ICRT

Posted on 2025-12-05 14:06:13

Facing strong criticism, DPP legislative caucus leaders are defending the
Interior Ministry's decision to block Xiao-hong-shu for one year.

The Chinese social networking and e-commerce platform has over 3 million
users in Taiwan.

According to the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the app failed 15 items on
the national security indices, and it's also been involved in over 1-thousand
700 fraud cases since last year, causing financial losses totaling 247
million NT.

The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that it has ordered the online
platform to stop domain resolution and restrict access, meaning those in
Taiwan can no longer use it.

DPP lawmaker Wu Si-yao said today that this action is not because
Xiao-hong-shu is from China, rather it's because it has failed to follow
regulations and refuses to cooperate in anti-fraud efforts.

Her colleague Puma Shen also said the measure was imposed to protect
people’s property.

However, the Ministry of Digital Affairs' "fraudbuster" website shows that
nearly 11,000 suspected scams were reported over the past week, with Facebook
taking half of them, followed by Threads and Instagram, while Xiao-hong-shu
did not make the list.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-05 14:06:13

The Ministry of Environment says it is expanding food waste treatment
capacity in preparation for a ban on food waste in pig farming taking effect
in 2027.

The ban, implemented to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever, will be
preceded by a one-year transition period beginning January 1st.

During this transition, the ministry says local departments will need to find
a way to handle over 600 additional tons of waste daily.

Officials say they plan to process this waste through recycling methods,
including composting, black soldier fly larvae processing, and constructing
biomass energy facilities.

The ministry says by the end of 2026, it aims to reach total processing
capacity of over 1-thousand-700 tons per day.

And by the end of 2027, capacity is projected to reach over 2-thousand per
day, achieving balance with daily production, and eliminating the need to
send food waste to incinerators.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-05 14:06:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 27980 after
gaining 185 points.

The turnover was 444.8 billion NT

Posted on 2025-12-05 14:06:13

Now turning to international news...

Russian President Vladimir Putin says, some proposals in a US plan for
Ukraine are not acceptable to Russia.

His remarks suggest that a deal is still a ways off despite some intense
diplomacy by US envoys.

The US initiated this round of diplomacy to stop the fighting, but peace
efforts face tough demands especially regarding whether or not Ukraine will
have to hand over some of its land to Russia.

Putin emphasized that Russia "will" take all of the eastern Donetsk region,
saying that Russia would either take back these territories by force or
Ukrainian troops would withdraw.

European leaders say that Putin is not truly interested in peace...

as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue, causing casualities and
damage.

Posted on 2025-12-05 13:07:13

The Taipei Prosecutors Office has questioned former KMT chair Eric Chu and
spokesperson Yang Zhi-yu2 as they allegedly violated the Assembly and Parade
Act.

Both were released after giving their statements.

According to police, when investigators on April 17th were questioning then
KMT Taipei office chair Huang Lyu Jin-run (黃呂錦茹) and others involved in
forgery allegations, Chu, Yang and KMT lawmaker Xie Long-jie rallied in the
restricted area outside the prosecutors office in support of the KMT workers.

Police said their repeated warnings for the 3 KMT officials and protestors to
dissolve were ignored and the crowd didn't leave until the next morning.

Police questioned the three on April 26th and decided to send them to the
prosecutors for further investigation.

Prosecutors say they will choose another date to question lawmaker Xie.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-05 13:07:13

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation has pledged to cover medical costs for
those injured when one of its bus drivers struck a car and several motorbikes
in Taipei last night.

Police said the accident occurred in the city's Da'an district around 10pm.

The bus rear-ended one car and motorbikes, causing injury to several,
including severe injury to one motorcyclist, who sustained several broken
bones and may require amputation of part of the leg.

Officials believe that the bus driver was not paying adequate attention and
did not brake in time.

MTC says, the driver joined the company in 2015, and they add that they're
cooperating with the investigation and plan to strengthen driver training.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-05 13:07:13

Taipei officials are investigating a woman who allegedly dumped garbage bags
containing the remains of a dozen cats.

Xin-yi District police say concerned citizens reported the woman throwing
suspicious trash bags into a garbage truck, and officers sent all the remains
discovered to the Animal Protection Office for examination.

Officials say the woman is facing fines up to $75-thousand NT for violating
the Animal Protection Act, and if she is a repeat offender, she could face a
criminal sentence of up to two years in prison.

The Animal Protection Office says the suspect is already under investigation
in a separate case of suspected animal neglect, where several animals were
found without food or water at her apartment in Xinyi District.

The animals were seized and sent for medical treatment.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-05 13:07:13

Now turning to internaitonal news...

US President Donald Trump is praising the leaders of the Democratic Republic
of Congo and Rwanda...

after they signed onto a deal aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo.

That signing will also open up access to the country's critical minerals for
the US government and companies.

Congo has been steeped in a decades-long conflict with more than 100 armed
groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

The conflict escalated this year, as M23 seized two major cities, worsening a
humanitarian crisis that was already one of the world’s largest, with
millions of people displaced.

Contrary to the US president's praise, though, Congolese residents do not
seem to believe that the deal will bring a swift end to the conflict.

Posted on 2025-12-05 13:07:13

Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades is likely to put pressure on Beijing
ahead of elections this weekend.

Sunday's vote will elect new lawmakers to Hong Kong's 90-member Legislative
Council.

Under rules that Beijing overhauled in 2021, the number of directly elected
seats was reduced from 35 to 20...

while 40 are chosen directly by a mostly pro-China election committee...

and voters in designated professional sectors pick another 30.

Voter turnout is expected to reflect public sentiment towards the government
and its handling of the fire.

Efforts to boost voter turnout have included extended voting hours and
subsidies, but the aftermath of the fire may discourage participation.

Meanwhile many veteran lawmakers are stepping down, while more candidates
with ties to Beijing enter the race.

Experts believe this signals China's tightening control over the city...

while residents have raised concerns privately about government oversight in
building maintenance projects and official investigation efforts.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:57:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

U-S Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has told American business news
channel, C-N-B-C that Taiwan will help train American workers for advanced
semiconductor production.

The statement comes as bilateral tariff negotiations between Washington and
Taipei are reportedly moving into the final stage.

It also contradicts recent comments by Taiwan's top trade negotiator, Yang
Jen-ni.

She told a legislative committee earlier this week that Taiwan has not agreed
to train U-S technical personnel in exchange for a reduction of U-S tariffs
on Taiwan goods - and that such a commitment is not part of the trade
negotiations.

Speaking in an interview on C-N-B-C, Lutnick declined to discuss any details
of plans to for Taiwan to train American workers for advanced semiconductor
production - saying only that discussions are continuing.

He did point to a wave of investment commitments by American and Taiwanese
semiconductor firms - including a pledge by Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing for an additional 100-billion U-S dollars - bringing its total
investment in the U-S to 160.5-billion dollars.

He noted that Micron Technology and Texas Instruments have also expanded
their U-S plans, and combined, thsoe add up to roughly 300-billion dollars in
U-S semiconductor-related investment.

And Lutick went on to say he believes the total will increase if a deal is
reached with Taiwan.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:57:15

Japan-based chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron says it will take concrete
steps to strengthen compliance across all subsidiaries.

The statement comes after the High Prosecutors' Office earlier this week
indicted Tokyo Electron Taiwan over the alleged theft of Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing's 2-nanometer technologies.

Tokyo Electron Taiwan is a subsidiary of the Japan-based chip equipment
supplier Tokyo Electron.

According to Tokyo Electron, Tokyo Electron Taiwan is the sole entity facing
indictment and an internal review has found no organizational involvement or
external leakage.

Prosecutors have charged Tokyo Electron Taiwan with four violations of the
Trade Secrets Act and National Security Act.

The High Prosecutors' Office has said it's seeking a combined fine of
120-million N-T for all of the violations.

It's the first time a legal entity has been indicted under the National
Security Act over the alleged theft of National Core Key Technology.

Three T-S-M-C engineers have been indicted on charges of supplying
confidential 2-nanometer-related information to benefit Tokyo Electron
Taiwan.

All three have been detained since September.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:57:16

The Cabinet has approved a plan to phase out the use of food waste in pig
farming by December 31 of next year - paving the way for a full ban starting
in 2027.

The move is part of the government's efforts to prevent African swine fever
outbreaks.

The plan was presented by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of
Environment.

Under the policy, food-waste feeding will be permitted only under strict
conditions during that period, after which it will be fully prohibited.
Farmers will be given a one-year grace period and financial incentives to
switch to commercial feed.

During the transition year, farms may use food waste only with local
government approval and after they meet several requirements - including
installing heat-treatment and video monitoring systems and by adding G-P-S
tracking to transport vehicles.

Only business-generated food waste, animal by-products and slaughterhouse
scraps will be allowed - and all household food waste will be banned from use
on pig farms.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:57:16

A Chinese app with more than 3-million users here in Taiwan has been ordered
blocked for one-year due to cybersecurity failures and widespread fraud
activity on the platform.

According to the Cabinet's Anti-Fraud Command Center, internet service
providers have been instructed to use technical measures to prevent the
public from accessing Xiao-hong-shu effective immediately.

The move follows a warning earlier this week by the Ministry of Digital
Affairs about security risks posed by five Chinese apps -- Xiao-hong-shu,
Dou-yin, Wei-bo, WeChat and Bai-du Wang-pan.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says that Xiao-hong-shu has been linked to
950 fraud cases in Taiwan last year, causing financial losses of more than
132-million N-T.

The bureau also says trom January to November of this year, there have been
756 fraud cases, with total losses exceeding 114-million N-T.

The top five Xiaohongshu-related schemes were fake online shopping platforms,
fraudulent installment payment cancellations, fake investments, romance scams
and sexual solicitation scams.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:57:16

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says some 900 people have been listed as
close contacts of a student at the National Taiwan University who was
diagnosed with tuberculosis.

According to Shih authorities have determined the case is an isolated
infection and not a cluster infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and the Taipei Department of Health drew up a
list of close contacts to monitor their health immediately after the foreign
student was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

The health minister says those who spent more than eight hours in the same
space as the patient on a single day, or had over 40 hours of cumulative
contact, are listed as close contacts.

They are required by law to undergo chest X-rays and blood tests to screen
for possible infection, including latent cases.

The C-D-C has not confirmed when the student arrived in Taiwan, but has said
the infectious period has lasted more than three months, contributing to the
high number of close contacts.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:57:16

And finally,

The Kaohsiung City Government says Traffic controls will be in-place in area
around the National Stadium this weekend - as it hosts South Korea's annual
Asia Artist Awards ceremony.

The Asia Artist Awards will take place tomorrow at the stadium, followed by a
special festival, ACON 2025 concert on Sunday at the same venue.

The city's Transportation Bureau says World Games Boulevard will be closed to
most vehicles, while several YouBike stations near the venue will also pause
services during the two-day event.

The city's M-R-T will be running services every 3 to 5-minutes after the
shows, while both the Taiwan Railways Corporation and the High Speed Rail are
adding extra services.

The city is offering free shuttles between Zuoying High Speed Rail Station
and the stadium.

Organizers say both the award ceremony and the ACON 2025 concert will be
taking place on a 360-degree stage that will offer a more immersive
experience with enhanced sound and staging.

The Asia Artist Awards ceremony is sold out and some 55,000 people are
expected to attend the event.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:14

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan is "working side by side" with other
democracies to deter a Chinese invasion and "robust preparations are the best
way to avoid war and achieve peace."

In a prerecorded video interview presented at The New York Times DealBook
Summit, Lai said that "peace is priceless and war has no winners" ..

Lai told interviewer Andrew Ross Sorkin, that "peace must be secured through
strength" which is why his administration is increasing Taiwan's defense
budget and strengthening national defense capabilities... even as Taiwan cuts
its economic dependence on China.

Lai also talked about Taiwan-US ties - saying the "relationship truly is rock
solid" and U-S cooperation with Taiwan has expanded since Trump assumed
office.

Lai was one of more than a dozen interviewees at the Times' event, which also
featured conversations with U-S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, BlackRock
CEO Larry Fink, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, and California Governor Gavin
Newsom.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

The U-S State Department has reaffirmed that Washington's longstanding
commitment to Taiwan remained unchanged.

