China blocks news after deadly attack which killed 35AFP, BEIJINGAt least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man plowed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night. Workers remove flowers from a makeshift memorial outside the Zhuhai Sports Center in China yesterday. Photo: AFPChina heavily monitors social media platforms, where it is common for words and topics deemed sensitive to be removed — sometimes within minutes. On a social media site, videos and photos showing the bloody moments after the incident late on Monday night were swiftly deleted. 1 trending topic on social media and reached 69 million views within an hour.

China clears car attack memorial as government scrambles to respondReuters, ZHUHAI, ChinaAuthorities in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai removed wreaths, candles and bottles of alcohol, offerings laid at the scene of the deadliest mass killing in the country in a decade, as the government scrambled to respond and censor the outrage online. People earlier today remove flower bouquets placed outside the sports center where a deadly car attack took place in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. Other state media, such as China Daily's Chinese-language Web site, also prominently displayed the news of Xi's Peru trip. The current affairs part of China Daily's Web site and the local area page did not mention the incident either. Media backed by the local government yesterday night published a 1,000-word write-up of a local officials' meeting on the killing.

For 2,300 years, at least since Plato’s Republic, philosophers have known how demagogues and aspiring tyrants win democratic elections. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued, democracy is at its most vulnerable when inequality in a society has become entrenched and grown too glaring. However, it is precisely those material conditions for a healthy, stable democracy that the US lacks today. With 2,300 years of democratic political philosophy suggesting that democracy is not sustainable under such conditions, no one should be surprised by the outcome of the 2024 election. Democratic political philosophy, then, has been correct in its analysis of the Trump phenomenon.

After taking office in January, Trump will likely apply pressure on Taiwan to increase its defense budget. Trump once again plans to use tariffs to solve the “Taiwan problem.” Whether that would be enough to deter China from threatening Taiwan is unclear. As such, Trump could press Taiwan to buy more US products or ease restrictions to reduce the trade deficit. He could demand that Taiwan pay a “protection fee” to the US to increase defense spending and demonstrate its resolve for self-defense — a proposition that would be difficult for Taiwan to refuse. For example, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co could build more plants on US soil to strengthen economic ties and high-tech connections.

GDP to increase 4.03% this year: TIERECONOMIC OUTLOOK: The institute’s president said that US president-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to increase tariffs would reduce global trade and increase inflationBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterThe Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER, 台灣經濟研究院) yesterday upgraded its GDP growth forecast for Taiwan this year to 4.03 percent, from the 3.85 percent that it estimated in July, and predicted the economy would grow 3.15 percent next year. However, the institute warned that US president-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House creates uncertainty about Taiwan’s foreign trade outlook. Speaking at a seminar in Taipei, TIER president Chang Chien-yi (張建一) said the key word next year is “trade.”Taiwan Institute of Economic Research president Chang Chien-yi attends a seminar in Taipei yesterday. If Trump were to raise tariffs as he pledged during the campaign, global trade volume would definitely decrease and the world would see a return of higher inflation, he said. The institute forecast that Taiwan’s consumer price index would rise 2.23 percent this year and 1.87 percent next year.

Three civil servants in Keelung mall case to be reinvestigatedBy Lery Hiciano / Staff writer, with CNAThe High Prosecutors’ Office this week announced plans to reopen an investigation into three civil servants for potential involvement in the Keelung E-Square Mall (基隆東岸商場) case. The Keelung District Prosecutors’ Office earlier decided not to charge three civil servants, surnamed Chen (陳), Ho (賀) and Chang (張), with concealing public rental space income to benefit Lucky Parking Co (大日開發), although Chen and Ho were charged with bribery and leaking confidential information. The E-Square Mall in Keelung is pictured in an undated photograph. In 2016, Su allegedly underreported Lucky Parking’s annual revenue from the parking lot, exempting the company from royalty payments totaling NT$4.86 million to the city, they said. The High Prosecutors’ Office concluded that additional clarification was required and returned the case to the Keeling office.

Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, attends an interview in Berlin on May 22 last year. Photo: APSeveral officials said they believe the attacks were the work of Russian military intelligence, the GRU, although Moscow denied involvement. Poland’s Internal Security Agency, or ABW, said that incidents in Poland, as well as other EU and NATO members, had intensified this year. One was at a stopover at a DHL logistics center at an airport in the city of Leipzig, according to Thomas Haldenwang, head of the Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. “We are observing aggressive action by the Russian intelligence services.

Researchers at the University of Washington asked if he would participate in a study on a brain implant that could, maybe, treat the condition. “It occurred to me I’m getting something implanted very close to my brain,” he said. Even his family has noticed the change, Eric told me in his first interview since having the chip implanted. Inner Cosmos has found a way to address mental health without going into the brain at all. Eric’s story is another example of how the brain tech’s first steps into mainstream medicine are for now bringing hope, not dystopia.

Such a serious incident, along with the fact that the sentence for young people under the age of 18 can be reduced by half according to the Criminal Code, triggered a public outcry. According to Article 276 of the Criminal Code, the maximum penalty for a negligent death is five years in prison. The Criminal Code is meant to protect our social norms and is the last line of defense for fairness and justice. When it comes to juvenile criminal trials, Taiwan’s Criminal Code has long been based on German law. The juvenile criminal court would be the first to establish expert participation in trials.

Ministry moves to disband pro-unification partyBy Lery Hiciano / Staff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Interior today said it is to collate evidence that the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) has developed organizations and interfered in elections on behalf of China to petition for its formal disbanding. The party has engaged in organized activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that have infringed on people’s rights and endangered Taiwan’s free and democratic order, the ministry said in a news release. China Unification Promotion Party member Chang Meng-chung speaks during an event in an undated photograph. Although it is legal to form political parties, they should abide by the Constitution and conform to democratic principles, the ministry said, adding that the CUPP’s alleged crimes jeopardize national security, social order and elections’ fairness. If a party’s purpose or conduct undermines the nation or its free and democratic order, then it is unconstitutional and authorities may request the Constitutional Court to dissolve the party, the ministry said.

Difficult post-typhoon commute draws ire in TaipeiCommuters in Taipei picked their way through debris and navigated disrupted transit schedules this morning on their way to work and school, as the city was still working to clear the streets in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey. By 11pm yesterday, there were estimated 2,000 trees down in the city, as well as 390 reports of infrastructure damage, 318 reports of building damage and 307 reports of fallen signs, the Taipei Public Works Department said. Workers were mobilized late last night to clear the debris as soon as possible, the department said. However, as of this morning, many people were leaving messagesBy Kayleigh Madjar

The ‘anaconda strategy’ of the PLABy Liao Ming-hui 廖明輝Navy Commander Admiral Tang Hua (唐華) said in an interview with The Economist that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been implementing an “anaconda strategy” to subdue Taiwan since President William Lai (賴清德) assumed office. The interview reminds me of a story published in late August about the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a US think tank, mentioning that China is using an “anaconda strategy” to slowly strangle Taiwan — as an anaconda might overcome its prey — leaving no room for Taiwan to breathe or fight back. The operations would involve unprecedented levels of PLA activity, including aircraft and surface vessels encroaching into Taiwan’s territorial waters and airspace. The PLA would simultaneously cut undersea Internet cables and incapacitate Taiwan’s communications satellites to disrupt links within Taiwan and sever its connections with the international community. The PLA Navy would also position its Shandong aircraft carrier strike group southeast of Taiwan to deter US Navy vessels.

N Korea fires missiles toward the seaAP, SEOULNorth Korea yesterday fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, its neighbors said, as it continued its weapons demonstrations hours before the US presidential election. Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani said at least seven North Korean missiles flew as far as 400km with a maximum altitude of 100km. Photo: AP / Korean Central News Agency / Korea News ServiceSouth Korea’s military also detected several missile launches by North Korea and subsequently boosted its surveillance posture. The North Korean missiles could be used to target key facilities in South Korea, including US military bases there. South Korea’s military intelligence agency last week said that Pyongyang has also likely completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test.

Taipei residents protest demolition of Daan bridgeStaff writer, with CNAResidents have called on the Taipei City Government to reconsider its plan to demolish a four-decades-old pedestrian overpass near Daan Forest Park. However, in recent days some local residents have been protesting the planned destruction of the intersection overpass that is rendered more poetically as “sky bridge” in Chinese. The pedestrian overpass at the intersection of Heping and Xinsheng roads in Taipei is pictured yesterday. “Separating pedestrians from vehicles is the safest way.”People take a selfie with the pedestrian overpass bridge at the intersection of Heping and Xinsheng roads in Taipei on Sunday. “There are 13 sky bridges exceeding 40 years old in use in Taipei City,” Lin said, adding that the oldest has been operational for 55 years.

Difficult post-typhoon commute draws ire in TaipeiCommuters in Taipei picked their way through debris and navigated disrupted transit schedules this morning on their way to work and school, as the city was still working to clear the streets in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey. By 11pm yesterday, there were estimated 2,000 trees down in the city, as well as 390 reports of infrastructure damage, 318 reports of building damage and 307 reports of fallen signs, the Taipei Public Works Department said. Workers were mobilized late last night to clear the debris as soon as possible, the department said. However, as of this morning, many people were leaving messagesBy Kayleigh Madjar