About this episode
Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News.
Tai-Ex opening
The Tai-Ex opened up 30-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 33,720
on turnover of $8-billion N-T.
The market fell by over 650 points on Thursday on the back of a sell-off
sparked by a spike in international crude oil prices duen to Donald Trump's
Middle East war and the U-S Federal Reserve's alert over rising inflation.
Taiwan rated second freest country in Asia by Freedom House
Taiwan maintained its status as a "free" country and the second freest in
Asia in the latest annual report released by the US-based democracy watchdog
(監督組織), Freedom House.
Taiwan has an overall score of 93 out of 100.
That was down one point from last year.
Taiwan also ranked second in Asia behind Japan, which scored 96.
The "Freedom in the World 2026: The Growing Shadow of Autocracy" report
assessed access to political rights and civil liberties in 195 countries and
13 territories from January 1 to December 31 last year.
Taiwan scored 38 out of 40 in political rights and 55 out of 60 in civil
liberties.
Freedom House says Taiwan's vibrant (活躍的) and competitive democratic
system has enabled regular, peaceful transfers of power since 2000, while
protections for civil liberties remain generally strong.
However, it also flagged concerns, including insufficient protections for
migrant workers and efforts by the China to influence policymaking, media,
and democratic institutions.
Kremlin:US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks are on Pause
The Kremlin says US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks have been put on pause, but
bilateral talks between Moscow and Washington continue.
As the focus of the White House appears to have shifted to the Middle East in
recent weeks, fears are rising the situation around Iran may distract
(使分心) it from Kiev's urgent needs for Western arms supplies.
Daria Bondarchuk reports from Moscow.
NKorea Kim and Daughter Ride Tank
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter have ridden a tank
together, days after they watched rocket launches and fired pistols.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday that Kim oversaw
(監督) training involving tank units and infantry troops on Thursday.
KCNA images showed Kim and his daughter, both wearing black leather jackets,
riding in an olive-green tank.
The images show the girl sticking her head out of the tank'ss hatch, while
Kim sitting on its top.
