Overcrowding might mean highest 5G prices: telecom
Overcrowding might mean highest 5G prices: telecomBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterTaiwan’s telecom market is overcrowded, which might make prices for 5G services the lowest in the world, given the intense competition, Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大) said yesterday. It is difficult to calculate a reasonable monthly fee for 5G services, as Taiwan Mobile might continue to invest in 5G bandwidth, he said. Taiwan Mobile would need more bandwidth when 5G technology becomes mainstream, along with new equipment and applications, Tsai said. Taiwan Mobile called on the nation’s biggest telecom operator, Chungwa Telecom, to set a model for peers and maintain disciplined pricing. Meanwhile, Taiwan Mobile shareholders have approved a proposed cash dividend of NT$4.75 per common share.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: CECC reports one new imported case
446 arrived in Taiwan on Saturday last week on a transfer flight from Malaysia, the center told a news conference. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taichung City Councilor Lee Li-hua speaks at Taichung City Council yesterday, while holding signs urging the government to fine a Taiwanese and Bangladeshi couple for breaching COVID-19 regulations. 446 is being isolated at a hospital, Chuang said, adding that the possibility he had contracted the virus in Bangladesh was high. The man had been working in Bangladesh since January and the woman since March before returning to Taiwan, the center said. The woman tested negative only once, on June 2, but the hospital said it had too many patients and allowed her to leave, Chuang said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
‘Chu’s Initiatives’ launched in bid to reform KMT
‘Chu’s Initiatives’ launched in bid to reform KMTRECLAIMING ROC IDENTITY: On the Web site, Eric Chu wrote that the KMT should look back to former president Chiang Ching-kuo as a model for reshaping the partyBy Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff reporterFormer Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday launched an online policy platform called “Chu’s Initiatives” in a bid to reform the party by fostering dialogue on Hong Kong, constitutional amendments, the economy, disease prevention and other issues. Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Chu’s move shows his concern for party reform, Chu aide Ling Tao (凌濤) said, adding that opinions gathered on the platform would serve as a think tank for the pan-blue camp. Under ROC identity, Chu has posted articles about reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy, freedom and cross-strait peace. Writing that he and Chu share many similar views on party reform, he expressed the hope that Chu would lend greater support to the party’s reform committee.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: CECC announces foreign arrival rules
About 1,100 Chinese students enrolled at National Tsing Hua University and Shih Hsin University earlier this month launched an online petition to the Minsitry of Education to allow them to resume their studies in the nation. Those from low-risk countries would be allowed to leave quarantine after five days, while those from medium-low infection risk countries would be quarantined for seven days. The low infection risk countries or areas include New Zealand, Australia, Macau, Palau, Fiji, Brunei, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Mongolia and Bhutan. The medium-low infection risk countries include South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, Chen said. However, the government should allow Chinese students to return based on the COVID-19 situation in different Chinese provinces, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: CECC’s Chen elaborates on travel rules
Chen, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), was speaking at a seminar hosted by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Mark Ho (何志偉). The center is considering shortening the quarantine time for business travelers — including trade, technology and healthcare professionals — from 14 days to between five and 10 days, Chen said. To regulate the activities of business travelers within the nation, Chen said that local sponsors must ensure that their guests make reservations at certified disease prevention hotels in advance. They must present a disease prevention plan stating whether their guests would travel to specific locations or engage in restricted activities in non-specific locations, he said, adding that the plan should also list transportation arrangements the sponsors make for their guests. However, the outbreak could further postpone the reopening of the borders to Chinese tourists, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
Hualien asks diners to go plastic-free
Hualien asks diners to go plastic-freeBy Wang Chun-chi / Staff reporterThe Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau is encouraging restaurants to join its plastic-free initiative, saying that it has already certified 22 establishments as environmentally friendly. A sign designed by the Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau encouraging local restaurants to join a plastic-free initiative is pictured on Sunday in the county. Photo: Wang Chun-chi, Taipei TimesThis year, it is urging businesses to join its plastic-free restaurant initiative, it said on Sunday. The bureau encourages stores to go plastic-free or reduce their use of plastic items by certifying businesses as environmentally friendly, Jao said. As many consumers value the environment, some might dine at restaurants that have the “plastic-free” certification, which could indirectly increase sales, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
No rule against Taiwan on name cards, MOFA says
No rule against Taiwan on name cards, MOFA saysBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday denied media reports that it required embassies not to use “Taiwan” on staff name cards, saying the redesign of the cards has not been finalized. Photo: Lu Yi-hsuan, Taipei TimesThe move raised questions about whether the ministry was trying to force those who had added “Taiwan” to their cards to remove it, the paper reported. The ministry has not required overseas officials to “correct” or not to use “Taiwan” on their cards, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said yesterday. The nation’s formal documents for other countries — those with formal ties and some without — used “Republic of China (Taiwan)” as the nation’s name, she said. The ministry should allow foreigners to differentiate between Taiwan and China and clearly embody the nation with a population of nearly 23.6 million people.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
Ministry plans NT$1tn loan program
The government is mobilizing resources to help local firms recover from the virus shock and grow stronger on the world stage, Su said. Minister of Finance Su Jain-rong speaks at a media briefing in Taipei yesterday. The ministry would lend support to the campaign by providing tax credits, lower tax refund thresholds, friendly tariffs and other incentives, Su said. The virus outbreak and US-China trade tensions make global supply chain realignment necessary and local firms are weighing upgrade and transformation options to stay in business, he said. The ministry would continue to assist Taiwanese firms returning from overseas markets and provide incentives for capital repatriation, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
HTC unveils the first 5G phone made in Taiwan
HTC unveils the first 5G phone made in TaiwanBy Natasha Li / Staff reporterHTC Corp (宏達電) yesterday unveiled the first made-in-Taiwan 5G smartphone and is to begin taking preorders on July 1. The new HTC U20 5G, powered by Qualcomm Inc’s Snapdragon 765G processor and equipped with five camera lenses, is priced at NT$18,990. Models hold up HTC Corp’s new U20 5G and Desire 20 Pro smartphones at a product launch in Taipei yesterday. Maitre refrained from providing a sales target for the HTC U20 5G. Priced at NT$8,990, the new HTC Desire 20 Pro is a more affordable option than the HTC U20 5G.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
Kenting counting on summer crowd to boost business
Kenting counting on summer crowd to boost businessBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporter, in Pingtung CountyRestaurants, shops and hotels in Pingtung County’s Kenting (墾丁) have seen tourists returning and are looking at stronger business prospects as the summer vacation draws nearer. People check out street vendors on Kenting Main Street in Pingtung County on May 23. Business is likely to gain more traction next month, when schools close for the summer vacation — a high season for Kenting, Ho said. A 32-year-old proprietor of a shop selling beach clothing and sandals on Kenting Street said the area has almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels on weekends — judging by the size of the crowds. However, business has yet to pick up for transportation service providers, which rely more on international tourists.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC
Tsai lauds police, praises drug bust
Tsai lauds police, praises drug bustBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday commended law enforcement personnel for the seizure of 3.5 tonnes of material used in the production of “narcotic coffee powder,” as she promised to improve benefits received by police officers and upgrade their equipment. A raid on the warehouse in Changhua County turned up more mephedrone, as well as paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) and packages of finished narcotic coffee powder, they said. The use of mephedrone has been increasing over the past few years, making up about 72 percent of the content of narcotic coffee powder, Chen said, citing results of lab analysis. “Police officers are the main pillars of our society and citizens, and police have the full support of our government,” Tsai said. The president also presented awards to 28 officers chosen as this year’s national model officers.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC
Forecast draws criticism
Forecast draws criticismBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterFormer Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast center director Daniel Wu (吳德榮) yesterday criticized CWB acting director-general Cheng Ming-dean (鄭明典), saying that Cheng inaccurately predicted that the nation would see an early end to the plum rain season and that Cheng’s comments compromised the bureau’s credibility. In his online column yesterday, Wu said that Cheng’s prediction of a second plum rain season contradicted his assertion of an early end to the season. The water level has risen this month due to the plum rain. “The report offers a rather accurate long-term weather forecast, but I am afraid its credibility has been greatly weakened by the acting director-general’s remarks on Facebook,” Wu said. The fourth front of the plum rain season, a stationary front, is expected to move close to Taiwan on Sunday along with a southeasterly airstream, based on simulations conducted by meteorologists in the EU and the US, Wu said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: ‘Passports’ for foreign students urged
“If the more than 60,000 foreign students are all allowed to return to Taiwan, an estimated 222 cases of COVID-19 could be brought in,” he said. Taipei Department of Education Commissioner Tseng Tsan-chin speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. However, students from countries with lower COVID-19 risk should still undergo 14-day home quarantine or be tested if they show symptoms upon arrival, he said. Risk evaluations and an immunity passport mechanism based on testing results could significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, he said. Meanwhile, 643 drinking fountains around the city, including 135 in Mass Rapid Transit stations, were restored to service yesterday, the Taipei Water Department said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC
DIPLOMACY: DPP lawmakers worry Tsai’s ‘Taiwan’ agenda unheeded
The notification gave a format protocol for name cards that included symbols of the Republic of China (ROC), such as the plum blossom emblem and the ROC flag. The logo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pictured at the ministry in Taipei in an undated photograph. The notification stated that the standardized formats and designs applied to ministry officials as well as officials from other agencies, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Education, who also have personnel stationed overseas, the sources said. As the notification did not offer symbols or wording using “Taiwan,” some officials stationed overseas concluded that MOFA was sending a message to those who have been using name cards using the nation’s name, the sources said. DPP legislators said that MOFA should not regress back to the old ways, which would run counter to wishes of President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to enhance Taiwan’s visibility on the world stage.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC
IKala creates commerce division to meet demand
The company is tapping into rapid-growing AI-powered social commerce — where people use social networks to sell and buy goods — in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, iKala said. Chien also serves as board director of another AI company, Appier Inc (沛星互動科技). The new division, iKala Commerce, uses AI technology to help customers — mostly e-commerce retailers — gather personal data and access customer information to provide personalized services and customized content by recording customers’ behavior, the company said. Cheng said that the company expects the new social commerce business to become one of its revenue contributors. Next year, the social commerce business is expected to make up 50 percent of the company’s revenue, Cheng said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC