March 結果共154筆

Taiwanese-Welsh actor and singer Rhydian Vaughan began his winter tour on January 19 to promote his first album, ＂Seven.＂ The tour features Unplugged-style performances where Rhydian shares his songs and the stories behind them. During the tour, Rhydian is excited to perform two special songs, ＂Windmill＂ by Taiwanese rock icon Wu Bai and the English track ＂Soaking in Divine,＂ which he dedicated to his wife. Rhydian revealed that he will be joined by ＂Thai prince＂ Phum Viphurit for a duet. Viphurit’s song ＂Lover Boy＂ has gained nearly 100 million views on YouTube, and he also performed at the Golden Melody Awards Ceremony last year. Rhydian expressed his delight in collaborating with Viphurit, praising his tall and handsome appearance and their harmonious singing. Rhydian emphasized the intimate connection with fans as the most memorable aspect of the winter tour, sharing his creative story up close. He also announced an upcoming solo concert titled ＂After the Show,＂ which will be held at Legacy Taipei on March 9, the eve of his 36th birthday.

The Taoyuan Union of Pilots (TUP) has announced plans for two strikes, scheduled from February 7 to February 18 and March 30 to April 7. These strikes will affect travel during the Lunar New Year holidays and Tomb-Sweeping Day. The TUP has authorized pilots at EVA Air to strike due to unresolved disputes with the company. The strikes will proceed unless a negotiation agreement is reached. The union has emphasized its commitment to negotiations and is seeking a resolution. TUP will notify members 24 hours in advance of a strike through their official website. The union also plans to conduct strike drills to ensure a quick response from EVA Air division members. A negotiation meeting was initially planned for January 31, but the union will only attend if EVA Air provides clear counterproposals by January 30.

A toddler’s tragic death at a public kindergarten in New Taipei City has sparked debate and confusion over whether toddlers should wear masks. The child’s family suspects that the mask may have become wet with tears, leading to asphyxiation. The Social Welfare Department clarified that only hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and senior care centers are required to follow the mask regulation. The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the kindergarten director and two caregivers, who have been summoned by the police for further investigation.

＂Island in Between,＂ a documentary by Taiwanese American director S. Leo Chiang, has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards. The film provides an outsider’s perspective on the everyday life of the Kinmen Islands, exploring the complex relationship between Taiwan, Kinmen, and China through the lens of Chiang’s father’s military service memories. Chiang, who was born in Taiwan and raised in the U.S., aims to offer a unique perspective on the Taiwan Strait crisis by sharing the experiences of the people living in the region. The winners of the 96th Academy Awards will be announced on March 10.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Taiwan has announced that the first group of 650 conscription men will receive their individual combat gear on March 22 after completing basic training. The MND has allocated a budget of NT＄4.04 billion for the ＂Xing’an project＂ from 2022 to 2024, which aims to improve the living conditions and quality of life for officers and soldiers. The conscripts will promptly receive their complete battle gear after basic training to carry out various combat training tasks. Sizing for the gear was conducted during the first week of conscription, with distribution scheduled for a week before graduation or before March 22. The MND’s comprehensive distribution of new style combat outfits, which has been ongoing for five years, includes 15 items such as tactical helmets, vests, and shock-absorbing elbow and knee guards.

The 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival is returning to Tainan for the first time since 2008, taking place from Feb. 24 to March 10. The main lantern, ＂Dragon Comes to Taiwan,＂ was unveiled by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Administration. Inspired by the dragons on the stone columns at the Tainan Grand Mazu Temple, the 18-meter-tall dragon lantern is accompanied by a 22-meter main lantern. This year’s lantern design transforms the dragon into a small round lantern with the same pronunciation as the Taiwanese snack ＂xiaolongbao,＂ adding a touch of tradition and children’s anticipation. The festival will illuminate the ＂High-Speed Rail Lantern Area＂ and ＂Anping Lantern Area＂ in Tainan. In celebration of Tainan’s 400th anniversary, the city government will light up the ＂Anping Lantern Area＂ in advance on Feb. 3, allowing residents and tourists to enjoy the spectacle during the Lunar New Year holiday. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che expressed high hopes for the festival, praising the main lantern design for its unique representation of Tainan and Taiwan’s lantern festival through a blend of culture, nostalgia, and playful creativity.

