More than 100 questioned in TRA probe: prosecutor
More than 100 questioned in TRA probe: prosecutorBy Jason Pan / Staff ReporterMore than 100 people have been questioned in connection with a Taroko Express train crash in Hualien on April 2, Hualien Prosecutor Chou Fang-yi (周芳怡) said yesterday. The remarks came in response to criticism that slow progress had been made in the investigation of the incident. Hualien Prosecutor Chou Fang-yi speaks to reporters in Hualien City yesterday. Local media reported that the person is Hoa, who was allegedly ordered to warn incoming trains of the obstacle on the tracks. The investigation is also focused on corruption allegations involving Taiwan Railway Administration and government officials, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Transport minister Lin’s resignation is approved
Transport minister Lin’s resignation is approved‘POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY’: A mechanism for families affected by a train crash in Hualien would be put in place at the ministry before he leaves, Lin saidBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterPremier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Wednesday approved Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung’s (林佳龍) resignation after informing President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of his decision, the Executive Yuan said yesterday. Tsai and Su considered it a top priority to resume railway service after the derailment, leading to the delayed acceptance of Lin’s resignation, Lo said. “The resignation was approved on Wednesday and is to take effect on Tuesday next week,” he said. “We are still interviewing potential candidates for the post and will announce when a new transportation minister is found,” Lo said. Premier Su Tseng-chang, second left, and Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung attend a mourning service in Taipei yesterday for victims of a Taroko Express crash on April 2.
Source:Taipei Times
April 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
No defense alert during US talks: MND
No defense alert during US talks: MND‘MINIMAL RISK’: Chinese military activity near the Nanpeng Islands in the South China Sea was not designated ‘exercises,’ a national defense official saidBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNANo air defense missile systems had been activated before a US delegation arrived in Taipei on Wednesday, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday ahead of a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. In Taipei, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) told reporters ahead of a meeting of the legislative’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee that Taiwan is tracking all Chinese military movements. Chiu denied that the military had put anti-aircraft missile systems and units on alert to ensure the safe arrival of the US delegation. The ministry did not report any Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, but there were two incursions by Chinese J-16 fighters yesterday afternoon.
Source:Taipei Times
April 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Kingray to gear up for approval as new vendor
Kingray to gear up for approval as new vendorBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterOptical filter maker Kingray (晶瑞光電) yesterday said it plans to raise capital to purchase equipment to massively expand production after it becomes an approved vendor for STMicroelectronics NV. “Getting that vendor code was a very difficult process,” Kingray chief executive officer Leo Tsou (鄒政興) said, adding that STMicroelectronics would be a “key client.”STMicroelectronics is the maker of time-of-flight (TOF) modules for Apple Inc, among other clients. TOF modules require a narrow band pass filter (NBPF) to isolate the infrared wavelength, which is optimal for facial recognition. Kingray Technology Co chief executive officer Leo Tsou, left, and chief financial officer Rio Lai pose for a photograph at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. “We are hoping to reach profitability possibly in the third quarter of 2021,” chief financial officer Rio Lai (賴俊文) said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hsinchu tech firms still have enough water, officials say
Hsinchu tech firms still have enough water, officials sayBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNAGovernment officials yesterday said that the technology sector in Hsinchu County has enough water for now, before touting water supply diversification as the solution to the county’s long-term needs. Hsinchu County Deputy Commissioner Chen Chien-hsien (陳見賢) and Deputy Minister of the Interior Hua Ching-chun (花敬群) made the remarks after inspecting the Jhubei (竹北) Water Recycling Center in Hsinchu. Members of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee listen to a briefing by the Hsinchu County Government during an inspection of the Jhubei Water Recycling Center in Jhubei yesterday. There is enough water to supply Hsinchu “for now,” and the central government is making it its responsibility to ensure the county’s valuable tech sector does not run out of water, Hua said. The government has recently opened a desalination facility in Hsinchu City to provide water for household use, she added.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
