WEATHER
High temperatures forecast
Hot weather is expected across the nation this week, especially over the next two days because of strong Pacific high-pressure systems, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. Temperatures could reach 36oC in the north and 34oC in central and southern areas today, the bureau said. The public were warned not to spend too long in the sun and those visiting riverside areas to beware of rising water levels following possible rain in mountainous areas. From tomorrow through Friday, eastern areas might see intermittent rain, while afternoon thundershowers may occur in northern, central and southern parts of the country, the bureau said. Intermittent thundershowers can be expected over the weekend in the afternoon in northern, central, southern and northeastern areas, the bureau said.
SOCIETY
Cabinet starts video contest
The Research, Development and Evaluation Commission is inviting local and foreign residents to participate in a video contest to highlight Taiwan’s English-language services, as part of efforts to build a friendly environment for the international community. Until Aug. 31, those who are interested can submit videos presenting their experience of the government’s efforts to create an amiable and effective English-language environment, the commission said. The competition is also aimed at promoting the English Services Emblem program, which recognizes English services provided by a store. The award ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 12 and the winner will receive a voucher worth NT$50,000. The commission held a similar event last year and one of the winners was James Miller of the US. He said the emblems are necessary because they help those who do not speak Chinese to find things.
RETAIL
Hair accessories fail check
An inspection of women’s hair accessories sold in Taoyuan County found that 285 out of 300 products examined did not contain the legally required information on their labels, the county’s Economic Development Bureau said yesterday. Last month, the bureau sent investigators to retail outlets around the county to conduct random inspections of hair accessory products. The investigators sampled 300 products, such as hair clips, headbands and combs. Of the samples that failed inspection, 198 were found to lack any of the labeling required by law, while the remainder had only partial labeling. All hair accessories should be labeled with the name and contact information of the manufacturer or distributor, place of origin, date of manufacture, content and composition of the commodity.
TRANSPORTATION
Train derails on Pingsi line
A train derailed at about 2pm yesterday on the Pingsi branch line in New Taipei City (新北市). Although there were no casualties, operations were halted until later in the evening, the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) reported. The accident occurred about 100m from Jingtong Station, one of the two stations on the line. Passengers walked to the station after a three-carriage train came off the rails, the TRA said. Officials added that shuttle buses were later enlisted to carry passengers — mainly tourists and local commuters — between Jingtong and Pingsi stations. The cause of the derailment was under investigation, officials said.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
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