EZ News 03/15/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 92-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 19,845 on turnover of $9.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan inched up Thursday to close at a new high, after recovering from early losses in the bellwether electronics sector, even as sentiment remained cautious ahead of the United States' release of its February producer price index later in the day. The financial sector was the main anchor, helping to stabilize the market as some financial firms offered attractive dividend policies, and buying also rotated to some old economy stocks, giving the main board additional support. Decision on carbon fee rates could be delayed: Minister Minister of the Environment Shieu Fuh-sheng says a decision on carbon fee rates (費率) by a review committee may be delayed. Shieu announced in February that a decision on the rates would be made by the end of March, but now says there were now "no guarantees" due to changes to the "wider environment." The minister cited the expected raising of electricity rates in Taiwan in April, and difficulties in Taiwan's petrochemical industry as factors. Many Taiwanese companies in the petrochemical industry are included in the 550 big emitters emitting more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year that are to be charged carbon fees by the government. Shieu says the review committee is meeting for the first time today, and will not yet have any final decisions. Nigerian School Children Kidnappers Demand Ransom Gunmen who kidnapped about 300 school children in Nigeria's Kaduna state last week are demanding a ransom (贖金) for their release. Tesem Akende reports. Haiti Presidential Council Plans Moving Forward Caribbean officials say a plan to create a transitional presidential council is moving forward after a majority of Haitian parties and coalitions submitted the names of those charged with finding new leaders for the country. Officials said Thursday that the names were provided to a regional trade bloc known as Caricom that is helping lead the transition. The names were submitted a day after Haitian politicians and influential figures bickered (爭吵) publicly about the plan and what names to submit, seemingly putting creation of the council at risk. Prime Minister Ariel Henry pledged to resign once the council is created. UK Court Rules Against Claim to Cryptocurrency Fame Britain’s high court has ruled that an Australian computer scientist is not, as he claimed, the mysterious creator of the bitcoin cryptocurrency. Craig Wright has for eight years claimed that he was the man behind “Satoshi Nakamoto,” the pseudonym that masked the identity of the creator of bitcoin. His claim was dismissed Thursday following a trial brought forward by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance, a non-profit group of technology and cryptocurrency firms. The organization claimed Wright had created an “elaborate (詳盡的，複雜的) false narrative” and forged documents to suggest he was Satoshi and had “terrorized” those who questioned him. Wright, who attended the start of the five-week trial, denied the allegations. 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