THREE 結果共258筆

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Sports Industry Development Act to combat ticket scalping. The revised law imposes fines on scalpers ranging from 10 to 50 times the ticket’s face value. The amendments also target the resale of complimentary and promotional tickets, with penalties reaching up to NT＄18,000. The use of ticket-buying bots will be met with up to three years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to NT＄3 million. These measures aim to crack down on the practice of reselling tickets at inflated prices, known locally as ＂huangniu＂ or Yellow Cow. The amended law ensures the anonymity of whistleblowers and potentially rewards them for reporting scalping activities. The updates to the legislation were led by the Legislative Yuan Education and Culture Committee, reflecting the legislature’s commitment to fair access to entertainment and sports for fans in Taiwan.

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) is set to undergo corporatization on January 1, 2024, with the aim of improving punctuality and reducing delays. The agency believes that this transformation, along with the introduction of new trains next year, will enhance its competitiveness in the transport market. The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) has experienced increased passenger numbers recently, leading to capacity shortages and overcrowding in non-reserved seating. Concerns have been raised about the decline in THSR service quality, with some referring to it as ＂high-speed rail becoming like local trains.＂ Under the new Taiwan Railways Corporation, TRA plans to offer services on the eastern main line and support the western short-to-medium-haul network, creating a cooperative yet competitive relationship with THSR. TRA aims to enhance the passenger experience by updating ticket gates and passenger information systems across all railway stations in Taiwan over the next three years. To address the capacity issue, TRA plans to provide shuttle services at Changhua Station and improve inter-rail transfer services. The establishment of the TRA corporation aims to clarify its market positioning, including strengthening intercity transport service between the eastern and western main lines and improving regional commuting transport on the western line. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has established a debt repayment fund to address TRA’s short-term debt of around NT$170 billion, with the goal of making TRA debt-free by 2025 and profitable by 2028. Post-corporatization, TRA plans to increase revenue and optimize asset management through flexible approaches such as joint development initiatives and land rights establishment.

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns of a potential flu epidemic around the Lunar New Year due to an increase in Type B influenza infections. Over 6 million government-funded flu vaccines have been administered, with a vaccination rate exceeding 50% among senior citizens. Several counties have reached the target vaccination rate of 55% for seniors. Influenza outpatient and emergency department visits have shown a recent downward trend, but adenoviruses remain the leading respiratory pathogens. H3N2 is more prevalent than H1N1, with a rising proportion of Type B influenza cases. There have been 14 new severe influenza complications and three additional deaths, mainly affecting individuals with chronic illnesses who were unvaccinated. As of December 11, 6.098 million public-funded flu vaccine doses have been administered, achieving a vaccination rate of 50.4%. Officials urge eligible citizens to promptly get vaccinated, as approximately 500,000 doses of government-funded flu vaccine remain.

Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih has announced an extension of childcare policies, promising free after-school care services for elementary students aged 6 to 12. This initiative aims to double the current capacity of after-school care in public elementary schools from 180,000 to 360,000 children, with a focus on providing specialized care to children in rural areas and from disadvantaged backgrounds. Hou’s plan includes establishing after-school programs in public elementary schools to meet 100% of the demand, increasing student coverage from 15% to 30% and meeting the standard set by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The policy, guided by the ＂Three Safeties＂ principle, aims to ensure parental peace of mind, child safety, and stability for the disadvantaged. Extended care until 7 p.m. will be available during the school term and vacations. Additionally, the initiative seeks to expand private-sector participation in after-school care services by creating a matching platform to add over 20,000 new classes and increasing the proportion of outsourced after-school care to over 20%. The anticipated benefits of this policy include providing services to approximately 300,000 families, including 80,000 disadvantaged families, creating around 30,000 job opportunities, and strengthening the service capacity of private institutions.

The Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that only five students have applied for the ＂3+1 program,＂ which allows for three years of university study followed by one year of military service. Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng addressed concerns about the program’s administrative process and gender regulations, as only male students are currently eligible. The Ministry of Education implemented the program guidelines in June, and the military is working on improving the training aspect to increase efficiency and accessibility.

Taiwan’s average regular earnings for employed workers increased by 2.49% from January to October, reaching NT$45,441. However, this growth is the lowest in the past three years, with total earnings, including bonuses and other irregular income, only up by 1.53%. The average monthly real wage slightly increased by 0.06% to NT$41,370, while the average total real wage decreased by 0.87% to NT$53,960, the first decline in seven years. This decline is attributed to a decrease in year-end bonuses following a cooling economy and a decrease in exports. Despite an overall increase in employment of 10,000 workers compared to last year, the manufacturing industry saw a significant drop of 27,000 employees due to economic adjustments. In October, the average regular wage was NT$45,564, up 0.13% from the previous month and 2.31% year-on-year. Part-time workers’ average hourly regular earnings increased marginally to NT$200, reflecting a 1.01% year-on-year gain. While industries such as arts, entertainment, and leisure services, as well as real estate, experienced wage increases, sectors like computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing saw significant decreases in total wages by 18.54%. The employment numbers in manufacturing have been impacted by export decline, with an increase of 10,000 employed workers from January to October. The industrial sector saw a decrease of 0.63%, while the service sector grew by 0.67%. Accommodation and food services experienced a growth of 13,000 jobs, arts, entertainment, and leisure services saw an upsurge of 7,000, but manufacturing was hit with a reduction of 27,000 employees.

A sheep farm in Pingtung County, Taiwan experiences its first outbreak of Brucellosis in 30 years, with three sheep testing positive for the disease. The infected sheep have been culled and the entire facility disinfected. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that can spread between people and animals, causing placentitis, infertility, miscarriage, and orchitis. The Pingtung County Animal Disease Control Center routinely monitors dairy cattle and sheep farms, with all dairy cattle farms testing negative in 2023. Further confirmation analysis and biweekly blood tests are mandated for the remaining sheep on the affected farm. Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture claims to have eradicated Brucellosis in dairy cows by 1989, and this is the first positive case identified on a sheep farm since surveillance began in 1986. Livestock farms are urged to avoid introducing animals from unknown sources and to enhance biosecurity measures, using proper personal protective equipment and reporting unexplained symptoms to animal health authorities.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) held a draw to determine the candidate numbers for the ballots ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)’s Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu drew number one, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s Lai Ching-teh and Hsiao Bi-khim will be number two. The Kuomintang (KMT) duo Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong secured the number three spot. The lottery drew numbers in the order that parties registered for the election: DPP, TPP, then KMT. The official list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates will be announced on Dec. 15. Several televised policy presentations, a vice-presidential debate, and a presidential debate are scheduled leading up to the election.

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%.

Taiwanese distributor Hotai Motor, responsible for TOYOTA and LEXUS, reported a backlog of around 23,400 orders during an earnings call on Dec. 8. Despite an expected slight decrease in sales volume, the outlook remains optimistic. Hotai Motor dominates Taiwan’s auto market with a 33.3% share, as TOYOTA and LEXUS sold a combined total of 144,522 vehicles from January to November. The profit for the first three quarters was driven by the company’s core operations, particularly the more profitable LEXUS brand. With 19,000 pending orders for TOYOTA and 4,400 for LEXUS, the current order book suggests business for the next two months. Hotai Motor’s diversified investees, including Carmax, Hotai Finance, and Hotai Leasing, continue to grow. Hotai Insurance also experienced significant growth, except for the investing channel in China, which was affected by competitive pricing from domestic electric vehicle brands like BYD.

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.

Six men have been indicted by the Taichung District Prosecutor’s Office for alleged sexual exploitation offenses under the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act. Led by Chen Tso-wei, the group imitated the infamous ＂South Korea’s Nth Room case＂ and used deceptive tactics to lure their victims, promising easy money for photos or offering iPhones. They profited over NT＄8 million from their illicit activities. Authorities discovered that the syndicate blackmailed the young girls involved with explicit videos and threatened to leak their nude photos if they didn’t comply. A total of 86 girls were found to have fallen prey to this exploitation, with the youngest victim being just nine years old. Some of the victims resorted to self-harm as a result of the abuse. The Taichung District Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a substantial sentence of 30 years imprisonment for three of the accused, including Chen, who played a particularly malicious role with a severe impact on human dignity. The remaining three face sentencing recommendations of five to ten years.

Tragic shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) resulted in the deaths of three faculty members, including Taiwanese professor Cha Jan ＂Jerry＂ Chang. Two victims identified as business school professors. Chang, an associate professor in UNLV’s Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology department, had been educating students at the university for over two decades. UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield confirmed victims as university employees, with two from the business school. The assailant, a 67-year-old former college professor, was not affiliated with UNLV. Survivor receiving treatment in hospital. Authorities have not released further details.

Get ready for an exciting New Year’s Eve bash in Kaohsiung! Pop diva Jeannie Hsieh will be the closing act, making a comeback after a three-year hiatus. The event, held at Dream Mall, promises a departure from Hsieh’s traditional holiday repertoire. The celebration will be hosted by comedy duo Plungon and celebrity Chung Hsin-yu, with Thai singer and social media sensation Jeff Satur adding an international flavor to the lineup. Satur, who boasts 3.8 million Instagram followers, will be performing for the first time abroad. The event will also feature popular artists like Nine One One, WeiBird, GBOYSWAG, and more. Don’t miss the spectacular 240-second firework display over Asia New Bay Area, symbolizing the transition to 2024.

Taiwan’s People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je has revealed that despite restraints from the Kuomintang (KMT), some of the party’s legislative candidates have sought his endorsement in videos that are expected to be released in the final three days before the election. In an exclusive interview with TVBS, Ko disclosed that KMT candidates have been defying the ＂Ko prohibition order＂ and seeking his support through video recordings. While Ko claimed to have assisted these candidates, he did not specify who they were. He suggested that these candidates are unlikely to reveal his endorsement until the last three days of the election campaign.

Kuomintang presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih criticizes Taiwan’s anti-fraud efforts, claiming that fraud cases are increasing despite an investment of NT$2.7 billion into the national anti-scam team. Hou attributes the problem to lenient penalties for fraud, leading to high recidivism rates. He proposes a three-pronged policy approach, including steeper penalties reflective of the amount scammed, interdepartmental cooperation, and stronger cross-strait and international cooperation. Hou also blames existing anti-fraud agencies for a lack of coordinated strategy and vows to improve collaboration if elected. Hou’s running mate, Jaw Shau-kong, compares the treatment of fraudsters in Taiwan and mainland China, stating that Taiwan’s sentences are lenient compared to the death penalty in the mainland. Jaw highlights that modern con artists often target the elderly, posing as utility bill collectors.

Don Quijote, the popular Japanese retail brand, has opened its largest flagship store in Taiwan, located in Kaohsiung. The store, situated in the Dalee Department Store, spans an impressive area of nearly 1,000 pings and features three distinctive zones catering to different shopping desires. These include an Outdoor section for camping and trekking gear, the Donki Sake area for Japanese alcohol enthusiasts, and the Coco Kawaii section for all things cute and adorable. In addition, the store offers a selection of ready-to-eat food restaurants. The opening day saw over 600 people queuing up outside the store, showcasing the excitement surrounding the new establishment. The Kaohsiung Mayor attended the opening, expressing astonishment at the turnout and lauding the decision of these two major Japanese brands, Muji and Don Quijote, to invest in Kaohsiung. With this new addition, Don Quijote now operates five stores across Taiwan, further solidifying its presence in the country’s retail landscape.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je expressed disappointment in the failure to establish an alliance with the Kuomintang (KMT), citing his medical background and trust in others as a disadvantage in politics. He believes that the mishandling of the breakup with the KMT has led to his declining support. Despite the acrimony, Ko hinted at potential future cooperation with Foxconn’s founder Terry Gou, acknowledging their maintained contact for policy collaboration. Ko praised Gou’s think tank on finance and economics for its excellent work, revealing that his team has consulted and adopted numerous economic policy suggestions from Gou’s proposals. The focus at this stage is on policy partnership, with paths toward collaborative governance remaining open between the two camps.

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.

The National Human Rights Museum has unveiled a new animated short film titled ＂PIGGY 1/2: A World Apart,＂ created by acclaimed animator Fish Wang. The film explores the theme of transitional justice in a future world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. It took nearly three years to complete and follows the journey of a young exile named ＂Ban Po＂ as he questions state mechanisms and protects his loved ones. Wang aims to challenge viewers’ understanding of transitional justice and spark discussions on human rights. Wang’s previous works include the celebrated short ＂Gold Fish＂ and the award-winning ＂Ghost of the Dark Path.＂ The museum director expressed gratitude towards Wang and his team for their creative efforts and highlighted the museum’s commitment to promoting human rights through artistic expressions. The release of ＂PIGGY 1/2＂ is anticipated to enhance Taiwan’s societal grasp of human rights values and honor those who fought for these causes.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed a bill appointing an additional deputy director to the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau (MJIB) to enhance its capacity in handling surveillance technology and combating cybercrime. The new position will focus on managing technological development, detecting computer and internet-related crimes, ensuring information security, conducting forensic science, and overseeing communication surveillance. The move comes in response to the increasing demand for expertise in these specialized areas. Currently, the MJIB operates under the guidance of two deputy directors, but the rise in sophisticated crime has led to a significant workload increase in judicial forensic investigations. By expanding the number of deputy director positions from two to three, the MJIB aims to improve the professional handling of surveillance technology and strengthen national defense mechanisms. This legislative revision demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing security landscape and elevating the nation’s defense against cyber threats.

The Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that all six candidates from the three presidential and vice-presidential teams meet the nationality requirements for the upcoming elections. The Central Election Commission is set to review the qualifications of the candidates, which is crucial amidst citizenship disputes involving the vice-presidential candidates of the Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan People’s Party. The announcement by the CEC is highly anticipated as it will address the legitimacy concerns and allow the candidates to proceed with their campaigns without legal challenges.

Sadaharu Oh, Taiwanese-Japanese baseball legend, expressed his wish for the Taiwan team to triumph over South Korea in the Asian Baseball Championship. He hopes that in three years, Japan and Taiwan will join forces in the World Baseball Classic finals. Oh praised the Taipei Dome’s facilities and believes that players competing in such an exceptional environment will feel more confident, enhancing their ability to bring glory to their country and Asia. Reflecting on his own experiences in the Tokyo Dome, Oh emphasized the importance of a great setting in nurturing heroes and predicted that the presence of the Taipei Dome will improve the future of Taiwanese baseball.

Taiwan has been facing a persistent flu season since the beginning of the year, with three concurrent viruses spreading. Physician Huang Li-min from National Taiwan University Hospital warned of the severity of the flu outbreak and projected a potential two-year ’immunity debt’. Huang also highlighted the heightened risk of a Mycoplasma outbreak in Taiwan, urging the public to practice preventative measures such as vaccinations and adherence to public health guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control in Taiwan has implemented targeted surveillance and testing at international airports, leading to the detection of various viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, and adenoviruses. The World Health Organization is monitoring the Mycoplasma situation in China, urging vigilance despite a decline in the pandemic.

The Jhujian Catering Group in Taiwan sets a new standard by offering year-end bonuses totaling NT$85 million, marking a significant upturn in the nation’s catering industry. With individual bonuses potentially reaching up to three months’ salary, Jhujian leads the way in employee rewards amid industry-wide growth.