ICRT

Posted on 2026-08-07 19:09:14

Health Minister Shih Chong-liang says the initial 20-percent recall threshold
in the Central Union Oil contamination case was based on expert scientific
discussions...

...while the later decision to order a full recall of all affected products
was a political one for which he takes responsibility.

Shih made the comments after the Food and Drug Administration released the
full minutes of its July 4 expert meeting.

Officials initially ordered recalls only for products containing at least 20
percent Central Union oil.

Shih says that threshold was based on the scientific conclusions reached at
the meeting ...

... but says the decision to remove all affected products from store shelves,
regardless of concentration, was a political decision and that he takes full
political responsibility.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 19:09:14

A former Navy serviceman has been sentenced to two years and seven months in
prison for leaking classified military information to a Chinese intelligence
contact in exchange for money.

The Taichung District Court also stripped the former serviceman, surnamed
Tsai, of his civil rights for 18 months.

The ruling can be appealed.

Prosecutors say Tsai was introduced to the contact by a former Navy
colleague, who met the woman through a dating app.

She allegedly posed as a Hong Kong-based reporter but was actually affiliated
with Chinese intelligence.

According to prosecutors, Tsai provided personal and military information
before photographing classified documents related to a Hsiung Feng Two
missile launcher and sending them to the contact.

The court found he received a total of 38-thousand NT for the information.

Prosecutors say Tsai's former colleague remains under investigation.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-07 19:09:14

Taiwan High Speed Rail has unveiled a SEMICON Taiwan-themed train and new
headrest covers across its entire fleet ahead of this year's SEMICON Taiwan
exhibition.

The special train and headrest designs will remain in service through the end
of the September 2nd to 4th exhibition as part of a partnership with industry
association SEMI to showcase Taiwan's semiconductor industry.

T-H-S-R is also expanding services for the event.

Registration counters for attendees will open at Hsinchu Station on August
24th, with additional counters at Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Zuoying
stations beginning August 31st.

To meet higher demand, THSR will add non-reserved seating on 32 trains
between August 31st and September 4th, with some services offering up to nine
non-reserved cars.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-07 19:09:14

Taiwan's National Financial Stabilization Fund says trading in T-S-M-C shares
generated nearly 7.8 billion NT in profit during its latest market
intervention.

The fund says gains from T-S-M-C accounted for about 77 percent of its total
profit of almost 10 billion NT.

The stabilization fund invested about 12.3 billion NT during the 279-day
intervention, the longest in its history, after Taiwanese stocks plunged
following U-S President Donald Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs.

Officials say the fund completed the sale of its holdings in May, earning an
overall return of about 81 percent.

T-S-M-C was the fund's largest investment, accounting for nearly two-thirds
of its total purchases, while stakes in Hon Hai, A-S-E Technology and several
other blue-chip companies also generated profits.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-07 17:18:13

The Central Weather Administration says, it's not ruling out issuing a land
warning for Typhoon Dolphin.

That's after they issued a sea warning this afternoon for areas off the coast
of northern Taiwan.

The CWA says that the typhoon has strengthened slightly today, and a land
warning for Mazu at least is inevitable.

That's expected to be issued tomorrow night at the earliest.

As for if any other parts of Taiwan can expect a land warning, a land warning
could be issued for the northern coast of Keelung and New Taipei City
tomorrow afternoon...

depending on the path of the storm.

As of 2pm today, the storm was located 680 kilometers northeast of Taipei,
and moving westwards at 11 kilometers per hour.

Forecasters say, due to the storm's relatively slow pace, we can expect a
more prolonged period of heavy rain, particulary in northern Taiwan and the
mountainous center this weekend.

Meanwhile, Taipower says, it has dispatched thousands of personnel to conduct
pre-typhoon preparations.

They say, they've proactively deployed emergency response staff in case the
heavy rains and wind cause power outages.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 17:18:13

Former President Tsai Ing-wen is booked and busy, now heading up not only the
campaign office of Taitung's magistrate-hopeful Chen Ying...

but also adding to her resume the head of the campaign office of New Taipei's
Su Qiao Hui.

Su says, she had asked Tsai to run her campaign office quite some time ago,
noting that Tsai had run for mayor in New Taipei before, and had lived in the
city for some time.

She adds that Tsai will appear at future campaign events in Taiwan's most
populous municipality.

Also working on promoting Su's candidacy is Olympic boxing gold medalist Lin
Yu Ting.

When asked at an event today if Su's opponent Li Si Chuan would be inviting
any KMT bigwigs to run his campaign, Li responded that his endorsement came
from the more than 4 million residents of New Taipei City.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 17:18:14

Three Tainan temples have completed repairs thanks to government funding
launched last year.

Xihua西華, Haiwei Chao Huang 海尾朝皇, and Dongmen Wufo伍佛 Temples took advantage of
the funding aimed at maintaining the cultural heritage of temples in Taiwan's
oldest city.

The Tainan City government says, the subsidies for temple repairs were
launched last year...

with these three temples being the first to complete repairs.

They add that years of exposure to sun and other weather conditions caused
the paint at Xihua to peel, making once ornate designs difficult to see
clearly.

Following repainting and other m aintenance though, Tainan officials say the
temples have been restored to their former glory.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:57:15

The Tainan City government says, Urban Resilience Drills this morning went
off without a hitch...

with no violations found during the half hour air raid drills.

Tainan residents parked their cars on the side of the road as instructed, and
pedestrians made their way to air raid shelters.

Officials say, the process proceeded quite smoothly.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei Zhe and officials from the central government observed
the drills today in the Xinying area.

Huang remarked on the importance of such drills, and praised residents for
cooperating.

The mayor emphasized the importance of "hoping for the best but preparing for
the worst."

Urban Resilience Drills continue next week, with Central Taiwan up to bat on
Monday...

before the north has its turn on Thursday.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:57:15

The Economics Ministry says it has helped companies develop 279 technology
products for older adults over the past two years.

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says the products have been introduced at
174 sites and generated more than 2.8-billion N.T. in revenue.

The ministry has also supported 110 startups.

Kung made the comments at the opening of the Senior Health Industry Expo in
Taipei.

This year's displays include AI brain-health analysis, smart walking systems,
walking-assistance exoskeletons and AI home-safety monitoring.

Officials say the government wants to combine Taiwan's strengths in AI,
health care and manufacturing to develop its senior technology industry as
the country adjusts to a super-aged society.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:46:14

The Executive Yuan says an equipment failure caused a power outage at its
Taipei compound for about an hour this morning.

The outage began at around 7:34 a.m. after a high-voltage circuit breaker
system malfunctioned.

Officials say backup power systems and generators were activated, while
Taipower helped restore electricity.

Power was fully restored by 8:34 a.m., and government operations are now back
to normal.

A Executive Yuan spokesperson says two high-voltage circuit breakers at the
compound are more than 30 years old.

Funding to replace them has been included in this year's budget, and he is
urging the Legislature to approve the relevant funding as soon as possible.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:46:14

A Taichung man has been sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison after
allegedly drugging a woman and raping her, ultimately killing her.

The man, surnamed Wang, allegedly brought the woman to a motel for drinks in
Feburary of last year...

where he gave her drug-laced coffee and filmed himself raping her unconscious
body.

About one month later, Wang again sought out the woman's services, and again
gave her drugged coffee and raped her.

To ensure that she stayed unconscious, he used a dropper to give her more
drugs.

The next morning when Wang woke up, he realized that the woman's body had
gone cold.

He sought help, but she was already dead.

The Taichung district court sentenced Wang to 14 years and 6 months in a
first instance ruling.

The case can still be appealed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:46:14

The Civil Aviation Administration is announcing flight schedules to Taiwan's
outlying islands for the National Day long weekend.

The CAA says, there will be a total of 1102 flights to Mazu, Kinmen, and
Penghu during the period from October 8th to 12th.

45% of the available flights will be to Penghu, 43% to Kinmen, and 12% to
Mazu.

The CAA says, flights will be added as needed.

The flights will open for booking on Monday at 9am.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:07:13

The Central Weather Administration is expecting to issue a sea warning for
Typhoon Dolphin at 2:30pm today.

Forecasters are warning those along the coast in nothern Taiwan to prepare
for heavy rain and rough seas.

They also say that, although a sea warning will likely not be issued for
southern Taiwan, residents should still be aware of strongs winds and big
waves.

As far as any potential land warning, it remains to be seen if a land warning
will be necessary, but the CWA says Mazu may see a land warning issued
tomorrow evening...

as the typhoon continues its track west towards China's Zhejiang province.

Forecasters also note that the typhoon's slow speed at only 13 kilometers per
hour may mean longer periods of heavy rain in the north.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:07:13

The DPP legislative caucus is calling for the speedy examination of the 2026
central government budget.

Caucus whip Cai Qi Chang slammed opposition KMT and TPP lawmakers, saying the
budget should have been passed in December.

Cai added that he is unable to accept the proposals made by some opposition
lawmakers to freeze the entire budget.

This comes as legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu originally planned to have a
third reading done before today...

however opposition parties only completed their second round of negotiations
last night.

The speaker thus opted to confirm changes with the opposition caucuses next
week before making any next steps.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-07 14:07:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 170 points to
close the session at 44225.

The turnover was 819.2 billion NT

Posted on 2026-08-07 13:01:13

Contract educare staff at public preschools can now take up to three days of
mental health leave per school year.

The Ministry of Education says the leave can be taken by the hour and will
count toward an employee's personal leave allowance.

Teachers have been eligible for the same leave since rules were amended last
October.

But contract educare staff are covered by the Labor Standards Act and had
previously been excluded.

The ministry formally expanded the policy in amendments announced in May.

Officials say the change is aimed at supporting workers' mental well-being
and maintaining the quality of preschool care.

The revised rules also align marriage and prenatal checkup leave for contract
educare staff with leave available to teachers.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-07 13:01:13

The KMT has unveiled an AI spokesperson as it prepares for Taiwan's year-end
local elections.

The AI figure, named "Cheng Hsiao-wen (鄭小文)," was introduced alongside four
new human spokespersons, all serving city councilors.

The KMT says the appointments are aimed at strengthening coordination between
its central headquarters and local campaign teams, particularly in Taiwan's
six special municipalities.

The party says the AI spokesperson will speak on public issues and promote
positions supported by the KMT.

The four new real spokespersons are from Taipei, New Taipei, Tainan and
Kaohsiung.

The KMT says they will also help respond to what the party describes as
misinformation and smear campaigns during the election period.

(PB)

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

President Lai Ching-te also boarded a Coast Guard Administration vessel in
New Taipei's Bali District to observe coastal defense operations during the
Han Kuang military exercise.

According to the Presidential Office, Lai received briefings on the patrol
vessel's equipment and coastal strike operations.

He also inspected its missile launcher system and learned about its
configuration and operational readiness.

Lai later visited a loading area at Taipei Port to learn about mine
deployment operations and defensive measures carried out by the Army's 53rd
Engineer Group.

Thursday marked the second day of the Han Kuang exercise, with drills in the
northern focusing on coastal defense and other defensive operations.

They included the deployment of Patriot and Sky Bow missile launcher units to
designated tactical positions at riverside parks in Taipei and New Taipei.

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

Meanwhile,

The southbound lanes of New Taipei's Danjiang Bridge were closed last night
and into the early morning, as troops erected defensive structures on its
deck.

The northbound lanes, pedestrian walkways, and bicycle lanes remained open -
and the drill attracted scores of onlookers who stopped to take photographs.

Defense officials say troops set up a 200-meter-long, three-lane defensive
structure and fortification consisting of breakwater blocks, barbed wire, and
heated iron scrap metal.

The military placed sleepers underneath the breakwater blocks to prevent
damage to the road surface.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the fortification was aimed at
preventing enemy forces from advancing on Taipei.

The bridge was incorporated into the live-fire exercise for the first time
since opening in May.

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

Members of the National Central University's Polar Institute are taking part
in what is Taiwan's first ever independently planned expedition to the
Arctic.

According the university, a 30-member team will be spending 12 days near
Norway's Svalbard archipelago, which is located midway between mainland
Norway and the North Pole.

The team includes scientists from Academia Sinica, the National Taiwan
University and the National Academy of Marine Research.

The university says the research team will be studying extreme weather, ocean
circulation and the carbon cycle and the work will will track how freshwater
from glaciers mixes with seawater and how Arctic ecosystems respond to
climate change.

The university says although Taiwan is not at Arctic nation, changes in the
Arctic could have long-term consequences for Taiwan.

The university also says the expedition will boost Taiwan's participation in
international Arctic research.

Posted on 2026-08-07 07:14:06

The Mainland Affairs Council has blocked a Chinese platform advertising
educational and employment opportunities in China for young Taiwanese.

The move comes a day after council minister Chiu Chui-cheng said the
government will seek the platform's removal or blocking due to legal
violations and personal data risks.

Spokesman Liang Wen-chieh said action was taken against the China-run "Taiwan
Youth e-Home" platform after coordinating with relevant agencies...

Liang says the website requires users to provide personal information,
allowing it to collect data on young people here in Taiwanese, which his
office believes poses an extremely high risk.

The council spokesman also says the platform's content violated several
articles of the Cross-Strait Act.

Those specific articles regulate recruitment for Chinese educational
institutions, Taiwanese taking positions in certain Chinese party or
political organizations, and advertising activities involving Chinese goods
and services.

"Taiwan Youth e-Home" was launched on July 15.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office says it was aimed at supporting the "integrated
development" of young people across the Taiwan Strait.

Posted on 2026-08-07 07:14:06

Act

The Cabinet has passed draft amendments to the Disaster Prevention and
Protection Act that add tsunamis and barrier lake breaches to the list of
legally defined natural disasters.

The amendments also designate the central government agencies responsible for
handling such disasters.

The proposed amendments to the Act come after questions emerged over the
division of responsibilities between central and local governments in dealing
with the Matai'an River barrier lake in Hualien.

The barrier lake overflowed last year, killing 19 people.

The amended law designates the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of
Agriculture as the central authorities overseeing responses to tsunamis and
barrier lake breaches.

The draft amendments also assign designated agencies to oversee major
disaster prevention and response tasks, helping speed up key decisions.

Prevention and reconstruction efforts will remain the responsibility of
relevant authorities.

Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan says the government will amend the
Executive Yuan Organization Act and related regulations to clarify the roles
and composition of the designated response agencies.

Posted on 2026-08-07 07:14:06

A delegation led by Taiwan's representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, took part
in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.

The Taiwan delegation joined representatives from 121 countries in calling
for a world free of nuclear weapons and the pursuit of lasting peace.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan says Taiwan
delegation was seated in the diplomatic corps section alongside
representatives from Paraguay, the Vatican, Israel, India and Armenia.

Lee also attended last year's Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.

2025 marked the first time that Taiwan's top representative to Japan has been
officially invited and attended the annual event.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony is held annually on August 6 to honor
those who died when the U-S dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.

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

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Dolphin is expected to pass
through the sea north of Taiwan this weekend, as it heads towards China's
Zhejiang province.

The storm is currently located some 1,100-kilometers north-northeast of
Taipei and moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 24-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin has weakened over the past 24-hours and now has a radius of
280-kilomters.

It's packing sustained wind speeds of 136-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up
to 172-kilomters-an-hour.

According to the weather administration's forecast center, a sea warning
could be issued as early as this afternoon, while a land warning could be
issued for Matsu tomorrow.

Heavy, or extremely heavy rain can be expected north of central Taiwan
tomorrow and Sunday.

The rain in the north is forecast to weaken on Monday.

However, central and southern parts of the island could see localized rain or
thunderstorms from next Tuesday to Thursday.

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

Kaohsiung police have arrested two men accused of smuggling more than one
kilogram of ketamine from Germany inside a 3D-printed toy bear and other
objects.

Police say the drugs were concealed in a parcel containing the bear and
number-shaped ornaments.

Officers seized 1-thousand-54 grams of ketamine, three mobile phones and a
National Health Insurance card.

The alleged ringleader, a terminal cancer patient surnamed Chen, is accused
of offering an accomplice 150-thousand N-T to provide a delivery address.

Police say the accomplice used another person's health insurance card to
collect the package in an attempt to evade detection.

Both suspects have been referred to prosecutors, and a court has ordered the
alleged ringleader detained.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

President Lai Ching-te has taken part in an anti-decapitation drill as part
of the annual Han Kuang military exercises.

Footage released by the Presidential Office showed Lai boarding a Clouded
Leopard armored vehicle before being escorted to the National Political and
Military Operations Command Center in Taipei designed to allow the government
to continue operating during a national emergency.

The video also showed Lai receiving military briefings and issuing
instructions during the exercise.

According to the Presidential Office, the drill simulated the command of
defensive operations and tested the government's ability to maintain command,
coordinate across agencies and ensure continuity of government during a
crisis.

The exercise came after reports last month that China's People's Liberation
Army had been practicing simulated strikes on key sites in Taiwan, including
the Presidential Office.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-06 18:52:13

detection

Taichung police say a sharp increase in drug-driving arrests is the result of
improved enforcement, not a worsening drug-driving problem.

The Taichung City Police Department says the widespread use of rapid saliva
drug screening kits has improved detection and evidence collection, allowing
officers to identify and arrest suspected drug-impaired drivers on the spot.

Police recorded 1,095 drug-driving cases last year - up nearly 400 percent
from the year before.

From January through July this year, authorities say they've already arrested
over 1 thousand 400 suspected drug-impaired drivers - more than triple the
figure for the same period last year.

The department says it conducts regular citywide crackdowns targeting the
growing use of emerging drugs such as etomidate, commonly known as "zombie
vapes".

Police say they will continue focusing on cutting off drug sources,
strengthening enforcement, and imposing strict penalties to improve road
safety.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-06 18:52:13

The Cabinet has approved draft amendments to the Disaster Prevention and
Protection Act that would officially classify tsunamis and barrier lake
breaches as natural disasters under the law.

The proposal also designates the Ministry of the Interior as the lead agency
for response to tsunamis and the Ministry of Agriculture for barrier lake
disasters.

The changes follow last year's deadly Matai'an River barrier lake disaster in
Hualien County, which claimed 19 lives and raised questions over the division
of responsibilities between central and local governments.

The Cabinet says the amendments are intended to clarify command structures
and speed up decision-making during major emergencies.

The draft legislation would also require government agencies to appoint
dedicated disaster prevention officials and strengthen coordination for
evacuations, emergency shelters and relief operations.

Posted on 2026-08-06 18:52:13

The Danjiang Bridge is closing this evening from eight o'clock through to 6
AM tomorrow ... as the annual Han Kuang military drills enter their second
day.

The bridge is being incorporated into the live-fire exercise for the first
time since opening in May, with the military conducting a defensive obstacle
operation as part of the drills.

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the overnight
closure will affect the Shalun Road and Guanhai Road ramps on the Tamsui side
...

... as well as all southbound lanes on the Bali side, including vehicle, bus,
motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle lanes.

Motorists are advised to follow traffic control measures and use the Guandu
Bridge (關渡) as an alternative route during the closure.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

The Executive Yuan has proposed amendments to the Disaster Prevention and
Protection Act in an attempt to clarify government responsibilities in
natural disasters...

following last year's Matai'an barrier lake overflow that killed at least 19
people.

The amendments move to classify tsunamis and barrier lake overflows as
natural disasters...

and place relevant response units under the Ministries of Agriculture and of
the Interior.

The amendments also allocate more responsibilities in responsing to such
crises to the central government, aiming to shorten response times and
clarify responsibility.

The changes will seek to put the the two ministries in charge of response at
the time of the disaster...

but will allocate prevention and rebuilding to the local governments.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

The Taichung city government says, it's looking into why the Chinese national
seal appeared on ads posted in a social housing unit explaining a consumers'
rights law.

That's after DPP city councilors raised concerns about potential lax
oversight on such materials.

DPP council caucus whip Zhou Yong Hong says, the issue came to his attention
when a resident noticed that an ad in the elevator of a social housing unit
included the seal of the PRC governmen他above a caption reading "central/local
governments."

The ad stated that it came from the Housing Development Department, and that
the image was generated by an AI chatbot.

Zhou called on the city government to remove all such materials and
thoroughly investigate other such ads...

in addition to clarifying which government agency was responsible for the ad.

The Housing Development Department apologized for the mistake and said it
would conduct an internal review.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

Police say, a suspect has been arrested after allegedly threatening a New
Taipei city councilor.

The man, surnamed Liu, allegedly showed up at the offices of DPP councilor
Yamada Mai and flashed a knife.

His girlfriend then pulled him away from the scene.

Authorities say that, following his arrest, Liu said he was drunk at the time
and felt offended by the secretary's glance at him.

After arresting Liu about 5 hours after the fact, police found that he was
already wanted on drug and fraud charges.

Liu's case is now being handled by prosecutors.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

groups re: climate crisis

Green Peace is urging local governments to allot more funds to protecting the
vulnerable...

as climate crises become more and more common.

The non-profit says, Tainan is the most affected of Taiwan's six special
municipalities, suffering the most frequent flooding, agricultural lossess,
and the highest number of days of high temperatures in future warming
scenarios.

Greenpeace is recommending that local governments establish a community
climate adaptation fund and allocate more funds to local adaptation budgets.

They say, that should prioritize the protection of more climate-vulnerable
populations like outdoor workers, elderly people that live alone,
agricultural workers, and others.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

The Vienna Philharmonic will return to Taipei's National Concert Hall in
October under conductor Tugan Sokhiev.

Sokhiev has also been chosen to lead the orchestra's 2027 New Year's Concert.

The first Taipei performance on October 16 will feature pianist Lang Lang in
Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto.

The orchestra will also perform Brahms' Second Symphony, which it premiered
in Vienna in 1877.

The October 17 program includes Mozart's Symphony Number 40 and Tchaikovsky's
Fourth Symphony.

The Vienna Philharmonic was founded in 1842 and is made up of musicians from
the Vienna State Opera.

It has operated without a permanent conductor since 1933, with its members
selecting the conductors and soloists they work with.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai is calling on the Ministry of Culture to continue
seeking legislative support for its budget amid concern over proposed cuts
and freezes.

Cho says long-term cultural investment is needed to strengthen Taiwan's
creative industries and international competitiveness.

The ministry says it has supported 607 film and television productions over
the past five years, along with 123 international co-productions.

Government investment programs for Taiwan-based cultural content have
exceeded 4-billion NT, while a National Development Fund program has
attracted more than 18-billion in private investment.

Cho also described public media as essential cultural infrastructure.

He says Public Television provides multilingual and children's programming
that may not be supported by the commercial market.

Cho asked the ministry to keep explaining its spending plans to lawmakers and
protect the development of Taiwan's arts and cultural sector.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

Registration opens at noon tomorrow for the Interior Ministry's final round
of singles events this year.

Five sessions will be held in September and October, with a total of 400
places available.

Activities include cycling in Fulong, riding the Alishan Forest Railway,
releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi, and ecological tours in Kenting and Taroko.

The ministry is covering 20 percent of the fees.

One-day trips cost 1-thousand-440 NT, while two-day trips cost 4-thousand-160.

The ministry says 74 couples have been successfully matched since the program
began in late June.

Participants who attend the same session and marry within two years may also
qualify for a special prize.

The first couple to notify the ministry will receive a pair of one-carat
diamond rings.

(PB)

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

Taoyuan MRT says, its trains will be running normally next Thursday during
Han Kuang military exercises in the north...

but they're warning passengers that they will not be allowed to exit stations
during the air raid Urban Resilience drills from 2:30 to 3pm.

They add that passengers in the stations during the half hour drill period
will be directed to air raid shelters.

They advise passengers to move up their schedules to avoid any inconvenience.

The National Communications Council has stated that there will be simulated
network connectivity issues in the north on Thursday during the same time
period...

and Taoyuan Metro is reminding passengers that metro-related apps or QR code
payment services may be affected by the network interruptions.

Passengers are thus advised to use an Easy Card, contactless credit cards, or
purchase single journey tickets with cash.

（AH）

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

Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen is urging the public to volunteer to be a
poll watcher during this November's elections.

At a press conference this morning, Shen remarked on Taiwan's authoritarian
past, saying the free and fair elections of the 21st century were borne out
of Taiwan's resilience and solid poll watching system.

Shen noted that, according to regulations, each political party can nominate
its own poll watchers...

and since this year's local elections involve votes for so many candidates,
more manpower is needed at the polls.

Shen says, he hopes that volunteers will sign up to help ensure the fairness
of the polls and protect Taiwan's democracy.

(AH)

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

A Taiwan-led research team has begun its first independently planned Arctic
expedition.

The multidisciplinary group will spend 12 days near Norway's Svalbard
archipelago, studying extreme weather, ocean circulation and the carbon
cycle.

The mission is coordinated by National Central University's Taiwan Polar
Institute and brings together experts in earth science, life science and
evolutionary biology.

Researchers will deploy drifting buoys and collect water, sediment and
environmental DNA samples.

The work will track how freshwater from glaciers mixes with seawater and how
Arctic ecosystems respond to climate change.

The team will also study newly exposed land left by retreating glaciers,
search for fossils and install 11 automated weather stations.

The university says changes in the Arctic could have long-term consequences
for ocean-dependent Taiwan.

(PB)

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

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 44396
after losing 214 points.

The turnover was 940 billion NT

Posted on 2026-08-06 13:10:13

Troops in Penghu today requisitioned civilian vehicles, as the 42nd Han Kuang
exercises enter their second day.

The exercise saw troops making use of civilian cars outside an old Taipower
plant in Penghu for resupply and positioning supplies around units to support
the needs of military members.

Part of the drill also involves transporting supplies like rations from
supply depots to soldiers' locations.

Penghu military officials say, the live-fire exercise of the supply delivery
involves cooperation between military and civilians...

and is aimed at strengthening coordination and communcation.

They say, the drills ensure that such supplies can be effectively transported
to troops in a wartime scenario.

Today marks the second day of the annual exercises, which are set to continue
through the end of next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 13:10:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, the city is preparing for heavy rain as
Typhoon Dolphin continues on its westward path.

Northern Taiwan is currently expected to see the worst of heavy rains on
Saturday and Sunday.

The Central Weather Administration says, it expects to issue a sea warning
tomorrow afternoon or evening...

but it remains to be seen if a land warning will be necessary or not.

Chiang says, the city is keeping a close eye on the developments, and is
taking strict precautions, convening all departments to prepare in advance.

The mayor added that the Public Works Department is on standby, and will
notify maintenance contractors to complete preparations in advance.

Chiang emphasizes that officials are inspecting flood control equipment ahead
of the storm's arrival.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 09:52:13

The Tai-Ex opened down 123-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
44,487 on turnover of 14.2-billion N-T.

The market moved back to the 44,000-point mark on Wednesday, as it recovered
both its monthly and quarterly moving averages amid solid gains in the tech
sector.

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Defense officials say they expect to launch critical systems by the end of
2027 to integrate counter-drone capabilities across the armed forces and
complete an interface to coordinate military and non-military counter-drone
operations.

The statement comes after D-P-P lawmaker Wang Ting-yu warned of a lack of
integration among counter-drone systems.

According to Wang, the lack of integration is across military branches and
between the non-kinetic, or "soft-kill" systems used by the armed forces, the
coast guard and government-funded companies that operate critical
infrastructure.

According to Army Chief of Staff Chen Chien-yi, hard-kill and soft-kill
capabilities are assigned to different units, although their operational
plans are developed by the same combat training unit.

The head of the Ministry of National Defense's Department of Strategic
Planning, says existing counter-drone systems have yet to be integrated with
a counter-drone command-and-control system that is currently under
development.

However, that official is stressing that several systems capable of
integrating the military's counter-drone capabilities are expected to become
operational next year, "if the projects proceed as planned."

The Han Kuang military exercises, which began yesterday, are including drone
warfare and counter-drone drills this year.

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

The Mainland Affairs Council says China's newly announced entry-exit
regulations potentially increase the risks faced by Taiwan traveling visiting
the country.

According to the council, the regulations contain vaguely defined national
security provisions and give authorities broad discretion to restrict
people's movement.

Speaking at a legislative hearing, council minister Chiu Chui-cheng said the
new regulations have largely placed existing practices, which impose "very
strict" controls on both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals in China,
under a formal legal framework.

Chiu told lawmakers that the conditions governing such restrictions remain
"vague and broad" and could be applied arbitrarily by the authorities and
lack of clearly defined legal requirements is the fundamental reason the
regulations have caused concern in Taiwan.

The regulations are scheduled to take effect on September 15.

Article 4 of the regulations allows the authorities to bar Chinese citizens
who have engaged in illegal or criminal activities overseas deemed harmful to
China's "national security and interests" from leaving China for six months
to three years following their return.

However, the regulations do not explicitly state how the new exit-ban
provisions will apply to Taiwanese visiting China, nor do they classify
Taiwanese as Chinese citizens or foreigners.

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

EVA Airways has announced that it will launch nonstop flights between Taipei
and Delhi on December 1.

Bookings are now available through the carrier's website and travel agencies.

The airline will operate five round-trip flights per week using Airbus
A330-300 aircraft, making it the only Taiwan-based airline to offer nonstop
passenger service to India.

EVA Air President Clay Sun says the new route is being launched as
Taiwan-India ties continue to deepen in manufacturing, semiconductors,
artificial intelligence and other technology sectors, increasing demand for
more efficient travel between the two countries.

The carrier says the route is also expected to benefit Indian business
travelers, students and researchers by offering easier connections through
Taipei to North America.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:13

Reservists from the Taipei City Reserve Brigade carried out rifle and mortar
drills at the Taipei Municipal Zhong Zheng Senior High School to take part
in a full-brigade mobilization exercise.

The drill was part of a full-brigade mobilization exercise that saw the armed
forces deploying at numerous locations across Taiwan.

The first day of the Han Kuang exercises focused on mobilization preparations
and refresher courses, with subsequent phases to include wartime deployment,
force protection and force preservation tasks.

The Taipei City Reserve Brigade worked alongside the Army's 137th Infantry
Brigade to validate the full-brigade mobilization exercises.

The two brigades account for about 5,000 of the 20,000 reservists called up
for the Han Kuang exercises.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:13

campaigns

The D-P-P and the K-M-T both held their weekly Central Standing Committee
meetings outside of Taipei on Wednesday as the move to rally support for
November's local elections.

The D-P-P took its meeting to Taichung, where its mayoral candidate, lawmaker
Ho Hsin-chun presented her campaign platform at the meeting.

Her focus: an integrated public transit network, subsidies for childcare and
seniors, and the development of the unmanned vehicle industry.

While President Lai Ching-te, who doubles a D-P-P chairman, used the meeting
to criticize outgoing K-M-T Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen over delays to the
city's M-R-T Blue Line project and last year's African swine fever outbreak.

Meanwhile, the K-M-T took its weekly Central Standing Committee on the road
to Hsinchu County.

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun led the party's senior leadership at the
meeting, which was followed by a campaign rally attended by local party
figures and around 400 supporters.

The absence of incumbent Hsinchu County Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien
sparked rumors over lingering tensions from the K-M-T's March primary, in
which lawmaker Hsu Hsin-ying beat Chen to secure the nomination for county
magistrate.

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

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says Taiwan Sugar Corporation should not be
dragged into the scandal involving Central Union Oil Corporation and its
contaminated cooking oil.

He maintains Taiwan
Sugar did not violate food safety laws by not reporting
that batch of raw oil it rejected from Central Union contained excessive
levels of a carcinogen.

Shih said Taiwan Sugar only used oil samples from a batch of raw oil for
testing and refused to purchase the cooking oil from Central Union after it
failed the test.

The health minister also stressed that reporting obligations under the Act
Governing Food Safety and Sanitation for benzopyrene only apply to items with
established food safety and hygiene standards, such as edible oils, but not
for raw materials.

The opposition K-M-T believes Taiwan
Sugar failure to report the
contaminated cooking oil to local and central authorities was in violation of
its obligations to food safety.

K-M-T lawmakers are also accusing Taiwan Sugar of covering up the excessive
levels of a carcinogen.

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

The Mainland Affairs Council says its working to remove or block a Chinese
platform targeting young people here in Taiwan.

Council minister Chiu Chui-chen says the "Taiwan Youth e-Home" platform's
offering assistance to young people to find educational, internship and
employment opportunities in China violates the Cross-Strait Act.

Article 23 requires individuals and organizations to obtain prior government
approval before recruiting students in Taiwan on behalf of Chinese
educational institutions.

While Article 34 permits advertisements or promotional activities in Taiwan
for Chinese goods, services or other matters only if authorized under the
act.

The Mainland Affairs Council Minister says users of the platform' could face
significant risks by submitting personal information.

Chiu is also accusing Beijing of using the platform to "govern Taiwan before
unification" and conduct public opinion and psychological warfare against
Taiwan.

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

Pingtung prosecutors are holding a former employee of metal resources company
for the murder of the company's chairman.

The 56-year-old Jing Yuan Tungsten chairman was found found tied up with with
duct tape and beaten to death on July 24 in his home in Pingtung's Fangliao
Township.

Police in Taichung arrested the 34-year-old former Jing Yuan Tungsten Cobalt
Resources employee at his mother's home on Tuesday.

Prosecutors say the suspect broke into the house seeking to rob it and killed
the victim after he woke up.

Police says they searched properties in Taichung and Pingtung, collected
evidence and seized items related to the case.

Prosecutors say they requested the suspect be detained as he poses flight
risk and could destroy evidence and collude with witnesses.

Reports say the suspect worked at Jing Yuan Tungsten Cobalt Resources as a
junior ironworker until he left the company a year ago shortly after
borrowing over 100,000 N-T from the company.

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

And,

The Central Weather Administration says a sea warning for Typhoon Dolphin
could be issued as early as tomorrow afternoon as the storm moves closer to
Taiwan

The storm is currently located some 1,300-kilometers east of Taipei and
moving in a westerly direction at 22-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin has a radius of 320-kilomters, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 154-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 190-kilomters-an-hour.

The forecast center, the storm is expected to move closer to Japan's Ryukyu
Islands tomorrow and Saturday before gradually weakening and turning
northwards towards China.

It's expected to be closest to Taiwan between Saturday and Monday, when its
outer rainbands could affect the island.

The weather administration says a land warning could be issued if the storm's
circulation moves close enough to affect the outlying island of Matsu Islands
or Taiwan's northern coast area.

Rain from the typhoon is forecast to begin affecting northern Taiwan and
Yilan later today, but the heaviest rainfall is expected on Saturday and
Sunday.

Posted on 2026-08-05 19:06:14

A court has approved the incommunicado detention of a former employee accused
of killing the chairman of a tungsten and cobalt supply company in Pingtung.

Prosecutors say the suspect, surnamed Lin, was arrested last night on
suspicion of robbery and murder.

The victim, Huang, was found bound, gagged and beaten to death at his home in
Fangliao Township on July 24th.

Investigators say Lin was arrested at his mother's home, where he reportedly
confessed to the crime.

Authorities say Lin had previously worked for Huang's company before later
being hired as a housekeeper, giving him access to and familiarity with the
victim's home.

Prosecutors believe Lin broke into the house intending to steal valuables,
but killed Huang after waking him during the burglary to avoid being
identified.

Posted on 2026-08-05 19:06:17

EVA Air will launch nonstop flights between Taipei and Delhi on December 1st,
becoming the only Taiwan-based airline to offer direct passenger service to
India.

The airline will operate five round-trip flights a week using Airbus A330-300
aircraft.

EVA Air says the new route reflects growing business ties between Taiwan and
India, particularly in manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence
and other technology industries.

The airline says the service will also allow passengers to connect beyond
Delhi to other destinations across India through its Star Alliance partner,
Air India.

EVA Air says it also expects the route to attract more travelers connecting
between India, Taiwan and North America.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:28:13

Hon Hai Precision Industry has just posted its highest ever monthly revenue
...

... driven by continued strength in artificial intelligence server demand.

The company says consolidated revenue for July reached more than $946.5
billion NT - up over 15 percent from June and over 54 percent from a year
earlier.

It's also the first time in company history that monthly sales have exceeded
900 billion NT.

Hon Hai says the strong performance was led by higher demand and shipments of
server products.

The company expects business to continue improving in the third quarter,
citing continued growth in AI server racks and the seasonal peak for
information and communications technology products, while noting that global
political and economic uncertainties remain a risk.

For the first seven months of the year, cumulative revenue totaled NT$5.59
trillion - up nearly 38 percent from the same period last year and also a
record high.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:10:13

The Central Weather Administration says Tropical Storm Chan-hom has formed
over the western Pacific but is not expected to affect Taiwan.

The storm developed from a tropical depression near Wake Island at 2 PM and
has been named Chan-hom, the 15th named storm of the Pacific typhoon season.

Forecasters say Chan-hom is moving north-northwest at about 42 kilometers per
hour and is expected to continue on that track over open waters.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:10:13

Navy mobile missile units rolled out in Kaohsiung today as Taiwan began its
annual Han Kuang military exercises ... which will run for 10 days and nine
nights.

Four missile launch vehicles, a fire-control and command vehicle, and several
support vehicles left the Navy's Zuoying base shortly after noon.

The units practiced moving into deployment positions after receiving orders.

They will first remain on standby at designated force-preservation locations
before carrying out further orders.

The military says the exercise is intended to test the units' operational
readiness and ability to respond quickly.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:10:14

About one in six older adults in Taiwan experiences depression - but doctors
say a simple habit like watching sports could help lower the risk.

They point to a study by researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan ...

... which that people aged 65 and older who watched sporting events at least
once a week on television or online had an almost 30 percent lower risk of
depressive symptoms than those who never watched.

Those who attended live sporting events one to three times a month saw an
even greater benefit, with their risk falling by 34 percent.

Researchers found the benefits even among seniors who did not regularly
exercise.

Doctors say watching sports stimulates brain activity and dopamine release ...

... while also providing a sense of anticipation and social connection, all
of which may help support mental health in older adults.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

The Minister of Health and Welfare says, he is responsible for the 20% recall
of Central Union Oils standard issued early last month and later revised.

That's as the meeting at which the call was made on July 4th has come under
scrutiny recently, with opposition lawmakers calling into question who made
the call.

Shi Chong Liang says, he takes responsibility for the initial decision to
remove only items containing more than 20% of affected oil from Central Union
from the shelves.

The health minister made the comments ahead of a meeting of the legislative
committee on health and welfare today.

During questioning by TPP lawmaker Qiu Hui Ru 邱慧洳, Shi said he had the final
say on the matter and would take responsibility, "no problem."

DPP Lawmaker Lin Yue Qin, who chairs the committee, accused the opposition of
having inconsistent standards towards the central and local governments
involved in the Central Union case.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

President Lai Ching-te says, any change to the status quo in the Taiwan
Strait will be at China's hand, not Taiwan's.

He says, Taiwan is committed to upholding the stats quo, and strengthening
its econonmic resilience.

The president noted that Taiwanese investments in China have decreased from
over 83% in 2010 to under 4% last year...

while Taiwan's economy grew at a rate of nearly 14% in the first half of this
year, marking the best showing in 50 years.

Lai says, it's clear that Taiwan's economy has prospered after reducing
reliance on China.

The president made the comments as he met with former foreign leaders in town
for yesterday's Ketagalan Forum, including former Finnish Prime Minister
Sanna Marin.

He said, international visitors' actions in supporting Taiwan allow Taiwanese
people to feel international support, giving them greater confidence to
uphold their ideals.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen is urging the public against leaving
politically motivated google reviews.

That's after Shen paid a visit to Raohe Night Market yesterday and signed the
wall of one shop.

In footage making the rounds on social media platform Threads, Shen is seen
signing a blank section of a wall before the owner pulls back a sign taped
onto the wall to reveal that Chiang Wan An's signature has been covered up.

After the video went viral, some Threads users displeased with Chiang's name
being covered took to Google Maps to leave 1 star reviews of the
establishment.

Shen today condemned the actions, and called on his opponent to urge his
supporters against leaving fake reviews for political reasons.

In a press release from Shen's campaing office, he said that many shop owners
and patrons asked for a photo or signature as he was making the rounds last
night...

as well as offered suggestions on drainage improvements nearby.

Shen said, he encourages online discussion and debate, but draws the line at
maliciously affecting the business of supporters with irrelevant reviews.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is trying to containt the fallout over the
Central Union Oils case...

as public scrutiny mounts over a meeting held last month in which the FDA and
experts decided to recall only products containing more than 20% of affected
oil before the MOHW later widened the recall.

Minister Shi Chong Liang says, meeting minutes have been submitted to
investigative authorities and will be released to the public later today.

That's as KMT lawmaker Wang Yu Min and others in the blue camp have accused
the Executive Yuan of trying to cover for TaiSugar after it did not report
contamination of some raw materials from Central Union.

Wang called for the legislative committee on health and welfare to resolve to
demand an apology from the MOHW and to hold those responsible accountable.

The motion passed with majority support from opposition lawmakers in the
committee.

But Shi says, the companies at fault are Central Union, Fu Show, Fu Mao, and
Taishan.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:14

And in related news...

Taichung proescutors have conducted more searches in the Central Union Oil
case...

and continued questioning those with connections to the case.

Four defendants were each released on bail of 3 million NT.

Prosecutors say they carried out searches of Central Union, as well as of Fu
Show, Fu mao, and Taishan companies.

They questioned the Chairman Tsai of Central Union, Hong of Fu Show, Wu of Fu
Mao, and Liu of Taishan...

in addition to several other witnesses.

The four chairmen are suspected of violating the Act Governing Food Safety
and Sanitation.

The four have now paid a toal of between 9 and 23 million NT bail.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:14

Asian shares have surged, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul jumping more
than 3%, as shares in chipmakers and other AI-related companies advanced.

At home, the benchmark tai ex gained 1250 points to close the session at
44611.

The turnover was 1.144 trillion NT

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

A former Slovak prime minister is urging increased defense spending, drawing
similarities between the threats Taiwan faces from China...

and those that eastern European nations face from Russia.

Ivan Korčok says, increasing defnese spending is a "responsible approach" to
protect national sovereignty...

arguing that it should take precedence over concerns about other budget
priorities.

Korčok is the vice chair of Slovakia's opposition Progressive Slovakia party.

He says, his party hopes to deepen ties with Taiwan and cooperate on postwar
reconstruction in Ukraine, if it returns to power.

Korčok rejected the notion that governments must choose between defense
spending and domestic priorities, saying increasing defense protects "the
very essence of your state."

The former PM made the comments on a visit to Taiwan after attending the
Ketagalan Forum yesterday.

(AH-CNA)

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

Taipei's Xinyi Police Precinct chief says her daughter has learned her lesson
after being convicted over a bank account used by a fraud ring.

Media reports say the daughter of Hsiao Hui-chu (蕭惠珠) and Taichung City
Police Commissioner Wu Ching-tien (吳敬田) provided a cash card and password to
scammers in 2014.

She was later sentenced to three months in prison for assisting money
laundering.

Hsiao says her daughter was young and lacked social experience when she was
misled by an advertisement and mailed out the card.

She says the family respects the court's ruling, although she described her
daughter as also being a victim of the scam.

Hsiao says the case led her to take part in fraud prevention campaigns and
warned the public not to trust advertisements posted on social media.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:14

Passengers on E-M-U-3000 Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains can now report
spills by scanning a QR code.

The service began on August 1.

Passengers fill out a short form, which is sent directly to onboard cleaning
staff.

QR codes are posted near carriage entrances, restrooms and nursing rooms.

Taiwan Railways says the system will help staff respond faster and keep
trains cleaner.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-05 09:51:13

The Tai-Ex opened up 449-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
43-thousand-809 on turnover of 25.5-billion N-T.

The market closed little changed on Tuesday, after swinging by more than
1,000 points as selling eroded the main board's initial gains with investors
opting to shrug off a rally on Wall Street overnight.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

Congress

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Visiting U-S Republican congressman Michael McCaul says President Donald
Trump is expected to submit a 14-billion dollar arms package for Taiwan to
Congress soon.

McCaul made the statement after President Lai Ching-te awarded him the Order
of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon during a ceremony at the Presidential
Office in Taipei.

According to the congressman, Congress signed off on the largest foreign
military sales package in history at 11-billion U-S dollars last December,
and Washington is not stopping there, as U-S arms sales to Taiwan will not be
affected by Washington's ties with Beijing.

McCaul said he's confident Trump will soon forward another arms package to
Congress for critical military defense articles.

He cited former U-S President Ronald Reagan, who said after the passage of
the Taiwan Relations Act that the United States does not consult with the
China on arms sales to Taiwan.

And McCaul went on to urge Taiwan to cooperate with democratic countries that
have developed innovations in modern warfare and to continue strengthening
its defense capabilities, resilience and cybersecurity.

McCaul last visited Taiwan in May 2024, shortly after Lai took office.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The annual Han Kuang exercise begin this morning.

This year's series of drills will run through August 14.

Defense officials say the 10 day and nine night exercise will test the armed
forces' ability to sustain 24-hour defense operations.

The exercises will focus on testing dispersed command-and-control operations,
as well as updated Rules of Engagement designed to counter China's
intensifying gray-zone tactics.

This year's drill will for the first time see two brigade-level units - one
in the north and the othe in the south - being mobilized to test the
military's ability to complete reserve call-ups and conduct pre-combat
preparations.

As many as 5,000 reservists are expected to participate and the military says
the reservists all reported to their designated locations yesterday ahead of
the exercise.

The Army's newly deployed M-1-A-2-T Abrams main battle tanks and the newly
inaugurated Littoral Combat Command will also participate in the Han Kuang
exercises for the first time this year.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Taiwan High Court has announced that it will he holding its first appeal
hearing in former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je's corruption case on September 8.

According to the court, a three-judge panel a set the first preparatory
hearing for 3PM on that day.

The Taipei District Court sentenced Ko to 17-years in prison earlier in March
in a series of corruption cases related to the Core Pacific City
redevelopment project and alleged illegal political donations.

The court has ordered Ko and six other defendants, including K-M-T Taipei
City Councilor Angela Ying and Core Pacific Group Chair Shen Ching-jing to
appear in person.

Ying was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison by the district
court, while Shen was handed a 10 year sentence.

Six other defendants received prison terms ranging from one year to six years
in prison.

Ko has reportedly expanded his legal team for the appeal case.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Centers for Disease Control says there's been a 74.8-per cent increase in
COVID-19 cases - with hospitals reporting a total of 18,990 visits last week.

According to the C-D-C, severe COVID-19 infections have now reached their
highest weekly total of this COVID-19 season, which started on October 1 last
year -- with 62 such cases being reported.

Health officials say most of the severe cases affected patients aged 65 or
older, those living with long term chronic health conditions.

Nearly 90-per cent of them had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

The C-D-C says vaccine demand has risen sharply over the past week and there
are about 165,000 doses remaining in stock and they're expected to be
distributed to local governments over the coming week.

Data shows that 1.77-million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered
this season.

COVID-19 infections are expected to peak later this month.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Ministry of Transport is set to raise airport service fees on September 1.

According to the ministry, the increase will be introduced in two phases.

The fee will be raised from the current 500 to 750 N-T on September 1 of this
year, and will be raised again to 1,000 N-T on September 1 2028.

The service fee for transit passengers will also be raised according to the
same timeline.

The fee charged to passenger is for accessing airport facilities.

The transport ministry says airport service fee revenue reached 12.8-billion
N-T last year and the first phase of the fee increase is expected to generate
an additional 6.4-billion N-T annually.

Some 60-per cent of the revenue is used to fund airport construction
projects, while the remainder is allocated to tourism development.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Taiwan Millennium Health Foundation and 7‑Eleven have launched a rewards
program to encourage healthy habits such as walking, balanced diets and
health monitoring.

The program allows participants to redeem points for food and drinks.

According to the foundation, its building on last year's collaboration with
7-Eleven and expand the initiative into a larger rewards program this year to
help people at high risk of metabolic syndrome improve their lifestyle
habits.

The program will run from today through December 31.

Participants can earn points in the "Health ACE" section of the
7-Eleven-affiliated uni-open app by recording healthy activities, such as
walking, checking their blood pressure, and uploading photos of their meals.

These points can then be redeemed for food and drinks at 7-Eleven or used to
enter prize draws.

Taiwan Association of Lifestyle Medicine Chairperson Lin Hung-jung says
adults who increase their daily steps from 3,000 to 5,000 can lower their
risk of death by 37-per cent, while increasing the daily step count to 7,000
lowers the risk by 51-per cent.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Dolphin is expected to have
its greatest impact on Taiwan this weekend.

The storm is currently located some 2,000-kilometers east of Taipei and
moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 19-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin still has a radius of 320-kilomters, and has strengthened
slightly over the past 24-hours and is now packing sustained wind speeds of
162-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilomters-an-hour.

According to the administration's forecast center, its latest tracking chart
show the storm is expected to begin veering in a more northerly direction
this weekend, but its exact track remains uncertain.

A sea warning could still be issued as early as Friday afternoon.

Rain from the storm's outer rim is expected to begin effecting the north from
tomorrow and the heaviest rainfall is expected on Saturday and Sunday as the
storm skirts the north coast.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

law

President Lai Ching-te used his opening address at the 10th Ketagalan Forum
in Taipei to call on the international community to take a unified stance
against China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law.

Its ostensibly aimed at "forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese
nation by prioritizing a collective national identity over distinct ethnic
sub-identities."

But its most controvesial passage asserts that overseas organizations and
individuals outside mainland China who are seen to undermine ethnic unity or
promote division can face legal accountability under Chinese law.

The law has been heavily criticised by human rights groups and foreign
governments who consider it as a tool for forced assimilation.

Lai also stressed that Taiwan will not accept Beijing's "red terror" tactics,
whether they are targeting Taiwan or other countries, and will work to uphold
the rules based international order.

That was President Lai Ching-te speaking at the opening of this year's
Ketagalan Forum in Taipei.

The Forum was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan
Institute of Economic Research and focuses on security issues in the
Indo-Pacific region.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Meanwhile,

President Lai Ching-te has held talks with Eswatini's visiting Prime Minister
Russell Dlamini.

Lai said his administration will continue to deepen exchanges with Eswatini
in industry, public health, and digital transformation.

Those exchanges are aimed at assisting Eswatini to achieve its development
goals and include expanding cooperation in areas such as energy, which
includes strategic oil storage facilities.

The president also thanked Dlamini for Eswatini's support in pushing for
Taiwan's participation international organizations during the United Nations
General Assembly.

Dlamini arrived in Taiwan on Monday as head of a delegation that includes
Eswatini's ministers for natural resources and energy, economic planning and
development as well as labor and social security

Aside from holding talks with senior government officials the delegation is
also slated to visit several environmental projects and meet with Acer
founder Stan Shih.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Lawmakers have passed an amendment to the Presidential and Vice Presidential
Election and Recall Act.

The revision adds convictions under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act to
the list of offenses that disqualify individuals from running for president
or vice president.

The amendment was introduced by K-M-T lawmaker Weng Hsiao-ling and revised
Article 26 of the Act.

The Ministry of the Interior had argued that the amendment might not have a
significant impact on potential candidates because fraud violations
disqualifying candidates were already part of the election law.

It also said previous amendments to the Presidential and Vice Presidential
Election and Recall Act and the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act
already bar individuals convicted of aggravated fraud under the Criminal Code
from running for public office.

However, the interior ministry also said it would respect the Legislature's
decision if it were to reach a consensus on the amendment.

The Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act took effect in July 2024 and increased
penalties for offenses.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

The Food and Drug Administration says a small shipment of pumpkin seed oil
imported from Austria has seized by customs officials after testing found
excessive levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

The shipment was imported by Taichung-based HealthTake because it exceeded
the maximum limit of benzo[a]pyrene for edible oils and fats.

It comes as authorities are continuing investigating domestically produced
soybean-based oil and camellia oil over suspected benzo[a]pyrene
contamination.

The F-D-A says imported edible oils are routinely tested for the carcinogen
at the border.

It marks the first time in nearly two years that an imported oil product has
failed a border inspection for the carcinogen.

The previous violation was detected in October 2024, when gac fruit oil
imported from Vietnam exceeded the limit.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Palau has appointed Taiwan scholar Chen Kai-siang as a special adviser to its
health and human services minister.

Chen was formally appointed to the post by Palau's Vice President and Health
and Human Services Minister Raynold B. Oilouch and is the youngest person to
serve as a special adviser in the country.

The embassy says the appointment reflects the Palauan government's
recognition of his expertise and long-standing work in support of bilateral
health cooperation.

Chen will help the ministry coordinate medical resources from Taiwan and
advance public health policy, the training of health care personnel and
international medical cooperation.

Chen has led numerous Taiwan medical teams on trips to Palau in recent year
to provide free clinics and public health services.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

The Ministry of Transport is reportedly considering several options for the
future of Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 1.

It comes as the terminal is nearing its 50-year service life.

An evaluation process plotting out a possible future for the terminal is now
underway, but detailed plans will not be released construction work on
Terminal 3 is completed at the end of next year.

The transport ministry has previously floated the ideas of demolishing and
rebuilding or upgrading the terminal.

The Taoyuan International Airport Corporation is slated to to submit its own
plan for the terminal's future by the end of this year,

The building underwent an upgrade from 2010 to 2013, increasing its annual
passenger capacity from 12 million to 15 million.

However, officials have been warning that the terminal's maintenance is now
problematic due to incomplete records of its original design and
construction.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

And,

Taiwan's eight-member team at the 23rd International Linguistics Olympiad in
Bucharest is coming home with two silver medals, four bronze medals and four
honorable mentions.

Every member of the team receiving at least one award.

Taiwan's delegation was led by two professors from the Graduate Institute of
Linguistics at National Taiwan University.

The team's silver medals were won by a student from the Taipei Municipal
Chien Kuo Senior High School and another from the Tung Der High School in
Nantou.

While the bronze medals went to students from the Taipei Private Dongshan
High School, the Hong Wen International School in Taichung, and the Ci-Xin
Waldorf High School in Yilan County.

The competition brought together high school students from 46 countries and
regions to compete in linguistic analysis and problem-solving.

It tests participants' linguistic analysis, logical reasoning and
problem-solving skills by challenging them to identify patterns and decipher
unfamiliar languages.

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

COVID-19 cases in Taiwan surged nearly 75 percent last week, while severe
infections reached their highest weekly total of the year.

The Centers for Disease Control says there were nearly 19 thousand outpatient
and emergency visits between July 26 and August 1 ... with more than 200
people hospitalized.

Health officials also reported 62 new severe domestic cases and three deaths
during the past week ... with most severe patients either aged 65 or older or
living with chronic illnesses.

Nearly 90 percent had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

Health officials point out that current vaccines are still expected to
protect against severe illness.

The CDC also reports that vaccine demand has risen sharply, with almost 30
thousand doses administered last week.

About 165 thousand doses remain in stock and are expected to be distributed
to local governments over the coming week.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

A survey by the Childcare Policy Alliance has found that nearly 60 percent of
parents support expanding public childcare through a "public childcare at
every school" policy.

By contrast, only about 30 percent supported subsidies for private childcare
providers.

The alliance says 55 percent of respondents identified expanding public
childcare capacity as the policy most likely to influence their support for
political candidates, compared with just 18 percent who preferred private
sector subsidies.

More than 70 percent also said Taiwan's split childcare system for children
aged zero to two and three to six is difficult for families to navigate.

The alliance is urging the government to expand public childcare services and
integrate the two systems into a single framework for children from birth to
age six.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

Former President Tsai Ing-wen has agreed to serve as the campaign chair for
DPP candidate Chen Ying (陳瑩)'s Taitung magistrate bid.

Tsai, together with former Taitung lawmaker Liu Zhao-hao visited Chen's
campaign office earlier today and accepted Chen's invitation to chair her
campaign team.

Tsai said it's a role she is less familiar with, but she hopes to boost the
election momentum in Taitung and encourage broader participation to build a
better future for the county together.

Liu will be Chen's campaign manager.

Meanwhile Chen's KMT rival Xu Xiu-hua (吳秀華) said she believes the Blue camp
will be even more united than the Green camp, and that she would go all out
to win the magistrate's election.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

The Millennium Health Foundation has partnered with 7-ELEVEN to reward points
to people who walk five thousand steps a day and complete other
health-related activities.

These points can be redeemed for items such as tea eggs, soy milk and
sugar-free tea.

The campaign comes as health experts warn that more than 8.5 million people
in Taiwan are living with chronic illnesses.

They pointed to an international study -- from the Exercise and Sport
Sciences Reviews journal -- suggesting that increasing daily walking from
three thousand to about five thousand steps can reduce the risk of death from
all causes by 37 percent.

Health officials also say that about one in five people with metabolic
syndrome may be able to reverse the condition through early lifestyle
changes.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

Average mortgage amounts reached record highs in five non-special
municipality counties and cities during the first quarter of 2026 ...

... suggesting home-buying costs remain high despite a cooling property
market.

According to Taiwan Realty, Hsinchu County recorded the highest average new
mortgage at nearly 13.5 million NT, followed by Hsinchu City at more than 13
million NT.

Miaoli and Changhua counties ... as well as Chiayi County and Chiayi City
also posted record-high average mortgage amounts.

Analysts say Hsinchu has benefited from the Hsinchu Science and Technology
Park, attracting technology workers and new residents.

They say rising home prices have also pushed buyers into nearby Miaoli ...

... while Chiayi has seen stronger demand linked to its science park, TSMC
investment and the High Speed Rail corridor.

They say tighter lending rules have shifted the market toward homebuyers
rather than investors ...

... and expect the new Youth Mortgage 3.0 program to keep demand centered on
lower-priced and resale homes.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

The Central Election Commission says, it's not so sure about an
opposition-led proposal that would move to put all referendum votes on the
same piece of paper.

That's after the KMT and TPP fast-tracked the proposal, undeterred by DPP
opposition.

C-E-C chair Yo Ying Long visited TPP lawmakers today to voice his concerns
about the proposal, saying that, with the election only 3 months away,
perhaps the proposal could be more of a long-term plan.

He added that he believed lawmakers were well-intentioned, hoping to avoid a
2018-esque situation in which 10 referendums appeared on a very long pieve of
paper...

but he warned that even a small move could have unimagined, irreparable
consequences.

You added that the CEC would conduct rigorous study to look into options to
resolve the issue.

But TPP caucus whip Chen Qing Long brushed off Yo, saying that problems need
to be solved.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

Police say, they've apprehended a man suspected of killing the chair of the
Jingyuan Tungsten Colbalt Resources at his home in Pingtung.

The company chairman, surnamed Huang, was bound, gagged, and killed in his
Fang-liao Township home.

Unable to reach him, his son visited the house on July 24th and discovered
the body.

Many suspect the case to be connected to China, as Tungsten is a strategic
resource...

on top of the fact that Huang's security cameras happened to suffer a
malfunction at the same time as the attack took place.

But it is now understood that investigators have ruled out foreign
intervention.

The case is still under investigation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

The Food and Drug Administration has intercepted an imported shipment of
Austrian pumpkin seed oil containing excessive levels of the carcinogen BaP.

The 4.5-kilogram shipment tested at 2.5 parts per billion, exceeding Taiwan's
legal limit of 2.0 parts per billion for edible oils.

Officials say the shipment was ordered returned or destroyed before it could
enter the domestic market.

The importer has now been placed under 100 percent inspection.

The FDA says this is the first imported edible oil to exceed the legal limit
in nearly two years, and the first pumpkin seed oil shipment to fail border
inspection in the past three years.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 16:23:13

The Taiwan High Court has announced that it'll open the trial for former
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-zhe in connection with the Core Pacific City case on
September 8th.

Ko appealed his case to the High Court after being sentenced to a prison term
of 17 years on charges of corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust by the
Taipei District Court.

The High Court will summon Ke and another 6 defendants, including Taipei city
councilor Ying Xiao-wei and Core Pacific Group chairman Shen Qing-jing, to
the hearing that day.

Meanwhile Ke is expected to have his ankle monitor changed to a wrist monitor
at a police station tomorrow.

That's after a court ruled in favor of the equipment change.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 16:23:13

The DPP's pick to lead Taichung is promoting an expanded free school lunch
program.

Ho Hsin Chun's plan would raise the government expenditure for each meal to
80 NT and would provide milk and fresh fruit to students twice and thrice
weekly, respectively.

Under the current plan, the city's Education Department provides subsidies of
60 NT for each meal, while the central government chips in another 10 NT,
putting the total cost at 70 NT.

But Ho says today that she wants the meals to be 80 NT instead, and she
doesn't want them to pause for summer and winter vacations.

She also says, she wants to expand the program from including just students
and teachers to also including the staff who serve the meals.

The lawmaker says, the proposal would cost the city government an additional
3 billion NT annually.

She added that she will prioritize food safety by implementing safety checks
at several stages.

(AH)

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

President Lai Ching-te today dismissed China's Ethnic Unity and Progress
Promotion Law, which took effect this month, as a tool to conduct
cross-border repression.

Speaking at the Katagalan Forum, Lai also called on the international
community to unite to oppose the law.

In addition, the President stressed that Chinese infiltration into Taiwan or
any other free countries is unacceptable.

Lai vowed at the end of the speech to protect peace and prosperity in Taiwan
and the Indo-Pacific region.

(HN-JL)

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

Taiwanese companies and financial institutions have pledged more than 84
million NT to support relief and reconstruction efforts in Kumamoto, Japan...

... following last week's magnitude 7.1 earthquake.

TSMC announced the largest corporate donation, contributing over 51 million
NT.

Its charity foundation has also launched an employee fundraising campaign.

Major financial institutions, including CTBC Financial, E.SUN Financial,
Taishin Financial and Union Bank, have also pledged donations to support
emergency relief and rebuilding efforts.

Meanwhile, paper manufacturer Cheng Loong (正隆) has pledged over 6 million NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is raising concerns over China's new "ethnic
unity" law at the Ketagalan Forum today.

Minister Lin Chia Lung says that democratic nations must work together to
build a stronger line of defense against coercion.

Lin says, this year marks both the 10 year anniversary of the forum as well
as the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first democratic elections...

adding that Taiwan has slowly matured into a democratic society and will
continue to become more resilient.

Lin emphasized that China's coercion involves not only gray-zone warfare, but
also attempts to control national identity and ideological goverance.

Also at the forum is the chair of Japan's Interparliamentary Alliance on
China, Gen Nakatani.

Nakatani stated that Taiwan must maintain steadfast determination even as the
threat it faces grows more and more serious.

He added that Japan will continue to stand with Taiwan.

The forum is taking place today, bringing together government representatives
and scholars to discuss democratic resilience and reshaping a non-red supply
chain.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Radio and Television Act to
moderately relax restrictions on investment in the mass media businesses.

Indirect investments by the government, government-funded foundations, and
their trustees can now own up to 1-percent of a private TV or radio station's
stakes instead of the original zero share.

The revised law also tightens rules on the station's board members,
supervisors and managers.

It specifies that the government, government-funded foundations, and their
trustees may not control the personnel, finances, or operations of private
radio and television enterprises.

Additionally, penalties now target investors directly.

Any prohibited entities or party staff that illegally invest in private
broadcasters face fines ranging from$200-thousand NT to $2 million and must
fix the violation by a set deadline.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

Taiwan shares are slightly down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at
43360 after losing 25 points.

The turnover was 1.036 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

The 42nd Han Kuang exercises will begin tomorrow, for the first time
including brigades in both the north and south to mobilize over 5000
reservists.

Officials say that yesterday afternoon they conducted drone maneuvering
training to increase familiarity with drone controls.

That's after the unit carried out live-fire training in the morning, when the
reservists practiced firing with pistols, rifles, and squad automatic machine
guns.

The training aimed to systematically enhance reservists' combat skills and
boosting overall readiness.

The exercises will be conducted for 10 days this year, with reservists taking
part in 14 days of training this year.

The military says that reservists all reported to their designated locations
yesterday.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency is reminding the public that
unprocessed wood products, such as artificial trees and seeds, are regulated
quarantine items, and cross-border online purchases must be declared.

Cases of illegally imported wood products have surged over the past three
years, resulting in total fines of nearly $10 million NT.

The Agency said when people shop online, they often fail to notice whether
the imported goods are regulated quarantine items.

There were 192 cases in 2024 and 272 such cases last year, and in the first
half of this year alone, the number of penalized illegal wood product imports
reached 174.

The items that violated quarantine rules include wood products made from
natural logs or driftwood that have not been painted, treated with
preservatives, or subjected to other effective processing.

Products made with "seed paper" and crafted into handmade postcards,
eco-friendly business cards, creative sticky notes, coasters, and gift
packaging also fall under plant quarantine items.

Officials said under the Plant Quarantine Act, all imported plant items must
undergo quarantine to prevent invasive pests from entering Taiwan.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is urging lawmakers to support the Cabinet's
version of a special act on unmanned systems procurement.

The bill will authorize up to 210-billion N-T in funding over six years.

The Cabinet bill seeks to fund the procurement of domestically developed
reconnaissance and attack drones, unmanned surface vessels and other unmanned
systems.

The bill is currently under review in th Legislative Yuan alongside other
competing proposals.

They include one by the K-M-T that proposes allocating 240-billion N-T over
six years for unmanned systems through the government's annual budget, with
40-billion N-T to be provided annually.

According to the defense minister the Cabinet version covers the full range
of unmanned systems as well as testing facilities and programs supporting the
development of the unmanned systems industry.

Koo says if all of these items are included under the K-M-T's 40-billion N-T
annual cap, funding will likely be insufficient and such a limitation could
affect programs such as MQ-9B drone procurement.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

peaks

The National Park Service has drafted amendments to the National Park Act
that would mean visitors to many of Taiwan's peaks could have to pay by as
early as next year.

According to the park service, the fees would go into a dedicated
conservation fund which would be used to establish ecological protection
zones.

There will also be sharp increases in penalties for environmental violations
to up to 2-million N-T

However, indigenous hunting and gathering activities as well as scientific
research will be exempt from paying the fees.

Officials say the proposal could affect hikers to as many as 76 of Taiwan's
100 highest peaks located inside national parks.

The amendments are still under review.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

Labor funds administered by the Ministry of Labor's Bureau of Labor Funds
reported a return of 28.46-per cent in the first half of this year.

That was up from 27.7-per cent during the January to May period.

According to the bureau, the accumulated gains in the value of assets in the
funds' portfolios and income on investment totaled about 2.2-trillion N-T
from January to June, after these funds posted 77.1-billion N-T in gains in
June.

The combined funds managed by the bureau include the Labor Pension Fund, the
Labor Retirement Fund, the Labor Insurance Fund, and the Employment Insurance
Fund.

The combined value of those funds as of the end of June stood at
8.896-trillion N-T.

The bureau says 54.37-per cent of its investments were made overseas from
January to June, while the remaining 45.63-per cent were invested in the
domestic market.

The value of assets in the Labor Pension Fund, launched in 2015, totaled
5.796-trillion N-T as of the end of June, while Labor Retirement Fund, which
has been in place since 1984, had about 1.16-trillion N-T in assets as of the
end of June.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

The Civil Aviation Administration has announced that fuel surcharges on both
short-haul and long-haul international flights operated by Taiwan airlines
will increase from August 9.

The move comes amid sharp rise in international aviation fuel prices ...

... and after C-P-C's reference price for international aviation fuel rose to
147.57 U-S dollars per barrel this month from 133.29 U-S dollars per barrel
last month.

Fuel surcharges for short-haul routes will rise from 27.5 to 30 U-S dollars,
while surcharges for long-haul routes will rise from the current 71.5 to 78
U-S dollars.

The administration defines short-haul routes as destinations in Asia,
excluding India and the Middle East. Long-haul routes include India, the
Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Antarctica.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

A survey by Mastercard Taiwan shows that nearly 70-per cent of people here in
Taiwan use artificial intelligence agents at least once a week.

According to the "2026 Survey on Consumer AI Usage Habits in Taiwan," ChatGPT
and Gemini are the A-I tools most commonly used by respondents.

The survey found that 38-per cent of respondents consulted A-I when making
shopping decisions, while 61-per cent said they would be willing to use A-I
to help plan travel itineraries.

It also found that 57-per cent would allow A-I agents to automatically search
for products based on their preferences and budgets, then complete purchases
after receiving user confirmation, in the hope of improving shopping
efficiency.

Younger adults aged between 18 and 30 were the most frequent A-I users, with
more than 40-per cent reporting daily use and 27-per cent paying for A-I
subscriptions.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu says China is using
its coast guard and other official vessels in a fresh challenge, not just to
Taiwan but the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Wu told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview that the entire First Island
Chain, which primarily covers Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines faces
increasing maritime aggression.

He added Taiwan's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems have
noted a significant increase in Chinese official vessel activity in the East
China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the western Pacific and the South China Sea.

To address the challenges posed by Chinese official vessels operating in
surrounding waters, Wu said Taiwan has established a cross-agency mechanism
to counter what he described as China's expansionism.

One of the group's objectives is to allow Taiwan to share its experiences
with other countries to help build a united front.

Nikkei quoted an anonymous senior European diplomat as saying Wu's strategic
communications and liaising with other governments as "tremendously helpful,"

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The K-M-T says those responsible for any delayed reporting, withholding
information or supervisory failures in the recent soybean oil case should be
held accountable.

The party's legislative caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang says the
Cabinet needs to disclose information concerning how much of the soybean oil
that failed safety inspections was stored at Central Union Oil Corporation ..

.. as well as its full distribution trail, including whether it was sealed,
recalled or destroyed.

Lin is also demanding to know when the Cabinet and the Ministry of Economic
Affairs first became aware of the issue and why it was not fully disclosed at
a food safety briefing.

This comes after Taiwan Sugar Corporation was accused of knowing as early as
May that oil from Central Union was problematic but responded by returning it
to the supplier without notifying the authorities.

Taiwan Sugar has denied any wrongdoing - saying it never took delivery of or
used the crude soybean oil in question because samples it tested before
purchase failed safety inspections... and as a result it had no obligation to
report the matter.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The Taipei City's Department of Education says it plans to expand its weekly
free milk program to include junior high school students beginning with the
new school year on August 31.

The change adds 66,000 students to the program.

City officials say that will bring the total number of beneficiaries to
around 289,000 preschool, elementary and junior high school students across
the city.

Under the program, all preschool through junior high school students with
household registration in Taipei are eligible to receive one free milk or soy
milk product each week using a digital student or toddler card.

Students can redeem the products at participating retailers.

The program was launched in April of last year for preschool and elementary
school students attending schools in Taipei.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The Tourism Administration says travelers aged 12 and older took more than
247 and a half-million domestic trips in 2025, that's an increase of
11.52-percent from the previous year.

A recent survey shows that each person on average took 11.65-domestic trips
during 2025, the average trip lasted 1.32 days, and travelers spent and
average of 2,279 N-T per trip.

Just over 79-per cent of domestic trips were day trips, while 92-per cent
were done by solo travelers.

The administration says the survey found that total spending on domestic
travel in 2025 reached a record 564.3-billion N-T - or increase of just over
9.4-per cent from the previous year.

Respondents to the survey cited transportation convenience and accessibility
as the most important factors when choosing destinations.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

An Academia Sinica research team has identified how a strain of symbiotic
bacteria helps corals survive rising ocean temperatures.

The study was led by Academia Sinica Distinguished Research Fellow Tang
Sen-lin and was published in The I-S-M-E Journal in July.

The research team explored ways of helping corals survive warmer waters, and
studied a strain of bacteria which naturally lives inside healthy coral
tissue.

Tang says scientists have previously suspected the bacterium helped corals
regulate nutrients and withstand environmental stress, but his study provides
direct evidence that the bacterium protects corals from extreme heat.

Heat can be deadly for corals because they turn white or bleach when
temperatures rise.

Although bleached corals do not die immediately, losing their main source of
nutrients leaves them much weaker and more vulnerable to disease and death.

It's hoped the finding could help scientists protect and restore coral reefs
threatened by climate change-induced bleaching.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

Humanitarian aid from Taiwan's Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
have arrived in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture to assist people displaced by
last week's magnitude 7.1 earthquake.

The aid shipment arrived Fukuoka Airport on board a China Airlines and
included 148 multifunctional folding beds and 40 partition tents designed for
use in disaster relief operations from Tzu Chi's Jing Si product line.

According to Tzu Chi, the folding beds were developed at the request of its
founder, Master Cheng Yen, after she witnessed the suffering of survivors of
the 2010 Pakistan floods.

The partition tents were created after Taiwan's 2018 Hualien earthquake, when
Tzu Chi volunteers witnessed survivors and emergency responders staying in
temporary shelters without privacy, the foundation said.

The Tzu Chi Foundation also says a group of volunteers from Taiwan and Japan
also brought two portable water purification units to address potential
drinking water shortages in affected areas.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The Central Weather Administration says it could issue a sea warning for
Typhoon Dolphin as early as Friday afternoon if the storm continues on to its
current westward track.

The storm is currently located some 2,000-kilometers east of Taipei and
moving in a westerly direction at 19-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin still has a radius of 320-kilomters, but has weakened
slightly over the past 24-hours and is now packing sustained wind speeds of
144-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 180-kilomters-an-hour.

The weather administration says the storm is expected to reach waters south
of Japan's Ryukyu Islands around Saturday.

The storm's outer rim is forecast to begin affecting parts of Taiwan on
Thursday and Friday, as northeasterly winds are expected to bring isolated
showers to the north and mountainous areas around Greater Taipei.

Rainfall is expected to become more widespread in the northern and
mountainous areas in the south over the weekend.

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