以下文稿由臺北國際社區廣播電臺（ICRT）提供，想瞭解更多英語新聞，請至 http://bit.ly/ICRTEZNEWS 網站查詢。
DPP Lawmaker Touts Japanese 'Taiwan Relations Act' at Security Meeting
發佈於 2022-01-19 16:58:14
D-P-P lawmaker Chao Tien-lin is calling on Tokyo to consider drafting (起草) its own version (版本) of the U-S' Taiwan Relations Act 台灣關係法.
Chao made the suggestion during a parliamentary (國會的) Taiwan-Japan Security Partnership meeting.
Speaking after the virtual forum (虛擬論壇), the lawmaker said he believes that a Japanese version of the Taiwan Relations Act would be an "important step" in further promoting Taiwan-Japan ties and strengthen bilateral collaboration (雙邊合作).
Chao says Taiwan should come up with corresponding legislation (相對的法案) in an effort to normalize (正常化) exchanges between the two countries and allow the two sides to develop ties in a more equal and reciprocal (平等互惠) way.
Lantern Festival to Take Place as Scheduled
發佈於 2022-01-19 16:58:14
The Tourism Bureau says there are currently no plans to cancel this year's Lantern Festival, despite concerns about the increase in the number of domestic (本國的) coronavirus cases.
The festival is scheduled to be held in Kaohsiung from February 15 through 28.
According to the bureau, the Kaohsiung City government is preparing a plan to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the event, and, when completed, that plan will be submitted to the Central Epidemic Command Center for approval.
Last year's Lantern Festival was slated to be held in Hsinchu, but was canceled due to the coronavirus situation.
That was the first time the festival had ever been cancelled.
Russia moves more troops westward amid Ukraine tensions
發佈於 2022-01-19 16:58:14
In world news...
Moscow is sending an unspecified number (不知確切數字) of troops from the country's far east to Belarus for major joint military drills.
The deployment will dramatically bolster (增加) an estimated 100,000 Russian troops already amassed (集結) near Ukraine in what the West fears could be a prelude (序曲) to an invasion (入侵).
Russia has denied an intention to attack.
But Moscow has demanded guarantees from the West that NATO won't expand to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet nations or place weapons there.
Those demands were rejected last week by Washingon and its allies.
The White House has warned that Russia could attack its neighbor at "any point,'' with White House press secretary Jen Psaki describing the Russian forces' move into Belarus as "extremely dangerous situation.''
Meanwhile the U.K. has delivered a batch of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.
Tonga volcano disaster
發佈於 2022-01-19 16:58:14
Teams are working desperately to clear ash from Tonga's main airport runway in an effort to get vital supplies to the region following a volcanic eruption.
Some 200 people with wheelbarrows (一輪推車) and shovels are sweeping the site (掃地) so flights can deliver food and drinking water to the Pacific islands.
New Zealand and Australia have also sent ships in response to Saturday's eruption, which triggered a tsunami.
Four deaths have been reported - three nationals (本地人) and a woman from Britain.
The Tongan government has described the eruption, which sent plumes of gas, smoke and debris from the volcano up to 20 kilometers into the sky, as an "unprecedented (前所未見的) disaster".
US mobile carriers agree to delay 5G rollout near airports
發佈於 2022-01-19 16:58:14
Two of the US's largest mobile networks have agreed to delay tomorrow's planned rollout (計畫好要推出) of faster 5G service near certain airports due to aircraft safety concerns
Ira Spitzer has more from San Francisco.