INTERVIEW: Space program aims to attract new recruitsBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe National Space Organization (NSPO) plans to encourage technology transfers and spin-offs from within, in a bid to develop talent within the local space industry, NSPO Director-General Wu Jong-shinn (吳宗信) said in an interview with the Taipei Times on Aug. 23. In August 2016, he founded Taiwan Innovative Space (TiSPACE), but left in 2018. “Students of aerospace departments would fall short of their majors if they do not learn to make rockets,” Wu said. The rockets’ development would capitalize on technical advancement rather than what altitudes they could reach, he added. The NSPO and its supervisor, the Ministry of Science and Technology, are working to retool the third-phase space technology development program to accommodate policies stipulated by the Space Development Act (太空發展法), including fostering a space economy and establishing a long-term launch site.

“The supply of chips will remain very tight until at least September next year,” said Takeshi Kamebuchi, a director in charge of semiconductors at one of the company’s units. Nintendo Co’s Switch production has not been sufficient to serve customer demand, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said. The company intends to sell 25.5 million Switch units this fiscal year. Game console production is vulnerable to a lack of components. Some console customers have told the assembler that they might alter their circuit board design to reduce the required components, the person said.

Now researchers have found fresh evidence of canine savviness, revealing dogs seem to be able to tell whether human actions are deliberate or accidental. A recent study suggests that dogs can distinguish intentional actions from unintentional behavior. Photo: USA TODAY SportsPrevious research has suggested dogs can track human attention to decide when to snaffle food, and respond to pointing gestures. Additionally, many dogs get excited over certain cues that may hint at a forthcoming action — such as when a leash is picked up. However, experts say it was unclear whether dogs really grasp the notion of human intention.

DPP caucus stresses sovereignty after KMT’s accusationsBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterTaiwan is a sovereign country working to safeguard regional security, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus members said yesterday. They made the remarks in response to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials, who accused President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of supporting Taiwanese independence by referring to China as a “neighbor” in a speech on Tuesday. Photo: Chien Hui-ju, Taipei Times“We want to tell the KMT that Taiwan is a nation under the Republic of China framework, and we are an independent, sovereign country,” DPP Legislator Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) said yesterday. “There is nothing wrong with referring to a country as a neighbor.”“China has vowed to take Taiwan by force. “The KMT has made a wayward interpretation of her comment, while the international community clearly understands what President Tsai meant,” Huang said.

Roglic retains lead on final mountain test, Lopez winsAP, ALTU D’EL GAMONITEIRU, SpainPrimoz Roglic on Thursday moved closer to clinching his third consecutive Vuelta a Espana title after increasing his lead on the final test in the high mountains, while Miguel Angel Lopez won the demanding 18th stage. Lopez held off a late attack by Roglic to claim the 162km route that crested three mountain passes before a finish atop the beyond-category Altu d’El Gamoniteiru. “It has been four years since I won in the Vuelta,” Lopez said. Roglic, the Team Jumbo-Visma leader, added a few seconds to his lead in the general classification. Roglic won the race’s time trial on its opening stage, so Mas and Lopez would likely have to try to finally break Roglic in the hills if they hope to win.

SMIC has signed an agreement to establish a 100,000 wafers per month fab in the Lin-Gang Special Area, a free-trade zone run by the city. The facility would focus on more mature technology of 28 nanometers or older, the company said in a filing. SMIC shares jumped as much as 2.7 percent in Hong Kong and 4.8 percent in Shanghai. The envisioned plant comes on top of a US$2.35 billion factory SMIC is planning in Shenzhen that would be able to make as many as 40,000 12-inch wafers per month. Shanghai-based SMIC is China’s best hope for gaining clout in advanced chips used in devices from smartphones to base stations.

Four-case cluster prompts school closure in TaoyuanBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterA high school in Taoyuan must suspend classes after a student tested positive for COVID-19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday. The student — one of two local cases reported yesterday — was tested for COVID-19 after his father was confirmed positive, center data showed. The CECC listed the student and the three aircrew members as cluster infections. The aircrew cases are breakthrough infections, as the pilots are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the center said. Chinese-language media reported that the student attends the Affiliated Tao-Yuan Agricultural and Industrial Senior High School of National Taipei University of Technology.

COVID-19: MOEA to aid ‘eight industries’ workersRISKY BUSINESS: Workers in the ‘eight special industries’ yesterday staged a protest, calling for the right to work or more subsidies as their workplaces remain shutteredBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) yesterday promised to help entertainment workers who have been hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions by using funds left over from the “Stimulus 4.0” scheme. Workers from the eight industries protest in Taichung for the right to work yesterday. Photo: Taipei TimesYesterday, more than 300 workers from the eight industries took to the streets to protest, asking for the right to work or for more subsidy from the government. The ministry yesterday confirmed that help is on the way. “With the COVID-19 situation worldwide still severe and new developments domestically, we must remain on high alert even as we gradually loosen restrictions,” the ministry said.

Children at greater risk online during pandemic: charityBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) on Wednesday urged parents to take action to keep children safe online as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased use of the Internet. Cases of the sexual exploitation of children and young adults appear to be on the rise, the TFCF said in a statement. From May 28 to June 10, the TFCF conducted an online survey regarding childcare during the pandemic, with responses collected from 2,323 parents of children under the age of 18, it said. Parents should reach out to children about their habits related to Internet usage, TFCF Social Resources Department director Lin Hsiu-feng (林秀鳳) said. They include discussing with children the hidden risks online, arranging agreements with children on their Internet usage, trusting and respecting children, understanding their preferences and being their friends, and turning on security settings to protect them.

COVID-19: Flu and COVID-19 shots to be separated by 7 daysSEASONAL JABS: New advice says that flu vaccines can be administered between COVID-19 shots, while students are to require permission for Pfizer-BioNTechBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterPublic health experts have recommended that COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations — including the influenza vaccine — be administered at least seven days apart, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday. Previously, the ministry had required people to complete two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine before receiving other vaccines, he said. Relatively few COVID-19 vaccines were administered over the past two days, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC. That translates to 42.8 percent of the population having received one or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or about 46.79 doses per 100 people, Chen said. A batch of about 930,000 Pfizer-BioNTech shots arrived in Taiwan yesterday morning.

KMT decries president’s use of ‘neighbors’ in speechPRO-INDEPENDENCE? Former New Taipei City mayor Eric Chu, who is running in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairmanship election, waves to the media in Taipei yesterday. “The ‘neighbors theory’ is a rehash of the ‘two states theory’ and another provocation amid worsening cross-strait relations,” it said. The context of Tsai’s speech made it clear that “neighbors” included China, which is “tantamount to declaring Taiwanese independence,” the KMT said. Tomorrow, Chu, a former KMT chairman; Sun Yat-sen School president Chang Ya-chung (張亞中); former Changhua County commissioner Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源); and KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) are to have a televised debate prior to the election.

European banks warned of climate-test risksBloombergThe European Central Bank (ECB) is stepping up pressure on lenders to prepare for stress tests next year that would show how vulnerable the industry is to climate change, people familiar with the process said yesterday. Investors are taking note as banks burdened by carbon-intensive loan books might face higher capital requirements, which could erode their power to pay dividends. The outcomes would be reflected qualitatively by potentially affecting the scores used to calculate individual banks’ capital requirements, it said. Credit rating agencies have also warned that the industry is behind when it comes to adapting to climate and social risks. Fitch previously said that new capital requirements based on climate risk are the “next logical step” for regulators in Europe.

Factions building ‘consensus,’ DPP saysWORKING GROUPS: Asked if rifts are deepening, DPP caucus director-general Liu Shyh-fang said that policymakers seek input from the party, as well as legislatorsBy Chien Hui-ju and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday denounced accusations that squabbles among party factions are affecting its governance, while also calling for bipartisan progress toward constitutional reform. One DPP faction comprises lawmakers closer to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), reportedly led by DPP Legislator Chen Ming-wen (陳明文). Other active factions within the party include members closer to Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and those categorized as the New Tide faction. The DPP therefore does not fear backlash from other parties, he said, adding that the most important thing is to exchange views and reach a consensus. DPP working groups are putting together proposals that, after approval, are to be sent to party caucuses for deliberation, she said.

Taiwan’s working age population fallsAGED RISING: The DGBAS said the statistics from the census conducted last year provide more evidence that Taiwan is an aging society and has a falling birthrateStaff writer, with CNAThe working age population in Taiwan shrank for the first time since the nation started conducting regular population censuses seven decades ago, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said on Tuesday. Citing tallies from the latest population census, which was completed at the end of November last year, the DGBAS said in a statement that the working age population, referring to people aged 15 to 64, was 16.55 million, a drop of 169,000 from the previous census in 2010. Taiwan’s working age population accounted for 71.5 percent of its entire permanent resident population, which excludes migrant workers, which was 23.13 million last year, the DGBAS said. Including migrant workers, the population was 23.83 million last year, a 0.3 percent decline from a decade ago, the statement said. Among the permanent resident population, 22.91 million were Taiwanese and about 921,000 were foreign nationals, it said.

Chinese superhero takes center stage in latest outing of the Marvel universeAFP, LOS ANGELESIn Hollywood’s latest attempt to score in the huge — but highly restrictive — Chinese market, an Asian actor has been cast as a leading Marvel superhero for the first time. However, its value for Marvel Studios, and owner Disney, was expected to be as a vehicle for expanding into the Chinese market. Like the previous Marvel film Black Widow, the film has no release date in China, where movie theaters reopening this summer are stocked largely with domestic, patriotic features. As well as protecting Chinese filmmaking, this could reflect growing discontent with Disney-owned Marvel, whose next big superhero outing Eternals is being directed by Beijing-born Chloe Zhao (趙婷). Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige sought to tamp down that criticism in an interview with a Chinese film journalist last month, insisting that the narrative is one of the hero returning to his roots.