EZ News

MND Looking into Alleged Sale of Firearms Hou Hsiao-hsien Confirmed as having Alzheimer's Disease UN Security Council Fails Again to Pass Resolution on the Middle East Ukraine Evacuating Children From Front Line Areas Venezuela Probing Organizers of Weekend Presidential Primary Bud Light Returning to UFC -- 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 16,320 on turnover of 1.9-billion N-T. The market recovered from early losses and closed moderately higher on Tuesday, as late investor buying pushed up artificial intelligence development-related stocks on the back of their relatively low valuations. Taiwan and Canada Complete Negotiations on Investment Pact Taiwan and Canada have completed negotiations on a pact aimed at promoting investment and protection. According to the Office of Trade Negotiations, if ratified (正式批准), the deal "will be beneficial for Taiwanese small and medium-sized enterprises who want to expand their investment presence" in Canada and "support Taiwan's goal of achieving net-zero transformation." While Global Affairs Canada says completion of the talks highlights that Taiwan as an important trade and investment partner at a time when Canada is deepening its economic partnerships and relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides say a foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement will be formally signed after the completion of the legal text review and respective administrative procedures. DPP Lawmaker Apologizes for Affair D-P-P lawmaker Chao Tian-lin has issued a public apology and admitted to having an extramarital affair several years ago. The apology comes after photographs of Chao and a woman, who has been confirmed as being a Chinese national, were published earlier this week. Speaking to reporters at his office in Kaohsiung, Chao said his wife was aware of the affair and has forgiven him and he will not be seeking re-election in January's legislative election. Some opposition lawmakers are accusing Chao of being unfit to serve as a lawmaker while others are claiming that Chao's Chinese girlfriend was allowed to enter Taiwan under to guise (（尤指為了欺騙而裝出的）外表) of a medical-related visit. There are also calls for national security agencies to open an investigation into Chao's actions. China Replaces Defense Minister Chinese state media are reporting that the country has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. He has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation (解釋). The announcement of Li's removal was made Tuesday without further information being given. Li is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year. Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed from office in July with no explanation offered. There is no indication that the disappearances of Qin and Li signal a change in China’s foreign or defense policies. Horizon Air Pilot Pleads Not Guilty More charges are being filed against an off-duty pilot who tried to cut (關) the engines on a Horizon Aiir flight. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. Zimbabwe Missing Tourist Found Alive A German tourist who went missing in a national park in northern Zimbabwe has been found alive and in “good health” along with his rental car three days later. A national parks agency spokesperson says the tourist had last been seen buying a drink at the park shop before going for a game drive Saturday afternoon. The spokesman says the car rental company failed to locate him on its GPS tracking system and authorities deployed a helicopter, vehicles and sniffer dogs to search for him. There are no immediate details on how deep in the park the man had ventured (冒險去（或做）). 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 16,257 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market tumbled more than 180-points on Monday to reach its lowest level in five months after Wall Street took a hit at the end of last week on the back of a spike in Treasury yields. The bellwether electronics sector dragged prices lower, especially large cap stocks, as rising Treasury yields made tech stocks and their relatively low dividends less attractive. DPP Accuses China of Pressuring Terry Gou with Hon Hai Probe In news from and about Taiwan this morning, The D-P-P is accusing Beijing of opening "politically motivated" investigations into Hon Hai in an attempt to pressure Terry Gou into abandoning his independent bid for the presidency. According to the party's legislative caucus, the investigations are part of efforts by Beijing to push for and accelerate (加速) the cooperation of Taiwan's opposition parties. The statements follow reports that tax authorities in China recently searched Hon Hai offices in Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces, while the Ministry of Natural Resources inspected the company's offices in Henan and Hubei provinces. Gou has not publicly respond to the reports. NAMR Succeeds in Cultivating Giant Seaweed Species The National Academy of Marine Research says it has successfully cultivated two types of native giant seaweeds. According to academy, the success in cultivation of the macroalgae species will enable it to restore some marine habitats, give it a stable supply of seedlings (幼苗) and the ability to enhance ocean carbon sinks. And as part of the project, researchers collected 48 native species of large seaweeds in waters off southern Taiwan and moved the fresh algae to land-based tanks for cultivation in large amounts. Hamas Releases Two Hostages The International Committee of the Red Cross says Hamas militants have released two hostages it had been holding captive in the Gaza Strip. It was the second time the group has freed hostages seized in its bloody Oct. 7 cross-border incursion (侵入) into Israel. The two freed women, 85 and 79 years old, were taken out of Gaza at the Rafah crossing into Egypt, where they were put into ambulances. Hamas reportedly received nothing in exchange for the release of the two hostages, who were freed days after an American woman and her teenage daughter A U.S. official said Monday that Washington has advised Israel to delay a possible ground invasion to allow more time to try and secure the release of more hostages. US Senator Pleads Not Guilty to Foreign Agent Charge US Senator Bob Menendez has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. The lawmaker appeared in a Manhattan court on Monday for a brief hearing, which lasted less than five minutes. Last month the lawmaker pleaded not guilty to accepting bribes to benefit Egypt and interfere with law enforcement (執法官員) investigations. Sally Patterson has more. 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 49-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,391 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex lost ground on Friday along with other regional markets, as investors reacted to the prospect of a 5-per cent yield on 10-year U-S Treasury bonds for the first time since 2007, which added to pressure on Wall Street overnight. Ko Eyes Cross-Party Committee to Review Electoral Pact Taiwan People's Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je is reportedly seeking to establish a cross-party committee to review and oversee plans for a electoral pact with the K-M-T. Ko says the committee will communicate with K-M-T presidential candidate Hou You-yi on issues concerning the forming a cross-party consultative (諮詢) group sometime this week. According to a spokesperson for Ko's office, the committee will seek to help the two parties discuss how to allocate government posts if they win the presidential election. Tsai Calls for More Diverse and Heart-Touching Taiwanese TV Dramas President Tsai Ing-wen is expressing her gratitude to film and television workers -- and acknowledging the impact (影響) of their work on people's lives and called for more diverse and heart-touching programs. Taking to social media following this past weekend's 58th Golden Bell Awards, Tsai congratulated those who won awards, while thanking those in the broadcasting and TV business for their "companionship." She also praised their consistent efforts to produce high-quality and diverse content, including entertaining variety programs, trendsetting reality shows and dramas that touched on many issues. US "Ready to Protect Personnel in Middle East" Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States is ready to protect U.S. personnel in the Middle East, should the Israel-Hamas war escalate (升級). AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. ((opens with actuality)) Congo Boat Capsizing Local authorities in Congo say st least 28 people drowned after a boat capsized in the Congo River in Equateur province. An administrator for the territory says the boat was traveling from Ngondo, about 120 kilometers from the province’s capital and crashed Saturday night in Bolomba village. He said Sunday that about 200 passengers were rescued and an unknown number of others were missing. It was the second boat wreck (沉船) on the Congo River within a week. On October 14-th, another boat capsized, killing at least 47 people and leaving more than 70 missing. Iran Sentences Female Journalists to Prison A court in Iran has sentenced two female journalists to up to seven years in prison for collaborating with the U.S. government and other charges. Both have been imprisoned for over a year following their coverage (新聞報道,) of the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody in Sept. 2022. They can appeal the sentencing within 20 days. The journalists broke the news of Amini’s death for wearing her headscarf too loosely was sentenced to seven years in jail, while the other who wrote about Amini's funeral was sentenced to six. Amini’s death touched off months-long protests in dozens of cities across Iran, and nearly 100 journalists were arrested during the demonstrations. 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 18-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,434 on turnover of $2.46-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Thursday as tech heavyweights staged a technical rebound from a the previous session, as investors opted to shrug off a plunge on Wall Street overnight. However, turnover remained capped, as investors remained cautious about escalating tensions in the Middle East after the U-S vetoed a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council urging a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip. Lithuanian Officials to visit Taiwan to Talk Fintech Exchanges The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a delegation of officials and business representatives from Lithuania will visit Taiwan next week. The visit will be focusing on discussions aimed at advancing bilateral exchanges in financial technology and other fields. According to the foreign ministry, the delegation will also meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior government officials during its four-day stay. The delegation will be led by the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, and will include her foreign policy advisor and the country's deputy finance minister. The foreign ministry says members of the delegation will participate in a financial technology forum and visit the Ultrafast Laser Technology Research and Innovation Center in Tainan. While the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament is scheduled to address the Legislative Yuan. Canada Recalls Diplomats from India Canada's foreign minister says the country has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, escalating ( 惡化、 加劇) a spat over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The moves come after Canadian allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver. India has accused Canada of harboring separatists and “terrorists." But it has dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as “absurd” and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation. Indonesia ExGovernors Kick of Presidential Race Two prominent ex-governors are first to put their hats in the ring (宣佈參選) for the race to become Indonesia's next president. The southeast Asian nation goes to the polls in February next year in the world's largest direct presidential vote. Patrick Fok reports. EU Demands Meta TikTok Curb Disinformation The European Union has demanded Meta and TikTok detail their efforts to curb illegal content and disinformation during the Israel-Hamas war. The 27-nation bloc’s executive branch on Thursday formally requested that the social media companies provide information on how they’re complying (遵守) with pioneering new digital rules aimed at cleaning up online platforms. Meta and TikTok were asked to explain what they've done to reduce the risk of spreading and amplifying terrorist and violent content, hate speech and disinformation. The Israel-Hamas war is putting the new digital rules to the test. Elon Musk’s social media platform X faced the EU's first formal request under the rules last week. 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 24-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,416 on turnover of 3.5-billion N-T. The market tumbled 200-points on Wednesday as the bellwether electronics sector led the losses after the the Biden administration cut off shipments of chips designed by Nvidia and other American semiconductor designers to China. Investors also remained cautious about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock ahead of an investor conference later today, at which the company will release its third quarterly results and give guidance for the fourth quarter. Visiting Belgian Lawmaker Expresses Concern over China's Military Sorties Visiting Belgian parliamentarian Els Van Hoof is expressing concern over China's increasing military sorties near Taiwan. Speaking during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Van Hoof said Belgium is concerned of the growing crossing of Taiwan's air defense identification zone and also the medium line by military vessels and jets" by the Chinese military. According to Van Hoof, who chairs the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, "the importance of this week's parliamentarian visit cannot be underestimated (被低估)" as it shows that "Taiwan is not standing alone against these threats." Van Hoof arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a six-day visit heading a delegation that includes seven other members of the Belgian parliament. Labor Minister Stressed 'No Timetable' for Opening Hotel Industry to Migrant Workers Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun is denying recent reports that the government is seeking to opening the island's hotel industry to overseas migrant workers. According to Hsu, the government currently has "no timetable" for such a move and her ministry's top priority remains the welfare of Taiwanese workers. The statement comes after it was reported the Cabinet is planning to approve a plan to allow the hiring of migrant workers in the hotel sector, possibly beginning next year, in order address an ongoing (正在進行的) labor shortage. Government data shows the hotel industry is currently facing a shortage of more than 1,000 workers. Japan Saudi Arabia to Work Together on Palestinian Crisis Japan and Saudi Arabia are agreeing to work together to address the humanitarian crisis (人道危機) facing Palestinians in Gaza. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Liberia Presidential Election Headed for Runoff Liberia’s presidential election appears headed for a run-off, with the top candidates neck and neck (不相上下，旗鼓相當) and the votes nearly fully counted. President George Weah, who is seeking a second term, had 44% of the vote Wednesday with his main challenger Joseph Boakai at 43%, according to the National Elections Commission. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win. Once the votes from this round are finalized, the run-off will take place within 15 days. The Oct. 10-th election is the tightest in the nearly two decades since the end of the West African country’s civil war that killed some 250-thousand people. 