ICRT

Posted on 2025-12-01 19:54:13

Taichung officials say a new survey shows 90 percent of the city's pig
farmers who previously used kitchen waste as feed want to continue doing so
once the nationwide ban is lifted.

The ban followed an outbreak of African swine fever at a local farm in
October ... caused mainly by improperly cooked kitchen waste.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the city is discussing various methods for kitchen
waste disposal with farmers and related industries, aiming to phase out
kitchen waste as feed in the long-term.

Both the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment have agreed that
farms wishing to resume using kitchen waste as feed must install monitoring
systems to prove the waste is cooked at 90 degrees Celcius for one hour.

These systems must also pass joint inspections by both the city and central
governments.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-01 19:54:14

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says a new date has been tentatively set for the
Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum, after the original mid-September meeting was
abruptly cancelled.

Chiang said the forum is now expected to take place at the end of December,
but many administrative details are still being coordinated with Shanghai.

He said the final schedule will be announced once everything is confirmed.

Recent reports suggested the forum could run from December 25th to 27th ...
but Taipei officials have not yet confirmed an exact date.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office says the two cities remain in communication,
and that Beijing continues to support cross-strait municipal exchanges to
improve people's well-being.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-01 19:54:14

Hong Kong authorities say some of the netting on buildings that caught fire
last week did not meet codes for fire resistance.

The blaze that began Wednesday has claimed at least 151 lives and left
thousands homeless.

It broke out at the Wang Fuk Court complex and wasn't fully extinguished
until Friday.

Authorities are investigating possible fire code violations, as the buildings
were under renovation.

Hong Kong's anti-corruption agency has arrested 11 people involved in the
renovations.

As questions about government accountability grow however, authorities have
acted swiftly to stifle criticism, arresting several individuals and warning
against disruptions.

When the fire broke out, the complex’s buildings were all clad in bamboo
scaffolding draped with nylon netting for renovations.

Posted on 2025-12-01 17:07:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reassured the public that Taiwan's
diplomatic relations with its 12 allies remain stable.

Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Zhi-zhong (吳志中) also stressed that Taiwan won't
sever ties with the Vatican.

Wu's comments follow a Reuters report that Godwin Friday, leader of the
opposition New Democratic Party, took Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime
Minister's office on the 28th, and that the N-D-P previously proposed
severing relations with Taiwan.

Wu said today that Taiwan has maintained strong and stable ties with its
allies.

He added that Pope Leo XIV has not been in office for long and is still
weighing the future direction of Vatican policy toward Beijing, but he
believes the Holy See will not switch diplomatic recognition to China.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-01 17:07:14

Passengers have praised Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 North
Concourse, which began trial run today.

It served three flights and 968 passengers this morning, and Airport
Corporation chair Yang Wei-fu (楊偉甫) said the 8 boarding gates of the
Concourse will be all included in the trial operations.

He said the facility, designed by renowned architect Richard Rogers, features
bright colors and big open spaces.

A bi-directional moving walkway helps shorten walking time, and the layout of
arrival and departure levels also differs from the existing concourses.

Yang said he expects to see the concourse officially open by the end of the
year, boosting Taoyuan International Airport’s annual passenger-handling
capacity by 5.8 million.

Construction work for the main building of Terminal 3 and the South Concourse
are scheduled to complete by the end of 2027.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-01 17:07:14

Both Taipei and Kaohsiung Mayor have welcomed Japanese singer Hamasaki Ayumi
to hold concerts in their cities.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said when Ayumi came here to perform at Taipei
Arena earlier this year, he personally wrote a card to her and gave her a
Taipei MRT EZcard featuring Hello Kitty that she loved.

Chiang said next time when she comes here, there'll be more pleasant
surprises for her.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen also expressed his eagerness in welcoming Ayumi, saying
she's a wonderful singer with a unique style.

Those comments come after her Shanghai show, scheduled for Saturday, was
abruptly canceled Friday morning.

She went ahead with the entire concert and posted a photo of performing the
show to 14-thousand empty seats on her Instagram yesterday.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-01 17:07:14

In worle news...

Indonesia’s president told survivors of last week’s devastating floods that
help was arriving to those in need.

President Subianto pledged to rebuild infrastructure Monday as Asian
governments scaled up their responses to a disaster that has left more than
1,000 dead and missing in three countries.

Authorities say flooding and landslides in the past week have killed at least
502 people in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand and 334 in Sri Lanka.

Authorities in Sri Lanka said yesterday that rescuers are still searching for
370 missing people and nearly 148-thousand people are in shelters.

Thailand officials say severe flooding in 12 southern provinces has affected
more than 1.4 million households and 3.8 million people.

Posted on 2025-12-01 17:07:14

Donations to victims of a devastating fire in Hong Kong have reached about
$115 million, that's 3.6 billion NT, after the blaze that began last
Wednesday claimed at least 146 lives and left thousands homeless.

The fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court complex and wasn't fully
extinguished until Friday.

Authorities are investigating possible fire code violations, as the buildings
were under renovation.

Hong Kong's anti-corruption agency has arrested 11 people involved in the
renovations.

When the fire broke out, the complex’s buildings were all clad in bamboo
scaffolding draped with nylon netting for external renovations.

Posted on 2025-12-01 16:11:13

Taichung is expanding subsidies for pork vendors hit by the nationwide ban on
pig transport and slaughter after October's African swine fever outbreak.

Under the new round of assistance, unregistered pork sellers who can prove
they were operating during the 15-day shutdown can now apply for 15 thousand
NT per stall from the city.

That's in addition to the 30 thousand NT offered per stall under the central
government's program.

Previously, only officially registered market vendors were eligible.

The city says it wants to ensure fairness, and may conduct on-site checks ...
for false or duplicate claims.

Applications are open until December 10th, and the city is urging
unregistered but active vendors to apply as soon as possible.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-01 16:11:13

New Taipei City has taken steps to prepare, as it officially enters the stage
of a super-aged society, with its elderly population surpassing 800-thousand
residents.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih made the announcement today, reporting that
the number of people aged 65 and over has exceeded 20-percent of the city's
total population.

To support the rapidly aging population, the mayor says the city currently
operates

120 daycare centers for the elderly. and o
ver 1,400 senior clubs.

Hou expressed hopes that the number of daycare centers will reach 130 by next
year to further expand learning and intergenerational activities for seniors.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-01 16:11:13

Taiwan Railway is reporting strong demand for New Year's holiday travel.

According to the company, ticket sales opened at midnight, and by nine this
morning more than 46-thousand tickets had already been booked.

Tickets are available for travel from December 31st through January 5th
through the TRC website, the mobile app, phone service, and convenience
stores.

TRC says the booking system ran smoothly, and seats are still available on
most routes.

The company reminds passengers to pick up or pay their tickets within two
days.

Unpaid tickets will be released again on December 3rd at 9 AM.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-12-01 16:11:13

In Honduras, with votes from about 41% of polling places counted, preliminary
and partial results showed conservative candidates Nasry Asfura and Salvador
Nasralla leading the presidential contest Sunday and the governing party
trailing.

The National Electoral Council said that Asfura of the National Party had
41-percent of the votes in early counting, while Nasralla, of the
conservative Liberal Party, had about 39-percent.

Rixi Moncada of the democratic socialist Liberty and Re-foundation party
trailed with 20-percent

It's not clear if candidates will accept the official results

The final stages of the presidential campaign were dominated by the three
leading candidates trading accusations of election fixing, leading Honduran
and international observers to warn that they could be undermining the
process' credibility.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-01 14:07:13

Lawmakers of the opposition blue and white camps are getting ready to propose
absentee balloting, and the ruling DPP is countering with a proposal of
having two off-days for voting.

Currently all election days are scheduled on Saturdays.

If workers are assigned to work that day, employers must still allow them to
take turns taking time off to go vote.

DPP caucus head Zhong Jia-bin said the bill, which would also make the day
before election day a holiday, aims to make election smoother, reduce
disputes, and lower costs, and that they hope to schedule committee review as
soon as possible.

Zhong also raised doubts about absentee balloting, saying it's likely to
increase the difficulties of election administration and open the door to
Chinese interference.

KMT spokesperson Niu Xu-ting (牛煦庭), on the other hand, said his party and
the TPP will discuss the details of the draft bill for absentee voting before
moving it forward at the Legislative Yuan.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-01 14:07:14

The Kaohsiung Health Department is asking that PX-Mart in the city take its
Taiwan tilapia fillet off of shelves after the product was detected to
contain residues of an animal drug.

Health officials said today that the drug, an antibiotic for the treatment of
animals, is a banned substance in Taiwan.

Health inspectors said a sample of Taiwan tilapia fillet taken from the PX
Mart Luzhu Zhongzheng branch was found to contain the substance...

... and follow-up inspections in November showed that PX Mart stores across
Kaohsiung had received 4-thousand 488 packages from the same batch.

Of those packages, 4-thousand 80 had been sold and 408 removed from shelves.

Health officials said they've asked the company to notify consumers and offer
refunds.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-01 14:07:14

Asian shares began the week mixed, with Tokyo's benchmark falling nearly 2%
on Monday after the release of data showing weak factory activity.

Taiwan shares are down today, with the Tai ex closing at 27,342 after losing
283 points.

The turnover was 476 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-12-01 14:07:14

In world news...

The death toll from floods and landslides following cyclonic rains in the
Indonesian island of Sumatra has risen to 442 according to a BBC report, and
hundreds were injured.

Rescue workers are racing to reach some areas of the hardest hit the island,
where thousands have been cut off and left without critical supplies.

Reuters reported that nearly 300 people are still missing even as about
80-thousand people have been evacuated and hundreds are stranded in three
provinces across Sumatra island, Indonesia's westernmost area.

Large parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been stricken by
cyclone-fuelled torrential rain for a week, with a rare tropical storm
forming in the Malacca Strait.

Posted on 2025-12-01 13:14:14

The Labor Funds hit a new record high in October due to global financial
markets' rallies boosted by the AI sector.

The Ministry of Labor said the labor fund size totaled 1 trillion 564 billion
NT, with a record-setting monthly return of $300 billion NT.

It surpassed the previous record of $277.8 billion NT set in August.

The M-O-L's data shows as of the end of October this year, the return rate
stood at 11.8-percent for the New Labor Pension Fund, and 18.5-percent for
the Old Labor Pension Fund.

Some 11 million workers are covered by the labor funds.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-12-01 13:14:14

New Taipei City is calling on residents to donate used goods for the
nation’s largest charity flea market.

The city's Environmental Protection Department says its annual market
offering second-hand items will be held December 20th at Citizen Square, and
the department is currently running a donation drive until December 12th.

Residents can drop off their functional second-hand items with recycling
trucks, or designated spots.

The department says the event, now in its 11th year, has raised over
$9-million NT over the past decade, with all proceeds donated to the city's
social welfare fund to help local residents.

The market is part of the city's 45-day Christmasland celebration, which
runs until December 28th and features a "Circus Carnival" theme.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-12-01 13:14:14

In world news...

Thousands of demonstrators, including clergy from the dominant Roman Catholic
church, are protesting in the Philippines.

They are calling for the swift prosecution of top legislators and officials
implicated in a massive corruption blamed for substandard, defective, or
non-existent flood control projects across an archipelago long prone to
deadly floodings and extreme weather.

Left-wing groups led a separate protest on Sunday in Manila's main park with
a bolder demand for all government officials linked to the financial
anomalies to immediately resign and face prosecution.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been scrambling to quell public outrage.

He has pledged that many of at least 37 powerful senators, members of
Congress, and wealthy construction executives implicated in the corruption
scandal would be in jail by Christmas.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-01 13:14:14

The Louvre Museum has approved a ticket price increase from 22 to 32 euros,
or about 800 to 1,170 Taiwan dollars, for non-EU visitors, starting in
January.

This move aims to help finance a major overhaul of the building.

The need for renovation became urgent after the recent crown jewels heist
exposed security weaknesses.

The decade-long renovation plan, called “Louvre New Renaissance,” is
estimated to cost up to 800 million euros.

It will modernize infrastructure, ease crowding and give the famed Mona Lisa
a dedicated gallery by 2031.

In 2024, the museum welcomed 8.7 million visitors, with 77% being foreigners.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-01 13:14:14

In Japan, Princess Aiko's increasing popularity is sparking discussions about
changing the country's male-only succession law.

Aiko is the only child of the current emperor and cannot succeed him under
the law.

Experts say lifting the female ban is crucial to the monarchy's future, but
conservative lawmakers oppose it.

The monarchy has only one eligible heir from the younger generation.

Aiko turns 24 on Monday, and many fans want her to become a future monarch.

Her charm and intelligence have won admirers, and her recent solo trip to
Laos further boosted support.

The monarchy's future remains uncertain, with debates ongoing about gender
equality and succession rules.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:59:13

The Taiwan Water Corporation says several rounds of flushing and
water-quality tests have confirmed that tap water polluted by an oil spill on
the Keelung River now meets all safety standards.

The corporation halted river-water intake immediately after Thursday's oil
slick was detected near the Badu pumping station.

It switched to reservoir water and deployed 286 personnel for system-wide
flushing.

The incident affected households in Keelung's Ren'ai, Anle, Xinyi, Qidu and
Zhongshan districts, as well as parts of New Taipei's Xizhi Discrict.

Authorities are still investigating the source of the oil spill in the
Keelung River.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:59:13

And,

Taiwan bodybuilder Liu Ming-yi has won two gold medals at the International
Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness World Bodybuilding Championships in
Saudi Arabia.

Liu first captured gold in the men's fitness model 176-centimeter and under
category, beating 10 other contestants, and then added another in the men's
physique 170-centimeter and under division, topping a field of 16 athletes.

Liu also won gold earlier this year in the men's physique 170-centimeter and
under event at the Asian Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:13

Some 200 people rallied in Taipei on Sunday for the annual "Autumn Struggle"
protest.

They criticized President Lai Ching-te's proposed 1.25-trillion N-T
supplementary defense budget and urging the government to prioritize social
welfare spending.

The event began outside the Legislative Yuan with speeches on labor rights,
opposition to war and objections to growing defense outlays, before marching
to Ketagalan Boulevard opposite the Presidential Office.

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun attended the rally on Ketagalan Boulevard -
where she accused the D-P-P- of neglecting workers while treating large-scale
military procurement as routine.

Cheng said Lai's proposed supplementary defense budget, covering arms
purchases and joint development projects with the United States, risks
inflaming cross-strait tensions rather than easing them.

Chen Hung-pei of the People Democracy Party also slammed the defense spending
proposal - arguing that expanding spending by "such a large amount" primarily
served U-S interests and diverted funds from groups in need.

The D-P-P did not directly respond to the demands raised at the "Autumn
Struggle" protest...

Instead it countered Cheng's criticism, saying Taiwan has a responsibility to
"be prepared for war without seeking war" in the face of China's continued
military pressure- a principle it said has guided the government from former
President Tsai Ing-wen to Lai.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:15

The Civil Aviation Administration says drone sellers will be required to
register and clearly label key product information before selling new models
from today.

Sellers who fail to carry out registration or labeling obligations will face
fines ranging from 10,000 to 1.5-million N-T.

Manufacturers are required to upload details covering brand and model, maker
information, maximum takeoff weight, cybersecurity test results, National
Communications Commission radio certification, and inspection documents to
the drone management information system.

This information must also be printed on the drone and its packaging.

Drone importers and agents of foreign brands must also comply with
International Trade Administration rules by using Import Regulation Code 617,
a new classification, for remote-controlled drones from today.

The new requirements are based on amendments to drone laws announced in
November of last year.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:15

Taiwan's ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has met with the
newly elected prime minister of the Caribbean ally, Godwin Friday,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Ambassador Fiona Fan delivered President
Lai Ching-te's congratulations during their meeting, and that the prime
minister asked her to relay his thanks in return.

The ministry has not said when the meeting took place or provided any further
details... but it is believed to have taken place after Friday's New
Democratic Party has previously proposed switching recognition from Taiwan to
Beijing.

Friday was sworn in after the N-D-P won 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats in
Friday's general election, ending Unity Labor Party leader Ralph Gonsalves'
24-year rule.

The new prime minister did not publicly address the issue during his election
campaign.

Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations
in 1981.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:21

variant

The Centers for Disease Control says the current flu vaccine may provide
weaker protection against the new strain... but it is still believed to be
effective in cutting the risk of severe illness.

That new strain of the flu virus now accounts for nearly 90-per cent of
confirmed flu cases.

Health officials first detected variant in July, and it has since climbed
from 30.8-per cent in July to 87.7-per cent in October.

C-D-C spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui says studies indicate the flu vaccine
maintains strong performance in reducing severe illness and hospitalization
risk, despite declining protection against infection.

The C-D-C says overall flu outbreak activity here in Taiwan is now at a low
point and showing a steady decline, after this year's vaccination drive
started in October.

However, officials are warning that flu activity could rise again after the
New Year period, with the next peak expected around the Lunar New Year.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:22

A fugitive convicted of murder in 2000 and who spent more than a decade
hiding in Indonesia under an assumed identity has been repatriated to Taiwan.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says the 47-year-old man was recently
flagged by Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration as a suspicious
foreign national and reported to its office in Indonesia.

After he was indentified, Indonesian and Taiwanese authorities worked
together and arrested him on Wednesday of last week in Jakarta.

The man was wanted for his involvement in a 1999 fight and stabbing case in
Taipei's Tianmu which resulted in the death of one person, and two others
suffering injuries.

He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for homicide in 2000, and continued to
receive heavy sentences after multiple appeals.

The man fled Taiwan March 2011.

He was listed as a major wanted fugitive by the Supreme Prosecutors Office in
2024.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:25

The D-P-P has marked the 29th anniversary of the murder of feminist pioneer
Peng Wan-ru by celebrating her impact on gender equality reforms.

Peng disappeared in Kaohsiung while campaigning for a proposal to reserve
one-quarter of elected government positions for women on November 30, 1996 at
the age of 47.

She was serving as head of the D-P-P's Women's Affairs Department at the time.

She was found three days later, having been raped and fatally stabbed.

No one has been charged with her murder.

The DPP's Gender Equality Department says it is compiling and reviewing
Peng's archives and has begun work on a documentary about her life.

The party says Peng's advocacy later shaped the Local Government Act, which
in 1999 required that at least one-quarter of seats in local councils be held
by women.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:26

And,

Kaohsiung and Taipei have gotten into the Christmas spirit with festive tree
lightings this past weekend.

The tree lighting ceremonies were led by their mayors.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai initiated his city's third Christmas festival to
be held inside Central Park - leading a ceremony to light a tree measuring
26-meters in height.

City government officials say the tree and other light fixtures inside
Central Park will be lit up from 5:30PM to 12AM every day through January 4.

The event will also feature a Christmas market and performances by several
popular musical acts on weekends.

Meanwhile in Taipei, Mayor Chiang Wan-an kicked off the city's Christmas
celebration that entered its sixth edition this year.

Chiang lit-up a tree installed outside Exit 11 of Taipei's Da-An Forest Park
M-R-T Station.

Christmas lights have also been set up in six major display zones near Da-An
Park along Xinsheng South Road.

The light displays will be on from 5PM to 10PM daily through January 1.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:26

Beijing is warning it will crack down on any anti-China protests as thousands
turned out to pay tribute to the victims of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in
more than 75 years...

Mourners queued for more than a kilometre along the banks of a canal near the
burnt-out housing complex to lay white flowers for those who died, with
people still arriving late in the evening.

The cause of the blaze at a high-rise apartment complex, remains under
investigation, amid public anger over missed fire risk warnings and evidence
of unsafe construction practices.

Police are said to be holding a student who belonged to a group which
launched a petition calling for a probe into possible corruption and
construction oversight...

But Reuters has said it could not establish whether he had been arrested.

Authorities say the death toll is now at 146.. with more than 40 still
missing.

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:26

The death toll mounted to over 600 from floods and landslides caused by
torrential rains across three countries in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand faced large-scale devastation after a rare
tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait fuelling heavy rains and wind
gusts for a week.

There were 435 dead in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand, and three deaths reported
in Malaysia.

Rescue and relief officials in the Southeast Asian countries were still
trying to get access to many flood-hit areas on Sunday even as flood waters
receded and tens of thousands of people were evacuated across the three
countries.

Over 4 million people have been affected - nearly 3 million in southern
Thailand and 1.1 million in western Indonesia,

Posted on 2025-12-01 07:30:26

Venezuela's National Assembly will form a special commission to investigate
U.S. President Donald Trump's deadly strikes on suspected drug trafficking
boats off the Venezuelan coast and in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The congressional body's president Jorge Rodriguez said the investigation
would look into a report that said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
ordered all people aboard one of the boats killed during a strike in
September.

A second strike was then carried out to kill two survivors.

The U.S. for months has waged a campaign of deadly strikes against suspected
drug trafficking boats in the region.

The U.S. is being accused of seeking regime change out of a desire to control
Venezuela's vast oil reserves.

Posted on 2025-11-29 16:08:14

Ten music acts take to the stage today at Taipei's Maji Square for the 2025
Taipei International Blues Bash.

Organizers say each performance tells a story -- from the misty Mississippi
Delta to big-city Chicago electric blues and jumping swing rhythms.

John Eastwood from Eiger Law -- one of the event's sponsors -- says the Blues
Bash invites audiences to share in the joy of a live musical performance ...
and to connect with cultures from around the world.

Audio: John Eastwood support live music 0:26
Out: ?存upport this

The Taipei International Blues Bash is free of charge. It's on now and runs
until 10 tonight at Taipei's Maji Square. That's over by the Yuan Shan MRT
Station.

Posted on 2025-11-29 15:19:19

In community news ...

If you're looking for a way to enjoy your Saturday in Taipei check out the
Taipei International Blues Bash.

The celebration of the Blues as a global art form unites musicians from
Europe, the Americas and Asia for one day at Maji Square ... that's near the
YuanShan MRT Station.

Adam McMillan, curator at Baiwin Antiques -- one of the event's sponsors --
says the musical influences of Blues are far and wide, making this an event
music lovers won't want to miss.
Audio: Adam McMillan Blues 0:26
Out: Blues Music

The Taipei International Blues Bash is free, it's happening right now ... and
it'll continue until 10pm at Maji Square.

Yes ... that's the same venue as the German Christmas Market, which is around
the corner from the Blues Bash and will also be open tomorrow.

Posted on 2025-11-29 13:08:13

The US president says he'll pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando
Hernandez, who in 2024 was convicted of drug trafficking and weapons charges
and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Donald Trump explained his decision on social media by saying that QUOTE
"according to many people that I greatly respect," Hernandez was "treated
very harshly and unfairly."

Hernandez, a two-term leader of Honduras, was convicted in the US last year
of conspiring to import cocaine and on two weapons counts.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-11-29 12:09:13

In community news,

The holiday season is just around the corner, and if you're looking for a
taste of an "old world" Christmas... check out the Taipei European Winter
Festival... today and tomorrow.

It's happening in the heart of Taipei's Xinyi District, and organizers call
it a complete immersion in the warmth of the holiday atmosphere.

Elias Kazi... one of the event's organizers... says this year's festival is
bigger than before, with nearly 60 vendors... and expanded cultural
performances and exhibitions.

The Taipei European Winter Festival features a wide range of European holiday
foods and beverages, as well as desserts, chocolates, jams, lifestyle
products and gift ideas for a European Christmas.

Posted on 2025-11-29 11:08:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Taipower is expected to submit a plan
to restart two of Taiwan's decommissioned nuclear power plants by March next
year.

The MOEA said it has approved an evaluation report from the country's main
power provider that found it feasible to restart the No. 3 nuclear power
plant in New Taipei and the No. 2 plant in Pingtung County.

The ministry said it isn't feasible to restart Taiwan's first nuclear power
plant at Jinshan. It said the equipment there is too old to restart safely.

The evaluation report was carried out in response to amendments to Taiwan's
nuclear regulation law passed in May. The changes provide a legal basis for
continuing to operate nuclear power plants even after they've entered the
decommissioning stage.

The No. 2 reactor in southern Taiwan was shut down around the time of the
act's passage. It was the last operational nuclear power plant in the
country.

There's currently no plan to restart work on Taiwan's No. 4 nuclear power
plant in northeastern Taiwan. The project was mothballed in 2014 despite
being nearly completed. Nuclear power advocates have argued that it should be
completed to give Taiwan a baseload source of low-emission electricity.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2025-11-29 11:08:14

Soaring demand for AI is boosting both exports and investment, prompting the
Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics to sharply revise up
Taiwan's 2025 economic growth forecast to 7.37 percent from its August
forecast of 4.45 percent.

The GDP growth rate was increased on the back of upward revisions to exports,
imports, private consumption and private investment for the full year.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2025-11-29 11:08:14

The charge against the man who authorities say shot two National Guard
members has been upgraded to first-degree murder after one of the soldiers
died.

Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe were critically
injured in Wednesday's shooting in Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that Beckstrom had died.

Authorities say the killer drove across the country to carry out an
"ambush-style" attack. He also faces two counts of assault with intent to
kill while armed.

It's still not clear why the killer attacked the pair.

The US also announced on Friday a halt to all asylum decisions.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2025-11-28 18:12:14

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says he has zero concerns about TSMC's ability to
protect confidential information.

This comes despite a lawsuit accusing former TSMC senior vice president Lo
Wei-jen of leaking secrets to Intel.

Huang said TSMC's technology and culture are far too complex to rely on any
single individual, and he praised the company for doing "an excellent job"
safeguarding NVIDIA's sensitive data.

He stressed that NVIDIA has never worried about information security when
working with TSMC.

Huang recently was in Taiwan for food, sightseeing, and a visit with TSMC
founder Morris Chang.

He says he'll return in January to celebrate Lunar New Year.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-28 18:12:14

The National Land Management Agency says it has now approved and disbursed
almost $900 million NT to households affected by the Matai'an Creek
barrier-lake overflow.

As of today, officials say over 2 thousand 500 cases have been paid out,
covering almost 90 percent of all approved applications.

Each eligible household can receive up to $100 thousand NT in reconstruction
aid, plus additional support from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The agency says more than 3 thosuand 800 applications have been received, but
some still need corrections due to duplicate claims, missing documents, or
properties without official addresses.

The deadline for in-person applications is today, while mailed submissions
will be accepted through November 30th.

Officials urge eligible residents to file as soon as possible so recovery
efforts can move forward.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-28 18:06:14

Premier Cho Jung-tai is pushing back against KMT lawmakers who say that
Japanese food sold in Taiwan should be labelled with detailed place-of-origin
information.

They argue that some vegetables, grains, seafood, and meat remain banned from
distribution inside Japan, but consumers in Taiwan can't see which parts of
Japan that Japanese products come from.

Premier Cho said that more than 200 thousand tests over the past decade of
such products have never failed safety standards.

He says Taiwan follows international norms — and stresses that any food
Japan bans domestically won't enter Taiwan's market.

This comes after Taiwan lifted its decade-long requirement for Japanese
exporters to provide both origin documentation and radiation test reports for
certain items.

Imports from Japan are now handled through routine border inspections, with
the Food and Drug Administration conducting risk-based sampling for
radiation.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-28 18:06:14

Both this year’s Constitution Day and next year’s New Year’s Day fall on
single-day holidays.

The National Freeway Bureau said today that freeway tolls will follow a
single-rate system, meaning there will be a 25% discount but no 20-kilometer
toll-free segment.

It also reminded drivers to not slow down or stop on the shoulder to watch
New Year’s fireworks, and that violators will be fined between $3,000 and
$6,000 NT.

To manage possible congestion near urban scenic spots, especially around New
Year’s Eve events, the Bureau said it will use flexible measures such as
opening the shoulder for traffic and ramp monitoring to help divert vehicles.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-28 18:06:14

And in world news ...

A Reuters report said U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to "permanently
pause" migration from all "Third World Countries".

The social media post on his Truth Social account follows an attack near the
White House that Trump attributed to Biden-era failures in immigration
vetting.

Trump did not identify any countries by name or explain what he meant by
third-world countries or "permanently pause."

Trump also said in the post that he would end all federal benefits and
subsidies for "non-citizens", adding he would "denaturalize migrants who
undermine domestic tranquility" and deport any foreign national deemed a
public charge, security risk, or "non-compatible with Western civilization".

Trump's comments come after the death of a National Guard member who had been
shot near the White House in an ambush investigators say was carried out by
an Afghan national.

Posted on 2025-11-28 16:13:13

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said his company is in a "unique" position in the
market despite facing intensifying competition.

During a brief visit to Taiwan, Huang said the AI market is "extremely large"
when he was asked about the possible threat posed by Google.

According to a report in the U.S.-based The Information on Tuesday, Meta has
been in talks to spend billions of U.S. dollars to buy tensor processing
units, or TPUs, from Google, which would turn the search engine into a rival
of Nvidia.

Nvidia is currently the dominant global player in AI chips.

That report sent Nvidia shares plunging the same day, though they have since
recovered.

TPUs, which are tailored chips, are highly efficient in AI applications and
cheaper than Nvidia's graphics processing units.

Huang said today that they just have to "keep running very fast" to maintain
NVidia's lead in the market in response to the competition.

(CNA)

Posted on 2025-11-28 16:13:13

Taiwan has just experienced its warmest autumn in more than 70 years.

The Central Weather Administration says average temperatures from September
to November reached 26.5 degrees Celsius, far above the seasonal norm of
25.1.

Rainfall totals were close to average, but there were only about 26 rainy
days — the fifth-fewest on record.

Forecasters pointed out that thirteen typhoons formed in the Northwest
Pacific this autumn ... more than the average of 10.8.

Looking ahead, forecasters say temperatures are likely to be normal to
slightly warmer, with rainfall normal to below average, especially in western
Taiwan.

Officials warn that cold air outbreaks will still arrive ... and urging
everyone to take necessary precautions.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-28 16:13:13

Hong Kong authorities say death toll in apartment complex blaze rises to 128
after more bodies found.

Officials say the search for victims is continuing and the numbers could
still rise.

The fire at the Wang Fuk Court complex started Wednesday afternoon and was
only fully extinguished this morning.

Dozens of people including firefighters were injured in the blaze.

A deputy director of Hong Kong Fire Services said this morning that the
firefighting operation is almost complete.

The fire started midafternoon Wednesday in one of the Wang Fuk Court
complex's eight towers, and seven buildings were engulfed.

It took more than 1,000 firefighters some 24 hours to bring the five-alarm
blaze under control, and even nearly two days later, smoke continued to drift
out of the buildings.

Posted on 2025-11-28 16:13:13

A court has found Japan's refusal to legalize same-sex marriage
constitutional in the last of six cases likely to be brought to the Supreme
Court for a final ruling.

Today's decision by the Tokyo High Court reversed a lower court ruling last
year and was the first loss at high courts in the six cases brought by those
seeking equal marriage rights.

Plaintiffs and their lawyers said the decision was unjust but they were
determined to keep fighting.

The Supreme Court is expected to handle the appeals in the six cases and make
a decision, possibly next year.

Posted on 2025-11-28 13:07:14

President Lai Ching-te has appointed former diplomat and National Security
Council advisor Xu Si-jian as Deputy National Defense Minister.

Xu has a Master's and Doctorate degree in political science from Columbia
University and has served as Deputy Foreign Minister and NSC Deputy
Secretary-General.

The presidential office says Xu has actively assisted the Defense Ministry in
advancing various military exchange and cooperation programs with
international partners.

He has also joined multiple times international meetings such the Berlin
Security Conference and the Halifax International Security Forum, among
others.

The President expects Xu to continue to apply his international perspective
and strategic expertise to assist Defense Minister Wellington Koo.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-28 13:07:16

A Taiwanese traveler who was taken away by police on Sunday when transiting
through Abu Dhabi International Airport has been released from custody.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said he is still not allowed to leave the
country.

MOFA said its office in Dubai received a call from the man's family at 1:30
a.m. today, Dubai time, informing the office that he had been set free.

The ministry did not elaborate on why the man was taken away by police in the
first place or why he's still not allowed to leave.

According to local media, the man and his wife from Yun-lin were at the start
of a 16-day tour to Turkey when the incident occurred.

(CNA)

Posted on 2025-11-28 13:07:21

In Thailand, the death toll from severe flooding has climbed to more than 80
people.

Officials said Thursday the floodwaters are expected to recede below
riverbanks in every impacted area by Thursday evening.

About 1 million households and more than 3 million people have been impacted
by the rising waters triggered by torrential rains in 12 southern provinces.

The flooding that began during the weekend submerged vast areas and caused
deaths in seven provinces.

Floodwaters had receded in many of the provinces Thursday morning but water
levels remained high in some areas.

The floodwaters have disrupted infrastructure and medical services and
trapped thousands of people.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-11-28 13:07:22

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have killed a pair of Palestinian
men after they appeared to surrender to troops, drawing Palestinian
accusations that the men were executed "in cold blood."

The Israeli military said it was investigating.

The killings on Thursday, captured in a pair of videos shown on two Arab TV
stations, came as Israel pressed ahead with its latest offensive in the West
Bank, where the army has stepped up its activities over the past two years.

Israel says it is cracking down on militants.

But Palestinians and rights groups accuse Israel of using excessive force and
say dozens of unarmed civilians have been killed.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-11-28 08:07:13

challenges

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Deputy Health Minister Lu Jien-de says the government's "long-term care 3.0"
program will further integrate hospitals, community care providers and
home-based medical services to build a seamless care system for older adults.

Speaking at a meeting of the Presidential Office's Healthy Taiwan Promotion
Committee, Lu said the current average wait time for people to receive
long-term care services after being discharged from the hospital is four days
- and that's a significant drop from 51 days in 2017.

According to Lu, under the planned 3.0 framework, the government aims to
shorten that post-discharge wait to two days by the end of 2026 and eliminate
it entirely by 2030 ...

... and to achieve that goal, hospitals will help patients complete simple
care plans before discharge and connect them directly with community-based
providers.

The planned program will provide services including home visits and family
physician care under the National Health Insurance system for people with
medical needs.

The rollout of "long-term care 3.0" starting next year is aimed at addressing
mounting pressure on the long-term care system.

Taiwan entered super-aged society status this year and people aged 65 or
older now make up more than 20-per cent of the population.

Posted on 2025-11-28 08:07:14

The U-S government says it welcomes President Lai Ching-te's plan to allocate
1.25-trillion N-T, or 40-billion U-S dollars for a special defense budget to
boost the island's self-defense capabilities.

According to a U-S State Department spokesperson, Washington supports
Taiwan's acquisition of critical defense capabilities, commensurate with the
threat it faces.

The spokesperson also says the U-S welcomes Lai administration's recent
commitments to increase defense spending to at least 3-per cent of G-D-P by
2026 and to 5-percent of G-D-P by 2030 ...

.... which demonstrates resolve to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense
capabilities.

Two senior members of the U-S Congress are also lauding Lai's pledge to
invest heavily in Taiwan's security.

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chair Tom Cotton says he was
"pleased" to see the planned defense budget increases announced by Lai, as
the move is an important step in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

While House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks is also
commending Lai "for taking Taiwan's self-defense seriously" - saying the
investments will boost deterrence and bolster peace and stability in the
Taiwan Strait.

Posted on 2025-11-28 08:07:14

Prosecutors have searched the residences of former Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing executive Luo Wei-ren as part of an investigation into claims
he leaked the company's trade secrets.

According to the High Prosecutors' Office, it had launched an investigation
into Luo on November 18 after learning that he was suspected of violating of
the National Security Act.

Prosecutors and officials from the Criminal Investigation Bureau searched
Luo's residences in Taipei and Hsinchu County, seizing computers, U-S-B flash
drives and other evidence.

The prosecutors' office says the searches were carried out with warrants
issued by the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court, where T-S-M-C filed
a suit against Luo earlier this week.

Prosecutors says they have also received court permission to seize stocks and
real estate belonging to Luo in accordance with Article 133-2 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure.

T-S-M-C has claimed that Luo have stolen trade secrets and leaked them to
Intel after he retired as a senior vice president on July 27.

Intel has said there is "no merit" to the allegations against Luo.

Posted on 2025-11-28 08:07:14

The Taipei District Court has sentenced former K-M-T lawmaker Liao Kuo-tong
to 7 1/2 years in prison for his role in a 2020 corruption case.

According to the court ruling, Liao was found guilty of soliciting 700,000
N-T in bribes from Kung Hsiang-ke, who worked for New Taipei-based Number
Media company.

The company, which provides cloud computing and big data services is
affiliated with Huizhong I-O-T Hong Kong Technology Limited, which is itself
owned by Chinese I-T firm Inspur.

Prosecutors say Number Media sought approval from the Investment Commission
to raise its capital in 2018, but the request was suspended after the
commission found it was engaging in business activities beyond its permitted
scope.

The company then hired Kung as consultant on a contract basis to lobby
lawmakers for the capital increase, and he paid the former K-M-T lawmaker
700,000 N-T to help secure approval for the request.

Liao and Kung were both indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office
on charges of corruption in August of last year.

The dstrict court ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2025-11-28 08:07:14

awards

And finally,

The organizers of South Korea's annual Golden Disc Awards have announced that
Blackpink member Jennie will be returning to Taiwan in January to perform at
the Taipei Dome.

According to the event organizer, the 40th edition of the awards will feature
Jennie as part of its performance lineup.

Jennie is one of four members of the all-girl K-pop act.

They performed to sell out crowds at the Kaohsiung National Stadium last
month in as a part of their ongoing tour.

The group set a record in Kaohsiung then, attracting over 100,000 fans to
each of the two concerts October.

The act also sold more than 190,000 tickets when combining their 2023 "Born
Pink" and 2025 "Deadline" tour stops in the city.

This year's Golden Disc Awards ceremony will be held on January 10 at the
Taipei Dome.

It will be the fourth consecutive edition of the annual South Korean music
awards ceremony to have be held overseas.

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