Wed, Sep 30, 2020
Seven Taiwanese universities are to offer 50 scholarships for Czech nationals to study Chinese in Taiwan, one of the achievements of a visit by a delegation headed by Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Tseng (曾厚仁) and university representatives, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words “I am Taiwanese” in Romanized Chinese and Czech, revealed details about the scholarships at a news conference in Taipei. “I am Taiwanese” refers to a statement Vystrcil made in a speech on Sept. 1 at the Legislative Yuan. Just as former US president John F. Kennedy supported West Berlin’s pursuit of freedom by proclaiming “Ich bin ein Berliner,” Vystrcil at the time said that he would also like to express his support for Taiwan and freedom with a more humble, but equally strong statement: “I am Taiwanese.” Tseng thanked Vystrcil and other Czech representatives again for visiting Taiwan from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4, despite pressure from China. As one of the 22 achievements made by the Czech delegation, the scholarships would be offered by Tunghai University, National Tsing Hua University, National Chengchi University, National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-sen University, Fu Jen Catholic University and Providence University, the ministry said. Speaking in a videoconference, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague rector Pavel Matejka, who also visited Taiwan with Vystrcil, thanked the ministry for realizing its promise to expand academic cooperation between the two countries. All of the schools have Chinese language centers recommended by the Ministry of Education, Department of European Affairs Director-General Johnson Chiang (姜森) said. The scholarships, starting from next year, are to be distributed among the seven universities, which are to decide the conditions and qualifications for selecting applicants, he said. The schools are to submit their proposals to the ministry, which would offer subsidies
FINDINGS: The firm’s audit department said that the investment service could mislead investors about its guaranteed returns, but Kevin Hu chose to ignore it, the FSC said The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) yesterday fined Jko Asset Management Co (街口投信) NT$3 million (US$102,912) for launching an unlawful investment service dubbed Tuofu Bao (託付寶) and dismissed Kevin Hu (胡亦嘉) as a board member at the asset management firm for his poor compliance, it said. Hu is chairman of Jko Fintech Co (街口金融科技), which owns electronic payment firm Jkos Pay (街口支付). He is also a major shareholder of Jko Asset Management. The commission found through its on-site inspection at Jko Asset on Sep. 11 that the firm’s audit department on July 20 — the day Tuofu Bao was launched — internally reported that the service could mislead investors about its guaranteed returns, Securities and Futures Bureau Chief Secretary Kuo Chia-chun (郭佳君) told a news conference in New Taipei City. Hu, who at the time was acting as the vice chairman at Jko Asset, ignored the internal report and decided to launch the service, Kuo said. Hu made the decision alone, without proposing the service at Jko Asset’s board meetings, which indicated a failure of internal controls, Kuo added. The commission, which was not aware of the internal report at the time, asked the firm to submit documents explaining the legality of the service, but Hu only replaced then-chairperson Kao Wu-chung (高武忠) and he later served as the acting chairman and president at Jko Asset, despite not meeting the qualification requirements for the two positions, Kuo said. The punishment would likely jeopardize Hu’s chairmanship in Jkopay, as people who have contravened financial regulations over the past five years would likely be barred from acting in the leadership of electronic payment firms, Banking Bureau Chief Secretary Phil Tong (童政彰) said. The commission would set up a new set of criteria for the chairpersons or management of e-payment firms after a draft amendment is passed by the Legislative Yuan
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL: The health agency advised eating more fruit and vegetables, limiting oil intake and doing more exercise, among others The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) yesterday recommended a “3-3-3 principle” for eating healthy when barbecuing over the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend. As many people enjoy eating barbecue during the holiday, the agency warned the public that eating too much barbecue or red meat and exercising too little can increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer has been the top most common type of cancer in Taiwan for 12 consecutive years and is the third-most common cause of cancer deaths, it said, adding that 6,436 people last year died of the disease, or 18 people per day. Its incidence rate among Taiwanese aged 50 or older who have not been screened for it is about 7 percent, or one in every 14 people, the agency said, citing data from 2017. The “3-3-3 principle” promotes healthy eating, especially during the holidays, HPA Director-General Wang Ying-wei (王英偉) said. It recommends “three more” — more fruit and vegetables, more water and more exercise — “three less” — less salt and oil, less red meat and less sauce — and “three minus” — minus the skin, minus butter and minus burned food. People would feel fuller by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables for a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as dietary fiber; they should drink water, not sugary beverages; and do more exercise, it said. The WHO has suggested that 21 to 25 percent of colorectal cancer cases are linked to insufficient physical activity, the agency added. Vegetable-based oils are better and cooking oil should not be heated for a long time, it said. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has said that consuming more than 50g of processed meat or 100g of red meat per day can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 17 to 18 percent. Sauces are usually high in sodium, the agency said, adding that
The global COVID-19 death toll yesterday rose past 1 million, according to a Reuters tally, a grim statistic in a pandemic that has devastated the global economy, overloaded health systems and changed the way people live. The number of deaths from the novel coronavirus this year is now double the number of people who die annually from malaria — and the death rate has increased in the past few weeks as infections surge in several countries. “Our world has reached an agonizing milestone,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. “It’s a mind-numbing figure. Yet we must never lose sight of each and every individual life. They were fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues,” he said. It took just three months for COVID-19 deaths to double from half a million, an accelerating rate of fatalities since the first death was recorded in China in early January. More than 5,400 people are dying around the world every 24 hours, according to Reuters calculations based on this month’s averages, overwhelming funeral businesses and cemeteries. That equates to about 226 people an hour, or one person every 16 seconds. In the time it takes to watch a 90-minute soccer match, 340 people die on average. “So many people have lost so many people and haven’t had the chance to say goodbye,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a UN briefing in Geneva. “Many, many of the people who died alone in medical circumstances where it’s a terribly difficult and lonely death,” she said. Experts remain concerned that the official figures for deaths and cases globally significantly underrepresent the real tally because of inadequate testing and recording and the possibility of concealment by some countries. The response to the pandemic has pitted proponents of health measures, such as lockdowns, against those intent on sustaining politically sensitive economic growth,
MOTHERLAND? Taiwanese who take part in China’s National Day celebrations could be fined NT$100,000 to NT$500,000 if found to have contravened Taiwanese laws The Ministry of Culture yesterday cautioned China-based Taiwanese artists against breaching Taiwanese law by taking part in China’s National Day celebrations. The ministry issued the statement following media reports that Ouyang Nana (歐陽娜娜) is to sing a popular Chinese patriotic song titled My Motherland (我的祖國), and Angela Chang (張韶涵) is to sing Protect (守護) with Chinese entertainers at an event to mark China’s National Day on Thursday. The Mainland Affairs Council is investigating whether such behavior contravenes regulations in the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), the ministry said. If the behavior involves matters overseen by the ministry, it will cooperate with the council to handle the matter according to the law, it said. Citing Article 33-1 of the act, the ministry said: “Unless permitted by each competent authorities concerned, no individual, juristic person, organization, or other institution of the Taiwan Area may engage in any of the following activities: 1. Any form of cooperative activity with the agencies, institutions, or organizations of the Mainland Area which are political parties, the military, the administration or of any political nature, or which are involved in any political work against Taiwan or affect national security or interests. 2. Any cooperative activity involving political nature with any individual, juristic person, organization, or other institution of the Mainland Area.” According to Article 90-2 of the act, any person who breaches the provision can be fined NT$100,000 to NT$500,000, with the possibility of consecutive fines according to the number of times the provision was breached, the ministry added. The council on Saturday said that the purpose of Beijing arranging for Taiwanese to participate in its National Day celebrations was to promote its “one country, two systems” principle, and called on Taiwanese not to support or assist its “united front” tactics. In related news,
TECH GLITCH? The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy changed the listing of the six special municipalities back to ‘Chinese Taipei’ An errant classification of the nation’s six special municipalities on the Web site of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) has been corrected, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday. The Web site had listed the six under the country classification of “China,” but following a joint letter of protest from the municipalities on Sunday, the organization changed the cities’ listing on Sunday night to “Chinese Taipei,” the name used when they had joined the group, Wu said. The letter had requested that the organization “immediately fix the Web site and change the registered names of our cities back to the original registered nationality.” If the alliance did not respond positively, the six said that they would withdraw from the group to “defend our rights and interests.” Taiwan is not part of China, and they objected to attempts to belittle them by listing them as Chinese cities, the letter said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the six municipalities had earlier yesterday issued a joint statement protesting the wrongful designation via various channels. However, the GCoM said the misclassification had been a simple “technical error” that was promptly corrected, a ministry news statement said. Wu said he was happy to see the mayors of the six cities unite across party lines over the issue and that the problem has been resolved thanks to the joint efforts of all involved. The mayors also acknowledged the GCoM’s “timely correction” and thanked the ministry for pushing the organization to make the correction.
RESCUE PACKAGE: Stimulus measures have generated about NT$63.5 billion for businesses, and mitigated the damage that could have hit the local tourism industry The Executive Yuan supports a plan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to extend the subsidies for domestic travelers until the end of next month, the Tourism Bureau said on Monday night. To promote the second phase of the nation’s “disease prevention tours,” which were launched in July, the bureau has been offering NT$1,000 (US$34.30) subsidies per hotel room. The NT$3.9 billion in subsidies, which were warmly received by the public, were expected to run out by the end of last month, but the ministry managed to adjust funding priorities and produce an additional NT$1.6 billion budget. Because the additional funding is expected to run out by the end of this month, the ministry has requested that the Executive Yuan increase the budget to close the funding gap that would result from extending the program, which is about NT$1.92 billion. After a briefing from Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on how the subsidies had increased local tourism, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) expressed his support for extending their availability until the end of next month, the bureau said. The additional funding would be provided by the ministry through an adjustment of its budget priorities, then reimbursed from a third special relief package once it has been approved by the Legislative Yuan, it said. The second phase of “disease prevention tours,” the Triple Stimulus Vouchers and incentives offered by other government agencies have boosted consumer confidence and maintained positive momentum for domestic tourism, the bureau said. The measures have generated NT$63.5 billion for local businesses, and mitigated the damage and layoffs that could have hit the tourism industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has given NT$8.91 million in subsidies to independent tourists traveling nationwide, while more than 9,500 hotels have participated, bureau data showed. About 1.85 million people aged 19 or younger have also visited
GLOBAL PARTICIPATION: A leadership forum is to be held to exchange opinions with NGOs on issues such as China’s suppression of Taiwan on the world stage The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a series of events next month to mark the 20th anniversary of its Department of NGO International Affairs, including a ceremony to recognize outstanding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and a forum to gather opinions about Chinese suppression of Taiwan. The department was established in October 2000 to promote international cooperation and help domestic civic groups join global NGOs, Department of NGO International Affairs Director-General Constance Wang (王雪虹) told a news conference in Taipei yesterday. It would be the first time that the ministry has awarded NGOs and the ceremony, a tea party at the Taipei Guest House on Oct. 14, is to be attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Wang said. Awards are to be presented to NGOs with outstanding achievements in six major areas — public policy; healthcare; humanitarian aid; social welfare; environmental sustainability; and sports and culture, she said, adding that the department had formed a task force to select the winners. Up to 45 groups are to set up stands on the sidelines of the event to share their achievements, Wang said, adding that foreign representatives of the nations that have collaborated with the NGOs would also be invited to the ceremony. The ministry is to hold a leadership forum on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 at its Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs to exchange opinions with NGOs on issues such as how to respond to China’s suppression of Taiwan on the world stage; how to boost Taiwan’s global participation; fostering international affairs talent; promoting Taiwan’s visibility through digital technology; and improving fundraising skills, Wang said. The department and the NGOs plan to issue a joint statement at the forum to promote even closer partnerships in the future, she said. In addition, an exhibition at the institute from Oct. 12 to Oct. 16 would
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday urged the Executive Yuan to hold a Food Safety Board meeting to discuss the potential impact of the government’s policy to allow imports of US pork containing the “leanness-enhancing” drug ractopamine, adding that it has been more than a year since a board meeting has been held. According to Article 2-1 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法), the Executive Yuan should establish a Food Safety Board to “take charge of inter-agency coordination for food safety risk assessments and management measures, and establish an alert and auditing system for food safety and sanitation,” the KMT said in a statement. Under the act, the board should meet “once at least every three months,” while extraordinary meetings can be convened when necessary, it said. However, the Food and Drug Administration Web site shows that the last meeting was held on June 3 last year, the KMT said, adding that there are no records of any meetings after that date. More than a year had passed between the last meeting of the board and President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) announcing that Taiwan would allow imports of US pork containing ractopamine, the KMT said, accusing the government of “deliberately ignoring discussion by the Food Safety Board” and “neglecting food safety and not protecting the health of the public.” “How are the public supposed to believe that the Tsai administration decided to lift the ban after careful assessment of the food safety issues?” the KMT said. Tsai on Aug. 28 announced that Taiwan on Jan. 1 next year would ease restrictions on imports of US pork containing traces of ractopamine and beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, adding that the decision was “based on national economic interests and consistent with our overall strategic goals.” The KMT questioned whether the Ministry of Health and
Starting on Jan. 1 next year, imported rice that is found to contain Taiwanese variants used without approval is to be banned, the Council of Agriculture said on Saturday, citing the case of a Taiwanese variant found in imported Vietnamese rice. The rice imported from Vietnam last year was found to contain rice variety Tainan No. 11, which has not been approved for export, the council said. Vietnam, Thailand, the US and Australia are the main exporters of rice to Taiwan, and samples are regularly taken for testing, Agriculture and Food Agency Deputy Director-General Juang Lao-dar (莊老達) said. Since Tainan No. 11 is a primary variety of the domestic rice industry, and it costs significantly more than Southeast Asian varieties, it has never been approved for export, Juang said. It is important for the government to protect Taiwanese rice and to ensure fair competition, he said, adding that the new regulations would help ensure that. Under the regulations, any imported rice — including white rice, whole-grain rice, glutinous rice or products containing those items — found containing Taiwanese varieties that have not been approved for export would be banned, Juang said. The regulations would be implemented alongside tariff quota regulations and any banned imports would be returned to the country of origin, he said. “Returned shipments create a huge loss for businesses, so this will act as a deterrent,” Juang said, adding that businesses whose imports breach the regulations would be fined up to NT$1.5 million (US$51,456) and the rice confiscated in accordance with the Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act (植物品種及種苗法). Asked whether the regulations would be applied to other agricultural products, Juang said that most fruits and vegetables are cross-pollinated and even if varieties were illegally exported they could only be grown for one generation. There have been no cases of domestic fruit varieties being produced abroad
The New Taipei City Government next month is to submit to the central government a revised plan for the second phase of the light rail network in Tamsui due to opposition from residents living along the previously planned route, a city government official said yesterday. New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems Deputy Director-General Lin Yao-chang (林耀長) told a meeting about the Danhai Light Rail transit system’s construction about proposed changes to the Blue Seaside Line that is to run alongside the Tamsui River (淡水河). While the first phase of the line, which connects the existing Green Mountain Line to Tamsui Fishermen’s Wharf via the Taipei University of Marine Technology and Shalun, is expected to enter service by the end of this year, the second phase has faced opposition from local residents, he said. The proposed second phase, which is to link Tamsui MRT Station with Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, has a section that runs through Tamsui Old Street. However, following a series of discussions with local residents, the department is to propose a modified route and a new plan is to be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications next month. The new plan includes changes to the entire 4.4km light rail line to be built alongside the Tamsui River, Lin said. To avoid the overhead power lines that would be required, impacting the riverside view, the department is studying the possibility of the vehicles to be used being battery-powered, he said. The department plans to begin a comparative environmental impact analysis of the modified plan by the end of this year, he added. The NT$15.3 billion (US$524.9 million) Danhai Light Rail project was approved by the Cabinet in 2013, with the 11-stop Green Mountain Line entering service in December 2018.
HOLIDAY CAUTION: A physician said that the number of diarrhea cases reported over the Mid-Autumn Festival breaks in the past few years has been trending upward Clinical and emergency department visits to treat diarrhea have increased in the past few weeks, and the number usually peaks near the Mid-Autumn Festival, so people should maintain good hygiene during the holidays, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said that 113,361 clinics and emergency department visits for diarrhea were reported from Sept. 20 to Saturday last week, and the weekly reported number has been increasing in the past few weeks. “Reports of clustered cases of diarrhea have also slightly increased recently, with the majority caused by norovirus infection, and a few cases caused by bacterial pathogens,” Guo said. Fifty-eight clustered cases have been reported in the past four weeks, which is higher than the same period in the past two years, and among 24 clusters that tested positive for viral or bacterial pathogens, 19 clusters involving 393 people were caused mainly by norovirus infection, he said. Among the 58 clusters, most were in New Taipei City (10), Kaohsiung (nine), Taichung (eight), Taipei (seven) and Changhua County (five), the CDC said. CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said that with Taiwanese enjoying barbecues with family and friends over the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend, the number of diarrhea cases reported in the period have increased in the past few years. The cause can be viral or bacterial pathogens transmitted through contaminated food or water, but sometimes it can be transmitted through close contact with an infected patient, such as exposure to vomit or feces, or even inhaling droplets from the vomit of a person with norovirus, Lin said. Common symptoms of viral and bacterial gastroenteritis are vomiting and diarrhea, while some people also develop a fever, abdominal pain, nausea or general weakness, he said. While the symptoms of norovirus infection are more like a seasonal flu, including general muscle pains,
