ICRT

Posted on 2025-12-08 18:30:13

Kaohsiung prosecutors have wrapped up their investigation into the fatal
shooting at Zuoying Rail Station, indicting nine people on charges including
murder and organized crime.

Seven of the indicted suspects have been detained, while four fugitives
remain at-large.

The indictment stems from the killing of a wanted man in August.

Investigators say the attack was planned by a ringleader surnamed Fan, who
allegedly assigned a gunman, Yang, to carry out the shooting.

Police traced 13 vehicles, 17 handoff points, and a network of about 30
people involved in planning, surveillance, getaway support, and arranging
escape routes.

Both the ringleader and gunman fled immediately after the crime — Fan
boarding a flight overseas, and Yang disguising himself before being smuggled
out of Taiwan by boat.

Police believe they may now be in Cambodia or elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Authorities say the shooting may have been linked to a drug dispute.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-08 18:30:15

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang is urging the public not to use brokers to
arrange cosmetic or other medical procedures overseas, saying such services
are illegal and carry significant risks.

His comments follow reports that influencers in Taiwan have been brokering
cosmetic surgery in China — promoting procedures online, holding briefing
sessions, and charging clients 'service fees'.

Some customers reportedly traveled to Shanghai for surgery and later suffered
complications, leaving them moving between Taiwan and China without reliable
follow-up care.

Shih says the government does not encourage seeking medical treatment abroad,
as overseas standards are hard to assess and complications may not be treated
promptly.

He also says agencies involved in overseas medical brokerage may be violating
the Medical Care Act — including rules barring non-medical groups from
advertising medical services.

He's asking local health authorities to investigate.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-08 17:07:13

The US Congress has released a new draft of a bill allocating security
funding to Taiwan.

The new version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes up to 1
billion USD in funding for Taiwan-related security cooperation next year.

This version removed earlier language that would have invited Taiwan to
participate in the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise.

A press release from House Speaker Mike Johnson says that the NDAA "enhances
US defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacfic to bolster Taiwan's defense and
support Indo-Pacific allies."

The bill stipulates that up to one billion dollars can be used to support
security cooperation with Taiwan and expand medical equipment, supply
capacity, and "combat casualty-care capabilities" in 2026.

It also requires annual reports to Congress through 2029 regarding reciprocal
procurement memoranda and authorizes planning for joint maritime operations
and leadership training between both countries' coast guards.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-12-08 17:07:13

The Ministry of Education is expanding funding for schools that offer local
language and culture courses during summer breaks.

The ministry announced today that starting in 2026, the maximum subsidy for
the local language and cultural activities courses under its Summer Learning
Program will be increased from $90-thousand to $100-thousand NT per class

The Ministry also provides additional support for students in remote and
offshore schools, with an extra subsidy of $30-thousand NT per class for
lunch fees.

Officials say the program, which has been running for 11 years, has benefited
over 215-thousand students by offering engaging and activity-based learning
during summer vacation.

It encourages schools to integrate local culture into their curriculum, and
the ministry sasy the funding increase aims to encourage more schools to
apply for the program, which strengthens students' interest in and identity
with their local culture and hometown.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-08 17:07:13

The Ministry of Culture has announced the winners to its first-ever Youth
Comic Awards ... aiming to cultivate the next generation of Taiwanese comic
creators

More than 250 works were submitted, with 47 prizes handed out totalling 1.23
million NT.

The top individual prize of 40 thousand NT went to Chiang Yi-cheng (江翊丞)
from National Lo-Tung (羅東) Senior High School.

In the group category, students from Taoyuan Municipal Yang Ming (陽明)
Senior HIgh School won gold for their comic 'About Love, Four Leaf Clover'
receiving a 150 thousand NT award.

Judges praised the young artists' craftsmanship, storytelling, and creativity.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for January 2026.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-08 17:07:13

Now turning to international news...

One year since the ousting of Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad, the
country is struggling to heal from 14 years of civil war.

The conflict left about half a million people dead, and millions more
displaced.

Assad's downfall came as a shock to even the insurgents who unseated him.

In November of last year, Islamist rebel groups launched an offensive on the
city of Aleppo to try to take it back from Assad's forces.

The Syrian army quickly collapsed in three key cities.

The interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has built ties with Western and Arab
countries that shunned Assad and that once considered him to be a terrorist.

But on the other hand, there have been outbreaks of violence in which
hundreds of civilians from certain minority groups were killed by
pro-government fighters.

And, Israel is wary of Syria's new Islamist-led government even though
al-Sharaa has said he wants no conflict with the country.

Israel has seized a formerly U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria and
launched regular airstrikes and incursions since Assad’s fall.

Posted on 2025-12-08 17:07:13

In Indonesia, the first giant panda cub born in the country is noisy, nursing
well and showing other signs of good health.

Indonesian Safari Park released video and photos Sunday showing the fuzzy
newborn in an incubator and squirming and squealing while being cuddled by
his mother.

The cub, nicknamed Rio, was born on November 27 at the conservation park in
West Java province.

The park said it was prioritizing the health and welfare of the mother and
baby and he would not yet be accessible to the public.

Rio's parents arrived in Indonesia in 2017 on a 10-year conservation
partnership with China.

(KK)

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

Industry leader and National Climate Change Committee deputy convener Tong
Zi-xian (童子賢) has reiterated his support for nuclear power, saying "the
coexistence of nuclear and green energy is inevitable".

He stressed that if Taiwan hopes to curb climate change while ensuring clean
and stable energy supplies, that's the way going forward.

The state-run Taiwan Power has submitted its plans to reactivate the second
and third nuclear power plants to the Nuclear Safety Commission, but many
people are worried that the move is merely political posturing.

Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang has warned that “if this is just for show, Taiwan
will suffer serious consequences.”

Tong, on the other hand, said today that as far as he can tell, “the
relevant authorities and leaders have been taking the global climate-change
challenge very seriously."

(JL)

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

contamination

A Keelung city councilor is calling for the city's environmental protection
head to step down.

That's following the recent oil contamination of the Keelung River, affecting
water supply to 70,000 households.

City Councilor Zheng Wen Ting 鄭文婷 says the department's direcot Ma Zhong
Hao 馬仲豪 should resign over the issue.

Ma said that he hoped for "rational discussion" over the issue, while Mayor
Xie Guo Liang said that Ma's done a good job handling the issue.

Zheng accused Ma of failing to pay attention to the pollution caused by a
maintenance plant for Guo-guang Motor Transportation Company, while Ma argued
that it is Taiwan Water Corporation that should bear the responsibility.

Meanwhile Mayor Xie said the city government may seek compensation from the
water corporation, as the city expects to spend a large portion of its
disaster reserve fund.

(AH)

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

In world news...

Japan and Australia have urged calm after Chinese military aircraft locked
radar on Japanese fighter jets.

Japan said there was a safe distance between them, and also denied
Beijing’s accusation of interference.

This incident came a month after Japan's leader made remarks on Taiwan that
stirred tensions with Beijing.

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the act "extremely
regrettable" and lodged a protest with China on Sunday.

The radar lock happened Saturday near Okinawa, with Chinese aircraft
intermittently targeting Japanese jets.

No airspace was breached, and no injuries were reported.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sana-e Taka-ichi on Sunday called the radar lock-in
"extremely disappointing," and she vowed to do the utmost in carrying out
surveillance operations around Japanese waters and airspace,

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

About a third of Hong Kong's registered voters has elected a new 90-member
legislature.

The turnout rate Sunday surpassed the 2021 election but was much lower than
before electoral changes.

Many voters, especially democracy supporters, have turned away from politics
after a crackdown on dissent.

Candidates must now be vetted to ensure loyalty to the Chinese government.

The government launched a major campaign to boost turnout, but public anger
over a deadly apartment fire kept voters away.

Authorities arrested people for allegedly inciting others not to vote.
Beijing warned foreign media to comply with national security laws.

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

Thailand launched airstrikes along the disputed border with Cambodia today as
both sides accused the other of attacking first.

Tensions have simmered since the Southeast Asian neighbors signed a truce
agreement in October pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

That's after their territorial disputes led to five days of combat in July
that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians.

A Thai army spokesperson said one Thai soldier was killed and four other
soldiers were wounded and civilians were being evacuated from the affected
areas.

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended the brief conflict was threatened last
month after Thai troops were injured by land mines.

Trump said in mid-November he had stopped a war between them.

