EZ News

Cabinet outlines upgrades to conscription training Taipei Zoo says panda Yuanzai passes full health check Another cold surge could bring plains lows near 8°C Iran warns of wider war as it labels EU armies "terrorists" Britain's Prince Andrewcan't escape Epstein's shadow -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Family of murdered Malaysian student criticizes death penalty ruling The mother of a Malaysian student murdered in Taiwan says she cannot accept a court’s decision to spare her daughter’s killer from the death penalty. In a statement released Thursday, the mother criticized the Kaohsiung High Court for overturning the death sentence previously given to Liang Yu-chih. The court ruled that the 2020 rape and murder did not meet the legal threshold for the "most serious" of crimes. The mother argued that the court focused too much on the possibility of rehabilitation (（囚犯）獲得改造). She noted that professional psychiatric assessments found the killer had a high risk of committing another crime, and urged the judiciary to consider public safety and the protection of future victims in its sentencing. Liang had been sentenced to death in three previous trials. The court now says life imprisonment and psychological treatment are sufficient because the murder was not proven to be premeditated. The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office says it plans to appeal the new ruling. Olive oil importer fined over mislabeled products, 3,202 bottles recalled Authorities have recalled more than 3,200 bottles of olive oil after discovering a major food fraud operation that blended expensive oil with cheap canola oil. The Taipei Department of Health fined Rong & Chyi International $4-million NT for mislabeling. The Investigation Bureau says the scheme involved two companies that allegedly mixed up to 500 liters of canola oil for every 50 liters of olive oil. Investigators raided a manufacturing site in New Taipei and found equipment used to mix the oils. The bureau estimates the operation made about $15-million NT in illegal profits. Health officials have notified online platforms and local authorities in 17 cities and counties to remove the product from shelves. The heads of both companies have been released on bail as the fraud (騙局) investigation continues. DRC Measles Deaths from Low Vaccine Coverage and Conflict Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say 24 people have died of measles across the country since the beginning of this year. Most victims are young children due to low vaccination coverage (疫苗接種率). The hardest-hit areas are in the country's east where an armed conflict has been raging between government forces and the M23 rebels since 2021. Chris Ocamringa reports UN Criticizes Haiti for Stalled Political Transition The U.N. Security Council has criticized Haitian authorities for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition and reforms to tackle (應對) increasing violence. The council condemned the upsurge in violence by gangs and criminal groups, pointing to human rights violations and widespread abuses. The council resolution was co-sponsored by the United States and Panama and adopted unanimously (一致地) Thursday. It extends the U.N.’s political mission in Haiti until Jan. 31, 2027. The resolution also revises the mission's mandate to focus on facilitating a “national dialogue” to support efforts to hold municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 24-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,828, on turnover of $11-billion N-T. The Taiwan stock market hit a record high today as shares of chipmaker T-S-M-C soared to a new peak, and memory chip suppliers also saw big gains. Analysts say the surge was driven by investor optimism over the artificial intelligence boom and upcoming earnings reports from U.S. tech giants like Microsoft and Meta. Beyond tech, petrochemical stocks rose because of higher crude oil prices and tensions in Iran, while electric machinery companies also gained value as the government works to improve the national power grid. However, some analysts warn the market could face resistance as it approaches the 33,000-point mark. (NS) Prosecutors Seek Taiwan Man Detention for Alleged Money Laundering Prosecutors are seeking to detain the Taiwanese manager of a gambling ring accused of laundering money from China through local shell companies. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office says a Chinese national set up several companies in Taiwan starting in 2016. The group allegedly hired engineers to design gambling software for overseas markets, then used fake transactions and false invoices to move illegal profits back into Taiwan. On Tuesday, authorities searched four locations and questioned 12 people, including accountants and engineers. Nine suspects were released on bail. But prosecutors are asking the court to hold the Taiwanese manager without bail, citing the risk that he might collude (串通) with others. (NS) Russia Warn on Ukraine Casualties Could Hit 2Million A new report warns that combined (合併的) war casualties in Russia's war on Ukraine could soon hit 2 million AP correspondent Laurence Brooks reports Germany Deutsche Bank Searched in Money Laundering Probe German investigators searched the offices of Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest, on Wednesday in connection with an investigation into possible money laundering. Prosecutors in Frankfurt said that the probe focused on the bank’s prior (事先的) business relationships to foreign entities which were in turn suspected of being used to launder money. Offices were searched in Frankfurt, where the bank is headquartered, and in Berlin. The bank said it was cooperating with investigators. Rwanda Suing UK for Cancelled Migrant Deal Rwanda has said it is suing the United Kingdom to seek payments over an aborted, controversial migrant deal under which the East African nation was to host deported asylum seekers from the European country. The migrant deal entered into force on April 25 2024. In July 2024, shortly after taking office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the deal was “dead and buried.” In 2023, the UK Supreme Court found the deal between Rwanda and the UK to be “unlawful,” ruling that it violated both UK law and international law and ordering it to be scrapped. Some legal experts have questioned whether parties to an unlawful contract can seek financial remedies (補救措施). That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 64-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,381 on turnover of $8.5--billion N-T. With contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing regaining its footing and rebounding from a session earlier, shares in Taiwan closed at another record high Tuesday. The buying in TSMC shares spread to other semiconductor stocks, with investors betting that orders for more mature chip processes would shift, as TSMC cuts that capacity (生產能力) in favor of more advanced chip manufacturing. Some flight cancellation fees increased to 30% The Civil Aeronautics Administration says that cancellation fees for domestic offshore flights during holiday periods will be raised to up to 30% of the ticket price. The new tiered (分層的) fee system will take effect in March, and be applied for the first time on the Labor Day long weekend. Under current rules, domestic offshore tickets sold for holidays for three days or more carry restrictions (限制)… such as "valid only for the booked flight" or "expired if unused" with cancellation fees capped at 10% if refunds are requested before departure. But under the new rules, cancellation fees will vary based on how close the refund request is to the flight's departure time. Officials say, the changes are intended to curb seat hoarding (囤積) during peak travel periods… as some passengers book multiple flights and cancel later. Spain to Grant Legal Status to Immigrants Spain will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the country without authorization. Spain's migration minister says the government plans to amend immigration laws by expedited (加急的) decree, offering legal residency and work permits for up to one year. This applies to those who arrived before Dec. 31, 2025, and have lived in Spain for at least five months without a criminal record. The minister says the measure could benefit an estimated 500-thousand people. Many are from countries in Latin America and Africa and work in agriculture, tourism or service jobs, backbones of Spain’s booming economy. Landmark social media trial underway in California Social media giant TikTok has settled a lawsuit claiming the platform deliberately addicts and harms children. However, Meta and YouTube are still facing similar claims as a landmark (具有重大意義的，標誌性的) trial gets underway in Los Angeles. Ira Spitzer reports. BAFTA Nominations Announced and finally….. Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged action thriller “One Battle After Another” leads the race for the British Academy Film Awards, with 14 nominations including acting nods for five of its cast. Ryan Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” is close behind with 13 nominations, while Chloe Zhao’s Shakespearean tragedy “Hamnet” and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong odyssey (漫長而驚險的旅程) “Marty Supreme” have 11 apiece. The winners will be announced at a Feb. 22 ceremony in London. The U.K. prizes — officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards — often provide clues about who will triumph at Hollywood’s Academy Awards. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 《一銀陪你聊“新”事》全新第五季上線囉！ 本集我們要帶你認識一位—— 把不完美活成光芒的「三指歌后」蔡佩芙🎙️ 她從小因先天限制承受異樣眼光， 卻用歌聲找到出口、用創作累積力量， 一步步唱出自己的舞台，也照亮別人的人生。 一起來收聽吧🎧 https://sofm.pse.is/8nuhtp -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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

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

