EZ News 04/02/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 137-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,360 on turnover of $4.9-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower Monday as investors shifted to the sell side. They were taking advantage of the main board's earlier upturn after a rally in afterhours (工作時間之後) trading on the U.S. markets. Investors held high hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will start a rate cut cycle in June. But the bellwether electronics sector encountered profit taking Monday after a strong showing in the first quarter of the year. This pushed the main board above the 20,000 point mark. 9 Ill After Dining at New Taipei Restaurant New Taipei is conducting inspections in a case where several guests fell ill after eating at a banquet hall. FDC International Hotels Corporation announced today that 9 customers who dined at its Gala de Chine banquet hall in Xinzhuang District last week sought medical care after experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort. The corporation says it is actively cooperating with the city's investigation. It says it has provide samples of food items and data for inspection. However, it also points out that a portion (部分) of the guests who attended the banquet brought their own food. The corporation says the cause of the illnesses is still under investigation. The New Taipei Department of Health says it has requested the restaurant suspend business while inspections are underway. (NS) Afghanistan Children Killed by Old Land Mine An old land mine found by children in eastern Afghanistan has exploded while they were playing with it, killing nine children. A Taliban spokesman says the land mine, which the children found near their village in Ghazni province, was from decades (幾十年) ago. He says the explosion Sunday killed five boys and four girls who were 5 to 10 years old. Afghanistan has suffered from decades of war. The country remains highly dangerous for children who collect scrap metal to sell to support their families. Many are killed or maimed when they come across unexploded ordinance. US Israel Talks Over Gaza Offensive The United States and Israel are holding a virtual meeting today to discuss the alternatives to a military invasion of the Gazan city of Rafah. Israeli forces have for weeks been planning to push into the southern tip of the besieged (被圍困) strip, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are gathered. Benji Hyer reports. Greece Migrants Rescued from Wooden Boat Greek authorities say dozens of migrants found in a wooden boat on the Mediterranean Sea between northern Africa and southern Europe have been transported to the Greek island of Crete. Greece’s coast guard says the boat carried 74 people. It is not immediately clear where or when the boat had launched (下水，出發) or what countries the passengers were from. Crete’s southern coastline has seen an increase in migrant arrivals in recent months. Greece is a major entry point into the European Union for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. 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