JULY 結果共162筆

Discover how Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture plans to revitalize Hualien’s tourism and agriculture with a NT$183 million voucher program starting July 1, following a recent earthquake.

Discover the excitement of the 2024 Chinese Professional Baseball League All-Star Games at the Taipei Dome on July 20-21. This year, the event moves indoors, offering fans a rain-free experience and featuring six teams for heightened competition. Learn about the strategic move, fan voting for team members starting May 14, and more.

Experience the magic of the Taiwan International Balloon Festival from July 6 to August 19 at Luye Highland, Taitung. Celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th birthday with Sanrio characters, stunning drone shows, and exciting musical performances. Don’t miss this spectacular summer event!

Discover how Taiwan is set to highlight its dedication to democracy and peace at the Cultural Olympiad in Paris, featuring music, dance, and digital art from July 27 to Aug. 10.

Taiwan’s Constitutional Court hears arguments on the constitutionality of the death penalty, with 37 inmates appealing. The Ministry of Justice defends its fair trial procedures, while inmates argue the penalty violates the constitution. A decision could come by July.

Premier Ch’en Chien-jen highlights the importance of separation of powers in Taiwan, respecting the Judicial Yuan’s upcoming interpretation on the constitutionality of the death penalty. A ruling expected in July will determine its future.

The Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) renews its MOU with the National Museum of Natural Science and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium to boost marine conservation and science education, announcing the opening of a new marine conservation education center in Central Taiwan by July 2024. The collaboration, deepened on World Earth Day, aims to enhance marine wildlife habitat and wetland conservation efforts, alongside a sea turtle rehabilitation project showing significant success in wildlife rescue endeavors.

韓國南部巨濟海洋世界一頭寬吻海豚「NOVA」今（2024）年2月病死。近日有韓國動物團體指控，該海豚生病後，海洋世界在牠接受治療時，仍強迫牠繼續上場演出，導致牠最後死亡，怒批此舉根本是虐待動物。

Starting July 1, Lambai Island, also known as Xiaoliuqiu, will impose a NT$60 marine conservation fee on visitors entering designated intertidal zones. This initiative, aimed at balancing tourism and ecology for sustainable development, will also limit the number of visitors to these areas. Funds collected will be used for the maintenance and restoration of natural ecological resources. The Pingtung County government and local ecotourism organizations support this measure to protect the island’s environment, which receives over 1 million visitors annually.

the year-over-year (YoY) rate in the rent index has been around 2% for the past two years, a relatively high level. The YoY growth rate in March was 2.24%, the highest increase in the past year. Over the past decade, the average annual increase in the rent index was 1.1%. However, since July 2022, the growth has exceeded 2% and has remained at this level. DGBAS officials pointed out three main factors that contributed to the rise in rent. First, the cost of maintaining houses has increased. In recent years, the increase in residential maintenance costs has been significant, with a sharp rise of 5.8% in 2022 and increases of over 3% in 2023 and 2024. 

Here is a meta description for the story about the Alishan Forest Railway restoration: Alishan Forest Railway, a NT$2.3 billion 15-year project, to fully reopen July 1, 2024, connecting Chiayi as an international tourist destination, after repairs from typhoon damage in 2009 and 2015.

The National Police Agency has denied rumors of cutting year-end bonuses for police officers, clarifying that the bonuses are distributed according to the provisions of the Executive Yuan. Police officers who are employed by Jan. 31 and still on the job by Dec. 1 would receive a year-end working bonus of 1.5 months, with no specific stipulations for police officers. Last July, the Executive Yuan approved a 15% increase in police duty allowances, the first adjustment in 30 years, benefiting nearly 70,000 officers nationwide. The agency reaffirmed its support for police officers and commitment to improving their working conditions and benefits.

A shipment of strawberries from Saitama, Japan has been found to have excessive pesticide residue, according to Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The imported strawberries, weighing a total of 3.5 kilograms, exceeded permitted pesticide levels. Deputy Director of the FDA, Lin Chin-fu, stated that all imported Japanese strawberries undergo 100% customs inspection. From July 15, 2023 to January 15, 2024, 2.3 metric tons of Japanese strawberries were discovered to contain pesticide residue. Out of 325 batches inspected, 14 failed the inspection, resulting in a failure rate of 4.31%. Since June 1, 2023, all shipments of strawberries from Japan to Taiwan have been subjected to batch-by-batch inspections. Japanese manufacturers failing inspections will face a one-month import suspension.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced updates to its Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunications, expanding telemedicine services to a larger population under certain conditions, effective July 1. Approximately 2.47 million individuals are expected to benefit from these changes. The updates aim to adapt to the post-COVID-19 healthcare landscape and extend the scope of telemedicine to five special situations, including chronic disease care, end-stage disease care, custody care in correctional facilities, care for the mobility challenged, and care during disasters, communicable diseases, or other significant changes. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan clarified that not all patients can avail of telemedicine services, as evaluation by healthcare units is mandatory, and physicians who violate the rules may face a maximum fine of NT＄100,000. The new process combines physical outpatient services with telemedicine to reduce costs and time for patients requiring post-acute care, offering a convenient and seamless healthcare experience. The updated rules broaden the range of medical services that physicians can provide through telecommunication. Additionally, the Ministry has stated that doctors, after evaluating the patient’s stable condition, can now electronically prescribe medication for patients with chronic mental illnesses or in end-stage care, including regulated drugs like morphine.

A green sea turtle, previously afflicted with tumors, was released back into the wild in Taitung’s Shanyuan Bay. Rescued from a fishing net in July 2023, the turtle underwent successful treatment at the National Museum of Biology & Aquarium in Pingtung. Dr. Chen I-chun noted the increasing number of sea turtles with tumors globally, particularly along the eastern coast of Taiwan. Marine pollution or viral infections are suspected causes. The released turtle, the second in Taiwan to recover from a tumor, brings hope for the preservation of marine life.

The Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Championship, originally scheduled to be held in Taiwan in July, has been relocated to Indonesia, according to the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC). The change of venue was reportedly triggered by a protest from China, although the Chinese Taipei Volleyball Association has not confirmed this. The competition, originally planned for July 20 to 27, will now take place from July 23 to 30 in Surabaya, Indonesia. The outcome of the Asian U20 Men’s Championship will impact eligibility for next year’s FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship. China has refrained from sending teams to sporting events in Taiwan since the 2017 Universiade Taipei. In December of last year, China expressed its desire to change the host country and submitted a protest, leading to a voting procedure. The final decision was made during an online meeting organized by the AVC.

The Environmental Protection Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government has clarified that the recruitment paths for full-time and part-time cleaning staff are different, which is why they need to consider temporary work applicants before those from previous years. This comes after Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen led a press conference with individuals claiming to be on the waiting list for the city’s cleaning crew, who passed the ＂Kaohsiung City Official Cleaning Staff＂ exam two years ago but have not yet received a position. The Bureau emphasized that the different recruitment avenues do not infringe upon part-time workers’ rights. The recent cleaning staff recruitment attracted over 7,400 applicants for 850 positions, and some candidates on the waiting list are still waiting for an opportunity to work at the Bureau. The bureau recruited 172 official cleaners and drivers, with an additional 678 on the waiting list, of whom only half have been employed so far. The bureau began recruiting part-time staff earlier this year, even though the previous list of alternates has not yet been fully filled. Deputy Director Kao Tsung-yung explained that the previous test was for full-time staff, while the current recruitment is for temporary personnel. The Bureau has announced the eighth round of 100 alternates’ roster and will continue to do so in April, July, and October. Those on the waiting list will still need to wait for their chance.

Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) is planning to hire 1,103 specialists in various fields, including power distribution and transmission, substation, and electromechanical, by 2024. Applications for these positions will be accepted from January 2 to January 15, with preliminary exams scheduled for May 12 in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien. The results of the preliminary exams will be announced on July 16, and the second round will take place on August 6 in Taipei. After selection, new recruits will undergo one year of training and will receive a starting salary of NT$32,000, along with performance bonuses amounting to approximately 4.4 months of year-end bonuses. The largest portion of the jobs on offer is for maintenance staff for power distribution lines, with 429 positions. The next highest category consists of 157 posts for general administration workers, including 38 positions reserved for individuals with disabilities. This recruitment drive also includes three new positions in material management and various other maintenance and engineering roles. Certain positions require higher qualifications, such as a manual car license or a commercial heavy vehicle license. Taipower aims to address staff retirements, ensure stable power supplies, and implement net-zero transformation in the power industry to meet Taiwan’s energy needs.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed a law amendment known as ＂Housing Tax 2.0,＂ which will raise the residential property tax. The new tax will take effect on July 1, 2024, with taxation beginning in 2025. The Ministry of Finance estimates that around 4.45 million households will be affected by the revised tax, with approximately 3.1 million households benefiting from a preferential tax rate for single residency. This could potentially generate an additional revenue of NT$2.27 billion to NT$3.27 billion. Under the new system, residential properties will be categorized as ＂self-use＂ or ＂non-self-use,＂ with a national limit of up to three properties classified as ＂self-use.＂ The house tax will continue to be collected annually from May 1 to May 31, based on ownership from the prior year’s July 1 to the current year’s June 30. The amendment also requires that ＂self-use＂ residences meet household registration requirements in addition to the existing provisions regarding rental and occupancy by the owner, spouse, or direct relatives. The tax reform will have a significant impact on 10 municipalities that have not yet implemented the housing hoarding tax. To support the legislative changes, four supplementary regulations will be introduced, including differential tax rate modules, calculation formulas, principles for determining the number of household property holdings, and revisions to the organization of the Real Estate Evaluation Committees. All subsidiary regulations are scheduled to be amended by July 1, 2024.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed an amendment to the House Tax Act, known as the ＂House Hoarding Tax 2.0,＂ raising the tax rate for non-owner-occupied housing to a range of 2 to 4.8 percent, up from the current range of 1.5 to 3.6 percent. The tax rates will apply nationally to all properties owned by individuals and will be implemented by July 2025. Local governments will set their tax rate discrepancies based on the total number of residential properties owned nationwide. The amendment was approved in the Legislative Yuan session following negotiations among the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Kuomintang (KMT), and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), with dissent from the New Power Party (NPP).

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that 1,345 students from six schools in Taiwan will be required to transfer to other institutions due to the act Governing the Closure of Private Educational Institutions at Senior Secondary or Higher Level. The act, passed last year, gives schools a two-year period to improve, and if they fail to meet the standards, they face orders to stop recruiting students and cease operations. Chung Chou University of Science and Technology and Taiwan Shoufu University have already closed this July, with 310 students transferred to other institutions. Mingdao University, Tatung Institute of Commerce and Technology, Tung Fang Design Institute, and TransWorld University are scheduled to close in July 2024. The MOE plans to conduct briefings on student distribution and placement a semester before the termination of these institutions to ensure a smooth transition. The affected students will be given priority to continue their studies at schools in the same or neighboring counties, and the MOE will assist affected faculty members and staff in finding new employment opportunities. Currently, there are no other private universities or colleges listed for specialized guidance by the MOE.

The Taoyuan City Council has passed the fiscal year 2024 budget, but has cut NT＄117 million for the promotion and production of designated garbage bags. This decision puts the original pay-as-you-throw garbage fee system, set to start in July 2025, at risk. The city’s Department of Environmental Protection had allocated the funds for awareness campaigns and manufacturing the necessary garbage bags. City council members argue for a more cautious approach, considering resident feedback to determine the best time to implement the initiative. In response, Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang announced an extension of the pay-as-you-throw policy timeline, with no fixed schedule in place.

A new poll by My Formosa reveals that support for the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Lai-Hsiao ticket has decreased to 37.8%, while the Kuomintang’s (KMT) Hou-Kang ticket is close behind at 32.6%. The Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) Ko-Ying ticket has seen an increase in support, rising to 17.3%. The poll reflects public concern over Lai Ching-te’s alleged illegal building and potential tax evasion issues, which he has addressed emotionally in public and during TV interviews. In contrast, Hou Yu-ih’s housing policy, which aims to eliminate down payments for young homebuyers, has sparked significant social debate. This poll is part of an extended series of surveys conducted from July 17, 2023, to Jan. 12, 2024, with each wave occurring every three days. The sampling process involved the use of landline numbers from Chunghwa Telecom’s residential phonebook, employing stratified random sampling matched by proportional allocation, and incorporating a technique to randomly substitute the last two digits to avoid excluding unregistered numbers. The poll reached 1,201 respondents, achieving a 95% confidence level with a maximum sampling error of ±2.8%.

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) will be adding 21 weekly train services, with 11 heading southbound and 10 going northbound, starting on January 3, 2024. This expansion plan will bring the total number of weekly train services to 1,060 for passengers. Tickets for these additional services can be purchased starting from midnight on December 6. The aim of this service enhancement is to improve the travel experience for passengers north of Taichung, especially during peak commute hours and tourist seasons. The additional train services primarily target business commuters during weekdays. THSRC has previously executed two ＂regular service increase＂ plans in July and October, raising the fixed weekly services from 1,016 to 1,025 and then further to 1,039. In addition, a ＂short-term service increase＂ plan was implemented in November and December. THSRC intends to monitor the outcomes of this short-term increase to guide future adjustments in long-term service offerings. This initiative reflects THSRC’s commitment to adapting its services to the evolving travel patterns and needs of the public, aiming for greater convenience and efficiency for its users.

A Formosan black bear, injured at a coffee plantation in Taiwan, has been released back into the wilderness after four months of intensive care. The bear, named ＂Da qu-ali＂ after a Bunun indigenous leader, triggered a trap in July and underwent successful surgery to recover. Weighing 101 kilograms, the bear was deemed fit for reintroduction. Major wildlife conservation organizations participated in the release, which included a divine naming ceremony led by tribe chief Ho Cheng-chung. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency used the incident to highlight the importance of wildlife conservation and encouraged local residents to create bear-friendly environments.