**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 22-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

14,410 on turnover of 2.4-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Monday, as selling was sparked by losses on Wall

Street at the end of last week amid rising concerns over a possible recession

due to the current rate hike cycle by the U-S Federal Reserve.

Large cap stocks in the electronics, old economy, petrochemical and steel

sectors were the targets of the sell-off, but the biotech sector bucked the

downward trend, as investors sitting on ample (充足) funds rushed to park

their money there during the trading day.

**MAC Investigating Possible Illegal TikTok Activities in Taiwan **

The Mainland Affairs Council says it is investigating possible illegal

activities by TikTok in Taiwan.

According to the council, it launched the investigation after Cabinet

spokesman Luo Bing-cheng told delegates at an interministerial meeting in

Taipei that the Chinese social media application posed (構成) a cybersecurity

threat to Taiwan.

The council says it has also submitted information TikTok's activities that

could be im violation of the Criminal Code to prosecutors for further

investigation.

Finance Minister Su Jien-rong says his office will issue a report on its

investigation within three months, but to his knowledge TikTok has no

business or taxation registration in Taiwan.

**Taiwan Lantern Festival to Showcase Giant Rabbit **

The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism has unveiled some of

the highlights of February's Taiwan Lantern Festival.

It will the first time in 23-years that Taipei will have hosted the event.

According to city tourism officials, the themed of the event will be "Light

up the Future."

A total of 16 installations will be set up in Taipei's central, east and

Xinyi districts.

One of the main attractions (景點) will be a large rabbit lantern located on

roof of one of the exits of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station.

The 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be taking place in Taipei from February

5 through 19.

**Nigeria 20 Die of Suspected Cholera Outbreak **

At least twenty people have lost their lives to suspected cholera outbreak in

Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Southern Nigeria.

Ten villages in the local Government Area have reportedly been affected since

Thursday.

Ajeck Mangut reports from Abuja.

**Russia: Space Capsule Leak Doesn't Require Evacuation **

Russia’s space corporation Roscosmos says a coolant (冷卻液) leak from a

Russian space capsule attached to the International Space Station doesn’t

require evacuation of the crew.

But the space agency is keeping open the possibility of launching a

replacement capsule, if needed.

Roscosmos said Monday that a panel of experts will determine later this month

whether the Soyuz MS-22 capsule can be safely used by the crew for a planned

return to Earth or if it should be discarded and replaced.

Roscosmos says the next Soyuz is scheduled for a March launch but could be

expedited, if necessary.

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 _____.

--

Hosting provided by SoundOn