FSC forecasts non-cash payment to rise to NT$6tn in 2023
FSC forecasts non-cash payment to rise to NT$6tn in 2023By Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe total of non-cash payments for private consumption might rise to NT$6 trillion (US$212.2 billion) in Taiwan in 2023, up from NT$3.85 trillion last year, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) said on Thursday. The FSC has previously recorded payments by credit cards, stored-value cards such as EasyCard and iPass card, as well as electronic payment services Jkopay and Line Pay Money as non-cash payments, the commission said. If these transfers were considered in last year’s data, non-cash payment for private consumption would be NT$4.95 trillion, or 51.5 percent of total payments, he said. As more people prefer electronic payment tools and credit cards, non-cash payments might rise to NT$6 trillion in 2023, Lin said. More non-cash payments would benefit the economy in multiple aspects, as non-cash tools are more transparent and efficient, and the cost of producing coins and paper money would drop, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Water levels in south remain low
Water levels in south remain lowStaff writer, with CNAWater levels in many of the nation’s reservoirs remain low, despite a weather system dumping significant rain in northern Taiwan last week. Several major reservoirs in central and southern Taiwan, where the water shortage has been the most serious, were still at low capacity yesterday, Water Resources Agency (WRA) data showed. As of 10am, the Baoshan Second Reservoir (寶二水庫), which provides water for the Hsinchu Science Park, was at 12 percent capacity. Taoist priests and worshipers pray to the sea goddess Matsu for rain at Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung’s Dajia District yesterday. To cope with the drought, tap water pressure in Hsinchu County, Miaoli and Taichung has been lowered, and water would be trucked from Taoyuan to Hsinchu, the agency said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Acer given ‘stable’ credit outlook
Acer given ‘stable’ credit outlook‘FASTER GROWTH’: Acer, which has a 6.9 percent share of the global PC market, could take advantage of the growing Chromebook demand to retain its placeBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterTaiwan Ratings Corp (中華信評) on Thursday affirmed its long-term “twA” and short-term “twA-1”’ credit ratings for Acer Inc (宏碁), with a stable credit outlook for the PC vendor. The credit rating of a corporation is a financial indicator to potential investors of debt securities such as bonds. “However, Acer could take advantage of fast-growing gaming PC and Chromebook demand to sustain its market share with moderately strengthening profitability over the next two years,” it added. Acer secured a 6.9 percent share of the global PC market last year, up from 6.4 percent in 2019, International Data Corp has said. Acer remains positive for the global PC market this year, as PC demand is still far greater than supply, chairman Jason Chen (陳俊聖) said on Wednesday, local Chinese-language media reported.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
The KMT, food and trade agreements
The KMT, food and trade agreementsThe main opposition party has consistently used food and trade to sour Taiwan’s relations with the US and Japan in favor of ChinaBy Michael Turton / Contributing reporterIn September last year the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) launched its campaign for a public referendum to ban the importation of pork products containing ractopamine. The KMT was ostensibly responding to President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) decision to open Taiwan’s markets to US pork products containing ractopamine. Legislators from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in November last year dump pig guts on the floor of the legislature. IMPORTS FROM FUKUSHIMAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu, front third right, attends a demonstration along Taipei’s Ketagalan Boulevard in December 2016 against the proposed lifting of a ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures. Photo: CNAThis is not the first time that the KMT has drummed up a campaign against food imports in the midst of trade talks.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hon Hai records its best sales figure for February
Hon Hai records its best sales figure for FebruaryStaff writer, with CNAHon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), a key supplier to Apple Inc, on Thursday said its sales last month soared 84.81 percent annually to NT$401.89 billion (US$14.21 billion), its highest-ever figure for February. A Foxconn Technology Group logo is pictured at the ceremonial opening of the Hon Hai Research Institute in Taipei on Jan. 4. Photo: Chen Rou-chen, Taipei TimesHowever, as last month had fewer working days than January, Hon Hai’s consolidated sales dropped 19.66 percent from NT$500.22 billion a month earlier. Hon Hai said its consumer electronics division was the best performer on a month-on-month basis, followed by its cloud technology-based device division, computers and related devices division, and its electronic components division. Compared with a year earlier, its consumer electronics operations was the best performer last month, ahead of the electronic components operations, computer and related operations, and cloud technology-based operations, Hon Hai said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Demonstrators remember 1959 Tibetan uprising
