Adimmune signs an MOU with an eye on Indonesia
Adimmune signs an MOU with an eye on IndonesiaBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterAdimmune Corp (國光生技) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Indonesia-based industrial-estate developer PT Berkah Kawasan Manyar Sejahtera (BKMS) as it eyes a new factory in Indonesia. BKMS, a subsidiary of AKR Corporindo Tbk PT, helps foreign companies invest in Java Integrated Industrial Ports and Estate, which has been designated a special economic zone, Adimmune said. “The zone is a strong candidate for overseas expansion, due to its infrastructure and advantageous policies, in addition to the large consumer base in Indonesia,” Pan said. It would focus on contract development and manufacturing to help clients develop their own vaccines, Pan said. Adimmune has conducted phase 1 trials in Taiwan and is considering phase 2 human trials in Indonesia, Pan said, adding that talks are ongoing with Indonesian regulators.
Source:Taipei Times
July 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Tainan only city to allow dining in as regulations ease
COVID-19: Tainan only city to allow dining in as regulations easeBy Cheng Ming-hsiang, Ho Yu-hua and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerTainan is the only city that will conditionally allow dining at restaurants, while other local governments yesterday said that dine-in restrictions would remain in place, despite a relaxation of a nationwide ban announced by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Thursday. Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Keelung, Hsinchu City, and Yilan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties are not to repeal dine-in bans. The Taipei City Government yesterday said it would continue to allow only takeouts at restaurants as long as the city is under the level 3 alert. A worker walks past empty tables in a Taipei department store food court yesterday after the city government said it would extend a ban on dining in. The Tainan City Government said that it would from Tuesday allow dining at restaurants, making Tainan the only one among the six special municipalities to lift the ban.
Source:Taipei Times
July 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Housing insanity needs attention
Housing insanity needs attentionBy James Lee 李牮斯“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”This popular quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein. To get to the root of the problem, we must ask what drives the insatiable demand for properties. “Owning property is saving wealth” would be a more accurate translation for most Taiwanese house seekers. When people purchase properties to save wealth (not to speculate), they typically do not intend to sell in the foreseeable future. Ordinary Taiwanese need policy guidance to channel their life savings into existing pure-use SoVs that have few real-world applications, such as gold and bitcoin.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 16:07 UTC
COVID-19: I-Mei to send Lithuania snacks in thanks for vaccines
COVID-19: I-Mei to send Lithuania snacks in thanks for vaccinesStaff writer, with CNASnack packages that I-Mei Foods is planning to send to Lithuania to express Taiwan’s gratitude for the donation of COVID-19 vaccines are to have a special design incorporating the national flags of the two countries, the food manufacturer told the Central News Agency on Monday. Boxes of I-Mei Foods’ Puffs with packaging specially designed to show gratitude for Lithuania’s pledged donation of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan are shown in an undated photograph. On June 23, one day after Lithuania announced the donation, I-Mei said it would send 21,600 boxes of puffs in a 20-foot container to the Baltic country as a gift. Krizinio Nestumo Centras acting head Simona Nevieriene said that it was the first time since the charity’s foundation in 2013 that it received donations from Taiwan. RUTA Taiwan, which sells chocolate made in Lithuania, said it had to temporarily suspend online orders due to high demand.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: KMT calls for teens to be included in vaccine plan
Failing to purchase vaccines today would be tomorrow’s regret, he added. Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman Johnny Chiang speaks at a virtual news conference held by the party’s Youth Department in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Shih Hsiao-kuang, Taipei TimesIn addition, Chiang raised concerns about rising joblessness and limited stimulus for younger age groups. Meanwhile, the Economic Democracy Union yesterday released a statement urging the private sector not to cross the “red line” dividing generosity and collusion when procuring vaccines on behalf of the government. To ensure vaccine quality and prevent China from taking the opportunity to belittle Taiwan, the union recommended four additional requirements.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Alert extended, some restrictions eased
Alert extended, some restrictions easedSANCTIONED ACTIVITIES: Officials said libraries would open, some exercise activities would be allowed at schools and film crews could work, with some provisosBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday extended a nationwide level 3 COVID-19 alert to July 26, although some measures are to be relaxed on Tuesday next week. The alert was first issued on May 15 in Taipei and New Taipei City, before being expanded nationwide four days later. It was to expire on Monday next week, but was extended for a fourth time yesterday. Although the alert would remain in effect, restrictions are to be eased moderately and on a conditional basis, he said. The goal is to lower the COVID-19 alert level after July 26, he said, urging the nation to work together to achieve the goal.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
First in Asia: CTBC reveals financed emissions using PCAF methodology
First in Asia: CTBC reveals financed emissions using PCAF methodologyStaff writerCTBC Financial Holding Co (中信金控) has disclosed its financed emissions after completing an inventory using the industry-leading Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) methodology, becoming the first company in Asia to do so. “Financial institutions like us need to use our influence to make this low-carbon transition happen,” he added. The company will continue to track the GHG emissions of each financial business line and conduct more comprehensive assessments and disclosures, it said. In November last year, PCAF published the first edition of The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry. To date, 138 financial institutions worldwide with assets totaling more than US$42 trillion have joined PCAF.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Daily local COVID-19 count drops to 18, three deaths
Daily local COVID-19 count drops to 18, three deathsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterEighteen domestic cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday, a new low since a local outbreak began in May, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday. Twelve of the cases were reported in Taipei and six in New Taipei City, it said. They had been confirmed with COVID-19 between May 28 and June 17, the center said. As of yesterday, Taiwan had reported 15,149 confirmed COVID-19 cases — including 1,193 imported and 13,903 domestic cases — with 718 deaths, CECC data showed. As of Wednesday, 2,899,997 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered — 2,847,653 first doses and 52,344 second doses, CECC data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Lithuanian minister eyes Taiwan office opening this year
Lithuanian minister eyes Taiwan office opening this yearStaff writer, with CNALithuanian Minister of the Economy and Innovation Ausrine Armonaite hopes to open a trade office in Taiwan this year, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported yesterday. Armonaite said that opening representative offices in new markets is part of her mission as minister, because Lithuania is an export-driven economy, Deutsche Welle reported. On issues relating to China, Armonaite told Deutsche Welle that it is important to pay attention to what is happening in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and other places. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanne Ou (歐江安) said that the ministry welcomes Lithuania’s intention to expand cooperation with Taiwan, including its plan to set up a trade office in Taiwan and to amend laws to pave the way for that to happen. Ou thanked Lithuania for its pledge on June 22 to donate 20,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Timeline proves mayor not ‘set up,’ CECC says
COVID-19: Timeline proves mayor not ‘set up,’ CECC saysRUNNING IN 2024? Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, left, accompanied by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je at the Huannan Market in Taipei on July 2, outlines measures to control a cluster of COVID-19 cases. At 9:45am, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, called Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) about the event, it said. After Chen Chi-chung invited Huang to attend, she said Ko would also be attending, the CECC said. The news conference was held to explain response measures to market vendors, workers and residents, not to “set a trap,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Chip shortage to last until 2023, UMC president says
Chip shortage to last until 2023, UMC president saysHUGE DEMAND: UMC’s revenue grew 26 percent last year, while operating income surged to NT$22.01bn, reflecting solid utilization rates across all its facilitiesStaff writer, with CNAThe global semiconductor shortage is expected to last until 2023 as the COVID-19 pandemic boosts demand for chips for automobiles and smart home devices, United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) copresident Chien Shan-chieh (簡山傑) said yesterday. Chip supply would fall short of demand and only worsen in the short term, with a shortage of 8-inch and 12-inch wafers set to be the most severe, Chien said. Photo: Grace Hung, Taipei TimesAs demand continues to soar, the global chip shortage is likely to last beyond next year until 2023, he said. Shareholders of UMC, the world’s third-largest contract chipmaker, yesterday during the online meeting approved a plan to distribute a NT$1.6 cash dividend. The company last year posted consolidated revenue of NT$176.82 billion, or earnings per share of NT$2.42, up 19.3 percent year-on-year.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ho Ming-teh charity heads indicted over cash issue
Ho Ming-teh charity heads indicted over cash issueBy Lin Yi-chang and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerProsecutors in Chiayi yesterday charged two leaders of the Ho Ming-teh Charitable Group for allegedly misappropriating nearly NT$700 million (US$25.01 million) from donations over 18 years. The organization was founded in memory of engineer Ho Ming-teh (何明德), who from 1965 led a volunteer movement to build bridges and pave roads in remote areas of Chiayi, Yunlin and Tainan counties. A composite photograph of the late Ho Ming-teh and his bridge-building work is pictured on a wall of the Ho Ming-teh Charitable Group’s office in Chiayi City yesterday. Under the premise of continuing her father’s legacy, Chen and Hsiao solicited donations online, including through Facebook, for the unregistered organization, they said. The remaining NT$695.71 million was allegedly used to purchase financial investments, high-value insurance and real estate, they said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Data support easing of pandemic alert: expert
COVID-19: Data support easing of pandemic alert: expertBy Wu Po-hsuan / Staff reporterScientific data suggest that a gradual lifting of a nationwide level 3 COVID-19 alert can be considered, National Taiwan University College of Public Health professor Tony Chen (陳秀熙) said yesterday. The nation has been under the level 3 alert since May 19. The college in late May introduced an index for evaluating whether the level 3 alert should be eased, he said. The government can consider lowering the alert level when the index falls below 0.5, he said, adding that the index is now at 0.32. If the government continues to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates while promoting high-precision virus tests, the alert level can be downgraded, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Yageo bullish about Q3
Yageo bullish about Q3BROADER VIEW: Yageo chairman Pierre Chen said the firm is benefiting from growing demand for high-end passive components from Europe, Japan and the USBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterYageo Corp (國巨), the world’s No. Yageo Corp chairman Pierre Chen poses for a photograph at the company’s annual general meeting in New Taipei City’s Xindian District yesterday. Orders and customer demand are keeping good momentum,” Chen said. To cope with robust customer demand, Yageo expects capital spending to make up 33 percent of the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization this year, and 28 percent next year, before slipping below 20 percent in 2023. Yageo shareholders yesterday approved a planned distribution of NT$10 per common share, including NT$2 per share from its capital surplus.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ministry reiterates nation’s sovereignty
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou speaks at a news conference in Taipei on May 11. In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Washington for supporting Taiwan’s participation in international affairs and having donated it 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccines. Ou also asserted the nation’s sovereignty. The government has been cautiously handling cross-strait relations based on a steady and practical attitude, while defending its liberal democracy and striving for more opportunities to participate in international affairs, Ou said. The ministry would continue to work closely with the US and deepen bilateral partnerships based on firm foundations, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2021 15:56 UTC