Investment Commission negligent: NPP
Investment Commission negligent: NPPCONCERN: Kerry TJ Logistics, which controls a firm that provides logistics services at Taiwan’s two main science parks, has filed an equity transaction with a Chinese firmBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe New Power Party (NPP) yesterday accused the Investment Commission of negligence for allegedly not investigating whether a firm that controls the logistics services of Taiwan’s two main science parks is funded by Chinese investors. Huang said that Kerry TJ was funded by Chinese investors after it announced an equity transaction with China’s SF Holding Co in February. HCT Logistics in 2018 sold its 55 percent stake in Science Park Logistics to Kerry TJ, he added. Investment Commission Vice Executive Secretary Lu Cheng-hui (呂貞惠) said that Kerry TJ reported its equity transaction in February. “We consulted the Southern Science Park Administration, which told us that Science Park Logistics does not have to be more than 50 percent owned by state-owned corporations,” she said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 27, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taishin Financial again looks to MOF to recoup loss from CHB investment
Taishin Financial again looks to MOF to recoup loss from CHB investmentBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterTaishin Financial Holding Co (台新金控) once again yesterday urged the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to compensate it for a loss incurred when it invested in state-run Chang Hwa Commercial Bank (CHB, 彰化銀行), after the ministry rejected its request last week. Taishin Financial Holding Co chairman Thomas Wu, center, presides over the company’s annual general meeting in Taipei on Friday. “On June 10, Taishin sold 200 million shares of CHB at NT$15.58 per share, lower than the share’s closing price of NT$16.7 that day. It was Taishin that decided to sell its CHB shares at a lower price,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday. Taishin’s share price yesterday edged up 0.29 percent to NT$17.2 in Taipei trading, while CHB’s share price dipped 0.6 percent to NT$16.6, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Border controls remain in place: CECC
A nationwide COVID-19 alert is to be downgraded to level 2 today. “Although the local COVID-19 alert level will be lowered tomorrow [today], I must stress that the border control measures remain the same,” Chen said. “Visitors are also temporarily prohibited from making flight connections in Taiwan,” he said, adding that the policies are subject to change based on the global and local COVID-19 situation, as well as the implementation of disease prevention measures in local communities. After receiving a text message, eligible recipients can book an appointment from 10am today until midday on Thursday, Chen said. The level 3 COVID-19 alert is to be lowered to level 2 today, raising the maximum number of people allowed at indoor gatherings to 50 and at outdoor gatherings to 100.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
TSMC mulls building German plant
TSMC mulls building German plant‘IN ITS INFANCY’: The company’s 12-inch fab in Arizona is to be its first major overseas chip manufacturing site, while the fab in Japan would be its second, if it is constructedBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is evaluating the feasibility of constructing a semiconductor fabrication plant in Germany as it continues to expand overseas, it said yesterday. “About the German fab, we are seriously looking into it, but it is still in its infancy,” TSMC chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) told the annual general meeting. Photo: Grace Hung, Taipei TimesThe US is to be the first major overseas chip manufacturing site for TSMC, as it started constructing an advanced 12-inch fab in Arizona earlier this year. Japan could be TSMC’s second overseas site, as the chipmaker said that it is carrying out due diligence regarding building a fab there. Liu said that he was not concerned about the countries’ localization plans, as their semiconductor supply chains would be partial.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Ministry mulls increasing flights to outlying islands
COVID-19: Ministry mulls increasing flights to outlying islandsStaff writer, with CNAThe Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) would soon discuss with local government officials the possibility of raising the number of flights to the nation’s outlying islands after a nationwide COVID-19 alert is downgraded to level 2 today, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. More than 80 percent of domestic flights have been canceled since the COVID-19 alert was raised to level 3 on May 19. Photo: Chen Hsin-yu, Taipei Times“It has come to our attention that flights to the outlying islands do not meet the demand. The ministry must continue to exercise extreme caution, even though the COVID-19 alert has been downgraded to level 2, he said. “The last thing that officials in the outlying islands want is for there to be a dramatic influx of tourists from Taiwan proper.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: DPP accuses TPP of vaccine ‘plotting’
COVID-19: DPP accuses TPP of vaccine ‘plotting’DELAYING PRODUCTION: By asking for four reports on Medigen’s emergency use authorization, the TPP contravened the legislature’s rules, the DPP’s Lo Chih-cheng saidBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday accused the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) of attempting to derail production of Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp’s COVID-19 vaccine, most recently by demanding that the Ministry of Health and Welfare and three other agencies issue reports on its authorization process. Lo showed an official document, bearing the TPP legislative caucus letterhead and dated yesterday, which asked four government ministries and agencies to each table a report on the emergency use authorization process for the Medigen vaccine. The TPP asked to be provided with a list of attendees by 10am tomorrow. “The TPP is plotting to derail domestic vaccine production, just like the KMT is doing,” Lo said. Lo said that the KMT has spread misinformation about the Medigen vaccine to mislead the public.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
Let athletes be worry-free winners
Let athletes be worry-free winnersBy Li Cheng-ta 李政達When Taiwan’s Olympic athletes departed for the Tokyo Olympic Games on Monday last week, world No. She added a caption saying how she missed flying business class with EVA Airways. The seating arrangements formed a sharp contrast, and also went against Tsai’s promise that Taiwanese athletes and coaches would travel in business class to major international competitions. Meanwhile, journalists and Internet users are behaving like paparazzi in their search for the hotels where the officials, coaches, administrative staff and athletes are staying. Coaches, administrative staff, team physiotherapists and assistants handle all of these details so that the athletes can be worry-free and compete at their peak.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
Yageo expects Q3 growth thanks to steady demand
Yageo expects Q3 growth thanks to steady demandGROWTH MOMENTUM: Firm chairman Pierre Chen said that while industry-wide lead times stand at eight to 10 months, Yageo gets components to its customers in threeBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterYageo Corp (國巨), the world’s No. Lead times for high-end passive components stand at eight to 10 months, while Yageo only needs three months to ship standard passive components to its customers, Chen said. We can continue to expect growth in the third quarter,” Chen said. Gross margin fell to 41 percent from 44.3 percent last year, but improved from 39.1 percent in the first quarter. Yageo expects this quarter’s gross margin to resemble last quarter’s.
Source:Taipei Times
July 26, 2021 15:56 UTC
War could ‘lead to US recognition’
Legislative Speaker You Si-kun, left, speaks to former president Chen Shui-bian during a radio show hosted by Chen in Kaohsiung yesterday. Photo courtesy of You Si-kun’s officeAsked to share his views on joining the UN and Taiwan-US relations, You said that both are very important. “If war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, the US might recognize Taiwan, but if there is no conflict, it [recognition] could drag out for a long time,” he added. You also thanked Japan for treating Taiwan like a country during the Tokyo Olympic Games opening ceremony on Friday. During the parade of nations, Japanese public broadcaster NHK called the nation “Taiwan” rather than “Chinese Taipei” as the team marched into the stadium.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 16:00 UTC
COVID-19: CECC reports 12 new local cases, but no deaths
COVID-19: CECC reports 12 new local cases, but no deathsBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported 12 locally transmitted COVID-19 infections and one imported case. No deaths from COVID-19 were reported yesterday. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said seven of the local cases were reported in Taipei and five in New Taipei City. Five new local COVID-19 cases were reported in the city yesterday. Among the 14,336 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Taiwan from May 11 to yesterday morning, 87.6 percent have been released from isolation, CECC data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Panel approves mixing of vaccine doses
COVID-19: Panel approves mixing of vaccine dosesPLANNING NEEDED: The committee also backed the inclusion of Medigen’s vaccine in the national program, but the CECC must first meet with the firm to discuss supplyBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) yesterday agreed to a mix-and-match approach for COVID-19 vaccines, and approved the inclusion of Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp’s (高端疫苗) COVID-19 vaccine in the national vaccination program. Most people in the first three COVID-19 vaccination priority groups have received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Chen said. Yunlin County Commissioner Chang Li-shan, center in cream blazer, is briefed while at Yunlin County Stadium yesterday inspecting COVID-19 vaccinations. The ACIP also approved the domestic Medigen vaccine for inclusion in the national vaccination program, he said. Regarding rollout of the Medigen vaccine, Chen said the CECC would need to meet with the vaccine maker to confirm its supply plan and schedule.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taiwan’s Lu retires after two decades on the court
Taiwan’s Lu retires after two decades on the courtNOT PERFECT: Lu said he was proud, even though his 1-6, 3-6 loss to Alexander Zverev meant he would not be standing on the podium at this year’s OlympicsStaff writer, with CNAVeteran Taiwanese tennis player Lu Yen-hsun (盧彥勳) on Sunday announced his retirement after losing to world No. Lu, a five-time Olympian with a 20-year career as a professional, had previously announced that he would retire from the sport after the Tokyo Olympics. Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun returns to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in their Tokyo Olympic Games men’s singles first-round match at Ariake Tennis Park yesterday. Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times“I had the courage to give my everything on the court,” Lu said. Thank you for playing your last career match representing Taiwan at the Tokyo Olympics,” Lai wrote on Facebook.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 15:56 UTC
Doctor urges awareness of Parkinson’s disease
Taichung Hospital neurologist Wu Yu-hsuan on July 2 demonstrates a finger exercises for people at risk of Parkinson’s disease. Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei TimesHowever, when Wang became prone to falling, family members took him to the hospital and tests confirmed that he has Parkinson’s disease, Wu said, adding that Wang’s condition has since improved, thanks to medication prescribed at the hospital. Parkinson’s disease is caused by a degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain’s substantia nigra, he said. As the disease progresses over time, it is often mistaken for a natural process due to aging, Wu said. Early signs of Parkinson’s disease are involuntary trembling of one hand or foot, parts of the body stiffening, or diminished speed of movement, Wu said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 15:56 UTC
FEATURE: Photo zine features local breakfast culture
FEATURE: Photo zine features local breakfast cultureBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterBefore the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe in spring last year, Priscilla Young (楊曉嵐), the author of a new 32-page photography zine titled Breakfast Shop (早餐店), noticed a lack of Taiwanese breakfast options in her native San Francisco Bay area. Priscilla Young’s photo zine Breakfast Shop and traditional Taiwanese breakfast items are arranged in an undated photograph. Breakfast Shop, which was published late last month, is the product of that delicious pilgrimage and a love letter to Taiwanese breakfast food and culture. On Instagram, she has created the “breakfast__shop” account, which is meant to be a digital extension to Breakfast Shop. The vision for Breakfast Shop, which Young understands as an ongoing project, was to recognize the everyday as art, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 15:56 UTC
Agency highlights owl protection
Taiwan’s unique indigenous grass owl subspecies is one of six subspecies in East Asia, with populations in the lower reaches of the mountains of southern Taiwan, the office said. An eastern grass owl and its chicks are pictured in their nest in Pingtung County on Saturday. Conservation efforts are complicated by a lack of data on the elusive nocturnal bird and little public awareness of the owl’s conservation status, it said. The bureau in 2018 listed the owl as a subspecies of concern in the short and medium term, it said. The bureau’s branch offices in southern Taiwan should strengthen partnerships with researchers and conservation groups to protect the owl, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 25, 2021 15:56 UTC