Taiwanese 15-year-old students place 4th out of 72 countries in math and science categories of the in PISA test

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/12
By: Keoni Everington, Staff Writer

Taiwan’s 15-year-old students ranked fourth in the world in both science and math, based on the

latest results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is a worldwide study carried out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Launched in 2000, PISA is undertaken once every three years to test the abilities of 15-year-old students in the core academic disciplines of reading, math and science. Taiwanese students have participated in the aptitude tests since 2006.

Around 540,000 students from 72 countries took part in PISA in 2015, with 7,708 Taiwanese students participating from 214 schools, including middle schools, high schools, vocational schools, and five-year junior colleges.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/12
By: C.H. Chen and Flor Wang

Taipei, Dec. 12 (CNA) Several new immigrants groups on Monday expressed their dissatisfaction with the newly amended Nationality Act, saying they still felt belittled even as lawmakers saw the revisions as boosting foreign spouses rights in Taiwan.

Speaking at the Legislative Yuan, representatives of the groups, including New Immigrants Labor Rights Association Chairwoman Liu Qian from China, said they have not felt the sincerity of the government despite the changes made to ease restrictions on the naturalization of foreign spouses.

Among the revisions, foreign spouses who apply for naturalization are no longer required to provide proof they have the financial means or professional skills to support themselves, as had previously been required under Article 3 of the act.

Foreign spouses also now only need to renounce their citizenship in their home country within a year after becoming naturalized in Taiwan. In the past, they were required to renounce their original nationality before applying for ROC nationality.    [FULL  STORY]

DIVIDED:The DPP whip said some of the DPP caucus support a special law on same-sex marriage, while others are in favor of amending the Civil Code

TYaipei Times
Date: Dec 13, 2016
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter, with CNA

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) yesterday said that the

party caucus would not issue a directive on whether the Civil Code would be amended to allow same-sex marriage or that a special law must be passed.

Ker also denied that he is averse to homosexuality, reports of which have led to speculation that his views have led the DPP to remain passive on amendments to marriage regulations.

A concert on Saturday promoting marriage equality saw people demanding an amendment to the Civil Code rather than a separate law for same-sex marriage, which critics say would be discriminatory.

Ker said in a radio interview yesterday that despite the DPP as a whole supporting marriage equality, both legislative directions have supporters in the caucus.

“This question will not [be solved by] a resolution made by the caucus,” he said.

As DPP legislators Yu Mei-nu (尤美女) and Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) — both staunch supporters of an amendment to the Civil Code — are legislators-at-large, radio host Clara Chou (周玉蔻) asked Ker whether their opinion indicates President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) position.   [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/09

Taipei, Dec. 9 (CNA) A magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred off the eastern Taiwan county of Yilan at 12:09 p.m. Friday, according to the Central Weather Bureau. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

An intensity of 3 was felt in Nanao, southern Yilan County while an intensity of 1 to 2 was felt in Hualien, Taipei and other areas to the north of central Taiwan, the bureau said.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located 31 kilometers to the east of Yilan County government at a depth of 66 kilometers, it said.    [SOURCE]

The China Post
Date: December 13, 2016
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The CTBC Charity Foundation (中信慈善基金會) kicked off its three-month

fundraising event Monday for children in rural areas of Taiwan, contributing NT$2 million to the Light Up a Life (點燃生命之火) fundraiser.

Light Up a Life, an event held by the CTBC Charity Foundation for 32 years, is intended to raise NT$100 million for children who live in rural areas of Taiwan. Foundation chairman Jeffrey Koo Jr. called on companies to open their hearts to give these children hope, lighting up a 17 meter Christmas tree-shaped music box at the CTBC Financial Park in Taipei’s Nangang District.

School children and parents from Chiayi County’s Zhonghe Elementary School attended a Christmas-themed event featuring an outdoor ice skating rink. The school is located among 18 communities that are supported by the foundation through its “Taiwan Dream” initiative.

“No kid should be deprived of their right to smile and chase after their dreams due to geographic disadvantages,” Koo said, adding that the foundation hoped to give children a better chance to succeed by ensuring that they receive an education and don’t go hungry.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: December 12, 2016
By: CNA

A volunteer traffic officer and a volunteer dog strike a pose during their patrol in Tongxiao Township (通霄鎮), Miaoli County, Sunday, Dec. 11. To cope with the high number of tourists that pour in to pay respects at Baishatun Gong Tian Temple, Tongxiao residents have formed their own road policing unit. A regular sight on the street is patrol captain Chen Chin-jung (陳清榮), who’s often followed closely by his dog.   [FULL  STORY]

Search and rescue efforts were launched on Friday in response to a report of a capsized fishing boat 2.9 nautical miles off New Taipei’s Shimen.

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/11
By: Wendy Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

One more person was rescued and six remain missing after a fishing boat capsized near Fugui Cape

in North Coast, New Taipei City on Saturday, reports said.

Search and rescue efforts were launched on Friday in response to a report of a capsized fishing boat 2.9 nautical miles off New Taipei’s Shimen. While one of the eight crew members, Lin Moude, was lifted from the sea at 8:30 p.m. Friday, seven were reported missing.

Lin said the boat was repeatedly hit by massive waves before it capsized.

On Sunday morning, one more Chinese crew member was rescued from the wreckage of the boat after it was found stranded offshore of Shimen, according to media reports.

The missing crew members include Taiwanese captain Wu Tsung-te, four Chinese and two Vietnamese crewmen.    [SOURCE]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/11
By: Sophia Yeh and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) The legalization of same-sex marriage represents a big societal shift and thus requires a lot of social dialogue and airing of all views in the legislative debate, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Sunday.

All voices should be heard and given the chance to make their arguments and seek support in the Legislature, Tsai said in a statement that was released after two consecutive weekend rallies in Taipei against and for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan.

On Dec. 3, an estimated 100,000 people took to the streets in support of traditional marriage and family values, while 150,000 to 250,000 people rallied Saturday in support of a series of same-sex marriage bills that are before the Legislature.

The issue has spurred attacks and rebukes by people on social media, which is not healthy in a democratic society, according to Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺).   [FULL  STORY]