US begins highest-level visit in decades
Azar’s flight landed at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) at 4:48pm, nearly one hour earlier than scheduled, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The apron where it landed is reserved for military aircraft, the Songshan Air Force Base Command said. A US government plane carrying US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and his delegation lands at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) yesterday. On Wednesday, he would visit the Taipei Guest House to pay respects to the late former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) before departing Taiwan, the source said. According to the US’ Presidential Succession Act, an HHS secretary is placed ahead of the US secretary of energy.
Source:Taipei Times
August 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Candidates spend weekend stumping
Former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) is to accompany Chen Chi-mai this week, Liao said. Photo: Lee Hui-chou, Taipei TimesThe party’s Kaohsiung chapter has only one job ahead of the election: to canvas for votes, he added. Photo: CNAThey could include former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), a source said. The KMT believes pan-blue supporters would support Lee “for the sake of Kaohsiung’s development,” the source said. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) on Saturday and yesterday stumped for his Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) candidate Wu Yi-jheng (吳益政).
Source:Taipei Times
August 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
TaiMed returns to profit on Trogarzo sales
TaiMed returns to profit on Trogarzo salesFRIENDLY BOOST: TaiMed received a bump as the share price of Montreal-based Theratechnologies, of which TaiMed holds 2.3 million shares, surged last quarterBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterTaiMed Biologics Inc (中裕新藥) swung into profit in the second quarter on rising sales of its Trogarzo HIV treatment in the US, improving gross margin and recovering value of its financial assets, the company said on Friday. Net profit in the second quarter was NT$30.42 million (US$1.03 million), compared with a net loss of NT$83.57 million a year earlier, the company said in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Trogarzo is a fourth-line treatment and is not often recommended to patients unless they have already tried the initial or second-line treatments, the company said. The company’s gross margin increased to 42 percent in the second quarter, from 17 percent a year earlier, as its contract manufacturer, China-based WuXi Biologics Co (無錫生物製藥), improved its production procedures, he said. The company would delay its plan to market Trogarzo in Germany later this quarter, depending on the situation of the outbreak, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
August 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Public concerned about youth crime
A slide is shown during a news conference hosted by the Professor Huang Kun-Huei Education Foundation in Taipei yesterday. Teenagers experiencing negative peer pressure in school, and frustration with coursework and teachers were seen as factors that could lead to teenage delinquency. Asked which preventive measure schools should take, 76.2 percent of the respondents said that schools should help develop students’ interest in learning. Nearly 72 percent said that schools should nurture positive attitudes, while 60.3 percent said schools should teach teenagers how to control their emotions. However, 76 percent still saw teenage delinquency as a serious issue, compared with 80 to 90 percent in the past, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
August 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Control Yuan probing fishery abuse complaints
Control Yuan probing fishery abuse complaintsGREENPEACE REPORT: A December 2019 report raised questions about the actions, or lack of them, by local agencies, two Control Yuan members have saidStaff writer, with CNATwo Control Yuan members have announced an investigation into government agencies for alleged leniency toward two Taiwanese-owned fishing boats accused of abusive labor practices toward migrant fishermen. The entrance to the Control Yuan in Taipei is pictured on June 17. Greenpeace Southeast Asia said the companies and individuals linked to the vessels named in the complaints had denied inhumane treatment of crews. It “does not tolerate the occurrence of violence and physical abuse aboard fishing vessels, and in the event any abuse or violence involving human trafficking is reported, the Fisheries Agency of Taiwan will forward such cases to the prosecutors’ office with jurisdiction. They said they had been treated inhumanely while at sea, echoing the situation described in the December report.
Source:Taipei Times
August 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
KMT wants point person for issues over constitution
KMT wants point person for issues over constitutionBy Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff reporterThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has reportedly tapped caucus secretary-general Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) to serve as its spokesperson for issues related to constitutional amendments. While Lin and some other KMT lawmakers have expressed support for abolishing the Control Yuan and the Examination Yuan, most KMT members oppose the move, the sources said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Cheng Li-wun speaks at the legislature in Taipei on March 27. KMT hardliners have doubts about abolishing the branches, as they were established in accordance with Sun Yat-sen’s (孫逸仙) “five branches” ideal, they added. The KMT’s draft constitutional amendments would be unveiled after the legislature officially forms a “constitutional amendment committee” in the next legislative session, they said.
Source:Taipei Times
August 09, 2020 15:56 UTC
Taiwan in Time: The ‘no problem’ doctor
Taiwan in Time: The ‘no problem’ doctorChanghua physician Hsu Tsai-chih got his nickname from his willingness to treat people who couldn’t pay for his servicesBy Han Cheung / Staff reporterAug. 10 to Aug. 16They called him the “No Problem Doctor” (沒關係醫生) because that’s what he always told his patients when they couldn’t pay up. Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei TimesSometimes, patients who received Hsu’s help for free felt too ashamed to go see him again, and their conditions worsened. Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei TimesThere are no biographies on Hsu, except for a picture book published by the Pusin Township Office in 2017. Photo: Chen Kuan-pei, Taipei TimesIn response to his children asking him to retire, Hsu said, “It makes me happy to cure other people. An illustrated cutout of Hsu Tsai-chih sits outside his former clinic in Changhua County.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
Court reverses Chao bail decision
Court reverses Chao bail decisionBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterIn a reversal of an earlier court decision, independent Legislator Chao Cheng-yu (趙正宇) was yesterday detained with restricted communications, becoming the fourth lawmaker to be detained for alleged involvement in a department store bribery case. The three other lawmakers are Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Chen Chao-ming (陳超明) and Sufin Siluko (廖國棟), and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Su Chen-ching (蘇震清). Chao was released after posting bail of NT$1 million (US$33,882) on Sunday last week, but Taipei prosecutors applied again on Thursday to detain him. Independent Legislator Chao Cheng-yu leaves the Taipei District Court to be transported to the Taipei Detention Center in New Taipei City’s Tucheng District yesterday. Chao was transported to the Taipei Detention Center in New Taipei City’s Tucheng District (土城) yesterday afternoon.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
Fubon halt Lin An-ko’s strong week
However, the Lions could not sustain their super-charged offense for the whole week, as they were shut out 4-0 by the Guardians in New Taipei City. The Fubon Guardians’ Chang Chin-te, right, celebrates a home run against the Uni-President Lions during their CPBL game at the Sinjhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei City yesterday. CTBC Brothers shortstop Chiang Kun-yu connects during an at-bat against the Rakuten Monkeys at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium yesterday. The Uni-President Lions’ Lin An-ko warms up at the Sinjhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei City on Friday. Lin took a fastball offering and drilled a shot into the right-field stands for his 22nd home run of the season.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
Groups hold Taichung clear air parade
Groups hold Taichung clear air paradeCARBON NEUTRAL: While the organizers urged the government to do more to reduce pollution, the EPA said its efforts had reduced the number of ‘red’ air alerts in TaichungStaff writer, with CNAEnvironmental groups yesterday held a parade in Taichung, calling on the government to work harder to cut air pollution and coal use, and outline plans to achieve a carbon-neutral society. The annual parade was headed by Air Clean Taiwan chairman Yeh Guang-perng (葉光芃) and Changhua Mayor Lin Shih-hsien (林世賢) of the Democratic Progressive Party, who dressed as “tree men” to draw attention to climate issues. Members of healthcare and environmental groups form the words “Net 0 carbon” as part of an environmental event in Taichung yesterday. Members of environmental and healthcare groups hold signs with pro-environmental slogans at a news conference in Taichung yesterday before a parade calling on the government to cut air pollution and coal use. Photo: Su Chin-feng, Taipei TimesThe Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday said in a statement that the government agrees with the groups on reducing pollution.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
Megaport Music Festival’s return delights fans, artists
Megaport Music Festival’s return delights fans, artistsBy Hsu Li-chuan, Yang Yi-han and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerAn announcement that the Megaport Music Festival has been rescheduled for some time next year has been met with great enthusiasm from fans, musicians and the Kaohsiung Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Metal band Chthonic perform at the Megaport Festival in Kaohsiung on March 24, 2018. “However, over the past year, we were truly touched by the fans’ support of the event and we have decided to return,” the committee said. The bureau said that it is always supportive of pop music, and always happy to see music events of every style held in Kaohsiung. Taiwanese rapper Dwagie (大支) said he was “moved” by the decision and said he hopes the organizers would invite him to the event.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
Taiwan’s wildlife database the second-largest in Asia
Taiwan’s wildlife database the second-largest in AsiaStaff writer, with CNAA database on biodiversity in Taiwan has compiled records of almost 10 million wildlife sightings, making it the second-largest wildlife index in Asia, with the vast majority of data coming from volunteers, the Council of Agriculture’s Endemic Species Research Institute said. Volunteers pose for a picture at a Taiwan Biodiversity Network news conference on Friday in Taipei. Photo: Yang Yuan-ting, Taipei TimesThey are followed by butterflies and moths, with 410,000 sightings, and frogs, with about 100,000, the database showed. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control bases the nationwide distribution of antivenom on the database’s records of poisonous snake sightings, institute director Yang Jia-dong (楊嘉棟) said. In addition to recording wildlife sightings, the institute also promotes civilian science initiatives and education on topics such as roadkill prevention and wildlife conservation on farmland, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
Construction on Taipei Dome can resume, city says
Construction on Taipei Dome can resume, city saysStaff Writer, with CNAThe Taipei City Government yesterday said that construction on the long-suspended Taipei Dome can resume immediately, after it approved a request by the project’s main contractor, Farglory Group. In a statement, the Taipei Construction Management Office said that after it on July 16 issued a new building permit, Farglory submitted revised design plans and an application to resume construction, which the office approved on Friday. The Taipei Dome is pictured in an aerial view on June 7. While the office is allowing construction to resume, it also called attention to its ongoing disagreements with the contractor. In the intervening years, there have been multiple lawsuits between the contractor and the city over the resumption of construction.
Source:Taipei Times
August 08, 2020 15:56 UTC
HPA drafts amendments to ban e-cigarette sales
During the two-month preview period for the draft amendments, which ended at the end of last month, the HPA received more than 4,000 letters from members of the public expressing conflicting opinions on the proposed bans. Asked why the proposals described heated tobacco products as “novel cigarette products,” Wu said that tobacco companies often change their products’ names. The HPA is also to submit a draft concerning the removal of mislabeled tobacco products from online shopping Web sites, he added. Currently, the agency can fine sellers of mislabeled vaping devices up to NT$50,000, based on Article 14 of the act, HPA Tobacco Control Division Director Chen Miao-hsin (陳妙心) said. National Cheng Kung University physician Chen Chuan-yu (陳全裕) said that he estimated a 5 percent increase in e-cigarette use.
Source:Taipei Times
August 07, 2020 15:56 UTC
Lee Teng-hui’s achievements defended
Lee Teng-hui’s achievements defended‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS’: A Taiwan Graduate School of Theology professor said that Lee’s quote, ‘the self does not just mean me,’ reflected a struggle with his ‘old self’By Chen Yun / Staff reporterVilification of president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) by people who favor unification with China would not taint the legacy and achievements he has left for Taiwan, Taiwan Society chairman Li Chuan-hsin (李川信) said yesterday. “In a democratic society, we are all free to hold different ideologies and viewpoints, but people can respect each other’s stance,” Li said alongside members of affiliated groups the Northern Taiwan Society and the Taiwan Society Hakka. Messages and a photograph that includes former president Lee Teng-hui are pictured at a memorial at the Taipei Guest House yesterday. Separately, leading figures from the Taiwan Graduate School of Theology and the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan also paid their respects to Lee. According to official records, since the memorial opened on Saturday last week, more than 15,282 had visited as of yesterday.
Source:Taipei Times
August 07, 2020 15:56 UTC