Today's (08/13) Top News! Air Defense Drill in 7 Northern Counties/City Motorcycle Subsidy Announced/Chen Hsing-yu Rumored Divorce Sparks Allegations Against Ex-Husband

Storm Media brings you today’s key news highlights. The northern session of the 2026 Urban Resilience Exercise took place today at 14:30, requiring residents in Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, and Yilan County to comply with a 30-minute vehicle and pedestrian restriction. For the first time in Taiwan, a mobile network speed reduction test was conducted, potentially causing disruptions to YouTube, ride-hailing apps, and mobile payments. Violators or onlookers may face fines up to NT$150,000.

Motorcyclists in Hualien County, take note: the county government has once again launched a driver training subsidy. Combined with central government funding, applicants who complete training and obtain a regular heavy motorcycle license can receive up to NT$2,600. However, the county’s additional quota is limited to 400 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility is restricted to Hualien residents aged 18 or older, or students enrolled in local high schools or universities, with applications accepted until December 15, 2026.

Chen Hsing-yu made headlines on her 50th birthday by posting a one-star Google review at her ex-husband Chao Chien-ming’s orthopedic clinic, identifying herself as the 'ex-wife' and publicly confirming the end of their marriage. In the review, she accused Chao of maintaining an inappropriate relationship with a nurse named Hsu and neglecting their three biological sons. She also alleged that her own shoulder tendon rupture was misdiagnosed for five years, and her sons’ injuries were similarly mishandled. While Chen Shui-bian and Chen Cheng-chung made social media moves, neither directly addressed the incident.

Asian stock markets have rebounded notably from recent lows, but financial institutions warn that the rally’s sustainability hinges on two key variables: global energy price trends and monetary policy flexibility. South Korea, Taiwan, India, and ASEAN each face distinct structural opportunities and risks, with capital flows quietly shifting.

Behind the scenes, Ko Wen-je’s frustration with Fu Kun-chi has been building for over two years. During a rare outburst in a legislative budget negotiation, Ko reportedly expressed long-standing grievances over being sidelined on key bills, including judicial reform, Hualien-Taitung legislation, and defense procurement. The tension traces back to a behind-the-scenes power struggle during the 2024 Legislative Yuan speaker election. At an overseas dinner, Ko even told a DPP legislator, 'Why didn’t you really beat him up?'—a remark that quietly circulated within party circles.

The 'Top 10 Most Beautiful Moonlight Heroines in Chinese Dramas' list has been released. While Li Qin’s character from 'Joy of Life' didn’t top the list, the number one spot went to the iconic heroine from a pioneering xianxia drama that has aired for over 20 years and remains unsurpassed. Characters like Minglan from 'The Story of Minglan,' Qu Xiaofeng from 'Tang Gong,' and Empress Fuca from 'Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace' continue to evoke deep nostalgia.

Coupang’s ultra-fast morning deliveries and weekend shipping come at a steep cost—burning hundreds of billions annually in Taiwan. E-commerce expert 'Stock Person Ah-Hsun' explains that Coupang’s strategy, proven in South Korea, relies on trading time for consumer habit formation. High repurchase rates could turn today’s losses into tomorrow’s moat. However, the success of this gamble depends on three critical indicators.

Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang proposed 'ground lease housing' to accelerate urban renewal, suggesting 50–70-year leases to lower homeownership barriers. However, critics, including writer Piaolang Daoyu, point out that China has implemented this model for over 40 years, yet ground lease properties in Beijing and Shanghai still reached sky-high prices. Taiwan faces two major hurdles: the deeply rooted belief that 'wealth comes from land ownership' and underdeveloped financing and resale regulations.