EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 36-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,401 on turnover of $5.4-billion N-T. The market retreated on Thursday after Wall Street fell overnight under the weight of higher yields in the bond market. Government Allows Tour Groups Arranged before June to Visit China The government says group tours to China organized before June 1 can travel there as planned. The statement backtracks on a previous decision to suspend cross-strait group tourism starting from tomorrow. The government originally decided to only allow tour groups scheduled to leave for China before May 31 to go ahead. However, Cabinet spokesman Chen Shi-kai says the policy was altered. A certain number of tour groups were unable to depart before the end of May. According to the Cabinet spokesman, the ban on tour travel to China from tomorrow 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Changes will be implemented dependent on it "being in the best interests of Taiwan's people and tourism industry." The spokesman also says the government's policy of welcoming Chinese tourists to Taiwan has not changed. He says it still hopes both sides of can reopen bilateral group tourism on an equal footing (平等). US Trump Guilty on all 34 Counts Former US President Donald Trump is now a convicted felon after being found guilty in his New York hush-money trial. It's a deep blow for Trump, who has spent considerable (相當多的) time attacking the case he calls a witch-hunt. From outside the court in New York, Mitch McCann reports: Pakistan Sends Official to Taliban Pakistan has sent an official to Kabul and shared the findings of its investigation into a suicide bombing with Afghanistan’s Taliban government The March bombing killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver . The foreign ministry in Islamabad said on Thursday that an Interior Ministry official traveled to the Afghan capital to share the findings with the Taliban administration. Pakistan has said the attack was planned in Afghanistan and that the bomber was an Afghan citizen. Pakistan alleges that the Afghan Taliban administration should be held accountable (追究責任) for the attack. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has denied it was in any way responsible. Report Finds Billions in Gold Smuggled Out of Africa Annually A new report has found that billions of dollars in gold is smuggled out of Africa each year. The report is from Swissaid, an aid and development group based in Switzerland. It says most of the gold ends up in the United Arab Emirates. There, it is refined and then sold to customers around the world. The report published Thursday found that more than $30 billion worth of gold, or more than 435 metric tons, was smuggled out of the continent in 2022. The main destinations (目的地) for African gold were the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Switzerland. The authors of the report said their goal was to make the trade in African gold more transparent. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 全台7-11限時優惠中! 即日起-7/09 咖啡廣場奶香特調咖啡/調合式冰咖啡 任選2瓶只要49元 即日起-7/09 咖啡廣場鋁箔包2瓶25元! 更多詳情→https://bit.ly/3UUW9G5 -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 181-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,481 on turnover of 5.8-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Wednesday, after Wall Street slippled overnight following a rise in bond yields. Premier Aims to Return Parliamentary Reform Bills to LY Premier Zhuo Rong-tai is continuing to stress that the Cabinet will not sign-off on the just passed parliamentary reform bills. The Cabinet will instead return the bills to the Legislative Yuan for further review. According to Zhuo, the decision to bounce the bills back to lawmakers is constitutional. He says the Cabinet is legally obligated (有義務的) to call for further legislative reviews of any laws that would to difficult to enact. The premier is also voicing his support for the D-P-P's decision to seek a constitutional interpretation of the reform bills by the Constitutional Court. Prototypes of First Taiwan Developed Robot Dog Make Debut The National Taiwan University's Autonomous & Soft Robotics Laboratory has unveiled the first locally developed robot dogs. The lab says it says could ease labor shortages. The laboratory showcased the prototypes of two kinds of robot dogs at an event in Taipei. The professor leading the development team says "one is for use as a pet, while the other is for industrial use" According to Professor Guo Chong-xian, robot dogs can be of particular help in Taiwan's non-tech and service sectors. He says their environments are not as well suited (適合) as high-tech factories to standard robots. NKorea Fires Ballistic Missiles into Sea of Japan North Korea has fired about ten missiles into the Sea of Japan. Japanese officials believe the projectiles landed short of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Brazil Withdraws Ambassador to Israel Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has withdrawn his ambassador to Israel after months of tensions between the two countries over the war in Gaza. It's the latest repercussion (反響) from a South American nation over Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian territory. Lula has been a frequent (常) critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. He compared the campaign to the Holocaust earlier this year. That led Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz to summon the Brazilian ambassador to the national Holocaust museum in Jerusalem for a public reprimand (懲戒). Israel says its war in Gaza is a defensive action triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented assault. Israel rejects any comparisons of its offensive to the Holocaust. Iceland Volcano Eruption A volcano in southwestern Iceland is erupting again. The volcano is spewing red streams of lava and triggered the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The eruption Wednesday occurred in an area north of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people. The town was largely evacuated after a December eruption that ended centuries of dormancy (休眠). It was the fifth eruption and estimated to be the area's most vigorous (劇烈的) so far. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said lava shot 50 meters into the sky from a fissure (裂縫) that grew to 3.5 kilometers in length,. Anyone still in the town was ordered to leave. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 輕食新時尚 我的新感覺 無論是濃情蜜意的甜美滋味-草莓夾心、可可夾心、花生夾心- 還是清爽不膩、經典鹹口味的雞蛋沙拉、鮪魚沙拉 新感覺隨時都能滿足味蕾，給你全新輕食選項 每一天都散發優雅時尚、自信向前 https://bit.ly/3yBAueE -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,846 on turnover of 6.6-billion N-T. The market gained ground once again on Tuesday, as other regional indexes ended mixed and Wall Street was closed for the Memorial Day holiday. Presidential Office Bemoans Passage of Parliamentary Reform Bills The Presidential Office is bemoaning passage of the parliamentary reform bills. Speaking to reporters office spokeswoman Guo Ya-hui said President Lai Ching-te still hopes the government and opposition can continue to debate the bills and make adjustments if warranted (有正當理由的，需要的). The Presidential Office spokeswoman said Lai believe lawmakers should to respond to the demands of the people regarding the reform bills. She says the government doesn't believes passage of the bills meets with the "expectations of Taiwanese society. " And she went on to say the D-P-P will seek a constitutional interpretation on the the constitutionality of the contents of the amendments. Investigation Finds Deadly Fire Likely Caused by Power Cable Short Circuit The