Far EasTone eyes expansion of smart city services to Southeast Asian marketBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterFar EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信) yesterday said it is seeking to expand its smart city-related services to the Southeast Asian market as part of efforts to grow revenue beyond traditional telecom services. Far EasTone Telecommunications Co president Chee Ching speaks at an event in Taipei in an undated photograph. To further drive growth, Far EasTone plans to enhance its foothold in Southeast Asian countries in collaboration with subsidiaries including Nextlink Technology Co (博弘雲端) and Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co (FETC, 遠通電收), Ching said. Far EasTone owns 67 percent of Nextlink, a cloud service provider, and 40 percent of FETC, which provides electronic toll collection services. Revenue this year is expected to grow 6.5 percent to NT$117.48 billion, from NT$110.35 billion last year, Far EasTone forecast, attributing the growth partly due to the inclusion of NT$3 billion revenue from FETC for the first time.

Chinese database for spying on Taiwanese leakedNETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in TaiwanBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterChina has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). Documents from Chinese technology company GoLaxy show information about Taiwanese politicians. The Beijing-based data firm also created a Taiwan-related knowledge graph about Taiwanese political parties, both large and small. Overall, the database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians, about 23 million records of Taiwan household registration data from closed sources, as well as information about 75 Taiwanese political parties, 1,478 Taiwanese firms, 13,000 Taiwanese religious groups and nearly 24,000 Taiwanese civic organizations. GoLaxy said that the information of Taiwanese politicians was collected to support the narrative wars in Taiwan.

The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. M795 artillery projectiles are stored during the manufacturing process at Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 2023. Photo: APThe proposed center would integrate research laboratories, pilot production lines, full-scale manufacturing, testing, packaging and waste treatment into a single supply chain, the report said. The US faces additional challenges due to environmental and safety regulations, with its last TNT production facility having closed in the 1980s. If the live-fire test is successful, the missile could be included in the fiscal 2027 defense budget for mass production, sources said.

Turning salt into cultureA group of young artists bring old Kaohsiung back to its roots in art festival in Kaohsiung’s Yancheng DistrictBy Julien Oeilette / Contributing ReporterYou would never believe Yancheng District (鹽埕) used to be a salt field. This is what local art galleries are revealing during the first edition of the Yancheng Arts Festival. Photo: Julien OeuilletShen Yu-rung (沈裕融), the main curator, says: “We chose the connection with salt as a theme. The ocean is still very near, just a few blocks away, but the salt fields disappeared. It sparkles under the light and emulates the feeling we would have had watching mounts of salt.

Newcastle United visit tonight in the UEFA Champions League last-16 — the tie delicately poised after a 1-1 draw on Tyneside last week. Candidate Joan Laporta reacts during early voting projections for Barcelona soccer club’s presidency in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday. “If Yuste wins this Champions League, it will be wonderful, he is like a brother to me,” said Laporta. Sergio Busquets was one of them, with the defensive midfielder part of three Champions League triumphs with Barcelona, in 2009, 2011 and 2015. The Magpies’ visit gives Barca the chance to begin Laporta’s new era with a bang, with a Champions League quarter-final place beckoning.

Iran wants to move World Cup matches to MexicoReutersIran’s soccer federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their FIFA World Cup matches from the US to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj said on Monday. “We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”Draw assistant Shaquille O’Neal, second left, draws Iran during the FIFA World Cup group draw in Washington on Dec. 5 last year. The global showpiece is due to start on June 11 in the US, Canada and Mexico, with Iran scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Monday said it had not received any notification that Iran would withdraw from the event. “At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup,” AFC general secretary Windsor John told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Yacht registrations increase as ‘blue tourism’ takes offBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe nation has recorded a double-digit growth in the number of registered yachts, dedicated yacht berths and yacht operating licenses issued in the past five years, the Maritime and Port Bureau said yesterday. The bureau attributed the significant increase in yacht-related indicators to the continual improvement of the Taiwan Yacht Portal (https://yachtintaiwan.azurewebsites.net/En/), which has offered one-stop service to more than 8.4 million users. The bureau said that more people have been motivated to try operating yachts after it shared a video on YouTube, which has drawn 34,000 views. It said that it aims to further boost yacht activities this year in seaports and fishing ports by introducing around-the-island and island-hopping yacht tours. Taiwan’s yacht production value rose to about NT$6.8 billion (US$213.27 million) in the first 10 months of 2023, official data showed.

Overseas talent program needs to be scrutinized: KMTBy Lin Hsin-han / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Education and the Overseas Community Affairs Council should conduct a comprehensive review of the government’s New Southbound Talent Policy to improve safeguards of the rights of overseas and international students in Taiwan, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus told a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The Democratic Progressive Party government implemented the policy in 2016, with a goal to attract to Taiwan 200,000 applicants of outstanding talent from Southeast Asia, the KMT said. From left, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Hsu Yu-chen, Lin Pei-hsiang, Ko Chih-en and Huang Chien-pin hold placards at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Recruitment campaigns promote the promise of “studying in Taiwan,” but for many, the reality is closer to “working in Taiwan,” he added. “Policymakers must return to the core mission of education: International students are meant to study, not to plug labor shortages in the service sector,” it said.

Taiwan should pay attention to whether Trump makes additional commitments to enhance the security of US allies in the first island chain during his meeting with Takaichi, Su said. Japan is confronting the increased threat from North Korean ballistic missiles, and its interest in intelligence and technology cooperation with the US would improve regional missile defense, Su said. Her move to meet with Trump before he meets with Xi also emphasizes Japan’s importance to the Indo-Pacific region, he said. Countering China’s rise in the Indo-Pacific region remains Washington’s most important strategic objective, he said. Trump’s request that China escort ships in the Hormuz Strait presses it to share responsibility for global security, Su added.

MOL rolls out video legal consultation service for workplace gender biasStaff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Labor (MOL) yesterday launched a free video legal consultation service for workers facing suspected pregnancy or gender- based workplace discrimination, with migrant workers and foreign nationals employed in Taiwan also eligible. According to the MOL, workers, regardless of nationality, can also access the consultation service if they are concerned that their protections regarding maternity and paternity leave have been undermined or if they encounter workplace sexual harassment. Each consultation will last 40 minutes, with one lawyer on duty during each morning and afternoon service period on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he said. He added that 33 specially trained lawyers have joined the video legal consultation program, with more being recruited. According to Huang, the video consultation service is expected to handle more than 600 cases a year and has been allocated a budget of NT$2 million (US$62,633), with funding adjustments to be made based on demand.

Cabinet approves budget for improving railroadsBy Wu Liang-yi and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Cabinet has approved a NT$7.8 billion (US$244.6 million) proposal to harden the railroads in Taiwan proper’s eastern and southern regions against natural disasters over five years, beginning this year, officials said yesterday. The central government and state-run rail corporation would provide 97.5 percent and 2.5 percent of the funds respectively, they said. Taiwan Railway Corp’s Chongde Station in Hualien County is pictured in an undated photograph. The budget is part of this year’s general budget that has stalled amid the deadlock at the Legislative Yuan, officials said. The opposition, which holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, should fund this program by passing this year’s general budget, Wu said.

KMT convener’s ruling sparks rush of podiumPROSECUTOR ISSUE: Weng Hsiao-ling failed to follow procedure and hold a vote because not enough KMT members were at the meeting, a DPP lawmaker saidBy Chen Cheng-yu / Staff reporterThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) convener of the legislature’s Procedure Committee “hijacked the vote” amid the process to nominate a new prosecutor-general, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said yesterday. The committee adjourned amid disagreement over KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling’s (翁曉玲) actions after she submitted a draft agenda to the full session instead of putting it to a vote at the meeting. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling, right, argues with Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Procedure Committee at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei TimesDPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) said that Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao’s (邢泰釗) term ends on May 7. She adjourned the meeting, sparking discontent among DPP legislators, who swamped the podium, resulting in a heated exchange.

Taiwan reports third case of SFTS tick-borne diseaseCOMMUNICABLE DISEASE: While the risk of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome infection is relatively low, it can have fatal consequences if left untreatedBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterA elderly man diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was the third locally acquired case since the tick-borne infectious disease was first reported in Taiwan in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. In South Korea, SFTS incidence has increased slightly in the past few years, with 280 cases reported last year, he said. Japan has also seen a growing trend of SFTS cases, with 191 reported last year, most of which were concentrated in the west, he said. Ticks are the main vector of the SFTS virus and are most active between April and October, he said. The general population’s risk of SFTS infection is relatively low, but infected ticks can be brought into Taiwan by migratory birds or imported animals, Guo said.

Court rejects Ko’s request to fly to Japan for son’s graduationStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei District Court yesterday rejected a request by former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) for a short exemption from his travel ban to attend his son’s graduation ceremony in Japan, deeming the trip unnecessary. The court noted in its ruling that Ko’s presence is not essential for the graduation to take place and that his absence would not prevent his son from successfully obtaining his degree. Through his lawyer, Ko last Monday filed a request with the court to allow him to visit Japan from March 23-25 to attend his son’s doctoral graduation ceremony at the University of Tokyo, a move Taipei prosecutors opposed. After receiving Ko’s request to travel to Japan, the court sought opinions from prosecutors, who argued that Ko had not presented a concrete plan to ensure he would not flee or collude with co-defendants, according to the court. The Taipei District Court completed all trial proceedings in the two cases at the end of last year and is scheduled to announce its verdict on March 26.

Mayor touts AI project with NvidiaGOVERNANCE PLAN: The Kaohsiung City Government is exploring ways to integrate telecom services with an Nvidia model to address challenges, Chen Chi-mai saidStaff writer, with CNAKaohsiung’s Smart Lighthouse Project has great potential to facilitate artificial intelligence (AI) partnerships with international tech firms, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) told reporters on the sidelines of the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, California, on Monday. The project would apply a “sovereign AI” approach to city governance as demand for computing power surges amid a shift toward generative AI inference and “AI factory” development, Chen said. Sovereign AI refers to a government’s ability to develop AI using its own resourcesKaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi- mai, right, and Foxconn chairman Young Liu speak at the Nvidia GTC conference in San Jose, California, on Monday. Photo: CNAKaohsiung plans to work with Nvidia and Foxconn to establish centers using Nvidia’s Compute Unified Device Architecture to supply computing power and software development, Chen said. Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) gave the keynote speech at the event.