Mask mandate might be relaxedALERT TO REMAIN: The CECC said that agencies have relayed complaints from people saying there is no need for a farmer in a field or a family hiking to wear masks Taiwan’s mask mandate is to be relaxed from tomorrow as the number of domestic cases of COVID-19 has fallen, but the level 2 alert will be extended, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), said yesterday. The CECC is reconsidering mask requirements while outdoors in areas where there are few people, Chen said. Government agencies have relayed complaints about having to wear a mask in places where there are few people, such as a farmer working in a field or a family hiking, he said. As Taiwan reported an average of two locally transmitted

The issue has become particularly thorny in Taiwan, home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), which accounts for more than half of the global contract chipmaking market. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co general counsel Sylvia Fang is pictured at the Hsinchu Science Park on Wednesday. Photo: Grace Hung, Taipei Times“TSMC absolutely will not hand over sensitive information, particularly client data,” TSMC general counsel Sylvia Fang (方淑華) told reporters on Wednesday. The Joongang Daily also cited unidentified people at local chipmakers as saying that they might have a difficult time complying with the requests. In the questionnaire, chipmakers were asked to comment on inventories, backlogs, delivery times, procurement practices and what they were doing to increase output.

Gross margin fell to the lowest level on a quarterly basis since 2015, according to data provided by the Taichung-based handset camera lens maker. 8P refers to a camera lens module that contains eight thin layers of plastic pieces. The firm is also developing “double freeform” optical lenses that would solve proportion issues that cause some people in a photograph to appear larger than others. Lin, who seldom comments on stock prices, said that Largan is contemplating stock buyback programs. While handset lenses remain Largan’s mainstay products, the company is also expanding into augmented and virtual reality, and automotive camera lens markets, he added.

World food prices rise to 10-year peak: UN agencyReuters, PARISWorld food prices rose for a second consecutive month last month to reach a 10-year peak, driven by gains for cereals and vegetable oils, the UN food agency said yesterday. The agency’s food price index, which tracks prices of the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 130 points last month, the highest reading since September 2011, FAO data showed. That was led by a near 4 percent increase in wheat prices, attributed by the agency to tightening export availabilities amid strong demand. Vegetable oil prices were up 1.7 percent month-on-month, or about 60 percent year-on-year, as palm oil prices climbed on robust import demand and concerns over labor shortages in Malaysia, the agency said. For cereal production, it projected a record world crop of 2.8 billion tonnes this year, up slightly from 2.788 billion tonnes estimated a month ago.

7-Eleven to be launched in IndiaAFP, MUMBAI, IndiaMukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, is set to open India’s first 7-Eleven convenience store, as his Reliance Industries Ltd conglomerate boosts its retail presence in the vast market of 1.3 billion people. Yesterday’s announcement of a franchise agreement comes two days after India’s second-largest supermarket chain, Future Retail Ltd, terminated its 2019 deal with 7-Eleven Inc to open 1,000 stores. Photo: Reuters“7-Eleven is among the most iconic global brands in the convenience retail landscape ... [and] will offer Indian customers greater convenience and choices within their own neighborhoods,” said Isha Ambani, director of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd and Mukesh’s daughter. Debt-ridden Future Retail, which owns popular brands such as Big Bazaar, said that it was unable to “meet the target of opening stores and payment of franchisee fees” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates or licenses more than 77,000 stores in 18 countries and regions, but has faced a delayed entry to the Indian market.

Chinese-language learning centers being set up in USStaff writer, with CNAPlans are being laid out to establish on-campus Chinese-language learning centers in the US, following the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between 12 Taiwanese and US universities last month, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The program includes sending Taiwanese educators to teach Chinese at select US universities, while US students are offered the opportunity to study at Chinese-language learning centers in Taiwan. The memorandum was signed by National Tsing Hua University, Tamkang University, Tunghai University, National Taiwan University, National Dong Hwa University and Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages from Taiwan, and the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, University of Michigan-Flint, North Park University, Indiana University Bloomington, Oakland University and Southern Illinois University from the US. She said she looked forward to Taiwan assisting the US in the promotion of Chinese-language education through future cooperation between the two countries. It said it hoped the Taiwan Huayu Best project would benefit the government’s 2030 Bilingual Nation Policy by drawing English-speaking talent to Taiwan to teach after learning Chinese through the project.

A century of changing traditionsOpening yesterday, the latest ‘Century of Craftsmanship’ exhibition at Bopiliao Historic Block explores how 13 century-year-old shops in Wanhua have adjusted to various changes, including the latest COVID-19 outbreakBy Han Cheung / Staff reporterLongdu Ice Dessert Parlor (龍都冰果專業家) is no stranger to weathering outbreaks. A general view of the A Century of Craftsmanship: The Wanhua Story exhibition. Lin was tasked with interviewing the shop owners and writing the exhibition’s text (unfortunately only the main parts are translated into English). Author and exhibition researcher Lin Li-ching, right, introduces the Longshan Buddha Shop along with the shop’s sixth-generation owner Lee Tzu-yung. I hope that over the next 100 years, we business owners can continue to innovate while passing on traditions.”

