The Tai-Ex opened up 32-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,608

on turnover of $3.1-billion N-T.

Shares in Taiwan closed lower Tuesday after U.S. Federal Reserve officials

made hawkish remarks which slashed hopes that the American central bank would

cut rates next year.

Selling was seen almost across the whole board but losses were capped after

bargain-hunters began buying up select tech heavyweights after the main board

dipped below the 17,500-point mark.

The Centers for Disease Control say the number of JN.1 COVID-19 variant cases

recorded in Taiwan remains relatively low in Taiwan, currently making up only

3 percent of COVID cases detected in the last four weeks.

CDC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun says the JN.1 variant had been detected in over

40 nations around the world as of Dec. 18-th.

Lo says JN.1 is the fastest-spreading variant in Western nations, but cases

have remained relatively (相對地) low in countries close to Taiwan, with the

variant being detected in less than 10 percent of COVID-19 cases reported in

Japan.

Lo explained that while JN.1 is equipped with immune avoidance capabilities

that enable it to spread easily, there has been no significant increase in

the number of severe cases from the variant, meaning it has a relatively low

public health risk factor.

Chinese media now say at least 131 people have been killed, after a magnitude

6.2 earthquake in the country’s northwest.

State broadcaster CCTV says 113 died in the province of Gansu and another 18

in neighboring Qinghai province.

The quake struck just before midnight on Monday.

More than 700 people have been injured.

Emergency workers are still searching for the missing in collapsed buildings

and at least one landslide.

At least 4,000 firefighters, soldiers and police officers were dispatched in

the rescue effort, and the People's Liberation Army Western Theatre set up a

command post (指揮所) to direct its work.

But authorities in Gansu issued an appeal for 300 additional workers for

search and rescue operations.

The Supreme Court in the US state of Colorado has ruled that Donald Trump

can't appear on the state's presidential primary ballot due to his role in

the January 6th riot at the US Capitol.

The former president says he plans to appeal (上訴) the decision to the

federal Supreme Court.

Ira Spitzer reports.

Colombian authorities say two children from the West African nation of Guinea

were abandoned in Bogota’s airport and taken into government custody this

week after spending several days on their own in the international departures

terminal.

Colombia’s national immigration department said the children, aged 10 and

13, had been travelling with separate groups and were left in the airport by

their relatives earlier this month for reasons that have not been clarified

(澄清、說明).

The discovery of the children comes as migrants from Africa increasingly use

South American and Central American airports as stepping stones on the long

route to the United States.

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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