EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 52-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 34,753 on turnover of 11.3-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Tuesday as investors shrugged off losses on Wall Street overnight and rushed to buy electronics stocks related to the A-I boom. Lai reiterates 'status quo' at China-based Taiwanese event President Lai Ching-te is reiterating his commitment to "maintaining the status quo" in cross-strait relations. Speaking at a Lunar New Year event in Taichung attended by China-based Taiwanese businesspeople, Lai described "maintaining the status quo" as "key" to safeguarding national security and preserving cross-strait stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific. The annual event is organized by Straits Exchange Foundation and saw around 300 attendees. Compared with his speech at the same event last year, Lai this year did not mention the term Republic of China during his speech. He used the term multiple times last year and reiterated the position that the R-O-C and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate (從屬的) to each other. MOL releases forced labor prevention guide for businesses The Ministry of Labor has released a reference guide to help local businesses prevent forced labor and "reduce operational (工作的) risks" According to the ministry's Workforce Development Agency, the guide is intended to help businesses build "effective mechanisms" to prevent forced labor and embed (把…嵌入) "respect for human rights" in supply chain management. Agency head Lydia Huang, says there have been multiple cases showing that once forced labor conditions arise in a company or its supply chain, it can face consequences such as product detention, import bans or even the return of shipments. Huang also says the guide introduces the International Labour Organization's 11 forced labor indicators, including signs of forced labor such as debt bondage, restriction of movement, excessive overtime and retention of identity documents. Guthrie family offers $1m reward for missing mother The family of Nancy Guthrie is offering a reward of up to $1million US dollars for any tips (秘密消息) that lead to her recovery. The mother of TV news anchor Savannah Guthrie was taken from her home in Arizona more than three weeks ago. Nick Harper has been following the latest developments from Washington. Norway King Admitted to Hospital Norway's royal palace says King Harald has been admitted to a hospital in Spain's Canary Islands during a winter vacation there. It said that Harald, who turned 89 on Saturday, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday evening and was being treated for an unspecified (未說明的) infection and dehydration. It added that he was reported to be in good condition. The palace said the king's personal physician will travel to the Canary Islands and an update on Harald's health will be issued today after he has assessed the situation. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 247-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 34,020 on turnover of 14-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Monday, as the market reopened following its 11-day Lunar New Year holiday, but the gains were capped amid concerns over U-S tariff policies. Opposition calls for talks on format of Lai's legislative report Opposition parties are calling for cross-party negotiations over how President Lai Ching-te should deliver a national affairs report at the Legislative Yuan. The statement comes after Lai announced that he's willing to deliver (發表) a national affairs report at the Legislative Yuan "in accordance with constitutional procedures" following a meeting with the heads of the five branches of government at the Presidential Building. K-M-T and Taiwan People's Party lawmakers are seeking a question-and-answer format. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu proposed a questions-first-answers-second format after Lai hosted the meeting - saying he invited the president to personally explain issues of concern to lawmakers. According to Han, Lai "gladly accepted" the invitation. Lunar New Year ER visits down as more clinics stay open, UCCs expand The Ministry of Health says visits to emergency rooms over the Lunar New Year period were down from last year as more clinics stayed open and urgent care centers expanded capacity. According to the ministry, data shows there were 232,397 visits to hospital ERs from February 14 to 21 - and that total was down by 22.5-per cent from the number of visits reported during the same holiday period of last year. Visits to the hospital ERs over the holiday period this year were closely watched after what happened last year - when ERs across Taiwan became so overcrowded that the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine called the situation "unprecedented (史無前例的)". The government spent 1.6-billion N-T in funding to encourage medical providers to stay open during this year's holiday. Trump threatens higher tariffs for countries who "play games" after Supreme Court ruled tariffs illegal US president Donald Trump has threatened (威逼) to put higher tariffs on countries that want to "play games" after a key U.S. Supreme Court tariff ruling. Kate Fisher report from Washington Canada Calls OpenAI Reps to Ottawa The Canadian government has called representatives of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to Ottawa. The company says it considered but did not alert Canadian police about the activities of a person who months later committed one of the worst school shootings in the country's history. Canada's artificial intelligence minister says he expects the company's top safety representatives to explain its protocols and how it decides to forward cases to law enforcement when he meets with them today. OpenAI said last June that the company identified the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar via abuse detection efforts. The 18-year-old killed eight people in a remote (偏僻的) part of British Columbia this month and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8rcv29 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 57-points this morning following an 11-day Lunar New Year holiday, at 33,663 on turnover of 37.9-billion N-T. Australian warship transits Taiwan Strait, tracked by China's navy The Ministry of National Defense says it closely monitors the skies and waters around Taiwan and that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway for which all countries enjoy the right of freedom of navigation. The statement comes after an Australian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Reports are citing sources as saying that the Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate, Toowoomba conducted a routine (常規) transit through the Taiwan Strait" on Friday and Saturday as part of a "Regional Presence Deployment in the Indo-Pacific region." The defense ministry says it will not proactively disclose the movements of aircraft and ships of friendly allied countries. Taipei's Grand Hotel warns of possible data breach after cyberattack The Grand Hotel in Taipei is warning customers a possible data breach. The statement comes after the hotel discovered unauthorized access to its information systems last week. According to the hotel, it has issued the notice as a precaution (範圍), as the scope and targets of the attack have yet to be fully assessed. The hotel has also issued apology to the members of the public for any concern caused by the situation. The hotel says it activated its highest-level cybersecurity response measures after discovering the attack. Customers are being urged to remain on the alert against suspicious emails and to verify any messages requesting payment or personal financial information. Secret Service shoots, kills armed man at Mar-a-Lago Secret service agents and other law enforcement officials shot and killed an armed man who entered the perimeter (防衛線 / 外圍) of US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in the early hours of Sunday morning. Ira Spitzer has more. Mexico El Mencho Killed in Military Operation The Mexican army says it has killed the powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in a military operation. On Sunday, troops targeted Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in the western state of Jalisco. The operation set off hours of roadblocks (路障) and burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Officials say cartels often use these tactics to slow down or block military moves. The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $15 million dollars for information leading to El Mencho's arrest. Milan Olympics Officially Closed The twin Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have been extinguished, signaling the end of the Winter Games. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry declared the 2026 Games over in remarks to the closing ceremony in Verona. A total of 116 medal events have been held in eight Olympic sports across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering this year, over the course of 17 days of competition. The next Winter Games will be held in neighboring (鄰接) France, which received the Olympic flag in the official handover earlier in the ceremony. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 即日起至6月底， 透過台南住商不動產買房， 就有機會參加【買屋抽黃金】活動， 幸運得主將於7月公開抽出✨ 把成家的重要時刻， 變成雙倍黃金祝福。 台南住商不動產， 不只陪你安心成家， 還讓黃金一起到家！ 馬上預約看房 https://sofm.pse.is/8rf6jr -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Shield AI and Taiwan's NCSIST team up on AI drones Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and American defense company Shield A-I have signed a contract to advance the development of AI-piloted unmanned systems. The systems are reportedly capable of continuing operations in compromised communications environments. According to Shield AI President Brandon Tseng, the partnership will enable (使…能夠) drone forces being produced in Taiwan to include cutting-edge AI pilots that will allow the U-A-V's to operate while G-P-S and communications are jammed. Shield AI last year announced a teaming agreement with Taiwan's state-backed Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation and opened a new office at the Taipei 101. CDC reporting first measles case this year after Vietnam trip The Centers for Disease Control is reporting Taiwan's first measles case of this year. According to the C-D-C, the case involves an eight-month-old baby boy who lives in northern Taiwan, who traveled with his family to Vietnam and returned in late January. The boy developed a fever, a persistent (持續的) cough and other symptoms in early February and was hospitalized last Friday after developing a rash. The C-D-C says the infant's family members and 395 others suspected contacts are now being monitored. They will continue to be monitored until February 28. The C-D-C has issued measles travel alerts for Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Angora, Mexico, Yemen and Pakistan, and placed 30 other countries on its watch list. Health authorities are advising parents to ensure their young children receive their measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. US Trump Administration to Wind Down Immigration Surge in Minnesota The Trump administration says it will end its immigration enforcement (執行) operation in the state of Minnesota, claiming the state is now safer because of their work. This comes after the deaths of at least two people, both shot by immigration or federal border agents. Mitch McCann reports: UNICEF: Haiti Armed Groups Increasingly Recruiting Children UNICEF says that the recruitment of children by armed groups in Haiti tripled last year as poverty and violence deepens across the troubled Caribbean country. The surge reported Thursday comes as gang violence displaces a record 1.4 million people across Haiti. More than half of them are children whom experts say are left exposed and vulnerable (易受傷害的; 易受攻擊的). The U.N. estimates that 30% to 50% of members of armed groups are children, with recruiting (招募) starting as young as 9 years old. UNICEF's representative in Haiti, said boys generally act as spies, carry ammunition and weapons while girls often face sexual violence and are tasked with domestic work. France Prosecutors Investigating Ticketing Fraud at Louvre Paris prosecutors say police are detaining nine people in an investigation into a long-running ticket fraud scheme at the Louvre museum. Prosecutors say the arrests happened on Tuesday. The museum had filed a complaint in December 2024. Investigators found tour guides repeatedly reuse the same tickets for different visitors. Prosecutors say guides also split groups to avoid a required speaking fee. Two Louvre employees allegedly helped skipping (略過) ticket checks in exchange for cash. The prosecutors' office estimates losses top 10 million euros over a decade. Prosecutors also mentioned similar suspicions regarding a ticket fraud at the Palace of Versailles, without providing details. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qduag -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Taipei signs NT$12.2 billion Nvidia deal The Taipei City Government has signed a 12.2-billion N-T agreement with Nvidia for the T-17 and T-18 plots of land at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park. Mayor Chiang Wan-an says construction on the U-S technology company's new Taiwan headquarters could now begin as early as June. The deal grants Nvidia 50-year land surface rights, extendable by up to 20 years and Chiang is describing the agreement as a major milestone and is also pledging (保證) full municipal support. Under Nvidia's investment plan, more than 40-billion N-T will be spent during construction, and operations are expected to create over 10,000 jobs. Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang is scheduled to visit Taiwan from June 2 to 5 for Computex Taipei. TSMC shares surge almost 69% in 'Year of Snake' Shares in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing soared almost 69-per cent in the Year of the Snake. T-S-M-C shares closed at a record high of 1,915 N-T on Wednesday - the final trading day of the Year of the Snake - despite coming off off a historic intraday high of 1,925 N-T early in the session. The chipmaker's share price jumped 780 N-T during the Year of the Snake and contributed about 6,262 points to the Tai-Ex's overall rise for the year. The strong showing raised T-S-M-C's market capitalization by more than 20-trillion N-T during the year. Taipei Zoo to renovate its tropical rainforest area And, The Taipei City Zoo has announced plans to renovate its tropical rainforest area. According to the zoo,the renovations will improve animal welfare, update some of its aging facilities and are in line with (與…一致,符合,按照) international trends in professional zoo development. The Asian tropical rainforest area opened in 1997. The zoo will be relocating its Asian elephants Yu-Hsin and Yu-Kai to the African animal area later this year during the renovation period. The zoo will also be transfering other animals, such as the Malayan tiger, sun bear, and leopard, following the elephants' move. Republicans join Democrats to rebuke Trump's Tariffs on Canada US lawmakers have voted to terminate President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada - with six Republicans joining Democrats in the House of Representatives. The resolution passed 219 to 211 - sending the bill to the Senate where a similar (相似的) measure passed last year. Toni Waterman has more. Sci Initiative Finds HumanCaused Climate Change Drove Wildfires A team of researchers say that human-caused climate change had an important impact on the recent wildfires that engulfed parts of Chile and Argentina's Patagonia region. That's according to a report released Wednesday by World Weather Attribution, a scientific initiative that investigates extreme weather events. The report says the hot, dry and gusty weather that fed last month's deadly wildfires in central and southern Chile was made around 200% more likely by human-made greenhouse gas emissions. Ande the high-fire-risk conditions that fueled (激起，助長) the blazes still racing through southern Argentina were made 150% more likely. World Weather Attribution says “These trends are projected to continue in the future as long as we continue to burn fossil fuels.” That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qdyge -- 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 33,086 on turnover of 12.1-billion N-T. The market ended at a high of just over 33,000 points on Tuesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing registered strong gains after its American depositary receipts closed at a record price overnight. MOEA sets aside NT$30 billion to cushion auto industry amid US tariff deal The Ministry of Economic Affairs has set aside 30-billion N-T to support Taiwan's automobile industry as it prepares for changes to tariffs under a Taiwan-US trade agreement, According to Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin, initial assessments indicate that the impact on domestic industrial output could exceed (超過) 1-per cent but will remain "manageable." Kung says the funding will help the automobile and auto parts industry absorb (吸收)shocks, advance transformation and upgrading, and strengthen independent research and development and exports. Kung also says any tariff arrangements will apply only to US-made vehicles and such vehicles will be defined only if they meet country of origin and value-added content requirements consistent with existing international standards. Population declines for 25th consecutive month The Ministry of the Interior says the island's population fell for a 25th consecutive month in January -- with the number of live births falling by 304 from December of 2025. According to the latest data, as of the end of January, the population totaled 23,289,045, down 10,087 from December. A total of 8,723 babies were born in January, 304 fewer than in December and 772 fewer than a year earlier. The interior ministry says that translates to roughly one birth every 5.1 minutes and an annual crude birth rate (粗出生率) of 4.41 per 1,000 people. Deaths totaled 17,529 in January, or about one every 2.5 minutes and the crude death rate was 8.86 per 1,000 people White House defends Trump Canada bridge attack The White House has defended US President Donald Trump's threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Ontario with Michigan. Trump has told Canada his administration needs to be "fully compensated for everything", despite (儘管) both countries co-owning the bridge. Nick Harper reports from Washington on the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's comments. Chile Launches OpenSource AI Language Model for Latin American Culture Chile has launched the first open-source AI language model trained on Latin American culture. Called Latam-GPT, the two-year effort is led by Chile's National Center of Artificial Intelligence and supported by over 30 institutions. It aims to reflect regional realities in AI. Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized the importance of Latin America's role in the AI revolution. Latam-GPT, announced at the February 2025 Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, addresses linguistic biases (語言的偏誤) in models trained mainly on English data. It uses Latin American data and will initially operate in Spanish and Portuguese, with plans to include Indigenous languages later. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 第十屆法藍瓷想像計畫：熱血開跑！

Good afternoon, I'm Jacob Ingram with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opens higher on Wall Street rally The Tai-Ex opened up 35 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,440 on turnover (成交額) of $5.9 billion NT. Shares in Taiwan closed more than 600 points higher Monday, as a strong rally (大漲) in the United States late last week prompted investors to buy large-cap (大型股) electronics stocks. Contract chipmaker TSMC failed to hold onto all of its earlier gains, with analysts saying investors turned cautious ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, amid concerns over possible negative developments overseas. Old-economy stocks (傳產股) were largely overshadowed by the technology sector, although some industries tied to AI development attracted interest. TaiDoc union protests interference; company blames 'outsider' involvement The union at TaiDoc Technology protested Monday outside the Ministry of Labor. It's accusing the medical device maker of undermining (破壞) its operations, including illegally dismissing its chair, Filipino worker Elizabeth Basas. Notices posted around the workplace allegedly humiliated her and warned other employees against joining the union. Union director Lennon Wang said the group, formed six months ago with about 30 Filipino members, has faced ongoing pressure from management and claimed the company forced employees to join the union, announcing over 100 new members unilaterally (單方面地). TaiDoc's chair has denied the accusations, calling Wang an "outsider" illegally interfering (非法干預) and questioning the legitimacy (合法性) of a recent strike vote. The Ministry of Labor said it has received a request to investigate the allegations and urged employers to respect union independence (工會自主權) and avoid improper interference (不當干預). Taiwan's Zhang Bo-ya wins gold at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships Taiwan's top hurdler Zhang Bo-ya (張博雅) secured gold in the women's 60-meter hurdles at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, setting a new national record of 8.12 seconds. The 22-year-old star broke her own national record twice in a single day. After an initial record-breaking run in the heats, Zhang surged past her Japanese competitors in the final to take Taiwan's first gold of the meet. Her victory capped off a successful weekend for the national team, which earned one gold and three silver medals. Notable performances included Chen Wen-pu (陳玟溥), who smashed a 38-year-old national record in the men's 60-meter sprint, alongside silvers from long jumper Lin Yu-tang (林昱堂) and sprinter Liao Yan-jun (廖晏均). Coach Wang Kuo-hui (王國慧) said the result confirms Zhang's peak condition as she prepares for the upcoming outdoor season and Asian Games qualifiers (亞運資格賽). Maxwell remains silent to Epstein questions, pleads for clemency In international news, Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker for Jeffrey Epstein, has refused to answer US lawmakers' questions at a closed-door hearing, asserting her Fifth Amendment right (保持緘默權). She used the session to ask for clemency (寬赦), saying she would "speak fully" if pardoned (特赦) by US president Donald Trump. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Cuba Aviation Officials Warn of Fuel Shortage Cuban aviation officials have warned airlines of a fuel shortage (燃料短缺) for refueling on the island. This is part of energy rationing (能源配給) as the Trump administration cuts Cuba off from its fuel sources. The shortage stems from U.S. political pressure severing Cuba's access to oil from Venezuela and Mexico. Shorter flights may not be affected, but long-haul routes face challenges. The energy crisis has led to reduced bank hours, suspended cultural events and halted public transport. U.S. sanctions (制裁) have long impacted Cuba, but recent measures have intensified the situation. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qduba -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 173-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,956 on turnover of $10.4-billion N-T. Cross-border effort leads to Taiwan fugitive's arrest in Philippines A 33-year-old Taiwanese fugitive has been arrested in Metro Manila following a joint operation between Philippine and Taiwanese authorities. The suspect, surnamed Chien (簡), had been on the run since August 2023, when an arrest warrant was issued by the Miaoli (苗栗) District Prosecutors Office on theft charges. Philippine immigration officials say Chien was also classified as an “undesirable (不受歡迎的) alien” after overstaying his temporary visitor visa. He is currently being held at a detention facility pending deportation. Since the start of 2025, officials have successfully tracked down and arrested 22 wanted Taiwanese fugitives in the Philippines through intelligence sharing and other forms of cooperation. Airport MRT to run 5 a.m. express train from Feb. 12-22 for LNY Taoyuan Airport MRT is adding an early morning express train service from Taipei Main Station to handle (應付) increased outbound travel over the Lunar New Year holiday. According to the operator, the train will run from February 12th to the 22nd … and depart at 5 AM … reaching Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2 Station within 41 minutes. On the way, it will call at A3 New Taipei Industrial Park, A8 Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and A12 Airport Terminal 1 stations — as usual for the express train. To support the service, Taipei Main and New Taipei Industrial Park stations will open earlier — at 4:30 AM. In-town check-in at Taipei Main will also be available at that time. While the other stations it stops at will open at 5 AM. Japan PM Party Secures Supermajority Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's governing party has secured a two-thirds supermajority in a parliamentary election. Takaichi told public broadcaster NHK later that she is ready to pursue (實行) policies to make Japan strong and prosperous. TV networks cited preliminary results from Sunday's vote in reporting that Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner won 352 seats in the 465-seat lower house. The huge jump from the previous parliament could allow Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan's economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China and she tries to nurture ties with Washington. US FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn't running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show From the US…. Files show the FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn't running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Venezuela Gov Releases Opposition Members from Prison Venezuela's government has released (釋放) several prominent opposition members from prison, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado. These releases come as acting President Delcy Rodriguez faces pressure to free those detained for political reasons. The move follows a visit from representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. On Sunday, Foro Penal confirmed the release of at least 30 people. Machado's ally Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor, and her attorney, Perkins Rocha, were among the released. The ruling party-controlled National Assembly is debating an amnesty bill that could lead to more releases. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 一趟遠程飛機 一篇小日記 飛行 9800 公里 穿越一個又一個時區 把想說的話 全都唱給妳聽 擁抱同一片藍天 望著同一顆月亮 讓想念帶著我們前進 用愛對齊時間 用心容納一切 盧可沛 Look 首張個人專輯傾心醞釀中 首波前導單曲〈小日記〉2/9搶先收聽

新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qgw4g －－－－以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ Trump says he spoke with Xi about Taiwan and April China trip Typhoon Penha forms east of the Philippines, no direct threat to Taiwan US proposes preferential trade bloc for critical minerals US-brokered Ukraine-Russia talks open in Abu Dhabi as fighting continues US and Iran set Oman talks as agenda dispute continues Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomes first Asian elephant calf in nearly 25 years -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Education Ministry freezes university fees for 3 years Cold wave forecast as tropical storm forms near Philippines Abe shooter appeals life sentence in Japan US shoots down Iranian drone French police raid X office as Europe probes Grok deepfakes -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qdsew －－－－以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ KMT in New Taipei to pick mayoral nominee by Feb. 15 Jensen Huang to return to Taipei in June for Computex LINE Pay Money fixes nationality option for residence permit users UN to send ceasefire monitors to eastern Congo after Doha talks Trump says US-India trade deal cuts tariffs to 18% -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託行動銀行APP全新聯名主題登場 三大超萌IP：反應過激的貓、無所事事小海豹、貓貓蟲咖波 主題自由切換，快來中信銀行APP打造你的專屬體驗 立即搜尋>中國信託行動銀行APP 體驗主題>https://sofm.pse.is/8qfz2m －－－－以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ Cabinet outlines upgrades to conscription training Taipei Zoo says panda Yuanzai passes full health check Another cold surge could bring plains lows near 8°C Iran warns of wider war as it labels EU armies "terrorists" Britain's Prince Andrewcan't escape Epstein's shadow -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Family of murdered Malaysian student criticizes death penalty ruling The mother of a Malaysian student murdered in Taiwan says she cannot accept a court's decision to spare her daughter's killer from the death penalty. In a statement released Thursday, the mother criticized the Kaohsiung High Court for overturning the death sentence previously given to Liang Yu-chih. The court ruled that the 2020 rape and murder did not meet the legal threshold for the "most serious" of crimes. The mother argued that the court focused too much on the possibility of rehabilitation (（囚犯）獲得改造). She noted that professional psychiatric assessments found the killer had a high risk of committing another crime, and urged the judiciary to consider public safety and the protection of future victims in its sentencing. Liang had been sentenced to death in three previous trials. The court now says life imprisonment and psychological treatment are sufficient because the murder was not proven to be premeditated. The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office says it plans to appeal the new ruling. Olive oil importer fined over mislabeled products, 3,202 bottles recalled Authorities have recalled more than 3,200 bottles of olive oil after discovering a major food fraud operation that blended expensive oil with cheap canola oil. The Taipei Department of Health fined Rong & Chyi International $4-million NT for mislabeling. The Investigation Bureau says the scheme involved two companies that allegedly mixed up to 500 liters of canola oil for every 50 liters of olive oil. Investigators raided a manufacturing site in New Taipei and found equipment used to mix the oils. The bureau estimates the operation made about $15-million NT in illegal profits. Health officials have notified online platforms and local authorities in 17 cities and counties to remove the product from shelves. The heads of both companies have been released on bail as the fraud (騙局) investigation continues. DRC Measles Deaths from Low Vaccine Coverage and Conflict Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say 24 people have died of measles across the country since the beginning of this year. Most victims are young children due to low vaccination coverage (疫苗接種率). The hardest-hit areas are in the country's east where an armed conflict has been raging between government forces and the M23 rebels since 2021. Chris Ocamringa reports UN Criticizes Haiti for Stalled Political Transition The U.N. Security Council has criticized Haitian authorities for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition and reforms to tackle (應對) increasing violence. The council condemned the upsurge in violence by gangs and criminal groups, pointing to human rights violations and widespread abuses. The council resolution was co-sponsored by the United States and Panama and adopted unanimously (一致地) Thursday. It extends the U.N.'s political mission in Haiti until Jan. 31, 2027. The resolution also revises the mission's mandate to focus on facilitating a “national dialogue” to support efforts to hold municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections. 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 24-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,828, on turnover of $11-billion N-T. The Taiwan stock market hit a record high today as shares of chipmaker T-S-M-C soared to a new peak, and memory chip suppliers also saw big gains. Analysts say the surge was driven by investor optimism over the artificial intelligence boom and upcoming earnings reports from U.S. tech giants like Microsoft and Meta. Beyond tech, petrochemical stocks rose because of higher crude oil prices and tensions in Iran, while electric machinery companies also gained value as the government works to improve the national power grid. However, some analysts warn the market could face resistance as it approaches the 33,000-point mark. (NS) Prosecutors Seek Taiwan Man Detention for Alleged Money Laundering Prosecutors are seeking to detain the Taiwanese manager of a gambling ring accused of laundering money from China through local shell companies. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office says a Chinese national set up several companies in Taiwan starting in 2016. The group allegedly hired engineers to design gambling software for overseas markets, then used fake transactions and false invoices to move illegal profits back into Taiwan. On Tuesday, authorities searched four locations and questioned 12 people, including accountants and engineers. Nine suspects were released on bail. But prosecutors are asking the court to hold the Taiwanese manager without bail, citing the risk that he might collude (串通) with others. (NS) Russia Warn on Ukraine Casualties Could Hit 2Million A new report warns that combined (合併的) war casualties in Russia's war on Ukraine could soon hit 2 million AP correspondent Laurence Brooks reports Germany Deutsche Bank Searched in Money Laundering Probe German investigators searched the offices of Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest, on Wednesday in connection with an investigation into possible money laundering. Prosecutors in Frankfurt said that the probe focused on the bank's prior (事先的) business relationships to foreign entities which were in turn suspected of being used to launder money. Offices were searched in Frankfurt, where the bank is headquartered, and in Berlin. The bank said it was cooperating with investigators. Rwanda Suing UK for Cancelled Migrant Deal Rwanda has said it is suing the United Kingdom to seek payments over an aborted, controversial migrant deal under which the East African nation was to host deported asylum seekers from the European country. The migrant deal entered into force on April 25 2024. In July 2024, shortly after taking office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the deal was “dead and buried.” In 2023, the UK Supreme Court found the deal between Rwanda and the UK to be “unlawful,” ruling that it violated both UK law and international law and ordering it to be scrapped. Some legal experts have questioned whether parties to an unlawful contract can seek financial remedies (補救措施). That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 64-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,381 on turnover of $8.5--billion N-T. With contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing regaining its footing and rebounding from a session earlier, shares in Taiwan closed at another record high Tuesday. The buying in TSMC shares spread to other semiconductor stocks, with investors betting that orders for more mature chip processes would shift, as TSMC cuts that capacity (生產能力) in favor of more advanced chip manufacturing. Some flight cancellation fees increased to 30% The Civil Aeronautics Administration says that cancellation fees for domestic offshore flights during holiday periods will be raised to up to 30% of the ticket price. The new tiered (分層的) fee system will take effect in March, and be applied for the first time on the Labor Day long weekend. Under current rules, domestic offshore tickets sold for holidays for three days or more carry restrictions (限制)… such as "valid only for the booked flight" or "expired if unused" with cancellation fees capped at 10% if refunds are requested before departure. But under the new rules, cancellation fees will vary based on how close the refund request is to the flight's departure time. Officials say, the changes are intended to curb seat hoarding (囤積) during peak travel periods… as some passengers book multiple flights and cancel later. Spain to Grant Legal Status to Immigrants Spain will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the country without authorization. Spain's migration minister says the government plans to amend immigration laws by expedited (加急的) decree, offering legal residency and work permits for up to one year. This applies to those who arrived before Dec. 31, 2025, and have lived in Spain for at least five months without a criminal record. The minister says the measure could benefit an estimated 500-thousand people. Many are from countries in Latin America and Africa and work in agriculture, tourism or service jobs, backbones of Spain's booming economy. Landmark social media trial underway in California Social media giant TikTok has settled a lawsuit claiming the platform deliberately addicts and harms children. However, Meta and YouTube are still facing similar claims as a landmark (具有重大意義的，標誌性的) trial gets underway in Los Angeles. Ira Spitzer reports. BAFTA Nominations Announced and finally….. Paul Thomas Anderson's politically charged action thriller “One Battle After Another” leads the race for the British Academy Film Awards, with 14 nominations including acting nods for five of its cast. Ryan Coogler's blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” is close behind with 13 nominations, while Chloe Zhao's Shakespearean tragedy “Hamnet” and Josh Safdie's ping-pong odyssey (漫長而驚險的旅程) “Marty Supreme” have 11 apiece. The winners will be announced at a Feb. 22 ceremony in London. The U.K. prizes — officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards — often provide clues about who will triumph at Hollywood's Academy Awards. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 即日起至6月底， 透過台南住商不動產買房， 就有機會參加【買屋抽黃金】活動， 幸運得主將於7月公開抽出✨ 把成家的重要時刻， 變成雙倍黃金祝福。 台南住商不動產， 不只陪你安心成家， 還讓黃金一起到家！ 馬上預約看房 https://sofm.pse.is/8qfgfe -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 31-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,095 on turnover of $9.3-billion N-T. The market smashed closing records on Monday after breaching the 32,000-point mark as buying rotated to the old economy sector. Analysts say the main board's momentum extended from the recent significant gains, as raw material suppliers attracted strong investor interest, while interest in tech stocks saw a downturn. Japanese artists to build lantern floats for Taiwan Lantern Festival Two Japanese Nebuta artists will be crafting (手工製作) the large lantern floats for this year's Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County. Artists Makoto Suwa and Hiromi Hayashi from Japan's Aomori City were invited to create the lantern floats for the General Association of Chinese Culture. Nebuta are traditional lantern floats handmade with wood, metal wire and paper. According to the association, the two artists will create nebuta for Chiayi County's Pei Tien Temple, featuring the deities Mazu and Hu Ye, for Lantern Festival - which will be taking place from March 3 through 15. Both Suwa and Hayashi have previously visited Taiwan to exhibit their nebuta works, but this will be the first time they produce nebuta from scratch in Taiwan. The floats will be taking part in the festival parade on the evening of March 7. UN Aid Delivered to Kobani Syria A U.N. aid convoy has delivered humanitarian supplies to Kobani in northeast Syria. This marks the first aid delivery since fighting began between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces earlier this month. A ceasefire, announced Tuesday and extended Saturday, is mostly holding despite sporadic skirmishes (斷斷續續的小規模戰鬥). Kobani residents have faced electricity and water cuts and shortages of essentials (必需品). The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 24 trucks delivered supplies, including food and medical kits. The fighting has displaced over 173-thousand people. A new agreement aims to merge SDF fighters with government forces. UK and EU Countries Join Wind Power Project The UK is among ten other European countries to work on a clean energy scheme (方案) by producing more wind farms in the North sea. The aim of the project, to be agreed at a summit in Germany, is to move away from fossil fuels and strengthen energy security. Lara Bentley reports Canada Last Captive Whales May Be Exported to US Canada's last captive whales have a received a reprieve from death after the Canadian government conditionally approved a plan to export them to the United States. The country's fisheries minister met with officials from Marineland, the shuttered theme park and zoo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to talk about its proposed plan to move the animals south. The park is in discussions with four U.S. institutions to take its 30 belugas and four dolphins. The park had said it was running out of funds and the animals would be euthanized (安樂死) if the export permits were not authorized by Jan. 30-th. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qducm -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 41-points this morning from Friday's close, at 32,002 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T. The market closed at yet another high on Friday as Wall Street made gains overnight after U-S President Donald Trump rescinded his tariff threats on European countries over the pursuit of Greenland. Subject: E*Taiwan to list Nipah virus as Category 5 disease after India outbreak Return to Table of contents The Centers for Disease Control says it plans to list Nipah virus infection as a Category 5 notifiable disease following a recent outbreak of the virus in India. According to the C-D-C, it released a proposed change to its measures on controlling infectious diseases on January 16 -- which would list Nipah virus infection as a Category 5 disease. The measure now has to undergo a 60-day period during which members of the public can comment on it before it can take effect. The Nipah virus has only been under priority surveillance (監視) in Taiwan since 2018. The Nipah virus can infect humans through contact with infected bats or animals such as pigs. CAA probes Starlux flight to Kobe after hard landing The Civil Aeronautics Administration is investigating a Starlux Airlines flight from Taichung to Kobe after it experienced a hard landing. The incident occured on January 20 and the C double A has grounded the crew pending the outcome of the investigation. According to the administration, the flight exceeded vertical G-force limits during its landing, meaning the aircraft touched down with a stronger-than-normal downward force. Starlux says the flight encountered a sudden gust of wind on approach, which triggered (觸發) abnormal system readings, but has not released any further details of the incident. Philippines Ferry Sinking An inter-island ferry with more than 350 on board has sunk in the southern Philippines after midnight. Rescuers have saved at least 244 passengers and retrieved 13 bodies. Officials say the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, a cargo and passenger ferry, was sailing to southern Jolo island in Sulu province from the port city of Zamboanga with 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it apparently encountered (遭遇) technical problems and sank. Coast guard and navy ships, along with a surveillance plane, an air force Black Hawk helicopter and fleets of fishing boats were carrying out search and rescue operations off Basilan. Officials say the cause of the ferry sinking was not immediately clear and there will be an investigation. Federal and state officials both claim moral high ground in immigration crackdown after shooting Protests continue in Minneapolis following a second fatal (致命的) shooting by federal law enforcement. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports France President Wants Social Media Ban FastTracked French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to fast-track a ban on social media for teenagers under 15. He aims for the law to take effect in September. Macron made the announcement in a video released over the weekend. He emphasized that children's emotions and minds should not be manipulated by (受到操縱 / 操控) social media platforms. This move follows the British government's consideration of a similar ban. France's health watchdog reports that many teenagers spend hours daily on social media, leading to negative effects like low self-esteem and exposure (接觸) to harmful content. Macron's office confirmed the bill will be discussed today. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qdvg2 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 43-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,789 on turnover of $6.4-billion N-T. Premier thanks Japan for swift response to helicopter crash Premier Cho Jung-tai is expressing his thanks to Japanese government for their swift and comprehensive rescue operation after a helicopter carrying two Taiwanese tourists and a Japanese pilot went missing near one of Japan's most active volcanoes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arranged for the Taiwan victims' families to travel to Japan following the accident. Authorities say the helicopter lost contact during what should have been a 10-minute flight over Mount Aso in southern Japan on Monday. Rescuers on Wednesday said they'd spotted wreckage believed to be from the sightseeing helicopter inside the crater (火山口) of one of Mt. Aso's five peaks. However, officials had said bad weather and high levels of volcanic gases were hampering the rescue operation. The helicopter's operating agent has said the two tourists from Taiwan were a 41 year old man and a 36 year old woman. Alex Honnold to scale Taipei 101 on Saturday American free solo climber, Alex Honnold will be attempting to scaling the Taipei 101 tomorrow. Taipei 101 chairwoman Janet Chia has led a bilingual blessing ceremony for the American climber ahead of his historic free solo climb. Honnold will scale all 101 floors of the structure (結構) without ropes or safety equipment. He's attempting what organizers a describing as potential milestone in human achievement. The climb will be broadcast live by Netflix. Ukraine President Criticizes EU for Slow Response to Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is criticizing European allies for their slow and fragmented response to Russia's invasion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he highlighted Europe's inadequate (不足) support compared to the U.S. push for peace. Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the talks productive. He urges Europe to become a global force, contrasting its response to Washington's actions in Venezuela and Iran. Despite European support, internal disagreements and slow responses frustrate Kyiv. Zelenskyy stresses the need for Western weaponry and international focus on the war as Russia's influence persists. Minnesota judge overturns block on agents using force on protesters A US appeals judge has overturned a ruling that blocked federal agents in Minneapolis from using force against peaceful protesters. The city has seen several weeks of protests against the government's immigration crackdown (鎮壓), and the killing of a woman by an immigration agent. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Olympic Flame to Pass Through Venice The Olympic flame makes a landmark run through Venice, gliding on boats down the Grand Canal and across St. Mark's Basin. The flame will arrive toward dusk (黃昏) at "Piazzale Roma", crossing the "Ponte delle Guglie" and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is the 46th stage of the 63-day torch relay covering 12-thousand kilometers. The relay started in Rome and will wind through (蜿蜒穿過) all 110 Italian provinces before reaching Milan's San Siro Stadium for the opening ceremony on February 6. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託行動銀行APP全新聯名主題登場 三大超萌IP：反應過激的貓、無所事事小海豹、貓貓蟲咖波 主題自由切換，快來中信銀行APP打造你的專屬體驗 立即搜尋>中國信託行動銀行APP 體驗主題>https://sofm.pse.is/8qgd2f -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 124-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,371 on turnover of 9.7-billion N-T. The market moved sharply lower on Wednesday following heavy losses on Wall Street overnight. Analysts say investors opted to dump their holdings in panic as sentiment was hit by the big losses on U-S indexes overnight. While Wednesday was also the settlement date for January futures contracts, so selling increased, with foreign institutional investors holding more short-position contracts than long-position ones … and tech stocks remained the targets of the sell-off. DPP finalizes candidates for Chiayi County, Tainan and Kaohsiung elections The D-P-P has finalized its candidates for key mayoral positions in southern Taiwan. According to the party, it has approved Lai Jui-lung as the D-P-P's candidate for the Kaohsiung mayoral election, Tsai Yi-yu as its candidate for the post of Chiayi County magistrate, and Chen Ting-fei as its Tainan mayoral candidate,. Final approval for all three candidates was made during a meeting of the D-P-P's s Central Executive Committee. President Lai Ching-te, who doubles as the party chairman, says he hopes the candidates will integrate (整合) local efforts and support other party members seeking office in November's local elections. Rescuers spot wreckage from Japanese sightseeing helicopter carrying 2 Taiwanese tourists Rescuers in Japan have spotted wreckage (殘骸) believed to be from a sightseeing helicopter that was carrying two Taiwanese tourists and a Japanese pilot that went missing near one of Japan's most active volcanoes Authorities say the helicopter lost contact during what should have been a 10-minute flight over Mount Aso in southern Japan on Monday. According to local police, the wreckage, possibly of the missing helicopter, was spotted inside the crater of Nakadake, one of Mt. Aso's five peaks. However, officials had said bad weather and high levels of volcanic gases were hampering (阻礙) the rescue operation. Taiwan's representative office in Fukuoka says it was notified of a helicopter crash involving the two Taiwanese tourists immediately after the accident occurred. Supreme Court looks set to reject Trump's bid to control Fed US President Donald Trump's bid to control the US central bank looks set to be rejected by the Supreme Court. During arguments on Wednesday, justices from across the ideological spectrum (政治光譜) appeared concerned that the president's efforts to fire one of the Federal Reserve's leaders, could imperil its independence. Kate fisher reports from Washington Peru President Facing Scrutiny for Meetings with Chinese Business Owners Peru's interim President Jose Jeri is facing scrutiny (細看，仔細審查) for unregistered meetings with two Chinese business owners. On Wednesday, he appeared before a congressional oversight committee to address these encounters, which have sparked a criminal probe and calls for his removal. Jeri denies wrongdoing and claims the opposition's actions are a destabilizing maneuver ahead of the April 12 election. Earlier this week, Peru's attorney general's office said it has launched a preliminary investigation against Jeri for the alleged crimes of influence peddling and illegal lobbying. 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 lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,749 on turnover of 8.5-billion N-T. The market closed at yet another new record high on Tuesday, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing recouped its early losses on the back of investor optimism over the company's fundamentals. Analysts say T-S-M-C continued to attract bargain hunters and that resulted in the chipmaker's share price rising by 0.85-per cent to close at 1,775 N-T. No invite for Taiwan to Honduras presidential inauguration The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has not received an invitation to the inauguration of Honduras' president-elect Nasry Asfura. The statement comes amid reports that President Lai Ching-te had expressed an interest in attending the January 27 event. According to the foreign ministry's Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, the lack of (沒有…) an invitation is due to Taiwan not having official diplomatic ties with Honduras. The department has not said whether or not it approached members of the incoming Asfura administration for an invitation. Asfura pledged to restore ties with Taipei if he was elected president during his campaign. Epidemic flu period may begin this week, peak around Lunar New Year The Centers for Disease Control was warning that Taiwan could enter a flu epidemic as early as this week, as case numbers are continuing to rise ahead of Lunar New Year holiday. According to the C-D-C, outpatient and emergency visits for flu-like illnesses reached 104,348 from the week of January 11 to 17. That figure marked a second consecutive weekly increase and was an increase of 11.9-per cent from the previous week. The C-D-C says the number of weekly visits for flu-like illnesses could climb to as high as 140,000 during the peak period (高峰期). Health officials say 458 severe flu cases and 88 flu-related deaths have been recorded so far this flu season. The C-D-C is urging people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Trump: "you'll find out" how far he'll go to acquire Greenland US President Donald Trump says people will "find out" how far he's willing to go to acquire Greenland. It comes as he prepares to meet worried European allies on Wednesday in Davos, who are becoming increasingly vocal (直言不諱的) in their push back against the President's plans. Nick Harper reports from Washington NZ PM Announces National Election Date New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a national election will be held Nov. 7th. New Zealand elections are held every three years with the government selecting the date. Voters choose which party they prefer to see in government and also select a local candidate to represent their constituency (選區) in parliament. Luxon, who is leader of the center-right National party, became prime minister in 2023. His chief opponent is Chris Hipkins, leader of the center-left Labour party. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 54-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,584 on turnover of 11-billion N-T. The market hit yet another new closing high as Monday on the back of continuing strong shows by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. T-S-M-C saw its share price climb to a record high of 1,780 N-T in intraday trading, before closing 1.15-per cent higher at 1,760 N-T. Defense Minister briefs lawmakers on weapons procurement plans Defense Minister Wellington Koo has briefed members of the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on weapons systems the military hopes to procure under the 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget. According to Koo, the defense ministry is seeking to purchase more than 200,000 U-A-Vs, as well as precision artillery (精準火炮), long-range missiles, air defense missiles and anti-tank missiles Koo told lawmakers during the closed-door session that he will be given a detailed explanation in regards the weapons systems being eyed by the defense ministry, when the special defense budget has been referred to committee review. Lows of 8-degree as cold air mass moves in And, The Central Weather Administration says, a strong continental cold air mass will send temperatures drop to as low as 8-degrees in some areas this week. The cold front will move south from this afternoon and strengthen from tomorrow through Thursday. Lows tomorrow and Thursday in the north are forecast to fall to between 12 and 13 degrees. While the mercury could drop to between 13 and 14 degrees overnight in the center and south. The cold air mass is expected to weaken starting Saturday - when daytime temperatures will rebound (反彈). Iran Protests Leave Over 4000 Dead Activists say the bloody crackdown on demonstrators taking part in nationwide protests in Iran killed at least 4,029 people. The Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the toll today, saying more than 26-thousand people have been detained in the crackdown. It said of the dead, over 3-thousand-700 were demonstrators, and nearly 30 were children. It fears many more may have been killed. The agency has been accurate (準確的) in previous unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists on the ground to confirm each death. This comes as a U.S. aircraft carrier, which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca. This puts it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East. US FBI asking agents to volunteer for Minnesota deployment: reports The FBI is reportedly asking agents to volunteer for a deployment to Minnesota, as clashes between anti-ICE protestors and federal agents intensify. The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have beefed up (加強) their presence in Minneapolis after an immigration officer shot and killed Renee Good - a US citizen and mother of three - in her car two weeks ago. Toni Waterman has the story. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託行動銀行APP全新聯名主題登場 三大超萌IP：反應過激的貓、無所事事小海豹、貓貓蟲咖波 主題自由切換，快來中信銀行APP打造你的專屬體驗 立即搜尋>中國信託行動銀行APP 體驗主題>https://sofm.pse.is/8qgw3w －－－－以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ Magnitude 4.3 quake rattles mountainous areas of south and center TVGH suspends 3 doctors after video shows vendor taking part in surgery Europe won't be blackmailed High-speed train derails in southern Spain Suspected gang members in Guatemala's capital kill seven police officers -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 34-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,845 on turnover of $8-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's investor conference - which began after the trading day ended. Danjiang Bridge to host opening events in both April and May Events are slated to take place to mark the completion of the Danjiang Bridge in the lead-up to its officially opening on May 12. Both the New Taipei City Government and the Highway Bureau will be hosting events from between April 25 and May 9. The bridge will be open to the public to walk across on April 25 and the Highway Bureau will be holding a parade on the bridge the following day featuring performances by musical groups. A concert will also be taking place in May 2 and the bridge will be open for a public picnic day on May 3. Construction of the 920-meter-long bridge is due to be completed in April and when completed, the Danjiang Bridge will become the longest asymmetric (不對稱的) single-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. Officials say the bridge will cut the travel time between Tamsui and Bali by about 25-minutes. Trump threatens to send troops to Minnesota as tensions rise following second ICE shooting US president Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota in response to rising tensions between protesters and federal agents. His warning came just hours after a man was shot and wounded (受傷的) by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle in Minneapolis. Kate fisher reports from Washington UN SecretaryGeneral Criticizes Violations of Intl Law and Concentration of Wealth The United Nations chief is lashing out at countries that violate international law and calling the concentration of power and wealth by the world's richest 1% “morally indefensible.” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday at the start of his final year at the helm (領導地位) of the United Nations. He said the U.N.'s 193 member nations are facing “a world marked by self-defeating geopolitical divides, brazen violations of international law, and wholesale cuts in development and humanitarian aid.” He said all these forces are shaking the foundations of global cooperation at a time when it is needed most. Guterres warned of the dangers of a concentration of power and wealth in the world's richest 1%, who hold 43% of global financial assets. He also criticized countries that don't pay their U.N. dues on time — another jab at the Trump administration, which did not pay its mandatory dues to the U.N.'s budgets in 2025. Wikipedia Partners with AI Companies Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia written by volunteers, is embracing artificial intelligence to mark its 25th anniversary. The site has signed up new AI partners, including Meta and Microsoft, alongside existing ones with companies like Google. These companies are paying to access Wikipedia content, supporting its nonprofit mission. Founder Jimmy Wales welcomes AI training on Wikipedia data, emphasizing (強調) its human-curated nature. The Wikimedia Foundation urges AI developers to pay for access, as bots heavily tax (使負重擔) its servers. 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 194-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,746 on turnover of 11.3-billion N-T. The market gained ground again on Wednesday as buying rotated to select tech stocks that had been lagging behind semiconductor shares in recent sessions. Presidential impeachment hearings begin Lawmakers have begin public hearings to discuss impeaching President Lai Ching-te. The first hearing took place yesterday and a second hearing is scheduled for today as part of the legislature's impeachment review process. The Committee of the Whole Yuan will then hold formal (正式的) review meetings on January 21 and 22. The lead sponsors will use those meetings to explain the grounds for impeachment and Lai will be invited to give a 15-minute statement followed by questioning by lawmakers. A second review meeting is scheduled for May, after which the impeachment case will be put to a vote in the Legislative Yuan on May 19. The impeachment needs a two-thirds majority of lawmakers for it to pass. Taiwan passport rises three spots in global ranking Taiwan's passport has risen three place in the latest Henley Passport Index to move up to 33rd spot. The rise means it returned to the same place it was in the rankings in January of last year. The index rank passports by the number of destinations its holder can travel to without a visa. The latest survey shows that Taiwan passport holders can travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. The Singaporean passport was ranked (排名) the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of a total of 227. US to freeze visa processing for 75 countries The Trump Administration says it will indefinitely halt visa processing for immigrants from 75 countries, including Brazil, Russia and Iran. The State Department says this latest restriction - which kicks in next week - is aimed at people trying to quote .. "extract (強索) wealth from the American people." Toni Waterman has more from DC Canada BC Ends Experiment Decriminalizing Limited Drug Possession Canada's Pacific coast province of British Columbia is ending its three-year experiment in decriminalizing possession (擁有) of small amounts of drugs. British Columbia's health minister says the province is not seeking an extension (延伸) of its agreement with Canada's federal health agency that allowed the decriminalization of small amounts of drugs for personal possession. The three-year pilot project, slated to end Jan. 31st, initially allowed adults to possess up to 2.5 grams cumulatively of opioids, crack and powdered cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. But in 2024, the exemption was amended to restrict such possession to private homes and places where homeless people are legally sheltering, as well as designated health-care clinics and overdose prevention, drug checking and supervised consumption sites. The minister says the goal was to make it easier for people o come forward and seek help, but it "hasn't delivered the results" officials hoped for. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 35-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,742 on turnover of 7.5-billion N-T. The market closed at yet another new high on Tuesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing extended its momentum from a session earlier amid optimism over global demand for A-I applications. Cabinet refusing to comment on reports of US tariff deal The Cabinet is refusing to comment on reports that Taiwan and the U-S are close to completing a trade deal. Reports have been suggesting the deal will reduce the U-S tariff rate on Taiwan products will from 20 to 15-per cent, and commit Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to invest significantly more in the U-S. Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says Taiwan and the U-S have already reached "broad consensus (共識)" on related issues, and are currently discussing the timing of a wrap-up meeting. And according to Lee, any confirmed arrangements will be announced publicly. T-S-M-C has not commented on the report, but is expected to address the issue at its investor conference tomorrow. Former Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan named SEF chairman Former Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan has been appointed as chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation. Su had long been widely tipped for the post after his predecessor, Frank Wu, announced his resignation on December 18. According to Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo, President Lai Ching-te invited Su to take the post, citing his "extensive (全面的) political experience and successful track record in international exchanges." Kuo says Lai is expressing his hope that Su will strengthen the Straits Exchange Foundation's operations and help promote "positive and healthy" cross-strait exchanges. Su most recently served as chairman of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association for more than three years. Iran Protest Death Toll Surpasses 2Thousand Activists say the death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has surpassed 2,000 people. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate (準確的) in previous unrest in recent years, gave the latest toll. It says most of the dead over more than two weeks of protests were protesters and 135 were government-affiliated. With the internet down in Iran, gauging the demonstrations from abroad is difficult. The demonstrations began a little over two weeks ago in anger over Iran's ailing economy and theocracy, particularly the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Human Rights Activists News Agency warns that the death toll will rise. US Justice Department Prosecutors Resign Over Minnesota ICE Shooting Investigation From the US…. Justice Department prosecutors are resigning amid turmoil (動盪) over Minnesota ICE shooting investigation AP correspondent Ed Donahue reports. France Le Pen in Court to Appeal Embezzlement Conviction French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has returned to court to appeal an embezzlement (挪用公款) conviction that risks affecting her 2027 presidential ambitions. She denies any wrongdoing. She was found guilty in March of misusing European Parliament funds and sentenced to a five-year ban from holding office, among other penalties. The appeal trial involving Le Pen and 10 others opened on Tuesday and is set to last five weeks. The verdict is expected possibly before summer. Le Pen argues the funds were used appropriately (適當地). The case weighs heavily on her political future, as she has worked to bring the far right into France's mainstream politics. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8qdvg3 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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 30,630 on turnover of 8.2-billion N-T. The market closed higher yesterday as buying was sparked by gains posted on Wall Street at the end of last week. However, the main board declined from the day's high of 30,681 after profit-taking set-in late in the session, as investors turned cautious ahead of the anticipated U-S Supreme Court ruling later this week on Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. Taiwan F-16s return to the sky after no-flight order lifted The Air Force says its fleet of F-16s jet fighters have now resumed regular training operations following safety checks. The fleet was grounded in response to the disappearance of an F-16V and its pilot going missing in waters off the east coast last Tuesday. According to the Air Force, all of its F-16s passed inspections, with pilots and ground crews completing simulation (模擬) and maintenance training, respectively. The Air Force also released photos of a group of four F-16Vs making preparations for takeoff, with one piloted by Maj. Gen. Hu Chung-hua -- the chief of the Air Force's 5th Tactical Mixed Wing based in eastern Hualien County. Taipei to launch 'smoke-free city' plan this year Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says his administration is looking at various options to limit smoking in public places and some version of the policy is likely to be implemented this year. According to Chiang, a "Taipei smoke-free city" plan is expected to be launched by the end of this year. Chiang says city officials are studying the establishment of designated (指定的) smoking areas in Tokyo, which has cut down on secondhand smoke and cigarette litter in the Japanese capital. The Taipei mayor also said that it's very possible the city will make reference to examples abroad, such as using designated smoking areas or booths to improve the quality of public spaces. US Trump Administration Sends Hundreds More Agents to Minneapolis Hundreds more federal agents are being deployed (部署) to Minneapolis by the Trump administration. It comes amid protests after a woman was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the city. Kate Fisher reports from Washington Iran Protest Death Toll Rises Activists say the death toll from Iran's nationwide protests has reached at least 646 people with the number expected to rise further. The toll as of Tuesday comes from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate (準確) throughout multiple years of demonstrations. According to the Associated Press, the agency relies on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities. Iran's government has not provided casualty figures for the demonstrations, as all communications remain blocked in the country. Pope Meets with Venezuela Opposition Leader Machado Pope Leo XIV has met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican. During Monday's meeting, which was not previously announced, the Venezuelan leader asked the pope to intercede (調解) for the release of hundreds of political prisoners held in Venezuela and for a swift transition to democracy. Machado is touring Europe and the United States after escaping Venezuela in early 2025. The pope called for Venezuela to remain independent and urges the protection of human rights following the capture (捕拿) of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. 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 183-points this morning from Friday's close, at 30,472 on turnover of 10.8-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Friday, but remained above the 30,000 point mark on the back of investor optimism that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing would report strong sales for 2025 after the main board closed. Lai announces approval of NT$2.94 billion 'smart health' subsidies President Lai Ching-te says his administration has approved 197 subsidy programs worth about 2.94-billion N-T under a plan to encourage medical institutions to adopt 'smart health care' technologies. The subsidy programs are part of the five-year 48.9-billion N-T Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan, which the government launched last year. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nobel Health Care Forum in Taipei, Lai said the subsidy programs are designed to leverage (利用，發揮（優勢）) the advantages of smart health care to strengthen medical services. According to Lai, although average life expectancy in Taiwan is currently above 80, people spend an average of 8.4 years in poor healthand that means "about 10-per cent of the average lifespan is unhealthy," with some people bedridden, using wheelchairs or needing daily care. HPA to publish new dietary guidelines in Q2 2026 Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the Health Promotion Administration will issue new daily dietary guidelines in the second quarter of this year. It will be the first such update since 2018. A draft of the new guidelines was completed late last year. According to Shih, eggs will be promoted more than in the past, given the growing body of research (大量的研究成果) showing they are an excellent source of nutrition. And while earlier guidelines only recommended skim or low-fat milk, the updated guidelines recognize that whole milk contains important nutrients, as long as it is consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. US Minnesota More Immigration Arrests Minnesota braces for what's next amid (…之中) more protests and immirgration arrests AP's Lisa Dwyer reports Italy Olympic Venue Guard Death Authorities have confirmed the death of a guard at construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. The death occurred during a frigid overnight shift, when temperatures plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius. Italy's infrastructure minister has called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 55-year-old worker's death. Italian media reported that the death happened on Jan. 8, outside Cortina's ice arena, and Milan Cortina organizers said that the worker died of a heart attack. City officials expressed deep sadness and concern (憂慮) over the incident. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-22. 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 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,370 on turnover of $6.5-billion N-T. FDA announces recall of Nestle formula powder over potential contamination The Food and Drug Administration says Nestle has preemptively recalled 83,496 cans of baby formula powder over potential contamination (污染) of the toxin cereulide. The move comes amid a global recall of the food company's baby formula products earlier this week. According to the F-D-A, Nestle Taiwan self-reported that two batches of its products sold in Taiwan may have used potentially contaminated ingredients. Those products are batches (批次) of it Illuma Infant Growth Formula and Illuma Toddler Growth Formula. Nestle Taiwan says it initiated voluntary recalls as a precaution to safeguard consumer health and safety. The company says it has lso set up a dedicated hotline to handle returns and exchanges. The F-D-A is urged consumers who have purchased the products to stop consumption and return the product. MOEA updates guidelines for foreign students interning in Taiwan The Ministry of Economic Affairs has updated guidelines to protect the rights of foreign students interning in Taiwan. The updated Guidelines Governing the Application of Foreign Students to the ROC in the Capacity of Interns in Enterprises and Organizations includes clearer rules on student eligibility, internship stipends and working hours. Under the revised rules, students must be enrolled (已註冊) at overseas universities officially listed by the Ministry of Education, the and the economic ministry's Department of Investment Review. Students must have completed at least one semester of study before coming to Taiwan and be of an age appropriate for their program. They must also be studying a field related to their internship and have basic Chinese or English communication skills to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the internship. US Withdraws from dozens of international bodies and organisations The United States is withdrawing from dozens of international organizations and bodies, many of which are associated with the United Nations, in the latest sign of Washington stepping back from multilateralism (多邊主義). Mitch McCann reports: Philippines Garbage Mound Collapse Leaves Dead and Missing A huge mound of garbage has collapsed in a waste segregation facility in a central Philippine city, killing one person and leaving at least 27 others missing. Police say that firefighters and disaster-mitigation personnel retrieved eight people, including workers at the facility, who were trapped (被困) Thursday afternoon in the avalanche of trash and debris in the village of Binaliw in Cebu city. Local officials say one of those rescued, a female worker at the landfill, died while being brought to a hospital. Authorities and officials at the waste management facility, which has 110 employees, are to hold an emergency meeting today UN Forecasts Global Growth Slightly Lower This Year The United Nations is forecasting that the global economy will grow by 2.7% this year. That's slightly lower than last year's estimate, citing the impact of higher U.S. tariffs, economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. U.N. economists predict that growth will edge up to 2.9% in 2027. That's still well below the average 3.2% growth between 2010 and 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hurt economies around the globe. The U.N. economists say there was “unexpected resilience" to sharp increases in U.S. tariffs last year. They are pointing to solid consumer spending and easing inflation, which helped sustain (維持) growth.. 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 104-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,330 on turnover of 12-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing pulled back on profit taking after hitting a record closing level a session earlier - but the main board remained above the 30,000 point mark. Air Force to call on US to speed-up collision-avoidance system work following F-16V incident The Air Force is urging the U-S to expedite work to install automatic ground collision avoidance systems on its F-16V fighter jets and hopes the process (過程) can be completed sooner than initially planned. It comes after an F-16V jet went missing off of Hualien on Tuesday evening. Authorities are still searching for the missing aircraft and its pilot. The incident has led to concerns about the speed in which automatic ground collision avoidance systems are being installed on Taiwan's F-16Vs. The project was initially slated for completion in 2028. However, the Air Force says it now hopes it can completed by the end of this year. Subject: E*MOEA gives final approval for Nvidia's Taipei headquarters Return to Table of contents The Taipei City Government says the Ministry of Economic Affairs has given its final approval for Nvidia to build its overseas headquarters at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park. Nvidia is now set to submit its investment proposal to the city government later this month. Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang is expected to visit Taiwan later this month to attend (出席) the signing ceremony. The Nvidia headquarters will be designed by local architect Kris Yao. Yao's previous projects include the China Steel Corporation Headquarters in Kaohsiung and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in Chiayi. WH: US has started marketing Venezualan oil on the global marketplace The White House says the US has already started marketing Venezuelan oil in the global marketplace. It comes as President Trump says Venezuela has agreed to make up to 50 million barrels of crude (原油) available to the US. Jagruti Dave has more from Washington Canada PM to Visit China Next Week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China next week where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Canada looks to reduce its reliance (依賴) on the United States. The visit, announced on Wednesday, is the first to China by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years. Xi invited Carney to China when they met during an Asia-Pacific summit last fall and it comes as the two countries move to restore stronger ties after years of tensions. Carney will travel to China from Jan. 13 to 17. EU Snow and Ice Hampering Travel Snow and ice are hampering travel in parts of Europe as flights have been grounded and roads clogged (堵塞). More than 1,000 passengers spent the night at Amsterdam's airport as staff worked to clear snow from runways. At least 800 flights were canceled at the airport on Wednesday. France's weather service has issued alerts for snow and black ice. People were urged to work from home. Swedish and Finnish cities also faced disruptions with trams and buses halted. 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 163-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,412 on turnover of 23-billion N-T. The market closed above the 30,000 point mark once again on Tuesday, as buying was further boosted by investor optimism over Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's sales amid the current A-I boom. Analysts say investors are betting that T-S-M-C will deliver positive leads (商機線索) at its investor conference next Thursday. NSB says Beijing paired Taiwan drills with cyberattacks and cognitive warfare The National Security Bureau says Beijing paired military drills against Taiwan with information operations and cyberattacks from between December 29 and January 2. According to the bureau, the move resulted in the spreading of more than 19,000 "controversial" messages and the launch of millions of hacking intrusions (入侵). In a report submitted to the Legislative Yuan, the N-S-B says the online activity involved 799 abnormal accounts and focused on amplifying skepticism about the U-S, Taiwan's military and President Lai Ching-te, referring to concerns about Taiwan's ability to defend itself. CDC warns that influenza epidemic to hit late January and peak over Lunar New Year The Centers for Disease Control says it expects to see a rise in flu cases in the later this month and a further increase around the Lunar New Year holiday period. According to the C-D-C, a total of 82,161 people sought medical treatment for flu-like illness from the week of December 28 to January 3 - and that level remains about the same as the previous week. The C-D-C is projecting that Taiwan will again enter a flu epidemic ( 流行病) period in the latter half of this month, following a previous period from late September to late November this winter and it's likely to peak around the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on February 14. UN Human Rights Office Expresses Renewed Concern Over U.S. Actions in Venezuela The UN Human Rights office says it's concerned America's military action in Venezuela is going to make the situation (情況) in the country even worse, and that US actions undermined international law. Mitch McCann reports from the United Nations in New York: Canada FM and Governor General to Visit Greenland Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his foreign minister and the governor general will visit Greenland in early February in the wake of renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex the Danish territory. Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon are expected to open a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Simon became Canada's first Indigenous governor general in 2021 and previously served as Canada's ambassador to Denmark. Carney says the future of Greenland and Demark are decided solely (唯一地，完全) by the people of Denmark. He spoke while meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. 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 171-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 29,933 on turnover of 14-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Monday - as it closed above the 30,000-point mark for the first time as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing smashed closing records on the back of investor optimism toward demand for its high-end processes. Three individuals and Tokyo Electron Taiwan indicted over new TSMC trade secret theft The Taiwan High Prosecutors' Office Intellectual Property Branch has indicted three individuals and Tokyo Electron Taiwan for stealing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's 14-nanometer technology secrets. Those indicted include Chen Li-ming, a former T-S-M-C engineer who worked at Tokyo Electron Taiwan, a T-S-M-C employee and a Tokyo Electron employee. Two of the individuals have been charged with reproducing trade secrets relating to national core (核心) key technologies under the National Security Act. While the other individual and Tokyo Electron Taiwan have been charged with destroying evidence in a criminal case. All three individuals and Tokyo Electron Taiwan have also been indicted in a seperate investigation into the theft of T-S-M-C's 2-nanometer technology. Tourism authority issues guidelines to protect foreign accommodation interns The Tourism Administration has issued updated guidelines to better protect foreign interns in the accommodation/hospitality sector. It comes after the government opened the sector to foreign students enrolled in overseas schools last year to help address labor shortages. The administration says more than 1,900 students came to Taiwan to work as interns last year, but there were concerns over inadequate (不足) protections. Under the updated guidelines, foreign interns who perform work beyond their training must receive payment equivalent to at least the minimum wage, training must not exceed more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week … … and it cannot be scheduled between 10PM and 6AM, without the individual intern's consent. Iran Protest Death Toll Rises to at Least 35 Activists say the death toll in violence surrounding (周圍的) protests in Iran has risen to at least 35. The figure came from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said more than 1,200 people have been detained in the protests, which have been ongoing for more than a week. It said 29 protesters, four children and two members of Iran's security forces have been killed. The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, says some 250 police officers and 45 members of the Guard's all-volunteer Basij force have been hurt. UK Gov to Seize Illegal Migrants Phones Mobile phones will now be seized from illegal migrants entering the UK without arrest. The country's government says the new powers will help gather more information on smuggling (走私) gangs organising the Channel crossings. Lara Bentley has more… Auschwitz Survivor Eva Schloss Obit Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, has died at 96. The Anne Frank Trust UK, where she was honorary president, said she died Saturday in London. King Charles III praised Schloss for her lifelong dedication to overcoming hatred and prejudice (偏見). Born in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled to Amsterdam and became friends with Anne Frank. Both families hid from the Nazis but were eventually captured. Schloss survived Auschwitz and later moved to Britain. She became a prominent Holocaust educator, speaking worldwide and writing books. 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 429-points this morning from Friday's close, at 29,779 on turnover of 15.7-billion N-T. The market closed at a new high Friday,as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing continued to break records amid the current A-I boom. MOFA welcomes new SVG leader's pledge to maintain diplomatic ties The Ministry of Foreign Affairs say it welcomes a recent pledge (保證) by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' new prime minister that his government will maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Godwin Friday assumed office in late November and he made the Taiwan comments during a recent radio interview. Friday has been quoted as saying that diplomatic relations with Taiwan remain, as do relations with all countries with which Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has diplomatic ties. According to the foreign ministry, it will continue close communications with the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' government to deepen bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both peoples. Panama-flagged cargo ship refloated off Hualien without oil spill A Panama-flagged bulk carrier that ran aground off Hualien County on New Year's Day has been successfully refloated and towed into Hualien Port. Authorities says no oil pollution has been detected. The C-S-E Prosperity Express was refloated by two tugboats under coast guard escort after passing hull inspection and safely berthed (停泊) at Wharf No. 22. According to the Maritime Port Bureau, no oil leakage was observed during or after the operation, despite the ship carrying more than 200-metric tons of residual fuel. The carrier is operated by China Steel Express. US Rebuts Russian Claims of Ukrainian Attack on Putin Residence U.S. national security officials have determined that Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week. That's according to President Donald Trump. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last Monday said Ukraine launched (發射) a wave of drones at Putin's state residence in the northwestern part of Russia. The allegation came just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had traveled to Florida for talks with Trump. Trump initially appeared to take the Russian allegations at face value and said he was angry. Maduro Case to Revive Legal Debate Over Foreign Leaders Immunity Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has taken the place of her ally President Nicolas Maduro who was captured by the United States in a nighttime military operation. Legal experts say Maduro's case will revive a legal debate over immunity (豁免) for foreign leaders tested in another trial. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports SKorean Star Ahn Sung-ki Obit A Seoul hospital says prominent South Korean movie star Ahn Sung-ki has died. He was 74. The hospital says Ahn died this morning. Ahn has been fighting blood cancer for years. Ahn is one of South Korean cinema's most beloved (被喜愛的) and respected stars. His 60-year extensive career and positive, gentle public image earned him the nickname “The Nation's Actor.” That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 53-points this morning on the new year's first trading day, at 29,016, on turnover of 6.5-billion N-T. Taiwan shares closed the final trading session of 2025 at a record high Wednesday, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, as the benchmark index capped a second straight year of historic gains fueled by strong demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. For the full year, the benchmark surged nearly 26 percent, surpassing the rise recorded in 2024 and setting a new record for annual point gains for the second consecutive year. The index has now risen more than 20 percent for three straight years. Lockheed gets Taiwan contract The Pentagon says Lockheed Martin has been given a contract involving foreign military sales to Taiwan to meet what Washington is describing as an "urgent operational need" of Taiwan's Air Force. The contract has a ceiling value of 328-million U-S dollars. According to the Pentagon, the contract is for the procurement (採購) and delivery of 55 Infrared Search and Track Legion Enhanced Sensor Pods, processors, pod containers and processor containers. The work is expected to be completed by June of 2031 First official record of Formosan black bear entering worker's hut in Alishan The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says a Formosan black bear broke into a worker's hut in Alishan's Dabang Village and ate food from a refrigerator and from canned goods. According to the agency's Chiayi branch, personnel were sent to inspect (察看) the site and set up infrared cameras to track the bear after receiving the report. The agency has released photos showing an open refrigerator, broken eggs in a carton, and empty food cans inside the hut - which sits at an elevation of 1,190-meters in Alishan. Experts found footprints near the worker's hut and, based on the damaged canned food, concluded that a Formosan black bear was responsible. Although Formosan black bears are occasionally sighted in the Alishan area, the Dabang Village incident marks the first officially recorded case of a bear entering a worker's hut and eating food. Iran Protests Leave at Least 3 Dead Protests over Iran's struggling economy have spread into rural areas, with at least three people killed. Authorities reported the fatalities on Wednesday and Thursday in cities home to Iran's Lur ethnic group. The demonstrations are the largest since 2022. The protests began due to economic pressures, with Iran's currency rapidly depreciating (貶值). Demonstrators have also chanted against the country's theocracy. Trump delays tariff hike on furniture and kitchen cabinets as affordabilitycrisis bites The White House says planned tariff hikes on items like furniture and kitchen cabinets are being pushed back one year. The delay comes as the administration insists its trade strategy is working - even as high prices continue to frustrate (感到煩躁) voters. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. Anthony Joshua to Stay in Nigeria After Release from Hospital British boxer Anthony Joshua is initially staying in Nigeria as he recuperates from injuries sustained after a deadly crash. A vehicle carrying the former heavyweight champion and two of his associates crashed (撞擊) into a stationary truck on Monday on a local highway. The two associates were killed. Joshua was released from a Lagos hospital on Wednesday afternoon and he paid his respects to his deceased friends at the morgue. His promoter, Matchroom Boxing, told The Associated Press that Joshua will remain in Nigeria over the coming days.” 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 16-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,723 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Tuesday after Wall Street fell overnight as heavyweight tech stocks lost ground from last week's big gains, but the downturn was limited due to government-led funds picking up large cap stocks to minimize volatility. MND highlights China's disinformation during large-scale drill The Ministry of National Defense's Political Warfare Bureau says it identified 46 pieces of disinformation related to China's military exercise on Monday and Tuesday. According to the bureau, the disinformation mainly focused on attacking the Lai administration's policies, slandering (誹謗) the armed forces, and eroding (逐漸毀壞) trust in the United States. Defense ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang says that every major Chinese military exercise since August 2022 has combined military and non-military actions aimed at influencing public opinion here in Taiwan, as well as in neighboring countries and Taiwan-friendly countries. President Lai Ching-te urged the public in a social media post to be mindful of disinformation accompanying the exercise. Lawmakers pass law amendments to Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act Lawmakers have passed amendments to the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. The revisions increase penalties for for high-value fraud and also offer sentence reductions for offenders who voluntarily surrender to authorities and pay full restitutions (歸還,賠償) to their victims. Under the amended Act, judicial and prosecutorial authorities are also authorized to notify financial institutions and virtual asset service providers to flag bank accounts, e-payment accounts, credit cards and virtual asset accounts suspected of being linked to fraud. And the amendments also add new penalty tiers (等級). Those found guilty of high-value fraud exceeding 10-million N-T face a prison sentence of up to 10-years While for fraud cases exceeding 100-million N-T, the statutory prison term has been increased to 7 years. Trump confirms US has bombed Venezuelan port, adds new sanctions US President Donald Trump says the US has struck an alleged drug loading dock inside Venezuela, marking the first strike on Venezuelan soil in his months-long pressure campaign against the government of Nicolas Maduro. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. Italy Approves 2026 Gov Budget Italy's Parliament has approved the government's 2026 budget, which includes deficit-cutting measures. The budget aims to reduce the 2026 deficit to 2.8% of GDP, aligning with the European Union's demands. Premier Giorgia Meloni's conservative coalition won the final vote on Tuesday. Meloni describes the budget as serious and responsible, focusing on families, work, businesses and health care. However, the center-left opposition criticizes it for not addressing poor salaries and high taxes. About 25% of the budget's funding comes from the financial sector, with tax hikes on banks and insurance companies. The European Central Bank warns these levies (課稅) could reduce credit flow. Germany bank Theft Police in Germany say thieves stole tens of millions of euros worth of property from safety deposit boxes inside a bank vault that they drilled into during the holiday lull (暫時平靜[). Some 2,700 bank customers were affected by the theft at the bank branch Monday in Gelsenkirchen. Investigators believe the theft to be worth somewhere between 10 and 90 million euros. German news agency dpa reported that the theft could be one of Germany's largest heists (搶劫). 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 87-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,723 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Monday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price hit a new record high on the back of reports the company plans to raise prices for its advanced chips. China carrying out live-fire drills around Taiwan China is carrying out live-fire military drills around Taiwan today and has said they will be taking place until 6 o'clock this evening in five designated maritime and airspace zones. The exercises are code-named "Justice Mission 2025." According to coordinates provided by China's Eastern Theater Command, the drills were to be staged (舉辦) in the sea and in the airspaces north of Keelung, east of Taitung, south of Pingtung, southeast of Penghu, and northwest of Taoyuan. The Ministry of National Defense says all five of the drill zones are within Taiwan's territorial waters. According to the ministry, the island's armed forces have established an ad hoc emergency operations center and are respond to developments. Cause of Taichung power outage under investigation Tai-Power says the cause of a power outage that affected over 9,000 households in Taichung's Beitun District is under investigation. The outage began at around 8:55 last night and power was restored (恢復) by 10:30. According to the Tai-Power, the outage not only affected households, but also large numbers of businesses and several fire stations located in the district. Tai-Power says repair teams arrived at the scene and found that the fault was located in the power distribution room. The state generator says personnel carried out repairs, before carrying out two power transfer operations to isolate the fault area. Repair teams also reduced the power outage in order to minimize the number of households affected. Israel PM to Meet Trump in Florida Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Trump in Florida later today for talks that are expected to (預計，預期) focus on the Gaza peace plan, Iran and Lebanon. Blake Sifton reports from Tel Aviv China Condemns Panama Monument Demolition China has condemned the demolition (拆除) of a monument honoring the Chinese community in Panama. Panama's president echoed the condemnation, blaming local authorities and pledging the monument would be rebuilt. Overnight, videos circulated on social media showing large excavators tearing down the monument. The Chinese Embassy in Panama accused the local authorities of having “brazenly (明目張膽) and forcibly demolished” the monument and “seriously damaged the friendly sentiments of the Chinese people towards the Panamanian people.” It's the latest development as the Trump administration in the US pushes for the Central American nation to distance itself from Beijing. Turkey Armenia to Simplify Visa Procedures Turkey and Armenia have agreed to simplify visa procedures to normalize ties, according to Turkey's Foreign Ministry. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said electronic visas will be available for both countries' passport holders starting Jan. 1-st. Relations have been strained by historic grievances (不平，委屈) and Turkey's alliance with Azerbaijan. The countries have no formal diplomatic ties, and their border has been closed since the 1990s. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 客家委員會《客家影像故事》徵件中！ 手機、相機都能拍。 今年年度主題是「水」，埤塘、水圳、溪流、河壩的客庄故事都可以。 拍水的主題就有機會拿50 萬大獎！ 徵件到115年4月30日，詳細資訊可到客委會官網查詢 連結：https://sofm.pse.is/8jk3vs -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 106-points this morning from Friday's close, at 28,662 on turnover of 4.6-billion N-T. The market closed out last week higher, as investors continued to pick up tech heavyweights, while turnover remained moderate, despite many foreign institutional investors being away for the holidays. Analysts say then lack of foreign institutional investors saw local investors dominating the trading day, and they tended to buy large cap electronics stocks, in particular Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. Lai says Taiwan must raise cost of war and build indigenous defense to deter China President Lai Ching-te says his administration will continue to raise the cost of aggression and strengthen the island's indigenous defense capabilities to deter China. Speaking in a an exclusive interview with Sanlih E-Television News, that aired on Sunday, Lai repeated previous comments that peace can only be secured (保護，使…穩固) through strength. Lai also reiterated that his administration will not provoke China and remains "firmly committed to maintaining the status quo." And he stressed that peace "must be backed by real strength," rather than relying on an agreement or the goodwill of an aggressor. Snow-chasing rider fined for bringing horse onto public road in Wuling And, A man who rode a horse in Wuling in the Hehuanshan area has been fined by police on Sunday for violating traffic regulations. While national park authorities says that are reviewing whether additional penalties will apply. Police say the man was riding his horse on public road at Wuling in an apparent (明顯的) attempt to see snowfall and was issued fine for violating the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act. The incident drew widespread public attention after the man and his horse were spotted in a parking lot in the Hehuanshan area. Subject: E*NKorea Claims Missile Launch to Test Nuclear Deterrence Return to Table of contents North Korea says it fired long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea to test the country's nuclear deterrence. The official Korean Central News Agency reports that the missile launches occurred off the country's west coast on Sunday in the presence of leader Kim Jong Un. The launches were the latest weapons display by North Korea ahead of its planned ruling Workers's Party congress early next year. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was aware of several cruise missile launches made from North Korea's capital region on Sunday morning. It said South Korea maintains a readiness to repel any potential North Korean provocations (激怒, 挑撥) through its alliance (聯盟) with the United States. Last week, North Korea test-launched new anti-air missiles off its east coast and unveiled apparent progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine. Trump and Zelensky meet but report no major breakthroughs US President Donald Trump said a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia was "a lot closer" after he met with Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelensky in Florida. However, the meeting didn't appear to yield (產生) any major breakthroughs on key sticking points. Ira Spitzer reports. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 客家委員會《客家影像故事》徵件中！ 手機、相機都能拍。 今年年度主題是「水」，埤塘、水圳、溪流、河壩的客庄故事都可以。 拍水的主題就有機會拿50 萬大獎！ 徵件到115年4月30日，詳細資訊可到客委會官網查詢 連結：https://sofm.pse.is/8jk3w6 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

客家委員會《客家影像故事》徵件中！ 手機、相機都能拍。 今年年度主題是「水」，埤塘、水圳、溪流、河壩的客庄故事都可以。 拍水的主題就有機會拿50 萬大獎！ 徵件到115年4月30日，詳細資訊可到客委會官網查詢 連結：https://sofm.pse.is/8hr68a -- 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8hr69h －－－－以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ Police investigating note posted on Eslite memorial wall KMT and TPP propose 'Taiwan Future Accounts' for children Tai-Ex opening higher Turkey busts Islamic State group Britain's King delivered 2025 Christmas speech -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 73-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,384 on turnover of $4.9-billion N-T. Analysts say with foreign institutional investors absent, major local investors seized the opportunity to control the session by buying TSMC, after a U.S. tech rally. TSMC's gains offset losses suffered by other tech heavyweights. And when many large-cap tech stocks trade in weakness, local investors parked their money in smaller tech stocks. Taipei Public Asked Not to Leave Food and Drinks at Attack Memorial Space Taipei Metro is asking the public not to leave food or drinks at a memorial space for victims of a random knife attack last week. The memorial located at Taipei Main Station Exit M7 honors 57-year-old Yu Jia-chang, who was killed on December 19th while attempting to stop the attacker. Transit officials say the hallway near the exit is narrow and they are asking that visitors only leave flower bouquets. Workers will inspect the site daily and remove any food, drinks, or inappropriate (不當) messages after the station closes each night. Taipei Metro also says says it plans to build a permanent monument to recognize Yu's bravery. The Taoyuan City Government also announced it will honor Yu by enshrining him in the Taoyuan Martyrs' Shrine. (NS) 5 undersea cables planned to boost communications resilience: Minister The Minister of Digital Affairs says Taiwan will add two international and three domestic undersea communications cables as part of its efforts to strengthen communications resilience. Minister Lin Yi-jing says the new undersea cables will be hardened with an "armor-like" protective layer, so they will not be easily damaged. According to Lin, the planned undersea cables are part of the ministry's "three-dimensional defensive communications network" initiative, which aims to strengthen Taiwan's communication from land, air and sea. The MInister says the initiative also includes the addition of an Amazon low-earth-orbit satellite constellation and the inauguration of a high-orbit geosynchronous (地球同步) satellite being built by American manufacturer Astranis. On land, the ministry will plan disaster-resilient base stations, expand its existing fleet of vehicles with satcom-on-the-move capability, and procure a large number of mobile diesel generators. Supreme Court blocks Chicago National Guard deployment The US Supreme Court has issued a preliminary ruling blocking the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Chicago. The decision is a rare setback for the administration from the conservative-leaning court, which has largely sided with President Trump so far in testing the limits (試探底線) of executive power. Ira Spitzer reports. Egypt Musem Begins Reassembling Phraoah's Boat The Grand Egyptian Museum has begun reassembling (重新組裝) a boat belonging to Pharaoh Khufu in its exhibition hall. The cedarwood vessel, one of two found with King Khufu, started coming together on Tuesday as visitors watched. The project is expected to take around four years, according to the museum. King Khufu ruled over 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza. The museum, located near Cairo, houses nearly 50-thousand artifacts. Experts believe the boats were used for Khufu's funeral or his afterlife journey. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 客家委員會《客家影像故事》徵件中！ 手機、相機都能拍。 今年年度主題是「水」，埤塘、水圳、溪流、河壩的客庄故事都可以。 拍水的主題就有機會拿50 萬大獎！ 徵件到115年4月30日，詳細資訊可到客委會官網查詢 連結：https://sofm.pse.is/8hf3ft -- 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8hf3g8 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 104-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,253 on turnover of $6.4-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed sharply higher Monday, led by the electronics sector, after artificial intelligence-related stocks surged in the United States at the end of last week. Momentum continued yesterday as contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing pushed the broader market ahead, and memory chip suppliers continued moving upwards due to a supply shortage. Buying also spread to non-tech stocks with the electric machinery industry in focus, providing more support to the Taiex. Taiwan cracks down on threats following Taipei attack Authorities are intensifying (強化) actions against online threats, following Friday's deadly knife and smoke bomb attacks in Taipei, which killed 3. Taichung prosecutors say a man was ordered detained and held incommunicado after he posted online referencing plans for large-scale attacks. Investigators searching his home and seized his phone. The Criminal Investigation Bureau said that about 20 online posts involving threats or calls for indiscriminate attacks had been identified nationwide as of Sunday. Hualien man fined after ostrich runs wild In Hualien's Yuli township, a man has been fined after his pet ostrich escaped its enclosure and was spotted running among motorists on Provincial Highway 9. Authorities in the township say that one officer was conducting (進行) an "online patrol" yesterday morning when they came across photos of the loose ostrich on social media. Officers were able to find the owner, surnamed Huang, who said he usually kept the bird in an enclosure. But yesterday morning, the bird was apparently scared by something and took off running down the highway… running a red light and continuing south to a factory near Yuli Senior High School. All in all, it ran about 2.5 kilometers. After questioning Huang, police issued him a citation under the law… which stipulates a fine of 300-600 NT. Denmark summons US ambassador over Greenland appointment Denmark has summoned the US ambassador after Donald Trump's appointment of a special envoy to Greenland. The US president has repeatedly expressed (表達) interest in taking over the island, angering the Danish government, which has controlled Greenland for centuries. Ira Spitzer reports. Nigeria Abducted Children and Teachers Released Nigerians have welcomed back 130 children and teachers who were released after being seized in one of the largest mass abductions (綁架) in the country's history. Some of the children appeared to be malnourished or in shock on Monday as they arrived at a government ceremony. Police said they were freed Sunday, a month after gunmen stormed their Catholic school in Niger state's Papiri community in a predawn attack. Authorities said plans were underway to reunite the children with their families before Christmas. Officials did not say whether a ransom — common in such abductions — had been paid. France Cyberattack Knocks Out Postal Service A suspected cyberattack has knocked France's national postal service and its banking arm offline during the busy Christmas season. La Poste said Monday the attack disrupted package deliveries and online payments, but customer data was not impacted (受影響). At a Paris post office, employees turned away frustrated (惱怒的，不滿意的) customers trying to send or retrieve packages. Customers of the bank were blocked from using the application to approve payments or conduct other banking services. The bank redirected approvals to text messages. It said teams are working to resolve the situation quickly. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8ha32s -- 客家委員會《客家影像故事》徵件中！ 手機、相機都能拍。 今年年度主題是「水」，埤塘、水圳、溪流、河壩的客庄故事都可以。 拍水的主題就有機會拿50 萬大獎！ 徵件到115年4月30日，詳細資訊可到客委會官網查詢 連結：https://sofm.pse.is/8ha32e -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 290-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,987 on turnover of $10.5-billion N-T. The market ended up last week Friday, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing last week recorded an increase in shareholders to the highest number in almost eight months. Analysts say TSMC is expected to continue to benefit from strong global demand for its high-end processes to meet strong global demand for artificial intelligence applications. Air pollution warning issued for sensitive groups The Ministry of Environment is warning that northeasterly monsoon winds will continue to bring increased pollution to southern and central parts of the island today. The ministry says pollutants from overseas are forecast to bring air quality to an orange alert level in those areas and sensitive groups are advised to avoid outdoor activities. Under the ministry's Air Quality Index system, during an orange alert, people with heart, respiratory, or cardiovascular conditions, as well as children and the elderly, are advised to reduce physical exertion (體力消耗/勞動) and limit outdoor activity or wear a mask when going out. According to the environment ministry, the concentrations of fine particulate matter are being brought to Taiwan by a northeasterly monsoon from China's Shanghai and Shandong areas. The impact of transboundary pollution is expected to ease later today. Coast Guard is pursuing another tanker allegedly helping Venezuela skirt sanctions US officials say the Coast Guard is pursuing another tanker is says is helping Venezuela skirt (避開，繞開) sanctions. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Israel Approves Settlements in West Bank Israel's far-right finance minister says the Cabinet has approved 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The decision announced Sunday is part of a broader push by the government to expand settlements, which threatens the possibility of a Palestinian state. The Peace Now anti-settlement group says the approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50% during the current government's tenure (任期). Settlements are widely considered illegal under international law. The decision comes as the U.S. is pushing Israel and Hamas to advance a Gaza ceasefire plan that includes a possible pathway to a Palestinian state. France to Build New Aircraft Carrier French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to build a new aircraft carrier. The vessel will have the capacity for 30 fighter jets and 2,000 sailors. Macron described it as a display of national power. The announcement was made to French troops in Abu Dhabi. The new carrier is set to replace the aging Charles de Gaulle by 2038. It will be nuclear-powered and equipped with Rafale M fighter jets. The project is expected to benefit (對……有益) many small- and medium-sized businesses. Macron has also announced increased military spending, aiming for 64 billion euros by 2027. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新鮮事、新奇事、新故事《一銀陪你聊“新”事》 第一銀行打造公股銀行首創ESG Podcast頻道上線啦 由知名主持人阿Ken與多位名人來賓進行對談 邀請您一起落實永續發展 讓永續未來不再只是想像 各大收聽平台搜尋：ㄧ銀陪你聊新事 https://sofm.pse.is/8hffq6 -- 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8h3vax -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 217-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,685 on turnover of $8.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Thursday as renewed concerns about an artificial intelligence bubble drove Wall Street down overnight. Analysts say renewed fears over an A-I bubble triggered selling in large-cap AI-related stocks and investors seized on the lead as an excuse (藉口) to pocket recent gains. However, the Tai-Ex still recovered from its initial downturn by the end of the session and the index saw strong technical support ahead of the 27,400-point mark - which is around the 60-day moving average. Central bank leaves interest rates unchanged for 7th straight quarter The central bank has opted to leave its key interest rates unchanged after wrapping up (結束) it final quarterly policymaking meeting of this year. The market had widely anticipated the bank would leave interest rates unchanged for the seventh consecutive quarter - despite the U-S Federal Reserve cutting rates for the third straight policymaking meeting last week. The decision by the central bank means that the discount rate remains at 2-percent and that's still the highest level in 15 years. Economists have said it's currently difficult for the central bank to follow the U-S Fed's lead and cut interest rates as the local economy remains strong and inflation stable. According to government estimates, the island's economy will grow 7.37-per cent for the whole of this year, largely on the back of an increase of 8.21-per cent in the third quarter due strong global demand for artificial intelligence applications. EU Delays FTA with SAmerican Countries Amid Protests The European Commission says the European Union is delaying a massive free-trade deal with South American countries after fiery protests by farmers and last-minute opposition by France and Italy. Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur in Brazil this weekend, after more than 25 years of negotiations. Instead Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed that the signature had been put off until January. Experts say the delay will dent the EU's negotiating credibility globally as it seeks to forge (創造) new trade ties amid commercial tensions with the U.S. and China. USTrump signs executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order labeling (標示，標籤) marijuana a less dangerous drug. AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports Italy Monument Outside PM Office Restored Italian restorers have used laser beams to clean an ancient Roman marble column in the piazza outside the prime minister's office, removing layers of dust and grime that had covered the monument for decades. The 47-meter-tall column, built between A.D. 180 and 193, features a relief that spirals (盤旋上升) upward and recounts the battles of one of Rome's best-known emperors, Marcus Aurelius. During the column's last restoration, in the 1980s, restorers used tiny brushes to remove the dirt. The $2.3-million dollar restoration is funded by the post-pandemic European recovery fund, and includes a new system to illuminate (照亮) the column at night. Work began in April and the restoration (恢復) is expected to finish in June. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8gtdlt -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 77-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,447 on turnover of 9-billion N-T. The market closed marginally lower on Wednesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its early gains eroded due to futures-led selling on the settlement day for December futures contracts. US official says Taiwan made 'essential contributions' at Pax Silica summit The U-S Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment says Taiwan made essential contributions after being invited to participate in the first summit of the US-led AI supply chain strategy initiative. The inaugural Pax Silica summit took place in Washington D.C. last Friday. According to Jacob Helberg, Taiwan was at the table and was absolutely present in all of the sessions in which one would expect Taiwan to play an important role, and Taiwan participated in discussions on manufacturing and semiconductors. The statement comes after the U-S State Department didn't list Taiwan as being includes on a list of participants and guest contributors (貢獻者) slated to meet for the summit. Taipei City Government hoping to sign Nvidia land deal before LNY Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government is hoping to sign a land rights agreement with Nvidia before the Lunar New Year holiday. According to Chiang, his administration initiated (發起) the urban planning change process last week and a public exhibition period is set to end within one month. Chiang made the statements while inspecting the T-17 and T-18 sites at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, where the Nvidia headquarters will be built. Chiang also said he believes Nvidia's headquarters at the technology park will prove to be transformative development that will establish Taipei as a major artificial intelligence hub. Israel Fires Mortar into Palestinian Residential Area in Gaza Strip Israel's military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous (脆弱的) ceasefire with Hamas. Health officials on Wednesday said at least 10 people, were wounded, and the army said it was investigating. The military said the mortar was fired during an operation in the area of the “Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement that divides the Israeli-held majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory. The military said the mortar had veered from its intended target, which it did not specify. UK TO Rejoin EU's Erasmus Program in 2027 UK students will once again have access to the European Union's "Erasmus" programme, which allows students to study at a university in a different country for part of their degree. London has paid around $760 million dollars to join the scheme (方案) for the 2027-2028 academic year at a 30% discount. But future participation will depend on further negotiations. Stuart Smith has more from London. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8glkpn -- 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8gt83c -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 59-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,596 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market tumbled once again on Tuesday, ahead of the release of U-S employment and inflation reports that could drive the direction of interest rates. While mixed performances for artificial intelligence-related stocks on Wall Street overnight also did nothing to lift investor concerns about an A-I bubble. Lawmakers pass amendments strengthening undersea cable protections Lawmakers have passed amendments to four separate acts governing ships, ports, meteorological facilities and telecommunications (電信). Passage of the amendments is part of the Cabinet's moves to update Taiwan's so-called "seven undersea-cable laws." The changes to the Law of Ships, Meteorological Act, Telecommunications Management Act and Commercial Port Law are aimed at strengthening protections for submarine cables … …. which the government has said could pose a threat to national security if cut or otherwise damaged. MOTC's new vehicle window tinting rules to take effect next year The Ministry of Transport has announced that new regulations governing tinted vehicle windows will be taking effect in the first quarter of next year. According to the ministry, owners of new vehicles must ensure that the tint on the front windshield has visible light transmission (透射) of no less than 70-per cent, while front, side windows must allow at least 40-per cent light transmission. The new regulations are being introduced as part of proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Safety Rules to address concerns over safety risks posed by tinted windows. The proposed amendments will apply to all newly registered and licensed vehicles. US military blows up 3 more alleged drug boats as Trump weaponizes fentanyl The US military says it has blown up three more alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific - killing eight people. The total death toll in the Trump Administration's revamped war on drugs is now closing in on 100. The latest strikes come as the Trump Administration ramps up its war on drugs, designating illicit (非法的) fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. Toni Waterman Private Canada Delegation Barred from West Bank Israel has barred a private Canadian delegation that included six members of Parliament from entering the occupied West Bank. The Israeli Embassy in Canada said the group was denied entry on Tuesday because of its links to Islamic Relief Worldwide, a nongovernmental organization that Israel lists as a terror group. Ontario Member of Parliament, who was part of the delegation, said she was shoved several times by Israeli border officials at the Allenby crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said in a post on social media that Canada has expressed its objections (反對) over the barring. Jane Austen 250th Bday Celebration Fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the author's 250th birthday with events in Britain and beyond. Austen enthusiasts gathered Tuesday for a church service in her home village and festive visits to her house. A virtual birthday party allowed fans worldwide to join in. Thousands have participated in a yearlong celebration of the author, known for "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility." Jane Austen's House in the southern English village of Chawton hosted talks, tours, and performances. Fans have marked the occasion (慶祝/紀念這個時刻) with Regency balls and festivals in the U.K., U.S., and elsewhere around the world. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8gctz9 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 145-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,721 on turnover of 7.5-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Monday, on the back of a decline in investor interest in artificial intelligence-related stocks, as selling followed heavy losses on Wall Street last Friday amid lingering concerns of an A-I bubble. MAC voices regret over Jimmy Lai conviction in Hong Kong The Mainland Affairs Council is expressing his "deep regret" over the conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under the territory's national security law. The council says it "strongly condemns the Hong Kong government for using the malicious (惡意的) national security law to curb freedom of speech and press freedom, and to politically persecute pro-democracy figures." The statement issued by the council also says the ruling was "tantamount to declaring to the world" that Hong Kong's freedom, democracy, and judicial independence have been "gradually eroded." MOEA to invest NT$2.5 billion to boost adoption of artificial intelligence The Administration of Commerce has announced plans to invest at 2.5-billion N-T over the next two years to expand support for the adoption of artificial intelligence within the island's commercial service sector. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the program will targets businesses in wholesale, retail, food and beverage, and logistics as more companies in those fields are seeking to adopt A-I tools. The ministry says it expects to help over 30,000 businesses adopt A-I through the funding program. The Department of Commerce says the service will help businesses evaluate A-I adoption conditions and provide guidance (指導) based on scale and digital capability. US foils New Year Eve's terror bomb plot US authorities have arrested four people who were allegedly planning a New Year's Eve terror plot (陰謀) in southern California. Nick Harper reports. Mexico Plane Crash Kills Seven A small plane has crashed in central Mexico while attempting an emergency landing, killing at least seven people. Mexican officials say the accident happened Monday in an industrial area near Toluca airport. The plane had taken off (起飛) from Acapulco. Authorities say the private jet had eight passengers and two crew members, but only seven bodies have been recovered. The plane apparently tried to land on a soccer field but hit a nearby business, causing a large fire. The crash is under investigation, and the fire forced the evacuation of about 130 people. SSudan Grounds UN Aircraft South Sudan's government has grounded four aircraft registered under the United Nations mission there, alleging that they were used for illegal surveillance and smuggling. The U.N. denied it. South Sudan's foreign minister said a government committee was examining the aircraft after intelligence reports raised security concerns, and two were found with advanced (先進的) surveillance and intelligence recording systems. A U.N. mission spokesperson said the mission has been talking with South Sudan's government “for a while now to resolve this issue” and said the mission works transparently (透明地) with it on U.N. operations. South Sudan's government in 2017 grounded U.N. aircraft after peacekeepers were deployed to guard the country's main airport. The government said that was not part of their mandate. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8g7vpy -- 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8gt83k -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 78-points this morning from Friday's close, at 28,119 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Friday, after Wall Street's rose to more record highs overnight, despite a sell-off for Oracle as investors worries persist about a potential bubble in artificial-intelligence technology. Newly delivered M1A2T tanks to undergo month-long tests A batch of 42 M-1-A-2-T Abrams main battle tanks delivered by the United States in July will begin a month-long testing program today. According to reports, the testing will be taking place at an Army base in northern Taiwan and include multiple live-fire drills using the tanks' 120-millimeter main guns. The tanks were recently deployed to an Army training ground in Hsinchu County for training sessions ahead of the testing phase. The testing program is set to focus on evaluating the tanks' observation and targeting (靶向) systems, as well as their integration with the ammunition system. Reports say the month-long tests are expected to conclude by the end of January, after which the tanks will enter active service with the Army. Police seize NT$100 million worth of mephedrone in Kaohsiung Law enforcement agencies in Kaohsiung have raided (突襲、掃蕩) a mephedrone manufacturing site - arresting three suspects and seizing drugs with an estimated market value of 100-million N-T. According to Kaohsiung City Police Department's Renwu Precinct, the site was located in the city's Dashu District and was being used to produce "meow meow." The raid was led by the Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office. Police say they seized drug manufacturing equipment, more than 47-kilograms of finished mephedrone, and about 300-kilograms of unfinished product during the raid. The case has been transferred to prosecutors for potential indictments under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act. Ukraine President Offers to Drop NATO Bid but Rejects Ceding Territory Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is offering to drop Ukraine's NATO bid in exchange for security guarantees. AP correspondent Rica Ann Garcia reports Australia Bondi Beach Shooting Leaves Over a Dozen Dead Two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi beach, killing 15 people, including a child. Officials say one gunman, a 50-year-old man, was fatally shot by police. The other shooter, his 24-year-old son, was wounded and was being treated at a hospital. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation. Those killed were aged between 10- and 87-years-old. At least 42 others were being treated at hospitals as of this morning, several of them in a critical condition (命危). Police said one gunman was known to security services, but authorities had no indication of a planned attack. It was the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws. Chile Conservative Opposition Wins Presidential Runoff Chile's ultra-conservative opposition candidate, Jose Antonio Kast, has secured a victory in the presidential runoff election. He defeated the candidate of the left-wing governing coalition by over 15 percentage points on Sunday, setting the stage for the country's most right-wing government in 35 years of democracy. According to electoral results with over 95% of the vote counted, Kast won more than 58% of the vote. Chilean voters embraced his pledge to crack down on increased crime, deport (驅逐出境) hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status and revive the sluggish (遲緩) economy of one of Latin America's most stable and prosperous (繁榮) nations. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 自揪 4 人即可成團，馬上前往喬瑞旅行社，開啟你的埃及夢

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 73-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,098 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. The market joined other regional indexes and lost ground on Thursday, despite Wall Street closing higher after the U-S Federal Reserve opted to cut interest rates. While some leading tech companies saw sharp declines after Oracle, a bellwether in the artificial intelligence sector, reported weaker than expected earnings - which dented investor sentiment. Cabinet seeks to establish agencies for seniors and children The Cabinet says it's finalized proposals to create two new agencies to strengthen services for children, families and seniors. The proposals will now be sent to the Legislature for review. Under the proposals, a Long-term Care and Social Development Agency will be created to handle matters related to the elderly, people with disabilities, women. That agency will also oversee (監督) the National Pension system. While a Child and Family Support Agency will be established to oversee policies related to the welfare of minors and to provide support for families with children. The Cabinet says both new agencies will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. According to Health Minister Shih Chung-liang, the proposed Long-term Care and Social Development Agency is being designed to address Taiwan's rapidly aging society and declining birthrate. Thailand PM Receive Royal Permission to Dissolve Parliament Thailandˇs Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received royal permission today to dissolve (解散) Parliament, setting up general elections early next year. The election for the House of Representatives would be held 45 to 60 days after the Royal Decree, a period while Anutin will head a caretaker government with limited powers and cannot approve a new budget. Anutin posted on his Facebook late Thursday that ¨Iˇd like to return power to the people.〃 The move comes at a tricky political moment, as Thailand is engaged in large-scale combat with Cambodia over long-disputed border claims. About two dozen people were reported killed in the fighting this week, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides. Anutin has been prime minister for just three months, succeeding Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who served only a year in office. Questions over the legality of Donald Trump new golden visa Legal observers are raising questions over Donald Trump's golden visa scheme (方案), in which foreign nationals can pay a million dollars to begin the path to US citizenship. Mitch McCann reports: Canada Conservative Lawmaker Defects to Liberals A Canadian Conservative lawmaker has defected from his party and joined Prime Minister Mark Carneyˇs governing Liberals. The move by Michael Ma leaves the Liberal Party just short of a simple majority of the seats in Parliament. Ma, who represents MarkhamUnionville, is the second Canadian Conservative lawmaker to join Carneyˇs Liberals in just over a month. Ma said he entered politics ¨to focus on solutions, not division (分歧)〃. The move puts the Liberals one shy of a majority government and being able to pass any bill without the support of an opposition party. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8fugle -- 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8g6svs -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginal down this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,385 on turnover of 4.1-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Wednesday, as investors were optimistic that the U-S Federal Reserve would cut its key interest rates for a third time this year following its policy making meeting. While reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will produce Nvidia's high-performance H-200 A-I chips and they will be made here in Taiwan also drove investor confidence higher. MOFA thanks allies for their support at annual Interpol meeting The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has thanked eight formal diplomatic allies for supporting Taiwan's bid to participate in Interpol during the agency's annual General Assembly in Morocco late last month. According to the ministry, senior officials from the Marshall Islands, Belize, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Guatemala, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Paraguay, and Eswatini all spoke up on Taiwan's behalf. The foreign ministry says it delayed publicly thanking the allies until now because the assembly was held in a closed-door format (模式，格式), and it needed time to collect information on their respective addresses. Former digital minister warns TSMC faces rising cybersecurity risks Former Digital Affairs Minister Huang Yen-nan is warning that cyberattacks could be the most effective way for hostile actors to damage Taiwan's semiconductor advantage. According to Huang, companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing need to strengthen precautions. The former digital minister now heads (領導) Academia Sinica's Taiwan Information Security Center. Speaking at a conference on geopolitics and chip strategy, Huang said T-S-M-C's global influence has grown with A-I, making it "too big to fail," as any disruption to its production a national security concern. Venezuela Opposition Leader Appears in Public Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has appeared in public for the first time in 11 months. She appeared on a hotel balcony in Norway's capital early this morning and waved to supporters. Her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf (代表她) a day earlier. Machado had been in hiding since Jan. 9 after being briefly detained during a protest in Caracas. She was expected to attend the award ceremony Wednesday in Oslo but couldn't make it in time. EU leaders reject Trump "weak" comment European leaders have rejected claims (聲稱) from U.S. President Donald Trump that the continent is run by weak people. William Denselow reports from Brussels. Study: HumanClimateChange Caused Deadly Rainfall in Asia New analysis suggests that ocean temperatures warmed by human-caused climate change fed the intense rainfall that triggered deadly floods and landslides across Asia in recent weeks. The rapid study by World Weather Attribution focused on heavy rainfall from cyclones Senyar and Ditwah in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka starting late last month. The analysis found that warmer sea surface temperatures over the North Indian Ocean added energy to the cyclones. Floods and landslides triggered by (觸發於) the storms have killed more than 1,600 people, with hundreds more still missing. The cyclones are the latest in a series of deadly weather disasters affecting Southeast Asia this year, resulting in loss of life and property damage. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8g33rz -- 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8fzk6l -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,190 on turnover of 3.8-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday as it followed most other regional markets and closed lower after Wall Street sank overnight as investors await the outcome of Wednesday's meeting of the U-S Federal Reserve and expectations of more interest rate cuts. MOFA protests South Korea listing it as part of China The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing to urge South Korea to amend its electronic entry card system that lists Taiwan as part of China. The ministry says it has yet to receive a direct response from Seoul on the matter after highlighting (突出顯示) the error in its newly launched e-Arrival card system earlier this month. Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Director-General Liu Kun-hao is expressing the need for a correction - saying revising the island's designation underscores the importance of longstanding economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges between the two sides. Liu says there are serious concerns about the improper designation and the government is reviewing its overall relationship with South Korea - noting a large and long-standing trade deficit that highlights what he's describing as an unequal relationship. Taiwan raises long-term care tax deduction to NT$180,000 Lawmakers have approved an amendment that will raise the annual long-term care deduction to 180,000 N-T. The deduction previously stood at 120,000 N-T and the amendment to Article 17 of the Income Tax Act is aimed at easing (減輕) the financial burden of households supporting a dependent who requires long-term care. The change will apply retroactively from January 1 of this year and start to take effect in tax filings in May of 2026. Under Article 17 of the Income Tax Act, taxpayers may claim the deduction to taxable income for themselves, their spouses, or dependents officially recognized by the Ministry of Health as requiring long-term care due to physical or cognitive impairment. Zelenskyy refuses to cede land to Russia as he rallies European support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country will not cede (放棄) territory to Russia. AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports < Canada Ambassador to US Resigning Next Year Canada's ambassador to the U.S. for the last six years says she's resigning next year as the two major trading partners review the free trade agreement. Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said Tuesday it is the right time to put in place someone who will see a review of the free trade agreement through to conclusion. Canada's free trade deal with the U.S. is up for review in 2026. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Hillman “prepared (準備) the foundations for Canada in the upcoming review" of the agreement. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Hillman in 2017. She was the first woman appointed (任命) to the role. Hillman helped lead the trade negotiations during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term and worked with U.S. and Chinese officials to win the release of two Canadians detained in China. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 天氣好冷來不及準備早餐

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 60-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,364 on turnover of 10.5-billion N-T. The market gained solid ground on Monday after surpassing the 28,000 point mark in early trading on the back of strong investor interest in electronic and semiconductor heavyweights. US Congress revises bill allocating Taiwan security funding The U-S Congress has released a new draft of the National Defense Authorization Act - which includes up to 1-billion U-S dollars in funding for Taiwan-related security cooperation in 2026. The new draft removes earlier language that would have invited Taiwan to participate in the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise. The bill will require the U-S defense secretary to "enable fielding of uncrewed (無人的) and anti-uncrewed systems capabilities" with Taiwan by March 1 of next year, and those systems must comply with the Taiwan Relations Act and be usable by both U-S and Taiwanese forces. The compromise version was produced after the U-S.Senate and House of Representatives reconciled their separate versions into a unified bill. Taiwan forms clinical trial alliance to accelerate access to new medicines Taiwan has launched a new clinical trial alliance aimed at coordinating medical institutions nationwide to help patients gain faster access to promising but not yet approved medicines. The Taiwan Alliance of Clinical Trial Centers has been initiated by the Taipei Medical University. It brings together 32 medical and research institutions nationwide and is backed by the government and aims to pool resources (共用資源), strengthen coordination and enhance Taiwan's international competitiveness. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the alliance is expected to boost international collaboration by encouraging pharmaceutical companies to choose Taiwan as a base for research and development. Japan Tsunami Warning Lifted After Quake A magnitude 7.5 earthquake has struck off northern Japan, injuring at least 30 people and triggering (觸發) a tsunami. The quake hit late on Monday, about 80 kilometers off the coast of the Aomori region. The public broadcaster NHK says all tsunami warnings have now been lifted, while waves up to 70 centimeters were reported. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says people were mostly injured by falling objects. Nuclear power plants are conducting safety checks, and some train services are suspended. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of possible aftershocks and an increased risk of a megaquake. Supreme Court weighs whether President Trump can fire heads of independent agencies The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether President Donald Trump has the authority to fire a top Federal Trade Commission official - in a case that could have far reaching consequences for independent regulators. FTC commissioner Rebecca Slaughter was ousted earlier this year - told that her service was "inconsistent (不一致的) with the Administration's priorities". Toni Waterman reports That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8fuar9 -- 你不理財，財不理你！想學理財，玉山罩你！ 玉山銀行全新Podcast節目《玉山學堂》 帶你深入淺出掌握每週市場脈動！ 還有知名主持人蔡尚樺領銜的跨世代對談， 從不同的角度打好理財基本功！ 現在就點擊連結收聽

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 53-points this morning from Friday's close, at 28,034 on turnover of 6.4-billion N-T. The market closed higher on Friday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rebounded from an early low, boosted by growing expectations the U-S Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this week. Six injured in Banqiao restaurant suspected gas explosion Six people have been injured following a suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in New Taipei's Banqiao District. The second floor resturants is located in Banqiao's Fuzhong Shopping District. According to the city's fire department, two restaurants were damaged in the blast and the six people were injured by flying debris. Police say of the six people injured, five were passersby (路人) and one was resident of a nearby building. One person with minor injuries refused medical treatment, while the others, who also also suffered minor injuries were treated at the Shuang Ho Hospital and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. The cause of the blast is still under investigation. New device installed near Matai'an barrier lake to boost monitoring The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says micro-seismometer has been installed near the Matai'an Creek barrier lake in Hualien to strengthen monitoring of landslides and potential flood surges in the area. The move come a after an overflow triggered (觸發) deadly flooding in September. According to the agency, the micro-seismometer has been installed by a four-member team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and was airlifted to a slope about 1-kilometer south of the lake by National Airborne Service Corps. The agency says it will enable real-time alerts and help determine whether debris has blocked the creek or if a barrier lake dam is about to overflow. US Judges deal setback to Justice Department effort to seek new indictment against Comey From the US….. There's been a setback (挫折) for prosecutors seeking a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports Indonesia First Giant Panda Cub in Good Health The first giant panda cub born in Indonesia is noisy, nursing well and showing other signs of good health. Indonesian Safari Park released video and photos Sunday showing the fuzzy newborn in an incubator (保溫箱) and squirming and squealing while being cuddled by his mother. Hu Chun gave birth to Satrio Wiratama — nicknamed Rio — on Nov. 27 at the zoo in West Java province. The zoo said it was prioritizing the health and welfare of the mother and baby and he would not yet be accessible (可接近的) to the public. The adult pandas arrived in Indonesia in 2017 on a 10-year conservation partnership with China. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8fxf8g -- 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8fznat -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 0.7-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,796 on turnover of $4.99-billion N-T. Government to ban food-waste pig feeding from 2027, with 1-year transition The Cabinet has approved a plan to phase out the use of food waste in pig farming by December 31 of next year - paving the way (為…鋪路) for a full ban starting in 2027. The move is part of the government's efforts to prevent African swine fever outbreaks. Under the policy, food-waste feeding will be permitted only under strict conditions during that period, after which it will be fully prohibited. Farmers will be given a one-year grace period and financial incentives to switch to commercial feed. During the transition year, farms may use food waste only with local government approval and after they meet several requirements - including installing heat-treatment and video monitoring systems and adding G-P-S tracking to transport vehicles. Only business-generated food waste, animal by-products and slaughterhouse scraps (廢料，廚餘) will be allowed - and all household food waste will be banned from use on pig farms. Taiwan and Czech institutes launch African medical aid procurement program Taiwan's Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry has signed an agreement with the Czech Health Technology Institute to jointly launch an African medical aid procurement program. The institutes have been working to help a range of Taiwanese medical products, including handheld (手持式) ultrasound devices, microplate readers and electrocardiography systems, enter Eastern European markets through various projects since 2023. According to the Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry, the latest partnership is aimed at further strengthening ties through the launch of the African medical aid procurement program. The institute says the program will source a range of medical equipment from Taiwan to bolster primary healthcare, maternal and child care, and the resilience of regional and central hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. US Reviewing Tanzania relationship following election violence The United States is "reviewing" its relationship with Tanzania in the wake of violence that marred the country's elections in October. United Nations experts estimate that hundreds of protesters were killed during the brutal (嚴酷的) election crackdown. Nick Harper reports from Washington. UN Security Council Delegation Visits Syria A United Nations Security Council delegation has visited Syria for the first time since the council's founding in 1945. The visit, on Thursday, comes just before the one-year anniversary of former President Bashar Assad's fall. It marks Syria's reintegration (重新融入) into the international community under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Security Council president, says the delegation aims to build trust. They met with Syrian leaders, civil society, and communities affected by violence. Discussions included justice, reconciliation, and economic development. Syria's state-run news agency notes that Security Council visits are rare, requiring unanimous agreement. Eurovision Countries Drop Out Amid Israel Participation At least four countries have announced they are pulling out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest. This decision follows the organizers' choice to allow Israel to compete, despite concerns over its conduct in the Israel-Hamas war. Dutch, Spanish, Irish and Slovenian broadcasters announced plans to sit out the context in Vienna next May. It came after the European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, voted to adopt tougher voting rules after allegations of Israel manipulating (操縱) votes. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行 2025/12/31 前至中國信託銀行ATM領取普發現金一萬元，抽Switch 2主機+瑪利歐組合！ 申購TISA級別基金，有機會將現金放大！每月新臺幣千元就能投資，還享終身免申購手續費( 優惠期間至本行公告截止日止)。 詳情請見活動網站 https://sofm.pse.is/8g33td -- Hosting provided by SoundOn