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All rights reserved Ship was docked at Northeast Taiwan military port Taiwan's Keelung-class destroyer Magong 2279TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Smoke erupted from the Navy destroyer Magong in the military port of Suao during repair work Members of the public took pictures of smoke enveloping the ship after 2:10 p.m., the Liberty Times reported The Navy later issued a statement saying the smoke was the result of carelessness during repairs The Keelung-class destroyer was docked inside the Yilan County military harbor all personnel were immediately evacuated from the ship The authorities sent 14 firefighters in eight vehicles to the scene to help prevent a fire from erupting Nobody was injured during the incident and nobody needed to be transferred to hospital The Magong was one of four ships originally serving in the US Navy under the name of Kidd-class destroyers They were delivered to Taiwan in 2005 and 2006 Taiwan builds 6 more minelaying ships to bolster coastal defense Wildfire breaks out on Taipei's Yangmingshan Taiwan Navy landing ship collides with Chinese fishing boat Taiwan's Dunmu Goodwill Fleet makes final preparations before training voyage Taiwan light frigates equipped with domestic closed-in weapons system 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 inspects the Penghu Magong military base in outlying Penghu Island Taiwan President Tsai thanked the men and women serving in the navy and army Friday for holding up the island’s defense after China sent a record-breaking number of warplanes and ships towards the island this week Soldiers perform moving shooting as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen inspects at the Penghu Magong military base in outlying Penghu Island Soldiers perform moving shooting as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen inspects the Penghu Magong military base in outlying Penghu Island Soldiers run as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen inspects the Penghu Magong military base in outlying Penghu Island Soldiers line in formation as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen inspects at the Penghu Magong military base in outlying Penghu Island Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during a visit to the Penghu Magong navy base in outlying Penghu Island poses with soldiers during a visit to the Penghu Magong military base in outlying Penghu Island President Tsai thanked the men and women serving in the navy and army Friday for holding up the island’s defense addressing the Taiwanese Navy’s 146th Fleet at a naval base on Penghu Island said the military maneuvers by China earlier in the week were the largest to date this year Only if we are prepared for war can we avoid war and only if we have the ability to wage war can we stop war.” and the Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army has sent planes or ships toward the island on a near-daily basis In a 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday 47 Chinese planes crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense The incident came amid heightened tensions after China fired missiles into the sea and sent planes and ships across the dividing line in the Taiwan Strait in August after U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island Tsai addressed that move in her speech to troops on Friday saying Taiwan would also modernize training for current servicemembers Taiwan now only requires men to serve for four months in the military which the public widely views as insufficient for the island’s defense She said the new year-long mandatory service would not be a “waste of time.” Tsai visited both a naval and army base in Penghu an archipelago of several dozen islands off the western coast The 146th Fleet actively patrols the waters around Taiwan My guesthouse owner looks increasingly puzzled as I tell her about my cycling adventure but the tourist hordes had already overrun Magong (馬公) the only city in the scenic archipelago of Penghu off the coast of Chiayi It turns out they were here for the Penghu International Fireworks Festival which takes place every Monday and Thursday until the end of this month People seem to follow a pretty standard formula while touring Penghu’s main four islands all of which are connected by bridge: rent a scooter and follow the suggested route only stopping at the marked attractions on the tourist map after I was done snapping photos of the hundreds of people with parasols trying to crowd their way across a tiny land bridge that had just appeared with the receding tide all I had to do was walk a few hundred meters to find an empty mountain path with stunning views of the blue expanse But why is such an idyllic path officially called the “Invincibly High View Mountain Loop (無敵嗨景環山草徑) The main issue with these attractions are not just the crowds but how they’ve been all coated with a thick layer of cuteness that has obfuscated any sense of authenticity As if the jolly anime sculptures and kitschy selfie-ready murals painted on dolled-up century-old structures weren’t enough I was just enjoying the fireworks when a man suddenly proposed on stage to his girlfriend The announcer makes them kiss for 10 seconds and then wishes them eternal happiness but I had become misanthropic after a day’s bombardment with all things saccharine I run back to my guesthouse to wash off the sentimentality I had been wandering and relaxing for an hour at Jinguitou (金龜頭) an expansive cannon fortress built in 1887 it has been unnecessarily restored to the point where the walls are shinier than a modern-day army base This seems to have been recent work; even the official Penghu National Scenic Area Web site shows the fort in its original state But I like the fact that I have a splendid view of the ocean beyond clusters of cacti and that my only companions are the creepy fake soldiers who repeatedly startle me by suddenly barking out commands I had escaped via just a five-minute walk over the hill from Dusingshi Village (篤行十村) Taiwan’s oldest military dependent’s village that has both fortunately and tragically been turned into Dusingshi Village Cultural Park and to pay respect to singer-songwriter Tom Chang (張雨生) who died in a car accident at the age of 31 He was the first Taiwanese singer I listened to when I moved here as a child The village was in serious decay after its residents were relocated in 2007 but with its sparkling pastel retro-cute exterior that the travel Web sites tout as “perfect for Instagram” and “ideal spot for hipster check-ins,” it is now a bonafide hotspot with tour buses lined up just outside It’s wonderful that this treatment has allowed for the village’s preservation the implementation is simply too kitschy and heavy-handed And there was nobody in the village history museum as selfies were the first priority the same approach can be seen in other villages marked on the tourist trail But the settlements that are not highlighted as attractions are just as easily accessible and far more authentic and even on the northern outskirts of Magong I found a maze of delightful semi-urban paths dotted with coral walls temples and traditional brick buildings to cycle through Penghu can be thoroughly enjoyed if you just know what to avoid and remember that a view of the gorgeous ocean is always nearby It’s surprising that cycling is not a popular activity on Penghu During my three day jaunt around the four main islands I saw a total of three cyclists that resembled tourists I was hoping to find a bike shop upon disembarking so I could ride to my guesthouse but only scooter and car rentals could be found around the port and upon arrival I reassure my friendly guesthouse owner that I possess decent stamina and have experience biking long distances before she shows me to the shop It’s tucked away in a narrow alley and has less than 10 bikes available The shop owner tells me that most of her customers are foreigners and most biking activity here takes place during triathlons or competitions I assume that Penghu isn’t going to be very bike friendly — but it’s the exact opposite I head north along the coast from Jinguitou Fort Traffic is sparse and I quickly find a bike path that carries me for a good distance hugging the shore while the white buildings of downtown Magong slowly shrink and disappear There’s nobody here except for the occasional jogger and when the path ends I’m dropped off at the city’s Siwei Borough (西衛) a curious labyrinth of narrow winding paths where new residential buildings and hostels intersect with decaying old houses and green fields There’s a cape extending out from the northern shore with panoramic views of the other islands including the wind turbines across the sea on Jhongtun Island (中屯) I spend the rest of my day wandering and snapping photos of this quiet neighborhood When I tell the guesthouse owner where I went she laughs: “Even us locals get lost there!” The next day I set out to traverse all four islands with my destination set at the 30km mark at the basalt columns on Siyu Island (西嶼 There are clear lanes set aside for bikes and motorcycles There’s even a bicycle path that took me under and around the massive wind turbines leaving me wondering why I’m the only cyclist here I found that by detouring in any direction I could find charming villages that seem mostly untouched save for the one or two modernist guesthouses that seem to have taken hold in every locale Locals and migrant fishermen move slowly about their daily tasks as children run about looking surprised that anyone has bothered to visit despite the buzzing tourist activity just a few minutes away ridiculously painted coral cave beneath Dayi Temple (大義宮) that held several sea turtles in small pools and wishing wells The tourists tend to stay close to their motorcycles and tour buses Penghu can be reached by boat from Budai Port in Chiayi County where a number of ferry companies have set up ticket counters Budai Port can be reached by bus or taxi from Chiayi HSR Station Flights are available from Songshan Airport round trip is generally between NT$3,000 and NT$4,500 Guesthouses are in abundance on Penghu’s main islands with seemingly endless construction of new ones I suggest staying close to Magong as there are no bicycle rentals outside town and amenities are scarce Pescadores Coral Reef Homestay (www.coralph.tw) has clean and cozy double rooms for NT$1,600 per night in downtown Magong Green Hotel (www.greenhotels.com.tw) is a bit further away but is worth checking out as the only establishment to average 5.0 stars on Tripadvisor.com; double rooms go for NT$3,000 There are also plenty of options by the shore that average between NT$2,000 and NT$4,000 a night A complete list of hotels and homestays on all of Penghu’s main islands can be found at: taiwanstay.net.tw/tourism_web/index.php All three bicycle rentals are located in Magong KHS Mountain Bike is the closest to the port at 49-1 Chongqing St (重慶路49-1號) mountain bikes go for NT$200 a day while road bikes are NT$500 Many hotels and guest houses offer free bicycles for guests 'Doulos Hope' ship offers wide range of literature to Penghu bookworms 1870TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The floating library "Doulos Hope" is making its first visit to Penghu The ship arrived at Magong Harbor on Wednesday carrying over 2,000 books and will be open to the public from March 14-27 at Pier 6, CNA reported The German non-profit organization GBA Ships organized the visit as part of its mission to provide people an “opportunity to choose from the wide range of quality literature.” The NGO has a fleet of ships that make port calls around the world for weeks at a time met with Penghu County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) on Tuesday to discuss the ship’s visit Chen instructed government departments to support the ship’s needs He also encouraged the public to experience the joys of reading and cultural exchanges "Reading is the gateway to the world," Chen said adding that books provide knowledge and help people transcend language and geographic barriers by broadening their horizons Taiwan’s National Palace Museum treasures head to Penghu for 1st time Taiwan vice president promotes Penghu’s folk culture Marijuana worth NT$1.1 billion seized entering Taiwan China releases Taiwan ship and captain after fines paid Army conducts first-ever nighttime live-fire drills on Taiwan's Penghu PENGHU (TVBS News) — A domestically produced F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter jet (F-CK-1經國號戰鬥機) suffered a wheel brake system malfunction during routine training operations at Magong Air Force Base (馬公基地) in Taiwan's outlying Penghu islands on Wednesday (April 16) Taiwan's Air Force Command Headquarters (空軍司令部) confirmed that while the incident forced a temporary runway closure no personnel were injured in the mishap.The incident marks the second runway closure involving the same aircraft the same jet was grounded during nighttime exercises when a tire deflated Wednesday's malfunction caused the aircraft to tilt forward after its left landing gear's thermal fuse brake jammed resulting in damage to multiple components including the landing gear The left central wheel detached completely during the incident 公司介紹 人才招募 節目表 主播專區 企業動態 更正與澄清 新聞自律規範 隱私權政策 網站使用協定 版權宣告 業務服務 節目版權銷售 公開招標 頂尖事務所 官方聲明 性騷擾防治措施 本網站使用Cookies以便為你提供更優質的使用體驗，若您點選下方"我同意"或繼續瀏覽本網站，即表示您同意我們的Cookies政策，欲瞭解更多資訊請見隱私權政策 Sign Up for Our Monthly Explorer Newsletter a grouping of about 90 islands within the Taiwan Strait is located about an hour’s flight from Taiwan’s East Coast It’s popular among urban-dwelling mainlanders for its slower pace watersports and opportunities for hiking and biking Another reason it’s ripe for discovery by outdoorsy clients Western-style resorts — save for a relatively new Four Points by Sheraton environmental appreciation and preservation is a way of life Here are five eco-friendly travel ideas for adventurous clients Explore Natural TreasuresClients can take a 2 1/2-hour ferry to the island of Qimei from Magong suggest they travel with a guide by bike or van to the island’s rock formations The most famous attractions include Twin Hearts Stone Weir and Seven Beauties Tomb (seven little houses located next to a tomb) Other dramatic natural spots include Little Taiwan (an eroded slope of coast in the shape of the country) Great Stone Lion Recreation Area and Waiting Husband Reef (a rock formation depicting a forlorn pregnant wife waiting for her lost fisherman husband) Go FishingA short distance from Magong are seaside farms near Suogang Fishing Harbor where clients can observe fish and seafood getting shucked nothing is wasted; oyster shells and various found objects are reclaimed for interesting art installations nearby Clients can also explore Marine Leisure Farm which immerses travelers into Penghu’s maritime lifestyle The farm’s biggest draw is fresh barbecued all-you-can-eat squid and oysters which should be enjoyed with ice-cold beer or soda Other activities on the boat and its surrounding platform include catch-and-release fishing; holding starfish pufferfish and other creatures; and attending talks about local ecosystems Hit the TrailsMagong Penghu Visitor Center offers free bicycle rentals and there are smooth paths allowing clients to ride to Gaillardia Garden Recreation Area Tianren Lake and other green spaces within Penghu Recreation Park Be sure that clients first fill out a short application at the service counter of Penghu Visitor Center Wangankou Beach is a prime spot to see green turtles migrating to the sea visitors can observe several species of migratory birds and other protected animals the beach is only open during daytime hours contact Penghu County Government Agriculture & Fisheries Bureau elderly women demonstrate for guests the sustainable agricultural practices that have kept their village running for generations The centerpiece is an interactive “cow pat experience,” where the women show how cow manure is collected spectators are encouraged to don a pair of rubber boots and try it themselves The intrepid locals also proudly show off traditional fish-cooking methods; restored heritage houses and coral walls; and how they tend sweet potato fields with the help of a buffalo The DetailsPenghu County Government www.penghu.gov.tw Penghu National Scenic Area Administrationwww.penghu-nsa.gov.tw Taiwan Tourism Bureaueng.taiwan.net.tw Copyright © 2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker collapsed and cannonfire-riddled houses when he landed in Magong (馬公 French admiral Amedee Courbet led an invasion of the archipelago near the end of the Sino-French War routing the Qing forces and capturing the town in three days Coppin was a physician on the cruiser Nielly translated into Chinese in 2013 by Julie Couderc provide first-hand information on the condition of Magong under its brief French occupation Scottish missionary William Campbell writes in Sketches from Formosa that shortly after the battle “notifications were issued to inform all who were concerned that what was taking place arose from a quarrel between two nations.” This would be the third time in history that Penghu got caught up in such a conflict The Ming Dynasty engaged in a months-long struggle against the Dutch there in 1624 and the Qing Dynasty’s victory over the Tainan-based Kingdom of Tungning in 1683 paved the way for its annexation of Taiwan the following year After failing to capture Tamsui and Taipei despite taking Keelung in 1884 the French forces turned to Penghu to prevent the Qing from reinforcing its troops in Taiwan The victory probably didn’t affect the outcome of the war much — in fact Courbet’s feat went largely unnoticed in France as the nation was more concerned about the collapse of then-prime minister Jules Ferry’s government In addition to serving as a physician on the cruiser Nielly Coppin served as assistant to the chief French physician on Courbet’s warship but the retreating Qing soldiers also engaged in looting and destruction noting that very few Qing soldiers got away The Qing forts were toppled and all cannons destroyed and its armory was flattened in an explosion that killed 600 troops and with each step one could find artillery shells on the ground,” Coppin writes Coppin mentions the poor sanitary conditions noting that Penghu was in the midst of a cholera outbreak and that countless French soldiers succumbed to the disease Only those who mostly stayed on the Bayard avoided getting sick who were brutally executed whenever they were caught trying to escape Coppin witnessed one of these jailbreaks and participated in the operation to catch the escapees The two survivors were tied to a stake on the beach and shot dead “This is my first time taking part in an execution “I didn’t have a choice as I was ordered to do so I saw the two Qing escapees tied to the stakes They were brave and their faces didn’t show any sign of fear.” Campbell writes that things were quite peaceful between the French and locals “The tumble-down condition of the buildings did not prevent hundreds of those who fled at the commencement of hostilities from returning nor lessen their eager desire to earn as many as possible of those clean Mexican dollars which now streamed in upon the place,” he writes The residents did all sorts of jobs for the French at reasonable prices and spoke highly of Courbet when Campbell visited The book Le Mousse De L’amiral Courbet by a young sailor named Jean L also details the French occupation of Penghu According to the Academia Sinica-published Chinese version the account is “neither historic nor fiction but should be considered literary reportage.” also marveled at the beauty and scale of Magong’s harbor and unlike Coppin he was overjoyed to stay in the town despite describing it as ugly and unsanitary The locals were terrified of the French at first they resumed farming and flooded the streets and tried to rip us off whenever they could,” Jean L especially compared to those in [Keelung]!” merchants in Keelung gouged the French since they were in a more desperate situation trying to capture Taipei calls the people of Penghu “dirty and stupid.” After almost losing his life to a water buffalo attack who teaches him about sharks and takes him fishing by moonlight noting that it’s such a prized possession that locals are willing to sell their firstborn son’s inheritance for it He also writes that the officers enjoyed collecting local arts and crafts and was especially amused when a French pastor acquired a golden Buddha statue from a Penghu monk was upset that the French decided to evacuate the archipelago especially after they spent much effort fixing up the harbor writing that his country possessed “no finer colony.” the French began moving their operations from Keelung to Penghu and the port remained buzzing with foreign activity for the next few months Courbet tried to persuade his government to keep the archipelago all the flags on the Bayard were lowered to half-mast and Coppin helped preserve his corpse for the journey home The ship departed Penghu on June 23 to a 19-gun salute still bearing the scars of its fierce battles against the Qing Courbet’s belongings were buried in a gravesite in Magong alongside two French officers The Japanese hired locals to watch over the site but it was razed in 1953 to make way for the expansion of Magong High School a column about Taiwan’s history that is published every Sunday spotlights important or interesting events around the nation that either have anniversaries this week or are tied to current events stranded travelers all returned home by Sunday Taiwan Air Force C-130 transport aircraft assists travelers at Penghu's Magong Airport 3485TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Typhoon Gaemi disrupted air traffic across the Taiwan Strait for days after the storm passed with many travelers still awaiting flights on Taiwan’s outlying islands of Penghu and Kinmen.  the Taiwan Air Force supplemented commercial flights to help travelers at Penghu’s Magong Airport return to Taiwan’s main Island The Air Force dispatched 19 C-130 transport aircraft over two days to help 1,259 people make it home.  a C-130 transport aircraft helped 70 remaining passengers fly from Magong to Kaohsiung The remaining 300 travelers in Magong were all able to board commercial flights to return by Sunday afternoon the departure hall of Penghu Airport was packed with thousands of travelers hoping to make it home after days of flight delays and cancellations Although 14 commercial flights were able to transport 1,178 people back to Taiwan nearly 2,000 people remained stuck at Kinmen Airport overnight.  One unhappy passenger, surnamed Yang (楊), was so upset that he threw a plastic stool at a member of UNI Air’s ground staff before 9 p.m., reported UDN The airline staff immediately filed a complaint with police who detained the unruly traveler The remaining travelers stranded in Kinmen were all able to board flights back to Taiwan’s main island by Sunday afternoon Taiwan to receive 1st batch of new F-16V fighter jets Taiwan Air Force holds live-fire drill simulating enemy air attack Taiwan Navy and Air Force to hold live-fire drill in south Taiwan Taiwan's pomelo harvest affected by typhoons and climate change Taiwan’s egg prices could rise by NT$2 following typhoon 11 melioidosis cases reported in southern Taiwan after Typhoon Gaemi The Army Penghu Defense Command yesterday morning conducted a live-fire exercise in the seas off Magong (馬公) hours ahead of Chinese military drills around Niushan Island off China’s Fujian Province the Fisheries Agency issued an alert that the area around and above Penghu’s Magong army base would be closed from 5am to 7am yesterday and tomorrow; from 5am to 7am as well as from 10pm to midnight on Thursday; and provisionally from 5am to 7am on Friday The area has been closed to navigation and flights below 1,524m to allow for live-fire exercises Photo courtesy of the Army Penghu Defense Command The drills are part of the army’s annual Chen Chiang exercise in the region but would feature night-time shooting for the first time in recent years a military source said on condition of anonymity The Army Penghu Defense Command’s capability to utilize combined light and heavy weapons fire in defensive operations would be tested against simulated enemy forces The army’s M60A3 main battle tanks are being deployed in the exercise authorities in China’s Fujian Province issued an area alert saying the waters surrounding Niushan Island were closed to navigation due to a live-fire exercise Taipei and Hsinchu are 119km and 165km from the Chinese island respectively A species of octopus native to the waters north of Penghu County is on the brink of extinction The octopus normally lives off the coast of Yuanbei Village (員貝) and near Jibei Village (吉貝) between the months of February and May but over the past few years it has rarely been seen Chen believes the octopus’ declining population is due to changes in the ecosystem Photo courtesy of the Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau of Penghu County Government Normally the octopus lays its eggs in the intertidal zone in the northern part of the county between the Lantern Festival and Tomb Sweeping Day the octopus was normally found near Citou Wharf (岐頭碼頭) and Jhongtun Village (中屯) in the county’s Baisha Township (白沙) as well as in Magong City’s Chongguang Borough (重光) The intertidal zone near Yuanbei has been largely filled with sand and stones making the area suitable for some species while others have been eliminated adding that mantis shrimp and eels have also begun to disappear from the area The main reason is that the caverns and boulders that the marine animals would use to hide in have been buried adding that octopus species that like shallow waters are also losing places to nest in who collects satellite photographs of the county said that the changes to the coastline over the past seven years are strikingly evident A photograph from 2011 shows blue water around the coastline while one of the same coast from 2017 shows a coastline that is white from the shells sand and gravel that have raised the seafloor Another effect of a rising seafloor is a loss of coral the marine life it houses is being pushed out including the small octopus native to the county is likely to become extinct within 10 years Merely prohibiting the fishing of the octopus would not save it from extinction Shanshui Shangdi Temple (山水上帝廟) in Penghu County’s Magong City (馬公) on Monday held a ceremony to dot the eyes of a giant turtle made of rice one of many events across the county based on a turtle theme ahead of the Lantern Festival this weekend which is made of bags of rice and weighs 5.28 tonnes because tradition says it breathes life into art and ceremonial offerings Symbolically bringing the turtle to life also initiated activities in the community for the Lantern Festival has a long-standing tradition in which residents observe the Lantern Festival by praying with pastries in the shape of turtles an animal long associated with longevity in Chinese culture Temples across the county prepare pastries while the bags of rice that made up the giant turtle are to be given to underprivileged households in the county after the festival Other temples in Penghu also have giant turtle creations including a super-sized rice-bag turtle at Longmen Guanyin Temple (龍門觀音宮) in Husi Township (湖西) It is 20 times bigger than it was 13 years ago Shanshui Shangdi Temple has also prepared a gold turtle weighing about 15.5kg while Suogang Beiji Temple (鎖港北極殿) in Magong is offering a similar prize weighing about 9.7kg Ta Chih Kan Lung Te Temple (白沙赤崁龍德宮) in Baisha Township (白沙) has vehicles as prizes including scooters and a speed boat worth NT$2.5 million (US$79,385) The Lantern Festival is celebrated across Taiwan A local idiom says that it is observed with flying sky lanterns in the north shooting fireworks at people in the east and south and turtle-shaped prizes in the west Taiwan’s first underwater mailbox opened for business on Monday off Penghu County with county officials saying they hope the facility would not only attract visitors but also stimulate the growth of new coral The mailbox is in waters off Magong Township’s Suogang (鎖港) area a natural bay that is home to a thriving scuba diving and snorkeling business The county is to provide 2,000 waterproof postcards for people to mail adding that county divers would retrieve the cards and drop them off at a post office on land The mailbox was designed with artificial reefs in mind and its large concrete base provides a perfect environment for giant clams and coral to grow The first batch of coral and young clams — reared by the Marine Life Propagation Station — were deposited near the mailbox on Monday Made of stainless steel and decorated with mosaic-style paintings of coral the top half of the mailbox is designed to be removable to make maintenance easier Penghu County Commissioner Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) headed a beach cleanup event to promote the mailbox and marine conservation “We hope that the mailbox serves three functions — as a working mailbox to stimulate tourism and the local economy and to spread the idea that we all bear responsibility for protecting marine ecology,” Chen said at the event The National Center of Photography and Images (NCPI) is presenting an online gallery featuring photographs taken by a French military officer during his visit to Taiwan over a century ago when the nation was known as Formosa and under Japanese rule The gallery titled “Memories from Formosa and the Pescadores Islands” showcases photographs taken by Claude de Rarecourt de la Vallee who was a lieutenant colonel and the count of Pimodan the French nobleman was a military attache with the French embassy in Tokyo during the 19th century and was invited by Japanese general Kawakami Soroku to tour Taiwan and the outlying Penghu islands in 1896 one year after they were ceded to the Empire of Japan by the Qing Dynasty Photo courtesy of the National Center of Photography and Images via CNA Accompanied by his Japanese hosts during the trip he was moved by the scenes of ordinary people going about their daily lives such as farmers toiling in the fields with their buffalo as well as activities at traditional buildings and temples The count of Pimodan later wrote a memoir about his trip and produced an album that included 54 photos made with the collotype technique images that he gifted to those who hosted him Collotype is a photographic printing process invented in 1855 to print images in a wide variety of tones without the need for halftone screens The majority of collotypes were produced between the 1870s and the 1920s The national center also said that after visiting Taiwan he also visited other regions in Southeast Asia to observe how Japan The online gallery can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3TSwX3U Pilot error and airline violations were to blame for the July 2014 crash of TransAsia Airways Flight 222 in Penghu that killed 48 people the Aviation Safety Council (ASC) said yesterday as it released the findings of its investigation into the crash The pilots’ repeated violations of standard operating procedures were indicative of an operational culture “in which high-risk practices were routine and considered normal,” the council said in its report The ATR 72-500 carrying 54 passengers and four crewmembers on a flight from Kaohsiung went down near Magong Airport on July 23 The 10 survivors all suffered injuries in the crash had 15 years of experience in flying civilian aircraft while his copilot was 39-year-old Chiang Kuan-hsing (江冠興) The council said it found nine problems pertaining to flight operations including the pilots’ failure to comply with the published procedures regarding the minimum descent altitude (MDA) Lee took the aircraft below the MDA of 330 feet (100.6m) without obtaining the required visual references the pilots did not detect and correct that hazardous path in time suggesting that they were not aware of the aircraft’s position The weather was also a probable cause of the tragedy as Penghu was being affected by the outer rim of Typhoon Matmo and heavy rain and abrupt changes in wind speed and direction contributed to the poor control of the plane The captain was “likely overconfident in his flying skills,” which might have led to his decision to descend below 330ft without an appreciation of the safety risks while a fatigue analysis indicated that his performance had probably been affected by fatigue The report also mentioned a number of risks that might have contributed to the accident including the tower’s failure to inform the pilot that the runway visual range values had decreased from 1,600m to 800m and then to about 500m While that may have influenced the pilot’s decision on whether to continue the approach that piece of information was not vital enough to cause the tragedy council Executive Director Thomas Wang (王興中) said If the pilot had followed standard operating procedures he might have had a chance to turn around when he reached the MDA The minimum visibility standard for landing at Magong Airport is 1,600m The report said the airline needed to take responsibility for its safety management “TransAsia Airways had not developed a safety management system implementation plan,” the council said which made it difficult to establish robust and resilient safety management capabilities and functions.” including the need for TransAsia to review its safety protocols pilot training program and hiring practices to reduce “imminent risks.” It also said the airline needed to hire more staff including flight training and safety management personnel as well as pilots The report casts a spotlight once again on pilot training and decision-making at TransAsia which lost an ATR 72-600 in another fatal crash just less than seven months after the Magong tragedy when the plane crashed soon after taking off from Taipei TransAsia yesterday said it respected the results of the investigation and pledged to strive for better safety controls “Flight safety comes first,” TransAsia chairman Lin Ming-sheng (林明昇) said adding that the airline has implemented measures such as introducing foreign experts to overhaul its flight safety operation With the nation’s borders remaining virtually closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and amid an increasing number of local travelers passenger traffic at Penghu Airport in the outlying Penghu County hit 16,686 on Sunday It was also the highest number of passengers served in a single day since the airport opened 43 years ago Local environmental groups have said that the surge in tourists has exceeded the island’s estimated environmental carrying capacity of 15,000 people Prior to the launch of the second phase of domestic “disease prevention tours” on July 1 the airport drew up plans to ensure that it operates smoothly amid the expected surge in flights including separating the foot traffic of arriving and departing passengers and having three security check lines for departing passengers It also asked airlines to increase the number of check-in counters A total of 4,009 visitors also accessed the island through Magong Harbor on Sunday the surge in visitor numbers has disrupted the lives of local residents with many places reporting low water pressure and an acute shortage of hotel rooms Penghu County Government statistics showed that the island received about 12,000 travelers per day With most of the tourists spending at least three days on the island two of the three days would be an overlapping period where the island would have to accommodate 24,000 people daily That comes close to the maximum number of travelers that the hotels on the island can accommodate The surge in tourists has taken a toll on travel quality such as “Moses Parting the Sea,” being swamped by people The county government said that tourists are encouraged to book accommodations and arrange transportation in advance adding that travel agents can help disperse the crowds by arranging of different travel routes Independent travelers to the island can also use two travel routes that are accessible through the Tourism Bureau’s Taiwan Shuttle Bus Service (台灣好行) Hoteliers have also been requested to conserve water and avoid unnecessary water use 3,964 passengers had transferred flights through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport The government began allowing transit passengers on June 25 Eighty percent of the transit passengers were Southeast Asian travelers headed to the US and Canada Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Asia & World Around Asia Taiwan--Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen visited a military base on one of Taiwan’s outlying islands Tuesday in a display of resolve following a recent show of force by rival China Tsai spoke to roughly a hundred air force pilots and crew members at the Penghu Magong Air Force base where two pilots took off in Taiwan-produced Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighters to greet her arrival Taiwan has the “ability” and “resolve” to safeguard its territory “I know that having to face the provocations of the People's Liberation Army surrounding Taiwan and their actions in disturbing the area’s peace everyone’s duty at the frontline air defense at Penghu has become heavier,” Tsai said that every one of our well-trained air force brothers and sisters is able to lift this heavy responsibility,” she said including fighter jets and long-distance bombers over the Taiwan Strait on Friday and Saturday in what Beijing called a deliberate warning during a visit by a high level U.S China considers Taiwan part of its national territory and objects to all official contact between other countries and Taipei China has increased its diplomatic and military pressure on Tsai's government over her refusal to agree to China's insistence that the island be considered a part of Chinese territory The vast majority of Taiwanese reject the prospect of political union with China under the “one country two systems" framework in place in Hong Kong While China's armed forces have an overwhelming numerical advantage over Taiwan the island's small but well-trained high-tech force enjoys strong support from the U.S. Taiwan unveils F-16 maintenance hub as China tensions build Taiwan holds drills to beat back invasion amid China tensions Taiwan president says drills show China is threat to whole region sails warship near Taiwan a week ahead of inauguration Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission A TransAsia Airways (復興航空) plane crashed on Penghu yesterday the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said last night The flight from Greater Kaohsiung crashed near the Magong Airport’s runway with 54 passengers and four crew on board Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時) said that 47 people were confirmed dead and 11 injured the 70-seat turboprop ATR72 model plane carried 54 passengers and four crew TransAsia Flight GE222 had been scheduled to depart Greater Kaohsiung at 4pm yesterday CAA Director General Jean Shen (沈啟) said air traffic control personnel received the request from the flight for a go-around at the Magong Airport at 7:06pm but they lost track of the flight afterward “It’s chaotic on the scene,” Reuters quoted Shen as saying The plane made a forced landing in Sisi Village (西溪) Several buildings on the ground were set on fire by the crash "A few empty apartment buildings adjacent to the runway caught fire but no one was inside at the time and the fire was extinguished," said Hsi Wen-guang a spokesman for the Penghu County Government Fire Bureau About 100 firefighters were sent to the scene besides 152 military personnel and 255 police has 15 years of experience in flying civilian aircraft The co-pilot was identified as 39-year-old Chiang Kuan-hsing (江冠興) Witnesses have said that there was heavy rain at the time the CAA said that the visual range was 800 feet (243.8m) The agency said that it will dispatch officials to Penghu today to help with the investigation into the cause of the crash but the investigation will be led by the Aviation Safety Council Penghu County Fire Department Director-General Hong Yung-peng (洪永澎) said the airplane tried to land at the airport but had pulled up to make another try because the heavy rain was hampering the pilot’s vision Executive Yuan spokesman Sun Lih-chuyn (孫立群) said Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) had ordered the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to report on the situation as soon as possible Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chua and Reuters This story has been updated since it was first published 6609TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A soldier who went missing in Penghu County over the weekend was found in a local McDonald's on Tuesday (April 25) the soldier's mother posted an article on Facebook stating that her 21-year-old son Chang Chao-lin (張兆林) who serves with the Penghu Defense Command She said that his "soldier's diary" ominously seemed to indicate that he was in bad spirits Chang's mother continued to receive calls from the company commander and battalion commander with reports on the situation until 2 a.m The military discovered that the location of Chang's phone had moved Chang was found inside the McDonald's in Magong City Chang was reported to be "safe" and Army officials will later question him about his disappearance When his mother learned that her son had been located safe and sound she uploaded a post on Facebook in which she wrote: "Thanks again to the great netizens for cooperating with the police and the military President visits military on Taiwan’s Penghu Army conducts live-fire artillery drills on Taiwan Strait islands 81-year-old man missing for week found alive in Tainan Feature photo: American English teachers race as 'Penghu Pirates' Taiwan Army completes discharge of officer held by China Missing Taiwan woman lured by fraud ring rescued in Australia today announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Penghu marking the first internationally branded hotel in Magong City and the second Four Points hotel in Taiwan The opening represents the Four Points brand’s robust expansion plans in the region fueled by mid-market traveler demand for timeless style and comfort all over the world “Having recently crossed the 200th hotel milestone we’re continuing the Four Points brand’s bullish expansion in diverse and dynamic markets across the globe,” said Vincent Ong “The opening of Four Points by Sheraton Penghu underscores the brand’s strong growth in Greater China with 23 operating hotels and more than 30 hotels in pipeline throughout the country.” Four Points Penghu offers 308 stylish guestrooms and 23 suites with private balconies providing everything guests need to stay comfortable during their travels including the plush Four Points signature bed and all the extras that guests love such as complimentary bottled water and fast and free WiFi throughout the hotel offering a range of delicious international cuisines serving authentic Taiwanese dishes using the island’s freshest seafood guests can enjoy authentic local brews as part of the signature Best Brews program or enjoy live music at the lower level Swave bar The hotel perfectly blends business and pleasure Guests can go for a swim or soak up the sun at the hotel’s zero edge swimming pool overlooking Magong Harbor #3 work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center or enjoy an invigorating sauna or steam session The hotel also boasts an ideal space for any meeting or social gathering with an 810 square meter expansive and pillar-less Grand Ballroom and several multifunction rooms Strategically located in Magong City - the largest city in Penghu - the hotel is just minutes from various shopping Magong International Airport (MZG) is a convenient 15-minute drive Penghu Island is made up of ninety small isles also known as the Prescadores (Fisherman) Islands It is famed for its rich natural resources including great beaches and more than 200 different bird species Visitor highlights include the Fenggui area Hsiaomen Whale Caves and Tongliang Great Banyan Tree fishing and snorkeling serve as popular activities The island also offers an abundance of seafood As part of the hotel’s grand opening Four Points Penghu is offering an opening rate of NTD 5,200 net (US$ 160 net) per room per night in a Deluxe Room Click here to join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest hotel news and trends Copyright © Hotel News Resource & Nevistas | All rights reserved an isolated cluster of 90 islets to the west of Taiwan Penghu as a holiday destination remains a secret It is no wonder that this is such a local draw Penghu’s beaches are lined with sand so white and fine that they turn into stretches of blinding bullion under the glare of the midday sun a rich history of seafaring pirates and foreign invaders; and ragged ravishing coastlines formed by colossal basalt columns and sea-eroded cliffs Penghu does not register on the to-go list of foreign visitors It made headlines in 2013 when Taiwanese carrier TransAsia Airways 222 failed to make a safe landing on the capital island of Magong during Typhoon Matmo Much of the information available on the Internet in English either barely scratches the surface or simply is not written well enough to inspire one to make the trip Tourism contacts divulge that the local stakeholders are in a conundrum about attracting more visitors During the peak season between May to September local infrastructure is stretched to accommodate the Mandarin-speaking tourists alone Those totalled nearly 1 million last year — nearly 10 times Penghu’s population of 102,300 Seventy per cent of this influx of tourists is Taiwanese Air tickets to Penghu released between 90 to 60 days prior to departure in July and August are snapped up within hours The 400 homestays (Taiwanese pensiones) and the few local hotels also fill up very quickly Penghu’s topography means it is at the mercy of the weather The island is mostly flat and bereft of dense forestation or high hills — the tallest peak There are plenty of low-lying shrubs and cacti — so much so that a Penghu speciality birdwatchers and windsurfers drawn by an annual Penghu Windsurfing Club competition — head to the islands My first two days were packed with water activities Night squid fishing — operated by Jin Hsiang Hao a family of sixth-generation (former) fishermen — saw my group catching just one lonely cephalopod the crew prepared a large net which they later hauled so we could have a dinner of Penghu vermicelli soup with squid but scuba diving in the same waters the following day yielded more sights Excitement at the sight of many sea urchins on the sea bed fizzled out when dive operator Danny Yan told me the permitted period for sea urchin foraging had ended just before I arrived For those who only want to get their toes wet a tiny islet in the north with a stretch of beach formed from corals and shells One place to witness the locals’ religious piety is at the temples built in the 16th century in the historical district of Magong the air is thick with fumes from joss sticks rising up to the high-beamed ceilings along with the prayers of kneeling devotees One can imagine the same scene 400 years ago It was constructed for the purpose of giving thanks to Mazu for a safe journey across turbulent waters the temple was a beacon to fishermen that helped them find their way home it is an icon of Penghu’s seafaring history and a symbol for her people who live at the mercy of the weather and reap the bounty of the sea A sense of history is present throughout Penghu I saw people reviving lost crafts such as making incense sticks He had left Penghu for Kaohsiung with his family at the age of five “My father felt there were better opportunities for everyone in the family he — like many other villagers who had left — began returning each summer to take part in some way in preserving the local crafts and the villagers’ way of life There is no night market — surprising since every county on the mainland has a few Evening activities are of a more sedate nature which are rife with the catch of fishermen or local foragers I sampled fried butterfly fish and stir-fried vermicelli with pumpkin at Tu Yin I got to “forage” for seafood when I stayed at 7 B&B English-speaking Seven specialises in creating local experiences for foreigners One of my activities was stone-weir fishing an ancient method of trapping fish at low tides I had to release four out of the 10 baby groupers I caught as they were below the legally permitted length Seven taught me how to prepare the fish for a soup along with the other seafood we had bought at the morning fish market The geographical attractions of Penghu are another testament to its popularity among Taiwanese To the south of Magong is Tongpan Basalt — an uninhabited island with hexagonal basalt columns formed by volcanic activity more than 10 million years ago It is a cluster of wave-cut platforms formed by water erosion pools of algae and seaweed appear in shades of jade which I enjoyed for its iridescent pools of opal I stayed at Four Points Penghu during the final days of my trip such as an infinity pool and a fitness centre The establishment hopes to bridge the gap between international and local hospitality standards which But the truth is that Penghu’s surrealistic beauty trumps all Visiting the Whale Cave on Hsiaomen islet on Siyu island — named for its shape fashioned over many years from seawater erosion — and savouring a simple omelette studded with tiny sea urchin florets and piquant garlic bits It is no wonder that the locals flock here and speak not of Penghu’s treasures is the perfect place to retreat from the world the official website of the Penghu Tourism Bureau Todayonline.com and Today Online domains and apps are now part of 'Channelnewsasia.com' domain We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with TODAY to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us 6703TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2023 Penghu International Fireworks Festival will feature 24 shows from April 20 to June 29 according to the Penghu County Tourism Department one of Taiwan’s most popular and longest-running events A 10-minute firework show will occur at the Guanyinting Recreation Area in Magong City on Penghu's main island at 9 p.m every Monday and Thursday from April 20 to June 29 and Wang-an Island will host a fireworks display on May 12 a special preview event will feature a drone show and a 10-minute firework display For more information, visit the Facebook page or the Penghu travel site Taipei and Taoyuan MRT to launch joint ticket with Japan’s Keisei railway Taiwan sees 5 million international visitors as of August Tainan plans cable car project in Hu Tou Pei Scenic Area Tourists visit Daylily Mountain in eastern Taiwan Taiwan Taoyuan airport passengers reach 90% of pre-COVID levels Taipei launches WMG2025 FunPass ahead of World Masters Games 3009TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The fish market at Penghu’s Magong No. 3 Fishing Port was full of activity on Saturday (Feb. 17) as fishermen celebrated a large haul of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel. The Penghu District Fisheries Association said nearly 10,000 kilograms of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel was sold at Magong No. 3 Fishing Port in the past two days (Feb. 16–17). The ample catch led prices to drop after the Lunar New Year, reportedly 50% off from market prices the year before. Spanish mackerel prices plummet after large catch at end of holiday. (CNA photo) In Penghu, narrow-barred Spanish mackerel are often called "white gold," commanding high prices and serving as one of the most important catches in winter. Around the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival, the fish have a higher fat content. With clear weather, Penghu fishing boats have been able to bring back the spoils of their catch. Demand for narrow-barred Spanish mackerel also peaks around the Lunar New Year, when families congregate for large banquets. One vendor said, "The price of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel is like gold before the Lunar New Year but drops to less than dirt after the holiday."  Stalls at the Magong No. 3 Fishing Port fish market reported weak pricing, including NT$200 (US$6.40)/kg for fish below 5 kg, NT$300/kg for 5-7 kg fish, NT$400/kg for 8-9 kg fish, and NT$480/kg for fish over 10 kg. killing 48 people.Flight GE222 was carrying 54 passengers and four crew on a domestic flight when it crashed on Wednesday at Magong on the Penghu island chain with 10 surviving the disaster.Two French medical students were among the dead the foreign ministry in Paris said.The ATR 72-500 was flying from the southwestern city of Kaohsiung to the islands off the west coast and had been delayed as Typhoon Matmo pounded Taiwan according to authorities.It was trying to land a second time after aborting a first attempt during thunder and heavy rain crashing into two houses near Magong airport and injuring five people on the ground.Questions have been raised about why the flight was allowed to fly so soon after the typhoon."Many people were questioning why the plane took off in typhoon weather.. according to my understanding the meteorology data showed that it met the aviation safety requirements," transport minister Yeh Kuang-shih told reporters.Officials said two planes landed safely at Magong airport shortly before the disaster.On Thursday the scattered remains of the plane could be seen as more than 100 rescuers - including firefighters and soldiers - worked to remove bodies and debris from the scene.It was not clear if all the bodies had been removed.At a nearby funeral home dozens of relatives - including the elderly and children - sobbed as they waited to identify whether their loved ones had been killed.Volunteers tried to comfort them as headshot photographs of the victims were posted on the wall to help with identification.Penghu county deputy fire chief Hsu Wen-kuang said it took firefighters almost an hour to douse fires after the plane burst into flames on impact.Investigators are looking into the cause of the crash including why the plane was cleared to fly in bad weather.The airline said the pilot was 60-year-old Lee Yi-liang who has 22 years of experience accumulating nearly 23,000 flight hours.The co-pilot was 39-year-old Chiang Kuan-hsin with two and a half years of experience.As some relatives arrived in Penghu others were seen waiting at the airports in Kaohsiung and Taipei to get on a flight to Penghu.The mother of one survivor said: "My daughter called me She said she climbed out and borrowed a phone from others."TransAsia It is due to launch the island's first low-cost airline later this year.TransAsia said it planned to compensate each family of the deceased with Tw$1 million ($A35,704.63) and offer Tw$200,000 to each of the injured.Share3 min readPublished 24 July 2014 2:30am ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) [Updated 2/10 10.00am] Of the 58 people onboard the flight there are 15 survivors TransAsia Airways flight GE235 from Taipei to Kinmen crashed into Keelung River near downtown Taipei at 10.56am this morning Five crew members and 53 passengers were onboard 40 people are confirmed dead and 3 still remain missing The plane was set to fly from Taipei to Kinmen air traffic control approved the plane to return to Songshan airport The fuselage landed into the Keelung River clipping a bridge and at least one car before crash landing The fuselage remains upside down in the river with passengers trapped inside 27 of the 31 mainland tourists onboard were travelling through two agencies – Deyun and Feiyang. Both are subsidiary of Xiamen International Travelling Group. The full passenger and crew list can be found here with all names apparently of Chinese origin The plane is a French-made twin-engine turboprop ATR 72 manned by two pilots who had a combined air time of just under 12,000 hours This is the second major aviation accident happened to flights of TransAsia Airways in seven months carrying 54 passengers and four crew members from Kaoshiung to Magong crashed near Magong Airport on Penghu Island 4468TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The world’s tallest bronze statue of the goddess Matsu was inaugurated in Matsu Cultural Park on the shore of Penghu County's Magong City on Thursday evening (Oct On Thursday afternoon, a prayer meeting to offer blessings before the inauguration was attended by local politicians, including Penghu Commissioner Lai Feng-wei (賴峰偉), and 200 believers, CNA reported Penghu County Government said that the 48m-tall Matsu statue in the cultural park is the tallest Matsu bronze statue in the world which commands a panoramic view of Penghu’s inner sea and that the statue will boost local tourism As people in Penghu devoutly believe in Matsu He added that he was glad to see the erection of the statue is finally a reality The statue was to be lit on Thursday evening during the inauguration Taiwan outlying island legislators seek Chinese firms for construction projects Illegal crab and octopus pots removed from Taiwan's Matsu Taiwan’s annual Dajia Matsu pilgrimage sets off PASIGHAT ( By Maksam Tayeng ) –  In continuation of their earlier appeal and demand to the state government for SIC (Special Investigation Cell) in the alleged irregularity and corruption in a water conservation project of Rs 1.87 Cr at Gueng and Diyung lake of Riga village under Peging Bote EAC HQ of Siang district the Magong Banggo Students’ Union (MBSU) of Siang District have once again voiced for early action against the department officials and engineers of WRD the team MBSU had also lodged an FIR at Boleng the district HQ of Siang District against the EE Siang district have forwarded the complaint application of MBSU to Supt Watch Video: Travel to Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh Lenzing Mize in their complaint had stated that the department of WRD Siang Division has done corruption in the entire execution of the project beginning from the tendering process we found several irregularities in the project execution like retaining wall The retaining wall in the lake outlet to stop flow-out of water is also an eye wash it is made ordinarily that it breaks down on being touched” The student body has also alleged anomalies in the tendering of the project 1.87 Cr only 1.13 Cr tender was called by the department leaving a gap of Rs Earlier when questioned of the missing amount as per the total sanctioned funds the department had no genuine clarification Watch Video- Apatani’s Unique Hong Village in Ziro Valley the location of the natural lakes on the top of the mountain covering slope and steep foot-walk of 3-4 KM makes the supply and transportation of materials like sands It is important to mention here that Gueng and Diyung Lakes are located in the mountain top of Riga village where there is no road connectivity The beautiful natural lakes of Gueng and Diyung are a natural source of water which could be developed as a tourist destination and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) 2408TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A proposal for an additional bridge in Taiwan’s outlying island province of Penghu will be discussed by residents on Oct If built, the additional bridge will create a complete loop around Penghu’s three largest islands, LTN reported the proposal would link Penghu’s Magong and Xihu townships and span about five kilometers in length A trip by car that currently takes about forty minutes would be reduced to about 10 Chen said he has been in contact with Taiwan’s transportation minister and hopes the central government will assist in getting the bridge built Chen noted that the county’s hard basalt base rock will make the bridge a difficult engineering challenge but said learning from past experiences will help to overcome this problem the bridge would boost the local economy and narrow the gap between Penghu’s urban and rural areas The local government will hold two briefing sessions next Thursday The approximate location of the proposed bridge is depicted with a dotted red line Satellite image of Typhoon Gaemi at 12:00 p.m 13737TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As Typhoon Gaemi strengthened into a medium-strength typhoon on Monday (July 22) afternoon and gradually approaches eastern Taiwan, traffic and events have been altered as below, per CNA. Please note this information is subject to change The Taipei Hydraulic Engineering Office announced an "exit only no entry" policy for riverbank evacuation gates starting at 4 p.m with fines ranging from NT$1,800 (US$55) to NT$4,800 depending on vehicle size A "no entry" rule for high-ground parking lots will start at 4 p.m Tuesday (July 23) and the remaining vehicles will be towed at 8 p.m All roads passing over riverbanks will be closed to incoming traffic at 9 p.m. with complete closure of all transverse gates and overpass roads by 10 p.m - 2024 Taipei Summer Festival: suspended from July 23 onwards; fireworks show on July 24 canceled; resumption of the event will be announced separately - 23rd Comic Exhibition: will follow school and work suspension announcements made by Taipei City Government - 2024 Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Festival: canceled from July 24 to 26 - Tie Hua Light Festival: canceled from July 24 to 26 - Lushan night glow concert: postponed to Aug Taiwan's July CPI rises 2.5% on typhoon-led higher food prices Taiwan Indigenous professor explains why villagers refused typhoon evacuation Taiwan vegetable prices increase after Typhoon Gaemi Press Release Penghu County where they were warmly welcomed at Magong Airport by Penghu County Magistrate Kuang-Fu Chen and officials from the Penghu County Government Kitts and Nevis delegation was then hosted by the Penghu County Government to an official dinner at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Officials at the dinner included Director-General of Tourism Department Mei-Ling Chen; Director of Civil Affairs Department Chi-Chuan Hsu; Director of General Affairs Department Shu-Shan Yun; Director of Economic Affairs Department Hung Tung-Lin; Director-General of Agriculture and Fishery Bureau Kao-Liang Chen; Director of Cultural Affairs Bureau In welcoming Prime Minister Harris and his delegation Chen said that he hopes that we “will have a very good stay” on the island We have beautiful coastal life and friendly people.” Chen proudly declared that Penghu is a member of the International Organization of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World and will host the congress of the organization in 2018. “We invite you to attend the Congress of the Most Beautiful Bays in 2018,” he said to Prime Minister Harris and his delegation The Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW) was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Vannes The organization was founded by Jean Manquat and is a UNESCO supported NGO tasked with promoting the protection of the natural and cultural resources of the world’s marine bays Qingdao Bay and Vietnam’s Halong Bay “I want on behalf of my delegation and I to say how special we feel on this our first visit to Penghu,” Prime Minister Harris said “We have always enjoyed the warmth and the hospitality of the people of Taiwan and on this trip there is no exception the admiration and care have been exceptional so far and we want to congratulate the good people and citizens of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Although we have visited many parts of Taiwan I hear that Penghu is famous for its beauty for its beaches and many culinary delights,” he said has relationships with Taiwan (The Republic of China) going back to 1983 The friendship is very strong and we are happy that we have over the years enjoyed a strong bond between the two governments and between the people of Taiwan and the people of St Many of our students are here pursuing studies all over Taiwan They have become the very able ambassadors of Taiwan at home.” Prime Minister Harris went on to commend Mr Chen and his team for working together to bring about the best quality of life for the people of Penghu County Kitts and Nevis delegation while in Penghu will visit Penghu National Scenic Area Administration Youth Activity Center of China Youth Corp and the Penghu Fireworks Festival Areas for cooperation between the two governments will be explored Penghu is pursuing renewable energy in the form of wind energy Kitts and Nevis delegation includes Attorney General Honourable Vincent Byron Jr and Mrs Kitts and Nevis’ Resident Ambassador to Taiwan; and Mr Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait the archipelago collectively forms Penghu County of Taiwan and is the second smallest county comes from the Portuguese name LLhas dos Pecadores (Fishermen Islands) © 2022 St Kitts Nevis Observer / Nevis Printing Ltd Newspaper Theme by tagDiv | All rights reserved RIGA/BOLENG  ( By- Maksam Tayeng )-  Magong Banggo Students’ Union (MBSU) of Siang district in a statement on Friday while making a ground inspection of the project site with the department officials has alleged huge irregularity and corruption in a water conservation project of Rs “After seeing the project execution as a kind of eyewash we filed an RTI in the WRD office to get the details of the project but it took several months to furnish the information Arunachal: Govt promises bridge by March after 3 villages threaten to boycott 2024 polls after getting the available information and as per the complaints of some labourers of the project we requested the department officials for site inspection to see the ground reality of the project said Koti Mize and Lenzin Mize in the presence of AE and JE WRD On being questioned of the missing amount as per the total sanctioned funds the department has no genuine clarification When asked for their clarification over the allegation of the student body Arunachal: 7th Economic census of Ziro gets certification from DLCC “The location of the lakes on the mountain top of Riga village involves head load works The department had kept a certain amount of around Rs 74 lakhs from the total funds out from the tendering process in order to meet up other unseen works” JE had said that all works were done well and even visiting officials from the ministry just after the completion of work had also appreciated the works who had worked in the water conservation project as labourer also alleged non-payment of their pending bill till date “We from Riga village along with many of our people had carried the cements and other materials on head-load upto the project sites even by purchasing water pipes by our own self contribution of Rs But we haven’t been paid the full amount till date we strongly appeal to the state government to make a ground investigation of the project and all guilty officials be booked and arrested” Arunachal: Pasighat police seized 44 two wheelers plying on the road without proper number plates Magong Banggo Students’ Union has demanded for SIC inquiry into the project so that irregularity in the project execution could be corrected Pema Khandu to interfere into the case and get the corruption in the project be investigated properly and guilty be arrested soon so that any developmental projects for the public are not misappropriated by any officials in near future” said Lenzing Mize and Koti Mize from the student body due to deforestation in and around the area the lakes are seemingly drying up even during this monsoon season RIGA/BOLENG- ( Maksam Tayeng )-  The Magong Banggo Students’ Union (MBSU) of Siang district along with the public of Riga village have appealed to the health department of government of Arunachal Pradesh to immediately post a doctor as MO in the Health & Wellness Centre-cum-Primary Health Centre Riga and two nurses and a peon in the Riga health Sub-Centre As per the statement of MBSU and public of Riga village Riga is mend and look after by only a single nurse due to which people of Riga village faces huge problem in getting medical treatment Arunachal: Magong Banggo Students’ Union alleges irregularity in the water conservation project at Gueng and Diyung Lake Speaking to this scribe on visit to the Riga village on the invitation of MBSU two elderly person from Riga village have said that the lone Nurse in the Riga village health sub-centre can’t take the load of several patients during this monsoon season as Riga village has huge population of around 3000 people “We request the state government to immediately post two additional nurses and a peon in our village medical sub-centre besides sanction of a boundary wall for the centre” added Taga and Tatak on behalf of people of Riga village some few kilometers away from the Riga village at Poging Bote EAC block Health & Wellness centre cum Primary Health Centre Riga is running without any regular medical officer (regular doctor) from around the last 2 years the staff from the centre informed that the centre is running without a regular doctor for the last 2 years and needs a doctor when asked about the shortages of other staff and medicines etc a Health Assistant informed that there were no any shortages to the PHC Riga (Peging Bote) including staff and medicines requirement etc While showing all the available facilities for patients including the labour room for baby delivery cases the staffs of the PHC Riga added that only a regular doctor is required in the centre While on the part of public of Riga village one Tamek Tatin informed that the PHC Riga at Peging Bote is in need of doctor from last 2 years Due to non availability of a regular doctor in the PHC all the serious and major patients are sent to the district medical of Boleng posting of a regular doctor in the PHC Riga (Peging Bote) would a great help to the people of Riga and its surrounding villages On the part of Magong Banggo Students Union also Koti Mize and Lenzing Mize as President and Speaker of the union appealed to the health department of Government of Arunachal Pradesh to send/post a regular doctor/MO in the Health & Wellness Centre cum PHC Riga (Peging Bote) and 2 nurses and a peon in the Sub-Centre Alo Libang couldn’t be contacted for his response on the serious appeal of the public of Riga village the people of Riga and MBSU hope that the required doctor and nurses will be posted in the HWC-cum-PHC Riga (Peging Bote) and Sub-Centre 15 Mar: Sports Director Tadar Appa unveiled the official kit of Team Arunachal for the North East Games Arunachal Olympic Association secretary-general Bamang Tago the state team’s chef-de-mission Tagru Magong in collaboration with  the government of Nagaland hosting the third edition of the Games from 18 to 23 March The event is being organised under the aegis of the North East Sports Association (NESA) a conglomeration of eight state Olympic associations of the Northeastern states “This Games aims to revive the sports culture in the region at the grassroots level and contribute to establishing India as a great sporting nation,” Tago said Arunachal is fielding a strong 240-member contingent There are 140 male and 65 female athletes in the team Arunachal will be competing in all other 15 disciplines The first edition of the Games was held in Imphal Arunachal had finished third behind champion Manipur and runner-up Assam in the introductory edition of the Games Arunachal had fielded 275 athletes in the second North East Games 36 silver and 37 bronze medals in that edition of the Games Pasighat (E/Siang)-based Rashtriya Raksha University hosted an 11-day coaching camp for the NE Games-bound wrestling team of the state The wrestlers have undergone the training under the guidance of Dari Lokam and Geyum Dabi “The wrestlers have been intensely trained and monitored by the campus’ advanced training facilities and a human performance lab that offers scientific-based training and testing of athletes,” the RRU informed in a release The state contingent is leaving for Nagaland on 17 March.