This, after U-S leader Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Assurance
Implementation Act into law earlier this week.

The Act aims to ease limits on bilateral engagement and support Taiwan's
participation in international organizations.

A State Department spokesperson said the Trump "administration has been very
clear that the enduring U-S commitment to Taiwan continues, as it has for
over four decades."

The spokesperson says robust unofficial ties between the U-S and Taiwan are
strengthened by routine, regular travel and interaction by U-S and Taiwan
authorities ..

.... under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei
Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.

However, the spokesperson did not say whether any of the U-S' self-imposed
limits on its engagement with Taiwan would be lifted following the signing
this week of the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

The Cabinet has approved an initiative aimed at subsidizing the local
production of at least 50 drugs to boost Taiwan's "medical resilience."

Premier Zhu Rong-tai approved the initiative after a briefing by the Ministry
of Health.

The initiative will receive 24-billion N-T in funding over four years to
support the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, generic drugs,
biopharmaceuticals, and radiopharmaceuticals from 2026 to 2029.

The Cabinet says the funding will also go toward looking into the manufacture
of these pharmaceuticals domestically and to building a "smart" logistics
center to ensure the timely supply of medicine to local medical institutions.

The Cabinet provided few details on the specifics of the initiative,
including how funds will be disbursed and which drugs will be produced.

But it has singled which ministries will be involved in the initiative --
including which ministry will identify the drugs and the manufacturing
processes needed to make this happen.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

repatriation

The Mainland Affairs Council says it's "dissatisfied" with the way Beijing
repatriated 10 Taiwan nationals who had completed prison sentences in China
for fraud - arguing the case was not handled in line with a still-effective
cross-strait agreement.

Council spokesman Liang Wen-chieh said the recent move deviated from past
practice because of the short notice given by China.

The statement follows reports that the 10 Taiwan nationals, who involved in
fraud in Cambodia, were arrested and jailed in China, and after completing
their sentences, they were deported on Wednesday and entered Kinmen from
Xiamen via the "mini-three-links" ferry route.

Reports citing an anonymous source, say Chinese authorities did not give
Kinmen prior notice, and Taiwanese immigration officers and police were
deployed after the shipping company flagged a potential issue with some of
the passengers.

Most of the 10 arrivals did not have any identification documents when they
arrived in Kinmen.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says economic officials from Taiwan and
India are hoping to cooperate on building a resilient supply chain and
expand global business opportunities.

This comes after Taiwan's Deputy Economics Minister Cynthia Jiang and
Amardeep Singh Bhatia, the secretary of India's Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade had meetings in Taipei.

The economics ministry says the talks focused on global trade trends,
investment strategies and supply chain cooperation.

Jiang said both sides are in a position to strengthen cooperation in talent
development, investment environments and policy coordination ...

.. and will work together to build a resilient supply chain by combining
Taiwan's advanced technologies with India's rich software talent pool.

A memorandum of understanding on cooperation regarding healthcare product
regulations was also signed by the two sides during the meeting.

Data shows that trade between Taiwan and India reached a record 10.6-billion
U-S dollars in 2024, and totaled 10.1-billion U-S dollars in the first ten
months of this year.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

photos

The High Prosecutors' Office has indicted an army sergeant for sharing photos
of national security-related objects with multiple individuals.

Prosecutors say they are seeking a 12-year prison sentence.

The sergeant was charged after investigators concluded he had taken and
distributed the photos in November and December of 2022 while serving as a
transportation sergeant.

Prosecutors say he shared the images with three people in exchange for cash
and cryptocurrency worth tens of thousands of N-T dollars.

The prosecutors' office says the investigation was carried out with
assistance from the Ministry of National Defense's intelligence unit and
military police stationed in Matsu.

However, it has not discloses what the photos showed, and it remains unclear
how long the suspect has been held in detention.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

And,

LINE Pay says its new e-payment service saw more than 560,000 activations in
just the first 23-hours after launch.

LINE Pay Money went live on Wednesday afternoon.

LINE Pay says user interest pushed traffic to three times the usual level.

The surge caused delays and temporary failures for some people trying to link
their bank accounts.

LINE pay has issued and apology for the problems that arose, but says it
quickly expanded its data center capacity and optimized its systems.

Operations has stabilized by the evening.

LINE Pay says the launch of its new e-payment service is a comprehensive
integration of daily payment needs and is aimed at expanding application
scenarios for electronic payments across Taiwan's retail and service sectors.

LINE Pay has over 13.1-million users across Taiwan.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:16

The European Union's former foreign policy chief has resigned from her role
as head of a prestigious European studies institute.

Federica Mogherini has stepped down as Rector of the College of Europe in
Bruges and Director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy.

Mogherini announced her resignation Thursday while facing a fraud
investigation.

She did not provide a specific reason for her resignation.

Belgian authorities questioned Mogherini on Tuesday following raids on the EU
diplomatic service offices in Brussels and the college in Bruges.

The investigation involves allegations of procurement fraud, corruption and
conflict of interest.

Posted on 2025-12-05 07:03:17

At least four countries have announced they are pulling out of next year’s
Eurovision Song Contest.

This decision follows the organizers' choice to allow Israel to compete,
despite concerns over its conduct in the Gaza war.

Dutch, Spanish, Irish and Slovenian broadcasters announced plans to sit out
the context in Vienna next May.

It came after the European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, voted
to adopt tougher voting rules after allegations of Israel manipulating votes.

The contest has faced challenges due to the war in Gaza, with some countries
threatening to boycott if Israel participates.

Posted on 2025-12-04 18:12:13

The Executive Yuan is urging lawmakers to review the cabinet's own version of
amendments to the law on how tax revenues are shared between central and
local governments.

... And it says it will turn to constitutional remedies if needed.

Last month, the Legislative Yuan passed its own version.

Then, on November 27th, the cabinet filed a reconsideration request, saying
it needed more time and space for lawmakers to study its draft.

The Legislature must handle this request within fifteen days.

Government officials warn that the Legislature's version would weaken the
central government's ability to adjust funding for local governments ... and
could push borrowing up by an extra 264 billion NT ... violating debt rules.

Lawmakers will review the request in a full committee tomorrow, followed by a
roll-call vote in the chamber.

Given the political makeup of the Legislature, the reconsideration is
unlikely to pass.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-04 18:12:13

The Ministry of the Interior says it will move to temporarily block access to
the social media app Xiaohongshu (小紅書) for one year, citing a high risk of
fraud.

Police say the app has more than three million users in Taiwan, but a recent
national security review found it failed all 15 cybersecurity indicators.

Authorities also say the platform has been linked to more than 1 thousand 700
fraud cases since early 2024.

Under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, the government can order
internet providers to stop domain resolution and restrict access.

The MOI says the one-year limit is provisional, and the final decision will
depend on whether the company cooperates with regulations and improves user
safety.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-04 18:12:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a delegation from the U.S. National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is visiting Taiwan from December 1st
through the 6th.

The organization comprised of state legislators and legislative staff, is led
by NCSL President Marcus Evans, an Illinois state representative.

At a banquet yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi called on U.S.
state governments to use diverse methods to strengthen ties with Taiwan and
jointly promote substantive bilateral cooperation.

He praised the fact that 25 U.S. states and Guam will soon have offices in
Taiwan and encouraged more U.S. governors to lead trade missions to the
island.

Evans emphasized that the N-C-S-L can serve as an important bridge between
Taiwan and state governments, and expressed hopes for closer future ties.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-04 18:12:13

Be prepared for possible communication disruptions today due to space weather.

Taiwan's Space Weather Operational Office has issued an alert that a
geomagnetic storm is hitting Earth's atmosphere right now ... and may briefly
reach moderate level-intensity.

The storm began strengthening at around 2 AM and is expected to continue for
about 15 hours, driven by a massive burst of energy from the sun.

As a result, satellite navigation, including GPS, and radio signals like ours
may experience brief, temporary interruptions.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:44:13

The Executive Yuan has approved a plan to end the use of kitchen waste as pig
feed by the end of 2026.

Officials say all hog farms must switch to commercial feed starting in 2027
to reduce the risk of African swine fever.

Farmers will have a one-year transition period, and those who switch
immediately will receive a $3-thousand-600 NT subsidy per pig.

Others who continue using cooked kitchen waste during the buffer period will
receive half that amount.

The Agriculture Ministry will also provide loans, equipment support and
technical guidance to help farms upgrade.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) says strict controls are needed during the
transition and that the nationwide shift must be completed by December 31
next year.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:44:13

Kaohsiung has finished major resurfacing work on Zhonghua 5th Road and
Chenggong 2nd Road.

The city's Public Works Bureau says the project improved almost 29-thousand
square meters of roadway.

Lane markings were also updated to add new dedicated left-turn lanes to ease
congestion.

Officials say the two roads are key routes linking the Asia New Bay Area with
the city center and serve major commercial and industrial zones.

They say growing traffic had worn down the pavement and outdated designs no
longer met demand.

The city hopes the upgrades will improve intersection flow and boost overall
driving safety.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:44:13

Malaysia has charged a former senior aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
with accepting bribes.

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin is accused of taking nearly 43-thousand US dollars
from a businessman seeking help with mining licenses.

He has pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.

Shamsul says he will fight what he calls an attack on him.

Prime Minister Anwar says authorities are free to investigate without
interference.

The case has renewed questions about Anwar's anti-corruption pledges.

The businessman accused of paying the bribes has also been charged and
pleaded not guilty.

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:44:13

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Congolese and Rwandan presidents for a
deal signing aimed at securing peace in eastern Congo.

The White House has lauded the peace signing to be held on Thursday as
“historic” and credited Trump for it.

The peace signing will also open up access to eastern Congo's critical
minerals for the U.S. government and American companies.

The Central African nation of Congo has been battered by a decadeslong
conflict with more than 100 armed groups.

The most potent of them is the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Congolese residents expressed little hope that Thursday's signing will
quickly end the fighting that has continued in eastern Congo.

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:44:13

Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest are discussing whether Israel
should be allowed to participate next year.

The European Broadcasting Union is holding a general assembly as some
countries are calling for Israel to be excluded over alleged interference in
contest voting and its conduct of the war in Gaza.

Experts predict broadcasters won't reach a united position and will most
likely decide on their own or in a breakaway group whether to participate.

Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia insist Israel shouldn't
take part.

Germany and Austria are among countries that want Israel included.

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:27:13

Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) says using U.S. dollar
stablecoins for cross-border payments must follow Taiwan's foreign-exchange
reporting rules.

He says buying or selling stablecoins with NT dollars or foreign currency
counts as an FX transaction and must meet balance-of-payments requirements.

Yang notes that major stablecoins like USDT offer fast and low-cost transfers
but carry risks such as money laundering, fraud and weak consumer protection.

He says future regulation will require issuers to follow K-Y-C, anti-money
laundering and cybersecurity rules.

Yang adds that major economies are drafting stablecoin laws, and Taiwan's
proposed Virtual Asset Service Act would regulate issuance and trading.

He says an NT-dollar Central Bank Digital Currency would remain the anchor of
Taiwan's digital-money system, and stablecoin use in the real economy will
depend on market demand.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:27:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) says plans for a third Costco in the
city are not yet final.

She says the landowner for a proposed site in Xitun District has submitted a
land-use application that the city must review according to law.

Costco Taiwan says it is still evaluating suitable locations and will work
closely with government agencies as procedures move forward.

The company notes that expansion and global procurement help reduce costs for
members, and that land availability remains its biggest challenge.

Independent Councilor Chen Ting-hsiu (陳廷秀) criticizes the proposed Xitun
site, saying it ignores coastal districts and violates balanced development.

He warns that the area faces years of congestion from upcoming MRT Blue Line
construction and argues the location is too close to Taichung's two existing
stores.

Mayor Lu says the city's review is passive and the final decision will be
made by the Ministry of the Interior.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:27:13

Kaohsiung is preparing major traffic measures as the Asia Artist Awards take
place at the National Stadium on Saturday.

The city's Transportation Bureau says World Games Boulevard will be closed to
most vehicles, with only emergency, official and shuttle buses allowed.

Several YouBike stations near the venue will also pause service during the
two-day event.

MRT, Taiwan Railways and High Speed Rail will add extra trains, with MRT
service running every 3 to 5 minutes after the shows.

The city is offering free shuttles between Zuoying High Speed Rail Station
and the stadium for both entry and exit times.

Officials expect heavy traffic and are urging drivers to avoid the area and
use alternate routes or public transit.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 16:27:13

Australia's eSafety Commissioner says a new ban on social media for under-16s
marks a global turning point in regulating Big Tech.

Julie Inman Grant says platforms have begun locking out accounts as the law
takes effect on December 10th.

Instagram, Facebook, Threads and other major apps say they will comply after
years of debate.

About 96% of Australian teens under 16 currently use social media.

Most platforms are now warning young users to save their data before accounts
are deactivated or frozen.

Supporters say the move may ease pressure on parents and improve children?s
mental health.

Inman Grant says governments worldwide are watching closely as the policy
rolls out.

Posted on 2025-12-04 14:27:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it hopes to build a more resilient
supply chain with India.

Deputy Minister Cynthia Chiang (江文若) and Indian official Amardeep Singh
Bhatia led the latest Taiwan–India economic dialogue in Taipei.

Both sides exchanged views on global trade, investment plans and supply chain
cooperation.

They also signed an MOU on medical product regulations and witnessed another
agreement involving financial regulators.

Chiang says Taiwan's advanced technologies and India’s strong software
talent can strengthen cooperation in talent, investment and policy.

Bhatia says India has attracted global companies through incentives and
infrastructure upgrades.

The ministry says trade between Taiwan and India is growing quickly and is on
track to reach a new record this year.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 14:27:14

The Army's Hualien Defense Command carried out a pre-dawn live-fire drill at
Taimali Beach in Taitung.

Upgraded M60A3 tanks and other ground weapons lit up the shoreline during the
exercise.

Residents braved the cold to watch, saying the display was powerful and
brought a sense of security.

Local officials also voiced support, saying combat readiness relies on strong
backing from the community.

The Army says realistic training is essential to strengthen deterrence and
protect national security.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-12-04 14:27:14

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has indicted 17 people in a major
financial fraud and illicit fundraising scheme

Prosecutors say the the fraud ring posed as a legitimate company, setting up
a website and holding seminars, falsely claiming to invest in cryptocurrency
and clean energy technology.

They promised annual returns of up to 42 percent, and fraudulently raised
over $277-million NT from over 300 victims.

Officials say the ringleader directed portions of the funds to be converted
to U.S. dollars and transferred to another company he established in Hong
Kong to invest in cryptocurrencies.

He also diverted funds to repay personal mortgages and purchase real estate
in his wife’s name.

The 17 individuals were indicted on charges including fraud, illicit
fundraising and money laundering.

Ten defendants who were previously detained have been transferred to the
court for trial.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-04 14:27:14

Thai officials says remains handed over to Israel by militants in Gaza have
been identified as belonging to the last Thai hostage taken during the Oct.
7, 2023, attack that launched the war.

The remains belong to Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai national who was an
agricultural worker.

In all, 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others have been returned to
Israel since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began in early October.

The returns are a key part of the terms of a shaky ceasefire, which both
Hamas and Israel have accused the other of breaking.

With just one hostage left, the sides are close to wrapping up the first
phase of the ceasefire.

Posted on 2025-12-04 13:07:13

The Center for Disease Control says preliminary information indicates there
is an individual tuberculosis case at National Taiwan University, but no
cluster infections have occurred, and contact tracing is underway.

Some NTU students said they received a notice from the school’s health
center teling them that the Taipei City Kunming Hospital had determined they
meet the criteria for TB close contacts.

The Hospital said that by law, they must undergo health education, an X-ray,
and a blood test.

CDC spokesperson Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said the situation appears to
involve an individual TB case and does not constitute a cluster infection.

Lin said local health authorities continue to strictly identify and trace
contacts.

As for the source of the infection, Lin said the patient’s activities were
not limited to the campus, so infection from outside the school cannot be
ruled out, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

He also noted that TB is primarily transmitted through droplets and airborne
particles, and symptoms include coughing for more than two weeks, weight
loss, and fever.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-04 13:07:13

Deputy Taipei Mayor Li Si-chuan (李四川) has for the first time expressed his
willingness to run for the New Taipei Mayor's office.

Speaking on an online program last night, Li said he would definitely
register for the party primary if the KMT holds it.

He added that if the people of New Taipei believe he should take on the
responsibility, he would “absolutely not reject it.”

As for the timeline of the KMT primary, Li said there's no hurry as sitting
New Taipei Mayor Ho Yo-yi didn't join the race until March.

But he stressed that he'll resign from his post once he's certain to take
part in the primary.

Li, aged 67, has been a veteran government worker and once served as deputy
Taipei County Magistrate and deputy Mayor in New Taipei and Kaohsiung before
becoming deputy Taipei Mayor

According to recent polls, Li's approval rating is the highest among all
prospective competitors, including DPP candidate Su Qiao-hui (蘇巧慧)。

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-04 13:07:13

In world news.

Honduras' former President Juan Orlando Hernandez has thanked U.S. President
Donald Trump for pardoning him in his first message after leaving prison.

Hernandez was serving a 45-year sentence for helping drug traffickers move
cocaine to the U.S.

Trump announced the pardon last Friday, claiming Hernandez was a victim of
unjust prosecution and that Hondurans asked him to pardon Hernandez.

Hernandez was released Monday from a U.S. prison.

Hernandez maintains his innocence, portraying himself as an anti-drug
trafficking hero.

He was arrested at the request of the United States in February 2022,
extradited to the US and sentenced two years later by a U.S. court.

Posted on 2025-12-04 13:07:13

American zoologist Laurie Marker has been collecting and storing specimens in
a cheetah sperm bank in Namibia for 35 years, hoping conservationists never
have to use them.

But she worries that the world’s fastest land animal might be on the brink
of extinction one day and need artificial reproduction to save it.

Marker says the sperm bank at the Cheetah Conservation Fund she founded in
the African nation of Namibia is a “frozen zoo” of cheetahs she’s been
building since 1990.

She says it would be utilized in a worst-case scenario for the big cats,
whose numbers have dropped alarmingly in the last 50 years.

Today marks World Cheetah Day, with less than 7,000 of them left in the wild
mainly across Africa.

Posted on 2025-12-04 08:13:13

special budget unconstitutional

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Premier Cho Jung-tai says a demand by opposition lawmakers that President Lai
Ching-te face questions in the Legislative Yuan related to his 1.25-trillion
N-T special defense budget is "unconstitutional."

The statement comes after lawmakers from the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's
Party blocked a bill authorizing the special defense budget from being placed
on the agenda for tomorrow's Legislative plenary session.

K-M-T caucus whip Fu Kun-chi has said while the party's supports protecting
Taiwan, they believe Lai should report to the Legislature and explain the
necessity of the expenditure.

According to the premier, while it is permissible for the president to brief
the Legislature, "demanding the president to answer questions on the spot
would be unconstitutional."

The premier is also urging the opposition party caucuses to prioritize
national security and schedule a review of the bill.

Lai announced the special budget plan on November 26.

He has since said he's willing to brief the Legislature on the budget, but
will not take questions from lawmakers - as doing so would violate the
Constitution.

Posted on 2025-12-04 08:13:13

The Military Intelligence Bureau is denying online claims that its
intelligence officers held secret meetings with their Dutch counterparts
earlier this year.

According to the bureau, the allegation was spread by an overseas Chinese
group working with the Chinese Communist Party.

The denial comes after a post uploaded to a Hungarian-based website, and
later shared as a Facebook post said six Military Intelligence Bureau
officers secretly traveled to the Netherlands in May for a meeting with Dutch
Defense Intelligence and the Security Service.

The post included purported photos of the alleged meeting in the Netherlands,
a flight ticket for one of the officers said to have traveled there, and the
names of both Taiwanese and Dutch intelligence personnel.

The post also said that six officials from the Dutch agency and the General
Intelligence and Security Service visited Taiwan last month for a follow-up
meeting.

The bureau is insisting that the contents of the post were "distorted" and
"inconsistent with what actually happened."

National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen is refusing to either
confirm nor deny the alleged exchange - saying only that the bureau would
examine whether the post violated information security rules or was part of
China's cognitive warfare.

Posted on 2025-12-04 08:13:13

The Mainland Affairs Council says it believes China's latest package of 12
measures aimed at advancing cross-strait "integration" will have little
effect in attracting Taiwanese investment.

The statement comes after China's state-run media reported that the Fujian
provincial government has announced the new measures to further "advance"
Fujian as a "cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone."

The measures include offering preferential insurance premiums to
Taiwan-funded aquaculture firms as well as efforts to improve tax services
for Taiwanese individuals and businesses, including the establishment of a
dedicated tax consultation hotline.

The Mainland Affairs Council is predicting the measures will fail based on
similar efforts in recent years that the agency says have had "far from
ideal" results.

According to the council, Fujian has rolled out 74 measures targeting
investment by Taiwanese businesses and individuals since Beijing issued a
policy paper in September 2023 designating Fujian as a demonstration zone ...

... but investment there by Taiwanese businesses has declined sharply.

Posted on 2025-12-04 08:13:13

The Ministry of Digital Affairs says there is no evidence to suggest that
Coupang users here in Taiwan were affected by a large-scale personal data
leak recently reported by the South Korean e-commerce giant.

According to the ministry, it contacted Coupang in late November after
learning of the incident and was informed that the breach occurred mainly in
South Korea and, based on checks carried out so far, no leaks involving
Taiwanese accounts have been found.

The ministry says it will continue monitoring the case and maintain
communication with Coupang to ensure the protection of local users' personal
information.

South Korean media has reported that personal information of around
33.7-million users was exposed, with unauthorized access believed to have
begun in June of this year.

Coupang Taiwan says its systems have not shown any signs of compromise and it
has found no evidence that information belonging to local users had been
leaked.

Posted on 2025-12-04 08:13:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says although the mercury dropped to into
the mid-teens early this morning, it will gradually rebound from tomorrow and
into the weekend.

According to the administration's forecast center, as the cold front eases,
daytime highs will rise by between 1 to 2-degrees tomorrow and continue to
gradually increase through the weekend ....

.. when clear to cloudy weather is forecast for most of the island.

Highs on Sunday are forecast to reach between 23 and 24-degrees in the north
and 27 to 28-degrees in the center and south.

While nighttime lows islandwide will drop to between 18 and 19-degrees.

The weather administration says a weak northeasterly wind system will bring
slightly cooler weather to the north next Monday and Tuesday - with a chance
of rain in the north and east - but warmer, drier weather will be seen from
Wednesday.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it welcomes the signing of the Taiwan
Assurance Implementation Act by U-S President Donald Trump.

The new law was signed by Trump on Tuesday and is an amendment to the Taiwan
Assurance Act of 2020 focused on reviewing guidelines on U-S interactions
with Taiwan.

It requires the U-S State Department to regularly review and update
guidelines governing Washington's official interactions with Taiwan.

Previously, the State Department was required to conduct a one-time review of
its guidance governing relations with Taiwan, but under the new bill, the
agency must conduct such a review "not less than every five years."

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung thanked the Trump administration and Congress
for their bipartisan support, and is descrbing the act's signing as "a major
step forward in US-Taiwan relations.

The bipartisan bill was introduced in February and passed the House
unanimously in May and cleared the Senate in November.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:16

National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen says China could hold
another large-scale military drill before the end of this year.

Tsai told lawmakers that Beijing has routinely held separate military
exercises in November and December each year to test the combat readiness ...

... and it's "not unlikely" that it could consider combining some of those
routine drills into one large-scale one and turn that exercise into one
targeting Taiwan.

Tsai said the government needs to be prepared for possible enemy advancement,
and his agency is closely monitoring all Chinese military deployments near
Taiwan at all times.

Tsai said there are currently four Chinese Naval fleets in the West Pacific.

He added the N-S-B is closely monitoring their movements in coordination with
Taiwan's military and other intelligence units, and Taiwan will also conduct
intelligence exchanges with other countries related to Chinese movements when
needed.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:16

The Ministry of Environment has traced the pollution source in its
investigation into a recent oil spill in the Keelung River back to a repair
depot operated by a maintenance contractor for Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport.

The ministry says inspectors searching high-risk areas around the Badu
pumping station found the depot discharging wastewater without a permit,
operating without treatment facilities, and storing oil without required
spill-containment structures.

All are violations of the Water Pollution Control Act.

The environment ministry said it has also identified other potential
pollution sources and a task force and police now gathering evidence.

The Keelung Environmental Protection Bureau has cited the contractor and
ordered an immediate halt to operations at the repair depot.

The investigation comes after the oil spill contaminated water supplies to
over 100,000 households in five districts of Keekung City and an additional
47,000 households in New Taipei's Xizhi District.

The environment ministry has also directed Taiwan Water Corporation to
strengthen its early-warning measures

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:19

ring

The Supreme Court has upheld prison sentences of between 10 and 18 months
for three former Military Intelligence Bureau officials found guilty of
running a spy ring for China after they retired.

Retired colonels Chang Chao-ran and Chou Tien-zi as well as former Major
General Yueh Chih-chong were sentenced to prison by the Taipei District Court
ruled last year after being convicted of developing a spy ring for China
beginning in 2008.

Both prosecutors and the three individuals filed appeals against the lower
court ruling.

The High Court upheld the lower court's ruling, but said it could only
confirm that the three had provided basic personal information, such as their
names, but was unable to determine what specific intelligence they had
disclosed to Chinese officials.

That ruling was also appealed.

The Supreme Court's ruling states that "there are no grounds for further
appeal in the case," without providing additional details, including what
information the three had provided to Chinese officials, how sensitive was
the information, and how much money they received.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:19

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urged South Korea to correct the way
Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system - saying the
current designation downgrades the country's status.

The call comes after South Korea rolled out the online system on in February
to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by
2026.

Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering
the country.

The foreign ministry says it has received multiple complaints from Taiwan
travelers reporting that the system lists Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)" in
dropdown menus for both "place of departure" and "next destination."

The ministry also says it has repeatedly asked Seoul to fix the "wrongful"
listing since the system's launch, but has yet to receive a positive
response.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:19

The National Health Insurance Administration's decision to cover an expensive
but effective gene therapy for A-A-D-C deficiency has sparked debate over
fairness and treatment access for patients with other rare conditions.

The one-time therapy costs about 100-million N-T per injection.

The health insurance administration says it will be covered on a temporary
basis, while its effectiveness will be reassessed three years after treatment
begins, and coverage terms may be adjusted as needed.

The treatment was developed by National Taiwan University Hospital in 2007
and clinical protocols established in 2010, before it was licensed to a U-S
company.

Health authorities estimate that 13 patients will receive the therapy in its
first year at a cost of about 1.3-billion N-T.

Medical experts have criticized the National Health Insurance
Administration's decision to cover the treatment - arguing that drugs for
other rare diseases treat dozens of patients for less than 100-million N-T,
yet they are not fully covered.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:20

Cyber ambassador-at-large Audrey Tang has received Sweden's Right Livelihood
Award.

Tang dedicated the honor to everyone who supports digital freedom and works
for peace around the world.

The Right Livelihood Foundation said Tang was recognized for transforming
technology into a force for public good.

It cited Tang's helping to build platforms such as "vTaiwan," strengthening
government-civic tech collaboration through the "g0v" community, and creating
inclusive digital systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The foundation says Tang was selected for "advancing the social use of
digital technology to empower citizens, renew democracy and heal divides."

Tang is one of five recipients of the 2025 Right Livelihood Award, which is
presented annually to honor leading global change-makers.

She served as Taiwan's first digital minister from 2022 to 2024.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:20

And,

The Taipei 101 has unveiled a preview of its New Year's Eve fireworks --
saying the celebrations will begin five days early with nightly Disney-themed
projection shows.

Taipei 101 Chairwoman Janet Chia said the biggest change this year is an
"extended countdown," with characters such as those from Toy Story projected
onto the tower each night from December 27 to 31.

Chia says the six-minute fireworks show will feature low-smoke pyrotechnics
imported from Italy and be set to original music composed by young Taiwanese
artists.

The duration and budget are the same as last year.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:20

The European Union’s former foreign policy chief faces corruption
accusations alongside two other people arrested this week as part of a fraud
investigation.

Authorities in Belgium made the arrests Tuesday after raiding the offices of
the EU diplomatic service in Brussels and a college in Bruges.

Federica Mogherini led the EU foreign service from 2014 to 2019 and now
serves as the rector of the College of Europe, a prestigious institute of
European studies.

Prosecutors made the announcement Wednesday.

It is the latest scandal to hit the 27-nation bloc.

Her arrest came as the EU has been urging Ukraine to tackle corruption.

Posted on 2025-12-04 07:01:20

Israel says it launched an airstrike in southern Gaza in retaliation for an
attack by militants earlier in the day that wounded five Israeli soldiers.

The strike was the latest test for a fragile ceasefire that has mostly held
up since early October, despite claims of violations by both Israel and
Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas violated the ceasefire Wednesday
when, according to the army, militants emerged from an underground tunnel and
attacked Israeli soldiers in an area under their control.

Hamas put out a statement condemning the Israeli strike in Khan Younis.

Israel has announced plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing in the coming
days, allowing Palestinians to leave Gaza.

Posted on 2025-12-03 17:13:13

Taiwan could see its first regulated local cryptocurrency as early as the
second half of next year.

Financial Supervisory Commission Chair Peng Jin-long says that's provided
legislation for a new 'stablecoin' moves smoothly.

He told lawmakers the proposed Virtual Assets Service Act should be placed on
the agenda this session and passed in the next.

The Cabinet is set to review the draft this week after three meetings Peng
says produced a high level of consensus.

The bill draws on European Union crypto-asset rules and doesn't explicitly
require stablecoins to be issued by financial institutions.

But for risk-management reasons, regulators and the central bank agree that
only financial institutions will be allowed to issue them at first.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-03 17:13:15

KMT Lawmaker Hong Meng-kai says, he will support changing the law to legalize
caning as a state-sanctioned punishment.

That comes as Singapore has made amendments to their laws to allow caning as
punishment for fraud.

Hong says, the Taiwanese government should consider legalizing caning for
those who commit child abuse, rape, and fraud.

He also says that he's considering proposing a referendum vote on the
practice for next year, and even said he would propose an amendment to the
Criminal Code.

Hong also claims that 70% of the public supports caning as state-sanctioned
punishment.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Justice says, the legalization of such a practice
would require long-term consideration...

as it constitutes a form of torture.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-03 17:13:15

The Digital Affairs Ministry has reassured people that online retail company
Coupang's recent personal data leak does not appear to involve users in
Taiwan.

The Ministry said it has been monitoring reports of a major data leak from
South Korea’s e-commerce platform Coupang, after the company confirmed that
33.7 million accounts had been compromised.

Officials say they received intelligence on the incident in late November and
contacted Coupang immediately.

According to the ministry, Coupang responded that the breach occurred on the
Korean side and that there is currently no evidence of leak involving
Taiwanese users.

Coupang Taiwan also said it is continuing to investigate the case and is
working with leading independent cybersecurity experts to assess the impact.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-03 17:13:15

Now turning to international news...

Amnesty Internaitonal is accusing Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces
of committing war crimes in the country.

That's after the group attacked the Zamzam displacement camp in April,
killing civilians and destroying infrastructure.

The RSF seized the city of el-Fasher in Octover as part of its war with the
Sudanese military.

Amnesty's new report highlights the RSF's disregard for human life and calls
for an investigation.

The civil war, which began 2 and a half years ago, has killed over 40,000 and
displaced millions.

The RSF denies targeting civilians, claiming the Zamzam camp was a military
base.

That's as the International Criminal Court is actively investigating war
crimes in the region.

Posted on 2025-12-03 17:13:15

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says, he's considering apologizing to
North Korea.

That's over suspicions that Seoul's former conservative leader intentionally
sought to raise military tensions between the two countries in the buildup to
his martial law declaration nearly one year ago.

Lee is stressing his desire to repair ties with North Korea, but when
speaking to reporters, he seemed unclear on the details of Pyongyang's
detention of several South Korean nationals.

This comes after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted over allegations
that he ordered drone flights over North Korea to intentionally stoke
tensions.

South Korean media also reported that the country's military under Yoon flew
propaganda leaflet balloons over the border.

Lee says, he's considering an apology, but he says he's concerned he will be
smeared as pro-North Korea.

Posted on 2025-12-03 17:13:15

And in the US,

local animal control officials say that a raccoon broke into a closed liquor
store in Virigina, and drank alcohol from low-to-the-ground shelves over the
weekend.

The raccoon was found Saturday passed out next to the store's toilet.

Officials say, the raccoon sobered up after a few hours, and he was released
back into the wild.

They add that he did not display any signs of injury following the break-in.

Posted on 2025-12-03 16:07:13

Taiwan Water Corporation has reassured Keelung’s Nuan-nuan District
residents that the Xi-shi (西勢) Reservoir can maintain water supply for
around 10 days instead of three as originally speculated.

The statement comes after oil pollution in the Keelung River has triggered
renewed concern over drinking-water safety.

Environmental protectioin officials say one major source of contamination was
traced to a Guo-guang Motor Transport maintenance plant, which had allegedly
been discharging untreated wastewater directly into the river.

The facility has been shut down, and investigators are continuing to search
for additional pollution sources.

The Corporation has halted all river intake and is relying instead on the
Xi-shi Reservoir, backed by additional supplies from the Xin-shan Water
Treatment Plant.

Cleanup work is underway, and mobile labs have been deployed to conduct
rapid chemical testing.

Water officials say they hope to resume drawing from the river once results
confirm the water is safe, but contingency plans, including rerouting intake
from upstream, are ready if pollution persists.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-03 16:07:13

Officials say that over 900 million NT has been paid out to victims of the
Matai'an barrier lake disaster.

That's after a donation account opened by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
collected nearly 1.4 billion NT.

Some of the funds have been used to alleviate funeral expenses for 18 killed
in the disaster, and to assist 2500 households in rebuilding and cleaning up
their homes.

Affected residents have received 50,000 NT each to aid in cleanup, while
families of the deceased receive 800,000.

Officials express their thanks to those who helped out with cleanup in
Guangfu following the disaster.

They pledge to continue to keep the public updated regarding distribution of
funds.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-03 16:07:13

LINE Pay's new e-payment service, LINE Pay Money, launches today.

Users can activate it by updating the LINE app, then completing identity and
banking verification.

The first one million users who finish the onboarding steps will get three
years of withdrawals at partner banks free of charge.

All previously linked credit cards will transfer automatically, so users
won't need to re-link them.

LINE Points will also continue working as before, offering discounts and
point rewards at more than 650 thousand LINE Pay locations.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-03 16:07:13

In world news...

In Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia, emergency crews are racing to
reach survivors and recover bodies after catastrophic floods and landslides.

The death toll has surged past 1,300, with nearly 1,000 people missing.

Days of heavy monsoon rains have left thousands stranded.

On Tuesday, authorities reported 753 deaths in Indonesia, 410 in Sri Lanka,
181 in Thailand and three in Malaysia.

In Indonesia, rescuers are struggling to access villages on Sumatra island
due to washed-out roads and collapsed bridges.

Helicopters and boats are deployed, but worsening weather and damaged
infrastructure are slowing operations.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-03 14:20:13

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan today proposed a companion Senate resolution that
documents the historical cooperation between the United States and the
Republic of China during World War II, following a similar proposal by
Representative Chris Smith.

The resolution also counters the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to
rewrite wartime history.

Smith and Sullivan, both republicans, are co-chairs of the
Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Smith introduced the resolution after the C-C-P held a military parade on
September 3rd in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the “Victory in the
War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War."

It denounced the C-C-P's “stolen valor” and commemorating the ROC’s
contributions to the Allied victory.

Sullivan introduced the Senate version today, which echoes Chris's proposal.

According to the text of the resolution, the C-C-P and its forces conducted
very limited combat operations against Imperial Japan, leaving ROC soldiers
to shoulder the vast majority of the fighting and casualties.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-03 14:20:13

The restaurant group WowPrime is set to hold its year-end feast on December
18th, saying that nearly all of its 400-plus outlets will be closed that day.

The group said except for those working at its 13 branches inside department
stores, some 10-thousand employees are expected to attend the event at Taipei
Nan-gang Exhibition Center.

