Podcasts about lai ching

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening  The Tai-Ex opened down 122-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 44,581 on turnover of 8.6-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound (技術性反彈) on Tuesday led by the electronics sector, after tech stocks rallied on Wall Street overnight, while buying also rotated to (輪動至) the financial sector, to give an additional boost to the broader market. Lai touts Shinzo Abe's legacy at Tokyo forum  President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan and Japan face identical security challenges along the First Island Chain. In a pre-recorded address at the inaugural (首屆的) Shinzo Abe and Modern Japan International Research Forum in Tokyo, Lai said the late Prime Minister's declaration that "a Taiwan contingency (緊急事態) is a Japanese contingency" highlights the importance of continued peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The president also used the opportunity to thank Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for continuing Abe's legacy. The forum was cohosted by the National Chengchi University's Shinzo Abe Research Center and the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals think tank… it brought together experts from Taiwan, Japan and the U-S to discuss Abe's legacy and strategy. Hsinchu gas explosion cause under investigation  Fire investigators (調查人員) and police are looking into the cause of an explosion that left two people dead and two others injured in Hsinchu City on Tuesday. The explosion ripped through (炸穿 / 猛烈摧毀) a lunchbox store on Gaocui Road in the city's East District. The blast collapsed a wall onto a neighboring bakery - where the two elderly victims were sleeping. Both were later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Firefighters believe the blast was due gas accumulating (累積 / 聚積) overnight inside the lunchbox store after it closed. US Launches New Attacks on Iran Following Helicopter Incident Bahrain has sounded its missile alert sirens as Iran said it targeted the island nation to retaliate (報復) for US strikes. Iran said it had targeted the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, the island nation in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's Interior Ministry urged (呼籲) the public to seek shelter. The US launched fresh strikes on Iran following the downing of an Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, putting any new peace agreement in jeopardy (陷入危險). Mitch McCann reports. … That was correspondent Mitch McCann. Brazil Crackdown on Smugglers of Cuban Migrants Brazilian police have rescued more than 100 Cuban migrants from human smugglers (走私者 / 偷渡集團) at the northern border with Guyana. Officials say the 108 migrants are in custody while authorities work to regularize (使合法化) their immigration status. Five people have been arrested on smuggling charges. The smugglers, known as "coyotes," charged high fees and provided unsafe travel conditions. The operation, conducted Monday, marks the largest humanitarian rescue in the state. Cuban migration to Brazil has surged since 2022 due to Cuba's economic crisis and U.S. sanctions. More affluent migrants often fly to Sao Paulo, while others travel overland through northern Amazon states. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 51-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 45,388 on turnover of 19.1-billion N-T. The market gained solid ground and closed above the 45,000-point mark for the first time on Monday, amid investor enthusiasm over the artificial intelligence boom. The rise came as some of the world's leading tech companies are in Taiwan for Computex this week - where they're expected to give solid guidance for A-I at a series of forums and keynote speeches. Analysts say Computex-driven business opportunities could help push the market higher for much of this week. Vystrcil says China cannot decide Czech-Taiwanese ties Visiting Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil says China cannot tell the Czech Republic whom to befriend (交朋友). The statement came shortly after Vystrcil arrived in Taiwan on Monday heading a delegation of around 40 people for a four-day visit at the invitation of Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu. Along with meeting with representatives from the K-M-T and the D-P-P, Vystrcil is also slated to hold talks with President Lai Ching-te and other senior government officials this week. MOHW announces that foreign professionals and dependents eligible for long-term care services The Ministry of Health says foreign professionals and their dependents will soon be eligible for long-term care services. According to the ministry, the move means foreign professionals with permanent residency status along with their spouses, children under the age of 18 will have access to the services beginning June 30. Foreign professionals with permanent residency, dependants aged 65 or over or with disabilities will also be eligible. However, eligibilty only applies to those who have legally lived in Taiwan for 10 cumulative years and spent at least 183 days per year here. The health ministry says the move is expected to benefit (造福) between 100 to 200 people. Israel UltraOrthodox Protests Against Military Enlistment Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis have demonstrated across the country against mandatory military enlistment. On Monday, they blocked roads and trains, lit cars on fire, and attacked a soldier. Police struggled to control the crowds with water cannons and horses. The protest disrupted highways and public transportation in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel, but ultra-Orthodox parties have historically secured exemptions. Israel is currently maintaining a simultaneous (同時) military presence in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, in addition to fighting a war with Iran, which has stretched its robust military to the breaking point. The issue is tearing apart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, possibly moving elections up by several weeks this fall after the ultra-Orthodox parties withdrew their support for Netanyahu. Anthropic files for IPO The artificial intelligence company Anthropic says it has filed paperwork for an initial public offering, setting the stage for a blockbuster IPO possibly later this year. The maker of the chatbot Claude will be competing (競爭) with rival OpenAI, as well as SpaceX, both of which are also planning to go public. Ira Spitzer reports from San Francisco. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Der Fall der ehemaligen Peking-Korrespondentin Vivian Wang ist ein ziemlicher Präzedenzfall: Sie wurde aus China rausgeschmissen, weil ihr Medium - die renommierte "New York Times" - den taiwanischen Präsidenten Lai Ching-te während einer Konferenz per Video-Schalte interviewt hat. Die Warnung Pekings ist eine kalkulierte Machtdemonstration. Und auch bei deutschsprachigen Medien könnte die Selbstzensur möglicherweise zunehmen: Man dürfte sich künftig zweimal überlegen, taiwanische Politiker zu interviewen, wenn dies die Stelle des Korrespondenten in China gefährden könnte. Viel Spaß beim Hören der neuen Folge des Beijing Briefing - und ein großes Sorry für die lange Podcast-Pause!Kontakt: BeijingBriefing@gmail.com 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 up 399-points this morning from Friday's close, at 42,667 on turnover of 27.5-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Friday to rebound to back over the 42,000 point mark following a losing run - as regional markets advanced following modest gains on Wall Street overnight after pressure from the bond market eased and oil prices fell. Lai touts his child allowance proposal during visit to Chiayi temple President Lai Ching-te has been touting (宣傳) his proposal to boost childcare benefits and increases to farmers' allowances. Speaking during a visit to the Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, Lai said families will receive 5,000 N-T per month for each child from birth through the age of 18 starting from next January. According to Lai, that will ensure (確保) that payments for each child between those ages will reach 1.08-million N-T by adulthood if payments continue through the full period. Lai said parents will be advised to set aside part of the allowance for the children's college or future business plans. THSR original schedule cancelled from 8AM due to signal problems The High Speed ​​Rail Corporation cancelled it regular scheduled trains at 8AM today following a signal malfunction on Miaoli section of line. According to the network operator, three trains are running per hour and will depart from Nangang Station southbound and Zuoying Station northbound, stopping at each station. Departure times from the terminal stations are on the hour, 20 minutes past the hour, and 40 minutes past the hour. The High Speed ​​Rail Corporation says signal anomaly occurred during pre-operational preparations (準備工作) earlier this morning and repairs are ongoing and it will release updates on the status of services when they are available. US Downplays Hopes for Iran Deal U.S. leader Donald Trump said he had told his representatives not to rush (急速行進) into any deal with Iran, as his administration played down ​hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war that had been raised a day earlier. Trump indicated the U.S. blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would "remain in full force and effect until ‌an agreement is reached, certified, and signed." Joe Federman has details. That was Joe Federman. Madrid Protests Against Rising Housing Costs Thousands have rallied in central Madrid against spiraling housing costs that have priced many Spaniards out of the market. Protesters chanted slogans and held banners highlighting their right to housing. The country has a tradition of homeownership and limited public housing (公共住宅), with rents driven up by tourism and immigration. Last month, Spain's government passed a 7 billion euro plan to build more public housing. However, a decree to extend temporary rent freezes did not pass Parliament. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 找工作不再焦慮！ 參加YS鋼鐵人職場體驗計畫，讓你在職場脫穎而出！ 專為18-29歲青年打造的免費職涯資源： 1.職涯導師陪伴精準求職 2.60小時實戰工作坊 3.知名企業3-5天職場體驗 6/14前報名迎戰三大職場試煉，煉就鋼鐵通才：https://sofm.pse.is/94vew3 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

