Taunted by the “Fortune God president” to “knock him down,” 張啓楷 holds a gold ingot and jokes, “We’re in the same line of work,” urging less division and more good fortune in the Chiayi election
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Chiayi City mayoral candidate 張啓楷 was taunted by his opponent 黃宏成 to “knock him down” during the ballot-number draw on the 27th. 張啓楷 responded with a humorous video of himself holding a gold ingot, calling the two of them colleagues and urging less division in the campaign, with a focus on local development and budget issues.
Facts
Candidates in the Chiayi City mayoral election drew their ballot numbers on the 27th, and independent candidate 黃宏成 shouted at 張啓楷 at the event.
張啓楷 drew number 3 and released a short video response of about 25 seconds.
In the short video, 張啓楷 holds a gold ingot, calls 黃宏成 a “colleague,” and says he will help the Chiayi City Government find funding and save on its budget.
張啓楷 stressed that Chiayi is his home, saying he was born in Dongshi and attended Chiayi Senior High School.
張啓楷 urged candidates to campaign with less division and more good fortune, and to return to discussions of development, budgets and policy platforms.
Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau honors 14 worker-friendly companies, from reduced hours for parents to intergenerational inclusion, to create happy workplaces
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Kaohsiung City Government Labor Affairs Bureau honored 14 worker-friendly companies for promoting reduced working hours for parents, gender diversity and intergenerational inclusion to create happy workplaces.
Facts
Through its 115 “Little Labor Hero, Warm Heart City Project,” the Kaohsiung City Government Labor Affairs Bureau encouraged companies to improve workplace environments and employee support measures. This year, 14 outstanding businesses were selected.
一卡通票證公司 offers employees caring for children under 12 the option to reduce their working hours, exceeding legal requirements.
宜家家居高雄分公司 established an LGBTQ＋ employee group and promoted Rainbow Month activities to foster a workplace culture that respects differences and embraces diversity.
陽明馬光中醫診所, 敦瀚股份有限公司 and 富聯智科股份有限公司 promote interaction among employees of different age groups through cross-generational collaboration and the sharing of experience.
Kaohsiung's unemployment rate has been the lowest in the nation for 2 consecutive years, and the Labor Affairs Bureau will continue encouraging companies to invest in worker-friendly workplaces.
Kaohsiung Green Building Awards honor 20 outstanding projects, combining smart technology, energy efficiency and greenery to create a sustainable, livable city
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Kaohsiung City Government Public Works Bureau held the 15th Kaohsiung Green Building Awards on the 29th, honoring 20 outstanding projects. A forum explored smart governance and sustainable development, with the aim of strengthening the connection between buildings and nature and creating a livable city.
Facts
The Kaohsiung City Government Public Works Bureau held the awards ceremony for the 15th Kaohsiung Green Building Awards and the Kaohsiung Green Building Forum on the 29th.
A total of 20 outstanding building projects won awards this year, showcasing Kaohsiung's achievements in building greening and energy-efficient design.
3 projects won awards in the nonresidential category: the classrooms at Dominican International School, the kindergarten at Renwu Elementary School and the library and information building at Linyuan Senior High School.
About 60 to 80 people from government, industry and academia attended the Kaohsiung Green Building Forum to discuss smart buildings and sustainable cities.
Experts from the Ministry of the Interior's Architecture and Building Research Institute shared how building information modeling (BIM) and digital twin technology are used for building energy efficiency and smart governance.
Public Works Bureau Director 楊欽富 said the city government continues to promote its Kaohsiung Green Building policy, encouraging buildings to incorporate landscaped balconies, greenery and energy-efficient design.
Pakistan's policy changes “by the day”! Less than a day after refusing Taiwan, aviation authority formally allows China Airlines and EVA Air to fly through its airspace
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
After Pakistan's defense minister declared that the country would follow the one-China principle and refuse Taiwanese airlines, its Civil Aviation Authority issued a document just one day later allowing China Airlines and EVA Air to fly through its airspace from 2026 to 2027. The policy reversal leaves China Airlines and EVA Air, which had rerouted to avoid Russia, facing route adjustments and highlights the major impact of geopolitics on airline operating costs.
Facts
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority has formally allowed 中華航空 and 長榮航空 to use its airspace from Oct. 28, 2026, to Mar. 27, 2027.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Asif previously said that the country's civil aviation authorities followed the one-China principle and allowed only Chinese airlines to fly through its airspace.
China Airlines and EVA Air have not flown through Pakistani airspace since the morning of Oct. 25.
The ban forced at least a dozen flights operated by the 2 airlines between Asia and Europe to reroute through Russian airspace or other countries in the Middle East.
With international crude oil prices remaining near $115 a barrel, rerouting would bring a heavy operating burden.
On Oct. 24 alone, China Airlines and EVA Air had 14 flights fly through Pakistani airspace.
Results announced for the 2026 New Taipei VentureStar startup competition finals; 侯友宜 hopes mentorship will help young people expand entrepreneurial opportunities
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The New Taipei City Government held the 2026 VentureStar New Taipei Startup Star Challenge finals on the 29th, with Mayor 侯友宜 presenting awards to the top 3. This year, the competition introduced an in-depth mentorship program for the first time. The championship went to 星相科技, and total prize money reached NT$600,000, in a bid to support young entrepreneurs.
Facts
The New Taipei City Government held the finals and awards ceremony for the “2026 VentureStar New Taipei Startup Star Challenge” on the 29th.
The champion of the competition was 星相科技股份有限公司.
Total prize money for the top 3 in the competition was NT$600,000.
The competition introduced a venture capital mentorship program for the first time to guide startup teams.
Premier 卓榮泰 said concrete measures to strengthen protections for military personnel, civil servants and teachers had been proposed, and that a revised bill would be proposed depending on the outcome of constitutional interpretation.
The Executive Yuan added that over the next 50 years, the combined decline in fund revenue and increase in expenditure would exceed NT$170 billion.
The Ministry of the Interior said the narrowing gap between pensions and current salaries could prompt serving police officers to retire early and affect public safety work.
The National Association of Retired Police Officers of the Republic of China stressed that pensions and the current police workforce are 2 separate issues.
The president promulgated the amended provisions on April 25, 2025, and they took effect on April 27.
30 days to go in the campaign! 蘇巧慧 hits Sanchong Fruit and Vegetable Market at 5 a.m.; vendors present a 68-centimeter sugarcane wishing her “success at every step”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
With 30 days remaining in the campaign, Democratic Progressive Party New Taipei mayoral candidate 蘇巧慧 canvassed at Sanchong Fruit and Vegetable Market and received sugarcane and other auspicious gifts from vendors. 蘇巧慧 pledged to advance “Sanchong 2.0” and urged residents to vote for the New Taipei team on Nov. 28.
Facts
The 2026 New Taipei mayoral race entered its final 30-day sprint, and Democratic Progressive Party candidate 蘇巧慧 went canvassing at Sanchong Fruit and Vegetable Market before 5 a.m. on the 29th.
Vendors specially prepared an auspicious sugarcane stalk measuring 68 centimeters, wishing 蘇巧慧 “success at every step” in the election.
New Taipei City Fruit and Vegetable Association Chairman 陳建宏 presented her with a daikon radish symbolizing “good luck.”
蘇巧慧 joined forces with people including Legislator 李坤城 and City Councilor 顏蔚慈 to rally support for the mayoral and council races.
蘇巧慧 hopes to advance “Sanchong 2.0” to improve local amenities and the quality of public services.
Kaohsiung AI lighthouse takes the international stage! 陳其邁 joins forces with 輝達 to build a city governance brain
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The Kaohsiung City Government held a showcase of its AI lighthouse achievements on the 29th, working with 輝達 and other companies to demonstrate generative AI applications in traffic, roads, flood prevention and environmental governance, shifting city management from reactive measures to proactive warnings.
Facts
The Kaohsiung AI Lighthouse Project is one of the world’s earliest and largest city-level sovereign AI projects.
AI traffic management can detect road network anomalies 14 minutes in advance.
The time from detecting a pothole to dispatching a repair crew can be as little as about 2 minutes.
The flood monitoring system integrates more than 400 water-level monitoring stations and over 13,000 cameras.
During the heavy rain events this August, AI proactively detected 52% of all incidents.
After an environmental anomaly is detected, images from the scene and its location can be sent within 30 seconds.
The Public Works Bureau collects road images using mobile platforms, including 45 buses, and 135 cameras.
Europe’s historical take on Breaking Bad: Robert Lepage’s latest work gets an exclusive 5-hour run at the National Taichung Theater
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Canadian director Robert Lepage’s epic play Faith, Money, War and Love, created in collaboration with 柏林雷寧廣場劇院, will make its Asian premiere at 臺中國家歌劇院 in late November. The 5-hour production combines technology and storytelling to explore human nature and issues of the times.
Facts
Robert Lepage’s new work Faith, Money, War and Love will make its Asian premiere at 臺中國家歌劇院 from Nov. 27 to 29.
The play runs for 5 hours, with 7 actors portraying more than 60 characters.
The plot is structured around the four suits of playing cards, each representing a major theme: hearts for love, clubs for faith, spades for war, and diamonds for money.
The New York Times and Germany’s Berliner Morgenpost praised the play, commending its stage presentation and performance efficiency.
Robert Lepage is known for blending technology with theatrical imagination; this production uses 4 rotating screens to change scenes.
Chen Ting-fei sweeps from the Greater Beimen and Greater Nanke areas to the mountain districts, pledging to get ahead of transportation needs and connect Xibei and Xinan to drive local development
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Democratic Progressive Party Tainan mayoral candidate Chen Ting-fei canvassed on the 29th, linking the Greater Beimen and Greater Nanke areas with the mountain districts. She stressed the need to get ahead of transportation infrastructure, including railway undergrounding and metro network development, and proposed five major tourism routes to drive local development. Her goal is a sweep for female mayors and councilors in the Nov. 28 election.
Facts
Chen Ting-fei began an intensive motorcade canvassing tour on the 29th, covering the Greater Beimen area, the Greater Nanke area, and the mountain districts.
At 9:30 a.m., Chen Ting-fei set off from the Xigang Bridge meeting point to canvass alongside candidates for city council in District 2, including Tsai Chiu-lan, Tsai Su-chiu-chin, and Hsieh Shu-fan.
At 2 p.m., Chen Ting-fei headed to the Greater Nanke area, accompanied by District 5 city council candidates Chen Bi-yu, Li Wei-chih, Lin Chih-chan, and Yu Zhu-qing.
Chen Ting-fei advocates extending the second phase of Tainan’s railway undergrounding project toward Yongkang, followed by railway grade separation in Xinshi and Shanhua.
Chen Ting-fei urged voters to support mayoral candidate No. ③ Chen Ting-fei and Democratic Progressive Party council candidates on the Nov. 28 election day.
Chen Ting-fei proposed five major tourism routes to connect the distinctive features of different parts of Tainan and integrate local resources.
Basketball meets anti-drug and financial education: CTBC’s “Pass the Ball with Love” project honored by the Ministry of Education
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
中國信託銀行’s “Pass the Ball with Love” project combines basketball, anti-drug education, and financial education to support students needing additional care. It has won the Ministry of Education’s Outstanding Organization Award for 2 consecutive years, and was the only private-sector organization honored this year. It has helped more than 3,600 students in total.
Facts
中國信託銀行’s “Pass the Ball with Love” project combines basketball, anti-drug education, and financial education, working with junior high school student assistance classes and schools serving students needing additional care across Taiwan to reduce the risk of students dropping out.
中國信託銀行 has won the Ministry of Education’s “Outstanding Organization Award for National Dropout Prevention and School Re-entry Counseling” for 2 consecutive years, and was the only private-sector organization honored this year.
Since its launch in 2022, the “Pass the Ball with Love” project has helped more than 3,600 students and received recognition through 8 awards at home and abroad.
The project works with 23 junior high schools across Taiwan and has teamed up with 新北中信特攻職業籃球隊 to bring professional basketball players to schools to practice with and support students.
In August, CTBC invited NBA star Jimmy Butler to serve as head coach of a charity basketball camp promoting anti-drug education.
The project runs camps, board games, and other programs through 中國信託反毒教育基金會 to help children develop self-protection awareness.
Financial education instructors at 中國信託文薈館 teach students about money management, responsible spending, and living within their means.
Israel election》Possible “foreign interference”? TV station names Qatar as Central Elections Committee orders probe into illegal funding sources
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
Israeli Central Elections Committee Chairman Solberg ordered the Shin Bet to investigate allegations that Qatar and other foreign actors sought to interfere in the election through illegal funding. Suspects were also arrested in a vote-buying case involving an Arab party. The far right called for arrests to be expanded, while the opposition stressed the need to safeguard the integrity of the election.
Facts
N12 reported that Qatar was the foreign actor, allegedly channeling funds through underground moneylenders and illegal currency exchange networks to influence Arab voters.
Israeli police arrested several suspects for questioning over alleged vote-buying on behalf of the Arab party “Joint List.”
As of the 28th, Israel had received 48 reports nationwide of suspected fraud and impersonation, down about 40% from the previous election.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged law enforcement agencies to broaden arrests to include members linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
10/29 International Evening Brief | U.S. Army Pacific commander: 2027 window for an attack on Taiwan “still stands”; Japan-Germany joint statement addresses Taiwan Strait; Hello Kitty pulled into China-Japan controversy as collaboration ends
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
The U.S. Army Pacific commander warned that the 2027 threat window remains in place, but intelligence agencies assess that China has no plans for an imminent invasion. A Japan-Germany joint statement focused on peace in the Taiwan Strait, while 三麗鷗 ended a collaboration amid cultural controversy.
Facts
U.S. Army Pacific Commander General Clark said the threat posed by the “Davidson window” remains in place.
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence assessed that China’s leader is not currently planning an invasion of Taiwan in 2027.
German Chancellor Merz and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued a joint statement by the leaders of Japan and Germany after their meeting.
三麗鷗 ended its Hello Kitty collaboration and apologized after the Japanese drama VIVANT sparked backlash in China.
U.S. Vice President Vance wrote to Iranian hardliners in an attempt to restart U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Who says everyday life isn’t exercise? New Taipei City’s “Everyday Fitness Champion” exhibition opens 10/30—unlock your strongest alter ego
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 風傳媒
新北市政府體育局 launched the “Everyday Fitness Champion” interactive exhibition on October 30, combining an online character quiz with in-person fitness challenges and linking sports centers across the city to encourage people to make exercise part of daily life.
Facts
The “Everyday Fitness Champion” interactive exhibition at the “2026 New Taipei City Expo” opens on October 30.
The exhibition is located on the 5th floor of the Sanchong Anxin Center in New Taipei City.
The online play-together experience features a fun 30-second quiz to create a personalized player character.
The on-site experience includes three fitness challenges: “Ninja Market,” “Three Treasures Crossing the Road,” and “Strange Laundromat.”
The citywide tour includes national sports centers in Linkou, Sanxia, Sanchong, Taishan, Tamsui, Banqiao, Yingge, and other areas.
Prizes include a Nintendo Switch 2 and a MacBook Neo.
Starting after November 13, the exhibition will remain open until 8 p.m. It is closed every Monday.
Baoshan No. 2 Reservoir (discharge to Shijing River): Free Overflow (Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County)
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 國家災害防救科技中心
水利署 announced that water is freely spilling from Baoshan Second Reservoir into Shijing Creek, affecting Baoshan and Emei townships in Hsinchu County and the East, North, and Xiangshan districts of Hsinchu City. Residents along the river are urged to exercise caution and stay away from the riverbed.
內政部消防署 issued a major fire incident alert for Annan District, Tainan. The fire was caused by weeds (including waste and a cemetery); severity: Minor. The public is advised to avoid the warning area.
Huoshan Reservoir (discharge to Beigang River): Free Overflow (Yunlin County, Chiayi County)
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 國家災害防救科技中心
水利署 issued an updated notice that water is freely spilling from Hushan Reservoir into the Beigang River, affecting multiple townships and cities in Yunlin and Chiayi counties. Residents along the river are urged to exercise caution and stay away from the riverbed.
To improve water quality and ensure a stable supply, 台灣自來水公司 will carry out district-metered network construction and pipeline equipment replacement projects in Changhua, Hemei, and other areas during fiscal year 114, requiring a temporary water shutdown for the work.
To improve supply stability and reduce the risk of pipeline leaks, 台灣自來水公司 will replace pipelines, including those on Fu’an 9th Street in Xitun District, Taichung City, from October 29 to 30, 2026.
台灣自來水公司 is replacing pipelines on Zhongzheng Road in Kouhu Township, Yunlin County, resulting in a water outage in Gangxi Village and Gangdong Village.
台灣自來水公司 issued a water outage alert for Yangmei District, Taoyuan City. A pipe rupture and related work will affect Zhongshan Village and Yangming Village from October 29 to 30, 2026.
A pipe broke due to vibrations from construction by another agency, prompting 台灣自來水公司 to issue a water outage alert for Zhengshun Village and Zhengxing Village in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City.
強生製藥 (4747) reports preliminary consolidated profit for the first 3 quarters of year 115 of NT$24.21 million, with after-tax earnings per share of NT$0.27 - 環球生技月刊
泰合生技 announced that originators Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against its 505(b)(2) new drug BEQIA (TAH3311), case number 1:26-cv-01374. The drug has entered substantive review by the FDA, with a target review completion date of April 22, 2027.
明基醫 (4116): Kaitu International board approves issuance of 3.4 million new shares at NT$35 per share, record date 11/27 - 環球生技月刊
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 環球生技月刊
明基醫 (4116) announced that its important subsidiary, Kaitu International, resolved at a board meeting on 115/10/29 to issue 4 million new shares in a cash capital increase at NT$35 per share to bolster working capital.
明基醫 (4116): Kaitu International board approves issuance of 3.4 million new shares at NT$35 per share, record date 11/27 - 環球生技月刊
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 環球生技月刊
明基醫 (4116) announced that its important subsidiary, Kaitu International, resolved at a board meeting on 115/10/29 to issue 4,000,000 new shares in a cash capital increase at NT$35 per share, for a total of NT$40,000,000, to bolster working capital.
Pakistan once barred Taiwan flights from its airspace citing “One China”; it has now again approved overflights by 華航 and EVA Air | 公視新聞 PNN
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 公視新聞
Pakistan once barred Taiwanese airlines from flying through its airspace under its “One China policy,” but withdrew the ban on the 28th and reissued overflight permits for 華航 and 長榮航空 through next March. The Executive Yuan criticized the move for politicizing airspace, while the Mainland Affairs Council warned that Beijing could continue urging other countries to isolate Taiwan. Experts said the move runs counter to the spirit of ICAO and would be difficult to sustain long term.
Facts
Early on the 29th
Pakistan confirmed on the 28th
Through next March
For the first time in 4 years
About 1 hour longer
When we were expelled from the United Nations in 1971
中選會 Chair 游盈隆 apologized over the leak of candidates’ personal data from the asset disclosure system, saying it was caused by an error by an Acer Information engineer at the contracted vendor. A total of 32 IP addresses have so far been identified as accessing the system to download data. 數發部 will help assess website security, and a “four-eyes principle” will be adopted to strengthen management in the future.
[Association Affairs Briefing] The 14th Medical Ethics and Discipline Committee held its 4th meeting
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中華民國醫師公會全國聯合會
中華民國醫師公會全國聯合會 held the 4th meeting of its 14th Medical Ethics and Discipline Committee on October 22, year 115, chaired by 王正旭 and 洪德仁, with guidance from 陳相國. The meeting reviewed issues including National Health Insurance violations, LDCT screening, a court ruling on ovarian cancer surgery and infection control at clinics. It recommended strengthening legal compliance education and outreach, and also discussed organ transplant disputes, courses on physicians’ commercial endorsements and procedures for revoking awards, to protect patient safety and uphold the medical profession’s standards.