EZ News 02/26/25

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 64-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,222 on turnover of 5.8-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan extended their losses from a session earlier to close down by more than 270 points Tuesday, with the sell-off sparked by fears over future investments in artificial intelligence development, after Microsoft reportedly cancelled (取消) some leases for data center capacity. Analysts say investors rushed to cut their TSMC holdings as the company also faces uncertainty created by a tariff war launched by the Trump administration. Taiwan’s New Maritime Training Ship Sets Sail on Maiden Voyage to Japan A new maritime training ship is setting sail today on its maiden voyage to Tokyo, Japan. The Ministry of Education's "Yu-feng-lun"(御風輪), departed from Kaohsiung Harbor around noon today, with faculty and students from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology on board. The 114-meter-long vessel accomodates up to 250 people, and includes state-of-the-art training facilities including simulation (模擬) systems and big data collection systems. The ship is scheduled to return to Kaohsiung on March 10-th, before departing on March 13-th for a second training voyage. A total of 10 trips are planned before August this year, with over 1,700 trainees expected to participate. (NS) Taiwan clinches WBC spot with 6-3 win over Spain Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei on Tuesday. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener last Friday, the home team got its revenge (復仇) at Taipei Dome. The win-or-go-home game was a back-and-forth battle from the start, and Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien thanked fans for standing by them and cheering even when WBC qualification at one point seemed out of reach. With the win, Taiwan joined Nicaragua in securing a spots in the WBC, set to take place in March 2026. US DOGE Employees Resign Twenty-one federal employees who had been working with the US's newly-named Department of Government of Efficiency - or DOGE - have resigned in protest. The anonymous employees wrote a letter blasting the Trump administration's controversial (有爭議的) cost-cutting initiative which is being led by Elon Musk. Ira Spitzer reports. Colombia "Narco Wig" Smuggler Busted Colombian police apprehended a 40-year-old man attempting to smuggle several bags of cocaine concealed beneath a meticulously (小心翼翼地) attached toupee (假髮). Police said the suspect was detained at Cartagena’s airport on Monday as he prepared to board a flight to Amsterdam. A scanner revealed the hidden cargo: 220 grams of cocaine packaged in small bags, strategically placed under the “narco wig.” Police estimate the street value of the drugs at over $10-thousand US dollars in European markets. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn