Photo: AFPThese moves have attracted the kind of criticism Saudi Arabian officials have come to expect, with some e-sports leaders objecting to Riyadh’s human rights record. Saudi Arabian gamers are reveling in their country’s newfound status and the eye-watering prize pools it brings. The national e-sports federation was created in 2017, and the number of e-sports teams in the kingdom has since blossomed from two to more than 100. The outcry was immediate and intense, led by LGBTQ gamers who condemned Saudi Arabia’s prohibition of same-sex sexual acts, which can be a capital offense. Saudi Arabian officials are undeterred, and they have deep backing in the e-sports world.

Chinese devices ban not enforced: groupEYE ON DIGIFOCUS: Researchers said that a Taipei-based distributor of cameras and other devices has ‘Taiwanese skin,’ but is Chinese company Hikvision ‘on the inside’By Jason Pan / Staff reporterPeople’s movements in public have been exposed and national security has been breached because ministries have failed to enforce a ban of Chinese-made electronic displays and video recording devices, the Economic Democracy Union said yesterday. However, Economic Democracy Union members have uncovered examples where the rules are not being followed, he said, adding that ministries have been negligent in enforcing the ban. Hikvision circumvented the restrictions by using its distribution company in Taiwan, Taipei-based DigiFocus Co, Economic Democracy Union researcher Ou Hsu-shao (歐栩韶) said. “DigiFocus secured a government contract of the economic ministry’s Industrial Development Bureau to supply video cameras and other devices,” Ou said. “When surveillance cameras and monitoring devices made by Chinese companies are installed in Taiwan, everyone might be under the eye of the Chinese government,” she said.

GSK transforms to improve pharmaceutical operationsStaff writerGlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in July made its consumer health products division a separate entity as it transforms into a world-leading biopharmaceutical company. Mick Stanley, VP and General Manager of GSK Taiwan, says,"after transforming the organization our new ambitions and new purpose is to expand our impact here in Taiwan." For example, GSK Taiwan has recently launched a new vaccine against the herpes zoster virus to protect against shingles. In addition to vaccines, GSK also leads the industry in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as respiratory illnesses. For people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory diseases who need drugs for treatment, GSK helps them with a variety of inhaled medicines.

Bank of Japan persists with ultra-low interest ratesSTRONG WARNING: A finance official suggested a possible stealth intervention to prop up the yen, as its descent nears 1998 levels, when authorities last boosted the currencyBloombergThe Bank of Japan (BOJ) continued to stand by its ultra-low interest rates as it further isolated itself from a global wave of policy tightening, fueling a slide in the yen to a fresh 24-year low and ramped-up warnings of possible intervention. The national flag flies on the roof of the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo yesterday. The governor has repeatedly signaled that there is a long way to go before policy in Japan can be normalized. That means the BOJ is sticking with its short-term interest rate of minus-0.1 percent and its cap on long-term bond yields. In the past week, the central bank has spent about ￥2.9 trillion (US$20.3 billion) on fixed-rate purchases of bonds to defend the 0.25 percent cap.

Taiwanese in New York march for UN inclusionASSEMBLY: The group started the march in front of the Chinese consulate to express their opposition to Beijing’s aggressive moves against Taiwan, the organizer said A group of about 250 Taiwanese on Saturday marched along the streets of New York City calling for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN, which met for its general assembly on Tuesday last week. The Taiwanese American Council of Greater New York, Taiwanese American Association of New York and Keep Taiwan Free, a grassroots movement, organized this year’s “Keep Taiwan Free March & Rally,” which was suspended for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the march, a plane pulling a banner that read “Taiwan in UN now” flew above the Hudson River. Participants gathered outside the Consulate General of theBy Liu Tzu-hsuan

ADB cuts developing Asia growth forecast to 4.3%GLOBAL HEADWINDS: China’s recurrent lockdowns and stronger-than-expected monetary tightening in advanced economies pose large risks to the region, the bank saidAFP, MANILAThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday cut its growth forecast for developing Asia for this year, with crippling COVID-19 lockdowns in China, conflict in Ukraine and efforts to combat inflation dragging on the region. As a result, the ADB slashed its growth forecast for developing Asia — which refers to the bank’s 46 members, stretching from the Cook Islands in the Pacific to Kazakhstan in central Asia — to 4.3 percent this year. China’s growth forecast for this year was reduced to 3.3 percent from 5 percent, as Beijing pursues a “zero COVID-19” strategy that has devastated the world’s second-largest economy. Excluding China, developing Asia would grow 5.3 percent. “For the first time in more than three decades, the rest of developing Asia will grow faster than’ China,” the ADB said.

Kao’s remarks were widely seen as belittling Hsinchu-based Chung Hua University as an inferior school to NTU — one of Taiwan’s top schools, from which she holds a master’s degree. From left, Democratic Progressive Party legislators Michelle Lin, Huang Shih-chieh and Wu Yu-chin attend a news conference in Taipei yesterday. After her remarks were widely seen as elitist, she yesterday apologized to Chung Hua University. “Voters in Hsinchu are to choose a mayor who will speak up for them,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokeswoman Huang Tsai-ling (黃彩玲) said. “In past decades, many teenagers could not take university entrance exams, not because they were not smart, but because of their family background, she added.

