DIPLOMACY
Taiwan, Canada ink tax deal
An agreement between Taiwan and Canada to avoid double taxation is to be implemented at the start of next year, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday. The agreement will help create a friendlier environment for bilateral investment and cooperation, particularly in the areas of technology, healthcare, “clean” energy, sustainable development and services, the ministry said. Under the agreement, taxes cannot be levied by both sides on the same assets, income or financial transactions. “For Taiwanese businesspeople in Canada, as long as they do not have a permanent residence there, Canada will not tax their operating profits and they will pay 17 percent income tax in Taiwan,” the ministry said. The withholding tax rate on dividends will be capped at 15 percent. A 10 percent rate will be levied on dividends paid to a company that holds at least a 20 percent share, directly or indirectly, in the paying company.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Avian flu confirmed in Taipei
Authorities on Thursday ordered a poultry slaughterhouse in Taipei disinfected after two chickens tested positive for the new H5 subtype of the avian influenza virus. Veterinarians reported the suspected cases at the Taipei wholesale poultry market slaughterhouse to authorities on Wednesday, the Taipei City Animal Protection Office said. The office said it has ordered the slaughterhouse to suspend operations for 24 hours and instructed the disinfection of all premises and nearby areas. A total of 74 slaughtered chickens have been sealed off and frozen and were to be destroyed yesterday. The office said it is investigating the source of the infection and urged the public to ensure all poultry is fully cooked before consumption and to buy only certified poultry products.
LOUD AND PROUD Taiwan might have taken a drubbing against Australia and Japan, but you might not know it from the enthusiasm and numbers of the fans Taiwan might not be expected to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) but their fans are making their presence felt in Tokyo, with tens of thousands decked out in the team’s blue, blowing horns and singing songs. Taiwanese fans have packed out the Tokyo Dome for all three of their games so far and even threatened to drown out home team supporters when their team played Japan on Friday. They blew trumpets, chanted for their favorite players and had their own cheerleading squad who dance on a stage during the game. The team struggled to match that exuberance on the field, with
UPDATED TEST: The new rules aim to assess drivers’ awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau said Driver’s license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday. The change is set to be implemented at the end of the month, and is part of the bureau’s reform of the driving portion of the test, which has been criticized for failing to assess whether drivers can operate vehicles safely. Sedan drivers would be tested regarding yielding to pedestrians and turning their heads to check blind spots, while drivers of large vehicles would be tested on their familiarity with pointing-and-calling
Whether Japan would help defend Taiwan in case of a cross-strait conflict would depend on the US and the extent to which Japan would be allowed to act under the US-Japan Security Treaty, former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto said. As China has not given up on the idea of invading Taiwan by force, to what extent Japan could support US military action would hinge on Washington’s intention and its negotiation with Tokyo, Morimoto said in an interview with the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) yesterday. There has to be sufficient mutual recognition of how Japan could provide
A Taiwanese man apologized on Friday after saying in a social media post that he worked with Australia to provide scouting reports on Taiwan’s team, enabling Australia’s victory in this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying it was a joke and that he did not hold any position with foreign teams or Taiwan’s sports training center. Chen Po-hao (陳柏豪) drew the rage of many Taiwan baseball fans when he posted online on Thursday night, claiming credit for Australia’s 3-0 win over Taiwan in the opening game for Pool C, saying he worked as a physical therapist with the national team and
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