Taiwan’s Hsieh, Mertens advance at BNP Paribas
Taiwan’s Hsieh, Mertens advance at BNP ParibasStaff writer, with AFP, INDIAN WELLS, CaliforniaTaiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium on Friday won their first women’s doubles match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, after Hsieh earlier crashed out in the second round of the women’s singles. In little more than 49 minutes of play, Hsieh and Mertens downed Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska and Amanda Anisimova of the US 6-1, 6-1. The duo advanced to the round-of-16 to face Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US and Iga Swiatek of Poland, who in June eliminated Hsieh and Mertens at the French Open. Britain’s Emma Raducanu returns to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in their BNP Paribas Open women’s singles match in Indian Wells, California, on Friday. Raducanu won the first game of the opening set, but it was all Sasnovich after that in the first career meeting between the two.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Medical professionals support Chen Po-wei
Medical professionals support Chen Po-weiBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterTaiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei’s (陳柏惟) bid to avoid being recalled yesterday received a boost from medical professionals led by former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀). “We have collected more than 100 signatures from medical professionals who endorse Chen,” said Lin, a gynecologist. Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei, front center, and supporters from the medical profession gesture at an event in Taichung’s Wurih District yesterday. Photo courtesy of Chen Po-wei’s service center via CNAThe vote to recall Chen from his constituency — Taichung’s second electoral district — is to be held on Oct. 23. People at yesterday’s event in the city’s Wurih District (烏日) held signs with slogans such as: “We oppose the revenge recall and support 3Q,” a nickname for Chen.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Rush for vouchers sees over 10m collect
Ministry data showed that about 10.63 million people had claimed the allotments of NT$5,000 (US$178.28) of vouchers as of 3pm yesterday, including almost 6.6 million people who ordered physical vouchers. On Friday, 8.98 million people claimed vouchers, with 4.92 million of them ordering physical vouchers. A person holds a sheaf of Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers in Taipei yesterday. In Tier 2, people can register for the physical vouchers from Oct. 25 to 31 and claim them from Nov. 8 to 21. To receive digital vouchers, online registration started on Sept. 22 and runs until April 30 next year, when the program ends and all vouchers expire.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
First local COVID-19 case in nine days is an infant
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung attends a news conference at the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in Taipei yesterday. Before yesterday’s new local case, Taiwan had not reported any domestically transmitted cases for nine consecutive days. Meanwhile, an eighth batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines purchased from the US vaccine maker arrived in Taiwan early yesterday, comprising 1.13 million doses. The WHO has recommended that the two Moderna vaccine doses be given 28 days apart, and the time between the two shots can be delayed by up to 12 weeks if necessary. Meanwhile, a second batch of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Lithuania, totaling 235,900 doses, arrived in Taipei yesterday.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
People to decide nation’s future: PO
Photo: Ann Wang, ReutersThe 1911 Xinhai Revolution, led by Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙), toppled the Qing Dynasty and ended imperial rule in China with the formation of the ROC. Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang (張惇涵) said the Xinhai Revolution created the basis for a democratic republic, not an autocracy. The mainstream public opinion in Taiwan is clear in rejecting China’s “one country, two systems” model, he added. It is the responsibility of all nations in the region to maintain peace and stability, not only in the Strait, but throughout the region, he said. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in a statement said it has always upheld and defended the spirit of the Xinhai Revolution, which is to give people democracy, freedom and justice.
Source:Taipei Times
October 09, 2021 15:56 UTC
Oil surges to US$80 as energy crisis risks supplies
Oil surges to US$80 as energy crisis risks suppliesBloombergUS crude futures on Friday topped US$80 a barrel for the first time since November 2014 as a global energy crisis boosts demand at a time when OPEC+ producers are keeping supplies tight. Meanwhile, various underlying oil market gauges are also showing signs of strength. The so-called prompt spread has increased as more of the world attempts to substitute fuel oil for natural gas as quickly as possible. “It’s a panic buyer’s situation.”Meanwhile, China is still facing power outages, and Beijing has ordered state-owned firms to secure winter energy supplies at all costs. Chinese fuel oil futures jumped almost 10 percent on Friday.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 19:52 UTC
Taiwan not engaged in arms race with China, Tsai says
Taiwan not engaged in arms race with China, Tsai saysBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan has no intention of initiating military conflict, but would not shy away from defending its democracy and way of life, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday. The region requires peace and stability to prosper, Tsai said, highlighting the role of a transparent and liberal environment. Taiwan is in the fastest-developing region in the world, and the pace of its development would shape the 21st century, she said. Taiwan would collaborate with regional entities to ensure stability, Tsai added. Taiwan might not be a large country, but it has an important place in the region, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Clijsters falls short in Indian Wells, but will battle on
Clijsters falls short in Indian Wells, but will battle onReutersFormer world No. Clijsters had knee surgery in October last year and returned to the court at last week’s Chicago Fall Tennis Classic, where she lost in the first round to Taiwanese No. Belgium’s Kim Clijsters returns to Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in their BNP Paribas Open women’s singles match in Indian Wells, California, on Thursday. Photo: AFP“Last week in Chicago I started off well, but had a few games where I really wasn’t into the match,” Clijsters told reporters. Meanwhile, Andy Murray was “back in the good books” with his wife after his wedding ring and stinky shoes were returned to him.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Four factors in play for borders to reopen
The borders are closed to keep the pandemic at bay, a policy that is supplemented with a 14-day quarantine for arrivals, Chen said. Waiting for the light to change near a zebra art installation, cyclists wear face masks to protect against the coronavirus in Taipei on Tuesday. Separately yesterday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 12 new imported COVID-19 cases and one death, with no new domestic cases for the ninth consecutive day. All but 13 of them have been recorded since the beginning of a surge in cases after May 15. The student was diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the heart, after being admitted to a hospital, Taoyuan health officials said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
France offers to help repair military equipment: official
France offers to help repair military equipment: officialNO ‘PRESSURE’: Alain Richard said he does not fear retaliation over their visit to Taiwan, adding that the trip does not contradict French policyBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterFrance has offered Taiwan military equipment maintenance services, but it cannot reveal details, French Senator Alain Richard said in Taipei yesterday. French Senator Alain Richard, head of the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group and former defense minister, addresses a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Asked if he fears retaliation from Beijing for visiting Taiwan, Richard said the trip does not contradict French diplomatic policy or relations with China. The delegation was invited to the opening of the Shawan History and Culture Park (沙灣歷史文化園區) in Keelung today. The park contains some heritage from the Sino-French War in 1884, during which Keelung was a battlefield, the Keelung City Government said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Disney+ to launch in November
Disney+ to launch in NovemberCNA, with staff writerWalt Disney Co has said that Disney+ subscribers in Taiwan are to have access to the service’s 1,200 movies and 16,000 episodes of television programs when it launches on Nov. 12. Disney+ hopes to attract customers with ad-free content from its namesake studio, as well as company-owned entities Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic and Star, in addition to the Star Wars franchise. At the briefing yesterday, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said the new shows and movies available on Disney+ would be updated on a weekly basis. Video streaming services have been tipped to become another battleground between rival telecoms giants Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大) and Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信). Taiwan Mobile is reportedly about to sign a deal with Disney+ to offer discounted fees and other bundled promotions to its users.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Moderna vaccine shipment due to arrive early today
Moderna vaccine shipment due to arrive early todayStaff writer, with CNAA shipment of 1.13 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is due to arrive in Taiwan early today, while the next round of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to be administered under a national program has been expanded to include people aged 45 or older. The doses would be reserved primarily as second shots for people who received their first jab of the Moderna vaccine on or before July 16, the CECC said. A batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines is unloaded at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei TimesTaiwan also took delivery of a seventh shipment of 889,200 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine early yesterday morning, Chen told the CECC’s daily news briefing. With yesterday’s shipment, Taiwan has now received about 5.09 million of the 15 million doses, the CECC said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Correction stage looming for chip sector: Nanya
The logo of Nanya Technology Corp, Taiwan’s largest DRAM chipmaker, is pictured on May 7 last year. Photo: Hung Yu-fang, Taipei Times“This is not the winter for DRAM [companies],” Nanya Technology president Lee Pei-ing (李培瑛) told a virtual media briefing. For Nanya Technology, revenue this quarter might slowly return to the level between the third quarter and second quarter, Lee said. Nanya Technology saw net profit soar last quarter to NT$7.53 billion, compared with NT$1.61 billion in the third quarter last year. Commenting on the US’ latest efforts to boost chip supply chain transparency, Nanya Technology said it would not release customers’ confidential information.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Chip and ship shortages top threats to Tesla growth
Chip and ship shortages top threats to Tesla growthBloombergA double whammy of a global shortage of chips and ships is the only thing standing in the way of Tesla Inc maintaining sales growth in excess of 50 percent, according to CEO Elon Musk. “We’ve had a fantastic year, we had record vehicle deliveries,” Musk told Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas, on Thursday. The chip shortage does not appear to be slowing Tesla just yet. Musk said the “significant cost pressure” in the supply chain had forced Tesla to increase vehicle prices, at least temporarily. “We should be through our severe supply chain shortages in [2023],” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC
Carbon tax signals higher power costs
Carbon tax signals higher power costsRIGHT DIRECTION: Analysts said that Indonesia is making the right move, as one of the world’s top carbon polluters strives for zero emissions by 2060Reuters, Singapore and JakartaIndonesia is set to become Asia’s fourth country to introduce a carbon tax, but analysts expect opposition from industries that have warned of implementation problems and higher power costs that could undermine manufacturing competitiveness. The carbon tax will be introduced at a minimum rate of 30 rupiah (US$0.0021) per kilogram of carbon dioxide equivalent, less than half of the originally proposed rate of 75 rupiah. The carbon tax has been generally welcomed, although some industry analysts have questioned the logic of the government taxing carbon emitted by utilities while subsidizing the electricity they produce. Coal producers and electricity providers say that higher electricity prices would likely be passed on to consumers as higher prices for goods. “Imposing a carbon tax on coal-fired power plants will affect electricity prices and the competitiveness of Indonesia’s manufacturing,” Sinadia said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 08, 2021 15:56 UTC