StarLux Airlines has announced that it will begin direct flights between Taichung and Macao starting March 31, 2023. The new route will have a weekly availability of eight round trips and will utilize the A321neo model aircraft, offering 188 seats. In addition to Macao, StarLux plans to expand its operations from Taichung International Airport to other cities, including Đà Nẵng and Takamatsu, in 2024. The airline also recently started selling tickets for its Taipei-Hakodate route, which is scheduled to launch on Feb. 1, 2024. With these new routes, StarLux aims to provide a fresh flight experience for the central region of Taiwan.

The Yomiuri Giants, a Japanese professional baseball team, will be playing two exhibition games in Taiwan next March. They will face off against two Taiwanese teams, the CTBC Brothers on March 2 and the Rakuten Monkeys on March 3, at the Taipei Dome. Tsukasa Imamura, the president of the Giants, emphasized the importance of promoting baseball culture in Asia and expressed his hope for more Taiwanese players to join the team in the future. He mentioned that the Giants’ scouts have a high regard for Taiwanese high school players but have noticed a perceived stagnation in their skills after reaching college. Imamura hopes that Taiwan can produce more legendary players like Kuo Tai-yuan and Kuo Yuen-chih, who have already made a name for themselves in Japanese baseball. Throughout the years, 10 Taiwanese players, excluding the iconic Sadaharu Oh, have played for the Giants in Japan’s professional leagues, highlighting the ongoing baseball exchange between the two neighboring countries.

Bank of Japan (BOJ) officials expect Japan’s negative interest rate policy to continue due to insufficient wage growth, according to informed sources. BOJ will hold a monetary policy meeting in December 2024, with additional meetings planned for January, March, and April. After meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda expressed the challenges ahead, possibly signaling a revision to the massive monetary easing policy. This led to a surge in the yen’s exchange rate, reaching a high of 141.6 yen to the dollar.

Tickets for the ＂Yomiuri 2024 TOYOTA 90th Anniversary Taiwan Trial＂ baseball game are now on sale through the UDN Ticketing Network. The network has implemented a queuing system to manage the high demand, with purchases starting at 12 p.m. Organizers recommend registering in advance and following the official fan page for instructions. The initial phase offers 26,000 seats, with the possibility of more being released later. The event will take place in March at the Taipei Dome, and fans are excited to secure their spot at this historic competition.

Taiwan’s National Armed Forces (RDRC) detected the ballistic motion and trajectory of a Chinese satellite rocket through its Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. The rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Sichuan Province and passed over the southwestern airspace of Taiwan. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) conducted several satellite launch missions in recent days, but they posed no threat to Taiwan as they occurred outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Former Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council and CEO of the United States Studies Centre, Michael Jonathan Green, emphasizes that Taiwan’s recent extension of military service to one year is a significant indication of its commitment to defense. Green warns that any reversal of this decision would raise concerns in both the United States and Japan. As tensions rise across the Taiwan Strait, the main concern for the U.S. is Taiwan’s vulnerability to Chinese pressure or military action. By extending military conscription, Taiwan is demonstrating its political will to counter Beijing’s intimidation. The United States, Japan, and Australia believe that Taiwan’s efforts to stabilize the situation and prevent war are commendable. Green highlights that any threat posed by China to Taiwan could jeopardize security across the entire First Island Chain, impacting nations like the US, Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. Green, who has served in the Bush Administration and was part of the U.S. bipartisan delegation that visited Taiwan in March, stresses the critical importance of Taiwan’s resolve for self-defense.

Taiwan’s first highway autonomous bus conducted its inaugural licensing and passenger-carrying tests. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Highway Bureau commissioned Green Transit Co., Ltd to deploy the self-driving bus, which traveled 16 kilometers autonomously at a set speed of 40 kilometers per hour. The bus, accompanied by an engineering driver during the trial phase, cost NT＄30 million to develop. The full route spans 44 kilometers, with over 70% being autonomous. The service is expected to provide free rides to the public starting in March next year, with seven stops and 7 to 8 daily services. The initiative aims to address the shortage of public transportation personnel and reduce traffic incidents. The Highway Bureau plans to enhance highway maintenance and public transport operations using smart technology.

Premier Chen Chien-jen praises the performance of Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s representative to the U.S., emphasizing her recognized contributions by both American and Taiwanese authorities. Chen commends Hsiao’s collaboration with Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, which has led to significant progress in Taiwan-U.S. relations. Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly praised Hsiao’s outstanding performance. Chen believes Hsiao is a suitable candidate for the upcoming elections and will respect the party’s decision on her successor. In response to the recent protest march by medical personnel, Chen assures that the government deeply cares about the rights and interests of healthcare workers and is willing to engage in dialogue. The establishment of a regular communication channel has been agreed upon, and discussions on the demands of medical personnel are underway to provide better rights protection and a safer working environment.

The Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) has come under criticism from New Power Party Legislator Claire Wang for failing to make progress in paying salaries to players and facing accusations of gender discrimination. These issues have reportedly persisted since the CTFA’s appointment in March. Wang revealed that players have been owed millions in wages since 2021. The Taiwan Women’s Football Players Association has accused the CTFA of negligence, claiming that the women’s national team’s long-term training plans were abruptly halted. The association has called on the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration to take responsibility. The Sports Administration has stated that there may be misunderstandings and has requested the CTFA to submit a comprehensive plan for international events such as the 2026 Asian Games. Wang believes that the planned suspension of training is due to the CTFA’s failure to submit a planning document on time, rather than a problem with the National Sports Training Center. Wang has called for a re-evaluation of the CTFA by the Sports Administration to prevent further damage to football development in Taiwan. Under the current chairman, Wang Lin-hsiang, the CTFA is facing a debt problem of over NT＄90 million from previous administrations, including player salaries, referee fees, and vendor costs. Chairman Wang has sent a lawyer’s letter to former chairman Chiou I-jen seeking clarification on these issues.

Taiwan Sugar Corporation plans to hire 148 new employees for the upcoming fiscal year. The company is seeking job seekers who have graduated from high school or vocational schools. The monthly pay for new hires will range from NT$30,000 to NT$34,000, and the company emphasizes that it offers stable employment and comprehensive benefits. There are 33 different job categories available, including positions for individuals with disabilities, sales (including Japanese language), accounting, field sales, land administration, gas station managers, chemical industry, general agriculture, machinery, boilers, agricultural machinery, instrument and electricity, electrical, civil, and livestock. Interested applicants can find application details and the examination program on Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s official website. The registration period will run from November 23 to December 5. The written examination is scheduled for January 27, 2024, with a second round of oral and physical fitness tests slated for March 23, 2024.

Coldplay’s concert in Kaohsiung attracted a record-breaking attendance of nearly 85,000 people, surpassing the previous record set by BLACKPINK in March 2023. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai announced the unprecedented high of 84,858 individuals in the stadium’s vicinity. After the concert, transportation authorities reduced the Metro frequency to three minutes to disperse the large crowd, taking a total of 82 minutes to completely clear the stadium. The Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government reported that around 30,000 concertgoers took the city’s metro to the venue, out of a total daily transportation volume of approximately 266,000. The bureau encouraged the use of public transportation due to traffic control near the concert venue.

The spokesperson for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te’s campaign, Tai Wei-shan, criticized Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je for pandering for votes and inconsistent messaging, particularly regarding his stance on same-sex marriage. Ko’s position on same-sex marriage has reportedly changed four times in the past nine years. In 2014, Ko publicly expressed support for ＂freedom to love, marriage equality＂ during his mayoral campaign. However, during a 2019 visit to the U.S., he stated that he voted against same-sex marriage but allowed 125,000 people to march. In 2020, he posted on Facebook that he cast a void vote on the topic of homosexuality. Yet, during a lecture at a Kaohsiung campus, he denied ever saying that he voted against same-sex marriage. Tai urged Ko to stop relying on ＂shortcut tricks＂ to win the election and emphasized the importance of politicians possessing a fundamental attitude toward societal values, respecting crucial issues, and demonstrating consistency.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that 26 state-run hospitals will increase salaries by 4% starting in January 2024, with a maximum increase of NT$2,500 per month. Over 8,000 individuals will benefit from this raise, resulting in an annual expenditure increase of at least NT$140 million. This follows incremental raises in nursing bonuses or allowances at 21 state-run hospitals between March and November 2023, ranging from NT$800 to NT$3,000 per month. However, five state-run hospitals in remote areas, islands, or specialized psychiatric hospitals were not included in the adjustments. The increased expenditure will be covered by hospital funds, but it may impact doctor bonuses. The ministry is urging hospitals to implement management strategies to minimize the effects on doctors.

The 2023 ITF Taipei International Travel Fair concluded with a total of 344,475 visits, representing a 76.3% growth from the previous year. The event, organized by the Taiwan Visitors Association, recorded a single-day attendance of 75,917 visitors on its final day. Numerous hotel groups and travel agencies reported strong sales performances, with some generating daily revenues in the millions and cumulative four-day returns exceeding a billion dollars. Exhibited travel products showcased Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia as preferred destinations, while long-haul trips to the Americas, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand also garnered significant interest. The 2024 ITF Taipei International Travel Fair is set to begin exhibitor registration on March 1, 2024, and will take place from November 1 to 4, 2024, at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

Taiwan’s Minister of Education, Pan Wen-chung, has announced plans to review universities’ proposals to adjust their departmental structures in February and March next year. Pan emphasized the importance of cultivating talents in the humanities, social sciences, and engineering for the nation’s development, regardless of the current industrial state. Concerns have arisen over the potential closure of Shih Hsin University’s Department of Chinese Literature by the 2025 academic year and rumors of Aletheia University’s Department of Taiwanese Literature ceasing operations. Pan stated that universities have the right to ponder their future development and adjust departments, but changes should be approved by university board meetings and involve adequate communication within university governance. Additionally, the Ministry of Education has launched an initiative allowing university students to earn credits in areas of interest and have them documented in their diplomas. According to the Ministry’s statistics, there were a total of 846 arts and humanities departments among bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in the 2024 academic year. During the period from 2020 to 2024, 65 new departments were established, 45 stopped recruiting, and nine merged.

President Tsai Ing-wen’s public address on Facebook praising Taiwan’s LGBTQ+ community and their rights to start families without discrimination sparked a backlash. Critics accused the government of having double standards by not extending the same rights to same-sex couples from China. The Ministry of the Interior expanded same-sex marriage to transnational couples from countries where it is not yet legalized, but couples from China were excluded. The Mainland Affairs Council stated that scheduling opportunities for cross-strait same-sex marriage were hindered by differing legal measures and China’s lack of approval. Despite the government’s promise to fulfill its commitment, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups highlighted the unequal treatment of transnational couples in the expansion of same-sex marriage rights.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications plans to open up tour groups to China and allow Chinese tour groups to Taiwan by March 1, 2024. However, some travel agencies find the pace of this ＂un-banning＂ too slow and have admitted to organizing tour groups to China under the guise of ＂visiting groups.＂ This ban, which has lasted for over three years, has severely impacted over 90% of Taiwan’s 4,000 plus travel agencies operating in the Chinese market.

The Control Yuan ruled against the Taoyuan City Government and the Ministry of Agriculture for their mishandling of a baboon capture in March, resulting in the primate’s death. The Control Yuan criticized the entities for not appointing commanding officers and failing to fulfill their obligations under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Four unclaimed receipts from the March-April 2023 receipt lottery are still eligible for the NT$10 million grand prize.