Evergreen denies it was sued over Suez blockage
Evergreen denies it was sued over Suez blockageBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterEvergreen Marine Corp (長榮海運) on Friday dismissed a foreign news report that it was being sued by the Japanese owners of the Ever Given container ship, saying that Evergreen is just “an involved party” listed in the lawsuit. Evergreen Marine Corp president Eric Hsieh speaks at an investors’ conference in Taipei on Thursday. The lawsuit listed two defendants in the case — Evergreen Marine and all other persons claiming or being entitled to claim damages — the Indian news outlet reported. “Although the shipowners listed Evergreen as a defendant in a form in the lawsuit, they did not sue us. “It would not make sense if the shipowners sued us.
Source:Taipei Times
April 04, 2021 15:56 UTC
New vehicle sales grow 15.9 percent
New vehicle sales climbed to 43,000 units last month, the best figure for March in 16 years. In the January-to-March quarter, total new vehicle sales rose 16.85 percent to 121,575 units, compared with 104,046 vehicles a year earlier, the report said. Hotai’s market share climbed to 32.5 percent from 28.4 percent, to hold on to its leading market position. Honda Taiwan Co (台灣本田) followed with a market share of 7.2 percent, with vehicle sales increasing 76.1 percent month-on-month to 3,132 units, while Yulon Nissan Motor Co’s (裕隆日產) market share was 7 percent, with sales rising 39.6 percent to 3,008 units. Mercedes-Benz Taiwan Ltd’s (台灣賓士) sales grew about 22.5 percent to 2,856 units, but the luxury vehicle importer’s market share fell to 6.6 percent from 8.6 percent in February.
Source:Taipei Times
April 04, 2021 15:56 UTC
Siemens Taiwan expects revenue to pick up further
Siemens Taiwan expects revenue to pick up furtherDEMAND-DRIVEN: The company expects an even better year after beating its forecast last year, backed by growth in infrastructure, chips and other sectorsBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterSiemens Taiwan expects revenue growth to gather pace this year, benefiting from an uptrend in demand for its energy management solutions from local semiconductor companies and machine tool manufacturers, which were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue last year beat expectations as business activity returned to normal, thanks to the government’s fast and appropriate response to contain the pandemic, Siemens Taiwan president and chief executive officer Erdal Elver said on Tuesday in Taipei. “Overall, we had a good year, backed by growth in different sectors, such as semiconductors and infrastructure,” Elver said. “Energy management and infrastructure should grow faster than last year. Siemens Taiwan derives its revenue from five categories: digital industries, smart infrastructure, mobility, health and energy management.
Source:Taipei Times
April 02, 2021 15:56 UTC
TAIEX likely to consolidate next week: analysts
TAIEX likely to consolidate next week: analystsBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterThe TAIEX is likely to consolidate with an upward bias next week after rallying to a record high of 16,571.28 on Thursday, analysts said. Heavyweight tech plays, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), could lead the charge after its American depositary receipt gained more than 5 percent to US$124.8, Chifar Securities Co (啟發投顧) said. The local bourse is closed until Tuesday next week for the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday. More Rich Securities Co (摩爾投顧) said that listed companies are about to release earnings results for the first quarter, with the figures likely to beat expectations. Still, investors should be cautious, as the TAIEX could meet resistance above the record high, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 02, 2021 15:56 UTC
At least 50 killed in train-truck collision
At least 50 killed in train-truck collisionSEEKING ANSWERS: Police were questioning the vehicle’s driver, who was not in the truck at the time of the incident. As of press time, 50 people, including the driver and assistant driver, were confirmed dead and 146 injured. Passengers on a train that was derailed in Hualien yesterday leave the train by walking on the roof. Rescuers look for survivors at the site of a derailed train in a tunnel in Hualien County yesterday. Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei TimesSu expressed sadness and regret for those killed and their families, while Lin apologized in a statement.
Source:Taipei Times
April 02, 2021 15:56 UTC
Kwang Yang pushes new electric scooter name Ionex
Kwang Yang Motor Co chairman Allen Ko stands in front of two Ionex electric scooters at a news conference in Taipei on March 18. Gogoro holds 77 percent of the domestic electric scooter market, while Kwang Yang only has 4 percent, according to the Industrial Development Bureau’s tallies. “You will not see KYMCO in our electric scooter commercials anymore.”The company has replaced the KYMCO label with Ionex for its new electric scooters, he said. Kwang Yang offers electric scooters to GrabWheels, an electric scooter sharing service arm of Grab Holdings Inc, in Indonesia, he said. To speed up deployment, Kwang Yang is considering signing up electric scooter riders who have space that can be turned into a small-scale battery swap station, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 02, 2021 15:56 UTC
Media personality charged with libel of president
Media personality charged with libel of presidentStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on Wednesday charged media personality Dennis Peng (彭文正) with aggravated libel for accusing President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of having forged her academic credentials. They charged Peng, formerly a journalism professor at National Taiwan University (NTU), for alleging in 2019 that Tsai’s academic credentials were fake. Ho yesterday called a news conference in Taipei, urging prosecutors not to treat defendants differently. Tsai’s academic credentials have been the subject of discussion in local media since Peng raised the issue in a Facebook post in June 2019, when Tsai was seeking re-election. Following months of speculation about Tsai’s academic credentials, the LSE issued a formal statement in October confirming that Tsai “was correctly awarded a Ph.D. in Law in 1984.”
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
TRA adds two EMU900 trains to fleet
TRA adds two EMU900 trains to fleetFIRST OF 520: The 10-car EMU900s would increase capacity in comparison with the eight-car regional trains currently in use, the deputy minister of transport saidBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA) two new EMU900 regional trains are to begin operations on Sunday to transport travelers during the Tomb Sweeping Day long weekend. The two regional trains are part of the operator’s acquisition plan from 2015 to 2024, the TRA said, adding that the plan also includes the purchase of EMU3000 intercity trains. Lin said that the new trains are only the beginning, and that the TRA must ensure thorough maintenance of trains and regular trainings for its staff. The operator has also purchased 600 new railcars for intercity trains from Japan’s Toshiba. “We will retire old regional trains and intercity trains based on the delivery schedules for new trains,” Chi said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
TPP proposes alternative to Su’s children’s plaza plan
TPP proposes alternative to Su’s children’s plaza planBy Hsieh Chun-lin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers yesterday blasted a plan by the Executive Yuan to spend NT$12.8 billion (US$448.6 million) on a children’s plaza, saying the money could be put to better use on education, social and labor reforms to improve children’s quality of life. TPP caucus convener Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) and TPP deputy caucus convener Ann Kao (高虹安) made the call at a news conference in Taipei ahead of Children’s Day on Sunday. Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Saturday last week unveiled a plan to build a children’s plaza in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋), where he said children could learn about technology and culture through play. Taiwan People’s Party caucus convener Chiu Chen-yuan, left, and deputy caucus convener Ann Kao hold a news conference in Taipei yesterday criticizing government plans to spend NT$12.8 billion on a children’s plaza. The TPP caucus also issued a news release urging the government to make more efficient use of the budget by focusing on welfare priorities that are more urgent, more inclusive and would benefit more children.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
EPA restricts use, sale, transport of explosive chemicals
Environmental Protection Administration Toxic and Chemical Substance Bureau Director-General Hsieh Yein-rui yesterday presents planned amendments to regulations on explosive substances at a news conference in Taipei. Ammonium nitrate is also used to produce helium, the first chemical restricted by the EPA, Hsieh said. The online sale of the substances would be banned, as well as their unlicensed transportation, storage or sale, he said. The regulations would stipulate fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 (US$1,051 to US$10,514) for breaches when transporting the substances, Hsieh said. The EPA had also found that some aluminum cleaning products sold in Taiwan contained hydrofluoric acid, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
Tax rebates to continue for efficient appliances
Tax rebates to continue for efficient appliancesStaff writer, with CNAA proposal to extend tax rebates on energy-saving home appliances for another two years has been approved by the Cabinet and is to be submitted to the legislature for review, Executive Yuan spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said yesterday. If lawmakers approve the amendments to the Commodity Tax Act (貨物稅條例), the incentives would continue until June 14, 2023, allowing a rebate of up to NT$2,000 (US$70.09) on new refrigerators, air-conditioners and dehumidifiers if they meet energy efficiency standards, Lo told reporters. A model poses with air-conditioners at an event in Taipei on May 31, 2018. Photo: Wu Pei-hua, Taipei TimesThe continuation of the incentives, which were introduced in June 2019, would encourage more people to buy energy-efficient appliances, the ministry said. If the incentives are extended, refunds can be claimed by people who buy appliances that reach the “level 1” or “level 2” energy efficiency standards specified in a Bureau of Energy rating system.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
TSMC announces US$100bn plan for R&D and expansion
TSMC announces US$100bn plan for R&D and expansionBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to invest about US$100 billion to expand capacity and fund research and development (R&D) of advanced technologies in the next three years to keep up with rising demand, it said yesterday. TSMC unveiled the rare multiyear investment plan to appease customer panic over a global chip shortage. A man walks past the company logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest semiconductor maker, in Hsinchu on Jan. 29. Photo: Sam Yeh, AFPIn addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digitalization, which also drives semiconductor demand, the chipmaker said in the statement. “TSMC will be building greenfield [new] fabs and expanding existing fabs for both leading-edge and specialty technologies,” Wei said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
Evergreen Marine says it will keep using megaships
Evergreen Marine uses two kinds of vessels on its Europe routes, six with capacity of 14,000 TEUs and 11 with 20,000 TEUs. Evergreen Marine Corp president Eric Hsieh speaks at an investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday. Using larger vessels helps shippers reduce fuel costs per unit and enhance profit margins, if the ships are fully loaded, Evergreen Marine said. Evergreen Marine is not responsible for Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal, as the owner is in charge of the vessel, Hsieh said. Apart from the Ever Given, 11 other Evergreen Marine vessels were affected by the blockage, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ministry touts the success of vouchers
Ministry touts the success of vouchersBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterThe government’s Triple Stimulus Vouchers helped boost Taiwan’s retail sector last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday as it unveiled the final tally for the program. The ministry said that 99.6 percent of the vouchers, or NT$64.28 billion (US$2.25 billion), were redeemed by vendors. Premier Su Tseng-chang holds outsized samples of the government’s Triple Stimulus Vouchers at a news conference in Taipei on June 2 last year. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei TimesAdministration of the vouchers program, including printing and distribution, cost more than NT$2 billion, it said. “We designed the program to minimize the substitution effect and maximize the multiplication effect,” Chen said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC
BBC reporter fleeing China arrives in Taiwan: MOFA
BBC reporter fleeing China arrives in Taiwan: MOFAAFP, BEIJINGA senior BBC correspondent who had left China after facing legal threats and pressure from authorities over his reporting, has arrived in Taiwan and is in COVID-19 quarantine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said yesterday. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou speaks at a news conference at the ministry in an undated photograph. Sudworth’s wife, Irish journalist Yvonne Murray, left the country with him “because of mounting pressure from the Chinese authorities,” her employer, Radio Television of Ireland (RTE), reported. The BBC confirmed Sudworth’s relocation after China’s state-run Global Times reported that he was “hiding” in Taiwan. In the middle of last month, Xinjiang authorities said that Sudworth was the target of a civil lawsuit for producing “fake news” about the region.
Source:Taipei Times
April 01, 2021 15:56 UTC