EZ News 06/19/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 14-points this morning from Friday's close, at 17,274 on turnover of 3.1-billion N-T. The market lost ground last Friday after hitting a 14-month high the previous session - as it bucked the regional upward trend despite a broad-based rally on Wall Street overnight. **EU Parliamentarians And Polish Lawmakers Visit Taiwan ** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a seven-member delegation (代表團) from the European Parliament and a 10-member delegation from the lower house of the parliament of Poland are visiting Taiwan this week. According to the ministry, the European Parliamentary group is being led by by the vice-chair of the E-U Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defense and includes members from subcommittees of Foreign Affairs, Economic and Monetary Affairs, among others. Meanwhile, the Polish delegation is being led by the vice chairwoman of the Polish lower house's Foreign Affairs Committee. That delegation includes parliamentarians across from across Poland's major political parties. They are all slated to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior government officials this week. **Temperatures Likely to Top 36 Degrees Today ** And, The Central Weather Bureau has issued "yellow" heat alerts for 13 cities and counties today, as the mercury is forecast to rise above 36-degrees. The heat alerts cover Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung, all areas south of Taichung as well as Hualien and Taitung. The heat alert will remain in affect through this afternoon. According to the weather bureau, sunny to partly cloudy skies can be expected across most of the island from today through Friday. However, occasional morning showers could affect areas in the center and south, while residents (住戶, 居民) of mountainous areas could see some thunderstorms. **Pakistan PM Declares Day of Mourning for Capsized Migrants ** Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared a national day of mourning (喪、哀) for citizens who died when a fishing trawler packed with migrants sank off the Greek coast. As many as 750 people from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe. The Greek coast guard has defended its response to the tragedy that has left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. The vessel sank Wednesday. Sharif expressed his grief over the tragedy and said today would be observed as a day of mourning, with the national flag flying at half-staff. **US Washington Shooting Leaves Dead and INjure ** Two people were killed and three injured in a shooting near a Washington state campground hosting people attending a nearby music festival. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. **Switzerland Votes for Climate Measures ** A majority of Swiss citizens have voted in favor of a bill aimed at introducing new climate measures to sharply curb the rich Alpine nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Sunday's referendum was sparked by a campaign by scientists and environmentalists to save Switzerland’s iconic glaciers, which are melting away at an alarming rate. Campaigners initially (最初) proposed even more ambitious measures but later backed a government plan that requires Switzerland to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050. The nationalist Swiss People’s Party, which had demanded the popular vote, had claimed the measures would cause electricity prices to rise. Swiss glaciers experienced record melting last year, losing more than 6% of their volume and alarming scientists who say a loss of 2% would once have been considered extreme. 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