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Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 65-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,449 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market rebounded on Tuesday after a slump a session earlier as artificial intelligence-related stocks were the center of investor focus on the back of a rise in Nvidia's share price on Wall Street overnight. Investors took cues from a 2.87-per cent increase in Nvidia shares on Wall Street, but the main board failed to sustain its early gains by the end of the session on the capped upturn by semiconductor stocks .. .. which dealers are attributing to lingering concerns over possible massive tariffs on chips by U-S President Donald Trump. Ministers hold talks to promote cultural diplomacy in Japan, Europe Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Culture Minister Li Yuan have held talks to discuss "cultural diplomacy" -- with a particular focus on the upcoming Expo 2025 in Japan and cultural events in Europe. According to the foreign ministry, it was the first time the two ministries have held minister-level talks and Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu and Deputy Culture Minister Sue Wang were also in attendance. The ministry says, both sides talked about combining their resources to boost Taiwan's visibility (能見度) on the world stage and one focus was the upcoming Osaka World Expo, which will be held between April and October. Another topic on the agenda was how Taiwan could took advantage of the National Palace Museum's upcoming exhibitions in the Czech Republic and France later this year. CDC reporting highest weekly flu-related medical visits in a decade The Centers for Disease Control says the number of outpatient (門診) and emergency visits due to flu-like illness recorded last week was the highest number for the same period since the 2015-2016 flu season. According to the C-D-C, a total of 181,995 flu-like illness-related outpatient and emergency visits were reported from February 2 to 8. C-D-C Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Kuo Hung-wei says the number of flu cases with severe complications is also rising, with 128 severe cases and 28 flu-related deaths recorded from February 4 to this past Monday. Most of those cases were linked to H-1-N-1 infections. Russia Frees American Prisoner Russia has freed American detainee (被拘留者) Marc Fogel. The 63-year-old school teacher was released from prison on Tuesday, according to US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. He'd been arrested for the illegal possession of cannabis back in 2021 and was given a 14-year prison sentence, which the United States viewed as "wrongful." Benji Hyer reports. UN Warns of Congo Displacement The U.N. says more than 110-thousand displaced people have in recent days left settlement camps in eastern Congo's cities controlled by Rwanda-backed rebels after the rebels were accused of forced camp closures. The U.N.'s humanitarian aid coordination agency said Tuesday that the M23 rebels issued a 72-hour ultimatum for people to leave the camps but later clarified that such movement is voluntary. Associated Press journalists witnessed some of the displaced people packing up what is left of their belongings and dismantling makeshift shelters. The forced camp closures have worsened (惡化) what is already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. At least 500-thousand people have reportedly been displaced in the region following the M23's advance. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ AI教父點讚的台廠這麼多，該買哪一檔 小朋友才做選擇，像我一樣全部買 入手00891 中信關鍵半導體 30檔護國神山群一次打包，讓AI成為投資命脈 2月17前買進參與本季配息 趕緊打開券商APP下單去！定時定額也可以 https://sofm.pse.is/75c35r --

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Government pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 26-30 percent by 2030 The government says it plans to further reduce carbon emissions to reflect the island's commitment to net zero. Speaking at the third meeting of the Presidential Office's climate change committee, President Lai Ching-te announced what he called the government's "more ambitious ( 有雄心的) carbon reduction targets." According to Lai, his administration will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 26 and 30-per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Lai told the committee that the revised reductions mean Taiwan's carbon emissions should be reduced between 30 and 34-per cent by 2032. The president went on to say it's crucial for the people of Taiwan to take more active steps in fulfilling a responsibilities to the international community. TaiwanICDF opens applications for overseas volunteers The Taiwan I-C-D-F foreign aid agency has announced that's accepting applications for its annual volunteer program that provides humanitarian and other assistance to the nation's diplomatic allies and less-developed countries. The agency is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And it says it will recruit 44 volunteers to work in areas such as information technology, public health, veterinary science, nutritional science, nursing, health education, mental health and epidemiological (流行病學的) statistics. Taiwanese nationals aged 20 or above are eligible (有資格的) to apply. Those selected will be deployed to one of 11 countries in the Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Africa, and Central and South America for six months to a year, it added. The deadline for all applications is February 10. Cold weather forecast in run-up to Lunar New Year The Central Weather Administration says low temperatures and rain can be expected ahead of Lunar New Year's Day next Wednesday. A strong continental cold air mass is forecast to approach Taiwan on Monday - sending the mercury down to below 10 degrees in some areas. The cold front is forecast to be at strongest on Lunar New Year's Eve and into Lunar New Year's Day - when parts of the north and east could see lows of 9-degrees. Other area will see lows of between 12 and 14-degrees next Tuesday and Wednesday. The weather administration says snow is also likely to fall at elevations over 2,000-meters in the north and east. The cold front is expected to weaken from next Thursday and temperatures rebound. However, another cold front is expected to approach the island on the second to last day of the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday - once again bringing down temperatures in the north and east. Trump to Visit States Hit by Natural Disasters US President Donald Trump will today visit North Carolina and California, two American states recently ravaged (摧殘) by natural disasters. Benji Hyer reports. UN Climate Interrupting Schooling The United Nations Children's Fund says over 200 million children had their schooling interrupted last year because of heatwaves, cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather. UNICEF says it amounted to one in seven school-going children across the world being kept out of class at some point in 2024 because of climate crises. The new UNICEF report released today also outlines (概述) how some countries saw hundreds of their schools destroyed, with low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa hit especially hard. But while deadly floods and cyclones hit the world in 2024, UNICEF says heatwaves were “the predominant climate hazard shuttering schools last year." That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 小AI，剛領獎金投資什麼好? 2025投資絕不能少了美國 新上市的中信NASDAQ 009800，美股核心配置最佳選擇 還有鎖定創新實力的中信美國創新科技009801 太好了！現在就買起來 009800、009801讓投資再次偉大 2月11日盛大掛牌，各大券商皆可下單 https://sofm.pse.is/74tn96 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 158-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,789 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market gave up most of its initial gains on Monday, but still managed to end the marginally higher with expanded turnover before regular index adjustments by M-S-C-I took effect after the close of trading. Main Suspect in Taiyen Green Energy Fraud Case Turns Himself In Former D-P-P lawmaker Chen Qi-yu has turned himself in to prosecutors as part of an investigation into allegations of fraud at a state-linked green energy enterprise in Tainan. He arrived at the Tainan District Prosecutors' Office with his lawyer three weeks after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Prosecutors says they believe Chen violated the Securities and Exchange Act for breach of trust (違反信託) offenses and the Criminal Code for knowingly causing a public servant to publish an official document containing false information. A court has now ordered Chen to be detained as prosecutors continue their investigation. Surgeon Indicted over China Organ Transplants The Changhua District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a surgeon and four accomplices for allegedly facilitating illegal organ transplants conducted in China. The prosecutors' office says the transplant specialist orchestrated (精心策劃的) a criminal ring that profited from sending 10 Taiwanese patients to China to undergo organ transplant surgery between 2016 and 2019. According to prosecutors, the group charged patients between 5 and 7.5-million N-T for liver transplants and between 3 and 3.5-million N-T for kidney transplants that were conducted in China's Shandong and Hunan provinces. Prosecutors are seeking a six-year sentence for the surgeon and three year sentences for the four accomplices. US Federal Criminal Cases Against Trump Dropped US President-elect Donald Trump looks set to escape trial for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election result after investigators filed a motion to drop the case. Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss (駁回（指法官因證據不足而）) the charges against the former President due to a long-standing Justice Department policy that bars the prosecution of a sitting President. Benji Hyer reports. Turkey Detains Dozens Joining Rally for Women Protection Police have detained dozens of people in Istanbul who tried to join a rally calling for greater protection for women in Turkey, where more than 400 women have been murdered this year. The demonstrators tried to enter the main pedestrian street to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Monday. But there is a ban on all protests in the area. Many demonstrators protested President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision in 2021 that withdrew (退出) Turkey from a landmark European agreement to protect women from violence. The agreement was signed in Istanbul and is named for the city. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－

