The market tumbled by over 250-points on Friday, following the release of a mixed batch of data on the U-S economy - which dashed investor hopes that America's central Bank will ease off on interest rate hike anytime soon.

Flash Mob Protesters Slam MOTC's Amendments to Traffic Act    
發布於 2024-03-18 10:18:14
Road safety activists have been taking to the streets of seven cities and counties to protest a decision by the government to amend the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act and ease punishments for some traffic violations.

People to the streets of Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Yunlin County for around 30 minutes.

The protests were organized by the Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance.

And participants called for improved road construction, adequate complementary (互補的) measures to the law, retraining procedures for drivers, reform of how traffic regulations are enforced, and for the amendment draft to be retracted.

The Cabinet approved the amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act two weeks ago.

Tsai Joins Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage for 6th Year    
發布於 2024-03-18 10:18:14
President Tsai Ing-wen has joined the annual Bai-Sha-Tun Mazu Pilgrimage for a sixth consecutive year after it got underway at just past midnight in Miaoli County.

Prior to the event getting underway , Tsai participated in a cleansing ritual for the palanquin that bears a statue of the sea goddess Mazu on a nine-day procession to the Chao-Tian Temple in Yunlin's Bei-Gang Township and back.

Holding a pot of burning incense, Tsai circled the palanquin several times to cleanse it before the procession (遊行) got underway.

Organizers say some 180,000 people have registered to participate in the approximately 400 kilometer pilgrimage this year.

NKorea Fires Ballistic Missiles    
發布於 2024-03-18 10:18:14
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, days after the end of the South Korean-U.S. military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal (排演).

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary session today that North Korea fired “a number of” ballistic missiles into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

He said no damage or injuries has been reported and denounced North Korea’s repeated tests as acts that threaten the region.

US Biden and Trump Trade Barbs    
發布於 2024-03-18 10:18:14
US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump took aim at each other in speeches delivered over the weekend, as the two men prepare for a widely expected rematch (再次相遇比賽) for the White House.

Our Washington correspondent Jagruti Dave has more

Uber to Settle with Australian Cabbies    
發布於 2024-03-18 10:18:14
Global rideshare giant Uber will pay $178 million to settle a long-running dispute with Australian taxi and hire car drivers who lost out when the company entered the Australian market.

A class action suit against Uber had been expected to go to trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria today, but lawyers acting on behalf of 8,000 taxi and hire car drivers said the case will be dropped because Uber agreed to the financial settlement.

It’s the fifth-largest class action settlement in Australia’s history and comes five years after the action was launched (推出).

Shares in Taiwan inched up Thursday to close at a new high, after recovering from early losses in the bellwether electronics sector, even as sentiment remained cautious ahead of the United States' release of its February producer price index later in the day.

The financial sector was the main anchor, helping to stabilize the market as some financial firms offered attractive dividend policies, and buying also rotated to some old economy stocks, giving the main board additional support.

Decision on carbon fee rates could be delayed: Minister    
發布於 2024-03-15 10:27:13
Minister of the Environment Shieu Fuh-sheng says a decision on carbon fee rates (費率) by a review committee may be delayed.

Shieu announced in February that a decision on the rates would be made by the end of March, but now says there were now "no guarantees" due to changes to the "wider environment."

The minister cited the expected raising of electricity rates in Taiwan in April, and difficulties in Taiwan's petrochemical industry as factors.

Many Taiwanese companies in the petrochemical industry are included in the 550 big emitters emitting more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year that are to be charged carbon fees by the government.

Shieu says the review committee is meeting for the first time today, and will not yet have any final decisions.

Nigerian School Children Kidnappers Demand Ransom    
發布於 2024-03-15 10:27:13
Gunmen who kidnapped about 300 school children in Nigeria's Kaduna state last week are demanding a ransom (贖金) for their release.

Tesem Akende reports.

Haiti Presidential Council Plans Moving Forward    
發布於 2024-03-15 10:27:13
Caribbean officials say a plan to create a transitional presidential council is moving forward after a majority of Haitian parties and coalitions submitted the names of those charged with finding new leaders for the country.

Officials said Thursday that the names were provided to a regional trade bloc known as Caricom that is helping lead the transition.

The names were submitted a day after Haitian politicians and influential figures bickered (爭吵) publicly about the plan and what names to submit, seemingly putting creation of the council at risk. Prime Minister Ariel Henry pledged to resign once the council is created.

UK Court Rules Against Claim to Cryptocurrency Fame    
發布於 2024-03-15 10:27:13
Britain’s high court has ruled that an Australian computer scientist is not, as he claimed, the mysterious creator of the bitcoin cryptocurrency.

Craig Wright has for eight years claimed that he was the man behind “Satoshi Nakamoto,” the pseudonym that masked the identity of the creator of bitcoin.

His claim was dismissed Thursday following a trial brought forward by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance, a non-profit group of technology and cryptocurrency firms.

The organization claimed Wright had created an “elaborate (詳盡的，複雜的) false narrative” and forged documents to suggest he was Satoshi and had “terrorized” those who questioned him.

Wright, who attended the start of the five-week trial, denied the allegations.

Shares in Taiwan closed slightly higher on profit taking Wednesday as investors shifted to the sell side after seeing the main board hit a fresh intraday high of more than 20,100 points.

Market sentiment turned cautious due to higher than expected U.S. February inflation data, which created more uncertainties about when and how the Federal Reserve will start its rate cut cycle.

Chinese Vessel Capsized Off Kinmen, CGA Search Underway    
發布於 2024-03-14 10:21:13
Search and rescue operations are underway, after another Chinese fishing vessel capsized off Kinmen this morning.

Media reports say the boat sank 1.1 nautical miles southwest of Dong-ding Island in Kinmen at around 6am, and the Coast Guard Administration says 4 of its vessels have been dispatched to the scene.

The reports say China has also dispatched (派遣) helicopters and rescue ships, and at least 5 crew members were on board, with some news outlets reporting that 2 have died while two others have been rescued.

The coast guard has also reportedly notified local fishing associations to call nearby commercial ships and fishing boats to join in rescue efforts.

The Ministry of National Defense says it has also instructed the Air Force, Navy, and Kinmen Defense Command to continue monitoring the situation.

(NS)

NKorea Kim Joins Troops in Tank Training    
發布於 2024-03-14 10:21:13
North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has joined his troops in training to operate newly developed battle tanks and called for bigger efforts to prepare for war.

The North’s tank training was seen as a response (反應) to the annual 11-day South Korean-U.S. military drills that are to end later Thursday.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency says the training happened on Wednesday to inspect tankmen’s combat capabilities and involved the new-type main battle tank.

It says Kim mounted one of the new-type tanks and drove it himself.

Japan US to Return Osprey to Service    
發布於 2024-03-14 10:21:13
Japanese officials say the U.S. and Japanese militaries will resume flights of Osprey aircraft in Japan after completing necessary maintenance and training following a fatal crash last November.

Japan’s Defense Ministry says the two countries have discussed the resumption of Osprey flights in Japan since the U.S. announced last Friday that the aircraft has been approved to return to service after an “unprecedented” (史無前例的) part failure led to the deaths of eight U.S. service members in the crash in Japan.

The entire U.S. Osprey fleet was grounded on Dec. 6, a week after that crash, while Japan's military also grounded all of its 14 Ospreys.

Japan's Defense Ministry said that each of the U.S. forces will have separate return-to-flight schedules, but the Osprey flights will be limited to areas around their bases for the time being.

US Trump to Attend Florida Hearing Over Classified Documents    
發布於 2024-03-14 10:21:13
Donald Trump is expected to attend a hearing today [THURSDAY] in the federal case over his handling of classified documents after leaving office.

The former president's lawyers are seeking to have the criminal charges dismissed (駁回) ahead of a trial.

Ira Spitzer reports.

No plans for absentee voting for elections in Taiwan: Premier    
發布於 2024-03-13 10:39:14
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said the government has no plans at present to allow for absentee voting.

Opposition parties in Taiwan have been pushing for absentee voting after the recent presidential election saw the second lowest voter turnout in history.

Chen said election systems would need to be strengthened and further planning and research would be needed before absentee voting could be implemented in Taiwan.

Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang echoed Chen's sentiments, stating that while absentee voting could be suitable for referendums, it poses challenges for regular elections.

In February, a draft bill allowing absentee voting for referendums was approved, but it does not apply to citizens living abroad.

The opposition KMT proposed extending this measure to presidential elections and including mail-in ballots, but ruling DPP lawmakers expressed concerns about potential interference (干涉) from China.

Turnout in recent elections in Taiwan has been declining, with factors such as the inconvenience of traveling to vote contributing to this trend.

(CNA-IG)

IAEA Inspects Discharge at Fukushima    
發布於 2024-03-13 10:39:14
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says he’s satisfied with Japan’s handling of the release of treated, nuclear contaminated wastewater from Fukushima.

He is inspecting the discharge (釋放) site on Wednesday, his first visit since Japan began the project in August.

Chris Gilbert reports.

UN Food Agency Sounds Alarm for Haiti    
發布於 2024-03-13 10:39:14
The U.N. food agency’s director in Haiti says that 4 million people face “acute food insecurity” and one million of them are one step away from famine.

Jean-Martin Bauer told a virtual press conference that he’s “ringing the alarm bell” because the recent increase in gang violence has made a very bad situation even worse and displaced (流離失所) an additional 15-thousand people — just over the first weekend in March in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

He says that brings the total number of displaced people in Haiti to over 360-thousand, and the U.N. says half of them are children.

Romania President to Enter Race as NATO Leader    
發布於 2024-03-13 10:39:14
Romania’s president says he will enter the race to become the next leader of the 32-nation NATO military alliance, emphasizing his country’s proximity to Ukraine and the threat from Russia.

President Klaus Iohannis wants to succeed Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who has been NATO’s top civilian official since 2014 and has made clear he will not be staying.

Romania, a NATO member since 2004, borders Ukraine and has played an increasingly prominent (著名的) role in the alliance throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion.

NATO officials and envoys want the nomination for Stoltenberg's successor wrapped up by the end of April.

Shares in Taiwan closed lower Monday, led by large cap semiconductor stocks, in particular contract chipmaker TSMC, with selling sparked after U.S. chip stocks suffered a tumble at the end of last week.

However, buying rotated to other tech stocks in the downstream segment with iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. in focus, while select old economy industries as well as the financial sector also attracted bargain hunting due to their relatively low valuations.

Moon rock display from U.S. back at National Museum of History    
發布於 2024-03-12 10:24:14
The National Museum of History says it has retrieved (取回) lunar samples which had been gifted to Taiwan by the late U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1969.

It was first exhibited at the museum in Taipei in 1970, one year after Nixon gave it to Taiwan.

The display and moon soil samples that came with it were then relocated to Academia Sinica's Institute of Physics for safekeeping, before being given to Taichung's National Museum of Natural Science in 1994.

Those samples are now back at the Taipei museum and are part of a show marking its reopening on February 21st after a nearly six-year renovation.

The wooden case display contains four moon rock fragments encased inside a piece of acrylic lucite semi-sphere.

In the display, the lunar specimens are mounted above a flag of the Republic of China, Taiwan's legal name, which was flown to the moon and back on the Apollo 11 mission.

(CNA-IG)

US Assessing Export Controls on China    
發布於 2024-03-12 10:24:14
The U.S. Commerce Secretary says Washington is constantly reviewing the need to expand export controls (出口管制) to stop China from acquiring advanced computer chips and manufacturing equipment that can be used to boost China's
military.

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports.

UNESCO on Rebuilding Ukraine    
發布於 2024-03-12 10:24:14
The United Nations cultural and scientific agency says Ukraine will need more than a billion dollars to rebuild its scientific infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed during two years of Russia's war on its neighbor.

UNESCO says that some 1,443 scientific facilities, many attached to universities, have been damaged or destroyed along with 750 pieces of vital technical equipment, most of which is beyond repair.

The war, now in its third year, has also depleted (耗盡的) the science sector of funds and dispersed Ukraine’s scientists, displacing many within the country and sending others into exile (流放).

The report says the cost of rebuilding the sector currently stands at $1.26 billion US dollars.

Sweden Flag Raised at NATO Headquarters    
發布於 2024-03-12 10:24:14
Sweden’s national flag has been raised at NATO headquarters to cement the Nordic country’s place as the 32nd member.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess Victoria and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attended the ceremony in Brussels.

Sweden set aside decades of post-World War II neutrality (中立性) when it formally joined NATO on March 7-th.

This comes more than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine which persuaded Sweden's reluctant (勉強的、不情願的) public to seek safety under the alliance’s security umbrella.

Finland joined last year in another historic move ending years of military nonalignment (不結盟狀態).

The market ended the trading day at yet another record high on Wednesday, after recovering earlier losses, as investors opted to ignore a downturn on Wall Street overnight.

The bellwether electronics sector led the broader market higher - with artificial intelligence development-related stocks continuing to be the main focus of investor interest.

US Urges Beijing to 'Engage in Meaningful Dialogue' with Taiwan
The U-S State Department is calling for China to cease its pressure campaign against Taiwan and "engage in meaningful dialogue."

The statement comes after China's Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiao-gang reiterated Beijing's sovereignty over Taiwan during a press conference - and went on to say "there is no so-called 'central line' across the Taiwan Strait."

According to a State Department spokesperson, the United States has "consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo," a policy that has preserved (保護，維護) peace in the region for decades and is a matter of global concern.

MAC Bans Group Travel to China from June 1
The Mainland Affairs Council has banned group travel to China after June 1 - saying such tours will not be allowed unless China allows group travel to Taiwan.

According to the council, the reopening of group travel to China is unacceptable, as it would widen Taiwan's tourism deficit with China.

The council says prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Taiwan's tourism deficit with China stood at 6.6-billion N-T and if tour groups are allowed to travel there after June 1 that deficit will substantially (在很大程度上) increase.

Speaking at a legislative hearing council minister Chiu Tai-san told lawmakers the decision to ban such tours is also related to China's unilaterally changing its M-503 flight route, as it is clearly a political move aimed at interfering with Taiwan's affairs.

UN: Migrant Deaths Hit New High Last Year
The U.N. migration agency says more than 8,500 migrants died on land and sea routes worldwide last year, a record high since it began counting deaths a decade ago.

The International Organization for Migration says the biggest increase in deaths last year was on the Mediterranean Sea crossing, with more than 3,000.

It said most of the deaths last year came from drowning.

The count also includes migrants who vanished — often while trying to cross by sea — and are presumed (假定，假設) dead.

Rust Armourer Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
The armourer who loaded the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna [HA LEEN A] Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

The actor Alec Baldwin who was holding the weapon when it discharged (開（槍）), faces the same charges at a trial set to take place this summer. Ira Spitzer reports.

SpaceX to Acquire Land from Texas
SpaceX is set to acquire (購得) public land from Texas after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a land-swapping deal that would cede 17 hectares to entrepreneur Elon Musk's company in exchange for about 190 hectares that are yet to be bought.

The business is looking to expand its rocket-launch operations in the property close to Brownsville, Texas.

Local stakeholders voiced their opposition to the deal, but the commission voted unanimously in favor of it.

The market once again ended the trading at a new record high on Thursday - as it neared the 19,700-point mark on the back of strong investor interest in the electronics sector.

The electronics index drove the market's gains - finishing up 1.51-per cent - while the semiconductor sub-index closed the day up 2.91-per cent.

