EZ News 10/08/26

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening  The Tai-Ex opened down 23-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 49,783 on turnover of $11-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed slightly lower Wednesday as large-cap tech stocks (大型股) took a pause ahead of the 50,000-point mark, while the upcoming National Day holiday also kept investors from raising their positions. Analysts say although the local market's fundamentals (基本面) remain sound, uncertainty created by U.S. monetary policy could affect its performance. Li Chen-Hsiu denied right to run for local office in Hsinchu Local election officials have disqualified (取消資格) former lawmaker Li Chen-hsiu from running for mayor of Hsinchu's Zhubei… over a requirement for Chinese citizens naturalized as Taiwanese nationals to have 10 year's household registration before seeking public office. The Hsinchu County Election Commission says that Li, a so-called "mainland spouse," would have had to submit proof of having given up her household registration in China before November 2016 in order to be qualified to run. Li says she became a citizen of Taiwan in 1999 and was approved to establish household registration here, but the Mainland Affairs Council says that she did not submit proof to immigration officials that she had given up her household registration in China until March of last year. Li says she will seek legal remedies (法律救濟途徑) to challenge the Hsinchu County Election Commission's decision and continue her bid for Zhubei mayor. Spain Maricarmen Dies After Eviction María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction (驅逐租客；迫遷) from her Madrid home sparked protests across Spain, has died. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez expressed condolences (哀悼；慰問). Known as “Maricarmen,” she became a symbol for renters struggling with Spain's housing crisis. Her eviction on September 23 led to nationwide protests.  Despite a deal allowing her to return home, her health worsened.  Her lawyer did not disclose the cause of death, but highlighted the impact of evictions on health. Maricarmen's case has galvanized a social movement, leading to a general strike and early elections called by Sánchez. DHS PROPOSES $70,000 FEE ON SCHOOLS FOR EACH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT'S WORK PROGRAMME PLACEMENT The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a seventy-thousand-dollar fee that universities would have to pay for each international student entering the Optional Practical Training work programme — a move that could effectively end the scheme. The current fee is around five hundred dollars. DHS says the programme has become a pipeline for cheap foreign labour (外籍勞工), but higher education groups warn the proposal would devastate (重創；造成嚴重損害) university finances and damage American innovation. James Gooderson reports from Washington. Italy US Consulate Workers to Receive Payouts for Labor Abuses Foreign workers building the new U.S. consulate in Milan have signed agreements securing payouts (賠償金；支付款項) for alleged labor abuses. More than 60 laborers, mostly from India, were processed Wednesday, receiving their share of a nearly 35-million US dollar settlement with Alabama-based Caddell Construction. Prosecutors say it is the largest labor settlement for exploitation (剝削) in Europe. Workers were paid less than $2 dollars an hour, denied overtime, and subjected to threats. The settlement includes payments for unpaid overtime and housing deductions.  Nearly 480 workers can expect payouts, with some still working on-site and others elsewhere. The investigation against Caddell remains open. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn