Taiwan News Quick Takes

Taiwan’s population dropped for the 33rd consecutive time last month to 23,213,251, a decline of 11,470 from the previous month, Ministry of the Interior data showed. There were 7,704 births last month, an increase of 212 from August, bringing the total number of births in the first nine months to 69,446. There were also 16,712 deaths last month, an increase compared with August and the same period last year. Meanwhile, 70,672 people moved to Taiwan last month, down 8,408 from the same month last year, but up 4,273 from August, the data showed. However, 73,134 people left Taiwan, resulting in a net outflow of 2,462 people. Accounting for births, deaths and migration, the total population fell by 11,470 compared with August.

A child skips on the street in Taipei in an undated photo.

Photo: CNA

ENVIRONMENT

Night markets give vouchers

An eco-friendly campaign offering vouchers at 40 night markets across Taiwan is to be held over the next four Saturdays, the Administration of Commerce said yesterday. Visitors who bring reusable bags, utensils or cups can exchange NT$100 for NT$200 worth of vouchers to be used through Nov. 8, it said. Staff at night markets would verify the eco-friendly items and distribute the vouchers, it said. Those who spend NT$500 or more at the same night market can also present an invoice, receipt or proof of purchase at the campaign service desk to receive a Taiwanese-style mesh reusable shopping bag, it added. Each night market would have a limited supply of 60 shopping bags and each participant would only be able to claim one per day.

LITERATURE

Writers’ festival to open

The Taiwan Writers Festival is to bring together authors and translators from the US, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Finland and Poland to meet and hold discussions with their Taiwanese counterparts next month, organizers said yesterday. From Nov. 6 to 22, participants would join sessions exploring how literature looks back on the past while tackling present-day questions about technology, the environment and social change, curator Yen Hung-ya (閻鴻亞) said. Among the international guests is US author Barbara Demick, said the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, which is organizing the festival. Demick will join a panel with China-born journalist Annie Zhang (張潔平) and Taiwanese journalist Jason Liu (劉致昕) to explore how writers navigate power, crises and truth in their work, the museum said.

PUBLISHING

Magazine marks 50 years

The government-funded Taiwan Panorama magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exhibition of some of its best photographs of Taiwan’s social, economic and political development over the past half-century. The free exhibition is to be held at Taipei’s Huashan 1914 Creative Park from today through Oct. 19. It would feature four sections exploring everyday life, public infrastructure and resilience, democracy and freedom, and Taiwan’s presence on the world stage. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said that since its inauguration in 1976, Taiwan Panorama has documented Taiwan’s stories through different eras. As the magazine is set to end its print edition and transition to a digital format at the end of this year, Wu said its vast collection of stories and images would continue to live on through digital platforms, online exhibitions and more diverse content.