ICRT

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:55:13

A new survey shows migrant workers in industrial sectors are logging more
overtime, driven by the boom in AI-related manufacturing.

According to the Ministry of Labor, monthly overtime rose by nearly 90
minutes in 2025, bringing the average to just over 28 hours per month.

Officials attribute the increase to stronger production in AI-related
manufacturing sectors.

Pay is also up.

Migrant workers earned an average total monthly pay of nearly 35 thousand NT
in June, up almost five percent from a year earlier, mainly due to a minimum
wage hike.

On the other hand, the report notes that language barriers remain a top
concern for employers.

That is followed by complaints about migrant caregivers' frequent smartphone
use and chatting on the job.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:55:13

The Ministry of Environment says over half of companies required to pay
carbon fees in Taiwan can receive a major discount if they are classified as
high-risk industries.

The ministry released new auditing rules today for companies deemed to be at
high risk for carbon emissions, with over 260 facilities on the list that
qualifies for an 80 percent discount on their carbon fees.

These high-risk industries include steel, cement, oil refining, and chemical
materials.

Together, they represent about 70 percent of the total carbon emissions from
all fee-paying companies.

The ministry says to get the discount, companies must first have an approved
"voluntary reduction plan" to lower their emissions.

If a company has an approved reduction plan, the rate drops from the standard
$300NT per ton to 50 or 100 NT.

And if the company is also on the high-risk list, they pay at a further
discounted rate.

But the environment ministry says companies that do not meet their reduction
goals will lose their discounts.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:55:13

China says it has reached a deal with the European Union on exports of
Chinese made electric vehicles to the bloc.

A statement by the Commerce Ministry on Monday said the EU will be issuing
guidelines on minimum pricing for Chinese auto exporters.

It did not directly mention if the deal involved an end to the tariffs of up
to 35.3% that the EU imposed on imports of Chinese EVs following an
investigation.

The expansion of Chinese EV makers overseas has alarmed automakers in Europe
and the U.S.

The EU imposed the tariffs to counter an influx of affordably priced Chinese
EV models into its markets, saying Chinese automakers had benefited from
unfair government subsidies.

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:54:13

A Japanese footwear brand is under growing scrutiny after a staff member at
its Taipei 101 store was accused of discriminating against a Vietnamese
customer.

The incident went viral after a witness claimed a saleswoman at Onitsuka
Tiger told the customer the shoes she wanted to try on were 'too expensive',
before ignoring her entirely.

The post on the platform Threads—which has racked up tens of thousands of
likes—slams the behavior as blatant racial discrimination.

Taipei 101 Chairperson Janet Chia has responded, thanking its author and
vowing to look into the incident.

Meanwhile, Onitsuka Tiger says it has suspended the employee involved, who
could be terminated if the claims are proven true.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:54:14

A famous Taiwanese restaurant chain has raised prices across its menu ...
following an announcement over the weekend.

Formosa Chang, known for its braised pork rice, said the hike comes into
effect today ... citing higher costs for raw materials, labor and
environmental compliance.

The chain's signature dish now costs 71 NT for a small bowl, up from 66.

Popular bento boxes, including chicken and crispy chicken leg meals, also saw
modest increases.

Overall, prices rose by an average of 3.8 percent.

The chain says the increases were unavoidable ... and came despite efforts to
absorb expenses internally.

The move follows a similar price hike by major coffeehouse chain Louisa
Coffee, which recently raised prices on 90 items, citing the higher cost of
ingredients, wages, and utilities.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 17:16:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is downplaying claims that the TPP/KMT's
so-called "Future Accounts" will boost the birth rate...

but they say that it would be helpful in reducing poverty.

Meanwhile the Directorate General of Budget says the expenditure required for
such a thing is likely to have negative impacts on other budget areas.

These comments come as two legislative committees begin reviewing the Future
Account proposal from the opposition parties.

The budget for this policy is capped at 450 billion NT, and it'll be financed
through borrowing- and the government would open savings accounts for kids 12
and under with 50,000 NT each.

Those accounts would receive another 10,000 NT annually from the government.

DPP Lawmakers have criticized the draft, saying it raises concerns over lack
of fiscal discipline, unclear objectives, and a widening wealth gap.

They've also pointed out that the government’s overall remaining borrowing
capacity is $180 billion NT, and after deducting $150 billion a year for
national defense, only $30 billion remains.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 17:16:14

The DPP is recommending the chair of the New Taipei City Dental Association
to run for magistrate in Nantou.

The recommendation of Wen Shi Zheng 溫世政 will be formally considered by the
DPP central committee on Wednesday.

The DPP had originally planned to issue the recommendation last week, but
opted to delay the announcement due to the ongoing search for the missing
F-16V fighter jet and pilot.

If he is confirmed to be the nominee, he will face Nantou Magistrate Xu Shu
Hua in November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 17:16:14

Now turning to international news...

Myanmar will face accusations that it is reponsible for genocide against the
Rohingya ethnic minority at the United Nations.

Gambia originally filed the case at the International Court of Justice in
2019, arguing a so-called "clearance operation" by Myanmar's military in 2017
violated the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Myanmar has denied the allegations.

Lawyers for Gambia say that, without the ICJ, the military of Myanmar "will
be accountable to no one and there will be no constraints on their
persecution... of the Rohingya."

Myanmar launched the campaign in 2017 after an attack by a Rohingya insurgent
group.

Security forces were accused of mass rapes, killings, and burning thousands
of homes as more than 700,000 people fled into neighboring Bangladesh.

Now, some 1.2 million Rohingya Muslims are forced to stay in chaotic,
overcrowded camps, where armed groups recruit kids and young girls are forced
into prostitution.

The sudden and severe foreign aid cuts imposed last year by US President
Donald Trump closed thousands of the camps' schools and have caused children
to starve to death.

Posted on 2026-01-12 17:16:15

In the US,

federal immigration officers are continuing to make immigration arrests in
Minnesota's Twin Cities...

where ICE agents just days ago shot a woman, killing her.

In one instance, ICE rammed the door of one home and pushed their way inside,
taking away one man.

In an effort to disrupt what officials are calling the "largest enforcement
operation ever," protesters were honking car horns, banging on drums, and
blowing whistles.

Videos across the area showed some ICE agents pushing back protesters while a
distraught woman later emerged from the house with a document that federal
agents presented to arrest the man.

But the document, signed by an immigration officer, does not authorize forced
entry into a private residence.

Federal officials say that more than 2,000 immigration arrests have been made
in Minnesota since the enforcement operation began at the beginning of
December.

Posted on 2026-01-12 16:08:13

Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) is reassuring commuters that the TPASS
monthly pass is here to stay ... addressing concerns over funding delays from
the central government.

Mayor Chang says if the subsidies are late, the Taoyuan City Government will
step in to cover the costs upfront and keep the program running.

Currently, Taoyuan is a key player in two major pass programs: the Greater
Taipei-Taoyuan link and the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli pass.

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, over 1
million trips are made each month using TPASS monthly passes.

Chang says ensuring uninterrupted service remains a top priority for Taoyuan.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 16:08:15

The DPP is calling on the opposition parties to review the 2026 central
government budget as a whole instead of separating out certain expenditures
for the legislative committee to review.

The DPP says today that the general budget is not a “self-service buffet”
and should be reviewed in its entirety.

The KMT legislative caucus announced this morning that it's pondering on
passing parts of the budget that address urgent public-interest needs such as
the T-PASS subsidies, river improvement projects, and childbirth benefits.

But DPP legislative secretary-general Zhong Jia-bin says the opposition
should not cherry-pick what they want to review among the budget.

He adds that members of the public would want to see the KMT and the TPP
carrying out meaningful oversight of the executive branch as well.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-12 16:08:15

A Hong Kong court is hearing arguments about the sentence for pro-democracy
media founder Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants in a landmark national security
case.

Their convictions under a national security law could lead to life
imprisonment.

Lai was found guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces
and publish seditious articles.

His case has raised concerns about press freedom, drawing criticism from the
U.S. and Britain.

Lai pleaded not guilty, but his co-defendants entered guilty pleas.
Sentencing will occur later.

Lai's daughter says her father, who's 78 years old, would focus on family and
faith if released.

Posted on 2026-01-12 16:08:15

Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok due
to its misuse in generating explicit images.

Authorities in both countries acted over the weekend, citing concerns about
non-consensual and sexual deepfakes.

Regulators say existing controls cannot prevent fake pornographic content,
especially involving women and minors.

Both nations have demanded stronger safeguards from Musk's platform, X, to
prevent abuse.

Grok, launched in 2023, has faced global scrutiny for its image generator
feature.

Critics say recent restrictions on non-paying users don't fully address the
risks.

Posted on 2026-01-12 15:07:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says, the military has detected intermittent
signals from the black box of a F-16V fighter jet that disappeated last week.

However, Koo says it has not pinned down the exact location.

Pilot Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅) took off in the jet from Hualien Air Base at 6:17
p.m. last Tuesday on a nighttime training mission but soon reported that the
plane was losing altitude.

He then said that he would eject from the plane, and 8 seconds later the
jet's signal disappeared from radar.

The Air Force set up an emergency response center and launched a search and
rescue operation, but has not yet been able to find the pilot himself or the
plane.

Koo said today that the search and rescue operation has so far involved
dozens of Navy vessels, Coast Guard boats, and drones.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 15:07:14

Egg prices in Taiwan are going up this week.

The Taipei Egg Merchants Association says wholesale egg prices are rising by
three NT per catty, bringing the wholesale price to 42 NT per catty.

Association chair Lin Tian-lai (林天來) says the increase is being driven by
colder weather, which has reduced egg production, while demand from hotpot
restaurants has picked up during the winter season.

He says frequent cold fronts have lowered laying rates, and winter is
traditionally a peak period for egg consumption.

Despite the price hike, the Agriculture Ministry says overall supply remains
stable, with daily production still slightly above average demand.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 15:07:15

In world news...

Myanmar will face accusations that it is responsible for genocide against the
Rohingya ethnic minority at the top court of the United Nations, as
long-awaited hearings are set to begin.

The West African country of Gambia first filed the case at the International
Court of Justice in 2019, arguing a so-called “clearance operation” by
Myanmar’s military in 2017 violates the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Myanmar, which has since been taken over by the military, has denied the
allegations.

The South Asian country launched the campaign in Rakhine state in 2017 after
an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group.

Security forces were accused of mass rapes, killings and torching thousands
of homes as more than 700,000 Rohingya fled into neighboring Bangladesh.

Posted on 2026-01-12 15:07:15

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran wants to negotiate with the U.S. after
his threat to strike the country over its crackdown on protesters.

Activists said today the death toll in the demonstrations has risen to at
least 544.

Iran has not yet responded to Trump's comments.

The foreign minister of Oman traveled to Iran this weekend, possibly to
mediate.

Trump and his team are considering responses, including cyberattacks and
direct strikes.

He mentioned talks with Tehran but warned action might be needed first.

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

KMT Taichung lawmaker and deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Chi-chen is
continuing to try for his party's nomination in the city's mayoral race.

Meanwhile his collague, Yang Qiong-ying, says that she will also continue to
work hard to win the approval and trust of Taichung residents.

That's as KMT Chair Zheng Li Wen says that the party will invite both Yang
and Chiang to the party's headquarters for discussions on Friday.

Whoever ends up taking home the KMT nomination, they will face DPP Lawmaker
He Xin Chun in November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

The KMT legislative caucus says it'll work together with the TPP to speed up
parts the long-stalled central government budget plan.

KMT legislative secretary-general Luo Zhi-qiang said the two parties are in
talks on how to resolve urgently needed funding for new projects and newly
added items in the budget right now.

He said once coordination is completed, the two parties will take unified
action.

As the 2026 general budget is still pending in the Legislative Yuan, the KMT
is reportedly considering passing parts of it that address urgent
public-interest needs such as the T-PASS subsidies, water treatment projects,
and childbirth benefits.

Luo blamed President Lai for the delay, saying his administration should have
drawn it up by following the laws previously passed by the Legislative Yuan.

Local news media reported that the budget plan could be discussed at Friday's
plenary session.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says, as Taipei continues to strive to be a
"smokeless city," the city government will consider the experiences of
foreign metropolises.

He adds that his administration will aim to create a separation between
smokers and non-smokers, so as to create a friendly public environment.

He said he would specifically consider the experience of Tokyo in
establishing smoke-free areas and smoking rooms.

The mayor today touted Tokyo's successes in the field, but also raised
concerns over smokers potentially having to resort to smoking in small
alleyways, where the risk of littering or second-hand smoke is higher.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 278 points to
close the session at 30567.

The turnover was 602.9 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

Now turning to interntional news...

A Hong Kong court is hearing arguments about the sentencing of pro-democracy
media mogul Jimmy Lai and his co-defendants.

Their convictions under a national security law could lead to life
imprisonment.

Lai was found guilty of conspiring with others to collue with foreign forces
and publish seditious articles.

His case has raised concerns about press freedom and has drawn plenty of
criticism from abroad.

Lai plead not guilty, but his co-defendants entered guilty pleas.

Sentencing will occur later.

That's as experts say Hong Kong's press freedom has declined dramatically
over 20 years, falling from 18th to 140th in a global press freedom index.

The drop follows the shutdown of Lai's Apple Daily and other independent
outlet under the 2020 national security law imposed by Beijing.

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

The ruling DPP is holding much-anticipated polls tonight to choose the
nominee for the Kaohsiung mayoral race.

Kaohsiung will be the first city for which the DPP is conducting polling to
determine the party's nominee for Kaohsiung mayor, Tainan mayor, and Chiayi
magistrate.

The polling will run through the 17th.

The DPP says based on a draw of lots, Kaohsiung is the first to be polled,
and the result will be publicized before noontime tomorrow.

Four sitting DPP lawmakers, Qiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩), Xu Zhi-jie( 許智傑), Lai
Rui-lung (賴瑞隆) and Lin Dai-hua are vying fiercely for the nomination.

In Jia-yi, the contenders are legislator Cai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) and County
Councilor Huang Rong-li (黃榮利), while in Tainan it's Chen Ting-fei(陳亭妃)
and Lin Jun-xian (林俊憲).

Under party rules, DPP headquarters draws lots each morning to decide which
city or county will be polled that day.

Polling is then carried out from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. by three polling firms
simultaneously using landline telephone surveys.

Once 1-thousand 200 valid questionnaires are completed, the results are
released by noon the following day.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is urging dialogue amidst a legislative stalemate
over the central government and special defense budgets.

Chiang notes that, in past instances in which the executive and legislative
branches were controlled by two opposing parties, the leaders of each still
sat down to discuss tense issues.

The mayor said that such polarization is not to the benefit of the people,
and says that the responsibility to open dialogue rests upon the leader of
the DPP, President Lai Ching-te.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

In international news,

Britain is discussing with NATO allies how to enhance Arctic security against
Russia and China.

The British Secretary of Transport says that these talks are routine and not
a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent interest in acquiring
Greenland.

Trump expressed his desire to make a deal for Greenland, a semiautonomous
region of NATO ally Denmark, to prevent Russian or Chinese influence...

but British officials are emphasizing the importance of a strong deterrent in
the Arctic.

Britain's former ambassador to the U.S., who was sacked last year because of
his friendship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, said he did not
think Trump would take Greenland by force...

while the leader of the Liberal Democrats suggested Britain offer to deploy
troops to Greenland in collaboration with Denmark.

It is unclear how remaining NATO members would respond if the U.S. decided to
forcibly take control of the island or if they would come to Denmark's aid.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

In Ecuador, police have found five human heads displayed on a beach in Puerto
Lopez.

The discovery, made on Sunday, is linked to ongoing drug-trafficking violence
in the area.

Authorities say criminal groups are fighting over territory and drug
trafficking routes.

The groups have used fishermen and their small boats for their illicit
activities.

The region has seen increased violence, including a recent massacre.

Ecuador has been struggling with a wave of violence for over four years, with
2025 being the most violent year on record.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

Wedding

In Pakistan, a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception in
Islamabad has killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom,
and injured seven.

Police say the blast occurred early Sunday as guests were sleeping.

Part of the house collapsed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (Sheh-BAHZ Shah-REEF) offered condolences to
the victims’ families and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, which
have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

President Lai Ching-te says his administration has approved almost 200
subsidy programs worth about 3 billion N-T under a plan to encourage medical
institutions to adopt 'smart health care' technologies.

The subsidy programs are part of the five-year Healthy Taiwan Cultivation
Plan, which the government launched last year.

Lai said the subsidy programs are designed to leverage the advantages of
smart health care to strengthen medical services.

Lai pointed out that although average life expectancy in Taiwan is currently
above 80, people spend an average of 8.4 years in poor health ...

.. that means "about 10-per cent of the average lifespan is unhealthy," with
some people bedridden, using wheelchairs or needing daily care.

The president said government's goal is that "the longer people live, the
longer they stay healthy" and his administration aims to train 500,000
"artificial intelligence professionals" by 2040 to help lead the 'smart
health care' technologies initiative.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

A delegation led by Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang is
visiting the U-S capital this week for talks with Trump administration
officials.

Huang said the group is looking to discuss issues related to "arms
procurement and high tariffs" with US officials.

The delegation hopes to have "very frank and sincere discussions" and the
four-member delegation is seeking to obtain "direct and reliable" information
from the U-S side even as it conveys the Taiwan public's shared concerns on
those issues.

Huang did not name the agencies the delegation will be visiting or the
officials it will meet with -- saying the details cannot be made public at
this time due to "mutual trust and understanding" with the U-S side.

However, the T-P-P chair said he will hold a news conference after the
delegation returns to Taiwan on Wednesday morning to brief the public on the
trip's outcomes.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

against Taiwan

Research from the National Security Bureau is said to show that China has
been using Chinese I-T and marketing companies to create fake news sites,
manage accounts, and collect and spread misinformation, as part of its
cognitive warfare against Taiwan.

The information was part of a recently completed analysis on China's
"cognitive warfare tactics against Taiwan in 2025."

The national intelligence gathering team said it identified over 45,000 fake
social media accounts and over 2.314-million pieces of disinformation being
spread using such tactics last year.

The disinformation was spread by both fake and bot accounts hired by Chinese
I-T companies which set up databases... the accounts are said to be managed
by automated programs under the instruction of the China's Central Publicity
Department and the Ministry of Public Security.

The accounts create fake news websites to spread narratives aligned with
China's official stances... they also operate content farms via Facebook fan
pages that tend to post sensational articles to attract clicks.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

The Air Force says six aircraft, two Navy ships, and seven Coast Guard
vessels have been deployed as part of on-going efforts to locate an F-16V and
its pilot that went missing last week off the coast of Hualien.

Along with searching seas in the area, the Air Force says the Coast Guard
Administration is also searching seashores looking for wreckage.

F-16V training flights remain suspended, while inspections of the aircraft
type are carried out while an investigation into the cause of the incident
is ongoing.

The aircraft took off from the Hualien Air Base at 6:17PM Tuesday on a
routine night-time training mission and lost contact at 7:29PM.

The Air Force has said the pilot, Captain Hsin Po-yi, is believed to have
ejected from the aircraft some 10 nautical miles east of Fengbin Township.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the Health Promotion Administration
will issue new daily dietary guidelines later this year... in the first
update since 2018.

A draft of the new guidelines was completed late last year, but the
government is delaying the release of the new guidelines, since the
government needs to review newly released U-S dietary recommendations, and
the Lunar New Year holiday.

As a preview Shih said eggs will be promoted more than in the past, given the
growing body of research showing they are an excellent source of nutrition
...

.. and while earlier guidelines only recommended skim or low-fat milk, the
updated guidelines recognize that whole milk contains important nutrients, as
long as it is consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

Kenting is seeking a continuing decline in visitor numbers - as data show the
amount of people visiting the southern seaside town fell to a new low last
year.

Tourism authorities say a total of 2.13-million tourists visited Kenting in
2025.

That's down slightly from 2.14 million in 2024.

Visitor numbers to the Kenting National Park are also down.

Park headquarters deputy director Tseng Tien-ting says his office has
released a plan to develop tourism this year, as the park and the town need
to take concrete steps to transform or lose more visitors.

Meanwhile, the Pingtung County Government's Transportation and Tourism
Division says its working on improving Kenting's branding with the aim of
attract more international visitors by increasing it multilingual services.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

If you're looking for a quick nature break... around half of the 296 plum
trees in late President Chiang Kai-shek's former vacation retreat in
Taoyuan's Fuxing District are already in bloom.

This comes well ahead of the start of the 2026 Jiaobanshan Plum Blossom
Festival on January 17.

The Taoyuan Scenic Area Service Agency says peak flowering in Jiaobanshan
Park is expected in mid-January - and weekly updates on bloom conditions are
available on its Facebook page.

The Taoyuan Department of Tourism says special festival events will be held
in the park on the weekends of January 17 and 18 and January 24 and 25.

Those events include an "international tea gathering under the plum trees"
featuring local, British, Japanese and European teas, a 22-booth market
offering local produce and handicrafts, as well as live calligraphy sessions.

The Taoyuan City Government has also partnered with 34 businesses and
attractions in the Jiaobanshan, Luofu and Xiaowulai areas to offer
festival-only discounts from January 17 through 25.

Posted on 2026-01-10 16:06:14

A Philippine official says rescuers have detected signs of life in an
avalanche of garbage that killed at least four workers and left more than 30
others missing.

The official says the search will be intensified at the landfill in the
central Philippines.

Twelve workers have been retrieved alive from the massive mound of garbage
that collapsed on Thursday afternoon.
The collapse happened among low-slung buildings at a waste management
facility in Cebu City.

Mayor Nestor Archival says authorities confirmed the presence of signs of
life in specific areas that require careful excavation and a more advanced
crane

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 15:07:13

North Korea has accused South Korea of flying drones across the border
between the nations.

North Korea says that its southern neighbor will face consequences for what
it called unpardonable hysteria.

The North Korean military said its forces used special electronic warfare
assets to bring down a South Korean drone flying over its border town last
Sunday.

It said the drone was equipped with two cameras that filmed unspecified North
Korean areas.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said it didn't operate drones on the dates
cited by North Korea, and that President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough
investigation of the North Korean claim.

Lee has been trying to warm up relations with North Korea.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 13:08:13

Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine overnight, using hundreds of
drones and dozens of missiles.

Officials say at least four people were killed in the barrage. For only the
second time in the nearly four-year-old war, Russia used a powerful, new
hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv's
NATO allies.

The attack came days after Ukraine and its allies reported significant
progress toward agreeing on how to defend the country from further aggression
by Moscow if a US-led peace deal is reached.

The attack also coincides with a new chill in relations between Moscow and
Washington over Venezuela ... and the US seizure of one of Russia's oil
tankers in the North Atlantic.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 12:10:14

Protests in Iran have continued despite threats from the government to crack
down.

Online videos show demonstrators protesting last night, even after
authorities shut down the internet and cut phone lines.

The protests, which began over economic issues, have become a significant
challenge to the government.

Activists say at least 65 people have been killed.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized US President Donald Trump,
who has pledged support for peaceful protesters. He said Trump's hands were
"stained with the blood of Iranians."

Iran's judiciary chief has vowed harsh punishment and no leniency for
demonstrators.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement
condemning deadly violence against the protesters.

They urged Iran to allow its citizens to express themselves without fear of
reprisal.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 11:08:13

Taiwan posted trade records across the board in 2025, helped by booming
demand for advanced electronic components and ICT products.

Ministry of Finance data show that Taiwan's exports rose 35 percent last year
to a record US$641 billion. The previous record was less than US$500 billion.

Last year's imports rose 23 percent to a record US$484 billion.

The trade surplus was up 95.0 percent from 2024.

Exports boomed in two broad categories: The ICT and audio/video sector surged
90 percent, and the electronics component industry rose 26 percent.

The machinery industry posted a relatively modest increase of 7 percent for
exports, benefiting from demand in the semiconductor sector.

Meanwhile, exports of chemicals were flat, while exports of plastic and
rubber products fell 8 percent.

A stats department official said that many Taiwanese exporters are trying to
rely less on the China market.

The US accounted for 31 percent of Taiwan's total exports in 2025, displacing
China and Hong Kong for the top spot -- they accounted for 27 percent of
Taiwan's total exports.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 11:08:13

The United States and Venezuela are exploring the possibility of restoring
diplomatic relations.

A delegation from the Trump administration arrived in Venezuela overnight.

They're tasked with making a preliminary assessment about reopening the US
Embassy in Caracas.

Venezuela's government announced its own plans to send a delegation to the
US, though no date has been set.

The two countries severed ties during Trump's first term in 2019.

US officials have traveled to Caracas just a handful of times since.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez said yesterday that diplomacy
with Trump is the best way to defend Venezuela and even ensure the return of
President Maduro and his first lady, Cilia Flores.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 11:08:13

A US federal judge has ruled that President Trump's administration can't
block federal social service money from flowing to five states ... at least
for now.

The administration had said Tuesday it wouldn't release money for three
programs aimed at helping needy children and their families in the
Democratic-led states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New
York ... saying there was reason to believe there was fraud in those places.

The states argued that the policy is having an immediate impact on them and
creating "operational chaos."

Under the overnight ruling, the new requirements are on hold until further
court action.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-09 19:41:13

Taiwan's Navy has expanded its search for a missing Air Force pilot, as
rescue teams race against shifting weather and ocean currents.

Captain Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅) disappeared Tuesday night off the coast of
Hualien after his F-16V fighter jet vanished from radar during a routine
training mission.

To narrow down the pilot's location, the Navy is now using drifting
observation buoys and real-time data to track where the current may have
carried him.

Naval and Coast Guard vessels are working in tandem, utilizing international
distress frequencies to coordinate the high-stakes mission.

Military officials say the operation remains at "full strength" with
personnel rescue as the absolute priority.

They are also asking the public to refrain from speculation while the search
continues.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-09 19:41:13

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang has announced new measures in
response to Taiwan officially becoming a super-aged society ...

... with over 20 percent of the population now aged 65 or older.

Shih outlined a four-pillar strategy focused on moving care out of the
hospital and into the home ... to prevent the nation's healthcare system from
being overwhelmed.

The plan prioritizes disease prevention to keep seniors healthy longer, while
shifting the insurance model to reward successful health outcomes rather than
just the volume of patients seen.

To tackle the shrinking workforce, the Minister says the government will rely
more on healthcare technology, including digital tools and AI

The government also plans to bring in more foreign workers.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-09 19:41:13

Workers across Taiwan are feeling less happy on the job.

A new survey from 1111 Job Bank shows this year's workplace happiness index
slid to 53 points, down from 57 last year.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents say their company is not a 'happy
workplace'.

The primary drivers of dissatisfaction are stagnant wages and salaries that
fall below market levels, compounded by heavy workloads and low year-end
bonuses.

Analysts attribute this rising anxiety to the 'triple threat' of inflation,
higher performance demands driven by AI, and general economic uncertainty.

Despite the frustration, employees are staying put.

Average tenure remains just over seven years, as many choose to wait out the
current instability rather than risk a job change.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-09 17:28:13

KMT Chair Zheng Li Wen says, she will make a statement tomorrow regarding a
potential meeting between the KMT and CCP in Beijing.

That's as rumors are circulating that the KMT-CCP forum will take place at
the end of this month, with deputy chair Xiao Xu Cen leading the charge.

Meanwhile former Speaker Wang Jin-ping says that the party has certainly
undertaken a detailed assessment, and will only go through with any plans if
they are helpful to resolving cross-strait tensions.

If the meeting does indeed take place, it would be the first of its kind
since the Ma administration.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 17:28:13

More than 30 KMT lawmakers have come out in support of their colleague Hsu
Hsin-ying's 徐欣瑩 magisterial run in Hsinchu.

Hsu says, she hopes that her party will use polls to decide who to put
forward as the KMT candidate in the race...

touting it as the most impartial and objective means of determining
candidacy.

She adds that she's confident that she can beat whoever the DPP puts forward.

This comes just on the heels of lawmaker Lin Si Ming's announcement that he
would withdraw from consideration to be the nominee.

Hsu's only other competition appears to be the current Hsinchu Deputy
Magistrate Chen Jian Xian 陳見賢.

Hsu today held a press conference at the legislature alongside KMT
heavyweights including Luo Zhi Qiang and Lin Pei Xiang...

who voiced their support for Hsu's run.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 17:28:13

A relict gull has been spotted in Tainan for the first time.

The Wild Bird Society of Tainan says, that's only the 5th recorded sighting
of the vulnerable Central Asian species in Taiwan.

A local birdwatcher spotted the gull after noticing that it stood out among
other virds at a salt pan in Tainan's Jiangjun district.

The species was later confirmed through photos.

Relict gulls usually live in the salt lakes of Central Asia, meaning an
appearance in Taiwan is an unusual case of vagrancy far outside the normal
range.

The most recent previous sighting in Taiwan occurred in Changhua County in
November.

As the gull is not a regular migrant to Taiwan, the society said it may be
the same individual spotted just months ago, possibly moving south to escape
recent cold surges.

Posted on 2026-01-09 17:28:13

Now turning to international news...

Russia says, the military has used the new Oreshnik intermediate-range
ballistic missile in a strike on Ukraine.

Russian defense officials say that the overnight attack is a retaliation for
what Moscow said was a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian President Putin's
residence last month.

However, both Ukrainian and US officials rejected the claim of the attack on
Putin's residence.

Russian officials also said that the latest strike, which has killed 4 and
wounded at least 22, involved other ground- and sea- launched missiles
targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

Russian officials didn't say where the Oreshnik hit, but local media said
that it targeted underground natural gas storage in Ukraine's western Lviv
region.

Earlier, officials in Lviv said that Russia had struck critical
infrastructure with a missile traveling at a speed of 13,000 kilometers per
hour.

Posted on 2026-01-09 17:28:13

Demonstrations broke out in Iran late last month and have now spread
nationwide.

Protesters are expressing their growing discontent over the country's
faltering economy and the collapse of its currency.

Dozens of people have been killed and thousands arrested as the daily
protests get bigger and bigger.

The initial focus was on issues like spikes in the price of food staples and
the country's inflation rate...

but protesters have now shifted their focus to anti-government statements as
well.

As the protests have intensified, the government has taken more and more
measures to try to curb the movement, disabling internet and international
phone calls.

Posted on 2026-01-09 16:17:13

The Taiwan Coast Guard used water cannons and radio warnings to drive a
Chinese fishing vessel out of restricted waters off the coast of Taichung
this week.

Officials say radar first detected nine unidentified targets, including
Chinese fishing boats, near Miaoli and central Taiwan on Tuesday morning.

The Coast Guard found one boat about 26 nautical miles north of Taichung
Port, and used radio messages, loudspeakers, and water cannons to force the
boat to leave.

Authorities say strong seasonal monsoon winds have recently caused more
Chinese fishing boats to appear in the area.

All nine targets were successfully driven out of restricted zones by
Wednesday morning.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-09 16:17:13

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs defended his ministry's relationship
with Israel, saying that Israel recognises the many ways in which working
with Taiwan can boost safety, health, and other benefits.

That's after deputy minister Wu Zhi Zhong 吳志中 came under fire last month
following a report by Reuters that he made a "secret" trip to Israel.

In an interview with the Liberty Times, Wu neither confirmed nor denied the
trip, but noted recent trips by Israeli delegations to Taiwan, saying that
"the interests of Taiwan and Israel are aligned."

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 16:17:13

Civil groups are raising concerns over several municipalities' stated plans
to begin providing thousands of students with free school lunches, saying
that there may be unintended negative consequences.

The Action Alliance on Basic Education says that the new policies in Taipei,
Taichung, Keelung, and Kaohsiung are likely to see the quality of students'
meals drop, while waste is likely to increase.

They're calling for better dietary education to make sure kids get enough
vegetables and protein, and aren't just eating highly processed foods.

They also say that there should be a subsidy mechanism in place so that the
quality of food will not be compromised, even if the weather affects the
availability of certain foods.

Other advocacy groups in education have also raised concerns that the money
used for school meals might lead to budget shortfalls in other areas, such as
school infrastructure or teaching equipment.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 16:17:13

NASA announced yesterday that it is cutting short the mission of the
four-person Crew-11 on the International Space Station, or the ISS, because
of an unspecified "serious medical condition" affecting one of its
astronauts.

A NASA official said that this was not an emergency, but that they are
"erring on the side of the astronaut's health".

A spacewalk had already been cancelled on Wednesday because of a "medical
concern".

This is the first time that a NASA mission has returned early in its 65-year
history.

Crew-11 consists of an American man and woman, a Russian man, and a Japanese
man.

They were originally scheduled to return next month.

An expert said that the three remaining astronauts on the ISS would probably
need to "dial back" on their experiments and just maintain the station until
the next crew arrives next month.

Posted on 2026-01-09 16:17:13

general in Gaza

Nickolay Mladenov, a former U.N. envoy to the Middle East, will be the
director general for U.S. president Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Gaza.

His appointment was first announced yesterday by Israeli prime minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.

The 53-year-old Mladenov, a former defence and foreign minister in Bulgaria,
has experience in trying to ease tensions between Israel and Hamas.

He will now be the top official in an unproven international body tasked with
governing the Gaza Strip under the next phase of a fragile U.S.-brokered
ceasefire after two years of war.

Under the ceasefire agreement, the Board of Peace is supposed to supervise a
new technocratic Palestinian government, the disarmament of Hamas, the
deployment of an international security force, additional pullbacks of
Israeli troops, and reconstruction efforts.

One expert said that Bulgaria has long been perceived as a moderate country,
and that Mladenov's balanced approach as foreign minister was positively
received by both the Arab world and the State of Israel.

Posted on 2026-01-09 16:17:13

Six whales have died in a mass stranding on a remote beach in New Zealand's
South Island.

On Thursday, fifty-five whales washed up onto Farewell Spit.

Most managed to free themselves and make their way back out to sea, but
volunteers are still trying to save fifteen others.

They are pouring water over the whales to keep them cool in the New Zealand
summer, and hope to get them back out to sea before the tide washes away.

Farewell Spit has historically been the site of many shipwrecks and whale
strandings because of its shallow waters.

In February 2017, four hundred and sixteen pilot whales washed ashore there.

That was the largest whale stranding in New Zealand in more than a hundred
years.

Posted on 2026-01-09 15:19:14

Rescue teams are continuing the search for a missing Air Force pilot today,
after an object that looked like a life jacket was determined to be unrelated
debris.

A coast guard ship spotted the debris this morning off the coast of
San-xian-tai in Taitung County, which is south of where Captain Hsin Po-yi
disappeared on Tuesday night.

Today, nearly 300 personnel are searching in waters and along the coastline,
conducting 14 flights, and utilizing a dozen ships.

The Ministry of National Defense says it will continue to coordinate with
multiple agencies to search the waters and the coastline.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-09 15:19:14

An ROC Marine Corps officer has been indicted for filming a pro-China video
and selling military secrets to a Chinese agent in exchange for cash.

Prosecutors say the staff sergeant surnamed Chen filmed himself holding a
Chinese flag at his home and pledging loyalty to China.

He reportedly received $200-thousand NT for the video.

Investigators say Chen also took photos of military documents, including
specifications and maintenance records for amphibious assault vehicles.

He is also accused of leaking information about a secret base visit by the
President and details regarding the Han Kuang military exercises.

Prosecutors are asking for a heavy sentence, alleging that Chen's actions
seriously harmed national security and military discipline for personal
profit.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing, and several other active and
retired military members have also been detained in connection with the case.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-09 15:19:14

Officials say an avalanche of garbage and debris buried or trapped workers at
a landfill in the Philippines, killing one person, injuring a dozen and
leaving 38 others missing.

Thirteen people were rescued overnight, but one died on the way to the
hospital.

It's not clear if all the people affected were workers at the landfill.

The Cebu mayor said rescue efforts for the others were continuing toady.

Landfills and open dumpsites have long been a source of safety and health
concerns in many cities and towns in the Philippines, especially close to
poor communities where residents scavenge for junk and leftover food in the
heaps.

Posted on 2026-01-09 15:19:14

Syria's Defense Ministry has announced a ceasefire after three days of
clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo.

The ceasefire began this morning local time in specific neighborhoods,
allowing armed groups six hours to leave with personal weapons.

The U.S. envoy to Syria welcomed the announcement, expressing gratitude to
all parties involved.

Fighting since Tuesday has displaced 142-thousand people, with civilian
casualties reported on both sides.

The clashes occurred amid stalled political negotiations between the Syrian
government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

The U.S. has been working to extend the ceasefire beyond its initial deadline.

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

The opposition coalition in the legislature has moved to block consideration
of a special defense budget again.

That's the sixth time in over a month that the KMT and TPP have united to
block the 1.25 trillion NT special budget from being examined in the
legislature.

In November, the Executive Yuan proposed the special budget for defense,
which would span 8 years.

The opposition says that it will not consider the budget until the 2026
central government budget accounts for changes passed by the legislature to
allocate pay raises for active-duty military and pension increases for
teachers and civil servants.

In an effort to get the budget on the agenda for today, DPP Caucus Leader
Chen Pei Yu and others lined up outside the chamber last night to submit the
budget for consideration first thing this morning.

But ultimately, the chamber failed to reach a consensus, so when speaker Han
Kuo-yu ordered a vote, the KMT and TPP succeeding in blocking the referral of
the bill.

(AH)

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

And, snow fell this morning on Taiwan's highest mountain, with about one
centimeter of snow recorded as of 8am...

while temperatures on Yushan were sitting at negative 4.1 degrees and snow
continuing at that time.

But by 10am, temperatures has risen slightly to just negative 3.6.

That's as the Central Weather Administration expects temperatures to fall to
6 degrees celsius in some of the higher altitude areas of New Taipei,
Taoyuan, and Hsinchu County.

And most of the rest of the country can expect lows of 10 degrees celsius
today.

Experts are also warning that the cold weather is likely to persist into the
weekend, although much of Taiwan will see sunnier conditions.

(AH)

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

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 71 points to
close the session at 30288.

The turnover was 676.3 billion NT

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

Russian attacks on Ukraine have killed 3 and injured at least 16 in the
capital city.

Ukrainian authorities reported the overnight assault, saying several
districts in Kyiv were hit.

Russia struck critical infrastructure in Lviv too, with an unidentified
ballistic missile that officials said traveled at 13,000 kilometers per hour.

Local officials say that running water and electricity were disrupted in
parts of the capital as a result of the attack.

The attack took place just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy alerted the nation about Russia’s intentions for a large-scale
offensive.

He said that Russia aimed to take advantage of the frigid weather in the
capital, making roads and streets perilously icy.

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

In the Philippines, one person has been killed with another 27 missing
following the collapse of a mound of trash.

Officials say firefighters have rescued 8 people already, including workers
at the waste segregation facility, who were tapped in an avalanche of garbage
in Cebu city.

One of those rescued, a worker at the landfill, died while being brought to a
hospital.

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

Taiwan has officially become a "super-aged society" as its senior population
reached more than 20 percent of the total population last year.

New data from the Ministry of the Interior shows that as of December, there
are more than 4.6 million people aged 65 or older in Taiwan.

That's out of Taiwan’s total population, now about 23.3 million.

According to the World Health Organization, a country is "super-aged" when
one out of every five people is a senior citizen.

The data also shows that birth rates in Taiwan have dropped for the 10th year
in a row, and marriage rates also saw a sharp decline, falling by about
18-thousand couples from the previous year.

(NS)

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

And at Taichung's Wuling Farm, temperatures dropped to negative 1.4 degrees
celsius today...

marking the third time that the farm's Wisteria plants have frozen solid this
year, lending the plants the appearance of Tanghulu.

The ice also formed in such a way that mimics a crystal palace and
chandelier.

Wuling Farm says today that they've put in place measures to prevent damage
to the irrigation system.

They note that ice typically forms once every two weeks at this time of year,
but in the only 9 days since 2026 began, ice has already formed 3 times at
the farm.

(AH)

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

Turning to international news and in the US, immigration adn customs
enforcement officers have shot and wounded 2 people in a vehicle outside of a
hospital in Portland, Oregon.

Officials claim that one of the two is a "Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated
with the... Tren de Aragua prostitution ring" who was involved in a recent
shooting in Portland.

The statement says that when agents identified themselves, the driver tried
to run them over and an agent shot at them.

There's not yet any independent corroboration for those claims.

This shooting comes just one day after an ICE officer shot and killed a
driver in Minnesota...

in which video evidence cast doubt upon the Trump administration's
descriptions of such shootings.

Just minutes after the Portland shooting, police received informaiton that a
man who had been shot was asking for help nearby.

When police responded, they found 2 people with gunshot wounds.

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

And in related news...

protests in the US city of Minneapolis have exploded over ICE's fatal
shooting a woman the prior day.

Hundreds of protesters marched down one of the city's major roads over the
death of the 37 year-old mother Renee Good.

Protesters are chanting, demanding that customs officers leave the city.

Federal officers used tear gas and pepper spray to try to keep the protesters
at bay.

Protesters also earlier expressed their outrage outside of a federal building
that is acting as a center for the administration's latest immigration
crackdown on a major city.

Meanwhile the US vice president claimed that the shooting was justified and
that the deceased was a "victim of left-wing ideology."

But state and local officials and protesters rejected that characterization,
with the mayor of Minneapolis saying video of the shooting shows the
self-defense argument is “garbage.”

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

systems

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the Air Force will install automatic
ground collision avoidance systems on all of its F-16V fighter jets by next
year.

The statement comes after an F-16V jet and its pilot went missing off of
Hualien on Tuesday evening.

Speaking at a hearing of the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense
Committee, Koo told lawmakers that the Air Force's 66 newly acquired F-16C/Ds
came with auto-ground collision avoidance systems as a standard feature ..

.... but its 139 F-16Vs lack the safety system.

The Air Force earlier this week said its urging the U-S to expedite work to
install the systems on its F-16V fighter jets and hopes the process can be
completed sooner than planned.

The project was initially slated for completion in 2028.

Search operations for the missing jet fighter and the pilot are continuing,
while the Air Force has suspended F-16V training flights while inspections of
the aircraft type are carried out.

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

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will continue its decades-long push
for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations climate negotiations, despite
the U-S' latest decision to withdraw from the Framework Convention on Climate
Change.

According to the ministry, it has been working closely with the Ministry of
Environment and the private sector to promote Taiwan's participation in the
framework's meetings and mechanisms ..

.. and those efforts have received strong support from friendly countries.

The foreign ministry says, its goal of participating in the Framework
Convention on Climate Change remains unchanged, and it will continue to seek
support from allies and like-minded countries to push for the nation's
meaningful participation.

The statement comes after U-S President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a
presidential memorandum directing federal departments and agencies to end
participation in and funding for 31 U-N entities and 35 non-UN organizations.

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

The Cabinet has unveiled draft revisions to the Animal Protection Act that
seek to tighten regulations on when pet owners can place their pets in
shelters and raises the maximum fine for abandoning animals.

The draft revisions state that pet owners may place animals in certified
shelters only after meeting "certain conditions" to relinquish ownership,
with unauthorized placement classified as abandonment.

Those conditions will be defined by the Ministry of Agriculture in
supplementary rules if lawmaker approve the proposed amendment.

The amendment also states that if an animal shelter asks an owner to reclaim
an animal, the owner must do so within seven days or be deemed to have
abandoned the animal, in which case they face a fine of up to 1-million N-T.

That is up from the current maximum penalty of 150,000 N-T.

Meanwhile, pet owners who lose a microchipped animal have five days to report
to local authorities, after which they are also deemed to have abandoned the
animal, another revision stipulates.

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

The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court has ordered a Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing employee to be detained for stealing the
company's 14-nanometer trade secrets.

Chen Wei-chieh was indicted on Monday on charges of reproducing trade secrets
relating to national core key technologies without authorization under the
National Security Act.

The court said it reviewed prosecutors evidence against him, which included
witness testimony, text message records, his nondisclosure agreement, and
employee monitoring system records provided by T-S-M-C before ordering his
detention without bail.

According to the court, Chen's statements regarding his actions were
inconsistent and evasive, and he replaced his personal mobile phone and
office computer after learning that co-defendant Chen Li-ming was under
investigation.

The case came to light while the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office's
Intellectual Property Branch was investigating the alleged theft of T-S-M-C
trade secrets related to its 2-nanometer technology.

The probe centered on former T-S-M-C engineer Chen Li-ming, who was working
at Tokyo Electron Taiwan and is suspected of giving the trade secrets to the
company.

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

And finally,

Snow fell on Alishan Thursday morning for the first time in seven years.

According to the Central Weather Administration, the snow fall was due to the
a strong continental cold air mass that sent temperatures plunging across
Taiwan.

The Alishan weather station, which is located at an elevation of around
2,200-meters, recorded snowfall from 8:55AM to 9:15AM, when the temperature
dropped to around 1-degree.

The last time snowfall was recorded at the Alishan weather station was
January 10, 2018.

Snow also fell Thursday in other high-altitude areas, including Jiaming Lake
and the nearby Xiangyang Mountain Hut in eastern Taiwan, which recorded their
first snowfall of the year in the early morning.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

fails

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the central government will face a 300-billion N-T
shortfall if the lawmakers fail to approve the Cabinet's general budget
proposal.

The warning comes as K-M-T and Taiwan People's Party lawmakers have refused
to approve the proposal until the Cabinet allocates funds for salary raises
for active-duty military personnel and pension increases for public school
teachers and civil servants.

Those pay raises were passed by lawmakers last year.

However, the government has requested constitutional interpretations, which
are still pending.

According to Cho, the central government will be blocked from accessing
299.2-billion N-T in funds.

Those funds have been earmarked for new initiatives, running expenses and
continuing programs, and the First and Second Reserve Funds and the Disaster
Reserve Fund if the budget is nor passed.

The Premier says the Ministry of National Defense will suffer the highest
funding shortfall - which will total 75.2-billion N-T.

And he's stressing that it's now been over four months since the Cabinet
submitted the budget proposal to the Legislature for review, but it hasn't
even advanced to committee review.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

President Lai Ching-te says China's "cross-border pressure" against the
people of Taiwan proves that Beijing's authority does not extend to Taiwan
and confirms that Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China.

Lai referred to the visit to Taiwan this week by China-born Japanese lawmaker
Hei Seki for that statement.

Seki has been sanctioned by China and barred from entering the P-R-C.

After he arrived Taipei earlier this week, Seki said is trip to Taiwan this
week proves that "Taiwan is not part of China, Taiwan is Taiwan," and that
the two countries are not subordinate to each other.

Lai said he is proud of anyone who is subjected to China's cross-border
suppression and says he will safeguard the nation and absolutely not allow
Chinese pressure or China's hand to reach into Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

The Coast Guard Administration says a Chinese fishing boat captain convicted
of damaging the Taiwan-Matsu No. 2 undersea cable last year has been deported
back to China after he paid a fine and compensation.

The Mainland Affairs Council reportedly approved the deportation... the
fishing boat captain was then escorted out of Taiwan from Fu'ao Port in
Nangan to Huangqi Port in Fuzhou via ferry.

The incident occurred on October 7 of last year, when the "Min Lian Yu 60138"
was about 4.2-nautical miles north of a cable station in Dongyin.

Its net became entangled with an abandoned anchor, damaging the undersea
cable.

Coast Guard vessels later intercepted the Chinese fishing boat and arrested
the captain.

The Fuchien Lienchiang District Court sentenced him last month to three
months in prison, commutable to a fine, for negligently damaging the cable.

The captain paid 250,000 N-T in compensation to Chunghwa Telecom and more
than 90,000 N-T to commute his prison sentence.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

Students at public elementary and junior high schools in Kaohsiung and
Taichung will receive free lunches starting from the 2026-2027 school year.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said some 214,000 students in the city are
expected to benefit from the policy.

Lu says the city's budget for the free school lunch program will total
between 2.5 and 3-billion N-T per year... her administration will need to
propose additional budget allocations in March to fund the policy.

Lu says the expense is necessary and is urging city councilors to support the
plan.

At the same time, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai says some 180,000 of the
city's students will benefit from the free school lunch program, which will
be funded by an additional budget of 1.8-billion N-T.

Chen says the city will continue to push for school lunches to use
ingredients that hold the Certified Agricultural Standards, Traceable
Agricultural Products and Taiwan Organic labels, as well as a traceability QR
Code.

Taoyuan has been providing free school lunches for elementary and junior high
schools since the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year.

And Taipei announced free lunches for all elementary and junior high schools
on Tuesday of this week.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has updated guidelines to protect the rights
of foreign students interning in Taiwan.

The updated Guidelines Governing the Application of Foreign Students to the
ROC in the Capacity of Interns in Enterprises and Organizations includes
clearer rules on student eligibility, internship stipends and working hours.

Under the revised rules, students must be enrolled at overseas universities
officially listed by the Ministry of Education, and the economic ministry's
Department of Investment Review.

Students must have completed at least one semester of study before coming to
Taiwan and be of an age appropriate for their program.

They must also be studying a field related to their internship and have basic
Chinese or English communication skills to ensure the quality and
effectiveness of the internship.

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says a total of 1,805 foreign students were
approved to intern in Taiwan last year, with their internships covering the
food and beverage, logistics and manufacturing sectors.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

The Food and Drug Administration says Nestle has preemptively recalled just
under 83,500 cans of baby formula powder over potential contamination of the
toxin cereulide.

The move comes amid a global recall of the food company's baby formula
products earlier this week.

Food and drug officials say Nestle Taiwan self-reported that two batches of
its products sold in Taiwan may have used potentially contaminated
ingredients.

Those products are batches of it Illuma Infant Growth Formula and Illuma
Toddler Growth Formula.

Nestle Taiwan says it initiated voluntary recalls as a precaution to
safeguard consumer health and safety.

The company says it has lso set up a dedicated hotline to handle returns and
exchanges.

The F-D-A is urged consumers who have purchased the products to stop
consumption and return the product.

A statement on Nestle's global website earlier this week said it is in
contact with authorities in the affected countries to ensure that appropriate
measures are taken, but no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with
their products to date.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

And,

Traffic restrictions will in place in the capital this Sunday for the
Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Marathon.

The Taipei City Police Department's Traffic Division says there will be road
closures and traffic controls during the event, which takes place from 4AM to
12PM.

The restrictions will include banning pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles,
from crossing or accessing the designated areas.

The marathon will be taking place on Ketagalan Boulevard, Aiguo East Road and
the Right Bank Riverside Park bike trail ..

.. while also covering a route that includes Hangzhou South Road, Xinyi Road,
and both Zhongshan South and North roads.

Police are advising commuters to avoid those roads and use alternative routes.

The Marathon is hosted by the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association and its
says some 26,000 participants will be taking part in this year's run.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

Israel’s prime minister says a former U.N. Mideast envoy, Bulgarian diplomat
Nickolay Mladenov, has been chosen to serve as the director-general for U.S.
President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace aimed at overseeing the peace
process in Gaza.

The appointment marks an important step forward for Trump’s Mideast peace
plan, which has moved slowly since an October ceasefire between Israel and
Hamas.

Benjamin Netanyahu made the announcement Thursday after meeting Mladenov in
Jerusalem.

Mladenov is a former Bulgarian defense and foreign minister who served as the
U.N. envoy to Iraq before being appointed as the U.N. Mideast peace envoy
from 2015-2020.

He is said to enjoy good relations with Israel.

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