Radio Taiwan Internatiolnal
Date: 02 December, 2019
By: Leslie Liao

Two political groups in Taiwan are asking the Central Election Commission hold televised debates and presentations for legislator-at-large candidates. Representatives from the Taiwan Renewal Party and the Citizen Congress Watch submitted a petition to the Commission on Monday. An answer is expected within two days.

The two groups say that by televising debates and platform presentations, candidates from all of Taiwan’s political parties will have a fair chance in January’s elections. They say that these debates will help Taiwan’s voters make a more informed choice.    [FULL  STORY]

Voice of America
Date: December 02, 2019
By:  Ralph Jennings

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – A medium-sized hunting dog breed called the Shiba Inu once faced extinction in Japan because of war and disease.
 
Now the breed is a pet owner rage in Taiwan. The size and temperament of the fluffy orange-and-white dogs mesh with people’s apartment lifestyles in dense Taiwanese cities, the dog owners say. Their penchant for the dogs reflects a liking for Japanese culture and helps sustain the species.
 
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture says it doesn't keep tabs on how many Shiba Inus live on the island, but one dog seller moves four puppies per month and a local club for people who own the breed has about 60 members, who average more than one dog each.

Anyone passing through a Taipei park in the early evening will see at least a couple of them being walked.    [FULL  STORY]

Early snow likely on Taiwan's Hehuanshan, Yushan by Thursday

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/12/02
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer\

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As a cold air mass blasts into Taiwan, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) predicts that snowfall is likely on mountains over 3,000 meters in elevation, including Hehuanshan and Yushan, by Thursday (Dec. 5) at the soonest.

The CWB said that a combination of the continental cold air mass blowing in from the north and moisture from the periphery of Typhoon Kammuri (北冕) will likely create the right conditions for snowfall on mountains over 3,000 meters in elevation by Thursday or Friday (Dec. 6). The CWB predicts that Hehuanshan and Yushan are the two peaks most likely to see snow over this period.

As of 4 a.m. this morning (Dec. 2), the lowest temperature recorded on Hehuanshan this winter was 1.6 degrees Celsius. Dripping water on the mountain crystalized into long icicles overnight, and grass, tree branches, and leaves were all covered in a layer of crystal clear ice.

Icicles spotted on Hehuanshan. (Photo submitted by member of the public)

The Puli Public Works section of the Directorate General of Highway said that in response to the possibility of the early arrival of snow this week, it is carrying out training for snow removal personnel and readying snowplows. These and other types of snow removal equipment are being stationed on Hehuanshan and kept on standby in advance of any snowfall.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12/02
By: William Yen

Taipei, Dec. 2 (CNA) The Philippine representative office will host a Christmas celebration in Taoyuan on Sunday to spread festive cheer for Filipinos in Taiwan with prizes, cultural presentations and a performance by a special celebrity guest from the Philippines.

The event, titled "2019 Paskong Pinoy: Ang Diwa ng Pasko" (2019 Filipino Christmas: The Spirit of Christmas), will be held in Taoyuan City government square and aims to share the joy of Christmas, which is an important cultural festival for Filipinos, said Sabrina Aaron, director for the assistance to nationals section at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

With over 1,500 people expected to attend, one of the highlights of the celebration will be the competition for the best star-shaped lantern, known in the Philippines as a parol, from a shortlist of 10 works, after 50 entries were received by the final submission date of Nov. 22.

Her office found it difficult to choose the top 10 works because they were all really exquisite and stunning, Aaron said.    [FULL  STORY]

‘VOICE OF THE CULTURE’: Provincial Highway No. 3, which is part of a government initiative to revive Hakka culture, is like a ‘buffet for the soul,’ Matthew Lien said

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 03, 2019
By: Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporter

Canadian musician Matthew Lien is to perform songs from his new album, The Romantic Route 3 —

Hakka Music Map of Matthew Lien (浪漫臺三線 — 馬修連恩的客家音樂地圖), at a concert in Miaoli County on Saturday.

Romantic Route 3 refers to a government initiative aimed at promoting and reviving Hakka culture along Provincial Highway No. 3.

The artist residencies that are part of the initiative seek to bring out traditional Hakka culture from a new perspective, Hakka Affairs Council Minister Lee Yung-de (李永得) told a news conference in Taipei.

The album, which is to be released on Thursday next week, was created during Lien’s residency there, Lee said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12/01
By: Kuan Rui-ping, Hsiao Po-yang, Chiang Yi-ching, Wu Che-hao and
Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) Incumbent lawmakers from Taiwan's two major political parties seeking re-election in January's legislative races are facing stiff challenges from rivals in Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin and Changhua counties.

The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) currently holds the two legislative seats in Miaoli in the diehard "blue" (pro-KMT) county that has been under KMT control for more than six decades.

In the first electoral district, two-term lawmaker Chen Chao-ming (陳超明) of the KMT is facing Lo Kuan-hsing (羅貫星) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a two-term county councilor.

Among the other four candidates in the race, Chu Che-cheng (朱哲成) poses the biggest threat to Chen and Lo.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 02, 2019
By: Dennis Xie  /  Staff writer, with CNA

Taipei City University of Science and Technology (TPCU) students won four golds, three silvers, three

bronzes and four special prizes at the Seoul International Invention Fair on Saturday.

A Bluetooth alcohol detection helmet for scooter riders, from a TPCU team of information engineering students, Tang Yuan-chi (湯元麒) and Gao Li-yu (高立瑜), and advising professor Chang Hsien-Chung (張獻中), earned a gold medal and a special prize at the international invention fair.

The device is intended to curb driving under the influence of alcohol, as these often-fatal incidents are common in Taiwan, the team said in a TPCU news release yesterday.

The helmet uses Bluetooth earphones and a breath alcohol device to measure alcohol levels, which would prevent the scooter from starting if too high, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12/01
By: Wang Shu-feng 

Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) The first cold air mass of the season is expected to reach Taiwan on Sunday night and send temperatures as low as 13 degrees Celsius in the next few days, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Sunday.

The weather around Taiwan was largely mild during the day Sunday, but with the cold air mass moving southward later in the evening, the mercury in northern Taiwan is expected to drop to 17-18 degrees overnight, the CWB forecast.

Temperatures are likely to fall further on Monday and Tuesday in northern Taiwan and parts of central Taiwan, hitting lows of 13-14 degrees, the CWB said.

During the period, northern and eastern Taiwan should see sporadic rain, while central and southern Taiwan can expect sunny or partly cloudy skies, according to the CWB.    [FULL  STORY]