Samsung union goes on first-ever strike over wages
Samsung union goes on first-ever strike over wagesBloombergThe largest union at Samsung Electronics Co went on a strike for the first time in the company’s 55-year history, with the standoff over pay so entrenched that the two sides have stopped all discussions. The National Samsung Electronics Union, the largest of the tech giant’s several unions with about 28,400 workers, encouraged members to take a single day off yesterday, which fell between a Thursday public holiday and the weekend. We are not ruling out an all-out general strike.”Samsung Electronics’ union members hold placards during a rally outside a company building in Seoul yesterday. They fear they might not get bonuses again this year even if the division returns to profit, said union leader Son Woo-mok. Historically, bonuses make up a significant portion of a worker’s pay, so missing out on such money can mean a meaningful reduction in compensation.
Source:Taipei Times
June 08, 2024 02:13 UTC
Indian elections boost democracy
Indian elections boost democracyBy Gurjit SinghThe largest election in the world in India covering an electorate of 968 million people from April 19 to Saturday has been completed. The BJP had 303 seats previously and had won handsomely in 2014 and 2019 under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The relationships with Japan and others in the Indo-Pacific region are strategically important for expanded economic engagement. Chinese assessments see the results of the elections as weakening India, but they strengthen Indian democracy. A closer engagement with Taiwan and ASEAN, as well as challenging Chinese hegemonic designs in the Indian Ocean is probable.
Source:Taipei Times
June 07, 2024 18:53 UTC
Reflections on China’s Tiananmen tragedy
Reflections on China’s Tiananmen tragedyBy Lee min-yung 李敏勇The events that unfolded in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, have become a historical footnote. These Western nations were under the misguided impression that aiding China’s economic development could help it progress toward social and political liberalization. The reality is that this help grew out of cheap self-serving interest in China’s rock-bottom prices, mass labor, factories and markets. Tiananmen was China’s opportunity to democratize, yet the protests are little more than a footnote in history. The Tiananmen Massacre is a stain on history China can never erase.
Source:Taipei Times
June 06, 2024 16:50 UTC
Another lost decade looms for Europe
Another lost decade looms for EuropeEurope’s model is worth defending, and its problems are fixable, but time is running outBy Lionel Laurent / Bloomberg OpinionIn the summer of 2020, European leaders convened marathon talks over how to rescue a continent battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a lost decade of economic stagnation. The risk of another lost decade is high if the EU spends the next few years bickering internally instead of lifting barriers to investment, innovation and regional security. Former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, credited with saving the euro a decade ago as Greece teetered, is set to publish a report on improving EU competitiveness. The next time crisis leads to a four-day negotiating summit in Brussels, the outcome could be more stumble than leap. With assistance from Elaine HeLionel Laurent is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist writing about the future of money and the future of Europe.
Source:Taipei Times
June 06, 2024 16:50 UTC
What India’s election result means
What India’s election result meansBy manoj kumar panigrahiAfter seven long electoral phases that took place across India, the mother of elections in the world’s largest democracy ended on Sunday, with the results being declared on Tuesday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and its coalition partners, the National Democratic Alliance, secured 292 seats, whereas the Indian National Congress and its multi-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance secured 234. In August 2022, when China launched military exercises around Taiwan, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed concerns about the unilateral attempt to change the “status quo” in the region. In the past, Taiwanese manufacturers have raised concerns about complicated rules in India, which present challenges to Taiwanese investment. As Taiwan faces power crises each year, its inclusion in the grouping can lead to a free exchange of ideas and technology.
Source:Taipei Times
June 06, 2024 16:05 UTC
EDITORIAL: China’s Shangri-La diatribe
EDITORIAL: China’s Shangri-La diatribeThe speeches at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore from Friday last week to Monday predominantly focused on maintaining peace, prosperity and international law, but it was difficult to ignore the underlying sense of frustration and menace. Regional players such as the US, Indonesia, the Philippines and China presented their viewpoints. It was unfortunate that there were no representatives from Taiwan given a chance to speak or even attend. Austin did not mention China as the sole driver behind the “new convergence” approach; Marcos did not refer to China in the context of the South China Sea maritime disputes. More importantly, it is time to include Taiwan in forums on regional peace and security.
Source:Taipei Times
June 05, 2024 18:31 UTC
Earthquake effect
Minister to hit brakes on the Bilingual 2030 policyMEETING TARGETS: Due to the policy, local governments are in a rush to hire English teachers regardless of their qualifications, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao said Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) is to hit the brakes on the Bilingual 2030 policy, but would keep it on the nation’s agenda, he said during an interview published yesterday. “These things take time,” he said. “We need to slow down.” Taiwanese enterprises are active globally and need people with professional-level proficiency in the English language, Cheng told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an exclusive interview. English-only universities are attractive to high-performing foreign students who can become part of the nation’s skilled workforce, he said. Cheng said that while president of National Sun Yat-sen University, he contributed toBy Rachel Lin and Jonathan Chin
Source:Taipei Times
June 05, 2024 17:15 UTC
Narendra Modi heading for victory in India election, but no landslide
Narendra Modi heading for victory in India election, but no landslideAFP, NEW DELHIIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his allies yesterday were heading for election victory, but the opposition said they had “punished” the ruling party to confound predictions and reduce their parliamentary majority. The main opposition Congress party was set to nearly double its parliamentary seats, in a remarkable turnaround largely driven by deals to field single candidates against the BJP’s electoral juggernaut. Supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi carry cutouts of his image as they celebrate the results of the general election in Varanasi, India, yesterday. Photo: AFP“Voters have punished the BJP,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters. “BJP has failed to win a big majority on its own,” Congress lawmaker Rajeev Shukla told reporters.
Source:Taipei Times
June 04, 2024 18:41 UTC
Opposition’s amendments might not be too sound
Opposition’s amendments might not be too soundBy Hu Tien-tzu 胡天賜On Tuesday last week, the Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of amendments aimed at updating Article 141 of the Criminal Code. Based on Constitutional Court rulings, the amended article is unconstitutional. According to Constitutional Court Judgement No. The overly broad scope for punishment raises concerns about the constitutionality of the amendments. The Legislative Yuan has the duty to proactively carry out investigations.
Source:Taipei Times
June 04, 2024 17:06 UTC
Taiwan’s Tang wins gold in Slovenia
Taiwan’s Tang wins gold in SloveniaEYE ON PARIS: Tang Chia-hung beat his personal record at the World Challenge Cup, with his coach saying the event was essentially training for the OlympicsStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese gymnast Tang Chia-hung won a gold medal in the horizontal bar at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Koper, Slovenia, on Sunday, scoring a personal best 15.400 points. Tang’s triumph extended his run of dominant performances in the lead-up to this summer’s Paris Olympics, for which he has already earned a spot. Taiwan’s Tang Chia-hung, right, and his coach Weng Shih-hang gesture after Tang won gold at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Koper, Slovenia, on Sunday. Aside from achieving a perfect landing that won him the gold, Tang challenged himself by performing a highly difficulty routine without the use of a mat, which meant no points were deducted for his routine. Tang was trailed by Croatia’s Tin Srbic who earned a silver medal with a score of 14.950, and Italy’s Carlo Macchini who won bronze with a score of 14.700.
Source:Taipei Times
June 03, 2024 21:36 UTC
Indian PM Modi eyes election victory as his top opponent goes back behind bars
Indian PM Modi eyes election victory as his top opponent goes back behind barsAFP, NEW DELHIA top opponent of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to keep fighting “dictatorship” before he returned to jail on Sunday, following elections widely expected to produce another landslide victory for the Hindu-nationalist leader. The chief minister of Delhi and a key leader in an alliance formed to compete against Modi, Kejriwal was detained in March over a long-running corruption probe. Photo: EPA-EFEHe was later released and allowed to campaign, but ordered to return to jail once voting ended. “When power becomes dictatorship, then jail becomes a responsibility,” said Kejriwal, who promised to continue “fighting” from behind bars. “I don’t know when I will return,” he told supporters in an emotional departure speech at his Aam Aadmi party headquarters.
Source:Taipei Times
June 03, 2024 17:29 UTC
EDITORIAL: Power grab disguised as ‘reform’
They would also criminalize “contempt of the legislature” by civil servants who make false statements during a hearing or questioning in the Legislative Yuan. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said the bills are “unconstitutional” and an abusive overreach of legislative power, which might increase the risk of sensitive information leaks, infringe on the courts’ jurisdiction and harm individuals’ privacy rights. Many protesters also expressed concern that expanded legislative power would erode the Constitution, and benefit Beijing by hindering the government’s execution of policies and undermining President William Lai’s (賴清德) presidency. Ko said the TPP advocates for the division of three powers: the Legislative Yuan, Executive Yuan and Judicial Yuan. The public should continue to keep their eyes on the Legislative Yuan, especially on Fu and the KMT caucus, as their “victory” has seemingly encouraged and intensified their undisguised grab for power and could further harm the nation’s democracy.
Source:Taipei Times
June 02, 2024 21:47 UTC
The problem with asking Google and AI for all the answers
The problem with asking Google and AI for all the answersIn an era of conspiracy theories and misinformation, it is even more vital that we humans have a firm grasp of basic factsBy CHRIS BRYANT / Bloomberg OpinionArtificial intelligence (AI) has persuaded a lot of folks that we need to radically overhaul education. Now that chatbots can speedily retrieve information and answer complex questions, why bother memorizing historical facts or quotations? There is a problem with these arguments: Humans require knowledge to think creatively. Outsourcing our memory and cognition to Google and AI risks making us dumber and more susceptible to misinformation — including errors made by AI. “There is a consensus in cognitive psychology that it takes knowledge to gain knowledge,” he wrote.
Source:Taipei Times
June 02, 2024 16:57 UTC
Hindu holy city votes as India’s six-week election ends
Hindu holy city votes as India’s six-week election endsAFP, VARANASI, IndiaIndians yesterday flocked to the polls under scorching heat in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi as a marathon national election reached its final day, six weeks after voting first began. People line up outside a polling station during the seventh and final phase of voting in India’s general election in Varanasi yesterday. Photo: AFPIt is one of the final cities to vote in India’s grueling election and where support for Modi’s ever-closer alignment of religion and politics burns brightest. “I voted for growth and development of my country,” local resident Brijesh Taksali said outside a polling station. “Workshops here are closing down and the Modi government has been busy with the politics of temples and mosques,” the 44-year-old said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 02, 2024 03:31 UTC
India’s onion farmers cry foul at politicians’ price ploy
India’s onion farmers cry foul at politicians’ price ployFarmers dread elections when politicians implement policies to cut the price of the daily essential, appeasing consumers while leaving them in the lurchBy Bhuvan Bagga / AFP, NASHIK, IndiaAlmost every Indian meal requires an onion — one of the cooking essentials along with sugar and lentils that sweet-talking politicians use to curry favor with voters by lowering costs. The defeat was widely blamed on voters’ anger at high onion prices. Days before voting began in the onion belt of Nashik, Modi’s government lifted the export ban, but analysts called that a political ploy. Gulati said restrictions remained — including a minimum export price and 40 percent duty — and made exports unviable, leaving farmers teary-eyed. “People at the top fear that if onion prices rise, governments will fall,” said Jagannath Bhimaji Kute, 58, vice-president of a wholesale onion market in Nashik.
Source:Taipei Times
June 02, 2024 02:02 UTC