EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 167-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,093 on turnover of 5.4-billion N-T. The market closed little changed on Wednesday, as many investors opted to stay on the sidelines amid lingering concerns over tariff threats from the Trump administration. The slump came after tech stocks took hit on Wall Street overnight - as the Nasdaq lost 2-per cent. Turnover stood at 214-billion N-T and market watchers say the low turnover was evidence that investors are reluctant to chase prices for now before the White House announces its reciprocal tariff policy - which is expected by April 2. Analysts say the local main board is expected to continue to move in a narrow range at around the 240-day moving average of 22,330 points before those reciprocal tariff actions are launched. Four former-servicemen found guilty of selling documents to China operative The Taipei District Court has sentenced four former military personnel to prison terms after finding them guilty of selling documents to a middleman for the Chinese intelligence services. Three of those sentenced were members of the 211th Military Police Battalion, which guards the Presidential Office, while the fourth served in the ministry's Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command. The four were convicted for breaching (違反) national security laws and accepting bribes and given sentences of between five and seven years. The sentences can be appealed. Academics slam Lai's populism, freedom of speech erosion Some 75 academics are accusing President Lai Ching-te of using populism to rally supporters, leading to the rapid erosion of free speech in Taiwan .. .. and have all co-signed a statement titled "Defending Taiwan's Democracy, Rule of Law, and Peace." They're calling on the government to the government to halt its actions and avoid (避免) further harming Taiwan's democracy and rule of law for the sake of short-term political gain. They're also arguing that "in order to defend" Taiwan's "democracy, rule of law, peace and security," the government should "adhere to the constitutional system and take immediate and effective measures to improve cross-strait relations." NKorea Kim Observes Drone Tests North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production. Photos released by state media Thursday showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance (偵察) drone roughly resembling Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into targets. The report said the exploding drones feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. State media said Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones’ performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be top priorities in efforts to advance his military and adapt it to modern warfare. Trump 25Percent Tariffs on Auto Imports Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all automobiles imported into the United States. The US president says the move is intended to boost (增強；推動) domestic manufacturing but it's expected to raise prices for US car buyers. Ira Spitzer has more. 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 54-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,327 on turnover of 2.7-billion N-T. The market rebounded from a slump the previous session on Tuesday - as large cap electronics stocks were in focus following gains on Wall Street overnight after U-S news media reports said the Trump administration may implement more measured trade actions. Power plants scale back operations as smog envelops northern Taiwan The Ministry of Environment says power plants have temporarily been scaling back operations after air pollution in the north reached unhealthy levels. According to the ministry, "red warnings" - indicating air that is unhealthy for all groups - were triggered at monitoring stations in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan Tuesday afternoon .. .. and it coordinated with Tai-Power to implement load reduction (減少) and emissions controls at power plants in Keelung, Yunlin County, Taichung and Kaohsiung in order to mitigate the effects of the pollution. The environment ministry says the total reduced power generation amounted to 132.52-million kilowatt-hours as of 6PM. Ex-captain charged with corruption sent back to Taiwan A former army captain charged with corruption has been repatriated in a joint mission by Taiwanese and Filipino authorities. According to the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau, Lee Chen-yu was detained in the Philippines for over a year after he was arrested by Filipino authorities in Cebu in February 2024 based on information from Taiwan that he was a fugitive. The bureau says Filipino authorities refused to deport Lee to Taiwan, because they mistook him for another fugitive (逃犯) with the same name and needed to investigate whether he was involved in other cases. However, he was finally returned to Taiwan yesterday following talks between Taiwan and Philippine officials. Lee was formally arrested on his arrival at Taoyuan International Airport. Ukraine Russia to Halt Black Sea Attacks Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and to allow safe passage of commercial shipping vessels. The move comes after U.S. officials held several days of talks with representatives from Moscow and Kyiv in Saudi Arabia. But major questions remain over whether this agreement will be able to be effectively (有效地) implemented. William Denselow reports from Kyiv. King Charles Visit to Vatican Postponed King Charles III’s scheduled audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican next month has been postponed by mutual agreement after medical advice suggested the pontiff would be better off with more rest. Buckingham Palace made the announcement in a statement Tuesday. The tentative audience was among details of the British monarch’s visit to the Vatican and Italy last week by the palace. The royal visit to Italy, which is scheduled to start on April 7, will continue. The Pope was released from hospital Sunday after 38 days of treatment (治療) for double pneumonia and is under doctors orders to observe two months of rest during which he should avoid large gatherings. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

900 to participate in military-free Tainan civil defense drill Tainan presents MRT Blue Line plan U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels Turkey protests saw journalists arrested Judge ruled to restrict DOGE access -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 139-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,348 on turnover of 3.4-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Friday, following a lackluster session on Wall Street overnight, as investors remain uneasy over uncertainty over U-S President Donald Trump policies. Investors also opted to shun (避開，躲避) tech shares following recent fluctuations. Labor rights groups to stage hunger strike in push for more days off A coalition of labor rights groups has announced plans to launch a hunger strike next month to demand the reinstatement of the seven days off scrapped (取消) in 2016. The announcement comes as lawmakers are slated to review bills on "anniversaries and national holidays enforcement." According to the "Work with Dignity" alliance, its calling on people to join its 200-hour April 11 to 19 hunger strike, which will take place outside the Legislative Yuan. The alliance is also urging employers to pay more into employee pension pots and for the establishment of a similar system for foreign workers. Related bills are set to be reviewed in the coming week. The 1st World Bird Fair--News Taiwan's rich avian diversity attracts bird enthusiasts from around the globe, positioning Taiwan as a key birdwatching hub. Sponsored by the World Birdfairs Council, Taiwan's 1st World Bird Fair will be co-hosted by the Taiwan Tourism Administration and National Park Service from September 19th to 23rd 2025. There'll be an exhibition open to the public for free on the 20th and 21st. Organizers say they've also invited experts, tour operators and conservation groups from home and abroad (國外) to join two forums focusing on the World Bird Ecotourism Experience. The event aims to promote bird conservation and birdwatching ecotourism. The fair will take place at Taichung City's Civic Plaza, attracting birders from around the world. SKorea Overturns PM Impeachment South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturned parliament’s impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as acting president. Han, South Korea’s No. 2 official, had become acting leader after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the opposition-controlled National Assembly over his Dec. 3 imposition (實施) of martial law that triggered a massive political crisis. But Han was impeached by the assembly as well in late December following political strife with opposition lawmakers. The Constitutional Court says today it has decided to overturn Han’s impeachment. The court has yet to issue a ruling on Yoon’s impeachment. Yoon has been separately arrested and charged with rebellion in connection with his martial law decree. If convicted of that charge, he would face the death penalty or a life sentence. And if the court rules against him, South Korea must hold a national election to find a new president. Pope Returns to Vatican from Hospital The Pope has arrived home at Vatican after 5-week hospital stay to beat life-threatening bout of pneumonia (肺炎). AP correspondent Trisha Thomas 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 down 15-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,362 on turnover of $4.2-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan staged a significant technical rebound, soaring more than 400 points Thursday led by the electronics sector, as buying was triggered by a U.S. rally following a Federal Reserve decision described by the market as dovish. Artificial intelligence-related stocks also bounced back from a recent slump with iPhone assembler and AI server maker Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. both ending up, and buying was seen across the board, although the gains posted by nontech stocks were largely capped. Labor ministry mulls opening up six types of jobs to foreign students The Ministry of Labor is planning to amend regulations that will allow foreign students who have graduated from a Taiwan university to work six types of jobs categorized by the ministry as "intermediate-skilled" jobs. According to the labor ministry, revisions represent an interdepartmental (跨部門的) effort to tackle a growing labor shortage. The six types of jobs covered by the amended regulations include assistant nurses, intercity and city bus drivers and cargo vehicle drivers. The amendments will be made to employment qualifications, skill requirements, and regulations on changing employers. Officials say they will enter a public review period by the end of this month at the earliest, to solicit input from the public before they go into effect. The labor ministry's Cross-Border Workforce Management Division says the positions will be open to graduated students from Hong Kong and Macau, but not to those from China. MH370 Search to Resume A robotics company in Texas has been given the green light to resume a search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 - 11 years after the plane disappeared without a trace (無影無蹤) over the Indian Ocean. Toni Waterman has more. Turkey Protests Against Istanbul Mayor Arrest Thousands of people have gathered outside Istanbul’s city hall for a second consecutive night to rally against the arrest of the city’s popular mayor. Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested Wednesday as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links. Many view the arrest of a prominent contender against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a politically driven attempt to eliminate a key rival from the next presidential race. The government strongly rejects the claim insisting that the courts operate independently. On Thursday authorities detained 37 people for allegedly sharing “provocative (煽動的)” content on social media following Imamoglu's arrest. World Happiness Report Finland Top A new global report says that people in Finland are the happiest in the world. The northern European country is leading the world in happiness for the eighth year in a row. The World Happiness Report released on Thursday says the top 20 happiest countries include 14 Western industrial countries, two countries from Latin America and one from the Middle East. The United States has fallen to its lowest-ever position at 24, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. Afghanistan is again ranked (排名) as the unhappiest country in 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 up 210-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,171 on turnover of $6.7-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Wednesday as the bellwether electronics sector was in investor focus after tech stocks saw heavy losses on Wall Street overnight ahead of the conclusion of the U-S Federal Reserve's two-day policymaking meeting. Market watchers say foreign institutional investors stayed on the sell side during the session and the local main board could see further unpredictability (不可預測性) as volatility on U-S markets is continuing to dictate large-cap electronics stocks here in Taiwan. Taipei animal protection office seeks new owner for bitey pit bull Authorities in Taipei are seeking a new owner for a pit bull named "Lucky," who was confiscated from it owner after biting people on two separate occasions this month. The Taipei City Animal Protection Office says "Lucky" is currently being kept alone to minimize (使降到最低) stress and is looking for owners who have experience with pit bulls. "Lucky" mauled people on two separate occasions, prompting the Taipei City government to fine the owner 200,000 N-T for violating the Animal Protection Act by allowing an aggressive animal out in public place without proper supervision and precautions. The authorities confiscated the dog on Tuesday. The Taipei City government's Department of Economic Development says the original owner is no longer allowed to look after Lucky due to his lack of control over the animal. Russia Ukraine Prisoner Swap Russia and Ukraine say they have each swapped 175 prisoners in one of the largest exchanges of the war began. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday the exchange included severely (嚴重地) wounded fighters whom Russia had prosecuted on fabricated (編造的) charges. He says all those who returned will receive immediate medical and psychological assistance. Russia's Defense Ministry said it had released an additional 22 severely wounded Ukraine captives as a goodwill gesture. Originally, Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised to release 23 prisoners when he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about a potential partial ceasefire. There was no immediate comment on the reason the number changed. Reknowned Pianist to Boycott US Over Trump Presidency The concert pianist Andras Schiff has become the latest performer to announce that he will boycott the United States over Donald Trump's presidency. Mr. Schiff is widely considered (被視為) one of the world's leading performers of music by Bach and Mozart, and has announced he is cancelling plans to tour the country later this year. From Washington, Simon Marks reports. Pope Condition Continues to Improve Pope Francis’s condition has continued to improve and he no longer needs to use noninvasive mechanical ventilation to help him breathe at night. The Vatican said 88-year-old pontiff is also reducing his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen during the day. The Holy See press office says his double pneumonia infection, while not completely eliminated, is under control. Francis celebrated Mass on Wednesday, on the anniversary of his installation as pope 12 years ago. 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 26-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,245 on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market closed up on Tuesday, as buying was sparked by a rally on Wall Street overnight on hopes that the U-S Federal Reserve will cut interest rates after the release of worse-than-expected retail (零售) sales data in February. MND send Quadrennial Defense Review to LY for review Defense Minister Wellington Koo is slated to meet with members of the Legislative National Defense Committee later today to answer quesitons about the Quadrennial Defense Report. The report was sent to the Legislative Yuan yesterday for review. This report focuses on the need to building strong defenses and a multilayered deterrence (威懾), while also elaborating on military cooperation with the United States. The report has to be submitted to the the Legislative Yuan within 10 months of the presidential inauguration. CDC seeing an end to flu epidemic The Centers for Disease Control says the ongoing influenza epidemic is expected to end in late March. According to the C-D-C, a total of around 108,000 outpatient and emergency visits due to flu-like illness were reported from March 9 through 15 .. .. and that figure indicate (顯示) a downward trend, but still an ongoing epidemic. The C-D-C says the most common respiratory pathogen in the community is the flu virus, with the majority being influenza type A. C-D-C Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui says that the flu epidemic remains at a "critical point" and "still requires continued monitoring." UN Guterres Shocked at Israel's Gaza Strikes The United Nations Secretary General has expressed shock at the overnight Israeli attacks on Gaza. Israel launched a series of air strikes on the enclave (飛地) on Monday night ending an almost two month ceasefire. Jody Jacobs reports from New York where the Security Council ismeeting on the matter. Mali Withdraws from FrenchSpeakingCountry Alliance Mali has withdrawn from a global alliance of French-speaking countries, days after two of its neighbors took the same step. In a letter seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday, Mali’s foreign ministry accused its French counterpart of “selective application of sanctions” and “contempt for Mali’s sovereignty.” On Monday, the alliance's spokeswoman said Burkina Faso and Niger had also decided to remove their countries from the organization, which had already suspended the membership of the three countries over military coups in recent years. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are now all ruled by military juntas that have severed diplomatic ties with France and expelled (驅逐) French troops while building security partnerships with Russia instead. The three will have six months to discuss the terms of their withdrawal from the alliance before it becomes final. 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 85-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,204 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Monday led by artificial intelligence related stocks ahead off the start of Nvidia's annual G-P-U technology conference - at which its hoped the company will be showcasing positive leads. Chinese 'military unification' influencer 'in theory' must go by 24th Interior Minister Liu Shi-fang says a Chinese national who advocated for China's annexation of Taiwan through military force should, "in theory," leave the country within 10 days of receiving her deportation order. According to Liu, the woman received that deportation order on Saturday. Speaking during a legislative hearing, the interior minister said the deportation order is "somewhat similar (相似的)" to registered mail - where the time starts from the day after the recipient receives the letter. .. and if "it was delivered to your house but you didn't receive it until the next day, then counting would start from the third day, which means there is some wiggle room." The statement comes after the National Immigration Agency this past weekend announced that a deportation order had been sent to a woman identified by a public social media account known as "Yaya in Taiwan." St. Kitts and Nevis foreign minister visits Taiwan The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Saint Kitts and Nevis' foreign minister is visiting Taiwan this week. According to the ministry, it's the third time that Denzil Douglas has visited Taiwan is his capacity (職位) as foreign minister and he will be meeting with senior government officials during his five-day stay. Douglas and his delegation were welcomed on arriving at Taoyuan International Airport by Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi. Douglas is scheduled to meet with President Lai Ching-te and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung this week. The delegation will also visit the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Israel Launches New Strikes Against Hamas Israel launched new strikes against Hamas and promised ‘increasing military force’ after talks on on further hostage releases stalled. Early Friday morning, Israel’s Prime Minister’s office said it instructed the army to strike Hamas across Gaza. The statement said it was because of Hamas’ repeated refusals to release its hostages and its rejection (拒絕) of all offers it received from the U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and mediators. The strikes come after nearly two months of a ceasefire to pause the 17-month long war where dozens of hostages were released for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others. Sweden Gives Uganda Funds for Ebola Sweden has announced new funding of $2 million to support Uganda's response to the ongoing Sudan Ebola Virus Outbreak. The funding will strengthen efforts in the affected districts of Kampala, Mbale, and Jinja – focusing on risk communication, infection prevention (預防), and critical health services. Michael Baleke reports. Pope Shows Slight Improvement Pope Francis is registering new slight improvements in his monthlong treatment for double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope is now able to spend some time during the day off high flows of oxygen and use just ordinary supplemental oxygen delivered by a nasal tube. Doctors are also trying to cut back on the amount of time he uses a noninvasive (非侵入性的) mechanical ventilation mask at night, to force his lungs to work more. The Vatican press office also provided some details Monday on the first photo of the pope released since his hospitalization. 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 169-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,138 on turnover of $5.5-billion N-T. The market closed little changed on Friday after moving in consolidation mode throughout the session after Canada and the European Union both took retaliatory against measures against Donald Trump's tariffs. Analsysts say investors will be keeping a close eye on how the U-S government will impose reciprocal tariffs and the aftermath, which will affect global financial markets. MOFA protests rep office name change on South African gov't website The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has lodged an official protest over the "unilateral" change to the name of Taiwan's representative office on a South African government website. The statement comes after an update to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation website listed the "Taipei Liaison Office" as the "Taipei Commercial Office." According to the foreign ministry, the South African government is seeking to "downgrade" the representative office and recategorize it as a "trade office" based in the commercial capital Johannesburg. South Africa has set a deadline of the end of this month for Taiwan to change the name of its representative office and relocate it. However, the foreign ministry is insisting that per an agreement signed the year before diplomatic relations with South Africa ended in 1998, Taiwan is permitted to operate a liaison office in Pretoria. Kaohsiung's Fengshan Marathon apologizes for PLA rifle trophies The organizers of Sunday's Fengshan Marathon in Kaohsiung have apologized for giving out trophies shaped like a Chinese military rifle. According to the Fengshan Road Running Association, it originally chose the design for the trophies because the 2025 edition of the annual marathon passed through three military academies. However, the association says it recognized the choice was "inconsiderate" and had apologized to those who received the trophies. The association also says it will contact all trophy recipients to replace the rifle-shaped trophies with alternatives. The statement was issued after one of the participants of Sunday's marathon posted a photograph of the trophy and joked about how it was shaped like Chinese rifle. Judge stalls Trump's order to speed deportations The U-S government is slamming a federal judge's decision to stop the administration from carrying out deportations under a sweeping (廣泛的) 18th century law. The A-P's Donna Warder has more. Mark Carney heading to Paris and London Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading to Paris and London to seek alliances as he deals U-S President Donald Trump's attacks on Canada's sovereignty and economy. Carney is purposely making his first foreign trip to the capital cities of the two countries that shaped Canada's early existence. At his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, Carney noted the country was built on the bedrock (基礎) of three peoples, French, English and Indigenous. He said Canada is fundamentally a different country from America and will never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States. SpaceX capsule arrives at the International Space Station And finally, A SpaceX capsule has arrived at the International Space Station, delivering the replacements for NASA's two stuck astronauts. The new crew pulled up Sunday, just 29 hours after blasting off. The four newcomers will spend the next few days learning the station's ins and outs from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Then it will be time for those two to end their nine-month stay and head home. They expected to be gone just a week when they launched on Boeing's first astronaut flight last June. The Starliner capsule had so many problems that NASA insisted it come back empty (空的). Wilmore and Williams will come back via SpaceX. 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 125-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,403 on turnover of 6.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed higher on a technical rebound Wednesday from a slump a session earlier, led by large cap tech stocks. But analysts say parts of earlier gains were eroded amid uncertainties caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies. With the rebound featuring tech stocks, old economy industries largely moved in weakness caused by tariff concerns. Taiwan Closed National Freeway Lane for Earliest Butterfly Protection in Decade Highway officials closed part of National Freeway 3 yesterday in Yunlin County, due to a large migration of purple crow butterflies. And according to local conservationists, this marked the earliest closure (關閉) before the usual peak around the Tomb Sweeping Festival in early April. Conservationists reported over 30-thousand purple crow butterflies migrated through the area in the morning, peaking at 690 per minute. The Freeway Bureau installed a 1,100-meter protective net and closed an outer lane once butterfly traffic exceeded 250 per minute. Experts say an early migration was triggered by a colder winter followed by recent warm weather, with butterfly numbers expected to surge from March 20th until the end of the month. EU Talks Ukraine and Security France's Defense Minister revealed that 15 countries are willing to contribute to a "new security architecture" in Ukraine. This comes at meeting of European defense ministers, as Moscow considers (考慮) an immediate 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington and Kyiv. Stuart Smith has more from the French capital. Argentina Protests Against Austerity Measures Argentine retirees and fans of several soccer teams have clashed with police during a protest in front of Congress in the capital, Buenos Aires, against the economic policies implemented by the government of President Javier Milei. What started as a peaceful demonstration escalated into violent clashes as police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and pellets against stone-throwing protesters. For weeks, Buenos Aires retirees have held weekly protests demanding higher pensions, citing a precarious standard of living. The government of far-right President Javier Milei, who has championed a policy of public spending cuts since coming to power a year and a half ago, had warned of restrictions on entry to stadiums for those who cause disorder (動亂). Greenland Independence Party Surprise Victory in Parliamentary Elections A party that favors a gradual path to Greenland’s independence from Denmark has won a surprise victory in parliamentary elections. Tuesday's voting was held in the shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated goal of taking control of the island. The Demokraatit Party, a pro-business party that favors a slow path to independence, has pushed back against Trump’s rhetoric, saying it is for Greenlanders to decide the future of the strategically (在戰略上) important territory. The mineral-rich Arctic island is also home to a U.S. air base and straddles strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

AIT offered funds to Kuma Academy Taiwan Police and Coast Guard Officers Named in Smuggling Investigation Britain congratulates Ukraine, US on deal Yemen's Houthi rebels warning of attack on ships Greenland votes in parliamentary elections. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Government bemoans artists' China propaganda posts Formosan black bear captured again, much thinner than before Ceasefire Talks to end Russia-Ukraine War Reports of MMR vaccines running low -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 27-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,548 on turnover of 5.5-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Friday, as selling was sparked by losses on Wall Street overnight following the launch of a trade war by the Trump administration. Overall losses were capped by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, but market watchers are warning that the local stock market will continue to struggle as long as the impact of tariffs remains. National Human Rights Commission members attend Tibet uprising event Members of the National Human Rights Commission have attended an annual march in Taipei organized by civic groups to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Speaking at the event, commission vice chair Wang Yu-ling said it's the first time members of the agency have attended the annual event since its founding in August 2020. According to Wang, what the Chinese government has done in Tibet since the 1950s could be considered (把…當作) an act of "ethnic cleansing and genocide," "human rights have no borders" and "today's Tibet could be the future of Taiwan." The march was attended by some 100 participants. India largest of 90 buyer countries at Taipei machinery show The External Trade Development Council says of the countries that made deals at the 2025 Taipei International Machine Tool Show, India was the biggest buyer. The show took place last week at the Nangang Exhibition Hall in Taipei under the main theme "AI and Robotics." The event attracted (吸引了) more than 4,160 buyers from 90 countries who made deals with over 1,000 participating exhibitors (參展商). The five countries that made the most deals during the trade show were India, Japan, China, South Korea and Malaysia. US Palestinian Activist Arrested US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested a Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Argentina Flooding Leaves 15 Dead Officials in Argentina say heavy rains that flooded a city on the country's east coast have killed at least 15 people. Rescue teams on Sunday searched for dozens reported missing, after the floodwaters resulting from rains that began pelting (急降，猛落) the city of Bahia Blanca on Friday. Crews have evacuated more than 1,450 people from the city located south of the capital of Buenos Aires. Those evacuated include patients from a local hospital. Some 300 millimeters of rain have fallen in Bahia Blanca in recent days, when the historical monthly average is about 129 millimeters. No rain was forecast for the next 72 hours. Nepal Protests Supporting Former King Thousands of supporters have greeted Nepal’s former king in capital Kathmandu and demanded his abolished monarchy be reinstated and Hinduism brought back as a state religion. An estimated 10,000 supporters of Gyanendra Shah blocked the main entrance to Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday as he arrived from a tour of western Nepal. Hundreds of riot police blocked the protesters from entering the airport and there was no violence (暴力行為). Massive street protests in 2006 forced Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule but many Nepalis have since grown frustrated with the republic and a struggling economy. 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 down 19-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,696 on turnover of $7.2-billion N-T. Parent group calls for stop to publication of student test scores The Taiwan Parent Education Association is urged high schools cease publishing the scores of Taiwan's aptitude tests for high school and college admission. According to the association, some high schools publish the names of students who achieved (達到了) a perfect score on the General Scholastic Ability Test and this practice causes students stress over their test scores .. … and contradicts the Ministry of Education's direction to not use test scores as the only metric for being admitted to or applying to universities. The association says high schools should stop publishing students' test scores, and the media should stop reporting on the issue to allow more students to be vetted by universities based on their achievements in a range of areas, not just their test scores. Tai Tzu-ying career tribute exhibition opens in Taipei An exhibition honoring former world No. 1 badminton player Tai Tzu-ying is now taking place in Taipei is celebration of her career. Titled "Ying-credible Career -- Tai Tzu Ying Tribute Exhibition," the event has been organized by her long-time sponsor Victor. It's taking place until March 16 at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The exhibition features many of Tai's player credentials (證書), along with game-used shuttlecocks, shoes, and medals-including 32 open titles. Tai is still recovering from knee injuries that plagued her throughout 2024. Tai previously stated that she plans to retire from competitive badminton at the end of last year, but she has not yet made any official announcements concerning her career. US Ukraine Talks in Saudi Arabia Next Week Officials from the U.S. and Ukraine are planning to meet in Saudi Arabia next week to work on a structure for a possible ceasefire with Russia. It comes after a week of turmoil (動盪) in relations, including arguments between the leaders of Ukraine and the US at the White House. Caroline Malone reports. Australia Underage Gunman Detained on Plane Police say a 17-year-old boy with a loaded shotgun boarded a plane in Australia before being restrained by a pilot and two passengers. Police and a passenger said the boy climbed through a hole in the airport fence and posed as (冒充為) a maintenance worker to board the plane Thursday. The boy was disarmed (拿走武器) and detained before police arrived on the scene at Avalon Airport in Victoria state. Police said Friday the boy had been charged with unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, possessing a firearm and other crimes. Mexico Monarch Butterfly Numbers Rebound The number of monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains west of Mexico City, rebounded this year, doubling the area they covered in 2024 despite the stresses of climate change. Mexico’s Commission for National Protected Areas said that this year, butterflies covered 1.79 hectares compared to only 0.9 hectares the year before. Last year’s figure represented a 59% drop from 2023, the second lowest level since record keeping began. The annual butterfly count doesn’t calculate the individual (個) number of butterflies, but rather the area they cover as they gather on tree branches in the mountain forests. 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 58-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,930 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday following a significant rebound for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing - which closed the session with a rise of 2-per cent .. .. and that contributed about 160 points to the Tai-Ex's overall gains and sent the electronics index up by 1.43-per cent. FDA proposes relaxation of rules on Japanese beef imports The Food and Drug Administration has released a draft revision to regulations regarding Japanese bovine imports that, if implemented, would allow the importation (輸入) of beef from cattle of any age. Under current regulations, beef from Japan must meet several conditions, including being derived from cattle under 30 months of age, inspected by a veterinary officer, and produced by an officially-recognized factory. F-D-A Deputy Director-General Lin Jin-fu says the government is seeking to update the "Import regulations for Japanese beef and its products" to remove the age limit for Japanese cattle - similar to regulatory practices in the United States and Canada. However, Lin says each batch of cattle products from Japan will still require official veterinary certificates and be produced by "approved factories" to be allowed to enter Taiwan. US Supreme Court rejects Trump administration request to freeze foreign aid The US Supreme Court has rejected (拒絕) an emergency request by the Trump administration to freeze nearly 2 billion dollars in foreign aid. The order requires the government to release the funds to aid groups for work already completed. Ira Spitzer reports. Greece Protests Outside Parliament Protesters have launched gasoline bombs and fireworks in clashes with police outside Greece's parliament. The protest Wednesday in central Athens is part of a nationwide wave of demonstrations calling for politicians to be held accountable for a 2023 rail disaster that claimed 57 lives. Scores of youths set fire to trash bins and police in riot gear (防暴裝備) responded with tear gas and baton charges. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. The fierce clashes erupted hours after opposition parties challenged Greece’s center-right government with a no-confidence motion in parliament. Victims' relatives want politicians to be held accountable for failures that led to the head-on collision in February 2023. Only rail officials have been charged. Canada on Trump Tariffs A senior Canadian government official says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not willing to lift Canada’s retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves any tariffs on Canada. The official was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, only saying Trump and Trudeau spoke by phone around midday. Other Canadian officials publicly echoed (附和) Trudeau's position. Canada's commerce secretary has said there might be carveouts (從整體中獲取一些東西) coming to the 25% tariffs placed on Canada and Mexico by President Donald Trump, a softening of the U.S. position after Tuesday’s tax hike hurt the stock market, worried consumers and started a trade war. 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 rebounded from recent losing sessions this morning - opening up 181-points yesterday's close, at 22,778 on turnover of 8.9-billion N-T. The market closed down by 0.7-per cent on Tuesday, but managed to recoup some of its early losses, as investor sentiment remained cautious in the wake of volatility on Wall Street overnight … .. which was sparked by U-S President Donald Trump confirming that tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico would go into effect later in the day. Premier touts TSMC's expanded US plan Premier Cho Jung-tai is voicing his support for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's new investment in the United States. According to Cho, government sees T-S-M-C's expanded investment positively, because it will boost Taiwan's competitive edge (競爭力) inthe global market, and "making Taiwan stronger is the common stance of the government and industry." Cho says the government has long been encouraging domestic industries to expand worldwide and is providing necessary assistance for such expansions. The premier also says he hopes T-S-M-C's investments will continue to create mutual benefits and a win-win situation with Taiwan's allies. Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the U-S has become the top destination of Taiwanese investors, as local companies seek to extend their global reach and the U-S accounted for 30-per cent of Taiwan's total overseas investment last year. CPBL head reacts to WBC fine Chinese Professional Baseball League President Tsai Chi-chang is vowing to reflect on the reasons the national team was find 20,000 U-S dollars for violating regulations during last month's World Baseball Classic qualifiers at the Taipei Dome. The team was fined by tournament organizes - Major League Baseball - for violating a rule regarding the use of electronic devices. The M-L-B says movers were found to have used their phones in an office where equipment was stored - in violations of (違反) a rule banning players or team staff member from using electronic devices in all areas considered to be part of the competition. Tsai is admitted that mistakes were made, but stressing that he wasn't in the dugout during the qualifying games and that the C-P-B-L will accept the fine in accordance with the rules. US Investors to Buy Panama Canal Ports A consortium of US investors has agreed to buy majority stakes in two ports on the Panama canal from a Hong Kong-based company for nearly 20 billion dollars. The deal comes in the wake of allegations by the Trump administration that Chinese influence (影響) over the waterway poses a security risk to the US. Ira Spitzer reports. China Keeps 5Percent Growth Target Meanwhile… China is keeping its economic growth target at “around 5%” for 2025 despite a looming trade war with the United States and other headwinds (阻力，逆風). Premier Li Qiang announced the target in a report presented at the opening session of the National People's Congress today. The report says a target of around 5% is well aligned with the country's mid- and long-term development goals. The IMF has projected that China’s economy will grow 4.6% this year, down from 5% in 2024, according to Chinese government statistics. 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 247-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,508 on turnover of 10-billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 300 points on Monday as investor sentiment took a hit follow comments by U-S President Donald Trump that his 25-per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will take effect on March 4 as planned. FM believes Taiwan see more opportunities than threats in Trump's China policy Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says he believes the confrontational policy being seen in Donald Trump's second U-S presidency toward China is more of an opportunity for Taiwan than a threat. According to Lin, the main focus of Trump's second term is in countering China … … and although countering China does not necessarily mean supporting Taiwan, the Trump administration's stance (立場) gives the island the opportunity to find common interests. Speaking during an interview with an online media outlet, Lin said for Taiwan's national interests, the government is finding interests shared with Washington and focusing on pushing policies where the interests of both countries are aligned. CDC reporting decline in flu case clinic visits The Centers for Disease Control says its been seeing a decline in the number of people seeking medical treatment for influenza-like symptoms. According to the C-D-C, there were 105,436 flu-like outpatient and emergency visits from between February 23 and March 1 -- a 24-per cent decline from the previous week. C-D-C Deputy Director General Philip Luo says the disease entered its epidemic phase (階段) before the 228 Peace Memorial Day holiday and continued to decline during the long weekend holiday, indicating it has entered a "cooling phase." Luo says the influenza is now expected to exit the epidemic phase by mid-March. US Trump Suspends Military Aide to Ukraine US President Donald Trump has ordered an immediate suspension of American military support for Ukraine, just days after his on-camera argument with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The White House says the suspension will remain (保持) in force until the Ukrainians demonstrate a "good faith commitment to peace". Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports. Japan Fighting Forest Fire Japan is fighting a forest fire that has damaged dozens of homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate in a northeastern coastal city. Officials say fire has burned about 2,100 hectares of forest in Ofunato since it started Wednesday. The northeastern regions have had their driest winter since 1946, when the Japan Meteorological Agency started collecting data. More than 2,000 troops and and firefighters have been deployed (部署) from across the country. 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 319-points this morning from Thursday's close, at 22,734 on turnover of 13-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Thursday - the final trading day of the week due to the 228 holiday. The main board tumbled nearly 350-points during that session, despite Wall Street closing little changed overnight and Nvidia reporting strong profits for the last quarter. USAID funding cuts could impact Taiwan's health system A doctor at the Taipei City Hospital's Zhongxing Branch is warning that cuts to the U-S Agency for International Development could impact Taiwan's public health system, which "relies"(依賴) on internationally collected data. It comes after the U-S last month announced plans to eliminate more than 90-per cent of US-AID's foreign aid contracts, totaling more than 58-billion dollars. According Chiang Guan-yu, US-AID cuts will reduce (減少) information sharing between American health agencies and international organizations such as the World Health Organization - which in turn could negatively impact Taiwan. The Centers for Disease Control says although Taiwan is not a member of the W-H-O, there are other "friendly countries" besides the U-S that are willing to exchange epidemic prevention information. Another cold front to arrive tomorrow The Central Weather Administration is warning that another cold front will begin affecting (影響) the island from tomorrow - pushing the mercury down once again into the mid-teens. The cold front will see temperatures dropping by about 15-degrees from the highs seen in recent days and the cold weather is forecast to last into the coming weekend. It's expected to bring rain to much of the island from Wednesday - when highs of between 18 and 20 degrees are forecast for much of the island. However, the mercury could drop to as low 13-degrees in the north and center and to 14-degrees in the south. Israel cuts off Gaza aid to pressure Hamas to accept new ceasefire proposal Israel has cut off the entry of all food and other goods into Gaza in an echo of the siege (圍城) it imposed in the earliest days of its war with Hamas. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Canada PM to Meet with King Charles Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with King Charles III today to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada the 51st state. Trudeau says he will discuss matters of importance to Canadians and said “nothing seems more important to Canadians right now than standing up for our sovereignty and our independence as a nation.” Charles is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. The king has come under criticism in Canada after Buckingham Palace declined (拒絕) to comment on Trump’s threats to annex Canada. Charles, who met Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has invited Trump to come to Scotland for a state visit. 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 44-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,446 on turnover of $4.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan broke a two-session falling streak Wednesday, as artificial intelligence stocks were boosted by expectations about an Nvidia Corp. investor conference later in the day. Analysts say after the index fell to the day's low of around 130 points, some bargain hunters jumped into the trading floor to pick up AI stocks, helping the broader market return to positive territory, and buying continued into the end of the session. Toddler hurt in Taichung blast discharged A 2 year-old girl from Macau, who sustained severe head injuries in the deadly gas explosion at a Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi on February 13 has been discharged from China Medical University Hospital. She will be transported to Macau via a medical charter flight, according to the hospital. The girl's vital signs have stabilized after having been admitted in critical condition and a deep coma, though intracranial (顱內的) pressure remains a concern. The family was visiting Taiwan as a group of 7 when the explosion occurred. The girl's 85 year-old great-grandmother and 24 year-old uncle, who were both injured in the gas explosion and later transferred to the hospital for treatment, were also discharged Wednesday and are expected to return to Macau on the same flight. US registers first measles death in decade A child in the US state of Texas has died from measles (麻疹) amid a worsening outbreak. The death is the first in the country from the disease in more than a decade. Nick Harper has more. NZ Raises Concerns on China's LiveFire Exercises New Zealand’s foreign minister says China has agreed to consider concerns that its military did not give enough notice before staging live-fire exercises in the waters between New Zealand and Australia last week. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Wednesday in Beijing that his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi took New Zealand's concerns on board. Last Friday, passenger flights between Australia and New Zealand hurriedly diverted (改變方向) after Chinese naval vessels warned pilots they were flying above a live-fire exercise. A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said the drills were in compliance with international law and did not affect aviation safety. Vatican Pope Shows Slight Improvement The Vatican says Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement as he battles double pneumonia, but doctors still say his prognosis (預後) is still guarded (警戒著的 ). A CT chest scan taken Tuesday evening showed the “normal evolution” of an infection as it is being treated. And the Vatican's latest update says tests have confirmed an improvement. The slight kidney insufficiency detected a few days ago has receded, and Francis is continuing to receive respiratory physiotherapy. It was the first time the Vatican has said Francis was receiving physiotherapy to help him expel (排出) fluid from his lungs. Francis resumed work in the afternoon, after receiving the Eucharist in the morning. 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 64-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,222 on turnover of 5.8-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan extended their losses from a session earlier to close down by more than 270 points Tuesday, with the sell-off sparked by fears over future investments in artificial intelligence development, after Microsoft reportedly cancelled (取消) some leases for data center capacity. Analysts say investors rushed to cut their TSMC holdings as the company also faces uncertainty created by a tariff war launched by the Trump administration. Taiwan’s New Maritime Training Ship Sets Sail on Maiden Voyage to Japan A new maritime training ship is setting sail today on its maiden voyage to Tokyo, Japan. The Ministry of Education's "Yu-feng-lun"(御風輪), departed from Kaohsiung Harbor around noon today, with faculty and students from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology on board. The 114-meter-long vessel accomodates up to 250 people, and includes state-of-the-art training facilities including simulation (模擬) systems and big data collection systems. The ship is scheduled to return to Kaohsiung on March 10-th, before departing on March 13-th for a second training voyage. A total of 10 trips are planned before August this year, with over 1,700 trainees expected to participate. (NS) Taiwan clinches WBC spot with 6-3 win over Spain Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei on Tuesday. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener last Friday, the home team got its revenge (復仇) at Taipei Dome. The win-or-go-home game was a back-and-forth battle from the start, and Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien thanked fans for standing by them and cheering even when WBC qualification at one point seemed out of reach. With the win, Taiwan joined Nicaragua in securing a spots in the WBC, set to take place in March 2026. US DOGE Employees Resign Twenty-one federal employees who had been working with the US's newly-named Department of Government of Efficiency - or DOGE - have resigned in protest. The anonymous employees wrote a letter blasting the Trump administration's controversial (有爭議的) cost-cutting initiative which is being led by Elon Musk. Ira Spitzer reports. Colombia "Narco Wig" Smuggler Busted Colombian police apprehended a 40-year-old man attempting to smuggle several bags of cocaine concealed beneath a meticulously (小心翼翼地) attached toupee (假髮). Police said the suspect was detained at Cartagena’s airport on Monday as he prepared to board a flight to Amsterdam. A scanner revealed the hidden cargo: 220 grams of cocaine packaged in small bags, strategically placed under the “narco wig.” Police estimate the street value of the drugs at over $10-thousand US dollars in European markets. 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 189-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,376 on turnover of $7.8-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan fell by more than 160 points Monday as investor sentiment was spooked by weaker-than-expected trading in the United States, which prompted fears of a U.S. slowdown. But select old economy stocks still attracted rotational buying, with shipping and steel stocks helping to prevent the Taiex from falling further." Two Receive Deferred Prosecution in Core Pacific City Case Prosecutors say two people involved in the Core Pacific City corruption case have received deferred prosecution. The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office says former Dingyue Development Corporation president Chu Yea-hu (朱亞虎) and Core Pacific Group legal affairs manager Chen Chun-yuan (陳俊源) admitted to the charges. Officials say the two must pay $3.3-million and $1.2-million NT respectively to the public treasury (國庫) within three months. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office previously indicted former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, Weijing Group Chairman Shen Qing-jing, and nine others for corruption, embezzlement, and other offenses. (NS) Macron Warns Trump not to "Surrender" Ukraine French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Donald Trump not to "surrender" (交出，放棄) Ukraine as he pushes for a peace deal with Russia. The two leaders met at the White House on Monday, on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Morocco Claims Dozens Arrested in Foiled IS Attack Moroccan authorities have arrested a dozen people they said were planning attacks on behalf of the Islamic State in the Sahel. The country's top investigator said Monday that the dismantling (拆解) of one of the group's terror cells reflected their growing regional ambitions. They did not provide details about what they called imminent (即將發生的) threats but released a series of videos and photographs showing officers raiding compounds they said were being used to plan attacks. In recent years, Morocco's security services claim to have dismantled 40 terrorist cells, including one as recently as January. Greece Santorini Quakes in Gradual Decline Scientists from the University of Athens monitoring an earthquake swarm near the island of Santorini say the phenomenon is in “gradual decline” nearly a month after the multiple tremors started. The undersea shocks — sometimes recorded only minutes apart — led thousands of residents and workers to flee the famed cliff-top towns of Santorini as well as the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos and Anafi. Schools remain closed on those islands for a fourth week and many other restrictions are still in effect. But scientists said they are encouraged by the recent progression of the earthquake swarm, while local authorities say thousands of those fled have returned in recent days. Officials say from January 26th to February 22nd, they've recorded more than 20-thousand earthquakes of magnitude 1 or higher. The multiple earthquakes, attributed to natural tectonic (地殼構造的) processes as well as magma movements below the seabed, have measured up to magnitude 5.3 but have caused only minor 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 down 156-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,574 on turnover of $5.4-billion N-T. Taiwanese Germans go to the polls Taiwanese nationals with German citizenship have cast their ballots in Germany's federal election Sunday for the first time. This follows a change in the country's Nationality Law last year that allows Germans with dual citizenship to vote. More than 200,000 citizenship applications were received by the government since the passage (通過) of the new law in June, including from a number of Taiwanese people. That's about two to three times higher than in previous years. Yushan North Peak Sees Rime Frost The Central Weather Administration says frost formations have been spotted on parts of Yushan, due to early morning low temperatures. The CWA says lows fell to "minus 5.2 degrees Celsius" on Taiwan's highest peak at around 5am today, and rime frost formed on surfaces on the mountain. Forecasters say the opaque (不透明的), granular deposits of ice crystals occur in foggy or cloudy conditions when the water droplets in the air freeze on cold surfaces. Temperatures on Yushan returned to 2.8 degrees at around 8am. (NS) Ukraine Zelenskyy on US Aid Deal Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a contentious (有爭議的) U.S. proposal that would have seen $500 billion worth of profits from Ukrainian rare minerals given to the United States as compensation for its wartime assistance to Kyiv has been taken off the table. Zelenskyy told a forum in Kyiv on Sunday that he was open to brokering a deal that would let the U.S. profit from his country’s minerals, but that the $500 billion sum initially proposed had been removed from the discussions. The Ukrainian leader said considering aid as a debt to be repaid would be a “Pandora's box” that would set a precedent requiring Kyiv to reimburse all its backers. U.S. officials have expressed confidence that a deal could be reached this week. US India Flight Diverted An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi lands safely in Rome after security concerns. Here's Julie Walker. Japan Emporer Calls for Telling WWII Tragedy to Young Gen Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, marking his 65th birthday, stressed the importance to keep telling the tragedy of the World War II to younger generations. At the palace, Naruhito, accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko, waved from the palace balcony to thank for the cheering well-wishers. The emporer pledging to contribute (貢獻，出力) to the effort to promote understanding of the history and determination for peace as the world observes the 80th anniversary of the war’s end. Later Sunday, he was to celebrate his birthday at a palace banquet. This year, Naruhito and Masako are expected to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to pay tribute to (表示敬意的舉動) those killed by the U.S. atomic bombings and Okinawa, the site of one of the harshest battles in the war. 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 39-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,526 on turnover of $3.6-billion N-T. Joseph Wu rebuts Trump chip theft claim National Security Council head Joseph Wu is rebutting claims by U-S President Donald Trump that Taiwan stole the semiconductor business from America. Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in Taipei, Wu stressed that Taiwan "did not steal anything from anybody" .. …. and stressed that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing "started from scratch" with "some help from the international community." The statements come after Trump earlier this week announced that America could hit semiconductors with tariffs of around 25-per cent in the coming weeks. Wu told delegates at the forum that the government is continuing to assess the potential impact of such a move and will be prepared to adjust its economic structure if such a need arises. He warned that those bearing the cost of such tariffs will be U-S consumers, and he's sure eventually the Trump administration will reconsider (重新考慮) its decision." Taoyuan Airport MRT preparing for 200-millionth rider The Taoyuan Metro Corporation says it's preparing to celebrate its 200-millionth passenger trip earlier than expected. According to the Airport M-R-T operator, the milestone was originally projected for March, but due increased ridership during the on-going Lantern Festival, it's now expected to meet the number sometime this weekend. The lucky passenger who takes the 200-millionth trip will receive a one-year Greater Taipei commuter (通勤者) pass and a gifts worth 20,000 N-T. The five passengers before and after them will receive two-month commuter passes and special gifts. Israel: Returned Remains Not Missing Mother The Israeli military says the remains of two child hostages have been identified but another body released by Hamas was not the boys’ mother. Hamas militants had turned over four bodies Thursday under the tenuous (脆弱的) ceasefire that has paused over 15 months of war. Israeli confirmed one body was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted during the Hamas attack that started the war in 2023. The military said later the remains of Ariel and Kfir Bibas had been identified and the family notified. But the military said the additional body was not that of their mother Shiri Bibas nor any other hostage. It called the failure to return four hostages Thursday a violation of the utmost severity of the ceasefire agreement. UN Alarm on DRC Fighting The United Nations has once again sounded the alarm bells at the devastating impact of the continued fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some 35 thousand people have fled the east of the DRC to Burundi since the beginning of February. Rwanda-backed M-23 fighters continue to advance (前進) across both South and North Kivu. Jody Jacobs has an update from the United Nations Headquarters in New York… Argentina Drops Some Charges in Payne Death Case A court in Argentina has dropped charges of criminal negligence against three of the five people indicted in connection with the death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer who fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last October. In its decision, obtained (獲得) by The Associated Press on Thursday, the Argentine federal appeals court ordered the other two defendants in the case to remain in custody. They are facing prosecution on charges they supplied the famed British boyband star with narcotics. The charge of negligent homicide carries a sentence of one to five years in prison in Argentina. 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 continued to lose ground this morning from yesterday's decline - opening down 73-points at 23,530 on turnover of 5.1-billion N-T. The market fell on Wednesday after U-S President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25-per cent tariff on chips, cars and pharmaceuticals (藥品). Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing was the focus of selling - as its share price shed 0.91-per cent. The stock's losses contributed about 80-points to the Tai-Ex's total decline for the day and sent the electronics index lower by 0.38-per cent, while the semiconductor sub-index was down 0.57-per cent. Lai calls Taiwan 'a chess player, not a chess piece' President Lai Ching-te is describing Taiwan as "a chess player, not a chess piece" in the shifting geopolitical climate. Lai made the statement during a meeting of the D-P-P's Central Standing Committee, as he's seeking to reaffirm his administration's commitment to strengthening the island's defense through increased spending and reforms (改革). D-P-P spokeswoman Han Ying says Lai expressed confidence Taiwan will be able to successfully navigate the rapidly changing international landscape … .. while at the same time, ensuring national security and preserving its leading position in the global semiconductor supply chain. More free flu vaccines to be available from today And, The Centers for Disease Control says 100,000 doses of newly purchased flu vaccines for the free government-funded program are now available to high-risk groups. The vaccines passed inspection last Friday before being distributed (散發、分配) to local health authorities for today's rollout. Distribution of the flu vaccines doses comes as the C-D-C reported just over 148,000 hospital visits for flu-like illness last week. The additional flu-vaccines doses are available to individuals aged 65 and over, infants over the age of 6 months, preschool children and those at higher risk of contracting the flu. UN Warns of Rebel Offensive in Congo Top United Nations officials in Africa have warned an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that the offensive of Rwanda-backed rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo is threatening peace in the wider region. A U.N. special envoy for Congo urged the council on Wednesday to take "urgent (緊迫的) and decisive steps to avert a wider regional war.” The U.N. special envoy for the Africa’s Great Lakes region said the recent seizure of major cities in eastern Congo by M23 rebels show that “the risk of a regional conflagration is more real today than ever before.” France’s U.N. ambassador called for the council to adopt a resolution urging an end to the M23 offensive. US Texas Measles Outbreak Spreads to Vaccinated A measles outbreak linked to unvaccinated children in West Texas is now spreading to (擴散，蔓延) vaccinated individuals. Health officials say four people who have had their jabs, are among those infected. Toni Waterman has more. Canada Announces HSR Plans The Canadian government says it is moving ahead with a multi-billion dollar plan to build a high-speed rail network between Quebec City and Toronto. The planned rail network will be 100% electric, span approximately 1,000 kilometers, and reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference the government will commit the equivalent of (等值) $2.74 billion US dollars over six years to iron out specifics before construction can begin. Officials say it’s too soon to estimate the final cost of the project or when it will be completed. 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 76-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,589 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Tuesday after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing got a boost from last-ditch buying. However, turnover remained limited, as analysts say many investors are still waiting for U-S President Donald Trump's decision regarding semiconductor tariffs on Taiwan. Lai promulgates amended law tightening recall petition rules President Lai Ching-te has signed off on amended legislation that tightens requirements for petitions used to initiate the recall of elected officials. Promulgation of the amendments to the Public Officials Election And Recall Act comes after lawmakers voted to uphold (贊成，維護) the legislation following a re-vote requested by the Cabinet last week. The amendments were proposed by the K-M-T and had the back of the Taiwan People's Party. The D-P-P says it is preparing to petition the Constitutional Court to rule on the constitutionality of the amended law. Banana prices to remain high until May or June The Ministry of Agriculture says the price of bananas is expected to remain high until May or June. The statement comes as banana prices have shot up in recent weeks. According to the Agriculture and Food Agency, the price of bananas at Taipei's First and Second Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Markets on Monday was 107.1 N-T per kilogram. That was an 84.2-per cent from the same date of last year. The agency says the high prices are mainly the result of "several typhoons" that struck Kaohsiung and Pingtung last year. Prices for guavas, jujubes and wax apples have also risen this year due to the impact (影響) of the typhoons. US Agencies Expecitng Mass Layoffs From the US…. Major layoffs are expected at NASA and NOAA this week. New hires are expecting pink slips (解僱通知單), while hundreds of other employees at the space and weather agencies have accepted the Trump Administration's offer to leave. Toni Waterman has more. Australia Mass Whale Stranding More than 150 false killer whales are stranded on a remote beach on Australia’s island state of Tasmania. Officials say marine experts including veterinarians are at the scene on Wednesday near Arthur River on Tasmania’s northwest coast. Of the 157 beached whales, 136 appeared to still be alive. The inaccessibility (交通不便，難以接近) of the beach, ocean conditions and challenges to getting specialist equipment to the remote area were complicating (使複雜化) a response. Authorities have not yet requested public help to rescue the whales. Brazil Approves Joining OPEC Brazil’s government has approved joining OPEC+, a group of major oil-exporting nations. Brazil was invited to join the group in 2023. It includes the members of OPEC, the longstanding (長期存在的) group set up to coordinate oil production to stabilize markets, plus several more significant oil-producing nations. Brazil’s participation will be limited to discussing industry-related issues, but the South American country will not participate in decisions. 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 45-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,550 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The market surged past the five-day moving average on Monday, after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw a technical rebound, which helped the broader market rebound from the previous session led by tech stocks. Select old economy industries also attracted bargain hunters during the trading day, including shipping stocks - as the transportation industry rose 1.9-per cent - while the financial sector added 0.76-per cent. More free flu vaccines on the way The Centers for Disease Control says it has now distributed some 100,000 additional government-funded flu vaccines and they will be administered (給予、施用) from this Thursday. According to the C-D-C, the vaccines passed inspection last Friday and have been distributed to local health authorities. Distribution of the flu vaccines doses come after the C-D-C last week announced that T-T-Y Biopharm had been awarded the 12.7-million N-T contract to supply the cell culture flu vaccines. The doses will be then administered for individuals aged 65 and over, infants over the age of 6 months, preschool children and those at higher risk of contracting the flu. Taipei street named after badminton's Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin Olympic badminton gold medal winners - Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin - have had a street named after them in Taipei. The plaque for "Lin Yang Way" was unveiled at a ceremony at the Zhongshan Junior High School - where both of them studied in their younger years. According to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, the city government chose to name the street after Lee and Wang after local residents submitted a petition to his office calling for the two-time Olympic gold medallists to be celebrated. Residents won't have to change their addresses, as the street will also preserve its original (原來的) name of "Lane 361 on Fuxing North Road." Lee and Wang won gold in men's badminton doubles at both the 2020 Tokyo and the 2024 Paris games. US Trump Asks Supreme Court to Rule on Agency Head Firing US President Donald Trump is seeking approval from the Supreme Court to remove the leader of an independent ethics agency. Hampton Dellinger, who oversees the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an agency dedicated to (致力於、專用的) safeguarding government employees who report misconduct, is challenging his dismissal. Mitch McCann reports Toronto Delta Flipped Plane A Delta Airlines plane flipped (翻轉) upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and ended up on its roof Monday, injuring 17 people. The airport has confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred Monday with the Delta flight from Minneapolis and that all 80 passengers and crew are accounted for. The number of people injured was down from early reports from paramedics that 19 were hurt. V Investigators are looking into what caused the plane to flip. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, the airport was experiencing blowing snow and winds of 51 kph. It is at least the fourth major aviation mishap in North America in the past month. 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 105-points this morning from Friday's close, at 23,258 on turnover of 7.7-billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 250-points on Friday - bucking a regional upswing as investors were spooked by concerns about U-S President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat to hit exports from countries he says have trade policies that are unfair to America. MOFA thanks US for updating fact sheet Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is expressing his gratitude to the U-S State Department for reaffirming support toward Taiwan with what he's calling additions "of positive, Taiwan-friendly wordings." It comes after a fact sheet's contents were updated to remove a line indicating Washington's long-held stance of not supporting Taiwanese independence. It previously stated that the U-S opposes "any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side; we do not support Taiwan independence; and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved (秆∕) by peaceful means." However, in the updated version published the line stating that the U-S does not support Taiwan's independence had been removed. Audrey Tang extols Taiwan after Munich Cyber Security Conference And, Ambassador-at-large for cyber affairs, Audrey Tang says freedom and security are not mutually exclusive and has been talking-up Taiwan's approach to digital challenges. Speaking in Germany on the sidelines of the Munich Cyber Security Conference, Tang said "freedom and security are not a trade-off, but instead are a deepening of democracy .. … and "the stronger the social consensus, the greater the resilience and security, and the better able to withstand threats." Tang also addressed the conference, and in a 10-miunte speech she touted Taiwan using measures such as real-name registration for online advertisements, fighting online fraud and using artificial intelligence to enhance (矗蔼) democracy. Ukraine Refuses US Proposal for Minterals Access Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he directed his ministers not to sign off on a proposed agreement to give the United States access to Ukraineˇs rare earth minerals because the document was too focused on U.S. interests. The proposal, which was a key part of Zelenskyyˇs talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, did not offer any specific security guarantees in return. That's according to one current and one former senior official familiar with the talks. US President Trump earlier this week jettisoned three years of U.S. policy and announced he would likely meet soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a deal to end almost three years of fighting. Pope Recovering After Respiratory Infection The Vatican says Pope Francis is stable, as he recovers (確) from a respiratory infection in the hospital. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports the Pope British Academy Film Awards Papal thriller ¨Conclave〃 won four prizes including best picture at the British Academy Film Awards, at a ceremony with no single dominant winner. ¨The Brutalist〃 also won four trophies on Sunday including best director for Brady Corbet. ¨The Brutalist〃 star Adrien Brody took the prize for best actor, and Mikey Madison won the best actress prize for ¨Anora.〃 Genre-bending musical ¨Emilia Perez〃 proved that itˇs still an awards contender despite a multipronged backlash that looked to have dented (ゴ阑) its chances. It won the prize for best film not in the English language and the best supporting actress prize for Zoe Saldana. Kieran Culkin was named best supporting actor for ¨A Real Pain.〃 That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Taiwan shares open lower Malaysian influencer sentenced to 6 months in prison over scamming case Taiwan nationals freed from Myanmar scam rings now in Thailand New tariffs to be rolled out from U.S. Changes to Chips act likely -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Taiwan shares open lower Malaysian influencer sentenced to 6 months in prison over scamming case Taiwan nationals freed from Myanmar scam rings now in Thailand New tariffs to be rolled out from U.S. Changes to Chips act likely -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 26-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,263 on turnover of $5.5-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday - as early gains eroded as investor sentiment was spooked by concerns that America could introduce tariffs on semiconductors. Environment Minister confirms carbon cap trade regulations are under discussion Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming says his office has begun discussion regarding carbon cap trade regulations. According to Peng, the aim is to impose a stricter cap than the current self-determined reductions. Peng says his office will be inviting companies with a reputation (名聲) for excellence to work together and form an alliance to better implement any changes. The government has said the carbon fee system will take effect this year - meaning that imposed entities will have to pay their carbon fees according to their 2025 emissions in May of 2026. THSR Zuoying Station set passenger records in 2024 The Ministry of Transport says the number of High Speed Rail passengers hit a record high last year - and the number of passengers entering and exiting Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung both exceeded (超過) 10-million for the first time. According to the ministry, passenger volume on the High Speed Rail reached 78.25-million last year. This marks a 7-per cent increase from the previous year and highest in its 18 years of operations. The High Speed Rail's Taipei Station served the highest number of passengers. That was followed by Taichung Station, then Zuoying Station in third - with the number of passengers entering the station reaching 10.5-million and 10.4-million passengers leaving. Russia makes contact with Syria The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken to Syria's interim (過渡時期) leader, in the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Mimmi Montgomery reports Australia Investigates After Nurse Claims to Have Killed Israelis An Australian hospital is examining its patient records after a nurse claimed online to have killed Israelis. Officials say there was no evidence of harm to patients. A police unit focusing on a surge in antisemitic crimes in Sydney since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 is investigating possible breaches (違規行為) of hate speech law. Two nurses who took part in an online discussion with an Israeli influencer on Tuesday during a night shift at Sydney’s Bankstown Hospital were suspended on Wednesday. Authorities say they will never work for the state health department again. Brazil Defends Oil Exploration Near Mouth of Amazon Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is defending oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River as a way to finance a transition to green energy. As part of statements pressing the country's enviornmental regulator to approve the plan, Lula says new oil revenue (收入) could provide the funds for the change. The offshore area, Bloc 59, is located in the Equatorial Margin, about 160 kilometers from the coast. In 2023, Brazil’s environmental regulator rejected a license, citing issues such as a weak wildlife protection plan in the event of an oil spill that could affect one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. State-owned oil company Petrobras appealed and a decision is pending. 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 65-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,449 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market rebounded on Tuesday after a slump a session earlier as artificial intelligence-related stocks were the center of investor focus on the back of a rise in Nvidia's share price on Wall Street overnight. Investors took cues from a 2.87-per cent increase in Nvidia shares on Wall Street, but the main board failed to sustain its early gains by the end of the session on the capped upturn by semiconductor stocks .. .. which dealers are attributing to lingering concerns over possible massive tariffs on chips by U-S President Donald Trump. Ministers hold talks to promote cultural diplomacy in Japan, Europe Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Culture Minister Li Yuan have held talks to discuss "cultural diplomacy" -- with a particular focus on the upcoming Expo 2025 in Japan and cultural events in Europe. According to the foreign ministry, it was the first time the two ministries have held minister-level talks and Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu and Deputy Culture Minister Sue Wang were also in attendance. The ministry says, both sides talked about combining their resources to boost Taiwan's visibility (能見度) on the world stage and one focus was the upcoming Osaka World Expo, which will be held between April and October. Another topic on the agenda was how Taiwan could took advantage of the National Palace Museum's upcoming exhibitions in the Czech Republic and France later this year. CDC reporting highest weekly flu-related medical visits in a decade The Centers for Disease Control says the number of outpatient (門診) and emergency visits due to flu-like illness recorded last week was the highest number for the same period since the 2015-2016 flu season. According to the C-D-C, a total of 181,995 flu-like illness-related outpatient and emergency visits were reported from February 2 to 8. C-D-C Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Kuo Hung-wei says the number of flu cases with severe complications is also rising, with 128 severe cases and 28 flu-related deaths recorded from February 4 to this past Monday. Most of those cases were linked to H-1-N-1 infections. Russia Frees American Prisoner Russia has freed American detainee (被拘留者) Marc Fogel. The 63-year-old school teacher was released from prison on Tuesday, according to US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. He'd been arrested for the illegal possession of cannabis back in 2021 and was given a 14-year prison sentence, which the United States viewed as "wrongful." Benji Hyer reports. UN Warns of Congo Displacement The U.N. says more than 110-thousand displaced people have in recent days left settlement camps in eastern Congo’s cities controlled by Rwanda-backed rebels after the rebels were accused of forced camp closures. The U.N.’s humanitarian aid coordination agency said Tuesday that the M23 rebels issued a 72-hour ultimatum for people to leave the camps but later clarified that such movement is voluntary. Associated Press journalists witnessed some of the displaced people packing up what is left of their belongings and dismantling makeshift shelters. The forced camp closures have worsened (惡化) what is already one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. At least 500-thousand people have reportedly been displaced in the region following the M23's advance. 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 gained 69-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,321 on turnover of 5.4-billion N-T. The market fell sharply on Monday, as investors shied away from the electronics sector due to concerns that U-S President Donald Trump will impose heavy tariffs on chips. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing trended lower throughout the session - losing 1.78-per cent by the end of the trading day. And the stock's losses contributed about 160 points to the Tai-Ex's fall total decline during the trading day. Groups submit recall vote proposals for 12 more opposition lawmakers D-P-P supporters have submitted more recall vote proposals targeting 12 opposition lawmakers to the Central Election Commission. It brings the total number of opposition lawmakers now facing potential (可能的) recall votes to 44. The K-M-T lawmakers targeted by the proposals include Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang, and seven-term lawmaker Yang Chiung-ying from Taichung, as well as K-M-T caucus secretary-general Lin Si-ming. The latest recall vote proposals follow those submitted on February 3 in a bid to recall 19 K-M-T lawmakers. Taipei international book fair draws 570,000 visitors And, Organizers of the just concluded Taipei International Book Exhibition say this year's event drew an estimated 570,000 visitors over six days. The figure surpassed last year's turnout of 550,000. According to Culture Minister Li Yuan, enthusiastic (熱情的) turnout this year despite the cold weather, was an indication of people's passion for reading and shows that the event was a huge success. Thailand has been picked as the guest of honor for next year's Taipei International Book Exhibition. Hamas to Delay Release of Hostages Hamas says it will delay the further release of hostages in the Gaza Strip after accusing (指控) Israel of violating a ceasefire that began three weeks ago. Israel and Hamas are in the midst of a six-week ceasefire during which Hamas has committed to freeing dozens of the hostages captured in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’ said its plan to delay the next hostage release “until further notice” depended on whether Israel “abides by its obligations.” Three more Israeli hostages had been scheduled for release on Saturday, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. US Texas Measles Outbreak Spreading A measles outbreak in Texas is spreading. Health officials say at least 10 children in one county have tested positive in the past two weeks for the highly contagious disease - which can cause fevers, rashes, brain swelling and even death. All of the children are unvaccinated (未接種疫苗的). Toni Waterman has more. Saudi Doctoral Student Freed After Confinement Over Tweets A Saudi doctoral student at Leeds University in Britain has been freed after seeing her 34-year sentence for her activity on Twitter in Saudi Arabia drastically (大幅度地) reduced. Salma al-Shehab, a mother of two, had been sentenced to 34 years in prison back in 2022 over her tweets. Amnesty International and other rights organizations reported al-Shehab's release, point out that she "spent almost 300 days in prolonged solitary confinement, was denied legal representation, and was then repeatedly convicted on terrorism charges"…"All just because she tweeted in support of women’s rights and retweeted Saudi women’s rights activists.” Al-Shehab was arrested as part of a wider crackdown on dissent in the kingdom as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has taken over as its de facto ruler. 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 57-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,422 on turnover of 7.5-billion N-T. The market rose last Friday after recovering, as the bellwether electronics sector - led by artificial intelligence-related stocks - regained its footing, pushing the main board to close at the day's high. Market watchers say investors appear to have moved away from U-S President Donald Trump's tariff actions, and are now instead focusing on economic fundamentals. Luermen spring festival draws over 700,000 in Tainan Organizers of the annual Lunar New Year event at Tainan's Lu-Er-Men Matsu Temple say an estimated 700,000 people attended the event this past weekend despite the cold weather. The event marks the 'spring ox' ritual and was celebrated with a huge two-hour long firework show, a drone light show featuring 500 drones forming images of dragons, snakes, and the Goddess Matsu, a parade and musical performances. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony at the temple in the city's Annan District. He was accompanied by the four Japanese mayors from Fukushima Prefecture. The Lu-Er-Men Spring Festival dates back to 1725 - and symbolized prosperity for the coming year. A large paper-mache ox is tossed into the crowd as part of the festival and attendees (參加者) tear off pieces for good luck. NKorea Kim Vows to Bolster Nuclear Program North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said an elevated U.S. security partnership with South Korea and Japan poses a grave (嚴重) threat to his country. In a speech marking the 77th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army, Kim said the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral security partnership established under a U.S. plot to form a NATO-like regional military bloc is inviting military imbalance on the Korean Peninsula. Kim vowed to further bolster the north's nuclear weapons program. He has previously made similar warnings, but his latest statement implies again that he won’t likely embrace US President Donald Trump’s overture to meet him and revive diplomacy anytime soon. US Alaska Crash Remains Recovered Return to Table of contents US authorities say the remains of all 10 people killed in Alaska plane crash have been recovered (重新找到). AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. Russia Island on Alert After Chinese Ship Stranding Part of Russia's Pacific island region of Sakhalin is on high alert after a Chinese cargo ship ran aground off its southwest coast. Local officials say there is no fuel spillage and no danger to the crew of the An Yang 2, which is carrying coal and heavy fuel oil. Russia's emergencies ministry said 20 crew were aboard. Preparations are underway to pump fuel out of the damaged vessel, which is stranded (擱淺) in shallow waters off the region's coast. Earlier this year, hundreds of volunteers in southwestern Russia spent weeks trying to contain a massive oil spill from two storm-stricken tankers in the Kerch Strait near Crimea. 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 27-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,290 on turnover of $5.8-billion N-T. The market moved higher again on Thursday, after a Wall Street rally overnight that followed better profit reports than expected from major companies. Philippines on track to lead Southeast Asian tourist arrivals in Taiwan for2024 The Tourism Administration says the Philippines is on track to become the top Southeast Asian source of tourists to Taiwan in 2024. It will be the first time that visitors from the Philippines will have topped the list. Data shows that 415,635 visitors were recorded arriving in Taiwan from January to November. The figure exceeded the 384,000 visitors from Malaysia and the 376,000 tourist arrivals from Singaporeans over the same period. Thailand was fourth with 356,000 visitors, and Vietnam was fifth with 344,000. According to the Tourism Administration, the Philippines ranked at number five globally (全球) in terms of visitor arrivals in Taiwan - behind Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, South Korea and the United States. Russian Lawmaker on Trump Putin Meeting A senior Russian lawmaker believes a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could happen as early as this month or next. The chair of the Russian Parliament's International Affairs Committee told Russian state media that plans for a meeting are at an "advanced (後階段的) stage" and that "it will take place soon". Stuart Smith has more from Kyiv UNRWA Head on Israeli Ban The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, says an Israeli ban on his institution has not forced it to halt (停止) its services so far but that in the long run, the agency faces an “existential threat.” Israel last week formally banned UNRWA from operating on its territory. Lazzarini says he sees his agency as the target of a “massive disinformation campaign” with a “very great objective to try to dismantle the agency because of political considerations.” Greece Santorini Declares State of Emergency Greece has declared a state of emergency on Santorini because of the hundreds of undersea earthquakes that have shaken the resort island for nearly a week. The ministry of civil protection’s announcement Thursday will provide authorities faster access to state resources. A magnitude 5.2 quake late Wednesday was the most powerful recorded since the series of quakesstarted on Jan. 31. A government spokesman says multiple emergency services and the military were already mobilized to support the island. The quakes has caused minimal (極微的) damage. Experts don't yet know if it could be leading to a stronger earthquake. Thousands of residents and seasonal workers have left, mostly evacuating to the Greek mainland by ferry. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

CDC seeing surge in flu vaccinations after actress Barbie Hsu's death Three active military officers indicted for leaking intelligence to China Guterres warns Donald Trump against ethnic cleansing in Gaza Philippines Vice President faces impeachment Britain Deciphered Ancient Scrolls -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Prosecutors appeal Yilan magistrate's verdict The Yilan District Prosecutors' Office has filed an appeal against the Yilan District Court's decision to sentence Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao to 12 1/2 years in prison. The appeal comes after Lin was found guilty last December of seeking illegal gains through her supervisory role as a public official, money laundering and having unaccounted-for assets as a public official. The prosecutor's office says it is seeking to have Lin retried on charges related to allegations she gave a tax waiver to a Luodong Township landowner. The district court determined during the trial there was insufficient evidence to prove Lin had engaged in corruption. Prosecutors are describing district court's verdict as "flawed" - saying and that the sentences for Lin and 13 other defendants were all too lenient. Taipei International Book Exhibition opens The Taipei International Book Exhibition is now open. This year's show features Italy as the guest of honor and showcases the country's authors and illustrators. Italy's representative to Taiwan says the 400 square-meter Italian Pavilion features the colors of the country's national flag with red walls and an artificial lawn symbolizing a plaza where visitors can sit and engage in discussions. The Taipei Book Fair Foundation says the event will spotlight 11 major Italian authors in different fields, including contemporary literature, children's literature, and detective fiction. They will making appearances to promote their new books and speak at forums at the show. The Taipei International Book Exhibition is taking place at Hall 1 of the Taipei World Trade Center until February 9. China tariffs China has announced retaliatory tariffs on select US imports and an antitrust investigation into Google, just minutes after a sweeping levy on Chinese products imposed by Washington took effect. But the impact of China's measures on U.S. exports may be limited… as Jennifer King reports. Colombia orders cancellation of fracking contract Colombian president Gustavo Petro has ordered the state-run oil company Ecopetrol to cancel a joint venture with U.S.-based Occidental Petroleum that was expected to produce around 90,000 barrels of oil per day. The order cited environmental concerns. Petro said that he was opposed to the recent extension of a deal between Ecopetrol and Occidental because it involved extracting oil through fracking, a technique that has been criticized by environmental groups. Petro told his cabinet that he wanted the operation sold, and the money to be invested in clean energy… Petro told his Cabinet that" We are against fracking, because fracking is the death of nature, and the death of humanity.” Australia deals with rains Monsoon rains have unleashed flooding in Australia's Queensland that claimed the lives of two people. The week-long deluge dropped months of rainfall in a few days, devastating small rural towns on the state’s north coast. Officials say the body of an 82-year-old woman was found in a paddock near the North Queensland town of Ingham on Tuesday. It followed the death of a 63-year-old woman on Sunday. The rain drove hundreds from their homes, washed out an important bridge and blocked drinking water supplies to the worst-hit area. meanwhile, heatwaves were recorded elsewhere in Australia, including in Western Australia. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Lai meets with China-based business owners Foreign labor may be allowed in waste, recycling industries from March Europe Defense against U.S. Hundreds of undersea earthquakes shake Greece Santorini Trump and Musk move to dismantle USAID -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 728-points this morning from it January 22 close on the final day of the Year of the Dragon at 22,796 on turnover of 27.3-billion N-T, The market closed out the Year of the Dragon by moving sharply higher. The exchange's market capitalization rose by more than 18-trillion N-T to 75.53-trillion N-T in the Year of the Dragon as a whole. That figure totaled an average of about 1.36-million N-T for each of the 13.21-million investors in the market as of the end of 2024. Tsai claims solid communication helped handle Trump Former president Tsai Ing-wen has told the British newspaper, The Times that she believes "solid communication" helped maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between Taiwan and the U-S during the first administration of U-S President Donald Trump. According to Tsai, "strong, frequent and clear" communications between both sides national security teams was a major factor in keeping Trump on the her side .. .. and such communications resulted in progress in economic, educational and cultural exchanges. Tsai also touted arms sale in the interview - saying U-S military sales to Taiwan reached the highest level in 40 years under Trump during his first term in office .. .. the current D-P-P administration is happy to discuss how to further strengthen the island's defense capabilities (能力) and increase its investment in national defense with the new Trump administration. RightsCon digital rights summit to be held in Taipei for first time Taipei has been selected as the host city for the 2025 RightsCon. According to the event's organizer, the international conference focusing on digital rights will be held in Taipei later this month. The event is organized by Access Now. Access Now executive director Alejandro Mayoral Banos says it was a "was a natural step" to choose Taiwan as the place to host the four-day summit because of its protections of democracy, freedom, and human rights. It will be the first time RightsCon is held in East Asia since its inception (起始) in 2011. Access Now says the February 24 to 27 event will include more than 550 discussion sessions - both in-person and online. US State Secretary Warns Panama on China Canal Influence US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Panama must reduce Chinese influence (影響) around the canal area or face possible US action AP correspondent Donna Warder reports. UK Palace Cuts Back on Kate Fashion Details UK media reports that Kensington Palace is going to cut back on naming the luxury labels that the Princess of Wales wears. The newspaper reports that Kate was frustrated that too much attention was being paid to her attire and not to the important issues she’s highlighting. Kate, who is married to Prince William, the eldest son of King Charles III, is often dressed by fashion’s fanciest brands. The princess, who has a foundation for early childhood development, is launching a new initiative aimed at developing social and emotional skills. In foreshadowing the new approach (方法), the palace did not release details of her clothing during a recent visit to Wales. 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. Government pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 26-30 percent by 2030 The government says it plans to further reduce carbon emissions to reflect the island's commitment to net zero. Speaking at the third meeting of the Presidential Office's climate change committee, President Lai Ching-te announced what he called the government's "more ambitious ( 有雄心的) carbon reduction targets." According to Lai, his administration will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 26 and 30-per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Lai told the committee that the revised reductions mean Taiwan's carbon emissions should be reduced between 30 and 34-per cent by 2032. The president went on to say it's crucial for the people of Taiwan to take more active steps in fulfilling a responsibilities to the international community. TaiwanICDF opens applications for overseas volunteers The Taiwan I-C-D-F foreign aid agency has announced that's accepting applications for its annual volunteer program that provides humanitarian and other assistance to the nation's diplomatic allies and less-developed countries. The agency is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And it says it will recruit 44 volunteers to work in areas such as information technology, public health, veterinary science, nutritional science, nursing, health education, mental health and epidemiological (流行病學的) statistics. Taiwanese nationals aged 20 or above are eligible (有資格的) to apply. Those selected will be deployed to one of 11 countries in the Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Africa, and Central and South America for six months to a year, it added. The deadline for all applications is February 10. Cold weather forecast in run-up to Lunar New Year The Central Weather Administration says low temperatures and rain can be expected ahead of Lunar New Year's Day next Wednesday. A strong continental cold air mass is forecast to approach Taiwan on Monday - sending the mercury down to below 10 degrees in some areas. The cold front is forecast to be at strongest on Lunar New Year's Eve and into Lunar New Year's Day - when parts of the north and east could see lows of 9-degrees. Other area will see lows of between 12 and 14-degrees next Tuesday and Wednesday. The weather administration says snow is also likely to fall at elevations over 2,000-meters in the north and east. The cold front is expected to weaken from next Thursday and temperatures rebound. However, another cold front is expected to approach the island on the second to last day of the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday - once again bringing down temperatures in the north and east. Trump to Visit States Hit by Natural Disasters US President Donald Trump will today visit North Carolina and California, two American states recently ravaged (摧殘) by natural disasters. Benji Hyer reports. UN Climate Interrupting Schooling The United Nations Children's Fund says over 200 million children had their schooling interrupted last year because of heatwaves, cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather. UNICEF says it amounted to one in seven school-going children across the world being kept out of class at some point in 2024 because of climate crises. The new UNICEF report released today also outlines (概述) how some countries saw hundreds of their schools destroyed, with low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa hit especially hard. But while deadly floods and cyclones hit the world in 2024, UNICEF says heatwaves were “the predominant climate hazard shuttering schools last year." 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. First batch of data from ongoing lunar mission arrives in Taiwan The National Central University says the first batch of data from a Taiwan-made radiation detector has arrived after it it launched into orbit last week. The university's Deep Space Radiation Probe is aboard the HAKUTO-R Mission 2 lunar lander developed by Japanese space exploration company ispace and launched from Florida on January 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. According to the university, the probe is "currently operating normally" and its temperature is "within a safe range." They say data so far has shown "brilliant (傑出的) results. Taoyuan airport warns travelers should to arrive 3 hours early during LNY The Taoyuan International Airport is advising travelers to arrive at least three hours before their flight during the Lunar New Year holiday period because of an sharp increase in passenger numbers. According to the airport operator, an average of 145,000 travelers are expected to pass through the airport each day from between tomorrow and February 3. The peak dates for departing (出發) passengers are expected to be tomorrow and Saturday, while the peak for inbound travelers will be on the final weekend of the holiday on February 1 and 2. Peak hours for departing flights during the holiday period will be 7 to 9AM, 2 to 3PM and 11PM to 12AM. While peak times for arrivals will be between 1 and 5PM and between 8 and 10PM. US LA Wildfire Shuts Down Major Highway A new fast-moving wildfire has broken out north of Los Angeles, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes and closing a major highway. The new blaze comes as the firefighters continue to battle the fires that brought devastation (破壞) to Los Angeles two weeks ago. Ira Spitzer reports. SSudan Orders Telecoms to Block Social Media South Sudanese authorities have ordered telecoms to block access to social media for at least 30 days, citing concerns over the dissemination (傳播) of graphic content relating to the ongoing violence against South Sudanese in neighboring Sudan. The temporary ban, which could be extended to up to 90 days, will come into force at midnight Thursday, according to authorities. They claim the temporary ban was necessary to protect the public. Many South Sudanese have been angered by footage from Sudan that purports to show killings by militia groups of South Sudanese in Gezira state. Greece Statue Found in Garbage Police in Greece say a marble statue of a woman believed to be more than 2,000 years old has been found abandoned in a garbage bag and handed to archaeologists. A resident found the headless statue near a trash bin and handed it over to authorities near the northern city of Thessaloniki. Archaeologists confirmed its historical significance, and it was confiscated for preservation (保存). Accidental discoveries of ancient artifacts are relatively common in Greece during construction and public works. Thessaloniki recent showcased a trove (（不知物主的）貴重發掘物) of antiquities discovered during construction of a subway system. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Labor Insurance Fund has good short-term prospects Flu-like cases hit ten year high 570 kg of spice powder rejected at border for pesticide residue Donald Trump unveils AI investment in USA South Africa Mine Rescue -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Tai-Ex opening lower Magnitude 6.4 earthquake topples buildings in Tainan district Budget vote in LY expected today President Donald Trump signs new executive orders Canada expressed relief about U.S. Tariffs -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Delegation members injured in car crash in Palau return home Survey shows one-fifth of Taiwan adults use TikTok or Douyin Trump planning flurry of executive action in inauguration day Mideast Wars with exchanges of hostages and prisoners US TikTok Ban Halted for Now -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 165-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,190 on turnover of $9-billion N-T. Taiwan's first lunar mission successfully launched Taiwan's National Central University (NCU) says it has successfully launched the country's first lunar mission on Wednesday (Taipei time)… Tts Deep Space Radiation Probe (DSRP) was carried into space and expected to land on the moon in four months. The probe was aboard the lunar lander HAKUTO-R Mission 2 developed by ispace, a Japanese lunar exploration company, and launched from Florida. The DSRP is Taiwan's first domestically-built scientific payload for a lunar mission and the first to leave low Earth orbit (LEO), which extends to (延長到) an altitude of 2,000 kilometers The mission is aimed at measuring the expected radiation dose between the earth and the moon, as well as on the lunar surface, and understanding the radiation-caused anomalies of electronics commonly used on board a spacecraft. Blinken defends US policy on Gaza From the US…. Protesters disrupted (被擾亂的) Secretary of State Antony Blinken's final news conference, as he defended US policy on Gaza. AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports South African dead miners Police say the death toll in a monthslong standoff between authorities and miners trapped while working illegally underground at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has risen to at least 87. The miners are suspected to have died of starvation and dehydration (脫水). Karen Chammas return with this report. India Satellite Docks in Space Space officials in India say they have docked two satellites in space to become the fourth nation to complete such a mission, in a milestone for the country’s scientific ambitions. The two satellites weighing 220 kilograms each were blasted into orbit on a single rocket in December and sent into slightly different orbits. India's Space Research Organization says the two satellites were maneuvered (操縱) back together Thursday in a precision operation. The mission had been postponed twice earlier due to technical issues. 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 303-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,818 on turnover of $8.3-billion N-T. Seven Indicted in Taiwan for Selling Tainted Condiments Seven people have been indicted for selling condiments containing banned Sudan dyes. Prosecutors in Yunlin County say employees of Chiseng Hong Ltd., including its general manager and his son, violated food safety laws, forged documents, and committed fraud. The case began in February 2024, when officials found Sudan III dye in chili powder made by the company. An expanded investigation later discovered Sudan I in their curry powder. Despite knowing about the contamination since 2023, the company continued producing and selling the tainted products, earning 6.77 million NT. Prosecutors are seeking heavy punishments for the seven individuals and fines for the company, citing deliberate (故意的) actions to hide toxic ingredients for profit. Two related firms, Chiseng Hong and Rich's Spice International, were also listed as defendants. UN Guterres Welcomes Ceasefire btwn Hamas Israel United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday shortly after the announcement was made, Guterres said the UN stands ready to assist in the implementation (執行) of the agreement. Jody Jacobs reports from New York. SAfrica Mine Rescue Operation Ends South African police have ended a rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine where hundreds of illegal miners were trapped for months and say they believe they have rescued all the survivors and retrieved all the bodies of those who died. They said they had retrieved 78 bodies and rescued 246 survivors. The announcement on Wednesday was a surprise and came just a day after the police minister said the rescue operation would likely last until at least next week. Police say rescuers would do a final sweep of the mine today to ensure (確保) no more survivors or bodies were underground. UK Chagos Islands Discuss with Trump Britain’s government has confirmed that it will not finalize a deal to hand over sovereignty of the contested Chagos Islands to Mauritius until President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is consulted. The governments of Britain and Mauritius have been negotiating in recent months to complete an agreement to settle the future of the contested (有爭議的) Indian Ocean archipelago, which is home to a strategically important U.K.-U.S. naval and bomber base. But the agreement was opposed by Trump and his supporters. The president-elect’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, warned last year that the deal posed “a serious threat” to U.S. national security. 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 40-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,757 on turnover of $3.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan staged a technical rebound, rising about 300 points Tuesday, following a slump the previous session, as the bellwether electronics sector led the gains ahead of an investor conference by contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.. The momentum continued as TSMC saw buying accelerate, in particular in the late trading session, helping the Taiex return to the 120-day moving average of 22,565 points at the end of the session. Taichung Police Destroy Drugs Worth Over NT$100 Million Taichung police have incinerated illegal drugs and paraphernalia (用具) worth over 100 million NT at the Houli Refuse Incineration Plant. The haul included 140 kilograms of Category 3 and 4 substances like ketamine and mephedrone, along with drug-use equipment. Officers said the destruction follows strict inventory checks and demonstrates their commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics. Taiwan to Launch First Satellite for Air Pollution Monitoring Taiwan plans to launch its first satellite to monitor (監測) air pollution and greenhouse gases within three years. The Ministry of Environment is working with the National Space Organization on the project, which has a 61-billion NT budget. The satellite will track cross-border pollution from China and Southeast Asia, monitor fine particulate matter like PM2.5, and measure greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Equipped with advanced sensors, it will improve the accuracy of environmental monitoring. Officials say the project includes four satellites to provide multi-timeframe data. The first satellite is expected to launch by 2027. This effort builds on recent experiments, such as a 3D air quality study in southern Taiwan, and aims to strengthen pollution control strategies using cutting-edge technology. California Threat of New Wildfires Looms Officials in California are concerned about the growing threat of new wildfires, with strong winds expected to worsen conditions across the state. The fires have already claimed at least 24 lives and displaced (流離失所的) more than 100,000 people. Mitch McCann reports: Congo Chinese Citizens Sentenced for Exploiting Mineral Resources Three Chinese citizens have been sentenced to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay $600,000 in fines for illegally exploiting mineral resources in Congo, according to court filings. The ruling marks the first time foreign mineral brokers have been convicted for unauthorized mineral exploitation in the DRC without authorization from Congolese authorities. The defendants were also found guilty of fraud, money laundering and looting (搶劫), after being arrested earlier this month with 10 gold bars and $400-thosuand in cash. It is unclear if they will remain in the eastern city of Bukavu, where they are held, or if they will be transferred elsewhere. Lawyers for the defendants say they intend to appeal, claiming the judgment is unjustified. UK Princess of Wales Reveals Cancer in Remission Britain's Princess of Wales says that her cancer is in remission ((疾病的）緩解期) following a visit to the hospital where she received treatment. In a statement on social media, the princess offered her heartfelt thanks to those who helped her and her husband Prince William. Tuesday’s announcement marked the first official update on her condition since September, when Kate said she had completed chemotherapy. The princess still hasn’t revealed what type of cancer she was treated for. 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 86-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,574 on turnover of $5.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan took a beating, plunging more than 500 points Monday, with selling sparked by steep declines on U.S. markets at the end of last week amid rising worries over the Federal Reserve's next move. The market opened up, but sell-off accelerated in the afternoon session, with weakness seen among other electronics heavyweights, dragging down the Taiex down to almost the day's low at the end of the session. Non-tech stocks moved lower in line with the broader market, with some exceptions in the petrochemical industry, which was boosted by higher international crude oil prices, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Russia's oil industry. Yunlin touts success in waste reduction -- by searching people's trash bags The Yunlin County government says it has reduced the county's overall trash volume by 7 percent after implementing a search policy. The Yunlin Environmental Protection Bureau says the county's waste output had risen to around 400 metric tons per day, and the local government has instructed waste management workers to search some residents' trash bags and refuse those that contained food scraps and other recyclable materials. Since implementing the policy, almost 20-thousand bags of trash hve been rejected, out of about 100-thousand. The bureau says Yunlin's monthly trash volume last November was 1,200 metric tons lower than in July, equivalent to (等值的；相等的) around 7 percent less trash per day. The bureau says currently, the county generates 360 metric tons of trash per day, which it hopes to reduce to 340 metric tons by the end of this year. NKorea Test Fires Projectile South Korea’s military says North Korea has test-fired at least one unidentified projectile toward its eastern waters in its second launch event of 2025. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday didn’t immediately provide (提供) more details. The launch followed North Korea’s first ballistic launch of the year last week. The North described that the test involved a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike targets in the Pacific as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further expand his collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter rivals. Romania Protests Calling for Election Resumption Demonstrations were held in the Romanian capital on Sunday calling for a resumption (繼續) of presidential elections. The election was annulled in December by the Constitutional Court citing the illegal use of digital technology to influence the results. William Denselow reports from Brussels. British Declassified Documents Reveal Spy Details Newly declassified British documents show that Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t told details of her long-time art adviser's double life as a Soviet spy because palace officials didn’t want to add to her worries. The files about royal art historian Anthony Blunt are among a trove from the intelligence agency MI5 released Tuesday by Britain’s National Archives. They shed new light on the spy ring linked to Cambridge University who spilled secrets (洩漏祕密) to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Blunt confessed to espionage in 1964, but according to the files the queen was not given full details until 1973. Her private secretary reported that “she took it all very calmly and without surprise." Blunt was not publicly exposed as a spy until 1979. 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 58-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,070 on turnover of $6.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower amid continuing concerns over volatility on the U.S. markets and inflationary pressure after the return of Donald Trump, who has vowed to raise tariffs, to the White House in January. And analysts say the financial sector came under heavy pressure, contributing to the downward movement of the Taiex. Miaoli Hits 1 Degree Early Morning Parts of Miaoli County have recorded the lowest temperature of the season this morning. According to the Central Weather Administration, monitoring stations confirmed that San-wan Township reached 1-degree-Celsius at around 7am. And nearby, Hsinchu County's E-mei Township recorded temperatures of 2.1-degrees. Meteorologist Wu De-rong says the extreme low was likely caused by clear skies and strong radiative (輻射的) cooling. He says skies will likely remain clear over the next two days with warmer daytime temperatures, but cold early mornings and nights. Then on Wednesday, another front carrying cold air and rain is expected to move over the island for another two days. (NS) Taiwanese artist wins international postcard contest in Japan A Taiwanese artist was awarded the top prize in a postcard competition at a regional art museum in Japan. Lee Li-chin was the first non-Japanese competitor to win the annual 10x15 World Contest. On Saturday, she received the Mayor's Award for her postcard depiction (描寫) of the Kawai Shrine in Kyoto, which combined embroidery and oil painting. Lee says she was inspired by the striking red color of traditional Shinto gates against surrounding green mountains, during her first visit to Kyoto. Speaking to the Japanese media, she said wanted to enrich her world by participating in the art contest and hoped to convey a message of love through her work. US Cali Firefighting Continues Firefighters are attempting (試圖) to corral wildfires in Los Angeles, but strong winds are forecast to return this week. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Turkey Rescued Gorilla Recovering at Zoo A young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat. The 5-month-old gorilla was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. After a public competition, he has been named Zeytin, or Olive, and is recuperating (正在康復中) at Polonezkoy Zoo. The director of Istanbul nature conservation says it's important to return the gorilla “to an absolutely safe environment.” Both western and eastern gorillas, which populate central Africa’s remote (偏僻的) forests and mountains — are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 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. Saline Supply Secured Through Lunar New Year Y F Chemical Corporation, Taiwan's largest saline producer, has resumed full production after addressing violations that halted operations last year. The Health Ministry announced that saline supplies are now sufficient (充足的) to meet hospital needs through the Lunar New Year. Other manufacturers have increased output, and imported saline stocks remain high, with hundreds of thousands of bags in reserve. While a global shortage of soft-bag saline packaging caused recent delays, officials expect supply to stabilize next week. The FDA has coordinated with manufacturers to prioritize deliveries for any reported shortages. Hospitals have also increased their inventories ahead of the holiday season to ensure uninterrupted care. Record NT$1.05 Billion in Lunar New Year Lottery Prizes Taiwan Lottery announced a record $1.05 billion NT in bonus prizes for this year's Lunar New Year lottery. The prizes will be drawn daily over 20 days from January 24th to February 12th, covering popular games like Lotto 6/49, Daily Cash, and Bingo Bingo. The Lotto 6/49 top prize will be $100 million NT, while the Big Red Envelope game offers up to $1 million NT per winner from a prize pool of $480 million NT. Smaller prizes are also available through additional (額外的) draws, including the Small Red Envelope game. For Bingo Bingo, prize amounts will increase during the holiday lottery period. This year's Lunar New Year bonus prizes are the largest ever. UN: Syrian Refugees Desperate Conditions The United Nations is warning more than 125,000 Syrian refugees are facing "desperate conditions" as they return to their home country. The UN's refugee agency U.N.H.C.R says many people have arrived back in Syria following last month's fall of the Assad regime. But families find themselves with little shelter and few economic prospects (前途). Sally Patterson reports from New York. Ukraine Zelenskyy Austin on Trump Presidency Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used their final meeting in Germany to press the incoming Trump administration not to give up on Kyiv’s fight. Austin warned that to cease military support now “will only invite more aggression, chaos and war.” President-elect Donald Trump’s pronouncements about pushing for a quick end to the war and his kinship (親切感) with Putin have triggered (觸發) concern among allies. But Austin said "no responsible leader will let Putin have his way.” And while Austin acknowledged he has no idea what Trump will do, he said the international leaders gathered Thursday in Germany talked about the need to continue the mission. UN Forecasts Modest World Economy Growth The United Nations says the world economy resisted battering by conflicts and inflation last year and is expected to grow a subdued 2.8% in 2025. The U.N. projected last January that global economic growth would be 2.4% in 2024. It said Thursday that the rate was estimated to have been slightly higher, at 2.8%. Both remain below the 3% rate the world saw before the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. In their 'World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025, U.N. economists wrote that their positive prediction was driven by the strong but slowing growth forecast for China and the United States and by robust (旺盛的) performance anticipated for India and Indonesia. The European Union, Japan, and United Kingdom are expected to experience modest recovery. 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 0.6-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,407 on turnover of $6.3-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower Wednesday as the bellwether electronics sector came under pressure in the wake of heavy losses suffered by tech stocks in the United States overnight. The market opened down as electronics heavyweights, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., slid following a 1.89 percent fall in the tech-heavy Nasdaq index overnight. That weakness continued to the end of the session as last ditch selling sent TSMC to the day's low. iRent Faces Scrutiny Over Data Collection Practices iRent car rental service is under fire for allegedly collecting excessive personal data, including spousal (配偶的) information, and sharing it with affiliated companies. The Highway Bureau has demanded corrections following complaints from the Consumers' Foundation. While iRent says users agreed to share their data, officials found its necessity unclear. The company has promised to stop sharing data within its group for marketing and will revise (修訂) its privacy policy, letting users opt in for data sharing. Inspectors are reviewing if iRent's practices comply with data protection laws. The company must submit evidence by January 17th for further investigation. US LA Battles Wildfires Wildfires are continuing to rage through Los Angeles, with tens of thousands of residents forced to evacuate. At least five people have died so far, with the fires spreading at an unprecedented (史無前例) pace. It's now the largest fire in the city's history. Ira Spitzer reports from LA. Israel Recovers Body of at Least One Hostage Israel’s military says troops have recovered the body of another hostage from Gaza. The military said on Wednesday that Yosef AlZayadni's body was recovered in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza. It said it was examining whether a second body was that of another hostage. The men were taken captive (俘虜) during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel and Hamas have been considering a ceasefire deal that would free the remaining 100 or so hostages and would halt the fighting in Gaza. Israel believes a third of the remaining hostages are dead. However, AlZayadni was believed to still be alive before Wednesday's announcement. Canada Finance Minister on Trump 51st State Comments Canada's finance minister says U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st state are now counter productive. He says Trump was smiling when he made the comment at dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in late November, but the joke is over. Trump has repeatedly floated the idea that Canada should join the United States as the 51st state, saying Tuesday he would not use military force to invade the country, which is home to more than 40 million people and is a founding NATO partner. Instead, Trump said he would rely on “economic force” as he erroneously cast the U.S. trade deficit with Canada as a subsidy (補貼). The U.S. relies on Canada for approximately 60% of its crude oil imports. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states, and is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn