ICRT

Posted on 2026-05-25 20:07:13

Taiwan High-Speed Rail says it will announce tomorrow's operating schedule
before service begins, after signal problems disrupted trains throughout the
day.

The operator says the exact cause still needs to be confirmed through
overnight inspections ...

... but preliminary findings suggest unstable electrical currents developed
after a power module was replaced in an SMC switch control unit.

THSR says the malfunction caused the system to lose track-position signals,
preventing normal system control of train operations.

Trains instead had to move under manual authorization, leading to longer
travel and dispatch times.

Repair crews are expected to work through the night, and the company says
tomorrow's service update will be posted on its website before operations
begin.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-25 20:07:13

The head of the Washington-based The Jamestown Foundation says recent remarks
by U-S President Donald Trump about Taiwan do not signal a change in
long-standing American policy.

Today in Taipei, foundation president Peter Mattis said the key point was
that Trump repeatedly stated U-S policy toward Taiwan had not changed during
a recent interview following his trip to China.

Trump had said he was 'not looking' for Taiwan to declare independence, while
also emphasizing that 'nothing's changed' in U-S policy.

Mattis said Washington's position has long been that Taiwan's future should
be decided peacefully and without coercion.

He also rejected speculation that pending U-S arms sales to Taiwan could be
tied to American military operations in Iran.

Taiwan's Presidential Office says it has not received any formal notification
from Washington regarding changes to planned arms sales.

Posted on 2026-05-25 20:07:13

The Ministry of Finance has released the winning numbers for the March-April
uniform invoice lottery, with the top special prize set at 10 million NT.

The draw also includes a 2 million NT grand prize and three first prizes
worth 200-thousand NT each.

Additional cash prizes are available for receipts matching the final digits
of the winning numbers, while separate rewards are also being offered through
the cloud invoice lottery program.

The ministry says prizes can be claimed from June 6th through September 7th
at designated banks, credit cooperatives and convenience stores across
Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-05-25 19:09:13

Taichung is moving ahead with plans for its proposed Orange Airport MRT Line
...

... as the city government opens public review for the next stage of project
planning and design.

The planned line would begin at Taichung International Airport and run
through districts including Daya, Xitun, Beitun, North, East, South, Dali and
Wufeng.

City officials say the project moved closer to the detailed planning stage
after the Ministry of Transportation and Communications resubmitted the
proposal to the Executive Yuan for review earlier this year.

The Orange Line is expected to stretch about 29 kilometers, with 26 stations,
including both elevated and underground stops.

Officials say the route is designed not only to improve transportation links
to the airport, but also to support broader urban development and boost the
city's competitiveness.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-25 19:09:14

Taiwan Seminconductor Manufacturing is denying rumors of a 15% reduction in
employee bonuses.

Recent social media speculation regarding bonus cuts sparked frustration
among some employees, with some threatening strike action similar to recent
protests seen at Samsung.

In a statement today, TSMC emphasized its gratitude for employee
contributions, and says it is confident that the annual growth rate of
employee bonuses will exceed the growth rate seen last year.

The chipmaker acknowledged that it is increasing the proportion of its
earnings allocated toward social sustainability initiatives to give back to
the community, but says it expects employee bonuses to continue increasing in
line with its steady future development.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 18:34:13

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is planning to raise the
airport service fee starting in September.

In the first phase, the airport service fee will be increased to $750 NT
effective Sept. 1st.

And the MOTC says the second phase will be implemented on Sept. 1, 2028 and
raise the fee further to $1-thousand NT.

The ministry says the airport service fee, which is paid by departing
passengers, has been frozen for 10 years at $500NT, which is lower than the
same fee paid in neighboring countries.

Officials say the increase will be used mainly to fund infrastructure
projects at Taiwan airports, particularly the construction of a third
terminal and runway at Taoyuan International Airport.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 18:34:13

New Taipei officials say the newly opened Danjiang Bridge is quickly becoming
a popular weekend sunset spot — and that is now causing heavy traffic in the
area.

The city's Transportation Department says traffic has been mostly smooth on
weekdays since the bridge opened two weeks ago.

But on weekends, cars start pouring in after 10 in the morning, with the
worst congestion usually hitting between 2 and 6 P-M as crowds head to Tamsui
and Bali districts.

According to the department, traffic backups have sometimes stretched as long
as three kilometers.

The city says weekend crowds on the bridge now include growing numbers of
pedestrians and cyclists, and is reminding people to watch for strong winds
and slow down.

Transport officials are also urging visitors to take the MRT, buses or
YouBike to avoid long traffic jams.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

Taipei police have launched a special drug task force to crack down on drug-
and alcohol-impaired driving...

saying in the first day after launching, the task force caught 7 people
suspected of drug-impaired driving.

Police add that they dispatched 500 officers to support the effort, which
aims to launch in full by the end of August.

Authorities say that the operation will increase officers' knowledge of
saliva screening tools, enforcement procedures, and legal basis.

It will also aim to strengthen prevention efforts, targeting suspicious
vehicles and seeking out high-risk areas to improve efficacy.

This comes as there has been a string of drug-impaired driving cases recently.

Cabinet spokesman Michelle Lee says, Premier Zhuo Rong Tai has expressed that
he believes relevant existing laws to be insufficient...

and has ordered the Ministry of Justice to conduct a thorough review.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

The Central Weather Administration issued high temperature alerts for 13
municipalities today, with temperatures in Tainan hitting a sweltering 39.6
degrees Celsius by early afternoon.

As of 2:00 PM, the highest temperature was recorded in Tainan's Yujing
District at 39.6 degrees, followed by 38.6 degrees in the city's Nanhua
District.

New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung also reported temperatures
exceeding 37 degrees, while Taipei, Chiayi County, and Hualien saw
temperatures climb above 36 degrees.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

A woman has died after falling from the fifth floor to the second floor of
the Taipei 101 shopping mall this morning.

Emergency services received a call at 10:49 a.m. after mall security staff
discovered the woman and alerted authorities.

Paramedics found her without vital signs and transported her to hospital,
where she was pronounced dead.

Police say preliminary investigation has not found evidence of third-party
involvement.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 16:07:48

A proposed national rocket launch facility in Pingtung County has cleared its
first hurdle in the environmental review process, with some conditions.

The Ministry of Environment convened an initial expert committee review today
for the National Space Center's plan to establish a launch facility in
Jiupeng Village.

The proposed site covers about 26 hectares and would include a core launch
zone, and a space technology museum.

The committee echoed concerns of a nearby indigenous community about access
to coastal waters for fishing and shellfish harvesting, and worry that
pollution from rocket launches would blow toward the village.

They also called for stronger assessments of instantaneous noise, vibration,
and air pollution from test launches on nearby residents and ecosystems.

The committee voted to send the case back for supplementary revisions before
a second review.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 16:07:48

350 files related to the Core Pacific City case have arrived at the Taiwan
High Court.

That's after prosecutors and defendants both appealed an earlier ruling
doling out prison time.

The Taipei District Court sentenced Former Taipei Mayor Ke Wen Zhe to 17
years back in March...

while other defendants like KMT City Councilor Ying Xiao Wei got 15 and a
half years.

7 defendants in total appealed the sentences, while prosecutors appealed the
sentences of all 9 defendants found guilty, believing the rulings to be too
lenient.

The case is now in the hands of the Taiwan High Court.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-25 15:24:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says business sentiment improved
across all three major industry sectors in April despite ongoing Middle East
conflict.

TIER released its April business climate monitor today, showing the
manufacturing sector index rising 0.9 points, the service sector edging up
0.5 points, and the construction sector ended three consecutive months of
decline with a 2.6-point gain.

TIER forecasters say the AI boom continues to fuel strong demand in IT
technology, and rising raw material prices linked to the Middle East conflict
have stimulated restocking and procurement activity in traditional
industries.

As for whether the institute will follow some forecasters in revising
Taiwan's full-year economic growth projection above 9 percent, TIER says an
upward revision is possible.

But key factors to watch include whether NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang's
prediction of a busy second half for Taiwan's supply chain materializes, and
how quickly the Strait of Hormuz reopens once the conflict ends.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 15:24:13

Taichung City is expanding its free school lunch program to include private
junior high and elementary school students starting next school year,

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says once the expansion takes effect, all public and
private junior high and elementary school students, as well as disadvantaged
students at senior high and vocational schools across the city, will receive
free school lunches.

The mayor says the change will benefit an additional 25-thousand students.

The expansion will increase annual spending on the program from roughly $3.6
billion NT to about $4 billion.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

The Tai-Ex surged over 1,000 points this morning at it broke through the
43,000-point mark.

The main board added just over 1,100 points to reach a high of 43,438 and
setting a new all-time record.

The electronics and semiconductor indices all rose by more than 2-per cent as
investors were buoyed by the arrival in Taiwan of Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rose 2.2-per cent from Friday's close to
hit a high of 2,305 N-T.

MediaTek hit its daily limit of 4,245 N-T, setting another new all-time high,
while Delta Electronics surged over 8-per cent to hit a high of 2,280 N-T.

Huang is scheduled to meet with T-S-M-C Chairman C.C. Wei and Quanta Computer
Chairman Barry Lam in Taipei this - boosting expectations of announcements of
new deals and sparking strong interest in tech stocks in early trading.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the first payment for the High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System from the U-S is due by the end of this month and the
government applied for emergency funding under Article 84 of the Budget Act.

The Article dictates the legal framework for reviewing and executing special
budgets.

According to Koo, after the Cabinet approves the 800-million N-T first
payment, it will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for approval, after which
Article 84 will be invoked and the first payment can be made.

Koo says he believes there should be no problem with meeting the May 31
deadline.

The Cabinet last week approved an initial 295-billion N-T special defense
budget for a package of weapons already approved for sale to Taiwan by the
U-S, which has been sent to the Legislative Yuan for a final review.

The budget items include the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems,
self-propelled howitzers, anti-armor drone weapon systems and anti-tank
missiles.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

The Central Weather Administration says hot and mostly stable weather is
expected across Taiwan through Thursday, before another seasonal rain front
moves in on Friday.

Temperatures in some areas are likely to hit 37-degrees or higher early in
the week.

A "red" heat alert - meaning maximum temperature could reaches 38-degrees for
three consecutive days - has been issued for the Tainan area.

"Orange" heat alerts are in effect in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Changhua,
Yunlin, Chiayi City, Kaohsiung and Pingtung - where the mercury could reach a
daily maximum temperature of 38-degrees today, or reaches 36-degrees for
three consecutive days.

While "yellow" heat alerts have been issued for Taoyuan, Chiayi County,
Hualien and Taitung, where temperature are forecast to reaches 36-degrees.

All of the heat alerts are currently in effect through this afternoon.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

The Coast Guard Administration says it has been involved in a standoff since
early Saturday with a Chinese coast guard vessel found entering waters near
the Dongsha Island in the South China Sea.

The 5,500-ton Chinese patrol vessel was spotted operating outside restricted
waters near Dongsha Island early Saturday morning as it headed toward the
island.

The administration's Dongsha-Nansha Branch dispatched the 1,000-ton patrol
vessel "Taichung" to monitor the Chinese ship.

The "Taichung" approached the Chinese vessel after it entered Dongsha's
restricted waters and the two vessels exchanged radio warnings in both
Chinese and English, each ordering the other to leave the area.

The Chinese vessel claimed jurisdiction over the island, while the Taiwan
side rejected the claim.

The Chinese coast guard ship left the area Sunday.

The Coast Guard Administration says latest incident marks the sixth time a
Chinese coast guard vessel has entered waters near Dongsha Island.

Dongsha Island is located some 450-kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung and is
currently staffed by around 300 Coast Guard personnel.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

Reports say K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun will travel to the U-S on June 1
for a two-week trip to promote "normalization of cross-strait peace" and
exploring a "sustainable solution for cross-strait peace."

Cheng is expected to lead a delegation including K-M-T International Affairs
Department chief Tung Chia-yu and the head of the party's Overseas
Department, Wennie Wu.

The visit is expected to kick off on the West Coast, but no details of which
cities they will visit have been released.

Cheng will then travel east, with stops in New York, Washington, D.C., and
Boston, where she is expected to meet with U-S politicians and think tank
representatives before returning to the West Coast to meet overseas Taiwanese
communitiess.

The itinerary is being drafted by the K-M-T's representative to the U-S,
Victor Chin.

Details of Cheng's upcoming trip emerged days after American Institute in
Taiwan Director Raymond Greene said many U-S politicians and scholars are
looking forward to meeting with her to determine whether the KMT is
"fundamentally changing the party's political orientation."

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

An internal probe into two ex-employees of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation has
found no evidence of financial wrongdoing.

An investigation committee said its probe found that former foundation chief
executive Hsiao Hsu-tsen, who also serves as a K-M-T vice chair, had not
meddled in the foundation's finances.

It also confirmed that former foundation employee Wang Kuang-tzu had kept
comprehensive accounting records and documentation in her role handling the
organization's finances.

The three-person committee says it conducted the investigation via multiple
meetings held over a month and three days, using foundation records and other
internal documents sent to the foundation's board of directors on April 20.

However, the committee says its investigation was "anything but smooth."

Former National Security Council secretary-general King Pu-tsung has claimed
that he was authorized by Ma to handle the case, but the committee says he
never presented a letter of authorization.

Hsiao and Wang both left their positions in late February amid allegations of
a "power struggle" at the foundation.

Both Hsiao and Wang also persistently denied any wrongdoing.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed the first domestic dengue fever
case of this year.

The patient is a man in his 60s who lives in Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen District
who has tested positive for the dengue virus type 1.

The man didn't travel overseas during the incubation period and remains
hospitalized for treatment.

The Kaohsiung Department of Health says it has now launched a disease
prevention campaign and the area around the man's home has been disinfected

Similar measures are being taken in other high-risk areas of the city to
eliminate potential mosquito breading sites.

The C-D-C has also confirmed two new imported dengue fever cases in
Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen and Sanming districts.

They involve two university students who had recently traveled to Malaysia.

A total of 64 dengue cases have been confirmed this year - one local and 63
imported.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

President Lai Ching-te is promoting his administration's program to boost
childcare benefits and increases to farmers’ allowances.

During a visit to Chiayi County's Wangling Temple, Lai said families will
receive 5,000 N-T per month for each child from birth through the age of 18
starting from next January.

If payments continue for the full period, each child can expect to receive a
total amount of 1.08-million N-T when they reach adulthood.

Lai said parents will be advised to set aside part of the allowance for the
children's college or future business plans.

Meanwhile, Lai also said his administration plans to raise the old-age
farmers’ allowance to 10,000 N-T a month.

That comes as the Cabinet has proposed amendments to the Provisional Act
Governing the Welfare Allowance for Older Farmers, which is still under
review in the legislature.

Older farmer current subsidy payments 8,110 N-T.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

Premier Zhu Rong-tai is urging a crackdown on drug driving and for new laws
to be enacted to tackle the issue of drug driving accidents.

This comes after two separate suspected drug-impaired driving incidents in
New Taipei and Changhua County killed three people and left two others
injured.

The drivers of the vehicles involved in both accidents have been arrested.

In Changhua County a truck, crashed into a residence Friday night, killing a
man and his daughter, leaving the man's wife injured.

The driver Lee sustained minor injuries... police found etomidate vape
products in his vehicle.

The other incident occurred in New Taipei's Zhonghe District, when a car ran
over motorcycle rider and a passenger.

Police say the driver of that vehicle tested positive in a rapid drug
screening, and an etomidate vape cartridge and vaporizer were found in his
possession.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

And,

Uni-President Group Chairman Lo Chih-hsien says Cosmed and Starbucks Taiwan
will continue their retail expansion after hitting a milestone of 600 stores
for each brand nationwide on Sunday.

Lo says the company is already gearing up to establish "the next 600 outlets."

The Uni-President Group chairman made the announcement at the opening
ceremony of a new mega-combination store in Taipei's Nangang District.

That location marks the simultaneous launch of both Cosmed's 600th outlet and
Starbucks Taiwan's 600th branch.

Named "Yuen-Hsiu," the flagship store honors the Uni-President Group's late
founder Kao Ching-yuen and his daughter, Kao Hsiu-ling, who is Lo's wife and
heads Uni-President's beauty and wellness businesses.

The venue was jointly launched by Cosmed, Starbucks, and 7-Eleven, which are
all subsidiaries of Uni-President Group.

Sunday's opening also marks the first time that Cosmed has overtaken its
major foreign-backed competitor Watsons in total store count, making it
Taiwan's largest drugstore chain by number of outlets.

Posted on 2026-05-23 16:06:13

CPC Corp. said today that it will maintain fuel prices at the same levels has
it has for the past two months from May 25th to the end of the month.

This leaves 92-octane gasoline at 32.4 NT per liter and premium diesel at 31
NT.

CPC said it was keeping prices unchanged despite higher costs in the face of
war in the mideast in order to minimize the impact that higher prices would
have on consumers as well as industry.

The state oil company said it's taking a loss of 3.6 NT a liter for gasoline
and 5.4 NT a liter for diesel. It has absorbed around 15.7 billion NT in
costs for gasoline and diesel since the Israel and the US attacked Iran on
Feb. 28.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 14:08:13

Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation is urging followers of the religious
group I-Kuan Tao against travel to China after three more Taiwanese believers
were detained there earlier this month.

SEF Secretary-General Luo Wen-jia said the three cases involved two separate
incidents in Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

He said the trio were restricted from leaving and later detained for unclear
reasons. He didn't say whether they are currently still being held.

According to the SEF, a total of 19 Taiwanese nationals in 17 separate cases
have been detained in China for religious reasons since 2019.

Luo said that 14 of the 19 were followers of I-Kuan Tao.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 14:08:13

The Supreme Court has upheld a seven-year jail sentence for a former Air
Force officer found guilty of leaking military documents to China in exchange
for money.

The court rejected an appeal by Hsu Chan-cheng (許展誠), saying the lower court
made no errors in its findings. It made the ruling final and unappealable.

While still on active duty, Hsu was recruited in 2021 by retired Air Force
Major Shih Chun-cheng (史濬程), who had been co-opted by Chinese intelligence
after leaving the military in 2008.

Over nearly four years, Hsu provided internal Air Force training materials,
including documents detailing fighter jets armed with Hsiung Feng III
anti-ship missiles and operational responses to Chinese military flights
around Taiwan.

He was found to have received NT$226,000 (US$7,175) in total.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 13:07:13

US President Donald Trump will decide on Taiwan arms sales soon, a source
familiar with the matter told CNA, after media reports said Washington had
paused a proposed US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan.

The source refuted reports citing the war with Iran as the reason for a delay
in approving the arms package for Taiwan, saying, "These sales take years to
process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury."

Meanwhile, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said overnight that that
details regarding prospective foreign military sales and security assistance
QUOTE "remain pre-decisional until finalized by the President."

Parnell said, "Our Taiwan policy remains unchanged, and the US continues to
adhere to longstanding commitment consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act."

The comments follow Thursday's testimony from Acting US Navy Secretary Hung
Cao, who reportedly said the US was withholding the package to ensure it had
sufficient munitions for the Iran conflict.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 13:07:13

In community news,

The 2026 East Coast Land Arts Festival will take place in Taitung from June
to September.

The annual event brings together local and international artists, who'll
showcase a wide range of works for visitors to enjoy along Taiwan's east
coast.

The festival highlights sustainability, environmental awareness, and local
culture through art, music and community activities, including regular
Moonlit Sea Concerts

Visitors will also be able to take part in workshops and explore art markets
during the festival.

More information is available on the Taiwan East Coast Land Arts Festival
website.

Posted on 2026-05-23 12:08:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is calling for Taiwan and Europe to
deepen strategic cooperation.

Speaking at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, Lin said Taiwan and Europe should
work together to build resilience centered on democracy, rule of law and
trusted technology.

Lin said the partnership between Taiwan and Europe is built on decades of
economic cooperation and shared democratic values.

Lin said Taiwan's semiconductor industry and trusted supply chain position
have made it a natural partner for Europe in the AI era.

Addressing global security challenges, Lin said Russia's invasion of Ukraine
has demonstrated the risks posed by unchecked authoritarian aggression.

He also accused China of promoting an authoritarian model based on "control,
dependency and coercion" through military and economic pressure.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 11:07:48

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says Taiwan's
jobless rate dropped to 3.3 percent in April, the lowest level for that month
in 26 years.

The jobless rate fell slightly from March, ending increases over the previous
two months.

The data show that 397,000 adults were unemployed in April, down 5,000 from
March.

Nevertheless, the number of people who lost their jobs to downsizing and
business closures increased by 1,000.

A DGBAS Census official said the decrease is in line with seasonal trends, as
many workers who resigned around the Lunar New Year have found new
employment.

She said the rate will likely stay low in May and then climb again between
June and August, as new graduates enter the job market.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 11:07:48

Southern Taiwan is hosting one of its biggest cultural celebrations of the
year this weekend: the Kaohsiung French Festival.

Running from yesterday through tomorrow, the festival is being held for the
first time at the iconic Weiwuying performing arts center. Co-organized by
the Kaohsiung City Government, the Bureau Français de Taipei, and the
Association des Français de Taiwan, the three-day event is free and open to
the public.

Organizers are expecting more than 200,000 visitors over the weekend.

Highlights include a sprawling French-style market featuring food, wine and
lifestyle brands ... along with workshops and hands-on activities throughout
the day. The main stage will host a full lineup of free public concerts and
performances -- including a special Saturday night show by French musical
theatre artist John Eyzen, who is making a highly anticipated return to
Taiwan.

Families are welcome ... with interactive activities and sports programming
for all ages.

That's the Kaohsiung French Festival -- free this weekend at Weiwuying.

Posted on 2026-05-22 20:08:13

Taiwan's government says it has not received any notice that a planned
14-billion U-S dollar arms sale to the island has been put on hold.

The response came after acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate
committee in Washington that some foreign military sales were being delayed
to ensure the U.S. military has enough munitions for the war involving Iran.

His comments followed remarks earlier this week by U.S. President Donald
Trump who questioned continued arms sales to Taiwan ... after his state visit
to China last week.

Cao said the sales would resume when the administration believes conditions
are appropriate.

Taiwan presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said authorities are aware of the
reports, but so far have received no information from Washington about any
changes to the proposed arms package.

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

An all-day water outage is set to affect more than 23-thousand households
across New Taipei's Banqiao, Zhonghe and Tucheng districts on May 30th.

According to the city's Water Resources Department, the suspension is due to
pipeline replacement work being carried out by the Taiwan Water Corporation
... and will last for 23 hours.

The shutdown will begin at 9 AM on May 30th and continue until 8 AM the
following morning.

Officials say residents should begin storing water at least six hours before
the outage begins ...

... and avoid waiting until the last minute to prevent pressure problems in
the system.

Authorities are also reminding residents to switch off water pumps during the
outage to avoid equipment damage or fire risks.

They add that temporary water supply stations will also be set up in affected
areas.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on deceptive food
advertisements by introducing strict new guidelines for businesses and online
influencers.

The FDA released its guidelines earlier this week and announced today that
businesses using puns, misspelled words, or metaphors to imply that their
food products have medical benefits can face fines of up to $5 million NT.

Under the new rules, any promotion that encourages a purchase is considered
an advertisement.

This includes paid sponsorships or product reviews shared by internet
influencers.

And officials warn that even if an ad avoids mentioning a specific disease,
it can still be ruled illegal if a consumer is led to believe the food has
medical properties.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

The award-winning novel "Taiwan Travelogue" is set to be adapted into a
television series .... through a Taiwan-Japan co-production.

The book, first published in 2020, earlier this week became the first
Taiwanese literary work to win the International Booker Prize.

Written by Yang Shuang-zi and translated into English by Lin King, the
historical fiction work is set during the Japanese colonial era and follows
two women traveling across Taiwan by railway while exploring themes of
identity, empire and cultural exchange.

Taiwanese producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said his company secured the screen
adaptation rights after Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel.

Chang described the story as combining a sensory journey through 1930s Taiwan
with deeper reflections on language and colonial power.

He said the production team hopes to work with international partners to
bring the story to wider audiences.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

And now, a look at today's weather with Weather Risk's Lyle Lai.

And Lyle says high temperatures and precipitation look set to continue into
the weekend and next week.

Posted on 2026-05-22 17:20:13

New Taipei city councilors say, the city government should provide subsidies
to local elementary schools for disinfection.

That's after several elementary schools in Sanchong reported sighting of rats
or rat droppings.

DPP City Councilor Peng Jia Yun emphasized that school rodent infestations
cannot be solved simply by disinfection.

Instead, she said the issue is likely related to aging buildings and leaking
pipes.

She said the city government should give special budgets for rodent control
projects rather than leaving the costs to the schools themselves.

Education officials say, the city government established a special task force
immediately to address the issue.

They add that the Education Department will provide support for school that
wish to hire external companies, so long as the schools apply.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 17:20:13

The DPP is discouraging speculation over a pending arms sale from the US.

That's after the presidential office downplayed reports that a US military
official said that DC was stalling the package to ensure it had sufficient
weaponry for use in Iran.

The 14 billion US dollar sale was first reported on in Febuary.

The DPP legislative caucus says, they hope the public won't use the issue as
a pretext for what they called "anti US sentiment."

Caucus secretary general Zhuang Rui Xiong added that the US' focus on Iran
goes to show how important it is for Taiwan to build up its own domestic
defense industry.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Three Taiwanese men have been detained and held incommunicado ....

... over allegations that they forged shipping documents to smuggle AI
servers containing advanced NVIDIA chips into Hong Kong and possibly China.

According to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office, the suspects allegedly
bought high-performance AI servers made by Super Micro Computer, and falsely
declared the cargo's destination to evade U.S. export controls.

Authorities say the servers contained advanced chips made by NVIDIA, the
exports of which to China have faced strict U.S. restrictions since 2022.

Investigators believe more than 10 servers worth around 10 million NT each
were shipped through a third location before reaching Hong Kong.

Officials are still investigating whether the equipment was later sent onward
to mainland China.

Authorities conducted raids across northern and central Taiwan yesterday,
seizing 50 AI servers and 9 million NT in cash, computers, mobile phones and
luxury cars, among other things.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Heavy fog in Kinmen today has delayed dozens of local athletes trying to fly
to Taiwan for the National Disabled Games.

The event is scheduled to begin tomorrow in New Taipei City, but early
morning fog forced airlines to cancel several flights, stranding travelers.

These include 19 athletes competing in track and field, badminton, boccia,
and Special Olympics bocce, alongside students traveling for a technology
competition.

Flight operations began to resume around noon today as weather conditions
improved.

The county government says it is actively coordinating extra commercial
flights and military aircraft to ensure the team can arrive on time for the
competition.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration has nine extended
holidays that last three or more days for 2027.

These will begin with a seven-day Lunar New Year break.

Other extended three-day holidays include the Founding Day of the Republic of
China, Peace Memorial Day, Labor Day, Double Ten National Day, Taiwan
Retrocession Day and Constitution Day.

As the 2028 Founding Day of the Republic of China, whichs is celebrated on
January 1, falls on a Saturday, a make-up day will be observed on Friday,
December 31, 2027.

2027 will also see a four-day extended holiday from April 3 to 6 to mark
Children's Day/Tomb Sweeping Festival.

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:13

policies

The TPP legislative caucus is raising a motion that would ask the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs and National Defense to urge the US to stick to its
longstanding policy towards Taiwan.

They say that MOFA should display a resolute stance regarding US President
Donald Trump's recent comments about the Taiwanese people and its
industries...

especially considering his recent meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi
Jinping.

The caucus added that the measure aims to protect Taiwan's integrity on the
world stage, given what they've called inappropriate comments regarding the
Taiwanese chip industry by the US president.

DPP Caucus Secretary General Chuang Jui-hsiung 莊瑞雄 said that he supported the
proposal in theory but that some wording needed to be amended so as to avoid
giving the wrong idea.

Relatedly, the KMT and TPP have proposed inviting Premier Cho Jung-tai 卓榮泰
to give a special report to the legislature regarding the impacts of the
Trump/Xi meeting on cross-strait relations.

Both proposals are currently being negotiated by party caucuses.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:15

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says NVIDIA has not yet applied for a building
permit for its planned Taiwan headquarters ...

... and city officials have not received confirmed information about any
activities on May 27th.

The comments follow media reports that NVIDIA would hold a groundbreaking
ceremony on that day at the site in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park.

Taipei building officials say that without a construction permit, the project
cannot formally declare the start of its construction under the Building Act.

However, officials say landowners or developers may still hold ceremonial
activities or symbolic groundbreaking events before formal approval is
granted.

Chiang says the city respects NVIDIA's planning and that any announcements
should come from the company itself.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:13

Kinmen authorities are investigating after the death of an endangered
Eurasian otter in a snare.

The Kinmen Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Association reported that
a male otter was found injured in Jinhu Township, on March 24th, and died
shortly after.

Conservationists discovered several unmarked, homemade snare traps, which are
commonly used in Kinmen for invasive blue peacocks.

This is the first recorded case of an otter dying from a snare in Kinmen.

The county government says it has ordered the immediate removal of all snares
in the vicinity.

Officials say they will share otter habitat data with pest control teams to
ensure snares are not used in high-risk zones.

The county is also discussing alternative methods to remove the invasive
peacocks, and will step up patrols to better protect local wildlife.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

from the January/February receipt lottery

The Ministry of Finance said today that there are still four unclaimed
special prize and four unclaimed grand prize receipts from the
January/February Uniform Invoice lottery.

Two of the unclaimed special prize receipts, each worth 10 million NT, come
from Taipei.

The other two are an 80-NT receipt from a Taoyuan parking lot, and a 2-NT
receipt for a plastic bag at a New Taipei City McDonald's.

All four unclaimed grand prize receipts, for 2 million NT each, come from
Kaohsiung.

Winning receipts from the January/February lottery must be redeemed, at the
latest, by July 5th, so there's still time!

(JM)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

The American Institute in Taiwan is warning of online scams targeting older
US citizens.

They say the scams involve organised groups building trust over long periods
before draining them of financial resources.

They say there's recently been a clear increase in romance and financial
scams targeting US citizens in particular.

Victims can visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime
Complaint Center to get help.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

Taiwan shares shot up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 941 points to
close the session at 42309.

The turnover was 1.14 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

The Presidential Office is downplaying reports that the US is stalling a 14
billion dollar arms sale to Taiwan.

Spokesman Karen Kuo said today that Taiwan has not received any such
notification...

adding that she hoped a new special defense budget could be examined in the
legislature as soon as possible.

Her comments come as foreign media reported that a US military official said
that the US would pause the arms sale due to the US and Israel's war on Iran.

Meanwhile Kuo emphasized that any updates on a potential phone call between
President Lai Ching-te and his US counterpart would be shared with the public
as soon as they became available.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

Commuters who have been waiting for their TPASS public transit loyalty
rewards can finally collect their payments this Sunday, after the Legislative
Yuan approved the release of previously frozen funds.

The Highway Bureau announced today that rewards accumulated from January
through April will be distributed together on May 25th, that's Monday next
week.

Recipients can collect their rewards at counters of the four major
convenience store chains, at EasyCard vending machines at Taipei Metro
stations, or through ticketing company apps by tapping their registered
cards.

Those who use electronic payment accounts will receive the money directly
deposited into their accounts.

From May onward, monthly rewards will return to the normal schedule, with
payments available from the 25th of the following month.

Rewards must be claimed within one year of becoming available.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

Penghu prosecutors say, they will conduct a verification of household
registrations ahead of this November's local elections.

They say, that's in an attempt to ensure the integrity of the polls.

Officials noted that, in Penghu's more hotly-contested areas, a double-digit
quantity of votes may decide the winner.

As a result, they aim to verify that there are no fake household
registrations that would allow unfair voting.

Officials emphasize that any attempt to influence election results through
fake household registration is punishable by up to 5 years' prison time.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says the island's drone industry is expected
to expand significantly by 2030.

According to the ministry's Industrial Development Administration, Taiwan's
drone output value grew 2.5-fold last year to 12.9-billion N-T under a
government program to develop the unmanned vehicle sector.

The administration says current monthly drone production capacity is about
15,000 units, but the industry can quickly scale-up as demand increases -
meaning capacity is projected to exceed 100,000 units per month by 2030 and
50-per cent of that total will be exported.

Exports of Taiwan-made drones currently account for just over 20-per cent.

The top buyers are the Czech Republic, Poland and the United States.

Data shows that in the first four months of this year, the outbound shipment
of drones reached 147-million U-S dollars and drone exports totaled
93-million U-S dollars in 2025.

The economics ministry is stressing that Taiwan's drone industry is still
mainly driven by domestic demand, with commercially produced military-grade
products accounting for the bulk of output.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene is insisting that
Washington's long-standing commitments to Taiwan have not changed.

According to Greene, Trump and other senior U-S officials had reaffirmed that
there has been no change in policy toward Taiwan "and that this stance was
clearly conveyed to the Chinese side."

Greene says the policy has been consistent across U-S administrations from
both parties and has ensured peace across the Taiwan Strait for nearly five
decades ...

.. and the recent meeting between U-S President Donald Trump and China's Xi
Jinping meeting in Beijing produced satisfactory outcomes ... and
"establishing a stable framework for bilateral relations will help enhance
regional security, including in the Taiwan Strait."

Greene also says that White House has also made it clear that Washington does
not see "stable US-China relations and a strong US-Taiwan partnership as
being in conflict."

The statements are the first by the head of the de-facto U-S embassy here in
Taiwan since President Donald Trump described arms sales to Taiwan a "good
bargaining chip" in dealings with China ...

.. and Trump's telling Fox News that he's weighing whether to approve a
14-billion U-S dollars arms package for Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Cabinet plans to establish a national A-I
strategy committee and draft Taiwan's first A-I development blueprint.

According to Cho, the move is part of the implementation of the Artificial
Intelligence Basic Act.

That Act came into force in January and sets out principles for A-I research,
applications and governance while safeguarding children's development and
human rights.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the premier will head the new national
A-I strategy committee, which will coordinate, promote and oversee AI-related
affairs across the government.

The Cabinet-level National Science and Technology Council will lead the
drafting of Taiwan's first "national artificial intelligence development
guidelines," which will be submitted to the committee for review.

Government agencies has been asked to complete risk assessments for A-I use
by July and establish internal control mechanisms within a year.

Ministries must also formulate regulations and industry guidelines for A-I
applications within their jurisdictions by January 2028 and adjust existing
laws or administrative measures where necessary.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

The Ministry of Health says 35 cosmetic clinics across the island have been
found to have breached patient privacy regulations following a recent wave of
inspections.

The inspection were carried out after hidden camera were found in branches of
clinics operated by the Airlee Group, Dr. Shine and Saint Eir.

The health ministry says a total of 720 clinics have now been inspected.

The first wave of inspections into illegal surveillance cameras focused
almost entirely on cosmetic clinics, accounting for about 99-per cent of the
targets.

Fourteen clinics in New Taipei were found to have violated privacy laws.

Thay have been fined 500,000 N-T each.

That was followed by Taoyuan with six, Kaohsiung five, three clinics were
found to have violated privacy laws in both Taipei and Taichung, two in
Hsinchu City, and on each in Tainan and Changhua.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

A dispute between two elderly men in Changhua County involving a sickle a
skillet has resulted in three senior citizens being hospitalized

According to police, the incident occurred in Xianxi Township, when a
92-year-old man attacked an 86-year-old man with rice-harvesting sickle
following a dispute over reflective strips on farmland.

The 86-year-old man had tried to remove them from the 92-year-old man's plot
of land.

And the 86-year-old man was stuck on the head with the sickle after trying to
defend himself with a skillet.

An elderly woman, who tried to break up the fight, was pushed to the ground
in the melee and suffered a fracture to her right leg.

All three were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police say the two elderly men will summoned for questioning as authorities
investigate the altercation.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

And finally,

The Taipei Zoo is asking for public help in finding a lesser anteater that
escaped from its enclosure earlier in the week.

According to the zoo, the anteater named "Blackie" has not been seen since
Monday and 65 staff members have been searching for the 12-year-old animal.

"Blackie" was last seen on surveillance cameras around 6:55PM on Monday near
a visitor walkway in a bromeliad garden.

The zoo says lesser anteaters are nocturnal and tend to hide in dense
vegetation during the day, which makes the search efforts difficult.

The searches so far have been focused on the zoo's rainforest zone, nearby
trails, and hillsides around the giant panda exhibit.

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