Use of Chili and Curry Powder Banned in School Lunches Islandwide    
發布於 2024-03-08 10:31:13
All of Taiwan's cities and counties have now introduced temporary bans on the use of chili and curry powder in school lunches amid concerns over the presence of banned industrial dyes.

The move comes after the Food and Drug Administration announced that a total of 15 shipments of chili powder imported from China were found to contain Sudan dyes during test carried out February 9 through March 2.

That has resulted in the recall of a total of 122,588-kilograms of chili powder and related food products, including curry powder.

Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan says he respects the local government's decision to temporarily ban the use of chili and curry powder in school lunches - and says that investigation into the distribution (分發) of the problematic substances wil be completed in about a month.

US Building Port for Gaza Aid Deliveries    
發布於 2024-03-08 10:31:13
US President Joe Biden will announce in his State of the Union speech that US forces will create a temporary port on Gaza's coast to increase humanitarian aid deliveries.

Biden has been under pressure from within his own party to do more to alleviate (減輕) the suffering of Palestinians stuck in the Gaza Strip.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

UK to Provide More Drones to Ukraine    
發布於 2024-03-08 10:31:13
Britain says it's providing 10-thousand drones to arm Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement Thursday during a visit with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

The investment includes $160 million of new funding on top of $256 million previously committed for drones.

The weaponry will include 1,000 kamikaze (自殺式的) drones and models that target ships.

Ukrainian sea drones reportedly sank another Russian warship in the Black Sea this week, the latest in a series of strikes that has crippled Moscow’s naval capability.y.

US Woman Completes Global Solo Challenge    
發布於 2024-03-08 10:31:13
Cole Brauer became the first American woman to race nonstop around the world by herself when she arrived Thursday in A Coruna, Spain.

The 29-year-old is one of more than a dozen sailors competing in the Global Solo Challenge.

Brauer was the youngest and only woman in the group that set sail (啟航) in October from A Coruna.

The race took Brauer around Africa's Cape of Good Hope and past Australia.

The race took her 130 days to complete.

Shares in Taiwan closed moderately higher after a volatile session Friday, coming off a fresh intraday high with the main board hitting 20,000 points for the first time in history.

Contract chipmaker TSMC remained an anchor on the back of the continued frenzy over artificial intelligence, preventing the broader market from falling into negative territory when stiff technical resistance arose ahead of 20,000 points, while the old economy sector largely moved in weakness with funds squeezed by tech stocks.

Tuvalu prime minister to attend Taiwan presidential inauguration    
發布於 2024-03-11 10:28:13
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Tuvlu's new Prime Minister will be attending the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Tien Chung-kwang visited the island nation last week as part of a delegation.

MOFA said Tien extended an invitation to Prime Minister Feleti Teo, who accepted.

Tuvalu officials said the Taiwan delegation was the first to visit and congratulate Tuvalu on its formation (形成) of a new government, and that it will keep supporting Taiwan's global involvement and strengthen bilateral ties.

(CNA-IG)

Crowd of 1 million at Taiwan Lantern Festival closing night    
發布於 2024-03-11 10:28:13
Local officials say as many as one million visitors descended on Tainan for the closing night of the Taiwan Lantern Festival Sunday.

The city government said annual traveling lantern display hosted in Tainan is set to record total visits of more than 15 million.

Organizers of the 2023 edition of the event in Taipei said it attracted a record high of over 12 million visits.

This year's event officially opened on Feb. 24, when President Tsai Ing-wen turned on the main dragon display to mark the Lunar New Year of the Dragon.

1.07 million visits to the Anping site and the site were recorded near Taiwan High Speed Rail's Tainan Station on the penultimate (倒數第二的) day of the event.

US Flies Forces to Haiti for Security    
發布於 2024-03-11 10:28:13
The U.S. is flying forces to Haiti for embassy security and some evacuations (疏散).

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports

Tibetans in India Protest Against China    
發布於 2024-03-11 10:28:13
Hundreds of Tibetans in exile have held a protest march in New Delhi to commemorate the 65th Tibetan National Uprising Day against China.

Over 300 protesters gathered near India’s Parliament House and marched .

The protesters carried Tibetan flags and photographs of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who has made the Indian hillside town of Dharmsala his headquarters since fleeing (逃跑) from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

India considers Tibet to be part of China, though it hosts the Tibetan exiles.

Saudi Arabia Declares Start of Ramadan    
發布於 2024-03-11 10:28:13
Officials in Saudi Arabia have declared the start of the fasting month of Ramadan after sighting the crescent moon Sunday night.

The announcement marks the beginning of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.

The sacred month sees those observing abstain (戒絕) from food and water from sunrise to sunset, and take part in family gatherings, religious reflection (深思), and giving.

Some Asia-Pacific countries like Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, will begin Ramadan on Tuesday after failing to see the crescent moon.

The market closed at yet another historic high on Tuesday, driven by artificial intelligence development-related stocks.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing only managed slight gains, after leading the market higher during the previous session.

However, other AI-related stocks saw increased investor interest.

MOFA's Tien in Tuvalu to Congratulate New Government    
發布於 2024-03-06 10:25:13
Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang is visiting Tuvalu this week in his capacity (職位,) as a special envoy for President Tsai Ing-wen to congratulate the Pacific islands' new government.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tien will be attending a series of events following the appointment of Feleti Teo as Tuvalu's new prime minister late last month and his newly formed Cabinet.

The ministry says along with holding talks with Teo, Tien is also scheduled to meet with Tuvalu's governor-general and foreign minister to discuss bilateral cooperation projects.

Dumpling and Instant Noodle Makers Report Tainted Chili Powder    
發布於 2024-03-06 10:25:13
Health authorities in Kaohsiung says restaurant chain Bafang Dumpling and instant noodle maker Wei Lih Foods both purchased (購買) chili powder from importers that have since been found to contain Sudan industrial dye.

According to Kaohsiung City Health Department, prosecutors were asked to seize 32,739 kilograms of chili powder imported from China by the two companies after tests found samples contained the banned chemicals at a concentration of 4 to 8 parts per billion.

Chia Guang International and Gin Zhan International have been issued with fines totaling 3.06-million N-T for violations of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

Those violations include entering false information in the government's food product tracing system.

ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Russian Military Officers    
發布於 2024-03-06 10:25:13
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for two high-ranking Russian military officers on charges linked to attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

The court announced warrants Tuesday for a Russian lieutenant general who was commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Aerospace Force at the times of the alleged crimes.

Also wanted is a Russian navy admiral who is the commander of the Black Sea Fleet.

They are wanted for the war crime of directing attacks at civilian objects, causing excessive (過多的) incidental (附帶的) harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects, and the crime against humanity of inhumane acts.

Italian lawmakers approve Red Sea shipping mission    
發布於 2024-03-06 10:25:13
Italian lawmakers have given the green light to the country's involvement in Operation Aspides.

The joint EU mission will see naval vessels (海軍艦艇) deployed in the Red Sea, protecting commercial shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Giles Gibson has more from Rome.

France Announces Scaled Back Opening Ceremony Plans    
發布於 2024-03-06 10:25:13
The French government says tourists won’t be allowed to watch the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics for free.

Organizers had planned a large-scale opening ceremony along the Seine River on July 26-th for up to 600-thousand people.

But security and logistical concerns have led the government to progressively scale back ambitions.

Now, Interior Ministry officials said 222-thousand spectators can watch for free from the upper embankments (堤岸).

But access will be allocated via quotas, primarily to select residents or employees of towns hosting Olympic events.

The market closed at yet another new all-time high on Monday, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing after its American depositary receipts soared on Wall Street at the end of last week.

Audio of Kinmen Boat Collision Turned over to Prosecutors    
發布於 2024-03-05 10:28:13
In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Coast Guard Administration says it has handed over audio recordings of the February 14 fatal capsizing of a Chinese speedboat in waters near Kinmen to prosecutors.

Confirmation that recordings have been give to the Kinmen District Prosecutors' Office were made by Coast Guard Director-General Zhou Mei-wu during a Legislative hearing.

According to Zhou, along with handing over audio records, his office has also provided prosecutors with radar information showing the vessels' exact (精確的) movements.

Zhou also denied reports the Coast Guard patrol boat had "rammed and overturned the Chinese vessel.

Michigan Governor Arrives in Taiwan to Open State Office    
發布於 2024-03-05 10:28:13
The governor of the U-S state of Michigan has formally opened office to facilitate exchanges between the state and Taiwan in areas such as commerce, culture and education.

According Gretchen Whitmer, the opening of the Michigan Taiwan Office "is an extension of a partnership that has been built over the years between Taiwan and United States."

Whitmer says Taiwan's world leading expertise in the fields of semiconductors and clean energy make it a perfect match for cooperation with the Michigan State government, which is currently pursuing (追求) clean energy by transitioning to electric vehicles.

France becomes fist country to enshrine abortion in Constitution    
發布於 2024-03-05 10:28:13
French parliamentarians have voted to enshrine the right to access abortion services into the constitution.

Lawmakers and senators overwhelmingly (壓倒性地) approved the changes in a rare joint session of parliament at the Chateau of Versailles.

Ross Cullen reports.

Greece Rescues 100 Migrants in Distressed Vessel    
發布於 2024-03-05 10:28:13
Greek authorities say they have rescued 100 migrants found on a smuggling vessel in distress off the country’s southern mainland.

The coast guard says the migrants were taken off their vessel by a tugboat that had been ordered to the area and safely carried them to a southeastern village on Monday.

No injuries have been reported.

The area where the incident occurred is on a route used by smugglers to send migrants in overcrowded sailing yachts from Turkey to Italy, skirting southern Greece and avoiding the heavily patrolled (巡邏的) waters off the eastern Aegean Sea islands.

EU Fines Apple Over Subscription    
發布於 2024-03-05 10:28:13
The European Union has fined Apple nearly $2 billion by forbidding rivals like Spotify from telling users how they could pay for cheaper subscriptions outside of iPhone apps.

Monday's move is the 27-nation bloc’s first antitrust penalty against the U.S. tech giant.

The EU's executive commission says Apple muzzled streaming services from telling people about payment options available through their websites.

That would avoid the 30% fee charged when people pay through apps downloaded with the iOS App Store.

A complaint from Spotify triggered the investigation amid a yearslong feud with Apple over music streaming supremacy.

Apple says the EU didn't “uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm” and vowed to appeal (上訴).

The market closed marginally lower on Friday, despite Wall Street climbing to all-time high overnight.

New Taipei to Fine Tainted Chinese Chili Powder Importer    
發布於 2024-03-04 10:44:13
The New Taipei City Department of Health says it will fine the company responsible for importing chili powder from China found to contain a carcinogenic dye 2-million N- T for violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

According to city officials, Bao Hsin Enterprises imported chili powder containing Sudan III from China and supplied it to downstream (下游) food companies islandwide.

Officials say Bao Hsin was informed that its imported chili powder was substandard by some of those companies, but failed to take any action to initiate a product recall, which could have prevented the tainted powder from being used in food products.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office took Bao Hsin head, Liu Ching-shih into custody this past weekend.

Tourism Development Fund to End Debt Financing if Target are Met    
發布於 2024-03-04 10:44:13
The Tourism Administration says the government's tourism promotion fund is expected to end debt financing one year ahead of schedule, if the tourist arrival target of 12-million visitors for this year is met.

The Tourism Development Fund generated (產生的) 5.866-billion N-T in revenue last year excluding the special government budget, which was about 70-per cent of the pre-coronavirus pandemic average revenue of 6.1-billion N-T.

The fund's current book debt is 400 million N-T.

Data shows that more than 6.48-million tourists visited Taiwan last year.

Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and South Korea were the largest sources of visitors.

US VP and Israeli to Discuss Gaza Ceasefire    
發布於 2024-03-04 10:44:13
The Vice President of the United States is due to meet with a member of Israel's war cabinet in Washington later today to discuss how to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Kamala Harris and Benny Gantz are also expected to talk about the need for a temporary (暫時的) ceasefire.

According to Gantz's office he will also meet US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Our US correspondent Jagruti Dave has more.

Malaysia Gov Considers New Proposal for MH370 Search    
發布於 2024-03-04 10:44:13
Malaysia’s government says it may renew the search for MH370 after a U.S. technology firm proposed a fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean where the Malaysia Airlines plane is believed to have crashed.

The plane with 239 people aboard vanished a decade ago while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Malaysia's transport minister says that Texas-based Ocean Infinity proposed (提議) another “no find, no fee” search, expanding from the site where it first looked in 2018.

He said he has invited the company to meet him to evaluate new evidence it has to find the plane’s final resting place.

The market closed at yet another new high on Thursday - as buying on the broader market largely came before M-S-C-I's quarterly index adjustments went into effect after the market closed.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing bucked the upturn and declined by 0.94-per cent due to the stock's American depositary receipts falling on Wall Street overnight.

Gender Pay Gap Narrowed in 2023    
發布於 2024-03-01 10:27:14
The Ministry of Labor says this year's Equal Pay Day fell on February 23, four days earlier than in 2023, based on its estimate that women needed to work until this point in 2024 to achieve the same 2023 salary as men.

According to the ministry, women had to work an average of 54 more days than men to earn the same income because their salaries were on average 14.7-per cent lower than their male counterparts (對應的人或物) in 2023.

The average hourly salary for female employees in 2023 was 318 N-T compared with 373 N-T for men.

Ukraine: Russia Pushing Hard Against Defensive Position    
發布於 2024-03-01 10:27:14
Kyiv officials say Russian forces are pushing hard against more Ukrainian towns and villages in eastern and southeastern Ukraine as Moscow tries to press its current advantage (優勢) in weapons and troops.

Ukraine said Thursday it has shot down 13 Russian warplanes this month despite Russia’s apparent offensive momentum on the ground.

Russian forces have been striking some Ukrainian defensive positions by deploying overwhelming amounts of artillery and troop numbers in an effort to punch through defensive lines at targeted points.

US Poll: Democats Want Leader Who Doesn't Support Israel Military Aid    
發布於 2024-03-01 10:27:14
Most voters in President Joe Biden's party want a leader who does not back U.S. military aid for Israel, according to a new Ipsos/Reuters poll.

The President's full support for Israel, in its war against Hamas in Gaza, has angered many people, as the death toll there grows to 30,000.

Caroline Malone reports.

Brazil Amazon Fires Hit New High    
發布於 2024-03-01 10:27:14
Data from Brazil's space agency says the state of Roraima in the Amazon rainforest has been hit with more than 2,000 fires in recent weeks.

The National Institute for Space Research said Thursday that satellite sensors detected the blazes between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28.

That’s far above the monthly average of 376 fires.

And the number is the second-highest registered in a single month since the institute began collecting data in mid-1998.

The Tai-Ex lost ground on Tuesday, as most other markets moving higher despite Wall Street edging back from its record peaks overnight.

CDC Reports Rare Measles Cluster    
發布於 2024-02-29 10:41:14
The Centers for Disease Control is reporting a rare domestic measles cluster.

The cluster involves two people and confirmation comes after the C-D-C identified a patient who contracted (感染) the disease from the index case at a northern Taiwan hospital.

According to C-D-C Deputy Director General Philio Luo, the new case is a medical worker in his 30s who tested positive for the disease on Tuesday of this week.

Luo says a total of 306 people have been identified as close contacts of the man, who is currently being isolated at home.

The C-D-C says people who visited B-2 food court in Terminal 2 of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on February 22 and Liang's Rice Noodle Soup in New Taipei's Zhonghe District on February 25, should monitor their health until March 15-th.

Israel Claims Aid Convoys Reach Northern Gaza    
發布於 2024-02-29 10:41:14
Israeli officials say aid convoys carrying food reached northern Gaza this week.

The delivery on Wednesday is the first major one in a month to the devastated (被摧毀的) area, where the U.N. has warned of worsening starvation.

The officials say 31 trucks carrying food entered northern Gaza on Wednesday, and nearly 20 other trucks entered the north on Monday and Tuesday.

Associated Press footage showed people carrying sacks of flour from the distribution site.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the deliveries.

A spokesperson for the U.N.’s humanitarian coordination office said that the United Nations was not involved.

The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been working on a ceasefire deal that would release some of the hostages still held by Hamas and open the door to a greater influx (湧進) of aid to Palestinians.

Families of the hostages have launched a four-day march from southern Israel to Jerusalem to demand their loved ones be set free.

Oil Spill off Trinidad and Tobago Reaches Dutch Island    
發布於 2024-02-29 10:41:14
Authorities say an offshore oil spill that led Trinidad and Tobago to declare a national emergency earlier this month has reached the shores of the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire hundreds of miles away. It's the first sign of how far the leaked oil has traveled.

Officials say a minimum of 1.6 million liters of oil mixed with water have been vacuumed from where a barge (平底載貨船) capsized.

But officials warned the number is likely larger since it does not include oil picked up with sand and seaweed.

A preliminary probe found the barge was being tugged to Guyana when it overturned off Tobago.

Odysseus Space Craft to Power Down    
發布於 2024-02-29 10:41:14
The team behind the Odysseus spacecraft says their mission has 'changed the economics of landing on the moon'.

Speaking on Wednesday, representatives of Intuitive Machines said the lander will be "put to sleep" before being powered up again in the next two to three weeks.

Last week it became the first privately developed spacecraft to soft land (緩慢著陸，軟著陸) on the lunar surface.

Sally Patterson has more.

The market gained ground on Monday, despite fluctuating in early trading.

Analysts say investors this week are awaiting updates on the pace of growth in the U-S economy, inflation and what central banks may do on interest rates.

CSBC to Conduct Final Harbor Acceptance Tests on "Narwhal"    
發布於 2024-02-27 10:35:13
C-S-B-C has announced that it will begin conducting a series of final tests on its first domestically built submarine prototype today.

According to the shipbuilder, the assessments are part of its ongoing (正在進行的) harbor acceptance test before it moves onto the sea acceptance test.

The "Narwhal" has been undergoing harbor acceptance tests since October of last year at a C-S-B-C factory in Kaohsiung.

The shipbuilder says the submarine will be moved to a nearby a floating dock before being transferred to a dry dock where it will undergo the final phase.

The submarine was officially named by President Tsai Ing-wen during its launch ceremony in late September.

Taiwan Remains 4th in Global Economic Freedom Index    
發布於 2024-02-27 10:35:13
Taiwan has once again been ranked fourth in the 2024 Index of Economic Freedom.

It means the island maintain its best ranking achieved last year in the annual report released by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation.

The report assesses 184 countries on four key aspects comprising (包括) 12 sub-factors.

Those are then equally weighted and averaged to produce an overall score.

Taiwan scored higher than the global average in all 12 subcategories.

And its overall score of 80, means that Taiwan's economy is categorized as "free" along with that of Singapore, Switzerland and Ireland.

Fukushima to Begin Discharging Treated Wastewater    
發布於 2024-02-27 10:35:13
Japan is set to begin a fourth discharge of treated, radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean from Wednesday.

The owner of the wrecked (被毀的) Fukushima nuclear power plant, TEPCO, has been releasing the water in batches since August last year.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo

China Overseas Bloggers Claim Police Investigating Followers    
發布於 2024-02-27 10:35:13
Two prominent Chinese bloggers in exile said that police were investigating their millions of followers on international social media platforms.

Former state broadcaster CCTV journalist Wang Zhi’an and artist-turned-dissident (批評政府者) Li Ying said separately that police were interrogating (審問) their followers, and urged followers to take precautions such as unfollowing their accounts, changing their usernames, avoiding Chinese-made phones and preparing to be questioned.

Li shared screenshots of private messages he received from followers over the past few months, which claimed that police had interrogated individuals, and that one person had even lost their job.

This comes after a recent leak of documents from I-Soon, a private contractor linked to China’s top policing agency and other parts of its government, describing tools used by Chinese police to curb dissent on overseas social media.

More Food Products Recalled for Containing Banned Dye
In news from and about Taiwan this morning, The Miaoli County Public Health Bureau says it has recalled and pulled more food products and store shelves islandwide for containing a banned industrial dye.
The latest products include carrot cookies and white pepper biscuits.
According to the bureau, it has asked Miaoli-based Hsin Hao Foods to recall 4,302 boxes of carrot cookies and 192 boxes of white pepper biscuits found to contain Sudan III.
Health bureau officials say the origin (起源，源頭) of the chemical has been identified as coming from a Chinese chili powder supplier that shipped the product to a New Taipei raw material dealer.

Kaohsiung Rubber Ducks Draw 9-Million Visitors in a Month
The Kaohsiung City Government says the two giant rubber ducks created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman have drawn more than 9-million visitors since they went on display at the Love River Bay on January 27.
The ducks were the centerpiece (最重要的部分；最吸引人的部分) of the city's 2024 Wonderland festival, which wrapped-up on Sunday.
A special event was held in the square in front of the Kaohsiung Music Center last night to give the two ducks a send-off (歡送).
The city government says more than 200,000 people visited the Love River Bay each day the ducks were on display there and that gave Kaohsiung's economy a boost of more than 10-billion N-T.

Ukraine Troop Losses
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy is refuting (反駁) Putin's claims on military losses since the start of Russia's invasion.
AP correspondent Rica Ann Garcia reports.

France Eiffel Tower Reopens
The Eiffel Tower has reopened to visitors after a six-day closure because of striking employees demanding better maintenance of the historic landmark and salary hikes.
The operator of the 330-meter tower said Sunday it reached an agreement with unions representing the workers after promising to allocate (分配) about $412 million investment by 2031 for renovation work.
This week, it also launched salary negotiations, expected to be finalized next month, after employees on strike demanded an increase proportionate to revenue from ticket sales.
The 135-year-old tower will feature prominently in the Olympics and Paralympics starting in July.
The Olympic and Paralympic medals in Paris are being embedded with pieces from a hexagonal chunk of iron taken from the historic landmark.

Lawmakers Urge Friendly Farming Environment for Egg-Laying Hens
Lawmakers from across party lines are urging the government to speed-up efforts to build a friendly environment in which to farm egg-laying hens.
The call comes after the release of a report on progress made in assisting the industry shift to cage-free farming across Asia.
Taiwan ranked sixth out of 17 countries surveyed in the report by Open Wing Alliance - a global coalition of 100 organizations from 72 countries.
Lawmakers say Taiwan has made no progress in phasing out (淘汰) battery cages in the farming of egg-laying chickens and say the government to come up with effective measures as soon as possible.
They're also calling for a policy to help cooperative egg farmers gain access to land and loans and for subsides to be granted to farmers who adopt an animal-friendly egg production model.

UN Gaza Aid Agency at Breaking Point
The Commissioner General of the UN aid agency in Gaza, UNRWA says the agency has reached breaking point (失控點；極限).
Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York…

Canada Man Found Guilty for Killing Muslim Family
A man found guilty of using his pickup truck to kill four members of a Muslim family has been sentenced to life in prison as a Canadian judge ruled that the actions of the “admitted white nationalist” amounted to terrorism.
Nathaniel Veltman has also been sentenced to a concurrent (並行) life sentence for the attempted murder of a boy who survived the 2021 attack.
Veltman was found guilty in November of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk.
The case was the first time Canada’s terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial.

Japan Whale Body to be Buried for Skeleton
A whale as long as a train car that died after straying into a Japanese bay is set to be buried until it naturally becomes a skeletal specimen for a local museum.
It’s the third year in a row that whales have become stranded in Osaka Bay, raising questions about the reasons why and the cost of handling the incidents.
The animal that was confirmed dead Monday is believed to be a male sperm whale, about 12 meters long and weighing an estimated 20 tons.
The whale was spotted several times in the bay and port since mid-January.
Tidal fluctuations (起伏不定), diseases and climate change are among the possible reasons it became stranded.

Activists Calls for Addressing Surrogacy Separately from Sperm and Egg Donation
Women's rights groups are urging the government to address single women and lesbian couples' access to sperm and egg donation separately from surrogacy (代孕) when amending the Assisted Reproduction Act.
According to Taiwan Women's Link director Huang Shu-ing, the government should give single women and lesbian couples access to assisted reproduction services already available to heterosexual couples. Huang says as surrogacy is far more complicated than simply allowing access to sperm and egg donation, discussing both issues together would delay the amendment.
A joint statement issued by the Taiwan Women's Link and 26 other groups in the fields of women's rights, gender, labor and medicine also calls for protecting single women and lesbian couples' right to access sperm and egg donation services.
The Ministry of Health is slated to hold its first public hearing regarding amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act next Tuesday.

US Increases Port Security Over Chinese Hacking Fears
US president Joe Biden has signed an executive order to increase cybersecurity at America's ports. It comes in response to fears of hackers gaining access to vital (必不可少的) infrastructure in the US that is Chinese-made.
Nick Harper reports from Washington.

UN Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Only 10Percent Funded
The U.N’s top representative in Ukraine says the U.N.’s humanitarian appeal to meet needs there is only 10% funded for 2024. That puts in jeopardy crucial assistance needed to reach those in need across frontline areas.
Denise Brown says an estimated 8.5 million Ukrainians who are living in dire (危急的) conditions near combat zones risk going without basic humanitarian deliveries, including food and water. The U.N.’s annual appeal for Ukraine is $3.1 billion. Ukraine’s economy is still suffering the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion two years ago.

France Eiffel Tower Closed Again Due to Strikes
Striking workers have again closed down the Eiffel Tower.
It's the third day running that the landmark expected to be at the heart of celebrations for the Paris Olympics has been off-limits to visitors.
A message Wednesday on the tower’s website also warned of more possible disruptions (中斷、 擾亂) today, if strikers continue their push for salary hikes and other concessions.
One of the strikers’ representatives has previously warned that their protest action “could go on for several days, even weeks.”

Electricity Rate Hikes Yet to beFinalized Economics
Minister Wang Mei-hua says no final decision has been made on possible electricity rate hikes.
The statement comes as the Ministry of Economic Affairs' electricity price review committee is scheduled to meet next month to decide on rates for the next six months. According to Wang, her office is considering adjusting rates even for users of less than 330-kilowatt-hours a month, but large electricity users will bear the brunt (首當其衝) of the rate increase in order reduce the impact on the general public.
There have been reports claiming electricity rates could increased by more than 10-per cent for some users.

Shrimp Snack Removed from Store Shelves
Several local government have issued orders to remove a popular brand of spicy-flavored shrimp snack from store shelves. The move comes after it was confirmed that Yu Zong Foods had used a dye supplied by a Yunlin County-based food manufacturer that contains a carcinogenic (致癌的) dye.
The Kaohsiung Department of Health says it has ordered Yu Zong Foods to remove all packaged of its "Wei Hsien" spicy shrimp chips from store shelves that used red chili powder supplied by the Yunlin County-based food manufacturer.
A batch of chili powder from the company was recently found by the Yunlin Public Health Bureau to contain Sudan III, an industrial dye that is not allowed in food products.

US Two Charged with Murder in SuperBowl
Shooting Police in Kansas City have charged two people with murder following a mass shooting (大規模槍擊事件) at the Super Bowl celebration parade.
The violence last week left one person dead and almost two dozen injured.
US correspondent Nick Harper reports.

Russia FM Expresses Support for Venezuela's Maduro 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has reaffirmed his government’s support for the administration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during an hours-long visit to the South American country.
Lavrov on Tuesday expressed Russia’s commitment to strategic cooperation in numerous (很多的) sectors, including technology, energy and culture. His meetings with Venezuela's vice president and foreign minister in the capital, Caracas, took place as Venezuela’s government and a U.S.-backed faction of the opposition continue to negotiate conditions to level the playing field ahead of this year’s presidential election.

UK Bust Ransomware Syndicate
Law enforcement agencies say they have infiltrated and disrupted a prolific ransomware syndicate behind cyberattacks around the world.
Britain’s National Crime Agency says it led an international operation targeting LockBit, which provides ransomware as a service to so-called affiliates (附屬機構) who infect victim networks with the computer-crippling malware and negotiate ransoms.
The group has been linked to thousands of attacks since 2019.
Hours before the announcement, the front page of LockBit’s site was replaced with the words “this site is now under control of law enforcement." The operation aimed to steal all of LockBit’s data and then destroy its infrastructure.

New Legislature Forms French and Polish Parliamentary Friendship Groups
The new Legislative Yuan has formed two parliamentary friendship groups to promote closer exchanges with France and Poland via their respective lawmaking bodies. Both of the parliamentary friendship groups are being headed by (為首) D-P-P lawmaker Lin Chu-yin.
According to Lin, the establishment of the groups is aimed at continuing and also further developing wide-ranging exchanges with the French and Polish parliaments.
The new Legislature is expected to announce the establishment of another parliamentarian friendship group later today to promote exchanges with ASEAN member countries.

CDC Reports First Local Measles Case Since 2022
The Centers for Disease Control has reported Taiwan's first locally acquired case of measles since September of 2022.
According to C-D-C Deputy Director General Philip Luo, the infected individual was a man in his 30s who sought emergency treatment at hospital on February 13 and was diagnosed with measles two days later. He remains in a hospital isolation ward.
The C-D-C deputy director says the origin of the infection is still being investigated.A total of 199 people, including family members and those whose hospital visits overlapped (重疊) with the man's have been identified as close contacts.

Crew Abandons Ship After Houthi Missile Attack
The crew of a British registered cargo vessel have abandoned (棄船) ship, after reportedly being hit by two missiles off the coast of Yemen.
John Bevir reports.

Gaza Reports 29Thousand Palestinians Killed
Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 29-thousand Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said on Monday that 107 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants (戰鬥人員) in its records, but says most of those killed were women and children.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. After a round of exchanges for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel in November, around 130 remain captive, a fourth of them believed to be dead.

France Eiffel Tower Strikes Cause
Disruptions Visitors to the Eiffel Tower are being turned away because of a strike over poor financial management at one of the world’s most-visited sites.
Visits to the hugely popular landmark in central Paris have soared in the lead-up to the Summer Olympics in the French capital. But tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Monday were warned of disruptions (中斷、擾亂) in multiple languages on its website. Visitors were advised to check the website before heading to the monument or to postpone their trip.
In December, the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors for an entire day during Christmas and New Year’s holidays because of a strike over contract negotiations.

The market bucked a global upturn on Friday, and lost ground - that, despite Wall Street setting a fresh record following some mixed reports on America's economy overnight.

China Vows to "Enhance Maritime Law Enforcement" Around Kinmen and Matsu    
發布於 2024-02-19 10:25:13
China's coast guard says it plans to "strengthen its law enforcement activities" and carry out more patrols in waters around Kinmen and Matsu.

The statement comes as Beijing is continuing to blame Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration for the deaths of two Chinese nationals who were killed when their boat overturned while trying to flee a coast guard ship near Kinmen.

China's coast guard says it will also carry out regular "inspections" in waters around the two outlying islands.

The Mainland Affairs Council is slamming China for the move - saying Taiwan will continue to enforce the rules on banning unauthorized (未經授權的) Chinese access to waters around Kinmen.

According to the council, maritime laws will continue "to be enforced" based on the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

NTU Drama Department Founding Chair Hu Yao-heng Dies at 87    
發布於 2024-02-19 10:25:13
And,

The National Taiwan University has announced the death of the founding chairperson of its Graduate Institute of Drama and Theatre.

According to the university, Hu Yao-heng passed away last Friday.

He was 87.

No cause of death has been given.

Hu was born in the Chinese province of Hubei in 1936.

He graduated from N-T-U's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures before earning a master's degree in drama from Baylor University and a doctoral degree in drama and comparative literature from Indiana University.

He founded the N-T-U's Graduate Institute of Drama and Theatre in 1995.

Russia Takes Avdiivka    
發布於 2024-02-19 10:25:13
Russia takes control of a key city in eastern Ukraine after Ukrainian troops withdraw

The fall of the town of Avdiivka in Ukraine's Donbas region is seen as Russia's biggest victory since last year's capture (攻下) of Bakhmut.

AP correspondent Mimmi Montgomery reports

Yemen Houthis Target BelizeFlagged Ship    
發布於 2024-02-19 10:25:13
Yemen’s Houthi rebels are suspected in an attack on a Belize-flagged ship traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The ship targeted in the assault Sunday reported sustaining (承受) damage after “an explosion in close proximity to the vessel.”

That's according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.

It said that the ship's crewmembers were safe.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over Israel’s war targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Germany Lufthansa Labor Union Calls for Strike    
發布於 2024-02-19 10:25:13
A labor union in Germany has called on ground staff for Lufthansa to walk off the job at seven airports on Tuesday following a similar strike earlier this month.

The Ver.di union said Sunday that the one-day strike will affect the airports in Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansa’s two main hubs (中心), and several other cities.

A 27-hour strike at five of the same airports that started Feb. 7 prompted the airline to cancel hundreds of flights.

The union is seeking pay raises of 12.5%, or at least 500 euros more per month, in negotiations for about 25-thousand employees.

The market opened in consolidation mode today after record gains on the first trading session of the Year of the Dragon.

Shares in Taiwan surged almost 550 points and by more than 3 percent, despite stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation figures.

Buying included stocks in the bellwether electronics sector, led by chipmaker TSMC American depositary receipts, which steamed ahead by more than 11 percent when the stock market was closed over the New Year holiday, due to enthusiasm about AI development.

Woman gives birth during flight from Tokyo to Taipei: EVA Airways    
發布於 2024-02-16 10:39:13
A woman gave birth to a baby after going into labor on board a flight from Tokyo to Taipei on Thursday, according to EVA Airways.

The airline says flight attendants and four doctors who happened to be on board the morning flight assisted with the birth.

It adds that the plane landed at Taipei Songshan Airport at 1:11 p.m., with the mother and her newborn son taken to a local hospital.

Details regarding the passenger, including her nationality, or how many weeks she was pregnant, were not disclosed (公佈) by the airline.

US Biden Informant Charged with Lying to Authorities    
發布於 2024-02-16 10:39:13
An FBI informant has been charged with lying to authorities about a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme between President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company.

The claim is central to a Republican impeachment inquiry in Congress.

Prosecutors say Alexander Smirnov falsely told FBI agents in June 2020 that executives associated with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid Hunter and Joe Biden $5 million each in 2015 or 2016.

The allegations became a flashpoint in Congress over the summer as Republicans demanded the FBI release the unredacted (內容沒有被刪減的) form documenting the allegations as they pursued investigations of President Biden and his family.

An attorney for Smirnov declined to comment on the allegations.

Greece Legalizes SameSex Civil Marriage    
發布於 2024-02-16 10:39:13
Greece has become the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage.

AP's Lisa Dwyer has more.

Senegal Voids Postponement of Presidential Election    
發布於 2024-02-16 10:39:13
Senegal’s top election authority has voided the president’s postponement of a presidential election scheduled for Feb. 25 and its rescheduling in December, saying the moves were unconstitutional.

A judgement approved by seven members of Senegal’s Constitutional Council cancelled the decree signed by President Macky Sall that postponed the election.

The judgement also said that the National Assembly’s move on Feb. 5 to reschedule the vote for Dec. 15 also was “contrary to (與之相反) the constitution."

Taiwan CDC reports sixth year of decline in new HIV infections    
發布於 2024-02-15 10:17:13
The Centers for Disease Control says Taiwan is marking another year of decline in the number of new HIV infections.

Officials say 944 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus were reported on the island in 2023, marking a sixth consecutive (連續的) year of falling case numbers.

The CDC says it marks a decrease of nearly 12 percent from 2022, and the figure was the lowest since 2004.

The agency encouraged individuals who have ever had sex to take at least one HIV test and those who have sex without using a condom to take a test annually.

Two lotto players win NT$1 million prizes at same Taipei shop on same day    
發布於 2024-02-15 10:17:13
Two lottery players recently won $1 million NT prizes on scratch lotto tickets they purchased (購買) on the same day at the same store in Taipei's Ximending neighborhood.

According to Taiwan Lottery Co., the lotto wins both happened on "Super Red Envelope" scratch cards sold at a shop on Kunming Street in Ximen District on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday last Thursday.

The first of the winners was a married couple, while the second winners were two young men who put their money together to the scratch card.

Taiwan Lottery released five new scratch cards for the Year of the Dragon, of which the $2,000 NT Super Red Envelope -- with eight top prizes of NT$20 million -- is the most expensive.

NKorea Kim Supervises New Missile Tests    
發布於 2024-02-15 10:17:14
North Korea state media says leader Kim Jong Un has supervised a test of new surface-to-sea missiles and warned that the country would take a more aggressive (積極進取的) military posture in disputed sea boundaries with war-divided rival South Korea.

Kim lso accused South Korea of frequently violating what he decried as North Korean territorial waters with its maritime patrols and interdiction of third-party ships.

He ordered his navy to strengthen its defense posture in waters near the South Korean border islands of Baekryeong and Yeonpyeong.

The report today by North Korea’s state media came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected the North firing multiple cruise missiles in waters off its eastern coast.

Some experts say Kim may seek to further dial up pressure in an election year in South Korea and the U.S.

US SuperBowl Victory Parade Shooting    
發布於 2024-02-15 10:17:14
Police say there are several casualties (傷亡) in Kansas City, after shots were fired during a Super Bowl victory parade.

Thousands of fans had gathered on Wednesday in the US state of Missouri to celebrate the Kansas Chiefs's victory in America's National Football League game.

Benji Hyer has the latest.

Haiti Kenya Discuss Police Force Deployment    
發布於 2024-02-15 10:17:14
Haiti’s government has announced that it is working on an official agreement with Kenyan officials to secure the long-awaited deployment of a police force from the east African country.

The government said Wednesday that high-ranking officials from both countries met in the U.S. for three days this week to draft a memorandum of understanding and set a deadline for the arrival of Kenyan police forces.

The closed-door meetings included top U.S. officials and were held weeks after a court in Kenya blocked the U.N-backed deployment of police to help Haiti fight a surge (急遽上升) in gang violence.

The statement comes after Guatemala's foreign minister earlier this week told Reuters that his country "cannot ignore the weight and power China represents" - but will "continue working with Taiwan at the levels we have been doing."

According to the foreign ministry here in Taiwan, the report "did not come as a surprise" as President Bernardo Arevalo has "consistently (始終如一地) maintained a policy" of maintaining formal ties with Taiwan while also developing trade links with China.

TSMC Announces Employees' Business Performance Bonus    
發布於 2024-02-07 10:52:13
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing says its board has approved a plan to distribute employees' business performance bonus and profit sharing totaling about 100.1-billion N-T for 2023.

That total includes a business performance bonus of 50.09-billion N-T distributed (分配) following each quarter of 2023 and profit sharing of 50.09-million N-T to be distributed in July this year.

The board meeting also approved a plan to issue a 3.5 N-T per share cash dividend for the earnings of the fourth quarter of 2023, which hit 9.21 N-T.

The ex-dividend date has been set for June 13 and the dividends will be distributed on July 11.

MOA Warning on Carrying of Meat Products into Taiwan    
發布於 2024-02-07 10:52:13
And,

The Ministry of Agriculture is warning public not to bring meat products into Taiwan from other countries due to the risk of African swine fever.

The annual Lunar New Year holiday reminder (提醒) comes as African swine fever has now been found in 79 countries since the first reports of the virus emerged in China in August of 2018.

Data shows that between August of 2018 and January of this year, of the 6,795 meat seizures tested, 639 came back positive for the virus.

Eighty-three percent of the meat products that tested positive for African swine fever came from China.

Those caught entering Taiwan carrying pork and other meat products face fines of between 200,000 and 1-million N-T.

Israel Arrests Palestinian American Woman in West Bank    
發布於 2024-02-07 10:52:13
Israeli forces have arrested a 46-year-old Palestinian American woman in the West Bank.

Relatives say that Samaher Esmail was pulled out of bed by soldiers late Monday and they still don't know where she is.

The army says she was arrested for “incitement” (煽動) on social media.

Esmail's arrest comes just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on a diplomatic visit.

A U.S. government spokesperson said the State Department was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen had been detained and was “seeking additional information" about the incident but had no further comment.

Late Tuesday, Blinken arrived in Israel, where he is expected to press ahead with efforts to at least pause Israel's offensive in Gaza and curb violence in the West Bank.

US Homeland Security Secretary Survives Impeachment Attempt    
發布於 2024-02-07 10:52:13
US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has survived an impeachment attempt in the House of Representatives after several Republicans broke ranks with their party.

Congressional Republicans had sought to oust (逐出) Mayorkas over the surge in migration at the US's southern border.

Ira Spitzer reports.

Trading in the Year of the Rabbit began on January 30 of last year.

Since then the weighted index soared 3,163-points, or 21.18-per cent, to close the year at 18,096-points - boosting market capitalization by 10.76-trillion N-T for a total of 57.52-trillion N-T.

This was a marked improvement from the Year of the Tiger - when the main board tumbled by over 2,700-points, or 15.51-per cent.

The stock market will resume trading on February 15.

Passenger Faces Fine Over Emergency Train Stop in Taitung    
發布於 2024-02-06 11:09:13
The Railway Police Bureau says a passenger who deliberately pulled an emergency brake valve that brought an EMU3000 express train to a stop in Taitung County last week could face a fine of up to 1-million N-T.

The fine is based on Article 68-1 of the Railway Act.

According to the bureau's Hualien Precinct, the passenger has been identified as (確定為) a 28-year-old Taitung resident.

He was questioning by police on Monday and law enforcement authorities say the Ministry of Transport will now review the case.

The train came to an unplanned stop in Taitung's Jinlun Station when the emergency brake valve in the train's ninth car was pulled.

Police say the man has told them he fell asleep on the train and pulled the brake because he had missed his stop.

Tobacco Warning to Big Enlarged    
發布於 2024-02-06 11:09:14
The Health Promotion Administration says health warnings must have to cover at least 50-per cent of cigarette packaging from next month.

According to the administration, the new packaging policy will come into affect on March 22.

The warnings are currently required to cover at least 35-per cent of packaging (包裝).

The administration says the move is in line with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

That convention states that all tobacco product packaging carries health warnings and such warnings should cover 50-per cent or more of the packaging area.

Chinese Court Sentences Australian Writer to Death    
發布於 2024-02-06 11:09:14
A Chinese court has handed Australian writer Yang Hengjun and pro-democracy blogger a suspended death sentence for spying.

Human rights advocates say it's an unusually harsh verdict (判決) and it could hurt ties between Beijing and Canberra.

Patrick Fok reports.

Tokyo Heavy Snow Disrupts Travel    
發布於 2024-02-06 11:09:14
Heavy snow in the Tokyo area has knocked out power to homes and disrupted travel.

Officials cautioned drivers to avoid nonessential travel.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast more than 55 centimeters in mountainous areas north of the capital.

Central Tokyo had much smaller amounts.

More than 100 domestic and several international flights in and out of Tokyo’s Haneda airport were canceled Monday.

Some highways were partially (部分地) closed, and more than 14,000 homes were without electricity.

The moves come after the Taichung Health Bureau last Friday announced that it had found traces of cimbuterol (西布特羅) in frozen "Pork Boston Butt, Sliced (梅花肉片)" supplied by Tai-Sugar.

The bureau then ordered the product to be removed from store shelves in Taichung.

Food safety officials in Taipei, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Keelung and Miaoli have also now preemptively (先發制人) ordered stores to remove the offending pork products from sale.

Davis Cup Journey Ended by France    
發布於 2024-02-05 17:31:13
Taiwan's Davis Cup (台維斯盃網球賽) dream has ended after losing 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 to France in a men's doubles match in Taipei.

Hsu Yu-xiu (許育修) and Wu Dong-lin lost their respective singles (單人賽) matches on Saturday.

And Sunday's doubles lose by Hsu Yu-xiu and his partner Jason Chuang means Taiwan will not be playing in the Davis Cup Finals.

However, despite the loss to France, it's still the furthest Taiwan has ever advanced in the Davis Cup.

The match wrapped-up (結束) the Taipei stop of the four-day Davis Cup Finals qualifiers.

Europe Israel Palestinians    
發布於 2024-02-05 17:31:13
In international news,

The European Union is voicing concerns about reports that the Israeli military intends to take its battle against Hamas to the town of Rafah at Gaza's border (邊界) with Egypt.

Over 1-million Palestinians have escaped the fighting in Rafah.

E-U foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the conflict is likely to spread throughout the region unless a cease-fire (停火) is agreed.

Israel's defense minister has said that Israeli troops could soon move on Rafah.

Midest Tensions    
發布於 2024-02-05 17:31:13
After a weekend of retaliatory strikes (報復性攻擊), the United States is warning Iran and the militias it arms and funds that it will conduct more attacks if American forces in the Mideast continue to be targeted (成為攻擊目標).

Jackie Quinn reports.

El Salvador Elections    
發布於 2024-02-05 17:31:13
Salvadorans are voting in presidential and legislative elections that are largely about the tradeoff (交換條件) between security and democracy.

With soaring (快速上升的) approval ratings and virtually no competition, Nayib Bukele is almost certainly headed for a second term as president in voting.

Despite El Salvador's constitution prohibiting (禁止) reelection (連任), about eight in 10 voters support Bukele, according to a January poll from the University of Central America.

Bukele is said to have taken steps throughout his first term that lawyers and critics say chip away (削弱了) at the country's system of checks and balances (監督平衡).

Britain-Magritte-Auction    
發布於 2024-02-05 17:31:13
And finally,

A major work by surrealist (超現實) painter Rene Magritte that hasn't been shown in public for a quarter century could fetch (賣價) 64-million U-S dollars at auction next month.

Christie's auction house says it will offer "The Intimate Friend" at a March 7 sale in London.

The auction marks a century of the surrealist movement.

Christie's says the painting is among the handful of most important Magritte works in private hands.

It depicts a rear view of a bowler-hatted man (戴高筒帽的男子), with a baguette (法國麵包) and a wine glass hovering in the foreground (前景).

It was last auctioned in 1980.

The bureau manages a series of Labor Pension and Labor Insurance Funds.

According to officials, the return rate (收益率) of 13 percent on the investments last year was a record high for the bureau .

The new Labor Pension Fund recorded annual earnings of 478-billion last year, and beneficiaries (受益者) of that fund will each receive 38-thousand N-T on average.

Private College Tuition Subsidy Rolled Out    
發布於 2024-02-02 16:08:13
President Tsai Ing-wen has taken to Facebook to announce that an annual 35,000 N-T subsidy (補助) for private college tuition and miscellaneous costs (雜費) has taken effect.

Tsai says the subsidy is aimed at "bridging the gap (差距) between private and public university tuition fees" and is the key part of her "Education Equality 1 3 Scheme."

That program was part of a series of measures approved by the Cabinet in June of last year.

The first measure is an additional subsidy for economically disadvantaged students (經濟弱勢) at both private and public universities.

While other measures include scrapping (取消) all high school and vocational high school (高職) fees, as well as relaxing eligibility requirements (符合資格的條件) and repayment terms for student loans.

US approves plan to strike Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq    
發布於 2024-02-02 16:08:13
In world news....

According to US news media, the US has approved plans for a series of strikes (攻擊) on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq.

American officials say the strikes will take place over a number of days, and weather conditions will likely dictate (決定) when they are launched (何時展開攻擊).

It comes after a drone attack killed three US soldiers in Jordan, close to the Syrian border, on Sunday.

The US blamed an Iranian-backed militia group (民兵組織) for that attack.

That group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, is believed to contain multiple militias that have been armed, funded and trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards force.

It has said it was responsible for Sunday's strike.

Cancer cases to rise    
發布於 2024-02-02 16:08:13
Global cancer cases are predicted to rise by more than 75% by 2050, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization.

The W-H-O's International Agency for Research on Cancer says tobacco, alcohol, obesity (體重過重) and air pollution are behind the predicted rise.

Sally Patterson has more.>

Spain's drought getting serious    
發布於 2024-02-02 16:08:13
Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia has declared a drought emergency (乾旱緊急狀況) for the area of around 6 million people including the city of Barcelona.

But thousands of people who live in villages and towns in the Catalan countryside have already been in full-blown crisis mode (全面危機) for several months.

Many village residents struggle to find drinking water and municipal governments have to resort to bringing water in by tanker trucks and even cutting off the taps (關閉自來水) to let wells recover (讓水井恢復).

Experts warn that the situation may become chronic (慢性問題) with the entire Mediterranean (地中海) region set to get hotter and drier because of climate change.

The market lost ground on Wednesday to close below the 17,900-point mark a investors were playing wait-and-see ahead of the conclusion of the U-S Federal Reserve's policymaking meeting.

CAA Protests China's Unilateral Adjustment of Flight Routes    
發布於 2024-02-01 16:48:14
The Civil Aviation Administration is slamming China for its unilateral adjustment of flight routes close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

The administration says , it "deeply regrets and strongly protests" Beijing's move as it "blatantly contradicts a consensus reached between both sides of the Taiwan Strait in 2015."

The statement comes after the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced it was canceling what it called an "offset measure" for the southbound operation of the M-503 flight route -- which is west of the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

The new flight routes are set to come into force tomorrow.

UMC expects shipments to grow 2-3 percent sequentially in Q1    
發布於 2024-02-01 16:48:14
United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), the second largest contract chipmaker in Taiwan, expects to see wafer shipments in the first quarter of this year to rise 2-3 percent from a quarter earlier.

During the company's investor conference, UMC co-president Jason Wang said although the company's clients remain cautious about current inventory adjustments, demand for wafers is expected to recover gradually.

UMC said it raked in NT$60.99 billion (US$2.01 billion) in net profit in 2023, down 30.1 percent from a year earlier with earnings per share at NT$4.93 compared with NT$7.09 in 2022.

The decline reflected high inventory levels resulting from global demand weakness with the word's economy impacted by high inflation and aggressive rate hikes undertaken by major central banks.

World court rejects portions of Ukraine allegations    
發布於 2024-02-01 16:48:14
The United Nations’ top court has rejected large parts of a case filed by Ukraine alleging that Russia bankrolled separatist rebels in the country’s east a decade ago and has discriminated against Crimea’s multiethnic community since its annexation of the peninsula.

The International Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that Moscow violated articles of two treaties — one on terrorism financing and another on eradicating racial discrimination.

But the court rejected far more of Kyiv’s claims under the treaties.

It further rejected Ukraine’s request for Moscow to pay reparations for attacks in eastern Ukraine blamed on pro-Russia Ukrainian rebels.

That includes the July 17, 2014, downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 that killed all 298 passengers and crew.

EU nations agree on using profits from frozen Russian assets to support    
發布於 2024-02-01 16:48:14
Ukraine

European Union member states have agreed to use billions of Euros worth of profits from frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine after the war.

The decision comes just days before leaders of the 27-nation bloc are meeting to discuss a 50 billion euro financial aid package for the war-torn nation.

Charles de Ledesma reports.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Sentenced to 14 Years    
發布於 2024-02-01 16:48:14
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been found guilty of corruption and sentenced to 14 years.

Wednesday's ruling was yet another blow to the imprisoned populist leader days before his political movement attempts a return to power in parliamentary elections.

It was his second conviction in as many days and the harshest yet, and was the latest episode in the long-running battle between the powerful military and civilian leaders in the troubled Western ally.

Khan was accused of retaining and selling state gifts in violation of government rules when he was in power.

In addition to his prison term, Khan was disqualified from holding any public office for 10 years. His lawyer dismissed the conviction as a violation of Khan’s basics rights.

According to the ministry, the new line will cost 161-billion N-T, of which the central government has agreed to provide 67-billion in funding (經費).

The Blue Line will begin at the Port of Taichung and will move eastward through Shalu and Xitun districts before arriving in central Taichung.

It will take an estimated (估計) 10 years before it is opened to the public.

Six Indicted over Deadly Pingtung Golf Ball Factory Fire    
發布於 2024-01-30 15:01:13
The Pingtung District Prosecutors' Office has indicted (起訴) six people on charges of negligent homicide (過失殺人) over the deaths of 10 people during a fire at a golf ball factory in September of last year.

According to the prosecutors' office, those indicted include Launch Technologies (明陽) chairman and general manager.

Launch Technologies has already been fined (罰款) 2.4-million N-T for failing to fully disclose (揭露) that nearly 3,000-kilograms of organic peroxide (有機過氧化物) was being stored illegally at the complex.

The company has also been found guilty of failing to assign a person to the site to assist the fire commander.

Four firefighters and six employees were killed in the fire.

UN Palestinians Aid Agency Facing More Funding Cuts    
發布於 2024-01-30 15:01:13
In world news...

The United Nations aid agency serving Palestinians in Gaza is facing more funding cuts.

The cuts come amid accusations (指控) that 12 of its employees were involved in Hamas' October 7 attack that sparked Israel's operations in Gaza.

An Israeli document details claims that U-N teachers and a social worker employed by the agency were with Hamas fighters and helped to take hostages (綁架人質) or coordinate weapons' transfers (武器運送).

The allegations have triggered a wave of funding cuts by major donors including the U-S, Britain and France.

Austria has also now announced that its suspending (暫停) assistance.

Italy Unveils Development Plan for Africa    
發布於 2024-01-30 15:01:13
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has unveiled (宣布) her government's development plan for Africa at a summit of African leaders.

Italy is hoping the plan will help stem (阻攔) migration numbers, diversify energy sources and forge (打造) a new relationship between Europe and the continent.

Two dozen African leaders, top European Union and United Nations officials and representatives from international lending institutions (國際貸款機構) are in Rome for the summit.

Italy says the development plan will create security and economic conditions that will create jobs in Africa and discourage Africans from making dangerous migrations across the Mediterranean Sea.

The talks took place in Bangkok.

Washington and Beijing separately announced the talks were a follow-up (後續) to the Woodside Summit held between U-S President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping last November.

According to the White House, Sullivan "underscored (強調) the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" during the talks in Thailand.

Fu Kun-chi to Serve as KMT's New Legislative Caucus Convener    
發布於 2024-01-29 17:11:13
K-M-T lawmaker Fu Kun-chi will serve as the party's new caucus convener (黨團總召) following Lai Shi-bao's decision to withdraw (退出) from the race for the position.

Fu was reelected to represent Hualien County in the January 13 legislative election.

The K-M-T was scheduled to elect a chief convener and secretary-general for its new legislative caucus (立院黨團) tomorrow.

However, Lai's announcement of his withdrawal from the race - means that Fu is the only candidate.

Fu will now assume the position as the K-M-T's top caucus whip (黨鞭) in the new Legislature, which will be inaugurated (就職) on Thursday.

Palestinian Officials Slam UNRWA Funding Suspension    
發布於 2024-01-29 17:11:13
In international news,

Top Palestinian officials are criticising a decision by nearly a dozen countries to suspend funding (暫停金援) to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians.

The agency has said it's opened an investigation after Israel alleged (宣稱) some of its employees were involved in the October 7 attacks that triggered (引發) the current conflict in Gaza.

Karen Chammas has more.

Pakistan Police Disperse Khan Supporters    
發布於 2024-01-29 17:11:13
Pakistani police have fired tear gas to disperse (驅散) supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the southern city of Karachi.

It comes less than two weeks before a national election that Khan was blocked (阻擋) from running in because of a criminal conviction (定罪).

Police say a dozen workers from Khan's political party were detained (羈押) for attacking officers and blocking a road.

Although Khan will not be on the ballot for the February 8 election, he remains a potent (強有力的) political force because of his grassroots following (基層追隨者).

He says the legal cases against him were a plot to keep him sidelined from the ballot (排除在選票外).
.

Trial of Jam Master Jay to Begin in Brooklyn    
發布於 2024-01-29 17:11:13
The 2002 killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay has stood for years as one of the hip-hop world's most infamous (惡名昭彰的) and elusive (捉摸不定的) crimes.

Now the case is going to trial (審判開始).

Opening statements are set for today in a Brooklyn federal court.

Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were arrested in 2020 and have pleaded not guilty (不認罪).

But prosecutors say they gunned Jay down (槍殺他) in his recording studio over a drug dispute.

Run-DMC was the first rap group to notch (獲得) gold and platinum albums and the first with a video on MTV.

According to Foreign Affairs Ministry official Andrew Lin, recent reports that the Pacific island nation will seek to establish ties with Beijing are based solely on "rumors" (完全是謠傳) and he firmly believes that Tuvalu will continue to maintain strong ties with Taiwan.

Lin says most of Tuvalu's incumbent (現任的) lawmakers are expected to be re-elected in today's congressional elections and the "rumors" about a switch (改變) in diplomatic recognition to Beijing are aimed at "undermining (破壞) the relationship" between the two sides.

The statements come after Tuvaluan Ambassador to Taiwan last Friday said his country could sever ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing following today's elections.

Four Indicted for Illegally Hiring Migrant Workers    
發布於 2024-01-26 14:01:13
The Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office has indicted (起訴) four people for allegedly collecting up to 25-million N-T in illegal brokerage fees (非法仲介費) from migrant workers since 2020.

The indictments come after an investigation was launched last year following a tip-off (通風報信) from the National Immigration Agency's Keelung Branch.

That investigation led to the arrest of the four suspects - all of whom have been charged (指控) with violating the Employment Service Act, document forgery (偽造文書), and fraud.

According to prosecutors, the four were found to have recruited and brought about 100 Vietnamese migrant workers into Taiwan after establishing two labor brokerage firms (人力仲介公司) and 10 shell firms (空殼公司) using fake documents.

Ten other individuals who cooperated with them have all been given deferred prosecution (延後起訴).

Giant Yellow Duck Heading Back to Kaohsiung    
發布於 2024-01-26 14:01:13
Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's famous yellow rubber duck will be going back on display (展示) in Kaohsiung beginning Sunday.

The duck will remain in display in the Love River Bay until February 25.

Its return is part of the 2024 Kaohsiung Wonderland Winter Fair, which is in turn part of the city's Lantern Festival events.

The duck was last exhibited in the city 10 years ago.

And Kaohsiung Music Center and the Gang-shan Skywalk will be featuring yellow lighting in celebration of the duck's much anticipated return.

The 18-meter-tall inflatable duck attracted 3.9-million visitors in a month when it was first displayed at Kaohsiung Guang-rong Pier in 2013.

Global shipping "not in crisis" just yet, says the UN    
發布於 2024-01-26 14:01:13
In world news...

Consumers may be faced with higher food prices due to delays along the world's major shipping corridors (航道).

Speaking at the United Nations on Thursday, Jan Hoffmann the Chief of Trade Facilitation said three of the world's shipping lanes have seen major decreases in traffic.

Jody Jacobs reports from the UN in New York...

Denmark's report on South Korea adoptions    
發布於 2024-01-26 14:01:13
A Danish report says adoptions of children from South Korea in the 1970s and 1980s to Denmark was “characterized by systematic illegal behavior (有系統的違法)" in the Asian country.

The report says these violations made it “possible to change information about a child's background and adopt a child without the knowledge of the biological parents (親生父母).”

The Danish Appeals Board says there was “an unfortunate incentive (獎勵) structure" and that large sums of money were “transferred (轉手) between the Danish and South Korean organizations.”

For years, adoptees (被收養者) in Europe, the United States and Australia have raised alarms (有提出警告) about fraud, including involving babies who were falsely registered as abandoned orphans (棄兒) despite having living relatives (活著的親屬) in their native countries.

This proposal will be made in the Legislative Yuan next week.

Lawmakers Wang Hung-wei, Chen Yu-zhen, Lai Shi-bao, and newly elected legislator Liao Wei-xiang will work together on this.

However, they say the new K-M-T legislative caucus could also bring forward (提案) its version of the bill.

They aim to make it easier for people to vote, especially for those who live or work far from their registered home.

This change could help about 1.9 to 2 million people vote more easily.

Lai Shi-bao believes that allowing absentee voting is very important for improving democracy in Taiwan.

NIA Bans Japan-Based China Journalist    
發布於 2024-01-25 11:18:13
The National Immigration Agency says Chinese journalist Wang Zhi-an has been banned from visiting Taiwan for five years.

The N-I-A made this decision because Wang made inappropriate comments on "The Night Night Show with Hello", which broke the rules of his tourist visa.

On the show, Wang criticized the DPP for how they nominated (提名) a disabled candidate, Chen Chun-han.

He suggested that the DPP was using Chen to get sympathy from voters.

Wang also tried to copy Chen's voice and used an offensive word (冒犯用語) for disabled people, causing a lot of anger.

After the incident, the producers of the show, "The Night Night Show with Hello," have apologized on YouTube.

They promised to be more careful with the show's content in the future.

North Korea Conducts Strategic Cruise Missile Test    
發布於 2024-01-25 11:18:13
In world news...

North Korea state media reports it has tested a new type of cruise missile (巡弋飛彈).

This test is part of North Korea's efforts to grow its military power while it faces challenges with the United States and its neighbors.

The report came one day after South Korea's military said it saw North Korea firing cruise missiles into the sea off its west coast.

Even though the U.N. does not specifically ban North Korea's cruise missile activities, these missiles could be a danger to South Korea and Japan.

Israel Denies Responsibility for Deadly Strike on U.N. Shelter in Gaza    
發布於 2024-01-25 11:18:13
Israel has said it was not involved in a recent attack on a United Nations shelter in Gaza.

The U.N. reported that Israeli tanks had hit a training center in Khan Younis where 30-thousand Palestinians who had to leave their homes were staying.

This attack caused many deaths and injuries.

The U.S. State Department (國務院) strongly criticized the attack.

They stressed the importance of keeping civilians and aid workers (援助機構人員) safe.

However, Israel's military suggests the attack might have been done by Hamas.

They said they are looking carefully into the possibility that Hamas' actions might be the cause.

(PB)

Grounded Boeing planes could soon be in the air again    
發布於 2024-01-25 11:18:13
Grounded Boeing planes could soon be in the air again.

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports.

The market continued its winning streak on Tuesday as, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing attracted strong investor interest amid lingering optimism over the company's outlook for this year.

Interest also focused on electricity development related stocks in the electric machinery and optoelectronics sectors, to give the broader market with an additional boost.

Tuvalu Affirms Ties with Taiwan    
發布於 2024-01-24 10:28:13
In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says senior government officials in Tuvalu have affirmed that the Pacific island country will maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

The statement comes after Tuvalu's ambassador to Taiwan told the Australian newspaper that his country could sever (斷絕) formal diplomatic recognition with Taipei in favor of Beijing following its election this Friday.

According to the ministry, the Tuvalu government has clarified that the ambassador's statement did not represent the country's official stance, and affirmed that its diplomatic relations with Taiwan remain strong.

Tsai Call for Support of Taiwan's Participation in IPEF    
發布於 2024-01-24 10:28:13
President Tsai Ing-wen is calling for support for Taiwan's participation in the US-led Indo Pacific Economic Framework.

Speaking during a meeting with visiting members of the US-Taiwan Business Council in Taipei, Tsai said "Taiwan will continue to express its willingness to play a role in this initiative" and she hopes the business group "can support Taiwan's participation."

The visiting delegation includes business council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers and Keith Krach, who served as under secretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment under Donald Trump's administration.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity was launched (發起) by U-S President Joe Biden on May of 2022.

It currently has 14 partnering countries.

SKorea: North Fired Missiles into Western Sea    
發布於 2024-01-24 10:28:13
South Korea’s military says North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the western sea as it continues a streak of weapons testing in the face of deepening nuclear tensions with the United States, South Korea and Japan.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the U.S. and South Korean militaries were analyzing the launches.

The event followed a Jan. 14 flight test-firing of the country’s first solid-fuel intermediate range ballistic missile, which reflected (顯示) its efforts to advance its lineup of weapons targeting U.S. military bases in Japan and Guam.

    UK House of Lords Votes Againt UKRwanda Treaty    
發布於 2024-01-24 10:28:13
The House of Lords has voted against the Government's controversial UK- Rwanda Treaty.

For the first time, the UK's upper house of parliament has voted to delay ratifying a Treaty, which is central to the Government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Simon Gaitan reports.

Mexico Train Project Damages Historic Limestone Caves    
發布於 2024-01-24 10:28:13
Activists in Mexico have published photos of steel and cement pilings (地樁) from a government project driven directly through the roofs of sensitive limestone caves on the Yucatan peninsula.

The cave networks and their underground rivers are both environmentally sensitive, and have been found to hold some of the oldest human remains in North America.

Mexico's president had promised that part of his controversial $20 billion tourist train project would run on an elevated causeway (堤道) to avoid crushing or disturbing the caves.

Authorities had claimed that studies would ensure the supports for the causeway wouldn't hit caves.

But the activists say that was a lie, and the damage is irreversible.

The market continued to gain ground on Monday on the back of another strong showing from the bellwether electronics sector.

Buying focused on artificial intelligence development stocks following a rally by A-I-related stocks on Wall Street at the end of last week.

However, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing fell into consolidation mode after surging 6.46-per cent surge last Friday.

Snow Reported as Mercury Plummets    
發布於 2024-01-23 10:40:13
Snow was reported falling on Jade Mountain overnight - resulting in an accumulation (累積) of 4-centimeters by 9 o'clock this morning.

Snow fell on Hehuan Mountain in Nantou.

Snow was also reported falling in Yilan's Taiping Mountain area at around 6 o'clock in the morning.

According to the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area Office, the mercury in areas near the peak dropped to minus-3 degrees overnight before this morning's snow fall began.

And in Taipei, snow was reported on parts of Yangminshan this morning - and between 1 and 2-centimeters had accumulated in some areas by around 6 o'clock.

MOHW to Expand Scope of Telemedicine Services from July 1    
發布於 2024-01-23 10:40:13
The Ministry of Health says the definition of special circumstances in which chronic (慢性的) patients are eligible to seek medical treatment remotely will be expanded from July 1.

According to the ministry, the move will benefit roughly 2.47 million people.

The amended Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunications will be expanded to cover individuals who are on a National Health Insurance system chronic disease care plan, or subject to terminal care, correctional institutional care and mobility care.

Those who are in need of remote healthcare due to disasters and infectious diseases will also be included in the expanded program.

China Quake in Xinjiang Region    
發布於 2024-01-23 10:40:13
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck a sparsely (稀疏地) populated part of China’s western Xinjiang region, but no casualties were immediately reported.

State media and local authorities said the quake early this morning destroyed two houses and downed power lines, though electricity has now been restored.

Local authorities said around 200 emergency workers were sent to the area.

The Xinjiang railway authority also suspended dozens of trains.

UN Concerend Abt Weapons Transfers in Ukraine Conflict    
發布於 2024-01-23 10:40:13
The United Nations has once again called for adherence (嚴守) to International law in the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York...

Canada Caps Student Visas    
發布於 2024-01-23 10:40:13
Canada has announced a two-year cap on international student visas to ease the pressure on housing, health care and other services at a time of record immigration.

The country's immigration minister says there will be a 35% reduction in new study visas in 2024.

He said the country’s international students program has been exploited, putting pressure on housing and health care.

A government statement says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet retreat in Montreal this week will prioritize (優先考慮) affordability and housing.

The market gained significant ground on Friday, rising by more than 450-points, driven primarily by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which led the main board higher, as the electronics sector rose by 3.9-per cent during the trading day.

Taipower Denies Reports of Rate Hikes    
發布於 2024-01-22 10:35:13
Tai-Power is denying reports that plans to hike electricity rates this year.

The denial comes amid speculation the state-generator could raise rates after its posted over 380-billion N-T in accumulated losses at of the end of last year.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs' electricity price review committee is scheduled to meet in March to decide on rates for the next six months and reports have been claiming it could seek to raise rates for third consecutive year during that meeting.

However, Tai-Power is dismissing (駁回) those claims and says it's currently "conducting an internal financial review" and seeking "financial support from the government."

Nvidia's Jensen Huang Back in Taiwan    
發布於 2024-01-22 10:35:13
Nvidia co-founder and C-E-O Jensen Huang is back in Taiwan.

Huang was spotted at Ningxia Night Market in Taipei wearing one of his now trademark (（某人的）標記，特徵) leather jackets this past weekend.

Speaking to reporters, Huang said he's in town to celebrate the Lunar New Year with employees at Nvidia's Taiwan Branch.

He's also reportedly slated to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing executives to discuss further cooperation between the two companies and attend a conference on advanced packaging supply chains.

Nvidia is one of T-S-M-C's biggest customer.

US DeSantis Ends Presidential Bid    
發布於 2024-01-22 10:35:13
New Hampshire residents vote in their presidential primary Tuesday --with one less candidate (候選人) to choose from.

AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports.

Germany Rallies Against AfD Party    
發布於 2024-01-22 10:35:13
Hundreds of thousands of people have been protesting in Germany this weekend, against the right-wing Alternative for Germany party.

The demonstrations came in the wake of a report that right-wing extremists recently met to discuss the deportation (驅逐出境) of millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship.

Although Germany has seen other protests against the far right in past years, the protests this weekend are notable for their size and scope.

The demonstrations have garnered support from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, and the Central Council of Jews.

German companies also spoke out against extremism, emphasizing the country's commitment to democracy and tolerance.

(PB)

Indonesia Merapi Eruption    
發布於 2024-01-22 10:35:13
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi has erupted, as other active volcanoes flared up across the country, forcing the evacuation (疏散) of thousands.

Merapi unleashed Sunday clouds of gas, and lava that traveled up to 2 kilometers down its slopes.

Several of Indonesia's active volcanoes also had eruptions.

A volcano in East Nusa Tenggara province spewed hot clouds into the air as more than 6,500 people fled to shelters.

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province, Mount Semeru in East Java province and Mount Ibu in North Maluku province also had new eruptions.

The market staged a technical rebound on Thursday following two losing sessions.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing led the upturn, while buying also spread to other semiconductor heavyweights - with shares in MediaTek and A-S-E Technology also gaining ground.

The financial sector rose and the transportation industry attracted strong buying to outperform the broader market.

Geese Culled at Yunlin Farm Hit by Avian Flu    
發布於 2024-01-19 10:43:14
The Yunlin Animal Disease Control Center says 1,477 geese have been culled (選擇性宰殺) at poultry farm in the county following an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H-5-N-1 avian flu virus.

According to the center, the Dongshih Township farm reported "abnormal deaths" of geese this past Sunday and inspections teams were immediately sent there to carry out tests.

The culling was carried out after the results of sample testing were confirmed yesterday.

It's the second case of avian flu to have been reported in Dongshih Township this year.

LNY Taxi Surcharge in Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung to Begin on February    
發布於 2024-01-19 10:43:14
15

Taxis in Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung will begin adding a 30 N-T surcharge (附加費) over the Lunar New Year holiday.

City officials say the additional 30 N-T surcharge will be automatically included in the taximeter reading from February 5 through 14.

An additional surcharge of 20 N-T will be added from 11PM to 6AM during the holiday period.

US Uvalde Report: Police Failure Cost Lives    
發布於 2024-01-19 10:43:14
A US government report released Thursday details the "critical failures" in the delayed police response to a school shooting in the state of Texas.

The Justice Department's investigation found children's lives could have been saved if law enforcement officers (警察) had acted sooner.

In May 2022, a gunman opened fire at a primary school, killing 19 students and two teachers.

Sally Patterson has more.

AU, EU, UN, US Call for Dialoge in Sudan    
發布於 2024-01-19 10:43:14
The African Union, European Union, United Nations and United States are calling for an immediate cease-fire and constructive dialogue between warring factions in Sudan.

They're also calling for an end to tension (緊張關係、緊張局勢) between Somalia and Ethiopia over an agreement signed with Somalia’s breakaway region Somaliland.

The groups say that the two issues are threatening regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

The U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, says the warring factions in Sudan should immediately end the fighting and adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and respect for human rights.

The Tai-Ex followed most other regional markets and lost ground on Tuesday - falling by 199-points - as investors lacked cues from Wall Street overnight due to U-S markets being closed on Monday.

CDC Releases Medigen COVID-19 Vaccine Contract    
發布於 2024-01-17 10:33:13
The Centers for Disease Control has released the contract used to purchase Medigen Vaccine Biologics' coronavirus vaccine.

According to C-D-C Director General Zhuang Ren-xiang, the 58-page document was made public after Medigen's board of directors passed a resolution authorizing (授權) the government to release it.

Zhuang says the contract had been reviewed by the Control Yuan, the National Audit Office, and the Legislature prior to its being made public and no evidence of illegal behavior was found.

The contract was signed in May of 2021, and the government purchased 5-million doses of the Medigen vaccine, of which 200,000 were donations for the government's help in funding the vaccine's development.

Former Professor Jailed for Fake Bridge Inspection Reports    
發布於 2024-01-17 10:33:13
And,

The Hsinchu District Court has sentenced a former university professor to six-months in prison for falsifying (偽造) documents relating to the safety inspection and assessment of three road bridges in Hsinchu County.

Chen Ming-cheng owned an engineering consulting firm based in Taoyuan.

Chen was found guilty of instructing a student employee to file fake reports indicating that the Tai-He, the Hou-Hu and the Rui-Guang bridges in Xin-Feng Township had all been inspected.

The student employee was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Both verdicts can be appealed.

French president sets out new policies in marathon news conference    
發布於 2024-01-17 10:33:13
The French president has set out new policies ranging from liberal market reforms to an overhaul (檢修) of parental leave.

Emmanuel Macron made the announcements in a marathon news conference on Tuesday.

Ross Cullen reports from Paris.

Shell to Sell Business in Niger Delta    
發布於 2024-01-17 10:33:14
Shell has reached an agreement with a consortium of companies to sell its onshore business in Nigeria's Niger Delta in a deal worth $2.4 billion.

It is the latest move by the London-based energy major to limit its presence in the challenging Niger Delta environment, where it has faced decadeslong local pushbacks to its oil exploration.

Activists want Shell to address environmental damage, such as compensation (賠償) for affected communities, as a condition for the government's approval of the deal.

Shell says the deal is designed to preserve its commitments, including remediation where spills occurred in the past.

Kenya Begins Rhino Relocation Program    
發布於 2024-01-17 10:33:14
Kenya has embarked on its biggest rhino relocation project and has begun the difficult work of tracking, darting and moving 21 of the critically endangered beasts to a new home.

A previous attempt at moving rhinos in the East African nation in 2018 was a disaster as all 11 of the animals died.

The rhinos are being relocated to a conservancy because they need more space to roam and, hopefully, to breed.

Rhinos are generally solitary (獨自的) animals and are at their happiest in large territories.

There are just 6,487 wild rhinos left in the world, according to rhino conservation charity Save The Rhino, all of them in Africa.

Kenyan authorities say they have relocated more than 150 rhinos in the last decade.

The Tai-Ex followed other regional markets and lost ground on Wednesday, as investors reacted to a decline on Wall Street overnight ahead of the release of earnings reports and potential moves by major global central banks.

DPP and KMT Officials Discuss ROC-US-PRC Relations with USIP    
發布於 2024-01-18 10:22:13
Representatives from the D-P-P and K-M-T discussed the significance of the weekend results as well as implications (影響) for peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.

Talks were held under the auspices of the United States Institute of Peace.

... I-C-R-T's Washington correspondent Matt Kaye has more.

WHO says situation in Gaza is "catastrophic"    
發布於 2024-01-18 10:22:13
The World Health Organisation warns that the health system in Gaza is on the brink of (瀕臨) collapse.

A WHO health emergency officer described the dire nature of the health system saying the organisation desperately needs more aid and medical supplies to assist with the unfolding "catastrophe".

Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York.

Italy's Foreign Minister proposes joint EU mission to protect Red Sea    
發布於 2024-01-18 10:22:13
shipping

Italy's Foreign Minister says his country is working alongside France and Germany on a joint European military deployment (調動) to protect shipping in the Red Sea.

Antonio Tajani was speaking at a press conference in the Italian capital, where he set out Italy's priorities for its G7 presidency this year.

Giles Gibson has more from Rome.

Britain Royals    
發布於 2024-01-18 10:22:13
In Britain... King Charles III is scheduled to have a 'corrective (矯正的) procedure for his prostate and Catherine, Princess of Wales is in the hospital after having undergone planned surgery...

Karen Chammas has details.

The market gained ground on Thursday after Wall Street climb to a near-record high overnight and as investors are watching for a U-S inflation report, which was released after the close of trading on the local main board.

Taiwan Passport Ranks 35th in Global Index    
發布於 2024-01-12 10:44:13
R-O-C passport holders have visa-free access to 143 countries and territories around the world, ranking it 35th in the latest Henley Passport Index.

The passport fell four places from 31st in the previous survey issued by the London-based consulting firm Henley & Partners in July 2023.

The rankings are slightly deceptive in that place rankings do not account for (核算、考慮) ties.

As although Taiwan's passport ranked 35th, 69 countries had passports with more visa-free access.

Singapore tops the rankings in the latest index, sharing first place with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain.

Afghanistan remained at the bottom with only 28 destinations offering visa-free travel to its passport holders.

Those holding these passports enjoy visa-free access to 194 nations.

The Henley Passport Index compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations.

Its first index was issued in 2006.

Iran Seizes Oil Tanker    
發布於 2024-01-12 10:44:13
Iran’s navy has seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that once was at the center of a major crisis between Tehran and Washington, a seizure that further escalates tensions in the Mideast waterways.

The vessel was once known as the Suez Rajan and was involved in a yearlong dispute that ultimately (最終) saw the U.S. Justice Department seize 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil on it.

Iran’s state-run television acknowledged the seizure late Thursday afternoon, hours after armed men boarded it.

The seizure also comes after weeks of attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

SAfrica Accuses Israel of Genocide at ICJ Hearing    
發布於 2024-01-12 10:44:13
South African lawyers speaking at the International Court of Justice say Israel planned to "destroy" Gaza.

Lawyers are demanding Israel stop what they say is a "genocidal" (種族滅絕的) military operation against the residents of Gaza - to which Israel will respond on Friday.

From outside the International Court of Justice in The Netherlands, Ishan Garg reports.

Argentina Annual Inflation Rate Highest Ever    
發布於 2024-01-12 10:44:13
Argentina's statistics agency says the country has registered a monthly inflation rate of 25.5% in December and closed 2023 with an annual inflation of 211.4%.

That's the highest rate in 32 years.

The data reflects the strong impact (影響) of a series of shock measures, including a 50% devaluation of the nation’s currency, implemented by right-wing President Javier Milei in hopes of eventually taming the country's roaring inflation.

Shares in Taiwan continued to feel the pinch as a result of uncertainties created by the presidential election, giving up earlier gains.

Large cap tech stocks came under pressure, driving the broader market lower as a whole, while buying rotated to "military concept stocks" amid worries over cross-strait ties as well as shipping stocks which were boosted by hopes
of growing freight rates (海運運費率) in the wake of the crisis in the Red Sea.

Former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh dies at age 83    
發布於 2024-01-15 10:23:13
Democracy movement leader and activist Shih Ming-teh has died at the age of 83,

The Taipei Veterans General Hospital says Shih passed away early this morning, and his family confirms that today was also his birthday.

Shih was jailed for years in the 60s and 70s for sedition, after calling for Taiwan's independence from China, and again between 1980 and 1990 for his role in the Formosa Incident, in which the then authoritarian Kuomintang regime (政府，政權) cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrations in Kaohsiung.

He was also the founder of the Shih Ming-Te Foundation, a nongovernmental organization based in New Taipei's Xizhi District aimed at promoting the advancement of ethnic reconciliation, national freedom, equality, democracy and human rights.

India Opposition Party Begins March Ahead of National Vote    
發布於 2024-01-15 10:23:13
Thousands of members of India’s main opposition Congress party and its supporters have begun a 2-month cross-country march ahead of a crucial national vote this year.

The march is led by Rahul Gandhi, scion (繼乘人) of the influential Gandhi family.

This is the second time the Congress party has hit the road in the last two years to rally support for elections.

India is expected to vote in a national election in April or May, and the opposition is scrambling to put up a fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

Modi and his party remain popular after nearly a decade in power and many surveys suggest he will win a third consecutive term this year.

US Texas Officials Accused of Blocking Migrant Rescue    
發布於 2024-01-15 10:23:13
The Department of Homeland Security is accusing Texas officials of blocking federal agents who were trying to save a migrant woman and two children who drowned.

AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports.

Russia Former Mayor to Fight    
發布於 2024-01-15 10:23:13
Russian local media say a disgraced (蒙羞) former mayor convicted over bribery has had his prison sentence cut short after signing a contract to fight with Russia’s military in Ukraine.

Oleg Gumenyuk, who served as mayor of the far eastern city of Vladivostok between 2018 and 2021, was convicted last year of accepting bribes worth over $400-thousand US dollars and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

However, his lawyers say he was released after agreeing to fight in Ukraine.

He said that the politician’s whereabouts were unknown, but that the former mayor was instructed to report to his military unit on Dec. 22nd.

Shares in Taiwan closed slightly higher Monday after investors rebuilt their positions with political uncertainties removed following the presidential election over the weekend.

The bellwether electronics sector led the upturn as investors resumed buying after the election, while power development-related developers and biotech stocks also moved higher on expectations that the ruling DPP, which won the presidential vote, would continue to lend them support.

2 men indicted for signature buying in Pingtung County    
發布於 2024-01-16 10:31:13
Two suspects, including a Pingtung ward chief, were indicted Monday by prosecutors for buying signatures for business tycoon Terry Gou to help him reach the level of endorsement (揹書) needed to run in Taiwan's Jan. 13-th presidential election.

The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office says the ward chief, identified by his last name Chiu, was found to have paid his wife, and another man $200 NT apiece for their signatures late last year, Chiu and the other man then worked with four others to gather over 30 signatures.

The two men are facing charges of "arranging bribes to compel a person to sign the candidacy petition of a specified individual."

Iran Launches Strikes Against Iraq    
發布於 2024-01-16 10:31:13
Iran says it launched strikes against a “spy headquarters and the gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups” shortly after missiles hit an area near the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Regional political figures said one of the strikes killed a prominent (著名的、重要的) local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies, along with members of his family.

Soon after, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck “terrorist operations,” including Islamic State targets in Syria “and destroyed them by firing a number of ballistic missiles.”

Another statement said they had hit a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

Poland PM Announces Elections    
發布於 2024-01-16 10:31:13
Poland’s new Prime Minister Donald Tusk said crucial elections to choose city mayors and provincial and county administration leaders would be held April 7, with a runoff April 21.

The elections, announced Monday, will test the new pro-European Union coalition government’s popular support, just six months after it won parliamentary elections.

Tusk and his Cabinet took office last month, vowing to restore the importance and powers of city mayors and local governments which the previous right-wing government sought to limit.

Local administrations suffered slashed (削減) funding and stalled projects and investments.

Tensions between the new government and the previously ruling Law and Justice party have escalated with the latter blocking proposed bills in parliament.

Pope Not Planning on Retirement    
發布於 2024-01-16 10:31:13
Pope Francis insists that he is not thinking about retiring at the moment.

With the 87-year-old suffering from (遭受) a number of health issues last year, there has been speculation that he could step back from his role, as his predecessor Benedict the Sixteenth did in 2013.

Giles Gibson has more from Rome.

The market continued to lose ground and turnover slipped once again on Wednesday as investors awaited the release of U-S consumer price index data for December later this week, as turnover slipped once again.

Analysts say this week's continuing downward trend and low turnover also reflect how this weekend's presidential and legislative elections are weighing on market sentiment.

    Over 50 Listed as Suspects in Alleged Subsidized China Trip Case    
發布於 2024-01-11 11:12:13
The Yilan District Prosecutors' Office says 53 people have been listed as suspects in an ongoing investigation into violations of the anti-infiltration (反滲透) and election laws.

They were listed as suspects after being questioned and include several village and neighborhood chiefs.

All of them allegedly traveled to China on trips subsidized by the Chinese government in December of last year.

According to the prosecutors' office, they were invited by Chinese officials in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province and Hebei Province and traveled on schedules arranged by officials from China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

The suspects were were allegedly asked to state that they "support the parties that boost cross-strait relations," and "oppose Taiwan independence" during the trips and some reportedly joined Chinese officials in chanting pro-unification slogans.

    Japan Begins Building US Military Base on Okinawa    
發布於 2024-01-11 11:12:13
Japan’s government is beginning construction (建造) on a new US military base in the country’s Okinawa islands, overriding the objections of local officials.

Tokyo approved landfill works to relocate the Futenma airbase to the Henoko region by proxy after Okinawa’s government refused to green-light the project, saying it will destroy local ecosystems and attract war.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo.

    Somalia AlShabab Fighters Attack UN Helicopter    
發布於 2024-01-11 11:12:13
Officials in Somalia say fighters with al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate al-Shabab have attacked a United Nations helicopter that made an emergency landing in territory controlled by the extremists, killing one passenger and abducting (綁架) five others.

One official told the Associated Press that the helicopter landed due to engine failure.

He said six foreigners and one Somali national were on board and one was shot dead while trying to escape.

One was missing.

The United Nations confirmed the incident but didn't give details for the safety of those on board.

Al-Shabab has not immediately claimed responsibility.

    Greece PM to Submit Legislation for SameSex Marriage    
發布於 2024-01-11 11:12:13
Greece’s center-right prime minister says his government will soon submit legislation allowing civil marriage for same-sex couples.

That's despite reservations from some of his party's own lawmakers and the country’s powerful church.

But Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says the proposed (提出的) law will not extend the right to parenthood through surrogate mothers to same-sex couples — an issue that has divided Greek society.

Mitsotakis said Wednesday he is confident the law can be approved in parliament with cross-party support, even though he won't force those of his lawmakers who are against it to back it.

The market saw a technical rebound on Monday on the back of gains seen by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

However, the upturn was limited amid investor caution ahead of the release of more U-S economic data later in the week, which could influence how the Federal Reserve will seek to handle monetary policy in the future.

Tsai Talks Next-Gen IDF    
發布於 2024-01-09 10:30:13
In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

President Tsai Ing-wen says the government is preparing to develop the next generation of indigenous jet fighters.

According to Tsai, the move is aimed at "ensuring continuity of her administration's national defense policy."

She made the announcement during an interview with ERA News, in which she highlighted the government's resolve to build Taiwan's autonomy in the area of defense systems and the government's "defense autonomy" plan.

Tsai went on to say "if the plan is interrupted, it will be difficult to resume" - and expressed her hope that the next president will maintain support for the development of the island's defense industry.

Ministry of Culture Announces Rollout of Pop Promotion Subsidies    
發布於 2024-01-09 10:30:13
The Ministry of Culture has announced that it will begin accepting applications for the government's pop music promotion subsidy program from tomorrow.

According to the ministry, the program has been developed to promote the production of pop music programs aimed at international markets.

The program has been granted funding of 10-billion N-T from now through 2027.

The ministry says popular music programs that will be considered for subsidies need to include at least 10 episodes and have a production cost of at least 6-million N-T per episode.

Approved applications can receive a subsidy of up to 40-per cent of the total estimated production costs.

US Blinken: ArabNations Turkey Agree to PostWar Planning for Gaza    
發布於 2024-01-09 10:30:13
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says four key Arab nations and Turkey have agreed to begin planning for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza once Israel’s war against Hamas ends.

Blinken spoke Monday after meeting with the Saudi crown prince.

He is on an urgent Mideast mission that also took him to Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Arab countries had previously resisted U.S. calls for post-war planning to begin, insisting that there must first be a cease-fire and a sharp reduction in civilian suffering caused by Israel's military offensive.

Blinken said he would bring the Arab commitments to Israel's prime minister and the Palestinian leader before presenting them to the Egyptian president.

The market closed slightly lower on Tuesday, as the main board gave up its early gains ahead of Saturday's elections.

Selling sent old economy and financial stocks lower, while the bellwether electronics sector remained above the previous day's closing level, despite coming off an initial upturn - and that was led by large semiconductor stocks.

Lai Urges Beijing to Engage in Talks with Taiwan    
發布於 2024-01-10 10:49:13
D-P-P presidential candidate Lai Ching-te is calling on China's leadership to assume responsibility for regional stability and engage in dialogue with Taiwan.

Speaking at at a press conference in Taipei, Lai said the "door will always be open to engagements (互動) with Beijing on the principles of equality and dignity."

Lai said if elected he will continue President Tsai Ing-wen's policies, including efforts to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and expand links with democratic nations.

Lai went on to say that believes his being elected "will be helpful for creating a new situation in the Indo-Pacific region" that will contribute to the "stability of the Taiwan Strait."

Air Force Plays Down T-34C Trainer Replacement Plan    
發布於 2024-01-10 10:49:13
The Ministry of National Defense is stressing that it has not made any final decision on whether to choose locally designed and built jet trainers to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of Beechcraft T-34Cs.

The statement comes after the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation earlier this week announced that it had completed the first stage of design for a military trainer aircraft to replace the T-34Cs.

A-I-D-C said a prototype is expected to be completed by 2028, and mass production could begin in 2031.

However, the defense ministry says it is "still considering (考慮) whether to "choose locally-made trainers, trainers that are the results of local and international cooperation, or simply rent new trainers instead of buying them."

Yemen Houthi Rebels Fire at Red Sea Ships    
發布於 2024-01-10 10:49:13
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, though no damage was initially apparent (明顯的).

That's according to a private intelligence firm and the British military.

The assault late Tuesday happened off the Yemeni port cities of Hodeida and Mokha.

In the Hodeida incident, the intelligence firm said ships described over radio seeing missiles and drones, with U.S.-allied warships in the area urging “vessels to proceed at maximum speed.”

Off Mokha, ships saw missiles fired, a drone in the air and small vessels trailing them.

A Houthi official acknowledged the attack in comments reported by Al Jazeera.

Japan Moves to Clarify Runway Instructions After Haneda Crash    
發布於 2024-01-10 10:49:13
Officials in Japan are implementing emergency steps to avoid collisions at Tokyo’s Haneda airport after two aircraft crashed on the tarmac last week.

Investigators believe vague updates from the control tower may have led a pilot to mistakenly (錯誤地) believe he had clearance to enter the runway while another aircraft was landing.

Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo.

The market lost ground on Friday for a fourth straight trading session ahead of the release of December's U-S non-farm payroll data - that could hint at future moves by the U-S Federal Reserve.

The bellwether electronics sector led the downturn - as selling focused on large cap semiconductor stocks, while buying rotated to shipping and tourism stocks as investors looked for places to park their funds.

Analyst Warns Chinese Balloons Being Used to 'Maintain Pressure' on Taiwan    
發布於 2024-01-08 10:31:13
Tamkang University assistant professor Lin Yin-yu says the Chinese balloons recently detected floating over Taiwan are likely aimed at "maintaining pressure" on Taipei without unduly escalating tensions.

The statement comes as the Ministry of National Defense has been reporting balloons being spotted over the Taiwan Strait since early December.

Defense officials have said analyses shows the main purpose of the balloons is to "harass and rattle people in Taiwan" ahead of this coming weekend's elections.

According to Lin, there's "no direct correlation" between the balloons and election interference and the balloons are instead likely being used as an alternative (選擇) to more large-scale moves to "harass Taiwan," such as incursions by Chinese warplanes or military vessels.

CNN Names Tainan as One of World's Best Travel Destinations for 2024    
發布於 2024-01-08 10:31:13
CNN Travel has selected Tainan as one of the 24 best travel destinations globally for 2024 - praising the city for having exceptional (卓越的) cuisine and remarkable natural attractions.

According to CNN Travel, Tainan willl be celebrating its 400th anniversary this year and "has become a Taiwan hotspot on the international stage."

The CNN report says the city has surpassed Taipei to boast the highest overall hotel occupancy rate (入住率) in Taiwan over the past two years.

And it goes on to say that Tainan is "considered the street food capital of Taiwan and is loved for its beef soup and oyster omelets, while there are also otherworldly natural landscapes such as Tsao Shan Moon World, scenic salt farms, old temples and special museums."

Russia Ukraine war wrap    
發布於 2024-01-08 10:31:13
Officials say the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson has been subjected to numerous shelling (砲擊).

