Medical aid planned for White Terror victims, kinBy Huang Hsin-po and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Transitional Justice Commission yesterday said that it is assessing a plan to provide medical services to White Terror victims or their surviving kin. Lim said that other countries have designated centers that help political victims or their families if they have medical conditions related to the political oppression that they experienced. Lim’s remarks made sense, Su said, adding that the government should take steps to provide special care to these brave and stalwart people, who stood up for the rights of others during the White Terror era. The White Terror era refers to the suppression of political dissidents following the 228 Incident, when protesters were shot on Feb. 28, 1947. Yang said that the commission is assembling volunteers from various disciplines who are involved in commission-backed therapy programs.

Virus Outbreak: Lawmaker urges rule change to protect radiologistsBy Wu Su-wei and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerRadiologists should be on the list of professionals entitled to fluid-resistant gowns to help protect frontline medical staff fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said yesterday. Taiwan’s 6,706 radiologists wear non-waterproof gowns that offer no protection against potentially virus-containing droplets, he said. The treatment is discriminatory, Chiu said, adding that frontline healthcare professionals should be treated equally. Radiologist Chang Wei-sheng (張維勝) said that the virus can be transmitted more easily than once thought. Frontline healthcare professionals, including radiologists, must be sufficiently protected, otherwise medical institutions could become loopholes in disease prevention, Chang said.

Virus Outbreak: Netizens respond to WHO accuserBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterTaiwanese are taking action after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused Taiwan of orchestrating a racist campaign against him, including “complimenting” him and raising funds to run an advertisement in the New York Times. Tedros’ remarks on Wednesday provoked angry responses from politicians across party lines, while members of the public expressed dissatisfaction via different means. Facebook users Chang Chia-ling (張嘉玲) and Goldie Huang (黃靖芳) created an event called “Anti-racism! Let’s compliment Tedros instead!”A design created by a crowdfunded campaign is pictured on the fundraising platform zeczec.com. Separately yesterday, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that Tedros should speak on facts and should apologize for his inappropriate behavior.

Chinese students currently enrolled in Taiwanese universities can apply to remain there, it said. To ensure the education rights of Chinese students, the ministry offered other learning resources, such as online courses, as alternatives. Since Taiwan’s government allowed Chinese students to study in Taiwan from 2011, it has not altered its policy of welcoming Chinese students, he said. Nearly 8,000 Chinese students have enrolled in Taiwan’s schools, although only 800 are currently in Taiwan, he said. About 40 percent of the Chinese students that apply to graduate schools in Taiwan are already in Taiwan studying for a bachelor’s degree, he said.

Virus Outbreak: Market vendors request government helpBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterRepresentatives of Taipei’s traditional markets yesterday called on the central government to introduce more comprehensive relief measures for vendors to alleviate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the vendors at traditional markets, food and beverage stalls have lost the most revenue, Liu said. The situation continues to worsen and it is unknown when it would end, he said, adding that traditional market vendors are having a tough time surviving. He urged the government to subsidize traditional markets’ purchase of prevention equipment such as infrared body temperature sensors. Like taxi drivers and self-employed workers, traditional market vendors should be eligible for NT$10,000 in subsidies per month for up to three months, association chairwoman Pan Ai-yu (潘愛玉) said.

Taiwan Ratings lowers credit rating on Yulon MotorBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan Ratings Corp (台灣信評) yesterday lowered its long-term issuer credit rating on Yulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車) from “twA-” to “twBBB+,” saying its profitability could remain weak amid ongoing business restructuring and a likely weaker dividend payout from affiliate Yulon Nissan Motor Co (裕隆日產). Yulon’s debt leverage has nearly doubled after its consolidation of HAITEC and the prospect of a significant improvement over the next one to two years is limited, Taiwan Ratings said. Yulon Motor plans to lower its debt leverage in the next one to two years by selling some of its financial assets and industrial land. Furthermore, weak auto demand in China could stifle Yulon’s efforts to improve its EBITDA next year, Taiwan Ratings said. Dongfeng Motor resumed sales of Nissan-branded vehicles in February in China, where the pandemic appears to be under control, Taiwan Ratings said.

Virus Outbreak: FSC asks banks to expedite review of small loansFINANCIAL BURDEN: Banks should decide whether to approve loans of less than NT$5 million within 15 days to lessen pressure on firms affected by the pandemicBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has asked banks to expedite the review and processing of loans of less than NT$5 million (US$165,827) to help companies affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Banks should decide whether to approve such loans within 15 working days, the FSC said, adding that it could further reduce the review period to within seven days for loans under NT$1 million. As of Monday, local banks have received 2,322 applications totaling NT$35.18 billion from affected businesses, and approved 510 applications, or a total of NT$7.39 billion in loans, commission data showed. “The interest rate for loans of less than NT$2 million is just 1 percent, which should be attractive to borrowers. We can help enterprises that have never applied for a bank loan,” FSC Chairman Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said.

Virus Outbreak: CECC orders hostess clubs, dance halls to suspend operationsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday ordered that all hostess clubs and dance halls suspend operations, effective immediately, as it reported one new case of COVID-19 in the nation. The new case — the nation’s 380th — is a man in his 20s who is a roommate of the nation’s 322nd case, the center said. Health authorities have disinfected the university attended by the 322nd and 380th cases, including dormitories and public areas, said Chen, who heads the center. The university yesterday said in a statement that it on Wednesday received a notice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of a second confirmed case of COVID-19 at the school. As it had already begun school-wide distance learning on Monday, the suspension of on-campus classes is to end on Friday next week, the university said.

