EZ News 08/08/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,006 on turnover of 4.6-billion N-T. The market gained more than 150 points in Monday following a slump at the end of last week, as investor interest in artificial intelligence development-related stocks resumed and the sector moved out of consolidation mode. The rise also came as investor sentiment improved amid eased concerns over further pending rate hikes by the U-S Federal Reserve on the back of the release of a weaker-than-expected American jobs report on Friday. **Carbon Exchange Opens in Kaohsiung ** President Tsai Ing-wen has overseen (監督) the opening of a carbon exchange at the Kaohsiung Software Park. The exchange is part of the government's ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. According to Tsai, the carbon exchange will work with its international counterparts to help Taiwan reach its goal of low carbon emissions, and those efforts are expected to bring in more than 4-trillion N-T in private investment. Tsai also says it will also bring in 5.9-trillion N-T in production value, while potentially create more than 550,000 jobs from 2023-2030. **New Military Police Battalion to be Garrisoned in South Taipei ** And, Military sources are saying the Ministry of National Defense plans to garrison a newly raised military police battalion in south Taipei. The move is reportedly part of efforts to step-up protection for the president and other top government officials. However, the specific location of the garrison (駐軍) has not yet been decided. The unit will be the sixth military police battalion under the 202nd Military Police Command stationed in Taipei. The military police command currently numbers 5,000 and teports have said that number could reach 11,000 in the coming years. **Pakistan Railway Service Partially Restored ** Officials say engineers have partially restored passenger rail service in southern Pakistan, a day after a passenger train derailed there, killing at least 30 people and injuring 90. Local authorities have handed over 27 bodies of the victims of Sunday's crash to their families for burials while three people were still unidentified. Engineers were still working at the crash site to fully restore rail service and dozens of injured remained in hospital on Monday. A probe into the train accident was also underway. Train accidents in Pakistan are common and often happen as the result of poor railway infrastructure and official negligence (疏忽). **US Texas Cost of Electricity Surges ** The price of electricity – crucial for air conditioning – has surged in the U.S. state of Texas in the last few days. Just as parts of the state continue to swelter (熱得難受) in a heatwave that is pushing temperatures well above 100 Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. Caroline Malone reports from Austin. 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