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DPP New Taipei councilor Liao Yikun sent to prosecutors over alleged vote-buying

Democratic Progressive Party New Taipei City Councilor Liao Yikun is suspected of vote-buying by offering voters free knife-sharpening services and free banquets. The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed the Investigation Bureau's New Taipei City Office to carry out searches in multiple locations and summoned Liao, who was sent to prosecutors for further questioning early in the morning.

KMT Tainan city council candidate detained over alleged China trips for voters

Police and prosecutors allege that Weng Yuhan, a Kuomintang candidate for Tainan City Council, and an assistant surnamed Zheng recruited several local voters with voting rights in July and August of this year to join group tours to China. The trips were allegedly offered at low prices as a way to buy votes. The Tainan District Court ruled to detain Weng and Zheng without visitation rights.

Japanese and US defense chiefs meet in Philippines, focus on First Island Chain defense

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met US Secretary of War Hegseth in the Philippines on the 28th, with a focus on Taiwan Strait security. Amid China's increasingly assertive military activity, the two sides confirmed plans to strengthen defense cooperation along the First Island Chain, which extends from Japan's Kyushu and Okinawa through Taiwan to the Philippines. They set a shared goal of building denial deterrence capable of blocking an enemy attack.

European lawmakers' delegation backs Taiwan's meaningful international participation

A delegation from the Formosa Club's European region, attending its Taipei annual meeting, met President Lai Qingde and presented a joint statement. The statement reiterated opposition to unilateral changes to the cross-Strait status quo and support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international affairs. Ke Lihe, a member of the European Parliament and its acting chair, said Taiwan and Europe are both committed to building a future that is not controlled by powerful neighbors.

Polls show Shen Boyang leading in Taipei mayoral race; he stresses voting

With 30 days until the local elections, several polls show Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang leading rival Chiang Wan-an. Shen said the polls are only a reference and that the key is for voters to cast their ballots on November 28. On the Chiang campaign's "Citizens Also Take the Stage" initiative, Shen said he welcomes it, saying it lets voters compare the candidates.

US Army Pacific commander says China may have capability to seize Taiwan next year

US Army Pacific commander Ronald Clark said on the 27th that the command has made Indo-Pacific deployment plans based on the assumption that China may be able to seize Taiwan by force next year and may even intend to act.

Election ads flood US midterms as voters long for end of campaign

With one week until the US midterm elections, candidates from both parties have flooded various platforms with negative attack ads. Advertising spending has surpassed 10 billion US dollars, a historic high, leaving many voters exhausted and eager for the campaign to end.

Israel election yields no clear winner as neither bloc reaches majority

Israel held its parliamentary election on the 27th. With nearly 80 percent of ballots counted, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition seeking to replace him is likely to secure a majority of seats. Coalition talks could take several weeks, and either side may need support beyond its own bloc to determine the next prime minister.

Taipei councilor Chen Chung-wen under investigation over alleged voter dinner at Yangmingshan restaurant

Taipei City Councilor Chen Chung-wen has been accused of hosting voters at a restaurant in Yangmingshan, allegedly violating the Public Officials Election and Recall Act. On the 28th, the Shilin District Prosecutors Office searched nine locations and brought in 21 people for questioning. About 30 people reportedly attended the dinner. Chen was transferred to Shilin prosecutors for further questioning, where he asked whether the case was a judicial or political matter. Whether the dinner involved vote-buying or a quid pro quo has not been determined.

Pakistan reopens airspace to Taiwanese airlines

Pakistan had earlier refused Taiwanese airlines overflight rights, citing its one-China policy. Shortly after announcing the policy, it reversed course on October 28 and reopened its airspace to Taiwanese carriers. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority has approved China Airlines and EVA Air to continue using its airspace from October 28 to March 27, 2027.

Houthi attack on Saudi refinery pushes oil prices up over 2%

On the 28th, Yemen's Houthi group attacked a Saudi Arabian refinery, while fighting inside Yemen expanded. Markets are worried that the United States could resume military operations against Iran after the November midterm elections, adding to risks of supply disruption. Brent crude futures rose $1.55, or 1.4%, to $115.43 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate futures gained $2.92, or 2.9%, to $102.82 a barrel. Brent entered overbought territory for the fourth time in five trading days. Yemen's government forces said the Houthis also attacked Aden airport the same day.

Fed holds rates steady as two officials favor a hike

The Federal Open Market Committee voted 10-2 on Wednesday to keep interest rates unchanged, with two officials preferring a 0.25 percentage point increase. The Federal Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to curbing inflation but did not clearly signal whether it would raise rates in December. The Fed chair also held a press conference following the decision.

Fed holds rates steady as US stocks close higher

The US Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, as widely expected. The decision led investors to bet that the December policy meeting could bring a rate hike. Major US stock indexes all closed higher today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average among the gainers. Market attention is gradually shifting to the latest corporate earnings reports.

Fed holds rates steady as two members dissent in favor of a hike

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate target at 3.75% to 4% after a two-day meeting on Wednesday, the 28th. Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack dissented, arguing for a 0.25 percentage point increase. In its statement, the Fed said inflation remains elevated and that gathering more information would help the committee judge the appropriate policy stance to ensure inflation returns to target in a timely manner.

Bessent says further Fed rate hike not necessarily a policy mistake

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Wednesday, the 28th, that further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve would not necessarily constitute a monetary policy error. He also urged the Fed to remain open to the possibility that the energy supply shock may be temporary. The Fed held rates steady at its October meeting, in line with market expectations, after raising them in September for the first time in three years. Federal funds futures traders widely expect a rate hike at the December meeting.

Federal Reserve releases statement from October 28 meeting

Fed holds rates ahead of US midterm elections, Warsh denies political motive

The Federal Reserve decided today to keep interest rates unchanged and did not raise them further. Chair Warsh said US inflation remains "too high" but denied that political factors, including the upcoming midterm elections, influenced the decision.

Fed holds rates steady as two officials dissent in favor of a hike

The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged at its October meeting on Wednesday, the 28th, as expected, but two officials voted against the decision, favoring a 25-basis-point hike. After the announcement, U.S. Treasuries fell, and the 2-year yield rose as much as 5 basis points to 4.78%. Bond traders now put the probability of a 25-basis-point hike at the Fed's December meeting above 90%. Richard Carter, head of fixed income research at Quilter Cheviot, said the Fed "can't stand still forever" and, given energy-related inflation pressure, will likely have no choice but to raise rates around Christmas.

Fed to reduce number of policy meetings, Warsh says

Federal Reserve Chair Warsh said at a post-meeting press conference that the central bank will reduce the number of meetings held for interest rate decisions. He noted that financial conditions have shown signs of tightening since the 25-basis-point rate hike in September.

World Bank projects commodity prices to rise 23% this year

The World Bank's latest Commodity Markets Outlook projects global commodity prices will rise 23% in 2026. The increase is driven by the Middle East war, which has pushed up energy costs and disrupted shipping, as well as blocked Black Sea grain transport and rising demand for safe-haven assets such as gold. The bank expects prices to fall 7% next year, but supply shocks could keep food prices high.

Apple launches M6-chip MacBook Pro and iMac, preorders open in Taiwan

Apple has launched the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 24-inch iMac, both powered by the new M6 chip and aimed at professional creative work and AI applications. Both models upgrade processor, graphics and on-device AI performance, and they are the first to support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at NT$64,900 and the 24-inch iMac at NT$49,900. Preorders open in Taiwan today, with availability expected on November 6.

Infineon to invest 1.1 billion euros in world's first 12-inch GaN production site

Germany's Infineon Technologies announced it will build the world's first manufacturing site for large-scale production of gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors using 300-millimeter (12-inch) wafers at its Villach campus in Austria. The company plans to invest about 1.1 billion euros (about 1.23 billion U.S. dollars) cumulatively through 2034, with production expected to start by the end of 2027. The move aims to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs to meet growing power conversion demand from AI data centers, energy infrastructure, electric vehicles and robotics. The European Commission has approved 319 million euros in state aid under the European Chips Act framework.

SK Hynix says memory shortage to last until 2030, signs long-term deals with 14 clients

South Korea's SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory maker, said at its earnings briefing that its DRAM and High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) capacity through 2029 is fully sold out. The company expects the memory shortage to persist until 2030, with market demand exceeding supply until then.

Anduril and Qualcomm to produce U.S.-made laptops under BlueChip

U.S. defense technology startup Anduril Industries has partnered with chipmaker Qualcomm to produce laptops designed and assembled in the United States, in an effort to rebuild a supply chain that has largely moved overseas. Qualcomm's chips will be manufactured at TSMC's fab in Arizona.

Apple unveils first touchscreen MacBook Pro, priced from NT$97,990

Apple unveiled a touchscreen MacBook Pro at its "Pro and Tell" event on the 28th, paired with a PROLED XDR display and marking the first touchscreen feature on a Mac. Pre-orders open on the 30th, with release set for November 6. Prices start at NT$97,990, and the top-end 16-inch M5 Max model starts at NT$159,900.

Apple unveils first touch-enabled MacBook Pro, breaking 20-year stance

Apple has unveiled the MacBook Pro, its first Mac notebook with touch controls, breaking a 20-year design approach of not adding touchscreens to Mac laptops.

Apple unveils first touchscreen MacBook Pro, pre-orders open in Taiwan Friday

Apple on Wednesday, the 28th, unveiled its first MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, reversing its nearly two-decade opposition to touch-enabled laptops. The new model is the first Mac to feature an OLED display and Dynamic Island, with an interface redesigned for touch, M5 Pro and M5 Max chip options, and a thinner, lighter body. In Taiwan, it starts at NT$97,900, with pre-orders opening at 9 a.m. on Friday the 30th and official sales beginning November 6. In the United States, the 14-inch and 16-inch models start at $2,899 and $3,399, respectively.

Amazon cuts about 250 jobs in devices unit

Reuters reported that Amazon cut about 250 jobs on Wednesday (28th) in its devices and services division, mainly affecting software developers. Amazon confirmed the layoffs after Reuters inquired, saying it made difficult decisions to reduce some positions, and said the move would help it operate more efficiently and align with its product roadmap. The cuts came on the same day the company announced an Alexa-enabled smart alarm clock and digital photo frame.

Shen Bo-yang campaign hit by cyberattacks; 70,000 fake entries flood Yangliu site

The campaign of Shen Bo-yang, the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate for Taipei mayor, said on the 28th that its digital infrastructure had faced continuous and planned cyberattacks. After the Yangliu car-sweep website went online, it was flooded with 70,000 fake records, and the campaign has taken emergency measures to remove them.

Central Election Commission leaks ID numbers of 1,573 candidates

On the 16th, the Central Election Commission approved candidacy qualifications for mayoral and council candidates in counties and cities and published their asset declaration data. Taiwan Qianjin Front Line said the release also exposed the national ID numbers of 1,573 candidates, including Taipei mayoral candidates Shen Boyang and Chiang Wan-an. The group said affected candidates had not been notified one by one and called for full accountability from the commission.

South Korea's financial sector hit by another hacking wave

South Korea's financial sector has faced a new wave of cybersecurity and hacking incidents, with attacks spreading from traditional banks to the wider financial supply chain. Similar incidents have recently been reported across Asia. Regulators warn that artificial intelligence (AI) could make it easier for hackers to find vulnerabilities and launch attacks.

Wu Amin donates Asian Games gold medal and uniform to Taiwan History Museum

Wu Amin, who won the men's decathlon gold at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games, has donated his long-kept gold medal and track uniform to the Taiwan History Museum to pass on the legacy of Taiwan's athletics across six decades. Known as the "Asian New Ironman," Wu is honored for his achievement. At the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, Fu Zhaoxuan won the men's high jump gold with a leap of 2.25 meters, Taiwan's first men's track and field Asian Games gold in 60 years.

High-speed train crash in Spain kills at least 68 people

A moving high-speed train collided with another train that had stopped further up the track in Spain, killing at least 68 people. The transport minister said the crash was caused by an “inexplicable” error.

Fatal collision between two trains south of Madrid, Spain

A Spanish high-speed train collided with another train south of Madrid, resulting in fatalities. Reports describe it as the country's worst disaster since 2013.

High-speed train crashes into stopped train in Spain, killing at least 68

A high-speed train in Spain slammed into another train that had stopped on the tracks, killing at least 68 people. It is the country's second deadly rail collision this year.

Trump administration issues subpoenas for voter records ahead of midterms

The Trump administration has issued more than 100 subpoenas demanding records on tens of thousands of voters in at least 13 states. The move is part of an escalating effort to identify noncitizen voters ahead of the midterm elections.

Netanyahu appears set to remain caretaker prime minister after inconclusive election

Benjamin Netanyahu appears set to remain Israel's caretaker prime minister after an inconclusive election. Unexpectedly strong backing among Jewish voters has left his opponents with little apparent prospect of unseating him.

Iran war's cost to American taxpayers rises to an estimated $47.1 billion

According to a new estimate the Pentagon has provided to Congress, the cost of the Iran war to American taxpayers has grown to $47.1 billion.

The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite intensifying inflation

The Federal Reserve will vote on monetary policy seven times next year, breaking from its decades-old custom of eight such meetings. The central bank has kept interest rates unchanged despite intensifying inflation.

Defeated presidential candidate Bolsonaro lands in Miami amid Brazilian criminal probes

Bolsonaro, the defeated presidential candidate, has landed in Miami, according to reports. He faces criminal investigations in Brazil, where his passports had been canceled.

Vance engaged Iran in efforts to revive stalled peace talks

Google shares fall 9% after $51bn AI spending deepens cash burn

Google's parent company missed analyst estimates for revenue and profit, as its search business fell short of expectations. Its $51 billion AI spending deepened cash burn, and shares tumbled about 9%.

Netanyahu's bloc leads Israeli election but falls short of majority

With 85% of ballots counted in Israel's election, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies are projected to win 53 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, leading but short of a majority.

Hacker steals personal data of over 40,000 Homeland Security staffers and posts it online

A hacker obtained personally identifiable information about more than 40,000 Homeland Security staff members, which has since been published online.

Estimated US taxpayer cost of Iran war rises to $47.1 billion

The estimated cost to American taxpayers of the Iran war has risen to $47.1 billion. The Republican president has said new strikes on Iran are an option after the midterm elections and is sending more military resources to the Middle East, despite having initially promised a military campaign lasting only a matter of weeks.

Oil prices rise on fears of Middle East conflict escalation

Oil prices rose as markets worried about possible U.S. military escalation against Iran after next week's midterm elections. Yemen's Houthi militants said they had targeted Saudi Arabia's largest oil refinery, renewing threats to Middle East energy supplies.

Healey unveils £100 energy bill support and bank tax in first Budget

Chancellor Healey unveiled his first Budget, offering £100 toward energy bills and introducing a bank tax. The measures aim to ease cost-of-living pressures amid global economic turmoil. Opposition parties said the Budget was not bold enough.

Woman found dead at Japanese inn; suspects allegedly conspired

A 38-year-old woman surnamed Jing was found dead at an inn in Kawaguchiko, Japan, where she was traveling. A female member of her tour group, surnamed Yang, is suspected of killing her. Investigators suspect the woman's husband, surnamed Li, conspired with Yang. Li initially said he did not know Yang, then said he did not know she had traveled abroad. Police said Li targeted the woman on social media by posing as a recruiter of private assistants and did not rule out involvement in other cases.

Drug-impaired driving cases involving micro electric two-wheelers surge 717% in first nine months

From January to September, drunk-driving cases involving micro electric two-wheelers rose 17%, and drug-impaired driving cases jumped 717%, compared with the same period last year. Test refusals also increased, totaling 1,812 cases. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the National Police Agency plan to amend the law to raise fines for test refusals. As with cars and motorcycles, a first refusal of alcohol or drug testing would carry a fine of NT$270,000, and vehicles could be confiscated and license plates held. The earliest timeline for the amendment is the second half of next year.

Police probe Lake Kawaguchi killing as suspected murder-for-insurance plot

A woman, Jing Yunrong, was killed at Lake Kawaguchi in Japan, and Taiwanese police are investigating the case as a suspected plot to commit murder for insurance fraud. A woman surnamed Yang was arrested in Japan in connection with the killing. Police allege that the victim's husband, surnamed Li, masterminded the crime, but there is currently no direct evidence linking him to it. Several pieces of circumstantial evidence have been found, and the investigation depends on cross-border cooperation between Taiwan and Japan. Whether Yang can be persuaded to talk is seen as key to the case.

Two high-speed trains collide in Spain, killing 68; minister cites control center orders

Two high-speed trains collided in Spain on the 28th, and the death toll has risen to 68. Rescue workers were still searching the twisted wreckage for victims. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the crash appears to be linked to a signaling system failure. He said the control center issued what he called "inexplicable" orders, allowing a Renfe train to continue while a red stop signal was lit and without a speed limit in place, which led to the accident.

Former Fu Jen dropout sentenced to 1 year 4 months for knife attack on doctor

Jiang Han-sheng, a former president of Fu Jen Catholic University and a well-known urologist, was attacked with a utility knife in November last year at Fu Jen hospital, where he was seeing patients. The suspect, Tseng Po-wei, 30, a former Fu Jen student, posed as a patient and caused a laceration to Jiang's right wrist. Prosecutors indicted him on attempted murder and sought seven years in prison. The first-instance court found no intent to kill and convicted him of assault, sentencing him to one year and six months. On appeal, the Taiwan High Court on the 28th upheld the assault charge, revoked the original ruling and sentenced him to one year and four months. The ruling can still be appealed.

Kaohsiung tightens steel industry air pollution rules, takes effect in six months

The Kaohsiung City Government has announced the Kaohsiung Steel Industry Air Pollutant Emission Standards, which will take effect in six months. The city estimates the new rules will reduce air pollutants by about 1,379 tonnes per year, including PM2.5, PM10, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. The Earth Citizen Foundation said the tighter regulations completed legal procedures after more than five years of advocacy and negotiation, and stressed that enforcement and monitoring will be the real challenge.

Honda and Mitsubishi to co-develop pickup truck for ASEAN market

Honda and Mitsubishi Motors have signed a memorandum of understanding on complementary automotive product supply. Based on the Mitsubishi Triton, they will jointly develop a new pickup model for the Honda brand, scheduled to launch in the ASEAN market in 2028. It is the first complementary supply partnership between the two companies, leveraging existing vehicle platforms and product resources to expand their regional market presence.