ICRT

Posted on 2026-09-21 12:30:14

Market analysts are closely watching developments ahead of Thursday's meeting
between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the
White House.

Trade, artificial intelligence and rare-earth supplies are expected to be key
issues, including whether the two sides extend their current tariff truce.

U.S. and Chinese economic officials reportedly held preparatory talks in New
York over the weekend.

For Taiwan equities, futures analysts say attention will be on whether
trading turnover can remain above 1-trillion N.T. ahead of the Mid-Autumn
Festival holiday, and whether major electronics stocks can maintain their
recent momentum.

Elevated oil prices amid continuing Middle East tensions are another factor
being watched.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-21 12:30:14

Nearly eight in 10 respondents to a Cathay Financial survey expect Taiwan's
inflation rate to remain above 2 percent a year from now.

The September survey found 35 percent expect inflation to be above 3 percent,
while another 15 percent expect it to be between 1 and 2 percent.

Everyday expenses appear to be shaping those expectations.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said prices for dining out, groceries and
household necessities were the main factor influencing their outlook, while
29 percent pointed to imported raw materials such as oil and steel.

Respondents expect inflation to average 2.51 percent this year.

That's higher than the government's latest forecast of 2.07 percent.

The survey also showed broader economic confidence improving, while optimism
toward Taiwan stocks rebounded.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-21 12:30:14

Thirty works have been shortlisted for this year's Taiwan Literature Awards
Golden Book Award, highlighting a wide range of languages, genres and
subjects in contemporary Taiwan literature.

The National Museum of Taiwan Literature says 276 works entered the
competition, with the finalists including 16 works of fiction, six poetry
collections and four each in essays and nonfiction.

Judges noted a strong showing from works written in Taiwanese Taigi, Hakka
and Indigenous languages, as more writers turn to their mother tongues for
literary creation.

The 30 finalists will compete for the Annual Golden Grand Laurel Award, worth
1-million N.T., as well as seven Golden Book Awards and three New Bud Awards.

The winners are expected to be announced in early November, with the awards
ceremony set for November 15 in Taipei.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-09-21 12:30:14

Russia's ruling United Russia party is leading the country's parliamentary
election, which President Vladimir Putin has portrayed as a show of support
for the war in Ukraine.

Partial results from Russia's Central Election Commission show the party with
about 57.5 percent of the vote. By early Monday, roughly three-quarters of
polling-station protocols had been processed.

The vote took place in a tightly controlled political environment, with most
anti-war candidates barred from running.

The final day of voting also coincided with a major drone attack on Moscow
and surrounding areas.

Russian authorities blamed Ukraine and said three people were killed in the
Moscow region and part of an oil refinery was damaged.

Ukraine has not commented on the attack.

Posted on 2026-09-21 12:30:14

Typhoon Dujuan is approaching eastern Japan, bringing torrential rain and
raising the risk of flooding and landslides across the Kanto region.

Japan's weather agency says the large and strong typhoon is expected to pass
close to the Tokyo area later today, with conditions worsening as it
approaches.

Parts of the Izu Islands and Chiba Prefecture have already seen exceptionally
heavy rainfall, with nearly 400 millimeters recorded on Izu Oshima in 24
hours.

Authorities are also warning that linear rain bands could develop, sharply
increasing the risk of flooding and other disasters.

The storm has also disrupted the Asian Games, with organizers postponing
Monday's equestrian eventing competition until Tuesday.

Posted on 2026-09-21 12:30:14

Ten lions have been found dead in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area,
with wildlife officials saying they may have been poisoned.

The Conservation Area Authority says the animals were discovered Friday in
the Ndutu area of northern Tanzania.

Officials say preliminary findings suggest the lions may have ingested
poison, but an investigation is underway to determine the cause and identify
anyone responsible.

Poisoning is a recurring threat to large carnivores in East Africa, often
amid conflicts between predators and livestock owners.

The deaths come a month after Kenyan police arrested four people during an
investigation into the suspected poisoning deaths of 18 elephants near the
Tanzanian border.

Ngorongoro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Tanzania's major
wildlife areas.

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex made solid gains in early trading this morning.

The main board added 548-points to reach a high of 47,728.

The rise came as tech stocks moved higher from Friday.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price opened up 15 N-T to
hit at 2,475 N-T.

MediaTek rose over 3-per cent and A-S-E Technology surged more than 5-per
cent, while Delta Electronics, Hon Hai, and U-M-C were all trading in
positive territory.

Analysts say market momentum and investor confidence will continue to
recover, as companies in the A-I supply chain continues to benefit from
growing demand for AI computing and inference capabilities.

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

The Ministry of National Defense is reporting four Chinese air sorties
operating near Taiwan between 6AM Sunday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, three aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait
and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern air defense identification
zones.

Those aircraft included support planes, helicopters and UAVs.

Seven Chinese Navy vessel and four official maritime patrol ships were also
spotted operating in Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

In international news,

French President Emmanuel Macron has backed a proposal for Canada to become
the European Union’s first associate member.

It came as Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are seeking to
deepen ties in space, defense, energy and business.

Meeting in a French territory just off Newfoundland, the leaders also agreed
to pursue shared space infrastructure and broader economic cooperation.

Macron’s endorsement comes days after European Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen proposed the new E-U relationship.

Carney embraced it as part of Canada's push to reduce dependence on the
United States.

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

Polls have closed in Russia's first wartime parliamentary election, with
little opposition to President Vladimir Putin's policies.

The Kremlin is aiming to showcase support for its war against Ukraine and to
legitimize its actions there.

The vote began Friday, with authorities encouraging online balloting.

It included residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed
for the first time.

Authorities in Kyiv have denounced the voting as illegal.

While the European Union called it a "blatant violation of international law."

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

to the US

Eighteen suspects who were arrested in the July 2021 killing of Haiti's
President Jovenel Moise are being extradited to the U-S.

It marks the end of a drawn-out judicial process in Haiti for a killing that
shocked the troubled Caribbean country.

The U-S Attorney for the Southern District of Florida says the suspects will
face trial there.

The suspects have not been identified.

However, those who remain in Haiti awaiting trial include more than a dozen
Colombian soldiers and a former Haitian government official.

A total of 30 people have been indicted in Moise's killing.

The investigation has veen stalled by gang violence, death threats and a
failing judicial system.

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

The sister of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, has
been arrested.

Khan' P-T-I party says Aleema Khanum was detained in the eastern city of
Lahore.

P-T-I officials are calling it an "illegal detention" and her son is
demanding her release.

The order for Khanum's arrest was issued by Lahore's deputy commissioner.

It alleges she was mobilizing supporters of the imprisoned former prime
minister and planning a rally.

Khanum has been a vocal critic of her brother's detention, regularly speaking
to his supporters and the media.

Posted on 2026-09-21 11:06:13

And finally,

Ed Sheeran has opened a concert in Philadelphia with comments about Gaza,
saying what's happening is "catastrophic and unjustifiable."

He said at a performance at Lincoln Financial Field that he wants his music
and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics.

However, Sheeran added he has found himself in the middle of a debate about
free speech and a complex political issue.

He then addressed the controversy that unfolded since his supporting acts all
withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore.

Macklemore has been Sheeran's original U-S opener, but was dropped in
response to his making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. at a show earlier
this month in America.

Posted on 2026-09-21 08:05:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han arrived at Nanjing's Lukou International Airport
at around 8 o'clock last night to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation ministerial meeting.

Hung's trip to Nanjing means he has become the first Cabinet official in
President Lai Ching-te's administration to have visited China.

APEC staff were present on Hung's arrival and escorted the labor minister
through the airport via the courtesy channel.

He's slated to attend the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial
Meeting later today.

Posted on 2026-09-21 08:05:13

The government will be holding earthquake and tsunami warning drills today.

The drill are part of National Disaster Prevention Day.

The Central Weather Administration will send a nationwide earthquake early
warning test to mobile phones at 9:21AM

While a tsunami warning test will be issued at 9:30AM for coastal townships
and cities, followed by an all-clear test 30-minutes later.

The government is stressing that all of today's test messages will clearly
identify themselves as part of the 2026 National Disaster Prevention Day
exercise.

Posted on 2026-09-21 08:05:13

CPC has left gasoline and diesel prices unchanged for this week despite
higher crude oil purchasing costs.

It means the price of 92 octane unleaded remains at 31.2 N-T per liter and
the price of premium diesel sits at 29.9 N-T per liter.

C-P-C says the decision not to raise prices at was made despite crude oil
prices jumping higher last week after Saudi pipelines were attacked, is an
effort to curb local inflationary pressures and keep domestic fuel prices
lower than in neighboring markets.

Under state-refiner's floating price mechanism, the average international
crude oil price rose from 115 U-S dollars per barrel to 125 U-S dollars per
barrel over the past week.

Posted on 2026-09-21 08:05:13

And,

Chien Hui-hsuan won Taiwan's first medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan
after taking bronze in the women's individual kata event in karate

It was Chien's first Asian Games medal and came after she beat her Iranian
opponent 4-1 in the bronze medal bout.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's men's and women's teams both lost to their Japanese
opponents in the team soft tennis finals to take silver.

The silver medal finish tied the women's soft tennis team's best-ever
performance at the Asian Games.

Taiwan is ninth in the overall medals table - between Kuwait and Hong Kong.

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.

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