Quintuple Stimulus Voucher bookings to begin on Oct. 4Staff writer, with CNAPeople would be able to make reservations to receive printed versions of the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers, valued at NT$5,000, from Oct. 4 to 30, Chunghwa Post said yesterday. Premier Su Tseng-chang presents samples of the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers at a news conference in Taipei on Thursday last week. Chunghwa Post said post offices would likely be busiest during the first two or three weeks after the voucher program is launched, when it expects about 500,000 pickups per day. To meet demand, all 1,269 post offices nationwide are to extend their opening hours on two Saturdays, Oct. 16 and 23, it said. Those who opt for digital vouchers can apply for them using digital payment services from Wednesday next week, with the vouchers valid from Oct. 8, it has said.

COVID-19: Government should press US on vaccine supply: KMTBy Wu Su-wei and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus will tomorrow table a resolution asking the government to urge the US to send more Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to give elderly Taiwanese their second shot, KMT Legislator Jessica Chen (陳玉珍) said yesterday. From left, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Lin Yi-hua, Jessica Chen and Sandy Yeh speak to reporters in Taipei yesterday, calling on the government to do more to secure supplies of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Adding in the 1.5 million doses donated by the US and the Czech Republic, Taiwan has so far received 4.03 million doses of Moderna. Central Epidemic Command Center statistics showed that as of Thursday last week, 3.43 million Taiwanese had received at least one shot of Moderna, and 330,000 had received two shots of the vaccine. Given that Taiwan-US relations are at a historic high, it should not be a problem to press the US about receiving more Moderna doses soon, KMT Legislator Sandy Yeh (葉毓蘭) said.

Burundi’s Niyonsaba smashes record for women’s 2,000mReutersBurundi’s Francine Niyonsaba on Tuesday capped off her season by breaking the 2,000m world record, finishing with a time of 5 minutes, 21.56 seconds at a Continental Tour event in Zagreb, Croatia. The 28-year-old, who last week won the 5,000m Diamond League title in Zurich, Switzerland, shaved nearly four seconds off the outdoor record and more than two seconds off the indoor mark. The previous indoor record was set by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2017, while Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan had held the outdoor record since 1994. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, front, competes in the Weltklasse IAAF Diamond League women’s 5,000m in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 8. She moved up to 5,000m at this year’s Tokyo Games, but was disqualified for a lane infringement in her heat, while she finished fifth in the 10,000m event.

Macau casinos see US$18bn wipeout amid crackdownBloombergMacau’s top gaming stocks yesterday lost a record US$18.4 billion in combined market value after officials said that they would change casino regulations to tighten restrictions on operators, including appointing government representatives to “supervise” companies in the world’s biggest gaming hub. The Bloomberg Intelligence index of the six big casino operators fell a record 23 percent. US operators registered the worst sell-offs, with Sands China Ltd (金沙中國) sinking as much as 33 percent, while Wynn Macau Ltd (永利澳門) plunged 34 percent, both the steepest declines ever. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which links the two territories and mainland China, is pictured from Hong Kong with view on Macau on June 14. A note due 2028 from Wynn Macau sunk 9 cents on the US dollar to US$0.914, according to Bloomberg-compiled prices, set for its biggest-ever decline.

Express firm workers protest wage freezeSTRUGGLING TO SURVIVE: Chunghwa Express workers called for a 5 percent increase in pay, which has been stagnant for 17 years, or they might go on strikeBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterMembers of the Chunghwa Express Union yesterday held a protest in front of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications building, saying that the express delivery firm has not adjusted workers’ salaries for 17 years. The protesters said they would not rule out going on strike at the end of this month if Chunghwa Express’ board refuses to approve a raise. Chunghwa Express workers protest outside the Ministry of Transportation and Communications building yesterday, threatening to go on strike if they are not given a pay raise. Meanwhile, the basic monthly salary for an entry-level Chunghwa Express employee was less than NT$25,000, the union said. Chunghwa Post holds a significant stake in Chunghwa Express and should quickly establish a salary-adjustment mechanism to retain experienced workers and maintain service quality, the union said.

Vote on Taiwan-related bill in US expectedBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNAThe US House of Representatives is next week expected to vote on the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which includes a provision recommending Taiwan’s inclusion in next year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). It has now been sent to the full House, which is to debate and vote on the bill next week. The 1,362-page bill includes three major provisions on Taiwan under sections 1243, 1247 and 1248. This includes military articles, training, joint exercises and exchanges between officials “at the strategic, policy and functional levels,” the bill says. The US Senate’s version of the bill was approved by its Armed Services Committee on July 23.

Regulators have warned of broader risks to the country’s financial system if the company’s US$305 billion of liabilities are not contained. “We believe a default would reinforce credit polarization among homebuilders and could result in headwinds for some smaller banks,” Fitch said. The rating agency on Tuesday last week downgraded Evergrande to “CC” from “CCC+,” indicating that it viewed a default of some kind as probable. “Smaller banks with higher exposure to Evergrande or to other vulnerable developers could face significant increases in non-performing loans (NPLs), depending on how any credit event involving Evergrande develops,” Fitch said. This followed chaotic scenes at the headquarters two days earlier, as disgruntled investors crowded its lobby to demand repayment of loans and financial products.

Hon Hai’s EV venture with Byton on hold: reportReutersHon Hai Precision Industry Co’s (鴻海精密) electric vehicle (EV) project with Byton Ltd (拜騰) has been put on hold due to the Chinese start-up’s worsening financial situation, the Nikkei Asia reported yesterday, citing unidentified sources with knowledge of the matter. An chassis of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co’s MIH Open Platform electric vehicle project is pictured in Taipei on Feb. 7. Some higher-level personnel involved in the project has even left Hon Hai, the report added. Hon Hai declined to comment, while Byton did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hon Hai said that the EV joint venture’s production site might be built in the Eastern Economic Corridor special development zone in Thailand.

China Steel lifts prices 1.32% next month, in Q4By Angelica Oung / Staff reporterChina Steel Corp (CSC, 中鋼) yesterday said it would raise prices for domestic deliveries by 1.32 percent next month and for next quarter to reflect higher manufacturing costs and rising steel demand. “We are heading into the fourth quarter, traditionally the strong quarter for steel demand,” the company said in a statement. Prices of steel plates, hot-rolled steel, hot-rolled steel rolls, electroplated steel rolls and automotive steel would increase by NT$1,500 per tonne, while rod material prices would rise by NT$1,000 per tonne, it said. US steel prices keep breaking records, with hot-rolled steel priced at US$2,100 per tonne and cold-rolled steel nearing US$2,400 per tonne, it said. “The overall cost of raw materials remains high, which will support international steel prices,” the company said.

“I just returned from Ukraine two days ago, my next stop will be Taiwan,” Fitzpatrick said during the hearing. “These people are scared to death.”US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks via videoconference during a US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing in Washington on Monday. Photo: BloombergFitzpatrick asked Blinken if the US would “do whatever it takes” to support Ukraine and Taiwan from Russian and Chinese aggression respectively. Asked about Chinese state-run media’s ongoing attempts to draw parallels between the US’ relationship with Taiwan and Washington’s abandonment of Afghanistan, Blinken said that Beijing would love to see Washington stuck in Afghanistan for another decade. Blinken added that the Biden administration could not renegotiate because of the group’s threats to resume killing Americans.

Protesters target Chinese property firmEVERGRANDE WOES: The Chinese company issued a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, saying it was exploring ’all feasible solutions’ for a cash crunchAFP, BEIJINGDozens of people yesterday protested outside the headquarters of Chinese property giant Evergrande Group (恆大集團) after the debt-laden firm said that it was under “tremendous pressure” and might not be able to meet its repayments. Photo: AFPAn estimated 60 to 70 people gathered outside Evergrande’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China, jostling with police and demanding answers. There’s no clear explanation right now ... they should have paid the money when it was due.”Evergrande’s plight has raised fears of a contagion across the debt-mired Chinese property sector — which accounts for more than one-quarter of the world’s second-largest economy — with a knock-on effect on banks and investors. However, it issued another statement yesterday to the Hong Kong stock exchange, saying it had hired financial advisers to explore “all feasible solutions” to ease its cash crunch. It is also struggling to sell its Hong Kong headquarters, even at a loss.

Kung Ming-Shin, minister of The National Development Council (NDC) will be leading a delegation group to visit Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Lithunania, the MOFA announced on Tuesday. The delegation would comprise government officials and business representatives from sectors such as information and communication technology, precision medicine and electric vehicles, he said. Some disease prevention specialists would accompany the delegation during the visit, he added. A Slovak delegation had planned to visit Taiwan in May, but due to a local COVID-19 outbreak the visit was rescheduled. During the visit to Slovakia, the delegation would discuss the planned Taiwan trip with their counterparts, Chen said.

Value of presale housing expected to soar in the fallBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterPresale housing projects are expected to soar 64.5 percent year-on-year to NT$269.03 billion (US$9.71 billion) in northern Taiwan in the autumn sales season from Sept. 28 through next month, as local cases of COVID-19 and social distancing rules prompted developers to push back launches, the Chinese-language My Housing Monthly said on Thursday last week. The name of a Yuanlih Group presale housing project is displayed at a construction site in Taipei’s Wenshan District on July 22. Taipei has also reported an increase in new apartments of less than 30 ping (99m2), as few people want large homes, Ho said. New housing projects in Taoyuan total more than NT$50 billion, mostly concentrated in Jhongli (中壢) and Cingpu (青埔) districts with asking prices approaching NT$500,000 per ping, the magazine said. Yilan County reported the lowest value for expected new housing projects in northern Taiwan at NT$2.7 billion, it said.

Chinese newspaper urges rules for ads on medical beautyReuters, BEIJINGChina’s People’s Daily newspaper said it was “imperative and urgent” to regulate advertisements bombarding people with recommendations for cosmetic surgery, procedures and treatments, as the ads have become excessive, with some making false claims. The People’s Daily said that some advertisements associate good looks with “high-quality,” “diligence” and “success,” fabricating stories about “plastic surgery changing one’s destiny” and distorting aesthetic perceptions. Last month, the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation drafted guidelines to regulate the medical aesthetics sector’s advertising practices, saying that they were prompting societal anxiety over people’s looks. Demand for plastic surgery or medical aesthetic treatment has boomed in China in the past few years, with procedures to make one’s eyes wider or nose higher among the most popular. However, the ads have been criticized for failing to caution people about risks.

Childlike Mourinho hails ‘incredible’ AS Roma victoryAFP, MILANAS Roma coach Jose Mourinho said he felt like a child when charging from his dugout to celebrate Stephan El Shaarawy’s last-gasp winner in a thrilling 2-1 victory over US Sassuolo, which put his side top of Serie A in his 1,000th match as a manager. Italy international El Shaarawy struck with a sublime curling strike in the 91st minute, causing wild celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, with Mourinho running to join his joyous players in front of screaming supporters behind the goal. “Today I wasn’t 58 years old, I felt like a 10, 12, 14-year-old, back when you begin to dream about a career in football. Roma’s Stephan El Shaarawy, left, scores the team’s second goal in their Serie A match against US Sassuolo at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday. AS Roma fans wave flags as a picture of coach Jose Mourinho is displayed on the big screen before the match against US Sassuolo at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday.