ICRT

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

In news from the world of sport ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and were "natural fluctuations."

(AH)

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

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

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

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

while external reporting has underreported casualties.

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(JL)

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

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

But shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai lost ground.

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

The turnover was 939 billion NT.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH-CNA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(JL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Gwangju Biennale runs from now through Nov. 15.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taiwan's foreign-exchange reserves at the end of August rose from a month
earlier, as the central bank entered the forex market to prevent the US
dollar from falling further against the NT.

Data released by the central bank show the country's forex reserves stood
just below US$602 billion at the end of last month up US$7.6 billion from a
month earlier.

That ends a two-month decline.

The rebound was the steepest on-year increase in more than a year.

A central bank official said foreign institutional investors moved large sums
out of the local market in July after receiving huge cash dividends from the
listed companies in which they invested, causing the Taiwan dollar to
depreciate.

In August, foreign investors registered a net fund inflow of about US$1.2
billion as they hunted for bargains in Taiwan.

That boosted the NT, prompting the central bank to intervene -- buying
greenbacks to stabilize the pair of currencies.

CNA_JvW

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

Keelung mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) says the city government will provide
generous subsidies for people whose homes and vehicles were damaged in
flooding that occurred yesterday.

Details of the subsidy measures will be announced later this month, but in
principle, homeowners will receive between 10,000 and 30,000 NT per
household, depending on the depth of floodwaters.

This is on par with compensation offered in a previous flooding incident. In
addition, Hsieh said subsidies for owners of cars and motorcycles will be
increased to reflect actual problems faced by Keelung residents.

The mayor also noted that more heavy rain is expected, and it would take some
time to deal with the effects of the latest flood.

He also expressed gratitude to Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), who
dispatched pumps and other equipment to Keelung upon discovering that the
city had insufficient equipment at its disposal.

CNA_zh_JvW

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

The Ministry of National Defense has quietly revealed the existence of what
appears to be a hypersonic missile project.

According to the Taipei Times, the Fei Chi II (飛戟 II) weapons system appears
as a line item in a nonclassified military budget.

It is believed that this indirectly confirms that Ching Tien I (擎天)
supersonic cruise missiles have gone into service and the successor Ching
Tien II program will be implemented from next year through 2031.

According to the Taipei Times, Chinese media are calling the Fei Chi II line
item an "official leak" ... that's likely intended to enhance deterrence.

The Ching Tien II program has been the subject of speculation for years, and
the latest budget appears to provide confirmation that it is on track to be
the third generation of cruise missiles developed in Taiwan since the 1996
Taiwan Strait Crisis.

CNA_zh_JvW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(TB)

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

Foreign Affairs Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) says China's "wolf warrior"
policy is a destabilizing force in the Pacific.

According to Taipei Times and Reuters reporting, Lin made the comments upon
returning from the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau.

Taiwan participated in the summit this past week as a "development partner,"
while China participated as a "dialogue partner."

Beijing criticized Taiwan's participation, saying it wasn't qualified, adding
that its presence would have "consequences."

Palau, the host of this year's Pacific Islands Conference, is one of three
Pacific island countries that Taiwan has official diplomatic ties with.

Lin said that the "Pacific way" is about openness and inclusiveness,
according to the Taipei Times.

He said, "This kind of Chinese 'wolf warrior' diplomacy could easily
undermine unity in the Pacific, and is offensive and detestable."

During the summit, Pacific leaders adopted a resolution that condemns a
Chinese ICBM launch in July and its deleterious effect on peace and unity in
the Pacific.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-05 11:09:13

Two new gas-fired units at the Taichung Power Plant have reached full-load
capacity.

This keeps them on track for commercial operation, as Premier Cho Jung-tai
(卓榮泰) reiterated a pledge to phase out coal-fired units at the facility by
2034.

The plant, with its 10 coal-fired units, has long been criticized as a major
source of pollution in Taiwan.

Cho made the remarks during an inspection of the facility organized by
state-run Taipower.

Taipower expects the No. 1 gas unit to enter commercial operation later this
month, followed by the No. 2 unit in March.

Dismantling of coal units 1 and 2 will begin in October next year.

Four additional gas units will come online in stages between 2031 and 2024,
with two more coal units scheduled to be demolished in the same timeframe.

Taipower says six other coal units will be decommissioned and placed on
emergency standby.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

Persistent heavy rain caused 41 incidents across Taipei today .... mostly
flooding and fallen trees, as authorities stepped up disaster response
efforts.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the incidents also included landslides and
damage to buildings and other facilities.

No injuries have been reported.

In Shilin District, part of a hillside near Ziqiang Bridge collapsed,
covering an area about two meters long and three meters wide with soil.

Authorities are monitoring rainfall, river levels and landslide-prone areas,
and are urging people to stay away from mountains and waterways.

They also warned that the Keelung River near Bailing Bridge could rise above
1.8 meters.

Neighboring Keelung also reported flooding, including in parts of Dawulun
Industrial Park, where water reached knee depth in some areas.

An extremely heavy rain advisory is in effect for Greater Taipei through
tonight ... and forecasters say the north can expect the wet weather to
continue through the weekend.

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

A Taipei court has approved prosecutors' request to detain a taxi driver
accused of ramming his vehicle into the Taipei District Prosecutors Office.

The driver, surnamed Shao, was initially released on 100-thousnad NT bail,
but prosecutors sought his detention after he was unable to pay.

Police say Shao drove his taxi into the front entrance of the prosecutors
office at around 5:30 Thursday morning.

No one was injured, but the building was damaged.

Police say Shao was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.

His taxi had slogans painted on the doors, including "the judicial system is
dead".

Prosecutors suspect Shao committed several offenses, including obstructing
justice and disturbing public order.

Police say Shao had recently lost several legal cases and had posted his
frustration on social media before driving to the prosecutors office.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 20:11:13

Nobel Prize-winning chemist Arieh Warshel {AH-ree-ay VAR-shel} has become the
first Nobel laureate to receive Taiwan's Employment Gold Card.

The National Development Council presented the card to Warshel on Friday.

Warshel won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work developing
computer models to study complex chemical systems.

He is a professor at the University of Southern California and has been
invited to Taiwan to serve as an honorary chair professor at National Yang
Ming Chiao Tung University.

The National Development Council says Warshel will work with Taiwanese
researchers on talent development and research in semiconductors and other
key technologies.

Taiwan launched its Employment Gold Card program in 2018 to attract highly
skilled professionals from overseas.

The card combines a work permit and residency visa and allows holders to work
freely in Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 18:15:13

Taiwan's number of university freshmen is projected to fall by more than
50-thousand over the next 16 years ...

... as declining birth rates continue to shrink the pool of students.

The Ministry of Education estimates the number of university freshmen will
fall by an average of 3,400 a year - from about 205-thousand now to just over
150-thousand by the 2041 academic year.

University admissions platform "University TW" says vocational education
could bear the brunt of the decline.

The number of vocational high school freshmen fell by over 21 percent between
2020 and 2025, compared with a 4 percent drop at regular high schools.

The platform estimates the number of students taking the vocational college
entrance exam could fall to about 55-thousand by 2028 - more than 30 percent
lower than in 2022.

It says the shrinking student population is a structural challenge for all
universities, and is calling on both public and private institutions to cut
admissions and rethink higher education policy.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 18:15:13

Recent heavy rain in southern Taiwan has reduced blood donations and pushed
supplies to low levels.

The Kaohsiung Blood Center says southern Taiwan currently has only about 3.4
days of blood supplies on hand.

Stocks of A and O blood are even lower, with less than three days of supply
remaining.

Some blood drives were canceled during the recent downpours, while fewer
people were willing to go out and donate.

Although the weather is now improving, officials say it will take time to
rebuild supplies and ease pressure on the blood bank.

The center is urging healthy people aged 17 and older to donate as the
weather improves, provided they are not on medication ... and haven't
recently had a cold, fever or other symptoms.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 18:15:13

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

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

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

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

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

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

(TB)

Posted on 2026-09-04 17:40:14

Health officials say more than 2-thousand people in Taiwan could have H-I-V
without knowing it.

As part of a two-week testing campaign, the Centers for Disease Control is
offering buy one, get one free on H-I-V self-testing kits through September
18th.

People who order through the CDC's official HIV self-testing webpage and
choose convenience-store pickup can get two kits for 245 NT, including the
cost of one kit and delivery.

The CDC says 537 new HIV infections were reported during the first seven
months of this year, up 5 percent from the same period last year.

About 80 percent of new cases were among younger people, with unsafe sexual
activity remaining the main source of infection.

The CDC says HIV often causes no noticeable symptoms in its early stages and
recommends everyone who has been sexually active to get tested.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-09-04 17:40:14

Tainan has recorded its second-highest August rainfall in over a century,
following weeks of persistent heavy downpours.

Data shows the southern city received over 1,370 millimeters of rain across
21 days in August, with Yongkang District receiving more than 500 millimeters
of rain in 24 hours.

City officials say all 67 city pumping stations operated continuously
throughout the month, removed approximately 81 million metric tons of
stormwater, equivalent to the total storage volume of Nanhua Reservoir.

Authroties are urging residents to monitor local weather updates and clear
drainage grates of leaves and debris to prepare for upcoming storms.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-09-04 17:40:14

The 2026 Tang Prize Exhibition opened yesterday, featuring the eye tool used
by Sustainable Development laureate Susan Solomon nearly 40 years ago to help
prove that chlorofluorocarbons were the primary cause of the expanding ozone
hole.

The exhibition is taking place at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, with six
2026 laureates scheduled to visit Taiwan later this month for the award
ceremony, public lectures, and exchanges with students.

The exhibition will run for two months with free admission.

The optical tool used by Solomon measured wavelengths of moonlight and
scattered sunlight, allowing researchers to determine the concentration of
atmospheric gases and provide evidence linking CFCs to the ozone hole.

Another featured exhibit is handwritten lecture notes by Sinology laureate Ge
Zhaoguang (葛兆光) for his work on Chinese intellectual history.

Filled with revisions and attached slips of paper, the notes illustrate Ge's
habit of developing a complete argument on a single page

Posted on 2026-09-04 11:08:13

Kaohsiung prosecutors have indicted 34 people for allegedly illegally dumping
construction waste.

Prosecutors say, they generated over 62 million NT in illicit gains.

The main suspect, surnamed Huang, signed a contract with a construction
company in 2024 to handle the disposal of constrcution waste.

In 2025, he represented a company that took on a similar contract to handle
waste from a social housing project, obtaining documents authorizing them to
transport the waste to two legal soil and gravel faclities.

But, Huang allegedly instructed his staff to tell truck drivers to enter the
facilites, tilt their truck beds, and leave the site without unloading the
waste, creating the illusion that the waste had been disposed of.

Instead, the construction waste was dumped at farmland sites in Daliao
district.

Huang allegedly paid the farmland owners, and told them the waste could be
used to raise the level of their land.

Prosecutors estimate that 4045 truck trips involving illegal dumping took
palce, generating 62 million NT.

They're recommending prison sentences of more than 4 years and 10 months for
Huang and others.

Posted on 2026-09-04 11:08:13

Scholars say, Taiwan should avoid becoming overly dependent on semiconductors
while also expanding chip production with trusted partners.

A Stanford scholar made the remarks during a panel discusion on trusted
supply chains at a forum hosted by the Research Institute for Democracy,
Society, and Emerging Technology.

Experts note that the semiconductor industry has been important for Taiwan,
but that Taiwan risks devoting too many resources to a single industry...

plus, Taiwan's demographic crisis means that the industry is expanding faster
than the supply of engineers.

Scholars note that government policy could help diversify the economy and
leave room for Taiwan to have a foray into other industries, like robotics
and biotech.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The Mainland Affairs Council is confirming that group travelers to China will
not be forced to register their trips...

even under new rules requiring travel agencies to help clients do so.

Spokesperson Liang Wen Jie said that the voluntary travel registration system
is meant to help authorities keep track of Taiwanese travelers in China,
should they go missing or encounter other emergency situations.

Liang described last week's flash floods in Nepal and Tibet, saying 51
Taiwanese people had registered as being in Tibet at the time, giving
authorities a general picture of how many Taiwanese people were in the region
at the time of the accident.

His remarks came after the Tourism Administration recently instructed travel
agencies to inform travelers of the risks of visiting China, assist them in
completing the government's voluntary online travel registration, submit
relevant statistics to authorities and ensure the group is covered by travel
agency liability insurance.

Taiwan's new rules come ahead of China's implementation later this month of
new entry-exit regulations, which the MAC says may increase risks for
Taiwanese citizens.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The Coast Guard Administration says, it's closely monitoring two Chinese
vessels operating off Taiwan's east coast in an area where the exclusive
economic zones of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.

The CGA said in a statement that it dispatched the patrol vessel Chi An to
shadow the Chinese vessels that were "loitering" near Green Island.

This comes as China has stepped up activity by its coast guard and research
vessels in waters east of Taiwan since Tokyo and Manila announced in May that
they would begin talks over an area where the three EEZs overlap, which is
also claimed by China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Tokyo and Manila to include Taipei
in any future EEZ talks.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The KMT says, President Lai Ching-te should apologize for phasing out nuclear
power, as regulators indicated they were close to approving the restart of
the number 3 nuclear power plant.

The KMT's communications offices says, plans to return the plant to operation
showed that Lai's pledge to achieve a "non-nuclear homeland" by 2025 without
electricity shortages had failed.

They says that nuclear power is essential to industrial competitiveness,
artificial intelligence development, and energy security...

and that Taipower's pursuit to reopen the Number 3 Nuclear Power Plant
vindicate the KMT's calls for a more pragmatic energy policy.

Taipower applied to restart the plant in March, after amendments passed last
year allowed for the licenses of decommissioned reactors to be extended for
20 years after their original 40 year operating limit.

But the DPP said that voters would ultimately decide the issue through a
referendum on scrapping the "non nuclear homeland" policy this year.

Even if that referendum passes, restarting the plant would still require
clearning several regulatory and safety hurdles.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

The TPP's Huang Shan Shan has announced her retirement from electoral
politics.

Huang took to social media to make the announcement, saying that she had
entered nine elections since the age of 28...

including six Taipei City Council races, two legislative elections, and one
Taipei mayoral race.

She also recalled campaigning multiple times for presidential and legislative
candidates.

Huang said that she had decided not to seek a 6th term on the Taipei City
council after getting sick in 2015...

but said that she later realized her responsibilities were not complete.

But she now says that she's completed her mission, having done her best and
having no regrets.

Huang said though, that she would continue to participate in politics, just
in a different way.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

Kaohsiung officials say, record rainfall in the city has caused more than 77
million NT in agricultural losses.

The city's Agricultural Bureau says that wax apple growers were hardest hit,
losing around 80 hectares of crops worth over 18 million.

Guava growers were the second worst affected, followed by papaya farmers.

Kaohsiung received a cumulative 1712 milimeters of rainfall in August...

surpassing the previous record for August ranfall, set in 1931, and was four
times the month average.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

A taxi rammed into the Taipei prosecutors office yesterday in what was likely
a protest against court rulings involving him.

Police say they received a report that a taxi was driven into the front door
of the office.

When they arrived at the scene, police arrested the driver, surnamed Shao,
and seized his cab.

Police say, preliminary findings suggest that he may have acted out of
dissatisfaction with the outcomes of several legal cases involving him,
including one ruling issued this week.

They say, Shao vented his dissatisfaction on social media and later began
surveiling the prosecutors' office before ramming into the building.

United Daily News reported that Shao was involved in a defamation civil
lawsuit with a doctor as well as two traffic-related cases.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

Attendance

The US is citing Taiwan's contributions to Palau in a rebuke to China's
dissatisfaction at Taiwan's attendance of the Pacific Islands Forum.

ICRT Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports.

Posted on 2026-09-04 07:32:13

troops

President Lai Ching-te has honored Taiwan's fallen military personnel and
pledged that his government will provide more support for current armed
service members.

During a ceremony in Taipei yesterday on Armed Forces Day, the president
commemorared the Martyrs' Shrine, which honors the nearly half million
soldiers who died fighting during World War II for the ROC.

Lai also thanked all of Taiwan's armed service members for protecting
national security and defending Taiwan's sovereignty.

He noted that this administration has improved salaries and benefits for
miltiary personnel, and that, starting next year, military personnel, civil
servants, and teachers will see 4% salary increases.

The president said that the government will continue to improve living and
training environments for service members.

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