RISE 結果共174筆

Tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait as China unilaterally adjusts the M503 flight route, drawing criticism from Taiwan’s officials and concerns over regional stability and airspace management ahead of Taiwan’s elections.

Discover the changing ＂festive spirit＂ of the Lunar New Year in Taiwan as smaller families and evolving traditions impact the celebrations. From nostalgic memories of firecrackers and street shopping to the rise of phone distractions and travel abroad, the discussion revolves around the meaning of the ＂memory of festive spirit.＂ Join the debate on the declining vibrancy of family reunion dinners and the overall change in the Lunar New Year atmosphere.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announces pay rise for Taipei Zoo conservation workers, with bonuses ranging from NT＄3,000 to NT＄5,000 based on animal risk levels. Chiang emphasizes the challenging conditions of the job and the need for intelligence and physical labor. The bonuses for high-risk duties have not been adjusted in over 30 years, potentially causing a brain drain. Chiang has been actively working to increase zookeeper wages and improve their conditions. He calls for attention to zookeeper welfare and animal protection issues and reveals plans for the Taipei Zoo’s 110th anniversary in 2024. This pay increase further showcases Taipei as a city that values its workers’ contributions to biodiversity.

Get the latest weather forecast for Taiwan from Meteorologist Wu Der-rong. Temperatures will rise throughout the week, reaching 30 degrees Celsius in the south. While the north will see highs of 25 degrees during the day, mornings and evenings will remain cooler. Expect temperatures of 12-22 degrees in the north, 12-25 degrees in central regions, and 13-27 degrees in the south. Starting Tuesday, wind direction will change, bringing stable sunny weather to the west and occasional showers to the east. A small northeast wind on Friday may cause localized rain and a slight drop in temperature in the north. Spring-like temperatures will return on the weekend, with sunny weather in the west and possible showers in the east. Stay tuned for updates on the next cold snap.

Taiwan’s northern and northeastern regions are experiencing cold temperatures, with the mercury hovering around 10 degrees Celsius or lower. Despite a weakening cold wave, warmer weather is expected next week. The Central Weather Administration has issued a cold warning for 17 cities, urging residents to take precautions. Friday’s humidity will decrease, with mostly sunny to cloudy weather in regions south of Hsinchu. However, areas facing the wind, such as the northern coast of Keelung, parts of the east, the Hengchun Peninsula, and the mountainous areas of Taipei, may still see localized rain. Former CWA Weather Forecast Center director Daniel Wu predicts a wind transition from northeastern to easterly and then southeasterly from Monday to Thursday, leading to a daily rise in temperature. This shift will bring clear weather in the west and sporadic, brief rain in the east, with the possibility of fog in western regions and surrounding Kinmen and Matsu islands.

Taipei’s flower market is experiencing a nearly 30% reduction in certain flowers due to the recent colder weather and damp conditions. The Chairman of Taipei Flowers Auction, Li Ming-tsung, predicts that flower prices will rise by an average of 5% this year, citing inflation as the main cause. For example, the cost of a bouquet of lilies, typically priced at NT$250, could increase to between NT$600 and NT$700 during the Lunar New Year, with prices peaking at up to NT$1,000. In preparation for the Lunar New Year, the Taipei Flower Market will extend its opening hours to 3 p.m. and remain open for a total of 108 hours, expecting to supply around 904,000 bouquets.

A concerning rise in obesity among Taiwanese adolescents highlights the urgent need for awareness and intervention. Experts emphasize the link between lifestyle habits and chronic disease risks, advocating for early education on diet and exercise.

Expect fair weather through Friday, followed by cooler and wetter conditions from Saturday to next Wednesday, according to WeatherRisk meteorologist Ke Yu-ning. Temperatures in Taiwan will continue to rise on Thursday, with increased cloud cover in mountainous areas. Coastal areas will see a 1-2 degree drop in high temperatures on Friday, while inland regions will remain warm. The chance of rain is relatively high in eastern parts and the Hengchun Peninsula. The expected weather front has been delayed and is now forecasted to pass over Taiwan from Saturday morning to Sunday morning. Northern temperatures will fall from 16-21 degrees to 14-17 degrees over the weekend and into next week, while central and southern regions will experience a daily decrease of 1-2 degrees. A significant temperature drop is expected on Monday and Tuesday, with the coldest weather occurring Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, when temperatures may fall to around 9-10 degrees Celsius in most urban areas. Despite a slight warming during the day on Wednesday, conditions will remain chilly. High-altitude regions may experience snowfall next week, with the snowfall altitude potentially increasing to 2500 meters as cold air diminishes. Temperatures in these areas may approach or drop to freezing from Monday evening through Thursday, creating the opportunity for snow.

Following the victory of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan’s presidential election, a report by the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) suggests that Beijing might escalate activities in gray zone areas. The report highlights Taiwan’s increased geopolitical prominence and its pivotal role in semiconductor manufacturing, making the stability of the Taiwan Strait a key concern for the U.S. and other Western nations. The report also notes that Vice President Lai Ching-te won the election by over 40% of votes, breaking the trend of switching ruling parties every eight years since direct presidential elections were implemented in 1996. The victorious DPP aims to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses and relations with like-minded nations while resisting negotiations with Beijing. Additionally, the party seeks to reduce Taiwan’s trade dependency on China and strengthen ties with significant partners such as Australia, Europe, and Japan. With no party securing a majority in the legislative assembly, the DPP faces a ＂minority government and majority opposition＂ scenario, which could hinder the government’s legislative and budgeting process and impact Taiwan-U.S. ties. Despite the election, cross-strait relations and regional tensions are unlikely to undergo fundamental changes. Taiwan’s vital position in semiconductor manufacturing and geopolitics ensures its continued rise in importance, with the U.S. and Western nations playing a crucial role in maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait. The upcoming U.S. presidential election in November is expected to significantly impact the U.S.-China-Taiwan triangle, and a potential return of former President Trump to the White House might please Beijing, according to the report.

Get the latest weather forecast for Taiwan as the Central Weather Administration predicts a cold wave next week. Expect frigid temperatures ranging from 7 to 13 degrees Celsius across the island, with snowfall predicted in mountainous areas. This week, temperatures will rise till Friday with easterly winds and highs of 22 to 27 degrees. Brief showers may occur in the east, while the west remains sunny. Unstable weather and rain are expected on Saturday, followed by significant rainfall from Sunday to Wednesday next week. Stay warm and take necessary precautions.

Explore the latest developments in Taiwan’s political landscape following the recent legislative election. Learn about the new balance of power in the Legislative Yuan, the rise of the TPP, and the focus on domestic issues over cross-strait relations. Understand how these election results reflect changing voter sentiments in Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.

饒舌歌手婁峻碩推出新專輯《RISE》，工作滿檔的他商演、代言不斷，日前的跨年晚會更是瘋狂趕場，顯見人氣之高。不過他在社群分享先前演唱會的畫面，只見粉絲瘋狂丟大量內衣上台，他直喊完全收不下，更搞笑喊：「這什麼胸罩特賣會是不是！」

Get the latest weather update for Taiwan: Cold temperatures are expected to drop to 10-14 degrees Celsius on Friday, but will gradually stabilize over the next two days. A weak frontal system on Saturday may bring brief showers, mainly affecting the Northeast. The northeast monsoon starting on Monday could bring brief showers to the north, east, and central mountain areas. A new northeast monsoon on Tuesday night may bring short-lived rain, but temperatures are set to rise slightly from Wednesday to Friday. Despite these weather patterns, Saturday is not expected to have noticeable drops in temperature or rainfall. By Sunday, the northeast monsoon will strengthen, causing temperatures to drop, but the chance of rain is low. Stay informed with the latest weather updates.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has begun distributing COVID-19 rapid test kits to travelers at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei. The kits are available in the reception areas and exit halls of both terminals, and each traveler is eligible to receive one kit regardless of age. The decision was made in response to the increasing rates of respiratory diseases worldwide. The CDC Deputy Director-General, Philip Lo, stated that the peak of the COVID-19 surge in Taiwan is expected to be in mid-to-late January, with a possible rise after the Lunar New Year holidays. Travelers have expressed appreciation for the policy, with many noting how thoughtful and helpful the Taiwanese government is. The distribution of test kits may continue after the Lunar New Year holidays, depending on the international and domestic pandemic conditions.

