**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 191-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

14,923 on turnover of $6.9-billion N-T.

The market closed slightly lower on Thursday after moving in a narrow range

as investors remained cautious ahead of an investor conference by Taiwan

Semiconductor Manufacturing.

The release of U-S December inflation data also dictated (決定) market

movements with many investors taking to the sidelines, pushing down turnover.

**Coronavirus Home Care Consultations to Focus on High-Risk Groups **

The Central Epidemic Command Center says remote medical consultation services

provided to all coronavirus patients during home quarantine are to be

restricted to high-risk groups only.

Health officials say the move is aimed more effectively allocating (分配)

health resources.

Beginning Sunday, only individuals aged 65 or above and 12 years or below

with severe underlying health issues will be able to use the service during

their five-day mandatory quarantine.

According to the epidemic command center, those individuals will be able to

consult their doctors and receive regular health evaluations remotely during

the period.

Other existing home care measures for patients with mild and asymptomatic

infections remain unchanged.

That includes remote prescription of medicines and their home delivery.

**Japan Formal Charges for Abe Shooter **

A lawyer says Japanese prosecutors are expected to formally charge the

suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder

today.

Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested immediately after allegedly shooting Abe with a

handmade gun as the former leader was making a campaign speech in July.

His five-month mental evaluation ended Tuesday, and he was reportedly deemed

fit to stand trial.

Police say Yamagami told them that he killed Abe because of Abe’s apparent

links to a religious group that he hated.

In statements and social media posts, Yamagami blamed the Unification Church

for bankrupting his family and ruining (毀壞) his life.

One of his lawyers, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he expects

prosecutors to charge Yamagami with murder and gun control law violations.

**US Online Asylum System Launched **

From the US….

The Biden administration has launched (開始, 啟動) an online system for

migrants on the Mexican border seeking asylum.

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

**Sweden Identifies Deposits of Rare Earth Elements **

A Swedish government-owned iron ore mining company says it has identified

“significant deposits” of rare earth elements in Arctic Sweden that are

essential for the manufacture of electric vehicles and wind turbines.

LKAB's CEO said Thursday that the quantity of rare earth metals exceeds 1

million tons and is the largest known deposit of its kind in Europe.

But the company warned that it could take at least a decade before mining

starts.

Sweden's energy and business minister said that the European Union's

“self-sufficiency (自給自足) and independence from Russia and China will

begin in the mine.”

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.

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