Diallo stars in Ivory Coast’s AFCON win
Defeat prolonged the Mozambican pursuit of an AFCON victory — they have drawn four matches and lost 12 since their 1986 debut. Ivory Coast’s Vakoun Bayo, left, and Mozambique’s Mexer compete for the ball during their Africa Cup of Nations Group F match in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Wednesday. Captain Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan. “The most important thing was to start with a win,” Mahrez said. Substitute Maza, of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, finished from Baghdad Bounedjah’s knockdown with five minutes left to score Algeria’s 100th AFCON goal and make it 3-0.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:23 UTC
Professional darts takes toll on top competitors
Professional darts takes toll on top competitorsThe Guardian“It’s a lonely place,” Stephen Bunting said, as he sat quietly in Alexandra Palace on Saturday last week, the tears welling in his eyes. Stephen Bunting of England walks on stage ahead of his match against India’s Nitin Kumar at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday last week. However, at its most extreme, darts can act as an accelerator and a multiplier, putting normal guys under deeply abnormal pressures. So what is the secret to a happy life in darts? Unlike most players on the tour, he maintains a full-time job as a firefighter in Scotland, fitting darts around the rest of his life.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:23 UTC
Travel: Sleeping with the Fishes
Photo: Tyler CottenieAN ACTION-PACKED AFTERNOONOur first day was even longer, as our package started with an additional tour outside the aquarium. The tour ended at the Underwater Tunnel, where we selected our sleeping spots and laid out our blankets. Photo: Tyler CottenieTo sign up for the overnight experience, visit www.aquarium.com.tw/booking_b.asp, choose your sleeping location, and then select from the dates available. All other months and sleeping locations do not include any of these additional tours. The basic cost for the overnight and aquarium tour package is NT$2,680 per adult, NT$1,340 for children under 6 and free for children under 3.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:23 UTC
Housing market to consolidate next year: broker
Housing market to consolidate next year: brokerLENDING WOES: Mortgage rates have climbed to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, making borrowing difficult for first-time buyers, Evertrust saidBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan’s housing market is set to consolidate next year, with transaction volumes expected to hold near this year’s levels as tight mortgage conditions continue to weigh on demand, Evertrust Rehouse Co (永慶房屋) said on Wednesday, citing a quarterly survey. Photo: CNA“The worst from policy tightening is likely over and conditions are unlikely to deteriorate, barring major economic or policy shocks,” Yeh said. Speculative buyers have mostly exited the market, leaving transactions increasingly driven by owner-occupiers, he said, as long as Taiwan’s economy remains broadly stable. Yeh flagged four major uncertainties shaping the outlook: the health of a global artificial intelligence boom, Washington’s trade policy under US President Donald Trump, domestic housing policy directions, cross-strait relations and the pace of new housing supply. Mortgage rates have climbed to about 2.3 percent, the highest since the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, eroding affordability for first-time buyers, Yeh said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:23 UTC
AFCON change seen by some as caving in to FIFA
AFCON change seen by some as caving in to FIFAAFP, RABATThe Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to change the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a biennial competition to a tournament held every four years has been met with a mixed reaction on the continent with some seeing it as simply caving in to pressure from European clubs and FIFA. CAF president Patrice Motsepe made the landmark announcement following a meeting with FIFA executives in Rabat on the eve of this year’s Cup of Nations in Morocco. Ivory Coast supporters cheer for their team ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations Group F match against Mozambique at Marrakesh Stadium in Morocco on Wednesday. To that end, the creation of a new African Nations League — modeled on the UEFA Nations League — is seen as a way of boosting coffers instead. “I think it will make the competition more attractive,” said Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez, currently appearing at his sixth AFCON.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:23 UTC
Ko bribery case verdict scheduled for next March
Ko bribery case verdict scheduled for next MarchStaff writer, with CNAA verdict in the trial of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) over allegations that he accepted bribes in the Core Pacific City development project and misused political donations would be handed down in late March, a Taipei judge said on Wednesday. Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je emerges from the Taipei District Court on the last day of his corruption trial on Wednesday. In the Core Pacific City development project case, Ko is accused of receiving bribes from Core Pacific Group chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京) in exchange for granting a massive, illegal increase in the project’s floor-area ratio (FAR). Ko allowed his supporters to pressure the judiciary, including by surrounding the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office and issuing online threats, they said. Meanwhile, Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇), another suspect, expressed hope that the trial would clear her name.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:23 UTC
Five indicted in tobacco smuggling ring
Five indicted in tobacco smuggling ringBy Tsai Ching-hua / Staff reporterKaohsiung prosecutors on Tuesday last week indicted five suspects following a major bust of a criminal ring in August that allegedly smuggled contraband cigarettes and heated tobacco products via fishing vessels. The bust — one of Kaohsiung’s largest — uncovered an estimated NT$100 million (US$3.18 million) of illegal tobacco products hidden in the cargo of fishing boats, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors’ Office said. Contraband cigarettes and heated tobacco products are pictured on a fishing boat in Kaohsiung in August. The task force tracked the three fishing boats — Jin Ji Li No. The five were indicted for contravening the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act (菸酒管理法).
