Page Two

Cabinet says radio frequency decisions not politically motivated

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-04-16

One of Taiwan’s largest radio broadcasting networks – the Broadcasting Corporation of

The Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC) cut two of its frequencies as of midnight on Saturday night, following an order from the National Communications Commission (NCC), which regulates the media in Taiwan. (CNA photo)

China (BCC) cut two of its frequencies as of midnight on Saturday night. That was following an order from the National Communications Commission (NCC), which regulates the media in Taiwan.

The two networks – the Formosa Network and i-Radio Network can now only be heard on-line and via cell phone apps. The NCC has turned the frequencies over to the Hakka Affairs Council and the Indigenous People Culture Foundation, for programming related to the Hakka and indigenous peoples of Taiwan. The Hakka programming will begin in mid-June, while the indigenous programming will begin in August.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which once owned the radio station, held a press conference on Sunday condemning the move and saying that it was politically motivated. KMT Lawmaker Wang Yu-min, who is the convener of the party’s legislative caucus, also criticized the NCC for allowing the frequencies to go without content for thousands of hours.    [FULL  STORY]

CWB: northern Taiwan to face unstable weather in coming week

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/04/16
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–The weather will be changeable in northern Taiwan in the

The weather will be changeable in Taiwan in the coming week, the CWB forecast on Sunday, expecting a front system to pass through Taiwan on Tuesday (By Central News Agency)

coming week, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast on Sunday, expecting a front system to pass through Taiwan on Tuesday, bringing rains to the northern areas.

The rain is expected to slack off in northern Taiwan on Wednesday, but the weather will become unstable for this area from Thursday when northeast seasonal winds are predicted to affect Taiwan, according to the CWB.

Low temperatures are likely to drop below 20 degrees Celsius and rains are expected to be more apparent in northern Taiwan on Thursday, the weather bureau said, predicting the weather to remain unstable for northern Taiwan until Sunday.    [FULL  STORY]

Two workers die in shipbuilding accident in Kaohsiung

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/04/16
By: Cheng Che-fon and Kuo Chung-han

Kaohsiung, April 16 (CNA) Two workers died at a work site building a semi-submersible

(Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung City Labor Affairs Bureau)

heavy-life ship for CSBC Corporation, Taiwan (台船) in Kaohsiung on Saturday afternoon.

The two men, a 42-year-old surnamed Lu (盧) and a 46-year-old surnamed Lin (林), who worked for a contractor of CSBC Corp, were found in an overflow cabin after workers extinguished a fire. The two apparently died from electric shock while arc welding, according to Kaohsiung City Labor Affairs Bureau on Sunday.

The bureau has ordered the model of arc welder involved in the accident removed from service and all work on the semi-submersible stopped.    [FULL  STORY]

Orchid Island ferry service abruptly shutters

The China Post
Date: April 17, 2017
By: Kuan-lin Liu

TAIPEI, Taiwan — HAWA (恆春興蘭海運公司), a passenger ship company serving the

This is an advertisement for HAWA’s passenger ships, captured from a promotional video on Sunday, Apr. 16. The passenger ship company informed consumers that it would suspend operations indefinitely late on Saturday and has since been radio silent. (CNA)

Hengchun Township-Orchid Island route, shut down operations with no prior warning, according to local media reports on Sunday.

The company reportedly sent text messages to its clients Saturday night stating that it was “suspending its operations indefinitely.” The firm did not respond to inquiries from reporters or customers, according to local media.

Currently, both the company’s phone and website are inaccessible.

The sudden closure has sparked ire among customers who had previously booked tickets.    [FULL  STORY]

Tsai preparing progress report

PRIORITIES:The Cabinet is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss plans for an ‘Asian Silicon Valley,’ including applications for artificial intelligence and virtual reality

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 17, 2017
By: Lee Hsin-fan / Staff reporter

With the one-year anniversary of her presidency around the corner, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is gearing up to meet with representatives from various government agencies to evaluate the progress of her reform plans and major policies.

According to a high-level Presidential Office official speaking on condition of anonymity, Tsai has been closely watching the execution of her policies and plans to make the results public before May 20 to raise awareness of the government’s efforts.

She is giving particular attention to the “new southbound policy” and an economy-boosting program to develop the “five plus two” industries, which includes an “Asian Silicon Valley,” “intelligent” machinery, “green” energy technology, biomedicine and national defense, plus the establishment of a new agricultural paradigm and a circular economy, the official said.

The government’s ongoing campaign against drugs is another major focus of Tsai’s, the official said, adding that both the president and Premier Lin Chuan (林全) have heard reports about progress on the issue and have instructed government agencies to make changes.    [FULL  STORY]

Local government heads to attend hearing on infrastructure

Radio nTaiwan International
Date: 2017-04-15

The mayors of Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taichung along with the head of Chiayi County are all slated to attend a public hearing on the government’s railway infrastructure plan.

The hearing will be co-hosted by six special legislative committees, including the committees in charge of economic development and transportation.

The moderator of the meeting, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Gao Jyh-Peng, says funding for railway construction, set at NT$ 400 billion (US$ 13.2), accounts for half the budget for the government’s infrastructure plan.

Gao said he is glad to see the heads of Taiwan’s local governments working to help secure the budget for the railway plan.    [FULL  STORY]

Duo to pay NT$130,000 for fare dodging on high speed rail

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/04/16
By: Central News Agency

A woman who once worked for Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. and her boyfriend will have to pay a total of NT$130,000 (US$4,278) for colluding to ensure the woman did not pay the full fare on two separate trips on the high speed rail from Taipei to Kaohsiung.

The woman, surnamed Liu (劉), spent a total of NT$55 on the trips, but she and her boyfriend, surnamed Kuo (郭), were fined NT$40,000 each in lieu of 40-day confinement by Ciaotou District Court in Kaohsiung.

Coupled with the NT$50,000 the couple already paid Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp, means they will pay a total of NT$130,000.    [FULL  STORY]

Warm, sunny weekend forecast in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/04/15
By: Wang Shu-fen and Y.F. Low

Taipei, April 15 (CNA) The weather in Taiwan will be warm and sunny over the weekend

CNA file photo

before a new front arrives early next week, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Saturday.

Due to warm air brought by southerly winds and decreased moisture, maximum daytime temperatures will reach 30-31 degrees Celsius in the western half of Taiwan and 28-29 degrees in eastern regions on Saturday, with slightly higher temperatures expected on Sunday and Monday, the bureau said.    [FULL  STORY]

Advocates urge remodel of Losheng Sanatorium

UNSIGHTLY:It is unlikely that a cultural park at the complex would attract many visitors unless a platform to its entrance is reconstructed, advocates for the site said

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 16, 2017
By: Abraham Gerber / Staff reporter

Human rights advocates and residents of the Losheng (Happy Life) Sanatorium held a protest outside the Executive Yuan yesterday, calling for the Cabinet to allocate funds to rebuild the sanatorium’s entranceway, and to right past injustices as it seeks passage of its Forward-looking Infrastructure Construction Project.

The complex — built in the 1930s in New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang District (新莊) — was the nation’s first sanatorium for people with Hansen’s disease.

The Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems’ (DORTS) decision to use the complex as a maintenance depot during the construction of the Xinzhuang MRT line eventually led to its partial demolition.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has since designated the remaining buildings a historic landmark.    [FULL  STORY]

Low-paid workers given income tax exemption

The China Post
Date: April 16, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Is it a “little happiness” or “great misfortune” for many young workers with low monthly pay of NT$22,000 (US$723) to be exempt from any personal income tax? While the answer may seem obvious, it’s more than a little complicated.
In principle, all the nationals with income records are required to file personal income tax returns in May.

But as part of its efforts to streamline taxation, the Ministry of Finance has decided to exempt potential taxpayers from filing the tax returns so long as their annual income earned for 2016 is lower than the combined amount of tax exemption and tax deduction.

Salaried employees are also allowed to enjoy an additional fixed salary deduction.
[FULL  STORY]