■ Politics
Arms bill fails again
The legislature's Procedure Committee yesterday placed the government budget at the top of the next legislative agenda, while voting down the arms procurement bill for the 41st time as well as the confirmation of Control Yuan members. The Procedure Committee voted 17 to 12 in favor of a proposal filed by People First Party (PFP) Legislator Lin Te-fu (林德福) not to table the long-stalled arms procurement plan, consideration of the president's nomination of Control Yuan members, draft amendments to the Referendum Law (公民投票法) and amendments to the Organic Law of the Ministry of Justice Organization (法務部組織法), which would establish a new department dedicated to the investigation of corruption and related crimes.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE MING
■ Politics
Lawmaker sues colleagues
A People First Party (PFP) lawmaker yesterday filed a defamation lawsuit against four Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members for allegedly accusing her of revealing a videotape disclosing "travel subsidies" issued by the campaign of DPP Taipei County commissioner candidate Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉). Lee Yung-ping (李永萍) said yesterday that she felt regret that the DPP lawmakers denounced her for disclosing the video. Despite calling her a liar, Lee said that none of her accusers had offered an apology for their remarks. Lee was referring to Luo, DPP legislators Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇), Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) and William Lai (賴清德). In response, Lee Wen-chung yesterday said that he respected Lee Yung-ping's right to file a lawsuit but siad that Luo and Luo's campaign office were not involved with the "subsidies."
■ Society
Taipei plans big New Year
Taipei City Government has expanded the scope of this year's New Year celebrations, which in addition to the annual New Year Party concert -- this year featuring A-mei (阿妹) and Stefanie Sun (孫燕姿) -- will include a DJ show, a pop music contest, a 3-on-3 basketball game, and Aboriginal and Hakka food and cultural events. To coincide with the party, all the city's MRT lines will operate around the clock on Dec. 31. Bus services around the Xinyi shopping district and city hall areas will also run 24 hours on that day. Free maps with details of the celebrations can be obtained from the city government's service center, travel centers, Taipei Zoo, the municipal library, Taipei Fine Art Museum and 15 MRT stations from Dec. 16. For more information, call (02) 2720-8889 ext. 2028.
■ Society
Pro-Taiwan group pushes DPP
A pro-Taiwan independence group, the 908 Taiwan Republic Campaign, released a statement urging the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to stop its internal squabbling and fight to stop China's power from further penetrating Taiwan. Peter Wang (王獻極), leader of the group, said that although it seemed that the government has given up in its bid to draw up a new constitution for Taiwan, the group would continue promoting the constitutional campaign. Chuang Po-lin (莊柏林), supervisor of the group and a Presidential Office policy adviser, said that they will follow the example set by the Tzu-chi Foundation (慈濟功德會) in their bid to establish a Taiwanese Republic.
■ Cultural affairs
Characters to be discussed
Academics from China and Taiwan will gather in Taipei next April to discuss ways to promote "exchanges" of the simplified and traditional Chinese characters that are used on each side of the Taiwan Strait. Liao Hsien-hao (廖咸浩), director of Taipei City's Department of Cultural Affairs, said yesterday that some Chinese academics are calling for "restoring" the use of traditional characters in China since the historical background for adopting the simplified characters has changed. In the face of changes in information technology, he said, both sides should take a practical and scientific attitude toward Chinese characters.
■ Transportation
Lawmaker attacks KRTC
The cave-ins at Kaohsiung's rapid transit construction sites were partly the result of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) ignoring its own report on a number of missteps, Independent Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) said yesterday. Chiu quoted a Taiwan Construction Research Institute (TCRI) report from May as saying that underground hydraulic data was not taken into account by route designers and the quality of construc-tion was questionable. The report, commissioned by the KRTC, said the KRTC had not properly evaluated subsidence incidents, had not done a good job of monitoring shield machines and had not been able to prevent water leakage. These "defects" seem to have originated from a poor building plan. Chiu said the report had recommended forming an ad hoc group of experts to monitor the construction process but the Democratic Progressive Party opposed the idea. He said the KRTC has ignored the TCRI's safety alerts and refused to stop construction for a comprehensive safety check-up.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
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