EZ News 03/05/25

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex rebounded from recent losing sessions this morning - opening up 181-points yesterday's close, at 22,778 on turnover of 8.9-billion N-T. The market closed down by 0.7-per cent on Tuesday, but managed to recoup some of its early losses, as investor sentiment remained cautious in the wake of volatility on Wall Street overnight … .. which was sparked by U-S President Donald Trump confirming that tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico would go into effect later in the day. Premier touts TSMC's expanded US plan Premier Cho Jung-tai is voicing his support for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's new investment in the United States. According to Cho, government sees T-S-M-C's expanded investment positively, because it will boost Taiwan's competitive edge (競爭力) inthe global market, and "making Taiwan stronger is the common stance of the government and industry." Cho says the government has long been encouraging domestic industries to expand worldwide and is providing necessary assistance for such expansions. The premier also says he hopes T-S-M-C's investments will continue to create mutual benefits and a win-win situation with Taiwan's allies. Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the U-S has become the top destination of Taiwanese investors, as local companies seek to extend their global reach and the U-S accounted for 30-per cent of Taiwan's total overseas investment last year. CPBL head reacts to WBC fine Chinese Professional Baseball League President Tsai Chi-chang is vowing to reflect on the reasons the national team was find 20,000 U-S dollars for violating regulations during last month's World Baseball Classic qualifiers at the Taipei Dome. The team was fined by tournament organizes - Major League Baseball - for violating a rule regarding the use of electronic devices. The M-L-B says movers were found to have used their phones in an office where equipment was stored - in violations of (違反) a rule banning players or team staff member from using electronic devices in all areas considered to be part of the competition. Tsai is admitted that mistakes were made, but stressing that he wasn't in the dugout during the qualifying games and that the C-P-B-L will accept the fine in accordance with the rules. US Investors to Buy Panama Canal Ports A consortium of US investors has agreed to buy majority stakes in two ports on the Panama canal from a Hong Kong-based company for nearly 20 billion dollars. The deal comes in the wake of allegations by the Trump administration that Chinese influence (影響) over the waterway poses a security risk to the US. Ira Spitzer reports. China Keeps 5Percent Growth Target Meanwhile… China is keeping its economic growth target at “around 5%” for 2025 despite a looming trade war with the United States and other headwinds (阻力，逆風). Premier Li Qiang announced the target in a report presented at the opening session of the National People's Congress today. The report says a target of around 5% is well aligned with the country's mid- and long-term development goals. The IMF has projected that China’s economy will grow 4.6% this year, down from 5% in 2024, according to Chinese government statistics. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn