**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 180-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

14,554 on turnover of 4.2-billion N-T.

The Tai-Ex recovered most of its early losses to close marginally lower on

Thursday, as investor interest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

rebounded from an initial downturn after going ex-dividend.

However, many large cap tech stocks remained weak as investors digested

comments by U-S Fed Chair Jerome Powell overnight after America's central

bank raised its key interest rates by an additional 50 basis points.

**Taipei 101 NY Show to Feature 16,000 Fireworks **

The Taipei Financial Center Corporation says this year's New Year's eve event

at the Taipei 101 will feature 16,000 fireworks being set off over the course

of five minutes.

While there will also be simultaneous light displays on all four sides of the

building to mark the beginning of the New Year.

According to the Taipei 101 owner, it expect some 1-million people to attend

the event.

Taipei 101 Chairman Zhang Hsueh-shun says the show will also feature a

variety of patterns, including peace pigeons, smiley faces and the tree of

life, designed to convey (傳達, 表達) the theme of the show -- "looking after

the world and shining dreams."

Zhang says the New Year fireworks display will cost 50-million N-T and has

been paid for by sponsorship from the Tourism Bureau, the Taiwan Stock

Exchange, Chunghwa Telecom, C-T-B-C Bank and Audi.

**Malaysia Landslide Leaves Missing **

A Malaysia fire department official says some 50 people are feared buried

after a landslide hit a campsite outside Kuala Lumpur early today.

Local media cited police as saying initial information indicated that some

100 people may have been at the campsite in Batang Kali, around 40 kilometers

north of Kuala Lumpur, when the incident occurred.

A fire department official told The Associated Press that rescuers are

searching for an estimated (估計的) 50 missing people.

He provided no further details.

**Russia Warns US Defense Systems in Ukraine Could be Targeted **

Russia has warned that US defense systems in Ukraine could be targeted for

attacks.

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports.

**Peru Ousted President to Remain in Custody **

A Peruvian judge has ordered ousted President Pedro Castillo to remain in

custody for 18 months, approving a request from authorities for time to build

their rebellion case against him.

The ruling Thursday came a day after the government declared a state of

emergency as it struggles to calm violent protests.

The protests erupted after Castillo was voted out of power by lawmakers last

week, following his attempt to dissolve (解散) Congress ahead of an

impeachment vote.

Castillo and his legal team refused to participate in Thursday’s virtual

hearing, arguing it lacked “minimum guarantees.”

He was represented by a public defender.

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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