ICRT

Posted on 2026-11-05 15:31:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai is calling for a comprehensive review of expanded health
insurance subsidies for seniors, warning of funding and fairness concerns.

The amendment passed last month would cover premiums for older adults meeting
income tax criteria.

Cho says more than 80 percent of people aged 65 and over would qualify,
costing about 40-billion N.T. annually.

He says lawmakers did not identify a funding source.

He also criticizes the removal of provisions requiring local governments to
help disadvantaged seniors pay copayments and medical expenses outside
insurance coverage.

Cho has asked the health ministry to review the impact and gather views from
different sectors.

The Cabinet says it will respond within the law and Constitution, but has not
announced a specific course of action.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 15:31:13

Taiwan's financial regulator says it has seen no abnormal fund movements at
Bank SinoPac following a hacking incident affecting more than 400 customers.

The Financial Supervisory Commission says the bank refunded all affected
funds on Tuesday afternoon, the day of the attack.

It says customer confidence appears unaffected.

The incident involved 427 unauthorized transfers totaling nearly 42-million
N.T. dollars.

SinoPac says hackers exploited a supplier's security settings in its new
online banking transaction system.

The bank says evidence so far shows no signs of personal data leakage.

Taipei prosecutors have opened an investigation.

SinoPac has apologized and says it will seek compensation from the system
provider.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 15:31:13

The government aims to complete an environmental review for a new science
park in Tainan by the middle of next year.

National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) says the
Shalun park could provide land for future one-nanometer chip production.

The project is undergoing a second-stage environmental impact assessment,
with construction planned after the review is completed.

Wu says ecological protection requirements will be incorporated, and water
and electricity needs are already included in planning.

He stresses the park is not exclusively intended for one-nanometer chips.

It could also accommodate more advanced semiconductor processes, alongside
smart robotics, space technology, advanced medicine and biotechnology.

Wu says preparing land ahead of demand will help Taiwan maintain its
semiconductor industry advantage.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:44:13

Rescuers have found a body at a Panasonic factory in Hsinchu County, while
the search continues for another missing worker.

The explosion and fire broke out early yesterday in Hukou Township, injuring
five employees and leaving two missing.

The fire bureau says the deceased's identity has yet to be confirmed.

More than 20 people were working on production lines when the fire broke out.

Three Taiwanese workers and two Vietnamese workers were injured and taken to
hospitals.

Crews are using heavy machinery to clear debris while firefighters extinguish
remaining pockets of fire and protect search teams.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:44:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang warns that expanding health insurance
subsidies for older adults could increase pressure to raise premiums.

Lawmakers passed an amendment last month requiring the central government to
cover premiums for seniors meeting income tax criteria.

Shih says the extra spending would squeeze funding for the wider health
insurance system.

He says government funding has helped keep premiums unchanged despite rising
medical demand.

His comments follow reports that he sent text messages asking medical and
welfare groups to oppose the amendment.

Shih did not directly address those reports.

But the DPP legislative caucus is defending him.

Caucus secretary-general Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) says describing the contacts
as pressure goes too far, and explaining the amendment's impact is part of a
minister's responsibility.

Some civic groups reportedly objected, saying they felt they were being used
in an election campaign.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:44:13

A childcare advocacy coalition is urging lawmakers to pass parental leave
reforms, saying a TPP proposal could discourage shared caregiving.

The party wants maternity leave extended from eight to 14 weeks, compared
with 12 weeks under the Cabinet's proposal.

Both versions would double combined leave for spouses attending prenatal
appointments and childbirth to 14 days.

But the coalition says the party's plan lacks a key incentive for fathers to
take longer parental leave.

Under the Cabinet's proposal, both parents must each receive six months of
allowances before qualifying for three more months each.

The coalition says the TPP would allow one parent to receive all nine months
without the other's participation.

It warns this could keep mothers out of work longer, and urges passage of
reforms this session.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:44:13

Restaurant group Wowprime is investigating unusual data access involving an
outsourced shopping website for its subsidiary, Wan Hsien (萬鮮).

The company says the service provider has blocked the activity, but the scope
of affected data remains unclear.

Wan Hsien activated its cybersecurity response procedures after receiving
notice from the provider.

It has asked the contractor to identify the affected systems and data, and
strengthen security.

Wowprime says the website remains operational, with no interruption to
service.

Its initial assessment found no major impact on business operations.

The group says it will seek compensation from the provider if losses are
confirmed, and strengthen oversight of outsourced services.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:15:13

Train seats are still available for people heading home to vote in the
November 28 local elections.

Taiwan Railway and Taiwan High Speed Rail will add a combined 110 services
from November 27 to 30.

As of this morning, high-speed rail bookings stood at about 42 percent,
compared with about 24 percent for Taiwan Railway.

The transport ministry expects the biggest rush on November 27, with
high-speed rail demand peaking between 5 and 9 p.m.

Another busy period is expected from the afternoon of November 29, as
travelers return.

Passengers using nonreserved high-speed rail seating may face longer waits.

The ministry recommends booking ahead, traveling outside peak hours, or
considering Taiwan Railway and intercity buses.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:15:13

New Taipei prosecutors have indicted a city councilor for vote buying over
allegations that she handed out laundry detergent to voters in an effort to
secure their support.

Yang Chun Mei楊春妹 currently represents Lowland Indigenous voters in the New
Taipei City Council and is running for reelection this year.

Prosecutors today indicted Yang, of the KMT, as well as her husband and
assistant for allegedly violating the Public Officials Election and Recall
Act.

According to the indictment, Yang and her husband and assistant visited
Indigenous tribal culture and health stations wearing campaign gear to hand
out laundry detergent to voters while asking for voters' support.

Prosecutors estimate that the bottles of laundry detergent are worth about
100 NT.

The visits apparently took place in New Taipei's Shulin, Luzhou, and Linkou
in July.

During questioning in September, Yang admitted to handing out the detergent
but denied that it amounted to vote buying.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-05 14:15:13

scrutiny

Taiwan and other Asian stocks fell today with tech shares under pressure
after the Democrats' emphatic victory in the US midterm elections stoked
fears of tighter scrutiny on AI.

Analysts say that, with Democrats taking back the legislature, AI and data
centers are likely to face more pushback.

Taiwan shares dropped sharply, with the benchmark tai ex losing 1374 points
to close the session at 41574

The turnover was 926 billion NT

Posted on 2026-11-05 13:01:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says support for strengthening Taiwan's
defenses crosses party lines in the U.S. Congress.

His comments follow Democratic victories in the U.S. midterm elections,
giving the party control of both the House and Senate.

The results have raised questions about whether U.S. arms sales to Taiwan
could be affected.

Koo says his ministry will continue talks with U.S. lawmakers and maintain
close contact with the Pentagon.

He says those efforts aim to keep arms sales on schedule.

Koo spoke before lawmakers reviewed the government's supplementary budget for
this year.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 13:01:13

Some high-speed rail trains are still delayed after a signal fault at Banqiao
Station this morning.

Taiwan High Speed Rail says the problem has been resolved, and services are
gradually returning to normal.

Its latest update lists delays affecting some trains in both directions
between Nangang and Zuoying.

Average delays are estimated at no more than 30 minutes, though actual delays
vary by train.

The disruption began with a fault in the signaling system for a track switch
at Banqiao.

The operator says station displays carry the actual delay information.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 13:01:13

A community effort to protect land crabs on Xiaoliuqiu has earned
international recognition.

The project was selected for this year's Green Destinations Top 100 Stories
at a conference in Slovenia.

Local volunteers and conservation groups helped organize 82 nights of road
closures near Beauty Cave this year.

The closures give female crabs a safer route to the sea, where they release
their larvae.

The Dapeng Bay scenic area administration says heavy nighttime scooter
traffic puts the crabs at risk.

The community-led effort expanded from 11 nights of closures last year, with
support from local authorities and police.

One volunteer says that once traffic falls silent, the crabs' tiny footsteps
sound like tap dancing on the road.

Organizers hope to connect conservation with local jobs and working holidays.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-05 12:24:13

Taipei prosecutors have questioned 7 more people in the case of an escaped
former legislative aide who's facing corruption charges.

Zhang Jun Jie is believed to have left the country via ZhengBin 正濱Port late
last month after jumping bail 2 months ago.

Prosecutors yesterday questioned the captain of the boat that Zhang is
believed to have escaped on, and today have questioned seven others in the
case.

Prosecutors also seized a vessel called "Man Rui Fu 滿瑞富 number 6" and
questioned crew members, one of which is a Chinese national and four of whom
are Indonesian.

Zhang was an aide to independent lawmaker Kao Jin Su Mei, who has been
charged with corruption in an assistant fees case.

Prosecutors also later discovered thet Zhang likely received funds from China
to develop organizations in Taiwan, in what would be a violation of the
National Security Act.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-05 12:24:13

Taipei mayoral hopeful Puma Shen is urging voters to turn out on election
day, saying that he will keep working to reach different sectors of Taipei to
urge support from voters.

Shen made the comments this morning while visiting the Huannan Market with
local candidates for city council to campaign.

Shen said, his campaign has gone from trailing Mayor Chiang Wan an in the
polls by 30 points to being a competitive opponent.

He added that, with less than a month to go before the election, the final
battle is voter turnout.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-05 12:24:13

A Threads user has been charged for allegedly disseminating a deepfake video
of Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei,

The woman, surnamed Cui崔, was charged with violating the Personal Data
Protection Act and defamation.

The deepfake in question shows Chien asking city officials for one million
pages of documents during a city council interpellation session.

The video was not made by Cui herself, and it's not clear where she got the
video from.

After Cui allegedly posted the video on Threads in July, Chien reported the
incident to police, saying it had caused her great harm.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-05 12:24:13

And finally,

Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu says successive waves of northeasterly
monsoons will bring cooler weather to the island next week.

According to Wu, a northeast monsoon is set to arrive tomorrow and last into
Saturday morning - bringing rain and a drop in temperatures to the Greater
Taipei area and east.

The weather pattern is forecast to weaken on Saturday - resulting in clear
skies and rising temperatures and only only brief localized showers in the
east.

However, a stronger northeasterly monsoon will begin effecting Taiwan next
Monday and is expected to bring significant rainfall to the windward side of
Taiwan proper with a stronger cold air mass resulting in much cooler weather.

That northeasterly monsoon is forecast to weaken on Wednesday.

Posted on 2026-11-05 11:30:13

Meteorologist Wu Der-rong says showers and cooler weather is headed for
northern and eastern Taiwan starting tomorrow.

Wu says a weak cold front will bring localized rain and cooler weather to
Greater Taipei and eastern areas through Saturday.

And a stronger second wave of cold air will arrive Monday, increasing
rainfall and dropping temperatures further

Central and southern Taiwan will continue to enjoy mostly sunny skies with
noticeable day-and-night temperature differences.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-11-05 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Lawmakers have unfrozen funding for 74 budget items under the Ministry of
National Defense's 2026 general budget.

However, several major items, including the procurement of National Advanced
Surface-to-Air Missile Sysyems and follow-up submarines under the Indigenous
Defense Submarine program, remain unresolved.

Lawmakers agreed to unfreeze funding for 54 of 201 frozen items, after
certain conditions were met following a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's
Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

Funding for another 20 items was unfrozen after the defense ministry
submitted written reports to the committee.

Among the items unfrozen were 5-million N-T in funding for more than 1,900
man-portable Stinger missiles and 200-million N-T in funding for missile
systems for attack drones requested by the Army

Another 100-million N-T for the second phase of a Navy project to construct a
prototype of a "next-generation light cruiser," as well as 80-million N-T for
the procurement of US-made submarine-launched MK48 torpedoes, were also
unfrozen.

Posted on 2026-11-05 08:14:13

The National Police Agency says it is actively taking measures to crack down
on suspected foreign interference ahead the upcoming local elections.

According to the agency, there are currently nine active investigations under
into alleged election interference involving external forces working with
criminal organizations.

Prosecutors have handed down indictments in four of those cases.

Law enforcement authorities say the N-P-A is working to identify individuals
or entities involved in politically motivated election interference and
uncovering the networks behind them.

Police agency is also warning warning of the spread of election
disinformation - saying that's taking place via social media and messaging
apps.

Police has reported 184 suspected cases of disinformation and of that number
112 have been referred to prosecutors for further investigation.

Posted on 2026-11-05 08:14:13

transactions

Bank SinoPac says it has found no evidence of customer data or personal
information being leaked following over 400 unauthorized transactions
involving 419 customer accounts earlier this week.

According to the bank, an investigation has found that the transactions
resulted from external hackers breaching security settings at suppliers of
the bank's new mobile banking system.

The incident involved 427 unauthorized transactions.

Each one saw about 100,000 N-T transferred from SinoPac accounts to a single
account at another bank.

The total amount transferred stood at approximately 41.76million N-T.

Financial Supervisory Commission has temporarily frozen the receiving account.

Bank SinoPac has said it had immediately reported the incident to authorities
after being notified of the irregularities and hired an independent
cybersecurity team to identify the source of the breach.

It has also confirmed that all affected customers have been reimbursed.

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has opened an investigation into the
case as a computer security offense.

Posted on 2026-11-05 08:14:13

The National Immigration Agency has deported Chinese national who arrived at
Taoyuan International Airport earlier this week from Thailand and had sought
asylum here in Taiwan.

According to the agency, Cheng Wan-jun remained at the airport after arriving
on a connecting flight from Bangkok Monday before being deported back there
yesterday.

The immigration agency says he as held in a designated area at the airport,
where he was provided with meals and a place to rest but and was not allowed
to move about freely.

Cheng took social media shortly after arriving in Taiwan to say he a former
host at China Central Television and was seeking temporary humanitarian
protection in Taiwan.

Cheng said he was sentenced to six years in prison in 2019 for criticizing Xi
Jinping and that he was forced to go into exile abroad after his release he
in order to publish writings he had produced while in prison.

The immigration agency says it consulted with the Mainland Affairs Council
and determined Cheng was not eligible to seek asylum because he lacked valid
entry documents and had not provided strong enough evidence to back up his
claims.

Posted on 2026-11-05 08:14:13

The Coast Guard Administration says a man has been indicted after being
caught entering Kinmen from China with a marmot and eight turtles taped to
his inner thighs.

According to the administration, the man was stopped as he returning to
Kinmen by ferry from Quanzhou in China in mid-July based on intelligence
reports concerning the smuggling of "prohibited items."

Officers found eight black-breasted leaf turtles, each wrapped inside elastic
stockings and a marmot stuffed inside a mesh bag taped to his inner thigh.

He was arrested on suspicion of violating the Act on Wildlife Conservation
and the Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases.

Officials say the man admitted to purchasing the turtles in China for 200 N-T
and could have sold them for between 9,000 and 30,000 N-T here in Taiwan.

The seized animals were handed over to the Kinmen County Animal and Plant
Disease Control Center.

Posted on 2026-11-05 08:14:13

And finally,

A survey by the National Taiwan Normal University has found that braised pork
rice is the food most representative of Taiwan's cuisine.

According to the university, the survey showed that 29.2-per cent of
respondents chose braised pork rice, while Stinky tofu ranked second with
11.8-per cent of respondents saying that dish exemplified Taiwan cuisine.

Bubble tea was third 10.5-per cent.

The research team says the three leading choices were not typically served at
formal banquets, suggesting that what Taiwan people like to eat reflects
their everyday eating habits.

Other choices included Taiwan fried chicken, oyster omelets, beef noodles,
rice balls and gua bao listed in the same category, rice dumplings,
stir-fried dishes and braised dishes.

The survey also asked respondents about their preferences for foreign
cuisines, which found that Japanese cuisine ranked first followed by Thai
cuisine and Western food.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan continues to enjoy bipartisan
support in the United States Congress and will work with both major parties
to strengthen Taipei-Washington ties following the Democrats' midterm
election victories.

According to the ministry, the government has consistently taken a
nonpartisan approach in its dealings with the Republican and Democratic
parties and has long enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress, as well as
consistent backing from the U-S executive branch.

The ministry says building on that foundation, the Lai administration will
continue to deepen cooperation with the U-S across various sectors and work
to maintain support for Taiwan-US relations in Congress and among local
governments.

The statement comes after Democrats won majorities in both the Senate and the
House of Representatives this week's midterm elections, taking control of
Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump's term.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

The Coast Guard Administration has seized two fishing boats in Keelung as
part of an investigation into the disappearance of an legislative aide who
jumped bail in September after being indicted on corruption charges.

According to the administration, a fishing boat suspected of helping
transport Chang Chun-chieh out of Taiwan was intercepted in waters near
Pengjia Islet, while a second vessel was seized at at Zhengbin Fishing Port
in Keelung.

The captain of the boat seized near Pengjia Islet was questioned, but denied
any involvement in assisting in Chang's escape.

While the crew of the other boat has also been questioned and its voyage data
recorder has been handed to the Fisheries Agency for examination.

The seizes of the fishing boats comes amid reports Cheng fled Taiwan from
Keeling in late October.

Ocean Affairs Council head Kuan Bi-ling says whether the vessels and the
captain were directly linked to Chang's flight remains to be clarified by
prosecutors.

Chang has been on the run for nearly two months after breaking his electronic
monitor at Daan Forest Park in Taipei on September 6 after being released on
10-million N-T bail.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

Taiwan's AerosoarX has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukrainian
unmanned systems company UFORCE to explore ways to cooperate on supply
chains.

According to AerosoarX, the agreement allows the two companies to use
Taiwan's technology and manufacturing capabilities to help UFORCE diversify
its component suppliers and build a more flexible and resilient supply chain.

AerosoarX Chairman Lo Cheng-fang says his company hopes to use Taiwan's
capabilities to meet UFORCE's global needs, at a time when unmanned systems
companies worldwide are facing difficulties securing reliable supplies of
critical parts.

Lo also says the two companies will explore potential suppliers and consider
other ways to work together under the deal.

UFORCE specialized in unmanned systems technology, develops unmanned
platforms for maritime, land and aerial applications, as well as artificial
intelligence software and command-and-control systems.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation has confirmed that eight employees
have been found to have falsified inspection records for the Yunlin section
of line over a five-year period.

According to corporation president Chen Hui-yu, an investigation into the
incidents remains ongoing, but all eight employees have since resigned.

The statement comes after reports surfaced suggesting that the employees
resigned within the past month.

All eight of the employees were part of a team responsible for track and
power maintenance on the Yunlin section of the high-speed rail line and they
falsified records of "nighttime track inspections," over multiple years.

The case was uncovered in August after discrepancies were found between G-P-S
data from vehicles used by maintenance personnel responsible for the Yunlin
section and their inspection records.

The corporation president says supervisors at the time had been negligent in
overseeing routine nighttime inspections because they expected maintenance
vehicles to conduct more thorough inspections every month.

Deputy Transport Minister Chen Yen-po says his office will instruct the
Railway Bureau to step up its oversight of the high speed rail corporation.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

Taichiung's two main mayoral candidates have both attended the opening
ceremony for a new bus transfer center.

Speaking at the opening of the Taichung Transfer Center, outgoing Mayor Lu
Shiow-yen said the complex is expected to make transfers safer and more
convenient for commuters.

The center cost of more than 2.1-billion N-T to build.

It has two above-ground floors and three underground levels as well as 12
parking spaces for large buses and serves 27 intercity and city bus routes.

K-M-T mayoral candidate Johnny Chiang told reporters that center "serves not
merely as a transit hub, but as a landmark in the oldest part of the city"
and said he believes Taichung needs more transportation hubs.

While the D-P-P's Ho Hsin-chun called on city authorities to ensure the
center provides clear transfer information and better coordination of bus
routes and schedules to minimize passenger waiting times and improve
efficiency.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

An investigation is ongoing into the cause of an explosion and fire at
Panasonic Holdings overseas production sites in Hsinchu County's Hukou
Township.

Five people were injured in a fire, while two people remain missing.

The Hsinchu County Fire Bureau says three Taiwanese and two Vietnamese
employees were conscious and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Two Taiwanese employees remained missing.

The company says there were 20 people in the building at the time of the
fire.

Local officials say smoke and pollutants from the fire affected more than 100
nearby households and the Hukou Township head says he will
assist local residents seek compensation.

The factory, which is run by Panasonic Industrial Devices Materials Taiwan,
conducts research and development and manufactures printed circuit boards and
semiconductor packaging materials.

Posted on 2026-11-05 07:02:14

And,

The National Taiwan University has maintained its 23rd place ranking in the
2027 Q-S Asia University Rankings.

It means the university remains Taiwan's highest-ranked institution in the
rankings, which are published by British higher education research firm
Quacquarelli Symonds.

The National Taiwan University was Taiwan's top performer in the academic
reputation and employer reputation categories, ranking ninth and 19th in
Asia, respectively.

This year's rankings placed seven Taiwanese universities among Asia's top
100, including four in the top 50.

The National Cheng Kung University posted the biggest jump among the local
schools, climbing 10 places to 33rd.

The National Tsing Hua University and the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung
University also made the top 50.

A total of 59 Taiwanese institutions were included in this year's rankings
and Q-S says internationalization remains Taiwan's biggest weakness

The University of Hong Kong retained the top spot in the rankings, followed
by Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Posted on 2026-11-04 19:07:13

A Chinese national who sought asylum in Taiwan after arriving at Taoyuan
International Airport has been deported to Thailand.

The National Immigration Agency says Cheng Wanjun (程萬軍) was sent back early
today after authorities determined he was not eligible to seek asylum because
he lacked valid entry documents and had not provided concrete evidence to
support his claims.

Cheng identified himself as a former host at China Central Television and
said he had been jailed for criticizing China's leadership before going into
exile.

He also claimed the U-N refugee agency in Thailand had classified his case as
high risk and could not guarantee his safety.

The N-I-A says Cheng was provided with food and a place to rest while his
case was reviewed.

However, he sustained injuries while resisting attempts to board the flight
back to Thailand.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-11-04 19:07:13

Eight Taiwan High Speed Rail employees have resigned after being found to
have falsified nighttime track inspection records in Yunlin County over a
five-year period.

Company President Chen Hui-yu (陳惠裕) told lawmakers today that the case was
uncovered in August after investigators found discrepancies between vehicle
GPS data and inspection records.

Chen says the employees failed to carry out required checks, while
supervisors were also negligent in overseeing the inspections.

The company says it has reviewed records across its entire network and found
similar irregularities only in Yunlin.

It is continuing its investigation and says supervisors involved will also
face disciplinary action.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says it will ask the
Railway Bureau to strengthen its oversight of the high-speed rail operator.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-11-04 18:20:13

A civic group from Penghu staged a protest outside Taipei City Hall today ...
against relocating Taipei Songshan Airport.

The group .... known as the "Penghu Exploring for the Future Development
Association" .... is concerned the proposal could disrupt transportation
links between Taipei and the outlying island.

Separately, KMT Penghu magistrate candidate Chen Chen-chung (陳振中) has again
voiced his opposition ... rejecting Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's claim that
he had reached a consensus with candidates from Taiwan's outlying islands.

Chen says Penghu was not included in those discussions and no agreement was
reached.

Meanwhile, Penghu KMT County Party Committee Chairman Chen Shuang-chuan (陳雙全)
has raised concerns with the party's central leadership, warning the proposal
could affect Penghu's interests and hurt the election campaign.

Penghu County Council Speaker Chen Yu-jen (陳毓仁) says any decision to relocate
the airport would ultimately rest with central government agencies, including
the transportation and defense ministries.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-04 18:20:13

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has launched an investigation after
hundreds of Bank SinoPac customers reported unauthorized transfers from their
accounts.

The Financial Supervisory Commission says the bank has identified 427
suspicious transactions affecting 419 customers, involving more than
40-million NT.

Each transfer was worth around 100-thousand NT, with the money sent to a
single account at Taipei Fubon Bank, which has since been temporarily frozen.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says police had received 68 reports by noon
yesterday, and the case is being investigated as a possible computer-related
crime.

Meanwhile, Bank SinoPac has notified affected customers and advanced its own
funds to restore the money taken from their accounts.

The F-S-C says it has instructed the bank to ensure that customers' interests
are protected.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-04 18:20:13

China Airlines is giving passengers a chance to ring in 2027 at 30-thousand
feet with its first-ever New Year's Eve themed flight from Taipei to Bangkok.

The airline says flight C-I-837 will depart on December 31st aboard an Airbus
A321neo, with tickets going on sale tomorrow at 10 AM through its official
website and app.

Passengers can look forward to an in-flight celebration, special meals and
drinks, commemorative certificates and a chance to win airline miles and
Pikachu aircraft models.

Economy-class passengers will also be treated to Thai-style grilled chicken
rice, along with specially designed desserts and drinks.

And not only that ...

Passengers arriving in Bangkok will receive free transport cards for the
city's Skytrain system and complimentary Thai tea, along with discounts on
spa treatments and selected hotels.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-04 16:11:13

The Ministry of Agriculture says Taiwan should have enough pig feed through
the end of the year, despite a shutdown at a major soybean oil producer.

The plant remains closed after tests found excessive levels of a
cancer-causing chemical in its oil.

The shutdown has cut supplies of soybean cooking oil and soybean meal, a key
ingredient in pig and chicken feed.

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) says the ministry has asked other
producers to increase output.

It's also adjusting feed formulas to use less soybean meal and helping
companies import enough to cover any shortfall.

Separately, the ministry is helping pig farmers switch to other types of feed
ahead of a nationwide ban on feeding pigs food waste.

The ban takes effect January first.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-04 16:11:13

The Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry
opens Sunday in Tainan, with a space industry expo that offers free public
admission on the first day.

The conference runs through Wednesday at the International Convention Center
in Tainan.

The expo's public day runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and requires advance
registration.

Test equipment maker Keysight Technologies says it will show how it tests
satellites and checks that their communications systems work.

The company also plans to hold a forum on satellite testing and networks that
use satellites to provide coverage beyond ground-based systems.

Keysight says it has joined a Taiwan Space Agency initiative to support local
satellite startups through seminars and technical exchanges.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-04 16:11:13

The 7th Taiwan Science Festival kicks off Saturday, showcasing environmental
and renewable energy at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung

Officials say this year's festival, themed "Sharing science, launching
sustainability", emphasizes climate change awareness and green energy.

Special exhibition highlights include a limited-edition "Geothermal Coffee"
and geothermal exploration documentary screenings on Nov. 14-th.

The museum will also unveil an exhibition on the Zhuoshui River basin
exploring how river ecology shapes human communities.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the museum, the nine-day
science festival also includes interactive showcases across five national
science museums.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:56:13

Officials say, 2 pilots on a T-34 trainer aircraft are safe after a bumpy
landing at Gangshan Air Force Base in Kaohsiung.

The plane itself apparently sustained "minor damage" to its nose during a
training exercise.

Officials confirmed the reports about DPP Lawmaker Luo Mei Ling asked about
the incident during a legislative meeting.

Officials add that the military has ruled out mechanical failure and
determined that the incident was caused by "technical error."

The runway was closed following the incident but was expected to reopen
shortly.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:56:13

The Taipei International Blues Bash returns to Maji Square this Saturday for
a ten-hour live music event.

The festival runs from noon until 10:00 PM, featuring country blues, Chicago
classics, swing, British pub rock and more.

Acclaimed Japanese guitarist Shun Kikuta headlines the main stage at 9:00 PM,
while teh daytime lineup includes sets by BoPoMoFo, Cooky & The Blues Boys,
and David Chen and The Seventh Sons.

Visitors can also join an interactive blues dance performance and taster
class starting at 7:05 PM.

The event is free and open to the public.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:56:13

The Coast Guard Administration says a man attempting to smuggle animals into
Kinmen has been indicted.

Officials say the suspect was stopped after returning to Kinmen by a ferry
from Quanzhou, China earlier this year.

Officers found he had concealed eight black-breasted leaf turtles, each
wrapped inside stockings and taped to one thigh.

And a marmot, a kind of large ground squirrel, was sedated and secured to his
other thigh.

If successfully smuggled into Taiwan, each of the turltes could have sold for
up to $30-thousand NT on the black market., or passed off as a rarer species
and sold for up to $75-thousand NT.

As for marmots, the Coast Guard noted that the species serves as a primary
natural host for the pneumonic plague, creating a risk of the deadly disease
spreading if the animal did not undergo proper quarantine.

Officials add that suspected smuggling and other illegal activities can be
reported via the Coast Guard's 24-hour "118" hotline.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:40:13

A fire at a Panasonic factory in Hsinchu County has left 2 missing and 5
injured.

Three of the injured are Taiwanese nationals, while 2 are Vietnamese.

The two missing are both Taiwanese nationals.

The Hsinchu County government is warning of poor air quality and is advising
residents against outdoor exercise.

Residents are also advised to steer clear of the area where the fire took
place, which is on Hukou Township's Guangfu Road.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:40:13

The Coast Guard Administration is questioning a ship captain believed to have
helped a former legislative aide escape the country.

That's after the Ocean Affairs Council said this morning that they believe
Zhang Jun Jie張俊傑 left the country from Keelung at the end of last month.

Zhang is suspected of conspiring with lawmaker Gao Jin Su Mei, who faces
corruption charges for allegedly embezzling assistant fees.

The CGA says, they were able to track down the captain of the ship that is
believed to have helped Zhang escape, although the ship that is believed to
have aided the escape did not turn up any clues as to Zhang's whereabouts.

Zhang jumped bail nearly two months ago and has been on the run ever since.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:40:13

Braised pork rice is the food that best represents Taiwan, according to a new
survey by National Taiwan Normal University.

Nearly three in ten respondents picked the dish.

Stinky tofu came in second, followed by bubble tea.

Beef noodle soup drew just under three percent.

The researcher who led the survey says the results show how closely people
identify Taiwanese food with what they eat every day.

He points out that braised pork rice and stinky tofu rarely appear at formal
banquets.

Japanese food was the clear favorite among foreign cuisines, with 44 percent
of respondents choosing it.

Thai food came in second, followed by Western food.

The university surveyed just over a thousand people by phone in August.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:32:13

The Coast Guard has brought in a fishing boat and its captain as authorities
investigate whether a wanted legislative aide fled by sea from Keelung.

Ocean Affairs Council Chair Kuan Bi-ling says the boat went to sea on October
28th.

She says no one was found in the cabin and the captain denies involvement.

Prosecutors are still checking whether the boat is linked to the case.

The aide, Chang Chun-chieh, worked for independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei.

He was charged in a corruption case and is also suspected of involvement in a
Chinese espionage case.

A court issued a warrant after he went on the run while out on bail in
September.

Taipei prosecutors have directed police to review video footage to check
reports that Chang left from Zhengbin Fishing Harbor.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:32:14

Starting in late December, drivers aged 75 and older who cause a crash by
breaking traffic rules will have to pay for training before they can renew
their licenses.

The Ministry of Transportation says those drivers must complete hands-on
training at a driving school.

The requirement follows a change in May that lowered the age for routine
license renewal from 75 to 70.

Drivers who turn 70 can renew through age 75 after passing a medical exam and
taking a free safety course.

From age 75, licenses are renewed every three years.

The changes are part of a broader overhaul that also adds questions on
spotting hazards to the written driving tests.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:32:14

Prosecutors have charged a Taipei borough chief with corruption.

Xia Wan Lang夏萬浪 allegedly used fake receipts to get reimburesement for what
he claimed were borough expenses, but wherein he allegedly took in over
44,000 NT in illegal gains.

Prosecutors charged him under the Anti-Corruption Act.

Xia, chief of Zhongzheng's WangXi allegedly made the claims under the guise
of Mother's Day events from 2016 to 2019.

Prosecutors say that he collected blank receipts from local shops, filled in
items that did not match what those stores actually sold, inflated unit
prices and quantities, thus inflating total expenses.

He then asked a resident who was unaware of the scheme to submit the receipts
for reimbursement.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-04 14:32:14

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 358 points to
close the session at 42948.

The turnover was 1.114 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-11-04 08:15:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Financial Supervisory Commission says Bank SinoPac is still investigating
the cause of 427 unauthorized transactions totaling more than 40-million N-T
and affecting 419 customers.

According to the F-S-C's Banking Bureau, it was notified by the SinoPac
shortly before noon that customers had reported unauthorized transfers from
their accounts despite not having logged into the bank's new mobile banking
app.

An initial review by the bank found that all the transfers had been sent to a
single account at another bank.

Each transaction involved about 100,000 N-T.

The F-S-C says the receiving account has been temporarily frozen.

The commission also says Bank SinoPac proactively notified affected customers
and was is its own funds to reimburse them.

The bank has also taken its new mobile banking app offline and is directing
customers to use the older version of the app or ATMs for transactions.

Posted on 2026-11-04 08:15:14

The Cabinet's 607.6-billion N-T supplementary budget bill has advanced to
committee review after Premier Cho Jung-tai briefed lawmakers on the plan and
answered questions.

The spending plan was proposed in September as part of the 2026 general
budget.

It will push government expenditure for fiscal year 2026 47.55-billion N-T
above revenue.

Legislative party caucuses have agreed to review and vote on the package
before the of this month.

The largest portion of the supplementary budget includes capital injections
and subsidies for C-P-C and support for Tai-Power due to rising energy costs.

The plan includes defense spending for the procurement of unmanned systems
and a new surface-to-air defense system.

And it also includes funding for cost-of-living stabilization, enhancements
to social welfare programs as well as increased compensation for civil
servants, military personnel, and teachers.

Posted on 2026-11-04 08:15:14

Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Peng Jin-lung says momentum in
Taiwan's capital markets has accelerated over the past year, driven by
soaring tech stocks boosted by the A-I boom.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Taiwan Weeks 2026, Peng said Taiwan's
markets have soared over the past year as listed companies have set new
records for sales and profits.

The value of Taiwan's stock market has surged more than 60-per cent from a
year earlier as of the end of October, with the Tai-Ex climbing from around
28,000 points at the end of October 2025 to above 45,000 points a year later.

Peng told attendees that lifted the market's capitalization to 158-trillion
N-T at the end of October - an increase of about 61-per cent from a year
earlier.

The annual Taiwan Weeks event is aimed at showcasing the development of
Taiwan's financial sector and Peng said it's expected to help investors
around the world better understand investment opportunities in Taiwan.

This year's theme is "From Tech Island to Capital Hub: Where Capital Meets
Technology."

Taiwan Weeks 2026 runs until November 13.

Posted on 2026-11-04 08:15:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it has now purchased a
property in Sydney to house its new representative office there.

According to the ministry's Department of General Affairs, a deal was signed
to purchase a property in Sydney in April.

Department director-general Chen Jin-ling says ownership of the property was
officially transferred to the government in October and the ministry is
currently seeking a contractor to renovate the property.

Chen says renovation work could take several months, and the office is
expected to move to the new location before the end of 2027.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney is currently located in
rented office space.

The foreign ministry also says it plans to build its own embassy compound in
Belize.

The project was approved by the Cabinet last year.

It was originally estimated to cost 123-million N-T and take 25 months to
complete.

However, Taiwan's embassy in Belize said earlier this month that additional
funding would be needed for the project, citing soaring construction costs
due to conflicts in the Middle East.

Posted on 2026-11-04 08:15:14

The Centers for Disease Control says flu activity has been declining, but
could pick up again ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays in February.

According to the C-D-C, a total of 95,916 people sought medical treatment for
flu-like illnesses from October 25 through 31 and that was decline of 7.3
percent from the previous week.

The C-D-C says flu activity last week fell below the threshold for an
epidemic and if it remains below that level for a second consecutive week,
Taiwan will have exited the epidemic phase.

However, health officials say based on past trends, flu activity could begin
rising again around the Lunar New Year holidays.

The CDC recorded 151 new severe flu cases and 46 flu-related deaths last
week, most involving people who had not been vaccinated.

The publicly funded flu and COVID-19 vaccination programs have now been
expanded to all adults aged between 50 and 64.

The C-D-C is urging seniors, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses
and healthy adults aged 50 and older, to get vaccinated against flu and
COVID-19 as soon as possible to reduce the risk of severe illness and
complications.

Posted on 2026-11-04 08:15:14

The National Immigration Agency is refusing to comment on a case involving a
former Chinese television host who's looking for temporary asylum in Taiwan.

According to the agency, it's working with other government agencies to
handle the case through existing protocols

The statements come after former China Central Television talk show host
Cheng Yuan-jun yesterday took to social media to say he's seeking temporary
asylum on humanitarian grounds as he looks for permanent resettlement in a
third country.

Cheng arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on Monday on a flight from
Thailand.

He claims to have hosted legal affairs programs Chinese state television and
says he was detained in 2019 in Beijing and sentenced to six years in prison
on charges of illegal business operations.

Cheng social media posts say he moved to Thailand following his release, but
was concerned Thai authorities could send him back to China.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

The government is said to be working to secure formal invitation from China
to attend the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen.

This, according to Premier Zhu Rong-tai who also says the Lai administration
will not rush into a decision on whether to attend the summit.

Lai administration officials say China sent a letter, instead of a formal
invitation, for Taiwan to attend the upcoming APEC summit.

The letter did not refer to Taiwan by its official APEC title of "Chinese
Taipei"... which the government says downgraded Taiwan's status.

Zhu is urging China to follow established APEC practices by sending a special
envoy to personally deliver invitations to member economies.

The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting takes place on November 18 and 19.

President Lai China-te has reportedly chosen a representative for this year’s
summit and officials say the Presidential Office will make an announcement
concerning its choice in the coming days.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

Nasdaq Executive Vice Chairman Edward Knight says Taiwan stands at the center
of artificial intelligence development.

Knight said Taiwan's A-I exposure stands at 71-per cent, the highest in the
region, while Taiwan's equity market capitalization has become the fourth
highest globally, surpassing the U-K and India because of that A-I exposure.

The Nasdaq Executive Vice Chairman added that equity markets can accelerate
A-I development by directing capital toward productive investments and help
companies fund research, build facilities and hire workers - a process that's
evident in Taiwan.

Knight also expressed his optimism about Taiwan's future and said that Taiwan
shared values of optimism, innovation and leadership with the United States
and Nasdaq.

Knight's comments were made during Taiwan Weeks 2026. which runs until
November 13.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

Five opinion polls released since early October have shown different levels
of support for Taichung mayoral candidates Johnny Chiang of the K-M-T and the
D-P-P's Ho Hsin-chun.

Four of the polls put Chiang ahead, while one shows Ho in the lead.

The most recent survey was released on Tuesday by the Taipei Trust in
Democracy Association and conducted by polling expert Tai Li-an.

It shows Ho with 41.1-per cent support, compared with Chiang's 30.4-per cent.

Two of the earlier poll put Chiang leading Ho by between 38.3 and 39.8-per
cent, while the two other polls, showed Chiang ahead of Ho by 1.9 and
6-percentage points.

Ho told reporters that the results reflects a growing public demand for
change and she attributed the sentiment to stalled municipal development and
unresolved problems affecting residents' daily lives.

Meanwhile, Chiang's campaign office said in a written statement that it
respected the findings of various opinion polls and would take them into
consideration.

However, it stressed that the most accurate measure of public opinion would
be the votes cast on election day.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

The Army has removed the commander of the Hsinchu-based 206th Brigade amid an
ongoing investigation into allegations that one of the unit's soldiers took
her own life after being bullied.

The Army Command Headquarters says the brigade's commander and director of
political warfare were removed from their posts... an internal investigation
found them to have been derelict in their duties in connection with the death
of the lieutenant.

Both the brigade's commander and director of political warfare are colonels.

Army Command Headquarters added that civilian prosecutors have also launched
an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the
lieutenant.

The command also says Army will cooperate with prosecutors and take
responsibility for the incident.

The soldier was found dead on September 30 after falling from an on base
building in what was suspected to be a suicide.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts in Taiwan, please call the 1925,
1995, or 1980 hotlines for help.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

The Taipei City Parks and Streetlights Office has released details of a
Songshan Airport transition plan.

The plans were devised after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the
proposal last month.

Chiang's plan called for the 300-hectare site to be redeveloped into a
100-hectare AI industry cluster, a 90-hectare residential area and a
110-hectare "Taipei Central Park" that would be more than four times the size
of Daan Forest Park.

Park officials say a feasibility study and preliminary planning would need to
be done before proceeding to the park's basic design due to the scale of the
project.

But the office says based on preliminary plans, the park could feature an
agricultural zone with "hands-on farming experiences" and extensive
tree-planting to create an "urban forest."

The park may also include a central lawn for recreation activities, a wetland
conservation area, a management center and an area commemorating the site's
history.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

Most men and women of childbearing age say they would need over 1-million N-T
in savings before considering having children.

That's according to the 2026 Taiwan Childbearing Needs Survey conducted by
the Taipei Fertility Clinic.

About 37-per cent of respondents said they would need at least 1.5-million
N-T in savings that could be used flexibly, excluding funds set aside for
buying a home.

The clinic says another 22.4-per cent of respondents said they would need
between 1-million and 1.5-million N-T in savings before considering having a
child.

The survey also found that nearly 67-per cent of respondents earn around
700,000 N-T a year.

Vivian Chen, an attending physician at T-F-C's reproductive center, says that
highlights the gap between financial circumstances and the conditions most
men and women of childbearing age consider necessary to have children.

Posted on 2026-11-04 06:55:13

A National Central University student has captured images of rare red sprites
on three occasions... a move that could help scientists understand them
better.

The university says the student, Wang Tung, recorded the phenomena between
May and September using camera equipment set up on a dormitory rooftop.

The university says the three events were linked to thunderstorms near
China's Fuzhou, off the coast of Wenzhou, and north of Shantou, respectively,
all hundreds of kilometers from Taoyuan.

Red sprites are dramatic red streaks of lighting that happen in a cluster 50
to 90-kilometers above thunderstorms.

Posted on 2026-11-03 20:06:13

The Cabinet's proposed 607.6-billion-NT spending plan for next year has moved
to committee review after Premier Cho Jung-tai answered questions from
lawmakers.

The proposal includes 145.7-billion NT for defense, including coastal attack
and surveillance drones, unmanned boats and a new missile defense system.

It also sets aside 233.8-billion NT for state-run oil supplier CPC, which has
accumulated losses partly because of government efforts to keep fuel and
natural gas prices stable.

Another 11.1-billion NT would fund planned allowance increases for military
personnel, civil servants and local officials.

The additional spending would leave the government facing a budget shortfall
of around 47.6-billion NT next year, with more than 200-billion NT in
government debt also needed to cover spending and debt repayments.

Posted on 2026-11-03 20:06:13

Bank SinoPac is investigating a software glitch that led to 427 unauthorized
transfers totaling more than 40-million NT and affecting 419 customers.

The Financial Supervisory Commission says the transactions were sent to a
single account at another bank, with each transfer involving around
100-thousand NT. The receiving account has been temporarily frozen.

Bank SinoPac says the problem was caused by a software glitch in its new
mobile banking system and that all affected customers have been reimbursed,
including transaction fees.

The bank has taken the new app offline and is directing customers to use its
older version or ATMs while it investigates.

The FSC has ordered the bank to submit an initial report by the end of
Tuesday and a detailed account by November 12th.

It will decide whether to impose penalties after reviewing the findings.

Posted on 2026-11-03 20:06:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and the ruling DPP are trading accusations over
who deserves credit for bringing Nvidia's overseas headquarters to the
capital.

Chiang rejects claims that political interference by the city government
delayed an agreement between Nvidia and Shin Kong Life over a site for the
project.

He says the city helped remove obstacles rather than create them, eventually
arranging for the insurance company to return the land so it could be made
available to Nvidia through a special agreement.

Premier Cho Jung-tai, meanwhile, says the Cabinet helped secure the project
by addressing funding and legal issues.

The DPP's legislative caucus also argues that the government's
Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program helped bring Nvidia to
Taiwan in 2021.

The dispute comes as Chiang promotes the headquarters project as a major
achievement of his city government.

Posted on 2026-11-03 19:08:14

Hong Kong internet celebrity Toyz has been deported from Taiwan after being
granted parole while serving a four-year, two-month prison sentence for
selling cannabis vape cartridges.

Toyz, whose real name is Liu Wei-chien (劉偉健), was convicted of drug
trafficking after he and his associates bought 500 cannabis vape cartridges
for 600-thousand NT and sold them through a distribution network in 2020.

The National Immigration Agency says prosecutors ordered his deportation
instead of placing him under parole supervision.

He will also be barred from returning to Taiwan for a specified period.

The agency says any future application to live in Taiwan based on family ties
will be subject to strict review.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-03 19:08:14

The Zhuoshui River -- located in Central Taiwan -- has the highest
concentration of riverbank litter among waterways surveyed by the
environmental group Society of Wilderness.

The group says its first survey of the Zhuoshui River basin found an average
of 361 bags of rubbish per kilometer.

The survey covered 152 kilometers of riverbanks, including the main river and
major drainage channels in Yunlin County.

Plastic bottles and containers accounted for the largest share of rubbish, at
nearly 26 percent, followed by bagged household waste and disposable cups and
tableware.

The group also identified several major dumping hotspots and is urging
authorities to use the findings to prioritize clean-up efforts.

Meanwhile, a follow-up survey of the Tamsui River found that riverbank litter
had dropped by about 65 percent compared with last year.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-03 19:08:14

A man who robbed a bank in New Taipei with a pair of stolen scissors has been
sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

The New Taipei District Court says the 50-year-old man, surnamed Wang, stole
the scissors from a nearby dumpling shop before entering a Taishin Bank
branch in Banqiao in June.

Wang threatened a customer and demanded money from bank staff, who handed
over more than 400-thousand NT in cash.

However, instead of fleeing, he sat down in the bank's waiting area and was
arrested by police shortly afterwards.

The court says Wang confessed to the robbery, telling investigators he was
unable to afford rent or food and wanted to go to prison to receive free
meals.

It also cited his previous theft convictions when handing down the sentence.

The ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-11-03 18:17:13

The government is seeking more than 335-billion NT in additional funding for
state-run C-P-C Corporation to improve its finances and support future
development.

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin told lawmakers that 233.8-billion NT would
go toward new infrastructure, including natural gas terminals and pipelines
...

... although the C-P-C needs more than twice that amount for these projects.

He says the funding would also help lower the C-P-C's debt ratio, which
currently exceeds 90 percent, making it easier for the company to borrow
money at better interest rates.

While another 101.4-billion NT would help cover losses the C-P-C has absorbed
by keeping domestic fuel and natural gas prices relatively low.

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the funding is aimed at keeping the C-P-C
financially stable while helping households and businesses avoid sharp
increases in energy costs.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-03 18:17:13

Nearly 49-thousand quails have been culled at a farm in Pingtung following an
outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu.

The county's Animal Disease Control Center says the farm in Yanpu (鹽埔)
Township reported unusual bird deaths on October 30th.

Tests confirmed the H-5-N-1 strain on November 1st, and authorities culled
the quails the following day.

Officials have also restricted the movement of birds, disinfected the farm
and surrounding areas, and begun testing poultry at nearby farms.

Inspections are also being carried out within a three-kilometer radius to
check for possible infections.

The center warns that October through March is the peak season for bird flu,
and is urging poultry farmers to step up disease prevention measures and
report unusual deaths immediately.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-03 18:17:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said he's willing to have a second televised
debate with his DPP opponent Puma Shen if the two sides can agree on the
format, timing, and other details.

His first debate on Saturday garnered good reviews from many political
pundits and the general public.

On the final weeks of the election campaign,

Chiang said he will continue
visiting night markets, parks, and other public places to meet residents and
seek their support.

He emphasized that face-to-face communication was essential and that
residents' opinions mattered regardless of whether they supported him.

He also added that although campaigning this year has been tough ... it won't
weaken his determination to serve residents and improve the city.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-11-03 17:09:13

Taiwan's stock market capitalization surged more than 60 percent over the
past year, driven by strong demand for technology stocks amid the artificial
intelligence boom.

Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Peng Jin-lung says the market was
worth 158-trillion NT at the end of October, up 61 percent from a year
earlier.

The benchmark TAIEX also climbed from around 28,000 points at the end of
October last year to more than 45,000 points a year later.

Peng made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the "Taiwan Weeks 2026"
event ... which he said aims to showcase investment opportunities and connect
local industries with international investors.

He adds that Taiwan is seeking to become a regional capital hub by easing
financial regulations, expanding asset management services and introducing
more private banking products.

This year's Taiwan Weeks runs through November 13th.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-11-03 17:09:13

Taipei mayoral hopeful Puma Shen's appearance on Face News last night has
garnered over 1 million views in less than 24 hours.

Shen's campaign office says, he is focused on getting out the vote and
getting his message to more constituents while maintaining an optimistic
attitude.

Shen took part in an interview on Face News last night with host Xie Zhen Wu
and 5 panelists, just two weeks after opponent Chiang Wan An appeared on the
same program.

The YouTube video had garnered over 1.3 million views as of 4 pm today.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-03 14:06:14

Chiayi prosecutors are seeking at least 15 years behind bars for a swim coach
accused of sexually assaulting children.

The suspect, surnamed Lin, was employed at an elementary school in Chiayi
County as a swim teacher.

Lin allegedly took advantage of his position to touch the kids
inappropriately or even rape them.

Prosecutors say that Lin also used AI to create pornographic deepfakes using
photos he got from their social media accounts...

or in some cases he blackmailed them into sending nude photos to him.

Prosecutors also allege that Lin disseminated those materials to others as
well.

Lin is charged with violating the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation
Prevention Act and the Criminal Code, and prosecutors are seeking a heavy
sentence against him.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-03 14:06:14

Keelung prosecutors are questioning a sitting city councilor in a vote buying
probe.

Cai Wang Lian 蔡旺璉 is running for re-election in Keelung's Qidu district.

Cai, of the KMT, is suspected of working with a borough chief to use meals
for vote-buyig.

The investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile in Pingtung,

prosecutors are seeking to detain a candidate for township chief in the
county's Li Gang Township in a vote-buying investigation.

The candidate Lan Wan Qian藍婉茜, an independent, is accused of holding a
banquet for voters back in May, where each table cost 6000 NT.

Prosecutors conduced searches last night and determined that Lan, her father,
and two others were all involved.

Lan previously ran for the same position but was unsuccessful.

Her father-in-law is a former DPP lawmaker, while her husband Su Meng Chun
蘇孟淳 is running for city council in Pingtung's second district.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-03 14:06:14

A bus driver in Taipei's Wenshan District has been hospitalized after their
windshield was broken by rocks likely falling from a vehicle ahead.

The Capital bus was passing through the Xinyi Tunnel when rocks shattered the
windshield, causing injuries to the driver's face.

Although the driver has been hospitalized, the 30 passengers were unharmed.

The cause of the incident is still being investigated.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-03 14:06:14

Taiwan shares are sharply down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 1612
points to close the session at 43307.

The turnover was 928 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-11-03 13:07:13

Premier Chuo Rong-tai today stressed that the central government has assisted
in bringing Nvidia's corporate headquarters to Taipei on three fronts:
funding, legal matters, and political support.

Chuo noted that his only consideration was keeping one of the world's leading
technology companies in Taiwan, without regard to party politics.

He called on the Taipei City Government to remember "that wonderful period of
cooperation" with the Cabinet.

The Premier said government subsidies in 2021 and 2022 helped Nvidia
establish its first overseas research and development center in Taipei.

In 2025, the Cabinet helped resolve a land-use dispute between Nvidia and
Shin Kong Life Insurance, paving the way for the company's planned
headquarters in Taipei.

Chuo's comments come as Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an touts Nvidia's decision to
establish its headquarters in Taipei as one of the major achievements of his
first term in office.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-11-03 13:07:13

Student groups say a campaign to raise funds for young voters to return home
has reached its first fundraising target early.

Organized by the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy, the campaign reached
its $450-thousand NT goal and is now aiming for $800-thousand.

The program allows young voters to purchase subsidized homebound transit
tickets for $128 NT for the Nov. 28 local elections.

Organizers say the second fundraising phase will expand bus routes nationwide
and provide travel subsidies for voters from offshore islands.

Student leaders noted that affordable travel helps youth engage in local
policymaking, including housing and employment issues.

Crowdfunding will continue through Nov. 21st via online platforms.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-11-03 13:07:13

The Tainan District Court has approved prosecutors' request to detain a man
suspected in a fatal hit and run in which he was allegedly drunk driving.

The suspect, surnamed Liao, had already had his license suspended for drunk
driving when he allegedly hit and killed a college student on Sunday night.

The court says, Liao admitted to the allegations during questioning, but they
believe he still posees a flight risk.

After allegedly hitting the student, surnamed Lee, Liao fled the scene.

But, police were able to track him down using surveillance footage and
arrested him within an hour.

His BAC was found to exceed the legal limit.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-11-03 08:15:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is urging China to follow established practice
in formally inviting Taiwan to the APEC summit later this month in Shenzhen.

According to Lin, the Lai administration will uphold its right to participate
despite what he's describing as China's "differential treatment."

The call comes after China sent a letter rather than a formal official
invitation to Taiwan to attend the upcoming APEC summit.

Reports have said the letter did not refer to Taiwan by its official name
within APEC, "Chinese Taipei," and downgraded Taiwan's status.

The foreign minister says Taiwan is a full APEC member and has participated
in the forum on an equal footing with all other member economies.

Lin is accusing China of repeatedly subjecting Taiwan to "differential
treatment" while hosting various APEC meetings this year, and it did not
arrange for an official to personally deliver the APEC invitation to Taiwan,
opting instead to send an email.

The foreign minister says the Lai administration will lodge a protest against
any action that violates established practices, but will not forfeit Taiwan's
right to participate.

Posted on 2026-11-03 08:15:13

The Centers for Disease Control has expanded the publicly funded flu and
COVID-19 vaccination program to all adults aged between 50 and 64.

Deputy Health Minister Chuang Jen-hsiang was one of the first to get a shot
when the second phase of the free vaccination program began on Monday.

He rolled up his sleeve and received both a flu and a COVID shot at a
vaccination station in Taipei's Nangang District.

According to the C-D-C, flu activity is expected to fall below the 11-per
cent epidemic threshold this week.

However, health authorities are warning that the risk of severe illness and
death remains even after the outbreak subsides.

The C-D-C is urging seniors, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses
and healthy adults aged 50 and older, to get vaccinated against flu and
COVID-19 as soon as possible to reduce the risk of severe illness and
complications.

The first phase of the publicly funded flu and COVID-19 vaccination program
began on October 1.

C-D-C data shows that a total of 5.85-million doses of flu and COVID-19
vaccines were administered in October.

Posted on 2026-11-03 08:15:13

The Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance says a survey has found that
64.1-per cent of respondents to its latest survey expressed confidence in
using financial products and services.

According to the academy, the survey found that public confidence in
financial products and services rose from 38.9-per cent in 2024 to 64.1-per
cent this year.

The biennial survey also found shows that 86.5-per cent of respondents could
comfortably cover their daily household expenses, while 51.6-per cent had
enough savings to cover at least six months of basic living costs in an
emergency.

Academy chairman Paul Lei says the improvement in public confidence comes
amid growing demand for artificial intelligence, record highs on Taiwan's
stock market and high real G-D-P growth.

The survey has been vonducted every two years since 2020.

Posted on 2026-11-03 08:15:13

Authorities in New Taipei are continuing to search for a 79 year old Japanese
tourist who went missing last week during a visit to Jiufen with a tour
group.

According to the New Taipei Police Department, the man became separated from
his wife on October 29 near the A-Mei Teahouse on Shuqi Road that runs
through the center of Jiufen.

Police surveillance video footage reviewed after he was reported missing,
shows the man heading out of Jiufen toward the nearby Jilong Mountain hiking
trail last Friday.

Fire department personnel searched the mountain that day, but were unable to
find him.

Search efforts are ongoing.

Posted on 2026-11-03 08:15:13

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted rap artist MC HotDog
for copyright infringement.

According to the prosecutors' office, the rapper used lyrics allegedly
adapted from a comic book by cartoonist Zhu Deyong.

The allegations of plagiarism against MC HotDog date back to 2023.

He issued an apology at that time, but was also ordered to 500,000 N-T in
damages to the cartoonist.

MC HotDog later released another song, in which he changed the lyrics.

However, prosecutors say he has now been charged with violations of the
Copyright Act for adapting Zhu's work without making adequate changes to the
original and making it available online.

Posted on 2026-11-03 08:15:13

And finally,

Organizers of the Taiwan International Travel Fair say they hope this year's
event attracts more than 400,000 visitors.

According to Taiwan Visitors Association Chairwoman Chien Yu-yen, this year's
show is taking place as younger travelers are increasingly seeking
distinctive experiences rather than only bargains.

Chien says previously people came to the travel fair for value-for-money
deals and discounted meal vouchers, but her agency is now finding that
younger travelers are now seeking higher-priced, distinctive trips the can
experience at least once in their lives.

Early-bird ticket sales have risen more than 10-per cent from last year, when
attendance exceeded 360,000.

The fair is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and oirganizers say it
will feature over 550 exhibitors occupying 1,600 booths representing 123
countries and cities.

The Taiwan International Travel Fair will run from November 6 through 9 at
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

Taiwan and Japan are reportedly in talks which could result in a
comprehensive trade agreement between the region's tech powers.

The discussions were reported by Nikkei Asia.

The deal is likely to resemble the Enhanced Trade Partnership signed by
Taiwan and the U-K in 2023... which established a bilateral cooperation
framework for investment, energy and net-zero emissions, as well as digital
trade.

Nikkei Asia said one source credits the UK-Taiwan agreement as a precedent
for Japan to follow and allows flexibility for more area- or sector-specific
deals to be signed in the future.

The draft is said to minimise political sensitivity, and covers five areas of
cooperation - those being economic resilience and innovation, industry
cooperation on disaster risk reduction, digital trade, trade facilitation,
and sustainability.

The report says earliest the deal could be signed is the end of the year.

The Lai administration has declined to comment on the report.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

National Development Council head Yeh Chun-hsien is seeking to calm local
fears generated by a global tech sell-off in tech stocks.

He says the sell off is only expected to have a short-term impact on Taiwan's
equities market... since many local companies continue to receive substantial
orders, and that the current AI boom is expected to continue through the end
of 2027.

Yeh added that there aren't any signs in a drop in export orders, liquidity,
or cash flow.

Global capital markets are seen to be worried about the cash flows of some
cloud service providers... who have invested in AI infrastructure... but
haven't yet generated sufficient revenue in for their investments.

Those concerns have translated into a global tech stock sell off which has
even impacted TSMC-- whose stock has since tumbled nearly six percent.

Most of the heavy losses came in the wake of weaker-than-expected guidance
issued by Intel Corp.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

The Civil Aviation Administration says fuel surcharges on both short-haul and
long-haul international flights operated by Taiwan airlines will go up on
November 8.

The spike is being triggered by an increase in international aviation fuel
prices.

The CAA says fuel surcharges for short-haul routes will increase from 37.5 to
40 U-S dollars, while long-haul surcharges will go up from 97.5 to 104 U-S
dollars.

Short-haul routes cover destinations in Asia, excluding India and the Middle
East... while long-haul routes include India, the Middle East, Europe, the
Americas, Africa, Oceania and Antarctica.

We'll have more on the impact of the higher cost of jet fuel a bit later on
in the program.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

Labor funds posted a combined investment gain of 2.4-trillion N-T in the
first nine months of this year, for a rate of return of 30.73-per cent.

The Bureau of Labor Funds says funds generated 117.8-billion N-T in September
alone, remaining in positive territory despite heightened volatility in
global financial markets.

The bureau's latest report says that as of the end of September, the labor
funds had 9.21-trillion N-T in assets under management and cumulative
investment gains of 2.44-trillion N-T.

The Labor Pension Fund under the new pension system, which is the largest
with 6.06-trillion N-T in assets, posted a 30.43-per cent return.

While the old pension fund, with 1.21-trillion N-T in assets, recorded the
highest return at 44.16-per cent.

The Labor Insurance Fund posted a 27.14-per cent return, while the Employment
Insurance Fund had a return of 2.73-per cent.

The bureau also manages the Occupational Accident Insurance Fund the Wage
Arrears Payment Fund, the National Pension Insurance Fund, and the Farmers'
Pension Fund.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

Law enforcement authorities in the Philippines have arrested a Taiwanese man
on suspicion of unlawfully detaining Filipino nationals and forcing them to
carry out online romance and telecom scams.

The Criminial Investigation Bureau's liaison officer in Manila indentified
the suspect as being from Nantou with multiple prior fraud convictions, and a
frequent traveled to the Philippines and Cambodia.

The man was detained on October 28 after police raided a condominium unit in
Manila's Malate district after complaint from a woman's partner that she had
been unlawfully confined and abused.

The raid resulted in the arrest of the 32-year-old Taiwanese man and a
38-year-old Malaysian man.

Both suspects face charges including human trafficking, illegal detention and
coercion.

Reports say an intial investigation has found the suspects recruited Filipino
nationals for purported "virtual assistant" positions, but after accepting
the jobs, the victims were confined in the condominium and their mobile
phones confiscated.

They were reportedly forced to work 12 hours a day, memorizing scripts for
romance and telecom scams.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

A family of tourists who pitched a tent next to the Alishan Railway tracks
this past weekend faces fines of up to 50 thousand N-T.

The penalty was announced after a driver spotted a tent alongside the tracks
near Erwanping Station on Saturday.

The driver reported the tent to railway staff, who photographed the
violation, asked the family who owned the tent to leave the area, and called
the police.

Chiayi County police says the family had booked a room at the nearby Alishan
Youth Activity Center but arrived before check-in time, and decided to pitch
a tent while he waited to let his children rest.

The Alishan Railway Office says the family is being fined for violating the
Railway Act, which bans pedestrians and vehicles from entering restricted
areas near train tracks.

Posted on 2026-11-03 07:00:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has hosted an event introducing 16 young
Taiwanese agricultural experts who are heading to the Netherlands to take
part in an annual government-funded agricultural exchange program.

The Young Agricultural Ambassadors program was first launched in 2017... it
was originally designed to promote exchanges between Taiwan and countries
covered by the New Southbound Policy.

This year is the first time the program has sent a delegation to a country
outside the scope of that policy.

The foreign minister says Netherlands was chosen because it's globally
renowned for its floriculture industry and is a pioneer in smart agriculture.

Since the program's inception, more than 150 ambassadors aged between 18 and
45 have traveled to Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia,
India and Thailand.

The ambassadors have specialized in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and
animal husbandry.

The program is co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Agriculture.

Posted on 2026-11-02 19:56:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Taiwan will uphold its right to attend
this month's APEC summit in China, despite what he describes as Beijing's
"differential treatment".

Lin says Taiwan is a full member of the forum and has always participated on
an equal footing with other member economies.

He accuses China of departing from established practices by failing to
deliver the invitation in person, instead sending it by email.

Although the email used Taiwan's official APEC designation, "Chinese Taipei",
Lin says Taipei will lodge an immediate protest against any further
violations of established procedures.

He stresses, however, that Taiwan will not give up its right to participate.

The summit is scheduled to take place in the Chinese city of Shenzhen on
November 18th and 19th.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-11-02 19:56:13

A Taiwanese man has been arrested in the Philippines for allegedly holding
three people captive and forcing them to work in online romance and telephone
scams.

Philippine police say the 32-year-old man, surnamed Peng, and a Malaysian
accomplice were arrested during a raid on a condominium in Manila on October
28th.

The three Filipino victims, two women and a man, were allegedly recruited for
fake virtual assistant jobs before having their phones confiscated and being
forced to work up to 12 hours a day preparing scam scripts.

Police say the suspects face charges including human trafficking, illegal
detention and coercion.

Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines says it will send officials
to visit Peng and monitor the investigation.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-11-02 19:56:13

Taiwan recorded just over 33-thousand new car registrations in October --
falling around 11 percent short of industry expectations.

The figure was down over 10 percent from September and 3.6 percent from a
year earlier.

Industry representatives say a typhoon disrupted sales late in the month,
despite strong demand and promotional offers from automakers.

However, new vehicle registrations for the first 10 months of the year
reached around 340-thousand, up 3 percent from the same period last year.

Looking ahead, industry representatives expect registrations to rebound to
around 38-thousand in November, up over 4 percent from a year earlier.

They say new models and bigger discounts ahead of the year-end sales season
should help boost demand.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-02 18:14:13

Over 64 percent of people said they feel confident using financial products
and services ... in the most recent Taiwan Financial Life Survey ... a 25
percent increase from two years ago.

The Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance, which conducted the survey, says
the improvement comes amid a booming stock market, strong demand for
artificial intelligence and continued economic growth.

It also found that nearly 87 percent of people can comfortably cover their
daily living expenses ... while just over half have enough savings to cover
at least six months of basic needs.

And ... interviews with university students revealed a growing trend of young
people investing in stocks and exchange-traded funds, or E-T-Fs ... treating
them as a way to save money and protect against inflation.

However, researchers warn that young investors may be underestimating the
risks ... while people aged 70 and over continue to face difficulties using
digital financial services.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-02 18:14:13

The Alishan Forest Railway will offer five special steam train tours in
December ....

.... giving passengers a chance to enjoy the mountain area's autumn scenery
aboard historic carriages made from Taiwan cypress.

The tours will run every Tuesday from December 1st to 29th, with each trip
limited to 100 passengers.

The railway says tickets cost 3,250 NT and include meals, a guided tour and
admission to the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.

Passengers will also be able to get off at scenic stops to photograph the
historic steam locomotive against the colorful mountain foliage.

Online bookings for the first tour open at 10 a.m. on November 17th, with
reservations for later trips opening 15 days before departure.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-11-02 18:14:13

And looking at the weather this week ....

Forecasters say that northeasterly winds will continue to bring cooler
weather to northern Taiwan tomorrow, with daytime highs of around 24 to 26
degrees.

Rain is expected to be more persistent in eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun
Peninsula, with localized heavy rain possible in eastern areas.

Scattered showers are also possible in areas north of Taoyuan, while central
and southern Taiwan will remain mostly cloudy to sunny.

The winds will weaken on Wednesday and Thursday, allowing temperatures in the
north to climb back to around 28 to 30 degrees, with rainfall easing across
the island.

However, another surge of northeasterly winds is expected on Thursday evening
and could affect Taiwan through next Monday, bringing more rain to northern
and eastern areas.

Posted on 2026-11-02 17:08:13

A Tainan man has been arrested after killing a college student in a drunk
driving accident...

when he had already had his license suspended for a previous drunk driving
offense.

The man, surnamed Liao, allegedly hit the student, surnamed Li, last night in
Tainan's Yongkang district in a hit and run.

Police have arrested Liao and handed over to prosecutors.

A mandatory blood alcohol test revealed that Liao's BAC levels were clearly
above the legal limit.

Prosecutors have requested that Liao be detained.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-02 17:08:13

ring

Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je is denying accusations of corruption...

after current Mayor Chiang Wan An has faced criticism for what some referred
to as "kissing the ring of corruption" when he praised Ko during his recent
debate performance.

Ko today says that he is "clearly" not corrupt, yet is deemed so.

That's after media pesonality Chen Hui Wen陳揮文 accused Chiang of attempting to
sway TPP voters by praising Ko despite a court ruling that found him guilty
of corruption.

But Ko downplayed the efficacy of such a tactic, saying that TPP supporters
would not blindly follow anyone that claimed to "wave their flag."

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-02 17:08:13

Taoyuan International Airport will begin annual maintenance of its north
runway tomorrow, with work taking place overnight to avoid disrupting
flights.

The airport company says the work will focus on resurfacing parts of the
runway and taxiways, and should take seven working days to complete.

Construction is scheduled between 1 AM and 6:30 AM on selected weekdays in
November.

The south runway will remain open throughout the maintenance period, and
flights are expected to operate normally.

However, the work may be postponed if weather conditions are poor or air
traffic is particularly heavy.

The airport says the maintenance will help ensure safe operations ahead of
the busy Christmas, New Year, and Lunar New Year travel seasons.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-11-02 14:10:13

Fuel surcharges on international flights operated by Taiwanese airlines will
rise again from November 8th due to rising oil prices.

The Civil Aviation Administration says surcharges for short-haul flights will
rise by up to $40 US dollars, that's the equivalent of $1,300 NT.

Those for long-haul flights will rise by up to $104 dollars, which is around
$3,400 NT.

Short-haul routes cover most destinations in Asia, while long-haul routes
include Europe, the Americas, India and the Middle East.

The C-A-A said the increases follow a rise in international aviation fuel
prices, and domestic airlines have been asked to clearly explain the
increases to passengers.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-11-02 14:10:13

Keelung Mayor Xie Guo Liang says, he's confident he will win reelection
despite recent polls indicating a close race against challenger Tong Zi Wei.

Xie says, he believes Keelung residents will be won over by his "12
construction points" plan.

The mayor's comments come after an internal KMT poll showed him with a slight
lead over Tong...

while another showed Tong poised to win.

When asked about if he felt that the "Yangliu" phenomenon had affected
polling over in Keelung, as polls previously indicated...

Xie said that it was akin to asking if Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An's campaign
was affecting Keelung.

He stressed that, if Chiang was performing well, all KMT leaders in the north
would reap the benefits...

adding that he hoped he would perform as well as Chiang had in his debate
when he faces Tong in his own debate slated for November 10th.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-02 14:10:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An's campaign chair says, the debate with his
opponent Puma Shen was conducted in accordance with the two parties' agreed
upon plans.

That's after some wondered if questions from TVBS and SET News were shared
with the candidates ahead of the debate Saturday.

In her capacity as Chiang's campaign chair, Lu Xiu Yan said that both
candidates were invited before the debate to discuss the rules...

adding that both Chiang and Shen were present for those discussions.

Lu says, the debate did proceed in accordance with those rules, confirming
that questions were shared with each candidate ahead of the debate.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-11-02 14:10:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 291 points to
close the session at 44920.

The turnover was 758.8 billion NT

Posted on 2026-11-02 13:06:13

In an attempt to calm the jittery equity market, National Development Council
chair Ye Jun-xian (葉俊顯) said he believes the the effects of a pull-back in
U.S. tech stocks on Taiwan will be temporary.

He explained that Taiwan's hardware-focused technology companies have strong
orders through the end of next year and sufficient cash flow, and major
companies also have various financial management options available.

Ye added that the recent plunge in U.S. technology shares reflects concerns
about whether massive AI investments will generate sufficient returns,
particularly in the software sector.

He said determining the returns on these investments will take time and will
also depend on the pace of development in physical AI, which brings
artificial intelligence into real-world operations.

He noted that physical AI is primarily reflected in robotics and autonomous
driving, both of which require substantial computing power and a longer
period of time.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-11-02 13:06:13

The Malaysian representative in Taiwan is warning the country's students here
to be vigilant of rising scam cases involving Malaysians.

According to the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center, the number of
Malaysians in detention in Taiwan has now increased to more than 800 from 33
in 2023, with more than 600 allegedly playing the role as money mules.

Representative Huang Yi-rui (黃奕瑞) also said that Malaysian parents should
educate their children who are either in Taiwan or planning to study there
about the risks of becoming involved in criminal activities.

Meanwhile Malaysian police have recently busted an online scam operation
based in Kuala Lumpur and arrested 18 Taiwanese nationals, including 17 men
and one woman.

Police said those suspects impersonated Hong Kong police officers and
targeted Hong Kong people.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-11-02 07:00:13

APEC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has lodged a protest China's has
failure to send Taiwan a formal invitation to the upcoming APEC summit in
Shenzhen.

China is said to have sent a letter to Taiwan that omitted any mention of
Chinese Taipei, which is Taiwan's official APEC designation.

The foreign ministry says the omission of title Chinese Taipei deviated from
long established APEC protocol and was an attempt to downgrade Taiwan status.

The ministry is stressing that as a full APEC member, Taiwan should be
invited to events in manners that adhere to established procedures.

China will be hosting the meeting APEC meeting on November 18 and 19.

The government has Taiwan's representative for this year’s summit has been
selected and the Presidential Office will make an announcement concerning it
choice in the coming days.

Posted on 2026-11-02 07:00:13

The Coast Guard Administration is emphasising that Beijing has no
jurisdiction over waters surrounding Taiwan.

This comes as China's Coast Guard claims to be carrying out "routine law
enforcement patrols" around the island.

A Chinese patrol flotilla carried out operations in waters off eastern Taiwan
this past weekend and has stepped up control over the surrounding waters.

The Coast Guard Administration says China is using the pretext of law
enforcement to harass Taiwan and attempting to create the false impression
that Beijing has jurisdiction over waters around the island.

It further reiterated that international law maintains that Taiwan has
exclusive sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its eastern exclusive
economic zone and that China has no corresponding rights in the area.

The Coast Guard Administration also accusing Beijing of spreading false
narratives by referring to Taiwan as "China's Taiwan Island" and describing
its activities as "law enforcement patrols," even as it attempts to harass
vessels through radio communications.

Posted on 2026-11-02 07:00:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and D-P-P mayoral hopeful Puma Shen were present
at an event hosted by the Federation of Taipei Trade Unions.

In his speech, Chiang pointed to improvements to municipal employees' pay,
leave and working conditions.

He pointed to the Labor Policy Advisory Committee that includes worker
representatives and engages in direct dialogue with labor unions.

For his part, Shen outlined his proposals to support working families.

The D-P-P mayoral candidate told attendees that he will help workers caring
for young children and elderly family members, including enhancing childcare
environments to prevent child abuse and increasing the number of beds in
long-term care facilities.

Shen outlined plans to reduce working hours for parents with young children
and to offer six free psychological counseling sessions for city residents.

Posted on 2026-11-02 07:00:13

The Air Force's annual Tien Lung, or "Sky Dragon," exercises began this
morning.

The drills are aimed at testing pilots' combat skills and ground-based
logistical support.

The Ministry of National Defense says the Tien Lung exercises will be taking
place from today through Friday.

They encompass air-to-air, air-to-sea, and air-to-ground combat skills
training using different fighter jets, with exercises focusing on aerial
interceptions and the use of the aerial gunnery target system.

The Air Force will also be selecting flying aces in different categories,
including aerial combat and precision as it has done in previous years.

Posted on 2026-11-02 07:00:14

Twenty people have been treated for burns to their feet after taking part in
a firewalking ceremony at the Dingfuyen Temple in New Taipei's Linkou
District.

According to the New Taipei City Fire Department, the firewalking ceremony
involves walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers and many participants
suffered "accidental" burns on the soles of their feet while crossing the
burning coals.

Paramedics were called to the scene and helped apply ointment to the feet of
those injured.

However, 20 participants were taken to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
for further treatment.

The Linkou Dingfuyen Temple is mainly dedicated to "Master Xianyang," a Song
Dynasty Buddhist monk who later became a venerated deity in Chinese folk
religion, especially in Taiwan and southeastern China.

Posted on 2026-11-02 07:00:14

And,

Taipei's 11th Nuit Blanche arts festival wrapped up early Sunday morning
after a night of art installations, interactive performances and live music
across the city's Yuanshan area.

The overnight event ran from 2PM Saturday until 2AM Sunday.

It was co-organized by the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs and the
French Office in Taipei, in collaboration with Centquatre-Paris.

According to the city government, this year's festival featured more than 30
art installations and 50 performances and sound art programs.

Event took place across Tatung University, Yuanshan Natural Landscape Park,
the Yuanshan and Xinsheng areas of Taipei Expo Park, and surrounding areas
near Minzu East Road and Qingguang Market.

The festival also featured a street dance block party.

French Office in Taipei director Frédéric Laplanche said the event attracted
half a million participants last year.

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