Month: January 2026

Source: Government of Singapore

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30 January 2026 – Singapore and Rwanda have launched an application call for carbon credit projects under their Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation. This is Singapore’s fourth call for project applications, following earlier calls under bilateral Implementation Agreements with Ghana, Peru and Bhutan.

2         Authorised projects will unlock additional carbon mitigation projects in Rwanda and advance both countries’ climate ambitions through targeted financing. These projects will promote sustainable development and benefit local communities through job creation, clean water access, improved energy security, and reduced environmental pollution.

3         Authorised projects can generate carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit (ICC) Framework, these credits will be eligible for use by Singapore-based carbon tax-liable companies to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions.

4         Interested parties may submit applications for their carbon credit projects in Rwanda to be authorised. Applications submitted will be reviewed by the Singapore and Rwanda governments.

Application and Authorisation Process

5          The application and authorisation process comprises three stages, each corresponding to a different stage of implementation for the carbon credit project (See Annex A). The first two stages require applicants to submit details on the design and implementation plan for the carbon credit project in the lead-up to project authorisation. The final stage is for corresponding adjustments to be applied to the carbon credits generated from the authorised project, in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Paris Agreement. Detailed steps on the application process can be found at Singapore’s Carbon Markets Cooperation website, at www.carbonmarkets-cooperation.gov.sg/overview-rwanda/.

6         Singapore and Rwanda will assess applications in accordance with each country’s respective requirements. For Singapore, these projects must meet Singapore’s eligibility criteria for ICCs. The eligibility criteria, and the list of eligible carbon crediting programmes and methodologies under the Singapore-Rwanda Implementation Agreement, are at Annex B, and on the Carbon Markets Cooperation website.

 

Annex A: Flowchart of Application Process

Annex B: Singapore’s Eligibility Criteria and Eligibility List under the Singapore-Rwanda Implementation Agreement

Annex C: Information on the Singapore-Rwanda Implementation Agreement

 

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For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders will be able to enjoy visa-free travel to Azerbaijan, the Immigration Department announced today.

The arrangement will allow Hong Kong SAR passport holders to visit the country up to three times, for as long as 30 days each time, from February 2, 2026 to February 2, 2027.

Highlighting that Azerbaijan is a member of the Belt & Road Initiative, the department said the arrangement will bring travel convenience, and strengthen tourism-related, cultural and economic ties between the two places.

Including Azerbaijan, 175 countries and territories allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today published a notice declaring Kwong Fook Tsz, in Sheung Wan, and the Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital, in Sai Ying Pun and, as monuments.

Located on Western Street in Sai Ying Pun, Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital was established by the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee and opened in 1922 to provide maternity services for local Chinese women.

Following the hospital’s 1955 relocation to new premises on Hospital Road, the main block at the original site has been used as a community centre since 1961.

The red-brick building features a granite portico at its main entrance and an interior spiral staircase. It stands as a symbol of co-operation between Chinese community leaders and Western medical professionals in the early development of the city’s maternal health services.

Kwong Fook Tsz, also known as Pak Shing Temple, was built in 1895 with funds raised by Chinese elites.

The temple houses the soul tablets – or ancestral name plates – of mainland Chinese workers who died in Hong Kong without having family members to perform burial rites for them here. It enshrines deities such as Ksitigarbha and Chai Kung.

In its early years, the temple also provided refuge and medical services for the destitute and elderly. It later contributed to the establishment of Tung Wah Hospital.

Kwong Fook Tsz has a “three-hall-one-bay” layout, and has two courtyards, making it rare among Hong Kong temples. The Shiwan ceramics on the ridge of the entrance hall are the most prominent external architectural feature.

Click here for more details.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets delegation led by Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra
On the afternoon of January 29, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. In remarks, President Lai thanked Micron for making Taiwan a key link in its plans to expand global capacity, demonstrating the importance and confidence Micron places in Taiwan. The president pointed out that Taiwan and the United States recently completed tariff negotiations and signed an MOU on investment cooperation, and that the two sides will sign the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, deepening bilateral investment and trade and positioning Taiwan and the US as important strategic partners. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and the US will work side by side to strengthen the key memory technologies essential for AI infrastructure and together build more resilient and competitive supply chains, creating a future of shared success.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Today, I am delighted to meet with Mr. Mehrotra once again at the Presidential Office. Micron Technology has planted deep roots in Taiwan over the past three decades. Its cumulative investments here have exceeded NT$1.2 trillion, and it has trained and employed over 10,000 engineering professionals. I would like to thank Micron for making Taiwan a key link in its plans to expand global capacity. Mr. Mehrotra’s leading a delegation to visit further demonstrates the importance and confidence Micron places in Taiwan.
Recently, Taiwan and the US completed tariff negotiations and signed an MOU on investment cooperation. And moving forward, the two sides will sign the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. This will position Taiwan as a strategic partner to the US and deepen bilateral investment and trade. US enterprises will increase their investments in memory, IC design, and cloud services in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwanese companies are investing in logic chips and associated supply chains in the US. This demonstrates the longstanding strategic partnership between Taiwan and the US in the information and communications technology sector. It also signifies that in the AI era to come, Taiwan and the US will remain essential strategic partners.
I believe that Micron’s investment in Taiwan is one of the finest demonstrations of Taiwan-US cooperation. As one of Taiwan’s largest foreign investors, and through its longstanding presence, Micron has not only created numerous job opportunities but also heightened the importance of Taiwan’s semiconductor sector. And that is why the government’s support for Micron remains steadfast and will not waver. At the end of last year, Micron secured a new round of subsidies under the Ministry of Economic Affairs A+ Program. Over the next three years, this initiative is expected to drive additional investment from Micron in Taiwan, accelerating high-bandwidth memory (HBM) research and development while expanding production capacity.
Micron’s expansion in Taiwan is an ongoing process. It is also one of the most important investments following the recent Taiwan-US trade negotiations. Just this month, Micron and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation signed a letter of intent regarding cooperation. This collaboration is highly significant, proving that Micron’s strategic deployment in Taiwan has risen to new levels of partnership with local enterprises as we seek to jointly strengthen competitiveness in the memory industry.
In the AI-driven world of the future, chips and memory will both remain indispensable. With Micron’s assistance, we will expand HBM-related advanced manufacturing capacity and cutting-edge technologies in Taiwan. In turn, Taiwan will support Micron in keeping pace with its international competitors. And Taiwan and the US will work together to expand global strengths in AI chips while fostering mutual prosperity and development.
We look forward to Micron’s future investments in Taiwan continuing to set new milestones. Let us work side by side to strengthen the key memory technologies essential for AI infrastructure. Together, we can build more resilient and competitive supply chains and create a future of shared success.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai’s response to Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace message  
President Lai Ching-te recently sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV of the Catholic Church in response to his message marking the 59th World Day of Peace.
The following is the full text of the president’s letter to the pope:
Your Holiness,
In your message for the World Day of Peace 2026 entitled Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace, you called on people everywhere to reject violence and war, pursue true peace founded on love and justice, and put these concepts into practice daily. I express my profound agreement with and appreciation of this message.
Your Holiness contrasted darkness and light to describe the biblical image of the labor pains of a new world being born and to underscore that only by seeing the light and believing in it can darkness be overcome. This resonated deeply with me. As early as 1921, Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水), a pioneer of Taiwan’s democracy movement, advocated nonviolence and global citizenship. He envisioned Taiwan as a frontline guardian of world peace. Indeed, the Taiwan of today, strategically located in the first island chain, influences global geopolitical developments. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are vital to the safety and well-being of our nation’s people and serve as cornerstones of global security and prosperity. I have reiterated on numerous occasions that democracy, peace, and prosperity are Taiwan’s chosen path and that these ideals connect Taiwan with the world.
Taiwan continues to face longstanding attempts at military coercion and political intimidation by authoritarian regimes in the region, as well as their efforts to diminish Taiwan’s sovereign status by misrepresenting United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and historical WWII documents. Despite this, Taiwan has consistently chosen to safeguard peace across the Taiwan Strait through concrete action. On the basis of parity and dignity, Taiwan remains willing to engage in cross-strait dialogue to foster mutual prosperity and development. Any attempt to alter the status quo through force or coercion could never bring about true peace. Only mutual trust and communication grounded in respect for human rights and democratic values can create lasting peace.
Your Holiness has noted that the growing use of cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence in the military domain is increasing the tragic risk of armed conflict. I share this concern and believe that the international community must work together and establish norms to ensure that technological progress is not misused in ways that undermine peace. Taiwan is implementing the Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects and aims to cultivate 500,000 AI professionals by 2040. And by steadily advancing trustworthy AI and semiconductors, Taiwan is demonstrating its resolve to strengthen international supply chains and serve as a stabilizing force for regional peace. Taiwan is also assisting micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in leveraging AI to realize digital and green transformations in response to challenges posed by climate change.
Your message emphasized that those entrusted with the highest public responsibility must negotiate and faithfully fulfill their obligations based on mutual trust and sincerity to achieve more humane international relations. In the humanitarian spirit of “Taiwan can help,” which is rooted in freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and by promoting values-based diplomacy, Taiwan is working closely with like-minded partners to address global issues. Taiwan is demonstrating through action its willingness to assume greater international responsibilities and contribute to the well-being of people everywhere.
On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, I reaffirm my desire to work hand in hand with the Holy See. Through concrete action, we can further world peace and uphold common values centered on human rights.
Please accept, Your Holiness, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration, as well as my best wishes for your good health and the continued growth of the Catholic Church.
 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department received a referral from 1823 this morning regarding the discovery of a suspected whale carcass in Ham Tin Wan, Sai Kung.

The department’s staff, together with personnel from Ocean Park and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation immediately attended the scene for investigation.

 
Preliminary assessment indicates that the carcass measured approximately 11m in length. Due to the severe decomposition, a necropsy cannot be further conducted to determine the cause of death. Staff are working to dispose of the carcass and clean up the area as quickly as possible, with completion expected tomorrow.

Meanwhile, people should avoid approaching the area to prevent hindering the disposal process and causing danger.

The deceased whale was not a local species. It is preliminarily believed to be a baleen whale. Based on the degree of decomposition of the carcass, it is estimated to have been dead for some time. It is believed that the carcass drifted into the waters of Ham Tin Wan from the open seas.

According to records, baleen whales are distributed almost globally across oceans, with different species inhabiting distinct waters. Baleen whales typically forage in the cold, high-latitude waters around the Arctic and Antarctic during the summer. In the winter, they migrate to warmer, low-latitude or tropical waters for breeding and nurturing their young.

The department urges the public to report any whale sightings or stranded cetaceans immediately by calling 1823 or using the 1823 mobile application.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin confers Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on former MECO Chairperson and Resident Representative Velicaria-Garafil

Date：2026-01-23
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

January 23, 2026
No. 028
 
On behalf of the government of Taiwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on Secretary General of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil on January 23. The award was granted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and recognizes Secretary General Velicaria-Garafil’s remarkable contributions to strengthening the partnership between Taiwan and the Philippines when she served as Chairperson and Resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). 
 
In his remarks, Minister Lin pointed out that Secretary General Velicaria-Garafil had played a pivotal role in advancing Taiwan-Philippines relations. He expressed appreciation that during her tenure she had facilitated the signing and issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 82 by the Philippine government, which eased restrictions on official interactions, as well as the granting of 14-day visa-free entry for Taiwan nationals visiting the Philippines for business and tourism, thus overcoming a barrier that had stood for many years. Minister Lin noted that these achievements contributed greatly to deepening bilateral friendship and exchanges in various areas. 
 
He said that building upon the existing solid foundation, Taiwan would continue to work with the Philippine government to advance collaboration in such areas as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, clean energy, talent development, and tourism. He added that Taiwan would promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in line with the policy of integrated diplomacy to continue to foster mutual benefits and shared prosperity as well as to jointly bolster and safeguard the peace, prosperity, and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
 
In her remarks, Secretary General Velicaria-Garafil thanked the government of Taiwan, the business community, and other groups for their strong support during her tenure. This, she said, had helped transform what had been previously regarded as impossible into tangible outcomes. She added that in her heart, Taiwan had become like a second home and that she would continue to advance Taiwan-Philippines relations in her new position and advocate for Taiwan as a friend of the country.
 
Following the ceremony, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger hosted a banquet for Secretary General Velicaria-Garafil on behalf of MOFA, expressing high regard for her outstanding contributions in elevating Taiwan-Philippines relations during her time in Taiwan. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Security Bureau today said Guangdong’s Nuclear Emergency Committee Office notified it about an operational event at Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station.  

Yesterday, unit 3 of the station was undergoing a planned overhaul. Station staff carried out steam generator drainage operations while the protection signals had not yet been cancelled, triggering the automatic initiation signal for the auxiliary feed water pumps.

At present, the auxiliary feed water pumps concerned have returned to normal operation and the overhaul work is continuing as planned.

The deviation did not affect the unit’s safety, the workers’ health, the nearby public or the environment.

The bureau noted that the event was classified as a Level 0 deviation in accordance with the International Nuclear & Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region