The legislature yesterday revised rules allowing for an increase of about NT$20 billion (US$661.7 million) to the annual education budget, to be used to extend compulsory education from nine years to 12 years starting in 2014.
Under the amended Compilation and Administration of Educational Expenditures Act (教育經費編列與管理法), the yearly education budget cannot be less than 22.5 percent of the net tax income of the previous three years, up from the present 21.5 percent.
The amendment stipulates that the newly added budget of NT$20 billion must be used to implement the 12-year compulsory education proposal by 2014, to ensure that the project does not crowd out existing education spending.
In view of the decreasing number of students as a result of a declining fertility rate, the legislature approved an amendment to the Private School Act (私立學校法) that allows for conversion of use of private-school land to other purposes related to cultural and social welfare institutions.
The amendment exempted private schools from being subject to a penalty under the Land Tax Act (土地稅法) for the use of land inconsistent with the designated purpose of donation, a fine equal to two times the land value increment tax.
Meanwhile, the legislature yesterday approved an amendment to the Organic Act of the National Security Bureau (國家安全局組織法) to change the organization into a three-tier system modeled on the US’ CIA.
Based on the amendment, the security bureau can set up subordinate units within the bureau, as well as establish overseas missions when necessary.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost