ICRT

Posted on 2026-03-25 19:58:13

Nutritionists in Taiwan warn that alcohol can help people fall asleep, but
might disrupt sleep quality.

They say alcohol reduces deep sleep ... and warn it can actually wake people
during early hours — leading to fragmented sleep and reduced overnight
recovery.

Alcohol increases the risk of sleep apnea by relaxing airway muscles, and may
lead to low blood sugar during the night — in severe cases causing
dizziness, sweating or even unconsciousness.

Instead of drinking, nutritionists suggest improving sleep through diet,
including nutrients like calcium and magnesium to help regulate the nervous
system and support deeper sleep.

They add that avoiding alcohol altogether remains the best option for overall
health, noting no level of alcohol consumption is completely risk-free.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

Taiwan's civil servants could see changes to their professional allowances
under reforms planned by the end of June.

Personnel Administration Director Su Chun-jung (蘇俊榮) says he's seeking a
pay raise for military personnel, civil servants and teachers, and expects to
send the plan to the Cabinet in April once it's finalized.

The government had previously decided not to raise salaries this year, citing
slower economic growth and other fiscal pressures, but officials now say the
issue is still under review.

A salary review committee is expected to meet before June to discuss whether
pay should be adjusted next year.

Officials say the changes are aimed at reflecting professional expertise,
addressing staff shortages, and narrowing the pay gap with the private
sector.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

Environmental officials say Taiwan’s air quality is improving after a global
report showed the nation’s pollution ranking dropped last year.

The Ministry of Environment says the latest data from the Swiss company IQAir
shows Taiwan is now ranked 71st out of 143 countries for pollution.

The list ranks countries from dirtiest to cleanest, a lower ranking means the
air is getting better.

The report shows that PM2.5 levels fell to an average of 13.3 micrograms per
cubic meter in 2025, improving from over 17 micrograms the year before.

Ministry officials say Taiwan's air is now cleaner than the air in South
Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Only Japan performed better among nearby Asian countries.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

New Taipei's Feitsui Reservoir is currently at 90-percent capacity, and is
helping ease pressure from declining levels at Shi-men Reservoir by supplying
water through downstream pipeline networks.

The Feitsui Reservoir Administration says rainfall in its catchment area has
reached only about 70 percent of the historical average so far this year, but
the reservoir's water level remains high due to careful water management.

Taoyuan's Shi-men Reservoirs, on the other hand, is just over half of its
capacity at the moment.

As Shi-men supplies water to New Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsin-chu, the
Administration has begun sending 780-thousand tons of water to the city's
Ban-qiao and Xin-zhuang districts every day to ease Shi-men's burden.

Water levels at the two Hsin-chu reservoirs, Bao-shan (寶山) and Bao-Er
(寶二), have dropped to just above 20 percent.

Officials are urging the public to conserve water as the dry spell continues.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

Japan has conveyed regrets to China after authorities confirmed the arrest of
a Japanese army soldier on suspicion of trespass at the Chinese Embassy in
Tokyo.

The case surfaced Tuesday after Beijing protested to Tokyo over an alleged
break-in at its embassy. It is the latest in an escalating spat between Japan
and China.

Police said today that they arrested a 23-year-old member of the Ground
Self-Defense Force, or Japan’s army, in the alleged trespassing.

A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry in Beijing said that the
individual who scaled the wall and forced his way into the embassy compound
yesterday morning.

Following China's protest and demand for preventive measures, Japan conveyed
to China its regret over the case and explained that Japanese ministries will
respond appropriately,

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

Two Pakistani officials say that Iran has received a 15-point proposal from
the U.S. to reach a ceasefire in the war.

The Pakistani officials described the proposal broadly as touching on
sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear
program, monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It also contains missile limits and access for shipping through the Strait of
Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.

Iran has insisted it isn’t engaged in negotiations with the U.S. and a
military spokesman mocked America over its diplomatic efforts today.

Iran has also launched more attacks on Israel and the Persian Gulf region,
including an assault that sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport.

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Former CPC Refinery division CEO Xu Han, who was arrested in Tai-tung last
night, has been detained without communications.

The Qiao-tou District Court said this morning that Xu could flee again or
collude with accomplices and witnesses, and that the charges laid against him
are serious.

Xu jumped bail on the 19th by removing his electronic ankle bracelet and took
a train from Kaohsiung to Ping-tung.

He had remained missing until police found him hiding at a bed and breakfast
in Taitung's Tai-mai-li together with his driver last night.

That's after the Court sentenced him to 25 years of imprisonment yesterday
morning for corruption and other offenses.

According to prosecutors, Xu made over 17 million NT in illegal profits by
asking for bribe money from contractors in his capacity as the CPC official
between 2019 and 2022.

He was released on 5-million-NT bail in 2023, but then put under electronic
monitoring in May last year.

His lawyer has protested against his detention.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

The Ministry of Labor has amended the Labor Pension Act to give pension
recipients more time to change their minds about how they're going to get
their pension payments.

The MOL says workers who choose to receive monthly pension payments will now
have a 30-day grace period after their first payment to switch to a lump-sum
payout.

This new rule will start taking effect on the 27th.

The Ministry also seeks to strengthen employer compliance, making it clear
that employers cannot refuse to process workers’ voluntary pension
contributions.

Employers failing to comply will face fines and late payment penalties
starting August 1st.

The Ministry says the revisions are designed to safeguard basic retirement
rights and improve how 13 million workers can use their pension funds.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Taiwan shares rose today as did most other Asian stock markets over the
possibilities of a de-escalation of the Iran war.

The Taiex rose 826 points, or 2.5-percent., to end the session at 33,439.

The turnover was 624.7 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Denmark’s election Tuesday ended in an inconclusive result that left the
prime minister’s future unclear.

Her campaign had focused on bread-and-butter issues rather than her handling
of the crisis over U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitions toward Greenland.

Official results showed that Prime Minister Mette Farde-riksen’s center-left
Social Democrats lost ground compared with the last election in 2022.

Neither left-leaning nor right-leaning blocs won a majority in parliament.

That leaves Foreign Minister Lars Lokke (LUR-geh) Rasmussen, a former prime
minister, in the role of kingmaker with enough seats to decide the next
administration.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Formosa Chemicals and Fibre Corporation is warning customers of potential
supply shortages starting next month as fighting in the Middle East disrupts
global shipping lanes.

The company says it is declaring "Force Majeure" because it cannot get enough
raw materials through the Strait of Hormuz.

This legal move allows a company to miss contract deadlines due to
unpredictable events like war or natural disasters.

Formosa Chemicals says it will prioritize its domestic customers and those
with existing contracts in April.

However, the company warns that if the war continues, it may completely run
out of some materials by May.

Two other major firms, Formosa Petrochemical and Formosa Plastics, issued
similar warnings earlier this month.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Fortnite publisher Epic Games said Tuesday it is laying off 1,000 employees
to save money as it grapples with industry-wide and company-specific
challenges.

The U.S. company said the job cuts are not related to AI.

Rather, they stem from industry-wide challenges such as slower growth, weaker
spending, and tougher cost economics.

Games like Fortnite are also competing for people's attention with social
media and other forms of online entertainment.

Epic's company-specific hurdles include being “only in the early stages of
returning to mobile” after court battles with Apple and Google over app
store payments.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-25 13:08:13

The finance ministry says it will review a new tax policy for small
restaurants following concerns that the rules could drive up food prices.

The Ministry of Finance recently announced that popular local eateries with
monthly sales over $200-thousand NT will no longer be exempt from issuing
official receipts starting in 2029.

But during a legislative hearing today, lawmakers warned that the shops may
pass the extra costs of bookkeeping and taxes onto customers.

There are currently about 70-thousand small restaurants in Taiwan that pay a
flat tax rate.

Government data shows about 5,300 of those shops have monthly sales that
exceed the $200-thousand NT limit.

The finance minsitry says it will conduct a full review of the policy a year
after it goes into effect, and officials will use the next three years to
help these businesses prepare for the change.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-25 13:08:13

Taiwan's convenience store chains, led by Uni-President 7-Eleven, will all
join the Earth Hour campaign by turning off their signage lights for one or
two hours.

Uni-President said the signboard lights will be shut across over seven
thousand 7-Eleven stores and other subsidiaries including Mister Donut, COLD
STONE, Starbucks and Cosmed between 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM on Saturday.

The company said it has also invited 7-Eleven in the Philippines to join the
campaign, and more than 4-thousand 500 stores there have agreed to do so.

It's expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by three thousand kilograms.

Meanwhile FamilyMart and OK Mart both said they are participating in Earth
Hour as well, and will switch off signage lights for one hour starting at
8:30 p.m. on the 28th.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 13:08:13

Japanese authorities have confirmed the arrest of a Japanese army soldier on
suspicion of trespass, a day after China protested over an alleged break-in
at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.

The case, the latest in an escalating spat between Japan and China, surfaced
Tuesday after Beijing protested to Tokyo.

An individual who claimed to be a Japan Self-Defense Forces officer scaled
the wall and forced his way into the embassy compound on Tuesday morning.

The Tokyo police said today they arrested a 23-year-old member of the Ground
Self-Defense Force, or Japan's army.

The suspect is a soldier based at the Camp Ebino, in Japan's southwestern
prefecture of Miya-zaki, and that officials are “fully cooperating” with
police.

Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said “China is deeply
shocked by the incident and has expressed strong protest.”

Posted on 2026-03-25 13:08:13

69 Soldiers

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has questioned the use of secondhand planes
by his nation’s armed forces.

This comes as officials investigate the crash of a military transport plane
that killed at least 69 soldiers in southwestern Colombia.

The military transport plane crashed Monday shortly after takeoff.

Officials said that 57 soldiers were rescued alive from the crash site.

The plane that crashed had been donated to Colombia by the United States in
2020 under a cooperation agreement.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-25 11:07:13

Former CPC Executvie Hsu Han reportedly hid out at a Taitung bed n breakfast
after jumping bail in his corruption case.

The owner of the guesthouse where Hsu stayed said that a driver brought Hsu
to the BNB, claiming that his brother was suffering from an illness and
needed a place to stay.

Because the driver had previously stayed at the guesthouse, the owner did not
feel the need to check the identification of the two men.

The owner said that Hsu and the driver both wore masks while they were at the
guesthouse, which he thought was strange, but said that he was not paying
attention to the news.

The owner said that last night four police cars suddenly appeared to arrest
Hsu, who cooperated with police instruction.

Hsu was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison for 11 counts of
corruption.

He went missing nearly a week ago after removing his ankle monitor.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-25 11:07:13

The Central Weather Administration says, areas north of Taichung can expect
slightly cooler weather and some cloud cover today...

while temperatures will rebound slightly tomorrow.

The east is also expected to have some scattered rain showers during the same
period, while the south and center can expect continued warmer temperatures.

Meanwhile the CWA has also issued a dense fog advisory for Taoyuan and Mazu
through this afternoon.

Meterologists say that those two areas have already seen visibility fall to
less than 200 meters.

Although forecasters expect more moderate temperatures in the north through
Friday, they say weekend temperatures will be "summer-like" before dropping
again early next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-25 11:07:13

An election in Denmark has shown disappointing results for Prime Minister
Mette Frederiksen.

The campaign focused on bread-and-butter issues rather than geopolitical
ones, like those relating to the US' plans for Danish territory Greenland.

Frederiksen's center-left Social Democrats lost ground compared with the last
election in 2022, as did both partners in the outgoing government.

Neither left nor right leaning blocs were able to secure a majority in
parliament.

In that case, the foreign minister will play the role of kingmaker, with his
centrist Moderate party poised to determine whether Frederiksen can serve a
third time or not.

Frederiksen is known for her strong support of Ukraine in its defense against
Russia’s invasion and for a restrictive approach to migration

Posted on 2026-03-25 11:07:13

Posted on 2026-03-25 09:06:14

And,

An exhibition honoring the career of basketball's Lin Chih-chieh will open in
Taipei in late May at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

According to the Plus League's Taipei Fubon Braves, the "Be the Beast"
exhibition will tell the story of the 43-year-old shooting guard's journey
from street courts to professional arenas.s.

Lin began his professional career in 2001 with Taiwan Beer in the Super
Basketball League, before joining the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese
Basketball Association in 2009.

He returned to Taiwan in 2019, when he joined the Fubon Braves.

Lin announced his retirement in October of last year 2025.

Posted on 2026-03-25 09:06:14

Hong Kong police have reportedly arrested a bookstore owner and three
shopkeepers for allegedly selling "seditious" publications including a
biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

According to broadcaster T-V-B, the owner of the Book Punch store and three
staff members have been accused of selling copies of "The Troublemaker."

The book is a biography of Lai written by Mark Clifford - a former director
of Lai's media group Next Digital.

Lai was sentenced to 20-years in prison in February for collusion with
foreign forces and sedition in the city's biggest national security case.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Credit information agency, CRIF Taiwan is warning that the island faces
rising risks to consumer prices and energy supply as the US war with Iran
enters its fourth week.

According to the agency, pressure is building on supply chains, which could
affect energy supply stability, oil prices, consumer prices and exchange rate
movements here in Taiwan.

The agency says the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could prevent
natural gas shipments from Qatar from arriving on schedule, increasing
pressure on supply ...

... and companies face compounded pressure when oil prices rise and the New
Taiwan dollar weakens because crude oil and natural gas imports are priced in
U-S dollars.

CRIF Taiwan says the New Taiwan dollar's real purchasing power has declined
by between 3 and 5-per cent since the war began, increasing inflation
pressure on imports.

The organization is projecting that large restaurant chains may introduce
price increases of about 5 to 10-per cent from next month due to rising
ingredient and transportation costs.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urged the Danish government to correct its
description of Taiwan on residence permits that implies Taiwan is part of the
People's Republic of China or face retaliatory measures.

Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei says the Lai administration has
"condemned" the Danish government's listing of the nationality of Taiwanese
citizens on residence permits as "China" ...

.. which is not consistent with the longstanding foreign policy of European
Union member states nor with the principles of democracy and human rights.

According to Hsiao, the government has repeatedly issued protests to
Copenhagen in recent years, calling on it to correct the designation, but has
received no response so far.

Hsiao says if the Danish government continues to ignore the request due to
pressure from Beijing, the Lai administration will launch retaliatory
measures.

However, the foreign ministry spokesman did not say what those measures might
be.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung last week said the government has asked other
friendly nations around the world to jointly urge Copenhagen to make the
necessary changes as soon as possible.

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration has said the
listing is not a mistake, but reflects the Danish government's position that
it does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country and considers it
"under China."

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Kaohsiung Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office says a former C-P-C
executive who went missing days before being sentenced to 25 years in prison
for corruption earlier this week has been detained in Taitung.

According to the prosecutors' office, Hsu Han was arrested Jinfeng Township.

However, prosecutors have not said how authorities managed to track him down.

Hsu went missing on March 19 after removing his ankle monitor in Pingtung's
Wanluan Township.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Ciaotou District Court on
Monday.

The court found him guilty on 11 counts of corruption related to his
receiving 16-million N-T in bribes for steering eight purchasing contracts
worth almost 1-billion N-T to select companies ..

... and of holding an additional 4-million N-T in assets for which he failed
to explain the sources.

The district court verdict can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Criminal Investigation Bureau has confirmed reports that a Taiwanese
suspect linked to a money laundering case has been shot dead in Cambodia.

The statement comes after T-V-B-S reported that Lin Ping-wen was shot late
Monday night in the port city of Sihanoukville in south-west Cambodia.

According to the bureau, Cambodian authorities are still investigating the
circumstances surrounding to his death.

Taiwan's representative office in Ho Chi Minh City is assisting Lin's family
with various arrangements.

Lin was indicted by the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office in February
of 2023 for suspected money laundering in a case linked to Kuo Che-min - who
operated a now shuttered private club in Taipei called "88 Lounge."

Lin subsequently failed to appear in court after jumping bail and an a
warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2024.

Kuo was arrested in Thailand in July of 2023, repatriated to Taiwan and later
indicted for violating the Banking Act and Money Laundering Control Act.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Water Resources Agency has raised its water alert level for the Taichung
area to green.

The green alert signals the strengthening of water supply allocation
measures,

The agency says Taichung's alert level was adjusted because water flow in the
Daan River remains low due to a lack of rainfall and the Liyutan Reservoir is
currently about 30-per cent full, significantly below levels seen in recent
years for the same period.

According to the agency, it is now prioritizing using water from the Dajia
River, drawing from drought-resistant wells in Taichung, and using subsurface
water as a supplementary source without affecting irrigation.

Science and industrial parks in Taichung will reduce water use by 7-per cent
voluntarily.

While the agricultural department will implement scheduled irrigation and
gate management to conserve water.

The Water Resources Agency has opted to leave the Hsinchu area's water alert
level at yellow, with reduced-pressure water supply from 10 PM to 5AM
continuing there.

However, the agency says this will not affect household or industrial water
supplies.

Yellow indicates reduced water pressure and partial supply suspensions in the
public sector.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:13

Taiwan Space Agency Director-General Wu Cong-xin 吳宗信 says he believes
recent passage of Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act will accelerate
the development of Taiwan-US cooperation in the space field.

Speaking at a discussion hosted by the Washington D.C.-based Center for
Strategic and International Studies, Wu said the U-S holds a leading edge in
space technology, while Taiwan has strong manufacturing capabilities.

According to Wu, that means, U-S companies can leverage Taiwan's strengths to
accelerate and industrialize the space sector and related infrastructure,
with both sides able to quickly finalize a cooperation framework.

Wu said that Taiwan's globally recognized strengths in electronics,
semiconductors, and precision manufacturing are already supporting various
space projects, including a planned lunar data center and equipment for
NASA's Perseverance Mars mission.

Wu is currently visiting Washington D.C., and says his trip is aimed at
strengthening ties with U-S industry and positioning Taiwan as a reliable
player in the global space supply chain.

The Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act was approved by a Senate
committee earlier this month.

The legislation seeks to expand cooperation between the Taiwan Space Agency,
NASA and the U-S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted the China-born
chairwoman of the Taiwan New Immigrants Development Association.

Xu Chunying 徐春鶯 has been charged with violating the Anti-Infiltration Act
and financial crimes.

According to the prosecutors' office, Xu frequently traveled to China under
the pretext of providing services for Chinese spouses, but met with Chinese
officials and regularly reported on Taiwan politics and elections.

Prosecutors say she sought assistance from China to organize other Chinese
spouses to campaign in support of Huang Shan-shan's 2022 Taipei mayoral run
as an independent candidate and to support Ko Wen-je is is his 2024
presidential campaign ....

.. action's prosecutors say violated of the Anti-Infiltration Act.

Prosecutors also say she "expressed her loyalty" to the Chinese Communist
Party.

Xu has also been charged with violations of the Banking Act, and with fraud
and forgery under the Criminal Code.

She has been accused of operating an illegal underground currency exchange
between 2020 and 2025, and illegally obtained a 26-million N-T loan.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

The Taiwan Higher Education Union says it will send a list of new member
teachers from the National Taiwan Normal University's Mandarin Training
Center to the school to begin the collective bargaining process.

The statement comes after teachers at the Mandarin Training Center protested
their working conditions last Friday.

They're accusing the university of failing to grant them basic rights such as
offering sick leave, marital leave and annual leave.

The teachers have released a draft collective agreement that requires the
university to comply with Labor Standards Act provisions on stable
employment, transparent systems for hiring, pay, evaluations and course
assignments, and better salaries and treatment.

Higher education union secretary-general Chang Zhi-lun 張志綸 says under the
Collective Agreement Act, a union may initiate negotiations if more than half
of the employees in the bargaining unit are union members.

According to Chang, more than two-thirds of Mandarin Training Center teachers
had joined the union as of last Friday.

The university has said it will verify the union's legal bargaining status
based on the Collective Agreement Act and will review the union's group
agreement draft.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

The Ministry of Finance says seven of the 17 10-million N-T winning receipts
from the November-December uniform invoice lottery remain unclaimed.

The winners have until May 5 to redeem their prizes.

The unclaimed receipts include one for a 173 N-T phone bill in Keelung, while
others were for a 5,913 N-T purchase at a Costco in Taipei's Neihu District,
a 49 N-T purchase at a FamilyMart in New Taipei's Tamsui District ..

... and a 500 N-T purchase at a tea shop in Shulin District in New Taipei.

Seven 2-million N-T grand prize receipts have yet to be redeemed.

The winning numbers for the January-February lottery will be released today.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

A survey by the Child Welfare League Foundation shows that nearly one in five
schoolchildren show signs of social anxiety.

According to foundation, the survey found that 18.6-per cent of children
exhibit traits associated with social anxiety and even among those who
self-identified as extroverts, 11.2-per cent still met the criteria.

The foundation is warning that some outwardly active children may be masking
anxiety - as children with social anxiety are significantly less likely to
express themselves.

The survey found that some 16.2-per cent of them said they rarely interact
with others in real life, compared with 8.2-per cent of other children

Meanwhile, 18.3-per cent of respondents said they are too nervous to express
themselves online, versus 4.3-per cent of their peers.

The foundation says family and peer dynamics may be associated with the
condition - as the survey showed that socially anxious children were more
likely to report being scolded or questioned about schoolwork at home.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

And,

Premier Cho Jung-tai has confirmed that deputy trade representative Yen
Hui-shin has recently died.

She was 53.

Speaking a legislative hearing, Cho said he learned of Yen's death after
receiving her resignation and found that she had been suffering from health
issues for a long time due to stress from her job.

According to Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee, Yen made important
contributions to Taiwan-US tariff negotiations, before taking leave for
"health reasons" last September and submited her resignation at the beginning
of March.

The United Daily News has reported that Yen was hospitalized with an
unspecified illness at the beginning of the year and died on March 12.

News of her death was kept quiet until after her memorial service was held on
Monday on the wishes of her family.

Yen was the daughter of former Finance Minister Yen Ching-chang.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

Poland is reporting a sharp uptick in cyberattacks last year.

Officials say that the country saw about 270,000 incidents in 2025, marking a
250% increase from the previous year.

Poland has strengthened cyber defenses since Russia launched its full-scale
invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Polish officials have repeatedly said that they suspect Russia of being
behind cyber attacks targeting Poland.

Authorities have raised concerns about a particularly destructive attack on
the energy sector in December.

Attacks hit a heat and power plant and several wind and solar sites.

Experts see signs tying the attacks to Russian-linked groups, but authorities
have not named a suspect.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

In Colombia,

the attorney general has obtained arrest warrants for seven members of a
rebel group suspected in the killing of the late senator Miguel Uribe.

Uribe was assassinated last year while at a rally for his presidential
campaign in Bogota.

The attorney general called his killing the "result of a structured criminal
operation that involved an urban criminal gang" hired by the rebel group
Segunda Marquetalia.

According to the attorney general, one of those targeted for arrest is
Luciano Marin who fought for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia,
which signed a peace deal with the Colombian government in 2016.

Miguel Uribe was speaking in a park in June when he was shot several times by
a teenager, who fled the scene but was quickly captured by Uribe's
bodyguards.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

An exit poll appears to indicate disappointing results for the party of
Denmark's prime minister.

The campaign focused on bread-and-butter issues rather than geopolitical
ones, like those relating to the US' plans for Danish territory Greenland.

All three parties in Prime Minister Mette Frederiken's government looked set
to lose ground in the election.

The results suggest that left and right leaning blocs are both likely to fall
short of a majority in parliament.

In that case, the foreign minister may play the role of kingmaker, with his
centrist Moderate party poised to determine whether Frederiksen can serve a
third time or not.

Frederiksen is known for her strong support of Ukraine in its defense against
Russia’s invasion and for a restrictive approach to migration

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

Thousands marched in Buenos Aires to mark 50 years since a military coup
which led to a dictatorship responsible for widespread human rights abuses.

Demonstrators gathered in the capital and across the country under the slogan
"Memory, Truth, and Justice."

President Javier Milei has called for a broader commemoration that also
includes victims of guerrilla violence.

His government's cuts to human rights programs have further fueled concerns
about ongoing efforts to investigate past crimes and recover victims'
remains.

Human rights organizations estimate that about 30,000 people were disappeared
by the regime in its campaign against dissidents...

Official figures place the number at around 8,000.

A truth commission and human rights groups attribute the majority of violence
during that period to state security forces.

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

The Centres for Disease Control has confirmed Taiwan's first
enterovirus-related death of the year.

According to the CDC, the patient was a girl under the age of ten from
southern Taiwan with no underlying conditions.

She first sought treatment for vomiting and was diagnosed with acute
gastroenteritis, but later developed headache, diarrhea, and weakness, and
was found to have both enterovirus and rotavirus.

Health officials say enterovirus-related visits have risen in recent weeks
and are expected to remain steady or rise slightly before the Tomb Sweeping
holiday, with a more noticeable increase afterward.

They added that four severe cases have been recorded so far this year,
including the one death.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

Doctors in Taiwan say about 30 to 40 percent of infertility cases are linked
to male factors ... such as low sperm count and lifestyle habits.

They say this is often a case of so-called secondary infertility, where
couples struggle to have a second child even after a successful first birth.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
fertility declines after 35, with a higher risk of abnormalities.

Doctors also note that some women may develop conditions after childbirth
that can affect pregnancy.

Heterosexual couples trying to have a baby are advised to seek medical
evaluation if pregnancy does not occur after a year, or after six months for
women over 35.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

A 58-year-old woman from Palau has become the first patient referred to
Taiwan for a living-donor liver transplant.

The women, known as "Mildred", received a liver donation from her 33-year-old
son Chad, who works as a firefighter.

She had a chronic autoimmune liver disease, and doctors estimated her
two-year survival rate at less than 40 percent.

After four years of treatment between Taiwan and Palau, her condition
worsened.

The 12-hour transplant surgery was carried out last August at Mackay Memorial
Hospital, where she received 60 percent of her son's liver.

Her son was discharged after 10 days, while Mildred left hospital on day 25
... and is now set to return to Palau.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

Tainan City will make its debut at the UK's International Food and Drink
Event in London ... which kicks off on March 30th.

A "Tainan Pavilion" will be set up to showcase the city's agricultural,
fishery, and processed products ... with a design centered on a broader
"Taiwan" theme that blends cultural and agricultural elements.

Officials say selected items are tailored to European tastes to help expand
market opportunities.

They added that the city has seen strong export results in recent years,
including 500 million NT in orders at the recent FOODEX JAPAN 2026 in Tokyo,
along with growing sales to Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

Tainan says the event will serve as a platform to promote its products,
enhance brand visibility, and boost international exposure while highlighting
its cultural and agricultural identity.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

The Criminal Investigation Bureau has confirmed that a Taiwanese fugitive
linked to the "88 Lounge" money laundering case was shot dead in Cambodia
last night.

The suspect, 55-year-old Lin Ping-wen (林秉文) was found in a secluded area
of Sihanoukville.

Preliminary reports from Cambodian police suggest the murder was a
premeditated ambush involving three to four suspects who fled the scene.

Lin had been a wanted fugitive since 2023 after failing to appear in court
for his alleged role in an underground gambling and remittance network.

The case drew significant attention due to its links to a private Taipei club
frequented by government officials.

Taiwanese authorities are working with Cambodian authorities to investigate
the shooting and assist Lin’s family with arrangements.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

Taiwan High Speed Rail is partnering with the Pingtung County Government to
launch special travel packages for a festival starting next month.

The "2026 Hengchun Festival" will take place over two weekends in April at
Hengchun’s North Gate Square.

To mark the event, the rail company is offering a one-day tour from Taipei
for $3-thousand-100 NT.

The package includes round-trip train tickets, meals, and guided tours to the
festival and the newly renovated Chuhuo Special Scenic Area.

The company is also offering packages including an overnight stay at the
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Kenting, or rides on the
"Breezy Blue" antique train.

Rail officials say these deals are designed to let travelers explore the
Hengchun Peninsula at their own pace.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

Taiwan says it will rename South Korea on its official entry forms next month
if Seoul does not stop listing Taiwan as part of China on its electronic
travel documents.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says South Korea’s electronic arrival card
currently labels Taiwan as "CHINA (TAIWAN)."

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says that if South Korea does not fix the
error by March 31-st, Taiwan will change the label for South Korea to "KOREA
(SOUTH)" on its own arrival forms starting April 1-st.

The ministry has already changed the name of "Korea" to "South Korea" on
resident certificates for foreign nationals as of March 1-st.

The South Korean representative office in Taipei has told the ministry that
the Korean government is working on a solution that should be acceptable to
Taiwan.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

Danish voters are going to the polls in a general election.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is seeking a third term at the helm of the
Scandinavian country after a standoff with President Donald Trump over the
future of the kingdom’s semiautonomous territory of Greenland.

More than 4.3 million people are eligible to have their say in Tuesday’s
vote for the new Folketing, or parliament, in Copenhagen, which is elected
for a four-year term.

Frederiksen called the election last month.

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:13

DPP Lawmaker Puma Shen says he will "respect" the decision made by the DPP
election strategy committee regarding their choice of nominee for the Taipei
mayorship.

Shen has been named several times as being one of the top candidates for the
office.

Shen previously said he was not interested in running for mayor, with focus
now largely having shifted to Vice Premier Zheng Li Jun...

but Zheng reportedly has expressed little interest in running.

Shen today said that his attention is currently on his positions within the
DPP's legislative caucus and the foreign affairs and defense committee.

DPP caucus secretary-general Zhuang Rui-xiong also declined to name a likely
nominee to challenge Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:15

The Interior Minister has insisted that she deals with policy relating to new
immigrants- including so-called "mainland spouses"- in accordance with the
law.

Liu Shih-fang was responding to TPP founder Ko Wen-je, who called her
treatment of TPP lawmaker Li Zhen-hsiu “Nazi-like” and a form of racial
discrimination.

Liu says today that she believes Ke's understanding of the situation to be
incorrect, adding that his statements reflected a clear bias.

Liu also notes that government data in 2023 showed that the vast majority of
voters approved of the government's treatment of immigrants and mainland
spouses.

Liu adds that the Interior Ministry's treatment of those with dual
nationality seeking public office has been consistent.

However, the KMT has long criticized Liu for deliberately applying the
Nationality Act to Li’s case, saying that only the Relations between Taiwan
and Mainland Act should apply.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:15

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging Denmark to correct its
classification of Taiwanese nationals on residence permits.

It also warns of possible countermeasures without elaborating.

Officials say Denmark currently lists Taiwanese citizens as 'China', a move
Taipei has condemned as inaccurate and inconsistent with democratic values.

The ministry says it has repeatedly raised the issue with Copenhagen over the
years, but has received no response.

According to a Danish-language newspaper, Denmark is the only European Union
member state that lists Taiwanese nationality as China rather than Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:15

The head of Colombia’s armed forces says the death toll from a military
plane crash has reached 66.

Colombian officials say that a military cargo plane with 128 people on board,
most of them soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in
southwestern Colombia.

Four military personnel remain missing. The Hercules C-130 plane had 11 crew
members, 2 members of the National Police and 115 soldiers on board.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez says that the “tragic accident” occurred in
a remote municipality in the Amazonian province of Putu-mayo, that borders
Peru and Ecuador.

He says so far there were no signs indicating that the plane was attacked by
rebel groups that operate in that region.

Posted on 2026-03-24 14:07:13

Premier Chuo Rung-tai has downplayed the government's about-face in energy
policies, saying that the Cabinet will stick to the 3 principles before
restarting the No. 2 and No. 3 nuclear power plants.

These include ensuring nuclear safety, proper disposal of nuclear waste, and
building social consensus.

Facing doubts and protests from anti-nuclear civil groups and some DPP
lawmakers, Chuo today insisted that "there's a long way to go" for the
procedures to be complete.

He also said that there are currently no discussions regarding an emergency
order from the Presidential Office to speed up the power plants reactivation.

Opposition KMT lawmakers are urging President Lai Ching-te to issue the order
after he announced over the weekend that the two nuclear power plants met the
conditions for reactivation.

Otherwise, the No. 3 plant is not expected to begin operations until 2028.

The premier says efforts are underway to secure natural gas supplies through
June, and if energy reserves are adequate for the rest of the year, an
emergency order may not be needed.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-24 14:07:13

Taiwan shares rebounded today like most other Asian stock markets.

The Taiex gained 110 points to end the session at 32,612.

But the turnover shrank to 664.3 billion NT as investors turned more cautious
amid uncertainties.

Posted on 2026-03-24 14:07:13

In world news...

The USGS says a strong preliminary magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near Tonga
in the South Pacific Ocean today.

The USGS says the quake struck early Tuesday evening local time at a depth of
about 237 kilometers.

Earthquakes at shallower depths are felt more strongly at the surface.

The jolt was centered at sea, 153 km west of Nei-afu, the second largest town
in the island nation.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

Tonga’s National Disaster Risk Management Office has warned all in the
low-lying island nation to move immediately to higher ground or inland.

The USGS did not immediately list a tsunami warning for the region.

Posted on 2026-03-24 13:07:13

A new study suggests that one in five elementary school students in Taiwan
suffers from social anxiety, with many struggling to handle conflicts or make
friends.

The Child Welfare League Foundation released its 2026 report today after
surveying more than 1,200 fifth and sixth graders.

The data shows that children with such social anxiety are nearly four times
more likely to want to skip school compared to their peers, and over
60-percent of these students suffer from insomnia almost every day.

In addition, more than half of the students surveyed said they do not know
how to express their true feelings, and nearly 40-percent said they do not
know how to make friends, marking a significant increase from seven years
ago.

The foundation is calling on parents to offer emotional support instead of
criticism when children face social setbacks.

It also urges schools to teach students how to manage conflicts and rebuild
relationships.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-24 13:07:13

The family of an EVA Air flight attendant who died after working while ill
last year has filed a criminal charges for negligent homicide.

The Taoyuan Flight Attendants' Union, who speaks for the family, says the
family has taken legal action against the purser on duty, surnamed Yang, as
well as EVA Air Chairman Lin Bao-shui (林寶水).

The Union says after the flight attendant's death, the carrier only punished
Yang with a demerit and reassignment, but didn't release the results of its
probe or allow the family to participate.

The flight attendant worked round-trip flights between Taiwan and Milan in
late September last year, during which her condition reportedly worsened
rapidly but she still continued working.

She died on October 10th after returning to Taiwan.

The family argues that the failure to provide timely medical care and
assistance directly contributed to her death.

The Labor Ministry's investigations has concluded that the airline's
excessive use of attendance management seriously restricted employees’
ability to take sick leave, with most crew members “almost afraid” to call
in sick.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-24 13:07:13

The head of Colombia’s armed forces says the death toll from a military
plane crash has reached 66.

Colombian officials say that a military cargo plane with 121 people, most of
them soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in southwestern
Colombia.

They say four military personnel were still missing.

The Hercules C-130 plane had 11 crew members and 110 soldiers on board.

The armed forces says details of the crash were not yet known, "except that
the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometers from the
airport.”

Posted on 2026-03-24 13:07:13

The European Union and Australia have agreed on the final text of a free
trade agreement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese signed the agreement today at the Australian
Parliament House after protracted negotiations that began in 2018.

The leaders also announced a new defense partnership that will bring closer
military cooperation and the start of negotiations toward Australia becoming
an associate of the research and innovation funding program Horizon Europe.

Albanese said the pact also removed tariffs on key Australian exports
including wine, seafood and horticulture.

The EU will open two tariff rate quotas of a total of 30,600 metric tons for
Australian red meat, with 55-percentof that duty free.

Posted on 2026-03-24 09:06:13

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng has refused to answer
questions from Taiwan People's Party lawmaker-at-large Li Zhenxiu during a
legislative committee session.

It comes as Li is continuing to face allegations she failed to renounce her
Chinese citizenship.

Chiu claimed during the hearing that it would be "illegal" to answer someone
not legally qualified to hold office ..

... and told attendees at a meeting of the Legislature's Internal
Administration Committee that "if an administrative official responds to
questions from someone who is not qualified to serve as a legislator, that
would be unconstitutional and illegal."

The council minister went to accuse Li of failing to fulfill her obligation
under the Nationality Act to demonstrate "sole allegiance to the Republic of
China" ...

... by referring to Article 20 of the act, which stipulates that R-O-C
nationals with nationalities of another country "shall have no right to hold
government offices of the R-O-C."

The response came after Li made the opening remarks during the committee
hearing - in which she said that neither the Mainland Affairs Council, the
Ministry of the Interior, nor the Cabinet had the authority to determine the
status of a lawmaker.

Posted on 2026-03-24 09:06:13

The DPP says, it plans to meet again to discuss nominations for several
candidates to run for mayoral and magisterial positions early next month.

DPP Spokesperson Wu Zheng says that he expects several of those nominations
to be more concrete following the next election committee meeting on April
7th.

The party currently has yet to nominate candidates in Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu City and County, Hualien, Kinmen, and Mazu.

Wu noted that the nomination for Taoyuan mayor is nearly finalized, while the
Taipei position remains uncertain.

Wu added that he believed the pool of candidates in the Taipei race had
slimmed down slightly following recent meetings...

with recent media reports naming Vice Premier Zheng Li Jun as a leading
option.

Wu noted that DPP Secretary General Xu Guo Yong is hoping to expedite the
process, and said the nominations would hopefully be largely finalized early
next month.

Posted on 2026-03-24 09:06:13

Mexican authorities discovered over 200 people packed into the back of a
truck traveling through the state of Veracruz.

Veracruz is one of a number of states that mirants have hisotrically passed
through to reach the US.

It's the first such incident in months, marking a potential uptick in
migration since migration numbers decreased upon the US president's return to
office.

Migrants are often packed into trucks in dangerous conditions in order to
evade authorities while being smuggled north...

often being preyed upon by cartels and other criminal groups.

Officials say the migrants were discovered when authorities heard people
calling for help from inside a police impound lot.

Most of the over two hundred migrants were from Central America, over a dozen
were minors, and several were dehydrated.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Control Yuan is calling on courts to hand down tougher sentences for
military personnel convicted of spying for China and violating national
security laws.

It comes after the government watchdog investigated two cases involving
military personnel.

The investigations were carried out by the Control Yuan's Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee and Judiciary and Prison Administration Committee.

According to the committees, the average prison sentences handed down in
cases involving national security and military personnel from 2017 to last
year was too low.

Data shows such sentences handed down by district courts averaged 12.8
months, those handed down by the High Court averaged 18.1 month, while the
average sentence handed down by the Supreme Court stood at 27.8 months.

The Control Yuan says the average sentences are often lighter than those
handed down by courts for elected officials convicted of bribery or people
found guilty of trafficking in category 1 or 2 drugs.

And the government watchdog says the light sentences for violating national
security laws do not act as deterrent.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:18

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says it is "feasible" that the first of 66
F-16V fighter jets purchased from the United States could be delievered to
Taiwan in September.

Speaking at a legislative hearing, Koo told lawmakers that 59 F-16Vs are
currently on the assembly line in the U-S, and if testing of the first
aircraft proceeds smoothly, it could be delivered in the third quarter.

The statement comes after the Ministry of National Defense issued a statement
this past weekend in which it said officials were shown the first of the 66
aircraft during a visit to the U-S last week.

A delegation led by Vice Defense Minister Hsu Si-jien visited Lockheed
Martin's F-16 assembly line in South Carolina on March 16.

According to the defense ministry, the aircraft will undergo a final
acceptance flight in the U-S before being delivered to Taiwan.

The first two F-16Vs purchased from the U-S were originally slated to be
delivered to Taiwan before the end of 2023, but the scheduled has been
revised numerous times since then.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:19

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a new trade and economic
office it says is aimed at boosting ties with the island's diplomatic allies.

The ministry says the new office has been created based on public-private
sector partnership approach and is based on the Central America Trade Office
- which works to encourage businesses to form social enterprises.

According to Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, twelve companies and
organizations have already joined the new trade and economic office and have
each provided 2-million N-T to the support the initiative.

Lin says those companies all have their own established distribution channels
to promote products from Taiwan's diplomatic allies, help them receive
organic certification and create local job opportunities.

The new trade and economic office is part of the government's Diplomatic
Allies Prosperity Project.

That project was created by the foreign minister and seeks to assist in
development projects in allied countries related to smart medicine,
sustainable tourism, sovereign AI and digital governance.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:19

A migrant worker has died after a fire broke out at a scrap metal and auto
recycling facility in Tainan's Rende District.

The cause of the blaze is now under investigation.

According to the Tainan City Fire Bureau, the fire at the open-air facility
on Bao'an Road was reported at around 7:15 last night and firefighters
brought it under control about an hour later.

Initial checks indicated one male migrant worker was missing and possibly
trapped inside.

However, rescuers were unable to enter due to the intensity of the fire.

Firefighters discovered the body of a man on the second floor of a
metal-sheet structure after the blaze had been extinguished.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:21

And finally,

The Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 10 people for laundering
more than 33-billion N-T in illicit gambling gains through casinos in Macau.

According to the prosecutors' office, it opened the investigation in November
of last year after the Criminal Investigation Bureau received information
about a criminal group recruiting "money mules" to launder funds overseas.

Several raids were carried out in Taipei, Taichung and New Taipei, during
which nearly two dozen people were arrested.

The primary suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man remain at large
and are wanted on a 20-year arrest warrant.

The money mules traveled to Macau and use the credit cards at local casinos,
exchange funds for chips, pretend to gamble, and later convert the chips back
into legal currency in Macau.

Prosecutors say they traced over 278-million N-T processed by the mules,
while the total funds flowing through various accounts in the scheme reached
33-billion N-T.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the government's proposed 1.25-trillion
N-T special defense budget is the most comprehensive among competing
proposals and it supports long-term domestic weapons production.

The statement comes as lawmakers on the legislative Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee and the Finance Committee began reviewing three
special defense budget bills.

Along with reviewing the Cabinet's proposal, lawmaker are also reviewing the
K-M-T's 380-billion N-T proposal and the Taiwan People's Party 400-billion
N-T special defense budget proposal.

According to Koo, the government's proposal doesn't just focus on financing
US-made weapon systems already approved by Washington, but also covers
domestically produced weapons systems.

Both the K-M-T and T-P-P have criticized the Cabinet's proposal for including
domestic production programs from this year through 2033.

They've describing it as being fiscally irresponsible and argue funding for
locally made weapons systems should be made through the annual general
budget.

However, the defense ministry says acquiring drones through the annual
general defense budget would only meet the military's needs on a year-to-year
basis and would not support the long-term development of local drone makers.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Anti-nuclear political parties are demanding the government cease making
plans to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung and the
Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei.

The call comes after President Lai Ching-te this past weekend annouced that
his administration is reviewing a possible restart of the power plants.

An alliance of political parties opposed to a return to nuclear powers
includes the Green Party Taiwan, the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, the New
Power Party and the Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party.

They argue that amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act
made last year do not mean nuclear power plants can simply be brought back
on-line, but are a legislative basis for the continuation of operations.

According to the alliance, disposal sites for both low and high-level nuclear
waste have yet to be found and two nuclear power plants are in geologically
active areas prone to earthquakes - which poses a danger to public safety.

The alliance says the government should withdraw Tai-Power's ongoing review
process of the feasibility of restarting the plants.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is reiterating that Taiwan has stable
supplies of natural gas to last through the end of May.

The statement comes amid concerns of major disruptions to Qatari liquefied
natural gas supplies due the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran and the closure
of the Strait of Hormuz.

There have also been reports that L-N-G supplies from the Middle East could
end within 10 days.

According to the ministry, the government has made preparations for schedules
for the shipment of natural gas for the next two months and there is no
natural gas shortage crisis.

The economics ministry says it's also stepping-up plans to increase shipments
of natural gas imports from regions outside the Middle East in June to ensure
continuing stable supplies.

The ministry is also stressing that it has established an energy response
team - which is carrying out inventory checks on natural gas supplies on a
daily basis.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says President Lai Ching-te has been invited
to make a state visit to Eswatini.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Eswatini Cultural Fair in New Taipei,
Lin said the Kingdom has invited Lai to attend events marking the 58th
anniversary of Eswatini's independence and King Mswati III's 58th birthday.

Lin also said this year marks 58th anniversary of Eswatini's establishing
ties with Taiwan.

According to the foreign minister, he was hugley impressed when he visited
the Southern African country in April of last year - and that trip took place
as the two sides are expanding trade and investment and Taiwan establishes an
industrial innovation park there.

The Presidential Office has not released any information concerning Lai's
possible trip to Eswatini.

The Eswatini Cultural Fair has been organized by natural products retailer,
Leezen - which is owned and operated by Bliss and Wisdom, a Taiwanese
Buddhist organization - and the the government-backed International
Cooperation and Development Fund.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

The Kaohsiung Ciaotou District Court has sentenced a former C-P-C executive
to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty on 11 counts corruption.

The ruling was handed down despite Hsu Han being absent from the court after
he removed his ankle monitor and disappeared last week.

Police recovered the broken device in Pingtung's Wanluan Township.

The court said it requested Hsu's guarantor bring the defendant to court, but
he failed to show up.

Along with handing down the 25 year prison sentence, the also court forfeited
his 5-million N-T bail and issued an arrest warrant.

The court found Han guilty of receiving 16-million N-T in bribes for steering
eight purchasing contracts worth almost 1-billion N-T to select companies ..

... and of holding an additional 4-million N-T in assets for which he failed
to explain the sources.

The district court verdict can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

3 years

The Ministry of Digital Affairs says more than 1,100 Employment Gold Cards
have been issued to foreign professionals in Taiwan's digital sector over the
past three years.

According to the ministry, a total of 1,124 cards had been granted as of
February this year, after digital-sector eligibility was introduced in May of
2023.

The ministry's Administration for Digital Industries says about 60-per cent
of recipients specialize in software development, followed by computer
programming and digital content production or distribution, internet security
and e-commerce.

Around 30-per cent of recipients are from the United States, while India and
Singapore each account for about 6-per cent.

The Employment Gold Card program was launched by the National Development
Council in 2018.

It aims to attract skilled professionals in 12 fields, including digital
technology, finance, arts and culture, law, and science and technology.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

And,

The Nature Conservation Agency says the population of endangered Formosan
black bears has been initially estimated at around 1,200.

According to the agency, the estimate is based on recent nationwide
monitoring data, but remains preliminary pending more comprehensive local
population density data.

A more precise number is expected by the end of this year.

The new estimate follows a 2025 report showing increased bear activity, with
monitoring data since 2011 indicating the population is expanding from
mountain areas into foothills and plains near human settlements.

Human-bear encounters are rising due to that.

Authorities recorded 15 reported such cases in 2025 and four so far this
year.

Most sightings have occurred in Hualien and Taitung, as well as in Taichung,
Kaohsiung, Miaoli, Chiayi, and within Yushan and Shei-Pa National Parks.

The Formosan black bear is endemic to Taiwan and is listed as an endangered
species under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

European far-right leaders gathered in Budapest to rally around Hungarian
leader Viktor Orban.

This comes as Orban's grip on power looks shakier than it has in years,
despite his being in office since 2010.

Each of the leaders of more than a dozen parties at the meeting urged
Hungarians to continue to support Orban in elections next month.

Polls currently show him trailing a center-right challenger.

Also at the gathering were France's Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders of the
Netherlands.

Orban has made Hungary a safe haven for the far-right movement while also
harboring ties to the US far right.

But some analysts believe that, if Orban loses this election, he and his
movement may also be at risk of losing some of their appeal.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Italian voters have rejected a judicial reform referendum in a blow to
conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni.

Government data shows that those against the reforms took about 54% of the
vote.

The vote began Sunday, with turnout reaching nearly 59%, far higher than
expected.

It became a de facto test of Meloni's leadership, with public debate
intensifying in the final week leading up to the vote.

The defeat raises questions about the stability and cohesion of Meloni's
governing coalition.

The proposed judicial reform had been billed by Meloni’s coalition as a key
step toward streamlining Italy’s judicial system...

but critics argue that the measures risk concentrating too much power in the
executive branch.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Zimbabwe has released the key opponent of planned constitutional changes that
would extend the president's rule.

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti was granted bail after he was detained
over the weekend due to an alleged unnotified meeting.

Critics call it a growing crackdown on dissent.

Zimbabwean authorities have not provided comment but in the past they have
rejected accusations that they're eroding promises of democratic reform.

The planned constitutional amendments would extend the rule of the 83 year
old president and have the president elected by parliament rather than
voters.

Biti leads a group campaigning against the amendments, called the
Constitutional Defenders Forum.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Hawaii remains under a flood watch following severe storms and evacuations.

The BBC is reporting that the island of Oahu and parts of Maui are at
particular risk for flash floods.

Officials are reporting that some parts of the state got nearly 130
centimeters of rain in the past 10 days.

They also warned that, as the ground has already been saturated by earlier
rainfall, it will take less to trigger flooding and damage than it would have
before.

The damage from what is Hawaii's biggest storm in 20 years may exceed one
billion US dollars.

Posted on 2026-03-23 18:18:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Taipei will take further action if South
Korea does not correct how it labels Taiwan in its online immigration system.

Lin announced a March 31st deadline for Seoul to change its current
designation of Taiwan as 'China (Taiwan)', which Taiwan says undermines its
sovereignty.

If no changes are made, Taiwan will respond by altering South Korea’s name
in its own system to 'Korea (South)'.

Taiwan has already taken a first step this month, changing how South Korean
nationals are labeled on residence permits.

Lin noted that South Korea previously asked Taiwan to use its official name,
'Republic of Korea', a request Taipei honored.

However, he says Seoul has not shown the same respect in return.

The dispute began after South Korea launched a new digital entry system in
February last year, replacing paper arrival cards, listing Taiwan as 'China
(Taiwan)'.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-23 18:18:13

Forestry officials estimate there are now about 1,200 Taiwan black bears in
the wild, leading to a new plan to build a permanent shelter for bears that
repeatedly clash with humans.

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says the bear population is
growing and moving into lower elevations, resulting in more reports of bears
entering human areas, mostly in Hualien and Taitung.

To manage these conflicts, the agency is planning a long-term shelter in
Taitung, expected to be completed by 2028.

Under new rules, a bear that invades chicken coops or farms three times will
be kept in permanent captivity instead of being released back into the wild.

Officials say they currently try to retrain bears to teach them to avoid
human food.

Until the new center is built, the agency says it will work with the Taipei
Zoo and other partners to house bears that can no longer live in the wild.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

The ruling DPP is stepping up efforts to choose its candidate for the Taipei
mayoral race.

Party Secretary-General Xu Guo-yong met Taipei party officials today to
gather views on the 2026 election.

Most DPP lawmakers and local officials named Vice Premier Zheng Li-jun
(鄭麗君) as their top choice, who over the past several months led Taiwan's
trade negotiation with the United States.

They also urged the party to speed up the nomination process to next month as
other cities move ahead.

However, officials said the decision depends on Zheng's willingness and
progress in tariff negotiations.

Other names discussed included lawmakers Wang Shi-Jian and Puma Shen and
Forward Alliance Founder Enoch Wu.

If Zheng declines, some see Wang as a strong alternative candidate, an idea
that Wang has resisted.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

Yunlin prosecutors have indicted 10 people for running a cross-border money
laundering ring that used credit cards at Macau casinos to hide billions in
illegal gambling profits.

The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office says the ring recruited high-income
professionals to act as "couriers", who would swipe credit cards at casinos
to get chips, pretend to gamble, and cash out the remaining chips for clean
currency.

Officials say the group processed an estimated $33 billion NT in suspicious
cash.

Police have carried out four raids in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taichung since
last November, and the two alleged leaders of the group remain at large.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

Taipei is expanding facilities to improve rest areas for teachers.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an said a pilot plan launched in 16 schools last year will
expand to 30 to 50 schools this year.

The city's Department of Education says each school can receive up to 1.45
million NT in funding ... with a total budget of 50 million NT planned for
the 2026 program.

At Songshan High School, pilot facilities include massage chairs and shared
spaces for dining or meetings.

Spaces are scheduled for both professional activities and relaxation, and a
set timetable that prioritizes professional learning activities at certain
times.

Mayor Chiang said he understands the pressure teachers face, and he hopes
dedicated rest spaces will help retain talent and attract more people into
education.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

Turning to world news...

Israel has launched a new wave of attacks against Tehran and a top American
commander is telling Iranians to remain in shelters for the foreseeable
future.

As the war in the Middle East enters its 4th week, it shows no sign of
abating.

Iran renewed strikes today on its neighbors and threatened to start hitting
their power plants and mine the entire Persian Gulf.

Following the threat, Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency published a list
of such facilities, including the United Arab Emirates’ nuclear power plant
and desalination plants.

Warning sirens were heard in Bahrain and Kuwait and air defenses were at work
in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

As concerns grow in Tehran about the potential arrival of U.S. Marines in the
region, Iran’s Defense Council has warned against the idea of an invasion.

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

Thousands of people march across Chile to mark World Water Day and protest
President Jose Antonio Kast’s rollback of environmental rules.

On Sunday, crowds fill a long stretch of Santiago’s main avenue, and
organizers say 15 other cities also join in.

Activists say 1.4 million people still lack drinking water. They accuse Kast
of putting big business first and treating nature like a commodity.

Kast has halted 43 protections signed by ex-president Gabriel Boric.

The rules cover wildlife, parks, pollution plans, and plant emissions.

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Environmental officials are warning of poor air quality across western Taiwan
through Thursday due to trapped local pollution and incoming smog.

The Ministry of Environment says the Air Quality Index is reaching the
"orange alert" level in many areas. Low wind speeds and heavy fog are
preventing local pollutants from clearing.

At the same time, offshore pollution from the Chinese coast is drifting over
Taiwan and is expected to linger until March 26-th.

Data shows PM2.5 levels reaching up to 50 micrograms per cubic meter in
western Taiwan, and levels along the western coast are even higher.

Conditions are expected to improve starting Friday afternoon as southwest
winds pick up, but for now, the ministry is advising residents in affected
areas to take protective measures.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Animal health officials have culled more than 62-thousand chickens at a farm
in central Taiwan after confirming an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1
avian influenza.

Changhua County officials say the infection was detected at a farm in
Fang-yuan Township during routine monitoring, and workers finished culling
birds and disinfecting the facility yesterday.

Officials say recent large temperature swings have stressed hens and lowered
resistance to disease.

They say failing to report suspicious deaths or a drop in egg production can
lead to fines of up to $1 million NT.

The county says it will continue to monitor nearby farms to prevent the virus
from spreading further.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Asian shares were slipping today as oil prices continued to climb after the
conflict in the Middle East escalated.

Benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul fell sharply, down more than 3 percent and 6
percent respectively, while Hong Kong and Shanghai both dropped over more
than 2 percent.

Taiwan shares were also down today, with the benchmark Taiex losing 821
points, or 2.45-percent, to close the session at 32,722.

The turnover was 675.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Italy's conservative premier, Giorgia Meloni, faces a pivotal political test
in a two-day referendum on judicial reform.

The vote started on Sunday.

It has transformed into a broader judgment on her leadership at home and
abroad.

Originally presented as a technical overhaul of the justice system, the
reform has sharpened political divisions and unified the center-left
opposition.

It also turned the referendum into a symbolic showdown on Meloni's strength,
a year ahead of national elections.

Meloni currently presides over Italy's most stable government in years.

A referendum win would further strengthen her tenure at home, alongside her
international standing.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:14

Israel Begins Strikes on Iranian Infrastructure

The top commander of the U.S. military's Central Command says the war against
Iran is “ahead or on plan,” as the Israeli military says it has begun what
it calls “a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime
infrastructure.”

The U.S. Navy Admiral gave his first one-on-one interview on the war to the
Farsi-language satellite network Iran International, which aired it early
Monday.

He also said Iran is “operating in a sign of desperation” by targeting
civilian sites in the war.

Iranian media reported new airstrikes targeting Tehran without identifying
the sites being hit.

The previous day, Tehran warned it could attack U.S. and Israeli energy and
infrastructure assets if those countries attempt to follow through on U.S.
President Donald Trump 's threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it
doesn't fully open the Strait of Hormuz.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:14

Day

In Chile, thousands of people have marched across the country to mark World
Water Day and protest President Jose Antonio Kast's (ho-SEH ahn-TOH-nyoh
cast's) rollback of environmental rules.

On Sunday, crowds filled a long stretch of Santiago's main avenue, and
organizers said 15 other cities also joined in.

Activists say 1.4 million people still lack drinking water.

They accuse Kast of putting big business first and treating nature like a
commodity.

Kast has halted 43 protections signed by ex-president Gabriel Boric that
cover wildlife, parks, pollution plans, and plant emissions.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-23 13:08:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo said today that deliveries of delayed F-16V
fighter jets will finally begin in September with production at "full
capacity".

Koo made the statement after senior defence officials visited the United
States.

The U.S. in 2019 approved an $8 billion-U.S.-dollar, that's 257 billion NT,
sale of 66 new Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that
would take the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets.

Koo said it is not yet possible to estimate how many F-16V fighter jets will
be delivered this year, but the first aircraft is expected to arrive in
Taiwan in the third quarter if it passes all tests smoothly.

He added that there are currently 59 jets on the production line.

The Legislative Yuan’s Defense Committee and Finance Committee are holding
joint meetings over three days starting today to review draft special defense
bills proposed by the Cabinet and opposition parties.

The Cabinet’s proposal totals $1.25 trillion NT over eight years, while
the KMT caucus has proposed a plan worth $380 billion plus additional
funding, and the TPP caucus has put forward a $400 billion proposal.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-23 13:08:13

The Ministry of Labor has defended its latest policy of relaxing the
eligibility requirements for hiring household helpers, saying it is not
intended to replace local nannies.

Labor Minister Hong Shen-han (洪申翰) says one needs professional licenses to
work as a nanny, while foreign helpers are mainly for assisting household
chores.

The Ministry of Labor recently announced that, starting April 13, families
with at least one child under 12 can apply for a foreign household helper.

They will be required to pay a monthly employment stabilization fee of $5,000
NT.

For families with special needs, such as those with children having rare
diseases, the fee will be reduced to $2,000, and their applications will be
given priority review.

Currently households must have three children under the age of six to be
eligible to apply for a foreign helper.

Hong stresses that the policy aims to offer parents peace of mind and ease
their burden as dual-income families become much more common.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-23 13:08:13

In international news,

The United States and Iran are threatening to target critical infrastructure
as the war in the Middle East puts more lives and livelihoods at risk.

Iran on Sunday warned it would close the Strait of Hormuz immediately if the
U.S. attacks Iranian power plants.

U.S. President Donald Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to reopen
the strait.

Iran's parliament speaker warned that Tehran would target regional energy and
desalination sites in retaliation.

Now entering its fourth week, the war has taken a dangerous turn after
Iranian missiles hit near a nuclear research area in southern Israel and Iran
said its main nuclear enrichment site was struck Saturday.

The war, which has shaken the global economy, sent oil prices surging and
endangered some of the world's busiest air corridors, has killed over 2,000
people.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-23 13:08:13

In the occupied West Bank, at least 10 Palestinians were injured Sunday night
in attacks by Israeli settlers, who rampaged through nearby villages after
holding a funeral for a settler killed in a car crash with a Palestinian
vehicle a day earlier.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the wounded included a 45-year-old
man shot in the foot and a woman suffering from smoke inhalation.

The violence came as Israel's government presses ahead with new settlements
in the occupied West Bank and attacks by settlers, including arson,
shootings, and beatings have intensified as attention shifts to the Iran
war.

Also on Sunday, four Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.

One strike hit a vehicle in a refugee camp and killed three police officers.

Another strike killed a Palestinian in Gaza City.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex plunged in early trading after surging oil prices sent Wall Street
sharply lower at the end of last week.

The main board fell 1,082-points to drop to 32,461 - as investors were
spooked by the escalating global energy crisis due to the US-Israel war with
Iran.

Market heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price
temporarily fell below the 1,800 N-T mark to reach a low of 1,785, after
shedding 2.99-per cent - which erased 1.42-trillion N-T in market
capitalization

Other heavyweight electronics stocks - including Delta Electronics, MediaTek,
and A-S-E Technology Holdings fell by more than 5-per cent, while Hon Hai
fell by more than 3-per cent.

Oil, electricity, and gas stocks bucked the downward trend and rose sharply.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:14

Police in Kaohsiung are investigating deaths of two Vietnamese migrant
workers.

According to police, the bodies of a man and woman found lying on bed covered
in blood in a an apartment in the city's Gangshan District earlier this
morning.

Police say the brother of the woman called authorities after going to the
apartment and found the front door was locked from the inside.

Law enforcement authorities say there were no signs of struggle or forced
entry into the building.

Police are currently reviewing surveillance footage of the area and the case
has been submitted Qiaotou District Prosecutor's Office for autopsies and
further investigation.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:16

And,

President Lai Ching-te has attended the finals of the High School Basketball
League finals at the Taipei Arena.

The Presidential Office says Lai was accompanied by Sports Minister Lee Yang,
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, and the head of the Chinese Taipei School Sports
Federation.

According to the Presidential Office, Lai attended the finals to show his
support for domestic sporting events.

Lai presented the championship trophies to the women's championship winning
Yangming High School and the men's champion Songshan High School.

Lai praised the players' for their outstanding performances.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:16

In international news,

Iran's Revolutionary Guard is warning that it will completely shut the Strait
of Hormuz if U-S President Donald Trump carries out a threats to target
Iranian energy facilities.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard also says companies with U-S shares will be
'completely destroyed' if Iranian energy facilities are targeted by
Washington and energy facilities in countries that host U-S bases will be
'lawful' targets.

Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran
did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48-hours.

That statement came barely a day after Trump talked about "winding down" his
war - which is now in its fourth week.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:21

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been reappointed as president of state
affairs.

State media K-C-N-A says it came as the country has convened the first
session of the Supreme People's Assembly.

The meeting in Pyongyang will discuss amendments and supplements to the
socialist constitution, as well as the election of the chairman of the State
Affairs Commission and other state leadership bodies.

The assembly is North Korea's rubber-stamp legislature that formally approves
state policy, typically meets following a ruling Workers' Party Congress to
turn party decisions into law.

The meeting will also review the country's economic five-year plan announced
at the ninth party congress held in February.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:21

And finally,

A British version of "Saturday Night Live" has debuted to largely positive
reviews.

The first episode of "S-N-L UK" was hosted by Tina Fey - a veteran of the
American show - and stuck closely in format to the U-S original.

It mixed topical sketches, fake ads and a "Weekend Update" segment, as well
as performances by musical guest Wet Leg.

British reviewers expressed surprise that it was, largely, pretty funny.

The Telegraph newspaper called it "shockingly competent" and "occasionally
hilarious."

Many critics praised the cast of up-and-coming UK comedy talent.

Posted on 2026-03-23 09:08:13

Now turning to international news...

The conservative Italian premier faces a big test in a referendum on judicial
reform.

The two-day vote has become a broader judgment on Giorgia Meloni's leadership
at home and abroad.

Originally presented as a technical overhaul of the justice system, the
reform has brought political divisions to the forefront and unified the
center-left oppostion...

turning the referendum into a symbolic vote on Meloni's strength.

Analysts say that a rejection of the reform would send a political signal to
Meloni, showing that her power has limits...

while it would also push the center-left opposition to say that there is
already an alternative just one year ahead of naitonal elections.

Recent polls show the race remains too close to call, with those not in favor
appearing to gain momentum.

Officials sa that turnout topped 38% on the first day of the vote.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Lawmakers are expected to begin reviewing three special defense budget bills
later today.

The bills include the Cabinet's 1.25-trillion N-T proposal, the K-M-T's
380-billion N-T proposal and the Taiwan People's Party 400-billion N-T
proposal.

The bills will be reviewed at a joint session of the Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee and the Finance Committee today, Wednesday and
Thursday.

According to the Legislature's agenda, today's session will focus on
questioning defense officials on the various measures proposed, while
line-by-line reviews of the bills will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

The funding provided for in both the K-M-T and T-P-P bills is enough to cover
the 11.1-billion U-S dollars in arms packages approved for sale to Taiwan by
the U-S in December of last year.

The Ministry of National Defense has said that military investment planning
must follow a program-based budgeting system, and any version of the special
budget act must comply with this system to be implemented.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

President Lai Ching-te says reviewing a possible restart of nuclear power
plants is compatible with his continuing push for renewable energy.

According to Lai, his administration will continue developing green energy,
alongside any assessment of nuclear restarts, as he believes two approaches
can move forward together without any contradiction or conflict.

Lai says renewable energy has compensated for the loss of nuclear power
generation under former President Tsai Ing-wen's green-energy initiative,
helping maintain a stable power supply.

However, Lai is stressing that Taiwan's energy strategy now needed to be
reassessed due to an expected rise in electricity demand driven by economic
growth and A-I development as well as low-carbon standards and geopolitical
shifts.

All of which he says have to be accounted for to ensure an adequate,
resilient and low-carbon supply of electricity.

The statements come as Tai-Power is slated to submit a plan to the Nuclear
Safety Commission regarding the reactivation of the the Maanshan Nuclear
Power Plant in Pingtung.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Meanwhile,

Local officials and residents in Pingtung are calling for comprehensive
safety measures before any restart of the decommissioned Maanshan Nuclear
Power Plant.

Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi says the central government's
priority must be "safety, safety and safety again" if the plant in Hengchun
Township is to be brought back online.

According to Chou, although Tai-Power is currently conducting inspections and
reviews to restart the plant, it has failed to suggest any other measures
that could bolster the plant's safety if restarted.

The Maanshan plant, located near the resort town of Kenting, began operating
in July 1984 and was decommissioned in May of last year.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Vice Defense Minister Hsu Si-jien has attended a ceremony to mark the
delivery of the first two of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones that Taiwan
purchased from the U-S.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Hsu led a delegation that
included Taiwan's top envoy to the U-S Alexander Yui to ceremony.

The ministry did not release any information as to where the ceremony took
place.

However, it is thanked the U-S government and the drone manufacturer, General
Atomics Aeronautical Systems, for facilitating the delivery, and says it will
continue to work closely with Washington to ensure delivery of the remaining
drones on schedule.

Taiwan has ordered four MQ-9B surveillance drones from the U-S.

Deliveries are scheduled in two batches of two this year and next year.

The defense ministry last week denied reports that delivery of the first two
MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones has been delayed due to the war in the Middle East.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Korea" to "South Korea"

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is reiterating that if Seoul continues to
ignore a request to alter its e-arrival card system by March 31, his office
will change South Korea's designation on Taiwan's arrival cards from
"Republic of Korea" to "South Korea."

It comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week changed the
designation of South Korean nationals in government-issued A-R-Cs in
response to Seoul's mislabeling of Taiwan in its e-arrival card system.

A-R-C holders from South Korea will now be identified as being from "South
Korea" rather than the "Republic of Korea."

Seoul rolled-out its online entry system on February 24 of last year to
replace paper arrival card.

Taiwan is listed as "China (Taiwan)" in dropdown menus for both "place of
departure" and "next destination."

According to the foreign minister, the South Korean government has ignored
repeated requests from Taiwan to change the designation, but the Lai
administration has not received a response.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

The German Institute Taipei has celebrated the life of late National Taiwan
University professor Wolfgang Kroll - who was the first scientist in Taiwan
to publish in an international scientific journal.

Kroll was a theoretical physicist.

The German representative office in Taiwan honored the late scientist on what
would have been his 120th birthday with a video posted across the institute's
social media accounts.

The institute's science and technology officer, Julian Goldmann, praised
Kroll as an example of academic exchanges between Taiwan and Germany.

Kroll came to Taiwan in 1941 when Taiwan was still a Japanese colony to teach
at the Imperial University of Taipei, which later became N-T-U.

Kroll decided to stay at N-T-U following Japan's defeat in World War II and
was promoted to the position of associate professor in the university's new
physics department.

He became one of the pioneering founders of the department.

Kroll died in Taipei in 1992 at the age of 87.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Thousands of people gathered at Daan Forest Park in Taipei on Sunday for an
Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadan.

The event was organized by the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism.

The department has not released a figure for the exact number of people who
attended last night's event, but has said it likely exceeded 30,000.

Previous Eid events at Daan Forest Park have attracted about 30,000.

But the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism, the number was likely
higher than the past couple of years due in part to the good weather.

The event featured performances, workshops and a halal bazaar with around 40
booths offering everything from food and Muslim-themed merchandise to public
service information.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said the event
reflects Taipei's identity as "a diverse, inclusive and welcoming city," and
that "regardless of ethnicity, culture or national borders, we are all one
family."

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

And,

South Korean all girl K-pop group Twice has wrapped-up its three-night
concert run at the Taipei Dome.

Some 40,000 fans packed the stadium last night for the final Taiwan show of
the group's "This is For You World Tour."

Taiwanese singer, Chou Tzu-yu - who is a member of the group - cried, covered
her face and knelt on the stage to thank her fans for allowing her to fulfill
her wish of performing in Kaohsiung and Taipei ...

... before the group's final encore at the Taipei Dome.

Prior to that, fans at the stadium had been chanting Chou's name, while
waving light sticks.

Twice performed three encores last night and told fans the concerts in Taipei
were the most fun they'd ever had, and they look forward to performing in the
city again.

Twice performed at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in November of last year.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Early results in Slovenia's parliamentary election show the liberals and
right wing neck and neck...

likely to usher in a period of political uncertainty in the country.

Both Prime Minister Robert Golob's center-left Freedom Movement and the
right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party wonjust over 28% of the vote.

The results mean that none of the main parties will have a majority in the
parliament, meaning whoever will form a future government must depend on
smaller parties to act as kingmakers.

The election marks a test of whether the EU member state will stay on a
liberal course or swing rightwards, as many European countries have in recent
years.

The outcome also reflects deep divisions among Slovenia's 1.7 million
eligible voters.

Internationally, Golob’s government has taken a strongly pro-Palestinian
stance, recognizing a Palestinian state in 2024 and banning top Israeli
officials from entry.

While opposition leader Janez Jansa is pro-Israel and has strongly criticized
Palestinian recognition.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

In France,

The Socialist candidate for Paris mayor has won, succeeding his fellow party
member to lead the capital city.

Emmanuel Gregoire claimed victory after estimates based on partial results
placed him well ahead of conservative opponent Rachida Dati.

French voters took to the polls for the final round of elections in 1500
communes.

Although the socialists won in Paris, the far right still had their day in
Nice, France's fifth largest city.

The vote marks a test of the balance of power ahead of the 2027 presidential
race.

At 48%, turnout was higher than in 2020, but four points lower than in 2014.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

The Polish prime minister says, new reports that the Hungarian government has
long provided Russia with private EU information is unsurprising...

saying Poland has long had "suspicions."

A new report from the Washington Post cited several current and former
European security officials to claim that the Hungarian government under
Viktor Orban has long offered Moscow access to senstivie discussions within
the European Union.

It also states that the Hungarian Foreign Minister regularly calls his
Russian counterpart during breaks in EU council meetings during breaks to
provide direct reports on the content of the meeitngs.

The Polish PM appeared unfazed, saying that the news "shouldn't come as a
surprise to anyone."

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Thousands of people have marched across Chile to protest the new president's
rollback of environmental rules.

Crowds filled a stretch of Santiago's main avenue, with organizers saying 15
other cities also joined in.

On World Water Day, activists say that 1.4 million people still lack drinking
water.

They accuse president Jose Antonio Kast of putting big business first and
commodifying nature.

Since he took office earlier this month, Kast has halted 43 protections
signed by former president Gabriel Boric.

The rules cover wildlife, parks, pollution plans, and plant emissions.

The government, however, has called it a routine technical review.

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