EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 77-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,447 on turnover of 9-billion N-T. The market closed marginally lower on Wednesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its early gains eroded due to futures-led selling on the settlement day for December futures contracts. US official says Taiwan made 'essential contributions' at Pax Silica summit The U-S Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment says Taiwan made essential contributions after being invited to participate in the first summit of the US-led AI supply chain strategy initiative. The inaugural Pax Silica summit took place in Washington D.C. last Friday. According to Jacob Helberg, Taiwan was at the table and was absolutely present in all of the sessions in which one would expect Taiwan to play an important role, and Taiwan participated in discussions on manufacturing and semiconductors. The statement comes after the U-S State Department didn't list Taiwan as being includes on a list of participants and guest contributors (貢獻者) slated to meet for the summit. Taipei City Government hoping to sign Nvidia land deal before LNY Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government is hoping to sign a land rights agreement with Nvidia before the Lunar New Year holiday. According to Chiang, his administration initiated (發起) the urban planning change process last week and a public exhibition period is set to end within one month. Chiang made the statements while inspecting the T-17 and T-18 sites at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, where the Nvidia headquarters will be built. Chiang also said he believes Nvidia's headquarters at the technology park will prove to be transformative development that will establish Taipei as a major artificial intelligence hub. Israel Fires Mortar into Palestinian Residential Area in Gaza Strip Israel’s military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous (脆弱的) ceasefire with Hamas. Health officials on Wednesday said at least 10 people, were wounded, and the army said it was investigating. The military said the mortar was fired during an operation in the area of the “Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement that divides the Israeli-held majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory. The military said the mortar had veered from its intended target, which it did not specify. UK TO Rejoin EU's Erasmus Program in 2027 UK students will once again have access to the European Union's "Erasmus" programme, which allows students to study at a university in a different country for part of their degree. London has paid around $760 million dollars to join the scheme (方案) for the 2027-2028 academic year at a 30% discount. But future participation will depend on further negotiations. Stuart Smith has more from London. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 59-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,596 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market tumbled once again on Tuesday, ahead of the release of U-S employment and inflation reports that could drive the direction of interest rates. While mixed performances for artificial intelligence-related stocks on Wall Street overnight also did nothing to lift investor concerns about an A-I bubble. Lawmakers pass amendments strengthening undersea cable protections Lawmakers have passed amendments to four separate acts governing ships, ports, meteorological facilities and telecommunications (電信). Passage of the amendments is part of the Cabinet's moves to update Taiwan's so-called "seven undersea-cable laws." The changes to the Law of Ships, Meteorological Act, Telecommunications Management Act and Commercial Port Law are aimed at strengthening protections for submarine cables … …. which the government has said could pose a threat to national security if cut or otherwise damaged. MOTC's new vehicle window tinting rules to take effect next year The Ministry of Transport has announced that new regulations governing tinted vehicle windows will be taking effect in the first quarter of next year. According to the ministry, owners of new vehicles must ensure that the tint on the front windshield has visible light transmission (透射) of no less than 70-per cent, while front, side windows must allow at least 40-per cent light transmission. The new regulations are being introduced as part of proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Safety Rules to address concerns over safety risks posed by tinted windows. The proposed amendments will apply to all newly registered and licensed vehicles. US military blows up 3 more alleged drug boats as Trump weaponizes fentanyl The US military says it has blown up three more alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific - killing eight people. The total death toll in the Trump Administration's revamped war on drugs is now closing in on 100. The latest strikes come as the Trump Administration ramps up its war on drugs, designating illicit (非法的) fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. Toni Waterman Private Canada Delegation Barred from West Bank Israel has barred a private Canadian delegation that included six members of Parliament from entering the occupied West Bank. The Israeli Embassy in Canada said the group was denied entry on Tuesday because of its links to Islamic Relief Worldwide, a nongovernmental organization that Israel lists as a terror group. Ontario Member of Parliament, who was part of the delegation, said she was shoved several times by Israeli border officials at the Allenby crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said in a post on social media that Canada has expressed its objections (反對) over the barring. Jane Austen 250th Bday Celebration Fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the author's 250th birthday with events in Britain and beyond. Austen enthusiasts gathered Tuesday for a church service in her home village and festive visits to her house. A virtual birthday party allowed fans worldwide to join in. Thousands have participated in a yearlong celebration of the author, known for "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility." Jane Austen’s House in the southern English village of Chawton hosted talks, tours, and performances. Fans have marked the occasion (慶祝/紀念這個時刻) with Regency balls and festivals in the U.K., U.S., and elsewhere around the world. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 145-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,721 on turnover of 7.5-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Monday, on the back of a decline in investor interest in artificial intelligence-related stocks, as selling followed heavy losses on Wall Street last Friday amid lingering concerns of an A-I bubble. MAC voices regret over Jimmy Lai conviction in Hong Kong The Mainland Affairs Council is expressing his "deep regret" over the conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under the territory's national security law. The council says it "strongly condemns the Hong Kong government for using the malicious (惡意的) national security law to curb freedom of speech and press freedom, and to politically persecute pro-democracy figures." The statement issued by the council also says the ruling was "tantamount to declaring to the world" that Hong Kong's freedom, democracy, and judicial independence have been "gradually eroded." MOEA to invest NT$2.5 billion to boost adoption of artificial intelligence The Administration of Commerce has announced plans to invest at 2.5-billion N-T over the next two years to expand support for the adoption of artificial intelligence within the island's commercial service sector. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the program will targets businesses in wholesale, retail, food and beverage, and logistics as more companies in those fields are seeking to adopt A-I tools. The ministry says it expects to help over 30,000 businesses adopt A-I through the funding program. The Department of Commerce says the service will help businesses evaluate A-I adoption conditions and provide guidance (指導) based on scale and digital capability. US foils New Year Eve's terror bomb plot US authorities have arrested four people who were allegedly planning a New Year's Eve terror plot (陰謀) in southern California. Nick Harper reports. Mexico Plane Crash Kills Seven A small plane has crashed in central Mexico while attempting an emergency landing, killing at least seven people. Mexican officials say the accident happened Monday in an industrial area near Toluca airport. The plane had taken off (起飛) from Acapulco. Authorities say the private jet had eight passengers and two crew members, but only seven bodies have been recovered. The plane apparently tried to land on a soccer field but hit a nearby business, causing a large fire. The crash is under investigation, and the fire forced the evacuation of about 130 people. SSudan Grounds UN Aircraft South Sudan’s government has grounded four aircraft registered under the United Nations mission there, alleging that they were used for illegal surveillance and smuggling. The U.N. denied it. South Sudan’s foreign minister said a government committee was examining the aircraft after intelligence reports raised security concerns, and two were found with advanced (先進的) surveillance and intelligence recording systems. A U.N. mission spokesperson said the mission has been talking with South Sudan’s government “for a while now to resolve this issue” and said the mission works transparently (透明地) with it on U.N. operations. South Sudan's government in 2017 grounded U.N. aircraft after peacekeepers were deployed to guard the country's main airport. The government said that was not part of their mandate. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 78-points this morning from Friday's close, at 28,119 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Friday, after Wall Street's rose to more record highs overnight, despite a sell-off for Oracle as investors worries persist about a potential bubble in artificial-intelligence technology. Newly delivered M1A2T tanks to undergo month-long tests A batch of 42 M-1-A-2-T Abrams main battle tanks delivered by the United States in July will begin a month-long testing program today. According to reports, the testing will be taking place at an Army base in northern Taiwan and include multiple live-fire drills using the tanks' 120-millimeter main guns. The tanks were recently deployed to an Army training ground in Hsinchu County for training sessions ahead of the testing phase. The testing program is set to focus on evaluating the tanks' observation and targeting (靶向) systems, as well as their integration with the ammunition system. Reports say the month-long tests are expected to conclude by the end of January, after which the tanks will enter active service with the Army. Police seize NT$100 million worth of mephedrone in Kaohsiung Law enforcement agencies in Kaohsiung have raided (突襲、掃蕩) a mephedrone manufacturing site - arresting three suspects and seizing drugs with an estimated market value of 100-million N-T. According to Kaohsiung City Police Department's Renwu Precinct, the site was located in the city's Dashu District and was being used to produce "meow meow." The raid was led by the Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office. Police say they seized drug manufacturing equipment, more than 47-kilograms of finished mephedrone, and about 300-kilograms of unfinished product during the raid. The case has been transferred to prosecutors for potential indictments under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. Ukraine President Offers to Drop NATO Bid but Rejects Ceding Territory Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is offering to drop Ukraine’s NATO bid in exchange for security guarantees. AP correspondent Rica Ann Garcia reports Australia Bondi Beach Shooting Leaves Over a Dozen Dead Two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi beach, killing 15 people, including a child. Officials say one gunman, a 50-year-old man, was fatally shot by police. The other shooter, his 24-year-old son, was wounded and was being treated at a hospital. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation. Those killed were aged between 10- and 87-years-old. At least 42 others were being treated at hospitals as of this morning, several of them in a critical condition (命危). Police said one gunman was known to security services, but authorities had no indication of a planned attack. It was the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws. Chile Conservative Opposition Wins Presidential Runoff Chile’s ultra-conservative opposition candidate, Jose Antonio Kast, has secured a victory in the presidential runoff election. He defeated the candidate of the left-wing governing coalition by over 15 percentage points on Sunday, setting the stage for the country’s most right-wing government in 35 years of democracy. According to electoral results with over 95% of the vote counted, Kast won more than 58% of the vote. Chilean voters embraced his pledge to crack down on increased crime, deport (驅逐出境) hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status and revive the sluggish (遲緩) economy of one of Latin America’s most stable and prosperous (繁榮) nations. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 73-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,098 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. The market joined other regional indexes and lost ground on Thursday, despite Wall Street closing higher after the U-S Federal Reserve opted to cut interest rates. While some leading tech companies saw sharp declines after Oracle, a bellwether in the artificial intelligence sector, reported weaker than expected earnings - which dented investor sentiment. Cabinet seeks to establish agencies for seniors and children The Cabinet says it's finalized proposals to create two new agencies to strengthen services for children, families and seniors. The proposals will now be sent to the Legislature for review. Under the proposals, a Long-term Care and Social Development Agency will be created to handle matters related to the elderly, people with disabilities, women. That agency will also oversee (監督) the National Pension system. While a Child and Family Support Agency will be established to oversee policies related to the welfare of minors and to provide support for families with children. The Cabinet says both new agencies will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. According to Health Minister Shih Chung-liang, the proposed Long-term Care and Social Development Agency is being designed to address Taiwan's rapidly aging society and declining birthrate. Thailand PM Receive Royal Permission to Dissolve Parliament Thailandˇs Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received royal permission today to dissolve (解散) Parliament, setting up general elections early next year. The election for the House of Representatives would be held 45 to 60 days after the Royal Decree, a period while Anutin will head a caretaker government with limited powers and cannot approve a new budget. Anutin posted on his Facebook late Thursday that ¨Iˇd like to return power to the people.〃 The move comes at a tricky political moment, as Thailand is engaged in large-scale combat with Cambodia over long-disputed border claims. About two dozen people were reported killed in the fighting this week, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides. Anutin has been prime minister for just three months, succeeding Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who served only a year in office. Questions over the legality of Donald Trump new golden visa Legal observers are raising questions over Donald Trump's golden visa scheme (方案), in which foreign nationals can pay a million dollars to begin the path to US citizenship. Mitch McCann reports: Canada Conservative Lawmaker Defects to Liberals A Canadian Conservative lawmaker has defected from his party and joined Prime Minister Mark Carneyˇs governing Liberals. The move by Michael Ma leaves the Liberal Party just short of a simple majority of the seats in Parliament. Ma, who represents MarkhamUnionville, is the second Canadian Conservative lawmaker to join Carneyˇs Liberals in just over a month. Ma said he entered politics ¨to focus on solutions, not division (分歧)〃. The move puts the Liberals one shy of a majority government and being able to pass any bill without the support of an opposition party. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginal down this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,385 on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Wednesday, as investors were optimistic that the U-S Federal Reserve would cut its key interest rates for a third time this year following its policy making meeting. While reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will produce Nvidia's high-performance H-200 A-I chips and they will be made here in Taiwan also drove investor confidence higher. MOFA thanks allies for their support at annual Interpol meeting The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has thanked eight formal diplomatic allies for supporting Taiwan's bid to participate in Interpol during the agency's annual General Assembly in Morocco late last month. According to the ministry, senior officials from the Marshall Islands, Belize, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Guatemala, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Paraguay, and Eswatini all spoke up on Taiwan's behalf. The foreign ministry says it delayed publicly thanking the allies until now because the assembly was held in a closed-door format (模式，格式), and it needed time to collect information on their respective addresses. Former digital minister warns TSMC faces rising cybersecurity risks Former Digital Affairs Minister Huang Yen-nan is warning that cyberattacks could be the most effective way for hostile actors to damage Taiwan's semiconductor advantage. According to Huang, companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing need to strengthen precautions. The former digital minister now heads (領導) Academia Sinica's Taiwan Information Security Center. Speaking at a conference on geopolitics and chip strategy, Huang said T-S-M-C's global influence has grown with A-I, making it "too big to fail," as any disruption to its production a national security concern. Venezuela Opposition Leader Appears in Public Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has appeared in public for the first time in 11 months. She appeared on a hotel balcony in Norway's capital early this morning and waved to supporters. Her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf (代表她) a day earlier. Machado had been in hiding since Jan. 9 after being briefly detained during a protest in Caracas. She was expected to attend the award ceremony Wednesday in Oslo but couldn’t make it in time. EU leaders reject Trump "weak" comment European leaders have rejected claims (聲稱) from U.S. President Donald Trump that the continent is run by weak people. William Denselow reports from Brussels. Study: HumanClimateChange Caused Deadly Rainfall in Asia New analysis suggests that ocean temperatures warmed by human-caused climate change fed the intense rainfall that triggered deadly floods and landslides across Asia in recent weeks. The rapid study by World Weather Attribution focused on heavy rainfall from cyclones Senyar and Ditwah in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka starting late last month. The analysis found that warmer sea surface temperatures over the North Indian Ocean added energy to the cyclones. Floods and landslides triggered by (觸發於) the storms have killed more than 1,600 people, with hundreds more still missing. The cyclones are the latest in a series of deadly weather disasters affecting Southeast Asia this year, resulting in loss of life and property damage. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 28,190 on turnover of 3.8-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday as it followed most other regional markets and closed lower after Wall Street sank overnight as investors await the outcome of Wednesday's meeting of the U-S Federal Reserve and expectations of more interest rate cuts. MOFA protests South Korea listing it as part of China The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing to urge South Korea to amend its electronic entry card system that lists Taiwan as part of China. The ministry says it has yet to receive a direct response from Seoul on the matter after highlighting (突出顯示) the error in its newly launched e-Arrival card system earlier this month. Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Director-General Liu Kun-hao is expressing the need for a correction - saying revising the island's designation underscores the importance of longstanding economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges between the two sides. Liu says there are serious concerns about the improper designation and the government is reviewing its overall relationship with South Korea - noting a large and long-standing trade deficit that highlights what he's describing as an unequal relationship. Taiwan raises long-term care tax deduction to NT$180,000 Lawmakers have approved an amendment that will raise the annual long-term care deduction to 180,000 N-T. The deduction previously stood at 120,000 N-T and the amendment to Article 17 of the Income Tax Act is aimed at easing (減輕) the financial burden of households supporting a dependent who requires long-term care. The change will apply retroactively from January 1 of this year and start to take effect in tax filings in May of 2026. Under Article 17 of the Income Tax Act, taxpayers may claim the deduction to taxable income for themselves, their spouses, or dependents officially recognized by the Ministry of Health as requiring long-term care due to physical or cognitive impairment. Zelenskyy refuses to cede land to Russia as he rallies European support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country will not cede (放棄) territory to Russia. AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports < Canada Ambassador to US Resigning Next Year Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. for the last six years says she’s resigning next year as the two major trading partners review the free trade agreement. Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said Tuesday it is the right time to put in place someone who will see a review of the free trade agreement through to conclusion. Canada’s free trade deal with the U.S. is up for review in 2026. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Hillman “prepared (準備) the foundations for Canada in the upcoming review" of the agreement. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Hillman in 2017. She was the first woman appointed (任命) to the role. Hillman helped lead the trade negotiations during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term and worked with U.S. and Chinese officials to win the release of two Canadians detained in China. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 60-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,364 on turnover of 10.5-billion N-T. The market gained solid ground on Monday after surpassing the 28,000 point mark in early trading on the back of strong investor interest in electronic and semiconductor heavyweights. US Congress revises bill allocating Taiwan security funding The U-S Congress has released a new draft of the National Defense Authorization Act - which includes up to 1-billion U-S dollars in funding for Taiwan-related security cooperation in 2026. The new draft removes earlier language that would have invited Taiwan to participate in the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise. The bill will require the U-S defense secretary to "enable fielding of uncrewed (無人的) and anti-uncrewed systems capabilities" with Taiwan by March 1 of next year, and those systems must comply with the Taiwan Relations Act and be usable by both U-S and Taiwanese forces. The compromise version was produced after the U-S.Senate and House of Representatives reconciled their separate versions into a unified bill. Taiwan forms clinical trial alliance to accelerate access to new medicines Taiwan has launched a new clinical trial alliance aimed at coordinating medical institutions nationwide to help patients gain faster access to promising but not yet approved medicines. The Taiwan Alliance of Clinical Trial Centers has been initiated by the Taipei Medical University. It brings together 32 medical and research institutions nationwide and is backed by the government and aims to pool resources (共用資源), strengthen coordination and enhance Taiwan's international competitiveness. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the alliance is expected to boost international collaboration by encouraging pharmaceutical companies to choose Taiwan as a base for research and development. Japan Tsunami Warning Lifted After Quake A magnitude 7.5 earthquake has struck off northern Japan, injuring at least 30 people and triggering (觸發) a tsunami. The quake hit late on Monday, about 80 kilometers off the coast of the Aomori region. The public broadcaster NHK says all tsunami warnings have now been lifted, while waves up to 70 centimeters were reported. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says people were mostly injured by falling objects. Nuclear power plants are conducting safety checks, and some train services are suspended. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of possible aftershocks and an increased risk of a megaquake. Supreme Court weighs whether President Trump can fire heads of independent agencies The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether President Donald Trump has the authority to fire a top Federal Trade Commission official - in a case that could have far reaching consequences for independent regulators. FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter was ousted earlier this year - told that her service was "inconsistent (不一致的) with the Administration's priorities". Toni Waterman reports That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 53-points this morning from Friday's close, at 28,034 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Friday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rebounded from an early low, boosted by growing expectations the U-S Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this week. Six injured in Banqiao restaurant suspected gas explosion Six people have been injured following a suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in New Taipei's Banqiao District. The second floor resturants is located in Banqiao's Fuzhong Shopping District. According to the city's fire department, two restaurants were damaged in the blast and the six people were injured by flying debris. Police say of the six people injured, five were passersby (路人) and one was resident of a nearby building. One person with minor injuries refused medical treatment, while the others, who also also suffered minor injuries were treated at the Shuang Ho Hospital and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. The cause of the blast is still under investigation. New device installed near Matai'an barrier lake to boost monitoring The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says micro-seismometer has been installed near the Matai'an Creek barrier lake in Hualien to strengthen monitoring of landslides and potential flood surges in the area. The move come a after an overflow triggered (觸發) deadly flooding in September. According to the agency, the micro-seismometer has been installed by a four-member team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and was airlifted to a slope about 1-kilometer south of the lake by National Airborne Service Corps. The agency says it will enable real-time alerts and help determine whether debris has blocked the creek or if a barrier lake dam is about to overflow. US Judges deal setback to Justice Department effort to seek new indictment against Comey From the US….. There's been a setback (挫折) for prosecutors seeking a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports Indonesia First Giant Panda Cub in Good Health The first giant panda cub born in Indonesia is noisy, nursing well and showing other signs of good health. Indonesian Safari Park released video and photos Sunday showing the fuzzy newborn in an incubator (保溫箱) and squirming and squealing while being cuddled by his mother. Hu Chun gave birth to Satrio Wiratama — nicknamed Rio — on Nov. 27 at the zoo in West Java province. The zoo said it was prioritizing the health and welfare of the mother and baby and he would not yet be accessible (可接近的) to the public. The adult pandas arrived in Indonesia in 2017 on a 10-year conservation partnership with China. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 0.7-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,796 on turnover of $4.99-billion N-T. Government to ban food-waste pig feeding from 2027, with 1-year transition The Cabinet has approved a plan to phase out the use of food waste in pig farming by December 31 of next year - paving the way (為…鋪路) for a full ban starting in 2027. The move is part of the government's efforts to prevent African swine fever outbreaks. Under the policy, food-waste feeding will be permitted only under strict conditions during that period, after which it will be fully prohibited. Farmers will be given a one-year grace period and financial incentives to switch to commercial feed. During the transition year, farms may use food waste only with local government approval and after they meet several requirements - including installing heat-treatment and video monitoring systems and adding G-P-S tracking to transport vehicles. Only business-generated food waste, animal by-products and slaughterhouse scraps (廢料，廚餘) will be allowed - and all household food waste will be banned from use on pig farms. Taiwan and Czech institutes launch African medical aid procurement program Taiwan's Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry has signed an agreement with the Czech Health Technology Institute to jointly launch an African medical aid procurement program. The institutes have been working to help a range of Taiwanese medical products, including handheld (手持式) ultrasound devices, microplate readers and electrocardiography systems, enter Eastern European markets through various projects since 2023. According to the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry, the latest partnership is aimed at further strengthening ties through the launch of the African medical aid procurement program. The institute says the program will source a range of medical equipment from Taiwan to bolster primary healthcare, maternal and child care, and the resilience of regional and central hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. US Reviewing Tanzania relationship following election violence The United States is "reviewing" its relationship with Tanzania in the wake of violence that marred the country's elections in October. United Nations experts estimate that hundreds of protesters were killed during the brutal (嚴酷的) election crackdown. Nick Harper reports from Washington. UN Security Council Delegation Visits Syria A United Nations Security Council delegation has visited Syria for the first time since the council's founding in 1945. The visit, on Thursday, comes just before the one-year anniversary of former President Bashar Assad's fall. It marks Syria's reintegration (重新融入) into the international community under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Security Council president, says the delegation aims to build trust. They met with Syrian leaders, civil society, and communities affected by violence. Discussions included justice, reconciliation, and economic development. Syria's state-run news agency notes that Security Council visits are rare, requiring unanimous agreement. Eurovision Countries Drop Out Amid Israel Participation At least four countries have announced they are pulling out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. This decision follows the organizers' choice to allow Israel to compete, despite concerns over its conduct in the Israel-Hamas war. Dutch, Spanish, Irish and Slovenian broadcasters announced plans to sit out the context in Vienna next May. It came after the European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, voted to adopt tougher voting rules after allegations of Israel manipulating (操縱) votes. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 19-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,773 on turnover of 5.8-billion N-T. The market gained ground again on Wednesday, on the back of investor interest in tech and electronic market heavyweights and after Wall Street held steady overnight. Premier claims opposition demand for President to be questioned over special budget unconstitutional Premier Cho Jung-tai says a demand by opposition lawmakers that President Lai Ching-te face questions in the Legislative Yuan related to his 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget is "unconstitutional." The statement comes after lawmakers from the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party blocked a bill authorizing the special defense budget from being placed on the agenda for tomorrow's Legislative plenary session. K-M-T caucus whip Fu Kun-chi has said while the party's supports protecting Taiwan, they believe Lai should report to the Legislature and explain the necessity of the expenditure. Taiwanese accounts unaffected in Coupang's recent data leak The Ministry of Digital Affairs says there is no evidence to suggest that Coupang users here in Taiwan were affected by a large-scale personal data leak recently reported by the South Korean e-commerce giant. According to the ministry, it contacted Coupang in late November after learning of the incident and was informed that the breach occurred mainly in South Korea and, based on checks carried out so far, no leaks involving Taiwanese accounts have been found. The ministry says it will continue monitoring the case and maintain communication with Coupang to ensure (確保) the protection of local users' personal information. South Korean media has reported that personal information of around 33.7-million users was exposed. Hong Kong fire death toll hits 159 after towers searched The death toll from Hong Kong's worst fire in decades rose to 159. Police said they have completed a search inside all seven of eight high-rise buildings ravaged (嚴重破壞、毀壞) in the fire that first broke out last Wednesday and took until Friday to be extinguished. About 30 people remain missing. Laura Westbrook reports. Moldova Bomb Disposal Deployed Police in Moldova have deployed bomb disposal experts to a community miles from the Ukrainian border after a resident mistook (誤以為) a grounded drone for “a toy” and took it home. Police on Wednesday said the drone did not contain explosives or pose a danger, and urged the public to “not touch or attempt to transport fallen drones or similar objects.” Authorities did not say where the drone came from. They said it was a Gerbera-type drone. Russia has used those in Ukraine. A number of drones have been found on Moldovan territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Greece Farmer Protests Farmers in northern Greece have blocked border crossings with North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey as part of a growing protest over delays in farm subsidy payments. The demonstration on Wednesday comes amid a major subsidy fraud scandal (醜聞) that led to the resignation of five senior officials. Tractor convoys caused significant traffic disruptions and forced vehicles onto long detours. Government officials say they are open to negotiations but will not allow key transport corridors, ports or rail hubs (中心) to be shut down. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Lai tells reservists there's no room for compromise on Taiwan's security MOFA open to restoring ties with Honduras South Korea prosecutors say they won't detain former deputy PM Arizona sues Chinese online retailer Temu Rare Faberge egg sells for more US$30 million at auction in London -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 207-points this morning from yesterday's close at 27,550 on turnover of 8.8-billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 300 points on Monday amid investor concerns over an A-I bubble - which triggered heavy selling in the bellwether electronics sector, to pull the broader market into negative territory. Top trade negotiator claiming Taiwan 'very likely' to secure stacking relief from US The government's top trade negotiator says the U-S and Taiwan are in the final stages of trade negotiations and the outcome will "very likely" result in Taiwan obtaining tariff stacking relief. According Yang Jen-ni, she firmly believes the negotiating team will achieve such that goal, as it has been working to ensure that any adjusted tariff rate for Taiwan will not be added to the existing ones. Yang says Taiwan might also obtain most favored nation status under Section 232 of the U-S Trade Expansion Act. She's also denying reports the U-S government is seeking a commitment from Taiwan to train American workers in the semiconductor manufacturing sector and other tech industries as part of the trade deal. CDC marks World AIDS Day with a drag show to fight HIV stigma And, The Centers for Disease Control marked World AIDS Day by inviting drag queens for a performance it says was aimed at breaking down stigma (汙名) against people living with HIV. Held under the theme of "Breaking Myths, Keeping Love on Track," the event featured performances by several local drag queens. C-D-C Director-General Philip Luo says more than 1,000 HIV infections were reported last year, and Taiwan's policies on testing, follow-up, and treatment are on the right track, which has led to a decline in new infections this year. Luo also says HIV testing has been more active this year than last year and the C-D-C has forecast that new HIV infections this year will fall below 900, to a 22-year low. Hong Kong arrests more suspects in fire probe as death toll hits 151 Hong Kong authorities said on Monday they had arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter (誤殺) in a probe into the city's worst fire in more than half a century. At least 151 people are now known to have died. Laura Westbrook reports. Congo Declares Ebola Outbreak Over A recent Ebola outbreak (爆發) in southern Congo has been declared over by health officials, after no new cases were reported for 45 days. Congo's health minister says the outbreak resulted in 53 confirmed cases and 43 deaths. The government announced the latest outbreak of the virus in September in the southern Kasai province town of Bulape, and it spread from there to at least four other towns. It was Congo's 16th outbreak of the disease since it was first reported in the country in 1976. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 47-points this morning from Friday's close, at 27,674 on turnover of 7.5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher Friday, as positive investor sentiment carried over from the previous session amid hopes that the U-S Federal Reserve will cut key interest rates later this month. Taiwan's ambassador meets with new SVG leader Taiwan's ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has met with the newly elected prime minister of the Caribbean ally, Godwin Friday, to convey (傳達) congratulations from President Lai Ching-te. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Ambassador Fiona Fan delivered Lai's message during their meeting, and that the prime minister asked her to relay (傳達) his thanks in return. The ministry has not said when the meeting took place or provided any further details. However, the meeting took place as Friday's New Democratic Party has previously proposed switching recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. CAA confirms that local airlines have completed Airbus A320 software fix And, The Civil Aviation Administration has confirmed that local airlines completed the required software restoration on Airbus A320-series aircraft before a 7AM deadline on Sunday. The software restoration followed an emergency directive (指示) issued after a technical failure in the U-S. Airbus announced on Friday that around 6,000 A320-family jets worldwide must undergo software updates and may not be operated without the fix. The announcement come after reports of a flight-control system malfunction linked to solar flare interference. Honduras Presidential Vote Hondurans are voting to elect new president in a close race under shadow of Trump’s surprise intervention (干涉). AP correspondent Rica Ann Garcia reports Report: Global Arms Producers Saw Revenue Increase A new report says that the world’s biggest weapons-producing companies saw a 5.9% increase in revenue from sales of arms and military services last year as demand was fed by (由…供給/提供) the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as countries’ rising military spending. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says today that the revenues of the 100 largest arms makers grew to $679 billion in 2024, the highest figure it has recorded. The bulk of the increase was down to companies based in Europe and the United States, but there were increases around the world — except in Asia and Oceania, where problems in the Chinese arms industry led to a slight fall. Italy Digital Copies of Masterpieces for Museum Funds Italian cultural officials are offering digital copies of Italian masterpieces as part of a new project to help museums raise money. The nonprofit Save the Artistic Heritage, with its technical partner Cinello, is behind this initiative. They provide digital projections of Italian masterpieces, complete with certificates of authenticity (真正的，真實性). Participating museums receive 50% of the profits. Over two years, Save the Artistic Heritage has contributed about $347-thousand US dollars to Italian museums. Each digital artwork is sold in a limited series of nine. The project aims to help museums access new income streams and expand globally, including plans for the United States. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,566 on turnover of $8-billion N-T. NIA to offer e-Gate access to New Zealand passport holders from tomorrow The National Immigration Agency says holders of New Zealand biometric passports will be able to access Taiwan's Automated Immigration Clearance e-Gate system from tomorrow. The move reciprocates New Zealand's decision to grant the same access to Taiwanese travelers on October 13. According to the immigration agency, eligible travelers from New Zealand will be able to use Taiwan's 121 installed e-Gates when entering the country for leisure (休閒), business or study. Travelers must also complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card before entry. The old paper arrival cards were abolished on October 1. Putin says Russia will stop fighting when Ukraine withdraws from Donbas Russian President Vladimir Putin said fighting in Ukraine will cease once the Ukrainian Army withdraws from the territories Moscow claims it now controls. Putin adds that Moscow is open to discussing some elements (要素，部分) of the U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine, but more talks are needed. Daria Bondarchuk reports from Moscow. Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Men Appearing to Surrender Israeli forces killed a pair of Palestinian men in the occupied West Bank after they appeared to surrender to troops, drawing Palestinian accusations that the men were executed “in cold blood.” The Israeli military said it was investigating. The killings, captured in a pair of videos shown on two Arab TV stations, came as Israel pressed ahead (推進、推動) with its latest offensive in the West Bank, where the army has stepped up its activities over the past two years. Israel says it is cracking down on militants. Palestinians and rights groups accuse Israel of using excessive force and say dozens of unarmed civilians have been killed. Canada Alberta to Build Pacific Coast Oil Pipeline Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premier of Canada’s oil rich province of Alberta have agreed to work toward building a pipeline to the Pacific Coast to diversify the country’s oil exports beyond the United States. The memorandum of understanding signed Thursday would also adjust an oil tanker ban off parts of the British Columbia coast if a pipeline comes to fruition (實現，完成). Carney’s support for it led to the resignation of one of his cabinet ministers. The minister said in a statement that the pipeline could cross the Great Bear Rainforest and that it would increase the risk of a tanker spill on the coast. But he said he understands why Canada needs to remain united and said he will stay on as a Liberal Member of Parliament. Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 107-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,517 on turnover of 8.3-billion N-T. The market gained solid ground once again on Wednesday - rising by nearly 500-points - after Wall Street surged overnight on hopes the U-S Federal Reserve will soon opt to cut interest rates. Lai unveils plan to budget NT$1.25 trillion to bolster defense President Lai Ching-te is proposing a 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget to fund the construction of a multilayered T-Dome air defense network and strengthen Taiwan's overall defense posture over the next eight years. Speaking at the Presidential Office, Lai said the T-Dome will provide all altitude air defense, incorporate artificial intelligence to improve detection and decision-making and enhance Taiwan's ability to intercept (截距) threats to protect military assets, critical infrastructure and civilians. Lai also called on opposition lawmakers to support his plan saying the proposed military investment is "necessary" given the growing threat Taiwan was facing from China and he hopes opposition parties can support Taiwan's national security regardless of political stance (政治立場). Government to tighten cosmetics controls after Sudan dyes found in cosmetic products Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the government plans to add Sudan dyes to its routine post-market inspections and tighten controls on cosmetic products. The statement comes after the banned colorants were detected for the first time in cosmetic (化妝品) items sold domestically. According to Shih, the health ministry will also fully implement mandatory Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for all cosmetics manufacturers starting from July 1 next year - which will strengthening oversight of production processes. The issue came to light after authorities traced problematic Chinese cosmetic products sold online and found that a local importer had sourced raw materials from Singapore that contained Sudan dyes. HK Fire Continues Burning Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in years is still burning. It has left at least 44 people dead and 279 reported missing with rescuers pulling residents from blazing (炙熱的，強烈的) high-rise apartment buildings into the morning. Police had arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with fire which began Wednesday afternoon in a housing complex in Tai Po district, a suburb in the New Territories. By this morning local time, the fire was yet to be put out and rescues continued with the death toll reaching 44. Hundreds of residents were evacuated as the fire spread across seven of the eight buildings in the complex. Authorities suspected some materials on the exterior walls of the high-rise buildings did not meet fire resistance standards, as the rapid spread of the fire was unusual. US Thanksgiving travel hit by winter storms In the United States Thanksgiving travelers are facing added delays (延誤) this year from winter storms and freezing weather. Millions are under weather alerts amid the country's busiest travel period. Nick Harper reports from Washington. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 151-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,063 on turnover of 6.5-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Tuesday - adding just over 400-points - on the back of investor hopes that the U-S Federal Reserve will initiate more rate cuts next month and that led to a surge in interest for large cap semiconductor stocks. Panama lawmakers arrive in Taiwan despite reported China pressure A group of Panamanian lawmakers have arrived in Taiwan in apparent defiance of reported Chinese requests that they cancel the trip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the nine-member delegation (代表團) will meet with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu and attend a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung during their stay. An Associated Press report citing a Panamanian daily newspaper as saying Chinese embassy staff in Panama asked a total of 10 lawmakers to "immediately cancel" plans to visit Taiwan. The foreign ministry here is condemning (譴責) Beijing for trying to intervene in what it's calling Taiwan's "normal exchanges with other countries." Tropical storm forms over Philippine waters; no direct impact on Taiwan And, The Central Weather Administration says Tropical Storm Koto will not have a direct impact on Taiwan. The storm formed yesterday evening and is currently located west of the Philippines. Based on the weather administration's latest tracking chart, the storm will approach (逼近) the coast of Vietnam in the coming days before veering in a northerly direction towards China's Hainan Island on Saturday. Koto is the 27th tropical storm of this year Pacific typhoon season. Trump sending envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss possible Ukraine peace deal with Putin Donald Trump says he's sending his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin - as he tries to finalize a Ukraine peace deal. The US president says he believes a deal is close, but that he won't personally (親自) meet with the leaders of Ukraine or Russia until the deal is final or in its final stages. Toni Waterman has more. Italy Approves Law Adding Femicide to Criminal Law Italy’s parliament has approved a law that introduces femicide (殺害女性) into the country’s criminal law and punishes it with life in prison. Tuesday's final vote saw bipartisan support. The law is backed by the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni. It comes in response to a series of killings and other violence targeting women in Italy. Italy’s statistics agency recorded 106 femicides in 2024, with over half of them committed by partners (伴侶) or former partners. The law includes stronger measures against gender-based crimes including stalking and revenge porn. While the center-left opposition supported the law in parliament, it stressed that the government approach only tackles the criminal aspect of the problem while leaving economic and cultural divides unaddressed. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 491-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 26,995 on turnover of 9.8-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Monday, despite investors opting to dump large-cap tech stocks before regular index adjustments by M-S-C-I went into effect after the market closed. FM touts increase in US state engagement Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is touting an increase in U-S state engagement in Taiwan. Speaking at reception hosted by the American State Offices Association in Taipei, Lin said there has been a significant increase in engagement from U-S state governments .. … as more representative offices are opening in Taiwan and a growing number of trade missions (貿易代表團) are visiting the country. According to Lin, there were currently 26 U-S state and territorial offices in Taiwan, over half of which opened or reopened in the last three years - while Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Idaho opened offices this year. The foreign minister says he believes the trend reflects the building momentum between Taiwan and American state governments. Dust storm in China to worsen Taiwan's air quality from today And, The Ministry of Environment says a dust storm in Inner Mongolia is expected to worsen Taiwan's air quality today and is advising the public to reduce (減少) outdoor activities and wear face masks. According to the ministry, pollutants carried from Inner Mongolia and the Shandong-Shanghai corridor by monsoon winds are expected to push PM2.5 readings in northern Taiwan to 30 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter this morning … …. rising to between 100 to 150 micrograms per cubic meter in the afternoon. The center and south are set to be affected from the afternoon through to the evening. The air quality is expected to improve to a "good" or "moderate" level by Saturday. China Warns Nationals in DRC China has urged its citizens living in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo to immediately leave due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Fighting between Congolese forces and rebels has intensified (加劇的) in the mineral-rich region where Chinese firms are engaged in mining rare earth minerals. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa… Sudan Rejects Mediators' Ceasefire Proposal Sudan’s top general has rejected a ceasefire proposal from U.S.-led mediators, calling it “the worst yet.” The proposal aimed to halt a devastating (毀滅性的) war that has gripped Sudan for over 30 months. General Abdel-Fattah Burhan accused the mediators of being “biased (有偏見的)”. Sudan plunged into chaos in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has killed at least 40,000 people and created a massive (大量的) humanitarian crisis. The mediators, known as the Quad, comprise the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, and have been working for over two years to end the fighting. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 161-points this morning from Friday's close, at 26,596 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T. The market took a hit Friday, falling almost 1,000 points after heavy losses on Wall Street overnight. National Archives draws nearly 10,000 visitors on opening day The National Archives officially opened this past weekend - drawing nearly 10,000 visitors on its first day. According to National Development Council Deputy Minister Peng Li-pei, the archives will follow the principle of "maximum openness, minimum restrictions" in promoting public access to records. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Peng said the archives is an important public infrastructure project that reflects the government's long-term efforts to preserve and make the nation's intellectual assets (資產) accessible. The archives began trial operations on September 2 and President Lai Ching-te presided over an opening ceremony on November 17. The N-D-C deputy minister says over 200,000 people have already visited the National Archives in New Taipei's Linkou District. Golfer Wu Chia-yen wins first JLPGA title Taiwan's Wu Chia-yen has won her first championship on the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association tour at the DAIO PAPER elleair LADIES OPEN in Matsuyama. The 21-year-old lifted the trophy at Elleair Golf Club Matsuyama after finishing on a 15-under-par 269 for her first title since joining the J-L-P-G-A in 2024. Wu had a rough start, tying for 24th after the first round. However, she climbed steadily in the second and third rounds before closing Sunday's final round with five birdies and one bogey (柏忌). Wu has became the third Taiwan golfer to win the DAIO PAPER elleair LADIES OPEN. US Ukraine Discuss Peace Proposal Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials say they've made progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war. They discussed an American proposal for peace, which some European allies fear is too favorable (有利) to Moscow on Sunday in Geneva. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks as productive (富有成效的), but shared few details on what was discussed. He emphasized that the U.S. peace plan is a "living document" and that it would change. He also said any final agreement would need Russia's approval. The 28-point blueprint drawn up by the U.S. to end the nearly four-year war acquiesces to many Russian demands that Zelenskyy has categorically rejected on dozens of occasions, including giving up large pieces of territory. Mamdani stands by Trump criticism despite friendly White House meeting New York's Mayor-Elect Mamdani stands by his criticism of President Trump criticism despite (儘管;無論) a friendly White House meeting. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 633-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,213 on turnover of $10.4-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower Wednesday after giving up earlier gains, as investors stayed cautious ahead of an Nvidia Corp. investor conference and the release of meeting minutes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Analysts say the bellwether electronics sector failed to stage a successful technical rebound as tech stocks saw their gains eroded amid lingering valuation concerns after recent strong gains among AI stocks. They say investors continued to pocket profits built recently for now with TSMC in focus. KMT, TPP leaders meet to discuss possible electoral collaboration The leaders of Taiwan's opposition KMT and TPP met Wednesday to discuss the prospects for collaboration (合作) in the 2026 local elections. Speaking during their public meeting in New Taipei, KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wun told TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang that she hoped the parties' recent cooperation in the Legislature would deepen in the run-up to local elections. Cheng acknowledged "difficulties" in previous efforts toward a KMT-TPP alliance, but said that after meeting Huang, she felt strongly that they were on the same page. Huang, meanwhile, said he would direct the TPP's think tank to reach out to its KMT counterpart to discuss local governance and the parties' 2026 election goals. DRC Fighting Despite Peace Framework Signed Fighting has erupted (爆發了) in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo between the M23 rebels and a pro-government militia despite a recent framework for peace signed in Qatar. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa. Russian Attack on Ukrainian City Leaves Dozens Dead A Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine's western city of Ternopil has killed at least 25 people, including three children. The attack hit two apartment blocks, injuring at least 73 people. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted most of the 476 drones and 48 missiles fired overnight. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Turkey seeking diplomatic support against Russia. He met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Meanwhile, Romania and Poland scrambled (緊急起飛) fighter jets in response to the attacks. Russia claims the strikes targeted Ukrainian energy facilities and military-industrial targets in retaliation (報復) for Kyiv's actions. Brazil NPO: Crime Groups Expanding in Amazon A prominent nonprofit group in Brazil says that criminal gangs expanded their presence in the Brazilian Amazon last year and are now operating in nearly half of the region’s municipalities. The Brazilian Forum on Public Safety says the growth of these crime groups in the region, where U.N. climate talks are currently taking place, is driving violence and threatens the preservation of the world’s largest tropical rainforest. The nonprofit says organized crime groups are now active in 45-percent of over 770 municipalities. That’s a jump of 32% from last year’s report. The NPO says combating organized crime in the Amazon will require a focus on alternate ways of developing the region besides “predatory exploitation (剝削，開發利用) of resources.” That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- 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 26,708 on turnover of $8.7-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan tumbled almost 700 points to close at the day's low Tuesday as sell-off was triggered by heavy losses on the U.S. markets overnight amid fears over the U.S. Federal Reserve's hawkish stance and stretched tech stocks. Contract chipmaker TSMC shed 2.77 percent to close at the day's low, contributing about 320 points to the Taiex's fall. Analysts say judging from yesterday's movement, many investors dumped their stocks in panic to stop losses, so selling was seen across the board, including nontech stocks. Shimen reaches 12.4 degrees The Central Weather Administration says, today's coldest temperature on the main island of Taiwan clocked in at 12.4 degrees in New Taipei's Shimen. They say, Taoyuan's Yangmei and Hsinchu's Guanxi registered similar temperatures this morning. Meanwhile, experts say that areas in the north and east as well as mountainous regions (山區) can expect some rain as well. They say, lowland areas can expect temperatures to get as low as 12-16 degrees today. And tomorrow, experts say temperatures early in the morning will be around the same for areas north of and including Miaoli… while there will still be rain possible along the Keelung North Coast, and in the northeast tomorrow. Also starting tomorrow, experts say, we can expect a slight rise in temperatures across the country. And starting Friday and moving into the weekend, we can expect slightly wetter conditions in the north and northeast. (AH) Trump: Saudi Prince "Knew Nothing" about Khashoggi murder US President Donald Trump has said Saudi Arabia's Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman "knew nothing" about the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He made the comments during an Oval Office meeting with the Kingdom's de facto ruler in stark (赤裸的，明顯的) contradiction (矛盾) to the finding of US intelligence. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Japan Fire Forces Evacuations Firefighters are battling a fire that has burned through a neighborhood in southwestern Japan and forced more than 170 people to evacuate. It started Tuesday evening and was still out of control this morning. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least 170 homes have been damaged and a man in his 70s was unaccounted for. The fire started near a fishing port in the city of Oita during strong winds and spread to a forest. Oita is on the southern island of Kyushu. Vatican Pope Backs US Bishops Condemning Immigration Crackdown Pope Leo XIV has strongly backed U.S. bishops who condemned the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. He urged the American people to listen to them and treat migrants humanely (善良地，人道地). As he left his country house Tuesday evening, Leo was asked about the “special message” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted during their assembly last week. The text criticized the Trump administration’s mass deportation of migrants and the “vilification” (誹謗，詆毀) of them in the current migration debate. Leo has previously urged local bishops to take the lead on speaking out on matters of social justice. He said he appreciated the U.S. bishops statement and urged all people of goodwill to listen to what they said. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 137-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,310 on turnover of $7.7-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan ended slightly higher Monday after profit-taking eroded most of the initial gains amid lingering concerns over stretched artificial intelligence stocks at home and abroad. Analysts say the market was initially led by the electronics sector as investors took cues from a rebound enjoyed by tech stocks on the U.S. markets on Friday. But this strength was compromised by the end of the session as many investors shifted to the sell side. MOFA names new ambassador to Palau The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the appointment of Andy Chen as Taiwan's new ambassador to Palau. Chen has been the director general of the ministry's Office of Parliamentarian Affairs since February. He will replace sitting ambassador Jessica Lee, who'll be returning to the MOFA headquarters in Taipei. Chen previously (先前) served as Taiwan's representative to Oman and head of Taiwan's office in Vancouver, Brunei, and the Philippines. He received his bachelor's degree in Arabic Language and Culture from National Chengchi University. (AH) Bangladesh's former leader Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death In Bangladesh, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by a special tribunal (特別法庭 ) that found her guilty of committing crimes against humanity. She was put on trial in absentia and was found guilty of overseeing a crackdown on protesters last July. According to a UN report 1400 people were killed during the demonstrations last year, most by security forces firing live ammunition. Hasina claims she's innocent. Neha Poonia has more. Canada Budget Vote Passes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney won a vote on his budget in Parliament that could have triggered (觸發) a possible election. Carney’s Liberal government does not have enough votes to pass the budget on its own but it passed 170-168 with the support of a Green Party member of Parliament and some New Democrat abstentions. The Liberals don’t have a majority of seats in the House of Commons and must rely on an opposition party to pass legislation. The budget vote is considered a vote of confidence in the minority Liberal government. Carney's Liberal Party scored a stunning comeback victory in an election last April in a vote widely seen as a rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump. But the Liberals fell just short of winning an outright majority in Parliament. British Royal Mint Issues Freddie Mercury Coin Design Britain's Royal Mint is celebrating Freddie Mercury with a new coin design. The coin marks 40 years since his iconic Live Aid performance. It features an image of the Queen front man midperformance, with a musical stave (五線譜 ) representing his vocal range. Mercury’s sister struck the first coin at the Royal Mint in Wales last week. She said the coin captures his passion and joy. The coins go on sale Tuesday. Mercury died at age 45 in 1991, just one day after he publicly (公開地) announced he was HIV positive. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 203-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,601 on turnover of 10-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan shed more than 500 points Friday as a sell-off was sparked by a plunge on U.S. markets overnight amid renewed worries that the U.S. Federal Reserve has turned hawkish toward its rate-cut cycle. Analysts say the steep losses in the United States prompted investors here to pocket their recent significant gains, also taking cues from the heavy losses suffered by artificial intelligence stocks such as Nvidia on stretched tech stocks". NTU responds after 100s fall for fried chicken rumor National Taiwan University is urging the public to be vigilant about information they read online… after an anonymous social media user promised to hand out free fried chicken and boba tea. A post in an anonymous Facebook group earlier this month claimed that Taipei would announce school and work closures for Typhoon Fung-wong for at least two days between November 12th and 14th… promising to hand out free fried chicken and boba tea at NTU's Fu Bell if the days off do not occur (發生). Several hundred people lined up, with some getting there early in the morning. The university ultimately had to dispatch security guards to keep order near the bell until afternoon, when people seemed to realize they had been tricked. NTU says, it's not able to verify who made the post, but warned that they should consider the accuracy and impact of misinformation spead online, lest they face legal consequences. Finland President Calls for EU Steadiness for Ukraine Finland's president urges Europe to hold its nerve (保持鎮定，保持勇氣) as he warns no ceasefire likely soon in Ukraine. AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports Ecuador Announces Capture of Major Drug Trafficker Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has announced the capture of one of Ecuador’s most wanted drug traffickers. Wilmer Chavarria, known as “Pipo,” was caught in Malaga, Spain, on Sunday in a joint operation with Spanish police. He is believed to lead Los Lobos, a group linked to political assassinations (暗殺) and associated with Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Chavarria faked his death in 2021, moved to Spain, and continued his criminal activities. His capture coincides with Ecuadorians voting on a referendum about allowing foreign military bases to combat drug trafficking. Germany Holocaust Artifacts Auction Cancelled Poland's foreign minister says an auction of Holocaust artifacts in Germany has been canceled. He shared this information from his German counterpart after complaints from Holocaust survivors. The auction was set to include letters from concentration camp prisoners and other documents. A Holocaust survivors group had called for the cancellation, describing the auction as cynical (損人利己的) and shameless. The group emphasized that these documents belong to the victims' families and should be in museums, not sold for profit. The auction house has not responded to calls or emails about the cancellation. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. Subject: E*AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 Return to Table of contents 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- 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 yesterday's close, at 27,816 on turnover of $7.7-billion N-T. Taiwan ranks top in Asia and 7th in world for internet freedom Taiwan has once again been rated the freest country in Asia for internet use and seventh globally in the latest Freedom on the Net report released the US-based Freedom House. The report assessed internet freedom in 72 countries between June 2024 and May 2025. It measures obstacles to access, restrictions on online content, and violations of users' rights. Taiwan had a score of 79 out of 100 and that was unchanged from last year, reaffirming (再次肯定或加強。) its status as one of the most open online environments in the world. Japan placed eighth with 78 points. The list was topped by Iceland with a score of 94 - while Estonia, Chile, Costa Rica and Canada rounded out the top five. China and Myanmar remained at the bottom of the list with scores of 9. Trump-Epstein relationship in spotlight ahead of key vote on files Donald Trump's relationship to late-sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is still under scrutiny ahead of key vote that could release more files. The House of Representatives is expected to vote to compel the Justice Department to release all the evidence (證據) it has, but the files may not see the light of day. As Nick Harper reports from Washington. Russia Launches Attack on Kyiv Russia has launched a massive attack on Kyiv, causing fires and scattering debris across the city. Local officials report at least 11 people were injured, with five hospitalized. The attack continues today, prompting officials to urge residents to stay in shelters. City authorities warned of possible power and water outages. The strike came as European Union officials warned this week that Ukraine must continue to crack down on corruption following a major graft scandal that has put top nuclear energy officials under scrutiny (受到審查). But they also offered assurances (保證) that aid will continue to flow as Kyiv strains to hold back Russia’s invasion. Borso D'Este Bible on Display in Italy One of the most spectacular examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts is going on rare public display as part of the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations. The 15th century Borso D’Este Bible is known for its miniature paintings in gold and lapis lazuli (青金石). It was unveiled Thursday in the Italian Senate, where it will remain on display until Jan. 16. It is usually kept in a safe at a library in Modena and is rarely exhibited publicly; it was transported to Rome under heavy security. The Bible was created between 1455 and 1461. It will remain behind humidity-controlled plate glass while in Rome, but visitors can “read” it digitally via touch screen displays featuring ultra-high-resolution images. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 ?? 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 79-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,867 on turnover of 11-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Wednesday despite coming off the day's high on heavy technical pressure ahead of the 28,000 point mark as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing failed to sustain its initial gains. Taipei City Council approves terms of Nvidia land deal Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan says the city council has approved the terms of a mutual termination (終止) agreement with Shin Kong Life Insurance that paves the way for the immediate return of a plot of city-owned land being eyed by Nvidia for its Taiwan headquarters. The deal includes a fee of about 4.4-billion N-T payable to Shin Kong Life by the city government. Transfer of the T-17 and T-18 plots at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park is expected to be ratified (正式批准) by Shin Kong Life at a special board meeting later today. And the Taipei deputy mayor says that will then allow the city government and the insurer to sign the final contract tomorrow. Man who brought crocodile to Legislature to protest exotic pet ban fined And, The Taipei District Court has fined man who placed a live crocodile at the main entrance of the Legislative Yuan last month 10,000 N-T. The crocodile was left at the entrance in protest over a proposed ban on exotic pets on the morning of October 17. The man was quickly arrested by police and referred to prosecutors. He was fined for violating Article 70 of the Social Order Maintenance Act by allowing a dangerous animal to roam in public in the presence of other people. The court also ordered the seizure (查封，沒收) of his crocodile. The same man was arrested and fined 3,000 N-T in 2018 after bringing a crocodile to a protest at the Executive Yuan. US House Passes Bill to End Shutdown The US House has passed a bill to end the nation’s longest government shutdown. The vote today sends the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse. The Senate has already passed the measure. Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced (提升，改善) tax credit that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces and refused to go along with a spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time. They eventually prevailed as the shutdown took an increasing toll on the country. COP30 Report Emissions Rising Still Scientists report that emissions from fossil fuels rose by 1.1% in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of a small increase. This was announced Wednesday at the United Nations climate negotiations near the Amazon. A second report by Climate Action Tracker says the world is on track for 2.6 degrees Celsius of warming, slightly down from last year's projections. The carbon project scientists projected that this year the burning of fossil fuels and making of cement (水泥) will have put another 38.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in the air. That's the equivalent of nearly 1.2 million kilograms of heat-trapping gas going into the air every second. The scientists say one bright point is that 35 countries cut their fossil fuel emissions from last year and were still thriving economically. But at the same time the United States, which used to be cutting fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions, spewed 2% more pollution this year compared with last year. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 ?? 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tropical Storm FungWong Storm Circle Continues Shrinking The Central Weather Administration says Tropical Storm Fung-wong is continuing to weaken, with its storm circle shrinking. As a result, Yunlin County and Penghu are no longer included in the Land Warning area. Forecasters believe the system may weaken into a tropical depression sooner than previously expected. As of 9 a.m. today, the center was located about 140 kilometers west-southwest of Eluanbi, at the island's southermost tip. It was moving in an east-northeasterly direction at speeds between 16 and 32 kilometers per hour. The storm is packing sustained wind speeds of 72 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 101 kilometers per hour. The storm circle, with a radius of 150 kilometers, has entered the southern part of Taiwan. The CWA's land warning remains in effect for Pingtung,Chiayi,Tainan,Kaohsiung,Nantou,Hualien,Taitung , and theHengchun Peninsula. Forecasters note that satellite imagery shows the storm's structure has deteriorated, with the upper and lower centers separating. Fung-wong is still expected to move northeast and potentially make landfall on the Hengchun Peninsula this evening. (NS) Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 69-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,853 on turnover of $8.9-billion N-T. The market ground on Tuesday after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing gave up its early gains to end the trading lower. The market rose to the day's high within 10 minutes of opening on buying sparked by a rally on Wall Street overnight led by tech heavyweights, but selling quickly emerged (出現了) - with large cap tech stocks, including T-S-M-C, in focus. Pakistan Bombing Leaves 12 Dead A suicide bombing in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad has killed at least 12 people, and injured (受傷) another 30. The blast happened near the entrance of the city's district court. The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has blamed India for the attack. Hira Mustafa sent this report from the blast site in Islamabad. EU India Navies Take Over Pirates Ship The European Union and Indian navies have taken over a ship used by pirates off the coast of Somalia to seize a Malta-flagged tanker. The Iranian fishing vessel was used as a “mother ship” for the attacks. A team from the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria boarded the the vessel and found the original crew safe. The EU naval force says piracy in the area has been disrupted (被擾亂的). Somali pirate attacks have increased over the last year, partly due to instability caused by attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea corridor. Blue Diamond Auctioned for Over 25Million A blue diamond weighing nearly 10 carats has sold at auction in Switzerland for $25.6 million including fees. The “Mellon Blue” is named for the late American arts patron Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. The "Fancy Vivid Blue and Internally Flawless" stone had been expected to fetch $20-$30 million at the Christie’s auction on Tuesday. Some experts say the price of the gem was weighed down by a broader market mood, with geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty keeping many buyers away. Christie’s says its highest price for a vivid (鮮豔的) blue diamond was set in Geneva in 2016 when the 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Blue sold for more than $57 million. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 ?? 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. CWA Forecasts Heavy Rainfall with Land and Sea Warnings for TyphoonFung-Wong The Central Weather Administration is warning of significant rainfall, after both land and sea warnings were issued for Typhoon Fung-Wong. The CWA warns that the interaction between the typhoon's outer bands and a northeast monsoon will significantly intensify rainfall. Officials say rainfall will be persistent (持續的) and heavy in the mountainous areas of greater Taipei, eastern Taiwan, and the Hengchun Peninsula. Residents are urged to avoid mountain areas due to the risk of landslides, falling rocks, and surging rivers. And strong winds and high waves are expected along coastal areas, with waves possibly reach three to five meters, or more in southern and southeastern areas. The public is advised to avoid coastal activities as much as possible. The land warning currently covers Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, and the Hengchun Peninsula. The storm is currently located some 360-kilometers southwest of Eluanbi at the island's southern most tip and is moving in a north-northeasterly direction at 12-kilometers-an-hour. The storm has a radius of 230-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds of 108-kilometers-an-hour, with gust of up to 113-kilometers-an-hour. The typhoon is expected to come closest to Taiwan between tomorrow afternoon and evening, before moving out to sea east of Taiwan early Thursday morning. Belarus Threatens to Seize Trucks After Lithuania Border Closing Belarus’ authoritarian leader is threatening to seize over 1,000 Lithuanian trucks stranded (被困住) in the country following the closure of its border with Lithuania after repeated incursions (侵入) by air balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes. Lithuania, a NATO and European Union member, closed the two border crossings with Belarus on Oct. 29 after weather balloons flying from Belarus caused repeated disruption ( 干擾、中斷) of air traffic at the Lithuanian capital’s airport. The border will remain closed until at least the end of this month. Lithuanian officials cast the balloon disruption as part of anti-Western activities by Russia-allied Belarus intended to undermine stability. Lithuania borders Belarus as well as Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. India Police Investigating Delhi Blast The death toll from a blast in New Delhi has reached eight, with 20 people injured. Police are investigating what caused the blast, which took place late on Monday, in a crowded market very close to the iconic (非常出名的，標誌性的) Red Fort. Neha Poonia has more. IMO Pushes for Less Fossil Fuels in Shipping The head of the International Maritime Organization says he’s continuing to “advocate and campaign” for global regulations to move the shipping industry away from fossil fuels, after the United States and Saudi Arabia blocked new rules last month. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez spoke at one of the first side events at the U.N. climate negotiations that began Monday on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon. The event was held to discuss the shipping industry’s efforts to slash carbon pollution by transitioning (轉變) away from fossil fuels. Maritime nations were set to adopt the first global carbon fee on shipping last month at the IMO. Delegates decided to postpone the decision by a year and adjourn. Dominguez says the work continues. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 ?? 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮幕驊和元大投顧分析師及專業團隊 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 154 -points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,805 on turnover of 7.4-billion N-T. The market closed lower Friday as investors took cue from losses on Wall Street overnight amid concerns over America's job market after the latest large layoffs and overvalued artificial intelligence stocks. The decline saw the main board dipping below the nearest technical support at 27,717 - which is the 20-day moving average. CWA to issued seas warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong this afternoon The Central Weather Administration is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon after is crosses the Philippine island of Luzon. The storm entered the South China Sea earlier this morning after passing through Luzon, and could potentially veer (轉向) in a northerly direction toward Taiwan. It if does veer north, the weather administration's forecast center says current data shows the eye of the storm will likely made landfall in Taiwan between Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning. According to the forecast center, it remains too early to say the exact location of landfall, but the center and south have a higher probability, but areas including Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli County cannot be ruled out. Fung-wong is currently located some 500-kilometers south of Eluanbi at Taiwan's southern most tip and is moving in a northwesterly direction at 19-kilometers-an-hour. The storm has a radius of 250-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds of 144-kilometers-an-hour, with gust of up to 180-kilometers-an-hour. Typhoon Fung-Wong is forecast to bring heavy or torrential rain and strong winds to northern and eastern parts of Taiwan this week. The weather administration is expected to issue a land warning tomorrow. Israel confirms release of soldier killed in 2014 Israel is confirming that it has received the remains of a soldier killed in Gaza in 2014. That's after Hamas turned over the body of Hadar Goldin. Mimmi Montgomery has the details Israel recovered the remains of another soldier killed in 2014, Oron Shaul, earlier this year. The remains of four hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that sparked (激發了) the current war are still in Gaza. Mexico Deploys More Troops to Michoacan Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced the deployment of more troops to Michoacan to address ongoing violence. This decision follows the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo, which sparked protests across the state. Nearly 1,000 additional troops are set to arrive, bringing the total federal forces in Michoacan to over 10-thousand. The government plans to invest over $3 billion in the state, much of it in existing federal social programs. On the security side, Sheinbaum's administration is focusing intelligence gathering and investigations against organized crime. Sheinbaum has pledged to keep Michoacan's security issues on the national agenda, emphasizing (強調) support for its residents. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 投資免費講座 AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 ?? 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮慕驊和元大投顧分析師, 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 81-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,818 on turnover of $6.6-billion N-T. The market rebounded on Thursday, after Wall Street ended in positive territory overnight on the back of upbeat economic updates and a steady flow of quarterly reports from U-S companies, which helped counter worries over an A-I bubble. Bag of cash left in train station bathroom leads police to bust fraud ring The Railway Police Bureau says it has arrested 11 suspects suspected of operating a fraud ring after discovering they'd being using a train station public toilet as a hand-off point for illicit cash. According to the bureau, the investigation began after a passenger found a bag containing 1-million N-T cash in a men's bathroom stall at Changhua's Yuanlin Station. Police say a man later appeared at the station claiming he had left his bag in the bathroom. He was questioned, failed to account for where the money came from and was arrested on the spot after authorities concluded the cash was illegally obtained (獲得) via fraud. Police later used surveillance video footage to track the man's movements and identified the organization's leader - who was later arrested at Taoyuan International Airport while attempting to leave Taiwan. The suspects are believed to have defrauded multiple victims of over 10 million N-T. Trump seeks mineral deals with Central Asian nations US President Donald Trump is welcoming the leaders of five Central Asian countries to the White House, as he looks to strengthen relations with the region and secure mineral deals. The US is trying to counter (對抗) the strong ties that Russia and China enjoys with the five nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan Nick Harper reports from Washington. UN lifts Syria sanctions The U.N. Security Council has voted to lift a series of sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and members of his government days before he's set to arrive in the U.S. for a historic visit to the White House. The U.S. resolution to drop U.N. sanctions tied to al-Sharaa and Syria’s interior minister, Anas Hasan Khattab, passed with 14 members in support. China abstained (棄權) from the vote. American officials pushed to pass the resolution before Monday, when President Donald Trump is expected to host al-Sharaa in the first visit by a Syrian president to Washington since the country gained independence in 1946. Peru Declares Claudia Sheinbaum Peru’s Congress has declared Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata. The announcement follows Mexico's decision to grant asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez. Peruvian officials have accused Mexico of interfering (幹擾) in their internal affairs. On Monday, Peru’s interim President Jose Jeri severed diplomatic relations with Mexico over the asylum decision. Chavez is being prosecuted for her role in the attempted dissolution of Congress in 2022. Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has called Peru’s decision excessive and maintains that granting asylum is consistent with international law. Peru is analyzing a legal response while Chavez remains in the Mexican diplomatic residence. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. AI 投資免費講座 AI 不只是科技，更是投資的新藍海 ?? 您還沒上車嗎? 11/22下午二點，由ICRT與元大投信共同舉辦的免費講座 會中邀請理財專家阮慕驊和元大投顧分析師, 帶你掌握「AI 投資機會」 加碼好康！ 只要「報名並親臨現場參加活動」 就有機會抽中 全家禮券200元，共計5名幸運得主！ 活動地點：台北文化大學APA藝文中心--數位演講廳（台北市中正區延平南路127號4樓） 免費入場，名額倒數中!! 立即報名：https://www.icrt.com.tw/app/2025yuanta/ 「投資一定有風險，基金投資有賺有賠，申購前應詳閱公開說明書」 #AI投資 #元大投信 #理財講座 #免費講座 #投資趨勢 #ETF -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 189-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,906 on turnover of 8.8-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Wednesday, led by large cap artificial intelligence-related stocks on the back of heavy losses by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight amid investor concerns of an A-I bubble. MOFA still in talks with Estonia over opening reciprocal offices Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the government is still in talks with Estonia on the "name and legal status" related to setting up reciprocal (互惠的) representative offices. Speaking during a legislative hearing, Lin said the ongoing talks are focusing on issues such as the title of the representative offices, their legal status, and other concerns related to diplomatic immunity and privileges. The statement follows reports that the government is hoping the office will follow the formula of its counterpart in Lithuania, called the "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania." However, Estonia is reportedly insisting on using the title "Taipei" due to concerns about a backlash from China. DPP claims 'most' people oppose opposition pension proposals The D-P-P legislative caucus says a recent survey shows a majority (多數) of people oppose bills proposed by the K-M-T to end annual cuts to civil servant pensions. The survey was conducted by the D-P-P. According to D-P-P lawmaker Wu Si-yao, it found that 59.7-per cent of respondents supported continuing pension reforms initiated by the D-P-P in 2016, while only 31.7-per cent thought they should be stopped. Wu says stopping reforms will exacerbate inequality between active and retired workers, civil servants and workers receiving labor, farmer and national pensions. The K-M-T legislative caucus has placed the bills at the top of its priority for the current legislative session. Philippine Typhoon Death Toll Rises Philippine officials say the death toll from flooding and damage caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi has risen to at least 114. They say 127 others are reported missing, with many of them in a hard-hit province still recovering from a deadly earthquake. The Philippine government says most of the deaths were reported in the central province of Cebu, which was struck by Kalmaegi on Tuesday, setting off flash floods and causing a river and other waterways to overflow (溢出). Kalmaegi moved away from western Palawan province into the South China Sea before noon Wednesday and was heading toward Vietnam. Supreme Court skeptical of Trump tariffs The US Supreme Court appeared skeptical of President Donald Trump's power to unilaterally impose tariffs during a three-hour hearing. It comes after Trump used a law designed for national emergencies to justify his sweeping (廣泛的，全面的) economic agenda Nick Harper reports from the Supreme Court in Washington DC. Interpol Launches Campaign to Fight Illegal Deforestation Interpol and partners have launched a global law enforcement effort to fight illegal deforestation in tropical areas. Wednesday's announcement says it's aimed at dismantling (拆解) criminal networks behind illegal logging, timber trafficking and gold mining. They drive large-scale deforestation and generate billions in illicit profits each year. The effort was announced ahead of the U.N. COP30 climate summit in Brazil. It will focus mainly on tropical forests in Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Peru. Interpol is working with with the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime on the new effort. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 330-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,785 N-T on turnover of 13-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Tuesday as investors locked in profits from the previous session by trimming holdings in artificial intelligence-related stocks on relatively high valuations. 50 Lose Taiwanese citizenship due to Chinese identity documents Mainland Affairs Council head Chiu Chui-cheng says about 50 people have lost their "Taiwan status" because they were confirmed to hold household registrations in China or have obtained Chinese passports. According to Chiu, household registration agencies have been notified to revoke the household registrations of the 50 individuals after evidence of their holding China-related documents was confirmed. The cases were reported by members of the public and confirmed through investigations or discovered by relevant (相關的) authorities. The Lai administration has repeatedly warned that violators of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area will have their Taiwan household registration revoked. FM Lin meets with Australia-bound Young Agriculture Ambassadors Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has presented a group of 16 Australia-bound Young Agricultural Ambassadors with the R-O-C flag at a ceremony in Taipei. Speaking at the event, Lin said the ambassadors will have multiple exchanges with Australian agricultural communities during their visit from November 22 to November 30. The 16 were selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their expertise (專業知識) in biotechnology, recreational farming and organic fertilizers as part of the government-funded annual Young Agricultural Ambassadors program. The program aims to promote exchanges between Taiwan and 18 countries targeted by the New Southbound Policy. Brazil Prez Outlines Amazon Fund Plans Brazil’s leader, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, says he wants the future of the Amazon rainforest to be built around a major fund that will pay countries to keep their forests standing. He spoke to reporters on Tuesday ahead of the United Nations’ climate summit known as COP30. It gets underway this week in Belem, a Brazilian city in the edge of the Amazon. In Belem, Lula is expected to launch an initiative named Tropical Forests Forever Fund, aiming to support more than 70 developing countries that commit to preservation. The official COP30 website describes the initiative (新措施) as a “permanent trust fund” that would generate about $4 from the private sector for every $1 contributed. Brazil's president did not provide more details about how the plan would come to action. So far, Colombia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Malaysia have joined. US Mamdani the favourite as New York votes for Mayor America's biggest city could soon have its first Muslim mayor, as voters head to the polls in a race that has gained international attention. Zohran Mamdani is the favourite to beat former Governor Andrew Cuomo, after captivating (吸引) a younger generation as a self-described "democratic socialist." Mitch McCann reports from New York. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 30-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,364 on turnover of 5.4-billion N-T. The market closed on higher Monday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing recovered its early losses amid continuing investor optimism toward artificial intelligence development. Defense minister admits only 10 F-16Vs will be delivered on time Defense Minister Wellington Koo has admitted that the delivery of the 66 F-16V figher jets purchased by Taiwan from the U-S has been delayed due to production problems. However, Koo says some of them may be delivered on time next year. Speaking at a hearing of the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Koo said 50 of the fighter jets are currently being assembled by Lockheed Martin in the U-S. According to the defense minister, 10 of the F-16Vs are expected to roll off the assembly line by the end of this year, after which they will undergo (經歷) test flights before being delivered to the Air Force. Prosecutors seeking detention for former tenant in deadly Taichung House Fire And, The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office says it's seeking the detention of a 64-year-old man as a suspect in a house fire in the city's Wuri District that left a 17-year-old dead and her 50-year-old mother in critical condition. The blaze occurred in a two-story sheet-metal building. The woman suffered second-degree burns to 80-per cent of her body and remains critical condition at the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, while her 17-year-old daughter was pronounced dead at the city's Asia University Hospital. The suspect was served an eviction notice in July by the family who own the building and the family have accused of him sexually harassing the deceased (死者) teenage victim. Prosecutor says the man is facing possible charges of murder and endangering public safety. US Trump Administration to only partially fund food stamps during shutdown The Trump administration says it will only provide partial food stamp payments this month due to the government shutdown, now in its second month That is expected to further strain the 42 million Americans who rely (依賴) on the food assistance program known as SNAP. Ira Spitzer reports from Washington Peru Severs Relations with Mexico Peru has severed diplomatic relations with Mexico after Mexican authorities granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez. Chavez faces charges in Peru related to a 2022 coup attempt. Peru's foreign minister expressed surprise and regret over the asylum (庇護) decision during a press conference on Monday. Chavez is reportedly staying at the Mexican Embassy in Peru. UK Queen Elizabeth Fashions Exhibition The largest-ever exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II's fashion is set to open at Buckingham Palace next year to mark her birth centenary. Officials say the exhibition will feature around 200 items, with about half never publicly displayed before. Highlights include her wedding and coronation gowns, as well as a bridesmaid dress worn by an 8-year-old Princess Elizabeth. Visitors can also see her private wardrobe and design sketches. The display will include pieces by contemporary (當代的) British designers to highlight her legacy. The exhibition will run from April to Oct., 2026. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 Friday's close, at 28,253 on turnover of 5.4-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Friday after Wall Street fell back following President Donald Trump's meeting with China's Xi Jinping as investors remained concerned over persisting trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Urgent Care Centers begin operating on Sundays Urgent Care Centers began operating on Sunday at 13 locations across the six special municipalities, staffed by rotating primary care physicians. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says centers will be open on Sundays and national holidays for patients with fevers, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, minor injuries or acute (急性) discomfort in children. The fees will be lower than large hospitals and are party of efforts by the government to reducing patient numbers in emergency rooms. Tainan runners shine at Penghu Cross-Island Marathon Participants from a Tainan-based group were the biggest winners at Sunday's 2025 Penghu Cross-Island Marathon. The Penghu National Scenic Area Headquarters says a total of 3,443 runners from 19 countries took part in the event. They included 101 international athletes, 2,664 from Taiwan proper, and 678 from Penghu. An eight-member team from Tainan took the line honors (最先完成賽程的榮譽) in both the men's an women's races. UK One Train Stabbing Suspect Released Without Charge British police say one of two men arrested over a stabbing attack on a train has been released without charge. The attack took place as the 6:25 p.m. train from Doncaster in northern England to London’s King’s Cross station was about halfway through its two-hour journey, having just departed (離開) from a stop. The only remaining suspect is a 32-year-old British man who remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said earlier that two men, aged 32 and 35, were arrested after the attack that left 11 people hospitalized. One victim remains in a life-threatening condition – a member of train staff whom police say saved lives with his “heroic” actions. US Treasury Secretary likens Canadian tariff ad to 'election interference' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has likened the Canadian province of Ontario's television advertisement criticizing Donald Trump's tariffs to 'election interference (選舉干涉)'. He also said that the US president's threat of 10% additional tariffs on Canada hasn't taken effect yet. Ira Spitzer has more from Washington. Italy Revives Temp Bridge to San Michele Venice has revived a tradition of building a temporary bridge to San Michele island for All Souls' Day. The bridge allows Venetians to walk the quarter-mile lagoon crossing to pay respects to their dead. The practice, originally made of boats lashed (綁住) together, stopped in the 1950s. It was revived in 2019 with modern pontoon construction but was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bridge opened Thursday for the Roman Catholic holiday. Only residents could use it through Sunday, and it opens to tourists on Monday. San Michele has been Venice’s main burial ground since 1807. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 7-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,280 on turnover of T$4.8-billion N-T. Government announces subsidy measures for swine fever losses The government has announced subsidies for pig farmers and other businesses in the pork industry affected by controls put in place due to an outbreak of African swine fever. Pig farmers will receive subsidies of 300 N-T per animal for higher feed costs resulting from the ban on using food waste, and up to 18,000 N-T for every farm to cover fuel expenses for clearing out food waste. They're also entitled to an 810 N-T per animal for additional feed costs resulting from the slaughter ban. Meat sellers will receive 30,000 N-T compensation (賠償) for income losses from suspending operations during the transport and slaughter bans, while meat markets can receive up to 200,000 N-T for rent cost losses. While individual meat wholesalers will be entitled to 15,000 N-T for operation suspension losses. The Ministry of Agriculture is also offering 5,000 N-T to farmers who inform them of a new A-S-F case as part of efforts to encourage proactive reporting. Trump Administration to slash refugee numbers to 7500 from 125,000 The Trump administration says it will restrict the number of refugees (難民) it allows into the United States next year to just 7-thousand-500 and most of those admitted will be white South Africans, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. That's down from 125-thousand people last year under the Biden Administration. Kate fisher reports from Washington Prince Andrew Stripped of Titles and Evicted Buckingham Palace says that King Charles III is stripping his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicting (驅逐) him from his royal residence. In a statement, the palace says Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince. He will move from his Royal Lodge residence into “private accommodation (住宿)”. The moves follow revelations about Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace said the thoughts of the king and Queen Camilla are with "the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.” Latvia Withdraws from Intl Treaty Supporting Victims of Violence The Latvian parliament has voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty supporting women who are victims of violence. The decision came on Thursday after a 13-hour intense debate. The treaty, effective in Latvia since 2024, aims to standardize (標準化) support for victims of violence. Critics argue it promotes "gender ideology." In September, opposition lawmakers initiated the withdrawal process, supported by some coalition members. Latvia's president is expected to review the law, and has several options, including returning the law to parliament for reassessment or, under specific circumstances, triggering a referendum. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 55-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,350 on turnover of 10-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday on the back of upbeat comments by Nvidia on artificial intelligence - which sparked strong buying in local electronics heavyweights. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing was in focus and rose by 2-per cent to close at 1,505 N-T -- contributing about 240 points to the main board's rise and sending the electronics sub-index up by 1.67-per cent. Nvidia confirms Taipei's Beitou Shilin Tech Park for Taiwan HQ Nvidia has confirmed that its Taiwan headquarters will be built on two plots of land at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park. According to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, the city government is taking steps to fast-track administrative procedures to help the company establish its presence (在場) as soon as possible. The mayor is estimating that a formal contract between the city and Nvidia can be expected by mid-2026. Nvidia founder and C-E-O Jensen Huang first announced plans to establish the company's new Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park in May of this year. Cabinet to promote local pay rises for more migrant workers The Cabinet is scheduled to refine its policies on the employment of migrant workers. The moves include allowing the hiring of additional workers beyond existing quotas, provided each extra foreign worker results in a local employee receiving a monthly pay increase of 2,000 N-T. According to Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung, the number of migrant workers to be employed under the planned new system will be capped (為…設定了上限) at less than 10-per cent of an employer's total workforce. The Cabinet is expected to approve measures during a meeting later today. Liberal D66 party on track to win Dutch elections Exit polls suggest that 38-year-old Rob Jetten's liberal D66 party is on track to win the Dutch elections. The far-right anti-immigration PVV led by Geert Wilders look set to come second but in a far weaker (較弱) position than the last election two years ago. William Denselow reports from The Hague. Morocco Charges for Protesters Morocco has charged more than 2,400 people over youth-led protests that turned violent earlier this month, a sweeping response to some of the country’s largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Of the 2,480 people who have been charged, nearly 1-thousand-500 of them remain in custody awaiting trial. Charges included armed rebellion, insulting (侮辱) and using violence against public officials, and incitement to commit felonies. The wave of arrests has alarmed human rights groups and become an additional rallying cry (戰鬥口號) for demonstrators, who have at recent protests held signs for those arrested for attending protests. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 208-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,157 on turnover of 9.9-billion N-T. The main board followed other regional markets and lost ground on Tuesday as investors await the outcome of a meeting between U-S President Donald Trump and his China's counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea tomorrow. The main board briefly breaching the 28,000-point mark, but downward pressure emerged as investors opted to lock-in profits. Lin Hsin-i heads to APEC Leaders Meeting in South Korea Presidential Adviser Lin Hsin-i has arrived in South Korea ahead of this week's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea. Lin has been appointed as President Lai Ching-te's envoy to the the two-day event which begins on Friday. Prior to boarding his flight at Taoyuan International Airport, Lin told reporters that he will highlight Taiwan's strengths in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, smart healthcare, and small and medium-sized enterprises (企業) while in South Korea. He also expressed his hope that the meeting will help attract more investment, strengthen international cooperation, and raise Taiwan's profile in APEC. Taoyuan Airport 3rd runway completion pushed back to 2032 The Taoyuan International Airport Corporation has admitted that completion of the airport's third runway has been pushed back from 2030 to 2032. The airport operator's assistant vice president Bi Jin-ling says the relocation of residents from a site reserved for (保留給) the new runway has been postponed until the end of next year - which has delayed construction. The planned third runway is located north of the airport's existing site and began the first phase of construction in September of 2023. Construction is expected to take at least six years. Israeli forces kill three people near Jenin The Israeli military carried out an airstrike near Jenin in the Occupied West Bank on Tuesday in an operation that killed three Palestinians accused of plotting (密謀) an attack. Blake Sifton reports from Tel Aviv. US kills 14 in strikes on four alleged drug boats in Pacific U-S Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the military has killed 14 people in strikes on four alleged drug boats in the Pacific. It's the latest in a series of attacks on boats the U-S says have been carrying drugs in both the Pacific and Caribbean. The latest strikes in the eastern Pacific, mark an escalation (升級) in what it has cast as a campaign to stop narcotics (毒品) from entering the U-S. Mexico's navy says it is still searching for a lone survivor approximately 640-kilometers from the Pacific coastal city of Acapulco. The strikes have drawn condemnation in the region and experts have questioned their legality. Newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript featuring the Cat in the Hat to be published next year. And finally, A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript featuring the Cat in the Hat will be published next year. The book, titled "Sing the 50 United States," celebrates the United States and is set for release just in time for America's 250th anniversary. This is the first full manuscript by Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Geisel, to be found since 2015. The manuscript was discovered earlier this year at the Geisel Library in California. New illustrations in the style of Dr. Seuss were created by artist Tom Brannon. Random House Children's Books plans to publish the book on June 2, 2026. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Taiwan-friendly parliamentary group meets in Taipei Zeng Yani claims first title in over a decade at 2025 Wistron Ladies Open US-Canade trade talks Bolsonaro lawyers call for review of coup plot sentencing Investigators racing to solve Louvre heist -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 497-points this morning from last Thursday's close, at 28,029 on turnover of 17-billion N-T. The market was closed on Friday for a national holildy, by lost ground on Thursday - after the tech heavy Nasdaq fell on Wall Street fell. TFAU urges EVA Airways to deliver on sick leave policy reforms Members of the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union are urging EVA Airways to make a concrete commitment not to penalize employees in their performance evaluations for taking sick leave. The call come in the wake of the recent death of an EVA Air flight attendant on October 10 - who fell ill while working a round-trip flight between Taipei and Milan. She had worked despite being ill, reportedly because of the company's strict sick leave policy. Union chair Steven Chang says flight attendants face time zone differences and various occupational (職業性的) risks, and are often the ones caring for others, but when they need care, they are afraid to take sick leave .. .. and that fear is a consequence of EVA Airway's long-standing systemic problems. Liu You-yun wins Taiwan's 1st World Taekwondo gold in a decade And, Liu You-yun has won Taiwan's first gold medal in 10 years at the World Taekwondo Championships. She beat her Turkish opponent in the women's under-49 kilogram kyorugi final in Wuxi, China. The 18-year old also also won the women's under-49 kilogram titles at the Swedish Open and the Charlotte World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge earlier this year - cementing (加強，鞏固) her rise as one of Taiwan's top young fighters. The gold medal in China this weekend marks Taiwan's first at the biennial championships since 2015 - when Zhuang Chia-chia won in the women's under67 kilogram division in Russia. Hamas expands search for the remains of hostages in Gaza Hamas is expanding (擴大) its search for the remains of hostages in Gaza, a day after Egypt sent a team with heavy equipment. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Report: Uncontacted Indigenous Groups Face Growing Threats A report says nearly 200 uncontacted Indigenous groups remain worldwide and face growing threats. The new report by Survival International, a London-based Indigenous rights organization, identifies at least 196 uncontacted Indigenous groups in 10 countries, primarily in the South American nations sharing the Amazon rainforest. The report estimates that nearly 65% face threats from logging, about 40% from mining and around 20% from agribusiness. Survival’s research concludes that half of these groups “could be wiped out within 10 years if governments and companies do not act.” Advocates urge governments to enforce (執行) land rights, ban extractive (提取的) projects in their territories and adopt a global “no-contact” policy, stressing that their survival is vital for both human rights and climate stability. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 191-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,457 on turnover of 7.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday as selling was focused on large cap semiconductor stocks after the teach heavy Nasdaq lost ground on Wall Street overnight. Analysts say many investors opted to turn cautious about a possible major pullback (退卻，拉回) on the main board from recent strong showingd and opted to lock in profits from previous sessions. Shin Kong Life to end Taipei land contract to make way for Nvidia's TaiwanHQ Shin Kong Life Insurance say its willing to relinquish the surface rights to two plots of land in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park to allow Nvidia to build it's new headquarters in Taipei. Shin Kong Life Chairman Mark Wei made the announcement at press conference - telling reporters that company's board has decided to terminate its contract with the Taipei City government, contingent upon the reimbursement (報銷) of land development costs. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government will now meet with Shin Kong Life to negotiate the contract termination. Red alert lifted for Matai'an Creek barrier lake after one month The Central Emergency Operations Center has lifted the red alert for Hualien's Matai'an Creek barrier lake and says monitoring of the area has now returned to normal levels. According to center chief coordinator Ji Lien-cheng, the criteria (標準) for lifting the alert has been met, as the water level in the lake is now stable, dredging operations in the river are ongoing and evacuation plans have been drafted. Ji says the temporary embankment has also been strengthened. The barrier lake formed in July and overflowed after a dam collapsed on September 23. The Central Emergency Operations Center has said it could take up to five years for recovery work to be completed in the townships affected by the flooding. ICJ says Israell can't use starvation as method of war The International Court of Justice has announced that Israel can't use starvation as a method of warfare and must ensure the basic needs of the people in Gaza are met. This advisory opinion issued by the United Nations' top court isn't legally binding (具有法律約束力) and has been described by Israeli officials as "shameful." William Denselow reports from the ICJ in The Hague. Canada to Double NonUS Exports in Next Decade Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's setting a goal for the country to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade, saying Canada’s former strengths based on close ties to the United States have become vulnerabilities. Carney reiterated in an evening speech that the decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship between the Canadian and U.S. economies is now over. He says "the U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade", and Canada "can't rely on one foreign partner". More than 75% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. Tensions between the neighbors and longtime allies have eased (緩和) slightly in recent months as Carney tries to get a trade deal with Trump, but tariffs are taking a toll, particularly in the aluminum, steel, auto and lumber sectors. Carney says Canada is e re-engaging China and India. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 138-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,614 on turnover of 7.6-billion N-T. The market closed at a yet another record high on Tuesday, despite giving up most of its early gains as investors rushed to lock in profits from previous sessions. Taiwan envoy Lin Hsin-i to stress economic resilience and AI at APEC President Lai Ching-te says has asked his envoy to the next week's APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, to promote three key messages on Taiwan's economic resilience (復原力), innovation, and people-centered artificial intelligence. Speaking at send-off news conference, Lai thanked Presidential Adviser Lin Hsin-i for accepting the role and outlined three main messages for Lin to convey at the summit. Those included Taiwan commitment to enhancing economic resilience, the island's moving from "manufacturing" to "creation" and his government's human-centered approach to artificial intelligence. Lin said he will engage actively with APEC leaders and business representatives during the summit to show that Taiwan is a responsible, trustworthy and benevolent partner. Repeat offense drivers required to take remedial classes from March 2026 And, The Ministry of Transport says drivers who commit certain traffic violations (違規行為) over three times in a one-year period will be required to attend a three-hour class to improve their driving safety awareness starting in March of next year. The violations include running red lights, failing to observe the right of way at intersections with no signals, and not slowing down as required when passing crosswalks, hospitals, or schools. While professional drivers of large commercial vehicles will be required to take the class after two offenses within a year. The mandate is part of a series new traffic regulations being rolled out next year as part of the government's efforts to reduce traffic accident fatalities by 7-per cent annually. San Francisco officials threaten to sue if Trump sends National Guard San Francisco officials say they'll take legal action if the Trump administration sends the National Guard to the city, calling the threat unnecessary (不必要) and unlawful. It comes after a federal appeals court cleared the way for the Guard's deployment to Portland, part of a wider clash between the White House and Democratic-led cities. Ira Spitzer reports. DR Trapped Miners Rescued Crews in the Dominican Republic have rescued 80 miners who became trapped in the Caribbean nation. The government says no one was injured or killed. Officials say the miners became trapped Tuesday when a portion (部分) of a zinc and copper mine in a rural area northwest of the capital collapsed. All miners were located underground in a safe area and were being lifted aboveground. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 53-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,742 on turnover of 11-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Monday, as it notched up yet another closing record after the bellwether electronics sector staged a rebound from Friday's slump amid lingering investor optimism toward artificial intelligence development. KMT chair-elect reiterates willingness to meet Xi Jinping 'for peace' The K-M-T's chair-elect says she is willing to do everything to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait, including meeting China's Xi Jinping. According to Cheng Li-wun, she's will take any steps and and meet anyone as long as it addresses cross-strait conflicts and disagreements, promotes peace and cooperation, and brings about common prosperity (繁榮). Citing a United Daily News survey on cross-strait relations released in late September, which showed that 63-per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with President Lai Ching-te's related policies - Cheng says the D-P-P's "anti-China card" had led Taiwan into a dead-end. Cheng won more than 50-per cent of the vote in Saturday's K-M-T leadership election to become the party's second elected female chair. Kaohsiung says Blackpink gave city tourism NT$300 million boost The Kaohsiung's Economic Development Bureau says Blackpink's concerts this past weekend helped the city generate over 300-million N-T in tourism revenue. City officials say more than 120,000 people came to see the all girl K-pop group at the National Stadium over two days. Many vendors in night markets saw their sales jump by at least 30-per cent on both Saturday and Sunday. The city's Transportation Bureau says, including ticketholders and tailgaters (停車場聚會者), as many as 63,000 people were present within and around the stadium on Saturday, while as many as 59,000 were at there on Sunday. Kaohsiung was the first Asian stop of Blankpink's "Deadline" world tour. Australian PM visits the White House US President Donald Trump is welcoming Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his first visit to the White House since the start of the president's second term. Charlotte North reports from Washington. Myanmar Shuts Down Online Scam Operation Myanmar's military says it has shut down a major online scam operation near the Thailand border. State media reported Monday that more than 2,000 people were detained, and dozens of Starlink satellite internet terminals were seized. Myanmar is known for cyberscam operations that defraud people worldwide. These scams often involve fake romantic schemes and bogus (虛假) investments. The army raided KK Park starting in early September. The area is on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a trading town under the influence of ethnic minority militias. Brazil Approves Exploratory Drilling Near Amazon River Brazil’s government has approved exploratory drilling by state-run oil-giant Petrobras near the mouth of the Amazon River. The decision comes only weeks before the United Nations climate conference in Belem, COP30, where efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels will be discussed. Petrobras said in a statement Monday that the drilling could start right away and take up to five months. The Equatorial Margin deposit off the coast of Brazil is believed to be rich in oil and gas. The biodiverse area is home to little-studied mangroves and a coral reef, and activists and experts have said the project risks leaks that could be carried widely by tides and imperil (威脅) the sensitive environment. Petrobras has long argued it has never caused spills in its drillings. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 178-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,480 on turnover of 8.6-billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 350-points on Friday, but still managed to close the trading day above the 27,000 point mark, as investors reacted to a decline a Wall Street overnight driven by concerns over the loan portfolios of some of America's biggest banks. NSB boosting anti-drone systems and monitoring extremists to protect leaders The National Security Bureau say it's taking steps to better protect the president, vice president, Cabinet members, and other top officials by boosting counter-drone capabilities and closely monitoring political extremists. According to the bureau, security threats are on the rise amid what is says is "a complex, hazardous (危險的) landscape and sophisticated U-A-V technology." The N-S-B says it has purchased new anti-drone guns and drone jammers, with the aim of enhancing its countermeasure capabilities, while at the same time is enhancing information sharing among police and local intelligence agencies. The N-S-B's latest report on improving security for political leaders is slated to be reviewed by lawmakers on the Legislative Internal Administration Committee later today. 30 riders rescued after 40 minutes on stalled Ferris wheel in Taipei And, The Ferris wheel at the Miramar Entertainment Park in Taipei came to a halt on Sunday afternoon trapping more than 30 people. The Taipei City Fire Department says sent firefighters to scene at around 2:30PM following an apparent mechanical failure on the Ferris wheel in the Zhongshan District. According to the department, 30 people trapped in 10 gondolas on the Ferris wheel … and they were there for about 40-minutes. There were no reported injuries or illnesses. The cause of the malfunction (故障) is still under investigation. Afghanistan and Pakistan pledge to respect ceasefire Afghanistan and Pakistan pledge (保證) to respect a ceasefire after more than a week of deadly fighting AP correspondent Julie Walker reports US Trump Mulls Buying Argentinian Beef President Donald Trump says the United States could purchase Argentinian beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers. He made the statement to reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight Sunday from Florida to Washington. Trump promised earlier this week to address the issue as part of his efforts to keep inflation in check. U.S. beef prices have been stubbornly high for a variety of reasons, including drought (乾旱) and reduced imports from Mexico due to a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds there. Trump has also been movingt to bolster Argentina's currency ahead of midterm elections for his close ally, President Javier Milei. Venezuelan Doctor Canonized as Saint Pope Leo XIV has canonized Venezuela's “doctor of the poor” before tens of thousands of people. Jose Gregorio Hernandez, known for his dedication to the poor, became the South American nation's first saint on Sunday. Thousands of Venezuelans poured into St. Peter’s Square for the Mass. As a doctor in Caracas into the early 1900s, Hernandez refused to take money from the poor for his services and often gave them money for medication. He was killed in a road accident while crossing a street shortly after picking up medicine for a poor elderly woman. In all, seven people will be canonized (冊封為聖人) in a ceremony that Pope Francis put in motion in some of his final acts as pope. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 248-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,399 on turnover of $12.9-billion N-T. The market hit a new high on Thursday, as investors once again flocked to artificial intelligence development related stocks ahead of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's investor conference. T-S-M-C dominated the trading day as it gained 1.37-per cent to close at a new high of 1,485 N-T - contributing 160 points to the Tai-Ex's overall rise and sending the electronics subindex up by 1.69-per cent. Hualien townships finalizes evacuation plan as tropical storm looms The Central Emergency Operations Center says a three-stage evacuation plan has been finalized for residents of Hualien Guangfu, Fenglin and Wanrong townships in anticipation of a tropical storm forming over the weekend. According to the center, a landslide lake alert and forced vertical evacuation could be activated if necessary in order to prepare for the storm's possible formation .. .. and the first phase of the plan will involve relocating elderly residents, those living alone and dialysis patients to hospitals or designated shelters. The center says the second phase will mandate the evacuation of residents living in single-story homes and place them in shelters, while the third phase will require those in multistory houses to take vertical shelter on upper floors. The first phase of the evacuation plan will initiated (啟動) once accumulated rainfall reaches 20-centimeters within 24 hours. Taipei and Shanghai zoos to do African penguin and red panda exchange Taipei Zoo Director Chu Hsiao-fen says the exchange of a pair of African penguins from Taipei for a pair of red pandas from the Shanghai Zoo will be finalized (定局，確定) in the first half of next year. According to Chu, the pandas are currently waiting to take the second of two rabies vaccination jabs before they can come to Taiwan, while the zoo is still confirming which avian flu vaccine the penguins need for their move to Shanghai. Chu says after quarantine procedures are complete on both sides, the two zoos will plan the exchange procedures for the beginning of next year. The exchange was based on a memorandum of understanding bertween the cities, which was signed at the 2024 Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum, which was held in Taipei. Israel Claims Airstrike Killed Houthi Rebel Chief of Staff Israel says an airstrike in August killed the chief of staff of Yemen's Houthi rebels. The group on Thursday acknowledged the death of Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdul Karim al-Ghamari, who had been sanctioned by the United Nations. Israel claimed responsibility for the attack, stating al-Ghamari died from his wounds from the August strike. The U.N. described al-Ghamari as a key figure in orchestrating the Houthis' military efforts, threatening Yemen's peace and security and conducting (進行) cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia. Madagascar coup leader to be sworn in as president as African Union suspends the country Military leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina will be sworn in as Madagascar's transitional (過渡性的) president today, the new leadership has announced. Isaac Lukando reports. Italian Winter Olympics Announces Opening Ceremony Plans Organizers have announced that the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games will feature the most spread-out opening ceremony in history. The Parade of Nations on February 6 will include athletes at Milan’s San Siro Stadium and, for the first time, in three other locations: Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno. This setup allows athletes from all disciplines to participate (參加). Events are scheduled from February 6th to 22-nd across various Italian regions. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 61-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,337 on turnover of 10-billion N-T. The market surged more than 480-points on Wednesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing closed at a new high and investors were encouraged by comments by the head of the U-S Federal Reserve regarding more rate-cuts. NSB head confirmed Numerous videos on KMT leadership race posted outside Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen says his agency has found hundreds of video clips focusing on the K-M-T's leadership election posted from online accounts outside of Taiwan. According to Tsai, most of the 1,000-plus videos identified are circulating (散佈、傳遞) on the Chinese version of TikTok, and over 200 related videos are on YouTube, which were posted from 23 accounts, half of which were not in Taiwan. Tsai declined to say whether any of those accounts were based in China and also refused to says which candidates the videos were stumping for. The statements come after some of the candidates running the K-M-T leadership election this Saturday have been rather vocal in their claims that China is meddling in the race. Women's group calls for tighter surveillance after rape case at Taipei Station The Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation is calling on the city government to improve its safety surveillance systems and encouraging bystander (旁觀者) intervention (介入) following the sexual assault of a woman at the Taipei Main Station last week. The foundation says the city government needs to review and improve its public safety systems, assistance alarm bells could be installed and bystanders should be encouraged to intervene if they witness incidents of sexual assault. The suspect was arrested at the scene. And the Railway Police Bureau says the number of patrols in the station have been increased and officers are now checking toilets and stairwells every two hours to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The US Supreme Court is hearing a case that could upend the midterms The US supreme court will hear arguments in a case that could gut the Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination (歧視) in voting. The outcome of the case could change the course of next year's midterm elections. Charlotte North reports from Washington UN Warns Colombia of Mercury Contamination A United Nations letter to Colombia warns that mercury contamination from illegal gold mining in the Atrato River basin is causing a grave (嚴重的，重大的) human rights crisis for Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. In a letter made public earlier this week, the U.N. Human Rights Council raised concerns with the Colombian government about insufficient (不足的) compliance with a 2016 Constitutional Court ruling that recognized the Atrato River as a legal entity with rights to protection and restoration. The river is one of Colombia’s largest waterways, and is one of the country’s most biodiverse yet impoverished (貧窮)regions. Illegal gold mining is now among the main drivers of deforestation and pollution across Amazon regions, and mercury used to extract gold has devastated wildlife and contaminated the food sources of Indigenous communities in remote areas of the Amazon. The UN letter calls for urgent measures to halt pollution, tackle criminal networks and provide medical care to residents exposed to toxic mercury. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 26,911 on turnover of 8.3-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Tuesday as renewed concerns over US-China trade tensions prompted (促使) investors to lock in profits. Former EVA Airways rep accused of spying for China The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has indicted a former EVA Airways representative to China on charges of spying for Beijing. The former airline representative was stationed in Sichuan and is suspected of being recruited by Chinese intelligence. Reports says he sought classified information from several officials at the Mainland Affairs Council concerning details about direct cross-strait flights. The suspect reportedly attempted to bribe at least one official with a payment of 100,000 N-T multiple times between 2012 and 2014. The Mainland Affairs Council official refused the offer and reported the case to authorities. The suspect has now been charged with violating the National Security Act. MOFA allocates funds to buy representative office space in Boston The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has allocated a budget of 156-million N-T for the purchase of a property (房產) to house its representative office in the U-S city of Boston. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston is currently located in a rented building. According to the foreign ministry, the funding means it will be able to a property in the city, pending approval of the budget by the Cabinet and Legislature. The government also plans to purchase properties in Houston and Denver in the U-S and in Sydney, Australia to house its representative offices .. .. saying the aim of the purchases is to save taxpayer money that is currently being spent on renting overseas offices. Argentina Leader at White House Just hours after returning from his trip to the Middle East, US President Donald Trump is shifting (轉移) his focus to the other side of the world - hosting the Argentinian leader Javier Milei at the White House. It comes after the US agreed to a 20 billion dollar currency swap in a major bailout of the Latin American nation. Kate Fisher reports Congo M23 Establish Oversight Congo and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 have agreed to establish an oversight mechanism for a potential permanent ceasefire. The agreement was announced Tuesday by a Congolese government spokesperson and confirmed by a M23 spokesperson. The ceasefire monitoring body will include representatives from Congo, M23 and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo will participate. The agreement is an important step toward a peace deal after recent efforts to end fighting in eastern Congo stalled. The body is expected to meet within seven days of its creation, with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo providing logistical (後勤的) coordination. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened opened up 358-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,282 on turnover of 13-billion N-T. The positive opening came after the market tumbled more than 350-points on Monday, as investors reacted to U-S President Donald Trump's threat to hike tariffs on Chinese goods by 100-per cent. Taipei City Government and Shin Kong Life remain at odds over compensation for Nvidia land The Taipei City government is urging Shin Kong Life Insurance to accept a compensation agreement in exchange for relinquishing the surface rights of plots T-17 and T-18 in the Beitou-Shilin Science Park - where Nvidia wants to build its Taiwan headquarters. Shin Kong Life has said it's willing to directly transfer the surface rights to Nvidia, but the city government is stressing that such a move would violate the contract - as to date nothing has been built on the site. The city government has offered to pay compensation (賠償) of between 500 and 800-million N-T to Shin Kong Life and return the more than 3-billion N-T the company bid to acquire the land rights. However, Shin Kong Life is pushing for 10.7-billion N-T in compensation for terminating the contract. Generics and imports to plug gap left by departing drug makers Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the availability of generic and imported medications mean the withdrawal of essential drugs from the Taiwan market this year is not expected to result in shortages. The statement comes after the Food and Drug Administration announced that as of last month, the makers of 47 drugs classified as essential under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act have given the legally required six-month notice of their intention to end local sales. According to the health minister, there are generics available in Taiwan for 46 of the 47 drugs. The only drug that currently lacks a locally approved alternative is an immunosuppressant used in organ transplants manufactured by Padagis. Joy in Israel as hostages return but many bodies still missing The families of the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been sharing joy and relief at their return to Israel after two years in captivity (關押，囚禁). But Israel says only four of the dead hostages have been returned after Hamas said it does not know the location of some of the other 24. Blake Sifton reports from Tel Aviv. Madagascar President Flees Country Amid Coup Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina says he has fled the country in fear for his life following a military rebellion. But he did not announce his resignation in a speech broadcast on national television late Monday night from an undisclosed location. Rajoelina has faced weeks of Gen Z-led anti-government protests which reached a pivotal point on Saturday when an elite military unit joined the protests and called for the president to step down. That prompted Rajoelina to say that an attempted coup was underway (正在進行的) in the Indian Ocean island and leave the country. The situation remains volatile, with curfews in place in major cities. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 539-points this morning from last Thurday's close, at 26,762 on turnover of 21-billion N-T. The market gained ground last Thursday - as tech heavyweights led to the main to another record high of 27,301 largely on the back of investor interest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing - which closed at a record 1,440 N-T. Naval officer indicted for selling missile manuals to Chinese agent The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a naval officer on corruption charges for allegedly selling sensitive, but unclassified operational manuals for the domestically developed Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles to China According to the prosecutors' office, the officer served in the Navy's Hai Feng Brigade land-based anti-ship missile unit and has been charged with violating the Anti-Corruption Act. Formal charges of violating the National Security Act have also been brought against another Navy officer in connection with the case. Prosecutors also say although the information was not classified, it still posed a threat to national security and the morale of the armed forces, undermining both official ethics and military virtue. MOE seeing no significant impact on chip sector from China's rare earths curbs The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it believes Taiwan's semiconductor industry will see no significant impact following China's announcing of new curbs on rare earth mineral exports. According to the ministry, they differ from the metals needed for the chip sector. China expanded its rare earths export controls late last week. The economics ministry says domestically needed products or derivatives containing rare earths are mainly sourced from Europe, the U-S, and Japan and as such, no significant impact on chip manufacturing is expected at this time. Trump Warns Russia US May Send Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine US President Donald Trump is warning Russia that he may send Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles if Moscow doesn't settle its war there soon. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump described the Tomahawk as an incredible and offensive weapon. He suggested Russia does not need that kind of escalation. Trump added that he might tell Russia the U.S. could send the missiles if the conflict isn't resolved. His comments came after a phone call earlier Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier that day. And Russia attacked Ukraine’s power grid overnight, part of an ongoing campaign to cripple Ukrainian energy infrastructure before winter. Moscow also expressed “extreme concern” over the U.S. potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Putin himself has previously suggested that the United States supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington. US Vance Warning on Further Cuts During Gov Shutdown The White House is warning of deeper' cuts ahead for federal workers as the government shutdown enters its 12th day. AP's Lisa Dwyer reports Madagascar President Claims Attempted Coup The president of Madagascar says an attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island country, a day after soldiers joined anti-government demonstrations. A statement from President Andry Rajoelina’s office said it “wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force” has been “initiated” on Sunday. The statement did not immediately identify who was behind the alleged attempt. Members of the armed forces had joined youth-led protests against Rajoelina on Saturday. The protests against service failures and alleged government corruption and nepotism (靠關係，靠親屬關係) have been going on since Sept. 25. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 237-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,301 on turnover of 14-billion N-T. The market's winning streak came to an end on Wednesday - as the bellwether electronics sector pulled back from recent strong gains after tech stocks on Wall Street came under pressure overnight amid reports that Oracle could report lower-than-expected margins. CEC on upcoming retirements of several members, impact on 2026 elections Central Election Commission Chairman Lee Chin-yung is calling on Premier Cho Jung-tai to submit (提交) a list of nominees to replace outgoing commissioners - saying the upcoming retirements will affect next year's local elections. According to Lee, the terms of six of the commission's 10 supervisors, inccv luding himself, will expire next month and the Cabinet has yet to nominate anyone to fill the pending vacant posts. Lee says the failure to approve any new members will result in the election commission's coming to a standstill - as planning for next year's local elections has to begin early next year. The premier should have nominated successors for the six retiring members by August, but has so far failed to put any name forward for the posts. Tropical Storm Nakri forms, unlikely to affect Taiwan And, The Central Weather Administration says the 22nd tropical storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season has formed in waters north of Guam. However, the administration's forecast center says Tropical Storm Nakri is unlikely (不太可能) to directly impact Taiwan. The storm is expected to move northwest into waters south of Japan, before heading in a northeasterly direction. Meanwhile, A weather front bringing cooler weather to Taiwan in the middle or end of next week. According to the weather administration, a system will move across Taiwan from north to south on October 17 and 18 that will push dailytime highs to below 30-degrees …. … bringing with it the year's first hint of autumn weather. Israel and Hamas agree to first Phase in peace deal - paving the way for hostage release Israel and Hamas have both signed off on Phase One of a Gaza peace deal, paving the way (為某事鋪路) for the remaining hostages to be released and aid to enter the enclave. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. WHO: Congo Ebola Outbreak Slowly Being Contained The World Health Organization says an Ebola outbreak in southern Congo is starting to be contained. The organization says no new cases have been reported since Oct. 1st. As of Oct. 5th, the WHO reported 64 cases and 43 deaths in Kasai Province. The outbreak was first announced on Sept. 4, marking the first in 18 years in this remote area. Improved logistics and field operations have helped contain the outbreak. However, the WHO advises caution as nearly 2,000 contacts are still being monitored (被監控). A single missed contact could reignite transmission, especially in areas with high population movement. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 212-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 26,999 on turnover of 9.8-billion N-T. The market hit an all time closing high on Tuesday after topping 27,000-points as the bellwether electronics sector continued its upward momentum following news that A-M-D had signed a deal with A-I tool developer OpenAI. Lai tells US audience that Trump deserves Nobel if he gets Xi to renounce force against Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says U-S President Donald Trump would deserve to win a Nobel Peace Prize if he could get China to renounce the use of force against Taiwan. Speaking in an interview with U-S radio host Buck Sexton in Taipei, Lai said his administration hopes Taiwan will continue to enjoy the support of President Trump .. .. and if he is able to convince Xi Jinping to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, he will surely (一定) win the Nobel Peace Prize. Asked what he would want Trump to know if he could speak to him directly … …. Lai said he hopes Trump takes note of the fact that Xi is holding "ever larger military exercises" in the Taiwan Strait and "expanding China's military deployment in the South and East China seas." Man who pushed railway worker onto tracks in Taichung ordered detained The Taichung District Court has ordered a man accused of pushing a Taiwan Railway's station employee onto the tracks to be detained. The detention order was issued after the Taichung District Prosecutors' Office said the 39-year-old man is being investigated for attempted murder. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Wuquan Station - when the man reportedly entered the station without a ticket. The station worker was pushed onto the tracks while attempting to get the man to leave the platform, The railway employee suffered (遭受) a broken ankle but managed to climb back onto the platform. Police arrested the suspect some two hours after he fled the scene. US Supreme Court Questions ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban The US Supreme Court has signaled support for a Christian therapist challenging the state of Colorado's ban on the practice of "conversion therapy" for minors. The ruling could have sweeping (廣泛的) implications (影響) for similar laws across more than 20 states. Ira Spitzer reports Nobel Prize in Physics Announced Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize in physics for research on the strange behavior of subatomic particles called quantum tunneling. It enabled the ultra-sensitive measurements achieved by MRI machines and laid the groundwork (基礎，基礎工作) for better cellphones and faster computers. The work by John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis was honored Tuesday. The three work at American universities. The results of their findings are just starting to appear in advanced technology and could pave the way for the development of supercharged computing. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, 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 268-points this morning from last Friday's close, at 27,029 on turnover of 17-billion N-T The market smashed recent records during Friday's session - ending at a high of 26,761 - after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing hit a fresh closing high on the back of enthusiasm toward artificial intelligence development. Influencer Holger Chen under investigation for alleged Lai comments The Criminal Investigation Bureau says it's investigating internet personality Holger Chen after he called for the decapitation of President Lai Ching-te during a recent livestream. According to the bureau, the investigation is focusing on whether Chen's comments may constitute incitement (煽動) to commit a crime and threatening bodily harm under the Criminal Code. The bureau says it has been collecting evidence related to the comments and has asked the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office to summon Chen for questioning. Chen made the alleged comments during a portion of his livestream on Sunday focusing on politics and cross-strait issues. Survey team reaches Matai'an Creek barrier lake site: Forestry agency One of two teams deployed by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency to survey potential routes to the Ma-Tai-An Creek barrier lake are reporting widespread devastation. The agency's Hualien branch deployed a task force consisting of two teams to visit the site on September 30. The teams were tasked with surveying the remnants of the lake and looking for prospective (預期的，盼望中的，未來的) routes for construction equipment to enter the area to rebuild. Officials say data collected by the teams will be used to help ensure safety during future efforts to rebuild the area and set up disaster prevention and detection infrastructure. US Supreme Court begins new term The US Supreme Court began its new nine-month term today - and it promises to be consequential (有影響力的，重要的) — with major cases focused on how much power the constitution gives the President. Charlotte North reports from Washington Iraq Prisoners Released Under Amnesty Iraq has released over 35,000 people from prisons under an amnesty law passed earlier this year. The law, aimed at reducing prison overcrowding, makes nearly 144,000 more people eligible for relief. The country's Supreme Judicial Council said courts recovered over $34 million in restitution (賠償) from those convicted of theft and corruption. The amnesty covers crimes like corruption, theft and some terrorism-related offenses, though not those involving killings. Sunni lawmakers pushed for the law, arguing their community faced unfair terrorism charges. The law also allows retrials for some terrorism convictions and halts executions. SAmerican Trade Bloc Rules Peru Failing to Curb Illegal Mining A South American trade bloc has ruled that Peru is failing to curb illegal gold mining and mercury (汞) trafficking. The Andean Community, which includes Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia, made the decision on Monday. They have ordered Peru to reform its laws and seize illegal mining equipment. Indigenous groups say mercury from mining is poisoning rivers and food in the Amazon. Peru has 20 working days to comply or face potential (潛在的) trade sanctions. The case could set a precedent for other countries. Peru has made some efforts to crack down on illegal mercury, but enforcement remains inconsistent. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn