Think tank raises GDP forecast to 4.4%
Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute president Liang Kuo-yuan speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday after the institute raised its GDP growth forecast for Taiwan this year to 4.4 percent. Photo: Wu Chia-ying, Taipei TimesExports might grow 5.16 percent this year, up from the previous forecast of 5 percent, while imports might increase 3.97 percent, down from 4.07 percent, the Taipei-based think tank forecast. With projected GDP growth of 4.4 percent, Taiwan would rank somewhere in the middle worldwide, behind major economies such as the US and China, explaining why the NT dollar has lost some momentum against the greenback, it said. Yuanta-Polaris expects the NT dollar to trade at an average of NT$28.5 this year versus the greenback. Taiwan’s robust exports would continue to bolster its current account surpluses and countries with strong trade surpluses are unlikely to have a weak currency, Liang said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 24, 2021 15:56 UTC
World democracies should unite
World democracies should uniteBy Huang Tien-lin 黃天麟There is some good news to report. The Quad, and related regional institutions, are closely bound up in US-China and Taiwan-China relations, as well as the security and continued survival of Taiwan. Within the next six years, the government should transform Taiwan into an economic, military and legal fortress of comprehensive and robust national security legislation. One can clearly see that the club of democracies would hold decisive market advantage. Huang Tien-lin is a former advisory member of the National Security Council and a national policy adviser to the president.
Source:Taipei Times
March 24, 2021 15:56 UTC
‘Megaship’ in Suez Canal nearly free
The MV Ever Given — a so-called “megaship” at 220,000 tonnes and 400m long — which ran aground in the southern part of the canal in Egypt, had been partially moved and is alongside the bank, said Ahmed Mekawy, deputy manager of the Suez Canal for GAC Group, a provider of port-agent services. The vessel was soon expected to be refloated, Mekawy said, adding that the Suez Canal Authority would then work on resuming transit for all waiting ships. The MV Ever Given container ship blocks the Suez Canal in Egypt yesterday. Efforts to free the ship had so far proceeded faster than initial warnings that traffic could be choked off for days. The 193km-long Suez Canal is among the most trafficked waterways in the world, used by tankers shipping crude from the Middle East to Europe and North America.
Source:Taipei Times
March 24, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taiwan, India discuss AI technology cooperation
Taiwan, India discuss AI technology cooperationTACKLING RISKS: Academic institutions from Taiwan and India have worked on a pandemic prevention system, and now plan to develop a tool to detect fabricated videosBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterAcademics and officials from Taiwan and India yesterday held an online meeting to promote a “smart pandemic prevention system” to advance bilateral cooperation in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The meeting was also joined by Indian Department of Science and Technology International Cooperation Division Director Chadaram Sivaji. In May, the universities plan to start another project to use AI tools to detect fabricated faces and voices in videos, Hsiung said. Hsiung was born in India and moved to Taiwan to study mathematics at National Taiwan University. Taiwan-India cooperation in technology focuses on engineering, information technology and sciences, said Wang Chin-tsan (王金燦), director of the Science and Technology Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, who also joined the conference.
Source:Taipei Times
March 24, 2021 15:56 UTC
China bristles at West after sanctions over Uighurs
New Zealand and Australia yesterday welcomed the measures, but both stopped short of introducing their own on China, a major export market for their goods. “Frankly ... we are not worried at all,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (華春瑩) told reporters. Reinhard Butikofer, a German legislator targeted by the sanctions, said the response was “brazen and ridiculous”. The EU faces a delicate balancing act over relations with China, as it treats Beijing as a rival, but also a potential economic partner. Late last year, Brussels sealed a major investment accord with China after seven years of negotiations.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 16:01 UTC
Songshan airport steps up with ‘3e Smart Service’
Songshan airport steps up with ‘3e Smart Service’By Shelley Shan / Staff reporterStarting today, people can enjoy faster service at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) with its smart e-pass system, allowing them to have their passport authenticated, pass through immigration and board their flight electronically, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said yesterday. Songshan airport is the first in the nation to conduct a six-month trial of the “3e Smart Service” — e-Check (passport authentication), e-Gate (immigration) and e-Board (gate access) — as part of the government’s efforts to promote “touchless service.”Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) inspected the airport’s 3e Smart Service yesterday morning. Airline workers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) prepare for a six-month trial run of the “3e Smart Service” — e-Check, e-Gate and e-Board — that is scheduled to start today. People’s travel information is automatically forwarded from the e-Check and e-Gate devices to the e-Board devices, he said. CAA said that it spent NT$990,000 building the 3e Smart Service.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
EDITORIAL: End inappropriate school activities
EDITORIAL: End inappropriate school activitiesTaichung Municipal Fengyuan High School has come under fire for a live simulation staged for its Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism course, in which students were asked to divide into groups and engage in combat armed with gel blasters. While gel blasters are touted as safe, nontoxic and biodegradable, they do cause pain. In the video, students are seen rubbing their wounds, while one lifts his shirt to display a rash on his back. The students being “executed” in the video were wearing regular school clothes without any protective gear. More people need to speak out about these types of ridiculous school activities so that they can be consigned to the past.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
TRA unveils new ticket machines
TRA unveils new ticket machinesMOBILE PAYMENTS: The machines offer new payment services, as well as instructions in multiple languages, while they have two versions, one for disabled peopleBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) yesterday unveiled new ticket machines, which people will be able to start using at stations in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien from now until Monday next week. The new machines allow people to book tickets with or without reserved seats, operations that have until now been done on separate machines, the TRA said. A woman uses a new ticket machine at an event arranged by the Taiwan Railways Administration at Taipei Railway Station yesterday. To request a refund, the ticket is inserted into the machine and a refund button is pressed, the TRA said. The machines offer service in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Filipino, Vietnamese, German, French and Spanish, the TRA said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taipei hosts smart city trade show
Taipei hosts smart city trade showStaff writer, with CNAThis year’s Smart City Summit and Expo, an annual international gathering focused on smart city developments and solutions, began in Taipei yesterday, featuring physical and online displays. Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, there was no reason to cancel the event, especially when countries and cities around the world are focusing on smart city development, said Paul Peng (彭双浪), chairman of the Taipei Computer Association (台北市電腦公會), one of the event’s organizers. A man looks at a smart transportation system on the first day of the Smart City Summit and Expo at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 yesterday. The expo runs until Friday. Tsai said that the government is looking to accelerate smart city development and to assist local companies in developing applications that can be exported to emerging markets in Southeast Asia.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taipei allocates NT$608bn for infrastructure
Taipei allocates NT$608bn for infrastructureStaff writer, with CNAThe government has allocated NT$608 billion (US$21.35 billion) to spend on public infrastructure this year, in a bid to stimulate the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Development Council (NDC) said on Monday. Premier Su Tseng-chang, right, speaks alongside National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesRegarding the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, more than NT$60 billion would be allocated in September for the acquisition of land, the council said. The 4,500 hectare project, near Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, is to be a modern industrial logistics center, development zone and urban residential area. Government agencies are being urged to expedite work on infrastructure projects, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
Innolux, AUO not concerned over water cuts
Innolux, AUO not concerned over water cutsRECLAIMED WATER: The two companies said that they recycle more than 95 percent of their wastewater and reuse the water for flat-panel manufacturingBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterLCD panel makers Innolux Corp (群創) and AU Optronics Corp (AUO, 友達光電) yesterday said that water restrictions do not threaten their production, as they have increased their usage of reclaimed water. Photo: Chen Mei-ying, Taipei TimesAs water supply remains stable, no trucks have been commissioned yet, the companies said. Innolux also sought help from the Tainan City Government to find an alternative water source, Yang said. The water supply issue is less of a problem than the shortage of chips used in flat panels, Yang said. Driver ICs, touch sensors, and power management chips and glasses are in short supply, Innolux said early this month.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
MiTAC trumpets US$7.2bn Synnex-Tech Data merger
MiTAC trumpets US$7.2bn Synnex-Tech Data mergerMASSIVE FOOTPRINT: If the plan is approved, Tech Data and Synnex are expected to create the world’s largest IT distributor, serving more than 100 countriesStaff writer, with CNAMiTAC Holdings Corp (神達控股) yesterday announced a US$7.2 billion merger between its investment company, Synnex Corp, and information technology distributor Tech Data, which would create a world-leading information technology (IT) distributor if approved. Synnex and Tech Data, both based in the US, have entered into a definitive merger agreement, under which the two companies would combine in a transaction valued at about US$7.2 billion, including net debt, Taoyuan-based MiTAC said. The MiTAC Holdings Corp logo is seen in the company’s office in Taipei on Jan. 18, 2018. The company announced yesterday a US$7.2 billion merger between its investment company, Synnex Corp, and IT distributor Tech Data, which if approved will create a world-leading IT distributor. Synnex president and chief executive officer Dennis Polk said the company is excited to partner with a world-class industry leader such as Tech Data and believes that the move would benefit all stakeholders.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ministry condemns vaccine politics
Alexander Yui, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, at a news conference in Taipei yesterday accused Chinese COVID-19 vaccine suppliers of trying to persuade Paraguay to cut ties with Taiwan. Photo: Lu Yi-hsuan, Taipei TimesThe government is helping Paraguay purchase vaccines through different channels, and it is opposed to any other party offering vaccines to its ally with conditions, he said. Taiwan did not “transfer” 2 million vaccine doses to Paraguay that it plans to purchase from AstraZeneca, as some media reports have alleged, Yui said. Yui also cited a statement by the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs that referred to it being pressured to sever ties with Taipei. The Paraguayan ministry also said that India and Qatar had promised to donate 200,000 doses of the Covaxin vaccine and 400,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to the country respectively.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
Department reveals new logo for gender equality awareness
Department reveals new logo for gender equality awarenessBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Executive Yuan’s Department of Gender Equality yesterday announced the winners of a logo design contest and a short film competition aimed at promoting gender equality. Nine teams received prizes in the short film competition and six designers won awards in the logo design contest at an awards ceremony in Taipei. Short films and logos are important tools for promoting gender equality, Minister Without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) told the ceremony. The winning logo design by Chen Pei-chi is pictured after the Executive Yuan announced the winners of a logo design and short film contest to promote gender equality at an awards ceremony in Taipei yesterday. Gender equality issues do not only exist on the screen, he said, calling for greater understanding of the concept of equality.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC
Olympic athletes start vaccine shots: CECC
Olympic athletes start vaccine shots: CECCBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterAthletes who have qualified to compete in the Tokyo Olympics yesterday started receiving their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said. Tokyo Olympics qualifiers have also been given first priority for vaccination, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General and CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said. A nurse at National Taiwan University Hospital prepares COVID-19 vaccine shots on Monday. The CECC hopes that athletes and national team staff members can complete the two doses before heading to the competition, he said. The CECC reported one imported case of COVID-19 yesterday — a Dutch man in his 20s.
Source:Taipei Times
March 23, 2021 15:56 UTC