EZ News 04/25/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 128-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,003 on turnover of 4.6-billion N-T. The market moved sharply higher on Wednesday to close above the 20,000-point mark on the back of a rally on Wall Street overnight. The bellwether electronics sector led the day's gains. The sector mirrored tech stocks' strong performance on Wall Street. The market was boosted by hopes the the U-S Federal Reserve will cut interest rates after new data showed a slowdown in American manufacturing activity. No WHA Invite, but Incoming Health Minister Likely to Travel to Geneva Outgoing Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan says he has not received an invitation to attend this year's World Health Assembly. But he says the issue will be handled by the new Cabinet. According to Hsueh, he believes his successor, Chiu Tai-yuan will head a delegation to Geneva and hold meetings on the sideline of the event, if Taiwan fails to secure (獲得) observer status. The 77th World Health Assembly will be taking place from May 27 through June 1 and is being held under the theme of "All for Health, Health for All" this year. New Taipei Ward Chief Indicted for Subsidized China Trip The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a Yonghe District ward chief and his aunt on charges of taking other ward chiefs on a subsidized trip to China. According to prosecutors, Hsu Cheng-kai and his aunt were commissioned by the Taiwan Affairs Office in Kunshan City last year to invite 12 ward chiefs to China. Prosecutors says ward chiefs' expenses (花費) were fully covered. Their relatives only had to pay for the airfare. The ward chiefs and their family members were taken on all expenses paid trips to Kunshan City, Changshu City, Wuxi City, and several other locations in November of last year. Russia Vetos UN Resolution Against Nuclear Arms Space Race Russia has vetoed a U.N. resolution calling on all nations to prevent a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 13 in favor, Russia opposed and China abstaining. The resolution was sponsored by the United States and Japan It would have called on all countries not to develop or deploy nuclear arms or other weapons of mass destruction in space. Such actions are banned under a 1967 international treaty that included the U.S. and Russia. Under the treaty, countries also agreed to the need to verify (核實) compliance (遵守). The U.S. and Russian ambassador traded accusations on space weapons. US Arizona Votes to Repeal Near Total Abortion Ban Arizona's House of Representatives has voted to repeal (廢除) a near-total abortion ban. The state's supreme court reinstated the ban earlier this month. The ban, which has yet to go into effect, has become a major political issue in the key swing state. Ira Spitzer reports. UK Military Horses Run Loose After Being Spooked Five military horses spooked by noise from a building site have bolted during routine exercises near Buckingham Palace in central London. They ran loose through the heart of the city. The horses injured at least four people, collided with vehicles and caused chaos (混亂) during the morning rush hour. Four soldiers were thrown off the horses and three of the troops were hospitalized with injuries. The horses were all captured shortly after. They were taken back to the barracks in Hyde Park where they are undergoing medical tests. 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