title: 武漢肺炎疫情蔓延  川普斥世衛搞砸了

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（中央社記者江今葉華盛頓7日專電）美國總統川普推文指責世界衛生組織針對防範武漢肺炎疫情提供了錯誤建議，斥責世衛「真的搞砸了」，並表示會檢視世衛拿了大筆美國資金卻以中國為中心的作為。

根據約翰霍普金斯大學（Johns HopkinsUniversity）統計，至截稿時，全球2019年冠狀病毒疾病（COVID-19，武漢肺炎）確診病例超過136萬例，7萬6420人死亡。其中美國確診病例數全球最高，逼近37萬例，死亡人數達1萬1018人。

武漢肺炎疫情全球蔓延，外界除了將矛頭指向中國隱匿疫情外，也指責世界衛生組織（WHO）與中國同流合污，未能第一時間對外發布警訊。

川普今天透過推文表示：「世衛組織真的搞砸了。基於某些因素，資金主要來自美國，卻高度以中國為中心。我們會好好檢視。幸運的是，我否決他們早期給予的對中國開放邊境建議。他們為什麼給我們這麼個錯誤的建議？」（編輯：林治平）1090407

events: 武漢肺炎 冠狀病毒 COVID-19 死亡

countries: 中國 美國


title: 瑞幸咖啡停牌 美股東委託律師提起訴訟

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陷入財務造假風波的大陸瑞幸咖啡在美股週二盤前傳出停牌消息，同時已有多家美國律師事務所公告代表股東對瑞幸公司及特定管理人提起求償訴訟，由於美國與大陸多家保險公司承保瑞幸的董事責任險，保額高達2500萬美元，涉及的保險公司數量不少。

據外媒報導，美國律師事務所Thornton Law Firm LLP律師事務所今日提醒投資者，已代表瑞幸咖啡股東對該公司提起訴訟，訴訟標的主要與瑞幸咖啡營運長劉劍捏造虛假交易有關。

報導說，瑞幸咖啡22億元人民幣財務造假事件的影響亦波及保險領域。由於目前美國有多家律所將對瑞幸咖啡和特定管理人員提起訴訟，瑞幸咖啡向相關保險公司提出了董責險理賠申請。


countries: 香港 英國

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香港滙豐銀行因為不派發股息而引發投資人強烈不滿，有投資人籌組股東聯盟要求「以股代息」。由於滙豐具有港英政府年代象徵意義，這次不派息已衝擊港人投資信心。

受新冠肺炎疫情衝擊，英國政府為預防進一步衝擊金融體系，要求滙豐等銀行暫停派息，以便儲備多些現金應對可能出現的問題。滙豐因此宣布，停止派發去年第4季現金股息，並表示年內也不會派發普通股利息。

滙豐在香港上市，此舉觸怒香港的投資人，輿論和社會大眾紛紛熱議。有滙豐的投資人近日成立「小股東權益大聯盟」，聲稱至今聯絡超過3,000名股東，約持有滙豐已發行股份總數的2%，總市值超過港幣100億元（約新台幣390億元）。

聯盟希望爭取到5%股份的股東支持，並要求滙豐派發股票以代替現金股息，同時要求董事減薪及停發紅利等，如果沒有獲得滙豐回應，不排除把行動升級。此外，對滙豐採取法律行動也是大聯盟的選項之一。

星島日報報導，立法會金融服務界議員張華峰痛斥滙豐控股此舉讓小股東蒙受巨大損失，要求政府代為向匯控爭取權益。但財經事務及庫務局局長劉怡翔表示，匯控總部在英國倫敦，他們需考慮英倫銀行和當地監管機構的要求，金管局和證監會不時與海外的對口單位聯絡，但不作公開評論。

從英國殖民時代到今天，不少港人都喜歡購買滙豐股票，原因之一是它一年四季都派發現金股利，為投資人提供穩定收入，是退休人士的最愛。此外，滙豐銀行歷史悠久，對於一些老港人而言，它在股票市場上就是「日不落的帝國」，對投資其股票及賺取股利充滿信心。

不過，近十年來，隨著歐美先後爆發金融風暴，以及滙豐多次因為洗黑錢問題而遭到處罰，一些港人已逐漸對滙豐感到失望。而這次滙豐因為英國監管當局的決定而停止派發股利，更進一步激怒當地的投資人。

滙豐股價昨收報港幣40.15元，上漲3.1%。

title: 滙豐不派股息 港投資人怒


countries: 法國 阿曼 義大利 日本 中國

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疫情當頭，口罩都不夠搶，誰還出門買包包。歐洲投資銀行估算，今年第1季全球奢侈品銷售額平均下降8%，其中，中國市場將大跌40%。而隨著疫情持續發燒，波士頓諮詢集團（BCG）悲觀預測，今年全球奢侈品銷售額恐將減少人民幣7,000億元（約新台幣3兆元）。

中國人有多愛買包？據《2019中國奢侈品報告》顯示，2019年中國人全球奢侈品消費額達到1,527億美元，年增5%。中國人境外奢侈品消費額，占全球奢侈品消費總額的三分之一。

摩根士丹利（Morgan Stanley；大摩）調查，2019年全球三大奢侈品巨頭路易威登集團（LVMH）、開雲集團（Kering）、歷峰集團（Richemont）大中華區營收占比分別為17%、25%、25%，其中，大陸消費者在中國市場貢獻的營收分別占10%、17%、11%。

圖／經濟日報提供
此外，Burberry、愛馬仕、Prada大中華區營收均超過20%，其中國銷售業績在全年收入中的占比都已超過15%。

中國打個噴嚏，全球奢侈品市場都會感冒。更何況是新冠肺炎，奢侈品可是義大利、法國的支柱產業，包括香奈兒、古馳、阿曼尼、愛馬仕等大牌，在歐美不只關店，甚至關廠，生產線大停工。

每日經濟新聞報導，從疫情爆發至今，巴黎老佛爺百貨一整層的奢侈品店幾乎都是空無一人，名牌專櫃銷售人員表示，以往進店臨櫃買包的90%都是亞洲客人，最多的是中國，其次是日本。但「從2月初開始，客流量下滑80%。」

疫情在全球蔓延，奢侈品市場受到的波及愈發嚴重。波士頓諮詢集團（BCG）近日發布報告，悲觀預測2020年全球奢侈品銷售額將較去年大減人民幣7,000億元。

儘管在疫情衝擊下，愛馬仕不愛，香奈兒不香了，但大陸市場奢侈品價格依然堅挺。每日經濟新聞報導，走進Prada中國門市，店員還是那麼傲嬌：沒有打折、沒有降價。強調疫情之下，降價也不會成為奢侈品大牌的選擇。

市場分析，中國市場的奢侈品價格穩增，甚至每年上調，是為了讓用戶覺得保值增值，「這是大牌一貫的行銷策略，稀缺能產生消費的假象，甚至在某個階段進行漲價，短期內造成奇貨可居的局面。」

title: 陸奢侈品銷售 Q1估減40％


title: 陸外匯存底 減少460億美元

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大陸國家外匯局網站昨（7）日公布，截至3月底，大陸外匯存底規模為3兆606億美元，較2月下降460億美元。這是大陸外匯存底近40個月來最大單月減少金額。顯示資金異常外流。

國家外匯管理局發言人王春英表示，3月主要受新冠肺炎疫情在全球加速蔓延、國際原油價格大幅下跌等因素影響，國際金融市場大幅震盪。美元指數走強，部分非美元貨幣相對美元匯率下跌，主要國家資產價格出現大幅調整。大陸外匯市場運行總體平穩，外匯供求保持基本平衡。在匯率折算和資產價格變化等因素綜合作用下，外匯存底規模有所下降。

王春英表示，預計受新冠肺炎疫情、地緣政治等因素影響，世界經濟貿易增長將受到嚴重衝擊，國際金融市場動盪加劇。隨著大陸統籌推進疫情防控和經濟社會發展工作取得積極成效，企業復工復產明顯加快，大陸實體經濟正在逐步恢復和改善，大陸經濟長期向好的發展趨勢不會改變，將繼續為外匯存底規模總體穩定提供支撐。

不過據路透測算，3月當月主要儲備貨幣中的歐元、日圓和英鎊兌美元分別升值0.04%、升值0.50%和貶值3.14%，而3月當月美元指數則上漲0.93%。假設中國外匯儲備的幣種構成與全球外匯儲備類似，那麼3月由於匯率波動造成外匯儲備估值大約減少40億美元。

這就意味著3月或因資金流出、抑或監管層維穩釋放導致外匯儲備減少大概在421億美元左右。而2月減少規模僅約10億美元。

things: 油價 經濟


countries: 比利時 中國

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應對疫情，消費者減少出門，奢侈品大牌不能坐以待斃，因此瞄準電子商務，從門市銷售，改推「雲走秀」、「雲賣貨」，轉向線上銷售。

為能激發消費者不出門也有購物慾望，疫情讓以往高高在上的奢侈品牌，開始大轉變。Prada、卡地亞進駐天貓開店，比利時的老牌皮革品牌Delvaux入駐京東，LV開了微信直播，還登陸小紅書。

奢侈品牌寄希望於線上電商，一方面希望彌補疫情下造成的損失，另一方面期待能尋找新的增長點。

轉戰電商，奢侈品春節後的幾場行銷活動，都獲得相當高的業績成長。每日經濟新聞報導，天貓奢侈品平台表示，2月10日卡地亞超級品牌日當天，單價人民幣15.01萬元的Juste un Clou系列黑色陶瓷鑲鑽手鐲開賣52秒即售出；單價人民幣2.2萬元的新一季設計手鐲也在當天被搶購一空。3．8女王節第一天的天貓奢侈品的銷賣增長則高達1.4倍。奢侈品轉戰線上已是大勢所趨，貝恩公司預測，到2025年全球25%的奢侈品銷售將在網上完成。

據《2019中國奢侈品報告》顯示，中國已經成為全球奢侈品銷售電商比重最高的國家，2019年中國奢侈品線上銷售營業額達人民幣520億元，比2018年增長約44.4%，遠超中國奢侈品市場24%的年增速。報告還預測，2020年中國奢侈品電商市場將繼續增長，預計增速超過50%。

title: 精品登陸 轉向線上找出路


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歷經70多天封城後，武漢市今（8）日零時起將解除離漢離鄂通道管控措施，恢復對外交通。武漢台商表示，大型商城、便利商店、餐廳幾乎都開張，而台廠復工初估約四、五成，仍面臨出行（健康碼）、訂單少、供應鏈不齊全等問題。

「武漢台商無法取得健康綠碼，即便解封也難出城」一位不願具名的武漢台商表示，外省市台商都能申請健康碼，唯獨武漢台商無法申請電子健康碼，目前只能去居委會開一張紙本「健康證明」，但商城、賣場需掃碼才能進入，不認紙本證明。目前包含台商在內的境外人士皆無法取得健康碼。

這位台商的公司已停擺四個多月，日前公司已經獲批復工證明，他說，今日解封將外出談合作案，但因沒有健康碼恐怕連上高速公路都有問題。此外，公司復工條件中有一個規定，復工後，員工疫情管理責任歸屬公司，也因此台幹拿不到健康碼就無法回去上班，期間不支薪，有的甚至被裁員。希望當地台辦能盡快解決此問題。

為控制疫情，大陸結合大數據、手機與QR Code推出「健康碼」，分三種顏色：綠碼表示健康、紅碼需集中隔離14天、黃碼隔離七天以內。數據來自支付寶用戶、手機號碼均是實名制，再加上跨省市漫遊定位功能，紀錄個人足跡。

武漢市解除封城禁令，並非外界想像一切就恢復正常。這位台商指出，只是恢復外出通行，小區封閉式管理依舊，並沒有放寬，只是出入周邊城市會方便些。此外，商城、餐館雖然恢復營業，但外出消費民眾稀少，多數仍叫外賣。

汽車產業為武漢第一支柱產業，新華網報導，以武漢開發區為例，東風本田、東風乘用車、神龍汽車等七家整車企業和500多家汽車零部件企業在這裡聚集。目前，東風乘用車公司一線員工到崗率97%，全力按下復工生產「加速鍵」。

當地高科技業、汽車產業幾乎都復工，一家小規模的台資汽車配件商表示，一天沒開工要虧300美元，雖然有接大型車廠的零配件訂單，但復工後大陸原物料、交通系統仍無法全面暢通，部分員工也未返崗位，復工之路充滿挑戰。

title: 武漢解封 台廠五成復工


title: 陸跨境電商試驗區 增設46個

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大陸國務院總理李克強搶救對外貿易祭出新措施，宣布推出增設46個跨境電子商務綜合試驗區、支援加工貿易及在網上舉辦廣交會等，要穩住外貿基本盤。

央視報導，原定4月中登場的廣交會，一度因全球疫情嚴峻形勢而延後，李克強昨（7）日舉行國務院常務會議拍板敲定將在6月中下旬在網上舉行。

中國進出口商品交易會（簡稱廣交會）已連續舉辦63年，有大陸外貿「晴雨表」之稱，李克強表示，第127屆廣交會決定6月中下旬在網上舉辦，將廣邀海內外客商線上展示產品，運用先進資訊技術，提供全天候網上推介、供採對接、線上洽談等服務，打造優質特色商品線上外貿平台，讓中外客商足不出戶下訂單、做生意。

同時，國常會宣布增設46個跨境電商綜合試驗區。李克強指出，當前傳統外貿受到疫情較大衝擊，為更大發揮跨境電商優勢，以新業態助力外貿，國常會議決定推廣促進跨境電商發展的有效做法，實行對綜試區跨境電商零售出口貨物按規定免徵增值稅和消費稅、企業所得稅核定徵收等支持政策，研究將具備條件的綜試區所在城市納入跨境電商零售進口試點範圍。

他並要求統籌內外貿發展，支援加工貿易企業紓困。國常會議決定，對加工貿易保稅料件或製成品內銷，年底前暫免徵收緩稅利息。將加工貿易企業內銷可選擇按進口料件或按成品繳納關稅的試點，擴大到所有綜合保稅區。擴大鼓勵外商投資產業範圍。

此外，為加強普惠金融服務，國常會議決定，實行財政金融政策聯動，將部分已到期的稅收優惠政策延長到2023年底。

國務院稅收支持政策，受惠對象包括：對金融機構向小微企業、個體工商戶、農戶發放人民幣100萬元及以下貸款的利息收入免徵增值稅；對向農戶發放10萬元及以下貸款的利息收入、為種養殖業提供保險業務的保費收入，按90%計入所得稅應納稅所得額；對小貸公司人民幣10萬元及以下農戶貸款的利息收入免徵增值稅，並按90%計入企業所得稅應納稅所得額，對其按年末貸款餘額1%計提的貸款損失準備金，准予所得稅稅前扣除。


taiwan-subdivisions: 南投 新社

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海南自貿區（港）建設兩年來，不斷向海內外拋出橄欖枝。海南在兩年間大手筆招商，招商局集團、淡馬錫集團、普華永道、阿里巴巴等一大批大陸國內外知名企業搶抓機遇加速布局。截至去年年底，進駐海南的33家企業被認定為總部企業。