From right, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Lee De-wei, Lai Shyh-bao, Tseng Ming-chung, Alex Fei and Hung Meng-kai attend a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The two cable operators’ applications to move TVBS News surprised industry observers, given the station’s popularity. “The NCC should protect consumers amid disputes between channels and cable system operators per laws and customary practices,” Tseng said. “This is a business dispute and we should leave it to the NCC to decide whether cable operators have reasonable justifications for their plans,” Huang said. Article 55 of the Cable Radio and Television Act (有線廣播電視法) authorizes the commission to arbitrate disputes over broadcasting terms or between cable system operators.

Ministry eyes US biotech cooperationStaff writer, with CNAA visit to the US by a Taiwanese delegation has opened the door to dialogue on cooperation between biotechnology companies, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi speaks at an investment conference in New York last week. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Investment ServicesUnder that model, pharmaceutical companies partner with others in the industry that are categorized as CDMOs to outsource drug development and manufacturing. Potential cooperation between Taiwanese and US pharmaceutical companies could include the development and production of medical consumables and minimally invasive surgical instruments. However, the ministry did not say when the discussions were expected to start or which US companies would be involved.

Taiwan’s Lin and Liao win men’s doubles titleStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese paddlers Lin Yun-ju and Liao Cheng-ting on Sunday clinched the men’s doubles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Almaty tournament in Kazakhstan after a spectacular 3-2 turnaround win against Swedish pairing Mattias Falck and Anton Kallberg. 24 men’s doubles duo from Taiwan were down two games 7-11, 9-11 to the world No. Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju serves to Ruwen Filus of Germany in the men’s singles final at the World Table Tennis Contender Almaty tournament in Kazakhstan on Sunday. Photo: screen grab from the World Table Tennis Web siteThe left-handed Lin went into the men’s singles as the top seed and world ranked No. 33 Falck 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 in the quarter-finals.

Official says Thailand trip rumors ‘cognitive warfare’CHINESE TACTIC: Rumors that Chen Ming-tong had visited Thailand were intended to cast doubt on the abilities of Taiwan’s security apparatus, an official saidBy Su Yung-yao and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerAn online rumor that National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) visited Thailand at taxpayers’ expense in July is “classic cognitive warfare” intended to signal to foreign officials that their whereabouts in Thailand are known to China, a national security official said on Saturday. National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Ming-tong speaks at a legislative hearing in Taipei on May 16. The bureau the same day said details of the post were incorrect, although it did not specify whether Chen visited Thailand. The Twitter account was created only last month and posted six messages before being taken down, a national security official said on condition of anonymity. As for the purpose of Chen’s alleged visit, the official said that Thailand has always been an important international center for intelligence.

Police raid Nantou site, arrest five in drugs investigationBy Chang Juei-chen and Jason Pan / Staff reportersFollowing weeks of careful undercover work, police raided an isolated shack in the mountains of Nantou County, targeting an operation that was allegedly producing illegal drugs, Taichung police official Chen Pu-ching (陳布青) told a news briefing on Thursday. Materials to make drugs were seized, including plastic drums containing more than 200kg of liquid that tests showed was mephedrone and derivative chemicals, Chen said. “Bath salts” are crystals that are mixed with other drugs and packaged in sealed pouches known as “narcotic coffee mix,” Chen said. In April, two men were arrested in possession of such pouches, which were traced to a man surnamed Chou (周), Chen said. Police officials warned that producing and trafficking narcotics and recreational drugs are serious crimes.

Start-up seeks to move shrimp farming inlandBy Aaron Clark / BloombergShrimp are one of the most popular seafoods globally, but farmed production of the crustaceans can have a devastating effect on local habitats — and in some cases the climate. The start-up says its algorithms enable shrimp production in autonomous tanks, which it plans to stack near onshore demand centers such as Las Vegas or Tokyo, eliminating ocean discharge. Vertical Oceans is the latest company aiming to develop more sustainable onshore aquaculture models for core food sources. Venture capital firms Khosla Ventures and SOSV invested a combined US$4 million during Vertical Oceans’ seed round in the middle of last year. Vertical Oceans’ tanks are about the size of a school bus.

The name recalls the way the native Taino people referred to the rolled tobacco leaves they smoked. Expertly handling curved blades and a sticky substance, dozens of workers put the finishing touches on the ends of newly rolled cigars. Another founder, Norma Fernandez, who died during the pandemic, rolled the cigars for the leader of the revolution. Cohiba cigars, which include a wide range of styles, can cost US$30 to US$200 each, in Cuba and abroad. “Cuban tobacco is distinguished from all other kinds by the flavor of the land of Pinar del Rio,” Gonzalez said.

Remembering Soviet imperialismBy Andrzej DudaThe outbreak of World War II, which began on Sept. 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland by the Nazi Third Reich, is one of the events annually commemorated throughout Europe. However, Sept. 17, 1939, the date of the Soviet Union’s aggression against Poland, is not as widely known. The German sphere of influence was to include western Poland, Lithuania and Romania, while the Soviet control was to extend over eastern Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Finland. As were other nations that fell within the Soviet sphere of influence after Russia’s victory over the Third Reich. Some of them were annexed directly to the Soviet Union as federal states — such was the fate of the Balts, Belarusians and Ukrainians.