Reported about 1 year ago
In response to the issue of raising the basic wage, Chairman Lin Beifeng of the Alliance stated yesterday that continuous increases might lead to higher labor costs and inflation, resulting in companies reducing employment. He suggested that the basic wage increase for 2025 should not exceed 3%. Lin Beifeng emphasized the impact of previous wage hikes on labor and health insurance, driving up prices and operational costs for enterprises. The Alliance hosted their June monthly meeting yesterday featuring a speech by the former Mainland Affairs Council Minister on the development of cross-strait relations amidst US-China competition. Lin Beifeng also expressed expectations for the establishment of the National Climate Change Commission and the importance of maintaining peace in Taiwan's governance.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Chen Shaocheng issued a statement refuting accusations of interfering in Shamia's marriage, stating that they are only friends, after Shamia's agent's husband accused him of being a homewrecker. Chen clarified that he and Shamia were merely friends and not in a romantic relationship. He also accused the husband of harassment and revealed surveillance footage of the husband appearing at his residence and workplace. Chen vowed to take legal action against the husband and media for spreading false information, stating that he will no longer respond to the issue in the future.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
朝野立委認為，博愛座應該出自乘客善意，不應讓其變搏擊座，建議修法放寬給「有需求者」使用，衛福部表示不會廢除博愛座，而修法將優先乘坐對象由「老弱婦孺」改為「有其他實際需要者」。交通部也將配合修法修改大眾運輸設施標準。立委提倡讓座應是禮讓文化，應強調有使用需要者優先使用，並表示博愛座不應成為道德綁架或情緒勒索工具。各黨代表則提倡加強使用需求者，不應特定性別或年齡規範。
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee reviewed the draft amendment to the Budget Act but did not enter detailed discussions, focusing on the Central Government presenting a revised version. An interim proposal was passed by hand vote, requiring the Ministry of Finance to submit a draft to the Executive Yuan before the next session. This suggests that the amendment may not be passed this session and will have to be battled out in the next. Despite the need for amendment, there is a lack of consensus due to different regional priorities. The Ministry hopes to collect opinions thoroughly before developing a concrete and objective framework. While some propose setting a schedule, others advocate for more time to reach a consensus before the next session.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
During the Legislation Yuan Finance Committee meeting yesterday, lawmakers reviewed the draft amendment to the financial revenue and expenditure allocation law, but no actual review of the amendment took place. The opposition lawmakers managed to pass a temporary proposal to urge the Ministry of Finance to submit its revised draft before the end of the current legislative session, signaling an extension of the process. However, this delay implies that both ruling and opposition parties are losing ground, with the ruling party showing reluctance to proceed with the financial management law amendments and the opposition failing to effectively push for reforms. The uncertainties surrounding the distribution of central and local resources have led to setbacks in the amendment process, with the issue becoming a long-standing priority that remains unresolved.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Snapchat Inc. will pay $15 million to settle a discrimination and harassment lawsuit in California brought by the civil rights agency. The settlement covers female employees from 2014 to 2024 and addresses claims of pay and promotion discrimination, workplace sexual harassment, and retaliation against women who complained. Despite disagreeing with the claims, Snapchat Inc. chose to settle to avoid lengthy and costly litigation. The settlement includes provisions for an independent evaluation of compensation and promotion policies, and for training staff on preventing discrimination and harassment.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Despite multiple rounds of measures to curb property speculation, the housing prices continue to rise with many first-time buyers entering the market, shifting the focus from encouraging homeownership to promoting speculation. The government aims to respond to public discontent over high housing prices but ends up inadvertently fueling the market frenzy by creating favorable conditions for investment. It is crucial for government departments to adopt a systemic approach to address the complexities of the housing market and ensure sustainable development aligned with economic stability and moderate growth.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
According to a Taipei-based reporter, the 'New Young Family Secure Home Purchase Loan' scheme introduced by the Ministry of Finance last August offers favorable interest rates, increased loan amount up to ten million, extended repayment period up to forty years, and an extended grace period from three to five years. Young adults find it more affordable compared to renting, with some already profiting from their properties purchased under the scheme. However, concerns arise about potential difficulties in repaying the loans once the grace period ends, leading to a possible oversupply in the property market by 2028.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
The property market is booming with both volume and prices rising, encouraged by the New Qing'an project, urging young people to buy houses. Despite government measures to cool down the market, high prices persist due to factors like loose conditions in financing and the surge in demand from high-income individuals. Scholars point out that the market was already like a gas barrel, and the New Qing'an project became the matchstick igniting the frenzy, leading to concerns about market stability and potential economic implications.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
In order to curb the frenzy in the housing market, the central bank implemented the sixth wave of selective credit controls, while the Ministry of Finance ordered banks to discuss remedies for the New Youth Housing Policy. Experts believe that even if the housing subsidies under the New Youth Housing Policy shrink, it will not cool down the market significantly, as the attractiveness of 40-year mortgages is too strong. Scholars suggest that the government should consider mechanisms for exiting the New Youth Housing Policy to prevent a potential housing bubble.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
In response to concerns that the New Youth Security Act has fueled a surge in property prices by attracting first-time home buyers to the market, the eight major banks supervised by the Ministry of Finance met to discuss measures to address fronting cases and unauthorized subletting. They reached consensus on three approaches regarding pre-loan screening, post-loan management, and inspections. New loan applicants must sign a solemn declaration, while existing customers may face penalties if violations are discovered during post-loan management. Oversight includes checking property ownership records, confirming real estate prices, and implementing self-occupancy declarations for new borrowers. The meeting emphasized increased vigilance towards suspicious transactions brought by intermediaries and individuals making multiple mortgage payments. These measures aim to curb speculative investment and prevent fronting schemes.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
The Tourism Bureau plans to incentivize travel to Taiwan for Indian tourists in the latter part of 2024, aiming to attract a target of 10 million visitors a year. However, the lack of direct flights by China Airlines to India poses a challenge as Indian travelers currently need connecting flights, making the process less convenient than before. Issues like flight capacity and visa limitations are hindering the efforts to tap into the Indian tourism market. It is noted that although there's interest in developing this new market, addressing these challenges is crucial for the success of this endeavor.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Miss Chen, 33 years old, diagnosed with early triple-negative breast cancer, underwent neoadjuvant therapy and immunotherapy, stabilizing the condition without the need for a mastectomy. The aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer often leads to metastasis and high recurrence rates, making treatment challenging. Immunotherapy is now offering a solution by improving survival rates and reducing the risk of recurrence. Combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy after surgery has shown to enhance patient outcomes and prolong survival, aligning with international treatment guidelines to prevent disease relapse.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Director Michel Gontelli returns after 7 years with the comedy film 'The Complete Guide', starring award-winning actor Pietrini as a character with bipolar disorder (portraying the director himself), delivering a captivating performance. Additionally, the film features a surprise appearance by Sting from the band 'The Police' as a music performer. Pietrini's character shows unpredictable personality traits, with moments of creativity and humor throughout the film. 'The Complete Guide' premieres tomorrow in Taiwan.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
McDonald's recently announced the discontinuation of their AI-powered voice ordering technology, opting to replace it with an alternative solution by the end of the year. This decision impacts SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN), a company with voice AI technology gaining relevance in the restaurant industry. As a potential candidate to replace IBM as McDonald's voice AI partner, SoundHound has already secured deals with various quick-service restaurant chains and fintech companies. While Google Cloud and other AI providers are also contenders, SoundHound stands to benefit if chosen, potentially boosting its stock value. Despite its growth potential and revenue growth, investing in SoundHound remains speculative given its valuation and growth stage.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
In the drama series 'Listening to the Waves,' actors Wu Hanlin, Huang Guanzhi, and Zhu Youcheng play three Taiwanese brothers who become POW supervisors under the Japanese army during WWII. Huang Guanzhi, portraying Xin Haihui, expressed that his emotions during filming mirrored his character's struggles with loneliness and abandonment. The actors shared how they coped with the heavy emotions of their roles, finding comfort through conversations and favorite snacks to recover after intense scenes, while the director explained the significance of the 'listening to the waves' concept as symbolizing the yearning for home in the midst of war.