中新社報導，海南省國資委表示，目前已有23家中央企業在瓊設立30家區域總部或業務子公司。2019年內新註册央企完成結算營業收入800億元（人民幣，下同），在海南投資超百億元。 中國旅遊集團是首家將總部落戶海南的央企，集團董事長萬敏表示，企業正深化與海南合作，進一步擴大投資促進消費。他說，中旅集團將制定年度行動計畫，擴展旅遊消費形式，參與海南自貿港和國際旅遊消費中心建設。

海南自貿區（港）建設之初就明確加大全球招商力度，積極引進符合中國國情、符合海南實際、符合高質量發展要求的產業項目和市場主體，形成資本增量。

2019年海南新設立外商投資企業338家，增長102.4%；實際使用外資15億美元，已連續兩年翻番。

愛瑪客是全球餐飲、設施、制服外包服務領軍企業。愛瑪客服務產業（中國）有限公司業務增長高級總監石斌表示，集團今年在海南成立分公司，投身餐飲、設備設施服務市場，未來將考慮進一步擴大投資，設立面向東南亞地區的區域總部。

海南開放，亮點還在於招商的同時大規模引才。「招商是重要引擎，引才是關鍵保障，二者缺一不可」。中國南海研究院海南自貿區（港）研究中心主任于濤說，此前海南曾出現招商火熱但人才缺乏的情況，只有源源不斷提供人才保障才能留住企業。

2018年，海南公布「百萬人才進海南行動計畫（2018-2025年）」，保障人才落戶、安居、購房、購車、子女入學、配偶就業、醫療保障等一系列權益。截至2019年底，海南重點用人單位共引進人才8.6萬餘人、同口徑增長4.15倍，7716名外籍人才來瓊工作。從外語教師到航空駕駛員，從企業高管到旅遊從業者，引進人才深度融入海南發展。一周前，海南啟動新一輪「引智」行動，提供3萬個崗位面向全球招募人才。

title: 海南自貿區 大手筆招商引才


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為尋找新冠肺炎的有效療法，法國國家健康與醫學研究所（INSERM）和國家血液機構「法國血液建設」（EFS）7日開始一項臨床試驗，採集新冠肺炎痊癒者的血液，從中分離出血漿，用來治療新肺重症病患。

兩個官方機構發表聯合聲明指出，痊癒病患血液的血漿含有抗體，或許可將免疫能力傳遞給重症患者，對抗病毒。

title: 法國開始使用新肺痊癒者血漿作臨床試驗


title: 歐洲確診逾60萬例 歐盟派醫護人員赴義大利

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武漢肺炎襲擊歐洲，今天確診病例突破60萬例、死亡逾5萬人，義大利是疫情重災區，歐洲聯盟（EU）今天宣布，已派遣一組跨國醫護人員前往義大利協助對抗疫情。

「歐洲疾病預防管制中心」（ECDC）今天公布，至今天為止全球回報2019年冠狀病毒疾病（COVID-19，武漢肺炎）確診131萬6988例、死亡7萬4066例，其中美國最多，確診36萬8196例、死亡1萬989例。

在歐洲，包括歐盟27個會員國、甫脫歐的英國以及屬於歐洲經濟區（EEA）的挪威、冰島、及列支敦斯登（Liechtenstein）等共31國迄今共報告60萬8500起病例。

歐洲確診病例數前5名是西班牙13萬5032例、義大利13萬2547例、德國9萬9225例、法國7萬4390例、英國5萬1608例。

歐洲死亡共報告5萬1059例，較多的國家依序為義大利1萬6525例、西班牙1萬3055例、法國8911例、英國5373例、荷蘭1867例、比利時1632例。

歐洲疾病預防管制中心的數據是截至7日上午的統計資訊，可能會與各國自行宣布的數字有落差。

義大利是歐洲疫情重災區，歐盟今天宣布，透過歐盟公民保護機制已派遣一支由羅馬尼亞及挪威組成的醫護小組派往米蘭和貝加莫省（Bergamo），協助義大利第一線人員對抗疫情。

歐洲聯盟執行委員會（European Commission）主席范德賴恩（Ursula von der Leyen）今天說，這些護士和醫生離開自己家園幫助其他會員國真實顯示歐洲的團結，執委會正竭盡所能幫助義大利及所有會員國，展開全天候合作，確保在最需要之處得到幫助。

countries: 歐盟 義大利 列支敦斯登 挪威 德國 比利時 法國 荷蘭 西班牙 羅馬尼亞 冰島 美國 英國

events: 武漢肺炎 冠狀病毒 COVID-19 死亡


title: NBA》何時遲遲復賽未定  D.格林仍有信心能打完整季

content_text:
D.格林。（資料照，法新社）

〔體育中心／綜合報導〕在武漢肺炎影響下，今日總裁席佛（Adam Silver）受訪時表示，5月之前聯盟都不會做出任何決定，而雖然復賽時間遲遲未定，但湖人「聖堂射手」D.格林（Danny Green）在上節目時仍表示大家應該要樂觀面對。

D.格林在《Inside the Green Room》上談到關於NBA何時復賽時，他有信心表示本季一定會打完，「我們希望最快也許是5月中或底，我猜或許到8、9月才會打完。」

D.格林所在的湖人戰績目前以49勝14敗位居西部第一，提前拿到季後賽門票，受訪時他說：「不管用任何方法，我們都應該要努力挽救這個賽季，大家都認為我們可以打完整個球季，只是會比較晚開始而已。」

先前包括《ESPN》記者溫德霍斯特（Brian Windhorst）、沃納洛斯基（Adrian Wojnarowski）聯盟都對復賽的可能性保持悲觀態度，但席佛今則表示，在最理想的狀況下，NBA可以在保留例行賽、季後賽下回歸，只是目前存在太多未知數，而他也強調聯盟一定會在確保所有人健康與安全都無虞的情況下才會開打。


title: 法國護士裸體抗議！　醫護們氣壞「政府讓我們赤裸面對病毒」

events: 新冠肺炎 死亡 新冠病毒

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▲新冠病毒疫情期間，在醫院工作中的法國醫護人員。（示意圖／路透）

記者王致凱／綜合報導

近日法國有數十名護理師發起「裸體抗議」，直嗆政府未能提供足夠的醫療防護設備給醫護人員，猶如要前線醫療人員「裸奔上陣」對抗疫情一般。參與抗議的男女護士在影片中一絲不掛，僅以A4指遮檔私密部位，上面寫著「赤裸對抗新冠病毒護士」字樣，藉此表達不滿，引起全球社群網路關注。

綜合外媒報導，其中一名護理師梅麗娜（Melina Dufraigne-Laflechelle）表示，「要好好照護病人，且不讓醫護自己與病患陷入感染風險，就需要一套合格的防護裝備，但老式口罩是地方醫護人員能夠從政府獲得的唯一裝備。」

自新冠肺炎疫情爆發以來，在法國已有至少6500名患者病逝，顯示法國醫療體系面對傳染病疫情似乎準備不足。梅麗娜表示，「政府無視我們的聲音，醫院也是一樣，醫護環境近15至20年狀況一直不佳。」

梅麗娜表示，由於第一線醫護人員缺乏防護設備，已經嚴重影響醫院的日常運作，許多人到現在才知道，原來法國缺乏應對重症疫情的能力，使醫護人員直接暴露在危險之中。先前也有法國醫師出面抱怨過類似問題。

根據約翰霍普金斯大學統計，法國已有至少9.8萬名確診病例，將近9000人死亡，且確診病例在過去一周內幾乎呈直線上升趨勢。

▼法國男女護士發起裸體抗議，不滿政府未提供足夠防護設備。（圖／翻攝自YouTube／collectif SOS soignant en danger）


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▲印度孟買的新冠肺炎疫情大爆發當中，全印度律師協會向聯合國人權理事會投訴中國。（圖／路透社）

記者林彥臣／綜合報導

總部位在英國倫敦的全印度律師協會（All India Bar Association）已經向聯合國人權理事會（UNHRC）投訴中國犯下反人類（against humanity）行為，因為中國造成新冠肺炎病毒（COVID-19）在全球傳播。

根據媒體Swarajya報導，全印度律師協會已經向人權理事會難民事務的高級專員呼籲，必須聯合起來對中國求償，因為這對聯合國的成員造成了嚴重的生理、心理、經濟和社會的傷害。

請願書提到，中國對國際社會和聯合國會員國，特別是印度造成了大規模的傷亡，必須給予充分的補償。

法學專家指出，中國透過隱匿有關傳染病的相關訊息，沒有發布新冠肺炎病毒潛在爆發危險性的即時健康警告，這違反了世界人權宣言，經濟，社會，文化權利國際公約和國際衛生法規。

儘管在請願書當中，還沒有指出明確的求償金額，但是印度分析公司「Acuite評分與研究」（Acuite Ratings & Research）的估算資料指出，印度光是在各項防疫措施所造成的損失，就高達46.4億美元。

國際海事法專家克拉斯卡（James Kraska）則指出，受害國家尋求國際法院或其他國際性質法庭提訟，索賠金額可達數兆美元，因此有媒體估算，索賠金額恐達20兆美元（折合新台幣約600兆）。

►時間存在的意義就是襯托妳的美麗！

things: 經濟 防疫 人權

countries: 中國 印度 英國

title: 印度投訴聯合國：中國「反人類」行為　索賠金額上看600兆


title: 疫情趨緩歐美主要股市齊漲 準備進入牛市

content_text:
拜疫情趨緩所賜，歐洲主要股市7日延續前一日的漲勢，開高走高，而且自上月的低點至今已漲約20%。美國標普500指數同日也走強，離前月低點也漲逾20%，如果收盤可維持此漲勢，就要準備進入牛市。

歐洲Stoxx Europe 600指數7日午盤漲2.9%，從3月的低點漲逾18%，其中19種類股齊漲，在這波股災中受創尤深的旅遊及休閒產業股大漲9%。景氣循環股也表現亮眼，汽車業者和銀行業者都漲逾5%。德、法、義等西歐股市全面上揚，比起3月中旬的低點漲幅不是已經超過20%，就是逼近這個門檻，準備進入牛市。

美股同樣表現亮眼，標普500指數7日午盤前漲1.2%，比3月23日的低點上漲20%，如果至收盤漲勢維持住甚至擴大，就符合進入牛市的定義。

隨新冠肺炎疫情在歐洲各國趨緩，丹麥和澳洲等國開始放寬封鎖措施，投資人也變得更樂觀。

countries: 澳洲 美國 丹麥


title: 還我青春！恨夫包養小三20載 75歲嬤打斷81歲阿公假牙

content_text:
2020-04-07 23:38:05

〔記者蔡彰盛／新竹報導〕75歲的林姓老婦不滿81歲的先生陳姓老翁曾在外包養小三20多年，老來終於發作，先是高喊「還我青春！」痛甩耳光打斷老公假牙，陳翁嚇得聲請保護令獲准後，林婦照樣將他壓在沙發暴打，新竹地檢署依違反保護令罪嫌起訴林嬤。

這起罕見的高齡家暴案男主角陳姓老翁說，2018年8月妻子突然要求他賠償她的青春，他沒有回答，妻子就用力甩他耳光，造成牙齒斷裂，2018年10月妻子又質問說，嫁他這麼久，要他賠償青春，他不知怎麼回答，妻子就出手勒住他脖子，他開口求饒妻子仍不放手，他哀嚎「再這樣我會死掉」，妻子嗆聲「要死掉就死掉」，還抱怨他先前有工作有收入，現在沒工作沒收入。幾天後妻子又說他虧待她，要他給一個交代，用手肘抵住他脖子，另一手不停甩他耳光。

2018年10月底，林婦旅遊回家，感覺同行的親友對她變冷淡，懷疑是先生在背後說她壞話，就對陳男咆哮，陳男深怕再被打，趕緊打電話向2名已出嫁的女兒求救，女兒們返家後，妻子更火大，認為女兒都幫老爸，竟拿棍子打其中一個女兒，又以拳頭揮擊另一個。

案經陳男向新竹地院聲請保護令，法官在去年2月裁准核發通常保護令，命林女不得對先生實施身體或精神騷擾、脅迫或其他不法侵害行為，及不得為騷擾行為。

陳男說，其實妻子接到保護令後依舊多次動手動腳，他都沒報警，去年12月5日早上林女在住處將他壓在椅子上，並捏他耳朵，接著抓住他手強壓在沙發上，再將他拐杖丟至遠處，並徒手狂打巴掌，正巧被上門的姪子目睹，報警偵辦，檢方依家庭暴力防治法違反保護令罪嫌，將林女提起公訴。

林女說，因為先生在外面包養小三20多年，她才動手報復。去年12月那次是因先生說外面的女生很漂亮又年輕，他很愛，她才一氣之下捏他耳朵，其餘暴行她一概否認。

陳男說，妻子個性強勢，結婚後就習慣對全家發號施令，近2年來更有幻想、猜忌狀況，脾氣越加暴躁。不過，去年12月妻子對他施暴後，陳男也坦承妻子是在跟他吵「以前他年輕時發生的事情」，才會對他不滿，進而動手。

☆民眾如遇同居關係暴力情形，可撥打113保護專線，或向各地方政府家庭暴力防治中心求助。☆


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title: EIA短期能源展望報告：預計2020年美國原油需求增速為-133萬桶/日，...


title: 熟女最愛青春療程 全新聚雙旋乳酸掀熱潮

countries: 韓國 台灣

content_text:
圖／雅文皮膚科診所 提供
每個女性都怕老，更怕年齡還沒到，卻先被叫「姐」。因此永保青春的外貌，一直以來都是女性所追求的目標。然而過了25歲後，體內合成膠原蛋白的速度趕不上流失的速度，導致臉部肌膚鬆垮垮。此時，想單靠保養品來守住年輕顯然不夠，因此許多消費者也開始尋求醫美微整療程的幫助，其中，新升級”雙旋”設計膠原蛋白增生劑就是近來詢問度頗高的療程之一。

臉凹下垂老10歲 膠原蛋白是青春關鍵 雅文皮膚科診所黃千耀醫師表示，其實臉部老化問題，主要分為三大層次，分別是骨骼流失、膠原蛋白流失及脂肪位移。骨骼流失會造成眼眶骨凹陷、下頷骨內縮等；脂肪位移會造成臉部體積下垂，例如嘴邊肉的產生；而膠原蛋白流失則會使皮膚表皮缺水變薄，失去彈性及支撐力，進而產生皺紋，以上任一因素都會造成輪廓結構改變，讓人看起來顯老，其中膠原蛋白流失所造成的凹陷鬆弛，也是最多人感到困擾的問題。

對抗老化課題，除了日常保養、飲食，也可搭配醫美微整療程，由內而外地守住青春。 圖／雅文皮膚科診所 提供
想讓青春更延時 「雙旋膠原蛋白增生劑」自然受青睞關於對抗老化的課題，除了日常保養之外，建議搭配醫美微整填充療程來維持青春的面容，特別是臉部凹陷問題。目前常見的填充療程有玻尿酸、膠原蛋白增生劑等。黃千耀醫師表示，玻尿酸的優勢在於有立即填充的效果，適合想要立即改善臉部凹陷問題的人；而近年來頗受到消費者青睞的膠原蛋白增生劑，目前市面上除了傳統的單旋類聚乳酸，現在更有添加了右旋的「聚雙旋乳酸」。其原理在於將劑體注入皮膚深層，刺激自體膠原蛋白增生，使治療部位隨著時間推移，漸進式地長出屬於自己的膠原蛋白，以達到豐盈臉部肌膚的效果。特別適合用於觸感柔軟的蘋果肌、法令紋等部位，一般來說維持效期最長可達兩年。由於自然且不易被發現、加上能改善膚質、維持效期長等優點，因此是近期在韓國相當熱門的填充材質。

微整填充療程能明顯地改善肌膚凹陷、膠原蛋白流失的問題，其中膠原蛋白增生劑，術後效果自然、維持效期長，近期頗受消費者青睞。 圖／雅文皮膚科診所 提供
雙旋膠原蛋白增生劑不易產生結節 免去按摩輕鬆變美傳統的膠原蛋白增生劑，都會建議術後需要按摩達到最佳效果，不過隨著醫美科技日新月異，黃千耀醫師表示，現在新式膠原蛋白增生劑「聚雙旋乳酸」，擁有左旋加右旋的雙旋成分，穩定性相當高，並透過專利球型微粒設計，使劑體在泡製時能溶解均勻、注射部位肌膚觸感自然Q彈，也能減少結節的尷尬狀況發生，讓消費者能省去術後需要按摩的麻煩。

變美第一步 選擇安全、高品質的醫美產品在追求變美的同時，安全性也相當重要。黃千耀醫師建議，在進行療程前務必與醫師進行充分溝通及討論，以確保術後效果與想像無太大落差。在選擇療程產品時，應選擇擁有相關衛生單位認證的產品，例如聚雙旋乳酸，其材質通過韓國FDA及台灣衛福部認證，安全性及品質有一定保障。在術後，加強保濕及蛋白質的補充，就能安心變美無負擔。

諮詢醫師 雅文皮膚科診所醫師黃千耀。 圖／雅文皮膚科診所 提供


title: 每日星座運勢／金牛人氣升帶旺財運  愛情主動告白

content_text:
2020-04-8

牡羊座

情緒波動較大，對現狀有許多不滿。

整體運：★★☆☆☆

想要改變與突破的一天，工作面臨較大的挑戰，會遇到不小的阻力，獨自承擔難有成效，團隊力量才能順利進行。晚上有機會與朋友相聚，因朋友介紹獲得商機的機率高，雖眼前沒見到實質收入，但也是個不小的驚喜。

愛情運：★★★☆☆

學習獨立是你在愛情上的重要課題，當然學習信任對方更是你的愛情使命。

事業運：★★☆☆☆

心浮氣躁，容易因一時頭腦發熱做出一些不易實現的事情，更不宜做出重大決策。

財運：★★★☆☆

財運的流動性加強，有左進右出頻頻周轉的跡象。

貴人星座：射手座

幸運數字：0

吉時吉色：04:00-06:00桐花白

開運方位：正東方向

金牛座

人氣上升帶來旺盛的財運。

整體運：★★★★★

社交運順利，身處活躍的人群中多留意眾人的談話內容，能收集到你想要的投資訊息，若能靈活運用到實際中，還能為你帶來不少的財富。工作上只要完成任務就不會有什麼令人不安的事件發生。

愛情運：★★★★☆

愛情運旺旺，適合扮演主動者的角色，想要告白就的把握今日的良機；戀愛中人不妨主動的安排該去哪兒約會。

事業運：★★★★☆

今日事業運還不錯，遇到疑難雜症時最終必能解決，貴人多來自長官上司，有難題時找上司就對囉！

財運：★★★★★

今日的財運雖然還不錯，可是偏向短期性的獲利，例如：股票買賣要見好就收，不要貪心。

貴人星座：天蠍座

幸運數字：1

吉時吉色：12:00-13:00脆梅青

開運方位：正南方向

雙子座

世上無難事，只怕有心人。

整體運：★★★★☆

另一半鋒芒過露，令你情緒略受影響，擺正心態才是關鍵；財運良好，今天不妨嘗試一些短期投資，發展趨向頗好；工作中與同事相處融洽，氛圍濃厚，懂得用心經營人際關係，令你更得人心。

愛情運：★★★★☆

特別在意另一半，所以對方的一點點小失誤都會讓你生氣，不過，能很快調整好情緒。

事業運：★★★★☆

行動力很強，工作上可嘗試新的方法，加快前進的步伐，易有顯著的成果。

財運：★★★☆☆

財運不錯，比較適合做規劃，在人際關係上面多下點功夫。

貴人星座：射手座

幸運數字：5

吉時吉色：11:00-12:00香吉士黃

開運方位：東北方向

巨蟹座

忘不掉就別勉強自己去忘。

整體運：★★★★☆

受傷了的愛情有望重新開始，但曾經的傷痛讓你難以釋懷，一切順其自然吧；想要理財卻尚無理財經驗的人可多看看與財經、投資、理財相關的書籍、資訊，從中獲得一些基本知識和概念；作業本上老師好的評語，讓你對那堂課充滿了學習熱情。

愛情運：★★★☆☆

今天雙方的意見有點不合，尤其在金錢方面，可別讓他逮到你亂花錢小尾巴唷！

事業運：★★★☆☆

今日事業運普通，宜按照平日的步調來運作，乖乖的接受指令行事吧！

財運：★★★★☆

閒暇時可以看看投資理財方面的書籍，提高理財能力。

貴人星座：射手座

幸運數字：8

吉時吉色：13:00-14:00燻鮭紅

開運方位：東南方向

獅子座

換個角度思考，其實事情也沒那麼糟。

整體運：★★★★☆

戀人對你的感情索取變多，讓你漸漸感到煩躁，應換個角度來看待，只要想對方是需要你就會釋懷。很久沒聯繫的朋友打來電話，讓你喜出望外，有機會因朋友介紹而結識新朋友。

愛情運：★★☆☆☆

戀愛運不太好，好好裝扮一下可以有所改善，但千萬別揮霍，免得雙方產生爭執。

事業運：★★★★☆

事業運不錯，能夠逐步完成計劃中的事情，有時間空檔時也可跟同事好好互動一下。

財運：★★★★☆

今天你很有創新思維，會抓住別人不容易發覺的方向來耕耘，也許你的親友並不看好，但只要你堅持下去，日後你就會有不錯的進帳！

貴人星座：巨蟹座

幸運數字：5

吉時吉色：08:00-10:00鉑金灰

開運方位：西北方向

處女座

多愁善感的一天。

整體運：★★☆☆☆

容易觸景生情，想起一些傷心事，情緒會有些許波動。對另一半的主動親近，你會有敷衍了事的念頭。工作之餘不妨抽些時間休閒，哪怕是聽聽音樂，也能讓心情好轉。學生族會把錢花在異性朋友身上。

愛情運：★★☆☆☆

有伴侶的人，彼此保持一點距離比較好，黏的太緊會讓對方不耐煩唷！

事業運：★★☆☆☆

情緒比較的暴躁，工作上稍感不順，便容易與周圍的同事起衝突，傷了同事間的和氣。

財運：★★★☆☆

不利投機，因為心態上患得患失的情緒過重，即使獲得小利也讓自己傷神不安。

貴人星座：天蠍座

幸運數字：9

吉時吉色：17:00-18:00鉑金灰

開運方位：正東方向

天秤座

別讓自己活得太累。

整體運：★★★☆☆

工作沒有頭緒，計劃停滯不前，不如尋求同事的幫助。財運一般，生活顯得有點拮据，不妨給自己一點阿Q式的精神安慰。異鄉工作者易受鄉愁之苦，和老鄉話話家常，便會體會到家的感覺。

愛情運：★★★★☆

單身者因社交活動頻繁而結識心儀的異性，多安排一些約會，可快速增進感情。

事業運：★★☆☆☆

事業運略差，壓力多才自於上司客戶，放下主觀意識，默默配合吧！

財運：★★★☆☆

胡亂投資會大吐血，賠老本。

貴人星座：獅子座

幸運數字：7

吉時吉色：20:00-22:00白鋼銀

開運方位：西北方向

天蠍座

運勢平順，有利拓展人脈。

整體運：★★★☆☆

今天你與異性接觸有風度，易讓人心生好感，言語間多一些幽默，無疑將令異性主動靠近。工作上獨自創業的想法強烈，但一定要做好本職工作，對你日後的創業會有所幫助。

愛情運：★★★★☆

戀愛中的人感情進展穩定，可談論結婚事宜；單身者易在外出辦事的途中邂逅愛情。

事業運：★★☆☆☆

盡可能少做重大決策，多注意休閒時間的情緒管理和睡眠質量。

財運：★★★☆☆

心情不好不妨購物，眼光很不錯。

貴人星座：金牛座

幸運數字：9

吉時吉色：07:00-08:00薔薇粉

開運方位：東北方向

射手座

快樂著他的快樂，幸福著他的幸福。

整體運：★★★☆☆

今天的情緒會受到戀人的影響，因為他的快樂而開心，因為他的悲傷而難過；投資上會出現新的契機，要善於把握；工作中要學會寬容別人的過錯，這樣自己的情緒也沒那麼激動，同事也不會因此產生逆反心理。

愛情運：★★★★☆

有暗戀傾向的人戀情可望明朗化；已婚者彼此關懷，並能感受到愛的力量。

事業運：★★☆☆☆

看起來有點反應遲鈍，做起事來慢半拍，若不迅速點會直接影響你的績效。

財運：★★★★☆

暗財比較旺，暗財運上大多來自長輩或長者。

貴人星座：摩羯座

幸運數字：0

吉時吉色：09:00-10:00蜜瓜黃

開運方位：東南方向

摩羯座

今天是適合趕工的日子。

整體運：★★★☆☆

做事效率高，事半功倍，進度也可按預期完成，努力的付出易獲得眾人的認同和讚賞。購買消費品時，不能光看價格而忽視了質量，買到劣質商品可不划算。有機會參加聚會，容易交到志同道合的朋友。

愛情運：★★★☆☆

想戀愛就莫等閒，在選擇伴侶時多聽聽朋友的意見，有機會認識適合的人選。

事業運：★★★★☆

靈感不斷、創意十足，很適合開發、創作，對文案策劃人員特別有利，容易有不錯的策劃方案。

財運：★★☆☆☆

花錢特別海派，容易受到吃喝玩樂的誘惑，想守住荷包就不要往外面跑！

貴人星座：摩羯座

幸運數字：9

吉時吉色：21:00-22:00玉髓紅

開運方位：東北方向

水瓶座

情緒波動較大，精神狀態不佳。

整體運：★★☆☆☆

今天很容易受到周圍環境的影響，對於他人的斷言不可盲目聽信，小心上當受騙。工作的事情先放一邊，腦袋常處於高度緊張的狀態會讓你疲憊不堪，好好休息會讓你有新的領悟。晚上有機會與戀人約會，應放輕鬆一些。

愛情運：★★★☆☆

已婚者感情平順，只要彼此多溝通，相互信任，感情生活就能過得愉快；單身者異性緣佳。

事業運：★★☆☆☆

表現得很沒自信，向上司、同事提出方案或建議時，會顯得很沒有底氣，這樣會難讓人信服噢！

財運：★★☆☆☆

自我破壞形象恐會驅離財神。

貴人星座：巨蟹座

幸運數字：7

吉時吉色：19:00-20:00遠洋藍

開運方位：正西方向

雙魚座

身體欠佳，心情比較沉悶。

整體運：★☆☆☆☆

今天沒有什麼心情理財，身體不太舒適,做什麼都提不起勁來。工作中比較鬱悶，繁雜的任務無法按時完成，自己倍感沮喪。還好，戀人的細心照料讓你疲憊的心又得到不少安慰。

愛情運：★★★☆☆

注意提高精神生活，避免壓力過大，容易得到呵護疼愛，會有不少溫柔體貼的追求者喔！

事業運：★☆☆☆☆

今日的事業背極了，大部分居多是個人判斷錯誤所引起的，尤其是金錢相關的領域，不宜做任何重大的金錢決策。

財運：★☆☆☆☆

金錢困擾多多，恐有難言之隱，也要注意為財與人發生口角爭執。

貴人星座：天秤座

幸運數字：0

吉時吉色：23:00-24:00珊瑚橙

開運方位：東南方向

【更多命理分析，請前往 科技紫微網 】

每日星座運勢


content_text:
開發金控（2883）公布獲得金管會許可，延長百分百併購中壽（2823）時程，依照金管會許可內容，開發金百分百併中壽期限，可延後到本屆董事會任期屆滿前，也就是2022年6月，距離現在還有約兩年多，也給予開發金、中壽面對影響壽險至鉅的國際會計準則IFRS 17，更多的緩衝與應對空間。

開發金原本依照收購納入中壽為持股35%的子公司時，承諾金管會今年要完成百分百控股合併中壽，但完成不及，因此之前董事會決議向金管會申請延後百分百合併時程。

title: 開發金百分百併中壽  期限延長至兩年後


content_text:
記者陳以昇、陳雕文／新北報導

為了減少新冠肺炎的感染機會，新北市公有市場、夜市出入口自7日起要進行人流管制，縮小市場進出口數量，設置額溫槍與酒精並強制攤商戴口罩，民眾則是採柔性勸導。對於這項政策，板橋南雅夜市及三重的三和夜市之攤商多數為贊同的態度，認為戴起口罩可「保護你也保護我」

▲南雅夜市的服飾店員支持新北市府的政策，認為攤商強制戴上口罩是合理的。（圖／記者陳雕文攝）

▲▼南雅夜市店家多數認同政府的政策，但也感嘆沒客人上門，服飾店老闆娘稱業績已經掉了好幾成，只能無奈滑手機。（圖／記者陳雕文攝）

記者發現，新北市長侯友宜7日傍晚視察中和和平街與樂華夜市，入口皆有人員進行量測額溫、管制人口，但三和夜市及南雅夜市尚無相關措施，不過兩夜市的攤商絕大多數都有配戴口罩，也認為「強制攤商戴口罩」是合理的要求。

●不戴是因為怕被誤會…

但也有極少數店家雖然支持政府的政策，但仍舊不戴口罩，就在三和夜市裡，一間專賣鮮蚵的店家解釋，怕民眾看了會「覺得好像我們有病」，因此不戴口罩，老闆說，「就手腳盡量快一點，趕快把事情做完。」

▲三和夜市有少數店家未戴口罩，專賣鮮蚵的老闆解釋，是怕被客人認為有病。（圖／記者陳以昇攝）

●沒客人的辛酸

南雅夜市一間服飾店店員無奈表示，政府強制攤商戴口罩的立意點是良善的，但是現在生意掉了超過5成，都快撐不下去了，到了晚上8點多，店裡根本沒人，其實有沒有戴口罩好像也沒差了。但店員強調，如果生意好起來，人多了當然會把口罩戴好，保護彼此。

▲儘管認同政策，但服飾店員也無奈表示，若是都沒客人上門，戴不戴口罩好像也沒差了。（圖／記者陳雕文攝）

據了解，有關夜市人潮管制方式，目前暫定假日100平方公尺50人，但會依照每個市場特性做滾動式調整，也盡量兼顧攤商生意。市場處表示，會以柔性勸導方式宣導民眾戴上口罩在進入市場，攤商則是強制配戴，中央有配售給市場、商圈攤商一週12片。

我沒有遲到，是時間遲到了！

▲▼三和夜市的攤販與逛街民眾，絕大多數都有戴口罩，但夜市的人潮相當稀少，店家苦不堪言。（圖／記者陳以昇攝）

▼南雅夜市生意不好，人潮稀少。（圖／記者陳雕文攝）

taiwan-subdivisions: 新北 板橋 三重 和平 中和 新北市

title: 強制攤商戴口罩！夜市店家紛紛贊同但是...「都沒客人好像也沒差了」


countries: 美國 澤西

events: 武漢肺炎 死亡 COVID-19

content_text:
2020-04-08 00:32:25

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕美國紐約州州長古莫（Andrew Cuomo）7日表示，過去24小時，該州死於武漢肺炎（COVID-19）的人數再添731人，是自疫情爆發以來單日最高增幅，累計5489例死亡，約佔美國武漢肺炎死亡病例的一半。

綜合外媒報導，紐約洲迄今有13萬8836人確診，其中5489人死亡，古莫7日在首府阿伯尼（Albany）的記者會上表示，「我們又失去了731人...今天也非常痛苦」。他還說，與紐約州相鄰的紐澤西州，死亡病例才剛剛超過1000人。

古莫指出，「我們預計住院總人數將達到一個穩定水平，你可以看到增長，且開始趨於平穩」。他提到，紐約市和聯邦政府已經建立了約3000張急診病床，以幫助紓解人滿為患的醫院。

古莫也說，他計劃在週二晚些時候發布幾項行政命令，其中包括一項正式命令，對未遵守社交距離規則的人處以1000美元（新台幣3萬元）的罰款。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
「武漢肺炎專區」請點此，更多相關訊息，帶您第一手掌握

title: 武漢肺炎》紐約州死亡數居高不下 再添731死創單日新高


title: 世衛：防疫措施別太早解除 以免再度淪陷

events: 冠狀病毒 COVID-19 武漢肺炎

content_text:
2020-04-08 00:21:02

〔中央社〕世界衛生組織今天表示，針對放鬆為抑制2019冠狀病毒疾病（COVID-19，武漢肺炎）大流行擴散的防疫措施，世衛對各國和地區無一體適用建議，但敦促各國不要太早解除這類措施。

世界衛生組織（WHO）發言人林德梅耶（Christian Lindmeier）在虛擬簡報會上表示，最重要的就是別太早鬆手，以免再次淪陷。

他說：「這就好像你自己生病一樣，如果你太早從床上起來和太早開始跑步，就會冒著再度病倒及引起併發症的風險。」


title: 批習「堅持當皇帝的小丑」 中共北京紀委：任志強涉「嚴重違紀違法」

references: 網友 Twitter

countries: 美國 中國

content_text:
中國退休地產商任志強（見圖）因撰文批判中共總書記習近平，失聯多日。中共北京市紀委今天公告，指「任志強涉嫌嚴重違紀違法，目前正接受北京市西城區紀委區監委紀律審查和監察調查」。（取自網路）

2020-04-07 23:56:00

〔中央社〕中國退休地產商任志強因撰文批判中共總書記習近平，至今失聯。中共北京市紀委今天公告，指「任志強涉嫌嚴重違紀違法，目前正接受北京市西城區紀委區監委紀律審查和監察調查」。

中共北京市紀律檢查委員會暨北京市監察委員會官網晚間刊登上述公告。

中國網路3月初出現一篇嚴厲批判中共總書記習近平的文章，指他「剝光了衣服也要堅持當皇帝的小丑」，引起網友哄傳。由於文章提到「央視姓黨」一事，此文被普遍認為出自任志強之手。

此文曝光後，任志強隨即失聯。旅美中國政治學者韓連潮3月中旬在推特（Twitter）援引來自中國友人的消息指出，任志強已被北京市紀委留置，地點是北京郊區蟒山的市紀委培訓中心。

美國之音（VOA）中文網則在3月下旬引述消息人士透露，任志強此舉已被當局定為重案，不但已遭留置，連長子、秘書也被捕，且牽連其他家人，任何人無法插手求情。

這名人士表示，任志強一案「任何人不得插手，不能介入，不能求情，可能也包括（任志強的好友、中國國家副主席）王岐山」。如今王岐山在某種程度上「已經靠邊站了，對習近平沒有什麼制衡」。

任志強在中國以敢言著稱，擁有「任大炮」的響亮名號。2016年2月19日，央視在習近平視察時打出「央視姓黨，絕對忠誠，請您檢閱」的標語後，任志強便發文批判「媒體有了姓，人民就被拋棄到被遺忘的角落了」，引起軒然大波。同年5月，便被留黨查看一年處分。

外界傳聞，是時任中紀委書記王岐山出面說情，才讓此案被輕輕放下。（編輯：繆宗翰/邱國強）


title: 武漢肺炎》印尼確診激增 雅加達4/10起禁5人以上集會

content_text:
印尼昨日（6）創下單日武漢肺炎確診人數新高後，今（7日）又新增247人確診，刷新紀錄。圖為印尼女性戴口罩示意圖。（歐新社）

2020-04-07 23:47:33

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕印尼繼昨天（6日）創下單日武漢肺炎確診人數新高後，今（7）日又新增247人確診，突破昨日紀錄。當局政府今天批准首都雅加達擴大社交限制的要求，雅加達省政府立刻宣布，10日起禁止5人以上集會。

《路透》報導，印尼衛生部長普特蘭托（Terawan Agus Putranto）今天簽署中央政府命令，授權雅加達地方政府實施一系列為期2個星期的社交限制，其中包含宗教、國防、社會文化等活動，以及關閉學校和工作場域。

雅加達的確診案例數佔了印尼的一半，目前已宣布進入緊急狀態，關閉大多數學校，同時執行相關限制措施，直到19日，但省長阿尼斯（Anies Baswedan）表示，還要推動更嚴格的應對措施。《彭博》報導，阿尼斯今天宣布，雅加達週五（10日）起擴大社交限制14天，火車、地鐵和公車等大眾運輸營運時間將減少，同時嚴格要求乘客保持社交距離。

據報導，自疫情爆發以來，總統佐科威（Joko Widodo）透過社交距離政策抑制疫情，卻不採用許多國家都已開始實施的鎖國政策。

印尼中央和地方政府在防疫措施上存在分歧，有些城市已自行封鎖邊界，以避免病毒擴散。相關當局表示，近幾週已有數十萬的雅加達居民遷移，不是因為失去工作被迫離開，就是離開家鄉去尋找較安全的庇護所。

報導指出，本月23日至5月23日為穆斯林齋戒月，屆時恐怕將有數千萬民眾從城市返回家鄉，可能引起另一波大規模的病毒傳播。迄今為止印尼2738確診、221死亡。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
「武漢肺炎專區」請點此，更多相關訊息，帶您第一手掌握

taiwan-subdivisions: 大社 新社

events: 武漢肺炎 死亡


title: 別只會說！美國務院發言人嗆中國：真正合作要實際行動

countries: 中國 美國 台灣

content_text:
對於中國近日呼不斷籲各國合作，聯手對抗疫情，歐塔加斯（見圖）7日在推特開嗆：「真正的合作需要透明度和實際行動，而不只是說說而已！」（美聯社檔案照）

2020-04-08 00:27:41

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎疫情蔓延全球之際，中國外交部卻連日與美國國務院發言人歐塔加斯（Morgan Ortagus）唇槍舌戰。對於中國近日呼不斷籲各國合作，聯手對抗疫情，歐塔加斯台灣時間7日深夜在推特開嗆：「真正的合作需要透明度和實際行動，而不只是說說而已！」

歐塔加斯與中國外交部發言人華春瑩連日在推特上就武漢肺炎發源處一問題爭議不休，歐塔加斯曾指出，「台灣早在12月31日就示警WHO，但中國要醫生閉嘴」，痛批中國隱匿疫情，造成病毒蔓延。

對此，中國外交部多次在記者會上反擊，稱國際上有人試圖「甩鍋」中國，讓中國成為最大的代罪羔羊，中國並多次呼籲，唯有各國團結合作，才能戰勝疫情。

不過，歐塔加斯7日於推特再度嗆聲。她說，美國歡迎中國呼籲各國共同防疫，接著話鋒一轉表示，「我們敦促北京分享所有的病毒數據，讓國際團隊調查中國爆發疫情的方式，並允許公民發表言論」。

最後，歐塔加斯更嗆，「真正的合作需要透明度和實際行動，而不僅僅是言辭」。

The U.S. welcomes China’s call to combat the #COVID19 pandemic together. We urge Beijing to share all virus data, let intl teams investigate how the outbreak began in China, & allow citizens free speech. True cooperation requires transparency & real actions, not just rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/zCeyJQwReZ

— Morgan Ortagus （@statedeptspox） April 7, 2020


title: 武漢肺炎》猶太人逾越節連假來臨 以色列全國封城防疫

content_text:
以色列的逾越節（Passover holiday）連假來臨，為防止武漢肺炎疫情擴大，7日至10日實施全國封城令，並在8日晚間實施宵禁。（歐新社）

2020-04-08 00:16:00

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕以色列的逾越節（Passover holiday）連假來臨，為防止武漢肺炎疫情擴大，當局6日宣布，7日下午4時至10日上午7時實施全國封城令，並在8日晚間實施宵禁。

綜合外電報導，為防止武漢肺炎疫情擴大，多國實施各種禁令或考慮取消慶祝傳統節日。以色列政府6日宣布，7日下午起全國「封城」，除非有必要理由，民眾禁止出城，以阻止民眾在逾越節晚餐（Seder）舉行親友聚會。

從週三下午3時到週四上午7時，以色列人禁止離開家門，但非猶太裔的少數族群不受這項禁令限制，週三晚間仍可上街採買，例如阿拉伯裔的穆斯林或基督教徒。

以色列總理納坦雅胡（Benjamin Netanyahu）表示，今年的逾越節晚餐只和直系親屬一同慶祝，以防止武漢肺炎疫情擴大。他說，4月下旬即將到來的復活節和齋月假期，也會實行類似的旅行限制。

另外，以色列當局7日也宣布，本月12日起民眾外出須配戴口罩。年齡6歲以下兒童、患有精神疾病者及單獨在車上或工作場所的人不在其限制。

以色列目前確診人數已將近9000人，其中6人死亡。

相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
「武漢肺炎專區」請點此，更多相關訊息，帶您第一手掌握。


title: 白宮新聞秘書辭職 上任9個月從沒開過正式記者會

content_text:
美國白宮新聞秘書葛莉珊（Stephanie Grisham）去職，離開了擔任9個月的白宮發言人職位。（彭博）

2020-04-07 23:38:46

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕美國白宮新聞秘書葛莉珊（Stephanie Grisham）在從未舉行過一場正式記者會的情況下去職，離開了擔任9個月的白宮發言人職位。新上任的白宮幕僚長梅多斯（Mark Meadows）正在物色新人選。

綜合外媒報導，美國第一夫人梅蘭妮亞（Melania Trump）7日宣布，葛莉珊將出任她的幕僚長，葛麗珊過去是梅蘭妮亞的發言人，去年6月獲委任為白宮新聞秘書。她在一份聲明中表示，她很榮幸能為總統和第一夫人工作，「我的接班人將在未來幾天公布，我將留在西翼，在需要的時候為順利過渡提供幫助」。

外媒指出，在喜歡直接面對媒體的川普領導下，白宮新聞秘書一職頗具挑戰性，川普認為他就是自己最好的發言人、聯絡室主任（ommunications director）和戰略家，要求下屬必須絕對忠誠。

葛麗珊是川普的第3位白宮發言人，從上任到去職從未舉行任何一場記者會或說明會。她的前任是桑德斯（Sarah Sanders）和史派瑟（Sean Spicer）。

白宮新任幕僚長梅多斯（Mark Meadows）正在物色白宮新聞秘書一職的人選，包括川普競選團隊的現任發言人麥肯尼（Kayleigh McEnany）和五角大廈發言人法拉（Alyssa Farah）。


title: 武漢肺炎》台灣考慮捐口罩給日本 日網感動：永遠在幫助我們

countries: 台灣 日本 美國

content_text:
台灣啟動國際人道援助行動，將捐贈1千萬片口罩支援歐美12國與15個友邦。外交部7日表示，第二波將援助新南向國家，並考量是否捐贈日本、南韓。圖為外交部亞太司長葛葆萱出席例會。（資料照，記者呂伊萱攝）

2020-04-08 00:13:16

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕台灣啟動國際人道援助行動，將捐贈1千萬片口罩支援歐美12國與15個友邦。外交部7日表示，第二波將援助新南向國家，並考量是否捐贈日本、南韓。儘管台灣尚未確定將援助日本口罩，但日媒報導此事後，立刻引發許多日本網友在推特上留言感謝。

日媒《時事通信社》報導，台灣外交部7日在記者會中透露，已經開始考慮向日本捐贈醫療用口罩。報導提到，武漢肺炎在日本傳染情形十分嚴重，口罩正是日本持續短缺的物資；報導並稱，台灣已經決定相感染嚴重的歐美國家免費提供1000萬片口罩，正將考慮讓日本成為第二階段目標國家。

時事通信社將相關新聞張貼到推特上後，立刻引發日本網友大量轉貼，截至7日晚間，已有近萬人按讚與超過5000次分享。

新聞下方，有日本網友以中文留言「台灣，謝謝你！」其他網友也紛紛留言表示「溫暖的台灣永遠可以幫助我們」、「台灣的口罩很安全，真的謝謝你！」、「好想哭」、「感謝台灣的好意」、「台灣是一個真正友好的國家」、「真的好感謝，一定會找時間去觀光」、「我們應該與台灣建立外交關係，並承認它是一個國家」、「台灣永遠都在幫助我們」。

台湾外交部は7日、マスク不足が続く日本に対し、医療用マスクを寄贈する検討を始めたことを明らかにしました。台湾は人道支援外交の一環で、感染が深刻な米国や欧州各国などに計1000万枚の医療用マスクを無償供与することを決定済みです。 https://t.co/aNnCvKlg1d

— 時事ドットコム（時事通信ニュース） （@jijicom） April 7, 2020 相關新聞請見︰武漢肺炎懶人包》傳染途徑、預防措施看這裡
「武漢肺炎專區」請點此，更多相關訊息，帶您第一手掌握


title: 武漢肺炎》歐洲確診逾60萬例 歐盟派醫護人員赴義大利

events: 武漢肺炎 死亡 冠狀病毒 COVID-19

countries: 義大利 歐盟 羅馬尼亞 西班牙 英國 美國 冰島 列支敦斯登 比利時 德國 挪威 荷蘭 法國

content_text:
武漢肺炎襲擊歐洲，今天確診病例突破60萬例、死亡逾5萬人，義大利是疫情重災區，歐盟宣布，已派遣一組跨國醫護人員前往義大利協助對抗疫情。（美聯社）

