The Tai-Ex opened down 301-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

22,991 on turnover of $7-billion N-T.

Shares in Taiwan surged more than 300 points Tuesday, with buying sparked by

a rally on U.S. markets overnight.

The bellwether electronics sector led the gains with artificial intelligence

related stocks in focus.

Investors took their cue from robust AI chip designer Nvidia Corp. Monday to

pick up large cap stocks, including contract chipmaker TSMC, to vault the

main board over the 23,200 point mark.

Taiwan's food self-sufficiency rate in 2023 dropped to 30.3 percent… that's

the lowest figure in 18 years.

The Ministry of Agriculture's latest Food Supply & Utilization (使用率)

Annual Report represents a drop from 30.8 percent in 2022 and 33 percent in

2013.

Its lowest recorded rate was at 30.2 percent rate in 2005.

The MOA pointed to a decrease in the domestic production of rice, which is

the largest single source of calories in Taiwan…. and THAT was partly

caused by a drought which took place in 2023.

The MOA also reported a drop in the amount of meat raised domestically in

Taiwan.

That decline was driven by factors that included avian flu and the

modernization of pork-rearing facilities, which reduced production and led to

a greater reliance on imports.

The UK has announced new sanctions targeting "extremist Israeli settlers".

The sanctions also target (把……作為目標) organisations the UK government

says have supported violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Simon Gaitan reports.

A U.N. official says disasters, including those wrought by fiercer storms,

are threatening more people and could derail economic progress in the Asia

Pacific region.

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Kamal Kishore, who heads the U.N. Office for

Disaster Risk Reduction, issued the warning Tuesday in a speech at the start

of a regional ministerial conference on disaster mitigation hosted by the

Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

He said “disasters are now affecting record numbers of people and

threatening their lives and livelihoods.”

He added that if left unchecked (未被制止的), these disasters could endanger

the development of the region.

Kishore said Asia Pacific countries should regularly dedicate funds in their

national budgets for the reduction of disaster risk, and should allocate a

larger proportion of foreign development aid to disaster prevention and “not

simply response.”

The long-delayed Grand Egyptian Museum will partially open its main galleries

today, showcasing 12 halls that exhibit aspects of ancient Egypt.

More than 100-thousand of Egypt’s ancient treasures will be displayed in the

world’s largest archaeological museum.

It is near the Giza Pyramids and will open the halls for 4,000 visitors a day

as a trial run until the official opening date, which is yet to be announced.

The museum has been under construction for more than a decade and has cost

well over $1 billion so far.

Its opening has been repeatedly delayed for various (各種各樣的) reasons,

including the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

--

Hosting provided by SoundOn