AT 結果共1,317筆

Taiwan’s FDA confirms detection of Cimbuterol in pork sample from Taichung, with trace levels at 0.001ppm. Public urged not to worry as only one package tested positive and levels are very low. Further test results to be released after the holiday.

A recent survey reveals that 90% of Taiwanese employees plan to give out red envelopes for the Lunar New Year, with an average amount of NT＄11,292. The survey also shows that workers plan to spend an average of NT＄31,093 during the seven-day holiday, contributing NT＄288.7 billion to the economy. Popular activities include getting together with friends and family, visiting hometown, resting at home, paying visits to friends and relatives’ households, and watching television or DVDs at home. Other activities include praying at temples, making travel arrangements, gaming, job hunting online, and shopping. Compared to the Year of the Rabbit in 2023, 49.7% of respondents said their red envelope budget would remain the same, 26.8% said it would be more, and 23.5% said it would be less. Additionally, 64% of workers plan to give gifts during the New Year, with an average gift budget of NT＄4,977.

Yoko Abe, the mother of the late former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has passed away. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te expressed their condolences, highlighting Yoko Abe’s friendly relations with Taiwan and her contributions to Taiwan-Japan relations. President Tsai fondly recalled a shared moment during Yoko Abe’s visit to Taiwan in 2016, while Vice President Lai expressed shock at her demise and prayed for strength for the grieving Abe family. Yoko Abe’s approachable demeanor and efforts in fostering Taiwan-Japan relations earned her high regard in Taiwan, and her passing has been met with mourning sentiments.

Hong Kong pop star G.E.M. caused a frenzy at Tatler XFEST in Hong Kong when she converted from performer to superfan, requesting an autograph and a photo with soccer star David Beckham. Clad in a pink jersey, G.E.M. spotted Beckham during her performance and promptly approached him, asking him to sign the back of her jersey. In an impromptu moment, Beckham agreed and signed ＂To G.E.M.,＂ posing for a photo with his arm around her shoulder. The event sparked widespread social media commentary, with fans embracing G.E.M’s fangirl moment and expressing envy. Internet users appeared united in their admiration for G.E.M.’s unabashed fandom.

South Korean star Yoona from the popular K-pop group ＂Girls’ Generation＂ held a fan meet in Taipei, where she impressed the audience with her Mandarin-language performance. The event attracted 3,000 fans, and Yoona delighted them with her fluent Mandarin skills. She also sang the theme song from the popular Taiwanese drama ＂Someday or One Day,＂ receiving enthusiastic applause. Lucky fans had the opportunity to interact with Yoona and take photos with her. During the fan meet, Yoona expressed her desire to try different roles, including playing a ＂beautiful villain.＂ Additionally, she enjoyed trying Taiwanese delicacies such as sausage with sticky rice and sweet potato balls.

During the Lunar New Year holiday from Feb. 5 to Feb. 14, taxi fares in Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung City will increase by an additional NT$30 per ride. Stickers with clear notices about the fare changes will be placed on the back of co-driver’s seats to inform passengers. Cab drivers are prohibited from refusing passengers or taking longer routes, and passengers have the right to inquire about the chosen route. The Taipei City Government Police Department has a hotline for reporting issues at (02) 2311-6409, or residents can dial 110. Other cities and counties, such as Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Nantou, Changhua, and Kaohsiung, will also adjust their taxi fares, with an extra NT$50 per ride. In Hsinchu and Miaoli, fares will increase by 30% based on the original pricing scheme.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu will preside over a multi-partisan negotiation to determine the date for the inaugural meeting of the new legislative term. The Taiwan People’s Party suggests reconvening on Feb. 16, after the Lunar New Year, instead of waiting until the end of February. The Kuomintang is ready to convene at any time, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the holiday period. The Democratic Progressive Party suggests sticking to tradition and reconvening on Feb. 23, considering the need for preparatory time for newly elected legislators. This negotiation follows the election of Han Kuo-yu and Johnny Chiang as the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 11th Legislative Yuan on Feb. 1.

The United States Department of Defense has awarded a contract to Raytheon Company to produce and deliver 50 AGM-154 Block III C Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) to Taiwan. The contract, valued at US＄68.4 million, requires completion by March 2028. The AGM-154 Block III C is an air-launched glide cruise missile with a range of 22 kilometers at low altitude and up to 130 kilometers when launched at a higher altitude. It is compatible with Taiwan’s F-16V fighter jets and will enhance Taiwan’s aerial capabilities for land-based attacks. Negotiations for another weapons procurement contract involving AGM-84H/K (SLAM-ER) extended-range standoff land attack missiles are ongoing.

