Taipei Times
Date: Mar 25, 2015
By: staff reporter Huang Tai-lin

Despite its limited financial resources compared to other special municipalities, Tainan in

recent years has constantly been voted as the best city in the nation in media surveys rating residents’ sense of well-being and the performance of local governments. In a recent interview with ‘Taipei Times’ staff reporter Huang Tai-lin, Tainan Mayor William Lai talked about his approach to governance. In part one of a two-part interview, Lai discusses his aspiration to build the city into the nation’s cultural capital via city branding — the ‘Tainan brand’

Taipei Times: You were a doctor before becoming a politician. Does that experience provide you with a different perspective when tackling governance and interacting with the public?

William Lai (賴清德): There are three “spirits,” so to speak, that I adhere to in my role as a mayor when implementing governance.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-03-24
By:Tsao Ming-cheng, Chu Chen-kai and Staff Reporter

Democratic Progressive Party leader Tsai Ing-wen’s recent comments about moving to

Kaohsiung during her visit to the southern city for an annual meeting of the Kaohsiung Pharmacists Association have sparked debate over whether the move is politically motivated, reports our Chinese-language sister newspaper Want Daily.

Tsai, who received a warm welcome in the city, said Kaohsiung people are warm and spirited.

In various polls, Tsai, the DPP’s presumptive candidate for the next presidential election to be held in early 2016, is the favorite.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/03/23
By: Chang Che-fon and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, March 23 (CNA) Kaohsiung police and prosecutors have seized large amounts of seaweed-based products found to have been soaked in industrial-grade ammonium aluminum sulfate and ammonium carbonate solutions.

Some 40 metric tons of the seaweed products have reportedly made their way into various traditional markets in the southern port city through 49 vendors.

Public health authorities in Kaohsiung are seeking to fine a couple identified only by their surname Pan who have engaged in processing seaweed products over the past 10 years.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-03-23
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

Japanese-Korean actor Daisuke Ryu, who had come to Taiwan to play a part in Martin Scorsese’s historical drama Silence, allegedly attacked an immigration official at the airport on Saturday.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture issued a statement on Sunday, saying members of the film crew have expressed deep regret over the incident and apologized to the official involved.

They promised to visit the official, pay medical costs and assist with compensation, according to the ministry.

Local media reported that Ryu, also known as Myongnam Chang, apparently attacked the official after being asked to fill out an entry form at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport upon his arrival. According to National Immigration Agency officials, Ryu was drunk when he attacked the official, causing minor fractures.     [FULL  STORY]

‘PLACE WITHOUT GOD’:The activists paid homage to the protesters who were injured in the bloody police crackdown at the Executive Yuan on March 23 last year

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 24, 2015
By: Lii Wen  /  Staff reporter

Dozens of students and activists last night took part in a silent procession around the Executive Yuan compound in Taipei, marking the one-year anniversary of the bloody police crackdown on the Executive Yuan protests on March 23 last year during the Sunflower movement.

Led by a coalition of youth activist groups, the participants paid respect to protesters who were injured in last year’s demonstrations, which ended violently after then-premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) ordered the police to clear the protesters by dawn on March 24.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan mourns the passing of 'staunch friend' Lee Kuan Yew

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/03/23
By: Claudia Liu and Jay Chen

Taipei, March 23 (CNA) The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on Monday mourned the passing of Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀), the founding father of Singapore, with President Ma Ying-jeou and other prominent government officials paying tribute to him.

Lee was “a distinguished leader who will be remembered by people around the world,” Ma said through his spokesman.

In a separate press release, the office said Ma and Premier Mao Chi-kuo have conveyed their condolences to their Singaporean counterparts President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Lee’s passing. The press release described Lee as “a staunch friend of the Republic of China.”     [FULL  STORY]