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 34-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,608 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market closed marginally (稍微地) lower on Tuesday - that, as investors opted to lock in profits almost across the board following an initial upturn after Wall Street rebounded overnight. However, the semiconductor sector brought some stability to the broader market, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in focus ahead of an investor conference tomorrow that will offer third quarter results and fourth quarter guidance. CDC Reporting Decline in Dengue Fever Cases The Centers for Disease Control is reporting a marked (明顯的) decline in the number of new dengue fever cases for last week - with the figure dropping to below 2,000 for the first time since early September. According to the C-D-C, it recorded 1,521 local cases of the mosquito-borne disease from between October 11 and 16. That was down from the 2,527 cases reported the previous week. A majority of the new cases are still being reported in Tainan. The C-D-C has recorded a total of 17,084 local dengue fever cases and 32 deaths from the disease so far this year. Tsai Honors Presidential Culture Awards Winners And, President Tsai Ing-wen has conferred Presidential Culture Awards on five individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions (貢獻) to society. Taiwanese opera performer Liao Qiong-zhi was honored with the Arts and Culture Award. The Kavalan Development Association of Hualien County took the Community Building Award. The Humanitarian Dedication Award went to the Transasia Sisters Association. Contemporary artist Zhang Xu-zhan won the Creative and Innovation Award. While the long-running docuseries produced by Taiwan Public Television Service, "Our Island" received the Public Advocacy Award. The Presidential Culture Awards is now in its 12th year. Biden Summit with Arab Leaders Called Off US President Joe Biden's Mideast trip now faces setbacks (挫折). AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports Uganda Tourist and Guide Killed National Park Attack A wildlife official in Uganda and the police say two foreign tourists and their Ugandan guide have been killed in an attack by unknown assailants near a national park. Officials say the attackers set on fire the vehicle in which the group was traveling just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park, located in a remote (偏僻的) area of western Uganda near the Congo border, is one of the most popular conservation areas in Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the security agencies are working “to establish who is responsible for the attack. Sweden Reports Partial Damage to Undersea Telecom Cable Sweden has reported partial damage to an undersea telecom cable in the Baltic Sea running to Estonia. Authorities believe it happened at the same time as damage to an undersea gas pipeline and telecom cable from Finland to Estonia. Finland has launched an investigation into possible sabotage after reporting the damage to its gas pipeline to Estonia last week. Sweden’s Civil Defense Minister says that the damage to the cable between Sweden and Estonia appeared to happen at the same time but that it’s unclear what caused it. He says the cable was not severed and that there was only partial damage to it. 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 26-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,678 on turnover of 2-billion N-T. The market lost ground and closed below the 16,700-point mark on Monday, as investor sentiment was muted due concerns about Mid-East tensions and a rise in international crude oil prices at the end of last week. Investors opted to shift funds to U-S dollar-denominated assets for hedging purposes .. … while large-cap tech stocks, led by the semiconductor sector came under heavy pressure, leading the broader market to trend lower throughout the trading day. Visiting AIT Chair Praises Taiwan Defense Reforms Visiting American Institute in Taiwan Chairwoman Laura Rosenberger is reiterated Washington's pledge to help Taipei defend itself with a "full range of tools." Speaking during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Rosenberger said the U-S "is seizing upon the full range of tools authorized by Congress, such as Presidential Drawdown Authority and Foreign Military Financing to reach that goal." Rosenberger also praised the government's ongoing efforts to enhance (提高) the island's self-defense capabilities through initiatives that include increasing defense spending and reforming its reserve forces, conscription and mobilization systems. Rosenberger arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a five-day visit. Taipei Eying November Test Events for Dome The Taipei Department of Sports says a baseball game is being planned as a test event for the Taipei Dome. The venue is scheduled to open for trial operations next month. According to department commissioner Wang Hong-xiang, tickets for the closed-door test event in early November will be available for free. Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan last week announced that the stadium had passed fire safety tests and was expected to receive its operating license in later this month. However, the sports department commissioner says the Dome is primarily (主要是) a sports venue that will be used mostly for baseball games, and future events outside of that purpose will require separate operating license applications. Ukraine: Russian Push to Take Avdiivka Slowing Ukrainian officials say a dayslong attempt by Russian forces to storm a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine appears to be running out of steam. The Ukrainian General Staff said Monday that Ukrainian forces repelled 15 Russian attacks from four directions on Avdiivka over the previous 24 hours. That compared with what another official were up to 60 attacks a day in the middle of last week, suggesting the Russian push was weakening. A Washington-based think tank broadly concurred with that assessment. As the Kremlin’s war entered its 600th day and with the looming onset of winter that will limit military operations, both sides have been seeking battlefield breakthroughs that could invigorate their efforts and raise morale. SCOTUS Orders Gun Makers to Comply on Ghost Guns From the US….. The Supreme Court has ordered makers of gun parts to comply (遵守) with rules on ghost guns. AP's Lisa Dwyer has more. 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 69-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,712 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market moved lower on the final day of last week's session as investor sentiment was muted (不熱烈的) due to higher-than-expected U-S consumer price index data for in September, raising fears that inflation in America remains a major issue. TPP and KMT Accusing Each Other for Failure to Collaborate The K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party are criticizing each other for the failure (失敗) to reach consensus on plans for a joint opposition ticket for January's presidential election. The spat comes after K-M-T and T-P-P campaign officials held talks this past weekend aimed at exploring a possible electoral pact between the two parties as they're both seeking to remove the D-P-P from power. The T-P-P is pushing for a poll to see whether voters back either the K-M-T's Hou Yu-ih or its presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je to represent the two parties. While the K-M-T is proposing an open primary to select the candidate. Poor Air Quality in West to Last into Tomorrow And, The Ministry of the Environment says poor air quality in northern and western parts of the island is expected to last until tomorrow. The warning comes after a northeasterly monsoon began to pick-up strength on Sunday, carrying high concentrations (濃度) of pollutants from China into Taiwan proper. Monitoring stations on in Keelung, Chiayi City, and Tainan all flashed orange alerts on Sunday, mainly due to PM2.5 particulate pollution, indicating that the air quality poses a health risk to sensitive groups. People with allergies are being advised to wear face masks and avoid vigorous outdoor activities. While another wave of the northeast monsoon is forecast to arrive on Friday, rising the possibility of more poor air quality. Afghanistan Earthquake Leaves More Injuries and Deaths A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck western Afghanistan, just over a week after strong quakes and aftershocks killed thousands of people and flattened entire villages. Aid agency Save the Children said four people died in Sunday's temblor in Herat province, with the regional hospital receiving more than 150 injured. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was about 34 kilometers outside Herat, the provincial capital, and eight kilometers deep. Earthquakes on Oct. 7 flattened villages in the province in what was one of the most destructive (破壞性的) quakes in Afghanistan’s recent history. United Nations officials say more than 90% of the people killed a week ago were women and children. Disney at 100 The Walt Disney company is 100 years old as of Monday – marking the start by brothers Walt and Roy Disney on October 16th in 1923. Caroline Malone reports. 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 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,816 on turnover of $4-billion N-T. Kinmen set for 1st taxi fare hike in 13 years Taxi fares in outlying Kinmen County will be increased from January 1st 2024 for the first time in 13 years. The Kimen County government said it approved the increase proposed by the association of local taxi drivers due to the rising cost Each journey will charge an additional $5 NT for every 200 meters after the first 1,000 meters and for every accumulated (累積) two minutes during which the taxi travels slower than 5 kilometers per hour. The basic fare for each journey is currently $100 NT for a journey of less than 1,000 meters, with journeys at night charging 20 percent more than during the day. NKorea Calls US Carrier "Provocation" North Korea is lashing out at the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group in South Korea, calling it a provocation and again raising the specter (對於…的恐懼（或憂慮）) of using nuclear weapons to defend itself. The North's state media issued that threat today, a day after the USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group arrived at South Korea’s southeastern port of Busan following a U.S.-South Korean-Japanese naval exercise in international waters earlier this week. South Korean defense officials said the carrier is to be docked at Busan for five days as part of an agreement to increase the temporary deployments of powerful U.S. military assets in response to the North’s growing nuclear program. UN Warns Gaza Situation Now Dire The World Food Programme is warning that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is "dire" after Israel said it will not life its blockade of the territory until Hamas frees all the Israeli and foreign hostages that it seized (抓住) last weekend. Meanwhile, Jewish community sites worldwide are on alert after the former leader of Hamas called for Friday to be a day of jihad against Jewish targets. Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports. IOC Suspends Russian Olympic Committee The Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended by the IOC for breaching the Olympic Charter by incorporating sports bodies in four regions in eastern Ukraine. Russian Olympic officials provoked (激起，引起) the dispute last week by accepting the councils in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia as its members. The suspension does not immediately affect any Russians who are returning to compete in international sporting events as neutral athletes. The Russian Olympic Committee can challenge the IOC decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. 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 27-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,699 on turnover of $4.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan ended more than 150 points higher on Wednesday, the first trading day after the prolonged Oct. 10 National Day holiday, amid eased fears over an aggressive Federal Reserve in the wake of war breaking out between Israel and militant group Hamas. On the back of the gains posted by tech stocks on the U.S. markets during the holiday in Taiwan, large-cap electronics stocks, in particular in the semiconductor industry, attracted strong buying throughout the session, with the financial sector also enjoying significant (顯著的) gains. Suspects wanted for helping convicted tycoon flee surrender to police Four people who allegedly helped a businessman convicted of insider trading and stock manipulation flee to the Philippines in early September have turned themselves in to the police. According to the Central News Agency, the case involves Chu Guo-rong, president of Global Funeral Service Corp., who fled Taiwan while in home confinement as he appealed his convictions to Taiwan's Supreme Court and was later listed as a wanted fugitive (通緝要犯) on Sept. 28-th. CNA quotes sources as saying that Chu's business partner and race car driver George Chou, along with the captain and two crew members of a fishing boat who allegedly helped Chu flee to the Philippines turned themselves in to the Criminal Investigation Bureau at the end of September. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said Wednesday that it could not confirm or comment on details of the case as their investigation was still underway. US Biden Warns Iran After Israel Attack US President Joe Biden has given a direct warning to Iran to "be careful" following Hamas' attack on Israel. The American leader is under pressure to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets (資產) amid Tehran's support of the terrorist organization. Nick Harper reports from Washington. French Troops Withdraw from Niger The French military says it's begun withdrawing from Niger following the July coup when mutinous soldiers toppled (推翻) the country’s democratically elected president. More than 100 troops left in two flights from the capital on Tuesday in the first of what will be several rounds of departures between now and the end of the year. All are returning to France. Also Tuesday, Niger’s junta said it was giving the United Nations resident coordinator in Niger 72 hours to leave the country. It cited “underhanded maneuvers” by the U.N. secretary-general to prevent its full participation in last month’s General Assembly in New York as one of the reasons. Finland Investigates Gas Pipeline Leak Finnish police say they have launched a criminal investigation into possible sabotage (破壞) of an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia that was shut down over the weekend following a leak. Finland says it has started gathering evidence at the location of the leak, which was detected Sunday on the Balticconector pipeline connecting the two NATO allies. A telecommunications cable was also damaged. The purpose of the probe is to establish whether the damage to the Balticconector pipeline resulted from sabotage or an accident. Finnish authorities have already ruled out an operational mishap, saying the damage was caused by “external activity.” 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 47-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,567 on turnover of $4.9-billion N-T. **U.S. Stocks Rise; TAIEX Eyes Rebound ** U.S. major indices saw significant gains, with the Dow Jones rising over 600 points and NASDAQ up by 340 points. As Taiwan returns from its National Day holiday, institutional investors forecast a potential rally for the TAIEX, targeting the half-year line of 16-thousand-545 points. Amid global industry developments, the Palestinian group Hamas launched attacks on Israel, resulting in fluctuations (波動) in international oil prices. Meanwhile, the IMF adjusted Taiwan's projected annual economic growth from 2.1-percent to 0.8-percent. Upcoming company financial statements and the Middle East situation are set to be market focal points in the near future. (PB) **Taiwan office in Israel cancels National Day celebration amid war ** Taiwan's representative office in Israel cancelled its National Day reception in Jerusalem after Israel declared war following an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7th. Taiwan's representative to Israel Lee Ya-ping thanked wellwishers for the congratulatory (祝賀) messages received on National Day, and added that the office would help raise supplies for Israel. Hamas launched its largest attack ever on Israel on the morning of Oct. 7, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later declared war against the militant group. **Afghanistan Shaken By Another Strong Quake ** Another strong earthquake has shaken part of western Afghanistan where a quake on Saturday killed more than 2,000. The 6.3-magnitude earthquake Wednesday morning was about 28 kilometers outside the capital of Herat province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earlier quake was also 6.3 magnitude and has been followed by several strong aftershocks. **US Biden Urges Rule of Law for Israel Reprisals ** US President Joe Biden has confirmed that American citizens are among those hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He described the Hamas attacks on Israel last weekend as "sheer evil", and in comments at the White House backed Israel's right to take reprisals (報復). US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials. From Washington, Simon Marks reports. **Russia Defeated in Bid to Gain UN Human Rights Council Seat ** Russia has been defeated in its bid to regain a seat in the United Nations premiere human rights body by a significant majority in an election in the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend (（因犯錯而）暫令停職) Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine. Russia competed against Albania and Bulgaria for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council representing the East European regional group. In Tuesday's secret ballot vote, Bulgaria got 160 votes, Albania got 123 votes and Russia just 83 votes. In Tuesday’s election, the only other competitive race was in the Latin America and Caribbean group where Cuba, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Peru competed for three seats. Peru lost out. 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

CWA to lift sea warning soon Lin Yu-ting wins Taiwan's first Asian Games female boxing gold U.N. says Lebanon faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises Russian airstrike kills 51 in Ukraine former US President Donald Trump may visit the Capitol to address Republicans as they pick a new speaker -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 40.5-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,314 on turnover of $2.3-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan took a beating Wednesday shedding more than 180 points, as market sentiment was hit by steep losses suffered by the U.S. markets overnight and growing fears over a further rate hike by the Federal Reserve. A plunge among tech stocks on the U.S. markets sparked a sell-off in the local bellwether electronics sector as a spike in the U.S. treasury yields made those tech stocks look less attractive. **Imported American pork mislabeled ** The Food and Drug Administration, together with Taoyuan Health officials, have found that two Taoyuan frozen food businesses imported American and Canadian pork and sold it as Canada or UK-produced pork to some 90 eateries and vendors downstream. As American pork may contain additive ractopamine, many local consumers would try to avoid it. Taoyuan officials say the two business imported some 150-thousand kilograms of American pork, and most of it probably has been eaten. While the two businesses said the pork was good and met the standards, health officials say they have violated the Food Safety and Sanitation Act for mislabeling the products. The case now is in the hands of Taoyuan prosecutors, and the FDA is testing whether the remaining pork stored in the two companies contain residues (殘留物) of ractopamine. (JL) **US Trump Denies Interest in House Speaker Position ** Donald Trump has indicated that he's not interested in becoming the next Speaker of the US House of Representatives. The former President was speaking after a Republican member of Congress formally nominated him for the job, following the unprecedented ouster (史無前例的罷黜) of Kevin McCarthy earlier this week. Our US correspondent Simon Marks reports. **Red Cross Calls for Belarus Red Cross Head Ouster ** The international Red Cross is calling for the ouster of the head of the Belarus Red Cross. This comes after the Belarus Red Cross stirred international outrage for boasting (自誇) that it was actively ferrying Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it has given the Belarus chapter until Nov. 30 to dismiss Dzmitry Shautsou. If not, the worldwide Red Cross will recommend all affiliates to halt new partnerships and funding for the Belarus branch, which would be suspended from the global organization. Both Ukraine and the Belarusian opposition have decried the transfer of children as unlawful deportations, and there have been calls for international war crimes charges for the Belarus leader, similar to the charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin. **US Women Win Gymnastics World Championships ** Led by Simone Biles, the U.S. women have won a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships. The American team of Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge Brazil and France. The U.S. women have won gold in the team event at every world championship that included a team competition since 2011. Their victory in Antwerp broke a tie with the Chinese men and made Biles the most decorated (授予（某人）勳章) female gymnast in history. 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 34.86 -points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,419 on turnover of $2.97-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan came under pressure, closing below the 16,500 point mark Tuesday amid renewed fears over a hawkish U.S. Federal Reserve in the wake of a spike in American treasury yields, pointing to higher interest rates. The bellwether electronics sector, which served as a driver to a 1.24 percent increase on the main board on Monday, reversed its previous gains and moved lower, sending the broader market into negative territory. **(10AM)Slowmoving Koinu Rim Soon to Reach Huadong Area ** The Central Weather Administration says the outer rim of Typhoon Koinu will soon reach the Hua-dong area. The CWA says the slow-moving storm is currently centered about 270 kilometers east of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, and was moving in a westerly direction at 11 km per hour. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph with gusts of up to 191 kph. The CWA's land warning currently covers 15 cities and counties across the center, east and south, as well as parts of the north. Forecasters expect the storm to continue moving in a westerly direction, and predict that the eye of the storm will pass over the Taitung area, and into the Bashi Channel tomorrow. (NS) **Thai Shooting Suspect Explains Shooting to Police ** The teenage suspect arrested following a deadly gun rampage (狂暴行為) in a luxury Bangkok mall told police someone was telling him to shoot others. Two people were killed and five others were wounded in the shooting. Patrick Fok reports. **Italy Bus Crash Leaves Dead and Injured ** Italian authorities say at least 21 people have been killed and 18 injured in a bus crash near Venice. Local officials say the bus was carrying foreign tourists, including Ukrainians. The crash happened Tuesday when the bus fell from an elevated (高架) street just northwest of Venice. City officials say the bus was bringing tourists to a camping site. Local media reports say the bus fell a few meters before crashing close to railroad tracks, where it caught fire. Multiple emergency crews are at the scene. **Mexico Signs Agreement with Sea Sheperd to Proect Vaquitas ** The conservation group Sea Shepherd says it has signed an agreement with Mexico to help expand the protection area for the endangered vaquita porpoise. Sea Shepherd helps the Mexican Navy to remove illegal gill nets that drown the vaquita, the world's most endangered marine mammal. Sea Shepherd said Tuesday that the expansion (擴張) will increase the area work it works in the Gulf of California by about 60%. The Gulf, also known as the Sea of Cortez, is the only place where the vaquita lives. As few as ten vaquitas remain. They cannot be held or bred in captivity. 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 37-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,520 on turnover of $3.9-billion N-T. **U.K. commissioner visits Taiwan to strengthen trade ties ** The newly-appointed U.K. trade commissioner for Asia Pacific is visiting Taiwan. The British Office Taipei says Martin Kent is currently in Taiwan for a 5-day visit to broaden (擴大) trade and investment links between the U.K. and Taiwan. The office says the main purpose of his visit is to meet with the International Trade Administration under Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and prepare topics for the 26th annual U.K.-Taiwan Trade Talks due to take place in London in November. In addition, the commissioner will meet with Taiwan's chief trade negotiator, Minister without Portfolio John Deng, to continue talks on the U.K.-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership announced earlier this year. And the office says during his visit, Kent will also meet with key representatives of U.K. businesses in Taiwan to understand local market opportunities, as well as key Taiwanese companies, including China Airlines and silicon wafer supplier GlobalWafers, to explore collaboration. **Taiwan tennis star Hsieh's father dies at age 70 ** Hsieh Tzu-lung, the father of Taiwanese professional tennis star Hsieh Su-wei, died Sunday at his home at the age of 70, according to a friend of his wife. Hsieh's mother disclosed (透露) the news on Monday through the friend, saying that he died peacefully. Hsieh Tzu-lung had seven children, all of whom except for the oldest were tennis players. Su-wei is the most accomplished of them, with six Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. UN Security Council approves sending a Kenya-led force to Haiti There could soon be an international boost on the ground to help combat (對付) the violence in Haiti. AP's Lisa Dwyer reports ((Wrap)) **Brazil Amazon Dolphins Die Due to Drought and High Temp ** More than 100 dolphins have died in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in the past week due to a severe drought, and many more could be affected if water temperatures remain high. A research group of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said two more dead dolphins were found on Monday in the region around Tefe Lake, which is key for mammals and fish in the area. Thousands of fish have also died, according to local media. Experts believe high water temperatures are the most likely cause of the deaths. The Brazilian government said last week it had sent teams of veterinarians and aquatic (水棲的) mammal experts to investigate the deaths. **NZ Early Voting Begins in Election ** Early voting has begun in New Zealand for the nation’s Oct. 14-th general election, with conservative contender Christopher Luxon casting his ballot. Early voting also began on Monday in some parts of Australia in a referendum on the Indigenous people's “Voice” in Parliament. The measure would enshrine in Australia’s constitution a mechanism (體制) for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that affect their lives In New Zealand, the campaign of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins faced a setback on Sunday when he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he's isolate for five days or until he returned a negative test. 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 29-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,383 on turnover of $2.6-billion N-T. **Typhoon Koinu Strengthens ** Weather experts warns that Typhoon Koinu is gaining strength, posing a heightened threat as it nears Taiwan. The typhoon is expected to have the most impact between Wednesday and Thursday. Forecasts indicate a significant chance of rainy weather starting tomorrow afternoon, continuing through the weekend. A meteorologist also mentions the possibility of the typhoon turning northward, further impacting Taiwan. The Central Weather Administration says the storm is currently about 860 kilometers southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point. It's moving northwest at 13 kilometers per hour. A sea warning is expected to be issued as early as Tuesday morning, with a land warning likely for later in the same day. Residents are advised to stay updated and take necessary precautions (預防措施) for heavy rain and unstable weather conditions. (PB) **CPC Taiwan Freezes Gas Prices in October to Help Stabilize Living Costs ** The CPC Corporation has announced that gas prices will remain unchanged in October. This decision affects household barrel-packaged gas, industrial propane, butane, mixed propane-butane, and automotive liquefied petroleum gas. The move is part of an effort to stabilize the cost of living, in line with government policy. Although calculations suggested that the price per kilogram should increase by 5 NT, CPC will temporarily absorb (吸收) this cost. The company notes that the total absorbed amount stands at 20 NT per kilogram and may be adjusted in the future if international prices drop. (PB) **Turkey Warplanes Hit Kurdish Rebel Targets ** The Turkish defense ministry says its warplanes have carried out raids on suspected Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq following a suicide attack on a government building in the Turkish capital. A ministry statement said Sunday that some 20 targets of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, were “destroyed” in the aerial operation, including caves, shelters and depots (倉庫). Earlier, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near an entrance of the Interior Ministry, injuring two police officers. And government officials say a second assailant was killed in a shootout with police Sunday. A news agency close to the PKK said the group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. **Serbia Denies Military Buildup Near Kosovo ** Serbia is denying reports of a troop buildup (積聚、累積) near Kosovo. AP correspondent Mimmi Montgomery reports. < [CLIP] Slug: > **UN to Vote on Authorizing Deployment ot Haiti ** The U.N. Security Council is scheduling a vote for today on a resolution that would authorize a one-year deployment of an international force to help Haiti quell a surge in gang violence and restore security so the troubled Caribbean nation can hold long-delayed elections. The U.S.-drafted resolution obtained by The Associated Press on Saturday welcomes Kenya’s offer to lead the multinational security force. It makes clear this would be a non-U.N. force funded by voluntary contributions (貢獻). The resolution would authorize the force for one year, with a review after nine months. 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 20-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,331 on turnover of $2.2-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex recouped early losses to close slightly higher on Wednesday, despite heavy losses on Wall Street overnight, as investor interest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and select artificial intelligence development-related stocks rebounded (彈回). The main board moved in narrow range for most of the trading session, but bargain hunters turned active late in the trading day, to push the Tai-Ex past the 16,300 point mark by the closing bell. **1,600 Additional Teaching Assistants to be Recruited by 2027 ** The Ministry of Education says an additional 1,600 teaching assistants will be hired to work at schools islandwide between 2024 and 2027. According to Education Minister Pan Wen-chong, the move is aimed at facilitating (促進) a better learning environment for students with additional needs. Pan says the plan is in line with amendments to the Special Education Act, which was passed in May to reduce the pressure on those working in education and to ensure reasonable salaries. The education minister says his office has earmarked 1.1-billion N-T in next year's budget to recruit the new assistants. Pan is also touting what he says is the government's promotion of "inclusive education" for students with additional needs to help them attend regular classes and ensure their welfare. **NKorea Leader Calls for More Nuclear Weapons ** North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for an exponential increase in production of nuclear weapons and for his country to play a larger role in a coalition of nations confronting (面對、對抗) the United States in what he described as a “new Cold War.” State media say Kim made the comments during a two-day session of the North’s rubber-stamp parliament which amended (修正的) the constitution to include his policy of expanding the country’s military nuclear program. The Supreme People’s Assembly meetings came after Kim traveled to Russia this month on a trip that sparked Western concerns about a possible arms alliance in which North Korea would provide Russia with munitions for its war on Ukraine in exchange for advanced weapons technologies. **ChatGPT Update Includes Current Info Access ** ChatGPT users will now be able to access (取得) up to date information from the internet. Previously, the popular chatbot hadn't been able to use information produced after September of 2021. Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco **IMF: Sri Lanka Progress Not Enough for 2nd Tranche ** The International Monetary Fund says that Sri Lanka has so far failed to make enough progress in boosting tax collection and other economic reforms sought by the IMF. The progress is needed in order for the IMF to release a second tranche (一份，一部分) of $330 million in the country’s $2.9 billion bailout from bankruptcy. An IMF team has concluded a visit to the island this week. The organization says in a report that discussions would continue on an agreement on how to keep up the momentum of financial reforms, and to unlock the second installment of funding. 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 lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,273 on turnover of 1.4-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Tuesday to close at a four-month low amid investor concerns about a spike in U-S treasury yields. Rising interest rates made tech stocks on the local main board less attractive, and investors opted to dump (甩賣,) those stocks for U-S dollar denominated assets throughout the trading day. **Government to Raise Child Care Subsidies to Boost Birth Rate ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says the government plans to raise child day care allowances by at least 1,500 N-T per month starting next year. The move is part of government efforts to boost Taiwan's fast declining birth rate. According to the premier, subsidies (補貼、補助金) for parents with children under the age of 3 attending public care centers will be increased to 7,000 N-T per month. Those using publicly subsidized private day care centers or home babysitting services will receive 13,000 N-T a month. Chen says additional child day care subsidies will also be offered to parents with two or three children and those from low-income or lower-middle-income families. **CDC Confirms 3 More Dengue Fever Deaths as Cases Surpass 10,000 ** The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed three more dengue fever-related deaths - bringing the total number of such fatalities so far this year to 15. The confirmation comes as the number of domestic cases of the mosquito-borne disease islandwide have now surpassed 10,000. Most the cases have been reported in Tainan. And figures show of the total number of 10,496 cases recorded this year, 9,463 have been in Tainan. A joint CDC-central government task force has been operating in Tainan since September 18 in an attempt (試圖) to bring an end to the outbreak. **Iraq Wedding Fire Leaves 100 Dead ** A fire that raced through a hall hosting a Christian wedding in northern Iraq killed at least 100 people and injured 150 others, and authorities warn the death toll could rise higher. The fire happened in Iraq’s Nineveh province, some 300 kilometers northwest of the capital, Baghdad. There was no immediate official word on the cause of the blaze but initial (最初的) reports by the Kurdish television news channel Rudaw suggested fireworks at the venue may have sparked the fire. Iraq's prime minister has ordered an investigation into the fire and asked the country's Interior and Health officials to provide relief **US Congress Puts Forward ShortTerm Spending Bill ** Members of U.S. Congress have put forward a short-term spending proposal to try and avoid a government shutdown (政府停擺、政府關門). Late on Tuesday, Senators voted on what's called a 'continuing resolution' which they could send to the House later this week, to vote on before a September 30th deadline. Caroline Malone reports from Washington. 