Source: COM
Reported about 1 year ago
In discussing the health insurance total expenditure for next year, the growth rate will fall between 3.521% and 5.5%, surpassing 900 billion regardless of the estimation being low or high. If the high estimation is adopted, the safety reserve fund will have only 1.01 months left by the end of 2025, potentially leading to a premium adjustment pressure in 2026. There is no consensus on the health insurance points issue among political parties, with discussions ongoing in the Legislative Yuan on amending the relevant articles of the Health Insurance Act to ensure a point value of 0.9 or 1.1 per point.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
On June 19, 2024, in the Kochi region of Shikoku, Japan, sudden strong winds caused a house's roof to be blown off. Due to the influence of the northward shift of the rainy front and low pressure, strong rainfall is gradually approaching from western to eastern Japan. The incident of roofs being flipped by strong winds surprised residents in Kochi Prefecture. There were no casualties reported, but several houses, warehouses, and agricultural plastic greenhouses were damaged. A 56-year-old resident described hearing a low rumbling sound akin to an earthquake before the roof was blown off.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
The controversy surrounding priority seating on public transportation in Taiwan has led to discussions about amending the 'Disability Rights Protection Act' to expand the eligibility criteria for priority seating beyond the elderly, disabled, women, and children. The Ministry of Health and Welfare aims to reintroduce the proposed amendment to avoid generational conflicts and ensure that those with genuine needs can benefit from the priority seating. The issue of priority seating has been a long-standing debate, and various incidents have sparked calls to abolish such designated seating areas. Discussions are ongoing to redefine the eligibility criteria for priority seating and emphasize the need for societal understanding and cooperation in utilizing these facilities appropriately.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
The Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering amending the law to expand the scope of priority seating, with experts emphasizing the importance of considering the needs of concealed individuals. Suggestions include conducting research on positive and negative impacts, evaluating data on the act of giving up a seat, and providing clear labeling for priority seating. By enhancing awareness and implementing appropriate measures, the aim is to transform controversies surrounding priority seating into positive outcomes that promote courteous behavior and consideration for those in need.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
In Keelung, Taiwan, a public bus dispute over a seat occurred when an elderly man asked a student to give up her seat to an elderly woman, which led to a confrontation with another woman on the bus who argued against the request. The incident was captured on video and posted online, revealing the ongoing debate on social norms surrounding giving up seats on public transportation, with passengers sharing different perspectives and emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and empathy. The debate highlights the evolving views on courtesy seats and the need for understanding towards all passengers' needs, regardless of age.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
CDK Global, a retail technology and software provider, announced the investigation of a cyber incident that led to the proactive shutdown of all systems. The company, which offers software to car dealerships, reported that its core dealer management system and digital retailing solutions were restored after the incident. Extensive testing on other applications is ongoing, with updates provided as they are brought back online. The cyber incident occurred in the early hours, and some functions were restored by Wednesday afternoon. CDK Global was acquired by Brookfield Business Partners in 2022. Other automotive companies like Ford Motor, General Motors, and BMW are assessing the impact of the outage on their dealerships.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Taiwan's SET News reported on June 19, 2024, that LINE has released 6 new practical and adorable sticker sets for free. The sets include the soothing and cute Despicable Me 4 stickers that can be used for up to 180 days post-download, as well as other sets such as LINE Shopping x Missing Lower Body, LINE GO x Ugly Rabbit, Everyday Sticker Encyclopedia momo co x Concave Meow Meow, Line Shopping Passport Jellyfish Welcomes Summer, and more. Sticker enthusiasts are advised to quickly click on the one-click download option to get these stickers. LINE periodically offers free sticker sets, and this time they have rolled out 6 sets for free download. By adding designated official accounts as friends or completing specific tasks, users can easily collect these free stickers.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
Deputy Director of Taiwan Coast Guard Administration, Xie Qingqin, held a press conference yesterday to explain the situation of Chinese patrol ships in the waters near Kinmen. On average in June, there are four Chinese patrol ships patrolling the waters daily. The Coast Guard Administration and the Ministry of National Defense work together to monitor and handle unidentified targets at sea, ensuring prompt responses if Chinese patrol ships approach Taiwanese waters, following international maritime laws to avoid using force in case of collisions.
Source: YAHOO
Reported about 1 year ago
China Post faced a first-time Class B rating in their work evaluation due to a loss of 16.5 billion NT dollars in three major operations, potentially leading to their 26,000 employees not receiving the maximum bonus of 4.4 months. The company attributes the loss to increased hedging costs in life insurance, and despite meeting their profit target for the year, the evaluation score of 79 points resulted in the lower rating. Concerns have been raised regarding fairness and the impact on employee bonuses.
Source: YAHOO