A small rural township in central Taiwan is handing out cash to every resident to cushion rising living costs, good news for its roughly 13,890 people.

• Zhutang Township in Changhua County will pay NT$3,000 to each resident, with payments finished by the end of September.
• Local representatives approved the plan, which costs the township about NT$41.7 million from its own funds.
• Officials blame global economic swings, geopolitical tension, and higher oil and raw material prices for squeezing household budgets.
• Money will be handed out village by village so older residents do not have to travel far.

Outlook: Payments start next month, and the spending will be folded into the township's 2027 budget.