Shih Ming-teh (施明德), who initiated a campaign in 2006 calling on then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to step down, yesterday said he would press charges against four individuals and a media outlet for accusing him of pocketing leftover funds from the campaign.
A total of NT$111 million (US$3.26 million) was donated to the campaign, which he launched in August 2006.
At the time, Shih called on the public to donate NT$100 each to support the campaign against corruption.
The campaign’s deputy, Yao Li-min (姚立明), told a press conference yesterday that the leftover campaign funds were donated to five charity groups, including the Eden Social Welfare Foundation, the Genesis Foundation and the United Way of Taiwan, adding that two other independent organizations had overseen the donation process.
He offered no further details.
Shih said a defamation lawsuit was necessary to protect his reputation.
He said he would file the charges against former presidential adviser Ellen Huang (黃越綏), Tainan City Councilor Wang Ting-yu (王定宇), Chthonic lead vocalist Freddy Lim (林昶佐), Control Yuan member Chien Lin Hui-chien (錢林慧君) and Scoop Weekly magazine.
Shih said he would seek NT$10 million in damages from each of the four individuals and NT$20 million from the magazine as well as a half-page apology to be published in four major newspapers.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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