Protesting Uber drivers promise referendum drive
The government should also stop taxi companies from launching mud-slinging campaigns against Uber drivers, he said. The alliance said that the amendment would not benefit taxi drivers, whose vehicle vacancy rate is already 40 percent. The ministry’s policy asking Uber drivers to become taxi drivers would only benefit taxi companies, it said. Department of Railways and Highways specialist Hu Ti-chi (胡迪琦) disagreed, saying that Uber drivers’ demand that the ministry create a new business category just for them is unreasonable. “They are essentially running the same business as taxi drivers.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Firms see marriage equality benefits
Economists have said that the benefits of same-sex marriage include increased productivity, greater labor mobility and less stress in the workplace over perceived discrimination. Taiwan is set to become the first country in Asia to allow same-sex marriage following a 2017 ruling by the council that the prohibition of same-sex marriage in the Civil Code was unconstitutional. However, a referendum on whether to support the legalization of same-sex marriage through amendments to the Civil Code was defeated in November last year. If the Legislative Yuan fails to act, same-sex marriage would automatically become legal. Passing marriage equality would send a message to the world that “Taiwan is open for business,” Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan chief coordinator Jennifer Lu (呂欣潔) said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Lai urges DPP to begin primary talks
By Ann Maxon / Staff reporterFormer premier William Lai (賴清德) yesterday urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to begin discussing its presidential primary and called for an “anti-annexation law” against China. Lai said that when meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), “there was no discussion on how to conduct a primary, only requests that I quit.”“That is not the approach the DPP should take,” he added. If the party convenes a second meeting with him and Tsai, he hopes they will begin talking about a primary, Lai said. “Emphasizing how someone should be a vice president during a primary is an election strategy not worth pursuing,” he said. As a democratic party, the DPP should adhere to its democratic procedures and allow primary candidates the opportunity to promote their platforms and lobby for support, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Cabinet approves draft oceans act on maritime policy
By Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Ocean Affairs Council’s draft “basic ocean act,” which proposes designating June 8 as National Oceans Day and compiling a white paper on national marine policy. Areas of focus include maritime terrorism, plastic pollution, rising sea levels, conservation of marine life, intelligence about foreign military vessels and scientific expeditions, the draft says. To promote World Oceans Day on June 8 and boost public awareness, the bill would also designate that date as National Oceans Day. The council’s National Academy of Marine Research, which was inaugurated on Wednesday, is also drafting a “sea area management” bill, Shen added. In related news, the Ministry of Science and Technology is building three new vessels — New Ocean Researcher I, New Ocean Researcher II and New Ocean Researcher III — to replace vesssesls by the same name that are managed by National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Ocean University and National Sun Yat-sen University respectively.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Leopard cat rescued from reservoir
By Sherry Hsiao / Staff writer, with CNAA female leopard cat was last week rescued from a reservoir in the mountains of Nantou County’s Guosing Township (國姓), the Forestry Bureau’s Nantou Forest District Office said on Wednesday. The Nantou-based Endemic Species Research Institute and the Nantou County Department of Agriculture responded and were able to rescue the animal, identified as an endangered leopard cat. Local residents said it has been 20 years since they had seen a leopard cat. Staff at the office, the county government and the institute were all pleased to hear that a leopard cat had been rescued in Guosing, the office said. By making improvements to the habitat within its jurisdiction, it hopes to increase biodiversity and the leopard cat population, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
‘Avengers: Endgame’ breaks box office records
By Hsu Shih-ying and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerMarvel Studio’s Avengers: Endgame on Wednesday shattered Taiwanese box office records by grossing NT$80 million (US$2.59 million) on its first day. The highly anticipated movie is the highest-grossing film ever on an opening day, the highest-grossing and most-viewed film on a single day, and the highest-selling Disney movie, with the highest number of screening theaters and showtimes, among other records. The film also grossed HK$18.6 million (US$2.37 million) in Hong Kong, surpassing last year’s, Avengers: Infinity War, in single-day and opening-day box office figures. The film is anticipated to unseat Avatar — which grossed HK$178 million in 2009 — as the highest-grossing movie ever screened in Hong Kong. Avengers: Endgame shattered records in China, grossing 535 million yuan (US$79.28 million) on opening day, becoming the fastest movie to reach US$100 million worldwide.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Hurricanes outlast defending champs Capitals to advance
“You can kick the snot out of each other and look each other in the eye and say: ‘Man that was a great series, you really pushed us,’” Williams said. “We pushed each other.”Carolina pushed Washington out of the playoffs by erasing a two-goal deficit and dominating two overtime periods in the third-longest Game 7 in NHL history. The Hurricanes outshot the Capitals 18-6 in the overtimes, and it was clear Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and the big guns were gassed after each surpassing 30 minutes of ice time. It is the first time in NHL history that all four division winners were eliminated in the first round. We gave it to them.”In just as many ways, the Hurricanes took it.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Flight union to conclude EVA strike vote on June 6