US President-elect Donald Trump has picked former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO, Linda McMahon, as his nominee for education secretary. Washington D.C. correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 45-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,947 on turnover of 4.6-billion N-T. The market gained more 240-points on Friday, despite Wall Street pulling back from its recent record highs on Thursday on the back of disappointing reports on inflation and unemployment in America. MND Responds to China's "Joint Sword-2024B" Drills Surrounding Taiwan The Ministry of National Defense is condemning China's holding of drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan proper - describing Beijing's actions as being "irrational and provocative behavior." According to the ministry, troops have been deployed in order to protect and defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China. The statement comes after China's Eastern Theater Command earlier this morning announced that its army, navy, air force and rocket forces are conducting "Joint Sword-2024B" drills in the Taiwan Strait and the north, south and east of Taiwan. According to a spokesperson for the theater command, the drills focus on joint sea-air combat readiness patrol, the blockade and control of key ports and areas, strikes on sea and land targets, and the seizure of comprehensive (全面的) battlefield control. Mercury to Hit Highs of 31-33 degrees Before Weekend The Central Weather Administration says we can expect to see the mercury hitting highs of between 31 and-33 degrees - and mostly clear skies with some localized (小範圍的) showers island-wide from today through Friday. However, temperatures in the north and northeast will drop to highs of between 27 and 28-degrees over the weekend and rain is also forecast in those areas due to the arrival of northeasterly winds However, residents of the center and south can expect to see cloudy to sunny skies over the weekend. US to Send Air Defense Kit to Israel The United States will deploy a sophisticated high-altitude anti-missile system to Israel to help bolster its air defences. The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence — or THAAD — battery is being sent along with 100 American troops to help operate (操作) it. It comes after Iran launched two direct missile attacks on Israel this year. Benji Hyer reports. Ukraine Urges Intl Orgs to Respond to POW Execution Claims Ukraine's human rights ombudsman has urged international organizations to respond to a claim that several Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed in Russia's Kursk region where Kyiv had launched an incursion in August. Dmytro Lubinets says he sent letters to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the claim. Ukrainian battlefield analysis site DeepState which is close to Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Sunday that Russian troops shot and killed nine Ukrainian “drone operators and contractors” on Oct. 10th after they had surrendered (投降). Earlier this month, Ukraine's Prosecutor-General's Office said that Russian troops had killed 16 captured Ukrainian soldiers in the partially occupied Donetsk region. There was no immediate response from Russian officials. China to Assist Vietnam with Railway Development China has agreed to assist Vietnam on cross-border railway development and take steps to expand agricultural imports from its smaller neighbor. Vietnam's official media said that Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged Sunday that China would further open its market to high-quality fruits, seafood and other Vietnamese products. Li's visit to Hanoi came two week after Vietnam condemned China for what it described as an assault by Chinese law enforcement personnel on Vietnamese fishers in the South China Sea. Vietnam's prime minister told Li that both sides should respect each other's legitimate (合法的，正當的) rights and interests and resolve disputes through peaceful means. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 2024年必喝！熱銷千萬瓶，茶裏王邀您一起品好茶！ ⭐茶裏王四季春茶 100%台灣茶葉沖泡，無糖無香料，回甘更清爽！ ⭐茶裏王伯爵紅茶 經典柑橘清香，不加糖，也能不苦澀！ 100%茶葉沖泡的好茶，釋放甘甜茶香~ 忙碌中喝口茶裏王，讓自己回甘放鬆一下！ → https://bit.ly/3Ywbu2O