2020-04-08 00:02:56

〔中央社〕武漢肺炎襲擊歐洲，今天確診病例突破60萬例、死亡逾5萬人，義大利是疫情重災區，歐洲聯盟（EU）今天宣布，已派遣一組跨國醫護人員前往義大利協助對抗疫情。

「歐洲疾病預防管制中心」（ECDC）今天公布，至今天為止全球回報2019年冠狀病毒疾病（COVID-19，武漢肺炎）確診131萬6988例、死亡7萬4066例，其中美國最多，確診36萬8196例、死亡1萬989例。

在歐洲，包括歐盟27個會員國、甫脫歐的英國以及屬於歐洲經濟區（EEA）的挪威、冰島、及列支敦斯登（Liechtenstein）等共31國迄今共報告60萬8500起病例。

歐洲確診病例數前5名是西班牙13萬5032例、義大利13萬2547例、德國9萬9225例、法國7萬4390例、英國5萬1608例。

歐洲死亡共報告5萬1059例，較多的國家依序為義大利1萬6525例、西班牙1萬3055例、法國8911例、英國5373例、荷蘭1867例、比利時1632例。

歐洲疾病預防管制中心的數據是截至7日上午的統計資訊，可能會與各國自行宣布的數字有落差。

義大利是歐洲疫情重災區，歐盟今天宣布，透過歐盟公民保護機制已派遣一支由羅馬尼亞及挪威組成的醫護小組派往米蘭和貝加莫省（Bergamo），協助義大利第一線人員對抗疫情。

歐洲聯盟執行委員會（European Commission）主席范德賴恩（Ursula von der Leyen）今天說，這些護士和醫生離開自己家園幫助其他會員國真實顯示歐洲的團結，執委會正竭盡所能幫助義大利及所有會員國，展開全天候合作，確保在最需要之處得到幫助。


title: 新加坡防疫2.0  在家聚會也不行

things: 防疫 經濟

events: 冠狀病毒 COVID-19 武漢肺炎

content_text:
2020-04-08 00:13:02

〔中央社〕新加坡今天通過武漢肺炎暫行措施法案，無論人數多寡、在家裡或公共場合，新加坡將禁止私人與公共場所聚會，這也包括未同住的家人與朋友。

新加坡從3月20日起即相繼公告餐飲場所用餐座位至少要保持1公尺的社交安全距離等相關措施，26日再公告更嚴格處分措施，規定工作場所和學校以外聚會與社交活動，在任何時間都以10人為限，公共場所要確保彼此之間保持至少1公尺的安全距離。

新加坡也從今天起到5月4日實施更嚴格的社交安全措施，舉凡提供非必要服務工作場所都要關閉1個月，遏止武漢肺炎疫情擴散。

不過，新加坡今天再通過針對武漢肺炎的暫行措施法案，這也被視為是加強版的落實安全距離措施規定，意味政府有意向違法者發出強烈訊號。

根據新加坡媒體亞洲新聞台（Channel NewsAsia）、新傳媒8頻道新聞與聯合早報報導，衛生部長顏金勇在國會指出，在這項法令下，政府有權關閉提供非必要服務工作的場所與休閒設施，並規定需外出的人要遵守社交安全距離規定，除原本要求取消或延後舉行活動與大型聚會，所有社交活動，不論活動舉辦地點或參與人數多少，一律禁止舉行。

顏金勇表示，無論參與人數多寡，新加坡將禁止在私人與公共場所社交活動。

他並以在公園或大多數人居住的政府組屋（HDB）樓下舉辦私人派對或聚餐為例，說明都在禁止之列。

顏金勇指出，由衛生部人員、警察等公務員組成的執法團隊，可獲授權對違法者採取行動，如果沒有合理原因違反規定，可依違反傳染病法起訴，初犯將處最高新幣1萬元（約新台幣21萬元）、坐牢6個月，抑或兩者兼施。

這項新法案將授權政府於必要時，能援引徵用資源法令，把徵用土地與設施設為隔離處所，或提供病患相關的護理設施。

新加坡從主要辦公與商業區、傳統市場與庶民美食中心今天均沒有昔日喧鬧聲音，上班族通勤匆忙身影也不復見，各主要街道顯得空蕩蕩。

新加坡所有人不能在餐館與庶民美食中心的咖啡店、小販中心或食閣用餐，消費者在這段時間內只能利用外帶或送餐服務訂餐，不能在用餐區聚集或遊蕩。

消費者要遵守嚴格的社交安全距離，排隊購物或訂餐要依地面標示，維持至少1公尺的安全距離，否則會遭執法人員取締。

新加坡今晚公布新增武漢肺炎106例，確診累計1481例。

新加坡目前境外移入病例數降低，防疫措施重心轉向控制本土病例散播。2019冠狀病毒疾病（COVID-19，武漢肺炎）疫情全球延燒，新加坡目前推出3個經濟援助措施，分別取名團結（Unity）、韌性（Resilience）、同舟共濟（Solidarity）。（編輯：林治平）


content_text:
美國近日已將疫情比擬為「珍珠港事變」與「911恐怖攻擊」，曾在川普政府任職的前白宮首席策士班農表示，即使不涉及製作生化武器或實驗室外洩，就隱匿疫情和延後通報等罪責，應對中國政府進行紐倫堡式審判。（資料照，法新社）

2020-04-07 23:56:42

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎肆虐全球，美國近日已將疫情比擬為「珍珠港事變」與「911恐怖攻擊」，曾在川普政府任職的前白宮首席策士班農（Steve Bannon）表示，即使不涉及製作生化武器或實驗室外洩，就隱匿疫情和延後通報等罪責，應對中國政府進行紐倫堡式審判。

綜合媒體報導，美國感染武漢肺炎的死亡數如今已突破萬人，班農日前指出，台灣早在去年已向世衛組織警告，武漢肺炎會「人傳人」，WHO秘書長譚德塞也知情，1月14日竟還引述中國官方說法稱「不會人傳人」；對此，他呼籲，應全面調查病毒是否源自「武漢P4實驗室」。

班農表示，國際法庭應該對中國官員如國家主席習近平、副主席王岐山等人，進行紐倫堡式的大審判，無論是否為人工武器，但有一個事實是，中國至少從去年12月開始就知道疫情，直到1月23日武漢封城前都在隱匿。

據資料指出，「紐倫堡大審」（Nuremberg Trials）又稱「歐洲國際軍事法庭」 ，是盟軍於二戰結束後，在德國紐倫堡市舉行的國際軍事法庭審判，根據國際法和戰爭法對納粹德國進行起訴，有許多人在審判或執刑前輕生；在亞洲則有「東京大審」，正式名稱為「遠東國際軍事法庭（International Military Tribunal for the Far East）」。

people: 川普 習近平

countries: 中國 德國 台灣 美國

title: 武漢肺炎》轟中國政府隱匿疫情 班農：應進行紐倫堡大審


title: 武漢肺炎》復刻天安門事件？ 美專家揭中國造假疫情3部曲

content_text:
美國國家安全分析師、IRIS獨立研究創始人雷貝卡·格蘭特（Rebecca Grant）撰文揭露中國疫情造假3部曲，指北京正復刻天安門事件模式，在未來數年內，將持續向世界傳輸疫情假消息。圖為1989年，學生們和市民、工廠工人聚集在北京天安門廣場。（法新社）

2020-04-08 00:30:06

〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕武漢肺炎疫情愈演愈烈，中國頻以「大外宣」轉移焦點，企圖撇清疫情爆發的責任，甚至還對外聲稱抗疫有成。對此，美國國家安全分析師、IRIS獨立研究創始人雷貝卡·格蘭特（Rebecca Grant）撰文揭露中國疫情造假3部曲，指北京正復刻天安門事件模式，在未來數年內，將持續向世界傳輸疫情假訊息。

格蘭特在《福斯新聞》以「中國的冠狀病毒欺騙活動──掩蓋策略3部曲」（China's coronavirus deception campaign – three parts to their cover-up strategy）撰文批評，在這次危害全球的武漢肺炎疫情中，中國起初就隱匿疫情，接下來還計劃繼續欺騙。

格蘭特說，中國外交部發言人華春瑩與趙立堅先後否認中國是疫情的源頭，還把矛頭指向美國，她認為，更多的謊言將只會浪費更多時間，直言華的言論只是中國展開全球攻勢的一部份，就是試圖推動「中國的英勇行動為遏止該病毒的全球傳播，並贏得了寶貴的時間」，他更批評，「騙」才是中國國際政治、商業與軍事戰略的核心策略。

「中國圍繞這個病毒的欺騙分三個階段。」格蘭特指出，第一、中國從2019年11月下旬開始掩蓋武漢肺炎疫情的爆發，隱瞞病毒的性質和進展的相關消息，而武漢封城措施更是為時已晚。

第二、中國在一月份和二月份壓低有關感染病例和死亡人數的實際數字，「這一點特別有害，因為很多美國模型都依賴中國數據，來預測武漢肺炎在美國各州的傳播，並指導公共衛生政策、關閉學校和企業。」

「最後則是讓美國當代罪羔羊。」格蘭特說，從3月中旬起，中國擴大外宣，假消息開始流竄，先由趙立堅宣稱武漢肺炎病毒是由美軍帶來的，接著再由中國國家衛健委高級別專家組組長鍾南山「圓謊」，批美國控制不住疫情的話，將造成全球大災難。

綜觀上述，格蘭特認為，中共正運用1949年毛澤東時期贏得國共內戰的做法，以《孫子兵法》的欺瞞、狡詐、作弊對外打宣傳戰，就像1989年天安門事件一樣，這次病毒的爆發將成為未來幾年中國假訊息的主題。

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things: 假訊息 假消息

events: 武漢肺炎 冠狀病毒 死亡


title: Petition to recall Kaohsiung mayor passes second stage

content_text:
By Ko Yu-hao and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

The second phase of a petition to recall Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) has passed the signature threshold required to initiate a recall vote, the Kaohsiung City Election Commission said yesterday.

Citizen Mowing Action, which organized the petition with We Care Kaohsiung and other groups, on March 9 submitted 406,880 signatures to the commission for the second stage.

Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Chen Hsiung-wen (陳雄文), the commission’s head, said the commission had mobilized nearly 600 civil servants over 29 days to review the signed petition copies.

The review process eliminated 29,218 copies, Chen said, adding that about 10,000 were from people who provided signatures in the first stage of the petition.

Another 13,000 were eliminated due to incorrect information about the signers’ residency, and another 2,000 were suspected to be forged, chen said.

However, the number of valid copies — 377,662 — still exceeded the 228,134 signatures required to launch a recall vote, he said.

A recall vote could be held on June 6 or 13, but the Central Election Commission (CEC) would make the final decision after receiving the city commission’s results today, Chen said.

According to the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), the first step in the recall process is raising a proposal containing the signatures of at least 1 percent of a constituency’s eligible voters, which in the case of Kaohsiung was 22,800 signatures.

The CEC on Jan. 17 said that the petition had passed the first stage with 28,560 valid signatures.

In the second phase, the initiators of the petition — which was submitted one year after Han’s inauguration on Dec. 25, 2018 — had 60 days to collect signatures from at least 10 percent of the city’s eligible voters, or about 230,000, but not the same ones who signed in the first stage.

In a recall vote, a simple majority must vote in favor of recalling an official for the vote to succeed, with at least 25 percent of eligible voters participating, or about 570,000 people in this case, the CEC said.

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content_text:
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday said that he hopes the party’s Institute of Revolutionary Practice could become an “important cradle” for attracting and cultivating party talent.

“Although the KMT is poor, it cannot be poor in the area of cultivating talent because talent and discourse are the KMT’s most important assets in the future,” Chiang said at a news conference at the party’s Taipei headquarters to mark Taipei City Councilor Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) taking over as the institute’s new director, along with deputy directors Yu Shu-hui (游淑慧) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪).

The party must show the public through action, not just words, that it wants to develop new talent, he added.

Taipei City Councilor Luo Chih-chiang, right, yesterday outlines his three major policies for the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) renamed Institute of Revolutionary Practice after he took over as its head, as KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang, holds up placards at a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Taipei.
 Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times

Lo, who outlined his three major goals for the institute, which has reverted to its original name from the National Development Institute.

He also said that he would not take a salary for being its director, although Chiang had told him that the job was an “obligatory post” that came without pay when he offered it to him.

“The KMT is at a historic low point,” Lo said. “The institute has no money and neither does the KMT.”

Lo said he would keep the promise that he made on Jan. 12, the day after the presidential and legislative elections, to donate NT$800,000 (US$26,532) to the KMT’s youth development work once a new party chairperson was elected.

The donation would be made to the institute to help pay its expenses, he said.

However, the institute is to launch a NT$10 million fundraising drive, he said, adding that details would be released as soon as possible.

While NT$10 million is a small sum for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), whose resources are “endless,” it is an “astronomical amount” for the KMT, he added.

For decades the KMT had a reputation as one of the wealthiest political parties in the world.

In July 2018, Ministry of Interior data showed that the KMT had assets totaling NT$18.9 billion (US$626.82 million), while the DPP had assets worth NT$769 million, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported.

However, on Dec. 6 last year, the KMT said it was struggling to pay staff, due to an asset freeze imposed by the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee.

The committee said that the KMT had income of NT$420 million in 2018 that had not been frozen.

Additional reporting by staff writer

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people: 江啟臣 黃健豪 羅智強

title: Chiang sees KMT institute as key to attracting talent


content_text:
POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE:
 The appointment of a top Chinese diplomat to the council’s Consultative Group reflects China’s effort to expand its influence over the UN system, MOFA said

UN members need to watch out for Beijing’s abuse of power in the world body’s systems, after a Chinese official was appointed last week to a panel on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday

Jiang Duan (蔣端), who holds the rank of minister at the Chinese mission in Geneva, Switzerland, was appointed to the council’s Consultative Group as a representative for Asia-Pacific states for a one-year term through March 31 next year.

It is ironic that the Chinese government, with its egregious record on human rights issues, can be admitted into the consultative group to help monitor the human rights conditions in other countries, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement.

The appointment reflects China’s control over UN systems, which deserves the vigilance of all governments, she said.

Beijing’s efforts to expand its influence over the UN system and promote a human rights agenda with “Chinese features,” such as prioritizing development projects, have alarmed democracies and the global community, she said.

China is not qualified to play a leading role in human rights issues, given that many groups, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Freedom House, have raised concerns about Beijing’s violation of human rights, she said.

The representatives of 22 nations in July last year sent a joint letter to the UNHRC calling on Beijing to stop persecuting Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, Ou said.

The ministry called on all UN member states and the global community to closely monitor Beijing’s actions in the UNHRC to prevent it from abusing power or using its position to cover up its rights atrocities, Ou added.

On Thursday, Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based non-governmental organization UN Watch, said Jiang’s appointment was “absurd and immoral.”

“Allowing China’s oppressive and inhumane regime to choose the world investigators on freedom of speech, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances is like making a pyromaniac into the town fire chief,” Neuer said.

US Representative Chris Smith, a senior member of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, on Sunday also condemned the appointment.

The Chinese government’s record on human rights includes the systematic abuse of religious and ethnic minorities, including Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur and Kazakh Muslims, Falun Gong and “underground” Christians, Smith said.

“There is no justification whatsoever in empowering a Chinese government official, Jiang Duan, to investigate human rights abuses until there is a reckoning with regard to China’s own record,” he said.

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title: World must watch PRC’s actions in UN bodies: Ou


content_text:
LIVELIHOOD:
 The labor ministry has proposed cash handouts of NT$30,000 per person and loan subsidies of up to NT$100,000 to help people affected by the COVID-19 crisis

The Ministry of Labor (MOL) yesterday detailed the latest government policies to ease unemployment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including cash handouts of NT$30,000 (US$994.96) for self-employed people or freelancers.

To qualify for the cash handout, a worker must have participated in the Labor Insurance plan through a guild, Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun (許明春) told a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei.

To make sure that only those in need would receive the handouts, applicants must have been exempt from paying individual income taxes last year, and their insured monthly salary under the Labor Insurance system must not exceed NT$24,000, she said.

From left, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Chuan-neng, Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Huang Yu-lin, Minister Without Portfolio Kung Ming-hsin and Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun attend a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday to unveil government plans to help workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Photo: CNA

The handout would be wired into the bank account of successful applicants in a lump sum, she said.

People who are already receiving a government-issued subsidy due to the pandemic would not be eligible for the labor ministry’s subsidy, she said.

For example, tour guides who are receiving a monthly subsidy of NT$10,000 from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications would not qualify even if they are freelancers, she said.

The labor ministry’s statistics showed that about 1.33 million people would be eligible for the cash handout, she said.

The labor ministry is also planning to offer subsidized loans of up to NT$100,000 per person whose livelihood has been affected by the pandemic, with the interest rate capped at 1.845 percent, Hsu said.

The loan repayment period would be set at three years, with the ministry covering the interest payment for the first year and the borrower paying annual interest of no more than NT$1,845 in the second and third year, she said, adding that the ministry expects about 500,000 applicants.

The labor ministry would start accepting applications for the loans and the cash handouts within two weeks of the Legislative Yuan approving a proposed increase of NT$150 billion in the special budget for bailing out industries and workers hardest hit by the pandemic, she said.

In light of the increasing number of workers on unpaid leave, the ministry has put forward a plan to allow furloughed people to take part-time jobs at local governments, which is set to take effect in about a week, she said.

Participants would be allowed to work up to 80 hours per month at a designated local government agency and be paid the minimum hourly wage of NT$158, she said.

The project would last three to six months and is expected to benefit about 60,000 workers, she said.

The labor ministry has drawn up a similar plan for people laid off as a result of the pandemic, which would be initiated if the unemployment rate rises sharply, she added.

It has earmarked NT$6 billion for subsidies to about 60,000 university graduates whose job prospects might have been affected by the pandemic, but the specifics of the policy are still being ironed out, she said.

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title: Virus Outbreak: MOL planning cash, loan subsidies


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: British PM fights in intensive care as global deaths soar

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday battled COVID-19 in intensive care as death tolls in the US and Europe reached new heights from the pandemic sweeping the world.

Johnson, 55, was moved into intensive care when his condition worsened 10 days after his diagnosis.

A senior Cabinet minister said that he had been given oxygen, but had not been put on a ventilator.

His case has highlighted the global reach of the virus.

The disease’s relentless march across the planet has now claimed more than 75,000 lives out of more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, with warnings that much worse is yet to come.

The number of daily deaths in Spain rose to 743 yesterday, after France on Monday recorded a new surge of 833 fatalities, its highest daily toll since the epidemic began, and Italy saw its death toll shoot up to 636 from 525 the day before, after days of dropping.

The US — which has by far the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the world — recorded 1,150 deaths over 24 hours, Johns Hopkins University said.

In New York state, the US epicenter of the crisis, the rate of growth in the death toll appeared to be slowing.

“New York City is fighting back. We have an invisible enemy. We have a ferocious enemy, but this city is fighting back with everything we’ve got,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The virus is stretching medical facilities to the limit and the WHO warned that there is a global shortage of 6 million nurses.

People around the world have been forced to improvise as supplies run short, with bodies packed in cardboard coffins in Ecuador and a mosque converted into a makeshift mask factory in Iran.

Governments around the world are also scrambling to put together rescue packages.

With the ink barely dry on a US$2 trillion economic rescue package passed by the US Congress, US President Donald Trump said he favored another massive spending program, again roughly US$2 trillion, but this time targeting infrastructure projects.

“We built the greatest economy in the world. I’ll do it a second time,” he said.

EU finance ministers are expected to clinch a deal to use the eurozone’s 410 billion euro (US$447 billion) bailout fund to fight the virus, but the bloc remains divided on pooling debt to issue “coronabonds.”

Stock markets have chosen to see the glass as half-full so far this week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday soaring 1,600 points as traders saw hope the pandemic was reaching its apex.

Markets were also up in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

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people: 蔡英文 邱顯智 陳椒華 王婉諭

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President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) should fulfill her campaign promise by having proposed amendments to the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) passed during this legislative session, the New Power Party (NPP) said yesterday.

The party issued the call to coincide with Freedom of Expression Day, which the government in 2016 designated to commemorate democracy advocate Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), who died on April 7, 1989.

Many of the regulations in the act have been ruled unconstitutional by the Council of Grand Justices, NPP caucus whip Chiu Hsien-chi (邱顯智) said.

New Power Party legislators Claire Wang, second left, Chiu Hsien-chih, third left, and Chen Jiau-hua, right, hold a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday calling on the government to amend and rename the Assembly and Parade Act.
 Photo: CNA

People are required to obtain permission before they can hold a protest, Chiu added, describing the legislation as archaic.

“To pass the amendments, the NPP has proposed changing the meeting agenda at the Legislative Yuan 26 times, but we failed. We hope the amendments will pass during this legislative session,” he said.

When campaigning for president in 2008, Tsai promised that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), regardless of whether it was the governing party, would propose amendments to the act to stop administrative abuse of power, but “that check has apparently bounced,” NPP Legislator Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) said.

Tsai and the government should fulfill their promise to the public, which is the protection that a democratic government guarantees for its people, she said.

The act should protect people’s rights, rather than limiting them, NPP Legislator Claire Wang (王婉諭) said.

Rather than people having to obtain permission for a protest, the act should allow people to simply inform the police about their plan to hold a protest in advance without having to ask for permission, she said.

The party also supports removing the regulations banning protesters from approaching administrative buildings, as well as those allowing police to disperse crowds, Wang said.

The amendments would punish violent protesters in accordance with the Penal Code, rather than special administrative penalties, Wang added.

Law enforcement officers would be obligated to disclose their identities during a protest, she said.

Taiwan Association for Human Rights legal department director Wang Si (王曦) said that the association could not hold a rally at Kaohsiung Railway Station to support pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, because it could not secure all the documents needed to obtain permission.

Separately yesterday, Tsai marked Freedom of Expression Day in a Facebook post, saying that “a society with freedom of expression has the natural antibody, and a collective immunity, against fake news.”

Additional reporting by Su Yung-yao

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title: NPP urges Tsai to change Assembly and Parade Act


title: Death penalty overturned in murder

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VICTIM’S FAMILY UPSET:
 The woman’s father said the family would appeal the High Court’s ruling to the Supreme Court and he also planned to sue the city government

The High Court yesterday upheld the conviction of a man found guilty of raping, killing and dismembering a woman in Taipei in 2018, but overturned his death sentence.

It sentenced Chen Po-chien (陳伯謙), an archery instructor, to life in prison for the rape and murder of a 30-year-old woman surnamed Kao (高), who had been a student at his Yejucaotang (野居草堂) studio in the Huashan Grassland near Huashan 1914 Creative Park.

The High Court ruling said it had reduced the Taipei District Court’s sentence in view of the fact that Chen had turned himself in to police after he was listed as a suspect in Kao’s murder.

The father of a murder victim surnamed Kao, right, voices his outrage outside the High Court in Taipei yesterday after the court overturned the death penalty for Chen Po-chien, who was last year convicted of raping, killing and dismembering Kao at the Huashan Grassland in Taipei in June 2018.
 Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times

The judges also upheld his conviction for the theft, desecration and abandonment of Kao’s body, High Court spokeswoman Lien Yu-chun (連育群) said.

The victim’s family said they were not happy with yesterday’s rulings and planned to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Kao’s father told reporters that Chen has never once apologized to the family and has shown no remorse since the gruesome murder.

He was going to file a lawsuit against the Taipei City government for its negligent management of the Huashan Grassland, as it was part of an area designated by the city as a temporary artists’ village.

The Taipei District Court in August last year convicted Chen of murdering Kao on June 1, 2018.

Over the next two days he dismembered Kao’s body, cutting it into 13 pieces, and then took most of the remains to Yangmingshan, where he dumped them.

After turning himself in to police, Chen reportedly confessed to strangling Kao, but during his trial last year, he said he had only helped dispose of her body, and that another Taiwanese man, identified only as “Eric,” was the real killer.

The lower court ruled that Chen’s testimony should be disregarded.

Chen appealed his conviction to the High Court.

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Virus Outbreak: Japan declares a state of emergency over COVID-19

Japan yesterday declared a month-long state of emergency over a spike in COVID-19 cases, ramping up efforts to contain infections, but stopping short of the strict lockdowns seen in other parts of the world.

The government has come under mounting pressure to tackle an outbreak that remains small by global standards, but has raised concerns among Japanese medical experts, with warnings that local healthcare systems are already overstretched.

Announcing the measures, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged Japanese to draw on the sense of togetherness seen after the country’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in 2011.

People watch a large screen on a building showing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declaring a state of emergency.
 Photo: Reuters

“We are again facing a great difficulty. However, if we work together once again with hope, we will rise to the challenge and move forward,” he said. “We will beat the virus, we will defeat the virus and we can overcome the ordeal of this state of emergency.”

The move allows governors in seven affected regions, including Tokyo, to ask people to stay indoors and request that businesses close, but there are no enforcement mechanisms and no penalties for those who fail to comply.

“Although a state of emergency is declared, it will not mean a city lockdown as seen overseas,” Abe said, adding that public transport would run as normal and roads would not be blocked.

However, he urged people to take the declaration seriously, telling Japanese that “everything will depend on your actions.”

Pressure to declare an emergency grew after several days of record new infections in Tokyo, although the numbers are far smaller than in many parts of the world, with about 80 cases reported yesterday.

Seven regions are covered by the month-long declaration: Tokyo, neighboring Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama, the western hub of Osaka and neighboring Hyogo, and the southwestern region of Fukuoka.

The economic impacts of the declaration and the broader global pandemic have raised concern of a recession in Japan, with Abe yesterday saying that the domestic and global economy face their “biggest crisis since World War II.”

His Cabinet earlier approved plans for a stimulus package worth ￥108.2 trillion (US$993 billion), or 20 percent of GDP.

Additional reporting by Reuters

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Japan firms to shut with emergency decree, but 7-Elevens to remain open

Japanese companies are preparing to close retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and offices, while expanding work-from-home policies, after the government declared a state of emergency in major metropolitan areas.

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd, Lumine Co and Rakuten Inc are closing stores, while Nintendo Co said that it would shut its flagship Tokyo shop until further notice.

Toyo Tire Co said that after the declaration, it would close its headquarters and other operations in Hyogo Prefecture for a month, while workers telecommute.

Sega Sammy Holdings Inc said that it would also close all offices in the affected areas for a month, including its main Tokyo site.

Critical businesses in manufacturing and technology are to keep operating.

Automakers, including Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co, plan to continue assembly, while Toshiba Corp-affiliate Kioxia Holdings is maintaining normal operations at its Yokkaichi plant, a key producer of memory chips for iPhones and other smartphones.

Grocers and convenience stores, including those operated by Seven & I Holdings Co and Lawson Inc, are to remain open so that residents can shop for essentials.

The state-of-emergency declaration affects Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures, which together account for about half of the country’s economic output.

That has fueled concern that output this quarter might tumble by as much as 20 percent, driven by an anticipated drop in retail and entertainment.

“A big drop in April-to-June GDP is unavoidable because the service sector, which accounts for a big chunk of Japan’s economy, will be asked to shut down,” Hamagin Research Institute senior economist Yuki Endo said. “Most of employment in this sector is part-time. Employment conditions for part-time workers will deteriorate greatly.”

Kao Corp, which makes cosmetics and household products, said that it would extend work from home for corporate staff until further notice, while beauticians and salespeople would stop working in stores.

Rakuten plans to temporarily close 568 of its mobile shops, a spokesman said.

Softbank Corp has reduced hours in some retail locations and closed a number of stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Sendai and Kanagawa prefecture after staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Many companies are waiting for more guidance from the government.

It is not yet clear whether prefectural governors are expected to compel retail stores, restaurants and bars to close, such as cities in the US and Europe have done. They might also set rules for closures or cleanings if infections are discovered at stores or factories.

Financial institutions, including Nomura Holdings Inc and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, said that they would continue to support their customers, although they might scale back retail operations.

However, some companies are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy as the virus hits.

Fast Retailing Co, which runs the Uniqlo clothing chain, is scheduled to open several new stores in the coming weeks, including its biggest ever in Ginza.

Rakuten still plans to debut its new wireless service today, while Mercari Inc, an auction site, has moved its entire orientation for new hires online this month because its employees are working from home.

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Virus Outbreak: Taiwan-born researcher the man behind N95 mask

WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERT:
 Many Taiwanese only recently became aware of Peter Tsai after he wrote an article answering questions about sterilizing and reusing N95 masks

The inventor of the key technology used in N95 respirator and medical masks is Taiwan-born scientist Peter Tsai (蔡秉燚), the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry Association said on Facebook on Monday.

Tsai was a professor in the University of Tennessee’s material sciences and engineering department for 35 years before retiring last year, and is a world-renowned expert in nonwoven fabrics.

He invented the electrostatic charging technology used to produce the filter media of masks, including medical and N95 masks, as well as heating, ventilating and air conditioning filters, and holds 12 US patents and 20 commercial license agreements for his inventions.

While Tsai might not be a household name, he recently became familiar to Taiwanese due to an article he wrote answering common questions about sterilizing and reusing N95 masks, the association said.

The “N” in the respirator name means “not resistant to oil,” and “95” means the ability to remove at least 95 percent of submicron particles, such as influenza viruses, dust, pollen, haze and smoke, the association said.

N95 respirators are made of four plies of polypropylene media: an outer veil that can resist moisture, a double-ply filtration layer and an inner layer that is in contact with the skin, it said.

The outer and inner layers — usually made of spun-bond nonwoven and thermal-bond nonwoven fabrics — have low filtration efficiency and breathing resistance, and serve primarily to contain the middle layer, it said.

The middle layer, made of meltblown nonwoven fabrics, seals any gaps through which submicron particles might be able to enter and is key to the N95 respirator’s filtration efficiency, it said.

To manufacture meltblown nonwoven fabrics, two fundamental technologies are required: melt blowing and electrostatic charging, with the former being a nonwoven process that makes a fabric composed of microfibers; and the latter being the embedding of permanent charges in a fiber to form an electret that enhances filter efficiency by electrostatic attraction, the association said.

Tsai’s research in melt blowing and electrostatic charging greatly improved the filtration efficiency of nonwoven fabrics used in masks, allowing submicron particles to be captured and stopped from traveling through the masks, it said.

Tsai found that a charged medium has 10 times the filtration efficiency of an uncharged medium, meaning that one ply of charged fabric can have the same power as 10 plies of the same uncharged fabric, and better air permeability, too, it said.

According to the article, when high-quality masks are exposed to elevated temperatures, such as 70°C, for 30 minutes, the chances that a charge will decay are extremely low, so people can repeat this sterilizing method multiple times without a noticeable loss in filtration efficiency, as long as the masks are suspended without coming into contact with or being near a metal surface, Tsai said in an article for the University of Tennessee Research Foundation that was published on March 25.

As for treating masks with bleach, the article states that charges will not degrade as long as the ingredients do not include surfactants, while hot water generally does not affect the mask’s filtration performance, as long as the inner and outer veils of the mask are not made of paper-like tissue.


title: CDFHC gets grace period from FSC in China Life purchase

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The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) yesterday approved a grace period of about 27 months for China Development Financial Holding Corp (CDFHC, 中華開發金控) in its acquisition of China Life Insurance Co (中國人壽).

Under the commission’s new requirement, the company must complete the deal before June 13, 2022, when its board members’ terms expire, it said.

“We appreciate that the government allowed us to delay fully acquiring China Life and we will act accordingly,” the firm said.

The commission is requiring the firm to report any progress in the deal once per quarter, Banking Bureau Deputy Director Sherri Chuang (莊琇媛) told the Taipei Times by telephone.

CDFHC would need to raise new funds to pay for the full acquisition, which is likely to cost NT$60 billion (US$1.99 billion) based on the company’s estimate in January, Chuang said.

“For the sake of the company’s financial stability, we do not want to see it borrow a significant amount of money to close the deal. We will keep an eye out for which financial tool it uses,” she said.

Raising new capital by issuing new common shares would be a safer option, she said, adding that the company could decide when to begin buying shares from China Life shareholders, she added.

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Virus Outbreak: Team finds antibodies that might block coronavirus

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital yesterday said that it has collaborated with other institutes to isolate 22 new strains of SARS-CoV-2 and complete the full genome sequencing of the virus, which causes COVID-19.

A team of researchers has also found 25 strains of antibodies in beta-cells collected from three COVID-19 patients, said Huang Kuan-ying (黃冠穎), a doctor at the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the hospital’s Linkou branch.

The hospital found that a monoclonal antibody combined with the coronavirus’ spike protein could help inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and prevent the virus entering the body.

ACE2 is an enzyme attached to the membranes of lung, artery, heart, kidney and intestine cells, and is the main entry point for coronaviruses.

Chang Gung University Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections head Shih Shin-ru (施信如) said the antibody could be used to prevent the virus from replicating itself in the human body.

If the antibody proves effective in human trials, it could be used as a treatment for COVID-19 or used in prevention, she said.

The antibody, which originates from the human body, would be much safer to use than antibodies originating from animals, she added.

She suggested that the strains of antibodies be used in permutations for rapid test kits, as it would increase test kit sensitivity and specificity toward SARS-CoV-2.

The hospital also said that it would work with the team to develop a test kit and conduct human trials, adding that it would also reach out to the local pharmaceutical industry to help develop a treatment.

The hospital’s collaborators include Academia Sinica, the National Defense Medical Center’s Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and a team from the University of Oxford.

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Virus Outbreak: Woman who refused to wear mask on MRT to be fined

A woman who refused to wear a mask, but insisted on getting on a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train on Sunday, was removed by MRT police and would be fined, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday.

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Friday announced that all passengers are required to wear a mask when using public transportation, including the Taiwan High Speed Rail, the Taiwan Railways Administration system and the MRT system.

In line with the CECC policy, TRTC said that on Saturday, it began barring passengers with no masks, while urging riders to maintain a proper social distance and refrain from talking on the train.

Passengers wearing masks take the Taipei MRT on Monday after the Central Epidemic Command Center last week announced that all public transport commuters must wear masks in the fight against COVID-19.
 Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times

During the weekend, about 14,300 people who were not wearing masks were asked to put one on before they would be allowed entry, and about 1,500 were asked to leave after they refused to put on a mask, TRTC said.

However, on Sunday, a woman without a mask forced her way into Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT Station and got on a train, it said.

Station staff contacted the MRT police to intercept her, and she was escorted off the train when it arrived at Zhongshan MRT Station.

The case has been reported to the Taipei Department of Health and the woman faces a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 for contravening the Communicable Disease Control Act (傳染病防治法), it said.

On Sunday, the CECC added that taxi drivers can reject passengers who refuse to wear masks.

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Reserves increase US$705m

The nation’s foreign-exchange reserves were US$480.39 billion as of the end of last month, an increase of US$705 million month-on-month, the central bank said yesterday. The increase was mainly due to management returns, although they were partially offset by the depreciation of the British pound and other reserve currencies against the US dollar, the bank said. Separately, the market value of securities and New Taiwan dollar deposits held by foreign investors was US$350.5 billion at the end of last month, accounting for 73 percent of the nation’s foreign-exchange reserves, the bank said.

ELECTRONICS

Qisda posts record sales

Electronics manufacturer Qisda Corp (佳世達) yesterday posted record-high sales of NT$14.59 billion (US$483.9 million) for last month, up 33 percent month-on-month and 0.86 percent year-on-year, thanks to increased contributions from subsidiaries Sysage Technology Co Ltd (聚碩), Topview Optronics Co (勝品電通) and Ace Pillar Co (羅昇). The company returned to full production last month from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. First-quarter revenue declined 1.6 percent year-on-year to NT$39.2 billion, but Qisda said that it is seeing an increase in demand for panels due to increased telecommuting and distance learning. The company remains positive about the long-term prospects for digitalization, automation and cloud computing, it said.

ELECTRONICS

Cable orders boost Sinbon

Sinbon Electronics Co (信邦電子), which produces cables, connectors and modems, on Monday reported consolidated sales of NT$4.51 billion for last quarter, up 9.76 percent quarter-on-quarter and 11.29 percent year-on-year. It was the highest level for the first quarter in the company’s history, which it attributed to resumed production in China and a rush of orders for cables used in ventilators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sinbon’s shipments in the industrial control devices segment last quarter grew 7.39 percent year-on-year, while those in the green energy segment increased 39.78 percent, the company said. Shipments in the medical and healthcare segment rose 6.97 percent, it said.

TRANSPORTATION

THSRC revenue tanks

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC, 台灣高鐵) yesterday posted its lowest revenue in nearly 10 years, as the COVID-19 pandemic saw most people stay at home to avoid infection. Revenue fell 13.03 percent month-on-month and 40.28 percent year-on-year to NT$2.38 billion last month, compared with a decline of 31.87 percent the previous month, THSRC said on its Web site. “The COVID-19 outbreak reduced revenue and ridership in March,” the company said. Combined first-quarter revenue fell 18.38 percent year-on-year to NT$9.6 billion, from NT$11.76 billion last year, the company said.

FOOD DELIVERY

Deliveroo to exit Taiwan

UK-based food delivery company Deliveroo on Monday unexpectedly announced that it plans to stop providing services in Taiwan on Friday as it is reallocating resources to Europe from the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. The COVID-19 pandemic is part of the reason behind the decision to exit Taiwan 19 months after entering the market in October 2018, the company said. Deliveroo did not offer free delivery when the coronavirus outbreak began, unlike its peers Foodpanda and Uber Eats.

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title: Taiwan Business Quick Take


content_text:
SMALL INCREASE:
 Three new imported cases of COVID-19 were reported, one of whom returned to Taiwan on the same flight as 10 other previously reported cases

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday disclosed the nation’s capacity for treating COVID-19 patients, adding that it has 34 facilities capable of analyzing 3,800 tests per day.

The global outbreak of COVID-19 is still severe, and clustered infections in local communities or healthcare facilities have been reported in many countries, said Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元), who heads the CECC’s medical response division.

The center has six main strategies to ensure that Taiwan’s healthcare system has sufficient medical capacity, he said.

A teacher at Wensheng Elementary School in New Taipei City wears headgear representing a coronavirus as he teaches pupils how to practice social distancing yesterday.
 Photo: CNA

While about 1,500 tests are being performed every day, the nation’s “expanded COVID-19 testing capacity” has reached about 3,800 tests per day, which can be analyzed at 34 testing facilities — 16 in northern Taiwan, 10 in southern Taiwan, seven in central Taiwan and one in eastern Taiwan, he said.

The “enhanced community-based surveillance” strategy includes increasing tests on high-risk groups and establishing a network of testing stations in communities, he said.

High-risk groups include healthcare workers, airline crew members, passengers who returned on a flight from New York in which 10 confirmed cases were detected and people who visited overcrowded tourist spots during the four-day Tomb Sweeping holiday, Hsueh said.

Thank you cards made by five kindergarten students in Taichung’s Dali District are pictured on Monday, expressing their appreciation to medical workers at Jen-Ai Hospital for their hard work in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: Chen Chien-chih, Taipei Times

There are 163 hospitals capable of performing tests on suspected cases, 143 responsive and isolation hospitals designated for admitting patients with mild symptoms, and 52 regional hospitals and medical centers that can take in patients with severe symptoms, he said.

There are four phases in the “expanding capacity for hospitalizing COVID-19 patients” strategy for designated responsive hospitals, Hsueh said.

They include admitting patients to negative-pressure isolation wards or single rooms, setting up exclusive COVID-19 departments, suspending the admittance of non-COVID-19 patients and resettling non-COVID-19 patients to other hospitals, he said.

As part of the “making an inventory of hospital beds and respirators” strategy, he said that there are 2,713 hospitals beds, including in negative-pressure isolation wards and COVID-19-designated wards, that can be used for treating infected patients, with 1,597 beds, or 59 percent, still vacant.

That capacity could expand to 20,985 beds if a widespread local outbreak occurs, Hsueh said.

About 1,300 of the 9,932 respirators in the nation are available, and the center expects to increase capacity to about 2,200, he added.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, said the center also hopes to continue its strategy of “expanding the capacity of centralized quarantine” from 1,553 rooms at 13 quarantine centers to more than 3,000 rooms.

Hsueh said the center has created principles for “implementing a triage system to admit or refer COVID-19 patients” to different levels of hospitals according to each patient’s condition.

Meanwhile, the CECC reported three new cases in Taiwan, all imported.

Chen said that the three confirmed cases are two women and one man, all in their 20s, who returned from France, the UK and the US between Monday and Saturday last week.

Case No. 374, a man who studies in the UK, and case No. 375, a woman who visited her family in France, as well as visiting Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK during her trip, were under home quarantine when they experienced symptoms and reported for testing, he said.

Case No. 376 is a woman who studies in the US. She returned to Taiwan on the same flight — China Airlines (華航) Flight CI011 from New York to Taipei on Monday last week — as several other previously reported cases, so she was under home isolation when she began experiencing symptoms on Thursday last week, Chen said.

As 10 passengers on the flight have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that the center has decided to test all of its 323 passengers and 13 crew members.

title: Virus Outbreak: CECC reveals virus treatment capacity


title: Yageo revenue rises 50 percent as China production restored

content_text:
Yageo Corp (國巨), the world’s No. 3 passive components maker, yesterday said that revenue last month jumped 50.4 percent month-on-month to a 14 month high as a majority of its manufacturing capacity in China returned and customer demand grew.

With the relaxing of lockdowns and containment measures in China, the company has restored 70 percent of its manufacturing capacity, in line with its restoration plan, Yageo said.

Revenue last month expanded to NT$4.03 billion (US$133.66 million) month-on-month from NT$2.68 billion in February. On an annual basis, revenue rose 14.8 percent from NT$3.52 billion.

First-quarter revenue fell 12 percent year-on-year to NT$10.02 billion from NT$11.39 billion a year earlier. On a quarterly basis, revenue edged up 0.2 percent.

“Monthly revenue in March was significantly higher than the previous month, mainly thanks to the rate at which Chinese factories are resuming production and strong orders from end customers,” Yageo said. “Operations, orders and shipments are all back to normal.”

As China accounts for about 70 percent of the company’s revenue, Yageo said that it would take the steps necessary to further recover its production capacity in the country, allowing it to meet rising customer demand.

Local peer Walsin Technology Corp (華新科技) reported that revenue last month increased 27.9 percent month-on-month to NT$2.45 billion from NT$1.91 billion a month earlier. On an annual basis, revenue fell 12.9 percent from NT$2.81 billion.

“With more workers returning to work, production in China was restored in March. On the other hand, demand from PC-related segments has increased due to the expansion of the stay-at-home economy,” Walsin said in a news release.

The firm’s revenue last quarter declined 23.38 percent annually and 2.15 percent quarterly to NT$6.37 billion, it said.

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title: Executive Yuan cautions against the use of Zoom

content_text:
The Executive Yuan yesterday reminded central government agencies, state-run companies and the nation’s science parks not to use visual conferencing software products that could compromise the nation’s information security, sending a letter to remind them to observe rules covering such software.

They should heed the Information and Communication Security Management Act (資通安全管理法) and should refrain from using products that could compromise the nation’s information security, Vice Premier Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said in a statement, stopping short of an outright ban on certain products.

They can hold visual conferences amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but they should not use Zoom Video Communications or other software that could pose a security risk, said Chen, who doubles as the Cabinet’s chief information security officer.

Under the act, agencies should not use or install information and communication systems that pose information security risks, and should give precedence to the products of local technology firms or those that have signed contracts with the government, he said.

In special circumstances, when local conferencing software has been ruled out by international meetings, free software, such as those provided by Google or Microsoft, can be adopted following security risk assessments, the Department of Cyber Security said.

The letter from the Executive Yuan follows last week’s announcement by University of Toronto-based Citizen Lab that Zoom software apparently transmits and receives encryption and decryption keys from a server in Beijing that is capable of decrypting audio and video content shared between conference participants outside of China.

Several lawmakers on the Education and Culture Committee on Monday raised concerns that the Ministry of Education has listed Zoom on its list of recommended software for distance learning.

Later yesterday, the ministry said it had told schools nationwide that Zoom was banned for distance learning, and suggested that they use software such as CyberLink U Meeting, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, Adobe Connect, or Google Hangouts Meet instead.

Additional reporting by Rachael Lin and staff writer

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title: US charges unveil FIFA bribe details

content_text:
CORRUPT GOVERNANCE:
 The indictment said that Paraguay’s Nicolas Leoz and Brazil’s Ricardo Teixeira had received bribes in exchange for voting for Qatar’s World Cup bid

Two former executives of US media giant Fox on Monday were charged with corruption, bank fraud and money laundering as US federal prosecutors shed fresh light on the scandal-tainted bidding war for the FIFA World Cups in 2018 and 2022.

Former 21st Century Fox employees Hernan Lopez, 49, and Carlos Martinez, 41, face charges, along with 65-year-old Gerard Romy, who worked for Spanish media conglomerate Imagina.

The three men are accused of paying millions in bribes to officials from the governing bodies for soccer in South America, and North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

The charges allege the bribes were paid in exchange for lucrative TV rights contracts for regional competitions, the Copa America, and qualifying games for the two World Cups.

The case forms part of the wide-ranging 2015 corruption scandal that left FIFA in turmoil and led to the downfall of then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

An unsealed superseding indictment also detailed corruption surrounding the 2010 vote in Zurich, Switzerland, which saw FIFA award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

The indictment said former Brazilian FIFA member Ricardo Teixeira and late Paraguayan official Nicolas Leoz, both members of the FIFA committee which voted on the tournaments, received bribes in exchange for voting for Qatar’s bid.

In addition, Trinidadian FIFA official Jack Warner “was promised and received” payments totaling US$5 million to vote for Russia, while Guatemala’s Rafael Salguero was promised a US$1 million bribe to vote for Russia.

Salguero pleaded guilty to multiple corruption charges in 2016 and was banned from FIFA, while Warner, who faces charges in the US, is battling extradition to the US from Trinidad.

“The profiteering and bribery in international soccer have been deep-seated and commonly known practices for decades,” William Sweeney, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, said in a statement which announced the charges against Lopez, Martinez and Romy.

“Over a period of many years, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the governance and business of international soccer with bribes and kickbacks, and engaged in criminal fraudulent schemes that caused significant harm to the sport of soccer,” the statement said. “Their schemes included the use of shell companies, sham consulting contracts and other concealment methods to disguise the bribes and kickback payments and make them appear legitimate.”

Since the scandal erupted in 2015, the US government has accused a total of 45 people and various sports companies of more than 90 crimes, and of paying or accepting more than US$200 million in bribes.

Of the 45 accused, five have since died, while 22 pleaded guilty, of which only six have so far been sentenced.

A dozen remain in their home nations, where they face prosecution by local authorities or are fighting extradition.

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title: Manufacturing industry buoyed by 5G demand

content_text:
CHIPS NOT DOWN:
 Momentum was most evident in the integrated circuits segment, which posted a 48.6% year-on-year increase, up from 6.7% a month earlier

The climate gauge for the nation’s manufacturing industry in February turned from “blue” to “yellow-blue,” supported by demand created by the deployment of 5G and other upcoming technologies, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (台灣經濟研究院) said yesterday.

The manufacturing business index compiled by the Taipei-based think tank was 11.7 in February, up 2.95 points from January, reflecting an uptick in input materials, demand, costs and selling prices, even though operating conditions weakened, the monthly survey showed.

Despite the improvement, companies across all sectors were pessimistic about the outlook in the next six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and slumping crude oil prices, the institute said.

The institute uses a five-color system to gauge manufacturing activity, with “blue” suggesting a recessionary state, “yellow-blue” a sluggish state, “green” stability, “yellow-red” fast growth and “red” overheating.

The gauge for electronics sector was “green” thanks to demand for next-generation devices, high-performance chips and emerging technologies, the institute said in a report.

Growth momentum was most evident in the integrated circuits segment, which posted a 48.6 percent year-on-year increase, up from 6.7 percent a month earlier, the report said.

That suggested major technology brands had pressed ahead with plans to upgrade and update their product lines, but the pandemic could wreak havoc on demand should infections continue to spread and disrupt economic activity, it said.

Other sectors remained mired in a slowdown, the institute said.

The gauge for the petrochemical sector remained “blue,” as the pandemic caused a slump in demand for oil products, while wild price corrections hurt selling prices, the report said, adding that suppliers of chemical and base metal products were also negatively affected.

The machinery equipment sector fared better with a “yellow-blue” gauge, aided by increased demand from semiconductor firms and a low comparison base, the report said.

Transportation firms posted mixed results, it said.

The gauge for automakers and auto parts firms was “green” after a 39.25 percent year-on-year increase in new license plate registrations, while that for scooter makers was “yellow-blue” from “blue” as government subsidies shored up buying interest, the report said.

More working days compared with last year also lent strength to the improvement, it said.

That favorable comparison also benefited firms supplying livelihood products, as textile exports and output increased, despite the pandemic and an appreciation in the New Taiwan dollar, the report said.

Makers of wood and bamboo products faced growing competition from their peers in China, but technology upgrades had enabled them to carve out a niche market, it said.

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content_text:
Airbnb Inc on Monday announced that it is taking US$1 billion in new investment to endure and, it hopes, thrive in a travel world transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Silver Lake Partners LP and Sixth Street Partners LLC are to invest the money into the home-sharing platform in the form of debt and equity, Airbnb said.

“While the current environment is clearly a difficult one for the hospitality industry, the desire to travel and have authentic experiences is fundamental and enduring,” Silver Lake managing partner Egon Durban said in a statement. “Airbnb’s diverse, global and resilient business model is particularly well-suited to prosper, as the world inevitably recovers and we all get back out to experience it.”

The fresh resources would enable the San Francisco-based company to invest in its community of “hosts,” as well as local experiences provided along with stays in homes, Airbnb chief executive officer Brian Chesky said.

Airbnb said it would focus on long-term stays, from students needing housing to remote workers, building on increasing demand as people self-isolate during the pandemic.

Terms of the investment include putting US$5 million into a Superhost Relief Fund for highly rated hosts who need help with rent or mortgage payments due to the coronavirus pandemic’s devastating effects.

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title: Airbnb gets US$1bn for post-virus rally


content_text:
EasyJet PLC borrowed ￡1.1 billion (US$1.35 billion) to shore up its finances during the COVID-19 pandemic, tapping into a British guarantee program in defiance of founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s escalating activist campaign.

The British discount carrier accessed ￡600 million in Bank of England-backed commercial paper and requested to draw down ￡500 million from an existing facility that is secured against aircraft, it said in a statement on Monday.

The move comes a day after Haji-Ioannou said that he is trying to oust chief financial officer Andrew Findlay as part of a pressure campaign aimed at canceling ￡4.5 billion of aircraft orders with Airbus SE.

The new loan came through Britain’s COVID Corporate Financing Facility open to investment-grade companies.

With the money, EasyJet said that it would have about ￡2.3 billion to see it through a crisis that has forced it to ground its fleet and idle staff.

The carrier also said that it has reached deals on furlough plans with the unions of its pilots and cabin crew members, and that it would consider further liquidity options “given the possibility of a prolonged grounding.”

EasyJet has also been defending itself against Haji-Ioannou, the carrier’s largest shareholder with a 34 percent stake.

After the company rejected his request for a shareholder meeting to remove one board member, he pressed his case by saying that he would try to remove Findlay.

Haji-Ioannou opposes more loans, saying that ending the Airbus contract for more than 100 A320 series jets and holding off from buying more aircraft is the only way to “preserve the value for all shareholders.”

With travel curtailed by the coronavirus, the discount airline has grounded its fleet to preserve cash.

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title: EasyJet takes UK virus loan


content_text:
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) on Monday posted revenue of NT$347.65 billion (US$11.53 billion) for last month, a 7.69 percent year-on-year decrease and its fourth consecutive month of annual declines.

However, that was a 59.87 percent increase compared with February as the company gradually resumed production in China, leading to an increase in shipments of consumer electronics and smart devices.

Revenue for the first quarter fell to NT$929.68 billion, an 11.99 percent year-on-year decrease and the lowest level in six years, Hon Hai said.

A sales breakdown showed that the electronic components segment was the largest contributor to first-quarter revenue, followed by corporate products, the computing segment, and consumer electronics and smart devices.

The revenue decline was in line with the company’s forecast after Hon Hai chairman Young Liu (劉揚偉) last month forecast a 10 to 15 percent year-on-year drop in sales across all business segments.

With production returning to normal levels, Liu said at the time that shipments would increase, as many orders had been deferred from last quarter to this quarter.

Meanwhile, Sharp Corp, Hon Hai’s Japanese subsidiary, yesterday said that it had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against a local distributor of Chinese firm OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp (歐珀).

Sharp said that it had filed a lawsuit with the Taiwan Intellectual Property Court, accusing the distributor of infringing on one of its long-term evolution (LTE) patents.

Sharp last month filed lawsuits against OPPO and OPPO Japan in Munich, Germany, and Tokyo respectively for infringing on several of its LTE patents.

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title: Hon Hai revenue falls, Q2 brighter


title: Stable demand keeps office space rentals steady: JLL

content_text:
NEW SUPPLY NEEDED:
 The office rental total made Taipei the second-best performer behind Tokyo’s 1.4 percent increase, while other cities reported declines, an analyst said

The nation’s office leasing market last quarter proved resilient as a lack of new supply and stable demand kept rents and vacancy rates nearly unchanged, international property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle Inc (JLL) said yesterday.

The same factors might keep the market steady for the rest of this year, JLL said.

Vacancy rates for grade A offices in Taipei in the January-to-March period edged up 0.3 percentage points to 2.4 percent, while rents rose 0.1 percentage points to NT$2,809 (US$93.16) per ping (3.3m2) per month, JLL Taiwan senior market director Brian Liu (劉建宇) told an online news conference.

The rental total made Taipei the second-best performer behind Tokyo’s 1.4 percent increase, while other cities internationally reported modest declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Liu added.

The relatively mild outbreak in Taiwan and a lack of new supply for next year led to a greater number of upscale office space being rented, he said.

This year, office space rentals — a reliable source of income for institutional landlords — might remain flat, as companies become cautious about expansion, compared with last year’s expectations of stable gains, Liu added.

If the crisis persists, corporate tenants might request grace periods for rental payments or temporary reductions in rent to help weather the business slowdown, Liu said.

While nearly 29,272 ping of office space is to enter the market later this year, vacancy rates might hover at less than 2.5 percent, he said.

The commercial property market is a different story, JLL Taiwan managing director Tony Chao (趙正義) said.

“Now could be the worst time or best time [for property investment] depending on how the pandemic settles,” Chao said.

“Market players are conservative about real-estate investments, but the health crisis will eventually be over,” he added

JLL expects to see a U-shaped recovery — possibly by the third quarter of this year, Chao said.

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content_text: Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.

title: EDITORIAL CARTOON


content_text:
Virus Outbreak: Brazilian minister slams Beijing over pandemic

Renewed attacks on China by a member of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s inner circle soured diplomatic relations again on Monday as Minister of Education Abraham Weintraub accused Chinese medical equipment makers of profiteering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Weintraub suggested in a Twitter post, which he later deleted on Sunday, that the disease would help China “dominate the world.”

He referenced a cartoon character with a speech impediment to mock Chinese accents.

Men dressed up as superheroes Spider-Man and Captain America stand with a banner reading “Stay at Home” in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, on Monday.
 Photo: Reuters

The Chinese embassy in Brazil, which had traded barbs last month with Bolsonaro’s son for comparing China’s handling of the disease to the former Soviet Union’s Chernobyl nuclear disaster, denounced the minister in a statement on Monday.

“These completely absurd and despicable declarations, with their racist character and unspeakable objectives, have caused negative influences in the healthy development of bilateral relations,” the embassy tweeted early on Monday.

The Brazilian Ministry of Education declined comment on the matter, and Weintraub did not respond to a request for comment.

In a radio interview, the minister said he was not racist. He also redoubled his attacks on China for its handling of the pandemic, accusing Chinese manufacturers of profiteering.

Weintraub said he would only apologize in exchange for a bargain on mechanical ventilators for university hospitals.

“Have them deliver 1,000 ventilators to my hospitals and I’ll go down to the embassy and say: ‘I’m an idiot,’” he told Radio Bandeirantes on Monday morning.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put renewed pressure on Brazil’s relationship with China, its largest trading partner and the world’s main producer of medical supplies, underscoring deep fault lines in Bolsonaro’s government.

Last week, Brazilian Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta said that China had ditched some Brazilian equipment orders when the US government sent more than 20 cargo planes to the country to buy the same products.

Meanwhile, Mandetta said he would stay put in his job for now, despite coming under fire from Bolsonaro for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

“I’m not bothered by the criticisms,” he told reporters on Monday evening outside the Ministry of Health in Brasilia. “But I’m bothered when the criticism is intended to make the work environment more difficult.”

Earlier on Monday, O Globo newspaper reported that Bolsonaro had decided to fire him, and would publish his decision in the official gazette by the end of the day.

While Mandetta has encouraged Brazilians to adopt the WHO’s guidance on social distancing and self-quarantining, Bolsonaro has said such a response would destroy the economy and do more harm to the population than the virus itself.

“A doctor doesn’t abandon the patient, and I won’t abandon tje country right now,” Mandetta said.

Additional reporting by Bloomberg

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title: Nanya, Macronix revenues rise

content_text:
WORK FROM HOME:
 The third quarter could be a challenge for chipmakers, as a weakening global economy weighs down demand and chip prices, TrendForce said

Memory chipmakers Nanya Technology Corp (南亞科技) and Macronix International Co (旺宏) reported substantial revenue growth for last month, as demand for game consoles, servers and computers increased amid broader COVID-19 containment measures.

Both firms said that the pandemic did not significantly affect their operations last quarter, as all of their chips are made in Taiwan.

Macronix, which makes memory chips used in Nintendo Co’s Switch and Switch Lite, said that consolidated revenue surged 39.8 percent monthly to a record NT$3.88 billion (US$128.68 million) from NT$2.78 billion in February. On an annual basis, revenue increased 97.6 percent from NT$1.96 billion a year earlier.

The performance brought aggregated revenue in the first quarter to an all-time high of NT$9.42 billion, up 56.2 percent from NT$6.03 billion a year earlier, a company statement said.

Nanya Technology yesterday reported that revenue increased 17.37 percent monthly to NT$5.36 billion — the highest in 16 months. On an annual basis, revenue jumped 44.01 percent from NT$3.72 billion a year earlier.

On a monthly basis, shipments last month expanded by a low-teens percentage from a month earlier, while chip prices increased by a low single-digit percentage, the company said.

First-quarter accumulative revenue reached NT$14.42 billion, a 26.79 percent annual increase from NT$11.37 billion a year earlier and a 9.9 percent quarterly increase from NT$13.12 billion in the fourth quarter of last year, company data showed.

Nanya Technology is scheduled to disclose more financial data and information about the impact of COVID-19 during an online investor’s conference on Friday.

DRAM chip prices this quarter are expected to increase more than 10 percent from last quarter, when prices rose 5 percent from the previous quarter, market researcher TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) forecast in the middle of last month, citing demand fueled by companies replenishing inventories.

However, the third quarter could be a challenge for chipmakers, as a weakening global economy and consumer confidence amid the pandemic might begin to weigh down demand and chip prices, TrendForce said, adding that the uptrend in prices might end in the fourth quarter if demand for laptops, smartphones and servers cools.

TrendForce said that it expects smartphone shipments this year to fall 7.5 percent year-on-year to 1.296 billion units, while laptop shipments are likely to fall 9 percent to 150 million units and server shipments are likely to edge higher by 3.1 percent to 12.9 million units.

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