Fuel surcharges on international flights operated by Taiwanese airlines will
rise again from November 8th due to rising oil prices.



The Civil Aviation Administration says surcharges for short-haul flights will
rise by up to $40 US dollars, that's the equivalent of $1,300 NT.

Those for long-haul flights will rise by up to $104 dollars, which is around
$3,400 NT.

Short-haul routes cover most destinations in Asia, while long-haul routes
include Europe, the Americas, India and the Middle East.



The C-A-A said the increases follow a rise in international aviation fuel
prices, and domestic airlines have been asked to clearly explain the
increases to passengers.

(JL)

Keelung Mayor Xie Guo Liang says, he's confident he will win reelection
despite recent polls indicating a close race against challenger Tong Zi Wei.

Xie says, he believes Keelung residents will be won over by his "12
construction points" plan.

The mayor's comments come after an internal KMT poll showed him with a slight
lead over Tong...

while another showed Tong poised to win.

When asked about if he felt that the "Yangliu" phenomenon had affected
polling over in Keelung, as polls previously indicated...

Xie said that it was akin to asking if Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An's campaign
was affecting Keelung.

He stressed that, if Chiang was performing well, all KMT leaders in the north
would reap the benefits...

adding that he hoped he would perform as well as Chiang had in his debate
when he faces Tong in his own debate slated for November 10th.

(AH)

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An's campaign chair says, the debate with his
opponent Puma Shen was conducted in accordance with the two parties' agreed
upon plans.

That's after some wondered if questions from TVBS and SET News were shared
with the candidates ahead of the debate Saturday.

In her capacity as Chiang's campaign chair, Lu Xiu Yan said that both
candidates were invited before the debate to discuss the rules...

adding that both Chiang and Shen were present for those discussions.

Lu says, the debate did proceed in accordance with those rules, confirming
that questions were shared with each candidate ahead of the debate.

(AH)

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 291 points to
close the session at 44920.

The turnover was 758.8 billion NT

In an attempt to calm the jittery equity market, National Development Council
chair Ye Jun-xian (葉俊顯) said he believes the the effects of a pull-back in
U.S. tech stocks on Taiwan will be temporary.

He explained that Taiwan's hardware-focused technology companies have strong
orders through the end of next year and sufficient cash flow, and major
companies also have various financial management options available.

Ye added that the recent plunge in U.S. technology shares reflects concerns
about whether massive AI investments will generate sufficient returns,
particularly in the software sector.



He said determining the returns on these investments will take time and will
also depend on the pace of development in physical AI, which brings
artificial intelligence into real-world operations.

He noted that physical AI is primarily reflected in robotics and autonomous
driving, both of which require substantial computing power and a longer
period of time.


(JL)

The Malaysian representative in Taiwan is warning the country's students here
to be vigilant of rising scam cases involving Malaysians.

According to the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center, the number of
Malaysians in detention in Taiwan has now increased to more than 800 from 33
in 2023, with more than 600 allegedly playing the role as money mules.

Representative Huang Yi-rui (黃奕瑞) also said that Malaysian parents should
educate their children who are either in Taiwan or planning to study there
about the risks of becoming involved in criminal activities.

Meanwhile Malaysian police have recently busted an online scam operation
based in Kuala Lumpur and arrested 18 Taiwanese nationals, including 17 men
and one woman.


Police said those suspects impersonated Hong Kong police officers and
targeted Hong Kong people.

(JL)

APEC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has lodged a protest China's has
failure to send Taiwan a formal invitation to the upcoming APEC summit in
Shenzhen.

China is said to have sent a letter to Taiwan that omitted any mention of
Chinese Taipei, which is Taiwan's official APEC designation.

The foreign ministry says the omission of title Chinese Taipei deviated from
long established APEC protocol and was an attempt to downgrade Taiwan status.

The ministry is stressing that as a full APEC member, Taiwan should be
invited to events in manners that adhere to established procedures.

China will be hosting the meeting APEC meeting on November 18 and 19.

The government has Taiwan's representative for this year’s summit has been
selected and the Presidential Office will make an announcement concerning it
choice in the coming days.

The Coast Guard Administration is emphasising that Beijing has no
jurisdiction over waters surrounding Taiwan.

This comes as China's Coast Guard claims to be carrying out "routine law
enforcement patrols" around the island.

A Chinese patrol flotilla carried out operations in waters off eastern Taiwan
this past weekend and has stepped up control over the surrounding waters.

The Coast Guard Administration says China is using the pretext of law
enforcement to harass Taiwan and attempting to create the false impression
that Beijing has jurisdiction over waters around the island.

It further reiterated that international law maintains that Taiwan has
exclusive sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its eastern exclusive
economic zone and that China has no corresponding rights in the area.

The Coast Guard Administration also accusing Beijing of spreading false
narratives by referring to Taiwan as "China's Taiwan Island" and describing
its activities as "law enforcement patrols," even as it attempts to harass
vessels through radio communications.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and D-P-P mayoral hopeful Puma Shen were present
at an event hosted by the Federation of Taipei Trade Unions.

In his speech, Chiang pointed to improvements to municipal employees' pay,
leave and working conditions.

He pointed to the Labor Policy Advisory Committee that includes worker
representatives and engages in direct dialogue with labor unions.

For his part, Shen outlined his proposals to support working families.

The D-P-P mayoral candidate told attendees that he will help workers caring
for young children and elderly family members, including enhancing childcare
environments to prevent child abuse and increasing the number of beds in
long-term care facilities.

Shen outlined plans to reduce working hours for parents with young children
and to offer six free psychological counseling sessions for city residents.

The Air Force's annual Tien Lung, or "Sky Dragon," exercises began this
morning.

The drills are aimed at testing pilots' combat skills and ground-based
logistical support.

The Ministry of National Defense says the Tien Lung exercises will be taking
place from today through Friday.

They encompass air-to-air, air-to-sea, and air-to-ground combat skills
training using different fighter jets, with exercises focusing on aerial
interceptions and the use of the aerial gunnery target system.

The Air Force will also be selecting flying aces in different categories,
including aerial combat and precision as it has done in previous years.

Twenty people have been treated for burns to their feet after taking part in
a firewalking ceremony at the Dingfuyen Temple in New Taipei's Linkou
District.

According to the New Taipei City Fire Department, the firewalking ceremony
involves walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers and many participants
suffered "accidental" burns on the soles of their feet while crossing the
burning coals.

Paramedics were called to the scene and helped apply ointment to the feet of
those injured.

However, 20 participants were taken to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
for further treatment.

The Linkou Dingfuyen Temple is mainly dedicated to "Master Xianyang," a Song
Dynasty Buddhist monk who later became a venerated deity in Chinese folk
religion, especially in Taiwan and southeastern China.

And,

Taipei's 11th Nuit Blanche arts festival wrapped up early Sunday morning
after a night of art installations, interactive performances and live music
across the city's Yuanshan area.

The overnight event ran from 2PM Saturday until 2AM Sunday.

It was co-organized by the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs and the
French Office in Taipei, in collaboration with Centquatre-Paris.

According to the city government, this year's festival featured more than 30
art installations and 50 performances and sound art programs.

Event took place across Tatung University, Yuanshan Natural Landscape Park,
the Yuanshan and Xinsheng areas of Taipei Expo Park, and surrounding areas
near Minzu East Road and Qingguang Market.

The festival also featured a street dance block party.

French Office in Taipei director Frédéric Laplanche said the event attracted
half a million participants last year.

DPP candidate Puma Shen quoted entertainer Tsai Kang-yong (蔡康永) in his
conclusion during the televised Taipei mayoral debate today, saying, "When
you vote for the lifestyle you want, you win."

Shen said Taipei denizens are losing hope, and he believes that if they elect
him, he'll give them reason to hope again.

He said that though Taiwan's international standing has improved in recent
years, Taipei has failed to really stand out compared with cities like Tokyo,
Seoul or New York that are leaders in technology, popular culture and
finance, respectively.

He said Mayor Chiang Wan-an spent much of the debate focused on cold numbers
rather than engendering warm feelings in the populace.

In *his* concluding remarks, Chiang said Shen was inconsistent and
hypocritical.

He said that as Taipei mayor in his first term he was purposeful, decisive
and action-oriented.

Chiang noted that Shen had criticized the removal of cypress trees in the
Dongmen area ... but it was a contractor, not his government, that removed
the trees... and his government immediately and severely punished those
involved.

Chiang criticized Shen's proposals as being inscrutable, filled with flowery
language. As an example, he said even former mayor Ke Wen-zhe didn't know
what Shen meant by "stitching together Civic Boulevard."

He contrasted his substance with what he called Shen's "packaging." Shen has
been packaged by the party ... but he doesn't have the resources or ability
necessary to bridge appearance and reality.

The Tainan railway station has announced new rules relating to a donated
public piano that has become a popular attraction since the new station
opened in mid-October.

The station management initially cordoned off the piano, located in the new
station's B1 concourse. On Thursday, it posted a sign prohibiting visitors
from playing it without first submitting an application.

The move was seen as overly restrictive.

A day later, the station revised its decision, clarifying that the piano
could be used only for noncommercial activities. That includes a ban on
busking, fundraising, and self-promotion.

The station also asked performers not to use microphones, amplifiers or
speakers.

Station management said the restrictions were prompted by a pianist who had
used the piano to recruit prospective students ... The same person also used
an amplifier, competing with the station's public-address system.

CNA_JvW

The Taipei International Blues Bash returns to Maji Square in Taipei next
Saturday.

The free concert runs from noon to 10pm.

It features and array of musicians from Europe, the Americas and Asia ...
coming together to celebrate the blues.

The headliner this year is Japanese guitarist Shun Kikuta, whose background
is in Chicago blues ... and who has played with legends like BB King and Koko
Taylor.

Japanese solo performer Yoshinobu Ozaki kicks off the proceedings ... other
acts include the pioneering blues band BoPoMoFo as well as David Chen and The
Seventh sons.

A transport ministry survey shows an increase in the overall number of taxis
in Taiwan ... as well as an increase in the take-home pay of drivers.

According to the biannual survey, there were nearly 93,000 taxis nationwide
last year, up 1.2 percent compared with 2023.

Among them, so called multi-class taxis increased to around 36,000 or 40
percent of all taxis. That's a 34 percent increase since 2023.

Multi-class taxis include Ubers. They're only allowed to respond to app
requests and aren't allowed to pick up streetside hailers. They also aren't
allowed to be yellow.

According to the ministry, nearly 80 percent of passengers book taxi trips
via apps, highlighting the digital transformation of the sector.

The average net income of full-time taxi drivers was around 32,500 NT in
2025, up 20 percent compared with 2023.

CNA_zh_JvW

A nearly complete fossil of a prehistoric whale discovered on the Hengchun
Peninsula will go on public display tomorrow.

The fossil, discovered last July, is at the National Museum of Marine Biology
and Aquarium in Pingtung County.

The museum said it took four months of careful excavation and collection to
recover the remains.

The whale was about 6 meters long, with more than 80 percent of its skeleton
preserved. It's estimated to have lived about 100,000 years ago.

Researchers believe the whale may have belonged to the right whale family ...
and vertebral growth plates suggest the sea mammal was likely a juvenile when
it died.

CNA_JvW

The Taipei mayoral debate has just ended.

In opening remarks, challenger Puma Shen said his priorities in the first 100
days of his term ... if elected ... are replanting trees, resolving issues
around child abuse and improving school lunches.

Shen had eight minutes at the start of the debate to make the case for his
candidacy. He said the focus of the debate shouldn't be on who wins or who
loses ... but on exchanging views and presenting positions and values.

Shen differentiated his approach with Mayor Chiang Wan-an's campaign theme of
"creating the future." Instead, Shen says his approach is "you say, I do." He
says he'll fix municipal problems by tapping collective wisdom.

The incumbent spoke next, listing his first-term achievements, including
completing the Taipei Dome, bringing an Nvidia headquarters to the city and
instituting a free-milk campaign in schools.

He countered critics' charge that he talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk
by saying "Chiang Wan-an keeps his word." He said he not only fulfilled his
campaign promises from four years ago but went further ... citing as an
example the free-milk program, which he said was something that had stymied
the central government.

CNA_zh_JvW

Three Taiwanese medical associations have issued a joint statement opposing
the use of the anesthetic propofol to treat insomnia.

This follows reports of its misuse by clinics in Taiwan.

The Taiwan Society of Anesthesiologists, the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry
and the Taiwanese Society of Addiction Science say the intravenous anesthetic
and sedative isn't indicated for treating insomnia or depression.

The groups stress that the loss of consciousness induced by the drug is NOT
normal sleep.

They point to the demise of international pop star Michael Jackson, who died
from acute propofol intoxication after receiving the drug from his personal
physician.

They urged people experiencing psychological distress to seek evaluation and
treatment from a psychiatrist.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) made the same points on Thursday,
noting the ministry hasn't ruled out the likelihood of investigating the
improper use of propofol as a treatment for insomnia.

CNA_JvW

Kaohsiung is kicking off "Harbour Beats 2026," celebrating sister port ties
with Hamburg, Germany.

The free weekend event hosted by the Kaohsiung Music Center and the German
Trade Office Taipei features performances by German and Taiwanese artists,
including Sophia Kennedy, BOVIY, and The Chairs.

In addition, Hamburg film collective "A Wall is a Screen" makes its Taiwan
debut, projecting short films onto local waterfront architecture.

Peckish visitors can explore nearly 50 market stalls offering traditional
German sausages, pork knuckles, Bavarian beer and more.

The event starts at 3:00pm today and tomorrow at the Coral Zone, Kaohsiung
Music Center,

(NS)

President Lai Ching-teh is speaking out in support of rights gained to date
by the LGBTQ community.

He said to mark Pride Day, which is celebrated today in Taipei, that equality
can't be reversed ... and respect must carry through to all parts of society,
from the exercise of power to respecting people's privacy beyond the public
sphere.

In a post on Facebook, the president noted his concerns about some recent
law-enforcement controversies potentially signaling a regression of hard-won
gains made by the LGBTQ community.

It appears to be a bipartisan issue.

KMT Chair Zheng Li-wen noted the coincidence of Pride Day with Halloween this
year.

She posted a video on Facebook of herself being transformed into the Disney
witch Maleficent.

She took the opportunity to encourage participants in the Pride Day march to
have courage to be themselves and freely love whomever they want ... as they
break boundaries and walk together fearlessly.

She says in her post that although Maleficent is seen as evil, the message of
the modern Disney movie is that anyone can redeem themselves if they let go
of prejudices.

The Pride Day march kicks off at 2pm today at Taipei City Hall Square.

CNA_zh_JvW

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office said this morning that it is
releasing a man on 100,000 NT bail after he admitted to fabricating a video
of Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen.

In the video, a deepfake Shen admitted to receiving kickbacks in a US arms
deal. The video was posted to the Threads social media platform.

Prosecutors said they arrested the man, surnamed Zheng, on Thursday, and that
he confessed to the crime late last night.

As part of the bail arrangement, Zheng is banned from leaving the country for
eight months.

He'll face a prison sentence of up to seven years, if convicted.

CNA_zh_JvW

An estimated 3,800 people took to the streets of Taipei last night to show
their support for the transgender community.

The event was organized by the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ ) Hotline Association.

The march began at 228 Peace Park, proceeded west through part of the
Ximending shopping district and then returned to the park.

The association says it aims to break down society's binary expectations
around gender and to bridge the gap between transgender people and the wider
community.

Among the marcher's demands was a request to the Taiwanese government to
abolish the requirement for mandatory surgery to change gender markers on
identification documents.

The Hotline says the Taiwan Trans March is one of the few marches in Asia
dedicated to transgender issues.

Allies of the LGBTQ community have another opportunity to show their support
at the annual Pride Parade, which starts at Taipei City Hall Square at 2pm
today.

CNA_JvW

Taipei Mayor Jiang Wan-an is set to square off against his election
challenger, Puma Shen ... at noon.

TVBS and SET TV will jointly host the debate.

The organizers say the program will have four segments, starting with policy
statements, then cross-examination, media questions ... and ending with
concluding remarks.

In the first segment, each candidate will have eight uninterrupted minutes to
explain their policies and philosophies.

Shen has said he's looking forward to the debate. Chiang has noted that Shen
is an eloquent speaker and said he was a bit nervous about how well he would
fare in the contest.

The debate will end at 2pm. You can watch it on channels 54,55 and 56 as well
as on online platforms run by SET and TVBS, starting at noon.

CNA_zh_JvW

Taiwan shares plunged by just under 2.5 percent yesterday, led by major
AI-related stocks, taking a cue from tech stocks on American markets.

The Taiex fell 2.5 percent to 45,212. The electronics index dropped by 2.9
percent. That's deeper than the Nasdaq's decline of 1.4 percent on Thursday
... and it matches Nasdaq's subsequent decline overnight.

TSMC, which accounts for more than 40 percent of total market value, lost 1.9
percent to close at NT$2,370.

Among other semiconductor stocks, smartphone IC designer MediaTek shed 3.2
percent and IC packaging and testing firm ASE slipped 2.2 percent.

CNA_JvW

The Central Weather Administration says three surges of seasonal winds are
expected to affect Taiwan over the coming days, bringing cooler weather and
occasional rain to windward areas

The first surge will end today, bringing brief showers to the north coast,
Greater Taipei, eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula.

A second wave is expected around Monday, bringing more rain to areas north of
Taoyuan and eastern Taiwan.

The winds will weaken on Wednesday and then strengthen again on Thursday and
Friday, when localized showers are expected in areas north of Taoyuan and in
eastern Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the CWA says Typhoon In-fa is forecast to turn north in waters
south of Japan, 2,000 kilometers from Taiwan at its closest point.

Although the typhoon isn't expected to directly affect Taiwan, large swells
could affect northern and eastern coastal areas and the Hengchun Peninsula
starting tomorrow.

CNA_JvW

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Criminal Code on Friday to
increase penalties for drug-impaired driving ...

... including the possibility of the death penalty for repeat offenders who
cause fatal accidents.

The amendments raise the maximum prison term for drug-impaired driving from
three to five years and increase the maximum fine to 500-thousand NT.

Repeat offenders who cause another fatal accident within 10 years of a
previous drug-driving conviction could face life imprisonment or the death
penalty.

The changes come as the family of a man killed in a drug-driving crash in
Keelung says it plans to appeal the driver's seven-year-and-eight-month
prison sentence.

The victim's daughter says the punishment is too lenient, as the driver could
be released early on parole.

The amendments will take effect once promulgated by the president.

(CNA_IG)

The daughter of a man killed by a drug-impaired driver in Keelung says she
plans to challenge the driver's seven-year, eight-month prison sentence,
arguing it's far too lenient.

She broke down in tears after the verdict was announced today, saying she
fears the defendant could be released after serving only half his sentence.

The man was convicted of causing her father's death after driving under the
influence of drugs and hitting several vehicles in Keelung last December.

The victim's daughter had hoped for a sentence of up to nine-and-a-half
years, while prosecutors had sought eight-and-a-half years.

Another motorcyclist injured in the crash also says he plans to challenge the
verdict.

He suffered two fractured vertebrae in his neck and permanent nerve damage,
and says he continues to experience pain and weakness.

(IG)

The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium will open a special
exhibition featuring a prehistoric whale fossil dating back roughly 100,000
years.

Museum officials say that the 6-meter specimen unearthed on the Hengchun
Peninsula features more than 130 bone fragments, and that roughly 80 per cent
of the entire skeleton is intact.

Experts noted that open growth plates on the vertebrae suggest the whale died
before reaching full adulthood.

The special exhibition also features decades of local fossil discoveries,
tracing the geological transition of the peninsula.

The fossil will go on public display starting this Sunday.

(NS)

Taiwan's service sector generated 15.6-trillion NT in economic output last
year, accounting for more than 55 percent of GDP and employing more than six
out of every 10 workers.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says the sector remains a major driver of
economic growth and employment, with output rising 3.57 percent from the
previous year.

According to an AI adoption survey released alongside the M-O-E-A's
Commercial Services Yearbook 2026 ...

... almost 36 percent of businesses in the sector are now using AI, up neary
4 percentage points from last year.

Of all businesses surveyed, around 13 percent have adopted AI on a larger
scale, while another 23 percent are still in the early stages.

The ministry says it aims to raise AI adoption across the sector to 40
percent by 2028.

(IG)

Taiwan's manufacturing sector continued to grow strongly in September,
supported by global demand for AI-related products.

But the pace of expansion slowed slightly.

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says its manufacturing index edged
down 0.26 points from a month earlier to 16.22, remaining in the institute's
fast-growth category.

According to TIER, the slowdown was mainly due to slower growth in factory
production and export orders.

The electronics, computer and optoelectronics industries continued to benefit
from strong demand for advanced chips, AI servers and other technology
products.

The machinery industry also returned to the fast-growth category, supported
by orders from semiconductor manufacturers expanding their production
capacity.

However, the plastics and rubber industry lost momentum, while the auto parts
industry remained sluggish.

Looking ahead, the institute says AI investment should continue supporting
manufacturers, although rising energy prices, borrowing costs and tensions in
the Middle East could weigh on business activity.

(CNA_IG)

Taiwanese scholars say the latest meeting of China's ruling Communist Party
could further tighten President Xi Jinping's grip on power and reinforce his
control over the party.

The four-day meeting ended yesterday ... with the C-C-P confirming the
expulsion of 33 officials, including two senior military leaders.

A researcher from National Chengchi University describes the process as
"succession without a successor", saying Xi is cultivating a generation of
younger officials who share his views ...

... without preparing to hand over power.

Other scholars say anti-corruption purges and strict political discipline are
becoming permanent features of party rule.

However, they warn that tighter controls could make officials afraid to take
risks or make decisions, potentially hindering efforts to tackle China's
economic problems.

The party's next national congress is scheduled for the second half of 2027.

(CNA_IG)

Precautions

Taiwan's flu epidemic may be nearing its end ...

... with hospital and clinic visits for flu-like symptoms dropping 17 percent
in the first three days of this week compared with last week.

The Centers for Disease Control says it could declare the epidemic over in
two weeks if the downward trend continues.

However, C-D-C Director-General Lo Yi-chun warns that flu still account for
nearly half of respiratory viruses detected across Taiwan.

He's urging people attending crowded events, especially older adults and
those with chronic illnesses, to get vaccinated, wash their hands frequently
and wear masks.

Meanwhile, free government-funded flu and COVID-19 vaccinations will be
expanded to adults aged 50 to 64 starting this coming Monday.

(IG)

Taiwan's economy marked its fourth straight quarter of double-digit growth
... expanding by an estimated 14.36 percent in the third quarter compared
with a year earlier.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says growth was
nearly three percentage points higher than previously expected.

Strong global demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other
advanced technologies helped drive the increase.

Growing orders for electronic components used in new consumer products also
boosted the economy.

Exports of goods and services jumped more than 21 percent from a year
earlier, while consumer spending and business investment also performed
better than expected.

(IG)

Hon Hai has unveiled three new electric vehicle models as it looks to expand
its presence in the global EV market.

The Taiwanese electronics giant introduced two new S-U-Vs, Model A Plus and
Model K Plus, along with a small delivery truck called Model K at its annual
technology event Friday.

The company says the vehicles are designed to appeal to different customers,
ranging from buyers seeking a more luxurious S-U-V to younger consumers
looking for a more affordable option.

Hon Hai also showcased a right-hand-drive version of its Model B urban car.

Meanwhile, Chairman Young Liu says the company's AI business is also growing
rapidly, with production of AI server racks doubling over the past year as
demand for computing equipment continues to surge.

(CNA_IG)

The Fair Trade Commission says Apple will cut its standard App Store
commission rate in Taiwan to 26 percent starting October 31st.

The move follows an investigation into whether Apple's restrictions on app
developers and its commission fees violated fair trade regulations.

The commission says it has agreed to suspend the investigation after
accepting Apple's commitment to lower its fees.

The reduced rate will apply to both the iOS and iPadOS App Stores, with
Taiwanese developers automatically receiving the lower rate without having to
apply.

The commission says the new rate matches those in markets including Japan and
Brazil.

It will monitor Apple's compliance and may re-open the investigation if the
company fails to honor its commitments or circumstances change significantly.

(IG)

ASE Technology has raised its investment budget and sales forecast for
advanced chip packaging and testing, as demand for AI chips continues to
grow.

The world's largest chip packaging and testing company now expects revenue
from its advanced operations to reach four-billion U-S dollars this year, up
from its previous forecast of 3.7 billion.

The company's chief financial officer says revenue from the business is
expected to double again in 2027.

A-S-E has also increased its capital spending budget by one-billion U-S
dollars to 11.5 billion, with half of the additional funding going toward new
factories and the rest toward equipment.

The company also reported record third-quarter net profit of nearly
27-billion NT, up 148 percent from a year earlier.

ASE expects sales to grow another six to eight percent in the fourth quarter,
with profit margins also set to improve.

(CNA_IG)

The Ministry of Environment has approved Taiwan's first geological
exploration plan for carbon capture and storage in Yunlin County.

Formosa Petrochemical will evaluate underground storage reservoirs and clay
caps across land and sea zones in the county through 2031.

The ministry emphasized that the exploration permit forbids carbon injection
testing and grants no exclusive rights for future storage operations.

And Formosa Petrochemical must complete a comprehensive Environmental Impact
Assessment before applying for final storage authorization.

Ministry officials say the decision marks the next phase in Taiwan's carbon
capture strategy, as part of efforts to support net-zero goals.

(NS)

Taoyuan Metro Corporation says its Airport MRT trains are cleaned and
disinfected daily, following recent complaints on social media about
unpleasant smells inside carriages.

The company says cleaning is carried out at terminal stations during
operating hours and after service ends each day.

It has also taken steps to address the problem, including replacing seat
cushions and covers, deodorizing carriages, and cleaning air-conditioning
systems.

The company added that nearby farms and livestock facilities around A10
Shanbi Station might also contribute to smells.

It says it has worked with the Taoyuan City Government to improve wastewater
treatment at nearby facilities.

The metro operator reminds passengers that they can report cleanliness
problems through QR codes inside trains or contact station staff and customer
service.

(IG)

The Legislative Yuan has decided to suspend plenary and committee meetings
from November 23rd to 27th ...

... to allow lawmakers to campaign ahead of the nine-in-one local elections.

Today's decision was reached during cross-party negotiations, in line with
the legislature's usual practice ahead of local elections.

Lawmakers also agreed to extend the current legislative session until January
31st next year, to allow more time to complete the review of the central
government's 2027 budget.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have agreed to complete the third reading of the 2026
supplementary budget by November 20th.



(IG)

Tainan Train Station has updated rules for its popular public piano after an
initial ban sparked public debate.

Station management originally posted notices barring unapproved performances
after reports of commercial promotions, banners, and loudspeakers clogging
the concourse

Authorities later clarified that casual piano playing remains open without
advance applications, and the new rules prohibit commercial recruitment,
loudspeakers, and blocking passenger walkways during piano performances.

Station officials confirm that the piano, donated by the family of the late
Tainan Police Chief Wang Wen-chung, will remain in the main hall for three
years to serve travelers and music enthusiasts.

(NS)

Some 37 athletes from Taiwan will participate in the 2026 Summer Youth
Olympics, which officially start tomorrow in the capital of the West African
nation of Senegal, Dakar.

Some events already start today -- such as the game between Taiwan's baseball
team against the host nation.

Lin Chin-ting and Chen Min-hsin will play in the boys' and girls' table
tennis competitions.

And they will also join forces in the mixed doubles tournament, which starts
tomorrow.

Lin Yung-yueh, also known as B-Boy Saturn, will represent Taiwan in
breakdancing.

And Chu Yu-en will take part in taichi, which is contested at the Youth
Olympics but not at the Olympic Games.

This is the first International Olympic Committee (or IOC) event ever to be
held in Africa.

Transport authorities is fining Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport over unauthorized
intercity bus trip cancellations.

The $90-thousand NT fines comes after four unapproved schedule reductions on
a route connecting Zhudong and Taipei, due to driver shortages.

The Highway Bureau officials previously fined the company NT$360,000 for
abruptly canceling over 65 trips in mid-October.

The bureau says the carrier should rent tour buses or mobilize reserve
coaches to maintain approved schedule frequencies.

Officials say they will continue monitoring Kuo-Kuang's operational capacity
to prevent service gaps across national highway routes.

(NS)

Taiwan's stock market suffered a sharp sell-off today, as concerns over the
profitability of artificial intelligence investments rattled global
technology stocks.

The benchmark TAIEX plunged 1-thousand-156 points to close at
45-thousand-211, falling below the six-month moving average.

AI-related stocks bore the brunt of the sell-off, with Delta Electronics
hitting its daily trading limit, while other major technology stocks also
posted heavy losses.

Turnover for the session topped 877 billion NT.

Keelung prosecutors launched a vote-buying investigation involving a
non-partisan city council candidate and her family.

Candidate Lee Yun-jing was released on $200-thousand bail following overnight
questioning by prosecutors.

But the prosecutors petitioned to detain Lee's husband and father-in-law,
both former city councilors, citing risk of evidence destruction and
collusion.

Investigators allege the family provided banquets and distributed campaign
gift packages worth $400 NT to influence voters.

Lee entered the council race after her husband was stripped of office over an
assistant fee fraud conviction.

(NS)

Physical Standards Take Affect

Youth groups are urging the government to honor promised welfare reforms as
Taiwan's new military physical standards take effect.

Revised medical criteria are expected to reduce Taiwan's military draft
exemption rate from 16 percent down to 8 percent.

For "Grade B alternative service" recruits, who would have been exempt from
service under previous regulations, advocates are calling for improved living
conditions, health tracking armbands, and lighter physical duties.

The youth leaders pledged to collaborate with lawmakers to monitor training
safety, service conditions, and civil defense curriculum reforms.

(NS)

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation and the Taiwan Railway Corporation are
stressing that they both have safety systems in place designed to prevent
collisions.

The statement comes amid public concerns following a deadly train crash in
Spain this week that left at least 69 people dead and scores more injured
when a high-speed train struck another stationary train.

According to the High Speed Rail Corporation, its system follows the same
fail-safe principles as Japan's Shinkansen and its automatic control system
monitors speeds and conditions ahead, and can automatically apply emergency
brakes if signals are lost or a system fault occurs.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation says it uses warning signals and an automatic
train protection system which can slow or stop approaching trains if another
train is stopped ahead.

And corporation president Feng Hui-sheng also says his office has obtained
information about the accident in Spain and is reviewing its own safety
protection mechanisms.

The Ministry of Agriculture says farming loses and damage to private
facilities due to Typhoon Champi currently stand at an estimated 489-million
N-T.

According to the ministry, the highest losses were reported in Yunlin at
147-million N-T.

That was followed by Taitung with loses of 88-million N-T and Taichung, where
farming loses and damage to private facilities totals 66-million N-T.

Storm related loses going into the millions of N-T have also been reported in
Miaoli and Pingtung.

Garlic crops suffered the heaviest damage - with the agriculture ministry
saying that nearly 470 hectares were affected and losses are estimated
65-million N-T.

Sugar apples were the second-hardest-hit crop, followed by tangerines,
bananas and peanuts.

Livestock losses are currently estimated at 341,000 N-T.

The Ministry of Finance says the proportion of tax dependents over age 70
has risen by 8.2-percentage points over the past 10 years in a sign of
Taiwan's aging population.

The statement comes after the ministry released its latest report on trends
in consolidated income tax revenues.

According to the ministry's Department of Statistics, income tax revenues
reached record highs each year since 2021, rising to 873.7-billion N-T in
2025 - and that rise can be attributed to the steady increase to higher
salaries, stock market gains and rising interest rates.

Overall, consolidated income tax revenue accounted for 23.1-per cent of
Taiwan's total tax revenue last year, compared with 30.1-per cent in Japan,
28.8-per cent in South Korea and 18.3-per cent in Singapore.

Meanwhile, the top 20-per cent of earners accounted for 60-per cent of all
income earned in 2024, but 97-per cent of the total income tax burden.

The report also highlights increases in both the proportion of single tax
filers and filers with elderly dependents - with the finance ministry saying
those trends reflect a growing proportion of people remaining unmarried,
smaller household sizes and an aging population.

And finally,

A survey by the Fair Trade Commission shows that just over half of Taiwan's
adult population have used generative artificial intelligence tools in the
past six months.

The commission says the survey also found that OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's
Gemini account for more than 90-per cent of primary use and that nearly
40-per cent of users have paid for A-I services.

According to the F-T-C, it identified three key trends in the survey.

Those being widespread use of multiple A-I platforms, growing adoption of
paid subscriptions, and a tendency among users of free services to switch to
competing tools when quality declines.

ChatGPT was the most widely used tool, at 87.9-per cent of respondents,
followed by Gemini at 67.8-per cent and Anthropic's Claude at 8.9-per cent.

The survey found the most common reasons for using generative A-I were
learning and work-related tasks.

The Cabinet is considering legislation to penalize individuals who engage in
"transnational repression" here in Taiwan.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says amendments to the Anti-Infiltration Act
under consideration establishs penalties for individuals who engage in
transnational repression on behalf of an "external hostile force."

The amendments would make surveillance, harassment and intimidation offenses

Lee says draft amendments will be submited to the Legislative Yuan for review
after required legal procedures are completed... and says the cabinet hopes
lawmakers will review them "promptly."

The move comes amid questions concerning how the Lai administration could
respond to attempts backed by the Chinese government to pressure people in
Taiwan into making political statements.

Those questions were sparked after entertainer Kevin Tsai recently posted an
apology on social media platforms Weibo and RedNote for attending an event
marking the opening of Puma Shen's Taipei mayoral election campaign
headquarters.

Tsai has not commented on whether he made the posts due to pressure from
China.

In another development,

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the government deeply regrets
Pakistan's brief closure of its airspace to Taiwan airlines.

This comes after Bloomberg quoted Pakistan's defense minister as saying the
country had closed its airspace to EVA Airway and China Airlines in support
of Beijing’s "one China" policy.

Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority reversed that decision hours later -
giving both carriers permission to use the country’s airspace from October 28
through March 27 next year.

Lee also expressed the government's "regret" at Pakistan's pandering to China
by compromising flight safety, disregarding international rules and reality,
undermining our national sovereignty, and politicizing and weaponizing
airspace.

A Ministry of Transport official has said the access period coincided with
the International Air Transport Association's winter schedule, and that an
application for continued access would be filed for the summer schedule that
follows.

That official also says the transport ministry will remain in close contact
with the airlines about any changes in airspace access.

Saint Lucia's visiting Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre says he hopes to
deepen cooperation with Taiwan, including by expanding scholarships for
students from his country.

Pierre arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday for a five-day state visit and made the
remarks during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential
Office in Taipei.

The visiting dignitary said education is highly valued in both Taiwan and
Saint Lucia and the Saint Lucian people are grateful for Taiwan's continued
scholarship support.

Pierre said more than 400 young people from Saint Lucia have so far received
scholarships from Taiwan to pursue higher education.

He expressed his gratitutde to Taiwan for its assistance with training,
scholarships and infrastructure. He also expressed hope that more Saint
Lucian doctors, young scholars, students and professionals will come to
Taiwan to study.

Lai also thanked Pierre for his continued support for Taiwan and also thanked
him for publicly supporting Taiwan's bid for full membership of the United
Nations at the recent General Assembly session.

Central Election Commission Chairman Michael You has apologized after the
national I-D numbers of over 1,500 candidates running for office in the
upcoming local elections were reportedly exposed on its website for 11 days.

You says such an incident should have have happened.

He's blaming it negligent handling by a third-party contractor.

The personal data exposure came to light earlier this week, when an alliance
of smaller political parties revealed that the personal I-D numbers of
candidates running for mayor, magistrate or councilor had been publicly
accessible on a financial disclosures database.

New Power Party Chairwoman Claire Wang says her team accessed the candidate
asset declaration and discovered the data on October 16.

The Central Election Commission initially said although an external
contractor had inadvertently exposed the national I-D numbers,the text in the
files was "scrambled" and "indecipherable" to the general public.

However, the commission head later admitted that "character encoding"
settings could be rendered into Chinese characters using the browser's
developer tools, while national ID numbers are composed of English letters
and numbers were not scrambled at all.

The Army has grounded its fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for
inspections following a U-S technical notification about gearbox risks.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the Army will deploy AH-1W SuperCobra
attack helicopters and OH-58D reconnaissance helicopters to carry out
readiness missions during the inspection period.

However, he didn't elaborate on the inspection requirements or how long the
Apaches would remain grounded.

The U-S Army is said to have ordered an immediate, temporary pause in flight
operations for Apache helicopters equipped with Improved Drive System
transmissions.

The pause will remain in place while required inspections and corrective
actions are completed.

An internal U-S armed forces safety document as says an investigation had
indicated that the I-D-S transmission could experience an internal failure
that could lead to loss of tail rotor thrust, electrical power and
hydraulics.

The report said the cause was still under investigation.

Taiwan took delivery of 30 Apache attack helicopters from the U-S in five
batches, with the final six arriving in 2014.

And,

Professor Wang Chin-tsan of the National Yilan University has received a top
prize at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence ceremony in Paris.

Wang was honored in the Green and Clean Technology category for Excellence in
Sustainable and Energy - Efficient Computing due to his research on using
artificial intelligence to turn wastewater into energy.

The technology centers on microbial fuel cells and combines A-I forecasting,
real-time sensing, digital twins, and thermal-fluid analysis.

It can treat wastewater and remove pollutants while recovering electricity
generated by microorganisms as they decompose organic matter.

Wang says the award recognized his work integrating technologies across
disciplines - as his laboratory brings together researchers specializing in
biology, environmental engineering, materials science, chemistry, and
electrical engineering.

The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence were established in 2002 and
recognize innovation across multiple categories, including artificial
intelligence, information technology, green technology, and biotechnology.