**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 75-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

15,419 on turnover of $3.6-billion N-T.

Shares in Taiwan lost some momentum after a strong opening yesterday, as Wall

Street stocks also trended lower overnight.

Investors are now reserved as they await announcements this week from the U.S

Fed, as well as other key economic indicators.

**China's partial lifting of import ban on Taiwan a political move **

China has lifted its ban on 63 products from Taiwanese food and beverage

producers, which was imposed in December 2022.

The lifting of the ban enables Taiwanese companies making the 63 items,

including Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc., to export those products to China,

effective from last Saturday, January 28th.

The head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Chiu Tai-san, has called the

lifting of the ban a "political maneuver" (政治花招), as it violates

international trade practices.

Chiu says China's import ban on Taiwanese beverage suppliers in early

December violated international trade practices, and that the lifting of the

ban on some of their items on Sunday was politically motivated.

**Free Taiwan Lantern Festival lanterns up for grabs from February 1st **

80,000 Year-of-the-Rabbit-themed lanterns are to be made available to the

public tomorrow.

The 2023 rabbit light can held like a traditional lantern, or reassembled

(重新組裝) into a luminous rabbit ear ornament and worn as a hat.

The Taipei City government's Department of Civil Affairs says members of the

public would be able to place preorders for 10,500 of the free lanterns via

the festival's official website and TaipeiPASS app, starting from 10 AM

tomorrow.

**France Rail Operator Recommends Staying Home Amid Strikes **

France’s national rail operator is recommending that passengers stay home if

possible today to avoid labor strikes.

The strikes over pensions are expected to cause major transport woes but

largely spare high-speed rail links to Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Labor unions mobilized massive street protests in an initial salvo

(行動的第一炮) of nationwide strikes earlier this month.

They're hoping for similar success Tuesday to maintain pressure on government

plans to raise France’s retirement age.

Rail operator SNCF warned that major network disruptions are expected from

Monday night to Wednesday morning.

It recommended passengers cancel or postpone trips and work remotely if

possible.

**US Biden to End COVID19 Controls **

US President Joe Biden is going to end the nation's coronavirus emergencies.

The AP's Ed Donahue reports.

**Emirates Tests Boeing 777 on Sustainable Fuel **

Long-haul carrier Emirates has successfully flown a Boeing 777 on a test

flight with one of its two engines entirely powered by so-called sustainable

fuel.

The flight lasted just under an hour over the coastline of the United Arab

Emirates, after it took off from Dubai International Airport, the world’s

busiest for international travel.

The fuel powered one of the Boeing’s two General Electric Co. engines, with

the other running on conventional (傳統的) jet fuel for safety.

Emirates described the sustainable fuel as a blend that includes compounds

from plant-based sugars, and vegetable oils and animal fats.

Those fuels reduce the release of carbon dioxide, but analysts suggest

sustainable fuels can be three times or more the cost of jet fuel.

It wasn't immediately clear how much the fuel used in the Emirates' test

today cost per barrel.

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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