EZ News 03/01/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 55-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 19-thousand-21 on turnover of $6.3-billion N-T. The market closed at yet another new high on Thursday - as buying on the broader market largely came before M-S-C-I's quarterly index adjustments went into effect after the market closed. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing bucked the upturn and declined by 0.94-per cent due to the stock's American depositary receipts falling on Wall Street overnight. Gender Pay Gap Narrowed in 2023 The Ministry of Labor says this year's Equal Pay Day fell on February 23, four days earlier than in 2023, based on its estimate that women needed to work until this point in 2024 to achieve the same 2023 salary as men. According to the ministry, women had to work an average of 54 more days than men to earn the same income because their salaries were on average 14.7-per cent lower than their male counterparts (對應的人或物) in 2023. The average hourly salary for female employees in 2023 was 318 N-T compared with 373 N-T for men. Ukraine: Russia Pushing Hard Against Defensive Position Kyiv officials say Russian forces are pushing hard against more Ukrainian towns and villages in eastern and southeastern Ukraine as Moscow tries to press its current advantage (優勢) in weapons and troops. Ukraine said Thursday it has shot down 13 Russian warplanes this month despite Russia’s apparent offensive momentum on the ground. Russian forces have been striking some Ukrainian defensive positions by deploying overwhelming amounts of artillery and troop numbers in an effort to punch through defensive lines at targeted points. US Poll: Democats Want Leader Who Doesn't Support Israel Military Aid Most voters in President Joe Biden's party want a leader who does not back U.S. military aid for Israel, according to a new Ipsos/Reuters poll. The President's full support for Israel, in its war against Hamas in Gaza, has angered many people, as the death toll there grows to 30,000. Caroline Malone reports. Brazil Amazon Fires Hit New High Data from Brazil's space agency says the state of Roraima in the Amazon rainforest has been hit with more than 2,000 fires in recent weeks. The National Institute for Space Research said Thursday that satellite sensors detected the blazes between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28. That’s far above the monthly average of 376 fires. And the number is the second-highest registered in a single month since the institute began collecting data in mid-1998. 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