EZ News 10/01/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 105-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,329 on turnover of 4.2 -billion N-T. The market tumbled nearly 600-points on Monday on the back of steep declines in the share price of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and other tech heavyweights. Analysts says Monday's downturn came as investors moved their money from tech stocks into non-tech stocks. Tai Power to Hike Electricity Rates for Industrial Users The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Tai-Power will be raising electricity rates for industrial users from October 16. The statement follows a meeting of the ministry's electricity price review committee. The hike in price means that industrial users will see their electricity rates increase by an average of 12.5-per cent. Tai-Power had been seeking an increase of 14-per cent, but the committee says it opted for a lower figure in order to ensure (確保) that Taiwan businesses remain competitive. It's the second electricity rate hike this year and was proposed as part of government efforts to shore-up Tai-Power's finances. National Day Gala Tickets Snapped Up in 15 Minutes The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism says all 5,400 tickets for the 2024 National Day Gala were snapped-up within 15 minutes of release on Monday. The event will be taking place this coming Saturday at the Taipei Dome and it will be the venue's first large-scale non-sporting event. Organizers made the 5,400 tickets available through the "udn fun life" online ticketing platform at noon. Four-hundred of those tickets were reserved for (保留給) senior citizens. Personal information was required by those lucky enough to have booked their seats and tickets cannot be transferred. The National Day Gala will feature performance by singers Jody Chiang and Huang Fei. US Man Pleads Not Guilty to Trump Assassination Attempt The man accused of plotting to kill former president Donald Trump at his Florida golf course has pleaded not guilty to five counts including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate. Prosecutors allege Ryan Routh stalked (跟蹤) Donald Trump before setting up what they called a "sniper's nest" at the edge of his golf course in west Palm Beach, Florida. US correspondent Kate Fisher reports Japan PM Resigns Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has resigned with his Cabinet, paving the way for his likely successor Shigeru Ishiba to take office. Ishiba was chosen as the governing Liberal Democratic Party’s leader on Friday to replace Kishida, who announced in August his resignation at the end of his three-year term. Ishiba is assured to be prime minister later today in a vote by parliament because it is dominated by his party’s ruling coalition (執政聯盟). Ishiba will then announce his new Cabinet later in the day. On Monday, Ishiba said he planned to call a parliamentary election to be held on Oct. 27 after he is formally chosen as prime minister. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn