IBF Financial posts NT$977m profit for the third quarter
IBF Financial posts NT$977m profit for the third quarterBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterIBF Financial Holdings Co (國票金控) yesterday posted net profit of NT$977 million (US$33.84 million) for last quarter, an annual gain of 26.5 percent amid rising corporate lending, green lending and commercial paper business. Its main profit engine, International Bills Finance Co (國際票券), reported that net profit rose 40 percent from a year earlier to NT$879 million, accounting for 90 percent of the financial conglomerate’s total earnings. IBF Financial Holdings Co chairman Wea Chi-lin, right, speaks at an investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday as Rakuten International Commercial Bank Co chairman Chien Ming-jen looks on. Overall, IBF Financial reported a net profit of NT$2.46 billion for the first nine months, up 16.09 percent from a year earlier, the fourth-fastest growth among the nation’s 15 financial conglomerates after Fubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控), with an annual gain of 27.09 percent, Cathay Financial Holding Co (國泰金控) with 23.48 percent and Jih Sun Financial Holding Co (日盛金控) with 17.37 percent. IBF Financial would focus more on providing customized services to retain profit momentum, as it expects the US Federal Reserve to continue with its loose monetary policy no matter who wins its presidential election, IBF Financial chairman Wea Chi-lin (魏啟林) told investors.
Source:Taipei Times
November 05, 2020 15:56 UTC
Ministry drafts revisions to school meal contracts
Photo: Wu Po-hsuan, Taipei TimesThe statement asked schools at all levels to use quality domestic pork and beef. The ministry’s proposed revisions to the template requires the use of meat and its processed products, as well as eggs, that are domestically produced. Vendors found to have falsely supplied products would face a penalty of 15 to 20 points, up from the current 10 points, according to the draft revisions. Vendors that accumulate 20 penalty points would have their contracts terminated, the ministry said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday criticized the the ministry’s plan, proposing instead that amendments be made to the act.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
Manufacturing output to increase: ITRI
Production value next year would expand to NT$19.68 trillion (US$678.48 billion) from NT$18.79 trillion this year, the institute said. “The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest factor affecting the prospects of the manufacturing sector next year,” ISTI senior researcher Patrick Liou (劉名寰) said. The information and communications technology industry next year would remain the supporting pillar of Taiwan’s manufacturing sector, he said. Production value in the industry would increase 3.55 percent year-on-year to NT$8 trillion, up from NT$7.72 trillion this year, he added. Production value in the sector this year would fall 18.76 percent, as crude oil prices stabilize, Liou said.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
Exhibit features works by ex-cons
Exhibit features works by ex-consBy Chang Jui-chen and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerA former convict-turned-artist who was imprisoned for 18 years on drugs charges said on Tuesday that rehabilitation gave him a second chance at life. His parents and several relatives passed away while he was in prison, which made him deeply regret his actions, Chu said. Chu discovered he had a talent for art, and his works earned him the praise of the prison administrators, who turned an unused space in the prison into a studio for him. After his release in 2011, Chu took out a loan for an art studio with the help of the association. He also teaches art classes at his studio and has been commissioned to create wedding portraits using sand painting.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
Foundation for freedom plans move to Taiwan
Foundation for freedom plans move to TaiwanHONG KONG EXIT: The German foundation said Taiwan’s political stability, and democratic and liberal society were ideal for its Global Innovation HubBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Germany-based Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) on Tuesday said that it is to relocate its Global Innovation Hub to Taipei from Hong Kong early next year, citing Taiwan’s political stability and democratic structures as ideal conditions. “With its political stability and its democratic, pluralistic and liberal society, Taiwan offers ideal conditions for the work of the Global Innovation Hub,” the foundation said in a news release on Tuesday. “With the establishment of the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] in 1986, a successful liberal party has existed in Taiwan for years. The DPP is also a member of Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats,” it said. The foundation also looks forward to cooperating with Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang’s (唐鳳) office and other civil society organizations in Taiwan, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
AI tool boosts pancreatic cancer detection
AI tool boosts pancreatic cancer detectionBy Lin Hui-chin and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerNational Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to improve radiologists’ ability to detect pancreatic cancer during computed tomography (CT) scans. Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei TimesWhile CT scans are the main tool used to detect pancreatic cancer, about 40 percent of tumors smaller than 2cm evade detection, Liao said. During the early stage, pancreatic cancer shows almost no signs or symptoms, and the tumor often has indistinct borders, making it difficult to identify even by professional radiologists, he said. Liao cited a case in which a CT scan showed no signs of pancreatic cancer, but an endoscopic ultrasonography identified a 1.5cm tumor in the patient. The algorithm, trained by 3,000 pieces of image data, can yield a 98.3 percent sensitivity rate in distinguishing image patches of pancreatic cancer from non-cancerous ones, higher than the 92.9 percent of radiologists, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
Brothers thrashing Lions 6-1 in ninth, leading series
Brothers thrashing Lions 6-1 in ninth, leading seriesBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe CPBL drew a capacity crowd of 7,800 yesterday at Tainan Municipal Stadium with the CTBC Brothers, as of press time last night, thrashing hosts the Uni-President Lions 6-1 in the ninth inning and poised to take a 3-1 lead in the Taiwan Series. The opening inning pitted Lions southpaw Chiang Chen-yen against Brothers right-hander Huang En-shih. CTBC Brothers starter Huang En-shih pitches against the Uni-President Lions in Game 4 of the CPBL Taiwan Series at Tainan Municipal Stadium yesterday. The score remained tied at 1-1 until the ninth inning, when the Brothers faced Lions relief pitcher Huang Chun-yen. The Lions elected to bring in closer Chen Yun-wen against the next batter, Brothers first baseman Hsu Chi-hong.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
Industry and commerce association calls for delay of green energy rules
Industry and commerce association calls for delay of green energy rulesBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterThe Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC, 工商協進會) yesterday called on the government to postpone the implementation of rules starting next year that would require heavy industrial electricity users to generate or buy green energy. Lin pressed the government on behalf of the chamber to postpone implementation of the rules that would require major electricity users to install facilities to generate green energy and purchase portions of green energy depending on the amount of electricity they use on a yearly basis. Photo: Lee Ya-wen, Taipei TimesHeavy electricity users are defined as companies that use 5,000 kilowatts of electricity annually. The government aims to raise the ratio of green energy in the nation’s energy mix as it seeks to retire nuclear power plants. Taiwan Cement Corp (台灣水泥), polyester and textile maker Far Eastern New Century Corp (遠東新世紀) and Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corp (新纖) have also made investments in green energy production.
Source:Taipei Times
November 04, 2020 15:56 UTC
Mandatory national language classes not an issue: MOE
Mandatory national language classes not an issue: MOEBy Sherry Hsiao and Rachel Lin / Staff reportersThe inclusion of mandatory “national language” courses in junior-high schools would not affect the number of class sessions dedicated to existing mandatory subjects, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday. “National language” is currently a mandatory course in elementary schools and an elective in junior-high schools. The NAER proposals incorporate “national languages” into the mandatory curriculum without affecting the number of class sessions for other mandatory courses, the ministry said. The subcommittee had proposed making “national languages” mandatory for the first year, and flexible in the second and third years, sources said. A third proposal would make “national languages” mandatory in the first and second years, and flexible in the third, the sources said.
Source:Taipei Times
November 03, 2020 15:56 UTC
TIER raises GDP forecast for this year
TIER raises GDP forecast for this yearBIG BUMP NEXT YEAR? Yesterday’s report was the first time that TIER has issued a forecast for the economy for next year. Exports are expected to grow from a revised 1.85 percent this year to 4.87 percent next year, TIER’s report said. “Next year will be a prosperous year,” the best year for the nation’s economy in five years and favorable for private consumption, Huang said. The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics in August predicted Taiwan’s GDP would grow 3.92 percent next year.
Source:Taipei Times
November 03, 2020 15:56 UTC
Taiwan neutral on US presidential vote, MOFA says
Taiwan neutral on US presidential vote, MOFA saysBy Lin Chia-nan and Hsieh Chun-lin / Staff reportersThe government is neutral regarding the US presidential election result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, adding that it is in close communication with the US about further arms sales. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Joanne Ou speaks at a regular news conference at the ministry in Taipei yesterday. Whichever party wins the presidential election, Taiwan would continue to deepen bilateral partnerships in various areas, she said. The military remains prepared to monitor the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the region, he said. Asked about the possible sale, Ou said the foreign ministry would wait until it receives the US’ formal notification to brief the public.
Source:Taipei Times
November 03, 2020 15:56 UTC
Medigen says ready to produce vaccines next year
Medigen says ready to produce vaccines next yearHUMAN TRIALS: Twenty million doses would be Medigen’s maximum production capacity and would be enough to inoculate 10 million people, the company saidBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterMedigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (高端疫苗) yesterday said it would be ready to manufacture 20 million doses of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine next year if it gains emergency use authorization from the government by June. Twenty million doses would be enough to vaccinate 10 million people, as each person would need two doses, Lee said. Although the pandemic has been controlled in Taiwan, vaccines and drugs are deemed essential in fighting the disease. Some locally developed vaccine candidates, including those by Medigen, Adimmune Corp (國光生技) and United Biomedical Inc (聯亞生技), have undergone phase 1 human trials. Medigen has enrolled 45 participants aged 20 to 50 for its phase 1 trial in Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
November 03, 2020 15:56 UTC
Taoyuan aims to upgrade shrine and cultural park
Taoyuan aims to upgrade shrine and cultural parkBy Hsieh Wu-hsiung and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Taoyuan Department of Cultural Affairs plans to file a request with the Ministry of Culture to upgrade the status of the Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine and Cultural Park from a municipal heritage site to a national one. The evaluation results suggest that the Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine and Cultural Park meets the requirements to be designated a national heritage site, the department said, adding that it would file the request by the end of the year. A visitor approaches the Torii gate at the Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine on Sunday. Department Director-General Chuang Hsiu-mei (莊秀美) said that the Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine and Cultural Park is in the best condition among Japanese shrines nationwide, preserving a lot of architectural elements authentic to Japanese culture. The Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine and Cultural Park, which contains the former Taoyuan Shrine, although smaller, is one of the few that remains, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
November 02, 2020 15:56 UTC
Turkish flag move regrettable: officials
A thank-you posted on Twitter by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to nations for their support following Friday’s earthquake, which included the Republic of China’s flag, third row center, is pictured on Saturday. “We condemn China’s regrettable intervention and repression on a matter of humanitarian assistance that has no political implications,” Wu said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu gestures yesterday as he speaks to members of the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. The Chinese aircraft involved were one Y-8 marine patrol plane, one Y-8 tactical reconnaissance aircraft, two Su-30 jets, two J-16 fighters and two J-10 jets, the defense ministry said. The air force scrambled planes to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings and mobilizing air defense assets before the Chinese planes left the air defense identification zone, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
November 02, 2020 15:56 UTC
Groups call for ban on ractopamine in schools
Groups call for ban on ractopamine in schoolsON THE BOOKS: The Ministry of Education said that the School Health Act already addresses parents’ concerns, as it orders schools to prioritize the use of local ingredientsBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterDozens of people from parents’ groups yesterday rallied in front of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, urging lawmakers to ban pork containing ractopamine residue from schools. “If the law does not ban pork products treated with ractopamine from schools, who would be responsible if they are found on school campuses?” KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said. KMT Legislator Alex Fai (費鴻泰) said that people concerned about the policy should protest to show the government that the majority of the public are against pork treated with ractopamine entering schools. TPP Legislator Tsai Pi-ru (蔡壁如) called for source management using a product code to identify and trace imported US pork treated with the additive. At the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee yesterday, opposing parties proposed motions to amend the School Health Act to ban pork containing ractopamine from schools.
Source:Taipei Times
November 02, 2020 15:56 UTC