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Kiribati infants receive reconstructive surgery in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/10/19
By: Chen Wei-ting and William Yen

Taipei, Oct. 19 (CNA) Two infants from Kiribati, who were born with cleft lips and

Lo Lun-chou (羅綸洲, right)

palates, have undergone surgery in Taiwan and are now recovering well, one of their Taiwanese doctors said Thursday in Taipei.

The two babies, Langley Beniata and Iotebwa Kantaro, were brought to Taiwan on Sept. 23 with the assistance of the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation (NCF), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Their cases were brought to the attention of the ministry and the two non-governmental organizations by doctor Wang Shih-hsin (王詩欣), who was working in Kiribati.

Wang saw the two infants in January and subsequently contacted the NCF, which helped make the arrangements for them to obtain treatment at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.    [FULL  STORY]

The US calls on Taipei, Beijing to settle differences

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 20, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

The US on Wednesday called on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to conduct constructive dialogue to settle their differences, after Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) again emphasized the so-called “1992 consensus” as Beijing’s basis for cross-strait talks.

“We encourage the authorities in Beijing and Taipei to engage in constructive dialogue that seeks a peaceful resolution of differences acceptable to the people of both sides of the Taiwan Strait on the basis of dignity and respect,” US Department of State Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs spokesperson Grace Choi said.

“We continue to urge patience, flexibility and creativity on both sides,” she added.
[FULL  STORY]

Electricity price will spike 20% in 2025: economics minister

The China Post
Date: October 19, 2017
By: Huang Ya-chuan and S.C. Chang

TAIPEI (CNA) – Economics Minister Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) said Wednesday that by

Economics Minister Shen Jong-chin addresses the Legislature’s Economics Committee on Oct. 18, 2017. said Wednesday that by 2025, some 20 percent of Taiwan’s power demand will be met by green energy, and electricity prices will be 20 percent higher. (CNA)

2025, some 20 percent of Taiwan’s power demand will be met by green energy, and electricity prices will be 20 percent higher.

By that time, he told lawmakers, the average cost of electricity to consumers will increase from NT$2.6159 per kilowatt hour to NT$3.1159.

For a household that consumes 330 kWh per month, it means the bill will be NT$165 higher, Shen said citing Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) data.

The increase of NT$0.5 kWh, or about 20 percent, will come about under the government’s policy of creating a nuclear-free homeland, he said.    [FULL  STORY]

Pres. Office keeping close watch on Trump-Xi meeting

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-10-17

The Presidential Office said Tuesday it will keep a close watch on the upcoming meeting between the US president, Donald Trump, and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Trump will make his first visit to China as president in November.

Presidential Office spokesperson Sidney Lin said Tuesday the government will continue to pay attention to the possible effects Trump’s visit might have on Taiwan.

“Concerning US President Trump’s Asia trip, we are watching over the effect it might make on the international situation and regional development. The government will continue to pay close attention. It has also informed the US to brief us on how the meeting proceeds,” said Lin.    [FULL  STORY]

Free admission to 147 museums nationwide on Oct. 17 in celebration of Taiwan Culture Day

Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun has high hopes for cultural preservation

Taiwan News 
Date: 2017/10/17
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – As Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture is celebrating the Taiwan

Chiang Wei-shui Cultural Foundation presented a photograph of a 90-year-old telegram to Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun (left) (By Taiwan News)

Culture Day, as well as the 96th anniversary of Taiwan Cultural Association (TCA), on Tuesday, October 17, with 147 museums nationwide offering free admission for citizens on this day, the ministry announced a plan to restore historical documents and manuscripts associated with cultural enlightenment led by the organization.

Taiwanese democracy pioneer Dr. Chiang Wei-shui co-founded the TCA, an important organization that helped bring democracy in Taiwan’s history, on October 17, 1921, during the Japanese occupation.

In her speech, Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun expressed her appreciation for the contribution of the TCA to the development of the nation’s culture and democracy, saying that exactly 96 years ago, the pioneers of Taiwan’s cultural and democracy movements, including Chiang Wei-shui, laid a strong foundation of awareness for the country’s burgeoning democracy through enlightenment-based newspapers, speeches, plays and workshops.    [FULL  STORY]

Modern dance piece pays tribute to pro-democracy pioneer

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/10/17
By: Christie Chen 

Taipei, Oct. 17 (CNA) A modern dance piece by late American choreographer Eleo Pomare that pays tribute to Taiwanese pro-democracy pioneer Nylon Cheng (鄭南榕) will be featured at an upcoming dance festival in Taipei, organizers of the festival announced Tuesday.

The piece, titled “Tableaux” (那個時代), will be performed at the 2017 Tsai Jui-Yueh International Dance Festival from Nov. 2-5.

It is inspired by the life and death of Cheng, who is often referred to as the “Father of Free Speech” in Taiwan and is known for setting himself on fire in 1989 to protest the lack of freedom of expression in the country.

The piece was choreographed by Pomare, whose works often touch on the topic of social injustice and the plight of black people.    [FULL  STORY]

Albert Lin touts civilian-based defense system

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 18, 2017
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

Legislators and church officials on Monday lent their support to Albert Lin (林哲夫), a former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and chairman of the Taiwan Research Association of National Peace Security, who proposed that the government focus on “soft power” and develop a civilian-based national defense system to complement the armed forces and deter China’s military threat.

The government must make plans to enhance the nation’s combat readiness and focus the military on asymmetrical warfare, Lin said.

It should also implement the urban rural mission (URM) programs of the World Council of Churches (WCC) to empower people and build up networks within local communities so that the nation could implement a strong civilian defense structure like that of Switzerland, he said.

“We are facing increased belligerence from China, which threatens to annex Taiwan, as Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is expected to consolidate his power at the Chinese Communist Party’s National Congress this week. The government and Taiwanese must think about how to make a breakthrough in the ‘status quo’ to ensure our security, and protect our freedom and democracy against China’s plan to invade our nation,” Lin said.    [FULL  STORY]

Thousands pledge to ‘Cherish the Food’

The China Post
Date: October 17, 2017
By: Courtesy of the NIA

MIAOLI – Ahead of the annual World Food Day on Oct. 16. His Holiness Drikung

Participants in the “Cherish the Food” cycling activity gather in Miaoli. (Courtesy of NIA)

Kyabgon Chetsang and His Eminence Rinchen Dorjee Rinpoche called on the public to participate in a “Cherish the Food” cycling activity on Oct. 14. Around 3,000 people responded to the invitation and gathered in the event’s last stop at the General Assembly of Miaoli County Government Square (苗栗縣政府前廣場) to promote the concept of cherishing the food.

The event started early in the morning at the main entrance of Miaoli’s Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and attracted a professional bikers’ coach and Eelin Entertainment (伊林模特兒) models who joined the event for some warm-up exercises. After the Holiness’s speech, participants joined the riding event and called on more people to care about this land and support the development of a sustainable agriculture.    [FULL  STORY]

Visa free treatment for Filipinos begins in Nov: Foreign Ministry

Travelers at the Manila airport. (CNA)

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-10-16

Taiwan has decided to allow Philippine passport holders visa free entry, starting November 1st. That’s according to an announcement made by the foreign ministry on Monday.

The scheme allows Filipinos to visit Taiwan without a visa for 14 days on a trial basis. The trial period ends on July 31 next year at which point the foreign ministry can decide whether to lengthen the period.

The visa free program is in line with the government’s New Southbound Policy. That refers to the government’s efforts to forge closer economic and cultural ties with New Zealand, Australia, India and ASEAN member countries.    [FULL  STORY]

Two Vietnamese laborers found dead inside septic tank in Tainan

Two Vietnamese workers appear to have succumbed to hydrogen sulfide poisoning before falling into wastewater tank

Taiwan News 
Date: 2017/10/16
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The bodies of two Vietnamese workers were found inside an

Bodies of two foreign laborers found at the bottom of an effluent tank. (By Central News Agency)

wastewater treatment tank in a recycling plant in Tainan City’s Guantian industrial zone yesterday morning (Oct. 5), reported CNA.

The Tainan City Fire Department received a call in the morning that the foreign workers were feared to have fallen into the wastewater treatment tank. When firefighters arrived on the scene, a pungent odor was evident and gas detection equipment registered the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas, which is very poisonous, corrosive, and flammable. After locating the two foreign workers, the firefighters confirmed that they were dead.

According to an initial investigation by the Police, after the two workers failed to appear at a scheduled health check, an inspection of the CCTV monitors showed the two foreign employees in the vicinity of the treatment tank at midnight before disappearing from view.     [FULL  STORY]