EZ News 01/19/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **2022 GDP Growth Falls Below Government Forecast. ** Taiwan's year-over-year G-D-P growth for 2022 fell below the government's forecast. According to the an advanced estimate by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the island registered growth of 2.43-per cent last year. That fell short of the original forecast of 3.06-per cent. The government is attributing the disparity (差距) to aggressive rate hike cycles by the major central banks that resulted in weakening global demand and inventory adjustments in many industries. **Shuttle Bus Service for Taiwan Lantern Festival ** The Taipei City Government says two shuttle bus services will be provided for the up-coming Taiwan Lantern Festival in the capital for those wishing to travel to the event's separate sites. According to city officials, the shuttle buses services will cost 5 N-T per journey and will be connecting the four main display zones. Those zones will be located in Taipei's Xinyi District, the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall park, and Taipei City Hall plaza. Shuttle bus No. 1 will mainly run between the Taipei Metro Blue Line and Red Line, while shuttle bus No. 2 will operate between the Taipei Metro Red Line and Green Line. The Taipei M-R-T will be increasing services on the Red and Blue lines beginning February 1 - but the metro operator is considering allowing passengers to only board trains, any not alight (下車) at the Taipei City Hall and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall stations. The 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival runs from February 5th through 19th. **NZ Ardern Not Contesting Elections ** New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she will not contest (競選) this year’s general elections. Ardern told reporters that Feb. 7 will be her last day as the country’s leader. Ardern said she is leaving because she no longer has "enough in the tank" to do the job justice. Ardern has called New Zealand’s next general elections for Oct. 14. She says she will remain a lawmaker until then. **US Finalizing Ukraine Military Aid ** The U.S. is finalizing a massive (巨大的) package of military aid for Ukraine. The AP's Ed Donahue reports. **UN Environment Chief Reelected ** The U.N. General Assembly has elected Inger Andersen of Denmark to a second four-year term as executive director of the United Nations Environment Program. Wednesday's vote came after the assembly rejected a Russian-sponsored resolution that would have opened the job to other candidates. The decision extends her leadership (領導) of the U.N.’s environment agency, based in Nairobi, Kenya, until June 14th, 2027. 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 _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn