Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News.
**Tai-Ex opening **
The Tai-Ex opened down 76-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
14,098 on turnover of $2-billion N-T.
**Taiwan reports 6.2 percent year-on-year increase in road fatalities **
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says Taiwan has reported
more than 2,500 road fatalities in the first 10 months of 2022, up 6 percent
year-on-year, and its highest level in nine years.
MOTC officials say there were more than 300-thousand total traffic accidents
in the first 10 months of this year, marking a 5.5 percent increase from the
same period last year.
In 2020, Taiwan reported 12.6 traffic fatalities per 100-thousand
individuals… four times higher than Japan and Denmark, and six times higher
than Sweden.
The MOTC has attributed the high death toll in Taiwan to the high number of
scooter-related accidents, and MOTC Minister Wang Kwo-tsai is calling on
local governments to work with the ministry to improve road safety.
(TT)
**France Pledges Further Military Support **
France’s defense minister has pledged further military support for Ukraine,
insisting his government’s backing is unflagging (永不減弱的) while efforts
are also being made with Moscow to reach an eventual (最終的) negotiated end
to Russia’s invasion.
Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu said support will include
French army equipment and a 200 million euro fund that would allow Ukraine to
purchase weapons.
Lecornu said France was giving military equipment from the French army to the
Ukrainian army, but highlighted that this would not weaken France’s defense.
Officials have also said France could deliver a new air-defense system in the
future, without revealing details, though Ukraine's defense minister added
that France would immediately begin training Ukrainian air officers on how to
use it.
The minister said his trip to Kyiv was important to identify the priorities
of the Ukrainian defense ministry.
**US Trump Considered Pardons for Capitol Attackers **
Newly released transcripts from the U.S. House Committee on the events of
January 6th, show how former President Trump was considering giving pardons
(赦免) to numerous people involved in the Capitol riot.
Caroline Malone reports from Washington.
**Armenia Protests Against Road Block **
Hundreds of opposition supporters have rallied in the Armenian capital,
urging the government to act to unblock a vital road linking Armenia to the
separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azeri protests have choked off (阻止) basic supplies to the territory.
Both the protesters in Yerevan Wednesday and Armenian authorities have
accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to the area of failing to take adequate
steps to lift the blockade, something Moscow denies.
Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of
ethnic Armenian forces backed by Yerevan since a separatist war there ended
in 1994.
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 _____.
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