分类: society

  • People in Taiwan commemorate victims of White Terror period

    People in Taiwan commemorate victims of White Terror period

    On Saturday, November 8, 2025, residents of Taiwan gathered at the Taipei Machangding Memorial Park to honor the victims of the White Terror period, a dark chapter in the island’s history marked by political repression during the 1950s. The annual remembrance ceremony, attended by survivors, families of the victims, and representatives from various sectors of Taiwanese society, served as a poignant reminder of the era’s injustices and a call for peace and unity across the Taiwan Strait. The White Terror era saw the arrest and execution of numerous individuals perceived as threats to the ruling Kuomintang regime, many of whom were buried in unmarked graves. It wasn’t until 1993 that four such burial sites were discovered in Taipei, leading to the establishment of the annual autumn commemoration. This year’s ceremony featured a heartfelt eulogy by Taiwan youth representative Chen Chu-yin, who expressed hope that the martyrs’ ideals of national reunification would be realized through the efforts of the younger generation. The event underscored the enduring impact of the White Terror period on Taiwan’s collective memory and its ongoing relevance in contemporary discussions about cross-Strait relations.

  • What does UAE law say about car insurance costs, conditions?

    What does UAE law say about car insurance costs, conditions?

    In the United Arab Emirates, car insurance premiums and policy conditions are strictly regulated under national law to ensure fairness and transparency for vehicle owners. According to the Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy Against Loss and Damage, insurers are permitted to charge a maximum premium of five percent for saloon vehicles and seven percent for four-wheel drive vehicles for a 13-month policy. These regulations are established under Insurance Authority Board of Directors’ Decision No. 25 of 2016 and Decision No. 30 of 2016, which govern motor vehicle insurance tariffs and policy frameworks. The law mandates specific clauses in every insurance policy, including the obligations of both the insurance company and the insured. Insurers are required to compensate for damages, repair or replace vehicles, and cover other stipulated losses. Meanwhile, policyholders must pay premiums, adhere to safety precautions, and ensure compliance with ownership and licensing requirements. Exclusions such as indirect losses, damages from overloading, or accidents occurring outside the policy’s geographical territory are also clearly defined. Additionally, the law allows for optional riders, enabling insurers and policyholders to agree on additional coverage for specific risks, such as damages to personal property or incidents occurring off-road. These provisions ensure that motor vehicle insurance in the UAE is comprehensive, standardized, and aligned with legal requirements. Ashish Mehta, founder of Ashish Mehta & Associates, emphasizes the importance of understanding these regulations to make informed decisions when renewing or purchasing car insurance.

  • UAE weather: 9.8°C lowest temperature recorded in Al Ain on Nov 9, says NCM

    UAE weather: 9.8°C lowest temperature recorded in Al Ain on Nov 9, says NCM

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially entered its winter season, marked by a significant drop in temperatures. On November 9, 2025, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported that the mercury plummeted to 9.8°C in Al Ain’s Raknah area at 6:30 AM, marking the lowest temperature recorded in the country so far this year. This reading underscores the transition from the scorching summer months to the cooler winter period, which typically spans from November to March. During this season, daytime temperatures in most regions range between 15°C and 25°C, offering a refreshing change from the intense heat. Historically, the UAE has experienced even colder conditions, with the lowest temperature ever recorded being -5.7°C on February 3, 2017, at Jebel Jais, the nation’s highest peak in Ras Al Khaimah. Earlier this year, on January 4, 2025, Jebel Jais recorded a low of 1.9°C, just a day after hitting 2.2°C. As winter progresses, residents and visitors alike can expect milder weather, providing a welcome respite and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities.

  • One photo that captures tenderness amid chaos in the Philippines as Typhoon Fung-wong hits

    One photo that captures tenderness amid chaos in the Philippines as Typhoon Fung-wong hits

    In the midst of the chaos brought by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, Judy Bertuso, 63, sits inside a bright orange tent on the floor of a basketball court in Quezon City, Philippines. With deliberate tenderness, she feeds porridge to her 65-year-old husband, Apollo, who is recovering from a stroke. The translucent plastic walls of the tent frame his frail figure as he sits in a wheelchair. Judy, dressed in a wrinkled T-shirt and shorts, moves with a quiet exhaustion, her actions reflecting a lifetime of mutual care and devotion. The couple had evacuated their creekside home the day before, fearing a repeat of the flooding they experienced during heavy rains in October. When warnings urged residents to seek higher ground ahead of the storm, they heeded the call without hesitation. Fung-wong, the most powerful typhoon to threaten the Philippines this year, unleashed winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 kph (143 mph), battering the northeastern coast and displacing over a million people. Inside the shelter, rows of bright tents house dozens of families. The wind howls outside, but within the walls, the hum of quiet conversations and the laughter of children create a semblance of normalcy. Amid the uncertainty, Judy’s steady hand trembles slightly as she feeds Apollo, a silent testament to the enduring power of care and resilience in the face of nature’s fury.

  • King Charles III leads Britain’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony for war dead

    King Charles III leads Britain’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony for war dead

    Under clear skies in London, King Charles III presided over Britain’s annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony, honoring the nation’s war dead. The event, held near the iconic Cenotaph war memorial, saw thousands of military personnel, veterans, and civilians gather in solemn tribute. At precisely 11 a.m., marked by the tolling of Big Ben, the crowd observed a poignant two-minute silence, punctuated by an artillery blast and the haunting notes of “The Last Post” played by Royal Marines buglers. The 76-year-old monarch, adorned in the uniform of an army field marshal, laid a wreath of red poppies at the base of the Cenotaph, a monument erected over a century ago to commemorate those who perished in World War I and subsequent conflicts. The ceremony, held annually on the Sunday closest to November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I, is replicated across Britain and at UK military bases worldwide. Prince William, heir to the throne, followed his father in laying a wreath, inscribed with the words “the glorious dead.” Other members of the royal family, including Prince Edward, participated, though notably absent was the former Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his titles last month due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, political leaders, and diplomats from Commonwealth nations also paid their respects. Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales observed the ceremony from a balcony. The red poppy, a symbol of remembrance inspired by the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields,” adorned wreaths and lapels, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made.

  • 3 dead and 15 injured in tidal surge on Spain’s Canary Islands

    3 dead and 15 injured in tidal surge on Spain’s Canary Islands

    BARCELONA, Spain — A devastating tidal surge on Spain’s Canary Islands has claimed the lives of three individuals and left 15 others injured, according to emergency services. The incidents occurred on Saturday along the coast of Tenerife, where powerful waves swept people into the Atlantic Ocean. Among the victims were a man and a woman who were pulled into the sea in the municipalities of La Guancha, Puerto de la Cruz, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A third man was discovered lifeless in the waters near a beach in Granadilla. Authorities had previously issued warnings about the hazardous conditions, urging the public to avoid coastal paths and refrain from photographing or filming the turbulent seas to prevent unnecessary risks.

  • ‘Did you give a lift to a hitchhiker?’ – appeal over 1995 Jo Jo Dullard disappearance

    ‘Did you give a lift to a hitchhiker?’ – appeal over 1995 Jo Jo Dullard disappearance

    In a renewed effort to solve a decades-old mystery, Gardaí (Irish police) have issued a fresh appeal for information regarding the disappearance of Josephine “Jo Jo” Dullard, who vanished 30 years ago. The 21-year-old was last seen on November 9, 1995, in Moone, County Kildare, after hitching a ride from Naas. Her case, initially treated as a missing persons investigation, was upgraded to a murder inquiry in 2020. Gardaí are urging anyone who may have encountered Jo Jo or has any relevant information to come forward, particularly those who may have offered her a lift or were hitchhiking in the area at the time. The investigation has been a long and painful journey for Jo Jo’s family, who have endured decades of uncertainty. Jo Jo’s last known interaction was a phone call to her friend, Mary Cullinan, at 23:37 on the night of her disappearance, during which she mentioned a car had stopped to offer her a ride. She was reported missing the following morning by her sister, Kathleen. Over the years, her sister Mary Phelan has tirelessly campaigned for answers, and in 2008, a €10,000 reward was offered for information. Despite numerous appeals and searches, including recent efforts along the Wicklow-Kildare border, the case remains unsolved. Gardaí have emphasized that any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in bringing closure to Jo Jo’s family.

  • Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo

    Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo

    In an unexpected twist of fate, 15-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux became an international sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him at the Louvre during the infamous crown jewels heist. Dressed in a vintage three-piece suit, fedora, and a restored Russian watch, Pedro’s appearance sparked widespread intrigue and speculation. The image, which garnered millions of views, led to theories ranging from him being a detective to an AI-generated figure. Pedro, a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, chose to remain silent, allowing the mystery to unfold. In an exclusive interview with AP, he revealed that his style is inspired by 20th-century history and black-and-white imagery of statesmen and fictional detectives. Despite the viral fame, Pedro remains grounded, embracing his unique fashion sense and the unexpected spotlight. His story highlights the power of imagery and the allure of mystery in the digital age.

  • Residents turn to community patrols as illegal gold mining grows in Ghana

    Residents turn to community patrols as illegal gold mining grows in Ghana

    In the remote forests of western Ghana, a dedicated group of residents, led by a Catholic priest, has taken up arms against the scourge of illegal gold mining. Known as the Jema Anti-Galamsey Advocacy, this grassroots task force has been patrolling the region for over a year, determined to protect their land and water from the devastating effects of unregulated mining. Their efforts have not only preserved the local environment but also sparked a national debate on the balance between community enforcement and potential human rights abuses.

  • Israeli survivors of Kristallnacht mark 87th anniversary of Nazi riots amid rising antisemitism

    Israeli survivors of Kristallnacht mark 87th anniversary of Nazi riots amid rising antisemitism

    JERUSALEM — Walter Bingham, now 101, vividly recalls the horrors of Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” when he was just 14. On November 9, 1938, Nazis unleashed a wave of violence across Germany and Austria, destroying Jewish businesses, synagogues, and lives. This marked a pivotal moment in the escalating persecution that culminated in the Holocaust, where six million Jews were systematically murdered. Bingham is among the dwindling number of Holocaust survivors commemorating the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a somber reminder of history’s darkest chapter. Today, as antisemitism surges globally, particularly in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war, survivors like Bingham are sounding the alarm. Recent attacks on Jewish symbols, from synagogues in Australia to Israeli sports teams in Europe, evoke painful memories of the past. “We live in an era equivalent to 1938,” Bingham warned, emphasizing the urgent need to combat intolerance. Kristallnacht saw the Nazis kill at least 91 people, vandalize 7,500 businesses, and burn over 1,400 synagogues. Up to 30,000 Jewish men were arrested, many sent to concentration camps like Dachau and Buchenwald. Bingham, who escaped to England via the Kindertransport, lost his father in the Warsaw Ghetto and never saw his mother again. Alongside fellow survivors George Shefi and Paul Alexander, Bingham shared his story at Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue, a symbol of Jewish resilience. Shefi, 94, recounted his childhood in Berlin, where he witnessed the chaos of Kristallnacht and later fled to England alone. Alexander, 87, was sent to England as a baby, one of the few children reunited with his parents. Survivors stress the importance of educating younger generations to prevent history from repeating itself. Bingham, a Guinness World Record holder as the oldest working journalist, remains vocal in his fight against antisemitism. “If we see it, we have to hit back,” he declared. With approximately 200,000 Holocaust survivors remaining, their testimonies are more crucial than ever to ensure the lessons of the past are not forgotten.