The Tai-Ex opened down 248-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

27,399 on turnover of $12.9-billion N-T.

The market hit a new high on Thursday, as investors once again flocked to

artificial intelligence development related stocks ahead of Taiwan

Semiconductor Manufacturing's investor conference.

T-S-M-C dominated the trading day as it gained 1.37-per cent to close at a

new high of 1,485 N-T - contributing 160 points to the Tai-Ex's overall rise

and sending the electronics subindex up by 1.69-per cent.

The Central Emergency Operations Center says a three-stage evacuation plan

has been finalized for residents of Hualien Guangfu, Fenglin and Wanrong

townships in anticipation of a tropical storm forming over the weekend.

According to the center, a landslide lake alert and forced vertical

evacuation could be activated if necessary in order to prepare for the

storm's possible formation ..

.. and the first phase of the plan will involve relocating elderly residents,

those living alone and dialysis patients to hospitals or designated shelters.

The center says the second phase will mandate the evacuation of residents

living in single-story homes and place them in shelters, while the third

phase will require those in multistory houses to take vertical shelter on

upper floors.

The first phase of the evacuation plan will initiated (啟動) once accumulated

rainfall reaches 20-centimeters within 24 hours.

Taipei Zoo Director Chu Hsiao-fen says the exchange of a pair of African

penguins from Taipei for a pair of red pandas from the Shanghai Zoo will be

finalized (定局，確定) in the first half of next year.

According to Chu, the pandas are currently waiting to take the second of two

rabies vaccination jabs before they can come to Taiwan, while the zoo is

still confirming which avian flu vaccine the penguins need for their move to

Shanghai.

Chu says after quarantine procedures are complete on both sides, the two zoos

will plan the exchange procedures for the beginning of next year.

The exchange was based on a memorandum of understanding bertween the cities,

which was signed at the 2024 Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum, which was held

in Taipei.

Israel says an airstrike in August killed the chief of staff of Yemen's

Houthi rebels.

The group on Thursday acknowledged the death of Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdul

Karim al-Ghamari, who had been sanctioned by the United Nations.

Israel claimed responsibility for the attack, stating al-Ghamari died from

his wounds from the August strike.

The U.N. described al-Ghamari as a key figure in orchestrating the Houthis'

military efforts, threatening Yemen's peace and security and conducting

(進行) cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia.

suspends the country

Military leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina will be sworn in as

Madagascar's transitional (過渡性的) president today, the new leadership has

announced.

Isaac Lukando reports.

Organizers have announced that the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games will

feature the most spread-out opening ceremony in history.

The Parade of Nations on February 6 will include athletes at Milan’s San

Siro Stadium and, for the first time, in three other locations: Cortina,

Predazzo, and Livigno.

This setup allows athletes from all disciplines to participate (參加).

Events are scheduled from February 6th to 22-nd across various Italian

regions.

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

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