Holding the legislature in contempt
One proposal would allow the legislature to punish government officials, legal persons and private citizens that fail to hand over documents by finding them in “contempt of the legislature” and/or imposing exorbitant fines. Ironically, the placards of many protesters read: “I hold the legislature in contempt” as KMT and TPP legislators were poised to pass their “contempt of the legislature” bills. Taiwanese must indeed express their anger at the Legislative Yuan, as KMT and TPP legislators have abandoned their civic duties. This is the path onto which KMT and TPP legislators are pushing Taiwan. That is why the people of Taiwan must hold the legislature in contempt until further notice.
Source:Taipei Times
May 22, 2024 21:45 UTC
EDITORIAL: Thousands protesting cannot be wrong
EDITORIAL: Thousands protesting cannot be wrongThe scuffles on the legislative floor on Friday last week over the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) forcing controversial legislation through to the next reading were embarrassing for the nation, but they were hardly unprecedented, and it is important not to fixate on them. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus was fiercely opposed to the KMT’s and TPP’s antics. Objections and concerns have been expressed in many quarters, including international academics, the Taiwan Bar Association, local legal academics and the public. They might be right in saying that the DPP is sore now that the boot is on the other foot. That in no way means that the concerns are unfounded, and it is not the DPP alone that is protesting.
Source:Taipei Times
May 22, 2024 21:45 UTC
Foreign academics slam KMT, TPP legislative reforms
Foreign academics slam KMT, TPP legislative reformsBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writerA group of 30 foreign academics yesterday released a statement condemning legislative reforms proposed by opposition lawmakers, saying they are unconstitutional and undermine the objective of good governance. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have put forward a set of legislative reforms that would introduce “contempt of legislature” charges, require the president to answer lawmakers’ questions and expand the legislature’s investigative powers. In the statement, the academics expressed “strong concern and disappointment” about the proposed reforms. They fail to take into consideration Taiwan’s constitutional framework and go beyond the scope of legislative powers exercised in other countries, the signatories said. “More importantly, the citizens of Taiwan deserve a government that is responsible, accountable and transparent, all of which this reform bill undermines.”
Source:Taipei Times
May 20, 2024 18:44 UTC
Could South Korea’s US$73,500 baby bonus solve its fertility crisis?
Could South Korea’s US$73,500 baby bonus solve its fertility crisis? South Korea, which has the world’s lowest total fertility rate — just above 0.7, far below the replacement level of 2.1 — is pondering a radical solution: baby bonuses of 100 million won (US$73,500) each. For perspective, that is about twice South Korea’s annual per capita income. It should not be a huge surprise that the smaller subsidies do not work. In any case, the South Korean and Hungarian birth subsidy experiments deserve both praise and scrutiny.
Source:Taipei Times
May 20, 2024 16:49 UTC
TPP holds protest in front of DPP headquarters
TPP holds protest in front of DPP headquartersBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThousands of people yesterday attended the Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) protest in front of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, calling for legislative, judicial, media and constitutional reforms. It is not us who betrayed them.”As president-elect William Lai (賴清德) is about to take office and his party is entering its ninth year as the ruling party, the DPP has become arrogant, the TPP said. The DPP has already broken its four reforms promise and Lai should not shirk his responsibility, the TPP said. When Tsai won the 2016 presidential election, in her victory speech, she told DPP members to be “humble and more humble,” Ko said. “We are here to remind the DPP to remember its words and restore its humbleness,” Ko said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 19, 2024 23:08 UTC
Lai to express ‘concrete’ goodwill toward China in inauguration speech, source says
Lai to express ‘concrete’ goodwill toward China in inauguration speech, source saysSEAFOOD DIPLOMACY: Lai and incoming vice president Hsiao hosted leaders of diplomatic allies in a traditional shrimp-fishing eventBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with Reuters and CNAPresident-elect William Lai (賴清德) would express “concrete” goodwill toward China in his inauguration speech today, and call for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to pursue peace, a senior official briefed on the matter said. Lai, 64, is detested by Beijing as a “separatist.”Eswatini’s King Mswati III, left, president-elect William Lai, center, and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim, right, fish at the Zhishan Shrimp Fishing Farm in Taipei yesterday. Earlier in the day, Lai and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) took visiting leaders of diplomatic allies to experience traditional shrimp fishing and enjoy local cuisine in Taipei. They were also joined by Belizean Prime Minister John Briceno, Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo, Saint Kitts and Nevis Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley and Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martinez. A source said the shrimping event was the second Lai has hosted since taking office as vice president in May 2020.
Source:Taipei Times
May 19, 2024 21:43 UTC
Space data fuels India’s farming innovation drive
“We are on a surer footing when it comes to agricultural practices; [using satellite data] safeguards us from climate change, pest and disease, problems with irrigation scheduling,” he said. The Indian government, which just relaxed foreign investment rules for the space sector, is leaning heavily into the use of satellite data to solve problems on the ground, with agriculture a key focus. Cropin, founded in 2010 and backed by Google and the Gates Foundation, recently signed a deal with Amazon Web Services to crunch satellite data to solve for global food insecurity. India has 2,743 agricultural tech start-ups, many of which incorporate satellite data or other space technology. However, there are barriers to large-scale adoption of space technology in agriculture.
Source:Taipei Times
May 19, 2024 03:33 UTC
DPP should work with some TPP lawmakers
DPP should work with some TPP lawmakersBy Paul lin 林保華President-elect William Lai (賴清德) and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) take up their official positions tomorrow. Many of the new Cabinet members are not members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Meanwhile, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) serves most of the time as little more than a small pro-blue party. Although there has been no recent cooperation between the DPP and TPP, perhaps the former can make friends with TPP legislators who seek common ground while reserving differences, especially after Ko recently ordered TPP lawmakers not to vote on a KMT proposal. After he criticized Vivian Huang as “a female version of [Legislative Speaker] Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜)” during the speakership election, DPP lawmakers remained silent.
