Read News 2020.09.27 Global Focus and Trending Topics

September 25, 2020 (ROC year 109), a daily real-time online roundup of trending global news topics, covering technology, life, travel, transportation, industry and finance, business, corporations, stocks, foreign exchange markets, investment, real estate, automobiles, breaking news, sports events, entertainment gossip, art, design, politics, society, Taiwan, mainland China, cross-strait relations, weather, natural disasters, current affairs, and many other aspects.

The “Read News” section collects the headline events and brief summaries of the most important key news from around the world that deserve your attention in recent days, revealing the trajectory of social trends through the flow of quickly listed news events.

Global Focus Topics on September 27, 2020

• International and Social Focus
• Technology and Information
• Business and Investment
• Science and Health
• Travel and Leisure

International and Social Focus

The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China stated today that after compiling data on the government’s financial situation and economic growth rate for discussion, and considering that the government has already issued debt to fund special budgets for epidemic prevention and relief, putting heavy pressure on finances, the Executive Yuan approved no adjustment to the pay of military, public, and teaching personnel for fiscal year 110.

Garlic prices have recently surged, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, demand has risen and the incentive for smuggling has greatly increased. Keelung Customs stated that on the 24th, at the port area container distribution station, a container from Qingdao, mainland China, was seized, concealing undeclared suspected mainland garlic, amounting to as much as 8,000 kilograms.

Overseas Chinese communities in the United States complained that this year’s National Day activities in the San Francisco Bay Area were strongly intervened in by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which demanded the unified use of backdrops provided by the Ministry. The overseas Chinese community believes that in the past, overseas affairs activities were all initiated by the private sector, which invited overseas offices to participate; this year, however, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly intervened. The Ministry previously changed its emblem and passport cover, and now it has reached into the National Day ceremony of overseas compatriots.

US President Trump on Wednesday (the 23rd) refused to commit to handing over power if he lost the election, drawing criticism from both sides. Several senior Republicans stated on Thursday that they would ensure a peaceful transfer of power after the election. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the US is a democratic country and urged Trump to respect the Constitution. She said: “You are not in North Korea, you are not in Turkey, you are not in Russia. Mr. President, you are not in Saudi Arabia either. You are in the United States, which is a democratic country.”

Technology and Information

Foreign media outlet “wccftech” reported that people familiar with the matter revealed that the A14X Bionic processor for the new iPad Pro began mass production several days ago using the 5-nanometer process of foundry leader TSMC, meaning that hardware products equipped with the A14X Bionic are expected to debut earlier than planned. Its performance is expected to rival Intel Core-i9.

Business and Investment

US government documents show that the United States has begun sanctioning China’s largest chipmaker, SMIC, requiring companies to obtain a license before supplying SMIC. This will undoubtedly further harm China’s semiconductor industry after the US cut off Huawei’s chip supply sources.

Lai Shyh-bao pointed out that Su Tseng-chang may not know that his subordinates are so good at flattery, holding over NT$5.28 billion to give him flexible control. Comptroller-General Chu Tzer-ming may or may not know the details behind it, but he absolutely must not deliberately confuse the public by claiming that NT$5.28 billion is only over NT$520 million, or even falsely accuse legislators of misreading. “If a comptroller-general gets confused when the decimal point shifts, and has such a poor sense of numbers, he is actually unfit to be comptroller-general.”

Taiwan stocks pulled back and consolidated along with US stocks, falling 642.71 points in a single week to close at 12,232.91 points, with a black weekly candle. The market value of listed companies evaporated by NT$1.9 trillion. Institutional investors said that the recent market volatility was mainly affected by cross-strait tensions, the ongoing tug-of-war between the US and China, and the weakening of US tech stocks. Under the cloud of foreign selling pressure, short-term pressure on the market is difficult to resolve.

About 3,500 US companies, including Tesla, Ford, Target, Walgreen, and Home Depot, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration in the US Court of International Trade over the past two weeks regarding tariffs on more than US$300 billion of Chinese goods.

Dow market data shows that the “Big Five” — Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet — have lost a total of about US$817 billion (about NT$23.89 trillion) in market value so far in September, considerably higher than the previous record of about US$425 billion (about NT$12.42 trillion) shrinkage in October 2018, and only 3 market trading days remain in September to recover.

The tax battle between the EU and Apple (AAPL-US) is not over yet. The European Commission said on Friday (the 25th) that it will [investigate] the US$15 billion involving Apple and Ireland.

Science and Health

The government is vigorously promoting solar photovoltaic power, and more and more places are investing in solar photovoltaic facilities to generate electricity. Solar panel fires have also been reported one after another. Recently, a pig farmer in Taoyuan suffered a large number of pig deaths due to solar panels affecting rescue efforts. The Second Brigade of the Tainan City Fire Department conducted solar panel fire rescue operations, strengthening the safety of frontline rescue personnel in solar photovoltaic facility rescue and improving rescue efficiency, while also reducing the fire rate of solar panels used in chicken and pig farming and other poultry and livestock operations.

Earth’s atmosphere protects humans from cosmic radiation. For astronauts, the absence of this natural protective suit means