ICRT

Posted on 2026-08-19 08:15:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office has indicted four companies and 15
individuals in connection with the recent contaminated cooking oil scandal
involving Central Union Oil Corporation.

Central Union, Taisun Enterprise, Fwusow Industry and Formosa Oilseed
Processing, along with officials from the four companies, have all been
charged with violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, forgery
and fraud.

According to the prosecutors' office, Central Union senior executives were
aware that certain shipments of soybeans imported from Brazil had higher
levels of heat damage, increasing the risk of a carcinogen forming during the
manufacturing process.

Prosecutors say they loosened the company's heat-damage control standard from
0.5 to 5-per cent without introducing corresponding measures such as
increased testing and monitoring in order to avoid immediately reporting the
issue.

Central Union finally reported the contamination on June 30 and a subsequent
investigations identified seven batches of soybean-based cooking oil produced
by the company that contained excessive levels of the carcinogen.

It affected more than 13,000 businesses across Taiwan.

Prosecutors office the four companies under indictment made illicit gains of
about 887-million N-T due to the sale of products containing the contaminated
cooking oil.

Posted on 2026-08-19 08:15:17

The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a soldier for
allegedly providing confidential military electronic records to a
China-linked organization in exchange for money.

The 34-year-old has been charged with the violating the National Security Act
and the Anti-Corruption Act.

According to the prosecutors' office, the served as a sergeant with the
Military Police Dong'ao Ling Unit from October 2019, until leaving active
service in January of 2025, before re-enlisting as a sergeant with a reserve
brigade in Yilan County in June of 2025.

Prosecutors say the soldier was recruited by the organization after
encountering a Chinese national while seeking loans online to address
financial difficulties and received payments in exchange for providing
confidential military information.

To demonstrate his loyalty before joining, he allegedly recorded videos
expressing support for cross-strait unification, opposing Taiwan independence
and pledging not to resist in the event of a cross-strait conflict.

The Chinese national allegedly belonged to the "Wolong Society" - a group
established to recruit active-duty Taiwanese military personnel to gather
classified information.

Posted on 2026-08-19 08:15:17

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expressing concerns over a ban on
displaying the Republic of China flag last week at the 14th World Choir Games
in Sweden.

According to the ministry's Department of European Affairs, it has asked
Taiwan's representative offices in Sweden and Germany to look into the matter
and convey the Lai administration's position to the organizer, Interkultur.

Department head Eric Huang says Interkultur should have upheld the event's
inclusiveness and respected the rights of free expression and media freedom.

The call comes after a Swedish national was stopped by event staff on
Saturday after he unfurled an R-O-C flag while speaking with a C-N-A reporter
based in Sweden outside Helsingborg Concert Hall, where the World Choir Games
were held.

The staff also said the event follows the "Olympic Model," under which Taiwan
teams compete as "Chinese Taipei" and the ROC flag is not permitted at
venues.

Interkultur has issued a statement saying it has applied the same regulations
since 2000 and its events are based on the "Olympic idea."

Posted on 2026-08-19 08:15:18

The Food and Drug Administration says it has seized two shipments of fresh
melons imported from Japan after they tested positive for excessive pesticide
residue.

According to the F-D-A, a total of 332 kilograms of melons were ordered
returned or destroyed.

The F-D-A says the two shipments were both imported by Chuan Yong Fruit,
which has had three shipments fail inspection over the past six months.

That means all future melons imported by the New Taipei-based company will be
subject to 100-per cent batch-by-batch inspections.

However, the border inspection sampling rate for Japanese melons in general
will remain at between 20 and 50-per cent.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:13

The Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office has detained the head of a
technology company on suspicion of using Chinese-made components in drones
supplied under a military procurement contract.

The company now faces possible charges of violating the National Security Act
and the Criminal Code.

The 8th Field Army says it discovered the possible use of Chinese components
during a contract review and acceptance inspection of the drones.

The drones were reportedly assembled using Chinese-packaged drone chips,
Chinese-made flight control boards and other components.

Prosecutors say product labels were falsified, as were certificates of
origin.

Authorities searched the two companies earlier this month and seized evidence
and questioned the suspects and witnesses.

Prosecutors say the case is the first involving alleged National Security Act
violations linked to a military drone procurement project.

The tech company was awarded a 2.95-million N-T tender by the Army last year
for a training drone procurement project.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:17

billion

Tai-Power is warning that fuel costs for electricity generation are likely to
rise by over 120-billion N-T this year due to tensions in the Middle East.

Tai-Power Vice President Tsai Chih-meng says the higher fuel costs have
increased the financial burden on the company.

He's urging the Lai administration to provide more support to the
state-generator to ease the financial pressure.

Tsai says if natural gas prices for the power sector remain at current
levels, Tai-Power's monthly fuel expenditure is expected to increase by
15-billion N-T from now through December - increasing total added fuel costs
for 2026 as a whole.

Tsai says the Cabinet is expected to propose a budget for subsidies, but the
final say will come from the Legislative Yuan.

The Tai-Power vice president also says the subsidies will help the company's
finances and maintain price stability for households and industry.

Tai-Power has said its fuel costs rise by 42-billion N-T in the first half of
this year, leading to a loss of 25.7-billion N-T in the six-month period and
an accumulated loss of 376.4-billion N-T.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:17

The K-M-T is calling on President Lai Ching-te to double his planned 10,000
N-T cash handout next year.

The call to raise the cash handout to 20,000 N-T echoes a proposal made
earlier by Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an.

K-M-T Culture and Communications Committee Director Chen I-hsin says Lai's
announcement about the cash handout showed that the government has the fiscal
capacity to share the benefits of economic growth with the public ...

... and if Lai want to use next year's general government budget to share
what he's calling an "AI dividend" with the public, then the government could
increase the total payout to 20,000 N-T per person as early as January.

Those statements come after the Taipei mayor criticized the 10,000 N-T
handout, saying it would be gone after "just buying groceries" and that
people would be better off with 20,000 N-T.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:17

The Centers for Disease Control is set to expand eligibility for
government-funded flu antiviral medications from August 24 through September
30.

The extended timeframe is due to a gradual rise in flu activity.

Expanded coverage will include health care personnel involved in disease
prevention, residents and staff at nursing and long-term care facilities, and
other designated groups.

The C-D-C says data shows more than 95 thousand people sought outpatient or
emergency treatment for flu-like illness from August 9 through 15 and that
was up by 1.2-per cent from the previous week.

The C-D-C is also reporting 80 new severe flu cases and 17 deaths from August
11 through 17.

Type A flu viruses currently account for 89-per cent of all current cases.

Government-funded antiviral flu medications are available at about 4,000
contracted medical facilities nationwide.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:17

The Ministry of Agriculture says a new "Taiwan Peanut" label and elemental
analysis may help local peanut farmers compete against imports.

The move comes amid concerns over the planned tariff-free import of U-S
peanuts under the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade.

Locally grown peanuts currently account for around 75-per cent of Taiwan's
domestic market,

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih says locally grown peanuts have a
distinctive flavor and the "Taiwan Peanut" label will allow consumers to
easily identify 100-per cent locally grown products simply by looking at the
packaging.

Chen says the label will initially apply mainly to products in which the
origin of the peanuts can be directly identified, such as shelled peanuts and
peanut candy.

The agriculture minister says more heavily processed peanut products will be
considered in a second phase.

The Ministry of Agriculture has said it plans to submit the necessary
documents to have its peanut testing methods publicly recognized by the Food
and Drug Administration by the end of the year.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:17

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the appointment of Wang
Liang-yu, , has been named Taiwan's new top envoy to Australia.

Wang is currently in charge of U-S and Canadian affairs

Her appointment was approved by the Cabinet earlier this week.

Wang has served as head of the foreign ministry's Department of North
American Affairs since August 2023.

Before taking up that post, she was Taiwan's deputy representative to the
United States from 2021 to 2023 and chief of Taiwan's representative office
in Geneva from 2018 to 2021.

Wang will take up the post in Canberra, which has been vacant since last
month following the departure of her predecessor, Douglas Hsu.

Hsu is now serving at the foreign ministry's Institute of Diplomacy and
International Affairs.

Posted on 2026-08-19 07:02:17

And,

The Ministry of Culture has announced that "A Foggy Tale" will represent
Taiwan in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy
Awards.

The movie was directed by Chen Yu-hsun.

It's set during the White Terror ere and follows a girl who travels to
northern Taiwan to retrieve the body of her executed brother.

The selection committee says it chose the film for its vivid characters,
compelling storytelling and portrayal of the lives of everyday people during
one of Taiwan's darkest chapters.

The movie was released last November here in Taiwan and had grossed more than
1.19-billion N-T as of July year and attracted more than 4.4-million
moviegoers.

The film won Best Narrative Feature, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup
and Costume Design and Best Art Direction at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards.

The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027.

Posted on 2026-08-18 19:08:14

The head of a Taiwanese technology company has been detained over allegations
that his firm used Chinese-made components in drones supplied to Taiwan's
military.

The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office says the company won a $2.95 million
NT contract last year to supply training drones to the Army's 8th Field Army.

Investigators allege the company's head and a technical supervisor used
Chinese drone chips and flight-control boards, despite contract rules banning
components from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

They are also accused of concealing product labels and submitting false
certificates of origin to mislead military inspectors.

The military says it has withheld payment, will seek to terminate the
contract and plans to bar the company from future government tenders.

Prosecutors say it is the first case involving alleged National Security Act
violations in a military drone procurement project.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-18 19:08:14

The Defense Ministry says 13 Chinese military aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line and entered areas north, central and southwest of the
island this morning.

The ministry says it detected 18 Chinese aircraft operating near Taiwan from
8:55 a.m., including J-10, J-11 and J-16 fighter jets and KJ-500 early
warning aircraft.

Thirteen crossed the median line or its extensions.

The aircraft operated alongside Chinese naval vessels in what Beijing calls a
"joint combat readiness patrol".

The MND says Taiwan's forces closely monitored the activity and deployed
aircraft, ships and shore-based missile systems in response.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 19:08:14

Detroit Tigers infielder Lee Hao-yu (李灝宇) has set a new record for the most
hits by a Taiwanese player in a single Major League Baseball season.

Lee collected three hits in Detroit's 8-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates,
raising his season total to 57.

That breaks the previous record of 54 hits set by Yu Chang with Cleveland in
2021.

Lee reached the mark in his 80th game, faster than Chang, who needed 89 games.

The 23-year-old finished 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs, reaching base
in all five plate appearances.

His batting average rose to .275.

Lee also has six home runs this season, three short of Chang's Taiwanese
single-season MLB record of nine.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 18:51:13

The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office has indicted four companies and 15
individuals over the Central Union Oil food safety scandal.

Prosecutors say Central Union supplied soybean oil containing excessive
levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene to Fwusow Industry, Formosa Oilseed
Processing and Taisun Enterprise.

They allege Central Union failed to promptly report and recall the affected
oil, while the three downstream companies also failed to take timely action
after learning of the problem.

The defendants face charges under the Food Safety and Sanitation Act and
other laws.

Prosecutors are also seeking to confiscate nearly 887 million NT in alleged
illegal proceeds.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-18 18:51:13

TaiPower estimates higher natural gas prices will add more than 120 billion
NT to its fuel costs this year, adding to its financial pressure.

The state-run utility says if current gas prices remain unchanged through the
end of the year, its monthly fuel spending could increase by around 15
billion NT.

TaiPower says fuel costs rose by more than 42 billion NT in the first half of
the year, after natural gas prices were raised amid the conflict in the
Middle East ...

.... while posting a loss of 25.7 billion NT over the same period.

That brought its accumulated losses to more than 376 billion NT.

The company says additional government funding would help ease its financial
burden and limit pressure on electricity prices.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-18 18:51:14

Delivery worker groups and digital-security advocates have protested outside
the Fair Trade Commission ...

... against Grab's proposed acquisition of Foodpanda's Taiwan operations.

They say the deal could reduce competition in the food delivery market and
raise concerns over data security and digital sovereignty.

The groups are calling on the F-T-C to reject the acquisition and hold a
public hearing.

The F-T-C said it will review the deal objectively and has no predetermined
position.

The comission had extended its review by 60 working days, with a new deadline
of October 27th.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-18 16:23:13

Taiwan's government has strongly condemned Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim over comments it says undermine Taiwan's sovereignty.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Anwar portrayed Taiwan as a separatist
province of China and justified Beijing's possible use of force against the
island during a recent media interview.

MOFA says such remarks threaten regional peace and could seriously damage
political trust between Taiwan and Malaysia.

It reiterated that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other.

The ministry also warned Anwar's comments could affect Taiwanese businesses'
confidence in investing in Malaysia, despite close economic and trade ties
between the two sides.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 16:23:13

The Taipei City Government says it does not have the financial capacity to
give residents a 20-thousand N.T.-dollar cash payment.

The proposal came from DPP City Councilor Hung Chien-yi (洪健益) after Mayor
Chiang Wan-an said the central government's planned 10-thousand N.T.
universal payment should be doubled.

Hung argued Taipei has enough accumulated budget surpluses to fund its own
payment without borrowing.

But the city's Finance Department says those surpluses are needed to cover
future spending and debt repayments.

It says Taipei's financial situation is different from that of the central
government and does not support a universal cash handout.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 16:23:13

As the countdown to this year’s Citizens Sports Games kicks off… the Taoyuan
City government today released the official theme cheer song ahead of the
event in October.

The song "挑戰巔峰," which translates to "Challenge the Peak," is performed by
singer-songwriter GBOYSWAG and Rakuten Monkeys cheer captain Lan Lan (籃籃).

Its music video also brings together cheerleaders from four Taoyuan
professional sports teams for the first time, including the Rakuten Girls,
Pilots Crew, Peach Girls and Leopard Girls.

The city government says the song highlights athletes' determination to
overcome challenges and push beyond their limits.

The 2026 Citizens Sports Games in Taoyuan will run from October 17th through
the 22nd at 43 venues.

The event will feature 32 sports and is expected to attract more than
13-thousand athletes, team officials and spectators.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 14:41:13

The Filming Taipei Screenplay Competition has announced 16 finalists from a
record 267 submissions this year.

The entries cover genres ranging from science fiction and crime to comedy,
musicals and action-adventure, with many drawing on Taipei's landscapes,
history and city life.

Actor and jury member Wu Ke-xi (吳可熙) is encouraging aspiring screenwriters to
draw inspiration from their own experiences.

Wu says writers should "live wildly," meet different people and experience as
much as possible, because those moments can later become material for
stories.

Producer Tsou Chieh-chung (鄒介中) says international audiences are increasingly
interested in stories with strong local character, and writers should focus
on naturally incorporating Taiwan's culture and everyday life rather than
trying to cater specifically to overseas markets.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 14:41:13

Actor Will Or will host this year's Golden Horse Awards ceremony, after
competing for Best Leading Actor at the awards last year.

The Golden Horse Executive Committee says Or will host the 63rd edition of
the awards on his own.

Pink Yang and Huang Di-yang (黃迪揚) will co-host the red carpet, with Yang
returning for her 17th year covering the event.

Or says this will be his most nerve-racking Golden Horse appearance yet,
despite having attended the awards several times as a nominee.

The 63rd Golden Horse Awards will be held at the Taipei Music Center on
November 22nd.

The red carpet begins at 5 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6:30.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 12:44:13

The Taiwan High Court has held its first hearing in prosecutors' appeal
against the acquittal of entertainer NONO on sexual assault and forcible
indecency charges.

The hearing lasted about 15 minutes.

NONO, whose real name is Chen Hsuan-yu (陳宣裕), was accused of sexually
assaulting one woman between 2011 and 2013 and forcibly molesting another
woman in 2011.

The Shilin District Court acquitted him in May, ruling there was insufficient
evidence.

Prosecutors appealed, arguing the lower court's factual findings conflicted
with the evidence and that its reasoning was incomplete.

NONO did not respond to reporters' questions after today's hearing, including
whether he was confident the acquittal would be upheld.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 12:44:13

More than 300 kilograms of Japanese food products have been stopped at
Taiwan's border after failing food-safety inspections.

The Food and Drug Administration says two batches of Japanese melons,
totaling 332 kilograms, contained residues of a pesticide that is not
permitted on melons in Taiwan.

A separate three-kilogram shipment of Japanese mozuku seaweed was found to
contain inorganic arsenic at more than four times the legal limit.

All of the affected products will be returned or destroyed and did not enter
the local market.

The FDA says it is also increasing inspection rates for the importers
involved and for certain Japanese melon and seaweed shipments through
September 17th.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-18 08:07:13

Taiwan and New Zealand have agreed on six areas for closer cooperation over
the next three years.

The agreement was reached during a joint committee meeting to review the
implementation results of the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic
Cooperation.

That agreement has been in effect since December 2013.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, delegates at the 13th ANZTEC
Joint Committee meeting discussed the results of the implementation of
previous provisions such as food safety inspections and plant quarantine,
e-commerce and intellectual property.

The ministry says members of Taiwan delegation voiced their hopes that
reviews concerning the agreement's growth will continue.

They stressed that current priorities include small and medium-sized
businesses, trade, and Indigenous cooperation.

Posted on 2026-08-18 08:07:17

The Civil Aviation Administration has confirmed that it is reviewing an
application from Uni Air to suspend its regular Taipei to Hualien route.

The Uni Air application was submitted in June and mirrors a formal request
made by Mandarin Airlines that same month to suspend its Kaohsiung to Hualien
and Taichung to Hualien routes.

The three Uni Air and Mandarin Airlines routes are the only three regularly
scheduled inbound and outbound flights currently handled by Hualien Airport.

The airport does not offer services to any international destinations except
through occasional charter flights.

According to Uni Air, most people traveling between northern Taiwan and
Hualien rely on ground transportation, resulting in limited demand for air
travel.

The Civil Aviation Administration says the Taipei to Hualien route is
currently operated only by Uni Air and had an average load factor of 24.2-per
cent from January to June of this year.

While the Mandarin Airlines' Taichung to Hualien and Kaohsiung to Hualien
routes had load factors of 57.5-per cent and 42-per cent, respectively.

Under the Civil Aviation Act, airlines must file applications with and obtain
approval from the C double A before making adjustments to any domestic
routes.

Posted on 2026-08-18 08:07:19

And finally,

The Taipei Dome will host the opening and second rounds of the 2027 W-B-S-C
Premier 12 in November.

Organizers say Group A of the opening round will be played from November 8 to
12, followed by the second round from November 13 to 15.

The four-team Super Round will be held in Japan.

The announcements came as the organizers unveiled a new 16-team format for
the tournament.

Taiwan secured its place in the Premier 12 by finishing second in the W-B-S-C
men's baseball world rankings at the end of 2025 and will play in Group A at
home.

The other three teams in Group A and the hosts of Groups B, C and D will be
announced at a later date.

The 12 automatic qualifiers are Japan, Taiwan, the United States, South
Korea, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Netherlands, Cuba,
Australia and the Dominican Republic.

Spain, Colombia, Italy and Germany will contest the qualifier in Barcelona on
October, while China, the Czech Republic, Great Britain and Nicaragua will
play their qualifying games in China in November.

The top two teams from each qualifier will advance to the 2027 Premier12.

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

President Lai Ching-te says a proposed 2027 central government budget will
include 235.7-billion N-T to fund a universal 10,000 N-T cash handout.

Lai says the projected central government revenue for 2027 has been raised to
3.9266-trillion N-T... and that increase will allow the cash handout to be
included while maintaining a balanced budget, which also includes
"effectively no new borrowing."

The president says the decision was spurred by strong economic growth fueled
by booming AI-related industries... and says his administration wants the
'A-I dividend to be shared by all.

Individuals and families will be free to decide how to use the money, citing
uses such as education, elder care, household expenses or spending that
supports local businesses.

The Presidential Office has not provided any details concerning eligibility,
the distribution method or when the cash handout will be paid.

The announcement came after the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and
Statistics raised its forecast for Taiwan's 2026 economic growth to 11.05-per
cent from 9.64-per cent last Friday.

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

Lai's announcement triggered accusations from the K-M-T that the president
was applying a "double standard" after he announced plans to distribute
10,000 N-T in a cash handout to eligible recipients next year.

K-M-T Culture and Communications Committee Director Chen I-hsin says his
party had already proposed a 10,000 N-T cash payment in May, and a bill
containing the provision had already cleared its first reading in the
Legislative Yuan.

Chen further criticized the president for announcing the cash handout so
close to November local elections.

Chen says when the K-M-T proposed the 10,000 N-T cash handout in May, the
Cabinet had emphasized "fiscal discipline" -- saying budget funds should be
prioritized for national defense, major infrastructure projects and debt
repayment.

A similar accusation was levied at the Executive branch by the KMT's
legislative caucus.

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has refused to countersign the Special Act on Taiwan
Future Accounts, which was passed in July.

The cabinet claims the refusal is triggered by what it claims are "violations
of constitutional principles."

Its also being fuelled by concerns that it could allow wealthier families to
accumulate larger amounts and ultimately widen the wealth gap.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the government will instead continue
implementing the family support measures it approved in May.

This marks the sixth time since December of last year that the Premier has
refused to countersign legislation...

The K-M-T says Cho's decision not to countersign legislation is further
evidence of the contempt the Lai administration has for the Legislature and
the legislative majority.

The Act requires government to deposit 60,000 N-T annually into a Growth
Allowance Account for eligible children under the age 8.

Children aged 7 to 17 would receive 30,000 N-T annually in the Growth
Allowance Account and another 30,000 N-T in a Future Account.

The accounts would also accept "corporate sponsorship funds."

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

The government says excess savings are expected to reach a record 11-trillion
N-T in 2027, as the current AI boom boosts exports and current account
surplus.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says the excess
savings rate is forecast to rise to a new high of about 29 and a half per
cent next year.

That's up from an estimated 25.13-per cent in 2026.

Taiwan's excess savings hovered around 3-trillion N-T from 2020 to 2023, but
strong global demand for A-I applications beginning in 2024 boosted exports,
paving the way for a rise in the current account surplus and an increase in
excess savings.

The current account primarily measures a country's exports and imports of
goods and services.

Taiwan's excess savings topped 4-trillion N-T for the first time in 2024 and
rose further to 5.6-trillion N-T in 2025.

The government says excess savings are expected to surpass 8-trillion N-T
this year to reaching 8.4-trillion N-T.

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

The Investigation Bureau has confirmed that a visiting German scholar
researching China's intelligence services was followed by a Chinese woman in
May of 2025 while vacationing in Alishan.

Jurgen Kremb is now a visiting scholar at Soochow University... he was a
correspondent in Beijing for Der Spiegel in the 1990s.

The Investigation Bureau saying it launched an investigation after Kremb
reported the incident.

The bureau also says the case shows that China has begun engaging in
transnational repression, targeting not only Chinese and Taiwanese people but
also individuals who oppose totalitarianism and advocate democracy, freedom
and human rights.

But the bureau is refusing to disclose any other details related to the case
- citing confidentiality.

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

The Tainan City Government says its new underground main railway station will
be unveiled next month.

The statements come after Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che inspected the station's
concourse and platforms.

During his inspection, Huang thanked the the Railway Bureau, the Taiwan
Railway Corporation and local residents for their support for the project

Work on the 8.23-kilometer-long, 33.67 billion N-T underground station
project began in September of 2009.

The underground section of track runs from south of Daqiao Station in
Yongkang District, through Tainan Main Station, and remerges near
Dalin Road rail crossing.

Two new stations, Linsen Station and South Tainan Station, are scheduled to
open in the coming years.

Posted on 2026-08-18 06:55:14

Inventions Festival

And,

Taiwan inventors won big at this year's Silicon Valley International
Inventions Festival in California.

They took the event's top prize, 24 gold medals and other special awards.

The event featured entries from more than 30 countries.

Taiwan students who jointly designed "AllerDetect GO" won the top prize in
the Youth Talent Competition category.

The "AllerDetect GO" app is an active health protection system designed for
children, older adults and people prone to allergies, that helps users
identify potential allergen risks earlier and reduces accidental exposure.

The second prize went to a team from the Affiliated Senior High School of
National Taiwan Normal University.

In the general inventors category, Baichao Greenergy Tech won the special
award from the World Intellectual Property Organization.

The gold medal count was the highest for Taiwan since it first participated
in the Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival in 2018.

The festival was held in the Santa Clara Convention Center in California from
Friday to Sunday.

