The China Post
Date: August 3, 2017
By: The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Prosecutors have reopened an investigation into the Kuomintang’s sale of the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC, 中國廣播公司) — one of three related high-profile cases that were closed in 2014.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Thursday questioned ex-BCC Chairman Chao Shao-kang (趙少康) over his purchase of the company from Jungli Investment Co. (榮麗投資公司) in 2006.

The opposition KMT had sold the company to Jungli in 2005 after the passage of a law banning political parties, politicians and the military from owning media outlets.

Prosecutors said they were currently working to determine the sources of funds Chao used in the BCC purchase.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-08-01

Premier Lin Chuan has called on the nation to help save energy as repairs continue at

the storm-damaged Hoping Power Plant.

The collapse of one of the plant’s transmission towers during last weekend’s typhoons has affected the plant’s ability to supply power to the grid. The cuts to the national power supply are expected to last two weeks. The government earlier announced energy-saving measures at government offices, state-owned enterprises, and schools to ensure an adequate supply of power.

On Tuesday, the premier said state-owned power company Taipower has begun offering price incentives to industries to shift their power use away from peak hours. At the same time, he called on members of the public to help keep the power supply stable by saving energy during the afternoon.    [FULL  STORY]

11 people won the NT$10 million special prize and 11 others won the NT$2 million grand prize

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/08/01
By: Taiwan News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Ministry of Finance announced that 11 people won the NT$10

million (US$331,531) special prize and another 11 won the NT$2 million grand prize in May-June uniform-invoice lottery.

The winning number for the NT$10 million special prize in the May-June uniform invoice lottery was 99768846, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize was 83660478. Out of the 11 winners of the special prize, two were issued by FamilyMart stores, for purchases of only NT$20 and NT$148 respectively, both in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City.

Two special prize-winning invoices were issued by 7-eleven, one in Sanchong District New Taipei City for the purchase of NT$76 and a NT$35 purchase in Kaohsiung’s Sanmin District.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/08/01
By: Wu Hsin-yun and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Aug. 1 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) celebrated the Day of Indigenous

Peoples — observed on Aug. 1 each year in Taiwan — at the National Administration Conference of Indigenous Peoples Tuesday, but outside the venue several dozen indigenous activists protested, calling for the complete recognition of their traditional territories.

The annual meeting was organized by the Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples under a theme centering on indigenous language development.

Tsai lauded the legislation of the Aboriginal Languages Development Act, which cleared the legislative floor on May 26 and went into effect on June 14 this year.
[FULL  STORY]

EIGHT PROMISESTsai said her administration has fulfilled vows made to Aborigines, but campaigners said they are still waiting for recognition of their traditional territories

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 02, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday marked Indigenous Peoples’ Day by

attending the National Administration Conference of Indigenous Peoples at National Taiwan University Hospital’s International Convention Center in Taipei.

The annual meeting, organized by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, focused on Aboriginal language development.

Tsai lauded the Aboriginal Language Development Act (原住民族語言發展法), which cleared the legislative floor on May 26 and went into effect on June 14.

Languages play a vital role in identity, Tsai said, adding that was why the government had pushed for the legislation, which lists all Aboriginal languages as national languages.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: August 1, 2017
By: The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Eleven lawyers have launched a petition condemning what they say

was the Justice Ministry’s abuse of power in its handling of an air traffic backlog that came after 500 EVA Air employees took a typhoon day on Sunday.

Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang (陳明堂) said Monday the government would open a criminal investigation into whether “specific persons” had incited or coerced the EVA Air workers into taking the natural disaster leave, which in part led to the cancellation of dozens of flights and stranding of nearly 10,000 people.

There has been speculation that the employees took the day off unnecessarily as part of a union-backed power play. The airline’s union denies this.

The petition, started by human rights lawyer Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智), says the ministry’s apparent plan to investigate is a violation of administrative neutrality and an abuse of power.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei’s mayor said that the weather on Sunday was fine and it should not have been a day off

Taiwan News
dATE: 2017/07/31
By: Taiwan News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taipei City mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) apologized to Taipei

citizens for having a “fake” typhoon day off on Sunday while Tainan’s mayor received intense criticisms from internet users for declaring a day off at the last minute on Monday.

In a meeting with reporters this morning, Mayor Ko apologized for deciding offices and schools should be remained closed on Sunday in Taipei city due based on a prediction that the coming double storms would be more strongly felt in the capital city.

Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) conflicting announcements on school and office closures drew criticism from netizens. He first decided that the city should have an ordinary working day with any late excuse is accepted. However, at 6 a.m. this morning, he reversed his earlier decision and declared that work and classes would be canceled today due to the heavy rain accumulation caused by Typhoon Haitang.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-07-31

Taiwan could face a power shortage crisis. That’s after an electricity transmission tower in Hualien county collapsed when Typhoon Nesat hit the island Saturday.

Speaking on Monday at a press conference, Economics Minister Lee Chih-kung admitted that there will be difficulties in supplying electricity as it takes two weeks to repair the damaged tower. Lee said the economics ministry has mapped out plans to prevent a crisis.

It is estimated that Taiwan’s state-run power company — Taipower — is 1.3 million KWs short in its overall electricity supply following the collapse, including supply to the Greater Taipei area.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/07/31
By: Yang Sz-ruei and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, July 31 (CNA) Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te (賴清德) apologized on Monday for

any inconvenience caused by the city government’s late announcement of school and office closures for that day due to flooding in some areas of the city caused by Tropical Storm Haitang, which made landfall in southern Taiwan the previous night.

Lai’s apology came after the local government made the announcement at 6:25 a.m. Monday, prompting complaints from the public.

During an inspection tour of flooded areas in the city on Monday, Lai said a decision was made on Sunday night to announce that schools and offices would be open as usual on Monday because the Central Weather Bureau forecast indicated cumulative rainfall would not reach 350 mm in a 24-hour period, the official standard for office and school closures in the city.

The government reversed that decision at 6:25 a.m. after determining that flooding in some areas of the city could disrupt traffic and pose a public hazard, Lai added.
[FULL  STORY]