EZ News 12/18/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 37-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,638 on turnover of $4.1-billion N-T. Oil tanker cabin washing suspected as source of east coast oil waste The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) suggests that waste oil discovered along the coast of eastern Taiwan could be runoff waste from the washing of oil tanker cabins. Despite no reported leaks from oil tankers passing through waters off eastern Taiwan, the source of the waste oil remains unknown. Officials collected on-site samples and utilized simulation and tracking (追蹤) technologies but found no leaks. Waste oil collected in Keelung and New Taipei, while harder to analyze due to volatilization, is likely to belong to the same category as that found on Green Island. The OAC urges ship crews to keep waste oil on board and hand it to certified companies for disposal upon arrival at the next harbor. Vessels caught leaking waste oil face a maximum fine of 30 million NT for violating the Marine Pollution Control Act. US Defense Secretary Heads to Israel US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is heading to Tel Aviv as part of a multi day tour of the middle east. While in Israel he is expected to call for a narrower (有侷限性的) military operation in Gaza in order to avoid triggering regional tensions. Jagruti Dave reports from Washington. Colombia Rebels Agree to Stop Using Kidnappings to Raise Funds Rebels from Colombia’s leftist National Liberation Army have agreed to stop using kidnapping as a fund-raising tactic, if the current cease-fire with the government is extended. The pledge came at the end of a round of talks between the two sides over the weekend. Colombians have grown angry at kidnappings by the guerrillas. That anger mounted in October when the rebels abducted (綁架) the father of soccer star Luis Diaz, and held him for 12 days before he was released. It is not clear if the rebels will release an estimated 38 Colombians they currently hold in captivity, often pending a ransom demand Greece Gov Budget Approved with Debt at Investment Grade The Greek parliament has approved the government’s 2024 budget, the first in 14 years with Greek debt listed at investment grade. The budget passed Sunday evening on a 158-142 vote in the 300-member body, with only lawmakers from the governing conservative New Democracy party voting for it. In a separate vote, the defense budget was approved 249-51. The budget forecasts economic growth of 2.9% in 2024, up from 2.4% in 2023. It predicts (預測) inflation will average a higher-than-expected 2.8%, but investments are expected to grow 15.1%. 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