**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 4-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

14,922 on turnover of 1.1-billion N-T.

The market gained ground on Monday, after Wall Street ended last week on a

high note, despite other regional indexes ending the day in mixed territory

ahead of the release of the latest economic growth figures from China.

Today is the is the Tai-Ex's final trading day before the Lunar New Year

holiday - and it will reopen on January 30.

**Taiwan-US Trade Talks Continuing **

The second round of talks under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century

Trade are set to wrap-up later today in Taipei.

The talks began on Saturday.

Taiwan's delegation is being led by Deputy Trade Representative Yang Zhen-ni,

while the U-S delegation is being headed by Assistant United States Trade

Representative Terry McCartin.

The Office of Trade Negotiations has yet to release (發布) many details of

the on-going talks - saying only it will hold a media briefing after the

negotiations are concluded today.

The first round of talks under the initiative took place in New York in

November of last year.

**Exports of Integrated Circuit Chips Continued to Increase in 2022 **

The Ministry of Finance says exports of integrated circuit chips continued to

increase in 2022 - marking seven consecutive years of growth.

Data shows that Taiwan's chip exports rose by 18.4-per cent last year from

2021 earlier - and that was third consecutive year that exports registered

double-digit growth.

Bloomberg News is citing Barclays economist Son Bum Ki as describing Taiwan

as being "irreplaceable in the near-term in the semiconductor industry."

Son told Bloomberg that Taiwan's success in the sector is due to Taiwan

Semiconductor Manufacturing's dominance, which accounts for over 50-per cent

of the global foundry (晶圓代工或晶圓專工) market and an even higher

percentage of the cutting-edge chip segment.

**US Top General visits training site for Ukrainian soldiers **

Ukrainian soldiers are taking part in a U.S. military’s training program.

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

**UK to Block Scottish Gender Change Law **

The British government says it will block a law designed to make it easier

for people in Scotland to legally change their gender.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said he was vetoing the bill

approved by the Scottish parliament because of concern it conflicts with

“Great Britain-wide equalities legislation” which guarantees women and

girls access to single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and shelters.

The Scottish bill allows people 16 or older to change the gender designation

on their identity documents by self-declaration, removing the need for a

medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria (性別不安).

The Scottish government is likely to challenge Monday's decision at the U.K.

Supreme Court.

**Italy Top Mafia Fugitive Arrested **

Italy’s No. 1 fugitive has been arrested.

The Mafia boss was grabbed while he sought treatment at a private clinic in

Sicily after three decades on the run.

Matteo Messina Denaro was tried in absentia ( 缺席判決) and convicted of

dozens of murders, including helping to mastermind a pair of 1992 bombings

that killed top anti-Mafia prosecutors.

He faces multiple life sentences.

He is expected to serve them in a maximum security prison and under the

particularly restrictive conditions reserved for top organized crime bosses.

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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