In this episode, I sit down with China analyst Gordon Chang to understand his view of the recent Trump–Xi talks in Beijing.Who had the upper hand? Why did President Donald Trump take 17 CEOs of America's largest corporations with him? And what was accomplished?While Xi Jinping tries to present America as a declining power and China as an ascending one, the reality is that China faces several grave problems, Chang says: a collapsing demography, an ailing economy, and a military in disarray after a series of purges.But China also holds two strong cards: a near-monopoly on rare-earth processing and on critical pharmaceutical precursors.At the same time, China is winning the information war, Chang argues.“Xi Jinping has been beating the crap out of us in the information warfare space, and that's our fault,” he said.Where is the future of U.S.–China relations headed? Will Trump call Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te—something no U.S. president has done in 47 years? How are shifting alliances in the region reshaping the geopolitical chessboard? And how close are we to a major confrontation? Is the “Thucydides Trap” narrative real?Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Subscribe now for all episodes and no ads! Danny and Derek have reconciled with their disappointment in the new Star Wars film and can now bring you the news roundup. This week: in Iran, talks stall as Trump weighs continuing the war (2:00), the Islamic Republic attempts to institutionalize control over the Strait of Hormuz (8:49), and fuel protests spread around the world (13:09); the IDF continues daily bombardments in Lebanon while Hezbollah drones restrict IDF ground operations (15:10); Trump considers a call with Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te (18:32); Xi and Putin stage an uneventful summit in Beijing (21:47);Sudanese forces gain ground in Blue Nile State (23:23); a U.S.-Nigerian operation kills an Islamic State leader (25:26); Ebola spreads from northeastern DRC (27:45); in NATO news, the U.S. reduces its forces in Europe (30:25); Labour challengers emerge against Keir Starmer (33:36); Peru confirms a Fujimori-Sanchez runoff in its presidential election (35:23); Washington manufactures new pretexts against Cuba (36:49); Trump seeks a permanent U.S. presence in Greenland (41:15); and “Golden Dome” costs are estimated to reach $1.2 trillion (43:55). Note: After the time of recording, Donald Trump ⁠walked back his decision to reduce US troops in Poland⁠. Additionally, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has changed due to Oman's interest in collecting "tolls." Don't forget to ⁠subscribe to our YouTube channel⁠, now featuring livestreams with Danny and Derek every Wednesday at 8pm ET. Join the Discord (paid subscribers get access to all channels). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny and Derek have reconciled with their disappointment in the new Star Wars film and can now bring you the news roundup. This week: in Iran, talks stall as Trump weighs continuing the war (2:00), the Islamic Republic attempts to institutionalize control over the Strait of Hormuz (8:49), and fuel protests spread around the world (13:09); the IDF continues daily bombardments in Lebanon while Hezbollah drones restrict IDF ground operations (15:10); Trump considers a call with Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te (18:32); Xi and Putin stage an uneventful summit in Beijing (21:47); Sudanese forces gain ground in Blue Nile State (23:23); a U.S.-Nigerian operation kills an Islamic State leader (25:26); Ebola spreads from northeastern DRC (27:45); in NATO news, the U.S. reduces its forces in Europe (30:25); Labour challengers emerge against Keir Starmer (33:36); Peru confirms a Fujimori-Sanchez runoff in its presidential election (35:23); Washington manufactures new pretexts against Cuba (36:49); Trump seeks a permanent U.S. presence in Greenland (41:15); and “Golden Dome” costs are estimated to reach $1.2 trillion (43:55).Note: After the time of recording, Donald Trump ⁠⁠walked back his decision to reduce US troops in Poland⁠⁠. Additionally, ⁠⁠the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has changed⁠⁠ due to Oman's interest in collecting "tolls."Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lai Ching-te's tenure as the head of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities of China's Taiwan region has been marked by a series of missteps and failures that have not only strained cross-Strait relations but also undermined the island's development prospects.Contrary to his shameless claim in a speech on Wednesday marking the two-year anniversary of his tenure that he has maintained the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the DPP authorities have stubbornly adhered to a "Taiwan independence" stance, peddled separatist fallacies and obstructed cross-Strait exchanges.That speech was a response, if not a desperate "don't desert me" plea, to US President Donald Trump's Friday interview, in which the US leader stated, "We're not looking to have somebody say, 'Let's go independent because the United States is backing us'." This remark dealt a heavy blow to Lai.In his speech — yet another litany of lies and deceit — Lai openly groveled to Washington, begging for an opportunity to tell the US leader that he wishes to continue purchasing US weapons, which he misleadingly labeled as essential to peace. Ironically, he tried to assure his audience that the island's future would not be determined by external forces just moments after trying to solicit US support.In an attempt to conceal his secessionist nature, Lai peddled a so-called "Taiwan subject mentality" in his speech, openly seeking to sever the island from the Chinese motherland.This "soft independence" is hidden and pernicious, no less harming than the DPP authorities' overt political separatist sloganeering.Evidently anxious over the US leader's remarks, Lai posted a so-called "five-point speech" on Facebook on Sunday, in which he called black white, barefacedly claiming that his authorities are the protectors of regional peace. Yet to his horror, that "carefully worded" message failed to elicit the hoped for response from Washington — explaining why Lai doubled down on his efforts to appeal to the US not to give up on him.If Lai truly intends to show the world that he is not a secessionist and that he is committed to peace and stability, he should simply pledge his support for the 1992 Consensus and stop fawning over the US.The true color of his secessionist feather is laid bare by the extraordinary lengths he has gone to in an attempt to conceal his separatist nature — and his fear of losing US support for his political agenda.The predicament Taiwan faces today stems from the DPP authorities' long-standing practice of placing ideological manipulation above reality, staking the island's security on the will of the US, and tying the future of Taiwan people to the dangerous path of seeking "Taiwan independence" through reliance on external forces. Once Washington shows even signs of shifting priorities, that layer of illusion surrounding the DPP authorities' reckless approach will be stripped away. In short, "Taiwan independence" is a dead end.Lai's latest remarks do not signal any abandonment of "Taiwan independence", but rather a repackaging of it in more carefully crafted rhetoric."Taiwan independence" is fundamentally incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The expansion of separatist forces advocating "Taiwan independence" will ultimately push Taiwan toward a dangerous abyss — a trajectory that runs counter not only to the interests of the Chinese nation, but also to the strategic interests of the US. In this sense, curbing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait serve the shared interests of both China and the US. Lai's remarks further underscore the reality that "Taiwan independence" has become a common challenge confronting both Beijing and Washington.There is but one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of China. No matter what Lai says or does, he will not stop the historical trend toward reunification, which is unstoppable, as a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday.Secessionist /sɪˈseʃənɪst/分裂主义者，脱离联邦者• Fallacy /ˈfæləsi/谬论，谬误• Litany /ˈlɪtəni/唠叨，一连串（枯燥的叙述或抱怨）• Grovel /ˈɡrɒvl/卑躬屈膝，摇尾乞怜• Solicit /səˈlɪsɪt/乞求，争取，征求• Pernicious /pəˈnɪʃəs/有害的，恶性的，流毒深远的• Barefacedly /ˈbeəfeɪsɪdli/厚颜无耻地，公然地• Fawn /fɔːn/阿谀奉承，巴结• Predicament /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/困境，窘境• Trajectory /trəˈdʒektəri/轨迹，弹道

① Xi calls for higher-quality China-Russia strategic coordination. What does this say about the depth and breadth of ties?(00:45) ② Beijing and Washington reach preliminary trade outcomes. What new signals does this send?(14:45) ③ Taiwan Affairs Office slams Lai Ching-te as "disruptor of peace" and "creator of crises" following May 20 speech(25:10) ④ Local governments in China race to build "token factories." What trend does this reflect?(33:55) ⑤ Tesla abandons plans to build an EV factory in India. Why?(43:30)

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 40,883 on turnover of 11-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday, as investors reacted to a decline on Wall Streeet at the end of last week and opted to shun big tech stocks. With analysts saying the decline cames as the market is pulling back from recent record highs and moving into consolidation mode. MOFA talks hopes for Trump to talk with Lai Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi says the government would welcome a direct call between U-S President Donald Trump and President Lai Ching-te. The statement comes as Chen told reporters that Trump's recent remarks that arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China and he was still undecided on new arms ​sales to the island. Trump also appeared to suggest that he was seeking to speak with Lai about the issue - albeit (雖然，儘管) without actually naming him. According to Chen, Trump's remarks had "caused some unnecessary concern" in Taiwan, despite the ​government believing that "nothing has changed." The deputy foreign minister is also stressing that the government is seeking confirmation from Washington about whether Trump wants to speak to Lai and is also using all available channels to understand what the U-S side is actually thinking. Taiwan students win eight awards at world robotics competition Taiwan students have won eight awards at this year's Robofest World Competition - which took place at the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. They bagged two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze at the international robotics competition. Dozens of Taiwanese elementary, junior high, and senior high school students competed against teams from 25 countries. Taiwan's representative office in Chicago has presented congratulatory messages to the award-winning students, commending (讚揚) their dedication (奉獻、投注（時間、精力等）) and encouraging them to continue striving for excellence in their future endeavors. Israel Intercepts Flotilla Headed to Gaza The Israeli military has intercepted boats in international waters off the coast of Cyprus, part of a flotilla attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. More than 50 vessels departed from Turkey last week. Organizers say the boats were intercepted Monday 250 nautical miles from Gaza's shores. Cypriot authorities confirmed the interceptions on Monday took place outside its territorial waters. Israel's Foreign Ministry called the flotilla a provocation (挑釁) while Turkey condemned the intervention as piracy. The blockade has been in effect since 2007, restricting movement in and out of Gaza. Previous attempts to breach the blockade have failed. Organizers hope to draw attention to Gaza's living conditions. Tanzania's President, Dangote hold talks in Dar es Salaam amid refinery debate Tanzania's President held investment talks in Dar es Salaam amid growing regional competition over a refinery project's location (地點). Isaac Lukando reports. Mexico Uruguay Aid Arrives in Cuba A ship carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico and Uruguay has arrived in Havana to help ease Cuba's spiriling crises. The ship, which left from a Mexican port, includes food and personal hygiene items, according to a government statement. Cuba's food industry minister says the aid arrives during a time of great economic hardship, worsened by the U.S. blockade. The aid will prioritize children, the elderly, and vulnerable (易受影響的，易受傷害的) families. Cuba's economic and electric crises have deepened this year after the U.S. invaded Venezuela in January, halting (停頓) critical oil shipments. A severe gas shortage and widespread blackouts continue across the island. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The exchanges between the Chinese and US leaders on Thursday and Friday have provided much-needed strategic guidance for the future of China-US relations.The two sides agreed to build a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability". The "constructive strategic stability" means positive stability with cooperation as the mainstay, healthy stability with competition within proper limits, constant stability with manageable differences and lasting stability with expectable peace.The new vision for relations between the world's two largest economies indicates that both sides recognize the need to prevent confrontation and manage differences prudently. The Taiwan question remains the most important one among all the issues affecting bilateral ties. If it is handled properly, the Sino-US relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, China and the United States will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.Yet certain forces in Washington continue to treat the Taiwan question as a "card" they can play to maximize US gains while claiming they value peace and stability in the region. Moves such as arms sales, political collusion and military signaling send the wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces on the Chinese island. "Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. The more external forces embolden separatist elements, the greater the risks to regional stability.The recent remarks made by the secessionist-minded leader of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, via virtual link, at a so-called "democracy summit" in Copenhagen, once again exposed the separatist nature of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities. By attempting to portray his authorities as fighting for the "values" of the West, Lai sought external support for his separatist agenda while deliberately provoking cross-Strait tensions.The timing of Lai's remarks was particularly telling. They were delivered shortly before the US president's visit to Beijing.However, US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News aired on Friday, warned the Taiwan authorities against pursuing "independence" under the illusion of unconditional US backing."They have somebody there now that wants to go independent," he said. "They want to get into a war" because "they figure they have the US behind them".Trump poured cold water on that, saying he is not looking to fight a war thousands of miles away.Yet the US leader also described Taiwan in the interview as "a very good negotiating chip" in dealing with Beijing — a remark that reflects a transactional and exploitative approach to the Taiwan question.For China-US relations to achieve steady, sound and sustainable development, the stumbling block of "Taiwan independence" must be decisively removed. The US should recognize the true nature of "Taiwan independence" forces — as alterers of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, disruptors of cross-Strait peace, and troublemakers in regional affairs.Policymakers in Washington need to realize that the historical trend of the national reunification of China is irresistible. They should demonstrate genuine respect for China's core interests and major concerns. Beijing has made it clear that the Taiwan question is a red line in China-US ties that cannot be crossed.The outcomes achieved during the latest China-US economic and trade consultations, held in the Republic of Korea on Wednesday, demonstrate once again that despite differences and competition, China and the US still share extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation.No one should underestimate the complexity of managing China-US relations. Competition will continue to exist. Differences will not disappear overnight. But what matters most is whether both sides can manage these differences rationally, avoid strategic miscalculation and uphold the broader interests of peace and development.China and the US have more common interests than differences. The US has much to gain from a healthy Sino-US relationship and much to lose from playing unilateral tricks, zero-sum games or the "Taiwan card".Only when both sides address each other's core concerns, and especially when the US handles the Taiwan question with due prudence, can they jointly turn the agreed vision for bilateral ties into reality.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening  The Tai-Ex opened down 102 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 41,795. Turnover (成交金額) stood at 12.8 billion NT. The market rose again on Tuesday after briefly reaching the 42,000-point mark. The rise was led by major electronics stocks (電子類股), after U.S. tech shares gained on Wall Street overnight. ---- Lai says obstruction of Eswatini visit proof of consolidating authoritarianism President Lai Ching-te says China's alleged obstruction (阻撓) of his state visit to Eswatini shows that authoritarian governments are becoming more united. Lai made the comments in a pre-recorded speech for the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. He said the world is now at an important turning point in the competition between democracy and authoritarianism (威權主義). Lai said authoritarian governments are using military threats, economic pressure, cyberattacks, and grey zone tactics. He said these actions are creating serious challenges for peace, stability, and democracy. Lai also said China is willing to damage aviation safety and order for political reasons. ---- CDC to purchase over 7-million trivalent flu vaccines  The Centers for Disease Control says it plans to buy more than 7 million trivalent (三價的) flu vaccine doses (疫苗劑量) this year. That is 35,000 more doses than last year. The CDC says the vaccines will include about 6.85 million standard flu vaccine doses and about 200,000 enhanced immune-response vaccine doses. This is the first time the CDC has bought enhanced immune-response flu vaccines for the government-funded immunization program (免疫接種計畫). The vaccines are being bought from GSK, Sanofi, Adimmune, and TTY Biopharm. The first phase of the free government flu vaccine program will begin as usual on October 1. ---- Lebanon Militant Group Calls for Withdrawal from Israel Talks The leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is calling on Lebanon to withdraw (退出) from direct talks with Israel. Naim Kassem said the talks are a concession (讓步). He said Lebanon should hold indirect talks instead, through a third party. Lebanon and Israel are set to hold another round of talks in Washington starting Thursday. The talks will focus on how to end the war and discuss future relations. Although the U.S. helped arrange a ceasefire (停火) on April 17, Hezbollah and Israel have continued to attack each other every day. Hezbollah confirmed that one of its commanders was killed in an airstrike near Beirut last week. Lebanon's health minister says 380 people have been killed since the ceasefire. That brings the total death toll to more than 2,800 since the war began in March. ---- Modi heads to UAE and Europe with energy and trade on agenda Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the Middle East and Europe this week. The trip is being seen as one of his most important diplomatic visits (外交行程) of the year. Energy and trade (貿易) are expected to be major topics during the trip. Ishan Garg has more from New Delhi. ---- Eurovision Down to Final 10 Ten countries have moved on to the Eurovision Song Contest final after the first semifinal (準決賽). They include Finland, one of the favorites, and Israel. Israel's participation has led five countries to boycott (抵制) the contest. Israeli singer Noam Bettan heard both cheers and protest shouts when he performed the rock ballad "Michelle." Moldova, Croatia, and Sweden also made it to the final. Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Portugal, and San Marino were eliminated. The second semifinal will be held Thursday. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators (示威者) are planning to protest Israel's participation before Saturday's final. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

We talk President Lai Ching-te traveling to Eswatini on a rather special airplane, Taiwan likely to be a topic of conversation between US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping next week, a rat problem and more. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened 121 points higher this morning at 41,259. Turnover reached $20.3 billion NT. On Wednesday, the market set more closing records. Tech stocks helped support the market after a rally (上漲) on Wall Street overnight. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing closed unchanged (持平). But investors bought other chip stocks (晶片股), which gave the market strong support. ---- MOFA says Taiwan is working with allies to build drone supply chain center The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan is working to become the Asia-Pacific center for the democratic drone (無人機) supply chain (供應鏈). The head of MOFA's Drone Diplomacy Task Force, Chiang Zhen-wei, made the statement at the Taiwanese-German Aerospace Conference in Taipei. Chiang said Taiwan plays an important role in the global "non-red" drone supply chain because of its strong manufacturing abilities. He said the task force is using Taiwan's experience in "chip diplomacy" to help develop the drone industry. He added that drones could become an important part of Taiwan's national defense (國防). At the same time, Taiwan is working with allies and like-minded countries to promote drone-related projects. ---- Lai gives top honor to Michael Fonte for supporting Taiwan-U.S. ties President Lai Ching-te has given one of Taiwan's highest honors (榮譽) for foreign nationals (外國人士) to Michael J. Fonte. Fonte is a former head of the DPP's mission in the United States. He received the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon at a ceremony at the Presidential Office. Officials said Fonte was honored for his important work in promoting Taiwan-U.S. relations. Fonte first came to Taiwan in 1967 as a missionary (傳教士). He worked with farmers in Taichung, Changhua, and Miaoli. ---- White House says deal may be coming to end Iran conflict (衝突) U.S. President Donald Trump says talks with Iran are making progress. Reports say a one-page memo (備忘錄) is being prepared. It could help end the war in the Middle East. But Trump is also warning that he could resume (恢復) attacks on Iran. His comments came 24 hours after his Secretary of State said Operation Epic Fury had ended. Simon Marks reports from Washington. ----- Search continues for missing U.S. soldiers in Morocco More than 600 military personnel (軍事人員) from several countries are searching for two U.S. soldiers missing in Morocco. They disappeared during U.S.-African military exercises. The search is now in its fifth day. Teams are looking in underwater caves and along the Atlantic coast near the training area. Officials believe the soldiers may have been on a recreational hike (休閒健行) and may have fallen into the ocean. The African Lion military drills include more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 countries. The drills are set to end Friday. Moroccan and U.S. forces are taking part in the search, along with aircraft and vessels (船隻). 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 213 points higher this morning at 40-983. Turnover reached $21.3 billion NT On Tuesday, the market continued to set new closing records. Investors bought shares across different sectors. But gains were limited because Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing entered a period of consolidation. ---- MOFA says Paraguay president's visit shows strong ties The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Paraguay President Santiago Pena will visit Taiwan later this week. The ministry says the visit shows that ties (關係) between Taiwan and Paraguay remain strong, despite pressure from China. Pena will lead a group of business representatives to Taiwan for a four-day visit. He will meet with President Lai Ching-te and other senior officials. Officials say the talks will focus on investment, international cooperation (合作), and ways to strengthen relations between the two sides. The visit comes after reports that Beijing has been pressuring Paraguay to cut ties with Taiwan and recognize China instead. ---- Taipei to launch new anti-rat campaign Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city will launch a new round of sanitation (環境衛生) measures to deal with rat problems. The city will also introduce "rodent control specialists" to help residents. The move comes after many people posted online about seeing more rats in parts of Taipei. Chiang says households will be able to apply for a specialist to visit their home. The specialist will check for signs of rats and give advice on prevention (預防) and control. Officials say the specialists will help find where the rats are coming from, improve home environments, and support better pest control. ---- Trump pauses Project Freedom, citing progress on Iran deal U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. is pausing (暫停) Project Freedom. The project has involved the U.S. Navy escorting (護送) ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote on social media that the pause is because of "great progress" on a possible deal with Iran. Nick Harper reports from Washington. ---- Princess of Wales to make first overseas trip since cancer treatment Britain's Princess of Wales will travel to Italy next week. It will be her first official overseas visit since her cancer diagnosis (診斷) and treatment. Kensington Palace says Kate will spend two days in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy. The visit will focus on her work in early childhood development. The trip will highlight the "Reggio Emilia approach." This is an educational idea that focuses on relationships, the learning environment, and the community in a child's development. Kate said in 2024 that she was receiving chemotherapy (化療) for cancer. Last year, she said she was in remission (病情緩解). She has slowly made more public appearances since then. But this will be her first overseas trip without Prince William. Early childhood development is one of Kate's main areas of work. She launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021. ---- That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has finally visited Eswatini where his arrival had been expected since April. The state visit was cancelled last minute, and Taiwan blames China - saying Beijing applied pressure on African countries not to allow the plane carrying President Ching-te to use their airspace on the way to the Kingdom of Eswatini. We look at the significance of this visit and Taiwan's diplomatic ties to the Southern Africa kingdom.Also, we have a fire chat with Ghanian musician Stonebwoy, whose Accra-famous music festival known as BHIM is going global, headlining at the OVO Wembley Arena in London this August.Presenter : Charles Gitonga Producer: Rukia Bulle, Blessing Aderogba and Mark Wilberforce Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Bella Twine Editors: Priyanka Sippy and Maryam Abdalla

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 301-points this morning from last Thursday's close, at 39,228 on turnover of 15.3-billion N-T. The market fell on Thursday with a dramatic 922-point intraday swing amid analyst warnings about overheating in the market, which surpassed the historic 40,000 threshold just three prior to that. Taiwan deepens medical cooperation with Eswatini, eyes AI integration Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says Taiwan is expanding its long-standing medical cooperation with Eswatini, with future efforts to focus on digital health and artificial intelligence applications. Shih made the remarks on the sidelines of a health forum in Taipei as President Lai Ching-te is continuing a state visit to Southern Afican kingdom. According to Shih, Taiwan's medical mission in Eswatini has operated for years, initially focusing on clinical services (臨床服務 ) and personnel training with support from Taipei Medical University. The health minister says the next phase will center on adopting Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources, an international standard for medical records that could help Eswatini develop AI-assisted healthcare systems. 83-year-old arrested after Tainan arson and axe attack Police in Tainan have arrested an 83-year-old man after he set fire to a relative's home, attacked three people with an axe and stole an ambulance. The city's Fire Bureau says firefighters were attacked by the man when the entered the townhouse on Xinle Road in the city's South District after arriving at the scene and finding smoke pouring out of the building. Two emergency service personnel and one female resident of the building were injured in the attack and taken to the National Cheng Kung University Hospital for treatment (治療). The man ran out of the building and jumped into an empty ambulance before fleeing the scene. Police followed the stolen ambulance to the Yongkang District before arresting the suspect. Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Kills 3 The World Health Organization says that a suspected hantavirus (漢他病毒) outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has killed three people and sickened at least three others. In a statement to The Associated Press on Sunday, the WHO said an investigation was ongoing but that at least one case of hantavirus had been confirmed. One of the patients was in intensive care in a South African hospital, the U.N.'s health agency said. The company that runs the cruise said it was trying to evacuate two crew members who were sick and still onboard. The outbreak happened on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship. US on WH Correspondents Dinner Attack Authorities have more details about last weekend's White House Correspondents' dinner attack. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports on what Shakira Free Concert in Rio Shakira has performed a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian city's mayor said 2 million people attended the event on Saturday night. It was part of her “Women No Longer Cry” world tour. The performance is part of Rio's effort to boost the economy after major festivities such as the famous Carnival and New Year's Eve festivities and before the monthlong Saint John's Day celebrations in June. The mayor said the show could generate (產生) significant financial returns. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新加坡，開啟最過癮的海陸雙享假期！ 蘋果旅遊 推出新加坡與郵輪專案，結合新加坡城市魅力與豪華郵輪體驗，迪士尼探險號或雲頂夢號任你選，一次滿足海陸度假享受，詳情請洽蘋果旅遊！

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 84-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 39,531 on turnover of 24-billion N-T. The market closed nearly 2-per cent higher on Monday, despite pulling back after topping the 40,000-point mark for the first time in history. New CEC chair outlines agency's key priorities The newly appointed chair of the Central Election Commission has been sworn-in. Speaking at a handover ceremony, Michael You thanked President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai for their support and he pledged to lead the commission as a neutral, fair, objective (客觀的) and professional body. You also outlined the agency's key priorities - those being upcoming elections, referendum procedures, absentee voting (缺席投票) and the political rights of naturalized Chinese spouses. You was a member of the D-P-P before leaving the party in 2019 and previously served as the chairman of the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation. Man filmed holding sea turtle on Taiwan island may face fine The Pingtung District Prosecutors' Office says a man filmed holding a sea turtle while visiting Xiaoliuqiu is facing a fine of up to 300,000 N-T. The statement comes after the man was reported by a member of the public on Sunday afternoon after he was seen touching a sea turtle near Vase Rock. According to the Coast Guard Administration, the person who reported the incident also provided video footage of the encounter and officers later identified the man based on his clothing in the video. He was found by Coast Guard personnel near the shoreline (海岸線) and taken in for questioning. Coast Guard officials say the man, in his 50s, is a Chinese national who is visiting relatives in Taiwan. British King & Queen arrive in DC Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilia have arrived in the US for a 4-day visit, which will include a state dinner at the White House and an address to Congress. The royal visit is seen as an opportunity to smooth over (緩和) tense relations and bolster ties between the UK and US. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. Canada PM Announces Gov Investment Fund Canada's prime minister says the country is developing a government-owned investment fund. The fund will invest in major Canadian industrial projects in areas like energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture and technology. It will start at $18 billion. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that the federal government will provide funds alongside private investors. The money will help fund projects that Carney's government is focused on building as Canada seeks to diversify away from the United States. Sovereign wealth funds invest in assets such as stocks, bonds and real estate. They are typically funded by a country's budgetary surplus (預算盈餘), which Canada currently doesn't have. The announcement came a day before Carney's government is due to announce its spring economic update. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 帶爸媽出國怕吵架

We talk President Lai Ching-te's nixed state visit to Eswatini, the central government's general budget plan moving forward after more than six months in limbo and more. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 93-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 37,971 on turnover of 12.9-billion N-T. The market closed at another new high on Wednesday as buying in the electronics sector continued amid strong global demand. Analysts say the local main board kept moving higher, led by tech stocks on the back of continuing strong global demand for A-I applications resilient to geopolitical unease. LY committee slams China after Lai forced to cancel Eswatini visit The Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee has passed a resolution condemning Beijing for allegedly coercing three African countries into revoking overflight permits for President Lai Ching-te's planned trip to Eswatini, forcing the trips cancellation. The motion denouncing Beijing's "coercion" of third countries to revoke (撤銷) overflight permits for Taiwan's head of state was introduced to the committee by D-P-P lawmakers The proposal received cross-party backing and passed without objection. According to D-P-P lawmaker Puma Shen, China used economic leverage to force other countries to revoke flight permits in direct interference in matters of national sovereignty. Economics minister touts Taiwan now sourcing 60% of crude oil from US Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says the government has significantly increased its reliance on the U-S for crude oil imports -- which now account for about 60-per cent of total supply. The move marks a sharp rise from previous levels. According 2024 data, about 30-per cent of Taiwan's crude oil imports previously came from the U-S, with most of the remainder sourced from the Middle East. Speaking at a legislative committee heairng, Kung said C-P-C and Formosa Petrochemical have both adjusted shipping routes, with most cargoes now avoiding the Persian Gulf and instead transiting through the Red Sea and other export channels. The economics minister went on to stress that Taiwan currently maintains (維持) crude oil reserves equivalent to about 140 days of consumption. EU envoys agree on Ukraine loan European Union ambassadors have agreed on a loan (借款) for Ukraine worth more than 100 billion dollars. The announcement came after Kyiv said that Russian oil is once again flowing through a pipeline connecting Hungary and Slovakia. William Denselow reports from Brussels. Canada PM Defends Policy on US Trade Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says that Washington cannot dictate (決定，規定) the terms of the continental trade deal known as USMCA. He spoke to reporters on Wednesday in Ottawa and acknowledged (承認) the challenges ahead of the agreement's review in July. The deal has linked the North American economies since the 1990s but faces issues due to the Trump administration's tariff policies. Carney stresses the need for negotiations to address trade irritants (刺激物). He responded to reports of U.S. demands for concessions, highlighting Canada's strengths and diversification efforts. Carney also defended Canada's trade policies, including protecting dairy and opposing the "Buy Canadian" policy criticism. 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」 2026/5/31前至中國信託LINE官方帳號輸入「母親節拿優惠」玩互動遊戲，免費領勝博殿、雞湯大叔…等多家餐廳優惠券，現省超過300元！首次綁定LINE個人化服務再送10點OPENPOINT。 加入中國信託LINE官方帳號 https://sofm.pse.is/92ugyf -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

① We take a look at Mozambican President Daniel Chapo's China visit and the outlook of cooperation between the two sides. (00:55) ② Taiwan's Lai Ching-te has canceled a trip to Eswatini after some countries denied overflight permission for his aircraft. Why are those countries justified to do so? (15:53) ③ Japan's Sanae Takaichi has sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine. Why is this action a provocation against international justice? (24:40) ④ Canada's Mark Carney has announced a 24-people advisory committee on economic ties with the United States, as Ottawa braces for trade talks with Washington. How does the talks' prospect look? (33:00) ⑤ We explore how city-based amateur soccer games across China are translating into real economic activities? (40:35)

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 22-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 37,627 on turnover of 8.3-billion N-T. The market closed at yet another record high on Tuesday after tech stocks soared on the back of continuing investor optimism over the development of artificial intelligence infrastructure and applications. Lai says Taiwan's wishes to Eswatini's King 'unaffected' by trip cancellation President Lai Ching-te says "Taiwan's sincere wishes" to Eswatini's King Mswati III on his Ruby jubilee will not be affected, despite political interference by China forcing him to cancel his planned visit to the African diplomatic ally. Taking to social media, Lai said he "regretted" to inform the public that he had to suspend his trip on the advice of his national security team, but Taiwan continues to cherish its friendship with Eswatini … … and he will send special envoys to attend events marking the 40th anniversary of the monarch's accession (登基) to the throne and the king's 58th birthday." The Presidential Office is blaming "economic coercion" by China the cancellation after the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar rescinded (撤銷) overflight permission for Lai's chartered plane. General budget plan advances to committee review The Cabinet's 2026 general budget proposal has been sent to committee review after Premier Cho Jung-tai briefed lawmakers on its planning. The budget had been stalled in the Legislature for more than six months, prior to Cho briefing lawmakers on the compilation (編輯;編製) of the budget and answering questions during a legislative hearing on Tuesday. According to the premier, certain budget items have been deferred due to concerns over parity among public servants and constitutional issues. Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang presided over the hearing - after which he announced that the proposal would be sent to the Finance Committee and distributed to other committees in accordance with a set schedule. Teenager Charged After Synogogue Arson Attack A teenage boy has been charged following an alleged (據稱) arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London. Police say the incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Jewish sites across the capital. Mike Jagassar reports from London. Spain Approves Plan to Tackle Housing Crisis Spain's government has approved a major plan to tackle (處理) the country's housing crisis. Rising rental and housing costs have priced many Spaniards out of the market, despite a recent economic boom. The new plan, worth 7 billion euros, triples government investment in public housing over the next four years. It ensures subsidized housing cannot be reclassified after a few years. It also includes help for young renters and home buyers. About 40% of the money will grow the public housing supply, while 30% will go toward property renovations. The rest will focus on subsidies, especially for young people. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

We talk KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun returning from her China trip, President Lai Ching-te being slated to visit Eswatini later this month and more. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The US government has pushed for years for a war with China, selling billions of dollars of weapons to separatists in Taiwan. However, those plans are falling apart, after the leader of the KMT, the Nationalist Party based in Taipei, took a historic trip to the mainland, promoting peace. Ben Norton explains the importance of Cheng Li-wun's meeting with Xi Jinping, and the complex political history of Taiwan. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiDtfdBYHBQ Topics 0:00 KMT leader visits Beijing 1:28 US "prickly porcupine" strategy 2:09 KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party 2:48 Taiwan's ruling party DPP 3:27 Nancy Pelosi visit 4:17 Taiwan's DPP supports Israel 4:42 Fears of new Ukraine 5:22 US war plans 6:22 US arms sales to Taiwan 7:09 USA uses Taiwan as proxy 8:12 (CLIP) KMT leader on Ukraine 9:08 Is Taiwan the next Ukraine? 9:28 Elections results in 2024 10:12 Lai Ching-te is unpopular 10:54 Iran war hurts Taiwan 11:48 Energy crisis 12:27 TSMC and advanced chips 13:45 Neoliberalism 14:10 Developmental state 14:54 Economic insecurity 15:14 Trump tariff threats 15:48 Beijing does not want war 17:12 Beijing opposes separatism 18:06 UN: Taiwan is part of China 18:50 One China policy 19:46 Map of Taiwan recognition 20:05 List of Taiwan recognition 20:45 Cross-strait relations 22:19 Rising trade 23:13 One country, two systems 24:31 US military bases 24:58 Peaceful reunification 25:27 Poll: Taiwan independence 26:09 Future leader of Taiwan? 26:48 Divisions within KMT 27:27 Modern history of Taiwan 29:05 Chiang Kai-shek 29:41 Democracy? 30:46 Cold War One propaganda 31:39 Sun Yat-sen 34:40 Historic step for peace 36:14 Outro

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 99-points this morning from last week's close, at 32,671 on turnover of 5.9-billion N-T. The market slumped 600 points last Thursday before the long-weekend holiday - despite Wall Street moving higher overnight. Republican congressional delegation visits Taiwan The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a U-S Republican congressional delegation led by Zach Nunn is visiting Taiwan this week for a seven trip and will meet with President Lai Ching-te. Nunn is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee's National Security Task Force. Along with meeting Lai, the delegation will also be holding talks with other senior officials to discuss Taiwan-US relations, regional security, economic and trade cooperation, and developments in the Taiwan Strait. Plastic supplies to remain sufficient amid oil concerns The Ministry of Economic Affairs says supplies of plastic products remain stable despite rising oil prices. The statement comes amid concerns over potential shortages (短缺) of plastic items and higher prices caused by the war against Iran and subsequent closing of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the economics ministry, inventory checks across 350 shopping districts around Taiwan had found plastic bag shortages in 42 districts and in 284 of 1,033 markets. The ministry is urgung consumers and businesses not to panic-buy plastic products and is insisting that C-P-C- will boost production to ease (緩解) fears of shortages. Moscow says "no comments" on Trump's threats to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz The Kremlin says it would to comment on the US President Donald Trump's statements on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump earlier warned Iran it will see major US attacks if no deal is reached with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday. Our correspondent Daria Bondarchuk reports from the Russian capital. Afghanistan Flooding Afghanistan's disaster management authority says extreme weather has caused widespread flooding and landslides, killing at least 110 people. Another seven are missing. Storms began about 12 days ago, affecting most of the country's provinces. Over the past 24 hours, 11 people have died, and six have been injured. T he Defense Ministry used a helicopter to rescue two people stranded (被困住) by floodwater in Herat. Authorities issued weather warnings for Tuesday, urging people to avoid rivers and flood-prone areas. Two major highways remain closed due to landslides. Canada BC VW Prank Authorities in British Columbia have urged people to stay away from a rock face above a highway in the Canadian province where a Volkswagen Beetle shell was suspended (暫停) in an apparent prank (惡作劇) by engineering students. Officials say the area around the Stawamus Chief rock formation is a “sacred place” with deep cultural meaning to the Squamish Nation. They say the Beetle was expected to be removed within the week. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and park rangers have been asked to investigate. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 出國就選最好的！ 跟著【東南旅遊x六一遛阿寬】帶爸媽去北越下龍灣 全程五星住宿，搭頂級遊船、熱氣球，品嘗在地米其林

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 340-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,062 on turnover of 9.5-billion N-T. The market tumbled over 800 points on Monday as investors reacted to claims by U-S President Donald Trump's that he plans to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened by Monday evening. Control Yuan calls for tougher sentences for China spying cases The Control Yuan is calling on courts to hand down tougher sentences for military personnel convicted of spying for China and violating national security laws. It comes after the government watchdog investigated two cases involving military personnel. The investigations were carried out by the Control Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and Judiciary and Prison Administration Committee. According to the committees, such sentences handed down by district courts averaged 12.8 months, those handed down by the High Court averaged 18.1 month, while the average sentence handed down by the Supreme Court stood at 27.8 months. And the government watchdog says the light sentences for violating national security laws do not act as deterrent (威懾力、阻嚇物). FM confirms Eswatini has invited Lai to visit Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says President Lai Ching-te has been invited to make a state visit to Eswatini. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Eswatini Cultural Fair in New Taipei, Lin said the Kingdom has invited Lai to attend events marking the 58th anniversary of Eswatini's independence and King Mswati III's 58th birthday. Lin also said this year marks 58th anniversary of Eswatini's establishing ties with Taiwan. According to the foreign minister, he was hugley impressed when he visited the Southern African country in April of last year - and that trip took place as the two sides are expanding trade and investment and Taiwan establishes an industrial innovation park there. The Presidential Office has not released any information concerning (有關) Lai's possible trip to Eswatini. Flights slowly resume at LaGuardia after deadly plane crash Flights are slowly resuming at New York City's LaGuardia airport after an Air Canada jet struck a fire truck on the runway late Sunday night, killing the plane's pilot and co-pilot. During a press briefing, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated (重申) that he's been asking Congress for more money for air traffic control. Mitch McCann has more from LaGuardia. Australia EU Sign FTA The European Union and Australia have agreed on the final text of a free trade agreement. This comes two years after negotiations broke down over Australian demands for more red meat market access and complaints about Australian products labeled with traditionally European names. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the agreement today at the Australian Parliament House after protracted (延長的) negotiations that began in 2018. The breakthrough comes as both the EU and Australia seek to diversify (多樣化) their trading networks and reduce their economic reliance on China and exposure to uncertain U.S. tariffs. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ Hola! 雄獅文具「作繪來野餐」4/18-19 熱情登場！✨ 走進墨西哥森林派對，享受美學創作、墨式美食與音樂演奏。 今年加開

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 38-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,380 on turnover of 7.6-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday as investor sentiment remained muted due the impact of the US-Israel war against Iran, which has resulted in rises in international crude oil prices. Lai urges supply chain cooperation among democracies President Lai Ching-te is calling for closer cooperation among democratic partners to strengthen supply chain and economic resilience. Speaking at the opening of the Yushan Forum in Taipei, Lai said his administration wants to work with like-minded countries to form "international teams" with them … .. and intends to leverage (善用) the many advantages of these partners to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. According to Lai, his government will form national teams in specific fields to keep making Taiwan stronger, while also go beyond that, by building international teams to keep leveraging the power of solidarity with other nations. The two-day Yushan Forum runs through today. Over 400 households and business affect by power outage in Taichung's Beitun District Tai-Power says electricity has been restored to over 400 households and business affected by a power outage last night in Taichung's Beitun District. The affected business included the Costco north Taichung Warehouse. According to Tai-Power, electricity was restored to all households and businesses by 10PM after emergency repairs were carried out and cause of the outage is under investigation. Tai-Power says an initial investigation has found that a fuse box (保險絲盒) failure in the underground substation of a residential building was likely the cause of the power outage. The faulty equipment is being disassembled for inspection. UAE Lifts Brief Airspace Closure The United Arab Emirates lifted a brief airspace closure this morning after the country faced incoming Iranian attacks. The state-run news agency quoted the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority as saying the closure had ended. The authorities said “the situation stabilized,” allowing flights to resume. The earlier closure announcement showed the balancing act Emirati authorities face in trying to keep their long-haul carriers, Emirates and Etihad, flying as Iranian attacks continue to target the country. On Monday, an Iranian drone attack set a fuel tank ablaze (燃燒) at Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel. UK WORKING WITH ALLIES TO RE-OPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ The UK is working with all of its allies to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a press conference this morning. He also announced a government contribution of over $70million to support British households (家庭) with rising oil costs. Lara Bentley reports from London Spain King on Conquest of Americas Spain's King Felipe says Spain's conquest of the Americas involved abuse and ethical controversy, as Spain and Mexico remain at odds over calls for an apology. On Monday, Felipe made the remarks during a visit to a museum exhibition in Madrid. He told Mexico's ambassador to Spain that parts of the conquest do not make Spain proud by today's values. Mexico has demanded a formal apology for years, which Spain has refused to do. Mexico's president said she needed to review Felipe's comments but acknowledged similar conciliatory (願意和解的，安撫的) remarks made last year by Spain's foreign minister. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【遠雄樂元】 台中北屯捷運X好市多 雙首排 ➤早鳥首付55萬起 旗艦級新地標21-39坪，台中北屯機捷總站20米，好市多60米，出站即到家。2147坪新世代遊園宅，全齡化公設✦ 早鳥輕入住 https://sofm.pse.is/8uqdtf -- Hola! 雄獅文具「作繪來野餐」4/18-19 熱情登場！✨ 走進墨西哥森林派對，享受美學創作、墨式美食與音樂演奏。 今年加開

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex tumbled 1,244-points this morning from Friday's close, at 32,354 on turnover of 27.6-billion N-T. The market fell just over 70-points on Friday, as investors remained worried about geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have sent the price of oil on an upward climb, to hit its highest level in nearly two years. Lai says supporting women makes Taiwan 'more powerful' President Lai Ching-te says he believes Taiwan will become "more powerful" if women have more support and choices from society. Taking to Facebook to mark International Women's Day, Lai said when a society is willing to give women more support and room for choice, Taiwan will not only become kinder, but also more powerful. Noting that the theme of this year's International Women's Day is "Give To Gain," Lai said he hopes every Taiwanese woman, whether striving (努力) in the workplace or cultivating family life, can "freely become her ideal self." Lai's Facebook post went on to say his government has promulgated Taiwan's first national action plan on gender-based violence prevention … .. and that plan aims to integrate violence-prevention resources to "build a more comprehensive and complete gender equality protection network." Japanese-style Mazu float headlines parade at Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi A Japanese-style lantern float featuring Mazu headlined the national baseball team parade at the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County this past weekend. The large art piece was a Japanese Nebuta, a traditional lantern float handmade from wood, metal wire, and paper. The float was crafted domestically (國內的) in Taiwan by Nebuta artists Makoto Suwa and Hiromi Hayashi, from Japan's Aomori City. They were invited by the General Association of Chinese Culture to serve as resident artists for this year's Lantern Festival. The float headlined the parade to celebrate Taiwan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Iranian foreign minister says no plans to increase range of its ballistic missiles Iran's foreign minister says the country currently has no plans to increase (增加) the range of its ballistic missiles. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports US SKorea Begin Drills The United States has begun a large military exercise with South Korea involving thousands of troops while also waging an escalating war in the Middle East. The Freedom Shield exercise that began Monday runs through March 19. South Korea has said about 18,000 Korean troops will take part, while the U.S. hasn't confirmed the number of American troops participating in the training in South Korea. The allies' combined exercise comes amid South Korean media speculation (猜測) that Washington is relocating some assets from South Korea to support fighting against Iran. Canada PM Calls for Special District Elections Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called special elections for three districts that, if his party wins, would give the Liberals a majority government (多數政府). The prime minister announced votes will be cast on April 13-thth The Liberals currently have 169 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, but they need 172 to secure a majority government which would allow them 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－－－－ 【遠雄樂元】 台中北屯捷運X好市多 雙首排 ➤早鳥首付55萬起 旗艦級新地標21-39坪，台中北屯機捷總站20米，好市多60米，出站即到家。2147坪新世代遊園宅，全齡化公設✦ 早鳥輕入住 https://sofm.pse.is/8sx7ws -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 189-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,484 on turnover of $9.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan rebounded sharply Thursday, posting the fifth-largest single-day gain on record, as bargain hunters returned after reports the United States and Iran could enter negotiations eased geopolitical concerns. Among major technology stocks, chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rose 1.88 percent to close at $1,900 NT, and other large-cap tech firms also advanced. Memory-related stocks staged a strong rebound as well, while shipping stocks moved in the opposite direction. Analysts say investors will continue to monitor developments in the Middle East, including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, while the long-term growth outlook for Taiwan's artificial intelligence supply chain remains intact (完好) despite potential technical corrections. Taiwan signs double taxation pact with Tuvalu Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and donate funds to cover the maintenance costs of Tuvalu's first undersea cable. Lin is currently visiting Tuvalu as a special envoy of President Lai Ching-te. According to the foreign minister, the agreement was signed during a banquet hosted by Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo, and is expected to boost trade and encourage Taiwanese investment in Tuvalu. Lin also donated funds to cover the maintenance costs for Tuvalu's first undersea cable, to help ensure (確保) the country's communications resilience during the banquet. Lin and his delegation arrived in Tuvalu on Wednesday on what is his third trip to the Pacific ally. Ukraine Sharing Expertise on Shahed Drones Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are seeking Ukraine's expertise in countering (對抗) Iran's Shahed drones. Zelenskyy says various countries, including the United States, have approached Ukraine for help in defending against the Iranian drones. He said he has spoken in recent days with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation. Russia has fired tens of thousands of Shaheds at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbor just over four years ago. Iran has responded with the same type of drones to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Pentagon officially labels Anthropic a supply chain risk The US Defense Department has formally labelled (標記為) the artificial intelligence firm Anthropic a supply chain risk, following a dispute over its efforts to limit how the government could use its products. Anthropic has said it intends to challenge the label in court. Ira Spitzer reports from San Francisco. Cuba Power Outage Continues Swaths of Cuba remain without power nearly a day after a massive blackout hit the western part of the island in the latest outage blamed on a fragile (脆弱的) electric grid and a lack of fuel. Crews worked overnight to repair a broken boiler at one of Cuba's largest thermoelectric plants. Officials have warned that it could take three to four days for power to be fully restored. State media reported on Thursday that 52% of customers in Havana have power, as well as 30 hospitals and 10 water supply stations. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【遠雄樂元】 北屯捷運X好市多 雙首排 ➤早鳥首付55萬起 旗艦級新地標 21-39坪，北屯機捷總站20米，好市多60米，出站即到家。2147坪新世代遊園宅，全齡化公設✦ 早鳥輕入住 https://sofm.pse.is/8sxjul -- 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/8t4kfn -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 44-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 35,457 on turnover of 10.4-billion N-T. The market closed at year another record high on Wednesday, as the main board jumped more than 700 points after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing breached the 2,000 N-T mark for the first time. T-S-M-C gained 2.54-per cent to close at 2,015 N-T after its American depositary receipts rose 4.25-per cent overnight. The stock contributed about 400-points to the Tai-Ex's overall rise and sent the electronics index up 2.45-per cent. Civic groups to mark 228 Memorial Day with march tomorrow More than 60 civic groups have announced plans to hold a joint 228 Memorial Day commemorative event in Taipei tomorrow. The annual action was launched in 2017 by the Nylon Cheng Liberty Foundation and the Tsai Rui-yue Dance Foundation. However, it has expanded this year to include dozens of participating organizations. Organizers say the event will begin with a march at 1:30PM at the Taipei Municipal Rixin Elementary School, pass several sites linked to the 228 Incident, and conclude in front of the Cabinet Building. Lai awards top honor to SVG ambassador Bowman And,President Lai Ching-te has bestowed one of Taiwan's highest honors on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Bowman in recognition of her contributions (貢獻) to bilateral ties. Lai has confered the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on Bowman. Speaking at a ceremony at the Presidential Office, Lai thank Bowman for her outstanding contribution to deepening diplomatic ties between the two sides. Lai also noted that Bowman became the Caribbean island nation's first ambassador to Taiwan in 2019 and established the country's first permanent embassy in Asia, "marking a milestone in bilateral relations." Cuban troops kill 4 in US speedboat Cuban border troops have killed four people in a US speedboat which entered the island's territorial waters. The Cuban government says the people in US boat fired first. Nick Harper reports from New York. Peru Declares State of Emergency Over Rains Peru has declared a state of emergency across more than 700 districts after heavy rain triggered floods and landslides linked to El Nino Costero. On Wednesday, a decree signed by interim President Jose Maria Balcazar speeds up funding for local governments. Officials are focusing on protecting residents and securing (固定) bridges, roads, water and electricity. Although rains have intensified (加劇) in the past days, the new government was unable to implement the decrees until now. President Balcazar only swore in his Cabinet on Tuesday, ending a period without ministers that began on Feb. 17 following the removal of his predecessor, Jose Jeri, who faces an investigation into corruption and influence peddling. Mexico Approves Initiative to Reduce Work Week Mexican lawmakers have approved President Claudia Sheinbaum's initiative to gradually reduce the work week from 48 hours to 40 hours. The constitutional reform now goes to state legislatures for approval, where Sheinbaum's governing party controls the majority. It passed the lower chamber of the Congress early Wednesday with 411 votes in favor and 58 against. The Senate had already approved it earlier this month. The change will be implemented (實施的) gradually, trimming (減少) two hours per year beginning in 2027 and reaching a 40-hour work week in 2030. 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 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

The Chinese mainland has denounced Taiwan authorities led by Lai Ching-te for ignoring the crimes committed by Japan during its colonial rule over Taiwan.

Back in April 2021 we covered news about a record breaking 25 Chinese air force aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers that entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ). At the time 25 seemed like an alarming number. It was the largest incursion by Chinese military planes into Taiwan's ADIZ to date.   Related Links: https://talkingtaiwan.com/chinas-alarming-gray-zone-tactics-around-taiwan-and-its-neighboring-nations-in-asia-ep-340/   To be clear these sorts of activities had been going on long before this and long before September of 2020 which about the time that Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense started to publicly report China's incursions.   The China's People's Liberation Army has shown no signs of letting up. The PLA's gray zone tactics, have also included the use of drones and balloons. Incursions by warplanes and naval ships into the airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan are now a daily occurrence.. And they have completely shattered the record 25 aircraft in Taiwan's ADIZ many times over.   Major military exercises have included the Joint Sword-2024A. Three days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's inauguration in May 20 of 2024, China's PLA conducted two days of military exercises in the air and sea space around Taiwan.   More recently, at the end of 2025 on December 29 and 30, People's Republic of China (PRC) military forces carried out a large-scale exercise in the air and ocean areas around Taiwan called "Justice Mission-2025."  This two days of PLA military exercises involved at least 200 warplanes.   Unfortunately these types of gray zone tactics by China have become commonplace and while they have been more widely reported on, even more troubling are the other gray zone tactics that the PRC has been levying on Taiwan, which include the presence of Chinese owned and operated oil rigs in Taiwan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and on January 16th the New York Times reported that China quietly mobilized thousands of fishing boats twice already, most recently in the first few weeks of this new year.   Quoting from the New York Times, "By January 11, they had assembled into a rectangle stretching more than 200 miles. Maritime and military experts said the maneuvers suggested that China was strengthening its maritime militia, which is made up of civilian fishing boats trained to join in military operations."   This was not the first time, a month earlier on December 25th the Times reported that "about 2,000 Chinese fishing boats assembled in two long, parallel formations on Christmas Day in the East China Sea. Each stretched 290 miles long, about the distance from New York City to Buffalo, forming a reverse L shape"   According to the New York Times, "The unusual formations were spotted by Jason Wang, the chief operating officer of ingeniSPACE, a company that analyzes data, and were independently confirmed by The Times using ship location data provided by Starboard Maritime Intelligence."   In this episode of Talking Taiwan we will be speaking to Marvin Bernado, Maritime Domain Awareness Analyst at ingeniSPACE and Elva Wu, National Security Researcher / Imagery Analyst at ingeniSPACE.   About ingeniSPACE:   ingeniSPACE is a geospatial intelligence company integrating remote sensing data across multiple phenomenologies. We are an insight-as-a-service platform delivering all weather day-night multi-temporal understanding around the world. Our intelligence extends the "executive decision making time" that public sector and commercial leaders need to make well-informed decisions.   Related Links: https://talkingtaiwan.com/chinas-alarming-gray-zone-tactics-around-taiwan-and-its-neighboring-nations-in-asia-ep-340/  

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 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 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 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

