Several local airlines yesterday advised their passengers against using Samsung Electronics Co Galaxy Note 7 devices on board or putting them in checked baggage, due to safety concerns over the smartphone’s fire-prone battery.
China Airlines Ltd (中華航空), TransAsia Airways Corp (復興航空), Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) and Far Eastern Air Transport Co (遠東航空) issued the warnings in the wake of an announcement by the US Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday that passengers should not turn on or charge Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on board aircraft.
EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) last night announced that it would follow suit.
As of yesterday, Qantas Airways Ltd, Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd had adopted similar policies.
The Galaxy Note 7 was not yet available in Japan, but the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourismt cited incidents in foreign nations and issued a warning cautioning people against using or charging the smartphones on aircraft or stowing them in checked baggage.
“Until such time that safety measures are taken by Samsung, the ministry has requested that Japanese airlines strongly communicate instructions to passengers regarding bringing Galaxy Note 7 on board planes,” it said in a statement.
The Galaxy Note 7 has been plagued by fire problems since it went on sale last month, and Samsung found the culprit to be the battery. As of Sept. 1, 35 of the phones had caught fire around the world, and Samsung decided to halt sales of the Galaxy Note 7.
Additional reporting by AFP
PROTECTIONISM: China hopes to help domestic chipmakers gain more market share while preparing local tech companies for the possibility of more US sanctions Beijing is stepping up pressure on Chinese companies to buy locally produced artificial intelligence (AI) chips instead of Nvidia Corp products, part of the nation’s effort to expand its semiconductor industry and counter US sanctions. Chinese regulators have been discouraging companies from purchasing Nvidia’s H20 chips, which are used to develop and run AI models, sources familiar with the matter said. The policy has taken the form of guidance rather than an outright ban, as Beijing wants to avoid handicapping its own AI start-ups and escalating tensions with the US, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the
FALLING BEHIND: Samsung shares have declined more than 20 percent this year, as the world’s largest chipmaker struggles in key markets and plays catch-up to rival SK Hynix Samsung Electronics Co is laying off workers in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand as part of a plan to reduce its global headcount by thousands of jobs, sources familiar with the situation said. The layoffs could affect about 10 percent of its workforces in those markets, although the numbers for each subsidiary might vary, said one of the sources, who asked not to be named because the matter is private. Job cuts are planned for other overseas subsidiaries and could reach 10 percent in certain markets, the source said. The South Korean company has about 147,000 in staff overseas, more than half
Taipei is today suspending its US$2.5 trillion stock market as Super Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rain. The nation is not conducting securities, currency or fixed-income trading, statements from its stock and currency exchanges said. Yesterday, schools and offices were closed in several cities and counties in southern and eastern Taiwan, including in the key industrial port city of Kaohsiung. Taiwan, which started canceling flights, ship sailings and some train services earlier this week, has wind and rain advisories in place for much of the island. It regularly experiences typhoons, and in July shut offices and schools as
CHEMICAL FIRE: 10 Indian employees were injured by smoke inhalation at a Tata Electronics plant in Tamil Nadu state that produces components for Apple Inc At least 10 people received medical treatment, with two hospitalized after a major fire on Saturday disrupted production at a key Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd plant in southern India that makes Apple Inc’s iPhone components. The fire occurred at the plant in the city of Hosur in Tamil Nadu state that makes some iPhone components. It broke out near another building inside the Tata complex, which was to begin producing complete iPhones in the coming months. The fire was contained to one building and has been extinguished fully, top district administrative official K.M. Sarayu said. No decision has been made on when