Today (8/16) Top Headlines! Directorate General of Budget releases Taiwan's latest annual income figures! See how you rank by age group / Why is no one in the DPP speaking up for Hsu Chia-ching? / Is a new typhoon coming?

Storm Media brings you today’s key news highlights. The Directorate General of Budget has released its latest household income survey, revealing that in 2025, Taiwan’s average annual income reached NT$763,000, with all age groups setting new historical records. The income performance of the 40-year-old cohort has drawn particular attention, and the income gap between generations is more pronounced than many expected. Only by reviewing the full data can one understand their true position in Taiwan’s income distribution.

The Control Yuan has confirmed a NT$100,000 fine against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Ocean Affairs Council Chair Hsu Chia-ching, who has been embroiled in controversies over overseas inspections and arranging for her son to visit Taiping Island. Yet, almost no one within the party has stepped forward to defend her. Several legislators’ immediate reaction was 'She’s tough,' and one fellow DPP legislator who had been scolded by her admitted that during coordination meetings, she gave no space for dialogue. This assertive leadership style has left deep political debts within the party, which the report thoroughly examines.

This week, Taiwan is under the influence of a low-pressure zone, leading to unstable atmospheric conditions. Severe weather, including lightning, strong winds, and sudden torrential rains, is expected to intensify significantly from the 21st for three consecutive days. Meteorological experts indicate that only after the Pacific high-pressure system strengthens slightly on the 24th will conditions gradually clear. Meanwhile, a tropical disturbance is brewing east of Guam starting from the 20th. Whether it develops into a typhoon and its potential impact on Taiwan remains under close monitoring.

Media personality Peng Wen-cheng, who accused former President Tsai Ing-wen of document forgery related to her doctoral thesis, has had his appeal formally rejected by the Supreme Court after both lower courts dismissed the case. The court ruled that Peng could not claim direct legal harm, as Tsai’s actions primarily affected the National Library’s administrative integrity, not Peng himself. Following the verdict, Peng responded defiantly on Facebook, revealing that 17 related cases are still ongoing in both Taiwan and the UK.

Financial expert Juan Mu-hua warns that July’s U.S. retail sales dropped 0.6% month-on-month, non-farm employment unexpectedly contracted, and household savings rates are nearing a four-year low. With both consumer spending and employment flashing red, expectations for a Fed rate cut are rising. A tricky risk is quietly approaching.

Ancient Chinese officials enjoyed more comprehensive leave systems than modern people might imagine. The Tang Dynasty had a 'xunjia' system, granting a break every ten days, along with seasonal and festival holidays, resulting in a surprisingly high number of annual leave days. The Song Dynasty had its own unique calculation method.

A surge in LINE account thefts has been reported recently. The National Health Insurance Administration warns that scam groups are impersonating the 'NHI Bureau' and sending phishing links. Once clicked, account credentials can be instantly stolen. The official account is always named 'NHI Administration' with a blue shield verification badge. Users should immediately delete suspicious messages.

Funeral processions scattering joss paper along the route is commonly believed to be 'giving money to spirits,' but this explanation only captures part of the tradition. This custom has a formal name in traditional funeral rites and involves deeper meanings, including warding off evil and praying for blessings. A specific ritual is performed when crossing bridges, and the person executing it must meet certain criteria.

How much should a 40-year-old earn to be considered high-income? The Directorate General of Budget releases the latest annual income figures! Instantly check how you rank across age groups.

The Directorate General of Budget’s latest household income survey shows that in 2025, Taiwan’s average annual income reached NT$763,000, with all age groups setting new historical highs. The 40-year-old cohort’s performance is especially notable—what income range qualifies as outperforming peers? The data also reveals detailed figures for young adults under 30 and middle-aged workers aged 45–54, showing intergenerational gaps more pronounced than expected. Compare your current income to see where you stand in Taiwan’s income distribution.

Profile: Why won’t anyone in the DPP speak up for Hsu Chia-ching? Many have experienced her demeanor firsthand.

Hsu Chia-ching was fined NT$100,000 by the Control Yuan for violating conflict-of-interest regulations after controversies over overseas inspections and arranging her son’s visit to Taiping Island. As the scandal escalated, nearly no one in the party came to her defense. A DPP insider frankly stated, 'If you speak for her and say the wrong thing, she’s hard to deal with.' Multiple legislators’ first reaction when mentioning her is 'She’s tough.' A fellow DPP legislator who was once scolded by her admitted that during a coordination meeting on overseas affairs, she gave no space for dialogue. Such incidents were not isolated. The report thoroughly analyzes the political debts Hsu’s assertive style has accumulated within the party.

Weather Forecast: Is a new typhoon coming? Taiwan faces weather shifts! 'Heavy rains for three consecutive days starting the 21st'—when will it clear up?

This week, Taiwan is under a low-pressure belt, causing unstable atmospheric conditions. Severe convective weather, including lightning, strong winds, and sudden downpours, will become more intense from the 21st for three consecutive days. Meteorologist Wu De-rong notes that only after the Pacific high-pressure system slightly strengthens on the 24th will conditions gradually improve. Meanwhile, a tropical disturbance is expected to form east of Guam starting the 20th. Whether it develops into a typhoon and its potential path toward Taiwan remains under close monitoring. Six counties and cities continue to experience high temperatures before rainfall, so sun protection and hydration are essential. For the full weather timeline and typhoon updates, see the full report.

Ruling on Tsai Ing-wen’s 'Thesis Scandal' forgery case—Peng Wen-cheng responds

Media personality Peng Wen-cheng accused former President Tsai Ing-wen of document forgery for submitting her doctoral thesis to the National Library. The case was dismissed in both lower courts, and the Supreme Court has now formally rejected the appeal. The court ruled that Tsai’s actions primarily affected the National Library’s administrative accuracy, and since Peng was not the thesis holder, he could not claim direct legal harm. After the verdict, Peng posted a defiant response on Facebook, revealing that 17 related cases are still ongoing in both Taiwan and the UK.

Is AI no longer enough? Juan Mu-hua reveals two major warning signs in the U.S. economy: Fed rate cut expectations rise

Financial expert Juan Mu-hua points out that while the AI industry is currently a bright spot in the U.S. economy, the two pillars truly supporting it are consumption and employment. However, both showed warning signs in July: retail sales dropped 0.6% month-on-month, the largest single-month decline recently; non-farm employment unexpectedly shrank, far below market expectations. More concerning, U.S. household savings rates are nearing a four-year low, and full-time jobs continue to decline. Juan warns that if consumption and employment remain weak, a tricky risk is quietly approaching.

Did ancient people have weekends? How many days off did officials get annually? The leave system was more comprehensive than imagined

Modern office workers are used to weekends, counting down from Fridays. But if you time-traveled to ancient China as an official, this logic wouldn’t apply. Ancient China didn’t use a seven-day week for scheduling leave, but officials weren’t working year-round without breaks. From Han Dynasty fixed holidays, Tang Dynasty’s 'xunjia' (a break every ten days), festival holidays, seasonal long breaks, to bereavement leave with specified days, the system was far more comprehensive than most expect. How many days off did Tang officials get annually based on scholars’ reconstructions? How many days did Song Dynasty officials enjoy?

Many people’s LINE accounts have recently been hacked! NHI Administration warns: receiving 'one message' is a scam—clicking it makes your account vanish instantly

Many users have suddenly lost their LINE accounts. The NHI Administration has confirmed a wave of impersonation scams spreading. Fraudsters are sending messages pretending to be the 'NHI Bureau,' claiming abnormal card usage and demanding immediate link clicks to avoid suspension. These messages contain phishing links—once clicked, account passwords and personal data can be instantly stolen, and devices may get infected. The NHI Administration reminds users that the official account is always named 'NHI Administration' with a blue shield verification badge. Delete suspicious messages immediately. If clicked, seek professional system checks.

Why do funeral processions scatter joss paper? It’s not just 'giving money to ghosts'—there’s deeper meaning behind Taiwan’s funeral customs

The practice of scattering joss paper during funerals is commonly explained as 'giving money to spirits' or 'ghost toll money,' but these explanations only capture part of it. This custom has a formal name in traditional funeral rites and involves deeper meanings, including warding off evil and praying for blessings. When crossing bridges, a specific ritual must be performed, and the person executing it must meet certain criteria.