content_text:
▲悠遊卡於2002年6月開始在臺北捷運使用。（圖／記者林敬旻攝）

記者楊庭蒝／綜合報導

台灣悠遊卡終於可以「跨境支付」了！琉球銀行在17日宣布，將與台灣悠遊卡公司合作，7月起就可以日本沖繩使用悠遊卡消費，這是悠遊卡首次進軍海外，未來在沖繩消費，就有更多的支付方式可以選擇。琉球銀行社長社長川上康表示，希望能夠將悠遊卡支付普及到日本全國，藉此吸引台灣旅客到沖繩和日本觀光。

根據《琉球新報》報導，在2017年有91萬7千名台灣旅客到沖繩旅遊，整個日本更達到480萬人，對於台灣旅客來說，推廣悠遊卡支付能夠在日本支付，會是相當便利的一件事。

自2017年以來，琉球銀行就與萬事達卡（MasterCard）、Visa公司協議，致力於開發行動支付的服務，目前沖繩縣有5千多家餐廳、店家與琉球銀行合作，使用銀行開發的支付系統，支援23種支付方式，未來有望可以提升到7千家店家以上，支援超過30種支付方式。

▲悠遊卡公司董事長陳亭如。（圖／翻攝自悠遊卡公司官方網站）

悠遊卡董事長陳亭如表示，琉球銀行已經與大量的商家合作，也投入巨額資金來建構系統，對台灣悠遊卡公司來說，「這次的合作可以減少許多的時間，在增加便利性的同時也能吸引旅客使用。」

截至2019年為止，悠遊卡在台灣的累積發卡量突破9千萬，在「Line Pay」、「街口支付」等行動支付支援跨境支付後，多次傳出要實現跨境合作的悠遊卡公司終於也跟上腳步，不過未來使用悠遊卡到日本支付，匯率的清算還不確定由悠遊卡公司自己來，還是委託台灣本地銀行，但可以確定的是，民眾赴日旅遊就可以省下許多換匯的手續。

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺北 琉球

countries: 台灣 日本

title: 7月起悠遊卡就能在沖繩小額付費　台灣愛玩客可省換匯手續


title: 2018年F-16挵山 空軍戰管中心5人受彈劾

content_text:
空軍F-16戰機佇2018年的萬安演習，有發生挵山的意外，造成飛行官-吳彥霆往生，監察院調查後，認為空軍戰管中心的攔管官-史青年等5人在內，攏無先看過計畫，才害F-16發生意外，因此通過彈劾案，移送公懲會審理。

國軍在2018年實施萬安41號演習，空軍2架F-16擔任假想敵，計畫對基隆港實施模擬攻擊後，以航向90度脫離爬高，返回花蓮基地，豈料，由飛官吳彥霆駕駛的F-16，卻在基隆五分山撞山殉職。監委調查，認為戰管臨時將脫離航向，由90度，改為140度，還輕忽任務前的整備，不知全程不得低於絕對高度2千英呎的安全規定，導致戰機爬升不及失事。

==監委 包宗和==
 當初一開始
 就應該是遵守這個規定
 就他是用2千呎 不是絕對高度
 而是用海平面高度
 而且左轉以後 他立刻就要爬升
 沒有同意他爬升 這都是人禍

==監委 仉桂美==
 我們不是事後的
 也許這個追封啦等等
 不是這個問題
 我們應該要面對問題 解決問題

監委彈劾包括戰管中心攔管官史青年、戰協官賴文生、管制長盧易舜等5人，送公懲會審理。對於彈劾結果，空軍表示尊重，也強調會避免重蹈覆轍。

==空軍發言人 王純雄==
 對於監察院所提的
 相關違失人員的改進建議
 還有將違失人員移送
 這一部分 我們空軍表示尊重
 那麼同時我們空軍也會
 坦誠來檢討 務實改進

監察院強調，全案司法部分，正由檢方偵辦中；至於當時與戰管協調的航管，因為有輸入座標錯誤，導致有民航機飛入管制區等的疏失，已經另案調查，追究相關責任。

記者陳佳鑫 張梓嘉 台北報導

taiwan-subdivisions: 花蓮 基隆


taiwan-subdivisions: 宜蘭縣 羅東 頭城

people: 吳秋齡 林姿妙

content_text:
為消弭新型冠狀病毒蔓延風險，讓縣籍學子都能安全上學及家長安心，在即將開學之際，宜蘭縣從19日起展開大規模的校園消毒行動，預計到24日完成全縣116所高中職、國中小學校及公立幼兒園的周邊及戶外公共空間環境消毒工作。

宜蘭縣長林姿妙18日在縣務會議中，要求環保局儘速進行校園環境消毒，經該局與各鄉鎮市公所協調後，19日上午就啟動校園消毒工作，包括宜蘭市、羅東、頭城等鄉鎮市公所，都動員清潔隊員執行消毒防疫任務。

防疫消毒首日，縣長林姿妙、羅東鎮長吳秋齡、環保局長黃政釧、教育處長王泓翔、縣議員黃琤婷等人與羅東清潔隊，到公正國小啟動環境消毒工作，透過消毒車進入校園及人力背負式噴霧器等方式，針對校園公共設施進行消毒，讓學生能安心上課及使用各項教學、遊樂設施。

林姿妙再次呼籲民眾，做好居家環境維護、個人衛生安全和自主健康管理，例如定期保持居家環境清潔、用餐自備環保餐具減少感染風險，以及學生上學前在家自主量體溫等。

教育處表示，各校已於開學前成立防疫小組，並擬定防疫措施、備妥相關應急備用防疫物資，包括口罩、消毒酒精、額(耳)溫槍等；各校也將透過相關門禁措施，請入校訪客配合測量體溫與勤洗手，如有呼吸道症狀，就請訪客配合配戴口罩，以維持師生健康。

縣府更提醒家長，若發現學生有發燒情形(額溫>=37.5度C或耳溫>=38度C)，請勿到校並應立即就醫，前一天吃過退燒藥者也請勿到校。學校老師也都會隨時注意學生健康狀況，若有呼吸道症狀，將會提供備用口罩，並通知家長帶回就醫。

title: 開學在即　宜蘭縣啟動校園環境消毒


content_text:
政府徵收口罩確保資源平均分配，但卻有周刊直擊，台南市某藥局說有大量口罩，能一次供應數十萬個口罩，消息一出，台南市長黃偉哲下令相關單位去稽查。而店家則改口澄清，否認有囤積大量口罩。台南地檢署也開出傳票，傳喚業者說明。

藥局業者陳小姐表示，因為詢問的客人太多，動輒就說要訂數十萬訂單，因此也才隨口回應，過程不能當真。業者也自清秀出對話紀錄，強調也是跟對方說，要等到四月底過後如果政府解禁，才能取得貨源。

陳小姐解釋：「很多人都要訂，這個不能否認，可是問題我們沒有貨，所以我們就有寫，跟消保官說了4月30號以後才能給他們，如果願意排的話。」 台南市消保官楊璿圓經考察後表示，現場只有看到健保中央發放的口罩，還沒有查到實際上有囤積的狀況，但會進一步要求業者提供進、出貨證明，查證是否有囤積、哄抬等情形。

title: 台南某藥局遭爆囤大量口罩 業者駁斥


title: 新北公布居家檢疫2民眾失去聯絡 警查著1人

content_text:
新北市民政局，昨昏公布兩名應當著愛在家內檢疫，結果煞予in接接無人的民眾，一个名叫郭富文，另外一个號做管永安；昨昏暗深更，警方嘛有佇咧桃園揣著郭富文，伊身體是無各樣，今民政局已經咧發落伊的安排。另外嘛有人佇網路頂頭，講家己是武漢封城了後偷渡倒轉來的，結果一下查，嘛完全是生言造語的假消息。

身穿藍色外套還戴著口罩，這位男子就是新北市居家檢疫失聯的郭富文，警方18號深夜在桃園一家旅社找到他，目前已由民政局人員帶回安置。

==新北市民政局副局長 楊薏霖==
 現場我們民政人員跟警政人員
 也對他量測了體溫
 現在沒有發燒的情況
 當事人本身也表示說
 他身體健康良好
 現在他因為居無定所
 現在正由警方戒護當中

民政局表示，由於郭富文暫無住所，會將他送至集中檢疫處所居家檢疫，也會依法送交衛生局裁處，至於另一位失聯的管永安仍在尋找中，此外北市衛生局也再公布開罰6名居家檢疫者各1萬元，截至目前，北市居家檢疫者違規開罰已達37件。

而日前有一名網友署名洪姓女子在臉書社團中PO文，自稱武漢封城後花了15萬元偷渡回台，直言成功散播病毒，引發民眾恐慌，高雄市警方調查後，發現洪女的本尊竟是南投縣竹山鎮的陳姓男子，已將他查緝到案。

==高雄市偵四隊隊長 林耕宇==
 我們是運用我們科偵的一個技術
 在網路上交叉比對
 他所留言的一些相關過程
 抓到這一位陳姓犯嫌的時候
 他也相當的震驚
 因為他已經把手機丟掉
 我們怎麼還會追到他

警方表示，陳姓男子到案後坦承犯行，並說自己是因遭網路詐騙許多錢，才想利用這次疫情作為背景杜撰偷渡情節，想藉由網路大眾力量，揪出詐取自己財物集團首腦，不知自己行為已經觸法，警方將依傳染病防治法開罰送辦。

references: 臉書社團 網友

taiwan-subdivisions: 新北 竹山 永安 高雄市 桃園 南投縣 新北市 成功


title: 周刊報導臺南有藥局囤大批喙罨 業者反駁

content_text:
今有周刊咧報講，臺南市有一間藥局共人客品講，手頭有大批的喙罨，一擺欲交幾若十萬个嘛無問題。今臺南市黃偉哲市長，就下令消保官會同警察局、衛生局，去藥局欲查明事實。抑店頭家嘛掰會講，本底in就是講，著愛四月底政府解除管制了後，才有才調出貨，無影是咧囤貨，夯價數。抑臺南地檢署也發出傳票，欲傳業者去說明詳細。

台南這間藥局一早就吸引許多民眾上門排隊領口罩，但業者卻被周刊爆料，業者聲稱握有大量口罩，引發消保官以及衛生局人員上門，要查藥局是否有口罩囤積，但業者趕緊否認。

==藥局業者 陳小姐==
 （賣50萬個口罩) 50萬?
 現在連5個都沒有 50萬
 （人家就錄到我們有說）
 什麼時候 話都亂說

業者說，因為詢問的客人太多，動輒就說要訂數十萬訂單，因此也才隨口回應，過程不能當真。

==藥局業者 陳小姐==
 重點是講話這樣講 可以算數嗎
 你有看到東西嗎（所以你有這樣說）
 說是這樣說 就是沒東西啊
 所以就登記啊 是不是

被外界質疑囤積大量口罩，業者也自清秀出對話紀錄，強調也是跟對方說，要等到四月底過後如果政府解禁，才能取得貨源。

==藥局業者 陳小姐==
 很多人都要訂 這個不能否認
 可是問題我們沒有貨
 所以我們就有寫
 跟消保官說了 4月30號以後
 才能給他們 如果願意排的話

==台南市消保官 楊璿圓==
 因為現場只有看到就是
 健保中央發放的口罩
 還沒有查到實際上有囤積的狀況

消保官表示，雖然現場並沒有發現大量口罩囤積，但會進一步要求業者提供進、出貨證明，查證是否有囤積、哄抬等情形。

記者 溫正衡 台南報導

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺南 臺南市


title: 竹市11萬流感疫苗全數用罄　衛生局：仍需落實個人衛生習慣

content_text:
新竹市本(108)年度公費流感疫苗採購118,120劑，已於19日全數接種完畢。由於近期氣候寒冷，請民眾務必提高警覺，如出現類流感症狀或流感危險徵兆，第一時間務必「戴上口罩」及早就醫，就醫後盡量在家休息，減少出入公共場所，降低傳染的機會。

衛生局長王宗曦表示，為因應流感疫苗延後開打，已於去(108)年11月1日起配合疾病管制署政策，擴大公費流感抗病毒藥劑使用條件，增加「有發燒症狀之類流感患者，其家人/同事/同班同學有類流感發病者」，請醫師善用公費流感抗病毒藥劑，減少疾病傳播及重症與死亡的發生。

衛生局表示，國內流感疫情雖下降，但還在流行期；由於近期各地氣溫變化大，提醒民眾仍應保持警覺，持續做好個人手部衛生與咳嗽禮節，及落實生病在家休息等措施；如果出現呼吸困難、發紺、意識改變等流感危險徵兆，應儘速就醫，並依醫師指示服藥，以降低引發重症、死亡的風險。


countries: 越南 臺灣 中國

events: 豬瘟 武漢肺炎

taiwan-subdivisions: 雲林縣 彰化縣 雲林

content_text:
目前國內，猶原真斟酌咧抵擋「非洲豬災」的病毒，經過旅客紮入海關的肉品，穢入來國內。佳哉近來因為武漢肺炎，臺灣和中國往來有較少，自元宵到頂禮拜日，違規紮肉品入境干焦查著一層。毋過雲林，嘛是有農民，無遵照袂使用潘飼豬的規定，今有發生兩層罰金3萬箍。

由於武漢肺炎疫情，讓兩岸往來受到限制，連帶也讓邊境查驗、違規攜帶豬肉等肉品的案件數、來到低點，元宵節過後只有1件遭裁罰20萬，不過防檢局指出，持續檢驗遭棄置豬肉，是否有非洲豬瘟病毒，根據1月份檢驗，中國陽性率為9.26%，越南高達36.36%。

