March 結果共154筆

Liquid Bread Co. (LBC), renowned for its American-style sandwiches and named among the ＂50 Best Sandwiches in Asia,＂ will close its doors by the end of March. Since its founding in 2017, LBC has been a beloved spot for its diverse sandwich offerings. The announcement of its closure has sparked a wave of disappointment among patrons, with messages of gratitude and nostalgia flooding social media. Established by the founder of Purebread Bakery, LBC leaves a lasting legacy in Taipei’s culinary scene.

Taipower proposes moderate adjustments to residential electricity prices for the first time in 20 years due to discrepancies between current prices and actual costs. The Electricity Price Review Committee is set to convene in late March to determine new rates effective from April, with expectations of increases across both industry and residential sectors.

Taiwan’s CDC announces government-funded flu vaccines will be available starting March 5 for those unvaccinated for over six months, amidst a surge of over 112,486 reported cases in a week. With stocks dwindling to 70,000 doses, eligible individuals urged to seek early inoculation.

The Cinemark Theater in Ximending, Taipei, will close its doors on March 31 after 25 years of operation, citing environmental factors. The closure marks the end of all Cinemark locations in Taiwan, with plans to transition to a new business model, ＂Cinemark CMK Park,＂ by 2026.

Stay up to date with Taiwan High Speed Rail’s (THSR) additional train services for the upcoming peak travel periods in March 2024. With 58 extra services catering to the mid to late March rush, including special arrangements for Tomb Sweeping Day, plan your journey seamlessly with THSR’s convenient ticketing options.

Turtle Island in Yilan County is reopening to visitors with a daily cap of 1,800 tourists after its annual closure for ecological rejuvenation. Join efforts by various organizations for a beach cleanup to preserve the island’s beauty and promote eco-tourism. Register in advance for a sustainable visit to this popular tourist spot known for its rich ecology.

Yu Zong Foods Co., parent company of the popular snack Hsia Wei Hsien, issued an apology after traces of Sudan III were found in their product. The contaminated batch, ＂Hsia Wei Hsien - Spicy Flavor,＂ with expiry dates ranging from Sept. 8 to Oct. 2, 2024, has been recalled. Customers can apply for refunds or exchanges until March 31. Yu Zong Foods assured that only this specific batch was affected and pledged to enhance their supplier selection for food safety.

Learn about the Ministry of Labor’s initiative in Taiwan to support displaced women’s re-employment with a subsidy of NT＄30,000. Applications open on March 1 for the first half of 2024. Discover how the program aims to assist women in enhancing their professional skills and returning to the workforce after a hiatus. Apply between March 1 and May 31 for this opportunity.

Experience the enchanting ＂Sparkling Taoyuan＂ Lantern Festival in Nanchang City Park and Hutoushan Innovation Hub. Witness a unique fusion of light sculpture, music, ancient elements, and vibrant performances from Feb. 21 to March 3, 2024.

Stay updated on the latest news from Taipei City Government’s Department of Health regarding the expansion of free senior health checks in 2024. Online registration for special groups of elderly citizens begins on Feb. 22, with additional scheduling available on March 4. Director Chen Yen-yuan introduces a redesigned health check-up regimen, including new packages for bone density and muscle strength. Take advantage of services offered by 61 health care institutions and subsidized preventive health services for citizens aged 65 and over.

Discover the vibrant atmosphere of the Anping Art Light District in Tainan during the 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival. Immerse yourself in 30 unique light installations set against a historical backdrop, complemented by sea breeze, humanities, and history. Join over 3 million visitors in enjoying aerial performances every weekend until March 10. Experience the magic of the ＂Dragon Comes to Taiwan＂ centerpiece lighting up Tainan’s High-Speed Rail Light District on Feb. 24.

Experience the magic of the 2024 New Taipei Lantern Festival, where tradition meets innovation with captivating displays, cultural performances, and a 12-meter dragon lantern. Explore themed zones, enjoy VR/AR experiences, and indulge in a diverse food market until March 3!

Experience the enchanting 2024 Lantern Festival in New Taipei City, featuring a 12-meter high dragon palace lantern, mythical beasts, AR technology, and interactive art. Join Mayor Hou Yu-ih and officials at the festival until March 3 for a visual feast and cultural celebration.

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.

Honduras owes Taiwan approximately US＄440 million (NT＄13.8 billion) in debt, which has accumulated over several years and remains unpaid even after severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China. The decision to end over eight decades of relations with Taiwan and establish diplomatic ties with China was made on March 25, 2023. The current president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, did not borrow any additional funds from Taiwan, with the last loan of US＄300 million being acquired by her predecessor, Juan Orlando Hernández, in 2019. These funds were primarily used for housing reconstruction, school facilities, and nutritional lunches. Honduras hoped that establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing would result in greater economic support and loans from the Chinese government. However, the country’s white shrimp exports were affected following the diplomatic break with Taiwan. As a result, Honduras has turned to China for similar tariff preferences.

The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) has announced its fourth forecast for the cherry blossom season in 2024, predicting that blossoms in Tokyo will start opening on March 23 and reach full bloom on March 30. The JMC attributes the earlier bloom dates to higher-than-normal temperatures this year. In Kyoto, sakura is expected to start blooming on March 24 and reach peak bloom on April 1, according to the JMC’s estimation. The latest forecast also suggests that Northern Japan will see the blossom a day or two earlier compared to the previous forecast, while there will be a delay of one to two days for many areas in Eastern and Western Japan. The JMC anticipates the earliest blossoms to appear in Kochi on March 20, followed by areas such as Kanto Koushin, Tokai, and Kyushu. Additionally, Weathernews, a private weather information provider, has released its ＂third sakura bloom forecast,＂ which aligns with the JMC’s prediction of an earlier bloom period this year, particularly in the Hokuriku Region and Northern Japan, where it will start over a week ahead of schedule.

The National Health Insurance (NHI) Administration in Taiwan has announced the approval of new applications for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) treatment coverage. This decision comes after the passing of lawyer Chen Chun-han, a prominent advocate for wider medication coverage for SMA. SMA is a progressive neuro-muscular degenerative disease caused by a mutation in the SMN1 gene, impacting muscle functionality and activities such as sitting, walking, speaking, breathing, and eating. The NHI Administration has included the gene therapy drug Zolgensma, which carries a price tag of NT＄49 million, in its benefits since the second half of 2023. The criteria for medication eligibility include an upper limb motor function index (RULM) score of at least 15. There are over 400 SMA patients in Taiwan, and by the end of 2023, 158 people applied for medication, with 145 approvals. The NHI Administration plans to hold an expert meeting in March to discuss expanding access to the drugs for all SMA patients, with a potential approval in the first half of 2024.

Health costs are set to rise at three newly designated medical centers in Taiwan from March 1, with an increase of NT$180 in outpatient fees and NT$350 for emergency services, according to the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA). The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced on February 6 the elevation of three hospitals in northern Taiwan to medical center status: The Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taipei Medical University Shuang-Ho Hospital, and the National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch were upgraded following the 2023 medical center hospital evaluation. NHIA Deputy Director General Parng I-ming expressed concern that the increase in basic outpatient and emergency care charges resulting from the upgrade may impact patients’ willingness to seek treatment. He vowed continuous monitoring and evaluation of the impact on the national health insurance scheme. Following the elevation of these three hospitals, it is estimated that outpatient visits will reach around 10,000 per day, and 500 emergency visits. The MOHW will closely observe potential changes in patients’ willingness to seek care and the impact on health insurance resources.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has abruptly halted the solicitation of tours to China, reversing its previous policy. Originally scheduled to open on March 1, tours from Taiwan to China were limited to a daily reference cap of 2,000 people, with the possibility of adjustments based on the travel industry’s ability to attract customers. The decision to halt the tours immediately was made in response to China’s failure to organize tours to Taiwan and its unilateral change of the M503 flight route without goodwill, which poses a threat to flight safety. The Tourism Administration, a part of the MOTC, believes that given the current circumstances, it is not in the best interest of Taiwanese nationals to travel to China. They continue to appeal to China to demonstrate goodwill and promote cross-strait tourism exchange. Tours that have already been solicited and are due to depart between March 1 and May 31, 2024, will proceed as planned to protect passenger rights, but tours after June 1 are not permitted to depart. Travel companies are urged to refrain from soliciting customers to avoid potential disputes.

Explore the vibrant beauty of cherry blossoms at the Yangminshan Flower Festival in Taipei from Feb. 7 to March 17. Taipei’s mayor encourages public transport use due to limited parking.

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.

Keelung City Mayor George Hsieh has announced a collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley to offer a remote course for high school students in Keelung. Out of 249 applicants, 30 students will be selected for the program, which will begin next month. This initiative is part of Hsieh’s plan to promote academic excellence locally and he aims to introduce more courses in 2024 to provide Keelung’s top high schoolers with high-quality international education. The selected students will participate in a course focused on the autonomous vehicle industry, learning programming in Python and various algorithms. Classes will be held twice weekly from February 24 to March 24 at the city hall briefing room. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate of completion from UC Berkeley. This collaboration aims to encourage local education and retain talented students in Keelung.

The Taiwan Lantern Festival 2024 will be held in Tainan on February 3, featuring lantern areas in Anping and the High Speed Rail (HSR), covering a combined area of about 50 hectares. The Anping Lantern Area will be open from February 3 to March 10, while the HSR Lantern Area will be open from February 24 to March 10. The HSR lantern area, spanning about 28 hectares, is located around the International Convention Center Tainan (ICC Tainan) and consists of three main sections: the main exhibit, ＂Light in the City,＂ and a ＂green-energy＂ zone. The main exhibit will have 11 themes, while ＂Light in the City＂ will guide visitors through Tainan’s 400-year history using sound, light, and art. One of the main attractions in ＂Light in the City＂ is the art installation called ＂Infinity Cube,＂ a 16-meter-high structure funded by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) at a cost of over NT$10 million. The Infinity Cube is made up of thousands of mirror-reflective plates, creating diverse visual effects that reflect the surrounding environment during the day and illuminate the city at night. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed gratitude to TSMC for its sponsorship and believes it will attract more visitors to the festival. TSMC sees this artwork as an embodiment of its ESG vision, focusing on green manufacturing, responsible supply chains, a diverse workplace, talent development, and caring for the underprivileged.

The Minister of Transportation and Communications stated that a potential strike by EVA Air pilots during the Lunar New Year holiday could affect at least 15,000 people per day, with an estimated impact of at least 105,000 people over the seven-day holiday. Negotiations between the airline and its pilots are ongoing, but significant gaps remain, particularly regarding salary. Achieving consensus has proven difficult, as both sides have resolute attitudes. The Minister hopes for continued communication between workers and management to bridge the gap. During the Lunar New Year holiday, approximately 151,000 people are expected to enter and exit the country daily, with around 38,000 per day traveling on EVA Air. It is estimated that around 40% of EVA Air pilots have voted in favor of a strike. The pilot’s union has announced a possible strike warning zone from Feb. 7 to 18 and March 30 to April 7, with plans to initiate the strike if negotiations fail.

The Travel Quality Assurance Association warns that if EVA Air pilots go on strike during the Lunar New Year holidays, it would have a significant impact on travel agencies as all airlines have already filled their fleet. The strike is planned for the Lunar New Year period from Feb. 7-18 and the Tomb Sweeping Day holidays from March 30 to April 7. Travel agencies would face challenges in adjusting operations and relocating passengers if the strike occurs. Limited alternatives would be available for travel agencies during the Tomb Sweeping Day holidays, and managing already-sold bookings would require separate action. The exact date of the strike will only be informed 24 hours prior, although the pilots’ union has announced the duration. The association’s spokesman, Ringo Lee, suggests implementing a strike notice period similar to the Danish model, which allows for a month’s advance notice of strike action.