Taiwan Today
Date: November 18, 2015

Taiwan is ramping up efforts to promote regional economic integration in the

MOEA Minister Deng Chen-chung (right) and NDC Minister Duh Tyzz-jiun recap the results of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting at a press conference Nov. 17 in Manila. (CNA)

Asia-Pacific while furthering advances in people-to-people connectivity and inclusive growth, according to Minister of Economic Affairs Deng Chen-chung Nov. 17.

Deng, who was in the Philippines for the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting, said Taiwan is moving toward its goal of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest trade liberalization pact in the region. He added the bid has been met with positive responses from the 12 nations that have reached agreement on the TPP. The 12 economies are all members of APEC.

“Boasting a vibrant environment for small and medium enterprises, the country offers a raft of strengths in the areas of human resources, industry value chain, information and communications, and intellectual property,” according to the minister.     [FULL  STORY]

Reuters
Date:  Nov 17, 2015
By: Matt Spetalnick and Rosemarie Francisco

U.S. President Barack Obama put tensions over Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea

Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands after speaking to reporters following their bilateral meeting alongside the APEC summit in Manila, Philippines, November 17, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

squarely on the agenda ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit on Tuesday, pointedly visiting the main warship of close ally the Philippines shortly after he landed in Manila.

While Obama affirmed a commitment to the Philippines’ security and to freedom of navigation in regional waters, a senior official in Beijing said China was the real victim of the waterway dispute because other countries had illegally occupied islands there.

The verbal jousting could cast a shadow over the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit of about 20 heads of state and government, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Manila has said it will not bring up the maritime dispute to avoid embarrassing Xi, but could not prevent others from doing so.

Xi also arrived in Manila on Tuesday, but did not make any public comments.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-11-16
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The newly published Children’s Health Booklet was reportedly carrying errors that might cause severe health hazard to infants if their parents follow the instructions. The manual erroneously advises parents to administer a second dose of Hepatitis A vaccines for their babies “six weeks” after the first in lieu of a “six-month” interval. The booklet circulation worries not only parents but also a food industry leader who is outspoken against food safety bureaucracy.

The Chinese-language Apple Daily reported Monday that a total of 200,000 copies of Children’s Health Booklet are being distributed island-wide, while the publisher, Health Promotion Administration, did not take proactive measures to curb the spread of erroneous information in the specified period of vaccination, such as issuing recalls of the booklets. Instead, it reacted to the mistake by merely sending a notification to health institutions.

The media reported that the government hindsight might cause adverse reactions or even severe damages to the recipient.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/11/16
By: Yang Su-min and Kay Liu

Taipei, Nov. 16 (CNA) The Central News Agency has won one award and been nominated in

(CNA file photo)

two other categories in this year’s Consumer Rights Report Awards for its reporting on food safety issues.

A series of reports by CNA reporters in Taiwan and overseas on regulations covering genetically modified (GM) foods was nominated in the category of “best feature reports by print media,” according to the National Press Council, which organizes the awards.

CNA’s video reporting on “decoding” GM food was nominated in the category of “best TV news feature reports.”

CNA reporter Yang Su-min (楊淑閔) has already been named as one of three winners of the award that honors journalists’ dedication to consumer rights issues. Nominees in this category were recommended by consumer protection officials.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 16, 2015

The 2015 Kaohsiung Design Festival is underway at the Pier-2 Art Center, showcasing

Employing digital technology to mimic the shape and growth patterns of natural creatures’ shells, Chang Shih-hui’s “Growth and Deterioration” 3-D garments are on display at the Untamed Fabrication exhibition Nov. 13-22 at the 2015 Kaohsiung Design Festival. (Courtesy of Pier-2 Art Center)

innovative art forms that explore modern uses of technology while expressing concerns over social and environmental issues.

Themed Wild Design, this year’s one-week event features exhibitions titled Untamed Fabrication, Untamed Environment and Untamed System, with works fashioned by 100-plus artists from 22 countries and territories.

“With unbridled ideas and the use of unconventional materials, including waste products, these talents push the envelope of creativity and help promote to the world Kaohsiung’s unique aesthetic landscape built on the foundations of previous versions of the festival,” said Wang Hui-ling, director of the Pier-2 operations center.

One highlight of Untamed Fabrication is “Growth and Deterioration” by Taiwan’s Chang Shih-hui. The piece comprises a series of garments woven with shell-like layers. Chang employs digital technology in her design process in order to mimic the shape and growth patterns of natural creatures’ shells to produce each 3-D dress.     [FULL  STORY]