Source:Taipei Times
May 18, 2024 17:16 UTC
Fertilizers will not fix the food crisis in Africa
Fertilizers will not fix the food crisis in AfricaBy Silke Bollmohr and Harun WaruiThe world is confronting an unprecedented food crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine and worsening climate conditions. Specifically, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers disrupt the delicate balance of the soil ecosystem — the very foundation of sustainable agriculture. Perhaps most worryingly, research indicates that the production and application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers accounts for roughly 2 percent of total global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. This month, the AU’s Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi addressed soil degradation and food insecurity. Productivity can be maintained without industrial nitrogen fertilizers, as shown in long-term trials across Africa.
Source:Taipei Times
May 17, 2024 16:58 UTC
Climate crisis requires cooperation
Climate crisis requires cooperationBy Phathara-on WesaratThis year, most of the world’s oceans have higher temperatures than the average temperatures in the past two years. Climate change affects human activities, and disproportionately impacts those who are disadvantaged, such as poor people. Climate change is a world emergency, as the world has shifted to the era of global boiling. Therefore, corrective and preventive actions against climate change must be implemented immediately. Whereas climate change technologies are required to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many countries, especially developing countries, do not have access to such technologies.
Source:Taipei Times
May 17, 2024 16:58 UTC
Zverev beats injury scare to reach Rome semi-finals
Zverev beats injury scare to reach Rome semi-finalsAFP, ROMEAlexander Zverev on Wednesday reached his 18th ATP Masters semi-final in Rome, but only after a worrying fall which sparked memories of the horror injury he had at the French Open two years ago. German Alexander Zverev falls during his Italian Open quarter-final match against Taylor Fritz of the US at Foro Italico in Rome on Wednesday. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka hits the ball during her Italian Open quarter-final match against Latvian Jelena Ostapenko at Foro Italico in Rome on Wednesday. As well as Djokovic’s exit, Italian world No. The Belarusian will next take on Miami Open winner Danielle Collins of the US who eased past Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3.
Source:Taipei Times
May 17, 2024 00:40 UTC
Officials warn about magpie attacks
Officials warn about magpie attacksBy Tung Kuan-yi and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerPedestrians can protect their heads from magpie attacks by using a hat or an umbrella, or avoid areas frequented by the birds altogether, New Taipei City officials said yesterday. The comments came days after a video showing a magpie diving at a person walking a dog sparked public interest, with New Taipei City Councilor Lu Chia-kai (呂家愷) calling on the authorities to warn the public about the birds. The bird shown in the video is a Formosan blue magpie, New Taipei City Animal Protection and Quarantine Office Director Yang Shu-fang (楊淑方) said. People walking near an area claimed by a magpie should not turn their back to the bird and protect themselves, she said. The office has received three reports of magpie attacks in Sansia (三峽), Shulin (樹林) and Sindian (新店) districts, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 17, 2024 00:38 UTC
ASML’s new machines are too expensive: TSMC
ASML’s new machines are too expensive: TSMCBloombergASML Holding NV’s new advanced chip machines have a daunting price tag, said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), one of the Dutch company’s biggest clients. “The cost is very high,” TSMC senior vice president Kevin Zhang (張曉強) said at a technology symposium in Amsterdam on Tuesday, referring to ASML’s latest system known as high-NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV). Zhang said TSMC’s so-called A16 node technology, which is due in late 2026, would not need to use ASML’s high-NA EUV machines and can continue to rely on TSMC’s older EUV equipment. He declined to comment on when the firm would start ordering high-NA EUV machines from ASML. It is also pushing into the foundry market — selling outsourced chip manufacturing — an area where TSMC dominates.
Source:Taipei Times
May 15, 2024 18:39 UTC
Ukraine’s IT Army a model to adopt
Ukraine’s IT Army a model to adoptBy David KirichenkoAs Ukraine leads the global fight for democracy, Taiwan, facing a potential war with China, should draw lessons from Ukraine’s cyberwarfare success. However, Taipei should also consider Ukraine’s effective digital warfare, notably the “IT [information technology] Army,” a decentralized force instrumental in Kyiv’s cybercampaigns. This led to the formation of the IT Army under the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, a pre-emptive move Taiwan should replicate before facing threats. The IT Army has played an important role in Ukraine’s cyberoffensives. The Ukrainian IT Army has proved to be an effective fighting force against Russia in the cyber realm.
Source:Taipei Times
May 15, 2024 17:36 UTC
Adimmune Corp. signs benefit-sharing agreement with WHO
Adimmune Corp. signs benefit-sharing agreement with WHOStaff Writer, with CNATaiwan-based vaccine maker Adimmune Corp. on Tuesday announced it has signed an agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to receive early biological samples of emerging influenza variants. In a press release, Adimmune said it had signed the pact, known as a Standard Material Transfer Agreement 2 (SMTA2) under the WHO’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework. The contract will allow Adimmune to receive biological samples of new influenza viruses with pandemic potential from the WHO, thus giving it a head start on developing vaccines or antiviral drugs, the company said. The name of Adimmune Corp is pictured at the company’s headquarters in Taichung in an undated photograph. In signing the pact, Adimmune became the first Taiwanese pharmaceutical company to enter an influenza- related material transfer agreement with the WHO, and only the 14th worldwide, the company said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 14, 2024 21:47 UTC