ICRT

Posted on 2026-10-19 20:12:13

Scholars are calling on the government to develop AI tools to detect and
counter Chinese disinformation ahead of Taiwan's November 28th local
elections.

Experts at a DPP forum today warned that China is increasingly using AI to
spread misinformation and influence Taiwan's elections.

DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) accused Beijing of spreading
messages that are partly true but largely false in an attempt to interfere in
Taiwan's elections.

The scholars say China's short-term goal is to influence election results,
while its longer-term aim is to deepen social divisions and undermine public
trust in democracy.

They are urging the government to establish AI-based detection systems and
strengthen media literacy education to help people identify and verify
suspicious information.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-19 20:12:13

Around 2-thousand workers have protested outside the Presidential Office in
Taipei ... demanding higher wages and better retirement benefits.

Labor groups are calling for employers' mandatory pension contributions to be
raised from the current 6 percent to 15 percent.

They're also demanding a system that allows workers to share in company
profits, along with stronger workplace protections.

The Ministry of Labor says it understands the demands, but raising pension
contributions would require changes to Taiwan's labor pension system and
further discussions with employers and workers.

The ministry is also urging companies to raise salaries for existing
employees when the minimum wage goes up ... to help workers keep up with
living costs.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-19 20:12:13

Kaohsiung officials say the city is ready for possible flooding as Typhoon
Champi approaches Taiwan.

The city's Water Resources Bureau says the storm's outer circulation could
bring heavy rain and strong winds, with the greatest impact expected this
Friday and Saturday.

The bureau says all pumping stations, mobile pumps and flood detention ponds
have been inspected and tested.

Drainage channels have also been cleared, while emergency crews and flood
prevention supplies are on standby.

Officials say they will closely monitor rainfall and water levels ... and
urge residents in low-lying areas to prepare sandbags or flood barriers and
follow the latest weather updates.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-19 20:12:14

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have killed at least 20 soldiers in a missile
attack on a military camp in southern Yemen.

Two military officials from Yemen's internationally recognized government say
the rebels fired ballistic missiles at the al-Alam camp in Shabwa province.

The attack also wounded at least two dozen troops.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to brief the media.

The attack was one of the deadliest in a recent surge in fighting that began
months ago, shattering a 2022 ceasefire deal in Yemen's civil war.

Posted on 2026-10-19 20:12:14

The Philippines has summoned China's ambassador to protest remarks it
considers a threat to use force.

Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro expressed the government's serious
concern and strong objection to the ambassador's comments on Thursday.

The dispute comes amid long-running tensions between the two countries over
competing claims in the South China Sea.

Some Philippine lawmakers have called for the ambassador to be formally
censured or expelled.

China has defended its ambassador, describing Manila's response as an
overreaction.

Posted on 2026-10-19 20:12:14

Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines has been critically injured
after being hit by an S-U-V outside her office in Victoria state.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the driver has been arrested and the
national counterterrorism team is investigating the incident.

Police found a knife inside the vehicle and are working to determine whether
the collision was deliberate.

The 65-year-old Haines was elected to parliament in 2019 and remains
hospitalized with critical injuries.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of Australian politicians,
amid an increase in threats against lawmakers.

Posted on 2026-10-19 18:32:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is calling for government funding to help
cover mounting losses at the state-owned CPC Corporation and Taipower.

Deputy Economics Minister Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信) says both companies have
absorbed rising energy costs in recent years to keep fuel and electricity
prices stable.

C-P-C had accumulated losses of over 90 billion NT by the end of September ...

... while Taipower's cumulative losses reached more than 370 billion NT by
the end of August.

Business groups support government assistance, warning that higher energy
prices would put additional pressure on companies and households.

However, some academics argue that government energy policies have
contributed to the losses ...

... and say financial support should cover only costs resulting from
international energy price fluctuations.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-19 18:32:13

Athletes from across Taiwan are taking part in the 2026 Citizens' Sports
Games in Taoyuan, with several competitions already completed ahead of and
since Saturday's official opening ceremony.

New Taipei City topped the dance sport medal standings with 16 gold, four
silver and four bronze medals, as competition wrapped up Sunday, October
18th.

Taipei finished second, followed by Taichung.

In jiu-jitsu, which concluded Saturday, New Taipei secured at least seven
gold medals, including three in ground-fighting events on October 15th.

Taichung also performed strongly, collecting 22 jiu-jitsu medals, including
four golds.

Meanwhile, host city Taoyuan won two gold and two silver medals in field
archery, which concluded Sunday.

Organizers have also highlighted athletes of all ages, including six-year-old
dance sport competitor Chiu Ching-hui (邱靜慧) and 88-year-old Chiu Chui-yuan
(邱垂源), who is taking part in woodball - a Taiwanese-invented sport similar to
golf and croquet.

The Citizens' Sports Games continue through Thursday, with more medals still
to be decided.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-19 17:20:13

Relocation

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says he is willing to work with the central
government to address concerns over his proposal to relocate Songshan
Airport.

Chiang says the coming years could be used to work out the necessary
arrangements, as Taoyuan International Airport prepares to open its third
terminal in 2027 and third runway in 2033.

However, a recent TVBS poll found that 41 percent of Taipei residents opposed
the proposal, while 31 percent supported it.

Another 28 percent of the respondents had no opinions about the issue.

Meanwhile, K-M-T Taipei City Councilor Chin Hui-chu (秦慧珠) has proposed
holding a local referendum on the issue alongside the 2028 presidential
election.

Chiang says relocating Songshan Airport would free up land for future
development, including an artificial intelligence park ....

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-19 17:20:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan has announced that she's accepted an invitation to
head up her Taipei counterpart's reelection campaign.

She said she couldn't refuse the offer to help reelect Chiang Wan An in the
capital city.

That adds to the outgoing mayor's CV another position as chair of an election
campaign, on top of working to push her preferred successor at home.

Jiang Qi Chen downplayed any discord between the two today, saying that
everyone was just working together...

adding that he would only be jealous if it were his wife.

（AH）

Posted on 2026-10-19 17:20:13

Pressures on Hungarian journalists are reportedly easing after the fall of
long-ruling former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Orban came down hard on media and the press, with an independent analysis
finding that about 80% of the media market was controlled by Orban and his
far-right Fidesz party.

Under the new center-right, pro European government of Prime Minister Peter
Magyar, pressure on independent jouranlists has eased.

After taking office in May, Magyar's administration suspended news
programming on public radio and television.

Viewers who tuned in saw only white text on a black screen which read:
“Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so many years!”

Posted on 2026-10-19 14:07:13

The Tourism Administration says no Taiwan tour groups have been impacted by
protests in Europe.

Demonstrations escalated into violent clashes and looting in parts of France,
Italy, and Albania over recent days.

Local travel agencies say group itineraries in Paris and other cities remain
normal, with guides instructed to steer clear of protest sites and monitor
local traffic conditions.

And they say tour directors are actively monitoring conditions to safeguard
tour groups.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained Level 1 Gray travel advisories for
popular European destinations including France, Italy, and Germany.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-19 14:07:13

Facing a sharp pull-back in Taiwan's stock market, the Financial Supervisory
Commission said it'll respect market mechanisms and only intervene if the
market becomes dysfunctional or investors behave irrationally."

F-S-C chair Peng Jin-long (彭金隆) also said Taiwan's market fundamentals remain
sound based on the publicly-listed companies' profit reports during the first
nine months of this year.

While the semiconductor index in Taiwan dropped over 11-percent last week,
the benchmark Taiex declined by 4.5-percent, and Peng said that it's much
more stable compared with other Asian markets.

Peng made the comments when answering lawmakers' questions this morning about
whether his agency will introduce measures to stabilize the market, including
restrictions on short selling.

He stressed that the F-S-C has measures in place to respond to various market
conditions and is continuing to closely monitor developments.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-10-19 14:07:13

The Tourism Administration says domestic hotel reservation rates averaged 60
percent for the first two days of the upcoming three-day Retrocession Day
holiday

Officials say Lienchiang County recorded the highest occupancy forecast at 78
percent, with Tainan City and Taipei City ranking second and third.

They point out that Lienchiang County has maintained the highest lodging
reservation rate among all county-level destinations across four consecutive
national holidays.

The agency says nine administrative regions exceeded the national average
booking rate, with favorable weather boosting travel to the Matsu Islands.

And they expect final hotel occupancy numbers to rise as more travelers
finalize last-minute domestic trips.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-19 14:07:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 298 points to
close the session at 46822

The turnover was 825.1 billion NT

Posted on 2026-10-19 14:07:13

French President Emmanuel Macron is expressing anger and shame over protests
in France.

People have turned out in droves to protest rising living costs and poor
school conditions.

Police have cracked down on protests, arresting at least 1800 people across
the country.

Macron has blamed radical far-left groups and criminals, even though the vast
majority of the arrested are minors.

This comes as the president is set to finish up his second and final term in
office next year.

The president held an emergency meeting with officials and instructed
measures to protect public buildings.

In Paris, police used tear gas on protesters, as some looted businesses.

Authorities have estimated that yesterday's protests saw about 550,000
present, but organizers say the number was closer to 800,000.

Posted on 2026-10-19 06:52:14

President Lai Ching-te has thanked Palau's visiting President Surangel S.
Whipps for his support for Taiwan's participation in international
organizations.

The president made the comments during the opening of a new Shin Kong Wu
Ho-su Memorial Hospital building in Taipei, where Whipps was also a guest.

Lai expressed his appreciation for Whipps' refusal to yield to refusing to
pressure from Beijing, after it interfered in the country’s presidential
election when Whipps was seeking re-election.

Palau's president spoke out in support of Taiwan at the United Nations and
the Pacific Islands Forum, which was hosted by Palau this year.

The Shin Kong Wu Ho-su Memorial Hospital has worked with Palau develop
healthcare services and has stationed nurses in the Pacific allied nation
since 2007.

Whipps' visit to Taiwan has been timed to coincide with 20 years of medical
cooperation between the two countries.

Posted on 2026-10-19 06:52:14

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says he believes newly passed legislation
fully subsidizing National Health Insurance premiums for most seniors will
increase the financial burden on younger generations.

Lawmakers passed amendments to the Senior Citizens Welfare Act last Friday.

Under the amendments, the central government will be required to fully cover
National Health Insurance premiums for people aged 65 and older whose total
consolidated income is subject to an income tax rate below 20-per cent.

Shih says figures show that young children and seniors use far more in health
care services than they pay in premiums and the difference is borne by the
working-age population, who get sick less often and pay more on average.

The health ministry has said that because the 20-per cent tax bracket applies
only to taxable income above 1.33-million N-T this year, as many as 83-per
cent of seniors will qualify for the subsidy program.

The health ministry estimates the subsidies will cost about 40-billion N-T a
year at current levels, and that cost will rise as the population ages, even
as premium income falls because of a shrinking workforce.

Posted on 2026-10-19 06:52:14

Two suspects who allegedly fled to South Korea after taking part in a fatal
assault in Kaohsiung's Nanzih District last month have been repatriated to
Taiwan and taken into custody.

Police says a 25-year-old used-car dealership owner and a 23-year-old
employee were detained after arriving at Taoyuan International Airport.

The Kaohsiung City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Corps says
South Korean police arrested the two after Criminal Investigation Bureau
requested assistance through its liaison officer in South Korea.

The case came to light on September 30, when a 22-year-old man called police
to report that he had accidentally beaten a coworker to death.

That man later drove the victim's body to a police station and turned himself
in - telling them the attack stemmed from a dispute over a 100,000 debt
allegedly owed by the victim.

Ciaotou Prosecutors say four people have ordered detained pending further
investigation, one person has been released on bail of 200,000 N-T, while a
juvenile involved in the case has been placed in protective custody.

Posted on 2026-10-19 06:52:14

The National Freeway Bureau says heavy traffic can be expected on the
island's freeways over the coming three-day holiday weekend.

Initial estimates from the bureau show projected traffic volumes of between
106 to 112 million vehicle-kilometers.

Southbound traffic on the first day is forecast to reach
61-vehicle-kilometers during, or 1.3 times the regular Saturday traffic
volume.

The bureau is advising southbound travelers on Saturday and Sunday to depart
before 6AM or after noon, when using Freeways No. 1 and No. 3, while those
using Freeway No. 3 should leave before 5AM or after 5PM.

Northbound travelers on Sunday and Monday of next week are being advised to
depart before 9AM , while those in center should plan to leave before noon.

Posted on 2026-10-19 06:52:14

The Central Weather Administration says it could issue a sea warning for
Typhoon Champi as early as Wednesday night, and that could possibly be
followed by a land warning on Thursday night or sometime on Friday.

The typhoon is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan on Friday and
Saturday.

It's forecast to bring heavy rain to the north and center as well as to the
Yilan and Hualien areas.

Typhoon Champi is currently located some 2,200-kilometers east-southeast of
Eluanbi at the island's southernmost tip and is moving in a
west-northwesterly direction at 22-kilometers-an-hour.

The storm has a radius of 200-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds
of 183-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 226-kilometers-an-hour.

The weather administration says Typhoon Champi is currently forecast to will
maintain its strength as it heads toward waters northeast of Taiwan.

The administration's latest tracking chart shows the storm veering in a more
northerly direction, away from the east coast on Friday and Saturday.

BUT the forecast center says it's too early to say if the storm will continue
on that path.

Posted on 2026-10-19 06:52:14

Pope Leo XIV has thanked the faithful in St. Peter’s Square for their prayers
after his hospitalization for lung surgery.
Leo addressed the faithful from window overlooking the square... he said he
would gradually resume his activities with God's help.

The pontiff had a malignant tumor removed last week and expressed gratitude
to the medical staff at Gemelli hospital.
He said the experience made him feel closer to those facing illness.

The 71-year-old pope is recovering well and plans to continue his duties,
including a scheduled trip to South America in November.

His surgeon sees no clinical reasons to cancel the trip.

Posted on 2026-10-17 12:07:13

As the weather starts to cool, hot spring season is ramping up.

The 2026-27 Taiwan Hot Spring and Fine-Cuisine Carnival is underway, bringing
together 19 hot spring areas across the island.

The current campaign combines Taiwan's mineral springs with local food,
hiking, culture and accommodation, giving travelers plenty of reasons to turn
a soak into a full getaway.

Chef Edward Lee, known from Netflix's Culinary Class Wars, is joining the
campaign as one of its hot spring travel guides.

The Lishan-Guguan Light Art Festival is one of the carnival hot spots ...
where visitors can pair a daytime soak with nighttime light displays through
November 1st.

The nationwide hot spring campaign continues through June 30th next year.

Posted on 2026-10-17 12:07:13

President Trump has signed an executive order that puts on hold a sweeping
new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy.

Trump says the pause is in the national interest.

Named after late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the sanctions package
had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources
fueling Russia's war against Ukraine.

The executive order comes a week after Trump stunned observers by announcing
that the US had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down
energy prices -- a move that will likely hurt Ukraine.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-10-17 11:20:13

Taipei's historic Dadaocheng district is being transformed into a stage for
local and international artists at the Tua-Tiu-Tiann International Festival
of Arts.

Organizers say the festival blends the neighborhood's cultural history with a
playful, contemporary spirit.

Music Global curator Matt Fullen describes one of the festival's main events
that takes place this afternoon -- a street parade featuring historical and
creative costumes

Now in its 12th year, triple-T I-F-A (TTTIFA) is a festival of dance, music,
lectures and theatre -- set against the backdrop of one of Taipei's oldest
neighborhoods.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-10-17 11:20:13

Game 4 of the American League Championship Series has been postponed because
of rain.

The Cleveland Guardians lead the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1.

The delay is working in favor of the Milwaulkie Brewers, who swept their
series against the LA Dodgers earlier Friday.

Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer to help the Dodgers take an early 4-nil
lead in that game, but the Brewers were able to score six unanswered runs to
win in nine innings.

If the Guardians and Rays go seven games, the winner will go up against the
Brewers at home with only three days' rest next Friday.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-10-16 19:17:13

New Taipei City council candidate Talud, also known as "忠仁．達祿斯", has been
released on 80-thosuand NT bail and placed under house arrest over
allegations of vote-buying.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office says Talud hosted banquets for
voters in March, involving around 18 tables at 5-thosuand NT each.

Prosecutors have searched locations and questioned 20 witnesses as part of
the investigation.

Talud previously served as a councilor in Taipei County and later New Taipei
City.

However, he was removed from office and stripped of his civil rights in 2021
after being convicted of preparing to offer a bribe.

He is now running as an independent candidate in New Taipei City's 12th
electoral district, which represents lowland Indigenous people.

(JM)

Posted on 2026-10-16 19:17:13

An engineer surnamed Chen has been accused of illegally betting on the
outcomes of Taiwan’s local government elections.

Prosecutors in Nantou County say that Chen used a virtual private network, or
VPN, to access Polymarket.

That's a platform where gamblers can place bets on the outcomes of future
events, and it has been banned in Taiwan.

Chen is said to have wagered cryptocurrency worth roughly NT18,000 on the
results of the elections for the heads of five local governments.

These actions violate the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, which
prohibits gambling on elections.

Bail has been set at NT50,000 and his cryptocurrency is currently being held.

(JM)

Posted on 2026-10-16 19:17:13

International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva is calling for
safeguards to manage the risks of artificial intelligence, comparing the
technology to a Formula One car that could go off track.

Georgieva stressed the need for regulation to prevent potential harm.

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark echoed her concerns, saying toys face more
regulation than A-I.

He called for policy frameworks to guide the technology's development.

An I-M-F study estimates A-I could transform or create 10 percent of jobs,
while repetitive tasks could disappear.

Georgieva also stressed the need for reliable electricity and digital
networks to help countries benefit from A-I.

Posted on 2026-10-16 19:17:13

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his government have condemned
remarks by China's ambassador to Manila, calling them a thinly veiled threat
to use force.

The dispute began after Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
described China as a "troublemaker."

On Thursday, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan dismissed the criticism as
"nonsense" and suggested the Philippines should feel fortunate to have China
as a neighbor.

Marcos said the ambassador's remarks sounded like a threat.

China and the Philippines have long clashed over competing territorial claims
in the South China Sea, leading to repeated confrontations.

Posted on 2026-10-16 19:17:13

Indian authorities have tightened security in New Delhi and closed a central
park ahead of a protest by the youth-led "Cockroach" movement.

The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of India's election chief
over a review of voter lists that has removed more than 130 million names
since last year.

Opposition parties and the movement say the review is politically motivated
and disproportionately affects minorities, particularly Muslims.

The Election Commission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government deny
the allegations.

Modi has not publicly commented on the protests, while some members of his
party have dismissed the demonstrators as "anarchists".

Posted on 2026-10-16 18:28:13

DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen says incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an's
proposal to relocate Songshan Airport must address how emergency medical
evacuations would be handled.

Shen says nine major hospitals are within a 10-to-15-minute drive of the
airport ... making it difficult to replace its role in transporting patients
who need urgent medical care.

He argues that expanding Taoyuan International Airport's capacity would not
necessarily provide the same emergency services.

Shen also criticizes the Taipei City Government's 2023 letter supporting the
relocation, saying it failed to address national defense, security and
disaster response concerns.

He acknowledges that relocating the airport could free up valuable land for
development, but says suitable alternatives must be worked out before any
move goes ahead ...

... adding that any relocation could take between 10 to 20 years.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-16 18:28:13

The Central Election Commission is removing 10 former city council candidates
from the registration rolls.

That includes a New Party Taipei City Council candidate, Yu Zhi Bin游智彬, who
has not met the minimum 10 year requirement of giving up Chinse household
registration.

Yu only turned in his loss of household registration in China to authorities
last year...

but the law dictates that Chinese nationals must wait 10 years after doing so
before they can run for office.

Meanwhile KMT New Taipei candidate Lin Zheng Feng 林正峰 was removed for
violating the Money Laundering Control Act...

Taichung's Zheng Bo Qi 鄭伯其, an independent, was removed for fraud, and Tsao
Wei-kuo 曹暐國 was removed for possession of a weapon.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 18:28:13

The Ministry of Finance is warning businesses about scam emails disguised as
corporate income tax assessment notices.

The National Taxation Bureau of the Northern Area says several companies have
received the fraudulent messages ... and warns recipients not to click
suspicious links or open attachments.

The bureau says important tax matters are handled through formal written
notices, not emails containing unfamiliar links or files.

Businesses are urged to verify suspicious messages through official tax
authority channels and avoid entering sensitive information on unverified
websites.

Anyone who receives a suspected scam email can also call Taiwan's 1-6-5
anti-fraud hotline or contact their local tax office.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-16 18:28:13

weekend

The Freeway Bureau advises travellers to use public transportation on
National Freeway 5 between Nangang in Taipei and Su'ao in Yilan next weekend.

That's the Retrocession Day long weekend, which runs from next Saturday (the
24th) to the following Monday (the 26th).

The Bureau predicts a time saving of 30 minute in each direction by taking a
bus, as they will be given dedicated lanes and be allowed to drive on the
shoulders of the freeway.

The Bureau plans to close the southbound entrance ramps at Shiding and
Pinglin during peak hours, and could implement special measures at the
Nangang System Interchange in Taipei, where National Freeways 3 and 5 meet.

(FEEL FREE TO CUT THE BELOW)

The southbound queue at Nangang could reach up to 10 kilometres long on the
Saturday.

And on Monday, the northbound queue at the entrance to the Hsuehshan Tunnel
in Toucheng Township in Yilan County could reach up to 6.5 kilometres.

(JM)

Posted on 2026-10-16 18:28:13

Could flying cars soon be allowed on Taiwan's roads?

The Ministry of Transportation says any vehicle capable of flying would have
to meet both road safety and civil aviation regulations.

The comments follow interest in a new Tesla model reportedly capable of
hovering or flying.

A transport ministry official says information on Tesla's website suggests
the vehicle has not yet been approved for use on public roads.

The ministry says it plans to investigate the vehicle's capabilities and
whether it has been approved for use in the United States ... before
discussing the issue with other government agencies.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-16 17:08:14

A KMT proposal to double next year's universal cash payment to 20-thousand NT
has been fast-tracked to a second reading at the Legislative Yuan, forgoing a
first reading.

Lawmakers from the opposition KMT and TPP voted in favor of the move today,
despite objections from the ruling DPP.

President Lai Ching-te announced plans in August to distribute 10-thousand NT
to citizens next year.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu says the proposal will now go to cross-party
negotiations, with the KMT caucus responsible for convening the talks.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-16 17:08:14

A Taoyuan man's 7 and a half year prison sentence for drugging and raping his
female employee has been finalized.

The man, surnamed Wu 伍 was a manager at a convenience store in Taoyuan
district back in 2021, when he allegedly dosed her drink during a night shift
they were working together.

The employee lost consciousness, and Wu took advantage of her inebriated
state to rape her.

The Taoyuan District Court originally sentenced Wu to 8 years in prison,
which he appealed.

But the Taiwan High Court revised the sentence to 7 and a half years, saying
that Wu infringed on the girl's bodily autonomy.

The court added that Wu did not express remorse or make amends with the
girl's family after the fact.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 17:08:14

8 students in Taipei's Tianmu are suffering from suspected food poisoning
after eating their free school lunch.

The city's education department says they've already sent samples from the
Tianmu Junior High School for testing.

Results are expected in 2 weeks.

Some of the students were reportedly suffering from swollen lips and
discomfort and were taken to the hospital.

The education department says that the food in question was provided by the
Ai Xin food company in new Taipei and was provided to 6 other schools in
Taipei as well...

however, they say they have not received reports of food poisoning from other
schools.

The students have now returned to classes.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 17:08:14

Now turning to international news...

Pakistan has ordered the inspection of all private schools in the province of
Khyber Pakhtunkwa after a school roof collapse killed nearlly 3 dozen people.

Some victims relatives say the structure was weak before the disaster.

At least one person had also warned the owner about leaks.

The province's education department set up committees to carry out the
inspections and submit findings and recommendations within three days.

Police have arrested the school's owner, who told officers that recent rains
had indeed weakened one of the roofs.

Posted on 2026-10-16 17:08:14

Puerto Rico is raising concerns about a new proposal that would require the
Head Start programs for low-income children to be taught in only English.

Educators and government officials in the US territory say it would be
incredibly expensive and nearly impossible to find bilingual teachers.

English and Spanish are both official languages in Puerto Rico, but mot
residents do not speak English fluently.

Officials warn the change will undermine kids' connection to their language
and culture.

Some local groups are seeking a waiver to exempt Puerto Rico from the
proposal from the Trum administration.

Few deny the value of learning English, but critics say imposing it without
Spanish would be insulting and expensive.

Posted on 2026-10-16 15:43:13

The Ministry of National Defense says that 8 PLA planes crossed the median
line of the Taiwan strait in the 24 hours between 6 am yesterday and the same
time today, as did 9 military vessels and 7 government vessels.

The MND says it's closely monitoring the situation and has deployed mission
aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 15:43:13

A borough chief in Taoyuan's Yangmei has posted bail in a vote-buying
investigation.

The borough chief, surnamed Hao (郝), is seeking reelection.

Prosecutors say that Hao twice gave sums of two to three thousand NT to over
a hundred households in the area under the guise of "donations."

His wife and a campaign worker were also questioned yesterday.

Hao was released on bail of 100,000 NT.

Prosecutors also seized 300,000 NT that is believed to be the money Hao used
for the alleged bribes.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 15:43:13

Taipei's historic Dadaocheng district is becoming a stage for local and
international artists as the Tua-Tiu-Tiann International Festival of Arts
returns for another year.

Organizers say the festival blends the neighborhood's cultural history with a
playful, contemporary spirit.

Music Global curator Matt Fullen adds that one of the festival's main events
is a street parade this Saturday featuring historical and creative costumes,
along with theatre, music, and circus arts.

Already in its 12th year, TTTIFA (triple-T I-F-A) is a festival of dance,
music, lectures and theatre, set against the backdrop of one of Taipei’s
oldest neighborhoods.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-10-16 15:43:13

Non-stop rains have forced roughly a thousand families to evacuate their
homes in the region of Ciudad del Este in eastern Paraguay, close to the
triple border with Brazil and Argentina.

These rains have been attributed to El Niño, a weather phenomenon that warms
the Pacific and intensifies droughts, floods, and other extreme weather
conditions.

This natural meteorological event amplifies manmade climate change.

Scientists say that this year's El Niño started in June and might be the most
intense ever.

The Parana and Uruguay Rivers have already overflowed, submerging dozens of
houses.

And the Devil's Throat, the most famous of the waterfalls at Iguazu Falls,
has been closed since August.

Floods destroyed several footbridges at Iguazu, the world's largest waterfall
system, during the last El Niño three years ago, and the flow of water
running at Iguazu is ten times its normal amount.

Posted on 2026-10-16 15:43:13

Sources say that Ukraine has run out of Patriot interceptor air defence
missiles.

These American-made missiles have allowed Ukraine to intercept Russian
ballistic missiles, and without them, Ukraine is more vulnerable to Russian
attacks.

Russia hit three power plants in Kyiv on Tuesday night.

This was in spite of a ceasefire announced by Donald Trump over the weekend
on strikes against energy facilities.

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned about dwindling stocks of
Patriot missiles for months now.

He has asked Washington to licence Ukrainian factories to manufacture such
missiles on home soil.

Ukraine resumed its attacks on Russia yesterday, retaliation characterised by
Trump as a "disgrace".

Zelenskyy went to Brussels yesterday to call on his European allies to
maintain pressure on Russia.

Posted on 2026-10-16 15:43:13

Officials in Nevada have identified a body found with a gunshot wound to the
head in a barrel in Lake Mead.

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States and is located 40
kilometres east of Las Vegas.

The barrel washed up four years ago, surfacing as water levels dropped
precipitously after a severe drought.

Edward "Buddy" Lelburian Jackson was identified through his DNA.

He is believed to have died in the 1980s, when he was in his 50s.

Jackson came from Arkansas and had no known ties to Las Vegas.

His death is not believed to be related to the mob or to gambling.

Lake Mead provides water to 20 million people in Nevada, Arizona, California,
and even parts of Mexico.

Authorities predict more bodies will turn up as water levels continue to fall.

Three other bodies have already been found in the lake.

Two of these deaths have been attributed to drowning; the other death is
still unexplained.

Posted on 2026-10-16 14:06:13

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research has raised its forecast for
Taiwan's economic growth this year to 12.16 percent ... driven by booming
demand for artificial intelligence.

The forecast is the highest among major forecasting institutions and would
mark Taiwan's fastest annual growth since 1988.

CIER says strong demand for AI-related hardware is boosting exports of
semiconductors, electronics and communications products.

Domestic spending is also picking up, supported by a stronger job market and
rising stock prices.

Private investment is expected to grow by nearly 11 percent as technology
companies expand production and traditional industries upgrade their
equipment.

However, the institute has raised its inflation forecast to 2.06 percent,
citing high oil prices ... as Middle East tensions persist.

Economists say AI demand remains strong, but warn that maintaining such rapid
investment growth could become increasingly difficult.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-16 14:06:13

A candidate for city councilor in Tainan and their father have posted bail in
an investigation into vote buying.

They're accused of holding banquets for constituents planning to travel to
China, from April to June.

The two have been released on bail of 1 million and 1.5 million NT.

The candidate is running in Tainan's second electoral district, which
includes Jiali, Xigang, Qigu, Jiangjun, Xuejia, and Beimen.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 14:06:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 141 points to
close the session at 47111.

The turnover was 935.9 billion NT

Posted on 2026-10-16 14:06:13

Now turning to international news...

The head of a truckers union in Gaza says, Israel has cut off imports of
commercial goods into the strip.

The Gaza Strip is 100% reliant on Israel for imports of commercial goods, so
if Israel doesn't allow items to enter the strip, there's no other way to get
them.

Israeli authorities claim that the suspension is due to local vendors'
decisions.

The halt to commercial shipments like fruit and winter clothing cuts off a
key source of food and other critical supplies as fears grow about getting
supplies needed to get through winter.

Aid groups generally bring in staples like flour, while merchants import more
perishable foods like fruits and meat.

The suspension is raising fears about affordability, with humanitarian
workers saying a combination of aid and a robust commercial market is needed
to keep prices under control.

The world's leading authority on food insecurity earlier reported that
conditions in Gaza were improving since famine was declared there last
August, but said that they were still at crisis levels.

The report added that "even small disruptions to humanitarian access could
rapidly reverse recent gains.”

Posted on 2026-10-16 14:06:13

In France, teenagers are protesting for better resources in schools.

That's led to clashes with one of Europe's largest internal security forces.

This comes as the tail end of President Emmanuel Macron's 10 years in power
is seeing protests that hurt his popularity.

This round of protests have resulted in mass arrests, with many teenagers
detained or injured.

The vast majority of the 8000 people arrested in recent weeks are minors, and
police usage of weapons is being blamed for life-changing injuries suffered
by some young people.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said this week that security forces
have used crowd-control weapons at least 18,000 times during the protests —
mostly smoke and tear gas but also projectiles and grenades.

Posted on 2026-10-16 13:07:13

The Tainan district court has approved prosecutors' request to detain 4
people suspected of embezzling funds transported in an armored vehicle.

Prosecutors say, the four people conspired to steal 14.5 million NT in the
scheme.

One of the man who allegedly worked on the truck and facilitated the scheme,
surnamed Kuo, is believed to have distracted his coworker on October 8th,
driven the truck off course...

and stolen the 14.5 million NT before escaping the truck and leaving on a
pre-prepared motorbike.

Police then arrested Kuo and three suspected accomplices in Taichung and
Tainan, and recovered 12.5 million NT.

Police say the suspects used the other 2 milllion NT to buy cars and phones,
among other things.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 13:07:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An is pledging to build more social housing, while
saying that his achievements as mayor are thanks to the foundation built by
former mayor Ke Wen Zhe.

On a podcast appearance alongside TPP chair Huang Kuo Chang last night,
Chiang said that the construction of the Taipei Dome was ultimately because
of Ke's contributions.

He made the statements after commenters on the livestream questioned why
Chiang failed to thank Ke at ribbon-cutting ceremonies and when promoting his
achievements as mayor.

Chiang pushed back on the claim, saying that he had several times thanked Ke,
crediting him for the Shanghai-Taipei Twin Cities Forum and other events.

As for social housing, Chiang also thanked Ke for promoting the policy and
prioritizing newlyweds and families with young children.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-16 13:07:13

Now turning to international news...

Drone attacks on cargo ships in the Black Sea this month have raised concerns
among NATO members.

Those attacks near Romania and Bulgaria threaten shipping routes and have
killed crew members and left others missing.

NATO suspects Russia of being behind the attacks but has no evidence to back
it up.

Some believe the attacks are in an effort to pull other countries into the
war.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has
repeatedly attacked Ukrainian river ports, leaving Kyiv increasinly reliant
on alternative routes to get grain exports to markets in Africa and the
Middle East.

Russian drones have also repeatedly violated Romanian airspace near some of
Ukraine's Danube ports.

Earlier this month, sea and aerial drones attacked two other commercial
vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.

Posted on 2026-10-16 13:07:13

In related news,

A medical evacuation drone is being tested in Ukraine for battlefield
evacuations that ground vehicles can't get to.

The drone can carry a casualty up to 15 kilometers, going over obstacles like
mines and enemy drones.

This week, the drone, called StarGate was handed off to a combat brigade for
evaluation under frontline conditions.

Stargate has been developed by the Ukrainian defense tech company SkyFall...

which emerged after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has
become a major Ukrainian drone manufacturer.

If successful, StarGate could revolutionize how soldiers are evacuated from
the battlefield.

Posted on 2026-10-16 11:14:13

The Cabinet has approved an upgraded national dementia prevention and care
plan.

The plan is aimed at achieving the Lai administration's "Dementia-Friendly
Taiwan 888" targets by 2035, expanding support for younger patients while
strengthening early diagnosis, long-term care and public awareness.

The Dementia Prevention and Care Policy and Action Plan 3.0 were both
proposed by the Ministry of Health.

They are integrated into the government's Long-Term Care Plan 3.0 and,
according to the health ministry, focuses on "all ages and stages of the
disease and comprehensive support."

Under the plan, the government aims to achieve an 80-per cent accurate
dementia diagnosis rate, 80-per cent service coverage for people with
dementia, and 80-per cent dementia literacy among personnel in designated
organizations and service sectors by 2035

The initiative builds on the "Dementia-Friendly Taiwan 777" targets, which
the government says were achieved in 2025

According to government data, there are about 10,000 people with early-onset
dementia and around 400,000 older adults living with the condition here in
Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-10-16 11:14:13

Trains are set to begin running underground in Tainan from tomorrow - when
the new underground section of track opens to the public after reaching its
first-stage completion.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the 8.2-kilometer underground section
eliminates 23 railway crossings and related structures, improving access for
pedestrians and cyclists while easing traffic bottlenecks.

The project was approved by the Cabinet in September of 2009.

The cost of the project rose over 17 years from an intial estimate of
33-billion N-T to 41.2-billion N-T.

The Railway Bureau says the full project is scheduled for completion by March
2031.

The transport ministry says once the existing tracks are removed, there are
plans to turn the former railway corridor into a greenway, with walking and
cycling paths and landscaped areas linking new stations, neighborhoods,
schools and public facilities.

Posted on 2026-10-16 11:14:13

Now turning to international news...

The Ukrainian military has faced sudden disruptions to SpaceX's Starshield
satellite connectivity, causing lost drones and failed operations.

The incident highlights Ukraine's reliance on Starshield and has raised
questions about who exactly controls access to it.

The satellite service has become critical to Ukraine's resistance against the
Russian invasion.

Some units have now reported restored connectivity, but the cause of the
disruptions remains unclear.

The incident adds to tensions between Ukraine and the US, which is a
relationship already strained by the US president's deal with Moscow on
Russian diesel imports...

which Ukraine and many European allies viewed as a betrayal.

The US government controls Starshield, which is designed for national
security and military missons.

Posted on 2026-10-16 11:14:13

The government of Cameroon says, 70 women have been killed for reasons
relating to their gender in the country this year.

The femicides have sparked protests and calls for government action.

Activists say inadequate laws and a poor judicial system contribute to the
crisis the government is working on a new bill to establish femicide as a
standalone criminal offense.

This year's figure marks an increase from estimates of 50 in 2023 and 67 in
2024.

The rise in killings has sparked protests and calls for government action, as
many murders remain unsolved while others are unreported.

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