**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 147-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

14,381 on turnover of 15.2-billion N-T.

The Tai-Ex staged a mild technical rebound on Wednesday from the previous

session, but turnover remained moderate as investors opted to stay on the

sidelines amid lingering concerns over the global economic slowdown..

Buying largely focused on old economy stocks, while the bellwether

electronics sector saw its gains limited by investor worries over on-going

inventory adjustments affecting the global tech sector.

**MOHW Could Ease Molnupiravir Distribution Regualtions **

Health Minister Hsueh Rui-yuan says his office is considering expanding the

distribution and use of the coronavirus oral antiviral agent molnupiravir.

Speaking a hearing of the Legislative Social Welfare and Environmental

Hygiene Committee, the minister said prescription restrictions could be

eased, more medical personnel now have a better understanding of the usage of

the drug.

The statement comes after the Taiwan Medical Association complained that the

procedure for prescribing and obtaining (獲得) molnupiravir is overly

troublesome and as a result, some doctors are choosing not to prescribe it.

**UNSC Adopts First Myanmar Resolution **

The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution calling for the

immediate end to violence in Myanmar.

A military coup (政變) in February last year led to violent crackdowns on

pro-democracy protests and the arrest of the country's leader Aung San Suu

Kyi.

William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York.

**Russia Announces Plans to Beef Up Military **

Russia announced an ambitious plan to beef up its military from 1 million to

1.5 million and create multiple new units.

It's an attempt to bolster the forces that have lost momentum (動力) and many

soldiers in the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s military chief cited NATO’s plans to incorporate Finland and

Sweden as a factor in the buildup.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declared Wednesday that the country

needs a force of 1.5 million to guarantee Russia’s security.

The Russian military currently has about 1 million soldiers.

That compares with China’s force of 2 million and the U.S. force of 1.4

million.

**European Rocket Launch Fails **

The launch of a European rocket carrying two Earth observation satellites

failed and ditched (拋棄，丟棄) in the sea less than three minutes after

lift-off from a spaceport in French Guiana on Wednesday.

Arianespace, which provided the launch service, said in a statement that

approximately 2 minutes and 22 seconds after liftoff a decrease in pressure

was observed in the Vega C rocket’s second stage “leading to the premature

end of the mission.”

Arianespace said the launcher was destroyed with “no damage to persons or

properties.”

The launch was meant to take two earth observation satellites made by Airbus

into orbit.

The satellites would have been part of a constellation capable of taking

images of any point of the global with a resolution of 30 centimeters.

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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