Hurricane Milton has strengthened to a category 4 and is due to hit in just a few days. The state is preparing for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years as the storm heads toward population centers including Tampa and Orlando. US correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The White House says it wasn't aware of the simultaneous pager explosions across Lebanon before the attacks.  Thousands were injured and at least 12 killed when pagers, used by political group Hezbollah, detonated yesterday.   Today —a day later— at least nine people are dead and 300 injured after walkie talkies exploded.   Hezbollah believes Israel is responsible   US correspondent Benji Hyer told Ryan Bridge there was a quick phone call between the defence secretaries of Israel and the US minutes before pagers started exploding.  He says Israel told the United States they would be conducting an operation in Lebanon, but no further details were shared.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man suspected of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump has appeared in court in Florida. US correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened opened up 43-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,816 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed sharply higher, rising more than 300 points in a continued comeback Monday as the U.S. markets showed signs of stabilizing from a recent sell-off amid eased concerns over a possible recession in the United States. The bellwether electronics sector served as a driver to the upturn on the local main board as buying focused on artificial intelligence server stocks throughout the session. Returning Olympians Escorted by F16s Returning Olympians have been welcomed back to Taiwan with flares (熱焰彈) and a jet escort. Media reports say three Air Force F-16 jets were on standby at around 5am today in the air southwest of the island, to accompany the E-V-A Air Flight on orders from President Lai Ching-te. And once the jets were alongside the returning plane, flares were set off to cheers from the passengers inside the plane. The Chinese Taipei team, including athletes, coaches and staff, landed at Taoyuan International Airport just after 7am. And the flight was greeted with a water salute as it taxied down the runway. (NS) Syria Earthquake Causes No Major Damage Local authorities say an earthquake shook central Syria causing no major damages. But the equake rattled residents who remembered last year's devastating (毀滅性的) temblor that struck northern Syria and Turkey. Syria's National Center for Earthquakes said a magnitude 5.5 quake struck 28 kms east of the city of Hama at 11:56 p.m local time. The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 5.0 and said it had a depth of 10 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of deaths. In Damascus and Beirut - the capital of neighboring Lebanon - residents descended to the streets fearing a stronger quake that would collapse buildings. US Trump Sues DoJ Over FBI Raid In the US…. Donald Trump is suing the United States' Department of Justice for $100 million. The former US President is seeking damages (損害賠償) over the FBI's search of his Florida residence. At that time, law enforcement agents found hundreds of classified documents that he'd taken from the White House. Benji Hyer reports. Study: Amazon Rainforest Under Threat A new study finds that the Amazon rainforest is under threat as a carbon sink. The report from US nonprofit Amazon Conservation finds that deforestation is the biggest immediate threat to the world's largest rainforest. The NPO used satellite data to determine that Amazon trees held 56.8 billion metric tons of carbon above ground in 2022. They found the forest has been a carbon sink over the last decade. But with deforestation there's a danger the Amazon could start contributing more carbon than it absorbs from the atmosphere. The researchers say that it's now a “very small buffer (緩衝)". They say "there's reason to worry that the biome could flip from sink to source with ongoing deforestation.” That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 中元期間，台中市政府環保局紙錢集中載運煉化服務不打烊！ 環保祭祀最時尚的「以功代金做公益」 至四大超商操作多媒體事務機選擇「台中以功代金」

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed US lawmakers in his first visit outside of Israel since the October 7th attacks. Washington D.C. correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Corin Dann.

Ciara Doherty speaks to Paul McAuliffe TD, Louise O'Reilly TD, Roddy Flynn, Fionnan Sheahan, John Lee, John Purcell and Benji Hyer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciara Doherty speaks to Jennifer Ewing, Dan Mulhall, Scott Lucas, Harry Browne, Benji Hyer, Nicole Brener-Schmitz and Tommy Rooney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 23,880 on turnover of 5-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday as investor sentiment turned cautious following the shooting incident at a campaign rally held by Donald Trump over the weekend. Analysts say the shooting has resulted in many investors - both here in Taiwan and overseas - now betting that Trump will win America's November presidential election. That's sparking concerns that a Trump victory will lead to more friction (不和、分歧) in global trade. Lawmakers Pass Revisions to Labor Standards Act to Allow Retirement Delay Lawmakers have passed amendments to Article 54 of the Labor Standards Act. The changes will allow employers to waive (放棄) the statutory retirement age for employees who wish to continue working. The move means that workers who have reached the age of 65 can now continue working after an agreement has been made with their employers. The amendments also seek to encourage employers to help healthy older workers to remain in the workplace and ensure the rights of those who wish to continue working. EVA Airways Retains Position as World's 10th Best Airline EVA Airways has retained its position as the 10th best airlines in the world in 2024 - that, according to New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure. EVA Air received an 84.85 point reader score to rank 10th in the magazine's latest International Airlines in 2024 list. Travel + Leisure asked about 186,000 readers to weigh their travel experiences. It received more than 700,000 valid (有效的) responses about top airlines, hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, and spas. The four major criteria for the best airline evaluation were cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service and value. EVA Airways says it carried more than 11.2-million passengers last year and is continuing to work to improve its service quality. US in "Heightened Threat Environment" US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas warns the United States is now in a "heightened threat environment" after an attack against former US President Donald Trump. But Secretary Mayorkas says he still has "100% confidence (信心)" in the Secret Service, despite Saturday's shooting. Benji Hyer was at the White House press briefing. Thailand Opens Registration for Digital Cash Handouts Thailand's prime minister has said that eligible businesses and individuals can register from August for digital cash handouts (救濟款). The government announced in April the widely criticized ambitious plan, named the Digital Wallet. It's meant to give about $275 to 50 million citizens in digital money to spend at local businesses. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced Monday that registration will begin Aug. 1-st. The program was a major campaign promise by the ruling party ahead of last year's general election. It is expected to cost billions of dollars and is meant to boost the lagging economy. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 南科特區第一環LM重劃區，別稱台南首富里，聯上APPLE位居核心， 鄰A類雙語學區，獨棟雙併、大面寬大地坪別墅，隱私性高，受企業主，科技菁英青睞， 移居台南，首選聯上APPLE！ 即刻入主065832388 https://bit.ly/45ZKgnm -- 擺脫經濟失落的30年，日本政策放大絕， 讓股利被重新定義！渴望體驗超越想像的日本股市嗎？ 【00956】掌握日企配息好機會，7/30激安募集！ 【00956】中信日經高股息 了解更多

President Lai Says Autocracy is the Crime, not democracy President Lai Ching-te said that autocracy (專制主義), not democracy (民主主義), is deserving of punishment (懲罰). The president's remarks come in response to the recent threat (威脅) by Chinese authorities (大陸官員) imposing the death penalty (死刑) on "diehard" advocates (頑固的支持者) of Taiwan independence (臺獨). The President added that China has no right nor jurisdiction (管轄權) to punish Taiwanese people for expressing their opinions or stances, stating that according to China's logic, not supporting unification (不支持統一) is the same as supporting Taiwan independence (等於支持台灣獨立). Lai called on (呼籲) China to accept the existence of the Republic of China and engage in exchanges (交流) with Taiwan's democratically-elected government. He said that's the only way to protect the welfare (福利) of those on both sides of the Taiwan Strait (台灣海峽兩岸). The president also expressed condolences (表示慰問) to those impacted by the deadly rain in southern China and said he hopes post-disaster reconstruction (災後重建) goes well. Lai welcomes Saint Kitts and Nevis PM with military salute Meanwhile, President Lai Ching-te welcomed Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister (聖克里斯多福及尼維總理) Terrence Drew with a military salute ceremony (軍禮儀式) in Taipei Monday. Lai said that Drew's frequent visits to Taiwan demonstrated the nation's high regard for bilateral ties (雙邊關係). This is Drew's second state visit (國事訪問) since taking office in August 2022. Both leaders emphasized shared values of democracy and human rights (人權) and expressed commitment to deepening cooperation (深化合作) since their diplomatic relations began in 1983. President Lai also thanked Drew for calling for justice and demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan on the international stage (國際舞台). Drew said his ongoing trip to Taiwan held "great importance", and thanked Taiwan for its support and technical assistance (技術援助) and underscored Taiwan's significant global economic role and contributions to various global challenges. The visit included a 21-gun salute and national anthems (國歌), with both Drew and Lai inspecting honor guards. Drew's delegation, which arrived Saturday for a five-day visit, includes his wife and senior cabinet members. EU has plan to use Russian frozen assets: Foreign Policy Chief The European Union's foreign policy chief (歐盟外交政策負責人) says a plan has been devised to ensure (確保) Ukraine receives funds through Russian frozen assets (凍結的俄羅斯資產). EU foreign ministers convened (召開會議) on how to navigate Hungary's opposition to support for Kyiv. Charles de Ledesma reports. Israel Hamas latest The viability (可行性) of a U.S.-backed proposal to wind down the war in Gaza is in doubt … after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only agree to a “partial” cease-fire deal (部分停火協議) that would not end the war. His comments were made in an interview with a pro-Netanyahu Israeli TV channel and sparked an uproar (引起強烈反應) from families of hostages held by Hamas. This comes as Israel's Defense Minister (國防部長) Yoav Gallant is in Washington DC for what he's describing as "critical" talks (關鍵會談) on the fighting in Gaza and escalating tensions on the border with Lebanon, exchanges of fire which are stoking fears of an all-out war (全面戰爭). Benji Hyer reports.

The US president's second son was charged with three offences relating to illegally buying a gun while he was abusing drugs. Benji Hyer spoke to Corin Dann from Washington.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 49-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,604 on turnover of 4.5-billion N-T. The market gained ground once again on Tuesday. Investors were interested in large cap tech stocks after Wall Street moved higher overnight. Investor sentiment improved on hopes about a possible rate cut cycle by the U-S Federal Reserve. That would follow the release of weaker than expected American job data for April. KMT Seeking LY State of the Nation Address The K-M-T is seeking to invite president-elect Lai Ching-te to make what would be Taiwan's first state of the nation address at the Legislative Yuan following his May 20 inauguration. According to K-M-T caucus secretary-general Hong Meng-kai, Lai needs to explain and clarify his planned policies with lawmakers. Hong sasy the proposal for Lai to address lawmakers adheres to Article 15-2 of the Act on Exercising Legislative Yuan Powers. The Taiwan People's Party has also submitted (已提交) a similar proposal. The K-M-T caucus secretary-general says the matter will now added to Friday's legislative agenda. Thailand to Extend Visa Waiver for ROC Passport Holders Thailand will extend its visa waiver program for R-O-C passport holders to six months. Thailand first announced a visa waiver for Taiwanese travelers in November of last year. That program was slated to ends on May 10. The program has now been extend starting from May 11 to November 11. Under the visa waiver program, R-O-C passport holders traveling to Thailand for tourism purposes are granted a visa-free stay of up to 30 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this is evidence that the Tsai administration's New Southbound Policy has paid off (得到好結果). US Holds Up Arms to Israel The United States is holding up arms shipments to Israel. Officials claim (宣稱) the move is intended to send a political message to its Middle East ally. With the details, Benji Hyer. UK Military Personal Information Breach British officials say the names and bank details of thousands of serving British soldiers, sailors and air force members have been exposed in a data breach (違反) at a payroll system. The defense secretary says state involvement cannot be ruled out. He didn't comment on British media reports that Chinese hackers are suspected of carrying out the cyberattack. The breach occurred at a third-party payroll system. The system describes itself as “the largest provider of critical business support services for government.” The system holds bank details of as many as 272-thousand serving armed forces personnel and recent veterans. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy -- 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 111-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,634 on turnover of 5.1-billion N-T. The market rose nearly 200 points on Monday to close above the 20,500-point mark - as buying was sparked by Wall Street's solid performance at the end of last week amid renewed hopes over a rate cut cycle by the U-S Federal Reserve. Artificial intelligence development-related stocks attracted strong investor interest and led the local main board higher, while the financial sector also posted strong gains throughout the session. MOFA defends deal to provide Ukraine aid via Czech NGO The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is denying allegations that it misused taxpayer money in a partnership with the Czech Republic to provide assistance (協助) to Ukraine. According to ministry spokesman Jeff Liu, his office plans to pursue legal action against K-M-T lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin for releasing secret details of an agreement between Taiwan signed with the Czech Republic last December. The statement comes after Hsu released details of the agreement in a Facebook post -which she defended that by saying she released the information due to Foreign Minister Joseph Wu's failure to properly respond to her concerns during a legislative hearing. Circular Line Repair Costs Surpass NT$400Million And, The New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems says current estimates show that the cost of repairing sections of the Circular Line's elevated track damaged during the April 3 earthquake stand at over 400-million N-T. According to the metro operator, the funds will be initially covered by the New Taipei City Government. The earthquake damage the disc bearings of the connecting beams between the Banxin and Qiaohe stations, resulting in the displacement (移位) of steel box beams at 11 spots and severe twisting to some sections of track. The New Taipei City Government has said it could take over a year to fully repair the damaged sections of track. US Soldier Detained in Russia US lawmakers say they're "deeply concerned" after an American soldier was detained in Russia. An army spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the man — who's unnamed — was apprehended (被捕) last week in the far east of the country "on charges of criminal misconduct." Benji Hyer reports. Spain Lost Caravaggio to be Exhibited Spain's Prado Museum has confirmed that a painting that was due to be auctioned in Madrid in 2021 is in fact a work by Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio that was considered (認為) lost. It will be unveiled to the public for the first time in the museum later this month. The Prado said in a statement on Monday the work titled “Ecce Homo” will go on display from May 27-th until October as a special one-piece exhibition following an agreement with its owner, who has not been identified. It said that since its reappearance at an auction three years ago, Ecce Homo has represented one of the greatest discoveries in the history of art. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 159-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,382 on turnover of $4.99-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex fell sharply on Thursday, led by the bellwether electronics sector, following a sell-off triggered by heavy losses suffered by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight. Investor sentiment also turned cautious amid concerns the U-S Federal Reserve will continue to delay the timing of a rate cut cycle due to stubborn inflation. Delegation Heading to Geneva Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang says he'll be lead a delegation of lawmakers and officials from the Ministry of Health to Geneva later this month to push for Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health Organization. According to Chiang, the delegation plans to hold meetings on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly to let "let the world know that Taiwan's bid to join the global health body is a consensus (共識) among all Taiwanese, regardless of political affiliation." Speaking to reporters, Chiang argued that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not affect the international legal status of the R-O-C, and Taiwan should have the right to participate in the U-N and its affiliated bodies. The Deputy Legislative Speaker also stressed his full support for Taiwan's efforts to seek meaningfully participate in U-N specialized agencies - saying he believes Taiwan should have active participation within the international community. US Biden Calls for Order on Campuses US President Joe Biden says "order must prevail" on college campuses, as unrest engulfs (席卷) universities across the United States. Police have arrested more than 1000 people after pro-Palestinian protests and Gaza solidarity (團結) encampments took hold at major schools nationwide, with students and staff demanding a boycott of companies or individuals with ties to Israel. Benji Hyer reports. Japan Unveils Intl Framework for AI Use Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has unveiled an international framework for regulation and use of generative AI. Kishida says some 49 countries and regions have signed up to the voluntary framework, called the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group. He says they will work on implementing principles and code of conduct to address the risks of generative AI and “promote cooperation to ensure that people all over the world can benefit from the use of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI”. When Japan chaired the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations last year, it launched a Hiroshima AI process to draw up international guiding principles and a code of conduct for AI developers. The voluntary framework is aimed at helping to implement (實施) the principles and code of conduct to address the risks of generative AI. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy --

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 86-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,126 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Wednesday after tumbling during the previous session. The main board moved back above the 20,000-point mark. Investors were interested in large cap tech stocks. However, the main board still failed to recoup all of the losses seen on Tuesday. Market sentiment remained affected by uncertainty over when the U-S Federal Reserve could start to cut interest rates. MOTC Cites NT$3 billion as Needed Funding to Repair Quake Damage in Hualien Transport Minister Wang Kwo-tsai says estimates show that funding to repair tourism-related facilities and infrastructure in Hualien following the April 3 earthquake stands at more than 3-billion N-T. According to Wang, three rounds of stimulus initiatives for the county's tourism sector have been proposed by the Tourism Administration. The first focuses mainly on essential (必需的) disaster relief. The second phase of the plan covers funding for people whose homes were damaged or destroyed. And the third and final initiative will seek to subsidize individual and group tours to Hualien after facilities and infrastructure have been fully repaired. DeMarcus Cousins Returns for T1 League Taiwan Beer Leopards Four-time N-B-A all-star DeMarcus Cousins is back in Taiwan to finish out his renewed contract with the T1 League's Taiwan Beer Leopards. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. But the Taoyuan-based team announced in mid-March that he's officially renewed his contract. Cousins will play in all three of the remaining regular season games and will finish the postseason games with the team. He'll be making his return this weekend. That's when the Leopards play the Taipei Mars on both Saturday and Sunday at the Taoyuan Arena. The Leopards are currently sitting in second place in the standings (積分榜) behind the league leading New Taipei C-T-B-C D-E-A. Israel PM Responds to Calls for Restraint in Iran Response Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will be the one to decide whether and how to respond to Iran's major air assault over the weekend. Netanyahu's remarks on Wednesday appeared to brush off (漠視，不理睬) calls for restraint from close allies, including the visiting foreign ministers of Germany and Britain. Israel has vowed to respond to Iran's unprecedented attack without saying when or how. That's left the region bracing for further escalation after months of unrest linked to the ongoing war in Gaza. Iran's president warned Israel against responding. Violence meanwhile has continued to surge along Israel's border with Lebanon. A rocket attack on an Israeli town by Iran-backed Hezbollah wounded at least 14 people. US Congress Dismisses Impeachment Against Homeland Security Director Lawmakers in the United States have voted to end impeachment proceedings (法律行動，訴訟程序) against Director of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, before they could even go to trial. Democrat Party Senators dismissed the two articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas. The articleswere brought by Republicans who argue his department is failing to stem record flows of migrants entering the country from Mexico. Benji Hyer reports. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy -- 2024最高CP值美膚懶人包看這邊！ 【家家生醫】 極澎膠原彈力飲 限時買2送1優惠，快來看看！

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 50-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,713 on turnover of $4.5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Wednesday after moving in a narrow range throughout the session. Investor were waiting for the release of key U-S inflation data. New Species of Aquatic Firefly Discovered in Keelung The Wild Bird Society of Keelung has confirmed that type of aquatic firefly discovered in the city is a new species. According to the society, the new species was discovered while its members were working on a project focusing firefly ecology and rehabilitation (復原). The project began in 2022 and was commissioned by the Keelung City Government. The society says the fireflies were first spotted in Keelung's Nuan-Nuan District in the first year of the project. They were confirmed to be part of a new species with the help of a firefly expert and a faculty member at the National Museum of Natural Science. It is the fourth aquatic firefly species discovered in Taiwan. The species has been temporarily named, "Bei-Miao" firefly. This is because it was discovered in northern Taiwan and flies at canopy height. US Biden Warns of Iranian Attack of Israel Iran is primed to launch "significant" (重要的) missile or drone strikes against Israeli government and military facilities, according to US President Joe Biden. He gave the warning at a press conference on Wednesday alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House, where Benji Hyer reports. Guatemala Declares Natural Disaster as Forest Fires Continue Guatemala's president has issued a natural disaster declaration. 44 forest fires continue to burn across the Central American country. President Bernardo Arevalo made the announcement Wednesday, and said that 80% of the fires were started by people. Authorities canceled classes across three central provinces to protect students from the prevailing (盛行的) smoke. One of the largest fires is near a suburb of Guatemala City, the capital. The president's declaration now frees up funding for fire fighting efforts. RSF Reporter Denied Entry into HK Reporters Without Borders says its representatives was denied (被拒絕) entry into Hong Kong. RSF says its Taipei-based staffer Aleksandra Bielakowska was stopped at the Hong Kong airport on Wednesday by immigration officers earlier in the day. She was detained, questioned and had her belongings searched three times before she was denied entry to Hong Kong. RSF says this "marks a new decline in the already poor press freedom climate in the territory.” Bielakowska was to meet journalists and attend the trial of Jimmy Lai. The media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper is currently facing national security charges. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！ 中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3xMsIhf -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 137-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,360 on turnover of $4.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower Monday as investors shifted to the sell side. They were taking advantage of the main board's earlier upturn after a rally in afterhours (工作時間之後) trading on the U.S. markets. Investors held high hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will start a rate cut cycle in June. But the bellwether electronics sector encountered profit taking Monday after a strong showing in the first quarter of the year. This pushed the main board above the 20,000 point mark. 9 Ill After Dining at New Taipei Restaurant New Taipei is conducting inspections in a case where several guests fell ill after eating at a banquet hall. FDC International Hotels Corporation announced today that 9 customers who dined at its Gala de Chine banquet hall in Xinzhuang District last week sought medical care after experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort. The corporation says it is actively cooperating with the city's investigation. It says it has provide samples of food items and data for inspection. However, it also points out that a portion (部分) of the guests who attended the banquet brought their own food. The corporation says the cause of the illnesses is still under investigation. The New Taipei Department of Health says it has requested the restaurant suspend business while inspections are underway. (NS) Afghanistan Children Killed by Old Land Mine An old land mine found by children in eastern Afghanistan has exploded while they were playing with it, killing nine children. A Taliban spokesman says the land mine, which the children found near their village in Ghazni province, was from decades (幾十年) ago. He says the explosion Sunday killed five boys and four girls who were 5 to 10 years old. Afghanistan has suffered from decades of war. The country remains highly dangerous for children who collect scrap metal to sell to support their families. Many are killed or maimed when they come across unexploded ordinance. US Israel Talks Over Gaza Offensive The United States and Israel are holding a virtual meeting today to discuss the alternatives to a military invasion of the Gazan city of Rafah. Israeli forces have for weeks been planning to push into the southern tip of the besieged (被圍困) strip, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are gathered. Benji Hyer reports. Greece Migrants Rescued from Wooden Boat Greek authorities say dozens of migrants found in a wooden boat on the Mediterranean Sea between northern Africa and southern Europe have been transported to the Greek island of Crete. Greece's coast guard says the boat carried 74 people. It is not immediately clear where or when the boat had launched (下水，出發) or what countries the passengers were from. Crete's southern coastline has seen an increase in migrant arrivals in recent months. Greece is a major entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 568-points this morning on the first trading day of the new Lunar New Year, at 18,664 on turnover of $24-billion N-T. Taiwan CDC reports sixth year of decline in new HIV infections The Centers for Disease Control says Taiwan is marking another year of decline in the number of new HIV infections. Officials say 944 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus were reported on the island in 2023, marking a sixth consecutive (連續的) year of falling case numbers. The CDC says it marks a decrease of nearly 12 percent from 2022, and the figure was the lowest since 2004. The agency encouraged individuals who have ever had sex to take at least one HIV test and those who have sex without using a condom to take a test annually. Two lotto players win NT$1 million prizes at same Taipei shop on same day Two lottery players recently won $1 million NT prizes on scratch lotto tickets they purchased (購買) on the same day at the same store in Taipei's Ximending neighborhood. According to Taiwan Lottery Co., the lotto wins both happened on "Super Red Envelope" scratch cards sold at a shop on Kunming Street in Ximen District on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday last Thursday. The first of the winners was a married couple, while the second winners were two young men who put their money together to the scratch card. Taiwan Lottery released five new scratch cards for the Year of the Dragon, of which the $2,000 NT Super Red Envelope -- with eight top prizes of NT$20 million -- is the most expensive. NKorea Kim Supervises New Missile Tests North Korea state media says leader Kim Jong Un has supervised a test of new surface-to-sea missiles and warned that the country would take a more aggressive (積極進取的) military posture in disputed sea boundaries with war-divided rival South Korea. Kim lso accused South Korea of frequently violating what he decried as North Korean territorial waters with its maritime patrols and interdiction of third-party ships. He ordered his navy to strengthen its defense posture in waters near the South Korean border islands of Baekryeong and Yeonpyeong. The report today by North Korea's state media came a day after South Korea's military said it detected the North firing multiple cruise missiles in waters off its eastern coast. Some experts say Kim may seek to further dial up pressure in an election year in South Korea and the U.S. US SuperBowl Victory Parade Shooting Police say there are several casualties (傷亡) in Kansas City, after shots were fired during a Super Bowl victory parade. Thousands of fans had gathered on Wednesday in the US state of Missouri to celebrate the Kansas Chiefs's victory in America's National Football League game. Benji Hyer has the latest. Haiti Kenya Discuss Police Force Deployment Haiti's government has announced that it is working on an official agreement with Kenyan officials to secure the long-awaited deployment of a police force from the east African country. The government said Wednesday that high-ranking officials from both countries met in the U.S. for three days this week to draft a memorandum of understanding and set a deadline for the arrival of Kenyan police forces. The closed-door meetings included top U.S. officials and were held weeks after a court in Kenya blocked the U.N-backed deployment of police to help Haiti fight a surge (急遽上升) in gang violence. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

