content_text:
墨新聞｜記者梁偉華／台北報導

日本市占率第一的雲端群組軟體服務商才望子（Cybozu）近日巡迴亞洲四地舉辦論壇，探討企業因應AI時代的內部新協作模式，最終站「kintone Taipei 2025—AI NEXTREAM」於台北登場，Cybozu代表董事社長青野慶久指出，台灣企業在數位化上仍面臨挑戰、勞動工時偏長，因此台北場以「新型態工作模式，由此啟程」為子標題，分享企業文化改革與數位工具導入經驗；並邀請台灣首任數位政委唐鳳，就Plurality（多元性）理念、AI與社群平台演算法治理進行趨勢前瞻對談。

照片提供：我尚網數位整合kintone全球用戶突破38,000平台助台灣企業數位轉型

日商才望子今年特別巡迴曼谷、深圳、上海、台北舉辦大型論壇，旗下主力產品kintone為核心雲端平台，以「打造一個充滿團隊合作的社會」為宗旨，引入「不加班自由」、「遠距／出勤彈性」及「副業制度」等彈性制度，建立「資訊公開共享、主動性工作」兩大文化，目前為日本市占率第一的雲端群組軟體，全球更已超過38,000家企業導入使用，展現跨國市場擴張的實績。

Cybozu在2019年於台北設立辦公室後，kintone在台灣已突破300家企業運用於營運流程。其中一家電子業者導入kintone後，成功將差旅費用申請全面數位化，每月結算工時縮短兩天；亦有日系知名衛浴品牌，透過系統化追蹤售後服務，大幅縮短回應速度並提升客戶滿意度。

照片提供：我尚網數位整合AI重塑組織與社群共識 唐鳳、青野慶久剖析數位治理挑戰

在台北場論壇的對談中，唐鳳與青野慶久分別從台灣與日本不同視角，剖析AI如何重塑組織分工、跨境合作與永續經營模式，並就企業導入新世代數位工具的實際挑戰與機會分享觀點。唐鳳首先以「無任所大使」身分，分享對於近一年到訪二十多國的觀察，指出社群平台自2015年前後普遍轉向「主動推送＋轉傳」的互動設計，提升廣告成效的同時卻往往加劇兩極分化。

「研究已顯示，只要平台結合主動推送與轉貼功能，時間久了就會分化，這幾乎是設計上的必然結果，而非文化或地域造成。」唐鳳表示，以台灣採用的公民協作系統 Pol.is為例，平台移除「轉推／回覆」機制，僅允許「贊成／反對／略過」的簡單互動，能將不同群體支持的「橋接意見」凸顯出來，形成「罕見共識」（uncommon ground），這可以讓爭議議題轉化成建設性對話。

青野社長也呼應提出，日本至今仍有同婚以及結婚時須改姓氏相關議題；唐鳳則指出，像同婚立法這類議題，正是透過此機制來尋求兼顧社會多元性的法制設計。

照片提供：我尚網數位整合公民科技助力企業決策 AI推動廣泛傾聽與共識凝聚

針對企業應用層面，雙方也談到如何把公民科技方法學引入公司決策，唐鳳提及Google開源工具 Sensemaking，可在大量員工意見間即時標註「最大分歧點」與「最大共識點」，協助管理階層找到折衷方案並強調：「當人數越多，AI若設計得當，越能幫助聚合共識，而不是產生溝通負擔。」。青野慶久則分享，Cybozu內部會議已實踐「廣泛傾聽（Broad Listening）」精神，透過意見可視化減少誤解，並借助AI促進共識凝聚。談及AI治理與未來民主韌性，唐鳳提出，應發展「橋接演算法」作為對抗極化的「演算法疫苗」，並呼籲跨國科技業合作研發開放元件，讓X、YouTube、Facebook等主流平台，皆可引進共識導向的排序機制。他強調：「超級智慧不是某個全知的AI，而是”We the people” 當社群跨界理解、協作，集合智慧就是超級智慧。」

照片提供：我尚網數位整合強化台日合作 推動AI與No-Code(無程式碼)共創

台北場論壇中，才望子也特別頒發「kintone大使」給合作夥伴威志雲端公司總經理徐國勝。活動最後，主辦方並安排「kintone hive Taipei」單元，由保來得、由你存、百辰創新等實際導入kintone的台灣在地企業，分享流程改善與跨境協作實務，包括差旅報支自動化、售後維修追蹤、跨部門資料整合等場景，呼應台日商務交流日增、異地協作日常化的趨勢。

青野慶久表示，Cybozu將持續在台深化生態系與夥伴關係，透過AI與No-Code(無程式碼)技術降低數位轉型門檻，協助更多企業完成管理升級。唐鳳則期許台日攜手，將「多元性」與「橋接演算法」應用於更多決策場景，實現企業效率與民主韌性的雙重提升。

照片提供：我尚網數位整合關於kintone：

kintone為「No-Code(無程式碼)、Low-Code (低程式碼)」業務系統開發平台，讓非IT人員可快速組裝流程並跨部門串接，具備以下幾點特色：

˙直覺化操作介面，即使不會寫程式，也能自建立系統，新手用戶也能快速上手。

˙No-Code(無程式碼) /Low-Code (低程式碼)設計，能顯著縮短導入時程、降低IT人力門檻，讓非資訊人員，也能自主建立與調整應用程式。

˙開放式API整合，可串接既有系統，打造跨部門、跨國的協作流程。

˙業務可自建客戶管理、人資可建置人員管理、製造可做庫存與品質管理，且所有應用在同一雲端平台上協作與整合。

照片提供：我尚網數位整合日商才望子（Cybozu）簡介：

於1997年創立於日本，以提供雲端群組軟體及工作改善服務為主軸，現為日本市占率第一的雲端群組軟體服務商，並於東京證交所上市，現已擴張至逾1,300名員工，在日本設有10個據點並持續海外布局。2017年在台成立辦事處，2019年設立分公司，積極建構在地夥伴生態圈，短短數年間服務超過300家台灣企業，涵蓋製造、零售、專業服務等多元產業。未來將持續以雲端協作工具與AI應用，協助台灣企業因應數位化挑戰，推動跨境合作與產業升級。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 台日企業共探AI時代新協作模式

countries: 台灣 日本

title: 台日企業共探AI時代新協作模式


taiwan-subdivisions: 石碇 平溪 雙溪 烏來區 瑞芳 花蓮 桃園 貢寮 公館 恆春 北投區 基隆 澎湖 坪林 臺北 士林區 宜蘭 新北市

countries: 臺灣 台灣

title: 鳳凰颱風海警發布　北東地區嚴防豪雨　4縣市及雙北部分停班課

content_text:
墨新聞｜楊秉鈞

鳳凰颱風撲向台灣，中央氣象署10日傍晚已發布海警，預估11日上午發布陸警，北部、東半部地區嚴防豪雨以上等級降雨。澎湖、花蓮、宜蘭、桃園四縣市11日放颱風假，還有雙北部分區域停班課，其餘縣市則正常上班上課。

台北市停止上班上課地區有士林區永福、新安、陽明、公館、菁山、平等、溪山、翠山里，以及北投區湖田、湖山、大屯、泉源里。新北市則包括瑞芳、平溪、雙溪、貢寮、石碇、坪林、烏來區。

中度颱風鳳凰路徑潛勢預報。（圖／氣象署）根據氣象署觀測，10日23時的颱風中心位置在北緯 18.7 度，東經 118.4 度，即在鵝鑾鼻的西南方約 440 公里之處，以每小時14公里速度，向北轉北北東進行，中心氣壓965百帕，近中心最大風速每秒 35 公尺（約每小時 126 公里），相當於 12 級風，瞬間最大陣風每秒 45 公尺（約每小時 162 公里），相當於 14 級風，七級風平均暴風半徑250公里。

週二受颱風外圍環流及東北季風影響，基隆北海岸、大臺北、東半部地區及恆春半島仍要防大雨及豪雨，尤其大臺北山區及東半部地區有局部豪雨等級以上發生的機率，週三隨颱風接近，中南部地區也有大雨或局部豪雨，週四颱風減弱並逐漸遠離，除北部地區仍有局部較大雨勢外，其他地區雨勢趨緩；由於此颱風北轉接近臺灣時路徑及強度仍有不確定性，具體影響的程度及區域仍需視後續颱風路徑及強度而定。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 鳳凰颱風海警發布 北東地區嚴防豪雨 4縣市及雙北部分停班課


title: 扶輪有愛捐善款　緊急醫療金助弱

things: 長照 經濟

taiwan-subdivisions: 大內 臺南 東區 安平

content_text:
▼蔡良敏感謝各扶輪社及學會的慷慨捐助，並承諾這筆款項將專款專用，作為弱勢病患的醫療補助。（圖/台南市立醫院提供）

【記者吳玉惠/臺南報導】 台南大員扶輪社、台南鳳凰扶輪社、台南東南扶輪社、台南億載扶輪社、台南安平扶輪社、台南台江扶輪社以及中國廣豐宗教文化研究推廣學會，匯集社友愛心捐贈22萬元「弱勢病人緊急救助金」予台南市立醫院，以減輕經濟弱勢者的醫療負擔，期望有需要的人在艱難時刻都能獲得即時協助與社會的溫暖支持。

▲由大員扶輪社發起愛心捐款，共六個善團響應，一起幫助弱勢病人能安心就醫。此次捐贈儀式由國際扶輪3470地區總監莊和達、台南二分區助理總監林方山、台南大員扶輪社、台南鳳凰扶輪社、台南東南扶輪社、台南億載扶輪社、台南安平扶輪社、台南台江扶輪社，以及中國廣豐宗教文化研究推廣學會共同出席，見證這場愛心傳遞的溫馨時刻。捐贈儀式期間台南二分區助理總監林方山響應善舉，代表台南東區扶輪社加捐款項1萬元，亦有社友持續追加善款共襄盛舉，為弱勢民眾盡一份心力。

▲台南大員扶輪社等七善團匯聚愛心，為弱勢病人築起醫療後盾；捐贈22萬元「弱勢病人緊急救助金」期望有需要的人在艱難時刻都能獲得即時協助與社會的溫暖支持。國際扶輪3470地區總監莊和達表示，扶輪社秉持「服務社會、造福人群」的宗旨。希望這筆善款成為醫療體系中的「安全氣囊」，當獨居或家庭功能薄弱的民眾面臨突發重大疾病時，這筆基金能即時啟動，協助負擔沉重的看護與醫療費用，安穩的接住有困難的家庭讓他們能安心就醫，減低因經濟壓力而延誤治療。

台南市立醫院院長蔡良敏感謝各扶輪社及學會的慷慨捐助，並承諾這筆款項將專款專用，作為弱勢病患的醫療補助。他指出，這筆基金的運作將如同生命線，讓醫療團隊能在最需要的時刻伸出援手。蔡良敏院長也特別提到，台南大員扶輪社社長楊政憲的父親，正是他在大內地區巡迴醫療時照護的病人，如今楊社長與各社友的愛心捐款回饋社會，更讓他深感溫暖與欣慰。

楊政憲社長感謝各位社友共襄盛舉成就這個有意義的活動，他表示，能夠延續父輩受惠於偏鄉醫療的情誼，再以實際行動回饋醫療單位，是一種有意義的循環。他並邀請蔡良敏院長成為大員扶輪社名譽社友，希望藉此深化醫療與社團之間的合作與交流，讓扶輪的服務精神與醫療的守護使命相互輝映，共同推動社會善的循環。

台南市立醫院社工課課長楊惠茹指出，今年(1~10月)的醫療扶助金總額約75萬元，其中約75%（約56萬元）用於支付看護費，另有25%（約18萬元）用於醫療費用，其餘則支援生活及交通開支。運用扶輪社專款共15案，其中一名80歲的阿義，獨居多年、無親人依靠，因大腸癌需住院治療，儘管有低收入戶補助，但龐大的看護費用讓他壓力沉重，在社工協助下以扶輪社專款及其他慈善會支持，得以安心治療。另一名77歲的阿忠是獨居的個案，因腎盂惡性腫瘤需依賴導尿管，近來因泌尿道感染反覆入院，亦由扶輪社專款支援，讓他安心住院治療並順利銜接長照資源返家。

蔡良敏院長表示，醫院將以公開透明的方式運用這筆善款，確保每一分捐款都能用在最需要的地方。他強調，這筆基金不僅是一筆錢，更是社會對弱勢族群的守護與承諾，讓病人能安心接受醫療照護。


content_text: 新北市政府今(10)日晚間宣布，明（11/11）日除瑞芳區、平溪區、雙溪區、貢寮區、石碇區、坪林區及烏來區停止上班及上課外，其餘各機關學校照常上班及上課。新北市政府依據交通部中央氣象署最新天氣預報資料，於晚上8時宣布明（11/11）日除瑞芳區、平溪區、雙溪區、貢寮區、石碇區、坪林區及烏來區停止上班及上課外，其餘各機關學校照常上班及上課。

title: 新北市府宣布　明（11）日瑞芳、平溪、雙溪、貢寮、石碇、坪林及烏來區停班、課　其餘區照常上班及上課

taiwan-subdivisions: 平溪 石碇 瑞芳 雙溪 烏來區 貢寮 坪林 新北市 貢寮區 雙溪區 瑞芳區 石碇區 平溪區 坪林區


references: 臉書 Facebook

taiwan-subdivisions: 北投 臺北市 觀音

title: 走靜貓空賞美景、品茶香    打卡送好禮再抽iPhone 17 Pro

content_text:
記者張辰卿/台北報導

微風送爽，氣候宜人，正是造訪貓空、體驗山林之美的理想季節。臺北市政府觀光傳播局自11月8日起至12月7日推出「走靜貓空 打卡送好禮・加碼抽大獎」活動，只要完成指定打卡任務，即可獲得限量特色好禮；此外，再追蹤「我是台北人」臉書粉絲專頁，還可登錄資料參加抽獎，有機會把iPhone 17 Pro、LG StanbyME 2閨蜜機、北投麗禧溫泉雙人住宿券等總價值15萬元大獎帶回家。

觀傳局表示，輕裝出遊即可親近的貓空，周邊有結合信仰文化的指南風景區，沿途亦有多處適合拍照打卡裝置。貓空茶料理更以茶香入菜，搭配師傅手藝，滋味難忘。此次活動推出兩項打卡任務，一為「走靜景點任務」，於個人Facebook或Instagram上傳貓空地區指定景點美照，即可至貓纜貓空站遊客中心扭蛋兌換木柵鐵觀音茶包或走靜貓空手機掛繩。指定景點分別為「茶香慢旅線」、「森林呼吸線」與「心靈祈福線」共三條路線 ，民眾可自由挑選，邊走邊拍照記錄，完成打卡任務。

11月8日至12月7日活動期間到貓空拍照打卡，至貓纜貓空站遊客中心可免費兌換限量特色好禮，還可加碼抽大獎。 (圖/台北市政府觀光傳播局提供)

另一項任務則是「貓空美食任務」，於貓空店家用餐，並於個人Facebook或Instagram上傳本人與貓空美食的合照，即可兌換「鐵觀音茶啤酒」。兩項任務提供不同好禮，鼓勵民眾把握活動期間11月8日至12月7日一起挑戰，將貓空各種特色風情一次打包。

此外，完成打卡任務後，再追蹤「Humans of Taipei 我是台北人」FB粉絲專頁，即可現場登錄資料參加抽獎，獎項包含iPhone 17 Pro、LG StanbyME 2閨蜜機、北投麗禧溫泉雙人住宿券等總價值達15萬元。一趟旅遊就能收穫豐富回憶與帶回多重好禮。

「走靜貓空 打卡送好禮‧加碼抽大獎」活動辦法 。 (圖/台北市政府觀光傳播局提供)

觀傳局補充，貓空的年度盛事「2025臺北里山川」活動已同步展開，民眾可於貓空纜車貓空站外平台欣賞藝術家包大山的藝術裝置《與山訴說》，並於貓纜指南宮站旁的圓滿森境欣賞藝術家王騰崇的作品《靜謐之屋》。而活動重頭戲──知名表演團體優人神鼓將帶來擊鼓展演，為山林注入震撼人心的節奏與能量。

觀傳局邀請民眾走訪貓空，漫步自然步道、探索百年廟宇、細品茶香料理，於美景與人文交織中療癒身心、滿載而歸。詳細活動辦法請至「走靜貓空」官網（https://maokong.travel.taipei/zh-tw/news/7203）查詢。

貓空年度盛事「臺北里山川」，優人神鼓將帶來震撼人心的擊鼓演出。（圖/優人神鼓提供）


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墨新聞｜記者鄭富鈺／綜合報導

被譽為北市第一座大跨距吊橋的白石湖吊橋，近日完成歷年最大規模修復工程，今(10)日臺北市政府工務局黃一平局長與當地民眾一同慶賀新橋正式啟用。吊橋在安全性與美觀上全面升級，並將串聯12月登場的白石湖草莓季，為市民帶來更完善的旅遊體驗，同時促進地方觀光與農村經濟發展。

北市第一座大跨距吊橋的白石湖吊橋，近日完成歷年最大規模修復工程，今(10)日臺北市政府工務局黃一平局長與當地民眾一同慶賀新橋正式啟用。白石湖吊橋自99年啟用以來已逾15年，長年風雨侵蝕導致鋼索及橋面板鏽蝕。臺北市政府工務局大地工程處投入逾3500萬元推動「113年度白石湖吊橋整體構件更新工程」，全面更新主鋼索、抗風支索、橋面板、護欄與造型龍骨，採用不銹鋼與熱浸鍍鋅鋼料，並導入橋式調節器與HDPE包覆技術，使耐用年限延長至50年，同時保留龍骨意象，維持原有的地景特色。

大地處表示，改善後的吊橋不僅結構穩固，更大幅降低後續維護成本與風險，而新的橋式調節器設計讓檢修與保養更便利，HDPE雙層包覆及國產柳杉的應用，既符合減碳政策，也順帶支持本土林業經濟。更新工程完成後，橋面平整、抗風性能提升，對通行安全與觀光體驗都有明顯改善。

白石湖吊橋更新工程完成後，橋面平整、抗風性能提升，對通行安全與觀光體驗都有明顯改善。黃一平局長表示，白石湖吊橋的重生是北市府推動永續發展與低碳旅遊的重要里程碑。除特別採用國產柳杉減少木材進口的碳足跡，落實淨零碳排理念之外，更新後的吊橋更安全穩固，景觀也更具魅力，將白石湖社區、碧山巖與週邊景點緊密串聯。此外，這座新橋不僅提升了市民的休閒品質，也為當地觀光業者、小農及社區帶來長遠效益。北市府的努力，不僅僅只是整修一座橋，更是促進地方經濟、支持農村再生的重要環節。

新橋不僅提升了市民的休閒品質，也為當地觀光業者、小農及社區帶來長遠效益。地方協會代表林翠娥理事長及林家民理事長均表示，過去吊橋鏽蝕導致部分遊客擔憂安全，如今整修完成後，遊客人潮有望回流，將帶動餐飲、農產銷售及在地體驗活動。

全新升級的白石湖吊橋視野遼闊，可俯瞰山谷、甜水鴛鴦湖與夫妻樹，並串聯竹林秘境與同心池，形成完整的山林遊程。白石湖社區坐落於內湖山林，不需遠行即可親近自然，是市民週末踏青、親子出遊的理想選擇。

12月白石湖草莓季將推出採果體驗、草莓甜點、窯烤披薩DIY與農特產品展售，當地農家也提供草莓特色餐飲。市府邀請市民把握時節，漫步吊橋遠眺山谷，品嘗香甜草莓，支持小農。

12月白石湖草莓季，市府邀請市民把握時節，漫步吊橋遠眺山谷，品嘗香甜草莓，支持小農。大地處表示，重生的白石湖吊橋不僅是觀光打卡點，更象徵市府與社區攜手，地方協會預期將吸引更多遊客，促進休閒農業與生態旅遊，帶動內湖冬季觀光，感謝所有參與單位的付出，也期待新生的白石湖吊橋成為臺北市冬季觀光最美的開場。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 白石湖吊橋重生啟用 草莓季甜蜜迎冬

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺北市 內湖

title: 白石湖吊橋重生啟用　草莓季甜蜜迎冬


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墨新聞｜記者鄭富鈺／綜合報導

臺北市立動物園旅居捷克布拉格動物園的穿山甲「潤喉糖」，於2025年11月9日午間辭世。從九月底，布拉格動物園的保育員們便注意到穿山甲「潤喉糖」的健康出現警訊，進食狀況不佳，園方隨即進行系列檢查且密集監測。十月穿山甲「潤喉糖」的狀況一度有所好轉，可少量進食。然而月中以後，牠的狀況再次出現波動，於昨(11/9)離世。

臺北市立動物園旅居捷克布拉格動物園的穿山甲「潤喉糖」，於2025年11月9日午間辭世。［圖片動物園提供］因為2020年1月臺北市與布拉格市締結姊妹市的契機，兩市動物園亦簽訂「動物園保育合作備忘錄」，約定攜手保育極度瀕危的穿山甲。透過域外動物安全族群管理的考量，2017年9月2日出生於臺北市立動物園的穿山甲「潤喉糖」，與雄性穿山甲「果寶」雙雙入選，於2022年4月一起前往布拉格動物園，發展海外衛星族群，為中華穿山甲的存續分散風險，並深化保育工作合作夥伴的專業情誼。

2017年9月2日出生於臺北市立動物園的穿山甲「潤喉糖」，是動物園圈養下所繁衍的第四代後代。［圖片動物園提供］穿山甲「潤喉糖」在今年9月底出現健康警訊，進食狀況不佳，布拉格動物園與臺北市立動物園醫療照養團隊在穿山甲「潤喉糖」治療過程，皆透過數位平臺充分討論與諮詢。十月時穿山甲「潤喉糖」的狀況一度有所好轉，能開始進食。然而，十月中後，牠的狀況再次出現波動。布拉格動物園也進一步檢查、組織採樣。檢查結果顯示，穿山甲「潤喉糖」有肝臟損傷狀況。儘管在園方悉心治療和努力下，穿山甲「潤喉糖」終究未能度過難關，最終確診死亡原因還有待後續病理檢驗結果。

穿山甲「潤喉糖」與「果寶」前往布拉格動物園後，2023年2月，穿山甲「潤喉糖」成功誕下一隻雌性穿山甲「Šiška」(松果)，成為布拉格動物園乃至整個歐洲動物園暨水族館界成功繁育穿山甲的首例，意義非凡。2024年7月穿山甲「潤喉糖」再度誕下另一隻雌性穿山甲「Connie」。穿山甲「潤喉糖」不僅為建立極度瀕危物種的域外安全族群帶來希望，同時也提高了捷克、乃至歐洲民眾對穿山甲的認識，及對這些被大規模盜獵和非法貿易物種的關切。

布拉格動物園及其他歐洲動物園參與穿山甲EEP（歐洲瀕危物種保育計畫）的工作仍將繼續。謝謝穿山甲「潤喉糖」帶來的影響力與貢獻。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 穿山甲「潤喉糖」離世 布拉格與臺北動物園同表不捨

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺北 臺北市 成功

title: 穿山甲「潤喉糖」離世　布拉格與臺北動物園同表不捨


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臺北市長蔣萬安今日(10)在「來臺北有購嗨！」記者會上，向全國民眾發出熱情邀約，配合中央政府普發現金政策，臺北市府推出「有購嗨！」系列活動，不僅延長活動時間，更祭出多重誘人獎項，包含千萬現金、最新iPhone、特斯拉電動車，甚至還有機會成為臺積電股東！

臺北市長蔣萬安在「來臺北有購嗨！」記者會上，配合中央政府普發現金政策，向全國民眾發出熱情邀約。蔣萬安在會中詳細介紹本次「有購嗨！」活動的亮點。他指出，活動將自11月11日「雙11」購物節起跑，一路延續至明年3月8日國際婦女節，涵蓋聖誕節、跨年、農曆春節、元宵節、情人節等重要節慶，讓民眾有充分的時間規劃臺北消費行程。蔣萬安強調，為了讓更多民眾參與，本次活動門檻大幅降低，凡在臺北市單筆消費滿200元，即可獲得一次抽獎機會。消費越多，中獎機率越高！此外，市府更積極與各產業合作，凡於「有購嗨！」特約商店消費，抽獎機會將直接翻倍。

蔣萬安強調，為了讓更多民眾參與，本次活動門檻大幅降低，凡在臺北市單筆消費滿200元，即可獲得一次抽獎機會。蔣萬安進一步提到，本次活動的獎項不僅有千萬現金、最新款iPhone 17、話題性十足的Tesla電動車，更將送出臺積電股票，讓幸運得主有機會成為臺灣護國神山的股東。蔣萬安邀請民眾把握「有購嗨！」的機會，到臺北觀光旅遊、住宿餐飲、購物消費，不僅能享受臺北的城市魅力，還有機會抽中大獎。同時，他也感謝臺北市各個產業公協會理事長、市府團隊，以及所有贊助企業的大力支持，相信透過公私協力，帶動臺北市的經濟發展。

北市商業處說，普發萬元要來了！來台北走一趟精彩絢爛的旅程吧！從北投泡湯到信義區跨年煙火；從龍山寺、大稻埕感受百年風華，到商圈夜市品嘗米其林美食小吃，一次體驗台北生活的無限可能。配合中央普發萬元政策，北市府推出為期近4個月的「來台北有購嗨 消費歡樂抽」抽獎活動，自114年11月11日起至115年3月8日到臺北市店家消費滿200元，並於114年12月1日起動動手指登錄發票或收據或透過自動匯入雲端發票，即可以獲得抽獎序號，有機會抽中1,000萬現金大紅包、高檔電動汽車、NBA賽事雙人來回機票及iPhone17等萬份好禮，台北市民也有獨享的專屬抽，總獎值超過新臺幣3,000萬元，消費200元即可獲得1次抽獎機會，單筆最高100次抽獎機會，友好特店消費抽獎機會再翻倍，消費越多中獎機會越高！眾多好康就是要大家來台北，把錢錢變成自己喜歡的樣子！

台北市民也有獨享的專屬抽，總獎值超過新臺幣3,000萬元，消費200元即可獲得1次抽獎機會。臺北市長蔣萬安表示，經歷一整年繁忙的都市生活，即將迎來值得慶祝的歲末年終，是時候好好犒賞自己，歡迎民眾來台北慶耶誕、迎新春、過好年。為放大普發萬元經濟效益，市府推出結合店家及旅宿業推出消費登錄抽獎活動，並推出展館特店配套優惠，整合市府民間資源擴大活動效益，提升整體買氣。本次累積登錄每達10億元再加碼抽「美國雙人來回機票」，飛向美國，親身感受籃球最高殿堂NBA賽事現場不是夢！本次活動延續廣受好評超便民的串聯雲端發票綁定機制，民眾只需要於活動官網首次登入時，勾選同意串接雲端發票，後續系統會將發票自動匯入參與抽獎，輕鬆參與「來台北有購嗨 消費歡樂抽」消費抽獎活動！

為放大普發萬元經濟效益，市府推出結合店家及旅宿業推出消費登錄抽獎活動，並推出展館特店配套優惠，整合市府民間資源擴大活動效益，提升整體買氣。今年的「來台北有購嗨 消費歡樂抽」活動，民眾只要於臺北市店家消費，持有114年11月11日至115年3月8日的發票或收據，單筆消費金額每滿新臺幣200元以上，即可至活動官網登錄獲得1次抽獎機會，單筆消費最多獲得100次抽獎機會，於特約店家或旅宿消費更可獲得加倍抽獎機會，3個多月期間每週抽出iPhone 17、AirPods Pro 3等3C好禮；月月抽再抽台積電股票（114年12月、115年1、2月各抽1張，共3張），今年就開始與護國神山結緣，一張在手，希望無窮，12月首波抽獎特別加碼抽LUXGEN n7、101跨年煙火房，讓你在城市天際線最美的角度，迎接璀璨新年；還有市民專屬加碼抽，多項好禮只屬於台北市民朋友！最後總抽獎更是精彩，頭獎為1,000萬元現金大紅包、Tesla MODEL Y、Switch 2、PS 5及多項熱門3C產品等，千萬記得從11月11日就開始就留好您的發票或收據，頭期款到帳就看這一次！

北市商業處說，臺北市也配合推出響應優惠方案，共同活絡城市經濟。觀傳局特別結合旅宿與景點業者推出限時優惠，包括凱達、晶華等知名飯店推出住宿加餐飲等套裝方案，台北101觀景台、林安泰古厝及當代藝術館等景點亦同步祭出折扣與贈禮活動。文化局也集結近20處台北市轄下藝文場館推出「藝文場館金優惠」，自114年11月至115年1月陸續祭出入館贈禮、文創商品折扣等好康，邀請民眾走進文化場域享受精彩藝文體驗。台北捷運公司則於114年12月22日至115年1月25日舉辦「Metro Corner捷運點周年慶」活動，提供會員消費累點、滿額贈等多重優惠。體育局轄下11座運動中心、臺北市網球中心及榮星花園游泳池也推出多項運動優惠，包含1對1教練課程、InBody檢測或課程買七送三等方案（更多優惠細節請洽詢各運動中心）。歡迎民眾把握普發現金的好時機，規劃一趟「好吃、好玩、好買、好宿」的臺北城市之旅。

友好特店持續招募中，歡迎設籍在台北市的店家熱情響應報名！自即日起至115年3月8日活動結束期間皆可報名！有意願參與的店家請填寫以下表單，店家資格、權益及配合事項等詳如表單說明，後續將由專人進行審核及聯繫。更多活動相關訊息請上「台北市商業處-我是商Ya人」粉絲團及臺北市商業處網站

title: 臺北「有購嗨！」活動開跑　蔣萬安邀全民High翻臺北抽千萬

things: iPhone 經濟

countries: 美國 臺灣

taiwan-subdivisions: 臺北 信義區 臺北市 北投

companies: 台積電 特斯拉


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記者陳木隆∕宜蘭報導

民進黨宜蘭縣黨部10日又公布一波2026選戰提名徵召名單，前副縣長黃適超再度參選羅東鎮長，吳文進參選壯圍鄉長，並且徵召即將卸任的冬山鄉長林峻輔競選第八選區（冬山鄉）縣議員。

民進黨宜蘭縣黨部指出，黃適超長年投入公共事務，曾任鄉民代表、縣議員、副縣長等職，歷練完整，深受地方肯定，是基層極力推舉的鎮長人選，雖於四年前以些微差距惜敗，這次捲土重來重披戰袍，獲得鄉親高度期望，盼能以其從政經驗與新世代視野再造羅東光景。

壯圍鄉長選戰，則徵召在地的吳文進參選角逐，他早年服務於金融保險業，後又投身政治幕僚工作，擔任立委服務處主任期間，勤走基層、積極服務，深受地方鄉親信賴與愛戴，經過村長、代表等地方人士力薦，縣黨部徵召他爭取鄉長寶座，為壯圍鄉注入新的希望與能量。

冬山鄉長林峻輔，在兩屆鄉長任內政績亮眼，屆滿後將轉換跑道投入縣議員選舉，縣黨部期盼他持續在新的崗位上發揮所長，引領新一屆黨團成員成為新縣長的堅實後盾，推動宜蘭重大建設持續向前。

events: 參選 選舉

taiwan-subdivisions: 宜蘭 宜蘭縣 羅東 冬山 壯圍

people: 陳木隆 黃適超

title: 佈局2026宜蘭選戰 民進黨又發布3位提名人選


title: Gas Liquids Engineering 完成「雷德利島能源出口設施」之施工圖設計範疇

countries: 哥倫比亞 加拿大

taiwan-subdivisions: 成功 太平

content_text:
亞伯達省卡加利2025年11月10日 /美通社/ — Gas Liquids Engineering Ltd. (GLE) 欣然宣佈，已成功完成其在「雷德利島能源出口設施」(REEF) 項目中的施工圖設計 (IFC) 範疇。GLE 的工作範圍涵蓋特定部分的詳細工程設計，以及跨越管道、工藝、機械、電氣、儀錶、土木及結構設計等多個學科的工程整合。

REEF 項目由 AltaGas Ltd. (AltaGas) 與 Royal Vopak (Vopak) 成立的 50/50 合資企業所擁有，並於 2024 年 5 月就第一期項目達成正面的最終投資決定 (FID)。憑藉其直達太平洋的深水港戰略位置，REEF 將擴大加拿大能源產品對主要亞洲市場的出口能力，進一步推動市場多元化，並鞏固加拿大在全球能源貿易中的角色。

「此項目是 Gas Liquids Engineering 在能源出口及碼頭設施項目組合中的一個重要里程碑。」Gas Liquids Engineering 項目副總裁 Ryan Arnold 表示，「我們很榮幸能在此重要計劃上為 AltaGas 提供支援，並與行業領先的承造商和服務供應商合作。」

AltaGas Ltd. 項目及工程副總裁 Brett Stowkowy 代表該合資企業評論道：「我們非常高興 GLE 為 REEF 項目作出的貢獻達到了這一里程碑。REEF 是 AltaGas 和 Vopak 的旗艦計劃，GLE 準時完成其工作範疇，是我們推進施工及項目執行的關鍵一環。」

REEF 位於不列顛哥倫比亞省魯珀特王子港附近的雷德利島，被設計為一個開放使用的液化石油氣 (LPG) 和散裝液體出口碼頭，預計初期丙烷和丁烷的吞吐量為每日 55,000 桶。該設施將配備先進的裝卸基礎設施、儲存容量，並與現有的鐵路和海運系統整合，以確保營運安全、可靠且高效。

關於 Gas Liquids EngineeringGas Liquids Engineering Ltd. 是一間總部位於卡加利的工程公司，專注於全球石油、天然氣和能源基礎設施項目。自 1987 年成立以來，GLE 一直為天然氣處理、液體處理和出口設施提供全面的工程解決方案。www.gasliquids.com

傳媒聯絡：Caitlin Flynn，業務發展，Gas Liquids Engineering Ltd.，電話：+1 (403) 250-2950，電郵：[email protected]


content_text:
蘇丹 Al Nao Hospital 院長獲表揚，因其在國內戰期間持續提供關鍵醫療照護，成功挽救數百條生命

紐約2025年11月10日 /美通社/ — Aurora Humanitarian Initiative 於星期四晚間宣佈，  Jamal Eltaeb 醫生。圖片由 Luke Dray 提供

在蘇丹毀滅性的內戰與醫療體系近乎全面崩潰的困境中，Eltaeb 醫生始終讓翁圖爾曼的 Al Nao Hospital 持續運作，使其成為喀土穆大都會區最後幾間仍在運作的轉診醫院之一 —— 這正是他在危難時刻展現韌力與領導力的見證。

「長大，我看到了生活多麼脆弱，以及一個人的關懷和知識可以帶來多大改變。我想成為醫生，因為我想在人們最脆弱的時刻為人們服務，」Eltaeb 醫生說：「Aurora 獎鼓勵醫生、教師、人道主義者和普通人士繼續前進，因為這些人的努力很重要。這提醒我們：一個人的勇氣足以激發改變，而仁慈的力量能帶來療癒。即使是最小的善行，也能帶來希望。」

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative 共同創辦人兼董事會主席，另兼 Flagship Pioneering 創辦人兼行政總裁 Noubar Afeyan 表示：「當冷漠蔓延、同情心遭受圍剿之際，Eltaeb 醫生正是人性尚未泯滅的鮮活證明。在這個『非人道主義者』頻頻佔據新聞頭條的時代，Eltaeb 醫生提醒我們：人道精神永存——而我們每個人都有責任讓這精神持續燃燒。」

2025 Laureate 得主於埃利斯島 (Ellis Island) 舉行的頒獎典禮上揭曉。這座象徵庇護與新生的島嶼，見證了 Aurora 十年來致力於表彰基層人道主義者的全球行動。

Eltaeb 醫生是經由一個審核超過 800 項提名的遴選流程而獲選。作為 2025 年 Aurora Prize 得主，他將獲得一百萬美元獎金，用於拓展其工作範疇，同時支援其他協助弱勢群體的在地領袖與基層組織。

「面對難以想像的危險與匱乏，艾爾泰布博士展現了真正的人道領導風範，」Aurora Prize 評選委員會主席、 Imperial College London 全球健康創新研究所聯合主任 Lord Ara Darzi 勳爵表示：「Aurora 深感榮幸能支持這項使命，並聚焦於那些在衝突中堅韌不屈的群體。Eltaeb 醫生的無私讓我們提醒我們，即使在戰爭中，人類也可以獲勝。」

自 2023 年4月蘇丹衝突升級以來，Eltaeb 醫生在反覆轟炸、基礎設施崩塌以及電力與醫療物資（包括麻醉藥）嚴重短缺的困境中艱難前行，確保數百名傷患、流離失所者及危重病患持續獲得救治。在他的領導下，Al Nao Hospital 已成為社區的生命線，體現了韌性、團結和堅定的奉獻，在最具挑戰性的條件下拯救生命。

Aurora Prize 評選委員會成員、Clinton Foundation 副董事長兼 Clinton Health Access Initiative 副董事長 Chelsea Clinton 表示：「Eltaeb 醫生體現了拒絕無情的原則。他對人類的承諾不僅在於拯救生命，還在於在蘇丹最嚴重的衝突中維持社區的嚴重尊嚴和關懷的關鍵線。」

典禮同時表彰了 2025 Aurora 傑出人道主義者，包括 Sally Becker、Dr. Zouhair Lahna、Jill Seaman 博士，以及一眾傑出慈善家，這些人士均體現出 Aurora 的核心價值「感恩付諸行動」(Gratitude in Actio)：Henrietta H. Fore、Graça Machel、Michael Milken，以及 David Rubenstein。

2025 年將迎來影響力十週年紀念的 Aurora Prize of Awakening Humanity，是 Aurora Humanitarian Initiative 的旗艦項目。該獎項代表亞美尼亞大屠殺倖存者創立，旨在向其救命恩人表達感激之情。Aurora 為身處人類危機最前線的聲音提供擴發聲道，並透過「感恩行動」(Gratitude in Action) 計劃提供資源，協助其擴大影響力。Aurora 深信，每位人道主義者都懷有人性，而每個人性中都蘊藏著人道精神。我們激勵全球民眾以勇氣與仁慈付諸行動。

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative 簡介

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative 透過表彰與支持全球傑出的人道工作者，推動挽救生命的重要工作。Aurora 創立旨在代表亞美尼亞大屠殺倖存者，並向其救命恩人表達感激之情。過去十年間，本組織已建立全球網絡，並為超過 350 萬名受人道危機影響的人士提供支援。透過資助世界各地持續傳遞關懷的人道工作者，這項工作有助於推動人道精神持續發揚光大。有關更多資訊，請瀏覽 www.AuroraHumanitarian.org。

title: Jamal Eltaeb 醫生獲授予 2025 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity

countries: 蘇丹 亞美尼亞


content_text:
記者范振和∕花蓮報導

傳統手術要取出腦瘤，必須進行「顱顏切除術」，復原期長且易損外貌，花蓮慈濟醫院以跨科內視鏡操刀，穿過自然孔道直抵顱底取瘤，病人外表無傷，大幅縮短復原期，讓腦瘤手術進階成小傷口大範圍清除術，這項微創術式，已在東台灣完成超過30例。

▲花蓮慈院耳鼻喉科主任周昱甫醫師(中)先行開道打開顱底，神經外科主任蔡昇宗醫師（右）備戰中 。（圖／慈濟醫院提供，下同）

花蓮慈濟醫院今天舉辦「四手聯彈：經鼻經蝶竇腦瘤清除術」成果發表，院長林欣榮以身為腦神經外科專家的身分見證先進的腦部微創術式，並恭喜病友重獲健康。副院長陳培榕也是慈院啟業不久即到東台灣服務的耳鼻喉科開拓者，他說，30幾年前要進行腦下垂體手術非常困難，要開大刀掀頭皮與臉皮，後來演變成顯微鏡手術，直到現在的內視鏡微創，相當不容易，他也親身見證醫療科技的進步。

▲病友阿琴姊的術前術後影像對照，右側為術前堰塞湖效應腦室積水，左側為術後腦瘤清除乾淨。

68歲的阿琴姊半年前開始覺得步態不穩，走路直往前傾，並且人變得遲鈍，似有失智症狀’家人警覺異狀，帶她前往慈院神經內科醫師林聖皇求診，經檢查，赫然發現腦部在靠近顱底有顆腫瘤，迅速會診神經外科。

▲病友阿琴姊回診神經外科，步伐已相當穩健。

診斷確認腦瘤是腦膜瘤，位置靠近顱底，在鼻腔正中心上方，神經外科與耳鼻喉科跨科團隊合作「聯合顱底內視鏡手術」，阿琴姊術後，步態就回穩，神智和語言能力也迅速恢復到以往的健康狀態。

▲阿琴姊感恩花蓮慈濟醫療團隊醫術精湛，讓她沒有任何傷疤且恢復迅速。

神經外科主任蔡昇宗指出，阿琴姊的腦膜瘤直徑3公分左右，並不算大，但位置剛好堵在腦脊髓液的循環路線上，就像山上一顆大石頭掉下來堵住了水路，水流不出去，就開始出現「堰塞湖」現象，阿琴姊的腦脊髓液沒辦法循環，腦室開始積水成水腦，因而有失智和動作不穩的狀態。

▲阿琴姊至耳鼻喉科回診，醫師周昱甫醫師細心取出微創傷口的小結痂。

傳統手術要取出腦瘤須開大刀，進行「顱顏切除術」，病人頭骨和面部都有大傷口，術後要住院10天以上。後來，神經內科發展出顯微鏡手術處理靠近顱底的腦下垂體瘤，由自然孔洞進入，雖減少傷口，缺點是醫師必須隔著一定距離操作器械，視野受限，超過視野之外的腦瘤外側，無法清除乾淨。

如今，內視鏡手術又更進一步，可以直達顱底深處的病灶現場直接「拆彈」，包括腦下垂體瘤以及靠近顱底的腦膜瘤，都可以利用這種術式將腫瘤清除得更徹底。

聯合內視鏡拆彈手術由耳鼻喉科主任周昱甫醫師「掌鏡」先行，他先沿途將鼻腔黏膜一塊一塊地掀起，開出順暢孔道，進入隔間如迷宮般的鼻竇，再穿過蝶竇深入顱底。而蝶竇和顱底周圍鄰近視神經、頸動脈以及腦膜，操作醫師必須相當了解解剖構造，才能避免傷及重要神經與血管，同時整理出可以容納雙科內視鏡操作的空間。

緊接著，神經外科進場，蔡昇宗一邊拆彈、一邊止血。此時，最考驗「四手聯彈」的團隊默契。周昱甫依據蔡昇宗手術進度和空間變化，隨時調整內視鏡角度，讓蔡昇宗可以有更好的視野操作。

當腦瘤順利剝除後，再由耳鼻喉科醫師上場主刀，原本在顱底為手術打開的門窗可能已變形，醫師要負責重新整修或砌回一道牆保護大腦，並將開路時取下的鼻腔黏膜皮瓣，如鋪草皮般重新種回，做好水土保持，若沒有做好關門收尾，可能會造成腦脊髓液外漏、或是細菌侵入大腦，易造成併發症而功虧一簣。

在台灣可以執行這樣精密的微創手術，相當少見。蔡昇宗指出，內視鏡手術其實比傳統手術更耗時，必須連續七、八個小時專注在細部剝除腫瘤，考驗著醫療團隊雙方的默契、技術與耐心。但由兩位醫師合作，讓手術過程更細膩，而將原本必須切開頭骨和臉皮的大刀濃縮成一小孔的微創，大幅減少病人的傷害和痛苦指數。

周昱甫表示，耳鼻喉科醫師通過鼻孔通道或是耳道，都可以協助進行顱底的腦部腫瘤手術，包括腦下垂體瘤、聽神經瘤等微創的治療，也讓復原更快速好幾倍，情況順利的話甚至術後四天就能出院，醫療品質大幅提升。

花蓮慈濟醫院神經外科與耳鼻喉科在東部進行聯合內視鏡手術，已經成功完成腦下垂體瘤與腦膜瘤超過30例。阿琴姊說，她從慈濟啟業後就從台北到花蓮慈濟看診至今，很感謝慈濟醫院的團隊，自己當時昏昏沉沉，都不知道有這麼多醫師默默幫助她，手術後記憶力和行動力慢慢恢復，真心感恩東部有這麼好的醫院和醫術。

title: 「四手聯彈」強強聯手    慈院經鼻經蝶竇腦瘤清除術成功

taiwan-subdivisions: 成功 山上 花蓮


people: 蔡英文 蕭美琴

title: Tsai emphasizes resilience at Berlin freedom conference

content_text:
By Chen Yun / Staff reporter and staff writer, with CNA

In the face of authoritarian challenges, resilience is key to the survival of democracy, former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said in a keynote speech yesterday at the Berlin Freedom Conference.

Authoritarian regimes use similar methods, and now is a crucial moment for democratic countries to connect with each other and adjust their strategies, she said.

Democracies must deepen security cooperation, establish mechanisms for communication and information sharing, she said.

Former president Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech at the Berlin Freedom Conference in Berlin, Germany, yesterday.  Photo: Screen grab from the conference's livestream

Tsai also called on like-minded countries to speak out for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, adding that “clear and consistent support for Taiwan’s security is itself an effective deterrent against authoritarian expansion.”

“Today, Taiwan stands at the forefront of the democratic defense line, but tomorrow, any country could face the same challenge,” she said.

“Strengthening cooperation and enhancing defense should become a shared priority for all democratic nations. Only in this way can we ensure that security and the democratic way of life are preserved for future generations,” she said.

Former president Tsai Ing-wen, left, meets with German-Taiwan Civil Forum chair Reinhard Butikofer in Berlin on Sunday upon her arrival to the city. Photo courtesy of Tsai’s office via CNA

The Berlin Freedom Conference, the main event of Berlin Freedom Week, is jointly organized by the Berlin city government, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation and the World Liberty Congress.

The forum gathers global civil society leaders, human rights advocates and experts, who deliver speeches, and engage in panel discussions on how to defend and strengthen freedom and democracy amid the resurgence of authoritarianism.

Shortly after arriving in Berlin on Sunday, Tsai met with German-Taiwan Civil Forum chair Reinhard Butikofer, formerly a chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Butikofer said they discussed economic cooperation, the development of civil society and how to jointly advocate for freedom and democracy.

They also talked about a collaboration plan involving Taiwan’s semiconductor industry investing in Dresden, Germany, he added, describing the conversation as “pleasant, open, and friendly.”

As Berlin Freedom Week is held to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall, Butikofer said: “It is meaningful for Taiwan’s former president to stand with us and celebrate the tradition of freedom, advocating for the continued struggle for freedom, making this commemoration even more significant.”

Speaking about Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) visit to Brussels to speak at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China summit on Friday, he said that it was “unimaginable” just five years ago for both Tsai and Hsiao to visit Europe in the same week.

“This reflects the significant warming of Taiwan-Europe relations,” he said.

Butikofer added that he believes Taiwan is not only a key partner in the semiconductor supply chain, but also possesses valuable experience in fields such as public health, cybersecurity and combating misinformation.

European society’s perception of China is also changing, he said.

In the past, the focus was mainly on human rights issues, such as Tibet and Xinjiang, but now an increasing number of Europeans are realizing that the challenges posed by China not only involve values, but also affect Europe’s security and institutional resilience, he said.

This shift is making Europe more inclined to deepen cooperation with Taiwan and establish a “partnership based on shared values,” he said.

Since leaving office, Tsai has continued her efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s ties with Europe. In October last year, she visited the Czech Republic, France and Belgium, and in May this year, she visited Lithuania, Denmark and the UK. Germany is the latest stop in her ongoing engagement with Taiwan’s democratic partners in Europe.

Prior to her current visit, Tsai said that as a trustworthy member of the international community, Taiwan would continue to stand with Europe and other like-minded countries to demonstrate its commitment to freedom and democracy.


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The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait.

A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said.

As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city and counties announced that today would be a regular work day.

Fishing boats are anchored at the Shenao Fishing Port in New Taipei City as Typhoon Fung-wong approached yesterday.  Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, AFP

As of 5:40pm yesterday, the typhoon was 490km southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the agency said.

It was moving northwest at 13kph, with the storm’s radius expanding to 250km.

Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in east Taiwan, as well as mountainous areas in the Greater Taipei area and Hengchun Peninsula today due to the combined influences of the northeast monsoon and typhoon, CWA specialist Lin Ping-yu (林秉煜) said.

By 5pm yesterday, ocean waves around the country had reached 3m — and 6m in the southeast coast, Lin said.

Taiwan would be mostly affected by the northeast monsoon today, he said, adding that winds are expected to become stronger in the south and east tomorrow as the typhoon moves closer to the nation’s southwest coast.

“The typhoon is still a little far from Taiwan. We are not certain at this point where it would make landfall and how it would affect [the nation]. We are closely monitoring its development,” he said.

Meanwhile, the northeast wind is expected to rise again on Thursday when the typhoon is forecast to weaken and move away from Taiwan, he added.

Heavy rainfall is expected in central and southern Taiwan, as well as Hualien and Taitung counties tomorrow, with the rain in the east coast significantly easing compared with today, he said.

By Thursday, rain across the nation is expected to significantly ease, with isolated showers forecast in northern Taiwan due to the northeast wind, Lin said.

The Hualien County Government yesterday announced closures of schools and offices in Guangfu Township (光復). It also issued a red alert for Guangfu, Wanrong (萬榮), Fonglin (鳳林) and other townships close to a barrier lake at the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) for potential damage, with more than 8,000 residents ordered to evacuate.

Guangfu was heavily damaged in September after heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Ragasa broke a barrier lake along the river, unleashing millions of tonnes of water and mud that swept into the township, destroying infrastructure, killing 19 people and leaving five people missing..

Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said that eight water pumps have been deployed along the creek to help drain the floodwater.

The government would coordinate the deployment of military personnel and other resources to assist Hualien during the typhoon, she said.

The government will continue to closely monitor the barrier lake, and a team of specialists is working on long-term solutions to the problem, she said.

The Coast Guard Administration said those entering coastal areas designated by local governments as restricted zones would be fined.

The typhoon also disrupted operation of the Alishan Railway, with the service from Chiayi to Alishan (阿里山) canceled today, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said, adding that the two-way railway services would be canceled tomorrow and on Thursday.

Railway services would resume once the safety of the route is confirmed, it said.

taiwan-subdivisions: 光復 東沙 阿里山 鳳林 萬榮

title: Sea alert raised as Fung-wong moves northward


title: Japan rebukes Chinese diplomat over Taiwan furor

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‘EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE’: Xue Jian’s post on X that ‘the dirty neck ... must be cut off’ was a threat against the Japanese leader, the US ambassador to Japan said

Japan yesterday criticized a Chinese diplomat for “extremely inappropriate” remarks seemingly directed at Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, after she suggested that Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.

Beijing defended the “personal post” made by the envoy in an escalating war of words with Japan’s new leader that threatens to strain relations between the historic rivals after a period of relative calm.

The US ambassador to Tokyo also weighed in, saying Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍) had threatened Takaichi.

In a post on X on Saturday, Xue shared a news article about Takaichi’s remarks about Taiwan and commented “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off.” The post was later deleted.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said that while the intent of the post was not entirely clear, Xue had made “multiple inappropriate statements” and that Tokyo has repeatedly asked Beijing to take appropriate action.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian (林劍) told a regular news conference in Beijing yesterday that Xue’s post was a response to Takaichi’s “wrongful and dangerous” remarks on Taiwan, urging Tokyo to “take a hard look at its historical responsibilities.”

In Taipei, Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said that the Taiwanese government “takes seriously the threatening remarks made by Chinese officials toward Japan.”

“Such behavior clearly exceeds diplomatic etiquette,” Kuo said in a statement.

Takaichi told the Japanese parliament on Friday that an attack on Taiwan could be deemed “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” a legal term introduced in 2015 that allows Japan’s prime ministers to deploy the country’s Self-Defense Forces.

Until now, Japanese prime ministers have avoided mentioning Taiwan when publicly discussing scenarios that could trigger a military response.

The diplomatic spat comes less than a month after Takaichi took office and less than two weeks after she angered Beijing by posting a picture of a meeting with a Taiwanese representative at a regional summit in Seoul earlier this month.

She also met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) there, with both leaders agreeing to pursue constructive and stable ties.

Takaichi yesterday said her remarks were “hypothetical” and that she would refrain from making similar comments in parliament again.

“The mask slips — again,” US Ambassador to Japan George Glass wrote on X, adding that Xue’s comment threatened Takaichi and the Japanese people.

US President Donald Trump has said Xi has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican president is in office. Trump has yet to approve any new US arms sales to Taipei.


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‘LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND’: All international partners, including Taiwan, should have a say on climate issues, and Taipei can contribute to finding solutions, allies said

Expressing their support for Taiwan at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), five of the nation’s allies called for its acceptance into the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

COP30 commenced yesterday and runs through Friday next week in Belem, Brazil.

At the leaders’ summit and the thematic session held on Thursday and Friday last week respectively, representatives of the five allies urged the international community to accept Taiwan as a member nation of the UNFCCC, the ministry said.

They are Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr, Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani Kaneko, Saint Kitts and Nevis Minister of the Environment Joyelle Clarke and Tuvaluan Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Maina Vakafua Talia.

Dlamini said that the UN principle of “leave no one behind” is not just a battle cry, but a commitment that should be practiced.

The world must work together to address one of the most difficult challenges in human history and embrace all members of the international community, particularly as countries such as the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) continue to be left by the UN and its specialized agencies, he said.

Whipps said that “leave no one behind” is the fundamental rule stipulating that all international partners, including Taiwan, should have a say on climate issues.

Taiwan can help step up the global transition against climate change via science-based actions, he said.

Kaneko said the Marshall Islands has long urged the international community to accept Taiwan as a member nation of the UNFCCC.

All countries must take part in climate solutions and have the right to voice their opinions at COP meetings, he said.

Clarke said climate action should not be exclusive, as small island developing states need development partners.

With technical support from the ROC, Saint Kitts and Nevis can modernize its power grid and upgrade its power transmission system, he said.

Talia said the cooperation on addressing climate change should be prioritized, which is why Taiwan should be recognized by the UNFCCC.

The ministry expressed gratitude to all the allies for taking action to support Taiwan’s participation in international climate governance mechanisms.

Taiwan is eager to fulfill its responsibility as a member of the international community, and continue to closely collaborate with allied countries and like-minded partners, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation through collective action, it said.

title: Allies urge Taiwan’s inclusion at COP30


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UN climate negotiations were yesterday expected to begin at a meeting on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon, with leaders pushing for urgency, cooperation and acceleration after more than 30 years fighting to curb global warming by drastically reducing the carbon pollution that causes it.

Andre Correa do Lago, president of this year’s conference, known as COP30, said that negotiators engage in “mutirao,” a Tupi-Guarani word that refers to a group uniting to work on a shared task.

“Either we decide to change by choice, together, or we will be imposed change by tragedy,” Do Lago wrote in his letter to negotiators on Sunday. “We can change. But we must do it together.”

Indigenous women react onboard the Yaku Mama Amazon Flotilla after its arrival in the port city of Belem, Brazil, on Sunday. The flotilla is an indigenous-led expedition that traveled down the Amazon River to Belem to demand climate justice during the COP30 climate summit. Photo: EPA

Complicating the calls for togetherness is Washington. US President Donald Trump’s administration did not send high-level negotiators to the talks and is withdrawing for the second time from the 10-year-old Paris Agreement, which is being celebrated as a partial achievement in Belem.

The US has put more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas than any other country. China is the No. 1 carbon polluter now, but because carbon dioxide stays in the air for at least a century, more of it was made in the US.

“I think the environment we are in, the geopolitical landscape, is particularly challenging,” said Palauan Ambassador Ilana Seid, who chairs the Alliance of Small Island States.

Small island nations suffer some of the worst effects of climate change, because rising seas swallow land.

“The United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement has really shifted the gravity” of the whole negotiating system, she said.

Trump’s actions damage the fight against climate change, former US special envoy for climate Todd Stern said.

“It’s a good thing that they are not sending anyone. It wasn’t going to be constructive if they did,” he said.

The Nature Conservancy chief scientist Katharine Hayhoe compared the negotiations to a potluck dinner.

“Everybody brings the contributions that they are making,” which in this instance are new and strengthened plans to cut carbon pollution, Hayhoe said. “And it’s obvious who took the time to bake the fresh pie with fruit that they picked and who fished out that year-old chicken frozen chicken nuggets from the back of their freezer.”

“The United States as a country will not be showing up with a dish,” Hayhoe said.

However, she and several others, including former lead American negotiators, pointed to US cities, states and businesses that they said would take up the slack.

In a letter to negotiators released late on Sunday, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell said the 10-year-old Paris Agreement is working to a degree, “but we must accelerate in the Amazon. Devastating climate damages are happening already, from Hurricane Melissa hitting the Caribbean, Super Typhoons smashing Vietnam and the Philippines, to a tornado ripping through Southern Brazil.”

Not only must nations do more faster, but they “must connect climate action to people’s real lives,” Stiell wrote.

title: Climate talks start with call for faster action


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INCREASING DETERRENCE: The NDAA suggests Taiwan-US cooperation in arms development and production, and includes reforms to make arms sales processes faster

Inviting Taiwan to the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) would deter China from invading the nation, US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee leader Adam Smith said on Thursday.

The US House has for several years annually passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), in which it supports the idea of inviting Taiwan to participate in RIMPAC.

Smith at a forum held by US think tank Atlantic Council said that inviting Taiwan to the joint military exercise would send a message to China that the US and other countries would aid the defense of Taiwan, and discourage China from taking military action against the nation.

US Representative Adam Smith, a ranking member of the US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee, gestures during an Atlantic Council event in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Screengrab from the Atlantic Council’s YouTube channel

Asked why officials wanted to integrate Taiwan into RIMPAC instead of other drills, Smith said the choice was partly because RIMPAC helps form an alliance, and can demonstrate power through the participation of multiple countries and many personnel.

RIMPAC was attended by 29 countries last year, and included 40 surface vessels, three submarines, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.

The US Indo-Pacific Command seeks to enhance cooperative operations among the armed forces of Pacific Rim countries via RIMPAC.

China has not been invited to RIMPAC since 2018.

The US Senate last month approved the bill proposing that Taiwan be invited to RIMPAC and for the first time said it “strongly recommends” that Taiwan be given a chance to take part in the exercises next year.

That means if US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth decides not to invite Taiwan, he would have to notify the US Congress and explain his reasoning.

The bill also suggested Taiwan-US cooperation on arms development and production.

Smith said the cooperation would help enhance Taiwan’s self-defense and fulfill the US’ need to expand manufacturing capacity.

The most important issue addressed in the bill this year is arms sales reform, he said, adding that multiple hearings on the issue were held not only in Washington, but also in Silicon Valley.

Arms sales processes must be swift, especially as innovative technologies such as secure communications, information systems, drones and counter-drone systems are being developed quickly, Smith said.

Procurement processes that take 25 years, such as for the F-35 aircraft, would lead to a dead end, he added.

Asked whether Taiwan is safer now than it was two years ago, Smith said he thinks the situation has not changed much.

China is concerned that the US is arming Taiwan, he said.

Ensuring Taiwan’s ability to defend itself against a potential Chinese invasion is one of the US’ policies, and is as important as the Washington’s “one China” policy, Smith said.

Smith is the US Representative for Washington’s 9th congressional district, where Asian Americans make up more than 20 percent of the population, many of which are Taiwanese.

He is also a member of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus and is familiar with the situations of ethnic minorities.

Smith tends to hedge against US-China decoupling when it comes to US policies toward China and has led a delegation to visit Chinese leaders in Beijing in September, which was the US House of Representatives’ first delegation to China since 2019.

title: US official touts benefit of Taiwan joining RIMPAC


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Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) recent trip to Brussels and her address to the European Parliament were facilitated by the EU and the Belgian government, and were not linked to any “quid pro quo,” the organizers said on Sunday.

The invitation to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) summit and to address the European Parliament was “freely” extended to Hsiao, IPAC said.

Hsiao on Friday gave a speech titled “Taiwan: A Trusted Partner in a Volatile World.”

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim speaks during an event at the European Parliament in Brussels on Friday. Photo: AP

It was the first time a Taiwanese vice president visited a non-allied country and spoke to its parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Rumors have surfaced online since Hsiao’s historic trip, including allegations that she was only invited because the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, a non-governmental organization funded by the ministry to promote democracy in the region, gave money to IPAC.

IPAC founder and executive director Luke de Pulford rejected the rumors, saying they were “completely fabricated.”

“This is fake news. Our cochairs freely invited the vice president, and she graciously and freely accepted. That is all there is to it,” he said in a statement. “IPAC is not supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and the notion that a donation or pledge was made by anybody in exchange for this invitation is ludicrous. We are proud to have made the event possible.”

De Pulford also dispelled rumors that the EU and Belgium were unaware that Hsiao would be speaking at the IPAC summit.

“The President of the European Parliament, the European External Action Service and the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were fully aware of the visit, and we are grateful to all of them for their assistance,” he said.

The Presidential Office said it asked law enforcement authorities to probe the “fabricated content” circulating online, and urged the public not to repost false information.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau yesterday said it would investigate the source of the “fake news” that said Taiwan “bought” its way into speaking at the summit.

Freedom of speech is protected under the law, but disseminating fake information, malicious rumors and messages that incite fear are not, the National Police Agency said.

The agency said it would investigate the rumors in accordance with Article 63 of the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法), which states, “spreading rumors in a way that is sufficient to undermine public order and peace” is a punishable offense.

People should verify things they see online and avoid sharing any false information, the agency added.

Additional reporting by Yao Yueh-hung

title: Summit invite ‘freely’ extended to VP: IPAC


title: DPP criticizes KMT for minimizing historic IPAC trip

people: 鄭麗文 蕭美琴

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By Chen Yun, Lin Hsin-han and Jason PanStaff reporters

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for downplaying Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) historic speech at the European Parliament.

“The DPP has opened up to welcome the world, while the KMT is moving to embrace China,” DPP spokeswoman Han Ying (韓瑩) told a press conference.

Hsiao during the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) summit in Brussels delivered a speech titled “Taiwan: A Trusted Partner in a Volatile World” to the European Parliament, while KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) paid respect to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spy Wu Shi (吳石) during a memorial service, Han said.

Democratic Progressive Party spokesman Justin Wu, left, looks on as spokeswoman Han Ying speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times

Wu was a lieutenant general who was the Ministry of National Defense’s deputy chief of the general staff. He was executed after being convicted as a CCP spy during the White Terror era.

“Cheng’s action is a betrayal of the KMT’s position on the Republic of China and sent a wrong message to the international community that Taiwan’s largest opposition party is choosing to stand with Beijing,” she added.

Han castigated the KMT and Cheng for unable to differentiate between the enemy and Taiwan, adding that the KMT has acted against the nation’s interests by refusing to join the IPAC and working with Beijing to undermine the efforts of the administration.

“China has continued to deny Taiwan its right to have a presence on the world stage, interfering with Taiwanese officials’ and civil society groups’ efforts to have a voice at international meetings,” Han said. “DPP officials have worked hard on diplomatic initiatives and forging links with the outside world, but we have politicial forces within Taiwan that are impeding in these efforts.”

The KMT yesterday said that Cheng said Wu was not a political dissident and that the DPP was manipulating history, and using the pain and suffering of victims’ families to score political points.

Taiwan has a serious Chinese spy infiltration problem, and that needs more attention than what happened more than 70 years ago, it added.

“Multiple spies have been caught, and they were affiliated with the DPP,” it said. “Several spies who worked in the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries have been charged with passing confidential materials to China.”

“The current spy situation is much more serious than 70 years ago, so the government should pay attention to the problem right now,” it added.


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The government has received complaints from Chinese spouses in Taiwan about a woman named Qian Li’s (錢麗) activities, who allegedly set up a Facebook page to advocate for China’s use of force to take over Taiwan, an official said yesterday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Qian’s Facebook activities alerted some civic groups and Chinese spouses.

“After people filed complaints, the government revoked Qian’s permanent residency and household registration. She is currently only granted to stay due to family reasons, and her case is being reviewed, with a decision anticipated in the coming days,” the official said.

Chinese national Qian Li is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Screenshot from Qian’s Facebook livestream

Qian on social media criticized the government for revoking her permanent residency.

She also said that she can still use the National Health Insurance (NHI) system.

As Qian is allowed to stay in Taiwan, she can still use the NHI system, but that does not mean she was granted long-term residency, the official said.

“If the government revokes her permission to stay for family reasons, then she can no longer use the NHI or work in Taiwan,” they added.

title: Woman advocating forceful takeover of Taiwan reported


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BEWARE:  The FDA urged people not to buy or consume eggs with the code ‘I47045,’ while an expert said that ingesting high levels of fipronil sulfone could be dangerous

More than 150,000 eggs potentially contaminated with high levels of pesticide residue have entered the market in 10 administrative regions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Sunday night.

The agency has issued an emergency recall of the eggs in Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Chiayi City, and Hsinchu, Changhua, Yunlin, Nantou and Chiayi counties.

The Changhua County Public Health Bureau on Tuesday last week found 0.03 parts per million (ppm) of fipronil sulfone in a batch of eggs from a local farm, which was in excess of the permissible level of 0.01ppm, the FDA said.

The 626 cartons of eggs were immediately traced and recalled, but 543 cartons had already been sold to consumers, FDA Central Center Director-General Lin Hsu-yang (林旭陽) said.

In subsequent tests on Wednesday and Thursday last week, Changhua County again found contaminated eggs, prompting the bureau to notify the other nine administrative regions, where about 150,000 eggs with the same lot number had already entered the market, Lin said.

The FDA urged consumers not to buy or eat eggs with the traceability code “I47045,” and to return them to the retail stores or discard them if they have already been purchased.

While excessive levels of fipronil sulfone might not directly affect human health, high doses could pose potential health risks, Lin said.

The FDA would work with agricultural agencies to investigate the cause of the contamination, and continue to work with local health agencies to test eggs on the market to ensure food safety, he said.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) yesterday said that initial investigations suggest the contamination resulted from environmental pollution, rather than from tainted feed or the use of pesticides on the farm.

Yang Chen-chang (楊振昌), director of occupational medicine and clinical toxicology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, said that ingesting large amounts of the pesticide could cause cramps, headaches, dizziness, stomach pain and nausea.

While acute poisoning is rare, accumulation over a long time might pose more serious health risks, such as damage to the liver, kidneys or thyroid gland, he said, citing studies conducted on animals.

Taiwan’s standard for fipronil sulfone residues are stricter than Japan, South Korea and the US, Yang said.

The fipronil sulfone contamination was the first food safety case in Taiwan that was handled using traceability codes, the Changhua County Public Health Bureau said.

The system enables the precise recall of faulty products and provides information to consumers and downstream businesses about a product’s quality, it said.

The Changhua County Department of Agriculture urged consumers to purchase eggs produced by the county’s “Fresh Select” suppliers, which do not include the problematic egg farm.

The Hsinchu County Public Health Bureau and the Taichung City Government on Sunday said that they have issued recall orders for the contaminated eggs.

The Kaohsiung Department of Health said a local supermarket would be fined NT$60,000 to NT$200 million (US$1,935 to NT$6.45 million), under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法), for failing to comply with an order to notify its customers of the egg problem.

title: Contaminated eggs enter market: FDA


title: NTUH performs rare surgery in a first for Asia

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EMERGENCY:  Surgeons removed necrotic heart ventricles and installed two assist devices, essentially achieving the effect of a functional artificial heart

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) has performed Asia’s first surgery to remove both heart ventricles and implant two long-lasting ventricular assist devices.

Chen Yih-shurng (陳益祥), head of the hospital’s organ transplant team, yesterday told a news conference that a 46-year-old man, surnamed Lin (林), had coronary heart disease, causing his heart function to deteriorate rapidly, leading to severe end-stage heart failure.

Since August, Lin has gone into cardiac arrest several times and undergone treatments including coronary artery bypass surgery, the implantation of an intra-aortic balloon pump and the temporary use of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device, Chen said.

Surgeon and head of National Taiwan University Hospital’s organ transplant team Chen Yih-shurng, left, poses with a man, surnamed Lin, who underwent a heart surgery, center, at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University Hospital

Despite the procedures, including the implantation of a temporary left ventricular assist device, Lin continued to experience severe arrhythmias, and one night had to undergo 10 to 20 electric shocks to save his life, burning his skin, the doctor said.

The five-year mortality rate for people who have experienced heart failure is as high as 50 to 75 percent, while several cases often needing a ventricular assist device or a heart transplant, he said.

However, about 10 to 40 percent of those who receive a left ventricular assist device might develop varying degrees of right ventrical heart failure, he said, adding that Lin’s case was particularly complicated by frequent arrhythmias, unstable hemodynamics and a high risk of thrombosis, which severely threatened the effectiveness of the left ventricular assist device.

Chen said his team used two long-lasting ventricular assist devices to replicate the functions of the left and right ventricles.

However, during surgery, they discovered that Lin’s heart was small, leaving them limited space to implant the devices, he said.

To ensure the effectiveness of the devices, they removed the necrotic ventricles, leaving the heart to rely solely on the devices to provide continuous blood flow, achieving the effect of a “functional total artificial heart,” while also eliminating the arrhythmia problem, Chen said.

This type of surgery has only been performed about three times in the US, he added.

The strategy can result in a 30-day survival rate of 53 percent and a successful transition to a transplant rate of 26 percent, helping to extend the patient’s life and increase their chances of receiving a transplant, he said, citing international multicenter research data.

More than a month after the surgery, Lin is already able to get out of bed and begin rehabilitation, successfully avoiding the problems caused by long-term bed rest, such as muscle atrophy, Chen said.

The surgery is the first case in Asia where the heart was removed and the patient survived with two long-lasting ventricular assist devices simulating a total artificial heart, NTUH vice superintendent Lou Pei-ren (婁培仁) said.

After the ventricles were removed, Lin’s heartbeat and electrocardiogram could no longer be detected, which posed a significant challenge in postoperative care, Lou added.

That was a challenge for the hospital’s medical and care teams, he said, adding that the case is not only a breakthrough in medical technology, but also opens a new opportunity for transitional treatment before heart transplantation.


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The nation’s population last month declined for the 22nd consecutive month, data released yesterday by the Ministry of the Interior showed.

A total of 9,458 babies were born last month, 855 more than in September, but a 2,612 decrease (22 percent) from the same time last year, the data showed.

Last month’s figure is equivalent to about one birth every 4.7 minutes and corresponds to an annual crude birthrate of 4.78 per 1,000 people.

A graphic shows the numbers of the nation’s births (the blue line) and deaths (in red) from June 2023 to last month. Graphic courtesy of CNA, with source of information from the Ministry of the Interior

Meanwhile, 15,908 deaths were reported, equivalent to approximately one death every 2.8 minutes, 521 more than in and 457 more than in October last year, the data showed.

The crude death rate for the month stood at 8.03 per 1,000 people. The natural population decrease — the difference between births and deaths — was 6,450.

Net migration increased by 272 people last month, with 62,594 people immigrating and 62,322 emigrating, the data showed.

Combined with the natural decrease, Taiwan’s total population declined by 6,178 from the previous month.

As of the end of last month, Taiwan’s population was 23,310,853 — a decrease of 91,951 people compared with the same period last year. That translates to an average daily decline of 251.92 people.

Demographic data showed that people aged 14 and younger accounted for only 11.55 percent of the population (2,693,562), while those aged 15 to 64 made up 68.55 percent (15,979,394).

The population of those aged 65 and older was 4,637,897, or 19.9 percent, putting Taiwan on the verge of becoming a “super-aged society,” defined by the UN as a society where at least 20 percent of the population is 65 or older.

Among all municipalities, Taipei had the highest proportion of residents aged 65 and older, at 24 percent, while Hsinchu County had the lowest, at 14.95 percent.

In addition, 10,735 couples married last month, of which, 10,428 were heterosexual marriages and 307 were same-sex marriages, Ministry of the Interior data showed.

That corresponds to an annual crude marriage rate of 5.42 per 1,000 people.

However, 4,511 couples divorced last month, 4,434 of which were in heterosexual couples and 77 in same-sex marriages, with the crude divorce rate standing at 2.28 per 1,000 people, ministry data showed.

title: Population declines for 22nd consecutive month


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Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.

After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals.

Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said.

A person holds New Taiwan dollar notes in front of an automated teller matchine and a sign providing information on the government’s NT$10,000 cash handout program in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury Administration Director-General Chen Po-cheng (陳柏誠) said.

An estimated 9 million to 10 million people would receive payments on the first day, Financial Information Service Co chairman Lin Kuo-liang (林國良) said.

If Taipei calls off work this week due to the incoming Typhoon Fung-wong, deposit dates would continue as planned, even if financial institutions are closed, Lin said.

The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee yesterday visited the Financial Information Service Co headquarters to review cash handout preparations.

As of 11am yesterday, 4,972,810 people had completed online registration through the official Web site, ministry data showed.

The money is to be distributed through direct transfer, ATM withdrawal, counter withdrawal at post offices, special rosters for rural townships and direct transfer for specific groups.

The handout can also be collected without registering online, either through ATMs starting on Monday next week or at post offices beginning on Nov. 24.

The cash handout is part of a NT$570 billion special package approved by the legislature on Oct. 17 and put into effect on Oct. 23.

The Cabinet’s Anti-Fraud Command Center said it set up an interministerial task force to address increased fraud risks involving the cash handout.

People should be cautious against scammers posing as government agencies, post offices or financial institutions, it said.

They might send fake links or messages that require personal information or for the account holder to access ATMs or online banking, claiming to have detected account abnormalities or requiring verification, the task force said.

title: NT$10,000 cash handout deposits to start tomorrow


taiwan-subdivisions: 大湖 尖石

title: Taiwan seeks to expand kiwifruit production

content_text:
Taiwan grown kiwifruit is more expensive than imports because of their limited quantity, but have a sweetness and delicate texture that comes from being harvested closer to ripeness than their foreign counterparts, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday.

Efforts are being made to expand production of locally grown kiwifruit, Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station Deputy Director Chung Kuo-hsiung (鍾國雄) said in a statement.

The fruit starts coming into season in mid-September, but often sells out quickly due to limited quantity, the branch office of the agriculture said.

Taiwan-grown kiwifruit hang from a tree in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station

In Taiwan, kiwifruit is grown at an elevation of at least 1,000m in mountainous areas such as Miaoli County’s Dahu Township (大湖), Hsinchu County’s Jianshih Township (尖石) and Taichung’s Lishan (梨山), the office said.

Because of the cool climate kiwifruits grow in, many farmers opt to use little or no pesticides or fertilizer on their vines, it said.

Taiwan’s kiwifruit are harvested when they are 90 percent or even fully ripe, while imported kiwis have to be picked when only 70 to 80 percent ripe so that they can ripen during shipping, it said.

The later harvest gives Taiwan’s kiwifruit a higher sugar content, making them sweeter, and also produces a more delicate texture and balanced sweet-sour flavor, the office said.

Because local harvesting times and shipping practices vary, Taiwanese kiwifruit are sometimes slightly hard when they reach the market, it said.

In such cases, they can be placed in a paper bag with bananas or other fruit that release ethylene, hastening the ripening process, it added.

In general, the harder kiwifruits would ripen completely in one to three days, and they can then be stored in the refrigerator for up to one to two weeks, the statement said.

Taiwan produced 133 tonnes of kiwifruit last year and imported 30,000 tonnes, mostly from New Zealand, but also from Italy, China, the US, France and Japan, ministry data showed.


title: Woman in viral kick video indicted for separate incident

content_text:
A woman in her 70s whose violent confrontation over a Taipei MRT priority seat went viral in September was yesterday charged with attacking a father and daughter with an umbrella on the MRT last year.

The woman, surnamed Tseng (曾), was charged with causing bodily harm to a minor over the umbrella attack on Feb. 4 last year, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement.

Tseng was riding on the Taipei MRT’s Orange Line toward Minquan West Road Station at about 1:30pm, when she asked a man sitting with his young daughter to get out of priority seats, prosecutors said.

The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times

When the man refused, Tseng took her umbrella and struck the young girl on the leg, bruising her, the indictment said.

After the girl’s father, surnamed Lee (李), filed a police report, Tseng failed to comply with multiple summonses for questioning.

Prosecutors later issued a warrant for Tseng’s arrest, leading to her indictment yesterday for intentional injury to a child by an adult under the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法).

Tseng was previously in the news over a video that went viral in September in which she hit a young woman with her tote bag for refusing to give up a priority seat.

The woman stood up and kicked Tseng, sending her across the carriage into a seat on the other side, the video showed.

Days later, the police were called on Tseng for causing a commotion in a convenience store on Yanping North Road, leading to her arrest on an outstanding warrant for larceny.

The case was referred to the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office, which has yet to press charges.


title: High Court judge impeached after convict skips bail

content_text:
The Control Yuan late last month impeached High Court justice Chen Yung-sung (陳勇松) due to delays in court procedures and failure to extend electronic monitoring of convicted businessman Chung Wen-chih (鍾文智), who jumped bail and fled the country to evade serving a prison term.

The Supreme Court on March 12 sentenced Chung, chairman of Mo Tan Li International Investment Co, to 30 years and six months in prison for fraud in stock trading and manipulating Taiwan depositary receipts of five companies, making NT$441.3 million (US$14.23 million) in profit, in a case dating back to 2010.

He was originally sentenced in 2021 to 18 years in prison on five counts of manipulating stock prices, contravening the Securities and Exchange Act (證券交易法), and two counts of money laundering. He appealed, resulting in a 17-year-and-six-month sentence, which he sought to reduce at the Supreme Court.

The Control Yuan in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Fang Wei-li, Taipei Times

Chung skipped bail after the March ruling, and is believed to have fled the country.

He was originally released on NT$80 million bail in 2018, and required to regularly report to local police and wear an electronic monitoring device.

However, the High Court failed to extend the electronic monitoring after the expiration of the original order.

After he absconded, a Control Yuan investigation found that Chen had for unknown reasons decided not to extend the electronic monitoring, and failed to follow court procedures in issuing an official ruling notice to the defendant and the prosecutor in charge, for the ruling to take effect, while also not fulfilling requirements such as filing required documentation relating to the case.

Control Yuan members issued the impeachment against Chen, citing serious infractions of the Judges Act (法官法), the governmental oversight body said in a statement, adding that his conduct led to the public losing trust in the nation’s justice system.

The members also recommended issuing a financial penalty against Chen, it said.

The impeachment is to be forwarded for adjudication by the Judge Evaluation Committee, it said.


content_text:
A documentary tracing the development of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry over the past five decades received its United States East Coast premiere on Saturday at New York’s Regal Theater in Times Square.

The film, “A Chip Odyssey” (造山者--世紀的賭注), is Taiwan’s first documentary spotlighting its world-leading semiconductor industry and chronicled Taiwan’s rise from underdog to becoming the central hub of the global chip supply chain over the past five decades.

Its Chinese title, “Mountain Builders,” was derived from the film’s intention to “deliver the spirit of the mountain builders” -- those who have helped propel the nation’s semiconductor ascent, the film’s director, Hsiao Chu-chen (蕭菊貞), said in June this year.

From right, “A Chip Odyssey” producer Ben Tsiang, director Hsiao Chu-chen and producer Ben Chen attend at the University of California, Los Angeles, in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles via CNA

Another reason for the title is Taiwan’s affectionate nickname for semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), “The Mountain that Guards the Nation.”

As to the English title, Hsiao had said that she named it “Odyssey” after drawing inspiration from the ancient Greek epic about a hero’s long and arduous journey home -- a path filled with challenges, much like Taiwan’s journey in developing its semiconductor industry.

The film tells the story of how Taiwan’s semiconductor industry started from scratch 50 years ago to become indispensable to the world today.

The documentary was made at a pivotal moment in history as Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing comes under the global spotlight amid increasingly volatile geopolitics, producer Ben Tsiang (蔣顯斌) said, adding it was an impossible mission made possible by pioneers across generations.

The film also spotlighted those who first spearheaded Taiwan’s transition from an electronics- manufacturing nation to a semiconductor giant.

The East Coast premiere followed the documentary’s West Coast screening at Stanford University and the University of California Los Angeles in California, as well as in cities like San Francisco in the same state and the city of Phoenix in Arizona.

Other than Hsiao and Tsiang, the film’s other producer, Ben Chen (陳添順), and Chang Li-shan (張麗賢), deputy director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, also attended the East Coast premiere, as did many New York-residing Taiwanese expats and residents.

At the post screening symposium, Hsiao shared that many first-gen tech engineers who the film interviewed expressed hope the film will inform the wider public not only about TSMC, but also many other people and companies who came before but are now all but forgotten.

Hsiao said that those companies and people were truly the “mountain builders” of Taiwan, as many of them chose to stay in the country during a time of emigration after the Republic of China withdrew from the UN in 1971, while a number even returned to Taiwan from abroad.

“A seed planted then has bloomed into an entire forest,” Hsiao said of the contributions of the pioneers. “Some have even brought the successful experiences to America, making this a very moving journey.”

On making the documentary, Tsiang, CEO of CNEX Studio Corp -- a non-profit organization dedicated to making and promoting Chinese-language documentaries -- said that the team behind the movie wanted to make a historical documentary before changes in the world prompted them to blend history with modern geopolitics.

From 2019-2025, unexpected global developments unfolded, including the COVID-19 pandemic, TSMC surpassing Intel Corp in chip manufacturing dominance, the rise of artificial intelligence and the escalating US-China trade war were such elements that resulted in the change in direction.

Currently, with US President Donald Trump’s return to office, the world now faces a myriad of tariffs imposed on all trade partners, affecting Taiwan, he said, further elaborating on the direction of the documentary.

Tsiang went on to add that the documentary’s production was like a race against time, as the team would get the chance to interview pioneers only to learn of their passing soon after recording their stories.

As such, Tsiang said the documentary not only honored the past but also addressed questions for the future.

“A Chip Odyssey” will next be screened in colleges such as New York’s Columbia University before being shown across Europe.

title: ‘A Chip Odyssey’ premieres in US East Coast in New York


title: Workers’ rights

content_text: Representatives from labor groups hold banners outside the Ministry of Labor in Taipei yesterday, petitioning for a clear legal provision that sick leave should not result in disadvantageous treatment from employers. The groups made the appeal before participating in a meeting held by the ministry on the protection of workers’ sick leave rights.


companies: 台積電 Apple

title: TSMC sales solid, but may be slowing

content_text:
CRESTING WAVE: Companies are still buying in, but the shivers in the market could be the first signs that the AI wave has peaked and the collapse is upon the world

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday reported a new monthly record of NT$367.47 billion (US$11.85 billion) in consolidated sales for last month thanks to global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Last month’s figure represented 16.9 percent annual growth, the slowest pace since February last year. On a monthly basis, sales rose 11 percent.

Cumulative sales in the first 10 months of the year grew 33.8 percent year-on-year to NT$3.13 trillion, a record for the same period in the company’s history.

The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is pictured at its headquarters in Hsinchu on Nov. 21 last year. Photo: AFP

However, the slowing growth in monthly sales last month highlights uncertainty over the sustainability of the AI boom even as industry behemoths including Nvidia Corp pursue more chip orders.

Investors were jolted last week by a sudden slump in Asia’s technology shares, which served as a stark reminder that the world-beating rally in AI and semiconductor stocks might be nearing a short-term crest. Wall Street chief executives have warned of an overdue market correction, with Michael Burry’s Scion Asset Management LLC disclosing a bearish view on Nvidia.

However, industry executives remain buoyant about AI-driven growth, and one bad month of sales growth is not likely to rattle investors given the soaring spending plans announced by some of the world’s most valuable companies.

Meta Platforms Inc, Alphabet Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp are collectively spending more than US$400 billion to fund an AI buildout next year, a 21 percent hike from this year, to secure leadership in the race in emerging tech.

Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said on Saturday his business is “growing month by month, stronger and stronger.”

Huang met TSMC chairman and CEO C.C. Wei (魏哲家) and asked for more chip supplies during his two-day whirlwind trip to Taiwan last week at a time when major chip designers are chasing limited supplies from the Hsinchu-based company.

TSMC is also the go-to chipmaker for the Santa Clara, California-based firm’s competitors such as Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Qualcomm Inc, as well as Apple Inc, supplying silicon for iPhones and other electronics.

Huang’s optimism is shared by his rivals. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told Bloomberg TV last week that the world is underestimating how big AI is going to get.

Last month, Wei told analysts that TSMC’s capacity was still very tight, and the company is working hard to narrow the gap between demand and supplies.

The company previously guided fourth-quarter sales of NT$32.2 billion to NT$33.4 billion, representing a 0.9 percent sequential decline to a 22 percent annual increase. Analysts expect sales to increase 16 percent year-on-year this quarter.

Still, TSMC’s shares rose 1.03 percent to close at NT$1,475 yesterday, having gained about 37 percent since the beginning of this year, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed.


content_text:
Wages increase, staying slightly ahead of inflation

STAYING ALIVE: Median wages rose, with average wages highest in finance and insurance, and lowest in food service and support industries with part-timers

The average monthly regular wage in September was NT$48,110, a 3.19 percent increase from September last year and up 0.07 percent from August, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday.

Including overtime, bonuses and other commissions, the overall monthly wage was NT$57,452, an annual increase of 1.85 percent, but a monthly decline of 6.78 percent, the DGBAS said in a report.

In September, the median monthly wage — generally considered a more accurate measure of people’s income as it is not skewed by extremely high or low wages — increased 3.56 percent year-on-year and 0.36 percent month-on-month to NT$38,632, indicating that most workers still earned less than the average, the agency said.

The latest data on wages were based on the agency’s survey of employees in the nation’s industrial and service sectors. The total number of employees as of Sept. 30 was 8.547 million, up 2,000 or 0.02 percent month-on-month, it said.

People working in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and animal husbandry sectors, at government agencies, schools, and religious or occupational groups were not included in the survey, the DGBAS said.

From January to September, the average monthly wage was NT$47,751, up 3 percent from the same period last year and also the largest increase for the same period in 25 years, the agency said.

Alongside those numbers, the overall wage (including overtime, bonuses and other commissions) grew 3.67 percent and the median wage rose 2.87 percent during the nine months compared with a year earlier, it said.

After adjustments for consumer inflation, which increased 1.77 percent annually in the first nine months, the real average wage rose 1.21 percent year-on-year, which was the largest increase for the same period in five years, the agency said.

Over the same period, the real overall wage grew 1.87 percent, the biggest growth in seven years, and the real median wage was up 1.08 percent from a year earlier, it added.

By industry, the highest-paying sectors in the first nine months in terms of median wage were finance and insurance at NT$57,822 per month on average, followed by publishing, audiovisual and information services at NT$53,384, electronic components manufacturing at NT$46,838, and manufacturing in general at NT$36,665, the agency said.

At the lower end, accommodation and food services averaged NT$31,563, and support services which employ a high proportion of atypical workforce — those such as part-time workers, independent contractors and other irregular types of labors — averaged NT$32,653 during the nine months, both below the overall average, it said.


title: Macronix positioning to supply flash memory

content_text:
DEMAND COMING: Unpredictability in the market is rampant, but Macronix is adjusting sails to take advantage of the conditions, the CEO told a tech forum

Macronix International Co (旺宏) yesterday said chip prices started to pick up, driven by rising demand for NOR flash memory used in high-performance data centers worldwide.

The chipmaker said new data centers are based on Nvidia Corp’s advanced graphics processing units, rather than the x86 central processing units used in the past.

“We found accumulated demand in recent months keeps rising, mostly for data center-related [chips],” Macronix chairman and CEO Miin Wu (吳敏求) told reporters at an annual technology forum arranged by National Cheng Kung University in Tainan.

Macronix International Co chairman Miin Wu poses for a photograph at a forum at the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan yesterday. Photo: CNA

“Demand will be very significant,” Wu said. “We did see increases in price.”

Two weeks ago, Macronix said it had secured “firm orders” from customers to fully utilize its 12-inch fab, marking a dramatic recovery from a utilization ratio of 50 percent a year ago. The company has struggled to swing back to profit amid low factory utilization over the past 3 years.

Wu did not regard the improvement in chip demand and prices as a curtain raiser for a “super cycle” for the memory industry, as some module suppliers imagine. Instead, he offered a more conservative view, saying the psychological factor might have played a part in supply shortages.

“It is very difficult to predict how long it will last,” Wu said. “It looks like industry heavyweights such as Samsung Electronics Co did make some [capacity] adjustments, while some companies are benefiting from such adjustments.”

When asked if the epicycle is due to more fundamental and structural changes in the memory industry, Wu said it was not; there “just so happens to be such a demand.”

Alongside NOR flash memory, Macronix has high hopes for its new low-density embedded multi-media card (eMMC) module business as Samsung is reportedly phasing out of the multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory market and shifting its resources to higher-density memory chips. That indicated that Macronix has a good chance to fill the void left by Samsung.

“Macronix is facing a unique situation concerning eMMC NAND. Everyone is knocking on our door,” Wu said. The company has to be selective, given its limited capacity of MLC NAND flash memory.

The company expects the new eMMC business to generate a revenue stream in about four or five months. MLC NAND flash memory chips are integrated with controllers in eMMC modules for use in a wide range of electronics.

During the technology forum yesterday, Mirle Automation Corp (盟立) chairman Sun Houng (孫弘) said the company is tapping into the new advanced chip packaging area by supplying stocker automation systems.

As semiconductor companies are adopting heavy and large square glass substrates, overtaking 12-inch round substrates, Mirle said it has the advantage in supplying new automated stockers, given its longstanding partnerships with chip packaging companies.

Mirle counts chip packager Powertech Technology Inc (力成科技) as one of its customers.

Powertech is one of the first semiconductor companies in Taiwan heavily investing in advanced chip packaging technology using square glass substrates.


content_text:
Bill to assist industries attempting to consolidate passes first reading

The Legislative Yuan yesterday completed first reading of draft amendments to the Business Mergers and Acquisitions Act (企業併購法), which aims to encourage companies to consolidate and form industrial holding entities to improve international competitiveness.

The amendments were submitted by the Cabinet to the legislature’s Economics Committee for deliberation. While encouraging companies to consolidate, the amendments are purportedly to allow shareholders to defer their income tax reporting obligation until the date when they dispose of the industrial holding company’s shares, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.

As industry representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises voiced concerns that they might not have sufficient funds to pay the tax when establishing industrial holding companies through consolidation, the proposed amendments aim to address this issue, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said at a legislative meeting in Taipei.

Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin speaks at a meeting of the legislature’s Economics Committee in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

Kung’s remarks came as lawmakers expressed concern that several industries, including fastener, machinery and machine tool industries, are facing external challenges such as tariffs and geopolitical conflicts.

Before proposing the amendments, the ministry held discussions with industry representatives, most of whom expressed support for the ministry’s efforts to help them mitigate shareholders’ tax burdens when setting up holding companies, Kung said.

The ministry plans to establish a platform and a counseling mechanism to help facilitate industry integration after the legislature approves the proposed amendments, he said.

To avoid the abuse of the deferred income tax policy, the new measure only applies to an acquiring company that is recognized by the National Development Council as an industrial holding company.

However, lawmakers yesterday failed to reach a consensus about the penalties for abusing the new tax policy, which would be reserved for further negotiations, the ministry said.

Separately, Kung said the government would continue to negotiate with the US over tariff rates imposed on Taiwanese goods, responding to speculation that US President Donald Trump’s global tariffs might be struck down after the US Supreme Court questioned Trump’s authority over the issue.

Regarding the progress of Taiwan-US tariff negotiations, optimism has increased, Kung said, adding that the government aims to finalize the tariff rates with the US by the end of this year.


title: CEO says robots are the future of the car industry

content_text:
A large majority of vehicle manufacturers might disappear within two decades as humanoid robots become increasingly common in manufacturing, a Taiwanese company head said yesterday.

Peter Chen (陳其宏), chairman and CEO of Qisda Corp (佳世達), a technology manufacturer engaged in artificial intelligence (AI) of things applications, made the remark at a forum in Tainan.

Humanoid robots are expected to be used first in smart manufacturing, which relies on massive data, algorithms and computing power, he said.

Qisda Corp chairman Peter Chen, fourth right, Mirle Automation Corp chairman Sun Houng, fourth left, Delta Electronics Inc vice president for motion control business David Tsai, second right, and other guests attend a technology forum at the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan yesterday. Photo: CNA

Smart manufacturing builds on conventional automation, which remains the dominant production model in most factories today, by embedding AI, sensors, big data and connectivity to make the entire production process data-driven, adaptive and self-optimizing.

Deploying humanoid robots in smart manufacturing can help solve issues employers have such as employee morale, overtime and labor unions, Chen said.

Qisda has moved its most advanced production lines to Vietnam as a way of extending its lead over competitors, Chen said.

However, Qisda’s decision to invest in Vietnam was not based solely on labor costs, since the cost of AI technologies rises by about 15 percent annually, he added.

He said that the vehicle industry would be among the sectors most affected by the growing use of humanoid robots, leading to the disappearance of most car brands within 10 to 20 years.

Chen said those automakers in danger could include ones such as Mercedes-Benz AG, whose production he described as “still driven by traditional concepts.”

At the forum, Chen showed footage of Tesla Inc’s largely human-free manufacturing process, saying it gives the US automaker an edge in production efficiency.

Late last month, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), the world’s largest electronics and AI server manufacturer, announced plans to deploy humanoid robots on its production lines in Texas.

Speaking at the forum were Mirle Automation Corp (盟立) chairman Sun Houng (孫弘) and Delta Electronics Inc (台達電) vice president for motion control business David Tsai (蔡清雄).

Sun said the transition from automation to smart manufacturing is an inevitable trend, while Tsai stressed that identifying a company’s challenges and needs is key to digital transformation.

Delta Electronics began its transformation in 2015 to address labor shortages in China and established a demonstration production line in 2018, Tsai said.

Through standardization, automation, digitalization and intelligentization, the company increased per-capita production-line efficiency by a factor of three to five, boosted overall capacity by 70 percent and reduced factory floor space by 35 percent, Tsai said.


content_text:
Citi’s Head of Banking Vis Raghavan: Taiwan is a key strategic market for Citi

On a recent trip to Taiwan, Citi’s Head of Banking Vis Raghavan discussed his priorities in supporting clients across the bank’s franchise.

Q: You have all your key Banking business lines in Taiwan, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking. How important is Taiwan overall to Citi’s Banking business?

Taiwan is a great example of Citi’s Banking model. We have a best-in-class corporate bank that is deeply embedded into the operations of our clients. Citi’s Investment Bank here is world-class and whether our clients are looking to pursue M&A, issue debt or equity, we can deliver. Our role is to be a strategic advisor for our clients and follow-through with impeccable execution. And our Commercial Bank is growing and working with those companies that will be the large multi-nationals of tomorrow. So, Taiwan really is a key strategic market for Citi.

Citi’s Head of Banking Vis Raghavan is pictured in a handout photograph. Photo courtesy of Citibank Taiwan

To underline that, our team has raised over US$30bn for Taiwanese clients since 2020 from global capital markets to support their growth. Many of these financings were for leading companies that Citi supports across our Banking business locally and globally. We help Taiwan corporates go global, global MNCs expand in Taiwan and new economy companies grow – we are in the sweet spot connecting Taiwan to the world, and the world to Taiwan. From established corporate champions of today to the titans of tomorrow, our model is to support these companies with their growth ambitions. They choose Citi because we have the local insight and knowledge built over six decades operating in Taiwan along with a truly global network.

We also support our clients across a One Citi principle, making sure we are connecting them with businesses across Citi. This could be in areas like trade finance and cash management in our Services business or hedging in rates or FX in the Markets business. We have market leading businesses in Taiwan and from this powerful base, there are increased opportunities to grow with our clients. I have been excited to meet clients on this trip and learn and understand how we can support them further across Citi.

Q: How does Citi use its physical network across more than 90 markets to support local companies?

In Taiwan, we empower leading local companies to achieve global success, facilitating their business expansion into over 50 markets worldwide. Notably, more than 60% of these companies operate in over 5 markets, and over half of them have a presence in more than 10 markets. These numbers have increased significantly versus a decade ago. What Citi can uniquely provide for clients remains in high demand. We are deeply engaged with our clients, proactively helping them navigate macro and geopolitical uncertainty, and that has driven strong third quarter growth for Citi overall. We’ve supported clients with issues that include supply chain shifts and hedging, and with their strategic agendas. In times of uncertainty, Citi’s business model, global footprint and strong balance sheet serve as a pillar of strength and stability for our clients.

Q: In today’s volatile and uncertain environment, what advice and services can Citi offer to Taiwanese companies?

As geopolitical tensions and evolving economic policies create new and uncharted territory for markets and companies, Citi’s international network is a competitive advantage. More clients are leaning into Citi for advice. Trade policies and international relations are impacting both the markets and the economy. So, while market activity is busy, our general advice now is stay liquid, be prudent and keep your capital structure clean. Important opportunities will come up, and they will require financial flexibility and efficient decision-making. More broadly though all companies are preparing for fundamental shifts in trade and capital flows. Our ability to connect the dots across markets, provide real-time insights and execute at scale is what sets Citi apart. The uncertainty will continue to drive fluctuations in global markets. We continue to find ways to help clients mitigate risks and seize opportunities.

Q: Citi is a leader in capital markets (both ECM and DCM) for Taiwan corporates, what is the outlook for financing? And do you expect more M&A involving Taiwan companies, and will it be more outbound or inbound?

Citi continues to solidify its position as a clear market leader in Taiwan across M&A, ECM, and DCM, building on our performance in 2024 and maintaining a top-tier ranking in 2025 year-to-date. We anticipate sustained momentum with a robust pipeline. In capital markets, significant growth opportunities driven by the booming AI industry have attracted investor interest in high-quality Taiwanese issuers. This has resulted in recent transactions being multiple times oversubscribed by investors, consistently achieving highly successful fundraising outcomes for our clients. On the M&A front, we actively leverage our extensive global network to empower clients in pursuing their transformative strategies and cross-border expansion objectives. This support is particularly crucial given the evolving dynamics of global supply chains.

Q: Taiwan is key on the global semiconductor and AI supply chain. As technology and AI reshape industries worldwide, Taiwan stands at the center of these mega trends, driving innovation, how will you further support Taiwan companies?

Taiwan is home to some of the most innovative and advanced companies in the world. It has risen up the value chain and remains competitive across the tech space. While many of these companies already see strong growth, they are also keen on growing and expanding their presence in new markets. Citi is focused on supporting them further. Citi’s strategic focus for Taiwanese companies centers on global expansion and connectivity, leveraging our unparalleled global network. We provide critical services such as cross-border payment solutions, trade finance structures, and risk advisory for FX exposure management, all essential for optimizing global supply chains and ensuring successful market entry. Building supply chain resilience and optimizing operations is another critical focus for the work with our clients here in Taiwan. Recognizing the intensive capital requirements inherent in AI and other advanced technology development, Citi delivers comprehensive financing solutions tailored for these companies.

We are also embracing AI at Citi to support our teams and clients. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming industries, and banking is no exception. We are rapidly scaling the technology across the firm – putting the power of GenAI into the hands of our colleagues to help them make faster decisions, automate repetitive tasks, and increase productivity. This exciting technology offers a wide range of opportunities for us to make the bank more efficient by using it in our businesses with specific use cases. We are investing in the future by building towards our goal of an AI-ready workforce by giving colleagues access to AI allowing them to explore the tech and become familiar by integrating it into their daily work routines. We are exploring how GenAI will enhance our client’s experiences and the technology could potentially lead to AI-enhanced M&A and capital markets tools which will streamline processes, analyze market sentiment better, and optimize pricing and timing for IPOs or bond issuances, improving valuations and deal competitiveness.


content_text: A traditional Thai dance performer gestures as visitors peruse bargains on the final day of the Taipei International Travel Fair at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center’s Hall 1 yesterday.

title: Thai style


title: EDITORIAL: Uneven growth in Taiwan’s economy

content_text:
Taiwan’s export momentum has been very strong this year, as robust global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing applications continued to boost outbound shipments of electronic components, information and communications technology (ICT) products, and audiovisual devices. As a result, the government’s statistics agency and several research institutes have sharply raised their GDP growth forecasts for Taiwan this year, despite geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic volatility.

The Ministry of Finance on Friday reported that exports last month surged by 49.7 percent year-on-year to US$61.8 billion, a record monthly high. It is also the 24th consecutive month of annual growth and the largest year-on-year increase in about 15-and-a-half years.

Cumulative exports during the first 10 months of the year rose by 31.8 percent to US$514.45 billion from the same period last year, surpassing last year’s full-year total, the ministry said, adding that it expects full-year exports this year to exceed the US$600 billion for the first time.

The strong export performance has been underpinned by strong market demand for electronic parts, ICT products and audiovisual devices, which together helped outbound shipments grow 48.4 percent year-on-year in the first 10 months, the ministry said.

Other exports, such as metals, machinery products, plastics and rubber products, remained largely subdued during the same period, growing 1 percent compared with last year, it added.

Taiwan’s expertise in advanced chip production and high-quality ICT products give the country an edge in the AI boom, helping boost export growth. The ongoing capital outlays earmarked by chipmakers and companies throughout the supply chains have also played a significant role in supporting domestic investment.

On the other hand, private consumption and government spending have been unimpressive so far.

Exports of goods and services in the first three quarters of this year grew by 28.55 percent from a year earlier, gross capital formation increased by 6.9 percent, government spending expanded by 1.15 percent and private consumption edged up by 0.91 percent, government data showed. Despite the robust performance of Taiwan’s stock market this year, household spending has not moved in parallel, and that has become increasingly evident in car and home purchases.

Overall, Taiwan’s economy grew 7.06 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, largely driven by foreign trade, while domestic demand fell significantly. The government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) cash handout this month is expected to stimulate private consumption, with the National Development Council estimating it would provide a 0.415 percentage point boost to GDP growth, and the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics projecting a 0.65 percentage point contribution.

Taiwan’s reliance on the electronics industry presents opportunities and risks, and economists warned that any setback to the AI boom could adversely affect the country’s trade and capital inflows. The uneven growth in domestic industries — especially traditional industries and non-AI manufacturing — deserves greater attention from the government. While ministries have introduced assistance measures for affected businesses, the imbalance in industrial development does not seem to have improved.

As more Taiwanese manufacturers seek alternative production bases overseas due to geopolitics and the US’ tariff policy, retaining critical technology and advanced manufacturing at home, as well as developing newer and more dynamic industries domestically, are more crucial than ever.

This year is a defining moment for the tech-driven, export-reliant economy, as several institutes forecast that Taiwan’s real GDP this year could grow by about 6 percent. However, to keep the economy resilient, the government must regularly review its policies and make necessary adjustments promptly.