ICRT

Posted on 2026-09-19 13:31:13

President Lai Ching-te has inspected a large-scale earthquake response drill
in Taitung County involving international rescue and medical teams.

The three-day exercise simulated a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in the southern
East Rift Valley.

It tested responses to damaged infrastructure, disrupted outside assistance
and failures in communication systems.

The drill used a semi-announced format without a fixed script. It also
included evacuation, emergency shelter and medical response exercises.

More than 150 international personnel from 11 countries took part, while
representatives from a total of 18 countries observed the activities.

Lai says countries must conduct joint exercises during peacetime to establish
common procedures and improve coordination when real disasters strike.

He also says Taiwan has now trained more than 177-thousand disaster-response
volunteers.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-19 13:31:13

The cost of building artificial intelligence systems is increasingly being
passed on to businesses and consumers.

Counterpoint Research estimates Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Meta will
spend a combined 750-billion U.S. dollars on infrastructure this year.

The firm says memory prices have risen about fourfold since late 2025, while
some server memory modules now cost more than 900 dollars.

Software providers are responding by raising subscription fees and including
AI features in standard packages, meaning customers may pay more even if they
do not use those tools.

PC makers are also raising prices or reducing memory in entry-level devices.

Counterpoint expects global PC memory prices to rise by up to 300 percent
this year, pushing average computer prices about 24 percent higher.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-19 13:31:13

Starlux Airlines has retained its five-star Skytrax rating for a second
consecutive year.

The Taiwan-based carrier was also ranked first in the World's Cleanest
Airline category at the 2026 World Airline Awards in London.

The cleanliness award evaluates aircraft interiors, including seats, tray
tables, carpets and lavatories.

Singapore Airlines placed second, followed by Japan's All Nippon Airways.

Starlux first received Skytrax's highest airline rating last year, five years
after beginning operations.

The rating assesses areas including airport services, cabin conditions,
onboard service and food quality.

Starlux says the honors reflect the work of employees across the company and
its focus on maintaining a consistent passenger experience.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-19 13:31:13

European governments are stepping up preparations amid warnings that Russia
could intensify hybrid attacks against NATO countries.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says Moscow could launch drone or missile
strikes against countries supporting Ukraine within the next few months.

French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered a new plan to protect critical
infrastructure from drone and cyberattacks.

Germany is preparing hospitals for a possible conflict, while Lithuania has
updated its evacuation plans and NATO forces are holding exercises in the
Baltic region.

However, NATO says it has not changed its threat assessment and sees no
imminent risk of an attack.

Posted on 2026-09-19 13:31:13

North Korea has rejected a resolution from the International Atomic Energy
Agency criticizing its nuclear weapons program.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, accused the agency of double
standards, claiming it overlooks nuclear-related activities by the United
States and South Korea.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry also declared that the country’s status as a
nuclear power is irreversible and supported by its nuclear deterrent.

The statements came as state media reported that Kim Jong Un had completed a
three-day inspection of major munitions factories.

Kim said efforts to modernize North Korea’s defense capabilities were
significantly changing the structure and resources of its armed forces.

Posted on 2026-09-19 13:31:13

Spanish police and military personnel have begun clearing thousands of
migrants from beaches in Ceuta, Spain’s North African enclave.

Police fired rubber bullets into the air and used batons as crowds competed
for limited places in temporary housing.

Spain estimates that about 10,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after more than
72,000 crossed from Morocco during an unprecedented border rush in late July.

Authorities have opened a temporary shelter at the port, but it can
accommodate only 1,700 adult men. Minors are being housed separately.

Aid groups say thousands of people are still sleeping on beaches, pavements
and other public areas, and have criticized authorities for failing to
provide enough shelter.

Posted on 2026-09-19 10:54:13

Taiwan has formally launched an international alliance to strengthen
cooperation on disaster preparedness and response.

President Lai Ching-te says 11 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies and Somaliland
have joined the World Alliance for Disaster Management as founding members.

Government agencies and disaster response organizations from another 21
countries have joined as observers or partners.

The alliance will promote joint training and exercises, mutual assistance and
information sharing. Its work will cover early warnings, emergency response
and post-disaster recovery.

Lai says Taiwan hopes to become a hub for cross-border disaster cooperation.

He also says Taiwan's whole-of-society resilience model, developed over the
past two years, can now serve as a reference for other countries.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-19 10:54:13

The Central Election Commission will hold five televised forums or debates
ahead of a referendum on Taiwan's nuclear energy policy.

The referendum asks voters whether the government should use nuclear power to
support economic growth and abolish its "nuclear-free homeland" policy.

The first session will be held on November 12th, with four more scheduled
through November 20th.

The Legislature will represent the side supporting the proposal. The Cabinet
or registered opponents will represent the other side.

Representatives must be submitted to the commission by October 15th.

The referendum was proposed by the KMT and backed by the Taiwan People's
Party. It will be held alongside the local elections on November 28th.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-19 10:54:13

Chiayi-based drone manufacturer 7A Drones has signed an agreement aimed at
helping Taiwanese drone companies expand into North America.

The memorandum was signed with the North America Taiwan Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle Association at a government-backed drone research center in Chiayi
County.

The association says it will use its business network to help Taiwanese
manufacturers enter the U.S. market.

County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang says the partnership will strengthen
Taiwan's role in global supply chains that exclude Chinese components over
security concerns.

7A Drones CEO Hsu Hsin-sheng (翁章梁) says Taiwan has developed important
domestic capabilities in areas including flight-control systems and drone
engines.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-19 10:54:13

At least 125-thousand people have fled their homes as Houthi rebels advance
along Yemen's Red Sea coast.

The U.N. humanitarian office says the displaced include tens of thousands of
children.

Many families escaped with little warning and are now living in overcrowded
homes, makeshift shelters or camps with limited food, water and medical care.

The fighting is linked to the wider war involving Iran and has renewed fears
of a full-scale civil war in Yemen.

The Iran-backed Houthis have captured territory near the Bab el-Mandeb
Strait, a major global shipping route.

Their advance has also threatened Saudi oil exports and contributed to higher
global fuel prices.

Aid groups warn the displacement is worsening an already severe hunger crisis.

Posted on 2026-09-19 10:54:13

Three students, including the suspected gunman, have died in a school
shooting in the southern Philippines.

Authorities say a 16-year-old student opened fire inside Banga National High
School in South Cotabato before dying by suicide.

At least six other students were injured.

Officials say the teenager used a handgun belonging to his father after
breaking into a locked storage vault.

President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has ordered an investigation into how the
student obtained the weapon and brought it onto campus.

Authorities are also examining the teenager's involvement in an online
community focused on violent crime. They have not established whether the
group influenced the attack.

It was the third fatal shooting at a Philippine school since June.

Posted on 2026-09-19 10:54:13

The United States, Denmark and Greenland are expected to sign a new Arctic
security agreement next week.

The deal would expand the U.S. military presence in Greenland and prevent
non-NATO countries from establishing bases there.

U.S. officials say it would also restrict sensitive investments by American
adversaries and grant Washington permanent access, basing and overflight
rights.

However, the agreement does not give the United States ownership of
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says it recognizes Denmark's
sovereignty and Greenlanders' right to self-determination.

Many details remain unclear, including whether the United States will build
new bases.

The agreement is expected to be signed during the U.N. General Assembly and
will require parliamentary procedures before taking effect.

Posted on 2026-09-18 18:55:13

The Electricity Price Review Committee has postponed a decision on power
prices until December.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says the committee agreed that priority
should be given to securing 71.1-billion NT in additional government funding
for Taipower, to ease financial pressure on the state-run utility.

Taipower's latest review indicates a 12.8-percent increase would be needed
based on current costs, largely due to higher fuel prices.

But the committee made no decision on an electricity rate increase at its
meeting today.

The issue will be discussed again in December, when the committee reviews
transmission and distribution charges.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 18:55:13

Ahead of the meeting ...

A major business group called for rates to remain frozen for households and
smaller traditional industries ... while allowing moderate increases for
high-tech companies.

General Chamber of Commerce Chairman Hsu Shu-po (許舒博) says traditional
industries and service businesses are still facing difficult conditions ...

... while more profitable high-tech companies are better able to absorb
higher electricity costs.

Hsu also supports additional government funding for Taipower and the CPC
Corporation ... saying it could help prevent rising energy costs from being
passed on to the public.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 18:55:13

The Centers for Disease Control says expanded access to publicly funded flu
antiviral drugs will continue through October 31st ... as flu cases continue
to rise.

The CDC says nearly 137-thousand people sought treatment for flu-like
illnesses between September 6th and 12th ... up 16.5 percent from the
previous week.

Another 92 severe flu cases and 21 deaths were reported between September 8th
and 14th.

Under the extended rules, people with flu-like symptoms who belong to certain
groups at higher risk of spreading the virus can receive publicly funded
antiviral drugs.

These include healthcare workers, nursing home residents and staff, students,
childcare workers, and people who live with or care for those at high risk of
severe flu.

Doctors can prescribe the drugs based on symptoms and clinical judgment
without requiring a rapid flu test.

The drugs are available at around 4-thousand contracted medical facilities
nationwide.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 18:55:13

A Taiwanese scholar says Chinese President Xi Jinping could pose a greater
risk to Taiwan if he faces political challenges at home while still retaining
the power to act.

Academia Sinica academician Wu Yu-shan (吳玉山) says a stronger and more secure
Xi would have less need to take risks abroad.

But he says if Xi's position is challenged, he could feel greater pressure to
demonstrate strength, including overseas.

Wu says the leadership arrangements following next year's Chinese Communist
Party congress could therefore have important implications for Taiwan.

He says a particularly risky scenario would be for Xi to remain in power
while other senior leaders retire, potentially raising questions within the
party about his continued rule.

By contrast, Wu says a system in which Xi remains in office alongside several
senior leaders could make his position more secure and reduce the incentive
for aggressive action abroad.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:17:13

Taiwan has launched a new undersea cable linking the main island with the
Matsu Islands ...

... as the government moves to strengthen communications during emergencies.

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the new Taiwan-Matsu No. 4 cable will provide
backup if other cables are damaged by natural disasters or human activity.

The nearly 300-kilometer cable connects New Taipei's Bali District with
Dongyin, Nangan and Xiju in Matsu.

Cho says the government is also expanding microwave and low-orbit satellite
systems to provide additional backup and keep communications running.

The new cable comes after repeated disruptions to undersea cables linking
Taiwan and Matsu.

In February 2023, separate incidents involving a Chinese fishing vessel and a
cargo ship damaged the No. 2 and No. 3 cables, disrupting communications for
almost two months.

The cables were damaged again in January last year due to natural
deterioration.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:17:13

Changhua County is reporting its first locally transmitted case of dengue
fever this year ...

.... but the Centers for Disease Control says it is unrelated to a recent
cluster linked to a study tour in the Philippines.

The case involves a man in his 30s who lives in Changhua City.

He was initially diagnosed with heatstroke after falling ill ... but was
later confirmed to have dengue fever.

Laboratory tests identified dengue virus type one ... while cases linked to
the Philippines study tour involved type three.

The man has no recent overseas travel history, but had traveled within
Changhua and neighboring Nantou County during the incubation period.

Health officials are still investigating where he was infected.

Taiwan has recorded 11 locally transmitted dengue cases so far this year ...
10 in Kaohsiung and one in Changhua.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:17:13

vote-buying

The head of the Supreme Prosecutors Office is commending New Taipei
prosecutors for their work investigating election-related violations...

as the city has handled 8 relevant cases in only a 10 day period, most
involving vote-buying and election gambling.

The acting prosecutor general also increased the funds for New Taipei
prosecutors' work.

Some of the vote-buying cases involved gifts of laundry detergent, radish
cakes, US dollars, movie tickets, haircuts, tofu pudding, massages, and more.

Some of the suspects being investigated have been detained incommunicado.

Supreme prosecutors urge continued vigilance against election-related
offenses as the political environment heats up going into November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:17:13

Now turning to international news...

Pakistani officials say 6 people were killed when a roadside bomb struck a
security forces convoy in the northwest of the country.

The bombing took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Meanwhile, the military says that security forces also killed 10 militants
during multiple operations yesterday.

The military said those militants were part of the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistan frequently accuses Afghanistan's Taliban government of turning a
blind eye to cross-border militant attacks and sheltering the militants...

claims which are denied by the Afghani government.

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:17:13

South Korean field hockey players were left in an awkward situation today
when Asian Games organizers played the North Korean national anthem.

Some members of the Korean men's field hockey team ran their hands through
their hair while other stood at attention.

Korean media called the situation an "awkward mishap."

To their credit, organizers quickly corrected the issue, and South Korea went
on to beat Bangladesh 5-nil.

The Asian Games, being held in Japan's Nagoya, feature more than 11,000
athletes this year, more than the Summer Olympics.

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:17:13

Experts say, Russian consumers and businesses are pessimisstic as massive
military spending on the invasion of Ukraine has increased the budget
deficit.

Economic growth, too, has slowed, but economists say none of those issues
means an imminent financial crisis or economic collapse.

Crucial oil export revenues remain strong due to high prices from the
US/Israeli war on Iran...

so the government is able to find money to continue to fund its invasion.

Plus, low unemployment helps Russian President Putin to sell his narrative of
stability ahead of Russia's stage-managed parliamentary election that began
today.

But economists say, longer-term problems may one day result in a crisis.

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro series went on sale in Taiwan today, with telecom
operators reporting strong demand despite higher prices.

Industry figures show demand for the new high-end models is up by nearly 30
percent compared with last year's models.

Chunghwa Telecom says preorders have been strong, while Taiwan Mobile says
that combined demand for the iPhone 18 Pro series and Apple's upcoming first
foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is already close to last year's total demand
for the entire iPhone 17 series.

Far EasTone says sales of the Pro models have grown by 20 to 30 percent,
despite prices rising by 5-thousand NT.

The new models feature TSMC's 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, along with a
48-megapixel main camera featuring variable aperture for the first time.

Telecom operators are anticipating another wave of upgrades on October 23rd,
when the iPhone Duo goes on sale.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

Taipei Zoo says that human error allowed two chimpanzees to escape from their
enclosure yesterday afternoon, adding that it will strengthen staff training
and safety checks to prevent another such incident.

At a press conference, officials said two doors along the escape route had
not been properly secured.

Nearly 50 zoo staff were sent to find the animals: 44-year-old Hsiao Chiang
(小強) and his 11-year-old son Wa Chih (娃智).

Hsiao Chiang remained near the chimpanzee enclosure and was tranquilized ...
while Wa Chih made his way through the giraffe area and into the African lion
enclosure before also being tranquilized.

Both chimpanzees were examined and found to have no major health problems,
and are now back in their indoor enclosure under observation.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

The KMT is calling on the Control Yuan to look into the more than 8 billion
NT in funding for improving Kaohsiung's Qianzhen harbor.

KMT communications director Chen Yi-xin made the call today, saying that the
funds have been spent but the central government has patched up old problems
rather than fixing the root issues.

Chen also urged the National Audit Office to investigate the plan as a whole.

The project originally was set to cost taxpayers about 30 million NT but the
price tag later increased to 8.1 billion NT.

Kaohsiung officials have said that they're using the funds to lower
accomodation fees for seafarers, to install cooling equipment, and to improve
ventilation and drainage facilities at the seafood distribution center.

Chen acknowledged that the Control Yuan currently has no commissioners, but
said that it can still conduct investigations.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

Venezuelans can now access several news and media sites that had previously
been blocked.

This is amidst the second round of negotiations between the government and
its opposition, nine months after former president Nicolas Maduro was
captured and deposed by the American military.

The first round of negotiations last month resulted in the start of judicial
reform.

However, an NGO says that almost two hundred sites, including roughly eighty
media outlets, remain blocked.

Venezuelans can access these sites only via a virtual private network, or VPN.

The director of one website that currently blocked said that its traffic had
fallen by sixty per cent and that its advertisers had fled, fearing
government sanctions.

El Nacional, Venezuela's paper of record, said that access to its website had
been restored, but others said that access was only intermittent.

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

descent

A United States Customs and Border Protection officer has been found guilty
of using his position to sexually assault four women of Chinese descent.

Luis Uribe, who served at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, was found
guilty yesterday for the assaults in neighbourhoods in suburban Chicago.

He was also found guilty of stealing money from one of the women at gunpoint,
again whilst abusing his position of power.

Defence attorneys tried to portray Uribe as an easy fall guy for a
prostitution ring run out of China, while prosecutors said that the Chinese
community in Chicago had circulated his photo in an attempt to stop the
attacks.

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

Joanna Wietrzyk, an Australian athlete who won a Hyrox event last weekend
after soiling herself during the course, has apologised for her actions.

She has also said she will retroactively withdraw from the race, forfeiting
her win.

She had originally posted "Go hard or go home ... a win is a win" on social
media before deleting the post.

Both Wietrzyk and race organisers had faced criticism for not immediately
leaving the course and exposing other participants, who share the same
equipment, to a biohazard risk.

Hyrox's co-founder later apologised for "not reacting immediately during the
race".

Hyrox started in Germany less than a decade ago.

Competitors alternate between a one-kilometre run and various fitness
challenges, such as indoor rowing and lunges with a weighted sandbag.

Posted on 2026-09-18 17:01:13

Posted on 2026-09-18 14:09:13

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan's military has used multiple types of
attack drones in a joint combat exercise for the first time ...

.... as it adapts to changes in modern warfare.

Lai made the comments in Pingtung today while inspecting a three-day joint
precision missile exercise involving the army, navy and air force.

The exercise included joint air defense, counter operations, sea and air
coordination, coastal strikes and near-shore defense.

Lai says such exercises help strengthen combat readiness ...

.... and demonstrate the military's ability to defend national sovereignty
... and contribute to regional peace and stability.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-18 14:09:13

The DPP's Puma Shen says the Twin Cities Forum should consider how to bring
about concrete benefits to the people...

in an environment free from political interference and conditional
participation.

During his campaign for Taipei mayor, Shen has been supportive of conducting
more exchange with countries around the world instead of just Shanghai and
Beijing.

Shen said that the current version of the Twin Cities Forum is not entirely
necessary...

but added that a format that respects the sovereignty of both sides could be
a valuable opportunity for exchange.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-18 14:09:13

The DPP has released a video this morning featuring President Lai Ching-te
and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim promoting the party's founding 40th
anniversary event tomorrow.

The event will take place on Taipei's Beiping East Road, with candidates for
mayor and magistrate taking part in two choral performances.

A press release today says that television host Liu Pin Wei 劉品薇 and DPP
spokesperson Wu Zheng will host the event.

Also featured at the event are Hakka artist Wang Zhong Wei 王鍾惟, award-winning
singer PiA Wu Pei Ya 吳蓓雅, and others.

Wu Zheng added that a surprise performance is planned for the event

All members of the public are invited to participate in the concert, and
attendees are encouraged to utilize public transit to avoid headaches over
parking.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-18 14:09:13

Taiwan shares made major gains today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 892
points to close the session at 47180.

The turnover was 1.075 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-09-18 14:09:13

Now turning to internaitonal news...

Heavy rain has caused heavy flooding in northern Vietnam.

The waters submerged more than 2000 homes, blocked roads, and isolated more
than 1000 houses.

Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces have been the hardest hit.

Crops have been damaged and livestock killed, while flooding also disrupted
schools and traffic in Hanoi.

More rain is forecast for southern Vietnam and could impact flood-prone Ho
Chi Minh City.

Vietnam is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries...

A series of severe storms last year spurred the country to find new ways to
prepare for and manage floods.

Posted on 2026-09-18 14:09:13

plans

Analysts say, the aftermath of Indonesia's deadliest earthquake in 4 years
has revealed issues in the president's economic plans.

Local officials say that the quake not only killed nearly 130 people, it also
exacerbated funding crises in the country.

Nikkei Asia reports that the quake came at a time that local villages were
absorbing the impact of President Prabowo Subianto's move to cut funds to
regional authorities.

His administration redirected public spending towards his national priority
programs...

like free meals for kids.

Local officials say, the move weakened their ability to provide essential
services.

Despite promises of aid from the central government, rural villages struggle
to access essential supplies and services.

Posted on 2026-09-18 13:06:13

A US governor seen as a potential frontrunner for the democratic nomination
for the presidency has met with Foreign Minister Lin Jia Long last night.

Lin said he received Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, adding that the two mostly
discussed bilateral trade and supply chain resilience.

He said that Taiwan was hoping to deepen cooperation with Michigan to enhance
supply chain security.

Lin added that nearly half of US states have established offices in Taiwan,
including Michigan.

Whitmer said that investment exchanges between Taiwan and Michigan are
robust, with collaboration mainly in the firleds of semiconductors, EVs and
AI.

Whitmer, a democrat, is finishing out her second term as governor, with
speculation growing that she could be a strong contender for the democratic
nomination in 2028.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-18 13:06:13

A Singaporean woman has died after a Taichung bus hit her while she was
crossing a road earlier this week.

China Medical University Hospital says, its medical team made every effort to
save the woman, but she died early this morning due to the severity of her
injuries.

Police say that the bus that hit the woman was driven by a 45 year old man
sunamed Gong at the intersection of Ziyou and Minsheng Roads.

They add that the bus struck the woman in a crosswalk while making a right
turn and she was trapped under the bus' tire before being freed by emergency
responders.

She suffered a pelvic fracture and open fractures to her right upper arm and
left lower limb and was OHCA at the scene.

Her vital signs were restored as she was taken to the hospital.

The woman had been visiting Taiwan with right family members.

Police say they will ask prosecutors to investigate the case as a possible
negligent homicide.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-09-18 13:06:13

Now turning to international news...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is embracing the idea of Canada becoming
the European Union's first "associate member."

He says that closer ties with Europe will ensure no country could control
Canadian markets or undermine its sovereignty.

His comments come after the US president said it would be a "hostile act" for
Canada to make such a move.

Trump's tariffs and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have pushed
Canada to reduce its dependence on its southern neighbor and seek stability
in the embrace of Europe.

Although Carney welcomed the proposal from European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen, he acknowledged that it remains to be seen what exactly
"associate membership" entails.

Posted on 2026-09-18 12:03:13

Posted on 2026-09-18 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Mainland Affairs Council is dismissing the significance of the annual
Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum ...

.... with spokesman Liang Wen-chieh saying people should not attach so much
importance to the Twin-City Forum, as its played no role in promoting peace.

The statement comes after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an criticized the Lai
administration's reported decision to place restrictions on a visiting
Shanghai delegation.

The Mainland Affairs Council spokesman says the Taipei City government
"should not regard its exchanges with Shanghai as something extraordinary"
and is claiming that the Taipei-Shanghai forum was no different from other
local-level exchanges.

Reports have said the council has rejected an application for Li Xiao-dong,
deputy director of Shanghai's Taiwan Affairs Office, to enter Taiwan as head
of a delegation preparing for the forum, which is expected to be held in
Taipei in December.

According to the report, only division-level official Xu Hao was permitted to
lead the delegation, which arrived in Taiwan earlier this week without Li.

Posted on 2026-09-18 08:13:13

The Ministry of Sports says law enforcement authorities in the Japanese city
of Nagoya are investigating the vandalism of a banner at a training base for
Taiwan's Asian Games athletes.

The banner was on display at the Misono Elementary School in Nagoya and was
defaced with ink.

The 5-meter-long, 1.5-meter-wide banner bore the Chinese and English words
for "National Taiwan Sports Training Center."

A photo published by a Japanese news agency show that the Chinese characters
meaning "national, or country" and the English text had been smeared with
ink.

The Taiwan team has since removed the ink stains and replaced the banner with
a new one.

The report has cited investigators involved in the case as saying the Nagoya
City Board of Education, which oversees the facility, was notified of the
vandalism on Monday afternoon.

The Ministry of Sports here in Taiwan has thanked Japanese police for their
prompt assistance and called on them to ensure the safety of Taiwan's
athletes and staff members

Posted on 2026-09-18 08:13:13

The central bank has opted to leave its key interest rates unchanged for a
10th consecutive quarter.

The move means the discount rate remains at 2-per cent -- its highest level
in 15 years.

While the rate on accommodation with collateral stays at 2.375-per cent and
the rate on accommodation without collateral is unchanged at 4.25-per cent.

It comes after the U-S Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the
Bank of Korea have all raised their rates, and the Bank of Japan has said its
also considering a possible rate hike.

The central bank is defending its decision - saying keeping policy rates
unchanged would help maintain steady economic growth amid global
uncertainties and the potential impact of conflicts in the Middle East on
domestic prices and economic growth.

According to the bank, factors behind the decision included its assessment
that domestic inflation remains manageable this year and is expected to fall
below 2-per cent next year, along with forecasts of steady economic growth.

The central bank has also raised its forecast for Taiwan's G-D-P growth this
year to 11.48-per cent from its June projection of 9.45-per cent, and lifted
its forecast for the consumer price index this year to 2.03-per cent.

That's up 1.91 per cent in June - as it says inflation is expected to ease to
1.83-per cent next year.

Posted on 2026-09-18 08:13:13

The Changhua District Prosecutors' Office have detained County Council
Speaker Hsieh Dien-lin and his father Hsieh Hsin-lung in connection with a
June banquet that authorities allege constituted vote-buying.

Hsieh's mother, Cheng Ru-fen, has been released in 1-million N-T bail, while
a secretary and a county council office director have both been released on
bail of 300,000 N-T.

Prosecutors says the suspects are all believed to have violated the Public
Officials Election and Recall Act.

According to prosecutors, the banquet, where more than 10 tables of residents
from Xihu Township were entertained, served as a covert campaign event to
support Hsieh's aunt, K-M-T Xihu Township mayoral candidate Chen Chen-fei.

The Changhua County Council has denied the allegations - saying the gathering
was an exchange among local community leaders rather than a council-organized
event, and that no public funds, council budget or speaker's discretionary
funds were used.

The banquet first drew public attention in July, when the Deputy Executive
Officer of the Cabinet's Central Taiwan Joint Services Center alleged that
Hsieh had used the banquet to campaign for his aunt.

Posted on 2026-09-18 08:13:13

Several beverage chains are among a slew of businesses fined for food safety
violations in recent government inspections.

The Food and Drug Administration says the inspections resulted in fines
totaling 1.05-million N-T.

The inspections were conducted by the F-D-A with local health authorities and
aimed at ensuring that freshly prepared beverages and ice products met
hygiene and safety standards.

According to the F-D-A, authorities inspected 387 vendors and tested 448
samples.

Of those, 442 passed, including 33 that passed after retesting, while six
beverage or ice products were found to be noncompliant with regulations.

Inspectors also found that 17 businesses, including chain beverage stores,
convenience stores and fast-food operators, had inaccurate labels for total
sugar, calorie or caffeine content.

The F-D-A says other violations uncovered during the inspections included
failure to correct deficiencies identified under the Good Hygienic Practice
regulations, lack of product liability insurance, use of expired ingredients
and improper product labeling.

Posted on 2026-09-18 08:13:13

And finally,

The Ministry of Health says health tokens earned under a new government
program will be redeemable for health-related goods and services from
December ...

.. and with adults aged 18 and over will be able to begin earning them
October 1.

The ministry says the program has been designed to encourage people to take a
more active role in preventive healthcare, including health checkups, cancer
screenings, vaccinations and other health-promoting activities.

According to the ministry, the initiative aims to place greater emphasis on
disease prevention in health policy by providing ongoing incentives that make
it easier for people to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors, the ministry
said.

A minimum of 1,000 tokens will be required for each redemption, and tokens
will be valid for two years.

Each health token will be worth 1 N-T in principle.

The tokens can be exchanged for fresh produce, beverages, dried goods,
medical equipment and nutritional supplements at participating convenience
stores, hypermarkets, community pharmacies, medical institutions, sports
facilities and life insurance companies.

The tokens can also be redeemed for services including out-of-pocket health
checkups, vaccinations and additional health-related rewards under insurance
policies offering wellness incentive.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expressing is gratitude for the European
Parliament's recognition of Taiwan's resilience and technological strengths
in a recent report.

The recognition came in a report released earlier this week...

The document identified Taiwan as a like-minded partner that has begun
developing principles and frameworks for safeguarding information integrity
based on democratic values, media pluralism, and human rights.

It called Taiwan is "a leading partner in terms of situational awareness" and
has been organizing civil defense and resilience exercises to counter China's
increasing gray-zone warfare tactics.

The report also said the Lai administration's whole-of-society approach and
best practices could contribute to the European Union's development of
preparedness measures and enhance the overall effectiveness of the European
Democracy Shield.

It further called for regular exchanges on relevant security issues and
stronger cooperation with like-minded partners in East Asia, including
Taiwan, on countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference and
the sabotage of undersea cables.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

U-S Representative Young Kim is urging Washington to support Taiwan's
admission to the International Monetary Fund and encourage Taipei to apply as
soon as possible.

Kim is the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and
the Pacific.

She raised the issue with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a House
Financial Services Committee hearing.

The California Republican asked Bessent about implementation of the Taiwan
Non-Discrimination Act - which directs the I-M-F representative to use the
U-S. voice and vote to support Taiwan's membership.

While Bessent claimed the Trump administration is aware of the bill, it
didn't say what action it was taking.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has been studying the matter with
relevant government agencies and will seek the views of Taiwan's diplomatic
allies and like-minded countries, including the U-S before formulating a
concrete and feasible plan.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

The Coast Guard Administration confirms it donated one of its decommissioned
patrol vessels to the Philippines.

This, after local media reported that the Philippine law enforcement vessel,
"BLINGNO.1," was tracked briefly leaving Kaohsiung Port before returning and
docking on Wednesday.

Reports say the vessel appeared to be a disarmed and repainted CGA
500-tonne-class patrol vessel.

The Coast Guard Administration says the case was "handled according to usual
practice" and it maintains "close cooperation with many countries and has
donated vessels to the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu over the years."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not said whether this is the first time
Taiwan has donated a vessel to the Philippines, which has not had diplomatic
relations with Taiwan since 1975.

This comes as the Coast Guard Administration scheduled its first-ever
"goodwill mission" to the Philippines for October of next year.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

The government is giving Japan more than 300-million N-T in public donations
to help rebuild communities affected by July's magnitude 7.1 earthquake that
struck Kumamoto Prefecture.

The donations were presented to Kazuyuki Katayama, the head of the Taipei
Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association by Foreign Minister Lin
Chia-lung at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in
Taipei.

The foreign ministry commissioned the International Cooperation and
Development Fund to open and administer a public donation account on August
1.

That was the first time the ministry had asked the organization to run a
public disaster-relief fundraiser.

The account raised more than 300-million N-T, or just over 1.4 billion yen,
within a month.

The foreign minister says the entire amount to be used for recovery and
reconstruction.

Lin also thanked businesses, civic groups and Taiwanese communities overseas
for contributing, saying the response reflected the "family-like" bonds
between Taiwan and Japan.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

A three-day disaster response exercise is underway in eastern Taiwan.

The drill began yesterday in Hualien and simulates a major earthquake that
severs transportation links and testing authorities' ability to deliver aid
and restore critical infrastructure.

The exercise runs through tomorrow and is part of the central government's
annual earthquake drills held every September and October.

The drills mark National Disaster Prevention Day, which fall on September 21
and commemorates the devastating 1999 Jiji earthquake.

The scenario for Thursday's drill involved a magnitude 7.3 earthquake along
the southern segment of the earthquake-prone Huatung Longitudinal Valley
Fault - resulting in widespread road closures and isolating several
communities.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang says the exercise brought together more than
1,300 participants from central and local government agencies.

The Interior Ministry had said the drill drew more than 200 international
observers, including foreign representative office staff and delegates
attending the second Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy International
Forum.

The forum is being hosted by the Presidential Office and takes place
tomorrow.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

The Ministry of Labor says it will be extending paid marriage leave from
eight to 14 days starting October 1.

The labor ministry's Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment says
the change was proposed through amendments to the Regulations of Leave-Taking
of Workers, which will undergo a seven-day public notice period.

According to the law, employers are required to pay wages... one the payments
are made, employers can apply for government subsidies.

Ministry officials say the expanded leave will apply equally to Taiwanese and
foreign nationals as long as they are covered by the Labor Standards Act.

However, migrant domestic helpers and live-in caregivers are not be eligible
because they are not covered by the Labor Standards Act.

The move is part of the Lai administration's broader family-support policy
announced in May.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

And,

New Taipei will be offering free rides on one M-R-T line and two light rail
lines for four days from tomorrow through next Tuesday.

The move is aimed at promoting green transportation and marking World Car
Free Day - which falls on September 22.

The free service covers the Sanying M-R-T Line and the Danhai and Ankeng
light rail systems.

Buses operated by the New Taipei and Taipei city governments will also be
free on September 22 - when passengers will not need to swipe their transit
cards or pay fares.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the initiative seeks to encourage people s to
drive less and to prove the government can provide convenient public
transportation so people can leave their cars at home while still getting
around conveniently.

Posted on 2026-09-18 07:07:14

Russia and China have vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have authorized
U.N. experts to keep monitoring sanctions that were reimposed against Iran
over its nuclear program.

The sanctions were reimposed against Iran last year.

This doesn't impact existing U-N Security Council sanctions, which includes
measures like freezing Iran’s assets abroad, halting arms deals with Tehran,
and penalizing any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Russia and China had strongly urged the U.S. and its allies not to put the
resolution to a vote, which would only increase tensions in the council.

But Western allies like France believe implementing sanctions is “a crucial
instrument to encourage Iran” to return to its nuclear obligations.

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:51:13

Taiwanese band Accusefive is adding a third show at Taipei Arena ... after
its first two concerts sold out almost instantly.

The band will hold its "At Century" concerts in early November, with the
additional show scheduled for November 6th.

Accusefive says many friends and relatives asked if they could get tickets
early ... but the band turned them down to give fans priority.

They joked that their friends were welcome to join everyone else in the
ticket-buying rush.

The band says performing three consecutive shows at Taipei Arena will be
physically challenging ... but worth it for another night with fans.

Tickets for the additional show go on sale September 20th.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:51:13

Sometimes horror movie directors forget, but a little humor can go a long way.

A-P critic Jocelyn Noveck says director Zach Cregger gets the balance right
in his reboot of "Resident Evil".

The movie is inspired by the popular video games and includes plenty of
Easter eggs.

But Noveck says people who have never played the games won't miss much.

Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier who finds himself in a world
overrun by a terrifying zombie virus.

Cregger keeps the action moving, taking viewers to a series of different
locations, including a farmhouse, an old R-V and even a maternity ward.

"Resident Evil" is out in theatres across Taiwan today.

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:51:13

American artist Peter Max has died at the age of 88.

His son says Max died Monday.

No cause of death was given.

Max became famous in the 1960s for his colorful, psychedelic designs, which
captured the optimism of the "flower power" era.

His artwork appeared on everything from postage stamps to a cruise ship, and
remained popular well into the 21st century.

Max was also the official artist for the Olympics, the Super Bowl and other
major events.

His portrait subjects included U-S presidents and pop star Taylor Swift.

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:51:13

And speaking of U-S presidents ...

Fencing has gone up around the main Kennedy Center building, a day after a
board aligned with Donald Trump voted to close most of the performing arts
center for repairs.

The vote came after a federal judge blocked the center from adding Trump's
name to the building.

Trump said on social media that the closure was needed for safety repairs.

But he also said the repairs would only go ahead if the board was allowed to
move forward with plans to add his name to the center.

Congress has already allocated 257 million U-S dollars for the repairs.

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:50:13

The National Development Council has approved plans to expand Taoyuan's
Longtan Science Park by 104 hectares, a project expected to create about
4,500 jobs.

It will now go to the Cabinet for final approval.

The $95 billion NT project aims to expand the semiconductor industry cluster
in the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli area.

The government expects companies at the expanded park to generate about $550
billion NT in annual output once the project is completed.

The expansion will add space for semiconductor companies looking to increase
production, with infrastructure construction expected to begin in 2030 after
land acquisition.

Longtan Science Park currently covers about 107 hectares and employs around
7,000 people.

Local media have reported that TSMC is seeking approval to build an advanced
chip plant at the park following the expansion.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:50:13

Turning now to international business news,

Chinese technology giant Huawei has unveiled new chip technologies as it
steps up its challenge to global A-I leaders such as Nvidia.

The company on Thursday introduced its Atlas 960 SuperPoD computing cluster,
a faster successor to a model launched just months ago.

Huawei also announced new A-I chips that it says are being rolled out on an
accelerated schedule.

The launches highlight China's efforts to close the technology gap with the
United States in artificial intelligence.

The announcement comes days before a planned meeting in Washington between
U-S President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:50:13

The Bank of England is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged,
despite inflation in the U-K reaching a five-month high.

Consumer price inflation rose to 3.1 percent in August, well above the bank's
2 percent target. Higher fuel prices linked to the war with Iran have added
to inflationary pressure.

Economists say the bank's Monetary Policy Committee is likely to wait for
more evidence that higher inflation is affecting wages and other prices.

However, energy bills are set to rise again in October, which could push
inflation even higher.

Markets are now watching for possible rate increases in November or December,
as the Iran conflict continues to affect oil prices and the U-K economy.

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:48:13

Uber Eats Taiwan says its cost per delivery has risen by around 40 percent
since the new law protecting delivery workers took effect in July.

The company says the increase is partly linked to how pay is calculated for
stacked orders, with overlapping delivery time counted toward each order.

Uber Eats says its overall courier acceptance rate is down about 22 percent
from the same period last year.

Average delivery times have also increased, from about 27 minutes in the
first week after the law took effect to 34 minutes by the sixth week.

At the same time, average hourly pay during delivery service time rose 27
percent from a year earlier, from 330 to 420 NT.

The company says it has been adjusting customer fees because it cannot absorb
all the additional costs.

Uber Eats says it supports better pay and protections for delivery workers,
but calls for a balance between couriers, customers, restaurants and
delivery platforms.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:48:13

The National Development Council expects a wave of major public
infrastructure projects to be completed in the fourth quarter ...

.... as the government aims to spend more than 95 percent of its public
infrastructure budget this year.

The council says major projects including the first phase of the Tainan
Railway Underground Project and seven stations on the northern section of the
Taoyuan Metro Green Line are expected to open during the quarter.

The N-D-C says public infrastructure spending topped 413 billion NT by the
end of August, with more than half of the annual budget already spent.

Major projects completed in the first eight months included the Danjiang
Bridge in New Taipei and the Sanying and Xinyi East Extension metro lines.

The NDC says continued economic growth and infrastructure investment will
help strengthen domestic demand and support Taiwan's long-term development.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 19:48:13

Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding across northern Vietnam.

Rising water today submerged more than 2,000 homes, blocked roads and cut off
more than 1,000 households.

Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces have been among the hardest hit.

Flooding has damaged crops and killed livestock and poultry.

Schools and traffic have also been disrupted in Hanoi and other provinces.

More rain is forecast in southern Vietnam, raising concerns about further
flooding in low-lying areas, including Ho Chi Minh City.

Posted on 2026-09-17 18:53:13

The Legislative Yuan says it has sent the 2026 central government budget to
the president ... following a delay in formally submitting it.

The legislature passed the budget on August 14th, but says a large number of
measures approved during its final sessions that month required additional
time for checking and proofreading.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu said during cross-party talks last month that
staff needed sufficient time to ensure the documents were accurate.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 18:53:13

Taiwan has tightened controls on two chemicals used to make the drug commonly
found in so-called "zombie vapes".

The Food and Drug Administration says the two chemicals were classified as
Category 4 controlled substances on Tuesday ...

... meaning they can only be imported, produced, sold or used under strict
government controls, with institutions required to keep records of their
supplies.

The move comes as "etomidate" use in Taiwan continues to rise.

Government data shows the number of cases jumped from just 22 in 2023 to more
than 20,000 last year.

And in the first half of this year ... almost 14 thousand cases were recorded.

Etomidate was upgraded to a Category 1 controlled drug in June, after
previously being classified as Category 4.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 18:53:13

Taipower says power outages in Kaohsiung fell by more than 20 percent in the
first seven months of this year from the same period a year before ....

..... following upgrades to the city's power grid.

The state-run utility says outages caused by equipment deterioration fell by
nearly 30 percent, while those caused by contact with birds and animals
dropped by more than 37 percent.

Taipower says it has been replacing aging equipment, adding automated
switches and expanding tree and bamboo trimming to strengthen the grid.

The company says it plans to install 262 automated switches on 111 existing
power lines by the end of this year.

Taipower says the upgrades will help isolate faults more quickly and restore
power to unaffected areas faster.

It has also increased its budget for tree and bamboo trimming in Kaohsiung to
$60 million NT this year.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 18:53:13

A 12-year-old Formosan black bear has been given one last chance to stay away
from a community in rural Hualien ... after twice raiding chicken coops
there.

Officials have released the bear back into the wild ... but say if it enters
Qingshui community again, raids chicken coops or threatens residents, it will
be captured and spend the rest of its life in captivity.

The bear first entered a chicken coop in the community last year and was
captured and released in another area.

But it returned in March this year and was caught again.

Officials say the bear was thin and in poor health at the time ... weighing
just 68 kilograms.

After six months of care, it gained more than 30 kilograms and was judged
healthy enough to return to the mountains.

This time, officials say they released it far from human settlements and
fitted it with a satellite tracking collar so its movements can be closely
monitored.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-17 16:32:13

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-zhe is clarifying his support for the death penalty
today...

adding that he believes victims and their families should be able to get more
compensation and consolation.

Huang emphasized that he had opposed abolishing the death penalty since his
time as a lawmaker.

But he attempted to divorce the debate from partisan issues, saying that the
DPP has not made moves toward abolishing the death penalty, even when it had
a majority in the legislature.

Huang also noted that nearly 3 dozen people remain on death row, and
advocated for them to be executed as soon as possible.

He has also come out in support of the death penalty in the Tainan Police
Murder case, which is set to have a second verdict read later this year.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-17 16:32:13

Asian Games banner

Police in Japan's Nagoya are investigating a case of apparent vandalism after
a banner for the Taiwan delegation at the Asian Games was defaced.

The banner originally read "national sports training center" and was posted
outside the training facilities for Taiwanese athletes at the games.

Police say, the word "national" appears to have been intentionally painted
over.

The defaced banner was replaced with a new one shortly after the incident.

Police say, they're investigating the incident under property damage charges.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-17 16:32:13

Experts are calling for candidates running to lead local governments to
propose concrete disaster resilience measures.

Civic group Kuma Academy says, the measures have become all the more
necessary as Taiwan confronts China's gray-zone warfare.

At a press conference this morning, Kuma Academy emphasized the importance of
building backup resilience infrastructure in case undersea cables were to
face attacks from an enemy.

They're calling for local governments to establish emergency information
pipelines so that the public can rest easy.

Academia Sinica's Liu Wen recommended that local governments leverage
existing village and community management systems to encourage neighborhoods
to assess air raid shelters and backup power systems.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-17 16:32:13

Romanian residents near the border with Ukraine are increasingly fearful of
Russian drone strikes.

Romanian airspace breaches have tripled this year, with 73 attacks near the
border.

NATO is increasing its presence in Eastern Europe, but concerns remain.

Romanian is boosting defense spending and acquiring systems to counter
drones.

Residents feel vulnerable and unsupported as the conflict continues.

In May, a drone injured a mother and child after crashing into an apartment
block in an eastern town along the Danube River.

A drone that entered Romania from neighboring Moldova was tracked through
several counties last week before it reentered Moldova and crashed in a
sunflower field.

Posted on 2026-09-17 16:32:13

Eureopean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is proposing opening a
path for Canada to become the EU's first associate member.

It's a striking overture as threats from the US drive Canada closer to
Europe.

The US president claimed that such a move could be considered a "hostile act"
and threatened to impose more tariffs on Europe.

Von der Leyen said Canada and the EU would build on their existing free trade
agreement with a broader "Alliance for the Future."

She said that Europe and Canada both believe in democracy, with Canadian
Prime Minister Mark Carney receiving a standing ovation at the European
Parliament.

He is set to address the Parliament today.

Posted on 2026-09-17 16:32:13

probe

Prosecutors in Changhua county are seeking to detain the council speaker and
4 others in a vote-buying investigation.

They summoned speaker Xie Dian Lin yesterday and determined him and his
parents to have violated the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.

Prosecutors say the investigation is related to a banquet in Xihu township
that took place in June.

Prosecutors are seeking to detain Xie, of the KMT, and his parents, plus two
other suspects.

However, Xie's couin, who's running for mayor of Xihu township, and others
also suspected in a vote-buying probe were relased on bail.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:42:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai is telling government agencies to carry out the delayed
2026 central government budget quickly, but lawfully.

The Legislature passed the budget on August 14 and is expected to send the
final documents to the Executive Yuan this week.

Cho says that after the budget is formally promulgated, ministries must
improve efficiency and complete their projects within the limited time left
this year.

He stressed that agencies must follow all legal and administrative
procedures, even when work is urgent.

The government is also asking lawmakers to approve a supplementary spending
package worth nearly 608 billion NT.

The largest items include funding for state-run oil company CPC, measures to
stabilize living conditions amid the Middle East conflict, and spending on
defense capabilities and higher military compensation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:42:13

The Defense Ministry says 15 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median
line of the Taiwan Strait this morning.

It says a total of 19 aircraft and drones were detected operating at sea from
8:45 a.m., including J-11 and J-16 fighter jets, H-6K bombers and support
aircraft.

Fifteen of them crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s central and
southwestern airspace.

The ministry says the aircraft were operating with Chinese naval vessels in
what Beijing called a joint combat readiness patrol.

The Armed Forces monitored the activity using joint intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

It also deployed aircraft, naval vessels and land-based missile systems in
response.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:42:13

The government is launching a four-year plan to prepare for new and emerging
infectious diseases.

Three disease-prevention centers will be established at National Taiwan
University, National Cheng Kung University and Chang Gung University.

The centers will connect researchers and hospitals across northern and
southern Taiwan, while also monitoring diseases entering through airports and
ports.

The government is investing 175 million NT in the project this year.

Officials also plan to strengthen domestic vaccine development and
cooperation with Japan and Singapore.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:42:13

European and Arab military leaders are meeting in Paris to discuss security
arrangements for southern Lebanon after a United Nations peacekeeping mission
begins withdrawing in January.

The talks will assess the military and financial needs of the Lebanese Armed
Forces and consider options for a replacement mission.

Proposals include an international force backed by France and Italy, or a
European Union-led mission. Both would focus on training, equipment,
intelligence sharing and support for the Lebanese military.

The discussions come amid fears of renewed fighting between Israel and
Hezbollah.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a U.S.-brokered framework that calls for
Israeli troops to withdraw gradually as Lebanese forces deploy in the south
and disarm Hezbollah.

However, diplomats say a breakthrough is unlikely before upcoming elections
in Israel and the United States.

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:42:13

American and Chinese security experts are calling for new safeguards to
prevent artificial intelligence from triggering a military or nuclear crisis.

Their proposals include banning AI systems from independently deciding to use
nuclear weapons or attack nuclear command networks.

They also say humans should retain control over major military cyberattacks,
particularly those targeting critical infrastructure such as energy,
healthcare and finance.

The experts are also proposing a dedicated U.S.-China hotline for incidents
involving autonomous AI. They warn that malfunctioning or compromised systems
could act without authorization, leaving either country unsure whether an
attack was intentional.

The recommendations come ahead of planned government-level talks on AI.

Neither government has endorsed the proposals, although both countries
previously agreed that humans should retain control over decisions involving
nuclear weapons.

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:42:13

Scientists say climate change likely helped create the conditions behind last
month’s catastrophic glacier and rock collapse in the Himalayas.

The disaster caused severe flooding in Nepal and Tibet, killing around 1,400
people and leaving thousands missing.

Researchers from World Weather Attribution say warming temperatures have
thinned glaciers, melted permafrost and increased the amount of rain falling
instead of snow. These changes can weaken mountain slopes and increase
meltwater.

Temperatures across the Himalayan region were about five degrees Celsius
above normal in August. Researchers estimate human-caused climate change
contributed about one-point-five degrees to that increase.

However, they have not determined whether the collapse would have occurred
without climate change.

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:08:13

The Ministry of Labor says, wedding leave will be extended to 14 days
starting next month.

This comes after President Lai Ching-te previously announced a slew of policy
changes aimed at upping the birth rate, including increasing time off for
weddings.

The MOL says today that the additional 6 days of salary will be paid by the
government.

Parental leave is also set to increase, while other family-related forms of
leave will also become more flexible.

Under the old rules, most wotkers would get 8 days off for getting married,
to be used within 3 months of their wedding.

Under the new system set to take effect next month, employers will still be
responsible for paying employees' salaries during those 8 days, but the
government will subsidize the additional 6 days after employers pay them out.

MOL officials say, application procedures will be released once the new
policy takes effect.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:08:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, Taipei police are on alert after a Threads
user threatened to attack the city's Chiang Kai Shek memorial.

Chiang says, police have already located the poster's IP address and are
stepping up patrols in the area.

That Threads user threatened to carry out a knife attack today at 2pm at the
memorial.

Chiang said that the city would take the threat seriously and have the
highest standard of response.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:08:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 439 points to
close the session at 46288

The turnover was 819.4 billion NT

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:08:13

Now turning to international news...

A building collapse in Gaza has killed at least 21 people, including 11 kids.

Israeli strikes had severely damaged and weakened the building.

It was known to be unsafe, but rescuers say the lack of options left families
living there with no other choice.

The collapse demonstrates how dangeous living conditions have become for most
living in Gaza.

No reconstruction work has happened since a ceasefire was agreed to nearly a
year ago.

Israel says it will not permit any rebuilding until Hamas disarms.

Meanwhile, the UN human rights chief said he feared the the few bodies
recovered were the "tip of the iceberg..."

considering that, he says, "much of Gaza has been flattened by Israeli
bombing or demolition."

Posted on 2026-09-17 14:08:13

Japan's Kagoshima prefecture will begin providing international tourists with
free rides on the shinkansen bullet train.

Nikkei Asia reports that the move is in an effort to attract more people to
the relatively less-visited area.

The program begins tomorrow on the Kyushu Shinkansen, applying to one-way
journeys from Fukuoka's Hakata Station to one of three stations in Kagoshima.

To qualify, tourists will need to reserve a one night stay through Klook.

Tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Vietnam, the US and
other countries are able to take advantage of the program.

The program is expected to end at the end of Feburary.

Posted on 2026-09-17 12:42:14

Taiwan and Japan are seeking reassurance ahead of next week's summit between
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Officials and analysts are reportedly concerned Trump could soften
Washington's position on Taiwan in exchange for economic agreements with
Beijing.

Those concerns grew after Trump described pending U.S. arms sales to Taiwan
as a "negotiating chip" following his May summit with Xi.

Local officials say they have clearly communicated the government's position
to Washington and hope the talks will not produce any outcome that harms
Taiwan.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says he expects Xi to raise the issue, but
notes that Washington has repeatedly said its Taiwan policy remains
unchanged.

Japanese officials are also reportedly seeking talks between Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi and Trump before the September 24 summit.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 12:42:14

A Singaporean tourist remains unconscious and in critical condition after
being hit by a bus in Taichung.

Police say the 67-year-old woman was using a pedestrian crossing when the bus
struck her while turning right.

She became trapped beneath the vehicle and initially had no pulse and was not
breathing.

Her vital signs were restored after she was taken to hospital, where she
underwent emergency surgery.

The hospital says she suffered multiple fractures and other serious injuries
and remains in intensive care.

The driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs.

Police have contacted the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei to assist the
woman's family, while investigators work to determine the cause of the
accident.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 12:42:14

Meta has introduced parental supervision tools for teenage Threads users in
Taiwan.

Parents can now see how much time their teenagers spend on the app and set
daily limits through Meta's Family Center.

They can also schedule periods when access is restricted and manage some
privacy and content settings.

Threads Teen Accounts are private by default and automatically restrict some
of the content younger users can see.

Teenagers under 16 need parental approval before changing the protections to
less restrictive settings.

Sleep mode is also enabled by default from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

During that period, notifications are muted and automatic replies are turned
on.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 12:42:14

North Korea says it will continue expanding its nuclear arsenal, arguing that
increased military cooperation among the United States, South Korea and Japan
justifies the move.

Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il made the remarks at the Beijing Xiangshan
Forum.

Kim described the three countries' security cooperation as a nuclear alliance
and blamed Washington's policies for tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

He said North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state was irreversible and
rejected international demands for denuclearization.

The comments followed a similar statement from North Korean leader Kim Jong
Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong.

She dismissed renewed calls for denuclearization following discussions at the
International Atomic Energy Agency's annual meeting.

Kim Kang Il declined to comment on whether a summit between Kim Jong Un and
U.S. President Donald Trump could take place.

Posted on 2026-09-17 12:42:14

Fiji has declared HIV a national crisis after the number of new diagnoses
rose 27 percent last year.

The government says more than 2-thousand people were diagnosed in 2025, while
an estimated one in every 60 adults is living with HIV.

It says 59 babies were born with the virus last year, and 18 died before
reaching their first birthday.

UNAIDS estimates that about 9-thousand-100 people in Fiji have HIV. However,
only 39 percent know their status and 22 percent are receiving antiretroviral
treatment.

The government plans to expand free and confidential testing, preventive
medication and treatment.

It also plans to introduce harm-reduction services for people who inject
drugs, including a needle-and-syringe program.

More than half of cases with a known transmission route were linked to sexual
contact, while over 42 percent involved injecting drug use.

Posted on 2026-09-17 09:10:13

The Central Weather Administration says northeasterly wind system will
continue to affect northern and eastern parts of Taiwan over the next few
days - bringing milder temperatures and a chance of rain.

According to the administration's forecast center, although the wind system
will weaken slightly today, it will continue to affect weather patters in
some areas through Saturday.

Slightly wetter conditions are expected on Sunday, with scattered showers are
forecast in areas north of Taoyuan, the east and the Hengchun Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the 24th tropical storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season has
formed in waters east of Guam.

Tropical Storm DuJuan is forcecast to move toward waters south of Japan
before veering in an east-northeasterly direction this coming weekend.

The storm will have no direct impact on Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-09-17 09:10:13

In international news now ....

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is seeking to allow
Canada to become the European Unions's first "associate member."

von der Leyen told the European Parliament that she wants to "open the door"
for Canada, which would involve closer ties on various key sectors.

She did not give specific details on how any Canadian membership would work,
but listed manufacturing, technology, AI, defence, energy, critical minerals
and economic security as key areas for cooperation

It comes after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last week spoke of seeking
a "unique alliance" with the E-U.

U-S President Donald Trump is claiming that the European Union allowing
Canada to become an associate member could be a "hostile act."

And he's threatening to respond to the proposed move by imposing more tariffs
on the bloc.

Posted on 2026-09-17 09:10:13

An Argentine judge has ordered British and Israeli companies to stop
developing an oilfield off the British-controlled Falkland Islands.

The ruling bars drilling and construction pending an Argentine environmental
review.

However, enforcement is uncertain and the companies have pledged to press
ahead.

Britain says Argentine law does not apply to the islands.

The ruling comes as Argentina's president steps up his country’s claim to the
territory.

Oil production in the oilfield off the Falkland Islands is expected to begin
in 2028.

Posted on 2026-09-17 09:10:13

And finally,

Tickle Me Elmo, Bingo and the playground slide are among the finalists for
the U-S' National Toy Hall of Fame this year.

The lineup also includes Care Bears, Yahtzee, Mahjong, and Pokemon Trading
Cards.

Voting for the 12 finalists for the Class of 2026 is open to the public and a
panel of judges until September 23.

Other nominees include Bop It!, Monster High dolls, Polly Pocket, Mouse Trap,
and Sorry!

The three winners will join the 90 toys enshrined in America's National Toy
Hall of Fame.

Posted on 2026-09-17 08:14:14

Digital Minister Lin Yi-jing has held talks with U-S officials, think tanks
and major technology companies during a visit to Washington, D.C.

According to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the talks focused on
cooperation on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The ministry has not named the U-S government officials who met with Lin and
his delegation, but has said they also met with several Washington-based
think tanks, including the Hudson Institute and the Center for Strategic and
International Studies.

The delegation also met with OpenAI, Meta and Amazon.

The ministry says one of the main issues discussed was "how AI models
understand Taiwan" - and that issues was brought up as the Lai administration
is seeking to ensure that Taiwan's language, history and culture are
accurately represented by A-I systems.

Lin says that issue is no longer merely technical because growing numbers of
people were turning to A-I for information and to make sense of the world and
"some authoritarian countries" are attempting to use A-I to reinterpret
history.

The digital ministry has said it's developing what it calls "sovereign A-I"
capabilities using traditional Chinese and local data, while the government
is also evaluating how international A-I models handle Taiwan-related issues.

Posted on 2026-09-17 08:14:14

And finally,

The Chiayi County Agriculture Department is touting locally raised crocodile
meat as being a new type of food to stick on Mid-Autumn Festival barbecues.

According to the department's aquaculture division, Chiayi crocodile is
well-suited for grilling and the meat is mild in flavor with a firm texture
"similar to chicken."

Department section chief Chang Jien-cheng says Taiwan's largest concentration
of "crocodile," or spectacled caiman, farms is located in Chiayi's Yizhu
Township.

Restaurants there have devised several ways to prepare crocodile, including
grilling, deep-frying, boiling, baking, and stewing with traditional Chinese
medicine ingredients.

The Chiayi Agriculture Department is recommending skinless crocodile leg for
grilling, saying the dish would stand out in a Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue
both for its fresh taste and as "a topic of conversation."

The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday falls on September 25.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

The Minister of Foreign Affairs says it welcomes the U-S' support for
Taiwan's continuing participation in the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’
Meeting.

The statement comes after U-S Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Matt Murray described Taiwan
as a reliable and democratic partner that contributes to economic development
across the Pacific.

Accordin to Murray, Washington opposes Beijing's efforts to pressure Pacific
countries to sever, or downgrade ties with Taiwan, or restrict its
participation in the annual forum.

Murray also stressed Taiwan role in implement an initiative to creating
secure and reliable undersea Internet cables in collaboration with
like-minded partners in the Pacific.

The foreign ministry says the Lai administration looks forward to enhancing
its cooperation with the U-S and other partners in the Pacific as part of a
greater drive to help the development of the region.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attended events coinciding with the 55th
Pacific Islands Forum annual summit late last month in Palau.

Taiwan and other non-members of the bloc were barred from participating in
last year's event.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

The Presidential Office will be holding a whole-of-society resilience forum
on Saturday.

The second edition of the Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy
International Forum will be taking place at the Grand Hyatt Taipei,

According to the Presidential Office, it will see some 500 defense experts,
officials, and business representatives discussing the concept of
whole-of-society resilience and to examine Taiwan's preparedness amid threats
from China.

The Presidential Office says the event will cover issues including
whole-of-society defense resilience preparedness, civil-military integration,
psychological defense, maritime resilience, cybersecurity, response to
gray-zone activities, and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey will deliver an opening keynote
address on how democracies can adapt to modern warfare and respond to
emerging threats.

While American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene and the U-K's
Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones will share their observations of
Taiwan's efforts to build up whole-of-society defense resilience over the
past year.

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu and former U-S.deputy
national security advisors Matt Pottinger will also speek on defense
preparedness and its security cooperation.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has held talks with a visiting Honduran
congressman and says the Lai administrstion is open to all possibilities for
future relations.

Jorge Calix is the first Honduran legislator to have visited Taiwan since
official diplomatic ties were severed in March of 2023.

Calix is a member of the National Congress and the caucus whip for the
opposition Liberal Party.

Speaking during the meeting, Lin said the Lai administrstion will maintain a
"pragmatic and open approach" to the prospect of future relations with
Honduras that could "create all kinds of possibilities."

According to Calix, his visit to Taiwan is aimed at exploring opportunities
for future cooperation based on the existing foundation.

Honduras' new president, Nasry Asfura, who took office in January, pledged
during his election campaign to restore ties with Taipei.

However, since then his administration has stated numerous times that talks
to re-establish official ties remain under review.

Since then, however, neither Tegucigalpa nor Taipei have spoken publicly
about potentially restoring diplomatic ties.

The last high-level visit from an elected Honduran official took place in
November 2021, when then-President Juan Orlando Hernandez led a delegation to
Taiwan for a state visit.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says Taiwan Life Insurance is expected to sign a
60-billion N-T build-operate-transfer contract with the city for a
45,000-seat domed baseball stadium next month.

According to the city government, the complex will be built in Taichung's
Shuinan Economic and Trade Park and will include two hotels and a luxury
shopping mall covering around 33,000 square meters.

The city government said that Taiwan Life has partnered with Japan's
Nippon-Ham Fighters to leverage the Nippon Professional Baseball team's
expertise in stadium construction and operations.

The mayor has told city councilors that the dome will take reference from Es
Con Field Hokkaido, the Fighters' home stadium, which combines baseball
facilities with hotels, shopping, dining, leisure facilities and smart
technology applications.

Lu also said the partnership with the Fighters should help accelerate
construction, which is expected to take around three years after a design
phase of more than one year.

Taiwan Life Insurance is a subsidiary of C-T-B-C Financial Holdings - which
owns the Taichung based C-T-B-C Brothers baseball team.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

Labor groups are calling on the government to adopt uniform nationwide
penalty standards for employers that violate minimum wage rules, arguing that
wide disparities among local authorities are weakening enforcement of the
law.

The Taiwan Labour Front says some local governments still rely on penalty
guidelines drawn up under the Labor Standards Act rather than the Minimum
Wage Act, while others have no specific standards for minimum wage
violations.

According to the group, thresholds for imposing the statutory maximum fine of
1-million N-T range from six to 17 violations across jurisdictions, but rise
to 50 or more in government-administered industrial parks.

According to labor front, such disparities undermine the effectiveness of
minimum wage legislation and give noncompliant employers an unfair advantage
over those that follow the law.

The group says the Ministry of Labor needs to establish a nationwide standard
under which employers found in violation five or more times would face the
statutory maximum fine of 1-million N-T, regardless of company size.

Data shows that labor authorities imposed penalties in 153 cases involving
wages below the statutory minimum in 2025, with fines totaling 3.3-million
N-T.

The six special municipalities accounted for 62-per cent of those cases.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

Taiwan's National Health Insurance is now covering a new treatment for some
patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

Since August, eligible patients with certain tumor biomarkers can receive
immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy under a temporary cancer-drug
reimbursement program.

Health officials estimate around 300 patients could benefit, saving an
average of about 1.82-million N.T. a year in drug costs.

The treatment was approved by Taiwan's drug regulator in January and entered
NHI coverage about six months later.

Patient advocates welcomed the move but say eligibility remains too
restrictive.

Doctors also warn that endometrial cancer has become increasingly common in
Taiwan, and say persistent or unusual bleeding should be checked promptly.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

And,

The English translation of Taiwan writer Ping Lu's "To the East of the East"
has been longlisted for the US-based 2026 National Book Award for Translated
Literature.

It marks the second such recognition for a Taiwanese writer after Yang
Shuang-zi.

Translated from Chinese by Jeremy Tiang, the novel follows a Taiwan writer's
trip to Beijing in search of her missing husband and the encounters she has
there.

The work was one of 10 titles, originally published in Arabic, Chinese,
French, Indonesian, Norwegian, Russian and Spanish, selected by the National
Book Foundation from 159 books.

The foundation will announce the finalists on October 6.

And the winner will revealed at the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony on
November 18.

"To the East of the East" is the first book in the novelist's "Taiwan
Trilogy."

Originally published in 2011, the novel was followed by "Ilha Formosa" and
"Passing."

The The trilogy was republished in 2024.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:13

In related news...

Carney also met Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, for the first
time at Everton’s stadium in Liverpool before the two leaders watched the
soccer club they both support.

A senior Canadian government official said Carney and Burnham were expected
to discuss a Canadian-backed proposal to combine competing plans for an
international defense bank that could help NATO allies finance increased
military spending and defense production.

The leaders were also expected to discuss a potentially expanded Canadian
role in the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, as well as cooperation on
drones, artificial intelligence, satellite communications, critical minerals
and quantum technology.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:14

Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to
regional and Western allies for assistance as its standoff with Houthi rebels
in Yemen drags on.

That's according to two regional officials who on Wednesday said the Saudis
have asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defense support
to the region to help defend against missiles and drones fired by
Iranian-backed groups.

The outreach was initiated because Saudi Arabia's main ally and arms
supplier, the United States, has seen its own stock of interceptors dwindle
over the course of a six-month war with Iran, one official said. Both
officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to
brief the media.

Separately, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations are condemning an attempted
drone attack on Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

The Houthis denied firing drones toward Mecca, about 1,100 kilometers from
Yemen’s border.

The Saudis said they intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered
the airspace over the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:14

A building damaged by Israeli strikes collapsed suddenly in Gaza City,
killing at least 21 people, including 11 children.

The disaster that unfolded early today forced rescuers to dig through the
rubble with bare hands.

The building was known to be unstable from strikes earlier in the war.

No reconstruction work has happened since a ceasefire was agreed to almost a
year ago.

Israel has said that it will not permit any rebuilding until Hamas disarms,
and only a handful of excavators have been allowed into Gaza.

Posted on 2026-09-17 06:59:14

A Russian drone strike on a passenger bus in southern Ukraine has killed five
people and wounded at least seven others.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack an “atrocity” and part of
ongoing strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.

The attack occurred today in the Nikopol district near the war's front line.

Zelenskyy also reported that a passenger train was struck in the Mykolaiv
region and that the passengers were evacuated.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that more than 500 locomotives have been
damaged since the all-out war began in 2022.

Ukraine is urgently seeking replacements.

Posted on 2026-09-16 18:49:13

TSMC shares recovered their previous closing price within 27 minutes of the
market opening, despite the stock no longer being eligible for its latest
cash dividend.

The shares opened NT$5 lower at NT$3,375, after TSMC's U.S.-listed shares
fell overnight.

But buying quickly emerged, sending the stock back to its previous closing
price.

Market dealers say the quick recovery shows continued investor confidence in
TSMC's outlook, particularly as the company benefits from strong demand for
artificial intelligence chips.

TSMC will pay shareholders a cash dividend of NT$7 per share on October 8,
based on its first-quarter earnings.

That's up from the NT$6 dividend paid for the previous quarter.

TSMC has paid dividends every quarter since 2019.

Posted on 2026-09-16 18:49:13

Taiwanese Apple retailer Data Express expects demand for the new high-end
iPhones to grow by 10 to 20 percent from last year.

The company says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max together account for 75
percent of its preorders ... with demand roughly evenly split between the two
models.

The remaining 25 percent is for Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo.

Data Express says higher prices are unlikely to hurt initial sales, as early
buyers tend to be loyal Apple customers who favor the high-end Pro models.

A company survey shows Burgundy Red is the most popular color, accounting for
40 percent of orders, followed by Glacier Blue at 34 percent.

It also found that 54 percent of customers plan to choose models with at
least 512 gigabytes of storage.

The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is scheduled to go on sale in Taiwan on September
18th ... while the Duo goes on sale October 23rd.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-16 18:47:13

A Ukrainian civil society leader says Ukraine should share its experience of
resisting Russia with Taiwan and help strengthen the island's ability to
defend itself.

Mariia Makarovych {mah-REE-yah • mah-KAH-roh-veech}, head of the East Asian
Office of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine, spoke at a forum in
Taipei today ....

.... thanking Taiwan for sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine soon after
Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Makarovych said the war shows that authoritarian governments are willing to
use force to change borders and impose control over other countries.

She said Ukraine should not only continue receiving support from Taiwan, but
also share its experience of resistance and defense.

Also at the forum ... German lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter {ROH-deh-rik •
KEE-zuh-vet-er} said the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war could have direct
consequences for Taiwan.

He said the international community should support both Ukraine and Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-16 18:47:13

U-S Senator Pete Ricketts says Washington will not tolerate any attempt to
change Taiwan's status by force ....

.... ahead of a planned meeting between U-S President Donald Trump and
Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week.

Ricketts said that any discussion of Taiwan should reflect the U-S position,
which he said has not changed.

He also said Washington's priority should be delivering weapons already
promised to Taiwan, rather than approving new arms sales.

Ricketts said the U-S is about 30 billion U-S dollars behind in weapons
deliveries to Taiwan.

He urged Taiwan to strengthen its ability to deter a Chinese attack,
including through greater defense spending and reforms to its military
reserve system.

Ricketts said Trump's planned meeting with Xi is useful for keeping
communication open and avoiding conflict between the two countries.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-16 18:47:13

A senior Honduran opposition lawmaker has visited Taiwan, marking the first
public visit by a Honduran politician since the two countries broke
diplomatic ties in 2023.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung met Tuesday with Jorge Cálix {HOR-heh •
KAH-leeks}, a lawmaker from Honduras' opposition Liberal Party.

Lin said Taiwan remains open to future relations with Honduras and continues
to value its long-standing friendship with the Honduran people.

Cálix said he sees Taiwan as a model of freedom, democracy and economic
development, and that he hopes to explore opportunities for future
cooperation.

Honduras switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in March 2023,
ending 82 years of relations with Taipei.

Honduras' current president, Nasry Asfura, had pledged during his election
campaign to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

However, since Asfura took office, his government has not publically
indicated whether it plans to do that.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-16 18:47:13

Chiayi County is promoting locally farmed crocodile meat as an unusual option
for Taiwan's Mid-Autumn Festival barbecues.

The county's Agriculture Department says skinless crocodile leg is
particularly suitable for grilling, with a mild flavor and firm texture
similar to chicken.

Chiayi is home to Taiwan's largest concentration of farms raising spectacled
caiman, a species related to crocodiles.

Local agriculture officials say the meat can also be deep-fried, boiled,
baked or used in soups and stews.

The department says crocodile meat could add something different to the
traditional Mid-Autumn barbecue and give people a new topic of conversation.

Chiayi is also promoting locally farmed oysters, shrimp, tilapia and eels as
barbecue options.

Taiwan will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25th.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:48:13

Kaohsiung farmers affected by late-August heavy rain now have until Friday,
September 18th to apply for disaster relief and low-interest loans.

The Agriculture Bureau says the deadline was extended because flooding made
it difficult for some farmers to apply on time.

Farmers should submit applications at local district offices and are
encouraged to use the "New Agricultural Disaster" app to document damage.

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:48:13

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang says the city still has work to do after his
approval ranking improved in a new CommonWealth Magazine survey.

Hsieh scored 68.8, ranking 16th among Taiwan's 22 local leaders, up from 21st
in 2024.

DPP mayoral candidate Tung Tzu-wei criticized Keelung's separate "Sustainable
Happiness City" ranking, where it placed 14th among the 16 non-special
municipalities.

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:48:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An is attempting to brush off large turnouts in
support of his opponent Puma Shen...

saying that he will continue to offer solid policies in hopes of winning
residents' approval.

Chiang made the comments following Shen's visit to the Gongguan night market
last night, where droves of people turned out.

Shen also recently paid a visit to former president Chen Shui Bian.

To both these itineraries, Chiang said that he respects Shen's "electoral
strategy" and plans.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:48:13

Indonesian rescuers are still searching for 129 people missing four days
after a passenger ship capsized in the Java Sea.

The Virgo Transport 8 was carrying 243 people when it overturned in bad
weather early Sunday.

Six people have been confirmed dead and 108 rescued.

But high waves and strong winds have prevented the coast guard and navy from
beginning underwater searches near the wreck.

Families waiting say frustration is growing as they seek clearer information
about their missing relatives.

Authorities say rough weather remains the main obstacle to expanding the
operation.

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:48:13

Hearing

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is to make his first public
appearance in more than a year after an International Criminal Court judge
said she expected him to attend a pretrial hearing.

The session is due on Wednesday in The Hague.

Duterte, 81, has missed a series of hearings since his arrest last year,
citing medical reasons.

The judges ruled in January that he was healthy enough to stand trial.

Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity related to dozens of
killings during his so-called war on drugs when he was a Philippine city's
mayor and later the president.

Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidential term vary, from the
more than 6,000 that the national police have reported up to 30,000 claimed
by human rights groups.

Duterte has denied the charges.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:48:13

Nearly 200 men who took part in the war in Ukraine feature prominently among
the candidates for this week’s parliamentary election in Russia.

The tightly controlled balloting to elect 450 members of the State Duma — the
lower house of parliament — is the first since the full-scale invasion began.

The Kremlin touts them as part of Russia’s “true elite” -- an effort to show
that veterans of the 4 1/2-year-old war will have an honored place in
civilian life.

They lead party tickets, star in campaign videos and appear in televised
debates.

But few analysts believe that many of them will ever hold any real power
among the country’s ruling class, dismissing it as a way to lure more
volunteers to fight.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:11:13

Police are reminding the public of hefty fines for smoking in non-smoking
areas...

after a fight broke out at Taoyuan Internatioal Airport over the issue.

The incident took place this morning at the second terminal of the airport,
when a person was smoking in the non-smoking areas of the bus stop.

Another person then loudly told him not to smoke, causing a fight between the
two, with the police being called.

Police note that smoking in non-smoking areas is punishable by up to 10,000
NT in fines.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:11:13

Taipei police say they're putting in place traffic restrictions for the DPP's
upcoming 40th anniversary celebration.

The event will take place on Saturday, and police say they will have traffic
controls in place on Beiping east road and Hangzhou north road starting
Thursday.

The restrictions are expected be lifted in full on Sunday after the event
concludes.

The DPP has said that the event will include two choral performances by
candidates running for mayor and magistrate this year.

The event will take place Saturday in the capital's Zhongzheng district, with
restrictions beginning at 9am tomorrow on Beiping East Road from Linsen North
Road to Hangzhou North Road.

Traffic will be restricted from tomorrow morning until Sunday afternoon.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:11:13

Taiwanese writer Ping Lu has been longlisted for this year's U.S. National
Book Award for Translated Literature.

Her novel To the East of the East was translated into English by
Singapore-born translator Jeremy Tiang.

The story follows a Taiwanese woman who travels to Beijing in search of her
missing husband, while exploring themes of freedom, displacement, and
Taiwan's relationship with China.

Ping Lu becomes the second Taiwanese writer to make the award's Translated
Literature longlist, after Yáng Shuāng-zǐ.

Yáng went on to win the award in 2024 for Taiwan Travelogue.

Finalists for this year's awards will be announced on October 6th, with the
winners named in November.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:11:13

Now turning to internaitonal news...

A building collapse in Gaza City has killed at least 12 people.

The building was housing displaced families, with 4 children among the dead.

Israeli attacks thoroughly damaged the structure and there had been warnings
about its safety.

In addition to 12 dead, dozens of people are still missing or trapped under
the rubble.

Building collapses have become a major hazard in Gaza.

Displaced families have often returned from tent camps to homes damaged by
Israeli attacks..

Posted on 2026-09-16 16:11:13

The US is reportedly considering buying warships from Japan and South Korea.

That's according to Nikkei Asia, which says that Navy officials have said the
move would be in an attempt to deliver ships faster while also serving a need
for more ships.

The move would be a highly unusual one, aimed at keeping pace with China's
naval buildup.

A news outlet operation by the US Navy says that frigates built in South
Korea, Japan, and Turkiye are among the options under consideration.

Australia already chose the Japanese version for its next-generation frigate,
beating out Korean and European competitiors.

South Korea is viewed as a strong contender for the US to buy from, due to
existing Korean investments in the US.

The US Trump administation has championed the revival of the US shipbuilding
industry, but domestic shipbuilding capacity is not yet up to the task, so
Washington is weighing overseas procurement.

Posted on 2026-09-16 15:06:13

The Legislative Yuan says the 2026 central government budget is expected to
be sent to the Presidential Office this week ... after passing its third
reading.

The seven-volume document has been undergoing final proofreading and
compilation.

The legislature says a large number of measures were passed during its final
two sessions in August.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu had said staff needed sufficient time to
process those measures and ensure their accuracy.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-16 15:06:13

Taitung is undergoing drills to respond to a large earthquake...

ahead of national drills this Monday.

The Taitung drills simulate a 7.3 magnitude earthquake which causes buildings
to collapse and roads to be impassable.

The exercise aims to strengthen emergency responders' skills in such a
scenario.

Today's drills began with residents' phones receiving a notification urging
them to seek shelter due to a simulated earthquake.

Taitung was chosen by the central government to be the site of the drills
this year, seeing search and rescue teams and civilian volunteers mobilized.

County officials remind the public that many disaster relief and military
vehicles will be moving throughout the county during the drills...

but residents are urged not to panic and to cooperate with traffic controls
and drill procedures.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-16 15:06:13

Now turning to international news...

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, police have broken up opposition
protests with tear gas.

The protests were organized by the opposition coalition C64 in Kinshasa and
other cities.

Demonstrators were protesting against constitutional changes that could allow
the president to seek a third term.

The Kinshasa protest began peacefully, but police later used tear gas to
separate protesters from those in support of the ruling party.

Opposition leader Martin Fayulu says that police fired at protesters.

This comes as the Congo faces multiple crises, including an Ebola outbreak
and ongoing rebel violence.

The current president has been in office since 2019, and is due to complete
his second term in 2028.

The Congolese Constitution bars any revision on the two term limit, but a
bill in the legislature would allow the president to amend those provisions.

Posted on 2026-09-16 15:06:13

Election

Brazil’s Supreme Court stopped deliberations yesterday on whether a justice
who led the trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro should face an
investigation in a graft case.

The move is shaking up the run-up to the country’s presidential election next
month.

The session is still on, but the decision on the justice can return to the
court only by mid-December, when it will be close to recess.

That puts the decision off until well after the election.

The justice who sentenced Bolsonaro to prison last year is accused of
corruption by another justice, a Bolsonaro appointee.

The former president is the father of current presidential candidate Senator
Flávio Bolsonaro, who is expected to face President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
in what is predicted to be a close election.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-16 14:07:14

prosecutors

A Pingtung county councilor has been released on bail after she allegedly
handed out unauthorized COVID test kits to voters.

Zhou Chen Xiao Wen 周陳曉玟and a constitutent representative are being
investigated for alleged violation of the Public Officials Election and
Recall Act and the Medical Devices Act.

Zhou Chen, an independent, was released on bail of 60,000 NT following
searches yesterday.

Prosecutors say, the case began during the last local election cycle in 2022,
when Zhou Chen and her alleged accomplice handed out rapid test kits to
voters.

Prosecutors say that they're currently working to understand if the case is
related or not to that of lawmaker Gao Jin Su Mei.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-16 14:07:14

TSMC shares recovered their ex-dividend price adjustment within 27 minutes of
trading this morning.

The chipmaker went ex-dividend for its first-quarter cash payout of about 7
N.T. per share.

TSMC closed at 2-thousand-385 N.T. on Tuesday and opened 5 N.T. lower this
morning.

But buying quickly pushed the stock back to Tuesday's closing level by
9:27a.m.

That marked the 23rd time TSMC has filled its dividend gap on the same day
since switching to quarterly payouts in 2019.

The company will distribute about 181.5-billion N.T. in dividends on October
8th.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-16 14:07:14

And in related news...

Asian shares are mostly higher today, but AI-related shares remain volatile
as industry leaders in the US call to slow the development of AI.

Here in Taiwan, shares were up, with the benchmark eai ex gaining 337 points
to close the session at 45848

The turnover was 643.7 billion NT

Posted on 2026-09-16 14:07:14

Ukraine

Now turning to international news...

Federal US authorities say that the intelligence services of Russia are
seeking to kill people in the US or Europe who support Ukraine.

The indictment names 5 people who are believed to be part of a network
seeking to carry out killings and terrorism in various countries.

None of those named were in custody, as they are believed to be living
outside the US.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says that they disrupted Russian attempts
to conduct violent acts throughout the US...

including an attempt over the summer to kill a prominent Russian dissident
believed to be living in the US capital.

Among those charged in the indictment are three high-ranking members of
Russian intelligence services.

Posted on 2026-09-16 14:07:14

Police in Turkiye have detained dozens of demonstrators seeking the release
of LGBT activists detained in a recent crackdown.

Over the weekend, Turkish authorities targeted multiple LGBT groups, claiming
to be in order to "protect children and public order."

Websites belonging to the multiple advocacy groups were also blocked.

European officials have expressed concerns, urging the releases of those
detained for their work on human rights...

and saying that vague claims to protect "family values" are not legal
justification for cracking down on human rights.

Protesters told journalists that the tuling party of Turkiye is attempting to
portray LGBT people as the cause of every problem in the country.

The ruling party has been increasingly vocal against LGBT groups in recent
years in an attempt to consolidate conservative support.

Posted on 2026-09-16 11:24:13

The Tai-Ex opened up 35-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 45,546
on turnover of 4-billion N-T.

The market closed lower yesterday, led by the electronics sector amid
concerns over AI development after the heads of three U-S AI giants warned of
risks and called for a slowdown in development.

Posted on 2026-09-16 11:24:13

security

Now turning to international news...

New entry and exit rules have taken effect in China, as Beijing links entry
rules to national security in legal terms.

Nikkei Asia reports that, under the new rules, Chinese citizens can be banned
from leaving the country for a minimum of 6 months to an indefinite period.

Foreign nationals can also be barred from entering the country if they submit
inaccurate information or make false statements in visa applications.

The provisions are particularly concerning to company founders and
executives...

following a series of high-profile cases of individuals unable to leave.

Beijing previously banned a foreign bank employee and US government worker
from leaving China...

and also reportedly imposed exit restrictions on two founders of an AI
startup.

Legal experts say, the change highlights China's increasing use of explicit
legal language to bar people from leaving, as opposed to holding people who
don't know what they're being held for.

Posted on 2026-09-16 08:17:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the Lai administration is preparing to
open a representative office in Cebu Province in the Philippines

According to Lin, the office will be Taiwan's second in the country after
Manila and will serve travelers and businesspeople in the central
Philippines, which is a popular tourism destination.

The statement comes after Nikkei Asia reported on the new office earlier this
week.

Lin has not said when the Cebu office will open.

Posted on 2026-09-16 08:17:13

Police are offering a 1-million N-T reward for information leading to the
arrest of Chang Chun-chieh, a former legislative aide who jumped bail earlier
this month in a corruption case.

The 70-year old is the former legislative office director for independent
Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei.

He disappeared on September 6 and police found his
broken electronic wrist
monitor in Taipei's Daan Forest Park.

An arrest warrant has also been issued for a missing alleged accomplice, who
is suspected of helping Chang damage and remove his electronic monitoring
device.

According to police, six rounds of searches for Chang have carried out as of
Tuesday and seven people have been questioned on suspicion of helping him
evade authorities.

Sources are saying that Chang is known to have traveled to Taoyuan, Taichung,
Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung since he jumped bail.

Kao Chin, Chang and 22 other people were indicted in June on charges of
corruption and fraud related to the embezzlement of public funds and the
importation of unapproved COVID-19 test kits from China.

Posted on 2026-09-16 08:17:13

The Centers for Disease Control says the number of flu cases continued to
rise last week.

According to the C-D-C, a total of 136,796 outpatient and emergency visits
for flu-like symptoms were recorded from September 6 through 12 and that's a
16.5-per cent increase from the previous week.

The C-D-C's Epidemic Intelligence Center says the current flu epidemic is now
expected to peak around the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, when outpatient and
emergency visits will likely reach between 150,000 and 160,000.

Influenza A viruses remain dominant in the community, with the A - H-1-N-1
subtype accounting for 82.2-per cent of all detected cases.

The C-D-C reported 92 new severe flu cases and 21 deaths between September 8
and 14.

That brings the cumulative number of severe cases since October 1 last year
to 1,421, while the 21 flu-related deaths reported last week mark the highest
weekly total in five years.

The first phase of the government's free flu vaccination program begins on
October 1.

Eligible groups for the first phase include people aged 65 and older,
healthcare workers, pregnant women, people with certain chronic illnesses,
and childcare workers.

The second phase of free flu vaccination program will begin on November 2 and
is open to anyone aged between 50 and 64.

The C-D-C says it purchased just over 7-million doses of vaccines for the
publicly funded program this year.

Posted on 2026-09-16 08:17:13

Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association Secretary-General Chiang Chien-tung has
stepped down following allegations he unilaterally rejected an invitation for
two gymnasts to compete at next month's Artistic Gymnastics World
Championships.

His resignation comes after the Sports Ministry invoked Article 43 of the
National Sports Act last Friday to remove Chiang from office.

The Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association has once again apologized to
gymnasts Lee Chia-wei and Pan Cai-chen, as well as their families and
coaches, for declining the invitation without consulting them and depriving
them of a chance to compete.

That statement comes amid a contuning backlash over the association's
handling of the incident, which came to light on September 7.

The association has pledged to implement reforms within two months to ensure
no other athlete suffers a similar fate.

The association has also admitted that both gymnasts had earned reallocated
spots to compete at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam.

Pan qualifyed for the floor exercise and Lee for the uneven bars.

Posted on 2026-09-16 08:17:13

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has released a village chief
candidate on 100,000 N-T bail as part of an investigation into allegations he
attempted to influence voters by giving out free haircuts and douhua.

Prosecutors says the candidate in the city's Taishan District held an event
offering free haircuts in honor of August 8 Father's Day and also
allegedly treated some local residents to free bowls of douhua.

The douhua had an estimated value of around 50 N-T - but prosecutors say the
actions were intended to influence recipients' voting behavior.

The village chief candidate's home was searched earlier this week and 10
people were questioned.

According to prosecutors the village chief candidate is believed to have
violated the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.

Candidates for elected office frequently distribute low-value promotional
gifts worth less than 30 N-T to voters.

That figure does not appear in election laws, but is one of the standards
used by prosecutors in deciding whether to pursue cases of alleged vote
buying.

Posted on 2026-09-16 08:17:13

And finally,

The High Speed Rail Corporation says more than 1,000 people have submitted
applications for 15 driver openings in the first phase of its largest-ever
recruitment drive.

The rail network operator is attributing the strong response to its preparing
to introduce new N-700ST trains and increase services to meet growing
passenger demand

The first batch of new drivers reported for work in September and is
undergoing training.

While a second batch is scheduled to begin training in November.

According to the High Speed Rail Corporation, it plans to hire a total of 45
new drivers this year and next.

The corporation currently employs 213 train drivers.

The company has ordered 12 N-700ST trainsets from Japan and the first of them
arrived Taiwan in August and is undergoing testing.

The second is expected to arrive as early as December.

The first N-700ST train is scheduled to begin passenger service on July 1 of
next year.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han is insisting that "equal participation and
reciprocal dignity" will remain the guiding principles for his participation
in an upcoming APEC ministerial meeting in China.

Hung is scheduled to travel to Nanjing to attend the APEC Human Resources
Development Ministerial Meeting next Monday.

If he travels there, he will become the first ministry head in the Lai
administration to visit China.

According to Hung, APEC is an important multilateral economic forum in which
Taiwan is a formal member and he plans to attend the meeting in accordance
with "established APEC practice."

However, he's refusing to say whether or not he would accept a "Taiwan
compatriot permit" if Chinese authorities issued him with one and is not
saying whether he's concerned about being unable to return to Taiwan.

The Mainland Affairs Council said two weeks ago that issues related to Hung's
trip are "controllable," citing the smooth participation of Taiwan officials
in APEC meetings in China earlier this year.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

community

Tuvalu's visiting Foreign Minister says Taiwan's leadership in healthcare,
digital innovation, and disaster response warrant its a "seat at the table"
and his country will continue to speak up for Taiwan in the international
community.

Paulson Panapa made the statement during a meeting with President Lai
Ching-te at the Presidential Office.

It is Panapa's first official visit to Taiwan in his current post.

According to Panapa, Taiwan and Tuvalu are united by their shared values of
democracy, human rights, and the rule of law and those ties were strengthened
by the signing of the Kaitasi Treaty in November of 2025.

That agreement underpins cooperation between the two sides across multiple
sectors, including sustainable development, economic and trade exchanges,
digital technology, smart healthcare, agriculture, and personnel training.

Panapa also said that Tuvalu hopes to strengthen cooperation in renewable
energy and resilient infrastructure, and to expand opportunities in education
and labor mobility, thereby advancing the sustainable development of the
Pacific island nation.

Panapa is visiting Taiwan this week to attend events on Saturday marking the
47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two
sides.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

The Micron Taiwan workers' union has rejected a reward package offered by
Micron Technology and is continuing to push for a long-term mechanism under
which employees will share 15-per cent of the company's operating profits.

According to union head Lin Che-jui, although negotiations are on-going over
the current bonus dispute, the reward package was proposed unilaterally by
the employer without reaching an agreement with the union.

Lin says he suspects the company is seeking to influence public opinion with
the offer.

Micron last week announced a reward package under which employees in Taiwan
will receive compensation equivalent to between 35 and 68 months' pay for
this year 2026, after the union threatened to take strike action.

Lin says the union is not seeking a one-time package, but wents a long-term,
fair system for distributing profits.

The union head is also stressing that whether employees choose to take strike
action will depend on the outcome of two rounds talks scheduled for this
Friday.

Lin says that if the company continues to seek to influence the talks, the
union will declare that negotiations have broken down and hold a vote among
its members on whether to strike.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

The Taichung District Court has handed suspended sentences to two doctors who
let unlicensed medical device vendors participate in surgeries at the
Taichung Veterans General Hospital.

Yang Meng-yin received a 16 month suspended sentence, while Cheng Wen-yu was
given a 14 month suspended sentence by the court.

Both doctors will remain part of the hospital's Department of Neurosurgery
team.

Yang lost his directorships in oncology, while Cheng was removed as the head
of the hospital's minimally invasive neurosurgery division following a
January referral to prosecutors.

Prosecutors indicted both doctors in May with fraud and violations of the
Physicians Act after evidence showed they allowed three medical device
vendors to illegally perform medical procedures during 13 surgeries between
March 2023 and October of last year.

According to prosecutors, the defendants hid the vendors' involvement from
patients, charged them high out-of-pocket fees, and also fraudulently claimed
National Health Insurance reimbursements for the unauthorized procedures.

The district court ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

President Lai Ching-te has sent greetings from his government and people to
Pope Leo XIV on his birthday.

The Pope turned 71 on September 14.

According to Taiwan's embassy in the the Vatican, Lai commended Pope Leo for
his "steadfast leadership" and expressed admiration for his "tireless efforts
to promote world peace and mutual understanding through dialogue."

Lai also said the pope's vision of "hope" and "solidarity" has touched the
hearts of millions around the world.

And he went on to say that "Taiwan is committed to continuing to work with
the Holy See for the well-being of all peoples and advance our common goals
of alleviating suffering and defending human rights."

The embassy says it forwarded Lai's birthday message to Pope Leo to the Holy
See's Secretariat of State.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

The Ministry of Transport says it plans to allow road authorities to use
health data to identify drivers who may no longer be medically fit to hold a
license.

According to the ministry, the proposed system will cover drivers with visual
impairments, epilepsy and moderate or severe dementia.

Under the plan, road authorities would periodically obtain data on the three
conditions held by government agencies, including information collected from
people applying for certain government subsidies or insurance programs.

Road authorities will then cross-check this information against driver
records.

Drivers identified as potentially no longer fit to drive would be asked to
undergo a new qualification review.

Those who fail will have to surrender their licenses.

Transport ministry officials say some 47,000 drivers could be affected by the
system, which is expected to take effect by the end of this year.

The proposal follows amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty
Act, which took effect last November.

Currently, such checks are only carried out when drivers renew their licenses.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

The 29th Taiwan-France Cultural Award has been presented to Tamkang
University's Wu Hsi-deh and Victor Louzon, an assistant professor of history
at Sorbonne University.

The annual award is jointly organized by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and the
Institute of France's Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.

The award ceremony was attended by Culture Minister Li Yuan and the academy's
president Jean-David Levitte.

Wu was honored for his founding of the Taiwan Association of French Teachers
in 1996 and the Taiwanese Association of French Translators in 2014.

He also initiated Taiwan's International Francophonie Day events and French
translation awards.

While Louzon was honored for his research on the transformation of political
power in Taiwan in 1945 and for publishing the first French-language
monograph examining the 228 Incident.

He has also brought French students to Taiwan for fieldwork, organize
academic conferences and launch translation projects centered on Taiwan's
history.

The Taiwan-France Cultural Award was established in 1996 and recognizes
institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions to
promoting Taiwanese culture in France, Europe and Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

The U.S. has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in
space.

Air Force officials say the U.S. has fielded “on-orbit space control weapons”
capable of defending against hostile action.

They didn't detail what the weapons were, how they work or if they were
targeting other objects in space or on Earth.

They also said the Air Force was adding more autonomous systems to its
capabilities and predicted the service would look “radically different” by
2032.

The U.S. had warned two years ago that Russia was developing a new
space-based, anti-satellite weapon, reflecting longstanding worries about
space threats from Russia and China.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

The discovery of seven women's bodies around Kempton Park, east of
Johannesburg, has sparked fear and a high-level police investigation.

South African authorities say the bodies were found over the last two months
and appear linked, though they are cautious to confirm a serial killer is
involved.

Police have warned the public, especially women, to be cautious.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that he had directed police
authorities to prioritize the ongoing murder investigations.

A gender rights group has called for urgent action, including a safety audit
of the affected areas.

Posted on 2026-09-16 06:59:13

A new report by the Amazon Environmental Research Institute has found that
gold mining poses a significant threat to Indigenous lands in the Brazilian
Amazon.

The analysis, released Tuesday, shows that the area affected by mining in the
Amazon was 20 times larger in 2024 than in 1985.

On Indigenous lands, mining expanded nearly sevenfold between 2016 and 2024.

Record-breaking gold prices have driven this mining rush, increasing
deforestation and mercury contamination.

The report highlights the climate risks facing Indigenous communities,
including extreme weather events and health problems.

Despite efforts to combat illegal mining, enforcement has not eliminated the
issue across the Amazon.

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