EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 155-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,952 on turnover of $6.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed slightly higher Tuesday following a reduced turnover amid caution ahead of key U.S. economic data due out later this week. Because of the lower turnover, many large-cap tech stocks fell into consolidation mode throughout the session. iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. attracted bargain hunters which helped boost the broader market. Taiwan to recognize Lin's World Boxing Championships bronze medal Premier Cho Jung-tai announced that Taiwan's government has decided to recognize the bronze medal won by Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting at the 2023 World Boxing Championships, despite her later disqualification by the International Boxing Association. Cho made the announcement in a media interview, saying he has instructed the Ministry of Education to work out a plan to present a National Glory Medal and prize money of $900-thousand NT to Lin, in recognition of her outstanding performance in international competitions. The Cabinet says Taiwan experts and medical authorities have already verified (核實) Lin's eligibility, and the International Olympic Committee allowed her to compete in the 2024 Paris Games, with the IOC and its President Thomas Bach repeatedly backed her eligibility to compete in the women's event. The Cabinet says this shows that Lin's disqualification at the 2023 World Championships was illegitimate. Deputy Education Minister Chang Liao Wan-Chien also announced that Lin will be appointed an anti-bullying Public Welfare Ambassador. War crimes in Myanmar escalating at alarming rate A team of United Nations investigators warns that war crimes committed by Myanmar's military government has escalated (加劇、惡化) at an alarming rate. In the past six months the UN estimates that over three million people have been forced to flee their homes. East Asia correspondent William Denselow reports. Russia Claims Ukraine Incursion Checked The Russian Defense Ministry says its forces have checked an effort by Kyiv’s troops to expand a stunning weeklong incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday that Kyiv has no intention of occupying Russian territory in the operation that has been shrouded in (籠罩在) secrecy. The Russian Defense Ministry said army units, fresh reserves, army aircraft, drone teams and artillery forces stopped Ukrainian armored mobile groups from moving deeper into Russia. A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the cross-border operation was aimed at protecting Ukrainian land from long-range strikes launched from Kursk. He said that Ukraine isn't interested in taking the territory of the Kursk region. Banksy Artwork at London Zoo Workers arriving at the London Zoo were surprised to discover an unexpected exhibit that suggested the animals were being set free. A mural by elusive street artist Banksy showed a gorilla holding up the entrance gate as birds took flight and a sea lion waddled away. Three sets of eyes peered out (向外看) from the darkness inside. The painting may explain why Bansky-created creatures, including a mountain goat perched on a building and a rhinoceros mounting a car, have been showing up around London for nine straight days. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened opened up 43-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,816 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed sharply higher, rising more than 300 points in a continued comeback Monday as the U.S. markets showed signs of stabilizing from a recent sell-off amid eased concerns over a possible recession in the United States. The bellwether electronics sector served as a driver to the upturn on the local main board as buying focused on artificial intelligence server stocks throughout the session. Returning Olympians Escorted by F16s Returning Olympians have been welcomed back to Taiwan with flares (熱焰彈) and a jet escort. Media reports say three Air Force F-16 jets were on standby at around 5am today in the air southwest of the island, to accompany the E-V-A Air Flight on orders from President Lai Ching-te. And once the jets were alongside the returning plane, flares were set off to cheers from the passengers inside the plane. The Chinese Taipei team, including athletes, coaches and staff, landed at Taoyuan International Airport just after 7am. And the flight was greeted with a water salute as it taxied down the runway. (NS) Syria Earthquake Causes No Major Damage Local authorities say an earthquake shook central Syria causing no major damages. But the equake rattled residents who remembered last year’s devastating (毀滅性的) temblor that struck northern Syria and Turkey. Syria’s National Center for Earthquakes said a magnitude 5.5 quake struck 28 kms east of the city of Hama at 11:56 p.m local time. The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 5.0 and said it had a depth of 10 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of deaths. In Damascus and Beirut - the capital of neighboring Lebanon - residents descended to the streets fearing a stronger quake that would collapse buildings. US Trump Sues DoJ Over FBI Raid In the US…. Donald Trump is suing the United States' Department of Justice for $100 million. The former US President is seeking damages (損害賠償) over the FBI's search of his Florida residence. At that time, law enforcement agents found hundreds of classified documents that he'd taken from the White House. Benji Hyer reports. Study: Amazon Rainforest Under Threat A new study finds that the Amazon rainforest is under threat as a carbon sink. The report from US nonprofit Amazon Conservation finds that deforestation is the biggest immediate threat to the world's largest rainforest. The NPO used satellite data to determine that Amazon trees held 56.8 billion metric tons of carbon above ground in 2022. They found the forest has been a carbon sink over the last decade. But with deforestation there's a danger the Amazon could start contributing more carbon than it absorbs from the atmosphere. The researchers say that it’s now a “very small buffer (緩衝)". They say "there’s reason to worry that the biome could flip from sink to source with ongoing deforestation.” 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 130-points this morning from Friday's close, at 21,599 on turnover of $5.1-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan staged a technical rebound Friday last week after slumping a day earlier, helped by solid gains in American markets overnight. Market sentiment improved as investors were relieved by lower-than-expected weekly jobless claims in the United States. Led by TSMC, buying momentum continued Friday and spread to old economy and financial stocks to push the Taiex above 21,600 points before some investors moved to the sell side, capping the market's rise. Perseid meteor shower to peak on Monday: Taipei Astronomical Museum And finally, Stargazers are on the lookout tonight, as one of the three major meteor showers of the year is set to peak. The Taipei Astronomical Museum says the Perseid meteor shower may reach a maximum rate of 100 shooting stars per hour this evening. The museum forecasts that the meteor shower's radiant, that's the point in the sky from which meteors appear to originate (起源), will rise at around 8:30 p.m., but the best viewing time would be from 11 p.m. until sunrise the next day. For those who are not able to get outside, the museum will also set up video cameras on mountains to provide a live stream on YouTube accompanied by expert commentary, starting at 8 o'clock tonight. This year's Perseids have been active since July 17 and will continue until Aug. 24. Ukraine Acknowledges Military Action in Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indirectly acknowledged ongoing military actions in Russia's Kursk border region. Zelenskyy made the comment late Saturday in his nightly address. Ukraine’s incursion into Russia is into its sixth day Sunday. It's the largest such attack since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and is unprecedented (史無前例的) for its use of Ukrainian military units on Russian soil. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that Russian forces engaged Ukrainian troops in 3 villages roughly 25 km from the Ukrainian border. US Biden on Dropping Out of Presidential Race US President Joe Biden says he dropped out of the Presidential race because he was worried internal Democratic party discussions about his fitness to serve (合適，勝任) would be a "distraction" to his re-election campaign. Our US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has more. Olympic Flame Out in Paris The Olympic flame has gone out in Paris, officially ending the 2024 Games as Los Angeles takes over for 2028. The French capital has handed over (把…交給) hosting duties for the Summer Games to the next city in line. For the closing ceremony, Hollywood star Tom Cruise descended from the top of the stadium to the “Mission Impossible” theme song, before taking the Olympic flag from star gymnast Simone Biles, putting it on the back of motorcycle and roaring out of the stadium. Next, Los Angeles will host the Olympics for the third time, with previous Games being held there in 1984 and 1932. It will be the first time the city will host the Paralympics. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 342-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,212-points on turnover of $6.1-billion N-T. The market tumbled once again on Thursday as investors were spooked by a sharp decline in artificial intelligence development-related stocks on Wall Street overnight. The three major weighted stocks all slid on the main board. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing closed the day down 2.61-per cent, Hon Hai fell 4.11-per cent and MediaTek lost 3.04-per cent. Cat Owners Required to Register and Microchip their Moggies The Ministry of Agriculture says cat owners will be required to register and have microchips implanted (植入) in their pets by September of next year. The statement comes as amendments to the Animal Protection Act are set to take affect next month. The government has said the new regualtions are being brought into effect due to a sharp increase in the number of pet cats. That has risen by 50-per cent since 2020 and now stands at around 1.31-million. According to the agriculture ministry, cat owners will have a one-year grace period to comply with the new rules. They must register their pets with local government animal protection agencies. Those who fail to do so will be subject to penalties under the Animal Protection Act. Fines will range from between 3,000 to 15,000 N-T for cat owners who don't adhere to the new regualtions. Cat owners will also have to register the births or deaths of their pets. US Trump Holds Press Conference Former US Donald Trump has announced that he wants three presidential debates with Kamala Harris before the election in November. Trump spoke at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, in Florida. It was his first major event since Harris was announced as the Democratic candidate for the US presidency. The Republican nominee also falsely (錯誤地) stated that no one was killed during the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Jody Jacobs reports… Bulgaria Protests Against LGBTQ Talk Ban Protesters have rallied outside Bulgaria’s parliament to denounce a controversial legal amendment adopted the day before. It bans talk of LGBTQ+ and so-called non-traditional sexual choices in schools. Thursday's protest was organized by rights groups calling for a reversal of that amendment. The demonstrators waved the rainbow flag, and chanted slogans (口號) as police officers guarded the rally. No violence was reported. Bulgaria’s parliament on Wednesday approved the amendment introduced by a pro-Russian party and backed by some pro-European Union parties. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 248-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,047 on turnover of 5.9-billion N-T. The market recorded its largest closing gains in history on Wednesday - after surging nearly 800-points. The rise was led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. This comes after its American depositary receipts spiked overnight as Wall Street staged a rebound. However, Wall Street fell overnight. Those losses weren't as bad as those that wracked (摧殘，折磨) markets worldwide earlier this week. But market watchers say the downturn in U-S indexes still spooked investors here in Taiwan. Environmental NGOs Form Coalition to Lobby New Climate Change Committee Environmental groups have announced the establishment of coalition to lobby the National Climate Change Response Committee. The coalition is being led by groups including the Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance, the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, and the Taiwan Citizen Participation Association. According to those groups, the coalition has been formed due to concerns that industry might seek to obscure (遮蔽；使不分明) the government's climate policy. The National Climate Change Response Committee was formed in June by President Lai Ching-te and is holding its inaugural meeting today. Today's meeting is expected to focus on the impact of climate change on the world and Taiwan, and the challenge of Taiwan's power supply and demand. Current and Former Presidents Remember Doris Brougham And, President Lai Ching-te and former President Tsai Ing-wen are marking the death of Studio Classroom founder and English teacher to several generations of people here in Taiwan, Doris Brougham. Brougham passed away multiple organ dysfunction syndrome at the MacKay Memorial Hospital's Tamsui Branch on Wednesday. She was 98. Lai is thanking Brougham for dedicating herself to Taiwan and lauding (讚美) her as a "respected educator" for "resolutely speaking up for Taiwan" in the international community for decades and for being a "force for good" for society. While Tsai is thanking Brougham for always bringing her "warmth and encouragement" during times of difficulty and challenges. US Harris Polling Up Among Black Voters US Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris is hitting the campaign trail with her new running mate Tim Walz, in a multi-day, multi-battleground blitz (閃電戰). It comes as new polling analysis shows Harris is receiving a boost in support from black voters across the country. Mitch McCann reports: Bangladesh Interim Leader Appeals for Calm Bangladesh’s incoming interim leader Muhammad Yunus has appealed for calm and urged all parties to help the country rebuild. This comes after weeks of violence that killed hundreds of people and prompted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee (逃跑) to India. Yunus, a Nobel peace laureate, was in Paris for the Olympics when he was named interim leader following talks among military officials and student activists who led the uprising against a prime minister seen as increasingly autocratic. Yunus on Wednesday boarded a plane to return home. Bangladesh’s military chief said that an interim government headed by Yunus would be sworn in Thursday night. 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

