Taipei, Dec. 29, 2008 (CENS)–Worldwide shipments of netbooks, or mini-note PCs, are expected to reach 14.6 million units in 2009, a significant growth after its commercialization in the fourth quarter of 2007 by Taiwan-based Asustek Computer Inc. (ASUS brand), according to Displaybank, a global leader in electronic display market research. In 2009, the research firm [...]

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming voiced his support Friday for state-run businesses expanding their overseas markets after the country’s oil refiner — CPC Corp., Taiwan — signed four cooperation agreements on oil exploration with its Chinese counterpart earlier that day. Yiin said the government-run companies’ moves to explore trade opportunities [...]

The Control Yuan yesterday impeached Chen Shen-hsien (陳伸賢), the director-general of the Water Resources Agency (WRA), for his “flawed supervision” of the Dajia River (大甲溪), which they said caused the Houfeng Bridge (后豐橋) to collapse in a typhoon that claimed two lives and left four people missing in September. When asked by the press whether [...]

Lawmakers across party lines yesterday unanimously approved the Cabinet’s special budget request for the consumer vouchers scheme. The final budget totaled NT$85.6 billion (US$2.5 billion) after legislators cut about NT$49.3 million. As announced on Nov. 18, the government will take out loans to cover the budget. Along with the legislature’s approval of the the Special [...]

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Taiwan has recently donated 200 metric tons of rice to Kiribati in a bid to help relieve a food shortage in the Pacific nation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday. The rice, which was handed over to the Kiribati government on Christmas Eve, is intended for distribution to hospitals, [...]

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Taiwan will cooperate with Michelin — the French publisher of the acclaimed Le Guide Michelin — to publish a guidebook for Taiwan in both French and English, a Government Information Office (GIO) official said Saturday. Manfred Peng, director of the GIO’s Department of International Information, revealed that tourism, pop music and [...]

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) made the final decision on local county reconfiguration as “three cities, fifteen counties” Friday and confirmed the merger of Taichung City and County in 2010. Under Ma’s order, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) are expected to brief the [...]

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Taiwan’s strength is being sapped not only by corrupt politicians but also by their supporters, former President Lee Teng-hui said Saturday. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Chiayi chapter of the Friends of Lee Teng-hui Association in central Taiwan, Lee suggested that political power transfer, which is normal in any [...]

Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Three individuals or groups received the Peace Taiwan Awards Saturday for their efforts to promote the concepts of fairness and justice and to narrow the gaps observed in various areas in Taiwan or worldwide, according to the Taiwan Grassroots Alliance for Peace (TGAP), which organized the awards. Speaking at the award-presentation [...]

Pierangelo Andreani, an internationally known Italian who has been designing transportation equipment for over 40 years, generously shared his views on trends in powered two-wheeler (PTW) design, especially in the European market, during a recent visit to Taiwan. Andreani works with cars, motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles, as well as boats. He joined the global car-design [...]