Disaster relief funds for people affected by Tuesday’s earthquake in Hualien County have topped NT$170 million (US$5.81 million) as of last night, as donations pour in from all parts of society.
Cathay Financial Holding Co yesterday announced that it would donate NT$30 million, the highest donation from the private sector as of press time last night.
SinoPac Financial Holdings Co, Sinyi Realty Inc, Hualien’s Cing Peng Hotel, Panasonic Taiwan Co, Chung Hwa Pulp Corp and Wistron Corp donated NT$10 million each.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp
Acer Inc, Hiwin Technologies Corp and automaker Yulon Group donated NT$5 million each.
Mega Financial Holding Co and First Financial Holding donated NT$3.5 million each, while air-conditioner manufacture Daikin Inc’s Taipei headquarters and Airlie Biomedical and Cosmetic Polyclinic donated NT$3 million each.
Wei Chuan Food Corp, Coca-Cola Co’s local branch, elevator maker GFC corp and Jing Chi, a Taipei plastic surgery clinic, donated NT$2 million each.
Politicians also made donations, with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) taking the lead by donating NT$1 million and Premier William Lai (賴清德) donating one month’s salary.
The National Women’s League, whose assets face possible confiscation by the government, donated NT$42 million after gaining the approval of the Cabinet’s Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the New Power Party (NPP) donated NT$1 million each, while members of the People First Party (PFP) caucus donated one week’s salary each.
Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) both donated one month’s salary, while DPP Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) donated NT$100,000.
The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) 34 lawmakers made a donation equivalent to their combined daily salary, while KMT Chairman Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) donated one month’s retirement benefits he receives as a former vice president, which is about NT$200,000.
Entertainers Chang Hui-mei (A-mei, 張惠妹), Jam Hsiao (蕭敬騰), Amber Kuo (郭采潔), Lin Chi-ling (林志玲) and Aaron Chen (陳昭榮) donated NT$2 million each.
Internet celebrity and fitness studio owner Holger Chen (陳之漢) donated NT$1 million.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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