Read News 109.12.11 Global Focus and Trending Topics

December 11, 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 December 11, 2020

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

International and Social Focus

CTi News license renewal injunction rejected and finalized by the Supreme Administrative Court, causing irreparable harm: The NCC refused to renew CTi News’s license, and the Taipei High Administrative Court rejected CTi’s application for an injunction. Harvard Law School Doctor of Juridical Science Huang Wei-hsing said yesterday that the Taipei High Administrative Court’s rejection of CTi News’s injunction caused irreparable harm to Taiwan’s democracy and further made the people lose confidence in judicial independence. Taiwan is at a dangerous crossroads. The NCC’s independent judgment appears democratic but is the greatest threat to democracy, and he called on the DPP government not to continue authoritarianism.

NCC shuts down CTi! Former Deputy Chair Liu Tsung-teh: Bows in apology for having served as a commissioner: CTi News will cease broadcasting tomorrow. The Kuomintang think tank held a press conference today, and all attendees wore black ribbons to express the most profound mourning for Taiwan’s press freedom. Former NCC Deputy Chair Liu Tsung-teh bowed in apology for having previously served as an NCC commissioner, and felt very heavy-hearted about the NCC’s departure from its founding purpose.

Wang Hao-yu posts steak photo saying “Is there any Seediq Bale?” — Kung Wen-chi: If he doesn’t apologize, we’ll bring tribal members to throw eggs: DPP Taoyuan City Councilor Wang Hao-yu recently posted a steak photo on Facebook, writing, “Is there any Seediq Bale in here? Auntie said.” The Kuomintang caucus in the Legislative Yuan held a press conference today to condemn Wang Hao-yu for treating vulgarity as humor and discriminating against indigenous peoples, and accused the Tsai government and DPP caucus of blocking the “Anti-Ethnic Discrimination Act,” demanding that Wang Hao-yu and DPP Chairman and President Tsai Ing-wen come forward to apologize, while also calling on voters to vote on January 16 to remove Wang Hao-yu.

Technology and Information

Teardown of iPhone 12 shows South Korean-made components have the largest price share: According to the survey results of Tokyo IT equipment research company “Fomalhaut Techno Solutions,” of the estimated US$373 (about 410,000 Korean won) cost of the iPhone 12, South Korean components have the highest price ratio at 27.3%. This is followed by US-made (25.6%), Japanese-made (13.2%), Taiwan-made (12.1%), and China-made (4.7%).

China successfully launches “GECAM”: China’s “Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM),” nicknamed “GECAM,” two space science satellites, were successfully launched in the early hours of the 10th. This is China’s first launch of satellites for all-sky monitoring of gravitational wave electromagnetic counterparts.

France passes super-soldier cultivation bill: The French military ethics committee on the 9th allowed the military to use various transplantation techniques and bioengineering to develop and cultivate “Enhanced soldiers” with higher physical, cognitive, perceptual, and psychological capabilities than ordinary soldiers. Also known as the “Bionic soldiers project,” it can not only develop and cultivate technologies resistant to pain, stress, drowsiness, and fatigue, but also implant microchips into the brain to improve the intelligence needed for combat. Drugs that greatly improve hearing and vision, location tracking, and technology that allows networking without communication devices between soldiers are also included in the development targets.

Business and Investment

Labor fund stock trading case escalates! Four people including Tang Chu-lieh of Baojia detained and prohibited from communication: In the investigation of the labor fund stock trading case, the case escalated upward. A third wave of searches and summons was launched yesterday. After re-interrogation, prosecutors sought detention and prohibition of communication for five people: Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust Investment Chief Chiu Ming-chiang, Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust Fund Manager Liu Chien-hsien, Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust Researcher Chen Chou-lun, Baojia Asset Company CEO Tang Chu-lieh, and Baojia Asset Consultant Chiu Yu-yuan. The Taipei District Court ruled to detain and prohibit communication for four people, with Chen Chou-lun released on NT$500,000 bail.

Final trump card against housing speculation: Government plans to restrict private legal persons from buying homes: Premier Su Tseng-chang declared his determination to crack down on housing speculation. The central bank recently introduced “real estate credit control measures” to tighten regulation of the housing market, and the Executive Yuan meeting yesterday followed up by passing amendments related to real price registration 2.0. If housing speculation does not subside after this wave of actions, the Ministry of the Interior plans to play its “final trump card,” considering further amendments to promote an “approval system for private legal persons purchasing residential properties,” while the Ministry of Finance will study amending the house tax.

Approaching last year’s full-year NT$9 billion! Unemployment benefits paid exceed NT$8.5 billion as of September: Employment insurance unemployment insured persons can claim unemployment benefits in accordance with current regulations. According to Ministry of Labor statistics, from May to July this year, affected by the epidemic, the number of applicants was relatively high, and as of September, more than NT$8.5 billion had been paid, approaching last year’s full-year NT$9 billion.

Tsinghua Unigroup debt storm expands, another NT$34.8 billion bond default: Tsinghua Unigroup defaulted on two bonds within a day. The RMB 5 billion (about NT$22 billion) corporate bond and the US$450 million (about NT$12.8 billion) offshore corporate bond maturing yesterday (the 10th) were both unable to repay principal and interest, which will subsequently trigger a cross-default on another US$2 billion (about NT$57 billion).

Hyundai officially announces acquisition of Boston Dynamics for US$1.1 billion: Hyundai will acquire Boston Dynamics from SoftBank for US$1.1 billion. The two sides currently expect the deal to be completed in June 2021, after which Hyundai will own 80% of BD shares, with the remaining 20% continuing to be held by SoftBank through an affiliate. Hyundai said the reason for acquiring BD is that it “possesses multiple key technologies needed to develop high-performance perception, navigation, and intelligent robots.”

New Taiwan dollar holds firm at NT$28.1 in early trading, refreshing a nearly 23.5-year intraday high: Currency traders admitted that the New Taiwan dollar has a strong upward trend. The market originally expected the central bank to merely adjust its “dual defense line” strategy, defending NT$28.2 and NT$28.5 intraday and at close. Unexpectedly, just a few days later, NT$28.1 was seen intraday. “Who knows where it will rise to next.”

Science and Health

Wellington Koo and wife revealed before car accident to have visited Japan representative’s residence — Su Tseng-chang livid, says he didn’t know: National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo and Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua were involved in a traffic accident on Yangde Boulevard yesterday. Wang Mei-hua admitted during questioning at the Legislative Yuan this afternoon (the 11th) that he was going to the residence of the representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, but did not discuss the issue of nuclear food. Regarding this itinerary, Premier Su Tseng-chang, who was beside him, said with a livid face that he “didn’t know” about it.

When did he first discuss ractopamine pork opening with Tsai Ing-wen? Su Tseng-chang lets slip: shortly after taking office as premier: The ractopamine pork issue continues to simmer. Kuomintang legislator Lai Shyh-bao asked Premier Su Tseng-chang during the general interpellation at the Legislative Yuan today, “When did you know about the opening of ractopamine pork? When did President Tsai first talk to you about it?” Su Tseng-chang responded that shortly after he became premier, he had discussed it with Tsai Ing-wen.

Su Tseng-chang’s 5 ractopamine pork measures — Ko Wen-je: He doesn’t label what he cares about, but insists on labeling what he doesn’t care about: Taipei City took the lead through the Taipei City Food Safety Self-Governance Ordinance, announcing that chain convenience stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets must set up ractopamine-free zones and that meat importers must conduct mandatory self-inspection. A press conference was held this morning. In the future, Taipei City’s pork products will have transparent information from source to shelf, managing source importers, chain channels, and end food businesses through the food safety ordinance, enabling pork product management with traceable ingredients and clear labeling.

Pfizer vaccine good news! FDA advisory panel recommends approval of emergency use authorization: There is further progress on the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) vaccine. A key advisory panel of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted on Thursday (the 10th), ultimately recommending approval of emergency use authorization for the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine by 17 votes to 4.

In the post-pandemic era, balancing gut flora can relieve stress and boost vitality: In recent years, multiple studies have found strong evidence that gut microorganisms play an important role in the interaction between the gut and the nervous system. Different gut flora can affect different corresponding organs and secretions in the human body, among which psychobiotic flora that can affect the endocrine system have been discovered.

Chasing unknown mysterious sounds in the sea, scientists discover a new whale species: Scientists working with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society discovered 3 beaked whales of unknown origin last month in the Islas San Benito of Mexico. Beaked whale experts subsequently studied the on-site photos, footage, and the sound signals emitted by these whales, concluding that these whales do not belong to any known range.

Trump intervenes in COVID-19 scientific reports: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield was accused by subordinates earlier this week to congressional investigators of having ordered subordinates to delete emails about attempts by Trump’s political appointees to interfere with COVID-19 scientific reports.

The positive effect of COVID-19: Global carbon emissions drop by 2.4 billion tons in 2020: According to a report released by the “Global Carbon Project,” global carbon dioxide emissions in 2020 were 34 billion tons, a decrease of about 2.4 billion tons compared with 36.4 billion in 2019, setting a record for the largest reduction in carbon emissions in history.

The Japanese archipelago becomes a train to Busan! Medical collapse in a country with the world’s most hospital beds, and the clueless Yoshihide Suga’s approval rating plummets: Yoshihide Suga has let infections spread unchecked for three months since taking office, and now continues to push the “Go To” campaign encouraging dining and travel, which has also led to the expansion of infections. But Suga still refuses to admit it, and even announced that “Go To Travel” will be extended at least until June next year, continuing to take care of the tourism operators Suga loves most, going against the 76% of citizens who believe epidemic prevention should come first. His approval rating has plummeted!

Poor immune response in the elderly: European pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said on Friday (the 11th) that because clinical trials showed an insufficient immune response in the elderly, the vaccine’s market launch may be delayed until the end of next year.

SoftBank Group Chairman Masayoshi Son: “A disaster triggered by COVID-19 may strike within two or three months”: Affected by the aftermath of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), a disaster may occur within two or three months. To cope with this situation, cash reserves have been greatly increased.” Although he did not specifically mention what kind of disaster, judging from the bankruptcy of the US investment bank Lehman Brothers that triggered the 2008 world financial crisis, some analysts say this may be a worry about a second financial crisis.

Travel and Leisure

The God of Wealth goes to work! Lotto 6/49 jackpot of NT$430 million lands in “this county/city,” won by one person alone: After 16 consecutive rollovers, the Lotto 6/49 jackpot tonight reached NT$430 million, becoming the second-highest jackpot of the year for Lotto 6/49. Taiwan Lottery said in the evening that tonight’s NT$430 million jackpot was drawn in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City, and was won by one person alone.

Chilly! Northeast monsoon affects the coming week, coldest on the 15th-16th with lows dipping to 13 degrees: The Central Weather Bureau said that the coming week will continue to be affected by the northeast monsoon. A stronger wave of cold air is expected to move south on the 14th, with the 15th to 16th being the coldest, with temperatures estimated at 15-16 degrees Celsius in central and northern Taiwan and the northeast, and open areas possibly dipping to 13 degrees.

Diplomatic breakthrough? NYT: Everest diplomacy brings China-Nepal relations to a “new height”: China and Nepal, neighbors of Mount Everest, loudly announced the new height of the world’s highest peak: 8,848.86 meters. The joint announcement by the two heads of state marks the further tightening of political, economic, and cultural relations between the two countries, and also quells past disputes between the two countries over Everest diplomacy. As China’s relations with the US, Australia, India, and other countries deteriorate over trade and border issues, this “Everest diplomacy” has attracted attention, and Chinese state media claimed it has “milestone significance.”

Singapore lifts entry restrictions on Taiwanese travelers from the 18th; no quarantine needed if test is negative upon arrival: As Singapore expands its border opening, authorities announced today that they will lift entry restrictions on travelers from Taiwan starting from the 18th. Travelers need to apply for an “Air Travel Pass” before the trip, and must take a virus test at the airport upon arrival in Singapore. If the result is negative, no quarantine is required.