The US Department of Justice says the police response to a deadly school shooting in 2022 was a failure. The school shooting in Ulvade,Texas, resulted in the death of 19 students and two teachers. Dozens of officers descended on Robb Elementary School soon after police were notified, but took over an hour to confront and kill the gunman. The scathing report said there were cascading failures of leadership and decision-making within the police response. Ben Strang spoke to U.S correspondent Benji Hyer.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 45-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,884 on turnover of 2.7-billion N-T. The market closed sharply higher on Monday, as the bellwether electronics sector was the focus of investor interest following gains by tech stocks on Wall Street at the end of last week. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing drove the tech sector's upturn, boosted by optimism over its strong sales report for October However, investors showed an unwillingness to chase prices as the main board closed in on the 17,000 point mark, which resulted in the Tai-Ex trading within a narrow range towards the end of the session. John Deng Points to APEC Focus on CPTPP Bid Taiwan's top trade negotiator John Deng says the main aim of bilateral talks at this week's APEC forum is to build up support for Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Deng is attending the APEC forum in San Francisco and participating in the APEC Economic Leaders' Week meetings. According to the trade negotiator, the forum is expected to serve as an important opportunity for Taiwan's delegates to meet with representatives from trade bloc member countries. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing founder Morris Chang is serving as President Tsai Ing-wen's envoy to the APEC summit and is scheduled to arrive in San Francisco tomorrow. CGA Denies US and Chinese Ships Entered Taiping Island Waters The Coast Guard Administration is denying reports that U-S and Chinese ships entered Taiwan's territorial waters around Taiping Island in the South China Sea earlier this month. The denial comes after K-M-T lawmaker Chen I-hsin accused the administration of attempting to cover-up the intrusions, which he said occurred on November 3. The administration has confirmed that a Chinese warship and an American warship were near the island. However, it says they were operating in waters some 21-nautical miles northeast of Taiping Island and neither vessel entered territorial waters. Indonesian President Visits White House US President Joe Biden is today hosting his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo at the White House to "reaffirm" their joint commitment to the "nearly 75-year-long partnership between the world's second and third largest democracies." The meeting, though, is at risk of being overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war — a conflict erupting thousands of kilometres away, but one that matters hugely to both states. Benji Hyer reports. < [CLIP] Slug: > SKorea President to Discuss NKorean Weapons at APEC South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will discuss international response to the purported North Korean-Russian weapons deal during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco this week. In written responses to questions from The Associated Press, Yoon says the North Korean-Russian agreement not only poses a serious threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and Europe but also undermines the universal rules-based international order. Yoon says provocations by North Korea will only result in strong retaliation from South Korean and U.S. forces. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 轉骨有成，日股長線續航仍強 日股專家－市佔No.1的日本野村資產管理 在地團隊發揮加乘效果 價值投資挖掘潛力企業 由下而上主動挑選優質個股 帶領您重新發現日股投資魅力 了解更多：https://bit.ly/45OUq8p

Claire Brock speaks to Garret Ahearn, Ruairí Ó Murchú, Kevin Doyle, Benji Hyer, Linda Hughes, John Brennan, Mary Lawlor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 35-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,411 on turnover of 4-billion N-T. The market closed virtually flat on Wednesday as investors were cautious after Wall Street fell overnight amid renewed speculation the U-S Federal Reserve could once again raise interest rates. Artificial intelligence development-related stocks remained popular despite the weakness of U-S markets overnight, but the financial sector struggled due to the debt issues faced by Chinese enterprises. **Military Refusing Comment on Test Launch of Cruise Missile ** The Ministry of National Defense is refusing to comment on reports that it test fired a new cruise missile earlier this week. However, local media is citing unnamed military source as saying a classified missile was test fired on Wednesday, as part of an ongoing three-day live-fire drill in waters off Pingtung's Jioupeng military base. Reports have been claiming the Air Force launched a Hsiung Feng IIE missile. According to the United Daily News, the missile flew for over an hour after it was launched from a base in Pingtung County. Defense officials didn't publicly acknowledge the existence of the Hsiung Feng IIE cruise missile system until March of last year. **Port Authorities Patch Hole in Sunken Container Ship ** The Taiwan International Ports Corporation says it has patched (修補) a hole in the engine room of a container ship which sank in Kaohsiung Harbor last month. According to the corporation, it now expects to finish the clean-up of a related oil spill and the removal of containers that fell from the vessel by later today at the earliest. The Palau-flagged "Angel" was anchored some 5-kilometers from shore when it began listing and taking on water on July 20 and it sank the following day. US President Joe Biden to travel to wildfire-ravaged Hawaii next week US President Joe Biden will travel with the First Lady to Maui on Monday, where they'll meet with first responders and survivors, and survey damage from wildfires which last week ravaged (嚴重破壞) the island. The death toll from the state of Hawaii's worst natural disaster in history, and the country's deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, has now topped 100 people. Officials say it's expected to rise further. ? Thousands others have been made homeless. Benji Hyer reports. **Germany Cabinet Approves Cannabis Decriminalization. ** Germany's Cabinet has approved a plan to liberalize rules on cannabis. The plan foresees legalizing possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis for recreational purposes and allowing individuals to grow up to three plants on their own. The legislation is billed as the first step in a two-part plan and will still need approval by parliament. Officials hope their plan will help protect consumers (消費者) against contaminated (受污染的) products and reduce drug-related crime. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Former US president Donald Trump says his latest indictment on counts of racketeering is a witch-hunt. Prosecutors in the state of Georgia say Trump and eighteen others conspired to unlawfully change the outcome of the vote in the State. His co-accused include former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows as well as his 2020 election lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis and Kenneth Chesebro. It's Trump's fourth indictment this year - and one he thinks will help win him the 2024 election. US correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

To the U.S now where the US attorney general announced Joe Biden's son, Hunter, will now be investigated by a special counsel with additional powers. U.S. Special Counsel David Weiss, who was promoted to the position last week, says Mr Biden may be headed for a criminal trial. A potential trial raises the possibility of an unprecedented spectacle in U.S. history: The son of a sitting president facing criminal charges while his father campaigns for re-election, likely against Republican Donald Trump, who faces at least three upcoming criminal trials of his own. Washington correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 7-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,205 on turnover of $4.6-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex made solid gains on Tuesday - rising more than 160-points - as investor enthusiasm over the development of artificial intelligence continued to push up A-I-related stocks. Market watchers say momentum accelerated as investors rushed to pick up A-I-related stocks after opting to ignore the lackluster performance of the tech-heavy Nasdaq on Wall Street overnight. **10AM Land Warning Remains in Effect for Typhoon Doksuri ** A land warning remains in effect for Typhoon Doksuri, as it continues to approach (逼近) the island. The 5th typhoon of the season is currently 330-kilometers south of Eluanbi at the island's souternmost tip. The storm is moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 14-kilometers an hour. Doksuri is packing sustained wind speeds of 173-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 209-kilometers-an-hour. The Central Weather Bureau's land warning covers Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Pingtung, and the Hengchun Peninsula. According to the bureau, high waves are expected today in the Bashi Channel and along Taiwan's coast. Officials are warning the public to stay away from coastal regions. (NS) **UK Lawmakers Concerned About Wagner Mercenary Group ** British lawmakers say the U.K. has underestimated the threat posed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group and should ban it as a terrorist organization. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee says the sanctions imposed by Britain on Wagner are “underwhelming” and U.K. authorities have done little to track the network's activities outside of Ukraine. The committee said: “There are serious national security threats to the U.K. and its allies of allowing the network to continue to thrive.” Wagner has played a key role in fighting in Ukraine, and the committee said it has conducted (實施) military operations in countries including Syria, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali. **Taliban Announces Beauty Salon Ban Now in Effect ** The Taliban has announced that all beauty salons in Afghanistan must now close as a one-month deadline ended, despite rare public opposition to the edict (法令). A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry didn't say whether it would use force against salons that do not comply. The ruling that took effect on Tuesday is the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. **US Biden Establishes Monument for Murdered Black Teen ** US President Joe Biden has signed a proclamation creating a National Monument for Emmett Till and his mother on what would have been his 82nd birthday. Emmett Till was black teenager who was lynched in 1955 — his death and the activism (社會運動) of his mother Mamie Till-Mobley helped galvanise the civil rights movement in America. With more, Benji Hyer reports. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 40-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,233 on turnover of 5.9-billion N-T. The market moved slightly lower on Monday after rebounding from an early low, as technical support was seen at around the 17,200 point mark. The bellwether electronics sector came under pressure, but rotational buying remained active, with a focus on tourism, aviation and financial stocks, to help the broader market recoup its early losses. **Premier Seeks to Reassure in US-China Talks ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says Washington has been keeping the government informed about the meeting between U-S Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's Xi Jin-ping. According to the premier, the government here has been informed of details of those talks in regards Taiwan and communications channels on matter between the two sides are "running smoothly." However, Chen says the government will not be releasing details concerning its knowledge of the talks between Blinken and Xi based on "bilateral practices, mutual trust and longstanding tacit understandings." **Tainan Opens Dengue Fever Screening Station ** The Tainan City Health Bureau has established (成立) a dengue fever screening station in the city's Rende District. The move comes after health authorities in Tainan reported the city's 14th dengue fever infection. All of the cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been linked to the Rende District and city officials are advising residents showing symptoms of the disease to visit the screening station, which is located in the activity center in Cheng-Cong Village. City officials are also urging people to clean up possible mosquitoe breeding sites to prevent the further spread of the disease. The Kaohsiung City Government is taking similar action and has opened a dengue fever command center that covers six districts that border Tainan. **US Blinken on China Trip ** US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States remains "clear eyed" about the challenges posed by China, but insists there is agreement on both sides to stabilise the bilateral relationship. He was speaking off the back of a trip to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a sign of potentially thawing (解凍) ties between the two superpowers following months of tensions. Benji Hyer reports from Washington DC. **UAE Qatar Reopen Embassies ** The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have reopened their embassies following a yearslong rift. The two countries issued statements on Monday saying the Qatari Embassy in Abu Dhabi and a Qatari Consulate in Dubai, as well as an Emirati Embassy in Qatar's capital, Doha, had resumed (恢復) operations. The UAE joined Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in imposing a boycott and blockade of Qatar in 2017 in large part over its support for Islamist groups across the Middle East that the other Arab countries consider terrorist organizations. The boycott was officially lifted in January 2021. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Former US president Donald Trump will make history as the first ex-president to face charges in federal court at 3. He's accused of hoarding thousands of classified government documents after leaving office and lying to officials who tried to get them back. It's alleged the US government secrets were stored in a shower, a bathroom, a ballroom and a bedroom in his Mar-a-Lago estate. Mr Trump denies the accusations and is calling the prosecution a "witch hunt." Our US correspondent Benji Hyer is at the courthouse in Miami and on the line...

In the US, at least four people have been killed at a shooting at a teenager's birthday party Dadeville, Alabama. Twenty people were shot and wounded at the party - most were teenagers. Our US correspondent, Benji Hyer reports.

Fears of an invasion have heightened further after Russia extended military drills in Belarus that were due to end overnight. US secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move made him even more worried about an imminent invasion while US vice president Kamala Harris doubled down on the warning issued yesterday by president Joe Biden. She told leaders at the Munich Security Conference that Europe was under "direct threat" and urged unified support for penalties if the Kremlin invades its neighbour. Washington DC correspondent Benji Hyer spoke to Corin Dann.

Benji Hyer asks: What's your moment of 2019? Plus we have a very special surprise at the end of Part 2...

Benji Hyer asks: Who is your 'Personal of the Year'? And, what are your predictions for 2019? Plus we have a very special surprise at the end of the show...

Benji Hyer asks: Is Boris Johnson the most successful British politician in decades?

Benji Hyer asks: What went so wrong for Labour in the General Election? And, is it time to change our voting system to something more proportional?

Benji Hyer asks: What government will we be waking up to on December 13th? What has gone so terribly wrong for the Liberal Democrats?

Benji Hyer asks: Where do you get your election news? And, have the climate strikes achieved nothing?

Benji Hyer asks: Is it right for religious leaders to get involved in political debates? And, will there be another youthquake in the UK general election?

Benji Hyer asks: Would you be comfortable living in a university campus in another country, with all the amazing opportunities and challenges that brings? And he has a very big announcement.

Benji Hyer asks: Is a Conservative majority in the offing, or is it too early to give up on stopping Boris Johnson’s Brexit? And, should the next government pay for free broadband for everyone?

Benji Hyer asks: Will Donald Trump go to jail for trying to undermine his impeachment investigation? And, does a digital influencer boom spell the end for traditional advertising?

Benji Hyer asks: Will you be voting tactically in this election? And, is this going to be the climate change election?

Benji Hyer asks: Is it time we look beyond the two main British political parties?

Benji Hyer asks: Who will win the upcoming general election?

Benji Hyer asks: Would you ever want to become an MP? And, should Facebook follow Twitter and ban political adverts?

Benji Hyer asks: Who should budge first in Brexit – Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, or the EU? And, is the world more unstable than ever?

Benji Hyer asks: What next for the Extinction Rebellion climate change campaigners? And, which trendsetting female figure has inspired you most?

Benji Hyer asks: Should Brexit be delayed?