TAIPEI LOCATIONS: Organizers said that ‘Lion Rock,’ the story of a Hong Kong climber, would make its Taiwan premiere at Syntrend Creative Park on Oct. 17 A film festival to highlight stories of people with physical or mental disabilities is to open in Taipei on Oct. 17. Organized by the Taipei City Foreign and Disabled Labor Office, the Taipei Limitless Film Festival is now in its second year. The films in this year’s festival focus on people with visual impairments, physical disabilities, Down syndrome or autism, organizers said. Eleven feature and documentary films from Taiwan, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Switzerland and the US were selected. From Oct. 17 to Nov. 15, 21 screenings are to take place at Syntrend Creative Park in the city’s Zhongzheng District (中正) and at Century Asia’s branch in Nangang District (南港), they said. The opening film is Lion Rock (獅子山上), which is making its Taiwan premiere at Syntrend Creative Park at 2pm on Oct. 17, the organizers said. The film by director Nick Leung (梁國斌) is based on the true story of Hong Kong rock climber Lai Chi-wai (黎志偉) and was one of two opening films at last year’s Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, the organizers said. The screening is to be followed by a discussion with festival curator Chen I-chun (陳怡君) and actor Easton Dong (東明相), the organizers said. Two special audio-described screenings of A Fool in Love, Love Like a Fool (傻傻愛你，傻傻愛我) are part of the festival, they said. The film was directed by Blue Lan (藍正龍), who also stars in the film alongside actors Kuo Shu-yao (郭書瑤) and Tsai Chia-hung (蔡佳宏). The screenings are to be at 2pm on Oct. 31 and 4pm on Nov. 7, both at the Century Asia branch, they said. Last year’s Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix, 2017 film Tomorrow is Another Day (黃金花) written and directed by Chan Tai-lee (陳大利) and The Goldfish by director Alireza Golafshan are among the other films to feature at the festival, the organizers said. Four post-screening discussions are to
A Taiwanese man was allegedly kidnapped and held for two days without food or water after arriving in the Philippines for a job in the gambling industry, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines said on Monday. The incident was the 10th case this year of a Taiwanese reportedly being kidnapped and extorted after becoming involved with Philippine gambling companies. The man, surnamed Yeh (葉), found a job posting online for a company based in Makati in Metro Manila, TECO police attache Jerry Wang (王智勇) said. Yeh refused to accept the job after he was taken to a location different from the one he was told, Wang said. Company employees then allegedly handcuffed and beat Yeh, and demanded 15,000 yuan (US$2,200) for his release, he said. Yeh’s girlfriend e-mailed the office, saying: “The original person said that the job was in Makati, but they sent him to Pasay. After taking his passport, they said he was sold to someone else. He refused the job, so they kidnapped him and asked for a 15,000 yuan ransom. I have not been able to get hold of him after last speaking with him at 7pm on Sept. 15.” The office contacted the woman for more information and the same evening requested assistance from the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, Wang said. Officers on Sept. 17 set out to raid the building where they suspected Yeh was being held, but while en route received a message that he had been traded to a third company, Wang said. Yeh’s girlfriend set up a meeting with the company, but when they brought Yeh to the site, Philippine police were waiting for them, he said. Wang said that Yeh’s captors had beat him with rods, causing extensive bruising on his back, left shoulder and arm. Yeh said that he was handcuffed and for two
Undeterred by the COVID-19 pandemic, about 30,000 people are to participate in the Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon on Jan. 24 next year, Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) said yesterday. The bank began accepting general registrations for the road race at 4pm yesterday. Prior to that it had allocated 12,000 spots for early-bird entries, which were all taken within four days after registration opened on Tuesday last week, the bank said. Standard Chartered chief executive officer Anthony Lin (林遠棟) told a media conference in Taipei through a video message that he could feel the positive vibes brought by sports after this year completing his first half-marathon. The bank invites people to join the race, which has been held annually since 2014, Lin said. Last year, the bank launched a three-year project with Swarovski AG to honor legendary runners. The Taipei race in January is to honor 29-year-old Japanese long-distance runner Suguru Osako, who this year set a Japanese record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 29 seconds at the Tokyo Marathon, the bank said. The theme for next year’s race is “never give up,” which characterizes Osako’s spirit, the bank said, adding that the slogan would be imprinted on the finishers’ medals. In addition to 42km and 21km races, the event has 13km and 2.5km routes so that people of all ages can participate, it said. To motivate more people to join the first marathon next year, Standard Chartered has invited Taiwanese runner Chang Chia-che (張嘉哲) and fashion blogger and model Molly Chiang (莫莉) to lead two teams to compete over 42km and 13km respectively, it said. Chang, 37, said that the previous time he competed in Taiwan was at the 2013 National Games in Taipei. Chang underwent surgery for a torn tibialis posterior tendon in 2014, which he said was the lowest point of his life. He recovered and ran a personal best of
LOCAL CAPITAL: Fubon Life Insurance Co’s NT$25.52 billion purchase of Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei helped commercial transactions more than double quarterly Commercial property transactions totaled NT$67.64 billion (US$2.32 billion) in the July-to-September quarter, more than doubling from the previous quarter and a year earlier, driven by self-occupancy and investment demand from local technology and insurance companies, Cushman & Wakefield Taiwan (戴德梁行) said yesterday. Local capital drove all of the deals, of which 72 percent were concentrated in Taipei, Taoyuan and Tainan, Cushman & Wakefield said. Fubon Life Insurance Co (富邦人壽), the main subsidiary of Fubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控), acquired Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei (王朝大酒店) near the Taipei Arena MRT Station for NT$25.52 billion, the property consultancy said. The transaction came with an agreement from the property’s US owner, Sunrider International, to lease the complex to keep the hotel going and generate rent income for Fubon Life. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, bought three factories in Tainan for NT$9.35 billion to meet capacity expansion needs, Cushman & Wakefield said. Adding another purchase of NT$660 million last quarter, TSMC poured more than NT$10 billion into the commercial property market, becoming a major contributor, it said. Sales of partial floors at an office building in Taipei’s prime Xinyi District (信義) above the Taipei City Hall MRT Station surprised the market with a record price of nearly NT$1.8 million per ping (3.3m2), Cushman & Wakefield said. Chiayi-based Ying Chan Development Co (營展開發) bought the entire 16th floor for NT$1.24 billion and affiliated Ying Fu Development Co (盈福開發) purchased part of the 29th floor for NT$650 million one month apart, it said. The transactions showed that prices for grade-A office space in the district are approaching that for luxury residential apartments, the most expensive property products in Taiwan, due to strong demand and scarce supply, Cushman & Wakefield said. The housing market also recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic judging by transaction volumes and prices, Cushman & Wakefield Taiwan
Winway Technology Co (穎崴科技), which provides semiconductor testing interfaces, yesterday signed an agreement to build a NT$3.2 billion (US$109.77 million) facility at Kaohsiung’s Nantze Export Processing Zone (楠梓加工出口區). The company plans to build an eight-story smart manufacturing center, which is expected to be completed in 2022, on the campus, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement. The project, part of the government’s Invest in Taiwan initiative, is expected to generate NT$1 billion in annual output and create 200 jobs, the ministry said. Winway counts ASE Technology Holding Co (ASE, 日月光投控) and NXP Semiconductors NV, which have facilities at the processing zone, among its major customers, Export Processing Zone Administration operations management deputy director Liu Chi-chuan (劉繼傳) said. “Winway provides highly customized testing solutions for its customers. It is tremendously beneficial for its manufacturing facilities to be on the same campus as its major customers,” Liu said. “Winway is not a ‘brand’ like Apple, but the firm is a leader in the critical area of semiconductor testing,” he said, calling the firm a “hidden world champion.” Taiwanese businesses lead the way in many segments of the semiconductor industry that are not necessarily visible to the outside world, he added. The processing zone is more than a half-century old and once hosted textile and cathode-ray tube monitor factories, Liu said, adding that as traditional industries moved out, high-tech firms moved in, making the campus home to many businesses in Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chains and creating an “industrial cluster.” In June, ASE, Orient Semiconductor Engineering Inc (華泰電子), Thinking Electronics Industrial Co (興勤電子) and Hung Ching Development & Construction Co (宏璟建設) announced that they would invest more than NT$40.6 billion in a joint venture at the processing zone. “With the trend of Taiwanese businesses returning to establish facilities, the campus is actually completely full,” Liu said. “We need to redesignate an
The climate gauge for the nation’s manufacturing industry last month turned from “blue” to “yellow-blue,” aided by the peak sales season for technology products and inventory demand from China’s Huawei Technologies Co (華為), the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER, 台灣經濟研究院) said yesterday. The manufacturing business index compiled by the Taipei-based think tank reached 11, up 1.03 points from July. It emerged from five straight months of being in a recessionary state, or “blue,” but is still registering a slowdown. TIER reported signs of improvement in input materials, demand, costs and the overall operating condition, although selling prices continued to decline. As the peak season is approaching, the growth momentum for export orders improved and manufacturers became more optimistic about their business prospects, the institute said. Launches of new processors by Intel Corp, Nvidia Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc spurred upgrade demand, while the COVID-19 pandemic bolstered notebook computer sales, it said. Huawei Technologies Co (華為) built up inventory ahead of the US government’s Sept. 15 deadline for shipping chips to the Chinese smartphone maker, which also benefited local firms in its supply chain, the institute found. As a result, the business climate for related suppliers flashed “green,” indicating steady growth, it said. The gauge for the petrochemical sector remained “blue,” as the pandemic caused a slump in demand for oil products and major manufacturers coped with a lack of business by conducting annual maintenance, the institute said. Sectors selling machinery equipment and metal products fared better, registering “green,” thanks to a recovery in demand as countries opened up their economies, it said. The signal for automakers and auto parts firms remained in contraction territory, as Ghost Month, the seventh month of the lunar year, weighed on buying interest, the institute said. Makers of food products were helped by the government-issued Triple Stimulus Vouchers and improved from “blue”
It is sad that there seems to be no end to societal discrimination against the nation’s Aborigines, despite numerous widely publicized incidents in the past few months that have sparked discussion. The most recent happened when Pangoyod, a Tao actor and TV host, and Buya, an Atayal, wore their traditional attire when accepting their awards at Saturday’s Golden Bell Awards. The local Chinese-language media jumped on their outfits — especially Pangoyod’s loincloth, using culturally disrespectful terms such as “extremely revealing,” “baring his entire ass,” and “the hottest/sexiest outfit on stage.” Some of the comments on the event’s livestream were even more brutal, and need not be reproduced here. After centuries of colonization and cultural suppression of his people, Pangoyod wore his outfit with pride, saying: “I never dared to imagine being able to wear my ethnic attire [on stage] before.” “No, we need to be confident,” Buya added. “We should be able to do so because we Aborigines are part of Taiwan.” Decades have passed since the Aboriginal awakening movements of the 1980s, yet it is telling that even today the two young men still have to discuss daring to wear the costumes of their people loudly and proudly. Unfortunately, the truth is that as much as Taiwan likes to tout its diversity and inclusiveness, its own people still feel reservations toward wearing their traditional attire on national television. Presidential Office spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka, an Amis, said that not even adult Aborigines would have the courage to wear the attire. People should pause and ask themselves why this is still the case, while they no longer bat an eye at some of the more eye-catching fashionistas roaming the trendy streets of Taipei. The uncouth headlines further trampled on what was supposed to be a touching moment of embracing cultural diversity and
Industries hit by the COVID-19 pandemic have been forced to take certain measures that affect employees and such cases are becoming increasingly common. As most flights have been canceled, some flight attendants are working part-time at convenience stores to make a living. Meanwhile, middle-aged and older workers are being pressured to retire early or change jobs. Under such circumstances, the issue of the “working poor” has again come under the spotlight, a key social issue that must not be overlooked during the pandemic. The so-called working poor, also known as the “new poor,” are in contrast to the “old poor.” Traditionally, the old poor exist in an industrial society with a relatively stable employment structure and many full-time jobs. Relief for the old poor focuses on monetary aid, and the goal is to deal with social risks such as short-term unemployment, retirement and disability. However, issues from Taiwan’s unstable job market and rising service industry to the increase in employment of “atypical workers” enabling employers to keep costs down have worsened the phenomenon of working people falling into poverty. What is worrying is the imputed income limit, which was created using old-poor thinking in the Public Assistance Act (社會救助法). It is difficult for working people with low incomes to receive monetary aid. Even if such workers can barely scratch out a living, they are still excluded from the social welfare system. Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics data show that as many as 819,000 Taiwanese last year worked as atypical workers and could potentially fall in the working poor category — the most in a decade. Many travel agencies, restaurants and airlines have been facing an operational crisis, while may people have been forced to leave their familiar workplaces and find other ways of making a living. Changing professions is never an easy task.
It has been three months since China imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law on June 30. Authorizing the police force to trump human rights and civil liberties in the name of defending national security, the emergency measures have provoked widespread international condemnation and prompted demands that China withdraw the legislation. Depending on one’s point of view, such controversial policies are either desperately needed measures in times of existential crises, or dictatorial manoeuvrings designed to accomplish the takeover of a dynamic civil society decades in the making. Whatever the political considerations, China’s decision reveals an obsession with potential threats, both real and imagined, to the mighty single-party state. Much of the pro-democracy struggle in Hong Kong concentrates on taking ownership of the political narrative. A great deal of media attention has been given to admirable individuals and the political choices they have made amid a worsening situation, but little emphasis has been given to how these choices can reshape the larger scheme of things. At least two seemingly unrelated trends are under way to transform Hong Kong’s political landscape. The first is the globalization of the “Hong Kong question.” The sudden imposition of the Chinese control has led to a deeper commitment to democratic localism among Hong Kongers of different ideological stripes. Frustrated with China’s autocratic rule, many Hong Kongers want to do something about the futureless society that they see around them. Such widespread grievances have generated new activist energy at home and abroad, unifying democracy advocates and like-minded people. Thanks to a long history of transnational migrations, the advocates are making use of human connections to coordinate their global lobbying efforts. Deeply shocked by the scenes of police violence against peaceful demonstrators, Hong Kongers and their overseas supporters strive to do something to ameliorate the crisis. The proliferation of social media provides an invisible highway for
BACK IN FULL SWING: Apart from two wins in the qualifiers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February, the match was Hsieh Su-wei’s first singles victory of the season Taiwanese No. 1 Hsieh Su-wei on Monday defeated world No. 143 Barbara Haas to advance to the second round of the French Open on a rain-affected day at Roland Garros in Paris. Hsieh defeated the Austrian qualifier 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in 1 hour, 34 minutes on the clay courts in the French capital. The Taiwanese world No. 63 saved five of eight break points and converted four of four, hitting 17 winners and taking advantage of her opponent’s 39 unforced errors to improve her career record against Haas to 2-1, after they claimed a victory apiece in their previous encounters in 2017. Apart from two wins in the qualifiers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in February, it was Hsieh’s first singles victory of the season and she next faces Polish 19-year-old Iga Swiatek, who knocked out last year’s runner-up, Marketa Vondrousova, 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 minutes. Hsieh joined her doubles partner Barbora Strycova in the second round, after the Czech 32nd seed defeated American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko 7-5, 6-2 on Sunday. The Taiwanese-Czech top seeds, who claimed their fourth title of the season in Rome last week, have been drawn against Maria Sanchez of the US and Astra Sharma of Australia in the first round of the women’s doubles. SERENA WILLIAMS The US’ Serena Williams believes the key to leveling the all-time Grand Slam record of 24 titles is to play like Serena Williams. The 39-year-old made a slow, but successful start to her latest pursuit of Margaret Court’s record with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 win over Kristie Ahn in the first round of the French Open on Monday. World No. 102 Ahn served for the opening set at 5-4, but Williams forced a tiebreak that she dominated before charging through the second set to book a clash with Tsvetana Pironkova for a spot in the last 32. “The
Brayden Point scored a power-play goal and Andrei Vasilevskiy blocked 22 shots for a shutout as the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday beat the Dallas Stars 2-0 to capture their second Stanley Cup championship. The win erases years of close calls and underachieving performances in the post-season for the Lightning, who won the series four games to two and claimed their first NHL title since 2004. “We had a lot of confidence in our group,” Canadian forward Point said. “We worked so hard and played our system so well. We weren’t thinking about anything, but the game ahead of us.” There was no panic from Tampa Bay in a dominating Game 6 performance, even though they were coming off a grueling double overtime loss to Dallas in Game 5 on Saturday. Captain Steven Stamkos accepted the Stanley Cup trophy from league commissioner Gary Bettman on the ice. Stamkos was injured and unable to play in the final game, but he did get in five shifts earlier in the series and even scored a goal. “I am so proud of this team and everything we have accomplished. I am speechless. It’s magical to be part of this,” Canadian Stamkos said. Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, who finished with 10 goals and 11 assists in the post-season, was named the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. “It is a dream come true. The best thing I have ever experienced in my hockey career,” Hedman said. Blake Coleman scored the other goal for the Lightning, who stormed out of the gates and outshot the Stars heavily in the first two periods of Game 6 in front of an almost empty Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Despite being one of the league’s most consistent winning franchises over the past few years, the Lightning have a reputation of coming up short in the post-season. Tampa Bay
Juergen Klopp on Monday said that he has been blown away by the standards that Liverpool have set at the start of their England Premier League title defense after coming from behind to beat Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield. Goals from Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota saw off the Gunners, who had won their opening two league games of the season. Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and now Arsenal have all lost in the opening three weeks of the new campaign, but Liverpool have taken maximum points to lay down an early marker that they remain the team to beat in the league this season. “It’s really early in the season and with this performance it is absolutely: ‘Wow,’” coach Klopp said. “From the first second, [it was] dominant against a team in form. We had to be careful like hell of the counterattacks. The football we played was absolutely exceptional. About this game tonight, there is nothing bad to say.” However, the outcome of the match could have been very different had Mane not escaped with just a yellow card for an elbow on Kieran Tierney after just three minutes. Arsenal followed the game plan that had brought them two victories over Liverpool in the past few months, as they dropped deep and then looked to play around the Reds’ press when in possession. However, unlike when they met at the back end of last season’s Premier League — when Klopp’s players had already won the league in August — Liverpool were far sharper in pulling the Gunners out of position. The only time that Arsenal did manage to pierce the Liverpool press before halftime, they opened the scoring completely against the run of play. Robertson was at fault as he spooned Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s cross into the path of Lacazette, who also failed to make
Patrick Mahomes won the battle of the elite quarterbacks, passing for four touchdowns as the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday defeated the Baltimore Ravens 34-20 in a marquee matchup between two of the league’s top franchises. Mahomes completed 31 of 42 passes for 385 yards and also rushed for a touchdown, as the Chiefs improved to 3-0 on the season and showed why they are the favorites to repeat as NFL Super Bowl champions. “They don’t give that guy a half-billion dollars for no reason,” Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell said. “He just made play after play. You’ve got to give him respect.” Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 15 of 28 passes for just 97 yards and one touchdown in the loss for Baltimore, who had their 14-game regular-season win streak snapped. Jackson’s 97 yards was his lowest total in more than twenty games as a starter in the NFL. Jackson also had 83 rushing yards on nine carries for the Ravens, who looked nothing like the team that averaged 35.5 points in winning their first two games. On the other hand, Mahomes used all his receiving weapons, making sure that five players earned more than 60 catching yards for the Chiefs, who are 3-0 to begin the season for the fourth straight year. Mahomes picked apart the Baltimore defense that had allowed just two touchdowns in their first two games. “You got to give credit to Pat for leading the charge. He stepped up big,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said. Travis Kelce led Kansas City with 87 receiving yards on a five-or-so catches. Even left tackle Eric Fisher and fullback Anthony Sherman caught touchdown passes, as did receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman. Chris Jones had four sacks and also two forced fumbles. Also topping 60 yards were Hardman (81), Hill (77), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (70) and Sammy Watkins (62). The Chiefs
Amnesty International has been forced to shut down operations in India and lay off all of its staff after the Indian government froze its bank accounts. The Indian Directorate of Enforcement, an agency that investigates economic crimes, froze the accounts of Amnesty’s Indian arm this month after the group published two reports highly critical of the government’s human rights record. Amnesty said the move was the culmination of a two-year campaign of harassment by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, and more broadly part of an “incessant witch-hunt” of human rights groups by the Hindu nationalist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Amnesty’s departure starkly illustrates the shrinking space for dissent in India, where critics of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party face investigation and detention, often under draconian terrorism laws. It also comes at a time when human rights violations, particularly against India’s 200 million Muslims, are on the rise. This crackdown on critics — including lawyers, activists and students — has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Courts are only partly functioning and protest gatherings have been banned. “Treating human rights organizations like criminal enterprises and dissenting individuals as criminals without any credible evidence is a deliberate attempt by the enforcement directorate and government of India to stoke a climate of fear and dismantle the critical voices in India,” Amnesty International India executive director Avinash Kumar said. “It reeks of fear and repression, ignores the human cost to this crackdown, particularly during a pandemic, and violates people’s basic rights,” he said. Authorities have been pursuing Amnesty for two years for alleged money laundering. Since 2018, a number of raids have been carried out on its offices and the homes of its executives by several government agencies. Amnesty has denied all allegations of financial misconduct and said it stood in full compliance with all applicable Indian and international laws.
EVASION TACTICS: UN sanctions requiring countries to repatriate North Korean workers have largely been ignored, while the country continued to export coal North Korea is violating international sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear program by exceeding a cap on petroleum imports and sending its workers overseas, including a former Juventus soccer player, the UN said. Pyongyang is subject to a range of restrictions imposed since 2017 that limit its oil imports and ban exports of coal, fish and textiles. It has nonetheless continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal, analysts said, despite three high-profile meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump. The UN Security Council on Monday said that an annual 500,000 barrel cap on imports of refined petroleum products had been broken in just the first five months of this year. A report by the intergovernmental panel said that deliveries to the authoritarian state “far exceeded” the ceiling, based on “imagery, data and calculations.” “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and foreign-flagged vessels and their owners continued elaborate evasion practices” to illicitly import oil, UN experts said, using the North’s official name. The report did not say which countries had been exporting to North Korea, but shipments also included luxury cars and alcohol. China and Russia, Pyongyang’s key allies, dismissed the findings, saying that they were “based on assumptions and estimations.” The UN report said that the North “continued to flout Security Council resolutions through illicit maritime exports of coal, although it suspended such exports temporarily between late January and early March.” Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington over North Korea’s nuclear program are at a standstill over disputes on sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. The report said that professional soccer player Han Kwang-song was in January transferred from Serie A club Juventus to Al-Duhail in Qatar in violation of UN resolutions banning North Korean nationals working overseas. “Although the panel contacted Italy and Qatar
The brother of the South Korean fisheries official who was last week killed at sea by North Korean soldiers yesterday rejected the South Korean government’s claim that the man had expressed his willingness to defect to the soldiers. The death of the official, who was only identified by his surname, Lee, sparked a dispute over why and how he was found floating in North Korean waters nearly 36 hours after he went missing. The South Korean coast guard said that it has determined after an investigation based on security footage, military intelligence and background records that Lee told the North Korean troops that he wished to defect and they were aware of his detailed personal information. “We have confirmed that the North side had secured his personal information that he would only know, including his name, age, hometown and height, and that the missing person had conveyed his willingness to go to the North,” said Yoon Sung-hyun, chief of investigation and intelligence at the South Korean coast guard. It was an “extremely low” possibility that Lee had lost his footing or attempted to take his own life, because he was wearing a life vest and a flotation device when found about 38km away from where he went missing, Yoon said. He said that the official had run up debt of about 330 million won (US$282,285), mostly from gambling, but it was still unclear whether he sought to flee because of that. However, the man’s brother, Lee Rae-jin, said that it must have been an accident, as the official had been proud of his job, just got a new boat and left a government identification card that would have facilitated his defection. He questioned the government’s evidence, suggesting that the North could have manipulated audios, as both militaries frequently eavesdrop on each other. “Most old men of our age
There was an interesting assortment of theater and dance performances on in Taipei this month, ranging from very polished shows by professional troupes to not always successful pairings of local and expatriate dancers and a valiant community theater effort. Of the two platform programs — Taipei Shorts III and the Meimage Dance New Choreographer Project (鈕扣New Choreographer 計畫) — it turned out that short but sweet were the best of the creations, although even the less laudable had some strong points. Taipei Dance Forum (舞蹈空間) delivered a knockout of a show with its to revival of 2014’s Red and White (紅與白) to mark acclaimed Chinese-American novelist Eileen Chang’s (張愛玲) birthday 100 years ago today. ‘RED AND WHITE, ZOOM-IN’ I caught the Sept. 19 matinee of Red and White, zoom-in (紅與白zoom-in版) and was impressed at how well choreographer Cheng Yi-wen (鄭伊雯) and theater director Liu Shou-yao (劉守曜) caught both the memories of 1930s Shanghai in Chang’s 1944 novella The Red Rose and the White Rose (紅玫瑰與白玫瑰) and updated the love, lust and betrayal in her tale with musings about gender stereotypes and sexual disparities in today’s society. I missed the 2014 show, but was told by people who saw both productions that the new version was not so much a restaging as a complete overhaul, and much stronger for it. Cheng’s decision to have the dancers deliver short, heartfelt monologues helped give the production added depth. I loved designer Keith Lin’s (林秉豪) costumes for the women, several of which combined traditional qipao tops with full skirts that swirled and flowed in the tango pairings. The backstage team and dancers deserve a hand for managing all the costume changes in a very small space, with several quick turnarounds. NEW CHOREOGRAPHER PROJECT The Meimage Dance New Choreographer Project also marked an anniversary, the platform’s 10th edition. It was, however, a bit
A senior communist party operative whose only previous experience in Hong Kong is a business trip two years ago; a former Guangdong mayor who oversaw the mass arrests of villagers protesting against land seizures; a former provincial party secretary best known for tearing down hundreds of churches and crosses in eastern China. These are China’s top officials charged with Hong Kong affairs, hardliners and allies of the Chinese president, Xi Jinping (習近平), who are remaking the semi-autonomous territory into a city that is directly under Beijing’s control in all but name. They remain behind the scenes, rarely making public appearances. Little is known about them or how they work. Still, their influence is felt, now more than ever, under the auspices of a national security law that has given mainland agents unprecedented powers in Hong Kong. In the three months since China shocked Hong Kong residents and the international community by imposing the sweeping and punitive security legislation on 30 June, the city that was once a haven for Chinese dissidents and a rare enclave of freedom has been transformed with remarkable speed. Authorities have delayed legislative elections by at least a year, citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Using various political slogans is now tantamount to secession — a crime under the new law. Schools are changing their curriculum to better promote patriotism. At least 28 people have been arrested, many of them prominent pro-democracy activists. Riot police detain protesters during a rally against the new national security law in July. Many others have been detained under a ban on demonstrations. Academics, writers and once outspoken commentators have gone silent while the police have placed new restrictions on the media. Critics of the law, which was a response by Beijing to months of anti-government protests last year, say it has led to the most serious
Sitting at the bar, martini in hand, Kristin Scott Thomas rolls her eyes briefly heavenwards. And then she declares, in one of the most memorable monologues of the cult BBC drama Fleabag, that menopause is the “most wonderful fucking thing in the world. And yes, your entire pelvic floor crumbles and you get fucking hot and no one cares. But then — you’re free! No longer a slave, no longer a machine with parts. You’re just a person, in business.” When an entranced Fleabag says she has been told the whole thing is horrendous, Scott Thomas’s character responds: “It is horrendous, but then it’s magnificent. Something to look forward to.” That scene, viewed about half a million times on YouTube, sticks in the mind because it represented something rare in popular culture; an older female character who actively made younger women want to be her. “It was the first time I’d ever seen a woman in a film or a book who was frankly hot, talking about it [menopause] as a relief,” says Sam Baker, the former magazine editor whose new book The Shift describes using her own difficult menopause as a springboard to a better life. “When Fleabag tries to kiss her, and she’s like: ‘You’re lovely but I can’t be bothered’ — that was brilliant because it captured so much of what’s great about being an older woman; you know what you want, and you’re quite happy to say it.” Her own book, she says, was born of puzzlement that even in a taboo-busting #MeToo era, female aging was still so little discussed. “My 40s would have been so much better if I’d had someone saying: ‘This is the crap that you’re about to go through, but on the other side is this weird liberation.’” LIFE AFTER MENOPAUSE This autumn brings a spate
The 31th Golden Melody Awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at the new Taipei Music Center. Singer Abao’s album Kinakaian (Mother Tongue) leads this year’s nominees with eight nods. The Aboriginal singer of the Paiwan people debuted as the duo Abao & Brandy in 2003, and won two Golden Melody Awards with their first album the next year. She has been promoting Aboriginal music since going solo. The six nominees for Best Album in Mandarin include: Joanna Wang’s Love Is Calling Me, G.E.M.’s City Zoo, Peggy Hsu’s Hypnocity, Sandee Chan’s Juvenile A, Waa Wei’s Hidden, Not Forgotten, and Greeny Wu’s Spaceman. Wei, who is nominated for a total of six awards, will be hosting this year’s show, which will be broadcast live on TTV and online. Rock band The Chairman’s frontman Wu Yung-chi is nominated as a solo artist for Best Male Vocalist in Taiwanese the first time, and will compete with new sensation Chen Yi-heng and three other contestants. Some of the performers include singers Hebe Tien, Fish Leong, E.SO, OZI, 9m88, and various other artists. (Eddy Chang, Taipei Times) 第三十一屆金曲獎頒獎典禮週六將在全新的台北流行音樂中心登場，歌手阿爆以專輯《Kinakaian母親的舌頭》共入圍八項成為大贏家。這位原住民排灣族歌手在二○○三年，以雙人合唱團體阿爆 & Brandy出道，並以首張專輯在隔年榮獲兩座金曲獎。自從單飛後，即持續推廣原住民音樂。 六張入圍最佳國語專輯獎的有︰王若琳的《愛的呼喚》、鄧紫棋的《摩天動物園》、許哲珮的《失物之城》、陳珊妮的《Juvenile A》、魏如萱的《藏著並不等於遺忘》、吳青峰的《太空人》。其中魏如萱提名六項，更將擔任今年主持人，典禮將在台視及網路現場直播。 而董事長樂團的主唱吳永吉首次以個人身份入圍最佳台語男歌手獎，他將和新秀陳以恆等人競逐歌王頭銜。本屆表演嘉賓則包括田馥甄、梁靜茹、瘦子、OZI、9m88等多組藝人。 (台北時報張聖恩)
You’re a barbecue pro! (3/5) 你真是個烤肉高手！（三） A: I almost forgot: we need to pick up some barbecue sauce, paper plates — and also a box of firelighters, or we won’t be able to light the barbecue. B: Phew! Well remembered. I think the disposable plates are in the next aisle near the plastic wrap. A: OK, found them. Let’s also grab a roll of aluminum foil in case we need it to cover the cooked food to keep it warm. B: Good thinking. A: Right, I think we’ve got everything that we need. Let’s head over to the checkout. A: 我差點忘記了：我們需要買一些烤肉醬、紙盤──還有一包火種，不然沒辦法生火烤肉。 B: 呼！幸好你記得。我想拋棄式紙盤應該在隔壁走道，靠近保鮮膜的地方。 A: 好，找到了。我們也買一捲錫箔紙吧，搞不好會需要用它來包覆烤好的食物，讓它們保溫。 B: 真是好想法。 A: 好，我想我們應該選齊所有需要的東西了。去收銀台結帳吧。 （Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報章厚明譯） English 英文: Chinese 中文:
A: Here’s the meat section. How about some ribeye steak? B: Is ribeye your favorite cut? A: Yep. It has the perfect ratio of marbled fat to lean meat and a delicious flavor. B: You’re such a foodie! Australian or American? A: Australian: their cows are grass-fed, instead of grain-fed, which gives the meat a nicer flavor. B: OK, I’m sold. Let’s also go local with some wild boar sausages and pig’s blood cake. A: 這裡是肉品區，要不要買一些肋眼牛排？ B: 肋眼是你最喜歡的部位嗎？ A: 沒錯，肋眼大理石般的油花跟瘦肉比例完美，還有可口的風味。 B: 你真是個吃貨！要選澳洲牛還是美國牛？ A: 澳洲牛︰因為澳洲主要是草飼牛，而不是穀飼的，這讓肉的風味更好。 B: 好哦，我被你說服了。我們也買點本地產品吧，像是山豬肉香腸跟豬血糕。 (Edward Jones, Taipei Times / 台北時報章厚明譯) English 英文: Chinese 中文:
| New Taipei City | 23-25 | 30% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 24-25 | 30% | |
| Hsinchu City | 24-25 | 30% | |
| Taipei City | 22-24 | 30% | |
| Miaoli County | 24-26 | 30% | |
| Taoyuan City | 23-24 | 30% | |
| Keelung City | 24-25 | 30% | |
| Yunlin County | 28-32 | 10% |  |
| Taichung City | 28-31 | 10% |  |
| Nantou County | 28-31 | 10% | |
| Changhua County | 27-30 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 28-32 | 10% | |
| Chiayi City | 28-33 | 10% | |
| Tainan City | 29-32 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 30-32 | 20% | |
| Pingtung County | 28-32 | 60% |  |
| Yilan County | 24-25 | 30% |  |
| Hualien County | 26-27 | 30% | |
| Taitung County | 26-28 | 50% | |
| Kinmen County | 24-26 | 30% | |
| Penghu County | 27-30 | 10% |  |
| Lienchiang County | 23-24 | 0% | |
RSS