Posted on 2026-08-17 20:12:13

President Lai Ching-te has announced a universal 10 thousand NT cash payment
... as part of the proposed central government budget for next year ...

The handouts will cost the government over $235 billion NT ...

... but Lai says stronger-than-expected economic growth -- driven largely by
booming demand for AI, semiconductors and high-performance computing -- will
allow the government to fund them ...

... while keeping the budget balanced and effectively avoiding new borrowing.

He says the aim is to let everyone share in what he calls an "AI dividend",
with people free to spend the money on things such as education, elder care
or household expenses.

The government's economic growth forecast for this year has been raised to
11.05 percent, which would be Taiwan's strongest growth in 39 years.

Beyond the cash payment, the 2027 budget will prioritize family support,
defense, technology, infrastructure and greater funding for local
governments.

Defense spending, including special budgets, is expected to exceed $1
trillion NT for the first time.

Posted on 2026-08-17 20:12:13

Hualien could lose all of its regular domestic air services if airlines are
allowed to suspend the county's remaining routes.

Uni Air has applied to suspend its Taipei-Hualien service, while Mandarin
Airlines wants to drop its Kaohsiung-Hualien and Taichung-Hualien routes.

The Civil Aviation Administration is reviewing the applications.

Airlines say demand is too weak, with Uni Air's Taipei-Hualien service
averaging just a 24 percent load factor in the first half of this year ..
compared to 80 percent for most routes to Taiwan's outlying islands.

But Hualien officials say air services are essential because the county lacks
high-speed rail and freeway connections.

They are urging the government to subsidize unprofitable routes as tourism
recovers from the 2024 earthquake.

Visitor numbers at Hualien attractions in the first half of this year were
still 27 percent below the same period in 2023.

Posted on 2026-08-17 18:53:13

Taiwan's excess savings are forecast to exceed 11-trillion N-T next year as
strong AI demand continues to drive exports.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says the excess
savings rate is expected to reach a record 29.49-percent.

Officials say this does not necessarily have negative implications ...
addressing concerns over the accumulation of idle funds in the country.

Gross domestic investment is also forecast to hit a record 9.2-trillion N-T
in 2027.

The agency says AI demand has been stronger than expected, boosting both
exports and business investment.

Taiwan's 2026 economic growth forecast was recently raised to 11.05-percent,
the highest in 39 years.

Growth is still expected to reach 6.04-percent next year despite the high
comparison base.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 18:51:13

President Lai Ching-te says the government is planning a universal 10
thousand NT cash payment next year, so people can share in the benefits of
Taiwan's economic growth.

Lai made the announcement while reviewing the Cabinet's proposed central
government budget for 2027.

He says Taiwan's strengths in semiconductors, information and communications
technology, and manufacturing supply chains have helped drive the economy,
with this year's growth rate now expected to hit a 39-year high.

Lai says the government will also focus next year on family support, national
defense, smart technology, public infrastructure, and greater support for
local governments.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-17 18:51:13

Kaohsiung is bringing together more than 150 local brands this weekend for
its annual celebration of coffee, food and local products.

Organisers say this year's Kaohsiung Coffee Festival -- taking place this
Saturday and Sunday at Aozidi Forest Park -- will have a special focus on
iced coffee.

Seventy participating brands will showcase everything from city cafes and
coffee grown in local indigenous regions to specialty desserts, while the
adjoining Shennong Market will offer local produce and handmade goods.

The festival will also feature coffee workshops, where visitors can learn
about bean selection, roasting, brewing and tasting.

The event runs from 3 PM to 9 PM both days.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-17 18:51:13

The National Human Rights Museum is launching a series of children's
activities using Taiwanese-language picture books to introduce young
audiences to human rights themes.

The museum says the program combines storytelling, folk rhymes, games,
drawing, and hands-on crafts.

It's designed for two age groups, with younger children focusing on
self-awareness and understanding their surroundings, while older children
explore empathy and respect for others.

The museum says all three sessions, on September 20th, October 4th, and
November 1st, are free and require advance registration.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-17 16:48:14

Taiwan and New Zealand have agreed on six areas for closer cooperation over
the next three years under their economic cooperation agreement.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says the priorities include small and
medium-sized businesses, e-commerce, supply chains, food safety and
quarantine, environment and trade, and Indigenous cooperation.

The agreement came during the 13th ANZTEC Joint Committee meeting.

Officials also reviewed progress over the past year in areas including
digital trade, intellectual property and technical trade rules.

The ministry says New Zealand this year also opened its market to Taiwanese
phalaenopsis orchids and cut anthurium flowers.

Taiwanese mangoes, lychees, pineapples and Oncidium cut flowers already have
access to the New Zealand market.

ANZTEC has been in effect since 2013.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 16:48:14

The National Immigration Agency is stepping up multilingual anti-fraud
education for migrant workers in Taipei.

The agency recently joined a migrant worker health screening event at Taipei
Main Station, where staff and interpreters explained common scam tactics in
several languages.

Officials say language barriers can make it difficult for migrant workers to
identify suspicious calls or messages.

