ICRT

Posted on 2026-02-03 13:48:13

President Lai Ching-te says the Taiwan-US Economic Prosperity Partnership
Dialogue focuses on supply chain security, critical minerals, third-country
cooperation and bilateral cooperation.

He spoke at a Presidential Office news conference this morning on the next
steps for Taiwan-US cooperation.

Lai says the sixth round of the talks was held last week in Washington.

He says the dialogue mechanism was created during U.S. President Donald
Trump's first term, and this was the first meeting in Trump's second term.

Lai says the two sides' lead negotiators met in person for the first time
since the first E-P-P-D in 2020.

He says future cooperation will stress "economic security," an "innovative
economy," and a "prosperous future," including work on AI, digital
infrastructure and drone supply chains.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-03 13:48:13

The Food and Drug Administration says 2 well-known restaurant brands had food
containers and packaging imported from China flagged in border inspections.

One shipment of meal boxes tested positive for a fluorescent whitening agent,
which is not allowed.

The FDA says checks on that importer and at the border will be tightened from
random sampling to enhanced inspections.

Another shipment of paper bags failed a migration test, with evaporated
residue at 40 parts per million above the 30 p-p-m limit.

The FDA says all of the noncompliant packaging was stopped at the border and
did not reach stores.

In the same release, the FDA says 20-thousand kilograms of Vietnamese black
peppercorns with Sudan Red must be destroyed and cannot be returned.

The agency says Vietnam black peppercorns are under 100-percent testing for
Sudan dyes during its current monitoring period.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-03 13:48:13

Taiwan have surged, along with other Asian markets, led by a 5-percent jump
in South Korea's benchmark.

The TaiEx ended up 571 points to end the session at 32-thousand-195...

Turnover reached 794 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-02-03 13:07:13

The Health Ministry said it handled 2,900 reports last year involving
websites containing child and youth sexual imagery, and is getting ready to
launch an active monitoring system in August.

The Ministry's Department of Protective Services said that they also received
reports and handled 3,700 websites involving adult sexual images, with a
takedown rate in both categories reaching around 90 percent.

Amendments to the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act
stipulate that the Ministry use surveillance software to track suspected
child pornography websites.

Officials said the active monitoring system is being developed from last year
to this year, and will enter a trial phase starting this August.

They said AI technology will be used to scan for suspected keywords and
identify websites that may contain child sexual imagery, and if the content
found is confirmed to contain child porn, they'll be taken off the shelves.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-03 13:07:13

Taipei officials have ordered 12 vendors at the Di-hua Street Lunar New Year
Market to correct violations, including improper price labeling.

The city's Legal Affairs Department said it has joined forces with the
Consumers Protection office, the Health Bureau and the Fire Department to
randomly check hygiene, fire prevention and other issues.

Such checks will go on for the duration of the market.

Officials say violators will be given a deadline to improve, and repeated
offenders will face fines of between 20-thousand and 100-thousand NT based on
consumers protection regulations.

For food makers, if they use unverified ingredients, the fine can go up to 4
million NT.

The Di-hua Street Lunar New Year Market kicked off on Sunday and will last
until February 15th.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-03 13:07:13

The Fubon Guardians say foreign hitter Luis Libe-rato and pitcher Shawn
Morimando arrived in Taiwan late Monday.

The club says their arrivals mean all 6 foreign players for the new season
are now in place.

The Guardians are set to hold their spring training opening ceremony tomorrow
in Chiayi.

Liberato is a Dominican outfielder who throws and bats left, and the team
says he can help on both offense and defense.

Morimando returned after starting 23 games for the Guardians last season with
a 2.98 ERA and 111 strikeouts.

The team says it has added four foreign pitchers, one development pitcher,
and one foreign hitter for 2026.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-03 11:06:13

KMT Deputy Chair Hsiao Hsu-tsen says, his trip to Beijing will serve as a
peacemaking effort.

That's as Hsiao and a delegation of "scholars and experts" are in the Chinese
capital today for what the KMT is calling a "think tank exchange" with the
CCP.

He added that the exchange will focus on advocating for Taiwanese companies
and advancing peace.

The main focus of the 3 day trip trip, scheduled for today, will be a think
tank forum.

Prior to the main event today, the delegation attended a dinner hosted by
China's Taiwan Affairs Office last night.

Tomorrow, they're scheduled to visit Tsinghua University.

Posted on 2026-02-03 11:06:15

Taiwan's manufacturing activity expanded for the fourth consecutive month in
January.

That's after the US said it would cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods.

Data released by the Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research shows that a
gauge of fundamentals in the manufacturing sector rose 1.9 points from a
month earlier, marking a nearly 4 year high.

In the service sector, the non-manufacturing index also rose ,7 points,
marking nearly a year of expansion.

The CIER President called the growth in the business outlook factor better
than expected, indicating the removal of uncertainties caused by US tariff
policies.

Posted on 2026-02-03 09:57:13

The KMT's New Taipei party chief Huang Chih-hsiung (黃志雄) says the party
plans to settle its mayoral nominee by Feb. 15th.

Speaking in an interview, he says the main prospects are Taipei Deputy Mayor
Lee Szu-chuan (李四川) and New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-ran (劉和然).

Huang adds that talks are underway, and the party wants a decision before the
Lunar New Year holiday.

He says the KMT prefers coordination instead of a primary because both men
are serving as deputy mayors...

...and that if talks fail, the party could still hold a primary.

Huang says the party plans to nominate 36 council candidates and aims to win
34 seats.

The New Taipei City Council says the 2026 election will have 68 seats, up
from 66 in 2022, so a majority will be 35.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-03 09:57:13

Nvidia's Jensen Huang is confirming that he will return to Taiwan in June to
attend Computex.

He said before departing Taiwan on Monday that the company would plan to make
several new announcements and to deliver a keynote address.

Huang said that the purpose of his latest weekend visit to Taiwan was to
celebrate the Lunar New Year and to thank Nvidia's partners for their
support.

He added that he would try to attend any related ceremonies or large events
for the signing for Nvidia's new Taiwan headquarters later this month.

Posted on 2026-02-03 09:57:14

LINE Pay Money says it has updated its registration system after users
flagged a problem with the nationality field.

The service launched in December, and some users said the sign-up process did
not fit people verifying identity with a residence permit.

Under Taiwan's Nationality Act, some residence permit holders are ROC
nationals without household registration, not foreign nationals.

Users said the system originally offered only foreign nationalities, leaving
those ROC nationals without a valid option to complete sign-up.

One user later found a new choice listed as "Taiwan, Province of China" and
called it inaccurate under Taiwan's legal classifications.

LINE Pay Money told reporters it overlooked the need for a local nationality
option when using residence-permit verification.

The company says it has now added an option shown as "Taiwan, R.O.C." to
address the issue.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 20:08:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says an avian influenza outbreak at a Fengyuan
District poultry farm has been effectively contained with no further spread
reported.

City officials say that symptoms of the virus at the Fengkang farm began on
January 10th, resulting in the deaths of over 17 hundred chickens mid- to
late-January.

The site was fully cleared yesterday.

During the containment operation, authorities culled 5 thousand birds and
destroyed 375 kilograms of eggs, along with 66 thousand kilograms of
contaminated feed and bedding.

While the farm continued to sell eggs and operate trucks during the initial
infection period, health officials are now tracking and recalling any
products that reached the market.

The site and surrounding roads have since been fully disinfected by
environmental and agricultural agencies.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-02-02 20:07:13

The Directorate General of Highways says snowmelt and rain could refreeze on
high sections of Provincial Highway 14A in Hehuanshan.

Officials say temperatures were about 1 degree, with cloudy skies and rain,
and much of the snow has melted.

They warn road icing is possible above 3-thousand meters, so the Cuifeng to
Dayuling section will close from 5 PM today to 8 AM tomorrow.

During the closure, vehicles may exit the area but may not enter.

The agency says the Wuling to Songxue Lodge stretch has icy patches and
unmelted snow, and snow chains are required when open.

It also says a nearby part of that Wuling to Songxue Lodge stretch is steep
and winding and will be fully closed to traffic.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 20:07:15

Taiwan Mobile says it has teamed up exclusively with Amazon to offer a Prime
Video telecom plan in Taiwan.

The company says the deal expands its international OTT lineup and adds Prime
Video to its one-stop subscription channels.

Taiwan Mobile says the plan is open to all users at a discounted price, with
an annual-plan offer at $120 NT per month.

The telecom provider's New Media deputy general manager Prime Video is a
major global streaming platform with popular originals.

Taiwan Mobile says customers can also subscribe to Netflix, Disney , HBO Max,
and its own MyVideo through the same channels.

(PB)

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

Air quality across Taiwan is deteriorating tonight as a continental cold air
mass brings pollution south from China.

The Ministry of Environment says fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) has built
up along China's eastern coast, from Shanghai to Shandong, and is expected to
temporarily raise pollution levels in Taiwan, especially in the north this
evening.

Much of the island is forecast to reach 'moderate' or 'orange alert' levels
... meaning "unhealthy for sensitive groups".

Conditions are expected to improve by tomorrow afternoon in central and
northern Taiwan as the pollution weakens.

However, forecasters say southern Taiwan may remain under orange alert
through February 6th due to weaker winds and downwind conditions.

(IG)

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

In related news,

Fire authorities are issuing a stark warning ... as cold weather increases
the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The National Fire Agency reports that eighteen people have already been
hospitalized this year—including a family of four in Taipei's Neihu District
who were rushed to the ER early yesterday morning.

Officials say the family was exposed while showering, likely due to an
improperly installed gas water heater without a forced exhaust system.

Carbon monoxide levels at the scene reached 70 parts per million before
ventilation cleared the gas.

Firefighters warn that winter is the peak season for carbon monoxide
poisoning, as people tend to keep doors and windows shut during cold weather,
which can allow toxic fumes to build up unnoticed.

(IG)

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

Kaohsiung is strengthening ties with the local Hong Kong community this Lunar
New Year.

From February 18th to 20th, the city will host the 'Hong Kong Lunar New Year
Fair' at Central Park, running daily from 1 PM to 8 PM.

Now in its fourth year, the festival features classic street food like
"sa-yung" donuts and sausage rolls, alongside handmade crafts, art
exhibitions, and live music from groups such as K-pop girl group "APRIL".

There's even going to be a family-friendly football workshop.

Officials say the event helps Hong Kong residents feel at home while giving
locals a deeper look into the culture.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-02-02 15:38:13

Both KMT prospective candidates for Taichung mayor have promised that they'll
sign the nomination deal proposed by the party headquarters.

Deputy legislative speaker Johnny Chiang said he's already signed it, while
his opponent, KMT lawmaker Yang Qiong-ying (楊瓊瓔) said she'll do so as
well.

Local KMT representatives are urging the party to finalize a single candidate
as soon as possible, so that city governance and infrastructure projects in
Taichung can continue without disruption.

The nomination has been dragging on despite that the DPP named its nominee Ho
Xin-chun (何欣純) three months ago.

A recent poll done by My-Formosa e-newspaper showed that in a head-to-head
match-up between Chiang and Ho, 44-percent supported Chiang, compared with
29-percent for Ho.

But if it's Yang vs. Ho, the support rate was nearly the same.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-02 15:38:13

The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court has extended the detention of
3 defendants in the TSMC 2-nanometer leak case.

The court says former TSMC engineer Chen Li-ming (陳力銘) and current
engineers Wu Bing-jun (吳秉駿) and Ge Yi-ping (戈一平) will be held 2 more
months from February 1st.

The extension also keeps a ban on visits and communication, except for
spouses and direct blood relatives.

Prosecutors say Chen left TSMC and later joined Tokyo Electron in marketing,
then sought key TSMC technology and trade secrets.

They allege the information was used to help improve etching equipment and
compete for supply roles in TSMC's 2-nanometer process.

TSMC reported suspected wrongdoing on July 8th last year, and investigators
carried out searches and questioning later that month.

Prosecutors indicted the 3 on last August under trade secrets and national
security laws, and are seeking prison terms of 14 years, 9 years, and 7
years.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 15:38:13

Pingtung County has opened Hengchun Fire Geological Park, built around a rare
natural underground gas flame.

Officials say the park is about 1 kilometer outside Hengchun Township, and an
opening event was held Sunday evening.

Organizers say about 3-thousand people attended, with performances and a
traditional blessing ceremony.

County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) says the site is being redesigned as
an ecological park for daytime walks and night stargazing.

The county's tourism office says new walking routes are planned to let
visitors view the area more safely.

Officials say outdoor areas is free to the public starting today.

They say a later trial period will use ticketed entry, with free admission
for residents of Hengchun, Mudan, Checheng, Manzhou, and nearby townships.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 14:38:13

The Coast Guard Administration is strengthening radar and patrol work to
respond to rising Chinese incursions and gray zone tactics.

The Ocean Affairs Council says it has secured more than $29.5 billion NT for
new systems, according to Nikkei Asia.

Officials say the plan includes new radar and a fleet of 40 new patrol boats.

Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) says intelligence and
surveillance upgrades are expected by next year.

The report says the package also covers drones and unmanned vehicles,
infrared imaging, mid-range coastal radar, and an AI-based image detection
platform.

OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) says the Coast Guard carried out 805
patrol actions in 2025 to expel Chinese intrusions.

Officials say the goal is a 24-hour surveillance network to give early
warning and support rapid military or law enforcement response in the Taiwan
Strait, including areas near Kinmen.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 14:38:13

The Customs Administration carried out a joint market crackdown in Kinmen
ahead of the Lunar New Year.

They say they found a warehouse storing smuggled goods from China, including
shiitake mushrooms.

Officials seized over 760 kilograms of the mushrooms, valued at more than
$300-thousand NT.

They also seized nearly 2-thousand kilograms of Chinese-made foods that had
not gone through required food inspections.

Items included luosifen rice noodles, canned sauces, shredded squid snacks,
chestnut kernels, and dried betel nut.

Kaohsiung Customs says unquarantined farm products may carry pests, plant
diseases, or pesticide and heavy metal risks.

It says uninspected foods may contain banned preservatives, artificial
colors, illegal sweeteners, or excessive heavy metals.

Authorities say the goods were confiscated and the case has been referred for
investigation under anti-smuggling laws.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 14:37:13

The Ministry of National Defense has released a controlled procurement list
covering the second half of last year.

The Navy says it will expand domestic shipbuilding with follow-on orders
across 6 types of vessels.

Those plans include building 1 submarine rescue ship between 2027 and 2033.

The ministry puts the cost at about $13.2 billion NT, and says it will not
include a combat system.

It says the rescue ship is planned at 112 meters long, 20 meters wide, with a
draft of about 5.2 meters.

The list also includes follow-on ships for the Yushan-class amphibious
transport dock and the Panshih-class fleet oiler and ammunition ship.

The Navy also plans 10 light frigates, split between air-defense and
anti-submarine versions, plus 2 more rescue ships.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 14:37:16

Taiwan Railways says it will add a third wave of Lunar New Year services,
with 64 extra trains systemwide.

The agency says this year's Lunar New Year holiday runs from Feb. 14th to
22nd, with a 12-day transport period from Feb. 12th to 23rd.

It says the new additions include 6 reserved-seat trains on the eastern line
and 6 reserved-seat trains on the western line.

TRA expects overall holiday capacity to be about 8-percent higher than on
regular days.

Tickets for these added trains go on sale at 12 a.m. on Thursday through
online booking, the TRA e-Booking app, convenience stores, and phone booking.

TRA also says E-M-U-3000 trains on the western main line will suspend
non-reserved seating during Feb. 12th to 23rd.

Instead, it says 200 limited no-seat tickets will be sold on travel days, and
those ticket holders will not be allowed into Car 6.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 14:37:17

Taiwan shares fell today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 440 points to
close the session at 31,624.

The turnover was 740.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-02-02 13:20:13

Here's some good news for nearly 13 million workers under the Labor
Insurance System.

The labor funds investment in 2025 made a total profit of $1 trillion and 117
billion NT for the year, that's a record high.

Among them, the Labor Insurance Fund earned nearly $160 billion, providing a
fresh boost to the system’s finances and bringing the fund’s total size to
$1.303 trillion.

The Bureau of Labor Funds has also reported record-high returns for its new
pension fund last year, reaching 747 billion NT, with a return rate of
15.6-percent.

That means every worker covered by the new system can receive some
57-thousand 800 NT on average.

The Bureau reminds workers that actual profit allocations will vary, since
each worker contributes for different periods and in different amounts.

According to the Bureau of Labor Funds, profit distributions under the new
labor pension scheme will be credited in March each year.

Workers can check the amount in their individual accounts, but the funds
cannot be withdrawn until they turn 60.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-02-02 13:20:16

A group from the Taiwanese Designers in Australia association represented
Taiwan at the Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne on Sunday.

The march is the city's largest LGBTQIA parade and a key event of the annual
Midsumma Festival.

The association said the event drew more than 45-thousand spectators and
featured about 10-thousand marchers from 400 groups.

The group said it marched to show support for LGBTQIA people and diverse
communities, alongside politicians and community organizations.

It cited Taiwan's role as the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex
marriage as part of Taiwan's public image.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 13:20:16

The Ministry of National Defense says it tracked 6 Chinese warships operating
around the Taiwan Strait from 6 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. today.

It says Taiwan's military used mission aircraft and naval vessels to monitor
the situation.

The ministry also says shore-based missile systems were deployed as part of
the response.

Officials say forces maintained close surveillance and were prepared to act
as needed.

(PB)

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

Nvidia's Jensen Huang says that TSMC may be able to double its production
capacity over the next 10 years as surging AI demand strains the
semiconductor supply chain.

Huang said that Nvidia alone would need more than twice as many wafers in the
coming years...

while he said that, over the next decade, TSMC will likely increaes its
capacity by well over 100 percent.

He praised the company for doing an "incredible job" as it ramps up
production of Nvidia's latest AI processors.

Huang says, Nvidia has entered volume production of its Blackwell platform
while also manufacturing its next-generation Vera Rubin chips, comprising 6
advanced designs.

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

A new report from the Ministry of Education shows that Taiwan's education
indicators outperformed global and East Asian averages.

The report says that Taiwan's education completion rates in 2024 stood at
100% for primary education, nearly 99.7% for lower secondary education...

and over 98.8% for upper secondary education.

That's significantly higher than global averages.

In East and Southeast Asia, the average completion rates are higher than
global averages, but still below Taiwan's figures.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's gross enrollment ratio for tertiary education was nearly
95%, compared with the global average of over 43%.

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

Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says, most passengers are now in support
of its "quiet train" policy.

The policy had a rocky start after launching in September.

But THSR says, two surveys conducted online indicate that 95% of passengers
approve of the policy.

They also found that over 90% of people were satisfied with hwo the policy
was being enforced.

The "quiet carriage" policy requires passengers to use headphones when
watching videos or listening to music on the trains.

It also asks passengers to go to the vestibules to make phone calls and to
keep their voices down.

The policy began drawing criticism shortly after its launch, with a social
media post claiming that a mother traveling with 2 kids had been shown a sign
by staff asking her to lower the children's voices.

Afterwards, THSR said it would review implementation mechanisms.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-02-02 09:59:14

Weather expert Wu Derong says a continental cold air mass strengthens
slightly today as moisture decreases.

He says plains lows are near 12 degrees Celcius, with rain easing from
central Taiwan northward and brief showers still possible in the east.

The Central Weather Administration says the lowest plains temperature earlier
today was 12.5 degrees in Hukou Township, Hsinchu County.

Wu says snow may still fall on mountains above 3-thousand meters, and
tomorrow's plains low may dip to about 11 degrees.

He says Wednesday through Friday will turn drier and cold at night, with big
day-night swings and some plains areas near 10 degrees or lower.

Wu says a front arrives late Friday, bringing rain and cooling in northern
Taiwan, with wet and cold weather on Saturday from central Taiwan northward.

He says another very strong cold surge may arrive in the upcoming weekend,
with plains lows around 8 degrees, but forecasts are still being adjusted.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 09:59:14

The Executive Yuan had released a new report detailing steps to improve
conscription training for the military.

The report says the 8-week basic program now includes machine guns, drones,
anti-armor rockets, and Stinger missiles.

It says conscripts will get role-based training after unit assignments, plus
larger combat drills and more live-fire exercises.

The Ministry of National Defense plans infantry battalions of one-year
conscripts to train with combined-arms brigades in live-fire drills.

The Cabinet says it is also trying to retain volunteers by easing some
enlistment rules and improving welfare, pay, and benefits.

It says the military is building tools and mechanisms to respond to gray-zone
pressure, cyberattacks, and cognitive warfare linked to China.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-02-02 09:59:14

The Taipei Zoo says its 12-year-old giant panda Yuanzai passed a full medical
exam.

The zoo says the biennial check on Friday was led by its veterinarians with
help from National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital
specialists.

The tests included blood work, X-rays, ultrasounds, a CT scan, and eye and
dental exams.

The zoo says Yuanzai's organ functions and blood values were within ideal
ranges.

Veterinarians found normal tooth wear and no signs of dental disease,
crediting keepers' daily care.

Imaging showed minor spinal bone spurs, described as a common age-related
change, and they will be monitored.

The zoo says Yuanzai recovered smoothly and has returned to her normal
routine in Taipei.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 12:54:13

The Coast Guard says cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration
led to a major drug seizure.

Officials say they boarded a Tanzania-registered freighter near the Dongsha
Islands in June and found 1.3 tonnes of ketamine and methamphetamine.

Authorities estimate the drugs were worth more than $2 billion NT.

Investigators say the crew claimed engine trouble, but were trying to dump
drug bags into the sea to destroy evidence.

The Coast Guard says it used warning flashbang grenades after several failed
boarding attempts.

Prosecutors have charged 2 Taiwanese officers and 9 Myanmar crew members
under anti-drug laws.

Officials say the seizure equals about 10-percent of all drugs seized in
Taiwan last year.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 12:54:13

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says the black kite population
rose to a record 1-thousand-33 last year.

The agency says surveys show steady growth over the past 13 years, after
decades of low numbers.

Researchers and volunteers carried out a nationwide dusk roost survey,
building Taiwan's largest raptor monitoring network.

The agency says black kites were recorded roosting again in Keelung's Shenao
and Rueibin areas for the first time since 1994.

It says sightings are also increasing along coasts, riversides, and around
Sun Moon Lake and Hushan Reservoir.

Officials link the rebound to better habitats and food sources, plus tighter
controls on toxic pesticides and rat poison.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 12:45:13

Ride-hailing platform Bolt has been fined $30-thousand NT after a passenger
died in a case involving one of its drivers.

Police say a 46-year-old driver surnamed Lin (?) dropped off a 25-year-old
passenger surnamed Wen (?) on Provincial Highway 64 toward New Taipei's
Banqiao District.

Wen was later hit and killed by passing vehicles, and police say the case is
being investigated.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says fleet operators must
take management responsibility, and licenses can be revoked in serious cases.

Officials say Lin may also face a separate fine for leaving a passenger on an
expressway.

Transport authorities say Bolt did not properly verify the driver, and that
he was taking orders from multiple platforms against regulations.

Bolt says it has suspended Lin and that further action will depend on the
judicial investigation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 12:45:13

Taipei police say the Lunar New Year Market runs from today through Feb. 15th
around Dihua Street.

They say Dihua Street Section 1 will be closed to cars every day from noon to
midnight.

Police say nearby intersections will have temporary one-way controls and turn
restrictions.

They also say Huayin Street and an entrance area near Taipei Main Station
will close to vehicles from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Feb. 15th.

The city health department says smoking will be banned across the market
area, with fines from $2-thousand to $10-thousand NT.

It says a temporary smoking area is set up near Gate No. 5 of Dadaocheng
Wharf.

Transit officials say some buses will skip the Dihua Street stop and service
will increase at busy times.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 11:55:13

Scholars say recent leadership purges in China's military could lower
major-war risk in the short term.

China's defense ministry says vice CMC chairman Zhang Youxia and senior
officer Liu Zhenli are under investigation for "serious discipline and law
violations."

Political scientist Kou Chien-wen at National Chengchi University says key
posts still need to be filled, and that may take time.

Defense researcher Chieh Chung says the purge is unlikely to raise the chance
of an invasion in 2027.

He says Beijing still prefers "peaceful unification," but Taiwan should stay
alert if tensions rise.

Professor Ma Chen-kun says the purge adds uncertainty over which generals Xi
Jinping will trust for advice.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 11:55:14

Legislature has passed amendments to the Housing Act on social housing access.

The changes require at least 20-percent of social housing units to be
reserved for newlyweds in their first 2 years of marriage and for families
with minor children.

The Ministry of the Interior must create a national registration platform to
track demand and housing types.

The platform must connect with local government systems to support nationwide
planning.

The amendments also require regular collection and publication of rental
market data, including prices per ping.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) says the changes reflect cross-party
support for helping newlyweds and families with children.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 10:55:14

Taiwan People's Party lawmaker Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) says he will resign
from the Legislature tomorrow.

He says he will still lead the party and attend key caucus meetings when his
schedule allows.

Huang says his New Taipei mayor campaign headquarters will open on Sunday.

He says media figure Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) will attend the launch.

Huang is stepping down under the party's "two-year clause," which rotates
at-large seats to the next people on its list.

A separate issue involves incoming TPP legislator Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀), who
officials say must renounce Chinese nationality within one year, and Huang
says the caucus will follow the law.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 10:55:15

Taiwan's statistics agency says GDP grew an estimated 8.63-percent in 2025,
the strongest in 15 years.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics links the surge
to exports and strong demand for AI applications.

It says fourth-quarter growth reached an estimated 12.68-percent, lifting the
full-year result above earlier forecasts.

Officials say private consumption and investment also helped, backed by a
recovering car market and active stock trading.

The agency says Taiwan?s per-person GDP rose to $39-thousand-477 US dollars,
close to $40-thousand dollars.

It adds that a new 2026 growth forecast will be released on Feb. 13th.

(CNA-PB)

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