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Mayor defends decision to reopen Taipei post-typhoon
Typhoon Kong-rey hit Taiwan, causing over 2,000 trees to fall in Taipei. Despite public criticism, Mayor Chiang Wan-an resumed normal activities, citing improved weather forecasts. Cleanup crews restored 80% of major roads by morning.
2024/11/01 16:07
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Apple set to unveil iPhone 16 at ’Glowtime’ event
Discover what Apple has in store for its 2024 Fall Event, including the launch of the iPhone 16 series with innovative features, three new Apple Watch models, and two versions of AirPods 4. Get all the details on the upgrades and new additions set to redefine technology.
2024/09/05 14:23
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New transport minister vows to boost train station safety
Discover how Taiwan’s new Transportation Minister, Chen Shih-kai, is enhancing rail safety with plans for platform gates after a close call at Taichung Train Station. Read about his first actions in office and future safety measures.
2024/09/03 10:39
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Free tickets available for Taipei’s anniversary film series
Discover the magic of Taipei’s 140th anniversary with "Taipei in Films" from Sept. 7-30. Enjoy free classic movie screenings and celebrate the city’s rich culture. Reserve your tickets starting Aug. 26.
2024/08/26 10:53
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TSMC shares fall 6% as Taiwan stocks take a hit
Discover the latest on the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s significant drop, with the main index plunging over 600 points amid poor U.S. employment data fears. Learn how TSMC and other tech giants’ stocks were affected and expert market analysis.
2024/08/05 10:04
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CDC to decide on COVID-19 vaccine strain amid variant surge
Discover the latest on Taiwan’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy as the CDC plans to select a variant for the fall vaccination campaign amid rising cases and new FDA recommendations.
2024/07/04 20:59
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Tourists fall ill in Kinmen County, food poisoning suspected
Discover the details of a potential food poisoning incident in Kinmen County, where 24 tourists fell ill, prompting an investigation by the Public Health Bureau. Learn about the violations found and the strict penalties awaiting non-compliant restaurants.
2024/07/02 13:14
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Taiwan’s traffic fatalities fall short of 5% reduction goal
Explore the latest efforts to enhance road safety in Taipei, including the ambitious goal of zero traffic deaths by 2050, discussed at a recent transportation forum. Learn about the strategies to reduce traffic fatalities, pedestrian safety measures, and the new ’Road Safety Mobilization’ website aimed at public engagement and improvement of road conditions.
2024/06/25 17:18
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Keelung landslide injures 2, buries 11 vehicles
Landslide buries 11 cars, injures 2 in Keelung. Heavy rain caused rocks to loosen and fall. Geologist: small falling rocks signal danger. Road to be repaired within 7 days by June 11.
2024/06/04 17:28
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Worker critically injured in Pingtung construction fall
Discover the latest on a construction site accident in Pingtung County where a worker suffered severe injuries after a fall. Learn more about the ongoing investigation.
2024/05/23 15:40
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52 diners fall ill after eating at Kaohsiung buffet
A food poisoning outbreak at Hi-Lai Harbour restaurant in Kaohsiung has led to 50 people seeking medical attention for symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain, following dining experiences on April 26 and 27. The Kaohsiung City Department of Health is investigating, conducting microbial tests, and has mandated an improvement plan for the restaurant.
2024/04/29 15:46
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Taiwan faces water shortages as some reservoir levels fall
Explore how Taiwan’s critical water shortages are impacted by seasonal changes and increased industrial demand, posing challenges for its semiconductor industry and agricultural needs.
2024/04/25 18:31
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Over 100 fall ill after dining at Wowprime Group eateries
Taipei reports over 100 ill after dining at Truewow and Xiang La Spicy Hotpot restaurants. Mayor Chiang Wan-an addresses food poisoning cases, including Polam Kopitiam, as food safety issues resurface in the city.
2024/04/11 17:32
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2024奧斯卡/《墜惡真相》狗演員「梅西」成功突圍! 萌坐觀眾席觀禮
入圍5項奧斯卡的法國電影《墜惡真相》(Anatomy of a Fall)去年奪下坎城影展金棕梠大獎,片中7歲的邊境牧羊犬「梅西」因演技精湛,大獲觀眾喜愛,2月出席奧斯卡入圍午宴時,一登場就搶走所有人風采,許多大咖明星都搶著合照,昨(10)原本傳出他太搶鏡惹毛其他入圍者,向主辦投訴,恐被禁止出席,不過牠還是成功突圍,乖乖跟劇組一起坐在觀眾席觀禮,非常可愛。
2024/03/11 08:35
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Northern Taiwan braces for chilly Lunar New Year’s Eve
Prepare for cooler, rainy weather in northern Taiwan before Lunar New Year’s Eve, followed by clear skies from New Year’s Day through the fifth day of the new year. Temperatures will steadily drop, possibly dipping below 10 Celsius degrees as New Year’s Eve approaches, due to a cold air mass from the continent. Conditions will gradually improve to partly sunny with a chance of local brief rain in the eastern half of the island. Temperatures range from 12 to 19 degrees in the north, 13 to 25 in the central region, 16 to 29 in the south, and 15 to 26 in the east. On New Year’s Day, weather will turn clear and dry, but the morning of the next day will see temperatures fall to their lowest, with some flat areas experiencing temperatures below 10 degrees.
2024/02/05 10:42
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Taiwanese conscripts worry about salary gap despite raise
Taiwanese conscripts have expressed concerns that their monthly earnings still fall short of the country’s basic labor wage despite a recent salary increase. Privates, the lowest military rank, now receive a monthly salary of NT$26,307, including insurance and meal expenses. However, this amount is still lower than the standard basic labor wage of NT$27,470. Last year, President Tsai Ing-wen extended the mandatory conscription period to one year, and the wage adjustment for privates gained significant attention. Under the new system, privates can earn up to NT$20,320, consisting of a base wage of NT$10,130 and an additional NT$10,190 for specialized skills. In addition to their salary, they also receive military insurance (NT$1,240), national health insurance (NT$1,839), and a meal allowance (NT$908), bringing the total payment to NT$26,307. The first batch of 670 army conscripts for the one-year service started their eight-week entry training on January 25. Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an encouraged the privates to form sincere friendships, develop disciplined habits, and cultivate a sense of responsibility during their military life.
2024/01/25 15:11
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Taiwan prepares for chilly blast as temperatures set to drop
Taiwan is preparing for a cold wave that will bring temperatures as low as 7 degrees Celsius along the coast, according to meteorological expert Daniel Wu. The temperatures in different regions of Taiwan on Monday will vary, with northern areas dropping from 14 to 7 degrees, central areas ranging from 9 to 21 degrees, southern regions from 10 to 24 degrees, and eastern zones from 9 to 21 degrees. Snow is expected to fall in high-altitude areas such as Lala Mountain, Mount Hehuan, Qixing Mountain, and Datun Mountain. The cold front will engulf the entire island from Tuesday to Thursday morning, causing temperatures to plummet even further, potentially dipping below 5 degrees in some plains regions. Local rain is expected in areas north of the central region and the eastern half on Tuesday, with showers in the eastern section on Wednesday. Residents are advised to dress warmly. The cold wave is predicted to gradually weaken from Thursday to the following Sunday, with temperatures rising across the island. Greater Taipei will remain mostly cloudy, while areas south of Taoyuan will experience clear and stable weather, with brief local showers possible in the eastern half.
2024/01/22 12:42
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Taiwan braces for a chilly week ahead with snow predictions
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.
2024/01/18 11:15
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Premier Chen backs Mayday amid China’s influence tactics
Popular Taiwanese band Mayday received encouragement from Executive Yuan Premier Chen Chien-jen to continue giving strength, despite pressure from China to endorse the "One China" stance. Chen criticized China’s use of false information to attack the world. Mayday is feeling pressure from the Chinese government ahead of the presidential election. Chen praised Mayday for their creative contributions under Taiwan’s culture of freedom, democracy, diversity, and openness. Legislator-at-large candidate Puma Shen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also highlighted China’s interference in nations worldwide, including luring artists to develop in China and gradually dictating their speech. Shen explained that these tactics typically last from three to six years, causing victims to fall prey to China’s united front tactics.
2023/12/30 15:47
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Taipei Mayor continues campaign work on birthday
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an celebrated his birthday by supporting legislative candidate Lai Shyh-bao in a campaign in Wenshan District, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming elections. Attendees and the public sang the Happy Birthday song for the mayor, creating a festive atmosphere. Surprisingly, Chiang’s birthday wish was unrelated to politics; he simply wanted to share a bowl of instant noodles with his family and fall asleep with his two youngest children. Balancing political duties and familial obligations is a challenge for Chiang, and he admits struggling to find enough time for his family. In line with his political mission, Chiang also expressed a hopeful desire for a strong electoral victory for himself and his team, as well as a successful election outcome for all Kuomintang (KMT) legislative candidates in Taipei City.
