EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 63-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,255 on turnover of $4.6-billion N-T. Foreign Minister Arrives in Guatemala on Five Allies Trip Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is now in Guatemala on the leg of his 11-day trip to five of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is Lin's first overseas trip since he took office in May. Taking to Facebook, Lin said he and his wife, together with a governmental delegation, were welcomed by Guatemala's vice foreign minister on their arrival at Guatemala City's La Aurora International Airport. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Lin will be meeting with President Bernardo Arevalo and Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez during his stay in Guatemala. According to the foreign ministry, President Lai Ching-te has appointed Lin as a special envoy (使者) to represent his government at celebrations to mark the 45th Independence Day of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Lin is also scheduled to visit Saint Lucia, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. He is scheduled to return to Taiwan on November 2. ICC Reports Mongolia for Failure to Arrest Putin A panel of judges at the International Criminal Court has reported Mongolia to the court’s oversight organization for failing to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin when he visited the Asian nation last month. Putin’s visit was his first to a member state of the court since it issued an arrest warrant for him last year on war crimes charges, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions (綁架) of children from Ukraine. Russia is not a member of the court and the Kremlin has rejected the charges. The court said in a statement that its member states are "duty-bound to arrest and surrender individuals subject to ICC warrants, regardless of official position or nationality.” What the assembly will now do remains unclear. While Putin was in Mongolia, a court said that the organization that is made up of all 124 of the court's member states can “take any measure it deems appropriate.” UN: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Out of Control A new United Nations report suggests that annual greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high. The UN Environment Programme says urgent action must be taken to prevent catastrophic (災難性的) spikes in temperature and avoid the worst impact of climate change. Jody Jacobs has more from the United Nations in New York… Canada to Cut New Immigrant Targets Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will significantly reduce the number of new immigrants in the country after acknowledging his government failed to get the balance right coming out of the pandemic. Trudeau’s Liberal government had targeted bringing in 500-thousand new permanent residents in both 2025 and 2026. Trudeau now says next year’s target will be 395-thousand new permanent residents, which will continue to fall in 2026 and 2027. Trudeau says immigration is essential for Canada’s future but it must be controlled and it must be sustainable (可持續的). The country's immigration minister says the lower immigration numbers will help with the housing shortage in the country. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Court Delays Ruling Core Pacific City Detention Hearing Foreign Minister on a 10-Day Trip to Latin America and the Caribbean Mideast Wars latest Turkey explosion North Korea troops in Russia Canada's Trudeau asked to step aside -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 133-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,402 on turnover of 6.8-billion N-T. The market closed marginally lower on Tuesday after rebounding from a heavy early downturn as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing trimmed (修整, 減少) its losses in the late in the session. The main board continued to see interest in artificial intelligence related stocks such as Hon Hai, while a strong rebound by the financial sector also lent some support to the broader market. Premier Claims to Make Concessions to Break Budget Delay Premier Cho Jung-tai is seeking to break a deadlock in the Legislative Yuan over the government's general budget for next year. Speaking during a legislative hearing, Cho said the Cabinet will increase funding for compensation to Indigenous peoples for a logging ban, as requested by opposition lawmakers, in a bid to break the standoff. However, he stressed the "concession" will be a one-off (一次性的) "exception" and if lawmakers fail to pass the 2025 general budget soon, the Cabinet could bring the issue to the Constitutional Court. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu has said a next round of cross-party caucus talks will take place tomorrow. Taiwan Railway Corporation to Raise Salaries And, The Taiwan Railway Corporation has announced plans to increase employee salaries. According to the rail operator, the pay rises will range from 1,800 to 3,140 N-T. The company says the move will see the basic monthly salary for entry-level employee rising to 36,140 N-T. Back pay and overtime compensation will also be adjusted (調整) from the employee's start date. The railway corporation says it will also seek to review and increase hazard pay, salaries for night shift employees and regional allowances. US Georgial Rejects GOP Bid to Change Election Rules From the US…. Georgia's Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a bid by Republicans to reinstate a slew (很多，大量) of new, controversial election rules - two weeks before election day. A lower court last week had called the rules "illegal, unconstitutional and void." Toni Waterman has the story Mexico President Announces New Agriculture Plan Mexico's new president has announced an agriculture plan that could change the country's food production and distribution. President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged Tuesday to revive (復原) government stores and continue efforts to achieve “food sovereignty” to make Mexico capable of producing all the food it eats. The pledges run counter to what Mexican food sales look like today when consumption of most of the old basics has fallen. Sheinbaum says her policy is mainly focused on increasing bean and corn production. The government will also focus on supporting coffee production, but mainly for instant coffee, which it claims is used by 84% of Mexican households. The plan will also seek to support cocoa production, but mainly for powdered baking and hot chocolate, not fine chocolate bars. 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 114-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,428 on turnover of 8.5-billion N-T. The market managed to close slightly higher on Monday - that, despite initial gains being limited as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing fell into consolidation mode after rallying at the end of last week. Market watchers say many investors opted to shift to the sell side, locking in profits built for T-S-M-C, as the main board moved closer to the nearest technical resistance ahead of the 23,700 point level. General Budget Talks Break Down in LY Again Lawmakers remain deadlocked over the government's general budget for next year after another another round of cross-party caucus negotiations broke down with no agreements being made. Legislative review of the 3.13-trillion N-T general budget proposal presented by the Cabinet has now been in limbo for weeks. The main issue is the opposition caucuses' rejection of the Cabinet's compensation plan for the logging ban, on grounds that there were deficiencies in the proposal. The Cabinet has budgeted 40,000 N-T per hectare for landowners or users affected by the ban. However, that figure is below the 60,000 N-T required under the amendments to the Logging Ban Compensation for Lands Reserved for Indigenous Peoples Act. Former Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i to Attend November's APEC Summit The Presidential Office says businessman and senior presidential advisor Lin Hsin-i will attend November's APEC summit in Peru as President Lai Ching-te's official envoy. According to the Presidential Office, Lai asked Lin to attend the meeting in the hope he will use his "professional and abundant experience to fully expound the meaning of the government's policies" and "effectively increase Taiwan's visibility (能見度) and importance" in Lima. The office also says the trip will be aimed at promoting cooperation on "green digital transformations, digital innovation, digital health, small and medium-sized enterprise growth, women's economic empowerment, inclusive growth, and food security." Lin previously attended three APEC meetings in Brunei in 2000, in China in 2001, and in South Korea in 2005. SKorea Summons Russian Ambassador Over NKorean Troops South Korea has summoned the Russian ambassador to demand the immediate pullout of North Korean troops allegedly deployed in Russia. South Korea’s spy agency said last week it had confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia earlier this month to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. During a meeting with Russia's ambassador, the south's vice foreign minister "condemned in the strongest terms” North Korea’s troop dispatch that he said poses “grave security threat” to South Korea and the international community. The minister says South Korea in collaboration (合作) with the international community will mobilize all available means to deal with an act that threatens its vital national security interests. The Russian Embassy quoted its ambassador as saying that the Russian-North Korean cooperation is not aimed against the security interests of South Korea. US Infant Deaths Rise After Abortion Access Overturned New research shows that hundreds of more infants have died in the United States than expected since the Supreme Court overturned abortion access in the Dobbs decision of 2022. Since then, more than 20 states have implemented (實施) bans or restrictions on the medical procedure. Toni Waterman 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 115-points this morning from Friday's close, at 23,602 on turnover of 5.5-billion N-T. The market made major gains last Friday - as it closed the session up over 430-points despite Wall Street drifting to a mixed close overnight - as investors were buoyed by the latest signals that America's economy is doing just fine. G7 Defense Minister Criticize China's Military Exercises The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is thanking the defense ministers of the G-7 member states for their voicing of support for the need to maintain the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait. The statement comes after the G-7 defense ministers has issued a joint declaration criticizing China for what they're calling its provocative actions near Taiwan. It was issued after the defense ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U-K and the U-S gathered in Naples this past weekend. The joint statement said the ministers reaffirm that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable (不可或缺) to international security and prosperity and are concerned about provocative actions, particularly the recent Chinese military drills around Taiwan. Hualien Becomes Colorful Canvas for Meeting of Styles Street Art Event And, More than 50 walls in Hualien County have been transformed into artworks as part of an international Meeting of Styles graffiti festival. The Meeting of Styles event originated in Germany. It concluded on Sunday in Hualien. The three-day graffiti project brought together artists from across Taiwan and overseas to revitalize (振興Zhenx?ng) areas in the city with bright and lively murals. Hualien City Mayor Wei Chia-yen described his city's Meeting of Styles as "lively" on Facebook - saying the murals could bring "new life" to the structures hit by natural disasters this year. This year marked the second Meeting of Styles in Taiwan, following an event in New Taipei City in 2022. Israel strikes Lebanon latest Hundreds of residents fled (逃離) their homes in the Lebanese capital late on Sunday after Israel said it was preparing attacks on sites linked to the financial operations of Lebanon's Hezbollah group. Karen Chammas reports Cyprus Thwarts Digital Attack Cyprus says it has successfully thwarted (阻撓) a digital attack aimed at blocking access to the government’s central online portal. It was the latest in a string of similar attacks over a three-day period against state-run utilities and the Cypriot subsidiary of a Greek energy company. Cypriot digital authorities say they foiled the attack whose purpose was exclusively to prevent access to specific government websites. The distributed denial-of-service attack only affected the main government portal gov.cy “for a few minutes” and that no other online government ministry or service website was affected. 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 567-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,621 on turnover of $16.7-billion N-T. The market staged a mild technical rebound on Thursday as investors were encouraged by a rally on Wall Street overnight on the back of some positive earnings reports. Momentum accelerated in the afternoon session, as artificial intelligence-related stocks bounced back from Wednesday's decline .. …. and that helped the main board stay above the nearest technical resistance around the five-day moving average of 23,046 points by the end of the trading day. 20 'Yetis' to Appear at Daan Forest Park's Nuit Blanche in November The 2024 Taipei Nuit Blanche will be taking place on November 2 in the city's Daan District - with organizers saying it will feature (以……為特色) 20 "abominable snowmen" as well as still artworks, performances and video screenings According to Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua, the Nuit Blanche is now in its ninth year and has become a major event that highlights Taipei's "cultural vibrancy." Taipei Nuit Blanche's artistic director Agi Chen says events will also be taking place at the nearby Yongkang Street and Dongmen shopping areas as well as the Jianguo Holiday Markets. The 2024 Taipei Nuit Blanche will take place on Saturday November 2 from 2PM to 2AM the following day. Israel Claims Hamas Leader Killed in Gaza Israel says it has killed Hamas' top leader during a strike in Gaza. AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports Ukraine Zelenskyy: NKorean Troops Preparing to Join Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his government has intelligence information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country. Zelenskyy told reporters at NATO headquarters, that the personnel had not yet been moved to Ukraine or to Russia. Zelenskyy did not go into further details about the claim, but warned that a third nation wading into the hostilities (戰爭行為) would turn the conflict into a “world war.” The Ukrainian leader’s comments raised the stakes for his Western allies as he met with European Union leaders and then NATO defense ministers to discuss his “victory plan” to end the country’s devastating war with Russia. Germany Fire Station Didn't Have Fire Alarm A new fire station in central Germany, which was destroyed in a fire, did not have a fire alarm system. According to local media is reports, the fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the Stadtallendorf fire station in Hesse and destroyed, among other things, the equipment hall and almost a dozen emergency vehicles. No one was injured, but initial (最初的) estimates put the damage at up to $26-million US dollars. Local officials say no fire alarm system was installed in the building because experts had considered it not necessary. Reports say the station opened less than a year 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 up 103-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,114 on turnover of $7.7-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Wednesday as it tumbled more than 280 points amid selling sparked by a disappointing sales outlook from semiconductor equipment supplier A-S-M-L Holdings. Market watchers say futures-led selling also pushed down the local main board, while foreign institutional investors - who held a large number of short position contracts - opted to (選擇) dumped stocks on the spot market to profit in futures. New Taipei Museum Reopens After Flood Damage from Typhoon Krathon The Juming Museum in New Taipei's Jinshan District has reopened to the public - over 10-days after suffering extensive (大面積的) damage from flooding caused by Typhoon Krathon. Floodwaters breached the museum's storage facilities, knocked down sculptures displayed outside, and flooded low-lying areas on the museum's 110,000-square meter campus when the storm battered Taiwan on October 4. According to the museum's director Liu Bo-cun, 50 indoor and 86 outdoor artworks were damaged, as was some of the museum's electrical equipment. Liu says the works of art will all be professionally restored. The Juming Museum is the largest outdoor museum in Taiwan and was designed by and presents the works of late contemporary Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming. Israel says no aid shortage in Gaza The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations says there is no shortage of aid in Gaza. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday ahead of another emergency session of the UN Security Council, Danny Danon laid the blame (責怪，歸咎於) squarely at the feet of Hamas, claiming it hijacks the aid. Jody Jacobs has more from the United Nations…. Nigeria Tanker Explosion Leaves Dead and Injured. More than 140 people, including children, are dead in Nigeria after an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded in flames while they tried to scoop up fuel. Dozens more were injured. Police say the accident occurred at midnight in northern Jigawa state when the tanker driver lost control on a highway. Residents rushed to the scene before the blaze, and witnesses say the ensuing (隨後的) fire spread so quickly that many couldn't escape. People often salvage fuel from tanker accidents in the country, especially because of soaring fuel prices, which have tripled since the government ended costly gas subsidies last year. Liam Payne Obit Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. He was 31. Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor, resulting in “extremely (非常，極其) serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot. 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 103-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,114 on turnover of $7.7-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Wednesday as it tumbled more than 280 points amid selling sparked by a disappointing sales outlook from semiconductor equipment supplier A-S-M-L Holdings. Market watchers say futures-led selling also pushed down the local main board, while foreign institutional investors - who held a large number of short position contracts - opted to (選擇) dumped stocks on the spot market to profit in futures. New Taipei Museum Reopens After Flood Damage from Typhoon Krathon The Juming Museum in New Taipei's Jinshan District has reopened to the public - over 10-days after suffering extensive (大面積的) damage from flooding caused by Typhoon Krathon. Floodwaters breached the museum's storage facilities, knocked down sculptures displayed outside, and flooded low-lying areas on the museum's 110,000-square meter campus when the storm battered Taiwan on October 4. According to the museum's director Liu Bo-cun, 50 indoor and 86 outdoor artworks were damaged, as was some of the museum's electrical equipment. Liu says the works of art will all be professionally restored. The Juming Museum is the largest outdoor museum in Taiwan and was designed by and presents the works of late contemporary Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming. Israel says no aid shortage in Gaza The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations says there is no shortage of aid in Gaza. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday ahead of another emergency session of the UN Security Council, Danny Danon laid the blame (責怪，歸咎於) squarely at the feet of Hamas, claiming it hijacks the aid. Jody Jacobs has more from the United Nations…. Nigeria Tanker Explosion Leaves Dead and Injured. More than 140 people, including children, are dead in Nigeria after an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded in flames while they tried to scoop up fuel. Dozens more were injured. Police say the accident occurred at midnight in northern Jigawa state when the tanker driver lost control on a highway. Residents rushed to the scene before the blaze, and witnesses say the ensuing (隨後的) fire spread so quickly that many couldn't escape. People often salvage fuel from tanker accidents in the country, especially because of soaring fuel prices, which have tripled since the government ended costly gas subsidies last year. Liam Payne Obit Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. He was 31. Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor, resulting in “extremely (非常，極其) serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot. 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 103-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,114 on turnover of $7.7-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Wednesday as it tumbled more than 280 points amid selling sparked by a disappointing sales outlook from semiconductor equipment supplier A-S-M-L Holdings. Market watchers say futures-led selling also pushed down the local main board, while foreign institutional investors - who held a large number of short position contracts - opted to (選擇) dumped stocks on the spot market to profit in futures. New Taipei Museum Reopens After Flood Damage from Typhoon Krathon The Juming Museum in New Taipei's Jinshan District has reopened to the public - over 10-days after suffering extensive (大面積的) damage from flooding caused by Typhoon Krathon. Floodwaters breached the museum's storage facilities, knocked down sculptures displayed outside, and flooded low-lying areas on the museum's 110,000-square meter campus when the storm battered Taiwan on October 4. According to the museum's director Liu Bo-cun, 50 indoor and 86 outdoor artworks were damaged, as was some of the museum's electrical equipment. Liu says the works of art will all be professionally restored. The Juming Museum is the largest outdoor museum in Taiwan and was designed by and presents the works of late contemporary Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming. Israel says no aid shortage in Gaza The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations says there is no shortage of aid in Gaza. Speaking to reporters in New York on Wednesday ahead of another emergency session of the UN Security Council, Danny Danon laid the blame (責怪，歸咎於) squarely at the feet of Hamas, claiming it hijacks the aid. Jody Jacobs has more from the United Nations…. Nigeria Tanker Explosion Leaves Dead and Injured. More than 140 people, including children, are dead in Nigeria after an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded in flames while they tried to scoop up fuel. Dozens more were injured. Police say the accident occurred at midnight in northern Jigawa state when the tanker driver lost control on a highway. Residents rushed to the scene before the blaze, and witnesses say the ensuing (隨後的) fire spread so quickly that many couldn't escape. People often salvage fuel from tanker accidents in the country, especially because of soaring fuel prices, which have tripled since the government ended costly gas subsidies last year. Liam Payne Obit Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. He was 31. Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor, resulting in “extremely (非常，極其) serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot. 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 301-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,991 on turnover of $7-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan surged more than 300 points Tuesday, with buying sparked by a rally on U.S. markets overnight. The bellwether electronics sector led the gains with artificial intelligence related stocks in focus. Investors took their cue from robust AI chip designer Nvidia Corp. Monday to pick up large cap stocks, including contract chipmaker TSMC, to vault the main board over the 23,200 point mark. Taiwan's food self-sufficiency rate drops to 30.3% Taiwan's food self-sufficiency rate in 2023 dropped to 30.3 percent… that's the lowest figure in 18 years. The Ministry of Agriculture's latest Food Supply & Utilization (使用率) Annual Report represents a drop from 30.8 percent in 2022 and 33 percent in 2013. Its lowest recorded rate was at 30.2 percent rate in 2005. The MOA pointed to a decrease in the domestic production of rice, which is the largest single source of calories in Taiwan…. and THAT was partly caused by a drought which took place in 2023. The MOA also reported a drop in the amount of meat raised domestically in Taiwan. That decline was driven by factors that included avian flu and the modernization of pork-rearing facilities, which reduced production and led to a greater reliance on imports. UK Sanctions “Extremist Israeli Settlers” The UK has announced new sanctions targeting "extremist Israeli settlers". The sanctions also target (把……作為目標) organisations the UK government says have supported violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Simon Gaitan reports. UN Warning on Natural Disasters in Asia Pacific A U.N. official says disasters, including those wrought by fiercer storms, are threatening more people and could derail economic progress in the Asia Pacific region. U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Kamal Kishore, who heads the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, issued the warning Tuesday in a speech at the start of a regional ministerial conference on disaster mitigation hosted by the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. He said “disasters are now affecting record numbers of people and threatening their lives and livelihoods.” He added that if left unchecked (未被制止的), these disasters could endanger the development of the region. Kishore said Asia Pacific countries should regularly dedicate funds in their national budgets for the reduction of disaster risk, and should allocate a larger proportion of foreign development aid to disaster prevention and “not simply response.” Egypt Museum Opening for Trial Run The long-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum will partially open its main galleries today, showcasing 12 halls that exhibit aspects of ancient Egypt. More than 100-thousand of Egypt’s ancient treasures will be displayed in the world’s largest archaeological museum. It is near the Giza Pyramids and will open the halls for 4,000 visitors a day as a trial run until the official opening date, which is yet to be announced. The museum has been under construction for more than a decade and has cost well over $1 billion so far. Its opening has been repeatedly delayed for various (各種各樣的) reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 108-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,084 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. Shares closed higher on Monday despite Chinese military drills around Taiwan. Large-cap tech stocks appeared resilient amid optimism toward an investor conference scheduled by TSMC Thursday, where the chipmaker could give positive leads in the current boom of an artificial intelligence era. MAC condemns China's sanctioning of Taiwan businessman, lawmaker The Mainland Affairs Council on Monday condemned China over its sanctioning of Taiwanese businessman Robert Tsao and DPP Legislator Puma Shen, calling the move detrimental to cross-strait relations. In a statement, the MAC said the Republic of China is a sovereign country and that attempts to undermine (破壞) a free and democratic society will only drive the two sides further apart. It made the remarks after China announced earlier in the day the imposition of sanctions including an entry ban on Tsao and Shen for being "Taiwan independence die-hards." The Taiwan Affairs Office in China may have been referring to the Kuma Academy, a war-preparedness organization established by Shen and supported by Tsao, the founder of contract chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp. In 2022, Tsao made aT$1 billion NT donation to the academy, a volunteer civilian training organization with a mission to "prepare a pre-war mentality for civilians and cultivate self-defense capability." UN Concerned as Israel Fires on UN Peacekeepers The U.N. Security Council expressed “strong concern” as Israel has fired on and wounded U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon during intensified fighting. It reiterated its support for their role in supporting security in the region. The statement Monday is the first by the U.N.’s most powerful body since Israel began firing on the positions of the peacekeeping force. The U.N. peacekeeping chief told reporters that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed Monday that peacekeepers will remain in all their positions even as Israel has urged the peacekeepers to move north. Israel has been escalating its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon across a U.N.-drawn boundary (邊界) between the two countries. Hurricane Helene clean-up efforts hampered by 'armed militia' groups Hurricane relief workers in the US state of North Carolina have been evacuated following threats from 'armed militia'. This comes as US authorities are trying to stem a flow of false claims circulating (散佈) about the government's response to recent storms - including some made by former president Donald Trump. Sally Patterson reports. Kenya Protests Against Nuclear Plant Dozens have rallied against a proposal to build Kenya’s first nuclear power plant in one of the country’s top coastal tourist hubs. Muslim for Human Rights led the march Friday in the town of Kilifi to the county governor’s office where they handed him a petition (請願書,) opposing the construction of the plant. Kilifi County is also home to Arabuko Sokoke forest, which is on the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, as a significant natural habitat for the conservation of rare and endangered species. The construction of the plant is set to begin in 2027 and be operational by 2034, at a cost of about $3.8 billion US dollars. 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 22,947 on turnover of 4.6-billion N-T. The market gained more 240-points on Friday, despite Wall Street pulling back from its recent record highs on Thursday on the back of disappointing reports on inflation and unemployment in America. MND Responds to China's "Joint Sword-2024B" Drills Surrounding Taiwan The Ministry of National Defense is condemning China's holding of drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan proper - describing Beijing's actions as being "irrational and provocative behavior." According to the ministry, troops have been deployed in order to protect and defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China. The statement comes after China's Eastern Theater Command earlier this morning announced that its army, navy, air force and rocket forces are conducting "Joint Sword-2024B" drills in the Taiwan Strait and the north, south and east of Taiwan. According to a spokesperson for the theater command, the drills focus on joint sea-air combat readiness patrol, the blockade and control of key ports and areas, strikes on sea and land targets, and the seizure of comprehensive (全面的) battlefield control. Mercury to Hit Highs of 31-33 degrees Before Weekend The Central Weather Administration says we can expect to see the mercury hitting highs of between 31 and-33 degrees - and mostly clear skies with some localized (小範圍的) showers island-wide from today through Friday. However, temperatures in the north and northeast will drop to highs of between 27 and 28-degrees over the weekend and rain is also forecast in those areas due to the arrival of northeasterly winds However, residents of the center and south can expect to see cloudy to sunny skies over the weekend. US to Send Air Defense Kit to Israel The United States will deploy a sophisticated high-altitude anti-missile system to Israel to help bolster its air defences. The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence — or THAAD — battery is being sent along with 100 American troops to help operate (操作) it. It comes after Iran launched two direct missile attacks on Israel this year. Benji Hyer reports. Ukraine Urges Intl Orgs to Respond to POW Execution Claims Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman has urged international organizations to respond to a claim that several Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed in Russia’s Kursk region where Kyiv had launched an incursion in August. Dmytro Lubinets says he sent letters to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the claim. Ukrainian battlefield analysis site DeepState which is close to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that Russian troops shot and killed nine Ukrainian “drone operators and contractors” on Oct. 10th after they had surrendered (投降). Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General’s Office said that Russian troops had killed 16 captured Ukrainian soldiers in the partially occupied Donetsk region. There was no immediate response from Russian officials. China to Assist Vietnam with Railway Development China has agreed to assist Vietnam on cross-border railway development and take steps to expand agricultural imports from its smaller neighbor. Vietnam’s official media said that Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged Sunday that China would further open its market to high-quality fruits, seafood and other Vietnamese products. Li's visit to Hanoi came two week after Vietnam condemned China for what it described as an assault by Chinese law enforcement personnel on Vietnamese fishers in the South China Sea. Vietnam's prime minister told Li that both sides should respect each other’s legitimate (合法的，正當的) rights and interests and resolve disputes through peaceful means. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang Recall Vote on Sunday Union Welcomes New Pricing Regulations for Delivery Devices South Koreas Thrilled with Nobel Literature Award TD Bank hit with record-breaking fine Mexico Mayor took office after predecessor got killed -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 25-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,637 on turnover of 3.3-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday, despite Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing helping the main board recoup some of its early losses. While investors remained upbeat about T-S-M-C's outlook in expectation of an investor conference scheduled for next week, old economy stocks took a hit after investors took cues (提示) from decline on Wall Street overnight. FM Thanks US for Bipartisan Support Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is thanking the United Statss for its bipartisan support of Taiwan's defense. Lin made the statement during a legislative hearing after U-S Vice President Kamala Harris told 60 Minutes that Washington must support Taiwan's ability to defend itself. Speaking during the interview with host Bill Whitaker, the Democratic party's presidential candidate said while the U-S needs to maintain a one China policy, that includes supporting Taiwan's ability to defend itself and ensuring (確保) the freedom of the Taiwan Strait. According to the foreign minister, regardless of the ruling party - Taiwan has seen a strengthening in its relations with the U-S in recent years. Taiwan Ranks World's 14th Richest Country And, Taiwan has been listed in 14th place among the world's wealthiest countries in terms of G-D-P per capita in the latest World's 100 Richest Countries 2024 rankings released by Forbes magazine. Taiwan's G-D-P per capita stands at 76,860 U-S dollars, which puts it one spot above Hong Kong with 75,130 U-S dollars. The magazine's list of the richest countries in the world is compiled based on G-D-P per capita data, as estimated by the International Monetary Fund. However, the magazine also considers purchasing power parity when compiling (編輯,編製) its rankings. Luxembourg topped the 2024 Forbes list with a G-D-P per capita of 143,740 U-S dollars. UK MI5 Warning on Sharp Rise in Plots Against Order The head of MI5 says Britain is facing a staggering rise in attempts at assassination, sabotage and other crimes backed by Russia and Iran. Ken McCallum says hostile states are increasingly recruiting criminals to carry out plots. The head of the U.K.’s domestic intelligence agency said in a rare public speech on Tuesday that MI5 and police have tackled 20 Tehran-backed plots since 2022. He says the number of state-threat investigations undertaken by MI5 has risen by 48% in the past year, with Iran, Russia and China the main perpetrators. He warned that Iran could expand its targets in the United Kingdom if Britain’s ally Israel attacks in response to Iran’s recent missile barrage. McCallum said Russia is trying to use arson and sabotage (破壞) to create disorder on the streets of Britain and other European countries. Brazil Lifts X Ban After Musk Backs Down Brazil's Supreme Court has ruled that X can resume operations in the country, ending a five-week suspension over concerns about the content on the social media platform. X's owner Elon Musk agreed to several concessions (讓步) in order to have the ban lifted. Ira Spitzer 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 marginally (略微地) down this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,691 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market rebounded from Friday's downturn on Monday - gaining almost 400 points on the back of a rally by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Analysts say market sentiment improved as investors reacted to gains on Wall Street at the end of last week - where better-than-expected nonfarm payroll data for September indicated that the U-S economy remains resilient. Environmental Groups Pan Recommended Carbon Fee Environmental groups are criticizing the basic carbon fee and preferential rates proposed by the government - calling them "passive" and too low to affect the behavior of big carbon emitters. The criticisim comes after a review committee recommended setting a basic carbon fee rate of 300 N-T per metric ton of carbon emissions. The groups says the basic carbon fees are too low to effectively reduce carbon emissions and companies could see them as an affordable (付得起的) operating expense or pass them on to consumers rather than invest resources to reduce emissions and the fees. Ariel Lin Wins best Leading Actress at Asian Film Award Actress Ariel Lin has won the award for Best Lead Female Actor at the 2024 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards in South Korea. Lin won the award for her performance in the Taiwanese television drama "Imperfect Us." She received the award in-person at the ceremony in Busan - where she gave a teary (熱淚盈眶) speech in Korean, saying that the award was "a great motivation for both me and the work." The Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards is now in its sixth year. It's organized jointly by the Busan International Film Festival and South Korea's National I-T Industry Promotion Agency. NKorea Kim Issues Warning for Nuclear Weapons North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has warned again that he could use nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with South Korea and the United States. State media today said Kim made such a warning in his speech at a university. Kim said North Korea’s nuclear response posture must be fully enhanced because South Korea and the United States are pushing to beef up their military alliance based on joint nuclear and strategic planning, a move that he said would increase (增加) the danger of breaking the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula. Kim has issued similar threats to use nuclear weapons preemptively numerous times, but his latest warning came as outside experts say North Korea could ramp up animosities ahead of next month’s U.S. presidential election. US Scientists Win Nobel for microMRNA Discovery American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have won this year's Nobel Prize in physiology (生理)or medicine for the discovery of microRNA, a tiny molecule that governs how cells in the body function. It has been connected to heart disease, cancers and viral diseases. Kate fisher reports That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 176-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,479 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed lower Friday. However, those losses were limited () after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing received a boost from buying towards the end of the session that allowed it to recoup its earlier losses. MOFA Touts National Day Guests Foreign dignitaries and delegations are scheduled to arrive in the coming days to take part in this year's Double Ten National Day celebrations. Among the VIPs expected this year are the deputy prime ministers of Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the first lady of Guatemala, and the speakers of Saint Lucia's upper and lower houses. Along with attending a series of celebratory events in the lead-up to National Day, guests are scheduled to meet with President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and other senior government officials. They are also expected to visit multiple government agencies to discuss (討論) semiconductors, public health and medicine, social welfare. Disaster Response Center Disbands The mechanisms set up by the Central Disaster Response Center o deal with Typhoon Krathon's effects have now been disbanded. Howevr, recovery is work continuing in parts of the island. According to the center, Typhoon Krathon killed four and injured 719 people in Taiwan since forming in late September. A total of 9,499 disaster-related incidents were reported, while one person remains (仍然是) missing. Clean-up work is still underway in Keelung, New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Kinmen. The Ministry of Economic Affairs says 435,634 households experienced temporary power outages, while 608,073 households reported water supply problems due to the typhoon. While agricultural losses currently total nearly 390-million N-T. NZ Navy Vessel Oil Spill "Highly Probably" Samoan officials say an oil spill from a grounded New Zealand navy ship which sank and caught fire off the coast of Samoa is “highly probable”. Officials in the Pacific island nation are conducting an environmental impact assessment (評估) in the area where the ship sank on Sunday morning. All 75 people on board the "H-M-N-Z-S Mana-wanui" were taken to safety on life rafts. New Zealand will hold a court of inquiry into the loss of the ship, which was one of nine in its navy. The cause of the disaster is not known. US Gulf Coast Faces Another Hurricane Another hurricane is barreling (飛馳) towards the already storm-ravaged US gulf-coast. A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Florida while the state is still clearing up from the effects of hurricane Helene. US correspondent Kate Fisher reports UK PM Staff Reshuffle British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has quit, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role “risked becoming a distraction to the government.” Sue Gray’s resignation came after recent reports about tensions between her and Starmer’s chief adviser Morgan McSweeney, and that she was earning more than the prime minister. The BBC has reported that Gray’s annual salary was about, $223-thousand US dollars. That's nearly $4-thousand dollars higher than Starmer's pay. Gray said she accepted a new role as Starmer’s envoy (使者) for the regions and nations. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 176-points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,479 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed lower Friday. However, those losses were limited () after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing received a boost from buying towards the end of the session that allowed it to recoup its earlier losses. MOFA Touts National Day Guests Foreign dignitaries and delegations are scheduled to arrive in the coming days to take part in this year's Double Ten National Day celebrations. Among the VIPs expected this year are the deputy prime ministers of Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the first lady of Guatemala, and the speakers of Saint Lucia's upper and lower houses. Along with attending a series of celebratory events in the lead-up to National Day, guests are scheduled to meet with President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and other senior government officials. They are also expected to visit multiple government agencies to discuss (討論) semiconductors, public health and medicine, social welfare. Disaster Response Center Disbands The mechanisms set up by the Central Disaster Response Center o deal with Typhoon Krathon's effects have now been disbanded. Howevr, recovery is work continuing in parts of the island. According to the center, Typhoon Krathon killed four and injured 719 people in Taiwan since forming in late September. A total of 9,499 disaster-related incidents were reported, while one person remains (仍然是) missing. Clean-up work is still underway in Keelung, New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Kinmen. The Ministry of Economic Affairs says 435,634 households experienced temporary power outages, while 608,073 households reported water supply problems due to the typhoon. While agricultural losses currently total nearly 390-million N-T. NZ Navy Vessel Oil Spill "Highly Probably" Samoan officials say an oil spill from a grounded New Zealand navy ship which sank and caught fire off the coast of Samoa is “highly probable”. Officials in the Pacific island nation are conducting an environmental impact assessment (評估) in the area where the ship sank on Sunday morning. All 75 people on board the "H-M-N-Z-S Mana-wanui" were taken to safety on life rafts. New Zealand will hold a court of inquiry into the loss of the ship, which was one of nine in its navy. The cause of the disaster is not known. US Gulf Coast Faces Another Hurricane Another hurricane is barreling (飛馳) towards the already storm-ravaged US gulf-coast. A state of emergency has been declared in parts of Florida while the state is still clearing up from the effects of hurricane Helene. US correspondent Kate Fisher reports UK PM Staff Reshuffle British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has quit, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role “risked becoming a distraction to the government.” Sue Gray’s resignation came after recent reports about tensions between her and Starmer’s chief adviser Morgan McSweeney, and that she was earning more than the prime minister. The BBC has reported that Gray’s annual salary was about, $223-thousand US dollars. That's nearly $4-thousand dollars higher than Starmer's pay. Gray said she accepted a new role as Starmer’s envoy (使者) for the regions and nations. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex re-opened this morning follow two days of typhoon closures .. and it opened up 69-points this morning from Tuesday's close, at 22,459 on turnover of 10.8-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Tuesday to close above the 60-day moving average following a technical rebound by large-cap tech stocks. However, turnover was limited as many investors opted to stay on the sidelines due to Typhoon Krathon. NIA Deports Chinese Couple Accused of Disrupting Hongkongers' Event The National Immigration Agency says it has deported a Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents. According to the agency, the couple were escorted (護送，押送) by immigration officials to Taoyuan International Airport before boarding their flight to China. The immigration agency says it has also cancelled their entry permits for violations of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into Taiwan Area. Officials say the couple applied to visit a family member in Taiwan at the end of September, but that person had returned to China in July. The immigration agency says the couple was aware they were violating the rules when applying for temporary entry permits based on visiting family members living in Taiwan. The couple were filmed harassing group of Hong Kongers earlier this week in Taipei's Ximending before being taken away by police. UN Security Council Pledges Support for Guterres United Nations Security Council members have all committed their full support to Secretary General Antonio Guterres. This after the Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz deemed (視為) the UN chief "persona non grata" following his statement on the Iran missile attack on Israel. Jody Jacobs has more… Brazil G20 Agree to Tropical Forest Initiative Environment ministers of the Group of 20 nations agreed Thursday to support the creation of funding sources for ecosystem services, acknowledging Brazil’s proposal to establish a trust fund for forest conservation. Named the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, the Brazilian initiative would reward tropical forest countries for protecting the critical biomes. The plan benefits all tropical forest nations based on the area preserved, paying local and Indigenous communities involved for maintaining ecosystems. The environment ministers of leading rich and developing countries assembled (聚集) this week in Rio de Janeiro for four-day meetings to discuss climate change and sustainability. The topic is one of Brazil’s priorities as it hosts the G20 presidency until the end of the year, with heads of state convening in Rio next month. France Owl Treasure Hunt Over And… A 31-year-long treasure hunt that drew in thousands of enthusiasts across France appears to have come to an end after official social media accounts linked to the search said the token needed to claim the grand prize had been found. The hunt, “On the Trail of the Golden Owl,” was based on a book of riddles published in 1993. Participants had to solve 11 puzzles in the book — and a 12th one that was hidden — to decipher the exact location of the token (代幣，有象徵意義的物品), which would then be exchanged for the real prize, an owl made of silver and gold and studded with diamond chips. It has an estimated worth of about 165-thousand US dollars. 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 yesterday's close, at 22,329 on turnover of 4.2 -billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 600-points on Monday on the back of steep declines in the share price of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and other tech heavyweights. Analysts says Monday's downturn came as investors moved their money from tech stocks into non-tech stocks. Tai Power to Hike Electricity Rates for Industrial Users The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Tai-Power will be raising electricity rates for industrial users from October 16. The statement follows a meeting of the ministry's electricity price review committee. The hike in price means that industrial users will see their electricity rates increase by an average of 12.5-per cent. Tai-Power had been seeking an increase of 14-per cent, but the committee says it opted for a lower figure in order to ensure (確保) that Taiwan businesses remain competitive. It's the second electricity rate hike this year and was proposed as part of government efforts to shore-up Tai-Power's finances. National Day Gala Tickets Snapped Up in 15 Minutes The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism says all 5,400 tickets for the 2024 National Day Gala were snapped-up within 15 minutes of release on Monday. The event will be taking place this coming Saturday at the Taipei Dome and it will be the venue's first large-scale non-sporting event. Organizers made the 5,400 tickets available through the "udn fun life" online ticketing platform at noon. Four-hundred of those tickets were reserved for (保留給) senior citizens. Personal information was required by those lucky enough to have booked their seats and tickets cannot be transferred. The National Day Gala will feature performance by singers Jody Chiang and Huang Fei. US Man Pleads Not Guilty to Trump Assassination Attempt The man accused of plotting to kill former president Donald Trump at his Florida golf course has pleaded not guilty to five counts including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate. Prosecutors allege Ryan Routh stalked (跟蹤) Donald Trump before setting up what they called a "sniper's nest" at the edge of his golf course in west Palm Beach, Florida. US correspondent Kate Fisher reports Japan PM Resigns Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has resigned with his Cabinet, paving the way for his likely successor Shigeru Ishiba to take office. Ishiba was chosen as the governing Liberal Democratic Party’s leader on Friday to replace Kishida, who announced in August his resignation at the end of his three-year term. Ishiba is assured to be prime minister later today in a vote by parliament because it is dominated by his party’s ruling coalition (執政聯盟). Ishiba will then announce his new Cabinet later in the day. On Monday, Ishiba said he planned to call a parliamentary election to be held on Oct. 27 after he is formally chosen as prime minister. 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 178 -points this morning from Friday's close, at 22,643 on turnover of 6.9-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex lost ground on Friday, despite Wall Street rising to an another all-time high overnight and other regional markets moving mostly higher, fueled by China's moves to revive (復活) its economy. Two More Suspects Detained in Core Pacific City Investigation The Taipei District Court has ordered two more suspects in the Core Pacific City investigation to be detained for their alleged involvement in the case. The latest suspects to have been ordered detained are former Dingyue Development Corporation President Zhu Ya-hu and Lee Wen-zong, the former director-general of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je's office in 2015. Both suspects were questioned late Friday and into Saturday before prosecutors applied for detention orders (羈留令). Zhu and Lee were questioned after prosecutors and officials from the Agency Against Corruption launched a second wave of searches on 29 locations last Friday. Seven people have so far been detained in connection with the investigation, which was launched in May. Former Hong Kong Lawmaker to Open Restaurant in Taipei Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Tanya Chan has announced she's opening a new restaurant in Taipei and will serve as its head chef. Chan moved to Taiwan three years ago. And and she's taken to Facebook to say the restaurant will be called "Red Cotton" and will be located in the city's Songshan District. According to Chan, she rarely (很少) had time to cook during her previous life as a lawyer and lawmaker in Hong Kong, but after coming to Taiwan she missed the flavors of Hong Kong. Chan served as a legislative councilor for Hong Kong Island from 2008 to 2012 and again from 2016 to 2020. ISrael Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen, as Hezbollah confirms (證實) the death of a senior official AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports…. Macao Leader Candidate on Goals The sole candidate in the election for Macao’s next leader has pledged to diversify the economy of the Chinese casino city, a goal previously laid out by Beijing. Sam Hou-fai, the city’s former top judge, told reporters that the diversification is a key issue he must address. He told election committee members who will vote on Oct. 13 that the city learnt a lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic. Macao’s tourism and gaming industries suffered a big slump because of the virus controls. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed hopes that the former Portuguese colony can promote healthy and sustainable (可持續的) economic development. Macao is the only place in China where casinos are legal. 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 120-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,979 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex continued to gain ground on Thursday, as other regional markets rallied on the back of news that China plans to spend billions of dollars to help rebuild the capital of its state-run banks. Kaohsiung City Councilor Missing Amid Corruption Probe Authorities in Kaohsiung says a city councilor under investigation for corruption has gone missing. According to the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office, officials have been seeking to contact Huang Shao-ting in connection with an investigation into allegations of embezzlement of public funds. Prosecutors says Huang missing yesterday evening after investigators searched his residence and office earlier in the day. Huang also failed to attend the Kaohsiung City council meeting on Thursday. Reports are citing several people who live near his office as saying Huang was last seen leaving the office carrying a suitcase early Thursday morning before getting into a taxi and leaving without saying hello to them. The prosecutors' office, says the missing city councilor is under investigation for allegedly inflating (誇大, 抬高) the fees of publicly-funded assistants working in his constituency office. Huang's mother has also been questioned as part of the investigation. Guinea Presidential Palace Shots Fired Shots have been fired near the presidential palace in Guinea’s capital Conakry, with the army briefly locking down and evacuating the city center. Local journalist Fode Toure, who was a few hundred meters from the presidential palace, said he heard gunshots and saw people running away in panic. An AP reporter near the palace saw heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets. A diplomatic official close to Guinea’s leader said that 11 dissident soldiers opened fire on the special forces around the presidential palace, but they were overpowered. Three of the assailants were killed and eight others were arrested, he said, adding that the situation (情況) is under control. US Biden Announces Ukraine Assistance Bill US President Joe Biden has announced $8 billion in new military assistance (援助) for Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia's invasion. It comes as the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington meeting Biden and democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. From Washington. Kate fisher reports Pope Encourages EU to Welcome Migrants Pope Francis is urging Europe to be beacon of peace amid war and a welcome home for migrants. He made the appeal as he arrived on Thursday in Luxembourg to encourage Catholics in the country. The pope skipped his traditional walk down the plane aisle to greet (向…打招呼) journalists during the flight from Rome. He had cancelled his audiences earlier in the week because of a slight flu. Francis was in Luxembourg for just a few hours before flying onto Belgium, where he will stay through the weekend. There, immigration and peace are expected to be on the agenda. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 79-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,841 on turnover of 8.2-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday after Wall Street posted more record-high closes overnight. Investors were buoyed by a strong showing by Nvidia on U-S markets overnight - which allowed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to close above the 1,000 N-T mark - as the chipmaker led the rise on the local main board and other AI-related stocks followed. MOFA Thanks US President Joe Biden for Taiwan Comments The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expressing its thanks to U-S President Joe Biden for his speech at the United Nations General Assembly - in which he stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Speaking in New York Biden reiterated America's support for stability in the Taiwan Strait, condemned military aggression (侵略) in the South China Sea and stated the U-S' commitment to deepening security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Biden's comments come after he hosted Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware this past weekend. The leaders voiced their opposition (反對) to any attempt to change the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait. More Chinese Tourists Arrive in Kinmen More Chinese tourists have arrived in Kinmen. According to China's Taiwan Affairs Office, 27 of them traveled to the outlying island on Wednesday as independent tourists and more could travel there in the future. The office also called on the Lai administration to ensure the smooth flow of tourism exchanges "for the well-being of people on both sides." The arrival of the 27 Chinese Tourists in Kinmen comes after first post-COVID-19 tour group from China's Xiamen City traveled to Kinmen for a two-day trip this past Sunday. That 22-member group traveled on direct ferry via the "mini-three links" from Xiamen City. UK PM Tells Britons to Leave Lebanon UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told an estimated (估計，大約)10,000 Britons in Lebanon, "now is the time to leave," as Israel attacks Hezbollah across the country. Lebanese authorities believe well over 500 have been killed since airstrikes began on Monday. Stuart Smith reports from London. EU Set to Remove Some Protections for The European Union is moving toward backing plans to remove some of its protections for wolves on the continent as their population grows. Ambassadors of the 27 EU nations reached a qualified majority Wednesday to seek to loosen protection rules enshrined in the European Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Farmers in many members countrieshave been increasingly angered by attacks on their livestock by wolfpacks as the animals have taken hold in woods and fields close to agricultural lands. Wolves remain a “strictly protected” species in most of Europe, but their numbers are estimated to have grown by 25% over the last decade. Under the plans the EU backs, wolves would be downgraded (降級) from “strictly protected” to “protected," allowing for more measures to keep them at bay from farmers and the population. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 137-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,569 on turnover of 8.9-billion N-T. The market gained more than 140-points on Tuesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing recouped early losses, which helped the broader market return to positive territory by the end of the session. Other heavyweights in the old economy sector, in particular those in the transportation industry also moved higher, adding momentum (衝力、動量) to the local main board -- which pushed the index past stiff technical resistance ahead of the 60-day moving average. 2025 Government Budget Bill Stalled A legislative review of the 2025 central government budget remains stalled after opposition lawmakers demanded the Cabinet revise its spending plan. The move effectively stops any further reviews of the budget outside of the Procedure Committee. D-P-P lawmaker Shen Fa-hui is describing the move as "unprecedented"(史無前例) arguing that the main task of the new legislative session is to review and pass the budget bill. However, K-M-T lawmaker Chen Yu-ren has been quick to point out that President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai employed the same procedural tactic in the D-P-P's failed move to hold up the central government budget bill when they were lawmakers in 2008. Grounded Mirage-2000s Back in Operation Defense officials say the Air Force's fleet on Mirage-2000 fighter jets has returned to normal operations. The aircraft had been grounded (（飛機）停飛) for safety checks following a crash earlier this month. The resumption of normal flight operations came after the Air Force lifted the grounding order for all of Taiwan's 50-plus Mirage-2000s following the completion of a round of safety checks in the wake of the September 10 crash. The Air Force has said that preliminary indications are that one of the crashed fighter jet's engines lost thrust before the aircraft crashed. However, a full investigation into the incident is ongoing. Military aid to Ukraine The U.S. has unveiled its latest military aid package worth about $375 million for Ukraine. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy embarks (出發) on a visit to the United States… Sagher Meghani reports from Washington. Thailand Legalizes SameSex Marriage Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill has been officially written into law, allowing same-sex couples to legally wed. The law was published in the Royal Gazette after endorsement by Thailand's king, and will come into effect in 120 days. This means LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register their marriage in January next year, making Thailand the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex marriage. The bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights for marriage partners of any gender, sailed through (順利通過) both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June respectively. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 11-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,273 on turnover of 3.2-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Monday as it extended momentum from the previous session on the back of strong momentum in the bellwether electronics sector - which continued to lead the broader market higher. However, turnover failed to register any significant expansion, with many investors opting to stay on the sidelines amid concerns of volatility on Wall Street in the lead-up to the U-S presidential election in November. US Executives Visiting to Explore Drone Tech Collaborations More than 20 executives from U-S companies that manufacture drone and anti-drone systems are visiting Taiwan this week to explore collaboration and trade opportunities. The trip has been organized by the American Institute in Taiwan and the U-S Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. According to A-I-T, the delegation includes representatives from Northrop Grumman, AEVEX Aerospace and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, among others. A-I-T says the business development mission will help foster the relationships between U-S and Taiwan companies that are needed to increase global supply chain resilience (彈性). Forest Fire Drill Alert to be Sent out in Parts of Kaohsiung Friday And, The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency is reminding residents of two Kaohsiung districts that they will receive a forest fire drill text warning on their phones this Friday. A message reading "Forest Fire Alert Drill. Please don't panic" will be delivered through the Public Warning Cell Broadcast Service between 2:30 and 3:30PM. It will be sent phone users in Tianliao and Cishan districts. According to the agency, the drill is part of the efforts to help raise awareness (提高認識) of forest fires in higher-risk areas in central and southern Taiwan, particularly during October's dry season. Japan Claims Russia Plane Violates Airspace Japan is protesting to Moscow after claiming a Russian plane violated its airspace on Monday. The incursion triggered (觸發) a Japanese Self-Defense Force jet to respond with signal flares for the first time ever. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Congo Prisoners Released Congo's minister of justice says nearly 1,700 ill inmates have been released from the country's largest prison as part of an effort to thin out Congo's overcrowded prisons. The operation took place Monday at Makala Central Prison in the capital Kinshasa. Severely ill prisoners received immediate medical care, while others were sent home on buses provided by the ministry of justice and a state-owned company. Makala prison, Congo’s largest penitentiary (監獄) with a capacity for 1,500 people, holds more than 12,000 inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial, according to information from Amnesty International. The country's minister of justice says there are plans for the construction of a new prison in Kinshasa, without giving more details. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,170 on turnover of 2.5-billion N-T. The market gained on Friday, as investors were buoyed by Wall Street's romping to record highs overnight after the U-S following the Federal Reserve's decision to make big interest rate cuts. MND Reveals FPV Drone Development Project The Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that a recent promotional video showed footage of a first-person view drone system. The statement comes after the Military News Agency released video footage of the drone system earlier this month. That footage showed soldiers using laptops and remote controls to launch small, explosive-laden drones, which detonated on striking a car and speedboat being used as targets (目標). F-P-V drones are piloted from the drone's point of view via an onboard camera, footage from which is transmitted to the pilot's monitor screen or video goggles. Investigators into Possible Foul Play in Taitung Food Poisoning Case The Taitung District Prosecutors' Office says it is considering the possibility of foul play in a food poisoning case last week that left three people dead. The statement comes after test results from the scene showed suspiciously (可疑地) high levels of pesticide in the first victim's kitchenware. According to chief prosecutor Chen Yen-qiu, authorities are looking into the source of millet and the preparation process of glutinous millet dumplings, which were discovered to contain a high level of terbufos. Terbufos is a hazardous chemical compound found in some pesticides. US Polling Shows Tight Race with Harris Increasing Lead New polling over the weekend shows US Vice President Kamala Harris has increased her lead (領先) nationally over her Republican rival Donald Trump in the Presidential election. Our Washington Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the details. Bolivia Clashes between Protesters and Supporters Bolivia’s pro-government supporters and security forces have confronted (面對) protesters loyal to former President Evo Morales in a street melee. The protesters and counterprotesters hurled firecrackers, small dynamite bombs and stones at each other across a dusty sprawl in the city of El Alto on Sunday, while riot police unleashed tear gas into the crowds. Health authorities say at least eight people were injured. The standoff erupted while thousands of Bolivians supporting Morales continued a weeklong march to the capital. Report: Rhino Population Rises Slightly, but Killings Rise A new report finds that the rhino population across the world has increased slightly but so have the killings, mostly in South Africa, as poaching fed by huge demand for rhino horns remains a top threat. Conservationists said in the report that the number of white rhinos increased by just over 1-thousand-500 from 2022, to 2023, but the black and greater one-horned rhino stayed the same. Another subspecies, the northern white rhino, is technically extinct with only two females being kept in a secure private conservancy (自然保護區,) in Kenya. With all five subspecies combined, there are just under 28-thousand rhinos left in the world, from 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 204-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,246 on turnover of $6.6-billion N-T. The market gained more than 360 points on Thursday to close above the 22,000 point mark as investors reacted positively to moves by the U-S Federal Reserve to cut interest rates for the first time in four years. Investors rushed to pick up large-cap stocks across the board, led by the bellwether electronics sector, which managed to rebound from a wobbly (變來變去的) start to the trading day. Cabinet OKs Amendments to Halve Amusement Taxes The Cabinet has passed an amendment to the Amusement Tax Act. The move will reduce tax rates on most entertainment activities by at least half, with the exception of (除了) golf. Amusement taxes are levied on tickets sold or fees charged by amusement facilities or activities and collected by local governments. The Ministry of Finance says the amendments are aimed at assisting local governments to develop local cultural events and competitions, boost regional economic development and retain financial autonomy. EU China Pledge Increased Dialogue European Union and Chinese trade representatives have agreed to intensify (強化) efforts to resolve a dispute over electric vehicles. The EU has imposed tariffs of up to 35 percent on electric vehicle's from China accusing Beijing of imposing unfair subsidies and flooding the European market. William Denselow reports from Brussels. Rwanda Begins Mpox Vaccination Campaign The African health agency says that Rwanda has started a vaccination campaign against mpox with 1,000 doses it obtained from Nigeria. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccination started Tuesday targeting seven districts with high-risk populations who neighbor Congo. Congo has been at the epicenter (震央) of an outbreak on the African continent, where nearly 3-thousand new mpox cases and 14 new deaths have been recorded in the last week. This brings the total number of cases to over 6-thousand, with 738 deaths since the beginning of the year. Italy Churchill Portrait Returned to Canada A ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Rome has marked the successful recovery of a stolen photo portrait of Winston Churchill, known as “The Roaring Lion,” after a two-year search. Italy's police handed over the portrait to the Canadian ambassador to Italy, who praised the cooperation between Italian and Canadian investigators that led to the recovery. The 1941 portrait of the British leader was taken by Ottawa photographer Yousuf Karsh. Canadian police say it was stolen from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa sometime between Christmas 2021 and Jan. 2022, and replaced with a forgery (偽造品). The original was found to have been sold at auction and the Italian buyer has returned it. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 3.4-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,675 on turnover of $3.2-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday as investors awaited the outcome of the U-S Federal Reserve's two-day policymaking meeting. Selling focused on large-cap tech stocks, which pushed the broader market near the 20-day moving average of 21,801-points, while select old economy stocks appeared resilient to investor caution. 23 People, Including Serving Military Officers, Charged with Spying for China The Tainan District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 23 people on charges of spying for China. The 23 include eight serving personnel from the Air Force, the Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard Administration. According to the prosecutors' office, the espionage (間諜) ring was created by two brothers in 2021 and targeted serving personnel who were having financial problems. Reports says they received some 5-million N-T over a two and half year period from China to gather sensitive information. The the Ministry of National Defense has said the active service personnel were not high ranking officers and little access to restricted information. UN Calls for Israel to Withdraw from Occupied Palestinian Territory The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a Palestinian-drafted resolution that demands Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months. The resolution received 124 votes in favor, while 43 countries abstained and Israel, the United States and 12 others voted no. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York. NKorea Kim Supervised Missil Tests North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has supervised successful tests of two types of missiles as he ordered officials to bolster up his country’s military capabilities to repel U.S.-led threats. The tests were apparent references to the multiple missile launches that neighboring countries said North Korea performed off its east coast on Wednesday, extending its run of weapons display as confrontations (對抗，衝突) with the U.S. and South Korea escalate. State media said Thursday that Kim oversaw the launch of the North's newly built Hwasongpho ballistic missile tipped with a dummy “4.5-ton super-large conventional warhead.” Kim also guided the launch of an improved “strategic” cruise missile, a word implying the weapons were developed to carry nuclear warheads. DR Cracks Drug Trafficking Ring Officials from the U.S. and the Dominican Republic have arrested nearly a dozen suspects after they launched a joint operation to crack down on a regional drug trafficking ring. Officials with the Dominican Republic’s Anti-Drug Agency and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Southern Command fanned out (散開) across the Caribbean country early Wednesday as part of the operation. Among those arrested are the suspected heads of the ring that officials say received drugs from South America in the Dominican Republic and neighboring Puerto Rico and then shipped them to the United States and Europe. Officials said the drug trafficking ring is responsible for more than two tons of drugs seized in the Dominican Republic. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

E*EZ NEWS SEPTEMBER 18 , 2024 E*Tai-Ex Opening The Tai-Ex opened down 36-points this morning from Monday's close, at 21,813 on turnover of 4.5-billion N-T. The market was closed yesterday for the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday - but ended the trading day moderately higher on Monday, despite turnover dipping to an over seven-month low. Large-cap tech stocks largely moved in a narrow range throughout the session due to a lull in investor interest, but buying rotated to the old economy sector, helping the broader market end above the previous closing bell. E*NDC to Open Start-Up Innovation Hub in Tokyo The National Development Council is scheduled to open an overseas innovation hub 創新中心 in Tokyo today. The move is part of the government's efforts to boost exchanges between innovation start-ups, enterprises and investment institutions in Taiwan and Japan. N-D-C head Paul Liu says the hub is expected to serve as a regular bilateral platform for comprehensive exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, paving the way for greater substantive business cooperation. Liu also says the N-D-C is also planning to set up similar platforms in the Untied States and Southeast Asia. E*MOI Holding Plane Crash and Earthquake Drills Today The Ministry of the Interior is holding separate plane crash and earthquake drills today as part of a three-day national exercise to mark the annual National Disaster Prevention Day. According to the ministry, more than 1,300 people, including the public, central and local government officials, and Japanese N-G-O staff, are participating in the drills. The plane crash drill will simulate 假裝 a plane crash following a typhoon and will take place in Penghu, while the earthquake drill will simulate a magnitude 7.3 earthquake striking Chiayi County's Zhuqi Township. E*Hezbollah pagers Israel's Mossad spy agency planted a small amount of explosives inside 5000 Taiwan-made pagers ordered by the Lebanese group Hezbollah… months before Tuesday's detonations 霹靂. That's according to a senior Lebanese security source and another source cited by the Reuters News Agency. The details shed light on an unprecedented Hezbollah security breach that saw thousands of pagers detonate across Lebanon, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others, including the group's fighters and Iran's envoy to Beirut. E*North Korea tests two ballistic missiles Japan’s military reports that North Korea had test-fired two ballistic missiles. It happened on Wednesday at a time when tensions with Washington and neighbors are escalating. The launches came days after North Korea showcased a secretive uranium enrichment 鈾濃縮 facility. Japan’s Defense Ministry didn’t provide details about the missiles, including their type and range. Japan’s coast guard said the missiles had likely fallen into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Subject: E*Republicans shoot down IVF protection bill U-S Senate Republicans have blocked a bill that would offer new protections for in vitro fertilization 體外受精. It's the second time Democrats have tried - and failed - to get the measure passed. Ed Donahue reports. < [CLIP] Slug: > E*Instagram introduces stricter rules for teens Social media platform, Instagram, will automatically make teenagers' accounts private and give parents more control, under revamped 改造過的 rules. It's the company's most significant move yet to manage how minors use Instagram as congress seeks to impose regulations on the industry. Kate Fisher reports. < [CLIP] Slug: > That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 101-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,754 on turnover of $5.4-billion N-T. The market soared more than 600 points on Thursday on the back of significant gains by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and other large-cap tech stocks. T-S-M-C saw its share price rise by 4.79-per cent, to close at 940 N-T. And the spike in the company's share price came after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a conference in San Francisco that Nvidia is struggling to keep up with "incredible" levels of demand from its customers. MOI to Hold Plane Crash and Earthquake Drills Next Wednesday The Ministry of the Interior says it will be holding a series of drills next Wednesday as part of a three-day national exercise to mark the annual National Disaster Prevention Day. According to the ministry, more than 1,300 people, including the public, central and local government officials, and Japanese NGO staff, will participate (參加) in the drills. A plane crash drill will simulate a plane crash following a typhoon and will take place in Penghu County, while the earthquake drill will simulate a magnitude 7.3 earthquake striking Chiayi County's Zhuqi Township. In addition to the drills, a text alert will be sent to people's mobile phones at 9:21AM on September 20 by the Central Weather Administration, along with an alarm sound. Sirens will also sound across the island at 10AM, warning people in coastal towns to be aware of a possible tsunami. While all television channels will cut to the Public Television Service for a two-minute broadcast of disaster prevention information from 10:59 to 11:01AM. NKorea Releases Images of Purported Nuclear Production Facility North Korea has offered a rare glimpse into a secretive (秘密的) facility to produce nuclear materials as it says leader Kim Jong Un visited the area and called for stronger efforts to increase his nuclear weapons. It’s unclear if the site is its previously known nuclear-enrichment site in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, or another that was undisclosed until now. The images North Korea’s media released of the area could provide outside experts a valuable source of information for estimating the amount of nuclear ingredients North Korea has. The report today said Kim expressed “great satisfaction repeatedly” over North Korea's technical force in the nuclear power field. US Trump Rules Out 2nd Debate Former US president Donald Trump has categorically ruled out another debate with his rival (競爭對手) for the White House Kamala Harris. The Harris campaign had called for a second debate between the pair, after polls suggested she performed better during Tuesday night's showdown. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Canada Churchill Portrait to be Returned Canadian police say a renowned portrait of Winston Churchill that was reported stolen from an Ottawa hotel has been tracked down in Italy. Investigators will travel to Rome later this month to retrieve the 1941 portrait of the British leader taken by Ottawa photographer Yousuf Karsh. Officials say once it is in Ottawa police custody, the portrait will be returned to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, where it will once again be displayed as a notable (顯著的) historic portrait. "The Roaring Lion” was stolen from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier sometime between Christmas Day 2021 and Jan. 6, 2022, and replaced with a forgery. The swap was uncovered months later. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 101-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,754 on turnover of $5.4-billion N-T. The market soared more than 600 points on Thursday on the back of significant gains by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and other large-cap tech stocks. T-S-M-C saw its share price rise by 4.79-per cent, to close at 940 N-T. And the spike in the company's share price came after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a conference in San Francisco that Nvidia is struggling to keep up with "incredible" levels of demand from its customers. MOI to Hold Plane Crash and Earthquake Drills Next Wednesday The Ministry of the Interior says it will be holding a series of drills next Wednesday as part of a three-day national exercise to mark the annual National Disaster Prevention Day. According to the ministry, more than 1,300 people, including the public, central and local government officials, and Japanese NGO staff, will participate (參加) in the drills. A plane crash drill will simulate a plane crash following a typhoon and will take place in Penghu County, while the earthquake drill will simulate a magnitude 7.3 earthquake striking Chiayi County's Zhuqi Township. In addition to the drills, a text alert will be sent to people's mobile phones at 9:21AM on September 20 by the Central Weather Administration, along with an alarm sound. Sirens will also sound across the island at 10AM, warning people in coastal towns to be aware of a possible tsunami. While all television channels will cut to the Public Television Service for a two-minute broadcast of disaster prevention information from 10:59 to 11:01AM. NKorea Releases Images of Purported Nuclear Production Facility North Korea has offered a rare glimpse into a secretive (秘密的) facility to produce nuclear materials as it says leader Kim Jong Un visited the area and called for stronger efforts to increase his nuclear weapons. It’s unclear if the site is its previously known nuclear-enrichment site in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, or another that was undisclosed until now. The images North Korea’s media released of the area could provide outside experts a valuable source of information for estimating the amount of nuclear ingredients North Korea has. The report today said Kim expressed “great satisfaction repeatedly” over North Korea's technical force in the nuclear power field. US Trump Rules Out 2nd Debate Former US president Donald Trump has categorically ruled out another debate with his rival (競爭對手) for the White House Kamala Harris. The Harris campaign had called for a second debate between the pair, after polls suggested she performed better during Tuesday night's showdown. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Canada Churchill Portrait to be Returned Canadian police say a renowned portrait of Winston Churchill that was reported stolen from an Ottawa hotel has been tracked down in Italy. Investigators will travel to Rome later this month to retrieve the 1941 portrait of the British leader taken by Ottawa photographer Yousuf Karsh. Officials say once it is in Ottawa police custody, the portrait will be returned to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, where it will once again be displayed as a notable (顯著的) historic portrait. "The Roaring Lion” was stolen from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier sometime between Christmas Day 2021 and Jan. 6, 2022, and replaced with a forgery. The swap was uncovered months later. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 343-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,374 on turnover of $7.6-billion N-T. The market closed down slightly on Wednesday after moving in consolidation mode as investers sentiment was muted ahead of the release of August's consumer price index data. Tech heavyweights fluctuated in narrow range before selling emerged late in the session - but turnover still shrank to its second lowest level so far this year as many investors opted to stay on the sidelines. Taiwan Wins 15 R&D 100 Awards The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Taiwan research institutions have won 15 awards at this year's R&D 100 Awards. The awards tally set a new record as the highest number of Taiwan has ever received at the not for profit innovation-focused program. It was the most of any country in Asia and the second most worldwide, trailing only the United States. According to the ministry's Department of Industrial Technology, Taiwan's award-winning projects or technologies focused on a wide range of areas, including semiconductors, information and communication technology, net zero and artificial intelligence. Economics Minister Guo Zhi-hui says 90 percent of Taiwan's award-winning technologies this year have either been transferred (轉移) to manufacturers or used to establish new startups .. The R&D 100 Awards is a US-based not for profit innovation-focused program established in 1963. NKorea Launches Multiple Missiles Towards Sea South Korea says North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea. Today's launches are North Korea’s first public weapons firing activities in more than two months. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missiles launched from North Korea’s capital flying about 360 kilometers before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The reported fight distances suggest the missiles were designed to attack targets in South Korea. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to redouble (加倍) efforts to make his nuclear force fully ready for combat with the United States and its allies. UN's refugee appeals for millions to scale up Mpox response in Africa The United Nations Refugee agency is appealing for $21 million to urgently (緊急地) scale up health services for forcibly displaced people in African countries impacted by the mpox emergency. According to the organisation the funding is to support critical response and prevention efforts in 35 countries across the continent. Jody Jacobs has more… Smashed Ancient Jar Repaired and Back on Display An Israeli museum has put back on display a rare Bronze-Era jar that a 4-year-old accidentally smashed. Last month, a family from northern Israel was visiting the museum when their youngest son tipped over the jar, smashing it into pieces. Restoration experts were able to carefully piece the 3,500-year-old item back together. The jar at the Hecht Museum in Haifa was one of the only containers of its size and from that period still complete when it was discovered. It was likely used to hold wine or oil, and dates back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C. The museum invited the family back for a special visit and hands-on activity to illustrate (說明) the restoration process. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 25-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,089 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market closed down on Tuesday - as early gains were rubbed-out on the back of lingering (持續的) investor concerns about possible further volatility on Wall Street despite a rebound overnight. Although most large cap electronics stocks came under pressure during the trading day, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing remained resilient to keep the tech sector and the broader market from falling further. MOFA Cites Inflation for Over 60% Hike in High-Level Travel Budget The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is defending a decision to raise its budget for high-level overseas trips by over 60-per cent. According to ministry spokesman Jeff Liu, the significant increase in the budget allocated for next year is due to global inflation and rising commodity prices. The 2025 budget proposal lists 424-million N-T for overseas travel - that's an increase of 160-million N-T compared with the budget allocated (分配) for overseas travel for this year. The statement comes after opposition lawmakers questioned the budget increase and called on the foreign ministry to provide more details about how the money will be spent. CDC Warns of Ongoing Diarrhea Risks Ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival The Centers for Disease Control is warning about the risks of diarrhea ahead of next week's Mid-Autumn Festival - noting that a significant number of clusters in Taiwan had been caused by a previously less common strain of norovirus. According to the C-D-C, just over 130,000 people with diarrhea visited emergency and outpatient departments from September 1 through 7. Although that was a 1.5-per cent decline from the previous week, health officials are stressing (強調) that it was the highest number for the same period since 2019. The C-D-C says 101 diarrhea clusters has also been reported over the past four weeks, marking a five-year high for the same period. US Presidential Debate Ongoing Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have taken the debate stage in Philadelphia, where they’ll fight to sway 2024 election voters on the biggest stage in U.S. politics. The event offers Americans their most detailed look at a campaign that’s dramatically (戲劇性地) changed since the last debate in June. It’s the only debate that’s been firmly scheduled and could be the only time voters see Harris and Trump go head-to-head before the November general election The debate has no audience, no written notes, and no live mics when candidates aren’t speaking, according to rules the host network ABC News shared. So far Trump has spoken about abortion rights, saying the issue should be left up to the states, while Harris spoke about her plans to create an "opportunity economy", and criticized Trump's economic plan as "all about tax breaks for the richest people". Space X Launches Mission with Private Citizen Spacewalk SpaceX has launched a capsule carrying four private citizens into orbit on a five day mission set to make history by including the first spacewalk conducted by a non government crew. The journey will also take the four private astronauts to the highest orbital altitude (高度) that humans have reached since the Apollo moon mission in 1972. Kate Fisher reports That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 108 -points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,252 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market closed sharply lower on Monday, driven by heavy losses on Wall Street late last week and the day's sell-off was concentrated in the bellwether electronics sector. However, bargain hunters turned active late in the session, which capped losses above 20,922-points - which is the intraday low set on September 4. Business Leaders Urge Government to Scale Back Carbon Fee Rate Plans Business groups are criticizing the government's proposed carbon fee rate range - arguing the plan will increase costs for companies and ultimately (程沧) pass the buck onto consumers. The statement comes after a review committee announced that it's recommending setting a basic carbon fee rate in the range of between 300 and 500 N-T per metric ton of carbon emissions. According to the Third Wednesday Club, the proposed carbon fee rate, combined with a planned minimum wage hike, will increase costs by "at least 10-per cent" for some companies .. .. and the initial carbon fee rate should not exceed 100 N-T per metric ton of emissions. PLG Star Chou Yi-hsiang Quits Pilots Following Drunk Driving Incident And, Taoyuan Pilots star player Chou Yi-hsiang has quit the team after his refusal to take a breathalyzer test in August was made public. According to a statement issued by the pro-basketball league franchise, the small forward requested to leave the team because "he felt he had let the public down." That request was accepted effective immediately. The franchise says Chou's drunk driving and his refusal to take the breathalyzer test was a serious violation of the team's management principles and his contract and the Pilots' "strongly condemn (宁砫) his actions." Chou's driving license has been revoked and he is now required to attend road safety lectures. UN Chief on Gaza Death and Destruction The UN chief says the United Nations is offering to mediate (秸秆), as he calls the death and destruction in Gaza the worst he's seen. AP correspondent Ed Donahue. UK Kate Returning to Some Public Duties Kate, the Princess of Wales, says she has completed chemotherapy and will return to some public duties in the coming months. The 42-year-old wife of Prince William is expected to undertake a light program of engagements until the end of the year. Kate said Monday that while she had completed her chemotherapy treatment, the path to full recovery would be long and she would ¨take each day as it comes.〃 She had announced in March that she was being treated for an undisclosed type of cancer. Kate attended a ceremonial (祸Α) birthday parade for her father-in-law King Charles III in June, and the following month presented the men's winner's trophy at the Wimbledon tennis championships. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Tai-Ex opening down Submarines to be Built in Updated 2-3-2 Sequence Taiwan Beats Japan to Win U-18 Asian Baseball Championship Trump and Harris neck and neck Mideast Tensions remain -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 68-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,255 on turnover of $3.8-billion N-T. MND Earmarks NT$4.9 billion to Boost Backbone Network The Ministry of National Defense has earmarked about 4.9-billion N-T to acquire backbone subnetworks for faster and more stable battlefield data transmission. The budget request is pending legislative review. It approved it will fund 213 backbone subnetworks, 179 microwave transmission subsystems, power generators and fiber channels to facilitate data transmission to command centers and weapons launch platforms across different services of the armed forces. According to the defense ministry, the planned systems are expected to boost the survivability (生存能力) of critical military command and control systems during wartime by establishing a round-island fiber optic communication system and a high-capacity data transmission network. They are also expected to ensure uninterrupted data transmissions between command and control centers, harbors, airports, and joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. Some 59-million N-T has been earmarked for the design and planning of the systems and on-site evaluations for next year. The project will take place from 2025 to 2030. FDC Hotel Chain Tests 4-Day Workweek at Sun Moon Lake Jotel F-D-C International Hotels has announced that it's become the first company in Taiwan's hospitality industry to implement a four-day workweek on a trial basis. The hotel and restaurant operator says it began a trial run of the new system at the Fleur de Chine Hotel near Sun Moon Lake on September 1. The move means employees get three days off a week. The trial will last six months. F-D-C says the four-day workweek policy will not impact the quality of the service customers receive and the company is continuously monitoring and evaluating the impact of the new system. According to F-D-C Chairman Sheng Zhi-ren, he believes having three days off every week can improve employees' job satisfaction and enhance (提高) overall work efficiency and creativity. US Hunter Biden to Plead Responsibility in Tax Evasion Trial Hunter Biden, son of US president Joe Biden, has offered to plead responsibility in his tax evasion case to avoid a potentially (潛在地) embarrassing trial. The plea would mean he maintains his innocence but accepts punishment for avoiding more than a million dollars of taxes. US correspondent Nick Harper reports. France Macron Names New PM President Emmanuel Macron has named EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister after more than 50 days of caretaker government. Thursday's appointment of the 73-year-old Barnier follows weeks of intense (激烈的) efforts by Macron and his aides to find a candidate who might be able to build loose groupings of backers in parliament and survive promised attempts by Macron’s opponents to quickly topple the new government. Barnier is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers that have served modern France’s Fifth Republic. He replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

INTRO Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Taiex open The Taiex opened up 178.34 points at 21,271.09, on turnover of NT$4.81 billion. The upward tick came after the index suffered its third steepest decline in history, tumbling almost 1,000 points on the back of a sell-off triggered by Wall Street. DPP Secretary-General Tells America that Taiwan is Determined to Defend Itself Against China D-P-P Secretary-General Lin You-chang says Taiwan is determined to defend itself against China. During a public seminar hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, D.C., Lin said Taiwan's will to defend itself, as well its investments in national security, continue to grow stronger .. .. and while the Lai administration has the ideal of pursuing peace, Taiwan must not have illusions about China, as Beijing's intention to seize Taiwan has never changed regardless of which party is in power in Taiwan. Lin said Beijing has only adjusted its approach from using "shells and missiles" during Chen Shui-bian's presidency, to "money" during Ma Ying-jeou's presidency, and "shells, missiles, silver bullets, and cognitive warfare" during Tsai Ing-wen's presidency. Lin said that under President Lai Ching-te, China is using all of those approaches as well as disinformation (假信息) and legal battles in an attempt to disrupt and infiltrate Taiwanese society. Taipei Zoo Announces Deaths of Three Long-Term Residents And, The Taipei Zoo has announced the deaths of three of long term residents -- a white rhino, its last American bison, and a Bengal tiger. American bison (野牛) Chiao-wa died on Wednesday, while Bengal tiger Hsin-chun and white rhino Hsi-min died on Monday this week. Chiao-wa was born at the zoo in October of 1999 and it was the last American bison at the zoo. Hsin-chun was the last Bengal tiger at the Taipei Zoo, it died after suffering from chronic kidney disease. While white rhino Hsi-min was 44 years old and one of the oldest residents in the zoo's African Animal Area. Georgia Mass Shootings U-S authorities say a 14-year-old student has opened fire (開槍) at a Georgia high school and killed four persons. Nine people were also wounded. The dead have been identified as two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder. Haya Panjwani reports. < [CLIP] Slug: > North Korea sends more trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea. North Korea is flying more trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea in the latest round of Cold War-style psychological warfare between the rivals. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (參謀長聯席會議) says it detected more balloons launched from North Korea on Thursday morning following launches the previous evening. The joint chiefs said North Korea launched around 420 balloons from Wednesday evening to early Thursday and that about 20 of them had been discovered so far in the South Korean capital of Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province. It says the balloons were filled with paper waste, plastic bottles and other trash but contained no dangerous materials. New study sheds light on plastic pollution A new study finds that every year people create 57 million tons of plastic pollution. The material winds up everywhere from the deepest oceans to the highest peak of Mount Everest to inside people's bodies. More than two-thirds of it is in the Global South (南方國家) Researchers in the United Kingdom examined waste produced at the local level in more than 50,000 cities and towns. They looked at waste that gets into the open environment, rather than plastic that goes into landfills or gets burned properly. But experts say that the study's focus on pollution, rather than growing plastic production, lets the plastics industry off the hook. OUTRO That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 518-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,575 on turnover of 11.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower Tuesday as turnover shrank to the lowest in more than seven months amid caution over the U.S. economy, ahead of the release of August manufacturing activity data. Large cap tech stocks largely moved lower led by contract chipmaker TSMC as investors appeared wary of movements on U.S. markets with futures there on the decline, pointing to a possible fall on spot markets later in the day. Tropical Storm Yagi to Bring Extreme High Temperatures Tropical Storm Yagi may bring extreme high temperatures to parts of the island today. The Central Weather Administration says the storm currently moving towards China, does not pose a direct threat to Taiwan, but subsiding (下沉) airflow caused by Yagi will cause high temperatures over the western half of the island. Forecasters say that's particularly the case for northern regions, which highs of up to 38-degrees expected in Hsinchu today. The CWA has issued heat warnings for large parts of the north, as well as for Hualien, Yunlin and Tainan. And the storm may cause some precipitation as well, with sporadic showers across the north, east, and mountainous areas, as well as brief thunderstorms in central and southern Taiwan. (NS) US Files Criminal Charges Against Hamas Leader US prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and five other militants in the group. The charges, related to the October 7th attack on Israel, include terrorism, and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (大規模殺傷性). Nick Harper reports from Washington. IAEA Says Zaporizhzhia Plant "Very Fragile" The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has described the situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant as “very fragile” following fresh attacks near the site in central Ukraine. He also vows to expand International Atomic Energy Agency inspections to include critical electricity supplies. Rafael Mariano Grossi has highlighted the vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure because of Russian attacks. The Zaporizhzhia plant came under Russian control in the wake of Moscow's full-scale (全面的) invasion in 2022. The IAEA says ongoing attacks in the area and damage to Ukraine’s national grid threaten the power supply that's vital to nuclear power stations. Nvidia shares fall In related news….. Chipmaker NVIDIA lost more market value than any other stock in a single day. CNBC reports the stock fell 9.5 percent, or about $279 billion in market value. It is now down 23.3% since June 20. But it is up, however, 118% in 2024. But NVIDIA didn't drop on its own. Its fall saw a basket of chip stocks retreat -- Intel fell almost 8%, Marvell slid 8.2%, and AMD dropped 7.8%, and Qualcomm fell nearly 7%. The stock is down another 2% after hours. The action comes after Bloomberg reported that the Department of Justice is taking a closer look at antitrust (反壟斷) concerns for Nvidia. CNBC says chip stocks were gainin steam on optimism that the artificial intelligence boom will require companies to buy more semiconductors to keep up with AI applications. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 5.01 points at 22,240.11 Tuesday on turnover of NT$2.54 billion. A rally in the home stretch of Monday's session led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) pulled the Taiex up from the day's low. The financial sector attracted interest on rumors that the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) will agree to a tender offer proposed by CTBC Financial Holding Co. to acquire Shin Kong Financial Holding Co. Taiwan may continue to drift today, with U-S markets closed for the Labor Day weekend. SEMICON Taiwan 2024 opens Wednesday with CEO summit, tech forums More than 20 international forums on leading-edge semiconductor technologies will be held at this year's SEMICON Taiwan, which is expected to draw some 85,000 overseas visitors from 56 countries. Organizers say a round of international forums kick off before the formal opening of the expo, will include the "most eye-catching CEO Summit" that features talks by major figures in the semiconductor industry, Another highlight… an "AI chip talk of the century" among major figures from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, ASE Technology, Samsung Electronics, and Google tomorrow afternoon. This year's expo will feature 16 main themes, including advanced manufacturing, heterogeneous integration, green manufacturing, and semiconductor cybersecurity (網路安全). But the exhibit will also feature be some new areas "such as artificial intelligence (AI), smart mobility, silicon photonics, and precision machinery. Taiwanese firms in Japan to benefit from 'one-stop' service center: Minister Taiwan's economics minister says the government is planning to set up a one-stop service center in Kyushu, Japan to assist Taiwanese companies that are expanding there. Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei says the government-funded service will be "like a science park" that will facilitate the needs of Taiwanese companies on Kyushu island and help them with the logistics (後勤) of establishing businesses there. Kuo did not specify the exact location of the planned office but said it will not be in Kumamoto, the Kyushu prefecture in which Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has a fab and is preparing to build another one. The minister says Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kitakyushu are some of the Kyushu prefectures that have expressed interest in welcoming Taiwanese companies. Britain to suspend sales of some weapons to Israel The U.K. government says it's suspending exports of some weapons to Israel because they could be used to break international law. Here's Foreign Secretary David Lammy Lammy told lawmakers the decision related to about 30 of 350 export licenses to Israel and wasn't an arms embargo (禁令，禁運). The United Kingdom is among a number of Israel’s longstanding allies whose governments are under growing pressure to halt weapons exports because of the toll of the nearly 11-month-old war in Gaza. Biden: Netanyahu not doing enough to secure hostage deal Meanwhile… US President Joe Biden says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure (獲得) a hostage deal. It comes after Hamas' killed six hostages, including an American citizen. Nick Harper reports from Washington. < [CLIP] Slug: > Philippines Tropical Storm Yagi A fierce storm is blowing out of the northern Philippines after leaving at least 14 people dead in landslides, floods and swollen waterways. Tropical Storm Yagi swept past Paoay town in Ilocos Norte province into the South China Sea with sustained winds of up to 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 125 kph. It was forecast to strengthen into a typhoon as it barrels (飛馳) northwestward over the sea toward southern China. Storm warnings remained in most northern Philippine provinces, where residents were warned of the lingering danger of landslides in rain-soaked mountain villages and floodings in the farming lowlands of the Philippines' most populous region. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 74-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,342 on turnover of $3.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed higher Friday but gains were limited by looming downgrades to the country's weighting in two of MSCI Inc.'s major indices. The bellwether electronics sector saw most of its upturn eroded, while select nontech stocks in the transportation and construction industries attracted rotational buying to lend support to the broader market. CWA: Sunny to Cloudy Skies with Afternoon Thundershowers The Central Weather Administration says skies across Taiwan will be mostly sunny or cloudy with occasional thundershowers in some areas. Forecasters say the short thunderstorms will be in central and southern regions or mountainous areas during the afternoon. For daytime temperatures, the CWA says most areas will see highs of 33 to 36 degrees Celsius, with a possibility of temperatures exceeding 37 degrees in regions north of Hsinchu. Meanwhile…. Tropical Storm Yagi is located about 890 kilometers southeast of Eluanbi, and is expected to move northwest toward the northern part of Luzon Island and the Bashi Channel. Officials say starting Tuesday evening, moisture (濕氣、水分) levels along Taiwan's eastern half and southern regions are expected to increase due to the influence of the storm's outer bands. (NS) US Biden Speaks with Family of Hostage Killed in Gaza Joe Biden has spoken with the family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, whose body was among the six discovered by the IDF in southern Gaza. The US President and Vice-President Kamala Harris also issued statements reaffirming (重申) their commitment to secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Jagruti Dave has more from Washington. < [CLIP] Slug: > Philippines Raid CyberGambling Complex Philippine authorities have raided a suspected illegal online gaming and cyberscam complex and taken into custody more than 160 people who were committing (犯) internet-based crimes. Philippine officials say the raid were carried out by more than 100 government agents, backed by military intelligence, on Saturday on a resort compound in Lapu-Lapu city. The move is part of an ongoing crackdown after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban in July on widespread online gaming operations that cater mostly to clients in China, where illegal gambling is banned. Marcos said then that the massive gambling operations have ignored Philippine laws and also committed other crimes, including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder. Paris Paralympics Postponed Events in Seine to Go Ahead Today Paralympics organizers say triathlon competitions in Paris scheduled for Sunday have been postponed for a day because of concerns about water quality in the Seine River after heavy rainfall. Late Sunday night, organizers confirmed the 11 para triathlon events would go ahead today, saying in a statement that new water testing results and monitoring "indicate that water quality continues to improve and will be within the World Triathlon thresholds on race day." Rainstorms hit the French capital Friday and Saturday. Heavy rains cause wastewater and runoff to flow into the river, leading to a rise in bacteria levels including E. Coli. The disruption is another hiccup (造成短暫延誤或中斷的小問題) for the city’s efforts to clean up the river for future public swimming. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 28-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,230 on turnover of $5-billion N-T. The market grounded on Thursday, as investors reacted to Wall Street trending lower overnight, as Nvidia's stock price fell 2.1-per cent, despite the company reporting strong profit. Carbon Fee Collection to Start in 2026 The Ministry of Environment says carbon fees will begin to collected in 2026. According to the ministry, the government will use next year a preparation window for the plan, during which only reporting of emission amounts for the previous year will be required. The statement comes after the regulations for carbon fee collection and how fee-liable (需要付費的) enterprises can qualify for preferential rates by achieving certain emission reduction targets were made public. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming is calling the plan a milestone signifying Taiwan "has entered the era of carbon pricing." The regulations will oversee how carbon fees are collected, management of fee-liable enterprises' reduction projects, and standards determining whether the reduction projects undertaken by the enterprises qualify them for preferential carbon fee rates. The environment minister says carbon fee scheme will cover those companies that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year, which covers 281 enterprises based on data from 2022. Israel Hamas Agree to Pause for Polio Vaccination The United Nations says an agreement has been reached for limited pauses in fighting to allow for the polio vaccination drive (大規模疫苗接種活動) to take place in Gaza. The Israeli military and Hamas have agreed to three-day pauses as hundreds of children need to receive the vaccine after a baby contracted the first confirmed polio case in 25 years in the Palestinian territory. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations… Thailand Indicts Police in Red Bull Heir Case Prosecutors in Thailand have indicted a former national police chief in connection with an alleged cover-up of a 2012 crash involving an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune that killed a police officer. The former police chief, along with a former deputy attorney general and six other people were arraigned (提審) Thursday on charges alleging they conspired to alter the recorded speed of the Ferrari driven by Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya to help him evade a speeding charge. Police have said Vorayuth smashed his Ferrari into the police officer’s motorbike on a major Bangkok road in 2012. Vorayuth fled abroad, where he remains. Ecuador Begins Dismantling Oil Drilling Block in National Park Ecuador says it has begun to dismantle infrastructure on a controversial oil drilling block in Yasuni National Park, home to the Waorani Indigenous people. After a historic referendum last year that favored keeping oil in the ground in Yasuni, the country’s top court ordered the government to halt operations and remove wells by Aug. 30. Last week, the government asked the court for an extension of five years and five months to complete the task. The drilling block is in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Ending oil drilling at the 43-ITT oil block could cost $1.3 billion, according to government estimates. Oil accounts for nearly one-third of Ecuador’s GDP, and its economy is struggling to meet its domestic debt obligations (義務). That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 25-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,210 on turnover of 2.9-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Tuesday on the back of thin turnover following heavy losses suffered by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight. Sentiment also turned cautious amid a sudden sharp rise in international crude oil prices, which could potentially rekindling (重新點燃) inflation, and is leading to doubts over whether the U-S Federal Reserve will slow down its pace in a rate cut cycle. KMT Lawmaker Released on Bail in Corruption Probe The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has released K-M-T lawmaker Zheng Tien-cai on bail of 2-million N-T. Zheng has also been barred from leaving Taiwan. His release came after he was questioned by prosecutors as part of a corruption investigation. According to the prosecutors' office, Zheng received several million N-T dollars in bribes from several green energy companies between 2020 and 2023. Nine other people were summoned (被傳喚) for questioning in connection with the same case and released without bail last week. MOL to Ease Hotel Job Access for Foreign Students The Ministry of Labor says foreign students graduating from colleges and universities here in Taiwan will be eligible (有資格的) for mid-level jobs in the hotel industry from from today. The move is as part of government efforts to address workforce shortages in the hospitality sector. According to the labor ministry, graduates must hold associate degrees or higher from local schools in order to be eligible to qualify for jobs in housekeeping, cleaning, room booking, reception and restaurant waiting service at hotels. The entry-level monthly salary is 30,000 N-T, rising to 33,000 N-T if a contract is renewed. US Harris Walz Agree to First Sitdown Interview US presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has agreed to her first sit-down interview since taking over the Democratic ticket from Joe Biden. It follows weeks of criticism (批評) from her Republican rival Donald Trump who has suggested she was scared of facing the media. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Egypt Artifacts Recovered from Netherlands Egypt has recovered three ancient artifacts after they were smuggled out of the country and found in the Netherlands. Egyptian authorities say two of the items were for sale in an antiques shop. The items include a mummified head, a ceramic (陶瓷的) figurine, and the side of a wooden tomb. Dutch police and the cultural heritage inspection unit retrieved the figurines and parts of the tomb after determining that they were smuggled out of Egypt. A Dutch individual handed over the mummified head, which he had inherited from a family member, to local authorities. Egyptian authorities say more than 30-thousand artifacts have been recovered from around the world since 2014. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 60-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,179 on turnover of 2.8-billion N-T. The market closed moderately higher on Monday after giving up early gains ahead of stiff technical resistance at around the 60-day moving average. Gains posted by the bellwether electronics sector fell off early in the trading day, but non-tech stocks, in particular those in the financial sector, attracted strong buying, preventing the broader market from falling further. Taiwan and Japan Hold 6th Maritime Talks in Taipei Representatives from Taiwan and Japan have held the sixth edition of the Maritime Affairs Cooperation Dialogue in Taipei. Agencies involved in the meeting included the Ocean Affairs Council, the Coast Guard Administration, the Ocean Conservation Administration, the Nuclear Safety Commission and the Fisheries Agency. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks focused on cooperation on maritime security, conservation of the marine environment, "marine power development," fisheries and marine science. However, neither side has disclosed any information about the outcome (結果) of the meeting, which took place at the Grand Hotel. Liu Ya-ting and Chen Po-yen to be Flag Bearers at Paris Paralympics And, Javelin (標槍) thrower and three-time Paralympian, Liu Ya-ting and table tennis player Chen Po-yen have been named as Taiwan's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics. The ceremony will be taking place in the French capital Thursday morning Taiwan time. It will be the second time that Liu will have been Taiwan's flag bearer at the Paralympics opening ceremony, following the Tokyo Paralympics, And at the age of 17, Chen Po-yen is the youngest member of the Taiwanese team at the Paris Paralympics. Taiwan Paralympic team consists of 13 athletes, who will be competing in archery, athletics, badminton, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and powerlifting. Army Private who Fled to NKorea to Plead Guilty to Desertion A US army private who fled to North Korea will plead guilty to desertion (擅離職守). AP correspondent Lisa Dwyer reports France Macron Comments on Durov Arrest French President Emmanuel Macron says the arrest in France of the CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, wasn’t a political move but part of an independent investigation. Macron posted on the social media that his country “is deeply committed” to freedom of expression but “freedoms are upheld (捍衛、堅持) within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights.” French media reported that Durov was detained at a Paris airport Saturday on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses. Colombia Airlines Resume Flights After Fuel Shortage Two Colombian airlines say they will operate most of their flights today and resume full schedules Wednesday, after warning earlier Monday that they would have to cancel dozens of flights due to shortages of jet fuel. The late announcements by the airlines capped off a turbulent (動盪的) day for Colombia’s aviation industry that saw hundred of passengers grounded and others struggling to rebook their flights. The two companies carry more than 70% of Colombia’s domestic air passengers. On Sunday, Colombia’s national oil company announced it had imported 100-thousand barrels of jet fuel to ensure supplies for domestic airlines after the carriers complained they were not receiving enough fuel from suppliers. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 92-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,250 on turnover of $5.4-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed almost flat Friday after recovering from initial weakness driven by cautious sentiment ahead of a speech planned by the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for later in the day. Large-cap tech stocks benefited from bargain hunting to help the broader market regain its footing by the end of the session, while transactions increased in the financial sector after Taishin Financial Holding Co. and Shin Kong Financial Holding Co. agreed to a merger deal. Taiwan hosts chef workshop to promote culinary tourism The Ministry of Economic Affairs is holding a workshop featuring renowned chefs and restaurants that started Saturday to enhance food industry exchanges and promote tourism in Taiwan. The Ministry says four acclaimed chefs, Andre Chiang, Zor Tan, Thomas Chien and Wes Kuo, were invited to the three-day workshop to share their experiences of working in fine dining. Representatives from restaurants including Shin Yeh Restaurant Group, and Jin Xia were also present, along with food critics (美食評論家) from different generations, to discuss their expertise. Deputy Economics Minister Chen Chern-chyi says the ministry will hold similar activities in the future, including a culinary competition called "Taiwan Select," to showcase restaurants and attract international and domestic tourists. British Journalist Killed in Russian Strike on Ukraine Reuters news agency confirms that a member of a British journalistic team has been killed after Russian forces struck a hotel overnight in eastern Ukraine. In a statement on social media, the Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office said that the body was recovered from underneath the rubble (瓦礫) late Sunday evening. Two other members of the six-person Reuters crew were hospitalized. Local officials said the hotel was struck by an Iskander-M Russian ballistic missile, leaving the reporters with blast injuries, concussions and cuts on the body. US Harris Campaign Raises 540Million US Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign says she's raised $540 million dollars since announcing (宣告) her run for President in November's election. It's been over a month since incumbent President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Our US Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports. France Telegram CEO Detained French broadcast media reports say the founder and CEO of the popular messaging service Telegram has been detained at a Paris airport. Pavel Durov is being held on an arrest warrant (逮捕令) alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses. Durov is a dual citizen of France and Russia. French broadcasters reported that Durov was arrested on Saturday evening after landing in France from Azerbaijan. French prosecutors declined to comment on Durov’s arrest when contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday. Durov’s representatives couldn’t be immediately reached for comment. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Taiwan shares down Chiang Announced that Twin City Forum will Take Place in Late September US Warship Transits Taiwan Strait Palestinians to push for resolution for Israel to leave occupied territories Trump visits border -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Kinmen Lawmaker Urges China to Lift Restrictions on Travel to Taiwan AMD to open R&D Hubs in Tainan and Kaohsiung Russia Leader Met Chinese premier Li Qiang Russia drones attacks from Ukraine Violence costs the world nearly 20 trillion dollars Taylor Swift cancel concerts in Vienna -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

TPP Suspends Huang Shan-shan's Membership Deputy Transport Minister Appointed Acting MOTC Head Blinken ends trip to Middle East Former Tropical Storm Jongdari Brings Torrential Rains to South Korea Russian Bridges Collapse as Kyiv's Offensive Intensifies -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Tai-Ex opening up Under 30's Earn Highest Ever Income in 2023 Expanded IVF Subsidy Program Marks 3rd Anniversary with Over 20,000 Newborns Mideast latest Israel-Hamas cease-fire Philippines-US agreement about Afghan Immigrants -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Tai-Ex opening down Cross-Party Delegation of Lawmakers to Attend Democratic National Convention Lin Yu-ting's Hometown of Yingge Celebrate Olympic Gold US Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz Northern Ireland WW2 Bomb Removal -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 220-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,114 on turnover of $7.7-billion N-T. Earthquake Update 10PM No major damage has been reported after this morning's magnitude 6.3 earthquake. The tremors at 7:35am caused some disruptions to traffic, as mass transportation systems underwent checks for safety. The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation says the city's MRT ran at reduced speeds for a brief time, before returning to normal operations. The quake registered an intensity of 3 in Taichung, and metro trains there stopped at station platforms for two minutes, before running at lower speeds. All lines have been reported undamaged. Meanwhile…. The Central Weather Administration says aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 or higher may occur in the next three days. The CWA says with recent heavy rains, they are advising (勸告) members of the public to stay on alert for landslides. (NS) Taiwan CDC raises travel alert for 7 African countries due to mpox The Centers for Disease Control raised its travel alert for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and six other African countries… … after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The alert follows a surge in m-pox cases in the DRC and a rising number of African countries… The D-R-C has been elevated to "Level 2: Alert", advising Taiwanese travelers to take enhanced (提高的) precautions. So far this year, the D-R-C has reported over 15 thousand 600 cases and 537 deaths due to m-pox. (CNA_IG) UNICEF: More Gaza Children will Die if Polio Vaccine Not Delivered The United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef says if polio vaccines don't get distributed immediately, children in Gaza will die. 1.2 million doses of the vaccine have been approved by the World Health Organisation following the discovery of poliovirus type 2 in July by the Global Polio Laboratory Network in sewage (污水) samples collected in Gaza. Jody Jacobs has more… Ukraine Troops Claim to Take Russian Town Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country’s troops have taken full control of Sudzha. It's the largest Russian town to fall to Ukraine’s forces since the start of their cross-border incursion more than a week ago. Zelenskyy's claim on Thursday couldn't be independently verified (驗證). He says Ukraine’s military is setting up a command office in Sudzha, which suggests that Ukraine might plan to remain in the Kursk region long-term — or just signal Moscow that it may intend to. Sudzha had a prewar population of around 5,000 and is the administrative center for the border area of Russia’s Kursk region. Meanwhile, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, officials warned civilians Thursday to evacuate ahead of rapidly advancing Russian troops. HK Welcomes Panda Cub Births Hong Kong has welcomed the births of its first locally born giant pandas. The theme park where the twins were born said their mother is the world’s oldest first-time giant panda mother on record (記錄在案). Ying Ying gave birth to the male and female pandas at Ocean Park on Thursday just a day before she turned 19 years old. Ying Ying and her partner Le Le were the second pair of pandas gifted by Beijing to Hong Kong since the former British colony returned to China’s rule in 1997. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 22-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,005, on turnover of $4-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed sharply higher by about 230 points Wednesday as buying was sparked by a rally on the U.S. markets overnight in the wake of the softer-than-expected July producer price index (PPI) growth, which reinforced (加強) hopes of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Analysts say interest was seen among large-cap stocks across the board amid improved sentiment, but gains were capped by stiff technical resistance ahead of the 20-day moving average of 22,084 points by the end of the session. Booster vaccines proposed for seniors amid rare summer flu outbreak Health experts are advocating for a version of the flu vaccine for those aged 65 and above. Doctors point out that since last Friday, over 1 thousand 200 severe flu cases have been recorded, marking the first severe summer flu outbreak in seven years. They say flu has become a year-round issue, which they attribute to compromised (降低) immune systems from repeat COVID-19 infections. They reccomend that Taiwan adopt enhanced recombinant flu vaccines for the elderly, as these provide protection for a full year compared to the six-month coverage of traditional vaccines. The government has already procured flu vaccines for this year, but the proposal for these enhanced vaccines will undergo a cost-benefit analysis… …and could be reviewed by an expert committee in spring 2025. US VP Candidate Walz Prepped to Debate Vance From the US… Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz says he's accepted an offer to debate his Republican opponent (對手) JD Vance in October. It's still unclear whether Vance has agreed to participate. Ira Spitzer has more. UNICEF: Africa Extreme Heat Creating Health Concerns UNICEF says children in West and Central Africa are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, creating health concerns. The U.N. children's agency in a new report published on Wednesday says that the frequency of heat waves in the region has more than quadrupled since the 1960s. This leaves children more vulnerable to developing chronic (慢性的) conditions and contracting infectious diseases that spread in high temperatures, such as mosquito-borne malaria and dengue. Central Africa is currently battling an outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, an infectious disease that disproportionally affects children. Officials at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nearly 70% of mpox cases in Congo are in children younger than 15, who also accounted for 85% of deaths. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global emergency. The UNICEF report called on governments to reduce carbon emissions to get rising temperatures under control and protect children. France Investigating GoldMedalist Khelif's Complaint Against Online Harrassment French prosecutors say they are investigating a complaint made by Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif for online harassment. The Algerian boxer faced a torrent (連發，迸發) of criticism and false claims about her sex during the Paris Olympics. A statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office said Wednesday its unit for combating online hate speech has opened a probe. Under French law, it's up to investigators to determine which person or organization may have been at fault. The prosecutor's office didn’t name specific suspects. Among those who posted misinformation about Khelif were Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling. Khelif won gold in the women’s welterweight division, becoming a hero in Algeria. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn