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A Bitcoin mining operations group in Taichung, Taiwan will be indicted on charges of aggravated theft for stealing 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity from Taipower, costing the state-owned enterprise nearly NT＄77 million. The group, led by a man surnamed Huang, was discovered through five rounds of investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s crime prevention division. The division seized stolen electricity equipment, Bitcoin mining machines, and illicit gains totaling over NT＄80 million. The Taichung District Prosecutors Office identified the site manager, financier, and individuals responsible for setting up the mining operation. Two miners, Cheng and Su, chose sites where the wiring was on the verge of melting due to constant high-speed operation at high temperatures, endangering nearby establishments such as a hotpot restaurant and an after-school program. The prosecutors noted the malicious attitude displayed by the two miners and have requested a heavy sentence.

The story discusses the statements made by John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, regarding the United States’ stance on Taiwan’s independence and the desire to avoid conflict over the island. Kirby emphasized that the U.S. does not support Taiwan’s independence and does not want to see a unilateral change in Taiwan’s status quo, particularly through the use of force. He expressed hope that President Joe Biden would continue to convey to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the U.S. will adhere to the Taiwan Relations Act and assist Taiwan in maintaining its self-defense capabilities. The article also mentions that Biden and Xi held bilateral talks, their second face-to-face meeting since November, and that Biden would discuss concerns about China’s non-interference in Taiwanese elections. It remains unclear whether Biden will meet with Taiwanese APEC representative Morris Chang at the summit.

Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou supports the idea of Kuomintang (KMT) presidential hopeful Hou Yu-ih and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential hopeful Ko Wen-je deciding on a merger through public polling. This suggestion comes amidst rumors that Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim could potentially be the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Lai Ching-te’s running mate. Former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu also supports Ma’s proposal, emphasizing that unity is crucial for strength. Ko has expressed willingness to resume cross-party discussions if Hou and the KMT agree to decide their merger through public polling. However, the KMT has stressed that public polling must align with the opinions of individuals and the party to maintain the spirit of the KMT-TPP alliance. These differences have led to difficulties in negotiations, which are at risk of collapsing. Hsu-tsen Hsiao, the director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, has conveyed Ma’s views to Hou and the KMT central committee, highlighting the potential losses the KMT could face in the upcoming elections if they fail to unite against the DPP.

The Taiwanese government plans to allocate at least NT＄20 billion next year to raise the salaries of healthcare workers in response to recent protests by medical professionals. Premier Chen Chien-jen advocates for increased respect, appreciation, and compensation for frontline staff, stating that a health insurance system should not be built on the ＂sweat and tears＂ of healthcare professionals. Discussions are underway with President Tsai Ing-wen, National Health Insurance Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang, and Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan on methods to enhance salaries through health insurance and public budget funds. The financial assistance will be directed at healthcare personnel excluding doctors, with specific details of the plan still under discussion. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has highlighted the global shortage of healthcare workers as a significant concern, and with COVID-19 still a threat, the government aims to increase healthcare investment and address the welfare of those on the medical frontline.

The Taiwanese government plans to allocate at least NT$20 billion in 2024 to subsidize healthcare workers’ salaries, according to Premier Chen Chien-jen. The aim is to ensure that the health insurance system is not built on the sweat and tears of medical staff. Chen emphasized the need for healthcare workers to be respected, appreciated, and adequately compensated within the healthcare system. President Tsai Ing-wen, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan, and National Health Insurance Administration Director Shi Chong-liang have held discussions on enhancing medical personnel’s salaries through health insurance and public budget. The proposed funds will be budgeted from public expenditures, although the details are still being planned. The budget for fiscal year 2024 has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan, and if approved, the new subsidies will officially roll out the following year. The specific manner and target of the subsidies are still being formulated.

The Taipei Dome test baseball game sold out 13,000 tickets in just over a minute. The free-entry test match, scheduled for November 18, will feature training teams from the Asian Baseball Championship and the U-23 Baseball World Cup. The game aims to assess the suitability of Taipei Dome for the upcoming 30th BFA Asian Baseball Championship in December. Field tests are being conducted to ensure smooth proceedings at the new venue, and spectators are encouraged to provide feedback through on-site online questionnaires.