「饒舌男神」婁峻碩終於在去年12月29日搶先數位發行全新專輯《RISE》，更宣布2月19日發行的實體專輯，為了催生出這張新血結晶，婁峻碩秉持著大丈夫一言九鼎精神，在忙碌的最後兩個月年末活動季加緊趕工，不僅壓縮自己每天的睡眠時間「天天睡不到五小時」，更利用工作通勤搭飛機、搭車的空檔打開電腦做音樂，把一天當兩天用的他終於在2023年末「壓線」把專輯趕出，回想整個新專輯製作過程，婁峻碩開玩笑形容：「感覺像是把時間當『乳溝』在擠一樣，超痛苦！」

The San Francisco overseas Chinese community hosted a New Year flag-raising ceremony, with Fremont Mayor Lily Mei encouraging the next generation to run for office and speak out for Asians. Mei also urged the community to vote robustly in the upcoming T U.S.-Taiwan relations and reminded them not to underestimate individual power. Director-General Scott Lai of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco reviewed Taiwan’s accomplishments last year, highlighting its rise in various indices, ranking second in freedom in Asia and sixth in global competitiveness. Lai also noted the meeting between Morris Chang, founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and key U.S. officials at the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, praising it as a symbol of U.S. executive branch support for Taiwan. However, Lai acknowledged challenges lie ahead for Taiwan, particularly in its tourism, sightseeing, and restaurant industries’ recovery, as well as social issues such as declining birthrates and wealth disparity. Lai assured that the government would take a more proactive and responsible stance to make positive changes felt by the public.

50 Lan, a renowned tea beverage chain in Taipei, is set to raise its prices in 2024 due to increased operational and sales costs. Influenced by ingredient costs and labor shortages, the hike marks a potential trend in Taiwan’s popular hand-shake beverage market.

Taiwan is set to increase its minimum wage for 2024, benefiting approximately 2.39 million workers. Monthly basic wages will rise from NT$26,400 to NT$27,470, a 4.05% increase, benefiting 1.79 million workers. Hourly wages will also see a boost from NT$176 to NT$183, benefiting around 600,000 workers. The changes will affect labor insurance premiums, with employers bearing an extra cost of NT$2,307, workers contributing NT$659, and the government chipping in NT$329. This marks an increase of NT$89, NT$25, and NT$13, respectively, compared to the existing system. The adjustment will also impact the categorization of labor insurance premiums and retirement monthly contributions schedules. While the wage hike will increase labor costs, it provides an important boost for workers in challenging economic times.

WeatherRisk has reported that there will be generally cloudy weather in Taiwan due to the shift of clouds in the south. There may also be sporadic rainfall in the mountains of central and southern Taiwan. The impact of the continental cold air mass moving out to sea along the coast of China has weakened the cold air around Taiwan, causing minimal low temperatures to rise. The Liyu Lake in Hualien and Luye Township in Taitung recorded temperatures of 11 and 12.4 degrees Celsius, respectively. The continued shift of clouds in the south might slightly increase the chance of rainfall in the central and southern regions, as well as affect the eastern areas with sporadic downpours. With no significant weather systems nearby, Taiwan will experience an increase in daytime temperatures under the influence of northeast to east winds. Northern regions will see temperatures of 23-26 degrees Celsius, while the central and southern regions will hover around 24-26 degrees Celsius. On Friday, environmental moisture will gradually decrease under the influence of the northeast monsoon, resulting in mostly cloudy weather with possible sporadic rainfall across Taiwan. Saturday, the start of the New Year holiday, will see a weakening of the northeast monsoon, raising the temperature and bringing mostly cloudy weather, with sporadic rainfall possible only in the eastern parts. However, Sunday will see a stronger northeast monsoon, leading to stable but cloudy weather with sporadic showers in eastern Taiwan. On New Year’s Day next Monday, Taiwan will experience generally sunny to cloudy weather under the influence of the northeast monsoon, with no significant chance of rain. The general public is advised to consider this weather information when planning holiday activities.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te accuses the Kuomintang (KMT) of endangering society in three ways in his second televised policy presentation. Lai highlights the KMT’s adherence to the One-China policy, corruption, and ruthless tactics to seize power as the three harms inflicted upon society. He expresses concern that electing political neophyte Hou Yu-ih, representing the KMT, would indirectly support the revival of former president Ma Ying-jeou’s regime and those who support One-China, leading to the rise of a ＂Corruption Dynasty＂ that could significantly harm Taiwan’s national development. Lai also criticizes the KMT for bribery, pointing out the numerous confirmed bribery cases under judicial ruling. He further accuses the KMT of creating fake news, distorting facts, and attacking opponents and the government to win elections. Lai also criticizes the KMT for leveraging foreign power, particularly from China, to support a pro-China regime, mentioning China’s regular attempts to meddle in Taiwan’s elections.

The Taiwan Higher Education Union (THEU) has criticized the government for playing a false game with wage increases. While civil servants, including military and education personnel, are set to receive a 4 percent pay increase next year, over 21,000 technical and administrative staff at universities, about 70 percent, remain unsure of their raises. This uncertain group includes employees at private universities. The THEU believes that the government should not leave salaries of non-certified staff to the discretion of universities, as it causes division and lowers morale. Only around 9,000 public employees out of the approximately 31,000 full-time staff members at universities and colleges are certain about their pay rise next year. The THEU is concerned that the hardships of grassroots workers in tertiary education institutions are being overlooked amidst the upcoming presidential elections. They urge that national wage increases should apply to all university staff, with appropriate subsidies provided.

In 2021, approximately 664,000 Taiwanese taxpayers received disability deductions and 354,000 received long-term care deductions from their individual income tax, in accordance with the rules of the ＂Income Tax Act.＂ The total deductions for disability and long-term care amounted to NT$137.4 billion and NT$42.5 billion, respectively. Since 2014, the number of households benefiting from disability deductions has exceeded 600,000, reaching 635,000 in 2021. The income tax reform in 2018 increased the disability deduction to NT$200,000, resulting in a rise from NT$89.1 billion in 2017 to NT$135.2 billion, with subsequent years remaining around NT$138 billion. Starting from 2019, individuals could deduct up to NT$120,000 for long-term care. By 2021, a total of NT$42.5 billion was deducted, benefiting 330,000 households, which accounted for 5.1% of all reporting households. Over the past five years, the number of individuals benefiting from disability deductions ranged from 664,000 to 698,000, representing 55.2% to 59.6% of all disabled Taiwanese. The number of individuals benefiting from long-term care deductions has been increasing annually for the past three years, with 336,000, 350,000, and 354,000 people, respectively. The beneficiaries of the long-term care 2.0 service also experienced an increase, from 389,000 in 2019 to 554,000 in 2021, indicating an improvement in the capabilities of the long-term care service.

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 326 new domestic cases of COVID-19 for the week of Dec. 19-25, with 99% of the newly infected individuals not having received the XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine. The CDC also noted a rise in fatalities, with 37 deaths, of which 97% had not been vaccinated with the XBB vaccine. The CDC highlighted that the domestic COVID-19 situation is worsening, with 78% of complications and 90% of deaths affecting people over the age of 65. The global positivity rate for COVID-19 is at its peak, and cases are increasing in neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Since the introduction of the XBB vaccine in Taiwan, almost all domestically reported cases of complications and fatalities have been among unvaccinated individuals. The CDC emphasized the protective role of the vaccine, citing recent Dutch research that found it to be over 70% effective against severe infection in the elderly. The domestic rollout of the XBB vaccine has reached 769,000 doses, with a two-month peak of 68,600 doses administered during the week of Dec. 19-25. The CDC encourages mask-wearing during end-of-year gatherings and New Year’s activities, especially in crowded, poorly ventilated places or when in close contact with vulnerable individuals. Prompt medical attention is advised for those displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

Taiwan has been identified as one of the key search terms by international travelers on Airbnb’s platform, according to the company’s 2024 tourism trends report. Taiwan’s search growth rate was second globally, just behind Japan. Airbnb expects 2024 to be the year when international travelers embark on world tours. From the first quarter to the third quarter of 2024, search volume on Airbnb increased significantly in 10 countries and regions, with Japan topping the list. Other than Taiwan and Japan, countries and regions such as Albania, Singapore, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, Curaçao, Aruba, Thailand, and Guatemala also saw a rise in interest from Airbnb users.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has announced that temperatures in Taiwan are expected to rise today due to the weakening of a cold air mass. Daytime highs will reach 22 to 25 degrees Celsius in the western part of the country and 21 to 23 degrees in the eastern regions. Rainfall will be limited, and skies will largely remain clear, with only slight scattered showers in the east. However, morning lows in the western regions and Yilan will be around 10 to 13 degrees, dropping to below 10 degrees in parts of northern Tainan and Yilan due to the influence of the continental cold air mass and radiative cooling effect. The Hualien-Taitung area should expect lows between 15 and 16 degrees, so individuals are advised to take measures to stay warm. Wind speeds may rise between 8 to 9 levels in parts of Taoyuan to Yunlin, Hengchun Peninsula, Penghu, Lanyu, and Green Island. There could be a risk of high waves along the coast of the eastern regions, Lanyu, Green Island, and Hengchun Peninsula, so residents and visitors are urged to stay vigilant if engaging in seaside activities.