3.7-billion N-T.

The market once again ended the trading day in positive territory on

Thursday, as investors were encouraged by a rally on Wall Street overnight

after the head of the U-S Federal Reserve hinted at an easing in the pace of

interest rate hikes to tame inflation.

**COA Cites Data Showing Japan Now Surpasses China as Top Taiwan Fruit **

Importer

The Council of Agriculture says Japan has overtaken (超車、超過) China to

become the largest importer of fruit from Taiwan this year.

According to the council, Japan took the number one spot after a

Japanese-foodstuffs trading company pledged to purchase at least 5,100 tonnes

of fruit from Taiwan.

That deal was signed at a ceremony in Tokyo.

Wismettac Foods is now promising to purchase at least 3,500 tonnes of

pineapples, 1,500 tonnes of bananas and 100 tonnes of frozen pineapples

annually.

The company says it also hopes to purchase seafood from Taiwan in the future.

The signing of that fruit deal came a day after Japanese sushi chain, Kura

Sushi, signed an agreement with the Council of Agriculture to import 50,000

tonnes of grouper from Taiwan next year.

**Biden Macron United Against Russia at WH **

French President Emanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden have praised

(表揚、稱讚) the strong alliance between their two countries after a meeting

at the White House.

Kate Fisher reports

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**Canada Man Charged with Indigenous Women Deaths **

Police in Canada allege a man previously charged with murdering an Indigenous

woman also killed three other women — two also confirmed to be Indigenous

and one believed to be.

Jeremy Skibicki was charged last May after the remains of Rebecca Contois

were found near an apartment building.

Skibicki is now charged with first-degree murder in three other deaths in the

spring.

Police say three of the four victims were Indigenous.

The fourth victim has not been identified but police say it’s believed she

was also Indigenous.

**Spain Gov Pledges Funds for Donana Wetlands **

Spain’s government has pledged to invest 350 million euros in the country's

Donana wetlands.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the pledge (承諾) on Thursday

when he visited the Donana National Park.

Ecologists have been calling for more action to help the UNESCO world

heritage site that experts say is dying due to the misuse of water and

climate change.

A European Union court ruled last year that Spanish authorities had failed in

their duty to protect the wetlands that are a stopover spot for millions of

birds migrating from Africa to northern Europe.

The World Wildlife Fund applauded the investment but demanded more from

regional authorities to control the illegal extraction of water.

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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