Taiwan Today
Date: February 26, 2016

The first-ever Taiwan cartoonist to have his work serialized by Japan’s top-

selling Shonen Jump comics magazine is blazing a trail for local talents seeking to ply their trade in the East Asian country.

Ponjea, or Peng Hsi-chao, was born in Taichung City 34 years ago and is an architect-cum-cartoonist of considerable talent. Inspired by Japanese legends Fujiko Fujio and Akira Toriyama of “Doraemon” and “Dragon Ball” fame, respectively, the central Taiwan native started drawing comics featuring his classmates during elementary school.

But it was not until 2010 that Ponjea reached the holy grail of graphic novels in Asia. He won a competition for developing characters, concepts and settings staged by Japanese manga master Riichiro Inagaki, with his submission published by the 2.7-million-per-week circulation Shonen Jump.

Later the same year Ponjea produced “Chronos Ruler,” an action-packed manga aimed at young males published by SJ stablemate Shonen Jump Next. It was the first time a foreign artist had been commissioned by the magazine.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-02-25
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Unemployment rate in Taiwan remained flat for January, while the number of

people with full-time jobs merely increasing by 0.02 percent, the smallest in six years, government statistics showed Thursday.

According to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), the rate of unemployment in January showed no change at 3.87 percent from last December but rose 0.16 percentage points from the same period of last year. The DGBAS official indicated that the employment only increased by 2,000, or 0.02 percent, the lowest level since 2010, showing slow growth momentum at the job market as a result of weak economy.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.91 percent in January, up 0.03 percentage points from last month.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/25
By: Elaine Hou

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) Australia and New Zealand’s top envoys to Taiwan participated in a special fundraising event Thursday in Taipei, which involved sleeping on the floor in a cold room and having their electronic devices taken away to simulate homelessness.

The event, called “CEO Sleepout,” was joined by several members of the Taiwanese business community and representatives from foreign countries, who were willing to be “homeless” for one night, in an effort to help raise awareness of the issue in Taiwan.

The event is taking place at a meeting room in the Holiday Inn East Taipei, where participants had the same meals served to the homeless people by the Salvation Army’s care center.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: February 25, 2016

Taiwan is expanding its presence in the global wedding and couture dress

supply chain on the strength of high-quality and innovative products.

One of the firms leading the charge is New Taipei City-headquartered Pretty Fashions Inc., a major supplier for big names like Pronovias from Spain and David’s Bridal from the U.S.

Founded in 1989 as an original design manufacturer of dresses, PFI started mass production eight years later at factories in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and mainland China. In 2015, the company sold 600,000 units for NT$1.6 billion (US$47.7 million), comprising 18 percent of the global market.

PFI Chairman Huang Wen-jen said the secret to the firm’s success is creativity and market awareness. “We come up with 1,500 to 2,000 new designs per year, and always keep an eye on the latest consumer and fashion trends.”     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-02-24
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The National Communications Commission on

Wednesday approved changes in the shareholding structure of cable television group TVBS, signaling a move from Hong Kong to Taiwanese ownership.

Media reports that the change amounted to a takeover by HTC Corporation Chairwoman Cher Wang were not confirmed however. The deal still has to be reviewed by the Investment Commission at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The NCC concluded Wednesday that the changes in shares did not violate any rules regarding media monopolies or Chinese stakes in local media.

TVBS announced on January 4 that three Taiwanese shareholders already in control of 53 percent would buy the remaining 47 percent of shares for NT$4.3 billion (US$130 million) from Countless Entertainment, an affiliate of Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Ltd., or TVB.

Under the new shareholding structure, TVBS would become a completely Taiwanese media company, while reports also suggested that Wang might be the controlling owner of the TV station.

A daughter of late Formosa Plastics founder Y.C. Wang, she has made a mark as the chairwoman of global cellphone brand HTC.    [SOURCE]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/24
By: Chen Chih-chung and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) A book that records the design competition for the

Tang Prize medal and certificate, titled “Chasing the Pearl,” has won the 2015 Golden Pin Award in the Visual Communication category.

The book is a collection of 10 works by international designers and 15 award certificate designs by Taiwanese artists.

Its title, “Chasing the Pearl” (良圓) comes from a design by Naoto Fukasawa, who won the competition for the design of the Tang Prize medal.

“Chasing the Pearl” originates from a traditional Chinese concept of a dragon chasing the pearl of infinite knowledge — as shown in Fukasawa’s spiraling design.

The Golden Pin award is expected to further promote the Tang Prize, which was inaugurated in 2014.    [FULL  STORY]