ICRT

Posted on 2025-03-25 15:06:13

Tainan City Police say, there will be traffic controls in place starting
tomorrow.

That's in anticipation of the drills set to take place there Thursday.

The drills will be the country's first resilience drills to simulate
overlapping disasters.

Tainan police say, the Anping district will see traffic controls starting
tomorrow and Thursday from 8am until 4pm around streets in the city's south.

Official recommend taking other routes, but vehicles in those areas during
the controlled time periods must comply with traffic controls and directions
from police to ensure the safety of all.

The drill is set to take place Thursday from 10-2 at various locations,
including the square across from Yu-ping post office, at Tainan Municipal
Nan-ning　南寧 high school, and at the An-ping port traveler service center.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-25 15:06:13

A batch of squid from Hokkaido, Japan, was stopped at the border for
excessive levels of a heavy metal.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the 0.29-kilogram batch
contained double the permissible limits for cadmium for this category of
food.

The batch was either returned or destroyed, as were five other non-compliant
products revealed in the FDA's latest inspection report.

These included Vietnamese asparagus, Malaysian mixed spices, dried jackfruit
and longan from Thailand, all flagged for excessive pesticide residues or had
other violations.

The FDA Deputy Director said the importer of the squid will face stricter
screening..

He also mentioned that only 2 out of 243 batches of inspected Japanese squid
were flagged in the past 6 months, so there won't be changes to inspection
rates.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-03-25 15:06:13

High-Speed Internet

Organisers of the 2025 Summer World Masters Games are teaming up with
Chunghwa Telecom to ensure high-speed and stable internet services across all
venues.

They say the telecommunications giant will install fiber-optic and Wi-Fi
networks indoors and outdoors, supporting athlete registrations and live
streaming.

5G mobile stations will also be deployed to ensure seamless connectivity for
event operations, athletes, and spectators.

Scheduled for May 17th to 30th, this year's games will kick off with an
opening ceremony at Taipei Dome, with over 25-thousand participants expected.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-03-25 14:07:13

The Chinese national facing deportation for calling for reunification of
Taiwan with China by force is appealing to the Ministry of the Interior to
prevent her deportation.

The woman, surnamed Liu, held a press conference together with civil groups
outside the ministry today.

Protesters calling for her to be deported gathered there as well.

The woman made the controversial statements on her douyin account, entitled
"Yaya in Taiwan."

Her residence in Taiwan, which was based on her marriage to a Taiwanese
citizen, was revoked and she cannot apply again within the next 5 years.

She was also ordered to leave the country before tomorrow.

Liu also applied to the Taipei High Court for a suspension of her
deportation, but her application was rejected, leaving the door open for her
to contest.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-25 14:07:13

The Central Weather Administration is warning that there could be aftershocks
in the next three days, after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck Hualien at
9:40am this morning.

Those aftershocks could be between 4 and 4.5 in magnitude.

The epicenter of today's earthquake was just under 10 kilometers southeast of
Hualien County Hall, in the ocean with a depth of 25 kilometers.

Hualien and Nantou both felt the quake at an intensity level of 4.

Authorities have reported no damage or injuries so far.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-25 14:07:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture are forming a
"Smart Agriculture Advisory Group."

The group aims to promote Taiwan's cooperation with diplomatic allies and
friendly nations on agricultural initiatives by mobilizing public and private
sector resources.

The two ministries say they will enhance cooperation on artificial
intelligence and other smart technologies to promote precision agriculture.

The goal is for Taiwan's agricultural sector to expand its global footprint
and help Taiwan's allies and friends to strengthen global food security and
sustainability amid climate change-induced challenges.

This comes after Foreign Minister Lin Jia-long and Agriculture Minister Chen
Jun-ji met yesterday to discuss aquaculture projects in Palau and the
Philippines, and potentially sending an agricultural mission to the US as a
means of reducing the trade surplus with the country.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-03-25 14:07:13

Shares are mixed in Asia today, with Chinese markets retreating, following a
broad rally on Wall Street.

The Taiex rose 166 points to end the session at 22,273.

The turnover remained low, at 249.8 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-03-25 13:10:13

Some Taiwan Railways trains were forced to slow down today after a magnitude
5.1 earthquake hit Hualien at 9:40 AM.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation says with the earthquake intensity level at 4
in Hualien, the trains between Chong De 崇德 and Feng Lin 鳳林 followed
earthquake protocol.

The protocol stipulates that the first train which enters the affected area
after the quake must proceed at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, while the
next one can go at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour.

After engineers confirm that there are no obstructions on the tracks, trains
can resume normal speed.

Similar precautions were followed for the areas between Nan'ao and Chong De.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-25 13:10:13

The Ministry of the Environment says, air quality in the center and north is
expected to be poor today.

They anticipate red alert warnings for Mazu, greater Taipei, and Taoyuan,
meaning that the air quality can be unhealthy for all groups.

There's an orange warning for the western half of the island elsewhere and
outlying Kinmen and Penghu,which means the air may be unhealthy for the
sensitive group.

The Ministry recommends reducing outdoor activity in affected areas, and
wearing a mask outside. '

Currently, Taipei and New Taipei are at orange level alerts, while Taoyuan
and Keelung are at yellow level alerts.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-25 13:10:13

The Taichung City government has announced that Taipei 101 will join forces
with Cathay Life Insurance to build "Landmark Plaza Taichung" in the downtown
area.

The skyscraper, positioned as a high-end shopping mall combined with a
premium office and hotel tower, will be located near the Taichung MRT City
Hall station.

Taipei 101 chair Jia Yong-jie said her company has reached a 20-lease
agreement with Cathay Life Insurance with an initial investment at $4.5
billion NT.

Cathay Life said the overall plan includes a 34-story above-ground structure
and 7 underground levels, and the completion is expected in 2029 and an
opening, in 2030.

The department store will be from B1 to the 7th floor.

Taichung officials said the city has become a hotspot for international
luxury hotel brands with central Taiwan's first InterContinental Hotel and
Evergreen Hotels’ new brand Halo House entered Taichung last year, as well
as JW Marriott and Park Hyatt's Andaz Hotel to open new outlets in the coming
months.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-03-25 12:16:13

tribunals and the death penalty

Lawmakers have clashed during a planned review of a K-M-T proposal to hold
referendums on military tribunals and the death penalty.

Arguments broke out after the K-M-T legislative caucus proposed send the
referendum proposals to a second reading earlier this morning.

D-P-P lawmakers also occupied the podium after New Party Deputy
Secretary-General You Shi-bin was alleged to have entered the second floor of
the Legislative Yuan with a press pass and began live broadcasting.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu called a recess shortly afterwards.

The K-M-T proposed the referendums last week - arguing that the D-P-P is
seeking to unfairly target military personnel and stigmatize the armed forces
by calling for the restoration of the military trial system ..

.. and it is a push toward martial law and war.

The K-M-T has also argued that the a ruling issued by the Constitutional
Court last year, which found the death penalty constitutional only for the
"most serious" premeditated murders and crimes leading to death has
"prevented justice from being done."

Posted on 2025-03-25 12:16:14

In related news,

The Ministry of National Defense says members of civil defense groups will
not be subject to military trials
in wartime.

The statement comes after Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen met with members of the
city's National Defense Mobilization agency to discuss training programs and
planned exercises.

Speaking at the meeting, Lu questioned whether those who participate in the
training programs could be subject to military trials and called for a
response from the defense ministry.

According to defense officials, members of wartime civil defense groups are
not included in combat operations and therefore are not subject to military
trials because they are not considered to be active duty military personnel.

The question over who is subject to military trials
in wartime follows
President Lai Ching-te's announcing the restoration of the military trial
system.

The Cabinet has said further details about plans to reinstate the military
trial system will be released next month.

Posted on 2025-03-25 12:16:14

Premier Cho Jung-tai says there is no room for compromise in the case
involving a Chinese social media influencer who advocated for China's
"military unification" of Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters, the premier said anyone who violates laws related to
sovereignty and security will be dealt severely, but the process must be
handled in a "humane manner."

According to Cho, the matter is being handled by the Ministry of the Interior
in accordance with all relevant laws related to cross-strait ties, but the
government's policy on the issues is "firm" ..

... as the island's sovereignty and national dignity must be protected.

The statements come after the woman, who has a Douyin account titled "Yaya in
Taiwan," told T-V-B-S News that she has not booked a flight out of the
country ..

.. and that her statements on "unification through military force" were aimed
at analyzing the dangers such a move could bring.

She also said that she supports "peaceful unification," not "military
unification" and that her children will suffer "major harm" if she were to be
deported.

The woman was issued with deportation order last week requiring her to leave
the island by today at the latest, and the National Immigration Agency has
revoked her family-based residence certificate.

Posted on 2025-03-25 12:16:14

Turning to sports ... and beginning with last night's Chinese Professional
Baseball League pre-season games.

The Uni-President Lions beat the T-S-G Hawks 6-1 at the Chiayi City Municipal
Stadium.

In this evening's games.

The Hawks play the C-T-B-C Brothers at the Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.

While the Wei Chuan Dragons meet the Fubon Guardians at the Tienmou Stadium
in Taipei.

Both of those games begin at 6:30.

-

In basketball news and this evening's Plus League ..

The second place T-S-G Ghosthawks meet the third place Taipei Fubon Braves at
the Heping Gymnasium in Taipei.

And that game begins at 7PM.

Posted on 2025-03-25 12:16:14

And finally,

Taiwan's men's and women's "three-on-three" basketball teams are preparing
for this week's FIBA 2025 3x3 Asia Cup.

The tournament is taking place at the Singapore Sports Hub from tomorrow
through Sunday and the final results will determine whether Taiwan will
advance to the 3x3 World Cup and secure an Olympic ticket.

The men's team includes 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal winner - Yu
Xiang-ping, while the women's team includes Hangzhou Asian Games national
team player, Xu Shi-han.

Taiwan's 3X3 Basketball Association says it has prepared additional bonuses
for the players from both teams - depending on their performances in
Singapore.

The women's team meets Guam in its opening Qualifying Draw B game tomorrow

They then meet India and Hong Kong on Thursday.

While Taiwan's men's team play China on Friday in its Pool B opening game.

The men's team is ranked 7th in the tournament, while the women's team is
ranked 10th.

Australia is the defending FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup champion in both the men's and
women's competitions.

Posted on 2025-03-25 08:13:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Chunghwa Telecom has announced that it's part of an international consortium
planning to build an undersea cable across the Pacific Ocean.

According to the telecom operator, the 12,500-kilometer long "E-2-A system"
will connect Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States and is
currently set to become operational in the second half of 2028.

Chunghwa Telecom says other members of the consortium include Japan's
SoftBank, S-K Broadband from South Korea, and Verizon Business Global from
the United States.

When completed the E-2-A system will connect major digital hubs in Asia and
North America, with landing points in Toucheng Township in Yilan County,
Busan in South Korea, Japan's Chiba Prefecture and Morro Bay in California.

Chunghwa Telecom says the surge in demand from growing A-I applications and
cloud computing has made the need for ultra-high-capacity, low-latency
infrastructure more urgent than ever.

Meanwhile, SoftBank issued a separate statement in which it announced that
the consortium has chose France's Alcatel Submarine Networks to build a
state-of-the-art transpacific fiber optic network.

Posted on 2025-03-25 08:13:14

A Chinese social media influencer who advocated for China's "military
unification" of Taiwan is insisting she has "no plans to leave" Taiwan.

The woman, who has a Douyin account titled "Yaya in Taiwan," was issued a
deportation order last week requiring her to leave the island by today at the
latest.

The National Immigration Agency has also already revoked her family-based
residence certificate.

The woman has been a resident in Taiwan based on her marriage to a Taiwanese
citizen, and has three children.

Speaking in an interview with T-V-B-S News, she said she has not booked a
flight out of the country and claimed that her earlier statements on
"unification through military force" were aimed at analyzing the dangers such
a move could bring.

She argued that she supports "peaceful unification," not "military
unification" - claims that appear to contradict the findings of an
investigation conducted by immigration authorities earlier this month.

And the woman went on to say her children would suffer "major harm" if she
were to be deported.

The Taiwan International Family Association says the woman and her family
will hold a press conference this morning outside the Ministry of the
Interior to further explain her side of the story.

The immigration agency has also revoked the permanent residency permits of
two other Chinese-spouse-influencers who called for unifying with Taiwan by
force.

Posted on 2025-03-25 08:13:14

The Tainan City Government has unveiled its plans for construction of the
city's first metro line.

According to the city's transportation bureau, the National Development
Council has reviewed the phase one plan and it will be revised before being
submitted to the Cabinet for final approval.

The bureau says it's currently hoped that construction can begin late next
year at the earliest.

Under the proposal for phase one of the "Blue Line," it will run along
Zhonghua Road in the city's Yongkang District, Zhonghua East and Dongmen
roads in the East District, and along Zhongshan Road in the Rende District.

The 8.39-kilometer line will be elevated and have 10 elevated stations.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che says he believe when completed, the M-R-T line
will improve public transportation, lead to better urban developement and
transform Tainan into "a cultural and tech-driven city."

Four other M-R-T lines are still undergoing feasibility studies or awaiting
bidding process for a feasibility study.

Posted on 2025-03-25 08:13:14

Former Transport Minister Kuo Yao-chi has died.

She was 69.

Reports say Kuo was rushed to Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital for
emergency treatment due to a life-threatening aortic dissection on Sunday and
passed away on Monday.

The hospital has declined to disclose any information about Kuo's disease,
citing patient privacy.

Kuo served as transport minister between January and August of 2006, during
which time she oversaw the official opening of the 12.94-kilometer Hsuehshan
Tunnel.

However, she was sentenced to eight years in prison for taking bribes from
contractors by the High Court in April of 2011.

The Supreme Court upheld her conviction in December of 2013 and she began
serving an eight-year prison sentence the following month.

The Ministry of Justice approved Kuo's release on medical parole in January
of 2016 after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Posted on 2025-03-25 08:13:14

And finally,

The Ministry of Finance says the winners of one 10-million N-T and four
2-million N-T unclaimed winners from the November-December uniform invoice
lottery need to collect their cash before the May 5 deadline.

The winning receipt for the 10-million N-T Special Prize was issued for a
purchase worth 210 N-T at a restaurant on Wenhua 3rd Road in Taoyuan's
Guishan District.

The unclaimed 2-million N-T -winning receipts include a 45 N-T purchase at a
FamilyMart on Liancheng Road in New Taipei's Zhonghe District.

The three others were for items costing between 100 and 399 N-T issued by a
Hi-Life convenience store in Taoyuan, an Ikea branch store in New Taipei's
Xinzhuang District and via the e-commerce platform Shopee.

The draw for invoices issued between January and February will be held later
today.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

The Control Yuan has filed a petition with the Constitutional Court for an
interpretation of the budget cuts passed by the Legislative Yuan.

The body is seeking a ruling from the court to uphold constitutional
principles and ensure its capacity to monitor government actions is
preserved.

The petition was filed by Control Yuan's Department of Supervisory
Investigation Director Yang Chang-hsien and his attorney, Wang Shou-yen.

Neither spoke to reporters... but last Thursday, the government watchdog
issued a statement saying the Legislative Yuan's "substantial" 96-per cent
cut to its operational expenses has left the supervisory body with just
10-million N-T for this year.

In the statement, the Control Yuan said that budget cuts constitute a
violation of the principle of separation of powers and "severely endanger"
its ability to carry out its essential monitoring duties.

It also said the cuts exceeded "reasonable limits."

The Control Yuan's move came after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te
promulgated the 2025 Central Government General Budget on March 21 in
accordance with procedural precedent.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee has held a preliminary hearing on
proposals by the K-M-T for surplus annual tax revenues over a certain amount
to be distributed to the public in cash.

The hearing comes after the K-M-T submitted twin proposals to amend the
Surplus Act... which mandates cash handouts to the public if actual tax
revenues exceed budget estimates by 120-per cent, or 300-billion N-T.

Data shows that tax collection for the fiscal year 2024 reached a total of
3.7619-trillion N-T -- that's a record high that surpassed expected tax
revenue in the 2024 annual budget by 528.3-billion N-T.

