Africa struggling to reduce dependency on Indian rice
Africa struggling to reduce dependency on Indian riceAFP, DAK, SenegalOutside Dak village in central Senegal women sing and dance as they chop through rice stalks with sickle or knife. Photo: AFPIn several African countries that rely on imported rice, self-sufficiency has become a buzzword. Africa accounts for 13 percent of the world population, but 32 percent of global rice imports, said Africa Rice, a research center set up by 28 nations and based in Abidjan. “Local rice production covers only about 60 percent of current demand in sub-Saharan Africa, which means 14 to 15 million tonnes are imported annually,” the center said. Meanwhile, Nigeria has followed a different strategy and slapped heavy taxes on imported rice to try to boost local production.
Source:Taipei Times
December 17, 2022 17:08 UTC
Japan’s teachers battle for change as deaths from overwork persist
A 2018 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development survey found that Japanese middle-school teachers work 56 hours a week, versus an average 38 hours in most developed countries. Japanese middle-school physical education teacher Masako Shimonomura, center right, interacts with a student during class in Tokyo on Nov. 22. One investigation by a union-affiliated think tank found that school teachers work an average 123 hours of overtime each month, pushing their weekly workload well beyond the so-called “karoshi line” of 80 hours. Photo: AFPThat came too late for Kudo, a middle-school teacher, who in 2007 died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 40. However, it took Kudo’s widow five years to get her husband’s death recognized as karoshi, a task complicated by the lack of records for his work hours.
Source:Taipei Times
December 17, 2022 17:08 UTC
India aims to harness the market to cut air pollution
India aims to harness the market to cut air pollutionBy Rajesh Kumar Singh / BloombergFarmers in India are being encouraged to sell their crop waste rather than burn it to help accelerate progress on curbing fires that spread a deadly, choking smog across key cities. Smoke from the burning of crop stubble lingers over most of north India for weeks during the cold months of November and December, with air quality deteriorating to hazardous levels in several areas, including the capital, New Delhi. Photo: Reuters“The environmental issues due to crop residue burning are mainly because of the inefficiency of the supply chain,” BiofuelCircle founder Suhas Baxi said. If there was sufficient demand and infrastructure, using the country’s entire supply of crop waste for bio-energy could generate as much as IS$50 billion in annual revenue, Baxi said in an interview. The lack of a reliable supply chain — from timely procurement, to storage, processing plants and finally a market for the products — has meant that farmers continue to burn most of their crop residue.
Source:Taipei Times
December 17, 2022 17:08 UTC
Fashionably brewed
Apple suppliers to hasten move out of China: reportCOVID-19 DISRUPTIONS: The first-round production shift would involve handsets, earphones and smart watches, primarily to India, Vietnam and Thailand, Yuanta said Major electronics manufacturers in Apple Inc’s supply chain are expected to speed up shifting their production lines out of China after the country’s COVID-19 restrictions caused frequent disruptions, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said on Friday. However, the relocation of the supply chain is a project that will take many years to complete, not to mention that China remains a big market for Apple. In addition, the migration of supply chain mainly refers to the relocation of the US firm's assemblers, not the shift of production sites of its components suppliers, Yuanta said. The first round of shifting production would involveBy Chen Cheng-hui
Source:Taipei Times
December 16, 2022 17:13 UTC
Dalai Lama willing to visit Taiwan
Dalai Lama willing to visit TaiwanBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNAThe Dalai Lama on Wednesday said he is willing to visit Taiwan again whenever possible, adding that he hopes Taiwan could change China “through the power of democracy and freedom.”The Tibetan spiritual leader made the remarks at his residence in Dharamsala, India, while meeting members of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Delhi. The Dalai Lama, center, watches a dance performed by Tibetan artists at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala, India, on Sept. 7. Asked whether he would visit Taiwan again, the Dalai Lama said he would visit whenever convenient once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. When he was asked during a news conference in November last year about visiting Taiwan, the Dalai Lama said he had no plans to do so because Taiwan-China relations were “quite delicate” and he did not want to “cause local political difficulties.”Although the discussion on Wednesday mostly covered religious topics, the Dalai Lama also praised Taiwan’s democracy and rule of law. On the topic of Tibet’s future, he said that he no longer seeks political independence, but instead “genuine autonomy” within China’s framework to preserve Tibetan religion, culture and ethnic identity.
Source:Taipei Times
December 16, 2022 17:12 UTC
Hot-rolled plate, cold-rolled coil prices to rise
China Steel Corp employees work in a plant on July 11. Photo: CNAThe Kaohsiung-based company said it took its cue from global peers, which have raised steel prices amid an improving industry outlook. As the prices of iron ore and other commodities continue to hover at high levels, they have lent support to global steel prices, China Steel said. “It is clear that global steel prices have hit the bottom and are ready to rebound,” it said. Responding to improving market conditions, China’s major steelmakers started hiking hot-rolled steel for exports by US$30 per tonne, China Steel said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 15, 2022 19:01 UTC
EDITORIAL: Ko an unlikely presidential choice
EDITORIAL: Ko an unlikely presidential choiceKo an unlikely presidential choiceIf the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was the biggest loser in the nine-in-one elections, then the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) was undoubtedly the runner-up. In post-election somberness, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) re-election as party chairman also failed to generate interest. Other minor parties, such as the New Party, the People First Party and the New Power Party, were born out of similar contexts, but none could escape marginalization in the end. The bloodiest example might be the decline of the New Power Party, a party born out of the Sunflower movement. If Ko wishes to model his presidential ambition on former presidents Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) or Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), he might have to think again.
Source:Taipei Times
December 15, 2022 16:41 UTC
Is Hong Kong back to business as usual?
Is Hong Kong back to business as usual? People on Sunday take photos of a Christmas tree in Hong Kong, China. Travelers yesterday arrive at Hong Kong International Airport after the lifting of coronavirus disease movement controls in Hong Kong, China. A quarter-century after Hong Kong’s return to China, Hong Kong’s rulers have chipped away at civil liberties and jailed dozens of pro-democracy figures. Australian jockey Zac Purton riding California Spangle on Saturday celebrates winning the Hong Kong Mile G1 race (1600m) during the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, China.
Source:Taipei Times
December 15, 2022 07:11 UTC
Taipei police impeached for covering up assault
Taipei police impeached for covering up assaultStaff writer, with CNAThe Control Yuan has impeached four police officers for their role last year in deleting surveillance footage of a group of men storming Taipei’s Zhonglun Police Station before leaving without being arrested. Yang, a police training instructor with the Songshan Precinct, reportedly had a dispute with Hsu at a nearby restaurant. The Songshan Precinct held a news conference the following day, but no video recording was provided. Hsu Shu-huan has since been reprimanded for his actions and removed from his post, while Yang has been transferred to another station. The Control Yuan said the officers filed a false report claiming the computer had been damaged by a member of the public accidentally knocking it over.
Source:Taipei Times
December 15, 2022 00:52 UTC
Economy to grow by a milder 2.51% in 2023: institute
“The global economic scene looks pessimistic going forward, as the war in Ukraine drove up global fuel prices and prompted major central banks to hike interest rates to tame inflation,” institute founder Liu Tai-ying (劉泰英) said. Taiwan Research Institute president Wu Tsai-yi, standing, speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Hsu Tzu-ling, Taipei TimesThe growth projections for this year and next year made TRI the most conservative among major local think tanks. The institute is expecting a 1.96 percent increase in consumer prices next year, below the central bank’s target of at most 2 percent. Exports of goods and services are forecast to grow 3.37 percent next year, slower than imports’ projected increase of 5.44 percent, the institute said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 14, 2022 19:01 UTC
Resumption of ties with Nicaragua unlikely: official
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Yui attends a hearing at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times“There is no possibility unless there is a change of regime” in Nicaragua, Yui said. Ortega had maintained ties with Taipei after he returned to office in 2007 until last year. In response to Ortega’s win, Washington sanctioned Nicaragua, which was probably why Ortega allied himself with China and Russia, Wu said. The termination of ties with Nicaragua left the nation with 14 diplomatic allies worldwide.
Source:Taipei Times
December 14, 2022 18:59 UTC
Elections reveal concerning trend
Elections reveal concerning trendBy Shih Fang-long 施芳瓏Last month’s local election results were a repeat of the 2018 elections: the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) made big wins, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered ignominious defeats. On closer analysis, given the similarity in the results, we can see a new trend emerging: Taiwanese vote differently in presidential elections than in local ones. In the four years since the KMT’s 2018 local elections victories, Beijing has worked hard to make connections with and engage in exchanges with KMT local government heads. It needs to do so without using it as a slogan to manipulate elections, even if it means losing votes. Almost all of the local KMT leaders involved in corruption and the criminal underworld were elected, showing that control over local politics is wielded by criminals.
Source:Taipei Times
December 14, 2022 17:34 UTC
EDITORIAL: Xi is squandering China’s reputation
EDITORIAL: Xi is squandering China’s reputationThe impressive growth of China’s economy since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), under former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), lifted millions of Chinese out of poverty has petered out. After Chinese took to the streets to call for an end to the policy, the government quickly started lifting restrictions. The abruptness of the policy shift, coupled with the dubious timing, would surely result in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Xi had also planned to elevate the economy and China’s standing in the world by developing an independent, cutting-edge and self-sufficient semiconductor manufacturing industry. Perhaps Xi will now see the wisdom of being a “good international citizen” and cultivating the international goodwill, trust and access to soft power that would entail.
Source:Taipei Times
December 14, 2022 17:34 UTC
Wowprime unveils 1.5-month bonus for its Taiwan employees
Wowprime chairman Chen Cheng-hui (陳正輝) made the announcement in a late-night livestream event that the company organized for its 9,300 employees in Taiwan. Photo courtesy of Wowprime CorpThe company is expected to pay more than NT$200 million (US$6.51 million) in employee bonuses. Wowprime also announced that it would spend NT$20 million on five year-end banquets for its employees, plus an incentive tour later this month. With China easing its COVID-19 restrictions, Wowprime said it believed its operations there would improve. Last month, Wowprime said it would raise its starting monthly salary for employees to NT$33,000 from next year as part of a plan to increase pay by 3 percent to 7.5 percent for employees across the group’s chains.
Source:Taipei Times
December 14, 2022 01:45 UTC
Ex-CSIST boss tells behind-the-scenes story of missile development projects
Ex-CSIST boss tells behind-the-scenes story of missile development projectsBy Aaron Tu, Lo Tien-pin and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerFormer Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) president Kung Chia-cheng (龔家政) made known some behind-the-scenes details of the nation’s missile development in a memoir published by Academia Sinica’s Institute of Modern History last month. Speaking about the supersonic cruise missile developed by the Yun Feng (雲峰, Cloud Peak) project, Kung said the missile could exceed Mach 3 and had excellent penetration, as it comes down on its target vertically. The missile’s speed ensures that it is not easily intercepted, and at the time of the missile’s development, under former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), only the US and Russia were developing similar kinds of missiles, Kung said. Nearly 400 CSIST members worked on a secret project to develop ballistic missile capabilities under the overarching “Tien Kung” project. Officials had been pleased with the successful results of the Hsiung Feng II-E type B simulation, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 13, 2022 17:37 UTC