The head of the Kherson city administration said Sunday that two people died in the shelling attacks and several others were wounded.

Laurence Brooks has the story

Libya Oil Field Suspends Operations after Protests    
發布於 2024-01-08 10:31:13
Libya's state-run oil company says production at the country's largest oil field has been suspended after protesters forced the facility's closure over fuel shortages.

The company said Sunday it has declared force majeure (不可抗力) at the Sharara oil field in the country’s south.

The company says negotiations with the protesters were underway to resume production as soon as possible.

Local media reported that residents of the southern town of Ubari forced the shutdown of the field earlier this month.

Libya has been in turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

The turnover of NT$2.3 billion NT

Newly unveiled carbon pricing formula gets mixed industry response    
發布於 2024-01-05 11:41:13
Companies are responding with mixed reviews to the carbon fee (碳費) charging formula unveiled (宣布) by the Ministry of Environment's Climate Change Administration

A source from Taiwan's Chinese National Federation of Industries said the new formula encouraged "fair competition..." adding that since the fee will only be paid when the threshold (門檻) is crossed, it won't be too punitive (懲罰性的) on relatively low emitters (低排放量的公司).

But the source also said the government needed to prioritize fairness (以公平為優先) when implementing its carbon pricing scheme... and that similar regulations would need to apply to imported products, otherwise domestic industries would face unfair competition.

Those in the petrochemical industry also voiced concerns regarding the carbon fee, saying their industry had faced setbacks (挫折) and profit declines.

Given that and other problems, the petrochemical industry is hoping the government will suspend its carbon fees.

Environmentalists have already warned that the carbon pricing scheme don't apply enough pressure on companies to decarbonise (脫碳).

Number of days off work from public holidays to total 11 in 2024    
發布於 2024-01-05 11:41:13
Workers in Taiwan will have a total of 11 days off work, excluding weekends, for the celebration of public holidays in 2024.

The Ministry of the Interior says in addition to New Year's Day, which fell on Monday, the 10 other public holidays in 2024 include the four-day Lunar New Year holiday, Children's Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, and National Day.

And people working in the private sector, including banks and financial markets, will receive an extra day off on Labor Day in May.

Meanwhile, the MOI said Indigenous peoples (原住民) will also get one day off to celebrate the Indigenous Ceremonial Holiday, with dates to be announced by the Council of Indigenous Peoples based on the customs of different Indigenous communities.

And the MOI says if a public holiday falls on a weekend, workers will be compensated with a day off at another time, in accordance with government regulations.

Japan Earthquake update    
發布於 2024-01-05 11:41:13
In world news...

Rescue workers are braving the cold (勇抗嚴寒) to save people still trapped under collapsed buildings in western Japan.

More soldiers have been ordered to bolster (支撐，協助) the rescue operations Thursday, providing those in need with drinking water and hot meals after a magnitude 7.6 quake hit Ishikawa Prefecture on Monday.

So far, 92 people have been reported dead.

A downpour and possible snow are expected, raising the risk of landslides.

Officials say 242 are still missing, releasing a list with their names.

Many of them are elderly and from the hard-hit cities of Wajima and Suzu.

Although Japan is reputed (著名的) for relatively reliable disaster relief, essential supplies such as water, food and blankets have been running short.

NYC sues bus companies over migrants row    
發布於 2024-01-05 11:41:13
New York is suing a number of bus companies it accuses of bringing thousands of migrants to the city.

Mayor Eric Adams says the suit (訴訟) is intended to recoup (補償) some of the money spent on caring for people that were bussed from the southern border.

William Denselow reports from New York.

Shares in Taiwan took a beating Wednesday, tumbling nearly 300 points, as investors took their cue from heavy losses suffered by tech stocks on U.S.

markets overnight by trimming holdings in large electronics stocks on the local main board.

Contract chipmaker TSMC led the downtrend as it failed to withstand stiff selling and fell below the nearest technical support at around its 20-day moving average by the end of the trading session.

Over 30% vegetables fail pesticide residue tests: Foundation Testing conducted by an NPO finds that over 30-percent of fresh vegetables failed checks for pesticide residue (殘留物).

The Consumer's Foundation says it purchased 12 randomly chosen vegetables in August 2023 at wet markets and traditional night markets in Taipei, New Taipei and Taichung, and pesticide residue testing resulted in a failure of 33-percent.

And 67 percent of produce labeled or advertised as "organic" were found to contain large amounts of pesticide residue.

The foundation says it used a rapid pesticide screening method recommended by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

It noted that suppliers of farm produce incorrectly labeled as organic can face fines up to $300-thousand NT according to government regulations.

The foundation urged consumers to check whether vendors selling organic vegetables have a certificate indicating they have been certified to sell such produce and that it contains the name of the certification body and a registration number.

Japan Earthquake Rescue Continues Amid Rough Weather Rescuers in Japan are braving the cold in a race against time as they search for survivors along the country's western coastline after a powerful earthquake earlier in the week left at least 77 people dead and 35 missing.

A downpour (傾盆大雨) and possible snow are expected, raising the risk of landslides.

A list of those officially missing grew from 15 to 35 people, including a 13-year-old boy.

Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas were shaken by more aftershocks, adding to the dozens that followed Monday’s magnitude 7.6 temblor.

Nearly 33-thousand people are staying at evacuation centers, and local officials are encouraging everyone ot use masks and take precautions against the spread of infectious diseases.

Uganda Gay Rights Activist Stabbed
A well-known gay rights activist in Uganda has been stabbed by unknown assailants, and police say he has been hospitalized in critical condition (病危).

A police spokesperson says two attackers who arrived on motorcycle attacked Kabuye, and nearby residents found him after the attack.

According to a fellow activist, Kabuye had claimed the attackers had been following him for several days, and intended to kill him.

Ugandan rights activists have expressed fears that a new law against homosexuality enacted in May would increase attacks against the gay community.

US SF Installs Nets on Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco finally has installed (安裝) nets to stop suicides off the Golden Gate Bridge.

The AP's Ed Donahue reports.

Taiwanese to enjoy 115 days off work in 2024 Workers in Taiwan are expected to have a total of 115 days off this year, including public holidays and weekends.

The next significant (重要的) public holiday is the week-long Lunar New Year holiday from February 8th to 14th.

Other public holidays include Peace Memorial Day on February 28th, a four-day holiday in April for Children's Day and Tomb Sweeping Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend on June 8th to 10th.

In the second half of the year, there are two public holidays: the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 17th and National Day on October 10th.

Note that Labor Day on May 1st and Armed Forces Day on September 3rd are not included in this list.

(CNA-JI) Japan Earthquake Rescue Continues
A series of powerful earthquakes has hit western Japan, leaving at least four people dead and damaging buildings, vehicles and boats.

Officials are warning people in some areas today to stay away from their homes because of a continuing risk of major quakes.

Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area on Monday afternoon.

Officials say four people are confirmed dead in Ishikawa and police are investigating two other reported deaths.

On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, as well as for the northern island of Hokkaido.

The warning was downgraded (降級) several hours later, and all tsunami warnings were lifted as of early Tuesday.

Waves measuring more than one meter hit some places.

The agency warned that more major quakes could hit the area over the next few days.

Epstein Documents to be Unsealed
This Week Several court documents regarding Jeffrey Epstein's associates are to be unsealed this week with Former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew expected to be named.

In 2019 Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell in Manhattan while facing charges of child sex-trafficking and conspiracy (陰謀).

Jody Jacobs reports from New York…
Ethiopia Somalia Sign Agreement for Coastline Access Landlocked Ethiopia has taken the first steps toward gaining access to the sea, signing an agreement in the capital of Addis Ababa with the breakaway (獲得獨立的) Somali region of Somaliland to access the Somaliland coastline.

The memorandum of understanding was signed Monday by leaders on both sides.

As part of the deal, Somaliland plans to lease a 20-km stretch of land along its coastline to Ethiopia to establish a marine force base.

And Somaliland's president said the agreement included a statement that Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent country in the near future.

Defense officials say the only personnel who will be unable to vote are the 5,000 individuals who will remain on duty (值勤)on election day to deal with potential emergencies.

According to the ministry, the number of personnel unable to cast ballots in the elections will be about the same as last year's local elections and is also similar to the number who couldn't vote in the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections.

Culture Points Cash to be Available for 16-22-Year-Olds from January 20    
發布於 2023-12-28 11:19:13
The Ministry of Culture has announced that people aged between 16 to 22 will be eligible to claim 1,200 N-T in Culture Points (文化幣) cash handouts (贈品) from January 20.

The program was launched in June and was originally only open to those aged between 18 and 21.

The Ministry of Culture says the decision to widen eligibility for the Culture Points means the number of recipients (接受者) has been increased from around 1 million to 1.5-million.

The Culture Points can be used at designated (指定的) independent bookstores, record stores, music stores, live music events and venues, cultural parks, bazaars (文創市集), and screenings of Taiwanese movies.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for bolstered war readiness    
發布於 2023-12-28 11:19:13
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for bolstered war readiness (增進戰爭準備) to repel what he says are unprecedented U.S.-led confrontational moves...

He made the comments during a key political meeting tasked with setting state objectives (設定國家目標) for 2024.

Kim’s comments, reported by state media, indicated once again that North Korea will likely continue weapons tests to modernize its nuclear arsenal (核武彈藥庫).

But observers say Kim likely hopes to eventually use his boosted arsenal as leverage in diplomacy with Washington, possibly after the U.S. presidential election next November.

During Wednesday’s session of the ruling party’s plenary meeting, Kim also set tasks for the military and the munitions industry (軍火工業) to “further accelerate (加快) the war preparations."

NYT sues OpenAI and Microsoft    
發布於 2023-12-28 11:19:13
The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft on claims of copyright infringement.

The newspaper claims its articles were used to train artificial intelligence programs.

William Denselow reports from New York.

Oil prices retreat    
發布於 2023-12-28 11:19:13
Oil prices dropped nearly 2% after shippers say they will return to Red Sea routes despite further attacks on Tuesday.

Brent crude futures settled down 1.8%, at $79.65 U.S. dollars a barrel.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1.9%, to $74.11 dollars.

Danish shipping company Maersk said it has scheduled several dozen container vessels (貨櫃輪) to travel via the Suez Canal and Red Sea in the coming weeks.

It had previously temporarily (暫時的) halted using those routes this month after attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed (伊朗支持的) Houthi militia.

The Qiao-tou District Prosecutors' Office in Kaohsiung has indicted (起訴) one person on charges of election interference (干涉選舉)by organizing group tours to China partially funded by local Chinese governments.

According to the prosecutors' office, participants who signed-up for the tour were asked to vote for Beijing's preference (比較中意的) in January's election.

The man is the first to have been charged with engaging in actions aimed at swaying voters toward candidates favored by Beijing in the presidential and legislative elections.

He's charged with violating the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法), the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall (罷免) Act, and the Public officials Election And Recall Act.

CDC Urges People to get XBB Vaccine Amid Rise in COVID-19 Cases    
發布於 2023-12-27 11:35:13
The Centers for Disease Control is urging the elderly and people with chronic diseases to get the XBB coronavirus variant (變種) vaccine as soon as possible due to a sharp rise in the number of cases in recent weeks.

According to the C-D-C, it reported 326 new coronavirus cases in the week starting December 19 and that was a 26-per cent increase from the previous week.

Of those new cases, 99-percent of the infected (遭到感染的) individuals had not received an X-B-B shot.

The C-D-C says nearly 770,000 people have now received X-B-B shots and the vaccine is also effective in protecting against the EG.5 and JN.1 coronavirus variants.

Israel's war against Hamas deepens    
發布於 2023-12-27 11:35:13
In world news...

The Israeli military says it has expanded (擴大) its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip to the densely populated (人口密集的) urban refugee camps in the central part of the territory.

Residents reported shelling and airstrikes shaking the 3 camps.

The built-up towns hold Palestinians whose families fled or were driven from their homes (被趕出家門) in what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s independence.

The camps are now crowded with Palestinians who fled northern Gaza in the early stages of Israel’s ground offensive (地面攻擊).

The Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 240 people were killed over the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s main telecom provider announced another “complete interruption” of services.

Police are investigating incidents involving Colorado justices    
發布於 2023-12-27 11:35:13
In US news...

Police are investigating incidents involving Colorado justices (最高法院法官) after former President Donald Trump's name was removed from the state's ballot (從選票上移除).

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

North Korean leader touts achievements    
發布於 2023-12-27 11:35:13
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has touted (吹捧) achievements and victories that strengthened national power this year, as he opened a key political meeting to set new policy goals for 2024.

North Korean state media today that Kim made the comments in his opening-day speech at a key ruling Workers' Party meeting that began Tuesday.

The meeting is expected to last several days to review state projects this year and establish new national objectives (目標) for next year.

The airline says the bonuses will be accompanied (伴隨) by an average monthly pay raise of 5,000 N-T for crew and ground staff and a wage hike of between 11,000 to 20,000 N-T for pilots, depending on their rank.

The statements come as EVA Airways' members of the Taoyuan Union of Pilots are currently voting on whether to take strike action (罷工) if the airline refuses to grant their demand for a structural pay hike (結構性調薪).

Yang Yung-wei Nabs Sports Elite Award for Best Male Athlete of 2023    
發布於 2023-12-26 14:47:13
The Sports Elite Awards (菁英獎) has announced its list of Taiwan's top athletes of 2023.

Judo champion Yang Yong-wei has taken the top spot in the Best Male Athlete category after winning Taiwan's 100th gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in late September.

It's the third consecutive year that Yang has won the accolade.

The Best Female Athlete Award has gone to Lien Zhen-ling (連珍羚), who also won a Judo gold at this year's Asian Games.

While pro Go player Hsu Hao-hong (許皓鋐) was presented with "Special Award" at the ceremony in Taipei winning Taiwan's first ever gold medal in Go at the Hangzhou Games.

Israel-Palestinians war with no end in sight    
發布於 2023-12-26 14:47:13
In world news...

Israel and Hamas have given cool public receptions to an Egyptian proposal to end their bitter war.

But the longstanding enemies (宿敵) on Monday stopped short of rejecting the plan altogether.

The Egyptian plan calls for a phased hostage release (階段性的釋放人質) and the formation (組成) of a Palestinian government of experts to administer the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank.

The Egyptian official said the details were worked out with the Gulf nation of Qatar and presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment directly on the proposal.

But speaking to members of his Likud Party, he said the war is not “close to finished", adding that the troops are expanding the fight in the coming days.

Hamas, meanwhile, said it wouldn't negotiate without an “end to the aggression (結束入侵).”

Ukraine has celebrated Christmas and continues its battles with Russian    
發布於 2023-12-26 14:47:13
forces

Ukraine has celebrated Christmas and continues its battles with Russian forces.

AP correspondent Norman Hall reports.

Plane Grounded in France    
發布於 2023-12-26 14:47:13
A charter plane grounded in France for a human trafficking (人口販賣) investigation has departed for India carrying 276 Indians blocked (被阻擋) inside a rural (鄉下的) French airport for days.

Legend Airlines A340 take off on Monday after the crew and passengers boarded the plane at Vatry Airport in Champagne county.

Local authorities said 276 of the 303 original passengers were en route to (前往) Mumbai, and 25 others stayed in France and requested asylum (特赦).

Two others were detained and released and appeared before a judge as part of an investigation into what happened.

French authorities didn't specify Monday whether human trafficking is still suspected (嫌疑).