The K-M-T has previously proposed handouts of 10,000 N-T to each individual,
which would cost a total of 230-billion N-T.

The government is opposed to the cash handouts - arguing that the extra funds
should be either be used to pay down the national debt, reserving them for
future use, or using that to boost the national defense budget.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

Some 900 civilians are to practice using military field hospital equipment
without the assistance of armed forces personnel during a civil defense drill
in Tainan this Thursday.

An unnamed official says although the drill is to be staged in Tainan, fire
departments from Kaohsiung and Chiayi and alternative service conscripts will
also participate in the drill.

The drill takes place after Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo
announced the small-scale exercise would simulate a severe "compound
disasters" scenario involving earthquakes, tsunamis and critical
infrastructure disruptions.

The drills will test central and local governments' emergency response
capabilities, such as large-scale evacuations, sheltering, and establishing
emergency medical facilities ..

The exercise will also include civilian participation to test public-private
sector cooperation in the event of major disaster thus enhancing
whole-of-society defense resilience.

Although military personnel will not take part in the drills, the Ministry of
National Defense's Medical Affairs Bureau will lend its newly purchased
medical sets and inflatable field hospital tents to be used in Thursday's
drill.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

The Department of National Park Service is reminding people planning high
mountain treks to be aware of snowy conditions.

The warning comes after the bodies of two hikers were recovered on Sunday in
Yushan.

The national park service says snow on mountains above 3,000 meters is now
slowly melting, which can be dangerous even for well-equipped hikers.

Hikers currently in high-altitude areas within Shei-Pa, Yushan, and Taroko
national parks are being advised to tread carefully to avoid falling down
mountain slopes, especially with snow control measures in effect until March
31.

The agency is also urging those planning mountain climbing trips to
reschedule due to safety concerns following several incidents involving
hikers becoming stranded or falling down slopes.

The national park service says anyone heading out on a mountain trek needs to
be equipped with snow gear - including helmets, crampons, and ice axes.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

The Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office has indicted three people on
suspicion of smuggling marijuana into Taiwan.

Those indicted include a crew member of a freighter ship.

They have all been charged with violating the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.

The indictments come after it received a tip-off toward the end of last year
leading authorities to establish a special task force to surveil the three
individuals.

Prosecutors say one of those indicted traveled to Thailand to source the
marijuana, another oversaw the shipping of the drugs, whille the third was in
contact with the Thai supplier and was also in charge of selling the
marijuana here in Taiwan.

The drug smugglers shipped 27 bags of marijuana and other illicit items such
cannabis cigarettes - weighing just over 2-kilograms - to the Port of
Kaohsiung in January.

All three suspects have been detained since their arrest.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

The National Palace Museum was been awarded four gold and two silver medals
at this year's MUSE Creative Awards for its immersive digital exhibitions and
website designs.

The gold medal winners included "Evoking Aura: Invoking Visionary Insights,"
which was honored in the "Experiential & Immersive - Immersive Brand
Experience" category.

That exhibition was held last year and featured 8K-resolution photographs of
exhibits at the museum.

The exhibition titled, "Divine Vision, Ghostly Reflection: New Media Art
Exhibition," also won gold - and that focused on the Southern Sung Dynasty
painting "The Three Taoist Officials Making an Inspection Tour."

It employed motion sensors, allowing visitors to interact with the artwork.

The National Palace Museum says it will continue applying digital technology
to offer visitors new ways to admire art and artifacts.

Posted on 2025-03-25 07:13:13

And,

Hospitals in Taipei are offering free tuberculosis screening to people at a
high risk of developing the disease and the foreign spouses of Taiwan
nationals.

The free screening was initiated to coincide with World Tuberculosis Day.

Those at high-risk and eligible for the free screening include people with
H-I-V, certain classes of diabetics aged 45 and over, as well as people aged
60 and above with chronic heart disease.

The Taipei City Health Department says it has partnered with 27 hospitals
across the capital to offer the free tuberculosis screening.

Foreign spouses of Taiwan nationals are eligible for free screening even if
they do not live in Taipei.

Data provided by the Centers for Disease Control shows that 6,222 new cases
of tuberculosis were reported in Taiwan last year - that's a decline of
around 63-per cent from two decades ago.

Posted on 2025-03-24 20:07:13

The Legislative Yuan held a preliminary hearing Monday on a KMT proposal to
distribute surplus tax revenues to the public in cash.

The KMT, which holds a legislative majority with the TPP, is pushing for
amendments that would require cash handouts when tax revenues exceed budget
estimates by 120 percent -- or NT$300 billion NT.

In 2024, Taiwan collected a record 3.76 trillion NT in taxes, surpassing
budget expectations by NT$528 billion.

The KMT has previously proposed giving 10-thousand NT per person, costing
$230 billion NT.

However, the ruling DPP argues the funds should be used to pay down debt,
increase reserves, or boost defense spending.

DPP lawmakers also question the legality of the KMT's proposal, calling it an
unconstitutional budgetary move disguised as a legislative amendment.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance warns that higher-than-expected tax
revenues don'y necessarily mean a strong financial outlook, noting Taiwan has
run deficits nearly every year since 2012.

Despite the debate, the Finance Committee advanced the proposal for a full
legislative reading on Friday, where cross-party talks with the TPP will
continue.

Posted on 2025-03-24 20:07:13

The National Palace Museum has received top honors at this year’s MUSE
Creative Awards, winning four golds and two silvers for its innovative
digital exhibitions and website designs.

Among the gold awards was "Evoking Aura: Invoking Visionary Insights," which
won in the "Experiential & Immersive - Immersive Brand Experience" category.

This exhibition featured 8K-resolution photographs of museum artifacts,
offering visitors an immersive experience.

Another gold winner, "Divine Vision, Ghostly Reflection," focused on the
Southern Sung Dynasty painting "The Three Taoist Officials Making an
Inspection Tour," and allowed visitors to interact with the artwork through
motion sensors.

The NPM’s website for "The Emperors' Moving Gardens" exhibition won two
golds in "Home Page/Landing Page" and "Art & Design" categories, while the
"Storytelling Images" website took home two silvers in "Home Page/Landing
Page" and "Cultural" categories.

The NPM said it would continue applying digital technology to offer visitors
new ways to admire art and artifacts.

Posted on 2025-03-24 17:06:13

The Ministry of the Environment says, last year it used AI-assisted drones to
assist in trash clean up, and it increased the accuracy of trash collection
by 50%.

Not only that, they say, the consistency compared to manual identification
was over 80%.

The ministry says, this year's plans will see an increase in the drone usage,
which will hopefully increase the accuracy and the amount of trash picked up.

The drones were used on the west coast, from Keelung down to Pingtung.

Drones took over 5000 images, contributingto over 550 metric tons of coastal
waste being cleared.

However, ministry officials point out, there are still some types of garbage
which need to be identified manually.

Furthermore, they say, Taiwan's use of aerial photography for trash clean up
is leading the way compared to other neighboring countries like Japan and
South Korea.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-24 17:06:13

The Pingtung County government will increase rabies vaccinations for cats and
dogs on March 31st in Fang-shan where a person was bitten by a ferret badger
a week ago.

The animal later tested positive for rabies.

This is the second case of rabies in wild animals in Fangshan Township this
year and the third case on the Hengchun Peninsula.

County officials say they will hold an additional rabies vaccination clinic
in Fangshan Township a week from today and urge pet owners to bring their
dogs and cats for the shot.

There are currently 13 townships in Pingtung that are rabies-positive areas,
and among them, 7 townships have had confirmed cases of rabies-infected
ferret badgers biting people.

Officials say if someone is accidentally bitten by a suspected rabid animal,
they should wash the wound with soap and water, disinfect it with iodine, and
seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Officials also remind people that those who fail to comply with the rabies
vaccination requirements will face a fine of up to $150,000 NT.

Posted on 2025-03-24 16:07:13

Dozens of Taipei hospitals are offering free tuberculosis screening for
foreign spouses, to mark World Tuberculosis Day.

The city's Department of Health says March 24th is World Tuberculosis Day,
and the World Health Organization continues to push for global efforts to
eliminate the infectious disease by 2035.

In line with these efforts, officials say 27 hospitals in the city will offer
the screening free of charge for foreign spouses, regardless of residency or
household registration status.

And those who complete the testing will also receive a $300NT gift voucher.

The health department said latent tuberculosis infection screening and
preventive treatment can reduce the risk of developing tuberculosis by more
than 90%.

And they are urging anyone experiencing persistent cough for more than two
weeks, or chest pain, weight loss, fever, or other symptoms to wear a mask
and seek medical attention immediately.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-03-24 16:07:13

A recent survey shows that calcium is the most deficient mineral in the
Taiwanese diet.

Results from the Health Promotion Administration survey revealed that adults
aged between 19 to 64 consume only half of the daily recommended one-thousand
milligrams of calcium.

Nutritionists warn that calcium deficiency can result in bone loss, which is
hard to fully recover from, and can lead to osteoporosis later in life.

Nutritionists also warn that excessive caffeine, carbonated drinks, and
high-fat, high-salt diets also contributes to weak bones.

They recommend keeping daily caffeine intake under 400 milligrams -- which is
about two medium Americanos.

And to increase calcium intake, they suggest consuming milk, dairy products,
dried anchovies, seaweed, tofu, and black sesame ... in addition to regular
sun exposure and exercise to maintain bone health.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-03-24 15:06:13

A US intelligence report says, Xi Jinping's ongoing campaign to stamp out
corruption in the PLA is meant to ensure that the military is modernized and
prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027.

The report, which was made public last week, is entitled "Wealth and Corrupt
Activities of the Leadership of the Chinese Communist Party."

It claims that up to 65% of all government officials in China accept bribes
or corruption.

Furthermore, it says, since Xi came to power in 2012, nearly 5 million
officials in all levels of government have been found guilty of bribery.

It continues, saying that Xi's focus on corruption within the PLA may reflect
concerns that those practices will prevent the military from acquiring the
capabilites and readiness he has directed it to achieve by 2027.

US officials took that to mean that Xi wants China to be ready to invade
Taiwan by 2027.

The report was commissioned by the US Congress under the 2023 National
Defense Authorization Act.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-03-24 15:06:13

An education advocacy group is calling on the government to expand early
intervention services for children.

The Action Alliance on Basic Education says such cases in Taiwan increased
from around 23-thousand-500 in 2017, to nearly 40-thousand last year.

But treatment capacity grew by just under 1-thousand-500 spots this year,
failing to meet demand.

The group says children who may have developmental delays face long wait
times for both assessments and therapy services, and many miss the critical
0-to-3-year-old treatment window, leading toa higher demand for special
education later on.

The alliance cited World Health Organization data, suggesting that every $1
NT spent on early intervention can save $3NT in future special education
costs.

They are urging the government to view early intervention as a basic right,
not just a welfare policy.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-03-24 14:07:13

The Ministry of Civil Service is planning to increase penalties for
government workers who committed serious offenses such as workplace bullying,
sexual assault, drunk driving or causing major injuries to others.

Officials say while the original Public Service Performance Evaluation Act
already includes disciplinary mechanisms, it only regulates under abstract
concepts like "improper behavior."

They say the draft amendments will be much more specific to uphold the
government's zero-tolerance policy toward serious misconduct by civil
servants.

For example, if a person commits sexual assault, the draft proposes
termination of employment once their agency verifies the offense.

An offender will also be dismissed immediately in cases of stalking or sexual
harrassment that causes serious physical or mental harm to the victim.

The proposed amendments still needs to be passed by the Legislature.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-03-24 14:07:13

The Highway Bureau is announcing discounts for travelers taking long-haul
buses in order to relieve holiday congestion on 90 highway routes across the
country.

The upcoming Tomb Sweeping Festival, from April 3rd to 6th, is anticipated to
cause traffic jams on freeways as people return to their hometowns.

The bureau anticipates that congestion will be particularly severe on areas
of major thoroughfares like the Number 1, 9, and 16 Tai Highway from April
2nd to 6th.

As a result, the Highway Bureau is offering toll discounts of 40% for
travelers on 90 routes starting at midnight April 2nd.

That's in addition to a series of other discounts on tolls and deals to
encourage travelers to take public transit instead of driving.

Check out the Highway Bureau website for more information on the details of
these discounts.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-24 14:07:13

Taiwan shares were lower today as were most other Asian stock markets after
gains in technology stocks snapped Wall Street’s four-week losing streak.

The Taiex dropped 102 points to end the session at 22,106

The turnover was unusually low, at 244.6 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-03-24 13:08:13

The government is set to raise electricity rates soon as financial losses
continue to mount for the state-run Taiwan Power Company.

Economics Minister J.W. Kuo says today that there are different plans for the
rate increase, and it's up to his ministry's electricity rate review
committee's to make the final call.

Local news media reported that TaiPower had proposed to increase the rates by
an average of 6-percent, which would affect 14.5 million households and small
businesses.

But the government was hoping to kept the rates under 6-percent to reduce the
impact on local economy.

TaiPower's accumulated losses had amounted to 423 billion NT as of the end of
last year despite subsidies from the government over the past several years.

Kuo says today that much depends on whether the Legislative Yuan will approve
the $100 billion-NT subsidy, which was included in the central government’s
2025 general budget but later removed by the Legislature.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-03-24 13:08:13

The Ministry of National Defense says, China's carrier rocket will fly over
Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone on Wednesday.

The Chinese Communist Party announced that the rocket will be launched from
the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on the 26th, flying over the western
Pacific, passing through Taiwan's ADIZ.

Ministry officials also say that they detected nine Chinese Air Force sorties
operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Sunday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, one crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while six
fighter jets entered Taiwan's southwestern air identification zone.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-03-24 13:08:13

Taiwan's rich avian diversity attracts bird enthusiasts from around the
globe, positioning Taiwan as a key birdwatching hub.

Sponsored by the World Birdfairs Council, Taiwan's 1st World Bird Fair will
be co-hosted by the Taiwan Tourism Administration and National Park Service
from September 19th to 23rd 2025.

There'll be an exhibition open to the public for free on the 20th and 21st.

Organizers say they've also invited experts, tour operators and conservation
groups from home and abroad to join two forums focusing on the World Bird
Ecotourism Experience.

The event aims to promote bird conservation and birdwatching ecotourism.

The fair will take place at Taichung City's Civic Plaza, attracting birders
from around the world.

Don't miss the chance to experience Taiwan's vibrant birdwatching environment!

Posted on 2025-03-24 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex gained 171-points in early trading this morning as it climbed to
the 22,380-point mark.

The rise came as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing opened higher at 986 N-T
- which pushed its market value 25.56-trillion N-T.

T-S-M-C contributed about 112 points to the broader market's rise.

Other electronic heavyweights - including Hon Hai, MediaTek, Innolux, and
Largan also all gained ground from Friday's closes.

The overall electronics index rose by nearly 1-per cent in early trading.

Posted on 2025-03-24 11:06:13

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected nine Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Sunday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, one aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait,
while six fighter jets entered Taiwan's southwestern air identification zone.

Eight Chinese Navy ships and two maritime patrol vessels were also detected
operating in the general vicinity of the Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour
period.

Meanwhile, the defense ministry says China will launch a rocket carrying a
satellite on Wednesday - that will likely fly over Taiwan's air defense
identification zone.

The satellite will be launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in
Sichuan Province.

Posted on 2025-03-24 11:06:14

And,

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is slated to hold a power rate assessment
review meeting this week.

The focus of the meeting will be to discuss whether Tai-Power will be allowed
to hike power tariffs in April.

The meeting is taking place after an internal Tai-Power report revealed that
the company is seeking the government's approval to raise electricity rates
by almost 6-per cent on average to make up for huge losses.

According to the report, the state-run company has shouldered 422.9-billion
N-T in accumulated losses.

Tai-Power says in order to prevent its losses from expanding, it needs to
generate an additional 50-billion N-T in revenue this year through the
electricity rate hikes.

Posted on 2025-03-24 08:13:13

A search and rescue team has found the bodies of two hikers who fell down a
steep, icy slope on Yushan.

According to the Nantou County Fire Department, it received a report Saturday
morning about a male and female hiker who had fallen down a mountain slope
while climbing the main and north peaks of Yushan.

An aerial search by the National Airborne Service Corps later located two
bodies lying partially covered in snow at the bottom of a steep slope
380-meters from the hiking trail.

However, authorities at the time decided against attempting a helicopter
rescue due to uneven terrain and strong winds.

A rescue crew later arrived at the site Sunday morning.

Posted on 2025-03-24 08:13:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says we can expect relatively stable until
Thursday despite significant fluctuations in day-night temperatures.

Much of the island will see sunny to partly cloudy skied until Thursday -
with highs of up to 30-degrees in some areas.

However, it will then turn wet islandwide from Thursday as a weather system
passes over the island.

And beginning Friday, a passing weather system, combined with strengthened
seasonal northeasterly winds and a continental cold air mass, will see the
mercury falling once again and rain pretty much islandwide.

That cold front is forecast to linger over Taiwan until next Tuesday.

Posted on 2025-03-24 06:56:14

The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of National Defense are proposing
changes to the current civilian service reservist call-up system.

The move is part of government efforts to enhance civil defense capabilities
in the event of a national emergency or war.

Current rules governing alternative civilian service call-ups stipulate...
that a reservist must set aside one training day per year for eight years
after they complete mandatory service.

The training period can be longer than one day but is capped at 60 days a
year.

The proposed amendments removes that 60 day cap so there would be no limit to
the number of training days.

The proposed amendments state that reservists could face longer training
periods "if deemed necessary"... while authorities can also call on
reservists who completed mandatory service more than nine years ago.

The interior ministry says the proposed changes are driven by the need for
stronger civil defense capabilities in response to threats that include
climate change and major natural disasters as well as rising international
tensions.

Posted on 2025-03-24 06:56:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says some 235 Taiwanese nationals are still
trapped in Myanmar and being forced to work for fraud rings.

The government has repeatedly warned Taiwan nationals to be on high alert
amid this threat.

The foreign ministry says its has received hundreds calls since 2022 asking
for help from Taiwanese citizens or family members who were lured by the
promise of highly-paid work, only to be forced into working for fraud rings.

The ministry's Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, it has received
requests to assist more than 438 nationals stranded in Myanmar... so far, 203
have returned to Taiwan.

Department head Lin Hung-hsun says it is difficult to rescue nationals from
Myanmar because they are kept in facilities located near Myanmar's border
with Thailand, in areas controlled by armed rebel groups.

These areas, also known as fraud hubs, are reportedly run by Chinese
nationals.

People from other countries including Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka and Japan,
are also among those forced to work for the fraudsters.

Posted on 2025-03-24 06:56:14

The Coast Guard Administration says an unmarked vessel and its six crew
members are being detained for trespassing in Taiwan's restricted waters.

The vessel, which did not display a name, a registered home port, or ship
certificate and was spotted in waters some 20-nautical miles northwest of
Taoyuan's Yongan area.

The ship was intercepted the vessel around three nautical miles inside
Taiwan's restricted waters.

The Coast Guard Administration says about 500 thousand liters of fuel was
discovered onboard the vessel, personnel to suspect the boat was operating in
the area to refuel Chinese fishing vessels.

The six crew members were believed to be Chinese nationals, but officials say
they were not carrying any identification documents.

The unmarked vessel and its crew have been detain in the Port of Taipei for
further investigation.

Posted on 2025-03-24 06:56:14

Photographs of President Lai Ching-te touring Taipei's Songshan Airport have
confirmed a months-long rumor that Marines have been deployed to guard the
facility.

In a series of photographs released by the Presidential Office following
Lai's inspection tour, the president, Defense Minister Wellington Koo, and
several military generals were seen standing inside the airport in front of a
sign that read, "66th Marine Brigade's Second Garrison."

The photos also show Lai being briefed by military personnel wearing marine
uniforms.

Military sources says the 66th Marine Brigade has been stationed at the
airport since late 2024.

The 66th Marine Brigade is tasked with amphibious warfare, counter-landing,
and reinforcement in the greater Taipei area.

The airport was previously only guarded by the Air Force's Military Police
squadron.

Sources say Marines are also now guarding other key military positions in the
capital.

Posted on 2025-03-24 06:56:14

The National Immigration Agency says it has revoked an American YouTuber's
Gold Card employment visa after it was found he had worked illegally in
Taiwan in 2023.

The statement comes after the YouTuber, who goes by the moniker, "LeLe
Farley" said staff at the Los Angeles International Airport informed him on
March 11 that he could not board his flight to Taiwan...since entry
restrictions had been placed on his passport by Taiwan authorities.

Farley said he applied for a Taiwan Employment Gold Card at the end of
November 2024 and received an email notification that his work visa was ready
on February 23 of this year.

The Taipei City Department of Labor says Farley "received payments" for
appearances in politics-themed television shows without a work permit, which
violated Article 43 of the Employment Service Act.

The department says Farley should have been fined and ordered to leave
Taiwan, but since he was no longer in the country, the case was referred to
the immigration agency for border controls to be imposed.

The immigration agency says Farley is now unable to re-enter Taiwan for "a
certain period of time" due to work permit violations and because he no
longer meets the eligibility criteria for Gold Card issuance during the
control period, "the permit has been revoked."

