ICRT

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Taiwan People's Party has announced its own version of the government's
defense budget bill.

The proposal outlines specific procurement items and amounts, and also
requires the Cabinet to present a special report to the Legislative Yuan
within one month of the bill's passage, which will be subject to questioning
and approval before budget compilation.

According to party chairman Huang Kuo-chang, the move is aimed at ensure
transparency and accountability in defense spending.

Huang says the T-P-P's version of special defense budget increases the
authorized amount by 20-per cent to address the need to enhance combat
capabilities.

The party chair is also stressing that taxpayers pay a high price for
military procurement and its crucial to ensure that costly items, such as
self-propelled howitzers and high mobility artillery rocket systems are
delivered on time.

The total budget cap for the T-P-P's version is 400-billion N-T.

The draft bill includes a list of procurement items, costs, delivery
timelines, and maintenance expenses.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

The K-M-T is dismissing a report by the Liberty Times, that Beijing had
rejected the restart of the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum
due to insufficient efforts by the party to block military purchases.

K-M-T Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen says the party is taking steps to restart
the event, but the claims made by the newspaper are solely politically
motivated.

The statement comes after a Liberty Times report claimed the K-M-T had been
working to hold the forum before the Lunar New Year holiday, but the move was
rejected by Beijing, which cited insufficient efforts to block military
purchases.

According to the K-M-T vice chairman, plans to restart the forum, hold talks
with Chinese think tanks and to arrange a meeting party chairwoman Cheng
Li-wun and Xi Jinping are unrelated to military purchases.

Hsiao also stressing that any cross-strait exchanges will be held without
preconditions.

And he's accusing the D-P-P of attempting to link military purchases to K-M-T
visits to China as part of its efforts to influence the outcome of November's
local elections.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says local companies will have to
increase their foreign direct investments due to the limited availability of
land in Taiwan and growing external demand.

According to institute president Chang Jien-yi, despite the US and Taiwan
coming to an agreement to cut tariff rates, companies will not necessarily
invest in Taiwan, as limited land availability remains a constraint on
domestic investment ...

... and we're certainly not going to see a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
facility in Taipei's Xinyi District.

Chang says the recent tentative U-S tariff arrangement is a "good"
development.

However, is also warning that the formal US-Taiwan trade pact, which is
expected to be signed in the coming weeks will most likely be more
controversial, as it aims to open Taiwan's market to American goods,
including vehicles and agricultural products.

The institute president said while that will benefit Taiwanese consumers, it
will pose challenges to some local companies.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

The Taichung Prison says it will "enforce supervision" of former President
Chen Shui-bian after he announced plans to give a public speech early next
month.

According to the prison, it will handle the matter in accordance with the
Regulations Governing Review Criteria for and Management of Prisoners'
Out-Of-Prison Medical Treatment on Bail.

The statement comes after Chen took to Facebook to say he's accepted an
invitation from National Tainan First Senior High School's alumni association
to speak at an event in Taipei on February 7.

The post went on to say, he will deliver a talk titled "The influence of
studying at Tainan First Senior High School on my political career."

The promotional poster for the event states that the final 30 minutes of the
speech will be reserved for a question-and-answer session.

The Taichung Prison says although Chen has already reported his itinerary, it
will "continue to handle and understand the relevant circumstances" and
enforce supervision in line with the regulations.

Chen was sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple corruption and
money-laundering charges following his two terms in office and was released
on medical parole in 2015 due to health problems.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

high in 2025

The Tourism Administration says the number of outbound travelers from Taiwan
smashed previous records last year -- rising more than 12-per cent from the
previous year .....

.... while the number of foreign arrivals rose 9-per cent in 2025.

According to the administration, data shows the number of Taiwan passport
holders traveling overseas hit 18.9-million in 2025.

That's an increase of 12.4-percent from a year earlier.

Japan, China, Hong Kong and Macau were the three top destinations.

Data also shows that foreign arrivals totaled 8.5-million in 2025, up about
9-per cent from a year earlier.

Japan was the largest source of tourists visiting Taiwan followed by Hong
Kong, Macau and South Korea.

The Tourism Administration says Taiwan had a deficit of 700.9-billion N-T in
tourism value in 2025.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

And finally,

The East Asia Super League has significantly increased the prize money for
its champion team to 1.5-million U-S dollars.

The move comes as the regional basketball league is continuing to expand.

According to the league, the runners-up in the ongoing 2025-2026 season will
receive 750,000 U-S dollar, while the third-placed team will be awarded
350,000 U-S dollars.

That represents a 50-per cent increase in prize money for the top two
finishers and a 40-per cent increase for the third-placed team.

The increase reflects the league's expansion from eight teams to 12 in its
third season.

The league features three clubs each from Taiwan and Japan, two from South
Korea, and one each from the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongoli.

The teams are divided into three groups and the top two from each group
advancing to the finals.

Taiwan is being represented by the Taoyuan Pilots and the Taipei Fubon Braves
from the Plus League and the New Taipei Kings from the Taiwan Professional
Basketball League.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:13

Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Peng Jin-long says the recently
concluded trade agreement between Taiwan and the U-S is expected to enhance
industrial competitiveness, boost investor confidence and have a positive
impact on Taiwan's economy.

Peng told lawmakers the tariff framework aligns with those on Japan, South
Korea and the European Union, and places Taiwanese manufacturers on a fair
competitive footing with major regional peers ..

.. and may even give them an edge over rivals in Vietnam and China.

The agreement was finalized and announced early this month and cuts tariffs
on Taiwan goods entering the American market to 15-per cent.

The tariffs are not expected to be stacked on top of existing
most-favored-nation rates, while Taiwan semiconductors and related products
will also receive the most favorable tariff treatment.

Peng said the local stock market rose 2.6-per cent by January 20 following
the announcement, the average daily turnover increased by 6.6-per cent, and
foreign institutional investors posted net purchases of 7.9-billion N-T.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says assessments show that exports to the
U-S, were previously projected to decline by up to 7.5-per cent under a
high-tariff scenario, but are now expected to grow by between 0.04 percent to
0.08 percentage points.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:15

Taiwan's first indigenous submarine prototype has began its sixth sea
acceptance test.

The Narwhal drew large crowds when it left C-S-B-C's Kaohsiung Harbor ship
yard for open seas.

The sea acceptance test is a formal series of trials conducted at sea to
evaluate whether a newly built or significantly upgraded ship meets its
contractual performance specifications before it is delivered to the
customer.

C-S-B-C completed the fifth test for the submarine on November 28 of last
year.

Reports have said the Narwhal is still being prepared to carry out diving
tests after moving into open seas... C-S-B-C is refusing say when the tests
will actually begin.

C-S-B-C has been accruing fines of 190,000 N-T per day for breach of
contract since November of last year for missing its delivery deadline.

However, the accumulated amount will be capped at about 4-billion N-T - a
figure that represents some 20-per cent of the total cost of building the
submarine.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

The Shilin District Court has rejected a damages claim filed by 13 foreign
nationals against a Taiwan company linked by media reports to Israeli
modified pagers that exploded in Lebanon in 2024.

The court has ruled that the plaintiffs failed to complete required legal
authorization procedures.

The case stems from a series of pager blasts on September of 2024, involving
devices used by members of Hezbollah.

The explosions killed and injured multiple people, including civilians.

The use of the exploding pagers drew international attention after reports
cited anonymous officials as saying the devices allegedly had "Made in
Taiwan" markings and were produced by Taiwan-based Gold Apollo.

The court pointed to evidence which shows that Gold Apollo had never
manufactured the model of pager used and the devices involved were produced,
traded and shipped overseas by an international corporation, Frontier Group
Entity.

Prosecutors has said the presence of the Gold Apollo trademark on the pagers
was due to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between the company
and Frontier Group Entity.

Prosecutors closed their investigation into the case in November of 2024 -
saying no evidence was found linking Taiwanese firms or individuals to the
explosions.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 11 members of the K-M-T
for forging more than 1,900 signatures on a petition to recall D-P-P lawmaker
Wang Mei-hui.

Those indicted include K-M-T Chiayi City branch secretary general Chang
Chia-ming and 10 other members.

All were charged with forgery and illegal use of personal data.

Prosecutors say the suspects allegedly logged into the K-M-T party member
database and downloaded personal information of party members registered in
Chiayi City in January 2025 ...

.. and then allegedly forged the signatures of party members.

Two volunteers have been given deferred prosecution for one year and required
to pay a 50,000 N-T fine.

While the initiator of the recall petition has not been indicted.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan says Nvidia has agreed in principle to sign
and finalize all contracts related to it plans to build its Taiwan
headquarters at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park before the Lunar New Year.

The statement comes after the city government's Urban Planning Commission has
reviewed a zoning amendment proposal related to the company's plans.

The Deputy Mayor said the committee has agreed to abolish a 15-meter-wide
road between plots T-17 and T-18 and to merge the two areas into one single
plot - which will be renamed T-1718.

Lee says details of the subsequent plans will be discussed when Nvidia C-E-O
Jensen Huang arrives in Taiwan early next month to sign a land-use rights
agreement for the company's Taiwan headquarters.

The Taipei City Government has said it hopes that construction work on
Nvidia's headquarters can begin in June.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

The Taiwan High Prosecutors' Office has indicted a Taiwanese man and a
retired government official on national security charges -- accusing them of
organizing an espionage network for China.

The case involves Cheng Ming-chia, who moved to Guangzhou in 2008 to start a
business, and Hu Peng-nien, a retired Cabinet official.

Cheng reportedly served as the head of a Chinese government-affiliated Taiwan
youth organization in Guangzhou and as deputy director of the youth division
of the Guangdong Overseas Friendship Union from 2016.

He was also allegedly appointed as a member of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference Guangzhou Committee.

Prosecutors say Cheng met Hu in 2021, and arranged for him to meet with a
Chinese united front official - who asked him to recruit Taiwanese political
figures as well as active and retired military personnel to obtain sensitive
government information.

Both Cheng and Hu has been detained since September of last year.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

And,

Entertainers Hank Chen and Lulu Huang tied the knot at a star-studded wedding
banquet at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Taipei.

The banquet was attended by 650 family members and friends.

The guests included a who's-who of the local entertainment industry - such as
Jacky Wu, Kang Kang, Wang Wei-chung, Greg Hsu, Ricky Hsiao and Wang Leehom.

Chen is an actor, host and comedian and appeared in numerous movies and TV
shows before shooting to fame in 2007 for his role as the sidekick on the TV
talk show "Kangsi Coming."

While Huang has also appeared in movies and TVs shows, but is best known as a
television host and as a co-host of numerous Golden Bell and Golden Melody
award ceremonies.

They announced they were planning to marry in September of last year and
registered their marriage a month later.

The couple were co-hosts of the variety show "Hot Door Night" from 2013 to
2025.

Posted on 2026-01-26 20:07:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, or T- I-E-R has raised its
forecast for Taiwan's economic growth in 2026 to 4.05 percent, citing demand
for AI and a recovery in private consumption.

TIER, one of the leading think tanks in Taiwan, raised the country's GDP
growth forecast by 1.45 percentage points from its previous estimate in
November.

Gordon Sun, director of the institute's Economic Forecasting Center, said the
upgrade largely reflects an improvement in private consumption supported by
wealth effects created by the booming stock market and an increase in car
sales.

TIER has forecast that private consumption will grow 2.50 percent, up from
the previous estimate of 2.00 percent.

In addition, the think tank has also raised its forecast for growth in
Taiwan's exports of goods and services from 3 percent to 7.2 percent and
import growth from 2.8 percent to 6.8 percent for 2026.

T-I-E-R left its forecast for inflation this year unchanged at 1.66 percent,
saying falling international crude oil prices and steady services costs will
stabilize the local consumer price index.

Posted on 2026-01-26 19:08:13

Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Si-chuan said after a meeting with Nvidia that, in
principle, all contracts will be signed before the Lunar New Year.

Taipei’s Urban Planning Commission today reviewed a zoning amendment
proposal related to the high-tech company’s planned move into the
Beitou-Shilin Technology Park.

After discussion, the Commission agreed to abolish a 15-meter-wide road
between sites T17 and T18 and merge the two areas into a single, complete
plot known as T1718.

Lee, who chaired the Commission, announced that the proposal was approved
after text revisions based on committee members’ comments.

He also said after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrives in Taiwan, they will
decide on details of subsequent plans.

The taipei city government has said that it hopes construction work for the
company's headquarters will start in June.

Posted on 2026-01-26 19:08:14

Taiwan's first indigenous submarine, the Narwhal, also known as Hai Kun in
Chinese, began its sixth sea trial on Monday, drawing many military
enthusiasts to Kaohsiung Harbor.

Fans were spotted waving the Republic of China flag and holding banners to
show support for the submarine project.

The submarine sailed out to sea from CSBC Corporation, Taiwan's shipyard, for
its sixth sea trial, or sea acceptance test, or S-A-T.

The SAT is a formal series of trials conducted at sea to evaluate whether a
newly built or significantly upgraded ship meets its contractual performance
specifications before it is delivered to the customer.

CSBC, the main contractor for the prototype of the Narwhal, has declined to
say when it will deliever the Narwhal.

The company has been accruing fines since November 2025, after missing the
delivery deadline.

Posted on 2026-01-26 19:08:14

Three suspects in the theft of a gold necklace and pendant from a jewelry
store in Taoyuan have been arrested in the early hours of Monday, about nine
hours after the theft on Sunday afternoon.

Yangmei police said the two suspects fled the store on a scooter after the
theftSunday afternoon, and the items have an estimated value of $420-thousand
NT.

After reviewing surveillance footage from the store and surrounding areas,
police were able to quickly identify the suspects and the getaway vehicle.

Police then recovered the scooter and arrested the two suspects at 2 A.M.
today under bridge along Provincial Highway 61.

They told police that they had decided to steal the jewelry because they were
facing financial difficulties.

The case has been referred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for
further investigation.

Posted on 2026-01-26 18:08:13

U.S. Treasuries

Taiwan's central bank has adopted some dynamic adjustments in its portfolio
management of the country's foreign exchange reserves.

Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long said today that it's an effort to reduce
possible risks resulting from fluctuations in U.S. Treasury bonds.

His comments come after some lawmakers expressing concern as Denmark
announced it was planning to sell $100 million- US- dollar worth of U.S.
Treasuries amid disputes about Greenland, a Danish territory.

Noting that Taiwan is the 10th largest holder of U.S. Treasury bonds, KMT
Legislator Wang Hung-wei asked whether Taiwan's central bank would cut its
positions in U.S. government bonds or adjust its portfolio of Taiwan's forex
reserves to lower the risks.

In response, Yang promised that his bank will move to do so.

As of the end of 2025, Taiwan's forex reserves stood at $602 billion US
dollars, its second-highest ever.

(CNA)

Posted on 2026-01-26 18:08:13

The DPP is underscoring its positions as pro autonomy, for both women and for
Taiwan.

That's in reference to its opposition to surrogacy and its support for
defense spending.

This comes after former TPP leader Ke Wen Zhe said that he once proposed to
the DPP that its lawmakers would lend their support to the ruling party on
the general budget and the special defense budget...

in exchange for their support for a surrogacy bill put forward by Chen
Zhao-zi, a TPP lawmaker.

Ke said that he had told DPP caucus whip Ke Jian Ming that if his party
agreed, the Taiwan People's Party would then back the government's 2026
annual budget proposal as well as its 1.25 trillion NT special defense bill.

He did not specify when the TPP offered that deal.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 18:08:13

Weapons enthusiasts flocked to Kaohsiung today to witness the 6th sea trials
of a domestically-developed submarine.

The Haikun completed its previous sea test in November, and local media
reported that today's test would be the first off the coast of the southern
harbor city.

However, CSBC officials are still unable to say when they expect trials to be
completed and to begin production.

The company said last Friday that submarine testing procedures are highly
complex and time-consuming, and the top priority in testing is ensuring
safety, followed by engineering efficiency.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 17:06:13

Several DPP lawmakers and civic groups are calling on health authorities to
offer youth-friendly consumer guidelines and to promote related education as
more young people are now using cosmetics.

Legilators Lin Yue-qin (林月琴) and Lai Hui-yuan (賴惠員) said according to a
recent survey, the use of cosmetics among children and adolescents is
widespread.

Some 68 percent of respondents said they had used cosmetics, and nearly 80
percent of senior high school students report doing so.

About half of elementary school children said they had used cosmetics as well.

Lin said that as cosmetics become more popular among minors, “appearance
anxiety” driven by social media and peer pressure is also rising.

She said efforts should be made to help young people build a healthy
self-image and ensure both physical and mental well-being.

Lai also suggested that schools actively teach students how to identify
ingredients, understand how cosmetic products may affect the body and learn
proper skincare and cleansing practices.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-26 17:06:15

The New Taipei City Library is encouraging residents to donate unwanted books
and borrow it's "reading bags" as part of its Lunar New Year celebrations.

From February 2nd to 12th, the library says it will provide free home pickup
for anyone donating 100 books or more.

These books will be placed at "Book Crossing" stations for travelers and
tourists to take and read for free during the holiday.

From February 9-th to 13th, readers can also participate in borrowing the
library's "reading bags", each containing five curated books, allowing
readers to discover new genres wtihout seeing the titles first.

And from February 7th to the 23rd, the library is raising the checkout limit
from 30 to 40 items, while return deadlines will also be extended until after
the holiday.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 16:14:13

Some lawmakers are calling for zero tariffs on U.S.-made car imports, but
Finance Minister Zhuang Cui-yun said she'll wait until after Taiwan signed a
trade agreement with the United States.

According to DPP lawmaker Wang Shi-jian, currently Taiwan levies a 17.5
percent tariff on U.S.-made cars, higher than Japan’s zero tariff on
imported vehicles.

He asked whether Taiwan may lower its import tariff on vehicles in the
future, and whether it could cut the rate to zero.

On health supplements, Wang said Taiwan’s current import tariff is 30
percent, much higher than South Korea’s 8 percent and Japan’s 14.5 percent.

In response, Zhuang said as Taiwan and the U.S. are still finalizing the
legal text, she will report to the public on those issues once the agreement
is signed.

Separately, Zhuang said neither her Ministry nor Taipei 101 provided any
funding or sponsorship for Alex Honnold’s ascent of the skyscraper.

She said Taipei 101 only provided the venue, and handled related coordination
and promotional efforts.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-26 16:14:13

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai announced new subsidies today to help more than
12-thousand families with housing and rental costs.

The city is doubling the amount of social housing reserved for newlyweds and
families with children.

The quota for these specific groups will increase from 20 percent to 40
percent of available units.

The mayor also introduced an upgraded rental subsidy program.

Families with children aged 2 and under will see their subsidies increase by
1.5 times.

Additionally, parents will receive an extra $2-thousand NT for every child
aged 12 and under who is registered in Kaohsiung.

The mayor says the goal of the plan is to reduce the financial pressure on
parents and make it easier to raise children in the city.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 15:18:13

The KMT is continuing its nomination process for the Taichung mayoral post.

Deputy legislative speaker Jiang Qi Chen says today that he hopes his party
can make a decision as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile his opponent, lawmaker Yang Qiong Ying said she was looking forward
to another meeting with Jiang and the KMT leadership to see who should run
for the Taichung mayor's office.

The first such meeting failed to produce an agreement.

Current Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan yesterday said that, if another meeting
failed to arrive at a consensus, the party should conduct primaries before
the end of Feburary.

Whoever the KMT puts forward, they will face the DPP's He Xin Chun in
November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 15:18:14

Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long has reassured the public that Taiwan's
risk exposure to U.S. dollars is not as high as the International Monetary
Fund's estimate.

Yang's comments follow an IMF report released in mid-January that said Taiwan
has the highest US dollar exchange rate exposure in the world.

It noted that Taiwan’s US dollar asset holdings amount to 45 times the
monthly trading volume of its foreign exchange market, compared with South
Korea's 25 times.

The report said this means that Taiwan’s foreign exchange market lacks
depth, and it may be unable to digest such a huge shock in a short period of
time.

Yang today called the IMF’s assessment of Taiwan’s exchange-rate risk
exposure "a misunderstanding," saying his bank’s calculation puts the figure
at around 20 times.

Therefore, Yang said he's not "very nervous", adding that the central bank
will take the IMF’s views into consideration.

He noted that as of the end of 2025, Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves were
about $602.5 billion U.S. dollars, and foreign-currency deposits held by the
private sector in domestic banks totaled about $301 billion dollars.

These figures indicate that foreign-currency funding supply is ample, with
both foreign-currency stock and flow remaining abundant.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-26 14:06:13

Taipei city officials are conducting unannounced safety checks at large
department stores and restaurants to prepare for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The inspections began last week and will continue through February 9-th.

Authorities plan to visit over 40 locations to ensure shopping and dining
areas are safe for the crowds expected during the holiday season.

No violations have been reported since the checks started on January 21-st.

However, the city says businesses that break the rules face an initial fine
of 120-thousand NT, with the fine increasing if issues are not fixed.

The city is also asking the public to report any blocked exits or safety
risks by calling the 1-9-9-9 hotline.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 14:06:13

Officials say, the risk of disaster at Hualien's Matai'an barrier lake has
been greatly reduced.

That's following nearly a month of work at the site, which reduced the volume
of the water in the lake to roughly 10% of what it had been before.

The lake overflowed in September, bringing flooding into the county's Guangfu
township, killing at least 19 and leaving behind a thick layer of silt.

Officials say that the effort to clear out the lake was not an easy one;
along the way, workers had to deal with destroyed roads, the depletion of
food supplies, low temperatures in the mountains, unstable weather, and other
issues.

But ultimately, 14 workers were evacuated today via helicopter, marking the
successful completion of this phase of the mission.

Additionally, a team from National Yangming Jiaotong University yesterday
visited an area that recently experienced landslides along the lake to
undertake geological surveys.

Officials say, creating a geotechnical model for the area will aid in
subsequent disaster risk assessment.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 14:06:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 103 points to
close the session at 32064.

The turnover was 724.6 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-26 13:07:13

The KMT is downplaying rumors that China is dissatisfied with KMT efforts to
obstruct domestic military spending.

KMT Deputy Chair Xiao Xu Cen called the rumors "completely fabricated."

That's after media outlets reported that the KMT-CCP meeting- originally
scheduled for this month- will likely be postponed til Feburary...

supposedly due to the CCP's belief that the KMT has not done enough to block
Taiwan's military spending.

Local media said that the purpose of the meeting would also be adjusted,
speaking on AI and disaster prevention.

But Xiao says, the KMT will soon explain publicly, and, he says, they're
considering taking legal action.

He added that whether or not the meeting takes place has nothing to do arms
purchases,

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 13:07:13

Taiwan Lottery is offering a record-breaking $1.2 billion NT in bonus prizes
for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The company says it will hold daily draws for 20 days starting February 12th.

One of the games will feature 480 extra prizes worth $1-million NT each, and
800 smaller prizes worth $100-thousand NT each.

And other games like "Bingo Bingo" will also offer higher prize amounts for
five days starting on February 27-th.

The company expects the record-high bonuses to help increase total sales by
$6.6-billion NT this holiday season.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 13:07:13

Following his historic ascent of Taipei 101, US climber Alex Honnold arrived
at the airport this morning to depart from Taiwan...

but not before snapping a few pictures with other tourists.

Honnold and his wife, Sanni, caught their flight out of the country this
morning, speaking with fans while waiting in line.

The climber agreed to take photos with those who asked, and said that he
would definitely return to Taiwan in the future.

Honnold became famous for his free ascent of El Capitan in the US.

Yesterday's climb of Taipei 101 was livetreamed by Netflix and reported on by
several international outlets.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

101 climb

President Lai Ching-te has congratulated U-S climber Alex Honnold on his
ascent of Taipei 101.

Lai praised Honnold's courage in completing the challenge through social
media -- saying many people watched either from the base of Taipei 101 or on
television, following a climb that "quickened the heartbeat."

Lai also thanked those who worked behind the scenes to make the feat possible
- and said the Netflix broadcast showcased to the world both the enthusiasm
of the Taiwanese public and the island's mountain scenery.

Former President Tsai Ing-wen has congratulated Honnold - and she said the
challenge not only fulfilled Honnold's dream but also showcased Taiwan's
"safety, order and prosperity" to the world.

The American Institute in Taiwan has also congratulated Honnold's successful
free solo -- saying that he not only set a new record but "introduced many
Americans and more global audiences to this iconic landmark in the heart of
Taipei."

The 40-year-old free soloist reached the skyscraper's spire without using any
ropes... taking one-hour-and-43-minutes to reach the top.

The entire climb was broadcast live on Netflix.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

Members of the National Federation of Teachers Unions rallied in Taipei
against the Ministry of Education's repeal regulations for reporting and
dismissing teaching staff.

The union says it was unhappy with existing regulations which governing how
public school teachers are reported and disciplined following student and
parent complaints.

The body claims the government's current review measures have resulted in an
increase in superficial lawsuits and have left public school teachers
powerless if they face any complaints.

Its calling on education minister Zheng Ying-yao to either address the issue
or step down.

The law governing the performance of public school teachers allows anonymous
student complaints, internal investigations, and punitive review conferences.

The union says the law undermines the dignity of education professionals and
will result in fewer people choosing to make teaching their career.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

The government is describing the recent founding of a "revolutionary
communist" organization here in Taiwan as more of intellectual society or
"book club," than a political party.

The Revolutionary Communist Party of Taiwan announced its formation on
Thursday of last week on social media - days after holding a "founding party
congress."

The group said nearly 20 supporters from across Taiwan attended the founding
event in Taipei.

Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Liang Wen-chieh says the group appear to
be followers of the ideas of Leon Trotsky and adhere to "original Marxist
ideals and humanism," to be point of being "somewhat naive," ...

..... and have been regarded as troublesome by the Chinese Communist Party
throughout its history, subject to purges and arrests.

Liang says the group has not formally registered as a political party with
the Ministry of the Interior, and, given its revolutionary goals, is unlikely
to do so.

However, Liang refused to say whether the government views the founding of
the group to be illegal - saying only that under the Constitutional Court
Interpretation No. 644, political parties in Taiwan can advocate for
communism.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi says the government should consider
establishing "intoxication observation units" in emergency rooms.

Lin said she's pushing for the move due to an increase in incidents of
violence against medical staff - which reached a five-year high in 2024.

Data shows more than 1,600 cases of medical violence were reported between
2020 and 2024.

Verbal violence, including shouting, verbal abuse and threats, accounted for
the majority of incidents.

Although those figures did not directly attribute a specific number of cases
to people being drunk, Lin is inisting that the most problematic cases for
medical professionals involve intoxicated individuals.

Lin says one way to dealing with them would be to place intoxicated patients
in a separate observation area, where medical staff can monitor their
physical condition while giving the individual time to sober up.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

The Centers for Disease Control says it plans to list the Nipah virus
infection as a Category 5 notifiable disease.

The statement follows a recent outbreak of the virus in India.

The C-D-C said it released a proposed change to its measures on controlling
infectious diseases on January 16 -- which would list Nipah virus infection
as a Category 5 disease.

The measure now has to undergo a 60-day period during which members of the
public can comment on it before it can take effect.

The Nipah virus has only been under priority surveillance in Taiwan since
2018, but more than 750 cases have been reported since the virus was first
identified in 1998, with a fatality rate of about 58-per cent.

As a Category 5 disease, the virus will be classified as an emerging or rare
infection with major public health risks, requiring immediate reporting and
special control measures.

The Nipah virus can infect humans through contact with infected bats or
animals such as pigs, as well as through respiratory droplets or direct
contact with bodily fluids.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

The Civil Aeronautics Administration is investigating a Starlux Airlines
flight from Taichung to Kobe after it experienced a hard landing.

The incident occured on January 20 and the C double A has grounded the crew
pending the outcome of the investigation.

The administration said the flight exceeded vertical G-force limits during
its landing, meaning the aircraft touched down with a stronger-than-normal
downward force.

The body says it received a report on the issue soon after the flight landed
and requested the cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data be preserved
and the crew take breathalyzer tests.

Starlux says the flight encountered a sudden gust of wind on approach, which
triggered abnormal system readings, but has not released further details of
the incident.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

And,

The Ministry of Finance has released the winning numbers for the
November-December uniform invoice lottery.

P-X Mart says it issued one receipt that won the 10-million N-T special
prize.

That receipt was issued at the retailer's Dazhi store in Taichung, where the
winner spent 607 N-T on fruits, vegetables, fresh milk and instant noodles.

P-X Mart also issued two 2-million N-T grand prize-winning receipts during
the same period.

One was issued at its Datong store in Guishan District in Taoyuan for a
purchase of 168 N-T, while the other was issued at the Wan-mei store in
Taipei's Wenshan District, where the customer spent 434 N-T.

According to the finance ministry, it also drew prizes exclusively for
cloud-based invoices.

Each draw includes 30 winners of 1-million N-T, 16,000 winners of 2,000 N-T,
100,000 winners of 800 N-T and 3.15 million winners of 500 N-T.

Posted on 2026-01-24 15:02:13

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu says Taiwan will
continue strengthening defense investment to deter aggression.

Wu spoke after the U.S. Department of Defense released its 2026 National
Defense Strategy.

He says the strategy aims to prevent countries like China from dominating the
Indo-Pacific.

Wu says it also calls for a strong denial defense system along the First
Island Chain.

He says Taiwan is a key Indo-Pacific member and will keep building deterrence
to help maintain peace.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 15:02:13

Simple Mart Retail says it will acquire the OKmart convenience store chain
for $125 million NT.

The company says its board approved buying a 100% stake and OKmart's
intellectual property from its owners.

Simple Mart says the two businesses will remain separate brands after the
deal.

It says the acquisition aims to improve service quality and boost
performance, with more product and service options later.

Industry sources say the deal could expand Simple Mart into convenience
stores and combine logistics resources.

Simple Mart says it has more than 800 outlets nationwide and plans to reach
900 by the end of 2026.

The company says it will report to regulators after the deal closes to
complete the ownership transfer.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 14:47:13

Kaohsiung

A brief outage in airlines' global check-in system disrupted operations at
Taiwan's two main airports this morning.

At Taoyuan International Airport, the operator says the disruption caused
long lines at check-in counters, but did not affect takeoffs and landings.

It says the glitch hit check-in, baggage drop, and boarding pass issuance for
airlines including China Airlines, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, and STARLUX.

At Kaohsiung International Airport, officials say 7 flights were delayed by
several minutes to about 30 minutes.

They say EVA Air had 3 flights delayed around 30 minutes, and China Airlines
had 3 delays on flights to Incheon, Shanghai, and Xiamen.

EVA Air says it switched to manual and online check-in, and systems recovered
around 5:30 a.m., but baggage backlogs slowed processing.

Both airports say airlines added staff, and officials urged passengers to be
patient as service returned to normal.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 14:47:13

in other traffic news...

A recycling truck crashed into people throwing trash into a garbage truck in
Taoyuan on Friday evening.

Authorities say the driver may have lost consciousness before the crash, in
Guishan District at around 6 p.m.

A 78-year-old woman was trapped under the truck and later died at a hospital.

Officials say 6 others were injured, including the 52-year-old driver
surnamed Wu.

The city says the driver has no major medical history and passed a breath
test before starting work.

Police are investigating the exact cause of the crash.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 13:22:13

The Defense Ministry says it detected 26 Chinese military aircraft sorties
from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. today.

It says 18 of those aircraft crossed the median line and entered northern,
central, and southwestern airspace.

The ministry also reports 6 Chinese naval vessels operating near the Taiwan
Strait during the same period.

Taiwan's military says it tracked 22 aircraft over the strait on Friday,
including 16 that crossed the median line.

It also reports a Chinese drifting balloon spotted southwest of Taichung at
20-thousand feet before it disappeared over the strait.

The ministry says Taiwan used patrol aircraft, naval ships, and shore-based
missile systems to monitor and respond.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 13:22:13

The Taipei MRT says a new advisory asking passengers not to use portable
power banks inside the transport system is not a ban, but a call for safety.

It comes after the Taipei Rapid Transit yesterday announced the new "rule,"
effective immediately.

The company says the guidance is aimed at public safety and asks riders to
store power banks properly.

It says it may seek legal responsibility and compensation if careless use or
storage causes a fire or real public danger.

Several Taipei city councilors criticized the move as an overreaction that
confuses commuters.

One councilor also pointed to power bank rental services inside some MRT
stations as inconsistent with the message.

Taipei MRT says it is not a ban, and urges people not to bring in power banks
that are deformed or overheating.

It also advises buying products that meet national standards and have passed
safety inspections.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 12:46:13

Former Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) has taken over as chairman
of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, or SEF.

Su says cross-strait relations should be built on mutual understanding, not
confrontation.

He replaced Frank Wu, who resigned in December, according to the foundation.

Su says the SEF's mission remains serving the public, promoting exchanges,
and building conditions for peace.

He says the SEF will keep helping Taiwanese businesspeople in China and urged
them to stay connected with Taiwan and support democracy.

SEF Secretary-General Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉) called for peaceful dialogue with
no preconditions.

Communication between the SEF and China's Association for Relations Across
the Taiwan Straits has been suspended since 2016, after Beijing demanded
recognition of the "1992 consensus."

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 12:46:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says industrial production reached a new
record in 2025, rising 16.7% from a year earlier.

The ministry says AI applications, high-performance computing, and cloud
services drove higher output in tech industries.

Electronics components output rose 24.7% in 2025, and the computer and
optoelectronics sector jumped 56.4%.

In December, industrial production rose 21.6% from a year earlier, marking 22
straight months of growth.

The MOEA says demand for wafers, chip services, memory, servers, and
inspection equipment lifted December output.

Old economy sectors were mixed, with declines in base metals, chemicals, and
auto parts, while machinery edged up.

The MOEA expects January manufacturing output to stay strong, helped by AI
demand and a low base last year.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 11:28:13

President Lai Ching-te says the international community should not let China
set "red lines" that hurt regional stability.

Lai made the remarks Friday while meeting a delegation led by U.S. Senator
Ruben Gallego at the Presidential Office in Taipei.

He says China has stepped up military activity around Taiwan, along with
economic and diplomatic pressure across the region.

Lai says Taiwan will keep strengthening its self-defense capabilities and
hopes other countries will not accept unilateral actions that threaten peace.

On trade ties, Lai called for quick progress on legislation to address double
taxation between Taiwan and the United States.

Gallego says Taiwan's focus on self-defense supports wider cooperation, and
he calls the tax issue a win-win.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 11:28:13

A 45-year-old female diving instructor went missing while freediving near
Dafu Fishing Harbor on Xiaoliuqiu on Friday.

Officials say she entered the water alone at around 10 a.m. and then lost
contact.

Her family reported her missing at 8:56 p.m. last night, according to the
Pingtung County Fire Bureau.

Firefighters and volunteer rescuers joined the Coast Guard in a search late
Friday night.

They ended the overnight search at around 11:08 p.m. after finding no sign of
her.

Rescue teams resumed efforts at 8 a.m. this morning, with more vehicles, a
boat, and volunteer personnel.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 10:36:13

A Sanli Television news van crashed into the ATM area of a Chang Hwa
Commercial Bank branch in Taipei's Zhongshan District on Friday.

Officials say 10 people were hurt, with injuries ranging from minor to
serious.

Police say those injured include the driver and a front-seat passenger, a
motorcyclist, 4 pedestrians, and 3 bank customers.

Investigators say initial findings suggest the van may have run a red light,
based on nearby surveillance video.

The driver, a man surnamed Lin, told police he tried to beat a yellow light
but stepped on the wrong pedal.

Police say the video also appears to show no brake lights before the crash,
and the cause is still being clarified.

Lin was transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office late Friday on
suspicion of negligent injury.

Prosecutors early this morning set bail at $500-thousand NT and ordered him
barred from leaving Taiwan by air or sea.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-24 10:36:14

Netflix has postponed climber Alex Honnold's free solo climb of Taipei 101
until Sunday.

The company says today's weather in Taipei is not suitable for the event.

Netflix posted the update on X about 30 minutes before the planned 9 a.m.
livestream.

The new schedule is 9 a.m. Sunday, with a global livestream still planned.

The Central Weather Administration forecasts rain in Taipei today, with
temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.

The agency says conditions should improve on Sunday, with partly sunny skies
and temperatures of 16 to 22 degrees.

(CNA-PB)

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