ICRT

Posted on 2026-05-02 11:06:13

Taiwan is seeing warm, sunny conditions on the second day of the Labor Day
long weekend, with southern areas expected to hit highs of 34 degrees Celsius
today.

Meteorologist Wu De-rong says the first cold front of the plum rain season is
set to arrive late Sunday night and into Monday morning.

The front will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to central and
northern Taiwan through Tuesday, with brief rain also possible in the south.

Temperatures will drop island-wide, with northern Taiwan turning noticeably
cooler.

Conditions are expected to improve from Wednesday, with warm and sunny
weather returning, before a second plum rain front is forecast to affect
Taiwan next weekend.

Wu cautions that model forecasts for next week remain inconsistent and will
continue to be updated.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 11:06:13

The German Trade office Taipei says during the first quarter of the year,
Taiwan's exports to Germany jumped by over 28-percent, to reach 2.12 billion
US dollars.

Linda Blechert… the General Manager of DEInternational Taiwan… the service
unit of the German Trade Office… says Taiwan's growing exports reflect the
importance of the semiconductor industry.

Blechert adds that the growth of the semiconductor industry is also sparking
unprecedented interest in Taiwan, with companies deciding they must be near
of this global juggernaut.

That was Linda Blechert, General Manager of DEInternational Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-05-02 11:06:13

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is visiting Hanoi Saturday to meet
Vietnamese leader To Lam, as the two countries work to strengthen ties amid a
sharp drop in Japanese investment.

New Japanese investment pledges in Vietnam fell around 75 percent in the
first quarter, to 233-million U-S dollars.

Takaichi is expected to push for improvements in Vietnam's business
environment, including concerns over delayed payments and access to large
infrastructure projects.

The two sides will also discuss energy, technology, critical minerals, and
regional stability under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,
established in 2023.

Despite the investment slowdown, bilateral trade rose 12-point-3 percent
year-on-year to 13-point-7 billion U-S dollars in the first quarter.

Takaichi will also meet her Vietnamese counterpart and deliver a speech at
Vietnam National University on Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy,
before traveling on to Australia.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 11:06:13

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced plans to reform the
military this summer, targeting chronic infantry shortages, low pay, and the
discharge of long-serving soldiers.

Zelenskiy says key details will be finalized in May, with reforms beginning
in June.

He promised higher wages for infantry troops, who face constant drone attacks
on the front line, and said non-combat pay should reach around 683 U-S
dollars a month, up one-third from current levels.

The reforms also include a new contract system with defined terms of service
and a transparent rotation policy, addressing widespread reports of soldiers
serving for months without relief.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called the changes a systemic
transformation of the army.

Ukraine's military is estimated to have more than one million personnel, but
has been outmanned throughout the war against Russia, which launched its
full-scale invasion in 2022.

Peace talks mediated by the U-S remain stalled.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 10:42:13

Transportation agencies are urging holiday travelers to plan ahead on the
second day of the Labor Day long weekend.

The Freeway Bureau says 8 freeway sections are expected to see morning
congestion, including Freeway 1 southbound between Yangmei (楊梅) and Toufen
(頭份), and Freeway 5 southbound between the Nangang Junction (南港系統) and
Toucheng (頭城).

Drivers heading south on western freeways are advised to wait until after
noon to depart, while Freeway 5 southbound users should wait until after 5
P-M.

Meanwhile, the Highway Bureau is flagging 15 provincial highway sections for
potential congestion, including Highway 2 between Wanli (萬里) and Dawulun
(大武崙).

Both agencies are urging the public to use mass transit.

Intercity freeway bus fares are discounted 15 percent during the holiday,
with T-PASS 2-point-0 members eligible for combined savings of up to 40
percent.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 10:42:13

A magnitude 6-point-1 earthquake struck waters off Taiwan's northeast coast
Friday evening at 8:39 P-M.

The quake was centered about 38 kilometers east-northeast of Yilan County
Hall, at a depth of 98 kilometers.

Yilan, Hsinchu, Nantou, and Hualien counties recorded the strongest shaking,
at intensity level 4.

Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, and several other cities and counties felt level-3
intensity.

Lighter shaking was reported as far south as Tainan and Chiayi City, with
minor tremors reaching Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 10:42:13

Teachers marked their first-ever Labor Day holiday Friday by joining rallies
in Taipei and Kaohsiung to push for pension and pay reforms.

The National Federation of Teachers Unions called on the government to fully
fund public-sector pension reserves and align contribution rates between
public and private schools at 15 percent.

The National Education Industry Union welcomed the new holiday but warned of
growing workloads and called for stronger legal protections for teacher
salaries and benefits.

Teachers were granted Labor Day leave for the first time this year, following
a 2025 legislative amendment.

Across Taiwan, more than 100 labor groups joined May Day events, with around
7-thousand people rallying in Taipei alone.

The Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions called for stronger retirement
protections and higher mandatory employer pension contributions.

The Ministry of Labor says it will continue gathering input and facilitating
dialogue among stakeholders.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 10:42:13

US President Donald Trump says he is not satisfied with Iran's latest
diplomatic proposal, signaling the deadlock from the two-month-old war is
likely to continue.

Trump told reporters Iran was asking for things he could not agree to, though
he said phone negotiations are ongoing.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran is ready for diplomacy if
Washington drops what he called its excessive approach and threatening
rhetoric.

The war began with U-S and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28th, and has
killed thousands of people.

A ceasefire has held since April 8th, but the two sides have yet to agree to
a second meeting after brief talks in Islamabad last month.

Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off roughly 20 percent of
global oil and gas supplies, with Brent crude trading around 109 U-S dollars
a barrel.

Separately, the U-S announced it is withdrawing 5-thousand troops from
Germany, after tensions with Berlin over the conflict.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-02 10:42:13

World Health Organization member states have extended negotiations on a key
section of last year's pandemic treaty, casting doubt on when the agreement
can take effect.

The sticking point is the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing annex, which
governs how countries share disease samples and ensures equitable access to
vaccines and treatments in return.

Without a deal on that section, the broader pandemic accord cannot enter into
force.

W-H-O chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged member states to keep working
with urgency, warning the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if.

The World Health Assembly will take up the issue later this month and is
expected to authorize continued talks, with a final agreement due no later
than May 2027.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-01 15:09:13

Here's a heads-up for freeway traffic. The southbound lane on the number 5
freeway from Taipei to Yilan is highly congested now on the section from
nan-gang to Pinglin.

The average speed is around 19 kilometers an hour.

The southbound lane on the number one freeway from Hu-kou to Xiang-shan is
very crowded at the moment as well, with an average speed o f 33 kilometers
per hour.

Posted on 2026-05-01 15:09:13

The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, who is planning a visit to the
United States, said she has requested a meeting with U.S. President Donald
Trump.

KMT Chair Zheng Li-wen confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg News on
Thursday that she had submitted a request to meet the U.S. president, though
she noted that the chances were not very high.

Cheng added, "As long as it helps promote peace, we would very much welcome
the opportunity to meet President Trump."

In the interview, Zheng also said she supports Trump's statement opposing
Taiwan independence.

According to reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping had again urged the United
States last year to change its wording on the Taiwan independence issue from
saying it "does not support" Taiwan independence to explicitly "opposes" it.

Regarding the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, Zheng expressed optimism, saying
that if the two leaders can build goodwill and mutual trust, it would be
extremely important for the whole world.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-05-01 15:09:13

A man wanted on fraud charges in Kaohsiung has turned himself in — moments
after getting married.

Police said the 25-year-old suspect, surnamed Chen, was already on a wanted
list issued by the Kaohsiung Prosecutors Office.

In an apparent bid to reassure his girl friend, Chen accompanied her to a
local household registration office on Wednesday to formally register their
marriage.

Shortly after signing the papers, he contacted police, revealed his location,
and said he was ready to face the charges.

Officers described him as calm and cooperative when they arrived. He was
later transferred to prosecutors for questioning.

Police are reminding the public that individuals summoned by prosecutors or
the courts should report on time, or risk being listed as wanted.

(CNA)

Posted on 2026-05-01 15:09:13

The Japanese yen surged into the 155 -per- dollar range from around 160 -- a
move that followed Finance Minister Sa-tsu-ki Kata-yama and other officials
warning against excessive yen depreciation last night.

The fall in the currency has raised speculation that Japan's financial
authorities might have intervened to prop up the yen.

The last time authorities stepped in to strengthen the yen was in July 2024,
when it hit 162, its weakest level in around 38 years.

The yen has been under pressure amid speculation that Japan's trade deficit
could widen due to rising crude oil prices, prompting increased yen selling
and dollar buying.

Posted on 2026-05-01 13:39:13

Multiple demonstrations have been scheduled in Taipei to mark Labour Day...

Police have deployed 100 officers, with an additional 80 officers on standby.

To maintain traffic order and ensure security around key government offices ,
security measures may be strengthened depending on the situation.

Taipei police said the marches have been approved on May 1 in areas including
Ketagalan Boulevard, Ji-nan Road, Xiang-yang Road, and Zhong-shan South Road.

Police said that the “May Day Labor March” began gathering before noontime
today and will start marching at 1:30 PM.

Another demonstration has gathered on the south side of Xiang-yang Road, and
police said this march will start at 2:30 p.m. and should end one hour later
at Liberty Plaza.

Police officers are urging drivers to pay attention to the traffic measures
when they enter the Bo-Ai Special district this afternoon.

Posted on 2026-05-01 13:39:15

Trump–Xi meeting.

A retired US general is calling for Taiwan to pass its special defense budget
before U-S leader Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart meet later this
month.

Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery made the comments at a seminar
held by the Washington based Global Taiwan Institute think tank.

Montgomery warned that “Without a defense budget, there can be no
deterrence against China”.

The retired general pointed out that Taiwan needs both anti-access
capabilities and advanced military equipment, calling it “a good budget.”

He emphasized that Taiwan’s political parties need to act.

Trump is expected to visit China from May 14 to 15.

Posted on 2026-05-01 13:39:15

In world news...

Activists worldwide kick off May Day rallies today, demanding peace, higher
wages, and better working conditions.

The day is a public holiday in many countries and demonstrations are expected
in major cities.

The European Trade Union Confederation emphasizes that workers are refusing
to bear the costs of conflicts like the Iran war.
In the U.S., activists opposing President Donald Trump’s policies are
planning marches.

Rising energy prices and living costs are major concerns.

Workers in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia have cited growing
economic pressures.

Protests are also planned from Seoul, Islamabad and Istanbul to most European
Union capitals.

Posted on 2026-05-01 13:39:15

Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house
arrest.

The announcement included a photo showing the 80-year-old Suu Kyi sitting on
a wooden bench in a skirt and traditional white blouse.

Uniformed men sit around the low table.

It wasn't clear when or where the photo was taken. Suu Kyi was detained Feb.
1st, 2021, when the army seized power from her elected government.

She has not been seen publicly since then.

Earlier Thursday, authorities had announced Suu Kyi’s sentence was being
reduced as part of a prisoner amnesty marking a Buddhist holiday.

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:16:14

trip

The Presidential Office says Chinese pressure is to blame for President Lai
Ching-te's failed trip to Eswatini.

Spokesperson Karen Kuo says countries that had already approved flight
permits canceled them at the last minute because of pressure from Beijing.

Her comments follow a Bloomberg report citing sources who say Germany and the
Czech Republic both turned down emergency transit requests after three other
countries withdrew overflight permits for Lai's plane.

Kuo did not directly address the European transit denials, but thanked allied
nations that helped during the negotiations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier declined to confirm or deny
details of the reported denials.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:16:14

cross-strait aviation dispute

The Civil Aeronautics Administration is pushing back against Chinese claims
that Taipei has been blocking carrier applications for new cross-strait
routes.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said yesterday that some carriers had applied
to add cross-strait flights but were discouraged and turned away.

The C-A-A said today that all carrier applications for scheduled flights have
been approved, with Chinese-registered airlines currently operating 197
flights per week, a utilization rate of over 94 percent.

The agency says no charter flight applications have been received since March
2023, and that inquiring carriers have been given clear guidance on how to
apply during holiday periods.

The C-A-A says China's accusations are unverified and irresponsible, and that
Beijing's unilateral suspension of cross-strait negotiations on political
grounds is the real source of disruption to normal aviation ties.

Post-pandemic, Taiwan has opened 15 scheduled direct cross-strait routes at
up to 420 flights per week, along with 13 charter routes.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:16:14

Taiwan's economy grew at its fastest quarterly pace in nearly 39 years in the
first quarter of this year, driven by surging demand for artificial
intelligence.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says preliminary
data puts first-quarter growth at 13-point-69 percent, up 2-point-23
percentage points from its February forecast.

The agency says strong demand for A-I, high-performance computing, and cloud
infrastructure -- along with mass production of next-generation products --
drove a sharp expansion in electronics and I-C-T exports.

Robust demand for emerging technologies also helped sustain business
investment.

Private consumption also beat expectations, supported by a government cash
handout program and a wealth effect from record stock market highs.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:16:14

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang says he will announce his pick for a new deputy
mayor after a city affairs meeting on May 5th.

The position is newly created following last year's amendment to the Local
Government Act, which allows counties and cities to appoint a second deputy
mayor.

Hsieh made the remarks today at the inauguration of the city's new Legal and
Labor Department.

He said a broader round of personnel changes is coming, including a new
secretary-general and deputy secretary-general, with the goal of smoother
city operations.

Hsieh said that despite considering a delay until the next mayoral term, he
decided to move quickly given that more than seven months remain in his
current term.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:15:14

Keelung is offering rewards for those who come forward with information
leading to the source of an oil pollution incident discovered along a local
river earlier this week.

Oil residue was found accumulating along the Keelung riverbank near Qianxiang
Bridge on April 27th.

Workers deployed oil-absorbent booms to contain the spread, but the source of
the contamination has not yet been identified.

Officials say under city regulations, informants can receive up to 50 percent
of the fines actually collected, depending on the circumstances and the
informant's identity.
Authorities will keep the identity of any informant strictly confidential.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:15:14

Kpop stars including G-Dragon are set to headline a major K-pop showcase
concert in Kaohsiung next month.

Organizer Kwan's International announced today that "K-SPARK in Kaohsiung
2026" will feature GD as well as Girls' Generation leader Taeyeon, and rock
band FTISLAND.

The organizer also issued a warning about a fraudulent account that had been
impersonating the company on social media.

The fake account posted messages suggesting involvement in the event and was
even found to be accepting ticket orders.

Kwan's says it has sent a legal notice and filed a police report.

Fans are advised to purchase tickets for the May 30th event only through
official channels.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:15:14

Myanmar’s military-backed government shortened the prison sentence of ousted
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The move Thursday came as part of a prisoner pardon tied to a Buddhist
religious holiday.

The amnesty is the second in two weeks, and comes after Senior General Min
Aung Hlaing was sworn into office as president on April 10.

Two legal officials have said Thursday’s measure would further reduce Suu
Kyi’s remaining sentence by one-sixth.

Based on previous reductions, she is expected to have more than 13 years left
to serve.

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:15:14

dollars a barrel

The United States is pushing to form an international coalition to restore
freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as oil prices hit their
highest level in more than four years.

A State Department cable seen by Reuters says the proposed coalition --
called the "Maritime Freedom Construct" -- would share information,
coordinate diplomatically, and help enforce sanctions.

The Strait has been closed for two months since U-S and Israeli strikes on
Iran began on February 28th, choking off around 20 percent of the world's oil
and gas supplies.

Brent crude topped 125 US dollars a barrel Thursday, more than double its
price at the start of the year.

France, Britain, and other countries have held talks on joining the coalition
but say they will only help reopen the Strait after hostilities end.

With negotiations at an impasse, President Trump is set to receive a briefing
Thursday on plans for a fresh round of military strikes on Iran, according to
Axios.

Pakistan is meanwhile trying to broker a deal, with a Pakistani source saying
Iran has asked for until the end of the week to respond to a U-S proposal.

The war has so far cost the U-S military 25-billion US dollars, according to
a senior Pentagon official.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 18:15:14

The British government has declared antisemitism in the U.K. an "emergency”
and announced plans to spend millions on increasing security around Jewish
sites.

This follows a string of arson attacks and a double stabbing in London’s
Golders Green neighborhood.

Two Jewish men were seriously injured, and a suspect has been arrested on
suspicion of attempted murder.

Authorities are investigating possible links to Iranian proxies.

UK's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the urgency of addressing
antisemitism.

Some say the government has not done enough and there are calls for
pro-Palestinian marches to be banned.

The Community Security Trust charity has reported a rise in antisemitic
incidents since the October 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants on southern
Israel.

Posted on 2026-04-30 17:00:13

Global silicon wafer shipments rose more than 13 percent year-on-year in the
first quarter of 2026.

SEMI says shipments reached over 3.2 billion square inches during the quarter.

That was down 4.7 percent from the previous quarter, but up 13.1 percent from
a year earlier.

The industry group says demand linked to artificial intelligence remains
strong.

It says AI data centers are driving demand for advanced logic chips and
memory.

SEMI says some production is being shifted to support AI high-bandwidth
memory, or H-B-M.

That has made general memory supply tighter.

SEMI says the shift also affected weaker first-quarter shipments for
smartphones and personal computers.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 17:00:17

Taipei City is offering drivers a free outside-levee parking session if they
sign up for flood-prevention text alerts before the rainy season hits.

The promotion runs throughout May, timed to the city's flood-prevention
awareness month.

Both new and existing members of the Taipei City Parking One-Stop Service
platform can qualify by enabling the flood SMS notification feature, saving
around 50 NT dollars.

Existing members will need to re-enable their settings, as the city is
resetting notification preferences to ensure contact details are current.

Text reminders will go out to existing users starting May 1st, with new
members able to register by scanning a QR code on their parking payment slip.

Officials say the alerts help drivers move vehicles before typhoons or heavy
rain strikes, reducing the risk of flood damage and towing costs.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 17:00:20

National Taiwan University says it is willing to discuss whether to bar
applicants with a history of school bullying, after a lawmaker raised the
issue in the legislature today.

K-M-T Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) noted that several prominent South
Korean universities have begun permanently rejecting applicants found to have
committed bullying in high school, and urged Taiwan's universities to
consider doing the same.

NTU's Vice President said the university upholds a zero-tolerance stance on
bullying, but that individual cases must be weighed carefully with student
rights in mind.

Pressed further, she said if there is public appetite for the discussion, NTU
would bring the proposal to a university affairs meeting for input from
faculty and student representatives.

The exchange took place at a Legislative Yuan Education and Culture Committee
session reviewing national university budgets, with presidents or vice
presidents from all national universities in attendance.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 17:00:24

Russian drones have struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight,
wounding at least 18 people in the second such attack this week.

Officials say the worst damage was in the central Prymorskyi district, where
high-rise and five-storey residential buildings were hit, triggering large
fires that have since been contained.

A kindergarten, a shopping center, a hotel, and dozens of vehicles were also
damaged or destroyed.

Fourteen people were wounded in a separate drone strike on Odesa on Monday.

Ukraine's air force says Russia launched one ballistic missile and 206 drones
overnight, of which 172 were downed or neutralized.

Odesa is a major Black Sea port and has been a repeated target throughout
more than four years of war.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 17:00:24

The United States has charged the governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state with
allegedly conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel, a significant escalation in
American anti-cartel action.

The Justice Department says Governor Ruben Rocha and several other officials
allegedly helped import large quantities of drugs into the U-S in exchange
for political support and bribes.

Prosecutors say Rocha was elected in 2021 with help from the Chapitos, the
faction of the cartel run by the sons of founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Rocha has denied the charges, calling them an attack against Mexico's ruling
political movement and saying they have no truth or foundation.

The indictment is a problem for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, as Rocha
is a member of her own Morena party and an ally of her predecessor, former
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Mexico's foreign ministry says it received extradition requests but found
them lacking sufficient evidence.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 16:09:13

disease support

The Health Promotion Administration is calling on small and medium-sized
businesses to do more for employee health as the country deepens into a
super-aged society.

The agency held a press conference today to launch this year's "Outstanding
Healthy Workplace" campaign, which has lowered its participation threshold
and added new incentives for chronic disease management.

H-P-A Director Shen Ching-fen (沈靜芬) says Taiwan's working-age population
often puts in long hours, making workplace health promotion an urgent
priority.

Seven of Taiwan's top ten causes of death are linked to chronic disease, and
more than half the population is overweight or obese, according to government
data.

This year's campaign includes a new category encouraging companies to offer
flexible hours and remote work options for employees managing chronic
conditions.

For the first time, the initiative is partnering with the Ministry of Sports
to bring physical activity certification into the workplace health framework.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 16:09:15

The Ministry of Labor is reminding employers of their legal obligations
regarding pay and time off for Labor Day tomorrow.

May 1st is a national holiday under the Labor Standards Act.

If the day falls on a worker's scheduled workday, employers must give the day
off with full pay, and if an employer asks a worker to come in with their
consent, wages must be doubled for the day.

The ministry noted that work schedules vary widely across industries, and
employers should clarify the nature of each day with their workers in advance
to avoid pay disputes.

Workers who believe their employer has violated holiday pay rules can file a
complaint with their local labor authority or call the Ministry of Labor's
1955 helpline.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-30 16:09:15

Activists attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza say Israeli
forces have intercepted their flotilla near the southern Greek island of
Crete.

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail earlier this month from Barcelona.

Organizers say over 70 boats and 1,000 people were to participate.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry says it has detained about 175 activists from more
than 20 boats.

Turkey has condemned the action as “an act of piracy.”

Israel says its blockade of Gaza, imposed since Hamas took control in 2007,
aims to prevent arms imports.

Critics argue it punishes Gaza’s population.

The flotilla seeks to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as world
attention shifts to the war in Iran.

Posted on 2026-04-30 16:09:15

Kenyan marathon record-breaker Sabastian Sawe received a hero’s welcome home
complete with a water cannon salute for the aircraft he was aboard.

Sawe, the first person to break the fabled two-hour barrier in the marathon,
was welcomed back to his country Wednesday by his parents and Kenya's sports
minister, who hailed the runner’s accomplishment at the London Marathon as
“a win for Kenya.”

Sawe pulled off the feat, which was long considered unthinkable, on Sunday
when he won in a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, 30 seconds.

He bettered the previous men’s world record by 65 seconds.

Posted on 2026-04-30 13:18:13

Taiwan's household wealth reached a record high in 2024, driven largely by a
historic stock market rally.

Government statistics show net household worth rose by more than 7 percent
that year to 183-trillion-700-billion NT.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says that the
benchmark index surged by more than 5-thousand points, its largest-ever
annual gain, after crossing 20-thousand points for the first time.

The value of securities held by households jumped nearly 22 percent to
37-trillion-280-billion NT.

Officials attribute the rally to surging global demand for AI and
high-performance computing, which drove expansion across Taiwan's
semiconductor and advanced packaging supply chain.

Real estate remained the largest share of household wealth at just under 30
percent, followed by securities at around 20 percent.

Household debt also rose, climbing by nearly 12 percent to
24-trillion-730-billion NT, with mortgages making up the bulk.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-04-30 13:18:13

The Taiwan Railway Corporation says that an internal investigation into
allegations of confidentiality breaches during the bidding process for the
contract for the Taipei Main Station mall should produce results within two
weeks.

Taiwan Railway opened bids in January and announced Shin Kong Mitsukoshi as
the winning bidder.

But Breeze Group, which currently operates the mall, has disputed the result.

The group alleges that members of the evaluation committee had conflicts of
interest and that confidential information was leaked during the selection
process.

Taiwan Railway confirms that the company's ethics unit has launched an
investigation into the alleged leak.

TRC Chairman James Jeng says internal and external committee members,
reviewers, and consulting firms involved in the process will all be
questioned, and that findings are expected within two weeks at the earliest.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-30 13:18:13

A senior government official in Canada says that the country has been
selected as the headquarters for a new financial institution led by NATO.

The official said on Wednesday that the decision was reached after
negotiations hosted by Canada involving nearly 20 founding members of NATO's
proposed Defense, Security and Resilience Bank, or DSRB.

The DSRB is meant to help NATO members and partner countries meet their
defense spending commitments and reduce borrowing costs for military spending
by pooling credit strength.

The official did not know which city in Canada would be the institution's
headquarters.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-04-30 13:18:13

Iran's national currency, the rial, has hit a record low of 1.8 million to
the American dollar as a shaky ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel holds.

The rial had been stable for weeks during the war, partly due to limited
trading and imports.

Experts warn that the rial's fall is likely to further fuel inflation.

Many imported goods, from food and medicine to electronics and raw materials,
are affected by the exchange rate.

Despite the ceasefire, a U.S. naval blockade is putting pressure on Iran's
battered economy.

It cuts into a key source of government revenue by stopping or intercepting
oil shipments.

Iran is betting that its economy, built to be self-reliant during decades of
international sanctions, can endure the pain.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-04-30 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Premier Cho Jung-tai is guaranteeing that the monthly minimum wage will
exceed 30,000 N-T next year.

Cho made the pledge during an award ceremony honoring model workers.

The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Labor ahead of tomorrow's Labor
Day holiday and included honoring migrant workers, who the premier said have
contributed a great deal to Taiwan.

According to Cho, he's guaranteeing the monthly minimum wage will exceed
30,000 N-T in 2027 based on the rapid development of the island's economy and
markets across the country showing strong momentum.

The government has raised its minimum wage for 10 consecutive years following
annual reviews by the Minimum Wage Deliberation Committee, which includes
government officials, labor and employer representatives, and scholars.

The current monthly minimum wage is 29,500 N-T, while the current hourly
minimum wage to 196 N-T.

Posted on 2026-04-30 08:13:13

The government says pork exports to the Philippines will resume on May 14
after Taiwan regained African swine fever-free status with the World
Organisation for Animal Health.

Manila notified Taiwan on Wednesday that it may resume exports of breeding
pigs, pig semen, frozen pork, offal, and pig skin.

The Philippines suspended imports of live pigs and pork products from Taiwan
in December of last year, after Taiwan reported its first A-S-F outbreak in
October.

The World Organisation for Animal Health recognized Taiwan's ASF-free
self-declaration in May of last year, making it the first Asian country to
achieve disease-free status for African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease,
and classical swine fever.

However, Taiwan reported its first-ever A-S-F case on October 21 last year at
farm in Taichung.

The Ministry of Agriculture submitted an application on February 21 to regain
self-declared ASF-free status, which was recognized on April 6.

Posted on 2026-04-30 08:13:13

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih is pledging his agency's support for
domestic peanut farmers amid concerns over the impact of a planned
zero-tariff policy on U-S imports.

The policy is part of the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade.

Speaking to reporters prior to a legislative hearing, Chen said local peanuts
account for about 75-per cent of the domestic market and the tariff-free
imports will not mean abandoning local producers ...

.. and the government will promote Taiwan peanuts by highlighting their
distinct qualities and strengthening marketing efforts.

Chen also responded to concerns about "origin washing" - saying processed
products will be required to clearly indicate their country of origin.

The statements come after Deputy Agriculture Minister Hu Jong-i earlier this
week said between 20 and 30-per cent of domestic peanut production could be
affected by the U-S imports.

Posted on 2026-04-30 08:13:13

officers

The Changhua District Prosecutors' Office has indicted five men on charges
including obstruction of official duties and assault in case involving
injuries to three police officers during the Dajia Mazu pilgrimage.

The incident occurred on April 18 in Changhua City.

The three police officers were injured when they tried to intervene in a
dispute that erupted among members of a group welcoming the procession.

The five men allegedly attempted to force their way forward to seize the
deity's palanquin and began pushing and shouting at police officers, two of
the suspects then allegedly incited other people to join the scuffle.

Two suspects were arrested at the scene.

Three of the suspects have been charged with obstruction of official duties
and causing bodily harm, while the other two have been indicted on charges of
assisting in a group offense of obstructing official duties.

Three of them remain in custody.

Posted on 2026-04-30 08:13:13

And finally,

The Taiwan Coffee Association says competitors will be competing under the
name "Chinese Taipei" in events organized by the World Coffee Championships.

Competitors in the event have participated under the name "Taiwan" since 2007.

According to the association, the change is an unavoidable condition to
safeguard participation rights and the new rules must be followed to ensure
continuing participation in international events.

Baristas from Taiwan regularly takes part in six major World Coffee
Championship events.

The name drew attention after the World Coffee Championship website recently
changed references to Taiwan competitors from "Taiwan" to "Chinese Taipei."

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:13

K-M-T Deputy Chair Chi Lin-lien is threatening to expell Legislative Speaker
Han Kuo-yu from the party over his reported support for an 800-billion N-T
special defense budget.

That budget was proposed by K-M-T lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin.

Han reportedly told other K-M-T lawmakers that he supports it... BUT

... that position puts Han at odds with other K-M-T official, including Chi,
who continue to back the party's original 380-billion N-T defense budget
proposal.

During the party's Central Standing Committee, Chi reiterated his support for
the 380-billion N-T proposal, which includes additional funds that could be
allocated after receiving letters of acceptance for arms sales from the U-S,
....

.. saying he believes that's "completely reasonable."

He also went on to accuse Han of "betraying his party for personal gain"

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:17

The U-S House Appropriations Committee has approved a key spending bill that
includes 500-million U-S dollars in military assistance for Taiwan.

Aside from providing Taiwan with funding under the Foreign Military Financing
program, the bill also includes support for Taiwan's participation in
multilateral organizations.

The bill stipulates "not less than 500-million U-S shall be made available
for assistance for Taiwan" provided that the secretaries of state and defense
"prioritize the delivery of defense articles and services to Taiwan."

It also specifies that none of the funding "should be used to create,
procure, or display any map that inaccurately depicts the territory and
social and economic system of Taiwan and the islands or island groups
administered by Taiwan authorities."

The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

Even if it is passed, the bill must also be approved by the Senate.

Both chambers must approve the bill in identical form before it can be sent
to the president for signing into law.

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:20

Teachers will be getting a day off work for Labor Day for the first time
tomorrow... this, after a legislative amendment passed last year designating
May 1 as a national holiday.

The change marks a shift in recognizing teachers as workers who need to
collectively call for the safeguarding of their labor conditions.

Teachers were previously not entitled to Labor Day leave...

Although teachers unions are not holding any official rallies on May 1, the
Taiwan Higher Education Union is urging educators to join May Day labor
rallies being organized by other unions to push for reforms.

The union has outlined several demands.

They include enhancing university governance by allowing faculty and staff
greater participation in leadership selection, rather than leaving the
process solely to boards of directors.

The union is also calling for improved retirement benefits for private school
staff and guaranteed severance protections in cases of layoffs.

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:24

Kinmen County Deputy Magistrate Lee Wen-liang is welcoming news that Shanghai
authorities will allow residents to travel to Kinmen and Matsu.

Lee says the county government will make the necessary preparations by
coordinating with its Tourism Department and local travel agencies as soon as
the central government approvesm the move.

The Deputy magistrate says he hopes the policy will later expand to include
travelers from nearby provinces such as Jiangsu and Guangdong, which could
further benefit the tourism sector.

The statements come after the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture
and Tourism announced that Shanghai residents are now able to sign up for
group or individual trips to Kinmen and Matsu through qualified travel
agencies in Shanghai and Fujian.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced in February that it planned
to reopen travel to the offshore islands.

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:26

A mother has been referred to prosecutors for investigation after her
four-year-old son fell to his death from the family's balcony while she was
picking up her older son from school.

Police in New Taipei's Yonghe District found the four-year-old boy
unresponsive and without vital signs.

Authorities believe the boy may have moved a chair onto the balcony and stood
on it, apparently in an effort to look for his mother before falling.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has opened an investigation into
the mother on charges of negligent homicide and violations of the Child and
Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act.

Under the that Act, leaving children under six or those requiring special
care unattended, or in the care of unsuitable persons, is a violation
punishable by fines of up to 15,000 N-T.

Parents may also be required to attend between four and 50 hours of parenting
education.

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:31

And,

A coalition of wildlife conservation groups is calling on lawmakers to freeze
Ministry of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Department's budget until it
presents a plan to reduce the stray dog population.

The group Taiwan Walk for Wildlife says the government's
"trap-neuter-release" policy for stray dog management has failed, at great
social cost to the public.

The group says although there is data focusing specifically on stray dogs,
traffic accidents involving animals have caused 42 deaths and 14,030 injuries
over the past five years ..

.. and the Transportation Research Institute estimates that the total social
costs associated with stray or free-roaming animals stand at over 3.6-billion
N-T.

Meanwhile, the Leopard Cat Association of Taiwan says its estimates show
there are over 550 cases of stray dogs breaking into livestock enclosures per
year, causing at least 30-million N-T in financial losses.

The groups are urging the government to begin collecting data on agricultural
losses and traffic accidents caused by stray dogs.

Figures provided by the agriculture ministry show the stray dog population
likely fell by 11.34-per cent from between 2022 and 2024 to 141,584.

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:31

The Keelung District Court has found singer Kui Jun guilty of killing a taxi
driver in a 2024 drunk-driving hit-and-run.

The 27 year old was sentenced to eight years for causing death while driving
under the influence and three years and six months for fleeing the scene of
an accident resulting in death or injury.

The court set a combined sentence of 10 years.

The presiding judge said the sentence reflects Kui's status as a repeat
offender... he previously received a deferred prosecution for a drunk-driving
offense and reoffended within 10 years, resulting in a fatality.

The incident occured on December 27, 2024, when Kui's vehicle struck a taxi
driver and another man on Xinyi Road.

He failed to stop to check on the victims despite a bystander shouting that
he had hit someone.

The taxi driver died of his injuries in hospital eight days later.

The district court ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-04-30 07:02:33

The U.S. State Department has accused China of violating Panama’s
sovereignty over a port dispute in the Central American nation.

The salvo is the latest in a back-and-forth between Washington and Beijing...
and comes as the Chinese government called the Trump administration
hypocritical.

The most recent spat was triggered in early April when Rubio accused China of
“bullying” by detaining or holding up dozens of Panama-flagged ships for a
short period of time, and after the Central American country seized control
of two critical ports on the canal earlier this year from a subsidiary of a
Hong Kong-based company.

In a statement, U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “The sovereignty of
our hemisphere is non-negotiable,”.

For its part, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry in a news
conference Wednesday said the statements “are completely unfounded and
distort reality.”

The U.S. has long sought to offset China’s growing presence in Latin
America.

Posted on 2026-04-29 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of Agriculture says it's ready to assist local peanut farmers
tariff-free American peanuts enter the local market.

According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Hu Chung-yi, data show that U-S
shelled peanuts cost approximately 47 N-T per kilogram, while domestically
produced shelled peanuts cost between 150 to 160 N-T per kilogram.

.. and if lawmakers agree to the terms of the US-Taiwan Agreement on
Reciprocal Trade, and it's fully implemented, then looking solely at the
price, it could impact about 30-per cent of domestic peanut farmers.

However, Hu says Taiwan's peanut farmers are highly competitive, and the
government has made preparations to ensure the farmers are not affected if
U-S peanuts enter the local market ..

.. and the Ministry of Agriculture will support farmers and the industry.

Over 1,000 hectares of peanuts were planted last year in Yunlin County -
accounting for nearly 90-per cent of Taiwan's total production.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan says local farmers have been
devastated by the news that the government has granted zero tariffs for U-S
peanut imports.

Taiwan's peanut imports currently come mostly from India, Brazil, and
Argentina.

Posted on 2026-04-29 08:14:14

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun says the Cabinet's proposed 1.25-trillion N-T
special defense budget should only be approved only after Taiwan receives a
formal Letter of Offer and Acceptance from the United States.

Speaking in an interview with online news outlet C-NEWS, Cheng criticized the
Cabinet's proposal as a "blank check" - arguing it lacks sufficient detail
on how most of the funds will be spent.

According to Cheng, the K-M-T supports passing an initial 380-billion N-T
defense budget, which would be sufficient to cover the 11.1-billion U-S
dollars in arms packages approved for sale to Taiwan by Washington in
December of last year.

Cheng says an additional 400-billion N-T could then be considered if a second
round of Letter of Offer and Acceptance is issued - but without that
documentation, there's concerns any extra funding could be misused by the Lai
administration.

Lawmakers failed to reach a consensus once again on the Cabinet's special
defense budget bill on Monday of this week during the latest round of
cross-party negotiations.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu has scheduled another round negotiations on
the bill for May 6.

Posted on 2026-04-29 08:14:14

The Taiwan Railway Corporation has chosen the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi
Department Store as the preferred bidder for the operating rights of the
Taipei Main Station Shopping Mall.

The bidding process was announced in mid-January and the deadline for
applications was March 20.

The railway corporation says Shin Kong Mitsukoshi was the first-choice
applicant and negotiations aimed at finalizing a contract will begin soon.

The shopping mall is currently operatored by Breeze Development, under the
name Breeze Taipei Station, but that contract set to expire on July 24.

Breeze Development is questioning the fairness and transparency of the
evaluation process.

The company says it has already filed a formal objection to the results and
is threatening to further take legal action against the railway corporation.

According to Breeze Development, the evaluation results had allegedly been
circulated in the market before the official announcement, which it says
could compromise procedural fairness.

The company is also questioning whether committee members met qualification
requirements and properly observed conflict-of-interest rules.

Posted on 2026-04-29 08:14:14

The High Speed Rail Corporation has announced plans to install platform
screen doors at all of its stations.

According to the company, construction is underway at its Hsinchu and Banqiao
stations - where the new screen doors are expected to be operational in the
fourth quarter of this year.

The high speed rail operator says Hsinchu Station was prioritized due to its
frequent exposure to strong winds, while Banqiao Station was selected because
its curved platform design presents additional safety and operational
challenges.

Screen doors will be next installed at Taichung, Taoyuan, Miaoli, Changhua,
Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan stations.

The platform doors at Taipei Station have already been upgraded to support
mixed train operations.

Full installation of platform screen doors across the network is scheduled
for completion in the first quarter of 2028

The project is costing the corporation about 2-billion N-T.

Posted on 2026-04-29 08:14:14

plum rain season

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says we're likely to see near-normal to
slightly below-average rainfall and more more intense short-duration heavy
downpours during this year's May to June plum rain season.

According to the administration's forecast center, the heaviest rainfall is
expected in mountainous areas in the center and south -- where total
accumulated rainfall could exceed that seen during typhoons, as seasonal
southwesterly winds strengthen.

Center director Huang Chun-xi is warning of unstable weather, including heavy
rain, thunderstorms and strong gusts, and says members of the public is
affected areas remain alert to flooding and mudslides.

The weather administration also say that average temperatures readings in May
and June are expected to be near normal to slightly above average.

Data showed that the February to April period was the third warmest since
1951, with an average temperature of 21.9-degrees -- that's 1.1 degrees
higher than the long-term average.

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