==防檢局副局長 徐榮彬==
 目前我們可以從檢驗的數據
 可以顯示出來
 目前他們那邊的非洲豬瘟疫情
 還沒有完全控制下來
 還是有還是在流行當中

邊境防堵仍不能鬆懈，國內防疫作為也要持續進行，目前法令規定廚餘經高溫蒸煮才可以養豬，不過近日還是查獲彰化縣有2場違規，而雲林縣的管制更嚴格，是禁止廚餘養豬，有兩場遭檢舉違規。

==聲音來源 雲林縣農業處長 魏勝德==
 我們最近就是有民眾檢舉
 我們到現場就發現說
 它有那個用燒煮那個廚餘的部分
 舉發我們就把它裁罰這樣子

農業處強調，雲林是養豬大縣，早從去年就已公告禁止廚餘養豬，兩場皆為初犯，遭裁罰3萬元，不過若累積違規二次將罰20萬元，六次則重罰300萬元。

記者林靜梅 王興中 台北報導

title: 元宵節過後 違法紮豬肉品入境.干焦罰1件


title: 因應中小學2/25開學 學校進行防疫演練

content_text:
國中、國校，後禮拜二，也就是2月25就欲開學。新北市蘆洲區的仁愛國小，早起就咧演練學生開始讀書了後，防疫的工課按怎發落，學生未入來學校進前，著愛先磅體溫，到甲中晝，著閣加磅一次。抑新北市侯友宜市長嘛講，市政府已經有攢64萬个喙罨，緊急備用，通好照顧確實有欠用的學生囡仔。

進學校前，都要一一排隊量體溫，確認額溫37.5度以下，才能放行，超過的，要帶到保健室，過五分鐘再量一次，真的發燒，就要送醫，因應下週二開學，校園防疫先演練，志工媽媽也動起來。

==新北市蘆洲仁愛國小志工媽媽 張玉嬌==
 每一天有12位的志工來幫忙
 一直現在是排了兩個禮拜
 兩個禮拜以後看疫情怎麼樣

學生順利進校園，但進教室前，還要確實洗手，而早上量過體溫，中午還要再量一次，老師隨時確認學生的體溫，教室也要開窗，保持空氣流通，面對學校即將開學，不少家長更是繃緊神經，口罩成了小孩上學必備品。

==國小學生==
 一天兩個(口罩) 中午換

==國小學生==
 因為口罩比較少
 所以就是每天用同樣的
 等到覺得到要換的時候就要換

不怕一萬，只怕萬一，口罩、消毒水、額溫槍等防疫物資，學校一樣也不能少，要做最好的準備，但，也要有最壞打算。

==新北市長 侯友宜==
 我們有64萬個口罩
 可以來做緊急備用
 照顧同學們
 另外準備了7300支的額溫槍
 如果學校有最壞的狀況
 必要的時候我們一定採取
 料敵從寬 禦敵從嚴
 該嚴格的把關以外 更重要
 萬一有確診的
 該停我們一定就會停

開學典禮等大型室內活動，侯友宜不建議學校舉行，至於是否有延後開學的可能，新北市將配合防疫中心的指揮。

記者 郭采彥 謝其文 新北市報導

taiwan-subdivisions: 仁愛 新北市 蘆洲區


title: 桃園龜山工廠大火 班機被迫轉降機場

taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園 龜山 松山 大湖

content_text:
桃園市龜山區大湖路昨天下午發生工廠大火，導致一架正準備降落松山機場的全日空班機，轉降桃園機場。業者告發處分。

火舌和黑色濃煙不斷自廠房冒出，直竄天際。桃園市龜山區大湖路18號下午2點發生工廠大火，因為失火地點就在航道下方，導致一架正準備降落松山機場的全日空班機，轉降桃園機場。火勢晚間11點多撲滅，進行殘火處理。工廠負責人表示，「通道防火巷（通道中間、前面或後面），它就從中間燒起來，然後我們兩個人要過去就來不及了，越燒越大。」桃市消防局第一大隊大隊長賴志忠說：「消防局總共派遣了42輛的消防車、100多名的消防人員前往現場來搶救，同仁到了現場發現工廠已經呈現一片火海的情形。」

環保稽查人員現場監控空氣品質，在上風處及下風處檢測總揮發性有機化合物沒有異常，但現場燃燒產生明顯的粒狀污染物跟異味。另外，儲放溶劑隨消防廢水逕流造成污染情形，已對業者依照違反空氣汚染防制法和水汚染防治進行告發處分。桃市環保局稽查科長張書豪說：「依據違反空氣汙染防制法32條，最高可以裁罰到新台幣500萬元；違反水汙染防制法，可處分金額3萬到300萬。」

環保局除了持續在現場監測空氣品質，也已進行攔油索鋪設，避免汙染擴大。環保局已限期要求業者完成改善，也將持續派員督導業者清理作業。若未完成清理，也將依水汚法規定執行按次連續處罰。


title: 中火撤牌處分 環署表示中市府違法要求更正

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺中市 臺中

content_text:
舊年11、12月彼中間，臺中火力發電廠3擺違反臺中市「生塗炭管制」的自治條例，去予市政府罰金，閣廢除二隻機臺運轉的許可證。抑2月15，環保署發公事予臺中市政府，指示講這款處分是有失妥當，要求5工內著愛改正。毋過臺中市的環保局是回答講，這條案已經進入訴願，目前袂去改變進前處分的決定。

環保署在這個月15號，發給台中市環保局的一紙公文，指出台中市政府廢止中火兩部機組許可證的處份案，違反空汙法與固定汙染源操作許可證管理辦法，要求在文到後5日內進行更正。國民黨籍台中市議員排排坐，痛批環保署為中火撐腰。

==國民黨台中市議員 陳政顯==
 擔心中部人生活的空間
 更擔心肺癌發生
 中央應該還是要尊重
 地方自治的權力

這紙公文要求台中市環保局，在文到後5日內進行更正，國民黨籍議員批評環保署，趁著防疫期間轉移空汙注意力，干涉地方自治，台中市環保局也強調，廢止中火兩部機組的許可證處分案，於法有據。

==台中市環保局副局長 陳宏益==
 因為空汙法部分 處分還是在地方
 地方依據這個權責處理（給予撤照）
 這個還不到解釋函的程度
 它只是一個"公文" 它還沒有通用
 因為它只給了台中市

台中市環保局表示，中央對法令見解不同，但實際處分權則在地方；而中火生煤使用量，去年也已超過1104萬公噸上限，經市府多次稽查及複查仍未改善，市府是依法行政。台電表示，兩部機組無法運作，雖然不致於造成缺電 ，但是會影響電力調度的彈性。

==台電發言人 徐造華==
 台電已經在去年的12月提出訴願
 但考量訴願需要時間
 為了顧及全民夏季用電
 台電除了提出訴願以外
 也函請環保署來協助釐清

台電表示，中火兩部機組操作許證遭廢止，衝擊調度彈性，才請環保署釐清，該處份是否違反空汙法規定，否認透過中央施壓，目前相關案件台電已透過程序提出訴願，將等待結果。

記者 林健生 彭煥群 台中報導


title: 受肺炎疫情衝擊 欲4成上班族按算換頭路

countries: 中國 日本 澳門 香港

content_text:
專門佇網路替人允頭路的業者調查講，目前有將近四成的食頭路人，有拍算欲換工課，尤其是佇中國上班的人士，已經有袂少申請欲調轉來。抑若國內，予武漢肺炎影響上蓋重的產業，就是觀光旅行，佮餐飲服務業。另外嘛有袂少專門咧通譯的人員，因為旅遊團無來，今是將近攏無收入，日子確實歹過。

==NS==
 各位大家好
 歡迎蒞臨台北燈節

現場即席秀一口流利日文，這些導覽內容，對象原本是日本遊客，受武漢肺炎疫情影響，日本團取消，翻譯工作少了一大半，加上近期台北國際書展等大型活動都相繼取消，從二月開始，所有接案全飛了，收入一口氣少了兩三萬，幾乎快斷炊。
 ==接案族 黃小姐==
 台北國際書展
 那因為整個是延期
 所以那一筆收入
 面前就是沒有的狀態
 就是可能只有幾千塊這樣子
 就是（收入）很零星

還有手搖飲料連鎖店"歇腳亭"，也受疫情影響，近期來客數少了兩三成，目前只能靠外送服務衝業績。至於海外布局，因為鎖定的歐美市場，中國展店數較少，整體衝擊不大。

==餐飲事業發言人 侯升偉==
 來客數就已經掉了三成
 很大的一部分
 重心放在外送的部分
 那這一次的疫情
 包含這個延後開學的問題
 所以也造成外送的訂單
 下降了很多

根據人力仲介業者調查，觀光、餐飲服務業，受這波疫情影響最大，三月、四月無薪假就會浮現，有四成工作人員有轉職計畫，也有近一成五的業者，暫緩徵才，或員工錄取延後報到。

==人力銀行業者 李大華==
 已經找到工作了
 甚至有報到時間
 但是因為疫情還沒有終了的時候
 所以也被告知說
 暫時先不用報到
 甚至有些投遞履歷
 拿到面試通知
 也被告知暫時不用來面試
 這些都表示說
 目前他們在廠商徵才的情況底下
 是一個凍結的情形

為配合防疫措施，出入境嚴格控管，將港澳提升到第三級警告，觀光最新公告，港澳組團旅遊禁令，從原先3月底，延長到4月底，持續暫停旅行業組團，前往香港、澳門地區。

記者 黃立偉 張國樑 台北報導


title: 新北公布2名居家檢疫失聯者 警查到1人

taiwan-subdivisions: 新北 永安 桃園 南投縣 高雄市 竹山 成功 新北市

content_text:
新北市民政局昨天公布應該居家檢疫2名失聯者，分別為郭富文及管永安；警方昨天深夜在桃園一家旅社找到郭富文，郭男無發燒症狀且身體狀況健康，已由民政局人員帶回安置。

新北市民政局副局長楊薏霖表示：「現場我們民政人員跟警政人員也對他量測了體溫，現在沒有發燒的情況。當事人本身也表示說，他身體健康良好，現在他因為居無定所，由警方戒護當中。」民政局表示，由於郭富文暫無住所，會將他送至集中檢疫處所居家檢疫，也會依法送交衛生局裁處，至於另一位失聯的管永安仍在尋找中。 此外台北市衛生局也再公布開罰6名居家檢疫者各1萬元，截至目前，北市居家檢疫者違規開罰已達37件。而日前有一名網友署名洪姓女子在臉書社團中PO文，自稱武漢封城後花了15萬元偷渡回台，直言成功散播病毒，引發民眾恐慌，高雄市警方調查後，發現洪女的本尊竟是南投縣竹山鎮的陳姓男子，已將他查緝到案。

高雄市偵四隊隊長林耕宇表示：「我們是運用我們科偵的一個技術，在網路上交叉比對他所留言的一些相關過程，抓到這一位陳姓犯嫌的時候，他也相當的震驚，因為他已經把手機丟掉，沒想到還會追到他。」

警方表示，陳姓男子到案後坦承犯行，並說自己是因遭網路詐騙許多錢，才想利用這次疫情作為背景杜撰偷渡情節，想藉由網路大眾力量，揪出詐取自己財物集團首腦。不知自己行為已經觸法，警方將依傳染病防治法開罰送辦。


content_text:
昨昏，「中央流行疫情指揮中心」宣佈講，額頭的溫度37度半、抑若耳空度著38度，就算是發燒。通好予大細間學校，有統一的標準來配合，抑另外有專家咧建議講，開學了後，學生上下課著愛分批，才會當減輕病症湠開的風險。

武漢肺炎蔓延，影響全台延後開學，對於2月25號即將開學，各縣市對學生發燒標準規定不一，而且量測體溫的方法不同，中央流行疫情指揮中心18號統一定調，篩檢溫度，額溫槍訂為37.5度，耳溫槍則是38度，如果有發燒個案應該暫停上課並就醫。
 ==中央流行疫情指揮中心監測應變官 莊人祥==
 主要是額溫槍它是測
 表面的皮膚
 所以它會有比較
 溫度會比較低
 那當然也有可能比較不準
 所以說如果用來篩檢是ok
 但是測出如果是發燒的話
 那可能需要進一步的耳溫槍再來測

台大公衛學院建議，開學後應該要加大師生間互動的距離，也就是在現有教室裡，讓學生與學生間的座位間隔至少要1.8公尺，並讓全校分批下課，還要停止室內大型活動及有身體碰撞類的運動。
 ==台大公共衛生學院院長 詹長權==
 到校園裡面
 就要加長社會的互動的距離
 籃球 足球之類的這種活動
 在可能的時候就要重新調整

學者表示，除了調整上下課方式、空間外，在校期間也不要共食和共用食器，手不要直接碰觸食物，餐盒食用完畢也要立刻清洗，每堂課後課桌椅也要進行消毒，還要勤洗手；如果感覺到悶、熱、冷或有氣味，都代表室內環境出現問題，因此保持通風格外重要。

==台大公衛學院副教授 陳佳堃==
 開窗通風
 真的是一個不錯的建議
 是因為它在一分鐘
 就可以幫你的空氣
 全部換成室外空氣

避免群聚感染，教育部決定高中職以下延後兩周開學，對於開學時間有沒有可能考慮再延後?中央流行疫情指揮中心回應目前暫時沒有考慮。

記者 吳雅瑜 陳立峰 朱鳳治 吳其昌 綜合報導

title: 學校判斷發燒標準 額溫37.5度 耳溫38度


title: 桃園龜山工場火燒 飛機被迫換機場降落

content_text:
昨昏下晡兩點，桃園市龜山區大湖路遮，有一間工廠火燒，火甚至閣薰甲，半空中一隻本底載人客，欲去歇踮松山機場的飛行機，換著愛去桃園機場降落。今桃園市環保局去到現場查明環境，已經以違反空氣汚染防制法佮水汚染防治法的名義，處分這間工廠。

火舌和黑色濃煙不斷自廠房冒出，直竄天際，桃園市龜山區大湖路18號下午2點發生工廠大火，因為失火地點就在航道下方，導致一架正準備降落松山機場的全日空班機，轉降桃園機場。火勢晚間11點多撲滅，進行殘火處理。

==工廠負責人 (2020.02.18)==
 通道防火巷（通道中間 前面或後面）
 它就從中間燒起來
 然後我們兩個人要過去
 就來不及了 越燒越大

==桃市消防局第一大隊大隊長 賴志忠 (2020.02.18)==
 消防局總共派遣了42輛的消防車
 100多名的消防人員
 前往現場來搶救
 同仁到了現場發現
 工廠已經呈現一片火海的情形

環保稽查人員現場監控空氣品質，在上風處及下風處檢測總揮發性有機化合物沒有異常，但現場燃燒產生明顯的粒狀污染物跟異味，另外，儲放溶劑隨消防廢水逕流造成污染情形，已對業者依照違反空氣汚染防制法和水汚染防治進行告發處分。

==桃市環保局稽查科長 張書豪==
 依據違反空氣汙染防制法32條
 最高可以裁罰到新台幣500萬元
 違反水汙染防制法
 可處分金額3萬到300萬

環保局除了持續在現場監測空氣品質，也已進行攔油索鋪設，避免汙染擴大。環保局已限期要求業者完成改善，也將持續派員督導業者清理作業，若未完成清理，也將依水汚法規定執行按次連續處罰。

記者 詹淑雲 桃園報導


taiwan-subdivisions: 新莊 新北市

content_text:
新北市新莊警分局前刑事組長羅明村，因被控在1997年收賄而判刑13年，羅明村不甘受冤入獄逃亡海外。他的女兒今天出面控訴，當年更一審父親是獲判無罪，質疑是檢察官上訴逾期。

曾辦過白曉燕命案的新北市新莊警分局前刑事組長羅明村，因被控在1997年收賄及默許槍擊犯找人頂罪判刑13年，羅明村不甘受冤入獄逃亡海外。民間司改會19日陪同羅明村女兒召開記者會，認為本案存在不正訊問、測謊報告出現瑕疵等問題，更強調父親有不在場證明，並沒有行賄，哽咽為父親喊冤。

羅明村案當事人女兒羅小姐說：「這個案件裡面有太多太多可以證明我們無罪的事情。今天1月31日我們收到這個判決，我們真的不知道我們還能怎麼樣去做後續的，應該說不知道該怎麼樣做後續的處理了。」

羅明村的委任律師林俊宏表示，按照「刑事訴訟法」規定，檢察官在收到法院判決後，應於10日內上訴。原本在2月4日送達的判決書，應該要在2月15日前提出上訴，但檢察官卻到2月25日才提起上訴。2018年高等法院認定檢察官的確逾期上訴，因此高院認為有罪確定判決有瑕疵應為無效，沒辦法再審，因此必須循非常上訴的救濟管道。

民間司法改革基金會救援組召集人林俊宏表示，「所以我們希望刑事訴訟法能夠修正為，對檢察官的送達一律跟人民相同，也就是用郵務送達的方式，就是你要用寄的，那這個也可以解決。目前檢察官收到判決書的時間總比人民晚了一點。」

冤獄平反協會執行長羅士翔表示，羅明村案已向最高法案聲請第51次非常上訴，檢察總長本次以違背訴訟程序，為羅明村提非常上訴，卻遭最高院駁回。呼籲監察院必須調查當年司法陋習下的錯誤，也希望高檢署檢討內部變相延長送達判決書給檢察官的日期，別再讓人民的訴訟權和程序權遭受侵害。

title: 羅明村被控收賄逃亡海外 女兒為父喊冤


content_text:
這陣，有的企業共員工排出來的班已經減少，臺北市勞動局甚至閣講，今已經有接著9間企業，來申請欲予辛勞，實施無薪水的假，其中有5間是飯店、民宿這款產業，計共拍算影響著190个勞工，毋過這陣是猶咧審查，來申請的文件攏猶未通過允准。另外，臺中也有三間公司，通報欲歇「無薪假」。

開設在台北市頂級地段，外觀明亮、以白色簡約風格為主的「S Hotel」，是藝人大S丈夫汪小菲，在台灣經營的精品飯店。近期因為武漢肺炎疫情影響，生意受到衝擊，已經向勞動局提出無薪假申請。

==台北市勞動局長 陳信瑜==
 2月17號（S Hotel）已經送件過來申請
 對於有55位 要進行所謂的縮短工時
 申請文件當中
 還看到有些資料不夠完備
 所以我們還會通知他（備齊）
 （台北市有）旅館業 包括有資訊業
 或者是這個所謂的商業平台
 這樣子的部分（申請縮短工時）
 那預估大概會影響到190人到200人

北市勞動局表示，目前有9家企業申請縮短工時，其中5家是旅宿業。只不過目前，申請文件都還不完整，所以還沒有任何企業通過。而且不只台北市，台中市從11號開始，也已經有業者通報放無薪假，對66名勞工造成影響。疫情衝擊部分產業景氣，導致有企業實施減班，或縮短工時，勞動部提出因應措施，發布修正「充電再出發」訓練計畫，投入五億元預算。

==勞動部勞動力發展署訓練發展組組長 沈文麗==
 針對這個事業單位（辦理訓練）
 提供他最高350萬的訓練費用的補助
 提供他（參訓勞工）相關的訓練課程
 或者是說 他也可以去參加
 事業單位所辦理的相關的訓練課程
 一個小時158元的這樣子的訓練津貼
 每個月（最高）18960元

勞動部也指出，開放申請時間，是到8月底為止，訓練課程的辦理期間，會從受理申請開始，到今年年底，只要是受到疫情影響的事業單位和勞工，都能申請。

記者 曹晏郡 邱福財 吳其昌 台北新北報導

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺北 臺中 新北 臺北市

title: 武漢肺炎衝擊產業 臺北.臺中企業申請放無薪假


title: 抗疫專家會議／張上淳 新冠病毒恐常態化 防疫保持彈性

things: 防疫 經濟

countries: 日本 香港 台灣 新加坡 義大利

events: 新冠病毒 死亡

content_text:
新冠肺炎疫情持續延燒，重創全球經濟，人心惶惶，曾經率領抗煞團隊、時任副總指揮官，現為台灣大學副校長張上淳表示，參考日本、新加坡等傳染模式，台灣未來恐難以避免出現社區感染，甚至成為常態化。因此，現階段國內防疫重點為「圍堵」，應逐漸轉為「減災」。

聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，張上淳就「從抗SARS到抗武漢新冠──台灣的因應」，提出他的建議。

如何「減災」？張上淳說，面對不同疾病，依據疾病特性應採用不同的戰術，例如SARS在患者發燒前沒有感染力，因此透過發燒篩檢可及早發現病患，但目前國內新型冠狀肺炎個案中，大多數症狀均屬輕度、中度，許多人發燒表現不明顯，僅短暫發燒，體溫就降下來，但仍有肺炎症狀。

張上淳估計，應有許多感染者在沒有任何治療的情況下，就已經退燒，或被視為疑似流感個案，服用了克流感而退燒，這些可能成為防疫漏洞。因此，防疫篩檢作工已經有所改變，目標對象不能只鎖定發燒患者，擴大篩檢及通報條件有其必要性。

從生物學演化角度，新冠病毒相當成功，SARS病毒則是失敗許多，因為SARS患者發燒後才具有傳染力，且致率高，當患者死亡，病毒自己也無法生存，無法繼續擴散下去。

張上淳表示，從日本、新加坡等地疫情變化來看，這次新冠病毒相當聰明，屬於成功的病毒進化演變，許多感染者無症狀，只是短暫發燒，卻可能繼續傳染給別人，遠比SARS還要聰明。

張上淳舉例，在這次確診個案中，最特別的是一家四口從香港轉機至義大利旅遊的感染家庭感染案例，媽媽先確診，接著是爸爸，然後是輕微咳嗽的大兒子，最令人意外的是小兒子完全沒有症狀，但在台大醫療團隊堅持下，讓他接受篩檢，就在媽媽確診後的五、六天，篩檢報告出爐，竟也是陽性，證實被感染，即使沒有症狀，但體內被驗出病毒。

張上淳說，透過這個家內群聚感染，可也瞭解到「症狀前偵測」的重要性，因為迄今醫學界仍無法真正瞭解這個病毒，未來防疫上可能面臨更大困難，恐將受到嚴峻疫情威脅。

日本、新加坡等陸續爆發社區感染，國內在出現例死亡案例後，專家會議已決定擴大篩檢範圍，擴大對象包含十四天內有國外旅遊史、出現發燒或呼吸道症狀、治療三日未好轉等肺炎個案，都須加強採檢送驗。

為了因應新冠肺炎疫情，國內於一月初成立防疫指揮中心，迄今防堵成效優異，贏得民眾肯定，但專家學者仍有改善空間，張上淳觀察，在這次防疫作戰中，最奇特現象就是口罩之亂，引爆關鍵在於中央與地方不同步。

張上淳認為，中央及地方不同步是造成口罩之亂的主因，中央一開始宣布全國備有四千多萬片口罩，足供國人使用，但卻有專家建議，全民都應戴口罩，如此一來，口罩怎可能夠用。

張上淳說，口罩數量有限，在尚未出現社區感染之前，防疫戰術上，就不能宣導全民戴口罩。如果在防堵疫情措施上，中央與地方或是專家未能統一戰術，就可能削弱整體防疫作戰成果。

至於醫院防疫抗戰量能上，張上淳說，2003年SARS疫情爆發，他擔任台大醫院感染科主任，團隊收治國內第一例確診個案，當時該病人住在負壓隔離病房，一天他門診時，接到同事通知，個案妻子也有肺炎跡象，且持續發燒，夫妻前後均罹患肺炎。他認為，這相當不尋常，通常肺炎少見傳染案例，他立刻要求進行篩檢，個案妻子因此確診，所幸院方早已做好院內感控，並未引起院內感染。

張上淳指出，SARS之後，各縣市均建立防治醫療網，各醫院感控措施也相當努力，但時間一久，戒心逐漸鬆懈，甚至質疑持續投資人力物力的必要性，政府應該正視。張上淳指出，新冠病毒可能常態化、流感化，政府務必加強衛教宣導，並著手提高醫護人員的教育訓練，並備妥足夠防疫物資，並針對不同流行病毒疫情，擬定不同防疫戰術，保持彈性，靈活指揮調度。

聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（右起）與台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎、台大副校長張上淳、疾管署署長周志浩、中研院院士賴明詔、前疾管局長蘇益仁教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成一起座談。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，台灣大學副校長張上淳就「從抗SARS到抗武漢新冠──台灣的因應」，提出建議。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（左四）與疾管署署長周志浩（右三）、台大副校長張上淳（右二）、台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎（右一）、中研院院士賴明詔、前疾管局長蘇益仁（左三）教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康（左二）、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成（左）一起座談。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，台灣大學副校長張上淳就「從抗SARS到抗武漢新冠──台灣的因應」，提出建議。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（右四）昨天與疾管署署長周志浩（右三）、台大副校長張上淳（右二）、台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎（右一）、中研院院士賴明詔（左四）、前疾管局長蘇益仁（左三）教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康（左二）、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成（左）一起座談。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，台灣大學副校長張上淳就「從抗SARS到抗武漢新冠──台灣的因應」，提出建議。記者潘俊宏／攝影


title: 抗疫專家會議／司徒惠康：國衛院多管齊下研發藥及疫苗

content_text:
對抗新冠肺炎，許多人將期盼放在藥物及疫苗研發，國家衛生研究院副院長司徒惠康坦言，雖然全球都想盡快找出疫苗和藥物，但考量疫苗用於人體，必須注意生物安全性，所以研發勢必需要較多的時間；但藥物部分，甚至過去抗煞及治療流感等基礎，國衛院已篩選出二百多種藥物，即將著手動物實驗。

聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，司徒惠康以「治療藥物與疫苗進展」，說明國衛院最新研發現況。

他指出，國衛院已經多管齊下，希望可以迅速可抑制新冠肺炎之藥物，除了篩選出二百多種藥物即將著手動物實驗，也積極投入美國吉立亞藥廠（Gilead Science）「瑞德西韋（Remdesivir）」的合成，預先演練合成步驟，以防範疫情爆發時之國家所需。

司徒惠康指出，新冠肺炎與SARS都屬於冠狀病毒，國內歷經SARS的衝擊後，已經建置相關可能藥物，現在正從抗SARS的藥物，挑選出二百多種目標藥物，並使用疾管署已經成功分離的新冠肺炎病毒株，進行貓與豬的動物實驗。

此外，運用人工智慧藥物分析與藥效預測系統，針對美國FDA核可用藥物共2684個，與天然物93514筆進行篩選，搜尋可能抑制新冠肺炎的藥物。

由於抗伊波拉病毒的藥物瑞德西偉似乎具有治療新冠肺炎的潛力，美國與中國已經針對該藥分別進行實驗。在此同時，國衛院生技與藥物研究所的藥物加值創新研發中心也預先演練瑞德西偉的合成步驟，透過五個合成步驟，目標是當大規模疫情發生時，國內可以自產公克級的瑞德西偉。

在疫苗部分，國衛院目前正全力投入合成胜肽疫苗開發，順利即可在兩個月得到結果，往臨床試驗前進。同步也推動重組病毒疫苗、DNA疫苗及次單位疫苗開發，預計這些平台技術可以在三至五個月取得動物實驗結果並驗證其效果，由其中選定最佳的疫苗進行產程開發，順利情況下可於半年內進入臨床前試驗及臨床人體試驗。同時，國衛院也已經跟國內疫苗廠商密集開會與討論，協助疫苗之開發。

過去為了預防SARS，國衛院存有廿多株的單株抗體，如今新冠肺炎與SARS非常相近，過去為SARS生產的單株抗體是一種治療性抗體，未來針對新冠肺炎的診斷與治療上，也可發展新產品。

聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（右起）與台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎、台大副校長張上淳、疾管署署長周志浩、中研院院士賴明詔、前疾管局長蘇益仁教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成一起座談。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報系舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，國衛院副院長司徒惠康以「治療藥物與疫苗進展」，說明國衛院最新研發現況。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報系舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，國衛院副院長司徒惠康以「治療藥物與疫苗進展」，說明國衛院最新研發現況。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（右四）昨天與疾管署署長周志浩（右三）、台大副校長張上淳（右二）、台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎（右一）、中研院院士賴明詔（左四）、前疾管局長蘇益仁（左三）教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康（左二）、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成（左）一起座談。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（左四）與疾管署署長周志浩（右三）、台大副校長張上淳（右二）、台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎（右一）、中研院院士賴明詔、前疾管局長蘇益仁（左三）教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康（左二）、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成（左）一起座談。記者潘俊宏／攝影

countries: 中國 美國 台灣


title: 抗疫專家會議／李秉穎：新冠肺炎非SARS 擔憂防疫漏洞

content_text:
新冠肺炎疫情持續延燒，台灣兒童感染症醫學會理事長李秉穎表示，台灣現在面對是不同的病毒，並非SARS再來，2003年抗煞之後，後他曾說過SARS不一定會再來，但可能出現類似SARS的疫情。面對新冠肺炎，他最擔憂民眾配合度不足、對中國大陸航班往來、疫情資訊不透明等，造成防疫漏洞。

聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，李秉穎以「預防社區感染可能出現的漏洞」為題，首先對民眾提出呼籲。

他指出，春節前曾上節目談到我們對新冠肺炎準備好了嗎？政府、醫院已備戰，但民眾似乎未必準備好了，例如現在還有民眾居家檢疫不配合，很多人認為無症狀不會傳染、亂填健康聲明書、不誠實申報旅遊史等。

李秉穎說，有些民眾認為他沒有被感染，因此不願意接受居家檢疫或隔離，雖然已有開罰，但仍有人逃避。他呼籲，全民要有共識，「防疫如同作戰」不是口號，違反規定者就是逃兵，作戰時以國家利益為優先，例如醫護人員不能說不要收治病患。

人權和自由不能無限擴大，李秉穎舉例，現在被發現酒駕者得到拘留所關一天，以此觀點來看，若檢疫者到處趴趴走，也應關起來，關個幾天他都贊成並覺得合理。

第二個憂慮是中國航班往來。李秉穎說，我國與中國未完全斷航，站在防疫角度來講，應該要暫停往來，但考量經濟活動無法如此，既然斷不掉，就要加強檢疫。因萬一台灣失守，如出現社區傳播，強度遠比與大陸斷航來得嚴重。

第三個憂慮則是中國資訊不透明。李秉穎說，台灣加強對旅遊國家的管制，「有沒有明顯的社區感染」是指標，而目前台灣所得到數據，以WHO只公布個案數而已。但若單一地方個案數多，會需要更多資訊，如當地報導、有無明顯傳染源等，都是很重要的事，但目前台灣都是間接資訊。非中國地區的新聞報導則較明確，如新加坡、日本等，沒有明顯傳染的個案也會通知，像日本只有一級，很多沒有傳染源的病例。

而在間接傳染上，他舉一家四口至義大利旅遊被不明傳染源傳染為例，明顯就是無症狀感染，建議所有旅遊者搭機時，都應提高警覺。2003年，李秉穎曾為一位七歲小女孩診治，她因肺炎住院，雖然沒有旅遊史，但被驗出SARS病毒，進一步詢問才發現，她在一個月前與自中國大陸回台的阿姨玩了一整天，推測可能因此感染。

李秉穎訒為，目前台灣社會有過度緊張的現象，例如很多民眾在藥局排隊買口罩，其實不必要，健康人不用戴口罩，進入醫院、或可能與國際旅客接觸等才需戴。他建議民眾有不適或生病，盡速就醫，並詳實告知醫師可能接觸史，以便後續判定。

聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（右起）與台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎、台大副校長張上淳、疾管署署長周志浩、中研院院士賴明詔、前疾管局長蘇益仁教授、國衛院副院長司徒惠康、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成一起座談。
記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報健康事業部舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰-從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，副總編輯洪淑惠（右四）與疾管署長周志浩（右三）、台大副校長張上淳（右二）、台灣兒童感染醫學會理事長李秉穎（右一）、中研院院士賴明詔（左四）、前疾管局長蘇益仁（左三）、國衛院副院長司徒惠康（左二）、長庚兒童感染科醫師黃玉成（左）一起座談。

記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，台灣兒童感染症醫學會理事長李秉穎以「預防社區感染可能出現的漏洞」為題，對民眾提出呼籲。記者潘俊宏／攝影聯合報系舉行「抗疫世紀挑戰─從SARS到新冠肺炎」專家會議，台灣兒童感染症醫學會理事長李秉穎以「預防社區感染可能出現的漏洞」為題，對民眾提出呼籲。記者潘俊宏／攝影

things: 防疫 經濟 人權

countries: 日本 台灣 新加坡 中國 義大利


title: 喙罨趕工 有工廠發生機台切斷員工中指意外

content_text:
喙罨欠貨，彰化縣田中的華新工廠，今是日夜都咧趕工。昨昏下晡四點外，一个當佇生產線咧當值的查某作業員，煞去予機台夾著正手中指的第一截，同事嘛趕緊共伊送過去病院急救。

這个今年58歲，姓顏的查某作業員，佇咧生產喙罨的「華新工廠」，已經做超過14冬囉。昨昏下晡，咧輪第二班生產線，負責出品彼款縛帶仔「外科手術喙罨」的時陣，煞去予機臺，夾斷「正手中指」的頭一截。同事眾人嘛趕緊鬥止血，閣將斷去的指頭仔，用冰角包起來，即時共伊送去病院急救。經過醫師判斷，決定將著傷的彼截指頭仔，切起來，尾手會閣取皮膚，手術掩起去，按呢生，別日仔復原才會較緊。

taiwan-subdivisions: 彰化縣 田中


title: 臺東業者聯手捒"消費券" 歇店.餐飲攏通使用

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺東 臺東縣

content_text:
政府已經宣佈，欲推出振興經濟，支持民間消費的優待券，毋過著等到疫情較恬的時才會實施。今臺東縣觀光業的業者，煩惱講時到會袂赴飼，就宣佈欲代先推出「臺東消費券」，計共有46間業者聯手，3月1號到月底這中間，民眾若去臺東縣觀光協會的網路專頁，共電子票券印落來，就會當拄蹛暝佮食食的開銷，一擺上加會當減甲500箍。

台東縣觀光業者先前已推出住半個月的不到1萬元的「清心養肺住房」專案，提升武漢肺炎疫情下滑的住房率，現在又再加碼，在政府推出消費抵扣券之前，率先全國推出「台東消費券」。包括星級的飯店和民宿、餐廳、交通業，共有46家台東的業者加入，自行吸收抵扣的金額，有業者評估，只要可以增加5%到10%的業績，就能勉強渡過武漢疫情衝擊的難關。

==飯店業者 高泉傑==
 我們自己吸收然後讓更多旅客
 更多國人甚至外國的朋友們來台東
 因為我們台東除了住宿
 還有很多吃的
 餐飲觀光旅遊交通都是非常便利

台東縣觀光協會表示，「台東消費券」的使用時間，從3月1號到31號為期一個月，民眾現在就可以到社團法人台東觀光協會的臉書專頁和Line下載，可抵扣在台東旅遊期間的住宿、租車、餐飲和買拌手禮，最高一次抵扣5百元，而且不限次數到加入的店家使用。

==台東縣觀光協會理事長 潘貴蘭==
 不限次數 也可以多日使用
 今天可以用 明天可以用
 早上可以用 下午也可以用

潘貴蘭表示，雖然這項優惠是3月開跑，不過現在已接近2月底，部份店家可能也會提前接受抵扣，遊客可以跟業者詢問，而且目前陸續會有新增加的旅宿業，預計會增加到1百家以上。

記者 章明哲 台東報導


title: 受肺炎疫情衝擊 欲4成上班族按算換頭路

countries: 臺灣 中國 日本 澳門 香港

content_text:
根據人力資源中人業者的調查，受著疫情影響，有欲四成坐辦公桌仔的民眾，想欲換頭路，特別是派去中國的，真濟想欲調轉來臺灣，甚至直接換頭家。另外國內產業影響上濟的觀光旅遊業、賣食的，規个產業攏受著嚴重的影響。

==NS==
 各位大家好
 歡迎蒞臨台北燈節

現場即席秀一口流利日文，這些導覽內容，對象原本是日本遊客，受武漢肺炎疫情影響，日本團取消，翻譯工作少了一大半，加上近期台北國際書展等大型活動都相繼取消，從二月開始，所有接案全飛了，收入一口氣少了兩三萬，幾乎快斷炊。
 ==接案族 黃小姐==
 台北國際書展
 那因為整個是延期
 所以那一筆收入
 面前就是沒有的狀態
 就是可能只有幾千塊這樣子
 就是（收入）很零星

還有手搖飲料連鎖店"歇腳亭"，也受疫情影響，近期來客數少了兩三成，目前只能靠外送服務衝業績。至於海外布局，因為鎖定的歐美市場，中國展店數較少，整體衝擊不大。

==餐飲事業發言人 侯升偉==
 來客數就已經掉了三成
 很大的一部分
 重心放在外送的部分
 那這一次的疫情
 包含這個延後開學的問題
 所以也造成外送的訂單
 下降了很多

根據人力仲介業者調查，觀光、餐飲服務業，受這波疫情影響最大，三月、四月無薪假就會浮現，有四成工作人員有轉職計畫，也有近一成五的業者，暫緩徵才，或員工錄取延後報到。

==人力銀行業者 李大華==
 已經找到工作了
 甚至有報到時間
 但是因為疫情還沒有終了的時候
 所以也被告知說
 暫時先不用報到
 甚至有些投遞履歷
 拿到面試通知
 也被告知暫時不用來面試
 這些都表示說
 目前他們在廠商徵才的情況底下
 是一個凍結的情形

為配合防疫措施，出入境嚴格控管，將港澳提升到第三級警告，觀光最新公告，港澳組團旅遊禁令，從原先3月底，延長到4月底，持續暫停旅行業組團，前往香港、澳門地區。

記者 黃立偉 張國樑 台北報導


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: TPP unveils a relief bill for industries hit by virus

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS:The proposed legislation would penalize firms for denying staff disease prevention leave and unpaid workers would be eligible for an allowance
Taiwan People’s Party caucus whip Lai Hsiang-ling, center, and other party legislators in Taipei yesterday promote their draft bill for relief for businesses and employees affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers yesterday unveiled their relief bill for industries affected by COVID-19 that includes a proposed fine of up to NT$450,000 (US$14,924) for employers that deny workers the right to take disease prevention leave.

Following the Executive Yuan’s plan to issue retail coupons, the TPP’s bill also includes NT$1,000 of coupons, but places limits on their use to industries and businesses deemed affected by the virus.

The funding for relief efforts and assistance programs outlined in the bill is capped at NT$110 billion — the central government’s budget surplus from fiscal years 2016 to 2019, TPP caucus whip Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶) said.

Government agencies and companies must allow employees to take time off if they are the parents or legal guardians of children younger than 12 who require care due to the virus situation, Lai said, adding that employers should not force such workers to take sick, personal or annual leave.

As caucus members have received numerous complaints from workers who were forced by their employers to take work trips to China — where several provinces and cities have been placed under level 1 and 2 alerts due to the virus outbreak — the right to refuse assignments to virus-hit regions must be set in law, she said.

Under the bill, employers would not be allowed to demand that employees work in areas under level 1 and 2 alerts.

If, after negotiations, a worker is willing to travel to such areas, the employer must report to the Ministry of Labor on a weekly basis the number of its workers in the areas, it says.

Employers must not consider employees absent without leave if they are caring for virus-affected family members or ordered to undergo quarantine, the bill says.

Employers may not deduct wages or bonuses if an employee does not take sick leave within a year, and if they do, employees can file a complaint with the ministry, it says.

The bill stipulates fines of between NT$20,000 and NT$300,000 for employers that refuse to allow workers to take leave due to the virus situation.

Ministry officials can reduce or increase the fine by up to half of the total amount depending on the number of people involved and the scope of infractions, meaning a maximum fine of NT$450,000, it says.

Workers who take leave due to the crisis and do not receive wages or stipends for assignments can apply with the ministry or another designated government agency for a living allowance, the bill says, adding that if they are in home quarantine, they would be eligible for compensation.

The bill stipulates the living allowance as 60 percent of the previous year’s average of all workers insured under the mandatory labor insurance program, while quarantine compensation would be determined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but should be no less than NT$600 per day.

The bill also calls for central government agencies to provide economic relief for small and medium-sized enterprises, including loan extensions of up to three months, or one year in the case of working capital loans, with the agreement of banks.

The bill’s relief and assistance programs would be in effect from March 1 to Dec. 31, Lai said, adding that the legislature could vote to extend that period.

The Executive Yuan should provide a report on execution of the programs and budgetary items after the first three months, and the premier should give an oral presentation at a legislative question-and-answer session after six months, she said.

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content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Taipei mulls disease prevention taxi fleet

NOBODY LEFT BEHIND:The city is also planning to find hotels that would be willing to house foreigners placed under home quarantine, the deputy mayor said
A Taiwan Taxi Co employee checks a driver’s temperature at the company’s headquarters in Taipei yesterday as another sprays antiseptic on his taxi.Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the city government is planning to form a disease prevention taxi fleet, specializing in transporting people under home quarantine to hospital, but it would gauge demand for the service first.

As there are more than 2,500 people under home quarantine for COVID-19 prevention in Taipei, Huang said that a taxi fleet could be established to work with the city government’s health and civil affairs departments to take people under home quarantine to hospitals safely.

If the taxi drivers lose income during their training or because they are placed under home quarantine after taking passengers that are later confirmed to have COVID-19, the city government could subsidize them using a planned disaster relief fund, she said.

The Taipei Department of Information and Tourism would also negotiate with hotels in the city to find those that are willing to let foreign nationals placed under home quarantine stay for 14 days, she said, adding that the hotels’ deficits would also be covered by the city government.

After hosting a municipal meeting on COVID-19 response measures, Huang said that the Central Epidemic Command Center has set new rules for transporting people under home quarantine to healthcare facilities, so the city government would need to clarify whether there is demand for the taxi fleet.

The center ordered that people under home quarantine who experience respiratory symptoms be taken to a hospital in an ambulance after the situations is confirmed by the local health department, and those without respiratory symptoms could seek medical assistance through telemedicine services, she said.

However, as the center has clearly stated that people under home quarantine cannot seek medical treatment on their own, the city government would have to ask it to clarify what people should do if they are under quarantine, do not have respiratory symptoms, cannot seek medical treatment through telemedicine services, and do not have family members that can drive them to a hospital, Huang said.

If there is demand for a disease prevention taxi fleet, the city government plans to adopt a charter service system by designating a few taxis to provide the service with protective measures, and which would be dispatched by the city government, she added.

She announced that the city’s 12 district health centers would start selling masks from tomorrow, and people could purchase them using their National Health Insurance card, under the same rules as when buying them at pharmacies.

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title: SPORTS BRIEFS

content_text:
FOOTBALL

Brees aims to keep playing

Quarterback Drew Brees on Tuesday said that he intends to play for the New Orleans Saints again next season. The 41-year-old announced his intention to return for what would be his 20th NFL season in a social media post. “My feelings about the 2020 season! I look forward to the grind and the journey, for the reward at the end will be worth it,” Brees wrote. “Love you #WhoDatNation. Let’s make another run at it.” Brees missed five games with a throwing-hand injury that required surgery, but was still productive last season while leading New Orleans to a third straight playoff appearance. Brees’ 74.3 percent completion rate ranked second in NFL history behind only his 2018 record of 74.4 percent. He also passed for 27 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions and was selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl, the 13th of his career. Brees is the NFL’s all-time leader in completions with 6,867, yards passing with 77,416 and touchdowns with 547. Brees’ contract situation remains unclear. His last contract voids automatically at the end of the current league year, which concludes on March 18.

MOTORSPORT

Newman awake after crash

Driver Ryan Newman is awake and able to speak after a horrifying last-lap crash at Monday’s Daytona 500 resulted in him being rushed to a nearby hospital in a serious condition, his racing team said on Tuesday. “Ryan Newman remains under the care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida,” Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement on social media. “He is awake and speaking with family and doctors.” After competitor Ryan Blaney tapped the 42-year-old’s car from behind during the NASCAR race, Newman’s vehicle careened into a wall, flipped into the air and was hit by another car on the driver’s side. Newman, who won the Daytona 500 in 2008, was immediately transported to a hospital following the incident, which stunned onlookers and fans.

SOCCER

Below-belt bite leads to ban

An amateur player was suspended for five years in a local league in eastern France for biting one of his opponents below the belt during a post-match fight. The incident occurred after a second-division game between Terville and Soetrich on Nov. 17 last year. Local media reported that after one player from each side started fighting, another Terville player joined in, apparently trying to separate them. The Soetrich player responded by biting the peacemaker’s penis. The victim required about 10 stitches and had to take four days off from work. “The events took place after the match, in the stadium car park. There was an altercation, an escalation and things got worse,” said Emmanuel Saling of the Mosellan soccer district, adding that the blame was “more or less shared.” Saling said that because the “case was quite original,” the disciplinary committee had called an expert witness before deciding to suspend the Soetrich player for five years. The injured Terville player was suspended for six months. “It’s quite rare to have sanctions of several years, there are less than 10 per year,” Saling said. “The case was a bit saucy, but ... there must have been some nasty tension, so the smiles on the disciplinary committee quickly faded.”

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content_text:
Liverpool’s Fabinho, left, heads the ball over teammate Joe Gomez, center, and Atletico Madrid’s Vitolo in their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Tuesday.Photo: AP
Liverpool were on Tuesday the victims of an old-fashioned Atletico Madrid masterclass as Diego Simeone’s side ground out a 1-0 win in Madrid to give themselves hope of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Saul Niguez raised the roof at a bouncing Wanda Metropolitano by scoring in the fourth minute before Atletico’s defense kicked in, suffocating the European champions and denying them a single shot on target.

“Tonight is one of those nights you don’t forget,” Simeone said. “We haven’t gone through, but we have beaten the best team in the world.”

If Alvaro Morata had not slipped at a crucial moment, Atletico might even have taken a two-goal lead to Anfield, where they can expect an onslaught next month.

“We are not 5-0 down,” Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp said. “We don’t think it will be easy, but as long as we can get 11 players in Liverpool shirts we will give everything we have. And for all the Atletico fans that can get a ticket — welcome to Anfield.”

If Liverpool remain favorites to go through, the roar from the Atletico fans at the final whistle, aimed at their fist-pumping players on the pitch, suggested that Simeone’s team now have belief.

Few had tipped them to keep this tie even alive for the second leg given their own stuttering form, in contrast with Liverpool, unbeaten in the Premier League, and gunning for a treble.

Klopp on Monday said that Atletico were a “results machine,” but the temptation was to see his words as platitudes, not an accurate reflection of a side who sit 13 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid and had already lost six times this season.

Yet, Atletico under Simeone have also become synonymous with upsetting the odds, just as they did when winning the Spanish title in 2013-2014 and then twice reaching the Champions League final.

For all their failings this season, they summoned that spirit to produce a throwback performance full of tenacity, resilience and guts that was always going to be needed to give them any chance of success.

Simeone sprung a surprise by starting Thomas Lemar for the first time this year, while Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa both returned from injury, the former from the start and the latter off the bench in the second half.

Liverpool, who began with their expected lineup, have blitzed numerous opponents with explosive starts, but they were the ones rocking early on as Atletico snapped at their heels, pressed hard and relished being first to every loose ball.

Atletico took the lead, aided by a hint of fortune as Liverpool failed to clear a corner and the ball cannoned back off the foot of Fabinho for Saul to stab in from close range.

On the sideline, Simeone beckoned his players to stay calm, but they were celebrating in the corner, while in the stands, the fans were delirious and given hope.

Atletico were given a lead to defend and the rest of the half was largely a picture of Liverpool dominating the ball, but failing to break down the 10 red-and-white shirts in front of them.

Their best chances fell to Mohamed Salah, but he passed Jan Oblak’s mishit clearance to the offside Firmino before side-footing into an open net and then saw a deflected shot fly over. Oblak’s error came shortly after an equally unusual mistake from Virgil van Dijk, whose poor header might have proved costly, only for Morata to miss the chance from the angle.

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title: Atletico stun Liverpool, keep hopes alive


content_text:
Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland, left, scores past Paris Saint-Germain’s Keylor Navas in their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, on Tuesday.Photo: Reuters
Teenage record-breaker Erling Braut Haaland on Tuesday warned that Borussia Dortmund still have it all to do to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, even after his two goals sank Neymar’s Paris Saint-Germain.

Haaland netted either side of a Neymar equalizer, with the Brazilian superstar scoring on his return from injury, as the French champions crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Dortmund in the last-16 first leg.

“We want to go through, it’s going to be a hard game,” Haaland said of the return leg in Paris on March 11. “But we are a good team.”

Haaland’s teammate Emre Can, who alongside Axel Witsel worked tirelessly in Dortmund’s midfield to contain Neymar and France striker Kylian Mbappe, said that the hosts’ defense had been key.

“It was a big statement from the team how we defended today. We know it’s not over — it’s just halftime,” said Can, whose permanent transfer from Juventus was confirmed on Tuesday.

However, the night belonged to Haaland, who has 11 goals in his first seven games for Dortmund and warned there is more to come.

“I feel like I still can do a lot better,” Haaland said. “I have to work hard to improve to play better at this level.”

Having also scored eight goals for Salzburg in the group stages before his 20 million euro (US$21.6 million) transfer to Dortmund, Haaland made Champions League history.

His tally of 10 goals in his first seven Champions League matches is a new record in the competition and makes him the joint top scorer alongside Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

The teenage goal machine has scored 39 times in 29 games this season for Salzburg and Dortmund.

The 19-year-old had already sent records tumbling since arriving in Dortmund last month, when he became the first player to score a hat-trick off the bench on his Bundesliga debut.

His incredible strike for his second goal on Tuesday overshadowed Neymar’s return from a rib injury, with PSG desperate to break their last-16 jinx having exited at this stage in the competition in each of the past three seasons.

The presence of the world’s most expensive player was a major boost for his team, after Neymar missed last season’s surprise last-16 loss to Manchester United with a foot injury.

He also sat out the second leg of their defeat by Real Madrid at the same stage in 2018.

PSG’s German coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that Neymar’s lack of match fitness had been a factor in the away defeat, but said that his team still has time to find their form.

“Neymar hadn’t played for a fortnight, but he is very important for Kylian [Mbappe], there is harmony between them and if Neymar lacks rhythm, it’s immediately noticeable,” Tuchel said.

“We didn’t have enough possession, we made too many easy mistakes, we weren’t smart enough and we lost the ball too early,” he said.

“It’s difficult, but it’s 2-1 and we still have a few games left to get back into the rhythm,” he added.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre echoed Haaland’s insistence that the result gives Dortmund only a slender advantage, with PSG’s passionate home fans set to get behind their team in the return leg.

“Of course it’s a dangerous result, but we played well in both defense and attack,” the Swiss coach said. “However, as things stand, it’s 2-1 to us.”

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title: Teen sensation Haaland lifts Dortmund over PSG


content_text:
US retail giant Walmart Inc did not have a merry Christmas as disappointing toy and clothing sales hit the chain’s bottom line, the company said on Tuesday.

The global chain said it has not yet been able to estimate the financial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, where it has a large supply chain.

Walmart said that it is watching the outbreak, but “has not included any potential financial effects in its assumptions.”

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said it is “too difficult to tell at this early stage exactly how to forecast” the financial impact of the outbreak, but he acknowledged that getting goods out of China “is an issue.”

The company, which has 11,500 stores located in 27 countries, including more than 430 in China, had responded to a US-China trade dispute by reorganizing its supply chain so as not to depend too much on a single country or geographic area.

However, the retailer, which is a staple for low-income households, saw sales slow in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31.

Global revenue increased 2.1 percent to US$141.7 billion in the quarter, falling below expectations of US$142.5 billion. Comparable store sales in the US market, a key indicator for retailers, rose 1.9 percent, well below the gain analysts had projected and far slower than the 3.2 jump in the prior three months.

“The fourth quarter was not our best,” McMillon told analysts on a conference call.

While the quarter started strong, “in the few weeks before Christmas, we experienced some softness in a few general merchandise categories in our US stores,” Walmart chief financial officer Brett Biggs said in a statement.

“We understand the factors that affected our results and are developing plans to address them,” he said.

Biggs told analysts that “February has started well.”

The company said there were softer apparel, toy and game sales, and that “a lack of newness in gaming” was a factor.

Some analysts already had warned that mild winter weather in the US could have negative consequences for retailers, as was the case for Target Corp, Walmart’s main rival.

Even with the disappointing results, Walmart posted a 12.3 percent gain in net income to US$4.1 billion in the quarter, with a 123 percent surge for the full year to just shy of US$15 billion.

Earnings per share of US$1.38 compared with the expected US$1.43. For the coming year, it expects to achieve US$5 to US$5.15 per share.

The company also boosted its dividend to investors by US$0.04 to US$2.16 a share.

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title: Disappointing holiday hits Walmart


title: Virus Outbreak: Chinese firms struggle to pay staff

content_text:
People wait in line in Beijing to buy steamed buns as a shop employee, left, collects payment from a customer using a container taped to the end of a stick as part of the shop’s efforts to limit direct contact with customers.Photo: AFP
A growing number of China’s private companies have cut wages, delayed paychecks or stopped paying staff completely, saying that the economic toll of the COVID-19 outbreak has left them unable to cover their labor costs.

To slow the spread of the virus that has claimed more than 2,000 lives, Chinese authorities and big employers have encouraged people to stay home.

Shopping malls and restaurants are empty; amusement parks and theaters are closed; non-essential travel is all but forbidden.

What is good for containment has been lousy for business. With classes canceled at a coding-and-robotics school in Hangzhou, employees are to lose 30 to 50 percent of their wages.

The Lionsgate Entertainment World theme park in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, is closed, and workers have been told to use up their paid vacation time and get ready for unpaid leave.

Across China, companies are telling workers that there is no money for them — or that they should not have to pay full salaries to quarantined employees who do not come to work.

It is too soon to say how many people have lost wages as a result of the outbreak, but in a survey of more than 9,500 workers by Chinese recruitment Web site Zhaopin (招聘), more than one-third said they were aware it was a possibility.

The salary freezes are further evidence of the economic hit to China’s volatile private sector — the fastest growing part of the world’s second-biggest economy — and among small firms especially.

It also suggests that the stress would extend beyond the health risks to the financial pain that comes with job cuts and salary instability.

Unsurprisingly, hiring has all but ground to a halt: Zhaopin has estimated the number of job resumes submitted in the first week after the outbreak last month was down 83 percent from a year earlier.

“The coronavirus may hit Chinese consumption harder than SARS 17 years ago,” Bloomberg Intelligence chief Asia economist Chang Shu (舒暢) said. “And SARS walloped consumption.”

By law, companies have to comply with a full pay cycle this month before cutting wages to the minimum, said Edgar Choi (蔡瑋律), author of Commercial Law in a Minute and host of a legal-advice account on WeChat (微信).

For companies that are not making enough to cover payroll, it is permissible to delay salaries, as long as staff get the money they are owed eventually.

Choi said that he has heard from thousands of foreign workers who said their payments have been cut in half this month or halted altogether.

That, he said, is illegal.

“A lot of these employees are foreigners, they don’t know Chinese,” he said. “Whatever their boss tells them, that’s it. It’s easy for them to get bullied.”

NIO Inc (蔚來汽車), an electric-vehicle maker based in Shanghai, has delayed paychecks by a week.

Company chairman William Li (李斌) also encouraged employees to accept restricted stock units in lieu of a cash bonus.

At Foxconn Technology Group’s (富士康科技集團) Shenzhen factory, workers returning from the Lunar New Year break are quarantined in the dorms before they can return to work.

They are getting paid, but only about one-third of what they would earn if they were working.

Without full, regular paychecks and few places to spend them these days anyway, Chinese consumers could cut spending in some categories to zero, Shu said.

It might not bounce back: For example, if you skip your daily latte for two months, you are not likely to make up for those missed drinks later in the year, she said.

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title: EDITORIAL: KMT unwilling to reform

people: 馬英九 蔡正元

content_text:
The latest drama within the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has certain members calling for an end to infighting and saying that the party needs to heal itself after last month’s electoral defeats. They seem to be forgetting the need to reform the party to address the reasons behind the losses.

In a meeting on Feb. 5, the KMT Central Standing Committee voted to allow independent Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) to be reinstated as a member of the party.

On Monday, former KMT secretary-general King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), former KMT Youth League head Lin Chia-hsing (林家興) and lawyer Kuang Bo-teng (匡伯騰), among others, held a news conference expressing their reservations about the decision and saying that it would be better left until after the party elects new committee members and a new chair on March 7.

King’s intervention clearly struck a nerve with KMT Deputy Secretary-General Alex Tsai (蔡正元), who on Monday night questioned on Facebook what King had against Fu. He asked if Fu’s image was problematic and wondered how it would stack up against those of other KMT members, including former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and himself, who he claimed were both victims of charges cooked up by the Democratic Progressive Party.

The next day, Lin Hsing-er (林杏兒), head of the KMT Department of Youth Affairs, appealed for calm at another news conference, urging younger party members not to get involved in infighting.

The obvious tension between King and Tsai involves power struggles that stretch back more than a decade. When King was more active in Taiwanese politics, he was regarded as Ma’s right-hand man. Ma was instrumental in kicking Fu, who had only recently joined the KMT from the People First Party, out of the party in 2009, ostensibly for registering as an independent in the Hualien County commissioner race after the KMT declined to nominate him as its candidate.

However, behind all of this was Ma’s attempt to emasculate the KMT factions that were helping cultivate the local power bases and vested interests bolstering the image of corruption that Ma had vowed to expunge. Fu was representative of this strong local factionalism. It is not for nothing that he earned the epithet “King of Hualien.”

Lin asked what was wrong with the KMT gaining another legislative seat by bringing Fu in from the cold. Tsai had made the same point the night before and accused King of stirring up tensions within a party still licking its wounds after sound electoral defeats.

Lin was possibly being naive; Tsai was definitely being disingenuous, coldly pragmatic and strategic, but also shortsighted and unwise. He might want to draw a parallel between Fu and his narrative of a “wronged” Ma and himself fighting politically motivated prosecutions, but Fu is a convicted criminal, and Tsai knows it. Fu has been involved in several instances of insider trading dating back to before 2000, and he has served time in prison. The Hualien District Prosecutors’ Office charged him with tax evasion as recently as October 2017.

Kuang questioned why, at a time when the party is trying to persuade Taiwanese that it is serious about reform, its first move would be to reinstate some one as controversial as Fu, just because it would be advantageous to have one more legislator on its side.

The KMT did not lose the elections because it lacked unity; its divisions go way back. The reason it lost is that the electorate believed it to be out of date and out of touch. Nothing in the above would suggest it has learned its lesson.

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title: People come together to overcome mask crisis

content_text:
The COVID-19 outbreak has triggered panic buying of masks in Taiwan. Starting on Feb. 6, the government centralized the distribution of masks and imposed a limit of two per person per week.

Despite the restrictions, Taiwan does not have the capacity to domestically produce sufficient masks to meet demand. In response, a campaign to persuade the public to forgo masks unless they really need them, called “I’m okay, you take one first,” has gone viral.

This spontaneous outpouring of concern for fellow citizens and a willingness to shoulder hardships together shows the strength of civic power in democratic societies.

Contrast this with distressing reports from China of hostility and discrimination toward people from Wuhan — the epicenter of the outbreak — by their fellow citizens. This includes stories of Wuhan-based migrant workers who, upon returning to their village for the Lunar New Year holiday, were locked up in their homes by fellow villagers, thrown out by their families or even prohibited from entering their village by knife-wielding vigilantes.

It is entirely understandable that people want to look after their own safety, and prevent themselves and their family from being infected by a frightening new virus. Nevertheless, this kind of excessive and inappropriate behavior is utterly bereft of empathy.

Some people who are worried that the virus would cause a full-scale epidemic in Taiwan have selfishly chosen to stockpile masks. The government’s rationing system has restricted freedom of choice, but sacrificing an element of personal liberty for the wider public good is a choice that even liberal academics acknowledge is a necessary evil.

However, such restrictions must rest on a legal foundation, and be transparent to ensure that personal rights are protected and privileged groups do not receive preferential treatment.

The “I’m okay, you take one first” campaign is an expression of consideration and tenderness toward those in need, treating strangers as if they were their own kith and kin, and showing that all Taiwanese are part of a shared community.

It demonstrates the importance of a sense of belonging, central to the philosophy of communitarianism. This allows us to more deeply identify with and feel a sense of pride toward our native land. This, in turn, helps engender a sense of responsibility toward our community and a willingness to make sacrifices.

There is reason to hope that the majority of Taiwanese will respond positively to the campaign, as there is already a social consensus that prevention is the joint responsibility of the government and all Taiwanese.

This consensus exists because the public trusts the government: They can see that the Central Epidemic Command Center has been expending enormous effort to protect Taiwan from the virus, and when people’s rights are protected by the authorities, it breeds self-discipline and virtuous behavior.

By contrast, when people from Wuhan post videos online in utter despair, warning people not to trust their government, when China’s government delays publicly announcing the existence of the outbreak, bungles the supply of virus-prevention equipment and suppresses data on the true number of dead and infected individuals, it is not very surprising that Chinese officials cannot win the trust of the public.

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Virus Outbreak: Passengers leave virus-struck ship in Japan, but new infections detected

Australians from the cruise ship Diamond Princess board a Qantas charter flight at Haneda Airport in Tokyo yesterday.Photo: Reuters
Hundreds of relieved passengers yesterday disembarked from a cruise ship struck by COVID-19 in Japan after being given the all-clear, but health officials said that 79 new cases had been detected.

With 621 positive cases, the Diamond Princess is easily the biggest cluster of infected people outside China, and Japan has faced mounting criticism for its quarantine arrangements as passengers disperse across the world.

Those newly diagnosed with the virus would be taken off the ship to hospital, and after being treated would have to undergo another quarantine.

Earlier, those who had tested negative for COVID-19 began leaving the ship.

“I’m relieved... I want to take a good rest,” said a departing 77-year-old Japanese passenger, who declined to give his name.

He said that he would be boarding Japan’s famously crowded railway system to head home.

A fleet of yellow-dotted city buses, plus a dozen or so taxis, whisked away the passengers, many of whom dragged their luggage behind them and waved to former shipmates on balconies as they disembarked.

For the 500 passengers leaving the Diamond Princess after testing negative, a difficult 14-day quarantine period has come to an end after their dream cruise turned into a nightmare of fear and boredom, confined in many cases to small windowless cabins.

“Our last deep gratitude to the crews and captain for such an amazing care ... during the epic crisis... We can’t wait to see you again soon on board again,” tweeted passenger Yardley Wong, who left after 14 days cooped in a small cabin with her six-year-old son.

Many were left onboard with an anxious wait for test results that would allow them to disembark.

Disembarkation is expected to take about three days as more test results become available. The crew is to begin a new quarantine when the last passenger has left.

People in Yokohama appeared supportive of the decision to allow the passengers out, despite the COVID-19 fears.

“I am sure those people on board must be really worried. I hope they can go back to their normal life soon,” 51-year-old Isamu Habiro said.

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title: NHL-worst Red Wings beat Canadiens, sweep season

content_text:
The Detroit Red Wings’ Mike Green, left, challenges the Montreal Canadiens’ Tomas Tatar for the puck in their NHL game in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday.Photo: AP
The Detroit Red Wings can only wish they played Montreal more than just four times this season.

Andreas Athanasiou on Tuesday night scored his second goal with 5 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in regulation to cap Detroit’s three-goal third period, helping the Red Wings rally to beat the Canadiens 4-3 to sweep the season series.

“Feels good to beat them four times,” veteran Red Wings center Dylan Larkin said. “They’ve got a good goalie, a good team. That’s a team that the last couple of years beat us pretty bad.”

Detroit have earned four of their NHL-low 15 victories against the Canadiens.

Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier did not give up a goal in the third period and finished with 19 saves.

Carey Price had 21 saves for the Canadiens, who have lost five straight for the third time this season.

Nate Thompson and Jeff Petry scored to give Montreal a 2-0 lead in the first, and Nick Suzuki’s goal put them ahead 3-1 after two periods.

Detroit’s Robby Fabbri had a goal in the first period and teammate Mike Green scored an equalizing goal midway through the third period for his 500th career point. The veteran defenseman scored on a shot that fluttered past Price.

“With Carey, he probably knew where I was going,” Green said. “Good thing I flubbed it. I’ll take it.”

Athanasiou scored his first goal early in the third and followed up later in the period with the winner, giving him 10 goals in 45 games.

The performance perhaps increased his trade value for a rebuilding team that might deal the speedy, 25-year-old forward for draft picks or prospects by the deadline on Monday next week.

Montreal had chances to avoid getting swept by a team that has by far been the league’s worst this season and failed.

The Canadiens failed to take advantage of a power play late in the third period and their comeback chances took a hit when Joel Armia was called for roughing with 2 minutes, 44 seconds left.

“I can’t put my skates on and play for them,” Canadiens coach Claude Julien said. “We need them to play 60 minutes.”

In other results, it was:

‧ Flyers 5, Blue Jackets 1

‧ Penguins 5, Maple Leafs 2

‧ Senators 7, Sabres 4

‧ Hurricanes 4, Predators 1

‧ Blues 3, Devils 0

‧ Jets 6, Kings 3

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content_text:
Activists protest Changhua industrial park plan

PRECISION MACHINERY:Environmentalists question the need to develop an industrial park as a large portion of the land at the nearby Erlin Science Park remains unused
About a dozen environmentalists yesterday rallied outside the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in Taipei to protest a plan by the Changhua County Government to develop an industrial park dedicated to precision machinery in Erlin Township (二林).

A fifth review of an environmental impact assessment for the proposed park was scheduled to be held at the agency yesterday.

Since 2014, the project has undergone four reviews spanning three county commissioners: Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源), Wei Ming-ku (魏明谷) and incumbent Wang Hui-mei (王惠美), Changhua Environmental Protection Union representative Jenny Wu (吳慧君) said.

There are about 3,800 hectares of idle industrial land in Taiwan, she said, adding that at the Erlin Science Park next to the site of the proposed project, a large portion of the 101 hectares of land earmarked for the precision machinery industry remains unused.

One of the reasons developers cited for not utilizing the science park was that paying rent there for 20 years would be the equivalent of buying land, she said.

However, based on the union’s calculations, the cost of purchasing land would be “eight to 19 times” that of renting, she said.

Developers should prioritize the use of the existing land at the science park instead of continuing to “sacrifice agricultural land,” Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association attorney Tsai Ya-ying (蔡雅瀅) said.

People might think that agricultural land “does not matter,” but if there is a global food shortage, Taiwan would have to find a way to maintain its food security, she said.

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people: 卓伯源 魏明谷 王惠美


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Ban on HK, Macau tours extended until April 30

CANCELATIONS:The Civil Aeronautics Administration said passenger traffic over last week dropped by more than 80 percent from the weekly average a year earlier
Travel agents are barred from organizing tours to Hong Kong and Macau until April 30, given the COVID-19 outbreak in the two territories and because airlines have reduced flights to both, the Tourism Bureau said yesterday.

The ban also applies to tours to a third country if it involves transiting in either territory, the bureau said.

The bureau on Feb. 6 announced that all tours to Hong Kong and Macau would be banned until this Saturday, except for tour groups transiting in the territories.

The Central Epidemic Command Center on Monday last week raised Hong Kong and Macau in the nation’s travel advisory system from a Level 2 alert to a Level 3, the highest level, after Hong Kong declared community outbreaks and cluster infections of COVID-19.

Following that announcement, the bureau extended the ban on group tours to the two territories until March 31 and included those transiting through the territories.

Given the continuing outbreak, if travelers want to cancel planned trips, the terms of the Fixed Contracts for Overseas Tours state that either the travel agent or travelers might cancel tours to Level-3 areas without being subject to liability for compensation, as the contract cannot be completely fulfilled due to force majeure, or causes not attributable to either party, the bureau said yesterday.

“Travel agents who had arranged for travelers to transit through Hong Kong or Macau before reaching their final destinations could switch to other transit airports after securing the consent of travelers. If the travelers do not agree to the agreement, they could still be refunded under the terms of the Fixed Contracts for Overseas Tours,” the bureau said.

More than 70 percent of flights across the Taiwan Strait and on the Taiwan-Hong Kong routes and Taiwan-Macau routes were canceled between Monday last week and Sunday, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said.

Passenger traffic during that period dropped by more than 80 percent from the weekly average for December last year due to flight cancelations, the agency said.

Additional reporting by staff writer and CNA

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title: Signatures for petition to recall Han pass 450,000

content_text:
Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, center, talks to a child at a municipal daycare center in Lingya District yesterday.Photo: Huang Hsu-lei, Taipei Times
More than 450,000 signatures have been collected for the second-phase petition of a campaign to recall Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), with that number expected to surpass 500,000 by the middle of next month, Wecare Kaohsiung founder Aaron Yin (尹立) said yesterday, urging Han to “know when to quit.”

The recall petition organizers are “very close” to reaching their goal of 480,000 signatures, and the signatures include about 100,000 that were collected by Citizens Mowing Action, he said.

Organizers expect to have more than 500,000 signatures by the time they are to submit the second-phase petition papers to the Central Election Commission in the middle of next month, he said.

That they have been able to continue to collect signatures is an expression of the “collective will” of Kaohsiung’s residents, he said.

Despite a shortage of funds and resources, organizers would “fight to the end,” and they hope Taiwanese would support this “proud moment in the history of democracy,” he added.

The Civil Servants Election And Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) permits political donations to election campaigns, but there are no such rules to aid recalls, Yin said.

He has consulted a lawyer about ways the campaign can attract more resources, he said.

Under the act, a review of a recall petition’s signatures must be completed within 40 days of their submission, and if deemed sufficient, a recall vote must be held 20 to 60 days later.

The threshold for the second stage of the recall bid is set at 10 percent of a city or county’s population, or about 228,000 in Kaohsiung’s case, while a formal recall would require at least 580,000 votes, or one-fourth of eligible voters in Kaohsiung in the final stage.

Asked about Yin’s comments, Kaohsiung Information Bureau Director-General Cheng Chao-hsin (鄭照新) said that city government colleagues are focused on running the city, including efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, and promoting bilingual education and agricultural products.

The January elections are over, while the COVID-19 outbreak is still changing, he said.

Instead of pursuing political goals, the city government is working for its residents every day, he added.

Meanwhile, former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), who is running in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) chairperson election, said in a livestreamed interview that Han is “a very important asset and the pride of the KMT,” and that the party should rely on him.

Hau said he has “100 percent confidence” in Han’s ability to govern, and the next KMT chairperson should work closely with Han and help him avoid being recalled.

The KMT should cherish Han’s accomplishments in Kaohsiung and help him win the approval of the city’s residents, Hau said.

“Without Han Kuo-yu, the KMT could not have accomplished what it has,” he said.

In addition, those who voted for Han [in the Jan. 11 presidential election] are people who identify with the KMT, so the KMT should do a good job of internal reforms to repay them, Hau said.

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people: 鄭照新 郝龍斌 韓國瑜


title: Tech event to fight disinformation opens

content_text:
From left, Patricia Watts, director of the Technology Engagement Team of the US Department of State’s Global Engagement Center, Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang and American Institute in Taiwan Deputy Director Raymond Greene give the thumbs-up at the opening of the “US-Taiwan Tech Challenge: Countering Disinformation and Propaganda” in Taipei yesterday.Photo: CNA
The “US-Taiwan Tech Challenge: Countering Disinformation and Propaganda,” opened yesterday in Taipei as part of efforts by the two nations to develop innovative technologies to curtail the spread of disinformation.

Co-organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the US Department of State’s Global Engagement Center, the two-day event aims to advance the development of technologies that offer solutions to help expose, understand or counter misinformation and disinformation, the AIT said.

AIT Deputy Director Raymond Greene and Patricia Watts, who is also the director of the department’s Technology Engagement Team, attended the opening ceremony at the Taipei International Convention Center.

“We are confident that the assembled technologists, experts and others at this tech challenge will be able to develop cutting-edge solutions to the challenges posed by disinformation,” Greene said.

Countering disinformation is one of the most complex challenges facing democratic societies around the world, he said.

Taiwan is on the front line in the fight against disinformation, in which China has invested heavily to develop sophisticated ways to anonymously disseminate disinformation through various channels, including social media, he added.

“The US and Taiwan are capable and complementary partners in confronting the challenge of disinformation,” Greene said, adding that the US could learn from Taiwan’s approach, which combines school curriculum reform, technology development, academic research and refined fact-checking methods.

Fabricated news reports and disinformation aimed at influencing election results spread over social media before the elections in 2018 and last month, and most of them were found to have originated from China.

Disinformation about an outbreak of COVID-19 has also spread on Taiwan’s social media.

Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳), who is responsible for digital technology, in her keynote speech shared Taiwan’s playbook for countering disinformation, which involves timely response and collaborative fact-checking.

It also requires transparency in campaign expenditures and donations during elections to determine funding sources, she said.

Seven technology companies — five Taiwanese and one each from Australia and Israel — demonstrated the technologies they have developed to address disinformation to a panel of judges on the event’s first day, as they competed for funding totaling US$250,000.

Four interactive panel sessions on the development and implementation of technology to counter disinformation are to be held today.

The panelists are to include representatives from Facebook, Microsoft and Google.

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title: US imposes new rules on Chinese state-owned media

content_text:
US President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday said that it would begin treating five major Chinese state-run media entities with US operations the same as foreign embassies, while China yesterday revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters.

The US decision would require the five Chinese entities to register their employees and US properties with the US Department of State.

Two senior state department officials said that the decision was made because China has been tightening state control over its media and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has made more aggressive use of them to spread pro-Beijing propaganda.

“These guys are in fact arms of the CCP’s [Chinese Community Party’s] propaganda apparatus,” one official said.

Beijing’s control of China’s state-owned media has become “more and more draconian,” the second official said.

Both officials spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.

The new determination is being applied to the Xinhua news agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corp and Hai Tian Development USA Inc, the officials said.

The China Daily is an English-language newspaper published by the CCP. Hai Tian Development USA distributes the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the party’s Central Committee.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the US designation, saying that the country’s media outlets helped promote understanding.

“We urge the US to discard its ideological prejudice and Cold War zero-sum-game mentality, and stop ill-advised measures that undermine bilateral trust and cooperation,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang (耿爽) said.

The five entities’ US operations would need to disclose their personnel rosters and hiring and firing decisions, as well as register properties in the US that they rent or own, the officials said.

Yesterday, in a rare move punishing multiple journalists at a single news organization over an opinion piece, China revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters.

The government made the decision after it said that the Journal refused to apologize for a “racially discriminatory” opinion piece, Geng told reporters in Beijing.

Foreign journalists need press passes issued by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to qualify for visas to report in the country.

The Feb. 3 article described China as the “sick man of Asia,” a phrase often used by 19th century European powers to describe the weakened state of the Qing Dynasty, which then governed China.

“The editors used such a racially discriminatory title, triggering indignation and condemnation among the Chinese people and the international community,” Geng told reporters, although the Chinese public do not have access to the Journal.

The three journalists’ visas were canceled and they have been ordered to leave China in five days, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China said in a statement.

None were involved in the opinion piece or its headline, the correspondents’ club added.

Additional reporting by Bloomberg

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content_text:
Virus Outbreak: CECC reports 23rd confirmed case

HOMEWARD BOUND:Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung confirmed that a charter flight is to return Taiwanese from the ‘Diamond Princess’
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, left, takes part in a news conference at the Central Epidemic Command Center in Taipei yesterday.Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times

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The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced the nation’s 23th confirmed case of COVID-19 and said that Taiwanese passengers on the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan, would likely return home on a charter flight tomorrow.

The new case is the 60-year-old sister of the nation’s 19th case — a 61-year-old taxi driver who on Saturday last week became the first in Taiwan to die from COVID-19, shortly after testing positive, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center.

The driver’s 51-year-old brother and 81-year-old mother, who lived with him, have also tested positive, while the driver’s nephew-in-law, who joined them at a family reunion lunch on Jan. 27, was on Monday confirmed to be infected.

The driver’s sister also joined the family reunion and sat close to him, Chen said, adding that she has experienced respiratory symptoms and was hospitalized on Monday.

The center is investigating who she has had contact with, he added.

Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that by Feb. 5, the sister had developed a fever, a cough and a sore throat, but only sought treatment later for chronic heart arrhythmia.

Her first test for COVID-19 was negative, while second and third tests showed weak positives, he said, adding that a fourth test yesterday returned a clear positive result.

Chen said that 217 people who had close contact with the family have been tested for COVID-19, with 189 people testing negative and 24 people still waiting for results.

Diamond Princess passengers, who were quarantined in their cabins for 14 days, were allowed to disembark from the ship yesterday, the center said, adding that the Taiwanese passengers would likely return on a charter flight tomorrow.

There were 24 Taiwanese passengers and crew on board, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Ho Chi-kung (何啟功) said.

Four of the 24 were infected with COVID-19 and hospitalized in Japan, while another of the group reportedly tested positive in the first test, so there might be about 19 people returning on the charter flight, Ho said.

Few of the 24 have dual citizenship, but as long as they hold a Republic of China (ROC) passport or nationality, they would be allowed to board the flight back to Taiwan, he added.

China Airlines (CAL, 華航) is to operate the charter flight, which is to have one doctor and three nurses on board, Ho said, adding that the passengers would be provided with protective clothing and masks.

The group would be taken to two or three hospitals to undergo two tests and a quarantine period after their arrival, Ho said.

If both tests are negative, they would be moved to a quarantine station for a compulsory 14-day quarantine, he added.

Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday confirmed that CAL is ready to dispatch a charter flight to Yokohama to bring back Taiwanese from the Diamond Princess.

“It has been confirmed that the charter flight will depart from Tokyo Haneda International Airport. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating with Tokyo on a possible time on Friday for takeoff. The charter flight can land either at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport or Taipei International Airport [Songshan airport],” he said.

“The Civil Aeronautics Administration and CAL will work out the arrangements,” Lin said, adding that the ministry would be following instructions from the center.

people: 陳時中 林佳龍


title: [ LETTER ]

content_text:
Nationality is absolute

A recent editorial discussed flag burning, the impact this can have in communities and the privilege or right to perform such an action within a nation-state (“Beware closing doors to free speech,” Feb. 16, page 6).

The editorial started by citing University of Malaysia researcher Helen Ting, who wrote that the concept of a nation is “a mental construct,” and national identity is “a dynamic, contentious historical process of social construction.”

Ting went on to say that citizens of nations conceive of a “figured world of nationhood,” then fashioned it as “only one of many figured worlds that constitute the self.”

This all strikes me as post-modern/deconstruction theoretical babble, and ignores realities of nationhood that are important in everyone’s lives.

It is all related to Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities (also referred to in the editorial), which, while in some ways is a useful concept, misses the bar of what nationhood and nationality actually are.

That is, my nation — my “community” if you will — is not some sort of mental construct, pie-in-the-sky, floating-in-air, abstract, make-believe concept for me.

I live in my community, I exercise my rights there, interact with my neighbors, contribute locally, work, play and relax there. It is not some fictional “construct,” much less a “figured world.” It is the real thing.

It is indeed “conspicuous” in my life and in my heart, creating a sense of pride (low key in its way), and I see myself very much as a flesh-and-blood American, with all that that means (“Taiwan a ‘city on a hill’ for Asia,” April 2, 2019, page 8).

The editorial then looks at flag burning, proper. At the highest level, I can understand how this seems offensive to some people, but I would not in the least endorse banning it, as such an action — as has been said in major court rulings in the US Supreme Court — is protected free speech.

The editorial then claims that the flag represents “group memberships and strong emotional attachments,” and further, embodies “the soul of a society in terms of symbolic representation of national consciousness.”

I do not disagree that flags are strong symbols, and in a sense represent a nation’s core values, but these ideas in the main veer into more psycho-gibberish.

We Americans do not walk around all day pondering the stars and stripes, and just how they symbolize the original 13 colonies, the 50 states, valor, purity, perseverance and justice. Yes, I had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school as a child, but that eventually drifted away, and the flag did not linger in my mind every day of my life.

I do not think I, or anyone I knew, was seeing red, white and blue all day; we were not “waving the flag” at every opportunity. There were realities to attend to, processes that included actual rights and privileges, which I enjoyed and practiced every day — not a world of red, white and blue symbolism and “constructions,” that which is imagined, fancied or veritably fictionalized.

The editorial concludes by stating: “There is no definitive answer as to whether people should be allowed to desecrate national symbols.”

This may be true, but there is a definitive answer to what it means to be a citizen of a nation.

This might be “one of many figured worlds,” but it is the one that really matters in our lives.

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content_text:
Turkey arrests activist after acquittal

UNBELIEVABLE:The European Court of Human Rights in December last year demanded Osman Kavala’s release, citing a lack of reasonable suspicion that he did the crime
Ayse Bugra, wife of Turkish businessman Osman Kavala, leaves a restaurant in Silivri, Turkey, on Tuesday after learning that Istanbul police had detained her husband.Photo: Reuters
Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala has been rearrested and taken to police headquarters in Istanbul, state media reported yesterday, only hours after being acquitted over his alleged role in landmark protests in 2013.

The Gezi Park protests were a major challenge to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kavala’s acquittal, along with that of eight others, had been a surprise. Their trial, criticized by Western allies, was regarded as a test of justice in Turkey.

Kavala’s rearrest, over allegations that he was involved in a 2016 attempted coup, in turn prompted expressions of astonishment and frustration from foreign observers of his case, opposition lawmakers and human rights advocates.

“No way to believe in any improvement in Turkey if the Prosecutor is undermining any step ahead. Back again in dark period,” European Parliament rapporteur on Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor said on Twitter.

Human Rights Watch Turkey director Emma Sinclair-Webb said the arrest warrant was “lawless and vindictive,” bypassing a European Court of Human Rights ruling in December last year that demanded Kavala’s immediate release.

The European Court of Human Rights had said that there was a lack of reasonable suspicion that he had committed a crime.

Police detained Kavala immediately after his release from a sprawling prison in Silivri, west of Istanbul, and took him to police headquarters after routine health checks, state-owned Anadolu news agency said.

During a 24-hour detention, Kavala was expected to be sent to the prosecutor’s office at the main court in Istanbul, a Twitter account run by Kavala’s supporters said.

Prosecutors would then rule on whether to formally arrest him and send him back to prison.

Kavala had been held in jail for more than two years over the Gezi case. He was accused of trying to overthrow the government by organizing the protests, during which hundreds of thousands marched across Turkey against Erdogan’s plans to redevelop a central Istanbul park.

Ankara has said the 2016 coup attempt was carried out by supporters of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

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title: Turkey arrests activist after acquittal


content_text:
Iraq’s Shanidar Cave reveals new insights into how Neanderthals buried their dead

The bones of a Neanderthal’s left hand emerge from sediment in Shanidar Cave in northern Iraq in an undated photograph.Photo courtesy of Graeme Barker / Reuters

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A Neanderthal skeleton unearthed in an Iraqi cave famous for fossils of the extinct cousins of Homo sapiens is providing fresh evidence that they buried their dead — and intriguing clues that flowers might have been used in such rituals.

Scientists on Tuesday said that they had discovered in Shanidar Cave in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq the well-preserved upper body skeleton of an adult Neanderthal who lived about 70,000 years ago.

The individual, dubbed Shanidar Z, was perhaps in his or her 40s or 50s — the sex was undetermined.

The cave was a pivotal site for mid-20th century archeology. Remains of 10 Neanderthals — seven adults and three infants — were dug up there six decades ago, offering insight into the physical characteristics, behavior and diet of the species.

Clusters of flower pollen were found at that time in soil samples associated with one of the skeletons, a discovery that prompted scientists involved in that research to propose that Neanderthals buried their dead and conducted funerary rites with flowers.

That hypothesis helped change the prevailing popular view at the time of Neanderthals as dimwitted and brutish, a notion increasingly discredited by new discoveries.

However, critics cast doubt on the “flower burial,” arguing that the pollen could have been modern contamination from people working and living in the cave, or from burrowing rodents or insects.

The bones of Shanidar Z, which appear to be the top half of a partial skeleton unearthed in 1960, were found in sediment containing ancient pollen and other mineralized plant remains, reviving the possibility of flower burials.

The material is being examined to determine its age and the plants represented.

“So from initially being a skeptic based on many of the other published critiques of the flower-burial evidence, I am coming round to think this scenario is much more plausible and I am excited to see the full results of our new analyses,” said University of Cambridge osteologist and paleoanthropologist Emma Pomeroy, lead author of the research published in the journal Antiquity.

Academics have argued for years about whether Neanderthals buried their dead with mortuary rituals much as our species does, part of the larger debate over their levels of cognitive sophistication.

“What is key here is the intentionality behind the burial. You might bury a body for purely practical reasons, in order to avoid attracting dangerous scavengers and/or to reduce the smell. But when this goes beyond practical elements it is important because that indicates more complex, symbolic and abstract thinking, compassion and care for the dead, and perhaps feelings of mourning and loss,” Pomeroy said.

Shanidar Z appears to have been deliberately placed in an intentionally dug depression cut into the subsoil and part of a cluster of four individuals.

“It seems clear that Shanidar was a special place, with bodies being placed just in one part of a large cave,” University of Cambridge archeologist and study coauthor Graeme Barker said.

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title: Researchers find a western-style diet  can impair brain function

content_text:
A tasty burger, sure, but eating too many of them might just impair the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in appetite control and memory.Photo: REUTERS
Consuming a western diet for as little as one week can subtly impair brain function and encourage slim and otherwise healthy young people to overeat, scientists say.

Researchers found that after seven days on a high fat, high added sugar diet, volunteers in their 20s scored worse on memory tests and found junk food more desirable immediately after they had finished a meal.

The finding suggests that a western diet makes it harder for people to regulate their appetite, and points to disruption in a brain region called the hippocampus as the possible cause.

“After a week on a western-style diet, palatable food such as snacks and chocolate becomes more desirable when you are full,” said Richard Stevenson, a professor of psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney. “This will make it harder to resist, leading you to eat more, which in turn generates more damage to the hippocampus and a vicious cycle of overeating.”

Previous work in animals has shown that junk food impairs the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory and appetite control. It is unclear why, but one idea is that the hippocampus normally blocks or weakens memories about food when we are full, so looking at a cake does not flood the mind with memories of how nice cake can be.

“When the hippocampus functions less efficiently, you do get this flood of memories, and so food is more appealing,” Stevenson said.

To investigate how the western diet affects humans, the scientists recruited 110 lean and healthy students, aged 20 to 23, who generally ate a good diet. Half were randomly assigned to a control group who ate their normal diet for a week. The other half were put on a high energy western-style diet, which featured a generous intake of Belgian waffles and fast food.

At the start and end of the week, the volunteers ate breakfast in the lab. Before and after the meal, they completed word memory tests and scored a range of high-sugar foods, such as Coco Pops, Frosties and Froot Loops, according to how much they wanted and then liked the foods on eating them.

“The more desirable people find the palatable food when full, following the western-style diet, the more impaired they were on the test of hippocampal function,” Stevenson said. The finding suggests that disruption of the hippocampus may underpin both, he added.

Stevenson believes that in time governments will come under pressure to impose restrictions on processed food, much as they did to deter smoking.

“Demonstrating that processed foods can lead to subtle cognitive impairments that affect appetite and serve to promote overeating in otherwise healthy young people should be a worrying finding for everyone,” he said. The work is published in Royal Society Open Science.

In the longer term, eating a western-style diet contributes to obesity and diabetes, both of which have been linked to declines in brain performance and the risk of developing dementia.

“The new thinking here is the realization that a western-style diet may be generating initial and fairly subtle cognitive impairments, that undermine the control of appetite which gradually opens the way for all of these other effects down the track,” Stevenson said.

Rachel Batterham, professor of obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at University College London, who was not involved in the study, said it was one of the first to investigate whether the western diet impairs memory and appetite control in humans.


content_text:
How a Canadian start-up used AI to track China virus

BlueDot can sift through hundreds of thousands of news stories a day along with air traffic information in order to detect the spread of infectious diseases
Kamran Khan, founder and chief executive of Toronto-based BlueDot, stands in front of a map of China on Feb. 14 at his office in Toronto, Canada.Photo: AFP
On the shores of Lake Ontario, a Canadian start-up raised one of the earliest alarms about the risk posed by the mystery virus that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. How did it do it? Artificial intelligence.

BlueDot has developed an algorithm that can sift through hundreds of thousands of news stories a day along with air traffic information in order to detect and monitor the spread of infectious diseases.

It sent an alert to clients on Dec. 31 last year about the new COVID-19 outbreak — a few days before major public health authorities made official statements. BlueDot, which is based in Toronto, also correctly predicted the countries in which the risk of contagion was most acute.

“What we are trying to do is to really push the boundaries — to be using data and analytics and technology to keep moving faster,” the company’s founder Kamran Khan said.

“Ultimately when you’re dealing with an outbreak, time and timing is everything.”

The 49-year-old Khan, an epidemiologist by training, first had the idea to launch BlueDot after the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003. At the time, Khan was a doctor specializing in infectious diseases at a Toronto hospital. He watched helplessly as the illness left 44 people dead in Canada’s largest city.

“A number of health care workers were infected including one of my colleagues. We had a number of health care workers who died,” he said. “This was a really eye-opening experience and was the motivation behind everything that we’re doing at BlueDot.”

65 LANGUAGES, 150 DISEASES

In 2014, Khan launched BlueDot, which now has 40 employees — a team of physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, data scientists and software developers.

Together, they thrashed out a real-time warning system based on natural language processing and machine learning.

Every 15 minutes around the clock, the company’s algorithm scans official reports, professional forums and online news sources, searching for key words and phrases.

It can read text in 65 languages and can track 150 different types of diseases.

“We call it the needles in the haystack,” Khan says. “There’s a massive amount of data and the machine is finding the needles and presenting it to the human experts,” who then review it and train the machine to understand if that information corresponds to an actual threat.

If it is credible, it is punched into a database that analyzes the location of the outbreak, nearby airports and commercial air travel itineraries from around the world.

Climate data, national health system databases and even the presence of mosquitoes or animals that transmit diseases to humans are also taken into account.

Once that analysis is complete, BlueDot sends an alert to its clients — government agencies, airlines, hospitals — where the majority of those airline passengers might land. The goal is to allow authorities to prepare for the worst: a major disease outbreak.

ELEMENTS ‘SIMILAR’ TO SARS

So on Dec. 31, in the early morning, the BlueDot system picked up an article in Mandarin that mentioned 27 people suffering from pneumonia, all linked to a wet market in Wuhan.

The virus was not yet identified, but the BlueDot algorithm noted two key phrases: “pneumonia” and “cause unknown.”

At 10am, a first alert went out to clients, notably in Asia.

“While we didn’t know this was going to become a big global outbreak, we did recognize that it had certain ingredients that were similar to what we saw during SARS,” Khan explained.

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content_text:
Far EasTone Telecommunications Co Ltd (FET, 遠傳電信), the nation’s third-largest telecom, yesterday said that an outbreak of COVID-19 in China would not delay its 5G rollout, but warned that increases in 5G-related costs would eat into its bottom line.

Net profit this year is expected to slide 8.2 percent to NT$8.02 billion (US$265.99 million), compared with NT$8.74 billion last year, with earnings per share falling from NT$2.68 to NT$2.46 from, the lowest in about two decades, the company said.

“We will launch 5G services in the third quarter as planned,” FET president Chee Ching (井琪) said. “Equipment supply is not a problem based on messages from our vendors, unless the global supply chain is affected by the outbreak.”

The 5G-related marketing fees and amortization and depreciation costs are expected to increase this year, which would become even heavier next year, Ching said.

Operating expenses are forecast to jump 10.5 percent to NT$16.39 billion, compared with NT$14.83 billion last year, the telecom said.

FET spent a total of NT$41 billion on 5G spectrum, including 80 megahertz (MHz) of bandwidth in the 3.5-gigahertz (GHz) band, the best suited for 5G services in terms of coverage and capacity, for NT$40.6 billion in the spectrum auction last month.

The telecom this year plans to raise capital spending by about 65 percent to NT$10.2 billion, up from NT$6.2 billion last year, with 60 percent of it earmarked for 5G network deployment, it said.

The company said that it expects 5G services to help increase revenue from enterprises and consumers, given rising corporate demand for Internet of Things, cloud-based, system integration and security services.

As a result, overall revenue is to rise 3.4 percent to NT$86.76 billion this year, compared with NT$83.87 billion last year, the company said.

Average revenue per user is expected to improve this year as well, Ching said, adding that it last year posted blended average revenue per user of NT$579, beating Taiwan Mobile Co’s (台灣大哥大) NT$574 and Chunghwa Telecom Co’s (中華電信) NT$456.

Ching declined to comment on price increases for 5G services, but said that the company would issue pricing once Chunghwa reveals its fee structure.

In countries that have already rolled out 5G services, it is more expensive than 4G by between 60 percent and 100 percent, FET said.

Meanwhile, it has proposed a cash dividend distribution of NT$3.25 per share, representing a payout ratio of 121 percent, it said.

The distribution is less than the NT$3.75 per share it issued last year.

The company also expects to raise NT$5 billion from selling real estate in Taichung, it added.

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title: Costs from 5G to weigh down FET