ICRT

Posted on 2026-01-09 14:07:13

The opposition coalition in the legislature has moved to block consideration
of a special defense budget again.

That's the sixth time in over a month that the KMT and TPP have united to
block the 1.25 trillion NT special budget from being examined in the
legislature.

In November, the Executive Yuan proposed the special budget for defense,
which would span 8 years.

The opposition says that it will not consider the budget until the 2026
central government budget accounts for changes passed by the legislature to
allocate pay raises for active-duty military and pension increases for
teachers and civil servants.

In an effort to get the budget on the agenda for today, DPP Caucus Leader
Chen Pei Yu and others lined up outside the chamber last night to submit the
budget for consideration first thing this morning.

But ultimately, the chamber failed to reach a consensus, so when speaker Han
Kuo-yu ordered a vote, the KMT and TPP succeeding in blocking the referral of
the bill.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 14:07:13

And, snow fell this morning on Taiwan's highest mountain, with about one
centimeter of snow recorded as of 8am...

while temperatures on Yushan were sitting at negative 4.1 degrees and snow
continuing at that time.

But by 10am, temperatures has risen slightly to just negative 3.6.

That's as the Central Weather Administration expects temperatures to fall to
6 degrees celsius in some of the higher altitude areas of New Taipei,
Taoyuan, and Hsinchu County.

And most of the rest of the country can expect lows of 10 degrees celsius
today.

Experts are also warning that the cold weather is likely to persist into the
weekend, although much of Taiwan will see sunnier conditions.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 14:07:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 71 points to
close the session at 30288.

The turnover was 676.3 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-09 14:07:13

Russian attacks on Ukraine have killed 3 and injured at least 16 in the
capital city.

Ukrainian authorities reported the overnight assault, saying several
districts in Kyiv were hit.

Russia struck critical infrastructure in Lviv too, with an unidentified
ballistic missile that officials said traveled at 13,000 kilometers per hour.

Local officials say that running water and electricity were disrupted in
parts of the capital as a result of the attack.

The attack took place just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy alerted the nation about Russia’s intentions for a large-scale
offensive.

He said that Russia aimed to take advantage of the frigid weather in the
capital, making roads and streets perilously icy.

Posted on 2026-01-09 14:07:13

In the Philippines, one person has been killed with another 27 missing
following the collapse of a mound of trash.

Officials say firefighters have rescued 8 people already, including workers
at the waste segregation facility, who were tapped in an avalanche of garbage
in Cebu city.

One of those rescued, a worker at the landfill, died while being brought to a
hospital.

Posted on 2026-01-09 13:07:13

Taiwan has officially become a "super-aged society" as its senior population
reached more than 20 percent of the total population last year.

New data from the Ministry of the Interior shows that as of December, there
are more than 4.6 million people aged 65 or older in Taiwan.

That's out of Taiwan’s total population, now about 23.3 million.

According to the World Health Organization, a country is "super-aged" when
one out of every five people is a senior citizen.

The data also shows that birth rates in Taiwan have dropped for the 10th year
in a row, and marriage rates also saw a sharp decline, falling by about
18-thousand couples from the previous year.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-09 13:07:14

And at Taichung's Wuling Farm, temperatures dropped to negative 1.4 degrees
celsius today...

marking the third time that the farm's Wisteria plants have frozen solid this
year, lending the plants the appearance of Tanghulu.

The ice also formed in such a way that mimics a crystal palace and
chandelier.

Wuling Farm says today that they've put in place measures to prevent damage
to the irrigation system.

They note that ice typically forms once every two weeks at this time of year,
but in the only 9 days since 2026 began, ice has already formed 3 times at
the farm.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-09 13:07:14

Turning to international news and in the US, immigration adn customs
enforcement officers have shot and wounded 2 people in a vehicle outside of a
hospital in Portland, Oregon.

Officials claim that one of the two is a "Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated
with the... Tren de Aragua prostitution ring" who was involved in a recent
shooting in Portland.

The statement says that when agents identified themselves, the driver tried
to run them over and an agent shot at them.

There's not yet any independent corroboration for those claims.

This shooting comes just one day after an ICE officer shot and killed a
driver in Minnesota...

in which video evidence cast doubt upon the Trump administration's
descriptions of such shootings.

Just minutes after the Portland shooting, police received informaiton that a
man who had been shot was asking for help nearby.

When police responded, they found 2 people with gunshot wounds.

Posted on 2026-01-09 13:07:14

And in related news...

protests in the US city of Minneapolis have exploded over ICE's fatal
shooting a woman the prior day.

Hundreds of protesters marched down one of the city's major roads over the
death of the 37 year-old mother Renee Good.

Protesters are chanting, demanding that customs officers leave the city.

Federal officers used tear gas and pepper spray to try to keep the protesters
at bay.

Protesters also earlier expressed their outrage outside of a federal building
that is acting as a center for the administration's latest immigration
crackdown on a major city.

Meanwhile the US vice president claimed that the shooting was justified and
that the deceased was a "victim of left-wing ideology."

But state and local officials and protesters rejected that characterization,
with the mayor of Minneapolis saying video of the shooting shows the
self-defense argument is “garbage.”

Posted on 2026-01-09 08:13:13

systems

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the Air Force will install automatic
ground collision avoidance systems on all of its F-16V fighter jets by next
year.

The statement comes after an F-16V jet and its pilot went missing off of
Hualien on Tuesday evening.

Speaking at a hearing of the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense
Committee, Koo told lawmakers that the Air Force's 66 newly acquired F-16C/Ds
came with auto-ground collision avoidance systems as a standard feature ..

.... but its 139 F-16Vs lack the safety system.

The Air Force earlier this week said its urging the U-S to expedite work to
install the systems on its F-16V fighter jets and hopes the process can be
completed sooner than planned.

The project was initially slated for completion in 2028.

Search operations for the missing jet fighter and the pilot are continuing,
while the Air Force has suspended F-16V training flights while inspections of
the aircraft type are carried out.

Posted on 2026-01-09 08:13:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will continue its decades-long push
for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations climate negotiations, despite
the U-S' latest decision to withdraw from the Framework Convention on Climate
Change.

According to the ministry, it has been working closely with the Ministry of
Environment and the private sector to promote Taiwan's participation in the
framework's meetings and mechanisms ..

.. and those efforts have received strong support from friendly countries.

The foreign ministry says, its goal of participating in the Framework
Convention on Climate Change remains unchanged, and it will continue to seek
support from allies and like-minded countries to push for the nation's
meaningful participation.

The statement comes after U-S President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a
presidential memorandum directing federal departments and agencies to end
participation in and funding for 31 U-N entities and 35 non-UN organizations.

Posted on 2026-01-09 08:13:13

The Cabinet has unveiled draft revisions to the Animal Protection Act that
seek to tighten regulations on when pet owners can place their pets in
shelters and raises the maximum fine for abandoning animals.

The draft revisions state that pet owners may place animals in certified
shelters only after meeting "certain conditions" to relinquish ownership,
with unauthorized placement classified as abandonment.

Those conditions will be defined by the Ministry of Agriculture in
supplementary rules if lawmaker approve the proposed amendment.

The amendment also states that if an animal shelter asks an owner to reclaim
an animal, the owner must do so within seven days or be deemed to have
abandoned the animal, in which case they face a fine of up to 1-million N-T.

That is up from the current maximum penalty of 150,000 N-T.

Meanwhile, pet owners who lose a microchipped animal have five days to report
to local authorities, after which they are also deemed to have abandoned the
animal, another revision stipulates.

Posted on 2026-01-09 08:13:13

The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court has ordered a Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing employee to be detained for stealing the
company's 14-nanometer trade secrets.

Chen Wei-chieh was indicted on Monday on charges of reproducing trade secrets
relating to national core key technologies without authorization under the
National Security Act.

The court said it reviewed prosecutors evidence against him, which included
witness testimony, text message records, his nondisclosure agreement, and
employee monitoring system records provided by T-S-M-C before ordering his
detention without bail.

According to the court, Chen's statements regarding his actions were
inconsistent and evasive, and he replaced his personal mobile phone and
office computer after learning that co-defendant Chen Li-ming was under
investigation.

The case came to light while the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office's
Intellectual Property Branch was investigating the alleged theft of T-S-M-C
trade secrets related to its 2-nanometer technology.

The probe centered on former T-S-M-C engineer Chen Li-ming, who was working
at Tokyo Electron Taiwan and is suspected of giving the trade secrets to the
company.

Posted on 2026-01-09 08:13:13

And finally,

Snow fell on Alishan Thursday morning for the first time in seven years.

According to the Central Weather Administration, the snow fall was due to the
a strong continental cold air mass that sent temperatures plunging across
Taiwan.

The Alishan weather station, which is located at an elevation of around
2,200-meters, recorded snowfall from 8:55AM to 9:15AM, when the temperature
dropped to around 1-degree.

The last time snowfall was recorded at the Alishan weather station was
January 10, 2018.

Snow also fell Thursday in other high-altitude areas, including Jiaming Lake
and the nearby Xiangyang Mountain Hut in eastern Taiwan, which recorded their
first snowfall of the year in the early morning.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

fails

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the central government will face a 300-billion N-T
shortfall if the lawmakers fail to approve the Cabinet's general budget
proposal.

The warning comes as K-M-T and Taiwan People's Party lawmakers have refused
to approve the proposal until the Cabinet allocates funds for salary raises
for active-duty military personnel and pension increases for public school
teachers and civil servants.

Those pay raises were passed by lawmakers last year.

However, the government has requested constitutional interpretations, which
are still pending.

According to Cho, the central government will be blocked from accessing
299.2-billion N-T in funds.

Those funds have been earmarked for new initiatives, running expenses and
continuing programs, and the First and Second Reserve Funds and the Disaster
Reserve Fund if the budget is nor passed.

The Premier says the Ministry of National Defense will suffer the highest
funding shortfall - which will total 75.2-billion N-T.

And he's stressing that it's now been over four months since the Cabinet
submitted the budget proposal to the Legislature for review, but it hasn't
even advanced to committee review.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

President Lai Ching-te says China's "cross-border pressure" against the
people of Taiwan proves that Beijing's authority does not extend to Taiwan
and confirms that Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China.

Lai referred to the visit to Taiwan this week by China-born Japanese lawmaker
Hei Seki for that statement.

Seki has been sanctioned by China and barred from entering the P-R-C.

After he arrived Taipei earlier this week, Seki said is trip to Taiwan this
week proves that "Taiwan is not part of China, Taiwan is Taiwan," and that
the two countries are not subordinate to each other.

Lai said he is proud of anyone who is subjected to China's cross-border
suppression and says he will safeguard the nation and absolutely not allow
Chinese pressure or China's hand to reach into Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

The Coast Guard Administration says a Chinese fishing boat captain convicted
of damaging the Taiwan-Matsu No. 2 undersea cable last year has been deported
back to China after he paid a fine and compensation.

The Mainland Affairs Council reportedly approved the deportation... the
fishing boat captain was then escorted out of Taiwan from Fu'ao Port in
Nangan to Huangqi Port in Fuzhou via ferry.

The incident occurred on October 7 of last year, when the "Min Lian Yu 60138"
was about 4.2-nautical miles north of a cable station in Dongyin.

Its net became entangled with an abandoned anchor, damaging the undersea
cable.

Coast Guard vessels later intercepted the Chinese fishing boat and arrested
the captain.

The Fuchien Lienchiang District Court sentenced him last month to three
months in prison, commutable to a fine, for negligently damaging the cable.

The captain paid 250,000 N-T in compensation to Chunghwa Telecom and more
than 90,000 N-T to commute his prison sentence.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

Students at public elementary and junior high schools in Kaohsiung and
Taichung will receive free lunches starting from the 2026-2027 school year.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said some 214,000 students in the city are
expected to benefit from the policy.

Lu says the city's budget for the free school lunch program will total
between 2.5 and 3-billion N-T per year... her administration will need to
propose additional budget allocations in March to fund the policy.

Lu says the expense is necessary and is urging city councilors to support the
plan.

At the same time, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai says some 180,000 of the
city's students will benefit from the free school lunch program, which will
be funded by an additional budget of 1.8-billion N-T.

Chen says the city will continue to push for school lunches to use
ingredients that hold the Certified Agricultural Standards, Traceable
Agricultural Products and Taiwan Organic labels, as well as a traceability QR
Code.

Taoyuan has been providing free school lunches for elementary and junior high
schools since the second semester of the 2022-2023 school year.

And Taipei announced free lunches for all elementary and junior high schools
on Tuesday of this week.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has updated guidelines to protect the rights
of foreign students interning in Taiwan.

The updated Guidelines Governing the Application of Foreign Students to the
ROC in the Capacity of Interns in Enterprises and Organizations includes
clearer rules on student eligibility, internship stipends and working hours.

Under the revised rules, students must be enrolled at overseas universities
officially listed by the Ministry of Education, and the economic ministry's
Department of Investment Review.

Students must have completed at least one semester of study before coming to
Taiwan and be of an age appropriate for their program.

They must also be studying a field related to their internship and have basic
Chinese or English communication skills to ensure the quality and
effectiveness of the internship.

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says a total of 1,805 foreign students were
approved to intern in Taiwan last year, with their internships covering the
food and beverage, logistics and manufacturing sectors.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

The Food and Drug Administration says Nestle has preemptively recalled just
under 83,500 cans of baby formula powder over potential contamination of the
toxin cereulide.

The move comes amid a global recall of the food company's baby formula
products earlier this week.

Food and drug officials say Nestle Taiwan self-reported that two batches of
its products sold in Taiwan may have used potentially contaminated
ingredients.

Those products are batches of it Illuma Infant Growth Formula and Illuma
Toddler Growth Formula.

Nestle Taiwan says it initiated voluntary recalls as a precaution to
safeguard consumer health and safety.

The company says it has lso set up a dedicated hotline to handle returns and
exchanges.

The F-D-A is urged consumers who have purchased the products to stop
consumption and return the product.

A statement on Nestle's global website earlier this week said it is in
contact with authorities in the affected countries to ensure that appropriate
measures are taken, but no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with
their products to date.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

And,

Traffic restrictions will in place in the capital this Sunday for the
Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Marathon.

The Taipei City Police Department's Traffic Division says there will be road
closures and traffic controls during the event, which takes place from 4AM to
12PM.

The restrictions will include banning pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles,
from crossing or accessing the designated areas.

The marathon will be taking place on Ketagalan Boulevard, Aiguo East Road and
the Right Bank Riverside Park bike trail ..

.. while also covering a route that includes Hangzhou South Road, Xinyi Road,
and both Zhongshan South and North roads.

Police are advising commuters to avoid those roads and use alternative routes.

The Marathon is hosted by the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association and its
says some 26,000 participants will be taking part in this year's run.

Posted on 2026-01-09 07:02:14

Israel’s prime minister says a former U.N. Mideast envoy, Bulgarian diplomat
Nickolay Mladenov, has been chosen to serve as the director-general for U.S.
President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace aimed at overseeing the peace
process in Gaza.

The appointment marks an important step forward for Trump’s Mideast peace
plan, which has moved slowly since an October ceasefire between Israel and
Hamas.

Benjamin Netanyahu made the announcement Thursday after meeting Mladenov in
Jerusalem.

Mladenov is a former Bulgarian defense and foreign minister who served as the
U.N. envoy to Iraq before being appointed as the U.N. Mideast peace envoy
from 2015-2020.

He is said to enjoy good relations with Israel.

Posted on 2026-01-08 19:48:13

Protests in Iran, driven by economic issues, have spread nationwide,
challenging the country's theocracy.

Activists reported Thursday that Wednesday saw the most intense
demonstrations, reaching rural towns and major cities.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said the violence has
killed at least 38 people and authorities have detained over 2,200.

The protests increase pressure on Iran's government and Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Authorities haven't yet fully cracked down.

Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called for protests, testing his
influence.

The protests are the largest since Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.

Posted on 2026-01-08 18:28:13

Guides who take tourists to enjoy the striking views of Sicily's Mount Etna
are up in arms over tougher restrictions imposed by local authorities after a
round of eruptions at the giant volcano in recent weeks.

------

And now, in Taiwan news...

Posted on 2026-01-08 18:28:13

President Lai Ching-te says China's recent 'cross-border pressure' on
Taiwanese officials proves Beijing's authority does not extend to Taiwan and
underscores that the island is not part of the People's Republic of China.

Speaking Thursday, Lai cited the visit of China-born Japanese lawmaker Hei
Seki, who is barred from China, as evidence that Taiwan and the PRC are not
subordinate to each other.

His remarks came after China labeled Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang,
Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao, and a prosecutor as 'Taiwan independence'
figures, banning them from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Lai praised those targeted, saying they can continue their work without fear
of China's threats, and called China's military drills and political pressure
'not peaceful action'.

He has pledged to safeguard Taiwan and its citizens.

Posted on 2026-01-08 18:28:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it will continue pushing for the
island’s participation in U.N. climate negotiations, despite the United
States' recent decision to withdraw from the U.N. Framework Convention on
Climate Change.

MOFA said it has long worked with the Ministry of Environment and the private
sector to secure Taiwan's presence at UNFCCC meetings, receiving strong
support from friendly nations.

The ministry emphasized that Taiwan’s goal of meaningful participation
remains unchanged.

The U-S, under Donald Trump, has directed federal agencies to end involvement
and funding for 31 U.N. bodies and 35 non-U.N. organizations, many focused on
climate, environment, and gender equality—including the UNFCCC.

Posted on 2026-01-08 18:28:13

Taipei education officials are planning to invest 150 million NT to improve
restrooms at public elementary and junior high schools across the city.

The Department of Education says restroom upgrades were completed at 38
schools last year, focusing on better lighting, ventilation, hygiene, safety,
and student-friendly design.

This year, funding will go toward renovations at another 31 schools.

Officials say many older restrooms were dark and poorly ventilated, and are
now being redesigned with natural light, non-slip flooring, brighter
interiors, and fixtures sized for students.

Some schools are also incorporating artistic and historical elements.

Education authorities say the goal is to support students ... with cleaner,
safer and more comfortable environments.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-08 18:28:13

Driving around Kinmen has just gotten a bit more convenient.

Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection has officially rolled out its uTagGo
automatic parking payment service on the outlying island, allowing drivers to
skip paper bills and payment queues.

The new system enables roadside parking fees to be deducted automatically
after motorists bind their license plate to a credit card or digital wallet
just once.

Company officials say the service is designed to give both local residents
and tourists the same digital convenience already available on Taiwan's main
island.

The Kinmen County Government says the move supports its push for smart,
tourist-friendly transportation, adding to existing payment options such as
kiosks, convenience stores, and mobile payments.

The service is being introduced first in designated roadside parking zones
across Jinhu, Jincheng, and Jinning townships, with more areas expected to
follow.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-08 17:57:13

Passenger ship crews in Taiwan must now practice fighting power bank fires
every three months following several reports of lithium batteries smoking or
catching fire on vessels.

The Maritime Port Bureau announced today that all 98 active passenger ships
in Taiwan have completed their first specialized fire drills.

Officials say lithium battery fires are a unique risk, and crews are being
trained to quickly suppress flames, then use large amounts of water to
prevent the batteries from starting to burn again.

The bureau says ships are now required to carry specific emergency gear for
such situations and companies that fail to conduct training could be banned
from sailing if there is a safety risk.

The bureau is also asking passengers to use only certified power banks, avoid
using damaged or swollen batteries, and leave their device in sight when in
use.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-08 17:57:14

transfers

Taiwan Tigerair chair Huang Shih-hui (黃世惠) says the airline will renew
older aircraft and expand its fleet over the next decade.

She says Tigerair could grow to more than 30 planes, aiming for about 15
A320neo and 15 A321neo aircraft.

Huang says low-cost carriers should also compete for transfer passengers, and
she wants to build Taipei as a budget-airline hub.

She says the airline will target two-way transfer demand between Japan and
Southeast Asia, helped by new jets with flights up to 6 hours.

Tigerair also plans to expand interline transfer cooperation, with one-click
combined bookings expected by the third quarter, and links reaching more
Japan cities and possibly Australia.

For this year, Huang says new routes will be limited, with priority on adding
flights on high-demand Japan routes like Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka.

She says Tigerair has also launched direct Kumamoto flights from Kaohsiung
and Tainan, and plans stronger promotions in Japan as its share of Japanese
passengers rises.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-08 17:57:22

The Lebanese military says it has ended the first phase of its plan to deploy
across southern Lebanon and disarm non-state groups, including Hezbollah.

This move follows a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended a war with Israel in
November 2024.

The government aimed to clear the area south of the Litani River of non-state
weapons by the end of 2025.

Israel still conducts strikes and occupies strategic points along the border,
complicating efforts.

Lebanon hopes disarming Hezbollah will attract investment and aid for
reconstruction.

Hezbollah remains politically influential and is cooperating with the army
but resists full disarmament.

Posted on 2026-01-08 17:57:18

Stricter laws against fake license plates in Taipei are causing some cars
owners to lose their vehicles and pay thousands in fines.

The city's Traffic Adjudication Office says the new rules, which began
September last year, raise fines for both car owners and drivers, and police
seize the vehicle and fake plates immediately, with the car sold off as scrap
metal.

Officials say monthly violations have dropped from an average of about six
cases down to four since the law changed.

The office says many of the violators had their original plates suspended for
speeding or drunk driving and used fake plates to stay on the road.

Authorities advise anyone buying a used car or borrowing a vehicle to check
the license plate's material, font, and official plum blossom stamp.

If you buy a second-hand car, officials suggest re-registering the vehicle to
ensure the plates are legal.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-08 17:57:22

NASA says it is monitoring a medical concern involving one Crew-11 astronaut
on the International Space Station.

The agency says the astronaut is in stable condition, but it is not releasing
the person?s name.

A spokeswoman says NASA is evaluating all options, including ending Crew-11?s
mission earlier than planned.

Crew-11 includes U.S. astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan?s Kimiya
Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.

The crew launched from Florida in August and had been scheduled to return
around May.

NASA says safety is its top priority as it reviews next steps.

Posted on 2026-01-08 16:08:13

Kaohsiung has announced it will also provide free school lunches to public
elementary and junior high school students starting in the 2026 school year.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai announced the plan on social media today, saying the city
expects the program to cost an additional $1.8 billion NT per year.

The city says it will also spend $450-million NT to ensure schools use
traceable ingredients grown in Taiwan.

The mayor also announced a pay bonus for school administrative staff.

Chen says their administrative work bonuses will increase by 1.5 times to
match recent raises for classroom teachers.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-08 16:08:13

Taipei residents should prepare for changes to garbage collection during the
Lunar New Year holiday.

The city's Department of Environmental Protection announced the holiday
schedule today, with collection will follow a normal schedule on Feb. 15-th.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Feb. 16th, sanitation crews will work extra shifts
at noon and at night to handle the holiday rush.

Then, there will be no garbage collection for three days starting Feb. 17th
through Feb. 19th.

Regular service for general trash and recycling will resume on Feb. 20th.

Officials say residents who cannot wait for the scheduled pickup times can
use one of the city’s 30 designated drop-off points.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-08 16:08:13

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a national inquiry
into antisemitism.

This comes weeks after a deadly attack at a Jewish holiday event in Bondi
Beach.

The inquiry will be a royal commission, led by former High Court judge
Virginia Bell.

It will examine the nature and drivers of antisemitism and the circumstances
of the Bondi shooting.

A report is due by December 14-th.

Albanese emphasized the attack was antisemitic and inspired by the Islamic
State group.

The surviving suspect faces multiple charges.

Albanese also plans to tighten gun laws and address hate speech in response
to the attack.

Posted on 2026-01-08 16:08:13

Cambodia’s government has arrested and extradited prominent tycoon Chen Zhi
to China.

Chen allegedly led a massive online scam operation and was wanted by U.S.
authorities.

Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said Chen and two other Chinese citizens were
extradited following months of investigations.

Chen had dual nationality but his Cambodian citizenship was revoked in
December.

The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.K. Foreign Office accused him of
heading a transnational criminal network.

Scam centers have proliferated across Southeast Asia, swindling billions from
victims.

The U.S. and U.K. imposed sanctions against Chen and his companies.

Posted on 2026-01-08 15:33:13

Taichung City will provide free school lunches for all public elementary and
junior high school students starting in the 2026 school year.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen announced the plan today, saying around 214-thousand
students will benefit from the policy.

Each meal is expected to cost between 60 and 70 NT, with the total annual
budget for the program expected to cost between $2.5-and-3 billion.

The move follows recent announcements of similar programs in Taipei and
Keelung.

Among Taiwan's six largest cities, Taoyuan was the first to implement free
school lunches.

The mayor says she will ask the city council to approve a budget increase for
the program this March.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-08 15:33:13

Ice pellets fell this morning at Songxue Lodge (松雪樓) on Hehuanshan,
turning roads and nearby mountains white.

Officials say a strong continental cold air mass is driving the wintry
conditions in Nantou high mountains.

The Directorate General of Highways says Provincial Highway 14A from Cuifeng
(翠峰) to Dayuling (大禹嶺) will begin a precautionary closure at 5 p.m.

During the closure, vehicles will be allowed to leave the area but not enter.

A second section, from Wuling (武嶺) to Songxue Lodge, will also close in
both directions at 5 p.m. due to steep and winding roads that can turn
slippery.

Authorities say they will review weather and road conditions at 7 a.m. Friday
to decide whether to reopen, or require snow chains.

Drivers heading for Provincial Highway 8 or Highway 14A are urged to avoid
unnecessary trips, carry snow chains and proper gear, and monitor forecasts
and traffic updates.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-08 15:33:13

Taiwan shares are down again today, with the benchmark Taiex closing 74
points lower at 30,361.

Turnover was 736.5-billion NT.

Posted on 2026-01-08 15:33:13

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urges calm after a bus driver ran
over and killed a 14-year-old boy during a protest.

The incident happened Tuesday during a demonstration by thousands of
ultra-Orthodox Jews against a law seeking to draft them into Israel’s
military.

Netanyahu calls for restraint to prevent further tragedies.

Police say the driver was attacked by protesters.

He has been arrested and was being questioned.

The violence highlights tensions over military exemptions for the
ultra-Orthodox.

Many secular Israelis support drafting them, but religious protesters claim
it threatens their way of life.

The pushback has created a political problem for Netanyahu, who relies on the
support of religious parties in the Israeli Parliament.

Posted on 2026-01-08 15:33:13

Saudi Arabia alleges the United Arab Emirates smuggled a wanted separatist
leader out of Yemen.

The leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, is accused of treason.

A Saudi military statement claims the leader of the Southern Transitional
Council fled Yemen by boat to Somalia.

The statement says then, UAE officials flew al-Zubaidi to Abu Dhabi, the
capital of the Emirates.

The UAE has not yet responded to the accusation.

The situation further escalates tensions between the neighboring nations on
the Arabian Peninsula.

Posted on 2026-01-08 13:48:13

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan's military is still carrying out an
all-out search for a missing Air Force pilot.

Search teams have now been looking for more than 35 hours, working through
low temperatures and rough seas.

An F-16V went missing off Hualien on the evening of Jan. 6th, and Captain
Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅) is believed to have parachuted about 10 nautical miles
east of Fengbin.

Rescue teams have searched day and night, using military flares to light up
waters off eastern Taiwan.

A National Airborne Service Corps Black Hawk helicopter based in Taitung
joined the mission at 10 p.m. Wednesday and searched at low altitude off
Changbin.

Coast Guard vessels and ground teams in Taitung have also joined the
operation, and Green Island residents reported seeing the sea glow red under
flares.

The Air Force has suspended F-16V training flights during inspections, and it
says the incident remains under investigation after a reported onboard
computer malfunction.

The case has also renewed attention on automatic ground collision avoidance
systems, and the Air Force says it will ask the United States to speed up
that work.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-08 13:48:13

reproduction law

Former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je says he is pushing changes to the Assisted
Reproduction Act.

Ko wants the law to include a legal framework for surrogacy.

He appeared at the Legislative Yuan last week to lobby both ruling and
opposition caucuses.

Ko says the bill is a livelihood issue, not an ideological fight, and should
not be opposed for partisan reasons.

He is scheduled to meet Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu tomorrow afternoon at
the legislature's second reception room, where the issue is expected to be
discussed.

The legislature's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee is set
to review the bill today.

TPP lawmaker Chen Chao-tzu (陳昭姿) says the law has not seen major changes
in 20 years, and article-by-article review is finally approaching.

She says some DPP female lawmakers oppose surrogacy and may try to block
further review, turning the bill into a political showdown.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-08 13:48:13

U.S. officials say the United States needs to control Venezuela's oil sales
and revenue indefinitely.

They say the goal is to stabilize Venezuela's economy, rebuild its oil
sector, and push political change.

The comments follow a weekend U.S. raid in Caracas that U.S. officials say
led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the U.S. wants to sell stored Venezuelan
oil first, with revenue placed in U.S.-controlled accounts.

Vice President JD Vance says oil sales would be allowed only if Venezuela
serves U.S. national interests.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the strategy, calling it close to taking
Venezuela's oil by force.

The White House says Trump is meeting major U.S. oil company leaders on
Friday as Washington discusses boosting Venezuela's output.

Posted on 2026-01-08 13:48:13

Friday

Uncontrolled bushfires are burning in Australia's Victoria state, forcing
some communities to evacuate.

Authorities say today's fire danger rating will be "catastrophic," the
highest level.

Forecasters expect temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the
state, with heat and wind worsening conditions.

Two major fires have burned more than 3,000 hectares and have destroyed at
least 2 structures.

Fire officials say both blazes could spread further on Friday and pose a real
risk to life and property.

Meteorologists say conditions are similar to 2019' "Black Summer" bushfires,
which killed 33 people.

About 450 schools in Victoria are set to close on Friday, and several
districts are under total fire bans.

Posted on 2026-01-08 12:57:13

stayed ready

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says China's drills against Taiwan at the end
of last year kept Taiwan's forces on alert.

He says Chinese warships and coast guard vessels left the 24-nautical-mile
zone at 6:10 p.m. on Dec. 30.

Koo says the vessels were still inside a contingency response area, so the
military maintained appropriate readiness.

He says the armed forces followed a "prepare for the worst" approach and
stayed ready for sudden incidents.

Koo made the remarks before a Legislative Yuan hearing on China's recent
drills and Taiwan's security response.

The session heard briefings from defense, foreign affairs, the National
Security Bureau, and the Coast Guard.

Additionally, the Coast Guard chief defended Ocean Affairs Council Minister
Kuan Bi-ling after she was criticized for dining with staff during the
drills.

He says Chinese vessels had already left the restricted waters, and the
dinner was part of an official schedule.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-08 12:57:13

The Executive Yuan says it plans to pass draft amendments to parts of the
Animal Protection Act.

The proposal would strengthen pet owner responsibilities and increase
penalties for abuse and killing animals.

Under the draft, owners would have to report a lost registered pet within 5
days, or it would be treated as abandonment.

It also says pets sent to public animal shelters must meet certain
conditions, or the handover would count as abandonment.

The draft would raise abandonment fines from $30-thousand to $150-thousand
NT, to a new range of $100-thousand to $1 million NT.

For animal abuse, it would increase penalties from up to 2 years in jail to 6
months to 5 years, plus higher fines.

It would also allow heavier sentences in serious cases where animals are
killed through cruelty, including violence or firearms.

The Executive Yuan says the bill will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for
review after cabinet approval.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-08 12:57:13

Ukraine's energy ministry says Russian strikes late Wednesday knocked out
electricity almost completely in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia.

The ministry says hospitals and other critical sites are running on reserve
power as crews work to restore electricity, water, and heating.

An official says repair work is being intensified in Dnipropetrovsk, with
safety measures for workers.

In Zaporizhzhia, they are using alternative power sources to keep water
supplies going.

Ukraine's Prime Minister warns heavy snow and overnight lows near minus 20
degrees Celsius could worsen disruptions.

Ukrainian media report outages in the city of Dnipro, with the metro stopped
and school holidays extended by 2 days.

Ukrainian Railways says trains and signalling are switching to backup
systems, and stations are operating with generators.

Zaporizhzhia's governor says some air raid sirens were not audible during the
blackout, and residents should limit mobile use as networks strain.

Posted on 2026-01-08 12:57:13

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he will meet Denmark's leaders next
week.

Rubio signaled the United States is not backing away from U.S. President
Donald Trump's goal of taking over Greenland.

He told reporters Trump still keeps military options, but Rubio said
diplomacy is preferred.

European allies, including France and Germany, are working on a response,
warning any use of force would shake NATO.

In Washington, both Democratic and Republican senators said they expect a
Senate vote to limit Trump's power to seize Greenland.

Denmark and Greenland say the island's future belongs to its people, and
Greenland rejects any annexation.

The White House says Trump and his national security team are actively
discussing ways to acquire Greenland, including a possible purchase.

Posted on 2026-01-08 08:14:13

following F-16V incident

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Air Force is urging the U-S to expedite work to install automatic ground
collision avoidance systems on its F-16V fighter jets and hopes the process
can be completed sooner than initially planned.

It comes after an F-16V jet went missing off of Hualien on Tuesday evening.

Authorities are still searching for the missing aircraft and its pilot, Air
Force Captain Hsin Po-yi.

The incident has led to concerns about the speed in which automatic ground
collision avoidance systems are being installed on Taiwan's F-16Vs.

The project was initially slated for completion in 2028.

However, following Tuesday's incident, the Air Force says Taiwan will push
the U-S military to complete work on the systems as soon as possible and hope
it can be completed by the end of this year.

The system is being jointly modified by relevant parties in Taiwan and the
U-S National Guard, which also operates F-16 fighter jets.

Automatic ground collision avoidance systems use data such as aircraft speed,
heading and terrain to assess the risk of a ground or sea collision and alert
the pilot.

If the pilot does not respond, the system automatically adjusts the
aircraft's attitude and altitude to prevent a crash.

Posted on 2026-01-08 08:14:13

The Taipei City Government says the Ministry of Economic Affairs has given
its final approval for Nvidia to build its overseas headquarters at the
Beitou-Shilin Technology Park.

According to Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan, Nvidia will submit its investment
proposal to the city government later this month and both the investment
proposal and urban planning changes will be completed by the end of the
month.

Lee is also stressing the city government is taking steps to address traffic
concerns and says there are plans to transform the tech park into
"intelligent science park," integrating metro networks to Taipei, Shezidao,
and the Luzhou-Shezi Bridge.

Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an says Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang is also
expected to visit Taiwan later this month to attend the signing ceremony.

The Nvidia headquarters will be designed by local architect Kris Yao.

Yao's previous projects include the China Steel Corporation Headquarters in
Kaohsiung, the United Daily News Office Building in Taipei, the New Taipei
City Art Museum and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in
Chiayi.

Posted on 2026-01-08 08:14:13

K-M-T Lawmaker Lin De-fu is voicing concerns that the heavy weighting of
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is distorting the performance of the stock
exchange's benchmark index.

Speaking at a hearing of the Legislative Finance Committee, Lin said T-S-M-C
accounts for more than 40 percent of total market value and served as the
driver, as Tai-Ex topped the 30,000-point mark for the first time ever this
week ...

.. but but many other stocks remained weak.

Lin told lawmakers that the market structure has lost its balance and many
investors who do not hold T-S-M-C stock are not sharing in the benefits
created by the Tai-Ex's rise.

According to the K-M-T lawmaker, T-S-M-C has remained above its 240-day
moving average of around 1,173 N-T, but 1,263 out of the 1,947 companies
listed on the local main board and over-the-counter market still moved below
their 240-day moving averages ...

.... indicating they are in weakness.

Lin also stressed that many companies in the old economy sector have come
under pressure as a result of U-S tariff policies, and if concerns about the
AI bubble bursting become a reality, the local stock market will be severely
impacted with many investors will be hurt.

Posted on 2026-01-08 08:14:13

The Central Weather Administration has once again issued both "orange" and
"yellow" cold surge advisories for parts of Taiwan today.

The "orange" advisories mean there's the chance of temperatures remaining
around 10-degrees or possibly dropping below 6-degrees ..

.. and they've been issued for areas in, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu
County, Miaoli and Yilan.

While "yellow" advisories - meaning there's the chance of minimum
temperatures dropping below 10-degrees - are in place for parts of the rest
of the country except for Pingtung, Taitung, Penghu and Matsu.

All of the cold surge advisories are currently slated to remain in place
through tonight.

According to the weather administration, areas under the advisories could see
temperatures fall to as low as 10 degrees or lower today.

The cold air mass is expected to weaken tomorrow and Saturday with daytime
highs are expected to rise to between 18 and 20-degrees in the north, and to
between 20 and 22-degrees in the center and south.

However, another continental cold air mass is forecast to move-in on Saturday
night through Monday and that could see the mercury dropping to between 13
and 15 degrees in the early mornings and at night.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:13

pilot

The Air Force is says a malfunction of the aircraft's main onboard computer
caused the disappearance of an F-16V fighter jet on Tuesday.

The incident remains under investigation as authorities continue searching
for the missing aircraft and its pilot, Air Force Captain Hsin Po-yi.

But media reports have pinpointed a malfunction in the aircraft's modular
mission computer, resulting in the pilot suffering spatial disorientation.

27th Squadron Commander Chou Ming-ching identified several levels of modular
mission computer malfunctions... and in this case the aircraft's flight path
could have been no longer displayed, which meant the pilot could not obtain
information on his altitude.

The head of the 5th Tactical Mixed Wing's maintenance department says the
pilot of the F-16V did report a modular mission computer malfunction during
the routine training mission ...

... but maintenance records for the aircraft show the malfunction had not
required repairs in the past six months, and that previous maintenance issues
involved only "common malfunctions."

The Air Force has suspended F-16V training flights while inspections of the
aircraft type are carried out.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:14

The Mainland Affairs Council is slamming China's move to designate two
government ministers as "diehard Taiwan independence advocates" - arguing it
undermines cross-strait peace and the status quo.

The statement comes after China's Taiwan Affairs Office designated Interior
Minister Liu Shyh-fang and Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao as "diehard
Taiwan independence advocates," and said Beijing would pursue punitive
measures against them.

Beijing is accusing Liu of "persecuting" Chinese spouses in Taiwan and
creating obstacles to cross-strait exchanges, while Cheng was sanctioned for
compiling "Taiwan independence teaching materials" and preventing
cross-strait educational exchanges.

The Mainland Affairs Council says China's actions "will not only fail to
achieve a deterrent effect, but will also provoke indignation and resentment
among the Taiwanese people."

The council is also reiterating that it is an "objective reality that the
Republic of China is a sovereign, independent country and the two sides of
the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other."

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:15

Nestle Taiwan says affected batches of its baby formula have not been sold in
Taiwan and its products sold here are all safe for consumption.

The statement comes after 30 countries issued recalls over concerns that the
products contain the toxin cereulide.

That toxin is produced by certain bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.

Nestle Taiwan says it has implemented the necessary control measures to
protect consumers' trust in its product and safety and consumers here are
free to contact its customer service centers for any questions.

A statement on Nestle's global website says it is in contact with authorities
in the affected countries to ensure that appropriate measures are taken ..

.. and no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with their products to
date.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

The Fair Trade Commission has approved plans by the Taiwan subsidiary of
US-based Uber Technologies to acquire Crown Taxi.

The commission says the two companies were previously in a partnership, and
the merger will not significantly change their share of the taxi dispatching
service market.

It noted that Taiwan's market consists of other competitors including Taiwan
Taxi , Line GO, Yoxi, and Bolt, which launched its service in Taiwan late
last year.

In its assessment, the commission found that Uber would not pose significant
competition restriction risks in the relevant market, such as unilaterally
raising fares, colluding with other companies to fix prices, or creating
barriers to market entry.

It also went to say the merger will facilitate business integration and
reduce administrative layers, thereby improving operational efficiency.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

The Hsinchu City Government says new regulatiosn to ban claw machine stores
from operating within 100-meters of elementary or junior high schools will
take effect early next year, following a one-year grace period.

The new rule takes effect on January 5, 2027 - after which operators who fail
to comply will face a fine of up to 100,000 N-T.

But regulations requiring claw machine prizes adhere to product labeling and
quality control laws, and which prohibit certain prizes have gone into effect
immediately.

These include jewelry, tobacco products, alcohol, sex toys and live animals.

The Hsinchu City Government is urging claw machine operators to make any
necessary changes to comply with the new rules, which it says will be
strictly enforced.

Taiwan has seen an exponential growth in claw machine stores in the past
decade.

One media report claims there were over 10,000 claw machine stores in
operation in Taiwan in last year.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

The National Science and Technology Council is bringing 57 Taiwan startups
and 83 suppliers to the 2026 C-E-S tech show in Las Vegas this week.

While there, the council says they group will meet with potential investors
and clients on the sidelines of the event.

The council says Taiwan Tech Arena is hosting a pavilion at C-E-S under the
theme of "Daily Taiwan," where the Taiwan startups and suppliers are
demonstrating the country's artificial intelligence development.

Taiwan participants have been showcasing a wide range of A-I applications
used in daily life at C-E-S, such as smart living, digital healthcare and
sustainability development.

The National Science and Technology Council says Taiwan attendees are using
C-E-S as a channel to tap into overseas markets and introduce more innovative
technologies, which it hopes will lead to multinational cooperation.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

Thailand will be the country guest of honor at this year's Taipei
International Book Exhibition, which begins early next month.

Thai Trade Office says at least 18 Thai authors will be attending the event,
and four forums focusing on Thai literature will be taking place during the
February 3 through 8 book fair at the Taipei World Trade Center.

The Thai pavilion will be taking the theme of "CreaTHAIvity."

The Thai Trade Office say that reflects "the creativity embedded in the way
of life of the Thai people."

The pavilion will be presenting 50 representative books and 21 illustrators,
with 37 Thai publishing companies participating at the event.

The Taipei Book Fair Foundation, which co-organizes the exhibition, says
other countries and regions with pavilions this year include Belgium, France,
Italy, the Czech Republic, India, Germany and Hong Kong.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

The Trump administration will withdraw from dozens of international
organizations, including the U.N.’s population agency and the U.N. treaty
that establishes international climate negotiations.

It marks the U.S. further retreating from global cooperation.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order withdrawing the
United States from 66 organizations, agencies and commissions following his
instruction for his administration to review participation in and funding for
all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United
Nations.

Most of the targets are U.N.-related agencies, commissions and advisory
panels that focus on climate, labor and other issues that this administration
has categorized as catering to diversity and “woke” initiatives.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China next week where he will
meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as Canada looks to reduce its over
reliance on the United States.

The visit, announced on Wednesday, is the first to China by a Canadian prime
minister in more than eight years.

Xi invited Carney to China when they met during an Asia-Pacific summit last
fall and it comes as the two countries move to restore stronger ties after
years of tensions.

Carney will travel to China from Jan. 13 to 17.

He will also attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos,
Switzerland Jan. 19 to 21.

Posted on 2026-01-08 07:01:16

The Philippines has evacuated nearly 3,000 villagers from a danger zone on
the foothills of the Mayon Volcano after officials raised the alert level due
to recent activity.

Authorities raised the 5-step alert around the volcano in the northeastern
province of Albay to level 3 on Tuesday after detecting intermittent
rockfalls from its peak crater in recent days, prompting the initial
evacuations.

The country's Chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol said it is too early to
tell if Mayon’s restiveness would lead to a major and violent eruption given
the absence of other key indicators, like a spike in volcanic earthquakes.

Mayon is the most active of the country’s 24 restive volcanoes.

Posted on 2026-01-07 18:33:13

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says consumer
inflation in Taiwan continued to ease at the end of last year.

According to the DGBAS, the Consumer Price Index for December 2025 rose 1.31
percent year-on-year, a slight increase from the previous month.

However, looking at the full year, average CPI growth for 2025 came in at
1.66 percent — the first time in four years it has fallen below the
two-percent inflation alert threshold, and the lowest level in five years.

Core inflation, which excludes fruits, vegetables, and energy, stood at 1.83
percent in December, while prices of key household goods rose 2.57 percent,
with the increase continuing to moderate.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-07 18:32:13

Doctors in Taiwan are warning that falling temperatures are increasing the
risk of deadly heart conditions.

They urge anyone who experiences symptoms such as chest tightness, cold
sweats, or a sudden dizzying drop in blood pressure ... to seek help
immediately.

Doctors said cardiovascular mortality typically peaks during winter.

In fact, studies show that for every single degree the temperature drops, the
risk of cardiovascular disease rises by over one-and-a-half percent.

Medical experts are specifically concerned about "cardiogenic shock"—a
life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly struggles to pump blood.

They urge everyone to stay warm and maintain healthy routines.

-----

This warning comes as the Central Weather Administration has issued cold
surge advisories for much of the island.

"Orange" alerts—warning of temperatures as low as six degrees—are in effect
for much of Northern Taiwan and Yilan.

Meanwhile, "Yellow" alerts for temperatures under ten degrees cover most of
the rest of the island ... from Taichung down to Kaohsiung and across to
outlying Kinmen.

Forecasters say the combination of a continental cold air mass and radiative
cooling will keep these warnings in place through at least tonight.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-07 18:32:16

Nestle Taiwan assures that baby formula products sold locally are safe,
despite recalls in at least 30 countries over contamination concerns

The company said the affected batches have not been sold in Taiwan and
stressed that all products on local shelves meet safety standards.

Nestle added it has put control measures in place to protect consumer trust
and is inviting the public to contact customer service with any questions.

Nestle says the problem stems from a bacterial toxin found in a specific oil
used by one of its major suppliers.

The company says it has tested all related ingredients, is working with the
supplier to identify the cause, and is cooperating with authorities overseas.

Nestle emphasized that no illnesses linked to its products have been
confirmed so far.

Posted on 2026-01-07 18:32:20

Taiwan's property market is expected to remain quiet but stable through the
start of 2026.

That's the outlook from Billy Yen, managing director of
American``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
real estate firm Cushman and Wakefield, who spoke in Taipei yesterday.

Yen estimated that property transaction volumes totaled about 260 thousand
units in 2025.

He expects volume to stay at that same level this year, with only minor price
adjustments.

He says strict mortgage rules and a cooling presale market continue to weigh
on housing demand.

However, Yen notes that if financing is eased for first-time buyers,
"real-need" demand could give the market a slight lift later next year.

It's a different story for commercial real estate...

That sector saw seven-percent growth in 2025 from the year before, reaching
nearly 159-billion NT.

Analysts say that resilience is being fueled by the massive demand for land
from Taiwan's semiconductor and AI industries.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-01-07 17:19:14

Civil groups are coming out in support of the Executive Yuan's version of
amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act ahead of legislative examination
of the drafts tomorrow.

The Taiwan Equality Campaign, Awakening Foundation, and Taiwan Women's Link
held a press conference today to state their support for the Cabinet's
decision to first extend access to assisted reproduction to single women and
same-sex female couples...

before touching on the highly controversial issue of surrogacy.

Several green lawakers joined them at the press conference today, including
Fan Yun, Wu Si Yao, Wu Pei Yi, and Huang Jie, among others.

Advocates noted that the sudden scheduling of the draft amendments for review
came as a surprise...

but added that they hoped for the executive yuan's version of the amendments
to be passed quickly, without what they view as insufficient legislation for
surrogacy from some lawmakers' proposals.

They also indicated support for a clause to be added to that version which
would prevent against the discrimination of single parents.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-07 17:19:14

Taipei City is warning residents to be cautious of tiles peeling off
buildings and falling due to the cold weather.

They're advising residents to walk underneath the covered portion of
sidewalks in order to avoid potential falling tiles.

The phenomenon occurs due to the fact that the cold causes things to shrink,
making the tiles prone to falling.

The city government is also reminding building owners to check building
exteriors for loose tiles...

and to put up warning signs or erect other measures to protct the public
before seeking repairs as soon as possible.

Failure to do so will result in fines between 60 and 300,000 NT.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-07 17:19:14

Three dairy processing companies in Taiwan have been fined for failing to
hire required safety and hygiene staff.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the results of a recent inspection
covering 33 companies that produce items such as milk, cheese, and ice cream.

Investigators found that three businesses did not have specialized
professional personnel on site, and one also lacked a hygiene management
officer.

The FDA says these professionals help track quality and respond to food
safety emergencies.

The businesses were fined a total of $120-thousand NT for violating the Act
Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-07 17:19:14

Now turnning to international news...

In Syria, deadly clashes have taken place between Syrian government forces
and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo.

Efforts to merge the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces with
the national army have yielded little progress.

The SDF has tens of thousands of fighters and is the main force to be
absorbed into the Syrian military.

State news is reporting casualties in th attack blamed on the SDF...

who denied involvement and accused the government of targeting Kurdish
neighborhoods.

Previous rounds of fighting have ended with truce agreements, but no official
truce has been announced.

Posted on 2026-01-07 17:19:14

US President Donald Trump is casting doubt on Venezuelan opposition leaders'
ability to run the country.

Yet, opposition supporters have long hoped that their leaders could replace
ousted Nicolas Maduro.

Trump has sidelined the opposition by allowing Maduro's vice president, Delcy
Rodriguez, to take control...

while opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has not been embraced by his
administration.

Maduro previously banned Machado from running for office, but Machado named
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as her proxy in Venezuela's last presidential
election in 2024.

The US and other nations recognized him as the winner.

Just hours after seizing Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, Truump expressed
doubt that Machado could run the country.

Posted on 2026-01-07 17:19:14

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his foreign minister and the
governor general will visit Greenland early next month in the wake of renewed
threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex the Danish territory.

Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon are
expected to open a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland,

Simon became Canada's first Indigenous governor general in 2021 and
previously served as Canada's ambassador to Denmark.

Carney says the future of Greenland and Demark are decided solely by the
people of Denmark.

He spoke while meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the
Canadian Embassy in Paris.

Posted on 2026-01-07 16:11:13

The Air Force says the search will continue for a pilot who went missing off
the coast of Hualien on Tuesday night.

Captain Hsin Po-yi was flying an F-16V during a night training mission when
his plane disappeared from radar.

Records show Hsin reported he was lost in the clouds at 7:27 p.m.

One minute later, he radioed that his altitude was dropping and shouted that
he was ejecting.

Radar contact was lost at 1,700 feet.

The Air Force says its all-out search for Captain Hsin will continue beyond
72 hours.

Air Force officials say the weather met safety standards and the plane had no
mechanical issues.

The Air Force has grounded all F-16 jets for safety inspections.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-07 16:11:13

New figures show that workers in Taipei earn significantly more than the
national average, though notable gender and industry gaps remain.

According to the city's Department of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the
median annual salary for full-time local workers in the industrial and
service sectors reached 735 thousand NT in 2024, up from the previous year.

However, men earned a median of just under 800 thousand NT, while women
earned about 687 thousand, leaving a gender gap of around 112 thousand NT.

Even so, both figures remain well above the national median.

Pay also varies widely by industry.

Workers in finance and insurance earned some of the highest salaries, with
median annual pay topping 1.2 million NT.

That sector employs nearly 13 percent of Taipei's workforce.

By contrast, wholesale trade employs more people than any other sector in the
city—at over 18 percent.

However, pay remains slightly below the citywide median, with annual earnings
at just over 700 thousand NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-07 16:11:13

Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israeli Mossad.

A report by the official IRNA news agency today identifies the man as Ali
Ardestani, saying he relayed sensitive information to Mossad officers in
return for financial rewards in the form of cryptocurrencies.

The report says the man confessed to the spying charges and that he hoped to
receive a million-dollar reward as well as a British visa.

It says Ardestani gave images and footage of “special places” to Mossad
agents.

The report says Israel recruited Ardestani online, adding that his case went
through legal procedures, both in primary courts and the country’s Supreme
Court.

Human rights organizations and Western governments have condemned Iran’s
increasing use of capital punishment, particularly for political and
espionage-related offenses.
Activists argue that many of the convictions rely on coerced confessions, and
that trials often take place behind closed doors, without access to
independent legal representation.

Posted on 2026-01-07 16:11:13

Authorities have imposed a curfew on a key border city in southern Nepal
after Hindu and Muslim groups began protesting against each other.

Officials say the unrest followed the vandalism of a mosque over the weekend.

The Parsa District Administration on Tuesday issued curfew orders banning
street gatherings and demonstrations.

The notice warns violators could be shot by security forces.

Armed soldiers and police were patrolling the streets of Birgunj, a crucial
border point for imports from India.

Although there have been no major clashes, minor scuffles with riot police
were reported.

Posted on 2026-01-07 15:12:13

China has blacklisted Taiwan’s interior and education ministers, accusing
them of being "hardline supporters of Taiwan independence".

China's Taiwan Affairs Office says it would carry out "punishment in
accordance with the law" against Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang
(劉世芳), and Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀).

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council responded to the move during a legislative
meeting today.

The council's Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh said those on the list are
people who firmly defend the existence of the Republic of China and resist
infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party.

Liang stated that the government will continue its current path and that the
beliefs of those targed by China will not change.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-07 15:12:13

The Ministry of Education says dozens of vocational high schools in Taiwan
are teaching students how to manage their emotions and relationships.

Officials say 68 technical high schools are participating in the "Social
Emotional Learning" program this academic year, with lessons focused on
skills such as self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and making
responsible decisions.

Teachers are adding these lessons directly into professional training classes.

The program also supports special education students, helping them learn how
to improve communication and manage stress.

The ministry says the program will help increase students' ability to adapt
to the workplace, and help them succeed in future jobs.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-07 15:12:13

A council fighting against Yemen’s Houthi rebels says it has expelled the
leader of a separatist movement and charged him with treason after he
reportedly declined to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks.

The council's statement was carried today by SABA news agency controlled by
anti-Houthi forces.

The statement is the latest escalation between Saudi-backed forces and the
Southern Transitional Council, which had been backed by the United Arab
Emirates.

The whereabouts of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi were not immediately known.

The STC has not commented on the decision of the anti-Houthi leadership
group.

An earlier statement said al-Zubaidi was expected to fly to Saudi Arabia but
did not board the plane.

Posted on 2026-01-07 15:12:13

Brigitte Bardot's funeral is set for today in Saint-Tropez with a private
service.

A public homage is planned at the French Riviera resort where the former
screen siren lived for more than 50 years.

Bardot, who became an animal rights activist and far-right supporter, died
Dec. 28 at age 91.

The ceremony will be broadcast on large screens for residents and admirers.

Bardot will be buried privately at a cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean
Sea.

Posted on 2026-01-07 14:09:13

The Freeway Bureau says control measures will be in place on National Freeway
5 to manage heavy traffic during the upcoming Lunar New Year and Peace
Memorial Day holidays.

The nine-day Lunar New Year break begins February 14th, and the three-day
Peace Memorial Day weekend starts February 27th, and officials expect large
crowds traveling to Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung.

To reduce congestion, the Shiding and Pinglin entrance ramps will be closed
to southbound cars during peak morning hours.

And high-occupancy vehicle rules will be in effect for northbound travel from
Su’ao to Toucheng between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. from February 18th to the 21st.

The same rules apply on February 28th and March 1st.

Officials point out that taking a bus could save travelers more than 30
minutes compared to driving, and those who do drive should check their
vehicle’s condition and avoid driving while tired.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-07 14:09:15

The Hsinchu City government says, a new regulation to ban claw machines from
operating near elementary and junior high schools will take effect in less
than one year.

Officials say, the rule to ban such stores within 100 meters of schools will
take effect on January 5th following a one year grace period.

After that time, if violators continue to operate near schools, they'll face
20 to 100,000 NT in fines.

Meanwhile, regulations stipulating what kind of merchandise can go inside the
claw machines will take effect immediately.

According to a previous United Daily News report, there were over 10,000 claw
machine stores in operation in Taiwan last year.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-07 14:09:15

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 140 points to
close at 30435.

The turnover was 853 billion sNT.

Posted on 2026-01-07 14:09:15

Saudia Arabia says, the leader of a separatist movement in Yemen has fled to
an unknown location.

This comes after he was believed to be planning to travel to the kingdom for
negotiations.

But Saudi officials say that he didn't board the plane, while other council
officials did.

They also claim that the separatist leader moved a large force before
fleeing, including weapons and vehicles.

Posted on 2026-01-07 14:09:15

In Nepal, protesters who helped topple the government are returning to the
streets.

But a lack of clarity among protesters represents a key hurdle.

Among their demands is the resignation of interim Prime Minister Sushila
Karki for fialing to meet goals and expectations.

Karki was installed as Nepal's first female prime minister during protests in
the fall in which 76 people were killed.

Karki says, elections will be held in March as planned.

Some protesters have expressed regret over putting their bodies on the line
when, in their view, little has been achieved in the aftermath to deal with
corruption.

So far the government's anti-graft agency has filed one significant
corruption case that does not include key political figures.

Posted on 2026-01-07 13:13:14

The Minister of Health and Welfare says amendments proposed to the Assisted
Reproduction Act by the Cabinet do not contain language on surrogacy due to
the controversial nature of the topic.

Shi Chong Liang made the comments as the Social Welfare and Environmental
Hygiene Committee of the Legislative Yuan is set to examine the amendments
tomorrow.

The amendments as they're currently written would expand the availability of
assisted reproduction methods to married same-sex female couples and single
women.

They would also codify the rights of children born through assisted
reproduction.

But, as the health minister noted, the Executive Yuan's version of the
amendments do not touch on surrogacy.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-07 13:13:14

Taichung prosecutors are requesting a heavy sentence for 2 people who
allegedly made threats of a mass attack on social media.

Prosecutors say that the ill intent of the two suspects is evident, and
they've been charged with public intimidation, among others.

Prosecutors say that they received notice last month just after the random
attack at Taipei Main and Zhongshan MRT stations that someone had been
posting on Threads and LINE...

threatening plans of an attack resulting in mass casualties.

One of the suspects, surnamed Huang, is a detective, and prosecutors note
that such actions endanger the image of law enforcement authorities.

They're therefore requesting the court to impose heavy sentenced on both
defendants.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-07 13:13:14

Now turning to international news and in the US

The White House says US President Donald Trump is discussing ways to seize
Greenland including using the US military.

It comes despite objections from NATO leaders, Denmark, and Greenland.

Nick Harper reports

Posted on 2026-01-07 13:13:14

Uganda is preparing for a election in an atmosphere of political violence.

The leading opposition presidential candidate, Bobi Wine (Bobby Wine), wears
a flak jacket and helmet while campaigning to protect himself from gunfire.

But the safety gear offers no protection from the stinging clouds of tear gas
that often follow him on the campaign trail.

Wine is challenging President Yoweri Museveni (Yoh-WEH-ree moo-SEH-veh-nee),
who has ruled Uganda since 1986 by rewriting rules to stay in power.

Term and age limits have been scrapped, rivals jailed or sidelined, and state
security forces are a constant presence at opposition rallies.

Wine says the military has largely taken over the election and that at least
three of his supporters have been killed in violent campaign events.

Amnesty International calls the violence a "brutal campaign of repression."

(KK)

Posted on 2026-01-07 13:13:14

Venezuela

The Cuban government has revealed the identities of 32 military personnel
killed during the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The government also announced two days of mourning.

The deceased include colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains, aged 26 to
60, belonging to Cuba's two main security agencies.

They were in Venezuela as part of agreements between the two countries.

Cuban authorities acknowledged their deaths on Sunday, stating they died in
combat or from bombing.

The U.S. strike on Venezuela led to a protest at the Organization of American
States meeting.

The U.S. called the strike a "targeted law enforcement action" against
Maduro, denying it was an invasion.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-01-07 08:14:13

Visiting European Parliament member Michael Gahler says last week's Chinese
military exercises China staged around Taiwan were provocative and revealed
Beijing's "unacceptable attitude" that threatens "peaceful co-existence
across the Taiwan Strait."

Speaking during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential
Office, Gahler underlined the importance for the European Parliament and
democracies to speak out for maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait ...

.... a condition Gahler also said that China has attempted to alter.

According to the Gahler, the Taiwan Strait is an international strait, and
it's good that different countries demonstrate that by sending ships through
this strait and making it clear that we do not accept a unilateral change of
the status quo."

Gahler also said such a provocation and an unacceptable attitude endangers
the peaceful coexistence across the strait.

Gahler chairs the European Taiwan Friendship Group and is leading a 10-member
delegation of European Parliament members to Taiwan this week.

Posted on 2026-01-07 08:14:13

Taiwan's former representative to Japan, Frank Hsieh has assumed the
chairmanship of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association.

He succeeds Su Jia-chyuan in leading the body responsible for representing
Taipei's interests in Tokyo.

According to Hsieh, he's honored to be taking over the role after serving as
Taiwan's envoy in Tokyo from between 2016 and 2024 and his goal is to bring
the cordial relationship between the two nations to a new pinnacle.

In a Facebook post, Hsieh also expressed his gratitude to Su and the other
association members for their contributions to the bilateral relations over
the past three years.

Hsieh was selected as the next chairman on Tuesday, which was followed by an
official handover ceremony.

Posted on 2026-01-07 08:14:13

New Year

The Centers for Disease Control says it expects to see a rise in flu cases in
the later this month and a further increase around the Lunar New Year holiday
period.

According to the C-D-C, a total of 82,161 people sought medical treatment for
flu-like illness from the week of December 28 to Janaury 3 - and that level
remains about the same as the previous week.

The C-D-C is projecting that Taiwan will again enter a flu epidemic period in
the latter half of this month, following a previous period from late
September to late November this winter ...

.. and it's likely to peak around the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, which
begins on Febraury 14.

As of Monday of this week, over 6.62-million people had received flu
vaccinations under a government-funded program and approximately 206,000
doses remain.

Posted on 2026-01-07 08:14:14

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yi-ih says his office will send a feasibility
report on a possible MRT line linking Xiulang Bridge Station in Zhonghe
District with Gongguan Station in Taipei to the central government for review
later this year.

Speaking at an inspection tour of Xiulang Bridge Station, Hou said the city
started planning the route after the Taipei City government cancelled plans
for a more extensive "North South Line" in 2018.

According to Hou, his administration has proposed a 3.1-kilometer,
four-station underground route between Xiulang Bridge and Gongguan, Hou due
to strong demand from Zhonghe residents for additional transportation routes
to Taipei.

Hou says a feasibility report on the New Taipei portion of the route was
started last July ...

Currently, passengers at Xiulang Bridge Station on the Circular Line have to
transfer to the Green Line at Dapinglin to reach Gongguan - a journey that
takes about 20-minutes.

The Taipei and New Taipei city government's reached a consensus in 2023 to
extend the proposed line northward to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station,
making it a total of 8-kilometer and calling it the Zhonghe-Guangfu Line.

Posted on 2026-01-07 08:14:14

Starlux Airlines has became the first carrier in Taiwan to take delivery of
an Airbus A-350-1000 aircraft.

The aircraft was delivered to a team led by Starlux Chairman Chang Kuo-wei at
Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France and it arrived at Taoyuan
International Airport yesterday.

According to Starlux, the aircraft is scheduled to begin service in February.

Starlux first ordered the A-350-1000 during the Farnborough International
Airshow in July of 2018.

Five more of the 18 A-350-1000s Starlux has on order are expected to be
delivered this year.

Starlux C-E-O Glenn Chai says the addition of the A350-1000 marks the
airline's entry into the "larger, more competitive" long-haul market and will
"play a crucial role" in expanding its North American and European network of
destinations.

The A-350-1000 features 350 seats across four cabin classes and a maximum
range of 15,600 kilometers.

EVA Airways and China Airlines have ordered A-350-1000s, but are still
awaiting to take delivery of those aircraft.

Posted on 2026-01-07 08:14:14

The central bank has launched pre-sales for commemorative coin sets marking
the Chinese lunar calendar's Year of the Horse.

The coin sets are priced at 2,450 N-T each.

The central bank has commissioned the Bank of Taiwan to handle sales both
online and through its branch network.

A total of 90,000 sets have been issued, including 50,000 allocated for
online pre-orders and 40,000 for over-the-counter sales.

The central bank says the issuance volume has been increased from last year,
because the horse is widely regarded as an auspicious zodiac sign symbolizing
success and vitality and is particularly popular among the public.

Each commemorative set includes one silver coin with a face value of 100 N-T
and one copper-alloy coin with a face value of 10 N-T.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Search and rescue operations continue after a pilot is believed to have
ejected from an F-16V fighter jet yesterday evening.

The aircraft took off from the Hualien Air Base at 6:17PM on a routine
night-time training mission and lost contact at 7:29PM.

The F-16V was operating some 10 nautical miles east of Fengbin Township at
the time.

The Air Force says it established an emergency response center and launched a
search and rescue operation immediately after the aircraft disappeared from
radar.

The Coast Guard Administration said it sent two patrol boats to the area and
they deployed surface current-based buoys in order to better detect the crash
site and the area where the pilot may have ejected from.

A total of nine coast guard and Navy vessels are reportedly currently
involved in the search operation and are are being helped by aerial support.

Authorities also say nearby cargo ships and fishing vessels were contacted
for assistance.

The pilot has been identified as Hsin Po-yi and the Air Force says he had a
total flight time of 611 hours, including 371 hours flying F-16Vs.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

warfare

The National Security Bureau says Beijing paired military drills against
Taiwan with information operations and cyberattacks from between December 29
and January 2.

The bureau said the move resulted in the spreading of more than 19,000
"controversial" messages and the launch of millions of hacking intrusions.

In a report, the N-S-B told the Legislative Yuan that online activity
involved 799 abnormal accounts and focused on amplifying skepticism about the
U-S, Taiwan's military and President Lai Ching-te, referring to concerns
about Taiwan's ability to defend itself.

Cyber intrusions targeting government networks increased during the
exercises, reaching about 2.08-million attacks on the first day of the drills
and increasing to about 2.09-million on the second day.

The report also says Beijing launched last week's drills to counter support
for Taiwan from international democratic allies, divert attention from
domestic problems and portray military strength as unaffected by
anti-corruption efforts.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Lawmakers have passed the Delivery Driver Rights Protection and Delivery
Platform Management Act.

The law sets minimum pay standards and outline rules governing food delivery
platforms... and it is aimed at protecting the rights of food delivery
workers.

Under the new law, platform operators are required to pay delivery workers at
least 45 N-T per order, and no less than 1.25 times the statutory hourly
minimum wage calculated based on the delivery time of each order.

The guaranteed amount is to be adjusted annually in line with minimum wage
increases.

Taiwan Delivery Industry Union Alliance spokesman Su Po-hao says the
legislation marks "a hard-won and important milestone," as efforts to secure
delivery worker protections have lasted more than six and a half years.

The new law designates the Ministry of Labor as the central governing
authority responsible for regulating delivery platforms and requires it to
draft and announce standardized contract provisions covering rights and
obligations between platforms and delivery workers.

Those contract provisions include pay calculation, suspensions, contract
termination, complaint mechanisms and insurance.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

China

Visiting China-born Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki says his trip to Taiwan this
week proves that "Taiwan is not part of China, Taiwan is Taiwan," and that
the two countries are not subordinate to each other.

He said Beijing has banned him him from entering Chinese territory, but his
successfully entry into Taiwan clearly demonstrate that the People's Republic
of China and the Republic of China are two different countries.

Seki was born in China and graduated from the Peking University before moving
to Japan to study there in 1988.

He became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2007.

Seki is a member of the Japan Innovation Party and has served as a member of
the House of Councilors since 2025.

He was invited to Taiwan by the Taipei-based Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank
to attend a seminar on Friday.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Ministry of Labor has announced that it's reached an agreement with Indonesia
to expand its government-to-government direct hiring program.

The move will allow employers in the construction, slaughtering and offshore
fishing sectors to recruit workers directly from Indonesia.

Under the expanded scheme, eligible employers can apply through the
ministry's Direct Hiring Service Center to conduct project-based worker
selection... the scheme bypasses private brokers... resulting in lower
recruitment costs for both employers and workers.

Under the new scheme, the center will also serve as a single contact window
for eligible employers seeking Indonesian workers.

Taiwan first introduced project-based selection for Indonesian manufacturing
workers in 2019 and later expanded the program to institutional caregivers
and agriculture in 2024.

Data shows that from 2019 to 2024, about 50 workers per year were recruited
through the program.

That number rose to 169 in 2025.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says free school lunches will be provided to all
of the city's elementary and junior high schools.

Chiang said the city government will oversee food traceability and quality
control to ensure budget constraints do not limit ingredient choices, and
will promote nutrition and agri-food education.

The mayor has also announced several other education reform measures.

They include cutting one class period for homeroom teachers in elementary,
junior high and senior high schools and raising their allowances, as well as
boosting bonuses for teachers who hold concurrent administrative posts.

Free psychological counseling services for teachers will also be expanded.

It's estimated the policy will reduce parental expenses by 10,000 N-T
annually.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

And,

Coffee chain Louisa Coffee has raised prices on around 90 items on its menu
by an average of 5-per cent.

It said the price hike was necessitated by the rising cost of ingredients and
materials, labor and electricity.

The items that have seen price increases include medium specialty Americano,
specialty latte, English black tea and Ceylon black tea.

Louisa Coffee has become one of Taiwan's largest coffeehouse chains since it
was in Taipei in 2006.

Louisa says it plans to surpass 600 store locations in Taiwan this year.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Meanwhile... Ukraine’s allies have made major progress toward defending the
country if a peace deal is struck with Russia.

Leaders from 27 European countries and Canada, as well as U.S.
representatives and other officials, discussed plans in Paris.

They said they would provide Ukraine with equipment, training and support to
deter future Russian attacks.

The size of the supporting forces was not made public, along with many other
details of the plan. Russia has not commented on the talks... although the
U.S. has claimed it will lead efforts to monitor a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted commitments need ratification.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a
controversial settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut
the West Bank in two.

A tender, which is seeking bids from developers, would clear the way to begin
construction of the E1 project.

The anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now first reported the tender.
Yoni Mizrahi, who runs the group’s settlement watch division, said initial
work could begin within the month.

The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement
construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Posted on 2026-01-07 06:54:13

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok is under fire for generating sexualized images of
women and children without consent.

On Tuesday, Britain's technology official demanded urgent action from Musk's
platform X.

A Polish lawmaker cited Grok as a reason to enact digital safety laws.

The European Union, along with officials in France, India, Malaysia, and
Brazil, has condemned the platform and called for investigations.

Grok Imagine, launched in August, allows users to create images with text
prompts, including adult content.

The controversy highlights the dangers of AI-generated deepfake images.

Posted on 2026-01-06 19:58:14

China has banned exports to Japan of dual-use goods for military purposes.

The move comes at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

The Chinese commerce ministry announced Tuesday that items serving both
civilian and military purposes may not be exported to Japanese military users
and all other users that could help enhance Japanese military power.

The notice gave no details but said violators would face legal consequences.

Relations between Japan and China have worsened after Japan's Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi said in early November its military could get involved if
China were to take action against Taiwan.

Last week, China launched military drills around Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-01-06 18:58:13

A visiting Japanese lawmaker said Taiwan is not a part of China shortly after
arriving in Taipei.

Councilor Hei Seki made the remarks at Songshan Airport earlier today, saying
his entry into Taiwan proves that the People's Republic of China and the
Republic of China are different entities.

Hei Seki pointed out that although he is currently sanctioned and barred from
entering China, he was able to enter Taiwan freely—calling it "clear
evidence" of Taiwan's separate status.

The lawmaker is in the capital to attend a regional security forum at the
invitation of a local think tank.

He has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-06 18:58:13

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the city will use its own money to keep
the popular TPASS commuter program running while the national budget remains
stalled.

The central government’s total budget has not yet entered the review stage
in the legislature, raising concerns that subsidies for the monthly transit
pass could be cut off.

Hou said today that New Taipei has already set aside $1.1 billion NT for the
program this year and commuters' rights will not be harmed.

The mayor is also calling on the central government to work more closely with
opposition parties to resolve the budget deadlock quickly.

Data from the Highway Bureau shows that nearly 700,-thousand people use the
standard TPASS every month.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-06 18:58:13

New Taipei City plans to submit a feasibility report later this year on a
proposed metro line linking Xiulang Bridge Station in Zhonghe with Gongguan
in Taipei.

Mayor Hou You-yi announced the plan during an inspection at Xiulang Bridge
Station, saying the project was developed after Taipei City scrapped a larger
north-south metro proposal in 2018.

To meet strong demand from Zhonghe residents for better access to Taipei, New
Taipei is proposing a 3.1-kilometer underground line with four stations
between Xiulang Bridge and Gongguan.

A feasibility study began last July and is expected to be sent to the central
government by mid-year.

Although Taipei initially opposed the project, both cities agreed in 2023 to
extend the line north to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, creating an 8-kilometer
Zhonghe-Guangfu Line.

Currently, commuters must transfer lines, taking about 20 minutes to reach
Gongguan.

Posted on 2026-01-06 18:58:13

New data shows Taiwanese travelers showing more interest in longer trips and
less crowded destinations.

According to Lion Travel, search interest for group tours to Australia and
New Zealand has surged more than two-and-a-half times year-on-year, making
them the fastest-growing destinations in 2025.

The agency says the increase is driven by expanded flight capacity and a
shift toward long-haul travel focused on natural landscapes.

Lion Travel also notes a clear move toward slower-paced, theme-based
itineraries — a trend it describes as 'slow travel'.

Japan still remains the most searched destination overall, but preferences
are changing.

Search data shows travelers are moving away from major cities like Tokyo and
Osaka, and instead choosing regional areas such as Shikoku, Tohoku, and
Kyushu.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-06 18:58:13

The population of endemic Formosan landlocked salmon remains stable, despite
a year of typhoons and earthquakes.

The Shei-pa National Park Headquarters says a survey conducted between June
and October last year found 16-thosuand-20 of the "national treasure" fish in
the wild.

That is the third-highest number on record.

For the past five years, the population has stayed consistently around
15-thousand.

Experts say 30 years of conservation work have made the local habitat strong
enough to resist extreme weather and global warming.

The park also plans to start building a new "Ecological Experience Classroom"
this year, with the facility allowing the public to see the fish up close and
learn about conservation efforts.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-06 17:09:13

Taiwan Go Go Front has put out its first round of nominees for this year's
local elections.

That's after the New Power Party, Green Party Taiwan, Obasang, and Taiwan
Statebuilding Party announced late last year that they would be working
together in 2026.

NPP chair Claire Wang says that the alliance will continue to put out new
candidates as long as they receive new applicants.

This first round of 7 candidates for city councilors will run in Taipei's
Nangang and Neihu, Taichung's Dali Wufeng 大里霧峰, Tainan's Yongkang,
Taoyuan's Taoyuan district...

and in several district across New Taipei.

These 7 candidates represent all four of the parties that make up the Taiwan
Go Go Front.

Wang has underscored the importance of a "responsible third party" to change
the partisan landscape of Taiwanese democracy.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-06 17:09:13

Kaohsiung officials are using online videos and text messages to help farmers
and fishers prepare for a cold front that could bring temperatures below 10
degrees Celsius.

The Central Weather Administration says the drop in temperature is expected
to last through tomorrow night.

The Agriculture Bureau is advising rice farmers to flood their fields to
maintain soil temperature, while the Marine Bureau is urging fishers to build
windbreaks and increase water depth.

Officials say if water temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius, fishers
should use heating equipment to prevent mass die-offs.

The city says anyone who experiences crop or fish losses should report the
damage to their local district office to apply for government aid.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-06 17:09:13

Taiwan's electric scooter maker Gogoro is placing a major bet on Vietnam as
sales at home continue to slow.

The company says total industry sales for electric scooters in Taiwan last
year stood at just over 49 thousand units.

That's a near-38-percent drop from the year before.

And of those, Gogoro's own brand sold roughly 28 thousand units.

To fuel growth, Gogoro plans to launch mass-market electric scooters in
Vietnam through a partnership with British oil company Castrol.

Under the deal, Gogoro will provide vehicle design and core technology, while
Castrol handles sales and operations.

Gogoro says Vietnam's push to restrict gasoline motorcycles in city centers
could accelerate demand, making the market a key part of its long-term
strategy.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-06 17:09:13

And in international news...

Israel has struck areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Israel claims that the strikes targeted infrastructure used by Hezbollah and
Hamas, but did acknowledge that the sites were located in civilian areas.

One uninhabitated building was leveled, with one person taken away in an
ambulance.

This comes just days before Lebanon's army commander is scheduled to brief
the government on its mission of disarming Hezbollah in areas along the
border with Israel.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks as counter to
international and domestic efforts to extend the government's authoties in
areas long dominated by Hezbollah.

The strikes were the latest in near-daily Israeli military action since a
ceasefire signed more than a year ago that included a Lebanese pledge to
disarm militant groups, which Israel says has not been fulfilled.

Posted on 2026-01-06 14:19:13

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Qi Mai is slamming the legislature for refusing to
consider the general 2026 government budget, saying that local governments
and average joes stand to suffer.

That's as the general budget for this year still has yet to be passed by the
legislature, with many raising concerns that subsidies to TPASS will be
affected.

Chen says he hopes that the legislature will pass the budget as soon as
possible to avoid negatively affecting the public.

The mayor also noted that TPASS is not the only entity that may be impacted;
he noted that general infrastructure and MRT subsidies could also be hurt.

Meanwhile the Kaohsiung mayor also noted that the local DPP chapter is
getting ready to hold primary polling to fill his position next week.

Whoever has the strongest showing out of Qiu Yi Ying, Lin Dai Hua, Lai Rui
Long, and Xu Zhi Jie will be the DPP pick to run for mayor...

and they will face the KMT's Ke Zhi En in November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-06 14:19:13

Prosecutors in Taipei have opted not to charge a former TPP official over his
role in a controversial protest.

Lin Zhao Yin served as the TPP's organizational deputy.

Lin is accused of encouragign the public to participate in a protest outside
of the Taipei Prosecutors' Office in December of 2024.

The protest was in support of former TPP leader and Taipei Mayor Ke Wen Zhe.

But police say that Lin continued his protests despite repeated warnings from
police and was ultimately charged with violating the Assembly and Parade Act.

However, Lin claimed that he was simply waiting to hear the Taipei District
Court's decision regarding Ke's detention.

He said that the rally was spontaenous and was not organized.

Prosecutors say that there's insufficient evidence to prove Lin organized the
crowd or held a leadership position.

Therefore they opted not to prosecute.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-06 14:19:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 30447 after
gaining 341 points.

The turnover was 689 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-06 14:19:13

Now turning to international news...

Allies of Ukraine are meeting in Paris to discuss security guarantees in a
potential post-war Ukraine...

but the Trump administration's sudden focus on Venezuela has the potential to
complicate progress.

The US will be represented by the US president's envoys, including Steve
Witkoff and the president's own son-in-law, rather than Secretary of State
Marco Rubio as originally planned.

France and the UK lead efforts to strengthen post-ceasefire defenses for
Ukraine, possibly with European forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, potential troop deployments
face hurdles.

Posted on 2026-01-06 14:19:13

In the US,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top officials have briefed leaders
in Congress on US government operations in Venezuela.

The hours-long closed-door session comes amidst concerns that the US
president is embarking on a new era of expansionism without consulting
Congress.

Still, Republican leaders were largely supportive of Trump's decision to
unilaterally remove Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro...

while Democrats left the meeeting with more questions.

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that he did not expect US
troops to be on the ground in Venezuela.

That's as a war powers resolution that would prohibit military action in
Venezuela without approval from Congress is heading for a vote this week in
the Senate.

Posted on 2026-01-06 13:13:13

The mayor of Kaohsiung is speaking out following an alleged cover-up of a
sexual assault incident carried out by a senior health official.

Mayor Chen Qi Mai says, he's instructed the Health and Social Affairs Bureaus
to take on the responsibility of carrying out an internal review in order to
prevent the situation from repeating itself.

That's after KMT Lawmaker Ke Zhi En said that the city government
intentionally withheld information about the case from the public for the
last 6 months.

Prosecutors say that the suspect accessed the city's mental health care
inquiry system in June to get the contact information of a minor before
adding her on LINE and ultimately assaulting her.

Mayor Chen has defended the city's response, saying it maintained
confidentiality during the investigation in line with requirements to protect
the victim.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-06 13:13:13

Rough weather is disrupting ferry services for Green and Orchid Islands.

The Maritime and Port Bureau says all trips between Taitung and Green Island
are cancelled tomorrow, due to sea conditions.

And tomorrow's trips between Taitung and Orchid Island have now been moved up
to today.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-06 13:13:13

The Ministry of Culture is offering extra rewards to young people who use
their "Culture Points" to watch local movies with friends or during early
morning screenings.

The program is open to residents between the ages of 13 and 22, and the
ministry says more than 550-thousand people have claimed their points since
the start of the year, spending a total of nearly 59 million NT.

Now, through March 31st, the government is providing special bonuses to
encourage youth to support the domestic film industry.

Groups that spend 350 points together will receive 100 points back.

And those who attend early morning screenings can earn an additional 100
points.

There is no limit on how many times a person can receive these rewards.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-06 13:13:13

Turning to international news now and in Iran,

activists say the death toll from protests in the country has now risen to at
least 35.

Those numbers come from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency,
which said more than 1200 pepople have been detained in the protests.

Of the at least 35 dead, 29 were protesters, 4 were kids, and 2 were members
of Iran's security forces.

The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of
22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide
demonstrations.

However, these protests, which have lasted one week so far, have yet to be as
widespread and intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was
detained over not wearing hijab.

Posted on 2026-01-06 13:13:13

Early results show that the president of the Central Africa Republic has been
elected for a third term.

That's after the opposition boycotted the election since a referendum allowed
the removal of term limits.

The incumbent president fought off challenges from six candidates, but the
main opposition did not participate because of what it called an unequal
political environment.

...giving the incumbent over 76% of the vote according to those early
results.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:13

A European Parliament delegation led by European Taiwan Friendship Group
Chair Michael Gahler is visiting Taiwan this week.

The delegation is made up mainly of European People' Party members and is the
first group from the European Parliament to visit Taiwan this year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the 10-member delegation will meet
with President Lai Ching-te and other senior government officials to exchange
views on issues of mutual concern.

The delegation will hold talks with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung,
representatives from the Legislative Yuan, National Security Council, the
Mainland Affairs Council ...

.. and officials from the economics and defense ministries.

The foreign ministry says the delegation will also meet with local academics
and N-G-Os to exchange views on countering disinformation and cyberattacks,
whole-of-society resilience, Taiwan-EU economic cooperation, and Indo-Pacific
and cross-strait issues.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:14

Vice Defense Minister Hsu Si-jian says the military has protocols in place to
protect President Lai Ching-te.

The statement comes after the U-S carried out airstrikes in Venezuela and
detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro before taking him to the U-S
this past weekend.

That has raised concerns within the D-P-P about China taking similar actions
against Taiwan's head of state.

Hsu says the defense ministry has plans for a wide range of contingencies to
protect Lai and other senior government officials.

The vice defense minister says the military is in regular contact with
government agencies and holds drills to ensure that its prepared for a wide
range of scenarios.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:14

rule

Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang has signed a resignation
letter to implement the party's two-year term rule for at-large legislators.

Huang says his term at the Legislative Yuan will now run until the end of
this month.

Other at-large T-P-P lawmakers legislators are also expected to sign
resignation letters under the same party rule, which cuts the four-year
legislative term in half and enables more party members to serve as
lawmakers.

All of the resignations will be submitted on January 31, allowing new
lawmakers to take office on February 1 at the earliest and after required
procedures are completed by the Central Election Commission and the Ministry
of the Interior.

The T-P-P chair says the party must guard against risks, including
uncertainty over how long any vacancy might last and whether "someone might
take advantage of the situation."

Huang says as party chairman and caucus convenor, he will continue to
participate in party caucus operations and attend regular Tuesday and Friday
morning meetings.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:14

K-M-T lawmakers are accusing the Kaohsiung City Government of covering up a
sexual assault incident involving a senior health official.

Lawmaker Ko Chih-en claims the city government knowingly withheld information
about the case from the public for six months.

Ko and the other politicians now are demanding an apology from Kaohsiung
Mayor Chen Chi-mai and the resignation of Huang Chih-chung, the
director-general of the city's Department of Health.

They're also calling on the city's office of ethics to investigate how
information in the case was handled.

Prosecutors have said the suspect accessed the city's mental health care
inquiry system in June 2025 and obtained the contact information of a
16-year-old minor with a past trauma.

He then added her on the messaging app LINE and allegedly sexually assaulted
her.

The victim later reported the incident to the local police.

The suspect was indicted on charges of sexual assault and violations of the
Personal Data Protection Act in October of last year.

However, details of the indictments were not made public until last Friday.

The Kaohsiung City Government is defending its actions - saying it maintained
strict confidentiality during the investigation in line with prosecutors'
requirements to protect the victim.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:14

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 35 people for allegedly
laundering more than 30-billion N-T in illegal online gambling proceeds
through payment processing platforms they controlled.

Those indicted include the operator of the Ming Shiang Yuan Cafe, a Hong
Kong-style diner in Taipei, who has been charged with money laundering,
organized crime and illegal online gambling.

Prosecutor says he began operating the scheme in August of 2020 after
purchasing the source code for a payment platform system and building
services later branded as HeroPay and MatchPay.

He allegedly partnered with illegal online gambling websites operating in
China, Japan and India, routing player deposits through the two platforms
rather than directly to the gambling operators.

The group launched its own online gambling website, named Rich 11, June of
2022, offering baccarat, slot machines and sports betting, with HeroPay used
to collect player deposits.

All 35 suspects are facing charges related to violaitons of the Organized
Crime Prevention Act, the Money Laundering Control Act and Criminal Code.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:14

Costco Taiwan is set to raise its membership fees for the first time in 10
years - with the changes taking effect on April 1.

The move means that the annual cost of its Gold Star memberships, Business
memberships, and Business Add-on memberships increase from 1350 to 1,500 N-T.

However, Costco Taiwan says executive membership fees will remain unchanged,
and exclusive services and rebates of up to 30,000 N-T will also be
maintained.

Costco Taiwan last adjusted its membership fees in 2016.

The company says it has since invested in logistics improvements and
professional service centers, such as hearing and optical centers, as well as
gas stations.

Costco Taiwan says it will continue to expand its promotions during periods
such as Singles' Day and Black Friday and strengthen the price advantage of
its Kirkland Signature private label.

Costco operates 14 warehouse stores in Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:14

And,

Taiwan Railway Corporation's Jiji Line has resumed more services -- with
more trains running to Jiji Station in Nantou after they were largely
suspended for more than four years.

The 29.7 kilometer Jiji Line runs from Ershui Station in Changhua County and
crosses eastward into Nantou - serving stops including Zhuoshui, Jiji, Shuili
and the terminal station Checheng.

The first stage of service resumption covers the section from Ershui to Jiji
Station and 11 trains are now running daily to Jiji Station, and 12 are
running in the opposite direction.

Full services to Checheng Station is expected to resume around July after
remaining repair works are completed.

The railway corporation says the partially resumption of services on the line
will support both tourism and local commuting needs.

The line was partially shut down in August 2021 after torrential rain and
earthquakes triggered a major landslide along Provincial Highway 16.

The collapse buried and damaged tunnels and tracks running parallel to the
highway, forcing the suspension of rail services between Jiji and Checheng.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:15

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced the head of the
country's security service as part of a top-level reshuffle.

The move comes ahead of his trip to Paris, where he hopes to finalize
agreements with allies to prevent another Russian invasion if a peace deal is
signed.

The Paris talks, set for Tuesday, are expected to include leaders from about
30 countries, known as the “coalition of the willing.”

Zelenskyy also said he had appointed Canada's former Deputy Prime Minister
Chrystia Freeland as his economic development adviser, citing her experience
in attracting investment.

Freeland, who has Ukrainian ancestry, served as Canada's deputy prime
minister between 2019 and 2024 and was a leading international advocate for
sending aid to Kyiv.

Posted on 2026-01-06 06:52:15

South Korea and China have pledged to boost trade and safeguard regional
stability.

This announcement came during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to
Beijing on Monday.

Lee met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to China
since taking office in June.
During Lee's visit, China and South Korea signed 15 cooperation agreements in
technology, trade, and transportation.

Username
Password
Lost your password