Taiwan’s Hsieh, Mertens advance at BNP Paribas
Taiwan’s Hsieh, Mertens advance at BNP ParibasStaff writer, with AFP, INDIAN WELLS, CaliforniaTaiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium on Friday won their first women’s doubles match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, after Hsieh earlier crashed out in the second round of the women’s singles. In little more than 49 minutes of play, Hsieh and Mertens downed Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska and Amanda Anisimova of the US 6-1, 6-1. The duo advanced to the round-of-16 to face Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US and Iga Swiatek of Poland, who in June eliminated Hsieh and Mertens at the French Open. Britain’s Emma Raducanu returns to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in their BNP Paribas Open women’s singles match in Indian Wells, California, on Friday. Raducanu won the first game of the opening set, but it was all Sasnovich after that in the first career meeting between the two.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
US court reinstates Texas abortion ban
US court reinstates Texas abortion banAFP, WASHINGTONA US federal appeals court ruled on Friday that Texas could resume its ban on most abortions, two days after another court suspended the ban. The decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily suspended Wednesday’s ruling, effectively reinstating a ban on most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. On Wednesday, US District Judge Robert Pitman issued a preliminary injunction halting the enforcement of the Texas law, saying it contravened the landmark 1973 US Supreme Court ruling in Roe v Wade, which enshrined a woman’s legal right to an abortion. Protesters take part in the Women’s March and Rally for Abortion Justice at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Saturday last week. If the court were to overturn Roe v Wade, every state would be free to ban or allow abortions.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Retired Yilan postal worker honored for exemplary lifetime achievements
Retired Yilan postal worker honored for exemplary lifetime achievementsSENIOR CITIZENS’ DAY: Wu Wen-ching was honored before the Double Ninth Festival for going above and beyond the call of duty for his compatriotsBy Tsai Yun-jung and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerA 72-year-old man in Yilan City Thursday received a commendation from the mayor after being twice recognized this year as an exemplary elder. Yilan Mayor Chiang Tsung-yuan, second left, and retired postal worker Wu Wen-ching, second right, hold a commendation that Chiang presented to Wu on Thursday. Wu started working at a post office following the end of his military service as a conscript in 1969, and retired from postal work in 2014. Wu said he remembered well what he wrote on behalf of the woman: “I received the letter you sent. He found a Japanese-speaking elder to translate the letter and successfully delivered the letter to the recipient.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hornet attacks on local trails prompt advice for hikers
Hornet attacks on local trails prompt advice for hikersBy Jake Chung / Staff writerThe Council of Agriculture (COA) has shared ways to deal with hornets in the wild, as hornet activity peaks between July and November, coinciding with hikers hitting the trails due to cooling weather. Late last month, a hornet attack near New Taipei City’s Sandiaoling (三貂嶺) killed one person and injured three, while another incident earlier this month hospitalized a family of five after an attack on a trail in New Taipei City’s Dacukeng (大粗坑) area. Many attempt to shoo away hornets, which is a serious mistake, the COA wrote on Facebook. If an attack occurs in an area with a crowd, the people should disperse, it added. People who develop boils or aggravated wounds should ensure that their wounds are covered to avoid infection, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
OECD hails ‘victory’ as holdouts join global tax reform
OECD hails ‘victory’ as holdouts join global tax reform‘HISTORIC MOMENT’: A 15 percent global tax on corporations is to take effect in 2023, but Oxfam called it a capitulation to tax havens such as IrelandAFP, PARISA global push to enact a minimum international tax on big corporations moved closer to reality on Friday as one of the last holdouts, Hungary, agreed to join a reform that now counts 136 countries. “Today’s agreement will make our international tax arrangements fairer and work better,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. The OECD said Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the last holdouts among 140 countries that have negotiated the tax. It was a step “to ensure that the international tax rules reflect today’s global economy,” association vice president Christian Borggreen said in a statement. Instead it was written by them,” Oxfam tax policy expert Susana Ruiz said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Medical professionals support Chen Po-wei
Medical professionals support Chen Po-weiBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterTaiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei’s (陳柏惟) bid to avoid being recalled yesterday received a boost from medical professionals led by former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀). “We have collected more than 100 signatures from medical professionals who endorse Chen,” said Lin, a gynecologist. Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei, front center, and supporters from the medical profession gesture at an event in Taichung’s Wurih District yesterday. Photo courtesy of Chen Po-wei’s service center via CNAThe vote to recall Chen from his constituency — Taichung’s second electoral district — is to be held on Oct. 23. People at yesterday’s event in the city’s Wurih District (烏日) held signs with slogans such as: “We oppose the revenge recall and support 3Q,” a nickname for Chen.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Rush for vouchers sees over 10m collect
Ministry data showed that about 10.63 million people had claimed the allotments of NT$5,000 (US$178.28) of vouchers as of 3pm yesterday, including almost 6.6 million people who ordered physical vouchers. On Friday, 8.98 million people claimed vouchers, with 4.92 million of them ordering physical vouchers. A person holds a sheaf of Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers in Taipei yesterday. In Tier 2, people can register for the physical vouchers from Oct. 25 to 31 and claim them from Nov. 8 to 21. To receive digital vouchers, online registration started on Sept. 22 and runs until April 30 next year, when the program ends and all vouchers expire.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Oil surges to US$80 as energy crisis risks supplies
Oil surges to US$80 as energy crisis risks suppliesBloombergUS crude futures on Friday topped US$80 a barrel for the first time since November 2014 as a global energy crisis boosts demand at a time when OPEC+ producers are keeping supplies tight. Meanwhile, various underlying oil market gauges are also showing signs of strength. The so-called prompt spread has increased as more of the world attempts to substitute fuel oil for natural gas as quickly as possible. “It’s a panic buyer’s situation.”Meanwhile, China is still facing power outages, and Beijing has ordered state-owned firms to secure winter energy supplies at all costs. Chinese fuel oil futures jumped almost 10 percent on Friday.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 19:52 UTC
Disney+ to launch in November
Disney+ to launch in NovemberCNA, with staff writerWalt Disney Co has said that Disney+ subscribers in Taiwan are to have access to the service’s 1,200 movies and 16,000 episodes of television programs when it launches on Nov. 12. Disney+ hopes to attract customers with ad-free content from its namesake studio, as well as company-owned entities Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic and Star, in addition to the Star Wars franchise. At the briefing yesterday, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said the new shows and movies available on Disney+ would be updated on a weekly basis. Video streaming services have been tipped to become another battleground between rival telecoms giants Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大) and Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信). Taiwan Mobile is reportedly about to sign a deal with Disney+ to offer discounted fees and other bundled promotions to its users.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Correction stage looming for chip sector: Nanya
The logo of Nanya Technology Corp, Taiwan’s largest DRAM chipmaker, is pictured on May 7 last year. Photo: Hung Yu-fang, Taipei Times“This is not the winter for DRAM [companies],” Nanya Technology president Lee Pei-ing (李培瑛) told a virtual media briefing. For Nanya Technology, revenue this quarter might slowly return to the level between the third quarter and second quarter, Lee said. Nanya Technology saw net profit soar last quarter to NT$7.53 billion, compared with NT$1.61 billion in the third quarter last year. Commenting on the US’ latest efforts to boost chip supply chain transparency, Nanya Technology said it would not release customers’ confidential information.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Clijsters falls short in Indian Wells, but will battle on
Clijsters falls short in Indian Wells, but will battle onReutersFormer world No. Clijsters had knee surgery in October last year and returned to the court at last week’s Chicago Fall Tennis Classic, where she lost in the first round to Taiwanese No. Belgium’s Kim Clijsters returns to Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in their BNP Paribas Open women’s singles match in Indian Wells, California, on Thursday. Photo: AFP“Last week in Chicago I started off well, but had a few games where I really wasn’t into the match,” Clijsters told reporters. Meanwhile, Andy Murray was “back in the good books” with his wife after his wedding ring and stinky shoes were returned to him.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taiwan not engaged in arms race with China, Tsai says
Taiwan not engaged in arms race with China, Tsai saysBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan has no intention of initiating military conflict, but would not shy away from defending its democracy and way of life, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday. The region requires peace and stability to prosper, Tsai said, highlighting the role of a transparent and liberal environment. Taiwan is in the fastest-developing region in the world, and the pace of its development would shape the 21st century, she said. Taiwan would collaborate with regional entities to ensure stability, Tsai added. Taiwan might not be a large country, but it has an important place in the region, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Carbon tax signals higher power costs
Carbon tax signals higher power costsRIGHT DIRECTION: Analysts said that Indonesia is making the right move, as one of the world’s top carbon polluters strives for zero emissions by 2060Reuters, Singapore and JakartaIndonesia is set to become Asia’s fourth country to introduce a carbon tax, but analysts expect opposition from industries that have warned of implementation problems and higher power costs that could undermine manufacturing competitiveness. The carbon tax will be introduced at a minimum rate of 30 rupiah (US$0.0021) per kilogram of carbon dioxide equivalent, less than half of the originally proposed rate of 75 rupiah. The carbon tax has been generally welcomed, although some industry analysts have questioned the logic of the government taxing carbon emitted by utilities while subsidizing the electricity they produce. Coal producers and electricity providers say that higher electricity prices would likely be passed on to consumers as higher prices for goods. “Imposing a carbon tax on coal-fired power plants will affect electricity prices and the competitiveness of Indonesia’s manufacturing,” Sinadia said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
US forces training Taiwanese: official
US forces training Taiwanese: officialRAMPING UP SUPPORT? The Pentagon official said that the drills have been going on for less than a year, after similar reports were denied in November last yearAFP, WASHINGTONUS special operations forces have been quietly training Taiwanese soldiers for months, risking the ire of China, a US Department of Defense official said on Thursday. In this file photo taken on January 17, 2017 Taiwan special forces personnel walk behind an armoured personnel carrier during an annual military drill in Taichung. US special operations forces and marines have been secretly training Taiwanese troops for at least a year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. In November last year, local media reported that US troops had arrived in the nation to train Taiwanese marines and special forces in small-boat and amphibious operations.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Moderna vaccine shipment due to arrive early today
Moderna vaccine shipment due to arrive early todayStaff writer, with CNAA shipment of 1.13 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is due to arrive in Taiwan early today, while the next round of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to be administered under a national program has been expanded to include people aged 45 or older. The doses would be reserved primarily as second shots for people who received their first jab of the Moderna vaccine on or before July 16, the CECC said. A batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines is unloaded at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei TimesTaiwan also took delivery of a seventh shipment of 889,200 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine early yesterday morning, Chen told the CECC’s daily news briefing. With yesterday’s shipment, Taiwan has now received about 5.09 million of the 15 million doses, the CECC said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC