ICRT

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:14

No damage or injuries are being reported after this morning's magnitude 4.6
earthquake.

The earthquake struck at 4:57 and was centered off-shore some 30-kilometers
northeast of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 25-kilometers.

The quake was felt strongest in Hualien's Taroko National Park area - where
it registered a magnitude 4 on the Central Weather Administration's intensity
scale.

The earthquake registered a magnitude 3 in other parts of Hualien, as well as
in areas of Yilan and Nantou and it registered a magnitude 2 in Taichung's
Lishan Scenic Area.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

Paraguay's visiting President Santiago Pena is reaffirming his country's
diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

During the second day of his visit, said Paraguay and Taiwan have been
friends for many, many decades and there is no doubt that friendship has
become stronger than ever and will continue to grow in the coming years.

Pena is here for his first official state visit to the country and his fourth
trip overall.

The Ministry of Foreign Affair says Pena is leading a delegation of business
representatives to Taiwan for a four day visit and will meet with President
Lai Ching-te and other senior government officials.

The talks will focus on investments, international industrial cooperation and
other policy measures aimed at strengthen bilateral ties.

Pena's trip to Taiwan this week follows reports that Beijing is pressuring
Paraguay to sever ties with Taiwan in favor of China.

Lai is expected to formally welcome Pena later today with full military
honors.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

meeting

A former U-S assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security says he
believes U-S President Donald Trump will likely to focus on trade and
economic matters during his meeting with China's Xi Jinping next week.

However, Randall Schriver says the Taiwan issue is likely to be raised by
Beijing.

Schriver thinks Trump will be prepared to address the Taiwan issue during the
meeting, while maintaining Washington's longstanding policy.

The former official sayid he's confident that Trump will not just represent
Taiwan, but really represent US-Taiwan interests, "which are in most cases
shared interests."

Trump is expected to visit Beijing from May 14-15 for talks.

U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week told a White House press
briefing Taiwan will likely to be a topic of conversation.

China has signaled that Taiwan will be a priority topic at the summit.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

Incumbent head prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors Office, Hsu Hsi-hsiang
has been appointed acting prosecutor-general.

Hsu was appointed to the position in an acting capacity after the current
prosecutor-general, Hsing Tai-chao, officially completed his four-year term
that same day.

Hsu's appointment come two days after lawmakers rejected Hu for the position.

President Lai Ching-te nominated Hsu on March 13... the nomination advanced
to a floor vote following cross-party negotiations in the Legislature on
April 17.

That was eventually rejected on Tuesday - with opposition lawmakers arguing
that Hsu lacked "core experience" and previously held political roles,
raising questions about his differentiating of political and judicial
spheres.

The acting prosecutor-general serves until a new nominee is announced and
confirmed by the Legislature.

Under the Court Organization Act, the president is required to submit a new
nominee for prosecutor-general within three months of the position becoming
vacant.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

The Cabinet has approved a proposal to tighten penalties for illegal gravel
mining.

The move double the maximum fine for offenders to 10-million N-T.

The proposed amendment to the Sand and Gravel Excavation Act will requires
local authorities to order offenders to restore excavation sites within a
prescribed period ..

.. and restoration work must be carried out using materials and methods
specified by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The proposal seeks to raise the maximum fine for offenders who fail to
complete restoration work by the deadline to 2-million N-T.

While offenders whose illegal mining activities cause fatal disasters could
face life imprisonment and fines of up to 100-million N-T.

The new penalties have been put forward following the discovery of major
gravel mining violation in Kaohsiung's Meinong District last year.

The proposal will now be sent to the Legislature for review.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh says two government
employees received visits from Chinese public security bureau officers at
their hotels during separate trips to China last month.

Liang says works at the National Immigration Agency, while the other is
employed by the Customs Administration.

They both reported the incidents after returning to Taiwan.

The council spokesman says both of them were asked about their family,
education and career backgrounds, the purpose of their visits to China, where
they work and their job duties.

Liang also says they also both had their mobile phones inspected by Chinese
police officers.

The Mainland Affairs Council is stressing that believes the incidents
indicate that Chinese authorities had prior information about their trips,
including their itineraries and the hotels where they were staying.

The council said in January that 19 government employees had been questioned
by Chinese police officers during trips to China since 2023.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

camera case

The New Taipei District Court has ordered the chairman of a cosmetic surgery
chain, an employee and a contractor to be detained pending further
investigation into a suspected hidden camera found at an Airlee Group clinic
in the city's Banqiao District.

The New Taipei City Prosecutors' Office had requested their continued
detained after questioning them earlier this week.

Airlee Group Chairman Chang Ju-shan, the branch employee and the surveillance
equipment supplier were among eight people questioned after authorities
searched multiple branches of of the company.

The searches were carried out following allegations that hidden camera was
found in a smoke detector in a private treatment room at Airlee's Banqiao
branch.

Prosecutors the three were ordered detained on charges of invasion of privacy
and violations of the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act.

At least 10 people have reportedly filed alledged invasion of privacy
complaints against the Airlee Group.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

The Taipei City Government has opened its first five negative-pressure
smoking rooms.

Three of the five smoking rooms are in the Ximending shopping area, while the
other two are in Xinzhongshan Linear Park and at the Xingyi bus parking lot
near Taipei Main Station.

Speaking during an inspection of one of the smoking rooms in Ximending,
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an called the initiative a major milestone in his
administration's wider efforts to promote a smoke-free city.

Chiang says the smoke-free measures have the support of Taipei residents --
a majority of them backing the establishment of outdoor smoking rooms in all
public spaces.

The mayor also urged the public to give feedback on the initiative so that
the city government can make any necessary adjustments.

The city government has plans to open more negative-pressure smoking rooms
and says there are aleady 183 designated smoking areas across Taipei.

Under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, smoking in a designated no-smoking
area may result in a fine of up to 10,000 N-T.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

China's state run Xinhua News Agency says two former Chinese defence
ministers have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve over graft
charges.

Past reports indicated Wei Fenghe, who was defense minister from 2018 to
2023... was found to have accepted "a huge amount of money and valuables" in
bribes and "helped others gain improper benefits in personnel arrangements"

While Li Shangfu, who served for just months in 2023 was suspected of taking
and receiving bribes... an investigation aso claims to have found he "did not
fulfil political responsibilities" and "sought personal benefits for himself
and others".

As their death sentences have been commuted, both men will be imprisoned for
life without the possibility of further commutation or parole.

Experts say China's ongoing military corruption purges are leaving serious
deficiencies in its command structure... and are likely to have hampered the
readiness of its rapidly modernising armed forces.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

A U.K. border official and a former Hong Kong police officer have been
convicted of assisting China’s spy agency by conducting “shadow” policing
operations in Britain.

Peter Wai and Bill Yuen are both dual Chinese and British nationals.

Prosecutors said they acted as “shadow” police by posing as legitimate
officers or intelligence agents to conduct surveillance and gather
information about Hong Kong dissidents and pro-democracy supporters.

A London jury found them guilty on charges that they violated the National
Security Act by assisting a foreign spy service.

Hong Kong's government said it wasn't a party to the case, but firmly opposed
“unfounded allegations” against it or the London trade office.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

At the same time...

Norwegian authorities have arrested a Chinese citizen on espionage
allegations.

The arrest took place on Thursday, according to the country's domestic
intelligence service.

The accused allegedly tried to set up a satellite receiver to collect
sensitive data.

Police have seized the equipment and halted the plans.

Several others have been charged in the case, but details remain limited.

Posted on 2026-05-08 06:48:16

And finally...

The Trump Administration is floating a plan to coat the granite exterior of a
historic building next to the White House with white paint could cost
taxpayers at least $7.5 million.

That's the word from a White House official who discussed the details before
the National Capital Planning Commission as the federal agency began
reviewing the proposal on Thursday.

The White House says the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is in disrepair
and that painting it will hide stains.

But preservationists, architects and historians contend that paint damages
granite and could make things worse. Public sentiment is also overwhelmingly
against the proposal.

A lawsuit against the proposed paint job is also pending in federal court.

Posted on 2026-05-07 18:10:13

C-S-B-C Corporation released footage today showing torpedo tests involving
the Hai Kun, Taiwan's first domestically built submarine prototype.

During its eighth submerged sea trial yesterday, the submarine launched two
exercise torpedoes offshore before they were recovered aboard the support
vessel Da Wu (大武).

Military analysts said the exercise appeared to combine surface operations,
submerged maneuvers and torpedo launches under conditions closer to real
combat scenarios.

CSBC said the drill verified the combat system's capabilities in detection,
targeting calculations, launch operations and torpedo guidance control.

The footage was uploaded to YouTube earlier today before being removed about
an hour later ... which sparked discussion among military enthusiasts online.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo said testing is moving ahead step by step,
with more sea trials planned as the navy and CSBC continue safety and quality
checks.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-07 18:10:13

The government is considering breaking drug-impaired driving out as a
distinct offense from drunk driving, with harsher penalties attached.

Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai made the announcement yesterday during a
legislative committee hearing, following a string of serious accidents
involving drug-impaired drivers.

One crash on May 4th left two people dead and two others injured.

K-M-T lawmakers raised the issue, noting that drug driving and drunk driving
currently carry mostly the same penalties, despite drug use itself already
being a criminal offense.

Legislator Wan Mei-ling called for the two categories to be legally
decoupled, with stricter penalties applied specifically to drug-impaired
driving.

Minister Chen agreed the criminal liability should differ from that for drunk
driving, especially when injury or death results.

Officials from the transportation and interior ministries are set to meet
Monday to discuss possible amendments, including joint liability provisions
for passengers.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-05-07 18:10:13

Organizers of this year's Penghu International Fireworks Festival are calling
it the biggest edition in the event's history.

The festival, which kicked off earlier this week, features a collaboration
with the hit anime Dragon Ball Z, with themed drone and fireworks shows
running through August 25th.

Opening and closing nights feature upgraded 12-minute fireworks displays
alongside performances by 700 drones creating Dragon Ball-themed images in
the sky.

Organizers say a total of 33 events are planned across the summer.

International fireworks teams from six countries have also been invited to
take part.

Beyond the fireworks, the festival includes Dragon Ball-themed attractions,
installation art, interactive activities and pop-up merchandise shops.

Officials say the festival is designed to encourage visitors to stay longer
and strengthen summer tourism across Penghu.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-07 17:13:13

version

The DPP is continuing to urge the legislature to pass the executive yuan's
version of a special defense budget...

with a price tag coming in at 1.25 trillion NT.

That's as legislative party caucuses have again failed to reach a consensus
on the different proposals for a special defense bill.

The DPP caucus says today that polls conducted by the KMT show 70% support
for the DPP's 1.25 trillion NT version.

Presidential Office Spokespeson Karen Kuo added that she hoped the bill could
be passed ahead of an expected meeting between the Chinese and US leaders
scheduled for next week.

Meanwhile in the blue camp, Taichung mayor Lu Xiu yan appears to be
spearheading the intra-KMT movement to secure more funding than the KMT's
official "380 million NT N" proposal.

Lu says, there should be 800 to 900 millon NT allotted to that special
defense budget, which she said should be passed as quickly as possible.

She added that the government should prioritize arms procurement in a special
budget, while suggesting that commercial procurement and contract
manufacturing be included in next year's central government budget.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-07 17:13:13

The Internal Administration Committee of the Legislative Yuan has passed the
second reading of amendments to voting laws...

which would lower the voting age to 18 for elections and recalls.

At present, 18 and 19 year olds can only vote in referendums.

Although the committee itself has passed the amendments, they are still
pending interpretation by the Consitutional Court.

As a result, a supplomentary resolution was passed requesting the
Legislature's Constitutional Amendment Committee to initiate the process of
amending the constitution.

Officials say, if the change were to be made, it would add another 410,000
voters to the rolls, which would be likely to affect polling stations and
elective procedures.

As for this November's election, election announcements will be made in mid
August.

If the law is amended after August 20th, the old law will still apply, and 18
and 19 year olds will not be able to vote this year.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-07 17:13:13

Consumer complaints involving gyms and fitness centers in Taiwan nearly tripled in 2025 compared with the year before ... mainly due to the sudden closure of True Yoga Fitness.

The Department of Consumer Protection says fitness-related disputes ranked first among complaint categories in 2025, with over 5 thousand 500 cases reported.

And over 3 thousand 300 of those ... or around 60 percent ... were linked to the closure.

Overall, authorities handled more than 83 thousand complaint and mediation cases that year.

Other top complaint categories included online games, food, transportation, and clothing, leather goods and footwear.

Consumer officials urged people to avoid large upfront gym payments, pay monthly when possible, check whether businesses provide performance guarantees,.

They also advise using credit cards ... to improve chances of recovering funds if a company suddenly closes.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-07 17:13:13

Now turning to internaiotnal news...

Western intelligence officials are raising the alarm over what they say is a
campaign of targeted killings by Russia.

They believe this campaign has ramped up since Moscow launched its full-scale
invasion of Ukraine in 2022...

and is more brazen in their choice of targets than in campaigns past.

Now, they say Russia is going after Russian activists living abroad and
supporters of Ukraine.

Experts believe the campaign is connected to Russia's broader efforts to
undermine European countries that support Ukraine.

Activists face threats to their lives and families, but say that, if they go
into hiding, Russia wins.

Posted on 2026-05-07 12:30:13

Taiwan's stock market roared to a new all-time high in early trading today.

The benchmark weighted index surged nearly 993 points, briefly touching
42-thousand-131 points.

The rally was driven by chipmaker T-S-M-C, which hit a new record share price
of 2-thousand-345 NT, up 95 NT on the day.

T-S-M-C's U-S-listed A-D-R also set a new all-time high of 419-point-7 US
dollars in overnight trading, boosted by a strong earnings report from A-M-D
that sent the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index up more than 4 percent.

T-S-M-C's market cap now stands at 60-point-81 trillion NT.

The company projects second-quarter revenue between 39-billion and
40-point-2-billion US dollars, with full-year 2026 dollar revenue expected to
grow more than 30 percent.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-07 12:30:13

A 48-year-old woman has been missing in the mountains of central Taiwan for
nearly a week.

The hiker, surnamed Yao, set out alone on the Zhijiyang (志佳陽) trail on May
1 and was due back on May 3.

A friend raised the alarm on May 5 after finding Yao's car still parked at
the trailhead.

Taichung City Fire Bureau dispatched a four-person team to the area, and
rescuers found Yao's gear and car keys inside a mountain shelter that
afternoon.

Searches yesterday and today have so far turned up nothing, and a second
rescue team is now continuing the effort.

Mountaineering writer and YouTuber Huang Yu-hsiang (黃鈺翔) has shared the
missing person appeal on his Facebook page, "Vision of a Snow Ram."

Rescuers are asking anyone who hiked the route around May 2nd and noticed
anything unusual to contact Taichung police.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-07 12:30:13

The Ministry of Defense says it tracked 22 Chinese military aircraft
operating around the Taiwan Strait from 6 AM Wednesday to 6 AM today.

Of those, 18 crossed the median line and entered northern, central,
southwestern, and eastern airspace.

Six P-L-A naval vessels and one official ship were also tracked during the
same period.

The ministry says the activity began in earnest at around 3 PM yesterday,
when jets including J-10s, J-16s, and K-J-500 early warning aircraft were
detected heading out to sea alongside drones.

The military says it deployed aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile
systems to monitor and respond.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-07 12:30:13

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv will "respond in kind" to
Russian attacks after accusing Moscow of rejecting ceasefire efforts.

In a Wednesday evening address, Zelenskyy said Russia answered Ukraine's
truce proposal with new strikes, and that Kyiv would determine its response
"depending on the situation tonight and tomorrow."

Ukraine proposed a ceasefire beginning midnight on May 6th, but Zelenskyy
says Russian forces violated it 18-hundred-20 times in the first 10 hours
alone.

On Wednesday morning, Russia struck a kindergarten in the northern Sumy
region, killing two people.

Russia had separately announced a two-day Victory Day truce for Friday and
Saturday, timed to coincide with its Red Square parade marking the end of
World War Two.

This year's parade will feature no military hardware, amid fears equipment
could be targeted by Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has not committed to holding fire during Russia's truce window.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-07 12:30:13

North Korea has rewritten its constitution to drop any mention of
reunification with South Korea, cementing leader Kim Jong Un's shift toward
treating Seoul as a permanent adversary.

The updated constitution, introduced in March, was shared this week by South
Korea's Unification Ministry and reported by Yonhap News Agency.

The revision ends a formal commitment to reunification dating back to 1948.

The new text also defines North Korean territory as bordering China and
Russia to the north, and South Korea to the south, using Seoul's official
name.

Kim Jong Un is now designated head of state, with command over the North's
nuclear forces formally vested in his office.

The constitution describes North Korea as a "responsible nuclear weapons
state."

One Seoul National University analyst cited by Yonhap suggested the changes
could form a basis for peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.

Kim began signaling this shift in late 2023, calling Seoul the "main enemy"
and ordering the demolition of a major reunification monument in Pyongyang.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-07 08:14:14

budget vote

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is continuing to press lawmakers to pass the
Cabinet's special defense bill ...

... arguing that waiting for the U-S to issue a letter of acceptance for
weapons sales to Taiwan before lawmakers approve the special defense budget
will result in serious timing problems.

According to Koo, letters of acceptance are only valid for 45 days and arms
procurement cases normally take more than two years to negotiate, and the
defense ministry only submits budget items after confirming a U-S willingness
to supply the requested items.

Koo says requiring such letters from Washington prior to reviewing the
defense budget is impractical ...

.. as if budgets and procurement items are not reviewed in advance, but are
rushed through only after an a letter of acceptance is received, it
effectively results in a "blank check."

Legislative party caucuses yesterday once again failed to reach a consensus
on budget items and amounts for the special defense bill.

However, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu says he still remains hopeful that
lawmakers will be able to vote on the bill by tomorrow at the latest.

Posted on 2026-05-07 08:14:14

Deputy Economics Minister Lai Chien-hsin says oil and gas supplies will
remain stable through September, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East
and the closure of in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at the 2026 Taiwan Energy Summit Forum in Taipei, Lai said the
government has been holding daily energy meetings since late February, and
C-P-C has already begun advance planning for winter fuel procurement.

Lai stressed the government's moves to diversify procurement ...

.. telling summit attendees that C-P-C has database of more than 180 oil
product types from over 40 countries, allowing it to quickly switch suppliers
if a source is disrupted.

The deputy economics minister also talked about the government's so-called
"second energy transition" policy - which is focuses on renewable energy
development, diversified supplies, grid upgrades, energy conservation and
storage.

According to Lai, that policy is advancing and in terms of renewable energy,
and although green electricity is currently mainly been supplied to
industries through feed-in tariff mechanisms, steps are being taken to
promote broader public adoption of green energy sources.

Posted on 2026-05-07 08:14:14

center

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Drone Diplomacy Task Force says
the government is taking steps to make Taiwan the Asia-Pacific center of the
democratic drone supply chain.

Speaking at the "Taiwanese-German Aerospace Conference" in Taipei, Chiang
Zhen-wei said Taiwan plays a crucial role in the global non-red supply chain
of the drone industry due to its excellent manufacturing capabilities.

According to Chiang, the Drone Diplomacy Task Force is using Taiwan's
experience and expertise in "chip diplomacy" to develop the drone industry
into a key aspect of Taiwan's national defense apparatus ...

... while at the same time collaborating with allies and like-minded
countries to promote drone related projects.

The Drone Diplomacy Task Force was established in October of last year with
the aim of connecting local drone manufacturers with overseas markets.

Posted on 2026-05-07 08:14:14

The New Taipei City Prosecutors' Office has detained the chairman of a
cosmetic surgery chain after a pinhole camera was allegedly discovered in a
smoke detector at its Banqiao branch.

Airlee Group Chairman Chang Ju-shan was detained after authorities searched
multiple branches of of the company in the city.

The searches were carried out after allegations posted to social media this
past week said a customer had spotted a device on the ceiling that resembled
a smoke detector as she was changing her clothes in a private treatment room
at Airlee's Banqiao branch.

According to the social media post, the woman said the smoke detector
appeared to conceal a recording device, and although clinic staff insisted it
was just a smoke detector, she reported the matter to the police.

The woman later returned to the branch with police and office found a
recording device connected to a power source after opening the smoke
detector.

Prosecutors have questioned eight people in connection with the case so far -
and along with the cosmetic surgery chain chairman, two other suspects have
also been detained.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington and Beijing believe that
maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait are in their shared interests.

The statement comes as U-S President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping
prepare to meet in Beijing.

Rubio said Taiwan will likely be discussed by both leaders.

The official claimed Washington and Beijing both understand each other's
positions on the Taiwan issue and... and that it is not in their interests to
see anything destabilizing happen in that part of the world.

Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14 and 15.

The meeting was postponed from March due to the U-S war with Iran.

The visit will be Trump's first to China in his second term.

Here in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the government will
be closely monitor the meeting.

Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei told reporters last last month that the
Trump administration has consistently reiterated its support for Taiwan and
taken concrete actions to implement the U-S government's long-standing policy
toward the island.

Hsiao also stressed that the Lai administration has been close contact with
the U-S government and policy circles in Washington regarding the issues
likely to be discussed at the Trump-Xi meeting.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

bill

Legislative party caucuses have once again failed to reach a consensus on
budget items and amounts for the special defense bill.

It's the fourth cross-caucus meeting that has failed to yield any concrete
agreements on key points of the bill.

Lawmakers have thus far found common ground on the name of the act, the
implementation period and the implementation procedures.... but they are
still divided on the budget items and amounts.

The Cabinet is proposing a 1.25-trillion N-T defense bill over over eight
years, the K-M-T is seeking a 380-billion N-T "plus N" policy - the "plus N"
referring to funding that could be allocated after Taiwan receives letters of
acceptance for arms sales from the U-S.

While the Taiwan People's Party is proposing a defense budget bill with a
400-billion N-T cap on spending.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu says he still remains hopeful that lawmakers
will be able to vote on the bill by tomorrow at the latest.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

secrets

The Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office in Kaohsiung has indicted a CTi TV
reporter for allegedly bribing bribing soldiers to leak military secrets.

Prosecutors say Lin Chen-you bribed six active-duty and retired members of
the armed forces to leak military secrets to a "foreign hostile force" and he
also produced propaganda programs on social media platforms under its
instructions.

Lin has been charged with violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act, the Money
Laundering Control Act, and the Anti-Corruption Act.

Prosecutors are seeking a combined prison sentence of up to 12 years.

Lin covered political news, mainly the Legislature for CTi News and also
hosted a political program on the outlet's YouTube channel.

He was detained on January 17.

Prosecutors say the have asked the Ciaotou District Court to impose heavy
sentences on the six military personnel involved.

They were all indicted for violating the Anti-Corruption Act, the National
Security Act, and the Criminal Code.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang has been hospitalized after suffering
complications from influenza B.

A city government spokesman says Hsieh was sent to the Taipei Veterans
General Hospital after his symptoms worsened.

The Keelung City Council has postponed the 7th regular session of the 20th
council - which was originally set to begin on Wednesday.

Keelung City Council Speaker Tung Tzu-wei says the city government's
Department of Civil Affairs informed the council on Monday afternoon that
Hsieh would be unable to attend the opening session to deliver a municipal
report.

The Taipei Veterans General Hospital says it expects Hsieh to "recover."

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

President Lai Ching-te has conferred one of Taiwan's highest honors for
foreign nationals on Michael J. Fonte - a former head of the D-P-P's mission
in the U-S.

Fonte received the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon at a ceremony
held at the Presidential Office for his contributions to Taiwan-US relations.

Fonte was recognized for his key role and "exceptional contributions" to
promoting Taiwan-US ties.

The president described Fonte as "a friend who has fought alongside the
Taiwanese people" and expressed his hope that Fonte will continue mentoring
younger generations and supporting Taiwan's democracy, peace and prosperity.

Fonte first came to Taiwan in 1967 as a missionary - where worked with
farmers in Taichung, Changhua, and Miaoli.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai says TPass 2.0 user rebates are now expected
to be credited on May 25.

The statement comes as the frequent customer rebate program have not been
issued for three months.

Those rebates total approximately 27-million N-T.

According to Chen, the rebates will be distributed once local governments
submit applications for funding to the Highway Bureau.

The Highway Bureau announced in February that cash rebates for TPass users
would be delayed, as lawmaker had failed to approve funding for the program.

The central government's 2026 budget was stalled in the Legislative Yuan.

However, lawmakers have since agreed to unfreeze parts to allow 71-billion
N-T of delayed funding to released for 38 projects, including funding for the
TPass public transportation program.

TPass users are able to take unlimited regional rides on the M-R-T, Taiwan
Railways, city and intercity buses, light rail and shared public bicycles for
periods of 30 days.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

The Central Weather Bureau says its monitoring a tropical storm that formed
east of Philippines...

Tropical Storm Hagupit formed yesterday afternoon.

It is currently located some 700-kilometers south of Guam and moving in a
west-northwesterly direction at 15-kilometers-an-hour.

Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu says Hagupit will weaken back into a
tropical depression as it moves into waters east of the Philippines on Sunday
or Monday before dissipating.

Meanwhile, the second front of this year's plum rain season is forecast to
affect northern and central parts of the island from tomorrow and into
Saturday.

It's forecast to bring localized showers or thunderstorms, and a drop in
temperature to the areas.

However, front is expected to move away from the island on Sunday - when
we'll see clear skies and a rise in temperature islandwide.

Posted on 2026-05-07 06:58:36

The Philippines gets ready to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
as it meets this year.

Conflicts far beyond Southeast Asia are expected to dominate discussions of
leaders with the Middle East crisis posing significant challenges for its
fuel import-dependent economies.

The meetings take place today and tomorrow, and will include leaders and
foreign and economic ministers of the 11-member grouping.

Energy and food supply security will be top priorities for the region of
nearly 700 million people.

Last month, the Asian Development Bank cut its economic growth forecast for
the region to 4.7% this year and 4.8% next year, down from earlier
projections of 5.1% for both years, due to the war in the Middle East.

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:57:13

A Taipei man has received a suspended prison sentence for posting online
threats calling for violence against President Lai Ching-te.

The Taipei District Court says the 42-year-old man, surnamed Xu, was
convicted of intimidating the public after making multiple posts calling for
violence last year.

He was sentenced to two months in prison, which can be converted to a fine,
and the sentence was suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay 50 thousand NT dollars to the public treasury.

Prosecutors say Xu made the comments on the social media platform Threads
while expressing dissatisfaction with recall politics and cross-strait
relations.

The court noted that although the remarks disrupted public order, Xu admitted
wrongdoing and had no prior criminal record, factors that contributed to the
suspended sentence.

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:57:13

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang is currently in hospital after developing
complications from the flu.

City officials say his condition worsened following about two weeks of
illness, and he was admitted to Taipei Veterans General Hospital for
treatment.

They add that the mayor is receiving care and is expected to recover.

Because of his condition, the Keelung City Council has postponed its upcoming
session, as Hsieh was unable to deliver a scheduled policy report.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control says overall flu activity is
starting to ease.

The latest figures show fewer outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms,
although influenza B remains the main strain in circulation.

Health officials are reminding people to keep up preventive measures — like
washing hands regularly, wearing masks in crowded places, and seeking medical
attention if needed.

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:57:13

The Ministry of Agriculture is moving ahead with a reforestation and farmland
recovery plan, for areas affected by last year's Mataian barrier lake
overflow in Hualien.

The ministry said today that recovery efforts are focusing on direct
government land purchase, or subsidized private reforestation.

In severely affected areas, landowners who wish to retain their land can
apply for reforestation subsidies of up to $600-thousand NT per hectare over
six years.

In less damaged areas, a two-year farmland rehabilitation project targeting
300 hectares is already underway.

And the ministry says for those who wish to sell, valuation work is expected
to be completed by July, with the first round of purchase negotiations
targeted for December.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:57:13

The head of the World Health Organization says that three suspected
hantavirus cases have been evacuated from a cruise ship and are heading to
the Netherlands.

However, the W-H-O Director-General says the health risk remains low.

The Dutch-flagged M-V Hondius is stuck off Cape Verde with nearly 150 people
on board.

Three passengers have died, and at least five others have been infected with
the rare disease.

The ship left Argentina on April 1st but remains marooned off of Cape Verde.

South African and Swiss authorities have identified the Andes virus strain in
some cases.

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:01:13

vote

Defense Minister Wellington Koo said that requiring U-S letters of acceptance
before approving the special defense budget would create a serious timing
problem.

Koo says these documents are typically only valid for 45 days, leaving too
little time to pass a budget without prior groundwork.

He added that arms procurement cases normally take more than two years to
negotiate, and the ministry only submits budget items after confirming U-S
willingness to supply.

Koo warned that rushing approvals only after a letter arrives would amount to
writing a, quote, "blank check."

The special defense budget entered its fourth round of cross-party
negotiations today.

Separately, Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi (黃文啟) reiterated that the
H-I-M-A-R-S first installment, worth around 800-million NT, must be paid by
May 31 or the deal will be cancelled.

If cancelled, restarting the process would take at least a year.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:01:13

Civil groups are calling on the government to cut daily work hours for
parents of young children without slashing their pay.

At a press conference ahead of Mother’s Day, advocacy organizations said
many parents struggle most with not having enough time to accompany their
children.

They're urging lawmakers to amend the "Gender Equality in Employment Act" to
allow parents to work fewer hours while maintaining full salaries.

Currently, parents can reduce their workday by one hour, but with a
corresponding pay cut.

Groups say that system fails to address what they describe as the biggest
challenge facing families — time to care for children.

They are also proposing government subsidies to help businesses cover the
cost, including allowances for temporary replacement workers.

Advocates argue that more family-friendly policies could improve work-life
balance, boost employee retention, and help address declining birth rates.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:01:13

In similar news,

The Ministry of Labor says payments of 100 thousand NT per child will be
issued before Mother's Day.

The payments are part of the government's expanded childbirth subsidy
program, aimed at addressing Taiwan's declining birth rate.

Officials say around 18 thousand applicants will receive back payments in the
coming days.

The policy raises childbirth benefits across different insurance systems to a
flat rate of 100 thousand NT per child, with higher payouts for multiple
births.

Disbursements had been delayed due to pending budget approval, but
authorities now say the Executive Yuan has approved the release of funds.

The ministry adds that future applicants will receive payments through the
standard process.

Separately, a new childcare leave policy offering incentives to smaller
businesses is also set to begin payouts later this month, with subsidies
provided to employers.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-06 19:01:13

New data from Agoda shows Taiwanese travelers are becoming more selective
when booking accommodation — placing greater emphasis on reviews and dining
options.

According to the platform's latest travel trends, 'reviews' have now
overtaken price and location as the top deciding factor for bookings.

Travelers are increasingly relying on other guests' feedback to ensure a
better overall experience.

Food is also playing a bigger role.

Agoda says several of the most common search terms among Taiwanese users
relate to dining options, including breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner.

That reflects a growing preference for combined lodging-and-dining
experiences.

The company says the shift highlights changing expectations, with travelers
placing greater value on comfort, convenience, and the overall quality of
their stay.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-06 17:07:48

The Ministry of National Defense says the first installment for a HIMARS
multiple launch rocket system purchase must be paid by May 31st, or the deal
will be cancelled.

Officials told lawmakers today the payment, worth around 800-million NT,
cannot be delayed further.

The U.S. side had already agreed to push back the original March 30 deadline,
but made clear in its final letter that May 31 is non-negotiable.

If the case is cancelled, Taiwan would have to restart the entire procurement
process, which could take more than eight months and would likely come at a
higher price.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo told the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs
and National Defense Committee that the special defense budget, which covers
HIMARS and three other arms procurement casesm has not yet passed.

One lawmaker said approval by May 31 appears unlikely, citing the upcoming
Trump-Xi summit and the legislative speaker's planned overseas trip as
complicating factors.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 17:07:48

Day weekend

Kaohsiung's Shoushan Zoo is offering free admission for women and children
under 12 this weekend to mark Mother's Day.

The zoo is also running a joint activity with Neimen Wild Forest Animal
School starting Saturday, where visitors can complete tasks via the
"Kaohsiung GO!" app at designated locations to enter a prize draw.

A "World Cockroach Special Exhibition" is also now open in the zoo's Alpaca
Corridor through the end of August, featuring species from around the world
including an armored, wingless rhinoceros cockroach from Australia and a
metallic-sheened Vietnamese cockroach.

The zoo says recent new arrivals, including capybaras, miniature donkeys, and
swamp wallabies, have added to the family-friendly atmosphere.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 17:07:48

Now turning to international news...

Russia has launched a drone attack on Ukraine, thus ignoring a unilateral
ceasefire announced by Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials reported the attacks but Russia officials claimed Ukraine
violated their own ceasefire...

saying air defenses shot down 53 Ukrainian drones.

Moscow has shown no sign of respecting Kyiv's ceasefire, and hopes for a
pause in hostilities remain low.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the ceasefire after Russia
said it would hold its own ceasefire later this week.

Zelenskyy said any breach of the ceasefire would trigger a military response.

Posted on 2026-05-06 17:07:48

British voters are heading to the polls in an election expected to deliver a
major defeat to the ruling Labor Party.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's popularity has plunged due to a weak economy
and his decision to appoint a friend of predator Jeffrey Epstein as
ambassador to the US.

The party may lose over half of the 2500 local council seats it aims to
defend.

Labor is expected to lose to parties on both the left and right- including
the Green Party in London and Reform UK in working-class, former Labor
strongholds in the north.

A bad result could even lead to a challenge to Starmer's leadership even
though the next national election does not have to be held until 2029.

Starmer survived threats to his leadership in Feburary, but he could be
challeneged this time around by the current health secretary, a former deputy
prime minister, or the Greater Manchester mayor.

Posted on 2026-05-06 17:07:48

The US military has killed another 3 people in a strike on a vessel they
claim was transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific.

This comes just one day after they killed 2 in a similar strike in the
Carribean.

That brings the total number dead from US strikes on so-called "drug boats"
to 191.

Since the campaign began in September, the US has failed to provide any
evidence that the boats are carrying drugs.

Posted on 2026-05-06 15:52:13

Taiwan Power Company Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) says fuel rods used at
Taiwan's four nuclear power plants are specially designed and cannot be used
interchangeably.

Tseng made the remarks today at the 2026 Taiwan Energy Summit Forum.

He said each reactor unit requires its own specially designed fuel rods, with
even the layout inside the reactor core individually calculated.

On the question of Nuclear Power Plant 4's fuel rods, Tseng said Taipower
sent them overseas in compliance with a 2018 Legislative Yuan resolution.

Storing them abroad costs between 100-million and 200-million NT per year.

He added that keeping them on-site would actually cost more, as it would
require stationing security personnel and meeting higher on-site safety
standards.

On whether Nuclear Power Plant 3 could be restarted by 2028, Tseng said the
timeline is up to the Nuclear Safety Commission, not Taipower.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 15:52:13

New Taipei has identified high-risk rodent infestation zones across the city
and is stepping up prevention efforts.

The city's Environmental Protection Department says the nearly 2-thousand-600
hotspots identified include flood-prone areas, vacant lots and buildings, and
sites where recyclable materials accumulate.

Officials say they are focusing on environmental management, by eliminating
food sources and shelter, and chemical rodenticide use will be a secondary
measure.

Outdoor bait stations are enclosed and labeled with warning signs, and
residents who request rodenticides for home use will be given safety
guidelines before receiving the product.

The city says it has no data indicating a rise in rat populations, and the
list of high-risk zones will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-06 15:52:13

China Airlines has announced a new partnership with U.S. carrier JetBlue,
allowing members of both airlines to redeem miles or points for tickets on
the other carrier.

It marks the first time JetBlue has partnered with a Taiwanese airline on a
member rewards program.

China Airlines' Dynasty Flyer members can book JetBlue redemption tickets
immediately through customer service centers.

China Airlines currently flies 40 weekly flights to seven North American
destinations, and connects to more than 100 U-S cities through existing
codeshare partners.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 15:52:13

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo has appointed a new attorney general to
the national prosecutor’s office, putting an end to a fierce, years-long
struggle between the anti-corruption progressive and former top prosecutor
Consuelo Porras.

Porras’ prosecutor’s office repeatedly tried and failed to block Arevalo
from entering office, sparking international rebuke and a fierce struggle
with the president.

In Guatemala, the attorney general holds an independent office that is not
supposed to be allied to any given president.

This means that presidents can be effectively stuck with rivals as chief law
enforcement officers.

The office has been plagued by corruption allegations for years.

Arevalo appointed lawyer Gabriel Estuardo Garcia Luna to the post.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-06 15:52:13

In Austria, Gustav Klimt's early works in Vienna are now accessible to the
public for the first time.

The 10 oil paintings on the ceilings of the Burgtheater are being restored
because of water damage.

The theater is offering daily guided tours on the conservators' scaffolding.

Klimt is known for his bold art nouveau style.

He painted the works from 1886 to 1888 with his brother and another artist.

The paintings depict scenes from theater history, including a self-portrait
of Klimt.

Hundreds of art lovers are taking the opportunity to see the details up
close.

The special tours will continue until August.

General admission tickets are available on the theater's website for 25
euros, or $925 NT.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-06 14:28:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says a clinic where a hidden camera was
allegedly found could face a fine of up to 250-thousand NT if investigators
confirm a violation of medical privacy law.

A smoke detector at the Banqiao branch of Airlee Clinic in New Taipei City
was recently found to contain what appeared to be a pinhole camera.

Authorities conducted an unannounced inspection of the clinic's Taipei branch
yesterday.

The clinic says its surveillance equipment is intended to ensure medical
quality and protect medications and equipment, and denies any intent to
violate patient privacy.

The healthy ministry's Medical Affairs Division says recording in a clinical
setting requires the consent of both parties under a 2015 regulation.

Officials say local health bureaus have been asked to investigate whether the
clinic violated Article 72 of the Medical Care Act.

A preliminary assessment suggests existing law may not provide grounds for
suspension of the clinic's operating license.

(pb)

Posted on 2026-05-06 14:28:15

The central government is raising concerns about Taipei's rat problem.

The minister of agriculture said today that the government would put together
a system to report rat hotspots in the city.

That's after posters online set up a website called Rat Radar for that very
purpose.

Minister Chen Jun Ji said that the government would immediately begin using
disaster preparation apps for rat-tracking purposes as well.

Kaohsiung Lawmaker Qiu Yi Ying also said she hoped the central government
could use similar mechanisms to track damage caused by monkeys to agriculture
in her hometown and assist farmers.

But Chen said that, as the monkey problem is a near-daily occurrence in
Kaohsiung, the government will instead rely on compensation to address
losses.

Meanwhile the minister of the environment seemed unconvinced of the efficacy
of a Taipei City plan to provide residents with what Mayor Chiang Wan An
called "rodent detection specialists..."

emphasizing that dealing with rodents requires professional expertise.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-06 14:28:15

Crews were working to repair a flooded intersection in New Taipei's Xinzhuang
this morning.

The New Taipei Boulevard and Wugong Road intersection was flooded today,
since construction crews ruptured a pipe.

Flooding mostly shut down one lane of traffica the intersection, on New
Taipei Boulevard heading west.

This follows a similar incident in Feburary, causing water outages to nearby
areas and traffic slowdowns.

Mayor Hou You Yi says today that he's requested construction companies to act
more cautiously and noted that the city government would implement stronger
oversight.

The mayor added that water service to residents and businesses is currently
unaffected as crews work to fix the issue as soon as possible.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-06 14:28:20

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 41138 after
gaining 369 points.

the turnover was 1 trillion 449 billion NT

Posted on 2026-05-06 14:28:20

An Australian man accused of killing 15 people in a shooting at Bondi Beach
now faces 19 more charges.

He was already charged with 59 counts for the Hanukkah celebration shooting,
including murder and terrorism.

The new charges are mostly weapons offenses.

Police believe the attack was inspired by the Islamic State group.

The man and his father, now dead, allegedly began their attack by throwing
explosives toward the crowd, but those faield to explode.

A larger explosive was later found in the son's car.

Posted on 2026-05-06 12:34:13

Taiwan-based freight forwarder Dimerco says rising aviation fuel costs are
prompting some shippers to shift cargo from air to sea freight, rail, or
combined transport options.

The company says Middle East tensions and restrictions in the Strait of
Hormuz have increased congestion at major Asian transshipment hubs, adding
pressure across global supply chains.

Countries including India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the
Philippines are among those affected.

On the air side, reduced passenger flights have cut belly cargo capacity,
especially on Asia-to-Europe routes.

Despite the pressures, Dimerco posted April consolidated revenue of 2.8
billion NT, up 12-percent year-on-year.

Air freight volume for the first four months of the year rose about
20-percent, while sea freight volume was up nearly 10-percent.

The company says overall supply chain decision-making is becoming
increasingly complex.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 12:34:13

Researchers at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University have developed a new
luminescent material inspired by the famous "blue tears" of Matsu.

The blue tears are caused by single-celled organisms that emit fluorescence
when agitated by ocean waves.

A graduate student accidentally discovered that a soft silicone material
emits blue fluorescence when compressed or stretched, reminding the team of
the natural phenomenon.

The material also generates circularly polarized light, seen as a key
technology for next-generation 3D displays that would not require glasses.

Researchers say it could also reduce power consumption and allow for thinner,
lighter devices.

The findings were developed in collaboration with Osaka Institute of
Technology in Japan and published in an international academic journal.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-06 12:34:13

The Maokong Gondola is shut down again following a stint last month during
which it was closed for maintenance.

The operator said on their website that the gondola was shut down due to a
system irregularity.

Shuttle buses are in operation to take passengers up the mountain.

It's not yet certain when the gondola will be back in operation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-06 12:34:13

US President Donald Trump says the US is pausing Project Freedom,
which has seen the US navy escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz,

The president wrote on social media it was due to "great progress" on
a possible deal with Iran.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

Posted on 2026-05-06 12:34:13

Antigua and Barbuda has sworn in a new Cabinet after Prime Minister Gaston
Browne's party won a fourth consecutive election.

On Tuesday, for the first time, officials of this former British colony
pledged allegiance to the country instead of the British monarch.

In December 2025, Parliament approved this constitutional change.

Browne emphasized the responsibility that comes with electoral success.

The Antigua and Barbuda Labor Party secured 15 of 17 parliamentary seats.

The main opposition party now holds just one seat.

The snap election, held two years early, focused on rising living costs and
infrastructure development.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-06 12:34:13

In France, a top art museum in Paris has opened a new gallery dedicated to
orphaned masterpieces plundered by the Nazis.

The exhibit went on display Tuesday at the Musee d'Orsay as part of France's
long-delayed reckoning with Nazi-era looting.

It is also the first such exhibit in France where the paintings are hung so
visitors can read the backs.

The stamps, labels, and inventory marks map how each piece of art moved from
private homes into Nazi hands.

The artworks were retrieved from Germany and Austria after 1945 and entrusted
to French national museums in the early 1950s.

They were never claimed.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-06 08:15:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affair says a visit to Taiwan later this week by
Paraguay's President Santiago Pena is evidence of the solid ties between the
two sides that will not be undermined by Chinese coercion.

According to ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei, Pena will be leading a
delegation of business representatives to Taiwan for a four day visit and
will meet with President Lai Ching-te and other senior government officials.

Hsiao says the talks will be focusing on investments, international
cooperation in industries and other policy measures aimed at strengthen
bilateral ties.

Pena's trip to Taiwan follows reports that Beijing is pressuring Paraguay to
sever ties with Taiwan in favor of China.

A New York Times report has claimed that China has been targeting Paraguay
with cyberattacks and bribing politicians to switch diplomatic recognition.

Posted on 2026-05-06 08:15:13

Lawmakers have voted down President Lai Ching-te's nomination of Hsu
Hsi-hsiang as prosecutor-general.

The rejection means the Ministry of Justice will now have to submit a
recommendation through the Cabinet for the president to appoint an acting
prosecutor-general once incumbent Hsing Tai-chao completes his four-year term
tomorrow.

The acting prosecutor-general is likely to be selected from among the
office's two head prosecutors, including Hsu and will then serve until a new
nominee is announced and receives legislative confirmation.

Taiwan People's Party lawmaker Wang An-hsiang says Hsu's nomination was
rejected lacked "core experience" and previously held political roles, such
as deputy justice minister, raising questions about his differentiating of
political and judicial spheres.

Hsu was nominated by Lai on March 13 and was advanced to a floor vote
following cross-party negotiations in the Legislature on April 17.

According to the Presidential Office, Hsu has more than 30 years of
prosecutorial experience and has served as head prosecutor at district
prosecutors offices in Kinmen, Hsinchu, Changhua and New Taipei.

Posted on 2026-05-06 08:15:13

Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun is protested Taiwan's designation at the
Asian Development Bank and calling for the country's equal treatment in the
organization.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Chuang issued a statement at the
A-D-B's 59th annual meeting being held in Uzbekistan this week, in which she
lodged a formal protest against that "Taipei,China" designation.

The finance ministry says Chuang also conveyed her opposition to Taiwan's
designation when she met with A-D-B President Masato Kanda.

It's the third time that Chuang had protested Taiwan's designation since she
assumed the post at the end of January 2023.

The Republic of China was one of the founding members of the A-D-B in 1966.

Its designation was changed to "Taipei,China" in 1986, after the People's
Republic of China joined the bank.

Posted on 2026-05-06 08:15:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says his administration will launch a second round
of citywide sanitation measures and introduce so-called "rodent control
specialists" to help residents address rat problems.

The statement comes amid widespread concerns about growing rat populations in
parts of the city following social media posts reporting more rat sightings.

Acccording to Chiang, households will be able to apply to have rodent control
specialists visit their homes to assess infestations and provide tailored
prevention and control advice.

Chiang says the city will take a coordinated, cross-agency approach to
strengthen prevention, inspection and sanitation and he's also urging
residents to remain calm.

Officials said the specialists will focus on identifying infestation sources,
improving environmental conditions and supporting effective household pest
control.

The city government says it will also tighten sanitation at markets,
including installing mesh in drains, sealing building gaps and improving
waste handling.

Posted on 2026-05-06 08:15:13

Formosa Petrochemical says a Liberian-flagged supertanker carrying 2-million
barrels of crude oil will dock at Mailiao Port today - giving its underused
refineries a timely boost.

According to Formosa Petrochemical Corporation President Lin Keh-yen, the
F-P-M-C-C Lord is operated by Formosa Plastics Marine and carrying crude oil
from Saudi Arabia.

Lin says the arrivial of the crude oil will help ease the company's tight raw
material supplies.

Supply disruptions due to blocking of the Strait of Hormuz have resulted in
Formosa Petrochemical's overall refinery utilization rate dropping to about
43-per cent in April, as several scheduled crude shipments failed to arrive.

The rate for its naphtha cracking facilities alone was about 33-per cent in
April.

The corporation president says refinery operations are expected to gradually
recover with the arrival of the shipment - which transited the Strait of
Hormuz in mid-April after Iran temporarily reopened the waterway.

Posted on 2026-05-06 08:15:13

And finally,

The Taipei Zoo has announced the death of a leopard cat named Xiao Mu.

According to the zoo, Xiao Mu died on May 1 at the age of 19 - making her the
oldest leopard cat the zoo has ever housed.

The zoo says she had been suffering from spinal degeneration, bone spurs, and
degenerative arthritis - and had been housed in a rear enclosure since 2024.

Xiao Mu came to the zoo in 2018.

Prior to that she served as a leopard cat conservation ambassador for the
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
program.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

right'

President Lai Ching-te says bilateral visits between heads of state are a
"basic right" and should not be seen as "breakthroughs."

Lai made the statement at Taoyuan International Airport after he arrived
Taiwan from Eswatini ...

.. and after alleged Chinese interference that blocked his originally plans
to fly there on April 22.

Lai said while his trip was blocked at one point, his trip to Eswatini this
past weekend is evidence of "Taiwan's resolve to engage with the world."

Lai also thanked Eswatini's deputy prime minister, who escorted him on his
return flight to Taiwan on a private Airbus A340-313 owned by the country's
king.

During his trip, the king said he saw evidence of comprehensive bilateral
exchanges spanning energy security, agriculture, smart healthcare, women's
empowerment, culture and education during his visit ..

Those cooperation initiatives not only underscored the friendship between the
two countries spanning more than half a century, but also highlighted
Taiwan's concrete actions with an international partner to bring about
security, prosperity and development.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affair says it will be holding a medical tech
exhibition in Geneva later this month to coincide with the World Health
Assembly.

The ministry's Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs
said the expo will showcase Taiwan's smart healthcare innovations and its
ongoing overseas medical aid programs.

The Taiwan Smart Medical & HealthTech Expo will take place in Geneva from May
17 to 19.

It expects to feature 30 Taiwanese companies specializing in smart and
innovative healthcare, as well as some of Taiwan's top medical centers.

It will also include a special section highlighting Taiwan's achievements in
providing humanitarian assistance and healthcare to its allies.

The government has said it has yet to receive an invitation to attend the
79th W-H-A.

The World Health Assembly is scheduled to take place in Geneva from May 18 to
23.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

The Taiwan Sugar Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with
the U-S Grains & Bioproducts Council to deepen cooperation on bioethanol
production and expand its use in transportation fuels.

The agreement was signed in Taipei.

Under the deal, Taiwan Sugar will complete an initial assessment of potential
feedstock sources by the second quarter of 2027, laying the groundwork for
future development.

Taiwan Sugar Chairman Wu Ming-chang says the government accelerating efforts
to develop sustainable aviation fuel and achieve at least 5-per cent S-A-F
blending in international flights by 2030.

Wu says the partnership will focus on advancing production technologies,
expand applications and strengthening exchanges on policy and market
information, as Taiwan builds capacity in alternative fuels and low-carbon
transportation.

Company officials says the initial phase will prioritize identifying viable
raw materials beyond sugarcane and assessing how different technologies can
be integrated into production.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

Taiwan's major carriers have announced that they will be keeping fuel
surcharges on international passenger flights unchanged for this month.

The move means that rates for short-haul routes will remain at 45 U-S
dollars, while rates for long-haul routes stay at 117 U-S dollars.

EVA Airways and Starlux Airlines have said that surcharges implemented on
April 7 for flights departing from Taiwan will remain in effect.

China Airlines also says it would keep surcharge levels unchanged in May in
accordance with the Civil Aviation Administration's pricing mechanism.

However, China Airlines also says it will continue to monitor global crude
oil price trends.

The decision to freeze the surcharges came despite what the airlines have
been arguing is a significant gap between market fuel prices and the
industry's baseline.

Data from C-P-C shows that average aviation fuel prices reached 208.78 U-S
dollars per barrel in May, far exceeding the 40 U-S dollar benchmark on which
the fuel surcharges are based.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

Activist groups are calling for a multipronged approach to curb what some
claim to be Taipei's fast growing rat population, even as they warn the
overuse of rat poison could breed resistant rats while killing their natural
predators.

The Taiwan Walk for Wildlife, the Reptile Conservation Association of Taiwan
and the Raptor Research Group say the Taipei City government needs to disrupt
environments that sustain rodents, rather than relying solely on chemicals.

The groups say chemical killers could contaminate the food chain, killing
raptors and snakes.

The resulting declines in those natural predators, combined with rodents'
rapid reproduction, could lead to a surge in the rat population.

The Taipei Environmental Protection Bureau defended its use of rat poison,
saying the chemical is approved by the central government and follows the
Ministry of Environment's guidelines for deployment.

The bureau says rat bait is placed in areas where rodents are active or may
enter buildings, such as warehouse corners, cluttered storage areas, wall
crevices, and around burrows ...

.. and it "does not engage in indiscriminate application."

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office is indicting three people for
stealing over 4.5-kilometers of cable from a Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Advanced Packaging Plant construction site in Chiayi.

The suspects include a downstream contractor for the site and two employees
of the same company.

Prosecutors say the accused then sold the cable for nearly 5-million N-T.

Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 10 years for two of the suspects
and nine years for the other.

The robberies went unnoticed until March 2, when the three suspects attempted
to steal 600 meters of cable from the site.

Security guards altered authorities after seeing a large amount of cable
being loaded onto a truck, but the suspects managed to flee the scene after
crashing the vehicle through a security-gate.

The suspects were arrested by police after they tried to sell the cable to a
recycling center in Pingtung.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

And,

Four pygmy killer whales found stranded beneath New Taipei's Danjiang Bridge
have been rescued.

The Coast Guard Administration says a 30-member rescue team involving the
Ocean Conservation Administration, New Taipei City Animal Protection Office,
and the Taiwan Cetacean Society was dispatched to scene.

Rescuers identified the animals as four pygmy killer whales, each measuring
about 2.2-meters in length.

Rescue workers righted the whales, kept them cool and moist, while
continuously poured seawater over their bodies to prevent dehydration and
overheating.

The whales were later transported to Badouzi in Keelung for further
observation and care.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

The United States and its Gulf allies have proposed a U.N. resolution
threatening Iran with sanctions or other measures if it doesn’t halt attacks
on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, stop imposing “illegal tolls” and
disclose the placement of all mines to allow freedom of navigation.

It also demands that Iran “immediately participate in and enable” United
Nations efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor in the strait to enable
the delivery of vital aid, fertilizer and other goods.

The Trump administration is working to restore freedom of navigation in the
strait, which carried about 20% of the world’s crude oil before the war.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

Ukrainian authorities say Russian drone and missile strikes during the night
and into daylight hours have killed at least 22 people and wounded more than
80 others.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday criticized Moscow for launching the
attacks after Russia announced a temporary unilateral ceasefire for later
this week.

Russia’s Defense Ministry declared a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday...
but it warned of retaliation if Kyiv disrupts Victory Day festivities.

Ukrainian forces have also continued their attacks on Russian areas by
targeting oil facilities.

Russia said that it destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones overnight across 18
regions.

Posted on 2026-05-06 06:55:14

The Venice Biennale has begun previewing its 61st edition, just days after
the contemporary art show's jury resigned over the participation of Israel
and Russia.

Ukrainian artists brought a statue from the front line, Russian participants
danced to house music and Palestinians marched in protest.

Curator Marie Helene Pereira said the tensions put in question the relevance
of national representation in a globalized art world.

The jury had refused to award prizes to countries under investigation by the
International Court of Justice.
Without a jury, visitors get to decide and vote for the winners.

Posted on 2026-05-05 18:18:13

Pingtung officials say that a quail farm in Yanpu (鹽埔) Township has been
cleared following a confirmed outbreak of H5N1 bird flu — the second in the
county this year (so far).

Local authorities say over 78 thousand quails were culled yesterday, after
the infection was confirmed a day earlier.

The farm first reported unusual deaths at the end of April, triggering
testing and containment measures.

In response, authorities have launched inspections and sampling at poultry
farms within a one-kilometer radius, along with wider monitoring in
surrounding areas.

Agriculture officials are urging farmers to remain vigilant, noting that bird
flu cases are more common between March and October.

They also warn that failure to report suspected infections could result in
fines and loss of compensation for culled livestock.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-05 18:18:18

Taiwan is holding its first-ever smart medical technology expo on the
sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva this month.

The 79th World Health Assembly opens in Geneva on May 18th.

Taiwan remains excluded, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is
organizing parallel activities to showcase Taiwan's healthcare capabilities
and diplomatic aid work.

MOFA says the inaugural "Taiwan Smart Medical and Health Tech Expo" will
feature 30 Taiwanese medical and health technology companies and
pharmaceutical manufacturers across three zones covering innovative medical
institutions, smart healthcare, and resilient medicine.

And public health forums co-organized by the Minsitry of Health and Welfare
are also scheduled for May 18th and 19th at the expo venue.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-05 18:18:18

Taiwan Lottery Corporation has introduced two new scratch-off games with
total prize money reaching almost 2 billion NT.

According to the company, the first of these ... the "Mahjong Big Bingo"
scratch cards will be priced at 300 NT ... and features bingo tables with a
mahjong-themed designs.

It includes three "FREE" symbols intended to increase the chances of forming
winning lines.

Payouts rise with the number of completed lines.

The game offers six top prizes of $3 million nt and minimum prizes of $300 NT
and has an overall winning rate of 36 percent.

The other scratch card game, "Gold Diamond 999," will be priced at 200 NT ...
and features prizes of the same amount or more.

It offers three top prizes of $2 million NT and has an overall winning rate
of over 27 percent.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-05 18:18:22

Looking ahead...

Weather conditions are expected to improve slightly tomorrow .... with
slightly higher temperatures across the island.

Most of Taiwan should see partly cloudy to sunny skies ...
... Though in the north around Keelung and in the east, skies might be a bit
cloudier with occasional showers.

A weather front is expected to arrive this Friday, bringing brief showers to
central, northern, and eastern Taiwan, along with a chance of afternoon
thunderstorms in the north and south.

Those showers and thunderstorms may continue into Saturday.

Current temperatures...

Taipei - 21

Taichung - 22

Kaohsiung - 26

Hualien - 22

Posted on 2026-05-05 17:07:13

Scholars are praising President Lai Ching-te's recent surprise visit to
Eswatini.

Defense and policy experts say, the successful trip utilized the
"announcement upon arrival" strategy to get around pressure from Beijing.

The trip was made after earlier plans were cancelled.

Lai ended up taking the Eswatinian king's private jet to the southern African
country.

On the return flight, the president's plane diverted south, testing the
limits of the A340, covering about 13000 kilometers without refueling.

Scholars say, the "announcement upon arrival" strategy and the chartering of
private jets will be a crucial tool to continue to combat Chinese pressure.

However, other scholars note that these methods significantly increase the
cost of Taiwan's participation in international politics and should not
become the new normal.

Despite the trip being described as a "breakthrough," the president himself
said that such bilateral visits are a basic right.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-05 17:07:17

A supertanker carrying two million barrels of crude oil is set to arrive in
Taiwan, helping ease supply pressures caused by war in the Middle East.

Formosa Petrochemical Corporation says the vessel will dock at Mailiao Port
tomorrow, bringing crude oil from Saudi Arabia.

The shipment comes after disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz pushed
refinery utilization rates down sharply in April.

At one point, overall operations fell to just over 40 percent, with some
facilities running even lower.

Company officials say the new delivery, along with alternative sourcing
strategies, should help production gradually recover.

Refinery utilization is expected to rise above 60 percent in May and reach
around 80 percent in June.

However, challenges remain, with high costs and weak demand continuing to
weigh on petrochemical operations.

The company also warns that the global crude oil market could face prolonged
supply shortages if the conflict continues.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-05 17:07:17

The KMT's pick to lead Kaohsiung is breaking with party chair Zheng Li Wen on
defense spending.

Zheng said that most KMT lawmakers were in support of the proposed 380
billion " N" bill, but Ke Zhi En says today that the chair's understanding
differs from that of lawmakers.

Her comments come as some lawmakers appear to be hoping to have the budget
proposal coming in at about 800 billion NT, to include two rounds of arms
purchases from the US.

KMT Legislative Caucus Whip Fu Kun Chi notes that each version is still under
discussion.

This comes ahead of cross-partisan caucus discussions on the issue, set for
tomorrow.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-05 17:07:17

Now turning to international news...

The Japanese Defense Minister is in the Philippines to witness an
international combat drill and conduct talks with President Ferdinand Marcos
Jr.

Shinjiro Koizumi aims to broaden defense ties between the two countries, and
may talk with Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr about a
possible transfer of used Japanese destroyers to the Philippines.

Koizimi will be among representatives from 16 countries expected to witness a
key military exercise in which Philippines, US, Japanese, and Canadian
firepower will be used in a mock attack on a ship.

The Philippines and Japan signed a pact in 2024 allowing their forces to
stage large-scale combat drills.

Those drills see other allied forces brace for security contingencies and
deter Chinese aggressions.

Posted on 2026-05-05 17:07:17

The US says, it has fired on and sunk six boats targeting civilian ships.

That's as the United Arab Emirates, a US ally, said it had come under attack
by Iran for the first time since a fragile ceasefire took hold last month.

The US military added that two US-flagged ships had successfully transited
the Strait of Hormuz as part of a new initiative.

US officials have advised ships aiming to transit the strait to cross in
Oman's waters, saying they've set up an "enhanced security area."

Iranian officials have warned that ships passing through the strait must
coordinate with them.

Posted on 2026-05-05 17:07:17

Armenia is hosting the first European Union summit in Yerevan this week,
marking a deepening of ties that have been years in the making.

The summit underscores Armenia's disillusionment with Russia after Moscow
failed to intervene during Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive that ended decades of
ethnic Armenian control over the Karabakh region.

Armenia accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to stop the onslaught.

Since then, the governemnt has moved to pursue closer ties with the west...

passing a law last year formally declaring the country's intention to seek EU
membership, though prospects remain distant.

Posted on 2026-05-05 16:07:13

The opposition KMT and TPP legislative caucuses are reiterating their
wariness of the Executive Yuan's version of a special defense bill.

That's ahead of a scheduled cross-partisan caucus meeting tomorrow to discuss
the issue.

TPP caucus leaders say today that the party supports the purchasing of arms
but does not support signing off on a blank check to fund unclear spending.

The TPP is reportedly putting forward two versions of a bill, the first of
which would only contain one batch of arms sales valued at 400 billion NT,
and another including the second batch at 800 billion total.

Meanwhile, a KMT proposal includes 380 billion NT N, although some in the
party are hoping for closer to double that figure.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-05 16:07:13

The Ministry of Labor is reporting a decrease in casualties related to
occupational hazards.

New figures show 50 workplace deaths in the first quarter of this year —
down about 15 percent from the same period last year.

Despite the overall decline, risks remain high in certain sectors.

Construction accounted for more than half of all fatalities, with falls the
leading cause.

By location, New Taipei City and Taoyuan recorded the highest number of
deaths, with seven each, followed by Tainan with six.

The ministry says some local governments’ safety measures have shown
results, including Taichung's use of 'large firms supporting smaller
contractors' and targeted inspections of fall risks.

Officials add that new policies introduced this year aim to further cut
workplace risks, including revised work suspension and resumption rules,
among others.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-05 16:07:13

Tainan City is offering free RSV vaccines to some, in a new program aimed at
protecting newborns.

Mayor Huang Wei-cher says the program covers pregnant women between 28 and 36
weeks of gestation who are registered residents of Tainan and hold low-income
or lower-middle-income household status.

The city's Public Health Bureau says RSV is one of the leading causes of
lower respiratory tract infections in infants, with most hospitalizations
concentrated among babies under six months old and the highest risk among
those under three months.

Vaccinating during pregnancy allows maternal antibodies to pass to the fetus,
giving newborns a degree of protection from birth.

Eligible women can make appointments at any of the city's 37 district health
centers starting today.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-05 16:07:13

Now turning to international news...

The Indian ruling party has taken control of the opposition stronghold of
West Bengal in a key state election.

Partial results show the Bharatiya Janata Party potentially winning up to 70%
of seats in the local assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has tried for years to dislodge West
Bengal's opposition government led by one of his most prominent critics.

But opposition parties in the state have sharply criticized the polls, after
millions of voters were removed from electoral rolls.

Modi's Hindu-nationalist BJP has never governed West Bengal, and the results
mark a major win for the 3 term PM.

Posted on 2026-05-05 16:07:13

Separatists in the Canadian province of Alberta have submitted over 300,000
signatures to trigger a referendum on leaving Canada.

They needed just 178,000 to force the province to consider the vote.

The province premier says that, if the petition is verified, there will be a
referendum, though she has said she personally does not support the movement.

A "yes" vote would not trigger independence automatically, as negotiations
with the federal government would have to take place and experts say the
movement may face opposition from First Nations groups.

The issue could be put to a vote as early as October.

Posted on 2026-05-05 16:07:13

In the US,

Indigenous groups are marking Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples day,
gathering to honor loved ones who have gone missing or been killed.

They're also calling for reforms to make their communities safer.

Indigenous peoples in the US face disproportionate rates of violence, a
crisis that activists say is rooted in the systematic removal of Native
people from their lands and the federal government's efforts to forcibly
assimilate them into mainstream society.

Data shows that Indigenous individuals are twice as likely to be victims of a
violent crime, while women are twice as likely to be victims of murder.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples day is observed across the country on
May 5th.

Posted on 2026-05-05 14:25:13

The opposition KMT and TPP have rejected a nominee for the
Prosecutor-General's position.

Xu Xi Xiang 徐錫祥 currently serves as Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme
Prosecutor's Office.

The presidential office announced in March that the current
Prosecutor-General's term would end this month...

leading President Lai Ching Te to nominate Xu　as according to law.

DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary General Zhuang Rui Xiong said this morning
that all caucus members would vote in support of Xu's nomination and called
on the KMT and TPP to follow suit.

But TPP caucus leaders said they believed Xu's qualifications to be
inadequate and said that his expertise appeared to be better suited to other
positions, thus meriting a vote against him.

Ultimately, Xu received 50 votes in his favor and 61 against along party
lines.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-05 14:25:13

The Hualien County Environmental Protection Department says that a new
program designed to collect hard evidence of littering has been extremely
successful in punishing perpetrators.

Littering in the county currently incurs a fine of up to 6000 NT with the
help of new technology.

Officials explain that a new mobile surveillance system helps to provide
concrete evidence of littering to authorities and will attempt to curb the
habit.

Environmental officials note that some instances of littering take place in
very rural areas where there may be no witnesses.

But now, the new tech has been introduced to monitor areas known to be
littering hotspots, making investigations into littering significantly more
efficient.

Officials say they plan to continue to expand the program and they encourage
the public to report instances to authorities while including video evidence.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-05 14:25:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 64 points to
close the session at 40769.

The turnover was 997.6 billion NT

Posted on 2026-05-05 14:25:13

Now turning to international news...

The US has killed 2 more people in the latest attack on what they claim to be
drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.

The campaign began in September, and the US has now killed at least 188
people in the attacks.

The series of strikes have ramped up in recent weeks, showing that the
administration's aggressive measures to stop what it calls "narcoterrorism"
aren't letting up.

The US military has failed to provide evidence that any of the vessels are
actually carrying drugs.

Critics have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes.

Posted on 2026-05-05 14:25:13

German authorities say, 2 people are dead following an incident in which a
driver plowed into people in a busy shopping area.

Officials say another 3 people were seriously injured in the attack in
Leipzig, which authorities believe to be deliberate.

The driver was detained in the car and is under investigation on suspicion of
murder and attempted murder.

A motive was not immediately clear, but officials said they believe the man
acted alone and noted that rage and "psychological instability" are often
factors in such cases.

Photos from the scene showed a car with a battered front and a shattered
windshield after the incident.

Posted on 2026-05-05 13:08:13

High prosecutors are calling for continued investigation into a former
McDonald's manager who was not prosecuted following the death of an employee.

The high-profile case allegedly began when the manager assaulted a student
employee, whose mother posted about the incident online following her
daughter's suicide.

The mother said that her daughter's manager took advantage of his position
over the employee, and said that, even after resigning, her daughter still
took her own life.

The employee went to the police and filed a complaint with McDonalds, but her
mother says it was quickly dismissed and swept under the rug.

Shilin prosecutors ultimately did not prosecute the manager for lack of
evidence.

However, the High Prosecutors Office today has remanded the case to Shilin
prosecutors, citing an incomplete investigation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-05 13:08:13

Taipei Zoo is mourning the loss of a leopard cat named Xiao Mu, who passed
away earlier this month.

Keepers say Xiao Mu died on May1st at the age of 19 — making her the oldest
leopard cat the zoo had ever housed.

The zoo says she had long been managing spinal degeneration, bone spurs, and
degenerative arthritis, and had been living in a quieter rear enclosure since
2024.

Xiao Mu came to the zoo in 2018 through the Forestry and Nature Conservation
Agency's wildlife rescue and rehabilitation program, where she served as a
leopard cat conservation ambassador.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-05 13:08:13

Now turning to international news...

European leaders are looking to become more self-reliant on security issues
following a decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw troops from
Germany.

The US announced previously that 5000 troops would leave, but the US
president said the actual number would be higher while also failing to
provide any reasoning for the move.

The choice came as a surprise to many, and followed closely on the heels of
rising tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the
US/Israeli war on Iran.

British and Norweigian leaders sought to downplay the impact of the decision,
saying it provides a good reminder to the continent to step up its role in
the transatlantic political and military alliance NATO.

Tensions within NATO have mounted since the Trump administration came into
office last year warning that European allies would have to defend themselves
and Ukraine in the future.

Posted on 2026-05-05 13:08:13

Argentine President Javier Milei is restoring press access to his government
headquarters...

more than one week after his decision to block credentialed reporters from
the building.

The decision triggered backlash from lawmakers and press freedom advocates.

Journalists say now, though, that they can again enter the Casa Rosada for
the first time since mid last month.

The ban marked the latest development in a list of attacks and reprisals
against news organizations by Milei...

whose approach to the press has long been compared to that of his US
counterpart.

Posted on 2026-05-05 13:08:13

A branch of the Catholic church is expressing its concerns over Israeli
actions in Lebanon.

The council of greek bishops urged the Lebanese government and the UN to take
action to protect properties that Israel is reportedly targeting...

including civilian and religious buildings in the south of the country.

This comes after officials said that Israeli troops destroyed a convent in
the village of Yaroun.

The bishops called the destruction of buildings a "deep wound in the national
and human conscience."

Israel took control of border areas in southern Lebanon in its latest war
against Hezbollah ahead of a ceasefire on April 17 and has said it aims to
root out the militants and their infrastructure in the area.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

President Lai Ching-te is scheduled to arrive back in Taiwan in the coming
hour following his state visit to Eswatini.

Lai left Eswatini at around 6:30 yesterday evening Taiwan time.

Neither the Presidential Office or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released
details of Lai's return flight.

However, reports say he's making the trip on board a private Airbus A340-313
owned by the country's King Mswati.

That's the same aircraft he flew to the Southern African kingdom on late last
week.

The government has also not said what route Lai is taking.

But data from flight-tracking websites that has appeared online shows his
aircraft flying south from Eswatini in order to avoid airspace around the
Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

Those three countries allegedly revoked overflight permits for the
president's chartered plane to Eswatini due to pressure from China two weeks
ago.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai has instructed government agencies to coordinate
assistance for Taiwan shipping company whose vessels are stranded due to the
blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Cabinet, the directive was issues after the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs released data showing of the about 1,600 vessels from various
countries currently stranded, eight are operated by Taiwan firms.

The Cabinet says Cho has asked the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with
the foreign ministry in contacting foreign governments and Taiwan shipping
firms, to offer assistance measures to enable the vessels to resume normal
operations as soon as possible.

However, the Cabinet has not released any details concerning how such
measures could be adopted.

The government is also seeking to allay concerns over shortages of key
commodities due to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

With the Cabinet saying the government is helping manufacturers secure raw
materials for plastic bags, corn for animal feed remains stable, and fuel
costs for intercity buses, domestic shipping and domestic flights will be
frozen for three months.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

Taiwan's delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland has once
again topped the list of all participating countries.

Economic's Minister Kung Ming-hsin is leading the delegation to the May 3
through 6 event.

According to Kung, 207 representatives from 113 Taiwan companies are
participating this year, setting a new record, and that demonstrates the very
high willingness of Taiwan companies to invest in the U-S.

National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien, who is accompanying the
Taiwan delegation, says the government's Development Fund will provide
financing guarantees for Taiwan companies intending to invest in the U-S.

The government has set funding for the first phase of that financing
guarantee program for Taiwan firms investing in the U-S at approximately
50-billion U-S dollars.

The program is slated to begin later this month.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

The government says labor funds rose in the first quarter of this year by
more than 400-billion N-T, despite record monthly losses seen in March due to
global financial volatility.

According to the Bureau of Labor Funds, the funds lost 378.7-billion N-T in
March due what it's describing as "headwinds in the global financial markets
after war broke out in the Middle East."

That's the largest monthly decline on record.

The previous record loss occured in March of 2020 due to the COVID outbreak.

The Bureau of Labor Funds says funds still managed to record 434.4-billion
N-T in gains in the first quarter and March's losses were offset by the
massive gains seen in the first two months of the year.

Data show the gains in the January to March period translated into a 5.76-per
cent rate of return.

The bureau says 57-per cent of its first-quarter investments were made
overseas, while the remaining 43-per cent were in the domestic market.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

The K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party have released the results of a joint
poll that shows K-M-T Legislator Wu Tsung-hsien is the leading candidate for
Yilan County magistrate in November's local elections.

The results of the poll were released at a news conference attended by K-M-T
Vice Chair and Secretary-General Lee Chien-lung and T-P-P Secretary-General
Chou Yu-shiu.

The survey asked respondents who they would support in two scenarios against
the D-P-P's candidate Lin Kuo-chang.

In a head-to-head with Lin, Wu received 27.6-per cent support, compared with
28.9-percent for Lin, while the T-P-P's Chen Wan-hui received 21.1-per cent,
compared with 27.5-per cent for Lin.

Although the poll showed Lin leading in both results, Wu says he will work
harder to win over voters in Yilan and is calling on supporters of the
opposition alliance and centrist voters to unite and bring change to the
county.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the Sanying M-R-T Line could become
operational in the coming couple of months.

According to Hou, an application for a final inspection by the Ministry of
Transport will be submitted later this month.

If approved, trains could start running on the 14-kilometer line from Dingpu
Station in New Taipei City's Tucheng District to Yingge via Sanxia District
in June at the earliest.

The city government has said five suggestions for improvement identified
during initial inspections have all been corrected after being submitted to
the New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems.

The Sanying Line will have 12 stations.

The New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems says it is expected
to cut commute times from Sanxia and Yingge to Taipei by nearly 20-minutes.

Posted on 2026-05-05 08:12:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says rain will continue today in the north
and center - as the island continues to be affected by the first rainfall of
this year's plum rain season.

The first of the two weather fronts forecast for this week began affecting
the island on Monday.

Along with rain, the first front has also pushed temperatures down

The northeasterly winds and rain are expected to weaken tomorrow and
Thursday, giving way to sunny to partly cloudy skies across much of the
island, but mountainous areas may still see brief afternoon showers.

Temperatures are also expected to rebound.

However, another front is forecast to arrive on Friday, accompanied by
slightly stronger northeasterly winds, bringing brief showers to central,
northern, and eastern parts of the island and possible afternoon
thunderstorms to the south.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:17

Meanwhile,

The U-S State Department is describing President Lai Ching-te's visit to
Eswatini as a routine trip and is stressing that that its should not be
politicized.

The State Department called Taiwan a trusted and capable partner of the U-S
and many other countries and Taiwan's relationships with countries around the
world bring significant benefits to their citizens, including those of
Eswatini.

A State Department spokesperson also pointed out that every democratically
elected Taiwan president has visited countries with which Taiwan has
diplomatic relations ... and "Lai's predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen visited
Eswatini in 2023 and 2018."

The statements came after the U-S State Department was asked whether
Washington helped make Lai's trip possible.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:13

investment

President Lai Ching-te used the last day of his visit to Eswatini to visit
the Strategic Fuel Reserve Facility and Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park
.

Lai said the two cooperative projects are seen to be the largest and most
strategically significant since the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the two sides...

he said they mark a crucial milestone in the next stage of Taiwan-Eswatini
cooperation.

The president said Taiwan remains a reliable and resilient partner for
Eswatini and is a major gateway for Taiwanese businesses seeking to expand
into the African continent... and he called on more private Taiwan companies
to invest in Eswatini and cultivate talent there as part of his
administration's efforts to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The Presidential Office says Lai was briefed on the projects by officials
from the Overseas Investment & Development Corporation and Shih-Hsi
Engineering Consultants.

The president is expected to land at Taoyuan International Airport in about
an hour.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:17

The K-M-T's legislative caucus is slated to meet tomorrow to discuss the
Cabinet's special defense budget bill.

The meeting takes place before a new round of cross-party negotiations on the
issue.

Legislative party caucuses failed to reach a consensus on the Cabinet's
1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget bill last Monday.

Those talks centered on the procurement items listed in the draft bill.

Lawmakers have repeatedly failed to reach any agreements on specific
procurement items and a ceiling for the budget.

Agreements have only been reached on two basic administrative provisions so
far...

They included that the Ministry of National Defense would be required to
submit a special report to the legislature on the progress and performance of
projects that are included in the special defense act ..

.. and that the special defense budget be in effect from the date of its
promulgation until December 31 of 2033.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:17

Two second-generation satellites developed by Hon Hai has been launched
successfully into orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The low-Earth orbit satellites PEARL-1A and PEARL-2B have entered their
intended orbits for expected on-orbit mission durations of between one to
three years.

Hon Hai says the PEARL project demonstrates its positioning in the space
industry... its project team accumulated extensive experience from orbital
operations of the first generation mission through receiving stations in
Taiwan and Europe.

The satellites have been primarily designed for payload technology
verification in communication and space science.

The second-generation satellites are equipped with Ka-band inter-satellite
link payloads that enable broadband communication with ground stations, as
well as peer-to-peer link verification between the two satellites.

Hon Hai co-developed the satellites with the National Central University.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:22

The International Table Tennis Federation is raising concern after a player
from Taiwan was allegedly inappropriately touched by security personnel at
the World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London.

According to the federation, World Table Tennis and the local organizing
committee were also "deeply troubled by the account of a female athlete who
reported experiencing inappropriate physical contact during an entry security
check."

The three organizations have issued a joint statement saying they have "been
in contact with the athlete's team to provide assistance and opened a
"comprehensive fact-finding and safeguarding investigation" into the
incident.

The statement was issued after Taiwan team coach Zheng Jia-qi took to social
media to say one of the team's players had been sexually harassed and blocked
from entering the tournament venue before the team's 3-1 victory over South
Korea on Saturday.

Zheng says the team reported the incident and asked that tournament
organizers "give a clear response" and provide updates on the investigation's
findings.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:24

The Tainan District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a man for allegedly
slapping a part-time Chinese Professional Baseball League worker during a
game in Tainan in March.

Prosecutors say the man has been charged with assault and publicly insulting
another person using violence.

The incident occurred at the Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadium in
Tainan on March 27.

The man slapped a part-time C-P-B-L staff member on the left cheek after
being asked to return to his seat to keep the stadium's aisle clear.

The C-P-B-L staff member sustained minor injuries in the assault, which was
witnessed by multiple people at the scene.

Prosecutors say the assault was captured on surveillance footage and recorded
by witnesses, and the man admitted to the assault during police questioning.

The C-P-B-L issued a statement condemning the assault and banned the man from
attending future games.

The man was also fired for his behavior by his employer.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:28

The Ministry of Finance is reporting a sharp increase in the number of people
opting to use mobile phone apps to file their individual income tax returns.

Yesterday marked the first day of this year's tax filing season.

More than 1.08-million returns were completed by Monday afternoon and about
65-per cent of that total were filed via mobile devices.

That marks a significant increase from last year's average of 43-per cent.

Officials say the figure reflect efforts to promote mobile filing, allowing
people to avoid long lines and complete the process from home.

The government is offering a nationwide lottery - with a top prize of 50,000
N-T for those who file their taxes via mobile phone apps before the June 1
deadline.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:30

And,

A local movie production company has released a trailer for an English
language sci-fi horror film.

"Mr. Monster" was produced by Killing Angel Film.

The official trailer for the movie has been released on the YouTube channel
of local production company Vie Vision Pictures.

The fully trailer features Chinese subtitles and teases a plot surrounding a
game that determines the survival of its participants.

The movie stars Taiwanese American actor Andrew Chau and French Taiwanese
actress Camille Chalons.

"Mr. Monster" is directed by Taiwanese Canadian filmmaker Simon Hung and
based on his short film entry to the 65th Cannes Film Festival in 2012.

It is slated for released in Taiwan May 22.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:31

Russia’s Defense Ministry declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine the
coming weekend.

Moscow says it is marking the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany
in World War II, but it threatened to strike back at Kyiv if it tries to
disrupt the Victory Day festivities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in response said his country would
observe a truce beginning at 12 a.m. on Wednesday... he also said Ukraine
would respond in kind to Russia’s actions from that moment on.

He did not put an end date on the truce.

Russia prepares to celebrate its most important secular holiday with a
traditional military parade on Moscow’s Red Square pared down due to what
officials say are concerns over possible Ukrainian attacks.

Ukraine has been launching drone attacks deep inside Russia to counter its
more than 4-year-old invasion.

Posted on 2026-05-05 07:03:32

Philippine officials say nearly 200,000 people in 124 villages in the
northeastern Philippines were evacuated after Mayon volcano spewed plumes of
ash... and after huge lava deposits cascaded down.

No deaths or injuries were reported... but many were caught by surprise after
massive plumes of ash billowed from Mayon volcano.

Huge deposits of lava on its southwestern slope suddenly cascaded down in a
pyroclastic flow in an avalanche of hot rocks, ash and gas.

Officials were told to ensure evacuation centers were adequately ventilated
given the sweltering summer heat.

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