The shrine of the Sufi saint Sidi Ali Bousserghine in SefrouMany Muslims in Morocco make pilgrimages to holy sites to venerate saints. Some scholars say the surging popularity of such pilgrimages signals a new assertiveness by Moroccan Jews. As for the Muslim Moroccans, they invoke the Jewish saints and implore their help, especially in the area of ​​healing. Hassan Majdi has about 90 Jewish saints worshiped by Muslims. The belief in saints is still very strong among Moroccan Jews, even if they have left Morocco to Israel a half century ago (9).

Virus Outbreak: Three new COVID-19 cases confirmedTAKING IT SLOW: Chen Shih-chung said while it would be nice to use a mask or two each day, they are disease prevention resources that must be rationed out carefullyBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center yesterday announced three new COVID-19 cases — two imported and one domestic — bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Taiwan to 379. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that the domestic case, No. A pack of masks and accompanying note sent to Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung by a 10-year-old boy are pictured in Taipei yesterday. She experienced a sore throat and diarrhea the next day, but took medicine on her own to relieve the symptoms, he said. “It is moving to see a child so young who already knows to ration masks to help others,” he said.

India turns to Taiwan for cricketGLOBAL REACH: Taiwan Cricket said that up to five sides could play in a broadcast competition and that upgrading local infrastructure would be beneficial to a dealBy Grant Dexter / Staff reporterBroadcasting companies are turning to Taiwan for cricket content amid the shutdown of the sport in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An Internet streaming platform based in Mumbai, India, yesterday contacted Taiwan Cricket asking for rights to stream games in Taipei to its cricket-starved audience, which it put at 75 million people. Yesterday, another India-based live sports streaming platform was seeking a “Taiwan cricket partnership.”The concrete pitch at the Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District is pictured yesterday. Taiwan Cricket — which is not recognized by the government — promotes the sport and organizes games among teams nationwide. There are at least six sides who could potentially be part of a broadcast competition at the Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District: the Taipei Cricket Association, Pakistan Cricket Club Taipei, the Hsinchu Titans, the Taipei Dragons, Indian Cricket Club Taipei and Formosa Cricket Club.

Foreign fund outflow totals US$10bnBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe nation’s net foreign fund outflow last month totaled US$10.389 billion, an all-time record, due to panic-selling by foreign institutional investors, the Financial Supervisory Commission said yesterday. Most foreign institutional investors last month moved their funds out of Taiwan, pushing up fund outflows to a record-high level, Securities and Futures Bureau Deputy Director-General Tsai Li-ling (蔡麗玲) told the Taipei Times by telephone. The commission said that fund outflows are a dynamic movement of foreign funds, especially during major events such as during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis or the European debt crisis, which triggered foreign fund outflows of NT$7.52 billion in October 2008 and NT$8.02 billion in August 2011 respectively. In the first three months, Taiwan saw a foreign net fund outflow of US$12.99 billion, the highest level for a first quarter, while Chinese institutional investors reported a much smaller net fund outflow of US$12 million during the period, the data showed. Net foreign fund outflows would slow down this month, as foreign institutional investors have eased back on selling in the local equity market and the TAIEX yesterday climbed back above 10,000 points, Tsai said.

Virus Outbreak: Institutes unveil prototype rapid test kitBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe National Health Research Institute (NHRI) and the National Defense Medical Center yesterday announced a prototype COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kit that can provide results in about 15 minutes. The NHRI and the center’s Institute of Preventive Medicine used SARS-CoV antibodies produced during the SARS outbreak in 2003 and picked out one that can identify SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, to develop the rapid test kit. After spending a month developing the test kit, the institutes yesterday in Taipei presented the prototype to pharmaceutical companies in the hope of achieving technology transfers and starting mass production. National Institute of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology Director Liao Ching-len explains the functions of a prototype COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tool in Taipei yesterday. If the procedures go smoothly, the test kit could be out in three months, Liang said.

Yeh said that she was on Tuesday attempting to follow instructions from Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳), but used an air fryer instead of a rice cooker as Tang had instructed. The mask burned up, nearly starting a fire that could have burned down the Legislative Yuan’s second building on Taipei’s Qingdao E Road, she said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Yeh Yu-lan holds a shriveled mask during a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee in Taipei yesterday after she used the wrong method to sterilize it. “OK, OK, I admit it, and I apologize to my junior-high school and senior-high school chemistry and physics teachers. I did not study well, but if I had I would be working at Academia Sinica, not in the legislature,” she wrote.

Virus Outbreak: Kinpo to make masks, ventilatorsBy Natasha Li / Staff reporterNew Kinpo Group (新金寶集團) yesterday said it plans to launch production of masks and ventilators next month to help combat the spread of COVID-19. “We will have a combined output of 2 million surgical masks and 1,000 ventilators per month,” a group official surnamed Koo (顧) told the Taipei Times by text message. The group would also donate about 200 3D masks to health professionals in Taiwan, Shen said. Kinpo posted a 17.56 percent year-on-year decline in net profit for last year of NT$453.74 million (US$15.04 million). The dividend must be approved by Kinpo shareholders at this year’s annual general meeting on June 22.