Taiwan's Taipei mayoral contest took a quirky turn as a candidate rolled out astrology predictions alongside campaign material, while separate disputes over military neutrality and arts funding kept the race noisy.

• DPP candidate Shen Bo-yang released a campaign newsletter featuring monthly horoscopes done with a well-known astrologer, predicting his own luck improves later in the month while incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an's sign faces fatigue.
• Shen is also facing accusations that a military education video he recorded years ago is still being shown to troops, raising questions about political neutrality in the armed forces; the defense ministry confirmed the material has been used in training.
• The opposition party is demanding an apology from the defense minister over the military video controversy, arguing it turns military education into political promotion.
• A separate culture-world spat erupted after a veteran musician criticized public figures for not having children, prompting pushback from Taiwan's vice president and former president, and dragging in the culture minister and music critics.
• Mayor Chiang is also ramping up campaign efforts, praising aspects of a rival party's past housing policy during a joint livestream appearance.

Outlook: Expect the mayoral race to keep mixing policy disputes with personality-driven controversies as the campaign heads toward election day.