2023/12/27 13:21
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TCX initiates first global carbon credit trades
The Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange (TCX) has launched its first international carbon credit transactions, offering credits sourced from various regions in Asia, Africa, and South America. Notable companies such as TSMC, Foxconn, China Steel Corporation, and Taiwan Financial Holding have expressed interest in participating in the inaugural trade event. The initial batch of credits available on the Taiwan Carbon Exchange is estimated to range from 50,000 to 100,000 tons and has been certified by the Gold Standard. Once procured, these credits cannot be resold on the carbon exchange platform, and their use will be determined by each company’s individual needs. It is important to note that these credits have international "voluntary" carbon rights and do not fall under "mandatory" carbon pricing, meaning they cannot be used to offset Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
2023/12/22 16:49
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Survey: near 60% in Taiwan expect 1-3 months’ year-end bonus
A new survey conducted by Cathay Financial Holding reveals that 59.3% of respondents expect their year-end bonuses for 2023 to be between one to three months’ worth of salary. Additionally, 45.9% of those polled anticipate a salary increase in 2024, with 9.2% expecting the raise to exceed 3%. However, only 8.3% foresee year-end bonuses topping three months’ salary, while 32.4% predict bonuses will fall below one month. In terms of regular monthly earnings in 2024, 47.6% of participants project stability. The survey also indicates that the average growth expectation for Taiwan’s economy in 2024 stands at 2.52%, with 70% of those surveyed predicting a growth rate above 2%. Respondents expect the inflation rate in 2024 to be 2.21%, with 55% believing it will remain above 2%. These figures differ from the projections by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, which forecasts a 3.35% growth rate and a 1.64% inflation rate for Taiwan in 2024. In December, the optimism index for Taiwan’s stock market rose sharply to 16.1 from -0.4 in November, and the risk appetite index increased from 10.3 to 13.9, indicating market anticipation of potential rate cuts by major central banks next year. The survey, conducted from Dec. 1 to 7, gathered 13,379 valid questionnaires via email from members of Cathay Life Insurance’s official website and customers of Cathay United Bank.
2023/12/20 20:00
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Childless newlyweds rise in S. Korea amid economic woes
New data from Statistics Korea reveals a decline in young married couples in South Korea, with approximately 1.032 million couples within the first five years of marriage as of November 1, 2022. Since 2015, there has been an annual average decrease of 50,000 to 80,000 newlywed couples, projected to fall below 1 million by the end of this year. Around 79% of these newlyweds are marrying for the first time, while over 20% are embarking on a second marriage. Notably, 46.4% of first-time married couples have chosen not to start a family yet, marking the highest recorded rate of childless couples. Economic and housing conditions play a role in these trends, as the average annual income of newlyweds has increased by 6.1% from the previous year, and dual-income households have claimed a larger share, reaching 57.2%. However, despite earning 1.7 times more than single-earner families, dual-income couples have a lower rate of having children. The unique Korean rental system, Jeonse, involving significant security deposit payments, and rising rental costs may further impact young couples’ decision to start a family, adding complexity to South Korean family dynamics.
2023/12/12 20:08
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NPP urges ban on wage law violators from gov’t bids
The New Power Party (NPP) has called for stricter regulations on minimum labor wages, proposing that manufacturers who violate laws should be banned from government procurement. The NPP emphasizes equal representation in decision-making, with a "1:1:1" ratio of labor, capital, and government-academic parties. They argue that adjustments to the minimum wage should not fall below the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate, linking wage increases to inflation and cost of living adjustments. NPP Chairwoman Claire Wang advocates for strict penalties, including adding violators to a government procurement blacklist. The NPP’s draft is inspired by France’s minimum wage laws, aiming to protect workers’ living standards in the face of rising costs.
2023/12/12 13:11
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Labor minister refutes rumors of 100,000 Indian workers
The Minister of Labor, Hsu Ming-chun, has denied rumors that Taiwan plans to import 100,000 Indian workers. The Ministry of Labor suspects that false information is being deliberately spread to cause panic, and has urged the public not to fall for such tactics. Taiwan is in the early stages of negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding for labor cooperation with India, which has led to speculation about a potential influx of Indian workers. Concerns have been raised on social media about India’s record of violence against women and the impact on social security in Taiwan. Hsu explained that Taiwan is exploring new foreign labor source countries due to labor shortages caused by changing demographics. Currently, Taiwan has agreements with only four countries, but India is considered a promising addition. Hsu emphasized that the MOU has not been signed yet and discussions on importing labor from India are ongoing. The Ministry of Labor will take precautions and improve communication to keep the public informed about the process.
2023/11/16 12:13