Demonstrators remember 1959 Tibetan uprisingANNUAL RALLY: Politicians urged Taiwanese to support Tibetans, and to never stop pursuing democracy and freedom in the face of the Chinese Communist PartyBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterMore than 100 demonstrators yesterday marched in Taipei ahead of the 62nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, with several politicians calling on Taiwanese to show support for Tibetans. Demonstrators carried the Tibetan flag and held signs reading: “Tibet belongs to Tibetans,” “Free Tibet” and “Stop killing in Tibet.”Yesterday’s Tibetan Uprising Day rally was the 18th to be held in Taiwan, organizers said. Members of the Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association and other groups in Taipei yesterday hold flags during a rally commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Protesters hold flags, banners and a picture of the Dalai Lama at a parade in Taipei yesterday commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Protesters prostrate themselves in a traditional Tibetan act of worship at a protest in Taipei yesterday commemorating the victims of the 1959 Tibetan uprising.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Pompeo calls for US to boycott Beijing Games
Pompeo calls for US to boycott Beijing GamesAFP, WASHINGTONFormer US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Friday backed calls for the US to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year, saying that China’s “nasty” activity made it an inappropriate host. “I hope that our athletes get a chance to participate in the Olympics,” Pompeo told radio host Hugh Hewitt. Separately, Qatar was still committed to bidding for the 2032 Summer Olympics, despite the IOC heading into exclusive talks with top choice, Brisbane. The Qatar Olympic Committee on Friday “reiterated its total commitment to maintaining continuous dialogue” with an IOC-appointed panel, which can have ongoing talks — and even approach — likely candidates for any future Games. Doha applied to enter two previous Summer Games bidding contests, but did not progress to be accepted on the IOC’s list of candidates.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 16:07 UTC
Irrigation agencies appeal to Matsu for rain in Taichung
Irrigation agencies appeal to Matsu for rain in TaichungStaff writer, with CNALocal irrigation agencies plan to turn to sea goddess Matsu (媽祖) for help resolving a drought, in a collaboration with one of Taiwan’s largest Matsu temples, Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung’s Dajia District (大甲), the Council of Agriculture’s Irrigation Agency said yesterday. The temple is to hold a ceremony with the agencies today, and Matsu would hopefully hear people’s prayers for rain, as many believe that she has the ability to send rain after long droughts, the temple said. The ceremony would only be the fourth rain prayer ceremony held at the temple since its founding in 1730, it said. About one hour after the 1963 ceremony, rain started to fall, and it is hopeful that Matsu would also help reserve this year’s drought, it said. The belief in Matsu as benevolent protector of all people was brought to Taiwan by Ming Dynasty settlers.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taiwan in Time: Unfortunate but strong: The widows of 228
She wasn’t the only one; for decades few dared to speak of the 228 Incident of 1947, an anti-government uprising that was violently suppressed. As wife of the famous painter Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波), Chang is one of the better known widows of the 228 Incident, and not just because of her husband’s name. Hsu Chiang-chun, seated left, attends a 228 Incident event in 2004. There’s no use being angry, but I just can’t forget.”Chen Cheng-po painted My Family 16 years before he was killed in the weeks following the 228 Incident. TRAGEDY STRIKESShen first noticed the lack of female voices regarding the 228 Incident around 1991 while collecting and editing oral histories in Yilan County.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
CECC reports nation’s 10th virus death
CECC reports nation’s 10th virus deathSOLEMN MILESTONE: The Taiwanese man, in his 60s, had a history of diabetes and hypertension, and had developed severe pneumonia from COVID-19, officials saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported seven imported cases of COVID-19 and the death of a person who had the virus, bringing the nation’s toll from the disease to 10. 935, a Taiwanese man in his 60s, who had a history of diabetes and hypertension, died on Friday, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center. Central Epidemic Command Center specialist advisory panel convener Chang Shan-chwen in Taipei yesterday explains details of the nation’s COVID-19 case No. 935, a Taiwanese man in his 60s who died of COVID-19 on Friday. The CECC would still conduct contact tracing on the new case, and four close contacts have already been identified, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Longci Light Festival proves feasibility of for-profit public events, Tainan says
Longci Light Festival proves feasibility of for-profit public events, Tainan saysBy Wu Chun-feng and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan’s first-ever for-profit light festival organized by a local government last month netted a profit of NT$6.19 million (US$218,914) from the sale of 168,321 tickets, the Tainan City Government said in a news release on Monday. An installation at the Longci Light Festival in Tainan is pictured on Monday. The bureau’s statistics showed that the district benefited economically from the festival, Chen said. “The popularity of the festival shows that people are increasingly accepting that they should pay to attend art and culture events,” Chen said. The next Longci Light Festival would open in December, the bureau said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
Guam starts new group to focus on Taiwanese tourism
Guam starts new group to focus on Taiwanese tourismStaff writer, with CNAThe Guam Visitors Bureau is to decouple its Taiwan business from China, by establishing a Taiwan marketing committee, with its budget for targeting Taiwanese tourists expected to double, Representative to Guam Felix Yen (嚴樹芬) said yesterday. Previously, the bureau grouped Taiwan, China and Hong Kong together under its “greater China” marketing committee, but a new committee is to manage business with Taiwan independently. The committee’s establishment is aimed at deepening bilateral relations in tourism, including medical tourism, as well as economic, cultural, educational and cultural exchanges, Yen said. In Guam, the number of Taiwanese tourists ranks No. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam was reopened in July last year after its operation was suspended in 2017 due to budgetary and personnel assignment issues.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
Legislative hearing looks at unlicensed camp sites
Legislative hearing looks at unlicensed camp sitesUNTANGLED: Camp sites, which fall under the jurisdiction of several government agencies, should be governed by the education and transport ministries, attendants agreedBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterEnforcement of new camping measures and a need to clarify overlapping governmental jurisdictions were among the recommendations made by tour operators and lawmakers on Thursday at a public hearing on domestic tourism at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. There are 1,985 camp sites nationwide, but only 166, or less than 10 percent, have been granted operating licenses by a local government agency, officials said, citing Ministry of Transportation and Communications data. Noting the rising popularity of mountain climbing and hiking amid the COVID-19 pandemic, DPP Legislator Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) said that the ministry has the responsibility to regulate camp sites. It was agreed at the hearing that the ministry, which oversees the Tourism Bureau, should have jurisdiction over all camp sites, except for those designated for educational uses, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. Chen Ying-jung (陳盈蓉), head of the Executive Yuan’s Department of Transportation, the Environment and Natural Resources, said that a report on regulating the nation’s camp sites would be presented to Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and other Cabinet members, who would convene to draft policies to address the issue of unlicensed camp sites.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
Platform launched to aid lay judges
Platform launched to aid lay judgesBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterJudicial reform advocates yesterday launched a “National Judge Information Platform” to provide guidance and assist people who become part of a proposed lay judge system. The platform has compiled case documents gathered from district courts and would add feedback from participating lay judges to add to assessments by observers and legal practitioners, Judicial Reform Foundation chairman Lin Yung-sung (林永頌) said. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesThe legislature in July last year passed the National Judge Act (國民法官法), setting 2023 as the start of citizen participation as lay judges in criminal cases, with the bench to consist of six lay and three career judges. “We opposed the lay judge system while the changes were being discussed,” Lin said. However, as the legislature has passed the act to adopt the lay judge system, the public has to go along with it, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
Muguruza sets up clash with Azarenka
Muguruza sets up clash with AzarenkaAFP, DOHASpain’s Garbine Muguruza on Thursday defeated Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the semi-finals of the Qatar Open where she was to face fellow former world No. “I’m happy, I felt good on court,” former Wimbledon and Roland Garros champion Muguruza said after her victory. “Every match is hard, it’s always difficult,” Muguruza said as she looked ahead to her clash with Azarenka. In the other quarter-finals, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova outfoxed Anett Kontaveit in three arduous sets, seeing off the Estonian 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The second set threatened to derail Kvitova’s earlier momentum, with the Czech facing several service breaks.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC