EZ News 09/07/26

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 172-points this morning from Friday's close, at 46,724 on turnover of 14.1-billion N-T. The market gained ground Friday following two days of volatility, as investors reacted to a rise on Wall Street overnight, as big tech companies rallied. Artists welcome return of 'Taiwan Pavilion' name as Gwangju Biennale opens Taiwan artists and curators are welcoming the opening of the Gwangju Biennale's Pavilion Project's "Taiwan Pavilion." It follows a naming controversy that led to China's withdrawal from the event. The foundation had initially listed the pavilion as being part of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in promotional materials. However, it was agreed to allow it to use the name "Taiwan Pavilion" on August 26 following accusations of political censorship (政治審查) from artists and the Lai administration. China's curatorial team announced its withdrawal from the Pavilion Project last week, citing the participation of Taiwan. The Gwangju Biennale runs from now through Nov. 15. Taiwan tops foreign arrivals to Busan as flights surge South Korea's Yonhap News Agency is reporting that Taiwan has become the largest source of foreign visitors to Busan, following a sharp increase in direct flights. According to Yonhap, data shows a total of 2,927,674 foreign tourists visited Busan from January to July, 605,000 of whom were from Taiwan. Citing aviation statistics released by the Korea Airports Corporation, Yonhap says 6,609 flights operated between Busan and Taiwan in the first seven months of this year. That figure matched the total for all of 2024 and equivalent to 82.9-per cent of the flights recorded in all of 2025. NKorea Kim Commissions Second Naval Destroyer North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has commissioned his second naval destroyer and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent. The report today came as the U.S., South Korea and Japan were to begin a trilateral military exercise that he views as a security threat. State media photos showed Kim toured the Kang Kon warship with his teenage daughter, who South Korea's spy service views as his likely heir. The ship and the Choe Hyon, commissioned (正式委托) in June, are both 5,000-ton destroyers equipped with nuclear-capable missiles, making them North Korea's most advanced warships. The development comes as North Korea is dialing up pressure on the U.S. after rebuffing President Donald Trump's decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea in a conciliatory step toward Kim. US ENVOYS WITKOFF AND KUSHNER HOLD TALKS IN KYIV AFTER KREMLIN MEETING AS BOTH SIDES PAUSE STRIKES ON CAPITALS U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner say they have held encouraging talks in Kyiv. The trip on Sunday was their first official visit to Ukraine with European partners joining a third round of the discussions. The trip follows the American envoys' meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday that produced no announced breakthroughs. Both Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to a three-day pause on strikes against each other's capitals while the diplomatic shuttle continues, though previous (先前的) attempts at a peace plan have foundered over security guarantees for Ukraine and territorial demands from Russia. Reporter Jagruti Dave in Washington says the limited ceasefire covering the two capitals has not stopped the fighting elsewhere, with Russia continuing to strike other Ukrainian cities and Ukraine hitting a Russian oil refinery. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn