Zhang Ruonan and Zhao Lusi aren't No. 1! The top 10 most beautiful heroines in modern Chinese romance dramas ranked: She's the winner, with looks hailed as the pinnacle of Chinese beauty and breathtakingly gorgeous
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
This article compiles the top 10 most beautiful heroines in modern Chinese romance dramas of the past 3 years, based on character portrayals and online discussion of dramas broadcast from October 2023 to October 2026. Wang Churan takes the top spot, while Zhang Ruonan and Zhao Lusi rank second and third, respectively.
Facts
This article compiles the rankings of the top 10 most beautiful heroines in modern Chinese romance dramas of the past 3 years.
Wang Churan takes the top spot among the most beautiful heroines in modern Chinese romance dramas of the past 3 years.
Zhang Ruonan ranks No. 2 among the most beautiful heroines in modern Chinese romance dramas of the past 3 years.
Zhao Lusi ranks No. 3 among the most beautiful heroines in modern Chinese romance dramas of the past 3 years.
Bai Lu played financial journalist Zheng Shuyi in the 2023 drama 《以愛為營》.
Xu Ruohan and Zhang Linghe starred in the 2025 urban romance drama 《愛你》.
Lu Yuxiao played Hu Xiu in 《軋戲》 in 2026.
Zhao Jinmai played Yin Guo, a nine-ball player, in 《在暴雪時分》 in 2024.
Not Taiwan or Singapore! Global ranking of countries with the strongest computer skills revealed: The winner scored 572, with a strong math foundation and excellent reasoning skills
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The OECD released its PISA 2025 ranking for computational problem-solving, with Macao taking the top spot and Taiwan ranking 5th. Asian students excelled thanks to strong math foundations; Europe and the United States also performed well, with the U.S. ranking 15th.
Facts
The OECD released the PISA 2025 assessment results in September, with Macao ranking 1st globally in computational problem-solving with 572 points.
Taiwan ranked 5th globally in the PISA 2025 computational problem-solving assessment, scoring 551 points.
The PISA computational problem-solving assessment focuses on students' logical reasoning, modeling and algorithmic thinking, and is designed for 15-year-old students.
The United States ranked 15th in the PISA 2025 computational problem-solving assessment with 513 points, above the OECD average of 500.
Estonia ranked 7th with 541 points, the highest-ranked country in Europe.
Most of the top 10 in the PISA computational problem-solving ranking are from Asia, including Macao, Singapore, parts of China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
SK海力士 profits surge! Its production capacity is already fully booked, and the memory shortage is expected to last until 2030
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
SK海力士 benefited from the AI boom, with third-quarter operating profit surging 7 times to 83.3 trillion won. The company announced an additional 60 trillion won in shareholder returns and said its production capacity is sold out through 2029, while the HBM shortage will continue until 2030, sending its share price sharply higher.
Facts
SK海力士 reported third-quarter operating profit of 83.3 trillion won, more than 7% above expectations.
SK海力士 announced an additional 60 trillion won in shareholder returns.
SK海力士's production capacity is sold out through 2029, and the HBM shortage will continue until 2030.
Solidigm is considering investing $45 billion in a U.S. factory.
SK海力士 shares surged more than 10%, while 三星電子 shares rose more than 9%.
A yes123求職網 survey in October 2026 found that 60.6% of respondents aged 45 and older who had retired and returned to work took a pay cut. Insufficient retirement savings, contributing to household expenses and caring for elderly family members were the main reasons for returning to work, while 84.1% faced age discrimination.
Facts
Among respondents aged 45 and older who had retired and returned to work, 60.6% said their pay was lower than before retirement.
The leading reason older workers returned to work was insufficient retirement savings, cited by 71.7%.
A total of 84.1% of surveyed older members said age was a major obstacle when looking for work again.
A total of 42.1% of older workers who have not yet retired consider themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck, spending nearly all their monthly salary.
Surveyed older members estimate that they will need an average of NT$26.95 million in retirement savings to maintain their desired lifestyle after retirement.
The average retirement savings preparedness rate is currently just 23.4%, still falling short of the target.
Among surveyed companies, 66.6% believe middle-aged and older employees have extensive practical experience.
Taipei mayoral race turns into a close fight! Cheng Li-wun accuses the DPP of wielding the machinery of state, announces creation of a “citizen election-monitoring system”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
At the Central Standing Committee meeting on the 28th, KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun said the Taipei mayoral race had become a close fight and emphasized that turnout would be key to victory. She announced the creation of a “citizen election-monitoring system” in response to allegations of electoral unfairness, urged pan-blue supporters to return home to vote on Nov. 28, and criticized polls for being heavily influenced by short-term events.
Facts
KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun said at the Central Standing Committee meeting on the 28th that the Taipei mayoral race had entered the final, close-fought stage.
Cheng Li-wun announced that the KMT would establish a “citizen election-monitoring system” and asked the Huang Fu-hsing system to help recruit volunteers.
The KMT accused the DPP of fully mobilizing the machinery of state, saying the election was unequal and unfair.
Poll results varied by as much as 24 percentage points within a week, ranging from Chiang Wan-an leading by 7% to trailing by 17%.
Will the excess deductions from public-sector retirees’ pensions over 2 years definitely not be reimbursed? She adds another item to Cho Jung-tai’s “debt-dodging list”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
KMT legislator Weng Hsiao-ling slammed Lai Ching-te and Cho Jung-tai for trampling Taiwan’s democracy and rule of law, listing 7 welfare bills that have not been implemented as a “debt-dodging list.” Regarding amendments to the Senior Citizens Welfare Act, Cho Jung-tai cited procedural irregularities and hinted that he would not countersign them. Weng urged voters to punish the DPP in the Nov. 28 election.
Facts
KMT legislator Weng Hsiao-ling listed President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai’s “debt-dodging list” on Facebook, accusing the two of bullying vulnerable people, the young and old, and public-sector employees.
Premier Cho Jung-tai stressed that the amendments to the Senior Citizens Welfare Act had been passed through improper procedures, saying there would be no room to withhold his countersignature if they were not unconstitutional or illegal.
Weng Hsiao-ling criticized Cho Jung-tai for using procedural irregularities as an excuse, questioning whether the bill was simply “incompatible with him.”
Weng Hsiao-ling urged voters to punish the DPP government at the ballot box in the Nov. 28 election.
Super Typhoon Fengshen’s latest track takes a sharp turn! Weather to shift in 2 stages, expert warns “2 counties and cities will see the heaviest rain”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The 30th typhoon, Fengshen, has intensified into a super typhoon and is forecast to turn north over waters south of Japan on Sunday, posing no direct threat to Taiwan. Weather expert Jia Xinxing forecast 2 stages of weather ahead, with the northeast monsoon strengthening from Nov. 2 and bringing significant rain to Yilan and Hualien.
Facts
The year’s 30th typhoon, Fengshen, officially intensified into a super typhoon on the morning of the 28th.
Original煙花颱風中心位置在北緯14.9度，東經159.9度，中心氣壓930百帕。
Typhoon Fengshen had maximum sustained winds near its center of 51 meters per second and maximum gusts of 63 meters per second.
Weather expert Jia Xinxing divided the upcoming weather into 2 stages. The first stage, lasting through Nov. 1, will feature a high-pressure system moving out to sea.
In the second stage, from the afternoon of Nov. 2 through Nov. 7, the northeast monsoon will strengthen significantly.
After northeasterly winds arrive on Nov. 2, daytime highs in northern Taiwan will be around 25 to 28 degrees, with early morning and nighttime lows around 20 to 22 degrees.
Highs in central and southern Taiwan will remain around 30 degrees in early November.
Don’t put away your hotel key card right after checking in! Many people overlook “1 dangerous habit” that could let strangers quietly enter their rooms
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Citing recommendations from the U.S. Department of State and Travel+Leisure, this article details safety precautions for travelers staying at accommodations at home and abroad. It covers assessing the surroundings before booking, 7 room-safety checks after check-in, and practical advice on keeping key cards secure and avoiding meetings with strangers, with the aim of reducing travel risks.
Facts
The U.S. Department of State has set up a dedicated “Lodging Safety” page to remind travelers about travel safety.
After checking into a hotel, travelers should avoid keeping their key card together with a key sleeve that displays the room number.
If you are worried about forgetting your room number, you can save the information in your phone’s notes.
Before booking, confirm that the accommodation meets your needs, such as by asking whether the room is equipped with a carbon monoxide detector.
After checking into a hotel, first identify the escape routes and check the emergency evacuation map posted in the room.
Experts warn that meeting strangers in your hotel room during your stay can be dangerous; choose a public area instead.
Post-check-in checks include confirming that doors and windows can be locked properly and that the curtains can be fully closed.
輝達 joins 甲骨文 to expand Vera Rubin deployment to millions of kilowatts! Vera CPU arrives on OCI as it pursues AI agent demand
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
輝達 and 甲骨文 announced an expansion of Vera Rubin deployment to a scale of millions of kilowatts, and made Vera Rubin NVL72 and Vera CPU available on OCI to support AI agent and model computing needs.
Facts
輝達 and 甲骨文 announced plans to expand OCI superclusters powered by Vera Rubin NVL72 systems to millions of kilowatts, or several GW.
Vera Rubin NVL72 and Vera CPU are now officially available on OCI.
Each Vera Rubin NVL72 rack connects 72 GPUs through NVLink.
OpenAI is training GPT-6 Astra in Abilene, Texas, using an OCI Supercluster equipped with more than 100,000 Blackwell GPUs.
The HGX Rubin NVL8 platform will be equipped with 2 Xeon 6 CPUs, each with 64 cores, and 4TB of DDR5 memory.
HGX Rubin NVL8 supports a high-speed remote direct memory access (RDMA) network with bandwidth of up to 6.4Tbps.
OCI Kubernetes Engine lets customers scale CPUs and GPUs independently.
Explainer: In Taiwan, boys with long hair could once have their hair cut off by police in the street! People wearing bell-bottoms were also cited—just how strict was it back then?
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
This article looks back at Taiwan under martial law in the 1960s and 1970s, when the government strictly cracked down under the Police Offenses Act on long hair, bell-bottoms and other clothing and hairstyles deemed “outlandish.” Police carried out large-scale sweeps and forced people to get haircuts. The relevant provisions became invalid after martial law was lifted in 1987 and the Police Offenses Act was repealed in 1991, safeguarding social freedoms and individual liberty.
Facts
In January 1971, Taipei police rounded up more than 200 long-haired youths in Ximending in a single day and forced them to get haircuts.
The legal basis for cracking down on clothing and hairstyles at the time was Article 66, Paragraph 1 of the Police Offenses Act, which addressed “outlandish clothing.”
The repeal of the Police Offenses Act on June 29, 1991, invalidated the provisions used to crack down on outlandish clothing.
On Aug. 9, 2005, 教育部 issued a notice prohibiting schools from including hair regulations in their rules or using them as grounds for punishment.
In March 1971, Shaw Brothers film actors Chang Yi and Wei Hong were forcibly given haircuts by police in Ximending for wearing long hair.
Coffee aficionados recommend choosing medium or dark roast lattes, since light roasts have noticeable acidity, while medium-dark roasts offer a rich aroma and body that balances bitterness.
Health-conscious users recommend avoiding creamer additives and instead buying plain instant black coffee or drip coffee to make lattes with fresh milk.
Taiwan’s highway toll collector profession ended on Dec. 30, 2013, with the full launch of ETC, and 947 employees were laid off. The event marked a historic shift from manual toll collection to electronic toll collection and reflected advances in Taiwan’s transportation technology and changing times.
Facts
Taiwan's national highways fully transitioned to the ETC electronic toll collection system on December 30, 2013.
On the day the national highways went electronic in 2013, 947 toll collectors were laid off as part of organizational streamlining.
The section of the Zhongshan Freeway from Sanchong to Zhongli, Taiwan's first expressway, was completed and opened to traffic in July of year 63 of the Republic of China calendar.
交通部台灣區國道高速公路局 began gradually promoting the electronic toll collection system (ETC) in year 95 of the Republic of China calendar.
In the early days, toll collection on national highways relied on large numbers of staff stationed at toll plazas to count cash by hand and issue tickets.
The Freeway Bureau introduced a multi-trip ticket system, with different denominations and colors for passenger cars, large trucks and tractor-trailers.
New traffic rules take effect nationwide on 10/31！Violations carry fines of up to 120,000, immediate driving bans, and new rules imposing joint penalties on passengers in the same vehicle: What you need to know
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The new amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, drafted by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, are set to take effect on October 31, 2026. The amendments significantly increase penalties for drug-impaired driving, refusing a drug test, repeat offenses and passengers in the same vehicle, with the aim of improving road safety and stamping out drug-impaired driving.
Facts
The new amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act will take effect on October 31, 2026.
The fine for a motorcycle rider's first drug-impaired driving offense is 120,000 yuan.
The fine for a driver's first drug-impaired driving offense in a car is 150,000 yuan.
The fine for refusing a drug test for the first time is 270,000 yuan, rising to 450,000 yuan for the second refusal.
Vehicles involved in drug-impaired driving or refusal to take a drug test will be confiscated by law, regardless of whose name they are registered under.
After a license is revoked for drug-impaired driving, the driver may not reapply for a license for 3 years.
Passengers aged 18 or older who knowingly ride with a driver under the influence of drugs will face a fine of 6,000 yuan to 1萬5,000 yuan.
Wu Xiuhua releases campaign video 《臺東無限》, giving every dream a future
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The campaign headquarters of Kuomintang Taitung County magistrate candidate Wu Xiuhua released the campaign video 《臺東無限》 on the 28th. The video conveys hopes for Taitung's future, covering young people, families, care for older people and cultural heritage, and calls on local residents to unite and create boundless possibilities.
Facts
The campaign headquarters of Kuomintang Taitung County magistrate candidate Wu Xiuhua released the campaign video 《臺東無限》 on the 28th.
The video covers areas including youth development, family well-being, care for older people and cultural heritage.
Wu Xiuhua hopes young people will have the courage to pursue their dreams and feel secure returning home to build their careers.
Wu Xiuhua stressed the need to create more opportunities for development in youth, agriculture, tourism and local industries.
Wu Xiuhua said Taitung's development is the result of the shared efforts of every family, generation and township.
BBC on Taiwan's 九合一 election: Can the “ocean current” shake up Taipei？Who's positioning for the 2028 election？
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan is set to hold its 九合一 election in late November, with the Taipei mayoral race heating up as Shen Po-yang's poll numbers rebound. Beijing has criticized Shen through 國台辦 and has been accused of conducting cognitive warfare. The New Taipei City race and the performance of political second-generation candidates are also in focus.
Facts
Taiwan's 九合一 local elections will be held in late November, with the race for the capital, Taipei, drawing attention.
A TVBS poll puts Chiang Wan-an at 49% and Shen Po-yang at 41%, narrowing the gap to 8 percentage points.
A poll by the Xinmin Association puts Shen Po-yang in the lead with 50.3% support, compared with 33.3% for Chiang Wan-an.
國台辦 spokesperson Chen Binhua singled out Shen Po-yang's father, saying he had evaded sanctions and continued doing business with mainland Chinese companies.
Rory Daniels, a senior fellow at the U.S. think tank 太平洋論壇, said the Chinese Communist Party is using “cognitive warfare” to influence Taiwan's voters.
The vote count in Israel's 26th Knesset election showed that neither the Netanyahu nor Eisenkot camp won a majority of seats, while market volatility sent the shekel lower. Military voter turnout hit a record high, and the count of a large number of double-envelope ballots will determine the final coalition picture.
Facts
In Israel's 26th Knesset election, the Likud party led by Netanyahu is projected to win 27 seats.
Military voter turnout in this Israeli election reached 79.9%, a record high.
Israel's unicameral Knesset has 120 seats, and a party must win 61 seats to be eligible to form a government.
An estimated 600,000 to 650,000 “double-envelope” ballots will be verified and counted.
The election results sent Israel's currency, the shekel, lower.
Taipei mayoral poll》Who will win, Chiang Wan-an or Shen Po-yang？A media commentator compares 2 latest polls and draws a conclusion: Each is missing a trump card
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Media commentator Lo Wang-che compared the latest Taipei mayoral polls from 《ETtoday民調雲》 and 《聯合報》, noting that Chiang Wan-an and Shen Po-yang each lead in one poll, making the outcome hard to predict. Neither candidate has a key trump card in the final 30 days, shifting the focus of the race to avoiding mistakes.
Facts
In a 《ETtoday民調雲》 poll, Chiang Wan-an had 48.6% support and Shen Po-yang had 41.1%.
In a 《聯合報》 poll, Shen Po-yang had 45% support and Chiang Wan-an had 41%.
Shen Po-yang's support among voters under 40 reached 58%.
Among voters who backed Huang Shan-shan in 2022, 55% have switched to supporting Shen Po-yang this time.
In a 《ETtoday民調雲》 poll, Shen Po-yang's unfavorable rating (41.9%) was slightly higher than his favorable rating (41.3%).
Chiang Wan-an on notice！Environment Ministry to draft special law to curb tree-felling disputes and prevent old trees from being “cut down for no reason”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming announced plans to advance a “special law on urban forests” by the end of the year. It aims to regulate procedures for tree removal and pruning, prevent old trees from being felled without cause, and protect trees as living things and infrastructure.
Facts
The special law on urban forests will treat trees as infrastructure and living things, and require residents to be informed before any removal.
If a tree is diseased, the special law will require treatment before removal; it cannot be removed immediately.
Tree pruning will also have to follow set procedures, banning arbitrary cutting that leaves trees bare.
After the draft is expected to win approval from the various ministries and agencies by the end of the year, it will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review.
Boy who ran onto stage 32 years ago turns out to be Shen Po-yang！Chen Shui-bian predicts: He'll become mayor 32 years after me
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
On the eve of the 2026 Taipei mayoral election, DPP candidate Shen Po-yang drew number 3. Former President Chen Shui-bian recalled on social media how Shen ran onto a stage as a young child 32 years ago, and predicted that he would become mayor 32 years after Chen did. The remark sparked heated online discussion.
Facts
Shen Po-yang drew number 3 in the 2026 Taipei mayoral election.
In a Threads post, Chen Shui-bian said the little boy from 32 years ago was Shen Po-yang.
Chen Shui-bian predicted that Shen Po-yang would become mayor 32 years after he did.
When he was 9 or 10 years old, Shen Po-yang once ran onto the stage during a speech by Chen Shui-bian.
Online commenters said Shen Po-yang and Chen Shui-bian both became Taipei mayor at age 44.
Has Beijing lost its most reliable partner in Europe？Serbia changes course, EU accession becomes the biggest uncertainty in China-Serbia ties
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Serbia held parliamentary elections, with the party of pro-China President Aleksandar Vučić losing to the student-led “Student List,” which won a majority of seats. The new government has emphasized anti-corruption and transparency, putting China-Serbia ties in line for adjustment, while EU accession has become a key variable.
Facts
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat after the vote count in the parliamentary election on October 25, ending his 14 years in power.
The student-led “Student List” won 53% of the vote and secured 141 seats.
Bilateral trade between China and Serbia reached US$6.48 billion in 2025, making China Serbia's second-largest trading partner.
Novi Sad railway station, where a wave of protests was ignited, is one of the stations along the Hungary-Serbia railway project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
A poll by a Serbian nongovernmental organization found that 42% of “Student List” voters believe EU membership is the best path forward.
三 major institutional investors》Foreign investors return with 15.9 billion！Investment trusts buy for 12 straight sessions as Taiwan stocks surge 939 points
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan stocks rallied on the strength of U.S. equities, surging 939 points on the 28th to reclaim the 47,000-point level. Foreign investors swung from selling to buying 15.9 billion, while investment trusts bought for 12 straight sessions. The 三 major institutional investors recorded combined net buying of nearly 29.9 billion, signaling a strong return of funds.
Facts
Taipei stocks surged 939.35 points at the close on the 28th, ending at 47,035.58 points.
Foreign investors ended a 2-session selling streak, swinging to net buying of 15.922 billion yuan.
Investment trusts were net buyers for 12 consecutive trading days, adding NT$11.807 billion today.
The three major institutional investors were net buyers of a combined NT$29.894 billion.
台積電 alone contributed about 199 points to the market's gain.
Ministry of Transportation and Communications amends rules! New rules to take effect nationwide: violations could draw fines of up to 270,000, with drivers barred from driving on the spot; a look at the draft rules for micro electric scooters
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is considering revising the law in response to a surge in drug-impaired driving cases involving micro electric scooters (up 717% year over year). It proposes tougher penalties on par with those for cars and motorcycles, with fines of up to 450,000 and vehicle confiscation. It also plans to shorten the notice period for impounded vehicles involved in drunk or drug-impaired driving cases to 1 month, addressing a shortage of storage space.
Facts
There were 580 drug-impaired driving cases involving micro electric scooters in the first 9 months of 2026, up 717% from the same period last year.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is considering tougher penalties on par with those for cars and motorcycles for drug-impaired driving and refusal to take a test on a micro electric scooter. The fine for a first refusal to take a test would be 270,000.
Police began using rapid saliva drug tests on November 19, 2025, to improve enforcement against drug-impaired riding of micro electric scooters.
The notice period for unclaimed vehicles impounded in drunk or drug-impaired driving cases is proposed to be shortened from 3 months to 1 month.
Riders of micro electric scooters must be at least 14 years old, wear a helmet, and may not carry passengers.
Anping and Chihkan Tower fall short! Tainan's top attraction drew 21.67 million visitors, who praised its many traditional snacks and said they could spend all day there without getting bored
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications released Tainan tourism figures for January to August 2026. Guohua-You'ai Shopping District took the top spot with 21.67 million visits, surpassing Chihkan Tower and the Anping Recreation Area and highlighting the popularity of local cuisine and shopping district culture.
Facts
Guohua-You'ai Shopping District recorded 21,674,418 tourist visits from January to August 2026, the highest figure in Tainan.
Chenggong Luermen Shengmu Temple ranked second among Tainan's popular attractions with 9,785,000 visits.
The Chihkan Historic Site recorded 1,907,529 tourist visits from January to August 2026, ranking 10th.
Nankunshen Daitian Temple is listed as a national monument and a Michelin three-star attraction.
The Hai'an shopping district connects with Shennong Street, transforming into a leading destination for nightlife and aesthetics through artistic touches and the arrival of creative and cultural businesses.
What extracurricular activity is most useful for children to learn? It's not swimming or piano! A survey singles out 1 thing that is better to learn early and will be useful throughout life
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
網路溫度計DailyView published a ranking of online discussion about children's extracurricular activities, with language learning in first place, followed by sports and fitness and visual arts. The survey found that parents value their children's interests and tend to let them try things they enjoy to support their development.
Facts
A 網路溫度計DailyView survey found that language learning ranked first in online discussion of children's extracurricular activities.
The survey was conducted from September 30, 2025, to September 29, 2026.
Swimming was often cited as a survival skill in the sports and fitness category.
Visual arts ranked third, but parents worry that children's interest may turn into pressure once formal classes begin.
Technology and programming classes help children improve their creativity, organizational skills, and logical thinking.
Systex Q3 EPS was NT$4.31, with a gross margin of 51.5%! EPS for the first 3 quarters was NT$11.87, and a dividend of NT$6.8 per share was paid in the first half; annual revenue and earnings are aiming for record highs
Illustration: It once outsold 蘋果, and its stock became Taiwan's top-valued stock! Why did HTC and 華碩 phones become history? A graphic explaining the rise and fall of Taiwan's smartphone industry
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwanese phone brands HTC and 華碩 once achieved impressive sales. HTC topped the U.S. market in 2011, while 華碩 ZenFone shipments peaked in 2015. But product yield issues, patent litigation, and competition from Chinese brands led both companies to decline. HTC's revenue in 2024 fell to NT$3.08 billion, and it posted losses for 6 consecutive years. 華碩 also announced it would stop developing new phone models, marking a turning point in the rise and fall of Taiwan's phone industry.
Facts
HTC had a 24% share of the U.S. smartphone market in the third quarter of 2011, ranking first.
HTC's full-year revenue in 2024 was NT$3.08 billion, and it posted losses for the 6th consecutive year.
華碩 ZenFone phone shipments totaled about 20 million units in 2015.
華碩 Chairman施崇棠 confirmed the company would no longer launch new phones, with related resources to be allocated to its AI strategy.
HTC posted its first annual loss after going public in 2013 due to yield problems with its flagship phone.
Woman steps off sidewalk and falls into an uncovered ditch! Seeks 940,000 in state compensation; court ruling revealed
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A woman surnamed Liao in Kaohsiung was injured after falling into an uncovered roadside drainage ditch and sought 940,000 in compensation from the Water Resources Bureau. The court found there were no warning signs at the scene and no illegal parking, and ordered the bureau to pay more than 310,000. The case may still be appealed.
Facts
A woman surnamed Liao from Kaohsiung was injured after falling into a roadside drainage ditch in Qieding District on the evening of August 15, 2021. She sought NT$942,075 in state compensation from the Kaohsiung City Government Water Resources Bureau.
The Kaohsiung District Court ruled that the Kaohsiung City Government Water Resources Bureau must pay Liao NT$312,075, covering medical expenses, lost wages, caregiver fees, and non-pecuniary damages.
The court found that there were no no-parking markings at the accident site and that it was already dark with poor visibility when the incident occurred. It said an ordinary pedestrian could not be expected to foresee an uncovered roadside drainage ditch, and found Liao was not at fault for the accident.
The Water Resources Bureau argued that Liao had not parked her vehicle in a legal parking lot and was not walking on the sidewalk, so she should bear part of the responsibility. But it could not prove that the parking was illegal.
The court said that even if the ditch cover had fallen because it could not bear the weight, that would still indicate inadequate management and maintenance of a public facility and would not exempt the government from liability for state compensation.
Starting over and founding 凌霄航太! Drones already sold to the U.S. and Ukraine; chairman 羅正方 urges the Ministry of National Defense to consider the new concept of 'distributed manufacturing'
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
凌霄航太 held a brand launch press conference at Taipei 101 and announced it had signed MOUs with U.S. companies Rajant and SiMa.ai. Chairman 羅正方 stressed the importance of developing the supply chain through international markets and proposed the concept of 'distributed manufacturing' to cope with market fluctuations.
Facts
凌霄航太 held a brand launch and international strategic cooperation memorandum signing press conference at Taipei 101 on the 28th.
凌霄航太 was co-founded by 羅正方 and Jason Wu, former AWS Taiwan vice president of business.
凌霄航太 has attracted the interest and financial backing of quant trading giant 優式資本.
凌霄航太 has signed international strategic cooperation memorandums with U.S. companies Rajant and SiMa.ai.
凌霄航太 has already exported orders to the U.S., Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, and other places.
羅正方 urged the Ministry of National Defense to consider the new concept of 'distributed manufacturing,' with standardized production spread across different countries.
Hung Hsiu-chu says a minority in Taiwan are 'taking the enemy as their father'! Mainland Affairs Council head 邱垂正: Please do not denigrate your own country
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Former Kuomintang chair Hung Hsiu-chu criticized a minority in Taiwan at a Fuzhou symposium, saying they had been influenced by the legacy of Japan's imperialization policies and were 'taking the enemy as their father.' Mainland Affairs Council Minister 邱垂正 strongly rebutted her, stressing that the Republic of China is a sovereign, independent state. Citing polls showing that most people reject rule by the Chinese Communist Party, he urged Hung not to denigrate the country.
Facts
Hung Hsiu-chu attended a symposium in Fuzhou, Fujian, on October 25 to mark the 81st anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession.
Hung Hsiu-chu said Japanese militarism and the legacy of imperialization had led a minority in Taiwan to 'take the enemy as their father.'
Mainland Affairs Council Minister 邱垂正 reiterated that the Republic of China is sovereign and independent and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China.
The Mainland Affairs Council cited a poll dated October 22 showing that 88.3% of respondents disagreed with accepting 'peaceful reunification, one country, two systems.'
Kuomintang legislator 游顥 responded that Hung Hsiu-chu was expressing a part of history from the past.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator 鍾佳濱 said Hung Hsiu-chu's remarks were in line with the Taiwan Affairs Office's position.
Snoopy fans, get ready! 桂冠 launches a winter crossover collaboration, with 5 limited-edition Snoopy-shaped spoons as gifts
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
桂冠 Foods is launching Snoopy family crossover tangyuan for the start of winter, with new pistachio and mushroom braised pork flavors. Limited-edition gift sets go on sale Nov. 6 and include 5 randomly selected character spoons, bringing traditional craftsmanship together with a feel-good IP to capture the winter dessert market.
Facts
桂冠 has teamed up with the Snoopy family, a global hit for 76 years, to launch a winter crossover collection of tangyuan.
The collaboration introduces 2 new flavors: pistachio tangyuan and Taiwanese-style mushroom braised pork tangyuan.
Starting Nov. 6, a limited-edition Snoopy Tangyuan Party set will be available, containing mini tangyuan in sesame and peanut flavors.
桂冠 tangyuan wrappers are made with pure glutinous rice from the Zhuoshui River basin and prepared using six traditional methods.
When “loving children” becomes a source of pressure between parents and teachers: Hsin-Yi survey reveals communication challenges around “development” in early childhood education
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
信誼基金會 released a survey on parent-teacher relations in kindergartens, finding that discussing children's developmental assessments was the main source of pressure (41.2%). It also noted that most teachers face challenges caring for children with special needs, and that negative news affects their enthusiasm for teaching, calling for a healthy early childhood education environment.
Facts
Suggesting a developmental assessment for a child is the experience most likely to affect parent-teacher relations for teachers, accounting for 41.2%.
Of the 2,495 teachers surveyed, 83% said there was at least one child in their class who might have special needs or require additional support.
Some 42.3% of frontline teachers hope to receive support on the developmental characteristics of children with special needs and strategies for communicating with parents.
Parents place greater importance on children's emotional regulation (66%) and social interaction (44%), while teachers place greater importance on self-care skills (59%).
Some 79% of parents whose children have not yet started kindergarten said negative reports about kindergartens would affect their trust in teachers.
Some 45.1% of teachers said negative news often or always affects their enthusiasm for teaching.
After their children start kindergarten, only 24% of parents with children enrolled said negative news affects their views of the kindergarten or its teachers.
2027 Calendar Guide: 7-day Lunar New Year break and 9 holidays of 3 days or more; the best ways to maximize annual leave
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration has released the 2027 government work calendar. The total number of days off rises to 121, with no make-up workdays. The Lunar New Year break lasts 7 days and can be extended to 16 days using annual leave. Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day fall on weekdays and do not create extended breaks.
Facts
On May 21, 2026, the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration under the Executive Yuan released the government agencies' work calendar for year 116.
There are 121 days off in total in 2027, with no make-up workdays throughout the year.
The 2027 Lunar New Year holiday runs from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, for a total of 7 consecutive days off.
In May 2025, the Legislative Yuan passed the Act on the Implementation of Memorial Days and Holidays in its third reading, adding 4 nationwide holidays, including Lunar New Year's Eve.
In 2027, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day fall on Wednesday, Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively, and each provides only 1 day off.
In pictures: Taiwan blue magpies even help their parents care for younger siblings! Older siblings aren't in a hurry to leave home, revealing a unique family system
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Research by Hsu Ching-yen of National Taiwan University reveals that Taiwan blue magpies practice cooperative breeding. In the Yangmingshan area, 97% of breeding groups have helpers, mostly male offspring who stay home to help raise the young, a behavior that aids gene transmission and family survival.
Facts
National Taiwan University research found that as many as 97% of Taiwan blue magpie breeding groups in Yangmingshan National Park have helpers.
Of the helpers observed near nests, 87% were male birds.
Male offspring have a 62.4% chance of remaining with their original group for 1 year.
Taiwan blue magpies lay an average of 6.4 eggs per clutch, which take about 17 to 19 days to hatch.
A second breeding attempt occurred during the same breeding season in 29% of breeding groups.
Helpers fed the chicks an average of 3.9 times per hour combined.
Could large numbers of mainland Chinese tourists soon visit Taiwan? Lawmaker proposes “conditional reopening”; latest response from transport minister
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai confirmed that reaching this year's target of more than ten million international visitors to Taiwan will be difficult because conflict in the Middle East is affecting global travel. In response to a lawmaker's proposal for conditional entry by mainland Chinese tourists, the Ministry of Transportation said it would work to assess the idea.
Facts
A total of 6,176,613 international visitors came to Taiwan from January to September this year, a slight increase of 2% from the same period last year.
Japan ranked first among visitor source markets, with 1,013,137 arrivals, accounting for 16.4%.
Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai confirmed that Taiwan is unlikely to reach the expected level of ten million visitors this year.
KMT lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao urged the Ministry of Transportation to seriously consider conditionally reopening Taiwan to mainland Chinese tourists.
AI data centers, the power-hungry “monsters,” become a flashpoint in U.S. election battles as Democrats target Republican candidates with attacks over electricity bills
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
During the U.S. midterm elections, Democrats have turned AI data centers into a campaign battleground. The DCCC issued a guide targeting Republican candidates, accusing them of supporting tax breaks and accepting donations, while highlighting the impact of data centers on electricity and living costs.
Facts
民主黨眾議院競選委員會 named AI and data centers as key targets in all 31 “Red Box” guides issued for 69 battleground districts.
勞倫斯伯克利國家實驗室 estimates that by 2030, data centers could account for 11.8% of total U.S. electricity consumption.
The voluntary “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” promoted by 白宮 requires participating companies to cover the costs of new power generation facilities and related infrastructure themselves.
In March this year, 7 major technology companies signed the nonbinding “Ratepayer Protection Pledge.”
科技監督專案 said that more than 40 political ads have focused on the issue in campaigns spanning more than twenty districts.
Is Taiwan facing a “cash crunch” crisis? Yang Chin-lung identifies the key driver of funding demand, says an LCR of 120% is just right
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-lung denied in the Legislative Yuan that Taiwan was facing a cash crunch, saying that a drop in domestic banks' LCR to 120% was reasonable and reflected changing demand for funds. He stressed that Taiwan has ample excess savings and forecast that inflation would fall below 2% next year, unless energy subsidies are withdrawn and oil prices rise; otherwise, prices should remain under control.
Facts
At the end of August, the average liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) for domestic banks was 120.57%.
Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-lung said that a drop in domestic banks' LCR from 130% to 120% was just right.
The central bank forecasts that the CPI will rise 2.03% this year and ease to 1.83% in 2027.
Taiwan's consumer price index (CPI) has risen by more than the 2% warning threshold for 5 consecutive months.
Yang Chin-lung appeared before the Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee to deliver a work report and respond to lawmakers' questions.
You may be missing out when booking flights! Airlines offer a “1 hidden free perk” at no extra cost, letting you visit 1 more country and stay up to 10 days
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
U.S. personal finance platform MoneyLion outlines 4 ways to save on travel: airline stopover programs, repositioning cruises, home swaps and off-season travel. It highlights free half-day tours and shopping voucher offers at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for international transit passengers, helping them cut travel costs.
Facts
Icelandair allows eligible passengers to stay in Reykjavik for up to 7 days.
Turkish Airlines offers eligible passengers with a layover of more than 20 hours in Istanbul up to 3 nights of free hotel accommodation and city tours.
TAP Air Portugal allows eligible passengers to stay in Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days without paying extra for their ticket.
Starting Nov. 1, 2025, 交通部觀光署 is offering free guided tours for transit passengers entering Taiwan.
Some transit itineraries through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are eligible for NT$600 in vouchers for airport shops.
Repositioning cruise fares can be as low as about $41 per night.
Is Brazil's economy in trouble? Hsieh Chin-ho says Lula's victory “triggered a triple sell-off in stocks, currency and bonds”: the cost of choosing the wrong candidate
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
財信傳媒 Chairman Hsieh Chin-ho analyzed the results of Brazil's presidential election, saying that the victory of left-wing President Lula caused the market to crash, triggering a triple sell-off in stocks, currency and bonds. Lula defeated Jair Bolsonaro's son with 51.79% of the vote; his pro-China stance and left-wing platform were seen as the main reasons for the market plunge.
Facts
Brazilian President Lula won reelection in the runoff, defeating Jair Bolsonaro's son with 51.79% of the vote to 48.21%.
Brazil's Ibovespa stock index fell 23.88% after the election results were announced, closing at 176,608 points.
Brazil's currency, the real, plunged from 4.945 to 5.465 against the dollar.
Brazil's billionaires lost $14 billion in wealth in the day after the election.
The share price of the U.S.-listed Ishare MSCI Brazil ETF EWZ plunged 18.4%.
Trump’s approval rating falls to 37%, Republicans hold just a 1-seat House majority: Seven key points about the U.S. midterm elections
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The U.S. midterm elections will be held on Nov. 3, with control of Congress at stake. Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 37%, and Republicans hold only a slim advantage in the House of Representatives. A Democratic victory would obstruct Trump’s policies and could trigger investigations or impeachment. The result is also seen as a referendum on Trump’s performance in office and could affect the 2028 election.
Facts
The U.S. midterm elections will be held on Nov. 3, when voters will elect members of Congress.
Trump’s approval rating had fallen to about 37% by early October, while 61% of respondents said they were dissatisfied.
Republicans hold 218 seats in the House of Representatives, just 1 more than the minimum needed to retain control.
The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February this year is considered one of the causes of rising inflation.
Trump has consistently opposed legislation that would restrict the development of artificial intelligence technology.
Huang Yu-wen blasts the DPP over “three major election interference tactics”! Judicial searches, opaque polling and online bullying used to manipulate elections
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
KMT candidate Huang Yu-wen accused the DPP of interfering in the nine-in-one elections through judicial searches, internal polling and online bullying, and called for a return to fair competition.
Facts
Huang Yu-wen, a KMT candidate for the Zhubei City council, questioned three major election interference controversies involving judicial action, polling and online abuse in the DPP’s campaign.
At a sensitive moment before the election, investigators searched the residence and media office of Wu Tzu-chia, chairman of Formosa E-paper, and seized his phone.
Controversies over internal polling have emerged in Hsinchu, New Taipei, Taipei and Keelung, with some surveys limited to online respondents aged 20 and above.
In the 2022 elections in Keelung and Taoyuan, some internal DPP polls showed the party’s candidates in the lead, but Hsieh Kuo-liang and Chang San-cheng ultimately won, respectively.
Online attacks on Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and his son were cited by Huang Yu-wen as a warning example of “online abuse interfering in elections.”
Triple champion! Kaohsiung’s rooftop solar power program delivers impressive results, ranking first nationwide on three key indicators
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Kaohsiung City Government’s Economic Development Bureau has promoted a program to accelerate rooftop solar installations in households. As of Oct. 22, year 115, it ranked first nationwide on all three indicators: approved applications, subsidized capacity and subsidy amount, demonstrating concrete results.
Facts
Kaohsiung approved 601 household rooftop solar installations.
Kaohsiung approved subsidies for household rooftop solar capacity totaling 10,129 kilowatts.
Kaohsiung approved subsidies totaling NT$30.54 million for household rooftop solar installations.
Kaohsiung ranked first nationwide on all three indicators for household rooftop solar power.
The maximum subsidy for a single building using a self-consumption model is NT$2 million.
The maximum subsidy for a single building using a full-feed-in model is NT$300,000.
Taiwan stocks surge 939 points and retake the quarterly moving average! “Veteran market watcher” Tu Chin-lung reveals bottom-fishing signals: Gradually build positions in these 3 blue-chip stocks
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Taiwan stocks rebounded 939 points on Wednesday and retook the quarterly moving average. Expert Tu Chin-lung said 46,000 points and the half-year moving average provide bottom support. He has already bought the dip in 台積電 and is bullish on turnaround stocks such as memory chips and CCL, forecasting a promising Lantern Festival rally.
Facts
Taiwan’s weighted index rose 939.35 points at the close on Wednesday (the 28th), ending at 47,035.58 points.
Tu Chin-lung revealed that he had bought 台積電 shares at around NT$2,420 and NT$2,390.
Tu Chin-lung maintained his view that the broader market could climb to between 53,000 and 60,000 points before May 2027.
Analysts raised 南亞科’s target price to NT$570.
南亞 has performed strongly this year, benefiting from cross-shareholdings and an increase in net asset value per share, with its target price seen at over NT$400.
Wang Hsin-yi and Chiang Wan-an both draw number 5! The only KMT councilor with the same ballot number as the mayor aims for both to win reelection
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Wang Hsin-yi, a KMT candidate for the Taipei City Council, drew number 5 in the ballot-number draw for the 2026 nine-in-one elections, matching Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s number. Wang called it a good omen and pledged to continue serving residents in the Da’an and Wenshan districts, hoping they would both win reelection.
Facts
Wang Hsin-yi drew number 5 in the ballot-number draw for Taipei City Council candidates in the 2026 nine-in-one elections.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an also drew number 5 in the election.
Wang Hsin-yi is the only KMT Taipei City Council candidate with the same ballot number as Chiang Wan-an.
Wang Hsin-yi has long focused on serving the Da’an and Wenshan districts.
Voting day for the 2026 nine-in-one elections is set for Nov. 28.
New Taipei dominates with two sports titles! Zhuwei wins rugby championship, while Hsing Wu women’s soccer team goes undefeated to claim the title
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih recognized the Zhuwei High School rugby team and Hsing Wu High School women’s soccer team at a city government meeting for winning championships, presenting each with NT$200,000 in training funds. Zhuwei High School went undefeated in five matches in the year 115 national rugby league, while Hsing Wu High School won all four of its matches in the National Youth Cup, showcasing the strength of school sports in New Taipei.
Facts
Zhuwei High School’s boys’ rugby team won the year 115 national rugby league championship with five straight wins.
Hsing Wu High School’s women’s soccer team won the National Youth Cup soccer championship with four straight wins.
New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih awarded NT$200,000 in training funds to the championship teams.
In year 113, New Taipei opened Taiwan’s first international-standard artificial-turf rugby field.
The Zhuwei High School rugby team was founded 11 years ago and won the championship this year with an unbeaten record.
If Taiwan’s economy is doing so well, why is the New Taiwan dollar steadily weakening? Yang Chin-long says he can “sleep soundly” and has set no specific defense line
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long told the Legislative Yuan that foreign investors had made more than US$200 billion in profits from the Taiwan stock market’s rally and remitted large sums abroad, exceeding Taiwan’s trade surplus and causing the New Taiwan dollar to weaken. The central bank has set no specific defense line, intervening only to stabilize the exchange rate when the market behaves abnormally.
Facts
This year, foreign investors’ profits from Taiwan stocks have exceeded US$200 billion, surpassing Taiwan’s trade surplus.
The New Taiwan dollar briefly approached the 32.7-per-dollar mark, with the high-low spread exceeding NT$1 in just one month.
Taiwan’s trade surplus in the first three quarters was about US$160.5 billion, compared with South Korea’s roughly US$49.8 billion.
Original台灣外匯存底目前約八成配置於美元資產。
Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long delivered a business report to the Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee.
Taiwan stocks climbed from just over 27,000 points to more than 49,000 points, gaining over 20,000 points during the rally.
Foreign investors remitted as much as US$127 billion out of South Korea in the first 8 months of this year.
A Terminator plot come true? Hackers build “autonomous AI attack agents” that launch sweeping attacks without human involvement
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
In summer 2026, 賽門鐵克 uncovered a hacker-built autonomous attack AI agent in “Skynet mode.” The tool hijacks unprotected LLM endpoints through LLMjacking and uses jailbreak prompts to force models to ignore safety restrictions, autonomously planning and carrying out attacks such as scanning, intrusion, crypto mining and data theft, with the aim of obtaining free inference computing resources.
Facts
In summer 2026, 賽門鐵克’s threat hunting team fully captured the command set of a hacker-built autonomous attack AI agent by deploying honeypot systems disguised as unprotected AI services.
The operator described the tool as having a “Skynet mode,” and the hijacked model plans and directs the entire attack process.
Attackers use “LLMjacking” techniques to scan for and hijack OpenAI-compatible API services without authentication, self-hosted LLM servers, enterprise AI gateways, testing environments, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.
In “Skynet mode,” agents are authorized to execute up to 100,000 consecutive steps without seeking confirmation or waiting for approval from a human operator.
Xi Jinping Rarely Pressures Japan’s Sitting Leaders! Japan Recognizes Beijing as the Sole Government, But What About Taiwan? Xi Demands Adherence to the Four Sino-Japanese Political Documents
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Xi Jinping used a condolence message on the death of Yasuo Fukuda to make a rare call for Japan’s incumbent leaders to adhere to the four Sino-Japanese political documents, a move interpreted as a warning over Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. Relations between China and Japan have deteriorated over the Taiwan issue, high-level dialogue has stalled, and the prospects for talks at APEC remain unclear.
Facts
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a condolence message to the family of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on October 27, urging Japan to adhere to the four political documents between China and Japan.
Kyodo News said Xi Jinping used the condolence message to urge the Takaichi government to act cautiously on the Taiwan issue.
In the 1972 Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Japan said it “fully understands and respects” China’s position on Taiwan, rather than explicitly recognizing it.
Sanae Takaichi said in parliament on November 7, 2025, that a Chinese military blockade of Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed that Japan is coordinating its attendance at the APEC leaders’ summit to be held in Shenzhen in November.
Arrangements for a bilateral meeting between Xi and Takaichi are still under discussion, and Beijing has yet to give an official answer on whether it will agree.
Shen Boyang, Chiang Wan-an and 1,573 Others’ “ID Numbers Leaked”! Central Election Commission Quickly Launches Probe, Initial Cause Revealed
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
A contractor’s negligence put the personal information of 1,573 candidates at potential risk of exposure through the Central Election Commission’s asset declaration system. The commission has made emergency fixes and launched an investigation.
Facts
The Taiwan Forward Alliance said background data on the webpage of the Central Election Commission’s asset declaration system, which went online on October 16, exposed the ID numbers of 1,573 candidates.
The Central Election Commission’s preliminary assessment is that the leak occurred because its contractor loaded ID numbers into a non-public search file.
The Central Election Commission has suspended its public announcement website and is revising the program to block the data leak.
The Central Election Commission stressed that candidates’ ID numbers do not appear on the public search page or in downloaded PDF files.
The Central Election Commission has launched an investigation and will proceed in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act.
Get Your ID Card Ready! “Match the Letters in Your ID Number” for Lobster, Steak on Your Birthday, and All-You-Can-Eat Deals: October Restaurant Offers Across Taiwan
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Several well-known restaurant groups are offering limited-time deals in October 2026, including lobster from 夏慕尼 based on ID numbers, a name-based offer from 王品牛排, and a discounted A5 wagyu deal at 屋馬燒肉. In addition, 森森燒肉, 肉次方 and other barbecue and hot pot restaurants are offering receipt redemptions, movie tie-ins, and birthday discounts.
Facts
夏慕尼 has launched a “Find HONEY Across Taiwan” promotion. Customers whose ID numbers contain any 2 of the specified HONEY520 digits can receive 1 Boston lobster when dining in and ordering 2 set meals.
王品牛排 is offering a name-based promotion: customers whose names include characters such as “王” or “玉” can receive an Italian seafood platter worth NT$689 when dining in and ordering 2 set meals.
During 屋馬燒肉’s October National Day promotion, Japanese A5 rib-eye steak is available at a special price of NT$1,010.
For the fifth installment of 森森燒肉’s appreciation promotion, customers can redeem A5 wagyu lace-cut thick steak worth up to NT$1,168 with qualifying receipts.
肉次方燒肉放題 has teamed up with the film Godzilla-0.0 to offer a co-branded set meal, featuring services such as Godzilla-themed tableside slicing from a meat cart.
When Will Pay Raises and Pension Increases for Military, Civil Service and Education Personnel Take Effect? Bill Has Sat at Executive Yuan for 4 Months; Personnel Directorate Reveals Reason for Delay
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration said the draft Act on Adjustments to Remuneration for Military, Civil Service and Education Personnel was approved by the Executive Yuan on June 8, 2026, but has not been sent to the Legislative Yuan because other urgent bills are being prioritized and the government is still reviewing its legislative schedule. KMT legislator Hsu Yu-chen criticized the slow progress and urged the opposition to push for a CPI threshold to be written into law, while the personnel agency warned that a formula-based system could affect resource allocation.
Facts
Su Chun-jung, head of the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, confirmed that the draft Act on Adjustments to Remuneration for Military, Civil Service and Education Personnel was approved at an Executive Yuan meeting on June 8, 2026.
The draft is still being reviewed and scheduled because more urgent and unexpected major bills have come before the Executive Yuan. It has not yet been sent to the Legislative Yuan for review.
KMT legislator Hsu Yu-chen criticized the Executive Yuan for moving too slowly months after the bill was proposed and urged it to send the draft to the Legislative Yuan for review as soon as possible.
A draft proposed by opposition legislator Weng Hsiao-ling calls for remuneration adjustments when the cumulative CPI growth rate reaches 3%, or at least a review every 4 years.
Chang Chiu-yuan, deputy head of the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, said fixed formulas are rarely used under the current system so the Executive Yuan can take the allocation of national resources as a whole into account.
Original人事總處透露未來將設立「軍公教員工待遇諮詢委員會」，基層代表預計占約2成。
Kao Shih-nan, deputy president of the Republic of China Joint Association of Civil Servants, Teachers, Military, Police and Firefighters, recommended including representatives of military, civil service and education personnel, with employee representatives and outside experts together accounting for more than half.
Shen Boyang Was Just Starting Out on the Campaign Trail When “Su Chiao-hui Personally Taught Him to Street Canvass,” Tsai Ing-wen Praises Her: “She Taught Him to Be a Current”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
DPP New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui and former president Tsai Ing-wen visited a temple in Luzhou together on the 28th. Tsai praised Su’s record of service in New Taipei and revealed that Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang’s campaign foundations came from Su’s guidance. Su said her team had assembled a strong lineup and put forward several policy proposals on the economy and local development, vowing to campaign with a positive and upbeat attitude.
Facts
Tsai Ing-wen said Su Chiao-hui had served New Taipei for more than 10 years and had spent more than 800 days visiting all 29 districts.
Tsai Ing-wen said Su Chiao-hui had guided Shen Boyang in street canvassing and interacting with voters when he first started campaigning.
A large-scale campaign motorcade event organized by Su Chiao-hui’s team attracted more than ten thousand viewers via a YouTube livestream.
Tsai Ing-wen called Shen Boyang “the current,” describing him as a product of Su Chiao-hui’s teaching.
Su Chiao-hui proposed the “Diamond Mountain City” and “New Crown Coast Plan” to connect New Taipei’s mountain and coastal resources.
More Childcare, Parenting and Community Services for the Tianzhong Area: Public Childcare Center, Parent-Child Center and Community Activity Center Officially Open
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Changhua County Government opened a new multipurpose public service facility in Tianzhong Township on the 28th, bringing together a childcare center, parent-child center and community activity center. The project aims to address the declining birthrate, provide affordable childcare and improve local community resources.
Facts
The Changhua County Government held a joint opening ceremony on the morning of the 28th for the Tianzhong publicly built and privately operated childcare center, parenting and parent-child center, and community activity center.
Monthly childcare fees at the Tianzhong Childcare Center are NT$7,000, and parents pay nothing after subsidies are deducted.
The Tianzhong facility cost NT$93.55 million, including NT$34.92 million in central government subsidies and NT$58.63 million in county funding.
The Tianzhong Childcare Center is on the 1st floor and can accommodate 60 infants and toddlers.
Changhua County plans to establish at least 40 publicly built and privately operated childcare centers and 21 parenting and parent-child centers in the future.
Miaoli Tech Firm 群聯電子 Presents “Woven Light Core” Lantern Art, Blending Bamboo Weaving Imagery at Taiwan Lantern Festival
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Miaoli, where 群聯電子 has been invited to create the “Woven Light Core” installation for the corporate lantern zone. Centered on the company’s Pascari enterprise SSD, the installation combines bamboo-weaving techniques with technological lighting effects to showcase the fusion of Miaoli’s technology and culture.
Facts
The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Miaoli, with 群聯電子 invited to participate in the corporate lantern display area.
群聯電子's lantern installation features the Pascari enterprise-grade SSD as its visual centerpiece.
The lantern installation blends imagery inspired by traditional bamboo weaving with technological lighting effects.
Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin said 群聯電子 is a publicly listed technology company rooted in Miaoli and reaching out to the world.
Flowing bamboo-weave structures extend from both sides of the lantern installation, symbolizing data connectivity and information transmission.
The installation features metallic grilles and layers of upward-reaching light beams, symbolizing the company's ongoing innovation and steady growth.
2026 Asian University Women's Softball Championship closes; Nantou County links international sporting events with talent development
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The 2026 Asian University Women's Softball Championship closed in Nantou County, with Japan taking the title. The international event fostered exchanges among university players from across Asia. The Nantou County Government said it would continue to build on the local softball foundation and seek more opportunities for international exchanges to raise the county's international profile.
Facts
The 2026 Asian University Women's Softball Championship was held from Oct. 22 to 26 at Fuxing Softball Stadium in Puli, Nantou County.
A total of 7 teams took part in this year's event, representing Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India and Chinese Taipei.
Japan won gold, the Philippines silver and Chinese Taipei bronze.
Japan's KURITA MARINA was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after hitting three home runs.
Chinese Taipei's Kao Pei-chun also won the batting and runs-batted-in titles.
The Rising Star awards went to seven players from different countries and regions.
Nantou County Deputy Magistrate Wang Jui-te attended the closing ceremony on behalf of County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua.
Do employers bear the full cost of bringing migrant workers to Taiwan, up to NT$190,000? Online claims say 3 major industries could be hit; experts reveal the actual costs and regulations
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Ministry of Labor clarified that the 2027 zero-fee policy for migrant workers applies only to manufacturing and fishing, rejecting online claims that the NT$190,000 figure is a current, unreasonable brokerage fee. Future B2B direct hiring will reduce costs.
Facts
Starting in 2027, the Ministry of Labor will pilot a system in which employers cover the costs of recruiting migrant workers, but it will apply only to manufacturing and fishing, not construction or domestic workers.
Overseas recruitment service fees are usually equivalent to 1 month's wages for a migrant worker, in accordance with the source country's regulations.
A U.S. nongovernmental organization's investigation report said migrant workers coming to Taiwan for employment may have to pay as much as US$6,000 (about NT$190,000).
The Taiwan-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) requires Taiwan to implement a "zero-fee policy for migrant workers" within 3 years.
The manufacturing industry categories defined in the current reference guidelines are those registered under the "C major category" in the commercial and industrial registry.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for several villages in Fengyuan District, Taichung City, as crews repaired a broken pipe at No. 223, Yuanhuan South Road. The outage is scheduled from 16:06 to 20:00 on Oct. 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for Taoyuan City due to repairs to a leak at Lane 79, Jinshan Street, Pingzhen. The outage affects several villages in Zhongli and Pingzhen districts and is scheduled from 16:09 to 17:00 on Oct. 28, 2026.
All areas restored (Yilan County, Nantou County, Pingtung County, Miaoli County, Taoyuan City, Keelung City, Yunlin County, New Taipei City, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Changhua County, Taichung City, Taipei City)
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 國家災害防救科技中心
國家通訊傳播委員會 issued an update saying that landline communication outages in Yilan County, Nantou County, Pingtung County and several other areas had all been repaired.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage notice for several villages in Zhushan Township, Nantou County, as crews repair a broken pipe on Dazhong Road. Affected areas include Xiaping, Zhongshan, Zhonghe, Zhongqi, Zhushan, Zhuwei, Yanhe and Yunlin villages. The outage is scheduled from 15:41 to 18:30 on Oct. 28, 2026.
To improve water quality and strengthen supply stability in the Shulin area, 台灣自來水公司 will coordinate with Phase (2) of the MRT Yongqian advancement project to carry out a water shutdown for the connection work on the 1350mm pipeline on Daan Road.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for parts of Miaoli City, Miaoli County, as pipeline repairs affect Zhongmiao and Qingmiao villages. The outage is scheduled from 15:14 to 18:00 on Oct. 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for repairs to a 50mmPVCP pipeline at the Erkengpu pressurization station in Qingshan Village, Dongshan District, Tainan City.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage update for Tianxin Village, Daxi District, Taoyuan City, due to routine leak repairs in front of No. 2, Lane 70, Zhonghua Road. The outage is scheduled from 14:20 to 20:30 on Oct. 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage update for Douliu City, Yunlin County, affecting Bade and Wenhua villages. The outage is scheduled from 14:43 to 17:00 on Oct. 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 is carrying out pipe disconnection and connection work for a water supply extension project in Fanlong Village and other areas of Changzhi Township, Pingtung County, resulting in partial water outages and reduced water pressure in the area.
台灣自來水公司 is conducting a district metering and leak-sealing test on the water network in Dachi, Chixi and Chidong villages, Xiyu Township, Penghu County, resulting in a water outage.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City, as crews repair a leaking pipeline at the intersection of Nansan Road in the Qianzhen Export Processing Zone. The outage affects Zhenbei Village and is scheduled from 13:30 to 17:00 on Oct. 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage notice for Guashan, Shishan, Xinshan, Tongshan and Lianxin villages in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, as crews repair a broken pipe on Fifth Road. The outage is scheduled from 13:34 to 16:30 on Oct. 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for several villages in Guanmiao District, Tainan City, due to emergency repairs to a broken pipe. Affected areas include Songjiao, Huayuan and Xiangyang villages. Water service is expected to resume at 17:00 on Oct. 28, 2026.
A regional water outage will be implemented in Zhongren Village, Chenggong Township, Taitung County, to allow temporary pipeline relocation for a drainage ditch repair project by 成功鎮公所.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for Xiaguoli in Bali District and Taipingli in Linkou District, New Taipei City, due to emergency repairs to a burst pipe. The outage will last from 12:37 to 17:00 on October 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 is carrying out emergency repairs to a leak beside No. 38-16, Baiji Road, in Sanxia District, causing a water outage in Dapuli, Zhongzhengli and Jiatianli in Sanxia District, New Taipei City. The outage will last from 12:21 to 17:00 on October 28, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for parts of Minxiong Township and Xingang Township in Chiayi County due to emergency repairs to a leak in front of No. 209, Niudoushan. The affected areas include Shanzhong Village and Sanjian Village. The outage takes effect from noon to five in the afternoon on October 28, 2026.
Israel Election: Opposition Holds Narrow Lead; Exit Polls and Possible Post-Election Scenarios ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Israeli election exit polls show the opposition “Change Bloc” alliance, led by Gadi Eisenkot, narrowly leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc by about 2 to 3 seats. Voter turnout hit its highest level since 1999. With no single party securing a majority, an alliance of Arab parties could play a key role, and the final results will take several days to confirm.
Facts
Narrowly leads Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc by about 2 to 3 seats
Voter turnout in this election reached 77.7%
The highest level in the country since 1999
Since the war with Hamas began in October 2023
The Israeli parliament (Knesset) has 120 seats
A majority (61 seats) is needed to form a government
The opposition bloc is projected to win as many as 52 to 53 seats
Residents Complain of Persistent Unexplained Odors in Xinying; Tainan Environmental Protection Bureau: Inspections to Be Stepped Up ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Residents in Xinying District have long been troubled by unexplained odors. Tainan’s Environmental Protection Bureau said the district received 848 environmental nuisance complaints from January to September this year, and 400 cases have been cited, with fines exceeding NT$5.57 million. The bureau said it will combine AI with sensor technology to step up inspections, while the Agriculture Bureau will help livestock farms improve odor-control equipment.
Facts
An unusual foul odor appeared in Xinying for 14 days
The odor problem has actually persisted for more than 10 years
In the past 1 to 2 months
From January to September this year, the 4 districts of Xinying, Yanshui, Liujia and Liuying received a total of 1,568 environmental nuisance complaints
Xinying District alone accounted for 848 cases
The Environmental Protection Bureau has cited 400 cases
環境部 and 北科大 Sign Memorandum of Cooperation to Promote Smart Energy Efficiency and Climate-Resilient Governance ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming said 環境部 and 北科大 signed a memorandum of cooperation to promote smart energy efficiency and climate-resilient governance. In the future, technology will be used to improve urban energy efficiency, create digital ID cards for urban trees, and conduct visual simulations using digital twin systems to optimize urban greening and environmental planning.
Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation Compiles 20 Years of Records, Confirms Resident Beaked Whale Population off Hualien and Taitung ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation compiled 20 years of records, confirming a resident population of goose-beaked whales off Hualien and Taitung. Image comparisons identified at least 26 individuals, with some records spanning more than 10 years.
Groups Criticize Southern Taiwan Science Park’s 4th-Phase Development Project for Threatening Grass Owls, Urge Creation of a Conservation Area ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Typhoon Waves Knock Crane Truck into Sea at Harbor Entrance; Salvage at Fugang Fishing Harbor Expected Today ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
A crane truck was swept into the sea by typhoon-driven waves at Fugang Fishing Harbor, obstructing the channel. After coordination between the county government and the contractor, divers helped locate the truck during the day on the 28th, and a tugboat successfully lifted the crane ashore. The truck’s chassis is still being salvaged. Ferry departures have been delayed, disrupting services between Green Island and the mainland and affecting visitors’ itineraries.
Survey on Parent-Teacher Relationships in Preschools Finds Developmental Assessment Recommendations Most Likely to Affect Relations ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
A survey by 信誼基金會 found differences between preschool teachers and parents in their views on cooperation. Teachers’ recommendations for assessments of children’s development were the biggest factor affecting parent-teacher relationships.
Taichung Girl Shouted at and Slapped by Father in Public; Social Affairs Bureau Steps In and Orders Parenting Education ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
A girl in Taichung was shouted at and slapped by her father in public after she failed to bring her medication, causing her to fall. 台中市社會局 proactively visited the family and confirmed the girl’s safety. It will order the father to attend parenting education under the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act. Social welfare groups urged early intervention through a 3-tier prevention support network to prevent cycles of violence and childhood trauma.
Yilan Longqing Community Cafeteria Subsidy Is NT$30 per Person per Meal; Representatives Urge Increase to NT$50 Amid Rising Prices ｜ 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Yilan County currently subsidizes its senior dining halls NT$30 per person per meal. Rising prices have increased the burden on communities, prompting local representatives to recommend raising the subsidy to NT$50. The county government said this year's subsidy has already been increased by NT$10 and decided to provide an additional month of administrative funding before the end of the year to help communities.
Fire engulfs 400 square meters at garment factory warehouse in Luzhu, Kaohsiung | 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
A fire broke out at a garment factory warehouse in Luzhu, Kaohsiung, on the evening of the 27th, burning an area of about 400 square meters. Firefighters dispatched 23 vehicles and 62 personnel to battle the blaze. There were no casualties, and the fire was extinguished shortly before 11 p.m.
Road Traffic Act does not specify controlled drugs; police urge 交通部 to improve regulations | PTS News PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Police said the Road Traffic Act does not clearly define which substances are controlled drugs, making enforcement difficult. They have sent a letter recommending that 交通部 improve the regulations; 交通部 responded that it would arrange a meeting to discuss the matter.
Facts
A single-vehicle crash occurred in the early hours of the 28th
North Korea deploys 3 self-propelled guns near border; South Korea assesses them as older models | 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
South Korea believes North Korea has deployed 3 older 122mm self-propelled howitzers near the border. The move is seen as a diplomatic gesture accompanying Pyongyang's protest to the 聯合國安理會 over South Korea's landmine case, intended to intimidate on both military and political fronts.
Legislature again invites report on Songshan Airport relocation plan; Civil Aviation Administration warns it may reduce flight efficiency at Taoyuan Airport | PTS News PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
交通部民航局 reported to 立法院 on the relocation of Songshan Airport, saying differences in aircraft types could reduce flight efficiency at 桃園機場 to fewer than 30 movements per hour. Legislators raised concerns about transportation arrangements, while the chairman of 桃園機場 said there was room for development. On the return of Taiwanese airlines to Russian airspace, 交通部民航局 emphasized that operators would make their own assessments and decisions.
Taiwan dollar weakens against U.S. dollar; Yang Chin-long says central bank is responding with the 'willow theory' | 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Central bank Governor Yang Chin-long told the Legislative Yuan that, in response to fluctuations in the Taiwan dollar exchange rate, the central bank was intervening as needed under its 'willow theory' to maintain stability. He said foreign investors taking profits was the main reason for the currency's weakness and denied that the market was experiencing a cash crunch, saying tight liquidity was due to AI expansion investments and a buoyant Taiwan stock market.
Facts
At one point, it reached an intraday high of 46,949 points
Rose by more than 850 points
At one point, it reached NT$32.398
Rose 5.4 cents
This year (2026)
South Korean stocks rose by more than 6% at one point during the session
Japanese stocks rose by nearly 1,000 points at one point during the session
South Korea's currency rose 9.23% against the trend
The Taiwan dollar has depreciated 3.22% since the start of this year
11 suspects indicted for beating Yunlin township representative over cuts to sanitation team budget | PTS News PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Lin Yi-min, a representative of Baozhong Township in Yunlin County, cut the sanitation team's budget, angering a man surnamed Chen. The latter led friends into Lin's home, where they beat him and damaged property. Prosecutors indicted 11 people on charges including disrupting public order and assault.