T3EX planning record cash dividend after profit surgeBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterT3EX Global Holdings Corp’s (台驊) board of directors has approved a proposal to distribute a record cash dividend of NT$3.2 per share after the company’s net profit surged 117 percent to NT$541 million (US$19.1 million) last year. Given that our earnings per share hit a new high last year, we decided to boost the cash dividends,” T3EX told the Taipei Times by telephone. Rising air cargo rates raised its margin from air cargo forwarding service by 33 percent to NT$706 million, it added. T3EX forecast that shipping and air cargo rates would remain high until the end of June, as it would not be easy for shippers and airlines to boost their capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. We are optimistic about business growth in Southeast Asia, as exports are expected to remain high this year,” the company said.

Hua Nan Financial cautiously upbeatUNCERTAINTY: The financial holding firm is targeting 5% earnings growth this year as the global economy recovers, but added that the pandemic remains a riskBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterState-run Hua Nan Financial Holding Co (華南金控) aims to grow its earnings this year at a pace in line with the nation’s GDP growth, although the COVID-19 pandemic and low interest rates would continue to weigh on its performance, senior officials told a virtual investors’ conference yesterday. The Hua Nan Financial Holding Co logo is pictured at a fintech exhibition in Taipei on Dec. 7, 2018. Consequently, net interest margin, a critical profitability gauge for financial institutions, shrank to 1.21 percent for foreign-currency operations and 0.83 percent for local currency loans, she said. Hua Nan Financial said that it is looking at a flat loanbook this year, while seeking to expand its interest and fee income by growing loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, and in overseas markets, as such businesses generate higher margins. Asked about its dividend payout plan, Hua Nan Financial said that its net income slumped 48.85 percent to NT$8.66 billion (US$305.73 million) last year, or earnings per share of NT$0.67, down from NT$1.31 a year earlier.

Taking the above into account I was surprised to learn that, as of January, the Danda Forest Road (丹大林道) was open to both hikers and cyclists. This is a tough ride with only the central and southern cross-island highways coming close in terms of extreme ascent. Higher up on Danda Forest Trail you ride through magnificent forest. DAY TWOFour riders traveling up the Danda Forest Road with bikes fully loaded with camping. Police permits are legally required for trips along the Danda Forest Road.

Asustek brings ‘hardcore’ gaming to Android with new ROG smartphoneBloombergAsustek Computer Inc (華碩) has launched the latest in its Republic of Gamers (ROG) smartphone line targeting Android gamers in markets like China. Asustek Computer Inc’s new gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 5, is pictured during a product launch in Taipei yesterday. The leading duo of Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co consistently tout their devices’ gaming capabilities, pushing brands like Asustek to focus on hardcore gaming fans. “Gaming performance is their top-selling point and hence the target audience has to be both hardcore gamers and professional gamers,” Liao said. Asustek has seen “big growth” in sales between each successive ROG Phone generation, the company said, and it appears committed to the niche it has carved out.

Domestic airlines’ revenue falling, but at slower paceBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterMajor airlines’ revenue growth remained in negative territory last month, but declined at a slower pace due to last year’s lower comparison base, companies’ data showed. EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) saw its revenue slide 34.44 percent to NT$5.8 billion last month, compared with a fall of 54 percent in January, its data showed. Photo: Liu Yu-ching, Taipei TimesBoth airlines’ revenue began to drop considerably in February last year due to COVID-19. EVA’s cargo operations made up 80 percent of its total revenue last month, compared with just 14 percent a year earlier, while CAL saw revenue from its cargo service account for 89 percent of its total revenue, compared with 24 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed. In the first two months, CAL’s cumulative revenue declined 27.97 percent annually to NT$17.36 billion and EVA’s revenue halved to NT$12.5 billion, while Tigerair reported a 97.9 percent fall in revenue to NT$30 million, data showed.

COVID-19: Most Taiwanese opposed to Chinese shotsStaff writer, with CNAThe majority of Taiwanese, or 76.1 percent, are unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese firms, while 61.6 percent said the government should not import Chinese vaccines, a survey released yesterday by the Association of Chinese Elite Leadership showed as the nation reported one new imported case of COVID-19. According to the survey, 19 percent of respondents were willing to receive a Chinese vaccine and 24.9 percent were open to the idea of importing Chinese vaccines. Of the respondents, 28.5 percent identified themselves as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters and 18.6 percent as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) supporters. The Association of Chinese Elite Leadership announces the results of a survey at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. However, some KMT members, including former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), have called on the DPP government to accept Chinese vaccinations.

Beijing’s vaccine program could harm Taiwan: expertPOSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: As China attempted to promote its national image through humanitarian aid, its targets include New Southbound Policy countries, an expert said China’s “vaccine diplomacy,” which has become central to its foreign policy this year, might hamper Taiwan’s efforts to build relations with developing countries, an expert said. “China, as one of the few countries other than the United Kingdom and the United States to have produced a COVID-19 vaccine, will certainly use that as a diplomatic tool,” said Kung Shan-son (龔祥生), an assistant research fellow at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research. Beijing’s major goals in its “vaccine diplomacy” are to promote its national image through humanitarian aid and to solidify its relations with countries that are included in its

Bicycles to carry children should have passed the TBIS007 safety inspection, the ministry said. Child safety seats to be installed on bicycles should also pass Taiwan’s CNS15978 national safety standard, the ministry said. That means there are 24 combinations of bike and seat, he said, adding that the information on certified bicycles and seats can be viewed on the center’s Web site at www.vscc.org.tw. All of the certified bicycles are made by Taiwanese manufacturer Giant, with prices ranging from NT$7,000 to NT$40,000. Certified seats are made by Bobike and Irbani, with costs varying from NT$3,000 to NT$8,000.

The book, titled The Story of Asteroids (小行星的故事), aims to draw attention to the nation’s spirit and values, the university said. Guests pose at a launch event for a book titled The Stories of Asteroids at National Central University in Taipei on Monday. The asteroids discovered by the observatory are valuable assets for Taiwan, as according to International Astronomical Union rules, asteroids may be named by those who discover them, Ip added. The naming process can take from one to 10 years, Lin said, adding that all literature mentioning the celestial bodies would use those names. Before beginning the naming process, applicants must first prove an asteroid’s existence and plot its precise orbital path, Jou said.

Year’s first local typhoid fever infection reportedHOSPITALIZED: A teenager has since last month sought treatment for her symptoms, before being diagnosed with typhoid fever on Tuesday last week, an official saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported this year’s first indigenous typhoid fever case in Taiwan. Centers for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei reports this year’s first case of typhoid fever at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. As the symptoms did not abate, the girl was referred to another hospital for further examination on Tuesday last week and was diagnosed with typhoid fever, Guo said. Typhoid fever is transmitted by consuming raw or undercooked food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, he said. To prevent typhoid fever infection, people should frequently wash their hands with soap and water — especially before meals and after using the toilet — avoid drinking untreated water and avoid eating raw or undercooked food, Lin added.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki takes a question from a journalist during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on Monday. Photo: ReutersOu urged Beijing to face the reality of cross-strait relations, respect the opinions of Taiwanese and consider gestures of goodwill to improve bilateral relations. Promoting constructive dialogue and interaction should be prioritized to protect the welfare of people across the Strait, gradually resolve bilateral divergence and open a new page of cross-strait peace, Ou said. Ou also thanked Washington for continuing to support Taiwan, after White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Monday reaffirmed the US’ commitment to Taiwan. We maintain our longstanding commitments, as outlined in the Three Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act and the ‘six assurances,’ and we will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability,” Psaki told a news briefing.

Police officers gather evidence from the crime scene of a shooting yesterday evening near Jioucyutang Railway Station in Kaohsiung. The main suspect, a 64-year-old man surnamed Fang (方), was arrested yesterday. He allegedly tried to shoot Chien, but the bullets hit Chien’s two friends, surnamed Liu (劉) and Wu (吳), who were mediating the dispute, police said. In Nantou County’s Puli Township (埔里), a man surnamed Huang (黃) allegedly stabbed a woman to death yesterday, police said. The woman died of her wounds, while Huang was still in intensive care at press time last night, police said.

KMT to hand referendum signatures to CEC todayBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) today plans to submit to the Central Election Commission (CEC) signatures it has collected backing its petitions to hold referendums on imported pork containing racotpamine residue and when referendums should take place, the party said yesterday. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang, second right, and members of the KMT Women’s Department prepare bromelain, an enzyme extract derived from pineapples, to mark International Women’s Day and promote domestic pineapples in Taipei yesterday. The Referendum Act (公民投票法) stipulates that referendums from this year are to be held once every two years on the fourth Saturday of August. The two petitions have each garnered more than 700,000 signatures, Chiang announced in Taipei at an event organized by the KMT Women’s Department to mark International Women’s Day. Chiang and Lin would take the signatures from the KMT’s headquarters in Taipei and deliver them to the commission’s offices by car this morning, the KMT said.

Pro baseball starts on Saturday, when Lions meet BrothersBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterTaiwan leads world baseball again this year, with the CPBL set to start the season on Saturday, ahead of other leagues. The opener comes before the start of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball on March 26, US Major League Baseball on April 1 and South Korea’s Korea Baseball Organization League on April 3. CPBL commissioner Tsai Chi-chang, back row center, baseball players and cheerleaders attend a news conference on Sunday in Tainan to promote the start of the new CPBL season on Saturday. Regarding the slogan, Tsai said it was important for people to unite to support Taiwanese professional baseball, as running a club puts a heavy burden on the sponsor companies. While family members and small groups of friends can sit together, others would be separated to meet social distancing guidelines, they said.

Cloudy skies are forecast in the plains of central and southern Taiwan, the bureau said. The bureau forecast the monsoon to become strong again on Friday and to affect the nation until Sunday. Reservoirs in central and southern Taiwan are in the mountainous areas, which would not receive significant rainfall until the plum rain season, which is in May and June, Cheng said. Because of a strong subtropical system, spring rain this year would mostly fall on the plains, which worsens the water shortage problem, Cheng said. “A regional high-pressure system is hovering above southern Taiwan at the moment, which helps stabilize the weather and makes it less likely to rain,” he said.