Opinion: Tzu Chi's NT$1 billion vaccine fraud case—a tragedy that should never have happened. Who is responsible?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
In 2021, Tzu Chi independently procured BNT vaccines to address a vaccine shortage, but was defrauded of NT$1.06 billion by people including Chen Yuxuan, who claimed to have special channels. The case was solved five years later, but the pan-green camp used it to demand an apology from political opponents, highlighting failures in pandemic governance and political maneuvering.
Bai Lu and Dilraba Dilmurat both lose out! The No. 1 actress with the strongest swordswoman vibe in Chinese period dramas’ TOP 10 is her: red-clad and sword in hand, she wowed the internet, with every move steeped in the martial world
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The results are in for the TOP 10 actresses with the strongest swordswoman qualities in Chinese period dramas. Liu Shishi took first place for her role as Ren Ruyi in A Journey to Love. Younger actresses including Bai Lu and Dilraba Dilmurat also earned strong recognition for their distinctive martial arts styling and performances.
Opinion: A few words to Yan Bowen about Tzu Chi's story of a single grain of rice
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
In a letter to the editor about the improper diversion of 慈濟’s 1 billion yen in donations for vaccine procurement, a donor called on the executive director to apologize. Restoring trust is an urgent priority.
Zhang Jingwen column: A US$500 billion AI gamble—Huang Renxun shifts risk from the tech sector to Wall Street, while China wages a price war on another front
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Jensen Huang announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure financing plan and said the risks would be distributed across financial markets through partnerships with financial institutions. China’s low-price strategy poses a threat.
Wang Fengsheng's view: Democracy can be competitive, but institutions must not grind to a halt
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The terms of the National Communications Commission (NCC) members expired without successors being appointed, raising questions about the continuity of the system’s operations. Balancing democratic competition with institutional stability is a major challenge.
Opinion: Shezidao cannot wait another 50 years—Chiang Wan-an should make this happen
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Shezidao Self-Help Association protested to the Ministry of the Interior, calling for a review of the land expropriation policy. The article urges Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an to decisively advance development and resolve a governance impasse that has lasted half a century.
Opinion: The wolf is coming? “Chinese Communist election interference” sparks a dispute over intelligence credibility
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
President Lai Ching-te accused the Chinese Communist Party of interfering in Taiwan's local elections through disinformation and fake polls, prompting a backlash from opposition parties. The controversy highlights the politicization of national security issues and a crisis of public trust, posing a profound challenge to democratic mechanisms.
Opinion: What a road-rage incident in Taichung says about the deadly threat to road safety and legal limits of knife threats
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A fatal stabbing during a road-rage dispute occurred in Taichung, sparking debate over the legal and safety implications of bringing weapons into an argument. The article says brandishing a knife was a major cause of the escalation and urges drivers to handle disputes rationally.
Opinion: Lessons from Yu the Great's flood control for placing private-school teachers amid declining birthrates—channel rather than block
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
As declining birthrates leave private universities with an excess of faculty, a proposal calls for applying the wisdom of 大禹治水—“channeling and clearing”—to create systems that put faculty expertise to use in other fields. The proposal aims to contribute to the future of education.
Opinion: Use an euthanasia referendum to build majority support and urge the Legislative Yuan to complete euthanasia legislation soon
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A letter to the editor calling for the passage of a euthanasia bill in Taiwan emphasized the importance of majority rule through a referendum. It seeks to spur the Legislative Yuan to pass the bill soon and encourage public debate.
The Most Painful Line in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: Life’s Greatest Regret Is Often Not Losing Someone, but “Not Asking One More Question at the Time”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Through the story of the elf Frieren and the human hero Himmel, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End explores one of life’s deepest regrets—not asking one more question while there was still time. The work emphasizes that cherishing those around us means more than simply being by their side; it means truly understanding their inner world.
If Life Has No Meaning at All, Why Should We Keep Living? Everything Everywhere All at Once Uses a Bagel to Answer Life’s Oldest Question
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The film Everything Everywhere All at Once asks what gives “this life” meaning amid infinite possibilities and offers “caring for others” as an answer to nihilism.
