ICRT

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of Digital Affairs has confirmed that overseas hackers used
artificial intelligence agents to target government agencies in a July
cyberattack.

The statement comes after the Financial Times published a report about the
incident.

According to the ministry, the Administration for Cyber Security's monitoring
unit detected the attacks in July and the National Institute for Cyber
Security began issuing alerts on July 20.

The digital ministry says as investigation was launched immediately, and the
source, methods and scope of the attacks have been determined, while affected
agencies have completed their responses.

However, the ministry has not disclosed where the attacks originated.

The Financial Times said researchers at Israeli A-I company Dream were the
first to detect the intrusion and the attackers allegedly used open-source
A-I agents to build an autonomous hacking tool.

The report also cited a source as saying the tool compromised at least 85
government user accounts and extracted more than 2,500 personnel records
before the attackers expanded their operations to Taiwan's nuclear safety
agency and at least seven energy companies.

Dream did not attribute the attack to a specific group, but researchers noted
that internal communications linked to the operation were in simplified
Chinese, suggesting the operators were likely connected to China.

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

The Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 14 people for allegedly
operating a cross-border heroin trafficking network.

They include a 70-year old former Winter Olympian, who prosecutors say
directed the group's operations by cellphone while bedridden with a serious
illness.

All 14 suspects have been charged with violating the Organized Crime
Prevention Act and the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.

Prosecutors are seeking sentences ranging from at least five years to life
imprisonment.

According to the prosecutors' office, the former Olympian, who represented
Taiwan at the 1984 Winter Games, began operating the heroin trafficking and
sales network in 2025.

He has been bedridden after undergoing a tracheostomy and prosecutors say
they believe he turned to drug trafficking to cover his medical expenses.

Investigators say the 70-year old man arranged for heroin to be transported
into Taiwan four times, totaling more than 2.3 kilograms.

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

And finally,

Star guard, Benson Lin has announced that he's signed a multiyear contract
with the Taiwan Professional Basketball League's Taipei Taishin Mars.

Although details of the contract have not been released, reports say Lin
could earn 60-million N-T annually.

Lin has spent the past six seasons with the Tianjin Pioneers in the Chinese
Basketball Association.

According to Lin, he's very excited and happy to be returning to Taiwan,
hopes to contribute to the T-P-B-L and his only goal with the Mars is to win
a championship title.

The 26 year old has long been regarded as one of the top guards on Taiwan's
national team.

Lin is join a Mars team that went 11 and 25 in the 2025-2026 T-P-B-L regular
season, finishing sixth in the seven-team league.

The franchise has yet to win a title since it was established in 2023.

Its best result came in its inaugural 2023-2024 season in the now defunct T-1
League, when it reached the finals but finished runner-up.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

drills

The last day of nationwide civil defense exercises saw medical capacity
reduction drills at the Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital in New
Taipei.

Officials say the drill simulated sustaining medical care when critical
infrastructure is damaged, and supplies of water, electricity or oxygen are
disrupted.

Staff also also set up an underground ward area to simulate wartime
operations, as underground spaces are considered safer than the ground
surface during war.

The hospital's third basement level was turned into a restricted area,
wartime storage facilities, a blood donation station and core medical areas,
such as general wards, an emergency dialysis area and an intensive care unit.

President Lai Ching-te inspected the drill, while American Institute in
Taiwan Director Raymond Greene and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih were also in
attendance.

Medical personnel say the drill showed that shortages of painkillers and
sedatives could become a major challenge during wartime, but doctors could
use ultrasound-guided pain management techniques to maintain adequate pain
control in the underground facility.

The drills was part of the nationwide Urban Resilience Exercises, that were
held in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Yilan yesterday.

Mobile internet services slowed in those areas as part of the drills for the
first time.

The drill marked the second and final day of Taiwan's first exercise
simulating a major slowdown in mobile internet speeds, following a similar
operation in central Taiwan on Monday.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

Meanwhile,

The military conducted an exercise in Yilan to simulate the blocking of
Hsuehshan Tunnel and prevent Chinese forces from using it to advance on
Taipei.

Defense officials say the exercise brought together officials from central
and local government agencies to set up three barriers under a simulated
scenario in which enemy forces attempted to advance through the tunnel.

The exercise was not physically held inside the tunnel due to heavy traffic
during the summer vacation period, but instead in an open area near the
bureau's Toucheng branch office.

The office says it worked with the military to block an enemy attack, repair
potholes before the bureau hand control of the highway over to the military,
Lin said.

The drill was designed to test how well the highway system could respond in
an emergency.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

The Cabinet has passed draft amendments to the Money Laundering Control Act,
aimed at strengthening oversight of cryptocurrency-related activities and
stablecoins and preventing them from being used for money laundering.

If passed, providing virtual asset services or third-party payment services
without registration, as well as issuing stablecoins without authorization,
would be designated as "specified unlawful activities" for the purposes of
money laundering offenses.

The draft incorporates international standards by establishing a legal
definition of a beneficial owner as a person who ultimately owns or controls
a client or a transaction, or a natural person who exercises ultimate
effective control over a legal entity or legal arrangement.

And it also authorizes the central competent authorities overseeing relevant
industries to establish inspection and identification measures for beneficial
owners in consultation with other government agencies.

The draft amendments will now to sent to the Legislature for review.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Ugandan immigration officers have
withheld the passports of three Taiwan travelers and demanded that they
produce Chinese passports, citing the country's "One China principle."

The three encountered the officers on arriving at Entebbe International
Airport on Wednesday.

They were eventually allowed to enter Uganda.

However, the foreign ministry says immigration officers refused to return
their Taiwan passports unless they produced passports issued by China in
which entry stamps could be placed.

Taiwan's representative office in Somaliland, which is responsible for
affairs involving Uganda, and the Taiwanese business association in the
country immediately provided assistance to the travelers.

The incident follows two earlier cases in which Taiwan nationals had their
passports withheld at Entebbe International Airport.

One of them was subsequently denied entry and repatriated.

The foreign ministry is advising Taiwan nationals to carefully assess the
necessity and potential risks of traveling to Uganda and to postpone planned
visits for the time being.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

The Mainland Affairs Council says Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling
will not penalized over her prerecorded appearance at China's Straits Forum.

The council said she did not violate the Cross-Strait Act.

The statement comes a week after council minister Chiu Chui-cheng told
reporters that the National Immigration Agency said the magistrate had
violated the Act and would be fined 500,000 N-T.

However, council spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh says Yao's participation via a
prerecorded video was "not entirely consistent" with the government's policy
banning central and local government officials from taking part in the forum
or related activities "in any form."

Liang also says a review of Yao's remarks in the video found they were
limited to "courtesy greetings and the promotion of Taitung agricultural
products" and did not touch on political issues.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a former senior
engineer at Nanya Technology for secretly filming confidential company
information in an alleged effort to secure a high-paying job in China.

Prosecutors says the man has been charged with violating the Trade Secrets
Act and breach of trust.

The man is said to have contacted Chinese headhunters on WeChat between 2025
and 2026 to inquire about high-paying positions without his employer's
knowledge.

After he resigned February, he allegedly entered restricted areas of Nanya's
offices three times between March and April and downloaded documents related
to core manufacturing processes and filmed the documents with a camera.

The case came to light after Nanya's information security specialists
detected anomalies by comparing the locations of wireless equipment with
employee access-control records and activity logs from company-issued
computers.

Posted on 2026-08-14 06:56:13

And,

McDonald's Taiwan suspended the sale of its newly launched "Sea Flavor Shrimp
Cutlet Burger" and "Sea Flavor Double-Layered Shrimp Cutlet Burger" after
residue from banned antibiotics was detected in the shrimp cutlets.

The products were pulled from the menu only one day after they were launched.

McDonald's says it received a report from the importer that self-testing had
detected 0.7 parts per billion of nitrofurans and their metabolites, in
samples of the cutlets, despite suppliers having provided certified documents
for the seafood ingredients.

McDonald's says it has stopped using the cutlets and suspended sales of the
two burgers.

It will also refund customers who purchased the products on Wednesday or
Thursday morning.

The company has apologized and says it will conduct additional testing and
clarify the results with its suppliers and testing laboratories.

Nitrofurans are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are banned in many
countries including Taiwan because of their potential carcinogenic effects.

Posted on 2026-08-13 19:34:13

The head of Taiwan's top business association is calling for electricity
prices to remain frozen for households and small businesses.

The call comes ahead of an electricity price review expected in September,
with October rates reportedly likely to remain unchanged.

Hsu Shu-po (許舒博), Chair of the General Chamber of Commerce, says if prices do
need to rise, companies with higher profits and strong export performance
should bear the increase first.

Hsu says tight global energy supplies continue to put upward pressure on
electricity prices.

He also called for continued government funding for TaiPower ...

... warning that worsening finances could weaken the state-run utility's
ability to respond to natural disasters and other major emergencies.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 19:34:13

A former Winter Olympian has been indicted along with 13 others over an
alleged cross-border heroin trafficking network, with prosecutors accusing
the 70-year-old of directing the operation from his sickbed.

The Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office says the man, surnamed Wu,
represented Taiwan at the 1984 Winter Olympics and began running the alleged
network last year.

Despite being bedridden with a serious illness, prosecutors say Wu used his
cellphone to arrange heroin shipments into Taiwan and coordinate the group's
operations.

Investigators allege the network brought more than 2.3 kilograms of heroin
into Taiwan, with an estimated street value of over 23 million NT.

Authorities arrested all 14 suspects in May and seized more than 1.6
kilograms of heroin and cash.

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for Wu and two other defendants, while
asking for prison terms of at least five years for the others.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 19:34:13

The Cabinet has approved draft amendments aimed at strengthening oversight of
cryptocurrency activities and preventing digital assets from being used for
money laundering.

Under the proposed changes, providing virtual asset or third-party payment
services without registration, as well as issuing stablecoins without
authorization, could be treated as money-laundering offenses.

The amendments would also introduce a legal definition of a beneficial owner,
meaning the person who ultimately owns or controls a customer, transaction or
legal entity.

The government says financial institutions and virtual asset providers would
also be allowed to share information when necessary to prevent money
laundering or terrorist financing.

The draft amendments will now be sent to the Legislature for review.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 18:46:14

Google has unveiled its new Pixel 11 smartphone series in Taiwan, with four
new models set to go on sale from August 20th.

Those are the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel
11 Pro Fold.

All four feature Google's new Tensor G6 chip, built using TSMC's upgraded
three-nanometer process.

The phones are designed around Google's Gemini AI features.

Prices start at 29,990 NT for the Pixel 11 base model with 256 GB of storage.

While the Pro Fold base model comes in at 60 thousand 990 NT -- for the same
amount of storage.

Some models are keeping the same prices as the previous generation despite
rising memory costs.

Google says this is possible thanks to advances in software and hardware
optimization.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 18:46:14

Lower-priced apartments are attracting buyers in Taipei's cooling property
market, with some projects still selling well despite the broader slowdown.

Real estate magazine My Housing says only three new projects priced below 20
million NT have disclosed at least 10 transactions this year, compared with
seven during roughly the same period last year.

With new homes averaging about 1.2 million NT per ping, apartments in this
price range are generally small units or studios.

Some have still sold well, helped by convenient amenities, access to MRT
stations and nearby school districts.

But analysts say limited space and potential financing difficulties could
make these properties less attractive to first-time buyers.

They add that neighboring cities can offer more living space for the money,
while convenient transport links to Taipei are helping some housing demand
spill over from the capital.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 18:38:14

The Ministry of Digital Affairs says overseas hackers used artificial
intelligence agents in a July cyberattack targeting Taiwan's government
agencies.

The ministry says its cybersecurity teams detected the attacks and began
issuing alerts on July 20th, with affected agencies since completing their
response.

The Financial Times reported that attackers used open-source AI agents to
build an autonomous hacking tool that compromised at least 85 government
accounts and stole more than 2,500 personnel records.

Taiwanese officials say the attack combined conventional hacking techniques
with AI agents, allowing the attackers to operate faster and on a larger
scale.

The ministry says it has introduced new guidelines for AI-related
cybersecurity threats and will strengthen monitoring and defenses.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 18:38:14

McDonald's Taiwan has suspended sales of two shrimp burgers after traces of
banned antibiotics were detected in the shrimp cutlets.

The "Sea Flavor Shrimp Cutlet Burger" and double-layered version had only
been launched Wednesday.

Sales were suspended at 10:30 this morning after an importer reported that
self-testing had found nitrofuran residues in samples.

McDonald's says the level detected was 0.7 parts per billion.

The company has stopped using the affected cutlets and will refund customers
who bought the burgers from yesterday through to this morning.

McDonald's says it is conducting additional tests and working with suppliers
and laboratories to clarify the results.

Nitrofurans are a class of antibiotics banned in Taiwan because of concerns
over their potential carcinogenic effects.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-13 18:38:14

Travelers can expect to pay more for overseas tours in the fourth quarter,
particularly for trips to Japan.

The Travel Quality Assurance Association expects Japan group tour prices to
rise 7 to 10 percent from a year ago.

The association points to inflation and rising travel costs in Japan,
including higher prices for hotels, restaurants and transportation.

South Korea tours, on the other hand, are expected to remain relatively
stable, ranging from unchanged to about 3 percent higher, helped by increased
flight capacity and favorable exchange rates.

Tours to Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island are expected to rise by around 15 percent,
as a surge in visitors pushes up hotel prices.

Domestic tour prices are also expected to edge higher as fuel, labor and
other operating costs rise.

(IG)

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

The Presidential Office is slamming opposition lawmakers for blocking the
Executive Yuan's special drone budget proposal...

after British newspaper The Economist published an article called "Taking
Taiwan's Democracy Hostage" which accuses the legislature of blocking bills
to build up Taiwan's domestic drone industry.

They called it a "dramatic act of self-sabotage" that poses a serious threat
to Taiwan's interests.

Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo stated that the article clearly
argues that the opposition is kneecapping government functions and erasing
Taiwan's ability to defend itself...

with China having more to gain than anyone else.

(AH)

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

The DPP has condemned KMT Chair Cheng Li Wun for remarks she made in which
she accused the DPP of engaging in political persecution against the KMT's
pick to run Pingtung County.

KMT Candidate Su Qing Quan is currently the honorary president of the
Pingtung Donggang Antai Hospital...

where a fire in 2024 killed 9 people.

Su was believed to have committed negligent homicide and to have violated the
Building Act, with the Control Yuan later finding that nearly half of
hospital buildings were not up to code.

Prosecutors granted Su a two year suspeded prosecution and fined him 10
million NT, but the High Prosecutors Office later revoked the suspended
prosecution, and he was indicted in June of this year.

Cheng yesterday claimed that Su's case was one of "political persecution"

But DPP spokesman Michelle Lin says that Cheng's comments cause secondary
harm to families of the victims of the fire...

and are an insult to the judiciary.

Lin emphasized that prosecutors' investigations into Su were entirely within
their realm of responsibilities

(AH)

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

Taiwan Railway Corporation has revealed three little-known stations hidden
beneath Taipei, designed to help evacuate passengers from the city's
underground rail tunnels.

The Ximen (西門), Fuxing (復興) and Guangfu (光復) stations are normally off-limits
to the public, and only used during emergencies.

Railway officials say the stations can guide passengers safely to the surface
within five minutes.

They are warning the public not to try to visit the stations, saying
unauthorized access could be dangerous.

(IG)

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

Urban Resilience Exercises will be taking place in northern Taiwan in half an
hour.

Residents of Yilan, New Taipei, Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu will
also see simulated mobile network slowdowns during the half hour drill
period.

Despite the roaming data slowdowns, SMS texting and voice calls will be
unaffected, and authorities emphasize that calls to emergency services will
go through.

Fixed broadband/wifi will also continue to function.

When the alarm sounds at 2:30, officials will direct people to air defense
shelters or other safe indoor locations, where they must stay until 3.

People who violate the evacuation face a fine of up 150,000 N-T.

(AH)

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

The National Health Insurance Administration is warning the public against
false LINE messages claiming card suspensions.

Officials say the fraudulent messages urge users to click on phishing links,
which can compromise passwords, leak personal data, or install malware on
mobile devices.

The agency emphasizes that its legitimate L-I-N-E account features a verified
blue badge... and never sends unsolicited friend requests or demands
immediate action through messaging links.

And officials say citizens can verify or report suspicious communications
through the National Health Insurance toll-free hotline, or the 165
anti-fraud network.

(NS)

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

In Taipei,

DPP Mayoral Candidate Puma Shen headed to Dongmen traditional market today to
campaign.

Shen acknowledged that Da'an is considered a KMT stronghold, but said that he
wanted to visit all corners of Taipei to collect opinions from the public.

He noted that Dongmen market is currently undergoing rennovations, adding
that he hoped to understand patrons' and business operators' needs.

Meanwhile, when asked about a former city government spokesperson who's
accused of leaking information, Shen suggested the city government may have
deliberately withheld or concealed information...

as Shen's opponent Chiang Wan An initially stated that the spokesperson left
the post for "career reasons."

(AH)

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

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 503 points to
close the session at 4602.

The turnover was 1.049 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-08-13 13:08:13

The Council of Indigenous Peoples says, an investigation is underway into the
conduct of Deputy Chair Chen Yi Xin.

That's after media reported that he was involved in workplace bullying.

The Council says that they will convene a panel of outside experts to look
into the case...

emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy of workplace bullying.

In a statement, the Council added that it had already adjusted relevant
personnel oversight measures.

They noted that support has been offered to the victim.

(AH)

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

Education groups in Kaohsiung are demanding an official investigation
following the death of an elementary school teacher on Tuesday.

The teacher’s former school confirmed the educator served there for eight
years before taking leave in June, but denied reports that the death was
linked to a formal disciplinary complaint.

However, the Formosa Education Union stated that the educator had previously
its sought help regarding heavy administrative stress, transfer processes,
and parent complaints.

The union is urging Kaohsiung’s Education Bureau to launch an independent
investigation to review administrative pressure and strengthen psychological
support mechanisms for educators.

(NS)

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has asked Indonesia to clarify a
joint naval exercise east of Taiwan announced by China.

The statement comes after China's defense ministry announced that joint
Chinese-Indonesian Naval navigation exercises would be taking place.

According to the foreign ministry, it "immediately contacted relevant
parties" to learn more about the situation and asked the Indonesian side for
clarification after China "unilaterally claimed" Indonesia would participate
in the drill.

The ministry say it has "sternly condemned" what it's describing as China's
"arbitrary and irresponsible" behavior, saying Beijing has again disregarded
international norms and responsibilities and "further increased tensions in
the region."

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

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is stressing the importance of employing
3D-printing equipment for the urgent resupply of drones on the battlefield as
part of the government's efforts to strengthen combat resilience.

Koo made the statement while visiting a drone unit garrisoned in Taoyuan.

Koo was accompanied by Vice Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien and defense
officials say the visit was aimed at highlighting the equipment as combat
units conducted drills as part of the Han Kuang military exercises.

The equipment is capable of producing non-electronic components, including
airframes and weapons bays.

Koo says by developing rapid production capabilities using 3D-printing
technology, drone units can establish a decentralized, rapid and sustainable
maintenance and resupply mechanism, thereby strengthening combat resilience.

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

The Taoyuan City Government has announced plans to expand its free milk
program.

The move will include junior high school students beginning with the 2026
school year that commences on August 31.

According to Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang, the expansion of the program will
benefit some 280,000 students aged between 2 and 15, from preschool through
junior high school.

The city government says the expansion is intended to provide essential
nutrients to junior high school students during a critical stage of their
growth and development.

The program was launched in February and provides one free milk or soy milk
product per week to every preschool and elementary school student in Taoyuan.

The city government has said the take-up rate had reached about 70-per cent.

The Taipei City Government expanded its free milk program to include junior
high school students last week.

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

An Urban Resilience Air Defense Exercise will be taking place in northern
Taiwan this afternoon and will include a mobile network slowdown simulation.

The drill will be taking place in Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu and Yilan from between 2:30 and to 3PM.

When the alarm sounds, police officers and other government personnel will
direct people to air defense shelters or other safe indoor locations.

Traffic controls will be implemented across the areas during the exercise,
vehicles n the road will be required to pull over and members of the public
are required to follow evacuation instructions.

Most indoor and outdoor business operations will be temporarily suspended
during the drill, although medical services and other essential activities
will continue as normal.

People who violate the evacuation face a fine of up 150,000 N-T.

There will also be a 4G and 5G mobile network slowdown simulation for the
first time.

The network slowdown simulation will last for the entire 30-minute drill.

However, standard voice calls, SMS text messages, emergency hotlines and
fixed broadband/Wi-Fi will continue to function.

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

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration is warning of hot and unstable weather
over the coming days - with areas in the southwest likely to see heavy rain.

Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu says forecasts show that southwesterly
winds will bring moisture from the South China Sea from today - making
atmospheric conditions unstable.

Intermittent rain in windward areas in the southwest can be expected today,
while localized afternoon thunderstorms are expected in the north and center
- some of which might bring heavy rainfall.

Daytime temperatures though will remain high and could hit 36-degrees in
parts of the north, center and east.

From Saturday through next Friday, seasonal winds are expected to weaken and
give way to a broad low-pressure system near Taiwan, meaning we could see
strong winds and intense short-term rain in the afternoons.

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

The military has conducted separate drills simulating the repulse of an
amphibious landing and stay-behind operations involving sabotage and ambushes
behind enemy lines as part of the live-fire Han Kuang exercises.

The exercise involving the Matsu Defense Command saw the deployment of
long-range artillery units and reconnaissance drones.

The Command says the granite terrain, extensive tunnel network and fortified
positions in Kinmen and Matsu provide natural protection and help preserve
combat power.

Meanwhile, troops rapidly unloaded equipment and supplies from M109 assault
boats, concealed the boats with camouflage and dispersed to avoid detection
during a drill at a Kaohsiung-area port.

They then used civilian vehicles to travel to safe houses, where they
prepared for covert operations.

Troops there employed a software platform for real-time battlefield
coordination and reconnaissance drones as part of a stay-behind operations
simulated troops remaining behind enemy lines to conduct reconnaissance,
sabotage and harassment.

The live-fire portion of this year's Han Kuang exercises concludes tomorrow.

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

Residents of Hualien and Taitung held urban resilience air defense drills on
Wednesday, practicing evacuation and sheltering procedures.

However, the drill was conducted without a simulated mobile network slowdown
as was implemented in central Taiwan earlier this week and will be
implemented in the north later today.

Authorities said the decision not to include the mobile network slowdown was
made after taking into account the region's communications infrastructure and
the potential impact of such a measure, without providing any details.

Today's Urban Resilience Air Defense Exercise in the north will be taking
place in Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Yilan from between
2:30 and to 3PM.

Traffic controls will be implemented across the area during the exercise, and
members of the public are required to follow evacuation instructions.

Most indoor and outdoor business operations will be temporarily suspended
during the drill, although medical services and other essential activities
will continue as normal.

People who violate the evacuation face a fine of up 150,000 N-T.

There will also be a 4G and 5G mobile network slowdown simulation and that
will last for the entire 30-minute drill.

However, standard voice calls, SMS text messages, emergency hotlines and
fixed broadband/Wi-Fi will continue to function.

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

Lawmakers on the Legislative Education and Culture Committee have approved a
series of amendments to the School Health Act.

The revisions require the government to assist schools in stocking menstrual
products and to promote menstrual education.

The amendments also include adding mental health education to school
curricula and healthy-eating education programs as well as expanding campus
restrictions on e-cigarettes, new tobacco products and other nicotine
products.

Schools are required to provide guidance on students’ overall health
according to their age, stage of learning and campus needs.

They also need to step-up the prevention and treatment of poor vision, dental
hygiene, hepatitis, and parasitic infections among students.

However, a proposal to ban beta-agonists, commonly known as "lean-meat
agents", from food supplied for school lunches was left for cross-party
negotiations.

K-M-T lawmaker Lo Ting-wei, who heads the Education and Culture Committee,
says several other provisions have also been reserved for cross-caucus
negotiation.

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

Uber Eats says it will modify its payment formula for multi-order deliveries
and adjust its reward structure for couriers.

The move is expected to raise pay by between 4 to 6 N-T per order.

Uber Eats says it will also revise its payment formula for "stacked orders"
starting from August 17.

Stacked orders are when a courier handles multiple deliveries in one trip, by
counting overlapping delivery times separately for each order.

The decision to replace the current payment formula, which calculates stacked
deliveries based on total combined time, follows union complaints and a
Ministry of Labor ruling that the practice violated delivery worker
legislation passed on July 21.

Uber Eats says it will pay out the shortfall incurred by couriers from July
21 to August 17 by the end of this month.

The company has also announced plans to adjust its overall reward system for
couriers starting tomorrow.

However, details of that have yet been disclosed.

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

The Food and Drug Administration has ordered the recall of the
antihypertensive drug Beniel F.C. 8 milligram manufactured by Synmosa
Biopharma.

There concerns that the medication may not work as intended.

The company said a recent stability test found the tablets failed to meet the
required dissolution standards, which could affect the drug's quality and
effectiveness.

The recall applies to batch No. 2KA31 of Beniel F.C. Tablet.

The recall must be completed by August 24.

Synmosa has also been required to submit an investigation report and details
of a corrective action plan for future production by that date.

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

And,

A group of Taiwanese youths selected for a government-funded annual
ambassadorship program is set to visit Taiwan's South Pacific and Caribbean
allies later this month to promote people-to-people exchanges.

The ambassadorship program included unmanned aerial vehicle operators for the
first time.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the "youth ambassadors" will be divided
into two groups this year, with one traveling to Palau and the other to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Kitts and Nevis from late August to
early September.

The ambassadors are expected to meet with local officials and youth, perform,
and promote Taiwan's culture.

Lin also called on the youth ambassadors to be "confident, humble, and
creative," and to "use your own talents, perspectives, and experiences to
tell Taiwan's story and show the world what makes Taiwan special."

The government-funded annual project was launched in 2009 and sends Taiwan
students aged between 18 and 35 to visit diplomatic allies for exchanges and
cultural promotion.

Posted on 2026-08-12 19:11:13

Hon Hai Precision Industry says it will continue ramping up investment in
artificial intelligence production in 2026, with capital spending expected to
grow by more than 30 percent.

The Foxconn parent company says spending will focus on AI servers,
next-generation AI racks and liquid-cooling equipment, as well as
manufacturing and research facilities in Taiwan, the United States, Mexico
and Vietnam.

Hon Hai expects its AI rack shipments to more than double this year from
2025, with the next generation entering mass production in the third quarter.

The company currently holds more than 40 percent of the global AI server
market and says it aims to increase that share to 50 percent.

Hon Hai says it will also expand production and research facilities in
several U.S. states to meet growing demand from American customers.

Posted on 2026-08-12 19:11:14

A group of young farmers in Tainan's Madou District are once again selling
Mid-Autumn Festival pomelo gift boxes ... and donating 20 percent of proceeds
to charity.

The campaign is now in its 12th year, with participating orchards using
environmentally friendly farming methods, including grass cover instead of
herbicides, and providing agricultural traceability certification.

Organizers are encouraging companies to buy the gift boxes for employees and
clients, supporting local farmers while also helping disadvantaged people.

Madou is Taiwan's largest pomelo-growing area, with about 810 hectares of
orchards, while Tainan as a whole grows around 28 percent of the nation's
pomelos.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-12 19:11:14

K-pop girl group aespa lit up the stage last night, with their first-ever
concert at the Taipei Dome.

Members Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning kicked off their "S-Y-N-K
COMPLæXITY" concert with high-energy hits, including "LEMONADE," "Whiplash,"
and their iconic debut track "Black Mamba."

The group also revealed that band member Winter fell in love with local
dishes like oyster omelets and spicy wontons while in Taiwan.

During the second half of the show, the quartet surprised fans by riding
giant drink-shaped parade floats around the arena floor, giving fans an
up-close experience.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-12 18:07:14

Schools across Taiwan could be required to provide menstrual products and
promote menstrual education under proposed amendments to the School Health
Act.

The amendments have passed an initial review by the Legislative Yuan's
Education and Culture Committee.

They would also add mental health education to school health curricula,
alongside existing healthy-eating education ...

... as well as expand campus restrictions on e-cigarettes, new tobacco
products and other nicotine products.

However, a proposal to ban beta-agonists, commonly known as "lean-meat
agents", from food supplied by schools was left for cross-party negotiations.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-12 18:07:14

Taoyuan is expanding its free school lunch and student milk programs starting
in the new academic year.

Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) says more than 7-thousand-400 homeroom teachers
and school lunch coordinators at public and private elementary and junior
high schools will be added to the city's free lunch program.

The city will also continue providing homeroom teachers with a monthly 300
N.T. lunch supervision allowance.

Meanwhile, Taoyuan's "Fresh Milk for Every Student" program will be expanded
to about 67-thousand junior high students.

The program currently provides eligible children with one bottle of fresh
milk or soy milk each week.

More than 280-thousand children and students are expected to be covered after
the expansion.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-12 18:07:14

The Ministry of Labor has approved almost 5 thousand 300 applications for
foreign household helpers in the three months ...

... since eligibility rules were relaxed to allow families with children
under 12 to apply.

Of the approved applications, over half involved families with more than two
children, while over 13 percent involved families with special circumstances.

Under the new rules, families generally pay a monthly employment
stabilization fee of 5 thousand NT, reduced to 2 thousand NT for certain
high-need households, such as those with rare-disease children or three or
more children under 12.

Demand has been gradually slowing, with daily domestic recruitment
applications falling from about 185 in the second half of April to 74 in
early July.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-12 17:07:13

KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun Chi yesterday failed to show up for party
negotiations on the 2026 central government budget.

The move reportedly incensed Speaker Han Kuo-yu, who said that those with
power should not simply flaunt it.

He called on Fu to either assign someone else to act as whip in his stead or
resign from the post.

Fu says today that the move wasn't meant to disrespect Han, rather it was an
act of protest over the Executive Yuan's treatment of the legislative
speaker.

In his statement today, Fu also called on the KMT to "unite," a sentiment
echoed by KMT heavyweight Hou You Yi.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-12 17:07:17

Taichung city councilors are questioning the city government over
investigations into a labor procurement case, following the resigntion of a
former spokesperson implicated in the case.

KMT councilor Zhu Nuanying朱暖英 questioned whether the investigation now into
the case, which originated in 2020, was due to new evidence or
developments...

or if there were other considerations to be had.

Meanwhile DPP council caucus leader Zhou Yong Hong stated that 3 of the 4
people involved in the case are still employed by the Taichung city
government, including one sitting city councilor.

He called on the city government to assess if that implicated councilor is
fit or not to remain in the post.

DPP council Chen Shu Hua also claimed that the former spokesperson had
previously worked for China's United Front, and she urged Mayor Lu Xiu Yan to
address the impact of her core staff's involvement in the procurement leak...

rather than, in Chen's words, blaming everything on the president.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-12 17:07:22

The first of Taiwan High-Speed Rail's 12 new N-700-S-T trainsets has departed
Japan aboard a cargo ship bound for Kaohsiung Port, where it is expected to
arrive on August 15th.

The 12-car train is the first of the new fleet, which will be introduced in
stages from July 2027 through September 2028.

T-H-S-R has also launched an online "voyage log" (or vlog if you will)
documenting the train's journey from Japan to Taiwan, allowing the public to
follow its progress and countdown to its arrival.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-12 14:51:14

The National Communications Commission is recommending residents of northern
Taiwan take 3 precautions ahead of Urban Resilience Drills tomorrow.

The half hour drills will be accompanied by simulated internet slowdowns or
blackouts from 2:30 to 3 pm tomorrow.

The NCC says, residents are encouraged to take screenshots of or print out
tickets..

to confirm whether or not important information can be accessed offline...

and to try turning airplane mode on and off or restarting mobile phones if
they still can't access the internet after the exercise.

Urban Resilience Drills will take place in Yilan, Keelung, New Taipei,
Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu County and City tomorrow from 2:30 to 3pm.

The NCC says, the drill will simulate how the government can respond with
either limited or no access to internet, and to promote public awareness of
establishing communication backup plans.

The commission emphasizes that voice calls and SMS text messaging, as well as
calls to emergency services will not be affected.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-12 14:51:14

The Executive Yuan is expressing their gratitude towards Legislative Speaker
Han Kuo-yu after he presided over cross-party negotiations regarding the 2026
central government budget.

Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee says, she hopes the progress will
continue, and that the legislature will pass the budget as soon as possible.

That's as the Executive Yuan is expected to pass along the 2027 general
budget to the legislature as early as next week.

Lee notes that the 2026 general budget has now been awaiting passage for 349
days.

She says that budget increases in next year's proposal will include funds
related to allowances for retired farmers, national pensions, and for civil
servants.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-12 14:51:14

Shimen Reservoir has returned to full capacity following the passage of
Typhoon Dolphin, with officials saying household and industrial water
supplies remain stable.

The Water Resources Agency says the reservoir's watershed received 166
millimeters of rain during the storm.

Flood-control operations reduced releases by 7.1-million cubic meters, while
about 158-thousand cubic meters of sediment were flushed through the Amuping
desilting tunnel.

Officials say the operation also saved an estimated 80-million N.T. in
sediment removal costs.

The reservoir returned to 100-percent capacity by late Sunday.

Authorities say reservoir operations caused no downstream damage and water
supplies remained normal throughout the typhoon.

(PB)

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

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun says any major change in cross-strait relations must
respect the interests and wishes of Taiwan's people.

In an interview with TIME magazine, Cheng said there is no rush to change the
status quo, adding that even a referendum on unification would require public
support.

Cheng, who met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in April, said Taiwan
needs sufficient self-defense capabilities but must also maintain dialogue
with China to reduce the risk of conflict.

She said the KMT supports necessary U.S. arms purchases, but defense spending
should undergo legislative review and follow fiscal discipline.

Cheng also called for sustainable cross-strait relations based on the "1992
Consensus," saying Taiwan should not become the front line of military
conflict between major powers.

She said the immediate priority is preventing a war in the Taiwan Strait.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-12 13:08:15

New Taipei City Councilor Wang Wei Yuan has posted bail following questioning
by prosecutors last night.

According to prosecutors, Wang is under investigation for corruption charges
related to alleged bribery in a project bid.

Investigators searched Wang's office and residence last night, taking 5 in
for questioning.

He was released on 2 million NT bail, while an assistant surnamed Ke was
released on 500,000 NT bail.

Wang, of the KMT, was first elected back in 2018, before winning reelection
in 2022, and he is seeking reelection again this year.

It's also not Wang's first run-in with the law; in 2024 he was accused of
spreading false information during the legislative elections, and he was
again indicted last year for violating the Election and Recall Act...

for which he was later acquitted.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-12 08:15:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Coast Guard Administration Director-General Chang Chung-lung has been forced
to issue an apology for failures in the handling of the illegal entry of two
Chinese nationals after their rubber dinghy was found near Taipei Port by a
member of the public.

In a press statement Chang apologized for the lapses, which included a radar
operator's failure to follow standard operating procedures and officers on
patrol not thoroughly investigating the coastline.

He said his agency will not shield those responsible and would hold them
strictly accountable.

The apology came after an unidentified person took to social media to accuse
Coast Guard personnel of doing a poor job patrolling the coastline and of
allegedly trying to keep information out of the public eye.

The incident occured on July 24 when an inflatable boat was found near the
northern breakwater of Taipei Port in New Taipei's Bali District.

The two Chinese suspects were identified after Coast Guard officers reviewed
footage from coastal monitoring systems.

They were arrested on July 30 in Taoyuan and remain in detention.

The Shilin District Prosecutors' Office is now investigating the case.

Posted on 2026-08-12 08:15:13

Visiting Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Godwin Friday says
his new administration is ready to usher in a "next chapter" in the two
countries' 45-year diplomatic relationship.

Speaking at a military welcome ceremony hosted by President Lai Ching-te in
Taipei Friday said more than four decades of diplomatic relations have laid a
strong foundation for future cooperation and he hopes to see increased Taiwan
investment to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Friday also pledged his continuing support for Taiwan's bid to participate in
international forums, including the United Nations and its specialized
agencies, as well as organizations such as Interpol.

It is Friday's his first trip to Taiwan since he took office in late last
year.

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' delegation will be participating in
events commemorating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations and attend
an investor roundtable.

Officials say that event will bringing together the Vincentian delegation and
prospective Taiwanese investors.

Members of Friday's delegation include Saint Vincent and the Grenadines'
Attorney General and Foreign Minister as well as its Ambassador for Finance,
Climate and Investment.

Friday and his delegation arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit.

Posted on 2026-08-12 08:15:13

The New Taipei District Court has sentenced a China-born spouse to seven
years in prison after convicting her of campaigning for the Taiwan People's
Party's 2024 presidential ticket under instructions from Beijing.

The court ruled that Xu Chun-ying acted on directives in 2021 to support
T-P-P candidates.

Xu headed an organization representing China-born spouses after naturalizing
as Taiwanese.

According to the court, those directive came from officials working for
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs' Service Center for Cross-Strait Marriages
and Families and the Shanghai branch of the Revolutionary Committee of the
Chinese Kuomintang.

The court said Xu and Chung Chin-ming, the head of an association promoting
cross-strait marriages, became acquainted with the officials during visits to
China and were instructed to support Huang Shan-shan's run for Taipei Mayor
in 2022.

Xu and Chung were found guilty of organizing a support network of foreign
spouses for Huang's campaign and when she lost the election, they were
instructed to build a relationship with then-TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je.

Ko was preparing to stand in the 2024 presidential election at the time.

The court ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-08-12 08:15:13

The Centers for Disease Control says it expects the number of flu cases to
peak in mid-September after flu-related outpatient and emergency room visits
accounted for 10.5-per cent of all visits last week.

C-D-C spokesman Lin Ming-cheng says the number of outpatient and emergency
room visits has risen gradually over the past four weeks following an uptick
in early July, bringing the rate close to the epidemic threshold.

According to Lin, most of the patients are young children and people aged 65
and older.

There has also been a simultaneous increase in upper respiratory tract
infection clusters, with influenza-positive clusters predominantly testing
positive for Type A and mainly concentrated in densely populated areas.

Recent community virus surveillance shows that Type A flu is the most common
strain, accounting for 57-per cent of cases detected cases and un-vaccinated
people aged 65 and older with chronic diseases accounted for the majority of
severe cases and deaths.

The C-D-C is warning that the resumption of classes in September is expected
to accelerate transmission.

Government-funded flu medication is available at about 4,000 contracted
clinics and hospitals nationwide.

Posted on 2026-08-12 08:15:13

And finally,

The Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store Company says it plans to renovate
the commercial and public spaces at the Taipei Main Railway Station.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi took over commercial operation at the station on July 25.

The railway station's commercial areas were previously operated by the Breeze
Center.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi says it has earmarked 1-billion N-T for the renovation
project, which includes replacing the famous black-and-white flooring in the
station's main hall.

According to the company, the renovations will be carried out over the next
two to three years and included upgrades to the station's image aimed at
promoting international tourism and improving safety.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi executive vice president Wu Hsin-chang says the
renovation will also introduce artificial intelligence technologies to the
station.

The company says the new food and beverage businesses planned for the station
will include both international restaurant chains and diners serving
traditional Taiwan food.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

The military has conducted anti-airdrop drills in Taipei and Miaoli as part
of the ongoing Han Kuang live-fire exercises.

The drill simulated efforts to repel enemy airborne forces and prevent
infiltrating troops from breaching defensive lines.

In Taipei, the Military Police Reserve Brigade carried out an overnight
anti-airdrop drill around Taipei Songshan Airport.

They closed part of the Fuxing North Road Underpass and deploying multiple
layers of obstacles to prevent simulated Chinese troops and special
operations personnel from breaking out of the airport area.

The exercise assumed Chinese forces had gained air superiority and used
special forces, drones and other assets to support an airborne assault on
Songshan Airport while disrupting the defense of the Taipei area.

Anti-tank mines were also incorporated into the first five layers of the
defensive line.

Meanwhile, the 5th Combat Theater Command conducted an anti-airdrop drill in
Miaoli, simulating special operations personnel detecting an enemy force and
requesting fire support.

Reconnaissance drones were used to locate the simulated enemy and provide
intelligence, while a fire coordination center directed supporting fire,
while a psychological warfare vehicle broadcast messages intended to
undermine enemy morale.

The live-fire portion of the Han Kuang exercises is scheduled to conclude
Friday.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

The U-S has reacted to China's announcement that it would impose traffic
control measures on vessels in the Taiwan Strait during the approach of
Typhoon Dolphin last week.

A State Department spokesperson said the U-S opposes any actions that
interfere with high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight that apply in
the Taiwan Strait.

U-S reaction came days after China's Guangdong Maritime Safety
Administration announced that it would impose traffic control measures
beginning last Thursday on northbound vessels entering the Taiwan Strait
through its southern approach.

The administration said that all vessels must comply with the measures, seek
safe shelter from the storm, and follow the instructions of maritime
authorities to ensure safety at sea.

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration had earlier responded by saying the
Taiwan Strait is an international waterway and that China has no authority to
impose controls over it.

U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department have previously
criticized China's deployment of coast guard vessels near Taiwan, saying such
operations undermine regional stability.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

President Lai Ching-te has presided over the launch ceremony for two new
marine survey vessels which took place in Kaohsiung.

Lai reiterated his administration's resolve to uphold maritime governance and
national security through surveys of Taiwan's surrounding waters.

Lai named the survey vessels "Blue Ocean 101" and "Blue Ocean 102."

The vessels were built by C-S-B-C after an open tender initiated by the
National Academy of Marine Research under the Ocean Affairs Council.

The two vessels are responsible for collecting hydrographic and biological
data in the shallow coastal waters off Taiwan's main island and outlying
islands to bolster the country's maritime governance and disaster response
capabilities.

Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling also attended the launch ceremony.

And she told reporters that long-term accumulated marine data is the
foundation of marine scientific research in peacetime, but also an important
basis for the country to understand the maritime situation when facing
security challenges.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a lawyer for allegedly
fabricating information to help Chinese nationals enter Taiwan under false
pretenses.

Prosecutors say Chen Chen-wei owned an immigration consulting agency and drew
up false business plans to secure permits from the National Immigration
Agency for four Chinese nationals to enter Taiwan between 2023 and 2024.

The prosecutors' office says they were not in Taiwan for business purposes,
and three of the Chinese nationals planned to to apply for a passport from
Belize at the Central American country's embassy in Taipei.

The lawyer's immigration consulting agency was paid 80,000 U-S dollars in
compensation for successfully helping one applicant to secure a Belize
passport.

Chen has been charged with violating the Act Governing Relations between the
People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

The Centers for Disease Control says 14 COVID-19 deaths and 72 cases
involving severe complications were confirmed between August 4 and 10.

That's the highest weekly total during the current domestic COVID-19 wave.

C-D-C Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin says since October of last year, health
authorities have recorded 337 domestic COVID-19 cases involving severe
complications, including 42 deaths.

Data shows there were 24,645 COVID-19-related outpatient and emergency room
visits between August 2 and 8 - and increase of 27.6-per cent from the
previous week.

The C-D-C says although the number of visits continued to rise, the increase
was slower than in previous weeks, when weekly visits jumped by between 66
and 117-per cent.

Health officials say about 140,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine remain in
storage.

All 37,000 vaccine doses currently held by the C-D-C expire on September 9
and will be distributed to local governments tomorrow after being removed
from cold storage.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines has unveiled a larger
consular hall in Makati City.

It comes after the office relocated its consular services to accommodate
growing demand amid increasing exchanges between the two countries.

Taiwan's top envoy to the Philippines, Wallace Chow, said the number of
Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan has risen from around 150,000 in 2023,
when he took office, to over 180,000 this year.

... while the number of Filipino university students studying in Taiwan has
grown from around 3,000 to over 5,500 as of early this year.

Chow says that growth reflects expanding exchanges and cooperation between
the two sides.

The office has also added more staff, including personnel handling consular
and administrative affairs.

Chow says the increase in demand, along with the expansion of staff, made the
existing office space insufficient, prompting it to relocate its consular
hall to a larger space.

Posted on 2026-08-12 06:56:14

And,

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the M-R-T Sanying Line will begin operating
at its full daily schedule beginning this Sunday.

The move means trains will be running from 6AM to midnight.

The newly opened metro line that connects Dingpu Station on the Bannan to
Yingge District will continue to be free during the trial period.

The mayor says extended operating hours are intended to give the public more
opportunities to use the line and allow operators to further evaluate its
performance under normal operating conditions.

The Sanying Line began trial operations on June 30.

... and at the beginning of this month, it has operated daily from 8AM to
10PM, with trains running every six to eight minutes depending on the time of
day.

The New Taipei City Metro Corporation says the line recorded more than
900,000 passenger trips between its opening and late July.

The trial service will offer free rides through August 31 and fares will then
follow the tiered pricing system of the Taipei and New Taipei M-R-T networks,
ranging from 20 to 35 N-T.

Posted on 2026-08-11 19:43:13

Workers in Taiwan's electronics industry put in record amounts of overtime in
June as the global artificial intelligence boom continued to drive demand.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says employees
in the electronic components industry worked an average of 28-point-7 hours
of overtime in June - the highest for the month since records began in 1980.

Workers in the computer and optoelectronics industry also reached a June
record, averaging 17-point-7 hours of overtime.

The statistics agency says strong global demand for AI-related products has
driven a surge in orders for Taiwanese technology companies, prompting
employers to rely more heavily on overtime.

Across Taiwan's industrial and service sectors, employees worked an average
of 9-point-1 hours of overtime in June, up half an hour from a year earlier.

Employment also continued to grow, with the number of jobs in the industrial
and service sectors reaching 8-point-58 million at the end of June.

The agency says employment remains weaker in some traditional industries,
suggesting those sectors have yet to fully recover.

Posted on 2026-08-11 19:43:16

A Taiwanese lawyer has been indicted for allegedly fabricating business
information to help Chinese nationals enter Taiwan under false pretenses.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office says lawyer Chen Chen-wei and others
submitted fake business plans and itineraries to obtain entry permits for
four Chinese nationals between 2023 and 2024.

Prosecutors say three of them were actually in Taiwan to apply for Belize
passports, and Chen's group received 80-thousand U-S dollars for successfully
helping one applicant obtain a passport.

Three of the four were allowed into Taiwan, while the fourth was denied entry
because he had previously been a member of China's National People's
Congress.

Prosecutors say the scheme undermined Taiwan's border controls and created
potential national security loopholes.

Posted on 2026-08-11 18:39:14

Taiwan has reported a seasonal high of 72 new severe COVID-19 cases and 14
deaths last week, even as the outbreak shows signs of slowing.

The Centers for Disease Control says outpatient and emergency visits rose
nearly 28 percent to about 24 thousand 600 - but that's a much smaller
increase than in recent weeks.

The CDC now expects the outbreak to peak in mid-to-late August and has cut
its forecast for peak weekly visits from 51 thousand to about 27 thousand.

Since last October, nearly three-quarters of severe cases have involved
people aged 65 and over ...

... while 84 percent had chronic illnesses and nearly 90 percent had not
received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC says about 140 thousand vaccine doses remain available and is urging
people who want to be vaccinated to do so soon.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-11 18:39:14

The Criminal Investigation Bureau has busted a ticket scalping syndicate that
allegedly used an SMS verification service to create fake accounts and snap
up more than 2,000 tickets to major concerts.

Police say the tickets included shows by BLACKPINK, BABYMONSTER and Mayday
and were resold for up to three times their original prices, generating about
11 million NT.

Investigators say the group used so-called "ghost accounts" and SMS
verification codes to circumvent ticketing platforms' identity checks.

Seven suspected scalpers were arrested, while police also identified a
41-year-old man who allegedly operated the SMS verification service used in
the scheme.

The suspects have been referred to prosecutors for alleged violations of the
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-11 17:06:14

The KMT is doubling down on remarks made by chair Cheng Li Wun in which she
said that Taiwan is not and has never been an independent country.

Her deputy chair Hsiao Hsu Tsen says today that those remarks are in
accordance with Taiwan's constitution and are best for the Taiwanese people.

The ROC constitution, however, states that Taiwan is a government and the ROC
is a country.

Following Cheng's interiew, many pointed out that her remarks seem to be at
odds with ones made by former President Ma Ying-Jeou, in which he stated that
"The ROC is our country."

DPP Spokesperson Michelle Lin says today though that Cheng and Hsiao both are
playing word games with logic that is less than sound.

Lin suggested that Cheng made the remarks to remain in Chinese leader Xi
Jinping's good graces.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-11 17:06:14

The Keelung city government is offering up to 30,000 NT in subidies per shop
affected by flooding on Saturday.

Officials say, shops along Renyi仁一 to Rensan仁三 Roads and from Aisi愛四 to
Ailiu愛六 Roads were particularly hard hit by the floods brought on by Typhoon
Dolphin.

To qualify for the subsidies, the business in question must have a brick and
mortar location within the affected areas of Ren'ai District...

with proof of having had products, raw materials, equipment or other iteams
damaged in the floods.

To apply, eligibile business owners can head to the Ren'Ai District Office
before November 7th with an application form, ID, business license, and photo
evidence of the damage.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-11 17:06:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating with Morocco and Uganda
following recent entry delays for Taiwanese passport holders.

Officials clarified that Morocco’s suspension of visa confirmation letters
applies to multiple countries, though Taiwan has reciprocated by pausing
standard visas for Moroccan nationals.

MOFA says in Uganda, recent entry issues may stem from Taiwan’s June travel
restrictions implemented during an Ebola outbreak.

The Foreign Ministry plans to review those restrictions later this month.

Officials reminds travelers to closely monitor international entry policy
updates before planning travel to the region.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-11 16:16:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan is praising residents for the smooth completion of
yesterday's Urban Resilience Drills in Central Taiwan.

The drills yesterday were the first time that a simulated internet slowdown
has been included.

The mayor says the drills went off without a hitch due to plenty of
preparation and public awareness campaigns.

Lu says, government data indicates that there were more emergency calls to
1999 than usual, with 28 calls recorded during the half hour drill period.

The mayor says she was glad that residents knew that they could still make
emergency calls during the drill period, with calls also reported to 119 and
110.

Urban Resilience Drills continue in nothern Taiwan Thursday, with planned
internet interruptions also on the books from 2:30 to 3pm.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-11 16:16:13

The Transportation Ministry is banning taxi fleet operators from improperly
charging drivers license-related fees starting August 13th.

Violators can face fines of up to 90 thousand NT, partial suspension of
operations and, in serious cases, revocation of their business licenses.

Operators can also be ordered to refund improperly collected fees.

The new rules also prohibit operators from forcing drivers to purchase
vehicles or obtain loans and insurance from designated providers, as well as
other practices that unfairly restrict drivers' rights.

Taiwan has about 100 thousand taxi licenses, with roughly 93 thousand
vehicles currently registered.

The ministry says complaints about improper fees have been particularly
serious in Taichung, where drivers have reportedly been charged as much as
350 thousand NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-11 16:16:13

The Food and Drug Administration has stopped a batch of Pakistani mixed spice
powder at the border after it was found to contain residues of multiple
pesticides.

The FDA said they include a pesticide that is not permitted under Taiwan's
regulations.

As the importer, Mayur Indian Kitchen, had previously been involved in a case
of banned Sudan dye in spices, officials say the company is now under
100-percent batch-by-batch inspection.

The other products on the FDA's latest list of failed border inspections this
week included cup lids from China containing prohibited fluorescent whitening
agents and plastic cutting boards .

All non-compliant products will be returned or destroyed.

(IG)

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

The Ministry of Digital Affairs is issuing new cybersecurity rules for
officials traveling abroad on government business.

High-level officials visiting high-risk regions like China, Hong Kong, and
Macau are now banned from bringing their standard work laptops or personal
devices containing government data.

Travelers to high-risk areas must instead use temporary, factory-reset
government devices, create temporary communication accounts, and avoid public
Wi-Fi networks.

MODA says all returned devices must undergo mandatory cybersecurity
inspections and full data wipes before being cleared for future use.

(NS)

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

Station

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi is planning to invest over $1 billion NT in a major
renovation of the Taipei Main Station, which will take about two years and 8
months.

The department store says the work will be carried out in phases while the
shopping complex remains open... as 90-percent of the vendors there have
already signed a short-term lease to continue their business.

At a ceremony today, Shin Kong says it will redesign the station's main hall,
including installing new flooring and lighting.

Passenger services will also be upgraded with improved signage, digital
travel information, smart services and exhibition spaces for young artists.

A new elevator will connect the basement directly to the second floor,
making it easier for elderly travelers and those with luggage to move around
the station.

Shin Kong took over the operation of the transportation hub's shopping area
on July 25th, ending Breeze Group's 19-year run.

(JL)

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

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 191 points to
close the session at 45120.

The turnover was 869 billionNT

Posted on 2026-08-11 13:10:13

is important

Education Minister Zheng Ying-yao says although more high-school students now
aspire to study science and technology, his ministry will maintain a balance
between those fields and humanities.

According to the Education Ministry data for the 2025-26 academic year,
512-thousand university and college students, or 48 percent, are pursuing
technology-related subjects.

And that ratio has kept increasing in recent years.

Another 354,000, or 33 percent, are in the social sciences such as politics
and economics, while 18 percent are studying humanities subjects like
languages and art.

Zheng says Taiwan obviously needs a lot of talents in the technology sector,
but humanities and social sciences remain a key force for maintaining social
stability.

He notes that even in the field of computer games, for example, designers
need a lot of input from literature.

The Minister encourages young people to pursue their passions rather than
choose a field of study based solely on future job prospects.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-11 13:10:16

The Hualien County government says, it will be stepping up iguana
surveillance after Shou-feng 壽豐 township reported its first sighting of the
reptilian pests.

They're reminding residents to submit photo evidence if they see an iguana so
that the government can dispatch personnel as soon as possible.

Previously, iguanas had been sighted in the county's Ji'an 吉安 and Yuli
townships as far back as 2022...

as well as at a bike path near the Hualien River.

The county government already removed 2 iguanas in Ji'an earlier this year,
and with new sightings reported in Shoufeng, authorities say they will step
up patrols.

Authorities remind the public not to remove iguanas on their own as they can
get hurt. Instead they should report it and let experts do the job.

(AH)

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

And finally,

The government says inflation-adjusted average monthly regular wages in the
industrial and service sectors posted the strongest growth for the first half
of the year in six years.

According to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics,
data shows real average monthly regular wages reached 44,119 N-T in the
January to June period.

That's an increase of 1.16-per cent from last year and the highest rise since
2020.

Before adjusting for inflation, average monthly regular wages for the
six-month period rose 2.88-per cent from a year earlier to stand at 48,981
N-T.

The government says average aggregate earnings, which include regular and
non-regular pay such as overtime pay and bonuses, totaled 411,786 N-T in the
first six months of this year.

That was up by 3.48-per cent from the same period of last year.

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

An urban resilience air defense exercise was held in Central Taiwan on Monday
in conjunction with the WanAn air raid drill.

Air raid sirens sounded at 2:30PM across Miaoli County, Taichung, Nantou,
Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi - marking the start of the 30-minute exercise.

It also included a slowdown of mobile internet services to simulate
communications disruptions during a wartime or possible civil emergency for
the first time.

The National Communications Commission reduced mobile network bandwidth while
maintaining voice calls, text messaging, emergency calls and
disaster-prevention cell broadcast alerts.

In Taichung, residents evacuated to nearby shelters after the sirens sounded.

Department stores switched off their lights, lowered their shutters and
temporarily suspended business.

In Chiayi, County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang inspected evacuation
arrangements at Minxiong Railway Station, a hardware store and the Minxiong
Township Office, as well as an underground air raid shelter at the township
representatives' council.

The annual urban resilience exercises will continue Tuesday in Kinmen, Matsu
and Penghu before moving to northern Taiwan on Thursday.

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

The military tested their ability to mobilize transportation resources as
part of the on-going Han Kuang exercise - using commercial flatbed trucks to
transport tanks during a cross-regional reinforcement drills.

Defense officials say the drill was designed to test civilian-military
coordination and accelerate the movement of armored vehicles to reinforce
defenses against a simulated attack.

The scenario assumed that northern Taiwan had come under attack, prompting a
Combined Arms Battalion based in Hualien County to reinforce defenses in
neighboring Yilan County to the northeast.

According the Ministry of National Defense, the main objective was to
transport military vehicles from Hualien to Yilan overnight using civilian
flatbed trailers.

The Han Kuang exercises continue through this Friday.

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

The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is scheduled to arrive
Taiwan later today for a visit marking 45 years of diplomatic relations.

Godwin Friday is expected to stay in Taiwan until Saturday.

It will be his first trip Taiwan since taking office.

Friday is scheduled to hold talks with President Lai Ching-te and be
formally received with military honors.

Godwin and his delegation will also participate in events commemorating the
45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and Taiwan.

Economic issues will be high on the agenda, with the Prime Minister's Office
saying an investor roundtable bringing together the Vincentian delegation and
prospective Taiwanese investors is also among the scheduled events.

Members of Friday's delegation will include Attorney General Louise Mitchell,
Foreign Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, and Ambassador for Finance,
Climate and Investment Kevin Hope.

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

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has opened an investigation into
allegations that President Lai Ching-te's top envoy in Geneva was involved in
workplace bullying and other misconduct.

The ministry says it formed a special task force, composed mainly of
personnel from outside the ministry to conduct the investigation, after
receiving a complaint against Greg Lee.

The petition was from some of his subordinates at the Taiwan representative
office in Switzerland.

The investigation is expected to focus on accusations of workplace bullying,
while other complaints of misbehavior will be handled by the appropriate
government agencies.

The statement comes after media outlets were sent similar petitions against
Lee this past weekend.

The 134-page complaint was signed by "all affected colleagues," and details
seven categories of alleged serious misconduct by Lee including workplace
bullying, incompetent leadership and using public resources for personal
purposes.

Lee has served as director-general of the Taipei Cultural and Economic Office
in Geneva since December of 2024.

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

A delivery worker alliance and labor union have filed criminal complaints
against Uber Technologies and Uber Eats Taiwan executives, accusing them of
underpaying workers handling multiple deliveries under the new delivery
worker protection law.

The complaints have been filed with the Taipei District Prosecutors. Office.

They target Uber Technologies C-E-O Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber Eats Taiwan
Chairperson Michelle Georgette Parker, the platform's Taiwan general manager
and several local corporate representatives.

The alliance and the National Delivery Industry Union accuse Uber Eats of
knowingly adopting an unlawful payment formula for so-called "stacked orders"
-- in which a courier delivers two or more orders in a single trip.

The groups says company has been underpaying couriers while leading them to
believe they were being compensated in accordance with the Delivery Workers'
Rights Protection and Delivery Platform Management Act.

The Ministry of Labor has determined that Uber Eats' method of calculating
stacked-order pay violated the new law.

The Delivery Workers' Rights Protection and Delivery Platform Management Act
guarantees a minimum payment of 45 N-T per order and requires compensation
based on delivery time at a rate of 245 N-T per hour.

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

Taiwan Sugar has announced that it'll stop buying raw oil from local
companies and will instead import soybeans from overseas to produce its
finished cooking oil in the second half of this year.

The state-run company says the move has been taken as precautionary measure
due to the recent contaminated cooking oil case involving Central Union Oil
Corporation.

Taiwan Sugar was forced to remove 2,900 metric tons of oil products and
inventory from store shelves after tests found excessive levels of a
carcinogen in Central Union Oil raw oil shipments.

Taiwan Sugar says those products won't be returned to store shelves until
authorities have carried tests to ensure they are safe to eat.

The company is also continuing to deny any wronging amid charges it was aware
of the contaminated cooking oil, but failed to report it to authorities.

Taiwan Sugar says it rejected the contaminated shipments and tests conducted
on its oil products since have all met with regulatory standards.

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

And,

The Ministry of the Interior says data shows that Taiwan's population
declined for a 31st consecutive month in July.

Taiwan’s population stood at 23,235,002 at the end of last month - which was
a decline of .44 percent from the same period of last year.

The number of newborns last month rose to 7,906, which was up by just over 7
percent from June.

However, the total number of births during the first seven months of this
year showed a decline of 15.7-per cent from the same period of last year.

Keelung had the lowest crude birth rate in July, followed by Tainan and
Chiayi County.

While Taitung registered the highest crude birth rate in July, followed by
Yunlin and Matsu.

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