TSP files complaint against Chu over misinformationBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterTaiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) Chairman Chen Yi-chi (陳奕齊) yesterday filed a complaint accusing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) of spreading false information about TSP Legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟). The lone legislator for the pro-Taiwanese independence party, Chen Po-wei, who represents Taichung’s second electoral district, is facing a recall vote on Oct. 23. Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) Chairman Chen Yi-chi, left, accompanied by lawyer Huang Di-ying, yesterday presses the bell at the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office to file a complaint against Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman Eric Chu over acampaign to recall TSP Legislator Chen Po-wei. Chen Po-wei yesterday said that “almost everyone would know right away that what Chu said was not true. Chu later yesterday said that the TSP’s complaint is a “waste of judicial resources,” insisting that his allegations are true and backed up by media reports.

World Rugby eyes rules to aid color-blind viewersReutersWales or Ireland might have to change out of their traditional jerseys if drawn together at the 2027 Rugby World Cup as World Rugby pushes ahead with plans to help color-blind fans by avoiding red-green kit clashes, Britain’s i reported. Red-green color blindness is the most common form. Ireland’s Cian Healy, center, runs the ball against Wales during their Rugby World Cup match in Wellington on Oct. 8, 2011. “Hopefully by the time Rugby World Cup 2027 comes ’round, this is the norm,” Douglas said. In 2019, a “See Green” Google Chrome extension was developed to help color-blind Irish fans watch their team at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Pfizer-BioNTech doses arrive, more batches dueStaff writer, with CNATaiwan yesterday received its sixth shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, while another shipment of the vaccines, as well as a batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, are scheduled to arrive today, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said. Yesterday’s shipment of 889,200 doses arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on a China Airlines flight at 5:34am. It is part of 15 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses ordered by three private entities — the Hon Hai Precision Industries Co-affiliated Yonglin Foundation, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation — and donated to the government for distribution among the public. Photo courtesy of the CECCAs of yesterday, Taiwan had received more than 4.2 million doses of the vaccine. Meanwhile, the CECC yesterday reported four new imported COVID- 19 cases, but no domestic infections or deaths.

Taiwan has chance to lead region in securityBy Yao Chung-yuan 姚中原The discussions referred to as the “2+2 talks” are usually meetings between two military allies or countries with similar political philosophies, each sending foreign affairs and defense ministers to address cooperation in areas of mutual interest. At the US-Korea 2+2 talks in Seoul on March 18, Blinken publicly condemned China’s provocative actions in the Indo-Pacific region and said that the US would increase countermeasures against China. For example, on April 13, Germany and Japan held their first 2+2 talks via videoconference. Additionally, Taiwan can take the initiative to set up direct communication channels with countries around the world to reinforce regional military and security cooperation. Taiwan should promote talks on strategic cooperation that contribute to regional stability and security, and enhance international visibility of its issues.

The Red Sox were ready. “Now we go to the next one, and we’ve just got to be ready to face a great baseball team,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. Photo: EPA-EFEAnd the Red Sox beat them in the post-season for the third straight try. “You thrive for that, and Red Sox nation brought it tonight. The Red Sox poured out of their dugout and bullpen to celebrate at the pitcher’s mound as Dirty Water played on the speakers.

US seeks comments on China tariffsAFP, WASHINGTONThe US would take public comments regarding exclusions from its tariffs on China, the White House announced on Tuesday, as the administration of US President Joe Biden grapples with what it views as Beijing’s failure to honor a trade deal. On Monday, US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai (戴琪) announced that Washington would seek “frank conversations” with China over its adherence to an agreement made last year that was meant to cool commercial tensions between the two economic powers. That deal came after Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, imposed tariffs on US$370 billion of Chinese products in 2018, citing trade practices Washington deemed “unfair.”US Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks at a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Monday. Photo: BloombergHowever, many US firms have criticized the levies, saying that they drive up costs, as importers bear their brunt. “The focus of the evaluation will be whether ... the particular product remains available only from China,” it said.

The light sentences relative to their crimes exposes a need for not only judicial reform, but also changes to the law restricting travel by sensitive personnel, Hsu said. The latest proposed amendment seeks to expand the list to include those involved in key technologies, but Chiou said it would not be enough. For a start, he suggested expanding its scope to include personnel working at research institutes in “national key areas,” as well as those who play critical roles in the nation’s infrastructure. As nearly all previous cases involved contact with a Chinese agent in other countries, “only restricting travel to China is not enough,” he added. Such personnel should be required to file detailed reports of their interactions with sensitive contacts from China, Hong Kong or Macau, he said.

Senior EU official is to speak at investment forumStaff writer, with CNAThe head of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade is to be the keynote speaker at the EU Investment Forum, which is to be held virtually on Thursday next week, the EU’s top representative to Taiwan said yesterday. European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Filip Grzegorzewski, center, speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Grzegorzewski said that last year’s event helped boost Taiwanese investment in the EU, which rose 122 percent from 2019. The EU remains Taiwan’s largest foreign investor, with 38.8 percent of the nation’s inward foreign direct investment last year coming from EU member countries, he said. Those interested in joining the forum can find the Web page to log on to the event and register at https://www.ebrctw.org/chi/index.aspx.