EZ News 09/27/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened marginally lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 16,273 on turnover of 1.4-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Tuesday to close at a four-month low amid investor concerns about a spike in U-S treasury yields. Rising interest rates made tech stocks on the local main board less attractive, and investors opted to dump (甩賣,) those stocks for U-S dollar denominated assets throughout the trading day. **Government to Raise Child Care Subsidies to Boost Birth Rate ** Premier Chen Chien-jen says the government plans to raise child day care allowances by at least 1,500 N-T per month starting next year. The move is part of government efforts to boost Taiwan's fast declining birth rate. According to the premier, subsidies (補貼、補助金) for parents with children under the age of 3 attending public care centers will be increased to 7,000 N-T per month. Those using publicly subsidized private day care centers or home babysitting services will receive 13,000 N-T a month. Chen says additional child day care subsidies will also be offered to parents with two or three children and those from low-income or lower-middle-income families. **CDC Confirms 3 More Dengue Fever Deaths as Cases Surpass 10,000 ** The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed three more dengue fever-related deaths - bringing the total number of such fatalities so far this year to 15. The confirmation comes as the number of domestic cases of the mosquito-borne disease islandwide have now surpassed 10,000. Most the cases have been reported in Tainan. And figures show of the total number of 10,496 cases recorded this year, 9,463 have been in Tainan. A joint CDC-central government task force has been operating in Tainan since September 18 in an attempt (試圖) to bring an end to the outbreak. **Iraq Wedding Fire Leaves 100 Dead ** A fire that raced through a hall hosting a Christian wedding in northern Iraq killed at least 100 people and injured 150 others, and authorities warn the death toll could rise higher. The fire happened in Iraq’s Nineveh province, some 300 kilometers northwest of the capital, Baghdad. There was no immediate official word on the cause of the blaze but initial (最初的) reports by the Kurdish television news channel Rudaw suggested fireworks at the venue may have sparked the fire. Iraq's prime minister has ordered an investigation into the fire and asked the country's Interior and Health officials to provide relief **US Congress Puts Forward ShortTerm Spending Bill ** Members of U.S. Congress have put forward a short-term spending proposal to try and avoid a government shutdown (政府停擺、政府關門). Late on Tuesday, Senators voted on what's called a 'continuing resolution' which they could send to the House later this week, to vote on before a September 30th deadline. Caroline Malone reports from Washington. 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