Former Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) specially appointed deputy minister Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) resigned for “family reasons,” and the council’s deputy minister, Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉) was appointed to Chang’s position, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday.
Chang also resigned as vice chairman and secretary-general of the Straits Exchange Foundation, a position he held concurrently since February when the semi-official agency’s deputy head Kao Koong-lain (高孔廉) left the job.
A meeting of the foundation’s boards and supervisors is to be convened to approve appointments for vice chairman and secretary-general, with Lin and another vice chairman of the foundation, Ma Shaw-chang (馬紹章), speculated to be possible candidates.
Lin, who has a degree from the Department of Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, was previously a professor of economics at National Chengchi University. He was in charge of issues related to cross-strait trade and economic and regional economic integration since he was appointed the council’s deputy minister in November 2012.
Since then, he was involved in negotiations with China leading to the signing of the cross-strait service trade agreement in June last year.
The Chinese-language United Daily Evening News reported yesterday that Chang decided to quit to look after his aged mother in his hometown in Greater Taichung.
Foundation Deputy Secretary-General Shih Hui-fen (施惠芬) was appointed to fill the position left vacant by Lin, the Executive Yuan said in a statement, which included other reshuffles to the Ministry of Education and the Council of Hakka Affairs.
Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages president Lucia Lin (林思伶) is to succeed Chen Der-hwa (陳德華) as deputy minister of education, and Council of Hakka Affairs Department of Culture and Education Director Fan Tso-ming (范佐銘) was promoted to deputy minister of the council, the statement said.
The position of labor minister was not yet filled after Pan Shi-wei (潘世偉) resigned over allegations of an extramarital affair three weeks ago, the statement added.
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,”