EZ News 07/10/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 3.22-points this morning from Friday's close, at 16,667 on turnover of $2.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower last week, amid concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike rates at its next meeting later this month. Contract chipmaker TSMC remained unchanged, however, preventing the bellwether electronics sector and the broader market from falling further, but old economy and financial stocks largely fell. **Taipei Sinkhole Continues to Cause Problems ** A large sinkhole in Taipei is continuing to cause problems. The city government dispatched personnel to the site, after the sinkhole appeared Saturday night in the middle of Nanjing West Road near its intersection with Gui-de Street. The hole, estimated to be about 1.5 meters long, 1 meter wide, and 1.5 meters deep was filled in with concrete after workers confirmed that there were no leaks in underground pipes. But officials say the sinkhole continued to expand, despite being supported by dozens of sandbags and concrete, and water services were shut off for 108 nearby households due to concerns over leaks and flooding. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an inspected the site earlier this morning, and city officials say they are working to rectify (改正) the problem as quickly as possible. (NS) **Venus to shine at its brightest so far this year Monday ** The Taipei Astronomical Museum says the night sky tonight will boast three celestial wonders. The museum says stargazers will be able to see a dazzling Venus that will shine at its brightest so far this year, the close alignment of the planet Mars and the star Regulus, and the passing of the International Space Station over Taiwan. Officials say Venus will reach its brightest and will be visible in the sky after sunset. The museum adds that the celestial conjunction (結合，聯合) of Mars and Regulus will be visible from around 4 p.m., but the two celestial bodies will only be visible through binoculars because they will shine 300 times less bright than Venus. Then at about 8:00 p.m., the ISS will travel across Taiwan's night sky from the southwest to the northeast and is expected to be visible for around seven minutes from Taiwan. **UN won't retract condemnation ** United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stands by his views which condemn Israel's attack on the Jenin refugee camp. This came after Israel’s United Nations ambassador called on Guterres to retract (撤回) his condemnation. Julie Walker reports. **Syria Cancels BBC Media Accreditation ** Syria’s Information Ministry has canceled the BBC’s media accreditation, accusing the British public broadcaster of biased (有偏見的) and fake news in its coverage of the war-torn country. The ministry late Saturday said the decision was made after “warning the channel more than once that it has broadcasted its misleading reports relying on statements and testimonies from terrorist entities and those hostile to Syria." The announcement came days after BBC Arabic released an investigative documentary about the illicit drug trade in Syria, pinpointing links between the blossoming of Captagon amphetamine pills and associates of President Bashar Assad. The Syrian government denies any involvement in the production of Captagon. 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