EZ News

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

MOL Expected to Open Farming Sector to Indonesian Workers in September TASA Enters 2nd Phase of CubeSat Development Program At Least 17 Dead As Boat Carrying Rohingya Heading to Malaysia Breaks Up Russia's Moon Mission Australia jailed journalist in China -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 43-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,827 on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market closed marginally lower on Wednesday as artificial intelligence development-related stocks continued to trend down and investors opted to pocket recent gains. Investors also remained cautious as the main board moved closer to the nearest technical resistance ahead of the 17,000 point mark, prompting many to stay on the sidelines throughout much of the trading day. **Hou Yu-ih Talks Restarting Nuclear Power Plants if Elected ** New Taipei Mayor and K-M-T presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih says he will not phase out nuclear power if elected, and will instead reopen decommissioned plants. The statement comes as Hou is laying out his energy policy platform and 2050 energy vision. According to Hou, his policies include ensuring (確保) environmental sustainability, national security, people's health and an orderly transition to renewables. Hou says he also plans to develop renewable energy sources as well as use nuclear power to replace coal-fired power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to ensure environmental sustainability. **Air Force and Navy to Carry Out Precision Missile Drill on August 15-17 ** The Air Force and Navy will be holding their annual joint precision missile live-fire exercise in water off the southeast coast from August 15 through 17. According to defense officials, air-to-air and anti-ship missile systems will be tested during the exercise. Sources are being reported as saying the Air Force will be deploying Mirage 2000-5, I-D-F and F16V jet fighters. While the Navy will be test firing the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship missile at four decommissioned (退役的) vessels. The Coast Guard Administration will be participating in the precision missile drill for the first time this year. **Ecuador Presidential Candidate Shot and Killed ** Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman while at a political rally in the country’s capital of Quito. President Guillermo Lasso vowed that the crime "will not go unpunished". The 59-year-old politician was one of eight presidential candidates for the late August election. He also filed many judicial complaints (告訴) against high ranking members of the government of former President Rafael Correa. Early accounts show that several others were injured in the attack, though authorities did not confirm how many. The killing comes amid a wave of violence in the South American nation, with drug trafficking and violent killings on the rise. **World Bank Sanctions Uganda Over AntiGay Law ** Ugandan economists say the World Bank's move to halt loans to Uganda over the country's anti-gay law could reverse (倒轉，推翻) its economic gains. The country has just recorded the lowest inflation in the last fifteen months - which was considered an indication it was recovering from the COVID-19 Shocks. Hillary Ayesiga 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 40-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,836 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Tuesday after giving up early gains - as selling focused on large cap tech stocks. Although the electronics sector was the main target of investor sell-offs, some artificial intelligence development-related stocks bounced back from an early downturn to give some support to the broader market. **Aso Stresses Need for Japan and US to Show Resolve to Fight to Defend Taiwan ** Visiting former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso says he believes the best way to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is for Japan, the U-S and other like-minded countries to make it clear to Beijing that they would be willing to defend Taiwan militarily. Speaking during his key note address at the Ketagalan Forum in Taipei, Aso reiterated that Japan and other G-7 countries seek peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, adding that China and Taiwan should resolve their differences through peaceful means. He also touched on (簡略提到) trade during his address - saying Japan supports Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. **CDC Warning of Dengue Case Rise ** The Centers for Disease Control says 264 new domestic dengue fever cases were reported over the past week. They include the first confirmed (確認) cases so far this year in Miaoli and Chiayi. According to the C-D-C, of the latest cases, 229 were in Tainan, 20 in Yunlin, six in Kaohsiung, five Chiayi County, two in Pingtung and one each in Taichung and Miaoli. The latest cases bring the total number of domestic infections of the mosquito-borne disease to 1,109 since the first such case was confirmed in Tainan on June 13. A majority of the cases have been reported in Tainan, where 920 infections have been confirmed to date. **Ukraine Accuses Russia of Double Tap ** Ukrainian officials are accusing the Kremlin’s forces of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive (連續的) missiles — the first one to draw crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them. Officials said the strikes Monday evening in the downtown district of the city of Pokrovsk killed nine people, including an emergency official. The strikes also wounded more than 80 others, most of them police officers, emergency workers and soldiers who rushed to assist residents. The Russian missiles slammed into the center of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, which is partially occupied by Russia. Emergency crews were still removing rubble on Tuesday. **Trump Vows to Keep Talking About Criminal Cases ** Former US President Donald Trump is vowing (發誓) to keep talking about his criminal cases. The AP's Ed Donahue 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 up 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,006 on turnover of 4.6-billion N-T. The market gained more than 150 points in Monday following a slump at the end of last week, as investor interest in artificial intelligence development-related stocks resumed and the sector moved out of consolidation mode. The rise also came as investor sentiment improved amid eased concerns over further pending rate hikes by the U-S Federal Reserve on the back of the release of a weaker-than-expected American jobs report on Friday. **Carbon Exchange Opens in Kaohsiung ** President Tsai Ing-wen has overseen (監督) the opening of a carbon exchange at the Kaohsiung Software Park. The exchange is part of the government's ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. According to Tsai, the carbon exchange will work with its international counterparts to help Taiwan reach its goal of low carbon emissions, and those efforts are expected to bring in more than 4-trillion N-T in private investment. Tsai also says it will also bring in 5.9-trillion N-T in production value, while potentially create more than 550,000 jobs from 2023-2030. **New Military Police Battalion to be Garrisoned in South Taipei ** And, Military sources are saying the Ministry of National Defense plans to garrison a newly raised military police battalion in south Taipei. The move is reportedly part of efforts to step-up protection for the president and other top government officials. However, the specific location of the garrison (駐軍) has not yet been decided. The unit will be the sixth military police battalion under the 202nd Military Police Command stationed in Taipei. The military police command currently numbers 5,000 and teports have said that number could reach 11,000 in the coming years. **Pakistan Railway Service Partially Restored ** Officials say engineers have partially restored passenger rail service in southern Pakistan, a day after a passenger train derailed there, killing at least 30 people and injuring 90. Local authorities have handed over 27 bodies of the victims of Sunday's crash to their families for burials while three people were still unidentified. Engineers were still working at the crash site to fully restore rail service and dozens of injured remained in hospital on Monday. A probe into the train accident was also underway. Train accidents in Pakistan are common and often happen as the result of poor railway infrastructure and official negligence (疏忽). **US Texas Cost of Electricity Surges ** The price of electricity – crucial for air conditioning – has surged in the U.S. state of Texas in the last few days. Just as parts of the state continue to swelter (熱得難受) in a heatwave that is pushing temperatures well above 100 Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Caroline Malone reports from Austin. 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 Friday's close, at 16,870 on turnover of 3.6-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Friday amid volatility (易變) on Wall Street, after ratings agency Fitch cut the U-S' credit rating Artificial intelligence development-related stocks bounced back from previous session, offsetting loses seen the semiconductor sector, while buying also rotated to select old economy stocks to lend further support to the broader market. **Agricultural Losses from Typhoon Khanun Estimated at NT$128 million ** The Ministry of Agriculture says agricultural losses (損失) caused by Typhoon Khanun currently stand at 129-million N-T. According to the minstry, farms in Miaoli, Taichung and Nantou have been the hardest hit. Agricultural damage in Nantou stands at 120-million N-T and accounts for 93-per cent of the total losses so far. Miaoli County is seeing 6-million N-T in loses, while Taichung has sustained 2.5-million N-T in storm-related agricultural losses. The Ministry of Agriculture is warning that those losses will likely rise, as more farms report further damage in the coming days. **Taoyuan Vietnamese Sandwich Stand Fined Following Mass Food Poisoning ** The Taoyuan City Department of Public Health says the owner of a Vietnamese sandwich stand at a traditional market in the Zhongli District has been fined 540,000 N-T following a mass food poisoning. The fine was issued after the health department received reports that over 400 people who purchased food from the sandwich stand fell ill. According to city health officials, it collected information regarding the food consumption (食用) history of 243 people who became ill, and discovered that 229 of them had developed symptoms after eating sandwiches purchased at the stand between August 2 and 3. Four of the victims have since tested positive for salmonella. **Pakistan Train Crash Toll Rises ** Railway officials say the death toll from a train derailment in southern Pakistan has risen to at least 30, with more than 90 others injured. Senior Railway officials said Sunday the train was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi when its 10 cars derailed. Police say that 30 bodies have been recovered from the overturned (翻倒) and damaged cars and more than 90 were injured, some of them very seriously. The minister for railways says the crash could be due to a mechanical fault or the result of sabotage. He says an investigation was underway. **US Trump Demands New Judge and Venue for Trial ** Former US President Donald Trump says there is "no way" he can get a fair trial in his case related to the 2020 election. Trump wrote on social media that his legal team (法律團隊) will ask for a new judge and to move the trial out of Washington DC. Trump is accused of trying to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election. Nick Harper 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

Agricultural Losses from Typhoon Doksuri Exceed NT$300 million Firefighters Battle of Blaze at PChome Warehouse for 3 Hours Trump Indicted French Military Transport Plane Carrying Europeans Departs Niger Sweden to Step up Border Controls -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Lawmakers Pass Amendments to the Act of Gender Equality in Employment TTP Removes 'Vote White, Vote Right' Slogan France Concern for Citizens in Niger OIC Calling for Action on Quran Desecration X Sign Removed from the San Francisco HQ -- 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 Friday's close, at 17,341 on turnover of $6.3-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Friday as investors ignored the losses on Wall Street continued to pick up artificial intelligence related stocks to offset (抵消) weakness in large cap stocks such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Buying also focused on select old economy stocks, in particular in the transportation industry in the wake of a rebound in freight rates by both container cargo and bulk cargo shipping companies. **Czech Republic Launches E-Gate Clearance System for ROC Passport Holders ** The Czech Republic has launched an automatic immigration clearance system or e-gate for R-O-C passport holders. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reciprocal (互惠的) program to provide electronic immigration processing at both countries' respective airports makes the Czech Republic Taiwan's ninth e-gate partner. However, the ministry says even with the e-gate system at the Vaclav Havel Airport Prague, R-O-C passport holders will still need to have their travel documents stamped by Czech customs officers when entering the country's border. The announcement comes after the recent launch of direct flights by Taoyuan International Airport and Prague. **Pakistan Suicide Bombing Leaves Dead and Injured ** A suicide bombing at a political rally on Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan has killed at least 44 people and wounded nearly 200. The Bajur district near the Afghan border was a stronghold (勢力強大的地方，大本營) of the Pakistani Taliban — a close ally of Afghanistan’s Taliban government — before the Pakistani army drove the militants out of the area. Supporters of hard-line Pakistani cleric and political party leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman were meeting in Bajur on Sunday in a hall close to a market outside the district capital. Party officials said Rehman was not at the rally, but organizers added tents because so many supporters showed up. The Pakistan Taliban says the bombing was aimed at setting Islamists against each other. **US Heatwave Air Conditioning ** As parts of the US remain in the grips of (深陷于.) a heat wave, linked to global warming, it’s the lower-income families that suffer the most in hotter neighborhoods, without air conditioning. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn report. 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 2.7-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,245 on turnover of $3.4-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Thursday after the U-S Federal Reserve raised rates by a quarter of percentage point - a move that had been widely expected. **Female Students in Taichung Gain Easier Access to Sanitary Products ** The Taichung City Education Bureau says female students will be getting easier access to sanitary products at schools or receive vouchers to buy them at major retail chains from August 1. According to the bureau, students will also be able get sanitary products at health center in the city's 350 high schools, junior high schools and elementary schools. While some 10,000 female students from low-income households will be given two 100 N-T vouchers per month to purchase the products. The bureau says the 102-million N-T scheme aimed at increasing access to sanitary products in the city is being funded by the Ministry of Education as part of an islandwide program. Taichung received 11.89-million N-T from the ministry to expand its existing scheme (方案) to offer free sanitary products. **UN Calls for Peace in Middle East ** The United Nations says the deterioration of the security situation in the occupied West Bank once again undermines a possible two-State solution. Security Council members on Thursday heard from the Assistant Secretary General, Khaled Khiari who said the situation is becoming untenable (難以繼續的，難維持的). The occupied West Bank is currently experiencing a period of increasing violence and several members have once again raised concern. Jody Jacobs reports from New York… **Kuwait Executes Five Prisoners ** Kuwait says it executed five prisoners including an inmate convicted over the bombing of a Shiite mosque in 2015 that killed 27 people and was claimed by the Islamic State group. A statement from Kuwait’s Public Prosecution said the five inmates were hanged on Thursday. The 2015 bombing struck during midday Friday prayers inside one of Kuwait’s oldest Shiite mosques. The Islamic State group views Shiites as heretics (異教者). The country conducted its last mass execution in November 2022 when it put seven inmates to death. **Vietnam Agrees to Vatican Representative and Office ** Vietnam has formally agreed to let a Vatican representative live in the country and open an office. The Holy See announced the conclusion (結論) of an agreement during a visit to the Vatican by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, who met with Pope Francis. A Vatican statement said the appointment of a resident representative of the pope to the communist country would support the local Catholic community, contribute to the development of the country and help serve as a “bridge to advance relations between Vietnam and the Holy See.” The agreement Thursday still falls short of full diplomatic relations, which have been strained for decades. But the two sides have held regular talks since at least 1990 studying the renewal of ties. 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 17,189 on turnover of $3.9-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex closed slightly lower on Wednesday, as investors opted to stay on the sidelines awaiting the conclusion of the U-S Federal Reserve's two-day policymaking meeting. Market watchers say movement throughout the session was dictated by (由… 影響) a tug-of-war between the bellwether electronics sectors, as investors looked-to cash in on profits earlier this week from for artificial intelligence, and financial sector related stocks. **Typhoon Doksuri 10AM Update ** The Central Weather Bureau has expanded its land warning for Typhoon Doksuri. The CWB says its warning has now been expanded to cover Miaoli and areas southward, as well as Hualien, Taitung, Penghu, and Kinmen. Now, only northern Taiwan remains outside of the land warning. The bureau says Doksuri is currently 170 km southwest of Eluanbi, at the island's southernmost tip, moving at a speed of 15-to-22 km per hour. Officials say the outer rim of the storm is now over southern and southeastern regions of the island, and rains are expected to ease off gradually starting tomorrow. Meanwhile, the CWB is also keeping a close eye on (密切關注) a tropical depression east of the Philippines. Forecasters say the system may form into the 6th typhoon of the season tonight or tomorrow, and will likely move toward Xiaoliuqiu. They say it remains to be seen whether that storm will affect the island. (NS) **Ukraine's CounterOffensive Reportedly Intensified ** The United States says Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia is now in full swing (正在進行中，正在活躍) in the country's southeast. Pentagon officials have told local media here in the US that thousands of reinforcements are being deployed into the battlefield, many of them trained and equipped by the West. Jody Jacobs reports… **Nigeria Soldiers Claim Gov Overthrown ** Mutinous soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s democratically elected president, announcing on state television that they have put an end to the government over the country’s deteriorating security. The announcement Wednesday night comes after a day of uncertainty (不確定) as members of Niger’s presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace, detaining President Mohamed Bazoum. It was unclear where the president was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned. Threats to Bazoum’s leadership would undermine the West’s efforts to stabilize Africa’s Sahel region, which has been overrun with coups in recent years. Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020. **Mexico Oil Spill Company says Leak "Natural" ** The head of Mexico's state-owned oil company contends oil washing up on the country's Gulf coast beaches could not have come from a spill of about 1,350 barrels caused by a pipeline leak. Instead, Octavio Romero suggested Wednesday the oil came from natural seepage (滲漏) from ocean-floor vents. The state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos company acknowledged last week that an aging underwater pipeline sprang a leak at the start of July. Because Pemex did not have the right size fitting on hand to repair the pipe, the leak continued for 18 days. The pipeline was finally fixed late 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 up 7-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,205 on turnover of $4.6-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex made solid gains on Tuesday - rising more than 160-points - as investor enthusiasm over the development of artificial intelligence continued to push up A-I-related stocks. Market watchers say momentum accelerated as investors rushed to pick up A-I-related stocks after opting to ignore the lackluster performance of the tech-heavy Nasdaq on Wall Street overnight. **10AM Land Warning Remains in Effect for Typhoon Doksuri ** A land warning remains in effect for Typhoon Doksuri, as it continues to approach (逼近) the island. The 5th typhoon of the season is currently 330-kilometers south of Eluanbi at the island's souternmost tip. The storm is moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 14-kilometers an hour. Doksuri is packing sustained wind speeds of 173-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 209-kilometers-an-hour. The Central Weather Bureau's land warning covers Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Pingtung, and the Hengchun Peninsula. According to the bureau, high waves are expected today in the Bashi Channel and along Taiwan's coast. Officials are warning the public to stay away from coastal regions. (NS) **UK Lawmakers Concerned About Wagner Mercenary Group ** British lawmakers say the U.K. has underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee says the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are “underwhelming” and U.K. authorities have done little to track the network’s activities outside of Ukraine. The committee said: “There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive.” Wagner has played a key role in fighting in Ukraine, and the committee said it has conducted (實施) military operations in countries including Syria, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. **Taliban Announces Beauty Salon Ban Now in Effect ** The Taliban has announced that all beauty salons in Afghanistan must now close as a one-month deadline ended, despite rare public opposition to the edict (法令). A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry didn't say whether it would use force against salons that do not comply. The ruling that took effect on Tuesday is the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. **US Biden Establishes Monument for Murdered Black Teen ** US President Joe Biden has signed a proclamation creating a National Monument for Emmett Till and his mother on what would have been his 82nd birthday. Emmett Till was black teenager who was lynched in 1955 — his death and the activism (社會運動) of his mother Mamie Till-Mobley helped galvanise the civil rights movement in America. With more, Benji Hyer 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 up 28-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,061 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market closed marginally higher on Monday, as gains by artificial intelligence-related stocks offset ongoing losses by semiconductor heavyweights after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing announced that it's cutting its 2023 sales outlook. The Tai-Ex fluctuated within a narrow range throughout the session, as T-S-M-C dragged semiconductor shares lower, while gains posted by artificial intelligence server suppliers lent support to the main board towards the end of the day's session. **Tsai Urges Overseas Firms to Seek CPTPP Backing ** President Tsai Ing-wen is urging the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce to help seek support for her administration's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Speaking during a meeting with chamber members, Tsai said she hopes overseas Taiwanese businesses can exert (發揮) their influence to rally support for Taiwan's application to join the the trade bloc. According to Tsai, the joining the partnership will strengthen Taiwan's economic resilience. She's also calling on Taiwanese businesses based overseas to invest in Taiwan and build the nation into a key global industrial hub. **KMT Presidential Candidate Hou Yu-ih to Visit Japan ** The K-M-T's presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih will be traveling to Tokyo next week. According to Hou's campaign office, the three-day trip is aimed at (目的是) strengthening his foreign policy credentials. Hou is slated to meet with lawmakers and officials from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Hou's campaign office says he'll also be doing interviews with Japanese national broadcaster N-H-K and the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Hou will also be meeting with oversea's Taiwanese in the Japanese capital and will be accompanied by K-M-T think tank head Ko Zhi-yen, and Overseas Department head Chen Yi-xin. **UN Urges Russia to Revive Grain Deal ** The United Nations' highest official is urging Russia to revive a grain deal with Ukraine. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports. **Algeria Wildfires Leave Dead and Injured ** The Algerian government says wildfires raging across the country have killed 25 people and injured about 50. The Defense Ministry says Monday that includes 10 soldiers killed while trying to get the flames under control in the face of high winds and scorching (灼熱的) summer temperatures. The Interior Ministry says at least 1,500 people were evacuated. Wildfires, some spread by strong winds, moved across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions. That caused 97 blazes in the north African country. The largest and deadliest fires ravaged parts of the Kabyle region east of Algiers. **Musk Reveals New Twitter Logo ** Elon Musk has unveiled a new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday, but the bird was still dominant across the smartphone app. In response to questions about what tweets would be called when the rebranding (重塑形象) is done, Musk said they would be called Xs. 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 17,036 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Friday, as regional indexes ended the week mixed after the latest rally on Wall Street fizzled, with big declines for Tesla, Netflix and other big tech-oriented stocks. **French Parliamentary Group Visits Taiwan ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a French parliamentary delegation has arrived on Taiwan for a five-day visit. The delegation is being led by Senator Andre Gattolin, who serves as the vice-chairman of the French Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and the Armed Forces. The foreign ministry says the delegation is slated to meet with senior government officials, including Vice President Lai Ching-te, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun, National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. The talks are expected to focus enhancing (增強) bilateral economic and trade ties between the two countries and on cooperation on semiconductors. **Tai Tzu-ying Loses in Korea Open Final ** Tai Tzu-ying has failed to win to Korea Badminton Open after losing 21-9, 21-15 in the women's singles final to South Korea's defending champion An Se Young. Despite the lose at the Jin-Nam Stadium in Yeo-Su, Tai still recorded (記錄，得到) her best ever performance in the Badminton World Federation Super 500 event, bettering the semifinal she reached in 2019. World No. 2 An beat Tai in 38 minutes for her seventh win over the Taiwan player in their nine matches played. Tai is currently ranked word No. 4. Tai's next event is the Badminton World Federation Super 750-level Japan Open, which begins tomorrow. **China Flooding Leaves Dead and Missing ** Five people have died and three are missing after heavy rains caused flooding and a landslide in eastern China. State media reported Sunday the floods swept through part of Hangzhou city and engulfed (吞沒) many houses. The rain led to a partial mountain collapse and mudslide, affecting multiple areas. Seasonal flooding hits large parts of China every year, but some northern regions this year have reported the worst floods in 50 years. **US Heatewave Continues ** Pervasive heat continues to hit many parts of the United States, after what has already been a record-breaking few weeks: particularly in the South and South West. As the heatwave moves east, many usually cooler states are due to feel the intense (激烈的) heat in the coming week. 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 59-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,106 on turnover of $4.5-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex closed slightly higher on Thursday, despite investor sentiment remaining cautious during the current earnings season pushing turnover down. Analysts say the market moved in a narrow range for the much of the trading day. as buying in old economy and financial sectors helped offset losses suffered by large cap tech stocks in the semiconductor industry. **Government to Donate US$2.5million to help Kyiv Build Bridge ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the government has pledged a donation of 2.5-million U-S dollars toward the construction of a bridge in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. According to the ministry, the bridge will connect (連接) Obolonksy Island with the city. The pledged donation will be given to the charitable fund, Future Kyiv. That organization has been designated by the Kyiv government, based on a memorandum of understanding signed between Taiwan's Representative to Poland, and the head of the fund earlier this week. **US Senate Advances Bill on Supreme Court Ethics ** From the US….. The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced an ethics (道德) bill for Supreme Court justices in the wake of a series of reports about Justice Clarence Thomas's relationship with a wealthy Republican donor. However, the legislation has little chance of being approved in the House or the Senate. US Correspondent Ira Spitzer has more. **Brazil Homicides Fall but Attacks on Women Rise ** Researchers say the number of homicides in Brazil last year reached the lowest level in more than a decade. The Brazilian Forum on Public Safety is an independent group that tracks national crime statistics. It says in a report Thursday that about 47,500 people were killed in 2022, which was down 2.4% from the previous year. The downward trend has come amid a sharp rise in the number of firearms circulating (散佈,) in Brazil. Experts have come up with at least three factors to explain the dual trend, including a relative truce among gangs since 2018. On other violence, the report says that while homicides fell last year, violent attacks on women rose and there was a record number of rapes. **Bolivia Lithium Resource Estimates Increased ** Bolivia’s president says the Andean country's total lithium (鋰) resources have increased 2 million tons to a total of 23 million tons. The new estimate released Thursday further cements Bolivia’s position as the country with the most lithium resources in the world. Bolivia is stepping up its search for international partners to help develop its lithium reserves amid soaring global demand for the metal used in batteries for electric vehicles. Previous estimates placed Bolivia’s lithium resources at 21 million tons. 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 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,105 on turnover of $3.12 -billion N-T. The Tai-Ex closed lower on Wednesday for a second consecutive session, as investors continued to lock-in recent gains on the back of lingering enthusiasm over artificial intelligence development. Market watchers say sentiment remained cautious ahead of the release of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's latest earnings report later today, as investors are still anxious ( 焦慮的) about inventory adjustments in the global semiconductor industry. **Taipei Zoo's Malayan Tapir Dies ** The Taipei Zoo says it will be holding a memorial for Malayan tapir, "Moko," following the animal's death earlier this week. According to the zoo, "Moko" died from undetermined causes after falling ill and running a high temperature since the weekend. The zoo said the animal was found lying next to a pool in its enclosure (圍場) on Tuesday morning but was unable to stand. A veterinarian then administered a blood test, provided a nutritional supplement (營養補充品) and other medical treatment throughout the day, but the tapir was found unresponsive (沒有反應) in the mid-afternoon. The zoo says an autopsy will be performed today to determine its cause of death. The seven-year-old Malayan tapir born in Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic and was sent to the Taipei Zoo in 2018 as part of a cross-institute breeding program. **NewZealand Gunman Kills Two at Construction Site Near ** A gunman has killed two people at a construction site in Auckland, New Zealand, as the nation prepared to host (主辦；主持) games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament. Authorities said the shooter was also dead and a police officer and four civilians were injured. The shooting took place near hotels where Team Norway and other soccer teams have been staying. New Zealand Prime Minster Chris Hipkins said the tournament would go ahead as planned. The opening match is scheduled for Thursday between New Zealand and Norway. **Mother of US Soldier in NKorea Appeals for his Return ** The mother of an American soldier being held in North Korea has appealed for her son to come home. Claudine Gates told US network ABC News that she was "shocked" when Army officials told her on Tuesday that her son had fled (逃跑). Private Travis King crossed the border while on a tour of the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. Pyongyang has not commented on the incident so far. Sally Patterson reports from New York. **Russian Belarus Athletes Allowed to Compete as Neutral Athletes ** Gymnasts from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to take part in sanctioned (准許; 批准) competitions as “individual neutral athletes” from the start of 2024. The International Gymnastics Federation announced the move but said any decision on the Paris Games will be left to (留給，交給) the International Olympic Committee. Russian and Belarus gymnasts had been banned since last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Belarus' military support. 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

MAC to Open Limited Ferry Service to 'Designated' Chinese Nationals Defense Minister Confirms Plans to Purchase US NASAMS 2 Air Defense System US Solider Flees to North Korea Satellite Images Show Wagner Belarus Camp Canada Wildfires Burned Record Amount of Area in BC India's Space Chief Confirms Debris on Australian Beach is Part of a Rocket -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Rent Index Hits Record High in June TIPC Touting More Cruise Liners Set to Stop in Taiwan Russia Halts Ukraine Grain Export Deal Biden Invites Netanyahu to Meet in the US Greece Issues Precautionary Evacuation Orders Lindsay Lohan Give Birth to First Child -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

DPP 'Adopts' Ban on Candidates with Criminal Records 2023 Green Appliance Subsidies to Continue Europe heatwave Putin Warns on Use of Cluster Munitions Jane Birkin Dies Aged 76 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 91-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,153 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. **Cabinet approves amendments targeting power-based sexual harassment ** Taiwan's Executive Yuan has approved a set of draft amendments, that say employers may face a fine of up to $1 million NT for sexual harrassment of their employees. The draft amendments aim to start an "effective" clampdown (鎮壓) on sexual harassment, and to strengthen protections for victims of sexual violence. The proposal mandates the local government to intervene when an individual is sexually harassed by their employer, or is not satisfied with their organization's handling of their sexual misconduct report. **Kaohsiung Factory Fire and Explosion ** Firefighters are working to put out a blaze at a factory in Kaohsiung. Officials say several explosions were reported by residents near the electronic components factory in Nan-zhi District at around 7am today, and emergency personnel were dispatched to (發送, 派遣) the scene. They say there have been no reports of any injuries or workers trapped so far, but firefighters are still fighting to contain the blaze through thick smoke. (NS) **ICC Investigating Darfur War Crimes ** The International Criminal Court prosecutor says he is investigating alleged new war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur region. Karim Khan told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that fighting between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces has spilled into Darfur which was wracked by (被毀壞) bloodshed and atrocities in 2003. He said the country is now “in peril of allowing history to repeat itself.” In 2005, the Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC and Khan said the court still has a mandate under that resolution to investigate crimes there. The current conflict in the region has killed over 3,000 and displaced more than 3 million. **US Justice Department Urges Judge Not to Postpone Trump Trial ** The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to reject Donald Trump’s efforts to postpone (推遲、延後) his trial in the classified documents case. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. **UAE Sultan on COP28 Plan ** The head of this year’s United Nations climate talks is calling for governments and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (排放量) in all regions and sectors if they want to stop the planet from passing a key temperature limit agreed on more than seven years ago. Sultan al-Jaber of the United Arab Emirates told senior officials from Europe, Canada and China gathered in Brussels on Thursday that record-breaking heat seen across the world recently shows the need for urgent action to curb emissions. Al-Jaber laid out his strategy for the upcoming COP28 global climate talks in Dubai this fall. Al-Jaber urged governments to come forward with more ambitious national targets for cutting emissions in the next few months. He also named two veteran officials from South Africa and Denmark to lead negotiations on the first global stocktake of where the world stands in meeting the Paris goals. 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 33-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,995 on turnover of $5.1-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed higher Wednesday as contract chipmaker TSMC got a boost from buying in the last few minutes of the session to climb out of its previous weakness. But the local main board remained in a narrow range throughout the session as market sentiment was cautious ahead of the release of the United States' June inflation figures, which are expected to influence (影響) moves by the Federal Reserve. **Military stages rehearsal for anti-takeover drill at Taoyuan airport ** According to the Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan's military on Wednesday morning held a rehearsal for an anti-takeover drill at Taoyuan International Airport. The drill at Taiwan's main international gateway is designed to test the armed forces' cross-branch coordination and emergency response capabilities, during a simulated Chinese invasion. In the rehearsal staged at a hanger of the Taoyuan International Airport, members of the Aviation and Special Forces Command and Army Airborne Special Forces acted as the red team invading force, with the blue team formed by ground troops from Sixth Army Corps serving as the defenders. The red team was originally set to arrive at the drill ground in Army helicopters, but decided to call them off, given the fact that nearby schools were hosting college entrance exams. After yesterday's rehearsal, the actual anti-takeover drill is scheduled to take place on July 26th, and will be the first such exercise staged at Taoyuan International Airport since it opened in 1979. **NKorea Kim Vows to Bolster Nuclear Capabilities ** North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to bolster (加固、提高) his country’s nuclear fighting capabilities as he supervised the second test-flight of a new intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the mainland U.S. North Korea's state media reported Kim’s comments a day after the launch of the Hwasong-18 missile. Kim was quoted as saying deepening U.S. and South Korean hostilities require "more intense efforts to implement the line of bolstering nuclear war deterrent.” According to KCNA, the Hwasong-18 missile was launched on a high angle to avoid neighboring countries. It flew a distance of about 1-thousand kilometers before landing in a targeted area in the open waters off the North’s east coast. The missile’s flight time is the longest recorded by any weapon launched by North Korea. **US VP Harris Makes History with Tiebreaking Votes ** **Return to **Table of contents US Vice President Kamala Harris has made history with tiebreaking votes in Senate. AP's Lisa Dwyer has more. **Kosovo to Reduce Police Numbers and Hold Mayoral Elections ** Kosovo’s government has decided to reduce by one-fourth the number of special police officers and also hold new mayoral elections in four Serb-majority municipalities. The move is a bid to defuse tensions with neighboring Serbia that flared anew in May. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Wednesday that more officers would be withdrawn based on the continuous (連續的) evaluation of the situation. Kurti also said the government would formally declare holding new elections in the four Serb-majority municipalities. Violent clashes in late May sparked when new Albanian mayors took office left at least 30 international peacekeepers and more than 50 ethnic Serbs injured. 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 4-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,903 on turnover of $4-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan moved sharply higher Tuesday amid renewed interest in tech heavyweights focused on artificial intelligence development and the financial sector. But old economy stocks were more mixed. **3 teenage boys drown near Taoyuan's Xiaowulai Skywalk ** Three junior high students drowned, while swimming in a restricted area in Taoyuan. The Taoyuan City Fire Department says it received a report from residents yesterday, that several teenage boys from a group of seven had fallen into the water under the Xiaowulai Skywalk. Emergency workers were dispatched to the scene, but three of the boys were pulled from the water with no vital signs, and later pronounced dead. Officials believe the boys had been caught in a whirpool (漩渦) underwater, and were unable to escape. The fire department says the spot where the drownings happened was restricted, and emphasized that people should not enter the deep-water zone. **SKorea: NKorea Lanches Ballistic Missile ** South Korea says North Korea has launched a ballistic missile toward the North’s eastern waters. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the launch was made this morning but gave no further details. The reported launch came a day after North Korea threatened “shocking” consequences to protest what it called a U.S. spy plane’s reconnaissance activity near its territory. The United States and South Korea dismissed the North’s accusations and urged it to refrain from any acts or rhetoric (言辭) that raises animosities. **US Charles Manson Follower Released from Prison ** A follower of cult (邪教) leader Charles Manson, Leslie Van Houten, has been released from a California prison. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. **France Notre Dame Trusses Placed ** Work to rebuild the fire-ravaged Notre Dame has hit a new milestone. A crane hoisted massive oak trusses (桁架) from a barge and onto the Notre Dame Cathedral, as part of the operation to bring the Paris Monument back to life by December 2024. The operation involving the trusses, each weighhing up to 7.5 tons, drew crowds along a bridge over the Seine River and its banks Tuesday. France's transport minister says seeing the sight of the trusses placed on the cathedral was a "magic moment" for Parisians. Notre Dame was consumed by flames in 2019, and the French government determined it would be rebuilt using traditional techniques. 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 23-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,676 on turnover of $3.4--billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed slightly lower Monday as earlier gains were eroded amid lingering concerns the U.S. Federal Reserve will resume its rate hike cycle in July. Investors seemed to ignore the losses on the U.S. markets on Friday, but selling set in as investors started to pocket their earlier gains, pushing down the Taiex to negative territory by the end of the sessions as select nontech stocks remained resilient on rotational buying. **Launch date getting closer for first locally built weather satellite ** The Taiwan Space Agency says a domestically engineered weather satellite will leave Taiwan on Friday for French Guiana, where it is scheduled to be launched into space in September, after all tests found it ready to go. TASA says the Triton will take off into orbit on an Arianespace Vega C rideshare mission. TASA Director-General Wu Jong-shinn said the Triton project was initiated (發起) in 2014 and that it has finally reached the launch phase after eight years of hard work. Wu said Triton was Taiwan's first domestically engineered weather satellite and was built with many domestic components, including Taiwan's own global navigation satellite system-reflectometry. TASA says the Triton will be launched into a circular low earth orbit at an altitude of about 550-650 kilometers. **Erdogan Biden to Meet After Turkey Approves Sweden NATO Bid ** US President Joe Biden will meet his Turkish counterpart (作用相同者，相對應者) on Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit after Turkey lifted its opposition to Sweden's membership of the military alliance. Julia Chapman reports from the Lithuanian capital, where the summit is being held. **UN Envoy Warns of Strained Peace Efforts in Yemen ** A U.N. envoy says sporadic armed clashes between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and government forces are straining peace efforts, and the rivals are now also battling over revenue from ports, trade, banking and natural resources. The U.N. special representative for Yemen told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that the fight over economic wealth “has become inseparable from the political and military conflict.” Hans Grundberg says that fighting has decreased in Yemen markedly since an April 2022 truce, but that “continued sparks of violence" and threats to return to large-scale fighting have increased fear and tensions. He says that the “the situation on the ground remains fragile (脆弱的).” **Canada More Fires Started in British Colombia ** Lightning strikes over the weekend triggered more than 100 new wildfires in British Columbia, raising the total above 300 and leading authorities to order a ban on campfires for most of the province. The wildfire danger was high to extreme across most of British Colombia on Monday. The province’s Wildfire Service says almost 200 of the fires are ranked as out of control. Officials warn of challenging conditions, with lightning storms forecast for most of the week and above-average temperatures throughout the central interior (內部的) of the province. Last week, the Canadian Forest Service said wildfires raging across Canada had already broken records for total areas burned, the number of people forced to evacuate their homes and the cost of fighting the blazes. 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 3.22-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,667 on turnover of $2.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower last week, amid concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike rates at its next meeting later this month. Contract chipmaker TSMC remained unchanged, however, preventing the bellwether electronics sector and the broader market from falling further, but old economy and financial stocks largely fell. **Taipei Sinkhole Continues to Cause Problems ** A large sinkhole in Taipei is continuing to cause problems. The city government dispatched personnel to the site, after the sinkhole appeared Saturday night in the middle of Nanjing West Road near its intersection with Gui-de Street. The hole, estimated to be about 1.5 meters long, 1 meter wide, and 1.5 meters deep was filled in with concrete after workers confirmed that there were no leaks in underground pipes. But officials say the sinkhole continued to expand, despite being supported by dozens of sandbags and concrete, and water services were shut off for 108 nearby households due to concerns over leaks and flooding. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an inspected the site earlier this morning, and city officials say they are working to rectify (改正) the problem as quickly as possible. (NS) **Venus to shine at its brightest so far this year Monday ** The Taipei Astronomical Museum says the night sky tonight will boast three celestial wonders. The museum says stargazers will be able to see a dazzling Venus that will shine at its brightest so far this year, the close alignment of the planet Mars and the star Regulus, and the passing of the International Space Station over Taiwan. Officials say Venus will reach its brightest and will be visible in the sky after sunset. The museum adds that the celestial conjunction (結合，聯合) of Mars and Regulus will be visible from around 4 p.m., but the two celestial bodies will only be visible through binoculars because they will shine 300 times less bright than Venus. Then at about 8:00 p.m., the ISS will travel across Taiwan's night sky from the southwest to the northeast and is expected to be visible for around seven minutes from Taiwan. **UN won't retract condemnation ** United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stands by his views which condemn Israel's attack on the Jenin refugee camp. This came after Israel’s United Nations ambassador called on Guterres to retract (撤回) his condemnation. Julie Walker reports. **Syria Cancels BBC Media Accreditation ** Syria’s Information Ministry has canceled the BBC’s media accreditation, accusing the British public broadcaster of biased (有偏見的) and fake news in its coverage of the war-torn country. The ministry late Saturday said the decision was made after “warning the channel more than once that it has broadcasted its misleading reports relying on statements and testimonies from terrorist entities and those hostile to Syria." The announcement came days after BBC Arabic released an investigative documentary about the illicit drug trade in Syria, pinpointing links between the blossoming of Captagon amphetamine pills and associates of President Bashar Assad. The Syrian government denies any involvement in the production of Captagon. 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 25-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,737 on turnover of $4-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex plunged by more than 294-points on Thursday as investors await the outcome of a trip to China by U-S Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and amid concerns America's central bank will continue to hike interest rates this month. **About Time Technologies Offering Free Checks after Smartwatch Fire ** A local smartwatch manufacturer says it will compensate the family of a 10-year-old schoolboy who sustained second-degree and first-degree burns after the device he was wearing caught fire. According to New Taipei-based About Time Technologies, it will also offer the family free testing of all models in its Herowatch series. The company has also issued apologizes to customers for the incident and says it will have the device examined by a third party to determine the reason it caught fire, if the customer agrees to that. The statement comes after the smartwatch caught fire on June 30. The 10-year old now requires skin grafts (植皮). The National Communications Commission says it could order a recall of the battery used in the smartwatch pending an investigation. **Pakistan Death Toll Rises Due to Monsoon ** Officials in Pakistan say the death toll from two weeks of monsoon rains rose to at least 55 on Thursday after at least 12 people died in weather-related incidents. The eastern city of Lahore had a record-breaking downpour the previous day, flooding many streets and disrupting normal life. Officials say since Wednesday, 19 people have died in the city due to collapsing roofs and electrocution (觸電死亡). Heavy rain also continued to lash Pakistan, overflowing the main rivers in the Punjab province, prompting the disaster management agency to be on high alert for fear of flash floods. **Twitter Threatens to Sue Meta Over Threads App ** Twitter has threatened (威脅) to sue rival Meta over its new Threads app, according to multiple media reports. Ira Spitzer reports. **Brazil Amazon Deforestation Drops ** New government data indicates that deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest dropped 33.6% in the first six months of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s term. From January to June the rainforest had alerts for possible deforestation covering 2,650 square kilometers, down from 4,000 square kilometers during the same period last year under former President Jair Bolsonaro. This year's data includes a 41% plunge in alerts for June, which marks the start of the dry season when deforestation tends to (傾向於) jump. Lula campaigned last year with pledges to rein in illegal logging and undo the environmental devastation under former President Jair Bolsonaro. Next month, Lula will preside over a meeting in Belem, bringing together heads-of-state from all Amazonian nations to discuss means to effectively cooperate in the challenging region. Lula has promised to end net deforestation in Brazil's Amazon by 2030. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Tai-Ex opening down 39 points MOFA to Open Rep. Office in Mumbai ITRI Marks 50th Anniversary IAEA says Japan's nuclear waste water is safe South Africa-Gas Leak Deaths -- 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 17,130 on turnover of 4-billion N-T. The market extended its gains from a session earlier on Tuesday - as investor interest remained focused on artificial intelligence-related stocks after tech stocks led Wall Street earlier this week. Although the local main board has fallen into consolidation (合併) mode, analysts says artificial intelligence server suppliers remain the target of investor interest, as the sector continues to dominate the trading floor. **CDC Reports First Severe Dengue Fever Cases in 3 Years ** The Centers for Disease Control is reporting the island's first domestic severe (嚴重) cases of dengue fever in three years. According to health authorities, four of the 101 cases reported between June 27 and July 3 have been classed as severe. All of the severe cases involve people living in Tainan, where a majority of this year's cases have been recorded. The C-D-C says 241 cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been reported so far this year. Of that total, 53 are imported, and some 188 other cases are domestic infections, with 177 of them being reported in Tainan. **Army Conducts Stinger Missile Firing Drill ** The Army's precision weapon live-fire exercise is on-going in Pingtung - with troops on Tuesday firing Stinger surface-to-air missiles. The drills include troops from the 11 Army units, including the 21st Artillery Command, the Kinmen and Penghu defense commands and the Marine Corps Air Defense Garrison Group. Defense officials say the precision weapon live-fire exercise is aimed at test the military's asymmetrical warfare (不對稱作戰) capabilities. The military earlier this week tested fired Sky Horse surface-to-surface missiles, the Thunderbolt 2000 multi-tube rocket system and Sky Bow surface-to-air missiles as part of the "Mighty Bow" exercise. **Tel Aviv Car Attack Leaves Injured ** Seven people have been injured, three seriously, after a car-ramming and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv. The attack happened as Israeli forces entered the second day of the ongoing raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, which has drawn condemnation (譴責) from the United Nations and Washington. Ten people have died, including 3 children, and 120 have been injured. Mia Alberti has more. **Netherlands Luxembourg Leaders Call for Ties Btwn KosovoSerbia ** The leaders of the Netherlands and Luxembourg say normalizing ties between Kosovo and Serbia would serve not only regional peace and stability but also their prospects of further integration into the European Union. Prime Ministers Mark Rutte of the Netherlands and Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg on Tuesday were on a trip to Pristina after visiting Belgrade on Monday. They called on Pristina and Belgrade to de-escalate recent tensions that have threatened to push the Balkan region into instability (不穩定) as Europe faces Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Pristina and Belgrade were also told to re-engage in EU-facilitated dialogue. 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 29-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,055 on turnover of 8.2-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Monday to close above the 20-day moving average as investor interest was sparked by the gains on Wall Street at the end of last week. All sectors registered gains, but the big winners were the computer sub-index, which jumped 4.03-per cent and the transportation sub-index, which ended the day up 3.6-per cent. **Hou to Scrap Extension of compulsory Military Service ** K-M-T presidential candidate and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says he plans to scrap the extension of compulsory military service if he wins next January's election. According to Hou, he'll restore the current four months of compulsory (強制性的) conscription for qualified male citizens of military age if elected in order to help "maintain peace and stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait." However, Hou's statement is being criticized by defense experts who argue that only by maintaining a sufficient military training regime can Taiwan hope to have an effective reserve force to increase the deterrence against a Chinese invasion. The government is set to extended compulsory military service from the current four months to one year on January 1, 2024. **Cost of Domestic Air Travel to Fall ** The Civil Aeronautics Administration says the cost of domestic air travel will fall by between 2.7 and 6.9-per cent from August 1 due to a decline in aviation fuel prices. The cost cuts will cover all 23 domestic routes. According to the administration, the Taipei to Kinmen route operated by Mandarin Airlines will see the largest decline - with the price of a one-way ticket falling by 6.9-per cent. While the smallest decrease will be on the Taitung to Green Island route, which will see 2.7-per cent decline. The announcement comes after the average price of aviation fuel (航空燃料) from May to July fell below the benchmark price of 21.74 N-T per liter. **Ukrainian Writer Dies After Russia Missile Attack ** The PEN America rights group says award-winning Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina has died from her injuries suffered after a Russian missile attack on a popular restaurant last week. The attack on the restaurant, frequented by journalists and aid workers and located near the front line, killed at least 11 other people and wounded scores more. Ukrainian authorities arrested a man a day later, accusing him of helping Russia direct the strike. The 37-year-old Amelina had expanded her work beyond literature following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and had documented Russian war crimes. Her first work of English nonfiction is expected to be published soon. **US Travel Chaos Due to HeatWave ** Travel chaos is plaguing US airports ahead of the Independence Day holiday, as over 100 million Americans are under extreme weather warnings. More than 1,000 flights were delayed or cancelled as of Monday morning. Our US correspondent Kate Fisher report **Senegal President Won't Seek Third Term ** Senegalese President Macky Sall says he will not seek a third term in the presidential elections set for February. Sall said Monday that he would not be a candidate “even if the constitution allows me to do so.” Top opposition leader Ousmane Sonko already had called for more demonstrations around the West African country in the event Sall had instead announced his intention (打算) to run again. 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 31 -points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,946 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Friday, despite other regional indexes closing the day up after Wall Street ended higher overnight on the back of news that America's economy grew at a 2-per cent annual rate in the first three months of the year. That figure was much stronger than the 1.3-per cent rate earlier estimated. **Tainan Dengue Fever Cases Rise to 158 ** The Tainan Public Health Bureau says the number of dengue fever cases in the city has now risen to 158 after 28 new cases were confirmed on Sunday. According to city health officials, all of the new cases are related to areas with a high risk of transmission of the disease. City health authorities are now urging residents to clean up vector (昆蟲媒介) mosquito-breeding sites by getting rid of stagnant water, throwing out unused containers and destroying mosquito eggs. The total number of domestic dengue fever case since June 13 now stands at 211. Only 88 cases of the mosquito-borne disease were recorded for the whole of last year. **TPass Passengers Not Eligible for TRA Delay Compensation ** The Taiwan Railways Administration is stressing that passengers using the newly introduced regional T-Pass on its trains will not be eligible for compensation in the event of delays. According to the railways administration, as the contactless cards offer unlimited (無限) journeys on not only T-R-A trains but also other forms (形式) of public transport, it will be impossible to break down the cost. One of the T-Pass' covers Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan, another covers Taichung, Changhua, Nantou and Miaoli, and a third can be used on public transport in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung. The 30-day unlimited transport pass can be used for railway, M-R-T, bus, light-rail, and ferry journeys as well as YouBike rentals. **Syria Israel Exchanges Airstrikes ** The Syrian military says Israel carried out airstrikes on areas near the central Syrian city of Homs causing material damage but no casualties. A Syrian anti-aircraft missile exploded over Israeli territory, the Israeli military said, prompting another round of strikes early Sunday. Syrian state media quoted an unnamed military official as saying that the air defenses shot down some of the missiles fired by Israeli warplanes flying over neighboring Lebanon. Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment (牢固確立;) in Syria, has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-controlled parts of neighboring Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges them. **Australia Changes Psychiatrist Prescriptions ** Australia has become the first country to allow psychiatrists to prescribe certain psychedelic (迷幻的) substances to patients with depression or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports. **Thailand Elephant Returning for Medical Care ** An ailing elephant that Thailand presented to Sri Lanka more than two decades ago has returned to his native land for medical treatment Sunday following allegations the animal was badly abused while living at a Buddhist temple. The male elephant was flown directly from the South Asian island nation’s capital to northern Thailand on a cargo plane. A six-person team, including two veterinarians and four trainers, accompanied the elephant on the flight, which took about six hours. The 4-ton animal traveled in a specially built container. Video footage of his arrival in Chiang Mai province showed the elephant conscious and appearing calm. 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 72-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,870 on turnover of $4.8-billion N-T. The market ended the day marginally higher on Thursday, as investors awaited the release of fresh economic data out of America and as major central banks announced they need to keep interest rates high to fight persistent inflation. **Maximum Fine for Failure to Yielding to Pedestrians Rises to NT$6,000 ** The fine for motorists caught failing to yield to (停車讓道) pedestrians on crosswalks in being raised to 6,000 N-T from today. Drivers who fail to allow pedestrians to pass first, either at pedestrian crossings or other designated areas for pedestrians to cross a road, will also be required to attend traffic-safety lectures. And those who fail to stop for pedestrians at crossings that results in injury or death, will face a maximun fine of 36,000 N-T and could have their driving license suspended for one year or revoked. The new traffic regulations also extend the traffic safety lecture requirement to motorists who refuse to stop at police checkpoints, and those who fail to properly secure cargo on vehicles, that results in items falling into and obstructing the road. **French Court Sentences Rwandan Policeman for Genocide ** A court in Paris France has found a former Rwandan military policeman guilty of genocide (種族滅絕) and crimes against humanity during the Rwanda 1994 murders. Daniel Kijo reports. **Italy Hunting Colosseum Defacer ** Italian police say they believe the man filmed while engraving (雕刻) his name last week on the ancient Roman Colosseum is a tourist who lives in Britain. Neither the name of the suspect nor his whereabouts were revealed in the statement. Italian officials have vowed to find and punish a tourist who carved names and numbers on the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, a crime that has resulted in hefty fines in the past. It was at least the fourth time this year that such graffiti was reported at the Colosseum. **Google To Remove Canada News Links ** Google says it will remove links to Canadian news on its platforms across Canada after a new law that forces digital giants to compensate (補償) media outlets for content they share or otherwise repurpose comes into force. Google has informed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government of its decision. It did not say exactly when it will remove news, but it will happen before the law comes into force. The law passed last week and will come into effect by the end of the year. Meta made a similar announcement last week, saying that it will remove news from its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram before the law comes into force. 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 16,930 on turnover of $2.9-billion N-T. The market bounced back from loses in previous sessions this week on Wednesday, as investors were buoyed by reports suggesting that the American economy is in better shape than feared. **Vice Premier Meets with Japan's LDP Secretary-General in Tokyo ** Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan has held talks with the secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Cheng met with Toshimitsu Motegi at the party's headquarters in Tokyo. Speaking during the meeting, Motegi described Taiwan is an extremely important partner to Japan and a precious friend with shared values and the the two countries also enjoy close economic relationships and regular personnel (人員) exchanges. Cheng is leading a delegation of economics officials to Tokyo this week for talks on energy, net-zero emissions and 5-G wireless cellular technology. **World News Media Congress Opens in Taipei ** The World News Media Congress is taking place in Taipei this week and is bringing together more than 900 leaders in journalism and news media organizations from 58 countries. It's the first time since 2013 that the event has been held in Asia. Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, President Tsai Ing-wen told delegates that combatting (對抗) disinformation is a shared challenge all democracies must face, as disinformation directly influences people's way of life. According to Tsai, Taiwan has become home to many international media professionals in the past few years and that's testament to the island's "hard work on safeguarding media freedom and the right to free speech." **SKoreans Scrap Traditional Age System ** Millions of South Koreans are now one or two years younger, after the country abandoned (棄) a traditional system for giving people’s ages. Here’s Andrew Wood – who used to live in South Korea – to explain **Malta Eases Abortion Laws ** Maltese lawmakers have unanimously approved legislation to ease the the strictest abortion laws in the European Union. But a coalition of pro-choice campaigners say last-minute changes make the legislation “vague, unworkable and even dangerous.” The original bill allowing women access to abortion if the mother’s life or health was in danger was hailed as a step in the right direction for the nation. Under the amendments, though, a woman must be at risk of death to access an abortion, and then only after three specialists consent. The new law allows a doctor to terminate (終止) a pregnancy without further consultation only if the mother's life is at immediate risk. 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 18-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,906 on turnover of 2-billion N-T. The market ended the trading day in negative territory again on Tuesday, following a steep decline in tech stocks on Wall Street overnight. Market watchers say investor sentiment this week will likely remain muted as they await the release of the latest U-S inflation data - which is due out on Friday. **Military Planning 'Anti-Takeover' Drill at Taoyuan Int. ** Defense officials say Taoyuan International Airport will suspend commercial air traffic for one hour late next month for a military anti-takeover drill. It will be part of the live fire phase of this year's Han Kuang exercises and will be the first time that such a drill will have ever been staged at the airport. The exercise has been set for July 26 and officials say it's likely to last less than an hour in order to avoid lengthy disruption (擾亂) to air traffic. According to defense officials, all major airlines will be informed of the event and an international air traffic broadcast will also be issued. **TAITRA Opens Taiwan Trade Center in Dallas ** And, The Taiwan External Trade Development Council has opened an office in Dallas, Texas. According to council chairman James Huang, the office has been opened to support Taiwanese businesses operating in the state at a time when the American south is fast becoming a manufacturing hub (中心). The opening of the Taiwan Trade Center in Dallas was attended by five U-S representatives - who all touted their belief in the need to boost commercial ties between the U-S and Taiwan. The opening of the center means the External Trade Development Council now has three offices in the United States. Pakistan IMF Close to Bailout Deal A senior official with the International Monetary Fund and Pakistan’s prime minister are indicating a deal could soon be reached on a much-needed $6 billon bailout package for the impoverished (貧困) south Asian country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF on Tuesday, according to a government statement. Later, the IMF’s mission chief to Islamabad released a statement suggesting the sides were close to reaching an agreement. Talks between Pakistan and the IMF stalled in December, after the global lender delayed the release of a crucial tranche of $1.1 billion from the bailout **Scientists: Climate Change Made US Heat Dome More Likely ** With temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the US, scientists have found human activity is making these extreme (極端) weather events more likely. Southern US states have been under a heat dome for the last few weeks. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **Klimt Painting Most Expensive Artwork Ever Sold in Europe ** A late-life masterpiece (傑作) by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt is now the most expensive artwork ever auctioned in Europe. "Lady with a Fan", sold at Sotheby’s on Tuesday for about the equivlanet of $108.4 million US dollars in London. The sale price exceeded the presale estimate of $80 million. It also beat the previous European auction record of $104.3 million for Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture “Walking Man I” at Sotheby’s in 2010. 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

Government Maintains 3-Meter Rule for Motorists on Crosswalks Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an to Visit Singapore Tai-Ex opening Greece Prime Minister Elections Guatemala Election Saudi Arabia Hajj Pilgrimage -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

MOFA Admits it Tope Envoy to Thailand Resigned Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations US Transit Passengers Could be Exempt From Security Screening at Taoyuan International Airport Tai-Ex opening Russian mercenaries' future and direction of Ukraine war remain uncertain China-Russia Talks Saudi Arabia Hajj Pilgrimage -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Subject: E*Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,186 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market lost ground to close below the 17,200-point mark on Tuesday, as investor interest turned cautious after foreign institutional investors recorded a net sell during the previous session earlier, ending a six session buying streak. The bellwether electronics sector led the downturn, but old economy stocks, in particular those in the paper and electric machinery sectors, attracted strong rotational buying to give some support to the broader market. **MOE to Roll Out New Subsidy for Private College Students ** The Ministry of Education has announced that the cost of education for private college undergraduate students will be subsidized beginning next February. According to the ministry, the move is aimed at mitigating (減免) the tuition fee gap between private and public schools. Some 473,000 students are expected to benefit. The education ministry says it will cover at least 50-per cent of the tuition fee for private college students, with a minimum of 25,000 N-T per year. That payment will be deducted from the student's bill at the beginning of each academic year. **Coronavirus Cases Remain Flat for Second Consecutive Week ** The Centers for Disease Control says the number of serious coronavirus infections has remained high, but stable for a second consecutive week. Data shows the C-D-C recorded a daily average of 253 moderate to severe cases from June 14 and 20, which represented a 3-per cent increase over the previous week's daily average. According to the C-D-C, the number of infections is expected to continue to plateau (平穩期、停滯期) through the end of this month due to the increased risk of transmission during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday weekend. **Ukraine Shoots Down Russian Drones ** Ukrainian officials say the country's air defenses have downed 32 of 35 Shahed exploding drones Russia launched overnight. Most of them were taken down in the Kyiv region. The attack was part of a wider bombardment of Ukrainian regions that extended (延伸到) as far as the Lviv region in the west of the country near Poland. In other Ukraine news, the country's military intelligence chief claimed Russia has mined the cooling system of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The plant’s six reactors are shut down but still need cooling. **Tokyo Couple Convicted of Student Killing ** A Tokyo couple has been convicted of the brutal murder of an 18-year old high school girl. The pair were found to have abducted (綁架) the student before killing her in a remote location two years ago. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. **Norway to Open for Deep Sea Mining ** Norway says it wants to open parts of the Norwegian continental shelf for commercial deep sea mining. Norway’s minister for petroleum and energy says the country needs minerals to help transition to a more green economy. The Norwegian seabed is reportedly rich with minerals and metals including copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt. But the Norwegian government’s plan is controversial (有爭議的) and environmental groups are warning that mining the sea bed would threaten the biodiversity of the vulnerable ecosystems in the area. 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 40-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,233 on turnover of 5.9-billion N-T. The market moved slightly lower on Monday after rebounding from an early low, as technical support was seen at around the 17,200 point mark. The bellwether electronics sector came under pressure, but rotational buying remained active, with a focus on tourism, aviation and financial stocks, to help the broader market recoup its early losses. **Premier Seeks to Reassure in US-China Talks ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says Washington has been keeping the government informed about the meeting between U-S Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's Xi Jin-ping. According to the premier, the government here has been informed of details of those talks in regards Taiwan and communications channels on matter between the two sides are "running smoothly." However, Chen says the government will not be releasing details concerning its knowledge of the talks between Blinken and Xi based on "bilateral practices, mutual trust and longstanding tacit understandings." **Tainan Opens Dengue Fever Screening Station ** The Tainan City Health Bureau has established (成立) a dengue fever screening station in the city's Rende District. The move comes after health authorities in Tainan reported the city's 14th dengue fever infection. All of the cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been linked to the Rende District and city officials are advising residents showing symptoms of the disease to visit the screening station, which is located in the activity center in Cheng-Cong Village. City officials are also urging people to clean up possible mosquitoe breeding sites to prevent the further spread of the disease. The Kaohsiung City Government is taking similar action and has opened a dengue fever command center that covers six districts that border Tainan. **US Blinken on China Trip ** US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States remains "clear eyed" about the challenges posed by China, but insists there is agreement on both sides to stabilise the bilateral relationship. He was speaking off the back of a trip to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a sign of potentially thawing (解凍) ties between the two superpowers following months of tensions. Benji Hyer reports from Washington DC. **UAE Qatar Reopen Embassies ** The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have reopened their embassies following a yearslong rift. The two countries issued statements on Monday saying the Qatari Embassy in Abu Dhabi and a Qatari Consulate in Dubai, as well as an Emirati Embassy in Qatar’s capital, Doha, had resumed (恢復) operations. The UAE joined Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in imposing a boycott and blockade of Qatar in 2017 in large part over its support for Islamist groups across the Middle East that the other Arab countries consider terrorist organizations. The boycott was officially lifted in January 2021. 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 14-points this morning from Friday's close, at 17,274 on turnover of 3.1-billion N-T. The market lost ground last Friday after hitting a 14-month high the previous session - as it bucked the regional upward trend despite a broad-based rally on Wall Street overnight. **EU Parliamentarians And Polish Lawmakers Visit Taiwan ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a seven-member delegation (代表團) from the European Parliament and a 10-member delegation from the lower house of the parliament of Poland are visiting Taiwan this week. According to the ministry, the European Parliamentary group is being led by by the vice-chair of the E-U Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defense and includes members from subcommittees of Foreign Affairs, Economic and Monetary Affairs, among others. Meanwhile, the Polish delegation is being led by the vice chairwoman of the Polish lower house's Foreign Affairs Committee. That delegation includes parliamentarians across from across Poland's major political parties. They are all slated to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior government officials this week. **Temperatures Likely to Top 36 Degrees Today ** And, The Central Weather Bureau has issued "yellow" heat alerts for 13 cities and counties today, as the mercury is forecast to rise above 36-degrees. The heat alerts cover Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung, all areas south of Taichung as well as Hualien and Taitung. The heat alert will remain in affect through this afternoon. According to the weather bureau, sunny to partly cloudy skies can be expected across most of the island from today through Friday. However, occasional morning showers could affect areas in the center and south, while residents (住戶, 居民) of mountainous areas could see some thunderstorms. **Pakistan PM Declares Day of Mourning for Capsized Migrants ** Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared a national day of mourning (喪、哀) for citizens who died when a fishing trawler packed with migrants sank off the Greek coast. As many as 750 people from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe. The Greek coast guard has defended its response to the tragedy that has left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. The vessel sank Wednesday. Sharif expressed his grief over the tragedy and said today would be observed as a day of mourning, with the national flag flying at half-staff. **US Washington Shooting Leaves Dead and INjure ** Two people were killed and three injured in a shooting near a Washington state campground hosting people attending a nearby music festival. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. **Switzerland Votes for Climate Measures ** A majority of Swiss citizens have voted in favor of a bill aimed at introducing new climate measures to sharply curb the rich Alpine nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Sunday's referendum was sparked by a campaign by scientists and environmentalists to save Switzerland’s iconic glaciers, which are melting away at an alarming rate. Campaigners initially (最初) proposed even more ambitious measures but later backed a government plan that requires Switzerland to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050. The nationalist Swiss People’s Party, which had demanded the popular vote, had claimed the measures would cause electricity prices to rise. Swiss glaciers experienced record melting last year, losing more than 6% of their volume and alarming scientists who say a loss of 2% would once have been considered extreme. 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