EZ News

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 171-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 19,770 on turnover of 4.4-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Tuesday following a recent slump as buying was sparked by a rally on Wall Street overnight amid eased concerns over Middle East tensions. The main board opened higher and momentum continued throughout the session, with large-cap electronics and artificial intelligence development related stocks in focus. Constitutional court Debates Abolition of Death Penalty The Constitutional Court has been debating whether the current death penalty system is constitutional. The debate saw attorneys representing 37 prisoners currently on death row who are challenging the constitutionality of capital punishment. The 37 petitioners argue that "the presence and implementation (執行) of capital punishment violate Article 15 of the Constitution of the Republic of China," which stipulates that "the right of existence … shall be guaranteed to the people." The case was brought to the constitutional court in 2022. A decision is expected within the coming three months at the earliest. More Cabinet Appointments Announced Premier-designate Cho Jung-tai has announced more new members of his Cabinet that will take office on May 20. Five of those appointed are keeping their posts and while there's one new face. Finance Minister Zhuang Cui-yun, Overseas Community Affairs Council head Xu Jia-qing, Ocean Affairs Council head Guan Bi-ling and Directorate-General of Personnel Administration head Su Chun-rong will keep their current (目前的) posts. Acting Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-ji will formally head the agency in the new Cabinet. While the sole new face is Chen Shu-zi, the current head of Tainan City Government's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission - and she has been appointed to head the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistic. UN Calls for Investigation After Mass Graves Discovered Near Gaza Hospitals The United Nations is calling for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops. A U.N. spokesman said Tuesday that credible investigators must have access to the sites. The U.N. human rights chief also said he was “horrified” (驚駭) by the destruction of the hospitals and the reported discovery of mass graves in and around the facilities. He also called for independent investigations. The Israeli military said its forces exhumed bodies that Palestinians had buried earlier as part of its search for the remains of hostages captured by Hamas. Japan Former PM Meets with Trump Japan’s government is declining (拒絕) to comment on a meeting between former Prime Minister Taro Aso and US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Chris Gilbert reports. Aboriginal Spears Returned to Australia Indigenous Four Aboriginal spears that were taken to England by Captain James Cook more than 250 years ago have been returned to Australia's Indigenous community at a ceremony in Cambridge University. The artifacts were all that remain of some 40 spears that Cook and botanist Joseph Banks took in April 1770, at the time of the first contact between Cook’s crew and the Indigenous people of Kamay. The return of the spears was agreed last year following a campaign and a formal repatriation (歸國) request. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 153-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 19,564 on turnover of 5.5-billion N-T. The market lost ground again on Monday - after failing to sustain (維持) early gains as investors reacted to a plunge by tech stocks on Wall Street at the end of last week. Selling set within an hour of the opening bell - as tech heavyweights came under pressure to push the market into negative territory - where in remained throughut the rest of the trading day. Hualien Suspends Work and Classes after 5.8 Quake Hualien County has suspended work and classes today, after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck earlier this morning. The magnitude 5.8 quake shook large parts of the island at 8:04am, after a series of tremors overnight. Those quakes including two of magnitude 6 and 6.3. Two buildings in Hualien City have partially collapsed and tilted following the overnight earthquakes. The Full Hotel on Zhongshan Road and the Tong Shuai building on Mingli Road in downtown Hualien City both partially collapsed following the quakes. The hotel is currently undergoing renovation, while the unoccupied Tong Shuai building had already been marked for demolition (拆除) following the April 3 magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Both buildings have been cordoned off. (NS) UNRWA Report on Neutrality Released A UN report on a review of the world body's humanitarian organisation,UNRWA has found it has robust frameworks to ensure compliance (遵守) with humanitarian neutrality. The review of the organisation was initiated by the Secretary General following allegations by Israel that several UNRWA staff had been involved in the October 7th attacks on Israel. Jody Jacobs has more… Venezuela President Meets with ICC Head Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met with the head of the International Criminal Court as he faces an ongoing investigation by the tribunal (法庭) into crimes against humanity for his crackdown on anti-government protests. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan didn’t make any statements following the meeting at the presidential palace in Caracas. Khan’s fourth visit to Venezuela comes almost two months after an appeals panel ruled that the court’s investigation could proceed over the objections of Maduro’s government. ESA Adds New Members to Astronaut Corps The European Space Agency has added five new members to its astronaut corps. The new astronauts are from France, Belgium, Britain, Switzerland and Spain. An Australian has also joined them as part of an agreement. They graduated Monday during a ceremony in Cologne, Germany, after completing a year of training. That brings the space agency’s astronaut roster up to 11. The newcomers are now eligible (有資格的) for trips to the International Space Station. More than 20,000 people applied for the five slots. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 60-points this morning from Friday's close, at 19,466 on turnover of 6-billion N-T. The market fell to a record single-day drop on Friday amid rising tensions in the Middle East. This is despite Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reporting its highest-ever first-quarter sales a day earlier. The weighted index ended the session down a record 774-points. Tai-Power President Asked to Remain in Office after Announcing his Resignation Premier Chen Chien-jen is urging Tai-Power President Wang Yao-ting to remain in his post. Wang announced his resignation this past weekend following a series of power outages in Taoyuan. Wang was taking responsibility for the power outages over the past few days and a tight power supply on April 15 due to generator trips. However, Cabinet spokesman Lin Zi-lun says the premier called Wang and left him a text message in an effort to persuade (說服) him to continue in his post. The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it is also working convince Wang to stay on. AUO Chairman Says Computex will be a Reflection of Tech Sector's Evolution A-U-O Chairman Paul Peng says this year's Computex will be the biggest since the coronavirus pandemic. Peng also serves as the chairman of Computex's co-organizer, the Taipei Computer Association. He says the theme of "Connecting AI" will boost the show's popularity. According to Peng, this year's event will feature some 1,500 exhibitors. There will be keynote speeches from people leading the A-I boom, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, A-M-D's Lisa Su and Intel's Pat Gelsinger. Peng says new opportunities related to the emergence (緊急狀況) of A-I personal computers have ensured that those C-E-Os will be showing up. He says "especially with the growth of the I-T industry in the first half of 2024 being a bit lackluster." Iran Supreme Leader Dismisses Discussion on Israel Attack Iran’s supreme leader has dismissed any discussion of whether Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel hit anything there. It's a tacit acknowledgment that few projectiles actually made it through to their targets despite launching a massive assault. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments Sunday before senior military leaders didn’t touch on the apparent (貌似) Israeli retaliatory strike Friday on the central city of Isfahan. Air defenses opened fire and Iran grounded commercial flights across much of the country. But analysts say recent moves suggest both are trying to dial back tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them. Argentina Sees Violence A town in Argentina is seeing an unprecedented (史無前例的) wave of drug-related violence. AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports Brazil Conservatives Praise Musk Conservative Brazilians heaped praise on Elon Musk at a rally in the capital of Rio de Janeiro state supporting far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. Musk is a target in an ongoing (不斷的) investigation over the dissemination (傳播) of fake news by supporters of Bolsonaro. Musk said the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, wouldn't comply with a high court justice’s order to remove certain accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Musk recently accused the justice of suppressing free speech and violating Brazil’s constitution. At Sunday's rally Bolsonaro and other speakers praised Musk as a defender of Brazil's freedom. They say he faces censorship by a crusading high court justice. 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 -- 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！ 中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3xMsIhf

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 309-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 19,992 on turnover of 83-billion N-T. The market recouped its early losses on Thursday caused by increased volatility on Wall Street overnight. Bargain hunters stepped-in late in the session. . However, the gains were capped after recent inflation reports in the US were hotter than expect. And investor concerns grew over the possibility of the U-S Federal Reserve delaying a rate cut cycle. The Taiex continues to lose ground, heading into midday trading. MODA Upgrades Taiping Island Satellite Network System The Ministry of Digital Affairs says the establishment of signal connectivity with a newly-launched satellite network system on Taiping Island has boosted communications efficiency there. According to the ministry, the new system enables (使能夠) coastguard personnel stationed there to use improved communication and better meets their audiovisual needs. Wi-Fi and mobile network services were officially activated on Taiping Island earlier this week. This comes after tests on the newly installed Medium Earth Orbit satellite terminal equipment were completed. That equipment is capable of sending and receiving signals from a satellite communications service provider based in Luxembourg. The digital ministry says the total transmission bandwidth available to personnel on the island can now reach 25-Megabits per second. This is an approximate 3.9-fold increase in communication efficiency compared to before. US Vetoes Palestine's Bid to Join UN Palestine has not been admitted to the United Nations as a full member, following a Security Council vote. On Thursday, the United States vetoed the bid - as was widely expected. Sally Patterson reports from the UN headquarters in New York. NATO EU Officials Urge Defense Systems for Ukraine Top NATO and European Union officials are urging industrialized nations to take quick and concrete steps to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned on Thursday that continued delays could tilt (偏向) the war in Moscow’s favor. Borrell was speaking on the Italian island of Capri at the start of a G7 foreign ministers meeting. He told reporters that without Patriot air defense missile systems to guard against incoming Russian strikes, “the electricity system of Ukraine will be destroyed." And he said that no country can fight a war without electricity. Brazil da Silva Creates Two New Indigenous Territories Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced the creation (創建) of two new Indigenous territories. This brings the total number of new reserves created during his term to 10. The Cacique Fontoura reserve will be in Mato Grosso state and the Aldeia Velha territory will be in Bahia state. They cover a combined total area of almost 342 square kilometers. Speaking at a ceremony Thursday in Brasilia, Lula’s said the latest two new territories would not be enough. He cited legal issues for the delay in setting aside additional lands. He says Indigenous peoples should be patient as he seeks to fulfill his pledge (保證) of creating 14 new territories. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！ 中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3xMsIhf -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 86-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,126 on turnover of 5.7-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Wednesday after tumbling during the previous session. The main board moved back above the 20,000-point mark. Investors were interested in large cap tech stocks. However, the main board still failed to recoup all of the losses seen on Tuesday. Market sentiment remained affected by uncertainty over when the U-S Federal Reserve could start to cut interest rates. MOTC Cites NT$3 billion as Needed Funding to Repair Quake Damage in Hualien Transport Minister Wang Kwo-tsai says estimates show that funding to repair tourism-related facilities and infrastructure in Hualien following the April 3 earthquake stands at more than 3-billion N-T. According to Wang, three rounds of stimulus initiatives for the county's tourism sector have been proposed by the Tourism Administration. The first focuses mainly on essential (必需的) disaster relief. The second phase of the plan covers funding for people whose homes were damaged or destroyed. And the third and final initiative will seek to subsidize individual and group tours to Hualien after facilities and infrastructure have been fully repaired. DeMarcus Cousins Returns for T1 League Taiwan Beer Leopards Four-time N-B-A all-star DeMarcus Cousins is back in Taiwan to finish out his renewed contract with the T1 League's Taiwan Beer Leopards. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. But the Taoyuan-based team announced in mid-March that he's officially renewed his contract. Cousins will play in all three of the remaining regular season games and will finish the postseason games with the team. He'll be making his return this weekend. That's when the Leopards play the Taipei Mars on both Saturday and Sunday at the Taoyuan Arena. The Leopards are currently sitting in second place in the standings (積分榜) behind the league leading New Taipei C-T-B-C D-E-A. Israel PM Responds to Calls for Restraint in Iran Response Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will be the one to decide whether and how to respond to Iran’s major air assault over the weekend. Netanyahu's remarks on Wednesday appeared to brush off (漠視，不理睬) calls for restraint from close allies, including the visiting foreign ministers of Germany and Britain. Israel has vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack without saying when or how. That's left the region bracing for further escalation after months of unrest linked to the ongoing war in Gaza. Iran's president warned Israel against responding. Violence meanwhile has continued to surge along Israel's border with Lebanon. A rocket attack on an Israeli town by Iran-backed Hezbollah wounded at least 14 people. US Congress Dismisses Impeachment Against Homeland Security Director Lawmakers in the United States have voted to end impeachment proceedings (法律行動，訴訟程序) against Director of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, before they could even go to trial. Democrat Party Senators dismissed the two articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas. The articleswere brought by Republicans who argue his department is failing to stem record flows of migrants entering the country from Mexico. Benji Hyer reports. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy -- 彰化銀行「馬偕認同卡」，申辦即享國內1%、海外3%、指定藥妝/藥局最高6%現金回饋。 刷卡同時，彰化銀行將回饋0.25%予馬偕醫療財團法人。 快來申辦一起做愛心! 了解更多：https://bit.ly/4avZBgV 謹慎理財 信用至上

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 84-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 19,986 on turnover of 3.9-billion N-T. The market closed below the 20,000-point mark on Tuesday for the first time in almost a month - as panic-led selling set-in amid concerns over Mid-East tensions and lingering inflation that could delay interest rate cuts in the U-S. The market opened down - but declined further as pressure escalated (逐步升級) after the main board dropped below the 20-day moving average of 20,290 points. The weakness then continued to the end of the session. Lawmakers Pass New Pedestrian Sidewalk Safety Rule Lawmakers have approved regulations aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety. The new regulations require both the central and local governments to develop guidelines to build, improve, and maintain safe, unobstructed (無障礙的), and continuous pedestrian spaces along sidewalks. Under the new rules, if sidewalks or walkways obstructed by fixed equipment or other objects, local governments should notify the responsible authority in writing and give it at least three months to resolve the issue. Failure to comply within the specified period can result in maximum fine of 150,000 N-T. CDC Reports 139,848 Cases of Diarrhea Last Week The Centers for Disease Control says the number of patients who sought medical assistance for diarrhea last week reached almost 140,000. According to Central Epidemic Command Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin, data for the week of April 7 through 13, shows that 139,848 people sought medical help for diarrhea-related sickness islandwide. Lee says the figure shows that number of patients climbed 15.7-per cent from the previous week. The number of people who fell ill from diarrhea-related sickness last week is also the fourth highest in the same time period over the past decade (十年). US House Speaker Pushes for Ukraine Aid US House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a GOP revolt (反叛) as he vows to move ahead with U.S. funding for Ukraine and other allies. AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports Canada Budget Imposes Higher Taxes on Wealthy Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is imposing higher taxes on the wealthiest Canadians. The budget proposes to increase the capital gains inclusion rate, which refers to the taxable share of profit made on the sale of assets (資產). The taxable portion of capital gains above $250,000 Canadian would rise from half to two-thirds, which the federal government says will only affect 0.1% of Canadians. Canada's finance minister presented the federal budget, which pledges $38 billion US dollars in new spending that she says is focused on economic justice for younger generations. Trudeau's Liberal government is trailing badly in the polls amid concerns over the cost of living in Canada. 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 -- 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！ 中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3xMsIhf

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Israeli Parliamentary Delegation Calls for Support From Taiwan A visiting parliamentary delegation from Israel has held talks with President Tsai Ing-wen. The four member delegation from the Israeli parliament is also thanking Taiwan for its support after Iran's attack over the weekend. Chairman of the Taiwan-Israel Friendship Group Boaz Toporovsky has said the delegation appreciates the collaboration between Taiwan and Israel. It also appreciates the support shown by Tsai and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in the wake of Iran's attacks. Meanwhile, Israel's representative to Taiwan, Maya Yaron, says there are numerous areas in which the two countries are cooperating or planning to cooperate. That includes tourism, innovation and agriculture. Missile Drills Continue The Ministry of National Defense is continuing to carry out live-fire missile exercises in the Pingtung area. The drills began last week. The army fired Stinger missiles from its vehicle mounted Avenger air-defense system as part of the "Shen Gong" exercise. While the Aviation and Special Forces Command test fired Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles from Apache and Super Cobra helicopters as part of the "Shen Ying" exercise. The military had planned to test fire its newly developed Land Sword II system surface-to-air missile last week. But the test firings were postponed (延遲) to yesterday due to bad weather. Those tests were carried out yesterday. The missiles successfully launched and hit target drones at the Jiupeng Military Base. Taroko Park Post-Quake Restoration Estimated at NT$1b Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang says estimates show that post-earthquake restoration work at the Taroko National Park will cost roughly 1-billion N-T. Lin said several hiking trails, facilities and structures in the park were severely damaged during the earthquake. During a legislative hearing, Lin said the cost of restoring (恢復) portions of the park are his office's responsibility. He says the ministry will be seeking funding of $1-billion. The interior minister also told lawmakers that more accurate estimates will not be available until a damage assessment is completed in about two weeks. Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile strike: military chief Israel’s military chief says Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile strike. But he has not elaborated on when and how. Israel is said to be considering its next steps and that the Iranian strike of missiles and attack drones “will be met with a response.” The Lieutenant General spoke during a visit to the Nevatim air base. Israel says the base suffered light damage in the Iranian attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been huddling (聚集在一起) with top officials to discuss a possible response. World leaders have been urging Israel not to retaliate after Iran launched the attack involving hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. EU calls emergency foreign chiefs meeting to discuss Middle East The European Union has called an urgent meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in an attempt (嘗試、試圖) to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Ishan Garg has more. Japan TEPCO to Load Atomic Fuel into Reactor The operator of the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it has obtained permission from safety regulators to start loading atomic fuel into a reactor at its only operable plant in Japan. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is keen to restart for the first time since the 2011 disaster. It's loaded nuclear fuel into No. 7 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in north-central Japan. The country is accelerating (加速) the use of nuclear power as a stable and clean source of energy. 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...

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 150-points this morning from Friday's close, at 20,586 on turnover of 8.7-billion N-T. Big gains for tech stocks helped Wall Street claw back much of its slide from the previous session overnight. But the market still lost ground last Friday, as it followed other regional markets. MND to Establish New Combatant Command in 2026 The Ministry of National Defense is reportedly slated to a establish a new combatant command in 2026. Sources say the command will be tasked with (負責) defending Taiwan's territorial waters extending 24-nautical miles from the shoreline. According to reports, the command will be listed under the Naval Command Headquarters. It will be headed by a vice admiral and bring together existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups. It could be officially launched as early as 2026. Earthquakes of Magnitude of Between 3 and 4 Could hit Chiayi Over Coming Weeks And, The Central Weather Administration says more earthquakes of between magnitudes 3 and 4 could hit Chiayi over the coming couple of weeks. The warning comes after over 10 earthquakes have rattled the county since last Friday. According to the administration, the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck off eastern Taiwan on April 3 resulted in stress adjustments in the underground fault zones in Chiayi … …. and that has triggered blind faults and unknown faults in western Taiwan to release energy. This is causing frequent temblors (搖晃) in the Chiayi area. Guterres Calls fro Calm in Middle East Diplomats in the UN Security Council called for restraint (克制) following Iran's drone attack on Israel on Saturday. The council met for an emergency meeting on Sunday. Members fear a full-blown (全面爆發) spillover (出效應) of the conflict in the region. Jody Jacobs reports from New York… < [CLIP] Slug: > 10 Killed by Gunmen in Nigeria About 10 people have been killed by gunmen in Nigeria's north central state of Plateau. The gunmen invaded (入侵) villages in the Bokkos area of the state at night. Tesem Akende reports. Right Whale entanglement This has been a bad year for North Atlantic right whales which have been listed as endangered since 1970. And while just 360 whales remain, their numbers keep dropping (下落, 下降). Julie Walker reports on attempts to monitor one of them. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！ 中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3xMsIhf -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

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 -- 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！ 中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3xMsIhf －－－－以上訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ MODA Halts Access to Forum Website Linked to Child Pornography Taiwan Rail to Evaluate Landslide Detection System US to Stand by Israel but Trying to Deescalate Italy Rescues Migrants Off Lampedusa IG Announces Tools to Combat Sextortion

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

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,789 on turnover of 6.3-billion N-T. The market ended the trading day at another fresh high on Tuesday. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's share price soared on news of the company's plan to build a third wafer fab in the U-S state of Arizona. Lai Confirms Zhuo as Premier President-elect Lai Ching-te has announced some members of his new cabinet. Former D-P-P chairman and Cabinet Secretary-General, Zhuo Rong-tai has been confirmed (確認) as the next Premier. Former Culture Minister Zheng Li-jun will become the Vice Premier. MND Extends Tabletop Phase of Han Kuang Drills The Ministry of National Defense will be extending the tabletop war games phase of this year's Han Kuang series of exercises. The drills will last eight days this year, up from the previous five days. The tabletop phase (階段) of the annual combined services exercise will be taking place around the clock for from April 19 to 26. According to Major General Tong Ji-xing, the extended computerized war games will give the military more time to simulate responsive measures following an invasion. The measures will involve a higher level of command, with swift increased troop deployment to key positions. The live-fire phase of this year's Han Kuang exercise will taking place from July 22 to 26. 5,000kg of Sudan Dye-Tainted Chinese Chili Powder Destroyed The Food and Drug Administration says a shipment of 4,995-kilograms of chili powder imported from China has been destroyed. The products were found to contain the Sudan red dye. Tests found the shipment contained 17 parts per billion of Sudan III, a red fat-soluble dye banned in Taiwan for use in foodstuffs (食品). Data shows that from October 1 of last year through April 1 this year, samples from 27 of 145 shipments of Chinese chili powder submitted for testing failed inspections. They were also found to be contaminated with Sudan red dyes or banned pesticides. Imports of chili powder from 22 Chinese manufacturers have been indefinitely suspended. US Arizona Resinstates Abortion Ban Arizona's Supreme Court has reinstated a 160-year-old law banning nearly all abortions. The move overrides a more recent law providing access to the procedure up to 15 weeks. The ruling is the latest high-profile case as abortion becomes a central (重要的, 主要的) issue in the upcoming presidential elections. Toni waterman has more. "God Particle" Nobel Physicist Higgs Obit Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence (存在) of the so-called “God particle” has died at age 94. The University of Edinburgh, where Higgs was emeritus professor, said he died Monday following a short illness. In 1964, Higgs predicted the existence of the sub-atomic particle that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang But it would be almost 50 years before the its existence could be confirmed at a particle collider (粒子對撞機) in Switzerland. Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3Umqe2r -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 103-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,521 on turnover of 8.4-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Monday following last Wednesday's slump prior to the four-day Tomb Sweeping holiday. However, the gains were capped amid lingering investor concerns over when the U-S Federal Reserve's a rate-cut cycle will kick-in. 42 Buildings Listed as 'Code Red' Damage The National Land Management Agency says 42 buildings suffered severe damage from last week's earthquake. They have been listed as "code red." The agency's "code red" is the highest level of damage. Of the 42 buildings, 32 are in Hualien, two in Taipei, four in New Taipei, and four are in Taoyuan. According to land management agency, 70 buildings have been listed as "code yellow" for secondary damage. That includes 35 in Hualien, 13 in Taipei, seven in New Taipei City, 14 in Taoyuan, and one in Keelung. 690 other buildings don't currently (目前) fall into the color-coded warnings listing. But they are still being checked. UAV Makes 2nd Attempt to Pass Combat Readiness Tests A redesigned version of the locally developed Teng Yun 2 U-A-V has been undergoing (經歷、進行) combat readiness tests. The UAVs failed the tests last year. Sources are being cited as saying the "Cloud Rider 2" combat and reconnaissance drone entered the final testing stage for the second time in mid-March. However, the defense ministry has not released any information concerning when the testing will be completed. Reports have said results from the Teng Yun 2's unsuccessful first attempt to pass the final testing in March of last year indicated that there was "still room for improvement" in the drone's design. Iraq FM Accuses US of Greenlighting Strike on Consulate in Syria Iran’s foreign minister has accused the United States of giving Israel the “green light” for a strike on its consulate building in Syria. The strike killed seven Iranian military officials, including two generals. The minister reiterated Tehran’s vows that it will respond to the attack, widely blamed on Israel. The attack killed a senior military official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force. It appeared to signify (表示、象征) an escalation of Israel’s targeting of military officials from Iran. And the incident worsened fears of the war spiraling into the rest of the Middle East. The Biden administration has insisted that it had no advance knowledge of the airstrike. Vatican doubles down on opposition to gender theory and sex changes The Vatican has doubled down (堅持) on its opposition to gender theory and sex changes. Giles Gibson has more from Rome. Haiti Recovers Hijacked Cargo Ship Haiti’s National Police says it has recovered a hijacked cargo ship laden with (裝滿的) rice following a gun battle with gangs that lasted more than five hours. Authorities said Sunday that two policemen were injured and an undetermined number of gang members killed in the shootout off the coast of the Port-au-Prince capital. Local media reports that the gangs kidnapped everyone aboard the ship and stole some 10,000 sacks of rice out of the 60,000 sacks it was carrying. Saturday's recovery was a rare victory for Haiti's underfunded police department. The department has struggled to stop gang violence following a spate of attacks that began Feb. 29. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 57-points this morning from last Wednesday's close, at 20,395 on turnover of 9.1-billion N-T. The market shed more than 100-points last Wednesday - the final trading day of the week. Market sentiment was negatively affected by both the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck earlier that day and losses on Wall Street overnight. The bellwether electronics sector led the downturn. Investors were concerned about the possible impact on production resulting from the temblor. Czech Republic Looking into Allegations Chinese Diplomat Tailed HsiaoBi-khim The government of the Czech Republic says it's investigation allegations that a Chinese diplomat tailed Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim during her visit to the country last month. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement by Czech officials comes after Taiwan's representative office in Prague contacted authorities. There were reports by a news site that a Chinese diplomat was stopped by police while following Hsiao's motorcade. The report by a Prague-based news site says "Chinese governmental surveillance (監視)" continued until Hsiao arrived at her hotel in the Czech capital. Hsiao visited the Czech Republic from March 17 to 19 to speak at a seminar. Two More Taipei Restaurants Closed Due to Suspected Food Poisoning And, Health authorities in Taipei says two more restaurants in the city owned by Wowprime have been temporarily closed, after 22 people reported falling ill with symptoms of food poisoning. According to city government, the 22 people sought medical attention and reported symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, after eating at Truewow and XIANG LA Spicy Hot Pot. Both are located in the same building in the city's Ximending shopping district. The 22 patients dined (吃飯，進餐) at the restaurants between April 2 and 4. Health authorities have carried out inspections at the two restaurants and found multiple problems. They are also testing food and environmental samples. Nigeria Kidnapping Victims Rescued Police authorities in Nigeria say operatives of the force have rescued over 100 victims of kidnapping in the country. The hostages were abducted (被綁架) by gunmen in Katsina state in the country's northwest region from March 1st to 31st. Tesem Akende reports from Jos. Tunisia Fundraising Runner Runs Length of Africa British charity fundraiser Russ Cook has reached the northernmost point of Africa, completing a year-long quest to run the length of the continent. Dozens of supporters cheered Sunday as Cook reached a rocky outcrop in northern Tunisia. The 27-year-old set off from South Africa in April last year. He has run more than 16-thousand km across 16 countries in 352 days. The run has raised more than $870-thousand US dollars for charities that work with homeless young people, and helps displaced (流離失所) people from Western Sahara. 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－－－－ 【CYBERBIZ】線上商務與線下整合開店平台 一站式服務，整合全方位工具，從個人賣家到企業品牌，都能透過 CYBERBIZ 輕鬆建立電商事業！ 💡現在開店享優惠，搶先預約：https://bit.ly/3Unu4YF -- 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Earthquake Update 10:00AM More damage is being reported after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and aftershocks struck earlier this morning. Reports indicate that two buildings in Hualien City have suffered damage and are tilting to one side, with 8 people trapped in one building at the intersection of Zhong-shan Rd. and Chong-qing Rd. Emergency workers are on the scene, and ladder trucks have been dispatched to reach those inside. The Ministry of National Defense has also dispatched military personnel to assist with the rescue. Meanwhile… The Hualien County government has announced a suspension of work and classes, as aftershocks may continue throughout the day. New Taipei is continuing work and classes as normal. The New Taipei Metro Corporation says it is investigating reports that a portion of the track between Tou-qien-zhuang Station and Xing-pu Ming-shen station have cracked, but so far, the reports have not been confirmed. The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says all HSR lines have paused service, and so far 21 train trips have reportedly been affected. Otherwise, the THSRC says there have been no reports of passengers injured or cars damaged. The Taiwan Railways Administration is also pausing services on parts of its eastern trunk line. The Taoyuan Metro has also reported a suspension in services of at least one hour. Taiex open to other news now and… The Taiwan Stock Exchange's main index opened down 77.73 points at 20,388.84 Wednesday on turnover of NT$5.98 billion (US$187 million). Taiwan's main board had closed Tuesday's trading at a new high on the back of strong buying led by contract chipmaker TSMC, this was in turn led by a 4 percent surge in the company's American depositary receipts.. The Taiex's record run came after a stock market-related social media influencer in Taiwan has issued an apology for spreading fake news about American investment guru Warren Buffet's supposed repurchase (回購) of TSMC shares. North Korea tests another missile In international news: North Korea said Wednesday it tested another new hypersonic intermediate-range missile powered with solid propellants. This, as it continues to expand its nuclear and missile program in the face of deepening tensions with neighbors and the United States. The report by North Korean state media came a day after the South Korean and Japanese militaries detected the North launching the missile from an inland (內地) area around its capital toward its eastern sea. The test was supervised by authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un, who described the missile – named Hwasong-16B – as a key piece of his nuclear war deterrent he vowed to further build up to counter his “enemies”… that was a reference to the United States, South Korea and Japan. Israel Palestine World Central Kitchen Some of Israel’s closest allies have condemned the deaths of seven aid workers who were killed by airstrikes in Gaza. That loss that prompted (使) multiple charities to suspend food deliveries to Palestinians on the brink of starvation. The deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers threatened to set back efforts by the U.S. and other countries to open a maritime corridor for aid from Cyprus to help ease the desperate conditions in northern Gaza. Sagher Meghani reports. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

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

【00941】全台首檔鎖定半導體上游設備與材料廠的ETF 半導體不是只有護國神山，想投資真正的隱形英雄，力爭「上游」就對了！中信上游半導體(00941)，帶你與科技王者中的王者同行：https://bit.ly/3Umqe2r -- 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 －－－－以上訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ Four More Test Positive for Toxic Acid in Taipei Food Poisoning Case Authorities Investigating Deadly Taipei Construction Site Accident Israelis stage largest anti-government protest since the war in Gaza began Easter Sunday in Vatican Ecuador violence saw 9 died

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,156 on turnover of $4.5-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex lost ground on Thursday, as investors reacted to a downturn on Wall Street overnight - which saw American markets slip further from recent record highs. MOTC Approves Danhai Light Rail 2nd Phase Plan The Ministry of Transport has passed the review of a revised plan for the second phase of the Danhai Light Rail in Tamsui. The plan will now be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. The New Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems says construction of the second phase of the Danhai light rail Blue Sea Line is set to be completed within five years of the Cabinet granting approval for the project. The Blue Sea light rail first phase opened in November of 2020. The planned second phase of the line will link Tamsui M-R-T station with Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf. It initially included a section that ran through Tamsui Old Street. But the rapid transit department modified (修改) the route due to protests by local residents. The new plan means the light rail line will run alongside the Tamsui River. The planned line will have six stations and extend (延長) the operating route of Danhai light rail to 6.6-kilometers. Lebanon Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Israel Civilian Targets The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has fired rockets with heavy warheads at towns in northern Israel. There were no media reports of Israelis hurt in Thursday's assault and the Israeli military did not immediately offer comment on the attack. Hezbollah says it used the heavy rockets against civilian targets for the first time Thursday in retaliation for a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes the day before. The militant group says several paramedics were among those 16 killed. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, concerns have grown that near-daily clashes along Lebanon's border could escalate into a full-scale war. Hezbollah says its attacks aim to keep some Israeli divisions (部隊) busy and away from Gaza. Crypto King Sentenced to 25 Years The one-time "king of crypto" has been sentenced to 25 years in prison having been found guilty on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy (陰謀). William Denselow has more from outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan. Canada School Boards Sue Social Media Companies Four of the largest school boards in the Canadian province of Ontario have launched lawsuits against TikTok, Meta and SnapChat alleging the social media platforms are disrupting student learning. The lawsuits announced Thursday claim that platforms like Facebook and Instagram are “designed for compulsive (強迫性的) use, have rewired the way children think, behave, and learn.” The school boards are seeking damages for disruption to student learning and the education system. Dozens of U.S. states, including California and New York, are also suing Meta Platforms Inc. They say Meta harm young people and contributes to a youth mental health crisis. The believe Meta knowingly and deliberately (故意地) designed features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 13-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,213 on turnover of 4.5-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Wednesday as buying rotated to non-tech stocks. However, turnover was down from the previous trading days. Many investors remained wary of a major pullback after the main board scored solid gains in recent sessions to stand above the 20,000-point mark. Investors are also waiting for U-S economic data, which is due out later this week. First high-level Taiwan-France Trade Talks Focus on High-Tech The Ministry of Economics Affairs says representatives for Taiwan and France have held the first round of ministerial-level economic and trade talks. The talks focused on opportunities for collaboration (合作) in the high-tech supply chain. Taiwan's delegation was led by Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua, who met with representatives of France's Ministry of Economics and Finance. According to the economics ministry, the discussions covered possible partnerships in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and space industries. Carbon Fee Rate to be Decided in One to Two Months Environment Minister Xue Fu-sheng says it will take the government between one and two months to finalize the carbon fee rate. The Ministry of Environment was previously scheduled to announce the carbon fee rate in the first quarter of this year. The environment minister says the delay is because a review committee has not yet decided on the rate. However, Xue says there will be no change to the carbon fee collection schedule. The minister says the government still plans to collect (收) the fees beginning next year. WH: Talks with Israel on Gaza Operation Resume The White House says talks are resuming (恢復) to bring Israeli officials to the US to discuss Gaza operations. AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports. UN Food Waste Report A new United Nations report estimates that 19% of the food produced around the world went to waste in 2022. That's a little more than 1 billion metric tons of food. The updated Food Waste Index shows the biggest share of that waste, about 60%, came in households. Almost 30% came in food service operations, such as restaurants. This comes three years after the U.N.'s first attempt to quantify (量化) the problem as part of trying to cut food waste in half by the year 2030. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 31-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,158 on turnover of 3.7-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday after hitting an all-time intra-day high. Investors turned cautious about a possible major technical pullback from recent sessions. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing served as an anchor during the session to prevent the broader market from falling further. And artificial intelligence development-related stocks came under pressure due to their relatively high valuations. Taiwan Calls on CPTPP to Devise Detailed Accession Guidelines The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is calling on members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership to release detailed guidelines for countries seeking membership in the trade bloc. The call comes as the government is voicing (表達) its concerns that the official Accession Process guidelines are not detailed enough. According to the ministry, the Partnership's "Auckland Principles," which provide three main principles for applicants to meet, are also vague The foreign ministry also says Taiwan has engaged in direct dialogue with key member states, including Japan and Canada. The ministry also plans to send delegations to other members later this year to solicit support for Taiwan's accession (加入) to the trade bloc. Ma Foundation Director Talks "Meeting Old Friends" The director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation says the former head of state could meet with Xi Jin-ping when he travels to China next month. Hsiao Hsu-tsen says Ma is currently just "a regular citizen", but Ma and Xi made important history together in 2015, so "of course he hopes there is an opportunity (機會) to see an old friend." Hsiao is refusing to say whether arrangements were being made for such a meeting. He would only say that "like the media, he hopes it will take place. However, the foundation director says "because the delegation will be guests, the specific arrangements are being left up to the Chinese side as hosts." NKorea Rejects Kim Meeting with Japanese PM North Korea's state news agency says the country is rejecting (拒絕) any possibility of a meeting between Kim Jong Un and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It comes a day after reports that Pyongyang had received a summit request from Japan. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Ethiopia Recouping Lost Funds After Glitch Ethiopia’s biggest bank says it has recouped nearly 80% of the cash it lost during a system glitch that allowed customers to take out more money than they had in their accounts. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia says around $14 million was withdrawn or digitally transferred (轉帳) during the error. The bank says the value of the transactions ranged from 9 cents to $5,350. The amount lost was initially reported as $40 million. Nearly 15-thousand people have voluntarily returned funds that the bank says were taken illegally. But over 500 individuals have not yet returned money that is not theirs. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 城揚建設新推出的「陽明第一廳」 緊鄰三民區的明星學府-陽明國中 46~52坪，每層四戶兩部電梯 最適合有換屋與置產需求的你 讓生活中充滿書香、運動風，滿足食衣住行的消費需求 城揚建設 陽明第一廳 07-384-2888 https://bit.ly/4azoWGy

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 16-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,208 on turnover of 3.6-billion N-T. The market closed slightly lower on Monday after hitting an all-time closing high last week. The electronics sector, which has driven recent gains, came under pressure. Select old economy stocks, in particular those in the electric machinery and transportation sectors, attracted buying to lend some support to the broader market. Former President Ma to Lead Student Delegation to China The Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation says the former head of state will lead a delegation of Taiwanese students on a "peace visit" to China from April 1st to April 11th. According to foundation director Hsiao Hsu-tsen, the delegation is planning to visit Guangdong and Shaanxi provinces and also Beijing. China's Taiwan Affairs Office has issued a statement welcoming Ma's planned visit. The foundation says no plans have been made to meet with Chinese officials. However, the foundation's director is not dismissing reports that Ma could meet with Xi Jin-ping while in Beijing. It says that "specific arrangements" (安排的細節) will be left up to the Chinese side, which is hosting the delegation. Presidential Office to Offer Fun Day Out on Children's Day And, The Presidential Office is planning to play host to a special event for young people on April 4th to coincide with the Children's Day holiday. According to Presidential Office spokeswoman Lu Yu-chan, the event will transform the building into a giant maze filled with fun, games and live performances. It will be the first time the Presidential Office will have opened its doors to youngsters (兒童、年輕人) on Children's Day host a special party. The Presidential Office spokeswoman says children will have the opportunity to have their photos taken with replica military aircraft. They could also pretend to the be the president, by hosting their own press conferences in the building's briefing room. Japan PM: Nothing Decided on NKorean Summit Japan’s Prime Minister says no plans have been made for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite reports he has requested (要求) a sit-down. DPRK state media on Monday reported Pyongyang had received the request from Fumio Kishida Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo. Puerto Rico Declares Dengue Epidemic Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic following a spike in dengue cases. The U.S. territory of 3.2 million people has reported at least 549 cases so far this year, compared with a total of 1,293 cases for all of last year. The island’s health department says more than 340 people have been hospitalized for the mosquito-borne virus. Officials said Monday that the majority of cases have been reported in the capital of San Juan. More than 5 million dengue cases were reported worldwide last year. Nearly 80% of those occurred in the Western Hemisphere, according the World Health Organization. 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