COVID-19: Taiwan ‘competes’ for Pfizer-BioNTech batchDONE DEAL? Vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are pictured at a doctor’s clinic in Berlin on April 10. Many countries were competing for the batch, TSMC said, adding that if Taiwan did not obtain it, the batch would be sent elsewhere. The center did not confirm that Taiwan had obtained the batch, but the rest of the statement suggested that it had. The center’s news release was issued after Reuters reported on Wednesday that Taiwan would receive a batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine early after China — the batch’s original destination — had delayed regulatory approval of the vaccine.

COVID-19: Organizers create ‘public burial’ for victims of virusRECOGNIZING ‘THE POWERLESS’: The memorial would include debates, which the organizers said were necessary due to an ‘inability to freely discuss certain topics’ onlineBy Yang Cheng-yu and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerA symbolic “public burial” for the victims of COVID-19 is to be held at Taipei’s Liberty Square from tomorrow to Sept. 6 as a memorial to the dead and a protest against the government, the event’s organizers said yesterday. The memorial is to consist of performances, artwork and nightly debates, Wuo told a news conference outside the Legislative Yuan’s Chun-hsien Building in Taipei. Psychiatrist Su Wei-shuo arranges a display as part of a symbolic “public burial” for the victims of COVID-19 at Taipei’s Liberty Square yesterday. Due to the “inability to freely discuss certain topics” online, psychiatrist Su Wei-shuo (蘇偉碩) and other outspoken critics would be holding nightly debates at the tent, Wuo added. When democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水) died of typhoid in 1931, his supporters organized a “public burial” to protest the Japanese colonial government, he said.

Stimulus vouchers coming in October‘WHITELIST’: The program aims to give a boost to small shops, but the National Development Council said that it would also announce a list of approved online retailersBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNAQuintuple Stimulus Vouchers are to be distributed at the beginning of October and would be valid through April next year, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday outlined its plans for a new stimulus voucher program, which it said would launch in early October and run until the end of April next year. Vouchers planned by different government agencies to boost growth in different sectors are presented at a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday, as the Cabinet outlined its plans for its Quintuple Stimulus Voucher program. The economic benefits of the program are expected to far surpass last year’s Triple Stimulus Voucher program, thanks primarily to secondary vouchers offered by ministries, businesses and local governments, Kung said. In addition to last year’s sports vouchers, Hakka e-coupons, culture vouchers and agriculture travel vouchers, several government agencies this time would also present voucher programs under their purview to boost growth in different sectors, it said.

COVID-19: Delta to levy surcharge on unvaccinated employeesBloombergDelta Air Lines Inc is to impose a US$200 monthly surcharge on employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, becoming the first major US company to levy a penalty to encourage workers to get protected. Increasing cases of COVID-19 linked to a “very aggressive” variant are driving the push for all employees to get the shots, he said. A Delta Air Lines Inc plane flies near a COVID-19 testing sign as it approaches Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday. In May, Delta became the first major US airline to require new employees to be vaccinated. Delta also said that starting Sept. 30, the airline would preserve full pay for fully vaccinated workers who still get sick and might end up on short-term disability.

Microsoft Corp, Google and cyberinsurance provider Coalition Inc, among others, committed to participating in the new NIST-led initiative. The guest list included Amazon.com Inc CEO Andy Jassy, Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google’s parent Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. IBM said it would train more than 150,000 people in cybersecurity skills over three years, and partner with historically black colleges and universities to create a more diverse cybersecurity workforce. It also said that it would help 100,000 Americans earn industry-recognized digital skills certificates that could lead to high-paying jobs. The US Congress is weighing legislation on data breach notification laws and cybersecurity insurance industry regulation, historically viewed as two of the most consequential policy areas in the field.

Xiaomi buys self-driving tech start-up to propel electric vehicle ambitionsBloombergXiaomi Corp (小米) is planning to buy autonomous driving technology start-up Deepmotion for about US$77.4 million, sealing a deal to help further its ambitions of getting into the fast-expanding field. Revenue surged 64 percent to 87.79 billion yuan (US$13.5 billion) last quarter, surpassing the 85.01 billion yuan average of estimates. “Xiaomi’s results were very strong so the reaction appears to be just broader tech weakness,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matthew Kanterman said. A number of tech giants from Huawei Technologies Co (華為) to Baidu Inc (百度) have already spent years developing components and vehicle technologies. On Wednesday, Xiaomi reported that net income climbed more than 80 percent to 8.27 billion yuan last quarter, sezing the No.

Western Digital in talks with Kioxia over mergerBEEFING UP: Western Digital and Kioxia’s combined sales last year trailed Samsung’s sales closely, and a merger would enhance flash memory competitionBloombergWestern Digital Corp is in talks to merge with Japan’s Kioxia Holdings Corp in a deal that could unite two technology storage providers, a person familiar with the matter said. A Western Digital Corp office building is pictured in Irvine, California, on Jan. 24, 2017. Western Digital shares rose 7.8 percent in New York after the talks were reported by the Wall Street Journal, giving the company a market value of about US$20 billion. Kioxia and Western Digital had combined sales of about US$17 billion in flash memory chips last year, IDC Corp data showed. Western Digital has provided Kioxia with funds for capital expenditure, and research and development in return for production out of its Japanese partner’s plants.

The central bank also pushed up its inflation projection to 2.1 percent from 1.8 percent previously, signaling that conditions are building for further policy tightening. Most central banks that have raised rates this year are among emerging economies, concerned about capital flight and imported inflation. In Asia, Sri Lanka raised rates last week, making it the first in the region to do so. That contrasts with New Zealand, which last week delayed a widely expected interest rate increase as its first COVID-19 outbreak in six months cast uncertainty over its economic recovery. There are two more interest rate review meetings scheduled this year.

School enrollment to sink over next 16 yearsBy Rachel Lin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerEnrollment at Taiwanese schools is to decline sharply over the next 16 years, a Ministry of Education report released yesterday said. Enrollment at elementary schools is to decline by 16,000 students per year, falling to fewer than 1 million by 2029 and to 923,000 by 2036, it said. These policies have since maintained enrollment at elementary schools at more than 20,000 students, it added. Over the next 16 years, enrollment at junior-high schools is forecast to decline by 8,200 students, or 1.5 percent per year, it said. The figure includes an annual loss of 2,100 first-year students and 3,400 graduating students, it said.

James Anderson revels in a rout of India on first dayAFP, LEEDS, EnglandJames Anderson on Wednesday said that England “absolutely nailed it” after they dismissed India for just 78 on the opening day of the third Test at Headingley before surging into a first-innings lead without losing a wicket and taking their score to 182-2 at lunch yesterday. India captain Virat Kohli won the toss only for Anderson to remove a trio of top-order batsmen, including the tourists’ skipper, during a return of 3-6 in eight overs. Anderson saw Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed compile an unbroken stand of 120 that left England 42 runs ahead at stumps on Wednesday. England paceman James Anderson, right, celebrates the dismissal of India captain Virat Kohli on day 1 of the first Test at Headingley in Leeds, England, on Wednesday. “I was trying to tempt Joe [Root, the England captain] into batting, but losing the toss, being asked to bowl and then putting in a performance like that.

House prices near science parks surgeTECH BOOM: Local tech firms are expanding due to surging global demand, creating well-paying jobs and real demand for property near science parks, a study foundBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterHousing prices near Taiwan’s science parks have received a significant boost for the past three years from a global supply chain realignment and local tech firms’ growing importance on the world stage, a study released yesterday by Evertrust Rehouse Co (永慶房屋) showed. The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co is pictured at its facility at the Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan on July 29. Housing prices near the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) picked up 13.6 percent, averaging NT$242,000 per ping in 2019 and NT$275,000 per ping at present, Chen said. Housing prices near the Jhunan Science Park (竹南科學園區) in Miaoli County increased 11.3 percent, while those near Taichung Science Park (台中科學園區) gained 13 percent, the study found. Taipei’s Neihu Science Park (內湖科技園區) led in terms of transactions with 383 cases in the first half of the year, Chen said.

COVID-19: NZ holds rates as Delta variant spreadsSUSPENSION: Projections published by the New Zealand central bank shows the official cash rate rising at least once later this year, suggesting an imminent rate hikeBloombergThe Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) yesterday refrained from raising interest rates amid a COVID-19 outbreak and nationwide lockdown, but left little doubt it intends to start lifting them soon. Light traffic travels over Auckland Harbour Bridge during a nationwide lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday. Photo: Bloomberg“The committee discussed the merits of an increase in the OCR at this meeting,” the RBNZ said. Should the lockdown succeed in stamping out community transmission of the virus, the RBNZ could raise rates as soon as its next meeting in October. In its previous forecasts in May, the RBNZ did not expect to start raising rates until the second half of next year.

Singapore probes Ubisoft over harassment claimsAFP, SINGAPOREVideo game giant Ubisoft SA’s Singapore office is under investigation over claims of sexual harassment and racial discrimination, a watchdog said, in the latest controversy for the French firm. The publisher of the blockbuster Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry titles saw some senior staff resign last year after allegations of sexual misconduct emerged. Gaming Web site Kotaku last month published allegations of harassment, bullying and racial pay disparities following interviews with 20 current and former employees at Ubisoft Singapore. “Every Ubisoft studio, including Ubisoft Singapore, strives to create and foster a culture that team members and partners can be proud of. Last year’s allegations against Ubisoft saw managers in the company’s Toronto and Montreal studios accused of sexual misconduct.

Tsai says Taiwan needs to be stronger‘SELF-RELIANCE’: The president said the discussion over Afghanistan leads to the conclusion that Taiwan needs to be more united and more resolute in defenseAFP and Bloomberg, with staff writerAfghanistan’s return to Taliban rule following the withdrawal of US forces shows that Taiwan needs to be “stronger and more united” in ensuring its own defense, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday. The sudden departure of US troops from Kabul has sparked discussion in Taiwan as to whether Washington can be relied upon to come to Taipei’s defense. “Recent changes in the situation in Afghanistan have led to much discussion in Taiwan,” Tsai wrote on Facebook. Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday thanked Washington for reiterating its commitment to Taiwan and other allies. Cooperation between Taiwan, the US and other nations would ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait, she said, adding that Taiwan would continue contributing to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Convenience stores take unpaid tolls under NT$30,000By Shelley Shan / Staff reporterStarting yesterday, motorists who have unpaid freeway tolls of less than NT$30,000 and have received a notice from the Administrative Enforcement Agency can pay them at convenience stores, the Freeway Bureau said on Tuesday. Ninety-eight percent of the agency’s cases involve less than NT$20,000 in unpaid tolls, the bureau said. Photo: Cheng Wei-chi, Taipei TimesAbout 6,500 drivers with less than NT$20,000 in tolls have paid at convenience stores since 2019, when it was first allowed, the bureau said. Starting yesterday, the amount was raised to NT$30,000, with drivers able to pay at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart and Simple Mart stores. During the holiday, drivers should expect congestion at freeway interchanges in northern and central Taiwan, as well as on the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway (Freeway No.