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, SUN., OCT. 18, 2026No. 14 · Morning, 6:00 a.m. Taipei6 a.m. Taipei

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Typhoon Jangmi was reported to have been upgraded to a moderate typhoon in the early hours of the 18th, and at least five reports covered the news at the same time. Several reports quoted experts as saying Jangmi will be upgraded to a severe typhoon tomorrow and could later become a large severe typhoon, with its circulation continuing to expand and its structure complete. The Central Weather Administration said next Thursday is the key turning point for the track, and both a northward turn and a move toward Taiwan are within the forecast range. Another report, quoting an expert's estimate, said there are currently two tracks that would strike Taiwan and that the heaviest impact would come next Friday and Saturday. The reports also mentioned that the weather during next week's long holiday will turn worse. As of the time of the reports, no sea or land warning had been announced, and no county or city had announced a suspension of work or classes.

With the track still divided five days out, typhoon preparations will differ from place to place: the north and east must first confirm when wind and rain will arrive, while the south and outlying islands will depend on whether the typhoon moves west. Holiday trips, flights, and Taiwan Railway and High Speed Rail reservations likewise will have no answer until the track is settled next Thursday. For people who run guesthouses, fishing businesses and outdoor activities, if the typhoon nears next Friday and Saturday, going out to sea and opening schedules will have to be adjusted in advance, and the revenue risk falls on those days. Farmers will need to assess their harvest timing so that crops are not still in the field before the strong winds and heavy rain.

Today, list backup plans for next Friday through Sunday, for example choosing refundable or changeable bookings and tickets, and make sure home drains and balconies are clear of clutter. From tomorrow, check the Central Weather Administration's forecast and official announcements once a day at a fixed time, and do not decide on the basis of a single track map forwarded on social media. Also get power banks, drinking water and flashlights ready, and agree with family on how to stay in contact and where to take shelter, so that even if a warning is only issued on Wednesday you will not be caught flustered.

People are not arguing much about intensity; the track is the real unknown. Until next Thursday, the best-value preparation is to leave your plans some flexibility.

5 reports on Typhoon Jangmi, Central Weather Administration statement

Weather · TyphoonPress ✓ 5 outlets · actual track and intensity undetermined

Jangmi becomes a moderate typhoon this morning; Central Weather Administration says next Thursday is the turning point between veering north and striking Taiwan

Multiple outlets report in step that Jangmi is intensifying rapidly; experts estimate it will become a severe typhoon tomorrow; the track still allows both a northward turn and a strike on Taiwan, with the heaviest impact next Friday and Saturday.

Typhoon Jangmi (薔琵) was reported to have been upgraded to a moderate typhoon in the early hours of today (the 18th), and at least five domestic reports described its development in the same terms, “rapid intensification” and “expanding circulation.” According to experts quoted in the media, Jangmi could be upgraded again to a severe typhoon tomorrow and could later become a large severe typhoon; its structure is described as quite complete, and the threat it poses to Taiwan is higher than in previous days. All figures for now follow what the reports quote, and will still be adjusted before the Central Weather Administration issues a formal warning.

The track is where the reports diverge most. The Central Weather Administration's position is that next Thursday is the key turning point: the typhoon could either turn north or move closer to Taiwan. Another report quoted an expert's estimate that there are currently two tracks that would strike Taiwan, with a northward turn still listed as an option, and that the heaviest impact on Taiwan would come next Friday and Saturday. In other words, the sources are close on intensity but have not yet converged on the track.

The reports also differ in tone. Some headlines stress “large severe typhoon” and “rising odds of striking Taiwan”; others put the emphasis on “could also turn north,” so the same forecast is split into different readings. The safer reading is to go back to the Weather Administration's original explanation: the intensity will keep rising, the track will be clearer only around next Thursday, and in the meantime the tracks given by different forecast models still differ.

Several reports also note that the weather during next week's long holiday may turn bad, which would affect plans for travel, trips home and outdoor activities. No agency has yet announced a sea or land warning, and no county or city has announced a suspension of work or classes; those decisions will be announced by the Weather Administration and the county and city governments according to procedure only after the typhoon's distance and storm radius are clearer.

The uncertainty of typhoon forecasts grows as the lead time lengthens; with five to seven days still to go before it nears Taiwan, the track error can be large enough to change the area affected. The most practical thing for readers, therefore, is to treat today through next Thursday as a preparation period: confirm how flexible your travel and transport plans are, check home drainage and typhoon supplies, and look at the Central Weather Administration's latest forecast at a fixed time every day, rather than deciding on the basis of a single expert's track map.

For ordinary households, this means there is no need to panic today, but also no reason to treat holiday plans as settled. Those who have already booked flights, train tickets or guesthouses can first check the cancellation and rescheduling rules; those who have not can choose refundable or changeable options first. Residential management committees and schools can also take advantage of the typhoon still being at sea to check drains and trees ahead of time and reduce damage from strong winds and heavy rain.

Open the story and DailyDrop's take

By the numbers

Moderate typhoonIntensity category it was upgraded to this morning

Next ThursdayTrack turning point cited by the Weather Administration

Fri., Sat.Time of heaviest impact, per reports

Health insurance finances rest jointly on premiums, government subsidies and fund reserves; once the group exempted from paying is widened, the gap must be filled by the central budget or by adjusting the premium rate. Salaried workers care about whether future rates will rise, while older people's households care about how eligibility will be determined; the two sets of worries are not the same thing. For middle-aged people already close to 65, this amendment determines their fixed spending after retirement, while for young people now paying premiums it bears on rates and on being crowded out by the government budget. The interests of the two seem opposed, but in fact depend on whether the money comes from taxes, the fund or higher rates.

To find out whether you or an older relative qualifies, wait until the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Administration publish the implementing rules, then check against the Administration's website or customer service; do not judge by social media posts. Salaried workers can also, when the premium rate is reviewed each year, look in the financial report to see whether subsidy funds are budgeted separately. Until the implementing rules are published, people with older relatives at home can first gather their income, property and insurance records to make later eligibility checks easier; at the same time, do not rush to change insurance policies or filings because of online calculations.

Whether a free-premium policy is good can only be worked out once the account of where the money comes from is laid out; for now both sides compete only over who speaks better for young people, and nobody has first handed over the same formula.

Third-reading reports in the Legislative Yuan, civic group statements, Kuomintang caucus explanation (5 reports in all)

Society · Health insurancePress ✓ 5 outlets · actual funding source and effective date unclear

Waiver of health insurance premiums for eligible older people passes third reading; civic groups criticize lack of fiscal discipline

The Legislative Yuan passed on third reading this week an amendment exempting eligible older people from paying health insurance premiums, and at least five reports covered the news at the same time. Civic groups afterward said the amendment lacks fiscal discipline and called for a fresh review of the eligibility criteria; a lawyer also said publicly that young people would in effect be footing the bill for those with assets and pensions. The dispute is over who pays for the subsidy. The Executive Yuan side's position is that the health insurance premiums of people aged 65 and over will be subsidized by the central government, which could add to the burden on younger generations; Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄), secretary-general of the Kuomintang caucus in the Legislative Yuan, rebutted that the caucus is asking the central government to budget funds to subsidize the premiums older people used to pay themselves, not to levy more on young people, and that children even save a health insurance premium they would have had to pay for their parents. Both sides make “young people” the core of their argument, but neither has published the same set of calculations. What the public reports have not yet made clear includes the specific eligibility threshold, the funding needed each year, how much the central budget and the health insurance fund would each bear, and when the measure takes effect. These figures determine whether the amendment is a one-off policy benefit or a long-term fiscal pressure; until officials publish them, any side's figures can only be treated as its own estimate.

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Inside

On Friday the National Park Service of the Ministry of the Interior gave notice of a draft schedule of user fees for Qilai Mountain Hut in Taroko National Park: NT$800 per person per night on weekdays and NT

,200 on holidays. The National Park Service also gave notice of an amendment to the fee schedule for Paiyun Lodge in Yushan National Park. Paiyun Lodge currently charges 480 yuan per person per night, and the notice proposes raising it to 1,000 yuan. CNA and the Liberty Times both reported the notice. The draft is still at the notice stage and has not been finalized. The reports do not give an expected effective date.

Higher mountain-hut fees directly raise the cost of climbing; popular routes are already hard to get a bed on in the peak season, and with higher prices the customer base and the booking rhythm will change. The upkeep and waste-removal costs of the huts are the main explanation given for the fee adjustment. If fees change, quotes from mountaineering clubs and guide operators will be updated too, and group fees may move in tandem. For hiking groups and hut operators, a fee rise concerns the source of funds for climbing safety and environmental upkeep; for ordinary climbers, it means a larger budget for the whole trip. The same notice must still go through a comment-collection and announcement procedure before taking effect, so at this stage it is not final.

People planning to climb Yushan or Qilai before year end should watch the comment-collection period of the notice and consider departing on weekdays to save money. Check the National Park Service's announcement again before departure to confirm the final rates. Also watch the opening date of the reservation system, and set up an account and have your identity documents ready in advance so that no time is lost when competing for beds. If you want to give your view on the fee schedule, you can submit written comments directly to the National Park Service during the notice period; you can also organize a group with fellow hikers to share transport and lodging costs and keep total spending within the original budget.

Mountain huts cost more; sleeping hours do not get longer, but the order of booking will change.

CNA, Liberty Times (National Park Service notice)

Qilai Mountain Hut proposes 800 yuan per person per night on weekdays; Paiyun Lodge to go from 480 to 1,000 yuanThe National Park Service proposes 1,200 yuan per person per night on holidays at Qilai Mountain Hut and has also given notice of an amendment to the Paiyun Lodge fee schedule in Yushan; the notice period is still running.Life · ✓ 2 outlets

The U.S. government released data on Friday showing the fiscal 2026 budget deficit climbing to nearly US$2 trillion. This is the highest level since 2021. CNA reported from Washington in a roundup of foreign wire copy, and the Liberty Times ran it at the same time. Neither report lists the details of spending and tax revenue. The reports also do not quote a full report from the Treasury Department or the Congressional Budget Office. The figure covers the past year, that is, the whole fiscal year. CNA's report originated in Washington, and its headline also points out that the deficit hit its highest since 2021.

A wider deficit means the U.S. government has to issue more bonds, and bond yields and the U.S. dollar exchange rate are both affected. Taiwan's life insurers and foreign exchange reserves hold large amounts of U.S. Treasuries, and interest-rate swings show up in asset valuations. Meanwhile, the deficit figure also affects the asset allocation of central banks and fund managers around the world, because the fiscal situation affects market confidence in U.S. Treasuries. The deficit figure seems remote to ordinary people, but it in fact affects mortgage rates, exchange rates and returns on retirement funds. When U.S. Treasury yields rise, the funding costs of Taiwan's banks and the borrowing rates of companies are also affected.

People who hold U.S. dollar assets or U.S. Treasury ETFs should watch how interest-rate changes affect net asset value, not only dividends. People with foreign-currency mortgages or study-abroad plans can convert currency in installments to lower the exchange-rate risk of any single moment. If you want to follow along, regularly check the U.S. Treasury's monthly budget report and compare the deficit with the results of Treasury auctions. You can also put the deficit, Treasury yields and the exchange rate into a simple table and update it monthly. Spread your household's foreign-currency spending, such as study abroad, travel and imported goods, across monthly conversions, and check whether your funds or insurance policies invest in long-dated U.S. Treasuries. When you read the news, look at the deficit and Treasury yields together.

US$2 trillion is one number; converted into interest over the next few years, it is the real bill.

CNA Washington roundup of foreign wire copy, Liberty Times Finance

U.S. fiscal 2026 budget deficit widens to nearly US$2 trillion, highest since 2021The U.S. government released data on Friday showing the budget deficit climbing to nearly US$2 trillion. CNA and the Liberty Times both reported the figure.Finance · ✓ 2 outlets

AI chip company Nvidia and U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Warsh both took action to reassure investors. European stocks closed higher on Friday as a result. CNA reported the news from London in a roundup of foreign wire copy, and the Liberty Times ran it at the same time. The reports say European stocks closed higher that day. On the same day the Nasdaq index in the U.S. fell more than 2%. The reports do not give details of the actions by Nvidia and Warsh. CNA's report was datelined London and covers the close of European markets on Friday.

European stocks closing higher while U.S. tech stocks weaken shows that global capital is highly sensitive to AI and interest rates, and the market has not yet reached a single view. Taiwan's stock supply chain also swings with Nvidia orders and the Federal Reserve's stance. Markets reprice immediately on news, so single-day moves often react earlier than fundamentals. Statements of this kind often only steady sentiment; what really drives share prices remains corporate earnings and inflation data. When the market waits for companies and the central bank to speak in order to reassure, it means capital's tolerance of risk is low, and share prices can easily swing wildly around the news. That kind of swinging costs short-term traders the most and affects long-term investors less.

People who follow Taiwan's AI supply chain stocks should look next week at Nvidia's guidance and the schedule of Federal Reserve officials' speeches, rather than at single-day moves alone. Diversify your holdings, and avoid putting all your funds in the same industry chain. Treat statements from individual companies and the central bank as a reference, not as the only basis, and record whether your actions in high-volatility periods match your original plan. People holding a single popular stock can set staged price levels for taking profits and cutting losses, to avoid emotional decisions. Before Monday's open, first confirm whether you have money in the market that you will need in the short term. If so, first move that money into time deposits or a money market fund so that you are not forced into a stop-loss by short-term swings.

Reassurance is a painkiller, not a prescription; the real answer must wait for earnings and interest-rate data.

CNA London roundup of foreign wire copy, Liberty Times Finance

Nvidia and Federal Reserve Chair Warsh calm investors; European stocks close higher on FridayAI chip company Nvidia and Federal Reserve Chair Warsh both took steps to reassure investors. CNA reported from London in a roundup of foreign wire copy that European stocks closed higher that day.Finance · ✓ 2 outlets

In the men's doubles final of the World Junior Badminton Championships held in Cairo, Egypt, Chen Ping-hsuan and Lee Wei-ting beat the Japanese pair Ao Zhenyou (奧真優) and Yamashiro Masato (山城政人) in straight games, 15-10 and 15-9. This is Taiwan's first men's doubles gold medal at the World Junior Championships. Taiwan's men's doubles had reached the final of the World Junior Championships three times before. The two belong to the Zhongzu Tatung badminton team (中租大同羽球隊). The match was held in Cairo, Egypt. The above comes from two Liberty Times reports. The final score was 15-10 and 15-9, with the Taiwanese pair winning both games. One of the Liberty Times reports was filed late on Saturday night, the other in the early hours of Sunday.

A World Junior gold medal is a springboard for young players into international senior events, and it also affects later subsidies and eligibility for competitions. Badminton is one of Taiwan's strengths, and the men's doubles breakthrough means player development has gained another outlet. The result also draws more attention to the competitive relationship between Japan and Taiwan in junior badminton, and later results will shape outside expectations of the next generation of players. The men's doubles breakthrough is a landmark for Taiwan's badminton environment, because the World Juniors are often a preview of later senior events, and beating a Japanese pair builds confidence further. Coaches and teams can also use this result to seek sponsorship and venue resources from companies.

People who follow badminton can track the two players' coming senior events and national team selection. Schools and teams can also look at their training arrangements. If a child at home plays badminton, you can use this topic to watch match videos with them and discuss footwork and doubles chemistry, not just the score. School clubs can also invite coaches to share their experience of preparing for competition, so that more students get to know doubles tactics. People who like badminton can watch broadcasts, sign up for classes at a local gym, or support school teams, so that young people have more chances to get onto the court, rather than people paying attention only when medals are won.

The gold medal is the result; reaching the final three times is the process.

Liberty Times (two reports, single outlet)

Chen Ping-hsuan and Lee Wei-ting beat Japanese pair in straight games for Taiwan's first men's doubles gold at the World Junior ChampionshipsIn the final in Cairo the pair beat the Japanese duo Ao Zhenyou (奧真優) and Yamashiro Masato (山城政人) 15-10, 15-9. Taiwan's men's doubles had previously reached the World Junior final three times.Sports · ✓ 1 outlet

Pope Leo XIV left the hospital on Saturday afternoon after surgery for lung adenocarcinoma. Large crowds of the faithful poured in outside the hospital to line the street and welcome him. Some brought homemade gifts and prayer cards. One member of the public told CNA that seeing the pope walk out of the hospital with their own eyes brought boundless joy. The report says the pope is recovering well after surgery. The reports do not say what public engagements the pope will have after his discharge. CNA also interviewed people at the scene, and these interviews describe how the crowd gathered.

News of the pope's health concerns more than a billion Catholics worldwide, and also affects Vatican diplomacy and the arrangement of large Masses. Taiwan's Catholic groups also follow this news closely. When health improves, the church's calendar, audiences and travel plans are rearranged, so the faithful need time to wait for an official announcement. Major Catholic feasts and large Masses need months of preparation, so news of his health affects the whole year's schedule. The pope's health affects the pace of the Catholic Church's decisions and the arrangement of major ceremonies, and also bears on the pastoral plans of churches in various countries. For Taiwan's faithful, the pope's public schedule also determines when pilgrimage groups can set out.

People planning to make a pilgrimage to the Vatican should, before departing, confirm the activities and opening hours announced officially. To keep up with the news, look at the Vatican press office and CNA, and avoid forwarding unverified claims. When church groups or online communities relay it, it is best to attach the source and date, so old news is not taken as new. Prayer events held by faith groups are open to anyone who cares about this, but please mind venue capacity and public order. If you see news about the pope's illness on social media, first compare it with reports from the Vatican press office and major news agencies before forwarding it. If you want to go to a church to pray for the pope, you can ask the local diocese about Mass times.

Discharge is a milestone, not a conclusion.

CNA (report on the pope's discharge, single outlet)

Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital after lung adenocarcinoma surgery; large crowds line the street outside to welcome himThe pope left the hospital on Saturday afternoon, and reports say his recovery after surgery is going well. Crowds of the faithful came outside the hospital with homemade gifts and prayer cards to greet him.World · ✓ 1 outlet

Two outlets including Yahoo Finance reported that U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday, with the Nasdaq index down more than 2%. AI and tech stocks continued to come under pressure, and the share prices of the major memory chip makers all fell. The Taiwan index futures night session dropped 1,144 points. The TAIEX closed on Friday (the 16th) at 47,111.26, up 0.30% from the previous trading day, a close that came before the drop in U.S. stocks and the night session. CNA separately reported that Nvidia and Federal Reserve Chair Warsh both took action to reassure investors, and European stocks closed higher that day. The budget deficit released by the U.S. government the same day, nearly US$2 trillion, was the highest since 2021.

Taiwan's exports and the market weight of Taiwan stocks are heavily concentrated in the AI server and memory supply chains, so a fall in U.S. tech stocks is transmitted directly to Monday's open through the night session and foreign investors' net buying and selling. Investors holding TSMC, memory-related stocks and related ETFs are hit most directly. The memory and AI supply chains are the core of Taiwan's exports and of Taiwan stocks' market weight, and a single night's decline in U.S. stocks is enough to change the pace of fund and foreign-investor orders. This also makes it easiest for retail investors to be frightened by night-session numbers before the open.

Before Monday's open, look at the Taiwan index futures night session and the U.S. close, check how large your holdings in tech stocks and leveraged products are, and do not chase prices with market orders in the minutes before the open. If you invest on a regular schedule, you can keep your deduction rhythm as it is and need not change your plan because of one day's drop. If you have margin or leveraged positions, first check your maintenance ratio and set aside a sum of cash you will not touch. Also check whether the share of AI and memory stocks among your ETF holdings exceeds what you originally expected.

Friday's 0.30% gain was the last page; Monday's open is the next page, and the night session's 1,144 points have already written the opening line for the market.

Yahoo Finance, CNA financial reports (2 outlets), Taiwan Stock Exchange closing data

Finance · Stock marketPress ✓ 2 outlets · Taiwan stocks' direction next week unclear

AI and tech stocks under pressure; Nasdaq plunges more than 2%, Taiwan index futures night session drops 1,144 points

Two outlets including Yahoo Finance reported that U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday, with the Nasdaq index down more than 2%, AI and tech stocks continuing to come under pressure, and all the major memory chip makers falling. The Taiwan index futures night session weakened in step, dropping 1,144 points.

The TAIEX closed on Friday (the 16th) at 47,111.26, up 0.30% from the previous trading day, a price set before the night session fell. That is to say, when Taiwan stocks open on Monday next week, they will face the declines that U.S. stocks and the night session have already priced in since the close of Friday's day session.

Another CNA report said Nvidia and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh both took action to reassure investors, and European stocks closed higher that day as a result; data released by the U.S. government the same day also showed the fiscal 2026 budget deficit climbing to nearly US$2 trillion, the highest since 2021. These pieces of news pull against one another, making the market's judgment about the heat of AI investment and the direction of interest rates more divided.

Taken as a whole, this week's market information shows a tug of war: on one side, declines in U.S. tech and memory stocks; on the other, European stocks closing higher on statements from companies and the central bank, and with the U.S. fiscal deficit at a record high, investors have to reassess both interest rates and AI profits. Taiwan stocks' small gain on Friday came before this news, and how Monday's open reacts depends on whether the night session's decline continues and on the direction of foreign investors' buying and selling.

Open the story and DailyDrop's take

On Saturday (the 17th) afternoon the Kuomintang held a joint referendum rally for the four counties and cities of Taichung, Changhua, Nantou and Yunlin at the Yuanlin Garden (圓林園) in Yuanlin City, Changhua County, the party's first rally drawing ten thousand people. It centered on repealing the nuclear-free homeland and bringing nuclear power back into use, and urged voters to back the nuclear power referendum on Nov. 28. Lu Shiow-yen said that after nuclear power was shut down, coal burning at the Taichung thermal power plant rose by half. Chiang Chi-chen said people in central Taiwan have long suffered air pollution and hope to be rid of the days of generating power with their lungs. Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei showed up before the event began and appeared on the stage together with county magistrate candidate Wei Ping-cheng for about ten minutes. All of the above comes from multiple Liberty Times reports, with no independent verification from a second outlet.

The referendum and local elections are running at the same time, and the party is using the nuclear power issue to mobilize central Taiwan voters while also boosting the profile of its mayoral and magistrate candidates. Voters in Taichung, Changhua, Nantou and Yunlin must face a referendum ballot and a mayor-magistrate ballot at once, and the appeals of the two are easily mixed together. Candidates for mayor and magistrate will also use referendum occasions to show off local organization, so the size of the event is itself a political signal. The function of this rally is not only referendum mobilization but also testing each camp's profile and organization before the year-end mayoral and magistrate elections. Nuclear power is bound up in the same narrative with air pollution, electricity costs and AI power demand, making it harder for voters to examine each claim on its own.

To judge the nuclear issue, it is best to read the question wording in the referendum notice and the competent authority's energy supply-and-demand report, and then compare the coal-burning volumes and power generation shares that each side cites. Figures at rallies mostly come from a single source; check the original statistics before deciding. Before voting, read the referendum text, the government's electricity supply-and-demand data and the views of civic environmental groups side by side, and then decide your position. If you see posts on social media citing coal-burning or air-pollution figures, first confirm the statistical year and units.

Nuclear power is about electricity; a rally is about votes. Look at them separately and you will not be tied together by the same event.

Multiple Liberty Times reports (single outlet, no second source)

Politics · ElectionPress ✓ 1 outlet (Liberty Times) · referendum result and polling unclear

Kuomintang rally in Yuanlin spotlights Nov. 28 nuclear referendum; an “ocean current” appears in Taipei mayoral race

On Saturday (the 17th) afternoon the Kuomintang held a joint referendum rally for the four counties and cities of Taichung, Changhua, Nantou and Yunlin in Yuanlin City, Changhua County, the camp's first rally drawing ten thousand people. Its main theme was repealing the “nuclear-free homeland” and bringing nuclear power back into use, and it urged voters to cast a ballot in favor of nuclear power in the referendum on Nov. 28. The details below all come from multiple Liberty Times reports; no second outlet has independently verified them.

The lineup of speakers was well ordered: outgoing Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) criticized the Democratic Progressive Party, saying that after it shut down nuclear power the Taichung thermal power plant's coal burning rose by half; Taichung mayoral candidate Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣) said the aim was to free central Taiwan from the days of “generating power with their lungs”; Party Chairperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and Lu Shiow-yen both appealed with “For AI, nuclear power must double.” Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei (王惠美), who had said she had official business, also showed up before the event began and appeared together with county magistrate candidate Wei Ping-cheng (魏平政) for about ten minutes.

Another political thread runs through Taipei. Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋) is still behind in the polls, but the Liberty Times, citing analysis from blue-camp figures, said an “ocean current” that has appeared over the past month has pulled a group of centrist voters toward him, though light-blue, white-camp and centrist voters in other counties and cities have not yet been affected. Mayor Chiang Wan-an was absent from an event against child abuse, where Puma Shen put forward proposals for improvement and criticized the city's child protection system as riddled with holes; each side has its own account.

Open the story and DailyDrop's take

Nationwide demonstrations in France on Saturday (the 17th) turned into violent clashes in several large cities, with protesters smashing property, setting fires and looting shops and breaking into government buildings and police stations. Police used tear gas and water cannon to put them down, and by that night more than 400 people had been arrested across France. The protesters' demands were high prices and the gradual collapse of the basic social welfare system. Reuters reported that Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Albania also held demonstrations the same day, and clashes between police and protesters broke out around Milan Cathedral in Italy. Anti-government protests in Tirana, the Albanian capital, erupted in clashes for the fifth straight day; police used rubber bullets for the first time, and Prime Minister Rama said he would listen to the protesters. Most of the above comes from the Liberty Times relaying Reuters.

Demands over high prices and a collapsing welfare system appearing in several countries at once show that cost-of-living pressure on Europeans is shared, but governments' responses and timetables differ. The direct effects on Taiwan are on transport and public safety for travel to Europe, and on the linkage with European retail and energy prices. For Taiwanese companies and travelers, strikes and transport disruptions caused by European protests will affect freight, flights and exhibition schedules, while the price protests also reflect strain on European consumer spending. Demand for Taiwan's exports to Europe will, over the long run, still be shaped by the economy there.

People planning trips to France, Italy or Belgium in the near term should, before leaving, check the travel advisories of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Consular Affairs, avoid large gathering places, and have proof of travel accident insurance and emergency contact numbers ready. For connections and lodging during the trip, leave room for rescheduling. If the itinerary is already booked, check flights and local rail announcements again a week before departure and keep copies of your passport and insurance policy on your phone. If the trip is not essential, consider timing your entry into demonstration areas differently.

The order of the protests is worth more than the headline: first prices, then welfare, and only last the street.

Liberty Times report relaying Reuters (single outlet)

World · EuropePress ✓ 1 outlet (Liberty Times relaying Reuters) · casualty and damage figures unclear

Protests over high prices turn into violent clashes in France as demonstrations break out simultaneously in Italy, Belgium and other countries

Nationwide demonstrations in France on Saturday (the 17th) turned into violent clashes in several large cities. Protesters smashed property, set fires and looted shops, and broke into government buildings and police stations, and police responded with tear gas and water cannon to put them down. By that night more than 400 people had been arrested across France; the protesters' demands were high prices and the gradual collapse of the social welfare system that is supposed to provide basic opportunity and security.

Reuters reported that Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Albania also held demonstrations the same day, protesting rising living costs or education problems, with violent clashes between police and protesters in many places, including scenes of clashes around Milan Cathedral in Italy. In Tirana, the Albanian capital, anti-government protests have erupted in clashes for the fifth straight day; police used rubber bullets for the first time, and Prime Minister Rama said he would listen to the protesters.

The reason these clashes drew attention from Taiwanese media is that prices and welfare are issues with similar backgrounds in many countries. The reports so far do not give casualty and property-damage figures for each country, nor do they say whether the demonstrations were centrally organized, so the more precise way to put it is: protests on the same theme appeared on the streets of several countries on the same day, with the violence at its worst in France. How governments respond afterward remains to be seen.

Open the story and DailyDrop's take

In brief

Qilai Mountain Hut proposes fee increaseThe National Park Service of the Ministry of the Interior proposes 800 yuan per person per night on weekdays and 1,200 yuan on holidays at Qilai Mountain Hut, with Paiyun Lodge going from 480 to 1,000 yuan (CNA, Liberty Times).
China cuts U.S. Treasury holdings againThe South China Morning Post reports that China's August holdings of U.S. Treasuries fell to an 18-year low, while it has added to its gold holdings for 23 straight months, reaching 2,400 metric tons in total (Liberty Times).
Taiwan's first badminton World Junior goldChen Ping-hsuan and Lee Wei-ting beat a Japanese pair in straight games in Cairo, Egypt, to win Taiwan's first men's doubles gold medal at the World Junior Championships (Liberty Times).
Pope Leo XIV discharged from hospitalThe pope recovered well after surgery for lung adenocarcinoma and left the hospital on Saturday afternoon; the faithful lined the street outside to welcome him (CNA).
National Games openThe Year 115 (Republic of China calendar) National Games opened in Taoyuan on Saturday evening; Li Hao-yu (李灝宇) lit the flame, and there were performances by entertainers at Athletes' Night (Liberty Times).
U.S. budget deficit hits new highThe U.S. fiscal 2026 budget deficit has widened to nearly US$2 trillion, the highest since 2021 (CNA, Liberty Times).
Chinese banks roll out loans to pay social insuranceSome banks have launched plans to lend money for paying social insurance, drawing criticism in China's trending online searches (Liberty Times).

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Unverified — what we could not confirm

Jangmi will definitely strike Taiwan directly, and next week's holiday will see work shut down across the board. The Weather Administration has said only that next Thursday is the turning point for the track, and both a northward turn and a strike on Taiwan are possible; no work-suspension announcement has been made.

After people 65 and over are exempted from health insurance premiums, young people's premiums will definitely go up. The Kuomintang caucus says the subsidy would be budgeted by the central government and would not be levied on young people; whether premiums rise awaits an official announcement of the funding source.

France's protests have caused large numbers of deaths. The Liberty Times, relaying Reuters, reported only more than 400 arrests and clashes between police and protesters, and did not mention a death toll.

What to watch today

Today, Sun 10/18Follow the track forecasts for Jangmi after its upgrade to a severe typhoon, and watch whether the Weather Administration issues a sea warning.This weekWhen Taiwan stocks open next Monday, watch how tech stocks react to Friday's U.S. decline and the night session's drop.LaterThe Nov. 28 nuclear referendum, and the final decision on the Qilai Mountain Hut and Paiyun Lodge fee schedules once their notice periods end.For readersFor typhoons and investing alike, go by official data and do not forward unverified track maps or news.

Glossary · dotted words — economics, law, security and science terms explained in the context of the story. The list grows every day.

INSIDEJangmi becomes a moderate typhoon this morning; Central Weather Administration says next Thursday is the turning point between veering north and striking TaiwanWeather · TyphoonWaiver of health insurance premiums for eligible older people passes third reading; civic groups criticize lack of fiscal disciplineSociety · Health insuranceAI and tech stocks under pressure; Nasdaq plunges more than 2%, Taiwan index futures night session drops 1,144 pointsFinance · Stock marketKuomintang rally in Yuanlin spotlights Nov. 28 nuclear referendum; an “ocean current” appears in Taipei mayoral racePolitics · ElectionProtests over high prices turn into violent clashes in France as demonstrations break out simultaneously in Italy, Belgium and other countriesWorld · Europe