 TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese restaurant chain Formosa Chang has raised prices on selected menu items, citing higher operating costs.
Known for its braised minced pork rice, or lu rou fan, Formosa Chang said the adjustment affects 48 items. The changes cover about 36% of its menu, with an average price increase of 3.8%. Among a la carte rice dishes, the small portion of its signature braised pork rice has risen from NT$66 (US$2.1) to NT$71, an increase of 7.6%. Its nostalgic braised pork rice has increased from NT$122 to NT$127, up 4%. Four bento meals have also seen price changes. The Tangshan pork chop bento has increased from NT$125 to NT$130. The crispy chicken leg bento has risen from NT$135 to NT$140. Both the braised pork rice bento and chicken rice bento have increased from NT$85 to NT$89. The adjustment comes as Taiwan’s food and beverage sector faces sustained cost pressures, with higher minimum wages contributing to price increases across the restaurant industry this year. Following earlier increases by chain coffee brand Louisa Coffee, more traditional dining brands have also begun to follow suit. Formosa Chang said higher costs for raw materials, labor, and environmental compliance have continued to pressure operations. The company said it revised prices after internal cost-cutting measures were no longer sufficient. The move reflects a broader trend across Taiwan, where braised pork rice vendors have raised prices. Adjustments average about NT$10 per bowl. Formosa Chang traces its origins to 1960, when founder Chang Yen-chuan (張炎泉) started with a roadside food stall in Taipei. The business gradually expanded into a restaurant chain, with about 70 locations in Taiwan.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four northern cities will fund the Tpass monthly commuter pass with their own budgets amid a budget impasse, with coverage expected to last until early June.
The central government’s 2026 budget has stalled, raising concerns about potential impacts on Tpass subsidies. Officials from Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan held talks on Monday to discuss how to keep the program running. Taipei Department of Transportation Commissioner Hsieh Ming-hong (謝銘鴻) told reporters after the meeting that three conclusions were reached. First, Tpass is a joint central and local government policy aimed at prioritizing the needs of commuters. Second, given the current budget impasse, all four cities will use their own budgets to continue funding the program. How long this can be sustained depends on ridership. Based on 2025 ridership figures, funding could last until late May or early June 2026. However, the timeframe could change depending on ridership. Third, Hsieh stressed that Tpass is an important nationwide policy and called on the Ministry of Transportation to help facilitate dialogue among legislators. He said completing the budget process promptly is key to preventing any disruption to the program. Hsieh added that some have raised concerns about understanding the cost impact on passengers if Tpass were halted. While the pass costs NT$1,200 (US$37) per month, average usage is valued at about NT$2,100. This would mean passengers have to pay an additional NT$900 if the program were halted, though Hsieh stressed the scenario was hypothetical. According to the Directorate General of Highways, the Tpass regular program logs about 698,000 trips per month, while Tpass 2.0 accounts for roughly 379,000 trips. Taipei transportation officials said about 616,000 passes for the Keelung–Taipei–New Taipei–Taoyuan metropolitan area were sold in December. Average monthly sales stood at around 550,000 over the year.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 17-year-old missing-person case in eastern Taiwan has been resolved after Hualien police used updated forensic techniques to identify previously unidentified human remains.
The case dates to July 2008, when a man surnamed Teng (鄧), who was 65 at the time, left his home in Hualien and did not return. Teng had intellectual and speech disabilities, was unmarried, had no children, and his parents were deceased. In 2009, police discovered skeletal remains near a cemetery in Wanrong Township, an area close to Teng’s last known whereabouts. DNA samples were collected from Teng’s nephew, the only family member actively searching for him at the time. However, the comparison yielded inconclusive results due to the distant familial relationship and technical limitations in forensic testing. The remains were registered as unidentified, and the case was later closed. The case resurfaced in September last year during a routine population review. The Wanrong Household Registration Office found that Teng, who would have been 82, had not used National Health Insurance services for many years and referred the matter to police for verification. Senior officials at the Hualien County Police Bureau reopened the investigation. Deputy Commissioner Kao Li-chi (高麗姬), who previously led a forensic science center, said earlier DNA analysis relied mainly on short tandem repeat (STR) testing, which is less effective for identifying distant relatives. Advances in forensic science now allow for more detailed genetic analysis, including Y-chromosome testing through male-line relatives. As Teng had no direct descendants, police conducted an extensive genealogical review that identified 133 potential relatives, many of whom had relocated to other parts of Taiwan. After contacting relatives by phone and through field visits, investigators narrowed the list to eight male-line relatives suitable for Y-chromosome comparison. In mid-December, officers located Teng’s grandnephew, surnamed Yu (余), in a remote Indigenous village in Taitung. Yu agreed to provide a buccal swab sample. DNA analysis conducted by the Ministry of Justice’s Institute of Forensic Medicine later that month confirmed a high genetic match, identifying the remains found in Wanrong in 2009 as Teng’s. Hualien police said the case underscores the role of advances in forensic technology in resolving long-standing missing-person cases. They advised families with unresolved disappearances to contact police departments to inquire about DNA sampling and case review options.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Tourism Administration has released its hotel and B&B statistics for 2025.
Taiwan had 15,832 licensed accommodation operators (hotels and B&Bs) in 2025. Meanwhile, there were 1,058 unlicensed hotel-type operators (hotels and short-term rentals), an increase of 31 from 2024, primarily due to fluctuations in the number of short-term rental suites in metropolitan areas. The largest number of illegal hotels was found in Taipei (268), followed by Taichung (201), and Yilan County (158). Authorities issued 889 penalties, fining operators NT$96.62 million (US$3.05 million). The administration reported 566 illegal B&Bs in 2025, down by 21 from the previous year. The decrease was mainly because some previously listed operators had ceased business. Pingtung County had the most illegal B&Bs (133), followed by Nantou County (119), and Yilan County (71). Fines totaled NT$23.5 million.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taoyuan International Airport Corporation said that the indictment of a former senior official will not affect ongoing construction work on Terminal 3.
The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office indicted Lin Wen-chen (林文楨), former head of the airport’s engineering department, last week on charges of leaking confidential documents by a public official. Prosecutors allege Lin disclosed confidential bidding information to contractors preparing bids for the Terminal 3 project. In a press release, the TIAC said the case dates back to 2018 and 2019. Lin was dismissed from his position in January 2020. TIAC said that after the alleged improprieties were discovered, it cooperated with prosecutors and conducted a comprehensive review of all projects Lin handled during his tenure. According to TIAC, work on the “New Construction Project of Public Facilities (I) in Terminal 3,” in which Lin was previously involved, is continuing in accordance with contractual requirements. All components of the project are currently being implemented under established performance management mechanisms. As of the end of December, overall construction progress associated with the contract had reached 72.52%, in line with the original schedule, the airport said. A substation project has been completed, and power supply and pipeline connection work have also been finished to meet the phased operational needs of Terminal 3’s north concourse. Addressing public concerns over procurement oversight and accountability, TIAC said it has conducted a special audit of cases handled during Lin’s tenure and corrected identified deficiencies. It has also strengthened anti-fraud measures, enhanced its anti-corruption platform, revised procurement procedures, and tightened document confidentiality controls by clearly separating responsibilities.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei City Government Department of Education announced a three-year, NT$1.1 billion (US$34 million) plan to upgrade classrooms and facilities at public junior high and senior high schools, aiming to create more comfortable, student-centered learning environments.
The initiative aims to transform classrooms from cold, impersonal teaching spaces into aesthetically pleasing environments that support learning focus through spatial redesign and smart technology upgrades, according to a press release. In the first year of the program, Taipei invested NT$332 million in 2025 to renovate 973 classrooms at 63 public secondary schools across the city. The funding was used to optimize school environments, including the installation of expanded lockers to help students focus better on their studies. Officials said an additional NT$390 million will be allocated in 2026 and 2027 to continue similar upgrades, bringing the total investment to NT$1.1 billion. Taipei Department of Education Commissioner Tang Chih-min (湯志民) said classroom color schemes and layouts are closely linked to students’ learning efficiency. He said the renovations include removing exposed and cluttered piping and replacing outdated furniture with custom-made cabinets that meet green building standards. “These changes not only advance sustainability goals but also create a better learning environment for students,” Tang said. To address long-standing concerns from parents and students about the weight of school backpacks, the project significantly expands personal locker space, encouraging students to leave non-essential textbooks and reference materials on campus. At Neihu Vocational High School, smart sensor lockers have been introduced, allowing students to open lockers by scanning their student ID cards. Dazhi High School enhanced classroom spaciousness by removing the original ceilings and upgrading the lighting fixtures, thereby improving overall lighting quality for teaching and learning. Yongji Junior High School replaced traditional flooring with wood-grain tiles, improving classroom texture and atmosphere. Wanhua Junior High School created a “Global Reading Corridor,” drawing upon international landmarks and landscapes to foster a global outlook among students. City officials said the renovation project reflects the belief that investing in schools is an investment in Taipei’s future competitiveness. By transforming ordinary classrooms into smart, healthy, and visually engaging learning spaces, authorities aim to provide students with greater motivation and support to succeed.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A former airport company official was indicted for leaking confidential information about an engineering project at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3.
Lin Wen-chen (林文楨), 63, served first as deputy and later as the head of the engineering department at Taoyuan International Airport Corporation. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office charged him as a public official disclosing of information of a secret nature relating to matters other than national defense. From 2013, Lin was involved in the planning and execution of engineering projects at Taiwan’s main gateway. He also had the authority to conduct and supervise related purchases. The investigation into Lin’s actions originated with a tender in 2019 for public facilities at Terminal 3. The amount for the contract was raised from NT$6.24 billion (US$196.28 million) to NT$6.29 billion, but the project still did not attract the required minimum of three valid bidders. As a result, the company launched a second tender. Even though Lin knew clearly that related information could not be made public before the tender was published, he obtained confidential documents, including budget details, from an unknowing official and handed them over to a businessperson advising one of the bidders, prosecutors said. The bidder was not aware that the information he received from his adviser was illegally obtained. However, because investigators were unable to prove a direct connection between Lin’s actions and the winning of the bid, Lin was not charged with corruption.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Nestle Taiwan announced a precautionary recall of formula powder after Bacillus cereus was detected in parts of its production line.
Recalled products in Taiwan are the Illuma Toddler Growth Formula (batch No. 51680017C2) and Illuma Infant Growth Formula (batch No. 51690017C1). A total of 83,496 cans are affected. The bacterium Bacillus cereus can produce a heat-stable toxin called cereulide in some strains. If ingested, cereulide may cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, according to the UK Food Standards Agency. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration confirmed that Nestle Taiwan voluntarily reported the issue. Upon contacting the company’s headquarters, authorities identified two batches imported last year that could potentially be affected, prompting the precautionary recall. Initial investigations traced the contamination to trace amounts of arachidonic acid oil from a supplier. About 60 countries have also recalled products linked to the affected raw material, according to Foodwatch. The FDA reminded manufacturers to comply with Article 7 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. Companies must halt sales, conduct recalls, and notify authorities if a product is suspected of posing a health risk.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) confirmed the city will fund free lunches for all elementary and junior high school students.
Following Taipei, Keelung, and Taichung’s announcements of free school lunches, Chen said that Kaohsiung will follow suit. The program is expected to add NT$1.8 billion (US$56.97 million) in funding per school year, benefiting roughly 180,000 students citywide. Since the 2024 school year, the city has allocated NT$140 million annually to subsidize meals at NT$4 per student. It has also spent NT$58 million yearly to provide elementary students with weekly milk. Chen added the city will continue using ingredients that meet government standards for safety, quality, and traceability. For this school year, Kaohsiung will allocate NT$450 million to ensure lunches use traceable, domestically produced ingredients.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan became a super-aged society in 2025 as those aged 65 and older surpassed 20% of the population, while births fell to a record low.
The Interior Ministry said Taiwan’s population stood at 23,299,132. As of the end of December, the total had declined by 101,088 from a year earlier, marking a second straight year of population decreases. Reporters reported that In December, 9,027 babies were born, up 1,081 from November but down 3,469 year-on-year. Annual births fell to 107,812, extending a 10-year decline since 2016. Total deaths reached 200,268 last year. This translated into a crude death rate of 8.58 per thousand, down 1,839 from 2024. By the end of 2025, the population aged 0 to 14 numbered 2,681,890, or 11.51% of the total. Those aged 15 to 64 numbered 15,944,087, accounting for 68.43%. According to the World Health Organization, a population with 7% aged 65+ is considered an aging society, 14% is an aged society, and 20% is a super-aged society. In 2025, the share of people aged 65 and over in Taiwan reached 20.06% at 4,673,155. As for marriage and divorce, 104,376 couples married in 2025, resulting in a crude marriage rate of 4.47 per thousand, down 18,685 couples from 2024. Meanwhile, 52,101 couples divorced, for a crude divorce rate of 2.23 per thousand, a decrease of 1,368 from the previous year. |