EZ News 12/21/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 104-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,531 on turnover of $4-billion N-T. The market moved higher on Wednesday as investors reacted positively to the gains posted on Wall Street overnight, as artificial intelligence development-related stock led the upturn. The main board opened marginally (稍微地，略微地) higher, but continued to gain ground throughout the session, as buying was sparked by increases on the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq indexes overnight. Cheaper Intercity Bus Travel for New Year's Day Holiday The Highway Bureau says ticket prices on all 88 intercity bus routes will cheaper during the December 30 to January 1 New Year's Day holiday. According to the bureau, passengers will have their bus fare either calculated based on the weekday price or be offered a 15-per cent discount in anticipation of (預計) heavy traffic. Passengers taking selected bus routes in the east will also be able to choose between two preferential packages limited to the area. The Highway Bureau is warning that traffic congestion is expected to be worse on provincial highways No. 1, No. 9, and No. 61, as well as others roads connecting to freeways and tourist spots during the long weekend holiday. NKorea: Launches Show Intent to Attack if Provoked North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un says he won’t hesitate (猶豫) to attack in the event of a ‘nuclear provocation’ by the US or South Korea. Chris Gilbert reports. UN on Afghanistan Girls in Religious Schools The United Nations says it's seeking to verify reports that Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are allowing girls of all ages to study at Islamic religious schools that are traditionally boys-only. The U.N.’s top official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday that the U.N. is receiving “more and more anecdotal (傳聞的) evidence” that girls can study at these schools known as madrassas. She says it's not clear "what constitutes a madrassa, if there is a standardized curriculum that allows modern education subjects, and how many girls are able to study in madrassas.” The Taliban have been globally condemned for banning girls and women from secondary school and university, and allowing girls to study only through the sixth grade. Switzerland Moves to Ban Use of Hate Symbols Switzerland’s upper house of parliament has taken steps toward banning the use of racist symbols that excuse violent or extremist behavior, including speech, gestures and the display of flags that stir hatred, as well as the public wearing of symbols reminiscent (引人聯想) of Nazi tyranny in Europe. The Council of States voted 23-16 with three abstentions on a proposal that would criminalize displays of such symbols and gestures in the public space. The measure now moves on to the lower house, the National Council. Such a measure, if passed, would put Switzerland on track to join several of its European neighbors that have similar bans against incitement to hatred. 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