ICRT

Posted on 2026-07-06 13:08:13

The Taipei and New Taipei city governments have tracked down where tainted
oil from Zhonglian went, saying that nearly 100 schools' lunch box providers
used the products.

Taipei city officials said they include 3 kindergartens, 8 elementary schools
and 24 junior high schools.

The city's health officials said although it's now summer vacation, schools
have still been asked to explain to parents how they're handling the issue.

Fifty schools in New Taipei are affected by the contaminated oil products as
well, including 30 elementary schools.

Officials say all of the oil has since been taken out of use, sealed, and
removed from shelves.

Meanwhile, in Taichung, 39 school are also believed to have been affected by
the problematic oil.

The moves came after soy bean salad oil and blended oils under the brand
names of Yi-kang (益康) and Tai-shan (泰山), among others, were found to contain
excessive levels of a carcinogen.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-07-06 13:08:13

The National Security Bureau has confirmed increased military activity over
the next couple months.

This comes just as the National Security Council said on Saturday that China
had dispatched a record 110 ships in the latest round of military drills
around the liminal island chain.

NSB Chair Tsai Ming-yen says today that China has historically upped the
military ante annually from July to September.

He noted that the PLA has currently dispatched 4 naval formations in the
western Pacific, marking a clear increase in what has become usual for the
Chinese military.

The NSB chair added that the different formations are located in the south
Pacific, south of Japan's Kagoshima prefecture, and east of the Philippines.

Tsai emphasizes that the NSB will be paying close attention to any new
strategies that the PLA tests in this round of drills and through the rest of
the summer.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-06 12:34:13

President Lai Ching-te says he's requested that the 257 companies affected by
the latest tainted oil scandal voluntarily release their names and effected
products to ensure the public is aware of food quality.

The statement comes after the Food and Drug Administration expanded its
recall order over soybean salad oil produced by Taichung-based Central Union
Oil.

The oil was found to contain excessive levels of a carcinogen late last week.

The expanded recall covers unprocessed oil sold in its original form, such as
soybean salad oil and blended oils; and processed foods containing 20-per
cent or more of the affected oil.

The contaminated batch totals about 1,300 metric tons and was supplied to
Taisun Enterprise, Fwusow Industry and Formosa Oilseed Processing before
entering the downstream food supply chain.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says authorities are now prioritizing the
disclosure of affected products and all businesses using the tainted oil,
must disclose the relevant products or face penalties under the Act Governing
Food Safety and Sanitation.

Posted on 2026-07-06 12:34:13

The President of Guatemala's Congress has arrived in Taiwan for a five day
visit.

Luis Alberto Colindres arrived at Taoyuan International Airport about 6
o'clock this morning and was greeted by Deputy Foreign Minister Chen
Ming-chi.

Speaking briefly to reporters, Colindres said Guatemala cherishes its
friendship with Taiwan, will continue to support bilateral relations and he
also hopes to deepen cooperation through exchanges to benefit the people of
both countries.

Colindres also said that he's leading a parliamentary delegation comprised of
representatives from eight political parties ..

... and that fully reflects the unified consensus within the Guatemalan
National Congress regarding the importance of bilateral relations between
Taiwan and Guatemala.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Colindres is scheduled to meet with
President Lai Ching-te for talks on bilateral cooperation and issues of
common concern and will also be visiting the Legislative Yuan, the Mainland
Affairs Council, and the Ministry of Health.

Posted on 2026-07-06 12:34:13

Hon Hai is reporting a 39.8-per cent year-on-year rise in second-quarterly
revenue.

That figure beat analyst's expectations and came on continuing solid demand
for A-I products.

According to Hon Hai, revenuer stood at 2.513-trillion N-T in the April to
June period and its cloud and networking products division saw robust
revenue growth, while its smart consumer electronics posted "significant"
growth.

Hon Hai's revenue for June alone rose 52.1-per cent year-on-year to
821.8-billion N-T.

That was a new record for the month of June.

Hon Hai says operations are expected to grow both quarter-on-quarter and
year-on-year in the third quarter, with A-I racks maintaining a growth
trend.

Hon Hai's share price has gained only 4.3-per cent so far this year, as it is
underperforming the 61.5-per cent overall rise seen on the Tai-Ex.

Posted on 2026-07-06 12:34:13

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Bavi is expected to be
closest to Taiwan on Friday and Saturday and there's a high chance that a sea
warning will be issued.

However,its direction could still change and whether a land warning is issued
will depend on how sharply the typhoon turns in the coming days.

The storm is currently located some 2,800-kilometers east-southeast of
Eluanbi at Taiwan's southernmost tip, and moving west-northwesterly direction
at 21-kilometers-an-hour.

Bavi has a radius of 320-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds of
208-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 262-kilometers-an-hour.

Based on the weather administration's latest tracking, Bavi is expected to
veer in a northwesterly direction on Thursday and pass waters east to
northeast of Taiwan before entering the East China Sea and heading toward
China.

Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu says the latest European model simulation
shows that Typhoon Bavi has the highest chance of passing through waters
north of Taiwan on Saturday.

Posted on 2026-07-06 12:34:13

In sports news now,

Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and China's Wang Xin-yu have advanced to the women's
doubles third round at Wimbledon.

They beat Belgium's Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai of China 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

Hsieh and Wang next play Japan's Shuko Ao-yama and Taiwan's Liang En-Shuo.

Hsieh won the women's doubles at the All England Club in 2013 with China's
Peng Shuai and again in 2021 with Belgium's Elise Mertens.

Hsieh and her mixed doubles partner Jan Zielinski of Poland were eliminated
in the first round.

Hsieh is competing at the 2026 Wimbledon tournament as the World No. 9 in the
W-T-A Doubles Rankings.

Posted on 2026-07-06 12:34:13

And finally in Sunday's Chinese Professional Baseball League.

The Wei Chuan Dragons beat the Fubon Guardians 5-3 at the Tienmu Stadium in
Taipei.

The T-S-G Hawks beat the Uni-President Lions 4-1 at the Cheng-Ching Lake
Stadium in Kaohsiung,

And the Rakuten Monkeys beat the C-T-B-C Brothers 4-2 at the Intercontinental
Stadium in Taichung.

Looking at the standings following the opening weekend of the
second-half-season ...

The Wei Chuan Dragons, the Rakuten Monkeys and the T-S-G Hawks are all tied
at the top of the table - with two wins and one lose.

While the C-T-B-C Brothers, the Uni-President Lions and the Fubon Guardians
are all on one win and two loses.

There are no games today.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

The Ministry of National Defense says the military has resumed
"anti-communist" patriotic classes for its graduates.

The "anti-communist patriotic education" classes were scrapped in 2002 and
renamed 'patriotic education" classes.

The defense ministry has released a statement saying the classes for
graduates from military academies had been restored due to an increasing
military and infiltration danger from China.

The Lai administration is seen to believe it is necessary for graduates to
better understand national security threats and the aim is to establish a
clear awareness of friend and foe.

The defense ministry says graduates will attend lectures by the Mainland
Affairs Council, the National Security Council, the Ministry of Justice and
Academia Sinica.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the decision to order a precautionary
recall of processed foods containing at least 20-per cent carcinogen-tainted
cooking oil is based on food safety guidelines established in 2017.

The statement comes after the Food and Drug Administration expanded its
recall order over soybean salad oil produced by Taichung-based Central Union
Oil.

The expanded recall covers two categories of products - unprocessed oil sold
in its original form, such as soybean salad oil and blended oils; and
processed foods containing 20-per cent or more of the affected oil.

Products with smaller amounts are exempt from recall but must be disclosed.

The health minister, the 20-per cent threshold follows the 2017 principles
governing the recall, withdrawal and destruction of food products that
violate safety standards and was reaffirmed at an expert meeting this past
weekend.

The contaminated batch totals about 1,300 metric tons and was supplied to
Taisun Enterprise, Fwusow Industry and Formosa Oilseed Processing before
entering the downstream food supply chain.

The tainted oil was reported last week.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

The Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau is warning that the rapid
spread of etomidate abuse, particularly through e-cigarettes, is a growing
public safety concern for its role in drug-impaired driving.

National Police Agency data shows there were 8,659 cases of drug-impaired
driving in 2025, a sharp increase from the just over 2,600 cases in 2024.

Authorities had already recorded 6,730 such cases between January and May of
this year.

Of those cases, about 20-per cent involved drivers who tested positive for
etomidate.

Some drivers tested positive for multiple drugs.

Etomidate first appeared in Taiwan in 2023 and spread rapidly along with the
growing popularity of vaping.

As of April this year, authorities had seized nearly 850-kilograms of
etomidate, or about 8.5 million etomidate-laced vape cartridges.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

The National Immigration Agency is urging travelers not to bring pork or
other meat products from African swine fever -affected areas into Taiwan
during the summer travel season.

542 travelers were fined 200,000 N-T each last year for bringing pork
products from ASF-affected areas into Taiwan.

Many were Taiwan nationals, while 144 foreign travelers were denied entry
after failing to pay the penalties.

Customs statistics show most violations involve travelers carrying prohibited
pork products in their luggage, followed by international courier parcels.

The immigration agency says travelers should exercise caution when buying
overseas souvenirs - as illegally bringing pork products into Taiwan could
jeopardize the country's disease-free status and result in hefty fines.

Taiwan regained its ASF-free status on April 6 after receiving official
recognition from the World Organisation for Animal Health, becoming the only
country in Asia free of ASF, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth
disease, the agency said.

The designation followed the successful containment of an ASF outbreak
detected in Taichung last October.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says it has received more than 1,500
reports of fake winning invoice lottery emails in the latest two Uniform
Invoice Lottery redemption periods.

Scammers have reportedly sought to exploit people's desire to win the lottery
as the number of people using digital carriers to store cloud-based receipts
has grown in recent years.

The "Ministry of Finance Electronic Invoice Integration Service Platform"
sends emails to verified addresses registered by users, notifying them of
prize information and automatic remittance options for winning invoices.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says criminals are impersonating the
Ministry of Finance, or major online retailers and sending winning
notification emails to trick recipients into logging into a fake "electronic
invoice service platform" ....

.... where they are asked to bind credit card information to receive
automatic prize deposits.

The bureau says more than 1,500 scam reports were filed during the March and
May draw periods this year, with total losses exceeding 60-million N-T.

Victims lost amounts ranging from a few thousand to several hundred thousand
New Taiwan dollars.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

The Central Weather Administration says Taiwan is likely to experience a
warmer-than-normal winter this year due to strong El Nino effects.

The administration says extreme heat likely to extend into the spring and
summer of next year.

The weather administration's forecast center says, El Nino events typically
peak in autumn and winter, increasing the likelihood of a warm winter in
Taiwan ...

Based on historical patterns, the warming effect often persists into the
following spring and summer, raising the probability of prolonged heat next
year.

Data shows Taiwan experienced its most severe heat between 2020 and 2021,
driven by the combination of an unusually strong subtropical high-pressure
system, La Nina conditions and regional sea surface temperature changes.

Taipei recorded 100 days with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius in 2020,
the highest annual total since records began.

The Ministry of Environment has said it's developing a tiered national heat
response framework that will activate protective measures at different
temperature thresholds for different groups.

Posted on 2026-07-06 06:56:14

And,

The Ocean Conservation Administration says a live dwarf sperm whale stranded
on a beach in Miaoli has been transferred to a marine mammal rehabilitation
center for treatment and observation.

The whale was reported stranded by the Coast Guard Administration near Zhunan
Township.

Ocean Conservation Administration personnel and coast guard officials rushed
to the scene and provided emergency care, including keeping the whale upright
and hydrated.

A veterinarian from the Taiwan Cetacean Society later identified the animal
as a dwarf sperm whale.

The rescue team transferred the whale to the Ba-dou-zi Cetacean Rescue
Station in Keelung.

The Ocean Conservation Administration says the cause of the stranding has yet
to be determined and will be investigated through continued monitoring and
veterinary examinations.

Posted on 2026-07-04 16:15:13

Václav Havel Airport in Prague says that Taiwanese travelers remain eligible
to use its eGate system, despite a change in how countries are represented at
eGate displays.

The airport's clarification came after Taiwanese travelers visiting Prague
noticed in mid-June that Taiwan's flag had been removed from the eGate
displays, although the country code "TW" remained.

In a response to CNA's inquiry, a spokesperson said the update will remove
all flags and move to a text-only display of countries eligible to use the
system that expedites exit from the Czech Republic.

She added that the display list is set to be expanded next week to include
more eligible countries that aren't considered high-risk.

She didn't explain the reason for the initial removal of just the ROC flag.

Prague's Airport opened its eGate system on May 15 to eligible travelers from
Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea ... departing for
destinations outside the Schengen Area.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 16:15:13

The Taipei City Government is urging residents to prepare for a strong
typhoon that's currently centered around 3,000 kilometers east-southeast of
Taiwan's southern tip.

The government forecasts Typhoon Bavi's influence will be felt starting on
Thursday.

The Taipei City Disaster Prevention and Relief Office recommends that
residents secure items such as potted plants and hanging items starting this
weekend.

The storm's path is still uncertain, but the office says that its influence
will be felt regardless.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 15:08:14

Taipei prosecutors interrogated and then released a man on 500,000 NT bail
after he confessed to organizing a scheme involving buying and selling
tickets to concerts by K-pop groups.

A judge said the man was forthcoming during interrogation, meriting release
pending further court actions, but bail conditions were set to restrict him
from leaving the country.

The man allegedly hired an engineer to write a program that enabled the group
to buy tickets online under false identities. The tickets were subsequently
scalped via Facebook groups.

Prosecutors didn't release the name of the K-pop group or when the incident
happened, but they did say the investigation lasted two years.

Police arrested the main suspect and two assistants on July 1. They also
confiscated more than a million Japanese yen and several dozen tickets to
Korean and Taiwanese concerts.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 14:07:15

104 Job Bank says job opportunities are on the rise.

At its 2026 Career Expo, the employment website said that it has platformed
1.23 million job offers in the year to date. That's up 4.2 percent on year.

104 Job Bank says AI and the green economy are the main theme of job ads
these days, with 85% of companies offering AI-related positions and 73
percent offering so-called green-collar jobs.

Some 300 companies are participating in today's Career Expo at Taipei World
Trade Center. They include Tokyo Power Technology, CTBC Bank and Din Tai
Fung.

By sector, 104.com says accommodation and food services has the most
openings, at 248,000, followed by the electronics, IT, software and
semiconductor industry, with 194,000 openings.

JvW_zh_CNA

Posted on 2026-07-04 13:10:20

The Taipei Health Bureau has announced the newest additions to its smoke-fee
city program will be Dihua Street (迪化街) and the Chifeng Street (赤峰街) business
district that runs along the red MRT line between Zhongshan and Shuanglian
stations.

Beginning on August 1, anyone smoking in the proscribed areas will be issued
a fine of between 2,000 and 10,000 NT.

As with other no-smoking areas, people who absolutely must fuel their habit
will be able to use designated smoking enclosures.

The city temporarily prohibited smoking in the Dihua Street business district
during the Chinese New Year.

It permanently designated the Ximending shopping area as smoke-free in May.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 13:10:20

Taiwan's first long-term care facility for cats and dogs has opened in
Zhonghe.

It marks the launch of New Taipei's efforts to repurpose public animal
shelters into animal care and medical facilities.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) noted at the opening ceremony that pets grow
old and get sick just like humans do ... and he urged owners to properly care
for aging pets as they develop physical or behavioral problems.

Hou was given a tour of the facility and its equipment, which includes
aquatic therapy treadmills and yoga balls.

The mayor said New Taipei will work with veterinarians to provide free
monthly health and physical therapy classes.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 12:07:13

The Ministry of the Interior has detailed drug seizures in a report to the
legislature, indicating that more than 20 metric tons of illicit drugs of all
descriptions were seized between last January and this June.

That breaks down into 700 kilograms of Class I drugs, primarily heroin, as
well as seven tons of Class II drugs, which include cannabis, etomidate,
amphetamines and MDMA.

Etomidate is an anesthetic that has recently increased in popularity as a
recreational drug. It's included in vape cartridges sometimes referred to as
"zombie vapes."

Etomidate was officially reclassified as a Class I drug last month.

The MOI says a further 7 tons of Class III drugs, primarily ketamine, were
seized.

That leaves more than 5 tons of Class IV drugs, mainly precursor chemicals
used to make narcotics.

The top five source countries for the drugs were Thailand, the United States,
China, Malaysia and Canada.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 12:07:13

EasyCard users can now automatically top up their cards when taking buses in
Taipei and New Taipei.

EasyCard Corp. says the service applies to EasyCards linked to credit cards,
debit cards or bank accounts.

When the balance on an eligible EasyCard falls below 100 NT, the bus fare
validator will automatically add 500 NT to the card before deducting the
fare.

The company reminds passengers that the auto top-up process takes about three
to five seconds. Riders should keep their cards on the validator until the
machine indicates the top-up has been completed.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-04 11:08:17

The government has failed to secure legislative confirmation of three
nominees for the Central Election Commission.

The legislature rejected Cabinet nominees for a second time ... having done
the same in the case of three previous nominees in March.

Former Cabinet advisor Shen Shu-fei (沈淑妃), lawyer Tsai Wei-che (蔡維哲), and
Deputy Justice Minister Huang Mou-hsin (黃謀信) all fell short of the required
57 "yes" votes in a confirmation vote that took place yesterday afternoon.

The rejection of the three nominees won't prevent the CEC from operating. It
currently has eight commissioners, and though it's mandated to have nine to
11, only a minimum of five members have to be present to reach a quorum.

In March, the opposition-dominated legislature voted to approve four
commissioners that the KMT and TPP had put forward.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) noted that the latest group of
nominees had received good evaluations during their confirmation hearings ...
and said the result may undermine public confidence in the legislature's
confirmation process.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-03 20:09:13

The Food and Drug Administration says it will not order a blanket recall of
processed foods made with contaminated soybean oil, saying the health risk is
low.

Officials say more than 17 metric tons of the tainted oil have already been
removed from the market in a nationwide recall .... after excessive levels
of the cancer-causing substance benzo[a]pyrene were detected in soybean salad
oil supplied by Taichung-based Central Union Oil.

The agency says the contamination affects 18 products across 30 batches, but
it will not release the names of hundreds of downstream businesses because
the contaminant is expected to be significantly diluted during food
processing.

Authorities have ordered all affected soybean oil products off the market and
warn businesses that continue selling them could face fines of up to three
million NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-03 20:09:18

Lam Wing-kee, the former Hong Kong bookseller who became a symbol of
resistance to Beijing's crackdown on free speech, has died in Taiwan at the
age of 70.

The Central News Agency says Lam died Thursday evening after a recurrence of
cancer and was admitted to a hospital in Taipei earlier this week.

Lam was one of five people linked to Causeway Bay Books who disappeared in
2015 before later describing his detention by Chinese authorities.

He moved to Taiwan in 2019 amid fears of prosecution and reopened his
bookstore in Taipei the following year.

President Lai Ching-te expressed his condolences, praising Lam's courage and
commitment to freedom.

Posted on 2026-07-03 20:09:23

Taiwan will open a representative office in Phoenix, Arizona, to strengthen
cooperation with the United States in trade, technology, education and supply
chains.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Phoenix has become an increasingly
important technology hub as Taiwanese semiconductor investment in the city
continues to grow.

The expansion has been driven in part by tsmc, whose Arizona operations have
attracted more Taiwanese suppliers to the area.

The ministry has not said when the new office will open.

Once established, it will become Taiwan's 14th representative office in the
United States.

Posted on 2026-07-03 19:33:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced that it has increased its
funding for developing relationships with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.

The maximum total subsidy over seven years has gone up from 20 million NT to
60 million NT.

The subsidies can now be used to cover the salaries of local employees;
factory and equipment costs; and the rent of land and buildings.

Airfare subsidies for visits to diplomatic partners has also gone up to 100
000 NT.

The “Rongbang Plan” is intended to encourage Taiwanese companies to invest
and establish operations in Taiwan’s diplomatic partners.

The new revisions took effect on July 1st.

Posted on 2026-07-03 19:33:13

Ten students from Yilan County set off today for Japan’s Okinawa island chain.

The students, from Yue-Ming Elementary and Junior High School, will undertake
a roughly 1500-kilometre round trip boat excursion, visiting Ishigaki,
Miyakojima, and Okinawa City.

The students, from Yue-Ming Elementary and Junior High School, embark on a
1500-kilometre round trip from Suao Port to Okinawa.

The school said that their “Sailing the East China Sea: Exploring the Ocean”
programme combines sailing, marine science research, and exchanges with
Japanese students.

Premier Cho Jung-tai and Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun attended the departure
ceremony and presented the students with sunglasses.

This also marks the thirtieth anniversary of a sister-city relationship
between Suao and Ishigaki.

They should land in Ishigaki tomorrow, and the students will take part in a
friendly sailing race with local Okinawan students whilst there.

The boat will remain safety docked on shore if typhoons should develop along
their route.

Yue Ming has organized such expeditions since 2018.

Posted on 2026-07-03 19:01:13

Taishin Bank says it hopes to expand its smart transit payment business to
metro systems in central and southern Taiwan ...

... after a six-month trial of Taipei Metro's contactless payment system
recorded more than one million trips.

The bank says it will bid for similar payment contracts if opportunities
arise.

According to Taishin, 80 percent of users during the trial were under the age
of 35, while 90 percent chose to tap with their phones rather than physical
cards.

Taipei Metro now accepts contactless credit cards and mobile wallets,
including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, allowing both commuters and
international visitors to ride without buying single-ride tickets or transit
cards.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-03 17:08:13

The KMT and TPP have blocked all 3 of the Cabinet's latest round of nominees
to sit on the Central Election Commission.

This comes after the Cabinet in April nominated 3 more people to sit on the
CEC, after the legislature in March confirmed only 4 out of 7 nominees put
forward by the Executive Yuan.

A nominee must receive support from at least half of all lawmakers.

The vote count today shows that 50 DPP lawmakers voted in favor of all 3
nominees while opposition lawmakers all voted against them.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-03 17:08:13

Hsinchu County councilors are calling on the municipal government to improve
flood prevention and drainage systems.

That's following heavy rainfall that led to flooding in Zhubei last week.

KMT councilor Tsai Chih-huan蔡志環 said many residents reported flooded homes,
waterlogged roads, and poor drainage after last Friday's downpour.

He urged the county government to prevent the same areas from flooding
repeatedly and speed up post-disaster recovery work.

In response, the Hsinchu County government said it has inspected storm
drains, roads, bridges, and underpasses, while stepping up dredging efforts
in flood-prone areas.

Authorities have also launched emergency repairs to damaged embankments and
are considering additional funding to improve drainage infrastructure and
reduce future flood risks.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-03 17:08:14

In related news...

The central government has agreed in principle to provide Tainan with an
additional 2 billion NT for flood control projects after torrential rainfall
caused widespead flooding last week.

According to the Tainan City Government, heavy rain brought by Typhoon
Mekkhala's outler circulation and seasonal southwest monsoon far exceeded the
city's drainage capacity...

causing rivers to overflow, flooding several districts.

The funding will be used to strengthen river embankments, improve drainage
systems, expand pumping capacity, and build more flood detention facilities
...

... as the city works to better prepare for increasingly frequent extreme
weather events.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-03 16:07:13

A proposal to hold a referendum on caning has advanced past the first reading
thanks to the KMT's legislative majority.

The proposal was put forward by KMT lawmaker Hung Mong-kai. 洪孟楷

Eight TPP lawmakers were present for the vote but abstained.

The proposal seeks to hold a referendum that would ask voters about using
caning for serious crimes like scams and child abuse.

The vote today appears to contradict statements made by the KMT last week, in
which they said that they would not pursue a referendum on caning until there
was greater public consensus on the issue.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-03 16:07:15

Mandarin Airlines has introduced its first A321neo aircraft on domestic
outlying island routes to meet increased summer travel demand.

The inaugural flight departed Taichung for Penghu this morning.

The airline says the 235-seater aircraft will primarily serve the busy Penghu
and Kinmen routes during the summer vacation period, increasing capacity and
easing pressure on existing services.

The A321neo features eight premium economy seats, 227 economy seats and an
accessible restroom.

Mandarin Airlines says it plans to add two more A321neo aircraft in the
second half of 2027 for regional routes across Southeast and Northeast Asia.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-03 16:07:15

Award-winning Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi has been featured in Finland's
largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, following her International Booker
Prize win.

The paper published both an in-depth interview with Yang and a review of her
novel, "Taiwan Travelogue".

In the interview, Yang said that she hopes her writing will help people
around the world better understand Taiwan and its stories.

She also emphasised that Taiwan's democratic development inspired her to
write historcal fiction.

The newspaper prasied "Taiwan Travelogue" for its portrayal of Taiwan under
Japanese colonial rule and its exploration of how history can be shaped by
those who tell it.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-03 15:13:13

Local governments are intensifying inspections nationwide after some soybean
salad oil produced by Chung Lien Oils Corporation 中聯 was found to contain
excessive levels of BaP, a Group 1 carcinogen.

The affected oil was distributed to major food manufacturers, prompting a
nationwide recall of 15 products.

Some local governments have stepped up enforcement efforts.

New Taipei City inspected more than 70 retailers, schools, and meal
providers, confirming that no affected products remained in stock.

Mayor Hou Yu-ih also reminded residents that they can check information
regarding recalls and exchange information on the city government webite.

Miaoli County inspected eight businesses and removed more than 200 recalled
products, whilst Changhua County checked more than 150 businesses and oversaw
the removal of more than 1,130 kilograms of affected cooking oil from store
shelves.

Authorities continue to monitor the recall process to ensure that all
affected products have been removed from the market and that food safety
regulations are fully enforced.

They remind vendors that they will punish the failure to remove recalled
products.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-03 15:13:15

Swedish fashion retailer H&M says that it will close its flagship store in
Taipei's Ximending shopping district at the end of the year.

The company says the closure is due to the expiration of the store's lease
following discussions with the landlord.

H&M says it remains committed to the Taiwan market and will continue
optimising its store network whilst looking for new locations.

The Ximending outlet opened as H&M's flagship store in Taiwan and was once
the brand's largest flagship store in Asia.

After the closure, H&M will continue operating 13 stores across Taiwan.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-03 14:11:13

The Legislative Yuan has sent competing versions of drone procurement
proposals for committee review.

Three committees will examine the DPP's 210 million NT special budget for
drone acquisition...

as well as the KMT's version that sets out 240 million NT in spending in the
general government budget, plus the TPP version.

The Economics, Foreign Affairs & National Defense, and Finance Committees
will examine the 3 proposals.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-03 14:11:14

Pingtung is cracking down on drug-impaired driving, making 17 arrests in
about one month and a half.

Officials say, one of those detained is a 49 year old repeat offedner
surnamed Su.

Prosecutors filed charges against him and are seeking a prison sentence of
one year in accordance with recidivism regulations.

Pingtung prosecutors noted that some cases involved the increasingly
prevalent drug etomidate.

Prosecutors note that etomidate has been reclassified as a Schedule I
controlled substance, and enforcement will be intensified to swiftly and
severely prosecute drug-driving offenses.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-03 14:11:14

The Central Weather Administration says, Typhoon Bavi is showing signs of
strengthening, but its impact on Taiwan is not yet clear.

The typhoon is currently moving westward over waters east of the Philippines,
located nearly 4000 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan southernmost point as
of this morning.

The CWA says, the storm slowed from 16 kilometers per hour to 13.

They add that they expect the storm to continue strengthening over the coming
days.

Forecasters believe the typhoon will reach waters near the Ryukyu Islands
early Wednesday.

They believe it will then turn northwest as it approaches waters off Taiwan's
east.

However, it remains to be seen what sort of impact Bavi will have on Taiwan.

In other weather news, the CWA says that the highest temperature recorded
nationwide today as of noon was in Pingtung's Zhutian, at 38.4 degrees
celsius.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-07-03 14:11:14

Taiwan shares are slightly up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at
46780 after gaining 36 points.

The turnover was 1.015 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-07-03 13:10:13

The Legislative Yuan is set to vote on the Cabinet's nominations to serve on
the Central Election Commission today.

It is understood that opposition lawmakers may vote to reject the 3 nominees.

But the DPP's Legislative Caucus Secretary General, Zhuang Rui Xiong, says
today that he hopes the candidates will not be completely blocked for
political reasons.

The Executive Yuan put forward 3 more nominees after the Legislature in March
approved 4 nominees, 3 of whom were recommended by KMT or TPP...

while lawmakers voted against the three nominees chosen by the DPP.

In April, the Executive Yuan put forward three more picks to sit on the
Commission.

The vote is expected to take place later today.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-03 13:10:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, he hopes the legislature will work together
to invest in and develop the domestic drone industry.

He says, it's important to maintaining national security and international
cooperation.

Chiang made the comments as competing versions of proposed additional drone
funding have now been sent for committee review.

The Cabinet proposed a special budget aimed at drone acquisition with an
upper budget limit of 210 billion NT, while the KMT proposed its own version
that is incorporated into the general budget and sets a budget ceiling of 240
billion NT.

The Taipei mayor thus joins his Taichung counterpart Lu Xiu yan in voicing
support for more funding for the domestic drone industry.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-03 13:10:13

The Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival returns for
its 31st edition from July 4th to August 16th at the Dongshan River Water
Park.

The theme for this year, “Into the Forest,” transforms the venue into an
immersive woodland filled with water attractions, interactive art
installations, and family-friendly activities.

More than 20 international performing groups will also take the stage,
bringing music and cultural performances from around the world.

Organizers hope families of all ages can reconnect through play and create
lasting summer memories.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-03 11:08:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has approved a 20-billion U-S dollar capital
injection by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing into its wholly owned U-S
subsidiary, T-S-M-C Arizona.

It marks the sixth time the department has approved T-S-M-C investments in
the United States.

And brings the total amount cleared for the company's U-S operations to
44-billion U-S dollars.

The latest funding will be used to build a 12-inch wafer fab and an advanced
packaging plant in Arizona.

Posted on 2026-07-03 11:08:14

The number of accounts created to trade on the local stock market rose to a
new high at the end of June, as the Tai-Ex soared almost 60-per cent in the
first half of the year.

Data show there were about 14.49-million trading accounts in the Tai-Ex as of
the end of June.

That's up by 155,000 from the end of May and marks an increase of 720,156
from the end of 2025.

Market analysts are attributing the Taiex's strong performance to an
increasing number of investors joining trading out of "fear of missing out."

Posted on 2026-07-03 08:12:13

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says the United States is unlikely to match
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's production capacity in Taiwan despite
the chipmaker's expansion in Arizona.

The statement comes after U-S President Donald Trump earlier this week said
Taiwan is doubling the size of the chip plants under construction in Arizona
and that Taiwanese chipmakers such as T-S-M-C are increasing their
investments in America.

And according to Trump, America could have 50-per cent of the chip market by
the time he leaves office in 2029.

Speaking to reporters, Kung said T-S-M-C has already announced plans for a
total of 16 fabs and advanced Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate packaging facilities
here in Taiwan and regardless of how many fabs the U-S builds in the future,
it won't be that many.

The economics minister also said that T-S-M-C's previously announced plans
are evidence that Taiwan will remain central to its manufacturing operations.

Posted on 2026-07-03 08:12:13

U-S server maker Supermicro is denying reports that its Taiwan office was
raided by authorities as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged
illegal sale of A-I servers equipped with advanced Nvidia chips to China.

According to Supermicro, authorties have confirmed that the company "is not a
target" of the investigation and has been providing information to, and
cooperating with investigators for several months.

The statement comes after four Supermicro Taiwan employees were detained for
questioning earlier this week in connection with an investigation into
Supermicro's sale of products to a Taiwan technology company.

Supermicro says it coordinated with authorities by providing access to the
employees' desks and electronic devices.

Two of those employees remain in detention pending further legal proceedings,
while the other two have been released on bail.

Supermicro also says all four employees have been placed on administrative
leave pending the conclusion of the investigation, and the company has "zero
tolerance" for violations of the law or its internal policies.

The Keelung District Prosecutors Office investigation is focusing on the
alleged illegal resale of A-I servers equipped with export-controlled Nvidia
chips to China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Posted on 2026-07-03 08:12:13

The Food and Drug Administration has recalled around 1,300 tonnes of cooking
oil products after they were found to contain excessive levels of a
carcinogenic compound.

The F-D-A says the affected soy-based cooking oil was produced by
Taichung-based Central Union Oil and supplied to three major local food oil
companies.

According to the F-D-A, the affected oil was sold to the three companies
between April 8 and April 10 and those companies immediately recalled the
products after being notified by Central Union of the issue.

F-D-A officials and members of the Taichung City Government's food safety
office inspected Central Union's premises on Wednesday.

Central Union has now been ordered to suspend production while authorities
review its manufacturing processes to determine the cause of the problem.

Posted on 2026-07-03 08:12:13

Residents of Hsinchu City's Guanxin ward posted Taiwan's highest average
annual household income in 2024 at 4.592-million N-T to reclaim the title of
the country's wealthiest ward.

Guanxin also topped the nation in median household income at 3.434-million
N-T, making it not only the highest-earning but also one of Taiwan's most
evenly affluent neighborhoods.

According to the Ministry of Finance's preliminary 2024 individual income tax
statistics, the top five highest-income villages were all in northern Taiwan.

Guanxin is fueled by high-income professionals working in the nearby Hsinchu
Science Park and returned to No. 1 after being overtaken in 2023 by Zhonghua
ward in Taipei's Songshan District.

Yongfu ward in Taipei's Shilin District ranked second with average household
income of 3.548-million N-T, followed by Taipei's Zhonghua ward
with average household income of 3.489-million N-T.

Posted on 2026-07-03 08:12:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says a tropical storm that formed in
waters near Guam yesterday has now developed into a typhoon.

Typhoon Bavi is located some 1,000 kilometers east of Guam, or some
4,000-kilometers southeast of Eluanbi at Taiwan's southernmost tip, and is
moving in a westerly direction at 24-kilometers-an-hour.

The storm has a radius of 180-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds
of 133-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 154-kilometers-an-hour.

According to the weather administration's forecast center, based on its
current tracking, Bavi is expected to pass near Guam between Monday and
Tuesday of next week, before heading toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands, where it
is likely to begin turning north.

However, the center says the exact angle of the storm's northward turn and
its track remain highly uncertain and its potential impact on Taiwan will
depend on its position in the latter half of next week.

Meanwhile, tropical storm Maysak is expected to make landfall in China's
Hainan province later today after it moved through the South China Sea and
its posed no threat to Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

The Cabinet is proposing an average 4-percent pay rise for active-duty
military personnel, civil servants and public school teachers.

Premier Zh Rong-tai says the pay raises take into account Taiwan's strong
economic performance in recent years and the consumer price index -- which is
expected to record a cumulative increase of more than 3-per cent since 2024.

The government is said to believe the benefits of economic growth should also
be shared with public-sector employees, as average private-sector wages and
the minimum wage have also risen.

The 4-per cent increase will be funded through the fiscal 2027 general budget.

The Cabinet is also proposing a monthly allowance of 2,000 N-T for managerial
positions and posts requiring specialized skills, as part of efforts to
encourage civil servants to take on management roles.

Zhu said that allowance increases will be funded through a supplementary
budget to be submitted after the Legislative Yuan completes its review of the
fiscal 2026 general budget.

The increases would be applied retroactively to July 1, 2026.

Cho says the central government is now working to earmark funding for the pay
raises... its urging lawmakers to approve the proposal to support the
government's efforts to recruit and retain talent.

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene says Washington is ready
to deepen cooperation with Taipei on uncrewed systems.

He categorised the move as a new business and "game-changing opportunity"
which could boost security in Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Greene told participants at a drone industry business forum in Taichung that
Ukraine has shown that "a military with robust drone production capacity and
a culture of technological innovation can punch far above its weight" ..

.. and that's "good news for Taiwan, with its world-beating technology and
production capabilities."

The A-I-T director believes Taiwan's drone industry is a sector where the
island's unique combination of talent, infrastructure, and ecosystem creates
a durable, world-leading competitive advantage and the U-S is eager to be
part of that journey.

Greene said closer US-Taiwan cooperation will help "anchor democratic drone
production, reduce vulnerability to supply chain disruption, and strengthen
the collective deterrence posture of the free world."

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the government will consider a limited
relaxation of controls on access to the morning-after pill and will be taking
Japan as a reference for any such moves.

Shih says a policy plan will be finalized in the second half of this year and
and include comprehensive support measures, as the morning-after pill still
has side effects.

The policy shift comes amid backlash over recently proposed contraception
sales restrictions.

The Food and Drug Administration last week indicated it would add three
prescription drugs, including two oral emergency contraceptives, to its drug
traceability system by amending the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

The drugs currently require a doctor's prescription.

However, they are also available at some pharmacies and there's concern that
might be stopped if they're included in the traceability system.

The F-D-A says its proposal is intended to ensure pharmaceutical companies'
report compliance and allow regulators to track drug distribution.

The draft policy is open for public comment for 60 days.

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

reports

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has received no reports of Taiwan
citizens being denied entry into Kenya.

The statement comes after recent comments by a Kenyan official suggested that
holders of Taiwan passports will not be allowed entry into the country.

The country's principal secretary for foreign affairs was quoted by the Kenya
Times as saying travelers holding Taiwan passports would "ordinarily be
denied entry at Kenya's borders for lacking proper travel documentation."

The newspaper went to cite the official as saying "any person purporting to
hold a Taiwan passport would ordinarily not be allowed" entry.

The official also reaffirmed Kenya's adherence to the "one China" policy.

But the foreign ministry here in Taipei says Taiwan passport holders can
still enter Kenya, provided that the passport is valid for at least six
months and they obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization, in accordance with
Kenya's current regulations.

The foreign ministry says it will continue to monitor any changes to Kenya's
entry policies to safeguard the rights and interests of Taiwanese citizens
traveling there for business or tourism.

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

The Tainan District Court has sentenced D-P-P lawmaker Lin I-chin to seven
years in prison for defrauding more than 14-million N-T in assistant
subsidies.

The court found Lin guilty of on six counts of violating the Anti-Corruption
Act for abusing her position to misappropriate assistant subsidies, which
were diverted for personal and constituency office expenses.

Prosecutors say she falsified assistant salary and overtime records and used
proxy employees during her tenure as a Tainan city councilor and legislator
from 2009 to August 2024.

Along with sentencing Lin to seven years in prison, the court has also and
ordered the confiscation of 14-million N-T in illicit gains.

An assistant who worked for Lin was also convicted of exploiting her
position, although the court noted that she did not personally gain from the
actions and sentenced to two years in prison suspended for five years.

Both rulings can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

A shipment of Irwin mangoes from Tainan and black-leaf lychees from Taichung
have arrived in the U-K and cleared customs.

It marks Taiwan's first official export of the two types of fruit to the U-K
this year.

The shipment departed from Taoyuan International Airport, transited through
Frankfurt, Germany, and arrived at Manchester Airport.

The shipment was imported by Cherrain Global, a wholesale importer based in
northwest England, and Taiwan's Sunray International coordinated production,
logistics and export procedures.

Cherrain Global C-E-O Kris Tang says every stage of the shipment was closely
monitored, from harvesting to quarantine inspection and packaging, to ensure
British consumers receive the freshest possible Taiwan fruit.

Tang says the company hopes to establish a sustainable and replicable model
for exporting Taiwanese fruit to the U-K, while testing consumer demand
across different market segments.

Posted on 2026-07-03 06:52:13

And,

One of the newborn orangutan twins born at Taipei Zoo has died, while its
sibling remained in critical condition in intensive care.

Despite emergency treatment, the baby orangutan died on Wednesday due to
complications from premature birth and underdevelopment.

Its sibling is suffering from neonatal respiratory distress syndrome because
its underdeveloped lungs are not yet able to support normal breathing.

The zoo says veterinarians and other medical staff are monitoring the newborn
orangutan around the clock.

The twins were delivered Monday by cesarean section, as their mother Ke Yi
had been deemed to have a high-risk pregnancy.

Orangutans are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List.

Females in the wild typically give birth only once every six to eight years,
with nearly all pregnancies resulting in a single offspring and the zoo says
twin births are considered extremely rare even in captivity.

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