Reported 10 months ago
After the Executive Yuan proposed a reconsideration of the parliamentary reform bill last week, the Legislative Yuan promptly convened a 'Committee of the Whole' for review, with Premier Su Tseng-chang personally delivering a report and responding to queries today. During the session, KMT caucus convener Fu Kun-chi aggressively questioned Su, who retorted by mentioning 'Hualien council inquiries being exciting.' Apart from this, People First Party caucus convener Huang Kuo-chang demanded Su refrain from interrupting. The session saw tensions rise, with Speaker Han Kuo-yu at one point calling for order maintenance. The confrontation underscores the ongoing conflict between the ruling party and the opposition regarding parliamentary reform.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
According to SET News, the landlord of the 'Keelung Xinfeng Branch' Starbucks, voted by netizens as the most beautiful Starbucks, has changed. The new landlord, Shin Yang Construction, purchased the property for 110 million in cash in January this year. Speculations suggest that Shin Yang may introduce a new development on the site, as the Starbucks lease has expired. The property is located in Keelung's Zhongzheng District and could potentially be used for residential development in the future, given the rising property prices in the area. The overall property market in Keelung has seen increased activity, with prices rising by 15% compared to the same period last year.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
The hot and humid weather accompanied by afternoon thunderstorms will continue throughout the week, with the hottest temperatures expected on Friday to the weekend. Some areas may reach temperatures exceeding 37 degrees. The Central Weather Bureau warns the public to beware of heatstroke and other heat-related injuries, especially during this period.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
The Ministry of Labor will hold a meeting in the third quarter of the year to discuss the minimum wage for the first time. On June 26, the Ministry of Labor will conduct a joint meeting to report on the current economic situation. Xie Shubo, chairman of the Labor Confederation, suggests tackling the labor shortage issue before raising the minimum wage, as most local workers already earn more than the minimum wage. The root problem lies in the labor shortage caused by low birth rates and insufficient manpower, especially in the tourism industry and remote areas. The discussion on the actual adjustment of the minimum wage is still pending as of the meeting, with a focus on economic growth rates and consumer price index data.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
China's mid-year e-commerce festival, known as the '618' festival, failed to create much excitement among shoppers according to industry experts. Major platforms extended offers over a longer period to attract consumers amidst economic challenges. The festival, the second-largest annual sales event in China after Singles Day, is seen as a test of consumer spending. Despite year-round discounts, the festival still saw increased sales performance, with platforms like JD.com reporting record turnover. However, the extension of the sales period and ongoing consumer belt-tightening led to less enthusiasm for the event compared to previous years.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Multiple foreign media outlets reported that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has transferred complaints against TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance for possible violations of children's privacy to the Department of Justice. This complaint is based on possible violations of the FTC Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and comes on the heels of FTC investigating TikTok for several years for potential breaches of child internet privacy-related laws. TikTok has expressed disappointment, stating they have been cooperating with FTC and denying the accusations.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Amid the low tourism activity on the east coast of Taiwan, Taitung is enhancing rural tourism experiences by offering visitors the opportunity to participate in making items like placemats out of banana leaves, a common ingredient in indigenous villages in Taitung. To boost tourism, the Agriculture Department is supporting optimized tour packages in Taitung's rural areas, connecting various villages under a unified branding strategy and emphasizing hands-on experiences with local agricultural products. Efforts are being made to attract domestic tourists and revive the tourism economy in the eastern region.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
On June 19, 2024, it was revealed that YouTuber 'Super Brother' was present at an illegal gambling den allegedly financed by the boyfriend of popular YouTuber 'Droplet Sister.' The police raided the underground establishment in Taipei's East District disguised as a bar and apprehended 24 individuals, including the owner, dealers, staff, and gamblers. Super Brother was spotted at the scene but left before the search began and later clarified that he was just at the bar to socialize, had no involvement in gambling, and did not know the boyfriend. The den was co-operated by three well-known YouTubers, including 'I.C Charlie,' who is Droplet Sister's boyfriend, causing a media frenzy. Droplet Sister distanced herself from the incident and emphasized her lack of association with illegal gambling.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
NVIDIA surpassed Apple as the world's second-largest company in June and, within less than two weeks, also overtook Microsoft to claim the number one spot with a market value of $3.34 trillion on June 18. This rapid growth by NVIDIA also boosted Taiwan's stock market, with TSMC seeing a 4.14% increase and reaching a record high market value of $25 trillion. Experts attribute this success to NVIDIA's investments in AI infrastructure, reflecting its significant growth potential in the semiconductor industry.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
A wealthy woman surnamed Lu sought treatment for insomnia at Venus Fashion Aesthetic Clinic, where Dr. Liu Xiangyao recommended a sleep care regimen involving 485 injections of 'milk needles' (containing propofol, a controlled anesthetic). The treatment resulted in addiction and health issues, leading Lu to sue for compensation. In the second-instance ruling, the original claim of 11.98 million yuan was reduced to 2 million yuan for mental consolation, as Lu failed to prove work loss and the 8 million yuan medical expenses were non-refundable. The court found Dr. Liu had violated medical regulations by administering propofol inappropriately for sleep care, causing physical and psychological harm to Lu, who eventually passed away. The ruling acknowledged the misuse of propofol for sleep treatment, leading to a significantly reduced compensation amount.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
On June 19, 2024, the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook was released by the Swiss Lausanne Management Institute, revealing Taiwan dropped two spots to rank 8 overall. The evaluation focuses on economic performance, government efficiency, corporate effectiveness, and infrastructure. Taiwan's economic performance fell from 20 to 26, with tourism revenue ranking 65 out of 67 countries evaluated. Experts expressed concern over Taiwan's tourism performance, impacting domestic service industry wages. While several indicators declined, Taiwan excelled in corporate effectiveness, ranking first globally in trusting business managers and entrepreneurial spirit.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Chen Meifeng was surprised by an early birthday celebration organized by her colleagues during the recording of a program. She was moved by the thoughtful gesture and expressed excitement for her upcoming endeavors. Chen received a large chocolate bouquet symbolizing smooth sailing in both her romantic and career aspects. Her friends also joined in the celebration, expressing happiness and blessings for her future. Chen, who is preparing for a concert in Malaysia, shared her excitement for returning to the stage and providing a memorable experience for her fans through her performance.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Kaisa Group Holdings' chairman, Kwok Ying Shing, has returned to mainland China from Hong Kong after almost a decade to seek regulatory approval for an offshore debt restructuring, according to sources. This move is seen as a critical step for the company's restructuring as it faces a liquidation petition in a Hong Kong court. Kaisa, the second-largest developer in China by offshore debt, is currently in talks with bondholders and regulators in Shenzhen to finalize its restructuring plan.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
A recent media report described the cabinet team led by Premier Su Tseng-chang, which includes members from the industry, as an 'alien cabinet,' sparking criticism. Legislator Ke Jianming of the DPP refuted the allegations, stating that there is no verification behind the claims of 'aliens' in the government. Ke emphasized that the government and the party operate efficiently and have mechanisms in place, dismissing the reports as unfounded and stressing no 'aliens' exist as portrayed by the media.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
In Guangxi, China, a farmer discovered a 3-meter-long, 40-kilogram python in his sheep pen and suspected it had swallowed one of his sheep, prompting him to call the authorities for help. Firefighters had to use the strength of three people to remove the snake due to its size. The python, a protected wild animal in China, was later transferred to a wildlife rescue center for further handling.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Huawei Technologies Co. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. are nearing a deal where WeChat will operate fully on Huawei's Harmony platform without any revenue sharing. This agreement, if finalized, will allow WeChat to remain on Huawei devices and receive regular updates, benefiting both companies. Huawei's move to monetize its platform comes after it surpassed Apple's iOS in Chinese market share, with discussions ongoing about implementing fees for content and services.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Taiwan's representative in Japan posted on Facebook that the plane he was on was struck by lightning during takeoff, leading to a loud bang resembling an explosion, causing a scare. The airline confirmed the incident but explained that the likelihood of an aircraft being struck by lightning is low due to its design. Flight instructors emphasized that planes act as conductors and the probability of a direct lightning strike causing harm is minimal. They reassured that lightning incidents involving aircraft are rare and typically not dangerous.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Following reports from a community in Beitun District, Taichung on June 19, 2024, of a nearby building causing issues such as ground subsidence, the Construction Bureau inspected and determined safety concerns with the underground structure of the construction project, leading to an order to halt construction. Residents noted deformation in the garden gate, a 7cm crack nearby, and uplifted ground, suspecting the neighboring construction project to be the cause. The project leader expressed willingness to cooperate with community feedback and authorities are to oversee repairs and reevaluate the situation after consulting with a professional technician's association.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
A work safety accident occurred in Tainan, where a worker fell from a height and suffered an open fracture of the left leg, leading to an urgent hospitalization. The incident took place in Anping District, Tainan on the morning of June 19, 2024, with emergency responders promptly providing medical attention and sending the injured worker to Anan Hospital for treatment. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
On June 19, 2024, at 7:05 a.m., a 26-year-old man named Li was driving a truck on the northbound lane of Highway 1 near the 55th kilometer mark in Zhongli Service Area, causing items inside the vehicle to scatter all over the road as the door was not properly locked. The highway police were informed and have arranged for the cleanup. This incident serves as a reminder for drivers to secure their cargo properly to avoid accidents and penalties.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
On June 19, 2024, Sun Peng's home was searched by Taipei police and prosecutors, leading to the confiscation of gunpowder and a dagger. His son, Sun Anzuo, was brought in for questioning, possibly related to a prior incident where he brandished a gun in Xinyi District. Footage of Sun Anzuo sharpening a knife has also surfaced. Despite claims that the gun had no lethal capabilities and was merely a 'large lighter,' concerns arose after Sun Anzuo's activities hinted at a 'world-saving plan' event in August involving the production of these gas guns. Both Di Ying and Sun Peng have remained silent on the matter, while the agent has yet to respond.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a 10-count indictment on Tuesday accusing Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel of conspiring with a Chinese underground money laundering operation in Los Angeles to launder over $50 million in drug proceeds. The collaboration between the cartel and the Chinese crime network in the U.S. allowed the Sinaloa to continue producing and exporting deadly drugs to America. The operation involved Chinese citizens transferring funds through non-traditional banking systems to assist the cartel in money laundering activities. The report also mentions ongoing anti-drug cooperation between the U.S. and China following the 'Bid-Xi Summit' between Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping, as well as discussions on fentanyl issues and drug control efforts between the two countries.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
President Lai Ching-te emphasized the consensus that Taiwan and China do not subordinate to each other on the one-month anniversary of his inauguration, expressing gratitude for the continuous Taiwan arm sales support from the Biden administration and G7's support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. President Lai urged the legislature to fully discuss review cases to respond to public expectations and also thanked the G7 for emphasizing that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait contribute to global security and prosperity.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
Bank of America (BofA) analyst John Murphy warns that due to the high cost of transitioning to electric vehicles, Detroit's big three automakers General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis should exit the Chinese market 'as soon as possible' to preserve capital and focus on core products and more profitable regions. China's increasing competition and rising car production have put pressure on these companies, with General Motors' market share dropping to 8.6% in China last year, its lowest since 2003, and its operating profits declining by 78.5% since 2014. Analysts point out the difficulty for U.S. companies to compete with local Chinese brands and the geopolitical risks they face, while highlighting Tesla's cost advantage in the Chinese market due to its electric vehicle components.
Source: YAHOO
Reported 10 months ago
A report by Human Rights Watch revealed that the Chinese Communist Party has significantly altered place names in Xinjiang, replacing Islamic names with those reflecting the CCP ideology, such as 'Unity' and 'Red Flag'. The report stated that between 2009 and 2023, China renamed thousands of places in Xinjiang, with hundreds of names related to religion, history, or culture being changed to names aligning with the CCP ideology, showing clear political intent, mostly occurring during severe crackdowns on the Uyghur people from 2017 to 2019. The actions were described as part of a large-scale effort by the Chinese government to link Islam with terrorism and to mold names to fit the CCP's ideology.
Source: YAHOO