EZ News 09/06/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 68-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 21,255 on turnover of $3.8-billion N-T. MND Earmarks NT$4.9 billion to Boost Backbone Network The Ministry of National Defense has earmarked about 4.9-billion N-T to acquire backbone subnetworks for faster and more stable battlefield data transmission. The budget request is pending legislative review. It approved it will fund 213 backbone subnetworks, 179 microwave transmission subsystems, power generators and fiber channels to facilitate data transmission to command centers and weapons launch platforms across different services of the armed forces. According to the defense ministry, the planned systems are expected to boost the survivability (生存能力) of critical military command and control systems during wartime by establishing a round-island fiber optic communication system and a high-capacity data transmission network. They are also expected to ensure uninterrupted data transmissions between command and control centers, harbors, airports, and joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. Some 59-million N-T has been earmarked for the design and planning of the systems and on-site evaluations for next year. The project will take place from 2025 to 2030. FDC Hotel Chain Tests 4-Day Workweek at Sun Moon Lake Jotel F-D-C International Hotels has announced that it's become the first company in Taiwan's hospitality industry to implement a four-day workweek on a trial basis. The hotel and restaurant operator says it began a trial run of the new system at the Fleur de Chine Hotel near Sun Moon Lake on September 1. The move means employees get three days off a week. The trial will last six months. F-D-C says the four-day workweek policy will not impact the quality of the service customers receive and the company is continuously monitoring and evaluating the impact of the new system. According to F-D-C Chairman Sheng Zhi-ren, he believes having three days off every week can improve employees' job satisfaction and enhance (提高) overall work efficiency and creativity. US Hunter Biden to Plead Responsibility in Tax Evasion Trial Hunter Biden, son of US president Joe Biden, has offered to plead responsibility in his tax evasion case to avoid a potentially (潛在地) embarrassing trial. The plea would mean he maintains his innocence but accepts punishment for avoiding more than a million dollars of taxes. US correspondent Nick Harper reports. France Macron Names New PM President Emmanuel Macron has named EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister after more than 50 days of caretaker government. Thursday's appointment of the 73-year-old Barnier follows weeks of intense (激烈的) efforts by Macron and his aides to find a candidate who might be able to build loose groupings of backers in parliament and survive promised attempts by Macron’s opponents to quickly topple the new government. Barnier is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers that have served modern France’s Fifth Republic. He replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago. 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