EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 137-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,538 on turnover of 4.2-billion N-T. The market closed little changed on Tuesday after moving in a narrow range throughout the session ahead of a scheduled speech by U-S Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Investor interest in the bellwether electronics sector, especially large-cap semiconductor stocks, was muted (淡漠的), but old economy stocks in the biotech and tourism sectors got a boost from rotational buying to lend support to the broader market. **Premier Calls for Increase in Coronavirus Vaccination Rate ** Premier Chen Chien-jen is calling on the Central Epidemic Command Center to step up efforts to increase the coronavirus vaccination rate among the island's elderly population. According to Chen, the center needs to work more closely with local governments to boost vaccination rates among the elderly and those at higher risk of severe illness from the virus. The statement comes after health authorities released data showing that first booster shot coverage rate stands at 76.3-per cent, but second booster shot coverage is only at 22.4-per cent. The epidemic command center has repeatedly (反复) warned that the majority of people aged 65 years or older who have died from the coronavirus were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against the disease. **Government Increases Donation to Turkey to US$2 million ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the government has increased its donation to Turkey to 2-million U-S following Monday's magnitude-7.8 earthquake. The government made a pledge of 200,000 U-S dollars in the immediate aftermath (後果) of the quake. According the foreign ministry, it chose to increase the donation after damage reports from areas devastated by the earthquake began to come in and as the death toll continues to rise. **NKorea Touts Military Strength ** North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded the “limitless strength” of his nuclear-armed military as he visited troops with his daughter to mark the 75th founding anniversary of his army. That's according to a state media account of his visit and its description of a speech Kim gave to encourage his troops. There have been signs North Korea is preparing to hold a massive (大量的) military parade, which could take place later today. The event could showcase the latest hardware of a growing nuclear weapons program that stokes the concern of North Korea's neighbors and the United States. **Google to Launch AI Chatbot ** Google has announced that it plans to launch a rival to the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT in the coming weeks. The tech giant has faced questions about whether its core (最重要的部分) search product will remain relevant given recent advances in AI technology. Silicon Valley correspondent Ira Spitzer 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 16-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,376 on turnover of 2.3-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex followed most other regional markets and lost ground on Monday, as investors were concerned that strong U-S jobs data could result in more interest rate hikes by America's central bank to cool inflation. **MAC Warning on China Visits ** The Mainland Affairs Council says any politicians choosing to visit China must reflect the will of Taiwan to maintain democracy and peace. The statement comes after the K-M-T announced that Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia will be traveling to China from February 8 through 17. According to the council, it has received notice of the trip from the K-M-T - but is stressing that any cross-strait exchange must be based on the principles of reciprocity (互惠) and dignity. The council says visiting politicians must also promote mutual understanding and cannot unilaterally agree to any political prerequisites or desired outcomes, while also voicing their opposition to the use of force to resolve cross-strait issues. **Government Donates US$200,000 to Turkey Following Earthquake ** And, The government has pledged to donate 200,000 U-S dollars to Turkey after the country was struck by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. According to the foreign ministry's Department of West Asian and African Affairs, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has conveyed his condolences (哀悼) to Turkey's representative in Taiwan on behalf of of the government Department head Anthony Ho says the 200,000 U-S dollars in funds will be used for disaster relief. **Syria Calls on UN to Help with Earthquake Rescue ** War-ravaged Syria is calling on the United Nations and all member states to help with rescue efforts, health services, shelter and food aid. That's following a massive earthquake that killed thousands in Syria and Turkey. The quake-damaged area in Syria is divided between government-held territory and the country’s last rebel-held enclave (飛地，被包圍在另外一個國家境內). Syria’s U.N. ambassador was asked by reporters whether Syria would allow the U.N. to deliver aid through other crossing points from Turkey. He didn’t respond directly, but said the government is ready to help and coordinate aid deliveries “to all Syrians in all territory of Syria. **US Ohio Toxic Leak Containment Continues ** Workers are dealing with an Ohio train derailment (出軌) involving toxic chemicals. APcorrespondent Norman Hall reports. **Spain PM Urges EU to Reindustrialize ** Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is urging the European Union to “reindustrialize” to end its dependence on energy, microchips and food from outside the bloc. On Monday, he called on the 27 EU nations to learn the lessons of shortages provoked (刺激、引起) by the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. Sanchez announced that a joint research project with 25 EU countries would analyze reliance on other nations for energy, food, health and technology. The speech was given to outline Spain's policy priorities before assuming the rotating presidency of the EU council during the second half of 2023. 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 87-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,514 on turnover of 3.5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Friday as large-cap semiconductor stocks recovered from early losses on the back of ample liquidity, which offset the impact of disappointing results reported by some major tech companies on Wall street. While old-economy and financial stocks were weak as investors awaited the release of U-S jobs data for more clues about the state of the world's largest economy in the wake of (在之後) the current rate hike cycle. **Johnny Chiang Leading Delegation in UK for CPTPP Bid ** Members of legislative delegation are visiting the U-K this week in an attempt to boost support for Taiwan's bid to the join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The delegation is being led by K-M-T lawmaker Johnny Chiang, who heads the Taiwan-UK Inter-parliamentary Amity Association. The groups also includes K-M-T lawmaker Ma Wen-chun, Wen Yu-hsia, Wu Si-huai, Sandy Yu and Wu Yi-ding. Taiwan's Representative Office in London says it has also organized a series of (一系列) meetings. Those meetings include talks with several British think tanks, business representatives and the heads of the House of Commons' foreign affairs and defense committees. **Injuries Reported at Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival ** Emergency service personnel in Tainan say 12 people sustained injuries during last night's Beehive Fireworks Festival in the city's Yanshui District. Sunday was the conclusion to two-day event that see thousand of people packing the streets as fireworks are launched from palanquins (轎子). Officials say of the 12 injuries, one included a man who suffered multiple burns to some 37-per cent body after failing to wear proper protective gear, while another was a 13-year-old boy who was hit in the left eye by a firecracker. Both of them remain hospitalized. **US Gov Bickers Over Biden Balloon Response ** There is political bickering (爭吵) in Washington over the Biden administration’s response to the Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down on Saturday. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. ((opens with actuality)) **Pope Planning India Visit Next Year ** Pope Francis is planning to visit India next year and is studying a possible trip to Mongolia later this year. Francis outlined his upcoming travel schedule during his flight back to Rome from South Sudan. The pope also confirmed that he would be in Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day the first week of August and in Marseille, France on Sept. 23. Francis spoke to reporters after a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan, where he was joined in the South Sudanese capital by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the moderator of the Church of Scotland. The Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian leaders made a joint (聯合的) visit to push South Sudan’s political leaders to make progress on implementing a stalled 2018 peace accord that ended a civil war following the country’s 2011 independence from Sudan. 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 3.2-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,592 on turnover of $3.95-billion N-T. The market continued to gain ground on Thursday from the session earlier, as investors reacted positively to the U-S Federal Reserve announcing that America's economy is moving toward lower inflation. The semiconductor sectors attracted strong buying, as foreign institutional investors continued to move funds into the region, which is expected to have positive effect on the local main board for the near future. **NT$6,000 Tax rebate to be Accessible at Most ATMs ** The Ministry for Digital Affairs says the government's planned one-off 6,000 N-T tax rebate payment will be available via most ATMs. According to the ministry, some 80-per cent of the ATMs islandwide will provide access to the payment. And the ministry says it is currently working on ways to directly deposit the funds into the bank or post office accounts without the need for recipients (領受者) to register first. **Traffic Control Plan for Wuling Farm's Cherry Blossom Season ** Police in Taichung say traffic control measures will be implemented for the cherry blossom season of Wuling Farm in the city's Heping District. The cherry blossom season begins next Tuesday. According to police, the daily number of visitors to the farm will be capped (限制) at 6,000 during the 22-day season. People will only be allowed to enter the farm run by the Veteran Affairs Council with a pass issued to those who have made a booking. The passes are issued to tour groups, people who have booked accommodation on the farm, and individual visitors who have purchased bus tickets bundled with tickets to the farm. Visitors are being encouraged to use public transport. **US: Chinese Spy Balloon Spotted ** The Pentagon says a Chinese spy balloon spotted over Western US. AP's Lisa Dwyer has details. **Guyana Death Sentence for Piracy Attacks ** A Guyanese court has handed down death sentences for two men found guilty of high seas piracy attacks that killed seven fishermen off the nation’s coast in 2018. Authorities say the men were found guilty of attacking a group of fishing vessels in waters near Suriname in a turf row over fishing grounds. Seven fishermen perished (滅亡), while about a dozen others were rescued after drifting on the waters for days. The men can appeal the ruling to the local court of appeals and also to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice, which is the final court for Guyana. **Brazil Bolsonaro Elections Plot Controversy Continues ** A Brazilian magazine has released audio of a senator claiming then President Jair Bolsonaro sought help in a plot to annul the October elections and keep himself in power. In the recording, Sen. Marcos do Val tells the magazine Veja that the idea was discussed at a meeting Dec. 9, three weeks before leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was set to take office. Veja released the audio after the senator issued denials following the magazine’s report Thursday morning about the purported (據稱) plot, which had not cited him as its source. Bolsonaro is already under investigation following the Jan. 8 riot in the capital by his supporters. He is in Florida and did not comment on any of his social media channels. 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 88-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,508 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Wednesday following a slump the previous session - as buying was triggered by gains on Wall Street overnight. And the bellwether electronics sector was boosted by late-session buying, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in investor in focus as foreign institutional investors continue to move funds into the region. **Pavel Defends Phone Call with Tsai ** Czech Republic President-elect Petr Pavel is defending his decision to talk with President Tsai Ing-wen by telephone following his election victory. China lodged formal objections to the phone call. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters earlier this week Pavel's actions "persisted (堅持) in stepping on China's red line, seriously interfering in China's domestic affairs and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people." In a Czech-language tweet, Pavel said he understood that China had "reservations" about the phone call - but the Czech Republic is a "sovereign country and we do what we think is right." Pavel will assume the presidency in March. **CECC to Lift Coronavirus Testing for Overseas Arrivals from February 7 ** The Central Epidemic Command Center says overseas arrivals (到達的人) observing the seven-day self-health monitoring period will no longer be required to take coronavirus rapid tests from February 7. From next Tuesday, all arrivals will only be given a single at-home rapid test kit, instead of the current four. Under the new rules, arrivals will only need to take an at-home rapid test if they develop suspected symptoms during the self-health monitoring period. **US Philippines Officials to Discuss Military Cooperation ** US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has arrived in the Philippines where he will meet with the country's president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. They are expected to discuss expanding US access to military bases in the country, which would help Washington counter Chinese influence in the region. The two countries have been working on the defense agreement for almost a decade (十年) but have made little progress so far, as FSN's Nick Harper reports from Washington **Brazil Officials Reelected by Lawmakers ** Brazilian lawmakers have voted to reelect the heads of both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, bolstering President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s prospects for passing legislation and governing in the polarized nation. Chamber Speaker Arthur Lira won in the biggest landslide since Brazil returned to democracy almost four decades ago, with 91% of the votes. Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco secured victory with a sizeable margin, outdoing analysts’ expectations for a tight contest and even possible upset by his challenger. The two congressional leaders set the daily agenda for proceedings, choosing which bills are put up for debate and vote, and they have the power to greenlight congressional investigations. 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 Talks Up Idea of Tsai -Pavel Meeting CECC Set to Relax Indoor Face Mask Mandate PLA February 1 incursions United Nations warning about Myanmar Farewell, Boeing 747! Alec Baldwin charged with involuntary nanslaughter -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 75-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,419 on turnover of $3.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan lost some momentum after a strong opening yesterday, as Wall Street stocks also trended lower overnight. Investors are now reserved as they await announcements this week from the U.S Fed, as well as other key economic indicators. **China's partial lifting of import ban on Taiwan a political move ** China has lifted its ban on 63 products from Taiwanese food and beverage producers, which was imposed in December 2022. The lifting of the ban enables Taiwanese companies making the 63 items, including Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc., to export those products to China, effective from last Saturday, January 28th. The head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Chiu Tai-san, has called the lifting of the ban a "political maneuver" (政治花招), as it violates international trade practices. Chiu says China's import ban on Taiwanese beverage suppliers in early December violated international trade practices, and that the lifting of the ban on some of their items on Sunday was politically motivated. **Free Taiwan Lantern Festival lanterns up for grabs from February 1st ** 80,000 Year-of-the-Rabbit-themed lanterns are to be made available to the public tomorrow. The 2023 rabbit light can held like a traditional lantern, or reassembled (重新組裝) into a luminous rabbit ear ornament and worn as a hat. The Taipei City government's Department of Civil Affairs says members of the public would be able to place preorders for 10,500 of the free lanterns via the festival's official website and TaipeiPASS app, starting from 10 AM tomorrow. **France Rail Operator Recommends Staying Home Amid Strikes ** France’s national rail operator is recommending that passengers stay home if possible today to avoid labor strikes. The strikes over pensions are expected to cause major transport woes but largely spare high-speed rail links to Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Labor unions mobilized massive street protests in an initial salvo (行動的第一炮) of nationwide strikes earlier this month. They're hoping for similar success Tuesday to maintain pressure on government plans to raise France’s retirement age. Rail operator SNCF warned that major network disruptions are expected from Monday night to Wednesday morning. It recommended passengers cancel or postpone trips and work remotely if possible. **US Biden to End COVID19 Controls ** US President Joe Biden is going to end the nation's coronavirus emergencies. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. **Emirates Tests Boeing 777 on Sustainable Fuel ** Long-haul carrier Emirates has successfully flown a Boeing 777 on a test flight with one of its two engines entirely powered by so-called sustainable fuel. The flight lasted just under an hour over the coastline of the United Arab Emirates, after it took off from Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel. The fuel powered one of the Boeing’s two General Electric Co. engines, with the other running on conventional (傳統的) jet fuel for safety. Emirates described the sustainable fuel as a blend that includes compounds from plant-based sugars, and vegetable oils and animal fats. Those fuels reduce the release of carbon dioxide, but analysts suggest sustainable fuels can be three times or more the cost of jet fuel. It wasn't immediately clear how much the fuel used in the Emirates' test today cost per barrel. 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 359-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,291 on turnover of $15.8-billion N-T. The Taiex opened strong today as the island returned after a long Lunar New Year holiday. Shares surged following a steep (急劇的)rise on Wall Street, let by tech stocks over the 10-day break, and Taiwan tech stocks followed suite, led by shares in semiconductors. **Legislative speaker You to attend U.S. National Prayer Breakfast ** Legislative speaker Yo Xi-kun will travel to the United States on Tuesday to speak at a summit on religious freedom and attend the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast. Yo would depart for the U.S. tomorrow and deliver a speech on Wednesday at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C. Yo will then attend the Prayer Breakfast, an annual gathering of political and religious leaders in Washington, on Thursday, before taking a flight home from New York the next day. He had originally planned a nine-day visit to the U.S., but condensed (壓縮) his schedule due to domestic political factors, including the swearing in of a new Cabinet and the Legislature's review of a proposal to distribute surplus tax revenue to the public. The Legislature's new session will begin on Wednesday. **Iran Says Drone Attack Targets Defense Factory ** Bomb-carrying drones targeted (把…作為攻擊目標) an Iranian defense factory, amid heightened tensions in the Islamic Republic. AP correspondent Sarah Naffa reports. **Pakistan Road Accidents ** A passenger bus has fallen off a bridge and caught fire, killing 40 people in the crash in southern Pakistan. A government official in the town of Bela said the bus was speeding when it crashed into a pillar (柱子) and fell off the bridge Sunday. Four survivors are being treated in a hospital for their injuries. Separately, in Pakistan's northwest, at least 10 children died in a boating capsizing Sunday while they were on a picnic. Local police said the boat apparently overturned because it was too crowded. **Turkey May Approve Finland NATO Application ** Turkey’s president has suggested his country might approve Finland’s application for NATO membership before taking any action on Sweden’s. The two Nordic nations applied jointly to become members of the military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a prerecorded video released Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Turkey might sign off on only Finland. Turkey has accused Sweden of being too lenient (寬容) toward groups it deems as terror organizations or existential threats. The Turkish government late Saturday issued a travel warning for European countries due to anti-Turkish demonstrations and what it described as Islamophobia. The warning came after pro-Kurdish groups held protests and an anti-Islam activist burned the Quran in Stockholm. 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. **2022 GDP Growth Falls Below Government Forecast. ** Taiwan's year-over-year G-D-P growth for 2022 fell below the government's forecast. According to the an advanced estimate by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the island registered growth of 2.43-per cent last year. That fell short of the original forecast of 3.06-per cent. The government is attributing the disparity (差距) to aggressive rate hike cycles by the major central banks that resulted in weakening global demand and inventory adjustments in many industries. **Shuttle Bus Service for Taiwan Lantern Festival ** The Taipei City Government says two shuttle bus services will be provided for the up-coming Taiwan Lantern Festival in the capital for those wishing to travel to the event's separate sites. According to city officials, the shuttle buses services will cost 5 N-T per journey and will be connecting the four main display zones. Those zones will be located in Taipei's Xinyi District, the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall park, and Taipei City Hall plaza. Shuttle bus No. 1 will mainly run between the Taipei Metro Blue Line and Red Line, while shuttle bus No. 2 will operate between the Taipei Metro Red Line and Green Line. The Taipei M-R-T will be increasing services on the Red and Blue lines beginning February 1 - but the metro operator is considering allowing passengers to only board trains, any not alight (下車) at the Taipei City Hall and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall stations. The 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival runs from February 5th through 19th. **NZ Ardern Not Contesting Elections ** New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she will not contest (競選) this year’s general elections. Ardern told reporters that Feb. 7 will be her last day as the country’s leader. Ardern said she is leaving because she no longer has "enough in the tank" to do the job justice. Ardern has called New Zealand’s next general elections for Oct. 14. She says she will remain a lawmaker until then. **US Finalizing Ukraine Military Aid ** The U.S. is finalizing a massive (巨大的) package of military aid for Ukraine. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. **UN Environment Chief Reelected ** The U.N. General Assembly has elected Inger Andersen of Denmark to a second four-year term as executive director of the United Nations Environment Program. Wednesday's vote came after the assembly rejected a Russian-sponsored resolution that would have opened the job to other candidates. The decision extends her leadership (領導) of the U.N.’s environment agency, based in Nairobi, Kenya, until June 14th, 2027. 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 Loses Ground in Year of the Tiger ** The Tai-Ex rose marginally (稍微地，略微地) higher on Tuesday, as it closed out the Year of the Tiger above the 14,900 point mark. However, figures show the local main board fell by 2,741-points, or 15.51-per cent, during the Year of the Tiger. That represent a loss of 8.08-trillion N-T in market value for the 12-month period. The Tai-Ex's first trading day of the Year of the Rabbit will be on January 30. **People Likely to Get NT$6,000 Cash Handouts by Early March ** National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin says Taiwanese citizens and eligible foreign nationals could receive a one-off 6,000 N-T tax surplus cash payment by late February or early March. Speaking at a legislative committee hearing, Kung said chances that the payments will be made before the Lunar New Year holiday are slim, as the Cabinet's special budget plan is unlikely to be submitted to the Legislature in time. According to Kung, if the Cabinet finalizes the special budget plan on February 2, sends it to the Legislature for review a day later, and it's approved within a week, it is possible the payments could begin on February 28. The statements come as lawmakers from across party lines are urging the government to speed up the special budgeting process. **Reports Claim NHIA Data May Have been Sold to China ** Mirror Media magazine is reporting that data allegedly stolen from the National Health Insurance Administration could have been given to China. According to publication, retired administration chief secretary Yeh Feng-ming likely sold the information during numerous trips to China, as there is evidence that large amounts of money were remitted to family bank accounts following those trips. The report comes a week after the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office announced it opened an investigation into the leaking of private information about government officials responsible for national security affairs from the insurance administration. **UNSC: Russia Accuses Ukraine of Religious Persecution ** The United Nations Security Council held another meeting on Ukraine on Tuesday, to discuss allegations by Russia that Ukraine is attempting to "destroy" the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Jody Jacobs has more on that story… **EU Pushes Clean Tech Plan Forward ** The European Union is pushing forward with a major clean tech industrial plan that also guarantee the EU's economic survival as it faces challenges from China and the United States. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the outlines for her “Green Deal Industrial Plan” on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum at Davos. The plan will make it much easier to push through subsidies for green industries and pool EU-wide projects that are boosted with major funding. The EU is pursuing the goal of being climate neutral by 2050. Von der Leyen said that the 27-nation bloc will more forcefully counter unfair trading practices. 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 4-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,922 on turnover of 1.1-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Monday, after Wall Street ended last week on a high note, despite other regional indexes ending the day in mixed territory ahead of the release of the latest economic growth figures from China. Today is the is the Tai-Ex's final trading day before the Lunar New Year holiday - and it will reopen on January 30. **Taiwan-US Trade Talks Continuing ** The second round of talks under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade are set to wrap-up later today in Taipei. The talks began on Saturday. Taiwan's delegation is being led by Deputy Trade Representative Yang Zhen-ni, while the U-S delegation is being headed by Assistant United States Trade Representative Terry McCartin. The Office of Trade Negotiations has yet to release (發布) many details of the on-going talks - saying only it will hold a media briefing after the negotiations are concluded today. The first round of talks under the initiative took place in New York in November of last year. **Exports of Integrated Circuit Chips Continued to Increase in 2022 ** The Ministry of Finance says exports of integrated circuit chips continued to increase in 2022 - marking seven consecutive years of growth. Data shows that Taiwan's chip exports rose by 18.4-per cent last year from 2021 earlier - and that was third consecutive year that exports registered double-digit growth. Bloomberg News is citing Barclays economist Son Bum Ki as describing Taiwan as being "irreplaceable in the near-term in the semiconductor industry." Son told Bloomberg that Taiwan's success in the sector is due to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's dominance, which accounts for over 50-per cent of the global foundry (晶圓代工或晶圓專工) market and an even higher percentage of the cutting-edge chip segment. **US Top General visits training site for Ukrainian soldiers ** Ukrainian soldiers are taking part in a U.S. military’s training program. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports. **UK to Block Scottish Gender Change Law ** The British government says it will block a law designed to make it easier for people in Scotland to legally change their gender. Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said he was vetoing the bill approved by the Scottish parliament because of concern it conflicts with “Great Britain-wide equalities legislation” which guarantees women and girls access to single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and shelters. The Scottish bill allows people 16 or older to change the gender designation on their identity documents by self-declaration, removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria (性別不安). The Scottish government is likely to challenge Monday's decision at the U.K. Supreme Court. **Italy Top Mafia Fugitive Arrested ** Italy’s No. 1 fugitive has been arrested. The Mafia boss was grabbed while he sought treatment at a private clinic in Sicily after three decades on the run. Matteo Messina Denaro was tried in absentia ( 缺席判決) and convicted of dozens of murders, including helping to mastermind a pair of 1992 bombings that killed top anti-Mafia prosecutors. He faces multiple life sentences. He is expected to serve them in a maximum security prison and under the particularly restrictive conditions reserved for top organized crime bosses. 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 71-points this morning from Friday's close, at 14,895 on turnover of 3.5-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Friday, but faced stiff technical resistance ahead of 15,000 point mark. Friday's rise was led by a rally by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which finished at or above the 500 N-T per share mark for the for the first time since August of last year. Tomorrow is the is the Tai-Ex's final trading day before the Lunar New Year holiday - and it will reopen on January 30 . **VP William Lai Elected as DPP Chairman ** Vice President William Lai has been elected the D-P-P's new chairman - after winning the party's uncontested (無競爭的) election. Lai won with 41,840 votes, or 99.65-per cent of the total cast. According to the D-P-P's Acting Secretary-General Sidney Lin, turnout for the ballot was 17.59-per cent. However, that was slightly higher than the D-P-P's party previous chair election in 2019, which stood at 16.9-per cent, when Zhuo Rong-tai was elected. Speaking after being formally announced the winner, Lai said will officially take up the post on Wednesday during a D-P-P central standing committee meeting. His tenure will run until May 20, 2024, when Taiwan's next president will be inaugurated. **43% of TRA Tickets for LNY Holiday Sold ** The Taiwan Railways Administration says some 43-per cent of tickets for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday have so far been sold. The rail operator is laying on a total of 499 additional train services to meet the expected increase in passenger volume over the holiday period. Those additional (額外的) trains will run until January 30. According to the railways administration, the additional train services mean that some 450,000 more seats will available - increasing capacity by 12-per cent from last year. Tickets for January 19, 20, 28, and 29 are sold out. But the rail network says tickets for other days of the Lunar New Year holiday are still available. **US Cali Preps for More Rain and Snow ** The US state of California is preparing for more rain and snow after a severe (嚴重) storm killed at least 19 people and left millions of others under a flood watch. Our US Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports. **Oxfam Recommends Solidarity Tax On Wealthiest ** Anti-poverty group Oxfam says companies making big profits as inflation surges (急遽上升) should face windfall taxes to help cut global inequality. That's one of the recommendations in a report the group released today as the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting of political and business elites gets underway in Davos. Oxfam also says that over the past two years, the world’s super-rich 1% have gained nearly twice as much wealth as the remaining 99% combined. Meanwhile, at least 1.7 billion workers live in countries where inflation is outpacing their wage growth. That's even as billionaire fortunes are rising by $2.7 billion a day. To combat these problems, Oxfam urged higher taxes on the rich, through a combination of measures including one-time “solidarity” taxes and raising minimum rates for the wealthiest. 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 191-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,923 on turnover of $6.9-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Thursday after moving in a narrow range as investors remained cautious ahead of an investor conference by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The release of U-S December inflation data also dictated (決定) market movements with many investors taking to the sidelines, pushing down turnover. **Coronavirus Home Care Consultations to Focus on High-Risk Groups ** The Central Epidemic Command Center says remote medical consultation services provided to all coronavirus patients during home quarantine are to be restricted to high-risk groups only. Health officials say the move is aimed more effectively allocating (分配) health resources. Beginning Sunday, only individuals aged 65 or above and 12 years or below with severe underlying health issues will be able to use the service during their five-day mandatory quarantine. According to the epidemic command center, those individuals will be able to consult their doctors and receive regular health evaluations remotely during the period. Other existing home care measures for patients with mild and asymptomatic infections remain unchanged. That includes remote prescription of medicines and their home delivery. **Japan Formal Charges for Abe Shooter ** A lawyer says Japanese prosecutors are expected to formally charge the suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder today. Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested immediately after allegedly shooting Abe with a handmade gun as the former leader was making a campaign speech in July. His five-month mental evaluation ended Tuesday, and he was reportedly deemed fit to stand trial. Police say Yamagami told them that he killed Abe because of Abe’s apparent links to a religious group that he hated. In statements and social media posts, Yamagami blamed the Unification Church for bankrupting his family and ruining (毀壞) his life. One of his lawyers, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he expects prosecutors to charge Yamagami with murder and gun control law violations. **US Online Asylum System Launched ** From the US…. The Biden administration has launched (開始, 啟動) an online system for migrants on the Mexican border seeking asylum. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports. **Sweden Identifies Deposits of Rare Earth Elements ** A Swedish government-owned iron ore mining company says it has identified “significant deposits” of rare earth elements in Arctic Sweden that are essential for the manufacture of electric vehicles and wind turbines. LKAB's CEO said Thursday that the quantity of rare earth metals exceeds 1 million tons and is the largest known deposit of its kind in Europe. But the company warned that it could take at least a decade before mining starts. Sweden's energy and business minister said that the European Union's “self-sufficiency (自給自足) and independence from Russia and China will begin in the mine.” 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 14,781 on turnover of $1.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday as selling focused on tech and financial stocks, which pushed the market lower after it gave up early gains. Investor sentiment has turned cautious after rally earlier this week, amid increasing concerns over a major pullback ahead of stiff technical resistance at around the 15,000-point mark. While many investors are opting to pocket profits ahead of the upcoming long Lunar New Year holiday. **Presidential Office Rules Out 'Immediate' Cabinet Reshuffle ** The Presidential Office says discussions on a possible Cabinet reshuffle will only take place after the end of the current legislative session. The statement comes amid reports Premier Su Tseng-chang is set to resign this week. According to the Presidential Office, Su and President Tsai Ing-wen have agreed to wait until the conclusion of the current legislative session before they begin discussions on a reshuffle. There has been speculation a reshuffle would be announced this week in response to the D-P-P's loses in November's local elections. However, a Presidential Office spokesperson says the President and the Premier have decided to hold off on any changes in order to focus on getting the central government's 2023 budget approved by the Legislature. The current legislative session is scheduled to end tomorrow. **US 2nd Batch of Classified Docs Found by Biden Aides ** Aides working for US President Joe Biden have found a second set of classified documents. This latest collection was found in a different, but so far undisclosed, location to the batch of documents that was disclosed on Monday. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **Afghanistan Kabul Explosion Kills Five ** A police spokesman in Kabul says an explosion near the Foreign Ministry in the Afghan capital has killed five civilians and wounded a number of others. It is the second prominent attack in Kabul so far this year. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan has stepped up its attacks since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Targets have included Taliban patrols and members of the country’s Shiite minority. **Mexico President Praises Canada Investments ** Mexico’s president has lauded (稱讚) investments from Canada and says he will meet with Canadian companies that may have a problem with his energy policies. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador commented Wednesday after a private meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Their session came on the heels of the North American Leaders’ Summit a day earlier in which U.S. President Joe Biden also participated. The United States and Canada accuse Lopez Obrador of trying to favor Mexico’s state-owned utility over power plants built by foreign and private investors, something that is forbidden under the three countries’ free trade pact. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 20-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,822 on turnover of 1.9-billion N-T. The market continued to gain ground on Tuesday -- extending momentum from a session earlier, as the bellwether electronics sector continued to be the focus of investor interest. However, turnover for the session stood at 177-billion N-T - and that was a sharp decline from Monday's 225-billion N-T - as many investors were wary of a major technical pullback from the strong showing on the first trading day of the week. Climate Law and 2050 Net Zero Goal Passed Final Reading Lawmaker have passed a sweeping climate bill that seeks to establish a carbon fee system for large emitters and sets a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The Climate Change Response Act was initially (起初，最初) approved by the Cabinet in April of last year. The final approved version of the act establishes a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The effort will be led by the National Council for Sustainable Development, which will coordinate with central government agencies and other stakeholders to draft climate "action plans." Under the Act, those plans will be reviewed a minimum of every four years and be implemented by local governments. **Taiwan and Japan to Resume Fisheries Meeting ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan and Japan are scheduled to resume annual fisheries talks later this month. The Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee has not met since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic related travel restrictions. Both sides agreed the meetings needed to be held in a face-to-face format. According to the foreign ministry, the upcoming discussions will focus on resolve fisheries-related disputes between the two sides in overlapping (重疊) waters. The talks will be taking place in Tokyo. **US Trump CFO Sentenced to Jail Tim ** Former President Donald Trump's long-time chief financial officer has been sentenced to five months in prison. A New York judge jailed him for his role in a tax fraud scheme (詭計，計劃,) related to the Trump Organization. Jody Jacobs reports… **China Embassy Stops Issuing Visas for SKoreans and Japanese ** Chinese embassies stopped issuing new visas for South Koreans and Japanese in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 measures imposed by those countries on travelers from China. The embassies in Tokyo and Seoul announced the suspensions in brief online notices. The Seoul notice said the ban would continue until South Korea lifts its “discriminatory entry measures” against China. China’s Foreign Ministry threatened countermeasures (對策，應對措施) last week against countries that had announced new virus testing requirements. Officials in the countries that did so expressed concern about a lack of information about the Chinese outbreak. **Greece Former King Obit ** The former and last king of Greece has died at the age of 82. Doctors at a private hospital in Athens said Constantine died after treatment in an intensive care unit but had no further details. Constantine won an Olympic gold medal before entering politics in the 1960s as king and spent decades in exile (流放，流亡). 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 14,796 on turnover of 2.7-billion N-T. The market added 378-points on Monday to breach (沖破) the 14,700-point mark, as buying was sparked by a rally on Wall Street at the end of last week on the back of eased concerns over the U-S Federal Reserve's rate hike cycle. The electronics sector led the upturn, as large cap semiconductor stocks were in focus amid an inflow of foreign funds, while buying also spread to the finance and old economy sectors, to push the main board higher. **Visiting Paraguayan Speaker Hopes Taiwan Ties Continue ** The visiting speaker of Paraguay's lower house is expressing his hope that Asuncion's diplomatic ties with Taiwan will continue and be supported by its people. Carlos Maria Lopez is heading a delegation of lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties for a five-day visit. Speaking during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Lopez expressed his gratitude on behalf of his government toward Taiwan and said he sincerely hopes that the two sides' long-term diplomatic ties will be strengthened in years to come. That statement comes after a candidate running in Paraguay's April presidential election said he will sever ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing if elected. **Almost One in Five Arrivals from China has Coronavirus ** The Central Epidemic Command Center says some 19-per cent all arrivals from China have tested positive for the coronavirus since January 1 - the day testing of passengers from China began after Beijing ended its "zero COVID" policy. Health officials say the figure is comparable to that of other countries also testing arrivals from China. According to center head Victor Wang, a total of 8,259 passengers have arrived on direct flights from China over the first seven days of this month - and of that figure 1,571 of them tested positive for the coronavirus. Samples taken for genome sequencing show that 66-per cent of the passengers were infected with the Omicron BA.5 subvariant, while 34-per cent had the Omicron BF.7 subvariant. **US DOJ Reviewing Documents at Old Biden Office ** The US Justice Department is investigating the discovery of potentially (可能地) classified documents at an old office space used by President Joe Biden. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports. **UN Security Council Votes to Keep Turkey Syria Crossing Open ** The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to keep key a border crossing from Turkey to Syria’s rebel-held northwest open for critical aid deliveries for another six months. Russia, whose support had been in doubt, joined in Monday’s 15-0 vote. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had warned that the already dire (危急的、嚴重的) humanitarian situation in Syria is worsening, and said if aid deliveries from Turkey to northwest Idlib aren’t renewed millions of Syrians might not survive the winter. Guterres said deliveries have increased across conflict lines within the country. But he said they cannot substitute for “the size or scope of the massive cross-border United Nations operation.” 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 131-points this morning from Friday's close, at 14,504 on turnover of 3.9-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Friday as buying reemerged (重新出現) in the bellwether electronics sector, helping the main board recoup early losses on the back of a decline on Wall Street. However, turnover remained thin with many investors still opted to stay on the sidelines, awaiting upcoming December U-S non-farm payroll data. **Paraguay's Lower House Speaker Arrives in Taiwan for 5-Day Visit ** The President of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies Carlos Maria Lopez has arrived in Taiwan for a five-day visit. Lopez is meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen today. According to the Presidential Office, Lopez showed strong support for Taiwan during heightened (提高、增強) cross-strait tensions last August, when China held live-fire military exercises in areas around Taiwan. It's the first time that Lopez has visited Taiwan in his capacity as Paraguay's lower house speaker. Lopez is heading a parliamentary delegation that includes the chair of the committee on national defense, security and intelligence; the head of the committee on social development and housing; and the chair of the committee on childhood and youth development. **Lawmakers Invited to Join International Parliamentary Group ** D-P-P lawmaker Fan Yun says she and another lawmaker have been invited by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China to join the group and its decision-making body. According to Fan, she and Zhang Qi-lu from the Taiwan People's Party were invited to become the first Taiwanese members of I-PAC and co-chair the island's representation in the alliance. Fan says she will help about 40 "like-minded" Taiwanese lawmakers who have applied to participate in the group to secure ( 取得) membership, seeking a collective voice for Taiwan over issues regarding China. **Brazil Gov Buildings Back Under Contorl ** Authorities have reestablished control of Brazilian government buildings in the capital several hours after supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro who refuse to accept his electoral defeat stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace. The action was a week after the inauguration of his leftist rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The demonstrators bypassed security barricades, climbed on roofs, broke windows and invaded the buildings that were believed to be largely vacant on a Sunday. The country's justice minister said roughly 200 people had been arrested. Lula accused Bolsonaro of encouraging the uprising, while the former president said peaceful protest was part of democracy but vandalism and invasion of public buildings were “exceptions to the rule.” **US Speaker Now Faces Divided House ** Newly-elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is about to face his next big test with a divided House of Representatives -- that’s passing a rules package to govern the chamber. AP correspondent Jackie Quinn 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 23-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,279, on turnover of $2-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Thursday, following a rally on Wall Street overnight as investors assessed minutes from the U-S Federal Reserve's latest policymaking meeting and welcomed encouraging data on American jobs. **Fraud Rings Now Targeting Victims with NT$6,000 Rebate in Telephone Scams ** The Cabinet is warning people that fraud rings are now using the government's planned 6,000 N-T lump-sum tax surplus rebate in telephone scams. Officials says people have been receiving text messages claiming to be from the Ministry of Digital Affairs telling recipient to open an included link to redeem (贖回) their payment. According to Cabinet Spokesman Luo Bing-cheng, the government will not use text messages to inform the public of how to apply for and how to receive payments into their bank accounts. Luo says the Cabinet has ordered the National Police Agency to investigate all such telephone scams and to establish a series of preventive measures to ensure that members of the public are protected against fraud. The government says those who receive any text messages related to the lump-sum tax surplus rebate claiming to be from a government agency to call the 165 fraud prevention hotline. **Lunar New Year New Bank Note Exchange to Begin on January 13 ** The central bank says members of the public will be able to exchange old bills for fresh bank notes in the run up to the Lunar New Year. Old bills can be exchanged for new ones from January 13 through 19 at designated (指定的) branches of eight local financial institutions. The central bank says as demand is highest for 100 N-T bills, each individual will be allowed to exchange a maximum of 100 notes - while the supply of notes with other values will also be limited. According to central bank governor Yang Jin-long, between 3 and 4 billion N-T is allocated annually to print new bills. The central bank is also urging the public to consider using virtual transactions during the New Year. **US House Speaker Election now Longest ** The saga to vote in the next Speaker of the US House of Representatives continues - breaking records last set almost 165 years ago. Republican Kevin McCarthy has now lost 11 rounds of voting over three days - despite making major concessions (讓步) to the group of hardliners in his party voting against him. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **Pakistan Attack Against Polio Vax Team ** Pakistani police say attackers armed with guns and hand grenades ambushed a police van assigned to guard polio workers in the country's northwest, wounding five officers. Police say they returned fire after coming under attack near a bridge on Thursday in a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but Islamic militants often target polio teams and police protecting them. They falsely claim the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize (使絕育) children. The latest anti-polio campaign started this week in northwestern Pakistan and is the first in 2023. 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 85-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,285 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Wednesday, as investor sentiment was hit by lingering concerns over a possible recession (經濟衰退) as major central banks around the world are continuing aggressive rate hikes. Buying rotated to the financial sector throughout much of the trading day, providing some support to the broader market to offset losses suffered by select large tech stocks, in particular those in the semiconductor industry. **Living Allowances for Disadvantaged Families Extended Through 2023 ** The Cabinet has extend the monthly living allowance of 750 N-T and 500 N-T for individuals in low income and middle-to-low income households for an additional year until the end of 2023. According to the Cabinet, the Ministry of Health will coordinate with local authorities to ensure eligible (有資格的) recipients receive the allowance for January before the Lunar New Year holiday. The living allowance plan is part of the government's coronavirus relief measures. A monthly cash payment of 750 N-T is given to those in low-income households and 500 N-T is given to individuals in middle-to-low income households. Those payments are on top of any existing allowances covering education, health insurance, housing and other related expenses. **Former NATO Head Touts Visit as a "Show of Support for Taiwan" ** Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says his visit to Taiwan this week is a show of "strong support" for the island's self-determination and democracy. Speaking during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Rasmussen said he's in Taiwan to show his support for the island's rights to decide the future of Taiwan for itself and to show support for its right to "exist (存在) in freedom and peace." The former NATO head arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday for a three-day trip and is visiting in his capacity as the founder of the Denmark-based Alliance of Democracies Foundation. **US McCarthy Loses 6th US Speaker Vote ** After six rounds of voting the US House of Representatives has still not agreed on a new House Speaker. Republican Kevin McCarthy has been repeatedly (反复) blocked from winning the majority of the votes by a group of hardliners (強硬派) in his own party. It's the first time in a hundred that the House has been unable to elect a Speaker. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **Australia to Buy US Missile and Rocket Systems ** Australia announced Thursday it will boost its defense capabilities by buying advanced missile and rocket systems. The purchase includes U.S.-made HIMARS which have been successfully used by Ukraine’s military. The Australian government said the HIMARS it was buying included launchers, missiles and training rockets and would be in use by 2026. It said the system had a range of 300 kilometers, which may improve (提升、改進)with technological advances. It also signed a contract with Norway-based Kongsberg to buy new missiles for navy destroyers and frigates. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 37-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,186 on turnover of 1.9-billion N-T. The market bounced back from early losses on Tuesday, to close the first trading session of 2023 in positive territory, but turnover remained thin amid investor worries over a possible global recession this year. The bellwether electronics sector led the rebound, while old economy and new energy sector stocks also attracted buying on the back of government efforts to push renewable power development. **Tainan City Council Speaker Questioned in Vote-Buying Probe ** Newly-elected Tainan City Council Speaker Qiu Li-li has been questioned in connection with an investigation into vote buying. According to the Tainan District Prosecutors' Office, Qiu was questioned after authorities searched her residence and over 20 other locations. Those locations included the homes of Deputy Speaker Lin Zhi-zhan as well as city councilors Li Wen-chun, Zhang Shi-xian and Li Zhen-guo. Prosecutors says they opened the investigation into allegations of electoral manipulation after receiving a tip-off in November. Qiu beat incumbent Speaker Guo Hsin-liang in a vote on December 25 after in which Li Wen-chun, Zhang Shi-xian and Li Zhen-guo all broke party ranks with the K-M-T to back the D-P-P nominee. Reports at the time speculated that the three then-KMT councilors had been bribed. **Eslite to Close 24-hour Branch in Taipei's Xinyi District in December ** Eslite has confirmed that its 24-hour branch in Taipei's Xinyi District will close its doors in December. According to the bookstore chain, the pending (待辦的) closure comes after it failed to convince its landlord to extend the existing lease. Eslite says it will continue to promote (推廣) culture and humanities in Taiwan and provide a 24-hour service - and there is speculation that its nearby Songyan store will become Eslite's and Taiwan's only 24-hour bookstore. However, there has been no official confirmation of those reports. The Xinyi store first opened 24-hours a day in mid-2020 after the Eslite Dunnan store was closed. **China Criticizes COVID19 Requirements on Travelers ** The Chinese government has sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements being imposed on visitors from China and threatening countermeasures against countries involved. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a daily briefing Tuesday that China believes the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting passengers from China lack scientific basis. China abruptly (突然) eased strict anti-virus measures in December, leading to a surge in cases. Countries including the U.S., U.K., India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher measures on travelers from China. Many are worried about a lack of data from China and fear that new variants may spread. **NYC Machete Attacker to be Arraigned ** The 19-year-old accused on attacking 3 police officers with a machete near Times Square on New Years Eve is expected to be arraigned (傳訊) tomorrow, meanwhile his mother reached out to police last month to express concerns about him. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. ((No Excerpting Sound)) 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 30-points this morning from last Friday's close, at 14,108 on turnover of $1.8-billion N-T. The market gained ground last Friday, on the final trading day of 2022, closing up 52.67-points, but turnover remained weak as foreign institutional investors were away for the seasonal holiday period. The Tai-Ex closed the year at 14,138-points, and that was down 22.4-per cent from the end of 2021, pushing down market capitalization to 44-trillion N-T. Data shows the local main board for whole of 2022 slumped on the back of geopolitical tensions, aggressive interest rate hikes by the U-S Federal Reserve and weaker demand in the electronics sector in the second half of the year. **New Round of Reservations for Coronavirus Vaccines to Begin in Taipei ** The Taipei Department of Health says those wishing to get a coronavirus vaccine can now make an appointment. The new round of reservations for the 73,000 available doses is now open through 9PM Friday on Taipei's vaccination reservation system. City health officials say the shots to be administered from between January 9-th and 15-th. Among the vaccines available will be the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for children aged from six months to 11 years old and for people aged 12 and older and the Novavax vaccine for people 12 years and older. The Moderna vaccines available will be the standard vaccine for people aged six months to 11 years old and the bivalent vaccines offered as a booster against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants for children aged six to 11 years old and those aged 12 and older. **US Divided Congress to Begin New Session ** A new session of the US Congress will begin on Tuesday with a return of a divided government. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **German Village Scuffles Over Mine Expansion ** Scuffles have broken out outside a village in western Germany that is to be razed to allow the expansion of a coal mine. German news agency dpa reported that activists on Monday threw fireworks, bottles and stones at police outside the village of Luetzerath before the situation calmed down and officers pulled back. Protesters previously had set up a burning barricade (路障), and one glued his hand to the access road. The hamlet is to be demolished to expand the Garzweiler lignite mine. Activists have been living in houses abandoned by former residents. The county administration has authorized police to clear the village from Jan. 10-th. **Mexico Elects First Female Chief Justice ** Mexico’s Supreme Court has elected the first female chief justice in its history. Justice Norma Lucia Pina was sworn in (宣誓就職) for her four-year term at the head of the 11-member court, pledging to maintain the independence of the country's highest court. As chief justice, Pina will also head the entire judicial branch. The 6-5 vote by her fellow ministers Monday came despite pressure by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on the ministers. Lopez Obrador had backed another female justice, Yasmin Esquivel, for the top post. 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 99-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,184 on turnover of $1.92-billion N-T. **Ex-Denmark PM and NATO secretary general to visit Taiwan next week ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Former prime minister of Demark and ex-NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will visit Taiwan next week, to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen. MOFA says Rasmussen has been calling on democratic countries to enhance (提高、增強) cooperation with Taiwan, to build democratic reliance amid the expansion of authoritarianism, adding that his upcoming visit was a clear demonstration of his strong support toward Taiwan. Rasmussen in 2017 founded the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of democracy and free markets across the globe. In his current role, he hosts the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit, which was first held in 2018. During his scheduled stay from January 3rd to 5th, Rasmussen will also meet with Vice President William Lai and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, as well as lawmakers and think tank scholars. (TT) **MOL expands scope of online work permit applications for foreign nationals ** A government online work permit application system for foreign nationals has been expanded to cover cram schools, art-related jobs, and the adult children of work permit-holding foreign professionals. The Workforce Development Agency's "EZ Work Permit" website has been handling applications from local companies to employ foreign managers, as well as from sports- and art-related agencies to hire international talents. Now, cram schools may also create an account on the EZ Work Permit website, to apply for work permits and to renew (更新) the permits of their foreign employees online. The Ministry of Labor says that unlike offices with regular government business hours, the online service is operational 24/7, and should take seven working days or less to process and issue permit applications. (TT) **US Biden Signs Bill ** US President Joe Biden has signed a $1.7 trillion bill funding government operations. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports. **Brazil da Silva Names Amazon Activist as Minister of Environment ** Brazil’s President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Thursday that Amazon activist Marina Silva will be the country’s next minister of environment. The announcement signals the new administration will prioritize cracking down on illegal deforestation in the forest even if it means running afoul of powerful agribusiness interests. Lula has promised to end all deforestation by 2030. This would be a sharp turnabout (徹底變化) from the policies of the outgoing president, Jair Bolsonaro, who pushed for development in the Amazon. Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon reached a 15-year high in the year ending in July 2021, though the devastation slowed somewhat in the following 12 months. **Vivienne Westwood Obit ** English designer Vivienne Westwood has died at 81. Her fashion house announced her death Thursday on its social media platforms, saying she died peacefully in South London surrounded by friends and family. A cause was not immediately disclosed (公佈). Westwood’s fashion career began in the 1970s with the punk (龐克) explosion, when the onetime primary school teacher's radical approach to urban street style took the world by storm. But she went on to enjoy a long career highlighted by activism and a string of runway shows and museum exhibits. 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 76-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,098 on turnover of $2-billion N-T. **Taiwan reports 6.2 percent year-on-year increase in road fatalities ** The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says Taiwan has reported more than 2,500 road fatalities in the first 10 months of 2022, up 6 percent year-on-year, and its highest level in nine years. MOTC officials say there were more than 300-thousand total traffic accidents in the first 10 months of this year, marking a 5.5 percent increase from the same period last year. In 2020, Taiwan reported 12.6 traffic fatalities per 100-thousand individuals… four times higher than Japan and Denmark, and six times higher than Sweden. The MOTC has attributed the high death toll in Taiwan to the high number of scooter-related accidents, and MOTC Minister Wang Kwo-tsai is calling on local governments to work with the ministry to improve road safety. (TT) **France Pledges Further Military Support ** France’s defense minister has pledged further military support for Ukraine, insisting his government’s backing is unflagging (永不減弱的) while efforts are also being made with Moscow to reach an eventual (最終的) negotiated end to Russia’s invasion. Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu said support will include French army equipment and a 200 million euro fund that would allow Ukraine to purchase weapons. Lecornu said France was giving military equipment from the French army to the Ukrainian army, but highlighted that this would not weaken France’s defense. Officials have also said France could deliver a new air-defense system in the future, without revealing details, though Ukraine's defense minister added that France would immediately begin training Ukrainian air officers on how to use it. The minister said his trip to Kyiv was important to identify the priorities of the Ukrainian defense ministry. **US Trump Considered Pardons for Capitol Attackers ** Newly released transcripts from the U.S. House Committee on the events of January 6th, show how former President Trump was considering giving pardons (赦免) to numerous people involved in the Capitol riot. Caroline Malone reports from Washington. **Armenia Protests Against Road Block ** Hundreds of opposition supporters have rallied in the Armenian capital, urging the government to act to unblock a vital road linking Armenia to the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azeri protests have choked off (阻止) basic supplies to the territory. Both the protesters in Yerevan Wednesday and Armenian authorities have accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to the area of failing to take adequate steps to lift the blockade, something Moscow denies. Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Yerevan since a separatist war there ended in 1994. 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. **Extended military service to include higher pay, longer boot camp: President ** President Tsai Ing-wen has announced that compulsory military service in Taiwan will be extended from four months to one year, effective Jan. 1, 2024, to strengthen Taiwan's combat readiness against potential Chinese attacks. Tsai also promised to increase the monthly salary of conscripts, from the current starting salary of $6,510 NT to $26,307 NT, to make sure they earn enough to cover their basic daily expenses. The decision is expected to affect conscripts who were born on Jan. 1, 2005 and after. Tsai says conscripts will receive more intense (強烈的) and longer boot camp training to boost their combat preparedness, firing no less than 800 rounds of ammunition during their one-year service period. She says they will also be trained to fire Kestrel anti-armor rockets and FIM-92 Stingers, operate UAVs and engage in close-combat training, which have proven useful in modern day warfare, she said. The president stressed that "No one wants war," but Taiwan has faced increasing military coercion from China in recent years and needs to do its part by boosting self-defense. (NS) **New wage subsidy available to employers of live-in migrant caregivers ** The Ministry of Labor says employers of live-in migrant caregivers are eligible for a subsidy of up to $3,000 NT per month. Officials say the subsidies are aimed at covering the increase in the minimum wage for live-in migrant caregivers from $17-thousand NT to $20-thousand NT, that took effect on Aug. 10-th. The ministry says applicants (申請人) should provide the employment contracts showing that their employees are paid at least $20-thousand NT per month and a copy of the passbook cover of the employer's domestic bank account. Health officials say as of Dec. 15-th, there have been nearly 40-thousand applications, and the first subsidy payments were made on Dec. 5-th. (NS) **Pakistan Bombing Suspects Arrested ** Pakistan's interior minister says authorities have arrested five people suspected of involvement in last week’s suicide car bombing that killed a police officer in the capital of Islamabad. The minister says the detainees included the suicide bomber’s handler. He said the attacker arrived in the garrison (駐軍) city of Rawalpindi from a former tribal area of Kurram. The official did not disclose the identity of the detainees and no spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, which had claimed responsibility for the attack, was immediately available for comment. **US Trump Tax Returns Published Friday ** Former President Donald Trump's tax returns are expected to be made public on Friday. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports **Mexico President Appeals Against ** Mexico's president is appealing (呼籲) to the country's citizens not to accept holiday handouts and gifts from drug gangs. His comments came after videos posted online showed pickup trucks handing out loads of gifts while bystanders described the drivers as members of the Jalisco drug cartel. Authorities have not confirmed the source of the gifts, but President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed that some drug gangs were looking to resume such giveaways to gain the support of the local population. Lopez Obrador said that local residents in some communities have tried to protect traffickers, stop drug seizures or oppose the installation of National Guard bases intended to fight drug trafficking. 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 25-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,310 on turnover of 1.34-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan edged slightly higher Monday after moving in a narrow range on low turnover as many foreign institutional investors were away for the Christmas holiday. Although the bellwether electronics sector finished little changed, contract chipmaker TSMC ended higher to stabilize the broader market, and buying also rotated to the biotech sector as COVID-19 infections spike in China. **CWB: Rains Coming for Northern Taiwan ** The Central Weather Bureau says rainy weather may be coming for northern Taiwan. The CWB says skies should remain clear to cloudy today, but moisture is gathering over the island, leading to possible rain over Keelung and other parts of the north coast. Lowest temperatures this morning were recorded in Hsinchu County's Er-mei Township, at 5.2 degrees Celsius, and in general, daytime temperatures remain relatively warm, between 18-22 degrees in the north and east, and 24 to 26 degrees in the center and south. And weather expert Wu Der-rong also says a cold front may pass over Taiwan from January 2nd to 5th next year, after a mild New Years' Day. **Dwight Howard to join Taoyuan's New Year countdown bash ** Eight-time NBA All Star Dwight Howard will be at the countdown party in Taoyuan to celebrate the New Year with his fans this coming weekend. The T1 LEAGUE's Taoyuan Leopards basketball team says Howard will be participating in the city's "2023 Show Taoyuan" this Saturday. The team says at the event, a lucky spectator (觀眾) will also be chosen from the crowd to get on stage for a photo with Howard. The countdown party will be held at the square outside the Taoyuan high-speed rail station from 7 p.m. that day, featuring firework displays and performances by artists from Taiwan and abroad. **Indonesia Rohingya Muslims Land on Beach ** A second group in two days of Rohingya Muslims has landed on a beach in Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh after weeks at sea. Police say at least 185 men, women and children disembarked (下船) from a wooden boat at dusk on a beach, weak from dehydration and exhaustion (虛脫). They were taken to the village hall and will stay there while they receive help from residents, health workers and others. Immigration officials and police are trying to identify the refugee to determine if they were from the group of 190 Rohingya who were reported by United Nations to be drifting in a small boat in the Andaman Sea for a month. The UNHCR on Friday urged countries to rescue the refugees, saying reports indicated they were in dire condition with insufficient food or water. **Aid Groups Suspend Work in Afghanistan ** Foreign aid groups are suspending (暫停) operations in Afghanistan following a decision by the Taliban leadership to ban women from working at international and local non-governmental organizations. 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

Tai-Ex opening nearly unchanged Taipei Mayor's priorities Dozens of Rohingya Refugees reachd Indonesia Iran protests ongoing Meta agrees to $750 million settlement over Cambridge Analytica scandal -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Subject: E*EZ NEWS DECEMBER 23, 2022 ** **Return to **Table of contents **Subject: E*Tai-Ex opening ** **Return to **Table of contents The Tai-Ex opened down 125-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,318 on turnover of $2.9-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex gained more that 200-points on Thursday, as investors welcomed a report showing U-S consumer confidence is holding up despite the Federal Reserve's campaign to fight inflation by raising interest rates. **Subject: E*New Traffic Laws Pass Initial LY Committee Review ** **Return to **Table of contents Lawmakers on the Legislative Transportation Committee have approved a series of amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. The amendments set out to increase fines for drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians and the revoking (撤銷) of drivers' licenses in the event of a pedestrian (行人) death for failing to yield. Under the proposed amendments, drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians could face a fine of up to 3,600 N-T. The causing of injury by failing to yield to pedestrians will be punishable by a fine of up 36,000 N-T and vehicle owners will have their license suspended for one year. While drivers who cause severe injury or death will have their license revoked as well as facing criminal charges. **Subject: E*MOC Honors 3 Cultural Conservationists as 'National Living Treasures' ** **Return to **Table of contents The Ministry of Culture has honored three men who have dedicated their lives to the conservation of traditional culture as "national living treasures" in recognition of their efforts to preserve Taiwan's cultural heritage. The ministry has awarded Hsu Ming-he the title for preserving exquisite (精美的) traditional claywork techniques. While Li Qing-hai and Su Qing-liang have been recognized for their excellence at preserving traditional Han and foreign style building techniques. The title of "national living treasure" was first awarded by the the culture ministry in 2010. The title is based on the provisions of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. It has honored 10 national important cultural heritage conservation techniques and 16 cultural conservationists to date. **Subject: E*Ex EU Parliament VP In Custody Over Corruption ** **Return to **Table of contents The Greek member of the European Parliament accused of taking bribes from Qatar was in court on Thursday for a pretrial hearing. Eva Kaili is among four people charged with corruption, and money laundering. Alex Cadier reports from Brussels < [CLIP] Slug: > **Subject: E*Spain Scotland Pass Gender SelfDetermination Bills ** **Return to **Table of contents Lawmakers in Spain and Scotland have passed gender self-determination bills allowing citizens over 16 to change their registered gender (性別) without medical supervision. Spain’s lower house of Parliament approved a law on Thursday that requires children ages 12 and 13 to have a judge’s authorization to make the change and those between 14 and 16 have to be accompanied by their parents. The bill adopted by the Scottish Parliament makes Scotland the first part of the U.K. to endorse allowing people to transition by self-declaration. The new rules require applicants to have lived full-time in their declared identity for three months, or six months if they are ages 16-17. **Subject: C*OUTRO ** **Return to **Table of contents 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 147-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,381 on turnover of 15.2-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex staged a mild technical rebound on Wednesday from the previous session, but turnover remained moderate as investors opted to stay on the sidelines amid lingering concerns over the global economic slowdown.. Buying largely focused on old economy stocks, while the bellwether electronics sector saw its gains limited by investor worries over on-going inventory adjustments affecting the global tech sector. **MOHW Could Ease Molnupiravir Distribution Regualtions ** Health Minister Hsueh Rui-yuan says his office is considering expanding the distribution and use of the coronavirus oral antiviral agent molnupiravir. Speaking a hearing of the Legislative Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, the minister said prescription restrictions could be eased, more medical personnel now have a better understanding of the usage of the drug. The statement comes after the Taiwan Medical Association complained that the procedure for prescribing and obtaining (獲得) molnupiravir is overly troublesome and as a result, some doctors are choosing not to prescribe it. **UNSC Adopts First Myanmar Resolution ** The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution calling for the immediate end to violence in Myanmar. A military coup (政變) in February last year led to violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protests and the arrest of the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi. William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York. **Russia Announces Plans to Beef Up Military ** Russia announced an ambitious plan to beef up its military from 1 million to 1.5 million and create multiple new units. It's an attempt to bolster the forces that have lost momentum (動力) and many soldiers in the war in Ukraine. Russia’s military chief cited NATO’s plans to incorporate Finland and Sweden as a factor in the buildup. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declared Wednesday that the country needs a force of 1.5 million to guarantee Russia’s security. The Russian military currently has about 1 million soldiers. That compares with China’s force of 2 million and the U.S. force of 1.4 million. **European Rocket Launch Fails ** The launch of a European rocket carrying two Earth observation satellites failed and ditched (拋棄，丟棄) in the sea less than three minutes after lift-off from a spaceport in French Guiana on Wednesday. Arianespace, which provided the launch service, said in a statement that approximately 2 minutes and 22 seconds after liftoff a decrease in pressure was observed in the Vega C rocket’s second stage “leading to the premature end of the mission.” Arianespace said the launcher was destroyed with “no damage to persons or properties.” The launch was meant to take two earth observation satellites made by Airbus into orbit. The satellites would have been part of a constellation capable of taking images of any point of the global with a resolution of 30 centimeters. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 35-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,205 on turnover of 2.2-billion N-T. The market shed more than 250-points on Tuesday. Selling was seen across the main board as investors were spooked by heavy losses on the Nikkei following an unexpected decision by Japan's central bank to tighten its monetary policy. **Visiting European Parliament Delegation Calls for EU-Taiwan BIA ** Members of a visiting delegation of the European Parliament's international trade committee are expressing support for the signing of a bilateral investment agreement between the European Union and Taiwan. Speaking during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office, committee vice chair Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou said the E-U recognizes its trade and investment partnership with Taiwan as a "strategic relationship with geopolitical implications (影響)." According to the Greek lawmaker, she also firmly believes that further bilateral cooperation on global supply chains will be mutually beneficial due to Taiwan's leading role in semiconductor production. The 13-member delegation arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a four-day visit. **Prosecutors Seek to Annul Miaoli Magistrate Election ** The Miaoli District Prosecutors' Office filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify (使無效、取消) the election of county Magistrate-elect Chong Dong-jin. The move comes amid allegations that Chong's supporters handed out cash bribes to voters. According to the prosecutors' office, one of Chong's campaign office directors allegedly engaged in vote-buying on behalf of the candidate - handing out cash bribe's of between 1,000 and 2,000 N-T to each voter. Chong is denying the charges. **Ukraine President to Visit Washington ** Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky is to visit Washington on Wednesday for face-to-face meetings with President Biden at the White House. He's also expected to make a speech before a joint session of Congress. It will be the first time he's left Ukraine since the war began, as our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports. **German Nazi Stenographer Senteced for Crimes ** A German court has convicted a 97-year-old woman of being an accessory to murder (謀殺案的同謀) for her role as a secretary to the SS commander of the Nazis' Stutthof concentration camp during World War II. The court in northern Germany gave the woman a two-year suspended sentence on Tuesday. The defendant was found to have known about and deliberately supported the killing of more than 10,500 prisoners through her work as a stenographer in the commander's office between 1943 and 1945. **UN Votes to Keep Peacekeepers to Congo ** The Security Council has voted unanimously to extend the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo with an eye to its eventual exit. It also voted to lift a notification requirement on some government arms purchases which Congo’s foreign minister recently called unjustified. The separate resolutions were approved amid worsening security in Congo’s mineral-rich east, which has seen an upsurge in violence and civilian killings that has uprooted tens of thousands of people. The resolution extends (延伸) the U.N. force until Dec. 20, 2023. It strongly condemns all domestic and foreign armed groups operating in the country and demands that they immediately stop all violence and exploitation of Congo's resources. 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 22-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,410 on turnover of 2.4-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday, as selling was sparked by losses on Wall Street at the end of last week amid rising concerns over a possible recession due to the current rate hike cycle by the U-S Federal Reserve. Large cap stocks in the electronics, old economy, petrochemical and steel sectors were the targets of the sell-off, but the biotech sector bucked the downward trend, as investors sitting on ample (充足) funds rushed to park their money there during the trading day. **MAC Investigating Possible Illegal TikTok Activities in Taiwan ** The Mainland Affairs Council says it is investigating possible illegal activities by TikTok in Taiwan. According to the council, it launched the investigation after Cabinet spokesman Luo Bing-cheng told delegates at an interministerial meeting in Taipei that the Chinese social media application posed (構成) a cybersecurity threat to Taiwan. The council says it has also submitted information TikTok's activities that could be im violation of the Criminal Code to prosecutors for further investigation. Finance Minister Su Jien-rong says his office will issue a report on its investigation within three months, but to his knowledge TikTok has no business or taxation registration in Taiwan. **Taiwan Lantern Festival to Showcase Giant Rabbit ** The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism has unveiled some of the highlights of February's Taiwan Lantern Festival. It will the first time in 23-years that Taipei will have hosted the event. According to city tourism officials, the themed of the event will be "Light up the Future." A total of 16 installations will be set up in Taipei's central, east and Xinyi districts. One of the main attractions (景點) will be a large rabbit lantern located on roof of one of the exits of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station. The 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be taking place in Taipei from February 5 through 19. **Nigeria 20 Die of Suspected Cholera Outbreak ** At least twenty people have lost their lives to suspected cholera outbreak in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Southern Nigeria. Ten villages in the local Government Area have reportedly been affected since Thursday. Ajeck Mangut reports from Abuja. **Russia: Space Capsule Leak Doesn't Require Evacuation ** Russia’s space corporation Roscosmos says a coolant (冷卻液) leak from a Russian space capsule attached to the International Space Station doesn’t require evacuation of the crew. But the space agency is keeping open the possibility of launching a replacement capsule, if needed. Roscosmos said Monday that a panel of experts will determine later this month whether the Soyuz MS-22 capsule can be safely used by the crew for a planned return to Earth or if it should be discarded and replaced. Roscosmos says the next Soyuz is scheduled for a March launch but could be expedited, if necessary. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 50-points this morning from Friday's close, at 14,478 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex fell by just over 200-points on Friday, after joining other regional markets and followed Wall Street lower as plans by the U-S Fed for more interest rate hikes rattled (使…不安) investor sentiment. **Incumbent KMT Chiayi Mayor Wins Reelection ** Incumbent Chiayi City K-M-T Mayor Huang Min-hui has won re-election in delayed election. Huang beat her main rival Lee Chun-yi, of the D-P-P by nearly 30-percentage points. Huang declared victory just 75 minutes after the polls closed. According to the Central Election Commission, Huang finished with 63.8-per cent of the total votes, to Lee's 35-per cent. Three other independent candidates combined (合計的) for the remaining 1.2-per cent of the total votes cast in the election. The election was delayed three weeks because of the death independent Huang Shao-cong, who died of a heart attack on November 2. Huang's victory means the K-M-T keep control of 14 of Taiwan's 22 cities and counties. **Lunar New Year TRA Ticket Sales to Begin Midnight Wednesday ** The Taiwan Railways Administration says ticket reservations for the Lunar New Year holiday will begin this week. Bookings for tickets on the Eastern Trunk Line will open at midnight Wednesday, while reservations for the Western Trunk Line will be available from midnight on Thursday. According to the rail network operator, additional services will be added to the regular schedule from January 18 through 30. A total of 287 trains are to be added to meet the expected high demand (需求) over week-long Lunar New Year holiday. The holiday begins on Friday, January 20. **NKorea Claims Test Satellite Fired ** North Korea says it fired a test satellite in an important final-stage test for the development of its first spy satellite. The North’s state media says today the test was done to assess ((評估) the satellite's photography and data transmission systems. It also released black-and-white photos showing Seoul and another South Korean city as seen from space in an apparent attempt to show the North is pushing to monitor its rival with its advancing technologies. A security analyst said the images weren't so impressive for military reconnaissance but that improvements in the North's capability were expected. **US COVID Hospitalization Rates Rising ** The White House COVID coordinator says there's been a substantial (重大的) increase in cases and hospitalizations since Thanksgiving. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. **UN Food Program Director to Step Down ** The executive director of the United Nations World Food Program says he will step down at the end of a six-year term heading the world’s largest humanitarian organization. David Beasley served one term as South Carolina’s governor from 1995 to 1999. He was appointed to the U.N. post in 2017 by then U.S. President Donald Trump. Beasley term was extended (延長) under the Biden administration for an extra year. The World Food Program won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for fighting hunger. Beasley says the process to select his successor has already begun. 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 180-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,554 on turnover of 4.2-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex recovered most of its early losses to close marginally lower on Thursday, as investor interest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rebounded from an initial downturn after going ex-dividend. However, many large cap tech stocks remained weak as investors digested comments by U-S Fed Chair Jerome Powell overnight after America's central bank raised its key interest rates by an additional 50 basis points. **Taipei 101 NY Show to Feature 16,000 Fireworks ** The Taipei Financial Center Corporation says this year's New Year's eve event at the Taipei 101 will feature 16,000 fireworks being set off over the course of five minutes. While there will also be simultaneous light displays on all four sides of the building to mark the beginning of the New Year. According to the Taipei 101 owner, it expect some 1-million people to attend the event. Taipei 101 Chairman Zhang Hsueh-shun says the show will also feature a variety of patterns, including peace pigeons, smiley faces and the tree of life, designed to convey (傳達, 表達) the theme of the show -- "looking after the world and shining dreams." Zhang says the New Year fireworks display will cost 50-million N-T and has been paid for by sponsorship from the Tourism Bureau, the Taiwan Stock Exchange, Chunghwa Telecom, C-T-B-C Bank and Audi. **Malaysia Landslide Leaves Missing ** A Malaysia fire department official says some 50 people are feared buried after a landslide hit a campsite outside Kuala Lumpur early today. Local media cited police as saying initial information indicated that some 100 people may have been at the campsite in Batang Kali, around 40 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, when the incident occurred. A fire department official told The Associated Press that rescuers are searching for an estimated (估計的) 50 missing people. He provided no further details. **Russia Warns US Defense Systems in Ukraine Could be Targeted ** Russia has warned that US defense systems in Ukraine could be targeted for attacks. AP's Lisa Dwyer reports. **Peru Ousted President to Remain in Custody ** A Peruvian judge has ordered ousted President Pedro Castillo to remain in custody for 18 months, approving a request from authorities for time to build their rebellion case against him. The ruling Thursday came a day after the government declared a state of emergency as it struggles to calm violent protests. The protests erupted after Castillo was voted out of power by lawmakers last week, following his attempt to dissolve (解散) Congress ahead of an impeachment vote. Castillo and his legal team refused to participate in Thursday’s virtual hearing, arguing it lacked “minimum guarantees.” He was represented by a public defender. 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 46-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,692 on turnover of 2.1-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday, as investor sentiment rebounded following the release of better than expected inflation data for November out of America. The bellwether electronics sector again served as a driver to the gains on the broader market on the back of fund inflows (流入) caused by a stronger New Taiwan dollar - and that pushed up the main board, despite turnover remaining moderate. **NSTC to Fund Fusion Nuclear Research ** The National Science and Technology Council says it plans to fund research into key fusion nuclear technologies, following the announcement of a significant breakthrough in the field by researchers in the U-S. According to the council it will provide grants (補助金) for research teams in the fields of theoretical and experimental studies about laser-plasma interactions and magnetically confined high-temperature plasmas. Both of those studies are essential to creating conditions required for nuclear fusion. The announcement comes after the U-S Secretary of Energy said Wednesday that a "milestone achievement" in producing a nuclear fusion reaction that resulted in a net energy gain has been made at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. **MOF Expected to Adopt 15% Minimum Corporate Tax in 2024 at Earliest ** The Ministry of Finance says it expects to adopt a 15-per cent minimum multi-national corporation tax rate on January 1 of 2024 at the earliest. The move comes after European Union member states reached agreement on the minimum tax rate earlier this week. According to the ministry, it is currently studying the possibility of raising the local minimum business tax rate from the current 12 to 15-per cent. The change requires no revision of existing laws - meaning the Cabinet can announce and implement (實施) the change without submitting the proposal to the Legislature for review. **UN Blocks Myanmar Junta Taking Seat at UN ** Two well-informed U.N. diplomats say a key U.N. committee has again blocked Myanmar’s military junta from taking the country’s seat at the United Nations. According to the Associated Press, the diplomats say the General Assembly’s credentials committee met this week and deferred action on the junta’s request. The decision means that the Myanmar diplomat who was serving as the country's ambassador at the United Nations when the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi nearly two years ago will remain on the job. The director of the London-based Myanmar Accountability Project says the deferral (延期) “has great diplomatic and symbolic significance, at a time when the illegal coup leaders are attempting to gain international recognition.” **TikTok Possibly Boosting Posts About Suicide ** TikTok may be boosting posts about eating disorders and suicide. AP's Lisa Dwyer 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 34-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,557 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday despite a rally on Wall Street overnight, as investors opted to shift their attention back to the local export-oriented economy. The bellwether electronics sector remained concerned by worries over inventory adjustments (調整) in the global market due to rising inflation and rate hikes. And investors were also spooked following news that bicycle manufacturer Giant has asked its suppliers for payment postponement due to weakening global demand. **Cabinet to Approve Bill Barring Ex-Convicts from Public Office ** The Cabinet is set to approve a draft bill that seeks to ban individuals convicted of involvement in organized crime, money laundering, drug-related offenses, and illegal possession of guns or knives from running for public office. The move comes after Premier Su Tseng-chang announced the Cabinet would introduce a draft amendment to the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act in order to meet public expectations of "integrity" (廉正) among public officials. Data from the Anti-corruption and Whistleblower Protection Association from August showed that of the 885 incumbent city and county councilors prior to the recent local elections, 136 had criminal records. **Yushan Likely to See First Snow this Winter at Weekend ** And, The Central Weather Bureau says Yushan could see the first snowfall of this winter this weekend, when a cold wave is forecast (預報) to send temperatures down to 10 degrees or lower. This winter's first snowfall was recorded on Xueshan earlier this week. According to the weather bureau's forecast center, snow is most likely late Saturday or early Sunday at altitudes of 3,000-meters and above. Snow could also fall in mountainous areas of northern Taiwan at altitudes of around 2,000-meters and above. **US Respect for Marriage Bill Signed ** US President Joe Biden has now signed the respect for marriage act into federal law. The act provides greater nationwide protections for same-sex couples. Chris Jones has more from Washington DC. **Ukraine President Urges NZ to Help on Environment Issues ** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged New Zealand to take a leading role in focusing on the environmental destruction his country is suffering as a result of Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy delivered his message via video link to lawmakers who packed the debating chamber today. He said some of the environmental effects of the war included poisoned groundwater, ravaged (毀壞) forests, flooded coal mines and huge areas of Ukraine that remain contaminated from unexploded mines. He is pushing for a 10-point peace plan that, as well as environmental protection, includes items such as nuclear safety and justice. New Zealand announced it was providing another $2 million US dollars in humanitarian aid through the International Committee of the Red Cross, adding to the $5 million it had already provided. 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 5-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,617 on turnover of 2-billion N-T. The market came under heavy pressure on Monday as investor sentiment continued to be overshadowed by (使（某事物）令人不快或減少樂趣) concerns about the U-S Federal Reserve's rate hike cycle ahead of a two-day policymaking meeting. And turnover for the session stood at 151-billion N-T -- which is the lowest level so far this year. **China's Beer and Liquor Imports Ban to Cost Taiwan Less than NT$1 billion ** Finance Minister Su Jien-rong says China's suspension of the imports of some shipments of beer and liquor from Taiwan is not expected to cost exporters more than 1-billion N-T. The ban on beer and liquor has affected several of Taiwan's leading suppliers (供應商) including the Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation, King Car Food Industrial and Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor. China has said the shipment ban is related to a new customs registration system which to effect on January 1 of this year. Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua says although many countries have been critical of the new Chinese customs registration system, Beijing has been targeting Taiwanese exporters before those of other countries. **Kaohsiung Mayor Meets with Tokyo Governor in Japan ** And, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai has met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in Japan Chen is leading a delegation of city officials from the Department of Administrative and International Affairs and Marine Bureau and arrived in Japan on Sunday for a three-day visit. According to the Kaohsiung City Government, Chen and Koike exchanged views on the coronavirus pandemic and other issues of mutual interest, including smart cities, energy saving and carbon reduction. It is Chen's first overseas trip since taking office in 2020. **FTX Founder Arrested in Bahamas ** Police in the Bahamas have arrested Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The arrest came at the request of (按照…的要求) US authorities. US Correspondent Ira Spitzer reports. **Intl Tribunal Asked by Island States for Opinion on Climate Change ** The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea says that small island states have asked it to provide an opinion on what impact a key U.N. treaty governing maritime activities has on efforts to curb climate change. The Hamburg-based U.N. tribunal says it received a request from Antigua and Barbuda and Tuvalu to render an advisory opinion on the climate obligations (義務) arising to parties from the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The tribunal said it has added the request to its list of cases. It isn’t clear whether or when an advisory opinion could eventually be issued. But if the tribunal does provide the treaty’s 168 parties with legal guidance on the issue of climate change it could trigger further cases. **Mexico US Officials to Discuss Trade Issues ** Mexico's foreign secretary says he'll travel this week to Washington, D.C., in an effort to resolve a dispute over imports of genetically modified U.S. corn. The trip planned for Friday comes before a scheduled visit next month to Mexico City by U.S. President Joe Biden. Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard says he and other Mexican officials will be seeking (尋求、試圖) points of agreement with Washington on the corn, and on other issues. Mexico plans to ban imports of genetically modified corn for human consumption and perhaps eventually for animal feed. Biden and the leaders of Mexico and Canada are to meet Jan. 9 in Mexico City. 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 46-points this morning from Friday's close, at 14,658 on turnover of 1.5-billion N-T. The market closed higher on a technical rebound Friday after Wall Street rallied overnight and those gains were driven largely by semiconductor heavyweights, but buying was also seen in the shipping and biotech sectors. However investor sentiment remained cautious due to concerns over a recession (經濟衰退) in the United States. **Government to Assist Companies Affected by Partial China Import Ban ** The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it will use sales promotions, financing and professional training programs to help companies affected by China's decision to suspend imports of more products from Taiwan. The statement comes after Beijing announced bans last week on over 100 Taiwanese companies selling fishery products, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Beijing claims that have all failed to submit (提交) or incorrectly filled in documents needed to comply with new customs registration rules. Deputy Economic Minister C-C Chen says his office is planning to use programs such as the Bureau of Foreign Trade's Taiwan Global Food Initiative to help firms affected by the ban. That program was launched in August. **Japanese LDP's Senior Member Supports Taiwan's CPTPP Bid ** A visiting senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party says he fully supports Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. However, Koichi Hagiuda is raising concerns over Taiwan's partial ban on some Japanese food imports, calling for the removal of those bans as soon as possible. Although lauding Taiwan for partially lifting a decade-long ban on food imports from areas affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster earlier this year, he also says Taiwan's government needs to fully remove the ban "based on (以…為根據) science." Hagiuda is the first policy chief of the L-D-P to visit Taiwan in nearly 20 years. **Zambia Ethiopian Nationals Found Dead ** Zambian police say the bodies of 27 men believed to be Ethiopian nationals have been discovered in Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka. Officers say investigations indicate the bodies found Sunday were “all males aged between 20 and 38, were dumped by unknown people.” The police say one man was still alive and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. They say the bodies have been taken for formal identification and postmortems (驗屍), while police and other security services are investigating. **China Expands Hospital Support ** China is expanding its medical facilities in rural areas, amid concerns from international health experts the country could face a surge in Covid-19 cases after scaling back (縮減、減少) its strict virus rules. Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong. ***Gaza Ancient Tombs Discovered ** Hamas authorities in Gaza have announced the discovery of over 60 tombs in an ancient burial site dating back to the Roman era. Work crews have been excavating (挖掘) the site since it was discovered last January during preparations for an Egyptian-funded housing project. Officials say a total of 63 graves have been identified. They say the ministry is working with a team of French experts, and that a set of bones and artifacts from one tomb was dated back to the second century. 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

Premier Accepts Interior Minister's Resignation DPP Announces Timeline for Chair Election Putin talks about using nuclear weapons Japan Q3 economy shrunk less than first thought but outlook murky *United Nations' NGO Accreditations -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Two-Week Reservist Program to be Expanded Next Year Nursing Association Head Honored in Ireland Trump Org Guilty of Tax Fraud Indonesia’s Parliament unanimously voted to ban sex outside of marriage Hungary Cancels Fuel Price Cap -- 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 14,955 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market closed relatively flat on Monday after tech stocks gave up early gains following a downturn on Wall Street at the end of last week. Rotational buying remained active, helping to give some momentum to select old economy stocks in the transportation and commodities (商品、貨物) sectors. However, selling was noticeable in the last hour of the trading day as investors opted to pocket earlier gains in semiconductor heavyweights. **Deputy Trade Rep. Cites Non-Tariff Taiwan-US Trade Deal Possible in 2023 ** Deputy trade representative Yang Zhen-ni says the government is hoping to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the United States by the end of next year. However, Yang is stressing that the deal will not cover the core (核心的，主要的) issue of tariff reduction. Speaking at a legislative hearing, Yang said her office is seeking to have a bilateral trade pact signed by the time the APEC meeting is held in the U-S in November 2023. According to Yang, the agreement will not include tariff reduction, as the U-S has not passed any legislation to authorize that, but it will include sections related to customs, agriculture, digital trade, and labor issues, climate change and state-owned enterprises. **Chiang Seeking to Open Taipei Dome Within a Year ** Taipei mayor-elect Chiang Wan-an says he plans to fulfill (實現) his policy promise and open the Taipei Dome within a year. Speaking an administration transition meeting at Taipei City Hall, Chiang said that he will negotiate with the central government to ensure the safety and engineering quality of the multi-purpose sports and recreational center. According to Chiang, his team will try to begin operations at the Taipei Dome within a year, as the central government has already finished the fire safety review. Chiang went on to say that if trial operations start in June next year, the grand opening could be held in September. **Russia Claims Air Bases Hit ** The Kremlin claims Ukraine has attacked Russian air bases, and it has responded with a barrage of missiles. AP's Lisa Dwyer reports. **Mexico President Changes Maya Train Plans ** Mexico's Maya Train tourist project will now include a 78 kilometer stretch of elevated (升高的) trackway through the jungle. The project has faced opposition from environmentalists who say the train will crush or contaminate the network of caves and sinkhole lakes around the resorts of Tulum and Playa del Carmen. But the president now says two-thirds of the line will be elevated on thousands of 25 meter pilings sunk into the soil and avoiding the caves, supporting pre-fabricate elevated sections 2.5 meters above the ground. The latest change also raised doubts about whether such an elevated trackway can be completed as the president has promised within one year. The 1,500-kilomete Maya Train line is meant to run in a rough loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting beach resorts and archaeological sites. 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 1-point this morning from Friday's close, at 14,972 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market closed the trading day lower on Friday after fluctuating (波動的) in consolidation mode ahead of the release of the U-S job data Semiconductor heavyweights came under pressure during the session, but Hon Hai lent some support to the broader market. **Tsai Meets with Senior DPP Officials to Talk "Way Ahead" ** President Tsai Ing-wen has held talks with senior government and D-P-P officials to discuss the party's losses in the local elections and plans for a possible Cabinet reshuffle. According to the Presidential Office, Tsai met with Vice President William Lai, Premier Su Chang-tseng, National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo, D-P-P legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming and acting party chair Chen Chi-mai. A Presidential Office spokesperson says the talks focused on in-depth discussions on both the domestic (國內的) and international political and economic situations and a review of the Cabinet as well as possible changes in government policy. The spokesperson says Tsai is also seeking to step-up communications between the government and opposition parties in areas related to national security. **Ironman and His 'Lucky Cap' Visit Changhua Temple ** And, Norwegian ironman Gustav Iden has revisited the Shunze Temple in Changhua County, where he thanked the deity there for bringing him good luck since winning a breakthrough world championship in 2019. Speaking at the event, the Norwegian athlete said "coming to Taiwan is always something special" and he's happy that the hat has created a strong bond ((感情的)聯結) between him and Taiwan. Iden found the cap on the ground in Japan before an Tokyo Olympic test event in early 2019 and then wore it when he won an Ironman World Championship in Nice in September of that same year. That set off a craze here in Taiwan for the "lucky" baseball cap from the temple. Iden has since worn the cap in 10 races - all of which he has won. **China Eases COVID19 Rules ** China is relaxing its strict COVID-19 policies and taking steps to reopen the economy. The country’s health authorities say that’s a response to the virus becoming less dangerous and vaccination rates increasing. But it’s also being seen as a concession (讓步) to mounting public protests against the rules. Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong. **Indonesia Volcano Erupts ** Indonesia’s highest volcano on its most densely populated island has released gas clouds and rivers of lava in its latest eruption. Monsoon rains eroded and finally collapsed the lava dome atop (在頂上) Mount Semeru, causing the eruption Sunday. Columns of ash were blasted nearly 1,500 meters into the sky. Several hundred residents fled to temporary shelters or left for other safe areas. Several villages were blanketed with falling ash, blocking out the sun, but no casualties have been reported. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 79.6-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,933 on turnover of $3.7-billion N-T. The market once again ended the trading day in positive territory on Thursday, as investors were encouraged by a rally on Wall Street overnight after the head of the U-S Federal Reserve hinted at an easing in the pace of interest rate hikes to tame inflation. **COA Cites Data Showing Japan Now Surpasses China as Top Taiwan Fruit ** Importer The Council of Agriculture says Japan has overtaken (超車、超過) China to become the largest importer of fruit from Taiwan this year. According to the council, Japan took the number one spot after a Japanese-foodstuffs trading company pledged to purchase at least 5,100 tonnes of fruit from Taiwan. That deal was signed at a ceremony in Tokyo. Wismettac Foods is now promising to purchase at least 3,500 tonnes of pineapples, 1,500 tonnes of bananas and 100 tonnes of frozen pineapples annually. The company says it also hopes to purchase seafood from Taiwan in the future. The signing of that fruit deal came a day after Japanese sushi chain, Kura Sushi, signed an agreement with the Council of Agriculture to import 50,000 tonnes of grouper from Taiwan next year. **Biden Macron United Against Russia at WH ** French President Emanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden have praised (表揚、稱讚) the strong alliance between their two countries after a meeting at the White House. Kate Fisher reports < [CLIP] Slug: > **Canada Man Charged with Indigenous Women Deaths ** Police in Canada allege a man previously charged with murdering an Indigenous woman also killed three other women — two also confirmed to be Indigenous and one believed to be. Jeremy Skibicki was charged last May after the remains of Rebecca Contois were found near an apartment building. Skibicki is now charged with first-degree murder in three other deaths in the spring. Police say three of the four victims were Indigenous. The fourth victim has not been identified but police say it’s believed she was also Indigenous. **Spain Gov Pledges Funds for Donana Wetlands ** Spain’s government has pledged to invest 350 million euros in the country's Donana wetlands. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the pledge (承諾) on Thursday when he visited the Donana National Park. Ecologists have been calling for more action to help the UNESCO world heritage site that experts say is dying due to the misuse of water and climate change. A European Union court ruled last year that Spanish authorities had failed in their duty to protect the wetlands that are a stopover spot for millions of birds migrating from Africa to northern Europe. The World Wildlife Fund applauded the investment but demanded more from regional authorities to control the illegal extraction of water. 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 180-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,060 on turnover of $5.1-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex gained ground to close above 14,800 point mark on Wednesday as investors chose to ignore a lackluster performance on Wall Street overnight. The weighted index ended the day up 169-points at 14,879 - and that was the market's highest close since September 13. The high closing figure came as foreign institutional investors returned to the local main board, while investor interest focused on I-C design heavyweights, as well as select old economy and financial stocks during the trading day. **Electric Bike Owners Now Required to Register Vehicles and get License ** Plates Owners of new electric bicycles are now required to register their vehicles, obtain a license plate and buy insurance. The move comes as revisions to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act take effect from today. Under those revisions, e-bikes are now formally described as being "mini electric two-wheel vehicles" - meaning they cannot be operated without a license plate. Owners of new e-bikes will have to formally register their vehicle and purchase a minimum of three years of compulsory (強制性的) automobile liability insurance. The news rules also state that only people aged 14 or older can ride an e-bike, and they must wear a helmet and ride at a speed of no more than 25-kilometers-an-hour. E-bike owners are also banned from carrying passengers, modifying their vehicles, or riding them on sidewalks or regular bike lanes. **Afghanistan Bomb Attack at Religious School ** A Taliban official says that at least 10 students were killed when a bomb blast hit a religious school in northern Afghanistan. AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports. **EU Wants UN Investigation into Russian War Crimes ** The European Union wants to set up a U.N.-backed specialized (專門) court to investigate possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the EU will work with international partners to get “the broadest international support possible” for the tribunal while supporting the International Criminal Court. Investigations of military crimes committed during the war in Ukraine are underway around Europe, and the Hague-based International Criminal Court has already launched a probe (調查). Von der Leyen added that the EU wants to make Russia pay for the destruction it caused in neighboring Ukraine by using Russian assets frozen under sanctions. She estimated the damage to Ukraine at $617 billion US dollars. **EU Warns Musk to Beef Up Twitter Protections ** A top European Union official has warned Elon Musk that Twitter needs to beef up (加強) to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful content to avoid violating new rules. The EU's commissioner for digital policy told Musk on Wednesday that the social media platform will have to significantly increase efforts to comply (遵守) with the rules that threaten big fines or even a ban in the 27-nation bloc if tech giants don’t comply. The two held a video call to discuss Twitter’s preparedness for the rules. The commissioner says Musk told him that the new EU rules were “a sensible approach to implement on a worldwide basis.” 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 31-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,678 on turnover of 2.9-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Tuesday in a volatile (易變的) trading session, as investors were closely watching the situation in China. The market fluctuated by almost 300 points during the trading day. Semiconductor stocks led an initial downturn, but the local main board made a sharp rebound after investors opted to use temporary declines in the share prices to increase their holdings. **NHI Copayment Plan Could be Delayed ** Health Minister Xue Rui-yuan says plans to implement (實施) an increase in National Health Insurance copayments could be delayed depending on how the island's economy performs in the coming months. The plan is currently slated to be introduced sometime in the first quarter of next year. However, the health minister says an exact timeframe has not yet been decided, as the domestic coronavirus situation and how fast the island's economy can recover from the pandemic could affect the finalizing of an implementation date. Xue says his office will be making further assessments of the overall situation in the coming weeks. **Central Bank Head Cits Weak NT$ as Contributing to Inflation ** Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long says the New Taiwan dollar will likely depreciate by around 6-per cent against the U-S dollar this year, driving up the price of imports and adding up to 0.3 percentage points to the consumer price index. According to Yang several factors have contributed to (成為因素) rising inflation in Taiwan over the last two years. They include coronavirus-era supply chain bottlenecks, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on food and energy prices, and Taiwan's vulnerability as a small economy to price fluctuations on international markets. While the other major factor is imported inflation, which has been driven up by both the rising costs of imported materials and products and by the depreciation of the New Taiwan dollar. **US Senate Passes SameSex Marriage Bill ** The U.S. Senate has passed a landmark (地標性的) bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage across the country - and it did it with the support of both Democrats and Republicans. Toni Waterman has more. **Finland Calls for Weapons for Ukraine in NZ and Australia ** Finland’s leader says it must give more weapons and support to Ukraine to ensure it wins its war against Russia. Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the comments today in Auckland as she embarked on the first-ever visit by a Finnish leader to New Zealand and Australia. Among the aims of the visit are improving diplomatic relations and trade ties. Since the war began, both Finland and Sweden have abandoned their longstanding policies of military nonalignment and applied to join NATO. 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 Stresses the 'Close Monitoring' of China Protests Children Aged from 5 to 11 Soon Allowed to Get Coronavirus Booster Shot *U.K.: golden era with China is over Australia calling for more protection for Great Barrier Reef Indonesia's Aceh Province saw polio outbreak -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 141-points this morning from Friday's close, at 14,636 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The market closed flat on Friday, as it moved in a narrow range as Wall Street was closed for Thanksgiving and didn't provide any direction for local investors, who were worried about a technical pullback after recent solid gains. Many foreign institutional investors were also absent from the market due to the U-S holiday. **DPP Vows to Engage in Introspection ** The D-P-P says its poor showing in the local government elections is indicative (表示 … 的) of public opinion and the party will now seek "self-reflection." According to D-P-P Secretary-General Lin Hsi-yao, the party will squarely face the reasons for its setback at the polls, after it managed to secure only five of the 21 city and county leadership seats. The K-M-T secured 13 of the 21 seats up for grabs, while the D-P-P ended with two less seats than it had going into the local elections. The D-P-P's secretary-general says he believes the internal decision-making teams that shape major party policies should be held responsible, as the loss reflects public opinion of its performance. And Lin also says the D-P-P's chances of recovery will depend on how it acts going forward into two legislative by-elections and one mayoral election that will be taking place soon. **Arrivals Numbers Hit Nearly 100,000 in October ** And, The Tourism Bureau says nearly 100,000 tourists came to Taiwan in October, after the government lifted quarantine regulations. Data shows that a total of 93,206 people arrived in Taiwan in that month - and that's an increase of 560-per cent compared with October of last year. According to the Tourism Bureau, Taiwan saw the largest number of visitors based on the growth rate of other major regional tourist markets in October, and was followed by Japan. Of those arriving in Taiwan, 98.57-per cent came by air, with 90.49-per cent of that total landing at Taoyuan International Airport. The Tourism Bureau says most of the tourists stayed for between 8 and 15 nights. **Cameroon Landslide Leaves Dead and Missing ** Authorities say at least 14 people are dead in Cameroon's capital after a landslide at a funeral. Dozens of others remained missing as rescue crews continued digging through the rubble (瓦礫) with flashlights. The local governent says that the search for survivors in the Damas neighborhood of Yaounde would continue. About a dozen others injured in the landslide are being treated at local hospitals. **US Officials Criticize China COVID19 Policy ** US health officials have suggested that China's approach ( 方法，方式) to COVID-19 isn't realistic. This comes after widespread protests across China against the government's tough covid-19 containment measures. Jagruti Dave reports from Washington. **Yemen Signs Economic Aid Deal with Arab Monetary Fund ** State media says Yemen's internationally recognized government has signed an economic aid deal worth $1 billion with the Arab Monetary Fund. A state news agency said the country's Saudi-backed administration signed the deal on Sunday to push through wide-ranging economic reforms. Yemen's economy has been decimated by a civil war that has pitted (使…競爭) Houthi rebels against the government that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates back. The Arab Monetary Fund is based in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi and operates as a sub-organization of the 22-member Arab League. 