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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 124-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,371 on turnover of 9.7-billion N-T. The market moved sharply lower on Wednesday following heavy losses on Wall Street overnight. Analysts say investors opted to dump their holdings in panic as sentiment was hit by the big losses on U-S indexes overnight. While Wednesday was also the settlement date for January futures contracts, so selling increased, with foreign institutional investors holding more short-position contracts than long-position ones … and tech stocks remained the targets of the sell-off. DPP finalizes candidates for Chiayi County, Tainan and Kaohsiung elections The D-P-P has finalized its candidates for key mayoral positions in southern Taiwan. According to the party, it has approved Lai Jui-lung as the D-P-P's candidate for the Kaohsiung mayoral election, Tsai Yi-yu as its candidate for the post of Chiayi County magistrate, and Chen Ting-fei as its Tainan mayoral candidate,. Final approval for all three candidates was made during a meeting of the D-P-P's s Central Executive Committee. President Lai Ching-te, who doubles as the party chairman, says he hopes the candidates will integrate (整合) local efforts and support other party members seeking office in November's local elections. Rescuers spot wreckage from Japanese sightseeing helicopter carrying 2 Taiwanese tourists Rescuers in Japan have spotted wreckage (殘骸) believed to be from a sightseeing helicopter that was carrying two Taiwanese tourists and a Japanese pilot that went missing near one of Japan's most active volcanoes Authorities say the helicopter lost contact during what should have been a 10-minute flight over Mount Aso in southern Japan on Monday. According to local police, the wreckage, possibly of the missing helicopter, was spotted inside the crater of Nakadake, one of Mt. Aso's five peaks. However, officials had said bad weather and high levels of volcanic gases were hampering (阻礙) the rescue operation. Taiwan's representative office in Fukuoka says it was notified of a helicopter crash involving the two Taiwanese tourists immediately after the accident occurred. Supreme Court looks set to reject Trump's bid to control Fed US President Donald Trump's bid to control the US central bank looks set to be rejected by the Supreme Court. During arguments on Wednesday, justices from across the ideological spectrum (政治光譜) appeared concerned that the president's efforts to fire one of the Federal Reserve's leaders, could imperil its independence. Kate fisher reports from Washington Peru President Facing Scrutiny for Meetings with Chinese Business Owners Peru's interim President Jose Jeri is facing scrutiny (細看，仔細審查) for unregistered meetings with two Chinese business owners. On Wednesday, he appeared before a congressional oversight committee to address these encounters, which have sparked a criminal probe and calls for his removal. Jeri denies wrongdoing and claims the opposition's actions are a destabilizing maneuver ahead of the April 12 election. Earlier this week, Peru’s attorney general’s office said it has launched a preliminary investigation against Jeri for the alleged crimes of influence peddling and illegal lobbying. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,749 on turnover of 8.5-billion N-T. The market closed at yet another new record high on Tuesday, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing recouped its early losses on the back of investor optimism over the company's fundamentals. Analysts say T-S-M-C continued to attract bargain hunters and that resulted in the chipmaker's share price rising by 0.85-per cent to close at 1,775 N-T. No invite for Taiwan to Honduras presidential inauguration The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has not received an invitation to the inauguration of Honduras' president-elect Nasry Asfura. The statement comes amid reports that President Lai Ching-te had expressed an interest in attending the January 27 event. According to the foreign ministry's Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, the lack of (沒有…) an invitation is due to Taiwan not having official diplomatic ties with Honduras. The department has not said whether or not it approached members of the incoming Asfura administration for an invitation. Asfura pledged to restore ties with Taipei if he was elected president during his campaign. Epidemic flu period may begin this week, peak around Lunar New Year The Centers for Disease Control was warning that Taiwan could enter a flu epidemic as early as this week, as case numbers are continuing to rise ahead of Lunar New Year holiday. According to the C-D-C, outpatient and emergency visits for flu-like illnesses reached 104,348 from the week of January 11 to 17. That figure marked a second consecutive weekly increase and was an increase of 11.9-per cent from the previous week. The C-D-C says the number of weekly visits for flu-like illnesses could climb to as high as 140,000 during the peak period (高峰期). Health officials say 458 severe flu cases and 88 flu-related deaths have been recorded so far this flu season. The C-D-C is urging people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Trump: "you'll find out" how far he'll go to acquire Greenland US President Donald Trump says people will "find out" how far he's willing to go to acquire Greenland. It comes as he prepares to meet worried European allies on Wednesday in Davos, who are becoming increasingly vocal (直言不諱的) in their push back against the President's plans. Nick Harper reports from Washington NZ PM Announces National Election Date New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a national election will be held Nov. 7th. New Zealand elections are held every three years with the government selecting the date. Voters choose which party they prefer to see in government and also select a local candidate to represent their constituency (選區) in parliament. Luxon, who is leader of the center-right National party, became prime minister in 2023. His chief opponent is Chris Hipkins, leader of the center-left Labour party. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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

Magnitude 4.3 quake rattles mountainous areas of south and center TVGH suspends 3 doctors after video shows vendor taking part in surgery Europe won't be blackmailed High-speed train derails in southern Spain Suspected gang members in Guatemala's capital kill seven police officers -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 34-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,845 on turnover of $8-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's investor conference - which began after the trading day ended. Danjiang Bridge to host opening events in both April and May Events are slated to take place to mark the completion of the Danjiang Bridge in the lead-up to its officially opening on May 12. Both the New Taipei City Government and the Highway Bureau will be hosting events from between April 25 and May 9. The bridge will be open to the public to walk across on April 25 and the Highway Bureau will be holding a parade on the bridge the following day featuring performances by musical groups. A concert will also be taking place in May 2 and the bridge will be open for a public picnic day on May 3. Construction of the 920-meter-long bridge is due to be completed in April and when completed, the Danjiang Bridge will become the longest asymmetric (不對稱的) single-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. Officials say the bridge will cut the travel time between Tamsui and Bali by about 25-minutes. Trump threatens to send troops to Minnesota as tensions rise following second ICE shooting US president Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota in response to rising tensions between protesters and federal agents. His warning came just hours after a man was shot and wounded (受傷的) by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle in Minneapolis. Kate fisher reports from Washington UN SecretaryGeneral Criticizes Violations of Intl Law and Concentration of Wealth The United Nations chief is lashing out at countries that violate international law and calling the concentration of power and wealth by the world’s richest 1% “morally indefensible.” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday at the start of his final year at the helm (領導地位) of the United Nations. He said the U.N.'s 193 member nations are facing “a world marked by self-defeating geopolitical divides, brazen violations of international law, and wholesale cuts in development and humanitarian aid.” He said all these forces are shaking the foundations of global cooperation at a time when it is needed most. Guterres warned of the dangers of a concentration of power and wealth in the world's richest 1%, who hold 43% of global financial assets. He also criticized countries that don’t pay their U.N. dues on time — another jab at the Trump administration, which did not pay its mandatory dues to the U.N.’s budgets in 2025. Wikipedia Partners with AI Companies Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia written by volunteers, is embracing artificial intelligence to mark its 25th anniversary. The site has signed up new AI partners, including Meta and Microsoft, alongside existing ones with companies like Google. These companies are paying to access Wikipedia content, supporting its nonprofit mission. Founder Jimmy Wales welcomes AI training on Wikipedia data, emphasizing (強調) its human-curated nature. The Wikimedia Foundation urges AI developers to pay for access, as bots heavily tax (使負重擔) its servers. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 194-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,746 on turnover of 11.3-billion N-T. The market gained ground again on Wednesday as buying rotated to select tech stocks that had been lagging behind semiconductor shares in recent sessions. Presidential impeachment hearings begin Lawmakers have begin public hearings to discuss impeaching President Lai Ching-te. The first hearing took place yesterday and a second hearing is scheduled for today as part of the legislature's impeachment review process. The Committee of the Whole Yuan will then hold formal (正式的) review meetings on January 21 and 22. The lead sponsors will use those meetings to explain the grounds for impeachment and Lai will be invited to give a 15-minute statement followed by questioning by lawmakers. A second review meeting is scheduled for May, after which the impeachment case will be put to a vote in the Legislative Yuan on May 19. The impeachment needs a two-thirds majority of lawmakers for it to pass. Taiwan passport rises three spots in global ranking Taiwan's passport has risen three place in the latest Henley Passport Index to move up to 33rd spot. The rise means it returned to the same place it was in the rankings in January of last year. The index rank passports by the number of destinations its holder can travel to without a visa. The latest survey shows that Taiwan passport holders can travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. The Singaporean passport was ranked (排名) the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of a total of 227. US to freeze visa processing for 75 countries The Trump Administration says it will indefinitely halt visa processing for immigrants from 75 countries, including Brazil, Russia and Iran. The State Department says this latest restriction - which kicks in next week - is aimed at people trying to quote .. "extract (強索) wealth from the American people." Toni Waterman has more from DC Canada BC Ends Experiment Decriminalizing Limited Drug Possession Canada’s Pacific coast province of British Columbia is ending its three-year experiment in decriminalizing possession (擁有) of small amounts of drugs. British Columbia's health minister says the province is not seeking an extension (延伸) of its agreement with Canada’s federal health agency that allowed the decriminalization of small amounts of drugs for personal possession. The three-year pilot project, slated to end Jan. 31st, initially allowed adults to possess up to 2.5 grams cumulatively of opioids, crack and powdered cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. But in 2024, the exemption was amended to restrict such possession to private homes and places where homeless people are legally sheltering, as well as designated health-care clinics and overdose prevention, drug checking and supervised consumption sites. The minister says the goal was to make it easier for people o come forward and seek help, but it "hasn't delivered the results" officials hoped for. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 63-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,630 on turnover of 8.2-billion N-T. The market closed higher yesterday as buying was sparked by gains posted on Wall Street at the end of last week. However, the main board declined from the day's high of 30,681 after profit-taking set-in late in the session, as investors turned cautious ahead of the anticipated U-S Supreme Court ruling later this week on Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. Taiwan F-16s return to the sky after no-flight order lifted The Air Force says its fleet of F-16s jet fighters have now resumed regular training operations following safety checks. The fleet was grounded in response to the disappearance of an F-16V and its pilot going missing in waters off the east coast last Tuesday. According to the Air Force, all of its F-16s passed inspections, with pilots and ground crews completing simulation (模擬) and maintenance training, respectively. The Air Force also released photos of a group of four F-16Vs making preparations for takeoff, with one piloted by Maj. Gen. Hu Chung-hua -- the chief of the Air Force's 5th Tactical Mixed Wing based in eastern Hualien County. Taipei to launch 'smoke-free city' plan this year Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says his administration is looking at various options to limit smoking in public places and some version of the policy is likely to be implemented this year. According to Chiang, a "Taipei smoke-free city" plan is expected to be launched by the end of this year. Chiang says city officials are studying the establishment of designated (指定的) smoking areas in Tokyo, which has cut down on secondhand smoke and cigarette litter in the Japanese capital. The Taipei mayor also said that it's very possible the city will make reference to examples abroad, such as using designated smoking areas or booths to improve the quality of public spaces. US Trump Administration Sends Hundreds More Agents to Minneapolis Hundreds more federal agents are being deployed (部署) to Minneapolis by the Trump administration. It comes amid protests after a woman was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the city. Kate Fisher reports from Washington Iran Protest Death Toll Rises Activists say the death toll from Iran’s nationwide protests has reached at least 646 people with the number expected to rise further. The toll as of Tuesday comes from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate (準確) throughout multiple years of demonstrations. According to the Associated Press, the agency relies on a network of activists inside Iran that confirms all reported fatalities. Iran’s government has not provided casualty figures for the demonstrations, as all communications remain blocked in the country. Pope Meets with Venezuela Opposition Leader Machado Pope Leo XIV has met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican. During Monday's meeting, which was not previously announced, the Venezuelan leader asked the pope to intercede (調解) for the release of hundreds of political prisoners held in Venezuela and for a swift transition to democracy. Machado is touring Europe and the United States after escaping Venezuela in early 2025. The pope called for Venezuela to remain independent and urges the protection of human rights following the capture (捕拿) of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 183-points this morning from Friday's close, at 30,472 on turnover of 10.8-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Friday, but remained above the 30,000 point mark on the back of investor optimism that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing would report strong sales for 2025 after the main board closed. Lai announces approval of NT$2.94 billion 'smart health' subsidies President Lai Ching-te says his administration has approved 197 subsidy programs worth about 2.94-billion N-T under a plan to encourage medical institutions to adopt 'smart health care' technologies. The subsidy programs are part of the five-year 48.9-billion N-T Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan, which the government launched last year. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nobel Health Care Forum in Taipei, Lai said the subsidy programs are designed to leverage (利用，發揮（優勢）) the advantages of smart health care to strengthen medical services. According to Lai, although average life expectancy in Taiwan is currently above 80, people spend an average of 8.4 years in poor healthand that means "about 10-per cent of the average lifespan is unhealthy," with some people bedridden, using wheelchairs or needing daily care. HPA to publish new dietary guidelines in Q2 2026 Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the Health Promotion Administration will issue new daily dietary guidelines in the second quarter of this year. It will be the first such update since 2018. A draft of the new guidelines was completed late last year. According to Shih, eggs will be promoted more than in the past, given the growing body of research (大量的研究成果) showing they are an excellent source of nutrition. And while earlier guidelines only recommended skim or low-fat milk, the updated guidelines recognize that whole milk contains important nutrients, as long as it is consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. US Minnesota More Immigration Arrests Minnesota braces for what's next amid (…之中) more protests and immirgration arrests AP's Lisa Dwyer reports Italy Olympic Venue Guard Death Authorities have confirmed the death of a guard at construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. The death occurred during a frigid overnight shift, when temperatures plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius. Italy’s infrastructure minister has called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 55-year-old worker’s death. Italian media reported that the death happened on Jan. 8, outside Cortina’s ice arena, and Milan Cortina organizers said that the worker died of a heart attack. City officials expressed deep sadness and concern (憂慮) over the incident. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-22. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,370 on turnover of $6.5-billion N-T. FDA announces recall of Nestle formula powder over potential contamination The Food and Drug Administration says Nestle has preemptively recalled 83,496 cans of baby formula powder over potential contamination (污染) of the toxin cereulide. The move comes amid a global recall of the food company's baby formula products earlier this week. According to the F-D-A, Nestle Taiwan self-reported that two batches of its products sold in Taiwan may have used potentially contaminated ingredients. Those products are batches (批次) of it Illuma Infant Growth Formula and Illuma Toddler Growth Formula. Nestle Taiwan says it initiated voluntary recalls as a precaution to safeguard consumer health and safety. The company says it has lso set up a dedicated hotline to handle returns and exchanges. The F-D-A is urged consumers who have purchased the products to stop consumption and return the product. MOEA updates guidelines for foreign students interning in Taiwan The Ministry of Economic Affairs has updated guidelines to protect the rights of foreign students interning in Taiwan. The updated Guidelines Governing the Application of Foreign Students to the ROC in the Capacity of Interns in Enterprises and Organizations includes clearer rules on student eligibility, internship stipends and working hours. Under the revised rules, students must be enrolled (已註冊) at overseas universities officially listed by the Ministry of Education, the and the economic ministry's Department of Investment Review. Students must have completed at least one semester of study before coming to Taiwan and be of an age appropriate for their program. They must also be studying a field related to their internship and have basic Chinese or English communication skills to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the internship. US Withdraws from dozens of international bodies and organisations The United States is withdrawing from dozens of international organizations and bodies, many of which are associated with the United Nations, in the latest sign of Washington stepping back from multilateralism (多邊主義). Mitch McCann reports: Philippines Garbage Mound Collapse Leaves Dead and Missing A huge mound of garbage has collapsed in a waste segregation facility in a central Philippine city, killing one person and leaving at least 27 others missing. Police say that firefighters and disaster-mitigation personnel retrieved eight people, including workers at the facility, who were trapped (被困) Thursday afternoon in the avalanche of trash and debris in the village of Binaliw in Cebu city. Local officials say one of those rescued, a female worker at the landfill, died while being brought to a hospital. Authorities and officials at the waste management facility, which has 110 employees, are to hold an emergency meeting today UN Forecasts Global Growth Slightly Lower This Year The United Nations is forecasting that the global economy will grow by 2.7% this year. That's slightly lower than last year’s estimate, citing the impact of higher U.S. tariffs, economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. U.N. economists predict that growth will edge up to 2.9% in 2027. That’s still well below the average 3.2% growth between 2010 and 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hurt economies around the globe. The U.N. economists say there was “unexpected resilience" to sharp increases in U.S. tariffs last year. They are pointing to solid consumer spending and easing inflation, which helped sustain (維持) growth.. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 104-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,330 on turnover of 12-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing pulled back on profit taking after hitting a record closing level a session earlier - but the main board remained above the 30,000 point mark. Air Force to call on US to speed-up collision-avoidance system work following F-16V incident The Air Force is urging the U-S to expedite work to install automatic ground collision avoidance systems on its F-16V fighter jets and hopes the process (過程) can be completed sooner than initially planned. It comes after an F-16V jet went missing off of Hualien on Tuesday evening. Authorities are still searching for the missing aircraft and its pilot. The incident has led to concerns about the speed in which automatic ground collision avoidance systems are being installed on Taiwan's F-16Vs. The project was initially slated for completion in 2028. However, the Air Force says it now hopes it can completed by the end of this year. Subject: E*MOEA gives final approval for Nvidia's Taipei headquarters Return to Table of contents The Taipei City Government says the Ministry of Economic Affairs has given its final approval for Nvidia to build its overseas headquarters at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park. Nvidia is now set to submit its investment proposal to the city government later this month. Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang is expected to visit Taiwan later this month to attend (出席) the signing ceremony. The Nvidia headquarters will be designed by local architect Kris Yao. Yao's previous projects include the China Steel Corporation Headquarters in Kaohsiung and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in Chiayi. WH: US has started marketing Venezualan oil on the global marketplace The White House says the US has already started marketing Venezuelan oil in the global marketplace. It comes as President Trump says Venezuela has agreed to make up to 50 million barrels of crude (原油) available to the US. Jagruti Dave has more from Washington Canada PM to Visit China Next Week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China next week where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Canada looks to reduce its reliance (依賴) on the United States. The visit, announced on Wednesday, is the first to China by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years. Xi invited Carney to China when they met during an Asia-Pacific summit last fall and it comes as the two countries move to restore stronger ties after years of tensions. Carney will travel to China from Jan. 13 to 17. EU Snow and Ice Hampering Travel Snow and ice are hampering travel in parts of Europe as flights have been grounded and roads clogged (堵塞). More than 1,000 passengers spent the night at Amsterdam's airport as staff worked to clear snow from runways. At least 800 flights were canceled at the airport on Wednesday. France's weather service has issued alerts for snow and black ice. People were urged to work from home. Swedish and Finnish cities also faced disruptions with trams and buses halted. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 163-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 30,412 on turnover of 23-billion N-T. The market closed above the 30,000 point mark once again on Tuesday, as buying was further boosted by investor optimism over Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's sales amid the current A-I boom. Analysts say investors are betting that T-S-M-C will deliver positive leads (商機線索) at its investor conference next Thursday. NSB says Beijing paired Taiwan drills with cyberattacks and cognitive warfare The National Security Bureau says Beijing paired military drills against Taiwan with information operations and cyberattacks from between December 29 and January 2. According to the bureau, the move resulted in the spreading of more than 19,000 "controversial" messages and the launch of millions of hacking intrusions (入侵). In a report submitted to the Legislative Yuan, the N-S-B says the online activity involved 799 abnormal accounts and focused on amplifying skepticism about the U-S, Taiwan's military and President Lai Ching-te, referring to concerns about Taiwan's ability to defend itself. CDC warns that influenza epidemic to hit late January and peak over Lunar New Year The Centers for Disease Control says it expects to see a rise in flu cases in the later this month and a further increase around the Lunar New Year holiday period. According to the C-D-C, a total of 82,161 people sought medical treatment for flu-like illness from the week of December 28 to January 3 - and that level remains about the same as the previous week. The C-D-C is projecting that Taiwan will again enter a flu epidemic ( 流行病) period in the latter half of this month, following a previous period from late September to late November this winter and it's likely to peak around the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on February 14. UN Human Rights Office Expresses Renewed Concern Over U.S. Actions in Venezuela The UN Human Rights office says it's concerned America's military action in Venezuela is going to make the situation (情況) in the country even worse, and that US actions undermined international law. Mitch McCann reports from the United Nations in New York: Canada FM and Governor General to Visit Greenland Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his foreign minister and the governor general will visit Greenland in early February in the wake of renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex the Danish territory. Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon are expected to open a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Simon became Canada's first Indigenous governor general in 2021 and previously served as Canada's ambassador to Denmark. Carney says the future of Greenland and Demark are decided solely (唯一地，完全) by the people of Denmark. He spoke while meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 171-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 29,933 on turnover of 14-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Monday - as it closed above the 30,000-point mark for the first time as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing smashed closing records on the back of investor optimism toward demand for its high-end processes. Three individuals and Tokyo Electron Taiwan indicted over new TSMC trade secret theft The Taiwan High Prosecutors' Office Intellectual Property Branch has indicted three individuals and Tokyo Electron Taiwan for stealing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's 14-nanometer technology secrets. Those indicted include Chen Li-ming, a former T-S-M-C engineer who worked at Tokyo Electron Taiwan, a T-S-M-C employee and a Tokyo Electron employee. Two of the individuals have been charged with reproducing trade secrets relating to national core (核心) key technologies under the National Security Act. While the other individual and Tokyo Electron Taiwan have been charged with destroying evidence in a criminal case. All three individuals and Tokyo Electron Taiwan have also been indicted in a seperate investigation into the theft of T-S-M-C's 2-nanometer technology. Tourism authority issues guidelines to protect foreign accommodation interns The Tourism Administration has issued updated guidelines to better protect foreign interns in the accommodation/hospitality sector. It comes after the government opened the sector to foreign students enrolled in overseas schools last year to help address labor shortages. The administration says more than 1,900 students came to Taiwan to work as interns last year, but there were concerns over inadequate (不足) protections. Under the updated guidelines, foreign interns who perform work beyond their training must receive payment equivalent to at least the minimum wage, training must not exceed more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week … … and it cannot be scheduled between 10PM and 6AM, without the individual intern's consent. Iran Protest Death Toll Rises to at Least 35 Activists say the death toll in violence surrounding (周圍的) protests in Iran has risen to at least 35. The figure came from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said more than 1,200 people have been detained in the protests, which have been ongoing for more than a week. It said 29 protesters, four children and two members of Iran’s security forces have been killed. The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, says some 250 police officers and 45 members of the Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force have been hurt. UK Gov to Seize Illegal Migrants Phones Mobile phones will now be seized from illegal migrants entering the UK without arrest. The country's government says the new powers will help gather more information on smuggling (走私) gangs organising the Channel crossings. Lara Bentley has more… Auschwitz Survivor Eva Schloss Obit Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, has died at 96. The Anne Frank Trust UK, where she was honorary president, said she died Saturday in London. King Charles III praised Schloss for her lifelong dedication to overcoming hatred and prejudice (偏見). Born in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled to Amsterdam and became friends with Anne Frank. Both families hid from the Nazis but were eventually captured. Schloss survived Auschwitz and later moved to Britain. She became a prominent Holocaust educator, speaking worldwide and writing books. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn