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COA Reminds Farmers to Prep for InFa
發佈於 2021-07-20 13:56:04
The COA is reminding farmers to make preparations for an incoming storm.
The Council of Agriculture says Taitung is expected to see some wind and rain as Tropical Storm In-fa moves in from the east.
And this means fruit and rice crops in the region will be affected.
The council says with crop irrigation (灌溉) currently underway, rice farmers should take extra care to ensure that drainage systems (排水系統) are in place for the excess runoff.
And fruit farmers whose orchards are in flowering and fruiting season, such as sugar apples, pomelos, and avocados, should harvest ripe fruit as soon as possible, to minimize possible losses.
(NS)
FTC Releases Convenience Store Statistics Report
發佈於 2021-07-20 13:56:04
The FTC has released some statistics (統計) on convenience stores in Taiwan.
The Fair Trade Commission has released a report saying that Taiwanese people visit convenience stores an average of 137 times per year, and spend an average of 84.16 NT per visit.
It says the most frequently sold items are cigarettes, sandwiches,
microwaveable foods, and drinks.
The FTC points out that Taiwan's most prominent convenience store chains had a total of 11,985 storefronts in 2020, an increase of 556 from 2019, and the biggest increase since 2006.
The report adds that they had an estimated 3.2 billion visitors last year, and that on average, there is one convenience store for every 1,996 people.
(TT)
Haiti Awaits New Chief As Official Mourning Starts For Moise
發佈於 2021-07-20 13:56:04
Haitians (海地人) are beginning a series of official ceremonies (葬禮) to honor Haitian President Jovenel Moise, nearly two weeks after he was assassinated at home.
Officials say the body of Moise is to lie in state starting before dawn today at the National Pantheon Museum in the capital of Port-au-Prince.
He was shot multiple times during a July 7th attack at his private home, in which his wife was seriously wounded.
The ceremonies come as designated Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry prepares to replace interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who assumed leadership of Haiti after the killing, with the backing of police and the military.
Japanese PM Suga Says World Should See Safe Olympics Staged
發佈於 2021-07-20 13:56:04
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says the world needs to see that Japan can stage a safe Olympics (奧運會).
He spoke to Olympic officials in a closed-door meeting in Tokyo.
Events are set to start on Wednesday, and the formal opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday.
Tens of thousands of athletes, officials, and workers are arriving in Japan, amid a local state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic.
The postponed Olympics face opposition from many Japanese people.
And there will be no local or foreign fans at events.
Suga says Japan, quote, "can bring success to the delivery of the Games", and that this should be communicated to the world.
Pandemic, Penalties Aside, Bribes Go On At China Hospitals
發佈於 2021-07-20 13:56:04
As the coronavirus pandemic threatened to overwhelm Chinese hospitals last year, Chinese resellers appear to have inflated (通貨膨脹) the prices of medical equipment.
It includes the prices of ventilators and other equipment from multinational companies including Siemens, GE, and Philips.
That's according to a review of recent public records on the sale of medical equipment in China, part of an investigation led by a nonprofit investigative news organization, 100Reporters.
Siemens pleaded guilty in 2008 to bribery, and paid one of the biggest corporate fines in history, $1.6 billion, amid pledges of reform.
U.S. Biden Wants Spending To Boost Economy, But Republicans To Block Vote
發佈於 2021-07-20 13:56:04
U.S. President Joe Biden says his infrastructure and families agenda must be passed to sustain economic momentum (經濟動力).
He's aiming to set the tone for a crucial week of congressional negotiations on two separate bills that would together spend over $4 trillion dollars.
But U.S. Senate Republicans are signaling they would likely oppose a procedural vote set for Wednesday, on a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
They want to wait until more details are worked out, and plan to filibuster to block it.
Senators are wrangling over how to pay for nearly $1 trillion dollars in new spending on highways, water systems, and other public works projects.