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 19-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,765, on turnover of $1.88-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex gained ground on Thursday, as most other regional markets closed the day higher. However, investor optimism about the U-S Federal Reserve holding back on aggressive interest rate hikes was countered by uncertainty over coronavirus lockdowns in China. **Three More Private High Schools Placed on MOE 'Watch List' ** The Ministry of Education has placed three more private high schools on its "watch list." The three schools include the Hong Ren Catholic Girls' High School in Chiayi City, the Yu Min Vocational School in Miaoli County and Yu-Ren Senior High School in Taitung. According to the education ministry, they were added the list because their "financial condition has markedly declined to the extent that the school cannot pay off its debt, or that financial problems has seriously impacted the running of the school." Schools place on the watch list are alloted (分配的) a two-year observation period to solve their problems. If they fail to properly address the issues, education authories can order their closure at the end of the period. **Venezuela and Opposition to Resume Negotiations ** The government of Venezuela and its opposition say they will resume over the weekend long-stalled negotiations meant to find a common path out of their country’s complex crisis. The announcement Thursday comes two weeks after delegates from both parties met to address the Venezuelan crisis, promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Norwegian diplomats will guide the negotiations. The talks formally began in September 2021 in Mexico but were suspended the following month when President Nicolas Maduro ordered his delegation to withdraw in protest of the extradition to the United States of a close ally. **UK Businesses Urge Gov Not to Scrap EU Laws ** UK businesses and unions are urging the government not to scrap a range of European Union laws. In a joint letter, several influential groups called on ministers to withdraw (撤) its Retained EU Law bill, warning it would put vital protections at risk. The legislation would see most EU laws expire by the end of 2023. The government says it is committed to 'taking full advantage of the benefits of Brexit'. Sally Patterson has more in London. **Egypt Announces Release of Political Activists ** Egyptian authorities have announced the release of 30 political activists from jail. The announcement late on Thursday marks the latest in a series of mass releases from detention amid intensifying international scrutiny over Egypt's human rights record. There was no word on the identities of the activists or how many had already been freed. Since 2013, Egypt has cracked down on dissidents (持不同政見者) and critics, jailing thousands, virtually banning protests and monitoring social media. 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 41-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,650 on turnover of $2.7-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Wednesday on the back of investor interest sparked by gains on Wall Street overnight amid easing concerns over aggressive (積極強硬的) U-S Federal Reserve rate hikes. The bellwether electronics sector continued to gain ground, but still came off early highs, while buying rotated to financial and select old economy stocks throughout much of the trading day. **Single-Use Plastic Cups to be Banned in Taipei from Next Month ** The Taipei Department of Environmental Protection is reminding residents that beverage shops in the city will be prohibited from providing single-use plastic drinking cups from December 1. The department says the move is in line with international trends (趨勢) and the city government's implementation of plastic reduction policies. According to city hall, the ban includes eco-friendly cups made of biodegradable plastic materials. The Taipei City Government is also planning to introduce a new system for reusable cups on January 1st. The city's environmental protection office says the new regulations will result in a 900-ton reduction in plastics waste every year. **Ukraine President Addresses UN ** President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged members of the United Nations to do more to protect civilians in Ukraine. The latest escalation (（戰爭）逐步升級) of missile strikes by Russia has caused power outages across much of Ukraine and half of neighboring Moldova. William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York. **EU: Kosovo and Serbia Reach Deal on Licence Plates ** The European Union’s top diplomat says Kosovo and Serbia have reached a deal on a dispute over vehicle number plates, defusing rising tension between the two Western Balkan neighbors. The EU’s high representative, Josep Borrell, posted in his social media page that Kosovo’s and Serbia’s negotiators “have agreed to avoid further escalation and to fully concentrate on the proposal on normalization (正常化) of their relations.” Earlier this week Borrell had failed to convince the two countries' leaders to do that, raising concerns in Brussels. The EU-backed Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, which is aimed at normalizing relations between the former foes in the Western Balkans, has been at a virtual standstill for years. **WCup Germany Protests Gov Clampdown on One Love Armband ** Germany’s players covered their mouths for the team photo before their opening World Cup match to protest against FIFA following the governing body’s clampdown on the “One Love” armband. Germany coach Hansi Flick says it was a sign from the team "that FIFA is muzzling us.” The team lined up in the traditional formation before the game against Japan and all 11 players covered their mouths with their right hands. The gesture was a response to FIFA’s warning that players would be penalized (受到懲罰) if they wore the colorful armbands that stand as a symbol for inclusion and diversity. Qatar has been under scrutiny for its human rights record and laws criminalizing homosexuality. 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 53-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,596 on turnover of $2.76-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex bounced back from early losses on Tuesday, but market sentiment remained cautious, as many investors opted to stay on the sidelines, awaiting the release of the minutes of the U-S Federal Reserve's last policymaking meeting. The bellwether electronics sector led the rebound, with large-cap semiconductor stocks in focus, while buying was also seen in financial and old economy stocks, particularly those in the petrochemical (石油化的) sector. **Japanese Firm Become First Foreign Company to Receive Travel Subsidies ** Japan-based Hiraiwa Construction has become the first foreign company to receive travel subsidies following the opening of Taiwan's border to quarantine free arrivals in mid-October. The Tourism Bureau says the subsidies were issued after the company chose Taiwan as the incentive travel destination for its employees this year. According to the bureau, Hiraiwa Construction kicked off this year's employee incentive (獎勵) travel on November 11 and is expected to bring about four groups with a total of about 100 employees to Taiwan before December 2. Each group will receive 30,000 N-T in subsidies for tourism activities in Taiwan. The subsidies have been issued under the Tourism Bureau's guidelines for foreign companies that bring in at least 100 employees to Taiwan stays of at least three days and two nights. **Palestinian Youth Killed in West Bank Raid ** The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian during a nighttime raid in the occupied West Bank. It says Ahmed Shehada was killed by an Israeli bullet early today and four others were injured. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. A wave of Israeli-Palestinian fighting in the West Bank and east Jerusalem has killed more than 130 Palestinians this year, making 2022 the deadliest since 2006. **US Supreme Court Refuses to Block Trump Tax Returns ** The US Supreme Court has refused a request from former president Donald Trump to block (阻止) the release of his tax returns. It ends a three-year legal fight by Trump to prevent a House of Representative committee from reviewing his returns. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **Germany Celtic Gold Coins Stolen from Museum ** Ancient gold coins dating back to around 100 B.C. has been stolen from a museum in southern Germany. Bavarian state police said the coins were stolen early Tuesday from the Celtic and Roman Museum, 60 kilometers north of Munich. The 483 coins were discovered in 1999 during excavations (發掘、) of an ancient settlement and are considered the biggest trove of Celtic gold found in the 20th century. The German news agency dpa reported that authorities estimate the value of the coins, which together weighed about 4 kilograms, at several million dollars. Police are appealing for witnesses who might have seen suspicious individuals near the museum. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm Hope Ngo with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 45-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,404 on turnover of 2.6-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday, amid a downturn in large cap semiconductor stocks on the back of fears of a pullback after recent gains, although the losses were limited by rebounds (彈回) in non-tech sectors. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing lost 1.03-per cent and that dragged down the electronics sector by 0.77-per cent, while the semiconductor sub-index ended the trading day down 0.96-per cent. **Morris Chang Confirms that TSMC is set to Rollout 3nm Chips in US ** Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing founder Morris Chang has confirmed that his company will expand its investment in the U-S state of Arizona to produce chips made using the advanced 3-nanometer process. Chang's comments are the first confirmation of the next phase (階段) of the chipmaker's expansion plans following the current 12-billion U-S dollar plan to build a complex in Arizona. Production at the facility is scheduled to begin in 2024 using the 5-nanometer process. According to Chang, members of the U-S Congress and President Joe Biden have been invited to a ceremony on December 6 marking the installation of the first batch of production equipment at the Arizona plant. **'King of Protests' Ke Tsi-hai Dead of Natural Causes ** The Shilin District Prosecutors' Office says a forensic examination (法醫檢驗) has found that Ke Si-hai died of natural causes. Ke, who was dubbed the "King of Protests" for his frequent placard protests in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was found dead in a van on Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei on Monday. He was 66. Prosecutors says his body has been sent back to members of his family who accepted the conclusion that Ke died of natural causes. Ke was an activist who was notorious for showing up at the scene of news events with protest placards and appearing behind people speaking on camera in TV news reports. **China Locks Down Guangzhou ** The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou has locked down its largest district as it tries to tamp down a major COVID-19 outbreak, suspending public transit and requiring residents to present a negative test if they want to leave their homes. The outbreak is testing China’s attempt to bring a more targeted approach to its zero-COVID policies while facing multiple outbreaks. China is the only major country in the world still trying to curb virus transmissions (傳播) through strict lockdown measures and mass testing. In Beijing, the capital reported two more COVID-19-related deaths. On Sunday, the city reported China's first COVID-19 death in over six months. **US VP to Fly to Palawan ** U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to fly to a western Philippine island province at the edge of the South China Sea to amplify (發揮，展示) America’s support to its treaty ally and underline U.S. interest in freedom of navigation in the disputed waters. Her visit comes as a new confrontation erupted in the contested waterway ahead of her visit… when the Philippine navy alleged a Chinese coast guard vessel had forcibly seized Chinese rocket debris as Filipino sailors were towing it to their island. Harris is to visit a small fishing community in Palawan and board a coast guard patrol ship. She will also speak about the importance of international law, freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the South China Sea. **Carp-e- dine'em ** A roasted carp meal is helping scientists determine how long people have been using fire to cook their food. The new study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, is based on material from a watery site on the shores of an ancient lake in Israel. Jackie Quinn 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 9-points this morning from Friday's close, at 14,514 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Friday after giving up early gains, as investors locked in profits from recent sessions amid eased concerns over the U-S Federal Reserve's rate hike cycle policy. **Major Parties Make Push Ahead of Local Elections ** The heads of Taiwan's three major political parties are continuing to stump (拉票) for their respective city and country government candidates with a week to go until voters head to the polls. President Tsai Ing-wen has been rallying for support for the party's Taipei mayoral candidate, Chen Shih-chung. K-M-T Chairman Eric Chu attended a rally in New Taipei's Xinzhuang District for incumbent Mayor Hou Yu-ih, who is seeking re-election. While Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je attended a rally in Taipei Sunday evening, to call on voters there to cast their ballots for former Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang. **CTBC Brothers Celebrate Taiwan Series Win with Parade in Taichung ** The C-T-B-C Brothers have held a Chinese Professional Baseball League Taiwan Series victory parade in Taichung. The team's motorcade wound its way from city hall to the Taichung Intercontinental Stadium and members of the winning squad waved to fans from an open-top red double decker bus. Some 10,000 fans gathered along the route (路線) to cheer the team and wave banners. The Brothers won the Taiwan Series on November 9 in front of 20,000 fans in Taichung after completing a four-game sweep of the Rakuten Monkeys by wining 3-2 in Game 4. It was the second consecutive season that the Brothers have brought home the championship trophy. **G7 Foreign Ministers Condemn NKorea ICBM Launch ** G7 foreign Ministers have issued a statement condemning North Korea's launch last Friday of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The Group of 7 which includes the United States described the act as another blatant (明目張膽的) violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Our US Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports. **HK Leader Positive for COVID19 ** The Hong Kong government says leader John Lee tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Thailand. The government said Lee had negative test results throughout his four-day stay in Bangkok but his test upon his arrival at Hong Kong’s airport on Sunday night was positive. Lee is now in isolation and will work from home. During his trip, Lee met various leaders including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In some close-door sessions, seating arrangements had him next to Chinese President Xi Jinping. **Canada Expands Haiti Economic Sanctions ** Canada has expanded its economic sanctions freezing the Canadian assets of Haitian political elites to now include former president Michel Martelly and two former prime ministers. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly accused the trio this weekend of helping gangs undermine (破壞) Haiti’s current government and called on international partners to follow Canada’s lead. She made the announcement at a two-day summit in Tunisia. Haitian Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Victor Geneus said the new sanctions put real consequences (後果) on those causing a “nightmare” in his country. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn