Less 結果共39筆

Minister of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) minister Wang Kwo-tsai announced Thursday (April 18) that the public will no longer be able to report minor traffic violations that carry a maximum fine of NT$1,200 or less. This comes after the Executive Yuan approved amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act.

Thick fog temporarily closed Keelung Harbor on February 22 due to an approaching front, reducing visibility to less than 1.2 kilometers. The Port of Keelung temporarily suspended ship entry and exit until the fog dissipated at 8:04 a.m., affecting one inbound ship.

HeySong Corporation, a Taiwanese company, has announced price adjustments for some of its products after 10-20 years of unchanged prices. The adjustments, set to take effect in March, will see prices increase by 10-20%. The most notable increase will be for the popular 330-milliliter HeySong Sarsaparilla, which will surge by up to 25%. The company attributes the price adjustments to rising costs of raw materials, packaging, transportation, and personnel. The recommended retail price adjustments will mainly affect packages less than one liter, with some increasing by NT$4 and others by NT$5-6. Other beverage brands, such as Taisun Enterprise, have also indicated rising drink prices due to increased international raw material costs. The King Car Group had already adjusted the price of its Pocari Sweat drink in November 2020, marking the first price adjustment in 17 years. Public opinion on the price changes seems to be accepting, with many stating that they understand most products are experiencing price increases as long as the surge isn’t too high.

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.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih personally visits homeless individuals, distributing cold-weather supplies to aid the less fortunate during the winter chill. The city government has initiated cold-weather care protocols, providing temporary housing and resources for the homeless. District offices, volunteer groups, and community chiefs proactively comfort solitary seniors by phone, providing cold-weather health information and checking on their well-being. The government also reminds residents to prioritize line safety and ventilation when using heating equipment or water heaters to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. These measures aim to ensure a safe and comfortable winter season for all in New Taipei City.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported a high flu epidemic, with 127,000 emergency visits due to influenza-like illnesses caused by adenoviruses and influenza viruses. In the span of a week, there were 42 new severe flu complications, including cases of Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2, and Type B. The patients ranged in age from less than 10 years old to over 90 years old, with 30 cases where influenza vaccinations were not received. Eleven deaths were reported during this period, with victims from Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2, and Type B influenza. Eight of the fatalities did not receive flu vaccinations, and the youngest death was a 7-year-old girl from the north, making her the youngest fatality of 2024.

The Taiwanese government has optimized the income tax system, allowing certain individuals and families to be exempt from income tax. Single individuals renting housing with a yearly income below NT$626,000 will not have to pay individual income tax when filing next year. Additionally, families with two parents and two young children and an annual income below NT$1.641 million will also be exempt. Approximately 47% or 3.05 million Taiwanese households were exempt from income tax in 2021 due to the optimized scheme, which includes increased deductions. Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun clarified that this exemption is not due to poverty. The deductible amount for single individuals renting outside their home area making less than NT$626,000 could exempt them from taxes. For two-income families renting a house, the deductible amount on income tax could reach NT$1.072 million, while a family of four with two children under six could deduct up to NT$1.641 million. If they live with seniors aged 70 or older, the deductible amount could exceed NT$2 million.

The Taiwan Health Promotion Administration warns the public that heated tobacco products have the same nicotine content and addictiveness as traditional tobacco, according to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s report revealed that marketing strategies used by heated tobacco businesses may mislead consumers into thinking these products are less harmful. Rats exposed to aerosols from a single heated tobacco stick had nicotine concentration in their blood 4.5 times higher than those exposed to traditional tobacco smoke. Nicotine not only leads to addiction but also causes harm to attention, learning, mood control, impulse control, pregnant women, and developing embryos. Heated tobacco emissions contain harmful and carcinogenic substances, putting the body at risk. Data does not support the idea that substituting traditional tobacco with heated tobacco reduces health risks. Tobacco companies use misleading marketing tactics to lure consumers, claiming lower health risks and reduced secondhand smoke and odor. It is important to note that no heated tobacco products are currently approved for sale in Taiwan, and their manufacturing, importation, selling, supplying, display, advertising, and usage are prohibited under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.

The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) plans to repurpose an old railway dormitory in Taipei’s central area, marking its first land development project. The TRA intends to construct a hotel and residential tower on the 1.2-hectare site, with development expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024. The estimated development scale is NT$6.23 billion, with residential tower prices potentially exceeding NT$2 million per ping. The TRA is considering different development methods, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of lengthy renovation processes for greater volume rewards versus faster construction with commercial developers but less building area. The final decision on the development method will be made by the TRA’s board of directors, while the allocation of renovations or joint construction may be outsourced or managed under a lease agreement.

Jen Mei-ling, wife of Kuomintang’s (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, clarified that a building being claimed as their own is actually a legacy from her father and not part of Hou’s property. The building has become a topic of discussion in the upcoming 2024 elections due to its high rent and proximity to Chinese Culture University. Jen stated that the property has over 50 vacant houses, which will be used to provide rent subsidies for low-to-moderate-income families and young students through donations. After the leases expire in June 2026, the plan is to convert the property into social housing for the youth and communal accommodations for rent. Initially, the building was leased and managed by Shin-Kong Life Real Estate Service Co., Ltd., with rental prices determined by Shin Kong Life Insurance. Jen announced that the vacant apartments will be subsidized for young families with an annual income of less than NT$1.33 million and a per capita monthly income below NT$56,000. Existing tenants can also apply for the subsidy, with rates of NT$6,400 for single rooms and NT$7,000 for two-person rooms per month. In her public letter, Jen addressed the accusations, highlighting Hou’s integrity during the election process and apologizing for the family issue.

Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Presidential candidate, announced at a rally in Pingtung his plans to construct a Taiwan High-Speed Rail line and two expressways in the area. Lai aims to balance Taiwan’s national development projects and bring more support and assistance to Pingtung, transforming it into a ＂beautiful new homeland.＂ His promises include extending the high-speed rail to Chaozhou Township, reducing travel time from Taipei to less than two hours. Lai also intends to attract high-tech industries, introduce agricultural technology, and enhance the export competitiveness of local farm produce. Additionally, he plans to uplift tourism service quality in Pingtung, transforming Kenting into a destination similar to Bali and developing Dapeng Bay into a Hawaii-like getaway. Lai emphasized Pingtung’s importance in the implementation of the New Southbound Policy, highlighting its potential contribution to Taiwan’s development in collaboration with other southern counties and cities. He credited his past contributions to Pingtung’s development, such as the Pingtung Veterans General Hospital, to the efforts of former Pingtung County Commissioner Pan Men-an, current commissioner Chou Chun-mi, and legislators. Lai seeks local residents’ support to make Pingtung glorious again.

A survey by Cathay Financial Holdings reveals that Taiwanese are increasingly optimistic about year-end bonuses and economic prospects. 59.3% of respondents expect bonuses ranging from one to three months’ salary, surpassing last year’s 55%. Furthermore, 8.3% anticipate bonuses exceeding three months’ pay, reflecting an improvement in attitudes towards Taiwan’s economy. The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics predicts a 3.35% economic growth in 2024 with an inflation rate of 1.64%, but the public is more cautious, expecting a 2.52% growth and a 2.21% inflation rate. The optimism index for the local stock market has also improved. Additionally, 45.9% of Taiwanese anticipate salary increases, a 13.2 percentage point increase from 2022, while those expecting a steady monthly income dropped by 10.9 percentage points to 47.6%. Only 32.4% believe their year-end bonus will be less than one month’s salary, a decrease of 5.6 percentage points from the previous year.

According to a recent survey by Yes123 job bank, 71% of Taiwanese workers expect to receive a year-end bonus, with 21.1% predicting a larger payout compared to last year. Dissatisfaction with bonus amounts could lead 64.2% of office workers to consider resigning. However, 70.9% of employees anticipate receiving their 2023 bonus before the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, which is a five-year high. Reasons for not expecting a bonus include company profit declines (15.8%), non-full-time employment status (5.2%), insufficient tenure (4.7%), and personal performance (3.4%). Among those expecting a bonus, 18.6% believe they will receive less than last year, while 60.3% expect a similar amount. The main intended uses for the bonuses are savings (45.5%), honoring parents (43.2%), loan payments (40.5%), handing out red envelopes (39.3%), and investing (31.4%). Workers believe that the ideal distribution of bonuses should be proportionate to personal performance (41.9%), equitable for all employees (32.6%), or tied to company profit (25.5%). Factors that could impact the size of year-end bonuses include company profits (69.2%), personal performance (52.3%), moods of bosses or major shareholders (51.4%), years of service (50.4%), job rank (26.7%), and relationships with bosses or supervisors (25.5%).

Discover the latest insights from Taiwan’s job market, including the widening income gap, low salary increase expectations for 2024, and varying pay trends across industries.

The Ministry of Education in Taiwan has clarified that the new Curriculum Guidelines have not abandoned traditional virtues, but rather aim to encourage students to contemplate and practice these values in everyday life. The guidelines emphasize competency-based learning and include selections of classical Chinese texts from different eras, authors, and genres. The Ministry responded to criticism by stating that traditional virtues such as righteousness and integrity have not been discarded. They also highlighted that Taiwanese students possess strong competencies, which can be attributed to the new competency-driven curriculum. The curriculum for Mandarin Chinese is designed to develop students’ ability to articulate and rationalize thought, with materials reflecting various historical periods, ideologies, literary genres, Taiwanese modern literature, world Chinese literature, translations, and literary discourse. Classical Chinese texts still constitute an average of 35% to 45% of high school students’ studies over three years, reflecting diverse epochs, authors, and genres. The focus of Taiwanese education should be on developing critical thinking skills and enabling students to learn independently and build cultural depth.

The ＂Automotive Cybersecurity Report 2023＂ by VicOne reveals that over 90% of cyberattacks target companies within the automotive supply chain, resulting in a financial toll surpassing US$11 billion in the first half of the year. Hackers are increasingly focusing on less security-conscious firms, posing a significant risk to the interconnected players in the industry. VicOne CEO Max Cheng calls for the automotive industry to prioritize cybersecurity measures, allocating resources and establishing comprehensive security infrastructures for robust protection against cyber threats.

The upcoming Taiwanese presidential election on January 13, 2024, has been dubbed ＂2024’s most influential election in Asia＂ by Nikkei Asia. Three tickets are vying for the presidency and vice-presidency: the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, the Kuomintang (KMT) with Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong, and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) with Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu. The election takes place amidst heightened global tensions and increasing cross-strait strains. The DPP advocates for fortified self-defense, the KMT promotes benign communication and economic ties with China, and the TPP leans towards dialogue with China. The KMT’s cross-strait policy stance has been criticized as less convincing compared to that of the DPP. The election will test whether Taiwanese voters will stand firm in defending their sovereignty against China’s growing influence.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) vice-presidential candidate Cynthia Wu and legislative candidate Chen Wan-hui visited Nanfangao Nantian Temple in Yilan on Saturday morning. Wu, who has faced criticism online for allegedly having a ＂princess syndrome,＂ chose to remain silent when approached by journalists. After spending less than 30 minutes at the temple, Wu left the scene in good spirits, communicating through gestures from her car window. Chen praised Wu for her friendly demeanor and support for digital healthcare and transformation initiatives. Chen also emphasized that Wu is approachable, though not as accustomed to facing the public as former mayor Ko Wen-je. The brief visit was due to subsequent scheduling commitments, with Chen promising to invite Wu back to Yilan for local delicacies in the future.

The latest survey by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF) reveals that the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has become the largest party in Taiwan, with a support rate of 25.3%. This puts them slightly ahead of the Kuomintang (KMT) at 24.8% and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at 24.5%. The TPP has experienced a significant increase in support, rising by 8.3% in the past month, while the DPP and KMT have seen declines of 2.6% and 1.7% respectively. TPOF chairman Michael You emphasized that this poll marks a historic first in Taiwan’s party politics, with less than one percentage point separating the three parties. This development signifies a remarkable evolution in the political landscape. The TPP has benefitted the most from the ＂Blue-White alliance,＂ which has been seeking a change in ruling parties. With the 2024 presidential election still over a month away, Taiwan’s party competition has entered an unprecedented phase where the three parties are on equal footing. Other political parties such as the New Power Party (NPP) and Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) received 2.9% and 1% support respectively, with 1.8% for other minor parties. Approximately 19.1% of respondents did not express support for any party, while 0.7% were undecided or refused to answer. The survey, conducted from November 19-21, used a dual-frame random sampling method encompassing both landlines and mobile phones.

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Vivian Huang, campaign manager for Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, has denied rumors of her resignation, stating that she will stay by his side until the end. This comes as the presidential election is approaching in less than two months. Huang emphasized her loyalty to Ko, saying, ＂I’ve fought by Ko’s side for the past three years. What does not kill you makes you stronger!＂ Additionally, the TPP and Kuomintang (KMT) reached a party alliance consensus, with Ko meeting with KMT heavyweights, including party chairman Eric Chu and presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, with former President Ma Ying-jeou as a witness. Both parties have agreed to use a point-based system to assess public opinion poll results, with three recommended polling experts evaluating the polls from November 7 to November 17, along with two internal polls from the KMT and TPP. The results will be unveiled by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation on Saturday, ultimately determining the order of the ticket – either Hou and Ko, or Ko and Hou.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen expressed her support for a potential ＂Blue-White＂ coalition between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) if they can find consensus. With less than two weeks until election registration, the details of this coalition have yet to be finalized. Lu emphasized the urgency of finding a means of cooperation during this critical period. She stated that she is willing to help as long as both parties agree, without insisting on any particular approach. Lu also discussed the limitations of opinion polls in predicting election results, citing her own past election victories despite unfavorable poll numbers. These views were expressed while she was campaigning in Kaohsiung for legislative candidate Chung I-chung.

Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je has urged Kuomintang Chairman Eric Chu to propose a viable method for selecting the strongest presidential candidate. The call comes amid ongoing disagreements between the two parties and with less than three weeks remaining until the registration deadline. The future of the KMT-TPP alliance remains in question.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported that the northeast monsoon and rain from South China on October 28 brought cloud coverage and sporadic showers to Taiwan. Temperatures in northern Taiwan ranged from 20-22 degrees Celsius for the lows and 23-25 degrees for the highs, while other regions saw temperatures between 21-24 degrees. The Matsu Islands had the lowest temperature of 16.8 degrees, while Qidu District, Keelung City, and Guanxi Township, Hsinchu County recorded lows of 19.2 and 19.5 degrees, respectively. The cool weather in the northern and northeastern regions is expected to continue through Sunday and Monday due to the northeast monsoon. From Tuesday to Thursday, temperatures are forecasted to gradually rise with less rain, mainly in the north and east, while the Hengchun Peninsula will continue to experience rain. Next Friday to Sunday, Taiwan can expect cloudy to sunny conditions, with isolated showers at night in eastern regions and along Keelung’s north coast.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je, visited the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Los Angeles, meeting with overseas Taiwanese. Ko emphasized his goal of listening more, speaking less, and making more friends.