Reported 8 months ago
On June 24, 2024, Taichung city councilors suggested allocating subsidies for pregnant women's prenatal check-up transportation expenses to encourage childbirth. Taichung has the lowest childbirth allowance among the six municipalities, with only NT$20,000 per birth. It is the only municipality without a 'maternity special transport' service, while even smaller cities like Pingtung, Chiayi, and Hsinchu have implemented it. Councilors urged the city to follow other municipalities and provide subsidies for maternity special transport, criticizing the lack of action by Mayor Lu Xiu-yan despite Taichung's high marriage rate and being the second in birth rate but declining annually. The city government promised to consider the feasibility of the special transport service next year. Comparison shows Taichung and New Taipei City have the lowest childbirth subsidies among the six municipalities, with proposals to increase support in Taichung.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Taoyuan recently introduced a 'Good Pregnancy Transport' subsidy policy for pregnant women, providing up to NT$9,000 per person, which has received positive feedback. However, there are challenges during peak hours or rainy days in calling for rides. Hsinchu City's subsidy of NT$6,000 for pregnancy transport can now be used in Hsinchu County as well, pending further discussion. The subsidy in Taoyuan is accessed through a card system for pregnant women registered in Taoyuan, with the program having issued 6,656 subsidies in over 3 months. Hsinchu City also offers transport subsidies for pregnant women and has expanded the service range to postnatal care facilities.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Xinyi Hongwu Curry at Xizhi Far Eastern Plaza was suspected of causing food poisoning again. The New Taipei City Health Bureau received reports of 2 individuals experiencing diarrhea and discomfort after dining on June 18, with 1 hospitalized, bringing the total to 10 seeking medical care. The restaurant has been notified twice for suspected food poisoning within a year, leading to a temporary closure starting the day before. Samples have been collected for inspection with a focus on salmonella in eggs, and pending results may lead to legal investigations under food safety laws. The operator has apologized, visited the hospital, ceased operations, and undertaken sanitation measures according to the health bureau's advice, such as switching to washed eggs. The Health Bureau requires a successful improvement report and environmental reinspection before resuming business.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Neurosurgeon Xin Ming-tai from SHUH Hospital shared his emotional journey of caring for his mother who suffered two strokes, shedding light on the lack of resources for stroke patients. Despite arranging care, rehabilitation, and long-term care resources, his mother passed away after being bedridden for two years. Xin realized the importance of family support in illness and highlighted the disparities in rehabilitation resources across urban and rural areas, urging the government to allocate more resources for better patient care.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
In Taiwan, there is a traditional belief of leaving the whole body intact after death, but amputated limbs are often classified as medical waste. Amputees have had to either store their limbs in freezers or hand them over to funeral service providers for centralized disposal, as funeral homes seldom offer cremation services for limbs. New Taipei and Taoyuan cities have revised their funeral service facility and fee standards to provide individual cremation services for amputated limbs at a cost of 1,000 NT dollars per cremation, expected to be implemented in July and August respectively. This initiative aims to help amputees have a more 'complete and fulfilling' posthumous arrangement, addressing concerns about not being able to keep their whole bodies after death. Previously, only Kaohsiung in Taiwan offered centralized cremation services for amputated limbs, showing regional disparities. The amendment also allows for the cremated remains to be combined with the individual's body cremation later on for a complete 'whole body burial'.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
In contrast to Taiwan's long neglect of preventive maintenance, Japan established a 'Public Fund' for long-term maintenance over thirty years ago, along with a 'Long-Term Maintenance Program System' nearly twenty years ago. This system has become a key factor affecting community housing prices, ensuring the safety of building exteriors by eliminating unplanned buildings from the market. Scholars and experts urge Taiwan to include the mandatory payment of public funds in the 'Apartment Building Management Regulations,' defining the repair relationship and responsibilities of residents to effectively maintain exterior walls. This system has become an important document in real estate transactions, impacting property prices based on the presence and implementation of long-term maintenance plans.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
In the community of Southeast Asian Garden Plaza in Taipei's Gongguan, the exterior tiles have been continuously falling off, prompting the installation of protective nets every two floors, creating an unusual cityscape. The forty-year-old building with 130 units utilizes this temporary solution initiated by the local government to prevent injuries due to falling debris. With no official management committee in place, the responsibility for maintenance and repairs falls on the residents, leading to a call for government assistance through the establishment of a public fund to address the prevalent issue of severe exterior peeling in aging buildings.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
On June 24, 2024, at 6:26 PM in Taipei, the window-type air conditioner on a building at No. 189, Sec. 2, Chenggong Road in Taipei was swaying dangerously, resembling a ticking time bomb. Nearby residents have been warning about the risks, but their pleas were reportedly ignored by authorities and management, showcasing the struggle of dealing with potential dangers like this 'time bomb in the sky.' Advocates urge for legislation on the inspection of exterior attachments to prevent such incidents in the future.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
In Taipei, there is a lack of awareness among apartment buildings regarding the structural integrity of exterior wall tiles, leading to potential risks of tiles becoming hollow and falling off. During a professional inspection conducted by external wall inspection companies, utilizing tools like a 'testing rod,' hollow tiles were discovered by technicians hanging from ropes at high altitudes. The inspection process is crucial to identify and address potential safety hazards, especially in buildings over thirty years old, prompting Taipei City to implement regulations for regular exterior wall safety inspections for buildings over eleven stories or older than fifteen years, adjusting the reporting intervals to every three years for buildings over thirty years old.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
In June 24, 2024, a nine-year-old girl and her mother were hit by falling tiles and concrete chunks from the 30-year-old building 'Jinghua Mansion' in Taipei. Despite safety net installations, fragments of falling tiles still remain. Following a lawsuit, all 13 property owners from the first to twelfth floors were charged with negligence for failing to maintain the building's exterior, causing severe injuries to the child. Prior to the first trial, the residents reached a settlement with the child's mother, leading to the withdrawal of the lawsuit.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Following the Huailien earthquake, older residents of the Taipei Chengcheng Garden community are facing challenges with maintaining their aging building's exterior walls. With cracks, falling tiles, and warped iron windows, the community is unable to come to an agreement on repairs due to the lack of a registered management committee. Unlike newer buildings in urban areas where residents are willing to fund repairs, the 'double elderly crisis' in this community worsens as external wall management deteriorates. The Taiwan Property Management Association Chairman notes that aging buildings over fifty years old face safety concerns in various areas and calls for urgent action.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
As of June 24, 2024, old buildings in Taiwan face the danger of flying debris such as pots and tiles during strong winds, leading to a lack of government intervention and reliance on luck by pedestrians. Despite initiatives over the years to address the chaotic and potentially dangerous external attachments like air conditioners and signs on buildings, the situation has not been resolved. Recent incidents of falling tiles and an air conditioner leading to fatalities have raised concerns, with calls for regulations and incentives for repairs. However, the slow progress in legislation highlights the challenges in managing and funding maintenance of older buildings, posing threats to public safety.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
A report from Taipei on June 24, 2024, describes Jisheng Air Conditioning sending three workers to install a second-floor air conditioner amidst light rain. The workers, equipped with safety gear and helmets, had a near-accident experience in the past. The Taiwan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Care Association chairman highlighted the dangers of low-priced air conditioning installations, linked to instances of fatal accidents in the industry. Despite regulations requiring safety equipment, many workers face risky conditions during installations, leading to 20 deaths in a decade. The association is pushing for legislation to ensure safer working environments for air conditioning installation workers.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Cities are not blank slates, and the earlier urban issues are treated, the less suffering and lower costs will be incurred. Treating the 'urban disease' involves addressing the root causes; otherwise, it will result in even greater consequences. With rapid urbanization in the 50s and 60s in Taiwan, insufficient building regulations led to issues like external air conditioners posing dangers. As building materials and methods change with time, experts warn of the dangers posed by aging structures and external attachments. The responsibility of maintaining safe urban environments falls on both the government and citizens.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
22歲清華大學資工系的美籍印度裔羅姓外籍生，在暑假首日到屏東縣墾丁船帆石遊玩時不慎溺斃，他生前是AI編譯器的學霸。羅男與8名友人遊玩時，其中兩人疑似遭暗流沖走，他被尋獲時已無生命跡象。校園內對他的逝世噩耗感到難過，清大全球處也協助親人來台處理後事。
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Traditional snack 'sugar-coated haws' became popular in South Korea with stores popping up everywhere, but now a trend of closures are observed. According to data from the South Korean Ministry of Administration, 34 sugar-coated haws stores have closed from the beginning of this month until the 17th, averaging 2 closures per day. Concerns about the excessive sugar intake from sugar-coated haws have been raised, with some attributing the declining trend to health risks such as early obesity and diabetes, especially among children and teenagers. Sales data from 'BC Card,' the largest payment service company in Korea, also showed a decline in sales indices for sugar-coated haws stores since September 2023.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
The Vatican recently announced that Pope Francis has appointed Yang Yongqiang, former bishop of Zhoucun, Shandong, as the Bishop of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, China. This move is seen as an effort by the Vatican to strengthen its relationship with Beijing. Chinese state media, Global Times, rare reported the appointment as 'Vatican Appoints Hangzhou Bishop,' acknowledging the Pope's authority in appointing Chinese bishops. This appointment is a result of a historical agreement reached between the Vatican and China in 2018 regarding the appointment of bishops.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
On June 24, 2024, the Chinese Communist Party issued 22 points under the 'punish independence' opinion, which has raised concerns among the Taiwanese people regarding possible extradition from overseas due to the 'absent trials' clause. Scholars in Taiwan believe that 'Taiwanese independence crimes' fall under the category of political prisoners and should not be extradited unless involving violence. However, they also cautioned that the Chinese judicial system is notorious, posing risks of false accusations against Taiwanese individuals. Chinese scholars stated that the 'punish independence' opinion demonstrates China's use of criminal justice methods to increase penalties against advocates for Taiwan independence, aiming to draw clear boundaries between the Taiwanese public and independence forces.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized that democracy is not a crime but rather authoritarianism is, responding to China's new anti-secession rules where advocating for independence could lead to severe punishment, including the death penalty. Tsai questioned China's stance on unity and criticized their labeling of various Taiwanese groups as advocating for secession. The Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General criticized the rules as absurd and damaging to political parties like the Kuomintang and the People First Party.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
A company with a capital of only 500,000 managed to secure a 700 million yuan contract to import eggs commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture. This incident, along with the recent revelations of questionable practices, highlights the significant role played by the unsupervised Central Livestock Association. The lack of oversight and transparency in the import of eggs raises concerns and underscores the need for parliamentary investigations in such matters.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
The controversy over SuperS importing Brazilian eggs continues as Huang Kuo-chang, the convener of the Legislative Yuan group of the People's Party, revealed that SuperS had received a large contract worth 700 million NT dollars with a capital of only 500,000 NT dollars. He criticized the Ministry of Agriculture for inconsistencies in egg import figures, pointing out a discrepancy of about 5 to 6 million eggs. The Ministry responded, denying the shortage and stating that the different reports were due to using different box sizes for calculations.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
A group named 'Mountain and Sea Citizen Dismantling Action' in Keelung has initiated a recall of Keelung Mayor Xie Guoliang, with the second phase of the joint petition reaching nearly the required threshold. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) city councilors Zhang Haohan and Zheng Wenting have begun offering petition services to support the effort. The group perceives the involvement of 'green supporters' as collaborating allies, emphasizing that promoting the recall is a citizen-led activity. In response to this, the city government stated that it has 'no comment.'
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
On June 24, 2024, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin You-chang led a two-day campaign rally in Keelung under the guise of anti-corruption advocacy but was actually geared towards promoting the dismissal of Keelung Mayor Xie Guo-liang. Lin openly supported the dismissal, with fellow party councilor Zhang Hao-han taking the lead, signaling a green camp-wide offensive. However, despite Lin's call to arms, with only one party councilor responding, it highlighted the complex political dynamics at play in Keelung.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
Shaboozey, the rising country star, has announced his fall headlining tour in support of his album 'Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.' Presale begins soon and general ticket sales start on June 28. The tour will showcase Shaboozey's versatility as a musician blending country, Americana, and hip-hop. Fans can expect surprises as he explores different sounds and inspirations.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 8 months ago
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced an additional $100 million in funding over three years to boost affordable housing supply, aiming to address high housing costs and a chronic housing shortage. The funding will come from prior COVID-era investments in community lenders, and the Treasury is working on a new program to finance thousands more affordable housing units. Yellen highlighted that the housing supply shortfall has led to an affordability crisis, particularly affecting low-income and Black households.
Source: YAHOO