EZ News 02/09/26

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