Machinist builds wireless coffee machineBy Chang Yi-chen and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerA machinist in Yilan County has built an automated pour-over coffee machine that can be operated wirelessly by a cellphone through Bluetooth. Yu Teh-yuan (游德源), 62, said he was motivated by his love for coffee to build the machine and that he left it at the Suao Township (蘇澳) community office for local residents to use. Machinist Yu Teh-yuan stands next to his remote-controlled pour-over coffee machine at the Suao Township community office in Yilan County on April 5. He was happy to help the center, which takes care of children with disabilities, but realized that making several cups of pour-over coffee by hand was a very tiring process, he said, adding that he got the idea to make an automatic pour-over coffee machine after he returned to Yilan. After a coffee machine at the township office broke down, Yu replaced it with his newly built automated machine, which has been well-received by township residents, he said.

Military Maneuvers: Technology boosts jets’ electronic defenses, source saysBy Lo Tien-pin and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerA successful attempt by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology to develop external pods for the nation’s locally made fighter jets would allow the military to shore up its electronic warfare capability, a military source said yesterday. Development of the external pods would address the Taiwan-made Indigenous Defense Fighter’s (IDF) lack of electronic warfare capabilities, the source said, adding that dependable pods would considerably enhance the fighter jets’ combat effectiveness. Larger fighter jets — such as the F-16Vs that Taiwan is purchasing from the US — come with such equipment built in, the source added. The air force’s Phoenix Rising Project has purchased external pods with digital radio frequency memory for the nation’s fleet of F-16A/B jets, which are receiving F-16V upgrades — a source of controversy. However, the pod development might encounter obstacles regarding US research and development on new pods, the source said.

Virus Outbreak: Chinese issue fake apology for TaiwanMISDIRECTION: Chinese social media users posing as Taiwanese have taken responsibility for racist attacks that the WHO’s head claimed originated in TaiwanBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterChinese posing as Taiwanese have issued online apologies to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for “personal attacks” and “racist abuse,” Taiwanese authorities said yesterday. Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau officials presented the findings at a media briefing to rebut accusations by Tedros, who on Wednesday accused Taiwan of engaging in personal attacks against him. Tedros said that he over the past three months received death threats and racist abuse, and claimed that it originated from Taiwan. A tweet by @RFXZ_China — a Twitter account purportedly of a Chinese media outlet — asks followers to use a message above in traditional Chinese as a template to apologize to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on behalf of Taiwanese. In addition to the messages, other evidence pointing to Chinese social media users include Internet protocol addresses traced to China, the use of simplified Chinese characters and phrasing that is different from that commonly used by Taiwanese, Chang said.

The presidents of state-owned corporations are in a prime position to appoint the people they want to certain levels within their company, Chen said. New Power Party Legislator Chen Jiau-hua speaks at a news conference yesterday at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. Someone who works under contract for 15 to 20 years should become an actual employee through the proper channels, Chen said. The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Division of Human Resources head Chen Jung-shun (陳榮順) said that all hiring of personnel through contracts is in line with the ministry’s regulations. Taiwan Power Co is the only state-owned business without contract employees, while CPC has 70, Taiwan Sugar has 21 and Taiwan Water Corp has 24, comprising 0.4 to 0.6 percent of total personnel, he said.

Medical aid planned for White Terror victims, kinBy Huang Hsin-po and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Transitional Justice Commission yesterday said that it is assessing a plan to provide medical services to White Terror victims or their surviving kin. Lim said that other countries have designated centers that help political victims or their families if they have medical conditions related to the political oppression that they experienced. Lim’s remarks made sense, Su said, adding that the government should take steps to provide special care to these brave and stalwart people, who stood up for the rights of others during the White Terror era. The White Terror era refers to the suppression of political dissidents following the 228 Incident, when protesters were shot on Feb. 28, 1947. Yang said that the commission is assembling volunteers from various disciplines who are involved in commission-backed therapy programs.

Virus Outbreak: Lawmaker urges rule change to protect radiologistsBy Wu Su-wei and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerRadiologists should be on the list of professionals entitled to fluid-resistant gowns to help protect frontline medical staff fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said yesterday. Taiwan’s 6,706 radiologists wear non-waterproof gowns that offer no protection against potentially virus-containing droplets, he said. The treatment is discriminatory, Chiu said, adding that frontline healthcare professionals should be treated equally. Radiologist Chang Wei-sheng (張維勝) said that the virus can be transmitted more easily than once thought. Frontline healthcare professionals, including radiologists, must be sufficiently protected, otherwise medical institutions could become loopholes in disease prevention, Chang said.

Virus Outbreak: Netizens respond to WHO accuserBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterTaiwanese are taking action after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused Taiwan of orchestrating a racist campaign against him, including “complimenting” him and raising funds to run an advertisement in the New York Times. Tedros’ remarks on Wednesday provoked angry responses from politicians across party lines, while members of the public expressed dissatisfaction via different means. Facebook users Chang Chia-ling (張嘉玲) and Goldie Huang (黃靖芳) created an event called “Anti-racism! Let’s compliment Tedros instead!”A design created by a crowdfunded campaign is pictured on the fundraising platform zeczec.com. Separately yesterday, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that Tedros should speak on facts and should apologize for his inappropriate behavior.

Virus Outbreak: CECC orders hostess clubs, dance halls to suspend operationsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday ordered that all hostess clubs and dance halls suspend operations, effective immediately, as it reported one new case of COVID-19 in the nation. The new case — the nation’s 380th — is a man in his 20s who is a roommate of the nation’s 322nd case, the center said. Health authorities have disinfected the university attended by the 322nd and 380th cases, including dormitories and public areas, said Chen, who heads the center. The university yesterday said in a statement that it on Wednesday received a notice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of a second confirmed case of COVID-19 at the school. As it had already begun school-wide distance learning on Monday, the suspension of on-campus classes is to end on Friday next week, the university said.

Chinese students currently enrolled in Taiwanese universities can apply to remain there, it said. To ensure the education rights of Chinese students, the ministry offered other learning resources, such as online courses, as alternatives. Since Taiwan’s government allowed Chinese students to study in Taiwan from 2011, it has not altered its policy of welcoming Chinese students, he said. Nearly 8,000 Chinese students have enrolled in Taiwan’s schools, although only 800 are currently in Taiwan, he said. About 40 percent of the Chinese students that apply to graduate schools in Taiwan are already in Taiwan studying for a bachelor’s degree, he said.

Virus Outbreak: Market vendors request government helpBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterRepresentatives of Taipei’s traditional markets yesterday called on the central government to introduce more comprehensive relief measures for vendors to alleviate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the vendors at traditional markets, food and beverage stalls have lost the most revenue, Liu said. The situation continues to worsen and it is unknown when it would end, he said, adding that traditional market vendors are having a tough time surviving. He urged the government to subsidize traditional markets’ purchase of prevention equipment such as infrared body temperature sensors. Like taxi drivers and self-employed workers, traditional market vendors should be eligible for NT$10,000 in subsidies per month for up to three months, association chairwoman Pan Ai-yu (潘愛玉) said.

Virus Outbreak: FSC asks banks to expedite review of small loansFINANCIAL BURDEN: Banks should decide whether to approve loans of less than NT$5 million within 15 days to lessen pressure on firms affected by the pandemicBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has asked banks to expedite the review and processing of loans of less than NT$5 million (US$165,827) to help companies affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Banks should decide whether to approve such loans within 15 working days, the FSC said, adding that it could further reduce the review period to within seven days for loans under NT$1 million. As of Monday, local banks have received 2,322 applications totaling NT$35.18 billion from affected businesses, and approved 510 applications, or a total of NT$7.39 billion in loans, commission data showed. “The interest rate for loans of less than NT$2 million is just 1 percent, which should be attractive to borrowers. We can help enterprises that have never applied for a bank loan,” FSC Chairman Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said.

Taiwan Ratings lowers credit rating on Yulon MotorBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan Ratings Corp (台灣信評) yesterday lowered its long-term issuer credit rating on Yulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車) from “twA-” to “twBBB+,” saying its profitability could remain weak amid ongoing business restructuring and a likely weaker dividend payout from affiliate Yulon Nissan Motor Co (裕隆日產). Yulon’s debt leverage has nearly doubled after its consolidation of HAITEC and the prospect of a significant improvement over the next one to two years is limited, Taiwan Ratings said. Yulon Motor plans to lower its debt leverage in the next one to two years by selling some of its financial assets and industrial land. Furthermore, weak auto demand in China could stifle Yulon’s efforts to improve its EBITDA next year, Taiwan Ratings said. Dongfeng Motor resumed sales of Nissan-branded vehicles in February in China, where the pandemic appears to be under control, Taiwan Ratings said.

The shrine of the Sufi saint Sidi Ali Bousserghine in SefrouMany Muslims in Morocco make pilgrimages to holy sites to venerate saints. Some scholars say the surging popularity of such pilgrimages signals a new assertiveness by Moroccan Jews. As for the Muslim Moroccans, they invoke the Jewish saints and implore their help, especially in the area of ​​healing. Hassan Majdi has about 90 Jewish saints worshiped by Muslims. The belief in saints is still very strong among Moroccan Jews, even if they have left Morocco to Israel a half century ago (9).

Virus Outbreak: Kinpo to make masks, ventilatorsBy Natasha Li / Staff reporterNew Kinpo Group (新金寶集團) yesterday said it plans to launch production of masks and ventilators next month to help combat the spread of COVID-19. “We will have a combined output of 2 million surgical masks and 1,000 ventilators per month,” a group official surnamed Koo (顧) told the Taipei Times by text message. The group would also donate about 200 3D masks to health professionals in Taiwan, Shen said. Kinpo posted a 17.56 percent year-on-year decline in net profit for last year of NT$453.74 million (US$15.04 million). The dividend must be approved by Kinpo shareholders at this year’s annual general meeting on June 22.

Virus Outbreak: Institutes unveil prototype rapid test kitBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe National Health Research Institute (NHRI) and the National Defense Medical Center yesterday announced a prototype COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kit that can provide results in about 15 minutes. The NHRI and the center’s Institute of Preventive Medicine used SARS-CoV antibodies produced during the SARS outbreak in 2003 and picked out one that can identify SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, to develop the rapid test kit. After spending a month developing the test kit, the institutes yesterday in Taipei presented the prototype to pharmaceutical companies in the hope of achieving technology transfers and starting mass production. National Institute of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology Director Liao Ching-len explains the functions of a prototype COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tool in Taipei yesterday. If the procedures go smoothly, the test kit could be out in three months, Liang said.