Show notes
1. An IT outage caused businesses around the world to grind to a halt after thousands of workers were unable to log on to their computers. The outage was blamed on an update to software provided by CrowdStrike, an American cybersecurity firm, which is thought to have caused problems with Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Airports, retailers, and the London Stock Exchange are among some of the businesses that are reportedly affected.
一次 IT 當機導致全球各地的業務陷入停滯，因為成千上萬的員工無法登錄他們的電腦。這次當機被歸咎於美國網絡安全公司 CrowdStrike 提供的軟體更新，該更新被認為導致了 Microsoft 的 Windows 操作系統出現問題。據報導，受影響的企業包括機場、零售商和倫敦證券交易所。
**Q: In your point of view, how do we avoid overly rely on technology for everything? **
2. Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter who works for the Wall Street Journal, was convicted by a Russian court of spying. Mr Gershkovich, who was arrested during a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg in March 2023, was sentenced to serve 16 years in a penal colony. America’s State Department described the case as a “fake, sham legal process”.
美國記者 Evan Gershkovich 被俄羅斯法院以間諜罪名定罪。Gershkovich 先生於 2023 年 3 月在葉卡捷琳堡進行報導工作時被捕，被判處在刑事殖民地服刑 16 年。美國國務院形容此案為“虛假、偽造的法律程序”。
**Q: At this moment, how could the USA and Russia restore their relation? **
3. Meanwhile Democrats’ concerns about the viability of Joe Biden’s candidacy are growing. According to the Washington Post, Barack Obama privately told party allies that he thinks Mr. Biden’s chances of winning in November have diminished. Nancy Pelosi, a former House speaker, reportedly says so too. The president, who has tried to quell concerns in interviews and at campaign events, is currently self-isolating in Delaware with “mild” covid-19 symptoms.
同時，民主黨對於喬·拜登競選資格的擔憂正在增加。根據《華盛頓郵報》報導，巴拉克·奧巴馬私下告訴黨內盟友，他認為拜登先生在十一月獲勝的機會已經減少。據報導，前眾議院議長南希·佩洛西也這樣認為。總統目前正在特拉華州自我隔離，症狀為“輕微”的新冠肺炎，他在接受訪問和競選活動中試圖平息這些擔憂。
**Q:What will happen to Taiwan and China if Trump wins the election? **
**Q: Do you think we can expect an African American female president in the USA? Why or why not? **
4. The head of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, died aged 80, according to state media. Mr Trong had held the post since 2011. In recent months, he was widely reported to have been suffering from poor health. On Thursday To Lam, Vietnam’s president, took over Mr Trong’s duties. He will hope to build on Mr Trong’s legacy of rapid economic growth.
根據國家媒體報導，越南執政的共產黨領袖阮富仲去世，享年80歲。阮先生自2011年起擔任此職。近幾個月來，有廣泛報導稱他健康狀況不佳。週四，越南總統蘇林接任了阮先生的職務。他希望能在阮先生快速經濟增長的遺產上繼續發展。
**Q: What are the pros and cons for a communist country to boost economic growth? **
5. Argentina’s economy expanded in May—the first time it has done so since Javier Milei became president in December. Economic activity rose by 1.3% from April, well above the 0.1% predicted by economists, largely thanks to growth in the agricultural sector. Mr. Milei has sought to boost the economy through libertarian reforms since taking office.
阿根廷經濟在五月份增長，這是自哈維爾·米萊於十二月上任以來的首次。經濟活動較四月份增長了1.3%，遠高於經濟學家預測的0.1%，主要得益於農業部門的增長。米萊先生上任以來一直致力於通過自由主義改革來促進經濟發展。
Q: As my Argentinian roommate stated before that Argentina prospers with or without its government. Do you agree with such a statement? Why or why not?
Q: What country will be better off with anarchism?
6. Around 17.8m people visited Japan in the first half of 2024—1m more than before the pandemic. The government will introduce new measures to speed up immigration screening in order to try to capitalise on the tourist boom, reported NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster. The weak yen is luring visitors, but it is also fuelling inflation and hampering domestic spending.
2024年上半年約有1780萬人訪問日本，比疫情前多了100萬人。據日本公共廣播公司NHK報導，政府將推出新措施以加快入境篩查，藉此抓住旅遊熱潮。日元疲弱吸引了遊客，但同時也推動了通貨膨脹，並抑制了國內消費。
Q:Recently some Japanese city, the ski resort town of Niseko, Hokkaido, claimed to tax tourists to curb overtourism. Is it an effective remedy?
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/taxes-overtourism-japan-kyoto-mount-fuji-barrier-bali-travel-tourism-pollution-4472156** **
Q: Would you rather live in a country with a strong currency or one with a weak currency? Why so?
小撇步: 訪問在歐洲支援烏克蘭難民的朋友Owen帶來的消息
How are the refugees from Ukraine doing over there and how do they see you guys? 烏克蘭的難民是怎麼看待其他歐洲朋友的呢?
“ I just work in temporary housing for people. We try to keep them on track while they shout and rage about how injust we are to them. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. Many refugees are extremely rude and ungrateful. :( ”
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