EZ News 06/16/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened up 8-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,343 on turnover of T$3.98-billion N-T. The Tai-Ex gained ground and hit a 14-month high on Thursday as investors continued to digest the U-S Federal Reserve's overnight decision to leave key interest rates unchanged. Market watchers say the tech sector led the main board higher. As investors took cues from a 1.52-per cent overnight rally on the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, old economy stocks also rose while the transportation sector extended (延長) its momentum from a session earlier. **New Regional Public Transport Passes Rolled Out ** The new regional monthly public transport passes serving the north, center and south have gone on sale ahead of the programs launch on July 1. The monthly "T-Pass" can be used to take unlimited (無限) journeys on most trains operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration, intercity buses, metro and light rail trains, local city buses, limited ferries as well as bicycle-sharing services. The pass is now available for purchase at M-R-T stations, T-R-A stations and intercity bus stations as well as other outlets including convenience stores. Commuters can also use their existing smartcards such as the EasyCard to purchase and sync to the "T-Pass" - but one card can only purchase the "TPass" service for one of the three regions each month. The monthly "TPass" for Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan costs 1,200 N-T, the pass for central Taiwan is 699 N-T for Taichung residents and 999 N-T for non-Taichung residents, while the monthly "TPass" for Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung costs 999 N-T. **US Charges Filed Over Pentagon Leak ** A grand jury has indicted the US air national guardsman accused of leaking military intelligence online. Jack Teixeira faces six counts of retaining (保留) and transmitting classified national defense information. Ira Spitzer reports. **Iran and Cuba Leaders Sign Cooperation Agreements ** Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has met with Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana. During a trade forum with local businesspeople in Cuba's capital on Thursday, the leaders said Cuba and Iran would seek opportunities to work together in biotechnology, mining, electricity generation and other areas. After the forum, Raisi and Diaz-Canel toured biotechnology production plants in the western part of Havana and then headed to an official reception at Cuba's Palace of the Revolution. The leaders also signed several agreements on customs (關稅), justice, telecommunications and diplomatic action. **Peru Mummy Found Next to Soccer Club Field ** Archeologists have found a pre-Hispanic mummy surrounded by coca leaves on top of a hill in Peru’s capital next to the practice field of a professional soccer club. Experts say the mummy was buried in a ritual that included coca leaves and seashells. The burial was on top of a destroyed U-shaped clay temple, a characteristic (特徵) of some pre-Hispanic buildings. Officials say the mummy has not yet been subjected to radiocarbon dating to determine its age. The hill is next to the training field and headquarters for the Sporting Cristal soccer club. 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