The group has arranged 179 tour buses to transport employees from across
Taiwan to the venue, and the banquet catering will be provided by the Regent
Taipei.

WowPrime also said it expects to open five more stores next year with the
focus on hot pot and barbecue brands, and hire1,200 people.

The group, established 32 years ago, has recorded stable growth this year,
posting consolidated revenue of $17 billion NT in the first three quarters
and nearly $1 billion in net profit.

Its earnings per share stood at $12 NT.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-03 14:20:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 27793 after
gaining 228 points.

The turnover was 439.6 billion NT

Posted on 2025-12-03 14:20:13

NNow turning to international news...

Malaysia's transport ministry says the deep-sea hunt for Malaysia Airlines
Flight 370 will resume on December 30.

The Boeing 777 vanished over a decade ago with 239 people, mostly Chinese
nationals. on board.

Satellite data showed the plane turned from its flight path from Kuala Lumpur
to Beijing and likely crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

The U.S.-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity will resume the search
intermittently for 55 days at a new 15,000-square-kilometer site in the
ocean.

Malaysia's government earlier this year approved a "no-find, no-fee" contract
with Ocean Infinity, which will be paid $70 million only if wreckage is
found.

Previous searches have failed to locate the aircraft.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-03 14:20:13

Truning to Hodnuras' presidential election,

Salvador Nasralla of the conservative Liberal Party holds a slight lead over
Nasry Asfura of the National Party with votes from about 62% of polling
places counted.

It was the first update from electoral authorities since the website tracking
the vote count's progress crashed Monday.

Honduran electoral authorities blamed "technical problems."

The National Electoral Council announced Tuesday that the site had been
updating results since Sunday night but went down midday Monday.

The council is working with the contractor to fix the issue and is creating a
space for media outlets to observe the vote counting.

Both candidates claim they are favored to win.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-03 14:20:13

Dozens of couples in the Gaza Strip have held a mass wedding following over 2
years of bombardment.

Although it was a rare moment of hope, celebrations were dampened by the
ongoing crisis across Gaza.

Most of Gaza's 2 million residents have been displaced by Israel's war on the
strip, with entire areas of cities been flattened and aid shortages and
outbursts in conflict plaguing the daily lives of people.

Weddings are a key part of Palestinian culture, but became exceedingly rare
in Gaza during the war.

They are a tradition that some couples have been able to restart in the wake
of a fragile ceasefire, even if the weddings are different from the elaborate
ceremonies once held in the strip

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-03 13:07:13

The supplier of PX-Mart's problematic Taiwan tilapia fillets said its own
commissioned tests found no traces of the banned animal drug.

The Kaohsiung city government, on the other hand, said the samples that the
Yun-lin Kou-hu (口湖) Fisheries Cooperative sent for tests were different
from the original one.

Officials said the supplier can apply for a re-test in accordance with the
law.

The city's health officials announced Monday that Taiwan tilapia fillets sold
in Kaohsiung's PX-Marts contained residues of the animal drug and ordered the
chain store to remove the product, notify consumers and offer refunds.

Further investigations traced the source of the fish to Kou-hu Fisheries, who
said it sent retained samples of the same batch of fish to S-G-S for
re-testing, and the results found no traces of the drug.

It also sent samples of different batches of the same product to SGS, with
the same outcome.

PX Mart outlets in Kaohsiung received 4,488 packages of the product and had
sold nearly 90 percent before the contamination was announced.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-03 13:07:17

The New Taipei City government says those affected by a water outage in
Tamsui can apply for compensation.

Officials say that's in addition to having fees waived by Taiwan Water
Corporation.

Authorities add that the city government is coordinating the reimbursement
mechanism together with the construction contractor responsible.

Members of the public can apply online for compensation or head to a Tamsui
government office and provide proof of purchase for water or related
equipment through next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the mayor also says that Tamsui's water infrastructure needs
updates, and has suggested that Taiwan Water consider adding backup water
supply pipelines.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-03 13:07:17

Now turning to international news...

Hong Kong is setting up an independent committee to determine the cause of a
deadly high-rise fire that shocked the city and to recommend changes to
prevent a future tragedy.

The city leader announced the creation of the committee...

and pledged to overcome vested interests and to bring about systemic change
in the construction industry.

The fire started in scaffolding at an apartment complex and spread rapidly.

It burned seven apartment buildings and killed at least 156 people with about
30 people still missing a week after the fire.

The fire left many of the 4,600 residents homeless.

Authorities have cited high winds and substandard materials as factors.

Police and anti-corruption investigators have arrested at least 15 people,
including construction company directors.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is thanking U-S President Donald Trump for
signing the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act.

The U-S Senate passed Act on November 18 after which it was sent to the White
House for signing on Tuesday of this week.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is expressing his sincere gratitude for the
U-S support, while the foreign ministry says it will to build on the good
relations between Taiwan and the U-S and uphold the principles of mutual
trust and mutual benefit.

The bill requires the U-S State Department to regularly review and update the
rules governing Washington's engagement with Taiwan and directs the State
Department to "identify opportunities and plans to lift self-imposed
restrictions on relations with Taiwan."

It also requires that the guidelines take into account that Taiwan is
"governed by a representative government peacefully constituted through free
and fair elections."

The bipartisan act passed the U-S House of Representatives in May.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:15

Details of a secret intelligence exchange between Taiwan and the Netherlands
earlier this year have been made public and images of the Military
Intelligence Bureau personnel have been posted online.

The details released include flight information, the trip's itinerary,
meetings with Dutch intelligence personnel,and information concerning the
agendas of those meetings.

According to the leaked information, the Military Intelligence Bureau sent
personnel, including two colonels to the Netherlands in May of this year to
conduct intelligence exchanges with their Dutch counterparts.

A photograph released online shows the Taiwanese intelligence officials at a
restaurant and each of their names has been listed.

Details of a visit to Taiwan last month by Dutch intelligence agency
personnel has also been leaked online - and that also includes their
itinerary and the content of the meetings.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:20

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has questioned 13 people as part on
an investigation into corruption related to the construction of C-P-C's
Guantang LNG terminal in Taoyuan.

It follows raids by prosecutors and officials from the Agency Against
Corruption on 11 locations including C-E-C-I's Taichung office, the office of
C-P-C' s procurement division and C-P-C's L-N-G engineering office.

Those questioned included the former chairman of C-E-C-I Engineering
Consultants and several employees of C-P-C's procurement office.

All 13 were released without bail either late last night or earlier this
morning.

According to the prospectors' office, 10 of those questioned have been listed
as witnesses in the case, while three others have been listed as defendants.

The investigation comes after Mirror Media reported that C-P-C pressured
external contractors to repeatedly increase the project's cost estimates.

According to reports, the estimated cost of the project was set 9.4-billion
N-T, but that allegedly rose to 25.3-billion N-T after repeated revisions.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:23

The Keelung City Government says a new pollutant has been discovered in a
drainage ditch in the city's Nuannuan District.

City officials say the area had not been affected by the recent oil spill in
the Keelung River that contaminated water supplies to over 100,000
households.

According to officials, the city government will establish a forward command
center tomorrow to monitor the situation and trace the source of the
pollution.

They're also warning that if the water quality does not improve, some 35,000
households the Nuannuan and Renai districts will be affected and could face
water outages, as the Xishi Reservoir only has only about three days' worth
of water supply remaining.

The two districts are supplied with water from the reservoir.

The city's Environmental Protection Bureau has taken samples of the polluted
water for testing, while the Taiwan Water Corporation says it will take steps
to divert water resources to the effected areas.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:25

following water outage

New Taipei City Councilor Chen Wei-chieh is proposing providing a minimum
subsidy of 50,000 N-T per household for those affected by the recent water
outage in Tamsui.

The outage was caused after a water pipe was ruptured last Thursday during
construction work on the Danbei Road project.

According to the Chen, it affected approximately 62,000 households and many
of them went days without water, as full services were not restored until 6AM
Tuesday morning.

Chen says it caused a major inconvenience to residents and significant losses
to resturants and catering businesses located across 16 neighborhoods of of
the Tamsui District.

The city councilor argues that the proposed subsidy differs from
compensation, as it is seen as "consolation payment" or funds for "livelihood
assistance" - which fall under the category of social welfare.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih has said the city will hold the contractor behind
the road project accountable.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:30

And over to Honduras' presidential election, Salvador Nasralla of the
conservative Liberal Party now appers to be leading in the polls.

That's with about 62% of polling places reporting.

In a close second place is Nasry Asfura of the National Party, who is
endorsed by the US president.

Only about 2000 votes separate the two conservative canddiates.

Meanwhile Rixi Moncada of the ruling democratic socialist party, LIBRE,
trails in a distant third place.

This is the first update from electoral authorities since the website
tracking progress crashed.

The website, set up by Honduran electoral authorities, experienced technical
problems.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:35

In the US, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is defending the double strike
on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean.

He cited the "fog of war" as reason for his not seeing any survivors in the
water when the second strike was ordered and launched.

Legal experts say the US military would have committed a crime if survivors
had been killed.

Lawmakers have also announced congressional reviews of the strikes.

The Trump administration claims that the strike was lawful, and was ordered
by Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley.

Bradley is expected to provide a classified briefing to lawmakers overseeing
the military this week.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:30

Finally in sports news ...

The Taiwan Professional Basketball League resumes this evening after a
weeklong break for the opening 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification
games.

The second place Hsinchu Lioneers play the fifth place Taipei Mars at the
Hoping Gymnasium in Taipei.

And that game begins at 7 o'clock.

Posted on 2025-12-03 12:17:37

A beloved albino alligator in California has died at the age of 30.

The alligator, named Claude, lived at the California Academy of Sciences in
San Francisco.

Claude was an unofficial mascot and appeared in children's books and ads.

He captivated visitors with his "quiet charisma" during his 17 years at the
museum.

Claude was born in 1995 in Lousiana.

He was born with albinism, which made him appear white, with pinkish eyes.

The museum is planning a public memorial, and Claude's fans can share
memories via email or snail mail.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

President Lai Ching-te has told army reservists that there is no room for
compromise when it comes to Taiwan's security.

He made the comments as he visited a base in Yilan to oversee a reservist
training exercise.

Lai said the values of freedom and democracy are not about ideological
disputes, but are the common position of all the people of Taiwan.

Lai said peace cannot be achieved merely by signing a peace treaty achieved
by yielding to the demands of an aggressor.

He also defended his proposed 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget.

Lai said his administration has to spend more on defenses due to China's
coercion and harassment - and it's better prepare should the worst case
scenario occur.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

Lawmakers have passed a 27-billion N-T special budget to fund reconstruction
in parts of Hualien battered by September's flooding from the Matai'an Creek
barrier lake overflow.

The budget cleared the Legislature with the initially proposed amount of
funding from 2025 to 2030 intact.

The bill also included a 3-billion N-T reserve fund permitted under the
30-billion N-T ceiling set by a special reconstruction act, which was
approved by lawmakers on October 31.

The special act was designed to fast-track long-term recovery and funding
will be available through 2030.

The bill calls for 19.2-billion N-T to be earmarked for economic development,
5.6-billion N-T for community development and environmental protection,
1.5-billion N-T for contingency funding, and 600-million N-T for general
administration.

Funds will be used to cover water resource and river management projects,
building fortified levees capable of withstanding debris flows, repairing
damaged bridges, rebuilding agricultural and public infrastructure,
supporting temporary housing, and reinforcing the power grid.

Funding for special budgets will be raised through government borrowing.

The passed bill also includes a clause requiring Premier Cho Jung-tai to
deliver a special report to the Legislature within two months on such issues
as barrier-dam safety, upstream sediment removal, river-basin treatment
plans, and fund use.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

At the same time,

The Legislature has passed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health
Act.

The revisions define workplace bullying and require employers to take steps
to prevent it.

Workplace bullying is defined as repeated harassment, threats, isolation,
insults or other inappropriate conduct carried out by someone using their
position or authority, causing physical or psychological harm to a worker.

In severe cases, it does not need to be repeated to constitute bullying.

Workplaces with more than 30 employees must establish and publish prevention
guidelines, while those with more than 10 employees must provide a publicly
accessible reporting channel.

Employers are also required to support workers who file complaints and report
cases and outcomes to a government-designated website. Larger workplaces must
form investigation committees in which external members make up at least half
of the panel.

Under the amendments, the person in charge of a company will be fined up to
1-million N-T if they engage in workplace bullying.

While failure to provide support or conduct an investigation will result in
fines of upto 75,000 N-T.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

The government has congratulated St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre
and his ruling Labour Party on securing re-election in Monday's general
election.

Voters in the Caribbean nation elected all 17 members of the House of
Assembly on Monday.

The S-L-P won 14 seats, delivering a decisive victory that ensured the party
would retain control of the legislature and re-elect Pierre as prime
minister.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Ambassador to St. Lucia Nicole Su has
conveyed congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan to
Pierre and the newly elected lawmakers.

The ministry has praised St. Lucia for holding an "open, transparent and
peaceful" election - saying the result reflected the St. Lucian people's firm
commitment to democratic values ..

.. and says Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work closely with Pierre's
government to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

national defense

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin is calling for stronger cooperation between
Taiwan and Japan in artificial intelligence, green energy and national
defense.

Kung told participants at a Taiwan-Japan investment cooperation forum in
Taipei that the two economies have long maintained close economic ties, and
that the ongoing push to build a "non-China" supply chain highlights the need
for the two sides to expand cooperation.

As some Japanese enterprises are scaling back operations in China, Kung
called for Taiwan and Japan to seize the opportunity to strengthen
cooperation in A-I, renewable energy and national defense.

He told delegates that in terms of A-I, Japan's push for the Innovative
Optical and Wireless Network platform and all-optical communications aligns
closely with Taiwan's ambitions to boost A-I innovation.

And he stressed that Japanese firms have supported Taiwan's development of
solar and offshore wind power, while Taiwanese firms have also joined
Japanese partners in offshore wind projects in Japan - demonstrating the
deepening two-way relationship in green energy sources.

Kung added je believes there will be significant opportunities for Taiwan and
Japan to collaborate in the national defense sector after President Lai
Ching-te announced plans to strengthen Taiwan's defense industry.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

The National Immigration Agency says a China-born spouse has had her
family-based residency revoked for advocating armed unification online.

Qian Li lost her national I-D and household registration in August after
authorities determined she operated a pro-People's Liberation Army social
media page promoting the use of force against Taiwan.

The woman was employed by Asus and married to a Taiwanese national.

The immigration agency says Qian's activities during her residency period
were deemed harmful to national security or social order, violating Article
14 of the regulations governing the residency and settlement of Chinese
spouses in Taiwan.

Her residency permit was revoked following consultations with the Mainland
Affairs Council and a notice of revocation was delivered on Monday.

The immigration agency says issues related to her employment and National
Health Insurance coverage will be handled by the relevant agencies ..

.. and should she commit further violations while still in Taiwan, law
enforcement will take action as required.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

Taiwan's deputy representative in Indonesia says his office is stepping up
efforts to attract Muslim travelers... the Tourism Administration also plans
to open an office in Jakarta next year to tap into one of the world's
fastest-growing outbound travel markets.

Lin Hsin-ren said Taiwan can no longer afford to overlook Indonesia as a
market, as it's one of the region's fast growing economies.

Lin says more than 200,000 Indonesians currently visit Taiwan each year, and
he expects that number to rise as Taiwan increases its on-the-ground presence
and promotional efforts.

The deputy representative in Indonesia says he sees strong growth potential
in Indonesia's family travel, affluent tourists, corporate incentive trips,
and overseas Chinese-learning educational tours ..

... and he believes Taiwan's tourism products are well-suited to meet the
needs of these travelers.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

Reuters and Yonhap are reporting that a South Korean court rejected a request
to detain former deputy prime minister and finance minister Choo Kyung-ho.

Prosecutors had wanted to arrest him as part of an investigation into former
President Yoon Suk Yeol's briefly imposing martial law last year.

The Seoul Central District Court said it was difficult to conclude Choo would
destroy evidence or attempt to flee, given his previous conduct and his right
to defence with assistance from his attorney.

Last month, the special prosecutor asked the court to sentence former Prime
Minister Han Duck-soo to 15 years in prison, alleging he helped Yoon in his
short-lived martial law.

Posted on 2025-12-03 06:52:13

British authorities have delayed a decision on a super-sized Chinese embassy
in central London amid growing security concerns.

The decision, originally due by Dec 10, has been pushed to Jan 20... but
that's not been the only delay, because the proposal has been stalled for
years.

The latest delay comes amid scrutiny over the government's handling of
Chinese spying allegations.

The proposed "mega embassy" is near London's financial district and sensitive
data cables.
Critics worry it could be used for espionage.

Critics suggest the delay may also be linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's
expected visit to Beijing in early 2026.

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:58:13

Both the KMT and the TPP are urging President Lai Ching-te to explain the
details of the 1.25-trillion-NT special national defense bill at the
Legislative Yuan before the draft bill is reviewed by legislative committees.

Opposition lawmakers jointly moved earlier today to block the bill from being
listed on the agenda for Friday’s legislative plenary session.

KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-qi said the President first pledged the 400
billion-U.S.dollar supplementary defense budget in his letter to the
Washington Post without making it clear to Taiwanese people or the
Legislative Yuan on how the funds will be spent.

He stressed that while people support national defense, they do not support
wasteful arms purchases, nor do they support a war sparked by provocation.

The comments follow Lai's announcement that he's willing to make a report to
the Legislative Yuan on the issue if there's consensus among the ruling and
opposition parties and if the procedure complies with the Constitution.

Meanwhile TPP chair Huang Guo-chang said his party wants to ask Lai whether
he can guarantee on-time delivery of the weaponry we need and whether the
purchases will produce immediate combat capability.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:58:13

In international news,

Hong Kong has set up an independent committee to investigate a deadly fire
that burned seven apartment buildings and killed at least 156 people

It was announced by Chief Executive John Lee, who pledged to overcome vested
interests and pursue accountability.

The fire started in scaffolding at the Wang Fuk Court complex and spread
rapidly.

It left many of the 4,600 residents homeless.

Authorities have cited high winds and substandard materials as factors.

Police have detained 14 people, including construction company directors.

Thirteen have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:58:13

John Lee, the chief executive, announced the committee on Tuesday. He pledged
to overcome vested interests and pursue accountability. The fire started in
scaffolding at the Wang Fuk Court complex and spread rapidly. It left many of
the 4,600 residents homeless. Authorities have cited high winds and
substandard materials as factors. Police have detained 14 people, including
construction company directors. Thirteen have been arrested on suspicion of
manslaughter.

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:58:13

Bulgaria’s government said Tuesday it is withdrawing a controversial budget
proposal after protests against it drew tens of thousands of people and saw
clashes between police and protesters. Opposition and business groups have
warned that plans for higher taxes, increased social security contributions
and spending increases could hurt investment and expand the shadow economy as
the country prepares to join the eurozone at the start of next year. The
government first promised to withdraw the draft for through revision after
protests last week, but later refused to do so, sparking protests in the
capital, Sofia, and other major cities Monday night. The protest in Sofia,
which was dominated by young people, was largely peaceful, but it was
followed by violent clashes.

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:58:13

Emergency crews are racing to reach survivors and recover more bodies Tuesday
in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The death toll from last week's catastrophic floods and landslides has surged
past 1,300, with more than 800 people missing.

Days of heavy monsoon rain have inundated vast areas, leaving thousands
stranded and many clinging to rooftops waiting for help.

The flooding and landslides have killed at least 712 people in Indonesia, 410
in Sri Lanka and 181 in Thailand.

Military-led rescue teams in Sri Lanka continue to scour devastated areas for
336 people still missing in floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone
Ditwah.

At least 507 reported missing in Indonesia.

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:57:13

All YouBike riders in Taoyuan and New Taipei must sign up for insurance to
rent a bike starting January 1st.

Authorities add that the rule applies to long-time members, new users, and
even one-time rentals.

Taoyuan has offered free public bike insurance since 2018, but until now only
new members were automatically covered.

Since last year, electric-assist YouBike 2.0E rentals have already required
mandatory insurance, and Taoyuan’s coverage rate has reached 97 percent.

To expand safety protection, the policy will now include all YouBike 2.0
rides and single-use credit-card rentals.

Temporary users will need to fill out insurance information when linking
their credit card.

Regular members must rent with the card they originally registered.

Insurance can be completed for free on the YouBike website or app.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:57:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai is demanding tighter restrictions on online shopping
platforms。

This, after investigators found that precursor chemicals for the drug 'Meow
Meow' were smuggled through Taobao, falsely labeled as silicone oil.

Cho warned that e-commerce sites must take more responsibility to prevent
illegal materials from slipping through.

He stressed the need for agencies to speed up the listing of new drug
ingredients, strengthen inspections of banned items like poppy seeds, and
crack down on tools like e-cigarettes linked to emerging drug forms.

The Premier also called for age-targeted anti-drug education.

Officials showcased seven major busts this year, including the nation's first
etomidate "zombie vape" factory and the first poppy cultivation case.

The crackdown led to nearly 2 thousand suspects and the seizure of more than
400 kilograms of drugs.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-02 18:57:13

The Centers for Disease Control says flu-related outpatient visits held
steady last week, ending two months of decline.

Despite this plateau, the CDC recorded 24 new severe flu cases and nine
deaths within the past week.

The youngest fatality of the season was a five-year-old girl from northern
Taiwan.

She had no chronic illness and had received last season’s flu shot, but not
this year’s.

Another death involved an unvaccinated man in his 40s with diabetes and
hypertension.

Health expects expect cases to rise slightly and peak around the Lunar New
Year holiday.

So far this season, Taiwan has recorded 349 severe cases, including 53 deaths.

The CDC urges seniors, young children, and people with chronic illnesses to
get vaccinated as temperatures continue to fluctuate.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-02 17:07:13

The ROC Swine Association has raised doubts about the government's plan on
banning kitchen waste starting 2027, saying the 2026 one-year transition
period is “far too long.”

The Central Emergency Operation Center for African Swine Fever yesterday came
to the preliminary conclusion of setting next year as the transition period
for pig farmers who meet the criteria to continue using leftover food.

Those criteria include raising at least 200 pigs and having a certificate to
reuse waste materials.

The farmers must also install temperature and video monitoring systems,
comply with cooking and sterilization requirements, and transport food waste
using GPS-equipped vehicles.

However, the Swine Association said today that most farmers favor a full ban
sooner rather than later.
(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-02 17:07:15

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, Taiwan is open to restoring ties with
Honduras...

regardless of who the new president is.

That's as two conservative candidates for the presidency are currently
neck-and-neck in the polls.

Both Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla have said that they would axe
diplomatic ties with Beijing in favor of restoring ties with Taiwan, if
elected.

MOFA says, they take every opportunity for exchange seriously, and aim to
help Taiwan better contribute to the international community.

Incumbent president of the LIBRE party Xiomara Castro previously switched
diplomatic relations to the PRC in 2023.

LIBRE's candidate, Rixi Moncada, is currently polling in 3rd place.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-12-02 17:07:20

Now turning to international news...

Search and rescue efforts are continuing in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and
Thailand following floods and landslides.

More than 1200 people have been confirmed dead so far, while another 800 are
mising.

Most of the dead were from Indonesia, followed by Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Days of hevay rain inundated the areas, laving many stranded and waiting for
help.

In Indonesia, rescuers are struggling to access villages in Sumatra, where
roads and bridges have been destroyed.

Helicopters and boats have been deployed, but officials warn that worsening
weather and damaged infrastructure are slowing operations.

Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, rescuers are searching for the missing, but
landslides have caused roadblocks.

And in Thailand, cleanup has begun, as authorities work to restore water and
electricity.

Posted on 2025-12-02 17:07:15

New data reveals a significant link between baby formula and an increased
risk of childhood obesity.

The peer-reviewed study from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is the first of its
kind to track the continuous metabolic profile of children from birth to age
five.

Researchers found clear metabolic differences between formula-fed and
breast-fed infants.

Among participants, more than 30% were overweight or obese at age 3, and over
23% remained so at age 5.

The team noted that Taiwan has seen rising rates of childhood obesity and
allergies in recent years.

Experts encouraged parents to promote breastfeeding, ensure healthy diets
during childhood, and foster regular physical activity.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-02 17:07:22

Pope Leo the fourteenth has visited the site of the 2020 Beirut port
explosion in Lebanon on the final leg of his trip to the Middle East.

The pope prayed at the site, standing silently amongst the wreckage.

Families of the victims of the explosion are still seeking justice, and no
official has yet been convicted in the repeatedly obstructed judicial
investigation.

When he arrived in Lebanon over the weekend, the pope urged the country's
political leaders to pursue the truth as a means of peace and reconciliation.

Posted on 2025-12-02 16:08:13

The Legislative Yuan has passed the biggest overhaul of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act in 12 years — adding a full chapter on preventing
workplace bullying.

The amendments define bullying as abuse of power that goes beyond what's
necessary for work — including threats, insults, isolation, or other
inappropriate behavior that harms a worker’s physical or mental health.

They also require employers to set up complaint channels, post prevention
rules, and act quickly when cases are reported.

Companies with more than 30 workers must create full complaint and
disciplinary procedures, and larger firms will need investigation committees
with at least half the members from outside.

Employers must protect affected workers, conduct fair investigations, and log
both the complaint and the outcome on a central government website.

If the accused is the top executive, employees can file directly with local
authorities.

Employers who ignore complaints can be fined up to $750 thousand NT, and top
executives can face fines of up to $1 million NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-02 16:08:13

Opposition KMT and TPP lawmakers have voted to table a review of the
1.25-trillion-NT defense special budget.

That means, it will not be on the agenda at the Legislative plenary session
on Friday, and so cannot be turned over to legislative committees for review.

The opposition parties made the vote amidst loud protests from DPP lawmakers.

The TPP stated that they supported the KMT's position of tabling the bill.

DPP caucus leaders slammed the opposition parties for, they say, being
unwilling to discuss the content of the bill or explain the reasons for
blocking it.

Also blocked by the blue and white camps were the Executive Yuan’s draft
amendments to the Allocation of Government Revenues Act, and proposals to
regulate lawmakers' travel to China brought forward by DPP lawmaker Puma
Shen.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-02 16:08:13

In world news...

Hong Kong has set up an independent committee to investigate a deadly fire
that burned seven apartment buildings and killed at least 151 people.

John Lee, the chief executive, announced the committee today.

He pledged to overcome vested interests and pursue accountability.

The fire started in scaffolding at the Wang Fuk Court complex and spread
rapidly. It left many of the 4,600 residents homeless.

Authorities have cited high winds and substandard materials as factors.
Police have detained 14 people, including construction company directors.

Posted on 2025-12-02 16:08:13

Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his trip to Lebanon, including a silent prayer at
the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion.

Leo was also expected to meet with relatives of some of the 218 people killed
by the blast.

The explosion tore through Beirut and did billions of U.S. dollars in damage
after hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonated in a warehouse.

Five years on, the families of the victims are still seeking justice.

Hours before he arrived, thousands of Lebanese poured into the waterfront
site for the Mass, overjoyed that a pope had finally managed to visit

Posted on 2025-12-02 16:08:13

The Turkish maritime authority reports a tanker carrying sunflower oil from
Russia to Georgia was attacked in the Black Sea. The MIDVOLGA-2 came under
attack 80 miles off the Turkish coast. The 13 crew members were unharmed and
the vessel has not requested assistance. On Monday, Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan condemned Ukraine’s drone attack on two Russian vessels,
calling it a “worrying escalation” of the conflict. Erdogan emphasized the
threat to navigational safety and the environment. The vessels involved are
reportedly part of a fleet used to evade sanctions imposed on Russia.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A tanker carrying sunflower oil from Russia to Georgia
was attacked in the Black Sea, the Turkish maritime authority said Tuesday,
days after two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers were attacked by
Ukrainian naval drones.

The Turkish Directorate General of Maritime Affairs said the MIDVOLGA-2 came
under attack about 130 kilometers (80 miles) off the Turkish coast. The 13
crew members were unharmed and the vessel has not requested assistance.

It was heading toward the Turkish port of Sinop, the maritime authority said
in a statement on X.

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against
Ukraine’s drone attack on two Russian vessels, the Kairos and Virat, saying
it signaled a “worrying escalation” of the conflict.

“We cannot condone these attacks, which threaten navigational safety, life,
and the environment, especially in our own exclusive zone,” Erdogan said in
a televised address. “We are issuing the necessary warnings to all parties
regarding such situations.”

Friday’s attacks against the Kairos and Virat occurred inside Turkey’s
exclusive economic zone. Crew members on board both vessels were reported to
be safe.

The OpenSanctions database, which tracks people or organizations involved in
sanctions evasion, describes the vessels as part of a fleet of ships used to
evade sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine has carried out successful naval strikes against Russian shipping
during the war, particularly using explosives-packed marine drones. However,
Ukrainian missions have previously largely been limited to the waters of the
northern Black Sea.

Posted on 2025-12-02 15:41:13

The ruling DPP legislative caucus is urging the Legislature to allow two
important draft bills to go through the review process.

The DPP caucus leader Zhong Jia-bin (鍾佳濱) said the 1.25-trillion-NT
national defense special act and the Cabinet's version of the amendments to
the Allocation of Government Revenues are now pending at the Legislative
Yuan.

Zhong said he's hoping that the two drafts can be placed on the agenda for
Friday's plenary session.

He's calling on members of the Procedure Committee, scheduled to meet today,
not to block the bills, saying that the bills are crucial for the nation's
future.

Asked if President Lai Ching-te will go to the Legislative Yuan to answer
lawmakers' questions, Zhong said according to the Constitutional Court's
ruling, the Cabinet is obligated to respond to the Legislative Yuan.

He said that if the president were to engage in a question-and-answer session
during a State of the Nation report, it would infringe upon the respective
constitutional powers of the Cabinet and the Legislature .

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-02 15:41:13

The Hualien County government has passed a self-governance ordinance that
could lead to the reopening of the scenic Mukumugi (慕谷慕魚) scenic area,
which has been closed for over a decade.

The order allows local Indigenous tribes to submit a management plan for the
region, paving the way for the area to reopen under tribal control.

The Mukumugi scenice area, known for its beautiful landscape, has been closed
since a series of typhoons damaged and destroyed its main access tunnel.

County officials say the tunnel reopened to traffic in 2023, and the new
ordinance will allow tribes to take over management, providing a legal basis
for them to set management plans, charge and utilize tourism conservation
fees, and ttrain local tour guides.

The government says the law guarantees the tribes' right to autonomous
management, protecting their cultural rights and creating local employment
opportunities for young tribal members.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-02 15:41:13

A new report by the United Nations Development Program is urging governments
to focus more on how artificial intelligence technologies might affect people
already disadvantaged in a data-driven world.

The report released today likens the situation to the “Great Divergence” of
the industrial revolution, when many Western countries saw rapid
modernization while others fell behind.

The UN report also notes that even in wealthy nations like the United States,
the potential for data centers to devour too large a share of electricity and
water has raised concerns.
Ramping up power generation to meet higher demand may hinder progress in
limiting the emissions of carbon from burning fossil fuels that contribute to
global warming, while also causing health hazards.

The report emphasizes that most of the gains from AI are likely to be reaped
by wealthy nations unless steps are taken to use its power to help close gaps
in access to basic needs and advanced know-how.

Posted on 2025-12-02 14:14:13

The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of the special budget bill for
reconstruction following the Matai'an barrier lake disaster.

The special act is made up of 27 billion NT in funding to help affected areas
rebuild.

The legislature passed the bill without freezing or cutting any of the
budget, thus passing all of the items outlined by the Executive Yuan.

Most expenditures in the bill are earmarked for economic development,
followed by money for community development and environmental protection.

Lawmakers also passed provisions in the proposal, including a TPP request for
Premier Zhuo Rong Tai to report to the legislature within 2 months regarding
the progress of post-disaster reconstruction.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-02 14:14:13

A new poll conducted by the Taipei City government claims that there is
majority support amongst residents for the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum's
taking place.

The forum is now set for the end of this month, although the exact dates have
yet to be confirmed.

The Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission of the city government
says that the poll demonstrates 60% support the continuation of the twin city
forum...

and they state that it shows support for "stable exchange" between Taiwan and
China.

The poll also claims that over 70% of residents agree with the statement that
"when cross-strait relations are more tense, there is more need for
communication and exchange."

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-02 14:14:13

Taiwan is making a strategic push into the Spanish-language publishing market
by hosting a dedicated "Taiwan Pavilion" at the Guadalajara International
Book Fair in Mexico.

The government-backed Taiwan Creative Content Agency announced today that the
Taiwan Pavilion, themed "House of Stories," opened on November 29th at the
book fair, which is the largest Spanish-language book fair globally.

The pavilion showcases nearly 100 works from 25 Taiwanese publishers, and is
aimed at facilitating more international licensing deals.

The agency says it is actively promoting Taiwanese authors and building local
networks by connecting with bookstores, schools, and cultural institutions in
Mexico.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-02 14:14:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 27564 after
gaining 221 points.

The turnover was 469.6 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-12-02 14:14:13

Now turning to international news...

Ukrainian troops say, they're doubtful that the peace proposal currently
being hashed out will prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine again.

Soldiers fighting in eastern Ukraine say, they don't believe Russia will
follow terms laid out in such a pact, and say it would only let Russia
rebuild and rearm its military in order to invade again.

The soliders and military analysts believe that, without substantial security
guarantees, like NATO membership, a re-invasion by Russia is inevitable.

They believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to take
Ukraine, and they say the government in Kyiv must rebuild its own military to
preserve peace along the front line.

Some say, there will be no true peace until Russia is destroyed or a new
leader takes over.

Posted on 2025-12-02 14:14:13

Initial polling results in Honduras show two opposition conservative
candidates for president leading the contest.

Officials say that Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla were within several
hundred votes of each other.

Meanwhile Rixi Moncada of the ruling LIBRE party trails by about 20
percentage points.

Just days before the election, US President Donald Trump endorsed Nasry
Asfura, of the National Party, saying that he would fight what Trump called
"narco-communists."

Experts say that Trump's intervention may have brought Asfura much closer to
Nasralla than had he not commented.

Posted on 2025-12-02 13:07:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says, a communications system issue
disrupted 4 trains today, delaying some 2000 passengers.

Although the issue was resolved just before 11 this morning, it still caused
delays of more than 30 minutes for those customers.

The company is still looking into the cause of the problem, which began just
before 9:20 this morning.

Following the fix, all trains were gradually returning to their normal speeds.

THSR issued its apologies to inconvenienced customers, and stated that
refunds would be processed according to regulations.

Those rules stipulate that customers who were delayed between 30 and 60
minutes and who paid full price for their ticket will be refunded 50% of the
fare price.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-02 13:07:14

A landslide near the Taiping Shan forest recreation area has caused a road
closure on a road linking the park to outside roads.

Officials say the landslide took place this morning around 7 at the 8.5
kilometer marker.

Both directions of traffic are being affected by the issue.

Officials say, traffic flow should be restored this afternoon.

Visitors to the park are advised to make relevant adjusments to their travel
plans.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-02 13:07:14

The Director-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics has put Taiwan's
eonomic growth in 2025 at 7.37-percent, the best in 15 years.

The D-G-B-A-S says the nearly three-percentage-point upward revision is due
to strong exports and investment so far this year, driven largely by
AI-related business.

However, Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research chair Lian Xian-ming
(連賢明) said the strong overall growth does not extend to weaker, more
traditional sectors.

Lian noted that the increasingly polarized industrial structure will pose
huge challenges for government policymaking, especially on the interest rate
and exchange rate policies.

As for next year’s outlook, the economist noted that his institute expects
economic growth to reach 3.54-percent.

While lower than this year’s figure, he said it is still relatively solid,
and the AI sector is expected to remain strong.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-02 13:07:14

The Central Weather Administratio says, much of Taiwan can expect cooler
temperatures later this week.

Particularly in the north and east starting tomorrow, the CWA forecasts a
drop in temperatures and more precipitation.

The CWA says the more robust northeasterly winds will drive low temps down to
14 degrees in Miaoli, and 15 in flat, coastal areas of Yun-lin and Jia-yi.

The Greater Taipei Area can expect to see temperatures dropping to 17 or 18
early tomorrow and Thursday morning with some rain as well.

Going into the weekend though, the CWA says temperatures will start to go
back up Saturday.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-12-02 13:07:14

The Hong Kong government has set up an independent commission to investigate
last week's deadly fire.

At least 151 people were killed in the blaze.

Officials pledged to overcome vested interests and pursue accountability for
the fire, and to make recommendations regarding how to prevent similar
incidents.

The fire started in scaffolding and spread rapidly, burning 7 apartment
buildings and leaving many of the thousands of residents homesless.

Police have so far detained 14.

The investigation has mainly focused on why the fire was able to spread so
rapidly.

Authorities have said that high winds and illegal building materials factored
into the blaze.

Posted on 2025-12-02 08:14:13

relief from US

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The government's top trade negotiator, Yang Jen-ni is insisting that the U-S
and Taiwan are in the final stages of trade negotiations and the outcome will
"very likely" result in Taiwan obtaining tariff stacking relief.

According Yang, she firmly believes the negotiating team will achieve such
that goal, as it's been working to ensure that any adjusted tariff rate for
Taiwan will not be added to the existing ones.

Speaking during a legislative economics committee hearing, Yang told
lawmakers that Taiwan might also obtain most favored nation status under
Section 232 of the U-S Trade Expansion Act ....

.... as Washington has been conducting a national security investigation
aimed at deciding on tariffs for imports of semiconductors and other devices.

Yang denied reports the U-S government is seeking a commitment from Taiwan to
train American workers in the semiconductor manufacturing sector and other
tech industries as part of the trade deal - saying training has not been
mentioned during the negotiations.

And she also told lawmakers the U-S side has praised the proactive and
pragmatic approach of the Taiwan negotiating team during the talks, which are
making positive progress.

Posted on 2025-12-02 08:14:13

could take years

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin is refusing to say whether the
decommissioned Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant could restart generating
electricity as soon as 2028 ...

.. telling lawmakers that the required inspections by the island's nuclear
safety regulator could take between 18 months to six years.

The statements came as Kung was being quizzed by opposition lawmakers about
whether the Maanshan plant could resume operation as early as 2028, once it
passes required safety checks.

The Ministry of Economics Affairs last week announced that Tai-Power is
expected to submit a plan for restarting both the Maanshan plant and the
Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei to the Nuclear Safety Commission
by March of next year for review.

Several local media reports have been claiming that Maanshan plant could
resume operation as early as late 2027 or in 2028.

Asked by lawmakers to comment on those predictions, Kung said the Maanshan
plant could could be restarted in 2028 in the best-case scenario, if it
passes safety inspections in one and a half years.

However, the economics minister stressed that inspections could take as long
as five to six years and the government's top priority is to make ensure it
is safe for the power plant to restart.

Posted on 2025-12-02 08:14:13

D-P-P lawmakers have introduced a bill to designate election eve in as a
national holiday.

The bill has been introduced one year ahead of 2026's local government
elections.

D-P-P lawmaker Chung Chia-pin says the bill making election eve a national
holiday will give voters more time to travel to the constituencies where they
are registered to cast their ballots.

The K-M-T says it will review and consolidate a series of bills drafted by
its members to introduce absentee voting.

The D-P-P has has long opposed absentee voting - claiming it will open the
doors to potential Chinese infiltration and possible technical complications
within the current electoral system.

According to the D-P-P, implementing absentee voting without proper electoral
oversight mechanisms could result in unfair elections.

Posted on 2025-12-02 08:14:13

found in drinks

The Taichung City Government's Office of Food and Drug Safety has ordered a
local branch of Chun Shui Tang teahouse to suspend operations after a
employee mistakenly refilled a teapot with water containing a cleaning agent.

Several of the branches employees have also been referred to prosecutors.

It comes after three customers were rushed to the China Medical University
Hospital after complaining of burning sensations in their throats.

Chun Shui Tang says they were taken to hospital accompanied by the branch
manager and it will pay their medical fees.

All three customers were later discarged from hospital following tests and
the hospital says the incident was not life-threatening.

According to Chun Shui Tang, the employee who served the teapot containing
sodium bicarbonate had only been working at the branch for about two weeks
and it was an accidental mistake.

Food safety officials in Taichung say Chun Shui Tang's Gongyi branch will be
allowed to resume operations if it passes further inspections.

Posted on 2025-12-02 08:14:13

And finally,

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the city has now entered a super-aged society
- as the number of people aged 65 and over has surpassed 800,000, accounting
for about 20-per cent of its total population.

Hou marked the milestone by hosting an event titled the "800,000 Silver Power
Shines in New Taipei, Happy City Christmas Festival" at the New Taipei City
Civic Plaza.

The festival featured performances by senior citizens, intergenerational
dances, and health-oriented activities.

Speaking at the event, Hou touted his administration's commitment to elderly
care - saying New Taipei now has 120 daycare centers, 633 community care
points, and over 1,400 senior clubs.

Hou expressed his hopes that the number of daycare centers will reach 130 by
next year to further expand learning and intergenerational activities for
senior citizens.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:13

trial begins

Taoyuan International Airport's under-construction Terminal 3 has welcomed
first passengers after as its north concourse began trial operations on
Monday.

Just under a thousand passengers went through the terminal to board flights
to Sapporo, operated separately by China Airlines and EVA Air, and a Starlux
Airlines service to Bangkok.

Corporation chairman Yang Wei-fu says the company is collecting as much
traveler feedback as possible to ensure the best preparations are made before
the official opening, and the north concourse could be officially inaugurated
by the end of this month.

Yang says more flights will gradually begin using the new concourse during
the trial period, when stress tests and rolling reviews will be conducted to
identify areas that need improvement or refinement.

The north concourse is equipped with eight boarding gates, which are expected
to boost the airport's annual passenger handling capacity by 5.8-million ..

.... and when fully open, Terminal 3 is expected to handle 45-million of the
80-million passengers expected to pass through the airport each year.

The airport operator has said Terminal 3 will open in phases, with the north
concourse designated as the first area to begin operations, while main
terminal building and the south concourse are expected to open after their
completion in 2027.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:15

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is denying reports that testing of the Navy's
first prototype submarine without its anchor endangered the crew, or that the
move was driven by pressure to meet a delayed delivery deadline.

Koo told lawmakers that the Narwhal didn't require an anchor system during
successful floating navigation tests last Thursday and Friday - and ensuring
that sea trials are conducted safely has always been the defense ministry's
top priority.

Meanwhile, Navy Chief of Staff Chiu Chun-rong told lawmakers at the hearing
that the Narwhal's anchor was not on the prototype during the recently
concluded sea trials because some components needed to be replaced.

The statements come as the defense minister announced that the Navy is
levying daily fines of 190,000 N-T on Kaohsiung-based shipbuilder C-S-B-C for
failing to meet the original November delivery deadline for the submarine
prototype.

C-S-B-C has insisted that crew safety is its top priority and that each test
is reviewed by project staff and foreign consultants and carried out only
after meeting safety requirements, with escort vessels accompanying the
trials.

The Narwhal's sea trials were originally slated to end by September 30.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:17

Supermarket chain PX Mart says more than 13,000 packets of contaminated
frozen tilapia fillets have been sold islandwide.

The statement comes after health authorities announced that tests found
traces of a banned veterinary drug in a batch of the product.

The issue came to light after the Kaohsiung City Health Department announced
that it had issued a recall order on November 27 for a product named "Taiwan
tilapia fillets" after samples tested in October were found to contain the
banned veterinary drug enro-flo-xacin.

The drug is legally permitted for use with land animals but not for acquatic
products.

More than 15 and a half thousand packs of tainted fillets were purchased by
PX Mart, with nearly 14 thousand sold.

The Yunlin health department said it ordered P-X Mart's head office to
immediately remove and recall the batch and to proactively notify consumers.

The Fisheries Agency says local authorities have been asked to take samples
from the relevant fish farms and those test results expected in about a week.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:21

The Keelung City Environmental Protection Bureau has fined the Taiwan Water
Corporation half a million N-T over an oil spill that contaminated water
supplies to over 150,000 households.

The state-run company was fined for violating the Drinking Water Management
Act and endangering public health and safety.

Inspectors found that one of the oil-film detectors at the Badu pumping
station was malfunctioning, which may have contributed to a delay in
detecting the contamination.

The Environmental Protection Bureau is now reviewing whether the water
corporation's equipment and emergency response deviated from its water
pollution control plan.

The water corporation said it halted river-water intake immediately after the
oil slick was detected, and several rounds of flushing and water-quality
tests later confirmed that tap water met with all safety standards.

The Keelung City Environmental Protection Bureau and law enforcement
authorities are continuing to trace the source of the oil spill and will
refer the case to prosecutors if any evidence criminal wrongdoing is
uncovered.

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang has filed a report with the Keelung District
Prosecutors' Office - which he says has already opened an investigation.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:23

surgery rules

Pioneering gay rights activist Qi Chia-wei has filed a misconduct complaint
against the Ministry of the Interior's requirement that transgender people
undergo surgery before changing their legal gender in Taiwan.

Qi says the requirement violates both the law and fundamental rights.

He filed the complaint with the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, accusing
Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang of dereliction of duty for failing to amend a
policy that courts have already ruled unconstitutional.

Several people have changed the gender listed on their IDs without surgery
after successfully challenging a 2008 interior ministry administrative
interpretation requiring it in court.

Qi pointed out that an investigation by the Control Yuan had been expected to
lead to a corrective measure... instead, it was downgraded to a
recommendation for review and improvement - meanning the government continues
to rely on the 2008 interpretation.

Under that interpretation, transgender people must submit two diagnostic
certificates from psychiatric specialists and proof of surgery to change
their legal gender.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:25

Local drone manufacturer, Thunder Tiger says it simultaneously operated six
SeaShark suicide unmanned surface vessels from a single control station
during a sea trial late last month.

The company is describing the operation as a major milestone in Taiwan's
unmanned vessel development.

The Taichung-based company said the sea trial at Pingtung's Dapeng Bay on
November 28 showcased its advanced U-S-V control and A-I systems and
successfully carried out multiple tactical formations and rapid, second-level
maneuvers.

The company says the six-meter-long drone boats maintained 100-percent
communication stability under electromagnetic interference by using a UK-made
military anti-interference frequency-hopping system.

Thunder Tiger also says the vessels feature a low-radar-cross-section hull
design that significantly reduces the chance of detection and have the
potential to become the sharpest asymmetric vehicular weapon for defending
the Taiwan Strait.

The company is seeking to expand cooperative testing with the National
Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and the Ministry of National
Defense to meet operational needs.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:25

Shanghai

And,

Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended open invitations to Japanese pop star
Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled
concert in Shanghai.

She had been slated to perform on Saturday in the Chinese city before
organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing "force majeure."

The move is widely being seen as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi's recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a
military response from Tokyo.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters the city "very much welcomes"
Hamasaki's return and will continue to "surprise" her.

The pop star held two concerts at Taipei Arena in August as part of her Asia
Tour 2025 - attracting over 250,000 fans over both days.

Meanwhile, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai says China's handling of the Shanghai
concert was "extremely unacceptable" and he welcomes Hamasaki to perform in
Kaohsiung.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:25

Hong Kong authorities say they have arrested 13 people for suspected
manslaughter in a probe into the city's deadliest fire in decades.

They point to the use of substandard renovation materials for fuelling the
blaze... tests on samples of the green mesh used show it did not match fire
retardant standards.

Police continued to sweep the seven burnt-out towers engulfed in Wednesday's
disaster at the Wang Fuk Court estate in the New Territories' Tai Po
district.

More than 40 people are still missing... police officials say some bodies
were fully incinerated, making it impossible to find all the individuals.

The fire has claimed at least 151 lives so far.

Posted on 2025-12-02 07:01:28

Canada has joined a major European Union defense fund.

The move, announced Monday by the office of Prime Minister Mark Carney,
allows Canadian defense companies access to a 150 billion euro EU loan
program called Security Action for Europe, or SAFE.

The plan aims to diversify Canada’s military spending away from the United
States.

Carney says it will fill capability gaps and attract European investment.

Canada is the first non-EU country to gain access.

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