EZ News 07/25/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 28-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,061 on turnover of 4.8-billion N-T. The market closed marginally higher on Monday, as gains by artificial intelligence-related stocks offset ongoing losses by semiconductor heavyweights after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing announced that it's cutting its 2023 sales outlook. The Tai-Ex fluctuated within a narrow range throughout the session, as T-S-M-C dragged semiconductor shares lower, while gains posted by artificial intelligence server suppliers lent support to the main board towards the end of the day's session. **Tsai Urges Overseas Firms to Seek CPTPP Backing ** President Tsai Ing-wen is urging the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce to help seek support for her administration's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Speaking during a meeting with chamber members, Tsai said she hopes overseas Taiwanese businesses can exert (發揮) their influence to rally support for Taiwan's application to join the the trade bloc. According to Tsai, the joining the partnership will strengthen Taiwan's economic resilience. She's also calling on Taiwanese businesses based overseas to invest in Taiwan and build the nation into a key global industrial hub. **KMT Presidential Candidate Hou Yu-ih to Visit Japan ** The K-M-T's presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih will be traveling to Tokyo next week. According to Hou's campaign office, the three-day trip is aimed at (目的是) strengthening his foreign policy credentials. Hou is slated to meet with lawmakers and officials from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Hou's campaign office says he'll also be doing interviews with Japanese national broadcaster N-H-K and the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Hou will also be meeting with oversea's Taiwanese in the Japanese capital and will be accompanied by K-M-T think tank head Ko Zhi-yen, and Overseas Department head Chen Yi-xin. **UN Urges Russia to Revive Grain Deal ** The United Nations' highest official is urging Russia to revive a grain deal with Ukraine. AP correspondent Norman Hall reports. **Algeria Wildfires Leave Dead and Injured ** The Algerian government says wildfires raging across the country have killed 25 people and injured about 50. The Defense Ministry says Monday that includes 10 soldiers killed while trying to get the flames under control in the face of high winds and scorching (灼熱的) summer temperatures. The Interior Ministry says at least 1,500 people were evacuated. Wildfires, some spread by strong winds, moved across forests and agricultural areas in 16 regions. That caused 97 blazes in the north African country. The largest and deadliest fires ravaged parts of the Kabyle region east of Algiers. **Musk Reveals New Twitter Logo ** Elon Musk has unveiled a new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday, but the bird was still dominant across the smartphone app. In response to questions about what tweets would be called when the rebranding (重塑形象) is done, Musk said they would be called Xs. 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