SOCIETY
Taichung to host forum
Taichung has been chosen to host next year’s Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, an annual forum that brings together international experts, activists and government officials to discuss participatory democracy, human rights and other issues. Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday announced the decision after signing a memorandum of understanding with forum copresidents Bruno Kaufmann and Joe Mathews. Lin said the city has made efforts to promote direct democracy, including promoting participatory budgeting since 2015, which allows residents to discuss and propose projects deserving of public funding. The forum, created in 2008, has been held in Switzerland, South Korea, the US, Uruguay, Tunisia and Spain. It is to take place in Rome in September.
ENVIRONMENT
‘Green’ points increased
The Environmental Protection Administration is expanding its “green” points campaign to encourage those people to use public transportation. People registered in the program will now receive 10 green points if they use public transportation on days when a “red alert,” indicating poor air quality, has been issued. It is hoped that the incentive will encourage people to use public transport. Passengers on the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit System, buses and Taiwan Railways Administration trains can receive green points when they register their EasyCard or iPass with an app. Users usually receive one point for each New Taiwan dollar spent on fares, with 100 points translating to a NT$1 deduction on purchases included in the program. Green points can be redeemed at RT-Mart, A-Mart, Hi-Life and 7-Eleven stores, as well as local online shopping platforms.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
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