ICRT

Posted on 2026-09-08 20:11:13

Two more people have tested positive for Hepatitis C in a cluster linked to a
clinic in New Taipei's Banqiao District ... bringing the total number of
cases to 13.

The Centers for Disease Control says one of the new patients had no symptoms
and only discovered the infection through testing.

More than 1,100 former patients of Antai Songhe Clinic have been asked to get
tested ... but more than 700 have yet to be screened.

Health officials stress that Hepatitis C may cause no symptoms.

They're urging anyone who received injections at the clinic since July last
year to get tested as soon as possible.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 20:11:14

Hungary has ordered 10 Russian diplomats to leave the country over activities
it considers unacceptable for diplomats.

Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced the decision Tuesday but did not
specify the activities or give a deadline for their departure.

She said the move is intended to protect Hungary's security and sovereignty,
while stressing that it does not amount to a break in diplomatic relations
with Russia.

Posted on 2026-09-08 20:11:14

Two thieves have stolen four valuable paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir from
a small museum on the French Riviera.

Surveillance footage showed the suspects entering the Renoir Museum in
Cagnes-sur-Mer early Tuesday.

The town's mayor says the paintings are worth millions of euros.

Two of the stolen works were later found in the museum's garden after the
thieves fled.

Regional police confirmed the theft and say an investigation is underway to
identify and locate the suspects.

Posted on 2026-09-08 20:11:14

Three Sumatran tiger cubs born at a zoo near Athens are offering hope for one
of the world's most endangered big cats.

The two-month-old cubs received identification microchips and their first
vaccinations Tuesday as part of an international effort to maintain a backup
population of Sumatran tigers.

The species is classified as critically endangered and is found only on
Indonesia's Sumatra island, where as few as 400 are believed to remain in the
wild.

Habitat loss, largely caused by forest clearing, is a major threat. European
zoos are helping preserve the tigers' genetic diversity and could support
future efforts to return them to the wild.

Posted on 2026-09-08 18:06:13

Health officials say seasonal flu has officially entered the epidemic phase,
as cases continue to rise.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 115-thousand people
sought medical care for flu-like symptoms last week, up 11 percent from the
previous week.

The CDC also reported 105 severe cases and 19 deaths in the week from
September 1st to 7th ... both marking new highs for the flu season.

Total severe cases now stand at 1-thousand-300 (for the season) ... with 253
deaths.

Older adults and people with chronic illnesses account for most severe cases,
and nearly 69 percent had not received this season's flu vaccine.

As for COVID-19, the C-D-C says cases are declining, but the virus remains at
epidemic levels.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 18:06:13

Three Taiwanese nationals arrested in Myanmar over suspected
telecommunications fraud could face tougher penalties under a new law
targeting scam operations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Myanmar's anti-online scam law took
effect in July.

People convicted of running scam centers, recruiting workers or trafficking
people into scam operations can face up to life in prison.

Thailand has also introduced tougher rules for deporting foreign nationals
convicted of serious crimes.

Offenders can be permanently banned from re-entering the country.

MOFA says the tougher measures reflect a growing regional effort to crack
down on telecommunications fraud.

It is urging Taiwanese nationals to be wary of overseas job offers and free
trips that could lead them into scam operations.

The ministry says it helped more than 15-hundred Taiwanese return home after
they became involved in scam rings in Southeast Asia between 2022 and early
2025.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 18:06:13

Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je appeared at the Taiwan High Court this
afternoon for his first hearing in the appeal of his 17-year prison sentence.

Today's hearing focused first on the political donation case, one of several
cases involving Ko, including the controversial Core Pacific City development
project.

The High Court is reviewing the evidence, alleged offenses and the
defendants' arguments as part of the appeal process.

The Taipei District Court sentenced Ko to 17 years in prison over the Core
Pacific City development project and illegal political donation cases on
March 26th.

Ko and six other defendants have appealed the district court's ruling.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 18:06:13

Passengers on Taiwan Railway will soon be able to use their phones to pay for fare adjustments onboard trains.

Starting September 10th, mobile barcode payments will be accepted across the entire railway network ... meaning passengers will no longer need to make sure they have enough cash.

Nine mobile payment services will be accepted, including JKOPay, Easy Wallet, iPASS MONEY and Taiwan Pay.

Cash will continue to be accepted.

Taiwan Railway introduced credit card and mobile payments at station fare adjustment counters in March ... and is now expanding the service to trains.

The railway handles an average of about 48-thousand onboard fare adjustments each month.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 17:21:13

A coalition of pan-green parties is calling on the government to initiate
traffic reforms.

Taiwan Go Go Front states that the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications spent a recent high of 9 million NT during traffic safety
month with significant funds being spent on motorbike inspections.

Yet, the group says that the top 10 causes of motorcycle accidents are not
related to the motorbike themselves.

Rather, accident-causing issues are typically related to the road conditions
and insufficient training before being licensed.

The four-party coalition, led by the New Power Party, notes that traffic
accidents last year killed over 2800 people across Taiwan, with 60% of those
being motorcyclists.

They say that the MOTC has long neglected to address the real issues causing
accidents.

Taiwan Go Go Front also claimed that the MOTC has been cooking the
effectiveness books, so to speak...

inflating statistics on its official website to increase the perceived
efficacy of traffic safety month.

The group is calling on the ministry to come up with a reform timeline for
road works, driver training, and traffic safety enforcement.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 17:21:14

Pingtung is stepping up efforts to fight an iguana infestation in the county,
as the reptiles wreak havoc on adzuki and other bean crops.

The county is expanding iguana removal efforts by a private contractor across
7 areas, including Chaozhou, Kanding 崁頂, and Nanzhou townships...

in addition to the originally included Pingtung city, Wandan township,
Xinyuan township, and Donggang township.

Farmers of Adzuki bean, also known as red bean, have suffered losses in those
areas due to apparently ravenous iguanas who come out to snack on the beans
at night.

The upgraded iguana removal plan will run through mid November, and expands
iguana removal locations from just adzuki bean crops to all bean crops.

Farmers are encouraged to let the county government know if they want the
pests removed through township offices.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 17:21:19

DPP Lawmaker Li Bo Yi has issued a clarification after a Taipei city
councilor with his exact same name was accused of verbally abusing hospital
staff.

Lawmaker Li was targeted with an online hate campaign over his city councilor
counterpart's remarks, but says today that netizens should check the party
affiliation before hitting send.

Li's reponse comes after a Threads user said that they heard KMT City
Coucilor Li Bo Yi loudly lash out at emergency room staff.

Councilor Li confirmed that he had indeed had a heated exchange with staff,
but downplayed the severity of the exchange.

He later apologized for the outburst, saying he was stressed about his young
daughter's fever.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 17:21:20

Now turning to international news...

The Malaysian prime minister is shifting his focus to cost-of-living woes
after losses in recent elections.

That's according to Nikkei Asia, who reports that Anwar Ibrahim's steps to
curb living costs are representative of a more voter-focused fiscal strategy.

Analysts note that Anwar previously announced new measures to address rising
costs of living, including subsidizing gas costs.

Experts say that the timing of the announcement, on the heels of big losses
in three state elections, is significant.

They say, Anwar is likely to squeeze more similar measures into the 2027
budget before considering if it's an appropriate time to call a snap election
or not.

Posted on 2026-09-08 17:21:21

In the US,

a new poll shows that less than one third of people are satisfied with the
quality of primary and secondary education in the country.

That's a low since Gallup starting asking about the subject 27 years ago.

Democrats are less satisfied than Republicans, with their satisfaction score
dropping 19 points since US President Trump returned to the White House last
year.

But political divides alone do not explain the dissatisfaction; most in the
US do not feel that schools are doing a good job teaching critical thinking
and preparing students for future jobs.

Experts also say that schools have struggled to recover since COVID.

They also note that the findings highlight a frustration with institutions
more generally.

Posted on 2026-09-08 16:07:13

Nearly half of elementary and junior high school student-athletes surveyed in
Taiwan say training and competitions have caused them to fall behind in their
studies.

A survey by the Child Welfare League Foundation also found nearly 30 percent
were still required to do high-intensity training while injured.

Two-thirds said their longest weekday training sessions lasted more than
three hours, while some reported training for eight hours or more in a single
day on weekends.

More than half said they remained physically exhausted even after getting
enough rest.

And one in five had been hospitalized, undergone surgery or received
long-term rehabilitation because of sports injuries.

The foundation says a heavy focus on competitive results can come at the
expense of students' health and education.

It's calling for stricter enforcement of rules on training hours and leave,
along with greater support for young athletes and more career guidance.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 16:07:13

Taiwan Lottery is offering $400 million NT in additional prize money across
three games to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The biggest promotion is for Big Lotto, beginning September 15th.

Players will have extra chances to win one of 70 one-million-NT prizes, along
with 6,000 new $5-thousand NT prizes.

BINGO BINGO will also offer higher payouts on several of its games around the
holiday period.

The company's sales reached nearly $141 billion through the end of August, up
7 percent from the same period last year, largely due to its Lunar New Year
promotion.

The largest Big Lotto jackpot since the game's fifth edition began was won by
a middle-aged man in Taipei's Songshan District on July 28th.

He said he often spent 100 NT on lottery tickets and has been doing that for
20 years. He donated 25 million NT for charity.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-08 16:07:13

In world news...

China has reported that its exports jumped 25% in August from a year earlier
on strong demand for autos and high-tech goods.

The data showing China's record trade surplus widening further comes just
ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi
Jinping.

That's set for late September, though Beijing has not yet confirmed the exact
date for the visit.

China's global imports climbed 28% in August from a year earlier as well.

That led to a $119 billion-U.S.-dollar trade surplus for China, widening from
$112 billion dollars in July.

An economist the Dutch bank ING says China has weathered disruptions from the
Iran war and higher U.S. tariffs better than many other countries.

It also has been exporting more to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa,
shielding it from the impact of higher U.S. tariffs.

Posted on 2026-09-08 15:07:13

The Coast Guard Administration says, it's monitoring Chinese boat activity
near Kinmen, as 4 Chinese vessels operate in the vicinity.

The CGA says it will continue to strengthen intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance...

taking necessary action against Chinese attempts to expand their reach into
Taiwan.

Officials say that 4 Chinese coast guard vessels entered Kinmen's restricted
waters this morning.

The CGA dispatched boats to refuse entry, broadcasting orders in Mandarin and
English to tell them to leave...

which they did about 2 hours later.

The CGA says it will continue its policy of "no provocation, no retreat" to
protect Taiwan's maritime sovereignty.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 15:07:13

Tainan officials say, a burst pipe spewing water onto the road is expected to
be fixed before midnight.

The incident occurred this morning on the East District's Shengli road near
National Cheng-gong (成功) University, with water 10 centimeters deep in some
areas.

The pool has even reached into both Chenggong university campuses nearby.

The Tainan City government says, it's working to fix the pothole as quickly
as possible.

Officials say that a bus was caught in the pothole, but fortunately no
passengers were harmed and they were able to exit the bus.

Tainan officials say they've notified Taiwan Water to turn off service
temporarily and have requested the help of two cranes in removing the bus.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 15:07:13

With winds coming from the north, today's lowest temperature islandwide, at
17.5 degrees Celsius, occurred in Hsin-chu Guan-xi.

In Taipei, the temperature also dropped to 19.2 early this morning.

The Central Weather Administration says we can such low temps again tomorrow
and Thursday morning.

The CWA says as the seasonal northeasterly winds strengthen tomorrow,
there'll be more rain in the north and east as well, while weather should
remain nice and warm elsewhere.

More moisture is expected from Friday, bringing a greater chance of showers
and cooler air to the island.

But that'll last just one day. Forecasters say the seasonal northeastern
winds should weaken over the weekend, leaving western half of the island
mostly sunny.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-08 15:07:13

Ukrainian authorities say that Russia has killed 2 people and injured at
least 10 in strikes on the capital.

That follows a brief pause in attacks over the weekend.

Ukraine reports damage and fires in at least 5 districts of the capital.

Rescuers have saved several people trapped in buildings.

Posted on 2026-09-08 15:07:13

Nepal faces over 2 and a half billion US dollars in damages following flash
floods two weeks ago, about 18% of the country's total annual budget.

The issue will prove to be a major test for freshman Prime Minister Balen
Shah, who took office in March after months of political turmoil.

His government has mobilized resources for relief efforts, but challenges
remain due to limited resources.

36 year old Shah's government must now show that it can deliever competent
governance while also dealing with rebuilding following flooding.

That's as blocked roads and tunnels plus shortages of specialized equipment
and trained personnel have voided efforts to reach remote sites.

Local critics have said that the government's lack of experience has left it
ill-prepared to respond to a disaster of this size.

Nepal has sought international assistance, while countries and aid groups
have provided emergency supplies, rescue expertise and other support.

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

The Agriculture Ministry says heavy rain in late August has reduced
short-term leafy vegetable production to about 60 percent of normal levels.

It pushed average vegetable prices to rise by 4 NT per kilogram to nearly 50
NT at the Taipei Vegetable Wholesale Market on Sunday with reduced trading
volume.

The Agriculture and Food Agency says it has helped farmers' groups work with
supermarket and retail chains, including PX Mart, to provide a stable supply
of cabbage and root vegetables.

The agency has also helped farmers' groups produce domestically grown frozen
vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.

Vegetable supplies are expected to gradually return to normal once newly
planted crops begin reaching the market in mid-to-late September.

The price of pigs has also risen recently and remained between $102 and $107
NT per kilogram, reflecting a seasonal increase.

The Agency says it has begun coordinating pig supplies for September to meet
increased demand ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

(JL)

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

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office has launched the first phase of a
crackdown on illicit financial flows ahead of the year-end local elections.

Prosecutors says they have uncovered more than 200 cases involving 588
people, among them 75 have been detained.

Prosecutors also note that they've seized 900 million NT in suspected
criminal proceeds, including cash, digital currency U-S-D-T and banking
accounts.

The operation was carried out from August 17 through September 4 to prevent
illicit funds from influencing the November 28 local elections.

Prosecutors nationwide will continue cracking down on overseas funds used to
interfere in elections, as well as underground financial crimes.

(JL)

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

Environmental officials are urging the public to properly dispose of used
injection needles to prevent infectious risks and protect sanitation workers.

The Ministry of Environment has warned that improper disposal of used
weight-loss injection needles carries fines of up to $100-thousand NT.

Officials say users should collect used needles in puncture-resistant
containers, such as plastic milk jugs, and return them to participating
pharmacies or medical facilities.

Authorities strongly recommend that patients check with their prescribing
clinics or local pharmacies to utilize take-back recycling programs.

(NS)

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

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 47105
after losing 220 points.

The turnover was 876.6 billion NT

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

Now turning to international news...

The US is continuing strikes on what it claims are drug trafficking boats,
today sinking another Ecuadorian vessel it said was linked to the criminal
group Los Choneros.

The US has continuously failed to provide any evidence for these claims.

However, this time US authorities say that they intercepted a floating
refueling station and removed those on board...

before finally carrying out the strike.

Ecuadorian authorities have not yet commented.

That's the fifth vessel that US forces have targeted in less than two weeks.

Although none were killed in this strike, the US has killed at least 227
people in strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific ove the past year.

Critics question the legality of the strikes.

Posted on 2026-09-08 12:51:13

Taisun (泰山) Enterprises is requesting one billion NT in compensation from
Central Union, Fu Show, Fu Mao, and Nanqiao companies following the
contaminated oil scandal.

A lawyer for the company says that the compensation is to make up for losses
related to the carcinogen-contaminated oil.

This comes after Taichung prosecutors last month indicted Central Oil chair
and 14 others in the case.

Taisun officials say the biggest offender is Nanqiao, which they say detected
irregularities in their oil as early as mid-May but failed to report them.

Taisun says, if Nanqiao had been transparent about these irregularities,
risk-control mechanisms could have been activated earlier, saving the company
money.

Taisun, Fu Show and Fu Mao are all Central Union's major shareholders and
downstream processing companies.

Its lawyer says Taisun initially hoped the three companies could work
together to reform Central Oil, but as more evidence emerged, the trust
needed for such a joint effort had been undermined.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 12:51:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says, it's adding 88 more trains for the
National Day long weekend.

Those tickets will go on sale at midnight tomorrow night.

THSR says, they made the call due to increased demand during the October 8th
to 12th period...

during which a total of 913 trains will be available.

The company adds that they will also be opening up more non-reserved seating
for trains running between Taipei and Taichung in particular.

Passengers can book those tickets starting early Thursday morning on the THSR
app or website.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-08 12:51:13

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on 2026-09-08 12:51:13

China has reported that its exports accelerated in August, jumping 25% from a
year earlier on strong demand for autos and high-tech goods.

The data came ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, set for late September, though Beijing has not yet
confirmed the exact date for the visit.

Exports grew 23.9% year-on-year in July.

Imports climbed 28.2% in August from a year earlier.

That led to a $119.1 billion trade surplus for China, widening from $112.5
billion in July.

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

The Ministry of Health says it could purchase more enhanced flu vaccines if
those being introduced into the government's free vaccination program this
year prove to be effective.

The statement comes after the ministry announced it had purchased 200,000
doses of enhanced flu vaccines - with residents of long-term care facilities
being given priority.

Health officials says if funding is available, it plans to purchases to
600,000 doses of the enhanced vaccines next year.

The first phase of the government's free flu vaccination program begins on
October 1 and the Centers for Disease Control has said it purchased just
over 7-million doses for the publicly funded program this year.

The C-D-C has been warning that flu activity is rising this year and the
number of outpatient and emergency room visits for flu-like symptoms topped
100,000 last week.

That's the highest figure for this period of time in nearly a decade and the
C-D-C says that's likely due to the flu season arriving earlier than usual.

The predominant strain this year is expected to be influenza A, H-1-1.

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

The Lai administration has announced plans to boost funding for M-R-T
projects next year.

According to the Ministry of Transport, it has set aside 49.9-billion in
subsidies for local M-R-T construction projects in 2027.

That figure is a five-fold increase from this year and the central
government's highest ever annual allocation for local mass rapid transit
projects.

The announcement comes as local government's are seeking more funding for
M-R-T projects.

The New Taipei City government says it's hoping to for an additional
5.4-billion N-T in funding after its M-R-T project subsidies were cut in next
year’s budget and has formally asked the transport ministry to prioritize
restoring the cut.

The Taipei City government says it's M-R-T projects are seeing a shortfall of
6-billion N-T in central government funding, while the Kaohsiung City
government says it's M-R-T projects are lacking around 13-billion N-T in
funding and subsidies.

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

Hon Hai Chairman Liu Yang-wei says the company is pushing a goal for 100-per
cent use of green electricity at its production sites around the world by
2040.

According to Liu, he company will also continue to advance energy
conservation and carbon reduction, renewable energy, green manufacturing, and
the circular economy.

The statement comes as Hon Hai released its latest annual sustainability
report.

Liu says Hon Hai has steadily progressed toward its goals of 100-per cent
green power use at its plants around the globe by 2040 and net-zero emissions
across the value chain by 2050 ..

.. as the company regards the natural environment as important capital for
the enterprise's long-term development.

Hon Hai has said that green power accounted for 68.37-per cent of the
company's total power consumption worldwide in 2025, ahead of its original
goal of 50-per cent by 2030.

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

The Central Weather Administration says the first northeasterly wind system
of this autumn will pass over Taiwan from tomorrow through Friday, bringing
scattered showers to much of the island.

According to the administration's forecast center, we can expect to see
mostly clear or partly cloudy skies, with the possibilty of localized showers
in some mountainous and coastal areas today.

However, from tomorrow through Thursday, the arrival of a northeasterly wind
system will bring scattered showers to the areas north of Taoyuan and along
the east coast, and there is a chance of brief, scattered showers in the
south.

Overnight and early morning temperatures in northeast will also drop.

Increased atmospheric moisture on Friday will bring a chance of heavy rains
in Keelung and along the north coast, as well as in Yilan and Hualien ....

.. and moist air from the south is expected to move northward, bringing
scattered showers to the Greater Taipei area and the east over the weekend,
while isolated showers are possible in the south.

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

And finally,

Taiwan lost to South Korea in its opening Under 18 Asian Baseball
Championship Group B game last night at the Tianmu Stadium in Taipei.

The visitors won the game 2-0 - with both runs coming in the sixth inning.

In last night's other Group B game Thailand beat Singapore 12-4.

Taiwan meets Thailand in Taipei, and South Korea plays Singapore at the
Xinzhuang Stadium in New Taipei this evening.

Both of those games begin at 6:30.

Taiwan's final group stage game in against Singapore tomorrow evening, also
in Taipei.

In Group A's opening games ...

The Philippines beat Sri Lanka 11-1.

While Japan routed Hong Kong 18-0.

Japan plays Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong meets the Philippines in today's Group A
game.

The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Round.

The group stage games are taking place at the Tianmu Stadium and the
Xinzhuang Stadium, while the Super Round games, the third-place game and the
final will be taking place at the Taipei Dome.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

election

The Central Election Commission Chairman says 26 Chinese spouses naturalized
as Taiwan nationals are running for office in November's local elections.

Commission Chair Michael You says of the candidates, two are running for the
position of councilor in the six special municipalities, two for county
councilor, one for township head, two for township councilor and 19 for ward
chiefs.

He clarified that the eligibility of all candidates will be determined based
on current laws, after questions were raised about a former celebrity who is
running.

The candidate has lived in China for an extended period, and relinquished
both Republic of China household registration and National Health Insurance
coverage.

The Central Election Commission says a total of 19,695 candidates have
registered for 11,051 positions in the nine-in-one local elections on
November 28.

The central and local election commissions are scheduled to complete
candidate eligibility reviews by October 16.

The number draws for eligible candidates will take place on October 23.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a delegation of members from the Japan
Innovation Party are visiting Taiwan this week to promote relations between
the two sides.

The 13-member group is being led by former party head Nobuyuki Baba.

They are scheduled to meet with President Lai Ching-te, Foreign Minister Lin
Chia-lung, lawmakers, officials from the National Security Council, and
members of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association.

The talks are slated to focus on the latest developments in bilateral
relations and the broader situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Japan Innovation Party is a coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal
Democratic Party.

The foreign ministry says it has long maintained a Taiwan-friendly stance and
donated 30-million yen to Taiwan for post-disaster reconstruction following
the 2024 Hualien earthquake.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

corruption case

The Taipei District Court has issued an arrest warrant for Kao Chin Su-mei's
former legislative office director after he jumped bail.

Police were alerted at the weekend after Chang Chun-chieh's electronic wrist
monitor issued a low-battery alert.

They subsequently recovered his wrist monitor, which had been "broken and
thrown away."

Chang was indicted along with Kao Chin and 22 other people in early June on
charges of corruption and fraud-related charges related to the embezzlement
of public funds and the importation of unapproved COVID-19 test kits from
China.

Kao Chin has denied wrongdoing.

But she has also been accused of fraudulently obtaining more than 7.8-million
N-T in public funds through fraudulent claims for legislative assistant
salaries, bonuses, overtime pay and childcare subsidies.

Chang was accused of conspiring with Kao Chin to fraudulently obtain
assistant salaries, as well as using an Indigenous cultural association to
fraudulently obtain over 9-million N-T from government agencies and
state-owned enterprises.

He was then released on 10-million N-T bail in June - after lawyers sought
his release on health grounds, noting that he was over 70 years old and had
lung cancer.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

The Ministry of Health says it can obtain more enhanced flu vaccines if those
being introduced into the government's free vaccination program this year
prove to be effective.

This, after the ministry announced it had purchased 200,000 doses of enhanced
flu vaccines - with residents of long-term care facilities being given
priority.

Health officials says if funding is available, it plans to purchases to
600,000 doses of the enhanced vaccines next year.

The first phase of the government's free flu vaccination program begins on
October 1 and the Centers for Disease Control has said it purchased just
over 7-million doses for the publicly funded program this year.

The C-D-C warns flu activity is rising this year and the number of outpatient
and emergency room visits for flu-like symptoms topped 100,000 last week.

That's the highest figure for this period of time in nearly a decade and the
C-D-C says that's likely due to the flu season arriving earlier than usual.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

Culture Minister Li Yuan has kicked off his European tour with a visit to the
U-K.

It marks the first official visit to Britain by a Taiwan culture minister.

Li visited the Barbican Centre and the Young V&A museum in London to learn
from Britain's experience in developing technology-driven arts programs and
children's museums, as Taiwan advances several major cultural infrastructure
projects.

These projects include the National Children's Future Museum, the National
Railway Museum, the National Comics Museum and the second-phase expansion of
the National Museum of Taiwan History.

Li said his agency hopes to integrate ecological planning into museums,
cultural facilities, communities and other cultural sites across Taiwan.

Li will also be visiting France this week, where he will attend the judging
session for the 30th Taiwan-France Cultural Award and the presentation
ceremony for the 29th edition of the award.

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

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing top executive, Chin Yung-pei says there
are "no shortcuts" to excellence in chipmaking as he received one of Taiwan's
most prestigious industrial technology honors.

T-S-M-C's executive vice president and co-chief operating office was inducted
as an Industrial Technology Research Institute laureate at a ceremony in
Hsinchu.

Chin said he has worked with T-S-M-C's operations teams to overcome
"countless technical bottlenecks" and turn advanced manufacturing
technologies into mass-production capabilities that helped drive global
technological innovation.

He went on to describe the development of the semiconductor industry as a
"Taiwan miracle.

The executive also said the government-backed Industrial Technology Research
Institute had played a critical role at a pivotal time, as it cultivating of
talent and transferring of personnel "laid the talent foundation" for T-S-M-C
when the chipmaker was established

Chin joined T-S-M-C in 1987 as one of its early employees.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

And,

E-commerce platform P-C home is suspending sales of products containing
badger hair over animal welfare concerns.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia says the platform has
now joined a growing number of Taiwan businesses that have stopped selling
badger-hair products due to the abuse faced by the animals.

P-C home says it announced the measure in July and notified related vendors
to "stop selling products containing badger hair," while asking them to
review product information and remove affected listings.

The e-commerce platform says products found to violate its rules will be
handled through standard management mechanisms and the company will continue
to strengthen reviews of product information and platform inspections.

P-C home has not said how many products had been removed under the new policy
or provided any details on the types of products affected.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia says the products most
affected by the new ban included men's shaving brushes, makeup brushes,
calligraphy brushes and craft brushes.

Posted on 2026-09-08 06:55:14

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced the closure of the German consulate
in St. Petersburg.

This move reflects ongoing tensions between the two countries.

The decision follows Moscow's earlier closure of German cultural centers in
Russia, and comes after Germany closed Russia;s consulate in Bonn and the
Russian House cultural center in Berlin.

Germany had blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle
Airport on August 4.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident.

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Taiwan authorities are warning of increased risks for people traveling to
China ... as Beijing expands national-security controls into more areas of
everyday life.

Officials familiar with cross-Strait affairs say several new and revised
Chinese laws cover areas including the movement of people, money and
information.

They say broadly defined terms such as "national security" and "national
interests" could give Chinese authorities wide discretion over how the laws
are enforced.

Under new cyberspace inspection rules, even county-level police could be
given powers to inspect individuals, along with their phones and laptops.

Officials say the laws could also be applied to people who are not Chinese
citizens if authorities determine they have harmed China's national security
or interests.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Taichung residents will soon get to choose the look of the city's new Blue
Line metro trains.

An online vote on three shortlisted train designs will open this Thursday,
September 10th, and run through October 9th.

People can cast one vote a day online .... through the official campaign
platform or via the T-C-PASS app ...

The city government is also offering over 150 prizes ... including a base
model iPhone 17, tablets, a pair of Logitech headphones ... and a
limited-edition EasyCard keychain.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the Blue Line will be one of Taichung's largest metro
routes, stretching about 24 kilometers.

The line is planned to have 28 trains, compared with 18 on the Green Line.

The Blue Line is scheduled for completion in 2034 if construction stays on
track.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

In news from the world of sport ...

The Houston Astros have sent Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) back to the
minor leagues after a difficult stretch in the majors.

Teng gave up a run and walked two batters in one-third of an inning during
Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 27-year-old was recalled to the Astros on August 21 to strengthen their
bullpen, but he allowed six runs over his last three appearances.

Teng has made 30 appearances for Houston this season, including 10 starts,
with a 5-and-7 record and a 4.76 ERA.

His return to Triple-A means Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao-yu is now the
only active Taiwanese player in Major League Baseball.

Lee went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians,
scoring once.

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Over in India ...

The death toll from a building collapse in the capital New Delhi has risen to
seven, as search and rescue teams continue combing through the rubble.

The five-story building, which housed a boys' hostel, collapsed Sunday in a
densely populated area near a Delhi University campus.

Officials say rescuers have pulled at least 12 people from the debris.

The building was at least 55 years old and had been under renovation before
reopening to tenants in August.

Preliminary findings suggest water accumulation and ongoing repairs may have
contributed to the collapse.

Authorities have arrested the building's owner and suspended municipal
employees responsible for safety inspections.

Posted on 2026-09-07 19:16:13

Belgian prosecutors say a Belgian-Chinese man has been detained on suspicion
of industrial espionage after allegedly transferring semiconductor trade
secrets to China.

The 52-year-old, who was born in Beijing and lives in Belgium, was detained
May 10th while trying to board a flight to China.

He worked for BelGaN, a company specializing in gallium nitride
semiconductors, and investigators suspect he was also involved with a Chinese
company in the same field.

The investigation is focused on industrial espionage and the alleged misuse
of company assets.

Authorities have seized several data storage devices and are also pursuing a
second suspect.

Posted on 2026-09-07 18:26:13

Flights between Taiwan and Jakarta have been canceled today ... as a volcanic
eruption disrupts air travel across Indonesia.

Ash from the Anak Krakatau volcano temporarily halted takeoffs and landings
at Jakarta's main international airport.

The volcano began erupting late last week and intensified over the weekend.

Seven airports across Indonesia remained closed today, with more than 1,500
flights delayed or canceled ... leaving around 170-thousand passengers
stranded.

China Airlines canceled two flights between Taoyuan and Jakarta, and plans to
use a larger aircraft on its service tomorrow night to help accommodate
affected passengers.

EVA Air has also canceled four flights today, including two that had been
rescheduled from Sunday.

STARLUX Airlines says some of its flights could also be affected.

Passengers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the
airport.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-07 18:26:13

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the city will seek to restore 5.41
billion NT in central government funding cut from its MRT projects next year.

Hou says the latest reduction follows a 9-billion-NT cut in central
government MRT funding for New Taipei this year ...

... even though the city is currently at a peak period for transportation
construction.

Hou said the MRT projects are important not only for New Taipei's development
...

... but also for the broader transportation network conecting to neighboring
Taipei and Keelung.

The city government has already written to the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications seeking priority consideration for additional funding.

Hou says New Taipei remains committed to keeping its MRT projects on schedule.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

The Central Election Commission says, over 19,500 candidates have registered
to run for public office in November...

with 26 of them being so-called "mainland spouses."

That marks a 36% increase in the number of "mainland spouses" running for
local office from Taiwan's last local elections in 2022.

CEC Chair You Ying Long (游盈隆) says today that the 19,500 candidates are
jockeying for just over 11,000 positions...

but noted that there are 130 fewer candidates running than 4 years ago.

You noted that the decrease in the overall number of candidates running and
the increase in the number of mainland spouses running were not statistically
significant...

and were "natural fluctuations."

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

Chinese narratives around deadly floods in Nepal have attempted to downplay
the Chinese government of responsibility.

That's according to Taiwanese academics studying foreign information
manipulation.

Their analysis shows that, within China, media has sought to paint Chinese
rescue activities as "heroic" by sending rescue teams to Nepal after the
disaster...

while external reporting has underreported casualties.

According to Nepalese authoirities, the current death toll from the disaster
stands at 1,100...

but Chinese media has reported only 16 dead and has not updated that figure
since August 30th.

The analysis comes as some have leveled criticism at Chinese authorities for
failing to provide important information to Nepal.

The Taiwanese information expert also says that using Chinese search engines
with terms like "China failed to provide timely assistance" do not return any
results.

But searching for "Xi Jinping- divine retribution" would causes cellphones to
crash, indicating that Chinese authorities may be trying to identify who's
searching for it.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

The Chimei Museum will feature eight rare historical instruments at the grand
finale of its 2026 music festival in Kaohsiung this November.

Titled "Splendid Profundity: Brahms and his Time", the concert takes place
Nov. 14 at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.

Acclaimed Taiwanese pianist Meng-Chieh Liu will perform as soloist, joining
conductor Victorien Vanoosten and the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.

And orchestra principals will play eight rare German and Austrian instruments
from the museum, including a 1674 Jacob Stainer viola, one of four left in
the world.

The performance marks the conclusion of the festival's annual series
celebrating 19th-century classical repertoire.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

Now turning to internaitonal news...

Israel has killed 9 people in Lebanon and wounded 13 others.

The Lebanese health ministry says that one of the two strikes on a southern
Lebanese village hit a building while another hit a car, killing a paramedic.

Al Jazeera reports that 2 of those dead were infants.

The strikes are part of a new round of escalation between Israel and
Hezbollah...

with talks between the two parties stalled since August.

Posted on 2026-09-07 17:20:14

Nepal is holding a day of mourning for the more than 1300 people dead in
flooding.

Government offices have lowered flags and family members are marking the
final day of the 13 day mourning riturals.

During the ritual, close family members stay home and relatives visit to pay
their respects.

On the final day, rituals are held to pray for departed souls.

Search efforts, meanwhile, continue for the 5000 people still unaccounted
for.

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

The DPP Taipei mayoral candidate says, systems preventing and addressing
child abuse must be improved.

Otherwise, Puma Shen says, Taipei children will be living in two different
worlds.

Shen made the comments this morning after he yesterday brought up the issue
to his rival Mayor Chiang Wan An at an event.

He said that such cases of child abuse at schools and daycares in the city
have become more and more commonplace...

adding that there may be some room for improvements in the system.

He noted that some alleged victims of child abuse had received counseling
while others had not, leading to concerns that not all kids were being
treated fairly.

Shen criticized Chiang for what he called blaming others for the faults of
his own administration.

(AH)

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

Despite a correction in the local stock market in July, strong capital market
activity this year still pushed the financial sector's profits much higher.

According to the Financial Supervisory Commission, the combined profits of
the banking, insurance and securities industries shot to $1 trillion NT in
the first seven months of the year.

That's an increase of 106-percent from a year earlier, and it also puts them
just around $57 billion short of the full-year record set in 2024, raising
expectations that profits could reach a new record this year.

The banking sector includes domestic and foreign banks operating in Taiwan,
credit cooperatives, bills finance companies, and postal savings and
remittance services.

The FSC said domestic banks alone posted cumulative profits of $424 billion
NT, up 20-percent compared with the same period last year.

With Taiwan's economy projected to rise by more than 11 percent this year,
the F-S-C expects the financial sector to continue growing.

(JL)

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

Asian shares are mixed today, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul leading
gains.

But shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai lost ground.

Here in Taiwan, shares were up today with the benchmark tai ex gaining 755
points to close the session at 47326.

The turnover was 939 billion NT.

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

Now turning to internaitonal news...

Germany is attempting to push back against claims that it is facilitating
genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israel.

Nicaraugua accuses Germany of violating the Genocide Convention and
international humanitarian law.

A hearing at the Interional Court of Justice will address whether the court
has jurisdiction.

Although the case centers on Germany, it indirectly accuses Israel of
genocide in Gaza.

Germany has been a stauch supporter of Israel for decades and is its
second-largest supplier of arms... after the US.

Germany previously stopped authorizing exports of military equipment to
Israel that could be used in Gaza but later lifted those restrictions.

The proceedings are the latest legal attempt to rein in Israel’s military
campaign, after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the same court in
2023.

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

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has erupted, causing flight cancellations
and stranding about 170,000 passengers in the region.

The eruption happened early yesterday, with volcanic ash affecting parts of
western Indonesia.

The country's Geological Agency reported that the volcano showed signs of
activity from Friday, before erupting for 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. Sunday and
for 16 seconds about three hours later.

No casualties were reported, but authorities warned residents to stay at
least 3 kilometers from the crater.

Airspace around several airports was closed.

Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the
situation.

The volcano remains active with officials evaluating the situation.

(KK)

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

In Africa, carbon credit financing is helping to drive the continent's clean
cooking transition by making cleaner stoves affordable for millions of
low-income households.

As governments introduce new policies, securing $900 million in fresh
financing commitments, companies are using carbon credits to subsidize
electric and efficient biomass cookstoves across the continent.

Nearly 1 billion Africans still rely on charcoal or firewood for everyday
cooking.

As the subsidized devices replace charcoal stoves and open fires, supporters
say the approach could accelerate access to clean cooking, help to reduce
deforestation, and cut hazardous household air pollution.

Still, its long-term success depends on sustained demand for high-integrity
carbon credits.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, a visiting group of members of a
Japanese opposition party is scheduled to meet with the president and other
senior government officials.

Discussions will focus on the latest developments in bilateral realtions and
in the Indo-Pacific as a whole.

The group of lawmakers from the Japan Innovation Party will meet with
President Lai Ching-te, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, lawmakers, officials
from the National Security Council, and members of the Taiwan-Japan Relations
Association.

MOFA says that the party, which is a coalition partner of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, has long maintained a Taiwan-friendly stance.

They note that the party donated over 190,000 US dollars to Taiwan after the
2024 Hualien earthquake.

The visit is the first since the party's leader signed a coalition agreement
in October with LDP leader and later Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

The 2026 Taipei Arts Festival has opened with much fanfare, drawing over
150-thousand people Saturday and Sunday night.

They mainly gathered on the Ji-he (基河) Road, in Shi-lin District, to watch 3
giant mechanical elephants and marching bands walking down the street.

The elephants are part of the Festival's opening performance called "The
Elephants Are Coming...", jointly produced by French street theater company
Oposito and local groups.

Officials said the show's online livestream attracted more than 220-thousand
views and over 6-thousand comments and positive reactions.

The evening procession also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the historic
1986 Taipei Zoo move from Yuan-shan (圓山) to Mu-zha (木柵)。

The Festival, organized by the Taipei Performing Arts Center, features dance,
movie screenings and drama, and it runs until October 25th.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

The "Study Australia" Education Exhibition will take place Sept. 19-th and
Sept. 20-th at Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

Hosted by the Australian Office, the fair brings together nearly 50
educational institutions across primary, vocational, and university levels.

Organizers say students and parents can meet directly with university and
school representatives to discuss entry requirements and degree pathways.

And select schools will offer on-site application fee waivers, and no advance
registration is required to enter.

Admission to the two-day fair is free and requires no pre-registration,
allowing visitors to drop in during the weekend.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-07 13:08:14

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has put his second naval destroyer into
service and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent.

The state media report today came as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan were to
begin a trilateral military exercise that he views as a security threat.

State media photos showed Kim touring the new warship with his teenage
daughter, whom South Korea's spy service views as his likely heir.

Both this ship and the first one, which was put into service in June, are
5,000-ton destroyers that state media said can carry various conventional and
nuclear weapons.

They are considered North Korea’s biggest and most advanced warships.

Experts say they were likely built with Russian assistance.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

No damage or injuries are being reported after a magnitude 4.8 earthquake
that rattled parts of Taitung and Hualien this morning.

The quake struck at 12.37AM and was centered some 24-kilometers east
southeast of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 32-kilometers.

It was felt strongest on Green Island and in Donghe Township in Taitung,
where it registered a magnitude 4 on the Central Weather Administration's
intensity scale.

The quake registered a 3 on the intensity scale in Taitung's Chenggong area
and Chishang Township, as well as in Hualien's Fuli Township.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Taiwan People's Party is cutting off electoral cooperation with the K-M-T
in Hsinchu County.

Ths, after both parties refused to defer to the other's preferred candidate
in the Zhubei City mayoral race.

The K-M-T's Wu Hsu-chih and T-P-P's Chiu Chen-yuan both registered as
candidates for Zhubei mayor last Thursday.

Wu had initially tried to downplay the standoff, saying cooperation in the
race was still possible.

However, comments by Hsu Hsin-ying, the K-M-T's nominee for Hsinchu County
magistrate, later claimed the two parties had not made any agreements on the
Zhubei race.

The T-P-P's Central Committee has passed a resolution Sunday suspending
electoral cooperation with the KMT on all races in Hsinchu County.

T-P-P Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu says the K-M-T and Hsu's "inability to
keep promises" has "seriously damaged the foundation of mutual trust that the
two parties have gradually built over the last two years."

The K-M-T and T-P-P candidates in the Zhubei City mayoral race will be
running against the D-P-P'sTseng Sheng-kai and independent candidate Li
Chen-hsiu - who was expelled from the T-P-P in April.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Army's nationwide brigade-level force-on-force "Lu Sheng" exercise next
month has been extended and will now take place over 10 days and nine nights.

This year's exercise will involve the Taoyuan-based Army 269th Mechanized
Infantry Brigade and the Kaohsiung-based 564th Combined Arms Brigade and
takes place from October 14 to 23.

Sources say this year's drill will test scenarios including 24-hour combat
readiness, dispersed command-and-control operations, unscripted and realistic
war scenarios, and rules of engagement to assess the combat units' defensive
capabilities.

The Lu Sheng exercise will also see the deployment of the US-developed Team
Awareness Kit, which allows Army commanders to track friendly forces, mark
enemy units and receive real-time updates.

Last year's Lu Sheng exercise lasted seven days and six nights.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Gwangju Biennale's Pavilion Project's "Taiwan Pavilion" has finally
opened... after a naming controversy that led to China's withdrawal from the
event.

The pavilion's exhibition is curated by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine
Arts.

The opening comes after a back and forth between the Museum and event
organizers...

Exhibiting artist Chen Ting-ting says she believe the foundation's final
decision was driven largely by an outpouring of support for Taiwan from the
people of Gwangju and international artists.

The foundation initially listed the pavilion as being part of the museum in
promotional materials...

It eventually adopted the name "Taiwan Pavilion" on August 26 after
accusations of political censorship from artists and the Lai administration.

China's curatorial team has since withdrawn from the Pavilion Project last
week.

The Gwangju Biennale runs from now through Nov. 15.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The late, former Deputy Legislative Speaker Yao Eng-chi, has been honored
with a posthumous presidential citation.

President Lai Ching-te presented the commendation to Yao's family at a
memorial service in Taitung City.

Lai described Yao as "an important stabilizing force" during a period of
political change who helped "resolve disputes and bridge differences."

The president served alongside Yao in the Legislature for two terms, also
praised him for his contributions to Taitung County's development.

Yao served as a KMT lawmaker for more than two decades, and contributed to
Taiwan's major democratic reforms, including
the full re-election of the Legislature in 1992, direct elections for special
municipality mayors in 1994, and the first direct presidential election in
1996.

Yao died last month at the age of 93 at his home in Taitung's Beinan Township.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The Shilin District Court has ordered the detention of a pharmacist who is
accused of attempted sexual assault.

He is believed to have drugged his student employee by slipping a drug into
her water bottle.

Prosecutors opened an investigation into the case after a recent social media
post which saw the alleged victim's sibling accusing the pharmacist of
drugging his employee.

The part-time employee is said to have become dizzy and confused shortly
after drinking from her water bottle during her shift... she then reported
the incident to the police.

The pharmacist told media outlets that he put the drug in the employee's
drink, but he been claiming it was "a joke," saying he believed the
medication had expired and was harmless.

Prosecutors said they are seeking to indict the pharmacist on charges that
include attempted aggravated sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual
indecency and causing bodily harm.

The court said it accepted a request by prosecutors to detain the suspect on
the grounds that he posed a risk of destroying evidence or tampering with
witnesses.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

EVA Airways says it will raise excess baggage fees and revise other
international baggage charges at the end of this month.

The carrier is citing higher fuel prices and rising global operating costs
amid economic and geopolitical pressures for the move.

The airline says the changes will apply to international flights with travel
dates on or after September 29.

The revised baggage policy covers excess baggage, prepaid excess baggage,
overweight and oversized baggage fees.

It also covers updated pricing rules, and fees for transporting pets and
sports equipment.

Under the new rates, excess baggage fees will increase by between 20 and 90
U-S dollars per piece, depending on the route.

Under the revised fee schedule, charges for an extra checked bag on flights
to and from Taiwan will range from 160 to 390 U-S dollars.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

And,

The Taipei Performing Arts Center says the first night of the "Trois
elephants passent ..." street performance drew a crowd of some 100,000 people
in the capital's Shilin District.

The parade featured three mechanical elephants as its centerpiece of the
performance.

Each of the elephants is 4.5 meters tall and 8 meters long.

The street theater is being presented by French troupe Compagnie Oposito and
also features local groups Sun Son Theatre and Hsuan-yu Music, combining
classical music, Breton folk tunes and street percussion.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and 10 foreign representatives to Taiwan,
including representatives from France, Germany, Hungary and Lithuania went to
see the parade.

The street performance is the opening event of the Taipei Arts Festival,
which features theater, dance and art installations through October 25.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

The far-right Alternative for Germany is seen to have scored a historic
victory ‌in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The AfD won 44.5% of the vote, up from 20.8% in 2021.

While the victory is a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives, its
not clear if the party will be able to form Germany's first far-right state
government since World War II.

Most parties have ruled out joining an AfD-led coalition, meaning the party
would likely need a majority of seats to take power.

Posted on 2026-09-07 07:02:13

North Korea has commissioned a new destroyer on the country's east coast.

Leader Kim Jong Un called the commissioning of the vessel sends a clear
signal to enemies and said ‌the vessel would be part of Pyongyang's nuclear
response system and could deliver "annihilating retaliatory strikes" if
ordered.

The new vessel has been christened the Kang Gun... its said to be a similar
class as another destroyer, the Choe Hyon, which was previously commissioned
in the West Sea,

Posted on 2026-09-05 15:07:13

A mudslide in eastern China has killed one person and left 11 others missing.

The disaster, which occurred today in Jiangxi province, followed days of
heavy rain carried by tropical cyclone Saudel.

Rescuers have moved residents to safer ground to prevent further danger. Two
people were rescued alive.

Posted on 2026-09-05 14:10:13

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni has celebrated a milestone for her government,
which has lasted longer than any other government since 1994, which marked
the beginning of the country's so-called second republic era.

At a rally in southern Italy, Meloni cast the longevity record as evidence of
the strength and cohesion of her center-right coalition.

As of yesterday, she had served 1,414 days, exceeding Silvio Berlusconi's
1,412 days during his second term -- between 2001 and 2005.

She credited her right-wing coalition with boosting employment, supporting
families and businesses, managing public finances and restoring Italy's
credibility abroad.

Meloni said that stability was "our first great reform."

Italy's next general election has to be held by next December.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 13:08:14

The 2026 Tang Prize Week has officially kicked off, with a free exhibition
bringing together the achievements and personal stories of laureates from the
prize's 14-year history.

Titled "Illuminating the World Through Knowledge," the exhibition includes
films, publications and memorabilia donated by past laureates, as well as a
new interactive digital knowledge hub.

Tang Prize Foundation CEO Dr. Chern Jenn-Chuan (陳振川) says the exhibition
gives visitors different ways to explore the laureates' work.

The main Tang Prize Week events will run from September 18th through the
23rd, including the award ceremony, laureate lectures, university forums and
youth symposiums.

Chern says the program will bring leading international scholars together
with researchers and students in Taiwan to discuss the future of science and
technology.

The exhibition will remain open at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall through
October 30th.

(TB)

Posted on 2026-09-05 12:12:13

obligations

The United States, Britain, France and Germany have drafted a resolution for
possible consideration by the Board of Governors of the UN nuclear watchdog
that seeks to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for failure to comply
with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

Diplomats say the move has been under consideration since last June, when the
IAEA board found Iran officially in noncompliance with its nonproliferation
obligations.

The referral to the UN Security Council would shift the responsibly to a
higher authority that is able to enact further measures, including imposing
sanctions or asset freezes.

Nevertheless ... specific punitive measures by the UN are unlikely ... since
Iran's allies Russia and China hold veto power on the UN Security Council.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 11:09:14

A federal US judge is extending a legal block on President Trump's plan to
regulate mail ballots during the midterm elections.

The order from US District Court Judge Indira Talwani comes after she earlier
handed down a temporary restraining order prohibiting the US Postal Service
from enforcing the new policy.

North Carolina began sending mail ballots out yesterday ... and election
officials in many states say it's too late to meet the new requirements.

The Trump administration filed a notice late yesterday saying it would appeal
the ruling.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 11:09:14

Serena and Venus Williams forced a deciding third set super-tiebreak at the
US Open overnight ... but they were unable to defeat Australia's Maya Joint
and Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching (詹皓晴) in doubles action.

It was the Williams sisters' first US Open match since 2022

Joint and Chan will play their second-round match tomorrow.

AP_JvW

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