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Excessive exposure to PM2.5 cost 6,000 lives last year: research

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/24
By: Lung Pei-ning and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) More than 6,000 people died of diseases 66205854exacerbated by excessive exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in Taiwan last year, according to research by National Taiwan University released Thursday.

PM2.5, known to be linked to several chronic health problems, caused the deaths of 2,240 ischemic heart disease patients, 2,140 stroke patients, 1,250 lung cancer patients and 645 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, the research shows.     [FULL  STORY]

Fablab Taipei promotes maker culture

Taiwan Today
Date: December 24, 2015

Fablab Taipei, the latest government initiative aimed at spurring

Premier Mao Chi-kuo (center) is joined by MOE Minister Wu Se-hwa (fourth left) while inaugurating Fablab Taipei Dec. 23. (Courtesy of the Executive Yuan)

Premier Mao Chi-kuo (center) is joined by MOE Minister Wu Se-hwa (fourth left) while inaugurating Fablab Taipei Dec. 23. (Courtesy of the Executive Yuan)

innovative entrepreneurship in Taiwan, was launched by the Cabinet Dec. 23 at the Taiwan Air Force, the site of the former ROC Air Force headquarters, in the northern Taiwan metropolis.

“In a new global economy powered by creativity and innovation instead of cost and efficiency, the facility will integrate public and private-sector resources to foster next-generation talents to drive Taiwan’s development,” Premier Mao Chi-kuo said during the inauguration ceremony.

“Fablab Taipei will be a primary venue for promoting open learning among Taiwan’s youth and initiating exchanges between local makers and their global counterparts,” he said. The Taiwan Makers Association said Taiwan is the 80th country in the world to provide such a facility.     [FULL  STORY]

Chiu sues eight over ‘sorry’ recording

LIES?Chiu Yi is contradicting himself by denying that he had apologized to Tsai Ing-wen, while admitting that the recording was obtained from the court, the DPP said

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 25, 2015
By: Alison Hsiao  /  Staff reporter

Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅)

Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Chiu Yi yesterday holds up documents during a news conference in which he announced his intention to file a lawsuit against eight people for “cracking telecom records” and defamation. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Chiu Yi yesterday holds up documents during a news conference in which he announced his intention to file a lawsuit against eight people for “cracking telecom records” and defamation. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

yesterday filed a lawsuit against eight people, accusing them of illegally accessing court records and defaming him by publicizing a 2012 audio recording in which he apologized to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) for falsely accusing her of masterminding a shooting in 2010.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Chiu denied that he had ever apologized in court to Tsai, who had sued him for claiming on a political talk show that she was behind the shooting of KMT Central Standing Committee member Sean Lien (連勝文) during an election campaign event in 2010.

His denial prompted the DPP to make public a copy of the court transcript as well as a voice recording, confirming that he had indeed made an apology.     [FULL  STORY]

Former First Family members not charged

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-23
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The son, daughter and son-in-law of former

Former First Family members not charged.

Former First Family members not charged.

President Chen Shui-bian will not be prosecuted for the alleged use of more than NT$5 million (US$165,000) in government funds, reports said Wednesday.

Chen’s period in office, from 2000 to 2008, was followed by a large number of investigations into the financial dealings of him and his family, which left him with a 20-year prison sentence. He was allowed out on medical parole last January after serving six years and has been living with his family in Kaohsiung since.     [FULL  STORY]

14 overstayed Indians caught in Taoyuan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/23
By: Chiu Chun-chin and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Dec. 23 (CNA) The National Immigration Agency (NIA) reported

(Photo courtesy of the National Immigration Agency)

(Photo courtesy of the National Immigration Agency)

Wednesday that it had caught 14 Indians who had overstayed their visas in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.

According to the NIA, this was a rare case in recent years, as so many Indian overstayers at one time is an unusual occurrence. The agency will continue to investigate the employer who employed them illegally and will expel the Indians soon.

After being tipped off that a lot of foreigners appeared to be hanging around a house in Daxi District in Taoyuan, the agency’s Specialized Operation Brigade began a surveillance operation and found the 14 Indians in a raid that took place Dec. 17, saying that the venue was like an “Indian village.”     [FULL  STORY]

Ma praises transformation of Nantou aboriginal village

Taiwan Today
Date: December 23, 2015

President Ma Ying-jeou said Dec. 22 that efforts of the government and

President Ma Ying-jeou (left) listens to a performance by members of Nantou County-based Chin-ai Elementary School string orchestra Dec. 22 in central Taiwan. (CNA)

President Ma Ying-jeou (left) listens to a performance by members of Nantou County-based Chin-ai Elementary School string orchestra Dec. 22 in central Taiwan. (CNA)

local community leaders have transformed Chin-ai Village in Nantou County and improved the lives of many youths in the area.

“The village is now a budding center for violin production as a result of two local elementary school teachers,” Ma said during a visit to the community in central Taiwan. “Their dedication has made a huge difference to the lives of residents.”

According to the president, the teachers Chen Pei-wen and Wang Tzu-chien started offering music lessons to aboriginal students in 2008 using four violins bought with their own money. “The pair later began training locals to produce and repair violins so more of their kith and kin could take lessons,” he said.     [FULL  STORY]

Suspected Taitung hostage-taker held incommunicado

POTENTIALLY LETHAL:Police said that Lin Kuo-cheng’s weapon was a modified handgun that is capable of firing bullets and not a toy gun as was reported on Tuesday

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 24, 2015
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

The suspect in a two-day hostage situation in Taitung, Lin Kuo-cheng

The firearm of fugitive Lin Kuo-cheng is pictured in a photograph taken in Taitung County yesterday. Photo: Chen Hsien-yi, Taipei Times

The firearm of fugitive Lin Kuo-cheng is pictured in a photograph taken in Taitung County yesterday. Photo: Chen Hsien-yi, Taipei Times

(林國正), was taken to a detention center adjacent to Taitung Prison yesterday after being questioned overnight at the Taitung District Prosecutors’ Office.

Lin surrendered to police at about 4:30pm on Tuesday after a 21-hour standoff.

Due to concerns about attempts to escape or destroy evidence, a local judge approved a request by prosecutors to detain Lin incommunicado.

Lin is expected to be charged with robbery, holding victims against their will and other crimes.     [FULL  STORY]

Hottest winter solstice in Taiwan in 67 years

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-22
By George Liao

The Taipei Weather Station registered a record-breaking temperate of

Hottest winter solstice in Taiwan in 67 years.

Hottest winter solstice in Taiwan in 67 years.

30.5 degrees Celsius at 2:01 PM on Tuesday, making it the hottest winter solstice in Taiwan in 67 years.

According to Central Weather Bureau reports, 30.5, 30.2 and 29.9 degrees Celsius respectively registered in Taipei City, Banqiao and Tamsui were the highest temperatures in Taiwan on Tuesday.

The bureau said the environmental wind field turning to southeast wind, northward movement of the southern warm air masses, and little clouds in the sky combined to make the temperature rise, which was especially evident in central and northern Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

DPP’s Tsai promises ‘no provocation, no surprise’ China policy

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/22
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Dec. 22 (CNA) Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), chairwoman of the 38211391opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and front-running presidential candidate in next month’s elections, said Tuesday that Taiwan needs stable cross-Taiwan Strait relations and that her cross-strait policy will be “communication, no provocation, no surprises, as well as continued safeguarding of cross-strait stability.”

Meeting business leaders in an economic forum, Tsai stressed that “maintaining the status quo” will be the cornerstone of her cross-strait policy if she is elected.     [FULL  STORY]

ROC honors winners of 2015 National Professorships

Taiwan Today
Date: December 22, 2015

Winners of this year’s ROC National Professorships were honored Dec.

President Ma Ying-jeou (fifth left), Premier Mao Chi-kuo (fourth left) and MOE Minister Wu Se-hwa (fifth right) are joined by winners of this year’s ROC National Professorships Dec. 21 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOE)

President Ma Ying-jeou (fifth left), Premier Mao Chi-kuo (fourth left) and MOE Minister Wu Se-hwa (fifth right) are joined by winners of this year’s ROC National Professorships Dec. 21 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOE)

21 in Taipei City for distinguished research achievements and contributions to enhancing Taiwan’s academic environment.

The seven professors from National Central University in Taoyuan City, National Taiwan University in Taipei City and National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu City will each receive an annual NT$1 million (US$30,196) grant over three years provided by the Ministry of Education.

Among these, Chi Yun of NTHU’s Department of Chemistry and Ip Wing-huen of NCU’s Graduate Institute of Astronomy were named lifetime award holders after claiming the honor for the second time.     [FULL  STORY]