Mother takes action over son’s mystery death after weddingBy Tsai Shu-yuan, Chang Jui-chen and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerThe mother of a student, who died on May 4, on Friday accused a man of tricking her son into a same-sex marriage to gain legal rights to his inheritance, NT$500 million (US$16.3 million) of land. The son, surnamed Lai (賴), fell to his death from a 10th-floor residence in Taichung owned by a man surnamed Sia (夏). Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei TimesHowever, Sia took Lai to the Household Registration Office in Beitun District (北屯) to register themselves as a same-sex couple, the mother said. A lawyer for the mother, surnamed Hsu (許), told the news conference that the marriage was “absurd,” as the two had only met twice, with the first time being last month. Lai’s mother said that her son had recently started university and had been looking for a girlfriend.

While traditional insurance can take months to pay, with so-called “parametric” insurance there is no need to prove losses. Insurance analysts at Allied Market Research estimate that the market, valued at US$11.7 billion in 2021, could reach US$29.3 billion by 2031. At annual climate talks in Egypt last year, nonprofits urged richer nations to help finance parametric insurance as a way of compensating victims of worsening weather extremes. LIMITSWhile parametric insurance has been around since the 1990s, recent advances in satellite technologies have opened up areas that were previously difficult to assess for damage, such as distant islands or mountain communities. At the moment, insurance schemes in the developing world are largely subsidized by nonprofit groups, national governments or wealthy countries.

Ko announces campaignStaff Writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) founder and Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday vowed to end political wrangling and extend goodwill to China, as he officially launched his campaign for next year’s presidential election. Taiwan People’s Party chairman and its presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks at a news conference in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District yesterday. There has been a lack of concrete action in pushing for judicial reform and the establishment of an “e-government,” he said. People attend an event by Taiwan People’s Party chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District yesterday. Taiwan’s autonomy and maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait is crucial to ensure prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.

EDITORIAL: Economic alliance as a deterrentFormer British prime minister Liz Truss on Wednesday called on EU countries and other like-minded nations to form an “economic NATO” as a countermeasure to Chinese economic coercion. Truss also called on the UK and other states to have a clear stance toward China, and not to let the economic benefits it offers cloud the threats it presents to freedom and democracy. These are two separate issues that Truss has raised — creating economic resilience by reducing reliance on China, and having a clear stance on relations with Taiwan and China — but they are highly connected. Beijing is not likely to risk a war when the odds are stacked so greatly against it. An alliance of like-minded countries that are clear in their intentions to assist Taiwan will help deter China in its military ambitions, and that clarity of intentions can only be achieved by reducing their economic reliance on China.

Samsung plans chip facility in JapanEXPANSION: Japan is providing subsidies for eight battery and two semiconductor projects in the nation as it tries to bolster its supply chain, an industry official said Samsung Electronics Co is to build a new semiconductor chip development facility in Japan, Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. The plant would be in Yokohama, where Samsung has a research and development site, the report said, without citing anyone. The South Korean firm would build a production line for a prototype chip, and the facility would cost more than ￥30 billion (US$221 million), with the Japanese government expected to provide more than ￥10 billion in subsidies, it said. Operations are targeted to begin in 2025, it reported. Samsung’s move follows its bigger foundry rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), which is

Significance of Truss’ support for TaiwanBy Martin Oei 黃世澤Seeing former British prime minister Liz Truss visit Taiwan, pro-China politicians unfamiliar with British politics have lashed out by calling her a “washed-up political figure” who is seeking to make political capital out of the visit. Therefore, Truss’ visit is significant because it marks the first time a former British prime minister who is still an MP has set foot in Taiwan. Consequently, Truss’ argument during her visit in Taiwan could one day turn into policy. In view of these other events, Truss’ visit to Taiwan is not only an open display of support for Taiwan, but also a wake-up call for businesspeople, China Hands and politicians who still harbor fantasies about China. Martin Oei is a Hong Kong-born British political commentator based in Germany and a member of the British Conservative Party.

Vietnamese intern dies in incident at New Taipei factoryStaff writer, with CNAA 21-year-old Vietnamese student died on Wednesday in an incident at a food factory in New Taipei City, where she was doing an internship, police said. A worker at the factory called emergency services, and when first responders arrived at the factory in Wugu District (五股), Vy had no vital signs, police said. She was rushed to Taipei Hospital in the city’s Sinjhuang District (新莊), where she was pronounced dead at 7:10pm, police said. Meanwhile, the New Taipei City Labor Affairs Department yesterday said that the fourth floor of the factory where Vy worked has been closed until further notice. The New Taipei City Government would offer Vy’s family a condolence payment of NT$150,000, the department said.

Djokovic says new tennis generation has arrivedReuters, ROMENovak Djokovic on Wednesday said that the long awaited “shift of generations” has finally come to men’s tennis after the world No. Denmark’s Holger Rune celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their men’s singles quarter-final at the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome on Wednesday. Photo: AFPDjokovic, who has now lost two in a row to Rune, said that the next generation of players led by world No. Let’s see how far I’m going to play.”Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Denmark’s Holger Rune during their men’s singles quarter-final at the Italian Open in Rome on Wednesday. She had won the first set 6-2 then Rybakina won the second set 7-6 (7/3).

Official slams Highwealth’s safety recordFINES NOT WORKING? Deputy Minister of Labor Lee Chun-yi speaks at a meeting of the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee in Taipei yesterday. “It is a clear indicator that Highwealth Construction’s corporate culture does not prioritize occupational safety,” Lee said. The ministry plans to complete labor inspections at 30 sites managed by Highwealth Construction within two weeks, Lee said. “We also plan to inspect its construction sites that have tower cranes within one month,” he said.

EDITORIAL: Four-day workweek impracticalTwo petitions recently posted on the Public Policy Online Participation Network Platform calling for a four-day workweek and reduced working hours have passed the signature threshold, requiring the government to respond. This paved the way for the introduction of 84 work hours per fortnight, and finally a five-day workweek policy in 2001. With the implementation of the five-day workweek, the government canceled seven national holidays, such as Teacher’s Day. A four-day workweek policy could cause other issues. As with the implementation of the five-day workweek, a four-day workweek would be at the expense of national holidays.

Siemens raises its outlook againBloombergSiemens AG raised its outlook for a second time this fiscal year after revenue and orders jumped, with the company’s main businesses pairing industrial products with digital solutions driving the result. After a surge in demand during the fiscal second quarter, Siemens said that orders are set to normalize during the second half of this year. During the fiscal second quarter, comparable revenue rose 15 percent to 19.4 billion euros, beating analyst estimates of 18.7 billion euros. Net income rose to 3.48 billion euros, above analyst estimates of 3.1 billion euros. Siemens’ bottom line profited from a 1.59 billion euros accounting gain related to the partial impairment reversal on its stake in Siemens Energy.

TSMC says new chips to be world’s most advanced‘NO DOUBT’: The company’s remarks followed a report that Samsung was planning to overtake TSMC as the world’s No. 1 chipmaker with a technology of its own Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday expressed confidence that its 2-nanometer process technology would be the most advanced foundry technology in the world when it is introduced in 2025, shrugging off Samsung Electronics Co’s plans to overtake its technology leadership position. “Today, the 3-nanometer technology we offer is the world’s most advanced technology. When we launch our 2-nanometer technology in 2025, there is no doubt in my mind that it will be the most advanced semiconductor technology in the world,” senior vice president of business development Kevin Zhang (張曉強) said in response to a reporter’s question about Samsung’s plans. Two enhancedBy Lisa Wang

US ‘space symphony’ puts stunning NASA images to musicA similar effort was undertaken over a century ago when much in astronomy remained only theoreticalAFP, TYSONS CORNER, USIt could be the ultimate blend of art and science — a new seven-suite “space symphony” inspired and illustrated by NASA’s latest mind-boggling images. Henry Dehlinger, the symphony’s American composer, describes it as “almost like a total artwork.”Composer Henry Dehlinger on May 11 after a rehearsal of his Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony at Capital One Hall in Arlington, Virginia. Composer Henry Dehlinger on May 11 after a rehearsal of his Cosmic Cycles, A Space Symphony at Capital One Hall in Arlington, Virginia. The images from that research, compiled by NASA producers into seven short films, served as the inspiration for Dehlinger. Apart from photos and videos, interspersed throughout the seven films are a “mesmerizing collection of data visualizations” created by NASA, Sisler explained.

Climate activists put heat on shareholders’ meetingsVARIED TACTICS: While Scientist Rebellion activists merely bombarded BNP Paribas executives with questions, a cake landed on a podium at a VW meetingAFP, PARISClimate activists are using shareholders’ meetings to turn up the heat on corporations about their carbon footprints, from flooding them with questions to more colorful tactics such as singing or throwing cake at executives. Scientist Rebellion activists held up a sign slamming the emissions from the group’s vehicles. Scientist Rebellion members on Friday last week demonstrate outside the Swedish Ministry of Finance in Stockholm, calling on the government to stop supporting fossil energies. Earlier this month in London, HSBC Holdings PLC’s gathering was repeatedly interrupted by climate activists, with some demanding that the bank stop investing in fossil fuel companies and others accusing the firm of lying. The meetings are also a chance to push companies to step up their climate ambitions, she added.

KMT set to nominate Hou You-yiStaff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is expected to formally nominate New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) as its candidate for president on Wednesday, after events in support of his primary challenger were canceled earlier in the week. The KMT Central Standing Committee is meeting at 2pm to nominate a candidate for the Jan. 13 election. New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi speaks to reporters in the city on Monday. Photo: Lai Hsiao-tung, Taipei TimesThe Democratic Progressive Party has already chosen Vice President William Lai (賴清德) to be its candidate. The Taiwan People's Party was also expected to formally nominate Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) as its candidate on Wednesday.