ICAO blocks debate about Taiwan’s exclusion from pandemic-prevention efforts

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has blocked social media users who are calling for Taiwan’s participation in the joint WHO-ICAO efforts to help curb the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. Many Twitter accounts have been blocked by the organization, including those of Congressional staff, D.C.-based analysts, academics, and journalists, according to a report in AXIOS. “Taipei is an international transit hub, and Taiwan’s exclusion means it can’t take part in information sharing and logistical planning as the coronavirus spreads.” The

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Facebook to open ‘war room’ for upcoming Taiwan presidential elections

For the first time, social media giant Facebook will set up a ‘war room’ to counter misinformation and interference in in the upcoming Taiwan presidential election, January 11. Taiwan’s Central News Agency quoted an “industry insider” as saying that Facebook is setting up a war room in the Asia Pacific headquarters of Taipei and Singapore, and will begin operations after January 1. The war room will bring together members of different departments, including Facebook’s public policy, political advertising, content review,

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Han supporter Facebook page switches allegiance to Tsai Ing-wen amid spy scandal and corruption allegations

A Facebook fan page for KMT Presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu switched allegiance to incumbent DPP President Tsai Ing-wen in recent days, and the founder has alleged that they suspect the original sponsor may have been a Chinese agent. According to a report by FTV News (Formosa Television), the sponsor had originally paid NT5,000 per month for the page supporting Han Kuo-yu. The sponsor had contacted the writer by phone and had a heavy Chinese accent, a spokesperson for the page

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Police seek source of fake-news lynch-mob pillory of abusive stepfather

Police today declared that a video and photographs showing a group of vigilantes hoisting a man involved in a child abuse case in the air and firing fireworks rockets at him is fake news, and will be investigated for offences against the Social Order Maintenance Act. People who posted the video to social media groups claimed that a group had conducted a “human flesh search” to hunt down a 47-year-old man who allegedly beat his 10-year-old stepson because the boy

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Caramel Milk Tea Fans Slam McDonald’s New Breakfast Menu

Frustrated customers have turned to social media to put pressure on McDonald’s Taiwan to reverse their decision to remove caramel milk tea from their breakfast menu. The “Bring Back My Caramel Milk Tea” (還我焦糖奶茶) Facebook community page has so far attracted more than 13,000 followers. The breakfast menu at the popular chain restaurant was recently revised, and March 21, caramel milk tea was replaced by ordinary milk tea. The milk tea is served with regular white sugar, allowing customers to

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Baker’s Business Booms Despite Intimidation

A baker at the center of a controversy over the state of a former president’s health, sold out of bread in just twenty minutes today, as people flocked to his stall to show their support. [Cover Photo: United Daily News] In mid-October, the baker Huang Shi-fu took pictures and video of former President Chen Shui-bian, as Chen took a stroll near the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. Chen is on medical parole after serving 6 years of a 20-year prison

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