EZ News 08/06/25

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 217-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,443 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T. The market rebounded from slumps seen during the the previous two sessions on Tuesday following a strong showing on Wall Street overnight. **President Lai Ching-te vows to increase defense budget to more than 3% of **GDP President Lai Ching-te says he plans to increase next year's defense budget to more than 3-per cent of G-D-P. Speaking at the opening of the Ketagalan Forum-Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue in Taipei, Lai said the budget will be increased based on continuing reforms within the island's armed forces and more investment (投資) in national defense. According to Lai, his administration will also continue to boost Taiwan's economic resilience and advance economic security by stepping up trade cooperation with other countries, And Lai also used his opening address to say his government remains committed to maintaining cross-strait "status quo”and ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. 10 KMT affiliates indicted in Chiayi for recall petition forgery The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 10 people affiliated with K-M-T for forging 2,067 signatures on a petition to recall D-P-P lawmaker Chen Guan-ting. Those indicted include Yang Fu-cheng, the secretary-general of the K-M-T's Chiayi County branch; Ho Bo-lun, the director of -K-M-T lawmaker Wang Yu-min's local office. The eight other people indicted all worked for the K-M-T' Chiayi County branch. According to the Prosecutors' Office, all 10 suspects have charged with forgery (偽造) and violations of the Personal Data Protection Act. Another eight people have been granted deferred prosecution for one year. NATO to coordinate regular and large-scale arm deliveries to Ukraine NATO is set to coordinate (協調) regular and large-scale arm deliveries to Ukraine The AP's Jennifer King reports. Nigeria Trafficked Birds Seized Nigerian customs have seized over 1,600 parrots and canaries being transported from Lagos to Kuwait without a permit. This is one of the biggest wildlife trafficking seizures in years. On July 31, customs agents seized ring-necked parakeets and green and yellow fronted canaries at Lagos airport. These are protected species. The birds were not accompanied by the required permits. An investigation is ongoing (正在進行的) to find those responsible. The birds will be handed to the National Parks Service for rehabilitation and release. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn