ICRT

Posted on 2026-10-26 15:35:13

President Lai Ching-te welcomed Taiwan's Asian Para Games delegation to the
Presidential Office on Monday.

Taiwan's national team earned 20 medals at the Nagoya games, including 4
gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

Athletes secured medal honors across seven sports, including taekwondo,
badminton, table tennis, swimming, and wheelchair tennis.

President Lai thanked Sports Minister Li Yang for protecting athletes' rights
and national dignity during venue disputes abroad.

He also pledged that the government will continue improving international
sports environments and supporting athletes toward Los Angeles 2028.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-26 15:35:13

Flash flooding has inundated several areas of Thailand's island of Phuket
after heavy rain overnight.

Officials say all three island districts, including its capital of Phuket
City, were impacted, starting early on Monday morning.

Although water levels began to recede by late morning, flooding persisted in
low-lying areas.

The provincial deputy governor advised small vehicles to avoid these areas.

Some parts of the province also experienced mudslides, and officials are
working to clear the debris.

About 100 households were affected, but no casualties have been reported.

The Thailand Meteorological Department warns of more rain until Wednesday,
which could trigger further flash floods and landslides.

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

National highway traffic remained smooth this morning, but heavy northbound
return vehicle flows are expected throughout the afternoon.

The Freeway Bureau recorded 25.4 million vehicle-kilometers driven by 11
a.m., matching initial transport forecasts.
and morning congestion remained
limited to minor slowdowns along northern sections of National Highway 1.

But highway officials warned that heavy northbound return traffic will build
rapidly across 11 designated corridor bottlenecks this afternoon, including
northbound National Highway 1 from Xiluo to Puyan, and National Highway 3
from Guanxi to Daxi.

Authorities advise motorists to check the 1968 highway app and travel during
off-peak hours to avoid severe delays.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

The Yunlin County Government is celebrating the grand opening of the Beigang
1911 Warehouse Cultural Park today.

The site transforms historic Beigang Sugar Factory warehouses into a vibrant
cultural hub for local crafts and exhibitions.

Restoration began in 2021, with four warehouses currently completed and eight
additional structures scheduled for completion next year.

Three inaugural exhibitions opened Monday, highlighting lantern-making
traditions, cultural asset preservation, and creative local products.

The park plans to host biweekly markets, artisan workshops, and cultural
performances to encourage longer visitor stays in Beigang.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

Jordanian security forces say they have arrested three men for an attack on a
Greek Orthodox Church that killed nine people and wounded more than two
dozen.

The Public Security Directorate said Monday that the three suspects were
arrested following a shootout and that all three were wounded.

No members of the security forces were injured in the dawn operation in
Karak, south of Jordan’s capital, Amman.

Karak is home to a minority Christian population.

The attack on the church in Karak took place Friday during a funeral.

Three men were reported to have taken part in the attack.

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

Flavio Bolsonaro is refusing to concede defeat to incumbent President Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva, who bested him by nearly 4.4 million votes, following a
chaotic delay in poll closing times ordered by a Supreme Court justice.

Both Bolsonaro and Lula asked that polls remain open late after issues with
public transportation and inclement weather in some parts of Brazil.

The decision to keep polls open came three minutes before scheduled poll
close; some polls got word after they’d closed and it’s unclear how many
votes were cast in the extended hours.

Bolsonaro called the move to extend voting hours unprecedented and asked for
the election results to be annulled.

Posted on 2026-10-26 11:15:13

KMT lawmaker Su Qing Quan has apologized over comments he made in his bid to
become the next magistrate of Pingtung County.

He yesterday accused his opponent, current magistrate Zhou Chun Mi, of not
knowing the pain of raising a child due to having none herself.

Su's comments incited much discussion and he ultimately took to Facebook last
night saying that "if his comments made his opponent uncomfortable then he's
sorry."

Zhou's offices said that the issue of having kids is a personal one, and
should not be a political tool.

They added that Su's comments represented a serious lack of empathy and they
requested that he apologize.

Posted on 2026-10-26 11:15:13

This year's Taiwan International Travel Fair will showcase themed itineraries
as travelers increasingly seek experiences over just destinations.

The event will be held November 6th to 9th at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition
Center.

The fair will feature exhibitors from 123 countries and cities presenting
products that reflect growing demand for experience-based travel.

Those include Antarctic expeditions, Arctic aurora tours, scenic rail
journeys, cruises, and seasonal trips.

Travel agencies and hotel operators will also launch special promotions
during the event.

Posted on 2026-10-26 11:15:13

Alergia has approved a resolution to send troops to Niger.

That's the first time since 1973 that Alergian soldiers will be deployed
abroad.

Officials say the troops are being sent to "protect Algeria's economic
interests, particularly its oil facilites in Niger."

The move comes during ongoing instability in the Sahel region, where violent
extremism and coups have affected not only Niger but also Mali and Burkina
Faso.

Algeria has been working with Niger on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline which
aims to transport natural gas to European markets.

The move emphasizes the thawing relations between Algeria and Niger.

Posted on 2026-10-26 10:08:13

The Army has adopted a new "unscripted" combat training format this year to
improve combat readiness.

Instructors say that Army combat units are required to undergo base training
at least twice a year, with the Army launching its new CTC 2.0 initiative
earlier this year.

They say, that's in an effort to ensure that the training more closely
simulates actual combat rather than just putting on a show.

The nine-week base training program is an intensive live-fire exercise
conducted at designated training bases.

The new framework differs from previous training exercises by empahsizing
joint operations among differeing units and forcing troops to to respond to
unexpected enemy movements...

as opposed to following a predetermined scenario.

The changes follow a move to adopt an unscripted, real-world combat format
for the annual Han Kuang military exercises, starting in 2024.

Posted on 2026-10-26 10:08:13

Changes to Starbucks' policy that have seen customers pay more for a drink
customization that was previously free has sparked consumer backlash.

Since earlier this month, customers who ordered drinks with less or no ice
and asked to have the remaining space topped up have been charged an
additional 15 NT.

Topping off was previously free.

The policy has triggered floods of complaints, accusing Starbucks of
stinginess.

Experts say the key question is whether customers view the fees as ""paying
for an additional option or losing a service they had come to expect."

Ultaimtely, they say, customers judge prices based on the value they receive
from the product.

While others say that the change will help Starbucks improve profit margins
without directly raising fees, the company still faces rising labor, rent and
utility costs.

Starbucks Taiwan had more than 600 stores as of this year, up from 458 in
September 2018.

The latest fee changes appear designed to bring in additional revenue without
increasing standard drink prices, but it remains to be seen if customers will
come to see the charges as reasonable or not.

Posted on 2026-10-26 10:08:13

Now turning to international news...

The World Health Organization says a nurse has been killed in an attack while
responding to an Ebola alert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Another health worker was also severely injured in the incident.

That's the latest in a series of assaults on health workers that authorities
say are hindering efforts to control the world's fastest growing Ebola
outbreak.

The WHO has emphasized the need for safety for those fighting the disease.

Ovre 4700 people have died in the outbreak, which is the deadliest in
history, out of a total of 9800 people infected.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

The Freeway Bureau is warning travelers heading north from southern Taiwan to
depart as soon as possible in order to avoid traffic.

They also say that drivers heading north on freeway 5 should leave soon too,
while drivers from central Taiwan heading north should head out before noon.

Meanwhile, Taiwan High Speed Rail said it will operate more than 100
northbound trains throughout the day today...

with the peak travel period expected to run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to absorb a
possible surge of travelers.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking the deputy Taiwan Railways
stationmaster of Taipei Main Station over a ticketing issue.

The man, surnamed Mao, had been drinking when he attempted to charge into the
duty room and attack the deputy stationmaster with a thermos.

Police responded immediately and arrested Mao.

No one was injured in the scuffle.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

5 Cacao farmers have been selected to represent Taiwan at the 2027 Cacao of
Excellence world competition after performing well in this year's
competition.

The Pingtung County government says the gold award in the Taiwan event went
to Mo Chia-wei (莫佳瑋)of Laomo Cocoa.

Next up was Shih Shu-chin (施淑錦) of Huirui Cocoa Farm in Changhua County, and
Lin Cheng-hung (林政弘) of Si Wei Cocoa Workshop in Nantou County.

A total of 30 cacao bean samples were submitted for the Taiwan competition,
with some advancing to the sensory evaluation stage and ultimately bring
processed into cocoa paste and thin pieces of choclate.

The event was co-organized by the Pingtung County government and the Taiwan
Cocoa & Chocolate Industry Association.

The five award-winning entries were selected based on attributes such as
aroma, acidity, bitterness and astringency.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been reelected.

With all the votes counted, Brazil's electoral court says that Lula held an
unassailable lead over opponent Flavio Bolsonaro.

That's after a chaotic evening at polling places across the country,
following a last-minute decision to extend voting.

That decision may trigger legal action by Bolsonaro.

The result is a relief to critics of US president Donald Trump, maintaining
some distance between Latin America's most populous country and Washington
DC.

Lula's win also bucks a trend in Latin America where right wing presidential
candidates allied with the US president have been scoring election wins...

extending the US' influence in the region.

Lula's victory leaves Mexico and Brazil both with left of center leaders.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

More than 80 people have been injured in a bus crash near Barcelona in Spain.

7 of those were serious hurt in the accident.

Local media says that the bus veered off a narrow road and fell down a 20
meter embankment.

The exact circumstances are under investigation.

Emergency services deployed 23 ambulances, 2 medical helicopters, and
specialist rescue teams.

Rescue crews are searching for more victims.

Posted on 2026-10-26 08:07:14

The CTBC Brothers took another step towards overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the
Taiwan Series with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Wei Chuan Dragons at the
Taipei Dome.

That extends the championship series to a Game 6.

After losing the first three games of the best-of-seven series, the Brothers
have now won two straight to narrow the Dragons' lead to 3-2.

No team in CPBL Taiwan Series history has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the
championship, nor had any team even won two games in a row after losing three
straight until now.

Game 6 is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. this afternoon at the Taipei Dome.

Posted on 2026-10-26 08:07:14

Long-ruling Serbian leader Aleksander Vucic has conceded defeat in an
election that pitted him against a diverse student-led opposition movement
that spent two years protesting his government.

It's a seiasmic political shift in the country.

Vucic had received Russian President Vladimir Putin's endorsement and
denounced the student-led movement against him as a foreign attempt to unseat
him.

He was president for 14 years.

Almost immediately, crowds flooded the streets of the capital Belgrade and
other Serbian cities in an outburst of euphoric celebration.

Serbia's 6.4 million voters were electing lawmakers to the 250-member
Parliament.

In conceding the election, Vucic said his party projects that his opponents,
the youth-backed Students’ List, will take between 135 and 140 seats while
his Serbian Progressive Party party will have around 105.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

The Freeway Bureau is warning of congestion on 11 freeway sections today.

Drivers in the south are advised to depart before 9am in order to avoid the
crowds, while those in central Taiwan should leave before 12.

Officials also say that drivers heading north on freewat 5 should leave
before 9.

They're expecting the most congested areas to be the northbound sections of
Freeway 1 between Xiluo and the Puyan System Interchange, Nantun and Houli,
and Miaoli and Hukou.

Meanwhile on Freeway 3, traffic is anticipated between Zhushan and Zhongxing,
Caotun and Wufeng, Dashan and Xiangshan, and Guanxi and Daxi.

The same goes for Freeway 5 from Yilan to Pinglin and the westbound section
of Freeway 4 between the Tanzi System Interchange and Fengshi.

Meanwhile, Taiwan High Speed Rail said it will operate more than 100
northbound trains throughout the day today...

with the peak travel period expected to run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to absorb a
possible surge of travelers.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

Runners from Kenya and the Philippines took home the 2026 EVA Air Marathan
half marathon titles yesterday despite wet conditions.

Amos Cheruiyot Kirui of Kenya won the men's title while the Philippines'
Michelle Zamora took home the women's one.

Kirui won with a time of neary 1 hour and 7 minutes, while Chou Ting-yin
(周庭印)was the fastest Taiwanese finisher in the men's half marathon section.

Meanwhile Zamora won the women's half marathan section in one hour 21 minutes
and 49 seconds, just 11 second faster than the first Taiwanese finisher,
Hsieh Chien-ho(謝千鶴).

Hsieh says she viewed the race as a warm up for the Taipei Marathon at the
end of the year.

In the full marathon, Japan's Yoshiki Nagano and the Philippines' Art Joy
Torregosa won the mens and womens titles respectively.

More than 20,000 runners took part in this year's race, with EVA Air saying
organizers were committed to staging the event despite weather challenges.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

VietJet has launched a new route between Tainan and Hanoi, becoming the third
international route offered out of Tainan.

Tainan Deputy Mayor Ye ze Shan greeted passengers on the inaugutal flight
from Hanoi, noting that all 230 flights had sold out.

Flights on the route will be offered four times weekly.

Ye says that the city government hopes to bring more Southeast Asian tourists
to Tainan, while also offeringa more convenient option for Tainan-area
leisure and business travelers to visit Vietnam.

The other two international routes from Tainan are to Okinawa and Kumamoto,
offered by Tigerair Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Vote-counting has resumed in Brazil after voting hours were extended
following requests by both candidates.

Both incumbent president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his competitior Flavio
Bolsonaro said there were issues in their respective strongholds.

The extension caused confusion at many polling stations.

Some had already shut down when the decision was made just three minutes
before the polls were scheduled to close.

The decision sets the stage for possible legal challenges regardless of who
wins, with Lula's party saying it was looking into legal action due to what
they called "interference in the electoral process."

The contest will determine whether or not the US will significantly expand
its growing influence in Latin America...

as a win for Bolsonaro would mean a slide right in Latin America's most
populous country and its lagrest economy.

That's as Trumpallies have scored victories in Chile, Peru, and Colombia this
year.

A victory for Lula would leave Brazil and Mexico with left-of-center leaders.

Results currently show the two candidates neck and neck.

Posted on 2026-10-24 16:07:14

Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to
wiggle out of a ninth-inning jam as the Milwaukee Brewers escaped with a 3-2
victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series.

The strikeout came after Tampa Bay's Liam Hicks had hit into an apparent
game-ending double play that was overturned after a replay review.

The review determined that the Brewers shortstop's foot was slightly off the
bag when he caught a throw from the second baseman.

Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run over five innings to earn the win.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-10-24 14:07:13

The US Justice Dept. has sent letters to officials across California ...
demanding that they help identify potential noncitizens on their voter rolls
and set aside their ballots.

The New York Times reports that the same letter was sent to every county in
the state .. and it included a threat that officials would "risk significant
federal scrutiny" if they didn't comply.

It's part of a series of Trump administration moves late in the midterm
election campaign aimed at stalling election processes or digging up evidence
of noncitizen voting.

The suit is scheduled to be heard by a judge next week, but the Justice
Department is urging an appeals court to make a decision in the case this
weekend.

NYT_JvW

Posted on 2026-10-24 13:07:13

The US State Department says it will reduce staffing at four embassies in the
Middle East after receiving intelligence that Iran has stepped up efforts to
target American personnel in the region and elsewhere.

The reductions appear to be in the wake of a memo sent by the Director of
National Intelligence to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that detailed the
threat risk.

The staff reductions will be carried out at embassies in Jordan, Lebanon,
Qatar and the UAE.

US officials have adamantly denied the drawdowns are tied to any potential
new US or Israeli strikes on Iran.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-10-24 12:08:14

Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to
wiggle out of a ninth-inning jam as the Milwaukee Brewers escaped with a 3-2
victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series.

DeLuca's strikeout came after Tampa Bay's Liam Hicks had hit into an apparent
game-ending double play that was overturned after a replay review.

The review determined Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt's right foot was
slightly off the bag when he caught a throw from second baseman Brice Turang.

Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run over five innings to earn the win.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-10-24 12:08:14

The 33rd edition of "ART TAIPEI" is set to open next week, showcasing
contemporary works from around the world.

"ART TAIPEI 2026" features 127 prominent galleries from six countries and
regions. This year's theme is "Symbiosis".

Organizers say participation from overseas galleries reached a new high this
year, led by 25 galleries from South Korea and 22 from Japan.

Curated sections feature emerging Taiwanese talent, indigenous contemporary
art, Hakka cultural narratives and special Japanese exhibitions.

"ART TAIPEI 2026" runs from October 30th to November 2nd, at Taipei World
Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1.

In addition, Taipei Art Week will run alongside the main fair from Oct. 24th
to Nov. 7th, bringing art into urban public spaces citywide.

Art lovers can explore public art, digital screenings, gallery weekend events
and dedicated shuttle routes across Taipei.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-24 09:03:13

For ICRT, this is Jacques van Wersch

Posted on 2026-10-23 20:54:13

Typhoon Champi has disrupted air and sea travel across Taiwan, forcing the
cancellation of nearly a thousand flights and dozens of ferry services.

The Civil Aviation Administration says 986 flights had been cancelled
nationwide as of 6 PM Friday ... including 262 domestic flights and 724
international and cross-strait services.

Of those, Taoyuan International Airport reported 563 cancellations as of 5
PM, including 523 passenger flights and 40 cargo flights.

Meanwhile, the Maritime and Port Bureau says 98 ferry sailings across ten
routes were cancelled today ... with another 84 sailings across six routes
expected to be cancelled on Saturday.

Affected routes include services to Matsu, Kinmen, Xiaoliuqiu and Green
Island.

Authorities are urging travellers to check flight schedules before leaving
home, allow extra time for airport journeys and avoid unnecessary trips to
Taiwan's offshore islands.

--------

According to the CWA's latest typhoon update, Champi was located about 130
kilometers east of Yilan ... moving north-northeast at between 10 and 17
kilometers per hour.

The data also indicates the storm hasn't weakened or shrank all afternoon -
it's still packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near
its centre with gusts of up to 191 kilometers per hour ... and has a radius
of 320 kilometers ... which is engulfing Taiwan.

Forecasters warm that the heaviest rain is expected from this evening through
Saturday morning.

They expect Champi will move away from Taiwan's main island by tomorrow
evening ... when weather conditions should hopefully ease.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-23 18:08:14

The Central Weather Administration says parts of 16 counties and cities could
meet the wind or rainfall criteria for suspending work and classes tomorrow
as Typhoon Champi moves north.

The agency's latest forecast shows strong winds affecting coastal areas of
northern and central Taiwan, as well as several offshore islands, between 6
AM Saturday and noon Saturday.

Under Taiwan's regulations, sustained winds of around 50 kilometers per hour
or gusts approaching 90 kilometers per hour can meet the threshold for work
and school suspensions.

Separately, seven counties and cities, including Taipei, New Taipei and
Taoyuan, could meet rainfall thresholds, particularly in mountainous areas.

However, the final decision on whether to suspend work and classes rests with
individual local governments - which we should be expecting later this
evening.

According to the CWA's latest typhoon update, Champi was located about 140
kilometers east-southeast of Yilan ... moving north-northeast at between six
and 15 kilometers per hour.

The data also indicates the storm hasn't weakened or shrank all afternoon -
it's still packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near
its centre with gusts of up to 191 kilometers per hour ... and has a radius
of 320 kilometers.

Taiwan remains engulfed in the storm's bands ... with forecasters warning
that the heaviest rain is expected from this evening through Saturday
morning.

The CWA expects Champi's storm bands to move away from Taiwan's main island
by tomorrow evening.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-23 18:08:14

The Mainland Affairs Council is expressing condolences to China following a
deadly earthquake in Tibet ...

... while the Tourism Administration says it has received no reports of
Taiwanese tour groups being affected.

The magnitude-7 quake struck Nagqu in northern Tibet yesterday evening,
killing 16 people, injuring 65 and collapsing at least 300 homes.

Rescuers are searching the remote region amid concerns over further building
collapses and rockslides caused by aftershocks.

Low temperatures and difficult terrain are also complicating rescue efforts.

The MAC says Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation is trying to contact
Taiwanese nationals in the affected area.

A total of 164 Taiwanese nationals traveling in China, Hong Kong and Macau
were registered as being in Tibet.

Posted on 2026-10-23 18:08:14

Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, sold out in just five
minutes at Costco's Neihu store in Taipei today ... despite disruptions
caused by Typhoon Champi.

Costco says all 20 phones in its initial shipment were snapped up shortly
after going on sale.

The 256-gigabyte model is priced at just over 72-thousand NT at Costco.

The retailer says stock levels and available models vary between stores,
depending on Apple's deliveries.

Meanwhile, Apple and major telecom operators have announced that their stores
will close in areas where typhoon-related work and school suspensions are
declared.

Customers who have preordered the new phone can collect their purchases once
the stores re-open.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-23 18:08:14

Israel says it killed two gunmen and thwarted a “terror attack” against
Israeli civilians.

The Prime Minister's Office said it had instructed the army to close the West
Bank, where the attack occurred.

The deadly shooting comes as Israeli voters will decide next Tuesday whether
to grant Benjamin Netanyahu yet another term as prime minister — or usher in
a new era of Israeli politics.

Also, ahead of the elections, Arab political parties asked Israel’s supreme
court to ban election observers from carrying guns, and at least one person
has been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza.

Posted on 2026-10-23 18:08:14

Taiwan isn't the only country dealing with a storm right now ...

High winds knocked out power to thousands of people in southwest England as
the first of two major storms expected to hit the U-K this weekend swept in
from the Atlantic.

The U-K Met Office issued an amber warning for wind gusts up to 130 kph in
Cornwall and Devon as Storm Austen moved into the area early Friday.

Winds up to 100 kph are forecast across southern and central England
throughout the day as the storm moves eastward along the English Channel
coast.

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

Taipower says, power has been restored to 75% of households that have
experienced power outages due to Typhoon Champi.

That's as over 102,000 households have been affected by outages as of 4pm.

That leaves over 25,000 households still without power.

Most of those without power are in Changhua, Tainan, Yunlin, Taichung, and
Chiayi County.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says, 75,000 passengers took their trains
in just three hours last night after school and work closure announcements
were made for today.

That's after social media users complained about big crowds and long waits
last night.

The surge in passengers is likely due to the bonus typhoon day on top of a 3
day weekend.

THSR says, they had a total of 280,000 passengers yesterday, which they note
is not particularly high...

however their data shows that over a quarter of those were all from 8 to
11pm.

THSR adds that they anticipated a surge in passengers, establishing a command
post at 3pm yesterday to conduct crowd control operations, and added extra
trains at 6:30.

They continued to add more trains and lengthen service throughout the
evening.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

defamation campaign

The DPP pick to run Hsinchu County says, he hopes an investigation into Wu Zi
Jia 吳子嘉 will uncover who's behind a defamation campaign.

Prosecutors yesterday searched the political commentator's home and office in
an apparent investigation into violations of the Public Officials Election
and Recall Act.

They previously detained another suspect in the same case, surnamed Peng,
while Wu was released after questioning.

Zhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang says, there is no tolerance for defamation and
illegally influencing elections...

adding that he hopes the investigation will reveal who's behind the deamation
campaign.

Cheng's lawyer says, they believe foreign nationals have been distributing
leaflets bearing Cheng's face and name with false information.

Peng is suspected of printing and handing out the leaflets.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

Taichung police discovered two children left in a car after they started
towing the vehicle earlier this week.

After witnesses alerted police to the kids' presence, they were let out of
the car and their parents notified.

Their parents have been turned over to social services, while the police's
violation has also been dealt with internally.

The car apparently had a sun shade up when authorities arrived, so police
couldn't immediately see the kids inside.

The kids were unharmed.

However, authorities remind parents to never leave their kids in the car
unattended.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

Now turning to international news...

Israeli has ordered its military to prepare for a full closure of the West
Bank.

That's after a shooting earlier in the day, in which Israeli soldiers shot
and killed two men who launched an attack and claimed to have thwarted a
terror attack,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has instructed security
forces to immediately block off the city of Hebron and prepare to fully close
all of the West Bank.

The Israeli government is continuing to warn of potential attacks by
"enemies" ahead of elections next week.

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

South Korea is proposing military talks with North Korea to resolve border
disputes and prevent accidental clashes.

That's after recent landmine blasts injured three South Korean soldiers.

North Korea has yet to respond to the invitation, but leader Kim Jong Un has
suspended most dialogue with Seoul.

This comes as North Korea has been adding fortifications to the already
heavily armed border.

The South Korean military reports that North Korean soldiers crossed the
border's military demarcation lines 50 times this year.

The South previously made a similar proposal last year, which was ignored.

Tensions have risen since the mine blasts, with South Korean believes were
due to North Korean mines.

Posted on 2026-10-23 17:07:13

Japanese author Ryu Murakami has died at the age of 74.

Nikkei Asia reports that Murakami, best known for his Akutagawa Prize winning
debut novel Almost Transparent Blue, passed away last week, but the
announcement was only made today.

Murakami was given a private family funeral.

His debut novel, written while he was a student at Musashino Art University,
became a major bestseller after winning the prestigious literary prize in
1976.

He went on to write a string of popular works, including "Coin Locker
Babies," "69" and "From the Fatherland, with Love."

Posted on 2026-10-23 16:09:13

The Central Emergency Operations Center says, one person has been killed by
extreme weather related to Typhoon Champi...

while 94 are injured.

Officials say, most of those were injured in traffic accidents, most notably
motorcyclists who were blown over by strong winds.

The number of injured increased by 52 since last night, with 30 of those
being motorcyclists.

Another 10 people were hit by flying debris, like billboards,

The deceased was diving off of Pingtung's Xiaoliuqiu yesterday morning, while
both sea and land warnings for Champi were in effect.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 16:09:13

The Central Weather Administration says, some areas are likely to get 400
milimeters of rain today thanks to Typhoon Champi.

Residents of mountainous areas of Yilan, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu
County, and Miaoli should be on alert for particularly heavy rainfall.

Forecasters expect the total rainfall in some of those areas to get up to 900
milimeters from yesterday through tomorrow.

So far today, Yilan has been hardest hit by the rain, with some areas
exceeding 400 milimeters of rain.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 16:09:13

Now turning to international news...

The Japanese government is calling for social media platforms to take
measures to curb disinformation during elections.

Nikkei Asia reports that the government has released draft guidelines that
would include steps like temporarily suspending systems that allow users to
make money based on views.

But the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications says that specific
measures will be up to the social media companies themselves to decide.

Officials also said that there will be no penalties or sanctions for failing
to comply.

That's in order to preserve what they called "freedom of expression."

The guidelines will apply to 13 companies and individuals, including Google
and the owner of LINE.

Posted on 2026-10-23 15:08:13

from 3 PM Due to Typhoon

New Taipei Metro says three of its lines are now suspending service ... as
Typhoon Champi brings strong winds to northern Taiwan.

Those affected lines include the Danhai and Ankeng light rail lines, along
with the Sanying Line ... as wind gusts are forecast to reach force 9 to 12
on the Beaufort scale.

The Circular Line will continue operating, with trains running every 15
minutes.

Meanwhile, the Danjiang Bridge is also now closed due to the threat of strong
winds near the Tamsui River estuary.

Drivers travelling between Tamsui and Bali are being advised to use Guandu
Bridge instead.

Authorities are also monitoring several expressways in northern Taiwan ...
and may impose traffic restrictions if necessary.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-23 15:08:13

Those planning to travel by air or sea today are being advised to check for
the latest service updates before travelling ...

... as Typhoon Champi is disrupts air and sea travel across Taiwan.

As of this morning ... the Civil Aviation Administration reports that over
260 domestic and over 700 international flights have been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Maritime and Port Bureau says 96 ferry services have been
cancelled across ten routes.

Affected services include ferries between Keelung and Matsu, Kaohsiung and
Penghu, and Donggang and Xiaoliuqiu.

While some services between Kinmen and China have also been cancelled.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-23 15:08:13

day off

The Taitung County government is defending its decision to call off work and
school for today this morning.

Last night, Taitung was the only municipality on the main island to not have
made the announcement to suspend work and classes for the day...

with the county government ultimately making the call early this morning.

Some residents had complained that the announcement was made as they were
already on their way to work.

The county government then said that the call was made after the Central
Weather Administration updated its data this morning to show stronger winds
influencing the county for the entire day.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 15:08:13

A stronghold of the Israeli ruling party may see its political loyalties
tested ahead of elections next week.

It's not clear if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party will be
able to hold onto electorates that may have been swayed by Israel's actions
in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Kiryat Shmona is Israel's largest commercial center in the far north, near
the border with Lebanon, and has long support Likud.

But the city was previously evacuated for over a year.

Netanyahu has twice invaded neighboring Lebanon since 2023, killing more than
4000 Lebanese people.

Israel has occupied a swath of southern Lebanon, displacing about 1 million
people.

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah responded with strikes.

Some voters believe Netanyahu has failed to bring "security" to the north and
dismantle Hezbollah.

It's not likely that Kiryat Shmona will totally turn against Netanyahu, but
even a small dip in support could give Netanyahu's opponent an edge.

Posted on 2026-10-23 14:07:14

weekend

President Lai Ching-te is urging the public to stay away from mountainous and
oceanside areas when possible...

due to the risk of flooding, landslides, and dangerous waves.

Lai has also called on the public to cooperate with mandatory evacuations and
other directions from officials.

Lai made the comments this morning when he headed to the central response
center.

The president also called on local governments to prioritize the elderly and
disabled when undertaking preventative evacuations.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 14:07:14

The 33rd edition of "ART TAIPEI" is set to open next week, showcasing
contemporary works from around the world.

"ART TAIPEI 2026" features 127 prominent galleries from six countries and
regions, and this year's theme centers around "Symbiosis".

Organizers say participation from overseas galleries reached a new high this
year, led by 25 South Korean galleries and 22 Japanese art spaces.

Curated sections also feature emerging Taiwanese talent, Indigenous
contemporary art, Hakka cultural narratives, and special Japanese
exhibitions.

"ART TAIPEI 2026" runs from October 30th to November 2nd, at Taipei World
Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1.

In addition, Taipei Art Week will run alongside the main fair from Oct. 24th
to Nov. 7th, bringing art into urban public spaces citywide.

Art lovers can explore public art, digital screenings, gallery weekend
events, and dedicated shuttle routes across Taipei.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-23 14:07:14

police

Now turning to international news...

Research from a tank tank shows that police in India's most populous state
disproportionately kill Muslims.

An Associated Press investigation finds that police in Uattar Pradesh have
also shot hundreds of suspects in near-identical encounters that often target
Muslims accused of cow smuggling.

Police claim the shootings are part of a crackdown on crime and call them
defensive in nature

But activists, judges, and opposition politicians say that the violence is
extrajudicial punishment and intimidation that disproportionately targets
India's Muslim minority.

Human rights advocates say, police choose to injure or kill a person instead
of investigating.

This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist
government claim to be promoting a "zero tolerance" policy againsst
criminals.

Posted on 2026-10-23 13:07:13

The Central Weather Administration says, Typhoon Champi will bring the
heaviest rain to Taiwan this evening into tomorrow morning.

Land and sea warnings remain in effect across Taiwan, with classes and work
off for most of the country, with the exception of Kinmen.

As of this morning, Champi was centered 320 kilometers north-northeast of
Eluanbi.

Experts say that the storm's outer bands are entering eastern Taiwan,
Pingtung, Kaohsiung, and Nantou as it continues its trek northwest.

Forecasters expect the entire main island of Taiwan to be engulfed by the
storm this afternoon.

Forecasters are also warning of particularly heavy rain in the north and
northeast.

They're warning residents of the mountainous regions of Yilan to be on guard
for extremely torrential rain and potential landslides.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 13:07:13

Nearly 3000 households in Yunlin are currently without power after strong
winds knocked over power lines in Mailiao and Taixi.

Taipower says, it's working to restore service to the affected areas.

The Yunlin County government says, they're experiencing sustained winds
measuring force 8 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts of up to force 11.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 13:07:13

New Taipei City is preventatively evacuating nearly 1400 people due to
landslides risks in mountainous regions of the city.

Mayor Hou You Yi says, the evacuations are still underway in Yingge, Xindian,
Pingxi, and Shulin.

That's as some areas of New Taipei are facing sustained winds of up to force
10 on the Beaufort scale.

Hou called on workers to make sure that electricity poles and lines are
stable in order to avoid accidents.

He also urged workers to prepare water pumping equipment before the worst of
the typhoon hits northern Taiwan.

Mountainous areas of New Taipei are currently under torrential rain
advisories, while the rest of the city can expect extremely heavy rain.

That warning is in place through this evening.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-23 13:07:13

Now turning to international news...

At least 16 people have died following a magnitude 7 earthquake in Tibet.

Another 54 people were injured.

The quake also brought down hundreds of homes in the city of Nagqu, with
search and rescue efforts ongoing, and more than 1600 local rescuers
deploying.

Local media says that this earthquake is the biggest in the area in five
years.

US experts recorded at least 7 aftershocks with magnitudes up to 5.2.

Communication infrastructure is down in some areas, with railways also
halting trains in the region.

Posted on 2026-10-23 13:07:13

years

Nikkei Asia is reporting that detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi
has spoken with her son for the first time in years.

Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since the military ousted her elected
government and arrested civilian leaders in Feburary 2021.

Suu Kyi's son, Kim Aris, said he had spoken with his mother yesterday.

He had previously only received occasional, second-hand updates about his 81
year old mother.

Aris said that hearing her voice means more "than words can express."

Burmese officials says that Aris spoke with his mother on the phone through
Myanmar's embassy in London.

Posted on 2026-10-23 08:08:13

peace

Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Liang Wen-chieh says more than half of
respondents to a recent survey believe the Chinese Communist Party is
undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait.

According to Liang, the survey found that 52.3-per cent of respondents blamed
the C-C-P, up from 47.4-per cent in May, while 28.5-per cent said both Taiwan
and the C-C-P were responsible, down from 33.3-per cent.

Liang is attributing the changes to increased activity by Chinese coast
guard, research and maritime militia vessels in waters east of Taiwan over
the past five months.

Posted on 2026-10-23 08:08:13

The Ministry of Transport is proposing bringing online ride-hailing platforms
under the same regulatory framework as taxi service operators.

Under draft amendments to the Regulations Governing Approval for Taxi
Passenger Transport Service Operators, ride-hailing platforms would be
required to obtain an operating license within one year of the rules taking
effect.

According to the transport ministry, operators that fail to obtain approval
could be fined up to 25-million N-T, depending on the severity of the
violation, and ordered to cease operations.

The amendments have been put forward as app-based taxi booking has become a
mainstream mode of transportation.

The ministry says that has prompted calls for clearer oversight of platform
operators while giving taxi drivers greater flexibility in accepting ride
requests.

Posted on 2026-10-23 08:08:13

And finally,

This evening's Game 5 of the Chinese Professional Baseball League Taiwan
Series has been postponed due to Typhoon Champi.

It has been rescheduled for tomorrow at the Taipei Dome and will begin at
5PM.

The Dragons are leading the best-of-seven championship series 3-1, after the
Brothers' cut the deficit on Wednesday by winning their first game of the
series.

The Dragons can claim the championship title if they win tomorrow's Game 5,
while the Brothers need to win all the remaining three games to become the
first team ever to win the Taiwan Series after trailing 3-0.

Game 6, if needed, has been rescheduled for Sunday, while Game 7, if needed,
has been rescheduled for Monday.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

The impending arrival of Typhoon Champi has shut schools and offices across
much of Taiwan today... except for the outlying island of Kinmen...

A land warning covers all of the areas....

The storm is currently located 340-kilometers east of Eluanbi at the island's
southernmost tip and is moving in a north-northwesterly direction at speeds
of between 9 and 20-kilometers-an-hour.

Champi now has a radius of 320-kilometers and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 155-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 191-kilometers-an-hour.

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Champi is expected to move
slowly today and tomorrow and could move erratically as it approaches Taiwan.

The storm's center is currently forecast to come within 80-kilometers of
Taiwan at its closest point from late this evening into early tomorrow
morning, and there is the possibilty it could still make landfall.

The heaviest rain is expected through today, while northern parts of the
island will continue to see widespread showers tomorrow, with local heavy
rain and torrential rain possible.

The storm circle is expected to move away from Taiwan proper by tomorrow
evening.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

Typhoon Champi has impacted rail and flight services...

The Taiwan Railway Corporation has suspended all express train services on
its western and eastern trunk lines today, while commuter services will
operate flexibly depending on the weather conditions.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail is operating normally.

However, High Speed Rail services could be effected during the day depending
on weather conditions.

The Taoyuan Metro Corporation has suspended all express train and in-town
check-in and baggage-handling services today, but commuter trains will
continue to operate at 15-minute intervals.

Reduced services are operating today on the Taipei and New Taipei MRT, and
the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation says services and elevated tracks could
be suspended depending on the weather conditions.

The Taichung M-R-T is operating on a reduced service, as are both the
Kaohsing M-R-T and the Kaohsing Line Rail system.

China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan have canceled or rescheduled flights to
and from Okinawa.

Mandarin Airlines and UNI Air have partially canceled domestic flights
connecting Taiwan proper to Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

People booked on flights today, regardless of the airline, are being advised
to check with their carriers before heading to the airport.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen says China's election
interference is now focused on specific groups and audiences.

Tsai says Beijing is mobilizing airlines to offer discounted tickets to
select Taiwan citizens living in China to return home to vote in the November
local elections for candidates it backs.

Tsai also says China is believed to be providing illicit funding to
candidates and political groups it supports.

Tsai said the N-S-B and other intelligence agencies are actively
investigating suspected interference cases and have identified several key
tactics used by China.

Tsai said those tactics include spreading disinformation and controversial
content, operating illegal betting pools, and hacking specific targets to
steal election-related intelligence for targeted interference.

The National Security Bureau Director-General said his agency is collecting
evidence of suspected election interference and hopes to hand it over to
judicial authorities for investigation before the November 28 ballot.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

Tai-Power says rising natural gas prices amid Middle East tensions are
forecast to increase its fuel costs by more than 160-billion N-T this year.

Tai-Power executives issued the warning as they briefed reporters on the
company's financial situation.

Tai-Power is calling for support for the Cabinet's proposed 71-billion N-T
supplemental budget to help the company cover its growing losses...which it
attributes to high fuel costs and below-cost electricity rates.

That supplemental budget is still pending legislative review.

Tai-Power says since the US-Israel war with Iran began in late February,
natural gas prices for the power sector have increased by more than 70-per
cent - a figure that added 71-billion N-T to its fuel costs from March
through August.

The higher fuel costs are expected to add 70-billion N-T to the company's
accumulated losses this year, bringing them to 420-billion N-T.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

The Cabinet has approved draft tax incentives for the Taiwan Individual
Savings Account program.

Taiwan Individual Savings Account are government-backed, long-term savings
accounts launched in July 2025 to help people prepare for retirement.

Under provisions approved by the Cabinet, taxpayers could deduct up to 24,000
N-T a year per person from their gross consolidated income for program
contributions made for themselves, their spouses and their dependent minor
children.

The draft incentives also state that to support retirement planning,
withdrawals by account holders aged 60 or older, or by those who have held an
account for at least 30 years, will be tax-exempt.

The proposed incentives were jointly developed by the Financial Supervisory
Commission and the Ministry of Finance.

The Financial Supervisory Commission says it hopes the provisions will pass
the Legislature next year and take effect in 2028.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says more than 270,000 of the accounts had
been opened since the program's launch.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

Eleven union officials at U-S memory chipmaker Micron Technology's Taoyuan
operations are holding a 24-hour "strike."

The union officials say the action is protest over the company's of failure
to offer a concrete profit-sharing proposal.

The Taoyuan union announced the limited industrial action on Monday in
solidarity with its Taichung counterpart, which had been scheduled to hold
mediation talks with Micron yesterday.

However, Micron and the Taichung union announced on Wednesday that they had
signed a labor-management agreement and canceled Thursday's mediation
meeting.

Micron's Taoyuan facility union Chairman Jerry Lin has criticized Micron, the
Ministry of Labor and the Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau for excluding
the Taoyuan union from the negotiations.

Lin says the two unions had jointly formulated four demands, but Taoyuan
union representatives and their views "were not adequately included in the
negotiations," resulting in an agreement being reached solely with the
Taichung union.

At the center of the dispute is Micron's Incentive Pay Plan, which the union
says lacks transparency.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

A magnitude 7 earthquake has struck China's Tibet region, killing at least 16
people and injuring 32.

The quake hit Thursday evening, collapsing hundreds of homes in the northern
city of Nagqu.

Local officials report that 11 of the injured are in serious condition.

Rescue teams are building tents for those displaced.

China's broadcaster called the quake the biggest in the region in 5 eyars.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was 191 kilometers
east-northeast of Nagqu.

The China Earthquake Networks Center reported the depth at 10 kilometers.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

Russia has launched a nighttime missile barrage on Kyiv while its military
says it intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow and other
Russian cities.

The attacks dampen hopes for peace talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin
has agreed “in principle” to resume negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.
but no date is set.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday reported deadly attacks
across 12 regions with Kyiv enduring significant damage.

Ukraine is bracing for winter as Russia targets its power grid.

A U.S. lawmaker said he had opened an inquiry into Ukraine's loss of critical
access to the Pentagon's Starshield satellite communications service and the
resulting degrading of Kyiv's ability to defend itself against Russian
attacks.

Posted on 2026-10-23 06:54:13

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the first
Ebola patients confirmed in Kenya and Nigeria might have crossed paths at an
airport in Uganda.

Health authorities are racing to trace and slow the outbreak, which has
spread to multiple African countries.
Both patients are known to have traveled through Entebbe International
Airport on October 3.

Nigeria announced its first case on Tuesday, saying the patient had traveled
from Uganda. Kenya has recorded nine cases so far, all linked to a traveler
from Congo.

The Ebola outbreak has become Africa’s most geographically widespread in
history.

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