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:22 UTC
New Terminal 3 concourse tipped to ease congestion
New Terminal 3 concourse tipped to ease congestionStaff writer, with CNAThe north concourse of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 officially began operations yesterday and is expected to ease congestion during early-morning transfer and departure peak hours, the airport operator said. About 40 flights are to use the north concourse every day, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC, 桃園國際機場) said. The north concourse features a bright, modern design with silver-gray and orange accents. The north concourse extends from Gate D10 in Terminal 2 and connects to gates D11 through D18. As the main Terminal 3 complex is to be completed and opened in 2027, passengers using the concourse need to clear immigration and security at Terminal 2.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 17:22 UTC
Post union to ask for birthday leave for firm employees
Post union to ask for birthday leave for firm employeesBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe Chunghwa Post Workers’ Union (CPWU) yesterday said that it would soon negotiate with the management of the state-run postal firm over a proposal to grant employees birthday leave. CPWU president Lin Jung-chou (林榮洲) said that the union would negotiate with the company management next year about granting employees birthday leave. Employees who are on extended leave for illness would receive a full salary during the first six months and half salary afterward, Lin said. According to the union, workers would each receive NT$8,000 from the welfare fund next year, including NT$2,000 as a holiday allowance and NT$6,000 as a special allowance. In addition to birthday leave, railway workers on the night shift would also see their late-night meal allowance rise to NT$400 from NT$120 starting next month.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC
Wage hike among New Year rule changes
About 1.74 million people are expected to benefit from the adjustment of the minimum monthly wage, while about 730,000 would benefit from the hourly wage change, Ministry of Labor data showed. In line with the adjusted minimum wage, Level 1 of the Labor Insurance and Occupational Accident Insurance for fulltime workers — which links actual wages to insurance brackets for contribution calculations — would rise to NT$29,500. The minimum wage is to increase in the New Year. The Bureau of Labor Insurance is to carry out the adjustments, which would take effect on Thursday next week, it said. In other rule changes, cat owners who fail to microchip their pets would face fines of up to NT$15,000, the Ministry of Agriculture said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC
Legislator proposes ‘referral schools’
Legislator proposes ‘referral schools’By Jason Pan / Staff reporter, with CNAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Yeh Yuan-chih (葉元之) yesterday said he would propose a bill that would mandate each municipality to establish at least one “referral school” with enhanced counseling resources to send problematic students. The bill aims to “protect the lives and safety of the majority of students and their right to education,” Yeh said in a statement. “We have seen more frequent incidents in recent years of students assaulting teachers and beating up fellow students,” Yeh said. “Teachers are gradually losing their authority, and are unable to rein in problem students,” he added. Under current rules, schools are required to keep problematic students in their original classes, Yeh said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC
EDITORIAL: Court needs to be able to do its job
EDITORIAL: Court needs to be able to do its jobThe Constitutional Court on Friday last week ruled that an opposition-backed amendment to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) was unconstitutional and should be rendered void, as it was passed in an undemocratic manner and goes against the constitutional principle of separation of powers. At the same time the opposition has rejected all nominees to the court by President William Lai (賴清德), leaving the Constitutional Court with insufficient numbers after seven justices’ terms ended. The legislature’s hobbling of the Constitutional Court not only has breached the separation of powers in the Constitution, but has impaired public interests and national governance. The operation of a Constitutional Court is a core function for upholding democracy. Impeachment would also need to be approved by the Constitutional Court, which, ironically, has been crippled by the opposition.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC
Short-form videos dominant: poll
Short-form videos dominant: pollMEDIA REVOLUTION: Short-form videos have become popular relatively quickly, but one expert said this was not a worry, as media formats are constantly evolvingStaff writer, with CNAShort-form videos have become the most common media format consumed by Taiwanese, ahead of social media, the Taiwan Network Information Center said in a report released on Wednesday last week. More than three-fifths of respondents said they watched short videos daily across multiple platforms, while nearly half (49.98 percent) reported viewing short videos multiple times a day, compared with 8.06 percent who said they watched once a day. Photo: CNAThe report defined a short-form video as content lasting between 15 seconds and three minutes on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels and YouTube Shorts. By age group, short-form video consumption was highest among respondents aged 18 to 29 and 30 to 39, at 96.73 percent and 93.86 percent respectively. “Short videos deliver fresh content quickly, but they will not replace all other forms of content,” Tao said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC
Beijing favoring invasion, Pentagon report says
Beijing favoring invasion, Pentagon report saysStaff writer, with CNA, WASHINGTONBeijing could eventually see a full invasion of Taiwan as the only “prudent” way to bring about unification, the US Department of Defense said in an annual report to the US Congress on Tuesday. Beijing’s leaders generally view the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) capabilities for a Taiwan campaign as improving, but they remain uncertain about its readiness to seize the nation while countering potential US involvement, the report said. A landing campaign involving a large-scale amphibious invasion of Taiwan would be the most decisive and riskiest option, it said. The three less-dramatic options, also covered in last year’s report, were coercion short of war, a joint firepower strike campaign and a joint blockade campaign. Conversely, if the defense budget is frozen, Taiwan’s military would essentially be disarmed, which would lower the threshold China must match to launch an invasion, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC
Taiwan needs new constitution, front says
Taiwan needs new constitution, front saysBy Huang Ching-hsuan and Jason Pan / Staff reportersTaiwan should draft a new constitution that includes rights of self-determination and national sovereignty, as well as protections for the environment, members of the Taiwan Go Go Front said on Wednesday. “It is time for Taiwan to say goodbye to the outdated Constitution, as it is based on old concepts and the political thinking of Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT),” Green Party Taiwan head Lin Chun-chieh (林俊杰) said during a news conference in Taipei, the day before Constitution Day. We need a political movement to draft a new constitution for Taiwan,” he added. The front was formed earlier this month with involvement from a number of political parties, including the Green Party, New Power Party (NPP), Taiwan Statebuilding Party and the Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party (TOPEP). Constitution Day was abolished two decades ago, and we should wave it goodbye, as it was imposed on Taiwanese by an exiled Chinese colonial regime,” Taiwan Statebuilding Party chairman Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 25, 2025 16:50 UTC