EZ News

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 15,838 on turnover of 5.9-billion N-T. The market finished relatively flat last Friday as investors were cautious about possible negative leads emerging during the five-day Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday. **Tsai and McCarthy Reaffirm Strong Taiwan-US Bond ** President Tsai Ing-wen and U-S House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reaffirmed the strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States and their commitment to safeguarding regional stability. The statement follows their two-hour closed door meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Speaking after the talks, McCarthy said he believes the bond (關係) between the two sides is stronger now than at any time or point in his lifetime and America's cooperation with the people of Taiwan will "continue to expand through dialogue and exchange." Meanwhile, Tsai said the presence of bipartisan Congress members at the meeting and their unwavering support reassured the people of Taiwan that "we are not isolated, and we are not alone." **Additional Pork Imports Amid Price Rise ** The Council of Agriculture says it is not ruling out importing more pork due to fast rising prices. The statement comes after the hog trading price reached a record-high of 99.03 N-T per kilogram. According to council, current price rises are being caused by a decrease in domestic supply and a reduction (減少) in pork imports. The department says the international feed price has increased by 17-per cent over the past year and as a result of that hog prices are rising worldwide, discouraging local traders from importing pork. Data shows that Taiwan imported 9,913 metric tons of pork between January and February of this year. That was a decline of 48-per cent from the same two month period last year. **NKorea Criticizes US SKorea Drills ** North Korea is blasting joint US and South Korea military drills as pushing tensions to the brink of (邊緣) nuclear war. Chris Gilbert reports. **French President on China Engagement ** French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to “engage China toward a shared responsibility for peace” in Ukraine when he meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week. French officials say Macron plans to urge Xi in talks Thursday to use Beijing’s influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin but didn’t expect a big shift in the Chinese position. Macron is accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Macron also said “several major deals” were due to be signed between French and Chinese companies during the visit. **Brazil Former Prez Undergoes Questioning About Gifts ** Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has undergone questioning about diamond jewelry gifts when he was in power, as part of an investigation into whether he engaged in any irregularities in bringing the items into Brazil. After Bolsonaro left the Federal Police headquarters in Brazil’s capital Wednesday, it wasn’t know if he answered investigator’s questions or exercised his right to stay silent. Federal police are investigating whether three sets of jewelry brought into the country from Saudi Arabia were public gifts that Bolsonaro improperly tried to prevent from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection, or private gifts that Bolsonaro tried sneak into Brazil without paying taxes. 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 24.8 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,849, on turnover of NT$2.66 billion N-T. The Tai-Ex gained had gained ground on Thursday following a rally on Wall Street overnight as investor concerns over the health of America's banking sector subsided. However, turnover for the session fell below the 190-billion N-T mark and that decline is being attributed to (歸因於) a large number of investors opting to stay on the sidelines ahead of the five-day long weekend. Cabinet Approves Plan to Lower Preschool Teacher-Student Ratio The Cabinet has approved a proposal to gradually lower the teacher-student ratio in preschools and provide funding incentives. The proposal was put forward by the Ministry of Education calls for all public preschools that cater to (迎合) children between the ages of three and six will be required to aim for a 1-12 teacher-student ratio beginning in August of this year. The ratio of 15 to 1 has remained unchanged since 1981 when it was implemented under the now defunct (不復存在) Kindergarten Education Act. The new policy will not be mandatory in private preschools. AIT Head Lauds Taiwan as Global Partner American Institute in Taiwan Chair Laura Rosenberger is lauding Taiwan as being a "global partner" and says the U-S is working with all of its partners, including Taiwan, to uphold (捍衛) key principles of democracy. Rosenberger made the comments as she hosted President Tsai Ing-wen at a banquet in New York. During the event, Rosenberger hailed Taiwanese businesses and civic leaders in the United States - describing them as being critical to the "diversity and richness of American society and the stability of unofficial Taiwan-US relations." The A-I-T chair also stressed that Washington will work to ensure Taiwan's meaningful participation in international forums. UK to Join CPTPP The U.K. has agreed to join an Asia-Pacific trade pact that includes Japan, Mexico and Australia. Britain says it's the biggest new trade deal it has struck since leaving the European Union three years ago. The agreement comes after almost two years of negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP. The government says membership will reduce tariffs on British dairy products and other goods and remove red tape for U.K. services. It's estimated it will boost the U.K. economy by 1.8 billion pounds ($2.2 billion) “in the long run.” Critics say the deal is insignificant (微不足道) compared to Britain’s trade with its neighbors in the EU. Wall St Journal reporter detained in Russian on espionage charges A US reporter working for the Wall St Journal has been detained by Russian authorities on espionage (間諜活動) charges. The Federal Security Service arrested Evan Gershkovich in the eastern city of Yekaterinburg. 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

Ma Mentions ROC During China Visit High Prosecutors Office Touts Record-High Seizures of Controlled Drugs Biden hosts Democracy summit Brazil Reports 700,000th Coronavirus Death New Cars Sold in EU Must be Zero-Emission from 2035 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Ma Arrives in China and Talks 'Peace' Post-Coronavirus Mortgage Subsidy Program to Begin in June Nashville Shool Shooter had Drawn Maps and Done Surveillance Germany Sends Leopard MBTs to Ukraine UN Report Shows Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Libya -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 41-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,873 on turnover of 2.2-billion N-T. The market ended higher on Friday, as investors opted to shrug off concerns about America's banking sector despite risks of recession overshadowing gains on Wall Street overnight. **US Backs Engagement with Taiwan ** The United States is vowing to deepen its engagement with Taiwan and is encouraging all countries to do the same after Honduras severed formal diplomatic ties with the island. According to a statement issued by the National Security Council and the American Institute in Taiwan, "regardless of Honduras' decision, the U-S will continue to deepen and expand its engagement with Taiwan in line with its longstanding one China policy." The statement described Taiwan as "a reliable, likeminded, and democratic partner" and went on to say the U-S "strongly encourages all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan" and to continue to stand on the side of democracy. **Tainan Temple Head Detained as Part of Shooting Probe ** The Tainan District Prosecutors' Office has detained the head of the Ci-Ji Temple in connection with its investigation into November's shooting incidents on the city's Xue-Jia District. The shootings targeted the a technology company run by former D-P-P Central Executive Committee member Guo Tsai-qin and the local election campaign headquarters city councilor candidate Hsieh Shu-fan. According to the prosecutors' office, it has detained Ci-Ji Temple chairman Wang Wen-cong on charges of possession of illegal firearms and of harboring known criminals. Wang was first questioned in connection with the case late last month following the extradition from China of two other suspects. **US House Speaker on TikTok Legislation ** US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says "The House will be moving forward with legislation" on TikTok, following the platform's CEO's congressional testimony last week. McCarthy said the legislation would protect Americans from" what he called "the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party." Jagruti Dave reports from Washington. **Florence Invites US Parents Students to View David ** A Florence museum and the city's mayor are inviting parents and students from a Florida charter school to visit and see Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. The invitation comes after the school principal was forced to resign following parental complaints that an image of the nude Renaissance masterpiece was shown to a sixth-grade art class. The board of the Tallahassee Classical School pressured Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week after the image of the David was show to the art class. Carrasquilla has said two parents complained because they weren’t notified in advance that a nude would be shown, while a third called the iconic statue pornographic. 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 5.9-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,870 on turnover of $3.1-billion N-T. The market recovered from early loses on Thursday as the semiconductor, electronics and financial sectors rebounded to help the broader market to close higher despite heavy loses on Wall Street overnight. The rise came as foreign institutional investors continue to move more funds into the region and the New Taiwan dollar strengthened against the U-S dollar, which is making investors more confident that the U-S Federal Reserve has slowed the pace (速度；節奏) of its rate hike cycle. **Central Bank Raises Interest Rates by 12.5 Basis Points ** The central bank has raised its key interest rates by 12.5 basis points. The move comes after the bank held its quarterly policymaking meeting. It is the fifth consecutive quarter the central bank has raised interest rates, as it continues efforts to fight inflation. The latest rate hike means the bank's discount rate will rise to 1.875-per cent - and that's the highest level in eight years. The central bank has now raised its key interest rates by a total of 75 basis points since March of last year. **2023 Taiwan National Indigenous Games to Open Today ** The 2023 Taiwan National Indigenous Games is set to open later today. The games feature participants from 17 of Taiwan's indigenous tribes, and a delegation of New Zealand Maori athletes is participating this year. According to the Council for Indigenous Peoples, it's the first time a team from New Zealand has sent a delegation to the Games, which are organized to boost (提高) exchanges between Austronesian peoples of Taiwan and the Pacific region. The 37 member New Zealand Maori team arrived in Taiwan earlier this month. The 2023 Taiwan National Indigenous Games are taking place at the Taipei Expo Park's Expo Dome from today through next Monday. **France Protests Against Pension Reforms ** More than a million people have demonstrated across France against unpopular pension reforms, with violence erupting in some places. French unions are calling for new nationwide strikes and protests next week, coinciding with King Charles III’s planned visit to France. Violence marred a huge protest march in Paris as well as numerous (許多的) other demonstrations elsewhere Thursday. The Interior Ministry says the march in Paris drew 119-thousand people. That was a record for the capital during the pension protests. Polls say most French oppose President Emmanuel Macron’s bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. He says it's necessary to keep the system afloat. **NKorea Tests Underwater Nuclear Drone ** North Korean state media said the country has tested a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone with the ability to generate (產生) a radioactive tsunami. Analysts say it's designed to show North Korea has different means of launching a potential nuclear attack. Patrick Fok 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 48-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,711 on turnover of 2.2-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday following a rally on Wall Street overnight after U-S Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the government will guarantee bank deposits. And buying emerged in local semiconductor heavyweights to lead the gains across the main board, while the financial sector also attracted strong bargain hunting. **US Chips Program Office Senior Officials to Visit Taiwan ** The U-S Department of Commerce has announced that officials from its Chips Program Office will visit Taiwan. According to chips program director Michael Schmidt, the delegation will also be visiting Japan and South Korea. Schmidt says the aim of the trip to Asia is to promote cooperation in the global semiconductor supply chain. The Chips Program Office has not disclosed (透露) any details about Schmidt's trip to Asia. However, a senior Department of Commerce official is being cited as saying the delegation will include the office's senior policy advisor and its director of international exchanges. **MOFA Announces New Monetary Donation to Turkey ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the government will make another financial donation to Turkey to help the country rebuild following the February 6 magnitude 7.8 earthquake. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yu, his office his office will soon allocate (分配) money from the relief fund to make a monetary donation to help the disaster relief effort in Turkey. The donations will include 1.17-million U-S dollars for Ankara to buy mobile food trucks to provide ready-to-eat food to people in the earthquake affected areas and another 5-million U-S dollars to the Turkish Red Crescent Society. **Brazil Bolsonaro Ordered to Return Diamonds ** A Brazilian government watchdog is giving former President Jair Bolsonaro five working days to return to authorities a set of jewels he received from Saudi Arabia in 2021. All nine members of the government watchdog voted Wednesday in favor of (贊成) requiring Bolsonaro to turn the jewels over to the state-owned bank in the capital city of Brasilia. Another set of jewels from Saudi Arabia estimated to be worth several million dollars and also sent to Bolsonaro, according to one of his former ministers, was seized by customs at Sao Paulo's international airport. Bolsonaro, who has been in the United States since he left office in January, is under preliminary police investigations at home since Brazilian media started reporting on the jewels earlier this month. Bolsonaro did not declare either set of jewels to tax authorities. Legal experts say he could face prosecution in the case. It is unclear whether the diamonds were a gift from Saudi authorities or not. **Beethoven's Death Being Researched ** Nearly 200 years after Ludwig van Beethoven's death, researchers are searching for clues about his health problems. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. ((opens with music)) 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 21-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,535 on turnover of 1.7-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Tuesday, as buying was sparked by a rally on Wall Street overnight as financial regulators' voiced strong support for financially troubled banks. The local financial sector got a boost from the recovery of U-S banking stocks - as it outperformed the broader market, rising 0.92-per cent. **MOFA Stressing 'No Notification' from Honduras Regard Termination of Ties ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has yet to receive any official communication from Honduras ending diplomatic relations and is continuing in its efforts to salvage (挽救) ties . The statement comes after Honduras' foreign minister was quoted as saying his country has already sent a communication to Taiwan's Embassy informing it of the severing of formal ties. However, the foreign ministry here is insisting that no such formal notification from Honduras dissolving the countries' diplomatic relations has been received. **DPP and LDP Exchange Views on Diplomacy and Defense ** Representatives from the D-P-P and Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party have held their first ever in-person talks in Taipei. The two hour closed-door meeting was attended by D-P-P lawmakers and the directors of the L-D-P's foreign affairs and defense divisions. According to D-P-P lawmaker Luo Zhi-zheng, the talks focused on the two party's diplomatic and national defense policies. Luo says both sides also touched on (提到) the issue of Taiwan joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The D-P-P and L-D-P previously held virtual talks in August and December of 2021. **French Journalist Freed and Returned Home ** French journalist Olivier Dubois has been welcomed home by President Emmanuel Macron, one day after he was released in Mali. Dubois was held hostage by Islamic extremists for nearly two years, after being kidnapped in April 2021 from northern Mali. Dubois was greeted by his sister and father at a military airport, southwest of Paris. The conditions of his release, including whether it involved a ransom, have not been disclosed (透露). An American aid worker was also freed in Mali on Monday. **US Man Sentenced for Capitol Riot Attacks ** From the US…. A man gets a 4 year prison sentence for attacking police during the Capitol riot. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. **Mexico Monarch Butterflies Dropping ** The number of monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains of central Mexico dropped 22%, and the number of trees lost in their favored wintering ground more than tripled compared to last year. The director of Mexico’s nature reserves said Monday that frost and “extreme temperatures” in the United States may have played a role in the butterfly’s decline. The area occupied by the monarchs in the mountains west of Mexico City dropped to 2.2 hectares from 2.84 hectares a year earlier. Each year the monarchs return to the United States and Canada on an annual migration. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 17-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,437 on turnover of 1.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday after moving in narrow range throughout the session, as investor sentiment remained muted due the financial woes affecting the U-S and European banking sectors. Turnover for session dropped to below 200-billion N-T and market watchers say that decline came as investors await the outcome of a policymaking meeting by the U-S Federal Reserve, which is scheduled for today. Ma Foundation Stresses "No High-Profile Political Meetings" Planned for China Trip Ma Ying-jeou Foundation executive director, Xiao Xu-cen says the former president is not planning to meet with any top Chinese political figures or visit Beijing during his upcoming trip to China. The statement comes after it was announced that Ma will will travel to the Chinese cities of Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing and Shanghai from March 27 through April 7. According to the foundation, Ma plans to worship his ancestors during the Tomb Sweeping holiday and will also be leading a delegation of around 30 Taiwanese students to meet with their Chinese counterparts. **Central Bank to Focus on Inflation at Policymaking Meeting ** Central bank deputy governor Yen Cong-da says the focus of this Thursday's policymaking meeting will be on inflation. Speaking in a hearing of the Legislative Finance Committee, Yen said the central bank wil be considering economic growth, financial stabilization and inflation when it adjusts (調整) its monetary policy later this week. According to Yen, inflation is weighing on consideration as the consumer price index has risen by more than the 2-per cent alert level for 19 consecutive months and that long period of high growth has boosted expectations that it will continue to rise. The C-P-I rose by 2.74-per cent over the first two months of this year compared to the same period of last year. **Japan PM Invites Indian Counterpart to G7 Summit ** Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to the Group of Seven summit and announced a new action plan for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Kishida met Modi in New Delhi during his two-day trip to India. The Indo-Pacific plan is a Tokyo-led initiative aimed at curbing (抑制) China’s assertiveness and will include Japan’s assistance to emerging economies, support for maritime security, the provision (提供) of coast guard patrol boats and other infrastructure cooperation. Kishida also said Modi accepted his invitation to participate in the G-7 summit of major industrial nations, which will be held in Hiroshima in May. He told reporters later that he will also invite seven other heads of non-G-7 countries, including South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. **US Biden Signs Bill on COVID Origins Declassification ** US President Joe Biden has signed a bill concerning the origins of COVID-19. AP correspondent Lisa Dwyer has the details. **IMF Approves Sri Lanka Bailout Program ** The International Monetary Fund says its executive board has approved a nearly $3 billion bailout program for bankrupt Sri Lanka. President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office says the approval will unlock financing of up to $7 billion from the IMF and other international multilateral financial institutions About $333 million will be disbursed (支付) immediately, and the approval will open up support from other institutions. Sri Lanka last year suspended repayment of its debt amid a foreign currency crisis. The currency crisis created severe shortages of fuel and other essentials, leading to street protests that forced out then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 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 15,454 on turnover of 2-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Friday as investors breathed a sigh of relief (鬆一口氣) after the U-S and Switzerland appeared to rescue financially troubled banks. The bellwether electronics sector got a boost from big gains by tech stocks on U-S markets overnight and served as an anchor to support the local main board during the trading day. **Australian PM Stresses No Deal to Help US Defend Taiwan ** Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says Canberra has not given the U-S any commitment to join Washington in defending Taiwan in the event of a cross-strait conflict. The statement comes amid reports that such an agreement was reached as part of the AUKUS negotiations. Marles was asked during an appearance on the A-B-C's "Insiders" program, whether Australia had explicitly (明確的) or implicitly (含蓄的, 不明言的) given the U-S a commitment that it would join the ally in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, in return for access to the submarines. The Australian deputy prime minister said he's heard Taiwan related "conjecture (推測) from a number of commentators and it's plain wrong." **Egg Wholesalers Slam Price Freeze and Threaten to 'Close Market' ** A group of wholesale egg suppliers in Taipei is threatening to stop sales "indefinitely" if the Poultry Association extends the current price freeze this week. The move comes a the association's production and marketing supervision committee backed the freeze of the wholesale price of domestically produced eggs. However, the wholesale egg suppliers argue that such a price freeze is "not sustainable (無法維持) and will hurt egg farmers and suppliers." The wholesale price of eggs currently stands at 55 N-T per 600-grams, while the farm gate price is 45.5 N-T per 600-grams. The Egg Marketing Cooperative says it will consider wholesale price adjustments, but that will depend on whether imported supplies are sufficient to meet market demand. **China Xi to Meet with Putin ** China is dismissing international concerns over its relationship with Russia, ahead of a high profile meeting between the countries’ leaders in Moscow. Beijing says the trip is designed to promote a peaceful end to the conflict in Ukraine. This comes after the Russian president visited the occupied city of Mariupol in Ukraine, and attacks continue across the country. AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports. **Croatia AntiShip Mine Safely Destroyed ** Croatian authorities have destroyed a huge anti-ship mine from World War II that was buried in the seabed near a key northern Adriatic Sea port. Local authorities in the port of Rijeka sounded emergency sirens early Sunday to mark the start of the operation. They earlier had evacuated parts of the city while also halting (停止) all traffic to secure the area during the removal of the bomb with 690 kilograms of explosives. Officials said that the bomb was first discovered last June. It was positioned too close to the city and it had to be moved further away before emergency teams performed the controlled detonation. 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 117-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,338 on turnover of $2.7-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex joined other regional markets and lost ground on Thursday, after Wall Street tumbled overnight as a plunge in Credit Suisse shares reignited investor concerns about a possible bank crisis following the failure of two U-S lenders. **Cabinet Seeks to Stiffen Penalties for Illegal Export of Seedlings ** The Cabinet has approved a draft bill that could see those who illegally export certain types of seedlings or their derivatives (衍生物) fined or jailed for up to three years. The move is part of government efforts to keep high-value indigenous plant and fruit species in Taiwan. The draft bill is a proposed amendment to the Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act. The bill was introduced after China suspended imports of Tainong 17 pineapples, claiming that it has already cultivated the same variety of pineapples. The draft amendment states that anyone who imports or exports seedlings, the derivatives thereof or products made from such derivatives will face a maximum prison term of three years and/or a fine of up to 3-million N-T. Under the existing rules, such violations result in a maximum fine of 1.5-million N-T and no prison time. Deputy Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-ji says the smuggling of valuable species out of Taiwan to China and other countries undermining the island's trade. The draft amendment will now go the Legislative Yuan for review. **Japan SKorea Resume Diplomatic Visits ** Japan and South Korea are vowing to resume diplomatic visits amidst (在其中) warming ties between the two countries. It follows the first in-person summit between their leaders in more than a decade. Chris Gilbert reports. **Colombia Ends Mine Rescue Operations ** Rescue operations at a coal mine in central Colombia that collapsed earlier this week have ended and officials say the accident had left 21 workers dead. The mine near the town of Sutatausa collapsed late Tuesday following an explosion that blocked (擋、堵塞) several of its entrances. Rescue teams worked nonstop for more than 30 hours to find survivors and retrieve bodies. Provincial authorities say nine workers survived the accident, while the relatives of miners who were killed were receiving support. All of the workers who were at the mine at the time of the accident have been accounted for. **Montenegro President Dissolves Parliament ** Montenegro’s president has dissolved parliament and paved the way (做好準備) for an early parliamentary election. President Milo Djukanovic issued a decree dissolving parliament on Thursday, three months after Montenegro’s last government fell in a no-confidence vote. Djukanovic is expected to set a date for the early election today. He is running for reelection in Montenegro's presidential election on Sunday. Analysts predict the voting will not produce a clear winner and that the pro-Western incumbent will face one of several challengers in a runoff two weeks later. 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 53-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,334 on turnover of 3-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Wednesday after giving up early gains amid ongoing investor concerns of a spate of bank failures in the United States following the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank. **China Lifts Import Ban on Taiwan Beltfish and Mackerel ** China has lifted its ban on imports of fresh chilled beltfish and frozen Atlantic horse mackerel from Taiwan. According to China's Taiwan Affairs Office, the lifting of the ban is due to the easing (緩和) of coronavirus restrictions and is aimed at "promoting the healthy development of cross-strait trade." China suspended imports of the two types of fish products from Taiwan on August 3 if last year citing a "consideration of biosecurity risk prevention" as it claimed that traces of the coronavirus were detected on the outer packaging. According to the Fisheries Agency, the Council of Agriculture has received the relevant documentation regarding the lifting of the import ban from Beijing and he's "happy to see China complying with international standards." **Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Tops Profit List Again ** The Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital generated (產生) the highest overall profit among healthcare facilities last year. It's the sixth consecutive year that the hospital has topped the profit list compiled by the National Health Insurance Administration. The annual report is based on the profits made by healthcare facilities that receive National Health Insurance funding in excess of 200-million N-T. Data shows the Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital reported 3.47-billion N-T in profit. The report also shows that the percentage of healthcare facilities that registered surplus revenue at the end of last year stood at 89.3-per cent, an increase from 2021's 86.3 percent. **Cyclone Freddy Dissipates After Destruction in Mozambique Malawi ** Monitors say Cyclone Freddy has dissipated after killing hundreds of people in Mozambique and Malawi but flooding still threatens both countries. At least 225 people have died in Malawi’s south and within and around Blantyre, the country’s financial hub. In neighboring Mozambique, at least 20 people have died since the storm made landfall in the port town of Quelimane on Saturday night. The cyclone has displaced 88,000 in Malawi and more than 45,000 are holed up (躲起來、避難) in shelters in Mozambique. The heavy rains are now flowing downriver and causing more flooding. An official with Doctors Without Borders says the number of casualties will increase. Cyclone Freddy developed near Australia, crossed the Indian Ocean and has caused destruction in southern Africa since late February. **US Trump Media Investigated for Money Laundering ** Federal investigators are reportedly expanding their Trump investigation. According to reports Federal prosecutors in New York are now looking at the former president's social media company examining whether it violated (違反) money laundering statutes. Our correspondent, Jody Jacobs has more from New York… 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 65-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,425 on turnover of 4.3-billion N-T. The market moved sharply lower on Tuesday. Analysts say although investors are anticipating the U-S Fed will hold back on its rate hikes to prevent liquidity risks following the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, concerns are lingering that rate increases will not be strong enough to tame (馴服) inflation. **NCSIST Unveils 'Suicide Drone' ** The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has unveiled nine domestically developed drones - including a loitering munition, or "suicide drone. The domestically made "suicide" drone is based on the U-S made AeroVironment Switchblade 300, which is currently being used by Ukrainian forces in the country's war with Russia. According to the institute's Aeronautical Systems Research Division, the miniature loitering munition drone has a range of 10-kilometers, can fly for 15 minutes and can be carried by a single soldier. It's equipped with a high-performance electro-optical and infrared sensor and can be used to destroy high-value and high-risk targets. **Limited Cross-Strait Ferry Services to be Expanded in Coming Week ** K-M-T lawmaker Chen Yu-zhen says the eligibility and scope of the limited ferry services between Kinmen and Xiamen in China will be expanded later this month. According to Chen, R-O-C passport holders from Taiwan proper and their spouses (配偶) will be able to use the ferry services, while daily trips between Kinmen and Xiamen will also be increased from two to 12. Chen says the expansion of ferry services follows talks between the Mainland Affairs Council and other related agencies - at which it was decided to bring forward the expanded service ahead of the five-day long weekend Tomb Sweeping Day holiday. However, Chinese independent travelers are still not included in the expanded service. **US Drone Crashes After Russian Jet Encounter ** The U.S. military says a Russian warplane struck the propeller (螺旋槳) of a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday. The U.S. European Command said two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted the drone while it was operating within international airspace. It said one of the Russian fighters struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to bring it down in international waters. US Air Force officials say the "unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash". Moscow says the U.S. drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into water following an encounter with Russian fighter jets scrambled to intercept it near Crimea, but insists its warplanes didn’t fire their weapons or hit the drone. **US Biden Takes Steps to Strengthen Gun Control ** US President Joe Biden has taken steps to strengthen (加強) gun background checks. AP correspondent Norman Hall 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 42-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,517 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Monday after recovering from early loses, as investor sentiment improved following a decision by the U-S government to guarantee (保證) that all deposits taken by the financially troubled Silicon Valley Bank will be paid in full. Buying increased in select large cap stocks in the semiconductor and transportation sectors, while bargain hunters turned active late in the session to push the broader market back into positive territory by the end of the trading day. **MOEA Head Rules Out Extension of Second Nuclear Plant Service ** Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua says the government has no plans to extend the service of the second nuclear power plant. The statement comes amid calls for the government to suspend plans to decommission (退役) the plant's second reactor. Decommissioning of the No. 2 generator at the plant in New Taipei will begin today - on the expiration of its 40-year operating permit. According to Wang the spent fuel pools at the plant are full and no new storage facilities are available, making it impossible to continue to generate power there. **Science Parks See Record Revenue in 2022 ** National Science and Technology Council chief Wu Cong-zhong says Taiwan's three science parks posted revenue of 4.26-trillion N-T last year. That figure is a 14.75-percent year on year increase and all-time high. According to Wu, the Hsinchu Science Park's revenue stood at 1.61-trillion N-T, the Central Taiwan Science Park saw its revenue stand at 1.17-trillion N-T, while 2022's revenue at the Southern Taiwan Science Park hit 1.48-trillion N-T. Of the three parks, the Southern Taiwan Science Park registered the biggest year-on-year revenue rise of 35.48-per cent. Integrated circuits were the number one driving force (推動力) at the science parks last year, accounting for 77-per cent of the total revenue. **Russia extends grain deal ** A Russian delegation at talks with senior U.N. officials says Moscow is ready to accept an extension (擴大) to a grain export deal that has helped bring down global food prices amid the war with Ukraine. But it said it would accept only a 60-day extension as the Kremlin holds out for changes to how the arrangement is working. Jody Jacobs has more. **UK Steps Up Defense Spending ** In related news….. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to increase U.K. military funding by $6 billion over the next two years in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the challenge posed by China. The increase is part of a major update to U.K. foreign and defense policy, but is less than military officials wanted. The extra money will be used, in part, to replenish Britain’s ammunition stocks, depleted (消耗, 減少) from supplying Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Some will also go toward a U.K.