TAIPEI
Su Li-chung stepping down
Taipei Universiade Organizing Committee chief executive Su Li-chung (蘇麗瓊) yesterday resigned as secretary-general of the Taipei City Government, citing the need to rest. Speaking at the news conference yesterday night, Su said that it was a pleasurable experience working with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and that she was grateful for being allowed free rein over the planning of the Universiade. Su said she cherished the experience and that the success of the Games was not due to her efforts alone, but all staffers should be given thanks. For the time being, she had not considered working under the new premier, she added.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times
DIPLOMACY
Mission moving to Abuja
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said that it has found a location for its trade mission in Nigeria, which was asked earlier this year to move out of the capital, Abuja. By the end of the year, the office is to be set up in temporary premises in Lagos, Department of West Asia and African Affairs Director-General Antonio Chen (陳俊賢) told a news conference, adding that another move would be made early next year, when a suitable property is expected to become available for long-term lease in the city.
TECHNOLOGY
Taiwan to get iPhone early
Taiwan is to be targeted for the first launch of the iPhone 8, said an informed source who asked not to be named. The iPhone 8 is to become available for pre-order on Friday next week, days after Apple Inc’s expected official release of its latest iPhone, the source said yesterday. If true, it would be Taiwan’s second consecutive time as one of the first nations in which Apple’s new iPhones are launched. Apple has been in private discussions with the nation’s five major telecoms — Chunghwa Telecom, Far EasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Taiwan Star Telecom and Asia Pacific Telecom — over pre-order arrangements, the source said. Apple is scheduled to hold a special live event on Tuesday at the Steve Jobs Theater, which is being called the official launch of the iPhone 8.
TOURISM
Contest calls for short films
An annual Ministry of Foreign Affairs-funded short film competition is calling on people locally and internationally to submit films that feature human interest stories and beautiful scenery, with the aim of promoting Taiwan’s beauty to the world. Now in its third year, the “Trending Taiwan” contest is seeking three-minute short films, the ministry said in a statement. The films should present a human interest story set in Taiwan and should feature the nation’s beauty, it said, adding that the contest is open to people of all nationalities and ages. Submissions close on Oct. 16. The entries that pass preliminary screenings will advance to the final round, followed by an award ceremony on Nov. 8 where the winner is to receive NT$200,000. To encourage more foreigners to participate, the ministry has set up a special international participation category this year, the winner of which will be awarded NT$200,000. The ministry said it hopes that the creative films can show the nation’s diverse and energetic culture to the world.
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
A fourth person has died in a food poisoning outbreak linked to the Xinyi (信義) branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in Taipei, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said on Monday. It was the second fatality in three days, after another was announced on Saturday. The 40-year-old woman experienced multiple organ failure in the early hours on Monday, and the family decided not to undergo emergency resuscitation, Wang said. She initially showed signs of improvement after seeking medical treatment for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but her condition worsened due to an infection, he said. Two others who
MEDICAL: The bills would also upgrade the status of the Ethical Guidelines Governing the Research of Human Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cell Research to law The Executive Yuan yesterday approved two bills to govern regenerative medicine that aim to boost development of the field. Taiwan would reach an important milestone in regenerative medicine development with passage of the regenerative medicine act and the regenerative medicine preparations ordinance, which would allow studies to proceed and treatments to be developed, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) told reporters at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting. Regenerative treatments have been used for several conditions, including cancer — by regenerating blood cells — and restoring joint function in soft tissue, Wang said. The draft legislation requires regenerative treatments
Taiwanese should be mindful when visiting China, as Beijing in July is likely to tighten the implementation of policies on national security following the introduction of two regulations, a researcher said on Saturday. China on Friday unveiled the regulations governing the law enforcement and judicial activities of national security agencies. They would help crack down on “illegal” and “criminal” activities that Beijing considers to be endangering national security, according to reports by China’s state media. The definition of what constitutes a national security threat in China is vague, Taiwan Thinktank researcher Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said. The two procedural regulations are to provide Chinese