EZ News 06/09/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 42-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,776 on turnover of $3.5-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Thursday, after tech stocks slummed on Wall Street overnight - as the local main board lost momentum to close below the five-day moving average of 16,764. **Government Dismisses Calls for Three-Day Weekend ** The government has responded to a petition posted on an online public policy participation platform calling for a shorter workweek. The petition asking the government make Taiwan the first Asian country to implement a three-day weekend garnered more than 5,700 signatures meaning it passed the threshold requiring a government response. According to the Ministry of Labor, the government has rejected a proposal, as current labor shortages mean the proposal is impossible to implement and wholly (完全地) unsustainable. The Financial Supervisory Commission has also responded to the petition, arguing that the shorter week would result in the government facing a 30-billion N-T loss in stock transaction taxes. Officials say the proposal would result in increases in labor costs at public service institutes, including hospitals, while it would also have a negative affect on supply chains and agricultural logistics. **Ukraine: Russia Shelled Flooded Ukrainian City ** Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have shelled a southern Ukrainian city that was inundated in a catastrophic dam collapse. They said that forced a suspension of some rescue work hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the area to assess (評估) the damage. At least 14 people have died, many are homeless, and tens of thousands are without drinking water after the Kakhovka dam’s destruction. Officials say more than 6,000 people have been evacuated on both sides of the river. Both sides blame each other for the destruction of the dam. **US Trump Indictment in Classified Doc Case ** Donald Trump says he's been indicted by a grand jury over his handling (處理) of classified documents. Trump is now the first former president in U.S. history to face federal charges. William Denselow reports. **Vatican: Pope Condition Stable ** The Vatican says Pope Francis' condition is stable and is following the regular post-operative course of recovery following a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. The Vatican says he is drinking liquids, received the Eucharist and even made a phone call Thursday. Most of the day, though, was spent resting. Doctors say Wednesday’s operation was successful and there were no complications or other pathologies ( 病狀, 病變) discovered. The pontiff is expected to remain in the 10th-floor papal suite at the Gemelli hospital for several days, and all papal audiences have been canceled through June 18. 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