Taipei Times
Date: Feb 06, 2018
By: Chen Wei-han  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should nominate its own candidate for Taipei

mayor this year instead of renewing its alliance with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday.

Lu, who on Thursday announced that she was considering seeking the party’s nomination herself, said that siding with Ko again could cost the DPP the presidency in 2020.

During a radio interview yesterday, Lu said she was confident that she could win if nominated.

She had asked two national policy advisors to inform President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) two months ago of her intention to run, even before DPP Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) announced his candidacy for the party’s nomination on Dec. 17 last year.  [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-02-04

President Tsai Ing-wen gave a recorded address to a group of Taiwanese expatriates in the

United States on Saturday, local time. The video was played at a luncheon for overseas Taiwanese in Washington ahead of the Feb. 16 Lunar New Year’s Day.

Tsai said that perhaps many of the overseas compatriots had been alarmed by news from Taiwan, in particular about differing opinions about the government’s handling of divisive issues. But the president said her government has been tackling the most difficult reforms first, such as restructuring Taiwan’s pension system to prevent its bankruptcy.

Tsai said it might appear that Taiwan’s society is in chaos but that is only because the hard tasks are being dealt with first. She said that over the past year, the economy has improved, stocks have gone up, and unemployment has gone down.   [FULL  STORY]

As get-togethers around Chinese New Year increase, individuals are advised to avoid driving under the influence (DUI) for their own safety and those of other road users

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/02/04
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–As get-togethers around Chinese New Year increase, individuals

are advised to avoid driving under the influence (DUI) for their own safety and those of other road users.

After drinking alcoholic beverages, revelers in Taipei City should employ one of the alternatives listed below as a way to go home safely:

1. Designated driving by companions: Select a sober companion as the driver.

2. Taxi: Call the toll-free number 0800-055-850 (landline) or 55850 (mobile) for cab service.

3. Designated driving by taxi drivers: Book a cab driver who will visit the location of the intoxicated customer and drive him/her home safely.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/04
By: Ku Chuan and William Yen

Taipei, Feb. 4 (CNA) Government contract workers are now eligible to obtain the same

number of paid leave days as civil servants for the purpose of getting married, according to the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration (DGPA).

The new regulation was put in place with effect from Jan. 1 to encourage people to get married and have children, the DGPA said, describing Taiwan’s low birth rate as a national security threat.

Under the new regulation, government contract workers can now claim 14 days of marriage leave with full pay, same as civil servants, the DGPA said.

The number of marriage leave days for government contract workers was increased from eight to 14 in accordance with an amendment last year to the Regulations on Special Leave for Employees of the Executive Yuan and Subordinated Agencies, according to the DGPA.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-02-03

Over 2600 ducks have been culled on a Yunlin County farm where testing has found a

strain of bird flu.

The strain was first detected on January 22 in the results of a county-mandated test that had used the farm’s ducks as a sample. Further testing by a Council of Agriculture lab confirmed the strain to be H5N6 on Thursday.

Taiwan’s agency in charge of animal health inspections, the BAPHIQ, said Friday that the strain of bird flu is not transmissible to humans. It also said that the outbreak had not yet reached a level where culling would be required. The agency said that the culling on the farm had been carried out as a precautionary measure.
[FULL  STORY]

Two allies in Africa and four in the Caribbean might be on Tsai’s itinerary

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/02/03
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – In order to shore up official diplomatic relations, President Tsai

Ing-wen (蔡英文) might visit two African allies and four Caribbean allies this year, the Apple Daily reported Saturday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the report that there was no such news at present.

Only 20 nations around the world maintain official relations with Taiwan, and recent rumors about an imminent agreement between the Vatican and China have led to fears that Taipei’s only European ally might switch sides.

As 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of official relations between Taiwan and Swaziland, Tsai is likely to visit the small land-locked monarchy in Southern Africa during the first half of the year to express her gratitude for its persistent support at international organizations, the Apple Daily wrote.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/03
By: Christie Chen

Taipei, Feb. 3 (CNA) A total of 197 rare and old books will be auctioned at the Taipei International Book Exhibition next week, giving book lovers and collectors a chance to take home collectibles.

The 197 books were exhibited at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park on Saturday and will remain on display until Sunday to give book lovers an idea of what will be available at the auction on Feb. 10.

The most sought-after item is a rare reprint of “Zhiyanzhai’s Re-Annotations to The Story of the Stone (transcribed in the Jiaxu manuscript),” one of the organizers told CNA.    [FULL  STORY]