From October of 2025 - The Best Of The Buck Brief. After a week in Taiwan meeting with President Lai Ching-te, top military officials, and national security advisors, Buck Sexton breaks down the question everyone’s asking: Is China going to invade Taiwan? From drone factories and missile systems to Taiwan’s vital role in the global chip supply, Buck shares what he learned on the ground and why a Chinese invasion could trigger economic chaos around the world. Never miss a moment from Buck by subscribing to the Buck Sexton Show Podcast on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Buck Sexton:Facebook – / bucksexton X – @bucksexton Instagram – @bucksexton TikTok - @BuckSexton YouTube - @BuckSexton Website – https://www.bucksexton.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 Segment 1Tony starts the show talking about questioning Pete Hegseth’s responsibility on the double-tap drug boat strike. Hour 1 Segment 2Tony talks about the GOP advancing a bill to add citizenship questions to the 2030 census. Hour 1 Segment 3Tony is joined with Noah Rothman of National Review to talk about Pete Hegseth’s responsibility on the double-tap drug boat strike. Hour 1 Segment 4Tony wraps up the first hour of the show talking about the American citizenship process. Hour 2 Segment 1Tony starts the second hour of the show talking about the Tennessee special election with Matt Van Epps defeating Aftyn Behn. Hour 2 Segment 2Tony talks about premiums going up. Hour 2 Segment 3Tony talks about Sabrina Carpenter responding to the White House using her song Juno in a video with deportations. Tony also talks about President Donald Trump pardoning former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hour 2 Segment 4Tony wraps up the second hour of the show Debbie Wasserman Schultz not responding to questions about the two National Guard troops shot in Washington D.C. Hour 3 Segment 1Tony starts the final hour of the show talking about Taiwan president Lai Ching-te, warning that China’s military aggression is growing. Hour 3 Segment 2Tony talks about replacing income taxes with tariffs. Hour 3 Segment 3Tony is joined with Representative Marlin Stutzman to talk about why influencers and Congress members went to Qatar for Thanksgiving. Hour 3 Segment 4Tony wraps up another edition of the show talking about Somali scammer temporary protective status.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 Segment 1Tony starts the final hour of the show talking about Taiwan president Lai Ching-te, warning that China’s military aggression is growing. Hour 3 Segment 2Tony talks about replacing income taxes with tariffs. Hour 3 Segment 3Tony is joined with Representative Marlin Stutzman to talk about why influencers and Congress members went to Qatar for Thanksgiving. Hour 3 Segment 4Tony wraps up another edition of the show talking about Somali scammer temporary protective status.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk President Lai Ching-te's proposal for a NT$1.25trillion special defense budget, the ongoing China-Japan spat over Taiwan from a Taiwan perspective and criticism of ruling handed down by the High Court in child sex images case. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Happy Thanksgiving!  It's Thursday, November 27th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes written by Jonathan Clark and heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. (Contact@eanvoiceit.com) 18 Church Leaders Arrested in China Authorities in China arrested 18 leaders from Zion Church last Tuesday. Zion Church is one of the largest unregistered church in the country. The congregation has faced persecution for years. In the latest crackdown on the church, police detained at least 30 Christians across seven cities since October. The arrested leaders can effectively be held indefinitely in pre-trial detention. Scott Bower with Christian Solidarity Worldwide said the church leaders were “targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of their religious belief.” Taiwan Spends Extra $40 billion on Defense The self-ruling island of Taiwan plans on spending an extra $40 billion on defense in the face of threats from China. The Chinese government continues to claim the island as its own.  Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te announced the plan yesterday. He said, “China's threats to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region are escalating. . . . History has proven that compromising with aggression only brings war and enslavement.” The U.S. State Department welcomed the plan. And Japan recently stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo. Poland Facing Changes to Marriage Law In Europe, Poland is facing challenges to its marriage law. The country currently bans faux same-sex marriage and defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.  However, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday that Poland must recognize the faux same-sex marriages of other European Union countries.  Some Polish lawmakers are trying to change the marriage law. But Poland's President Karol Nawrocki has said he would veto “any bill that would undermine the constitutionally protected status of marriage.” Jesus said in Mark 10:6-8, “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.' ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.” Roman Catholic Church Praises Monogamous Marriage The Roman Catholic Church recently praised monogamous marriage between one man and one woman. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released the document Tuesday. The doctrinal note came in response to concerns from bishops in Africa where polygamy is still practiced. The document stated, “Polygamy, adultery, or polyamory are based on the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in the succession of partners.” However, the Vatican's doctrinal dicastery has previously allowed priests to give a blessing to same-sex couples in certain cases.  U.S. Highschoolers Losing Interest in Marriage In the United States, high schoolers are losing interest in eventually getting married. Pew Research reports 67% of 12th graders in 2023 said they would want to get married in the future. That's down from 80% in 1993. Twelfth graders are also less likely to want children or to stay married to the same person for life if they do get married. In particular, high school girls are much less likely to want to get married someday. Boys' interest in eventually getting married has remained relatively unchanged over the last 30 years. U.S. State Department Addresses Human Rights Violations  The U.S. State Department announced a list of acts it considers human rights violations. These acts include transgender surgeries, government funded abortions or abortifacient drugs, attempts at coerced euthanasia, and violations of religious freedom.  Tommy Pigott is the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State. He told The Daily Signal, “In recent years, new destructive ideologies have given safe harbor to human rights violations. The Trump administration will not allow these human rights violations, such as the mutilation of children.” Do People Still Thank God on Thanksgiving? And finally, Lifeway Research reports two in three Americans say they typically give thanks to God at Thanksgiving. Lifeway Research also shared the Bible verses Christians turn to at Thanksgiving based on Bible-reading apps. Many of them are from the Psalms. One of the most-read verses at Thanksgiving over the last five years was Psalm 9:1-2. The passages says, “I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works. I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High.” The most popular verse last year was 1 Chronicles 16:34. The verse says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Give Thanks and seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te says China is stepping up military preparations to take the island by force. He's announced a $40 billion supplementary defence budget that underscores Taiwan's determination to protect itself, with a focus on drones and missile systems. President Lai said giving up and making compromises to aggression would only bring war. Also: the US-Palestinian teenager who's been in detention since February for stone throwing -- with no trial in sight. The joy of discovering a rare flower in Indonesia. Two Australian teenagers go to court to challenge their government's up-coming ban on social media for under-16s. And an elderly couple enjoy a last, surprise dance on the ballroom floor. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has announced a plan to spend an extra $40 billion dollars on the military over the next eight years to resist Chinese aggression.Also on the programme: at least 13 people have died in a fire in a tower block complex in Hong Kong; and the new "Russian cultural code” from fashion to music, aiming to define what it means to be Russian. (Photo: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te gestures as he delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in Taipei on October 10, 2025. Credit: Reuters)

Venti di guerra soffiano nell'Estremo Oriente. Il presidente di Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, ha annunciato che presenterà una proposta per aumentare dell'equivalente di 34 miliardi di euro il budget dello Stato riservato alla difesa. Conseguenza delle tensioni con la Cina, nelle quali di recente si è inserito anche un terzo attore, il Giappone. Ne parliamo con Giulia Pompili, giornalista esteri de il Foglio e autrice della newsletter Katane.

After a week in Taiwan meeting with President Lai Ching-te, top military officials, and national security advisors, Buck Sexton breaks down the question everyone’s asking: Is China going to invade Taiwan? From drone factories and missile systems to Taiwan’s vital role in the global chip supply, Buck shares what he learned on the ground and why a Chinese invasion could trigger economic chaos around the world. Never miss a moment from Buck by subscribing to the Buck Sexton Show Podcast on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Buck Sexton:Facebook – / bucksexton X – @bucksexton Instagram – @bucksexton TikTok - @BuckSexton YouTube - @BuckSexton Website – https://www.bucksexton.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hsiao Bi-khim | 蕭美琴 is Taiwan's Vice President, sworn in on May 20, 2024, alongside President Lai Ching-te. A seasoned diplomat, she served as Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States from 2020 to 2023, becoming the first Taiwanese official to attend a U.S. presidential inauguration since 1979 when she attended Joe Biden's in 2021. Known as Taiwan's “cat warrior” for her deft diplomacy, Hsiao strengthened U.S.-Taiwan ties, advancing arms sales, trade agreements, and Taiwan's global presence despite China's opposition. Born to a Taiwanese father and American mother, she grew up in Taiwan and New Jersey, earning a BA from Oberlin College and an MA from Columbia University. Hsiao advocates for Taiwan's sovereignty, democratic resilience, and inclusion in international organizations, as seen in her 2025 meetings with U.K. and Israeli delegations. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: ⁠https://www.roka.com⁠ - USE CODE SRS ⁠⁠https://www.betterhelp.com/srs⁠⁠ This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. ⁠⁠https://www.bubsnaturals.com/shawn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.meetfabric.com/shawn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.shawnlikesgold.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.helixsleep.com/srs⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://hexclad.com/srs⁠⁠Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at hexclad.com/srs! #hexcladpartner ⁠⁠https://www.moinkbox.com/srs⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.paladinpower.com/srs⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://uscca.com/srs⁠ Hsiao Bi-khim | 蕭美琴 Links: X - https://x.com/bikhim  X - https://x.com/TECRO_USA  Presidential Office - https://english.president.gov.tw  Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs - https://en.mofa.gov.tw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices