Accumulated cases of serious flu complications and flu-related deaths have hit a decade high this flu season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, as it reported 20,913 hospital visits for enterovirus infection last week, also a decade high.CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Di
The Changhua County Prosecutors’ Office has indicted 14 people, including mayors and representatives of the county’s Jhutang Township (竹塘) and Yunlin County’s Erlun Township (二崙), on charges of accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks related to green-energy projects.Jhutang Township Mayor Tsai Sh
‘US PROTECTION’: The Philippines does not expect Donald Trump to demand payment given the two nations’ shared interests, an official said
Beijing is stepping up pressure on Manila to concede its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro said yesterday after meeting his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, in Canberra.The fifth such meeting since August last year reflects grow
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday delivered a historic apology to victims abused in state care, acknowledging the “unimaginable pain” suffered within children’s homes and psychiatric hospitals.About 200,000 vulnerable New Zealanders were abused in state care in the seven decades
RISING TREND: More than half of local firms increased wages three times over the past three years and nearly 60% raised them by 5%, an Academia Sinica report said
The average monthly regular wage in September grew 3.22 percent from a year earlier to NT$46,643 (US$1,446), while the average total monthly wage — including overtime pay, performance-based commissions and bonuses — increased 3.41 percent to NT$56,346, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting a
Taiwanese officials have contacted the incoming US administration about procuring up to US$15 billion in military hardware, including an Aegis destroyer, the Financial Times (FT) reported yesterday.The report quoted several unnamed sources who are likely to join the administration of US president-el
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is closely monitoring a tropical depression southwest of Guam, which is likely to develop into the western Pacific region’s fourth tropical storm within 10 days, the agency said yesterday. The tropical depression could become a tropical storm and is expected
MINORITY RULE: Ishiba has to contend with rising tensions with China and North Korea, compiling a supplementary budget and the G20 summit next week
Japanese lawmakers yesterday voted for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to stay on as leader, after his scandal-tarnished coalition lost its parliamentary majority in a lower house election last month.Ishiba, who called the snap poll after taking office on Oct. 1, must now run a fragile minority govern
This year’s UN climate change conference, or COP29, yesterday opened with calls for global cooperation and fresh warnings about climate disasters — but proceedings quickly ground to a halt in a fight over the agenda.Former US president Donald Trump’s re-election is already hanging over the talks in
DISCONTENT: The CCP finds positive content about the lives of the Chinese living in Taiwan threatening, as such video could upset people in China, an expert said
Chinese spouses of Taiwanese who make videos about their lives in Taiwan have been facing online threats from people in China, a source said yesterday. Some young Chinese spouses of Taiwanese make videos about their lives in Taiwan, often speaking favorably about their living conditions in the natio
GEOPOLITICAL CONCERNS: Foreign companies such as Nissan, Volkswagen and Konica Minolta have pulled back their operations in China this year
Foreign companies pulled more money from China last quarter, a sign that some investors are still pessimistic even as Beijing rolls out stimulus measures aimed at stabilizing growth.China’s direct investment liabilities in its balance of payments dropped US$8.1 billion in the third quarter, data rel
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said there are four weather systems in the western Pacific, with one likely to strengthen into a tropical storm and pose a threat to Taiwan. The nascent tropical storm would be named Usagi and would be the fourth storm in the western Pacific at the
Qatar has suspended its role as a key mediator for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal until Hamas and Israel show “seriousness” in talks, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday. The Gulf emirate, which has hosted Hamas’ political leadership since 2012 with the US’ blessing, h
Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in the eastern city of Valencia on Saturday to demand the resignation of the regional president in charge of the emergency response to last week’s catastrophic floods that left more than 200 dead and others missing. A group of protesters clashed with riot polic
DEVELOPMENT: The ‘five trusted industry sectors’ are semiconductors, AI, military defense, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications
The Executive Yuan has proposed to increase next year’s budget for the “five trusted industry sectors” by 40.6 percent compared with this year, with NT$12.2 billion (US$379.9 million) appropriated for the semiconductor industry. A total of NT$21 billion is to be allocated to the “five trusted indust
PRESSURE CAMPAIGN: China’s bullying and aggressive behavior are to show not just to Taiwan but the world that Beijing can accomplish its goals, the general said
China has increased its provocative incursions around Taiwan by 300 percent since May, US Commander of Pacific Air Forces General Kevin Schneider said in an interview published yesterday, adding that adversaries in the region could try to test the new administration of US president-elect Donald Trum
With Taiwan expected to become a “super-aged society” next year, the government plans to introduce the Long-term Care 3.0 program in the first half of next year to provide elderly people with more comprehensive care and allow home caregivers to have a breather, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said
South Korea’s military said North Korea disrupted GPS signals from border areas for the second straight day yesterday, affecting an unspecified number of flights and vessel operations. Tensions between the rival Koreas have escalated as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un flaunts his advancing nuclear a
US prosecutors on Friday announced charges in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate US president-elect Donald Trump and a prominent dissident Iranian-American journalist. The foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to avenge the d
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