He offered himself to become the first case of euthanasia in Taiwan if it becomes legal.

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/08
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

A famed Taiwanese sportscaster said on Wednesday that he had written a letter to President Tsai

Ing-wen to plead with her to use her influence to pass a mercy killing law, offering himself to become the first case of euthanasia in Taiwan if it becomes legal.

Fu Ta-jen, 84, said on Thursday that many advanced countries have passed “mercy killing law,” adding, “We, as a democratic country, shouldn’t just talk about gays and get deadlocked in political infighting.”

In his letter to the president, Fu said he was pleading on behalf of all Taiwanese people and hopes that Taiwan can “follow the example of some advanced countries in Europe and America to pass a mercy killing law.” In the letter, Fu also said that he was a member of a national basketball team that won a silver medal in Asian Games for Taiwan and that he had broadcast thousands of sporting events over the years.

Now that he is old and sick he hopes the president can allow him to become the first case of mercy killing in the country if it becomes law, Fu continued to say in the letter.   [FULL  STORY]

FRIEND OR ENEMY?Differing views over labor amendments have sparked questions about loyalty, with an NPP official saying the DPP was beginning to act like the KMT

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 09, 2016
By: Abraham Gerber / Staff reporter

Tensions appear to have intensified between Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and New Power

Party (NPP) legislators after a DPP caucus official reportedly called for a review of the parties’ relationship following disputes over amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) that were passed on Tuesday.

“In the end our efforts [to halt amendments] were not enough, but we only owe an apology to workers, not the ruling party,” NPP Executive Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said. “Over the past two days, I have seen actions that look similar to the way the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) used to treat the DPP, but I will not allow us [the NPP] to be reduced to a supporting escort for DPP legislation because of it.”

While the ruling party and the social movement-rooted NPP are viewed as allies in the “pan-green” political camp, tensions between the two parties emerged in July when NPP legislators occupied the convener’s podium of the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee prior to a review of the proposed labor amendments.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: December 9, 2016
By: Sun Hsin Hsuan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A newly-passed labor bill has eliminated seven statutory holidays in 2017, but

private sector workers will still receive seven holidays that span at least three days, according to a calendar released by the Executive Yuan’s Directorate-General of Personnel Administration (人事行政總處).

On Tuesday at the Legislative Yuan, the Democratic Progressive Party majority forced through an amendment to the Labor Standards Act, which eliminated seven national holidays that private sector workers were to enjoy in 2017.

Next year, private sector workers are entitled to 116 holidays (including weekends) and 12 national holidays shared by public servants, plus a holiday on Labor Day on May 1.

When national holidays occur on a weekend, employers must allow another day off for employees, as stipulated by regulations.    [FULL  STORY]

Hsin Fan and Kenji Doi, founders of Saibaba Ethnique. Photo Credit: Beyonder Times
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The News Lens
Date: 2016/12/07
By: Beyonder Times

Through the past eighteen years, Kenji Doi and Hsin Fan have continued to do and learn, observing the market trends and adjusting their business strategy.

If you are an ethnic fashion addict or an outdoor lover in Taipei, you are very likely to have heard of the brand, Saibaba Ethnique. Featuring ethnic style apparel and accessories, as well as outdoor gear and clothing, Saibaba has four retail stores in Taipei, which attract customers’ eyes with their colorful ethnic-style decoration. “We always try our best to provide unique products to our customers and avoid price competition,” said Kenji Doi, who founded Saibaba with his Taiwanese friend (now his wife) Hsin Fan eighteen years ago.

Started by sourcing exclusive products from India: “Doing easy things doesn’t make money”   [FULL  STORY]

The activities will include the “twilight market” to provide local delicacies and commodities of Chenggong Township and the “twilight beach concert”

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/07
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The headquarters of the East Coast National Scenic Area said on Wednesday that it will organize market and concert activities for people to welcome the first sunlight of 2017 at Sansiantai

The headquarters of the East Coast National Scenic Area said on Wednesday that it will organize market and concert activities for people to welcome the first sunlight of 2017 at Sansiantai(By Central News Agency)
The headquarters of the East Coast National Scenic Area (ECNSA ) said on Wednesday that it will organize market and concert activities for people to welcome the first sunlight of 2017 at Sansiantai, Taitung County, despite the fact that Sansiantai is not where the sun will first shine on the island of Taiwan on the New Year Day of 2017.

The time the sun will first shine at Sansiantai on the New Year Day at 6:03 a.m., the ECNSA said, adding that it will organize activities to welcome the new year’s first sunlight at Sansiantai.  [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/07
By: Chen Chun-hua, Jeffrey Wu and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Dec. 7 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan passed the first reading of a proposed amendment to the Highway Act targeting rider-sharing company Uber by raising the maximum fine for the provision of illegal passenger transportation services to NT$25 million (US$783,724).

Under the bill, the maximum fine on operators of illegal transportation services will be raised from its current level of between NT$50,000 and NT$150,000 to between NT$100,000 and NT$25 million. The bill also stipulates that operators who violate the law could be forced to shut down their business and establishes a reward system to encourage the reporting of illegal practices.

The proposed amendment also states that those caught driving for a ride-sharing company will be fined as well as having their vehicle registration and driving license suspended.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: December 6, 2016

Officials from 18 participants representing 46 World Trade Organization members failed to reach a

consensus on the global trade body’s proposed Environmental Goods Agreement Dec. 4 in Geneva, with Taiwan’s representative, Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-kung, stressing the nation’s commitment to continuing the talks next year.

Formally launched July 2014, the EGA negotiations aim to eliminate tariffs on products crucial for environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Comprising economies including Taiwan, Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, the U.S. and mainland China, the 18 participants account for most of the global trade in such goods.

Lee reiterated during the two-day talks that the Republic of China (Taiwan) government is a staunch proponent of free trade and environmental protection. He voiced disappointment that the 11th round of negotiations had not led to the conclusion of the agreement, but emphasized that Taiwan will continue to actively support multilateral trade deals and looks forward to furthering the discussions in the near future.    [FULL  STORY]