Crisis Management for a Conflict with North Korea

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北投公寓清晨火警!濃煙火光狂竄驚悚畫面曝 疏散17人、7人受困

Fire breaks out at Beitou apartment early morning! Thick smoke and flames blaze in terrifying scenes, 17 evacuated, 7 trapped

Yahoo News Taiwan | Local Language | News | Nov. 28, 2025 | Accidents

Early on the morning of November 27, 2025, a fire broke out at an apartment on Yili Street in Beitou District, Taipei City. The Taipei City Fire Department responded with five command vehicles, 17 fire engines, two ambulances, and 60 firefighters. The entire first floor was ablaze, with thick smoke trapping residents on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Firefighters controlled the fire within about 20 minutes, evacuating 17 people and rescuing seven trapped residents. One woman received preventive oxygen therapy due to heavy smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed approximately 15 square meters of living room furnishings on the first floor, and the cause remains under investigation.

Separately, a major fire occurred on November 26, 2025, at Hung Fuk Court, a 42-year-old residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The fire engulfed seven of the eight tall buildings, resulting in at least 44 deaths and 279 people missing, along with one firefighter killed in the line of duty. Experts attributed the difficulty in controlling the fire to the building's high-rise structure, the chimney effect, and strong winds. Questions arose about whether non-flame-retardant canopy netting contributed to the rapid spread. The cause and contributing factors are under further investigation.

In other news, President Lai Ching-te announced a plan to invest about US$40 billion (NT$1.25 trillion) over eight years in Taiwan’s defense capabilities in response to rising military pressure from Beijing, aiming to enhance deterrence and resilience. However, concerns were raised regarding the budget's sustainability without new funding sources or departmental budget cuts.

Additionally, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office is investigating the Prince Group for alleged money laundering, detaining seven individuals and seizing 34 luxury cars. This follows other reported scandals, including bribery allegations against People First Party chairman Huang Kuo-chang, linked to NT$2 million from Tai-ya Group, with legal experts commenting on potential corruption charges.

Other notable reports include a Taichung City initiative allocating NT$450 million to replace school desks and chairs in junior high and elementary schools, the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival to be held in Miaoli County, and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Beige Book indicating weakening labor market growth and consumer spending pressures, suggesting potential interest rate cuts in December.

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