By Ann Maxon / Staff reporterEVA Airways flight attendants from May 13 to June 6 are to vote to determine whether to launch a strike, the Taoyuan Flight Attendants’ Union said yesterday. “The union will have the right to strike if at least half, or 2,800 members, vote in favor,” union secretary-general Cheng Ya-ling (鄭雅菱) said. All members can take part in the vote, regardless of whether they work for EVA, China Airlines or other airlines, she said. The union on Friday last week decided to hold a vote after three government-led negotiations failed to resolve a string of labor disputes, the union said. In the third meeting on Wednesday last week, EVA agreed to make certain concessions, including lengthening rest time for several flights and increasing the layover allowance, but refused to restrict the increase to union members.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Taichung seeing stink bug infestation
By Ou Su-mei / Staff reporterLarge numbers of lychee stink bugs, or Tessaratoma papillosa, have been found along Taichung’s Sintian Hiking Trail (新田步道) in Tanzih District (潭子) and Dakeng Hiking Trail (大坑步道) in Beitun District (北屯). Lychee stink bugs secrete a toxic bodily fluid that irritates human skin and eyes. About 20,000 Anastatus japonicus, a parasitic wasp and the natural enemy of the lychee stink bug, were released on the trail this year, and warning signs were erected where more bugs have been found, he said. The lychee stink bug is an agricultural pest that affects lychee and longan production. 10 Dakeng hiking trails, and Sintian Hiking Trail.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Court upholds ruling against judo fighter who jumped rival
By Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe Taiwan High Court yesterday upheld a conviction against martial arts instructor Chu Hsueh-chang (朱雪璋) for ambushing another fighter in 2016, handing him a six-year jail sentence for causing serious injuries and showing no remorse for his actions. In February 2016, judo instructor Kenny Wu-lin Wang (王毓霖) challenged Chu to a duel to settle personal disputes. In the first ruling by the Taipei District Court, Chu was convicted of causing serious bodily harm and given a six-year sentence. As a judo master, Chu has professional knowledge about human anatomy that he used to incapacitate Wang with the sword, they said. The ruling said that Chu had shown no remorse throughout the trials, nor had he paid Wang compensation as he had promised.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
All hopefuls, including Han, to be in KMT primary
Staff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on Wednesday decided to include all potential presidential candidates, including Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), in its primary to select the party’s candidate for next year’s presidential election. The committee also decided that the nomination schedule would be announced next month and that the primary would not begin until after June, the KMT said. The resolution came one day after Han told reporters: “At this time, I cannot join the primary under the existing system.”Han said that while he did not want to enter the KMT primary, he felt the need to take responsibility for the development and defense of Taiwan. At the meeting, Wu issued an instruction that all presidential hopefuls would be included in the primary, whether they actually sign up, KMT spokesman Ouyang Lung (歐陽龍) said. Other KMT hopefuls are former New Taipei City mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫), KMT Legislator Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and former Taipei County commissioner Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋).
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
City raise the bar, United suffer more misery
AFP, MANCHESTER, EnglandManchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Wednesday said that he believes his side have raised the bar in the Premier League after edging one point back ahead of Liverpool in a titanic title race with a 2-0 win at Manchester United. “We increased the level for the Premier League last season with 100 points. “We know what’s been going wrong, it’s mentality and willingness to run for your team,” United striker Marcus Rashford said. We have to get to the bottom of it and start playing like Manchester United for ourselves,” he added. De Gea has been a rare model of consistent brilliance as United have fallen behind City in recent seasons.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Rockets beat Utah 100-93 to win series
AP, HOUSTON, TexasIn a series where their shots were not falling like normal, the Houston Rockets managed to close it out with some tough defense. James Harden on Wednesday night scored 26 points as the Rockets outlasted the Utah Jazz 100-93 to win their first-round playoff series 4-1. Houston advanced to the semi-finals for the third straight season and are to face the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Golden State Warriors series. It’s always hard to beat a team and close them out.”The Rockets got a solid game from Clint Capela, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Royce O’Neal came off the bench to lead Utah with 18 points, Rubio had 17 and Jae Crowder added 15.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Lazio blast media after fans display Mussolini banner
AFP, ROMESS Lazio attacked the media’s “simplistic tendency” to blame all of the club’s fans for neo-fascist incidents, after a pro-Benito Mussolini banner was displayed before repeated racist chants were reportedly heard during Wednesday’s Coppa Italia game against AC Milan. Lazio’s 1-0 win was then overshadowed by the racist abuse of Milan players Tiemoue Bakayoko and Franck Kessie. “Lazio also reject and contest the simplistic tendency of the media to consider the entire Lazio fan base responsible for the actions of a few isolated elements, for motivation that has nothing to do with passion for sport,” it said. “The club has always fought for the respect of law and fairness in behavior,” it added. Authorities reportedly identified 22 people responsible for the Mussolini banner.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC
Bayern win 3-2 to again reach final
Reuters, BERLINBundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Wednesday beat Werder Bremen 3-2 with two goals from Robert Lewandowski to advance to the DFB-Pokal final for the second straight year and keep the domestic league and cup double firmly in their sights. The Bavarians, who also defeated Werder in the Bundesliga last week, are now to face RB Leipzig in the final on May 25. Bayern lost last year’s final to Eintracht Frankfurt. The hosts had their share of chances, but it was Bayern who scored again with Mueller in the 63rd. The Poland forward should have had a hat-trick, but he hit the post from close range in stoppage-time.
Source:Taipei Times
April 25, 2019 15:56 UTC