Investigators visited the Hsinchu Baseball Stadium today to collect evidence following allegations of illegally dumped construction waste and possible corruption The Chinese-language Mirror Media news outlet reported that a large amount of concrete that had been mixed with plastic products red bricks and other construction materials was discovered when excavating the outfield which could potentially contravene the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法) The finding has furthered suspicions first raised in October last year that city officials had given illegal benefits to a contractor during the stadium’s multi-year renovation project completed in 2022 potentially contravening the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) although investigators would still need to clarify this Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office via CNA The Hsinchu City Government also found in 2023 that the stadium had a faulty drainage system and its surface was unsuitable for players The investigation would be led by chief prosecutor Hung Sung-piao (洪松標) and the Hsinchu branch of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau which would investigate and potentially prosecute the matter under separate cases the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office said ASM's Taiwanese subsidiary held an opening ceremony for its new office in Hsinchu following similar moves by other global semiconductor equipment and materials suppliers including Fujifilm Electronics Materials Taiwan and Tokyo Electron This cluster of upstream suppliers establishing their presence near Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) highlights the region's growing importance in the semiconductor supply chain emphasized Taiwan's critical role in the company's business strategy citing the nation's position as a central hub in the global semiconductor industry As ASM approaches its 19th year of operations in Taiwan the company is strengthening its presence by relocating its office near the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) Hsinchu Station and preparing to open a new office in Kaohsiung These strategic moves reflect ASM's commitment to increasing investment and supporting Taiwan's semiconductor industry growth The Dutch semiconductor equipment supplier specializing in atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology plays a crucial role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes Beyond relocating its Hsinchu headquarters office near the Zhubei High-Speed Rail station ASM plans to establish its Kaohsiung location in November 2024 to enhance customer technical support and services emphasized the importance of talent in driving semiconductor industry innovation The company projects double-digit annual growth in employee recruitment over the next three years established in 2023 at the Southern Taiwan Science Park has emerged as a key training hub for the Asia-Pacific region providing thousands of course hours annually The facility is expected to train approximately 300 engineers by the end of 2025 ASM currently maintains 15 locations across the US with its training center in the Southern Taiwan Science Park and the upcoming Kaohsiung office set to open in 2024 please first agree to the privacy policy below.A record number of 5,659 marijuana plants in a single case were seized by the Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office during an investigation earlier this year according to a statement released by the office on Tuesday (Full text of the story is now in CNA English news archive. 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All rights reserved said: “The Hsinchu seawater desalination plant is a pioneering large-scale desalination project in Taiwan capable of producing 10 tonnes of desalinated water per day With more than 40 years of experience in maritime engineering Hung Hua is proud to be in charge of the maritime engineering of the intake and outfall seawater system construction in this project.” SUEZ boasts 50 years of expertise in seawater desalination highlighted by the construction of one of the world’s largest SWRO desalination plants in Australia — the Victorian Desalination Plant the Perth plant supplies over 45 billion litres of clean drinking water annually to more than two million people SUEZ is building a 100 million litres per day SWRO desalination plant in Shandong This is SUEZ’s largest seawater desalination project in the industrial sector It is designed to use seawater as a complementary water source for the Wanhua Chemical Group industrial complex It will save more than 36 million cubic meters of freshwater per year equivalent to the volume of 14,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools The Executive Yuan has approved the Central Weather Administration’s (CWA) plan to upgrade a weather observation station in Hsinchu County into the Hsinchu Meteorology Science Park which would include a server room for a supercomputer to facilitate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for weather forecasting The use of AI could enable the meteorology agency to provide more precise weather forecasts and develop more weather-related applications but the CWA currently does not have sufficient computing power to run a supercomputer or the space to build a server room for it A supercomputer server room must be able to carry 2 tonnes per square meter The CWA would build the supercomputer in Hsinchu because the county has high-quality and high-speed Internet computing power and talent are three main elements that the CWA would need to be able to use AI in weather forecasting “We have weather data accumulated over the past 100 years but we need computing power to train large-scale weather forecast models and integrate them with existing models We are working with the National Science and Technology Council and Nvidia Corp to learn new ways to develop high-resolution forecast models using AI,” he said which is named “Construction Project of High-Speed Computer for Weather Forecast,” has been approved by the Executive Yuan with construction scheduled to be completed in 2027 The use of AI would increase the accuracy of global weather forecast models by 6 percent and projected paths for typhoons within 120 hours by 12 percent The percentage of data processed through graphic processing units would gradually expand from 30 percent to 40 percent and 60 percent CWA Remote Sensing Division deputy director Chang Bau-liang (張保亮) said The training time would be 1,000 to 1,500 times faster if the CWA uses AI to train computers to deep-learn atmospheric models adding that weather forecast results could be obtained within a few minutes the CWA said it would offer wind force forecasts for coastal areas this summer when briefing mayors and county commissioners about potential typhoons The administration said it would also bolster the monitoring of high-intensity short duration rainfall by installing weather radar systems in Yunlin and Yilan counties March 20 (CNA) Hsinchu City Councilor Chen Chih-hsiung (陳治雄) has been given a suspended sentence after being found guilty by a district court of embezzling public funds According to the Hsinchu District Court's verdict on Tuesday fraudulently claimed around NT$2.79 million (US$84,574) by registering two acquaintances as phantom assistants The court said that Chen hired a man surnamed Chi (戚) as his assistant on Aug eventually raising Chi's monthly salary to NT$40,000 Chen then registered the girlfriend of his girlfriend's son Chen personally pocketed the salaries of the two assistants Chen knowingly violated the law by fraudulently claiming assistant salaries betraying the trust of those who voted him into office The court gave Chen a jail term of two years citing his admission of guilt and return of his illicit gains Chen's girlfriend was given a prison sentence of 18 months Chen told CNA Thursday that he respected the outcome of the court's ruling and would discuss an appeal with his lawyer An explosion in the early hours of this morning at a Far Eastern New Century Corp chemical fiber plant in Hsinchu County has killed two and left 19 injured the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau received a report of a fire at the Cotton 6 North Plant in Sinpu Township (新埔) and dispatched 29 fire trucks and 60 firefighters after a suspected gas leak triggered an explosion Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau Initial internal investigations suggest that the explosion was caused by a gas leak from a hot oil pipeline but added that it is awaiting official investigation results for confirmation went to investigate after receiving an internal notification that the fire alarm had been triggered Tsai had worked at Far Eastern for almost nine years and had recently been promoted to engineer Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu County Government sustained critical injuries at the scene and was sent to a hospital Far Eastern Group chairman Douglas Hsu (徐旭東) has ordered generous compensation for the families of the deceased and dispatched personnel to hospitals to assist the injured Far Eastern said their factories are all equipped with fire detectors and automatic alarm systems the guardroom immediately notified plant personnel A Hsinchu County resident surnamed Huang (黃) said that frequent fires and even explosions have often caused unpleasant odors and air pollution in the area with fearful residents calling the plant a “ticking time bomb.” Labor Rights Association head and Hsinchu County Councilor Luo Mei-wen (羅美文) said he suspects that the tragedy was caused by a long history of excessive labor cuts lack of sufficient employee training and old equipment that had not been updated The Hsinchu County Environmental Protection Bureau has carried out air-quality testing and advised caution for certain boroughs in Hsinchu County's Jhubei City (竹北) as well as northern areas of Hsinchu City including Siangshan District (香山) Those downwind of the blast may notice air pollution or unusual odors and are advised to close windows and take precautions when going outside such as wearing masks Hsinchu County Commissioner Yang Wen-ke (楊文科) visited the scene and expressed his condolences in a post on Facebook 2 (CNA) The Taiwan High Court has suspended its review of Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao Hung-an's (高虹安) appeal against her conviction in a corruption case dating back to her time as a lawmaker citing concerns about the constitutionality of the law applied in the case who served as a legislator-at-large for the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) from Feb was found guilty by Taipei District Court in July 2024 of filing fraudulent expense claims to pay staff hired with public funds under Paragraph 1 Article 32 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan The former TPP lawmaker left the Legislature to take up the Hsinchu mayor post in late 2022 she and four of her former legislative staff members were indicted in August 2023 for claiming government-paid expenses to cover staff costs that were higher than the actual salary and overtime paid to her aides Kao and three of the four indicted former staff members were found guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Act because they used the fraudulently claimed expenses as petty cash and the district court found that constituted embezzlement Kao was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison while the three former aides were given suspended prison sentences Because there is no clear indication in the organic law on the legal consequences of violating the article on staff costs the High Court said it needs to seek the Constitutional Court's view before proceeding with Kao's appeal Although there have been more than 200 court rulings on misuse of public funds by elected representatives at local government level Kao is the first legislator to be found guilty of such offenses and the result of her case will have long lasting impact Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao Hung-an gives a progress report as mayor in this CNA file photo.There is no standing legal opinions on whether existing court rulings based on the Regulation on Allowances for Elected Representatives and Subsidies for Chiefs of Village can be applied in the lawmaker's case because it is not clearly stipulated in the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan Despite its ample resources and the expertise of its staff the Legislative Yuan was unable to provide a definitive view on the legislation regarding staffing costs Both Kao and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office appealed the district court's decision with Kao defending her innocence by arguing to the High Court in November last year that no money went to her personally the Taipei District Prosecutors Office sought a heavier punishment in their appeal Following the guilty verdict on July 26 last year Kao was automatically suspended as Hsinchu mayor in accordance with related legal provisions The Ministry of the Interior named Kao's deputy Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said during a press briefing that Kao's suspension is not changed by the High Court's announcement as her earlier guilty verdict still stands When asked if Kao could be eligible to run for Hsinchu mayor in the local government elections in late 2026 Liu said it remains to be seen when the courts will rule on her case but the ministry is following the legal proceedings closely 6 (CNA) A fire broke out at a chemical fiber factory in Hsinchu County in the early hours of Thursday claiming the lives of two people and leaving 19 others injured according to Far Eastern New Century Corp. and firefighters rushed to scene shortly after but while the blaze was extinguished around 3:30 am One factory worker was pronounced dead at the site after suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) according to the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau Photo courtesy of Hsinchu County Government Fire Bureau Feb 2025Five people were severely injured in the fire adding that it will provide assistance to the families of the deceased and those who were injured the fire was caused by a gas explosion that resulted from a leak in an insulation pipe with a daily manufacturing output of approximately 160 tons of chemical fiber which means production has not been significantly affected by the fire The fire on Thursday was the fifth one at the factory since 2019 They told CNA that the plant constantly emits foul odors Some residents said that in the wee hours of Thursday they heard a loud bang and thought it was an earthquake they heard sirens and realized that it was a fire or explosion nearby as firetrucks and ambulances began arriving According to the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau was dispatched to the scene at around 3 a.m One of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC 台積電) sites in Hsinchu County has been ordered to suspend power distribution work and propose an improvement plan after a worker was electrocuted to death last week TSMC yesterday said that the incident occurred on Friday afternoon at the unfinished Fab 20 site in the Baoshan (寶山) area of Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) A contract worker was electrocuted while working on an office power distribution project at the site The worker was sent to hospital by an ambulance stationed at the factory but was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed which manages high-tech sites including TSMC’s Fab 20 said that it notified the Ministry of Labor and dispatched personnel to inspect the worksite on the day the incident happened The bureau then ordered TSMC to suspend work in the indoor power distribution area and propose a safety improvement plan Work can only resume once it has conducted inspections after receiving TSMC’s new safety plan TSMC said that it would cooperate with the authorities’ investigation but did not indicate when the work improvement plan would be submitted the nation’s most valuable company by market capitalization operates multiple manufacturing facilities across Taiwan that produce many of the world’s most advanced microchips The Fab 20 site in Hsinchu Science Park is expected to use 2-nanometer technology when production begins next year Another production facility for 2-nanometer products is under construction in Kaohsiung March 27 (CNA) A Hsinchu City daycare center will be fined NT$240,000 (US$7,244) and its public subsidies will be ended following the death of a baby this week according to the city government on Thursday The four-month-old girl who suffered asphyxiation while sleeping at a government-subsidized daycare center was pronounced dead after being sent to the hospital Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Hsinchu City Councilor Liu Yen-ling (劉彥伶) told CNA the same day the Hsinchu City government said the baby was sent to hospital on March 11 and was pronounced dead on March 24 The city government said its Department of Social Affairs had conducted an inspection of the daycare center and held a special inquiry on March 25 to assess the incident The city government determined that the daycare center violated the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act It imposed the NT$240,000 fine and demanded the center submit an improvement plan within a time limit The city government added that the daycare center will lose its qualification and subsidies as a semi-public daycare center the city government said that daycare centers must "fulfill their responsibilities pay attention to children's movements and physiological conditions at all times and prevent similar unfortunate incidents from happening again." The interior of one of Taiwan Railway Corp’s (TRC) two new tourist trains was unveiled today ahead of its official start of operations on Dec which has the rights to operate new tourism express trains and the TRC held a press event at Hsinchu Railway Station today to unveil the new Haifeng (海風號) train The Haifeng and Shanlan (山嵐號) were designed to feature Taiwan’s natural landscapes The Haifeng’s revamped EMU500 series passenger train features a color palette reminiscent of the blues and greens of the ocean with an interior that allows passengers to enjoy the scenery in beautiful surroundings traveling along the shoreline from Hsinchu to Taichung and back It is to make stops at Sinpu (新埔) and Daijia (大甲) stations on the way to Taichung and at Sinpu and Houlong (後龍) stations on the way back to Hsinchu Descriptions of the sights are to be broadcast during the journey interspersed with soft music Meals are to be packed in a gift box featuring local delicacies as well as French pastries and Michelin-starred ice cream Reservations can be made on the Lion Travel Web site please first agree to the privacy policy below.One of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s (TSMC) sites in Hsinchu County has been ordered to suspend power distribution work and propose an improvement plan after a worker was electrocuted to death last week Offices and the residences of Hsinchu County Labor Affairs Department Director Liu Chia-man (劉家滿) and Deputy Director Lin Tung-shan (林東山) were searched yesterday as part of a corruption case investigation, the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office said today. Last month, Lin was detained for allegedly accepting bribes in the form of gift vouchers for leniency in labor inspections. Liu has also been held incommunicado on suspicion of violations of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), prosecutors said. Two more people were brought in for questioning yesterday, who have since been released on bail of NT$100,000 each, they said. On Feb. 14, the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office partnered with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau’s Taipei division to question Lin and two others. The bureau said it found that Lin was seriously implicated in corruption, and it twice requested his detention without visitation rights from the Hsinchu District Court, which was granted last month. Lin had violated the act by accepting bribes and abusing his position, the court said, ordering his detention without visitation rights due to concerns of collusion and destruction of evidence. The other two people were placed under residential restrictions. Hsinchu County Government said that Hsinchu County Counselor Tsai Shu-chen (蔡淑貞) would take over as acting director of the Labor Affairs Department and it would continue to operate as usual. The Hsinchu County Government would continue to serve the public in accordance with the law and would fully comply with the investigation and respect the judiciary process, it added. Taipei, March 1 (CNA) An accident in Hsinchu City on Saturday that occurred when a driver lost control of his vehicle has left one person dead and six people injured. The accident was triggered when the driver of an SUV, surnamed Lin (林), abruptly swerved to avoid colliding with another vehicle just before 11 a.m., according to Hsu Wei-liang (許惟亮), a chief at the Hsinchu City Police Bureau Traffic Police Brigade. Lin then lost control and crashed into the car in front of him and another one waiting to take a left turn before flipping over and running into two other cars and a motorcycle, Hsu said. The woman driving the motorcycle suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at the scene and was proclaimed dead at a nearby hospital. The 79-year-old Lin and his passengers were also treated for multiple abrasions. A total of six people were injured in the pileup. A breath alcohol test showed zero alcohol in Lin's blood, but his case will be handed over to prosecutors for investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter charges, Hsu said. Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Temperatures in Hsinchu and Miaoli counties may drop below 6 degrees Celsius on Monday, with the rest of Taiwan facing temperatures under 10 degrees, according to cold surge advisories from the Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday. Speaking to CNA on Sunday, CWA forecaster Chang Cheng-chuan (張承傳) said Taiwan was still experiencing the effects of a continental cold air mass and radiative cooling. Between late Sunday night and early Monday morning, temperatures in Hsinchu and Miaoli counties could dip below six degrees, while the rest of Taiwan, except for Taitung County in the southeast, is expected to experience temperatures below 10 degrees, according to the CWA. However, the cold air mass will weaken on Monday morning, according to Chang, resulting in northern parts of Taiwan seeing highs of 18 to 21 degrees, while central and southern Taiwan could experience highs between 22 and 23 degrees. Chang warned of significant temperature differences of 10 to 15 degrees between day and night across Taiwan. Radiative cooling will remain early Tuesday morning, bringing lows in the western half of the island to between 12 and 14 degrees, Chang said, adding that Hualien and Taitung counties could also see lows of 15 and 16 degrees. Chang went on to add that the next cold air mass could hit Taiwan between Tuesday and Wednesday. In terms of precipitation, Chang stated that Monday and Tuesday mornings will be partly cloudy or sunny across the nation except for the eastern and southeastern parts of Taiwan where rain could fall sporadically. Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday, northern, eastern, southern and mountainous areas of central Taiwan could experience sporadic rain. The weather will turn dry again by Thursday when most of the nation will see partly cloudy or sunny weather until Sunday, except for the eastern half of the island which could see more sporadic rain. Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) A fatal shooting occurred Friday afternoon in Hsinchu County's Zhudong Township, leaving a man believed to be a key figure in an organized crime gang dead, another person critically injured, and four others wounded, according to local police. The 51-year-old man who died, surnamed Liu (劉), suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest after being shot and was proclaimed dead at the hospital when efforts to resuscitate him failed. Another man was critically injured by a gunshot and four others suffered stab wounds. According to witnesses, a group of masked men in a white car drove to a soft drinks wholesale store where the incident took place. They headed straight for the second floor upon arrival, after which several gunshots were heard, and the men then fled the scene in the same car. The incident occurred at a gathering place of a local gang, and Liu was an important figure in the crime gang, according to sources. Some local media speculated that the attack may have involved a gang dispute and may have been premeditated as the suspects were all masked, but the police have not officially identified the suspects as gang members. At a press briefing Saturday, however, Chiu Yu-mei (邱幼媚), the deputy chief of the Hsinchu County Police Bureau, said police "will not tolerate the brazen behavior of gang forces," suggesting that the incident may have involved criminal gang violence. Lee Chi-hsun (李奇勳), commander of the Hsinchu County Police Bureau's Criminal Investigation Brigade, said Saturday that the incident, from the shootings and stabbing to the suspects leaving the crime scene, spanned no more than five minutes. The local precinct has sent officers to guard the injured at the hospital and forensics investigators to the scene to collect evidence, Lee said. After accessing surveillance tapes, the white car has also been found in Hsinchu City, Lee said at a press conference held by the Hsinchu County Police. Wu Hsueh-an (吳學安), head of the Zhudong Precinct, told the press that police are actively pursuing the five suspects. The possibility of additional accomplices involved in the escape is also being investigated. The motive is also being looked into, with police focusing on the deceased's social connections and other related circumstances, Wu said. The Taiwan Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office said Friday night that the chief prosecutor has put a high priority on the case and has instructed a task force to make every effort to bring the suspects to justice. Also on Friday, Criminal Investigation Bureau Director-General Chou Yu-wei (周幼偉) said police were compiling evidence from the scene, surveillance footage, and information from the Hsinchu County and City police, and he was confident the case could be cracked soon. (By Kuan Jui-ping, Lu Kang-chun, Kuo Hsuan-wen and Wu Kuan-hsien) Taipei, March 20 (CNA) A temperature of 5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Hsinchu County's Guanxi Township early Thursday, the lowest in a non-mountainous area in Taiwan for the day so far, as the country remained in the grip of a continental cold air mass, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The record low of 5 degrees in Guanxi Township was followed by 5.2 degrees in Miaoli County's Sanwan Township, and 6.5 degrees in New Taipei's Shiding District, CWA data showed. The CWA has issued cold surge advisories, effective until late Thursday morning, warning of temperatures below 10 degrees in various cities and counties in Taiwan, including New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Yilan. The effects of the cold air mass are expected to weaken during the day, and temperatures will rise slightly from the day before, the CWA said. CWA graphicHighs of 18-20 degrees are forecast in the north, and 23-24 degrees in the rest of the country, according to the CWA. Sunny skies will emerge Thursday across much of the country, with the likelihood of some scattered showers in Hualien and Taitung counties in the east, the CWA said. The weather is expected to get progressively warmer over the next two days, but the mercury will drop sharply at night due to a radiative cooling effect, the CWA has forecast. The Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said it has carried out what it called the largest ketamine bust in the nation’s law enforcement history after confiscating tonnes of illegal substances from a fishing boat near the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). On Friday last week, Hsinchu prosecutor Sheng Yu-chih (沈郁智), leading a task force of coast guards, military police and the Hsinchu Police Department, found 52 sacks of drugs after raiding the Taiwan-flagged vessel Maan Ruby Fuh. Officers seized 1.6 tonnes of ketamine and 22.5kg of amphetamines, inclusive of packaging material, the office said, adding that the substances had a street value of at least NT$2 billion (US$60.99 million). The Hsinchu District Court on Friday authorized prosecutors to detain a man surnamed Chen (陳), who was the ship’s captain, and two Indonesian nationals under his employ with restrictions on their communications to prevent collusion, court documents showed. According to the office, Hsinchu police and coast guard personnel separately obtained intelligence suggesting that Chen, who was convicted 12 years ago of cigarette smuggling, allegedly planned to traffic drugs into the country. The office assigned the case to Sheng, whose investigation revealed that Chen allegedly intended to transport an unprecedented amount of drugs and cut deals with buyers from across Taiwan, it said. The Hsinchu Military Police Command and Taichung Police Bureau’s Wujih Precinct were brought into the task force due to the purported smuggling operation’s unexpectedly large scope, the office said. Investigators further found the boat’s transponder had not been turned on for more than six months. When the boat abruptly reappeared near the Pratas Islands, Sheng ordered a team to board and inspect the vessel, resulting in the discovery of the narcotics in its hold, the office said. Rough sea conditions stranded the trawler and the officers in the water until Thursday, when the substances were unloaded and weighed at Hsinchu Fishing Port, it said. Chen’s drug suppliers appeared to possess some level of organization, as they allegedly packed the narcotics in tea bags bearing markings that seemingly denoted the quality of the substances they contained, the office said. Police are directing the inquiry toward identifying the organizations or people who placed orders for the drugs, it said. , opens new tab, Apple <AAPL.O> and Qualcomm (QCOM.O), opens new tab and bringing more of its production to U.S soil would solve a major supply chain risk for those firms.Reporting by Faith Hung and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Christopher Cushing Ben joined Reuters as a company news reporter in Shanghai in 2003 before moving to Beijing in 2005 to cover Chinese politics and diplomacy. In 2019 Ben was appointed the Taiwan bureau chief covering everything from elections and entertainment to semiconductors. Credit: Fujifilm Electronic Materials Taiwan Fujifilm Electronic Materials Taiwan held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility in Hsinchu The event drew several prominent Fujifilm executives including board members Tetsuya Iwasaki and Hiroshi Ito Fujifilm Electronics Materials Taiwan chairman Kenichi Tanaka Fujifilm Electronics Materials has been strengthening its local manufacturing presence in Taiwan through facilities in Hsinchu and Tainan The company announced plans for the new Hsinchu plant in May 2023 The facility will serve as the company's Taiwan headquarters The company is simultaneously expanding its Tainan facility (Plant Three) with additional equipment and manufacturing lines including a new CMP slurry production line The combined investment for the Hsinchu and Tainan expansions is expected to exceed JPY15 billion (US$112 million) Industry sources indicate the new Hsinchu plant will target opportunities in the emerging 2-nanometer market through advanced production and quality assurance equipment The facility will enhance local production and technical support for CMP slurries and photolithography-related materials while new storage facilities will ensure swift supply and response to customer requirements the electronic materials business of the Fujifilm Group has seen continuous expansion since entering the semiconductor market in 1983 Global sales reached JPY200 billion in fiscal year 2023 establishing it as a core business within the Fujifilm Group with significant revenue contribution from its Taiwanese subsidiary Fujifilm Electronics Materials operates 20 locations worldwide established in 1996 in Hsinchu Industrial Park specializes in producing specialty chemical materials and provides stable supply services to Taiwanese semiconductor customers through advanced quality systems Beyond Plants 1 and 2 in Hsinchu Industrial Park the company has expanded to the Southern Taiwan Science Park To accommodate the growing semiconductor market demand in Taiwan the company acquired additional land near its original site to expand capacity and unify office operations for Plants 1 and 2 TAIPEI, Taiwan — China's secretive military appears to be up to something around Taiwan but it's unclear whether it's a formal military drill Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it has detected a dozen Chinese naval ships and 47 military planes in the past 24 hours but no live-fire activity as in previous military exercises The deployment covers a wider area this time with additional ships going beyond Taiwan into other parts of the Pacific defense officials said at a news conference Hsieh Jih-sheng said China's navy is creating two walls — one at Taiwan's perimeter and another outside the first island chain which extends south from Japan and through Taiwan to the Philippines "The message they are sending is very simple: The Taiwan Strait is ours," he said referring to the waters between Taiwan and China The military has been bracing for possible drills by China in response to a recent overseas trip by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te that included Hawaii and Guam Without any announcement from China on military drills Taiwan officials are calling the ongoing activity a training exercise Hsieh noted that training can become drills "It's in the status of regular training," he said "But under the status of normalized training it's able to mobilize military forces on such a large scale and carry out exercises in such a large area." China, which views Lai as a separatist, held major military exercises around Taiwan following his inauguration in May and his National Day speech in October. It also held a major drill after Nancy Pelosi Taiwan's military set up an emergency response center on Monday in response to the increased Chinese naval activity and the announcement of flight restrictions in seven zones off China's east coast The restrictions are in place until Wednesday "We have noticed that there are no live-fire drill activities in the seven exercise areas as planned in the past," said Hsieh who heads the office of the deputy chief of general staff for intelligence Become an NPR sponsor please first agree to the privacy policy below.The Taipei District Court on Friday handed down a seven-year-and-four-month prison sentence to Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安) for corruption please first agree to the privacy policy below.Around 150 people stranded in Simakusi after Typhoon Kong-rey destroyed a bridge and access roads to the remote Hsinchu County mountain village received an airlift of food and medical supplies Monday morning The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) Chiayi-class CG 5002 Hsinchu (新竹) was anchoring in Honolulu in connection to an international fishery rules enforcement operation CGA Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) told lawmakers yesterday Hsieh made the remarks during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee in Taipei after Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Huang Jen (黃仁) asked why the vessel was in Hawaiian waters showed that the Hsinchu departed the Port of Taipei almost two weeks ago and entered Honolulu Harbor on Tuesday Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Administration The vessel’s presence in a US harbor ahead of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises sparked media speculation about Taiwan possibly taking part in the exercises RIMPAC is the world’s largest naval exercise administered every two years by the US Indo-Pacific Command The fleets of 29 nations are expected to attend this year’s drills which would involve 43 ships and submarines Hsieh said that the Hsinchu was engaged in a routine maritime fisheries enforcement patrol in the Pacific Ocean The CGA deployed the Hsinchu for the year’s first long-range patrol in the central and western Pacific for its superior capabilities over other ships in sustaining a voyage and providing medical care with an onboard hospital The coast guard does not disclose operational details concerning its ships to the public The CGA conducts two to three patrols in cooperation with the Council of Agriculture to ensure compliance with international treaties on fisheries on the high seas Patrol operations are limited to a designated area and ships make prearranged stops at foreign ports to replenish fuel The CGA confirmed the Hsinchu’s itinerary as shown on the ship tracker adding that Taiwanese ships received supplies in Hawaii during a previous voyage in 2011 Taiwan’s participation in international operations demonstrated its commitment to being a responsible global actor and the safety of Taiwanese fishers An anonymous person has launched a campaign on the Threads social media platform to recall Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) Calling on people to take part in the first stage of the recall the campaign initiator says Hsu is unfit for the post listing issues such as an apartment complex fire in the city on May 26 and allegations that she allowed her boyfriend to exert undue influence in city affairs Kao ranked second to last among 13 mayors in a policy satisfaction survey conducted by Global Views Monthly this year The survey excluded mayors from the six special municipalities Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) ranked last and civic groups have launched a recall campaign against him The Hsinchu City Government yesterday said that it respects the netizen’s political remarks and each citizen’s free will to express their personal opinion A recent media poll found that 60 percent of Hsinchu residents are in favor of Kao’s administration although that indicates that more effort is needed from Kao’s team to win over the remaining 40 percent It added that it would pursue tangible policies to improve Hsinchu residents’ welfare The Hsinchu Election Commission said it has not yet received a recall proposal from the petitioner a proposal requires signatures from at least 1 percent of the constituency to be approved while the second stage requires signatures from at least 10 percent of the constituency and a recall is only passed if the number of valid “yes” ballots outnumbers the number of “no” ballots and makes up more one-fourth of all eligible voters in the electoral district The Control Yuan censured the Taipei and Hsinchu education departments for failing to enforce rules on cram schools as many provide services that are banned for their type of institution Nearly 60 percent of junior-high and high-school students attend cram schools after their regular school day ends Tsai Chung-yi (蔡崇義) and Chang Chu-fang (張菊芳) said in a news release today after-school daycares and kindergartens are subject to different regulations Cram schools can hire foreign teachers to teach a language while after-school daycares can provide help with school homework Kindergartens can provide daycare for the entire day but cannot hire foreign instructors to teach a particular subject since a 2014 Ministry of Education directive was issued stating that short-term cram schools “may provide snacks short-term camps” and other services in childrens’ best interest it has further blurred the lines between the types of establishments As there are clear discrepancies between the law and actual practice school owners often “skirt the edge of the law,” potentially threatening the safety of students the members cited a cram school in Taipei that was known to be illegally operating as a kindergarten by the city as early as 2016 the school is still operating and has even expanded to nine locations The Control Yuan members therefore also instructed the ministry to review related regulations and improve oversight of educational institutions please first agree to the privacy policy below.Ann Kao Hung-an (高虹安) was sentenced to a 10-month jail term Wednesday for making malicious accusations against a U.S.-based scholar who said she had committed plagiarism in her Ph.D Taipei-Hsinchu was the world’s 25th-largest science and technology (S&T) cluster this year according to the Global Innovation Index 2024 released on Tuesday by the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) WIPO publishes a ranking of the top 100 clusters using patent application and scientific publication data to identify local concentrations of world-leading S&T activities the index has employed a bottom-up approach to identifying clusters The methodology disregards administrative or political borders and instead focuses on geographical areas that boast a high density of inventors and scientific authors As one of the three science parks in Taiwan the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) is home to many tech giants including contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) which has been the country’s largest patent applicant for years Tokyo-Yokohama in Japan retained the title as the world’s top-performing tech hub followed by China’s Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou WIPO said the top two clusters benefited from a large number of patents filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp in Tokyo and Huawei Technologies Co (華為) in Shenzhen The country with the most S&T clusters was China Official collaborated with businessperson to allow false advertisements for medical products 2355TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hsinchu District Court sentenced a former city health official to 16 years in prison on Friday for accepting bribes The court sentenced a former Hsinchu Food and Drug Administration director surnamed Cheng (鄭) alongside a businessperson surnamed Chang (張), who received 10 years. The court’s verdict found the pair collaborated to falsely advertise medical equipment and medicines, and skirted approval processes, per CNA. The court found that Cheng asked businesses that falsely advertised to register in Hsinchu so she would have jurisdiction over them. She then accepted bribes in exchange for allowing them to continue running advertisements that exaggerated product features or misled consumers. Cheng and Chang collaborated during the former’s directorship between 2017 and 2021. The court found Chang solicited bribes worth NT$13.4 million (US$411,668), NT$4.42 million of which Cheng received. The court confiscated NT$8.92 million in criminal proceeds from the pair. In addition to the prison sentences, the court disenfranchised Chang and Cheng for eight and nine years, respectively. The sentences may be appealed.  Taiwan councilor pledges to return and face corruption probe Kaohsiung councilor dissapears before prosecutors search home Long-serving New Taipei councilor suspected of corruption Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index Rising Taiwan dollar over Trump tariffs has pros and cons and there was no sign of public alarm.Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting Fabian Hamacher in Hsinchu Doina Chiacu and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Writing by Greg Torode and James Pomfret; Editing by Stephen Coates Thomson Reuters Yimou Lee is a Senior Correspondent for Reuters covering everything from Taiwan, including sensitive Taiwan-China relations, China's military aggression and Taiwan's key role as a global semiconductor powerhouse. A three-time SOPA award winner, his reporting from Hong Kong, China, Myanmar and Taiwan over the past decade includes Myanmar's crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, Hong Kong protests and Taiwan's battle against China's multifront campaigns to absorb the island. Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Sonali Paul Hsinchu City’s Guanxin Borough (關新) again recorded the highest average annual household income among the nation’s boroughs in 2022, income tax data released yesterday by the Ministry of Finance showed. The average annual household income in Guanxin was NT$4.611 million (US$142,096), topping all other boroughs or villages in Taiwan for the fifth consecutive year, the ministry-compiled data showed. That figure rose 23 percent from NT$3.747 million in 2021. Guanxin, in the city’s East District (東區), is home to many technology professionals who work in the nearby Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), which houses more than 500 tech companies. The median annual household income in Guanxin was NT$3.543 million, indicating that the borough was not only the richest of its kind, but its household income was also evenly distributed, compared with its peers. Datong Borough (大同) in Hsinchu City’s North District (北區) was the second-richest borough in 2022, with an average annual income of NT$3.887 million. However, its median income was only NT$726,000, suggesting a large wealth gap among its residents. The third-richest borough or village was Jhongsin Borough (中興) in Hsinchu County’s Jhubei City (竹北), with an average annual income of NT$3.475 million and a median income of NT$1.979 million, ministry data showed. Yongfu Borough (永福) in Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) was the fourth-richest borough, with an average annual income of NT$3.425 million and a median income of NT$738,000. On Yangde Boulevard (仰德大道) in the Yangmingshan area, Yongfu was the only borough in Taipei to make the top five richest boroughs in 2022, although it fell two notches from the previous year, data showed. Tongping Borough (東平), also in Hsinchu County’s Jhubei, was the fifth-richest borough with an average annual income of NT$3.36 million and a median income of NT$2.406 million. The ministry’s data, which cover about 6.63 million households, showed that Hsinchu City topped the list of wealthiest cities in 2022 with an average annual household income of NT$1.505 million. Hsinchu County ranked second with NT$1.34 million, followed by Taipei with NT$1.257 million, while the average annual household income in the other five special municipalities was between NT$790,000 and NT$850,000, the data showed. Hsinchu City also ranked first for the average household wage, with NT$1.19 million, ahead of Hsinchu County with NT$1.08 million and Taipei with NT$850,000, while the other five special municipalities’ average household wages were between NT$540,000 and NT$630,000. Meanwhile, Taipei topped other cities and counties in terms of dividend income, with NT$446,000 per household on average in 2022, followed by Hsinchu City with NT$292,000, the ministry’s data showed. The dividend income per household in 20 other cities and counties was lower than the national average of NT$179,000. A temperature of 5°C was recorded in Hsinchu County's Guansi Township (關西) early today, the lowest in a non-mountainous area in Taiwan for the day so far, as the country remained in the grip of a continental cold air mass, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The record low of 5°C in Guansi Township was followed by 5.2°C in Miaoli County's Sanwan Township, and 6.5°C in New Taipei City's Shiding District (石碇), CWA data showed. The CWA has issued cold surge advisories, effective until late this morning, warning of temperatures below 10°C in various cities and counties in Taiwan, including New Taipei City, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Yilan County. The effects of the cold air mass are expected to weaken during the day, and temperatures would rise slightly from the day before, the CWA said. Highs of 18°C to 20°C are forecast in the north, and 23°C to 24°C in the rest of the country, the CWA said. Sunny skies are expected to emerge today across much of the country, with the likelihood of scattered showers in Hualien and Taitung counties in the east, the CWA said. The weather is expected to get progressively warmer over the next two days, but the mercury would drop sharply at night due to a radiative cooling effect, the CWA forecast. SINGAPORE (Singapore) - Spectators at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2023 are in for a special treat as a thrilling exhibition game has just been added to the eye-catching promotional activities around the big event The exhibition game will take place in Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday the last day of group play in FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 serving as a fantastic appetizer ahead of the final day of game action the Hsinchu Lioneers is a professional basketball team affiliated with the P.LEAGUE+ the Lioneers made it to the P.LEAGUE+ championship game for the first time during the 2021-2022 season and have been a driving force in increasing passion for basketball in their home country Known for their dynamic and fast-paced playing style embodies the city’s pride and passion for basketball The Hsinchu Lioneers will be accompanied by their official cheer team Dressed in eye-catching and stylish uniforms the squad captivates the audience with their impressive dance routines and infectious spirit to rally support for their local team A post shared by Singapore Sports Hub (@sgsportshub) Grab your tickets to catch the Lioneers in their natural habitat – on the court – in a striking display of strength and agility as they play against a Singapore team Stay tuned to Sports Hub Facebook and Instagram Tickets are available for purchase here: Single Day Pass: From $10 (youths aged 4-18) and $40 (standard tickets).Season Pass: Access to all matches on all match days Courtside Pass: Access to all matches on all match days with exclusive courtside seats meet & greet sessions with basketball legends and a showcase of curated exhibits from Sneakertopia collection The FIBA Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2023 promises to deliver thrilling games showcasing the pinnacle of international basketball right here in Singapore Don't miss your chance to witness history and be part of this momentous occasion at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from September 21 to 24 About FIBA Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2023FIBA and Sport Singapore entered a three-year partnership that brings the FIBA Intercontinental Cup to Asia for the first time Singapore Sports Hub is the venue of choice providing the stage for the 33rd edition of the event FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 will see six participating basketball clubs battling it out on the court for the coveted FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophy The event is organised by Kallang Alive Sport Management supported by partners Basketball Association of Singapore and Sneakertopia and sponsored by EVA Air (Official Airline) Rigorer (Official Apparel) and 100Plus (Official Hydration) Mediacorp is the official broadcaster for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 8 (CNA) The Taiwan High Court will resume the trial of Hsinchu City Mayor Ann Kao Hung-an's (高虹安) on corruption charges after the Constitutional Court rejected its request to review the constitutionality of a law cited in the case Saturday currently suspended from her post as mayor was found guilty in July 2024 by Taipei District Court of filing fraudulent expense claims to pay staff hired with public funds during her time as a legislator-at-large for the Taiwan People's Party from Feb She was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison and had her civil rights suspended for four years in the first trial One of the laws cited in the district court's verdict was Article 32 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan the High Court decided to seek the Constitutional Court's view on the law before proceeding with Kao's appeal citing concerns that the article contravened the principle of clarity and definiteness of law which could affect the results of the trial The Constitutional Court rejected the request on Saturday saying that the law cited was not the applicable law in making a final judgment as to the defendant's guilt or innocence Thirty-five people have sought medical treatment for acute symptoms after allegedly eating banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) from a vendor in Jhubei City (竹北) the Hsinchu County Public Health Bureau said yesterday it has received several reports of suspected food poisoning from hospitals The vendor has been ordered to temporarily suspend its business adding that tests were being conducted to determine whether the people had food poisoning A preliminary investigation showed that the people who sought treatment had recently eaten banh mi at a vendor at a retail market in Jhubei 14 were reported by Ton Yen General Hospital 12 reported by China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital four by National Taiwan University Hospital’s Hsinchu Branch and two by Mackay Memorial Hospital Hsinchu Branch while three sought treatment at other healthcare facilities adding that five people were still hospitalized Bureau inspectors checked the hygiene processes and conditions at the vendor and collected specimens of ham and butter including indications of a possible vector of transmission for pathogens ingredients that had been repackaged without an expiration date seasonings and kitchenware stored on the floor The vendor has been ordered to improve the issues it would face a fine of NT$60,000 to NT$200 million (US$1,879 to US$6.26 million) as stipulated by the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法) the Taipei Department of Health said that 24 percent of produce items failed pesticide residue testing Food and Drug Division Director Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁) said that the department last month randomly sampled 50 fresh vegetable and fruit items at markets Twelve items had one or two pesticide residue levels exceeding the maximum allowable limits The failed items were four samples of basil Aside from one item for which the vendor could not identify the origin the department has informed the local health departments about the items that failed the inspection adding that the local departments can fine growers if it is verified that pesticide regulations were contravened Projects 「宏道新竹帝寶」是一座以打造健康居住環境為目標的智慧健康城市。該專案位於新竹縣市交界處，屬於新竹科學園區的衛星區域。 AECOM受委託負責此智慧城市計畫的景觀設計。這個突破傳統的專案，結合了將功能性與美學魅力結合的全方位願景。AECOM巧妙地將住宅、商業和公園空間融入到廣達595,080平方公尺的開發區中，其中超過55 %的空間被規劃為茂密的公園和綠地。這種對低密度、高品質居住空間的承諾，實現了對永續社區發展的深刻理解。 有別於臺灣一般以單體建築為單位的建案，此專案以「智慧城市」概念為起點，規劃如「微型城市」般的空間。業主為該區域設計專用程式使居民能夠連接城市的智慧平台，該平台整合了消防預警連動、節能管理、都市微氣象站等功能，實現了智慧環境、智慧交通與智慧生活的永續城市管理。 AECOM以理性的城市規劃經驗，加上感性的景觀設計思維，將市政交通系統、綠地公園系統、公私有開放空間編織在一起。景觀設計整合了城市光環境和智慧城市系統，進一步提升了居住體驗，為8,000戶家庭創造了宜居的城市環境。這個專案不僅是一個生活空間，更是一個城市美學的宣言，樹立了城市生活的新標準。 中軸林蔭大道貫穿城市，而開發區的道路環繞其核心區域，連接科學園區和城市的其他要點。沿著這條大道設有八個主題公園，包括中央公園、大湖公園、球場公園、會館公園、樹屋樂園、沙坑公園及寵物公園。季節性的植物種植增強了城市的視覺吸引力，同時促進了多樣的植物群落與生態系統。 廣闊的公園和綠地營造了獨特的悠閒生活方式，以人為本的設計和寵物友善設施，讓不同年齡層的休閒和運動需求得到滿足。在森林環繞、遠山清晰可見的景觀中，這獨特的氛圍啟發了設計師以「森林唱遊」為靈感，讚頌這座被森林綠意所環繞的花園小鎮，打造離塵不離城，被鬱鬱青山，徐徐清風與花園環繞的城市夢想家，住在機能齊全的城市，也同時擁有如度假般的生活日常。 細緻的設計和空間規劃延伸至三大設計主題和三大區域配置，與客戶的開發策略一致，並展示了「森林唱遊」的設計理念。 同時，住宅建築採用開放式樓層設計，提供寬敞的景觀空間。利用這一優勢，將室內公共區域、半戶外空間與戶外景觀融合，為居民提供廣闊的社區活動空間。整體景觀設計還融入了雲、山和星空的意象。例如，戶外休閒區包含以雲為主題的特色廊架，而兒童遊樂區則設有帶入以山為主題的造型雕塑、座椅、互動星空遊樂設備和乘風造型鞦韆。 區域內的兩層獨棟別墅強調美式生活方式，並引入美式花園設計。花園巧妙地利用庭院與街道之間的高低差，讓住戶向外的視野通透，既保有自家隱密也能感受戶外開放綠地；內庭則設計簡潔的草坪搭配特色家樹，讓別墅整體溫馨舒適，且帶有自然宜人的氣息。 全區在綠地與景觀區交織，形成和諧的綠色網絡，而藍帶空間則為城市生活增添了度假氛圍。「中央公園」位於核心區域，擁有該區域最寬闊的湖景，以漩渦狀的「水舞音樂噴泉廣場」是最具動感活力的視覺焦點。與近50公尺長運用自然塊石疊砌的落瀑景觀相呼應，放大了湖泊的壯麗景觀。公園的最高點設有「星空池」，是俯瞰中央公園、商業區和周圍山脈的絕佳位置。走進「特色水上廊架」下的「濱水露台」，可沉浸在綠意和舒緩的流水聲中，瞬間遠離城市的喧囂。 植栽設計以夏季柔和的紫色調為主，使用香樟、臺灣櫸木、烏臼、臺灣梭羅木及楓香等大型骨幹之原生樹木作為主要景觀，並輔以藍花楹、珊瑚刺桐及粉花風鈴木等特色花樹，增添季節魅力。考慮到新竹為著名的風城，灌木設計上特別選擇抗風與耐風的植物，包括了桔梗蘭、蜘蛛百合與千頭木麻黃等細葉型的植物，以體現風的韻律感。各式斑葉植物如斑葉金龜樹、斑葉春不老及斑葉三角榕等，為公園帶來額外的色彩變化和視覺趣味。 住宅大樓、大湖公園、沙坑公園與運動公園預計於2024年陸續完成並投入運營，整個區域預計於2031年全面竣工，並取得健康智慧城市認證。「宏道新竹帝寶」致力於智慧城市的發展，提倡科技與生活的結合，擁抱美式悠閒的生活方式。通過藍帶核心與綠色網絡的空間連接，提供全面且多樣的生活空間體驗。憑藉眾多創新特色，這座城市將成為臺灣住宅景觀設計的新標桿。 Seven of the nation’s administrative regions encompassing 57.2 percent of Taiwan’s townships and villages the Ministry of the Interior said in its latest report A region is considered super-aged if 20 percent of the population is aged 65 or older The ministry report showed that Taiwan had 4,391,744 people aged 65 or older as of June representing 18.76 percent of the total population and an increase of 1,024,425 people compared with August 2018 the nation’s elderly dependency ratio was 27.3 senior citizens per 100 working-aged people an increase of 7.39 people over August 2018 That means there were about four working-aged Taiwanese for every person aged 65 or older who needed support Chiayi County was the oldest region with 22.77 percent of its population aged 65 or older Pingtung County at 20.54 percent and Hualien County at 20.2 percent Taipei and Keelung likely made the list due to the draw of better access to medical resources in the cities Lienchiang County and Taoyuan were the youngest regions with people older than 65 accounting for 14.25 percent 15.4 percent and 15.48 percent of the local population respectively The prevalence of young people in the jurisdictions — especially in Hsinchu county and city home of the nation’s semiconductor industry — were likely linked to the high availability of jobs or other geographical factors Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) last week introduced a bill urging the government to adjust its economic policy to account for the country’s aging population cosigned by legislators from across party lines calls for replacing official language referring to “old age” and “senior citizens” with terms such as “the long-lived” and “of the strong generation.” Taiwan is expected to lose 10 million people from its population in the next five decades to become the fastest-aging society in the world Wu wrote in the bill’s statement of purpose The nation must establish a basic law to address the aging crisis said that the bill’s proponents should provide a clearer definition for terms such as “the strong generation” before passing amendments Authorities identify attack as possible revenge 7604TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A shooting at a beverage wholesale store in Hsinchu's Zhudong Township on Friday afternoon left one person dead and five injured Police said five suspects armed with knives and guns carried out the attack in under five minutes. Surveillance footage has been retrieved, and authorities have identified a vehicle linked to the suspects, per CNA Criminal Investigation Bureau Commissioner Chou Yu-wei (周幼偉) said the evidence suggests the incident was a revenge attack Details about the individuals involved are still being verified Sources told CNA that the site of the incident is a known gathering spot for members of the San Huan Gang The deceased was identified as one of the gang's key leaders and the attack is suspected to be linked to disputes over profit distribution Police are gathering evidence from the scene reviewing surveillance footage from nearby areas and coordinating with Hsinchu’s criminal investigation units to expedite the case Nearby residents reported that around 5 p.m. and a group of men exited the car and rushed to the second floor Multiple gunshots were heard shortly after and the group returned to the car and fled the scene Emergency responders reported six casualties showed no vital signs at the scene and was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital The remaining five victims had gunshot and knife wounds Hsinchu City International Kite Festival to feature over 50 dragon kites and family activities Kites to be featured at the Hsinchu City International Kite Festival Hsinchu City International Kite Festival photo) 8708TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hsinchu City International Kite Festival will feature the world's largest collection of dragon kites with over 50 soaring through the sky on Aug The festival's theme, "Dragon Day," celebrates the Year of the Dragon. In addition to the daytime spectacle, visitors can enjoy a nighttime display of illuminated kites, per CNA The festival will feature new kinetic art installations including a life-size dragon kite and a 15-meter-long These installations will also be lit up at night Families can enjoy a variety of activities at the festival These include performances and exploring the nearby Nanliao Stairway and 17-kilometer coastline visitors can redeem a commemorative kite at the designated exchange area when they spend at Hsinchu Harbor's Boguang Market Free shuttle buses will be available to take visitors directly from Hsinchu Railway Station or Shulintou parking lot to Hsinchu Harbor Taiwan art history gets NT$1.4 billion funding boost Defense ministry describes Taiwan's coming National Military Museum Taiwan's Amis Indigenous group honor Cepo' Incident heroes Maroon 5 announces Valentine’s Day concert in Kaohsiung Taiwan musical 'Take Out the Trash' offers refunds after detention of guest star Ko Wen-je Taiwan ups budget for National Military Museum Prosecutors investigate illegal dumping of waste in outfield by stadium contractor Soil excavation work at stadium reveals construction waste (NPP Hsinchu City Councilor Lin Yen-fu photo) 2533TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Construction waste was uncovered during soil excavation work in the outfield of Hsinchu City Baseball Stadium in a potential violation of the Waste Disposal Act The soil excavation was carried out after the Hsinchu City Government received an appraisal report indicating the playing surface was unsafe. Workers found construction waste, including plastic, electrical wires, red bricks, and concrete, per CTWANT.  Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office visited the scene on Tuesday to begin an investigation suspecting the waste was used as low-cost backfill for the outfield Prosecutors believe this made the playing surface unsafe and contributed to substandard drainage Prosecutors will also expand their search to determine if civil servants were involved either through dereliction of duty or illicit profiteering The construction waste also raises questions about project supervision and construction review procedures A dedicated prosecutor will lead the investigation and evidence collection with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the EPA The office said that anyone involved in corruption or found to have illegally disposed of the waste will be prosecuted Taiwan Investigation Bureau expands search for Chinese passport holders Taiwan accuses 8 Chinese companies of illegally trying to poach tech talent Authorities on Monday ordered an investigation into the cause of a fire in Hsinchu City that claimed the lives of two firefighters late on Sunday vowing to apportion responsibility as soon as possible The Hsinchu City Fire Bureau received a report of the fire at a 28-story apartment complex at 10:55pm on Sunday all 351 people in the building had been rescued Nearly 50 people are being treated for injuries at nearby hospitals it suggested other residents remain inside their homes to prevent smoke inhalation After arriving on the scene on Sunday evening firefighters found that cables in the pipe room were on fire and emitting thick smoke They managed to bring the blaze under control at about 11:35pm There was a blackout while people were trapped in the building so firefighters Lee Yung-chen (李詠真) and Chou Li-hsin (周立鑫) went inside to try to rescue them A firefighter said that the pair were taking the stairs to the third and eighth floor when they discovered their oxygen was insufficient The firefighter said they received a distress signal and dispatched more firefighters to rescue their colleagues Lee and Chou were subsequently found collapsed on the third-floor staircase The firefighter said the thick and sticky smoke from the burning cables may have hindered the pair from escaping Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) visited the rescued residents and family members of the deceased firefighters at the hospital early on Monday morning She said the city government would handle subsequent affairs for Lee's and Chou's families Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) in a statement also expressed condolences to the firefighters’ friends and families on behalf of the government which he said is to assist the city with bereavement affairs Agencies have been instructed to ascertain the source of the fire and apportion responsibility as soon as possible and to keep the families and community informed of their findings National Fire Agency Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) told reporters that investigators have already been sent to the scene and vowed to share information when available please first agree to the privacy policy below.Taipei-Hsinchu ranked as the 25th largest science and technology (S&T) cluster in the world in 2024 according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of the United Nations announced the official opening of its first Innovation Center in Taiwan on June 18 Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.