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 11-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,440 on turnover of 1.6-billion N-T. The market gained more than 100-points on Monday, as the bellwether electronics sector continued to rebound from previous sessions after tech stocks on Wall Street showed signs of stabilizing (穩定) at the end of last week. However, turnover was limited as many investors remained cautious ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend holiday, while foreign institutional investors sold a net 3.08-billion N-T worth of shares on the main board during the session. **Tsai Hoping to Deepen Trade and Energy Cooperation with UK ** President Tsai Ing-wen says she believes that "there is more room for Taiwan and the U-K to deepen (深化) cooperation in areas such as trade and energy." The comments come as Tsai has been holding talks with visiting U-K Trade Envoy to Taiwan Richard Faulkner. Faulkner arrived in Taiwan last week for trade talks and to attend the 18th UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference in Taipei. Speaking during a meeting with the U-K trade envoy, Tsai touted the opening of official talks on the Taiwan-UK Enhanced Trade Partnership in July, and cited Faulkner's strong support for that agreement. The agreement focuses on energy and net-zero emissions, and digital trade. **Premier Touts More Funding for Firefighters ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says the Cabinet plans to allocate an additional 8-billion N-T for the island's fire service. According to the premier, the additional funding will be used to purchase new equipment and protective gear. The premier is also insisting (堅持、強調) that the Tsai administration is "fully committed to protecting the rights of all firefighters." The statements comes days after the deadly fire at a golf ball factory in Pingtung, which left four firefighters dead. Opposition lawmakers are calling for the government to provide fire departments with new generation firefighting robots and new fire hoses with enhanced range and water capacity. There are also calls for the government to allow firefighters to be unionized. **Japan SKorea, China Eye Resuming Trilateral Talks ** Japan, South Korea, and China are holding high-level talks on Tuesday to discuss resuming trilateral leader summits. Deputy foreign ministers from the three countries are meeting in Seoul to pave the way for the annual talks which haven’t been held since 2019. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. **Bahrain Officer Soldier Killed by Drone Attack ** Bahrain's military command says a drone attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels killed a Bahraini officer and soldier who were patrolling Saudi Arabia’s southern border. The statement, carried by the official Bahrain News Agency, says “a number” of Bahraini soldiers were also wounded in Monday's attack, without elaborating. The island nation of Bahrain is a close ally of Saudi Arabia, which has been at war with the Iran-aligned (結盟) Houthi rebels for several years. A cease-fire had largely stopped the violence, and the two sides have appeared close to a peace agreement in recent months. It was unclear if the attack would derail those efforts or prompt retaliation by Saudi Arabia and its allies. 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 Friday's close, at 16,345 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market ended the trading day higher on Friday, as other regional markets finished the day mixed following a broad retreat on Wall Street overnight on the back of concerns over more possible interest rate hikes in America. **More Diplomatic Allies Speak-Up for Taiwan at UN ** Three more diplomatic allies have spoken up in support of Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations system during the on-going General Debate at the 78th General Assembly. The prime minister's of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as Belize's foreign minister all made similar appeals (懇求，訴請) in their respective addresses in New York. It means that 11 of Taiwan's 13 diplomatic allies have so far voiced their support for allowing Taiwan to participate in the U-N system during this year's General Assembly. The Vatican is scheduled to speak later today, but only has observer status at the U-N and rarely speaks on political issues. While Haiti's prime minister, Ariel Henry, spokes on Friday, and focused on the continuing unrest in his country in his address and did not touch on Taiwan this year. **Competitor Dies at Annual Sun Moon Lake Swimming Festival ** A 25-year-old man participating in the Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival has died. According to the Nantou County Government, the man fell ill soon after entering the water and signaled distress (危難), about 100-meters into the annual 3,000-meter swimming competition across the lake. Emergency service personnel pulled the man out of the water, but he was pronounced dead at the Puli Christian Hospital. Officials say the man didn't drown and the cause of his cause of death was still under investigation. The event has been held annually since 1983 and this year drew more than 24,000 competitors from 33 countries. **France to End Military Presence in Niger ** President Emmanuel Macron says France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country now that its democratically elected president has been deposed (廢黜的) in a coup. France has maintained some 1,500 troops in Niger since the July coup and refused a request by the new junta for its ambassador to leave. But with tensions mounting, Macron says he told the ousted President Nohamed Bazoum on Sunday that “France has decided to bring back its ambassador. He also says France is ending its military cooperation with Niger. French troops have pulled out of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso in recent years after coups there. France had stationed thousands of troops in the Sahel region at the request of African leaders to fight Islamic extremist groups. **NASA Collects First Asteroid Sample in Space ** The first asteroid sample collected in space by US Space Agency, NASA, has arrived on Earth. Scientists say the asteroid, Bennu, could tell us more about how life began. They're also keen (渴望的) to learn more about it as there's an outside chance (微弱的可能性) it could hit Earth in the next 300 years. Kate Fisher reports 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 49-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,267 on turnover of $4.1-billion N-T. The market tumbled on Thursday, as investors reacted to rate hike-related comments by the U-S Federal Reserve following the conclusion of its policymaking meeting. The bellwether electronics sector led the downturn on the back of heavy losses suffered by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight, as a spike in U-S treasury yields made interest rate sensitive stocks less attractive. **MOA Says Future Government Egg Imports to be Packaged in Country of Origin ** The Ministry of Agriculture says any future state-funded egg import programs will give preference to eggs packaged and washed in their country of origin. The policy comes amid ongoing controversy over the government program used to import 145 million eggs from overseas suppliers between March and July to alleviate a domestic shortage. The program has come under criticism after incidents in which imported eggs were labeled with the wrong expiration date or country of origin, as well as the agriculture ministry's admission (承認) that 54-million of the eggs were sent to be destroyed after expiring in storage. However, agriculture officials are continuing to defend the program - saying that it was largely successful in easing the egg shortage without affecting prices in a way that could harm local producers. The ministry is also insisting that no imported eggs were sold past their expiration, while any remaining eggs that have not yet expired will be distributed to food processors, rather than being sold fresh. **UN seeks to turbocharge SDGs ** Members of the United Nations are convening (召集) to set the groundwork for a summit it hopes can reinvigorate the multilateral system. The goal is to create a transformative pact ahead of next year's UN General Assembly. William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York. **UK Booker Prize Finalists Announced ** Novels from Ireland, the United States, Canada and Britain that explore families, communities and a world in crisis make up the six finalists for the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction. The shortlist announced Thursday for the $61-thousand US dollar award includes Canadian author Sarah Bernstein, U.S. writer Jonathan Escoffery and fellow American Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Paul Harding. Also on the list are Irish writers Paul Lynch and Paul Murray and British writer Chetna Maroo. James Shapiro, a member of the judging panel, said many of the books reflect the “grim (嚴厲的,殘忍的,) times” we live in. The winner of the 2023 Booker Prize will be announced Nov. 26 at a ceremony in London. 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 59-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,475 on turnover of $4.3-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex extended losses from the previous session on Wednesday, to close below the 16,600 point market, as investor interest remained muted (被抑制的; 不熱烈的) ahead of the conclusion of this week's policymaking meeting of the U-S Federal Reserve. Market watchers say the bellwether electronics sector led the broader market lower, as foreign institutional investors opted to move to the sell side and cash in on profits in futures. **World Leaders Gather for UN Climate Ambition Summit ** World leaders have pledged to invest billions of dollars to keep climate change under control. Many have gathered in New York for the Climate Ambition Summit, taking place during the United Nations General Assembly. But some leaders have been criticized (被批評) for failing to show up. Sally Patterson reports from the UN headquarters. < [CLIP] Slug: > **UK PM Delaying Ban on Gas and Diesel Cars ** Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he’s delaying by five years a ban on new gas and diesel cars that had been due to take effect in 2030. The move is among measures that water down green pledges the U.K. has made. Sunak says Britain remains committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, but in a way that won’t “impose unacceptable costs on hard-pressed (遭受強大壓力的) British families.” The announcement has angered green groups, opposition politicians and large chunks of U.K. industry, but has been welcomed by some in the governing Conservative Party who are against the expense of switching to renewable energy. 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 9-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,626 on turnover of 3-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday after coming off an earlier high, as investors opted to lock-in gains from the bellwether electronics sector. Many investors also appeared reluctant (不情願的) to chase prices, as they await the outcome of this week's policymaking meeting by the U-S Federal Reserve. **MOEA Keeps Electricity Rates Unchanged, but Lifts Freeze for 880 Businesses ** The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it's keeping average electricity rates unchanged for now. However, it will be lifting the freeze on rates for around 880 businesses from October 1. Tai-Power says the end of the price freeze (價格凍結) could generate roughly 1.6-billion N-T in revenue. The statements follow a meeting of the ministry's price review committee. And according to the economics ministry, the average power rate currently remains at 3.1154 N-T per kilowatt-hour. **Black Hawk Helicopters to Perform Double Ten Flyover Rehearsal ** The National Day preparatory committee says UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters will perform flyover (低空飛行) rehearsals for this year's Double Ten Day over the Presidential Office this week. According to the committee, early-morning rehearsals will take place tomorrow and Saturday to ensure the flyover during the National Day celebrations "proceeds smoothly." Flyover training exercises involving other aircraft slated to take part in the Double Ten Day celebrations will be conducted on September 28 and October 4th. **Zelensky Urges Unity Against Russian Aggression ** Ukraine's President has urged (力勸) the international community to be united in the face of Russian aggression. William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York. **Israeli Military Raids Leave 3 Dead in West Bank ** Palestinian health officials say at least three people have been killed in an Israeli military raid in the northern West Bank. They say some 30 others were wounded in Tuesday's operation in the Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli military is providing few details, though it says it carried out a rare drone strike. Palestinian health officials reported numerous casualties from Israeli gunfire. The identities of the dead were not immediately known. **Argentina Applauds ESMA World Heritage Site Designation ** Argentina is celebrating a decision by a United Nations conference to include a former clandestine detention and torture center as a World Heritage site. A UNESCO conference in Saudi Arabia agreed to include the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory in the list of sites “considered to be of outstanding value to humanity,” marking a rare instance (實例) in which a museum of memory related to recent history is designated to the list. The former Navy School of Mechanics, known as ESMA, housed the most infamous illegal detention center that operated during Argentina’s last military dictatorship that ruled from 1976 through 1983. It now operates as a museum and a larger site of memory, including offices for government agencies and human rights organizations. 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 8-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,706 on turnover of 2.6-billion N-T. The market tumbled more than 200-points on Monday, to close below the 16,700 point mark, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing came under pressure following heavy losses for tech stocks on Wall Street at the end of last week. While investor sentiment also remained cautious ahead of a two-day policymaking meeting of the U-S Federal Reserve, which is slated to begin today. **French Senator Olivier Cadic on 3rd Visit to Taiwan ** French Senator Olivier Cadic has arrived in Taiwan for a four-day visit to meet with senior government officials. Cadic is the vice-president of the French Senate's permanent committee on foreign affairs and defense issues. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cadic's agenda includes a visit to the Ministry of Digital Affairs to discuss issues concerning Indo-Pacific politics, democracy, human rights, and digital and information security. The senator will also be meeting with French business representatives and expatriates (外籍人士) in Taiwan. It's Cadic's third visit to Taiwan and the fourth by a French parliamentary delegation this year. **Central Bank Expected to Leave Interest Rates Unchanged ** The central bank is expected to leave its key interest rates unchanged at its quarterly policymaking meeting later this week due to eased inflationary pressures. Economists say the bank is likely to keep it rates unchanged on Thursday and again its next policymaking meeting in December, unless the local consumer price index growth surpassed (超過) the 3-per cent mark again. The central bank raised rates by 75 basis points to combat inflation beginning in March of last year, with the discount rate currently set at 1.875 percent. It chose to keep rates unchanged at its last policymaking meeting in mid-June, but the rates remain at an eight-year high. **Canada Expels Indian Diplomat Amid Activist Slaying ** Canada is expelling (驅逐) a diplomat from India as it investigates India's possible link to the death of a Sikh activist. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. **Libya Facing Disease Outreak Post Flooding ** Officials are warning that a disease outbreak in Libya’s northeast, where floods have killed thousands, could create “a second devastating crisis” as adults and children fell ill from contaminated (受汙染的) water. The mission said the World Health Organization sent 28 tons of medical supplies to the devastated country. Libyan officials say at least 150 people suffered diarrhea after drinking contaminated water in Derna, and at least 55 children got sick after drinking polluted water in Derna. **Guatemala Protests for PresidentElect ** Thousands of indigenous supporters have protested in Guatemala City to defend Guatemala’s president-elect as government prosecutors seek to ban his political party. Many of the protesters carried banners or chanted slogans demanding the resignation of government officials who have sought (尋求)to prosecute Bernardo Arevalo and ban his Seed Movement party. Protesters threatened to keep demonstrating until the efforts against Arevalo are stopped. Arevalo won the Aug. 20 presidential runoff in a landslide, but prosecutors have continued pursuing multiple investigations related to the registration of Arevalo’s Seed Movement party, and alleged fraud in the election. International observers have said that's not supported by evidence. 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 26-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,893 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The local main board traded higher on Friday, as other regional markets moved into positive territory, after China's central bank eased the reserve requirements for banks and chip designer Arm Holdings' I-P-O on the Nasdaq boosted investor optimism. **Electricity Price Freeze Expected to End for 880 businesses ** The Ministry of Economic Affairs' electricity price review committee is expected to end a freeze on electricity rates for over 800 businesses. Tai-Power says the freeze is likely to be ended during a meeting of the price review committee later today. The economics ministry raised power prices for industrial consumers by 15-per cent in July last year and by 17-per cent in April of this year. However, the ministry did not increase rates for businesses in the cinema, gym, department store, and catering (餐飲業、酒席承辦) and restaurant sectors, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on domestic demand. **MOEA Set to Budget NT$800 million to Develop Advanced IC Processes ** The Ministry of Economic Affairs is set to budget around 800-million N-T to subsidize smaller domestic I-C designers in the development of processes below 28 nanometers. The amount constitutes (構成) part of the 5.2-billion N-T the ministry is set to receive next year as part of a semiconductor industry innovation project proposed by the National Science and Technology Council. The Industrial Development Bureau says the funding aims to help domestic smaller I-C designers develop advanced I-C processes due to expected competition from China. **NY Thousands Take Part in Climate March ** Thousands of people took to the streets of New York on Sunday demanding an end to the use of fossil fuels (化石燃料) and for the U.S. to show greater leadership in the fight against climate change. Jody Jacobs reports from New York. < [CLIP] Slug: > **UN to List Jericho as World Heritage Site in Palestine ** A U.N. committee has voted to list prehistoric ruins near the ancient West Bank city of Jericho as a World Heritage Site in Palestine. The decision Sunday angered Israel, which controls the territory and does not recognize a Palestinian state. Jericho is one of the oldest continually inhabited (有人居住的) cities on earth, and is in a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank that is administered by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. The listing refers to the Tell es-Sultan archaeological site nearby, which contains prehistoric ruins dating back to the ninth millennium B.C. and is outside the ancient city itself. The decision was made by the U.N. World Heritage Committee meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 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 2-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,810 on turnover of $2.6-billion N-T. The market gained more than 200-points on Thursday, as investor interest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rebounded from previous session. Renewed investor interest in T-S-M-C came after the company issued a record cash dividend of 3 N-T per share for its first-quarter earnings - and that led to a rally across the broader market. **Control Yuan Censures Taipei Prison ** The Control Yuan has censured the Taipei Prison for its mistreatment of some inmates. According to the government watchdog, it is demanding the Ministry of Justice review surveillance systems in all correctional facilities islandwide. The move comes after it opened an investigation into the prison following complaints filed by some inmates earlier this year. The Control Yuan says that investigation found that some prisoners were subject to abuse by prison employees, while other correctional officers turned a blind eye to the mistreatment. The abuse included handcuffing, beating and pepper spraying. Control Yuan member Gao Yong-cheng says some of the incidents resulted in injuries to the inmates, and some of them were coerced (脅迫的) by correctional officials into signing a document stating that they had not been injured. The investigation also found that the surveillance cameras in the prison were compromised by numerous blind spots. **EU Countries to Keep Sanctions on Iran ** Britain, France and Germany have announced that they will keep their sanctions on Iran related to the Mideast country’s atomic program and its development of ballistic missiles. The measures were to expire in October under a timetable spelled out in the now defunct (不復存在的) nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. The three European allies known as E3 had helped negotiate the nuclear deal. In a joint statement on Thursday, they said they would retain their sanctions in a “direct response to Iran’s consistent and severe (劇烈) non-compliance” with the accord. Iran has violated the sanctions by developing and testing ballistic missiles and sending drones to Russia for its war on Ukraine. **Dominican Republic Closes Borers with Haiti ** The Dominican Republic’s president has announced he will close all borders with neighboring Haiti starting today in a dispute over a canal on the Haitian side that would divert water from a border river. His announcement signals that last-minute talks between the countries have failed to head off the closure (關閉). President Luis Abinader says air, sea and land borders will remain shuttered “until necessary.” It is a rare move for the Dominican Republic, and could hit economies in both countries, though it will be most acutely (嚴重地) felt in Haiti. The closure is a response to the excavation of a canal by a farming group on the Haitian side that targets waters from the Massacre River. **NASA UFO Report Finds No Evidence of Alien Activity ** A UFO sightings report from the US space agency has found no evidence of alien activity in relation to a number of unexplained phenomena. However, Nasa could also not rule out the possibility of the existence (存在) of other life forms. US correspondent Nick Harper reports. 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 flat this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,581 on turnover of 2.3-billion N-T. The market closed almost flat on Wednesday as early gains were eroded amid investor caution ahead of the release of August's U-S consumer price index. The bellwether electronics sector came off a high as "Apple concept stocks" came under pressure, despite the U-S electronics giant unveiling the latest iPhone 15 series overnight, while buying switched to select old economy stocks. **Presidential aspirant Terry Gou announces running mate ** Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. founder and aspiring (有抱負的) presidential candidate Terry Gou has announced veteran singer-actress Lai Pei-hsia as his prospective running mate for Taiwan's 2024 election. Gou introduced Lai at a press conference at 8:35 a.m. and touted her experiences in communication skills, adding that her female perspective will be beneficial (有利) for him to promote gender equality. Due to a lack of party affiliation, Gou still needs to collect signatures from about 290,000 people between Sept. 19 and Nov. 2 to make it onto the ballot, according to rules set by the Central Election Commission. Gou is required to register his independent candidacy with the CEC no later than Sept. 17 before his campaign can begin the signature drive. Should Gou make it onto the ballot, he will face the DPP candidate and Vice President Lai Ching-te, as well as the KMT's New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih and the TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je. **FDA Grants EUA for Updated Moderna COVID Vaccine ** The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for Moderna's updated coronavirus vaccine. According to F-D-A Deputy Director Chen Hui-fang, the Spikevax XBB.1.5 vaccine will be rolled out here in Taiwan by the end of this month. An expert panel has approved the vaccine for those aged over six months during a review meeting. The Centers for Disease Control is expected to take delivery of a batch of 2-million doses of the vaccine in the coming days. Health officials will then spend a week inspecting (檢查) and label the shots before making them available to the public. The first jabs will be made available to people aged 65 and over. **Central EU Countries Call to Maintain Ukraine Grain Ban ** Central European countries say they will ban Ukrainian grain imports if the EU doesn't extend its existing restrictions, which are set to expire (到期) on September 15. Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland are concerned that a flooding of the market with cheaper Ukrainian products will bring down their own grain prices, hitting domestic producers. Pablo Gutierrez reports from Budapest. **UN Imprisoned Reporter Family Calling for his Freedom ** The father of imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is calling on world leaders meeting at the United Nations next week to stand up for freedom of the press and urge Russia to release him. Mikhail Gershkovich came to U.N. headquarters with his wife and daughter at the invitation of U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Wednesday to spotlight his son’s nearly six months in a Russian prison on charges of espionage, which the Journal’s lawyers call “patently (明顯地) false.” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield urged all U.N. member nations “to join this call for Evan’s release, and the release of all those who have been wrongfully detained.” 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 16,578 on turnover of 1.5-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Tuesday on the back of increased investor interest in semiconductor stocks follow a rise on Wall Street overnight sparked by a more than 1-per cent increase on the tech heavy Nasdaq. **MND Releases Latest Defense Paper ** The Ministry of National Defense has released its first national defense report since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the report, the island's armed forces are learning from the war in Europe, and are boosting the asymmetrical warfare capabilities and adopting a whole-of-society approach in preparation for a potential cross-strait conflict. The military notes that as is being seen in the Russia-Ukraine war, China is also deploying hybrid warfare to target Taiwan through both military coercion (強迫) and non-traditional threats, including cyber and cognitive warfare. And the report says the military is responding to those actions by upholding its long-held "resolute defense and multi-domain deterrence" strategic guidance, and continuing to beef up its asymmetrical warfare capabilities in the face of a much stronger opponent. **Court Rejects Taipei's Initial Request to Freeze Kee Tai Assets ** The Taipei District Court has rejected a request by the Taipei City government to freeze 61.96-million N-T in assets (資產) belonging to Kee Tai Properties. The city government submitted the request to the court on Sunday, days after underground excavation work at a Kee Tai construction site in the Dazhi neighborhood caused one building to partially collapse and six others to incline to one side. According to the court, it chose to reject the request as Kee Tai is a publicly-traded company with authorized capital of 5-billion N-T, and has already agreed to transfer 100-million N-T into a fund for the affected households. **US Vows Support for Libya ** US President Joe Biden has promised emergency funds (資金) for Libya, after severe flooding killed an estimated 5,000 people. Thousands of people are still missing, with parts of some cities completely destroyed. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **Russian Warplane Crash ** The Russian military has announced that one of its warplanes crashed during a training mission in southern Russia without specifying the fate of its crew. The Defense Ministry says the Su-24 bomber went down Tuesday in an unpopulated area in the Volgograd region and rescue helicopters were deployed to the site. The ministry says that the aircraft wasn’t carrying any weapons. It didn’t say what might have caused the crash that caused no casualties or damage on the ground. The Russian air force has suffered a string of crashes that some observers have attributed to (將（某種狀況）歸屬於) a higher number of flights amid the fighting in Ukraine. **Simona Halep Suspended for Doping ** Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been suspended (暫令停止參加活動) from professional tennis for four years for doping violations. The International Tennis Integrity Agency says the 31-year-old Romanian “committed intentional anti-doping rule violations” by failing a drug test during the 2022 U.S. Open and for irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport. Halep had been provisionally suspended since October 2022. The four-year ban will run to Oct. 6, 2026. She plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 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 16,433on turnover of 2-billion N-T. The market extended losses from a session earlier on Monday, as it fell more than 140 points on the back of a sell-off in artificial intelligence development-related stocks. Selling was seen across the main board, as investors remain concerned over the upcoming release of U-S consumer price index data for August later this week. **Premier Stresses "No Plans to Demolish CKS Hall" ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says the government currently has no plans to demolish (拆除) the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei as part of its ongoing transitional justice efforts. However, Chen says the Tsai administration remains focused on removing symbols of authoritarianism. The statement is in response to a opinion piece published by Liberty Times in which members of a Cabinet-level task force claimed the government has "little political will" to remove the memorial site. According to the premier, the government firmly believes that the removal of symbols of authoritarian regimes is an major aspect of its pursuit of transitional justice, and a task force is studying ways to re-purpose the memorial hall. **University Makes Second Successful Research Rocket Test ** Researchers at the Tamkang University have conducted a successful test flight of a research rocket. It marks the second successful launch by the university from the Xuhai rocket test site in Pingtung County since it became operational in 2022. According to the Taiwan Space Agency, the scientific research rocket was named "Jessie" - after a Pokemon character - and its launch validated (驗證) its payload and structural design, which incorporates composite materials. The single-stage rocket is fueled by an R-N-X composite propellant, known for its stability and safety. It's hoped it will be able to reach an altitude of 4.2-kilometers. **NKorean Leader Departs for Russia ** The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian president Vladimir Putin will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “in the coming days”. State media in North Korea has confirmed that Kim departed (離開) Pyongyang for Russia on a private train on Sunday. Chris Gilbert reports. **Sweden to Increase Military Spending ** The Swedish government wants to increase the country's defense budget by 28% as it prepares to join the NATO alliance. The increase would put Sweden on track (有望成功、在正軌上) to reach NATO's target for military spending to be 2% of a country's gross domestic product. Sweden’s center-right coalition government unveiled a defense bill Monday and said the defense budget will be increased by $2.4 billion. About $63 million will be spent on Sweden’s future membership of NATO. Sweden and neighboring Finland sought protection under the NATO security umbrella after Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Finland joined earlier this year but Sweden is still waiting. 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 Friday's close, at 16,579 on turnover of 2.2-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Friday as Apple concept stocks came under pressure on the back of reports that China plans to expand (擴張) restrictions on the use of iPhones in government offices and state-backed entities dealers said. And while the bellwether electronics sector led the downturn, buying in the financial sector helped the local main board offset the impact of escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, **Kee Tai and Taipei City Government Reach Consensus on Response to Building ** Collapse Kee Tai Properties and the Taipei City government have reached an initial agreement to help people affected by the partial collapse of a building in the city's Dazhi neighborhood. A total of 442 people from 201 households have had to be evacuated pending safety inspections and that figure includes 25 people who will need to be temporarily rehoused after their homes suffered severe (劇烈) structural damage. News of the agreement comes after Kee Tai Properties C-E-O Feng Hsien-mien had been facing criticism for his failure to make any public statement since the incident occurred last Thursday. Kee Tai has agreed to create a 100-million N-T fund for the purposes of disaster relief and to cover the costs of building restoration and temporarily resettling displaced residents. The company has also promised to "fully cooperate" in the reconstruction of the damaged buildings, regardless of whether the work is carried out by Kee Tai or Taipei's Urban Regeneration Office. **Lee Hong-chi's "Love Is a Gun" Wins Best First Feature Award at Venice ** Festival Director Lee Hong-qi's debut movie "Love Is a Gun" has been awarded the prize for best first feature at the Venice International Film Festival. The award makes Lee the first Taiwanese director to score a win in the debut (首次亮相) category at the annual film festival. Lee was also the scriptwriter and lead actor in the movie that tells the story of a a young man who, upon being released from prison, discovers that he cannot escape his past. It's the first time a Taiwanese film has won an award at the Venice International Film Festival since 2013. **US Biden Visit Enhances Vietnam Ties ** US President Joe Biden, visiting Vietnam, is praising the newly-enhanced (增進) relationship between the two countries – once at war. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. **Subject: E*Sudan Drone Attack Kills Dozens in Khartoum ** Sudanese activists and a medical group say at least 43 people have been killed in a drone attack on an open market south of the capital, Khartoum. They say more than 55 others were wounded in the attack Sunday and were transferred to a hospital. Sudan's military and a powerful rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, have been battling for control of the country since mid-April. The paramilitary group blamed the military’s air force for Sunday’s attack. It wasn't immediately possible to independently verify (核實) the claim. 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 9-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,610 on turnover of $2.5-billion N-T. **Work Halted at Taipei Construction Site After Tilting ** Work has been halted at a Taipei construction site, after nearby residential buildings began to tilt (傾斜), and one partially collapsed into the ground. The damage began last night, as Taipei city police and firefighters received reports of 5 to 6 apartment buildings adjacent to the construction site in Zhong-shan District, tilting to one side. Through the night and into this morning, nearly 200 households were evacuated as a precaution, affecting over 350 residents. There were also reports that the 1st floor of one of the buildings has already collapsed down into the ground, as other buildings showed cracks on the walls, bent metal window covers, and broken glass. Kee Tai Properties states that it will not shirk its responsibilities and will provide plans to aid affected residents. (NS) **ASEAN Touts Peace but Little Progress ** Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for establishing southeast Asia as a theatre of peace and inclusiveness (包容性) in his closing remarks at the ASEAN summit in Jakarta. But the bloc is widely seen to have failed in solving critical issues including tensions in the South China Sea and conflict in Myanmar. Patrick Fok reports. **Mali Islamic Insurgent Attacks Leave Dozens Dead ** Two attacks by Islamic insurgents in the restive north of Mali have killed 49 civilians and 15 government soldiers. The provisional death toll given by the country’s military junta was read on state television. A passenger boat near the city of Timbuktu on the Niger River and a Malian military position in Bamba further downstream in the Gao region were targeted. The statement said the attacks have been claimed by Islamic extremist insurgent group JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with (與…結盟) al-Qaida. **UN Report Gives Grim Picture of Gender Equality ** The United Nations says in a report that the U.N. goal of achieving gender equality by 2030 is impossible to achieve because of deeply rooted biases against women around the world in health, education, employment and the halls of power. UN Women and the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in “The Gender Snapshot 2023” report launched Thursday that “active resistance to gender equality and chronic under-investment are key factors in slow progress and, in some cases, reversals (倒退) of gains already made.” It also pointed to “unequal access to sexual and reproductive health, unequal political representation, economic disparities and a lack of legal protection." The report assessing the progress for women in achieving the 17 U,N. goals for 2030 warned hat the continuing failure to make the achievement of gender equality a priority will put the achievement of all 17 goals “in peril.” 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 23-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,715 on turnover of $2.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower after coming off earlier highs as tech heavyweights gave up their earlier gains in the wake of a lackluster performance on the U.S. markets overnight,. Market sentiment stayed cautious as investors anxiously waited for the release of the U.S. August consumer price index for a better guess about the next move the Federal Reserve will make in its monetary policy **Taiwan military to showcase new Indian Challenger motorcycles at base ** opening Taiwan's Military Police is scheduled to debut its newly purchased heavy motorcycles in an upcoming military base opening event later this month. The Military News Agency announced Wednesday that the Taipei-based 202nd Military Police Command's Quick Response Company will showcase its new Indian Challenger motorcycles at the Sept. 24 opening of the army base in Hukou Township, Hsinchu County. The MNA report said the company will hold a round of motorcycle performances during the opening event, which is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of civilian participants. The 202nd Military Police Command's Quick Response Company is the only military unit in Taiwan equipped with heavy motorcycles. The military police said the motorcycles are highly mobile (可動的，移動式的), explaining that a rider would be able to hold a locally developed Kestrel anti-armor rocket and get to where they need to be much quicker than on other military vehicles. **NKorea: China VicePremier to Visit for Founding Anniversary ** North Korea says a Chinese delegation led by Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong will visit the country to help celebrate the North's 75th founding anniversary, which is on Saturday. The report in state media today didn't say how the Chinese delegation would be participating in the anniversary events or say if the delegates would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The report came amid speculation (猜測) that Kim will visit Russia soon for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Such a meeting could involve discussions of North Korean arms sales to refill Russian reserves drained by its war on Ukraine. **Trump trial in Georgia ** The judge overseeing the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally trying to overturn (翻倒) the 2020 election in the state… has denied requests by two of the 19 defendants to be tried alone, Prosecutors say the trial would take four months and include approximately 150 witnesses. Ed Donahue reports. **Mexico Removes Federal Penalties for Abortion ** Mexico’s Supreme Court has thrown out all federal criminal penalties for abortion. The sweeping ruling issued Wednesday declared that national laws prohibiting the procedure are unconstitutional and violate women’s rights. The high court ordered that abortion be removed from the federal penal code (刑法). The decision will require the federal public health service and all federal health institutions to offer abortion to anyone who requests it. Some 20 Mexican states, however, still criminalize abortion. While judges in those states will have to abide by the court's decision, further legal work will be required to remove all penalties. 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 5-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,796 on turnover of $2--billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed after little change throughout the day as the U.S. market remained closed for Labor Day, providing no direction to the local main board. Contract chipmaker TSMC and the major stocks related to artificial intelligence development reversed course following a brief surge Tuesday, offsetting the gains made by other tech stocks during the trading session. **Taiwan Eswatini Sign Three MOUs ** President Tsai Ing-wen has overseen the signing of three MOUs with diplomatic ally Eswatini. The President arrived in Eswatini yesterday, to celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini, as well as the 55th anniversary of Eswatini's independence. And after her arrival, she met with Eswatini's King Mswati III, and witnessed the signing of the bilateral agreements on supporting women's entrepreneurship, assisting Eswatini in building oil storage tanks for emergency oil reserves (儲備), as well as a "Sister City Agreement" between Kaohsiung and Mbabane. That agreement sees Kaohsiung sharing its experience in developing the information and technology industry, as well as increase cultural and educational exchanges. (NS) **China Rejects Offer to Join Fukushima Water Testing ** China is rejecting an offer by Japan to join an international framework to test the radiation levels at the Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharge (釋放) site. Beijing, which strongly opposes the water release, banned all seafood imports from Japan last month., Chris Gilbert reports. **Saudi Arabia Russia Extend Oil Production Costs ** Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of the year. The dual announcements from Riyadh and Moscow on Tuesday said the two countries would trim (減少) 1.3 million barrels of crude out of the global market. Their move pushed benchmark Brent crude above $90 a barrel in afternoon trading, a price unseen in the market since November. It could increase costs for motorists at gas stations and put new pressure on Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the United States. President Joe Biden warned Saudi Arabia last year there would be unspecified “consequences” for the kingdom partnering with Russia on cuts as Moscow wages war on Ukraine. **Brazil Announces Financial Support for Reducing Deforestation ** In a bid to slow down deforestation in the Amazon, Brazil will provide financial support to municipalities that have reduced deforestation rates the most. The announcement was made Tuesday by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change during the country’s Amazon Day. The new program will invest up to $120 million in technical assistance. The money will be allocated based on the municipality’s performance in reducing deforestation and fires, and must be invested in land titling (土地所有權), monitoring and control of deforestation and fires, and sustainable production. The money will come from the Amazon Fund, which has received more than $1.2 billion, mostly from Norway, to help pay for sustainable development of the region. 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 6-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16.784 on turnover of 2.3-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan rose by more than 140 points Monday to close above the 16,700 mark amid eased fears over an aggressive Federal Reserve after the United States reported a cooling job market. The bellwether electronics sector regained its footing, led by large-cap semiconductor stocks, with contract chipmaker TSMC, driving a solid upturn on the main board in the wake of the gains posted by their counterparts on the U.S. markets at the end of last week. **CWB Ends Sea Warning for Haikui ** The Central Weather Bureau has ended its sea warning for Haikui. The CWB ended the warning at 8:30am, as the storm continued to weaken (削弱) into a tropical depression, as it moves west over China. Forecasters say weather conditions across the island today should remain relatively clear with occasional rainfall. And northern and southern regions should remain on alert for afternoon thundershowers. The CWB says from September 2nd until 8am today, Haikui brought over 1-thousand-111 milimeters of accumulated rainfall over parts of Hualien County, and 725 milimeters of rainfall over Taipingshan in Yilan County. (NS) **Subject: E*Japan PM Announces Fnd for Exporters Hit by Wastewater Release ** **Return to **Table of contents Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced a $141 million emergency fund to help exporters hit by a ban on Japanese seafood imposed by China in response to the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. The discharge (釋放) of the wastewater into the ocean began Aug. 24 and is expected to continue for decades. Japanese fishing associations and groups in neighboring countries have strongly opposed the release, and China immediately banned all imports of Japanese seafood. **Sunak says he's not to blame for school concrete crisis ** British lawmakers have headed back to Parliament after their summer break but thousands of U.K. children won’t be returning to their classrooms this week. Their schools are at risk of collapse from crumbling (粉碎) concrete. The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says it's wrong to blame him for the escalating crisis surrounding unsafe concrete material in English schools. This comes after accusations that Sunak had ignored a report finding the concrete in some buildings presented a "critical risk", and cut the school repair budget when he was finance minister. Julia Chapman reports. **Australia Rescues Ill Man at Antarctic Base ** Authorities in Australia say an Australian who fell ill at a remote Antarctic base is returning home on an icebreaker following a daunting mission to rescue him. The man was working at the Casey research station when he suffered from what authorities described as a developing medical condition that needed specialist (專家) assessment and care. Officials say the icebreaker left Australia last week and traveled south more than 3,000 kilometers, breaking through sea ice to reach a location 144 kilometers from the base. From there, two helicopters were deployed from the deck on Sunday and arrived at the base after nearly an hour to rescue the man. 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 50-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,700 on turnover of $1.7--billion N-T. **Haikui Causes 44 Injuries Across Taiwan ** Emergency officials say Severe Tropical Storm Haikui has caused dozens of injuries, as well as damage across much of eastern Taiwan. The Central Emergency Operation Center says the storm left 44 people injured, mostly in Taitung, Tainan and Hualien. Other damage included hundreds of uprooted roadside trees, as well as damaged roads. Haikui has been hovering in waters about 50 kilometers west-northwest of Tainan, moving west-northwest at a speed of 9-km per hour. The storm decreased in size and now has a radius of 150-kilometers, but still covers Taitung, Hualien, and all areas south of Taichung. Officials say the outer periphery (外圍) of the storm will continue to bring heavy rain to much of Yilan and Hualien, and the precipitation is expected to ease somewhat heading into the evening. (NS) **Taitung Households Still Without Power ** In related news….. Over 10-thousand households and businesses in Taitung remain without power this morning. Local officials say more than 50-thousand users lost power yesterday, and after emergency repairs by TaiPower crews, around 13-thousand still do not have access to electricity services. The severe tropical storm also brought strong winds and heavy rain to the region, with 7 townships recording accumulated (積累) rainfall of near 400 milimeters. Officials also say over 20 roadside trees were uprooted, but Taitung's famed bishop wood in Chishang Township remains standing, despite suffering some broken branches. (NS) **Israel migrant riots ** Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants Eritrean migrants involved in a violent clash (衝突) in Tel Aviv to be deported immediately and has ordered a plan to remove all of the country’s African migrants. His remarks came a day after bloody protests by rival groups of Eritreans in south Tel Aviv left dozens of people injured. Laurence Brooks has this report. **SKorea President to Stresses Sanctions on NKorea at ASEAN Meeting ** South Korea’s president says he’ll tell world leaders about the need to faithfully enforce U.N. sanctions on North Korea when they converge in Indonesia and India for annual summits this week. President Yoon Suk Yeol is to visit Jakarta to attend a series of summits scheduled alongside a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders. He'll travel on to New Delhi for a summit of the Group of 20 leading economies. In written responses to questions from The Associated Press, Yoon says during the G20 summit, he'll stress the need to block North Korea's cyber hacking and other illicit (非法的) activities that fund its weapons programs. 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 6-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,641, on turnover of $2.2-billion N-T. **Cabinet signs off on public sector AI guidelines ** The Cabinet has signed off on new guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) within the public sector. Drafted by the National Science and Technology Council, the guidelines indicate that public sector workers using generative AI must have any outputs evaluated by an assigned party for potential (潛在的) risks. The guidelines also state that government agencies must not solely depend on the output of generative AI or its unverified content for administrative actions or official decision-making. In addition, the guidelines require disclosure when generative AI is employed as a tool for official tasks. Moreover, users are expected to adhere to regulations concerning information security, personal data protection and copyright, under the guidelines. **40 Taiwanese youth ambassadors to visit Saint Lucia for 10 days ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to send 40 "youth ambassadors" to Saint Lucia this month. The youth ambassadors received two weeks of training under MOFA's annual program, and will visit the Caribbean allied nation for 10 days to promote friendship between the two countries. According to MOFA, the ambassadors, all of them Taiwan nationals aged 18-35 who are still undergraduate or graduate students, were selected because of their good command of English, special talents in the performing arts, or outstanding skills in cooking. **Canada Updates US Travel Advisory for LGBTQ+ ** Canada has updated its travel advisory (旅遊警示) to the U.S., warning members of the LGBTQ+ community that some American states have enacted laws that may affect them. The country’s Global Affairs department did not specify which states, but is advising travelers to check the local laws for their destination before traveling. A department spokesperson says "Since the beginning of 2023, certain states in the U.S. have passed laws banning drag shows and restricting the transgender community from access to gender-affirming care and from participation in sporting events”. Asked about the travel advisory change this week, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said travel advisories are based on advice from professionals in the department whose job it is to monitor for particular dangers. She did not say whether her government had discussed the matter with its U.S. counterpart. **US Pledges Funds for Auto Workers ** The Biden administration has pledged more than 12 billion dollars to help US automakers retrofit (改造) existing facilities as they transition to electric vehicle production. The move comes as auto workers threaten to go on strike. Ira Spitzer reports **India Economy Grows 7.8Percent ** India’s economy has clocked up growth of 7.8% in the first quarter of the current financial year, mainly due to good performance by the agricultural and financial sectors. The World Bank says India is one of the fastest-growing economies of the world and is poised (作好準備的) to continue on this path. However, the manufacturing sector growth slowed to 4.7% during the quarter from April to June, compared to 6.1% in the same period last year. The World Bank said India's real gross domestic product growth is likely to moderate to 6.3% this year from an estimated 6.9% in the last financial year. 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. **U.K. parliamentary report describes Taiwan as 'independent country' ** Taiwan's government has welcomed a new report from the U.K. parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which stated Taiwan is "already an independent country." The report included Taiwan in its "countries" section, describing it as possessing "all the qualifications for statehood" bar "greater international recognition." According to Committee Chairperson Alicia Kearns of the ruling Conservative Party, the report is the first from a U.K. parliamentary committee to make such statements relating to Taiwan's sovereignty. Meanwhile, the committee report called on the U.K. to develop deterrence diplomacy - building up resilience and defense in order to deter malicious (惡意的) actors - and to use this to protect the self-determination of the people of Taiwan. According to the Central News Agency, MOFA spokesman Jeff Liu says Taiwan welcomed the report's support for Taiwan's international participation, and will continue to do its best to enhance deeper cooperation with the United Kingdom on various fronts for the prosperity of both countries. **New feature on Taipei Metro app makes meet-ups easier ** A new feature on the Taipei Metro mobile app will make it easier for passengers to find each other. The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation says the "train meet-ups" feature on the Taipie MRT Go app allows passengers to share their train information with friends and acquaintances (相識的人) via social media apps. Passengers are required to enter the car number and door number which are located near the door inside each car before sharing a message, which allows the app to locate the train on a real-time MRT map for message recipients. They are then notified near which door in which car the sender is located, so they can wait at the correct spot on the platform, or alternatively find each other if on the same train. The app is currently only available in Mandarin. **N Korean missiles fall short of Japan EEZ ** North Korea says ballistic missiles it fired on Wednesday were part of a tactical nuclear drill. The DPRK launched two projectiles towards the Sea of Japan which fell short of (沒達到) Japanese waters. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. **Canada Bees Spilled on Road ** And from Canada…. Police in the city of Toronto warned drivers to keep their car windows closed after a truck spilled (灑) crates carrying five million bees onto a road. Pedestrians were also asked to avoid the area just west of the city, where the accident occurred. Regional police said they received a call Wednesday morning local time reporting the bee crates had come loose from a truck and spilled onto the road. About an hour after police put out a notice on social media, several beekeepers were in touch with police offering to help. Six or seven beekeepers eventually arrived at the scene. By around 9:15 a.m., police said most of the five million bees had been safely collected and the crates were being hauled away. Some crates had been left behind for the uncollected bees to return to them on their own. 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

Tsai Admin. Lobbying for United Nations Inclusion Ahead of General Assembly 31 Indicted in im.B Fraud Case 10 Drugs Targeted for US Medicare Price Negotiations Japan Could Take China to WTO over Seafood Import Ban Oher Lawyers Seeking School Records Related to the "The Blind Side" -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 19-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,528 on turnover of 1.9-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Monday as large-cap semiconductor stocks lent support to the broader market, despite the lose of early gains amid lingering (揮之不去) concerns over global inflationary pressure. However, artificial intelligence development-related stocks came under pressure, which capped the upturn on the main board - that, after Nvidia shares tumbled more than 2-per cent on Wall Street at the end of last week. **KMT Describe's Gou's 2024 Decision as "Deeply Regrettable" ** The K-M-T is describing Terry Gou's plans to run as an independent candidate in January's election as being "deeply regrettable (遺憾的)." In a statement released hours after Gou announced his decision, the K-M-T accused the Hon Hai founder of "reneging on an earlier promise" to help its presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih win the 2024 election. The K-M-T also warned that party members who publicly show support for Gou's presidential bid will be subject to disciplinary measures. However, the party went on to say that it hopes that Gou will return to the K-M-T fold one day and join "mainstream efforts to unseat the D-P-P." **Premier Touts Aims Build NT$1 trillion Biotech Industry ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says the government plans to transform the local biotech sector into "Taiwan's next industry" with the aim of generating (產生) 1-trillion N-T in production value. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Bio Taiwan Committee, Chen said the Cabinet plans to integrate government resources to map out appropriate policies and laws to boost the speed of the sector's growth. According to Chen, the government is seeking to establish biotech industrial clusters by encouraging more startups to join the sector and attracting more foreign companies to enter the local market. **NKorea Kim Calls for Battle-Ready Military ** North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has called for his military to be constantly ready for combat to thwart (阻撓) plots to invade his country, as he accused the U.S. of conducting “more frantic” naval drills off the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. and South Korean militaries are holding joint summer exercises that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. The allies have insisted the drills are defensive in nature. The report said Kim made the remarks in a speech marking Navy Day on Monday. Kim has been pushing to expand his nuclear arsenal and introduce new weapons systems. He said the navy would become a component of his “nuclear deterrence,” which suggests it would get new nuclear-capable missiles. **Study: Voice Assistance Apps Not Reliable in Emergency ** A new study finds that you don’t want to rely (依賴) on voice assistance apps in the event of a medical emergency. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. ((opens with actuality)) 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 17-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,498 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Friday, tumbling almost 290-points, as large-cap electronics stocks led the downtrend following heavy losses suffered by the tech sector on Wall Street overnight. That decline came ahead of a speech by U-S Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell - during which he warned that America's central bank may still need to increase interest rates to further slow inflation. **Taipei Mayor to Travel to Shanghai Tomorrow ** Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an will be leading a delegation to attend this year's Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum tomorrow. Chiang will stay in Shanghai for three-days and along attending the forum (論壇), he will hold talks with officials in the city on issues related to environmental protection and childcare. Chiang is also expected to visit Shanghai's Cheng-Huang Night Market Snack Street and meet with Taiwanese business owners in the city. This year's forum is being held under the theme of "new trends, new development." Taipei and Shanghai are expected to forge agreements promoting cooperation on carbon reduction, sustainability, the exhibition sector, and badminton. **Taiyen Urges Against Fukushima Panic Buying ** Taiyen Biotech is urging the public not to panic buy salt following Japan's release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. The call comes after the release of the treated radioactive wastewater sparked (觸發) panic buying in China and South Korea. The island's largest salt producer is reassuring the public that it has an ample supply and is stressing that "panic buying is unnecessary." Taiyen says salt supplies remains normal, despite the upcoming Ghost Festival driving up demand in recent weeks, and it is able to cope with extra demand. **Russia Wagner Leader Killed in Plane Crash ** Russian authorities are confirming that the head of the Wagner Group mercenary fighting force was killed in a plane crash last week. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. ((Wagner is pronounced VAHG’-nur)) **Myanmar Orders East Timor Diplomat to Leave ** Myanmar’s military government has ordered East Timor’s diplomat to leave the country in retaliation for the East Timorese government holding meetings with Myanmar’s main opposition organization. A Foreign Ministry statement says East Timor has conducted (進行) engagements with Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which views itself as the country’s legitimate administration after the military seized power from the democratically elected government in 2021. East Timor's charge d’affaires is believed to be the first foreign diplomat expelled (被驅逐) from Myanmar since the army takeover. Many countries have downgraded their relations with Myanmar and left behind the No. 2 diplomat in place of ambassadors. 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

CDC Wraps-Up Deadly Amoeba Monitoring Tropical Storm Saola Could Bring Periodic Showers from Next Week Songshan Airport Reports 3-Minute Blackout Wall Street falls ahead of Powell speech London Zoo Weigh-In -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Tsai Attends 1958 Kinmen Artillery Bombardment Memorial CDC Reporting First Locally Acquired Typhoid case of 2023 Prigozhin Dead in Plane Crash Authorities in Hawaii Seeking DNA Samples Tankers Collide in Suez Canal -- 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 16,440 on turnover of 2-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Tuesday, as artificial intelligence development-related stocks led the market higher following a surge in Nvidia shares on Wall Street overnight. The bellwether electronics sector served as the main driver for the day's gains. However, the upturn was capped amid lingering investor concerns about the 10-year U-S treasury yield, which some say could make electronics stocks less attractive. Former Miaoli County Magistrate Quits KMT and Throws Support Behind Gou Former Miaoli County Magistrate Hsu Yao-chang has announced that he's quit the K-M-T and will now be supporting Terry Gou's possible run for the presidency. Hsu's resignation comes only days before a deadline set by the party for him to explain why he's been urging supporters not to vote for the K-M-T's Hou Yu-ih, was due to expire (到期). The former Miaoli County Magistrate has been critical in recent weeks of the K-M-T for choosing Hou has its presidential candidate and has also been accusing the K-M-T of corrupted by "backdoor politics" and of "failing to resonate with the general public." **CDC Reporting Second Dengue Fever Death as Local Cases Continue to Climb ** The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed the second dengue fever-related death this year. According to the C-D-C, a woman in her 80s from Yunlin County died on August 15 after being hospitalized for several days with dengue fever-related symptoms. Confirmation of the death comes as the number of domestic dengue fever cases are continuing to rise. The C-D-C says as of August 21, it had recorded 2,135 domestic cases so far this year and that number includes 556 new cases reported in 10 administrative areas (行政區). Most of the new cases are continuing to be reported in Tainan. **Report: Canada Wildfire Made Worse by Climate Change ** A group of scientists has found that climate change caused by humans has made Canada's wildfire season significantly (顯著地，相當數量地) worse. The country is currently experiencing its worst fire season on record. Ira Spitzer reports. **Pakistan Cable Car Rescue ** Army commandos using helicopters and a makeshift chairlift rescued eight people from a broken cable car as it dangled hundreds of meters above a canyon in Pakistan. Authorities said the rescues were completed late Tuesday in a remote, mountainous part of the country. The six children and two adults became trapped when a cable snapped (斷) while they were crossing a river canyon. The children were on their way to school. Video from the final rescues showed a handful of people hanging from a cable as they were pulled to safety through a stand of trees to a waiting crowd. Villagers frequently use cable cars to get around Pakistan’s mountainous regions. But the cars are often poorly maintained. Officials say they've ordered safety inspections of the country’s cable cars and chairlifts. 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 48-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,429 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market closed flat on Monday after giving up most of its early gains ahead of Nvidia's release of its latest financial results at an investor conference scheduled for Wednesday in California. Investor sentiment was also negatively affected by concerns over the U-S Federal Reserve's rate hike cycle, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell is set to address the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on Friday. **MOA to Take China Mango Import Suspension to WTO ** The Ministry of Agriculture says it plans to take China's decision to suspended imports of mangoes from Taiwan to the World Trade Organization. The statement comes after Beijing announced that it had suspended imports of mangoes following the detection of an agricultural pest in recent shipments. The agriculture ministry is slamming the suspension of mango imports -describing it as being "unwarranted (毫無根據的、不合理的) and out of step with international trade standards." Agriculture officials say China's import ban is unlikely to have any major economic impact, as Taiwan has only exported 2.2-per cent of its total mango crop this year. **MOFA Congratulates Guatemala' President-Elect ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is congratulating Bernardo Arevalo on his victory in Guatemala's presidential election. According to the ministry, it has informed Guatemala's president-elect that Taiwan will seek to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with his incoming government, based on the shared values of democracy and freedom. The foreign ministry is "lauding" Guatemala for holding a successful election and Taiwan's embassy in Guatemala City sent an official letter of congratulations to Arevalo's camp after it declared victory in Sunday's runoff election. Speaking in July, Arevalo said he would not switch (轉變) diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing if elected, despite his being favor of improving trade relations with China. **Japan to Release Fukushima Wastewater as soon as Aug24 ** The Japanese government says treated and diluted (經稀釋的) radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will be released into the ocean as early as Thursday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the final go-ahead at a meeting Tuesday of the Cabinet ministers involved in the plan. He instructed the plant's operator to being the release Thursday if weather conditions permits. It comes more than 12 years after nuclear meltdowns at the plant caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami. The water has been accumulating since then and will be released over decades. **US Biden Faces Criticism for Hawaii Response ** Joe Biden has visited the Hawaiian island of Maui, almost two weeks after deadly wildfires there killed more than hundred people. The US President has faced criticism (批評) for not traveling to Hawaii sooner. **Swiss ZeroDegree Isotherm Level Reaches Highest Altitude ** The Swiss weather service says a heat wave has driven the zero-degree Celsius level to its highest altitude since recordings on it in Switzerland began nearly 70 years ago. MeteoSwiss says the zero-degree isotherm level reached 5,298 meters above sea level over Switzerland overnight Sunday to Monday. All of Switzerland’s snow-capped Alpine peaks had air temperatures exceeding (超過) zero Celsius, where water freezes. That raises prospects of a thaw. A MeteoSwiss meterologist says "if such conditions persist in the longer term, glaciers are set to be lost irreversibly (不可逆轉地)". 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 32-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,414 on turnover of 3.9-billion N-T. The market moved lower last Friday, as investors reacted to fresh concerns the U-S Federal Reserve will raise key interest rates further following warnings that "upside risks" to inflation could lead to more rate hikes. The bellwether electronics sector was the focus of weakness on the main board, led by artificial intelligence development-related stocks, while the financial sector rose slightly amid lingering concerns over financial woes faced by Chinese debt-ridden companies. **US Calls on Beijing to Stop Pressuring Taiwan. ** The U-S State Department is calling on Beijing to cease pressuring Taiwan. According to a State Department spokesperson, the White House is urging Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with the island. The statement comes after the Ministry of National Defense reported that 45 Chinese aircraft and nine ships were detected operating around Taiwan from 6AM Saturday to 6AM in Sunday. Of that total, 25 aircraft crossed the median line (中線) of the Taiwan Strait. The U-S State Department says it will continue to closely monitor China's military exercises. **Dadaocheng Summer Festival Finale Attracts Over 100,000 ** The Taipei City Government says more than 100,000 people attended last night's finale of the Dadaocheng Summer Festival. City officials say more than 1,000 police officers were on duty to direct traffic. Strict traffic restrictions were in place last night ahead of the closing 8-minute long fireworks display and some local residents have complained (抱怨) about traffic problems due to the large number of people attending the event. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is touting the decision to extend the summer festival this year from one weekend to 51 days - saying along with larger crowds, it also resulted in greater opportunities for local businesses. **Spain Wildfire Started Deliberately ** An official in Spain says it appears a wildfire that's forced thousands of evacuations on Tenerife was deliberately (故意地) started. AP correspondent Mimmi Montgomery reports. **Libya Central Bank Reunified ** Libya’s central bank has announced its reunification after being split for nearly a decade due to the country’s long-running civil war that resulted in two rival administrations, in the east and the west. The bank said in a statement Sunday that it has become a “unified (統一) sovereign institution” following a meeting in the capital, Tripoli, between the central bank governor and his deputy. The announcement came 19 months after the bank started a unification process. In 2014, it splintered along the country’s broader political fault lines. Libya was plunged into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. **Russia Luna25 Crashes into Moon ** Russia's Roscosmos space agency says the Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit, bringing a premature end to the country's first lunar mission since 1976. The pilotless spacecraft was aiming to be the first ever to land on the south pole of the moon, an area where scientists believe there could be important reserves of frozen water and precious elements. It was expected to land today. However, Roscosmos said it lost contact with the Luna-25 on Saturday after the spacecraft ran into difficulties and reported an “abnormal (異常) situation.” The Luna-25 was in a race with an Indian spacecraft to be the first to reach the south pole. 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 8.2-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,508, on turnover of $2.8-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex bucked the regional downward trend and gained ground on Thursday, despite notes from a U-S Federal Reserve meeting denting hopes that its interest rate hike cycle is finished. **FDA to Amend Regulations on Nutrition Labeling for Prepacked Food ** The Food and Drug Administration says it planning to change the regulations regarding the nutrition labeling of carbonated beverages and other prepacked food products. According to the F-D-A, the amendments have been drafted due to health concerns. Deputy Director Lin Jin-fu says the amendments mean that carbonated beverages (碳酸飲料) will no longer be permitted to use labeling with words such as "rich in" Vitamin C or similar descriptions and the content of labeling will be limited to related nutritional facts. Lin also says the revisions will not limit nutrients that can be labeled on food products. Previously, only eight types of nutrients (養分) could be shown on packaging, but that restrictions will be lifted when the new draft takes effect, in accordance with international regulations on food products. **Canada Evacuations as Wildfires Spread ** Residents in parts of Canada's Northwest Territories are being evacuated due to wildfires threatening (威脅) their towns. It's part of what has become the country's worst fire season on record, with a warmer and drier spring and summer than normal. Caroline Malone reports. **DR ID on Dead Still Ongoing After Bakery Explosion ** Authorities in the Dominican Republic say it could take months to identify all of the 28 victims who died in a powerful explosion near the country's capital this week. The announcement comes as friends and family keep trying to confirm whether their loved ones died in Monday’s explosion in the city of San Cristobal. Fifty-nine people were injured, with the majority (多數) of them still hospitalized. Forensics officials say only seven of the bodies found have been turned over to their families so far. The explosion took place mid-afternoon in a bustling (繁忙的) commercial area in the city center, filled with businesses, including a bank and a hardware store. An investigation is still underway as to what caused the explosion, and authorities have said they will hold accountable any business that was not operating properly. **Thailand Pangolin Scales Seized ** Thai authorities say they have seized more than a ton of pangolin scales worth over $1.4 million US dollars that are believed to have been headed out of the country through a land border. P olice say the pangolin scales, which have an estimated price of around $1,129 per kilogram, are suspected of being brought from Malaysia to Thailand, to be transported to Laos, and then sold to clients in China. Two male suspects, who were on a truck with the scales, were arrested and charged with the illegal possession of carcasses (屍體) of protected animals. Officiasl say the amount of scales is estimated to come from at least 3-to-4-thousand dead pangolins, adding that the scales will be tested to find out the species of the pangolins. 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 35-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,411 on turnover of 4-billion N-T. The market closed virtually flat on Wednesday as investors were cautious after Wall Street fell overnight amid renewed speculation the U-S Federal Reserve could once again raise interest rates. Artificial intelligence development-related stocks remained popular despite the weakness of U-S markets overnight, but the financial sector struggled due to the debt issues faced by Chinese enterprises. **Military Refusing Comment on Test Launch of Cruise Missile ** The Ministry of National Defense is refusing to comment on reports that it test fired a new cruise missile earlier this week. However, local media is citing unnamed military source as saying a classified missile was test fired on Wednesday, as part of an ongoing three-day live-fire drill in waters off Pingtung's Jioupeng military base. Reports have been claiming the Air Force launched a Hsiung Feng IIE missile. According to the United Daily News, the missile flew for over an hour after it was launched from a base in Pingtung County. Defense officials didn't publicly acknowledge the existence of the Hsiung Feng IIE cruise missile system until March of last year. **Port Authorities Patch Hole in Sunken Container Ship ** The Taiwan International Ports Corporation says it has patched (修補) a hole in the engine room of a container ship which sank in Kaohsiung Harbor last month. According to the corporation, it now expects to finish the clean-up of a related oil spill and the removal of containers that fell from the vessel by later today at the earliest. The Palau-flagged "Angel" was anchored some 5-kilometers from shore when it began listing and taking on water on July 20 and it sank the following day. US President Joe Biden to travel to wildfire-ravaged Hawaii next week US President Joe Biden will travel with the First Lady to Maui on Monday, where they'll meet with first responders and survivors, and survey damage from wildfires which last week ravaged (嚴重破壞) the island. The death toll from the state of Hawaii's worst natural disaster in history, and the country's deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, has now topped 100 people. Officials say it's expected to rise further. ? Thousands others have been made homeless. Benji Hyer reports. **Germany Cabinet Approves Cannabis Decriminalization. ** Germany’s Cabinet has approved a plan to liberalize rules on cannabis. The plan foresees legalizing possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis for recreational purposes and allowing individuals to grow up to three plants on their own. The legislation is billed as the first step in a two-part plan and will still need approval by parliament. Officials hope their plan will help protect consumers (消費者) against contaminated (受污染的) products and reduce drug-related crime. 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 44-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,438 on turnover of 4-billion N-T. The market tumbled 207-points on Monday amid investor concerns that debt-ridden Chinese property giant Country Garden will trigger a financial crisis and send regional currencies lower against the U-S dollar. The financial sector led the downturn, while the bellwether electronics sector also struggled as investors opted to dump large-cap tech stocks after a sell-off on Wall Street at the end of last week. **Lai in Paraguay Ahead of Pena Inauguration ** Vice President and D-P-P presidential candidate Lai Ching-te is in Paraguay to attend the inauguration of President-elect Santiago Pena. Lai and his delegation were greeted on their arrival by Taiwan's Ambassador to Paraguay Jose Han, Paraguay's Vice Foreign Minister Raul Silvero, and representatives from Paraguay's presidential office. Lai held talks with incumbent (現任者) Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez and Pena shortly after his arrival. Lai and his delegation will attend Pena's inauguration later today Taiwan time before heading back to the U-S for a brief transit in San Francisco on their return trip to Taiwan. **UK Seeking High-Tech Cooperation in Taiwan Trade Talks ** The U-K's Department for Business and Trade says London is hoping to deepen cooperation with Taiwan in high-tech fields through an enhanced trade partnership. The statement comes ahead of this year's bilateral trade talks and an announcement in late July that both sides plan to start talks on an "Enhanced Trade Partnership" to strengthen the bilateral trade relationship. A spokesperson for the U-K's Department for Business and Trade says the partnership will deepen engagement and take advantage of growing opportunities for British businesses. The talks will be held later this year in London and Taiwan's delegation will be headed by Deputy Economics Minister C.C. Chen. **US Montana Judge Hands Victory to Climate Activists ** A landmark climate decision out of Montana. A judge has ruled in favor of a group of young plaintiffs who have accused the state of violating their right to a healthy environment by supporting the use of fossil fuels, which are seen as a main driver (主要驅動力) of climate change. Toni Waterman has more. **Germany Foreign Minister Plane Trouble ** Germany’s foreign minister had to wait for hours in Abu Dhabi after a technical problem on her government plane forced it to return to the airport rather than continue to Australia. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was due to arrive in Canberra on Monday night. But her ministry said her German air force Airbus A340 had to return to Abu Dhabi after a refueling (加燃料，加油) stop because of “a mechanical problem with the landing flaps." It was the latest in a string of problems with Germany's government planes, some of which are aging, that have affected various senior officials. In May, Baerbock had to extend a trip to the Persian Gulf region by a day because of a damaged tire on an aircraft when she was in Qatar. 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 15-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,585 on turnover of 3.7-billion N-T. The market closed the trading day in negative territory on Friday, as a technical rebound from the prevous session ran out of steam. The semiconductor industry led weakness in the market, while select artificial intelligence development-related stocks bounced back to give some support to the local main board. **Tourism Bureau 'Optimistic' about 6 Million Tourist Target for 2023 ** The Tourism Bureau says it's optimistic about hitting its goal of 6-million tourist arrivals by the end of the year. According to the bureau, firgure between January and June suggest it is likely to hit that target, as Taiwan saw a total of nearly 2.7-million visitors from January to June. That figure is almost half the amount from the same period of 2019, when nearly 6-million visitors were recorded. Acting bureau director-general Zhou Ting-chang says visitor numbers from countries including South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are either on par with, or already exceed (超過) pre-coronavirus pandemic numbers. Data shows the largest number of visitors between January and June were from Hong Kong and Macau, followed by Japan and South Korea. **Tainan Reporting More Dengue Fever Cases ** More dengue fever cases are being reported in Tainan. The total number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the city now stands at 1,223 since June 13, when the first case of this year was confirmed. Most of the cases has have been reported in the city's Yongkang, Annan, Rende and East districts. Local government officials say this year's outbreak is being compounded (使加劇) by the recent heavy rains, which have resulted in an increase of potential mosquito breeding habitats - such as stagnant water sources. While the rains have also made disinfecting potential outdoor breeding sites impossible. **Russian Shelling Kills ** Russian shelling (砲擊) in southern Ukraine has killed at least seven people, and warning shots were fired by a Russian warship. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. **Greece Rescues Migrants from Sea ** Greek authorities say they have safely rescued 48 migrants from a rudderless (無舵的) inflatable boat off the island of Lesbos, close to the Turkish coast. A patrol vessel evacuated the migrants Sunday morning and took them to the port of Mytilene, the capital of Lesbos. Three of them remain hospitalized. The coast guard did not mention the ethnicities of the migrants, but a YouTube video it released shows most of them are Africans. The coast guard says the packed inflatable vessel then sank. Greece has seen a rise in migrant arrivals from Turkey, mostly by sea, in recent weeks amid more mild summer sailing conditions. 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