Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News.

**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened up 10-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 15,886

on turnover of $1.6-billion N-T.

The market gained ground on Monday, after investors reacted (反應) positively

to a report on the U-S jobs market, which was released after regional markets

closed last Friday.

**Canadian Parliamentary Delegation Visiting Taiwan **

A 10-member Canadian parliamentary delegation arrived in Taiwan for a

week-long visit.

According to the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, the multi-party delegation

includes the chair of the parliamentary Committee on National Defense and the

vice chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

The delegation will be hold talks with President Tsai Ing-wen and other

senior government officials.

It will meet with representatives of the business community and local N-G-Os.

The Canadian lawmakers are also scheduled to visit the National Palace

Museum.

It is the second trip to Taiwan by a Canadian parliamentary group since last

October.

**New Taipei to Ban Disposable Plastic Ups at Drink Stores from May **

The New Taipei City Government has announced that beverage shops will be

required to stop providing single-use plastic cups from next month.

According to the city's Environmental Protection Department, the move is

aimed at cutting down on plastic waste.

The department says the 2,704 beverage shops in New Taipei will be banned

from using disposable plastic cups, including those made from bioplastic

polylactic acid, with effect from May 1.

Under the regulation, beverage shops that continue to provide single-use

plastic cups will face a fine of up to 6,000 N-T for violating the Waste

Disposal Act.

Officials say the ban is expected to reduce (減少) the use of disposable

plastic cups in the city by about 368-million per year.

New Taipei is the second city to ban single-use plastic cups, following a

similar decision by Taipei City last December.

**NKorea Leader Vows to Enhance Nuclear Arsenal **

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in

“practical and offensive” ways.

State media said Tuesday he made the remarks while meeting with military

officials to discuss war preparations in the face of their rivals’ “frantic

(瘋狂的)” military exercises.

The commission discussed strengthening North Korea’s defense capacities and

perfecting its war preparations.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries conducted field exercises last month and

naval and air force drills involving an aircraft carrier and U.S. bombers.

KCNA claimed the drills simulated all-out war against North Korea.

The United States and South Korea say their exercises are defensive.

**US Classified Leak Origins **

More details are emerging (出現) about the origin of leaked classified

documents.

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

**Slovenia French Citizens Rescued Off Mountain **

Slovenia’s emergency mountain teams say they have rescued four French

citizens who were stuck in bad weather in the Alps.

Monday’s operation on the Skuta mountain came a day after dozens of

emergency officers used helicopters to rescue another five people swept away

by an avalanche in an Alpine region further north.

The five were part of a group of seven people attending a mountaineering

(登山) course when the avalanche hit.

Three people were seriously injured.

The French citizens were unharmed.

Slovenia’s rescue service has urged mountaineers to avoid climbing in bad

weather.

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