Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 73-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,098 on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T. The market joined other regional indexes and lost ground on Thursday, despite Wall Street closing higher after the U-S Federal Reserve opted to cut interest rates. While some leading tech companies saw sharp declines after Oracle, a bellwether in the artificial intelligence sector, reported weaker than expected earnings - which dented investor sentiment. Cabinet seeks to establish agencies for seniors and children The Cabinet says it's finalized proposals to create two new agencies to strengthen services for children, families and seniors. The proposals will now be sent to the Legislature for review. Under the proposals, a Long-term Care and Social Development Agency will be created to handle matters related to the elderly, people with disabilities, women. That agency will also oversee (監督) the National Pension system. While a Child and Family Support Agency will be established to oversee policies related to the welfare of minors and to provide support for families with children. The Cabinet says both new agencies will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. According to Health Minister Shih Chung-liang, the proposed Long-term Care and Social Development Agency is being designed to address Taiwan's rapidly aging society and declining birthrate. Thailand PM Receive Royal Permission to Dissolve Parliament Thailandˇs Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received royal permission today to dissolve (解散) Parliament, setting up general elections early next year. The election for the House of Representatives would be held 45 to 60 days after the Royal Decree, a period while Anutin will head a caretaker government with limited powers and cannot approve a new budget. Anutin posted on his Facebook late Thursday that ¨Iˇd like to return power to the people.〃 The move comes at a tricky political moment, as Thailand is engaged in large-scale combat with Cambodia over long-disputed border claims. About two dozen people were reported killed in the fighting this week, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides. Anutin has been prime minister for just three months, succeeding Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who served only a year in office. Questions over the legality of Donald Trump new golden visa Legal observers are raising questions over Donald Trump's golden visa scheme (方案), in which foreign nationals can pay a million dollars to begin the path to US citizenship. Mitch McCann reports: Canada Conservative Lawmaker Defects to Liberals A Canadian Conservative lawmaker has defected from his party and joined Prime Minister Mark Carneyˇs governing Liberals. The move by Michael Ma leaves the Liberal Party just short of a simple majority of the seats in Parliament. Ma, who represents MarkhamUnionville, is the second Canadian Conservative lawmaker to join Carneyˇs Liberals in just over a month. Ma said he entered politics ¨to focus on solutions, not division (分歧)〃. The move puts the Liberals one shy of a majority government and being able to pass any bill without the support of an opposition party. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn