ICRT

Posted on 2026-10-28 19:43:13

Prosecutors have brought Taipei City Councilor Chen Chong Wen (陳重文) in for
questioning over potential violations of the Public Officials Election and
Recall Act.

Chen, of the opposition KMT, was already sentenced to 9 years behind bars on
corruption charges, and his appeal is currently being heard by the Taiwan
High Court.

Having failed to secure the KMT's nomination in this year's elections, Chen
is running as an independent for reelection in Taipei's first district,
representing Shilin and Beitou.

Following searches, prosecutors brought Chen and others back for questioning.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 19:43:13

Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang is calling on authorities to
identify those responsible for a series of cyberattacks on the party's
website and internal systems.

Huang made the remarks as he visited the Criminal Investigation Bureau to
file a criminal complaint.

He described the attacks as targeted and systematic, saying hackers had
attempted to seize control of the party's website and lock out its
administrators.

Huang says the attacks also targeted a policy database containing sensitive
information, including meeting records and party policy documents.

He says the latest attack forced the party to temporarily shut down its
official website.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 19:43:13

Uber has launched an hourly car-hire service in five cities in northern
Taiwan, allowing customers to book a driver for up to 10 hours.

The ride-hailing platform says the service is available in Taipei, New
Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan and Hsinchu, through partnerships with local
transport companies.

Customers can book a vehicle for between two and 10 hours, customize their
itineraries and arrange trips from 48 hours to 90 days in advance.

Uber says the service is designed for sightseeing, family outings and travel
between cities, and it plans to expand to other parts of Taiwan.

The company says independent travelers account for more than 90 percent of
domestic tourism in Taiwan, while nearly 80 percent of trips are day trips.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-10-28 19:43:13

At least 10 people have been killed after a high-speed train crashed into the
back of another train in central Spain ... with authorities warning the death
toll could rise.

The collision happened in Toledo province, on a route connecting Madrid with
the southern city of Seville.

Both trains were traveling in the same direction when one struck the other,
which had stopped.

The crash derailed two carriages and is disrupting train services between
Madrid and southern Spain.

Emergency crews are working to rescue survivors and recover bodies.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

The trains were operated by state-owned Renfe and private company Iryo ....
which were involved in a separate deadly collision in southern Spain in
January, which killed 46 people.

Posted on 2026-10-28 19:43:13

China says it has taken note of an apology from French soccer star Kylian
Mbappé {em-BAH-pay} over comments about Mao Zedong, the founding leader of
Communist China.

China's Foreign Ministry said today that it takes the apology seriously,
while state media warned that celebrities risk losing business if they cross
political red lines.

Mbappé apologized yesterday after an online interview in which he appeared to
refer to Mao as a dictator - which sparked a backlash in China.

Three Chinese companies have ended commercial partnerships with the Real
Madrid forward, while state television has suspended broadcasts of Spanish
league matches.

The incident was the latest in which China has used its market to compel
foreign brands and individuals to apologize for perceived slights.

Posted on 2026-10-28 19:43:13

South Korea has fined Google and Apple a combined 47.6 million U-S dollars
for abusing their dominance in app stores by restricting developers' payment
options and unfairly delaying app reviews.

The country's media and telecommunications regulator fined Google 32 million
U-S dollars and Apple 15.5 million dollars after an investigation into
possible violations of a 2021 law designed to prevent app stores from forcing
developers to use their own payment systems.

The regulator says both companies imposed fees and restrictions that made
alternative payment methods less attractive, while also delaying app reviews
without clearly explaining the reasons.

It has ordered Google and Apple to allow South Korean developers to link to
external payment options within their apps and improve their review
procedures.

South Korea was the first country to introduce a law prohibiting app store
operators from requiring developers to use their own in-app payment systems.

Posted on 2026-10-28 18:58:13

The Taiwan Alzheimer Disease Association is urging candidates in the upcoming
local elections to address regional gaps in dementia diagnosis and care.

The association cited the latest data from the National Health Research
Institutes ...

.... which show that ten counties and cities fall below the national average
of 67.6 percent in estimated dementia diagnosis and care coverage.

Those include Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Taichung.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates that nearly 400-thousand people
in Taiwan will be living with dementia this year ... with that number
expected to approach 600-thousand by 2036.

The association has put forward six policy demands, including earlier
detection, better access to diagnosis and care, stronger support for family
caregivers and more dementia-friendly communities.

It is also calling for greater protection of patients' rights and better
coordination between government departments.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-28 18:58:13

Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) says a feasibility study for the Taoyuan
Metro Orange Line will be submitted to transport authorities this month.

The proposed 34.5-kilometer transit network includes 36 stations and a
dedicated line serving the Longtan Science Park.

Chang confirmed that construction will prioritize the Pingzhen and Longtan
segment to meet industrial and transit demands.

The system is expected to serve over 80 percent of Taoyuan's population while
cutting commute times by one-third.

The mayor says city officials will work closely with the central government
through the review processes, in order to secure Executive Yuan approval and
expedite construction schedules.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-28 18:58:13

In other transport news,

Taipei Metro will extend operating hours at three stations this Saturday to
accommodate visitors attending the Nuit Blanche arts festival at Taipei Expo
Park.

Taipei Metro says Yuanshan, Minquan West Road and Zhongshan Elementary School
stations will remain open for entry and exit until 2 AM Sunday.

Additional trains will run about every 20 minutes after regular service ends,
connecting Yuanshan with Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan Elementary School
with Minquan West Road.

Nearby Shuanglian, Zhongshan and Taipei Main stations will allow passengers
to exit, but not enter or transfer between lines, during the extended hours.

The metro operator will also run trains more frequently on the Bannan Line to
handle crowds attending concerts at Taipei Dome and the annual Taiwan LGBT
Pride parade.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-10-28 18:58:13

Registration is now open for the Ministry of Education's Taiwanese-language
proficiency test next March ... with applications accepted until November
23rd.

The exams will take place on March 6th and 7th next year, and are open to
people of all nationalities and ages.

The registration fee is 250 NT, but applicants aged 19 and under can take the
test for free.

The exam has three levels, with Level A scheduled for March 6th and Levels B
and C taking place the following day.

The ministry says the test is now fully computer-based, except for the
writing section, which remains paper-based.

Children aged six and under, along with seniors aged 65 and over, can apply
for special assistance if they have difficulty using a computer.

An online practice platform is also available to help candidates prepare.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-28 17:09:13

Prosecutors have brought in New Taipei City Councilor Liao Yi Kun for
questioning in a vote buying investigation.

Liao, of the DPP, is suspected of offering free knife sharpening services to
residents and paying for their meals.

The case is being investigated under the Public Officials Election and Recall
Act.

Liao has served as a city councilor for New Taipei's 8th electoral district
since 2018...

representing Tucheng, Shulin, Sanxia, and Yingge.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 17:09:13

The Directorate General of Personnal Administration says, it will raies
salaries of civil servants both this and next year in order to stem
resignations.

That's as DPP Lawmaker Zhang Ya Lin has raised concerns over a lack of civil
servants.

She noted that, between 2022 and last year, over 10,000 civil servants across
the country handed in their resignations, with over half not having been in
the job for 5 years.

Meanwhile over 40% of those resignations were due to having found another job
or opportunity.

The Executive Yuan says, the shortage can be chalked up to two main reasons,
the first being low birth rates...

and the second being that they say the hiring environment has been too
competitive in recent years.

So, the DGPA says, it will make the salaries more attractive to improve
retention rates.

They say, next year, civil servants can expect their salaries to increase by
4% to bring them more into the range of private sector jobs.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 17:09:13

The Taiwan High Speed Rail says, it's adding 40 more trains for election
day...

as voters head home to cast their ballots.

Those added trains will be from Friday, November 27th to Monday the 30th...

with the election taking place on the 28th.

THSR says, the tickets will go on sale tomorrow evening.

Of the 40 added trains, just over half will be northbound trains, while the
rest will be southbound ones.

Passengers can get the tickets starting at midnight on the 30th on the T-EX
app or on THSR's website.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:50:13

The Taiwanese representative to Switzerland, Greg Lee, has been removed from
his post following an investigation that concluded he had engaged in
workplace bullying.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that Lee has returned to Taiwan and is
now working at MOFA's Taipei offices.

The statement comes after reports said that the Cabinet had approved the
ministry's recommendation to recall Lee to Taipei.

An investigation determined that Lee frequently "shouted and yelled" during
meetings and repeatedly criticized some subordinates.

The team concluded that Lee had indeed abused his position of power and
created a hostile work environment.

As to accusations that Lee had misused public resources, MOFA did not say if
those allegations were being investigated or not.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:50:13

Researchers in Taiwan are warning of a nearly untreatable "superbug" with
global public health implications.

Researchers at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang Ming Chiao
Tung University have identified a new mutation in a drug-resistant strain of
"Klebsiella pneumoniae" ...

... a common cause of infections in hospitals ... that can cause pneumonia
and urinary tract infections.

The mutation changes the structure of a protein targeted by antibiotics,
making several classes of drugs less effective.

The strain was found in samples from two hospitalized COVID-19 patients in
2021.

Both patients recovered.

However, the researchers warned that the bacteria could become even harder to
treat if they develop further mutations .... or gain the ability to break
down antibiotics that work against a wide range of bacteria.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:50:13

Haze

Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to work together more closely to tackle
illegal land burning, which has blanketed Southeast Asia with a toxic haze in
recent weeks.

On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to form a task
force to enhance enforcement of regulations and explore new regulations.

The haze mainly comes from fires started to clear land for farming in western
Indonesia.

This year’s fires are the worst on record, partly because of hotter and drier
weather attributed to the El Niño weather pattern.

The situation has raised health concerns and public backlash in the region.

Singapore has sent warning letters to Indonesian companies that may be linked
to the fires, while Indonesia has taken legal action against individuals and
companies.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:50:13

A U.S. cruise ship on a residential world voyage has suspended its operations
in Cambodia due to fuel costs, forcing hundreds of passengers to abandon
their floating homes.

The Odyssey set sail two years ago on a 3 and a half-year voyage marketed as
combining long-term living at sea with global travel.

Florida-based Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel expenses per cabin that
once averaged $1-thousand-800 US dollars, or 58-thousand N-T, have reached an
estimated $6,000 to $8,000 dollars, or $194-thousand N-T to $260-thousand
N-T, in parts of Asia during the war in Iran.

The ship carried 203 passengers with 15 nationalities, mostly Americans, and
156 crew members.

Passengers have been told to leave the ship, but the crew’s status was
unclear.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:19:13

bikes

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says, it will propose
amendments to the law that will aim to strengthen penalties for driving
electric mini scooters while under the influence.

The ministry says, it will pass the proposal over to the Executive Yuan next
month.

The MOTC adds that the amendments will aim to equalize penalties for driving
the e scooters while impaired to those for driving a car or motorbike.

This comes as statistics from the Ministry of the Interior show a 717%
increase in the first 9 months of the year for drugged driving on the e
scooters...

as compared to the same time last year.

The MOTC notes that availability of rapid saliva testing for drugs has
contributed to the ability to confirm drug-impaired driving.

According to the ministry, proposed penalties will be the same as those for
driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol...

with vehicles confiscated and license plates impounded.

The ministry says it will submit the proposals to the Cabinet by the end of
next month.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:19:13

Taipei prosecutors are seeking 30 years behind bars for a Taipei teacher
accused of molesting nearly 40 students.

The elementary school teacher, surnamed Zhou, is accused of assaulting and
taking inappropriate videos of male students as far back as 2010.

He allegedly used opportunities to get close to students, like playing video
games or basketball with them, in order to take advantage of them.

Zhou is believed to have taken the kids to several sites around Taipei and
New Taipei to carry out the assaults and take explicit videos.

He allegedly organized the video files by the child's name and the time it
was taken and stored them all on a computer and hard drive.

The case came to light when victims grew up and recognized the incidents as
assault and reported it to police.

Authorities in July and August carried out searches of Zhou's home and
workplace and ultimately received permission to detain him incommunicado.

Zhou is believed to have assaulted 38 children, and prosecutors are
requesting that he receive the maximum sentence permissible under the law.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:19:13

Taiwan shares shot up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 939 points to
close the session at 47035.

The turnover was 722.1 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-10-28 14:19:13

The United Nations is set to vote on a resolution condemning the decades-long
US economic embargo on Cuba.

That's as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign to undermine the
Cuban government.

The vote is aimed at calling out the US' so-called "maximum pressure policy"
and the resolution has been put before the UN General Assembly for the past
34 years.

All of those 34 times, the measure has received overwhelming support from UN
member states.

The condemnation is expected to again pass by a large margin this year, but
it's not clear if the Trump administration's overt campaign to influence the
vote will result in more oppositions than before.

Such resolutions are not legally binding, but do reflect public opinion.

The vote comes as Cuba is weathering deepening financial crises while the
U.S. increases its already punishing economic campaign.

Posted on 2026-10-28 08:15:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The central government's proposed 2027 general budget has now been referred
to committee review in the Legislative Yuan.

The bill advanced after Premier Cho Jung-tai answered lawmakers' questions
about the government's spending plan.

The 3.92-trillion N-T general budget proposal includes 235.7-billion N-T for
the cash handouts of 10,000 N-T each.

The government says those cash handouts will be funded entirely by higher tax
revenue from growth in technology-related industries amid forecast economic
growth of 11.05-per cent this year.

The government is stressing that the handouts are intended to let the public
share in the benefits of economic growth driven by Taiwan's booming high-tech
sector.

Under the Cabinet's proposal, eligible recipients of the 10,000 N-T one-time
cash handout include citizens with household registration and nationals
without household registration who have obtained residence permits.

Foreign nationals with permanent residence permits will also be eligible, as
will spouses of Taiwanese nationals from China, Hong Kong, Macau or other
countries who hold residence permits.

The K-M-T has submitted a competing bill, which would require the government
to issue 20,000 N-T cash handouts.

Posted on 2026-10-28 08:15:14

The Nuclear Safety Commission says the latest discharge of treated wastewater
containing tritium from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is not
expected to affect waters around Taiwan.

According to the commission the 25th round of discharges began Monday and is
expected to continue for 19 days, with about 7,800 metric tons of wastewater
to be released.

The commission says the wastewater is expected to mainly affect waters off
eastern Japan, while tritium concentrations in waters around Taiwan are
forecast to remain below the minimum detectable level of monitoring
instruments.

That forecast is based on date provided be the Central Weather Administration
here in Taiwan and information from Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the disabled plant in August
2023.

It has since completed 24 rounds of discharges, releasing a total of about
188,000 cubic meters of wastewater.

The Nuclear Safety Commission says is has been monitoring radiation levels
in surrounding waters.

Authorities have analyzed more than 20,000 samples since 2017 and no abnormal
radiation detected.

Posted on 2026-10-28 08:15:14

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is accusing Beijing of waging "cognitive
warfare" over its coverage of this past weekend's Retrocession Day holiday.

It commemorates the end of 50 years of Japanese colonial rule and the
transfer of Taiwan to the Republic of China in 1945.

However, China marked the anniversary by releasing high-resolution satellite
pictures of Taipei, including the city's main train station and the National
Palace Museum.

China's Eastern Theatre Command also published a poster with a map of Taiwan
superimposed on images of fighter jets and warships, with the title
"Remember the history of the restoration."

Speaking to reporters prior to a legislative hearing, Koo said China is using
the anniversary to carry out "cognitive warfare" against the island and the
Republic of China's status in 1945 had nothing to do with the People's
Republic of China - as it wasn't established until 1949.

According to Koo, the release of pro-unification imagery by China is further
evidence that Beijing's determination to annex Taiwan by force has never
changed ... and people should be even more vigilant.

Posted on 2026-10-28 08:15:14

The Tainan District Court has ordered a Taiwanese man suspected of
involvement in his wife's death in Japan last week to be detained.

The order was issue following a request by Tainan District Prosecutors'
Office, who sought his detention citing concerns that he posed a flight risk
and could destroy evidence.

According to the prosecutors' office, the man is suspected of being involved
in the apparent murder of his wife and attempted fraud.

The man's Taiwanese wife was found stabbed to death at a hotel in a resort
town in the northern foothills of Mount Fuji on October 19.

Japanese police later arrested a Taiwanese woman for her alleged involvement
in the case.

Prosecutors in Tainan opened it own investigation into the case at the
request of the Criminal Investigation Bureau's International Affairs Division
on October 22.

The investigation found that the man traveled to Japan after his wife's death
to handle the funeral arrangements, and was found to have taken out two
travel insurance policies before her death, worth 10-million and 20-million
N-T.

He was arrested on his return to Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-10-28 08:15:14

The Financial Supervisory Commission says number of clients of Taiwan-owned
banks with assets of more than 100-million N-T surpassed 32,000 at the end of
September.

According to the F-S-C, data shows the local banking sector had 32,326
high-asset clients at the end of September and that's up 1,730 from a month
earlier.

Although the high-asset clients have assets of over 100-million N-T, not all
of their assets are entrusted to banks because their wealth portfolio
includes real estate or other property holdings.

However, the actual assets of these wealthy clients under management by
Taiwan-owned banks still averaged just over 100-million N-T to total
3.24-trillion N-T at the end of September.

That was up from 129.4-billion N-T from a month earlier.

The Financial Supervisory Commission says the growth in financial asset
holdings and high-wealth clients reflects a sustained increase in the values
of stocks and other financial assets, with the Tai-Ex's benchmark index up 4
percent in September alone.

Posted on 2026-10-28 08:15:14

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says residents of northern and eastern
Taiwan will see rain today, as northeasterly winds continue to strengthen,
bringing cooler weather to the island.

The seasonal winds are expected to bring localized showers to areas north of
Taoyuan, the east and the Hengchun Peninsula in the south.

Partly cloudy to sunny skies are forecast for elsewhere across the island.

Areas north of Taoyuan will also see a drop temperature today - with highs
reaching reaching only 23 degrees.

The northeasterly winds are expected to weaken tomorrow and Friday, but brief
scattered showers could still occur along the coast of Keelung and in eastern
Taiwan.

The northeasterly winds are forecast to pick up again on Saturday, once again
bringing brief scattered showers to areas north of Taoyuan and the Yilan
areas, with isolated showers possible in the east.

Those brief showers could persist in parts of northern and eastern Taiwan on
Sunday and into Monday, while other areas could see partly cloudy to sunny
skies.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

European experts are urging closer cooperation on artificial intelligence and
drones between Europe and Taiwan in order to avoid overdependence on China.

The call was made during the "Trusted Technology Forum for Democracies"
forum, co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Formosa Club,
a network connecting pro-Taiwan parliamentarians across Europe.

John Hemmings, of the UK-based Henry Jackson Society, said the Russians and
the Chinese are already cooperating on their technology.

Hemmings stressed the need for Taiwan and Europe to agree on what constitutes
a "red-free supply chain model," develop a list of certified suppliers and
then establish a policy-oriented drone supply chain office to draft
reciprocal testing and evaluation protocols.

Meanwhile, Antonio Calcara, of the V-U-B research university in Brussels,
called on both sides to combine their respective strengths to boost
cooperation on A-I.

Calcara said Europe is known for its industrial engineering and research and
development capabilities, as well as its potentially huge A-I market, while
Taiwan produces some of the world's most advanced semiconductors and the
servers needed to power advanced AI models.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

Saint Lucia's Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has arrived in Taiwan for a
five-day state visit.

He's leading a delegation that includes are Saint Lucia's Attorney General
Leslie Mondesir, Senator Allison A. Jean, and chairman of the Saint Lucia
Development Bank, Daryl Raymond.

It is the Saint Lucian leader's fourth visit to Taiwan since taking office in
the summer of 2021.

President Lai Ching-te will host a military honors ceremony to welcome
Pierre, and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will host a banquet for him.

Both sides are also hold talks on issues of mutual interest and prospects for
future cooperation.

The Saint Lucian delegation will also visit Cathay General Hospital, the
Taipei 101 skyscraper and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Museum of
Innovation in Hsinchu.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

The Taiwan Equality Campaign says 191 candidates running for local government
posts have expressed support for gender equality by signing up for its "Pride
Watch" website.

The group said after registering on the "Pride Watch" website, candidates
need to complete a "Friendly Candidate Questionnaire" to indicate their
positions on gender equality issues

Candidates can also use the website to list their relevant policy pledges and
past proposals or inter-pellations raised during council sessions.

The Taiwan Equality Campaign, says "Pride Watch" has attracted over 100,000
views each election cycle since the website was first launched in 2018.

A total of 245 candidates registered on the website in the 2022 local
elections and of that number 87 were ultimately elected as local councilors.

Those elected councilors put forward at least 233 gender-related proposals
and 104 inter-pellations in local councils over the following four years.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

The Centers for Disease Control says vaccination rates for flu, COVID-19 and
pneumococcal disease have risen this year for both publicly funded and
self-paid vaccines.

Data shows about 2.725-million adults aged 18 and older received publicly
funded flu vaccinations between October 1 and 26, while 288,000 other adults
paid out of pocket for the shots.

More than 1.17-million people received publicly funded COVID-19 vaccinations
and 188 had paid out of pocket, while 104,000 people had received publicly
funded vaccinations and 3,000 had paid out of pocket for pneumococcal disease
vaccinations.

The C-D-C says the rise in people choosing to get vaccinated is partly due to
a health token initiative.

That initiative was launched on October 1 and means that people receive 450
tokens for getting a flu shot, 900 for a COVID-19 vaccination and 600 for a
pneumococcal vaccination.

The second phase of the government's publicly funded flu and COVID-19
vaccination programs begins on November 2 - expanding eligibility to people
aged 50 to 64 without chronic illnesses.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

An elementary school resource teacher in Pingtung is under investigation amid
allegations they repeatedly brought a fruit knife onto campus, climbed
through classroom windows and took special education students out of class
without permission.

The school reported the teacher's actions through the campus safety system
and convened a meeting to determine whether the teacher is fit to continue
teaching.

The National Federation of Education Unions says accounts from classroom
teachers and parents show the teacher at the school in Changzhi Township had
been behaving erratically since the start of the school year.

The teacher allegedly refused to teach classes that provide extra help to
students with special needs and failed to draw up legally required
individualized education programs.

The National Federation of Education Unions says those actions severely
impacted students' education and it's criticizing the school's handling of
the case - saying the principal failed to keep the teacher away from
students.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

The Civil Aviation Administration has fined Tigerair Taiwan 200,000 N-T after
it failed to repair an Airbus A320neo within a designated timeframe.

Regulatory records show the airline exceeded the required maintenance
timeline for the combustion chamber on one of the aircraft's engines.

The aircraft was allowed to fly in September of 2025, that's despite problems
with its No. 2 engine.

The C-A-A it mandated immediate corrective actions following the violation.

Tigerair Taiwan says an error during flight rescheduling meant the aircraft
wasn't repaired by the deadline, but after it's internal safety system
identified the issue, the Airbus A320neo was inspected and repaired
immediately.

The carrier says it informed the Civil Aviation Administration the same day
the repairs were carried out.

However, Tigerair Taiwan also says it will step-up its verification and
repair check controls.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

And,

Vehicle owners will soon have a chance to bid for lucky license plate numbers.

The license plate numbers up for auction include combinations of repeating
digits.

The Hsinchu City Motor Vehicles Office is running an online auction from
November 3 though 5.

The auction includes 820 license plates for commercial passenger vehicles and
more than 6,500 for motorcycles.

Starting bids for the most sought-after combinations will be 6,000 NT for
commercial vehicles and 3,000 for motorcycles.

The office says repeating numbers such as "1-1-1-1," "7-7-7-7," "8-8-8-8" and
"9-9-9-9" are especially sought after combinations because of their
auspicious meanings in Chinese.

"1-1-1-1" symbolizes having a successful career, "7-7-7-7" is meant to bring
good fortune, "8-8-8-8" also symbolizes great wealth, while "9-9-9-9"
signifies peace and longevity.

Bidders must register on the Hsinchu Motor Vehicles Office website and the
winning bidders must pay for the license plates within 24-hours of the
auction's conclusion.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

In Europe...

Thousands of people are protesting against Portugal's deepening housing
crisis, gathering outside Parliament in Lisbon.

Recent demonstrations have been inspired by similar protests in Spain over
unaffordable housing.

Police have used batons and dogs to break up protests in the capital's main
squares.

Housing costs in Portugal have surged, with one-bedroom apartments in Lisbon
costing around 1,500 euros monthly.

The government has introduced measures like lowering taxes on new
construction and restricting short-term rentals, but the effects won't be
immediate.

Posted on 2026-10-28 06:53:13

Indian authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from vulnerable
coastal areas in the eastern state of Andhra Pradesh... as a severe cyclone
over the Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall along the country’s east
coast.

The India Meteorological Department says Cyclone Arnab strengthened into a
“very severe” cyclonic storm and was expected to make landfall along the
Andhra Pradesh coast in the coming hours with gusting winds and heavy rain.

At least 89,000 people have so far been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh.

The state’s disaster management authority said more than 12 million people
live along the cyclone’s expected path.

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

The Civil Aviation Administration fined Tigerair Taiwan NT$200,000 over an
overdue engine inspection on an Airbus aircraft.

Regulatory records show the airline exceeded the required maintenance
timeline for the combustion chamber on one of its engines.

The CAA mandated immediate corrective actions following the civil aviation
law violation.

Tigerair Taiwan stated the issue resulted from a time calculation discrepancy
during flight scheduling in September 2025.

The airline emphasizes that it discovered the error, completed the inspection
the same day, and voluntarily notified aviation regulators.

Tigerair is promising enhanced verification controls moving forward.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

The Central Bank says that foreign institutional investors have been a
primary factor behind the Taiwan dollar's recent sharp depreciation against
the U-S dollar.

In a written report to the Legislative Yuan, the bank revealed that foreign
investors recorded over $54 billion U-S dollars in net fund outflows since
July ...

... driven by global tech stock sell-offs amid AI spending concerns and
escalating Middle East tensions.

In response, the central bank said it sold over $17 billion U-S dollars in
foreign reserves during the first half of the year to curb foreign exchange
market volatility.

Officials stress that despite capital flight, the Taiwan dollar's 3.23
percent decline this year through mid-October remains less pronounced than
other currencies, including the the euro, and the Thai baht.

The bank says it aims to keep the Taiwan dollar as stable as it can ... to
help Taiwanese exporters stabilize prices and secure orders, while supporting
the broader economy.

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

A Taiwanese man surnamed Lee has been detained incommunicado following the
suspicious death of his wife at a hotel in Japan.

The Tainan District Court approved the detention order on Monday after
prosecutors raised concerns that Lee might flee or destroy evidence.

Lee’s wife, surnamed Ching, was found fatally stabbed on October 19th in
Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Japanese police initially arrested a 27-year-old Taiwanese woman surnamed
Yang at the scene after finding her in possession of a kitchen knife.

Tainan prosecutors launched an investigation after discovering that Lee had
taken out two travel insurance policies on his wife shortly before her death,
totaling 30 million NT.

Contact records between Lee and Yang were also uncovered, pointing to
potential coordination.

Lee was arrested upon returning to Taiwan from Japan on October 24th, and his
role in the alleged murder and insurance fraud remains under investigation.

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

U.K. prosecutors say that two men have been charged with national security
offenses over last month’s incident at RAF Fairford ....

.... a U.S.-run military base in England.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that 24-year-olds Mohmed Abdulkarim and
Nouman Essghir were both charged under the National Security Act.

Abdulkarim is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and
Essghir with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the
U.K.

The base has been used for strikes on Iran.

Scores of residents were evacuated from their homes near the base late
September .... as armed police officers and army bomb-disposal experts
swarmed the rural area.

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

A report into why Iranian warships took part in naval drills off South
Africa’s coast this year against the instructions of the country’s president
has been finalized.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said Tuesday the report
would remain confidential while he reviews it.

The participation of Iran alongside Chinese and Russian ships off Cape Town
in January came at a time of heightened tensions between the United States
and Iran.

It sparked harsh U-S criticism of South Africa.

The South African investigation looked at whether senior members of the armed
forces ignored Ramaphosa's instructions that Iran be excluded from the
drills.

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

Russia and Ukraine have started a localized ceasefire in the southern
Ukrainian city of Oleshky ... through to Saturday.

The pause began Tuesday at 3 AM local time to allow a humanitarian mission,
brokered by U-S first lady Melania Trump, to deliver aid.

The situation in Oleshky is dire, with food and medical supplies running low
for the 2,000 people stranded there.
Despite the ceasefire, Russia continues missile attacks on other Ukrainian
cities.

Posted on 2026-10-27 19:07:14

Meanwhile,

Finland's president and Norway's prime minister have spoken on the phone with
Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The call was confirmed today by the offices of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas
Gahr Støre {YO-nahs gar STUR-uh} and Finnish President Alexander Stubb
{ah-lek-SAHN-der stoob}.

It followed an Oct. 20 meeting in Oslo between the two Nordic leaders,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U-S special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Officials said that the call was held in consultation with Ukraine.

Stubb {stoob} and Støre {STUR-uh} initiated the call to discuss the war and
upcoming trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States
that are expected to take place in United Arab Emirates in November.

Posted on 2026-10-27 18:18:13

Taiwan's road safety appears to be improving, with traffic deaths down almost
3 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications reported 1,777 deaths
within 30 days of traffic accidents, down almost 11 percent from 2023.

Deaths involving drunk driving, young people and motorcycle crashes all fell
by at least 10 percent, with drunk-driving and youth fatalities dropping by
more than half.

However, deaths among older people rose 3 percent to 790.

Most of these deaths involved older people riding motorcycles or walking.

Officials also urge drivers in minor accidents to photograph the scene, move
to the roadside and report the incident afterward to help prevent secondary
collisions.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-27 18:18:13

The number of clients at Taiwanese banks with assets exceeding $100 million
NT has topped 32-thousand ...

... as rising stock prices and a wider range of investment options fuel
demand for wealth management services.

The Financial Supervisory Commission says the number of these clients rose by
1-thousand-730 in September to 32-thousand-326 ...

... while the total value of financial assets they held through banks reached
$3.24 trillion NT, up around $129 billion NT from the previous month.

Bank deposits remained their largest single asset category, but their share
of total holdings edged down as more money flowed into mutual funds and
insurance products.

The regulator says 25 banks have been approved to serve these high-asset
clients, while wealth management activity at securities firms has also grown
sharply.

The number of wealthy clients served by securities firms rose 40 percent from
a year earlier, with their investments jumping 78 percent to nearly $686
billion NT.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-10-27 18:18:14

Drivers and motorcyclists in Taiwan will soon have a chance to bid for lucky
license plate numbers that include combinations of repeating digits.

The Hsinchu City Motor Vehicles Office is running an online auction from 2 PM
on November 3rd until 2 PM, November 5th.

The auction will offer 820 plates for commercial passenger vehicles and more
than 65-hundred for motorcycles.

Starting bids for the most sought-after combinations will be 6-thousand NT
for commercial vehicles and 3-thousand for motorcycles.

The office says repeating numbers such as "7-7-7-7" and "8-8-8-8" are
especially popular because of their auspicious meanings in Chinese culture.

Bidders must register on the Hsinchu Motor Vehicles Office website ... and
winners must pay within 24 hours of the auction's conclusion.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-27 17:16:13

The Centers for Disease Control says the government's Health Coin program is
boosting vaccination rates.

CDC data shows that public flu vaccinations passed four million doses by late
October, reaching the highest level since 2021.

And self-paid flu vaccinations rose 70 percent while pneumococcal vaccine
uptake grew over three times compared to pre-policy levels.

Under the incentive program, adults receiving flu, COVID-19, or pneumococcal
vaccines earn between 450 and 900 Health Coins per dose.

Health officials are urging adults aged 50 to 64 to receive their shots when
phase two public coverage starts Nov. 2nd.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-27 17:16:13

Both the candidates vyiing for Taichung's top job have drawn lots this
morning to determine their electoral numbers.

The DPP's Ho Hsin-Chun took number 1, while KMT opponent Jiang Qi-chen drew
number 3.

Ho's accompanying slogan is "new mayor, Taichung number 1!"

Meanwhile Jiang chose "rely on Jiang Qi Chen!" for his own.

There are three candidates in total running in the mayoral election.

After the draw, Ho sid she was pleased to have picked number 1, while Jiang
said he had wanted 3 from the start.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-27 17:16:13

Nearly 200 candidates running for office across the country have signed onto
the Taiwan Equality Campaign's "Pride Watch" website to indicate their
positions on key LGBT-related issues.

They can use the site to list their relevant policy pledges or past
proposals.

The Taiwan Equality Campaign says that Pride Watch has attracted at least
100,000 views each election cycle since being launched in 2018.

Voters can also use the site to submit records of candidates' past statements
regarding LGBT issues.

(AH_CNA)

Posted on 2026-10-27 17:16:13

Puma Shen's campaign team has put out another promotional pamphlet, with this
series aimed at pushing the Taipei mayoral hopeful's policy bedrock through
literature, imagery, and poetry.

The "Ocean Current Zine" contains contributions from 20 artists that explain
policies like "transportation" and "city diplomacy."

Shen's campaign team announced the new zine this morning, saying that the
candidate himself established the basis for the five major policies included
in the zine, and then invited artists of different disciplines and
generaitons to collaborate.

His campaign expects to make the paper versions available soon, while those
who can't get their hands on a copy can visit Shen's campaign website to view
the digital version.

Shen says, the Ocean Current Zine, also called 洋流誌 in Mandarin, and his Soon
Daily aim to make policy proposals understandable by the average joe.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-27 17:16:13

Chinese companies are pulling ads with French soccer superstar Kylian Mbappe
after he made comments referring to Mao Ze Dong as a dictator.

Three companies made similarly worded statements ending agreements with
Mbappe, saying that opposed "words and actions that hurt national sentiment,"
though they did not specify was prompted the decisions.

This comes after a clip went viral showing Mbappe being interviewed before
appearing on an online talk show.

In the video, Mbappe is asked about his favorite meme of himself, and he
references videos comparing him to dictators including Mao.

Fans jokingly call Mbappe a dictator for overshadowing teammates and teams he
plays on.

Posted on 2026-10-27 16:13:13

The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia is visiting Taiwan this week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, PM Philip J Pierre has arrived in the
country today for a 5 day visit.

The ministry adds that Pierre is scheduled to meet with President Lai
Ching-te and other officials to discuss bilateral issues.

Lai will host a military honors ceremony to welcome Pierre, and Foreign
Minister Lin Chia-lung will host a banquet for him.

This is the Saint Lucian leader's fourth visit to Taiwan since taking office
in 2021.

Pierre's delegation is scheduled to visit the Cathay General Hospital and the
Taipei 101.

Saint Lucia is one of Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies, having first established
relations in 1984 before Saint Lucia switched to recognizing Beijing
in1997...

before then switching back 10 years later.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-10-27 16:13:13

In Kaohsiung,

candidates for the city's top job have drawn lots to determine the numbers
that will accompany their names on next month's ballot.

The DPP's pick, Lai Rui Long, drew number 5 this morning, shouting in
Taiwanese that "Kaohsiung's future is you and me"...

while KMT opponent Ke Zhi En took number 3, with her slogan being a play on
"fan out miracles, turn over a new leaf in Kaohsiung.

Both Lai and Ke did the drawings themselves as opposed to sending proxies
instead.

The candidates each expressed that they were happy with their draws and were
counting down the days to the vote.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-27 16:13:13

Now turning to international news...

Tensions are rising between Indonesia and Singapore as Jakarta threatens to
cut energy exports to Singapore following spats over recent forest fires.

Nikkei Asia reports that the foreign ministers of each country are set to
meet today, after the Indonesian energy minister said that "Whether
electricity exports proceed or not depends on Singapore's attitude."

Indonesia last week announced cuts to pipeline gas exports to Singapore by
about 8%.

Before that, Singapore said that it would send warnings to seven companies in
Indonesia over fires and transboundary haze.

While droughts due to a severe El Nino are believed to have exacerbated the
fires, multiple palm oil and pulp and paper companies operating in Indonesia
have come under scrutiny for hot spots.

Posted on 2026-10-27 16:13:13

Environmentalists, Indigenous groups, and climate scientists are breathing a
sigh of relief after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's
reelection.

They hope Lula will continue to protect the Amazon rainforest and champion
action on climate change.

Lula defeated far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in the runoff yesterday.

The victory reflects shifts in voter support and higher turnout, especially
in the Amazon, where Indigenous communities got out the vote.

Lula's government recently announced the lowest Amazon deforestation rate on
record...

but he faces a Congress dominated by the far right and agribusiness
interests, which tend to back measures weakening environmental protection.

Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has refused to concede and says that he will ask for
the results to be annulled.

Posted on 2026-10-27 14:07:14

Agriculture losses due to Typhoon Champi have reached nearly 270 million NT
...

That includes damage to crops, livestock ... as well as farming and fishing
facilities.

According to the Ministry of Agricultre, Yunlin County was by far the hardest
hit ... having recorded 140 million NT worth of losses as of this morning ...

.... followed by Taichung with 42 million ... then Miaoli with 25 million.

Garlic was the worst-hit crop, with damage affecting over 450 hectares of
farmland and leaving around a third of the land with no harvest.

Other damaged crops include peanuts, pears, onions and ponkan oranges.

The ministry estimates damage to private facilities, including greenhouses,
livestock sheds, fishing vessels and fixed fishing nets, at around 22 million
NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-10-27 14:07:14

Taoyuan candidates for mayor have drawn lots to decide which numbers will
accompany their names on this year's ballots.

DPP candidate Huang Shi Jie picked number 1, while current mayor Zhang Shan
Zheng, of the KMT, drew number 2.

Both mayoral hopefuls did the drawing in person,

Zhang noted that, in his first bid for mayor, he drew "one," and thanked
constituents for their support in his four year term.

He added that he hoped he would be able to continue to serve Taoyuan in a
second term.

TPP representatives joined KMT supporters in cheering Zhang on.

Meanwhile Huang noted that he has been nicknamed "Penguin uncle," saying that
his slogan would be "the penguin will perservere, Taoyuan number 1!"

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-27 14:07:14

KMT Candidate for Pingtung Magistrate Su Qing Quan is apologizing again over
comments he made in which he criticized his opponent for not having kids.

Su made the comments over the weekend, saying that current magistrate Zhou
Chun Mi could not know the pains of raising a child due to having none of her
own.

The comments produced swift backlash, with Zhou's campaign office saying that
they condemned the remarks as discriminatory, adding that details about
politicians' private lives should not become political fodder.

He apologized shortly after making the comments Sunday, saying he was sorry
"if his remarks were offensive to his opponent."

Today he stated that his statements were inappropriate.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-27 14:07:14

Asian shares are mostly higher today, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul
lifted by buying of AI-related stocks.

That's as traders watch for any major announcements from a closed-door
meeting of the Chinese Communist Party.

Meanwhile here in Taiwan, the benchmark Tai ex is slightly up, gaining 54
points to close the session at 46096.

The turnover was 976.5 billion NT

Posted on 2026-10-27 14:07:14

Indonesia

Now turning to international news...

Indonesians are increasingly turning against data centers being implanted
in the country, as residents begin to face water and power supply issues.

Nikkei Asia reports that local residents on Batam island, for instance, have
been facing water supply issues, and in recent weeks have only gotten water
at nighttime.

That's as nearby Nongsa Digital Park began operations.

Batam is just a short ferry ride away from Singapore, and the island is now
becoming a new hub for data center investment, drawing new projects as land
and power constraints prevent too much development in Singapore.

As more data centers spring up, more local residents are rejecting them,
particularly as a new drought brought by the El Nino weather pattern is
straining resources.

Posted on 2026-10-27 13:08:13

Both candidates running to lead Taiwan's biggest municipality have drawn
numbers this morning to determine their ballot ordering.

The proxy for the DPP's Su Qiao Hui drew number 1, while her KMT opponent Li
Si Chuan's proxy drew 3.

The teams for both candidates announced accompanying slogans to go along with
their numbers, with Su's being a play on her name, saying that she would
definitely win...

while Li's encourages voters to pick three to support Si chuan.

Another candidate, an independent, is also running for New Taipei's top job.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-10-27 13:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Israelis are heading to the polls in the first vote since Hamas attacks on
October 7th 2023 and Israel's ensuing barrage on the Gaza Strip as well as
attacks on neighboring Syria and Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a strong challenge from former
military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Polls show neither candidate's party likely to garner enough support for a
parliamentary majority...

leading to possible weeks of negotiations over forming a winning coalition.

The election will serve as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership.

There is a chance that neither Netanyahu's coalition nor the group of parties
looking to remove him will have enough support to win a parliamentary
majority...

potentially setting off weeks of negotiations before a leader is declared.

Israel's Arab-led parties could then emerge as kingmakers if they agree to
support one candidate over another.

Posted on 2026-10-27 08:17:13

The Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network is proposing using artificial
intelligence to simulate and predict road sections at high risk of
wildlife-vehicle collisions.

According to the group, that system will work alongside a early warning
network to help prevent roadkill and related traffic accidents.

Citing government statistics, TaiRON says over the past eight years, an
average of 3,000 traffic accidents per year involving animals suddenly
running onto roads have been reported.

Motorcycles accounted for 95-per cent of those cases, and the accidents
caused a total of 25,345 injuries over the period.

However, TaiRON says the actual number of such accidents is likely much
higher, as the available statistics cover only major cases.

It's estimating that collisions involving medium- to large-sized mammals
alone number between 500,000 and 1-million annually.

TaiRON says its proposal aims to proactively identify high-risk road
sections, including those previously not recognized, rather than relying on
static warning signs installed after roadkill has occurred.

Posted on 2026-10-27 08:17:13

Taiwan Railway Corporation's revenue from its bento boxes hit a record
876-million N-T last year.

It's signature pork chop bento remained the best-selling item.

According to the corporation, it sold 9.42 million bento boxes in 2025, or
about 25,800 boxes a day.

Although sales volume fell short of the record 10.54 million boxes sold in
2019, revenue rose 9.07-per cent from a year earlier to an all-time high.

Pork chop bentos topped sales with 7.18 million boxes sold, far ahead of
chicken drumstick bentos in second place with 560,000 boxes.

The Kaohsiung Double Happiness bento, which features two main dishes came
third with 260,000.

By location, the Taipei Main Station sold the most bentos last year, at 2.65
million bentos, followed by New Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung with 800,000 and
Banqiao Station in New Taipei with 680,000.

Posted on 2026-10-27 08:17:13

And finally,

The Wei Chuan Dragons beat the C-T-B-C Brothers 6-0 in Game 6 of the Taiwan
Series at the Taipei Dome - to take their sixth Chinese Professional Baseball
League title.

The win gave the Taipei-based Dragons their fourth win in the best-of-seven
series, securing the title 4-2.

Dragons starter Cristopher Mercedes pitched eight scoreless innings, striking
out six and allowing two walks and two hits.

Offensively, the Dragons erupted for five runs in the bottom of the eighth
inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead.

They collected five hits in the inning, including a two-run home run by
catcher Jiang Shao-hong, even as the Brothers brought in two relievers to try
to contain the damage.

Mercedes was named Taiwan Series M-V-P after winning two games and allowing
one earned run over 14 innings, for an earned run average of 0.64.

Despite losing the title, the Brothers put up a strong fight.

After dropping the first three games of the series, the Taichung-based team
made history as the first C-P-B-L team to win two straight games in a Taiwan
Series after trailing 3-0.

No team in the Taiwan Series' 37-year history has overcome a 3-0 deficit to
win the championship.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

The Ministry of Agricultur says farming loses due to Typhoon Champi has
surpassed 200 million NT... with the figure expected to rise in the coming
days.

The ministry has so far identified hardest hit crops as corn, garlic, onions,
peanuts and tangerines.

Storm damage to crops accounted for 210-million N-T, while livestock losses
currently stand at 90,000 N-T.

Farms in Yunlin County reported the heaviest agricultural losses at
137-million N-T.

That was followed by Miaoli, Taichung, New Taipei and Yilan.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

The Ocean Affairs Council and the National Cheng Kung University are jointly
developing an intelligent drone system aimed at strengthening maritine
defense.

The system will utilise artificial intelligence to control fixed-wing drones
capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

The team has already completed synchronized flight simulations involving two
groups of the unmanned vehicles.

The team will be conducting hardware real-world flight tests to assess the
system's reliability in different sea conditions.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is calling attention to his administration's
achievements even has he pledges to continue moving the capital forward at
the opening of his campaign headquarters.

Chiang touted Taipei's receipt of a Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Special
Mention earlier this year and Nvidia's decision to establish its first
overseas headquarters in the capital.

He also cited initiatives including free milk for schoolchildren, free school
lunches, measures to reduce smoking in public spaces and progress on six
M-R-T projects.

Chiang says as mayor, he's not just looking at the next few weeks of the
election campaign, but at Taipei's future 20 years from now.

Chiang was joined at the rally by several prominent political figures,
including K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu and
Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

Meanwhile,

D-P-P Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen is proposing to revitalize the
capital's waterways, saying it draws inspiration from Singapore's approach to
urban water management.

Shen says his plan focuses on five priorities -- Active, Beautiful, Clean,
Detention and Ecosystem -- collectively known as "A-B-C-D-E."

Specific measures include improving waterfront facilities along the Tamsui
and Keelung rivers to make them more accessible to the public, using wetlands
and vegetation to improve water quality.

Shen is also looking to develop small-scale floodwater retention facilities
in schools and parks to strengthen the city's flood control capacity.

The initiative aims to reconnect residents with the waterways and make water
a central consideration in urban planning.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

Members of Taiwan's Asian Para Games team are back... and they've been
welcomed by President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Building.

Lai thanked Sports Minister Lee Yang for protecting athletes' rights and
national dignity during venue disputes abroad and said his administration
will continue improving sport's environments and supports athletes towards
the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Taiwan finished the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in 13th
place in the overall medals table with four gold, seven silver and nine
bronze medals.

The 13th place finish was the same as the same as Taiwan achieved at the 2022
Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

Taiwan's athletes secured medal honors across seven sports, including
taekwondo, badminton, table tennis, swimming, and wheelchair tennis.

Team Taiwan was made up of 71 athletes competing across 12 sports.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim says businesses, organizations, and experts need
to work with the government to improve care for the island's fast aging
society.

Hsiao made the call at the Super-Aged Society Action Summit in Taipei.

Hsiao stressed that Taiwan became a super-aged society last year and that has
resulted in the island healthcare system facing new challenges to both the
workforce,and family support systems.

The Vice President said that although Taiwan has a world-class healthcare and
national health insurance systems, there is still room for improvements,
especially in regards eldercare.

Hsiao said the Lai administration's annual budget for long-term care has
grown to more than 110-billion over the past decades and the government is
implementing policies aimed to improve chronic disease prevention and build
age-friendly communities.

Hsiao thanked businesses and experts for supporting older adults through
technology, insurance, and senior housing, in order to create a better life
for them.

And she also touted the use of artificial intelligence applications and
innovative devices to ensure the future of Taiwan's healthcare system for the
elderly.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

And,

"The World Between Us: After the Flames" has won Best Television Series at
the 61st Golden Bell Awards.

The series follows six families whose lives become intertwined after a
supermarket arson attack.

Spanning 20 years, it explores grief, revenge and redemption through
characters, including a psychiatrist whose wife and child died in the fire.

The show collected a total four prizes to finish as the night's
third-most-awarded production.

The drama earned Best Directing for Lin Chun Yang, Best Writing for Lu
Shih-yuan and Best Leading Actress for Yang Kuei-mei.

Its prequel, "The World Between Us," won six awards at the 54th Golden Bell
Awards in 2019, including Best Television Series, Best Directing and Best
Leading Actress.

Kaiser Chuang won Best Leading Actor in a Television Series for playing a
construction crew foreman in "City Founding Pioneer," a drama drawing on the
experiences of workers building Taipei's MRT system in the 1990s.

While "Forget You Not" led the night with six awards - lighting,
cinematography, editing, art and design, costume design, and Best Actor in a
Miniseries or Television Film for veteran actor Chin Han.

The awards ceremony took place at the Taipei Music Center on Monday, after
Typhoon Champi forced its postponement from Saturday.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

Turning to other... non-election related news now and...

A Swiss woman being treated for Ebola in Nigeria has been medically evacuated
to Switzerland with her husband.

Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Pate said Monday that the woman left Abuja
with his approval. It is Nigeria’s first confirmed case in the current
outbreak.

The woman's condition has improved significantly, but she remains infectious.

Her husband, a Swiss diplomat, has shown no symptoms.

The World Health Organization said Nigeria has no remaining Ebola cases but
continues to monitor 52 contacts.

The woman tested positive after returning from Uganda, where she likely
contracted the virus.

The spread of Ebola beyond Congo has heightened fears of rapid transmission.

Posted on 2026-10-27 07:00:13

Ukraine's military has started using specialized aerial rescue drones to
evacuate wounded soldiers.

The StarGate drone, developed by Ukrainian company SkyFall, has been deployed
for the first time by the 475th Separate Assault Regiment.

It successfully rescued two soldiers stranded near the Russian border.

The drone features an enclosed evacuation capsule and can carry up to 150
kilograms. It aims to reduce rescue times from hours to minutes, especially
in high-risk areas.

The regiment plans to create a dedicated medical aviation unit to expand
these aerial rescue operations.

Posted on 2026-10-26 15:35:13

President Lai Ching-te welcomed Taiwan's Asian Para Games delegation to the
Presidential Office on Monday.

Taiwan's national team earned 20 medals at the Nagoya games, including 4
gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

Athletes secured medal honors across seven sports, including taekwondo,
badminton, table tennis, swimming, and wheelchair tennis.

President Lai thanked Sports Minister Li Yang for protecting athletes' rights
and national dignity during venue disputes abroad.

He also pledged that the government will continue improving international
sports environments and supporting athletes toward Los Angeles 2028.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-26 15:35:13

Flash flooding has inundated several areas of Thailand's island of Phuket
after heavy rain overnight.

Officials say all three island districts, including its capital of Phuket
City, were impacted, starting early on Monday morning.

Although water levels began to recede by late morning, flooding persisted in
low-lying areas.

The provincial deputy governor advised small vehicles to avoid these areas.

Some parts of the province also experienced mudslides, and officials are
working to clear the debris.

About 100 households were affected, but no casualties have been reported.

The Thailand Meteorological Department warns of more rain until Wednesday,
which could trigger further flash floods and landslides.

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

National highway traffic remained smooth this morning, but heavy northbound
return vehicle flows are expected throughout the afternoon.

The Freeway Bureau recorded 25.4 million vehicle-kilometers driven by 11
a.m., matching initial transport forecasts.
and morning congestion remained
limited to minor slowdowns along northern sections of National Highway 1.

But highway officials warned that heavy northbound return traffic will build
rapidly across 11 designated corridor bottlenecks this afternoon, including
northbound National Highway 1 from Xiluo to Puyan, and National Highway 3
from Guanxi to Daxi.

Authorities advise motorists to check the 1968 highway app and travel during
off-peak hours to avoid severe delays.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

The Yunlin County Government is celebrating the grand opening of the Beigang
1911 Warehouse Cultural Park today.

The site transforms historic Beigang Sugar Factory warehouses into a vibrant
cultural hub for local crafts and exhibitions.

Restoration began in 2021, with four warehouses currently completed and eight
additional structures scheduled for completion next year.

Three inaugural exhibitions opened Monday, highlighting lantern-making
traditions, cultural asset preservation, and creative local products.

The park plans to host biweekly markets, artisan workshops, and cultural
performances to encourage longer visitor stays in Beigang.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

Jordanian security forces say they have arrested three men for an attack on a
Greek Orthodox Church that killed nine people and wounded more than two
dozen.

The Public Security Directorate said Monday that the three suspects were
arrested following a shootout and that all three were wounded.

No members of the security forces were injured in the dawn operation in
Karak, south of Jordan’s capital, Amman.

Karak is home to a minority Christian population.

The attack on the church in Karak took place Friday during a funeral.

Three men were reported to have taken part in the attack.

Posted on 2026-10-26 14:12:13

Flavio Bolsonaro is refusing to concede defeat to incumbent President Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva, who bested him by nearly 4.4 million votes, following a
chaotic delay in poll closing times ordered by a Supreme Court justice.

Both Bolsonaro and Lula asked that polls remain open late after issues with
public transportation and inclement weather in some parts of Brazil.

The decision to keep polls open came three minutes before scheduled poll
close; some polls got word after they’d closed and it’s unclear how many
votes were cast in the extended hours.

Bolsonaro called the move to extend voting hours unprecedented and asked for
the election results to be annulled.

Posted on 2026-10-26 11:15:13

KMT lawmaker Su Qing Quan has apologized over comments he made in his bid to
become the next magistrate of Pingtung County.

He yesterday accused his opponent, current magistrate Zhou Chun Mi, of not
knowing the pain of raising a child due to having none herself.

Su's comments incited much discussion and he ultimately took to Facebook last
night saying that "if his comments made his opponent uncomfortable then he's
sorry."

Zhou's offices said that the issue of having kids is a personal one, and
should not be a political tool.

They added that Su's comments represented a serious lack of empathy and they
requested that he apologize.

Posted on 2026-10-26 11:15:13

This year's Taiwan International Travel Fair will showcase themed itineraries
as travelers increasingly seek experiences over just destinations.

The event will be held November 6th to 9th at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition
Center.

The fair will feature exhibitors from 123 countries and cities presenting
products that reflect growing demand for experience-based travel.

Those include Antarctic expeditions, Arctic aurora tours, scenic rail
journeys, cruises, and seasonal trips.

Travel agencies and hotel operators will also launch special promotions
during the event.

Posted on 2026-10-26 11:15:13

Alergia has approved a resolution to send troops to Niger.

That's the first time since 1973 that Alergian soldiers will be deployed
abroad.

Officials say the troops are being sent to "protect Algeria's economic
interests, particularly its oil facilites in Niger."

The move comes during ongoing instability in the Sahel region, where violent
extremism and coups have affected not only Niger but also Mali and Burkina
Faso.

Algeria has been working with Niger on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline which
aims to transport natural gas to European markets.

The move emphasizes the thawing relations between Algeria and Niger.

Posted on 2026-10-26 10:08:13

The Army has adopted a new "unscripted" combat training format this year to
improve combat readiness.

Instructors say that Army combat units are required to undergo base training
at least twice a year, with the Army launching its new CTC 2.0 initiative
earlier this year.

They say, that's in an effort to ensure that the training more closely
simulates actual combat rather than just putting on a show.

The nine-week base training program is an intensive live-fire exercise
conducted at designated training bases.

The new framework differs from previous training exercises by empahsizing
joint operations among differeing units and forcing troops to to respond to
unexpected enemy movements...

as opposed to following a predetermined scenario.

The changes follow a move to adopt an unscripted, real-world combat format
for the annual Han Kuang military exercises, starting in 2024.

Posted on 2026-10-26 10:08:13

Changes to Starbucks' policy that have seen customers pay more for a drink
customization that was previously free has sparked consumer backlash.

Since earlier this month, customers who ordered drinks with less or no ice
and asked to have the remaining space topped up have been charged an
additional 15 NT.

Topping off was previously free.

The policy has triggered floods of complaints, accusing Starbucks of
stinginess.

Experts say the key question is whether customers view the fees as ""paying
for an additional option or losing a service they had come to expect."

Ultaimtely, they say, customers judge prices based on the value they receive
from the product.

While others say that the change will help Starbucks improve profit margins
without directly raising fees, the company still faces rising labor, rent and
utility costs.

Starbucks Taiwan had more than 600 stores as of this year, up from 458 in
September 2018.

The latest fee changes appear designed to bring in additional revenue without
increasing standard drink prices, but it remains to be seen if customers will
come to see the charges as reasonable or not.

Posted on 2026-10-26 10:08:13

Now turning to international news...

The World Health Organization says a nurse has been killed in an attack while
responding to an Ebola alert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Another health worker was also severely injured in the incident.

That's the latest in a series of assaults on health workers that authorities
say are hindering efforts to control the world's fastest growing Ebola
outbreak.

The WHO has emphasized the need for safety for those fighting the disease.

Ovre 4700 people have died in the outbreak, which is the deadliest in
history, out of a total of 9800 people infected.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

The Freeway Bureau is warning travelers heading north from southern Taiwan to
depart as soon as possible in order to avoid traffic.

They also say that drivers heading north on freeway 5 should leave soon too,
while drivers from central Taiwan heading north should head out before noon.

Meanwhile, Taiwan High Speed Rail said it will operate more than 100
northbound trains throughout the day today...

with the peak travel period expected to run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to absorb a
possible surge of travelers.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking the deputy Taiwan Railways
stationmaster of Taipei Main Station over a ticketing issue.

The man, surnamed Mao, had been drinking when he attempted to charge into the
duty room and attack the deputy stationmaster with a thermos.

Police responded immediately and arrested Mao.

No one was injured in the scuffle.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

5 Cacao farmers have been selected to represent Taiwan at the 2027 Cacao of
Excellence world competition after performing well in this year's
competition.

The Pingtung County government says the gold award in the Taiwan event went
to Mo Chia-wei (莫佳瑋)of Laomo Cocoa.

Next up was Shih Shu-chin (施淑錦) of Huirui Cocoa Farm in Changhua County, and
Lin Cheng-hung (林政弘) of Si Wei Cocoa Workshop in Nantou County.

A total of 30 cacao bean samples were submitted for the Taiwan competition,
with some advancing to the sensory evaluation stage and ultimately bring
processed into cocoa paste and thin pieces of choclate.

The event was co-organized by the Pingtung County government and the Taiwan
Cocoa & Chocolate Industry Association.

The five award-winning entries were selected based on attributes such as
aroma, acidity, bitterness and astringency.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been reelected.

With all the votes counted, Brazil's electoral court says that Lula held an
unassailable lead over opponent Flavio Bolsonaro.

That's after a chaotic evening at polling places across the country,
following a last-minute decision to extend voting.

That decision may trigger legal action by Bolsonaro.

The result is a relief to critics of US president Donald Trump, maintaining
some distance between Latin America's most populous country and Washington
DC.

Lula's win also bucks a trend in Latin America where right wing presidential
candidates allied with the US president have been scoring election wins...

extending the US' influence in the region.

Lula's victory leaves Mexico and Brazil both with left of center leaders.

Posted on 2026-10-26 09:08:13

More than 80 people have been injured in a bus crash near Barcelona in Spain.

7 of those were serious hurt in the accident.

Local media says that the bus veered off a narrow road and fell down a 20
meter embankment.

The exact circumstances are under investigation.

Emergency services deployed 23 ambulances, 2 medical helicopters, and
specialist rescue teams.

Rescue crews are searching for more victims.

Posted on 2026-10-26 08:07:14

The CTBC Brothers took another step towards overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the
Taiwan Series with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Wei Chuan Dragons at the
Taipei Dome.

That extends the championship series to a Game 6.

After losing the first three games of the best-of-seven series, the Brothers
have now won two straight to narrow the Dragons' lead to 3-2.

No team in CPBL Taiwan Series history has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the
championship, nor had any team even won two games in a row after losing three
straight until now.

Game 6 is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. this afternoon at the Taipei Dome.

Posted on 2026-10-26 08:07:14

Long-ruling Serbian leader Aleksander Vucic has conceded defeat in an
election that pitted him against a diverse student-led opposition movement
that spent two years protesting his government.

It's a seiasmic political shift in the country.

Vucic had received Russian President Vladimir Putin's endorsement and
denounced the student-led movement against him as a foreign attempt to unseat
him.

He was president for 14 years.

Almost immediately, crowds flooded the streets of the capital Belgrade and
other Serbian cities in an outburst of euphoric celebration.

Serbia's 6.4 million voters were electing lawmakers to the 250-member
Parliament.

In conceding the election, Vucic said his party projects that his opponents,
the youth-backed Students’ List, will take between 135 and 140 seats while
his Serbian Progressive Party party will have around 105.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

The Freeway Bureau is warning of congestion on 11 freeway sections today.

Drivers in the south are advised to depart before 9am in order to avoid the
crowds, while those in central Taiwan should leave before 12.

Officials also say that drivers heading north on freewat 5 should leave
before 9.

They're expecting the most congested areas to be the northbound sections of
Freeway 1 between Xiluo and the Puyan System Interchange, Nantun and Houli,
and Miaoli and Hukou.

Meanwhile on Freeway 3, traffic is anticipated between Zhushan and Zhongxing,
Caotun and Wufeng, Dashan and Xiangshan, and Guanxi and Daxi.

The same goes for Freeway 5 from Yilan to Pinglin and the westbound section
of Freeway 4 between the Tanzi System Interchange and Fengshi.

Meanwhile, Taiwan High Speed Rail said it will operate more than 100
northbound trains throughout the day today...

with the peak travel period expected to run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to absorb a
possible surge of travelers.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

Runners from Kenya and the Philippines took home the 2026 EVA Air Marathan
half marathon titles yesterday despite wet conditions.

Amos Cheruiyot Kirui of Kenya won the men's title while the Philippines'
Michelle Zamora took home the women's one.

Kirui won with a time of neary 1 hour and 7 minutes, while Chou Ting-yin
(周庭印)was the fastest Taiwanese finisher in the men's half marathon section.

Meanwhile Zamora won the women's half marathan section in one hour 21 minutes
and 49 seconds, just 11 second faster than the first Taiwanese finisher,
Hsieh Chien-ho(謝千鶴).

Hsieh says she viewed the race as a warm up for the Taipei Marathon at the
end of the year.

In the full marathon, Japan's Yoshiki Nagano and the Philippines' Art Joy
Torregosa won the mens and womens titles respectively.

More than 20,000 runners took part in this year's race, with EVA Air saying
organizers were committed to staging the event despite weather challenges.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

VietJet has launched a new route between Tainan and Hanoi, becoming the third
international route offered out of Tainan.

Tainan Deputy Mayor Ye ze Shan greeted passengers on the inaugutal flight
from Hanoi, noting that all 230 flights had sold out.

Flights on the route will be offered four times weekly.

Ye says that the city government hopes to bring more Southeast Asian tourists
to Tainan, while also offeringa more convenient option for Tainan-area
leisure and business travelers to visit Vietnam.

The other two international routes from Tainan are to Okinawa and Kumamoto,
offered by Tigerair Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-10-26 07:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Vote-counting has resumed in Brazil after voting hours were extended
following requests by both candidates.

Both incumbent president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his competitior Flavio
Bolsonaro said there were issues in their respective strongholds.

The extension caused confusion at many polling stations.

Some had already shut down when the decision was made just three minutes
before the polls were scheduled to close.

The decision sets the stage for possible legal challenges regardless of who
wins, with Lula's party saying it was looking into legal action due to what
they called "interference in the electoral process."

The contest will determine whether or not the US will significantly expand
its growing influence in Latin America...

as a win for Bolsonaro would mean a slide right in Latin America's most
populous country and its lagrest economy.

That's as Trumpallies have scored victories in Chile, Peru, and Colombia this
year.

A victory for Lula would leave Brazil and Mexico with left-of-center leaders.

Results currently show the two candidates neck and neck.

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