EZ News 11/09/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 0.33-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,741 on turnover of $2.3-billion N-T. The market extended gains from the previous session on Wednesday, to close above the 16,700-point mark as bargain hunters snapped up weakened artificial intelligence development-related stocks. However, the main board remained in consolidation mode despite the gains, as investors were cautious about a possible major technical pullback as other regional markets lost ground during the trading day. FDA Warns on Online Drug Purchases The Food and Drug Administration is warning people about the dangers of purchasing medicines online. According to F-D-A Deputy Director General Cheng Hui-fang, the number of online sellers of pharmaceuticals is continuing to increase and its common that such "pharmacies" operating without a license sell substandard or counterfeit products. Cheng says such medicines can contain no active or potentially harmful ingredients and are often sold by overseas-based websites, some of which pose (假充) as if they're operating in Taiwan. Even individuals who unknowingly purchase such drugs delivered from overseas face a fine of 30,000 N-T. Online pharmacies caught operating without a license face a fine of up to 2-million N-T, while importers of unlicensed pharmaceuticals can face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a possible maximum fine of 100-million N-T. Australian Firefighters Donate to New Taipei Dog Refuge A group of visiting Australian firefighters have donated 235,000 N-T to a stray dog shelter in New Taipei. The 10 firefighters made the donation during a visit to the PACK Taiwan shelter in the city's Shan-Zhi District at the the invitation of the trade and Investment office for the Australian state of Queensland. The shelter is home to some 200 sick, disabled, abused, old and neglected (被疏于照?的) dogs. The donation was made a day after the firefighters from "the Australian Firefighter Calendar" joined a charity auction in Taipei where they raised the money for the New Taipei shelter. The calendar's director, David Rogers says the calendar has a history of supporting animal refuges and Australian wildlife. US Launches More Airstrikes in Syria The U.S. has launched another airstrike on a site in Syria. AP's Lisa Dwyer explains. UN Nuclear Power Could Help Tackle Climate Change The U.N. nuclear chief says nuclear energy must be part of the equation to tackle climate change. The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said climate-warming hydrocarbons still supply more than 80% of the world’s energy, even after the green transition of the past 20 years. Rafael Grossi told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that more than 400 nuclear reactors are supplying global electricity and over 50 are under construction. But nuclear power's share of global electricity production decreased in the past two decades. Grossi said there is growing interest in nuclear energy but it needs investment that takes into account its benefits (好處). Hollywood Reaches Tentative Deal to End Strike Hollywood's actors union has reached a tentative deal with studios to end its strike. The contract agreement reached Wednesday still must be approved by the union's board and its members, but the deal brings an end to the months of labor strife (衝突) that has hobbled production in Hollywood. The union says the strike will be over today. 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 _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn