Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/29
By: Chiu Po-sheng and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, May 29 (CNA) The government’s efforts to step up a clampdown on tobacco

smuggling have borne fruit over the past six months, resulting in the seizure of over 6.22 million packs of smuggled cigarettes during the period, Minister of Finance Sheu Yu-jer (許虞哲) said Monday.

The Ministry of Finance and relevant central and local government agencies have adopted tougher measures to combat cigarette and tobacco smuggling since Oct. 20 last year in anticipation that a law that could double the health surcharge on cigarettes from NT$10 (US$0.33) per pack to NT$20 from June 12 could spur smuggling, according to Sheu.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: May 30, 2017
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

A pair of stone “lion-dog” statues at the front gate of Taipei’s Yixian Elementary

School that date back to the Japanese colonial era were allegedly destroyed by China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) member Lee Cheng-lung (李承龍) and a woman identified as Chiu Chin-i (邱晉芛) on Sunday evening.

The pair used Facebook live to broadcast themselves breaking the legs of the statues with a hammer at about 8pm on Sunday, leading to their arrest before they left the scene.

The pair are also said to be responsible for the decapitation of a bronze statue of Japanese engineer Yoichi Hatta in Tainan’s Yoichi Hatta Memorial Park in April.

The Taipei Department of Education yesterday said that although the two statues are not listed as protected historical sites, they have important historical value as they have been in place since the Japanese colonial era.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: May 29, 2017
By: The China Post

Falling rocks continued to hamper the work of crews trying to clear the Suhua

Highway for passage Monday, with the road set to remain sealed off until 3 p.m.

Large rocks fell near the 112.6-km mark of the highway Sunday, forcing authorities to seal the road to clear the debris. The scheduled reopening of the highway has been push backed to later this afternoon as rocks continue to fall.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan IntersnadtionAl
Date: 2017-05-28

President Tsai Ing-wen was in the southernmost county of Pingtung on

Sunday for the annual Presidential Office Concert. In the past, the annual Presidential Office concert was held inside the Presidential Office building. This year, though, the concert took place in the president’s home county, and featured traditionally inspired local music.

This was President Tsai’s first time attending the concert in her capacity as president. She said she was delighted to be able to return to her home county during the Dragon Boat Festival weekend, and was proud of the local musicians. A number of foreign representatives to Taiwan were also in attendance.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/05/28
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Taipei Zoo will host a series of summer camps for the upcoming summer vacation, and registration for some of the camps has begun, according to Taipei Zoo.

Registration for the Zoo Doctor Camp, Zoo Scientist Camp, Zookeeper Camp, Beetle Camp, and Forest Adventure Camp will be open at 9:30 a.m. on June 1, according to the zoo. The other two overnight activities–Taiwan-Japan Senior High School Biology Investigation Camp (6 days 5 nights) and Taipei Frog Ecology Camp (2 days 1 night)—have been available for sign-up since May 24, the zoo said. Students from elementary schools to high schools are eligible to register, the zoo said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/28
By: Koo Chih-huan and S.C. Chang

Kaoshiung, May 28 (CNA) More than 10 protesters lobbed bottles at three Pingtung County Council members, injuring one of them as they were leaving a music concert in Pingtung City which was attended by President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文）and other senior officials Sunday.

One of the bottles hit the arm of Chen Ming-ta (陳明達), who wore a vest showing his name and title. Chen Wen-hung (陳文弘), who also had on a similar vest, and Liu Yu-hao (劉育豪), who wore a suit, were unharmed by alarmed.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: May 29, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter

Premier Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday commended the law enforcement

and Coast Guard Administration (CGA) officials who took part in the nation’s largest heroin seizure to date and reiterated the nation’s commitment to fighting drugs.

Kaohsiung preosecutors, investigators, police and CGA personnel on Friday seized 693kg of heroin, estimated to have a street value of about NT$10 billion (US$332 million), found on a fishing boat off Kinmen County.

Acting on a tip-off that a fishing boat registered to Pingtung was trying to smuggle drugs into the nation, the coast guard intercepted the boat 12.5 nautical miles (23.15km) southeast of Wuchiu Island (烏坵) and seized 1,800 bricks of heroin.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-05-27

Taiwan has begun celebrating the annual Dragon Boat Festival, with workers

enjoying an extended four-day-long weekend that begins Saturday.

Traditionally, this is a time for enjoying zongzi, dumplings made with glutinous rice. However, Doctor Chen Chih-dao of New Taipei’s Far Eastern Memorial Hospital says that these treats make the time around the Dragon Boat Festival an especially busy one for Taiwanese doctors.

In addition to glutinous rice, zongzi often contain streaky pork, egg yolks, and other ingredients that are difficult to digest. Many common ingredients are also high in oil, salt, and sugar.

Chen says that as a result, these seasonal treats can cause gastrointestinal problems and can also lead to a spike in blood sugar among those suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes or high blood lipids.    [FULL  STORY]