〈Precious Metals After Hours〉 Gold retreats from a more-than-two-month high as investors take profits near the 100-day moving average
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Gold prices fell more than 1% after touching a two-month high, as investors took profits. Markets are watching inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook, reflecting caution about the path of monetary policy.
〈New York Currency Market〉 Flat PPI eases Fed rate-hike bets; dollar mixed against major currencies
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The U.S. July PPI was flat month on month, and expectations of a Fed rate hike in September receded. The dollar moved slightly against major currencies.
Companies mentioned：State Street、Saudi Aramco、Bank of Japan、Norges Bank
Reddit to join S&P 500; shares jump more than 8.8% after hours ahead of index inclusion
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Reddit is set to be added to the S&P 500 index on Aug. 18, 2026, and its shares surged more than 8.8% in after-hours trading immediately after the announcement. The market reaction reflected expectations of increased demand from index-linked investments and signaled a higher market valuation for the company.
Companies mentioned：AvalonBay Communities、Equity Residential、Sun Communities、Alphabet、OpenAI、S&P Global
Trump launches AI crackdown on Chinese transshipment to evade tariffs; Taiwan and other markets listed as “Tier 1” risks
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The Trump administration designated 40 or more countries, including Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, as transshipment-risk countries to prevent tariff evasion on Chinese goods. It will step up monitoring with AI.
US stocks may have more room to run in August: Citadel lists “10 reasons” for optimism, but warns to be cautious in September
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Scott Rubner of Citadel Securities cited 10 reasons for his bullish view on U.S. stocks in August. The factors included corporate earnings, ETF inflows and individual investors’ return to the market, but he also warned of a risk of a correction in September.
The Musk effect: Average CEO pay at S&P 500 companies surges to $22.8 million, a record
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
In 2025, average CEO compensation at S&P 500 companies, excluding Musk, reached a record $22.8 million. The gap with workers widened to 312:1, raising governance concerns.
SanDisk surges more than 13% as it unveils 2030 growth roadmap; gross margin expected to hold at 80%
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Memory chipmaker SanDisk announced long-term financial targets for fiscal 2028-2030, forecasting annual growth of 15-19% and a gross margin of 80%. Expanding AI demand and multi-year contracts drove its share price up 13.67%.
AI circular financing keeps growing; the key to success or failure lies in the “residual value” of 輝達 GPUs
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
輝達 announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure financing facility with Wall Street. Maintaining the residual value of GPUs will determine whether the circular financing model succeeds. The plan represents an innovation in B2B financial infrastructure.
Fitch maintains US rating at AA+ with stable outlook, but lowers 2026-27 growth forecast to 1.9%
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Fitch maintained the US sovereign credit rating at “AA+” with a stable outlook, but lowered its economic growth forecast for 2026-27 to 1.9%. The move reflects persistent fiscal deficits and debt pressures, despite support from the dollar’s status and economic resilience.
Chinese goods rerouted to evade tariffs; White House says US loses $26 billion in tariff revenue annually
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The White House said China was evading tariffs through third countries, resulting in losses of up to $26 billion a year, and said it would step up monitoring with AI.
〈US Stocks After Hours〉 PPI unexpectedly flat, oil falls more than 2%, SanDisk surges over 13%, S&P sets record high
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
The U.S. July PPI unexpectedly came in at zero month on month, easing inflation concerns. The S&P 500 hit a record high, and SanDisk surged 13.7%. Markets scaled back expectations of a Fed rate hike.
OpenAI and Anthropic’s performance could make or break them: real-life Big Short protagonist warns of a fatal weakness in the AI boom
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 鉅亨網
Wall Street investor Steve Eisman warned that the AI industry’s boom depends too heavily on OpenAI and Anthropic. He said the rise of open-source AI could pose a fatal risk.
Brussels Flower Carpet festival takes on Japanese flair, recreating Hokusai masterpiece with 700,000 flowers
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Brussels’ Flower Carpet festival recreated The Great Wave off Kanagawa with 700,000 flowers to mark the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan. More than 100 volunteers worked together on the display, showcasing a major cultural exchange.
Facts
More than 700,000 flowers
Area of about 1,680 square meters
More than 100 volunteers
160 years of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan