ICRT

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Taiwan authorities are warning of increased risks for people traveling to
China ... as Beijing expands national-security controls into more areas of
everyday life.

Officials familiar with cross-Strait affairs say several new and revised
Chinese laws cover areas including the movement of people, money and
information.

They say broadly defined terms such as "national security" and "national
interests" could give Chinese authorities wide discretion over how the laws
are enforced.

Under new cyberspace inspection rules, even county-level police could be
given powers to inspect individuals, along with their phones and laptops.

Officials say the laws could also be applied to people who are not Chinese
citizens if authorities determine they have harmed China's national security
or interests.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Taichung residents will soon get to choose the look of the city's new Blue
Line metro trains.

An online vote on three shortlisted train designs will open this Thursday,
September 10th, and run through October 9th.

People can cast one vote a day online .... through the official campaign
platform or via the T-C-PASS app ...

The city government is also offering over 150 prizes ... including a base
model iPhone 17, tablets, a pair of Logitech headphones ... and a
limited-edition EasyCard keychain.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the Blue Line will be one of Taichung's largest metro
routes, stretching about 24 kilometers.

The line is planned to have 28 trains, compared with 18 on the Green Line.

The Blue Line is scheduled for completion in 2034 if construction stays on
track.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

In news from the world of sport ...

The Houston Astros have sent Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) back to the
minor leagues after a difficult stretch in the majors.

Teng gave up a run and walked two batters in one-third of an inning during
Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 27-year-old was recalled to the Astros on August 21 to strengthen their
bullpen, but he allowed six runs over his last three appearances.

Teng has made 30 appearances for Houston this season, including 10 starts,
with a 5-and-7 record and a 4.76 ERA.

His return to Triple-A means Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao-yu is now the
only active Taiwanese player in Major League Baseball.

Lee went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians,
scoring once.

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Over in India ...

The death toll from a building collapse in the capital New Delhi has risen to
seven, as search and rescue teams continue combing through the rubble.

The five-story building, which housed a boys' hostel, collapsed Sunday in a
densely populated area near a Delhi University campus.

Officials say rescuers have pulled at least 12 people from the debris.

The building was at least 55 years old and had been under renovation before
reopening to tenants in August.

Preliminary findings suggest water accumulation and ongoing repairs may have
contributed to the collapse.

Authorities have arrested the building's owner and suspended municipal
employees responsible for safety inspections.

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Belgian prosecutors say a Belgian-Chinese man has been detained on suspicion
of industrial espionage after allegedly transferring semiconductor trade
secrets to China.

The 52-year-old, who was born in Beijing and lives in Belgium, was detained
May 10th while trying to board a flight to China.

He worked for BelGaN, a company specializing in gallium nitride
semiconductors, and investigators suspect he was also involved with a Chinese
company in the same field.

The investigation is focused on industrial espionage and the alleged misuse
of company assets.

Authorities have seized several data storage devices and are also pursuing a
second suspect.

Posted on 2026-09-07 18:26:13

Flights between Taiwan and Jakarta have been canceled today ... as a volcanic
eruption disrupts air travel across Indonesia.

Ash from the Anak Krakatau volcano temporarily halted takeoffs and landings
at Jakarta's main international airport.

The volcano began erupting late last week and intensified over the weekend.

Seven airports across Indonesia remained closed today, with more than 1,500
flights delayed or canceled ... leaving around 170-thousand passengers
stranded.

China Airlines canceled two flights between Taoyuan and Jakarta, and plans to
use a larger aircraft on its service tomorrow night to help accommodate
affected passengers.

EVA Air has also canceled four flights today, including two that had been
rescheduled from Sunday.

STARLUX Airlines says some of its flights could also be affected.

Passengers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the
airport.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-07 18:26:13

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the city will seek to restore 5.41
billion NT in central government funding cut from its MRT projects next year.

Hou says the latest reduction follows a 9-billion-NT cut in central
government MRT funding for New Taipei this year ...

... even though the city is currently at a peak period for transportation
construction.

Hou said the MRT projects are important not only for New Taipei's development
...

... but also for the broader transportation network conecting to neighboring
Taipei and Keelung.

The city government has already written to the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications seeking priority consideration for additional funding.

Hou says New Taipei remains committed to keeping its MRT projects on schedule.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

The Central Election Commission says, over 19,500 candidates have registered
to run for public office in November...

with 26 of them being so-called "mainland spouses."

That marks a 36% increase in the number of "mainland spouses" running for
local office from Taiwan's last local elections in 2022.

CEC Chair You Ying Long (游盈隆) says today that the 19,500 candidates are
jockeying for just over 11,000 positions...

but noted that there are 130 fewer candidates running than 4 years ago.

You noted that the decrease in the overall number of candidates running and
the increase in the number of mainland spouses running were not statistically
significant...

and were "natural fluctuations."

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

Chinese narratives around deadly floods in Nepal have attempted to downplay
the Chinese government of responsibility.

That's according to Taiwanese academics studying foreign information
manipulation.

Their analysis shows that, within China, media has sought to paint Chinese
rescue activities as "heroic" by sending rescue teams to Nepal after the
disaster...

while external reporting has underreported casualties.

According to Nepalese authoirities, the current death toll from the disaster
stands at 1,100...

but Chinese media has reported only 16 dead and has not updated that figure
since August 30th.

The analysis comes as some have leveled criticism at Chinese authorities for
failing to provide important information to Nepal.

The Taiwanese information expert also says that using Chinese search engines
with terms like "China failed to provide timely assistance" do not return any
results.

But searching for "Xi Jinping- divine retribution" would causes cellphones to
crash, indicating that Chinese authorities may be trying to identify who's
searching for it.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

The Chimei Museum will feature eight rare historical instruments at the grand
finale of its 2026 music festival in Kaohsiung this November.

Titled "Splendid Profundity: Brahms and his Time", the concert takes place
Nov. 14 at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.

Acclaimed Taiwanese pianist Meng-Chieh Liu will perform as soloist, joining
conductor Victorien Vanoosten and the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.

And orchestra principals will play eight rare German and Austrian instruments
from the museum, including a 1674 Jacob Stainer viola, one of four left in
the world.

The performance marks the conclusion of the festival's annual series
celebrating 19th-century classical repertoire.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

Now turning to internaitonal news...

Israel has killed 9 people in Lebanon and wounded 13 others.

The Lebanese health ministry says that one of the two strikes on a southern
Lebanese village hit a building while another hit a car, killing a paramedic.

Al Jazeera reports that 2 of those dead were infants.

The strikes are part of a new round of escalation between Israel and
Hezbollah...

with talks between the two parties stalled since August.

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

Nepal is holding a day of mourning for the more than 1300 people dead in
flooding.

Government offices have lowered flags and family members are marking the
final day of the 13 day mourning riturals.

During the ritual, close family members stay home and relatives visit to pay
their respects.

On the final day, rituals are held to pray for departed souls.

Search efforts, meanwhile, continue for the 5000 people still unaccounted
for.

Posted on 2026-09-07 14:09:13

The DPP Taipei mayoral candidate says, systems preventing and addressing
child abuse must be improved.

Otherwise, Puma Shen says, Taipei children will be living in two different
worlds.

Shen made the comments this morning after he yesterday brought up the issue
to his rival Mayor Chiang Wan An at an event.

He said that such cases of child abuse at schools and daycares in the city
have become more and more commonplace...

adding that there may be some room for improvements in the system.

He noted that some alleged victims of child abuse had received counseling
while others had not, leading to concerns that not all kids were being
treated fairly.

Shen criticized Chiang for what he called blaming others for the faults of
his own administration.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 14:09:13

Despite a correction in the local stock market in July, strong capital market
activity this year still pushed the financial sector's profits much higher.

According to the Financial Supervisory Commission, the combined profits of
the banking, insurance and securities industries shot to $1 trillion NT in
the first seven months of the year.

That's an increase of 106-percent from a year earlier, and it also puts them
just around $57 billion short of the full-year record set in 2024, raising
expectations that profits could reach a new record this year.

The banking sector includes domestic and foreign banks operating in Taiwan,
credit cooperatives, bills finance companies, and postal savings and
remittance services.

The FSC said domestic banks alone posted cumulative profits of $424 billion
NT, up 20-percent compared with the same period last year.

With Taiwan's economy projected to rise by more than 11 percent this year,
the F-S-C expects the financial sector to continue growing.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-07 14:09:13

Asian shares are mixed today, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul leading
gains.

But shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai lost ground.

Here in Taiwan, shares were up today with the benchmark tai ex gaining 755
points to close the session at 47326.

The turnover was 939 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-09-07 14:09:13

Now turning to internaitonal news...

Germany is attempting to push back against claims that it is facilitating
genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israel.

Nicaraugua accuses Germany of violating the Genocide Convention and
international humanitarian law.

A hearing at the Interional Court of Justice will address whether the court
has jurisdiction.

Although the case centers on Germany, it indirectly accuses Israel of
genocide in Gaza.

Germany has been a stauch supporter of Israel for decades and is its
second-largest supplier of arms... after the US.

Germany previously stopped authorizing exports of military equipment to
Israel that could be used in Gaza but later lifted those restrictions.

The proceedings are the latest legal attempt to rein in Israel’s military
campaign, after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the same court in
2023.

Posted on 2026-09-07 14:09:13

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has erupted, causing flight cancellations
and stranding about 170,000 passengers in the region.

The eruption happened early yesterday, with volcanic ash affecting parts of
western Indonesia.

The country's Geological Agency reported that the volcano showed signs of
activity from Friday, before erupting for 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. Sunday and
for 16 seconds about three hours later.

No casualties were reported, but authorities warned residents to stay at
least 3 kilometers from the crater.

Airspace around several airports was closed.

Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the
situation.

The volcano remains active with officials evaluating the situation.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-07 14:09:13

In Africa, carbon credit financing is helping to drive the continent's clean
cooking transition by making cleaner stoves affordable for millions of
low-income households.

As governments introduce new policies, securing $900 million in fresh
financing commitments, companies are using carbon credits to subsidize
electric and efficient biomass cookstoves across the continent.

Nearly 1 billion Africans still rely on charcoal or firewood for everyday
cooking.

As the subsidized devices replace charcoal stoves and open fires, supporters
say the approach could accelerate access to clean cooking, help to reduce
deforestation, and cut hazardous household air pollution.

Still, its long-term success depends on sustained demand for high-integrity
carbon credits.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, a visiting group of members of a
Japanese opposition party is scheduled to meet with the president and other
senior government officials.

Discussions will focus on the latest developments in bilateral realtions and
in the Indo-Pacific as a whole.

The group of lawmakers from the Japan Innovation Party will meet with
President Lai Ching-te, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, lawmakers, officials
from the National Security Council, and members of the Taiwan-Japan Relations
Association.

MOFA says that the party, which is a coalition partner of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, has long maintained a Taiwan-friendly stance.

They note that the party donated over 190,000 US dollars to Taiwan after the
2024 Hualien earthquake.

The visit is the first since the party's leader signed a coalition agreement
in October with LDP leader and later Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

The 2026 Taipei Arts Festival has opened with much fanfare, drawing over
150-thousand people Saturday and Sunday night.

They mainly gathered on the Ji-he (基河) Road, in Shi-lin District, to watch 3
giant mechanical elephants and marching bands walking down the street.

The elephants are part of the Festival's opening performance called "The
Elephants Are Coming...", jointly produced by French street theater company
Oposito and local groups.

Officials said the show's online livestream attracted more than 220-thousand
views and over 6-thousand comments and positive reactions.

The evening procession also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the historic
1986 Taipei Zoo move from Yuan-shan (圓山) to Mu-zha (木柵)。

The Festival, organized by the Taipei Performing Arts Center, features dance,
movie screenings and drama, and it runs until October 25th.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

The "Study Australia" Education Exhibition will take place Sept. 19-th and
Sept. 20-th at Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

Hosted by the Australian Office, the fair brings together nearly 50
educational institutions across primary, vocational, and university levels.

Organizers say students and parents can meet directly with university and
school representatives to discuss entry requirements and degree pathways.

And select schools will offer on-site application fee waivers, and no advance
registration is required to enter.

Admission to the two-day fair is free and requires no pre-registration,
allowing visitors to drop in during the weekend.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has put his second naval destroyer into
service and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent.

The state media report today came as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan were to
begin a trilateral military exercise that he views as a security threat.

State media photos showed Kim touring the new warship with his teenage
daughter, whom South Korea's spy service views as his likely heir.

Both this ship and the first one, which was put into service in June, are
5,000-ton destroyers that state media said can carry various conventional and
nuclear weapons.

They are considered North Korea’s biggest and most advanced warships.

Experts say they were likely built with Russian assistance.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

No damage or injuries are being reported after a magnitude 4.8 earthquake
that rattled parts of Taitung and Hualien this morning.

The quake struck at 12.37AM and was centered some 24-kilometers east
southeast of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 32-kilometers.

It was felt strongest on Green Island and in Donghe Township in Taitung,
where it registered a magnitude 4 on the Central Weather Administration's
intensity scale.

The quake registered a 3 on the intensity scale in Taitung's Chenggong area
and Chishang Township, as well as in Hualien's Fuli Township.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Taiwan People's Party is cutting off electoral cooperation with the K-M-T
in Hsinchu County.

Ths, after both parties refused to defer to the other's preferred candidate
in the Zhubei City mayoral race.

The K-M-T's Wu Hsu-chih and T-P-P's Chiu Chen-yuan both registered as
candidates for Zhubei mayor last Thursday.

Wu had initially tried to downplay the standoff, saying cooperation in the
race was still possible.

However, comments by Hsu Hsin-ying, the K-M-T's nominee for Hsinchu County
magistrate, later claimed the two parties had not made any agreements on the
Zhubei race.

The T-P-P's Central Committee has passed a resolution Sunday suspending
electoral cooperation with the KMT on all races in Hsinchu County.

T-P-P Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu says the K-M-T and Hsu's "inability to
keep promises" has "seriously damaged the foundation of mutual trust that the
two parties have gradually built over the last two years."

The K-M-T and T-P-P candidates in the Zhubei City mayoral race will be
running against the D-P-P'sTseng Sheng-kai and independent candidate Li
Chen-hsiu - who was expelled from the T-P-P in April.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Army's nationwide brigade-level force-on-force "Lu Sheng" exercise next
month has been extended and will now take place over 10 days and nine nights.

This year's exercise will involve the Taoyuan-based Army 269th Mechanized
Infantry Brigade and the Kaohsiung-based 564th Combined Arms Brigade and
takes place from October 14 to 23.

Sources say this year's drill will test scenarios including 24-hour combat
readiness, dispersed command-and-control operations, unscripted and realistic
war scenarios, and rules of engagement to assess the combat units' defensive
capabilities.

The Lu Sheng exercise will also see the deployment of the US-developed Team
Awareness Kit, which allows Army commanders to track friendly forces, mark
enemy units and receive real-time updates.

Last year's Lu Sheng exercise lasted seven days and six nights.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Gwangju Biennale's Pavilion Project's "Taiwan Pavilion" has finally
opened... after a naming controversy that led to China's withdrawal from the
event.

The pavilion's exhibition is curated by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine
Arts.

The opening comes after a back and forth between the Museum and event
organizers...

Exhibiting artist Chen Ting-ting says she believe the foundation's final
decision was driven largely by an outpouring of support for Taiwan from the
people of Gwangju and international artists.

The foundation initially listed the pavilion as being part of the museum in
promotional materials...

It eventually adopted the name "Taiwan Pavilion" on August 26 after
accusations of political censorship from artists and the Lai administration.

China's curatorial team has since withdrawn from the Pavilion Project last
week.

The Gwangju Biennale runs from now through Nov. 15.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The late, former Deputy Legislative Speaker Yao Eng-chi, has been honored
with a posthumous presidential citation.

President Lai Ching-te presented the commendation to Yao's family at a
memorial service in Taitung City.

Lai described Yao as "an important stabilizing force" during a period of
political change who helped "resolve disputes and bridge differences."

The president served alongside Yao in the Legislature for two terms, also
praised him for his contributions to Taitung County's development.

Yao served as a KMT lawmaker for more than two decades, and contributed to
Taiwan's major democratic reforms, including
the full re-election of the Legislature in 1992, direct elections for special
municipality mayors in 1994, and the first direct presidential election in
1996.

Yao died last month at the age of 93 at his home in Taitung's Beinan Township.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Shilin District Court has ordered the detention of a pharmacist who is
accused of attempted sexual assault.

He is believed to have drugged his student employee by slipping a drug into
her water bottle.

Prosecutors opened an investigation into the case after a recent social media
post which saw the alleged victim's sibling accusing the pharmacist of
drugging his employee.

The part-time employee is said to have become dizzy and confused shortly
after drinking from her water bottle during her shift... she then reported
the incident to the police.

The pharmacist told media outlets that he put the drug in the employee's
drink, but he been claiming it was "a joke," saying he believed the
medication had expired and was harmless.

Prosecutors said they are seeking to indict the pharmacist on charges that
include attempted aggravated sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual
indecency and causing bodily harm.

The court said it accepted a request by prosecutors to detain the suspect on
the grounds that he posed a risk of destroying evidence or tampering with
witnesses.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

EVA Airways says it will raise excess baggage fees and revise other
international baggage charges at the end of this month.

The carrier is citing higher fuel prices and rising global operating costs
amid economic and geopolitical pressures for the move.

The airline says the changes will apply to international flights with travel
dates on or after September 29.

The revised baggage policy covers excess baggage, prepaid excess baggage,
overweight and oversized baggage fees.

It also covers updated pricing rules, and fees for transporting pets and
sports equipment.

Under the new rates, excess baggage fees will increase by between 20 and 90
U-S dollars per piece, depending on the route.

Under the revised fee schedule, charges for an extra checked bag on flights
to and from Taiwan will range from 160 to 390 U-S dollars.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

And,

The Taipei Performing Arts Center says the first night of the "Trois
elephants passent ..." street performance drew a crowd of some 100,000 people
in the capital's Shilin District.

The parade featured three mechanical elephants as its centerpiece of the
performance.

Each of the elephants is 4.5 meters tall and 8 meters long.

The street theater is being presented by French troupe Compagnie Oposito and
also features local groups Sun Son Theatre and Hsuan-yu Music, combining
classical music, Breton folk tunes and street percussion.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and 10 foreign representatives to Taiwan,
including representatives from France, Germany, Hungary and Lithuania went to
see the parade.

The street performance is the opening event of the Taipei Arts Festival,
which features theater, dance and art installations through October 25.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The far-right Alternative for Germany is seen to have scored a historic
victory ‌in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The AfD won 44.5% of the vote, up from 20.8% in 2021.

While the victory is a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, its
not clear if the party will be able to form Germany's first far-right state
government since World War II.

Most parties have ruled out joining an AfD-led coalition, meaning the party
would likely need a majority of seats to take power.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

North Korea has commissioned a new destroyer on the country's east coast.

Leader Kim Jong Un called the commissioning of the vessel sends a clear
signal to enemies and said ‌the vessel would be part of Pyongyang's nuclear
response system and could deliver "annihilating retaliatory strikes" if
ordered.

The new vessel has been christened the Kang Gun... its said to be a similar
class as another destroyer, the Choe Hyon, which was previously commissioned
in the West Sea,

Posted on 2026-09-05 15:07:13

A mudslide in eastern China has killed one person and left 11 others missing.

The disaster, which occurred today in Jiangxi province, followed days of
heavy rain carried by tropical cyclone Saudel.

Rescuers have moved residents to safer ground to prevent further danger. Two
people were rescued alive.

Posted on 2026-09-05 14:10:13

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni has celebrated a milestone for her government,
which has lasted longer than any other government since 1994, which marked
the beginning of the country's so-called second republic era.

At a rally in southern Italy, Meloni cast the longevity record as evidence of
the strength and cohesion of her center-right coalition.

As of yesterday, she had served 1,414 days, exceeding Silvio Berlusconi's
1,412 days during his second term -- between 2001 and 2005.

She credited her right-wing coalition with boosting employment, supporting
families and businesses, managing public finances and restoring Italy's
credibility abroad.

Meloni said that stability was "our first great reform."

Italy's next general election has to be held by next December.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 13:08:14

The 2026 Tang Prize Week has officially kicked off, with a free exhibition
bringing together the achievements and personal stories of laureates from the
prize's 14-year history.

Titled "Illuminating the World Through Knowledge," the exhibition includes
films, publications and memorabilia donated by past laureates, as well as a
new interactive digital knowledge hub.

Tang Prize Foundation CEO Dr. Chern Jenn-Chuan (陳振川) says the exhibition
gives visitors different ways to explore the laureates' work.

The main Tang Prize Week events will run from September 18th through the
23rd, including the award ceremony, laureate lectures, university forums and
youth symposiums.

Chern says the program will bring leading international scholars together
with researchers and students in Taiwan to discuss the future of science and
technology.

The exhibition will remain open at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall through
October 30th.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-09-05 12:12:13

obligations

The United States, Britain, France and Germany have drafted a resolution for
possible consideration by the Board of Governors of the UN nuclear watchdog
that seeks to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for failure to comply
with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

Diplomats say the move has been under consideration since last June, when the
IAEA board found Iran officially in noncompliance with its nonproliferation
obligations.

The referral to the UN Security Council would shift the responsibly to a
higher authority that is able to enact further measures, including imposing
sanctions or asset freezes.

Nevertheless ... specific punitive measures by the UN are unlikely ... since
Iran's allies Russia and China hold veto power on the UN Security Council.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 11:09:14

A federal US judge is extending a legal block on President Trump's plan to
regulate mail ballots during the midterm elections.

The order from US District Court Judge Indira Talwani comes after she earlier
handed down a temporary restraining order prohibiting the US Postal Service
from enforcing the new policy.

North Carolina began sending mail ballots out yesterday ... and election
officials in many states say it's too late to meet the new requirements.

The Trump administration filed a notice late yesterday saying it would appeal
the ruling.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 11:09:14

Serena and Venus Williams forced a deciding third set super-tiebreak at the
US Open overnight ... but they were unable to defeat Australia's Maya Joint
and Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching (詹皓晴) in doubles action.

It was the Williams sisters' first US Open match since 2022

Joint and Chan will play their second-round match tomorrow.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

Persistent heavy rain caused 41 incidents across Taipei today .... mostly
flooding and fallen trees, as authorities stepped up disaster response
efforts.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the incidents also included landslides and
damage to buildings and other facilities.

No injuries have been reported.

In Shilin District, part of a hillside near Ziqiang Bridge collapsed,
covering an area about two meters long and three meters wide with soil.

Authorities are monitoring rainfall, river levels and landslide-prone areas,
and are urging people to stay away from mountains and waterways.

They also warned that the Keelung River near Bailing Bridge could rise above
1.8 meters.

Neighboring Keelung also reported flooding, including in parts of Dawulun
Industrial Park, where water reached knee depth in some areas.

An extremely heavy rain advisory is in effect for Greater Taipei through
tonight ... and forecasters say the north can expect the wet weather to
continue through the weekend.

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

A Taipei court has approved prosecutors' request to detain a taxi driver
accused of ramming his vehicle into the Taipei District Prosecutors Office.

The driver, surnamed Shao, was initially released on 100-thousnad NT bail,
but prosecutors sought his detention after he was unable to pay.

Police say Shao drove his taxi into the front entrance of the prosecutors
office at around 5:30 Thursday morning.

No one was injured, but the building was damaged.

Police say Shao was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.

His taxi had slogans painted on the doors, including "the judicial system is
dead".

Prosecutors suspect Shao committed several offenses, including obstructing
justice and disturbing public order.

Police say Shao had recently lost several legal cases and had posted his
frustration on social media before driving to the prosecutors office.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

Nobel Prize-winning chemist Arieh Warshel {AH-ree-ay VAR-shel} has become the
first Nobel laureate to receive Taiwan's Employment Gold Card.

The National Development Council presented the card to Warshel on Friday.

Warshel won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work developing
computer models to study complex chemical systems.

He is a professor at the University of Southern California and has been
invited to Taiwan to serve as an honorary chair professor at National Yang
Ming Chiao Tung University.

The National Development Council says Warshel will work with Taiwanese
researchers on talent development and research in semiconductors and other
key technologies.

Taiwan launched its Employment Gold Card program in 2018 to attract highly
skilled professionals from overseas.

The card combines a work permit and residency visa and allows holders to work
freely in Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte over
allegations that she threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and
others assassinated.

Duterte was impeached in May over the same allegations, along with claims of
financial irregularities.

The case is part of a growing political showdown between Duterte and Marcos.

Her lawyer says Duterte will post bail and continue fighting the charges.

The case stems from a 2024 news conference, when Duterte said she had
arranged for someone to kill Marcos and others if she were assassinated. She
later said she was expressing concerns about her own safety.

A trial could affect Duterte's plans to run for president in 2028.

Posted on 2026-09-04 18:15:13

Taiwan's number of university freshmen is projected to fall by more than
50-thousand over the next 16 years ...

... as declining birth rates continue to shrink the pool of students.

The Ministry of Education estimates the number of university freshmen will
fall by an average of 3,400 a year - from about 205-thousand now to just over
150-thousand by the 2041 academic year.

University admissions platform "University TW" says vocational education
could bear the brunt of the decline.

The number of vocational high school freshmen fell by over 21 percent between
2020 and 2025, compared with a 4 percent drop at regular high schools.

The platform estimates the number of students taking the vocational college
entrance exam could fall to about 55-thousand by 2028 - more than 30 percent
lower than in 2022.

It says the shrinking student population is a structural challenge for all
universities, and is calling on both public and private institutions to cut
admissions and rethink higher education policy.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 18:15:13

Recent heavy rain in southern Taiwan has reduced blood donations and pushed
supplies to low levels.

The Kaohsiung Blood Center says southern Taiwan currently has only about 3.4
days of blood supplies on hand.

Stocks of A and O blood are even lower, with less than three days of supply
remaining.

Some blood drives were canceled during the recent downpours, while fewer
people were willing to go out and donate.

Although the weather is now improving, officials say it will take time to
rebuild supplies and ease pressure on the blood bank.

The center is urging healthy people aged 17 and older to donate as the
weather improves, provided they are not on medication ... and haven't
recently had a cold, fever or other symptoms.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 18:15:13

The 2026 Tang Prize Week has officially kicked off with a free exhibition
bringing together the achievements and personal stories of laureates from the
prize's 14-year history.

Titled "Illuminating the World Through Knowledge," the exhibition includes
films, publications and memorabilia donated by past laureates, as well as a
new interactive digital knowledge hub.

Tang Prize Foundation CEO Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern says the exhibition gives
visitors different ways to explore the laureates' work.

The main Tang Prize Week events will run from September 18th through the
23rd, including the award ceremony, laureate lectures, university forums and
youth symposiums.

Chern says the program will bring leading international scholars together
with researchers and students in Taiwan to discuss the future of science and
technology.

The exhibition will remain open at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
through October 30th.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-09-04 17:40:14

Health officials say more than 2-thousand people in Taiwan could have H-I-V
without knowing it.

As part of a two-week testing campaign, the Centers for Disease Control is
offering buy one, get one free on H-I-V self-testing kits through September
18th.

People who order through the CDC's official HIV self-testing webpage and
choose convenience-store pickup can get two kits for 245 NT, including the
cost of one kit and delivery.

The CDC says 537 new HIV infections were reported during the first seven
months of this year, up 5 percent from the same period last year.

About 80 percent of new cases were among younger people, with unsafe sexual
activity remaining the main source of infection.

The CDC says HIV often causes no noticeable symptoms in its early stages and
recommends everyone who has been sexually active to get tested.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 17:40:14

Tainan has recorded its second-highest August rainfall in over a century,
following weeks of persistent heavy downpours.

Data shows the southern city received over 1,370 millimeters of rain across
21 days in August, with Yongkang District receiving more than 500 millimeters
of rain in 24 hours.

City officials say all 67 city pumping stations operated continuously
throughout the month, removed approximately 81 million metric tons of
stormwater, equivalent to the total storage volume of Nanhua Reservoir.

Authroties are urging residents to monitor local weather updates and clear
drainage grates of leaves and debris to prepare for upcoming storms.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-04 17:40:14

The 2026 Tang Prize Exhibition opened yesterday, featuring the eye tool used
by Sustainable Development laureate Susan Solomon nearly 40 years ago to help
prove that chlorofluorocarbons were the primary cause of the expanding ozone
hole.

The exhibition is taking place at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, with six
2026 laureates scheduled to visit Taiwan later this month for the award
ceremony, public lectures, and exchanges with students.

The exhibition will run for two months with free admission.

The optical tool used by Solomon measured wavelengths of moonlight and
scattered sunlight, allowing researchers to determine the concentration of
atmospheric gases and provide evidence linking CFCs to the ozone hole.

Another featured exhibit is handwritten lecture notes by Sinology laureate Ge
Zhaoguang (葛兆光) for his work on Chinese intellectual history.

Filled with revisions and attached slips of paper, the notes illustrate Ge's
habit of developing a complete argument on a single page

Posted on 2026-09-04 11:08:13

Kaohsiung prosecutors have indicted 34 people for allegedly illegally dumping
construction waste.

Prosecutors say, they generated over 62 million NT in illicit gains.

The main suspect, surnamed Huang, signed a contract with a construction
company in 2024 to handle the disposal of constrcution waste.

In 2025, he represented a company that took on a similar contract to handle
waste from a social housing project, obtaining documents authorizing them to
transport the waste to two legal soil and gravel faclities.

But, Huang allegedly instructed his staff to tell truck drivers to enter the
facilites, tilt their truck beds, and leave the site without unloading the
waste, creating the illusion that the waste had been disposed of.

Instead, the construction waste was dumped at farmland sites in Daliao
district.

Huang allegedly paid the farmland owners, and told them the waste could be
used to raise the level of their land.

Prosecutors estimate that 4045 truck trips involving illegal dumping took
palce, generating 62 million NT.

They're recommending prison sentences of more than 4 years and 10 months for
Huang and others.

Posted on 2026-09-04 11:08:13

Scholars say, Taiwan should avoid becoming overly dependent on semiconductors
while also expanding chip production with trusted partners.

A Stanford scholar made the remarks during a panel discusion on trusted
supply chains at a forum hosted by the Research Institute for Democracy,
Society, and Emerging Technology.

Experts note that the semiconductor industry has been important for Taiwan,
but that Taiwan risks devoting too many resources to a single industry...

plus, Taiwan's demographic crisis means that the industry is expanding faster
than the supply of engineers.

Scholars note that government policy could help diversify the economy and
leave room for Taiwan to have a foray into other industries, like robotics
and biotech.

Posted on 2026-09-04 11:08:13

Now turning to international news...

The US government has slapped Cuba with new sanctions in a fresh push to
strangle the island's ecomomy and deepen its multiple crises.

Among those sanctioned in this round are the grandson of former president
Raul Castro and Cuba's Oil Industry Supply Import Compnay.

The company is responsible for importing special equipment and spare parts
needed to sustain the country's old power grid.

An expert says, the sanctions aim to push Cuba's critical machinery offline,
and exacerbate its energy crisis.

He added that the Trump administration's ultimate goal seems to be a toppling
of regime.

Islandwide blackouts have become increasingly common, while daily outages in
Cuba now surpass 24 hours as the aging grid fails and fuel reserves dwindle
ever since U.S. President Donald Trump in late January threatened tariffs on
any country that sells or provides oil to the island.

Posted on 2026-09-04 11:08:13

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is facing pressure over Morocco's role in the
Ceuta crisis.

Tens of thousands of Spanish people protested the government's handling of
the situation...

as Sanchez struggled to explain how tens of thousands of people were able to
cross the border between the Spanish exclave and Morocco in July.

He rejected claims that Moroccan authorities had planned the incident but
admitted that Moroccan police had allowed the crossing.

The official death toll from the incident has now risen to 141.

Some have called for Sanchez to step down over the issue, with opposition
leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accusing the government of lying.

The issue appears to be one of the most serious threats Sanchez' leftist
government has faced.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The Mainland Affairs Council is confirming that group travelers to China will
not be forced to register their trips...

even under new rules requiring travel agencies to help clients do so.

Spokesperson Liang Wen Jie said that the voluntary travel registration system
is meant to help authorities keep track of Taiwanese travelers in China,
should they go missing or encounter other emergency situations.

Liang described last week's flash floods in Nepal and Tibet, saying 51
Taiwanese people had registered as being in Tibet at the time, giving
authorities a general picture of how many Taiwanese people were in the region
at the time of the accident.

His remarks came after the Tourism Administration recently instructed travel
agencies to inform travelers of the risks of visiting China, assist them in
completing the government's voluntary online travel registration, submit
relevant statistics to authorities and ensure the group is covered by travel
agency liability insurance.

Taiwan's new rules come ahead of China's implementation later this month of
new entry-exit regulations, which the MAC says may increase risks for
Taiwanese citizens.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The Coast Guard Administration says, it's closely monitoring two Chinese
vessels operating off Taiwan's east coast in an area where the exclusive
economic zones of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.

The CGA said in a statement that it dispatched the patrol vessel Chi An to
shadow the Chinese vessels that were "loitering" near Green Island.

This comes as China has stepped up activity by its coast guard and research
vessels in waters east of Taiwan since Tokyo and Manila announced in May that
they would begin talks over an area where the three EEZs overlap, which is
also claimed by China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Tokyo and Manila to include Taipei
in any future EEZ talks.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The KMT says, President Lai Ching-te should apologize for phasing out nuclear
power, as regulators indicated they were close to approving the restart of
the number 3 nuclear power plant.

The KMT's communications offices says, plans to return the plant to operation
showed that Lai's pledge to achieve a "non-nuclear homeland" by 2025 without
electricity shortages had failed.

They says that nuclear power is essential to industrial competitiveness,
artificial intelligence development, and energy security...

and that Taipower's pursuit to reopen the Number 3 Nuclear Power Plant
vindicate the KMT's calls for a more pragmatic energy policy.

Taipower applied to restart the plant in March, after amendments passed last
year allowed for the licenses of decommissioned reactors to be extended for
20 years after their original 40 year operating limit.

But the DPP said that voters would ultimately decide the issue through a
referendum on scrapping the "non nuclear homeland" policy this year.

Even if that referendum passes, restarting the plant would still require
clearning several regulatory and safety hurdles.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The TPP's Huang Shan Shan has announced her retirement from electoral
politics.

Huang took to social media to make the announcement, saying that she had
entered nine elections since the age of 28...

including six Taipei City Council races, two legislative elections, and one
Taipei mayoral race.

She also recalled campaigning multiple times for presidential and legislative
candidates.

Huang said that she had decided not to seek a 6th term on the Taipei City
council after getting sick in 2015...

but said that she later realized her responsibilities were not complete.

But she now says that she's completed her mission, having done her best and
having no regrets.

Huang said though, that she would continue to participate in politics, just
in a different way.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

Kaohsiung officials say, record rainfall in the city has caused more than 77
million NT in agricultural losses.

The city's Agricultural Bureau says that wax apple growers were hardest hit,
losing around 80 hectares of crops worth over 18 million.

Guava growers were the second worst affected, followed by papaya farmers.

Kaohsiung received a cumulative 1712 milimeters of rainfall in August...

surpassing the previous record for August ranfall, set in 1931, and was four
times the month average.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

A taxi rammed into the Taipei prosecutors office yesterday in what was likely
a protest against court rulings involving him.

Police say they received a report that a taxi was driven into the front door
of the office.

When they arrived at the scene, police arrested the driver, surnamed Shao,
and seized his cab.

Police say, preliminary findings suggest that he may have acted out of
dissatisfaction with the outcomes of several legal cases involving him,
including one ruling issued this week.

They say, Shao vented his dissatisfaction on social media and later began
surveiling the prosecutors' office before ramming into the building.

United Daily News reported that Shao was involved in a defamation civil
lawsuit with a doctor as well as two traffic-related cases.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

Attendance

The US is citing Taiwan's contributions to Palau in a rebuke to China's
dissatisfaction at Taiwan's attendance of the Pacific Islands Forum.

ICRT Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

troops

President Lai Ching-te has honored Taiwan's fallen military personnel and
pledged that his government will provide more support for current armed
service members.

During a ceremony in Taipei yesterday on Armed Forces Day, the president
commemorared the Martyrs' Shrine, which honors the nearly half million
soldiers who died fighting during World War II for the ROC.

Lai also thanked all of Taiwan's armed service members for protecting
national security and defending Taiwan's sovereignty.

He noted that this administration has improved salaries and benefits for
miltiary personnel, and that, starting next year, military personnel, civil
servants, and teachers will see 4% salary increases.

The president said that the government will continue to improve living and
training environments for service members.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

Pacific nation leaders have expressed collective concern over China's
ballistic missile launch into their waters.. but they couldn't reach
unanimous agreement on a stronger statement against Beijing.

Nauru dissented from the statement, and Kiribati had no representative at the
leaders' retreat day.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon downplayed the significance of
these absences.

The Pacific region has gained geopolitical importance, with major powers
seeking alliances.

The inability to form a unified stance hints at deeper regional divisions.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

South Korea is preparing to deploy military assets to support freedom of
navigation in the Strait of Hormuz ‌and aims to dispatch them before the end
of the year,

Media reports say the government would seek parliamentary approval for the
deployment, including submitting a consent motion to parliament this month
after cabinet review.

Seoul is said to be considering options including sending a maritime patrol
aircraft, a logistics support vessel or a mine detection and clearance unit.

It has also been discussing the scale and nature of a potential ‌contribution
with countries including the United States, Britain and France.

This comes after U-S President Donald Trump said he had scaled back
U.S.-South Korea ⁠joint military exercises in part because South Korea had
declined to help the U.S. in the war against Iran.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

security agencies

Ukraine's government has launched an investigation to determine what caused a
dispute between two of Ukraine's security agencies to escalate into a
shootout in ‌Kyiv this week.

Three members of the Defence Ministry's HUR Military Intelligence Directorate
were injured in the altercation.

The dispute had centered on the disappearance for nine days of a Russian
nationalist activist fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in the war against
Russia.

The nationalist said he was detained by the SBU Security Service and obliged
to sign a confession that he collaborated with Russian intelligence... but
later retracted the statement.

The street clash occurred in central Kyiv after the activist's Kyiv home was
searched.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

mount

Germany was investigating a suspected arson attack outside a defence firm in
Munich.

The incident comes just days after two sabotage attempts on the power grid
and a month after ‌an airport drone attack that Berlin and its allies blamed
on Russia.

Police arrested two people suspected of throwing incendiary devices and
causing a fire at a construction site at the headquarters of a firm, whose
products include radar systems to detect, track and jam drones.

The fire caused no significant damage and no one was injured,

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

Meanwhile Russia says it will close German cultural centers on its territory
in a retaliatory measure amid deepening tensions between Moscow and European
countries who are helping Ukraine resist the Kremlin’s invasion.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's announcement came after Germany blamed
Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4.

Germany said it was closing the Russian Consulate in Bonn and a cultural
center in Berlin.

Western officials accuse Russia of sabotage and disruption to undermine their
support for Ukraine, but Moscow denies the accusation.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

Volkswagen’s board has approved a major cost-cutting plan to address
competition and tariffs.

The plan, presented by CEO Oliver Blume, includes cutting 50,000 jobs,
reducing its model line by half, and ending auto production at four German
plants.

This is in addition to 50,000 job losses previously agreed upon.

The company aims to counter low-cost competition in China and challenges from
U.S. tariffs.

The decision overcame resistance from employee representatives and the
regional government, which holds a stake in the company.

---

Returning to tech news now...

Nvidia continues on its buying spree... spending $13 billion of its growing
AI war chest on a popular developer platform.

Marcella Sanchez reports.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits rose
marginally last week amid low layoffs, pointing to stable labor market
conditions that give the Federal Reserve room to focus on inflation.

Rising price pressures have led economists to expect an interest rate hike
from the U.S. central bank by year end... with one Fed governor indicating
he'd be open to voting for a rate hike... if conditions were right.

Donna Warder explains.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:14

And in American football...

The Khosla family officially closed its purchase of the reigning Super Bowl
champion Seattle Seahawks for $9.612 billion.

The Seahawks announced the final step eight days after NFL owners approved
the sale.

Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, will hold the title of chair.

Neeru Khosla will serve as controlling owner and president of the Seahawks
Charitable Foundation.

And Neal Khosla will serve as vice chair.

The new owners are Silicon Valley Royalty -- Khosla Ventures is a Silicon
Valley venture capital firm.

Forbes says his current net worth is $13.7 billion, according to Forbes.

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