EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 140-points this morning from Friday's close, at 33,541 on turnover of 13.5-billion N-T. The market closed lower on Friday due to the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East, but losses were capped as bargain hunters turned active to pick up large-cap tech stocks. Taichung mayor says US trip aims to build goodwill for Taiwan Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has visited New York City as she continues her 11-day trip to the U-S. Speaking in the city this past weekend, Lu said her trip has three main goals - deepening city-to-city exchanges, engaging with overseas Taiwanese communities, and reinforcing (強化) Taiwan-US relations. Lu arrived in New York following a stop in Boston. She visited the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in Manhattan's Chinatown and later traveled to Columbus Park to lay flowers at a statue of Sun Yat-sen. Lu is scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. this week. Taiwan twins win badminton doubles title at BWF Swiss Open And, Twin brothers Lee Fang-ren and Lee Fang-zhi beat their Danish opponents 21-18, 21-13 to win the men's badminton doubles title at the BWF Super 300 Swiss Open in Basel. The Taiwan pair started the first set trailing 4-7 but quickly stabilized and took the lead. After a brief break, the twins maintained at least a two-point advantage and closed out the set 21-18. In the second set, they quickly pulled ahead 5-1 and despite some errors, the brothers responded with six consecutive (連續的) points, shutting down the Danish pair's comeback and clinching their first title of the year. The twin brothers won their first BWF Super 300 men's doubles title at last year's Canada Open. Tehran denies seeking U.S. ceasefire after Trump says Iran was Decimate Iran's Foreign Minister is rebuffing any suggestion his government has asked the United States for a ceasefire, as the conflict in the Middle East enters its third week. It follows President Trump posting on social media at the weekend that Iran was beaten and completely decimated (毀滅) militarily, economically, and in every other way. Mitch McCann reports: Mexico City Sets Record for Soccer Class Mexico City set a world record on Sunday with the largest soccer class ever, with 9,500 participants in the capital’s Zocalo square as the country prepares to host the opening match of the World Cup in June. The city’s main square became a massive open-air training ground with crowds practicing soccer drills under the guidance of instructors. Participants kicked balls and followed coordinated exercises to promote (推動) sport and community engagement. A Guinness World Records official confirmed the new historic mark during the event. Organizers said the turnout surpassed (超越) the previous Guinness record set in Seattle in June 2025, when a soccer class brought together 1,038 participants. 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 366-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,216 on turnover of $16-billion N-T. Pedestrian lights to cancel fast-walking signal The Ministry of Transport says it plans to phase out faster-paced walking animation on some pedestrian signals islandwide by the end of this year. According to the ministry, the move is aimed at discouraging pedestrians to run across intersections. The ministry's Department of Railways, Highways and Road Safety says the decision was made during a road safety briefing at the Cabinet earlier this week. Department head Wu Dong-ling says while the flashing green signal that appears in the final seconds of a pedestrian light will remain, the faster-paced walking animation used in some areas will be removed. Wu also says the Cabinet has asked the transport ministry to coordinate with local governments on the adjustments and ensure that signal designs are standardized nationwide by the end of the year. Only Chiayi County, Kinmen and Matsu don't use the fast-walking signal. Iraq plan to get oil flowing As the War in Iran continues to disrupt global oil flows, Iraq is trying to strike a deal that would allow its oil to flow through the autonomous Kurdistan Region. But Iraqi Kurds want something in return. Olly Barratt explains from the region's capital - Canada to Spend Billions on Northern Military Operating Locations Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is putting an additional $32 billion into military forward operating locations in the North to assert sovereignty over the increasingly contested region. The prime minister made the announcement in Yellowknife, the capital city of Canada’s Northwest Territories, before he takes off for his planned visit to Norway where he will observe a NATO exercise. The additional funds comes as U.S. President Donald Trump called earlier this year for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, the Inuit self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark. Trump has also talked about making Canada the 51st state. Cuba Announces Prisoner Release Cuba’s government says it will release 51 people from the island’s jails in an unexpected move. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the release in the upcoming days stems from a spirit of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican. The government did not identify who it would release (釋放), except to say that “all have served a significant (相當長的時間) part of their sentence and have maintained good conduct in prison.” The government said it has granted pardons to 9-thousand-905 inmates since 2010. 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 298-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,816 on turnover of 16.3-billion N-T. The market posted its second-largest daily point gains on Wednesday, as a decline in investor concerns over the Middle East saw the bellwether electronics sector attract strong buying. Analysts say the combined gains from Tuesday and Wednesday helped the main board completely recover losses seen on Monday, when investors were spooked (受到驚嚇) by reports the US-Israel war against Iran could drag on for weeks. Economics minister says No. 3 nuclear plant could be restarted in 2028 Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says Tai-Power will submit a plan later month to re-start the decommissioned Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung. According to Kung, that means the plant could begin generating electricity as early as 2028. The statement came after as the economics minister was being questioned during a Legislative hearing as to whether the government is considering (考慮) using nuclear energy as a stable energy source in the event of a wartime blockade. The Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant was decommissioned on May 17 of last year. Taichung mayor leaves for 11-day US visit And, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen left for an 11-day visit to the United States late yesterday evening. She was seen off at Taoyuan International Airport by several K-M-T lawmakers. Prior to boarding her flight, Lu told reporters that trip to the was primarily (主要地，首先) focused on city-level diplomacy, but given Taiwan's current situation, her delegation will take the opportunity to advocate for the island's rights and interests. Lu's March 11 to 21 has planned stops in Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The Taichung mayor has said the issues to be discussed with U-S officials include energy stability, regional security and global trade. IEA greenlights record release of 400m barrels from emergency reserves The International Energy Agency has greenlit the release of a record 400m barrels of oil from emergency reserves in a bid to curb (抑制) rising prices sparked by the war in Iran. Instability around the Strait of Hormuz - a key oil shipping route off Iran's coast- has brought tanker traffic to halt. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. Czech Republic Keeps Defense Spending Below NATO Target Czech lawmakers have approved a 2026 budget that keeps defense spending below NATO’s 2% target, despite pressure from the United States. They voted Wednesday to fund the Defense Ministry at just over 1.7% of GDP. The new government of populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis says the state budget is strained (勉強的) and it has other priorities, including health care. Czech spending rises above 2% only if other ministries’ projects count too. President Petr Pavel urges a bigger budget and cites Russia’s war in Ukraine. The U.S. ambassador warns that the Czech decision hurts the whole alliance. Ecuador Preps for Crackdown on Criminal Groups Ecuador's interior minister says the country is preparing a major crackdown on criminal groups set to begin this weekend with logistical support from the United States. Ecuador's interior minister told local media that the government wants to avoid civilian casualties. He is also urging people to follow a nightly curfew from March 15th to March 30th. It covers three of the country's most violent provinces. The minister says roads need to stay clear for troop movements and equipment. Ecuador has faced rising organized crime since 2021 that officials link to (與…有關聯) drug cartels. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 台中烏日高鐵好宅招租囉！ 3月開放申請，社宅位於三榮路二段與三榮十路交叉口 歡迎年滿18歲，名下無自有住宅，符合財稅規定的民眾， 可點擊下方資訊欄連結了解詳情 台中社宅17租：https://sofm.pse.is/8tsfxk 3/28(六)開放現場看屋，也歡迎到社宅現場參觀！ 以上廣告由台中市政府住宅發展工程處提供 -- 日常奔波，是否讓你忘了好好照顧自己？ 把行程放心交給旅行老朋友「喜鴻假期」。 我們用超值的貼心款待，替你卸下生活疲憊。 你只需要帶著期待，去感受沿途風景， 將純粹的快樂收進專屬回憶裡。 搜尋「喜鴻假期」， 陪你寫一段段美好的旅行故事！ https://sofm.pse.is/8tr99n -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 356-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,128 on turnover of 10.8-billion N-T. The market rebounded on Tuesday and added 661-points on Tuesday, but investors remained wary of the continuing tensions in the Middle East, despite international crude oil prices finally falling. Taichung to head to US for 11-day US visit tomorrow Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen is heading to the U-S today for an 11-day visit. Lu has said the trip is aimed at strengthening city-to-city exchanges and engaging with (與…互動) Taiwan expats. According to Lu, her March 11 to 21 trip will cover five states, primarily on the U-S East Coast, with planned stops including Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. Lu is slated to meet members of the U-S House of Representatives and sign a memorandum of understanding with the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America. Lu also says the issues to be discussed with U-S officials include energy stability, regional security and global trade. Brief snow on Jade Mountain as mercury hit -8.9 The Central Weather Administration says there was brief snowfall on Jade Mountain earlier this morning -- as the mercury at its weather stations there dropped to minus 8.9-degrees. The weather administration says accumulated snow was only minimal (極少的) and quickly turned to ice or frost. However, the administration has issued cold surge advisories today. Very cold or cold advisories are in effect for areas of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Kinmen - where there's the chance of temperature remaining, or dropping below 10-degrees. The advisories are in effect through late this morning. US Claims Irainian Vessels Taken Out The U.S. says it has taken out multiple Iranian vessels as the Islamic Republic vows to block the region’s oil exports. The U.S. destroyed 16 mine-laying Iranian vessels, though President Donald Trump said in social media posts that there were no reports of Iran planting explosives in the Strait of Hormuz. The American military released the figure, along with unclassified (非機密的) footage of some of the vessels, after Trump earlier warned Iran against laying mines in the strait. The escalation came Tuesday as concerns grew about Iran's threats to stop tankers from using a waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil is shipped. DRC Landslide at Mine Leaves Dead and Missing A landslide at a mining site in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has forced hundreds of people to flee the area. Locals say nine people have died and several houses have been destroyed. The landslide was triggered by (觸發於) heavy rainfall at the Rubaya coltan mines. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa… Americas Press Freedom Drops in 2025 A monitoring watchdog says press freedom across the Americas dropped sharply in 2025, with more killings, arrests and intimidation (恐嚇) of media workers. The Inter American Press Association on Tuesday released its annual Chapul-tepec Index of Freedom of Expression and the Press covering 23 countries. It ranked Venezuela and Nicaragua as countries without freedom of speech. The group links rising attacks to more authoritarian leaders. It says Venezuela sees widespread self-censorship, and Nicaragua locks censorship into law. It says El Salvador uses lawsuits and probes to pressure reporters. It describes worsening violence in Ecuador and Haiti. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 🧧 農曆新年限定活動來囉 🧧 你是否渴望個人數位資產，能被24H自動化管理呢？ 【派網🤖】帶你深度剖析，最新RWA項目並結合網格技術，精準捕捉市場每一波震盪走勢！ 立刻點擊下方連結👇閱讀「金融技術文章」並領取「獨家專屬新年好禮🎁」 🔗https://sofm.pse.is/8thx9t -- 【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/8trqaf -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 581-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,692 on turnover of 12.7-billion N-T. The market posted heavy declines on Monday, as the main board plunged nearly 1,500 points on the back of investor concerns over major spikes in international crude oil prices amid the US-Israel war with Iran. FM meets Australian lawmaker during stopover Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has met with an Australian lawmaker during a stopover in Australia on his way home from Tuvalu. Taking to Facebook, Lin said he met with Hugh McDermott of the Australian Labor Party. McDermott also took social media to say he was pleased to meet with the foreign minister alongside (與…一起) parliamentary colleagues and representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia … … and he also posted a photo of himself shaking hands with Lin in Australia last Friday. However, neither McDermott or Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs have specified where the meeting took place in Australia during Lin's transit stop. Lin Chun-yi wins Taiwan's 1st men's singles title at All England Open Lin Chun-yi has won the men's singles competition at the 2026 All England Open Badminton Championships. The 26-year old, who is currently ranked world No. 11, beat his Indian opponent 21-15, 22-20 in a 57-minute final at the Utilita Arena in the city of Birmingham. The result means Lin has become the first Taiwanese male shuttler to top the podium (領獎台，前三名) in the men's singles event at the annual tournament. Lin's world ranking is expected to break into the top 10 for the first time, when the Badminton World Federation updates its standings later this week. He is ranked as Taiwan's No. 2 male badminton player. Anthropic sues Trump administration Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has sued the Trump administration after it placed the artificial intelligence company on a national security blacklist (黑名單). The Pentagon has designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk, after it refused to remove guardrails against using its AI for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance. Kate Fisher reports from Washington Australia Grants Asylum to Iraninan Soccer Team Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says that Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who were visiting the country for a tournament. The women were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia “to a safe location” by Australian federal police officers in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time. There, they met with Burke and the processing of their humanitarian visas finalized (完成), the minister told reporters in Brisbane hours later. An official team list numbered 26 players, plus coaching and other staff. Burke didn’t detail what threats the players faced in Iran. The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the Iran war began. The team was knocked out of the tournament over the weekend and faced the prospect (可能) of returning to a country under bombardment. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 🧧 農曆新年限定活動來囉 🧧 你是否渴望個人數位資產，能被24H自動化管理呢？ 【派網🤖】帶你深度剖析，最新RWA項目並結合網格技術，精準捕捉市場每一波震盪走勢！ 立刻點擊下方連結👇閱讀「金融技術文章」並領取「獨家專屬新年好禮🎁」 🔗https://sofm.pse.is/8tdg2r -- 【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/8trqb3 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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/8tmgqs -- 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 -- 🧧 農曆新年限定活動來囉 🧧 你是否渴望個人數位資產，能被24H自動化管理呢？ 【派網🤖】帶你深度剖析，最新RWA項目並結合網格技術，精準捕捉市場每一波震盪走勢！ 立刻點擊下方連結👇閱讀「金融技術文章」並領取「獨家專屬新年好禮🎁」 🔗https://sofm.pse.is/8tmbyc -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 791-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,620 on turnover of 19.1-billion N-T. The market plunged over 1,400 points on Wednesday as escalating tensions in the Middle East spooked investors and triggered heavy selling across the board. Large-cap tech stocks bore the brunt of (首當其衝) the decline. However, all eight major industrial sectors finished lower, with plastics, electric machinery, cables and glass stocks posting steep losses. Prosecutors indict 62 individuals and 13 companies in Prince Holding Group Case The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 62 individuals and 13 companies in connection with its money laundering investigation into the Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group. Prosecutors says the network laundered more than 10.7-billion N-T in Taiwan. The individual and companies have been charged with violating the Organized Crime Prevention Act, the Money Laundering Prevention Act, and the Criminal Code with intent to profit from gambling. Prosecutors are also seeking court approval to confiscate (沒收) the full 10.7-billion N-T in alleged criminal proceeds held in Taiwan. Authorities have so far seized more than 5.5-billion N-T in Prince Group assets (資產) during raids last year and they include 24 luxury properties, 35 high-end vehicles, 337 financial accounts, cash and designer goods. Dozens injured in raucous Lantern Festival events in Tainan and Taitung At least 47 people have been injured while attending Lantern Festival-related folk events in Tainan and Taitung. Both of the event saw participants forming processions and braving (勇敢面對（困難/危險）) barrages of bottle rockets or firecrackers. Officials in Tainan says 30 people suffered burns after being hit by dense barrages of bottle rockets, while six were injured stemming from falls at the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival on Monday and Tuesday. While officials in Taitung say 11 people were taken to the city's MacKay Memorial Hospital on Tuesday after suffering injuries on the first day of the Bombing of Master Han Dan Festival. US submarine sinks Iranian warship At least 80 bodies have been recovered by Sri Lankan authorities after a torpedo fired by a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it was the Islamic Republic's prize ship. And the first such strike since World War 2. Kate Fisher has more from Washington Africa Clean Energy Fund to Double Financing Africa’s flagship clean energy fund says it plans to more than double its financing to $2.5 billion over the next two years, as momentum builds behind the continent’s energy transition. The African Development Bank bank approved slightly fewer renewable energy projects last year but succeeded in increasing its funding. The lender's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa has mobilized about $1 billion in commercial capital alongside its own commitments. Based on projects in the pipeline, that figure is expected to reach $2.5 billion within the next two years. The public-private finance facility supports utility-scale and decentralized projects, facilitating deals and supporting pan-African renewable energy investment platforms. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ ARTOGO帶你看展✨ 從3D建模、沉浸式體驗到元宇宙策展， 把「看展」這件事， 變成一扇隨時隨地都能打開的文化任意門。 透過科技不只讓人「線上看得到」， 更是讓文化被理解、被珍惜 一步步實踐文化平權的理想。 一起來收聽最新一集《一銀陪你聊“新”事》🎧 https://sofm.pse.is/8tvvza -- 【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/8trqb4 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 94-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 34,228 on turnover of 11.1-billion N-T. The market plunged more than 700-points on Tuesday following a sell-off sparked by sky-rocketing international crude oil prices due to the U-S and Israel's war with Iran. Economics minister dismisses power rationing concerns Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says the government has secured sufficient natural gas supplies for this month and there will "absolutely be no power rationing." The statement comes amid concerns that escalating hostilities in the Middle East could trigger rationing. According to Kung, gas shipments for early March have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz, while supplies for the second half of the month have been secured from "alternative (可供替代的) markets." Speaking at a legislative hearing, Kung told lawmakers that he hopes the conflict will be short-lived and the government use of coal-fired power generation will be "a last resort." CDC warning Japan-bound WBC fans of infectious disease risks And, The Centers for Disease Control is advising people heading to Tokyo to attend World Baseball Classic games to take precautions against measles, flu and infectious gastroenteritis. The C-D-C is citing elevated disease activities in Japan for the warning. According to C-D-C spokesman Lin Ming-cheng, travelers should be aware of a rise in measles cases in Japan, which have reached their highest cumulative (累計) total for the same period since 2020, while flu activity in Japan also remains at a high level. Lin is also warned travelers about infectious gastroenteritis in Japan, saying the country recorded an average of 8.02 cases per clinic in the eighth week of the year, the highest for the same period in five years. US to offer insurance, escort to tankers traveling through Strait of Hormuz President Donald Trump says the US will start offering insurance and navy escorts to tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, as oil and gas prices spike due to the war in Iran. About 20% of the world's oil and roughly (大概) a third of its Liquefied Natural Gas passes through the narrow waterway off of Iran's coast. Toni Waterman has more Argentina Navy Trial for Sinking of Sub Four former Argentine navy officers are on trial for the 2017 sinking of the ARA San Juan, which killed 44 crew members. Prosecutors say the officers neglected duties and ignored serious maintenance problems. The submarine vanished (消失了) on Nov. 15, 2017, during a trip after a training exercise. The crew reported water entering batteries, then lost contact. Investigators say water reached a battery tank and triggered a short circuit and fire. The submarine then plunged and imploded (內爆) at extreme depth. Relatives of the deceased crew members argue that the current trial falls short of achieving true justice. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 台中太平育賢三期好宅招租囉！ 3月開放申請，社宅位於環中東路三段與育才路交叉口 歡迎年滿18歲，名下無自有住宅，符合財稅規定的民眾， 可點擊下方資訊欄連結了解詳情 台中社宅17租：https://sofm.pse.is/8trq8v 3/21(六)開放現場看屋，也歡迎到社宅現場參觀！ 以上廣告由台中市政府住宅發展工程處提供 -- 【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/8ts3py -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 35,106 on turnover of 8.9-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday, as investor sentiment took a dive on the back of concerns about global oil prices after the U-S and Israel attacked Iran over the weekend. MOEA talks boosting energy imports due to Middle East tensions The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it plans to increase energy imports in response to the current situation in the Middle East. According to the ministry, it will diversify import sources and strengthen energy supply security. The ministry says although the conflict is effecting some shipments oil and gas import coming through the Strait of Hormuz, short-term energy shipment arrivals remain unaffected and long-term contingency plans are in place to maintain a stable power supplies. The economic ministry's statements come as Premier Cho Jung-tai has been meeting with senior government officials for talks on the impact of higher international oil prices. Cho says C-P-C has been asked to ensure uninterrupted supplies, and Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun will convene a series of price stabilization meetings. Man detained over Taipei Main Station bomb and death threats A man has been ordered detained following his arrest for allegedly sending threats in late February to set fires, plant bombs and kill people at Taipei Main Railway Station. Prosecutors say they secured court approval to detain the Changhua County resident - who police say admitted making the threats due to stress and being in a bad mood. The Taiwan Railway Corporation and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation received separate threats on February 25 and 26, respectively. Police heightened security measures as the threats were made just ahead of the 228 Memorial Day long weekend holiday. The suspect was arrested following a raided (襲擊) his residence on the night of February 27 and taken into custody. He is facing charges of public intimidation. Trump: Iran operations to last 4 to 5 weeks or "far longer" US president Donald Trump says American operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, but warned the US had the capability to go "far longer than that". He promised Washington would "prevail" (戰勝) after news that a fourth US service member has died. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Cuba Detains Panama Citizens for Propaganda Cuba’s government says it has detained 10 Panamanian citizens it accused of creating subversive propaganda in the latest international incident involving the Caribbean island. Monday's announcement comes just days after a fatal shooting involving a U.S. boat in Cuban waters. The government said that according to initial statements from those detained, the Panamanians were ordered to leave Cuba “once the objective was achieved,” and that they would receive between $1,000 and $1,500 each upon their return. Officials did not provide further details, including the nature of the alleged (被指控的，據稱) propaganda. 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/8trqc4 -- 第十屆法藍瓷想像計畫：熱血開跑！🚀 想去偏鄉服務卻缺經費？ 法藍瓷提供最高 25 萬元 基金，讓你主導地點與主題！只要你有創意，就能讓想像成真！ 【報名重點】 • 對象： 全台熱血大學生 • 核心： 社區共好、代間共學、術科教育 • 獎勵： 圓夢基金最高 25 萬 3/23前提案，給自己一個改變世界的機會！🌏 https://sofm.pse.is/8tm5su -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

【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/8t4kbx -- 放慢了車速，心跳卻加速； 將你的手輕輕收進我外套的口袋， 隔絕涼意，卻藏不住滿溢的悸動。 紅燈停下的瞬間，影子重疊著曖昧； 永遠難忘的心動秘密， 都藏在……同一陣風裡。 盧可沛 首張個人專輯加速載入中 2026.03.13第二波心動單曲〈同一陣風裡〉 數位聆聽🔗https://sofm.pse.is/8tvw24 －－－－以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ All 3,000 Taiwanese in the Middle East safe following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran Natural gas prices to rise by 3% on average in March Iran says its open to negotiations Middle East stuck travelers Milan fashion week Armani -- 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 _____. －－－－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/8trqam -- 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－－－－ 【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/8t6vsl -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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－－－－ 日常奔波，是否讓你忘了好好照顧自己？ 把行程放心交給旅行老朋友「喜鴻假期」。 我們用超值的貼心款待，替你卸下生活疲憊。 你只需要帶著期待，去感受沿途風景， 將純粹的快樂收進專屬回憶裡。 搜尋「喜鴻假期」， 陪你寫一段段美好的旅行故事！ https://sofm.pse.is/8trq5d -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 57-points this morning following an 11-day Lunar New Year holiday, at 33,663 on turnover of 37.9-billion N-T. Australian warship transits Taiwan Strait, tracked by China's navy The Ministry of National Defense says it closely monitors the skies and waters around Taiwan and that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway for which all countries enjoy the right of freedom of navigation. The statement comes after an Australian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Reports are citing sources as saying that the Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate, Toowoomba conducted a routine (常規) transit through the Taiwan Strait" on Friday and Saturday as part of a "Regional Presence Deployment in the Indo-Pacific region." The defense ministry says it will not proactively disclose the movements of aircraft and ships of friendly allied countries. Taipei's Grand Hotel warns of possible data breach after cyberattack The Grand Hotel in Taipei is warning customers a possible data breach. The statement comes after the hotel discovered unauthorized access to its information systems last week. According to the hotel, it has issued the notice as a precaution (範圍), as the scope and targets of the attack have yet to be fully assessed. The hotel has also issued apology to the members of the public for any concern caused by the situation. The hotel says it activated its highest-level cybersecurity response measures after discovering the attack. Customers are being urged to remain on the alert against suspicious emails and to verify any messages requesting payment or personal financial information. Secret Service shoots, kills armed man at Mar-a-Lago Secret service agents and other law enforcement officials shot and killed an armed man who entered the perimeter (防衛線 / 外圍) of US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in the early hours of Sunday morning. Ira Spitzer has more. Mexico El Mencho Killed in Military Operation The Mexican army says it has killed the powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in a military operation. On Sunday, troops targeted Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in the western state of Jalisco. The operation set off hours of roadblocks (路障) and burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Officials say cartels often use these tactics to slow down or block military moves. The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $15 million dollars for information leading to El Mencho's arrest. Milan Olympics Officially Closed The twin Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo have been extinguished, signaling the end of the Winter Games. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry declared the 2026 Games over in remarks to the closing ceremony in Verona. A total of 116 medal events have been held in eight Olympic sports across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering this year, over the course of 17 days of competition. The next Winter Games will be held in neighboring (鄰接) France, which received the Olympic flag in the official handover earlier in the ceremony. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ ARTOGO帶你看展✨ 從3D建模、沉浸式體驗到元宇宙策展， 把「看展」這件事， 變成一扇隨時隨地都能打開的文化任意門。 透過科技不只讓人「線上看得到」， 更是讓文化被理解、被珍惜 一步步實踐文化平權的理想。 一起來收聽最新一集《一銀陪你聊“新”事》🎧 https://sofm.pse.is/8tvvzs -- 【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/8tr9d6 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Shield AI and Taiwan's NCSIST team up on AI drones Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and American defense company Shield A-I have signed a contract to advance the development of AI-piloted unmanned systems. The systems are reportedly capable of continuing operations in compromised communications environments. According to Shield AI President Brandon Tseng, the partnership will enable (使…能夠) drone forces being produced in Taiwan to include cutting-edge AI pilots that will allow the U-A-V's to operate while G-P-S and communications are jammed. Shield AI last year announced a teaming agreement with Taiwan's state-backed Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation and opened a new office at the Taipei 101. CDC reporting first measles case this year after Vietnam trip The Centers for Disease Control is reporting Taiwan's first measles case of this year. According to the C-D-C, the case involves an eight-month-old baby boy who lives in northern Taiwan, who traveled with his family to Vietnam and returned in late January. The boy developed a fever, a persistent (持續的) cough and other symptoms in early February and was hospitalized last Friday after developing a rash. The C-D-C says the infant's family members and 395 others suspected contacts are now being monitored. They will continue to be monitored until February 28. The C-D-C has issued measles travel alerts for Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Angora, Mexico, Yemen and Pakistan, and placed 30 other countries on its watch list. Health authorities are advising parents to ensure their young children receive their measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. US Trump Administration to Wind Down Immigration Surge in Minnesota The Trump administration says it will end its immigration enforcement (執行) operation in the state of Minnesota, claiming the state is now safer because of their work. This comes after the deaths of at least two people, both shot by immigration or federal border agents. Mitch McCann reports: UNICEF: Haiti Armed Groups Increasingly Recruiting Children UNICEF says that the recruitment of children by armed groups in Haiti tripled last year as poverty and violence deepens across the troubled Caribbean country. The surge reported Thursday comes as gang violence displaces a record 1.4 million people across Haiti. More than half of them are children whom experts say are left exposed and vulnerable (易受傷害的; 易受攻擊的). The U.N. estimates that 30% to 50% of members of armed groups are children, with recruiting (招募) starting as young as 9 years old. UNICEF’s representative in Haiti, said boys generally act as spies, carry ammunition and weapons while girls often face sexual violence and are tasked with domestic work. France Prosecutors Investigating Ticketing Fraud at Louvre Paris prosecutors say police are detaining nine people in an investigation into a long-running ticket fraud scheme at the Louvre museum. Prosecutors say the arrests happened on Tuesday. The museum had filed a complaint in December 2024. Investigators found tour guides repeatedly reuse the same tickets for different visitors. Prosecutors say guides also split groups to avoid a required speaking fee. Two Louvre employees allegedly helped skipping (略過) ticket checks in exchange for cash. The prosecutors' office estimates losses top 10 million euros over a decade. Prosecutors also mentioned similar suspicions regarding a ticket fraud at the Palace of Versailles, without providing details. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【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/8tlyw2 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Taipei signs NT$12.2 billion Nvidia deal The Taipei City Government has signed a 12.2-billion N-T agreement with Nvidia for the T-17 and T-18 plots of land at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park. Mayor Chiang Wan-an says construction on the U-S technology company's new Taiwan headquarters could now begin as early as June. The deal grants Nvidia 50-year land surface rights, extendable by up to 20 years and Chiang is describing the agreement as a major milestone and is also pledging (保證) full municipal support. Under Nvidia's investment plan, more than 40-billion N-T will be spent during construction, and operations are expected to create over 10,000 jobs. Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang is scheduled to visit Taiwan from June 2 to 5 for Computex Taipei. TSMC shares surge almost 69% in 'Year of Snake' Shares in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing soared almost 69-per cent in the Year of the Snake. T-S-M-C shares closed at a record high of 1,915 N-T on Wednesday - the final trading day of the Year of the Snake - despite coming off off a historic intraday high of 1,925 N-T early in the session. The chipmaker's share price jumped 780 N-T during the Year of the Snake and contributed about 6,262 points to the Tai-Ex's overall rise for the year. The strong showing raised T-S-M-C's market capitalization by more than 20-trillion N-T during the year. Taipei Zoo to renovate its tropical rainforest area And, The Taipei City Zoo has announced plans to renovate its tropical rainforest area. According to the zoo,the renovations will improve animal welfare, update some of its aging facilities and are in line with (與…一致,符合,按照) international trends in professional zoo development. The Asian tropical rainforest area opened in 1997. The zoo will be relocating its Asian elephants Yu-Hsin and Yu-Kai to the African animal area later this year during the renovation period. The zoo will also be transfering other animals, such as the Malayan tiger, sun bear, and leopard, following the elephants' move. Republicans join Democrats to rebuke Trump's Tariffs on Canada US lawmakers have voted to terminate President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada - with six Republicans joining Democrats in the House of Representatives. The resolution passed 219 to 211 - sending the bill to the Senate where a similar (相似的) measure passed last year. Toni Waterman has more. Sci Initiative Finds HumanCaused Climate Change Drove Wildfires A team of researchers say that human-caused climate change had an important impact on the recent wildfires that engulfed parts of Chile and Argentina’s Patagonia region. That's according to a report released Wednesday by World Weather Attribution, a scientific initiative that investigates extreme weather events. The report says the hot, dry and gusty weather that fed last month’s deadly wildfires in central and southern Chile was made around 200% more likely by human-made greenhouse gas emissions. Ande the high-fire-risk conditions that fueled (激起，助長) the blazes still racing through southern Argentina were made 150% more likely. World Weather Attribution says “These trends are projected to continue in the future as long as we continue to burn fossil fuels.” That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【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/8tlyw3 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,086 on turnover of 12.1-billion N-T. The market ended at a high of just over 33,000 points on Tuesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing registered strong gains after its American depositary receipts closed at a record price overnight. MOEA sets aside NT$30 billion to cushion auto industry amid US tariff deal The Ministry of Economic Affairs has set aside 30-billion N-T to support Taiwan's automobile industry as it prepares for changes to tariffs under a Taiwan-US trade agreement, According to Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin, initial assessments indicate that the impact on domestic industrial output could exceed (超過) 1-per cent but will remain "manageable." Kung says the funding will help the automobile and auto parts industry absorb (吸收)shocks, advance transformation and upgrading, and strengthen independent research and development and exports. Kung also says any tariff arrangements will apply only to US-made vehicles and such vehicles will be defined only if they meet country of origin and value-added content requirements consistent with existing international standards. Population declines for 25th consecutive month The Ministry of the Interior says the island's population fell for a 25th consecutive month in January -- with the number of live births falling by 304 from December of 2025. According to the latest data, as of the end of January, the population totaled 23,289,045, down 10,087 from December. A total of 8,723 babies were born in January, 304 fewer than in December and 772 fewer than a year earlier. The interior ministry says that translates to roughly one birth every 5.1 minutes and an annual crude birth rate (粗出生率) of 4.41 per 1,000 people. Deaths totaled 17,529 in January, or about one every 2.5 minutes and the crude death rate was 8.86 per 1,000 people White House defends Trump Canada bridge attack The White House has defended US President Donald Trump's threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Ontario with Michigan. Trump has told Canada his administration needs to be "fully compensated for everything", despite (儘管) both countries co-owning the bridge. Nick Harper reports from Washington on the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's comments. Chile Launches OpenSource AI Language Model for Latin American Culture Chile has launched the first open-source AI language model trained on Latin American culture. Called Latam-GPT, the two-year effort is led by Chile's National Center of Artificial Intelligence and supported by over 30 institutions. It aims to reflect regional realities in AI. Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized the importance of Latin America's role in the AI revolution. Latam-GPT, announced at the February 2025 Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, addresses linguistic biases (語言的偏誤) in models trained mainly on English data. It uses Latin American data and will initially operate in Spanish and Portuguese, with plans to include Indigenous languages later. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【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/8trdpf -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm Jacob Ingram with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opens higher on Wall Street rally The Tai-Ex opened up 35 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 32,440 on turnover (成交額) of $5.9 billion NT. Shares in Taiwan closed more than 600 points higher Monday, as a strong rally (大漲) in the United States late last week prompted investors to buy large-cap (大型股) electronics stocks. Contract chipmaker TSMC failed to hold onto all of its earlier gains, with analysts saying investors turned cautious ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, amid concerns over possible negative developments overseas. Old-economy stocks (傳產股) were largely overshadowed by the technology sector, although some industries tied to AI development attracted interest. TaiDoc union protests interference; company blames 'outsider' involvement The union at TaiDoc Technology protested Monday outside the Ministry of Labor. It's accusing the medical device maker of undermining (破壞) its operations, including illegally dismissing its chair, Filipino worker Elizabeth Basas. Notices posted around the workplace allegedly humiliated her and warned other employees against joining the union. Union director Lennon Wang said the group, formed six months ago with about 30 Filipino members, has faced ongoing pressure from management and claimed the company forced employees to join the union, announcing over 100 new members unilaterally (單方面地). TaiDoc's chair has denied the accusations, calling Wang an "outsider" illegally interfering (非法干預) and questioning the legitimacy (合法性) of a recent strike vote. The Ministry of Labor said it has received a request to investigate the allegations and urged employers to respect union independence (工會自主權) and avoid improper interference (不當干預). Taiwan's Zhang Bo-ya wins gold at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships Taiwan's top hurdler Zhang Bo-ya (張博雅) secured gold in the women’s 60-meter hurdles at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, setting a new national record of 8.12 seconds. The 22-year-old star broke her own national record twice in a single day. After an initial record-breaking run in the heats, Zhang surged past her Japanese competitors in the final to take Taiwan’s first gold of the meet. Her victory capped off a successful weekend for the national team, which earned one gold and three silver medals. Notable performances included Chen Wen-pu (陳玟溥), who smashed a 38-year-old national record in the men’s 60-meter sprint, alongside silvers from long jumper Lin Yu-tang (林昱堂) and sprinter Liao Yan-jun (廖晏均). Coach Wang Kuo-hui (王國慧) said the result confirms Zhang’s peak condition as she prepares for the upcoming outdoor season and Asian Games qualifiers (亞運資格賽). Maxwell remains silent to Epstein questions, pleads for clemency In international news, Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker for Jeffrey Epstein, has refused to answer US lawmakers' questions at a closed-door hearing, asserting her Fifth Amendment right (保持緘默權). She used the session to ask for clemency (寬赦), saying she would "speak fully" if pardoned (特赦) by US president Donald Trump. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Cuba Aviation Officials Warn of Fuel Shortage Cuban aviation officials have warned airlines of a fuel shortage (燃料短缺) for refueling on the island. This is part of energy rationing (能源配給) as the Trump administration cuts Cuba off from its fuel sources. The shortage stems from U.S. political pressure severing Cuba’s access to oil from Venezuela and Mexico. Shorter flights may not be affected, but long-haul routes face challenges. The energy crisis has led to reduced bank hours, suspended cultural events and halted public transport. U.S. sanctions (制裁) have long impacted Cuba, but recent measures have intensified the situation. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【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/8t6vsd -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 173-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 31,956 on turnover of $10.4-billion N-T. Cross-border effort leads to Taiwan fugitive's arrest in Philippines A 33-year-old Taiwanese fugitive has been arrested in Metro Manila following a joint operation between Philippine and Taiwanese authorities. The suspect, surnamed Chien (簡), had been on the run since August 2023, when an arrest warrant was issued by the Miaoli (苗栗) District Prosecutors Office on theft charges. Philippine immigration officials say Chien was also classified as an “undesirable (不受歡迎的) alien” after overstaying his temporary visitor visa. He is currently being held at a detention facility pending deportation. Since the start of 2025, officials have successfully tracked down and arrested 22 wanted Taiwanese fugitives in the Philippines through intelligence sharing and other forms of cooperation. Airport MRT to run 5 a.m. express train from Feb. 12-22 for LNY Taoyuan Airport MRT is adding an early morning express train service from Taipei Main Station to handle (應付) increased outbound travel over the Lunar New Year holiday. According to the operator, the train will run from February 12th to the 22nd … and depart at 5 AM … reaching Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2 Station within 41 minutes. On the way, it will call at A3 New Taipei Industrial Park, A8 Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and A12 Airport Terminal 1 stations — as usual for the express train. To support the service, Taipei Main and New Taipei Industrial Park stations will open earlier — at 4:30 AM. In-town check-in at Taipei Main will also be available at that time. While the other stations it stops at will open at 5 AM. Japan PM Party Secures Supermajority Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s governing party has secured a two-thirds supermajority in a parliamentary election. Takaichi told public broadcaster NHK later that she is ready to pursue (實行) policies to make Japan strong and prosperous. TV networks cited preliminary results from Sunday's vote in reporting that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner won 352 seats in the 465-seat lower house. The huge jump from the previous parliament could allow Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan’s economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China and she tries to nurture ties with Washington. US FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show From the US…. Files show the FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Venezuela Gov Releases Opposition Members from Prison Venezuela’s government has released (釋放) several prominent opposition members from prison, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado. These releases come as acting President Delcy Rodriguez faces pressure to free those detained for political reasons. The move follows a visit from representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. On Sunday, Foro Penal confirmed the release of at least 30 people. Machado’s ally Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor, and her attorney, Perkins Rocha, were among the released. The ruling party-controlled National Assembly is debating an amnesty bill that could lead to more releases. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 【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/8t6vst -- Hosting provided by SoundOn