ICRT

Posted on 2026-08-21 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Cabinet has approved the central government's 2027 general budget
proposal.

The proposed budget totals 3.9266-trillion N-T, an increase of 29.4-per cent
from this year's general budget.

The government is insisting that the proposed budget will be balanced between
revenue and expenditure, with 179-billion N-T in borrowing needed to finance
debt repayments.

The 2027 budget allocates 1.1225-trillion N-T for defense spending.

The Cabinet is expected to submit the budget to the Legislative Yuan for
review by the end of August.

Posted on 2026-08-21 08:13:13

The Central Election Commission has announced that 11,051 officials will be
elected in the upcoming nine-in-one local elections and around 19.65 million
people expected to be eligible to vote.

The statement comes as there's now 99 days to go before the November 28
ballots.

According to commission chairman Michael You, elections will involve 8,906
electoral districts and 18,244 polling stations, with nearly 250,000 election
workers to be mobilized, excluding personnel needed for any referendums.

Data shows that of the 19.65 million eligible voters, around 600,000 will be
casting their ballots for the first time.

You says the Central Election Commission will coordinate with local election
commissions to ensure the elections are conducted professionally and
smoothly.

The commission chairman says his office had originally planned to review
three referendum proposals passed by the Legislature last week, but it only
received the Legislative Yuan's official notice on Tuesday, leaving
insufficient time to prepare for the review.

That meeting has now been postponed until August 28.

Posted on 2026-08-21 08:13:13

Taiwan's shortage of readily available low-carbon electricity could deter
investment in artificial intelligence data centers despite the country's
technological strengths - that, according to a renewable energy executive.

According I-N-A Energy Corporation Chairman Norman Tsai, A-I data centers
require power that is available around the clock, scalable, affordable,
low-carbon and deliverable within their development timelines.

Tsai says large facilities can require between 50-megawatts and several
hundred megawatts of power, with some reaching gigawatt scale - and that
required power infrastructure must also be available quickly because data
centers can be completed within 12 to 24 months.

Tsai is warning that new transmission lines or substations currently often
take five to 10 years to complete.

The I-N-A Energy Corporation Chairman is also stressing that Taiwan lacks
green electricity and identifying an adequate low-carbon power source is a
major challenge facing an AI date center operator seeking to establish a
facility Taiwan.

Citing the International Energy Agency, Tsai's says global data center
electricity demand is projected to rise from 485 terawatt-hours in 2025 to
950 terawatt-hours in 2030.

Posted on 2026-08-21 08:13:13

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che has announced plans to in invest 2.47-billion N-T
over four years to provide every student in the city with a tablet computer
and to expand smart learning in schools.

According to Huang the program will run from this year through 2029 and
schools will receive funding to upgrade computer classrooms to ensure that
the machines are capable of running A-I applications

Teachers will also receive training in using A-I learning platforms to
monitor student progress, provide tailored instruction and reduce learning
gaps.

Huang says schools will be required to develop specialized technology courses
in areas such as robotics or drones.

While other planned classes will cover evaluating online information, digital
communication.

The mayor says the programs have been planned with the aim of strengthen
students' technology and communication skills.

The Tainan City Government has also said that it will fully subsidize lunches
for elementary and junior high students, improvements air conditioning at
schools and ensure that all schools have covered sports areas.

Posted on 2026-08-21 08:13:13

And,

Government subsidies for extended care at public preschools will increase
from two hours to three hours beginning September 1.

Public preschools usually finish classes at around 4PM - which some have long
argued creates difficulties for households where both parents work.

The plan will mean that care services are extended until 6PM.

The Ministry of Education says schools can receive up to 850,000 N-T for each
additional caregiver they hire, and the government will also increase
subsidies for hourly wages and overtime pay.

However, teachers’ unions are warning that preschools may struggle to recruit
staff for late afternoons and evenings and such work could instread fall on
existing educators and create additional overtime.

The unions say schools should not be forced to offer extended care if they
lack sufficient staff or cannot ensure children’s safety.

Posted on 2026-08-20 18:59:13

New data from Cathay Financial Holdings shows strong preference for investing
in Taiwan stocks compared to U-S stocks.

In the bank's National Economic Confidence survey conducted this month, 57
percent of respondents chose Taiwan stocks as their preferred market to
invest in over the next six months - more than twice the 24 percent who favor
U-S stocks.

The top reasons given are "optimism about sustainable profitability of
companies", confidence in "Taiwan's strong economic fundamentals" ... and a
desire to "diversify investment risk".

Despite this, the survey suggests investors are becoming less optimistic
towards Taiwan's stock market and more risk-averse ...

... amid concerns over about inflation, rising global oil prices ... and the
possibility of higher U-S interest rates.

Respondents expect Taiwan's economy to grow by an average 8.94 percent this
year, below the government's latest forecast of 11.05 percent.

And 68 percent expect inflation to exceed two percent, with the average
forecast at 2.3 percent.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-20 18:59:14

China Airlines will raise fuel surcharges on cargo exports from Taiwan by
more than 10 percent starting September 1st, citing higher international oil
prices.

Surcharges on long-haul routes will rise nearly 14 percent to 58 NT per
kilogram, while those on short-haul Asian routes will increase 11 percent to
20 NT.

The airline already raised the charges in mid-August, with the latest
increase reflecting continued pressure from higher aviation fuel costs.

The surcharges apply to most export cargo based on billable weight.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-20 16:24:14

The Central Election Commission says, this November's local elections will
choose over 11,000 people to fill seats across the country.

Chair You Ying-long says today that the elections will see 19.6 million
voters heading to the polls across Taiwan's almost 9000 electoral districts
and over 18000 poll stations.

You added that, if referendums passed by the legislature also pass the CEC,
they will dispatch over 300,000 election workers.

He emphasized that, with 100 days to go ahead of the vote, the CEC is
preparing for the polls with a "joyous spirit."

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-20 16:24:14

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An is again defending his administration's handling
of a child abuse case at a kindergarten.

Independent city councilor Xu Li Xin today called on the mayor to come up
with ways to respond to the abuse at Charisse kindergarten, like releasing
surveillance footage to parents...

to which Chiang said his government would consider proposing amendments to
the central government.

Xu also asked Chiang if he would consider meeting with the victims' families
again, to which Chiang responded that he had already met with the parents and
that the city government is undertaking an invesitgation...

leading Xu to criticize him for failing to directly answer the question.

Meanwhile DPP councilor Jian Shu Pei said that the city government should
establish a consultation window for parents who are seeking legal action in
the case.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-20 16:24:14

The Tourism Administration is set to launch a 33.3 billion NT tourism
promotion package, starting September 1st.

Officials say the the initiative includes weekday accommodation subsidies,
where travelers can receive discounts up to 800 NT for the first night and
1,200 NT for a consecutive second night at participating hotels.

Higher discounts are available for stays on outlying islands.

In addition, registration opened today for a birthday raffle granting monthly
winners a 1-thousand-200 NT accommodation voucher, along with a program for
tour groups on corporate staff trips, and discounted Taiwan PASS packages
paired with hotel vouchers.

And returning international travelers entering Taiwan after October 10th can
enter drawings for up to 8,000 NT in subsidies.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-20 16:24:14

Kaohsiung Chang-geng Hospital is warning wheelchair users against equipping
their chairs with motors...

after a man riding a hospital wheelchair faster than surrounding motorcycles
went viral online.

The hospital reminds the public that such equipment is meant for use inside
the hospital only.

The video in question was taken from near the hospital, and showed the man,
who many called the "ageless motorcyclist," riding the wheelchair at
breakneck speeds.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-20 14:51:13

Taiwan has tied with the United Kingdom for third place among non-OIC
destinations in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026.

President Lai Ching-te says the ranking recognizes Taiwan’s efforts to
improve public safety, religious freedom and Muslim-friendly tourism.

Prayer rooms and ritual washing facilities have been installed at major
airports, railway stations, national parks and freeway service areas.

More than 350 restaurants across Taiwan have also received halal-related
certification.

Lai made the remarks while meeting Taiwan’s Hajj delegation after its return
from the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

He says the government will continue improving facilities and services while
promoting an environment where people of different faiths and cultural
backgrounds can live safely and with mutual respect.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-20 14:51:15

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is calling on Uganda to not bend to political
pressure...

after 4 Taiwanese tourists had their passports confiscated when trying to
enter the country.

Uganda cited the "One China Policy," saying that the tourists should have
Chinese passports.

A spokesperson says that the local representative raised its concerns with
the Ugandan side, which returned the passports.

They called for Uganda and other countries to respect Taiwan's passport.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-20 14:51:15

LINE users can now edit text messages after sending them without withdrawing
and retyping them.

The messaging platform has begun offering a free trial of its new editing
feature through LINE Labs.

Users can correct text messages within 15 minutes in individual and group
chats, or within six days in Keep Memo.

Edited messages will display their latest content along with an “Edited”
label.

The feature does not support changes to photos, videos, voice messages, files
or stickers.

Users must manually activate it through LINE Labs and update their app to a
supported version.

After the trial ends, the feature will become exclusive to LINE Premium
subscribers.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-20 14:19:13

The Taipei MRT red line will be getting a new station on August 30th.

That's according to Mayor Chiang Wan An today, who thanked construction and
city workers for their help with the Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station.

Chiang says, the new station will extend the Tamsui Xinyi Line by almost 1.5
kilometers.

He added that the new station was particularly challenging to build but that
it was accomplished with the help of experts and scholars.

Chiang said that, after receiving the go-ahead from the Ministry of
Transportation and Communications, residents can expect the new station to
open August 30th.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-20 14:19:13

The Taiwan Railway Corporation has announced schedule additions for the
upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day long weekend.

TRC says a total of 158 extra train services will run across all rail lines
from September 24th through September 29th to handle holiday travel demand.

Standard ticket booking for the extra trains opens at midnight on August 25th.

In addition, real-name ticket reservations for eligible residents of Hualien
and Taitung Counties will open at midnight on August 26th.

On the Western Trunk Line, non-reserved seating for EMU3000 train sets will
be paused, with a limit of 200 standing tickets released per train on the day
of travel.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-20 14:19:13

Taiwan shares are up today with the benchmark tai ex gaining 214 points to
close the session at 44933.

The turnover was 792 billion NT

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says on ongoing investigation into numerous
allegations against the Lai administration's representative in Geneva is
likely to take two months.

According to Lin, Greg Lee has now returned to Taiwan and is cooperating with
investigators.

Speaking during a legislative hearing, Lin also told lawmakers that an ad hoc
investigative task force was formed on August 2 and the team includes
individuals from outside the foreign ministry with legal expertise.

The statements come after the foreign ministry received a 134-page complaint
signed by "all affected colleagues."

The complaint detailed seven categories of alleged serious misconduct by Lee
including workplace bullying, incompetent leadership and using public
resources for personal purposes.

The foreign minister told lawmakers that his office is now relying on the ad
hoc investigative team to clarify the facts and will jump to conclusions
before the final results are released.

The foreign ministry's Personnel Department has said if the investigation
finds that Lee was engaged in workplace bullying, he will be removed from his
post in Geneva and face follow-up disciplinary action.

Posted on 2026-08-20 08:13:16

The Ministry of Culture is rejecting the Gwangju Biennale Foundation's
defense of its decision to rename Taiwan's pavilion at the event.

It comes after foundation issued a statement saying Taiwan's National Taiwan
Museum of Fine Arts applied to participate as an institution.

According to the foundation, the museum signed an agreement on January 12 to
participate as an institution and was therefore identified by its museum name
rather than as the "Taiwan Pavilion."

However, the culture ministry is insisting that that is incorrect and says
the museum submitted its proposal under the name "Taiwan Pavilion" and
received official confirmation on April 2 that the proposal had been
approved.

The ministry also says two sides subsequently signed an agreement on April
23, while later correspondence continued to use the name "Taiwan Pavilion" in
discussions over the venue and exhibition arrangements.

A statement released earlier this week, signed by 10 Taiwanese artists and
curators invited to participate in the biennale in South Korea, accused the
foundation of politically censoring an art exhibition.

The foundation is also denying that - calling it an administrative matter
concerning participant classification and naming conventions.

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

Reports say the first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased from
the United States are expected to arrive in Taiwan soon.

The fighter jets reportedly left from a base in the U-S on August 17 Eastern
Time.

According to sources, the two jets will be refueled in the air and make a
maintenance stop during the trans-Pacific flight to accommodate the pilots'
physical needs and the aircraft's range limitations.

The Air Force spent 247.2-billion N-T between 2020 and 2026 to procure the 66
new F-16V Block 70 jets from the U-S.

They were all originally scheduled to all be delivered to Taiwan by the end
of this year, but the program was delayed by factors including the relocation
and restart of the production line and supply chain disruptions.

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

Taiwan companies are showcasing their latest robot dog developments at
Automation Taipei -- highlighting applications ranging from infrastructure
inspections to firefighting.

Swancor Robotech says it plans to launch a robot dog fully designed and
developed here in Taiwan and dubbed the "Taiwanese native dog," by mid-2027.

According to the company, it plans to begin local assembly by the end of this
year and develop core technologies including the robot's "brain," control
systems and joint modules, moving beyond its current role as an importer and
distributor.

Swancor also says its robot dogs can perform autonomous navigation, image
recognition, voice commands, environmental sensing and can also climb stairs
and overcome obstacles.

The company is estimating that Taiwan's annual robot dog market at more than
3,000 units, worth between 2 and 3-billion N-T.

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

Hengchun Township in Pingtung County is preparing for its annual Ghost
Festival pole-climbing contest on August 27.

Organizers have erected a 21-meter bamboo lantern pole in a traditional
ritual inviting wandering spirits to join the festivities.

Using an excavator, workers hoisted the 21-meter pole onto the roof of the
competition structure -- a raised structure supported by 36 wooden poles for
the event.

Locally known as Ciang-gu, the contest sees five-member teams form a human
pyramid and help a climber scale a 13-meter wooden pole slicked with beef fat
to seize a ceremonial flag at the top.

The first team to do so wins a prize of 350,000 N-T.

The total prize pool for this year's event stands at 1.15-million N-T and
organizers are expecting some 1,000 visitors to attend.

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

In sports news,

Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and her Latvian partner Jelena Ostapenko have advanced
to the women's doubles quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Open.

The fifth-seeded Hsieh and Ostapenko advanced after their Slovenian opponents
were forced to withdraw early in the second set due an injury.

Hsieh and Ostapenko are using the event to warm up as they prepare for the
U-S Open, which begins next week.

They are also seeking their second title of the season.

Hsieh and Ostapenko won the women's doubles title at the Brisbane
International in January, but were eliminated from the W-T-A 1000 Toronto
Masters last week after losing their semifinal match.

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

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says we can expect to see rain islandwide
from today through the weekend due to the influence of a low-pressure system.

According to the weather administration's forecast center, southern and
mountainous areas of central and eastern Taiwan could see localized heavy or
torrential rain, while the north couuld see localized heavy rain and brief
periods of intense rainfall in the afternoons.

The seasonal southwesterly winds are forecset to strengthen from tomorrow
through Sunday, bringing more frequent showers and thundershowers to central
and southern parts of the island that could prompt heavy rain advisories.

Localized heavy rain is also expected in the north and other areas.

The low-pressure system is expected to move away from Taiwan after Monday of
next week.

However, central, southern and southeastern areas could still see rain and
afternoon thundershowers are forecast in the south on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a tropical storm that formed in waters southeast of Guam yesterday
is expected to approach waters near Okinawa on Monday, but it's potential
impact on Taiwan is still unclear.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the government "respects" different views
in Japan after senior officials' visited to a controversial Tokyo shrine that
honors all of Japan's war dead, including World War II war criminals.

Lin said the Lai administration recognizes the diversity of views within
Japanese society regarding the issue and looks forward to Japan's continuous
reflection and anticipates joint efforts between Taipei and Tokyo to uphold
regional peace and stability.

He added the government hopes that current Taiwan-Japan relations will
contribute to peace in the region.

Lin's comments came after Japan's defense minister and several other Cabinet
members visited the shrine on August 15 to marked the 81st anniversary of
Japan's surrender in World War II.

The visits drew immediate diplomatic protests and strong condemnation from
China and South Korea... here at home the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party
described the ministry's response as too soft.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:15

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology says it is
investigating the cause of an accident during the test launch of satellite
launch rocket at its Jiupeng Base in Pingtung.

The incident occured Wednesday morning.

The state arms developer said the satellite launch vehicle being tested for
the first time and self-destructed after experiencing an anomaly shortly
after taking off.

The institute says the rocket deviated from its intended trajectory during
the initial stage of flight, prompting operators to activate its
self-destruct mechanism in line with pre-established emergency procedures.

Authorities say the crash in a mountainous area of Mudan Township was
within the planned safety control area, and there were no injuries or
property damage.

Local media reports say residents of villages near the test site saw the
rocket spiral out of control shortly after liftoff before crashing,
triggering alarm among some nearby communities.

The Pingtung County Government has called on institute to suspend further
launch tests, review its launch procedures, and adjust future flight paths to
avoid villages and other residential communities.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:15

The Ministry of Labor says blue-collar migrant workers injured on the job are
eligible for a legal assistance program for occupational accident victims.

Confirmation comes as the government is set to expand the program from
January 1 of next year.

The labor ministry has said the program's expansion mean legal representation
can be provides during criminal trials in occupational accident cases,
extending existing assistance beyond the investigation stage.

The program is meant to provide legal consultations, lawyers to accompany
workers during settlement and mediation proceedings, and litigation
assistance to occupational accident victims, including migrant workers.

Interpretation services are also provided For migrant workers throughout the
process.

The labor ministry says it has also instructed local government personnel
dedicated to occupational accident cases to assess the needs of the migrant
workers they assist and connect them with lawyers where necessary.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:15

The Taipei City Government has announced plans to introduce what will be
Taiwan's first postpartum meal allowance program next year.

The program aims to provide 30,000 N-T per delivery and benefit about 11,000
mothers each year.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says it aims to help mothers maintain their
physical and mental well-being by easing the financial burden of postpartum
care.

The eligibility requirements for the planned allowance will be the same as
those for the city's Childbirth Incentive Payment.

Applicants need to be registered residents of Taipei for at least 10
months... it also covers instances where one of the parents is a foreign
national.

The Taipei City Government has also announced that the subsidy for its
maternity taxi program will increase from 8,000 to 10,000 N-T starting in
October.

The period during which that subsidy can be used will also be extended from
six months to one year after the expected delivery date.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:17

This year's Taiwan Culture in Europe initiative made its latest stop in
Dublin this past weekend with the visit of the Kaohsiung-based Taiwan Chorus.

The choir held a concert at a church, performing more than 10 Taiwanese
songs, including "The Song of Alishan," "The Maiden of Malan" and "Tian Mi
Mi."

The performance was led by choir director Wu Hung-chang with pianist Chen
I-chen accompanying the choir.

The concert attracted nearly 170 people, including former Irish senator Gerry
Horkan.

Taiwan's Representative to Ireland Tang Diann-wen said Taiwan and Ireland
share a commitment to freedom and democracy and have witnessed increasingly
close exchanges in recent years.

The government's Taiwan Culture in Europe initiative promotes Taiwanese arts
and culture across the continent.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:17

A mother and daughter in Tainan have become the first people to complete
their official registration as Indigenous Siraya people.

It comes after the government recognized the Siraya as Taiwan's 17th
Indigenous group on July 30.

The registration of the mother, Mai Fang-chi, and daughter, Shih Ya-hsin, was
completed at Tainan's South District Household Registration Office and
witnessed by Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che.

Huang says the registration marked an important milestone for the Siraya, who
have long sought recognition of their identity and place in history after
preserving and passing down their culture in Tainan for generations.

Tainan's household registration offices began accepting applications for
Indigenous Siraya identification on August 13, after the Council of
Indigenous Peoples announced the relevant eligibility criteria that same day.

City officials say as of Tuesday, the offices had received 1,545
applications, of which 10 of the first 12 applications reviewed met the
requirements.

Posted on 2026-08-20 07:00:17

And,

The Taipei Zoo says orangutan Da Pao's health continues to improve in
intensive care.

The zoo says Da Pao was born with underdeveloped lungs and other organs and
initially required intubation and a ventilator, but the breathing tube has
since been removed as the baby orangutan's ability to breathe independently
improved.

Da Pao and its twin, Hsiao Pao, were born by cesarean section to Bornean
orangutan Ke Yi on June 29... but Hsiao Pao died shortly after from
premature-birth-related complications.

Da Pao's weight is gradually increasing, while its activity, limb movements
and responses to external stimuli have become more pronounced.... and staff
recently began bottle-feeding Da Pao.

However, the zoo says Da Pao's organs are still developing and the baby
orangutan will only be reunited with its mother when it is sufficiently
mature and stable.

The zoo released the statement as it marked International Orangutan Day.

Posted on 2026-08-19 20:14:13

Taipei MRT's Xinyi Line east extension has received final approval to begin
operations.

The 1.4-kilometer extension runs from Xiangshan Station to the new
Guangci/Fengtian Temple terminal, serving the Guangci Bo'ai Park area.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications gave the green light ...
after the city completed improvements required following its final
inspection.

Taipei officials say final preparations are now underway and the extension
will open as soon as possible.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an had previously said the city was targeting the end of
August for the start of passenger service.

Posted on 2026-08-19 20:14:13

Forecasters say that rain is expected across Taiwan from Thursday through the
weekend as a low-pressure system affects the island.

Southern Taiwan and mountainous areas in the central and east could see
localized heavy or torrential rain.

Northern Taiwan may also experience heavy rain in some areas, particularly
during the afternoons, along with brief periods of intense rainfall.

Seasonal southwesterly winds are expected to strengthen from Friday through
Sunday, bringing more frequent showers and thunderstorms to central and
southern Taiwan.

The low-pressure system is expected to move away after Monday, although rain
could continue in central, southern and southeastern Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-19 19:41:13

The first two of Taiwan's 66 newly purchased F-16V Block 70 fighter jets have
departed the United States and are expected to arrive in Taiwan soon.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the jets left on August 17 and
will make a maintenance stop and receive aerial refueling during their
trans-Pacific journey, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Taiwan paid almost $250 billion NT for the 66 aircraft under a program that
originally called for all of them to be delivered by the end of this year.

The delivery schedule has been delayed by production and supply chain issues,
but Lockheed Martin has increased production to accelerate the program.

Posted on 2026-08-19 19:41:13

Taoyuan City signed a major contract today for the Taoyuan Metro Brown Line's
electromechanical systems, targeting full completion in 2032.

The project was awarded to a joint consortium from Singapore and South Korea,
featuring 15 automated train sets and GoA4 fully driverless technology.

Mayor Chang San-cheng says the Brown Line will serve as a vital regional
link, connecting Taoyuan Railway Station, Taoyuan Metro Green Line, Taipei
Metro Xinzhuang Line, and the Tucheng-Shulin Line.

He says preliminary site work is already underway, with the completed line
expected to trim travel times between Taoyuan and New Taipei to 18 minutes.

City officials also launched a procurement ethics platform to maintain public
transparency and mitigate financial risks during construction.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-19 19:41:13

The Alishan Forest Railway is launching special stargazing train tours ...
taking passengers deep into the mountains for a night under the stars.

There will be a two-day tour on September 13th and 14th ... as well as a
one-day trip on September 13th.

Members of the Chiayi City Astronomy Association will accompany passengers on
the century-old railway to Zhushan Station, before heading to the Xiaoliyuan
viewing platform.

At nearly 2,500 meters above sea level, the platform offers 360-degree views
and extremely low light pollution for stargazing.

Each tour is limited to 40 people.

Online booking opens at 10 AM on August 28th ... with tickets available
online only and not at station counters.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-19 18:15:13

Tropical Storm Saudel has formed in the western Pacific, but its potential
impact on Taiwan remains unclear.

The Central Weather Administration says the storm developed from a tropical
depression southeast of Guam this afternoon, becoming the 18th named storm of
the typhoon season.

Saudel was located about 1,500 kilometers southeast of Taiwan mid-afternoon,
and was moving north at around 32 kilometers per hour.

The storm is currently forecast to move toward waters south of Japan's Ryukyu
Islands.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-19 18:15:13

An industry group says Taiwan is not facing an egg shortage despite tighter
supplies ...

... as some retailers adjust sales in response to reduced production.

Costco Taiwan is testing smaller 20-egg packs instead of the usual 30 at its
Zhonghe and Xizhi stores, saying the move will allow more members to buy
eggs.

The Taiwan Egg Processing Association says supplies have been affected by
high temperatures, an earlier bird flu outbreak and the seasonal culling of
older laying hens.

The group says the situation is currently more pronounced in northern Taiwan,
but supplies could gradually return to normal from September.

Other major retailers, including PX Mart and Prosperity Plaza, formally known
as Carrefour, say they are continuing to work with suppliers to maintain
stable stocks.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-19 18:15:13

Kaohsiung Metro has apologized after six passengers were trapped in an
elevator at Kaohsiung Main Station for nearly 90 minutes last night.

The elevator malfunctioned while traveling between two basement levels,
triggering a safety mechanism that locked it in place.

Station staff opened the doors for ventilation and provided the passengers
with water while waiting for help.

At around 10 PM, a contractor entered through a maintenance opening and used
a ladder to help all six passengers climb out safely.

No one was injured.

Kaohsiung Metro says the elevator will remain closed until the cause of the
malfunction is determined.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-19 15:09:13

A Taitung county councilor is raising concerns over a local government plan
to add another deputy magistrate position.

DPP Councilor Jian Wei Guo questioned the need to add a second deputy
magistrate and a deputy secretary-general, given that Taitung's population is
only 210000 people.

He called on the county government to carefully evaluate if the cost of
adding two high level positions was worth it to the Taitung taxpayer...

asking if the positions were truly necessary.

In particular, Jian called into question if the deputy secretary-general post
would actually decrease the efficiency of the county government, making it
more bureaucratic.

But county officials say, the additions are necessary, as Taitung county is
quite diverse, both geographically and in terms of population.

However, they noted that the exact division of labor has yet to be hammered
out

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-19 15:09:13

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai says, he hopes to work with the legislative speaker to,
in his words, "restore constitutional order."

In comments this morning, Zhuo said that he hopes to work with speaker Han
Kuo-yu to resolve the imbalance of constitutional powers and get back on
track.

That's after Han took to social media yesterday to criticize Zhuo for failing
to countersign an act passed by lawmakers last month.

But Zhuo fired back, asking if the legislature under Han had always adhered
to the constitution.

He added this morning that the refusal to countersign is a power granted to
the Executive Yuan by the Constitution.

In the Executive Yuan's view, the Special Act on Taiwan Future Accounts
passed by the legislature violates principles of separation of powers and tax
laws.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-19 15:09:13

Taipei prosecutors have indicted a city employee on charges that he embezzled
310,000 NT in city funds.

The employee, surnamed Pan, was responsible for paying bills on behalf of the
city for water and electricity expenses...

when he was actually allegedly using it to buy gifts for his girlfriend or
for his own personal expenses.

Prosecutors say that the city had a safe in which to keep the cash that Pan
would need for paying those bills, which Pan opened thrice in June of last
year, embezzling a total of 150,000 NT.

After his superior discovered this, Pan repaid the money and the key to the
safe was given to an employee surnamed Yu...

but the superior failed to report the incident.

The following month, Pan allegedly approached Yu to get the key, again taking
162,000 NT in funds.

He ultimately turned himself in last year.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-19 14:17:13

The Minister of Health and Welfare says, he has a "responsibility" to change
the system to prevent future food contamination incidents...

after Taichung prosecutors indicted 15 people yesterday in the Central Union
oil scandal.

In comments today, Shi Chong Liang thanked prosecutors for their speedy
investigation, and spoke in support of heavy sentences for those that
maliciously broke the law.

He made the statements after TPP Chair Huang Kuo-Chang questioned why no one
had taken "political responsibility" for the incident.

But Shi rebutted, saying that his "responsibility" is to right the wrongs in
the system...

not to worry about his personal job security.

Investigators found that Central Union had relaxed its standards on
heat-damaged soybeans, leading to excessive amounts of the carcinogen BaP in
its products.

Investigators say, they were aware of this issue, but instead of reporting
it, they continued to ship the oil downstream.

According to the MOHW, Taichung city conducted factory inspections and other
sampling, finding that products all complied with regulations.

FDA results this year confirmed compliance as well.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-19 14:17:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 44719
after losing 589 points.

The turnover was 847 billion NT

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

The Interior Minister is calling for an investigation into the death of a
search and rescue dog that died last year...

after a firefighter made comments online raising questions about the
circumstances surrounding Wilson's death.

Minister Liu Shi Fang says today that her ministry has already sent a letter
to Hualien officials requesting an investigation into the matter in
accordance with the Animal Protection Act.

Liu says, she hopes that local officials can clarify the matter to the public
in a timely manner.

Wilson was a Jack-Russell terrior who became famous during search and rescue
operations after the April 2024 Hualien earthquake.

He reportedly died last year after falling from a training tower.

But a firefighter recently posted online saying that Wilson's cause of death
was "not simple," inciting controversy over the issue.

(AH)

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

The Central Weather Administration says, a tropical storm may form near Guam
later today...

but whether it will have any impact on Taiwan is currently unclear.

As of this morning, the tropical depression was located almost 3900
kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan's southernmost point...

moving northwest at 17 kilometers per hour.

The CWA says, the system is expected to head for Japan, but it may still
affect Taiwan's weather conditions too.

They say, they'll continue to monitor the system's path to determine its
impact on Taiwan.

(AH-CNA)

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

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

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

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

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

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

It affected more than 13,000 businesses across Taiwan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

billion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Her appointment was approved by the Cabinet earlier this week.

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

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

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

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

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

And,

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

The movie was directed by Chen Yu-hsun.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(CNA_IG)

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

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

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

Thirteen crossed the median line or its extensions.

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

His batting average rose to .275.

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

(CNA-PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

The hearing lasted about 15 minutes.

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(PB)

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

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

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

That agreement has been in effect since December 2013.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And finally,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The accounts would also accept "corporate sponsorship funds."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inventions Festival

And,

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

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

The event featured entries from more than 30 countries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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