Sony logs record full-year sales, but profit declinesAFP, TOKYOSony Group Corp yesterday reported its best-ever sales in the financial year to March thanks to strong results in movies, electronics and music, although net profit dipped 14 percent from the previous year’s record. Demand for sensors used in smartphone cameras has continued to soar, and Sony Music also scored a winner with Adele’s latest album 30 and strong licence revenue in its popular anime business. Photo: Kimimasa Mayama, EPA-EFEIt reported full-year sales for 2021-2022 of ￥9.9 trillion (US$76 billion) and net profit of ￥882 billion. In 2020-2021, Sony logged a record net profit of more than ￥1 trillion, partly thanks to tax gains and the explosion in popularity of video games during lockdowns. The gaming giant, which has benefited from a string of popular titles including the January release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, expects net profit for 2022-2023 of ￥340 billion.

CECC mulls easing test kit ruleTEMPORARY: The CECC might allow people to import test kits, which would be exempted from customs declarations and reviews, Chen Shih-chung saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday said it is considering temporarily allowing at-home COVID-19 rapid test kits to be imported for self-use and has simplified paperwork for physicians to prescribe oral antivirals. The post showed an image of Chu and his three suggestions to the government: allowing people to import rapid test kits on their own, providing rapid test sales data online for people to easily purchase them, and creating a legal and reasonable procurement mechanism. As there is more demand for rapid test kits, the center is considering temporarily allowing people to import rapid test kits for self-use over the next two months, Chen said. Imported test kits would be exempted from customs declarations and reviews, but individuals must bear the side effects of the tests themselves and may not sell them. The CECC said FDA-approved rapid test kits are used for releasing quarantined or isolated individuals, so the agency must review the safety and efficacy of the products.

New Legislative Yuan buildingBy Rup Narayan DasAs a Taiwan Fellowship scholar at National Chung Hsing University and a former officer of the secretariat of the Indian Parliament, which is currently constructing a new parliament building, I read with great interest recent articles about a proposal to construct a new building for the Legislative Yuan and feel impelled to share India’s example. The Central Legislative Assembly met for the first time in the newly built Parliament House when India was under British rule. The Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution of India in the magnificent Central Hall of the Parliament Building. After the delimitation of the constituencies of the Lok Sabha and state legislatures is completed, the number of seats in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is likely to rise further. The issue was also a factor when deciding whether to construct a new parliament building.

Alcaraz soars to sixth in rankings after Madrid rompAFP, PARIS and MADRIDSpanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz yesterday rose three places to sixth in the men’s ATP rankings following his victory in the Madrid Open on Sunday. “I really want to go to Paris to win a Grand Slam, to show my level in a Grand Slam,” Alcaraz told a news conference after winning the second Masters 1000 of his career. Alexander Zverev, right, pours champagne over the head of Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, after Alcaraz beat the German in their Madrid Open men’s final at Caja Magica on Sunday. The only younger player to reach that a second Masters 1000 title milestone was Nadal, who won in Monte Carlo and Rome when he was 18. To beat two of the best players in history and then Zverev, the world No.

EDITORIAL: New virus rules leaving some behindAs the number of local COVID-19 cases reported daily has grown from the hundreds to more than 40,000 in the past month, domestic disease prevention and control measures have drastically transformed to adapt to the changing pandemic situation. The government last month shifted its strategy from “zero COVID-19” to “living with the virus,” as the outbreak of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 seemed unstoppable. Under the relaxed measures, mild cases are no longer required to be hospitalized or be isolated in centralized facilities. These digitized approaches help prevent possible or confirmed COVID-19 cases from crowding at hospitals if they need tests or treatment, and increase the efficiency of medical administration. However, they also limit access to healthcare services for elderly people, leaving those who are not tech-savvy feeling puzzled and helpless.

Allow clinics to handle the antivirals as cases riseBy Wang Fong-yu 王宏育As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise in Taiwan — measured daily in the tens of thousands rather than the single digits — there has also been an increase in the number of cases with medium to severe symptoms and even deaths. Paxlovid is most effective when administered to members of at-risk groups before their symptoms worsen, to prevent severe symptoms or even death. The priority must be clinics with pulmonologists, internists and family doctors; clinics caring for house-bound patients; and clinics conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for at-risk groups. Clusters of specialist clinics in local communities could choose one in the community to prescribe antivirals, ideally leaving the decision to the one selected. The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases with medium to severe symptoms has added urgency to the correct, targeted use of antivirals.

Toyota to invest 48bn rupees in Indian EV partsBloombergToyota Group plans to invest 48 billion rupees (US$623.74 million) to make electric vehicle (EV) components in India, as the Japanese automaker works toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts signed a memorandum of understanding with the southern state of Karnataka to invest 41 billion rupees, the group said in a statement on Saturday. The remaining 7 billion rupees is to come from Toyota Industries Engine India. “From a direct employment point of view, we are looking at around 3,500 new jobs,” Toyota Kirloskar vice chairman Vikram Gulati told the Press Trust of India. Toyota reported sales of another 8,421 plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in the first quarter.

Start-ups apply artificial intelligence to supply chain disruptionsBy Nick Carey / Reuters, LONDONOver the past two years, a series of unexpected events has scrambled global supply chains. By 2025, more than 80 percent of new supply chain applications would use artificial intelligence and data science in some way, tech research firm Gartner Inc said. Supply chain shocks are inevitable, Bisceglie said. “If you have a supply chain issue that could cost you major shareholder value, you’ll have a major responsibility, too,” DeWalt said. “Mapping your supply chain and interconnectivity at the individual part level is the Holy Grail,” Autotech partner Burak Cendek said.

CECC reports record daily COVID-19 tally of 46,536AT RISK: Five of yesterday’s 11 reported COVID-19 deaths were unvaccinated people, while nine were older than 60 and had underlying medical conditions, the CECC saidStaff writer, with CNAThe nation’s single-day COVID-19 case number exceeded 40,000 for the first time yesterday, as the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 46,536 new cases and 11 deaths. Among the new COVID-19 cases, eight were classified as severe infections, while 44 were moderate, the center said. Yesterday, New Taipei City reported the highest number of cases at 16,670, followed by Taipei with 9,245, Taoyuan with 6,882, Taichung with 2,517 and Kaohsiung with 2,163. Chiayi City reported 110 cases, Penghu County 74, Lienchiang County 22 and Kinmen County 21. The CECC has confirmed 314,983 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 303,118 domestically transmitted infections.

Asia stocks follow Wall St lower over rate hike fearsAP, BEIJINGAsian stocks on Friday followed Wall Street lower as fears spread that US interest rate hikes to fight inflation might stall economic growth. Traders were briefly encouraged by Fed chairman Jerome Powell’s comment that the Fed was not considering even bigger increases. “Clearly, investors had second thoughts about the so-called ‘dovish hike’ from the Fed,” Rob Carnell, head of Asia-Pacific research at ING, wrote in a report. The likelihood is “rate hikes coming thick and fast, but little if any prospect of a turn in inflation any time soon,” he wrote. The index lost 1.11 percent over the week to post its second straight week of declines.

Youth wing of Irish party calls on leaders to press for Taiwan WHO observer statusBy Yang Cheng-yu and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerYoung Fine Gael (YFG), the youth wing of the Irish Fine Gael party, on Friday urged the Irish government to support Taiwan’s bid to obtain observer status at the WHO, adding that it was also drafting a statement regarding the party’s stance on Irish-Chinese relations. Representative to Ireland Yang Tzu-pao, left, and two members of Young Fine Gael pose for a picture in an undated photograph. Photo: Screenshot from Young Fine Gael’s official Web siteTaiwan is a world leader in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it should be allowed to share its experiences, O’Mahony said. International support for Taiwan obtaining observer status at the WHO has been growing over the years, he said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday listed the people supporting such a bid, citing US Deputy Secretary of State Brian McKeon, who publicly asked WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to allow Taiwan observer participation.

China orders government to dump foreign computersBloombergChina has ordered central government agencies and state-backed corporations to replace foreign-branded personal computers with domestic alternatives within two years, marking one of Beijing’s most aggressive efforts to eradicate key overseas technology from within sensitive institutions. The exercise, which was mandated by central government authorities, is eventually to replace about 50 million computers within the government, and more in state-connected firms, the sources said. Inspur Software Co (浪潮信息) and China National Software & Service Co (中國軟件與技術服務有限公司) soared to their daily 10 percent limits. The push to replace foreign suppliers is part of a longstanding effort to wean China off its reliance on US technology, a vulnerability that was exposed after US sanctions against companies such as Huawei Technologies Co (華為) hammered local firms and businesses. The PC replacement project also reflects Beijing’s growing concerns about information security, as well as its confidence in homegrown hardware.

Meta launches Asia’s first XR hub in TaipeiStaff writer, with CNAMeta Platforms Inc yesterday launched Asia’s first physical hub for extended reality (XR) research in Taiwan, as Facebook’s parent company seeks to promote the immersive technologies. At the “Meta XR Hub Taiwan” launch ceremony in Taipei, Meta head of agency for greater China Stephanie Chu (朱怡靜) described Taiwanese partners as an important cornerstone of technological development. People participate in a motion capture session in Taipei yesterday at the opening of the Meta XR Hub Taiwan, jointly launched by Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, and the Institute for Information Industry. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesTaiwan is to play a huge part in the metaverse, Meta chief product officer Chris Cox said in a video presentation at the event. As augmented reality and virtual reality flourish, Taiwan would not only become an important stronghold for the metaverse team, but also a key hub for driving global innovations, he added.

Turnover totaled NT$250.848 billion (US$8.5 billion), with foreign institutional investors buying a net NT$3.83 billion of shares on the main board, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed. “The 50 basis point rate hike at the May meeting had been widely anticipated by the markets worldwide. The transportation and steel sectors also rose 0.95 percent and 1.16 percent respectively, but the financial sector underperformed the TAIEX, closing down 1.02 percent. “Judging from today’s movement, I suggest investors to stay alert over the weakness in the financial sector. The interest rate hike leads had been largely reflected in financial stocks’ recent gains,” Lu said.

Shell profit soars, as high oil prices offset Russia hitAFP, LONDONBritish energy giant Shell PLC yesterday said its net profit soared 26 percent in the first quarter of the year as soaring oil prices offset a sizeable charge linked to its Russia exit. Profit after tax leapt to US$7.1 billion compared with a year earlier, Shell said in a statement. While the group took a US$3.9 billion charge on its exit from Russia after Moscow invaded Ukraine, it saw lower costs elsewhere. Oil prices have surged in the past few months on concerns over tight supplies following the invasion of Ukraine by major oil and gas producer Russia. Shell added yesterday that it has begun the second tranche of its US$8.5 billion share buyback program that was unveiled in February.