One Indonesian worker said she once received a call from someone pretending
to be from a bank and nearly followed the caller's instructions before a
friend stopped her.

The agency says face-to-face outreach in workers' native languages can help
them verify suspicious information and better protect themselves from fraud.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 16:48:14

Tainan is expanding multilingual services at traditional markets and night
markets to make them easier for foreign tourists to visit.

The city government has chosen Ximen Market and Garden Night Market as
demonstration sites.

Both will add signs and maps in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean to help
visitors navigate the areas.

Vendor signs will also include translations, while businesses will receive
help creating illustrated multilingual menus.

The city is also promoting payment services with multilingual support.

Officials say the program is aimed at reducing language barriers and
improving the overall experience for international visitors at some of
Tainan's most popular local attractions.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 16:07:13

Police have referred a teenager to court after the teen was seen playing with
a plastic folding knife on the Taipei MRT.

The incident happened late Sunday on a Tamsui-Xinyi Line train heading toward
Xiangshan.

Police say another passenger saw the teenager handling what appeared to be a
knife and reported it.

MRT staff escorted the teen off the train at Mingde Station before police
arrived.

Officers later determined the folding knife was made of plastic.

Police say no one was injured or threatened.

The teenager was taken to a police station for questioning and later referred
to the Shilin District Court under the Social Order Maintenance Act.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 16:07:13

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che says Tainan Station is on track for an official
unveiling in early September, as part of the city's long-running railway
underground project.

Huang inspected the underground station's sunken plaza, concourse level,
platform level, fare gates, and ticketing facilities today, thanking the
Railway Bureau and Taiwan Railways for their work on the project.

The underground section runs just over 8 kilometers from south of Yongkang
Bridge Station through Tainan Station to about 0.6 kilometers south of the
Dalin Road level crossing, passing through North, East, and Rende districts.

Two new commuter stations, Linsen and South Tainan, are planned for
completion in September 2029 and September 2030 respectively.

The mayor says once complete, the underground railway will eliminate the
overpasses, level crossings, and underpasses that have long divided the city
east and west, reversing decades of urban fragmentation.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-17 14:26:13

The Ministry of the Interior is pushing back against media reports that the
government plans to cut its rent subsidy program nearly in half, insisting
the overall goal of supporting one million renting households remains
unchanged.

The ministry says today that the government intends to use three
complementary tools, social housing construction, government-brokered rental
schemes, and direct rent subsidies, in combination, with the mix adjusting
over time as more physical housing units become available.

Officials say as social housing and brokered rental units gradually approach
targets of 250,000 units each, some demand now met through subsidies will be
absorbed by those programs.

Premier Cho Jung-tai also confirmed that next year's rent subsidy funding
will continue to be covered by the central government.

According to government data, rent subsidies are being received by over
900-thousand households nationwide.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-17 14:26:14

China Airlines has been named one of Asia's best employers for a fourth
consecutive year.

The airline says it received especially high marks for organizational
teamwork in the 2026 awards.

A total of 330 companies in Taiwan took part in this year's evaluation.

China Airlines says the result reflects employee satisfaction with teamwork,
workplace cohesion and the overall working environment.

The airline says it offers competitive salaries and benefits including
discounted tickets and an employee stock ownership program.

It has also expanded work-life balance programs, including employee family
events, health activities and professional training.

Other Taiwan-based companies recognized this year include ADATA Technology,
Asia Cement, Cathay Financial Holdings and CTBC.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 14:26:14

Immigration officers at Taoyuan International Airport have stopped a Sri
Lankan man from traveling to Canada using a forged Canadian passport.

The National Immigration Agency says E-V-A Air ground staff noticed problems
with the man's documents and travel itinerary while he was transferring at
the airport last Thursday.

The man was also unable to answer basic questions about Canada and later
admitted he was Sri Lankan, producing his genuine passport from his luggage.

He told authorities he had paid a human smuggling group 10-thousand U.S.
dollars for the fake passport, travel route and airline tickets.

Officials say he had hoped to reach Canada for work.

He was returned to Singapore, his previous point of departure.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 12:41:13

Kaohsiung's Nibun Chorus has won two gold medals at the World Choir Games in
Sweden, after organizers stopped a Swedish supporter from displaying the
Republic of China flag.

The supporter was cheering for the choir as it warmed up for its final event
in Helsingborg.

CNA says organizers also warned its reporter that the reporter could lose
their press credential if the flag appeared during an interview.

Organizers say the competition follows the "Olympic model," under which teams
from Taiwan compete as "Chinese Taipei" and the ROC flag cannot be displayed
at venues.

Nibun later won gold in both the Contemporary Music and Mixed Choirs
categories.

The choir performed barefoot and wore traditional Bunun and Taivoan clothing.

Taiwanese teams won a total of eight gold medals and one silver at this
year's competition.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 12:41:13

New Taipei's Sanying MRT Line has completed its first weekday of expanded
full-day service, with officials reporting smooth transfers during the
morning rush hour.

The line began operating from 6 a.m. to midnight on Sunday as part of its
free trial period.

New Taipei Metro says trains departed on time Monday, while staff were
deployed at Dingpu Station to manage passengers transferring to the Bannan
Line.

Officials say most commuters from the Sanying area previously took buses to
Dingpu or Yongning before transferring to the Bannan Line.

The new service has increased overall ridership by only about 1-thousand-500
passenger trips.

Taipei Metro says the Bannan Line was busy but operating smoothly, with six
additional trains scheduled to help handle peak-hour demand.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:13

Taiwan artists and curators have issued a joint statement protesting what
they claim to be "political censorship" by organizers of South Korea's
Gwangju Biennale.

This, after the the word "Taiwan" was removed from promotional material and
replaced it with the abbreviation for the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
at the event.

The statement was signed by 10 Taiwan artists and curators who had been
invited to take part in the art exposition... they also said the foundation
ignored repeated protests from the museum.

They further argued that the removal of the word "Taiwan" was not an isolated
incident, but represents a threat to freedom of expression and the global art
community.

The Ministry of Culture says it had asked its overseas representative office
to continue expressing strong protests to the organizers

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:16

The National Human Rights Commission is criticizing a referendum proposal on
judicial caning.

The proposal was initiated by the K-M-T and asks votes if they agree that
caning should be imposed by courts for sexual assault, child abuse,
high-value fraud and aggravated fraud involving multiple forms of fraud, in
order to deter crime?"

The commission says judicial caning violates international human rights
standards enshrined in Taiwan's legal system.

It further adds that while it understands public concerns over serious crimes
and the need to strengthen crime prevention, criminal policy should be based
on constitutional and human rights principles as well as scientific evidence.

The commission also says caning constitutes corporal punishment involving
elements of humiliation and degradation, making it incompatible with
protections under the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.

The referendum proposal is one of three that have been approved by the
Legislative Yuan.

The other two referendum proposals to have been pased concern the use of
traffic fines and the abolition of the non-nuclear energy policy.

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:16

13 lawmakers is slated to travel to to Japan later this month to attend the
Asian Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union 54th General Assembly and 88th Council
Meeting.

The delegation will be led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang.

The event this year will held under the themes of inter-parliamentary
cooperation to maintain a free and open economic order and strengthen
regional supply chain resilience.

Taiwan hosted the Asian Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union General Assembly
last year.

Eight resolutions were adopted during that event, including three proposals
put forward by members of Taiwan's delegation.

They included a proposal that union member states participate in the
Indo-Pacific Marine Debris Cooperation Platform to promote regional
sustainability and security.

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:16

The Tzu Chi International Medical Association says more than 200 migrant
workers attended a free health check event staffed by medical personnel and
volunteers at Taipei Main Station on Sunday.

The event offered preliminary health checks, including ultrasound and dental
examinations, as well as consultations in specialties such as orthopedics and
gynecology.

The free health check event was jointly organized with the Taipei City
government.

The city government says it began cooperating with Tzu Chi in 2004, primarily
because many of Taipei's roughly 50,000 migrant workers are live-in family
caregivers with only one day off a month, making it difficult to seek medical
treatment.

More than 20,000 visits have recorded since the program began, which each
event this year drawing more than 200 participants.

Sunday's event was the third of four planned for this year.

The final one is set for October 4, also at Taipei Main Station.

The service is open to migrant workers legally residing in Taiwan, including
those employed outside Taipei.

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:16

The Industrial Technology Research Institute has developed a noninvasive
in-ear vagus nerve stimulator which it calls Taiwan's first digital
therapeutic technology for generalized anxiety disorder.

The institute says the wearable device stimulates the vagus nerve via the ear
to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is associated with
relaxation.

The device also monitors physiological signals like heart rate variabililty
and uses this data to adjust stimulation parameters.

The technology is intended to provide an alternative treatment option for
people with anxiety... it aims to bring it into practical use within three to
five years.

The Ministry of Health says one in four people here in Taiwan experience
psychological distress.

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:16

A Starlux Airbus A350-1000 featuring livery by renowned Japanese artist
Hajime Sorayama has arrived at Taoyuan International Airport.

The aircraft, named "Airsorayama Gold," is at the airport ahead of its
commercial debut flight on the carrier's Taipei-Tokyo route later this week.

Starlux says it is the second plane in the airline's "Starlux Airsorayama"
art project, which showcases Sorayama's signature metallic aesthetic.

The new aircraft features a gold-themed livery and the airline says it
complements its first Sorayama-designed jet, the "Airsorayama Silver."

The aircraft is scheduled to enter commercial service on Starlux's
Taipei-Narita route starting Thursday.

Posted on 2026-08-17 07:05:16

And,

A four-member team from Taiwan has won one gold medal, two silver medals and
an honorable mention at the International Olympiad in Informatics.

The annual programming competition for school students was held in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan.

The four students received their awards at the closing ceremony - standing
out among 375 students from 92 countries and regions.

Students who win gold, silver, or bronze medals at international academic
Olympiads receive cash rewards and are also eligible for direct admission to
relevant university departments or recommendation-based admission to any
academic program.

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