EZ News 01/12/23

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 9.3-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,536 on turnover of $2.4-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Thursday after Wall Street climb to a near-record high overnight and as investors are watching for a U-S inflation report, which was released after the close of trading on the local main board. Taiwan Passport Ranks 35th in Global Index R-O-C passport holders have visa-free access to 143 countries and territories around the world, ranking it 35th in the latest Henley Passport Index. The passport fell four places from 31st in the previous survey issued by the London-based consulting firm Henley & Partners in July 2023. The rankings are slightly deceptive in that place rankings do not account for (核算、考慮) ties. As although Taiwan's passport ranked 35th, 69 countries had passports with more visa-free access. Singapore tops the rankings in the latest index, sharing first place with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain. Afghanistan remained at the bottom with only 28 destinations offering visa-free travel to its passport holders. Those holding these passports enjoy visa-free access to 194 nations. The Henley Passport Index compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations. Its first index was issued in 2006. Iran Seizes Oil Tanker Iran’s navy has seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that once was at the center of a major crisis between Tehran and Washington, a seizure that further escalates tensions in the Mideast waterways. The vessel was once known as the Suez Rajan and was involved in a yearlong dispute that ultimately (最終) saw the U.S. Justice Department seize 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil on it. Iran’s state-run television acknowledged the seizure late Thursday afternoon, hours after armed men boarded it. The seizure also comes after weeks of attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea. SAfrica Accuses Israel of Genocide at ICJ Hearing South African lawyers speaking at the International Court of Justice say Israel planned to "destroy" Gaza. Lawyers are demanding Israel stop what they say is a "genocidal" (種族滅絕的) military operation against the residents of Gaza - to which Israel will respond on Friday. From outside the International Court of Justice in The Netherlands, Ishan Garg reports. Argentina Annual Inflation Rate Highest Ever Argentina's statistics agency says the country has registered a monthly inflation rate of 25.5% in December and closed 2023 with an annual inflation of 211.4%. That's the highest rate in 32 years. The data reflects the strong impact (影響) of a series of shock measures, including a 50% devaluation of the nation’s currency, implemented by right-wing President Javier Milei in hopes of eventually taming the country's roaring inflation. 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