Posted on 2025-12-08 14:17:13

The Ministry of Education has conducted its first-ever Taiwanese language
proficiency test outside Taiwan.

The pilot exam took place over the weekend in the greater Washington D-C
area, with 25 students and teachers from the local Taiwanese School signing
up.

According to officials, the test used the same computer-based format and
procedures used in Taiwan,

They say participants were enthusiastic ... and those who pass will receive
official certificates.

The ministry hopes to expand Taiwanese-language testing to other regions ....
giving moe overseas learners a chance to study and connect with the language
and culture.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-08 14:17:13

Taiwan shares are upt oday, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 28303 after
gaining 322 points.

The turnover was 423.8 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-12-08 14:17:13

Now turning to international news...

Hamas says, it's ready to discuss "freezing or storing" its weapon arsenal.

That would be part of its ceasefire with Israel.

A senior official said that Hamas was open to a comprehensive approach to
avoid furhter escalation.

Such a commitment would offer a possible means of resolving one of the most
contentious issues in the ceasefire agreement.

This comes as Israel and Hamas are preparing to move into the second, more
complicated phase of the deal.

Since the ceasefire took effect in October, the two sides have done several
exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The new phase aims to lay the foundation for the future of Gaza, and will
address issues like the deployment of an internaitonal security force,
formation of a governing Palestinian committee in the Gaza Strip...

and, crucially, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory and the
disarmament of Hamas.

Posted on 2025-12-08 13:23:13

New Taipei Mayor Hou You Yi is announcing a new task force to help victims of
the suspected Banqiao gas explosion to get compensation.

That's after the explosion at a Fuzhong Sushi Express took place just before
1am today.

Officials say that two restaurants were damaged in the explosion, and six
people were injured by flying debris.

Those injured have all now left the hospital where they were being treated.

Mayor Hou adds that at least 6 homes in the area have so far reported damage,
but the exact number has yet to be confirmed, pending structural assessments.

Meanwhile, Sushi Express is pledging to continue to support the victims and
cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-08 13:23:13

In response to protests of migrant workers' groups, the Ministry of Labor
said since April, 2022, when the Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers took
effect, some 60-thousand experienced workers have become foreign skilled
personnel.

The Taiwan Migrant Workers Alliance took to the streets on Sunday, calling on
the government to lift the work-year limit for migrant workers.

Currently migrant workers can stay in Taiwan for a maximum of 12 years, while
migrant live-in caregivers may apply for an additional 2-year extension.

But if they become skilled manpower workers via the Long-term Retention
program, they're no longer subject to a total work-year limit.

In other words, they may be rehired indefinitely with each employment permit
issued for up to three years and renewable upon expiration.

Looking ahead, the MOL also said the retention quota for experienced migrant
workers in the manufacturing sector transitioning to intermediate skilled
personnel will be raised to 100 percent from the current 25 percent.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-08 13:23:13

Now turning to international news...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas are expected
to move into the second phase of their ceasefire soon.

It will begin after Hamas returns the remains of the last hostage held in
Gaza.

Netanyahu spoke during a news conference with visiting German Chancellor
Friedrich (FREE-druhk) Merz on Sunday and stressed that the second phase
could begin as soon as the end of the month.

The ceasefire's second phase involves disarming Hamas militants and
demilitarizing Gaza.

It also includes deploying an international force to secure Gaza and forming
a temporary Palestinian government.

Merz said Germany is assisting with the second phase by sending officers and
diplomats to a U.S.-led civilian and military coordination center in Israel
and by sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-08 13:23:13

Benin President Patrice Talon has condemned an attempted coup that was foiled
by the army in his first public comments since sporadic gunfire was heard in
the administrative capital.

Calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, a group of soldiers
appeared on Benin's state TV earlier Sunday to announce the dissolution of
the government in an apparent coup.

Later, the interior minister announced in a video on Facebook that the
attempted coup had been "foiled," but the president, whose location was
unclear, did not comment.

In a televised address that ended his silence, Talon said "I would ... like
to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the victims of this
senseless adventure."

He did not provide figures on casualties or hostages in Sunday's attempted
coup.

Talon has been in power since 2016 and is due to step down next April after a
presidential election.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-08 13:23:13

In Brazil, tens of thousands of women in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and other
cities, have rallied against gender-based violence amid record numbers of
female victims.

