Tech needed to bolster spying cases: law expert
Tech needed to bolster spying cases: law expertPENALTY LIMITS: People charged with spying for China should face tougher sentences, a professor said, adding that it is sometimes hard to collect evidenceBy Lu Yi-hsuan and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerHigh-tech methods should be used in investigations into Chinese spying to help solidify cases, a criminal law expert said on Friday. National Taiwan University professor of law Lin Yu-hsiung (林鈺雄) told a seminar at the Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei that punishments for people convicted in espionage cases are often perceived as being too lenient. Figurines with computers are pictured in front of Taiwan’s and China’s flags in an illustration created on Aug. 6 last year. The government should increase the penalties for spying and enhance investigations with high-tech methods when cases affect national security, especially when there are difficulties collecting evidence and dealing with statutes of limitation, he said. “We will continue to make amendments as necessary to safeguard our national security,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2023 16:42 UTC
Mayor Hou outlines nuclear power plan
Mayor Hou outlines nuclear power planStaff writer, with CNANew Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, supports reactivating or extending the use of Taiwan’s three completed nuclear power plants and using the unfinished fourth plant pending a safety evaluation, a spokesperson for his campaign told a news conference on Thursday. The Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township is pictured in an undated photograph. Specifically, Hou would reactivate the nuclear power plants in New Taipei City’s Shihmen (石門) and Guosheng (萬里) districts pending safety inspections, and grant them 20-year operating permits, she said. Hou also supports extending the life of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County, which has two reactors set to be shut down, one next year and the other in 2025, Lee said. If enacted, Hou’s proposals would mark a sharp break with the policies of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which, since taking office in 2016, has prioritized phasing out nuclear power by 2025.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2023 16:28 UTC
Hon Hai invests in robots with eye on ‘Ghost’ model
In addition to the lead investors in previous funding rounds, such as Monoful Venture Partners, KDDI Open Innovation Fund and Airbus Ventures, Telexitence said it has also secured financial support from HH-CTBC Partnership, Softbank Group (SBG) and Globis Capital Partners. People gather at the Foxconn booth at 2035 E-Mobility Taiwan, an annual electric and autonomous vehicle trade show in Taipei, on April 13. Photo: Ann wang, ReutersHH-CTBC Partnership is also known as Foxconn Co-GP Fund, which was set up by Hon Hai and Taiwan’s CTBC Financial Holding Co (中信金控). However, Telexistence, a developer of remote-controlled robotics, did not disclose other financial details about the latest funding round. After obtaining funds from Hon Hai, Telexistence would initiate its collaboration with Hon Hai to establish a production technology to carry out commercial production for its next-generation robotics model, “Ghost,” the company said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2023 04:03 UTC
US is committed to Taiwan’s self-defense: AIT chair
US is committed to Taiwan’s self-defense: AIT chairStaff writer, with CNAThe US has deep respect for Taiwan’s democracy and is committed to supporting its self-defense, even in the face of loud complaints from Beijing, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chair Laura Rosenberger said on Thursday. American Institute in Taiwan Chair Laura Rosenberger speaks to reporters in Washington on Thursday. Rosenberger also spoke briefly about her trip to Taiwan last month, when she met Taiwan’s presidential candidates and some of their advisers. “I’m sure all the presidential candidates who are here tonight would agree with me without hesitation. Thursday’s reception marked the first time Tsai attended the reception in person since assuming office in May 2016.
Source:Taipei Times
July 08, 2023 01:10 UTC
Green building labels beat ESG
Green building labels beat ESGBy Chen Wen-ching 陳文卿Recently, companies have been pointing out their environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials and communicating their ESG standards. The most straightforward way to ensure that construction firms make environmental protection a top priority would be for “green building labels” to be awarded for using sustainable building materials. The Taiwan Green Building Council has investigated waste and carbon emission reduction in the production of green building materials. If construction companies use recycled green building materials, they could record the benefits they created to their ESG disclosures, such as pollution reduction, and carbon emissions and raw materials procurement. Chen Wen-ching is a director of the Taiwan Green Building Council and a convener of the Taiwan Sustainable Green Construction Union.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2023 21:42 UTC
Export decline hits 14-year high
Domestic and international clients largely maintained a cautious inventory approach and preferred to place rush orders when necessary, Tsai said. The official last month predicted a retreat of 14 to 16 percent. Shipments of electronics, notably chips, fell 21.3 percent annually to US$13.58 billion, as demand for chips failed to peak despite the arrival of the high season, the official said. Exports of information and communications technology products shed 6.2 percent to US$5.04 billion, snapping two months of gains, Tsai said. Demand for non-tech products fared worse, with declines of 30 to 50 percent for plastic, chemical, mineral and textile products, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2023 19:03 UTC
Hague court rejects India’s objections over water treaty
Hague court rejects India’s objections over water treatyReuters, AMSTERDAM and NEW DELHIThe Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague on Thursday rejected India’s objections to a Pakistan-initiated procedure over water use in the Indus River basin, reopening a procedure that had been blocked for many years. India called the arbitration proceeding illegal as a neutral expert was also looking at the issue and the World Bank-brokered treaty prohibits parallel proceedings. Fishers pull a fishing net as they catch fish along the Indus River in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on June 11, 2017. India has boycotted The Hague court proceedings and questioned the competence of the court. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that it remained fully committed to the implementation of the Indus Water Treaty and its settlement mechanism, which it termed a “foundational agreement” between the two countries.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2023 17:19 UTC
Suspects detained in identity theft probe
Suspects detained in identity theft probeCROSS-STRAIT RING: The CIB said the alleged criminal ring damaged the financial order and transaction framework of Taiwan, and stole data from many other nationsBy Chiu Chun-fu and Jason Pan / Staff reportersFifteen people have been detained or questioned in connection with a cross-strait criminal ring specializing in identity theft, including Chen Wei-chih (陳韋志), allegedly the head of the group, law enforcement officials said yesterday. Photo: CNAChen, 31, who has a Taiwanese ID as well as US citizenship, used the code name “Cola,” investigators said. Once a person’s details were entered into the fake site, the suspects had access to their account details, which they would use to make purchases, it said. “Chen’s criminal ring colluded with hackers in Taiwan and China to make illicit gains, which damaged the nation’s financial order and transaction framework,” the CIB said. “The suspects stole data from many countries around the world,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 07, 2023 15:10 UTC
Taiwan to build new India office
Taiwan to build new India officeBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterTaiwan aims to establish a Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Mumbai by the end of the year to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with India, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday. The center would be the third Taiwanese office in India, following the opening of one in New Delhi in 1995 and one in Chennai in 2012, the ministry said in a news release. As India boasts an enormous market and considerable business opportunities, the center could help further expand trade and investment opportunities between Taiwan and India, the ministry said. Separately, Taiwan is still negotiating with Fiji to restore the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji to its former name, the Trade Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Republic of Fiji, Chen said. Taiwan hopes Fiji could honor its original note verbal to allow the name change, Chen said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 06, 2023 21:40 UTC
Rubbish-clearing divers come to rescue of ‘pearl of Kyrgyzstan’
Rubbish-clearing divers come to rescue of ‘pearl of Kyrgyzstan’The huge flow of visitors and the rubbish they leave behind are endangering the vast lake, a UNESCO heritage site and a home for wolves and eaglesAFP, ISSYK KUL LAKE, KyrgyzstanOn the shores of Lake Issyk Kul in mountainous Kyrgyzstan, a group of divers show off their haul for the day — a boat engine, car tyres, bottles, clothes and plastic items. A group of volunteer divers work last month to collect waste from the bed of Lake Issyk Kul in Cholpon-Ata, some 250 km from Bishkek. People last month enjoy summer time on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul in Cholpon-Ata, some 250 km from Bishkek. It’s about not dumping rubbish in the first place.”The emergency situations ministry has also sent divers to help Shamsuddinov and his team of volunteers. We want everything to stay clean,” said Argokova, who was staying at the “Blue Issyk Kul” sanatorium, decorated with Soviet-era statues including one of Lenin.
Source:Taipei Times
July 06, 2023 17:06 UTC
EDITORIAL: Hou You-yi faces uphill battle
EDITORIAL: Hou You-yi faces uphill battleEver since New Taipei City Mayor and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hou You-yi (侯友宜) dropped to the third place in the polls, political drama and disarray has been rife in the pan-blue camp. Instead Hou, Ko and Gou are locked in a “three-way battle” where the victor could snatch the anti-DPP votes and the chance to take down the DPP’s presidential candidate, Vice President William Lai (賴清德). Hou thought he could repeat his success in the local elections by once again sticking to the middle ground and appealing to independent voters, while relying on KMT voters to rally later in the campaign. Despite past rifts with the KMT, Gou is still considered to be “KMT lineage” by some KMT voters. Second, as Ko continues to close the gap with Lai in the polls, Lai should worry about his lack of growth in support and seek to boost his popularity.
Source:Taipei Times
July 06, 2023 17:06 UTC
Hou unveils his ‘consensus’ view
Hou unveils his ‘consensus’ viewStaff writer, with CNANew Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), who is the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential candidate, on Monday said he would support a version of the so-called “1992 consensus” that conforms with the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution. New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi speaks at a news conference in New Taipei City yesterday. Photo: CNAHe said he is against interpreting the “1992 consensus” as referring to “one country, two systems,” as done by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and strongly opposes President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) “stigmatization” of it. Hou did not comment on criticism that he merely echoed the KMT’s long-held position of “one China, different interpretations” — which gives tacit freedom to Taipei and Beijing to come to separate conclusions as to what “China” means. The speech referred to the “1992 consensus” as a political “foundation” to enable negotiations and exchanges, while “one country, two systems” was characterized as a “policy” and “plan” for achieving “peaceful reunification.”The DPP has refused to accept the “1992 consensus” on the grounds that Beijing has never acknowledged the ROC’s existence and that agreeing to the “1992 consensus” would imply accepting China’s claim over Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
July 06, 2023 03:35 UTC
Saudi and Kuwait claim gas field eyed by Iran
Saudi and Kuwait claim gas field eyed by IranAFP, RIYADHSaudi Arabia has said it enjoys “full rights” along with Kuwait to a disputed gas field in the resource-rich Gulf, pushing back against claims by Iran, state media reported late on Tuesday. The field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, falls under “joint ownership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait, and they alone have full rights,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing a foreign ministry source. The Saudi Arabian statement appeared one day after Kuwait reinvited Iran to participate in talks on their sea borders. Iran and Kuwait have held unsuccessful talks for many years over their disputed maritime border area, which is rich in natural gas. Saudi Arabia is also a part of the dispute as it shares with Kuwait maritime gas and oil resources in the area.
Source:Taipei Times
July 05, 2023 21:38 UTC
‘Love letters’ from death row: Singapore’s pre-execution photo shoots
Photo: AFPSingapore imposes the death penalty for a litany of crimes, including murder and some forms of kidnapping. It also has some of the world’s toughest anti-drug laws: trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis can result in the death penalty. Photo: AFPIn a program first introduced in the 1990s, they were offered the option to pose for photographs before their death. ‘VENEER OF THOUGHTFULNESS’Little information is publicly available about Singapore’s death row inmates. The Transformative Justice Collective, which provides support to families of death row prisoners and advocates for the abolition of the death penalty, estimates about 53 people are on death row, the majority convicted of drug offenses.
Source:Taipei Times
July 05, 2023 21:17 UTC
Forex reserves top US$564 billion as assets gain value
Forex reserves top US$564 billion as assets gain valueFed effect: The fund movements likely had to do with market expectations that the Fed would raise interest rates through September, an official saidBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterThe nation’s foreign exchange reserves last month grew US$1.97 billion to a record US$564.83 billion, as its assets denominated in European currencies gained value, the central bank said yesterday. The changes in value came after the US Federal Reserve kept its policy rate unchanged and other advanced countries raised interest rates to tame inflation, Tsai said. Foreign fund flows played a neutral role after remitting US$3.43 billion of capital and wiring over US$3 billion of profit abroad, Tsai said. As of Tuesday, the local currency dropped 1.31 percent against the US dollar, staying within a “stable” range, Tsai said. The fund movements likely had to do with market expectations that the Fed would raise interest rates through September, in a continued bid to fight inflation, Tsai said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 05, 2023 17:14 UTC