Constitutional Court Tells Legislature to Reach Agreement over President's Address Bad Weather Curtails Rehearsals for Chiayi Air Base Air Show U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has introduced new running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Trump's interview with Elon Musk New York City's Emergency Drones -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 513-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,344 on turnover of 13.7-billion N-T. The market plunged 1,807-points on Monday, as the main board recorded its biggest points and percentage decline in history. The fall came as the bellwether electronics sector and artificial intelligence development-related stocks all tumbled, This comes amid reports of economic weakness in the U-S and heightened geopolitical (地緣政治的) tensions. There's speculation the Cabinet could now seek to use to the National Financial Stabilization Fund to support the stock market following the sharp decline. NCC to Mediate Copyright Fee Dispute Between Homeplus and Yong Xin The National Communications Commission has announced that it will mediate (調解) a dispute over copyright fees between cable TV provider Homeplus Digital and Yong Xin Multimedia - the Taiwanese agent for several well-known foreign channels. The statement comes after Yong Xin notified Homeplus of its plan to stop transmitting 12 channels on August 16, after negotiations on copyright fees with the cable TV operator brokedown. Those channels include HBO, Animax, Cinemax, CNN and the Cartoon Network. Homeplus has just over 1-million subscribers and accounts for 22-per cent Taiwan cable TV market. Taiwan Promotes India Ties And, Taiwan's representative to India has presented scholarships to more than 100 Indian students. He expressed his hope that they will become an "important bridge" between the two countries. Representative Baushuan Ger presented scholarship certificates to local students at a ceremony hosted by the New Delhi-based Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India. According to Ger, more than 40 students were awarded Taiwan Scholarships, which fund (資助) university-level study, while more than 90 others received Chinese-language Huayu Enrichment Scholarships. US Harris to Announce VP Pick Today US Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is expected to announce her vice presidential pick on Tuesday morning, ahead of the pair's first campaign rally in Philadelphia. Harris has reportedly cut her pool of possible running mates (競選夥伴) down to just two. As Nick Harper reports from Washington. Venezuela AttorneyGeneral Investigating Gonzalez Venezuela’s top prosecutor has announced a criminal investigation against the opposition’s presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and its leader Maria Corina Machado. The attorney general says the case is related to their call on the armed forces to abandon their support for President Nicolas Maduro and to stop repressing (鎮壓) demonstrators. The statement tied the investigation directly to a written appeal the two members of the opposition sent hours earlier about Maduro and the demonstrators who have come out in force to defend their votes in the July 28 election. The attorney general says the duo “falsely announced a winner of the presidential election other than the one proclaimed by the National Electoral Council" and they openly incited (煽動) “police and military officials to disobey the laws.” 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 655-points this morning from Friday's close, at 20,983 on turnover of $17.5-billion N-T. The market registered is steepest point fall in history last Friday, as steep (急劇的) declines in heavyweight electronics shares reflected concerns over the the U-S economy and uninspiring earnings reports. The weighted index tumbled 1,004-points on Friday to close 21,638. The plunge came after Wall Street fell overnight following more signals that U-S economic growth is slowing. MOI Says Data Show April 3 Earthquake Caused Islandwide Displacement The Ministry of the Interior says the April 3 magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused an islandwide displacement. According to the ministry, a geological survey, conducted from April 3 to 22, found significant displacement (移位) at 138 out of 247 satellite monitoring stations. Those in Hualien were the most heavily impacted. The interior ministry says Hualien's Shoufeng Township recorded the largest displacement before and after the earthquake, with a horizontal shift of 32.7-centimeters and a vertical lift of 39.3-centimeters. The survey covered an area extending from Yilan to Hualien, Nantou and coastal areas in the east and detected smaller displacements in other regions. The ministry says the displacements ranged from 1 to 4-centimeters in the north, between 1 and 6-centimeters in the west, and between and 1 and 2-centimeters in the south. US Allies Seek Lower Tensions in Middle East The United States and its allies are trying to dial down tensions in the Middle East. They are concerned Iran will attack Israel, who it blames (責備) for last week's killing of Hamas' political leader in Tehran. Our US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has more. Nigeria Leader Calls for End to Mass Protests Nigeria’s leader has called for an end to mass protests over economic hardship. The protests, which began Thursday, continued Sunday after the Nigerian leader's request. The protests have been accompanied by reports of looting and vandalism, as well as accusations that security forces have used excessive (過多的) force. Amnesty International has reported the deaths of nine protesters in clashes with police, while another four were killed by a bomb. The Nigerian police denied the Amnesty report. The protests reflect frustration with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and accusations of misgovernment and corruption in Africa’s most populous country. Belgium Triathalon Team Withdraws After One Falls Ill Belgium’s Olympic committee announced Sunday that it would withdraw its team from the mixed relay triathlon at the Paris Olympics after one of its competitors who swam in the Seine River fell ill. Claire Michel had competed in the women's triathlon Wednesday. The statement from the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee said she was “unfortunately ill.” The mixed relay triathlon is scheduled for today. The statement did not elaborate on Michel’s illness but it comes after concerns (擔憂) over the river’s water quality. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 500-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,141 on turnover of 12-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Thursday on the back of renewed investor interest in tech heavyweights. This comes after Wall Street made strong gains as Big Tech stocks drove a rally for U-S indexes. Electronic heavyweights helped push the main board over the 60-day moving average of around 22,300 points. Precision Live-Fire Missile Drills Slated for Late August Reports say the military will be holding precision (精確) live-fire missile drills later this month. Sources are being cited as saying the drills will be taking place in areas around Jiupeng Base in Pingtung's Manjhou Township. Source also say coast guard patrol vessels are expected to be equipped with anti-ship missiles to train alongside the Navy's warships. The Maritime and Port Bureau has issued a statement saying areas affected by the live-fire exercises will include sea and air spaces around Taitung and Pingtung counties, as well as around Green and Orchid islands. UK New Police Unit The UK Prime Minister has announced a new national police unit to prevent violent disorder in the wake of (繼…之後) violent protests, following the killing of three children in a stabbing attack on Monday in Northwest England. Simon Gaitan has more from London. Nigeria Protesters Clash with Police Security forces have fired gunshots and tear gas to quell mass protests across Nigeria. Thousands were on the streets to rally against the country’s spiraling economy. At least two people were reported killed in northern Niger state where protesters clashed with security forces after blocking a major road on Thursday. Police opened fire in at least two other states. The protesters demanded an end to governance that has rendered the people of Niger, which is Africa's top oil producer, among the poorest in the world. Rights groups denounced the violence and said police used excessive force. Activists said the demonstrations would continue until their demands are met. Turkey President Urges Pope to Stand Against Olympic Drag Queen Performance Turkish officials say President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken with Pope Francis about the “immoral (不道德) display” at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. During Thursday's telephone call, Erdogan urged a unified stance against acts that ridicule sacred values, according to a statement from Erdogan’s office. In an unprecedented (無先例的) display of inclusivity, drag queens took center stage at the ceremony last week. But it also attracted criticism over a tableau reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” 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

Taiwan Fishing Boat and Crew Return After being Released by Japan Government to Launch Video Relay Service for Sign Language Users US and Philippines hold joint exercise Heightened tensions in Middle East French Swimmer Leon Marchand set new records -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 134-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,088 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Tuesday despite early losses - but investor sentiment remained cautious ahead of a two-day policy-making meeting of the U-S Federal Reserve. Taiwan and China Reach Settlement over Kinmen Speedboat Incident Representatives from Taiwan and China have reached settlement regarding the February 14 incident that left two Chinese nationals dead after their speedboat attempted to evade (躲避) a Coast Guard Administration patrol boat in waters near Kinmen. Speaking after a one-hour talks at the Golden Lake Hotel in Kinmen, administration director-general Hsieh Qing-qin said the agreement will be actively implemented. However, Hsieh went on to say that he's "currently unable to disclose" details of the deal. The top Chinese representative at the talks also confirmed an agreement has been reached - saying he now hopes the "relevant parties in Taiwan" will honor the agreement and provide a resolution for the families. CDC Touts Mid-August as End of COVID-19 Epidemic Phase The Centers for Disease Control says it believes a COVID-19 epidemic phase currently affecting Taiwan will pass by mid-August. The number of patients seeking medical attention relating to COVID-19 last week stood at 56,000 and that's a decline of 37-per cent from the previous week and the third consecutive (連續的) week the number has fallen. C-D-C Deputy Director-General Philip Luo says Typhoon Gaemi resulted in cancellations of large gatherings for two to three days, which is favorable for control of the disease - and he's optimistic the pandemic will continue to decline. Venezuela Protests Amid Contested Presidential Election Violent protests are continuing in Venezuela following Sunday's disputed (有爭執的) election result. Police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at people demonstrating against President Nicolas Maduro who claimed victory. The opposition claims its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won by a large margin. Mary Triny Mena reports from Caracas. North Macedonia Seeks EU Help to Fight Wildfires North Macedonia said it was seeking further assistance from the European Union to combat wildfires that continue to burn out of control in heatwave temperatures and crossed the southern border into Greece. Large wildfires in parts of North Macedonia this week destroyed and damaged homes, forced evacuations and claimed the life of an elderly resident in a village some 60 kilometers east of the capital. Successive heat waves have helped trigger (引發) fires across the Balkan region and elsewhere in southern Europe, with several countries including Bulgaria and Albania currently receiving international firefighting assistance through an EU support system. Fires were also reported in Croatia and Bosnia. Nissan Sustainability Plan Nissan says it has a “sustainability plan” to become a greener and more inclusive company. The Japanese automaker is promising to recycle batteries, empower (授權，使自主) workers and create safer cars. Nissan says that by 2030 it will reduce per-vehicle manufacturing CO2 emissions by 52% and cut per-vehicle driving CO2 emissions for new models by 50% in Japan, the U.S., Europe and China. Its chief sustainability officer told reporters this week that Nissan hopes to work with various partners, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. That is the same goal set by the governments of Japan, the U.S. and Europe, and other major automakers. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 124-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,040 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Monday following a technical rebound on Wall Street at the end of last week. The market gained more than 300 points in the early morning session. However, investors then opted to shift to the sell side, eroding (侵蝕) the early upturn by the end of the session. MAC to Meet ARATS in Kinmen Today Officials from Taiwan and China are meeting today at the Golden Lake Hotel in Kinmen today for talks on the the February 14 Kinmen speedboat incident. Today's meeting is taking place after talks planned for last Wednesday were postponed due to Typhoon Gaemi. The Mainland Affairs Council has said the focus of the meeting is to discuss outstanding (未解決的) issues relating to the incident that left two Chinese nationals dead after their speedboat attempted to evade (逃避) a Coast Guard Administration patrol boat. Chinese representatives and members of two men's families arrived in Kinmen yesterday. Lai Talks Aid to Farmers Affected by Typhoon Gaemi President Lai Ching-te says farmers in areas hit hardest by Typhoon Gaemi will be able to apply for cash assistance and low-interest loans. According to Lai, the move is aimed at minimizing their losses and ensuring (確保) farming operations can resume quickly. The statement comes as Lai has been visiting parts of the island affected by the typhoon accompanied by Premier Cho Jung-tai and Defense Ministry Wellington Koo. Lai says farmers in heavily affected areas such as Kaohsiung and Pingtung will be exempt from paying interest on low-interest loans for the first six months - with the government covering all such interest payments. US Kamala Harris Campaign Raises 200Million US Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has raised $200 million since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her, according to her team. The campaign says it has 170,000 new volunteers, and the "momentum (動力) and energy for Vice President Harris is real", according to its communications director. It comes after a weekend of campaigning for both Harris and former President Donald Trump, as the US presidential election draws closer. Sally Patterson reports from New York. Guatemala Temporary Residency to Mexican Refugees Guatemala’s government has given temporary residency to 207 Mexicans, mostly children, on humanitarian grounds, after they fled across the border last week to escape drug violence. Officials say the refugees will have 30 days of legal status after which they could request asylum (庇護) if they want. They have registered at least 44 extended families, and domestic and international organizations are supporting the families with donations. Early last week, nearly 600 Mexicans crossed the border into Guatemala, later describing harrowing escapes on foot as drug cartels battled around their communities. 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

Kinmen Speedboat Incident Talks Slated for Tomorrow Typhoon Rains Replenish Reservoirs China Exerts Pressure on Several Countries Russia Ukraine War in eastern Donetsk Paris Olympics Day 2 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened sharply lower by 665-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22-207 on turnover of 18.8-billion N-T. The market plunged today after returning from two days off due to Typhoon Gaemi. TSMC's share price plunged 6.5-percent, testing the quarterly moving average. This comes after US tech stocks also took a significant hit over the typhoon holiday, particularly for stocks in the artificial intelligence sector, including NVIDIA, AMD and Supermicro. Widespread Flooding Due to Typhoon Typhoon Gaemi has caused widespread flooding across Taiwan - as residents in some areas have been struggling to pump water out of their homes and places of business. Heavy flooding has been reported in several areas of Kaohsiung, including Renwu, Gushan, Fongshan, Cianjin and Dashe districts. According to the Central Weather Administration, as of 5PM Thursday, Kaohsiung's Maolin District had received 112-centinmeters of rainfall. That was followed by Sandimen in Pingtung, which has recorded 94-centinmeters of rainfall and Chiayi County's Zhuqi Township, which saw 93--centinmeters of rainfall. Flood waters in Yilan County's Yuanshan Township had reached 2-meters - prompting the deployment (調動) of rescue boats to evacuate 13 residents early Thurday morning. US VP on Gaza After Israeli PM Meeting US Vice President Kamala Harris says the world cannot become "numb" to suffering in Gaza, speaking after meeting the Israeli prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu also held talks with President Joe Biden on Thursday, where they discussed ongoing (正在進行的) efforts to secure a ceasefire deal. He is expected to meet with former President Donald Trump on Friday - who is vying to return to the White House in November. Sally Patterson has more. Japan Heavy Rain Heavy rain has hit northern Japan, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and sending hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued emergency warnings of heavy rain for several municipalities in the Yamagata and Akita prefecture, where warm and humid air was flowing. According to emergency officials, one person is missing in Akita prefecture, after being hit by a landslide at a road construction site. Officials predicted up to 20 centimeters of more rainfall in the region through this evening, urging residents to remain cautious (謹慎). G20 Discussing Global Tax on SuperRich Finance ministers from leading rich and developing nations are meeting in Rio de Janeiro to discuss a global tax on the super-rich. The proposal before the G20 participants would require individuals with over $1 billion in total assets to pay the equivalent of 2% of their wealth in income tax. Brazil, which currently holds the Group of 20 presidency. A Brazilian ministry official has said France, Spain, and South Africa have expressed support for the proposal. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday the U.S. doesn't support it and that tax policy is hard to coordinate globally. A study commissioned by Brazil finds that billionaires currently pay the equivalent (相等的) of 0.3% of their wealth in taxes. The report said a 2% tax would raise up to $250 billion per year globally from about 3,000 individuals, money that could fund public services such as education and health care as well as the fight against climate change. 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

10AＭ Typhoon Gaemi Wrap Han Kuang Exercise Troops on Standby for Typhoon Operations Biden to address nation on Wednesday on dropping out of race UN Yemen attacks Malaysia Bangladesh Violence -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 257-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,514 on turnover of 7.8-billion N-T. The market plunged more than 600-points on Monday as selling was seen among large cap stocks across the board following the news that U-S President Joe Biden will not be seeking re-election. Government Employees to Get 3% Wage Hike in 2025 Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Cabinet has approved a pay rise for civil servants, military personnel and public school teachers. According to the premier, the public sector workers will be getting a 3-per cent hike next year. Cho said the Cabinet believes that civil servants, military personnel and public school teachers should benefit from the growth in Taiwan's economy - which is in recovery mode (模式). Cho also said he hopes the wage hike by the government will prompt the private sector to raise salaries for employees and strengthen Taiwan's competitiveness. EU Rep Receives Presidential Honor Outgoing top European Union representative Filip Grzegorzewski has been awarded a presidential honor for his contribution to promoting relations between the bloc and Taiwan during his five-year tenure. Speaking at a ceremony after being presented with the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by President Lai Ching-te, Grzegorzewski described Taiwan as "a land of good fortune." According to the outgoing E-U envoy, his top memories from his five-year stint included participating in the 13-hour Ironman triathlon in Penghu, summiting Jade Mountain, swimming across Sun Moon Lake and biking around Taiwan's coastline. Lai said he awarded Grzegorzewski the honor to highlight (強調) the envoy's "outstanding contribution to deepening Taiwan-EU relations." US Biden Condemns Police Shooting of Black Woman US authorities have released a video showing a white police officer fatally shooting a Black woman, in a case sparking outrage across the country. The video includes body-cam footage (一段影片) from the sheriffs who responded to Sonya Massey's home in the US state of Illinois on July 6. It has reignited national debate about police use of force and racial discrimination. Sally Patterson reports. EU Ministers' Meeting in Brussels The EU's top diplomat says Hungary won’t be allowed to host a strategic EU meeting next month. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the upcoming foreign and defense ministers’ meeting would take place in Brussels instead of Budapest. The change may be due to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s surprise, self-proclaimed (自稱) “peace mission” trips to Moscow and Beijing aimed at brokering an end to the war in Ukraine. EU partners overwhelmingly (壓倒性地) saw that as undermining their support for Kyiv. Hungary , which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, blasted the decision. It had expected to host the annual late August gathering. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 50-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,818 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market lost over 500 points on Friday - as investors reacted to lackluster performances by tech stocks on Wall Street last week - which dragged down Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Lai Talks About Democracy at DPP National Party Congress President Lai Ching-te has been stressing the value of democracy for Taiwan during his address at the D-P-P's national congress in Taipei. Speaking at the event, Lai touted the theme for the congress this year as being "democratic Taiwan moving forward in unity" and proposed three main targets for the party. Those targets include establishing a national identity based on Taiwan subjectivity .. the strengthening of the democratic constitutional system and to ensure (確保) human rights and freedom are safeguarded. The D-P-P also elected the party's central standing committee members, central executive committee members and central evaluation committee members during the national congress. University Compensates Students who had Food Stolen by Monkeys The National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung says it's compensated 17 students who had their food stolen by Formosan macaques during confrontations (衝突) on campus. The compensation payments are part of a six-month campaign by the school to promote what it's calling "human-monkey coexistence." The campaign runs from February 1 through July 31. According to a university spokesperson, it's given up to 100 N-T to each victim, most of whom were attacked and lost their food in areas near convenience stores or parking lots. In order to be eligible for the payments, students have to provide food receipts and photos of the monkeys. Russia Ukraine latest At least two people have been killed in Ukrainian strikes on the partly Russian-occupied Donetsk region, Russian state media say, while Russian strikes wounded (使…受傷) at least five people in Ukraine overnight. Karen Chammas reports. Bangladesh Scales Back Job Quota System Changes Bangladesh’s top court has scaled back a controversial quota system for government job applicants after it led to nationwide unrest and deadly clashes between police and protesters. The Supreme Court in its verdict (判決) ordered 93% of the government jobs to be called on a merit-based system, with only 5% reserved for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 and other categories. Earlier, the system reserved 30% of the jobs for veterans' relatives. Sunday’s verdict comes after weeks of demonstrations that turned deadly this week. Authorities haven’t shared any official numbers of those killed, but local media have reported over 100 dead. Greenland AntiWhaling Activist Arrested Greenland police have arrested a prominent environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner on an international arrest warrant issued by Japan. Police said they arrested Paul Watson when his ship docked in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Sunday morning. They said Watson will be brought before a district court with a request to detain him until a decision is made on whether to extradite (引渡) him to Japan. Watson is a Canadian-American citizen and he's a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Watson's direct action tactics include high-seas confrontations with whaling vessels. Japan has accused Watson and Sea Shepherd of endangering whalers’ lives during operations in the Antarctic Ocean. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 170-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,228 on turnover of 10-billion N-T. The market closed sharply lower - falling by more than 370 points on Thursday. This is despite Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing recouping some of it's loses from the previous session. Analysts say bargain hunters jumped-in to the market late in the trading day to pick up T-S-M-C stocks. The old economy sector attracted investor interest. The financial sector outperformed the broader market to stem the downturn at the bottom of the session. Drivers and Pedestrians Must Seek Shelter during Next Week's Wanan Defense Traffic controls will be imposed and pedestrians will be required to go seek shelter during next week's 30-minute-long Wanan air defense drills. The drills will be taking place in central Taiwan next Monday, in the north on Tuesday, the east and outlying islands on Wednesday and in the south on Thursday. All of the drill will run from 1:30 to 2PM. Interior Minister Liu Shi-fang says local governments will each issue an air defense alert. They will use television, radio, police patrol car broadcasts and other broadcast systems at villages and schools during the drills to enhance the coverage of the air-raid warning. Text message alerts will also be sent to people's mobile phones. Drivers must immediately park and, along with pedestrians (行人), follow police instructions to enter the nearest air raid shelter. Those caught violating the rules face a fine of up to 150,000 N-T. US More Details on Trump Attack The US Secret Service was reportedly told about a 'suspicious (可疑的) man' using a rangefinder. This happened 20 minutes before a gunman opened fire at Donald Trump on Saturday. Sally Patterson reports. Canada Female Military Chief A woman has become the top commander of Canada's military for the first time. Gen. Jennie Carignan officially took over command of the Canadian Armed Forces in a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Thursday. Carignan was promoted to the rank of general during the change-of-command ceremony. She was chosen by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to become Canada’s first female defense chief. Trudeau praised Carignan as someone of the right caliber (水準；才能) to take over. He points out she is the first woman to lead the military of any Group of 20 country. Cambodia Finds Rare Siamese Crocodile Eggs Officials in Cambodia say conservationists have found 106 eggs of rare Siamese crocodile species in a western Cambodian wildlife sanctuary. They say it was the biggest discovery in the last 20 years, giving new hope for the world’s rarest crocodile species' survival (生存) in the wild. The group discovered the species eggs in Cardamom National Park in May. Officials say between June 27 and 30, a total of 60 eggs successfully hatched. It’s believed only about 1,000 Siamese crocodiles remain in the wild, with more than 300 of them in Cambodia. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 396-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,373 on turnover of 13.6-billion N-T. The market lost more than 200 points on Wednesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing share price tumbled after Donald Trump once again claimed that Taiwan had taken "100-per cent" of America's "chip business." Analysts say Trump's comments and his being seen as possibly winning November's U-S election are raising concerns that T-S-M-C's global expansion will be affected if he returns to the White House. Cabinet Launches Task Force to Tackle Economic Issues Premier Cho Jung-tai has announced the establishment of a Cabinet-level task force which will be responsible for formulating (制定) policies to tackle various economic issues. The Economic Development Commission will convene (召開) for the first time today. According to the premier, the first issue on the agenda will be discussion refarding how Taiwan can further attract overseas investors and skilled workers. The premier says other issues, including driving innovation, modifying taxation rules, raising salary levels and funding the construction of social housing will also be discussed by the task force in the future. Hsinchu County Magistrate Indicted on Corruption Charges Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke has been indicted along with 11 other people on corruption charges. According to prosecutors, Yang and the 11 others knowingly shielded (庇護) Fong Yi Construction from legal responsibility after the company caused a severe sinkhole in the county last year. Prosecutors say Fong Yi Construction failed to properly stabilize the ground of a new residential project in order to save over 100-million N-T in costs. And the company's use of substandard materials led six collapses and sinkholes appearing on roads adjacent to the construction site between April of 2022 and April of 2023. Yang continues to serve as Hsinchu County Magistrate despite the indictment. UN says fighting in Gaza is increasing The United Nations warns that further regional spillover (溢出效應) conflict in the Middle East is increasing by the day, at a meeting on the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Jody Jacobs reports… Oman Tanker Rescue Continues Nine crew members were rescued and another died as teams searched for others after an oil tanker capsized this week off the coast of Oman, according to the country's state news agency. The tanker, the MT Prestige Falcon, had 16 crewmembers on board, mostly Indians, when it capsized in the Arabian Sea late Monday southeast off Oman's Ras Madrakah area. The cause of the capsizing (傾覆) and the condition of the tanker and its cargo were not immediately known. But the Indian navy, which sent a warship to help in the search operations, said the rescue teams were dealing with rough seas and strong winds. Brazil Illegal Dumping Leads to Fish Dieoff Several tons of fish have died along one of the main rivers in Brazil's Sao Paulo state after an alleged illegal dumping of industrial waste from a sugar and ethanol (乙醇) plant. Prosecutors say a preliminary analysis estimates that between 10 and 20 tons of fish died on the Piracicaba River. The initial investigation points to an “irregular discharge of wastewater” from Estiva’s Sao Jose plant in the community of Rio das Pedras, and it reached a stream that flows into the river. Prosecutors have requested a full report into water conditions and are waiting for further technical information before taking the next steps regarding civil and criminal liability. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 169-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,827 on turnover of 8.5-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Tuesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing led the bellwether electronics sector higher ahead of a its investor conference scheduled tomorrow. Buying was also sparked on the back of fresh investor hopes that the U-S Federal Reserve could opt to cut interest rates as early as September. MND Warning About Deepfakes Ahead of Han Kuang Exercise The Ministry of National Defense is warning about an increase in deepfake disinformation ahead of next week's live-fire phase of the Han Kuang exercise. According to defense officials, the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology has been asked to present a special report on deepfake (深度，深偽) recognition, examining the technology and its defense applications. The move comes as the defense ministry has said that misinformation often increases during the annual exercise. The defense ministry says government agencies have taken steps to reduce the impact of such misinformation, but the military is working to intercept misinformation before it can be spread. CDC Says COVID-19 and Flu Outbreaks have Now Peaked The Centers for Disease Control says both COVID-19 and flu cases have now peaked and the epidemic phases is likely pass in the coming weeks. According to C-D-C Deputy Director-General Philip Luo, emergency and outpatient department visits for both diseases have seen a week-over-week decrease of more than 10-per cent. Luo says based on that figure, the epidemic phase for COVID-19 will end mid-August, while the epidemic phase for flu will end early next month. However, Luo is stressing that a renewed (更新的) COVID-19 outbreak in the autumn cannot be ruled out. Data shows the most common COVID-19 strain detected domestically over the past four weeks is the JN.1 variant - which has accounted for 39-per cent of the total number of cases. UK Gov to Lay Out Policy in State Opening of Parliament In the UK, the state opening of Parliament is taking place later (Wednesday) to mark the official start of the new government's time in office. The ceremonial (儀式的) event is a chance for newly appointed Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lay out some of the key policies for the coming months. John Bevir reports. Brazil Old Dinosaur Bones Found A team of Brazilian scientists has discovered a skeleton of what they believe is one of the world’s oldest dinosaurs. They made their discovery after heavy rains in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul accelerated the natural process of erosion. The researchers say the fossil found next to a reservoir is around 233 million years old. That would mean the dinosaur lived during the Triassic period, when all continents were part of a single land mass. The apex predator (頂級掠食者) discovered in Rio Grande do Sul belongs to a family of dinosaurs that used to wander (行走) across lands that now make up present-day Brazil and Argentina. The size of the bones reveals that the dinosaur would have reached around 2.5 meters in length. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 169-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,827 on turnover of 8.5-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Tuesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing led the bellwether electronics sector higher ahead of a its investor conference scheduled tomorrow. Buying was also sparked on the back of fresh investor hopes that the U-S Federal Reserve could opt to cut interest rates as early as September. MND Warning About Deepfakes Ahead of Han Kuang Exercise The Ministry of National Defense is warning about an increase in deepfake disinformation ahead of next week's live-fire phase of the Han Kuang exercise. According to defense officials, the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology has been asked to present a special report on deepfake (深度，深偽) recognition, examining the technology and its defense applications. The move comes as the defense ministry has said that misinformation often increases during the annual exercise. The defense ministry says government agencies have taken steps to reduce the impact of such misinformation, but the military is working to intercept misinformation before it can be spread. CDC Says COVID-19 and Flu Outbreaks have Now Peaked The Centers for Disease Control says both COVID-19 and flu cases have now peaked and the epidemic phases is likely pass in the coming weeks. According to C-D-C Deputy Director-General Philip Luo, emergency and outpatient department visits for both diseases have seen a week-over-week decrease of more than 10-per cent. Luo says based on that figure, the epidemic phase for COVID-19 will end mid-August, while the epidemic phase for flu will end early next month. However, Luo is stressing that a renewed (更新的) COVID-19 outbreak in the autumn cannot be ruled out. Data shows the most common COVID-19 strain detected domestically over the past four weeks is the JN.1 variant - which has accounted for 39-per cent of the total number of cases. UK Gov to Lay Out Policy in State Opening of Parliament In the UK, the state opening of Parliament is taking place later (Wednesday) to mark the official start of the new government's time in office. The ceremonial (儀式的) event is a chance for newly appointed Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lay out some of the key policies for the coming months. John Bevir reports. Brazil Old Dinosaur Bones Found A team of Brazilian scientists has discovered a skeleton of what they believe is one of the world’s oldest dinosaurs. They made their discovery after heavy rains in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul accelerated the natural process of erosion. The researchers say the fossil found next to a reservoir is around 233 million years old. That would mean the dinosaur lived during the Triassic period, when all continents were part of a single land mass. The apex predator (頂級掠食者) discovered in Rio Grande do Sul belongs to a family of dinosaurs that used to wander (行走) across lands that now make up present-day Brazil and Argentina. The size of the bones reveals that the dinosaur would have reached around 2.5 meters in length. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,880 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday as investor sentiment turned cautious following the shooting incident at a campaign rally held by Donald Trump over the weekend. Analysts say the shooting has resulted in many investors - both here in Taiwan and overseas - now betting that Trump will win America's November presidential election. That's sparking concerns that a Trump victory will lead to more friction (不和、分歧) in global trade. Lawmakers Pass Revisions to Labor Standards Act to Allow Retirement Delay Lawmakers have passed amendments to Article 54 of the Labor Standards Act. The changes will allow employers to waive (放棄) the statutory retirement age for employees who wish to continue working. The move means that workers who have reached the age of 65 can now continue working after an agreement has been made with their employers. The amendments also seek to encourage employers to help healthy older workers to remain in the workplace and ensure the rights of those who wish to continue working. EVA Airways Retains Position as World's 10th Best Airline EVA Airways has retained its position as the 10th best airlines in the world in 2024 - that, according to New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure. EVA Air received an 84.85 point reader score to rank 10th in the magazine's latest International Airlines in 2024 list. Travel + Leisure asked about 186,000 readers to weigh their travel experiences. It received more than 700,000 valid (有效的) responses about top airlines, hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, and spas. The four major criteria for the best airline evaluation were cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value. EVA Airways says it carried more than 11.2-million passengers last year and is continuing to work to improve its service quality. US in "Heightened Threat Environment" US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas warns the United States is now in a "heightened threat environment" after an attack against former US President Donald Trump. But Secretary Mayorkas says he still has "100% confidence (信心)" in the Secret Service, despite Saturday's shooting. Benji Hyer was at the White House press briefing. Thailand Opens Registration for Digital Cash Handouts Thailand’s prime minister has said that eligible businesses and individuals can register from August for digital cash handouts (救濟款). The government announced in April the widely criticized ambitious plan, named the Digital Wallet. It's meant to give about $275 to 50 million citizens in digital money to spend at local businesses. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced Monday that registration will begin Aug. 1-st. The program was a major campaign promise by the ruling party ahead of last year’s general election. It is expected to cost billions of dollars and is meant to boost the lagging economy. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from Friday's close, at 23,927 on turnover of 9.1-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex tumbled more than 470-points on Friday as investors rushed to lock in gains from previous sessions. That's despite the U-S reporting cooler than expected inflation data for June overnight. Market watchers say selling was sparked by heavy losses suffered by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight - which pushed down the local bellwether electronics sector throughout the trading day. CKS Honor Guard Performs for Final Time Inside Memorial Hall The military's changing of the guard has taken place inside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall for the final time. The curtain came down in the stationing of an honor guard in front of the statue of Chiang Kai-shek on Sunday. The changing of the guard had taken place there every hour between 9AM and 5PM since the hall's opening in 1980. The Ministry of Culture announced on Friday that Sunday would be the last time the honor guard would perform inside the hall. The ministry says the move marks the first stage of removing "personal and authoritarian (獨裁的) worship." Troops will still perform a handover ceremony every hour - but it will now take place on Democracy Boulevard in front of the memorial hall. Sunday's High Hits 38.4-degrees in Pingtung And finally, The Central Weather Administration says temperatures of 37-degrees or higher were recorded in 11 cities and counties on Sunday. The highest temperature was recorded in Pingtung County's Sandimen Township - where the mercury hit 38.4-degrees at 2:50PM. Other areas also saw the mercury (水銀, 溫度) hitting 38-degrees or over. The temperature reached 38.3-degrees in New Taipei's Sanxia District, 38.2-degrees in Chiayi City and 38-degrees in Miaoli County's Houlong Township. Readings of 37-degrees or higher were also seen in Taipei, Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Changhua County, Tainan and Kaohsiung as well as in Kinmen. Israel Palestine latest Israel conducted largescale (大規模) airstrikes that local health officials say killed at least 90 people including children in southern Gaza, even as Hamas says ceasefire talks continue. Karen Chammas reports. King Charles to Visit Australia and Samoa King Charles III is preparing to visit Australia and Samoa in October. The trip, announced on Sunday by Buckingham Palace, marks a watershed moment for the 75-year-old king. The moarch has been slowly returning to public duties after taking a break following his cancer diagnosis in early February. His itinerary will span 12 time zones (時區) and test the monarch’s stamina as he recovers from cancer treatment. The palace says his program in Australia will be "limited". 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened unchanged at 24,390 this morning from yesterday's close, at 13.80-billion N-T. The market hit yet another new high on Thursday. Investors were interested in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing - which pushed its share price up by 3.35-per cent. T-S-M-C's gains in the local stock market pushed its market capitalization to 28-trillion N-T. It contributed around 284-points to the Tai-Ex's gains and boosted the electronics index by 2.05-per cent. Inbound Travelers Number Declined in April The Tourism Administration says the number of international travelers to Taiwan in April declined by 24.8-per cent compared with March. The administration is attributing the decline to travelers canceling or postponing plans to visit Taiwan following the April 3 earthquake. Data shows that travelers from Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea and Singapore cancelled the most trips. According to tourism officials, promotional videos of safe traveling in Hualien has been made. The videos emphasize that with the exception of Taroko Gorge, most of Hualien's attractions have not been effected (受到影響). Official say they have also asked travel agencies to schedule alternative attractions when making travel arrangements. US: Israel Agrees to Improved Protection for Aid Workers in Gaza The head of the U.S. agency overseeing American humanitarian assistance worldwide says Israel has agreed to use an improved system across the Gaza Strip to ensure humanitarian workers and aid can more safely move around. Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said that Israel has also taken new steps to increase the flow of aid through its port of Ashdod, just north of Gaza. Humanitarian workers have complained throughout the war that the system by which the Israeli military assures (保證) safe passage to aid has been a failure. Power said a system by which the U.N. and Israeli military communicate more closely will be extended across Gaza. US Biden Insists He Stays in Presidential Race Joe Biden has insisted that he is remaining (留下；保持) in America's Presidential race, saying that he the "best qualified" person to defeat Donald Trump. Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports. UN Report: World Population to Peak in 2080s A new U.N. report says the world’s population is set to peak in a few decades. The report on Thursday — World Population Day — says the number of people in the world is expected to continue growing, then peak at 10.3-billion in the 2080s. After that, the report suggests the global population will decline to around 10.2-billion by the end of the century. Researchers say this is due to several factors, including lower fertility (生育力) levels in some fo the world's largest countries. UN officials say “the peak is a hopeful sign", and could mean "reduced environmental pressures from human impacts due to lower aggregate consumption.” But they stressed that even with slower population growth, people will still need to individually reduce the impact of their activities to preserve the environment. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 234-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 24,242 on turnover of 8.1-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex closed higher again on Wednesday, despite tumbling more than 170-points shortly after the opening bell. Market watchers say the main board rebounded after investors opted to shrug-off concerns about U-S Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell providing little new guidance on when America's central bank might lower interest rates. DNA Discovered in Tainan Shooting Investigation The head of the Tainan City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Corps says D-N-A evidence has been found as part of its ongoing investigation into the murder of Tainan City Fisherman's Association Chairman, Lin Shi-jie. According to Zhang Wen-yuan, police could now be close to identifying the gunman who shot Lin multiple times outside his home in the city's South District early Monday morning. The police commander says the D-N-A samples were collected from two vehicles believed to have been used by the suspect, and a motel room that he stayed in the night prior to (在…之前) the shooting. Reports have said the suspect tried to burn one of the cars and poured acid into the second in an attempt to destroy evidence. Three Diplomats Under Investigation for Wrongdoing The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that three diplomats are under investigation following reports accusing them of separate acts of misconduct while in office. The statement comes after the Mirror Magazine accused the representative to Fiji Paul Chen, the representative to the World Trade Organization Luo Chang-fa and Wei Yue-han, a section chief at Taiwan's representative in the U-S, of wrongdoing. The charges include misusing public funds and inappropriately ordering subordinates (下屬) to complete personal tasks. The foreign minstry says it has now launched separate investigations into all three diplomats. UK PM Signal’s Ukraine Can Use Long Range Missiles Against Russian Territory UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has reportedly signalled (示意) that Ukraine can use British supplied long range missiles against targets inside Russian territory. Simon Gaitan reports. UN Resolution to Combat Sand and Dust Storms The U.N. General Assembly has declared 2025 to 2034 the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. As part of the decade-long initiative adopted Wednesday, the General Assembly said the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization will promote mitigation (減輕) practices in affected countries, including “sustainable land use management, agroforestry, shelter belts, afforestation/reforestation and land restoration programs.” The resolution also calls for global cooperation to enhance early warning systems and share weather information important to forecasting sand dust storms. In a 2022 report, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification said sand and dust storms have “increased dramatically in frequency in recent years.” It said storms can exacerbate respiratory illnesses, kill crops and livestock, and increase desertification, though documentation of their impact is limited. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 155-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,744 on turnover of 10--billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Tuesday, as the electronics sector continued to make solid gains on the back of a record high posted by the tech-heavy Nasdaq overnight. Despite the gains, market sentiment still saw some volatility (易變) following recent strong rallies, as investors await the conclusion of congressional testimony by U-S Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. District Court Refuses to Revoke Cheng Wen-tsan's Bail The Taoyuan District Court has refused to revoke Cheng Wen-tsan's bail after rejecting (拒絕) a detention request from prosecutors investigating allegations of corruption against the former vice premier. Cheng was released on bail of 5-million N-T this past weekend. However, the High Court ordered the district court to review that ruling after prosecutors lodged an appeal. The Taoyuan District Court has now released Cheng for a second time - but his bail has been increased to 12-million N-T. The court has also imposed an exit ban and limits on Cheng's movements. Lai Presents Olympic Flag to Taiwan's Paris Team President Lai Ching-te has presented the official flag to Taiwan's Olympic team at a ceremony in Kaohsiung. Speaking at the National Sports Training Center, Lai congratulated the 60 athletes on earning tickets to the Olympics - saying that was the result of their tireless (不知疲倦的) training. Lai emphasized the government's commitment to supporting Taiwanese athletes as they pursue their achievements and said that support provided for the national team in Paris will be "more extensive" than ever before. The team for Paris consists of 26 male and 34 female athletes who will be participating in 49 events in 16 sports categories. Russia Denies Attack on Children's Hospital in Kyiv In international news, Moscow is claiming that it wasn't responsible for (是…的原由) an attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York. Vatican Preparing Document on Women in Leadership The Vatican says its doctrine office will be preparing a document on women in leadership roles in the Catholic Church. The move is part of a new initiative to respond to longstanding demands by women to have a greater say in the church's life. The document will be written by the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith as its contribution (貢獻) to Pope Francis' big church reform process. The process is entering its second main phase with a meeting of bishops in October. The Vatican announced the details of the doctrinal document shortly after a press conference on the preparatory work for the October meeting ended. Europe's New Rocket Blasts Off And finally, Europe's newest rocket has been launched into orbit successfully on its maiden flight. The Ariane-6 was launched from French Guiana on a demonstration mission to put a clutch of satellites in orbit. The rocket was developed at a cost of 4-billion euros and is intended to be a workhorse (工作重的，負荷重的) rocket that gives European governments and companies access to space independently from the rest of the world. It already has a backlog of launch contracts, but there are worries its design could limit future prospects. Like its predecessor, the new model is expendable and a new rocket is needed for every mission. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from yesterday's close at 23,888 on turnover of 9.2-billion N-T. The market rose by more than 300 points on Monday to close at yet another all-time high. That was on the back of strong investor interest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Hon Hai. Analysts say sentiment (觀點，看法) improved after major U-S indexes hit record highs at the end of last week. It was driven by expectations of a potential rate cut by the U-S Federal Reserve in September. High Court Rescinds Bail for Former Taoyuan Mayor The High Court has revoked a decision by the Taoyuan District Court to release former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan on bail of 5-million N-T. Cheng was released on bail Saturday after being questioned by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office in connection with an investigation into corruption (貪污，腐敗) while he served as Taoyuan mayor. The High Court has ordered another bail hearing because of what it's describing as several unanswered questions left by the district court in allowing bail. The Taoyuan District Court is holding a new bail hearing this morning. Hot Weather and Thunderstorms to Continue And, The Central Weather Administration says the current pattern of hot weather and afternoon thunderstorms will continue until early next week. Monday's highest daytime temperatures was recorded in Pingtung's Chun-Ri and Shi-Zi townships. The mercury reached 36.9-degrees there. The hottest area in the north was New Taipei's San-Xia District, where the mercury topped out at 36.6-degrees. Powerful thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening dumped considerable (大量) rainfall in some areas. The heaviest rainfall was recorded in multiple areas of Tainan. 9.3-centimeters of rainfall was recorded in the city's Beihe District. While a weather station in Chiayi City recorded 9.2-centimeters of rainfall. SKorea Ends Punitive Measures Against Striking Doctors South Korea is ending all punitive (懲罰性的) steps against striking doctors. More than 12-thousand trainees have walked out since February in protest to the government increasing medical school seats. Chris Gilbert reports. Brazil Report on Bolsonaro Jewelry Embezzlement Unsealed Brazil’s Federal Police allege former President Jair Bolsonaro embezzled jewelry worth about $1.2 million during his time in office. The report on its investigation was unsealed Monday by the Brazilian Supreme Court. It, alleges there was “a criminal association for the embezzlement of high-value gifts that were received due to the position of former President Jair Bolsonaro.” The jewelry included diamond-encrusted Rolex watches, a necklace, rings and cufflinks (袖扣), among other items. The report says some of the presents were given to government staffers acting on Bolsonaro’s behalf during international trips. Bolsonaro was indicted last week charging embezzlement, asset laundering and criminal association in connection with luxury jewelry. The investigation adds pressure to the far-right leader who governed in 2019-2022 before losing his reelection bid to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He has already lost his political rights until 2030. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening Tai-Ex opening marginally lower this morning from Friday's close, at 23,550 on turnover of 4.2-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Friday despite fluctuating (波動的) for much of the session as investors await June sales reports from some of the top listed companies on the Tai-Ex. Those monthly reports are due out on Wednesday. Former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan Steps down as SEF Head Former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan has stepped down from his post as Straits Exchange Foundation chairman. The move comes after the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office released him on bail of 5-million N-T this past weekend. According to the foundation, Cheng resigned in order to "avoid disrupting (擾亂)" the organization' operations and "will fight to clear his name through the judicial process." Cheng was summoned for questioning as part of an investigation into a corruption case during his two terms as Taoyuan mayor Although the prosecutors' office has not released further details of the investigation reports are saying the case involves the re-designation of land use. National Airborne Service Corps Called in for Miaoli Landfill Fire And, The Miaoli County Fire Bureau has been forced to call the National Airborne Service Corps for assistance in fighting a landfill fire. According to the bureau, they called for a helicopter to drop water on the fire some six hours after the blaze was reported and after it had spread to an area of over one hectare. The bureau says firefighters were unable to reach a part of the landfill where there were piles of mattresses (床墊) close to wooded area. The landfill is located in a suburb of Miaoli City and it's the second time in less than a year that is has caught fire. Japan Philippines to Hold Security Talks Japan and the Philippines are holding security talks in Manila on Monday. The meeting is expected to result in a new defense pact (協定) between the two countries. Chris Gilbert reports. Ecuador Rules Rights of River Violated A court in Ecuador has ruled that pollution has violated the rights of a river that runs through the capital, Quito. The city government appealed the unusual ruling, which is based on an article of Ecuador’s Constitution that recognizes the rights of natural features like the Machangara River. Activists who filed the complaint said Sunday the decision is “historic.” The court ruled that while appeals proceed, the government will have to come up with a plan to clean up the Machangara. The city of 2.6 million people dumps all sorts of effluents and contaminants into the Machangara, which starts high in the Andes mountains. The river has average levels of 2% oxygen, which makes it difficult for aquatic (水棲的) life to thrive. Ecuador is one of the few countries that recognize the rights of natural features not to be degraded or polluted. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 9-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,532 on turnover of $4.8-billion N-T. The market gained more then 350 points on Thursday to close at a new high on the back of increased investor optimism over the business outlook for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. T-S-M-C led the upturn on the local main board, while other tech stocks also steamed ahead to add to the rally. The rally by T-S-M-C comes as the company is set to hold an earnings call on July 18 Police Dog Finds Evidence in Money Laundering Case The Kaohsiung City Police Department says an electronic storage device detection dog has played a major role in locating key evidence in a money laundering case that led to multiple indictments. According to the department's Criminal Investigation Corps, the dog named, "Wafer," located two mobile phones that contained crucial evidence following raids on three site suspected of being used as bases for money laundering. Prosecutors have now indicted 12 people in connection with the investigation. According to prosecutors, the case centered on an individual who rented property in Kaohsiung and Pingtung to use a bases to assist with transfers of illicit cash from overseas gambling websites and Ponzi scheme websites. Police estimate that the group laundered over 5.1-billion N-T over a six month period. Wafer is Taiwan's first and currently only electronic storage device detection dog. Russia Announces India PM Visit The Kremlin says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia next Monday and Tuesday and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit was first announced by Russian officials last month, but the dates had not been previously disclosed (公開). Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhi’s importance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Japan Survey Finds Groping on Trains Widespread Molestation on Japan’s crowded trains is back in the spotlight (引起大眾關注) as new data shows one in ten young people have been groped. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Cambodia Welcomes Return of Sculptures Cambodia’s culture minister is welcoming the return this week of 14 sculptures that had been looted from the country during a period of war and unrest. The items repatriated from the collection New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art were made between the 9th and 14th centuries in the Angkorian period and reflect the Hindu and Buddhist religious systems prevailing at that time. Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts described it as a ’historic homecoming (返家) of national treasures” followed several years of negotiations between Cambodia’s art restitution team, U.S. federal prosecutors in New York, investigators from the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security and the Metropolitan Museum. 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

CGA Links Seizure of Fishing Boat to New China Coast Guard Rule Tai-Power Chair Stresses Need for Efficient Energy Market to Reach Net Zero Goal Britain elections in the U.K. Israeli Airstrike Hits Residential Building Next Medical Center in Khan Younis Slovakia Court OKs Amendments to Penal Code -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 130-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,009 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market lost almost 180-points as investors rushed to lock-in gains in the bellwether electronics sector. Hon Hai led the downturn in the electronics sector, falling by 2.85-per cent, as its share price failed to return to its prior ex-dividend level. While Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing also moved lower, as it saw profit taking following recent solid gains on the back of investor interest in artificial intelligence development-related stocks. Domestic Carbon Credit Sales to Begin on TCX in September or October The Ministry of Environment says it expects sales of domestic carbon credits on the Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange to begin by late September or early October. The statement comes after the exchange listed its first green carbon project earlier this week. That project was a reforestation initiative in eastern Paraguay and carbon credits for the project are now available for purchase. The government has also now publicly released the regulations on the trade and transfer of domestic carbon credits from voluntary (自主性) emission reduction projects - which are set to be introduced on August 15. Weekly New COVID-19 Cases Hit Year's Highest Level The Centers for Disease says a total of 932 new COVID-19 cases with complications (併發症) were reported last week - and that's the highest weekly level for this year. According to the C-D-C, the number of confirmed local cases reported between June 25 and July 1 was up 14-per cent from the previous week. Data shows there were approximately 100,000 COVID-19-related visits to emergency and outpatient departments made last week. The C-D-C says the pandemic will continue to rise and weekly visits to emergency rooms for COVID-19-related illnesses are expected peak in mid-July at 120,000 before subsequently declining slowly. Okinawa Protests Cases of Alleged Sexual Assault by US Personnel Locals in Japan’s Okinawa region are protesting two cases of alleged sexual assault (性侵害) by US military personnel. The Pentagon says it’s closely tracking the cases which have fueled local anger. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Chile White Rhino Birth at Zoo A 13-year-old Southern white rhinoceros has delivered a newborn calf in a rare zoo birth for the almost endangered species. The arrival of the male calf, named Silverio, just over a week ago was the third time that a white rhino had ever been born in South America. The zoo in Chile’s capital of Santiago presented Silverio to the public on Tuesday as he took his first steps after 12 days of medical care in confinement (限、禁閉). The zoo hailed his birth as a “big achievement” for efforts to conserve the threatened species. Southern white rhinos, have been classified as “nearly endangered”, and there are just over 10-thousand individuals left in the world, the vast majority of them in zoos. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 45-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,012 on turnover of 7.1-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Monday as investors opted to take advantage of the main board's initial gains. Large cap tech stocks saw some profit taking, but still served to stabilize the broader market throughout the trading day. Control Yuan Seeking Constitutional Court Ruling on LY Reform Bills The Control Yuan has officially petitioned the Constitutional Court for a ruling on the constitutionality of government oversight amendments passed by the Legislature in May -- arguing they will allow the legislative body to usurp (奪取) its power. The petition was filed by the head of the Control Yuan's Department of Supervisory Investigation and an attorney on behalf of the government watchdog at the Judicial Yuan in Taipei. They also filed an application for an injunction to halt enforcement of the revisions to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power and the Criminal Code. The D-P-P's legislative caucus and the Cabinet filed similar petitions last week. First Green Carbon Project Listed on Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange The Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange has listed its first green carbon project. According to the T-C-X the newly listed project is an afforestation (造林) initiative in eastern Paraguay and carbon credits for the project are now available for purchase. The T-C-X says it expects its will generate (產生) carbon credits for 10,000 tons of carbon. The exchange is not providing any further details on the nature of the project or how far along it is. However, the T-C-X says it's crucial for Paraguay to receive support to develop and protect forests and promote carbon reduction initiatives because its current regulations on forest cultivation are underdeveloped. Boeing Crash Families Disatisfied with Plea Agreement Families of the victims from two major crashes involving Boeing aircraft are said to be unhappy with a plea agreement (認罪協商) reportedly offered to the company in recent days. Mitch McCann reports: Turkey Mediating Somalia Ethiopia Talks Turkey says it has mediated (調解) talks between Somalia and Ethiopia to ease diplomatic tensions between the east African neighbors. Turkey's Foreign Ministry says that the Ethiopian and Somalian foreign ministers were “able to separately have a candid, cordial and forward-looking exchange” on Monday concerning their differences. A second round of discussions is planned in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Sept. 2. Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with the breakaway region of Somaliland in January, which Somalia denounced as infringing upon its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The memorandum was to allow Ethiopia’s access to the sea through Somaliland and in return Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent country. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from Friday's close, at 23,042 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Friday as the main board jumped over technical hurdles ahead of the 23,000 point mark by the end of the session. Both Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Hon Hai made solid gains and served as an anchor for the broader market. Singer Lauds 'Tiananmen' Remarks as Highlighting Taiwan's Value Taiwanese singer and activist Panai Kusui says China's censoring of her remarks about the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 at the Golden Melody Awards ceremony has highlighted Taiwan's value. Speaking after the 35th Golden Melody Awards ceremony at the Taipei Arena, Panai told reports that the "value of freedom can be felt at this moment - and she "hopes everyone will cherish what we have now." Panai's agent also cited her as saying that China's "actions further underscored (強調) the precious freedom in Taiwan." The Indigenous singer won the Best Taiwanese Album category for "Ia-Po." Mercury Hits 41°C in Taitung The Central Weather Administration says it recorded a temperature of 41-degree in Taitung on Sunday. That was the hottest in Taiwan so far this year. The high temperature was recorded in Tai-Ma-Li Township at 1:35PM. According to the weather administration, the high temperature was driven by the occurrence of foehn winds in the county. Similar heat also affected northern and central parts of the island - with Taipei recording a high of 39.1-degrees and a high of 37.3-degrees being recorded in Yunlin County. The weather administration's forecast center says the current heat wave due to foehn winds will last until tomorrow, when the wind direction will change to mostly southeasterly winds and the foehn winds in the southeast will weaken. US Supreme Court to Rule on Trump Immunity The US Supreme Court is expected to give its ruling on Monday on the case concerning Donald Trump's claims of presidential immunity (主權豁免). The former US President faces four charges related to attempts to subvert (顛覆) the results of the 2020 election. Our Washington Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the details Netherlands Outgoing PM Urges Support for Ukraine Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has urged his country to support Ukraine and international cooperation in his final address to his compatriots. The 57-year-old Rutte said from his office in The Hague that it is "crucial" that the Netherlands "is embedded in the European Union and NATO", and said the countries are stronger together than alone. His farewell speech on Sunday came as a new government is set to take over the Netherlands on Tuesday. Rutte, who led the country for 14 years, will take over as NATO’s new secretary-general later this year. The new Dutch government has pledged (保證) to maintain assistance for Ukraine. But far-right populist Geert Wilders whose party won last year’s election has expressed pro-Russia views and Kremlin backers cheered his victory at the polls. 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

MOEA approves TSMC's additional investment plans for Japan, U.S. Taiwan Aid Speeding to House Passage in State Department Bill Mongolia Election today Slovakia Train Crash caused 7 deaths US Presidential Debate, the 1st round -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

MOEA approves TSMC's additional investment plans for Japan, U.S. Taiwan Aid Speeding to House Passage in State Department Bill Mongolia Election Today Slovakia Train Crash caused 7 deaths US Presidential Debate, the 1st round -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

MOEA approves TSMC's additional investment plans for Japan, U.S. Taiwan Aid Speeding to House Passage in State Department Bill Mongolia Election Today Slovakia Train Crash caused 7 deaths US Presidential Debate, the 1st round -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 127-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,860 on turnover of $8.2-billion N-T. The market continued its momentum from the previous session on Wednesday to close moderately higher, as large cap artificial intelligence development-related tech stocks gained ground after rebounded on Wall Street overnight. However, funds rotated out of the non-tech sector, in particular financial stocks, to cap the upturn ahead of the 23,000-point mark. Net emissions in 2022 down 1.77% from 2005 The Ministry of Environment has released its latest National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report - which indicates that net emissions have declined since 2022. According to the report, emissions totaled 264.13 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (相等的) in 2022 - and that represented a decrease of 1.77-per cent from the baseline year of 2005. The ministry says the figures for 2022 emissions also represents a decrease of 4.07-per cent from 2021. Officials say net emissions of 264.13 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent are calculated by taking total emissions of 285.97 million metric tons and deducting the carbon sink of 21.83 million metric tons. The earliest records Greenhouse Gas emissions date back to 1990 and peaked in 2007. The Ministry of Environment says compared to global trends, which saw energy-related CO2 emissions grow by 1.3-per cent from 2021 to 2022, Taiwan's emissions saw a decrease over that same period. NKorea Claims Successful Test of Multiwarhead Missile North Korea says it successfully tested a multiwarhead missile, a sophisticated (複雜的) weapon coveted by leader Kim Jong Un to overwhelm missile defenses in the continental United States. The statement contradicted South Korea’s assessment of a failed launch. North Korea's state media says today that the launch tested the separation and guidance control of individual mobile warheads. It said they were guided correctly to their targets and a decoy that separated from the missile was verified by radar. It was North Korea’s first known launch event related to the development of a multiwarhead missile, though outside experts believe it was a preliminary test. South Korea had evaluated Wednesday's launch as a solid-fueled hypersonic missile that blew up over water. China’s slams US Ambassador’s comments about Beijing interference BUT… Beijing has hit back after the US Ambassador accused China of of getting in the way of people to people ties. Nicholas Burns told the Wall Street Journal Beijing was "taking dramatic (驟然的) steps to make it impossible" for citizens from both sides to reconnect. Jagruti Dave has more. That was Jagruti Dave. Sri Lanka Announces Debt Restructuring Plan Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced a debt restructuring deal with countries including India, France, Japan and China in a televised address to the nation. The agreement marks a key step in the country’s economic recovery after defaulting on debt repayment in 2022. Sri Lanka is in an International Monetary Fund bailout program. The debt treatment deal is expected to reopen the doors to bilateral transactions and the resumption of foreign projects that stalled when the island nation defaulted (拖欠，不履行債務). Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and suspended repayments on some $83 billion in domestic and foreign loans. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 62-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,938 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Tuesday. Select large cap tech stocks recouped early losses following a plunge by Nvidia on Wall Street overnight. The rebound helped the local main board overcame stiff technical resistance ahead of the 22,567-point mark. That was the intraday high seen on June 17. Premier Announces Plans for Constitutional Interpretation of LY Power Bills Premier Zhuo Rong-tai says the Cabinet is now finalizing plans to request a constitutional interpretation as soon as possible on the constitutionality (符合憲法) of legislative reform bills passed by lawmakers. According to Zhuo, all branches of government must respect each other's roles under the Constitution. They must perform their duties accordingly and he hope once the court has issued its decision, it will reinforce cooperation among the five branches of government The D-P-P is seeking a similar ruling from the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of the amendments to the Law Governing the Legislature's Power and the Criminal Code. While the Control Yuan has also announced that it will also seek a Constitutional Court ruling on the recently passed amendments. CWA Predicting Two to Four Typhoons to be Near Taiwan this Year The Central Weather Administration says between two and four typhoons are likely to be in the vicinity of Taiwan between now and November. According to Forecast Center director Chen Yi-liang, that number is slightly lower than the average of three to five. This reflects the weakening El Nino weather pattern and the possibility of a La Nina weather pattern approaching. Chen says under those conditions, there are typically fewer typhoons. But their routes will be more likely to come near Taiwan. And if a typhoon forms near the island, its intensity will be limited by disruption (破壞) by unfavorable surroundings or land. UN Threatens to Halt Aid Deliveries in Gaza The United Nations says it may halt aid deliveries to Gaza. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said indiscriminate (不分青紅皂白) attacks on convoys are impeding the delivery of aid. It's now emerged that senior U.N. officials told Israel they will suspend aid operations unless urgent steps are taken to better protect humanitarian workers. Jody Jacobs reports… Report: Global Tax on Super Rich Proposed A global tax on the super-rich is proposed in a new report that Brazil commissioned for its current presidency of the leading 20 rich and developing nations. The proposal says individuals with more than $1 billion in total assets would be required to pay the equivalent of 2% of their wealth in income tax. It says the tax would raise $200 billion to $250 billion per year globally from about 3,000 individuals. The money could fund public services such as education and healthcare as well as the fight against climate change. The issue of inequality is a priority (優先，重點) for Brazil in its G20 presidency. 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

President Lai Says Autocracy is the Crime, not democracy President Lai Ching-te said that autocracy (專制主義), not democracy (民主主義), is deserving of punishment (懲罰). The president's remarks come in response to the recent threat (威脅) by Chinese authorities (大陸官員) imposing the death penalty (死刑) on "diehard" advocates (頑固的支持者) of Taiwan independence (臺獨). The President added that China has no right nor jurisdiction (管轄權) to punish Taiwanese people for expressing their opinions or stances, stating that according to China's logic, not supporting unification (不支持統一) is the same as supporting Taiwan independence (等於支持台灣獨立). Lai called on (呼籲) China to accept the existence of the Republic of China and engage in exchanges (交流) with Taiwan's democratically-elected government. He said that's the only way to protect the welfare (福利) of those on both sides of the Taiwan Strait (台灣海峽兩岸). The president also expressed condolences (表示慰問) to those impacted by the deadly rain in southern China and said he hopes post-disaster reconstruction (災後重建) goes well. Lai welcomes Saint Kitts and Nevis PM with military salute Meanwhile, President Lai Ching-te welcomed Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister (聖克里斯多福及尼維總理) Terrence Drew with a military salute ceremony (軍禮儀式) in Taipei Monday. Lai said that Drew's frequent visits to Taiwan demonstrated the nation's high regard for bilateral ties (雙邊關係). This is Drew's second state visit (國事訪問) since taking office in August 2022. Both leaders emphasized shared values of democracy and human rights (人權) and expressed commitment to deepening cooperation (深化合作) since their diplomatic relations began in 1983. President Lai also thanked Drew for calling for justice and demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan on the international stage (國際舞台). Drew said his ongoing trip to Taiwan held "great importance", and thanked Taiwan for its support and technical assistance (技術援助) and underscored Taiwan's significant global economic role and contributions to various global challenges. The visit included a 21-gun salute and national anthems (國歌), with both Drew and Lai inspecting honor guards. Drew's delegation, which arrived Saturday for a five-day visit, includes his wife and senior cabinet members. EU has plan to use Russian frozen assets: Foreign Policy Chief The European Union's foreign policy chief (歐盟外交政策負責人) says a plan has been devised to ensure (確保) Ukraine receives funds through Russian frozen assets (凍結的俄羅斯資產). EU foreign ministers convened (召開會議) on how to navigate Hungary's opposition to support for Kyiv. Charles de Ledesma reports. Israel Hamas latest The viability (可行性) of a U.S.-backed proposal to wind down the war in Gaza is in doubt … after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only agree to a “partial” cease-fire deal (部分停火協議) that would not end the war. His comments were made in an interview with a pro-Netanyahu Israeli TV channel and sparked an uproar (引起強烈反應) from families of hostages held by Hamas. This comes as Israel's Defense Minister (國防部長) Yoav Gallant is in Washington DC for what he's describing as "critical" talks (關鍵會談) on the fighting in Gaza and escalating tensions on the border with Lebanon, exchanges of fire which are stoking fears of an all-out war (全面戰爭). Benji Hyer reports. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. 2024 Han Kuang Exercises Focuses on 24/7 Drills The upcoming live-fire phase of the annual Han Kuang military exercises will be focusing on testing troops' responses to decentralized command, the updated Rules of Engagement), and 24/7 operational scenarios. This year's 40th edition began with the tabletop war games phase, conducted from April 19 to 26. The live-fire exercise component (部分) is scheduled to take place from July 22 to 26. According to defense officials, the live-fire exercises will prioritize tests on troops' capabilities to fend off Chinese invasion 24/7, grassroot troops' preparedness to launch counterstrikes individually, and troops' ability to follow updated R-O-E during counterstrikes. Fire at Hualien Pet Shop Destroy Five Two-Story Houses And, Fire investigators are looking into the cause of a blaze at a pet store in Hualien that destroyed five two-story houses. Officials say due to the degree of destruction, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. According to the Hualien County Fire Department, it received a report Saturday evening that flames were spotted coming out of a house. The house was later identified as a pet store next to a Burger King chain restaurant. The flames quickly spread to the adjacent (鄰近的) stores, which were all between 40 to 50-years-old. More than 20 pet dogs were rescued from the scene, including 20 owned by the fire-hit pet store. One dog died. NKorea Could Ratify Russia Treaty This Week North Korean leaders are set to hold a key party meeting this week following the signing of a security treaty with Russia. The two countries on Wednesday agreed to mutually (互相) assist each other if they are attacked,. Chris Gilbert has more. Houthi Drone Damages Red Sea Vessel An aerial drone launched (發射) by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck and damaged a vessel in the Red Sea. The drone attack happened around dawn Sunday off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida. That's according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. The U.S. military’s Central Command said several mariners on the bulk carrier suffered minor injuries from the attack. Hajj Pilgrimage Heat Sees Over 1Thousand Dead More than 1,300 people died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as the faithful faced soaring (上升) temperatures at Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi health minister said 83% of the fatalities were among unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in soaring temperatures. Egyptian officials said more than 660 of the dead were from Egypt. The fatalities included 165 pilgrims from Indonesia, 98 from India and dozens more from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Malaysia, according to an Associated Press tally. Two U.S. pilgrims were also reported dead. Daily high temperatures exceeded 46 degrees Celsius, on some days. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 212-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,194 on turnover of 14.9-billion N-T. The market continued to gain ground on Thursday - despite thinner trading compared to the previous session. Wall Street was closed overnight in observance of Juneteenth. MOFA Stressed Taiwan-Haiti Ties Remain Solid The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan formal diplomatic ties with Haiti's transitional government are solid. According to the ministry's Office of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Taiwan's ambassador to the Caribbean nation, Gu Wen-jian has established friendly interactions with Haiti's key officials. Those officials include Haiti's interim prime minister, its foreign minister and the head of the Transitional Presidential Council. The foreign ministry says Gu has informed them that Taiwan looks forward to Haiti's continued progress in restoring (恢復) constitutional and social order. The minister also says Taiwan aims to strengthen cooperation with Haiti's new administration to deepen their diplomatic ties. Haiti's new Cabinet was formally inaugurated on June 12. SKorea Considers Sending Arms to Ukraine South Korea says it will consider sending arms to Ukraine after Russia and North Korea rattled the region and beyond. They signed a pact to come to each other’s defense in the event of war. The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a statement condemning the agreement. He called it a threat to his country's security and a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, and warned that it would have negative consequences on Seoul’s relations with Moscow. The comments came hours after North Korea’s state media released the details of the agreement. Observers say it could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. It comes at a time when Russia faces growing isolation over its war in Ukraine and both countries face escalating (增加, 加劇. ) standoffs with the West. Climate Change Makes Extremem Heat More Likely in USMexicoCentralAmerica Climate change made extreme heat felt in the United States, Mexico and Central America around 35 times more likely, according to scientists. The World Weather Attribution says many extreme weather events are becoming more frequent (頻繁) and intense as a result of global warming. Sally Patterson reports from New York. France Joins Africa in Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator French President Emmanuel Macron has joined African leaders to kick off a planned $1 billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa. The effort comes after the coronavirus pandemic exposed gaping inequalities in access to vaccines globally. The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator will provide financial incentives (獎勵) to vaccine manufacturers. Many African leaders and advocacy groups say Africa was unfairly locked out of access to COVID-19 treatment tools, vaccines and testing equipment when the pandemic swept the globe starting in 2020. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 13-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,197 on turnover of $7.5--billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday. The market gained by more than 450 points to close at a new record high amid continuing investor optimism (樂觀) over growth in artificial intelligence development. Coast Guard Undeterred by China's New Maritime Rule The Coast Guard Administration says a new regulation implemented (實施) by China's Coast Guard last week will not affect the way it enforces the law at sea. China's new regulation took effect on June 15. It allows the China Coast Guard to board and hold vessels in waters it lays claim to. And it allows the Chinese Coast Guard to question and detain foreign nationals found to have violated its "exit and entry rules" for up to 60 days. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration says it has put into place principles while responding to contingencies at sea. These include guidelines on communicating with the armed forces of Taiwan and friendly nations .. .. and the administration will vigorously defend the rights and interests of Taiwan's fishing vessels and uphold national sovereignty and maritime safety. MRT Disputes Prompt Review of Priority Seating Rules The Ministry of Health says it's considering expanding access to priority seats on the Taipei MRT. The statement follows two violent confrontations (衝突) between senior citizens and younger passengers within the past nine days. According to ministry's Social and Family Affairs Administration, the proposal is aimed at changing the clause in the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act to include more potential users. That act currently mandates that public transport facilities without reserved seats set aside priority seats for the "disabled, elderly, women and children". The number of priority seats must be no less than 15-per cent of available seats. Officials say the planned amendment will seek to replace the wording with "those with other actual needs." Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says that the metro operator will discuss the issue with regulatory authorities. UN investigation finds Israel and Hamas responsible for war crimes An Independent UN investigations team that's found Israel committed (犯（罪、錯) war crimes in Gaza has officially presented its findings to the Human Rights Council. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory headed by Navi Pillay investigated the military attacks in Gaza since 7 October last year. It also says Hamas is responsible for war crimes committed in Israel. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York. Ecuador Blackout After Transmission Line Failure Ecuador's government reported a failure in an energy transmission line has produced an unexpected blackout throughout the country. Just days earlier, the government announced that there would be new power outages in the country due to production problems. Officials say the failure was reported by the country’s National Electricity Operator and caused “a cascade disconnection (斷開),” leaving the nation without energy service. In some sectors of the country the outage lasted 20 minutes. But media outlets and social media users reported that the problem remained in most cities and even in some hospital areas. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 101-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,858 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex closed at another record high on Tuesday, led by solid gains posted by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing following a rally among tech stocks on Wall Street overnight. T-S-M-C's gains contributed about 180 points to the main board's rise to push both electronics and the semiconductor sub-index higher during the trading day. Weekly COVID Cases Nearly Double The Centers for Disease Control says weekly COVID-19 cases have nearly doubled. Data shows that a total of 623 new locally transmitted cases were reported from between June 11 and 17 - and that's up from 329 cases during the previous week. According to the C-D-C, the rise in domestic cases means that Taiwan is now in the pandemic phase - and mathematical modeling suggests the currently wave will peak in August and September, with a decline (衰退) expected after September. The C-D-C is encouraging people who have not yet received the X-B-B vaccine to get a shot as soon as possible. MOA to Cull Hens Amid Over Supply of Eggs The Ministry of Agriculture says it plans to cull 1.8-million hens on a monthly basis beginning later this month due to an oversupply eggs. The statement comes after a week after the ministry said it will be culling 1.2-million hens per month. According to the ministry, its hoped the move will cut daily egg production to approximately (大約) 120,000 crates, from the current 121,600 crates and will reduce the number of egg-laying hens from the current 35.7-million to between 33 and 34-million. The ministry says it chose to increase the number of hens culled as oversupply issues are continuing, despite the price of eggs dropping to 50 N-T a box at leading supermarket chains. Kim and Putin Meet in Pyongyang The leaders of Russia and North Korea are holding their first summit (會議) in Pyongyang in 24 years. Russian president Vladimir Putin arrived to a hug and handshake from his counterpart Kim Jong-un on Wednesday. Chris Gilbert reports. McKellen Looks Forward to Returning to Work After Fall Veteran actor Ian McKellen says he is looking forward to returning to work after toppling off a London stage during a play and being hospitalized. The 85-year-old actor known for playing Gandalf in the “Lord of the Rings” said on Tuesday that doctors had assured (保證) him his recovery would be “complete and speedy.” The actor said he was looking forward to returning to work. McKellen was playing John Falstaff in a production of “Player Kings” when he fell at the Noel Coward Theatre on Monday. The theater was evacuated (疏散) and the play was canceled. McKellen is one of Britain's most acclaimed Shakespearean actors, with roles including Richard III, Macbeth and King Lear. 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

Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 193-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,690 on turnover of 8.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday after initial gains were eroded. Investors took cues from a lackluster (黯淡無光) performance on Wall Street at the end of last week. Hon Hai managed to buck the downturn, to hit a 16-year high at the close. This provided some support to the broader market amid optimism toward the company's efforts in artificial intelligence development. ---------------------------- MOI Warns Against Chinese Influence in Political Parties In news from and about Taiwan this morning, The Ministry of the Interior is warning members of the public against forming political parties under the influences of foreign forces. The call comes amid allegations that a Chinese entity (實體) has recently attempted to recruit Taiwanese celebrities to establish the "Taiwan Pro-Peace Party." According to the interior ministry, people have the right to form political parties. But the ministry says they cannot accept instructions (指示) or funding from foreign forces. The ministry says that would violate the National Security Act and the Anti-Infiltration Act. ---------------- Consumers' Foundation to File Class Action in Fatal Food Poisoning Case The Consumers' Foundation has announced it has begun the process of collecting documents from victims of the Malaysian restaurant chain food poisoning outbreak. The foundation is set to file a class action. Foundation Chairman Wu Rong-da says 30 people have so far expressed support for the filing of a lawsuit on their behalf. This includes the families of the six individuals who died. The foundation's legal team says defendants in the case will include the restaurant chain as well as the chef, Far Eastern Department Stores, which hosts the restaurant branch and FoodRepublic, the company that runs the food court at the department store. ------------------------------- Russian President Putin Visits NKorea Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting North Korea today, It’s his first state visit to Pyongyang in 24 years. Chris Gilbert reports. ------------------------------------ EU Gives Final Approval for Nature Restoration Plan European Union countries have given final approval to a major and long-awaited plan to better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc. The Nature Restoration plan is part of the EU’s European Green Deal that seeks to establish the world’s most ambitious (要求高的；需要極大努力的) climate and biodiversity targets. Under the new law, EU countries will be required to restore at least 30% of habitats such as forests, rivers, grasslands, wetlands, lakes and coral beds deemed in poor condition by 2030. This percentage is set to increase to 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. The law also introduces specific requirements for measures to reverse the decline of pollinators. The plan was finally adopted at a meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg after rallying the required support from a qualified majority. Austria's vote in favor of the plan helped to break the stalemate. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 36-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,468 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T. The market rose to yet another closing high last Friday to hit 22,500-points as investors were boosted by the continuing frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology. This sent the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ to record highs on Wall Street overnight. Lai Touts Whampoa Spirit at Centennial President Lai Ching-te has attended centennial celebrations of the Whampoa Military Academy in Kaohsiung. Speaking at the event at the R-O-C Military Academy, Lai said over its 100-year history, the institution has trained thousands of troops who have fought for the nation's survival. He says the spirit (精神) of "Whampoa" follows where the R-O-C goes. And he also vowed to further strengthen the nation's defensive capabilities while promoting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Taipower to Adjust Power Capacity for Peak Travel Season Tai-Power says it will review and adjust its electricity supply for the outlying islands during the peak summer season. The statement comes Liuqiu Island lost power for an hour on Saturday. According to the state-generator, the power outage hit the island off the northwest coast of Pingtung at around 7:30PM. The outage was the result of hot weather and large numbers of tourists turning on electrical appliances. The result was power demand of 12,475-kilowatts - a record high. The system tripped because of the overload (超載), causing the blackout. Tai-Power was able to restore the area's electricity in about an hour. Seoul Uges Doctors to Cancel Walkout South Korea’s Prime Minister is urging doctors to cancel a planned walkout this week. The strike is expected to escalate (加劇) a long running standoff between the government and medical community over wages, conditions, and staffing. Chris Gilbert reports. Countries Call for Ukraine Territorial Integrity in Peace Deal Nearly 80 countries have jointly called for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war. Some key developing nations at the Swiss conference did not join in. The joint communique capped the two-day conference marked by the absence (缺席) of Russia, which was not invited. Many attendees hoped Moscow could join in on a roadmap to peace in the future. India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates were among countries that did not sign the final document. NewCaledonia Shortening Curfes The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is shortening its overnight curfew. It's also reopening its international airport that was closed to commercial flights for more than a month because of deadly violence. The archipelago's high commissioner said Sunday the La Tontouta airport that links New Caledonia’s capital, to Sydney, Tokyo and other Pacific hubs (中心) will reopen today. The commissioner also said the curfew is being shortened by two hours, its start pushed back from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Violence that flared on May 13-th over controversial (有爭議的) voting reforms led to nine deaths and widespread destruction of shops, businesses and homes. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 0.1-point this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,312 on turnover of $7.3-billion N-T. The market hit yet another high on Thursday. It rose by more than 260-points on the back of a surge in investor interest in large tech stocks. This comes after a strong showing on Wall Street overnight. The new closing high was led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Hon Hai. Investors were also relieved to see inflationary pressures (通膨壓力) in the U-S easing. That was shown by the cooler-than-expected Consumer Price Index for May. Central Bank Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged The central bank has opted to leave its key interest rates unchanged following its quarterly policymaking meeting. The decision was in line with market expectations. That means the discount rate remains at 2-per cent - but is still at a 15 year high. The bank also decided to lower the mortgage ceiling in certain areas from 70 to 60-per cent. That measure is meant to rein in manipulation (操縱) in the property market. UN Urges Houthis to Release Staff The heads of six U.N. agencies and three international humanitarian organizations issued a joint appeal to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. They are urging the immediate release of 17 members of their staff. The workers were recently detained along with many others also being held by the Iranian-backed group. Their appeal was echoed by a statement from several nations and the European Union ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Yemen Thursday. UN special envoy Hans Grundberg said the Houthis were holding all those detained in the crackdown incommunicado. The Houthis said Monday they had arrested members of an “American-Israeli spy network". Houthi authorities issued what they purported to be videotaped confessions by 10 Yemenis, several of whom said they were recruited (被招募) by the U.S. Embassy. They did not include any of the U.N. employees who were arrested. The Houthis’ claims could not be independently verified. TESLA SHAREHOLDERS REAFFIRM MUSK’S $56B PAY PACKAGE Tesla shareholders have voted to reinstate (恢復) CEO Elon Musk's pay package - worth up to $56 billion. It's the largest pay deal in corporate US history. But the package was struck down by a judge in January, citing its size. Toni Waterman has more from outside the Tesla gigafactory in Austin, where the vote took place. Canada Shackleton Shipwreck Found The wreck of the last ship belonging to a famous Irish-born British explorer of Antarctica has been found off the coast of Canada. The wreck was found by an international team led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. The Quest was found using sonar scans on Sunday evening, sitting on its keel under 390 meters of water. The society said Wednesday that its towering mast is lying broken beside it. They believe the mast likely cracked off as the vessel was sucked into the depths after it struck ice on May 5, 1962. The society says It won’t be brought to the surface, as that would be too expensive. But they say it will be thoroughly documented and studied. A crew will likely head out some time before the end of summer to begin taking footage of the vessel with a remotely operated vehicle. 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

Economics Minister Once Again Claims Power Supply for AI-Driven Demand Sufficient FDA Warns Consumers about Online Drug Purchases G-7 Ukraine Deal Russian Warships in Cuba Oscars Governors Awards -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 50-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,842 on turnover of $6.1-billion N-T. Shipping stocks led shares in Taiwan to close down 0.30 percent Tuesday. That was the first trading session after the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend. Freight rates to Europe from China are plunging. But analysts say select tech heavyweights appeared resilient, providing some support to the broader market. Taiwan rejects U.S. condiments due to presence of carcinogen Three shipments of seasonings imported from the United States have been returned or destroyed. They were found to contain a banned chemical. The Food and Drug Administration says the imports were intercepted (攔截) after sample testing conducted in late April and May. The tests detected the presence of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical. The problematic products were Briannas French Vinaigrette Dressing and Briannas Smoked Chipotle Marinade, both imported by Hao Shi International Co., along with A-1 Steak Sauce imported by Zhan Ying Trading Co. The FDA says products imported by the two companies will now be subject to batch-by-batch inspections. UN Cites Possible War Crimes in Israeli Operation that Freed Hostages The U.N. human rights office is citing possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups. The crimes may have been committed in connection with a deadly raid by Israeli forces that freed four hostages over the weekend. A spokesperson expressed concerns about possible violations of rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution by the Israeli forces in Saturday’s raid at the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. Palestinian health officials say at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, were killed in the operation. The spokesperson says Palestinian armed groups who are holding hostages in densely populated areas are putting the lives of nearby civilians and the hostages at “added risks” from the hostilities (戰鬥). Mexico Less Vaquita Sighted This Year Only 6 to 8 of Mexico’s critically endangered vaquita marina porpoises were sighted this year in the Gulf California. But researchers suggested Tuesday that some of the few remaining vaquitas _ the world’s most endangered marine mammal _ may have moved elsewhere in the Gulf. The gulf is the only place in the world where they live. Last year, experts estimate they saw from 10 to 13 during nearly two weeks of sailing in the Gulf. But this year, the conservation group Sea Shepherd said an expedition (考察) May 5-26, only saw a half dozen. But they also say the search was not as extensive. And no baby vaquitas were seen this year. Japan Push for Gender Gap Transparency Japan may soon require more companies to disclose gender gap data. It comes as the country ranks 118th in a new World Economic Forum gender parity (性別平等) survey. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 126-points this morning from Friday's close, at 21,984 on turnover of $11.7-billion N-T. MOEA revokes Taoyuan stoppage of 3 SRF plants in apparent U-turn The Ministry of Economic Affairs is reversing (推翻) the Taoyuan city government's decision to halt the construction of three solid recovered fuel power plants. Taoyuan officials had previously revoked permits for companies Cleanaway, Taiwan Cube Energy and Li Jiang Development due to application issues. But Cleanaway submitted an appeal. The M-O-E-A overturned the decision by the Taoyuan City Government, allowing the projects to proceed. Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng said the decision was regrettable. But he says he is committed to closely monitoring the construction of the plants to protect the health of city residents. S-R-F is a fuel made from commercial waste. It offers potential environmental benefits over coal. But it also raises concerns about pollution and recycling disincentives. Delegation led by Czech Senate vice president arrives in Taiwan Czech Senate Vice President Jiri Drahos arrived in Taiwan this week for a six-day visit at the head of a 19-member delegation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the group will meet with President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Premier Cho Jung-tai, among others. MOFA said both sides will exchange views on issues of mutual concern including the economy and trade, technology, as well as education and culture. MOFA says the two sides will also deepen cooperation in areas spanning key industries, science development and talent cultivation (人才培育)… and culture and arts. SKorea Fires Warning Shots After Border Violation Last Week South Korean media reports say South Korean soldiers fired warning shots after North Korean troops violated the border line earlier this week. Yonhap news agency says North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified (強化的) border before retreating back to their territory on Sunday. Yonhap, citing South Korea’s military, said South Korean soldiers had fired warning shots at the time. Other South Korean media outlets have published similar reports. The incident came amid rising tensions over North Korea’s recent launches of trash-carrying balloons. SKorea US Begin Nuclear Contingency Plans In related news…. The US and South Korea have begun plans to respond to a hypothetical (假定的，假設的) nuclear attack by North Korea. Officials from the two countries met for the first meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Seoul on Monday. Chris Gilbert reports. IOC: France Elections Won't Affect Paris Olympics The president of the International Olympic Committee says the snap national election called by French President Emmanuel Macron will not impact the Paris Olympics. Thomas Bach says on Monday the Paris Games have always had broad support across the French political spectrum (政治光譜). He adds there are "no indications whatsoever that this unity (一致，團結) will break now, just …before the Games open.” The French legislative elections will take place in two rounds on June 30th and July 7th. That's three weeks before the July 26 opening ceremony in central Paris. 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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 79-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,824 on turnover of $5.2-billion N-T. The market surged to another all time high on Thursday, to jump to just over the 21,900 point mark. Investors continued to rally (恢復,價格回升) around artificial-intelligence development-related stocks. Ministry of Environment Seeks Zero Waste Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming says the government is still hoping to achieve (達到) zero waste. He says new regulations on recycling will be drafted by the end of this year Speaking at a legislative committee hearing, Peng said amount of stored general waste increased from 210,000 tonnes in 2018 to 840,000 tonnes last year. That's largely due to an rise in the amount of packaging waste from online shopping and food delivery. According to Peng, the government is seeking to add five new incinerators. He says the incinerators will bring the total number of waste incinerators islandwide to 29 by the end of 2027. The environment minister said that will increase the total waste processing capacity from 6.81 million to 7-million tonnes per year. And he went on to tell lawmakers that new regulations will also be drawn up to promote recycling and reuse of certain products. Bird Flu Strains Spreading Through US Mexico There are growing concerns about strains (菌株) of bird flu infecting livestock and humans in the United States. There have been at least three confirmed cases of people developing the H5N1 virus in recent months, including in the US states of Texas and Michigan. Authorities, though, say the risk to the general public is still low. Sally Patterson reports. UN: Congo Camp Fire Leaves Families without Shelter The U.N. says a fire at a displacement camp in eastern Congo has destroyed around 50 makeshift tents. The blaze left dozens of families without shelter (庇護所). On Wednesday afternoon, the tents were reduced to ashes at the Mugunga displaced people camp near the provincial capital Goma. The United Nations said the fire is believed to have started during cooking at the camp. The UN says the same camp was hit by bomb attacks in early May, which killed at least 18 people and injured 32 others. ECB Cuts Key Interest Rate The European Central Bank cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point, moving ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve. The ECB cut its benchmark rate to 3.75% from a record high of 4% at a meeting of the bank’s 26-member rate-setting council in Frankfurt. ECB President Christine Lagarde said inflation had eased (緩解) enough for the central bank to start lowering rates. But inflation in the eurozone is expected to remain (保持) above the ECB’s 2% target into next year. Lagarde declined to say how fast or how deep any future rate cuts might be. 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