ICRT

Posted on 2026-09-01 14:07:13

To help fishermen locate fish, the Ministry of Agriculture says it will work
with the National Science and Technology Council on a four-year project
beginning next year.

Minister Chen Jun-ji says the project will combine decades of Taiwan's catch
statistics with satellite imagery and ocean data, including sea temperatures,
water color and acidity, for big-data analysis.

The Fisheries Agency says AI models will initially be used to predict the
location of skipjack tuna in the western and central Pacific, as well as
mackerel and scad in waters around Taiwan.

Fishermen currently often rely on visual clues, such as seabirds and drifting
wood, to locate fishing grounds, making the process costly and uncertain.

Officials hope more accurate predictions will reduce the time and resources
fishermen spend searching at sea.

Taiwan's fisheries produced about $97 billion NT in output last year, while
the entire industry chain was worth an estimated $350 billion NT.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-01 14:07:13

Three players on Taiwan’s Asia U18 Rugby national team have been disqualified
for drinking alcohol during training camp ahead of the Asian championships.

The team has been in Taipei since August 3rd to prepare for the tournament
starting September 5th in mainland China.

But an investigation was launched after social media evidence surfaced,
showing the players drinking while out past curfew.

The association filled the vacant spots on the 13-man roster with three
replacement players ahead of the tournament in China.

The association also confirms that following the emergency meeting, strict
disciplinary action was taken to officially revoke the national team status
of all three athletes.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-01 14:07:13

Taiwan shares were higher as were many other Asian stock markets. The Taiex
gained 820 points to end the session at 46,948.

The turnover also expanded to 1-trillion 810 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-09-01 14:07:13

In world news...

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Nepal and China has passed 1,000
as rescue teams worked to reach communities cut off by the disaster.

Nepal’s disaster agency also said some 3,900 people remain missing, including
583 foreigners.

Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths in their most recent update on Sunday.
The Aug. 26 disaster began with a chain of events high in the Himalayas.

A glacial collapse sent large amounts of rock, ice and meltwater into valleys
below, triggering powerful floods downstream.

Scientists studying satellite imagery said the collapse appears to have
involved the failure of bedrock beneath a glacier in the Himalayan region.

The rockfall was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 seismic
event.

Posted on 2026-09-01 13:09:13

Turning to world news...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals have swept three special
elections in a result that showed voters backing Carney for standing up for
Canada against U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Canadian Press projected Liberal victories in Quebec, Beaches-East York
in Toronto and North Vancouver-Capilano in British Columbia.

In Quebec, the Liberal candidate was projected to win a district held by the
opposition Conservatives since 2018.

U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed Aug. 21st after the two sides failed to
reach a deal, and Trump imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion US dollars
in Canadian goods.

Canada responded with plans for tariffs on U.S. products.

Posted on 2026-09-01 13:08:13

The Ministry of Education is offering free online classes for teachers,
students and the public to learn more about artificial intelligence.

The MOE says the courses are available on its MOOCs learning platform, which
has also added a special AI section with features including personalized
course recommendations and automatically generated subtitles.

The ministry worked with a team from National Taiwan Normal University to
introduce an AI evaluation system for the first time.

The system assesses AI courses based on five areas, including how engaging
they are, the depth of their content, hands-on learning, organization and
range of applications.

The first 18 recommended courses cover topics including introductions to
AI, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing and computer
vision.

Among the highest-rated courses is "Applied Machine Learning with Python,"
taught by National Chengchi University professor Lin Yi-ling.

It takes learners from basic machine-learning concepts through data analysis
and eventually to building machine-learning models.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-01 13:08:13

The opposition TPP is gearing up to support its Taipei City Council
candidates' campaign for this year's local elections.

TPP chair Huang Guo-chang and founder Ko Wen-zhe accompanied the 6
candidates, including sitting councilors Lin Zhen-yu and Huang Jing-ying, to
register at the Taipei Election Commisssion.

Asked whether the TPP plans to cooperate with the KMT in Taipei, Huang said
the party's immediate priority is to get its own campaign on a firm footing.

On the issue of any further cooperation or coordination with Taipei Mayor
Chiang Wan-an, Huang indicated that it can be discussed at the next stage.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-01 13:08:13

Turning to world news...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals have swept three special
elections in a result that showed voters backing Carney for standing up for
Canada against U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Canadian Press projected Liberal victories in Quebec, Beaches-East York
in Toronto and North Vancouver-Capilano in British Columbia.

In Quebec, the Liberal candidate was projected to win a district held by the
opposition Conservatives since 2018.

U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed Aug. 21st after the two sides failed to
reach a deal, and Trump imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion US dollars
in Canadian goods.

Canada responded with plans for tariffs on U.S. products.

Posted on 2026-09-01 11:09:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday approved a 9.8 billion NT
investment by US semiconductor equipment supplier Lam Research.

Lam Research will invest the money in its Taiwan subsidiary to support
research, development, and design operations for critical equipment used in
advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.

The ministry's Investment Commission approved a total of 6 major investment
cases, including 2 foreign investments in Taiwan and four overseas
investments by Taiwanese companies.

The other foreign company approved to invest in Taiwan yesterday was Zhen
Ding Technology Holdings, which will invest 3 billion NT in subsidiary
Boardtek Electronics to support printed circuit board research and
development.

Meanwhile, one of the companies approved to invest abroad is the
semiconductor company Nuvoton Technology Corporation.

Posted on 2026-09-01 11:09:13

CPC says, it will keep natural gas prices for domestic and industrial users
unchanges this month...

but will increase prices for companies that generate electricity.

The oil supplier says that LNG prices have been on the rise due to
uncertainty over supply as negotiations between the US and Iran have
stalled...

and European countries push to build up their inventories before the winter.

CPC says it will absorb additional costs for industrial users after taking
into account consumer prices and overall economic conditions.

A statement from the oil supplier added that it has absorbed about 140
billion NT in losses on sales to the industriak sector since 2021.

However, prices for the electricity sector will be increased by just under
6%.

It's not yet clear if that will translate into higher electricity costs.

Posted on 2026-09-01 11:09:13

Now turning to international news...

A school principal in Nepal is being celebrated for his decision to evacuate
his school.

Rajendra Dawadi's call saved at least 900 students from last week's flash
floods in the country.

That's as the total death toll from the disaster is approaching 1000.

Dawadi heeded warnings and led students to safety, watching his school
disappear beneath water and debris.

His story has emerged as a striking example of foresight and courage.

The floods destroyed thousands of classrooms and disrupted education for
nearly 19,000 students.

Dawadi is urging the government to rebuild schools and resume classes...

emphasizing the need for psychological counseling for students.

The disaster took place after a glacier in the Himalayas collapsed, killing
over 950 people in Nepal and Tibet, with more than 4400 still missing.

Posted on 2026-09-01 11:09:13

Israel has signed a major weapons deal with Greece, marking their largest
agreement to date.

The deal, coined Achilles Shield, is valued at nearly $3.5 billion and
includes a multi-layered air defense system for Greece.

Greece is modernizing its armed forces amid regional tensions, particularly
with Turkey.

Israeli arms exports reached a record high last year, exceeding $19 billion
with experts saying Israel's battle-tested weapons are a key attraction.

Posted on 2026-08-31 20:08:13

A new global report shows that an area of the ocean that includes Taiwan has
seen the steepest decline in living coral in East Asia in recent years.

The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network today released its "Status of Coral
Reefs of the World: 2025" report, linking the decline to increasingly
frequent coral bleaching events.

Bleaching happens when stressed corals lose the algae that give them their
color and help keep them alive.

Globally, the amount of seafloor covered by living hard coral was about 9.5
percent below the historical average ... between 2020 and 2024.

East Asia has fared relatively well, but coral cover fell during the latest
bleaching event, with waters around Taiwan particularly affected.

Taiwan researchers say shrinking recovery time between marine heatwaves is a
major concern, leaving corals less time to recover.

They are calling for more marine protected areas, tighter controls on coastal
development and tougher environmental enforcement.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 20:08:13

The global semiconductor market is expected to top 2 trillion U-S dollars by
2030, driven by demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

SEMI senior director Clark Tseng says the market was previously expected to
reach about 1 trillion dollars, based on traditional demand from PCs,
smartphones and consumer electronics.

But AI data centers are driving demand for advanced chips, high-bandwidth
memory and other components.

The market is expected to surpass 1.5 trillion dollars this year, despite
continued weakness in PC and smartphone shipments.

Taiwan is expected to account for about 30 percent of the global
semiconductor materials market next year.

But SEMI board chair Tien Wu says AI growth is putting pressure on Taiwan's
land, talent, capital and electricity resources.

SEMICON Taiwan will run from Wednesday through Friday at Taipei Nangang
Exhibition Center Halls 1 and 2.

Posted on 2026-08-31 19:44:13

The Ministry of Digital Affairs is working with Meta, Google, LINE and TikTok
to use AI against increasingly sophisticated online scams.

Officials say fraud groups are using AI to generate large amounts of scam
content, prompting platforms to strengthen automated detection and share
intelligence with the government.

The measures include blocking fraudulent ads and fake accounts, tightening
checks on high-risk users and issuing warnings for suspicious messages and
links.

Meta says it removed 10.9-million scam ads in Taiwan between March 2024 and
mid-July this year.

LINE says it has also taken action against more than 142-thousand accounts
linked to fraud since November 2024.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 19:44:13

Kaohsiung is set to add 1-thousand-200 YouBikes by November, bringing the
city's total fleet to more than 14-thousand-300.

The new bikes will include almost 1-thousand standard YouBike 2.0s and over
200 electric-assist 2.0Es.

The city now has 1-thousand-500 rental stations, and more than 91 million
YouBike rides have been recorded as of July ... since the system launched in
2020.

The system averaged 1.9 million rides a month this year, peaking at almost
2.2 million in May.

Officials say YouBike has also helped cut carbon emissions by an estimated
15-thousand metric tons.

Kaohsiung's Transportation Bureau is offering 5-NT ride vouchers for helping
rebalance full and empty stations, with up to 10 NT available per trip.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 19:44:13

Taiwan is taking its culture to Poland next month with a two-day "Taiwan Day"
event featuring music, dance, food and folk arts.

The first event will be held in Lodz in in central Poland on September 11th
...

... with performances by the Lei Sheng Art Group, and Taipei Gong Le Xuan, a
Taiwanese Beiguan music ensemble.

There will also be stalls offering Taiwanese food and products, including
dumplings, bubble tea and Taiwanese tea.

The event moves to Opole in southwestern Poland the next day .... where the
groups will be joined by the MeimageDance {May-image} Troupe.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim says the event aims to encourage more Europeans
to visit Taiwan and experience its culture firsthand.

She says cultural exchanges can also help deepen international understanding
of Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 19:44:13

Russian forces have launched drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and nearby
cities for a fifth consecutive day, striking warehouses and disrupting daily
life.

Air raid alerts and attacks on food distribution centers have left some
supermarket shelves empty as Ukraine struggles to counter Russia's
jet-powered drones.

Ukrainian officials say two major attacks in July killed nearly 50 civilians,
while a strike Saturday killed at least 38 people.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is trying to wear down Ukraine and
its people, while Russian forces continue targeting the country's power grid.

Posted on 2026-08-31 19:44:13

Mount Sinabung in Indonesia has erupted, sending a column of black ash and
smoke 3,500 meters above the summit over Sumatra.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, evacuations or flight
disruptions following Monday's eruption.

Authorities have advised residents, visitors and tourists to avoid activities
within six kilometers of the summit.

Ash covered roads, vehicles and buildings in several villages in North
Sumatra's Karo district, while local authorities distributed masks to
residents.

Posted on 2026-08-31 19:44:13

A Seoul court has sentenced Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han to two years
in prison for bribery and other corruption offenses.

The Seoul Central District Court issued the sentence Monday against Han,
widow of church founder Sun Myung Moon.

Han was accused of ordering church officials to bribe the wife of former
conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol and a politician close to Yoon.

She was also charged with embezzling church funds and ordering the
destruction of evidence related to her gambling activities in the United
States.

Han was arrested last year and has denied the allegations.

Posted on 2026-08-31 18:13:13

With Taitung receiving the most rain islandwide today ....

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency in Taitung has closed several
hiking trails and mountain lodges from 1 PM as a precaution.

They include the famous Zhi-ben (知本) National Forestry Area, the Lake
Jia-ming (嘉明) Lake trail and Xiang-yang (向陽) Mountain Lodge.

Officials say the affected sites will remain closed until further notice ...
with reopening dates to be announced once conditions improve.

The trails that have already been closed, including the Li-yu (鯉魚) Mountain
trail, for repair will remain so.

Tai-tung has received more than 230 millimeters of rainfall so far today and
more is expected to come tonight and tomorrow.

Officials are reminding people not to venture into mountainous areas when the
weather conditions are bad.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 18:13:13

Agricultural losses from heavy rain in southern Taiwan in late August have
risen to almost 230 million NT.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kaohsiung has suffered the heaviest
losses at almost 60 million NT, followed by Yunlin at over 53 million NT.

Crop hardest hit include guava, green onions, papaya, sweet corn and peanuts.

The agricultural sector also reported over $48 million NT in fishery losses,
mainly involving milkfish, mullet and marbled gody.

Livestock losses totaled 2.8 million NT, mainly involving chickens, ducks and
pigs.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 18:13:13

If you're riding a YouBike in Taipei around mid-September, you could be
become the person who uses a YouBike for the 500 millionth time and receive
20-thousand NT in vouchers

The Department of Transportation estimates that could happen around September
14th.

And there are consolation prizes too — the five riders immediately before and
the five immediately after number 500 million will each get 1-thousand NT in
shopping vouchers.

Transportation officials said YouBike has grown to almost 1-thousand-800
stations across Taipei, with more than 27-thousand bicycles available,
including over 4-thousand electric-assist ones.

Officials are encouraging more people to ride bicycles instead of driving for
the purpose of cutting carbon emissions and traffic jams.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 18:13:13

This week on Taiwan Talk... ICRT's Tim Berge sits down with Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines Ambassador Kenton X. Chance...

Posted on 2026-08-31 16:17:13

A TSMC executive says the the next phase of artificial intelligence growth
will be driven by bigger and more powerful computing systems.

TSMC AI and high-performance computing director Li Xiang (李湘) said at SEMICON
Taiwan today that AI is moving beyond chatbots and into everyday business
operations.

She said companies will need to connect computing power, memory and data
systems to keep up with growing demand.

Li said the amount of data used to run AI has increased nearly 500-fold since
2022, as newer AI systems handle more complex tasks.

TSMC is developing new chip packaging and data-transfer technologies to meet
that demand.

Li said TSMC now needs to understand the entire AI supply chain, "from
silicon to the data center to the token".

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-31 16:17:14

In world news...

The United Arab Emirates’ air force has intercepted an Iranian drone over its
territorial waters.

The Defense Ministry says today's attack comes after the U.S. and Iran
exchanged fire on the weekend, the first action in a month.

The U-A-E Defense Ministry said it “dealt with” an Iranian drone that was
detected over its waters approaching from Iran.

There have been no immediate claims of responsibility from Tehran nor any
reports of damage.

The incident comes after U.S. forces on Sunday struck Iranian rocket
launchers on an Iranian island, breaking a lull in fighting in the war that
has lasted more than six months.

Iran responded by launching missiles at U.S. sites in Jordan.

Posted on 2026-08-31 16:17:14

A court in Seoul, South Korea, has sentenced Unification Church leader Hak Ja
Han, also known as 韓鶴子, to two years in prison.

The Seoul Central District Court on Monday issued the ruling against Han, who
was earlier charged with bribery and other corruption allegations.

Han is the widow of the church founder Sun Myung Moon.

She was arrested last year and charged with instructing church officials to
bribe the wife of conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol and a
high-profile politician close to Yoon.

She also was charged with embezzling church funds and ordering the
destruction of evidence of her gambling activities in the United States.

Posted on 2026-08-31 14:37:13

Taiwan's manufacturing outlook reached its strongest category in more than
five years in July, helped by strong AI demand and signs of recovery in
traditional industries.

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says its manufacturing climate
index rose to 18.57 points, moving into the "red" range that signals strong
growth.

Nearly 46-percent of industries were classified in the red category, up
sharply from June.

But TIER says the outlook for the second half remains uncertain.

Export growth for information and communications products is slowing from a
high base, while it remains unclear whether the recovery in traditional
industries can continue.

The institute is also warning that higher energy prices and global borrowing
costs could add pressure to the economy.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 14:37:18

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun says the party will not preselect a candidate or
tailor its nomination system for anyone ahead of the 2028 presidential
election.

Speaking to Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, Cheng said her job is to establish a
fair process, nominate the strongest candidate and maintain cooperation with
the Taiwan People's Party.

Cheng also defended the KMT's push for cross-Strait dialogue, saying peace
remains possible through communication and exchanges.

She said her recent Beijing visit showed there is still room to reduce
hostility across the Strait.

Cheng also expects another U.S.-China leaders' meeting at the end of
September could bring further progress in relations.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 14:37:23

In international news,

In Nepal and Tibet, the total death toll in the catastrophic flooding has
climbed past 900 with more than 4,700 missing.

Multiple foreign teams were also assisting local rescuers to find an
estimated 90 workers trapped in hydropower tunnels.

Nepal’s disaster agency said Monday that 903 deaths had been counted there,
with 4,247 people, including 592 foreigners, missing.

As of Sunday, Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing.

Chinese state media said 261 of the missing were foreigners, including over a
hundred Nepalis.

Wednesday’s flash floods started after a glacial collapse high in the
Himalayan region.

The rocks and melted water then swelled the rivers in the valleys below,
causing a torrent of water that swept buildings, bridges and earth downstream
in Tibet and Nepal.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-31 14:37:28

In Palau, leaders from some of the world’s least populous states are
gathering for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

The summit, which opens today, is set against a backdrop of geopolitical
tension between China, the U.S., Taiwan, and forum members Australia and New
Zealand.

Palau’s President Surangel (suh-RAN-jel) Whipps Jr. urges larger nations not
to interfere, focusing instead on issues like climate change and struggling
economies.

The forum faces challenges in reaching consensus, as seen in a recent failure
to criticize China’s missile launch.

The summit also highlights the strategic importance of small island nations
amid global tensions.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-31 14:37:23

The Ministry of National Defense says China's military threat against Taiwan
has not eased, with recent exercises increasingly focused on blockade
scenarios.

Its latest report on China's military power says PLA drills have centered on
cutting off Taiwan's external sea and air routes.

The MND says China has used military aircraft, warships, coast guard vessels
and maritime militia in those exercises to improve its ability to encircle
Taiwan.

The report also warns of espionage and disinformation campaigns aimed at
weakening public trust and internal unity.

The ministry says Taiwan will continue strengthening its defenses, reserve
mobilization and cooperation with security partners.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 14:37:28

In South Korea, a Seoul court has sentenced Unification Church leader Hak Ja
Han to two years in prison.

Yonhap news agency reports the Seoul Central District Court today issued the
ruling against Han, who was earlier charged with bribery and other corruption
allegations.

Han, 83, is the widow of the church’s founder, Sun Myung Moon.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-31 13:54:13

President Lai Ching-te says the government will provide 20-billion N.T. a
year starting in 2027 to help small and micro-sized businesses modernize and
improve their competitiveness.

The government is also drafting legislation aimed at making support for
smaller enterprises a permanent part of policy.

Lai says the measures are intended to help businesses of all sizes benefit
from Taiwan's economic growth and technological development.

He also highlighted the government's Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects,
which focus on areas including quantum computing, silicon photonics and
robotics.

The initiative aims to help at least 1-million smaller businesses adopt
digital technologies and train 500-thousand people in AI applications by
2040.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 13:54:23

The Water Resources Agency has activated a Level 3 response team as stronger
southwesterly winds raise the risk of heavy rain.

The agency says short periods of intense rainfall are possible today and
Tuesday, especially in areas already affected by recent bad weather.

Local governments are being told to clear drainage systems, prepare pumping
equipment and monitor flood-prone roads, underpasses and low-lying areas.

Authorities may also lower water levels at major reservoirs in southern
Taiwan, including Tsengwen, Wushantou and Mudan, to create more storage
capacity if needed.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 13:54:23

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark Tai-Ex losing 202.98 points
to close the session at 46,128.47.

The turnover was 1.2-trillion N.T.

Posted on 2026-08-31 13:54:18

Weather forecasters say while they're not ruling out the possibility of
issuing a sea warning for the number 20 tropical depression near Hai-nan
island tomorrow evening, the chances are low.

The Central Weather Administration says that's because the system is not
expected to get much stronger as the conditions are not favorable.

The CWA says TD 20 is currently 1,100 kilometers southwest of Taiwan and
moving at a northeasterly direction toward the Taiwan Strait.

It may strengthen a little as it moves northward, and brings even more rain
to Taiwan's south and east.

Forecasters say Taiwan is currently under the influence of a broad
low-pressure system, which has already brought over 200 millimeters of
rainfall to Tai-tung so far today.

Southern Taiwan and Hualian could see brief torrential downpours or heavy
rain as well, with prolonged torrential rain also possible today and
tomorrow.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-31 13:54:25

Washington Moves To Cut It Off Over Iran Sanctions Evasion

The UAE's Central Bank has ordered a special inspection of Egyptian bank
Banque Misr's branches after Washington moved to sever the bank from the US
financial system, accusing it of helping Tehran evade sanctions.

The economic pressure campaign is running alongside continued military action
— U.S. forces have struck Iranians accused of laying mines in the Strait of
Hormuz, breaking a period of calm during which the White House had said it
was focused on sanctions rather than force.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (mah-SOOD peh-zesh-kee-AHN) has said the
country's exports have fallen by nearly thirty-five per cent under American
sanctions.

Posted on 2026-08-31 13:54:31

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the death toll from a Russian
strike on a warehouse west of Kyiv has risen to 38, with four people still
missing.

Authorities also said 52 people were injured.

The Friday night strike on the warehouse, which Ukraine said was storing
ammunition, sparked massive explosions and fires that swept through nearby
homes and buildings.

Russia's Defense Ministry says it is preparing to launch “massive strikes”
against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to attacks on Russian
online retailers and the country’s oil and gas sector.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-31 12:51:14

With reports that Taiwan's National Security Bureau hired a U.S. consulting
firm to provide advice on trade issues, the N-S-B stressed today that
legitimate consultations and lobbying have become common practice in
democratic countries.

The Bureau also noted that it follows local laws governing required
registration and disclosure.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice's disclosure under the Foreign
Agents Registration Act, the N-S-B hired the U.S. consulting firm ASG
Corporation to provide government relations and trade consultations between
April and September last year.

The contract also included arranging a high-level meeting with Kevin Hassett,
Director of the White House National Economic Council.

A-S-G utilized contacts within the Executive Office of the President to
arrange the meeting on July 8, 2025, between Taiwan’s N-S-B Director-General,
Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥), and Kevin Hassett.

The N-S-B paid ASG Corp. a total of $325-thousandＵ.S. dollars for trade and
government relations services.

Sources familiar with the matter said the Taiwan-U.S. tariff negotiations
have highlighted the need for the government to diversify its
intelligence-gathering channels when faced with major changes.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-31 12:51:22

Iceland's voters have rejected a referendum to restart negotiations to join
the European Union.

Opponents defeated the measure by a margin of 52.8% to 47.2%.

The result will put the issue to rest for the second time about a decade
after a euroskeptic government ended EU talks.

The referendum was held amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's
threats toward neighboring Greenland, prompting some voters to consider
European solidarity.

Opponents cited fishing rights and existing benefits from the EU's single
market, while supporters argued for economic stability and closer ties with
Europe.

Iceland’s left-leaning coalition government, elected in 2024, moved up the EU
referendum it had planned for next year after Trump mistakenly named Iceland
four times while speaking about his designs on Greenland.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-31 12:51:18

TSMC says silicon photonics is becoming the mainstream technology for optical
transceivers as AI pushes data-center networks toward their physical limits.

The company's Advanced Packaging Technology Development Vice President K.C.
Hsu says silicon photonics could take more than half of the market by 2027.

He says sales of optical transceivers rose 25-percent last year and are
expected to grow another 50-percent this year.

Hsu says the technology's next major step is co-packaged optics, or CPO, with
at least one company expected to begin mass production in the second half of
this year.

He says Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem is well positioned for large-scale
production, but bottlenecks remain in lasers, optical fiber, connectors and
testing.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 10:42:13

The Central Weather Administration says former Typhoon Saudel could regain
typhoon strength within the next 24 hours.

The storm weakened after moving into China, but strengthened back into a
tropical depression at 8 a.m. today.

Saudel was centered about 1,050 kilometers west of Eluanbi and is forecast to
cross Hainan before turning toward Guangdong.

The CWA says the system would likely only reach the lower threshold of a mild
typhoon before weakening again over land.

A typhoon warning remains possible, but forecasters say the chances are low.

Meanwhile, central and southern Taiwan could see localized heavy or
torrential rain today, with wet conditions continuing into tomorrow and
Wednesday.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 10:42:13

The Ministry of National Defense says six Chinese warships and four
government vessels were detected around Taiwan over the latest 24-hour
period.

The MND also detected four Chinese military aircraft between 6 a.m. Sunday
and 6 a.m. today.

Three of the aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered
airspace north of Taiwan.

The ministry says Taiwan's military used aircraft, naval vessels and
shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the activity and respond.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 10:42:13

Accusefive and Mayday bassist Masa brought JAM JAM ASIA to a close Saturday
night with a special collaboration at Taipei Music Center.

The one-off group rearranged several Accusefive songs and combined tracks by
Mayday and Accusefive into a new mashup.

Their final performance of Mayday's "Embrace" prompted a mass singalong.

The weekend festival also featured Faith Yang, Crowd Lu, ATARASHII GAKKO! and
Mavis Fan.

Japanese singer-songwriter Taeko Onuki also made her first Taiwan appearance
at the age of 72, performing several of her best-known songs.

Onuki was a longtime friend and collaborator of the late Japanese composer
Ryuichi Sakamoto.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-31 10:42:13

Pacific leaders are gathering in Palau for the annual Pacific Islands Forum,
although several heads of government will miss the meeting.

The prime ministers of Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands, along with
Kiribati's president, will be represented by ministers or senior officials.

The forum, hosted by Palau President Surangel Whipps Junior through September
4, will focus on regional economic pressures, climate priorities, security
and possible reforms to the organization.

The U.S., China, Japan and Singapore are also returning as dialogue partners
after being excluded from last year's meeting.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is in Palau for meetings and side
events.

Posted on 2026-08-31 10:42:13

U.S. forces have struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, marking the
first known American attack on Iran since late July.

A U.S. official says Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces were preparing to
launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran says the strike killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians, and
has vowed to respond.

A U.S. source cited by Fox News says Iran later launched missiles at American
forces in Jordan, with nearly all of them intercepted and no significant
damage reported.

The latest escalation comes six months into the Iran war, which has disrupted
shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to a blockade of a
route that previously carried about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

Posted on 2026-08-31 10:42:13

Icelanders have voted against reopening membership talks with the European
Union, dealing a setback to the government's push for closer ties with
Brussels.

Official results show 52.8-percent voted against negotiations, while
47.2-percent supported them. Turnout was 82.5-percent.

The country's Prime Minister says Iceland will instead focus on strengthening
its existing relationship with the EU through the European Economic Area.

Fishing rights were a major issue in the campaign, with opponents warning EU
membership could weaken Iceland's control over its waters.

Supporters argued closer ties could help Iceland deal with trade tensions,
Arctic security concerns and high borrowing costs.

The government says the result will end the membership debate for as long as
the current coalition remains in power.

Posted on 2026-08-29 14:07:13

Poor weather hampered aerial rescue operations in Nepal as the search for
hundreds of missing people in areas devastated by catastrophic flash floods
along the border with China entered its fourth day.

Rescue workers and military personnel have been working around the clock
since Wednesday's disaster that killed nearly 600 people and left around
3,000 missing.

Some survivors have been pulled from the mud, while crews continue searching
several locations for those still missing.

Despite the disruption to aerial operations, search and rescue efforts
continued at several locations in Nepal as well as in Tibet on the Chinese
side of the border.

Rescuers have been on high alert for more flooding from a new lake that
formed high up in the Himalayan mountains after the initial floods Wednesday.
Experts warned that the lake, created after a glacier collapse that triggered
the floods, was starting to overflow.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has offered his condolences
to all those affected by the floods and mudslides.

Taiwan is prepared to quickly dispatch members of its national special
search-and-rescue team to Nepal if it receives a request, according to the
Taipei Times. It reported that Taiwan has yet to receive such a request but
it making tentative plans in any case.

There haven't yet been any reports of Taiwanese missing in Nepal or China
after the flash flooding.

Posted on 2026-08-29 13:08:13

SEMICON Taiwan 2026 kicks off on Wednesday. It's set to break records of
various kinds.

Among those records:

An estimated 1,300 global exhibitors are expected at the semiconductor expo
in Nangang, they'll man 4,300 booths on display for more than 100,000
semiconductor professionals from 65 countries.

Meanwhile, the number of national pavilions has more than tripled to 18.

SEMICON is second-only to COMPUTEX as an exhibition that draws global
technology giants in Taiwan. It starts on Sept. 2 and ends on the fourth.
That's at TaiNEX 1 and 2 in Nangang.

Posted on 2026-08-29 13:08:13

President Trump says his administration has entered a sweeping agreement with
Venezuela that could give the US low-cost access to vast amounts of the South
American country's untapped oil reserves.

Trump said in a social media post that the agreement was negotiated by
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and
Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

Trump said it is "THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!"

Rodríguez's government says the deal involves the development of 17 fields
with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels ... adding it could draw $100
billion in investment into Venezuela's oil industry,

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-08-29 12:10:14

Taiwan has wrapped up its 2026 Startup World Cup final in Taipei, selecting a
team to represent the nation at the global competition in San Francisco.

The event is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, with a 1 million US-dollar
investment prize at stake in the global final.

Pegasus business development director Justin Jackson says the competition is
designed to connect entrepreneurs around the world with Silicon Valley.

Jackson says more than 200 international companies will compete at the grand
finale, with multiple teams from Taiwan taking part.

Meanwhile, Michael Kao (高志明), chairman of TINVA, says Taiwan's technology and
America's capital and markets make the two startup ecosystems natural
partners.

Kao adds that Taiwan's startup strengths include AI, biotech and deep
technology -- and events like this can help young companies reach investors
and customers overseas.

Posted on 2026-08-29 12:10:14

Former Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno has been sentenced to prison for
accepting bribes from the Chinese company Sinohydro.

A court found him guilty of helping the company to secure a contract to build
a hydroelectric plant.

The 73-year-old Moreno is expected to serve his sentence under house arrest
due to a physical disability.

Ecuadorian law allows this because he can't walk.

Moreno was convicted as a direct participant in the bribery scheme while he
was vice president under Rafael Correa. His wife, daughter, two brothers and
a brother-in-law were also convicted as accomplices and received various
prison terms.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-08-29 11:07:13

proposals

The Central Election Commission has approved a referendum on abolishing the
government's nuclear-free energy policy to coincide with November's local
elections.

The CEC met for 2 and a half hours yesterday to deliberate three referendum
questions passed by the legislature.

The approved referendum asks whether the government should abolish its
"Nuclear-Free Homeland" policy to secure affordable electricity supplies and
strengthen national defense resilience, among other rationales.

The policy was enshrined in the Basic Environment Act in 2002. The phaseout
of nuclear power began in 2016, after the DPP returned to power, and was
completed in May last year.

The referendum will be Taiwan's fourth on nuclear power since 2018.

Voters in 2018 backed removing a legal requirement to end nuclear power
generation by 2025.

In 2021 and 2025, voters rejected proposals to restart the mothballed Fourth
Nuclear Power Plant and extend the operation of the Maanshan plant.

CEC Chairman Michael You (游盈隆) said the commission rejected the other two
proposals because they didn't fall within the scope of matters that can be
put to a referendum under Article 2 of the Referendum Act.

The two rejected proposals were on caning and on how to allocate traffic-fine
revenue.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-08-29 11:07:14

The leader of the Seneca Nation in upstate New York is criticizing President
Trump's decision to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America."

Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca said Trump's executive order
violates a more than 225-year-old treaty and shows a "blatant disrespect" for
the Indigenous people who gave the lake its name in the first place.

Seneca called for the order to be rescinded.

He says the Lake Ontario name should remain as a reflection of the Indigenous
people in the US and Canada who lived in territory around and along the lake
long before the founding of either modern nation.

Trump signed an order earlier this week directing the Interior Department to
update the lake's name as part of his escalating trade war with Canada.

AP_JvW

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