SPACE
China rocket launch today
China is to launch a rocket carrying a satellite that would likely fly over Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) today, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. It would be one of at least a dozen satellites launched by China in the past two years with a flight path over Taiwan or its ADIZ, but none of them have threatened Taiwan’s security so far, as the rockets have usually left the atmosphere by the time they pass over Taiwan. Since earlier this year, the ministry has routinely issued information about such launches, in what it said is an effort to keep the public informed about China’s activities in the vicinity of Taiwan. The ministry said the satellite would be launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China’s Sichuan Province. The rocket’s flight path would take it toward the western Pacific and over Taiwan’s ADIZ, it said.
CRIME
Deepfake victims win suit
The High Court ruled on Wednesday that two Taiwanese YouTubers found guilty of creating nonconsensual deepfake pornography using the likenesses of real people must compensate their victims for a total of NT$1.85 million (US$56,630). The ruling allows for an appeal. The six Internet celebrities who filed a civil lawsuit against Chu Yu-chen (朱玉宸) and his assistant Chuang Hsin-jui (莊炘睿) would each receive between NT$200,000 and NT$500,000 in emotional distress compensation, the court said. The criminal part of the case was finalized earlier this year, with Chu and Chuang sentenced to five and four-and-a-half years in prison respectively.
CULTURE
Floating library opens
The Doulos Hope, a floating bookshop operated by the German-based Christian charity GBA Ships, opened to the public in Kaohsiung on Wednesday as it began its three-city tour of Taiwan. The former cruise ship docked at Kaohsiung Port’s Pier 8 is stocked with more than 2,000 books on a range of topics, including 320 donated by the Ocean Affairs Council. The Doulos Hope is to be in Kaohsiung until Jan. 12, Hualien from Jan. 16 to Feb. 2 and Keelung from Feb. 6 to March 9, the council said. It is open to the public from 1pm to 8:30pm every day except Tuesday. Visitors are required to book in advance online at https://gbaships.littleboxoffice.com. Tickets cost NT$50, with free admission for children aged six or under and people aged 65 or above.
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
POOR IMPLEMENTATION: Teachers welcomed the suspension, saying that the scheme disrupted school schedules, quality of learning and the milk market A policy to offer free milk to all school-age children nationwide is to be suspended next year due to multiple problems arising from implementation of the policy, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The policy was designed to increase the calcium intake of school-age children in Taiwan by drinking milk, as more than 80 percent drink less than 240ml per day. The recommended amount is 480ml. It was also implemented to help Taiwanese dairy farmers counter competition from fresh milk produced in New Zealand, which is to be imported to Taiwan tariff-free next year when the Agreement Between New Zealand and
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
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