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TEPU pushes for solar-powered cafes on wheels

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-10-03
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Taiwan Environmental Protection Union (TEPU) has made six “solar-powered mobile coffee bikes” 6774108to promote the application of solar energy and help disadvantaged youth start their own business.

As a part of its “solar-powered mobile coffee bikes” promotional project, the TEPU showcased six solar-powered bicycle coffee shops on the square in front of the Red House in the Ximending shopping district on Monday.

TEPU chairman Liu Gin-show said the goal of the project is to publicize the many uses of solar energy and to donate the coffee bikes to social welfare organizations so that they can raise funds and promote green energy at the same time.

After being ridden to a destination, the solar panels on the coffee bike can be unfolded and stretched out to begin absorbing solar energy and generate electricity, Liu said. The fully charged battery can be used to make about 100 cups of coffee Americano, Liu said, adding that the mobile coffee cart uses fair trade coffee, which can help African coffee bean farmers build a better quality of life for their families as well as promote greater equity in international trade.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei is 15th favorite destination for international visitors

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/03
By: Tsai Yi-chu and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Oct. 3 (CNA) Taipei has been listed as the 15th most favored destination city for international visitors for the first time this year and the average amount spent by tourists here exceeded the spending in neighboring Tokyo and Seoul, according to the latest “Global Destination Cities Index Report released by Mastercard.

The report showed that Taipei has set a new record on international visitor numbers with 7.35 million visitors this year, an increase of 500,000 more visitors compared to the same period last year.

That helped it rank 15th in the world for the first time this year and 7th in the competitive Asia-Pacific region, according to Mastercard.

The report projects international visitor volume and estimated spending in 2016 for 132 destination cities in the world.     [FULL  STORY]

‘Diplomatic truce’ an illusion: premier

‘CHARITY’ FROM CHINA:The premier told lawmakers that Taiwan cannot rely on China’s ‘charity’ for diplomatic space, but must create its own international presence

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 04, 2016
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter

The former administration’s “diplomatic truce” policy belied the nation’s diplomatic predicament as Taiwan continues to face challenges caused by pressure from China, Premier Lin Chuan (林全) said yesterday.

“We were led to believe that there was no diplomatic predicament under the so-called ‘diplomatic truce policy,’ but the predicament remains and we have to face it,” Lin said during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan.

“If our participation in international organizations depends on China’s ‘charity,’ [Taiwan’s international presence] is an illusion,” Lin said in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) about the government’s foreign policy.

Saying China has suppressed Taiwan’s international space by forcing its exclusion from this year’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly in Canada and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Morocco, Huang asked whether the government is to scale down diplomatic presence as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepares to close some embassies and overseas missions.     [FULL  STORY]

Tsai hosts Honduran leader Hernandez

The China Post
Date: October 4, 2016
By: CNA

TAIPEI — The president of Taiwan hosted a state welcoming ceremony with honor guard on Monday for

President Tsai Ing-wen, right, and her Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez sign a joint statement at the President Office in Taipei on Monday, Oct. 3. (CNA)

President Tsai Ing-wen, right, and her Honduran counterpart Juan Orlando Hernandez sign a joint statement at the President Office in Taipei on Monday, Oct. 3. (CNA)

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is on a state-visit from Oct. 1-4.

The ceremony was held at Freedom Square, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. It marked the first time President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has welcomed a foreign visitor with an honor guard since taking office on May 20. Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) was also present at the ceremony.

Tsai later held talks with Hernandez at the Presidential Office, during which she expressed the hope that the Central American diplomatic ally would take concrete action to support Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations.

Hernandez reaffirmed his country’s support for Taiwan and reiterated a commitment to promote mutual ties between the two countries.     [FULL  STORY]

Gov’t aims to pass labor bill by year’s end

The China Post
Date: October 3, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The government hopes to see the debated “one fixed day off, one flexible day off” (一例一休) complete its legislative review by the end of the year.

Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) said Sunday the passage of the policy would ultimately create a favorable situation for both employers and workers.

Passing the bill by the end of the year would allow firms to fix working schedules and finalize plans for next year’s national holidays, Hsu added.

The proposed policy mandates a fixed day off every week as well as “flexible” day off, on which employers can request employees come into work.

The Cabinet stands by the policy, yet Hsu acknowledged that ensuring its passage through the legislative review was out of the Cabinet’s hands.

If lawmakers choose to attach amendments or increase special holidays Cabinet officials could only passively request cooperation, he said.     [FULL  STORY]

Nuit Blanche 2016 kicks off in Taipei

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-10-02
By: Maggie Huang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei held its first Nuit Blanche event Saturday with artworks and performances presented in the city’s old center, attracting big crowds to the all-night art gala.

Nuit Blanche is an annual all-night arts festival originated in Paris and takes place the first Saturday night of October. During the festival, museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions are typically open all night and free of charge. Originated in 2002, the Nuit Blanche has since spread to over 120 cities around the world.

Through the many stories of politics, culture, everyday life, the 2016 Nuit Blanche Taipei had invited everyone to experience the collective memories of Taipei, and around 200,000 people joined the event on Saturday, Taipei’s Department of Cultural Affairs said.

The “Art night walk” walked people through the Beimen neighborhood, the historic Dadaocheng, and along the eclectic bookstores that flank Chongqing South Street, to reach the 228 Peace Memorial Park and the National Taiwan Museum. The Office of the President also took part in the event and opened itself for the public to visit from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is the first time the Office of the President opened for the public in the night time.     [FULL  STORY]

It’s important to ‘read’ each other’s face: Ang Lee

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/02
By: Sabine Cheng, Christie Chen and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) Taiwanese American director Ang Lee said Sunday the most important thing in life 201610020019t0001is to “read” each other’s face — and that’s why he tried to use the most sophisticated technology to shoot his latest film “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.”

During a seminar in Taipei, Lee was asked why he shot the film with 120 frames per second in 3-D, 4-K resolution. He said not using make-ups was a challenge to his actors and actresses, especially in close-up, which was supposed to show their facial expressions in great details.

He said he intended for moviegoers to “feel the heat” in the acting and “see through” the actors’ facial expressions and thoughts.

In his habitual humor, Lee said he would not use the 24 frames per second technology to look at Donald Trump. “Twelve frames per second should be enough to do that,” he added.     [FULL  STORY]

UK lawmaker ‘disappointed’ by ICAO snub

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 03, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA

A visiting UK lawmaker on Saturday voiced support for Taiwan’s participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, saying that political considerations should not get in the way of global aviation safety.

Nigel Evans, a member of the UK House of Commons and cochair of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group, said “it is incredibly regrettable” that Taiwan was not invited to attend the year’s assembly.

The ICAO is a UN specialized agency responsible for establishing worldwide aviation policies. The session of the ICAO’s 39th assembly, which is being held at its headquarters in Montreal, started on Tuesday last week and runs through Friday.

The assembly, the ICAO’s sovereign body, meets once every three years to establish worldwide aviation policies for the following three years.     [FULL  STORY]

The unresolved dilemma of the FPG refinery

The China Post
Date: October 3, 2016
By: Sun Hsin Hsuan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Students from Ciaotou Elementary School’s Syucuo branch in the shadow of

The Sixth Naphtha Refinery is seen from the coastline of Taishi District in Yunlin County on Sept. 22. (Sun Hsin Hsuan, The China Post)

The Sixth Naphtha Refinery is seen from the coastline of Taishi District in Yunlin County on Sept. 22. (Sun Hsin Hsuan, The China Post)

Formosa Plastic’s largest petrochemicals complex have been relocated four times in four years.

Parents protesting the central government’s decision to move the students over pollution fears have drawn national attention.

The story dominated national headlines from late August until early September, with experts from various fields opining on the matter.

But parents have described the evidence for the move as relying on “one man’s story.”

The furor was calmed by the government agreeing to second round of sample collection.

The parents wish to prove that results from a report conducted between 2013 and the middle of this year were solid.     [FULL  STORY]

Survey reports attitudes on independence

The China Post
Date: October 1, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao

A survey released by Global Views Monthly (GVM, 遠見雜誌) Friday indicated increasing support for maintaining the status quo with regards to Taiwan’s relations with China.

In latest half-yearly opinion poll on attitudes towards independence in Taiwan, 40.5 percent of respondents supported maintaining the status quo while remaining undecided on long-term changes.

The result represents a 5.7 percentage rise in support from the same survey released half a year ago, prior to Tsai Ing-wen taking office.

It brings backing for the status quo to levels last seen during Ma Ying-jeou’s first term as president.

According to the latest survey, support for independence stood at 24.9 percent, a 3-percent drop from six months ago.      [FULL  STORY]