EZ News 01/03/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 30-points this morning from last Friday's close, at 14,108 on turnover of $1.8-billion N-T. The market gained ground last Friday, on the final trading day of 2022, closing up 52.67-points, but turnover remained weak as foreign institutional investors were away for the seasonal holiday period. The Tai-Ex closed the year at 14,138-points, and that was down 22.4-per cent from the end of 2021, pushing down market capitalization to 44-trillion N-T. Data shows the local main board for whole of 2022 slumped on the back of geopolitical tensions, aggressive interest rate hikes by the U-S Federal Reserve and weaker demand in the electronics sector in the second half of the year. **New Round of Reservations for Coronavirus Vaccines to Begin in Taipei ** The Taipei Department of Health says those wishing to get a coronavirus vaccine can now make an appointment. The new round of reservations for the 73,000 available doses is now open through 9PM Friday on Taipei's vaccination reservation system. City health officials say the shots to be administered from between January 9-th and 15-th. Among the vaccines available will be the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for children aged from six months to 11 years old and for people aged 12 and older and the Novavax vaccine for people 12 years and older. The Moderna vaccines available will be the standard vaccine for people aged six months to 11 years old and the bivalent vaccines offered as a booster against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants for children aged six to 11 years old and those aged 12 and older. **US Divided Congress to Begin New Session ** A new session of the US Congress will begin on Tuesday with a return of a divided government. Nick Harper reports from Washington. **German Village Scuffles Over Mine Expansion ** Scuffles have broken out outside a village in western Germany that is to be razed to allow the expansion of a coal mine. German news agency dpa reported that activists on Monday threw fireworks, bottles and stones at police outside the village of Luetzerath before the situation calmed down and officers pulled back. Protesters previously had set up a burning barricade (路障), and one glued his hand to the access road. The hamlet is to be demolished to expand the Garzweiler lignite mine. Activists have been living in houses abandoned by former residents. The county administration has authorized police to clear the village from Jan. 10-th. **Mexico Elects First Female Chief Justice ** Mexico’s Supreme Court has elected the first female chief justice in its history. Justice Norma Lucia Pina was sworn in (宣誓就職) for her four-year term at the head of the 11-member court, pledging to maintain the independence of the country's highest court. As chief justice, Pina will also head the entire judicial branch. The 6-5 vote by her fellow ministers Monday came despite pressure by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on the ministers. Lopez Obrador had backed another female justice, Yasmin Esquivel, for the top post. 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