EZ News 08/30/24

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 22,230 on turnover of $5-billion N-T. The market grounded on Thursday, as investors reacted to Wall Street trending lower overnight, as Nvidia's stock price fell 2.1-per cent, despite the company reporting strong profit. Carbon Fee Collection to Start in 2026 The Ministry of Environment says carbon fees will begin to collected in 2026. According to the ministry, the government will use next year a preparation window for the plan, during which only reporting of emission amounts for the previous year will be required. The statement comes after the regulations for carbon fee collection and how fee-liable (需要付費的) enterprises can qualify for preferential rates by achieving certain emission reduction targets were made public. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming is calling the plan a milestone signifying Taiwan "has entered the era of carbon pricing." The regulations will oversee how carbon fees are collected, management of fee-liable enterprises' reduction projects, and standards determining whether the reduction projects undertaken by the enterprises qualify them for preferential carbon fee rates. The environment minister says carbon fee scheme will cover those companies that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year, which covers 281 enterprises based on data from 2022. Israel Hamas Agree to Pause for Polio Vaccination The United Nations says an agreement has been reached for limited pauses in fighting to allow for the polio vaccination drive (大規模疫苗接種活動) to take place in Gaza. The Israeli military and Hamas have agreed to three-day pauses as hundreds of children need to receive the vaccine after a baby contracted the first confirmed polio case in 25 years in the Palestinian territory. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations… Thailand Indicts Police in Red Bull Heir Case Prosecutors in Thailand have indicted a former national police chief in connection with an alleged cover-up of a 2012 crash involving an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune that killed a police officer. The former police chief, along with a former deputy attorney general and six other people were arraigned (提審) Thursday on charges alleging they conspired to alter the recorded speed of the Ferrari driven by Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya to help him evade a speeding charge. Police have said Vorayuth smashed his Ferrari into the police officer’s motorbike on a major Bangkok road in 2012. Vorayuth fled abroad, where he remains. Ecuador Begins Dismantling Oil Drilling Block in National Park Ecuador says it has begun to dismantle infrastructure on a controversial oil drilling block in Yasuni National Park, home to the Waorani Indigenous people. After a historic referendum last year that favored keeping oil in the ground in Yasuni, the country’s top court ordered the government to halt operations and remove wells by Aug. 30. Last week, the government asked the court for an extension of five years and five months to complete the task. The drilling block is in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Ending oil drilling at the 43-ITT oil block could cost $1.3 billion, according to government estimates. Oil accounts for nearly one-third of Ecuador’s GDP, and its economy is struggling to meet its domestic debt obligations (義務). 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