ICRT

Posted on 2025-11-07 18:55:13

The launch of Taiwan's first locally built satellite system, Formosat-8, has
been postponed to the early morning of November 12th.

The Taiwan Space Agency says the first satellite in the series, named 'Chi
Po-lin (齊柏林)' will now lift off at 2:18 AM that day — one day later than
originally planned.

The Formosat-8 constellation will eventually include eight optical
remote-sensing satellites in sun-synchronous orbit, about 560 kilometers
above Earth.

Officials say the system will provide more frequent and detailed imaging for
land planning, agriculture, disaster response, and environmental protection.

The space agency adds that launch times are subject to weather and other
conditions, and the satellite is expected to separate from the rocket about
two hours after liftoff.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-07 18:55:13

Government incentives for first-time home buyers have boosted the share of
property purchases by young people over the past year.

According to Yongqing Housing Agency, buyers aged 20 to 35 in Taiwan's six
major municipalities and Hsinchu County and City accounted for a higher
proportion of home purchases — up by 3.5 to 5.8 percentage points compared
to 2020.

Analysts say tighter lending rules and credit controls cooled investment
demand, while government programs such as low-interest loans and subsidies
for first-time buyers made it easier for young people to enter the housing
market.

Hsinchu County saw the largest increase, with young buyers making up just
over 40 percent of transactions, followed by Taichung at nearly 37 percent.

In contrast, Taipei had the smallest youth share at 24 percent, reflecting
its high housing prices.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-07 17:07:13

The Ministry of Agriculture says that pork prices are stable ... after the
ban on pig transportation and slaughter was lifted today.

According to the ministry, pork prices at seven meat markets ranged from 96
to 106 NT per kilogram.

Trading also gradually resumed at other markets, where prices also held
steady.

*The ministry says full availability of fresh pork at markets is expected by
tomorrow.

Officials say weekly coordination meetings will be held through March to
manage supply levels — with daily slaughter capped at 30 thousand pigs.

They add that cold storage measures will be activated if prices fall too low
to protect farmers' incomes.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-07 17:07:13

KMT chair Zeng Li-wen said the KMT must become a proactive and key promoter
of peace, because as long as the Taiwan Strait remains stable, the region and
the world will remain at peace.

She made the comments at a forum discussing the cross-strait relations 10
years after former President Ma Ying-jeou held a meeting with Chinese leader
Xi Jin-ping today.

She also claimed that the KMT is the only party capable of playing a crucial
role in achieving cross-strait reconciliation and peace, and says the party
will not shirk that responsibility.

Meanwhile the KMT says more than 2400 members have joined the party since
chair Zheng was recently elected.

Of those, about 60% have joined for the first time.

Spokesman Niu Xu Ting says, the figure demonstrates hope towards the KMT's
future.

Meanwhile Wu Zong Xian said politics should bring happiness to the people,
not misfortune to society.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-07 17:07:13

One person has been confirmed dead and five others remained missing as of
this morning after two fishing boats capsized north of Taiwan on Wednesday
and Thursday.

The Coast Guard Administration the body of fishing boat's captain was
recovered at around 9 last night by a C-G-A patrol vessel.

The CGA said it first received a report yesterday morning that the ship had
capsized 14 nautical miles northeast of Tamsui on Wednesday night.

Of the eight other crew members on board, two Indonesian crew members remain
unaccounted for, while six were rescued by nearby fishing boats and taken to
Fuji (富基) Fishing Harbor yesterday.

Meanwhile, another Taiwanese fishing boat, the Lih Fa No. 168, capsized 35
nautical miles northwest of Keelung Harbor on Thursday.

The CGA said 3 of the six crew members aboard were rescued by nearby vessels,
while another three crew members remained missing.

(CNA)

Posted on 2025-11-07 17:07:15

Now turning to international news...

Typhoon Kalmaegi brought fierce winds and torrential rain to Vietnam today.

That's just days after the powerful storm battered the Philippines, leaving
at least 188 people dead, and 135 missing.

That makes it the deadliest natural disaster to hit the Philippines this
year.

Areas in central Vietnam have reported damaged buildings, power
infrastructure, and fallen trees.

Officials say more than 1.6 million households lost power.

Authorities reported 5 deaths in the country, and the storm has now moved
into Cambodia.

Meanwhile another potential typhoon is expected to hit the Philippines Sunday
or Monday.

Posted on 2025-11-07 17:07:15

The Trump administration says, the US military has killed at least 69 people
in strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

They claims that these boats are drug-smuggling vessels.

They've put out 17 known attacks since September.

The president claims that the attacks are necessary to stem the flow of drugs
into the country.

The attacks have occurred without any legal investigation or a traditional
declaration of war from Congress.

Meanwhile Senate Republicans rejected legislation that would have checked the
president's power to launch an attack against Venezuela.

Posted on 2025-11-07 17:07:15

Crews are working to repair remote Alaska Native villages that were
devastated by the remnants of a typhoon last month.

But it's not clear how many of the 1600 displaced residents will return.

Some residents say, even if short-term repairs are completed, it's doubtful
their villages can persist in current locations, as rising seas, erosion,
melting permafrost, and storms.

Some of those evacuated say, they don't think they'll ever return to their
traditional way of life.

Posted on 2025-11-07 16:08:13

The opposition-majority Legislative Yuan has rejected all four nominees for
the National Communications Commission proposed by the Executive Yuan.

Two of the nominees are professors of mass communications, while another two
are scholars in information engineering and law.

Legislators began casting their ballots shortly after 11 a.m. today, and
although all 50 DPP lawmakers present voted in favor of the nominees, their
KMT and TPP counterparts, totalling 60, all cast ‘no’ votes.

In the end, none of the nominees successfully crossed the majority threshold
of 57.

That means the NCC will go on with just three commission members, unable to
make any decisions on policies regarding Internet management, changes in
relevant laws and dozens of broadcasters' license renewals.

The Executive Yuan and DPP lawmakers have all expressed deep regret over the
result, saying the opposition camp should not prevent the NCC from carrying
out its normal operations.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-07 16:08:13

Local media are reporting that the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum will be
held between December 25 and 27 in Shanghai, but Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An
says the timing hasn't been confirmed yet.

He added that the city government is still in talks with the Chinese side.

Mayor Chiang also stressed that the city government will certainly adhere to
the principles of equality, dignity, goodwill, and mutual benefit when
planning to ensure the event can proceed smoothly.

The Twin City Forum was originally slated for September but it didn't happen.

Deputy Mayor Lin Yi Hua 林奕華 said that the Memorandum of Understanding
that Taipei plans to sign with Shanghai is ready under the central
government's instructions and the city will now consult Shanghai's opinions.

Meanwhile Taiwan's Mainland Affairs has indicated that Chiang's itinerary for
the Forum still needs to be reviewed by the M-A-C.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-07 16:08:13

In world news...

China has commissioned its latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, after
extensive sea trials.

This adds a ship to what is already the world's largest navy and closes the
gap with the U.S.

China's Xinhua News Agency said this is China's third aircraft carrier and
the first one that it has both designed and built itself.

The U.S., for comparison, has eleven carriers.

Laura Westbrook reports from Hong Kong.

(JM)

Posted on 2025-11-07 16:08:13

The theft of the Louvre's crown jewels has increased calls for the museum to
be more transparent about the colonial origins of the treasures it displays.

The stolen artifacts were French, but the gems were not.

Within hours of the theft, researchers sketched a likely colonial-era map for
the materials: sapphires from Ceylon, the old name of Sri Lanka, diamonds
from India and Brazil, pearls from the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean and
emeralds from Colombia.

Their exotic routes to Paris run through the shadows of empire.

It is an uncomfortable history that France, like other Western nations with
treasure-filled museums, has only begun to confront.

Experts say the attention from the heist is an opportunity to pressure the
Louvre and Europe’s great museums to explain their collections’ origins
more honestly, and it could trigger a broader reckoning over restitutions.

Posted on 2025-11-07 15:28:14

The Central Weather Administration says Tropical Storm Fung-wong is expected
to strengthen into a typhoon this afternoon and continues to move toward the
Philippines' Luzon Island.

It's now some 2-thousand 100 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southern tip
E-luan-bi and moving northwestward at a fast speed of 31 kilometers an hour.

The CWA says it expects to issue a sea warning on Monday when the typhoon
enters the South China Sea.

On the possibility of a land warning, forecasters say the predicted path is
for Fung-wong to turn northward on Monday, but the time and angle remain
unclear at the moment.

The CWA says the typhoon’s outer bands, combined with the northeast monsoon,
will bring heavy to torrential rain starting Monday to Greater Taipei, Yilan,
Hualien, and the Hengchun Peninsula until Wednesday.

The CWA is currently uncertain on the likely impact on central and southern
Taiwan, saying it'll depend the way Fung-wong makes its turn.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-07 15:28:14

Two Indonesian crew members remain missing, as search and rescue teams
recovered the body of a captain after a fishing boat capsized off the coast
of Danshui earlier this week.

The Wanli-registered fishing vessel, the Yushan No. 36, overturned 14
nautical miles northwest of the Tamsui River mouth on the evening of November
5th.

Nine people were thrown overboard and six were rescued by nearby fishing
boats.

The Coast Guard Administration announced that the body of the captain,
identified by the surname Wang, was recovered late last night around 9 p.m.

Now the Coast Guard and the National Airborne Service Corps have intensified
their search for the two missing Indonesian crew members, deploying 42
personnel along with patrol boats and helicopters.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-07 15:28:14

South Korean officials say, a 60-meter tower collapsed during demolition
work, killing three people and leaving at least two others presumed dead.

Five people remain trapped under the rubble, including two whom officials
have yet to locate.

Nine people were working at the site when the boiler tower collapsed Thursday
afternoon.

Rescue workers pulled two to safety shortly after responding, but another
worker rescued later was pronounced dead at a hospital early today.

More than 340 rescue workers and dozens of vehicles have been deployed to the
site for search and rescue efforts...

along with search dogs, thermal cameras, endoscopes and other detection
equipment, according to officials.

Posted on 2025-11-07 15:28:14

The Parthenon has been without scaffolding for the first time in years.

Greek residents and visitors in recent weeks enjoyed an unobstructed view of
the marble temple crowning the Acropolis during its long restoration.

The web of metal supports was cleared away on Sept. 26th, and the Parthenon
will stand without the scaffolding for about four weeks.

The Acropolis is Greece’s most-visited site.

The country's culture minister has said the Parthenon should be “completely
freed from scaffolding” next year.

Posted on 2025-11-07 14:16:13

Lawmakers are criticizing Health Minister Shih Chung-Liang (石崇良) for
announcing plans to raise supplemental National Health Insurance taxes
without prior consultation.

The proposed reform would change how additional NHI premiums are calculated
— including income from rent, interest, and dividends — and aims to
stabalize the NHI fund.

Ruling DPP lawmakers say the plan was rolled out without discussion with the
legislature or other government agencies, calling for broader consultation
and a more cautious review.

Premier Cho Jung-tai has since ordered the Health Ministry to suspend the
proposal and seek public input before moving forward.

Lawmakers warn that such major policy changes should never be rushed.

They say better coordination is needed across ministries to maintain public
trust and ensure the stability of Taiwan's health insurance system.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-07 14:16:13

Kaohsiung is preparing for another month of concert tourism, featuring
performances by stars from Taiwan and abroad.

Cantopop star Aaron Kwok is set for concerts at the Kaohsiung Arena on
November 8th and 9th, while Taiwan rock legend Wu Bai will take the stage at
the Kaohsiung Arena on November 22nd and 23rd.

And the highly anticipated first-ever Taiwan concert by kpop group TWICE will
take place at the World Games Stadium on November 22nd.

The city's Economic Development Bureau says fans can exchange their concert
tickets for $50 NT vouchers at six MRT stations.

The vouchers are valid at 400 selected stores and night market vendors

And the city is also hosting a kpop dance battle event at the Central Park
Shopping District on November 21st, starting at 6:30pm.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-07 14:16:13

The KMT legislative caucus has gotten rid of a party rule limiting a caucus
whip to serving for only 2 years at a time.

That means that current whip and KMT lawmaker Fu Kun Chi will be able to run
again for the position.

His second one-year term is scheduled to end early next year.

38 KMT lawmakers signed on to end the limitation, representing a majority of
the KMT legislative seats.

Other KMT lawmakers, however, supported keeping the policy in place, saying
that it guards against cases like the DPP's Ke Jian Ming, who's been his
party's legislative whip for over 20 years.

Another pointed out that each legislative term deals with unique situations
and issues.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-07 14:16:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 248 points to
close the session at 27651.

The turnover was 469 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-11-07 14:16:14

In the US,

the Supreme Court will discuss a call to overturn the Supreme Court decision
legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide at a meeting tomorrow.

One of the cases that would potentially jeopardize the ruling includes a
longshot appeal from a former court clerk who refused to issue marriage
licenses to same-sex couples after same-sex marriage became legal in 2015.

The clerk has been trying to get the court to overturn a lower court order
for her to pay 360,000 dollars in damages and attorney's fees to a couple
that she denied a marriage license for.

The justices may say as early as Monday what they will do.

One justice, Clarence Thomas, has previously advocated for doing away with
the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

In 2022, when the court overturned the ruling that legalized abortion
nationwide, he suggested "revisiting" the 2015 marriage ruling.

Posted on 2025-11-07 13:10:13

Yun-lin pig farmers said they're relieved that pork prices remain stable on
the first day of the resumption of live pig auctions.

The Yunlin Meat Market opened one hour earlier than usual this morning,
following a 15-day ban on live pig transport and slaughter implemented due to
the outbreak of African Swine Fever.

The first pig weighed 132 kilograms and was sold at a price of 99.6 NT a
kilogram, about the same as measurements taken prior to the outbreak of ASF.

The meat market's manager said a total of 2,650 pigs entered the auction
today- that's some 10-percent more than before due to the government's
request.

Yunlin County is the largest pig-producing area in the country, and it
accounts for about one-tenth of the national pig auction volume.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-07 13:10:13

U.S. Senior Official to APEC Casey Mace has said a key feature of APEC is
that Taiwan is an equal partner and participant, and that the U.S. will
continue discussions with Taiwan to ensure its full participation in next
year's meeting.

Beijing will host the 2026 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and
according to a Reuters report last week, China's foreign ministry had said
Taiwan's participation in APEC activities must comply with the "one China"
principle.

Mace told Taiwan's official news agency today that all APEC members remain
committed to all members participating on an equal footing in all APEC
events.

He said that the 21 APEC members agreed by consensus last year to China's
offer to host APEC in 2026 after Beijing promised to be consistent with
APEC's guidelines, rules and established practice.

He added that the U.S. expects China to fulfill its promise.

The U.S. State Department also said earlier this week that the U.S. will
continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that
safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-07 13:10:13

Now turning to international news...

South Korean says, North Korea fired a missile towards the eastern sea.

Officials say, Pyongyang fired at least one ballistic missile, but it wasn't
clear what type of ballistic missile was fired, or how far it flew.

That's as North Korean state media says, North Korean and Russian military
officials discussed strengthening cooperation in their latest talks.

That's as the two countries continue to align over Russia's war on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, South Korean officials said in a closed-door meeting that they had
detected signs of recruitment and training activities in North Korea.

They say, that may be in preparation for additional troop deployments to
Russia.

North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last fall,
according to Seoul.

They've also supplied large quantities of military equipment.

Posted on 2025-11-07 13:10:13

OpenAI is facing several lawsuits claiming that ChatGPT drove users to
suicide and harmful delusions.

Many of them had no prior mental health issues.

The lawsuits allege wrongful death, assisted suicide, involuntary
manslaughter and negligence.

They're filed on behalf of six adults and one teenager, 4 of whom died by
suicide, by the Social Media Victims Law Center and the Tech Justice Law
Project.

They say that OpenAI knowingly released a newer version prematurely, even
though there were warnings that it was dangerously manipulative.

Posted on 2025-11-07 08:10:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Taichung City Government has dismissed three senior officials for
mishandling the response to an African swine fever outbreak.

Those removed from office include Agriculture Bureau Director Zhang
Jing-chang, Environmental Protection Bureau Director Chen Hong-yi and Animal
Protection and Health Inspection Office Director Lin Ru-liang.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says all three were dismissed for failing to
follow central government epidemic prevention guidelines and creating
significant risk.

Speaking to reporters, Lu said she sorry the city "did not perform well
enough" in its African swine fever prevention work and, as mayor, she "must
take full responsibility and should apologize."

Lu said the city's internal investigation into the outbreak was being
accelerated and with results of that probe will be made public when it's been
completed.

The Taichung City Council has invited Lu and department heads to deliver a
special report on the African swine fever outbreak today.

D-P-P Taichung City Councilors are claiming Lu's administration tried to
conceal evidence until the central government intervened.

However, they have offered no proof of that.

Posted on 2025-11-07 08:10:13

The Air Force says it expects to take delivery of the first two MQ-9B
"SkyGuardian" drones from the United States in the third quarter of next year
as scheduled.

According to Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-ran, production of the
next-generation, US-made drones is proceeding as planned and
the remaining two drones will be delivered in 2027.

The U-S Defense Security Cooperation Agency has said the drones will provide
Taiwan with "intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, target
acquisition, and counter-land, counter-sea, and anti-submarine strike
capabilities."

The first two drones of the 217-million U-S dollars deal were originally
scheduled to arrive in Taiwan in May of this year.

Along with the four drones, Taiwan will also receive two ground control
stations as part of the agreement.

Taiwan's MQ-9Bs are expected to carry the multispectral targeting system and
maritime multirole radar.

However, there are questions as to whether the U-S will give Taiwan
permission to arm its "SkyGuardian" drones.

Posted on 2025-11-07 08:10:13

Media personality and former government official, Jaw Shau-kong has been
indicted on charges related to his display of a marked ballot during a recall
vote in July.

He was formally charged of violating Articles 88 and 105 of the Public
Officials Election and Recall Act by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office.

Prosecutors says Jaw had already marked his ballot at a polling station in
Taipei's Daan District when he decided to show it to the media, during an
recall vote on July 26.

According to the prosecutors' office, he was warned by a polling station
worker not to show his marked ballot, but he ignored the warning and
displayed it so it could be photographed by the media, before putting it into
the ballot box.

The public display of a marked ballot carries a maximum penalty of two years
in prison or a fine of 200,000 N-T.

Jaw apologized after being summond for questioning in September and told
reporters he displayed his ballot merely to show that he had voted but not to
display his vote.

He's describing the case as a needless hassle and a waste of judicial
resources.

Posted on 2025-11-07 08:10:13

Taiwan Railway Union representatives are on hunger strike at the Taipei Main
Train Station in protest over a Supreme Administrative Court ruling against
workers taking leave "legally."

The union says they will remain on hunger strike until 2PM on Monday.

The dispute dates back to 2017, when 337 union members were reprimanded by
then-state-run Taiwan Railways Administration for taking leave during the
Lunar New Year holidays that year on protest against forced overtime on
national holidays.

The latest ruling on the case was handed down earlier this month, which
overturned a lower court decision favoring the union.

The ruling found that the railway operator did not engage in unfair labor
practices, but also concluding the union acted in bad faith by formally
notifying it about the mass leave only only days before they took leave.

The ruling argued that it left the rail operator "too little time to respond."

The ruling cannot be appealed and the Taiwan Railway Union says it's
"extremely unreasonable" and diminishes efforts to enhance labor rights.

Posted on 2025-11-07 08:10:13

The Taichung District Court has sentenced former Environmental Protection
Administration official Lee Jien-yu to five years in prison for the sexual
assault of four women between 2022 and 2023.

The former head of the E-P-A's Inspectorate's Inspection Team was on trial on
charges of one count of rape, six counts of forcible indecency, and three
counts of abuse of authority to commit indecency against four women.

The victims were his subordinates at the E-P-A.

The district court found him guilty of one count of rape, five counts of
forced indecency, and two counts of power-based indecency.

Lee denied some of the charges during the trail - claiming he couldn't
remember what happened because he was drunk.

He had reached settlements with the four victims, agreeing to pay damages.

The district court ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2025-11-07 08:10:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration's latest tracking chart shows that
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong could directly impact Taiwan next week.

According to the chart, the storm is currently forecast to veer in a
northerly direction after crossing the Philippine island of Luzon early next
week and move into the Bashi Channel threatening the south of Taiwan by next
Tuesday or Wednesday.

It's currently located directly in between Guam and Palau and moving in a
west-northwesterly direction at 24-kilometers-an-hour.

The storm has a radius of 150-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds
of 108-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 136-kilometers-an-hour.

If it continues on its current predicted path, the storm expected to make
landfall in Luzon early Monday before crossing the island and veering a
northerly direction before entering the Bashi Channel.

Fung-Wong is the 26th tropical storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

The government has lifted its ban on the transport and trade of pork products

Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee says an investigation carried out by the
Central Emergency Operations Center for African Swine Fever found that the
A-S-F infections were confined to a single farm in Taichung ..

... and the virus was traced to improperly handled food waste.

Premier Zhu Rong-tai now urging local governments to ensure that
slaughterhouses, vehicles, and butcher stands within their jurisdictions are
properly disinfected before pork trading resumes.

While bans on the transport of both live pigs and pork products have been
lifted, the ban on feeding pigs with food waste remains in place, until
several conditions are met.

The government plans to undertake a nationwide inspection of 434 pig farms
that adopt the practice.

The inspections are expected to take two weeks and with farms are required to
install real-time monitoring equipment to record temperature and capture
images.

The Ministry of Agriculture will then review progress every two weeks and
only allow the feeding of food waste to pigs to resume once the required
improvements have been completed.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

The Ministry of National Defense has established an artificial intelligence,
to explore the emerging technology's potential for military applications.

Department director Lt. Gen. Huang Wen-zhi says the office was officially
listed under the defense ministry's headquarters in Taipei on October 1... it
is currently mainly promoting the integration of AI into image and video
detection, computer security, and anti-hacking.

Huang says the extent that A-I can and will be used for military purposes,
including combat, will depend on the technology's maturity and development.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo has said the office is operating on a trial
basis... its primarily serving as a platform to coordinate the AI needs of
different units ..

The ministry currently has no timetable for when the trial run will conclude
and the office will become fully operational.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

D-P-P lawmaker Su Chiao-hui says she will seek to win the support of New
Taipei residents she was named the party's mayoral candidate for the city.

Several contenders are vying for the chance to serve New Taipei residents,
and Su said she will campaign with a positive and proactive attitude to win
their support.

If elected, she has promised a fresh approach, with new ideas and execution.

Su has represented a New Taipei-based district in the Legislative Yuan since
2016.

She is also the daughter of former Premier Su Tseng-chang, who served as
Taipei County Magistrate from 1997-2004, before it was upgraded to city
status.

Her selection by the D-P-P panel as candidate for New Taipei mayor in next
November's local elections was passed earlier this week.

But it still needs to be approved by the party's Central Executive Committee.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

The Cabinet has approved a four-year 10-billion N-T invest plan aimed at
boosting both domestic and international tourism.

The plan seeks to build tourism infrastructure and focuses on areas including
Alishan, Yushan, Sun Moon Lake, Dapeng Bay, Kenting and Penghu.

Administration deputy director-general Huang Shih-fang says the aim is to
increase the competitiveness of local attractions in the international
tourism market and increase visitor numbers by 10-per cent.

The Tourism Administration says the investment could lead to 122-billion
N-T's worth of economic growth in the sector.

Huang also says his agency is also working on plans to help local businesses
incentivize their employees to take vacations here in Taiwan.

Data shows that 6.93-million foreign nationals have visited Taiwan so far
this year.

The government says that figure means it could beat 2024's total figure of
7.85-million visitors by year's end.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

flyers

Immigration officials in Kinmen have detained a Chinese national after he
waving a People's Republic of China flag and distributing pro-unification
flyers inside the county government building.

He was later questioned about his motives for entering Taiwan before being
deported from the outlying island by ferry.

Eye witnesses say the man entered the county government building at around
9AM on Thursday carrying a piece of cloth that had the Republic of China flag
on one side and the People's Republic of China flag on the other.

The National Immigration Agency says the man violated the terms of his entry
permit and was returned to China under the Act Governing Relations between
the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says it will require passengers who
board earlier trains than booked to change their tickets.

The new policy begins next Monday.

The company rule applies to all travelers with reserved seats who wish to
depart more than an hour before their scheduled train.

The high speed rail will open designated service windows for passengers to
change their tickets to earlier trains during the initial rollout.

Those using digital tickets can cancel and repurchase an earlier itinerary on
their mobile devices.

While passengers who need to travel early due to emergencies should notify
station staff for assistance.

The high speed rail operator says the policy has been introduced to resolve a
long-standing issue of wasted reserved seats, which occurs when passengers
take earlier trains without updating their tickets ..

.. as those seats remain marked as occupied in the system and cannot be sold
to others.

The high speed rail says around 2,000 seats go unused daily, amounting to
more than 60,000 each month.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

And,

The Central Weather Administration has issued a geomagnetic storm alert - and
is forecasting a space weather disturbance that began at around 5 o'clock
this morning will continue for about 33 hours.

A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance in Earth's magnetic field
caused when bursts of solar wind or plasma from the Sun interact with the
planet's magnetosphere.

According to the administration's Space Weather Operational Office, the storm
was triggered by a coronal mass ejection that erupted from an active region
on the Sun on Wednesday, which sharply increased the speed and density of
solar wind in space.

The storm's intensity is forecast to will briefly reach a moderate level -
and could cause brief disruptions to satellite navigation and low- and
high-frequency radio communications.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

World leaders gathering the in Brazil's Amazon rainforest for the U.N.‘s
annual climate summit... and they're warning that time is running short for
urgent and decisive action to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

Some have criticised US President Donald Trump for his stance on climate
change... with the leaders of Colombia and Chile calling him a "liar" for his
rejection of climate science.

Others are hooping the summit can help turn previous commitments into
practical steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve rainforests and
make good on pledges to finance clean energy.

But they will have to overcome Trump's absence, as well as that of China and
India... the world's three biggest polluters.

Posted on 2025-11-07 07:07:13

The U.N. Security Council has voted to lift a series of sanctions on Syrian
President Ahmad al-Sharaa and members of his government days before he's set
to arrive in the U.S. for a historic visit to the White House.

The U.S. resolution to drop U.N. sanctions tied to al-Sharaa and Syria’s
interior minister, Anas Hasan Khattab, passed with 14 members in support.

China abstained from the vote.

American officials pushed to pass the resolution before Monday, when
President Donald Trump is expected to host al-Sharaa in the first visit by a
Syrian president to Washington since the country gained independence in
1946.

Posted on 2025-11-06 20:09:13

Taiwan may actually resume the use of nuclear power despite the DPP
government's insistence of a "nuclear-free homeland" policy over the past
nine years.

In a surprising statement, Economics Minister Gong Ming-xin confirmed today
that his office received a report from TaiPower on the evaluations of
recommissioning the second and the third nuclear power plants early last
month.

Gong said he expects the Economics Ministry to approve the report in December.

The Minister claimed that the plan of bringing the shut-down reactors back
online has nothing to do with Nvidia's setting up an overseas headquarters in
Taipei as speculated by the media.

He said the Nvidia headquarter is an office and won't consume that much
electricity.

On the question of whether the recommissioning procedures will take 18 months
to 24 months as originally estimated, Gong said it'll depend on the Nuclear
Safety Commission's review and the original manufacturers' cooperation.

The number 2 nuclear power plant is located in New Taipei's Wan-li, while the
number 3 is in Pingtung Heng-chun (恆春).

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-06 20:09:15

Taiwan's Air Force says it’s on schedule to receive the first two of four
U-S-made MQ-9B 'SkyGuardian' drones in the third quarter of next year.

Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-jan told lawmakers that production is
progressing as planned, with the remaining two drones expected in 2027.

The advanced drones, approved for sale by the U-S in 2020, will boost
Taiwan's surveillance and strike capabilities across land, sea, and air.

In addition, Taiwan will take delivery of 14 Volcano mine-laying systems and
28 Abrams tanks from the U-S in 2026.

The update comes amid concerns about delayed U.S. weapons shipments to Taiwan
— including the F-16 Block 70 fighter jets, now postponed due to manpower
shortages and supply chain disruptions.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2025-11-06 20:09:15

The Central Weather Administration says that a geomagnetic storm is expected
to occur tomorrow at around 5 AM ... and is expected to last for a little
over 33 hours.

Forecasters say that an active region of the Sun began sending high-speed
solar wind towards Earth earlier this week, likely triggering moderate
geomagnetic disturbances.

That means satellite navigation and radio communications could experience
temporary interruptions, and some electrical protection systems could issue
false alarms.

Forecasters also mentioned that auroras may be visible as far south as 50
degrees magnetic latitude, which basically means Taiwan likely won't see
them.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-06 17:14:13

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says, it will soon require passengers
wishing to get on trains more than 1 hour ahead of their reserved time to
change out tickets.

The new rule will go into effect on Monday.

The company says, that's in an effort to prevent about 60,000 seats being
wasted monthly.

They say there will be specific windows for ticket exchange at each station
to make the implementation smoother.

Going forward, passengers wishing to take an earlier train than the one on
which they have a reserved seat will need to head to these counters to
exchange their tickets if its more than a one hour change.

The new policy will take effect on November 10th.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-06 17:14:18

The Taiwan Railways Corporation is offering a limited edition commemorative
ticket set at the Taipei International Travel Fair opening tomorrow.

The event takes place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 through
November 10th, and the TRC says the exhibit will highlight the charm of train
travel and promote new sightseeing trains.

The corporation is also offering several special items for sale, including a
limited edition Yongkang-Baoan ticket set, which carries the meaning of
"eternal peace and good health."

The TRC booth will also feature a special photo wall where visitors can share
their rail travel stories to receive a free gift.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-06 17:14:23

Poland and Romania are deploying a new weapons system to defend against
Russian drones.

The Merops system can identify and target drones using AI, even when
communications are jammed.

NATO officials say, Denmark will also use the system to boost defenses on the
alliance's eastern flank.

That comes after recent Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace.

The Merops system is designed to deter Russian forces from crossing NATO
borders.

It offers a cost-effective means of countering drones, which can be difficult
to detect on most radar systems.

Posted on 2025-11-06 16:08:13

Authorities have decided to lift the ban on pig auction, slaughter, transport
and retail starting at midnight tonight, and Premier Chuo Rong-tai says the
government will now focus on maintaining stable pork prices.

He also said all local governments must make sure that all pork stalls at
traditional markets, slaughter houses, pig farms and transport vehicles are
fully sterilized before resuming normal business.

The ban has lasted 15 days due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever at a
pig farm in Taichung last month.

The Premier said today that the Ministry of Agriculture needs to carefully
implement production and marketing adjustment measures to stabilize market
order and prices.

Meanwhile the feeding of pigs with kitchen waste will remain prohibited as
more time is needed to consider that policy.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-06 16:08:13

The Taipei City Urban Regeneration Office is introducing a new elevator
subsidy installment policy, which will take effect on November 10.

The change aims to ease the financial burden on applicants, who currently
must cover the full installation cost upfront and can only apply for
reimbursement after the project is completed.

Officials say with an aging population and some 80-thousand apartment
buildings over 30 years old in the city, the problem of having no elevators
has become more serious.

Although Mayor Chiang Wan-an raised the subsidy to 3 million NT maximum after
taking office to encouage the installation of elevators in old buildings, so
far only 78 applications have been filed.

Under the upgraded program, applicants can now choose to receive up to 50% of
the elevator subsidy within three months of approval and the rest after
completion, or get the full amount in one payment.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-06 16:08:13

Authorities in Kinmen have detained a Chinese national after he distributed
pro-unification flyers and displayed a Chinese flag in front of the Kinmen
County Government building today.

The man reportedly scattered flyers with the message "Unify Taiwan" near the
main staircase of the government building around 9 a.m. today.

A security guard who witnessed the event said the man was carrying two
flags—the flag of the Republic of China and the Chinese five-star flag.

The guard says county personnel detained the man before handing him over to
police.

Kinmen officials say they are investigating the man's motives for entering
Taiwan.

If the man is found to have engaged in activities inconsistent with his entry
permit, he will be deported.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-06 16:08:13

In world news...

World leaders are gathering in a coastal city in the Brazilian Amazon for the
U.N.'s annual climate summit.

This year's host has billed the summit as a rare opportunity to turn previous
commitments into practical steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
preserving rainforests and making good on pledges to finance clean energy.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sees this as a chance to cement
his image as a champion of climate diplomacy.

But the heads of the world’s three biggest polluters — China, the United
States and India — will be notably absent from the preliminary leaders’
gathering that kicks off today.

Posted on 2025-11-06 15:46:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says that TSMC expanding advanced
chip production in the United States is 'likely a foregone conclusion'.

TIER said geopolitical tensions and renewed U-S pressure under Trump are
driving Taiwan's chipmakers to boost investment in America.

TSMC, already the world's leading contract chipmaker, has made major new U-S
investments and could receive tariff exemptions on its chips.

But analysts warn that as more advanced manufacturing shifts abroad, Taiwan's
once-complete semiconductor ecosystem may face new strains.

Still, TIER says Taiwan's chip industry is set to hit record output again in
2025, with TSMC remaining the biggest winner in the AI era — second only to
NVIDIA.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-06 15:46:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen announced today that some restrictions will
remain in place, as schools will resume using fresh domestic pork in student
lunches starting tomorrow.

Officials have announced a lifting of restrictions on transporting live pigs
to slaughterhouses starting this afternoon, but Lu says the ban on feeding
food waste to pigs remains in effect.

Lu says the city will deploy personnel to strictly monitor pig farms and feed
containers to prevent farmers from using illegal food waste.

And the mayor also says the city will maintain a one-week ban on taking
leftover food home from school lunches.

She also reminds pet owners that feeding food waste to pet pigs is also
prohibited.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-06 15:46:13

The Ministry of Education says it is actively promoting preschool inclusive
education by supporting professional learning communities for teachers across
the country.

The ministry says nearly 470 teachers' professional learning communities have
been established in the last five school years.

It says these communities encourage early childhood educators, special
education teachers, and related professionals to delve into issues concerning
inclusive education and enhance their professional skills.

Inclusive education integrates special needs students and general education
students in the same classroom, moving away from traditional segregated
special education classes.

Officials say this approach helps special needs students integrate into
society earlier while fostering understanding and acceptance among general
education students.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-06 15:46:13

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led a state funeral for the country’s
longtime ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, who died this week at age
97.

State media images showed mourning citizens bowing along the streets as a car
carrying Kim Yong Nam’s flag-draped coffin and a large portrait drove toward
the cemetery, where Kim Jong Un and other senior officials waited at the
entrance.

North Korea's premier delivered a eulogy, and Kim Jong Un, along with what
appeared to be hundreds of other mourners dressed in black suits or military
uniforms, bowed in silent tribute before Kim Yong Nam’s remains were
buried.

Kim Yong Nam served as head of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament from
1998 to 2019, a post that made him North Korea’s nominal head of state.

Posted on 2025-11-06 14:12:13

A major fire last night destroyed about two thirds of the Nan-men Market in
Tao-yuan city, affecting hundreds of stalls.

The Fire Department said the blaze started at around 9:30 PM and while it was
put out about three hours later, it had burned an area of some 3,000 square
meters.

Taoyuan Mayor Simon Zhang inspected the 70-year-old Nan-men market this
morning, and the city's Economic Development Bureau is convening an emergency
meeting to discuss the follow-up assistance plan.

Zhang said for vendors who cannot operate in the near future, rent collection
will be temporarily suspended with subsidies from the city government.

He added that there'll be arrangements for those vendors to operate elsewhere
before the market reconstruction is complete.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-06 14:12:14

The Taichung City government says, the heads of its agricultural and
environmental protection departments have been dismissed.

That follows the outbreak of African Swine Fever in the city.

Officials say the outbreak was linked to farm operators' insufficient
sterilization of kitchen waste used to feed pigs.

Former agricultural and environmental department heads Zhang Jing Chang
張敬昌 and Chen Hong Yi 陳宏益 have vacated their positions, effective
immediately.

The Animal Protection Office Director Lin Ru Liang 林儒良 was also removed.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-06 14:12:14

The Central Weather Administration is not ruling out the possibility of
issuing a sea warning for Tropical Storm Fung-wong when it gets closer to
Taiwan this weekend.

The storm is currently located some 2,500 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's
E-luan-bi, moving in a west-northwesterly direction toward the Philippines'
Luzon Island.

Forecasters expect Fung-wong to strengthen into a typhoon in the coming days
as the sea temperatures remain high.

They say there are still uncertainties about its path, but as the storm has a
large structure, it's bound to bring heavy or torrential rain to greater
Taipei, and eastern and southern Taiwan Monday through Wednesday.

On the likelihood of it making landfall in Taiwan, forecasters say things
should become clearer on Sunday.

The good news is that the weather should stay warm and stable with lots of
sunshine islandwide from today til Sunday.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-06 14:12:14

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 27899 after
gaining 182 points.

The turnover was 499.1 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-11-06 14:12:14

Now turning to international news...

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is declaring a state of emergency
after Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 114 in the country.

Another 100 or more are missing in the central regions as well.

Kalmaegi also displaced more than 560,000 villagers in the country.

Nearly 450,000 of those were evacuated to emergency shelters.

The announcement by Marcos allows the govrnment to disburse emergency funds
faster, and prevent food hoarding and overpricing.

Authorities in Vietnam, meanwhile, are bracing as the typhoon approaches.

Posted on 2025-11-06 14:12:14

In the US,

the remains of 17 Native students have been returned to their families and
tribes.

That's after the latest round of exhumations from a cemetary at the former
Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennslyvania.

The students belonged to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and the Seminole
Nation.

Carlisle is where 7800 students from more than 100 tribes were sent amidst
the United States' genocide on Indigenous peoples.

Several hundred people attended reburials of the students last month, and the
bodies have now been returned to the tribes.

Since repatriations began at Carlisle in 2017, the bodies of 58 students have
been returned, with nearly 150 more graves left.

Posted on 2025-11-06 13:06:14

Labor Minister Hung Shen-han says his ministry is working on the law
regarding the benefits and welfare of delivery personnel and will present the
draft bill to the Cabinet as soon as possible.

Hung says after the Legislative Yuan's public hearing concludes, the Labor
Ministry will finalize its version of the draft bill and send it to the
Executive Yuan and the Legislature for review.

The Minister made the comments today at the Legislative Social Welfare
Committee's hearing on the draft act on the protection of the rights and
interests of delivery drivers and the management of delivery platforms.

He has also outlined the scope of the draft, saying that it will regulate the
contract between delivery workers and platforms, and guarantee the basic wage
for delivery drivers' every order.

The draft bill will also seek to strengthen the platform operators'
assistance to delivery personnel in subscribing to occupational accident
insurance.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-06 13:06:14

Deputy Taipei Mayor Li Si Chuan is congratulating DPP lawmaker Su Qiao Hui on
her run for New Taipei Mayor.

That's after the DPP election strategy committee yesterday recommended Su as
its candidate for the race.

Li says that his efforts are currently focused on getting Nvidia settled into
its new Taiwan headquarters in the Beitou-Shilin technology park.

He stresses that it's much more important than thinking about the 2026
election.

Some local media have quoted political insiders to say that the KMT is
getting ready to nominate Li as the candidate for the New Taipei mayoral race
after the Nvidia land issue has been solved, but Li has declined to
elaborate.

TPP chair Huang Kuo-chang has also indicated that he will run for the
position, and has implied that he would like the KMT not to put forward its
own candidate.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-06 13:06:14

Japanese authorities at Kansai International Airport have arrested a
Taiwanese woman for allegedly smuggling a large quantity of liquid marijuana.

According to local media reports, Kansai Airport police announced yesterday
the arrest of a 30-year-old Taiwanese woman who listed her occupation as a
security guard.

Police say she arrived at the airport on September 12th, on a flight from
Bangkok.

She is accused of attempting to smuggle the drugs in her checked luggage,
after a drug-sniffing dog detected the anomaly at the airport's arrival
area..

Officers seized 20-kg of liquid marijuana, the largest amount seized at the
airport in the last 10 years.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-06 13:06:14

Now turning to international news...

Japan is deploying troops to help contain a surge of bear attacks in the
country.

In the northern prefecture of Akita, bears have been seen near schools, train
stations, and homes.

More than 100 people have been injured and at least 12 killed in bear attacks
across the country since spring.

Akita has been the worst hit, with over 50 attacks since May.

The troops will set traps and assist local hunters, but they will not use
guns.

Experts say, Japan's aging and declining population in rural areas
contributes to the problem, as bears venture closer to residential areas in
search of food.

Posted on 2025-11-06 09:06:13

Philippines

The 26th tropical storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season formed east of
the Philippines overnight.

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong is currently located some 500-kilometers southwest
of Guam, has a radius of 250-kilometers and is moving in a westerly direction
at 29-kilometers-an-hour.

The Central Weather Administration's latest tracking chart shows the storm
making landfall in the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Monday.

The storm is then currently forecast to either veer north over the Bashi
Channel or enter the South China Sea.

Fung-Wong's impact on Taiwan will be most significant next Tuesday and
Wednesday - when it could bring potentially extremely heavy rain to northern,
eastern, and southern parts of the island.

Posted on 2025-11-06 09:06:13

In international news,

Authorities in the Philippines says at least 85 people have been killed while
hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes as one of
strongest typhoons this year battered the country.

Typhoon Kalmaegi has flooded entire towns on the most populated central
island of Cebu - where at least 49 of the fatalities were located.

Officials there say 75 other people are missing.

Videos show people sheltering on rooftops, while cars and shipping containers
have been swept through the streets.

The official death toll, which is likely to rise, includes six crew members
of a military helicopter that crashed on Mindanao island after it was
deployed to assist in relief efforts.

Posted on 2025-11-06 09:06:13

North Korea has denounced the Trump administration's latest sanctions
targeting cybercrimes that help finance its illicit nuclear weapons program
..

... and is accusing the United States of harboring "wicked" hostility toward
Pyongyang and vowing unspecified countermeasures.

The statement by a North Korean vice foreign minister came after the U-S
Treasury Department imposed sanctions on eight individuals and two firms,
including North Korean bankers, earlier this week for allegedly laundering
money from cybercrime schemes.

Those sanctions came even as Donald Trump continues to express interest in
reviving talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Their previous nuclear discussions collapsed in 2019 during Trump's first
term amid disagreements over trading relief from sanctions on the for steps
to dismantle Kim's nuclear program.

Posted on 2025-11-06 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-ji says the transportation and slaughter of
pigs will resume this afternoon after officials comfirmed no more cases of
African swine fever.

According to the minister, except for the case in Taichung, no other sites
have reported any outbreaks of the virus.

Chen says the "failure to properly boil kitchen waste was the main cause of
the outbreak" and three conditions must be met for the ban on using kitchen
waste to be lifted.

Those conditions include complete inspection, comprehensive monitoring, and
full legal compliance.

Animal health inspection officials say 53 meat markets and slaughterhouses
have begun large-scale disinfection, pork stalls must complete disinfection
before markets reopen on Friday ..

... while the Ministry of Health and Welfare will supervise the cleaning of
carcass transport vehicles.

The government imposed a nationwide ban on the transportation and slaughter
of pigs on October 22.

Posted on 2025-11-06 08:13:16

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan says Shin Kong Life Insurance has proposed
a fee for terminating the contract for a plot of land at the Beitou Shilin
Technology Park where Nvidia hopes to build it Taiwan headquarters.

According to Lee, the insurer proposing that the city government pay it
4.47-billion N-T to terminate the contract.

The deputy mayor is describing that figure as being "reasonable" ...

.. saying subtracting the 3.44-billion N-T the insurer has already paid to
the government for the land rights and rent, the difference of 1.04-billion
is not far from the compensation of 800-million N-T that the city has
estimated.

Lee says the gap in the estimates of reasonable compensation arose from
100-million N-T in taxes that Shin Kong Life paid to the central government
and different approaches to calculating capital costs.

The deputy mayor also says the city and the insurer will now hire accountants
to review the various proposals and it's hoped the amount can be finalized
and the termination agreement signed by as early as tomorrow.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is stressing that the termination fee will not be
paid at the public's expense, but passed on to Nvidia as a rights fee.

Posted on 2025-11-06 08:13:16

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the government is still in talks with
Estonia on the "name and legal status" related to setting up reciprocal
representative offices.

Formal talks on the issue began in June, two months after Estonia's
parliament passed an amendment to its Foreign Relations Act that paved the
way for opening reciprocal representative offices.

Speaking during a legislative hearing, Lin said the ongoing talks are
focusing on issues such as the title of the representative offices, their
legal status, and other concerns related to diplomatic immunity and
privileges.

The statement follows reports that the government is hoping the office will
follow the formula of its counterpart in Lithuania, called the "Taiwanese
Representative Office in Lithuania."

However, Estonia is reportedly insisting on using the title "Taipei" due to
concerns about a backlash from China.

Beijing strongly objected to Lithuania's 2021 decision to allow the
"Taiwanese" in the name of Taiwan's representative office in Vilnius.

Posted on 2025-11-06 08:13:16

The D-P-P's nominations committee has selected lawmaker Su Chiao-hui as its
nominee for next year's New Taipei City mayoral election.

Su's selection is still pending final approval by the party's Central
Executive Committee.

She has represented a New Taipei district in the Legislature Yuan since 2016
and he father, former Premier Su Tseng-chang served as New Taipei County
magistrate 1997 to 2004, before it was upgraded to city status.

New Taipei's K-M-T incumbent Mayor Hou Yu-ih will leave office after two
terms.

The K-M-T has yet to announce its nominee in the city.

However, Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang has said on multiple
occasions that he plan to run for mayor of New Taipei in next year's local
elections, which will be held on November 28.

New Taipei is Taiwan's most populous municipality, with over 4-million
residents.

Posted on 2025-11-06 08:13:16

Former President Tsai Ing-wen will be traveling to Germany this weekend to
attend the Berlin Freedom Conference.

According to the office of the former president, Tsai has been invited by the
Berlin Freedom Conference to deliver a speech at the event, which will take
place on November 10, as part of the Berlin Freedom Week.

Office spokesperson Tsai Shu-ching says the former president hopes her trip
will help Taiwan deepen its relations and cooperation with Germany and other
democratic partners in Europe.

The office of the former president has not said whether Tsai plans to visit
other countries during her trip.

It will be the fourth public overseas trip by Tsai since she left office in
May of last year.

The Berlin Freedom Conference is organized by visit Berlin, the Axel Springer
Freedom Foundation, and the World Liberty Congress.

The conference commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and brings
together government officials, journalists, business representatives, and
members of the public.

Posted on 2025-11-06 08:13:16

The Ministry of Finance says some 800,000 eligible recipients signed up for
the one-time universal 10,000 N-T cash handout yesterday when online
registration began.

Registration was opened to Taiwanese citizens, foreign permanent residents
and spouses of Taiwanese citizens with a national I-D or Alien Resident
Certificate number ending in zero or one at 8AM on Wednesday.

Registration will continue in stages through Sunday.

Those whose I-D numbers end in two or three can register today, followed by
numbers four or five tomorrow, six or seven on Saturday, and eight or nine on
Sunday.

Registration will be open to all eligible individuals from next Monday
through April 30 of next year.

While the option to modify and verify information will be available on the
dedicated website starting on November 13.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs says those who complete registration before
November 11 will receive the payment between November 11 and November 12.

While individuals who register on or after November 11 will get the universal
10,000 N-T cash payment within two business days.

The cash handout can also be collected without online registration, either
through A-T-Ms starting November 17 or at post offices beginning on November
24.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:13

participation

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the government will launch unspecified
"countermeasures" against China...

this, after Beijing laid down certain guidelines for Taiwan's participation
in next year's APEC events which take place in Shenzhen.

Earlier this week, China said Taiwan's participation in APEC activities was
contingent on its compliance with the 'one China' principle.

Lin said China had previously provided written assurances that it would
support Taiwan's equal participation at the event and protect the safety of
all participants ..

.. but China's latest comments have raised an "extra condition" for Taiwan's
participation.

The foreign minister says the government will work with its allies to
safeguard Taiwan's right to participate in the conference.

Meanwhile, the U-S State Department has also responded to China's guidelines
for Taiwan's APEC participation ..

... with a spokesperson saying Washington will "continue to press Beijing for
security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when
attending APEC meetings in China."

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:17

A nominee for top position within the U-S Department of Defense says the
Pentagon is working to expedite the delivery of 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense
Systems to Taiwan.

Austin J. Dahmer told a U-S Senate Armed Services committee that he had
visited the Harpoon production line in Missouri to understand broader
challenges facing the U-S defense industrial base ..

.. and the Pentagon is "working very urgently and expeditiously" to ensure
that Taiwan has the capabilities needed for self-defense.

The U-S Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the sale of the Harpoon
Coastal Defense Systems to Taiwan in 2020.

Dahmer is a nominee for assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans
and forces.

He also told the committee hearing that the U-S strategy of denial
complements Taiwan's plans for layered defense by providing combat-capable
forces on operationally relevant timelines, to provide a strong local defense
would be challenging to dislodge.

However, he also stressed that Taiwan needs to significantly increasing its
defense spending and rapidly acquire the appropriate weapons and systems
needed to deter aggression from China.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:17

The D-P-P legislative caucus says a recent survey reflect a majority of
respondents opposing efforts by the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party to
end annual cuts to civil servant pensions.

The survey was conducted by the D-P-P.

D-P-P lawmaker Wu Si-yao said 59.7-per cent of respondents supported
continuing pension reforms initiated by the D-P-P in 2016, while only
31.7-per cent thought they should be stopped.

Wu says stopping reforms will exacerbate inequality between active and
retired workers, civil servants and workers receiving labor, farmer and
national pensions.

Civil servants have been subject to 1.5-per cent annual income replacement
ratio cuts since 2020.

That is slated to continue through to 2029, cutting the ratio by 15-per cent.

However, the K-M-T has submitted a series of bills aimed at ending many of
the pension reforms including stopping annual cuts and requiring civil
servant pensions to be adjusted for inflation.

The K-M-T legislative caucus has placed the bills at the top of its priority
for the current legislative session.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:18

Malaysian rapper Namewee has been detained as part of an investigation by
police in Kuala Lumpur into the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh.

Namewee surrendered to police early yesterday and has placed under remand for
six days.

His detention comes after law enforcement authorities in the Malaysian
capital reclassified Hsieh's death as a murder following the discovery of
unspecified new evidence.

The case was originally investigated as a sudden death

Hsieh was found dead at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Reports have been claiming she was in the city working on a video project
with the rapper.

According to police, Namewee was the last person seen with her before her
death.

Namewee became known in Taiwan in 2021 after releasing a song Taiwan-based
Australian singer Kimberley Chen that poked fun at Chinese nationalists and
touched on Taiwan's sovereignty.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:18

The Formosat-8 satellite is scheduled to be sent into space at 2:18AM Taiwan
time on November 11 for the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

It will be carried into orbit by a rocket on the Transporter-15 mission.

The satellite has been named after late Taiwanese documentary director, Ji
Bo-lin - who was known for recording Taiwan through aerial imagery.

It will be the first of eight satellites to make up the first Taiwan-made
satellite constellation.

The satellite was developed by the Taiwan Space Agency and has a resolution
of under one meter, which is improvement over the currently orbiting
Formosat-5, allowing for clearer Earth observations.

The constellation setup will also enable more frequent data collection.

According to the space agency, the satellite is equipped with a weather probe
developed by the National Cheng Kung University.

The launch will be livestreamed on the space agency's Facebook and YouTube
pages.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:18

Health experts here are calling for stronger government action to curb the
spread of early-onset diabetes.

A 2024 study released by the Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators
shows diabetes among Taiwanese under 40 rose by 25 percent between 2016 and
2020.

It identified unhealthy lifestyles -- including high-sugar diets and lack of
exercise -- as driving the rise among young people.

As proof, experts cited local studies showing that about 70 percent of
bottled drinks sold in Taiwan are "high-sugar" products, with 41.6 percent
exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 25 grams of
sugar per serving.

The group urged the government to learn from the experience of the United
Kingdom, South Africa, and Singapore by introducing mandatory nutrition
warning labels, expanding health education in schools and communities, and
raising the sugar tax.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:18

And,

A 67-year-old man has been reunited with seven gold bars worth an estimated
5-million N-T after they were found in a park in Miaoli City.

City officials say the gold was left in a flowerbed near the Martyrs' Shrine
Plaza in Maoli-shan Park.

Staff at the park then retrieved the gold bars along with 60,000 N-T in bills
and more than 10,000 Reminbi in cash.

They also found an insurance certificate at the scene, which led police to a
jewelry store, which confirmed that the man had purchased the gold bars in
August.

Police say the man explained he spent the previous night sleeping in the park
and had forgotten to take his valuables with him when he left.

The man also told police that he carried the gold and cash with him because
he was worried they might be stolen if he left them at home.

Posted on 2025-11-06 06:49:18

In a similar vein... the U.N. Development Programme has released new data
about how climate change is going to affect agriculture, extreme weather and
other factors that often mean life or death for people in poverty.

They find that even in developed nations relatively sheltered from climate
change, over 80% of poor people are exposed to at least one climate hazard,
like drought, air pollution or extreme heat.

And they show the many crops that will face yield declines in the coming
decades, especially in places like sub-Saharan Africa and India where large
populations rely on local farms to survive.

Posted on 2025-11-05 19:59:13

Agriculture Minister Chen Chun-chi announced that Taiwan is lifting its
nationwide ban on live pig movement and slaughter.

That means ... starting at noon tomorrow, live pigs can be transported across
the country.

... And pig auctions, slaughter, and carcass transport will resume on Friday.

The restrictions were imposed after Taiwan confirmed its first case of
African Swine Fever at a pig farm in Taichung's Wuqi District.

Officials say the outbreak was limited to that single farm and is now under
control.

Premier Cho Jung-tai said markets are expected to start offering fresh pork
this Saturday, after auction, transport, and slaughter processes are
completed.

However, feeding pigs with kitchen waste remains banned until inspection,
monitoring, and regulatory measures are fully in place.

Authorities also announced that support programs for farmers and industry
workers will re-open on November 7th.

The government stressed that strict biosecurity measures will continue to
protect Taiwan's pork industry.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-05 19:59:15

The Transport Ministry says it expects to begin enforcing stricter penalties
for unlicensed driving in the first half of next year.

The newly-amended Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act has raised fines
for those caught driving without a valid license.

Motorcyclists can now be fined up to 36 thousand NT, while car drivers face
fines of up to 60 thousand NT.

Vehicles will also be impounded on the spot, and their license plates
suspended.

Repeat offenders within ten years will face even steeper penalties, with no
upper limit in fines for those caught three or more times.

According to police statistics, unlicensed driving caused over 760 deaths and
nearly 78 thousand injuries in 2023—far exceeding fatalities linked to drunk
driving.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-05 19:59:15

Diabetes rates among young adults in Taiwan are on the rise — and experts
say unhealthy eating habits are a major contributing factor.

According to the Taiwan Association of Diabetes Educators, more than 2.5
million people in Taiwan now live with diabetes, with over 20 percent
diagnosed before age 50.

Researchers warn the disease is no longer limited to middle-aged and older
adults.

High-sugar diets, frequent dining out, and lack of exercise are driving the
trend.

Nutritionists note that even so-called 'low-sugar' bubble tea drinks often
contain excessive sugar — nearly 30 percent of those labeled as 'three-parts
sugar' exceed recommended limits.

Health experts are urging the government to adopt stronger sugar-reduction
measures, such as clearer nutrition labels, higher taxes on sugary drinks,
and public education campaigns similar to those in Singapore and the U-K.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-05 17:26:13

Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Szu-chuan (李四川) says Shin Kong Life Insurance is
asking the city for 4.47 billion NT to end its land-use rights for two plots
in the Beitou–Shilin Technology Park.

Those sites are slated to become the home of Nvidia's Taiwan headquarters.

Lee says the amount seems reasonable, and both sides hope to sign the
termination agreement this Friday.

The city will reimburse Shin Kong Life 3.4 billion NT for its original
land-use rights and pay an additional one billion NT.

Lee says that gap is mainly due to tax payments the company made to the
central government and differences in financing cost calculations between
both parties.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an told the city council the payout will come from the land
premium paid by Nvidia — so taxpayers won't have to foot the bill.

Once the deal is signed, the city will cancel the land rights and begin
reviewing Nvidia's investment and development plans.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-05 17:26:16

Forward Alliance founder Wu Yi Nong says, his work to establish and build the
think tank over the past 5 years have been part of efforts to build the
foundation to run for mayor.

That's after the former National Security Council member submitted an
interest form on Friday to become the DPP's mayoral nominee in Taipei City.

In an interview today, Wu touted his organization's achievement at having
provided nearly 30,000 civilians with first aid knowledge.

Wu also responded to criticism that he lacked political experience, having
twice lost legislative elections to KMT candidates.

He noted that former President Tsai Ing-wen had no electoral wins under her
belt before she was elected to the nation's highest office.

Wu further stated that he believes voters care most about a candidate's
viewpoints, ability, and trusthworthiness.

Although Wu has made clear his interest to run for the position, it's still
not clear who the DPP nominee will be.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-05 17:26:16

The US' Pentagon is working urgently to expedite the delivery of 100 Harpoon
Coastal Defense Systems to Taiwan.

Austin Dahmer, a nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for strategy,
plans and forces, was asked about the progress of the Harpoon missile systems
sale at a Senate hearing.

Dahmer said he had visited the Harpoon production line in Missouri to
understand broader challenges facing the U.S. defense industrial base.

Regarding Taiwan's Harpoon order, he said the Pentagon is "working very
urgently and expeditiously" to ensure that Taiwan has the capabilities needed
for self-defense.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the sale of 100
Harpoon systems to Taiwan in 2020.

(CNA)

Posted on 2025-11-05 17:26:16

Now turning to international news

Tanzanian authorities are facing mounting concerns over the killings of
protesters, following last week's election.

The largest opposition party alleges that security forces are secretly
dumping bodies of those killed.

Protests erupted for several days after the election last week, which foreign
observers say failed to meet democratic standards, as key opposition figures
were barred.

Security forces responded to the protests with guns and tear gas, and they
imposed a nationwide curfew.

Incumbent president Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner, with over
97% of the vote.

Foreign observers say the turnout was low.

Posted on 2025-11-05 16:10:13

The central government is pushing back on the opposition parties' proposals
of stopping the annual reduction of pension payment for civil servants,
saying it would undermine the positive effects of pension reform.

The Ministry of Civil Service said from the perspective of sustainable fund
operation, the reform should continue, adding that stopping it would cause
the pension funds to run out sooner.

Because of the pension reform, the Ministry said the depletion years for the
public and teaching staff retirement funds were pushed back by 18 years to
2049, and by 15 years to 2045, respectively.

MOCS Minister Shi Neng-jie (施能傑) said if the Legislative Yuan passes the
proposals, the depletion years will be advanced again, affecting all
incumbent personnel and retirees.

Shi also said the savings generated over the past 7 years from the reform, at
259 billion NT, have been injected back into the fund.

Meanwhile the Examination Yuan noted that the pension reform includes a
review mechanism, and adjustments have already been made twice due to
inflation.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-05 16:10:13

Families

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) says the government is still evaluating
a proposal to relax rules for hiring foreign domestic helpers, including
potentially allowing families with just one child to hire one.

Recent media reports suggested that the related policy and supplementary
measures could be announced by the end of the year.

But speaking at an event in Taipei today, Hung says the entire package of
measures is under evaluation, and there is no specific timetable for an
announcement.

The proposal was first raised by President Lai Ching-te, and is aimed at
increasing the female labor force participation rate.

Hung also says the ministry is assessing proposed changes to a monthly fee
paid by employers of migrant workers, but such adjustments have not been
finalized.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-05 16:10:13

At least seven people were killed when a UPS cargo plane crashed while taking
off from an airport in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday evening

The state's governor said the plane's three crew members were likely to be
among the dead after the freight plane exploded as it departed Louisville
Muhammad Ali International Airport at around 5:15 PM local time.

At least 11 other people were injured when the plane crashed, sending thick
plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Officials warned that people suffered "very significant" injuries in the
incident and the death toll could rise.

Posted on 2025-11-05 16:10:13

Kristen Stewart has delivered a powerful speech at the Academy Women’s
Luncheon, urging women in film to reject tokenism and create their own
opportunities.

Speaking Tuesday, Stewart highlighted gender inequity in Hollywood,
emphasizing the need for women to voice hard truths.

The event, held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, celebrated the
Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, supporting emerging filmmakers.

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter presented the awards,
emphasizing the importance of mentorship.

The afternoon was filled with solidarity and sisterhood.

Posted on 2025-11-05 14:19:13

The opposition KMT and TPP have joined forces in their proposals to halt the
annual reduction of pension payment and the income replacement rate for civil
servants and teachers.

The TPP expressed their support for the proposal yesterday and brought
forward its own version of the amendments to the Retirement and Severance
Compensation laws for those workers.

The laws were changed 7 years ago under President Tsai's pension reform
policy.

Local news media expect the draft bills to be passed into law next month
since the blue and white parties hold a majority in the legislature.

Today is the first day that the Legislative Judicial Committee starts
reviewing the 26 different proposals on the same issue.

Meanwhile the ruling DPP is calling on the public to voice their support for
the pension reform, which has lasted 7 years, saying as the pension fund
deficit grows larger, the government will ultimately bear the burden.

They say that means the cost will shift to all taxpayers.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-05 14:19:13

Officials are raising concerns over China hosting next year's APEC summit.

China's Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Monday that Taiwan's participation
in the annual summit in Shenzhen, Guang-dong Province, rests on its
compliance with the "one China" principle.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says that Taiwan will coordinate with
like-minded partners to ensure equal treatment and to oppose China's new
conditions.

He emphasized that, when China applied to host the conference, it assured
that Taiwan could participate in a capacity equal to other countries.

Meanwhile Finance Minister Zhuang Cui Yun says that Taiwan's equal treatment
at next year's conference must be ensured.

The Chinese foreign ministry is dismissing safety concerns raised by
Taiwanese officials.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-05 14:19:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark Tai ex losing 399 points to
end the session at 27717.

The turnover was 589.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-11-05 14:19:13

Now turning to international news...

Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 66 people dead in the central Philippines.

Another 26 are missing.

Most of victims were killed in widespread flooding that trapped people on
their roofs and swept away cars.

That's as the area is still recovering from an earthquake.

Among the dead are 6 people killed in a separate incident, when a Philippine
air force helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur.

Kalmaegi is forecast to move into the South China Sea later today.

Posted on 2025-11-05 13:07:13

Deputy Taipei Mayor Li Si-chuan said today that Taipei city is expected to
pay Shin Kong Life Insurance 4.5 billion NT at most to terminate the contract
of land-use rights for 2 pieces of land that Nvidia needs.

Li said the amount was calculated by the city's Legal Affairs and the Land
Administration Department in consultations with the insurance company.

He noted that Shin Kong will send them an official letter confirming the sum
today, and city will then deliver it to the City Council for approval after
getting it notarized.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an also said the contract termination procedures with
Shin Kong are expected to be completed this month.

Chiang said after Nvidia submits its investment proposal, the city government
will begin the administrative procedures for a special ground lease, with
the goal of signing the contract with the company early next year.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-05 13:07:18

The Hualien County government says, temporary homes for people left homeless
by last year's earthquake will be ready next month.

The April 3rd, 2024 quake damaged dozens of buildings in Hualien County to
the point of unlivable or potentially dangerous conditions.

The government offered residents rental subsidies and short term rental
options.

But now, the local government, Tzu Chi, and the Red Cross have collaborated
to construct homes in Hualien City for affected residents.

Those in need will be able to sign contracts as soon as this month, and move
in in December.

The local government says, it hopes that affected residents can return to
normalcy as quickly as possible.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-05 13:07:18

In international news,

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is putting forward his vision
for how rainforests should be protected ahead of COP30, the United Nations
climate summit.

Instead of depending on donations from wealthy nations and large
philanthropies, it will have a major fund that will pay countries to keep
forests standing.

At COP30, Lula is expected to launch the Tropical Forests Forever Fund,
aiming to support more than 70 developing countries that commit to preserving
their tropical forests.

So far, Colombia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and
Malaysia have joined.

Brazil has already invested $1 billion US.

Germany, the United Arab Emirates, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom are
helping shape the mechanism and likely will be among the first investors.

Neither the Brazilian president nor the website have provided more details
about how the plan would come to action.

However, advocates emphasize that forests can generate money in various ways
beyond extracting resources, such as through tourism and carbon offsets.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-11-05 13:07:18

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is announcing a new security strategy for
the state of Michoacan, following the assassination of Carlos Alberto Manzo,
mayor of the city of Uruapan.

Manzo had gained popularity for his stance against cartels and criminal
groups.

His murder on Sunday was the seventh mayoral assassination in three years.

Mayors are especially vulnerable to organized crime groups in Mexico that
seek to control territory to move drugs and extort residents and businesses.

Protests erupted in Uruapan and two other cities in the state after the
assassination took place.

Sheinbaum introduced the "Michoacan Plan for Peace and Justice," aiming to
address the root causes of the violence.

The plan includes strengthening the state prosecutor's office and promoting
economic development.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-11-05 13:07:18

In related news,

In Mexico City, President Claudia Sheinbaum was touched by an unknown man
while she had her back turned, before a government official intervened.

Sheinbaum was speaking with citizens on the street in the city's historic
downtown .

A video circulating online shows the man, who appeared to be inebriated,
leaning in, seemingly for a kiss, and groping her.

Sheinbaum gently pushed his hands away, maintained a stiff smile and told
him, "Don't worry."

Sheinbaum often engages with crowds for selfies and handshakes.

Her security detail was not visible in the video.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-11-05 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex tumbled in early trading this morning as investors reacted to
losses for same big tech companies on Wall Street overnight.

Those companies included Nvidia - which fell 3.8-per cent.

The main board lost 685-points to fall below the 28,000-point mark as it hit
27,431.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price drop by 2.9-per cent
as it moved back to below 1,500 N-T mark to hit 1,460 N-T.

Hon Hai, MediaTek, and Delta Electronics all fell by about 2-per cent, while
artificial intelligence development related stocks including Wistron, Quanta
and Uni-micron also all declined in early trading.

Analysts say after a recent strong showing among electronics stocks due to
the A-I boom, investors are turning cautious over high tech valuations and
seized on the U-S losses overnight to dump their holdings - and T-S-M-C was
their major target.

Posted on 2025-11-05 11:06:13

And,

The African Swine Fever Forward Command Center is set to decide whether to
lift the nationwide ban on the transportation and slaughtering of pigs
initiated to counter the recent African swine fever outbreak in the coming
couple of hours.

The 15 day ban was imposed on October 22 and could be lifted on Friday.

The center will meet at noon when it will make a decision depending on the
status of the outbreak.

However, officials are stressing that the ban on feeding pigs with food waste
will remain until preconditions put forward by the Ministry of Agriculture
are met regardless of the center's decision.

Posted on 2025-11-05 11:06:13

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Hurricane Melissa caused damage
to homes and key infrastructure roughly equivalent to between 28 and 32-per
cent of last year's G-D-P.

Holness says the estimate is conservative, based on damages assessed so far,
and that short-term economic output could decline by between 8 and 13-per
cent.

However, according to the prime minister, the costs will push up Jamaica's
debt-to-GDP ratio and his government will activate emergency provisions to
temporarily suspend the country's fiscal rules.

The hurricane was the strongest-ever storm to hit the island.

Posted on 2025-11-05 11:06:13

Police in Germany have conducted an internationally coordinated action
against alleged fraud and money laundering networks.

The move comes after the networks compromised German payment service
providers and racked up damages of hundreds of millions of euros.

According to Germany federal police agency, multiple people have been
arrested and searches carried out in Germany, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the U-S and Cyprus.

Authorities say the suspects are accused of using credit card details
belonging to victims from 193 countries.

Posted on 2025-11-05 11:06:13

And finally,

England soccer great David Beckham has been knighted by King Charles III at
Windsor Castle.

He's now known as Sir David Beckham and the former England captain is calling
it his proudest moment.

Beckham was honored for his contributions to sport and charity, including his
work with UNICEF and efforts to eradicate malaria.

He was joined by his wife Victoria and his parents at Windsor Castle.

Beckham's career highlights include scoring in three World Cups and playing a
key role in Manchester United's 1999 treble-winning season.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning ...

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the government will decide later today whether to
lift the nationwide ban on the transportation and slaughtering of pigs
initiated to counter the recent African swine fever outbreak.

The 15 day ban was imposed on October 22 and could be lifted on Friday.

According to Cho, the African Swine Fever Forward Command Center will make a
decision at noon concerning the status of the outbreak and the lifting of the
ban on the transportation and slaughtering of pigs.

However, Cho says the ban on feeding pigs with food waste will remain until
preconditions put forward by the Ministry of Agriculture are met regardless
of the center's decision.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:14

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has detained 25 suspects and seized
more than 4.5-billion N-T in assets linked to the Cambodia-based Prince
Holding Group.

The arrests and seizures come after United States sanctioned the Prince
Holding Group last month for transnational fraud and money laundering
involving Taiwan nationals and companies.

The group was led by China-born Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi and allegedly
operated large-scale online scams in Cambodia and laundered the illicit
proceeds through shell companies and business networks spanning multiple
countries.

U-S federal prosecutors indicted Chen and his associates on October 8.

While the U-S Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control later
added three Taiwan nationals and nine Taiwan-registered companies to its
sanctions list.

According to the prosecutors office, it formed a task force on October 15 to
trace the group's financial flows and assets in Taiwan.

Authorities carried out 47 simultaneous raids on the homes and offices of
senior members of the Prince Group and related firms in Taipei and 25
suspects were detained, and 10 witnesses were summoned for questioning.

Eighteen real estate properties worth 3.8-billion N-T, 26 luxury vehicles
valued at 477.5-million N-T and 60 bank accounts holding 235.8-million were
confiscated.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:15

The Centers for Disease Control says although the flu epidemic period is
likely to end this week, cases are expected to rise again next month and that
could be more serious than the current wave.

According to the C-D-C, 106,829 flu-related outpatient visits were recorded
during the week on October 26 to November 1 - a decline of 4.9-per cent from
the previous week.

C-D-C Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui says that 10.4-per cent of last
week's hospital visits were at emergency rooms, which is lower than the
epidemic threshold of 11-per cent ..

.. and health officials expect that number to be below the threshold again
this week, meaning the epidemic period has ended.

However, Tseng is warning that as temperatures fall, the next wave of
infections is expected to be more serious.

The C-D-C is advising those at high risk of developing serious illness from
flu to get vaccinated as soon as possible

Data shows that more than 4.77-million doses of government-funded flu
vaccines had been administered since the start of the current flu season on
October 1 - and fewer than 2-million remain in stock.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:15

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says its ridership reached
7.352-million passengers in October - setting a new monthly record as travel
demand surged during three consecutive long weekends.

According to the company, extended holidays for the Mid-Autumn Festival
National Day, and Retrocession Day spurred a significant rise in passenger
traffic, as many people took the opportunity to travel or visit family.

Average daily ridership in October stood at 237,000 - up by about 11-per cent
from the 2024 full-year average of 214,000, and 7.4-per cent higher than the
January to September average of 221,000.

During the long weekends, average daily ridership reached 262,000 for the
Mid-Autumn break, 250,000 for National Day, and 261,000 for Retrocession Day.

The high speed rail operator says it expects strong demand during holidays
and peak travel seasons to continue until the new-generation trains enter
service and expand its fleet of trains in mid-2027.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:15

The 2025 Taiwan Creative Content Fest is underway in Taipei.

The opening day saw the launch of two investment funds totaling over
1.5-billion N-T.

One of the funds was established by South Korean entertainment giant C-J
E-N-M and T-V-B-S.

Called the Taiwan-Korea Entertainment and Cultural Content Fund, it's aimed
at backing co-productions between Taiwan and South Korea and their global
releases and helping Taiwan's entertainment industry better connect with
international markets.

The other fund was established in partnership with the Taiwan Creative
Content Agency and Far EasTone Telecommunications.

That fund is called the Far EasTone-Enjoy Entertainment Fund and has been
designed to invest in and promote local film and television productions.

Deputy Culture Minister and Taiwan Creative Content Agency Chairwoman Sue
Wang says the initiatives mark a milestone for Taiwan's film and television
sector in terms of systematic investment and international cooperation.

The 2025 Taiwan Creative Content Fest is being held at the Nangang
International Exhibition Center and runs through Friday.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:15

The Central Weather Administration says a tropical depression located east of
the Philippines could develop into a tropical storm as early as today.

However, the administration's forecast center says its potential impact on
Taiwan remains unknown and the weather patter is still being monitored.

It develops into a storm is will called Fung-wong and become the 26 tropical
storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season.

According to the forecast center, the system is expected to intensify into a
typhoon before the weekend as it moves toward the Philippines and a key
turning point in its path is expected by next Monday.

The center says the storm could curve northward toward waters east of Taiwan
or continue westward across the Philippines depending on atmospheric
conditions.

Posted on 2025-11-05 08:14:15

And finally in news from the Chinese Professional Baseball League ....

Uni-President Lions slugger Lin An-ko has exercised his overseas free agency
option.

Thes decision means that Lin is the second player this off-season to explore
opportunities with overseas teams while still under contract.

The 28-year old signed a three-year, 21.6-million N-T deal with the Lions and
under C-P-B-L regulations, he remains eligible to request a posting having
played for the team for at least three full seasons.

Lions General Manager Su Tai-an says the team offered Lin an early contract
renewal earlier this week, but he's determined to pursue an overseas
opportunity ..

.. and the franchise respects his determination to chase his dream.

Lin joined the Uni-Lions as the fourth overall pick in the 2019 midseason
draft and hit his 100th C-P-B-L home run against the Fubon Guardians in
Tainan on June 28.

Reports says multiple teams from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League
have expressed interest in Lin.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is slamming Beijing for insisting that
Taiwan's participation in next year's APEC leaders summit in Shenzhen be in
compliance with its "one China" principle.

MOFA says Beijing's insistence on compliance with the "one China" principle
is a violation of the organization's norms and practices.

The ministry says Taiwan is an official member of APEC and shares equal
participation rights with other member economies ...

.... and as such China must honor its commitments and, in accordance with
APEC rules and practices, to ensure Taiwan's "equal, dignified and safe
participation" in all APEC meetings and activities in Shenzhen next year.

Foreign ministry official Jonathan Sun said after the 2025 APEC summit
wrapped-up in South Korea this past weekend... China had provided written
assurances about the safety of all participants in next year's summit.

China's foreign ministry is dismissing the safety concerns being raised by
the government here in Taiwan.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:13

A father and son who operate the pig farm in Taichung's Wuqi District where
an outbreak of African swine fever originated have been detained on suspicion
of forging documents.

They were ordered detained after the Taichung District Prosecutors' Office
said it believes they committed forgery.. and they pose a high risk of
destroying or forging evidence and colluding with accomplices or witnesses if
released after questioning.

The two farmers are suspected of altering the numbers on forms used to cover
the handover of dead carcasses to off-site "rendering" operations, which use
heat to make the carcasses safe for further processing into pork products.

Prosecutors said last week that altering the form numbers led to differences
in the forms handed to the rendering operator and the one the farmers kept ..

.. and the discrepancy makes it difficult to determine whether all of the
deceased pigs from the farm were handled by the rendering operator or if some
may have been illegally sold on the market or disposed of separately.

Officials say the outbreak originated from the farm on October 25.

The African Swine Fever Forward Command Center said earlier this week that
the outbreak likely resulted from feeding the pigs food waste that had not
been properly sterilized.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:15

Mainland Affairs Council head Chiu Chui-cheng says about 50 people have lost
their "Taiwan status" because they were confirmed to hold household
registrations in China or have obtained Chinese passports.

Chiu says household registration agencies have been notified to revoke the
household registrations of the 50 individuals after evidence of their holding
China-related documents was confirmed.

The cases were reported by members of the public and confirmed through
investigations or discovered by relevant authorities.

Chiu pointed out that the Act Governing Relations between the People of the
Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area "clearly stipulates" that "people of the
Taiwan Area may not have household registrations in the Mainland Area or hold
passports issued by the Mainland Area."

However, he is not saying what could happen to those to have their household
registration revoked.

The Lai administration has repeatedly warned that violators of the Act
Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland
Area will have their Taiwan household registration revoked.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:15

The Administrative Enforcement Agency is scheduled to auction off
64-kilograms of gold on November 11.

It will be the largest gold auction ever by law enforcement authorities.

The gold was all seized from companies that owed a large amount of tax to the
government.

The agency's New Taipei branch says the gold came from 90 items, including
gold bars, gold bricks and shoe-shaped gold ingots.

The auction will be divided into 22 bids.

Gold is currently quoted on global markets at around 4,000 U-S dollars per
ounce.

Although items sold in Administrative Enforcement Agency auctions fetch less
than their market prices, the items are still slated to bring in a
substantial amount of revenue.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:17

The government has donated 700,000 U-S dollars to two international N-G-Os
providing humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza.

MOFA says 500,000 dollars of the total was donated to the International
Medical Corps.

the donation was made after the government signed a deal last month agreeing
to fund a 10-month project by the Los Angeles-based I-M-C to deliver
essential medicines and equipment to Gaza via Jordan and Egypt.

The other 200,000 U-S dollars was donated in early October to the World
Central Kitchen to support the Washington-based N-G-O's "Chefs for Gaza"
initiative.

The latest donations come after the government provided 500,000 U-S dollars
to Mercy Corps Palestine to supply food, clean water, clothing and tents to
those in need in Gaza.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:17

The Centers for Disease Control says a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax
and targeting the JN.1 variant will be made available next Wednesday to those
eligible for free vaccination.

Health officials say just under 14 hundred COVID-19-related outpatient visits
were recorded from October 26 to November 1, slightly higher than the
previous week, but the outbreak - which is dominated by the NB.1.8.1 variant
- remains at a low level,

The C-D-C is urging people with chronic diseases or underlying health issues
to get vaccinated even though the current outbreak is mild.

Starting next Wednesday, people aged 12 and older who are eligible for
government-funded vaccination can choose from the Novavax JN.1 vaccine or the
Moderna LP.8.1 vaccine.

Health authorities have been offering free Moderna vaccines since October 1
to priority groups.

Those seeking self-paid COVID-19 vaccines must first undergo a physical
assessment at one of 10 designated hospitals.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:17

The New Taipei District Court has sentenced a woman to four and a half years
in prison for attacking a high school student with a box cutter on the Taipei
Metro.

The court found she suffered from schizophrenia.

After she completes her sentence, the court ruled the woman must spend two
years under court-ordered residential psychiatric supervision.

The incident occured in November of last year, when the woman attacked the
student on a Bannan Line train with a box cutter.

The court heard the attack took place after the woman suffered auditory
hallucinations, hearing "mocking remarks" and mistaking the student for a
stalker.

She slashed him in the head and neck before the student and bystanders
managed to restrain her.

The woman was indicted for attempted murder by the New Taipei District
Prosecutors' Office last December.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:17

Philippine disaster response officials say that Typhoon Kal-maegi has left at
least 26 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands...

Entire towns on the island of Cebu have been inundated, while cars, trucks
and even massive shipping containers could be seen swept along by muddy
floodwaters...

In the 24 hours before Kal-maegi made landfall, the area around the island's
main urban center Cebu City saw 183 millimeters of rain... well over its
131-millimeter monthly average,

Cebu's governor has described the floodwaters as "devastating"

Kalmaegi barreled across the central Philippines where floodwaters trapped
scores of people on their roofs and submerged cars.

Separately, a Philippine air force helicopter with six personnel on board
crashed in a separate incident in southern Agusan del Sur province while
flying to help provide humanitarian assistance to provinces battered by
Kalmaegi.

The cause of the crash was not revealed.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:17

Humanitarian agencies say far too little aid is reaching Gaza nearly four
weeks after a ceasefire, as hunger persists with winter approaching and old
tents start to fray following Israel's devastating two-year offensive.

The truce was meant to unleash a torrent of aid across the tiny, crowded
enclave where famine was confirmed in August and where almost all the 2.3
million inhabitants have lost their homes to Israeli bombardment.

However, the World Food Programme and Palestinian agencies say only half the
needed amount of food is coming in... and overall aid volumes were between a
quarter and a third of the expected amount.

Israel claims it is fulfilling its obligations under the ceasefire agreement,
which calls for an average of 600 trucks of supplies into Gaza per day.

It blames Hamas fighters for any food shortages, accusing them of stealing
food aid before it can be distributed, which the group denies.

Posted on 2025-11-05 06:54:17

Posted on 2025-11-04 18:10:13

Taiwan's flu epidemic appears to be in the rear-view mirror — but health
officials warn the road ahead could still be bumpy.

They say that while infection numbers are falling, the risk of severe
complications remains high.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, flu-related clinic visits
totaled nearly 107 thousand last week — down almost five percent from the
week before — suggesting the outbreak is tapering off.

But 63 new severe cases and nine deaths were reported during the same period,
including a three-year-old girl with a pre-existing condition who developed
breathing difficulties after two days of high fever.

Officials say around 4.8 million people have received free flu shots so far
this season, but fewer than two million doses remain unused.

And with another wave expected in late December, the CDC is urging the public
to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-04 18:10:13

Doctors in Taiwan are warning that having both diabetes and obesity can
double the risk of death for patients.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, more than two and a half
million people in Taiwan have diabetes, and about 80 percent are also
overweight or obese.

Doctors call the condition 'diabesity', which puts extreme pressure on the
body's organs, increasing the likelihood of heart and kidney disease.

Medical experts say that excess body fat reduces the body's ability to
produce insulin, worsening diabetes and creating a triple threat to the
heart, kidneys, and metabolism.

The Diabetes Association of the Republic of China says ... says fewer than 30
percent of patients manage their weight effectively.

To address this, the Association launched a program across over 120 medical
institutions late last year, focusing on helping patients control blood
sugar, lose weight, and protect vital organs.

So far, that program has helped nearly 900 patients lose a collective total
of over 3 thousand 700 kilograms.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-04 18:10:13

Taipei City councilors say that Taipei Dome's leaking problem still hasn't
been resolved, despite months of repairs and repeated fines.

During a city council meeting today, members criticized the Department of
Sports for failing to fully address the issue, saying fans attending concerts
and sporting events continue to encounter water leaks inside the stadium.

The department said it has fined the Dome's operator, Farglory Group, a total
of 2.4 million NT over the past two years.

Farglory Group believes the leaks are caused by uneven joints in the dome's
curved roof panels, allowing rainwater to seep into the drainage system.

Officials say further waterproofing work is being planned, and a joint
inspection with professional engineers will take place tomorrow to pinpoint
the root cause.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-04 18:10:13

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai is pushing back on comments made by the new KMT chair
over Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zhuo said that anyone who believes that Putin is not a dictator themselves
must hold the mentality of a dictator.

The premier is emphasizing that Putin has been in office for 25 years, and
has changed Russia's constitution to allow himself to stay in office.

She stated in a media interview last week that Putin was elected
democratically, and said that he therefore cannot be considered a dictator.

She also claimed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was not Russia's fault and
rather was due to eastward expansion of NATO.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-04 17:07:14

The Taiwan Fertilizer Corporation's board members have elected Zhang
Cang-lang (張滄郎) as its new chairman, contrary to earlier reports that Wu
Yin-ning (吳音寧) would take the post.

Wu was appointed as one of the state-run enterprise’s board members by the
Agriculture Ministry last week, which immediately sparked widespread rumors
that she was on her way to becoming chair.

The reports drew strong backlash from the opposition KMT and TPP, who said
she's not qualified for the job.

But the company announced last night that the Ministry had appointed Zhang as
a board member, and elected him as chair today.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-04 17:07:17

Kinmen authorities are stepping up joint patrols at the "Mini Three Links"
ports of entry to block African Swine Fever from entering Taiwan.

Customs officials say they are working with the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Agency to intensify inspections of passengers and cargo arriving
from Xiamen and Quanzhou.

They say warning signs have been posted and all inbound passenger luggage
will undergo x-ray inspection.

Detection dogs are also being used in the searches.

The officials confirm several recent cases where travelers were caught trying
to bring in pork products, including sausages and fish rolls containing pork.

All cases resulted in fines of 200-thousand NT or more.

Authorities urged the public not to violate the regulations, noting that the
African Swine Fever virus is highly contagious and resilient, posing a major
threat to the swine industry.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-04 17:07:22

The Taiwan High Speed Rail saw a record number of passengers last month.

The THSR reported today that total passenger volume for October hit 7.35
million people, surpassing the previous record set in August of this year.

The average daily ridership for the month was 237-thousand people.

The high volume was attributed to the Mid-Autumn, National Day, and
Retrocession Day long weekends.

Ridership specifically during the holiday periods reached daily averages of
over 260-thousand people.

To manage the high demand, the THSR implemented several measures, including
adding non-reserved trains during peak hours as needed, and expanding the
allocation of early bird discounts on non-peak travel days.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-04 17:07:27

The youngest son of Lee Kuan Yew is condemning the Singaporean government's
plan to designate Lee's home as a national monument.

The government announced its intention to preserve the country's first prime
minister's residence yesterday.

But Lee's son, Lee Hsien Yang, accused the government of disrespecting his
father's legacy.

He said that his father would oppose the creation of monuments in his honor.

The younger Lee slammed the ruling People's Action Party for "disrespecting
its founder's legacy and values."

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:09:13

In world news...

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has visited the Demilitarized Zone
between North and South Korea.

On Monday, he began a two-day visit to South Korea for security talks.

Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back 安圭伯 received a
briefing at an Observation Post a site visited by past U.S. presidents.

They also visited the Panmunjom border village.

South Korea's military said their Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman and his U.S.
counterpart oversaw a combined flight of F-16 fighter jets.

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:09:14

Rescuers are digging through ice and snow on a mountain in Nepal to recover
the bodies of seven climbers who were killed by an avalanche.

An avalanche pounded the base camp at Mount Yalung Ri, located at 4,900
meters, on Monday.

Snowstorms prevented rescuers from reaching the site on the day, but
improving weather allowed a helicopter to reach the base camp today and
rescuers were able to begin sifting through the snow and ice.

Police Chief said four climbers who were injured in the avalanche were
rescued by the helicopter and flown to the capital Kathmandu for treatment.

Among those killed were two Nepali mountain guides, but the identity of the
remaining five was still unclear.

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:08:13

be reviewed

The Legislative Judicial Committee has scheduled to review revisions of the
pension reform bills for government workers and teachers on the 5th and 6th.

The revisions were proposed by the KMT, and the ruling DPP caucus said today
that if passed, they would reverse the progress of pension reform and cause
the pension fund to go bankrupt sooner.

The KMT is seeking to halt the annual 1.5-percent cut to the pension payment
and the reduction in the retirement income replacement rate starting from Jan
1st, 2024, or after 2025.

The ruling DPP, on the other hand, said if the amendments are passed, the
pension fund's bankruptcy will be accelerated.

It said the public servants' portion of the fund would go bankrupt
prematurely in 2042 instead of the original 2049, while the teachers' portion
would go bankrupt even earlier, in 2039.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:08:13

Police have arrested three suspects in connection with a case where two were
found dead in Taipei's Xinyi District, where unidentified powders and pills
were found at the scene.

Police say a special task force quickly identified the suspects, two men and
one woman, believed to have sold drugs to the male victim.

The three were apprehended yesterday in the Xinyi and Zhongshan districts,
and officers seized crystal metham-phetamine, ecstasy pills, and more than
$560-thousand NT in cash during the arrests.

The suspects were transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for
further investigation.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of death for the two
victims.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:08:13

The cost of buying a home in Taiwan has doubled over the past decade, far
outpacing the 60 percent increase in national bank deposits.

According to real estate data, total bank deposits reached a record 62.4
trillion NT as of June, with most of the money concentrated in the six major
municipalities.

But housing prices have surged even faster, from an average of 270 thousand
NT per ping for new houses in 2016 to 556 thousand this year, that's more
than doubled.

Analysts say the sharp rise is driven by an influx of money from returning
Taiwanese businessmen and the booming AI and semiconductor shares.

Hsinchu County and City recorded the strongest growth, with both deposits and
home prices more than doubling, fueled by high-tech industry expansion.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:08:13

In world news...

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has visited the Demilitarized Zone
between North and South Korea.

On Monday, he began a two-day visit to South Korea for security talks.

Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back 安圭伯 received a
briefing at an Observation Post a site visited by past U.S. presidents.

They also visited the Panmunjom border village.

South Korea's military said their Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman and his U.S.
counterpart oversaw a combined flight of F-16 fighter jets.

Posted on 2025-11-04 16:08:13

Rescuers are digging through ice and snow on a mountain in Nepal to recover
the bodies of seven climbers who were killed by an avalanche.

An avalanche pounded the base camp at Mount Yalung Ri, located at 4,900
meters, on Monday.

Snowstorms prevented rescuers from reaching the site on the day, but
improving weather allowed a helicopter to reach the base camp today and
rescuers were able to begin sifting through the snow and ice.

Police Chief said four climbers who were injured in the avalanche were
rescued by the helicopter and flown to the capital Kathmandu for treatment.

Among those killed were two Nepali mountain guides, but the identity of the
remaining five was still unclear.

Posted on 2025-11-04 15:21:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu-yan has defended her city's handling of the African
Swine Fever outbreak, saying that city officials took immediate actions after
finding out about possible infections.

She said as the A-S-F disease is highly contagious and resilient, it's very
difficult to confine the virus to the case farm and prevent it from spreading
out.

The Mayor stressed that Taichung city managed to do that, saying she can
responsibly state that, "as of now, Taichung's other 154 farms with over
80-thousand pigs, as well as pig farms and pigs nationwide, have not been
infected."

Meanwhile Deputy Taichung Mayor said starting yesterday, all food waste has
been sent to incinerators instead of landfills.

Zheng Zhao-xin (鄭照新) noted that all 300 metric tons of kitchen waste daily
are now being sent to incinerators for burning and power generation, saying
that there will be no more kitchen waste landfilling.

The city government has also installed surveillance cameras, reinforced
fences, and intensified cleaning and disinfection at the Hou-li (后里) and
Wu-feng (霧峰) landfills.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-04 15:21:15

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is lowering the minimum age
for several pilot licenses to expand the nation's pool of flight personnel.

Among the changes, the MOTC says the minimum age for a commercial pilot
license has been lowered from 20 years old to 18 years old, while the maximum
age for pilots working as part of a two-person crew has been raised to 65
years old.

Officials say the revision of aviation personnel certification rules align
with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The ministry says the changes aim to increase scheduling flexibility for
airlines and mirror global aviation practices.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-11-04 15:21:15

The Administrative Enforcement Agency is getting ready to auction off 64
kilograms of gold on November 11th in what will be the largest gold auction
ever by the A-E-A.

The gold bricks and bars are collectively worth around 9 million U.S. dollars
at its current price, that's the equivalent of 278 million NT.

Gold is currently quoted on global markets at around $4,000 dollars per
ounce, up more than 45 percent from a year earlier.

The A-E-A said the gold to be auctioned was seized from companies that owed a
large amount of tax to the government.

The branch said the auction will start at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 in the meeting
room of its office located in Xinzhuang District of New Taipei.

(CNA-JL)

Posted on 2025-11-04 14:21:13

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai says, the central government will soon decide whether
or not to lift a ban on the transport and slaughter of pigs.

That's been in place since October 22nd.

Authorities confirmed the African Swine Fever virus on October 25th at a pig
farm in Taichung, marking Taiwan's first A-S-F case.

The public is watching closely to see if restrictions can be lifted on
November 7th, as the ban has had a significant impact on pig farmers,
wholesale pork producers, retail vendors, restaurants and consumers.

The Premier said over the next month, the government will launch follow-up
market management and meat supply stabilization plans, to be reviewed
weekly.

According to authorities, the A-S-F infection originated from the Taichung
farm’s food-waste feeding operation, where the waste was not properly
boiled, inspected and monitored.

Chuo said that going forward, the government will explore more advanced ways
of handling food waste.

He added that tomorrow's meeting will also discuss stabilizing pig prices and
meat supplies across both the production and downstream markets.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-04 14:21:13

The TPP is putting forward two of its own recommendations to fill open seats
in the Central Election Comission.

Party chair Huang Kuo-chang said that the TPP would recommend National
Chengchi University Professor Jiang Ming Xiu 江明修...

and Soochow University's Su Zi Qiao 蘇子喬 to fill those some of the 6 open
positions.

Huang also called on the Executive Yuan to independently and professionally
evaluate who would lead the commission.

The TPP chair stated that the Executive Yuan had asked the TPP legislative
caucus to recommend nominees for the positions.

Huang says that Jiang is a highly-respected professor of political science,
while Su has experience working with the Examination Yuan.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-04 14:21:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark Tai ex closing at 28116,
after losing 218 points.

The turnover was 584.8 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-11-04 14:21:13

Now turning to international news...

Typhoon Kalmaegi is currently slamming the Philippines' Negros Occidental
province.

The storm has killed at least one person so far, and caused flooding and
power outages, displacing thousands.

It made landfall last night in the eastern province of Southern Leyte.

Kalmaegi is the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the philippines this year.

It's moving northwest at 25 kilometers per hour, slowly shifting into the
South China Sea.

Posted on 2025-11-04 14:21:13

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is calling for significantly upping
government investment in artificial intelligence.

He's calling for tripling spending on AI infrastructure and technology in a
budget speech to lawmakers.

Lee also called for lawmakers to approve a planned 8.2% increase in defense
spending next year.

He says, the hike woudl help modernize the military's weapons systems and
reduce its reliance on the US.

The president's speech comes after South Korea last week hosted the leaders
of several Pacific Rim nations for APEC meetings.

Posted on 2025-11-04 13:07:13

Premier Chuo Rong-tai says the nominations for the Central Election
Commission members shall be made by mid-November.

According to the law, the executive branch should have done so three months
ago.

With the terms of six members having expired on October 31st, the C-E-C now
has only four members, falling short of the five required to convene meetings
or make decisions.

Answering lawmakers' questions today, Acting C-E-C chair Wu Rong-hui (吳容輝)
said the Commission now can only handle matters unrelated to elections.

Chuo said due to extensive considerations, they are currently consulting
various parties to find appropriate and impartial individuals to fill the
C-E-C positions and will present the nominees in mid-November.

He called on the Legislature to approve the nominees as soon as possible,
adding that the date for next year's local elections was already set on
November 28th.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-11-04 13:07:13

The Taitung County government is urging the public not to be tricked by scams.

That's after rumors emerged online claiming that the county was seeking
workers for its annual New Year's concert, with pay sitting at 4500 NT for
one day.

Local officials say, such claims are untrue, and they're encouraging the
public not to fall for it.

They emphasize that such scams attempt to collect victims' banking details by
promising bank deposits.

The county government is preparing to announce the lineup for the New Year's
Eve concerts tomorrow.

But some fans are already speculating that aMEI will headline the event.

In the past, when aMEI, also known as Zhang Hui Mei　張惠妹, has performed at
the event, local accomodations were booked out in just 3 days.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-11-04 13:07:13

Now turning to international news...

The Peruvian government has cut off diplomatic relations with Mexico.

That's over the asylum claim of former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez.

Chavez is under investigation for rebellion.

Perucian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela says, the decision by Mexico to grant
asylum to Chavez at its embassy in the Peruvian capital of Lima is an
"unfriendly act."

Peruvian President Jose Jeri accused Mexico of interfering in the country's
internal affairs.

Chavez is accused of participating in a failed 2022 coup attempt by
then-President Pedro Castillo, whose family currently lives in Mexico.

Officials are seeking a prison sentence of up to 25 years for Chavez.

Posted on 2025-11-04 13:07:13

And in the US,

mayoral candidates in the country's biggest city are making their final push
to get voters to the polls.

Ahead of Election Day tomorrow, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former
Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa spent the day campaigning
across the city.

That's as the US president has endorsed Cuomo in the race, in an effort to
defeat self-described Democratic socialist Mamdani.

More than 735,000 votes were cast during the city's nine days of early voting.

That's more than 4 times the number of ballots cast in the 2021 mayoral
election.

Former Governor Cuomo's campaign is an attempt to return to political office
after resigning as governor four years ago over several sexual hrassment
accusations.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:13

Taiwan's envoy to the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting says the island's
"visibility" at the event improved this year, with many member economies
seeking cooperation in several advanced technology fields.

Lin Hsin-i noted that, when compared with past years, when Taiwan's
delegation needed to invest far more effort to attract foreign investment and
cooperation, many economies this year had approached the delegation without
much prompting.

Lin said he held "constructive exchanges" with many leaders and delegation
members ... who expressed a willingness to cooperate with Taiwan in
semiconductors, Information and Communication Technology, medical technology,
and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises development,

The envoy told reporters that those interactions not only enhanced Taiwan's
visibility, but also laid a solid foundation for future substantive economic
and trade cooperation.

Lin represented President Lai Ching-te at this year's APEC Leaders' Meeting
in South Korea, which concluded on Saturday.

This year's APEC discussions focused on technological innovation, supply
chain security, and artificial intelligence.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:17

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Du Wen-zhen says tests have identified
unsterilized food waste as the likely source of last month's African swine
fever outbreak at a pig farm in Taichung's Wuqi District.

The investigation into the outbreak had ruled out people, vehicles and pigs
from outside the farm as possible sources of infection.

And the deputy agriculture minister says researchers now believe the most
likely source was food waste that had been improperly sterilized before it
was fed to pigs on the farm.

The African Swine Fever Forward Command Center said the latest investigation
report says pigs on the farm fed food waste died at a significantly higher
rate than those given regular animal feed ...

.. and another pig farm, which obtained its food waste from the same source,
but properly sterilized it, had no positive cases among its pigs.

The center says pig farmers were granted permits to use food waste, but had
to upload photos showing that it had been sterilized at above 90 degrees for
at least one hour, and it appears those rules were not strictly enforced.

The farm in Wuqi where the A-S-F cases occurred is currently being
investigated by prosecutors for not submitting any documentation of food
waste sterilization from May through September.

It's owner is also believed to have submitted multiple photos in October with
fake dates for the previous months.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:17

The K-M-T is calling for the authority to announce the suspension of work and
classes during typhoons to be reverted back to the Central Weather
Administration.

Typhoon days used to be determined by the central government, but local
governments currently decide whether to cancel work or school during severe
weather.

K-M-T lawmaker Hung Meng-kai said such decisions should rely on professional
assessments on weather, rather than political pressure on local officials.

However, weather administration director-general Lu Kuo-chen says decisions
on typhoon closures are not only based on wind and rainfall forecasts, but
also take into consideration living conditions, water, electricity and
environment ...

... and as such he believes the authority to announce the suspension of work
and classes should be handled by local governments.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:19

The National Health Insurance Administration says a total of 169 patients
were treated on the first day of the government's newly initiated urgent care
center service.

The service was launched on Sunday and operates at 13 locations across the
six special municipalities.

Nearly 90-per cent of patients were treated for fevers, respiratory problems,
gastrointestinal symptoms, and minor issues such as migraines and muscle
strains.

Of the 169 patients treated on Sunday, three were transferred to hospitals.

The newly opened centers are staffed by rotating primary care physicians and
are part of government efforts to reducing patient numbers in emergency
rooms.

They're open on Sundays and national holidays for patients with fevers,
respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, minor injuries or acute
discomfort in children.

Center fees are lower than those of large hospitals.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the effectiveness of the centers will
be observed over the next few months the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday in
February and the service could be expanded, depending on the data.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:21

The Keelung City Government is seeking more funding from the central
government to build its M-R-T line.

The call comes after the approved budget for next year fell short of its
request by over 1.1-billion N T.

The Keelung Transportation Department says the central government has only
approved only 369-million N-T for the next fiscal year -a figure that is
significantly less than the 1.4-billion N-T requested by the city government.

City government officials in Keelung say they're working with their
counterparts in Taipei and New Taipei, and the New Taipei City Government has
agreed to release extra funding ...

.. which wil be paid back by the Keelung City Government through an
additional budget proposal.

When completed the 15.5-kilometer long Keelung M-R-T line will run from
Nangang Station in Taipei to Badu Statio and includes 13 stations.

Construction of the route is estimated at over 69-billion N-T.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:21

The Changhua District Court has sentenced three Vietnamese nationals to
prison terms of up to 12 years for participating in a fraud group.

The court said the group deceived victims through fake investment and dating
platforms as well as false department store promotions, tricking them into
wiring money to designated accounts.

Two of those sentenced were recruited as "money mules," while the third
delivered the bank cards used to withdraw the illegally obtained funds and
carried out daily cash collection tasks.

The three suspects came to Taiwan as migrant workers but later absconded from
their contracted workplaces.

The Changhua District Prosecutors' Office had requested sentences of up to 30
years, based on the principle of "one crime, one punishment," and will decide
whether to file an appeal.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:21

And,

This year's largest full moon will appear tomorrow evening.

The Taipei Astronomical Museum says it will be the biggest and brightest moon
since February of 2019.

The full moon will reach its peak at 9:19PM tomorrow - about nine hours after
reaching its perigee at a distance of 356,978 kilometers from Earth.

It will appear roughly one-sixth larger and one-third brighter than April's
smallest full moon.

The museum says when a full moon occurs near the moon's closest point to
Earth, known as its perigee, it is called a "perigee full moon," or more
commonly, a "supermoon."

The Taipei Astronomical Museum is marking the occasion by hosting a super
full moon observation event in front of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, where
telescopes and guided sessions will be provided for the public to enjoy the
view.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:21

A political scandal has erupted in Israel over a leaked video at the center
of an investigation into allegations of severe abuses of Palestinians at a
notorious military prison.

A top military official admitted to authorizing the leak, sparking outrage
and accusations of betrayal.

On Sunday, she disappeared briefly, leaving a cryptic note and an abandoned
vehicle.

She was found hours later on a Tel Aviv beach.

Some right-wing politicians and commentators have accused her of staging a
suicide attempt in an effort to destroy potential evidence.

The scandal highlights deep divisions in Israeli society and concerns over
incitement and personal attacks.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:22

Three hundred mayors have gathered in Rio de Janeiro to pledge coordinated
climate action in their cities.

The summit, organized by C40, focuses on addressing rising urban heat.

Selwyn Hart from the U.N. emphasized the crucial role of mayors in tackling
the climate crisis.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticized climate denial, while Phoenix Mayor Kate
Gallego highlighted local efforts despite national setbacks.

The C40 mayors launched an effort called the Cool Cities Accelerator to
prepare for a hotter future.
Thirty-three cities, including Austin and Paris, have pledged to collaborate
on emergency measures and improve urban infrastructure.

Cities have reportedly reduced emissions faster than national governments.

Posted on 2025-11-04 06:54:22

Actress Diane Ladd, the three-time Academy Award nominee known for roles in
“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and “Wild at Heart,” has died at 89.

Her daughter, Laura Dern, announced Ladd’s death on Monday, saying she
passed away at her home in Ojai, California, with Dern by her side.

Dern described her mother as an “amazing hero” and “profound gift.”

Ladd had a long career in television and stage before her film breakthrough
in Martin Scorsese’s 1974 release.

She earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Flo and appeared in dozens of
movies over the decades.

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