DPP proposes checks on members
DPP proposes checks on membersBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterIn a bid to prevent people affiliated with criminal gangs from joining the party, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei chapter head Enoch Wu (吳怡農) yesterday proposed a set of “reform measures.”“This is the only way forward for our party to make progress in politics with democratic values,” Wu told a convention of chapter heads that was led by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who is the DPP chairperson. Democratic Progressive Party Taipei chapter head Enoch Wu speaks to reporters at a party meeting in the city yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei TimesWu proposed three measures to screen people who apply to join the DPP. The Taipei chapter has 250,000 members, but only about 30 percent have submitted complete personal information, so screening would be stepped up, every member would be contacted and payment of membership fees checked to remove “puppet members,” he said. DPP spokesman Chou Chiang-chieh (周江杰) criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), saying that its comments about Chao were hypocritical.
Source:Taipei Times
May 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ruling overturns some Aboriginal hunting curbs
Under current regulations, Aboriginal communities are only allowed to hunt with self-made shotguns during certain festivals and only with prior approval from authorities. The Council of Grand Justices yesterday announce a constitutional interpretation related to laws regulating hunting by Aborigines. Under the act, Aborigines cannot manufacture, transport or own self-made shotguns or harpoons for making a living without a permit. The ruling yesterday does not affect Talum’s case, which is to resume at the Supreme Court. However, it was the first time a court has recognized that Aboriginal hunting was “a cultural right that should be respected and protected by the state,” Hsieh said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
TPK reports strongest Q1 in four years, expects lull
The company usually sees a sequential decline in revenue during the second quarter,” TPK chief strategy officer Freddie Liu (劉詩亮) said. Operating margin might hold steady this quarter compared with last quarter’s 0.2 percent, meaning that TPK would remain profitable, Liu said. Operating margin is underpinned by robust demand for touch products with better margins used in tablets and notebook computers, while demand for touch products in mobile phones dwindles, he said. Handset and wearable touch products contributed to about 27 percent of revenue in the first quarter, while tablets and notebooks accounted for 68 percent, it said. There had been speculation earlier this week that Apple planned to launch its first foldable phones in 2023 using TPK’s foldable touch modules.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Law and Order: Tsai apologizes over crime links
“In recent days, reports on gang activities and crime have been linked to the DPP’s internal management of party membership. These have led to criticism and have tarnished our party’s image,” said Tsai, who is also the DPP chairperson, at the party’s headquarters in Taipei. President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at Democratic Progressive Party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, apologizing for lapses in the review mechanism for party members. These will also remove those found to be affiliated with organized crime groups,” Tsai said. The party will make use of an artificial intelligence (AI) information system to prevent members of organized crime groups from joining the party, DPP secretary-general Lin Hsi-yao (林錫耀) said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Cabinet unveils NT$9.1bn budget to boost birthrate
Cabinet unveils NT$9.1bn budget to boost birthrateBy Lee Hsin-fang and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, staff writer, with CNAThe Executive Yuan yesterday unveiled a NT$9.1 billion (US$325.1 million) package of subsidies for parental leave, prenatal screenings and in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in a bid to boost the nation’s birthrate. Amendments to the Employment Insurance Act (就業保險法) and other regulations would increase the allowance for parental leave from 60 percent of insured salary to 80 percent, he said. Workers would have to give employers advance notice before taking parental leave to facilitate staffing arrangements at the workplace, he said. Income restrictions were removed after the program reported that only 52 low and medium-income couples enrolled for IVF subsidies, which produced only seven births over the past six years, he said. Free prenatal screenings would be increased from 10 to 14 for each pregnancy, while coverage would be broadened to include screenings for gestational diabetes and anemia, and two ultrasound tests.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