-U.S.-Australia deal to build nuclear-powered submarines. Sunak met U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego on Monday to confirm next steps for the military 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 down 12-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,514 on turnover of 2.6-billion N-T. The market fell sharply on Friday as investors turned cautious ahead of the release of U-S February jobs data, which is seen as one of the most important factors expected to influence the Federal Reserve's ongoing rate hike cycle. The local bellwether electronics sector came under heavy pressure, led by large-cap semiconductor stocks, while a sell-offs were also seen in the old economy and financial sectors, adding more downward pressure on the local main board. **Premier Thanks US Congress for Taiwan Lend-Lease Bill ** Premier Chen Chien-jen is thanking members of the U-S Congress for re-introducing a bill aimed at authorizing Washington to lend or lease defense equipment to Taiwan to deter Chinese aggression. The "Taiwan Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2023," was put forth (提出) by Senator Marsha Blackburn late last week and co-sponsored by fellow Republicans Rick Scott and Marco Rubio. The content bill is the same as the one sponsored by Blackburn last year. That bill failed to make it through the Senate. **MOHW to Extend Coronavirus Herbal Drug EUA to June 2024 ** Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan says the emergency use authorization for a traditional herbal formula developed here in Taiwan to treat the coronavirus will be extended until June 2024. According to the health minister, the extension is aimed at buying more time for the availability of Ching-Guan Yi-Hau before it can obtain formal drug certification. Hsueh says an expert group will be formed in the near future to complete the drug certification process for the herbal formula before the E-U-A is terminated. The statement comes amid reports the Central Epidemic Command Center could be disbanded (解散) by the end in June. **SKorea US Begin Military Exercises ** The South Korean and U.S. militaries have begun their biggest joint military exercises in years. In apparent protest, North Korea said it conducted submarine-launched cruise missile tests. The launches on Sunday signal North Korea likely will conduct more weapons testing during the U.S.-South Korean drills that are to run for 11 days. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his troops to be ready to repel (擊退) its rivals’ “frantic war preparation moves.” The South Korean-U.S. drills include a computer simulation and several combined field training exercises. The allies had scaled back such drills in past years to make room for diplomacy and because of the pandemic. **Nicaragua Vatican Suspends Relations ** Nicaragua ’s government says it has proposed suspending relations with the Vatican days after Pope Francis compared President Daniel Ortega’s administration to a communist or Nazi dictatorship amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in the country. Relations between the church and the Nicaraguan government have been deteriorating (惡化) since 2018, when authorities violently repressed antigovernment protests. Some Catholic leaders gave protesters shelter in their churches and the church later tried to act as a mediator between the regime and the opposition. Pope Francis had remained largely silent on the issue, but in a March 10th interview, he called Ortega’s government a “rude dictatorship” led by an “unbalanced” president. Nicaragua’s foreign ministry released a statement Sunday saying: “a suspension of relations between the Republic of Nicaragua and the Vatican State has been proposed.” Ortega branded Catholic figures he saw as sympathetic to the opposition as “terrorists” who had backed efforts to overthrow him. 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

Duck Egg Prices Climb Amid Chicken Egg Shortage Roger Ng sentenced to 10 years for 1MDB scandal Germany's shooting incident Tensions escalating in Korean Pennisula US actor Robert Blake acquitted -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 9-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,827 on turnover of 1.8-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Wednesday despite recouping most of its early losses sparked by remarks from U-S Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell - who warned that America's central bank could continue its current rate hike cycle. Foreign institutional investors turned cautious about further rate hikes by the U-S Fed, but local investors remained willing to pick up bargains on the local main board during the day's trading session to lend some support to the broader market. **Kevin McCarthy Confirms Tsai Meeting ** U-S House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has confirmed that he will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen in the United States early next month. However, McCarthy says that meeting does not preclude (排除) a possible trip to Taiwan at a later date. The U-S House speaker is also dismissing reports that the meeting in California is being held to avoid possible confrontation with China and that both sides were uneasy that a visit would severely increase cross-strait tensions if he were to visit Taiwan According to McCarthy, Beijing can't tell him where or when to go and the Taiwan president just happens to be in America. U-S State Department spokesman Ned Price is describing Tsai's travel as "transit" rather than a "visit" to the United States. **More Newborns Eligible for NT$6,000 Cash Handouts ** The Ministry of Finance has announced that babies born to Taiwanese citizens before the end of this year will be eligible (有資格的) to receive one-off cash payments of 6,000 N-T drawn from the government's 2022 tax surplus. The ministry had previously said that only children born within six months following the starting of disbursement of the tax rebates would be included in the groups eligible for the payments. However, the eligibility criteria has now been expanded to cover newborns born by December 31, 2023. Reports say the expansion of the cash handout program will require around 200-million N-T in additional funding. **Malaysia Summons Former PM for Abuse Allegations ** Malaysia's anti-graft agency has summoned former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin following allegations of abuse in stimulus programmes launched under his leadership of the country. He's denied the accusations and described them as a political vendetta (仇殺、仇殺). Patrick Fok reports. **UN Criticizes Taliban Repression of Women and Girls ** The United Nations says that since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the country has become the most repressive (嚴厲的, 強硬的) in the world for women and girls. The U.N. mission to Kabul said in a statement released Wednesday that Afghanistan’s new rulers have shown an almost singular ( 特別的，奇特的) focus on imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes. The special representative of the U.N. secretary-general and head of the mission to Afghanistan, says it's ""been distressing to witness their methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere.” 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 38-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,819 on turnover of 2.7-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Tuesday on the back of rotational buying, as investors opted to ignore lackluster (無生氣的) showings on Wall Street ahead of an appearance before Congress by U-S Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. Investors remained bullish on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, but chose to pick-up stocks in electric machinery suppliers, due to optimism over higher demand for energy storage equipment within the global electric vehicle market. **Defense Minister Affirms Military Would Fire at Chinese Forces Within Territorial Space ** Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng is stressing that comments he made earlier this week concerning the military's opening fire on Chinese forces if they enter Taiwan's territorial waters or airspace was "not meant as a provocation (挑釁) to Beijing." The minister says the comments were "simply a reaffirmation of the military's job to protect the island's sovereignty." Chiu also says that it's Taiwan's "armed forces' duty to mount an appropriate response to such aggression." The statements come after the defense minister earlier this week told lawmakers that the military will fire at China's forces, including drones and aircraft, if they enter Taiwan's 12-nautical-mile line. **Taiwan Farm Produce on Display at Foodex Japan ** The External Trade Development Council says the Taiwan pavilion at Foodex Japan is showcasing a wide range of special agriculture and aquaculture (水產養殖) products. According to the council, Taiwan's pavilion at the international food and beverage exhibition features 136 exhibitors are operating 132 booths and it is second largest national pavilion at the expo. Nine county and city heads from Taiwan attended the opening of the food show to promote farm produce. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai is heading a delegation of 13 agriculture and aquaculture businesses from the city to the fair. While Pingtung Magistrate Zhou Chun-mi is leading a delegation of 10 companies from the county to participate in the expo this week. **France Protests Against Retirement Age Hik ** More than a million demonstrators have marched in cities and towns across France in a new round of protests and strikes against the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 64. Unions called for more protests on Saturday while warning that the situation could become “explosive.” The government “must withdraw its project now,” unions demanded after an evening meeting Tuesday to decide their course of action. Garbage collectors, utility workers, train drivers and others walked off the job across the country to show anger at the reform (改革). Unions asked for an urgent meeting with authorities, saying government silence is growing dangerous. **US Women Sue Texas for Abortion Ban ** Five women have sued the state of Texas over its near total ban on abortion - the first such lawsuit since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade last year. The women say they, and countless other pregnant people, have been denied necessary and potentially (可能地) life-saving care because doctors in Texas are afraid of running afoul of the state's abortion laws. Toni Waterman has more. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,763 on turnover of 2.4-billion N-T. The market rose on Monday as buying was sparked by the gains on Wall Street at the end of last week on the back of reduced concerns over rate hikes by the U-S Federal Reserve. The bellwether electronics sector led the broader market higher, while semiconductor stocks also rose as they enjoyed the upturn seen by U-S tech firms last Friday. **Defense Minister Warns China Could Enter 24-Nautical-Mile Limit ** Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng is warning that China could seek to use visit to Taiwan by high level foriegn officials as a pretext (藉口) to enter Taiwan's maritime baseline of 24-nautical miles. Speaking at a legislative hearing, Chiu said Beijing is actively looking for excuses to further encroach (侵犯) on Taiwan's territorial waters and airspace, and such visits could see China intensifying it's the military threat towards to the island. Chiu says along with entering Taiwan's maritime baseline, China could also seek to approach the island's territorial space of 12-nautical miles. The defense minister says that island's military is prepared for any possible military response from China and the armed forces will "restrain itself" from launching the first strike to avoid giving China an excuse to attack Taiwan. **Premier Attends Opening of Kaohsiung's New Cruise Terminal ** And, Premier Chen Chien-jen has attended (出席) the opening of Kaohsiung's new cruise liner terminal. The Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal is shaped like a whale and was built at a cost of 5-billion N-T. It took 10-years to complete and on Monday welcomed its first two cruise ships. The new cruise terminal will allow up 3,500 people to enter Taiwan every hour. It has automated voice-to-text translation kiosks in four languages and has 26 gates for customs inspection, up from 12 in the old terminal. **Iran Supreme Leader on Suspected Poisonings ** Iran’s supreme leader says that if a series of suspected poisonings at girls’ schools is proven to be deliberate, the culprits (罪魁禍首) should be sentenced to death for committing an “unforgivable crime.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all matters of state, and Monday was the first time he spoke publicly about the suspected poisonings. The incidents began late last year and have reportedly sickened hundreds of children. Iranian officials only acknowledged them in recent weeks and have provided no details on who may be behind the attacks or what chemicals — if any — have been used. Unlike neighboring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women’s education. **US FBI Offers Reward for Kidnapped Citizens in Mexico ** The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward to help find four US citizens who were kidnapped in a Mexican border city. The Mexican president says they crossed over from the US to buy medication (藥物) when they were attacked by gunmen on Friday. US correspondent Nick Harper reports. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 66-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,675 on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Friday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing gave up early gains amid lingering concerns over rising interest rates. Although semiconductor stocks lost momentum, buying rotated to select old economy stocks with transportation in focus, lending some support to the local main board, as it breached (沖破) the 15,700-point mark by the end of the trading day. **On-Campus Face Mask Mandate to be Relaxed Today ** The face mask mandate on campuses and at educational institutions has been relaxed from today. It means students are attending classes indoors without face masks for the first time in over 800 days. The mandatory face mask rules are being eased in schools at all levels, kindergartens, preschools, afterschool institutions and cram schools. According to Central Epidemic Command Center spokesperson Philip Luo, the move comes after a continuing decline in the daily number of domestic coronavirus cases. Luo says if the relaxation of face mask mandates in schools works, it will likely mean the current (現行的) five-day home isolation for individuals who have mild infections could be lifted by the end of this month at the earliest. **Malaysian-Chinese Writer Wins Newman Prize ** And, Malaysian-Chinese Taiwan-based writer Chang Gui-xing has been awarded the eighth Newman Prize for Chinese Literature at the University of Oklahoma. Chang migrated to Taiwan in 1976 and got his Taiwanese citizenship in 1982. He's the third Taiwanese author to win the biennial honor that recognizes "outstanding achievement in prose (散文) or poetry that best captures the human condition." According to Chang, despite having won many literary awards in Taiwan and overseas, the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature still means a lot to him "because of this word 'Chinese.'" **Greece Stationmaster Charged for Train Collision ** A stationmaster accused of causing Greece’s deadliest train disaster has been charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial. An examining magistrate and a prosecutor agreed Sunday that multiple counts of homicide as well as charges of causing bodily harm and endangering transportation safety should be brought against the railway employee. At least 57 people were killed when a northbound passenger train and a southbound freight train collided late Tuesday in central Greece. The 59-year-old stationmaster allegedly (涉嫌地、據稱) directed the two trains traveling in opposite directions onto the same track. Also Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized for any responsibility Greece’s government may bear for the tragedy. **Russian Forces Target Bakhmut ** Russian forces are continuing their push for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a prime target (主要目標) for Moscow in eastern Ukraine. AP correspondent Sarah Naffa reports. **UK King Office in Touch with Harry About Coronation ** King Charles III’s office has been in touch with Prince Harry about the new monarch’s coronation. The move raises the possibility of the king's younger son attending the ceremony despite tensions within the royal family. A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan confirmed Sunday that Harry had received “email correspondence (通信聯繫)’’ from the king’s office about the coronation. Buckingham Palace didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 23-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,621 on turnover of $2.1-billion N-T. The market closed little changed on Thursday, as investors reacted to signs that lingering upward pressure on American consumer prices are adding to expectations the Fed could stick with higher interest rates for longer than expected. **CECC Could Downgrading Coronavirus Classification by May ** Central Epidemic Command Center head Victor Wang has announced plans to potentially downgrade (降級) the coronavirus alert level and officially disband the center in May. The coronavirus is currently listed as a category 5 communicable disease under the Communicable Disease Control Act. A category 5 virus calls for the "formulation of preventive and control measures or preparedness plans," including the establishment of the epidemic command center. According to Wang, the government may takes steps to ease epidemic protocols after observing a steady decline in the number of domestic cases since the 228 long weekend holiday. **Drought Operations Center Opens in Tainan ** The Tainan City Government has established a Drought Operations Center in response to the lack of rainfall since last year, which has forced it to lower water pressure. According to Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, the south is experiencing its lowest annual precipitation for 30 years and as a result of that, the city government has been forced to raise its water alert level from "yellow" to the more severe "orange alert." The move means that supplies of water for commercial (商業的) use will be limited. According to the Water Resources Agency, levels at reservoirs that serve the Tainan are all below 50-percent of capacity. **Italy Pushes India on Russian War in Ukraine ** Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is urging India to play a central role in facilitating (促成) negotiations to end the Russian war against Ukraine. India, with the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 industrialized and developing countries, could represent the needs of less-developed nations, Meloni said following talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi reiterated his cautious stand by reaffirming that peace can be achieved only through diplomacy and dialogue. He said India is ready to support a peace initiative in that direction. Both sides called for expanding cooperation in defense, green energy, digital transition, cybersecurity and space. **US House Ethics Panel Investigating NY Representative ** From the US….. New York Representative George Santos is now under investigation by a House ethics panel. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports. **UN Names New World Food Program Head ** U.S. Ambassador Cindy McCain has been appointed the next head of the U.N. World Food Program, the world’s largest humanitarian organization which aims to help nearly 150 million people confronting (面對) conflicts, disasters and climate change impacts this year. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu on Thursday jointly announced the appointment of McCain. She has been the U.S. envoy to the Rome-based WFP and FAO since November 2021, and the U.N. and FAO chiefs called her “a champion for human rights. McCain will succeed David Beasley, who has led WFP over the last six years including through the COVID-19 pandemic and the global food crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 18-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,580 on turnover of 2.7-billion N-T. The market recouped its early losses on Wednesday to close higher, as investors were encouraged by news that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will not be cutting its first-quarterly sales forecast. T-S-M-C saw its share price rise by 2.15-per cent to close at the day's high of 522 N-T. And that gain pushed up the electronics sector by 1.55-per cent, boosted the semiconductor sub-index by 2.38-per cent and contributed more than 90-points to the main board's overall rise for the trading day. **Agriculture Minister Sees End to Egg shortage by late March ** Agriculture Minister Chen Ji-chung says he's anticipating that the current national egg shortage could be over by the end of this month, as the government is introducing short and long-term measures to address the problem. According to Chen, up to 5-million eggs will be imported from Australia by the end of March to fill the current daily deficit of between 500,000 and 800,000 eggs Those eggs will be first allocated to food processors so they can release their stocks of locally grown eggs to meet domestic consumption. The Council of Agriculture has also earmarked 1.8-billion N-T this year to help local poultry farms renovate and modernize their operations -- which are seen as a key measure to achieve full self-sufficiency. The agriculture minister says more details of those plans will be published tomorrow. **Water Restrictions in Kaohsiung to Begin Next Week ** The central government announced that it will enforce water restrictions in Kaohsiung beginning next week due to a lack of rainfall. According to the Central Emergency Operation Center, the water alert level for Kaohsiung will be raised from green to yellow from March 8, meaning that water pressure will be reduced from between 10PM and 6AM. Kaohsiung has been placed on green alert level, indicating that water-storage levels are below normal. The ministry says it is coordinating with the Water Resources Agency, the Water Corporation and the local government to take water shortage alleviation measures. **Greece Search for Train Crash Survivors Continue ** Emergency workers are searching late into the night for survivors and bodies after a passenger train and a freight train crashed head-on in central Greece. The collision just before midnight Tuesday killed at least 43 people and injured scores. It was the country's deadliest rail crash on record. Greece's transport minister resigned Wednesday, saying he felt it was his duty (責任) to step down. The cause of the crash near the Vale of Tempe was not immediately clear, but the stationmaster at the train's last stop was arrested. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged a full, independent investigation. **Japan Vows to Pursue Return of NKorean Abductees ** Japan’s Prime Minister is vowing to pursue (追究, 追求) all measure possible to resolve historical abductions (綁架) of Japanese citizens by North Korea. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 68-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,435 on turnover of 7.6-billion N-T. The market lost ground last Friday despite Wall Street breaking its longest losing streak since December with a modest rally led by tech stocks. **Tsai Touts Need for Gov't 'Not to Make Same Mistakes' at 228 Memorial ** President Tsai Ing-wen has attended an event commemorating the 76th anniversary of the 228 Incident in Tainan. She was accompanied by government officials including Premier Chen Chien-jen and Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che. Speaking at the ceremony, Tsai said the government "must not make the same mistakes again" and she is determined to lead a free and democratic society so that Taiwanese people could live with dignity (尊嚴). Tsai praised the Taiwanese people for their courage, citing life stories displayed in the Tainan 228 Memorial Hall and said her administration has worked to promote transitional justice since she took office in 2016. Tsai went on to say that government has also identified 42 "historic sites of injustice" and that it's her goal to unveil history to foster more unity. **MOFA Seeking Assistance in Search for Missing Fishing Trawler ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says its requested assistance from authorities in the U-S, Palau, the Philippines, and Indonesia in the search of a missing fishing trawler (拖網漁船). The "Sheng Feng 128" lost contact while operating in waters some 414 nautical miles northwest of the port of Malakal in Palau. Palau's Coast Guard has been assisting in the search and Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency has also joined the search, While the foreign ministry says a Philippine fixed-wing aircraft has carried out searches of the areas where the "Sheng Feng 128" was last reported. **IAEA: Iran Enriched Uranium Particles Found ** Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog have found uranium particles enriched up to 83.7% in Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site. That's according to a report seen Tuesday by The Associated Press. The confidential quarterly report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency distributed to member states likely will renew tensions between Iran and the West over its nuclear program. The IAEA report only speaks about “particles" and suggests that Iran isn’t building a stockpile (儲備物、囤積物 ) of uranium enriched above 60% — the level it has been enriching at from some time. **US Supreme Court Debates Student Debt Relief ** The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether to keep or get rid of President Joe Biden's plan on reducing student loan debt (學生貸款). The decision affects millions of people in the U.S. who have student debt, particularly those with the greatest financial need who could get relief of up to 20,000 dollars each. Caroline Malone reports from Washington. **Dan David Prize Winners Announced ** Nine emerging scholars of history from around the world have been announced as winners of the prestigious Dan David Prize, with each awardee receiving $300,000 to help further their work. The Dan David Prize board said Tuesday it is recognizing the historians for “changing our understanding of the past” by delving into under-researched topics. The winning research topics include dust in ancient dental plaque (牙垢、牙菌斑) to illicit sexuality in colonial Nigeria. The award is administered by Tel Aviv University. 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 54-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,670 on turnover of $3.5-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Thursday, despite Wall Street seeing its biggest one-day decline in two months overnight, after notes from a recent U-S Federal Reserve meeting showed officials expect to keep interest rates high to fight stubborn (固執的) inflation. **MOTC Planning Public Transport Pass ** The government says it plans to introduce a 1,200 N-T monthly public transport pass serving Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Keelung. The pass that is likely to be launched in July and is aimed at encouraging the use of public transport, which the government says was negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic due to a decline in passenger volume. According to acting Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng, families in Taiwan spend about 12-per cent of their household income on public commutes, so the monthly pass will help alleviate some of that burden (負擔). The monthly pass will allow unlimited travel on public transport, including local city/intercity buses, M-R-T lines, Taiwan Railways Administration trains and bicycle-sharing services, in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Keelung. **FDA Plans to Make Trans-Resveratrol a Legal Dietary Supplement ** The Food and Drug Administration has unveiled a draft regulation on the use and labeling of a certain type of trans-resveratrol. The draft states that the substance shall be considered a dietary supplement (營養補充品) so long as the daily adults dose does not exceed 150-micrograms. The regulation covers the use and labeling of trans-resveratrol derived from the fermentation (發酵) of a genetically modified brewers' yeast, and states that the end product must go through a purification process to rid it of genetically modified organisms, or gene segments. Suppliers and vendors found to have used noncompliant trans-resveratrol as an ingredient will face a fine of up to 3-million N-T. **NKorea Claims Missile Test ** North Korea says it test-fired long-range cruise missiles in waters off its eastern coast a day earlier. The U.S. and South Korean militaries didn’t immediately confirm the exercise, which North Korea’s state media said were intended to verify the reliability of the missiles and the rapid-response capabilities of the unit that operates those weapons. The launches would have taken place as the United States and South Korea held a simulated military exercise in Washington aimed at sharpening their response to North Korean nuclear threats. KCNA said the exercise involved four missiles, which flew for nearly three hours, drawing oval (橢圓形) and figure-eight patterns above the sea, and showed that they can hit targets 2,000 kilometers away. The U.S. and South Korean militaries have another joint computer-simulated exercise and field training scheduled in March, which South Korean officials say would involve the allies’ biggest live-fire training in years. **China Carries Out Mine Safety Checks ** Chinese regulators are carrying out widespread safety inspections of coal mining operations, as rescue efforts continue to find survivors from a collapsed mine in Inner Mongolia. Six people are known to have died, and 47 are still missing. Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong. 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 up 45-points US Federal Reserve in favor of slower rate hikes Ukraine Foreign Minister tells U.N General Assembly they will continue to fight Philippines Plane Crash Victims Found on Volcano -- 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 15,541 on turnover of $2-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed slightly higher Tuesday after moving in a narrow range throughout the session, after a lack of leads from overseas with U.S. markets closed on Monday for the President's Day holiday. The bellwether electronics sector remained weak on selling from foreign institutional investors, and the financial sector suffered sell-offs amid investors' unhappiness with E. Sun Financial Holding Co.'s dividend policy. In addition, buying rotated to select old economy stocks, in particular in the shipping industry, lending support to the broader market. Poll:Public increasingly optimistic about U.S. troops coming to Taiwan's aid A new opinion poll in Taiwan shows that the percentage of people who believe the U.S. will send troops to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion is increasing. According to the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation, 42.8 percent of those surveyed in February this year said that they believed Washington would intervene (介入) militarily if Beijing attacked Taiwan, a rise of more than 8% compared with the same poll in 2022. Despite the rise, 46.5% said that they did not believe the United States will send troops to defend Taiwan, a year-over-year drop of 9%, while 5% percent said they were uncertain. The TPOF released the poll ahead of the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine on Feb. 24 to gauge whether public opinion in Taiwan has changed due to the conflict. **US Trump Election Probe Recommends Perjury Charges ** A spokesperson for a Georgia jury investigating former President Donald Trump and allies' election interference says they recommended indictments of multiple people on a range of charges. A report, partially (部分地) revealed last week, showed one or more witnesses lied under oath when they testified. Caroline Malone reports from Washington. **HK Revokes Chinese Scientist's Visa ** Hong Kong has revoked a visa it granted to a Chinese scientist who set off an ethical debate five years ago with claims that he made the world’s first genetically edited babies. The Hong Kong government revoked He Jiankui's visa hours after he announced his research plans in the financial hub. He shocked the world in 2018 when he announced he had altered the embryos (胚胎) of twin girls, with many in the scientific community criticizing his work as unethical. He was convicted by a mainland Chinese court of practicing medicine without a license. He announced in Beijing on Tuesday that Hong Kong had granted him a visa to explore opportunities. But the Hong Kong government revoked the visa hours later. 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 15,536 on turnover of $1.9-billion N-T. Most shares in Asia were subdued yesterday, as a holiday in the US led to a slow start for global stock markets. Investors were still awaiting minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting for a hint of what's to come for inflation and interest rates changes. **Rights groups urge government to ease migrant worker vacation rules ** Migrants rights groups rallied outside the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday, to demand the government overturn what they called discriminatory obstacles, faced by workers who vacation in their home countries. Dozens of migrant workers led by the Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan, and the Domestic Caretakers Union Taoyuan, held up banners and placards urging the government to abolish (廢除) complicated border regulations that they say target blue-collar migrant workers. The DCU secretary says that unlike foreign white-collar professionals and Taiwanese, blue-collar migrant workers have always needed to apply for a re-entry permit from the National Immigration Agency, to re-enter Taiwan and are required to enter Taiwan by the expiration date on the permit. In addition, when the worker arrives in Taiwan, they are not allowed to leave the airport on their own and must be signed for and collected by their employer or an individual assigned by the employer. **Turkey New Quake Leaves More Dead and Injured ** A new 6.4 magnitude earthquake has killed three people and injured more than 200 in parts of Turkey laid waste two weeks ago by a massive (巨大的) quake that killed tens of thousands. Officials said more buildings collapsed, trapping some people, while scores of injuries were recorded in neighboring Syria too. Monday’s earthquake was centered in the town of Defne, in Turkey’s Hatay province, one the worst-hit regions in the magnitude 7.8 quake that hit on Feb. 6-th. It was felt across the region and followed by a second, magnitude 5.8 temblor. Rescue efforts were underway in three collapsed buildings where six people were believed trapped. **US Supreme Court Mulls Tech Online Speech Law ** The US Supreme Court is set to hear a landmark case that could transform (改革) the Internet. Gonzalez versus Google is being brought by the family of a woman killed by an ISIS gunman in Paris in 2015. It will tackle whether tech companies should be liable for harmful content promoted by their algorithms. Kate Fisher reports from Washington **Egypt Unveils Newly Renovated Museum Wing ** Egypt’s ministry of tourism and antiquities has unveiled a newly renovated (重新裝修) wing of its oldest museum. The new wing is home to a 16-meter-long papyrus scroll unearthed last year. The refurbishment marks the first stage of broader renovations for the 120-year-old museum in downtown Cairo. The new papyrus contains around 113 spells from The Book of the Dead. The museum also has added modern glass protection and new interior lighting. 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 28-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,452 on turnover of $2.4-billion NT. The market remained under pressure today, after swinging between gains and losses over the past several trading days, following forecasts for weak Asian markets due to continuing concerns over continued aggressive action from the US Federal Reserve. **Man fined NT$17m in fraud case involving resale of 3,525 phones ** A customer of Chunghwa Telecom Co. has been ordered to pay the company $17 million NT in damages. The New Taipei District Court says he was sued for reselling 3,525 cellphones he had obtained under Chunghwa's preferential contracts. The man, surnamed Lin, began running the scam in 2016, after he set up a one-man company that purportedly was conducting research into the wireless charging of iPhones, according to a court ruling issued on Feb. 13-th. With the subscription contracts, Lin obtained (獲得) 3,525 cellphones, including iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models, which he paid little or nothing for. He then resold the mobile phones to vendors and wholesale businesses at low prices, according to the ruling. In the civil case, the court ordered Lin to pay damages of $17.64 million NT, which would accrue an annual interest rate of 5 percent if it is not paid in full. The case is subject to appeal. **Lantern Fest Sees Over a Million Visitors on Closing Day ** The Taiwan Lantern Festival saw over a million visitors on closing day yesterday. Taipei's Department of Information and Tourism says as of 10pm last night, the four main festival display areas and 12 districts in the city saw more than a million visitors. And officials say the five MRT stations near the festival grounds recorded 180-thousand riders yesterday. The department says the city government mobilized over 50-thousand workers over the 19-day-long festival, including over 20-thousand police officers, and over 1-thousand medical and fire emergency personnel. Officials say the festivities brought an increase in business of 10-to-30 percent for many of the districts involved. (NS) **NKorea Fires Missiles and Artillery ** North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles and artillery shells toward its eastern waters. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected (發現，察覺) the two missile launches from a western coastal town, just north of Pyongyang, this morning. It said South Korea has boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a readiness in close coordination with the United States. Japan's Defense Ministry said both missiles landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It said Japan condemned the launches as a threat to the peace and safety of Japan and the international society. Also this morning, North Korea's long-range artillery units on its western coast fired two rounds cross-country toward the eastern waters in response to what its state media called the U.S.-South Korean aerial drills on Sunday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. KCNA said the North Korean artillery rounds simulated strikes on targets up to 395 kilometers away. **Biden heads to Poland ** U-S President Joe Biden heads to Europe this week to mark a second year of war by denouncing (駁斥) Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He's also expected to publicly declare that the United States will support Kyiv until the final moments of the conflict. Shelly Adler 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 46.8-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,504 on turnover of $2.7-billion N-T. **4.6 Earthquake in Eastern Taiwan ** A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has shaken parts of eastern Taiwan. The Central Weather Bureau says the tremors struck at 9:22am, and was centered 15.2-kilometers west-southwest of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 18.7-kilometers. The quake was felt most strongly in Hualien City and County, measuring an intensity of 4 on the CWB's intensity scale. The tremors were an intensity of 3 in Nantou County, and 2 in Taichung City. (NS) **Navy launches third domestically made missile corvette ** Taiwan's Navy on Thursday held a launch ceremony in Yilan County for its third domestically (在國內) built Tuo Chiang-class corvette, naming it the "Hsu Chiang" after a river in Keelung. The Tuo Chiang-class corvette is a class of Taiwanese-designed fast and stealthy multi-purpose corvette, built by Lungteh Shipbuilding Co. for the Taiwanese Navy. The Navy is set to build a total of 11 Tuo Chiang-class corvettes by the end of 2026. Based on a recent Ministry of National Defense report presented to the Legislative Yuan, aside from the prototype, five of the Tuo Chiang-class corvettes will be fitted with eight subsonic missiles, and four supersonic missiles. **Keelung Water Suspension After Burst Pipe ** Parts of Keelung are seeing their water services suspended today. The Water Resources Agency says leaks were discovered earlier this morning, resulting form a damaged pipeline, and repairs (維修) are underway. But in the meantime, the WRA says water stoppages are in place for some residents in Keelung City's Ren-ai, Xin-yi, Zhong-zhen, Zhong-shan, and An-le Districts until around 11am today. Officials say around 20-thousand households will be directly affected. And another 40-thosuand will see their water pressure lowered. (NS) **Japan Moves Toward Shooting Down Aircraft ** Japan’s ruling coalition is agreeing to empower (授權) the defense force to shoot down flying objects in its airspace. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo **Canada to Send Navy Vessels to Haiti ** Canada says it will send navy vessels to Haiti for intelligence-gathering as part of efforts to quell (制止，平息) worsening gang violence in the Caribbean nation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement Thursday in the Bahamas at an annual meeting of Caribbean leaders. A key topic at the meeting has been Haiti’s surge in killings, rapes and kidnappings blamed on gangs emboldened since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Also at the meeting is Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry who has pleaded for a full-fledged international military intervention to stem the mayhem. Haiti requested help from the U.N. Security Council in October and has suggested the U.S. and Canada lead a force. No such intervention has come together. **Mexico Expedites Visa Application Process for Some Cubans ** Mexico has announced it will set up an expedited visa application process for Cubans who already have relatives in Mexico. The Foreign Relations Department said Wednesday the special visa appointments will be handled at the Mexican consulate in Havana. Economic and political problems in Cuba have caused an exodus from the island, and many Cubans cross into Mexico seeking to reach the U.S. border. Of the 40,000 Cubans who entered Mexico in 2020, 5,000 were returned to the island and 20,000 were given some form of residency or humanitarian visa in Mexico. It was not clear what happened to the remainder, though many enter the United States. 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. **Government Extends Import Duty Reduction on 75%-Alcohol Product Materials ** The Customs Administration says the reduced import duty on materials used to produce 75-per cent alcohol products used as sanitizers or disinfectants has been extended (延長) for another six months. The import duty was first cut from 20 to 10-per cent in February 2020 at the start of the the coronavirus pandemic and it has since been extended several times. According to Customs Administration, the decision to extend the reduction is aimed at ensuring sufficient supplies of sanitizers and disinfectants due to the on-going coronavirus situation here in Taiwan. The reduced import duty will remain in place until August 26. Figures show that as of January 31 of this year, 45.47-million liters of raw materials have been imported since the duty was first reduced, resulting in tax relief of 118-million N-T. **Average Hotel Room Rate Hit Record High in 2022 ** The Tourism Bureau says the average daily room rate at international hotels in Taiwan hit a record high last year, despite relatively low occupancy due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the bureau, data shows that the occupancy rate at international hotels averaged 48.06-per cent in 2022. That was the fourth-lowest in history. However, the average room rate increased for a third consecutive year to stand at a record setting 4,195 N-T. **EU Circulates Resolution on Russian Invasion of Ukraine ** The European Union is circulating the resolution to be voted on by the U.N. General Assembly on the eve of next week’s first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It calls for a cessation (停止) of hostilities and a peace that ensures Ukraine’s “sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.” There are no vetoes in the 193-member world body, so the resolution is certain to be adopted at the end of a high-level emergency special session of the assembly Feb. 23. The assembly has become the most important U.N. body dealing with Ukraine because the Security Council is paralyzed as a result of Russia’s veto power. While the assembly’s five previous resolutions on Ukraine are not legally binding — as council resolutions are — they are important as a reflection of world opinion. **Berlusconi Acquitted in 'Bunga-Bunga' Party Case ** Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been acquitted of bribing witnesses to lie about his notorious "bunga-bunga" parties. The 86-year old media tycoon had been accused of paying young showgirls and others to give false testimony about the allegedly raunchy (色情的) parties. The other 28 defendants have also been acquitted. Berlusconi has faced many court cases. However, he has denied any wrongdoing in all cases and accused prosecutors of pursuing a political vendetta against him. **Raquel Welch Dead at 82 ** And finally, Hollywood star Raquel Welch has died after a brief (短暫的) illness. She was 82. The A-P's Margie Szaroleta looks back at her career. < [CLIP] Slug: > 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 156-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,497 on turnover of 3.9-billion N-T. The market rebounded on Tuesday from the previous session on the back of a rally on Wall Street overnight. Investor interest in the bellwether electronics, financial and old economy sectors lent support to main board, and helped it clear technical resistance near the 15,600 point mark. However, turnover remained thin, as investors awaited the release of U-S inflation data for January. **President Tsai Ing-wen Reportedly Slated to Visit US ** Reports say President Tsai Ing-wen could travel to United States in May or June to give a speech at Cornell University. Tsai obtained a Master of Laws degree at Cornell in 1980. The Presidential Office has not confirmed that such trip is in the planning stage (規劃階段), but several D-P-P lawmakers have said it could take place in the first half of this year, prior to the run up to next year's presidential elections. Tsai last visited the U-S in January of 2017, when she transited there on the way to during a four country trip to Latin America. Reports are also saying Tsai could travel to Guatemala next month to co-host the event with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei. **Taiwan Search and Rescue Team in Turkey Finds Man 198 Hours After Earthquake ** Members of a Taiwan search and rescue team operating in Turkey's Adiyaman province have pulled an 18-year-old man out of the rubble and building, where he had been trapped for 198 hours following last week's earthquake. According to the information on the International Headquarters S.A.R's website, it took the team and local rescue workers, roughly four hours to pull the man from the rubble. Members of the two Taiwan search rescue teams sent to Turkey, along with their search and rescue dogs, are scheduled to arrive back in Taiwan this afternoon on a special EVA Airways charter flight. **Chinese Leader Expresses Support for Iran ** Chinese leader Xi Jinping has expressed support for Iran during a visit by its president as Tehran tries to expand relations with Beijing and Moscow to offset Western sanctions over its nuclear development. Xi expressed support for Raisi’s government, saying “China supports Iran in safeguarding national sovereignty” and “resisting unilateralism (單邊主義) and bullying” . Beijing says Xi and Raisi attended the signing of 20 cooperation agreements including trade and tourism. Those add to a 25-year strategy agreement signed in 2021 to cooperate in developing oil, industry and other fields. China is one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil and a source of investment. **NATO Continues Military Support for Ukraine ** NATO will continue to send military support to Ukraine as pressure from Russia continues to build. Alex Cadier reports from Brussels **NZ Preps for Final Rescues After Cyclone ** New Zealand authorities expect to make the final rescues soon after a cyclone brought extensive flooding and landslides that claimed at least two lives. Cyclone Gabrielle struck the country’s north Monday and has brought more destruction to the nation of 5 million than any weather event in years. Emergency officials say the body of a volunteer firefighter had been retrieved (尋回) from a landslide that destroyed a flooded house near Auckland on Hawke’s Bay. They say a woman has also been killed by a landslide in the Hawke’s Bay area. Helicopters will help make the final 25 rescues of individuals and family groups today 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 40-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,584 on turnover of 2.1-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday and followed most other regional indexes lower, as investors awaited a U-S inflation update that traders worry might lead to more interest rate hikes by America's central bank. **Hsiao Bi-khim Touts More US Congressional Taiwan Visits ** Taiwan's top envoy to the U-S says American congressional representatives remain highly interested in visiting Taiwan and such delegations will continue to visit Taiwan, regardless of (無論如何，不顧) threats from China. The statement comes amid reports that members of a U-S House of Representatives special committee on China are planning to visit Taiwan in the coming months. Speaking to reporters following a meeting with members of the Legislative Foreign and National Defense Committee, Hsiao didn't say whether it has been confirmed that members of the U-S special committee on China will be holding "a field hearing in Taiwan." According to Hsiao, no details concerning such a visit have been discussed, but her office would help make the arrangements if need be. () **KMT Vice Chairman Touts Aims of China Trip Met ** K-M-T Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia says his visit to China has achieved the three main goals of its trip and expects more such exchanges in the future. Hsia says the main purposes of the trip were to look after the needs of Taiwanese based in China, convey the problems regulations have caused small and medium-sized enterprises and to get to know the new Chinese officials in charge of Taiwan affairs. Hsia arrived in China last Wednesday, and since then he has held talks with officials including Sung Tao, the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office. And he says he will continue to meet with Taiwanese businessmen in other Chinese cities to learn of their difficulties (困難). **Syrian President Approves More Border Crossings for UN ** Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has approved the use of two additional border crossings to be used by the United Nations. The U.N met with al-Assad on Monday to urge (敦促) him to open the crossings as they needed to get more to rebel controlled north-west Syria. Jody Jacobs has more from the UN. **Pakistan to Impose New Taxes for Bailout ** Officials and analysts say cash-strapped Pakistan will impose billions in new taxes to help secure a massive bailout, but they warned the move could cause inflation to escalate. The grim outlook came as the impoverished nation prepares to impose taxes of 170 billion rupees in a bid to convince the International Monetary Fund to revive a $6 billion bailout. Last week, the IMF delayed the release of a crucial $1.1 billion portion (]部分) of the bailout that has been on hold since December over Pakistan's failure to meet the terms of a previous deal. The stalemate in talks was seen as a blow to the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is struggling to avoid a default. 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 21-points this morning from Friday's close, at 15,564 on turnover of 2.6-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Friday as investor sentiment turned cautious after Wall Street lost ground amid renewed concerns over an aggressive (積極的)Federal Reserve. Although stocks across the board remained largely weak, select large-cap tech and financial stocks appeared resilient, providing some support to the broader market to prevent further losses by the close of Friday's session. **Taiwan Search and Rescue Teams to Leave Turkey ** The National Fire Agency says Taiwan's search and rescue teams that have operating on southern Turkey since last week are scheduled to arrive back in Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon. According to the agency, all 130 personnel and five search and rescue dogs are now leaving the disaster zone ( 災區) and heading to Adiyaman Airport in batches. They will fly out of Istanbul Airport Tuesday evening on a special EVA Airways charter flight. Taiwan's search and rescue teams are known to have pulled three people from the rubble of collapsed buildings since they arrived in southern Turkey last week. **Over 1 Million Visit Taiwan Lantern Festival ** The Tourism Bureau says more than 1-million people visited the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei on Saturday. That's the highest single-day figure so far for this year's event. The bureau is attributing the mild and dry weather over the weekend for the huge turnout and the surge (急遽上升) in volume of traffic across Taipei's 12 districts, each of which hosts a lantern display. Figures show that number of passengers using the five M-R-T stations that are near the major displays was more than 300,000 on Saturday - and that's an increase of around 130,000 from last year's Taipei Lantern Festival. The 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival runs until February 19. **US Shoots Down Flying Object Near Great Lakes ** The United States military has brought down a fourth flying object over Lake Huron in Michigan near the US Canada border. The incident (事件) was confirmed by the state's governor who said she'd been in contact with the federal government. Our Washington correspondent Jagruti Dave has more. **Arab Islamic Leaders Condemn Israel Actions in West Bank ** Dozens of leaders and senior officials from Arab and Islamic countries have condemned recent Israeli measures in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, where violence has surged between Israel and the Palestinians. The meeting in Cairo on Sunday was hosted by the Arab League and attended by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Speakers at the meeting condemned (譴責) Israel’s “unilateral measures” in Jerusalem and the West Bank, including home demolitions and expanding settlements. They also condemned visits by Israeli officials to the city’s contested holy site, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims and has often been the epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian unrest. 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 29-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,627 on turnover of $3.5-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex lost ground on Thursday, as other regional markets ended the trading day mixed amid lingering investor uncertainty over interest rate hikes and inflation. **iRent Fined for Data Leak ** The Ministry of Transport and the Taipei City Government have both fined vehicle rental and sharing services platform iRent for it failure to properly protect is users data. According to the Directorate General of Highways, it opened an investigation in to the company on February 4 and that probe found iRent had violated (違反) of the Personal Data Protection Act as well as other regulations related personal information security. The bureau, which operated under the transport ministry says it has fined the company 200,000 N-T for those violations. Meanwhile, the Taipei City Government has fined the platform's is operator, Ho Ing Mobility Service, 90,000 N-T for violating a city autonomous ordinance that regulates vehicle sharing services. The Taipei Department of Transport says it could also file a civil case against the company either under the Damages and Class Action of the Personal Data Protection Act or the Consumer Protection Act. **Ukraine President To Address Russia at Olympics ** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to address a group of sports ministers meeting Friday to discuss Russian participation at next year’s Olympics. The International Olympic Committee is working on a plan to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who have not actively supported the war to enter qualifying events (排位賽) for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. As Ukraine pushes for Russian athletes to be barred and threats of a boycott mount, officials from 30 countries planned the summit to discuss how to respond. Zelenskyy has previously said any neutral flag for Russia would be “stained with blood.” He is due to address the online summit by video link. **US Biden Rally in Florida ** The US president holds a rally in Florida. AP correspondent Shelley Adler reports. **Twitter Fails to Provide EU Report on Combating Misinformation ** Twitter has failed to provide a full report to the European Union on its efforts to combat online disinformation, drawing a rebuke from top officials of the 27-nation bloc. The company signed up to the EU’s voluntary 2022 Code of Practice on Disinformation last year — before billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought the social media platform. Under the code, online platforms including Google, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta agreed to commit to measures (措施) aimed at reducing disinformation. They filed their first “baseline” reports last month showing how they’re living up to their promises. All who signed up to the code submitted complete reports except Twitter. Twitter didn't respond immediately to a request for comment Thursday. 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 28-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,590 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Wednesday to close more than 1.4 percent higher, as investors were buoyed (受鼓舞) by a rally on Wall Street overnight on the back of further signals that the U-S Federal Reserve may ease off on its interest rate hikes. The bellwether electronics sector attracted a majority of investor attention to drive the gains throughout the session, while old economy and financial stocks closed the trading day day mixed. **KMT Vice Chairman Arrives in China ** K-M-T Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia has arrived in China for a multi-city 10-day visit. Hsia is being accompanied by K-M-T Mainland Affairs Department head Lin Zu-jia and National Policy Foundation members Gao Si-bo and Zhao Chun-shan. Speaking to reporters at Taoyuan International Airport prior to boarding a flight to Beijing, Hsia described the trip as being "apolitical" (非政治的) in nature and said it's aimed at looking after the welfare of Taiwanese living and working in China. According to Hsia, although he's not authorized to engage in any form of political negotiations or consultations in China, he still believes that trip will help improve understanding and dialogue across the strait. **Jeremy Lin Introduced as Member of Plus League Kaohsiung 17 Live Steelers ** Jeremy Lin has made his first public appearance since arriving here to play for the Plus League Kaohsiung 17 Live Steelers. Speaking at a press conference at which he was introduced as the latest member of the Steelers team, Lin said coming to Taiwan will give him a chance to rediscover "(重新發現) his passion for the game." According to Lin, he hasn't felt the passion for basketball for a long time - so he decided to join the Steelers, and he's really looking forward to the first game to "return to an environment with fans." Lin is expected to make his Steelers' debut on February 12, when the team plays the Formosa Taishin Dreamers. **US Walmart Shooter Pleads Guilty ** The man accused of killing 23 people at a Texas Walmart has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearm charges. Toni Waterman has more from Texas. **SKorea Minister Impeached for Itaewon Crush ** South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament has impeached Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, holding him responsible for government failures in disaster planning and the response that likely worsened (使惡化) a crowd crush that killed nearly 160 people in October. The impeachment Wednesday suspends Lee from his duties and the Constitutional Court has 180 days to rule on whether to formally unseat him or reinstate him to his job. He's a key ally of the president, whose office accused opposition lawmakers of abandoning legislative principles and creating “shameful history.” An investigation found police and public officials failed to use meaningful crowd control measures and ignored calls about the huge crowds in the Itaewon nightlife district hours before the deadly crush. 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 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