EZ News 05/12/26

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 90-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 41,880 on turnover of 18.5-billion N-T. The market closed higher once again on Monday, but the gains were muted after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw losses following a the Wall Street Journal report that Apple could shift its orders to Intel. Statute of limitations for child sex crimes to be extended The Ministry of Health has announced draft amendments to Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act and the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act. According to the ministry, the planned revisions seek to change the starting point for the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases involving minors to when a victim turns 20. The head of the ministry's Department of Protective Services says the proposed amendments are aimed at ensuring victims can seek justice after gaining a better understanding of their victimization (受害) and having greater resources to speak out. Under current regulations, the statute of limitations begins from the date the offense was committed, making it difficult for victims abused as minors to pursue legal action after reaching adulthood. Taipei conducting 5-day cleaning drive to counter 'rat problem' The Taipei City government is continuing a cleaning and sanitation (衛生) drive across all 12 administrative districts this week, as it seeks to combat concerns about recent increases in rat sightings. According to the city government, the cleaning drive that began last Friday in Zhongshan District is is now being expanded to other city districts through Thursday. City officials say sanitation work will focus on Nangang, Wenshan and Neihu districts today. It will continue tomorrow in Songshan, Daan and Xinyi districts, before concluding on Thursday in Shilin and Beitou districts. US Passengers exposed to Hantavirus arrive back in US US health officials say eighteen passengers from a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak have now been flown back to the US and placed under monitoring. One passenger who tested positive for the rare virus strain is being treated in a biocontainment (生物隔離) unit. Ira Spitzer has more. Indigenous Orgs Urg UN Protections Against Organized Crime Indigenous organizations from across the Amazon and Latin America have sent a letter to the United Nations warning that organized crime — including illegal mining, drug trafficking and logging — is driving violence and environmental destruction in Indigenous territories. The groups urged governments to avoid heavily militarized responses and instead strengthen Indigenous-led protections. Leaders from Peru’s Amazon warned criminal networks are increasingly recruiting Indigenous youth, exploiting girls and expanding influence in remote communities where state presence is weak. Signatories say the expansion of organized crime is undermining Indigenous governance systems and threatening communities that have long acted as stewards (管理員) of some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. The letter calls on the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to conduct a dedicated study on organized crime and illicit economies in Indigenous territories and urged U.N. agencies to include Indigenous perspectives in anti-crime and anti-corruption policies. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn