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

The Tai-Ex opened down 217-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

23,443 on turnover of 7.2-billion N-T.

The market rebounded from slumps seen during the the previous two sessions on

Tuesday following a strong showing on Wall Street overnight.

**President Lai Ching-te vows to increase defense budget to more than 3% of **GDP

President Lai Ching-te says he plans to increase next year's defense budget

to more than 3-per cent of G-D-P.

Speaking at the opening of the Ketagalan Forum-Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue

in Taipei, Lai said the budget will be increased based on continuing reforms

within the island's armed forces and more investment (投資) in national

defense.

According to Lai, his administration will also continue to boost Taiwan's

economic resilience and advance economic security by stepping up trade

cooperation with other countries,

And Lai also used his opening address to say his government remains committed

to maintaining cross-strait "status quo”and ensuring peace and stability

across the Taiwan Strait.

The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 10 people affiliated

with K-M-T for forging 2,067 signatures on a petition to recall D-P-P

lawmaker Chen Guan-ting.

Those indicted include Yang Fu-cheng, the secretary-general of the K-M-T's

Chiayi County branch; Ho Bo-lun, the director of -K-M-T lawmaker Wang

Yu-min's local office.

The eight other people indicted all worked for the K-M-T' Chiayi County

branch.

According to the Prosecutors' Office, all 10 suspects have charged with

forgery (偽造) and violations of the Personal Data Protection Act.

Another eight people have been granted deferred prosecution for one year.

NATO is set to coordinate (協調) regular and large-scale arm deliveries to

Ukraine

The AP's Jennifer King reports.

Nigerian customs have seized over 1,600 parrots and canaries being

transported from Lagos to Kuwait without a permit.

This is one of the biggest wildlife trafficking seizures in years.

On July 31, customs agents seized ring-necked parakeets and green and yellow

fronted canaries at Lagos airport.

These are protected species.

The birds were not accompanied by the required permits.

An investigation is ongoing (正在進行的) to find those responsible.

The birds will be handed to the National Parks Service for rehabilitation and

release.

That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____.

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