Hsinchu City Government says a preliminary investigation indicates that a short circuit in a power cable may have caused the fire at an apartment complex early this week. The blaze resulted in the deaths of two firefighters. According to the city government, the fire bureau investigation shows the blaze likely originated (起源) with a power cable on the basement's first floor. But the results of a full report into the casuse of the blaze are still pending. Residents in the apartment complex, which comprises of four 28-story buildings were permitted to retrieve their belongings yesterday. The investigation into the case of the fire is continuing and safety checks are being carried out. NKorea Vows Response to SKorean Drills North Korea is vowing to take stern (嚴厲的) actions against South Korea for military drills held on Tuesday. Chris Gilbert reports. Missile Attacks on GreekOwned Ship in Red Sea Missile attacks twice damaged a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned ship Tuesday in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. The British military says the first attack on the bulk carrier happened off the port city of Hodeida in the southern Red Sea. The crew was reported safe and the vessel proceeded (繼續進行) to its next port of call (停靠港). Then late Tuesday night local time, the vessel reportedly “sustained further damage” in a second missile attack near Mokha in the Bab el-Mandeb. No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion fell on Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Houthis have launched a number of attacks targeting ships over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Italy Celebrates Return of Antiquities from US Italy is celebrating the return of around 600 antiquities (古物) from the U.S. They were looted years ago, sold to U.S. museums and collectors and recovered as a result of criminal investigations. Italian officials say the items have a value of around $65 million US dollars. They say the artifacts date from the ninth century B.C. to the second century. It presentation is part of Italy’s decades-old effort to recover antiquities that were looted or stolen from its territory by tomb-raiders. The items are then sold to antiquities dealers who often forged (偽造的) records to resell the loot to high-end buyers, auction houses and museums. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally higher this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,812 on turnover of 4.5-billion N-T. The market closed at a new high on Monday. It edged above the 21,800-point mark on the back of strong performances by the electronics and shipping sectors. The bellwether electronics sector attracted (引起) strong buying, rising by 1.32-per cent. The transportation index jumped 2.8-per cent, driven primarily by shipping stocks benefiting from rising freight rates. Health Minister Calls for Taiwan's WHA Inclusion Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan is calling for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly, under the name of Taiwan or the Republic of China. The call comes as Chiu is heading delegation to Geneva this week to promote Taiwan's inclusion ( 加入) in the global health body. According to Chiu, the W-H-O continues to exclude Taiwan due to political considerations, He says this undermines the efforts to create a more comprehensive global health architecture and greatly hinders pandemic prevention efforts. The health minister was accompanied by members of a cross-party delegation of Taiwan lawmakers at the press conference. Chiang Wan-an Touts Need for Twin-City Forum Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is hosting a delegation of city officials from Shanghai this week. According to the mayor's office, the delegation is visiting for four-days to help finalize this year's Shanghai-Taipei Twin-City Forum, which will be hosted by Taipei. Speaking to reporters, Chiang said the Shanghai delegation's itinerary follows all legal requirements and has been approved by the Mainland Affairs Council. The mayor also stressed (強調) that he firmly believes the forum should take place, despite the current cross-strait situation. Chiang points out it is the only official communication mechanism between the two sides. He says there should be "no adjustments in the level of visitation." Ukraine Gets Defense Missiles, Appeals for More Ukraine is receiving (得到;收到) more air defense missiles from Spain to fight deadly Russian glide bombs AP correspondent Norman Hall reports Canada Town Residents Return as Wildfire Continues Residents in the western Canadian city of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, are being allowed to return home. Thousands were evacuated from the community for more than two weeks due to wildfires. Local authorities rescinded their evacuation orders Monday, lifting roadblocks and clearing the way for people to go home. The residents were forced to leave on May 10th, when strong winds pushed a wildfire close to town. The 123-square-kilometer wildfire is now classified as “being held", meaning its not expected to grow. But the blaze hasn't been extinguished (撲滅). Officials say parts of it are expected to continue burning into the fall. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 鍾欣凌代言推薦！一餐一粒，醣醣正正好容易 #達摩本草山苦瓜胜肽！👉 https://bit.ly/4bzplcB 想要維持健康，不必吃苦，美國專利認證 🏆1000mg｜頂尖Glyostat®山苦瓜胜肽穩定代謝 🏆含有鉻＋鋅 維持醣類正常代謝✨ 🏆Trans ACT®穩定醣轉麥，大麥芽萃取有效平衡體質

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 134-points this morning from Friday's close, at 21,699 on turnover of 6.9-billion N-T. The market recovered most of its early losses on Friday to close well above the five-day moving average of around 21,450 points by the end of the trading day. Although large cap semiconductor stocks came under pressure, artificial intelligence-related stocks attracted strong buying after Nvidia's strong results overnight, while shipping stocks also rose amid increasing freight (貨運) rates. US Lawmakers Arrive in Taiwan A group of bipartisan American lawmakers has arrived in Taipei. The delegation is being led by Republican Michael McCaul who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The American Institute in Taiwan says the delegation will meet with senior government officials to discuss US-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, and other significant (重要的) issues of mutual interest. According to A-I-T, their four-day visit to Taiwan is part of a trip to the wider Indo-Pacific region. The six House members will be the first group of serving U-S officials to meet with President Lai Ching-te following his inauguration. Taiwan Delegation in Geneva for WHA Sideline Talks A delegation led by Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan has arrived in Geneva as part of efforts to promote Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health Assembly. Speaking to reporters at the opening of a "World Health We Share" exhibition at Geneva Airport train station, Chiu said "health is a fundamental (基本的) human right and a universal value, but Taiwan is denied participation due to political interference." The minister went on to say "this is deeply disappointing" and "although Taiwan was not invited to the W-H-A, the island has strong soft power in the medical and health fields." The "World Health We Share" exhibition has been organized by a Taiwanese civic promotional team to promote Taiwan's healthcare. Japan Informed by NKorea of Planned Satellite Launch Japan says North Korea has informed it of a plan to launch a satellite by June 3rd. Japan’s coast guard says today it has been notified by North Korea about its planned launch of a “satellite rocket" beginning today through midnight June 3rd. The launch plan likely refers to the North’s efforts to launch its second military spy satellite into space. South Korea’s military said Friday that it detected signs of North Korea engaging in (從事於; 忙於) activities believed to be preparations to launch a spy satellite at its main Tongchangri launch facility. Tonga Earthquake Causes No Tsunami or Major Damage A strong earthquake has struck the South Pacific Island nation of Tonga but there are no immediate reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a preliminary (初步的) magnitude of 6.6 when it hit at 9:47 a.m. local time today. Its epicenter was 198 kilometers north of the Tonga's capital, at a depth of 112 kilometers. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no risk of the quake causing a tsunami. Nikki Minaj Arrested B4 UK Concert Nicki Minaj's England concert was postponed (延遲) after rapper was detained by Dutch authorities over pot AP correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 每晚都可以這麼好睡～ 三得利芝麻明EX用最完全的睡眠 讓你不只舒服地睡著；還能真的睡進去，每分每秒都是真正的休息。 消除累積的負擔，每天起床都是全新的自己。 現在體驗完全睡眠，享本頻道專屬300元折扣+全台免運費 購買連結→https://bit.ly/4aEmIF9

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 165-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,442 on turnover of $6.6-billion N-T. The market closed higher once again on Thursday - as investor sentiment in the local tech sector was buoyed (受到鼓舞) by news about soaring Nvidia earnings - after the company released its latest quarterly results overnight. Draft of AI Governing Law to be Finalized this Year National Science and Technology Council head Wu Cheng-wen says his office is scheduled to draw-up a draft of the law governing the use of A-I and send it to the Cabinet by the end of this year. Speaking at a legislative committee hearing, Wu said the draft law will aim to ensure (確保) user privacy, human rights and security .. and will also seek to help the development of Taiwan's industries. Wu told lawmakers that the main concept behind Taiwan's A-I basic law will be more aligned (對齊，與…保持一致) with those released by United States and Japan - which have a more open attitude to AI use .. … rather than that of the European Union, which is more conservative and discreet. The National Science and Technology Council head also said the law will be drafted to restrict A-I to being used for good, protecting user privacy, human rights and security. Germany Police Clear ProPalestine Student Protesters German police have cleared about 150 pro-Palestinian demonstrators from a Berlin university facility, ending one of a wave of student-led protests across Europe over Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas. Activists had occupied several rooms of the Humboldt University’s Institute for Social Sciences in downtown Berlin on Wednesday. University administrators agreed to let them stay until Thursday evening, but called in the police when some refused to leave. Police briefly detained 130 people during the operation, in which officers broke through several barricaded (堵住…) doors. Unicef warns Haiti's healthcare system may collapse The UN's Children's Fund warns that Haiti's health system is now "on the verge of collapse". It says there has been an "alarming decrease" in the number of hospitals still functioning (運作) in the violence-wracked Caribbean nation. Jody Jacobs has more from the United Nations in New York. Pakistan: UAE Comits to 10Billion Investment The Pakistani government says that the United Arab Emirates has committed to investing up to $10 billion in Pakistan during a meeting in the UAE capital between that country’s president and the Pakistani prime minister. The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made the commitment (承諾) during a meeting in Abu Dhabi with Sharif, who is visiting the UAE. It provided few details. The statement said Sharif told the UAE president about measures the Pakistani government is taking to encourage foreign investment, and that the UAE president committed to investing $10 billion in various sectors in Pakistan. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 金馬獎司儀德仔獻聲推薦-KICKS HIGHLIGHT 特仕版 跳色塗裝挑紅線條外型，集動力、舒適、安全於一身 93%超高車主滿意度，如同德仔一樣擁有「好聲量」！ 德仔都來報佳音的五星安全好車，邀你至門市體驗KICKS的不凡魅力 KICKS HIGHLIGHT特仕版，Highlight你的不凡！ https://bit.ly/4aL8AKe -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB

E*Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 117 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,668 Thursday on turnover of 8.9 billion NT. The Tai-Ex closed at a new high on Wednesday, gaining more than 300 points as investors scrambled (爭相買) to pick up Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and other artificial intelligence-related stocks. The rise in investor interest in heavyweight tech stocks came ahead of Nvidia's release of its first quarterly earnings report. _____________________________________ E*MODA to Set U- A-I Industrial Parks  Digital Affairs Minister (數位發展部部長) Huang Yen-nan says the government is planning to set up two artificial intelligence industrial parks (人工智慧產業園區) to capitalize (資本) on Taiwan's strength in the information and communications sectors (資訊和通信領域). According to Huang, the parks will be jointly established (共同設立) by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and National Development Council and are aimed at attracting A-I startups from around the world. It's hoped that the parks will help Taiwan establish a comprehensive software and hardware cluster (軟硬體集群). And Huang says the parks are part of his ministry's strategy to take advantage of the global A-I boom (全球人工智慧熱潮) to drive digital economic growth and push the local digital economy's output value above 1-trillion N-T within two years. Huang is an expert in data security, communications, and A-I development. _____________________________________ E*Unemployment Rate Dips to Lowest April in 24 Years  The island's unemployment rate (失業率) dipped to the lowest ever for the month of April in 24 years. Data shows the rate fell zero-point-zero-two percentage points from a month earlier to stand at 3.36-per cent in April. Along with that being the lowest April level since 2000 it also marked the second consecutive month-on-month decline. After seasonal adjustments (經過季節性調整後), April's jobless rate fell zero-point-zero-one percentage points from March to stand at 3.39-per cent. In the first four months of this year, the unemployment rate has fallen 0.16 percentage points from a year earlier to 3.36-per cent. The government is attributing (歸因於) the decline in the April jobless rate to the economy continuing to improve on the back of solid post COVID consumption (疫後消費支撐). _____________________________________ E*United Kingdom General Election on July 4th In global news, The United Kingdom will hold its first election in five years. The country is reeling (發蒙) from the cost-of-living crisis (生活成本危機), the fallout (餘波) from Israel-Hamas conflict and deep divisions over how to deal with migrants and asylum seekers (移民和尋求庇護者) crossing the English Channel from Europe on small inflatable boats. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced that the election will be held on July 4th. The timing was earlier than analysts expected. Sunak, a former Treasury chief who has been prime minister since October of 2022, is expected to lead his party into the election. His primary opponent will be Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions in England and leader of the Labour Party since April 2020. _____________________________________ E*Iran's Supreme Leader Presides Over Funeral for President After Helicopter Crash Iran's supreme leader presided over (主持) funeral ceremonies (葬禮儀式) for the president and others killed in the recent helicopter crash. Here's AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma. _____________________________________ E*New Study Says Daily marijuana use outpaces daily drinking in the US And, A study shows daily marijuana (大麻) use in the U-S is outpacing (超過) daily drinking. AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,248 on turnover of 2.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday - as financial and old economy stocks led a downturn. This comes after President Lai Ching-te's inaugural address on Monday failed to offer any surprises to boost market sentiment. Analysts say the bellwether electronics sector remained resilient (有彈性的) through much of the trading day. This stabilized the broader market on the back of gains posted by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight. US Urges China to Act with Restraint The United States is urging Beijing to act with restraint and not use Taiwan's transition as a pretext for provocative or coercive (脅迫的) actions. According to a U-S State Department spokesperson, Washington welcomes the comments made by President Lai Ching-te in his inaugural address. In the speech, Lai voiced his commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and to maintain the status quo. The spokesperson says the inauguration was part of a normal, routine democratic process. The spokesperson says if Beijing chooses to escalate tensions or pressure Taiwan as a result, it "should be seen as the provocateur (挑釁者)." The spokesperson also stressed that U-S policy toward Taiwan has not changed and it continues not to support Taiwan independence. Taiwan and Paraguay Sign MOU to Build E-Bus Plant Master Transportation Bus Manufacturing has announced that it will invest 30-million U-S dollars to build an electric bus manufacturing and assembly plant (組裝廠) in Paraguay. The statement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Taipei between the company and the Paraguayan government. According Master Transportation Chairman Wu Ding-fa, the project's goal is to "enhance the development of public transportation in Paraguay". When completed, the plant will create an estimated 2,600 local jobs. Under the M-O-U, the bus manufacturer will establish the first fast-charging bus chassis and body manufacturing plant in Paraguay. And the manufacturer will assist in bringing a Taiwan-developed intelligent transportation system to the South American country. US Navy ExOfficers Bribery Convictions Dismissed A federal judge has dismissed the felony convictions of five retired military officers who had admitted to (承認) accepting bribes from a Malaysian contractor Leonard Francis, nicknamed “Fat Leonard. AP’s Lisa Dwyer reports. Thailand Welcomes Back Trafficked Statues Thailand's National Museum has welcomed back two ancient statues illegally trafficked (非法買賣) from Thailand by a British collector of antiquities. The statues were returned from the collection of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The objects — a tall bronze figure called the Standing Shiva and a smaller sculpture called Kneeling Female — are thought to be around 1,000 years old. The Metropolitan Museum had announced last year that it would return more than a dozen artifacts to Thailand and Cambodia after they were linked to the late Douglas Latchford. The art dealer and collector was accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 全台7-11限時優惠中! 即日起-7/09 咖啡廣場奶香特調咖啡/調合式冰咖啡 任選2瓶只要49元 即日起-7/09 咖啡廣場鋁箔包2瓶25元! 更多詳情→https://bit.ly/3UUW9G5

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 32-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,239 on turnover of 3.8-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Monday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reversed earlier losses to push the broader market back into positive territory. Analysts say although the bellwether electronics sector was mixed during the trading day, buying rotated to financial heavyweights and select old economy stocks to provide further support to the broader market. MAC Calls on Beijing to be Receptive to Lai's Overture The Mainland Affairs Council is urging Beijing to be receptive (樂於接受，願意傾聽) to President Lai Ching-te's inclusion of calls for engagements between the two sides in his inaugural speech. According to the council, Lai extended "the greatest goodwill gesture" in the address by calling for engagements to ensure mutual benefit and joint prosperity. It's calling on China to respond to that overture positively and meet the expectations of the people from both sides of the strait and the international community. The statement comes after Beijing slammed Lai's inaugural address - describing it as an attempt to promote Taiwanese independence. Two Haneded Suspended Sentences in Chinese Recruiting Case The Hsinchu District Court has handed down suspended sentences to two men found guilty of illegally recruiting (吸收) personnel for a Chinese high-tech company in Taiwan. One of the men received a prison term of six months, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay 360,000 N-T. While the other man was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay 200,000 N-T. The court found the two guilty of violating (違反) the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. The sentences for both men can be appealed. SKorea UK to Kick Off AI Summit South Korea and the United Kingdom are kicking off a global summit on Artificial Intelligence as governments struggle to keep up with the evolution of the technology. The two countries are co-hosting the talks which look to tackle (對付，處理) a growing number of risks as AI rapidly advances. Chris Gilbert reports. Haiti Main Airport Reopens Haiti’s main international airport has reopened for the first time in nearly three months after gang violence forced authorities to close it to all traffic in early March. Monday’s reopening of the airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince is expected to help ease a critical shortage (嚴重短缺) of medications and other basic supplies since the country’s main seaport remains paralyzed. However, only a local carrier is flying in and out of Port-au-Prince for now. US-based airlines are not expected to start doing so until late May or early June. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 19-points this morning from Friday's close, at 21,278 on turnover of 5.5-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Friday as selling focused on the bellwether electronics sector following losses by tech stocks on Wall Street overnight on the back of profit taking. Buying rotated to (輪換) the non-tech sector, with large cap financial stocks were in focus as government-led funds are believed to have picked up these stocks to stabilize the main board ahead of today's presidential inauguration Lai Pledges to Continue on "Democratic Path" President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim have been sworn-in to their new leadership roles at an ceremony at the President Building in Taipei. The swearing-in ceremony took place at 9:15. Lai and Hsiao have also met with foreign dignitaries and the vice president is currently presiding over the handover ceremony of the new secretary-generals of the National Security Council and the Presidential Office. Lai is slated to give his inaugural address at in the coming hour - which takes the theme of "Building a Democratic, Peaceful and Prosperous Taiwan." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says 508 guests from 51 delegations are attending today's inauguration ceremony and other related events. According to the ministry, eight of the delegations are being led by heads of state. European countries that have sent delegations include the U-K, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Ukraine as well as the European Parliament. Several American delegations are attending today's events. They include one by led American Institute in Taiwan chair Laura Rosenberger; one comprising (包括) of former U-S deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage and former assistant to the U-S president and director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese .. .. and a delegation led by former U-S secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Meanwhile, The state banquet for the presidential inauguration wil be taking place at the Formosa Yacht Resort in Tainan this evening. Organizers say it will feature eight dishes prepared by 70 chefs and focus on showcasing Taiwan's culinary expertise (專業知識) and heritage. The eight courses incorporate ingredients from all 22 cities and counties in Taiwan and were inspired by the country's five major ethnic groups - the Minnan, Hakka, Han, Indigenous, and new immigrant. It is the first time the inauguration banquet will be held outside of Taipei. Hungary Boat Collision Leaves Dead and Missing Two are dead and 5 remain missing after a boat collision (碰撞) on the Danube River in Hungary AP correspondent Karen Chammas Paris Harry Winston Robbed French prosecutors say armed robbers who used a motorbike as a battering ram (破門錘) made off with “several million" dollars' worth of valuables in a heist of the luxury Paris boutique of Harry Winston. Having refused Saturday to confirm that Harry Winston was the target, the Paris prosecutor’s office did so on Sunday. It said the store on the Avenue Montaigne was robbed by a gang of at least three people. It said they “forced entry to the jewelry store using a two-wheeler" and stole jewelry from several windows, while one of them kept watch with a long-barreled firearm. Officials say the damage is under assessment (評估), and estimated to be several million euros. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 42-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,346 on turnover of $6.6 -billion N-T. NT$10 million worth of contraband cigarettes seized by Taiwan's coast guard The Coast Guard Administration says patrols have seized a cache of contraband cigarettes worth nearly $10-million NT. Officials say the 164-thousand packs were found in a hidden compartment (隔層) on a fishing vessel during an inspection Wednesday evening. The compartment was detected after officers noted a machine placed in an unusual position, and used a handheld x-ray machine and a detection dog to uncover the stored contraband. The 66-year-old captain and five Vietnamese crew members were referred to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office for investigation. Taiwan to serve as 1st guest of honor country at Festival Off Avignon The Ministry of Culture says Taiwan will be the first-ever guest of honor country at the renowned Festival Off Avignon. The festival aims to promote contemporary performing arts, enhance awareness of international emerging (發展初期的) dance and theater troupes, and facilitate international co-productions and touring opportunities. The Avignon Festival & Compagnies and the Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris announced at a press conference held on Wednesday local time, that 1,316 teams will participate in the festival in Avignon between July 3rd and July 21st. The co-president of the Avignon festival, said given Taiwan's long-standing close collaboration with the festival and the nation's unique and diverse contemporary art and culture, it was invited to be the guest of honor country -- the first-ever in the festival's history. And the Taiwan Cultural Center said that the selection of Taiwan symbolizes the deep friendship between Taiwan and the Avignon festival. NKorea Kim Sister Denies Weapons Exports to Russia The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has again denied that her country has exported weapons to Russia. Kim Yo Jong labeled outside speculation on North Korea-Russian arms dealings as “the most absurd paradox.” The U.S., South Korea and others have accused North Korea of supplying artillery, missiles and other conventional (傳統的) weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for advanced military technologies and economic aid. Kim Yo Jong said in a statement today that North Korea had no intention of exporting its military technical capabilities to any country or opening them to the public. Russia also has dismissed that accusation. China Jails Professor for Espionage The family of a Chinese national being held on espionage (間諜行為) charges says he received a jail sentenced from a court in Jilin province. Yuan Keqin was detained in 2019 when he returned to China while holding a post at Japan’s University of Education in Hokkaido. Chris Gilbert reports UN Reports Improved Economic Prospects The United Nations is reporting improved economic prospects since its January forecast for the global economy. According to its mid-2024 report, the world economy is now projected to grow by 2.7% this year. That's up from 2.4% the U.N. forecast in its somber (暗淡的) January report, and 2.8% in 2025. The report notes a better outlook in the United States and several large emerging economies including Brazil, India and Russia. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 172-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,319 on turnover of $7.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed at a record high for the third consecutive trading session Wednesday. The bellwether electronics sector led the way in the wake of gains posted by tech stocks on U.S. markets overnight. Analysts say large cap financial stocks also steamed ahead (精力飽滿地全速前進) amid optimism toward their bottom lines. The upturn on the main board was capped as investors took advantage (利用…的機會) of the initial gains. Court Approves Mother's Detention Incommunicado After Death of Children A mother suspected of killing her children will now be held incommunicado while the case is under investigation. The New Taipei District Court held an early morning detention hearing. It ruled that the mother surnamed Su is suspected of committing a serious crime, and is at risk of fleeing or colluding with witnesses. The crime of murder of a child by an adult carries a maximum penalty of over 5 years in prison. The 37-year-old woman is suspected of smothering (使窒息) her children in a New Taipei hotel room, possibly due to the pressure of caring for an ill family member and long-term umemployment. The bodies were delivered to prosecutors Wednesday morning for autopsies to confirm cause of death. (NS) US Presidential Hopefuls to Debate in June US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are set to debate (辯論) live on television in June. The hurriedly-arranged plan came after Biden said he wanted to arrange two events hosted by news networks, rather than those organized by the formal Commission. Nick Harper reports from Washington. Yemen Braces for More Electricity Protests Yemeni authorities have deployed security forces and armored vehicles across the port city of Aden, in preparation for the latest in a series of protests over hours-long electricity outages caused by a shortage of fuel for power stations. For several days, hundreds of demonstrators in three central districts of Aden blocked roads and set tires on fire as temperatures soared. On Monday and Tuesday, security forces moved in to disperse (分散) the demonstrations, beating protesters and barricading some streets, according to witnesses who spoke to The Associated Press. The government pays up to $1 billion a year to import fuel, but is behind on payments. Canada Gets Slight Reprieve in Wildfire Fight Canadian officials say favorable (有利的) winds are expected to push an “out of control” wildfire away from Canada’s oil sands hub of Fort McMurray, Alberta, a day after thousands were evacuated. Wildfire season has started early in Canada this year with several fires burning across the country’s west, forcing residents out of their homes. The fire, which started last week, caused about 6,600 residents to flee parts of the southern end of Fort McMurray. The rest of the city remains on evacuation alert Wednesday and many others self-evacuated though they weren’t ordered to leave. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 1-point this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,984 on turnover of 7.8-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed at a record high and moved closer to the 21,000 point mark Tuesday for the second consecutive session. The bellwether electronics sector continued to steam ahead. But turnover failed to expand. Dealers say this indicates that caution remains over when the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates ahead of the release of the April consumer price index today. Taiwan mulls legalization of surrogacy, with high threshold The Ministry of Health is announcing plans to legalize surrogacy under certain criteria. It said amendments to the Assisted Reproductive Act are expected to benefit groups such as infertile heterosexual couples, as well as lesbian and gay couples, should they meet certain requirements. Requirements include at least one individual in the couple being under the age of 50 … … and females involved must have uterine issues, or other health concerns that make a safe pregnancy impossible. Surrogate mothers must possess Taiwanese household registration. They must be 20 to 39 years old, and be physically and mentally healthy. And they must have experience with natural birth. The Ministry adds they must provide the service free of charge, though they're entitled to some allowances. The proposal will be open for public feedback until July 13th. And the amendments could undergo Cabinet review by the end of this year. US Baltimore Collapsed Bridge Salvaging U.S. salvage teams are in the process of moving remains of the collapsed Baltimore bridge from the river. This comes seven weeks after a container ship rammed into it. On Monday, they set up controlled explosions to break the structure into smaller pieces. And the teams plan to pull the ship completely from the waterway. Caroline Malone has more. Thai Activist Dies After Hunger Strike A young Thai activist who went on a hunger strike after being jailed for advocating reform of the country・s monarchy system has died in a prison hospital. Netiporn Sanesangkhom was a member of an activist group. The group was known for campaigns demanding reform of the monarchy and abolition of the law that makes it illegal to defame members of the royal family. She appears to be the first political activist in Thailand to die from a hunger strike. Officials say she suffered cardiac arrest early Tuesday. Other activists decried her death and repeated her call for bail to be granted in cases involving political offenses. Spain Issues Notice After Orca Attack Spanish authorities are recommending small vessels stick to the coastline around the Strait of Gibraltar after an orca rammed a boat that later sank. On Sunday, two people aboard a 15-meter boat in Moroccan waters sought help after an orca knocked the craft several times, damaging its rudder and causing a leak. An oil tanker picked up the sailors and their boat later sank. Government ministries and Spain's merchant marines issued notices Tuesday. They urged sailboats and small motorboats to beware of orcas between May and August in the area between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cadiz. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 22-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,836 on turnover of $5.2-billion N-T. With the benchmark index closing at a new high Monday, market capitalization on the local main board surpassed the $66 trillion NTmark for the first time, according to the data compiled by the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The data also shows that investors riding the uptrend have earned an average of $740-thousand NT this year. Higher electricity bills coming as summer rates to begin in June The average household in Taiwan is expected to see its electricity bill rise by more than 70 percent a month when the four-month summer-rate period begins in June. TaiPower said households in Taiwan use an average of 413 kilowatt-hours of power per month from June to September, which costs around 1000 NT monthly during that period. While electricity use at other times of the year averages at just 301 kWh per month, costing around 600 NT. That means there’s a 73 percent difference in electricity bills between summer and non-summer months. But TaiPower says only around 100 NT is attributable to the higher summer rate. A TaiPower spokesperson said the summer rates were introduced in 1989, as more power generators are deployed to meet higher consumer demand, increasing the company’s operating costs. UN Staffer Killed in Gaza Another United Nations staff member has been killed in Gaza. The UN worker was killed when the vehicle they were travelling came under fire on Monday in Rafah. Jody Jacobs has more… EU Human Smuggler Arrested One of Europe’s most notorious (惡名昭張的) human smugglers has been arrested in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The regional government’s security agency said it had arrested Barzan Majeed, known as “the Scorpion,” upon a request from Interpol and “after the exchange of intelligence information.” The agency said he had attempted to smuggle 100 migrants to the U.K. in small boats and trucks. The U.K.'s National Crime Agency had issued an appeal (求助，懇求) for assistance in tracking Majeed down in 2022, after he was convicted in absentia in Belgium of people smuggling crimes. Officials say Majeed has been handed over to the regional justice department. Germany Merkel Memoir Released in November The memoirs of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be released in November. The publication will come nearly three years after the end of her 16-year tenure (任期) at Germany's helm (領導地位). Publishers say the 700-page-long memoir will be published on Nov. 26-th. Merkel was a scientist who grew up in communist East Germany and became Germany’s first female chancellor in 2005. She steered Germany through a succession of crises including the global financial crisis, the migrant crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. She was succeeded by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz in December 2021. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Taiwan donates US$50,000 to flood-hit Brazil Taiwan's government recently donated 50 thousand NT to Brazil to help the country cope (應付) with devastating floods. The floods have wreaked havoc across nearly 90 percent of municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Over 300 thousand homes were damaged, as well as roads, bridges and a hydroelectric plant. Local media reports say the death toll has risen to 126, and 141 are missing. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sao Paulo said the overseas Taiwanese community in Brazil have delivered essential supplies to disaster areas. The office hopes all victims can return to normal life as soon as possible. Brazilian officials said they're very grateful to Taiwan for providing immediate assistance. They say the people of the state will not forget the good deed. Taichung government introduces pet-friendly taxi service The Taichung City government is announcing a pet-friendly taxi service, allowing owners to bring their pets along without any additional charge. It said pet-owning passengers can choose from 16 local service providers listed on the website of the City's Transportation Bureau. And many drivers are pet owners themselves. Transport officials said passengers are required to place their pets in a cage before boarding. They must also ensure taxi cleanliness throughout the journey to avoid incurring (招致、遭受) an additional cleaning fee. They said the taxi fare is metered as a regular yellow cab service. But officials caution that those who choose non-traditional ones with various sizes and functions should pay attention to how they charge. Afghanistan Flash Floods Leave Dead and Missing Flash floods in northern Afghanistan sweep away livelihoods (生計), leaving hundreds dead and missing AP correspodnent Karen Chammas reports on floods in Afghanistan. Russia Putin Proposes Removing Defense Minister Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed removing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from his post. Putin nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov for the role. The change comes weeks after a Russian deputy defense minister in charge of military construction projects, was jailed pending an investigation and trial on charges of bribery (受賄). In line with Russian law, the entire Russian cabinet resigned on Tuesday when Putin began his fifth presidential term at a Kremlin inauguration. The announcement came as Ukrainian officials say thousands more civilians have fled Russia's renewed ground offensive in Ukraine’s northeast. The attacks have targeted towns and villages with a barrage of artillery and mortar shelling. The intense battles have forced at least one Ukrainian unit to withdraw in the Kharkiv region. This is a loss of more land to Russian forces across less defended settlements in the so-called contested gray zone along the Russian border. Prince Harry Meghan Visit Nigeria Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are visiting Lagos, Nigeria. They are promoting mental health for soldiers and empowering young people. The couple visited a local charity using sports to empower young people. Meghan and Harry later attended a fundraiser for Nigeria’s soldiers wounded in the country’s fight against Islamic extremists and other armed groups in the country’s conflict-battered (連續猛擊) north. The event was related to Harry's Invictus Games, which Nigeria is seeking to host in the future. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 韓亞航空聯合旅行社推出最夯韓國團體商品！帶你直衝愛寶樂園水槍慶典，打卡最熱門水原星空圖書館2.0 https://bit.ly/44NpA1p

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 21-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,582 on turnover of $3-billion N-T. Longer Summers and Stronger Typhoons A national scientific report on climate change is warning that if global warming continues without effective control measures, Taiwan could face seven-month long summers and fewer, but more severe typhoons. According to the Ministry of Environment, without effective efforts to curb (抑制) greenhouse gas emissions that could happen by the end of the century, under the worst-case scenario. The Climate Change Scientific Report 2024 has been published by the National Science and Technology Council. The report says the number of typhoons affecting Taiwan is projected to decrease from four to five a year to three to four a year by mid-century and reach one to two a year by the end of the century. However, is also warns that under the worst greenhouse gas emissions scenario, severe typhoons would intensify, move closer to the west, and pose greater risks to the region. UN: No food or fuel entering Gaza The United Nations says no humanitarian aid or fuel is currently entering the Gaza strip, which could have "catastrophic" consequences (結果) for the people there. In its latest daily update, the world body says there have been ongoing and "significant amounts of bombardment (轟擊)" in eastern Rafah early Thursday "and all through the night". Jody Jacobs reports from the UN headquarters in New York… Japan Proposes Expanding Commercial Whaling to Fin Whales Japan’s Fisheries Agency has proposed expanding commercial whaling to fin whales, a larger species than the three allowed now. The proposal comes five years after Japan resumed commercial whaling along the country’s coast after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission. The agency decided to propose adding fin whales to the allowable catch list after stock (供應物,) surveys confirmed sufficient recovery of the fin whale population in the North Pacific. It hopes to get the proposal formally approved in mid-June. Japan's chief cabinet secretary says whales are an important food resource and that his government will support sustainable whaling. China Baidu Exec Apologizes for Videos Glorifying Overwork A top public relations executive from Chinese technology firm Baidu has apologized after she made comments that were seen as glorifying a culture of overwork. Baidu’s head of communications Qu Jing implied in the videos that she was not concerned about her employees as she was “not their mom” and said she only cared about results. Many on social media platforms like Weibo criticizing Qu for her lack of empathy (同理、同情). Qu posted an apology Thursday on her private WeChat account, where she “sincerely apologized to all netizens." Qu said her short videos did not represent Baidu’s stance. The videos, which have since be taken down, came at a time when many young people in China are pushing back against a culture of competition and grueling (使人精疲力盡的) hours in the workplace. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/3y7SoFB -- 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,710 on turnover of 3.2-billion N-T. The market closed slightly higher on Wednesday. It consolidated following a lackluster (缺乏生氣的) performance on Wall Street overnight. It opened down and continued to lose ground until buying emerged toward the end of the session. The buying was led by large cap tech stocks, and pushed the main board into positive territory at the closing bell. KMT Lawmaker Denies Government Claims of Leaking Confidential Documents K-M-T lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin is denying charges by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that she leaked confidential documents related to an agreement between Taiwan and the Czech Republic concerning aid to Ukraine. According to Hsu, information about the 10-million U-S dollar healthcare project had been reported in a newsletter published the Czech Republic's foreign ministry in March. The statement comes after the foreign ministry earlier this week submitted a report to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office. The report accused (指控) Hsu of violating the Criminal Code by leaking, what it claims to be "confidential information." CDC to Fully Lift Face Mask Mandates The Centers for Disease Control is lifting its face mask mandate (命令，指令) for people visiting medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics and senior nursing homes. The move means people will no longer be required to wear face masks from May 19. It is the final face mask mandate to have been lifted. Once the mandate has been lifted, the C-D-C will only "recommend" that individuals visiting medical or elderly welfare facilities wear a face mask. The mandate on wearing face masks in medical facilities and nursing homes has been in place since December 1, 2020. Biden Threatens to Withdraw Israel Arms Shipments US President Joe Biden says that if Israel launches an all-out assault on Rafah in the Gaza Strip, he will withhold further weapons supplies from Benjamin Netanyahu's government. He made the threat (威脅) hours after America's defense secretary confirmed that one weapons shipment has already been held back. The official said the delay was due to the crisis unfolding in the Palestinian territory. Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports. HK Court Grants Request to Ban Protest Song An appeals court has granted the Hong Kong government’s request to ban a protest song. "Glory to Hong Kong” was often sung by demonstrators during the huge anti-government protests in 2019. It was the first time a song has been banned in the city since Britain handed the territory back to Chinese rule in 1997. The ban would target anyone who broadcast (播放) or distributed the song to advocate (提倡) for the separation of Hong Kong from China. The song can still be played if it is for lawful journalistic and academic activities. Failure to comply with the court order may be considered as contempt of court and could be liable for a fine or imprisonment. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A

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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 111-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,634 on turnover of 5.1-billion N-T. The market rose nearly 200 points on Monday to close above the 20,500-point mark - as buying was sparked by Wall Street's solid performance at the end of last week amid renewed hopes over a rate cut cycle by the U-S Federal Reserve. Artificial intelligence development-related stocks attracted strong investor interest and led the local main board higher, while the financial sector also posted strong gains throughout the session. MOFA defends deal to provide Ukraine aid via Czech NGO The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is denying allegations that it misused taxpayer money in a partnership with the Czech Republic to provide assistance (協助) to Ukraine. According to ministry spokesman Jeff Liu, his office plans to pursue legal action against K-M-T lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin for releasing secret details of an agreement between Taiwan signed with the Czech Republic last December. The statement comes after Hsu released details of the agreement in a Facebook post -which she defended that by saying she released the information due to Foreign Minister Joseph Wu's failure to properly respond to her concerns during a legislative hearing. Circular Line Repair Costs Surpass NT$400Million And, The New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems says current estimates show that the cost of repairing sections of the Circular Line's elevated track damaged during the April 3 earthquake stand at over 400-million N-T. According to the metro operator, the funds will be initially covered by the New Taipei City Government. The earthquake damage the disc bearings of the connecting beams between the Banxin and Qiaohe stations, resulting in the displacement (移位) of steel box beams at 11 spots and severe twisting to some sections of track. The New Taipei City Government has said it could take over a year to fully repair the damaged sections of track. US Soldier Detained in Russia US lawmakers say they're "deeply concerned" after an American soldier was detained in Russia. An army spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the man — who's unnamed — was apprehended (被捕) last week in the far east of the country "on charges of criminal misconduct." Benji Hyer reports. Spain Lost Caravaggio to be Exhibited Spain’s Prado Museum has confirmed that a painting that was due to be auctioned in Madrid in 2021 is in fact a work by Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio that was considered (認為) lost. It will be unveiled to the public for the first time in the museum later this month. The Prado said in a statement on Monday the work titled “Ecce Homo” will go on display from May 27-th until October as a special one-piece exhibition following an agreement with its owner, who has not been identified. It said that since its reappearance at an auction three years ago, Ecce Homo has represented one of the greatest discoveries in the history of art. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 蜂王乳+芝麻明E結合帶來「完全睡眠」的芝麻明E，及幫助「滋補美容」的蜂王乳 輕鬆入睡，夜晚一路睡到底，同時深層養顏美容，讓你有感真正休息，醒來還有粉潤亮好氣色！ 15天體驗組只要890元~每人限購兩組！ ➡https://bit.ly/4bNv1j4

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 149-points this morning from Friday's close, at 20,479 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market closed-up on Friday after Wall Street gained ground overnight. The market cut its losses for the week as big U-S companies reported solid earnings for the first quarter. Investors awaited a key report on America's jobs market. Paraguay's President Talks Increasing Ties with Taiwan Paraguay's President Santiago Pena says he's seeking to boost cooperation with Taiwan. Speaking to reporters in Japan following a meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Pena said his country has enjoyed a long diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. He says he plans to continue to promote a wide-ranging cooperative partnership. Pena and Kishida also expressed their opposition to any unilateral changes to the cross-strait "status quo" using force . They said "attempts to change the status quo by force will not be tolerated (容忍)." KMT Chairman Responds to Russia Envoy Invite K-M-T Chairman Eric Chu says his party will take action to handle fallout from an invitation that was extended to Russia's top envoy to Taiwan to attend an international banquet last month. The statement comes after reports surfaced that the the K-M-T was forces to cancel the invitation sent to Russia's representatives. Envoys from the U-S and European offices threatened to boycott the event. According to the K-M-T chairman, the invitation was sent out on the basis of (的基礎、根據) "good diplomacy." Chu says the party has regular contact with all the representative offices and embassies in Taiwan. UN Declares Northern Gaza "Full Blown Famine" A UN official says northern Gaza is going through "full blown famine". But Israel is vowing to conduct (執行) a military operation in the 'very near future'. AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports… Brazil Flooding Leaves Dead and Missing Authorities say massive floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people over the last seven days. Another 103 are reported missing. Damage from the rains has forced more than 80,000 people from their homes. Some are taking refuge (避難) in schools, gyms, and other temporary shelters. Landslides, flooded roads and collapsed bridges have left devastation (破壞) in the state. Operators reported electricity and communications cuts. The government says more than 800,000 people are without water supply. Bernard Hill Obit Actor Bernard Hill who starred in “Titanic,” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy has died. Hill's agent says he died Sunday at age 79. Hill delivered a rousing (激動人心的) cry before leading his people into battle in “The Return of the King.”. The film was the third in the “Lord of the Rings” franchise that won 11 Oscars. He went down with the ship as the captain in “Titanic,” which also won 11 Academy Awards. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy -- 迎接十年一遇的存債良機，富養自己不是夢！ 中信優息投資級債【00948B】，甜甜價10元入手，還有「平準金」及「月配息」， 小資也能輕鬆跟隊。【00948B】投資就是發！ 5/22-5/28飛躍募集，一同「債」現王者新高度! 詳細資訊請見：https://bit.ly/3y7XL7A