Human Rights Commission launched
Human Rights Commission launchedPROUD WORK: Protecting human rights to an international standard would continue, even as a constitutional amendment committee is planned, President Tsai Ing-wen saidBy Sean Lin / Staff reporterPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that she hopes the National Human Rights Commission, launched yesterday, would make a “unique contribution” to the international community by passing on the nation’s experience with promoting human rights. Photo: CNAThe commission’s responsibilities include investigating human rights violations, researching and reviewing human rights policies, generating reports on human rights incidents, promoting human rights and engaging in international exchanges, she said, adding that the tasks should be conducted in the spirit of the Control Yuan as watchdog, while fostering local human rights institutions and instilling in residents a sense of respect toward other human beings. The Presidential Office’s Human Rights Commission Consultative Committee, after adapting many international covenants on human rights to the nation, on May 19 ceased operations so that it could pass on the baton to the commission, she added. Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei TimesThe commission is to be a voice for minority groups, comprehensively monitor human rights in Taiwan, consult on human rights, receive complaints on human rights infringements, offer human rights education, assess whether government policies protect human rights, and advise the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan on human rights legislation, she said. Asked what human rights she hoped to bolster, Chen said that she would focus on the human rights of children, inmates and people who are mentally challenged.
Source:Taipei Times
August 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
White House, Cornell University praise Lee Teng-hui
White House, Cornell University praise Lee Teng-huiBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reportersThe White House in a statement on Friday marked the passing of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), while Lee’s alma mater Cornell University issued an obituary remembering his academic achievements and his 1995 speech during a visit to the campus. The text “Mourning former president Lee” is displayed over 59th and 60th floors on Taipei 101 on Friday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesThe White House statement said that “President Lee was Taiwan’s first popularly elected leader and stepped down in adherence to term limits. The White House statement came after the US National Security Council remembered Lee as “Mr Democracy.”Then-president Lee Teng-hui, left, holds hands with the Dalai Lama at their first-ever meeting at a government guest house in Taipei on March 27, 1997. Cornell University, where Lee earned a doctorate in agricultural economics in 1968, published an obituary on its Web site.
Source:Taipei Times
August 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Monkeys maintain second-half streak
Rakuten Monkeys catcher Liao Chien-fu connects during their game against the Uni-President Lions at the Taoyuan Intenational Stadium yesterday. Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei TimesIt was tied at 1-1 early, with Rakuten hosting the Lions at the Taoyuan Intenational Stadium yesterday. Kuo Yen-wen of the Rakuten Monkeys, second right, celebrates with his teammates after their win against the Uni-President Lions at the Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium on Friday. Kuo Yen-wen, center, of the Rakuten Monkeys waves after being named most valuable player in Friday’s game against the Uni-President Lions at the Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium. It was not only the Monkeys who won with final at-bats this week, as the Brothers also left it late.
Source:Taipei Times
August 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Taiwan in Time: The green ‘preacher’
“Environmental Protection Preacher” (環保弘法師) was more than a nickname, though, it was Nien’s actual job title when the full-time activist moonlighted as an environmental writer and speaker for a Buddhist magazine in 1990. The cover of Nien Hsi-lin’s biography, Environmental Protection Preacher, shows him during his anti-Dupont days between 1986 and 1987. The success of the anti-Dupont movement was a pivotal moment in Taiwan’s environmental protection history. Just five months after Dupont scrapped its Lukang project, the Executive Yuan upgraded the Department of Health’s Environmental Protection Bureau to an independent Environmental Protection Administration, greatly expanding its scope and responsibilities. “If Taiwan becomes a complete wasteland, what meaning would independence or unification have?”LATE-LIFE AWAKENINGA screenshot from the Lukang Residents’ Anti-Dupont Movement documentary filmed by Green Team.
Source:Taipei Times
August 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Tsai vows to liberalize finance rules
Tsai vows to liberalize finance rules‘INCREASINGLY FAVORED’: Taiwan’s ‘transparent laws and efficient courts’ as well as its financial institutions give it a major advantage to become a financial hub, Tsai saidBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterTaiwan would liberalize banking and investment rules to establish itself as a regional financial hub, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told the Taiwan Capital Market Forum in Taipei yesterday. “These bring new challenges and opportunities.”President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Taiwan Capital Market Forum, held by the Liberty Times, in Taipei’s Neihu Disitrct yesterday. Second, our comprehensive financial institutions,” she said. In addition, dividend yields are high in Taiwan, transactions are stable and transparent, and compared with surrounding countries, the liquidity of Taiwan’s capital markets is high, Tsai said. Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) told the forum that Taiwan has taken advantage of the US-China trade dispute by encouraging investment.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Lawmakers raided in graft probe
Lawmakers raided in graft probeBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterInvestigators yesterday searched the offices and homes of six current and former lawmakers, in connection with a corruption probe over allegations of taking bribes and other illegal activities arising from disputes in Far Eastern Group’s (遠東集團) takeover of Pacific Sogo Department Store (太平洋崇光百貨). Also under investigation were former New Power Party legislator Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), former independent legislator Chao Cheng-yu (趙正宇) and former DPP lawmaker Mark Chen (陳唐山). Prosecutors and investigators, center, yesterday hold brown paper bags on their way out of Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Su Chen-ching’s office in the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. The corruption probe centered on efforts to amend Article 9 of the Company Act (公司法), deliberated in the Legislative Finance Committee. They said he allegedly gave bribes to Chao, and other unspecified lawmakers, to pressure government agencies for rezoning permits.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
All listed firms need balanced growth: FSC
People attend the Taiwan Capital Market Forum held by the Liberty Times in Taipei’s Neihu District yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesAs the heavily weighted TSMC could easily influence the local bourse, investors should refrain from gloating over the rallies, Huang added. “We should think how the TAIEX would perform if there were no TSMC,” Huang said. Instead of feeling good about the market thanks to the success of one big company, the regulator should focus more on the balanced development of all listed corporations, he said. There is a balance between insufficient and excessive investor protection, but the commission would improve investor education so that they can make good decisions, Huang said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Lee’s support of art scene lauded
Lee’s support of art scene laudedBIG INFLUENCER: Had it not been for the former president, the art and cultural scene in Taiwan today would not be the same, singer Julian Lo saidBy Chen Feng-li, Ling Mei-hsueh and Dennis Xie / Staff reporters, with staff writerArtists and musicians yesterday expressed their condolences for the passing of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), as well as their appreciation of his support for the arts and cultural industries. Wang Ying-hsin (王英信), who in 1997 was invited by Lee to create a 2.2m sculpture of the then-president, said that Lee loved art and he frequented many exhibitions during his time as president to support local artists. Lee would even visit artists’ studios, as he wanted to get to know artists and their working environments better, Wang said. “To date, which other mayor has had such an appreciation of art and culture?”Musician Mali Liu also appreciated Lee’s love of music. When Japanese photographer Koki Sato took part in the art exhibition “Geisai Taiwan2” in Taipei in 2010, Lee was the subject of some of his works.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Nation’s leaders mourn Lee’s passing
Nation’s leaders mourn Lee’s passingFAREWELL, SKIPPER: Lee Teng-hui was like the old captain of a democratic ship called ‘Taiwan,’ and his aspirations for that ship will never die, Chen Shui-bian saidBy Sean Lin and Lee Hsin-fang / Staff reportersGovernment agencies across the nation yesterday flew the national flag at half-mast to mourn the passing of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who died on Thursday aged 97. The arrangements for the memorial were decided at an intergovernmental meeting attended by Lee’s two daughters earlier yesterday, Huang said. A man yesterday kneels outside Taipei Veterans General Hospital’s Huai-en Hall to pay his respects to former president Lee Teng-hui, who died on Thursday. Lee’s family said that people were welcome to visit and mourn the former president, but asked that they not lay wreaths or baskets, he said. The national flag yesterday flies at half-mast at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei to mourn the passing of former president Lee Teng-hui.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Aquarium’s 91 marine exhibits are legal, OCA says
Aquarium’s 91 marine exhibits are legal, OCA saysBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) yesterday said that the Japanese aquarium Xpark, which is to open next week in Taoyuan, had applied and received approval to legally import 91 marine species, in response to public concern over where it is sourcing the animals. The aquarium is to feature hammerhead sharks, leopard sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, penguins, seals and sea lions, among others, the company said. People take pictures of jellyfish at the Xpark aquarium in Jhongli District, Taoyuan, yesterday. Photo: Lee Jung-ping, Taipei TimesWhile some aquariums feature whale sharks, the agency in June listed whale sharks, eagles and mobulid rays as endangered and first-class protected species. Visitors look at images of marine creatures projected on the floor in an interactive area of Xpark aquarium in Jhongli, Taoyuan, yesterday.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Foreign leaders celebrate Lee’s life and legacy
As of yesterday afternoon, 206 foreign dignitaries from 45 countries and organizations had expressed sadness over Lee’s death, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “President Lee’s death is truly regrettable, and I pray for his soul from the bottom of my heart,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday, as well as writing it on Twitter. “An alumnus of Iowa State University and Cornell University, President Lee also epitomized the strong people-to-people ties which bind the United States and Taiwan,” the AIT said in a statement. “Throughout his life, President Lee was a superlative leader, reformist and public servant,” said Project 2049 Institute chairman Randall Schriver, former US assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, in a statement. The British Office Taipei, the European Economic and Trade Office and other local representative offices also honored Lee’s role in building Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Remembering Lee Teng-hui: Ex-aide praises Lee Teng-hui’s love for Taiwan
Remembering Lee Teng-hui: Ex-aide praises Lee Teng-hui’s love for TaiwanBy Chen Yu-fu and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerFormer president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) made great contributuons to Taiwan, including democratization, strengthening national sovereignty and enhancing people’s identity as Taiwanese, former Presidential Office secretary-general Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) said on Thursday after Lee died in Taipei aged 97. When Chiang died the following year, then-vice president Lee succeeded him, becoming the first Taiwan-born president of the nation, as opposed to his predecessors who were born in China. “I, Lee Teng-hui, promise that I will not hold grudges against anybody while I am on this Earth. I will respond to public opinion and never stop working for my beloved Taiwan,” Huang quoted Lee as saying after he was elected. Lee’s efforts to deepen Taiwan’s democracy did not stop when he stepped down as president in 2000, as he went on to found the Lee Teng-hui Foundation and the Lee Teng-hui Academy, which aimed to cultivate more young people who identified with and loved Taiwan, Huang said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Former president Lee Teng-hui dies
Former president Lee Teng-hui dies‘HERO OF THE ERA’: President Tsai Ing-wen expressed deep sadness at Lee’s passing, and told the government to assist his family with all their needsBy Lin Hui-chin and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerFormer president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) passed away at 7:24pm yesterday at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Former president Lee Teng-hui, who passes away at 97 in Taipei yesterday, is pictured on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1996. Former president Lee Teng-hui waves to a crowd outside the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on May 20, 2000, after Chen Shui-bian was sworn in as Taiwan’s next president. During his lifetime, Lee underwent 12 stent procedures, 11 for his heart and one for his vertebral artery — installed when he was 92 years old. Former president Lee Teng-hui, in wheelchair, greets guests at a fundraiser for his foundation in Taipei on Oct. 19 last year.
Source:Taipei Times
July 30, 2020 15:56 UTC
First ‘Made in Taiwan’ wind farm parts shipped
First ‘Made in Taiwan’ wind farm parts shippedBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterThe first batch of “Made in Taiwan” wind farm components was delivered to Kaohsiung Harbor on Wednesday to be installed at an offshore project in Yunlin County. The Yunlin offshore wind farm, developed and operated by Wpd, is slated to be completed next year and would be the first in Taiwan to use locally sourced components, a joint statement by the firms said. “Made in Taiwan” wind farm components, to be installed at an offshore wind farm project in Yunlin County, are pictured at Kaohsiung Harbor on Wednesday. “With our expertise and experience, we are confident that CTCI Machinery can help Taiwan achieve its energy diversification goals through offshore wind farms,” he said. Once completed, the Yunlin offshore wind farm would be the largest single offshore wind farm project in the Asia-Pacific region, providing power for up to 640,000 households in Taiwan annually, the statement said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 30, 2020 15:56 UTC
Delta Electronics registers record-high gross margin
Delta Electronics registers record-high gross marginBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterDelta Electronics Co (台達電), the nation’s leading power and thermal solutions provider, yesterday said that gross margin last quarter hit a record high, as the company benefited from the work from home and remote learning trends. Investor relations officer Rodney Liu (劉致遠) credited the record gross margin of 32.9 percent to Delta’s superior product offerings. That compared with a gross margin of 26.48 percent in the first quarter and 26.99 percent in the same period last year. Delta’s operations are composed of: power electronics, including embedded power supplies, components and thermal management solutions; automation, mainly industrial automation services; and infrastructure, covering information infrastructure, energy infrastructure and industrial solutions. Revenue from power electronics and automation increased 4 percent and 6 percent respectively from a year earlier, while that from infrastructure dropped 18 percent, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
July 30, 2020 15:56 UTC