Film on Shoushan macaques wins award in US festival
Film on Shoushan macaques wins award in US festivalBy Chang Chung-i and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerA promotional film about Formosan rock macaques on Kaohsiung’s Shoushan (壽山) has won a Platinum Remi Award at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in Houston, Texas, in the Short Subject Film and Video Productions-Documentary category, the Shoushan National Nature Park Management Office said on Thursday. Three Formosan rock macaque groom each other at the Shoushan National Nature Park in Kaohsiung yesterday. Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei TimesThe Shoushan macaques have a peculiar relationship with humans, as they are often nearby and have learned to eat human food, the office said, adding that this has changed the animals’ foraging habits and generated conflict. The office said that it has therefore established a “three noes” policy to encourage visitors to refrain from feeding, provoking or touching the macaques. WorldFest is one of the US’ oldest film festivals and one of the three largest international film festivals in North America.
Source:Taipei Times
September 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Poll shows nearly 70% oppose US pork imports
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Aug. 28 announced that the government would set standards for ractopamine residue in US pork, lifting an import ban. Twenty-seven percent said they believed a government promise that lifting the ban would not affect sales of locally produced pork, while 67.6 percent did not, the poll showed. It said that 58 percent would not tolerate any trace of ractopamine in US pork imports, while 37.5 percent would accept minute traces. The poll garnered 1,094 valid samples, with responses weighted to fit the population profile, the National Policy Foundation said. About 160 nations, including Russia and EU members, do not recognize the commission’s standards and ban the use of ractopamine in pig farming, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
DPP leads political parties in income, expenditure
DPP leads political parties in income, expenditureBy Chen Yun and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Control Yuan yesterday published data on political party finances from last year, showing more income and expenditure for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) than for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). According to the figures published on the Control Yuan’s public database of political contributions in Taipei, the DPP netted NT$187.46 million (US$6.43 million) and spent NT$190.61 million, while the KMT earned NT$116.61 million and spent NT$117.13 million. Of the DPP’s earnings, NT$99.69 million came from personal donations, NT$85.27 million from for-profit businesses, NT$714,000 from political donations, NT$1.78 million from anonymous donations and NT$9,067 from other sources. Meanwhile, NT$63.71 million of the KMT’s income came from personal donations, NT$51.6 million from for-profit businesses, NT$845,000 from political donations, NT$457,961 from anonymous donations and NT$4,086 from other sources, the data showed. Of the NPP’s NT$28.82 million in earnings, NT$64.36 million came from personal donations, NT$597,550 from for-profit businesses, NT$920,000 from political donations, NT$3.53 million from anonymous donations and NT$2.08 million from other sources, the data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
September 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
NPP seeks rule changes on pork
Speaking at a news conference in Taipei, NPP caucus whip Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Council of Agriculture gave only a seven-day notice before announcing legal amendments to allow the imports of certain US pork and beef products. New Power Party caucus whip Chiu Hsien-chih, center, flanked by NPP legislators Claire Wang, left, Chen Jiau-hua, right, hold a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The NPP made the appeal after the ministry on Sept. 5 announced that the maximum residue limits for pork containing ractopamine are 0.04 parts per million (ppm) for liver and kidneys, and 0.01ppm for all other parts of the animal. The amendment would also specify locations banned from providing pork products containing ractopamine, including military camps, schools and social welfare groups, Wang said. Besides labels showing the country of origin of a pork product, the government should also introduce clear labeling for pork products not containing ractopamine to better inform customers, NPP Legislator Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) said, citing Canada as an example, which introduced such labels this year.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Office urges closer ties to the EU
Office urges closer ties to the EUINVESTMENT ROUTE: The European Trade Office said that a forum in Taipei would pave the way for closer business cooperation in the post-pandemic economyBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterMore Taiwanese investments in Europe would yield economic gains and closer ties, European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Filip Grzegorzewski told a news conference yesterday ahead of the office’s first European Investment Forum in Taipei on Tuesday next week. “We make jobs here [in Taiwan], we help Taiwan grow into an international economy,” he said. “Now we are attracting Taiwanese investment to Europe to balance this economic relationship, basically also to make sure our bond is strong. The more interactions we have, the more connected we get.”European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Filip Grzegorzewski, right, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu hold a news conference yesterday in Taipei. It is co-organized by the European Economic and Trade Office, EU member states’ representative offices, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Minister inspects market to check on labeling project
Minister inspects market to check on labeling projectBy Yang Hsin-hui / Staff reporterMinister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), accompanied by Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊), yesterday conducted an inspection tour of Taipei’s Dihua Street (迪化街), talking to vendors and members of the public who expressed concern over the government’s lifting of the ban on imports of US pork products containing ractopamine. The central government is using Dihua Street’s traditional market for a pilot project on labeling indicating the place of origin of pork products. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, center, and Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang, left, inspect the labeling of pork products at the Yongle Market in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times“The Dihua Street market has already implemented origin labeling and we thank all vendors here for their cooperation,” Chen said. “We will establish a communication platform to continue talking with the local government to ensure food safety.”“People are concerned about the labeling of US pork imports, so I came here today to check and see if there are problems,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
US Fed expects low rates through 2023
US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at a virtual news conference displayed on a computer in Tiskilwa, Illinois, on Wednesday. That caused the spread between two and 10-year yields, along with the gap between five and 30-year yields, to widen slightly. The Fed on Wednesday committed to using its full range of tools to support the economic recovery. Officials expect rates to stay ultra-low through 2023, according to the median projection of their quarterly forecasts, although four officials penciled in at least one hike in 2023. In other updates to quarterly forecasts, Fed officials expect a shallower economic contraction this year than before, but a slower recovery in the coming years.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
COA mulls ban on pit bulls in wake of attack
COA mulls ban on pit bulls in wake of attackBAD REPUTATION: The Taipei Animal Protection Office lists six dog breeds as ‘aggressive,’ including the pit bull, of which 1,000 are kept as pets in TaiwanStaff writer, with CNAThe Council of Agriculture (COA) is considering banning the ownership, breeding and trading of pit bulls, following reports of a pit bull attacking another dog, it said on Wednesday. The council has discussed a potential ban on purebred and mixed breed pit bulls with local governments and representatives of the pet industry, Department of Animal Industry Deputy Director Chiang Wen-chuan (江文全) said. A chained pit bull terrier sits by a door in Miaoli County on July 2 last year. Statistics from the council’s national pet registry show that about 1,000 pit bulls are kept as pets in Taiwan, he said. The office lists six types of dogs as aggressive: pit bulls, Tosas, Neapolitan mastiffs, Brazilian mastiffs, Dogos Argentino and Molossian hounds, office Director Wu Chin-an (吳晉安) said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Industry body turns down invitation
Industry body turns down invitationBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterChinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (工商協進會) chairman Lin Por-fong (林伯豐) yesterday said that he would not attend a Taiwan-US economic dialogue scheduled for today. “The association will not send a substitute, because there is no time to find one,” the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported on its Web site yesterday, citing Lin. Taiwan Glass Industry Corp chairman Lin Por-fong, who is also chairman of the Taipei-based Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, is pictured in Taipei on June 3. Photo: CNAThe story cited sources saying that AIT does not like participants to talk about the event and conveyed its concerns after Lin spoke with the media. Lin, who is chairman of Taiwan Glass Industry Corp (台灣玻璃) said that the association needs only to respond to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, because the ministry — not other institutes — is in charge of regulating and supporting local industries, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Banks announce loans for Chenya’s solar power plans
Banks announce loans for Chenya’s solar power plansBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterNine banks yesterday announced two syndicated loans totaling NT$10 billion (US$341.18 million) for Chenya Energy Co Ltd (辰亞能源) to fund its two photovoltaic power stations, which have a combined capacity of 256 megawatts (MW). Bank SinoPac, DBS Taiwan, KGI Bank and CTBC Bank (中信銀行) approved a second syndicated loan for the firm’s ground-mounted 75MW station in Tainan. Some companies interested in buying solar power have approached Chenya, but prices still need to be negotiated, he said. Bank SinoPac, the lead bank for both loans, offered NT$1 billion and NT$1.5 billion for Chenya’s two solar farms, its president Eric Chuang (莊銘福) said. Bank SinoPac’s cumulative loans to solar power development have increased to NT$35 billion, the highest among all banks, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
China’s Wang smears might backfire
However, a focus of the CCTV report was its accusation that Wang was to serve as the DPP’s “messenger” — an issue that deserves greater discussion. CCTV anchorwoman Li Hong (李紅) “poured cold water” on Wang to dampen any enthusiasm for him. This type of intermediary should be someone trusted by all sides so that the parties can be persuaded to reach an agreement. Not long ago, Wang assured KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had not told him to pass along a message to Chinese authorities. Given that, Beijing is likely to suffer from its own action, as its mouthpiece makes groundless accusations against Wang.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Association collects toys for children in Eswatini
Association collects toys for children in EswatiniBy Lee Rong-ping and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Taiwan Toy Library Association on Wednesday said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the group is still collecting secondhand toys and other items to donate to Eswatini. Students pose for a photograph beside a shipping container with a mural depicting African animals at Vanung University in Taoyuan on Tuesday. Due to the pandemic, the association extended the collection period for the project to gather more donations of masks, sanitary napkins, mobile phones, dry goods and other items in addition to the toys, association chairman Yeh Kuo-fang (葉國芳) saidThey also plan for the items to arrive by Christmas, he added. A mural in Taoyuan depicting African animals, painted on a shipping container by students and teachers from Vanung University’s Department of Commercial Design, is pictured on Tuesday. School principal Chen Wei-an (陳濰安) said that the 40-foot shipping container temporarily housed on the school’s campus has gained considerable attention as a popular photo destination for students, and is even attracting alumni, parents and local residents to come visit.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
EDITORIAL: Non-conventional defenses needed
EDITORIAL: Non-conventional defenses neededThe US is reportedly preparing to sell Taiwan seven new major weapons systems, including sophisticated aerial drones, land-based anti-ship missiles, anti-tank missiles and smart mines, Reuters said on Wednesday. In 2010, the 500-kilobyte computer worm Stuxnet infiltrated the systems of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment plant, which supplies Tehran’s nuclear weapons program. The communists covertly inserted their members into the Whampoa Military Academy — a tactic that paid high dividends during the Chinese Civil War. Retired officers have openly fraternized with the enemy and attended Chinese military parades. The threat of espionage from China to the military and to government continues to be real and formidable.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
US consultant designs luxury stamp
US consultant designs luxury stampBy Wu Po-hsuan and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerMark Stocker, a brand consultant and strategist who has lived in Taiwan for 28 years, has invented a new kind of name stamp by combining Chinese characters with precision machinery in an effort to increase global awareness of Taiwanese culture. Brand consultant Mark Stocker displays his innovative name stamps during a news conference in Taipei on Aug. 24. “Confidence and passion are what Taiwan lacks,” he said, adding that the experience has inspired him to dedicate his career to improving brand marketing in Taiwan. Name stamps designed by brand consultant Mark Stocker are shown during a news conference in Taipei on Aug. 24. “Taiwan-made products are really of great quality,” he said, adding that confidence and passion are also critical to great success.
Source:Taipei Times
September 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
Dance preview: Dances from fiction and life
Taipei Dance Forum dancers will get up close and personal this weekend at Taipei’s Crown Cultural Center with Red & White, zoom-in. Photo: Diane Baker, Taipei TimesRed and White used Chang’s 1944 novella The Red Rose and the White Rose (紅玫瑰與白玫瑰) for inspiration. Chen Wei-yun will dance the White Rose role this weekend at Taipei’s Crown Cultural Center in Taipei Dance Forum’s Red & White, zoom-in. Me at the in the National Experimental Theater in Taipei this weekend and at the National Taichung Theater in mid-November. While Taipei Dance Forum’s production is all about relationships and passion, over at the National Experimental Theater, Hung Dance (翃舞製作) is focusing more on the personal.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2020 15:56 UTC