More than one in three women in Brazil was a victim of sexual or gender-based
violence over the course of a year.

A decade ago, Brazil passed a law recognizing the crime of femicide.

Last year, 1,492 women were victims of femicide, the highest number since the
law was introduced.

Protesters laid out black crosses and wore green scarves demanding access to
abortion.

Demonstrators urged men to join the fight against misogyny.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

U-S Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed Washington has no intention of
changing the Taiwan Strait status quo and that one of the U-S military's main
priorities is to deter China "through strength, not through confrontation."

Hegseth outlined the Department of War's priorities under President Donald
Trump at the annual Reagan Defense Forum held in Simi Valley, California
after the National Security Strategy document was released on Friday.

The Trump administration has put defending the US homeland and its hemisphere
first, followed by deterring China through strength, not through
confrontation, and increasing burden sharing for the U-S, its allies and
partners.

It also wants to supercharge the U-S defense industrial base.

The defense chief said the Washington-Beijing relations under Trump are
"better and stronger" as the administration seeks "stable, peace, fair trade,
and respectful relations with China" ...

.. the "line of effort is based on flexible realism, not naivety, an approach
aimed not at domination, but rather at a balance of power."

Repeating what he said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore earlier this
year, Hegseth said the U-S is not trying to "strangle China's growth," is
"not trying to dominate or humiliate" China and nor is the U-S "trying to
change the status quo over Taiwan."

We'll have more on the strategy a bit later on in the program.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says a micro-seismometer has been
installed near the Matai'an Creek barrier lake in Hualien to better
landslides and potential flood surges in the area.

The move come after an overflow triggered deadly flooding in September.

The device was airlifted to a slope about 1-kilometer south of the lake by
National Airborne Service Corps and installed by a four-member team from
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and was

Micro-seismometers detect ground vibrations triggered by landslides, delivers
real-time alerts, and helps determine whether debris has blocked the creek or
if a barrier lake dam is about to overflow.

The device can also operate in all weather conditions and the agency says it
complements two existing downstream microseismic stations and forms a more
complete early-warning system.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

A Migrant Worker's Rally in Taipei calling for the abolition of the work-year
limit attracted an estimated one thousand people.

They were calling for an end to the work-year limit -- which limits the stay
of blue collar workers in manufacturing and construction to 12 years, while
caregivers are permitted to work for up to 14 years.

One of the rally's organisers, the Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan said
that as Taiwan is facing a labor shortage, the government should let
experienced migrant workers stay instead of continuing to rely on brokers to
bring in new ones from abroad.

In response to the rally, the Ministry of Labor said its Long-term Retention
of Skilled Foreign Workers Program, which was introduced in April 2022,
already allows admitted migrant workers to remain in Taiwan without being
subject to the work-year limit.

The ministry says data shows that as of late November, around 60,000 migrant
workers had been admitted to the program since its inception, an average
increase of more than 16,000 per year.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

Six people have been injured following a suspected gas explosion at a
restaurant in New Taipei's Banqiao District.

The second floor resturant is located in Banqiao's Fuzhong Shopping District.

The city's fire department says two restaurants were damaged in the blast and
the six people were injured by flying debris.

Police say of the six people injured, five were passersby and one was
resident of a nearby building.

The cause of the blast is still under investigation.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

The Tainan District Court has ordered a man who attacked a female police
officer with an ax to be detained.

The man is said to have a previous record of assaulting others in the past,
and the court said it believed he posed a high risk of repeated offenses,
providing sufficient grounds for his detention.

The court also says the man confessed to aggravated obstruction of official
duties and the intent to cause harm during questioning, but denied the intent
to kill.

The detention order can be appealed.

Tainan City policy say the man attacked the officer after he received a
parking violation notice.

He was immediately subdued by other officers, arrested and transferred to
prosecutors on suspicion of attempted murder and obstruction of official
duties.

The injured officer sustained lacerations to both of her arms and her back.

The city's police department says she is stable condition.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

About a third of Hong Kong's registered voters has elected a new 90-member
legislature.

The turnout Sunday surpassed the 2021 election but was much lower than before
electoral changes.

The government had launched a major campaign to boost turnout, but public
anger over a deadly apartment fire threatened to keep voters away.

Authorities arrested people for allegedly inciting others not to vote, while
Beijing warned foreign media to comply with national security laws.

Posted on 2025-12-08 07:07:13

Benin's interior minister says a coup attempt announced on Sunday has been
foiled.

He said a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny early Sunday, aiming to
destabilize the state, but the Beninese Armed Forces remained loyal to the
government.

Earlier, soldiers appeared on state TV, claiming they had dissolved the
government and appointed Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as president of a military
committee.

Gunshots were heard near the presidential residence, and the TV signal was
cut off, though it has since been restored.

President Patrice Talon, in power since 2016, is due to step down next April.

This coup attempt follows recent military takeovers in West Africa.

Posted on 2025-12-06 16:07:13

Michael Jordan spent about an hour testifying against NASCAR in a federal
antitrust trial.

The retired NBA legend laid out the reasons he and others have sued the stock
car series in pursuit of a different business model that they say would
benefit teams and drivers.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-06 16:07:13

Iran will play at least one World Cup match in the United States next year,
though not against the US.

The Iranian team will start against New Zealand in Seattle, WA or Inglewood,
CA, on June 15.

Iran's next games could be in Vancouver, Inglewood, or Seattle.

FIFA will confirm the schedule later today.

Iran's participation in the World Cup has been complicated by US travel bans
and diplomatic tensions.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-06 16:07:14

Groundbreaking North American architect Frank Gehry has died at age 96.

He was behind the acclaimed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt
Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

The chief of staff at Gehry Partners LLP confirmed that the architect died
yesterday in his home in Santa Monica, CA, after a brief respiratory illness.

Gehry grew up in Ontario, Canada and spent the early years of his career
struggling professionally.

His later works were often notable for striking curves and other touches. In
1989, Gehry received architecture's top honor, the Pritzker Prize.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-06 14:08:13

President Donald Trump's advisers and Ukrainian officials say they'll meet
for a third day of talks after making progress on a security framework for
postwar Ukraine.

The two sides also offered the sober assessment that "real progress toward
any agreement" will ultimately depend "on Russia's readiness to show serious
commitment to long-term peace."

The statement from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared
Kushner as well as Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov came
after they met for a second day in Florida.

They offered only broad brushstrokes about the progress they say has been
made.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-06 14:08:13

Taiwan Centers for Disease Control said today that it won't follow the
example of US authorities on hepatitis B vaccinations.

Taiwan implemented a universal hep B vaccination program in 1986 in response
to data that showed around half of the disease's transmission was from
mothers to their children.

The CDC says that the hep B incidence rate among children aged six and
younger consequently plummeted from more than 10 percent to less than one
percent.

A spokesperson for Taiwan's CDC said the prevalence rate of hep B among the
unvaccinated population is much higher in Taiwan than in the United States.
Given this, and the heavy disease burden that hep B puts on Taiwan's
population, there is no proposal to stop vaccinating newborns here.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-06 14:08:13

French first lady Brigitte Macron has reunited with a giant panda born in
France during a visit to China with her husband, President Emmanuel Macron.

Yuan Meng was born in a French zoo in 2017 and now lives at a panda reserve
in southwestern China.

Mrs. Macron helped choose his name which means "dream come true."

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-06 11:09:13

Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry has reported its
highest-ever November sales, with shipments of artificial intelligence server
racks on the rise as the company intensified its efforts in AI application
development.

Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, said it posted US$27 billion in consolidated
sales in November, up 26 percent from a year earlier but down 5.7 percent
from October's sales.

Hon Hai said that sales in its smart consumer electronics segment were
largely unchanged, as growth was offset by a stronger Taiwan dollar, while
its computing division recorded a decline in revenue.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2025-12-05 20:07:14

The Legislative Yuan today voted 59 to 50 to reject Premier Cho Jung-tai's
request to reconsider amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of
Government Revenues and Expenditures.

The decision leaves the opposition-backed amendments, passed on November
14th, unchanged.

KMT lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao accused the premier of abusing the reconsideration
mechanism, saying Cho has filed more such requests than any premier in
history—all unsuccessful.

TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai said the opposition acted to prevent what it
viewed as improper cuts of over $200 billion NT to local government funding.

The Cabinet argues the amendments would force the central government to
shoulder an additional $264.6 billion NT in debt next year, exceeding the
annual borrowing cap.

This was the eighth reconsideration request in just over a year—and the
eighth to be voted down.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2025-12-05 20:07:14

National Chi Nan University today

Environment minister Peng Chi-ming announced Taiwan's latest carbon reduction
pathway at a meeting at the National Chi Nan University in Puli Township in
Nantou County today.

He said that Taiwan aims to achieve a medium-term target of around
thirty-eight per cent reduction in emissions compared to 2005 levels ... by
2035.

Peng also mentioned action plans across a variety of sectors, including
offshore wind, hydrogen energy, and commercial vehicle electrification, that
have already been approved by the Executive Yuan.

This will be accompanied by a Green Growth Strategy, including investments of
10 billion NT, and a target of training eighty thousand "green-collar"
professionals by 2030 to pave the way for a net-zero transformation.

The university president said that being a mountain town, Puli needs to be at
the forefront of sustainability efforts.

(JM)

Posted on 2025-12-05 18:59:13

The Action Alliance on Basic Education says youth suicides in Taiwan have
surged dramatically over the past decade.

Ten years ago, authorities reported around 4 thousand 400 cases.

But last year, the number more than tripled to over 14 thousand 500....

And the 15 to 24 year old age group accounted for almost a third of all
suicide reports nationwide.

The alliance says many young people struggling with mental health don't ask
for help directly.

Instead, warning signs often show up as disrupted sleep, changes in appetite,
irritability, or refusing to attend school.

Experts warn that by the time a child speaks up or when a crisis is obvious,
it may be too late.

They're urging for stronger early intervention ... saying mental and
behavioral checks should be included in routine health screenings ... and
counseling given before tragedies occur.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-05 18:59:13

China Airlines is easing its dress-code rules, now allowing cabin crew to
wear glasses while on duty.

The airline says the change is meant to improve comfort for staff who often
work long hours, and who may suffer eye strain from wearing contact lenses
for extended periods.

The new policy allows simple, single-color frames, including metal or rimless
designs, with clear lenses.

Crew members must also carry a spare pair to ensure safety during flights.

In addition, the airline is considering letting crew wear their own athletic
shoes to reduce foot strain on long shifts.

Tigerair Taiwan says it will follow suit soon, and has already begun a full
uniform redesign tied to the delivery of a new fleet.

EVA Air, meanwhile, continues to allow glasses only for crew with documented
eye conditions, but says it will keep reviewing staff needs.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-05 17:08:13

President Lai Ching-te has unveiled a new national strategy to expand
home-based kidney dialysis, aimed at easing the financial burden on the
national health service.

This comes as dialysis costs are expected to reach nearly fifty billion NT
this year.

President Lai introduced Taiwan's new Home Dialysis White Paper, which lays
out plans to increase access to home treatment.

The government has set a target of eighteen percent of patients receiving
dialysis at home by 2035.

Lai called kidney disease a major public health challenge, noting that more
than ninety thousand people currently rely on dialysis.

He said the government is focusing more on prevention through free health
checks and tighter controls on high blood pressure, blood sugar, and
cholesterol.

It has also expanded coverage for medications that help slow the progression
of kidney disease.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-05 17:08:13

The KMT Secretary General is confirming that the party will select a nominee
to run in the Penghu magisterial race.

Li Qian Long says that the candidate will be decided based on polling and
internal party mechanisms

Li called the Penghu race in particular "extremely important," with many in
the party interested in running...

while some in the TPP have also floated the wife of former chair Ke Wen Zhe,
Chen Pei Qi, as a possible name.

Whoever the KMT chooses, they will face former Magong Mayor Ye Zhu
Lin　葉竹林, who's running as an independent after leaving the KMT in 2022,
while the DPP has not yet chosen a candidate.

The winner will replace outgoing DPP Magistrate Chen Guangfu, who's being
term-limited out.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-05 17:08:13

Taoyuan authorities confirm that an explosion that killed a worker at a waste
facility in September was caused by a highly volatile explosive which had
formed naturally inside the tank.

The explosion occurred on September 10th at a waste liquid tank processing
company in Dayuan District.

A 64-year-old employee was cleaning crystallized residue from a tank when the
blast happened.

He was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.

Forensic analysis of the residue eventually confirmed the presence of
"Tri-acetone Tri-peroxide", a potent and unstable explosive also known as
"Mother of Satan".

Police stated that the TATP was not manually synthesized but formed naturally
from another substance stored for a prolonged period.

While cases of this natural formation have been reported abroad, officials
say this is the first time it has been documented in Taiwan.

The factory has been ordered to suspend operations, and the operator has been
referred for prosecution on charges of negligence causing death.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-05 17:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Passengers at major Indian airports are facing mass flight disruptions, as
the new duty norms for crew and pilots went into effect.

Frustrated passengers of IndiGo, India's largest airline, have been sleeping
on airport floors and lining up for hours.

The disruptions began earlier this week, after IndiGo failed to comply with
new regulations from India's civil aviation regulator.

Those rules aim to address fatigue and safety concerns, but they require
longer rest periods and limit night flying hours.

The airline has struggled to adapt, leading to widespread cancellations and
delays.

IndiGo plans to reduce operations through mid February to minimize
disruptions.

Posted on 2025-12-05 17:08:13

A US operation in Syria mistakenly killed an undercover agent that was
working against the Islamic State group.

That's according to a new report from the Associated Press, which draws on
testimony from the victim's family, a war monitor, and Syrian officials.

He was reportedly working to gather intelligence on the extremists.

Neither Syrian nor US officials have commented, indicating that neither side
wants the incident to derail warming ties.

Weeks after the raid, interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited DC and
announced that his country would join the global coalition against IS.

Earlier this week, meanwhile, US officials said that US troops and forces
from Syria's Interior Ministry had located and destroyed 15 IS weapons caches
in the south.

Posted on 2025-12-05 16:07:13

Interior Minister Liu Shi Fang is doubling down on her ministry's decision to
block Chinese social media app Xiao Hong Shu for one year.

She says, the app has been linked to over 1700 cases of fraud in the past 2
years, and people in charge of the app have made no efforts to try to combat
fraud linked to the app as requested by Taiwan.

Liu also responded to criticism that the government is selectively going
after Xiaohongshu, saying that it's not because it comes from China.

Further, she pointed out that the app, also known as RedNote, lacks a legal
representative in Taiwan, while other social media platforms like Facebook
and LINE do and operate in accordance with the law in Taiwan.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-12-05 16:07:13

A new survey from 1111 Job Bank shows over 46 percent of employers believe
young people are less interested in retail work.

Businesses point to weekend shifts, irregular hours, and sales pressure as
the biggest turn-offs.

Many companies say with high turnover rates, the cost of training newcomers
has become a major burden, and the uncertainties regarding U.S. tariffs also
make them reluctant to hire more people.

And even with the busy year-end shopping season coming up, almost nine in ten
companies say they still won't hire extra staff.

Retailers are trying to adapt by using more older workers, cutting store
hours, or adding digital checkout systems.

Looking ahead to next year, just over 40 percent of employers expect staff
numbers to stay the same, while about one in five hope to hire more.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-05 16:07:13

In world news...

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi at an annual summit aimed at strengthening bilateral
ties.

Today's talks come as the United States pushes for a Ukraine peace deal,
complicating India's efforts to balance its ties with Moscow and Washington.

Putin was received by Modi at an airport in New Delhi on Thursday.

Critics say while India has long maintained close ties with Russia, Putin’s
visit could still upset anti-Moscow nations and jeopardize New Delhi’s talks
on key trade deals with the EU and U.S.

Indian government officials have said that defense, energy and labor mobility
will be high on the agenda during the summit.

Trade is also expected to be a major point in talks.

Posted on 2025-12-05 16:07:13

China and France have pledged deeper cooperation to address global issues
like the war in Ukraine and trade.

French President Emmanuel Macron met with China's Xi Jinping on Thursday
during a state visit focused on trade and diplomacy.

Macron is seeking to involve Beijing in pressuring Russia toward a ceasefire
with Ukraine.

Xi announced China will provide $100 million U.S. dollars to aid Palestinians
in the humanitarian crisis, but did not explicitly confirm whether China
would help pressure Russia towards signing a peace deal.

Both sides agreed to work towards greater economic cooperation in areas like
aerospace and green industries.

They signed 12 agreements, including cooperation on panda conservation and
exchanges in higher education and research.

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.

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