MOTC vows transparency in use of derailment funds
MOTC vows transparency in use of derailment fundsBy Chen Yun and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday at a Legislative Yuan hearing said that the spending of funds raised after the Taroko Express derailment on April 2 would be completely transparent and detailed online. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chiu Chen-yuan, center, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chi Wen-chung, right, answers reporters’ questions in Keelung on Monday. The MOTC stands by its promise to shoulder all responsibility necessary, Chen said, adding that the donations would not be used to pay for anything that the MOTC should cover. A committee has been established to oversee use of the funds and every expenditure is to be itemized and listed publicly on the Internet, Chen said. Chen said the MOTC has made such an effort and would work with the MOHW on the matter.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
AU Optronics touts expansion in China
AU Optronics touts expansion in China‘WHOLE INDUSTRY AFFECTED’: Supply constraints might persist, and as its plants operate near full capacity, not all orders could be fulfilled, the flat-panel maker saidBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterAU Optronics Corp (友達光電) is planning to expand capacity amid strong demand for high-end display panels used in premium notebook computers and monitors during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, the company said yesterday. The firm plans to boost capacity at its sixth-generation plant in Kunshan, China, to about 36,000 sheets per month from 27,000 sheets, AU Optronics said, adding that the expansion would be ready in the third quarter of next year. Photo: Chen Mei-ying, Taipei TimesThe facility manufactures power-efficient low-temperature polysilicon flat panels for premium notebook computers and monitors targeting online gamers, it added. The company is also to allocate manufacturing capacity for panels used in notebook computers and monitors, Ko said. AU Optronics’ board of directors last month approved capital expenditures of NT$455 million for technology and capacity optimization and adjustments.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
Next Bank head resigned over costly IT: legislator
Next Bank head resigned over costly IT: legislatorFORCED OUT? Following an on-site inspection, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) mandated an update to the bank’s system. The bank’s internal rules stipulate that purchases of more than NT$5 million require approval by the board, Fai said, adding that the board did not discuss the matter. “The board meeting in February did not discuss the matter,” Liu said. Next Bank said in a statement that it is still in the procurement process for the improvement of its IT system, adding that it would proceed in line with internal control requirements.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
Three local banks team up to phase out paper bills
Photo: Kao Shih-ching, Taipei TimesAlthough some people think that only younger clients prefer electronic bills, many credit card holders in their 50s receive digital bills, as this saves them trouble recycling the papers, he said. The bank could save NT$960,000 (US$33,761) per year if 10,000 cardholders who receive paper bills opted for digital bills, he said. “We must offer paper bills unless customers opt out of the service. Over a year, that accumulates to 900 million bills, Hu said, adding that about 70 percent of credit card users receive paper bills. “Paper bills are an environmental issue Taiwan needs to work on,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
NCC aims to change dispute rules
Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei TimesFrom 2018 to this year, the commission handled 61 arbitration cases, commission data showed. Channels and cable operators often threatened to terminate broadcasts, and would not be fined if they actually did so. NCC Vice Chairman and spokesman Wong Po-tsung (翁柏宗) said that cable operators and channels would first seek to settle issues through mediation by the commission. The commission would form an arbitration committee to review requests, Wong said. The committee would decide on a temporary fee that cable operators should pay to channels.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
Yulon Motor cuts sales forecast in Taiwan by 3.8%
Yulon Motor cuts sales forecast in Taiwan by 3.8%By Lisa Wang / Staff reporterYulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車) yesterday cut its forecast of vehicle sales in Taiwan to 427,000 units this year, attributable to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as supply constraints of automotive semiconductors and shipping containers. Yulon forecast that sales would decline 3.8 percent from 444,000 vehicles sold last year. Yulon Motor Co senior vice president Lee Chien-hui, right, and deputy spokesperson Hsieh Hsun-kuei attend an investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Amy Yang, Taipei TimesThe government might also phase out incentives for replacing older vehicles, which would weigh on the market, Yulon vice president Lee Chien-hui (李建輝) told investors in Taipei. Due to concerns over the possible cancelation of the policy, vehicle sales in the first quarter increased by 17.3 percent year-on-year to 118,000 units, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
Highest-ever bonuses given last year
Highest-ever bonuses given last yearStaff writer, with CNAEmployees in Taiwan received an average bonus of NT$70,513 (US$2,479.8) for last year, the highest-ever despite economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) reported on Tuesday. The average year-end bonus for last year, up from NT$69,577 in 2019, was calculated by combining all non-regular wages, such as bonuses, that employees received from December last year to February this year, it said. Photo: Clare Cheng, Taipei TimesIn Taiwan, companies tend to give year-end bonuses as an incentive to their employees before the Lunar New Year holiday. The three sectors with the highest year-end bonuses last year were finance and insurance (3.92 months), real estate (2.39 months) and manufacturing (1.82 months). The sectors with the lowest year-end bonuses were those hardest-hit by the pandemic: the hospitality and food and beverage industries (0.49 months), as well as arts, entertainment and recreation venues (0.46 months), Chen said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 14, 2021 15:56 UTC
Scientech erects first plant in China on demand for reclaimed wafers for testing
Scientech erects first plant in China on demand for reclaimed wafers for testingBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterScientech Corp (辛耘) yesterday said that it is building its first Chinese plant to capture a share of China’s rapidly growing reclaimed wafers market. Also expanding capacity at home to meet rising demand, Scientech expects to add 20,000 wafers per month this year and next year. Together with its factory in China, Scientech said that it would become the world’s biggest supplier of reclaimed wafers. “As chip supply constraints continue, demand for reclaimed wafers will increase. Companies are using more reclaimed wafers for testing at this point,” Hsu said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 13, 2021 15:56 UTC
CAL cancels April 17 Palau flight over weak interest
CAL cancels April 17 Palau flight over weak interest‘NOT ECONOMICAL’: Although its average passenger load factor has edged upward, China Airlines said continued ‘travel bubble’ service depends on customer demandBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterChina Airlines Ltd (CAL, 華航) yesterday said that it would cancel its flights between Taiwan and Palau on Saturday, despite the Taiwan-Palau “travel bubble” arrangement, as only two people had booked seats. “For the flight that is slated to fly from Taiwan to Palau on the afternoon of April 17, only two people purchased tickets, while no seats were sold for the flight that would return from Palau later on the same day,” CAL said in a statement. Photo: CNAUnder the travel bubble arrangement, people must join tour groups offered by local travel agencies, but there was little chance of the agencies continuing to offer the tour departing on Saturday, the official said. The flight from Palau to Taiwan today would fly as scheduled, because there would be 47 passengers aboard, it said. “Without the demand to transport cargo to Palau, CAL could not make up for the low passenger revenue with its cargo business,” the official said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 13, 2021 15:56 UTC
CECC may ease health rules for travel to Palau
CECC may ease health rules for travel to Palau‘TRAVEL BUBBLE’: Strict self-health management rules for the first five days after returning to Taiwan may be relaxed after lackluster sales of tours to the Pacific islandBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) is considering relaxing self-health management requirements for Taiwanese tourists returning from Palau after disappointing tour sales threaten the “travel bubble” agreement between the two countries. The CECC made the remarks yesterday after the six travel agencies designated to arrange tours to Palau reported lackluster sales following the pilot tours on April 1, which were joined by 100 tourists. Restrooms set aside for “travel bubble passengers” are pictured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on April 4. Afterward, they are required to observe general self-health management guidelines for another nine days. “We will continue to work with travel agents to promote tours to Palau in the hope of maximizing the benefits brought by the ‘travel bubble’ agreement,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 13, 2021 15:56 UTC