ICRT

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:13

No damage or injuries are being reported following this morning's magnitude
4.7 earthquake that rattled Hualien.

The quake struck at 3:21 and was centered some 54-kilometers south southwest
of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 17-kilometers.

It was felt stongest in Hualien's Wanrong Township and Nantou's Yushan area -
where it registered a magnitude 4 on the Central Weather Administration's
intensity scale.

The quake registered a 3 on the intensity scale in other parts of Hualien and
2 in parts of Taitung, Chiayi and Tainan.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

The vice president of the European Parliament has called Taiwan's Vice
President Hsiao Bi-khim a role model for freedom-loving women around the
world.

Pina Picierno made the comment after Hsiao made an unannounced visit to Italy
to attend the Second Ventotene European Conference for Freedom and Democracy
late last week.

Picierno said she believes the world needs the courage of women and as
authoritarian regimes threaten democracies, there's an even greater need for
courageous women like Hsiao.

Picierno further acknowledged Hsiao's fight for human rights and women's
rights.

The Presidential Office has said Hsiao was invited to the event by its
organizers, despite strong protests from Beijing.

The trip was Hsiao's second visit to a European country since she took office
in May 2024.

Her first visit was in November of 2025 to Brussels to address a meeting of
the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

The military is scheduled to hold a three-day live-fire drill joint precision
strike drills later this week at its Jioupeng Base in Pingtung.

Defense officials say the exercise will include the use of missiles, rockets
and drones as part of efforts to assess long-range precision-strike
capabilities and test new equipment.

The annual exercise is hosted on an rotating basis by the Navy and the Air
Force and this year’s exercise is hosted by the Navy.

Three warning zones have been designated: one covers waters east of the
coastline from Taimali in Taitung to Eluanbi in Pingtung.

The second extends from the Taitung-Pingtung boundary eastward to waters off
Green Island and Orchid Island, while the third is located in waters east of
Chenggong and Taimali in Taitung.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

More than 100 Taiwanese-Americans, Taiwan lawmakers and members of civic
groups marched through New York City calling for Taiwan's inclusion in the
United Nations.

The participants included the Marshall Islands' United Nations envoy, John
Silk.

Silk expressed his hope that Taiwan will one day be able to participate in
U-N meetings as a member, saying that was a goal shared by Taiwan, the
Marshall Islands and the international community.

The march was headed by D-P-P lawmaker Wang Yi-chuan and Shih Shu-hua, the
head of the Taiwan United Nations Alliance.

Wang says the annual march provides an opportunity for Taiwan to make its
voice heard near the U-N headquarters.

Many foreign passers-by stopped to take photos or videos and gave the
marchers a thumbs-up when they heard the "UN for Taiwan" chants.

The 81st Session of the U-N General Assembly opened on September 8 and the
high-level General Debate is scheduled for September 22 through 28.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has been encouraging newlyweds to have children at a
mass wedding organized by Chunghwa Telecom in Taipei.

A total of 72 couples tied the knot at the event, Zhu had been invited to
served as a witness at the ceremony held at the Grand Hotel.

Zhu thanked the newlyweds for taking a step that he claimed could help Taiwan
"effectively address its demographic challenges."

But even as he encouraged the couples to have children, Zhu also stressed
that childbirth remains a personal choice.

He did use his speech to promote the Lai administration's plans to introduce
monthly child-rearing allowance starting next year, as well as expanded
childcare services and measures aimed at easing housing and education costs.

Zhu also said he hopes state-owned enterprises will organize more large-scale
mass weddings, noting that Tai-Power is also planning to hold one.

Data from the Ministry of the Interior shows that the number of births
dropped for a 10th consecutive year.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

The Taoyuan District Court has approved a detention order for a man who
allegedly held an airline intern at knifepoint at Taoyuan International
Airport this past weekend.

Taoyuan prosecutors filed a the request citing the pending charges against
the man, which include assault, deprivation of personal liberty with a
weapon, coercion and an offense against public safety.

The court says that statements from the victim and witnesses, as well as
body-camera and surveillance footage and photographs of the victim's
injuries, provided sufficient grounds to suspect the man of multiple
offenses.

The incident occured in the Cathay Pacific Airways staff lounge in Terminal
1, where man held a Cathay Pacific intern at knifepoint until police subdued
him by using pepper spray and tasers.

The victim and several police officers suffered only minor injurues.

Police say they found as bag containing drug residue and drug paraphernalia
after subduing the suspect.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

And,

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dwight Howard returned to Taiwan this past
weekend to attend a charity event organized by the New Taipei Kings and The
Asian Tournament at Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

Howard said he was "always glad" to return to Taiwan and he missed Taiwan's
food.

The basketball player led an Asian Tournament All-Star team in the "Kings
Heart Classic" after serving as a guest commentator for the Kings' friendly
match against the Macau Black Knights.

The Kings' says part of the proceeds from the event are being donated to PACK
Taiwan, an animal welfare organization.

Howard became one of Taiwan's most prominent foreign athletes after joining
the Taoyuan Leopards in the now-defunct T1 League for the 2022-2023 season,
following an 18-season N-B-A career.

He returned to Taiwan in July 2024 to play for the Taiwan Mustangs in The
Asian Tournament, in which he has an ownership stake.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

North Korea held a live-fire drill to test long-range artillery and missile
‌units of its army at the weekend.

Pyongyang's state media KCNA said the "joint firepower attack drill"
involved five army units and tested several weapon systems, including
various attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, tactical ballistic
missiles, and large-caliber multiple rocket launchers.

The drill was reportedly held to boost the morale of the troops and improve
their capabilities ‌to "completely ⁠collapse the enemy" anytime an order is
placed,

The live fire drill was held after last week's joint military exercise among
South Korea, Japan and the United States.

Posted on 2026-09-14 07:03:14

State-run media in Iran say an Iranian commercial vessel has been struck off
Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, with one person killed and four
wounded.
There was no immediate statement from the U.S. military, which has previously
struck Iranian-flagged vessels as part of its blockade of Iranian ports.

After the attack, a plan by Tehran to brief countries in the region on its
contested efforts to manage shipping in the strait was postponed.

The foreign minister of Oman, which was going to host the talks, said via
social media that the meeting had been postponed “in the interests of
consensus.”

Posted on 2026-09-12 14:07:13

A US court has declared that the Energy Department exceeded its authority by
forcing a Michigan coal-fired power plant to remain open past its scheduled
retirement date last year.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright had said the 64-year-old J.H. Campbell plant
was needed to ensure reliable electricity in the region, and he used
emergency powers to keep it operating.

Environmental groups and three states -- Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota --
went to court to try to overturn orders keeping the plant online.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the
plaintiffs -- saying there was no real emergency.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-12 14:07:13

US President Donald Trump is landing in Dublin today for talks with Ireland's
president and prime minister.

It's part of a weekend trip that has more to do with a major golf tournament
being played at a club he owns in Doonbeg.

Trump is set to hold separate meetings with Irish President Catherine
Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin.
Trump also plans remarks to US and Irish business leaders at the US
ambassador's official residence before he travels to Doonbeg, which is on the
country's Atlantic coast. The Irish Open ends tomorrow.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-12 13:07:14

In community news:

The British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei has established a new community
service award in memory of longtime Taiwan resident Michael Boyden.

His wife, Katy Boyden, accepted the inaugural award on his behalf during the
chamber's 10th Better Business Awards.

She says her late husband's willingness to help others made him the
equivalent of a li-chang (里長), or ward chief, for the international
community.

Moving forward the award will continue to recognize others who contribute to
Taiwan's local and international communities.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-09-12 13:07:14

A federal jury has found rapper Lil Durk not guilty of attempted
murder-for-hire of rival rapper Quando Rondo.

The shooting at a Los Angeles gas station resulted in the death of Rondo's
cousin.

The jury deliberated for three days before acquitting Lil Durk of conspiracy
and murder-for-hire.

Supporters including Machine Gun Kelly and Ye attended the trial.

Durk remains in custody pending a racketeering trial.

Prosecutors alleged Durk paid to have Rondo killed after a member of Rondo's
entourage fatally shot rapper King Von in 2020. Durk's legal name is Durk
Banks.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-12 12:08:13

The 2026 Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon will take place on November 1st, inviting
runners to experience the islands' coastal scenery, local culture and autumn
charm.

The internationally certified IAAF/AIMS course follows a point-to-point route
connecting Penghu's main islands, without doubling back or circling the same
course. More than 3 thousand runners are expected to participate.

Along the way, participants can fuel up on lobster and more than 60 Penghu
specialties, including seafood gnocchi soup, mackerel, flying fish roe
sausages and brown sugar cake. Creative local cheerleading squads will line
the route to encourage competitors.

To promote sustainable tourism, the marathon enforces a single-use-cup
policy, requiring runners to bring reusable hydration gear.

With expansive sea views, pleasant autumn weather, and Penghu's iconic
seasonal breezes, the event offers an ideal way to explore "The Most
Beautiful Bays in the World" on foot.

Posted on 2026-09-12 12:08:13

A Hong Kong court has sentenced three activists who for years organized
vigils to mark China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

The three organizers will serve prison terms of about five to seven years.

The case was widely seen as a barometer of the city's freedoms as Beijing
clamps down on dissent.

Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho were convicted of inciting
subversion earlier this year under a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Lee and Chow were sentenced to terms of seven years and seven years and three
months, respectively. Ho was given a shorter sentence of five years and two
months, partly because of his guilty plea.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-12 12:08:13

Ben Shelton won the all-American semifinal duel with Frances Tiafoe ...
putting him in position to potentially end a long drought of Grand Slam
championship titles for American men.

Shelton lost the first set but won the next three. He'll play No. 1 seed
Alexander Zverev tomorrow for the US Open title.

The No. 8-seeded Shelton managed to defeat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz
in a quarterfinal match that ended Wednesday at 3:33 am local time.

It was the latest finish ever at the US Open.

If he wins against Zverev he'll be the first men's major winner since Andy
Roddick in 2003.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-12 11:06:13

South Korea says North Korea has launched multiple short-range ballistic
missiles toward the waters off its east coast.

South Korea's military said it detected the launches of several missiles from
North Korea's eastern coastal Wonsan area today.

The US Pacific Command says the launch event didn't pose an immediate threat
to US or allied territory.

The launch comes a day after the US, South Korea and Japan ended their
five-day military drill that North Korea views as a security threat.

South Korea's military has said the Freedom Edge exercise is defensive in
nature.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-12 11:06:13

The death toll from a ferry fire in the Philippines has risen to 35, with 54
still missing.

The fire erupted Wednesday night, and rescuers struggled Thursday to search
the vessel due to heat and smoke.

The ferry was near its destination in Palawan province when the fire was
reported.

The cause remains unknown.

According to the manifest, 134 people were onboard. Sea accidents are common
in the Philippines due to storms, poorly maintained vessels and
overcrowding.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-11 19:01:14

Instagram is introducing a new safety feature in Taiwan that alerts parents
when their teenage children repeatedly search for terms related to suicide or
self-harm.

The alerts will be sent through the app or by email to parents using
Instagram's supervision tools.

Teens making those searches will also be directed to support resources and
helplines.

Meta says the system is designed to trigger only after repeated searches
within a short period ... to avoid excessive notifications and "alert
fatigue".

The company says the feature is intended to help parents notice sooner when a
teenager may be struggling and need support.

Meta is also encouraging families to use tools such as screen-time limits,
content filters and Sleep Mode to promote healthier digital habits.

Parents can use Instagram's Family Center to check how much time their
children spend on the platform and who they interact with.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-11 19:01:14

In news from the world of sport ...

The Uni-President Lions will honor retiring veteran Mayaw Ciru with
large-scale drone light shows at his farewell series next weekend.

The team says series takes place Sept. 19th and 20th at the Tainan
Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers, with each
post-game performance featuring 613 drones illuminating the night sky above
center field.

The figure 6-1-3 references the jersey numbers six and 13 worn by Hu
Chin-lung and Mayaw Ciru during their iconic 2001 national team partnership.

And displays at the center will trace Chen's career from his Taitung roots to
his 16 seasons in Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Team officials noted that the shows remain subject to weather conditions,
with live broadcast feeds available on stadium screens.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-11 19:01:14

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken control of Mayun Island off Yemen's
western coast after government forces withdrew.

A senior Houthi military official confirmed that the rebels were on the
island, also known as Perim, which lies about two miles from Yemen's coast.

The strategically located island sits near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key
shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis say their advance is part of an effort to target Saudi shipping.

Posted on 2026-09-11 19:01:14

British lawmakers are voting again on legislation that would allow terminally
ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives.

The Terminally Ill Adults, or End of Life, Bill returned to the House of
Commons today.

The previous effort to advance the bill was delayed in the House of Lords,
where opponents used procedural tactics to block its progress.

Under the proposed law, adults with fewer than six months to live could apply
for an assisted death, subject to approval from two doctors and an expert
panel.

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:57:14

Taiwan's tax revenue rose sharply in August ... boosted by strong stock
market trading activity.

The Ministry of Finance says total tax revenue reached 198.2-billion NT ...
up 28.9 percent from a year earlier.

Securities transaction tax revenue nearly doubled to 54-billion NT ...
marking its 13th consecutive month of growth.

Revenue from business tax, corporate income tax and individual income tax
also increased.

For the first eight months of the year, total tax revenue reached about
3.075-trillion NT ... up over 25 percent year-on-year.

Securities transaction tax accounted for the largest increase during the
period ... rising by 285.5-billion NT from a year earlier.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:57:14

U-S memory chipmaker Micron Technology says it will give workers in Taiwan
bonuses worth the equivalent of 35 to 68 months' pay for fiscal year 2026 ...

... after the company's Taiwan union threatened to strike.

Micron says more than 60 thousand employees worldwide will receive rewards,
which it describes as the largest in the company's history.

In Taiwan, more than 15 thousand employees will receive at least NT$1.7
million in cash compensation for the year.

The company also plans to give NT$1 million bonuses to eligible employees.

The announcement comes after about 80 percent of workers at Micron's Taoyuan
and Taichung plants supported a union plan to strike over the company's bonus
policies.

The union had complained that Micron's bonuses were lower than those offered
by rivals such as Samsung and SK Hynix.

Micron says the record rewards reflect its strong financial performance and
are meant to let employees share in the company's success.

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:57:14

Diesel prices in the U-S have hit another record, rising above 6 dollars a
gallon on average as the war with Iran disrupts global fuel supplies.

The American Automobile Association, says the national average is now $6.05
U-S dollars a gallon — about 64 percent higher than it was a year ago and up
nearly 3-and-a-half percent from last week.

Higher diesel prices are raising transportation costs for a wide range of
everyday goods because diesel powers much of the freight and delivery
industry.

Some businesses have already passed those higher costs on to consumers
through added fees.

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:56:14

Taiwan is again warning citizens about increased risks when traveling to
China ... as new entry and exit rules take effect there next Tuesday.

An adviser to the Presidential Office's National Security Council says
Chinese authorities could target civil servants, religious group members and
engineers in sensitive technology and defense industries.

The adviser says Beijing is seeking information on everything from civil
defense shelters and critical supplies to logistics routes and
infrastructure.

He says some Taiwanese police officers, judicial personnel and religious
group members have already been questioned or detained during visits to
China.

China's new rules allow authorities to restrict people from leaving the
country for up to three years over national security offenses, and
indefinitely in some technology and export-related cases.

Taiwan's government is drafting travel guidelines to help citizens reduce the
risks.

The advisor says some foreign companies require employees traveling to China
to use separate phones instead of their personal devices.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:56:14

Minimum Wage Review Committee is set to meet on September 24th to discuss
next year's minimum wage ... with the monthly rate expected to exceed 30
thousand NT.

The Ministry of Labor says representatives from labor, business, government
and academia will take part.

The current minimum monthly wage is 29-thousand-500 NT, while the hourly
minimum is 196 NT.

Consumer prices and economic growth are expected to be among the main factors
considered during the review.

Taiwan's consumer price index rose 2.04 percent in August, while the
government recently raised its economic growth forecast for this year to
11.05 percent.

President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai have both indicated that the
monthly minimum wage should exceed 30-thousand NT next year.

Any increase would mark the 11th consecutive annual hike.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:56:14

Health officials in Kaohsiung are urging eligible residents to get vaccinated
against pneumococcal disease following 14 local cases and three deaths
through August.

City officials emphasized that about half of the reported "invasive
pneumococcal disease" cases occurred in adults aged 65 and older, with the
bacteria entering sterile parts of the body such as the blood, lungs, or
brain.

Publicly funded doses are available for adults 65 and older, Indigenous
adults aged 55 to 64, and high-risk medical groups, and the new single-dose
vaccines offer effective protection against severe complications like blood
infections and meningitis.

Kaohsiung residents are encouraged to check eligibility with local clinics
and get vaccinated before seasonal respiratory viruses peak.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:56:14

The British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei has established a new community
service award in memory of longtime Taiwan resident Michael Boyden.

His wife, Katy Boyden, accepted the inaugural award on his behalf during the
chamber's 10th Better Business Awards.

She says her late husband's willingness to help others made him something of
an unofficial 'li-zhang', or ward chief, for Taiwan's international
community.

Moving forward the award will continue to recognize others who contribute to
both Taiwan's local and international communities.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-09-11 18:56:14

Mandarin Airlines is launching its first-ever direct charter flight service
between Taitung and Penghu.

The company says the service aims to boost tourism and streamline transit for
local residents, and cuts travel time between the two destinations to 75
minutes, bypassing traditional layovers.

Airline officials confirmed five round-trip flights will operate between
today and Sept. 19th.

The carrier says it plans to launch additional regional charter routes to
expand travel options across Taiwan's offshore islands.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-11 17:08:13

President Lai Ching-te has signed tax legislation aimed at easing the
financial burden on families raising children.

The Ministry of Finance estimates the changes will benefit about 2.37 million
people ... with total tax savings of around 8-billion NT.

Under the new rules, the tax exemption for each dependent minor child will
increase by 50 percent ... from 101-thousand to 151-thousand-500 NT.

The changes also allow premiums for several social insurance programs to be
fully claimed as itemized deductions ... without the existing 24-thousand-NT
limit.

These include labor, farmers', national pension, and military, public servant
and teachers' insurance.

The changes take effect retroactively from January 1st this year ... and will
apply when taxpayers file their 2026 income taxes next May.

The MOF says the measures are part of government efforts to provide greater
support for families raising children.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-11 17:08:13

A hopeful New Taipei city councilor has been detained incommunicado over vote
buying accusations.

Prosecutors believe that Zhang Zhao Long handed out radish cakes and US
dollars at commuity events in an attempt to secure votes.

Zhang previously ran with the TPP in 2022 but was unsuccessful, and since
dropped the party affiliation, now running as an independent.

Zhang runs a care and employment center, and prosecutors say that he took
advantage of events held by the center to hand out US 1 dollar bills and
radish cakes.

Prosecutors believe that he violated the Election and Recall Act and he's now
being held incommunicado.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-11 17:08:13

The Miaoli County government says, 80 iguanas have been removed from Toufen
township over two nights.

Miaoli Agricultural officials say the operation was carried out earlier this
week at Toufen's iguana hotspots.

In total, iguana removal operations have removed 143 iguanas this year, using
both traps and guns.

That's compared to just 31 last year.

Authorities say the increase is due to officials locating some of the iguana
hotspots in the county and getting a better handle on how to deal with them.

Residents are reminded to report sightings of iguanas to authorities on the
1999 hotline.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-11 17:08:13

Swedish voters will head to the polls this weekend to choose between the
ruling conservative leader and the center-left.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking re-election as the leader of NATO's
newest member state.

If he is successful, a hard right party will for the first time win
ministerial positions.

But his predecessor, Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats, hopes to
win her job back.

More than 8 million people are eligible to vote in the election for the 349
seat parliament in Stockholm, which will elect the next Prime Minister.

Kristersson has led with a three-party center-right coalition, with support
from the Sweden Democrats, and anti-immigration party.

But, experts say, the campaign has centered more on forming a coalition than
discussing actual policy questions.

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:55:14

Taiwan is looking to expand cooperation with Malaysia's Sabah state in smart
agriculture, health care and talent development.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Taiwan can share experience in AI
applications, automation and data analysis to help raise agricultural
productivity and strengthen food security.

Lin made the comments after meeting Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Industry Minister Jamawi Ja'afar in Taipei.

Sabah is seeking to improve food self-sufficiency and upgrade agriculture,
fisheries processing and cold-chain technology.

Lin says Taiwan could also provide smart health care solutions and expand
university and industry exchanges for talent training.

The two sides also discussed tourism, with Lin pointing to direct flights
between Taipei and Kota Kinabalu and what he called strong potential for
closer travel links.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:55:14

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city will expand a program that lets
parents work shorter hours without losing pay next year.

The trial began in March and has attracted 480 companies, benefiting more
than 900 employees.

Under the program, participating companies can let eligible parents start
work later or leave earlier, with the city subsidizing the lost working-hour
wages.

Chiang says participation has exceeded expectations and the city will use
feedback from companies and parents to improve the program.

He also says Taipei is willing to share its experience with the central
government, which has announced plans for a similar nationwide policy.

Taipei's current program runs through the end of this year, with the city
saying it will definitely expand the scheme in 2027.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:55:14

Iran-aligned Houthi forces have seized the strategic Yemeni port city of
Mocha, threatening another major oil shipping route.

Yemeni government military sources say the group has also advanced toward the
Hanish Islands in the Red Sea.

The gains strengthen the Houthis' position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait,
which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Saudi Arabia has relied more heavily on that route for oil exports since
fighting severely restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis say Red Sea navigation remains safe except for Saudi vessels.

The United Nations has warned that the advance marks a new and more dangerous
stage in Yemen's conflict, with serious implications for freedom of
navigation.

Concerns about further supply disruptions pushed Brent crude above 100 U.S.
dollars a barrel this week. Prices eased on Friday but remained on course for
their strongest weekly gain since July.

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:55:14

Parents of children sickened after eating Indonesian government-funded school
meals have filed the programme's first legal challenge.

The police complaint was filed by 60 parents in Karo, North Sumatra.

At least 300 students there reportedly became ill after eating the meals in
August, and some required hospital treatment.

Their lawyer says the complaint seeks an investigation into alleged
negligence, criminal charges and financial compensation. Police are awaiting
forensic test results from food samples.

The parents are also preparing a separate lawsuit against the government.

President Prabowo Subianto's flagship programme aims to provide free meals to
83 million children and pregnant women.

But it has faced mounting safety concerns, with more than 50-thousand
suspected food-poisoning cases reported nationwide.

Indonesia recently suspended nearly 2-thousand programme kitchens for failing
to comply with sanitation requirements.

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:55:14

Artificial intelligence developer Anthropic says it has disrupted several
malicious campaigns targeting its Claude platform over the past eight months.

The company says the operations included a suspected Russian cyber-espionage
campaign and data-scraping efforts by Chinese tech firms.

In a newly released threat report, Anthropic says hackers linked to Russia's
foreign intelligence service used Claude across phishing attacks and hotel
Wi-Fi hijacking operations against Ukrainian targets.

The company also accused seven Chinese firms, including Alibaba, DeepSeek,
and Moonshot, of running illicit distillation attacks.

Anthropic says those companies routed millions of conversations through
Claude to replicate its capabilities and improve their own models.

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:11:13

The Executive Yuan has countersigned an opposition-backed law setting out
240-billion N.T. in spending over six years for unmanned systems.

Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chang Tun-han (張惇涵) says national security
and industrial upgrading cannot wait, and earlier military capability means
stronger deterrence.

The law was passed by the Legislative Yuan last month and requires the
funding to go through the annual budget process.

The KMT and TPP welcomed the countersignature, but used it to renew criticism
of Premier Cho Jung-tai over other bills he has refused to countersign.

Both parties argue the premier should not be able to decide which laws passed
by the legislature take effect.

The government has defended previous refusals on constitutional grounds,
arguing some opposition-backed measures infringed on executive authority.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:11:14

A borough chief candidate in New Taipei's Banqiao has been released on bail
after being detained in a vote-buying investigation.

The candidate, surnamed Liu, was released on bail of 300,000 NT after
prosecutors conducted searches and interviews yesterday.

Liu's father was also held, and released on 500,000 NT bail.

New Taipei prosecutors say that Liu handed out movie tickets back in May, in
what they say was a violation of the Election and Recall Act.

They encourage the public to report suspected vote-buying to authorities,
with reports leading to arrest getting a substantial reward.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:11:14

DPP Taipei Mayoral Candidate Puma Shen says, he hopes to collect suggestions
from residents of all political backgrounds on his campaign's new LINE
platform "Mayor, Listen Up!"

Shen says most comments collected so far have to do with residents'
day-to-day issues and their suggestions for how the city government can
improve these.

That's following yesterday's interview with media personality Wang Wei Zhong
王偉忠

The mayor-hopeful said that Wang offered tips for implementation and cultural
policies.

Shen also downplayed accusations by Taipei City councilors that the platform
was likely just meant to collect criticisms of Chiang Wan An.

He said that less than 1% of messages criticize Chiang,

Chiang, meanwhile, touted the city's 1999 hotline for residents to use,
saying it uses AI to reduce waiting times.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:11:14

Asian shares are down today, with benchmarks in Hong Kong, Japan, and South
Korea all losing ground.

Taiwan shares are also down, with the benchmark tai ex losing 755 points to
close the session at 46184.

The turnover was 721.9 billion NT

Posted on 2026-09-11 14:11:14

soldiers

Two Israeli filmmakers are premiering a documentary that they say highlights
Israel's systemic killing of Palestinians at the Venice Film Festival.

2 dozen military insiders including intelligence officers and soldiers spoke
to the filmmakers behind NAZA.

The film was made by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the two Israeli
filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land."

NAZA was shot in secret on rooftops in Tel Aviv across three years.

Its subjects' identities are protected by digital alterations.

Subjects describe surveillance systems and remote bombing involded in Israeli
military operations, which they say uses AI to identify potential Hamas
targets, bombing homes and apartments despite knowing that civilians are
inside.

Posted on 2026-09-11 13:12:14

The DPP is lauding Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's Italy trip, with caucus
leaders saying that democracies will not be intimidated.

That's after the Presidential Office annnounced Hsiao's surprise trip this
morning following her arrival in Ventotene.

DPP Legislative Caucus leader Fan Yun says, she's pleased Hsiao could make
this diplomatic breakthrough...

adding that the democratic world will not be intimidated from inviting
dialogue with democratic partners that can really contribute.

Hsiao is in Italy to participate in the Ventotene European Forum on Freedom
and Democracy.

Fan said that Taiwan will not be afraid to "go out and make friends" despite
having a malicious neighbor.

Fan also noted that the forum is being held on somewhat "hallowed ground" for
democracy, so to speak...

as Ventotene Island was once the site of the imprisonment of intellectuals
who opposed fascism.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-11 13:12:14

The Food and Drug Administration is launching a public search for
pharmaceutical suppliers after a widely used asthma medication exited the
domestic market.

Officials are looking to secure alternative suppliers for the drug sold under
the brand name Pulmicort Respules, which recorded annual usage of over
355-thousand units across Taiwan last year

Manufacturer AstraZeneca notified health authorities last year that it would
stop supplying the inhalation suspension this year, citing corporate
strategic adjustments and market considerations.

The FDA confirms that emergency imports are maintaining current inventory
levels, and alternative formulations are still accessible.

It emphasizes that the public call for suppliers will help safeguard
long-term stock stability and support domestic drug manufacturing.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-11 13:12:14

And in Hsinchu County's Zhubei,

Tensions continue between the KMT and TPP, with TPP chair Huang Kuo-chang
saying the party has no idea what KMT Secretary-General Li Qian Long is
talking about.

That's after Li said that the two parties had arrived at a "consensus" in
Zhubei and that there would be good news soon.

Huang says that he was "unable to understand" what Li meant.

The TPP and KMT failed to decide on a single candidate to run in Zhubei City,
with both parties nominating their own to run against the DPP's pick.

The issue led to the breakdown of cooperation in Hsinchu County as a whole,
with the TPP neither endorsing the KMT's Hsu Hsin Ying, nor putting forward
their own candidate.

Responding to reporters' questions, Huang added that the TPP would not
support either Hsu or the DPP's Zheng Chao Fang in the race.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-11 13:12:14

Now turning to international news...

The military-backed leader of Myanmar is heading to Cambodia as he makes
efforts to try to legitimize his rule.

Min Aung Hlaing came to power after leading a military takeover of the
elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.

He has been working to increase diplomatic engagements since taking office in
April...

with the Cambodia trip being the fourth recent trip to an ASEAN member state,
in what appears to be an attempt at restoring Myanmar's status within ASEAN.

Min Aung Hlaing was previously barred from top-level ASEAN meetings for
failing to comply with the bloc's peace plan for Myanmar.

Posted on 2026-09-11 08:12:13

Culture Minister Li Yuan has wrapped up his visit to U-K by announcing plans
to launch a Taiwan International Comics Festival next year, that will be
curated by a British comics historian.

Li unveiled the comics festival plan during a visit to the Quentin Blake
Centre for Illustration in London.

Speaking there, Li said the Ministry of Culture has long supported Taiwan's
comics industry and the inaugural festival will be held at the National
Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taichung.

According to Li, British comics historian and critic Paul Gravett will be the
curator of the festival.

Gravett says the festival will seek to present comics as a major art form
with greater ambition and a broader vision and he hopes the event will
demonstrate that "Taiwanese comics are part of the world's comics."

Li has now traveled to France, on the second and final leg of his Europe
tour.

While in France he where he will attend the judging session for the 30th
Taiwan-France Cultural Award and the presentation ceremony for the 29th
edition of the award.

That award honors individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions
to the promotion of Taiwanese, French, and broader European cultural
exchanges.

Posted on 2026-09-11 08:12:13

And finally,

Taiwan meets the Philippines in its opening Under 18 Asian Baseball
Championship Super Round group game at 6:30 this evening at the Taipei Dome.

Taiwan need a win to stand any chance of making Sunday's final.

Japan and South Korea meet in the other opening Super Round group game at the
Taipei Dome at 1:30 this afternoon.

Taiwan meets Japan on Saturday in its second and final Super Round group game
- and that game also begins at 6:30.

South Korea plays the Philippines at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Japan and South Korea went into the Super Round with one win advantages - as
they finished the opening stage top of their respective groups with three
wins out of three.

The top two teams in the Super Round group meet in Sunday's final, which is
also taking place at the Taipei Dome.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

The government is said to be taking steps to expand semiconductor research
infrastructure and develop homegrown chip-design software.... in moves aimed
at maintaining the island's technological edge.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee says there are plans to invest 300-billion
N-T from now through 2033 in areas including next-generation chip design and
advanced semiconductor processes.

Lee says while Taiwan has a world-leading semiconductor ecosystem, the
government still needs to continue investing in advanced technology research
and development and to cultivate high-level talent to consolidate advantages
in the chip industry.

The National Science and Technology Council says two related projects under
the Taiwan Chip-based Industrial Innovation Program are being carried out
focusing on research infrastructure and chip-design software ..

.. while the Industrial Technology Research Institute also plans to build an
advanced semiconductor pilot line for startups and small and medium-sized
enterprises that need low-volume, high-mix trial production.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

The Ministry of Agriculture says says agricultural losses from heavy rains in
late August now stand at over 562-million N-T.

More than 6,000 hectares of crops were affected islandwide.

Guava farms accounted for the largest crop losses, with nearly 600 hectares
affected and total damage estimated at about 62-million N-T.

Other badly affected crops include tangerines, wax apples, papayas and green
onions.

Chiayi County has reported the highest agricultural losses at nearly
148-million N-T, followed by Kaohsiung, Tainan and Yunlin.

Aquaculture losses have surpassed 111-million N-T, mainly involving grouper,
milkfish and oysters.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

The High Court has sentenced a businessman to 10 years in prison and a
retired Cabinet official to five years in prison for developing organizations
for Beijing's united front authorities.

Businessman Cheng Ming-chia helped Chinese united front officials approach
and attempt to recruit targets in Taiwan by providing contact information and
arranging meetings in China from between 2021 and 2025.

He successfully recruited retired Cabinet official Hu Peng-nien as as a
potential operative, while his efforts to recruit another individual failed.

Hu also tried to recruit three people here in Taiwan to carry out united
front work from 2021-2024, but none of them accepted his proposals.

The court said Hu admitted to the offenses, while Cheng denied wrongdoing
throughout the investigation and trial.

Both rulings can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

Government data shows that Taiwan's population declined for the 32nd
consecutive month in August.

Statistics from the Ministry of the Interior show the population stood at
just over 23.22 million at the end of August, down 103,622 from a year
earlier.

The crude birth rate stood at 3.8 per 1,000 people.

Matsu recorded the highest rate, followed by Taitung County, and Hsinchu
County.

Keelung recorded the lowest rate, followed by Chiayi County, and Tainan at
3.21 per 1,000 people.

16,470 deaths were recorded in August, 1,244 more than in the same month last
year.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

A two-story building in Taipei wasseverely damaged after an adjacent
construction work caused its ground floor to crack and leak yellowish muddy
water.

No injuries were reported.

The building is located in an alley off Minquan East Road, near Xingtian
Temple M-R-T Station.

Investigations reported by the Construction Management Office suggests that a
breach in the underground diaphragm wall during foundation excavation and
retaining operations caused water and sand leakage.

That in turn resulted in soil loss in the adjacent area.

The sole resident of the two story building has been relocated.

The Taipei City Government says construction work at the site has been
suspended ... and work will not resume until an improvement plan has been
submitted and approved.

The contractor and the supervisor have each been fined 90,000 N-T.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

And,

Citrus taiwanica has received patent protection covering products derived
from the plant and been licensed to a Saisiyat cooperative in Miaoli County.

Citrus taiwanica is a citrus species traditionally used by the Indigenous
Saisiyat people.

Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says the patent covers applications
of the plant and products derived from it, with authorization from the
Saisiyat tribe required for their use.

The case marks the first time a traditional Indigenous crop and products
derived from it have received patent protection.

The agency says the traditional knowledge underlying the use of the citrus
came from the Saisiyat tribe and that technologies and products developed
through modern research based on that knowledge should benefit its original
holders.

The license is not said be intended to monopolize the plant, but aimed at
protecting and preserving the traditional knowledge of the Saisiyat people.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

Hundreds of people have demonstrated outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok to
demand foreign visitors respect Thai laws and culture.

There is growing scrutiny of Israeli tourists in Thailand.

Protesters accuse some Israelis of breaking laws, causing disturbances and
disrespecting local customs, and talks have taken place between Israel’s
ambassador and Thailand’s foreign minister over the concerns.

Thailand is heavily dependent on tourism and has been tightening enforcement
against foreigners who violate laws or regulations.

Israel’s embassy says it takes the concerns seriously and supports
consequences for lawbreakers.

But Israel cautions that public attention may exaggerate the scale of
incidents and should not characterize Israelis generally.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

Rescuers are struggling to get into a passenger ferry that had caught fire
off the western Philippines, leaving five people dead and 86 missing.

The coast guard says that 43 people have been rescued so far.

The MV June Aster, was near Coron in Palawan province when the fire started
on Wednesday evening. Thick smoke has hindered rescue efforts.

The cause of the fire is unclear, but a survivor mentioned a loud explosion.
Search and rescue operations are set to resume on Friday.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

AI firm Anthropic said it had disrupted several alleged malicious uses of its
Claude models over the past eight months...

These include a suspected Russia-linked cyber espionage campaign and efforts
by Chinese AI firms it accused of trying to extract and replicate Claude's
‌capabilities.

Among the labs Anthropic named were tech giant Alibaba, Moonshot, DeepSeek
and Xiaomi.

The firm said cybercriminals and state-backed hackers were increasingly using
AI not just to assist with tasks but to orchestrate and execute large
portions of cyberattacks.

Humans were seen to be overseers rather than hands-on operators in the
campaigns.

Posted on 2026-09-11 07:00:13

job loss

The Trump administration has proposed eliminating a 60-day grace period that
allows certain immigrants, including skilled workers on H-1B visas, to ‌stay
in the United States and find a new sponsor after losing their job.

The proposed change was published in the Federal Register and reported by
Reuters.

The planned rule change calls for those with H-1B and certain other temporary
work visas to leave the country as soon as their employment ends.

It is the latest step by U.S. President Donald Trump to limit legal
immigration since returning to office in January 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security admits companies affected by the change
could see some disruption, but it said the jobs could go to American workers
instead.

The 60-day grace period, in place since 2017, allows foreign workers time to
find another U.S. job or get their affairs in order — whether selling a home
or pulling children out of school — before leaving the country.

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