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Taiwan's Pegatron says it is in final stage of evaluating US factory plan

Taiwan's Pegatron says it is in final stage of evaluating US factory plan

CNA2 days ago

TAIPEI :Key Apple and Dell supplier Pegatron is in the final stage of evaluating its U.S. factory plan and is set to unveil a decision this month or next, its president and CEO Kuang-Chih Cheng told shareholders on Friday.
Key considerations for the Taiwan company include land and labour costs, with electricity being the most critical factor for artificial intelligence server production, Cheng told an annual meeting.
"Like many of our peers and competitors, the areas we're considering are likely to be similar," he said in response to a query about potential locations.

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From bromance to blow-up: Trump and Musk's bitter spat
From bromance to blow-up: Trump and Musk's bitter spat

Independent Singapore

time4 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

From bromance to blow-up: Trump and Musk's bitter spat

The most ballyhooed bromance on earth blew up in spectacular fashion on Thursday when the world's most powerful leader traded barbs online with the world's richest man. In the middle of a meeting with the German chancellor, US President Donald Trump posted that he was 'disappointed in Elon', stung by the tech tycoon's unrelenting criticism of his 'big, beautiful bill'. The spat between these high-profile bromates lit up the internet, with live-blogging websites offering tweet-by-tweet updates, and others speculating—sometimes behind paywalls—on whether the erstwhile bosom buddies had become bitter enemies. Only the most incorrigible punters would dare wager whether the rift is permanent or passing. Given their mercurial temperaments, today's feud could easily become tomorrow's flirtation. Supporters of strong governance may, nevertheless, be relieved. The world's most powerful leader is still more potent than its richest man—at least for now. Musk blinked first. Musk indicated on X he is ready to relent, but the White House has turned a cold shoulder. The president reportedly continues to criticise the Tesla, X and SpaceX boss in private. Costly spat The spat could prove costly for both men. While Trump and his political action committees may not receive the $100 million or more reportedly pledged by Musk, the tycoon risks losing billions. Trump has threatened to cancel his government contracts, posting: 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it.' The rift widened after Musk lambasted Trump's signature tax-and-spending bill, calling it a 'disgusting abomination' sure to wreck the nation's finances. To add insult to injury, he claimed Trump wouldn't have won the election without his support. Trump said he was 'very disappointed in Musk,' accused him of turning 'hostile' after being turfed out of government, and charged that the billionaire was meddling in politics to further his business interests. Musk, who spent over $250 million supporting Trump's re-election bid last year and once declared, 'I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,' hit back hard. He called for Trump's impeachment and replacement by Vice President JD Vance and warned that the president's tariffs could trigger a US recession. See also Hillary Clinton urges Biden not to concede in close election He also insinuated that Trump's name appeared in sealed files relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Still, Musk eventually toned down his rhetoric. After threatening to decommission his Dragon spacecraft, which NASA uses to transport astronauts, he responded to a netizen urging calm with: 'Good advice… Ok, we won't decommission Dragon.' His conciliatory tone, however, received no response from the White House. Trump may struggle to find alternatives if he scraps contracts with Musk's companies. SpaceX remains the only US firm transporting astronauts to and from space. Several government agencies also depend on its Falcon rockets, in-orbit vehicles, and the Starlink network—more than 7,500 internet satellites, which Ukraine has used in its war against Russia. Media pundits are almost unanimous in concluding that the bromance was doomed from the start—doomed by two towering egos unwilling to share the spotlight. Ideological divide? But Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland sees more than just a personality clash. He believes there is also an ideological divide. See also Trump and Biden outline competing visions for US economy Musk's opposition to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' may be linked to its failure to extend tax credits for electric vehicles—a provision that might have boosted Tesla's sagging sales. Publicly, however, Musk has criticised the bill on fiscal grounds, warning that it will deepen the already gargantuan US deficit. In doing so, he has recast himself as a champion of traditional, deficit-conscious Republicans. Freedland notes a growing divide on the American right: between old-school conservatives who worry about fiscal responsibility, and nationalists like Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon, who support tariffs and oppose global immigration. Musk, by contrast, has argued against tariffs and in favour of keeping the US open to highly skilled, tech-savvy immigrants. He has even called for the formation of a new political party. No wonder the bromance has broken down. But then again, politics makes strange bedfellows—and anything's possible. Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

‘FIRE' paints an attractive picture of achieving financial freedom early in life, but retirement shouldn't be the end goal
‘FIRE' paints an attractive picture of achieving financial freedom early in life, but retirement shouldn't be the end goal

CNA

time6 hours ago

  • CNA

‘FIRE' paints an attractive picture of achieving financial freedom early in life, but retirement shouldn't be the end goal

Over the past decade, the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) has been gaining widespread popularity online, inspiring and motivating more people to manage their money better in order to retire sooner. Some fantasise about how they can 'fire' their boss once they retire early. Others dream of being able to stop working entirely to spend time on family or passion projects. There's nothing wrong with FIRE as a goal, but true financial freedom can look very different from the picture this ethos paints. NO LONGER TRAPPED BY OUR NEXT PAY CHEQUE The relationship between our work and finances is a tightly entwined one – most of us need our next pay cheque in order to cover our living expenses and bills, so we keep working. As such, it can be easy to equate the idea of 'financial freedom' with that of 'freedom from work'. But in reality, financial independence and early retirement are two distinct, different things. Not everyone wants to stop working. Studies show that purpose and productivity are essential for our long-term happiness – even post-retirement. Many who reach financial independence continue working, not because they have to but because they want to. But what financial freedom really gives us is the power to make decisions about how we work without worrying too much about financial repercussions. It allows us to choose roles that align with our values, take breaks when needed, or say no to toxic work environments. When we're no longer trapped by the need to rely heavily on our next pay cheque, we gain the freedom to work for our own growth and purpose. WHAT IS YOUR VERSION OF FIRE? The original FIRE ethos called for saving aggressively (usually more than half your income) and investing wisely so you can retire early. It sounded great in theory, but for most, it often required high income and extreme frugality. Today, the FIRE movement has evolved to encompass varying definitions of financial independence. It is no longer about reaching an end goal, but more about the type of lifestyle we desire and the level our finances will need to hit in order to support our aspirations. For instance, 'Lean FIRE' refers to a minimalist lifestyle where you retire with a lower budget. There's also 'Barista FIRE', describing a point where withdrawing from your savings and investments can cover your major expenses and bills, while you supplement the shortfall with part-time or passion-based work (such as being a barista). These newer variations of FIRE may seem like dilutions or compromises – but in reality, they are just as true to the core essence of financial freedom. True financial freedom empowers us with choice rather than demanding retirement. It should mean more options, not less. This shift in mindset can be liberating. Instead of chasing a retirement date or age, we can focus on building a lifestyle where money supports flexibility, purpose, and well-being rather than escape. Perhaps you might decide to stay in your current job, but negotiate fewer work hours that would allow you to care for your children or ailing parents. You might explore part-time roles, start a small business, or pull a Jeremy Tan and pursue advocacy for change (even if it's not as an independent candidate in a general election). ARE WE LOOKING FOR ESCAPE, OR A BETTER BALANCE? Out of all the people I know who've successfully achieved financial independence, the happiest ones are those who never quit working – but it's not because they particularly love slogging. A friend downsized his role to two days a week to spend more time looking after his mother after her cancer diagnosis. Another stopped chasing yearly pay increments and started mentoring juniors instead, finding deeper fulfilment in growing the next generation than a fatter pay cheque. Clearly, the real problem isn't work itself – many people find meaning, identity, and purpose through their work. Rather, it is the lack of control over what, how, when, and why we work that has us dissatisfied. Financial freedom can still mean not working at all, but it's important for us to understand that this isn't the only version of true freedom. Maybe it'll mean a smaller pay cheque, but while it may look to others like you're settling for less, you're in fact gaining more in time, autonomy, and peace of mind. Ironically, when we do work that we're passionate about – work that energises us instead of draining us – we are much more likely to stay the course. WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT Even so, I get why FIRE remains so popular not just in Singapore but around the world. Trying to achieve financial security is getting trickier and trickier, especially in a world where inflation only seems to keep climbing and job stability is quickly vanishing in the face of repeated layoffs and the proliferation of artificial intelligence. That's why the FIRE movement appeals to millions of people around the world, because it seems to offer a solution. A way to regain control. But the core tenet of financial independence was never about never working again – it about never needing to work out of fear or survival. So instead of running towards an arbitrary finish line, consider the path you're on instead. Is there a way to redesign the way work fits into your life now? We don't have to wait until we retire, whether it's early or not.

Senior Taiwan official visits site of new Alaska LNG project
Senior Taiwan official visits site of new Alaska LNG project

CNA

time11 hours ago

  • CNA

Senior Taiwan official visits site of new Alaska LNG project

TAIPEI :A senior Taiwanese official said on Saturday he had this week visited the site of a potentially enormous new liquified natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska that the Trump administration has been pushing hard to allies in Asia as a supply option. Energy developer Glenfarne had said on Tuesday that 50 firms had formally expressed interest in contracts worth more than $115 billion from its Alaska LNG project, a massive infrastructure deal championed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Writing on his Facebook page, Pan Men-an, secretary-general to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, said he had attended an energy conference in Alaska at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and visited the state's North Slope. Phase One of the project is expected to deliver natural gas about 1,230 km (765 miles) from the North Slope to the Anchorage region. "Despite the freezing temperatures, we talked enthusiastically about building resilience and responsibility as democratic partners in the face of global climate change and the challenges of authoritarianism," Pan wrote. "In the face of trade challenges and international turbulence, we have no choice but to rise to the occasion," he said, without mentioning whether he had signed any deals while there. The presidential office said late on Friday that Pan had been accompanied by Fang Jeng-zen, chairman of Taiwan's state-owned energy company CPC. CPC in March signed a non-binding agreement to buy LNG and invest in the project, a move Taiwan's president has said would ensure the island's energy security. If built, the Alaska LNG project will export up to 20 million metric tons of the superchilled gas a year. It would open direct access for U.S.-made LNG to Asian markets without having to go through the Panama Canal or around the Horn of Africa, reducing transit time and costs. Taiwan has pledged to massively ramp up its purchases from the United States, including energy, to reduce a yawning trade surplus that has angered Washington.

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