EZ News 07/023/24

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 257-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,514 on turnover of 7.8-billion N-T. The market plunged more than 600-points on Monday as selling was seen among large cap stocks across the board following the news that U-S President Joe Biden will not be seeking re-election. Government Employees to Get 3% Wage Hike in 2025 Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Cabinet has approved a pay rise for civil servants, military personnel and public school teachers. According to the premier, the public sector workers will be getting a 3-per cent hike next year. Cho said the Cabinet believes that civil servants, military personnel and public school teachers should benefit from the growth in Taiwan's economy - which is in recovery mode (模式). Cho also said he hopes the wage hike by the government will prompt the private sector to raise salaries for employees and strengthen Taiwan's competitiveness. EU Rep Receives Presidential Honor Outgoing top European Union representative Filip Grzegorzewski has been awarded a presidential honor for his contribution to promoting relations between the bloc and Taiwan during his five-year tenure. Speaking at a ceremony after being presented with the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by President Lai Ching-te, Grzegorzewski described Taiwan as "a land of good fortune." According to the outgoing E-U envoy, his top memories from his five-year stint included participating in the 13-hour Ironman triathlon in Penghu, summiting Jade Mountain, swimming across Sun Moon Lake and biking around Taiwan's coastline. Lai said he awarded Grzegorzewski the honor to highlight (強調) the envoy's "outstanding contribution to deepening Taiwan-EU relations." US Biden Condemns Police Shooting of Black Woman US authorities have released a video showing a white police officer fatally shooting a Black woman, in a case sparking outrage across the country. The video includes body-cam footage (一段影片) from the sheriffs who responded to Sonya Massey's home in the US state of Illinois on July 6. It has reignited national debate about police use of force and racial discrimination. Sally Patterson reports. EU Ministers' Meeting in Brussels The EU's top diplomat says Hungary won’t be allowed to host a strategic EU meeting next month. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the upcoming foreign and defense ministers’ meeting would take place in Brussels instead of Budapest. The change may be due to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s surprise, self-proclaimed (自稱) “peace mission” trips to Moscow and Beijing aimed at brokering an end to the war in Ukraine. EU partners overwhelmingly (壓倒性地) saw that as undermining their support for Kyiv. Hungary , which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, blasted the decision. It had expected to host the annual late August gathering. 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