A fashion war has broken out in Spanish politics.
Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian showed up at parliament this week without a tie. Parliamentary speaker Jose Bono of the ruling Socialist Party took offense at this attire for a cabinet minister and quickly sent Sebastian a gift: a tie, with a note that read, "I hope you like it."
Sebastian declined to wear the tie and the next day responded with a present for Bono: a digital thermometer.
PHOTO: AFP
It was Sebastian's way of saying the air conditioning was on too strongly at the Congress of Deputies, despite a 2007 decree to keep government buildings warmer in summer to save energy.
That's what Sebastian is doing at his ministry.
Wearing a tie at parliament is not mandatory - some opposition lawmakers don't do it - but Spanish media say this was the first time a male government minister showed up for a debate without one.
Bono tried to downplay the exchange, but by then it was too late.
Socialist Party spokesman Jose Blanco said it was silly to try to force government ministers into "uniforms" with neckties.
The opposition also found time to pour fuel on the fire. "The time to go without a tie is on weekends," said Inaki Anasagasti of the Basque Nationalist Party.
(AP)
西班牙政界爆發一場服裝戰爭。
產業部部長麥奎爾.薩巴斯汀本週未打領帶出席國會。執政的社會黨國會議長荷西.柏諾對閣員這樣的穿著感到不悅,他立刻送給薩巴斯汀一個禮物:一條領帶,還附上一張紙條寫著:「希望你會喜歡。」
薩巴斯汀拒絕打上這條領帶,並在隔天回送柏諾一個禮物:一個電子溫度計。
薩巴斯汀用這種方式表達他對眾議會冷氣開太強的意見;議會無視政府去年要求各機關大樓在夏日將冷氣溫度調高、響應節能的命令。
薩巴斯汀主管的產業部就恪遵這項規定。
國會並沒有硬性規定出席者必須打領帶,像有些反對黨的國會議員就不打領帶,但據西班牙媒體報導,這是該國史上頭一遭男性政府閣員沒有打領帶出席國會辯論。
柏諾本想淡化處理這起互贈禮物事件,可是為時已晚。
社會黨發言人荷西.布蘭寇表示,試圖強迫內閣閣員配戴領帶實在很無聊。
在野黨也趁機火上加油,巴斯克國家黨的伊納基.阿納薩加斯提說:「只有週末才不用打領帶。」
(美聯社/翻譯:袁星塵)
Tangbao are one of the most internationally renowned delicacies, that win the hearts of both locals and tourists. Their charm lies in the paper-thin flour wrapper that needs to be folded evenly almost 20 times. Folding a tangbao requires skill to deal with a bulging filling and a thin wrapper. Tangbao are served in a bamboo steamer in which they are steamed, not only adding to the visual appearance, but ensuring they do not get cold before reaching the table. The best way to enjoy a tangbao is to dip it in a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce with
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced a seismic change in direction on March 19, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years. The move represents an unwinding of an ultra-loose — and maverick -- policy aimed at putting Japan’s “lost decades” of stagnation and deflation behind it. The last time the BoJ raised interest rates was in 2007, but its war against deflation began in earnest in 2013 under then-prime minister Shinzo Abe. “Abenomics” combined generous government spending and central bank monetary easing. The BoJ spent vast amounts on bonds and other assets to pump liquidity into the
A: How much is baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani’s new deal? B: Not long ago, he signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers at US$700 million, breaking the record in MLB history. A: Wow, the deal’s over NT$22 billion. B: And the opening game of the new season is taking place in South Korea this week. A: I can’t wait to see how the “two-way” player performs in the new season. A: 棒球巨星大谷翔平的身價到底有多高? B: 道奇隊不久前,以十年7億美元合約套牢大谷,創下大聯盟歷史新高。 A: 哇高達220多億台幣耶! B: 而新球季開幕戰本週將在南韓開打唷。 A: 真期待這位「二刀流」球星新球季的表現。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
For the first time, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined a company for improper disposal of its defunct satellite. The satellite cable company Dish Network was fined US$150,000 because it failed to move an old satellite that was no longer in operation to a safe distance from others currently being used. The FCC had asked Dish Network to move one of its older satellites, EchoStar-7, 186 miles further from the Earth. However, the satellite had only advanced 76 miles before it ran out of fuel at the end of its operational life in 2022.