偶像人氣男團「FEniX」昨（2）日起一連兩天，在高雄後台舉辦「Look At Me Now」演唱會，開場嗨唱近14分鐘，展現驚人體力。另外承隆全家到場支持，承隆感謝家人時因為太緊張，竟講成：「爸爸跟我一樣比較呆。」下秒立刻改口「憨厚啦！憨厚！」讓全場爆笑。

Don’t miss Ed Sheeran’s first concert in Kaohsiung on February 3rd, with doors opening at 4 p.m. The event will feature an opening act by Calum Scott at 7 p.m., followed by Sheeran taking the stage at 8 p.m. After wrapping up his concert in Japan, Sheeran flew to Kaohsiung to continue his global tour. This historic performance will accommodate over 50,000 fans and required equipment to be shipped from Japan on chartered cargo planes. Sheeran’s record-breaking success in the UK, including the Gold BRIT Billion Award, makes this concert an extraordinary event.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an plans to take his family on a ride on the newly renovated Maokong Gondola during the Lunar New Year holidays to visit the zoo. The gondola cabins have been redesigned in collaboration with ＂Animal Rescue Team Taiwan＂ and the popular ＂Maji Meow＂ (cat) to promote animal conservation, rescue efforts, and life education. From Feb. 3 to Feb. 14, customers who purchase three one-day passes will receive a limited edition New Year magnet set. Each one-day pass purchase also includes a single limited edition magnet. The cabins feature images of the gondola’s mascots, including the ＂Landlord＂ (a sloth), the Maji Cat, EMMA, and a calf. QR codes inside the cabins provide access to real conservation stories, promoting respect for all life and equality among creatures. Visitors to the Camphor Tree Trail during the New Year period can enjoy blooming lupines, the ＂Maokong Light Halo＂ at night, and sporadic God of Wealth blessings at various gondola stations. Limited quantities of sweets and cookies will be given away at the gondola stations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 10 to Feb. 12.

Han Kuo-yu, the newly-elected Speaker of the Legislative Yuan, is facing challenges as the idea of his possible impeachment trends online. Currently, there are no laws for removing the Speaker without consent from one-third of proposing members and two-thirds agreeing to the recall. Han, being a legislator-at-large, is immune from recall according to the law. Despite criticisms, DPP chairman and President-elect Lai Ching-te congratulated Han and expressed hope for cooperation among different political parties. KMT legislator Chang Chia-Chun commented on the difficulty of accomplishing impeachment in reality.

Newly-appointed Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu seeks counsel from his predecessor Wang Jin-pyng, demonstrating respect for traditional decorum and the continuation of Kuomintang’s experience. Han emphasizes that non-violent conduct and police intervention are unnecessary as long as his agenda can be accomplished. Meanwhile, You Si-kun, who failed to secure another term, resigns from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is praised for his commitment to democracy by Lai Ching-te. Lai reveals that You had declared his determination to secure the position of legislative speaker and, if unsuccessful, would resign as a legislator to cultivate new talent. At a gratitude dinner, Lai encourages his party colleagues to anticipate future competitions and collaborations in the Legislative Yuan and continue making strong efforts to push legislation forward.

Former Legislative Speaker You Si-kun has resigned from his at-large legislator position, citing personal plans. This decision was reported to President-elect Lai Ching-te on January 19. Former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Julian Kuo disclosed that Lai had selected two departing Taiwan People’s Party legislators for his cabinet and arranged for You to assume another high-level position. The vacant at-large legislator position will be filled by Dr. Wang Cheng-hsu, Chairman of HOPE Foundation for Cancer Care. Additionally, DPP policy head Wang Yi-chuan may potentially take on the at-large legislator role if more vacancies arise. DPP legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung, who is rumored to be appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, has not yet received any official appointment.

Taiwan’s newly elected Legislative Yuan speaker, Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT), cannot be recalled despite public demands due to existing laws. Unlike district-based legislators, Han, as an at-large legislator, is immune to recall. The announcement of Han’s victory in the legislative speaker election on Feb. 1 triggered a surge of interest in the topic of recall. This is a significant turnaround for Han, who was previously recalled as Kaohsiung Mayor in 2019. His brief 528-day term set a record for the shortest in Taiwan’s municipal history, with an unprecedented 939,090 votes of approval. Han’s actions, including his rapid bid for the presidency after being elected mayor in 2018, and perceived ineffective governance, have garnered significant criticism.

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has fined Taichung Bank NT$12 million for ineffective internal control systems and violations of banking regulations. The bank’s chairman, Wang Kuei-fong, allegedly diverted NT$1 billion in public funds, resulting in his arrest and bail set at NT$15 million. The FSC discovered that Taichung Bank’s insurance subsidiaries had close ties to specific credit customers and their related companies, leading to questionable trading decisions and unsatisfactory internal controls. Wang will be suspended for three months and may face additional fines. The issue was uncovered during a financial inspection in February 2023. Taichung Bank had been leasing aircraft since 2020 to expand overseas business, but neglected their utilization for 13 months, leading to inappropriate decision-making. The bank also leased high-priced official cars for VIP pickups at a monthly rate of NT$820,000, but the vehicles were only used twice during the lease period, raising concerns about cost-effectiveness.

Eugene Chien, president of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, discusses the challenges and opportunities of Taiwan’s planned carbon fee by 2025, aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Insights from a recent survey show public unawareness and dissatisfaction with current climate change efforts, stressing the need for alignment with global carbon taxation trends and the integration of AI with ESG initiatives.

Famed Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung announces a historic run of nine concerts at Taipei Arena starting May 31, sparking excitement among fans. Cheung, one of Hong Kong’s ＂Four Heavenly Kings＂ of Cantopop, last performed in Taiwan in 2018, making his return highly anticipated. The ambitious nine-show stint in Taipei surpasses his previous record of six shows at the same venue. Despite being over 60, Cheung, known for his marathon of 24 consecutive shows in Hong Kong, believes that with adequate preparation, practice, and passion, a demanding performance schedule is manageable. Cheung’s illustrious career dates back to 1992, and he has been named Asia’s most popular singer by Billboard.

The Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) legislative speaker candidate, Huang Shan-shan, fell short by one vote in the first round of the election due to a spoiled ballot. TPP legislator-at-large Chen Chao-tzu admitted that her finger stained with ink resulted in her vote being ruled invalid. Chen apologized for the mistake and the TPP expressed regret at the chairman’s decision, emphasizing the need for consistent standards in invalidating votes.

Starting this summer, Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture plans to collect a pass fee of approximately NT＄426 from climbers visiting Mount Fuji to address the issue of overcrowding. The number of climbers will also be limited, with the daily figure capped at 4,000 individuals. If this limit is exceeded, the toll gate at the Yoshida Trail fifth station will be closed. Climbing will also be prohibited between 4 p.m. and 3 a.m. The funds generated by the toll will be used to construct refuge facilities in case of a volcanic eruption, as the Yoshida Trail had around 140,000 visitors in 2023. As the trail falls under the county road category, about 600 meters of the road near the fifth station is not subject to highway regulations, hence the imposition of climber fees as usage charges.

Newly elected legislators, including prominent figures from various parties such as Han Kuo-yu and Hsieh Lung-chieh from the Kuomintang (KMT), Wang Shih-chien from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and Huang Kuo-chang from the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), gathered at the Legislative Yuan to take the oath of office and participate in a group photo. Legislative Speaker You Si-kun, despite only serving one term, was placed in the center of the photo, flanked by the DPP’s caucus convener Ker Chien-ming and the KMT’s Lai Shyh-bao, who has served eight straight terms. The event was filled with a dynamic ambiance due to the presence of these experienced legislators.

The 11th session of the Legislative Yuan commenced on February 1, with legislators taking their oaths of office under the supervision of Grand Justice Lu Tai-lang. Before the inauguration, the lawmakers gathered for group photos and exchanged congratulations. Following the oath-taking, each legislator signed their pledge, which was then sent to the Judicial Yuan for record-keeping. A group photo was taken to commemorate the occasion. The day’s events also included a vote for the speaker of the Legislative Yuan, with the counting of votes expected to begin at noon. These solemn ceremonies serve as a reminder to legislators of their responsibilities and commitments as representatives of the people.

The Ministry of National Defense conducted drills at Zuoying Base in Kaohsiung, showcasing various military hardware such as the Ta Chiang Warship, Kuang Hua VI-class missile boat, M109 Assault Boat, and Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III mobile launcher vehicles. Lt. Col. Chen Quen-yuan of the Marine Corps’ Amphibious Reconnaissance Group Commander demonstrated the long-distance surveillance capabilities of their drones and highlighted the navy’s commitment to protecting maritime borders. The drills focused on preemptive threat detection and securing territorial waters. The M109 Assault Boat acted as a vanguard, providing critical information for subsequent operations. Commander Chun-Yin Chu of the 2nd Hai Feng Group, Navy, discussed the evolution of shore-based missile units and emphasized the navy’s ability to establish a common combat image and issue unified commands for an organized attack.

Taoyuan International Airport expects to handle 1.16 million passengers during the Lunar New Year holiday. To avoid congestion at security checkpoints, passengers are advised to arrive three hours before their flights. Terminal 1 will open eight security checkpoints, while Terminal 2 has 11 regular checkpoints and one for staff. The peak travel periods are Feb. 8-11 and Feb. 13, with daily passenger volume expected to exceed 130,000. This is a recovery to 90% of the pre-pandemic daily average in 2019. The Civil Aeronautics Administration has approved 210 additional flights, with the most on New Year’s Eve carrying an estimated 7,142 passengers.

During the Lunar New Year peak travel period, the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) reports that 73.7% of available reserved seats have been booked. To accommodate the surge in travelers, THSRC has added 461 train services, resulting in a 29.0% increase in transport capacity compared to regular days. Peak travel is expected between Feb. 11 and Feb. 14, and THSRC will adjust the number of unreserved cabins on some trains to serve more passengers. The company’s official website will provide information on popular schedules and available seats, as well as updates on crowd conditions at each station. THSRC advises passengers to book round-trip tickets in advance, with various ticket purchasing options available.