The China Post
Date: February 14, 2017
By: AP and CNA

TAIPEI — Taiwanese officials and media reports are blaming a cold spell for the deaths of more than 150 people, most of them elderly and sick, over the past several days.

Temperatures fell as low as 6.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday evening along the coast north of the capital, Taipei.

Taiwan’s Liberty Times newspaper and United Daily News said the deaths of 154 people since then were likely related to the cold. Reports say below-normal temperatures around much of the island from Thursday night through Sunday may have triggered deadly heart attacks and strokes as well as the deaths of elderly people with the flu.

Temperatures in Taipei average 16 C in January, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. Because of the relatively mild norms, most households in Taiwan lack central heating, another suspected factor in the recent deaths.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
By: 2017-02-12

Taiwan’s defense ministry is getting ready to roll out the first Quadrennial Defense Review since President Tsai Ing-wen took office last May. The review, expected in March, involves an explanation of strategy and the military force levels needed, and will be used to gather support for a defense budget.

The military says that the annual Han Kuang military exercises will be conducted this year on the basis of the president’s new military strategy. As a result, the exercises – scheduled for May – will involve simulated war games to allow more time for a post-drill review. Actual troops will not be used in the exercises until next year.

President Tsai in January ordered the military to “confirm its direction and change its culture” and put a greater emphasis on “effective deterrence.”    [FULL  STORY]

ADVICE:Health officials reminded the public to avoid touching live or dead birds, to thoroughly cook eggs and poultry, and to wash their hands after handling raw items

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 13, 2017
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

Authorities yesterday confirmed that a turkey farm in Tainan has been infected with the H5N6 avian influenza virus and that a cull has been carried out.

Other poultry farms within a 3km to 5km radius of the infected farm in Lioujia District (六甲) are to be monitored, but so far no other cases have been reported, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine said.

It was the second confirmed case in the nation after Hualien County on Feb. 5 reported a dead gosling infected with the H5N6 virus at a Yuli Township (玉里) farm and the infection in that case was confirmed on Saturday.

A ban prohibiting the transportation of waterfowl from Hualien County to other parts of the nation was imposed on Monday last week and is to run through Tuesday next week.
However, the ban came a day too late for scores of workers in Yilan County.
[FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: February 13, 2017
By: CNA

TAIPEI — Taiwan on Sunday denounced North Korea’s missile test and said it was closely monitoring the movements of the Chinese navy in the South China Sea and West Pacific.

Presidential Office Spokesman Alex Huang expressed the government’s strong disapproval of North Korea’s ballistic missile launch into the Sea of Japan early on Sunday, noting that Taiwan’s defense and national security authorities are “watching closely” military responses in the region.

“Any act aimed at intimidating and threatening and any behavior that undermines regional stability should be severely denounced,” Huang said.

In response to a Chinese military media report that a fleet of naval ships departed Sanya, Hainan Island, two days ago on a training mission, Huang said defense and security officials are “closely monitoring” the situation and all necessary deployments and countermeasures have been taken.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-02-11

In Taiwan, Taipei in the north will be mostly clear with temperatures ranging between 10 and 16 C. Kaohsiung in the south also will be partly clear with a high of 22 C.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong will be sunny with a high of 20 C. Beijing will be sunny with a high of 9 C. Tokyo can also expect sunshine and a high of 11 C. And Seoul is also looking at sunny skies with high of 5.    [SOURCE]