On the hunt for wild animals on the Jinshueiying Ancient Trail
A hike along the Jinshueiying Ancient Trail (浸水營古道, 1,490m), however, with its moderate inclines and long stretches of mostly horizontal path, ensures that hikers will engage in all kind of banter. A view of the mountains along the Jinshueiying Ancient Trail. ANCIENT TRAILIt’s difficult to get lost on the Jinshueiying Ancient Trail because it’s so well marked. The Jinshueiying Ancient Trail is easy to navigate — except for when it rains. The Guzihlin Bridge, which takes you to the Jinshueiying Ancient Trail on the Taitung County side.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ministry looking to help 80 Taiwanese leave India
Ministry looking to help 80 Taiwanese leave IndiaBy Lu Yi-hsuan and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said that it is assisting more than 80 Taiwanese citizens to return from India, but panned media reports that it had been against the idea. Commenting on reports that the government should evacuate Taiwanese from India, Tseng said that such an action has greater diplomatic ramifications than people realize and should not be done lightly. In a news release on Wednesday, the ministry denied a media report saying that it had allegedly decided on Monday to not evacuate Taiwanese from India. MOFA and the TECC are assisting Taiwanese who wish to return by negotiating with airlines, the ministry said. Since COVID-19 spread to India in March last year, the ministry has helped more than 750 Taiwanese return home by negotiating flights for them, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Launch site issues force rocket firm overseas: sources
Launch site issues force rocket firm overseas: sourcesBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe lack of an approved launch site in the nation has forced Taiwan Innovative Space Inc to turn to Australia to launch a research rocket, sources familiar with the matter have said. Australian space company Southern Launch would help Taiwan Innovative Space launch its sounding rocket at a site near Adelaide, South Australia, another person with knowledge of the matter said. People look at Taiwan Innovative Space Inc’s Hapith-I rocket at a site in Taitung County on Dec. 26, 2019. Taiwan Innovative Space had not responded to the Taipei Times’ requests for comment as of press time last night. Taiwan Innovative Space chairman Chen Yen-sen (陳彥升) had said that the firm might launch the Hapith-I in Alaska.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
CECC tightens rules for CAL crews
CECC tightens rules for CAL crews‘DOWN TO ZERO’: Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung said quarantine periods for long-haul CAL flight crews are to be lengthened from three to five daysBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNAThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced longer quarantine restrictions for China Airlines (CAL, 華航) flight crew, after another confirmed COVID-19 case brought the total in a cluster linked to the airline to 29. Meanwhile, the CECC yesterday reported 13 new cases, including a local case related to the Novotel Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport hotel. With yesterday’s confirmation, five hotel employees and one subcontractor have now tested positive for COVID-19, as well as three of their family members. Information provided by the CECC and the Taoyuan City Government indicated that the hotel placed CAL crew under quarantine in areas not sanctioned for quarantine use, it said. Eleven of them tested positive during quarantine, while one had a fever when she arrived and tested positive after being sent to hospital, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Airline staff, families must be vaccinated: lawmakers
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ming-wen speaks at the legislature in Taipei on March 26. In addition to airline workers, railway and highway bus workers should be vaccinated as well, he added. “The hotel’s Hall 1, on the other hand, was for China Airlines flight and cabin crew who needed to fulfill the quarantine requirement. The flight and cabin crew are managed by the CAA,” Wang said. Nearly 1,300 EVA Airways pilots and flight attendants had been vaccinated as of yesterday, the airline told the Taipei Times.
Source:Taipei Times
May 05, 2021 16:00 UTC
Brown Line riders can check how crowded cars are
Brown Line riders can check how crowded cars areBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterPassengers of Taipei MRT System’s Wenhu Line (Brown Line) can check how crowded the carriages are using the Taipei MRT app, as well as displays in the stations, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday. The company has made the service available on the busiest MRT Line after testing it for one year on the Bannan Line (Blue Line). A train travels along the Taipei MRT System’s Wenhu Line (Brown Line) in an undated photograph. Instructions on how to use an app that shows how crowded carriages are on the Taipei MRT System’s Wenhu Line (Brown Line) are displayed on a computer monitor yesterday. Photo: Tsai Szu-pei, Taipei TimesBy next year, the service would also be available for passengers on Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line), Songshan-Xindian Line (Green Line) and the Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (Orange Line), TRTC said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 05, 2021 16:00 UTC
HSBC Taiwan wins happy work environment award
HSBC Taiwan wins happy work environment awardBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterHSBC Bank Taiwan Ltd (匯豐台灣商銀) plans to adopt several approaches to build a happy workplace for its employees, chief executive officer Adam Chen (陳志堅) said yesterday. Chen’s comment came after the bank ranked first among all domestic companies to win Chinese-language Global Views Monthly magazine’s Happy Enterprise Award on Monday. HSBC Bank Taiwan Ltd chief executive officer Adam Chen, right, receives the Happy Enterprise Award from Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Thomas Huang at a ceremony in Taipei on Monday. Photo courtesy of HSBCThe magazine said that HSBC Bank Taiwan’s flexible working arrangements was one of the reasons it was a happy enterprise. The bank offers spouse benefits to employees’ partners and would be relaxing some basic rules to benefit staff more, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
May 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
Along the camphor trail
We consider the comfort and safety of the user with each step.”Thousand Miles Trail Association instructor Chu Mu-kun, short sleeves, works on the Daniuci Trail last Saturday. Thousand Miles Trail Association instructor Chu Mu-kun, short sleeves, works on the Daniuci Trail last Saturday. Named the Dunan Old Trail (渡南古道), it is the first entirely hand-built trail on the Raknus Selu. Instead, Miao and Lo recommend several loops from the guesthouse through the Dunan Old Trail that range from 5km to 17km. “It’s a special connection that you’ll never forget.”Thousand Miles Trail Association recommends six communities and routes to explore:‧ Siaocukeng Old Trail (小粗坑) — Sankeng Old Street (三坑), Longtan District (龍潭), Taoyuan City‧ Dunan Old Trail and Feifeng Old Trail (飛鳳古道) — Guansi Township (關西), Hsinchu County‧ Shihyingzih Old Trail (石硬子古道) — Beipu Township (北埔), Hsinchu County‧ Mingfeng Old Trail (鳴鳳古道) — Shihtan Township (獅潭), Miaoli County‧ Chuguan Old Trail (出關古道) and Guandaoshan (關刀山) — Jiangmayuan (姜麻園), Miaoli County‧ Laoguandao (老官道) — Dahu Townsnhip (大湖), Miaoli County
Source:Taipei Times
May 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
GlobalWafers mulls more capacity as demand grows
GlobalWafers mulls more capacity as demand growsBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterGlobalWafers Co (環球晶圓), the world’s No. 3 silicon wafer supplier, yesterday said that it is considering further capacity expansion as customers are requesting more capacity due to rising end-market demand and persistent supply constraints. The Hsinchu-based company said that emerging technologies and applications from 5G, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles are driving semiconductor demand. We are now in discussions with customers,” company chairwoman Doris Hsu (徐秀蘭) told a virtual investors’ conference yesterday. To keep up with rising customer demand, GlobalWafers plans further capital spending on expanded capacity this year, Hsu said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 04, 2021 15:56 UTC
Vanguard to raise annual equipment outlay by 70%
The Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp logo is pictured at the company’s headquarters in the Hsinchu Science Park on Jan. 9 last year. We expect the company’s factory utilization rate to be very high throughout 2021,” Vanguard chairman Fang Leuh (方略) told investors in a teleconference. Asked about the possibility of acquiring a less advanced 6-inch fab, Fang said that the company would clinch a deal as long as the fab has a reasonable price and a good location. Revenue this quarter is expected to increase 11 percent sequentially, or up to NT$10.2 billion from NT$9.18 billion last quarter. In the January-to-March quarter, Vanguard saw its net profit surge 46.36 percent to NT$2.21 billion from NT$1.55 billion last year.
Source:Taipei Times
May 04, 2021 15:56 UTC