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) will add an additional northbound train on Sunday night (Nov. 12) to accommodate Coldplay fans attending the band’s performances at Kaohsiung National Stadium on Nov. 11 and 12. The train will depart from Zuoying Station at 10:30 p.m. and arrive at Taipei Station at 12:30 a.m., making stops at Tainan, Chiayi, Taichung, Hsinchu, Taoyuan, and Banqiao stations. Tickets will be sold at 00:00 am on Nov. 11, and THSR advises travelers to plan their onward travel accordingly. Tickets can be booked through the T-EX mobile ticketing app, THSR’s online booking system, convenience stores, or train stations. Non-reserved seat tickets can also be purchased on the day of travel.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou supports conducting a public poll to determine the final candidate combination for the upcoming presidential race in Taiwan. The Kuomintang’s (KMT) Hou Yu-ih and Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) Ko Wen-je have yet to decide who will run as the presidential or vice presidential candidate if a party alliance is formed. Executive director Xiao Xucen of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation revealed that a prominent blue camp figure visited Ma and suggested comparing the ＂Hou-Ko＂ and ＂Ko-Hou＂ combinations with the Democratic Progressive Party’s ＂Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim＂ combination through a public poll. Ma Ying-jeou expressed strong agreement with this proposal. Xiao has shared this information with Hou’s campaign office and the party.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) predicts stable weather conditions across Taiwan, with mostly cloudy to clear skies for the first half of Friday (Nov.10). However, a weather front is expected to pass through in the afternoon, bringing isolated heavy rain to the north coast of Keelung and mountainous areas of northern Taiwan. Meteorologist Wu Te-jung estimates that the island will experience sharp temperature drops due to the arrival of its first wave of continental air mass starting next Monday, with the country’s plain areas forecasted to drop below 15 degrees Celsius at their lowest. In the morning hours of Wednesday and Thursday, as northeast winds weaken, there will be a slight improvement in weather and a brief rise in temperature. However, the east of Taiwan can expect brief showers during this time. With continental highs hanging over the island, most regions across Taiwan are forecasted to remain relatively stable next Friday. Wu also foresees slight chills brought on by the effects of Taiwan’s first projected wave of cold air mass, offsetting daytime warmth, as ＂radiative cooling＂ (RC) causes bodies to lose heat at night.

The ＂2+2＂ meeting in Tokyo between the U.K. and Japan focused on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Both parties expressed opposition to any attempt to alter the status quo by force or coercion and called for peaceful solutions to the long-running dispute between Taiwan and China. They also expressed concerns over tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea. The ministers urged China to act responsibly and cease aiding Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. The political situations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong were also discussed, with a commitment to establishing stable and constructive relations through dialogue. The joint statement supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, advocating for official membership where statehood is not required and observer status where it is. The U.K. and Japan reaffirmed their strong position and called for international support as the situation with Taiwan and China appears to worsen.

The strongest northeast monsoon of the season is set to reach Taiwan by Friday evening and will last for four days, according to meteorologist Wu Der-rong. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions for the cold. The Central Weather Administration predicts mostly clear to partly cloudy skies on Wednesday, with high temperatures ranging from 30 to 32 degrees Celsius in the western regions and 27 to 29 degrees in the eastern regions. The northeast monsoon weakening will result in concentrated rain in the eastern regions and the Hengchun Peninsula, with minimal precipitation elsewhere. Wu attributes the stable, sunny weather and significant rise in temperature from Wednesday through Friday to the influence of ＂Indian summer＂. However, Wu warns of significantly colder weather by next week, with Taipei’s minimum temperature potentially dropping to around 18 degrees and lows across the flatlands likely to dip below 15 degrees.

Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, delivered a speech at Riga Stradins University in Latvia, clarifying Taiwan’s position amid tensions with China. Despite enduring military intimidation, diplomatic isolation, and economic threats from China, Taiwan remains committed to achieving peace through open conversation while being pragmatic and prepared for potential risks. Wu praised the diplomatic relationship between Taiwan and Latvia, as both countries share similar paths to democracy and the establishment of sovereign statehood. However, both countries face unprecedented security challenges, with a standoff between democracy and autocracy driving the current international conflict. Wu emphasized that established democracies cannot ignore the expansion of authoritarianism, which seeks to undermine the rules-based international order. In light of President Tsai’s decision to restore one-year military service, Wu stressed the importance of being armed to protect Taiwan’s freedom, as the cost of losing it is unbearable for a democratic society.

Vice President Lai Ching-te envisions Taiwan as a global haven for democracy, justice, innovation, and sustainability, as he addresses the European Chamber of Commerce. He emphasizes the need to strengthen trade and investment relations with the European Union through a Free Trade Agreement or Bilateral Investment Treaty. Taiwan-EU trade has flourished, with Europe being the largest source of foreign investment. Lai highlights the importance of maintaining a stable Strait and opposes any attempt to change the status quo by force. He also commits to Taiwan’s national vision of achieving net-zero transitions by diversifying green energy sources and implementing high-tech solutions for energy conservation.

The National Security Bureau (NSB) of Taiwan is actively investigating polling companies suspected of having strong ties with China and engaging in illicit financial activities. Concerns have been raised about potential Chinese intervention in the upcoming 2024 general elections. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has been accused of attempting to influence election results by inviting pro-Kuomintang (KMT) commentators and polling officials to China. There are reports of generative AI technologies being used to spread disinformation through edited viral clips, potentially impacting the elections. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators have called for offensive counter-espionage techniques to combat these opposing forces. The NSB is working to trace the origins of these financial flows and is closely monitoring the situation. The NSB has also warned that legal action will be taken if any manipulative activity or election fraud is detected.

Taiwan’s Health and Welfare Minister, Hsueh Jui-yuan, has announced the launch of a telemedicine project next week to meet the growing demand for virtual diagnosis and long-distance clinical services. The telehealth initiative, set to debut in April next year, will not only cover acute and long-term care but also extend to chronic treatments, serious accidents, infectious cases, and care for people with disabilities. The National Health Insurance Administration estimates that over seven million people will benefit from these telehealth reforms. However, concerns have been raised by Legislator Lai Hui-yuan regarding the overdue project and the NHIA’s plans to boost digital health in Taiwan. The NHIA Department of Medical Affairs Director, Liu Lin-yi, responded by stating that telemedicine services became accessible to general patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 460 thousand patients receiving diagnoses through video calls. To ensure a smooth digital transition, MOHW Health Division Chief Liu Yueh-Ping emphasized the need for standards and the completion of necessary setups within six months.

Taiwanese citizens express their dissatisfaction with the new road regulations implemented on July 1 through social media, sharing stories of the consequences of violating the rules. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) amended Section 43 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, imposing fines and driving bans for drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 kilometers per hour. Offenders also face a six-month license suspension. Despite Taiwan’s reputation for bad traffic behavior, some argue that the previous threshold of exceeding the speed limit by 60 kilometers per hour should be reinstated. The MOTC asserts that managing speed is crucial for road safety worldwide and considers excessive speeding a serious offense. They emphasize that higher speeds limit a driver’s field of vision and reaction time, urging citizens to comply with traffic rules without presuming luck.

Taipei’s Economics Minister, Wang Mei-hua, announced that power shortages have significantly decreased in recent years, with no shortages reported in 2023. Wang dismissed former President Ma Ying-jeou’s claims of power shortages under the Democratic Progressive Party’s governance as inconsistent with the facts. Since President Tsai Ing-wen took office, improvements have been made to the power scheduling mechanism, enhancing power supply stability. In response to power cuts in May 2021, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) plans to invest over NT$500 billion in improvements over the next decade. The MOEA aims to add 9.1 million kilowatts to the power supply by 2030, excluding renewable energy, to meet the projected increase in power demand of 7 million kilowatts over the next seven years.

The Taipei International Travel Fair concluded with attendees taking advantage of travel deals. Industry experts believe that high travel costs are inevitable due to factors such as flight recovery, labor shortage, and inflation. Japan, a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists, also faces similar challenges. The weakening Japanese Yen has led to more domestic travel, increasing competition for hotel rooms. The imbalance between supply and demand has contributed to rising travel costs. To alleviate financial pressures, experts suggest taking advantage of fair benefits and choosing low-cost airlines. For those interested in traveling to Western countries, transferring through Chinese airports may offer relatively lower ticket prices.

The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau has fined four hotels in Taiwan between NT＄10,000 to NT＄50,000 for increasing room rates during Coldplay’s concerts on November 11 and 12 at the Kaohsiung National Stadium. To prevent the tourism and accommodation industry from exploiting such opportunities, the Tourism Bureau conducts proactive inspections of hotel room rates. Reports indicate that four hotels were found to have inflated their prices, with one hotel seeing a 60% increase, resulting in a fine of NT＄50,000. The Kaohsiung City Government is making efforts to establish the city as a major global concert destination, with performances by international and domestic acts scheduled for 2023. While these events stimulate the tourism economy and increase demand for hotel accommodations, some operators take advantage of the situation by raising room prices. The director of the Tourism Bureau, Kao Min-Lin, has urged industry operators not to inflate prices during festivals, major events, or concerts. The Tourism Bureau will continue to inspect hotel room rates, maintain tourism and accommodation quality through strict supervision, inspections, and fines, and protect consumer rights and interests.

Starting from November 10, the public can request tickets online for a free viewing of the warm-up baseball game at the Taipei Dome on November 18. The game is part of the essential competition facilities review by the Farglory Group. The November 14 warm-up match will be a closed-door event involving four top-tier teams. On November 18, the ＂Home Run Taipei Dome Warm-up Game＂ will take place, featuring a match-up between the training teams from the Asian Baseball Championship and the U-23 Baseball World Cup. The Dome is expected to open 13,000 seats to the public. Tickets can be requested online through the tixCraft ticketing system from November 10 to November 17. Each account is limited to 2 tickets, while supplies last. The company warns spectators that they will not consider compensation or other rights claims if they result from deficiencies or imperfections in the venue’s facilities. Farglory Group encourages adherence to venue regulations and recommends using public transportation to reach the games.

Four winners of the May-June uniform invoice lottery in Taiwan have yet to claim their NT＄10 million prizes, which will expire on Nov. 6, according to the Ministry of Finance. The winning number for the special prize is ＂29268886,＂ with a total of 21 tickets bearing this number. The unclaimed winning tickets were obtained through everyday activities such as shopping, refueling, or food purchases.

Fifteen regional leaders of the Kuomintang (KMT) have petitioned for their party to collaborate with the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for the 2024 elections. The petition expresses support for one of two proposals put forward by KMT Chairman Eric Chu. The presidential and vice presidential candidates would be Hou Yu-ih and Ko Wen-je if the KMT is victorious, or Ko and Hou if the TPP wins. The two systems, based on the Japanese or German model, are determined by comparative polls. The KMT aims to achieve democratic reform in Taiwan through this collaboration to avoid a single dominant party.

The story reports that the U.S. destroyer USS Rafael Peralta and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated that the country’s armed forces maintained control of the maritime and aerial dynamics during the transit. The ministry also revealed that it detected 13 Chinese aircraft and eight mainland ships conducting activities around Taiwanese waters. Five Chinese aircraft entered the southwest Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), prompting a response from Taiwan’s armed forces using combat air patrol aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems.

The latest presidential poll by Newtalk shows that Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has surpassed Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) has also gained support. Ko leads Lai by 0.52%, and Lai’s lead over Hou is only 0.08%, indicating a closely contested election. However, if Terry Gou were to enter the race, the rankings would change significantly. Lai would still be first, but Hou would move up to second, Ko would drop to third, and Gou would trail at the end with 9.39%. This is the first time in past polls that Hou surpasses Ko. The poll collected data from 1,088 valid answers through online questionnaires sent to random mobile phone numbers. The findings have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.03% at a 95% confidence level.

Four regional governments in Taiwan, including Yunlin County, Keelung City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taichung City, have banned the popular toy knife known as the ＂carrot knife＂ from schools due to safety concerns. The toy, originally from mainland China, gained popularity among Taiwanese students through social media platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu. The ban is primarily due to the pointed tip on the front end of the plastic retractable toy, which is seen as potentially dangerous. Taipei City and New Taipei City advise students not to bring the toys to school, while other municipalities require schools to enhance safety management and provide safety education.