Posted on 2025-03-24 06:56:14

And,

A coalition of labor rights groups has announced plans to launch a hunger
strike next month to demand the reinstatement of the seven days off scrapped
in 2016.

The announcement comes as lawmakers are slated to review bills on
"anniversaries and national holidays enforcement."

The "Work with Dignity" alliance, is calling on people to join its 200-hour
April 11 to 19 hunger strike, which will take place outside the Legislative
Yuan.

The alliance is also urging employers to pay more into employee pension pots
and for the establishment of a similar system for foreign workers.

The K-M-T has designated its aim to "give people their days off back" as a
priority for the current legislative session and related bills are set to be
reviewed in the coming week.

The K-M-T cancelled the seven days off in 2015 by executive order and that
shortened the workweek from 42 to 40 hours.

The D-P-P, which had legislative majority, refused to acknowledge the order,
and it became invalid in June of 2016 - and the public then had five of the
seven days off later that year.

Major commercial and industrial groups protested that move and In December of
2016, the D-P-P amended the Labor Standards Act - which cancelled the seven
days off and introduced the "one fixed day off, one flexible rest day"
policy.

Posted on 2025-03-22 16:24:13

A building in Taichung partially collapsed at about 1 o'clock this morning,
but there were no injuries as the affected areas were unoccupied at the time.

Officials say the fifth and six floors of the 50-year-old residential
structure in Taichung's Qingshui district. A total of 34 people from more
than a dozen households were evacuated and are being temporarily housed in
hotels in the general vicinity.

The cause of the collapse is being investigated.

Posted on 2025-03-22 16:24:13

An internal report of state-owned Taipower reveals that the company is
seeking the government's approval to raise electricity rates by almost 6
percent on average to make up for a huge loss for the company.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs will hold a power rate assessment review
meeting next week to discuss whether Taipower will be allowed to hike power
tariffs in April.

The state-run company has shouldered NT$422.9 billion (US$14.97 billion) in
accumulated losses.

Taipower said to prevent its losses from expanding, the company needs to
generate an additional NT$50 billion in revenue this year through the
electricity rate hikes.

Its report showed power rates for household users and small businesses which
consume less than 330 kilowatt-hour (kWh) a month will be raised by 11-33
percent.

Household users and small businesses that consume more than 330 kWh a month
will see their electricity bills grow no more than 10 percent under a
progressive tariff mechanism, the report showed.

Power rates for the industrial sector are expected to be raised only
slightly, the report indicated.

Posted on 2025-03-22 16:20:13

Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA) has revoked the residence permits
of two more Taiwan-based Chinese influencers after concluding they had openly
advocated for China's unification of Taiwan by force.

The NIA said Xiao Wei and En Qi are required by law to leave Taiwan shortly,
but did not specify the deadline for the two to go.

The NIA said the decision to revoke their family-based, long-term residence
permits came after the agency consulted with the Mainland Affairs Council
(MAC), which supervises cross-strait exchanges.

Last week, the NIA had revoked the residence permit of another Chinese
national, identified by her surname Liu, who openly advocated in her social
media account -- Ya Ya in Taiwan -- for China's unification of Taiwan by
force.

The three Chinese influencers are the spouses of Taiwanese husbands.

Posted on 2025-03-22 14:29:13

An elderly woman was killed early this morning in a factory fire in Tainan.

The fire occurred shortly after 2 a.m. in Tainan’s Yongkang District.

The blaze spread to 10 other nearby buildings.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Posted on 2025-03-22 14:25:13

The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball
League (CPBL) announced Friday that it has re-signed star outfielder Chen
Chieh-hsien to a record-breaking new contract worth NT$200 million (US$6.06
million).

The Uni-Lions confirmed that the contract will pay Chen, a five-time CPBL
all-star, a monthly salary of NT$1.4 million over 10 years as well as
incentives and bonuses worth NT$32 million, bringing the total value of the
deal to NT$200 million.

The team said it began negotiating with Chen's agent at the end of last
season, and it decided on the record contract to reflect Chen's performance
and value.

The Tainan-based organization had been working to keep Chen on the team "for
life" since November 2024, when he led Taiwan to its first major senior-level
international championship at the WBSC Premier12.

Posted on 2025-03-22 12:12:13

Taiwanese experts say the appointment of a former chief of Japan's
Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff as an adviser to Taiwan's government, is
symbolically meaningful, as he is expected to play a key role in the two
countries' security cooperation.

Shigeru Iwasaki, who served as the top uniformed officer in Japan's
Self-Defense Forces from 2012-2014, has been made a political affairs
consultant to the Executive Yuan, which is an unpaid position.

Policy researcher Hsieh Wen-sheng said he expects the retired Japanese
general, who has ongoing connections to the Self-Defense Forces, to offer
additional options for military exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.

Posted on 2025-03-22 12:12:13

Taiwan's rich avian diversity attracts bird enthusiasts from around the
globe, positioning Taiwan as a key birdwatching hub.

Sponsored by the World Birdfairs Council, Taiwan's 1st World Bird Fair will
be co-hosted by the Taiwan Tourism Administration and National Park Service
from September 19th to 23rd 2025.

There'll be an exhibition open to the public for free on the 20th and 21st.

Organizers say they've also invited experts, tour operators and conservation
groups from home and abroad to join two forums focusing on the World Bird
Ecotourism Experience.

The event aims to promote bird conservation and birdwatching ecotourism.

The fair will take place at Taichung City's Civic Plaza, attracting birders
from around the world.

Don't miss the chance to experience Taiwan's vibrant birdwatching environment!

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