ICRT

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:13

The Tai-Ex broke more records after breaking through 48,000 point mark this
morning.

The main board added 477-points in early trading to reach 48,218 -- setting a
new intraday record.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rose 15 N-T to 2,525 N-T, after briefly
touching a new record high of 2,535 N-T.

However, other heavyweight tech stocks were mixed in early trading - as
MediaTek rose, but Hon Hai and Delta Electronics both lost ground from
Monday's close.

The electronics sector index rose 0.6-per cent.

The rise came after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose by just over
2-per cent overnight to reach new historic high.

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:14

The Ministry of National Defense is reporting six Chinese Air Force sorties
operating near Taiwan between 6AM Monday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, three aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan strait
and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern air defense identification
zones.

Seven Chinese Navy vessels and seven official maritime patrol vessels were
also spotted operating in Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

The latest incursions come as the Ministry of National Defense is holding a
five-day combat readiness drill through Friday.

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:14

And,

The Central Weather Administration has issued heat warnings for parts of the
island again today.

A "red" heat alert is in effect for Pingtung - where the mercury could reach
38-degrees for three consecutive days.

"Orange" heat alerts are in effect for New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County,
Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Tainan and Hualien Count - where the mercury could
reach 36-degrees for three consecutive days.

While "yellow" heat alerts have been issued for Keelung, Taichung, Chiayi and
Kaohsiung - where the daily maximum temperature today could reach 36-degrees.

All of the heat alerts are currently slated to remain in effect through this
afternoon.

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:16

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned.

The move paves the way for frontrunner Andy Burnham to become Britain's
seventh leader in 10 years as early as next month.

In an emotional speech on the steps of his Downing Street office in London,
Starmer said ‌he had listened to his governing Labour Party and realized that
he was no longer the man who should lead it into a national election - which
is due in 2029.

Starmer says he will ask the Labour Party's organizing committee to set out a
timeline for a leadership contest to find his replacement.

Nominations will be open on July 9, close by mid-July, and if there is a
contest, a new leader will be in place by September.

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:17

The United States has authorized Iranian oil sales in a move that eases
decades-old sanctions.

It comes as Washington in ‌pushing toward a final peace deal with Tehran in
return for commitments on nuclear inspections and free transit through the
Strait of Hormuz.

The general license was announced by the Treasury Department and allows the
sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin
through August 21.

The license says Iranian oil can be imported into the U-S when necessary to
complete its sale, delivery or offloading.

The U-S has not meaningfully imported Iranian oil since Washington imposed
measures after the 1979 revolution.

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:18

The number of confirmed cases of Ebola in Congo has now reached more more
than 1,000.

Congo's government says the confirmed death toll currently stands at 254 more
than a month after the declaration of the outbreak of the new rare strain of
the disease.

The speed of its spread across three provinces of eastern Congo has prompted
warnings from African health experts that the outbreak could eventually
surpass the epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people across West Africa
from 2014 to 2016.

A much smaller number of cases have also been reported in neighbouring
Uganda.

Posted on 2026-06-23 11:09:18

Authorities in France say at least 18 people have died, including two
children left in a hot car, as a heatwave hang over Europe and broke
temperature records in several cities on Monday.

The temperature in Bordeaux in France's western wine country rose to
41.9-degrees on Monday - breaking a record set last August.

Italy on Monday issued heatwave red alerts for 12 cities.

Britain's national weather forecaster says a four-day heatwave there could
push temperatures above 39-degrees in some places, easily breaking the June
record of 35.6-degrees set in 1957 and 1976.

While in Spain's traditionally cooler north, the temperature reached
40-degrees - more than double historic average for June 22.

Posted on 2026-06-23 08:15:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of National Defense is scrapping its previous dual-track
reservist training system, and all reservists are now required to undergo a
14-day intensive training program.

The military launched the dual-track reservist training system in 2022.

It allowed reservists to choose between the traditional program of five to
seven days of training conducted four times over eight years or a more
intensive 14-day program conducted twice over the same period.

Defense officials at the time said the move was intended to improve
reservists' combat readiness and ensure that Taiwan's reserve forces could
more effectively support regular troops in defending the country amid
increased Chinese military activities around Taiwan.

However, the defense ministry says reservists have no longer been allowed to
choose between the two training options since January.

Under the current system, all reservists are required to undergo 14 days of
training and a reservist may be called up for a maximum of four two-week
training sessions over eight years.

The defense ministry also says it's still reviewing relevant laws to
determine whether it would be feasible to require discharged female military
personnel to participate in reservist training alongside their male
counterparts.

Only male veterans are currently required to participate in regular reservist
training.

Posted on 2026-06-23 08:15:13

The Ministry of Health says cancer remained the leading cause of death here
in Taiwan in 2025 - maintaining that trend for the 44th consecutive year.

According to the ministry, data shows cancer, heart disease, and pneumonia
remained the top three causes of death last year.

That was followed by cerebrovascular disease and diabetes.

Cancer claimed 54,838 lives in 2025 accounting for 27.5-per cent of all
deaths and the cancer mortality rate was 234.9 deaths per 100,000 people.

The average annual increase of cancer deaths over the past decade has been
1.5-per cent.

A total of 199,576 people died in Taiwan last year, down 1,807 from the
previous year, resulting in a mortality rate of 854.7 per 100,000 people - a
decline of 0.6-per cent from the previous year.

The overall number of deaths fell for a third straight year.

Posted on 2026-06-23 08:15:13

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Administration says it has discovered a
new barrier lake in a mountainous area of Hualien.

According to the agency, the newly formed lake is close to the Wanli River
and 7-kilometers north of where the Matai’an barrier lake breach disaster
occurred last year.

It is located in an deep in the mountains in an area not accessible by road.

It's some 22-kilometers from Wanrung Village.

Administration officials say they are now closely monitoring the site and an
emergency response team has been formed to check water levels and the
possibility of a breach if the area is battered by heavy rains.

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Administration has been closely
surveying the area since a barrier lake on the Matai'an Creek overflowed in
September of last year.

That overflow sent some 60-million tons of water and debris through Guangfu
Township - flooding over 1,600 homes and leaving 19 people dead.

Posted on 2026-06-23 08:15:13

new high

The Financial Supervisory Commission says data show local banks exposure to
countries incorporated in the government's New Southbound Policy hit
2.25060-trillion N-T at the end of May.

According to the commission, that figure was an increase of 21.1-billion N-T
from April and saw banks' exposure to the countries hitting a new record
high.

The F-S-C says cumulative growth from the January to May period stood at
251.2-billion N-T and that figure was more than three times the full-year
growth target of 80-billion N-T.

Broken down by New Southbound Policy markets, local banks exposure to
Australia recorded the largest increase at 88.5-billion N-T.

That was followed by Singapore at 54.8-billion N-T and Vietnam at 50-billion
N-T.

Local banks exposure to India hit 30.1-billion N-T.

The F-S-C says local banks are attributing the strong growth to strengthening
regional economic activity and rising demand for corporate loans.

Posted on 2026-06-23 08:15:13

C-T-B-C Brothers shortstop Chiang Kun-yu has been voted the most popular
all-star of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

The vote came as the league officially announced the rosters for its 2026
All-Star Game weekend.

According to the C-P-B-L, Chiang received 579,003 online votes.

That makes him the league's most popular player for the second consecutive
year and the third time overall after previously earning the honor in 2023
and 2025.

The C-P-B-L has also announced that Rakuten Monkeys manager Tseng Hao-jiu
will be head coach of the fan-voted Team Star, while Uni-President 7-Eleven
Lions coach Kao Chih-kang will lead Team Taiwan during the All-Star Game
weekend.

Team Taiwan will be built around players eligible for the 2026 Asian
Professional Baseball Championship and is expected to serve as a preview of
the squad that will represent Taiwan at the tournament later this year.

The two teams will play two games at the Taipei Dome on July 18 and 19.

It will be the third consecutive year that the event will be held at the
indoor venue.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:13

The Ministry of National Defense's five-day "Immediate Combat Readiness
Exercise" is underway - with combat units moving to designated defensive
positions across the country in preparation for repelling invading enemy
forces.

The defense ministry says the week long exercise is aimed at ensuring troops
are prepared to respond swiftly should China escalate its gray-zone
activities into a full-scale military attack.

The exercise is intended to help military units at all levels strengthen
their ability to transition more quickly from peacetime to wartime
operations.

The "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise" was first launched in March of last
year.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:14

The Ministry of Health says the Lai administration has no plans legalize
euthanasia... instead, it wants to improve long-term care and palliative
services.

The statement comes amid renewed public debate over assisted dying and after
former Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je took to YouTube this past
weekend to make the case to legalise assisted dying.

In that video, Ko talked about a man in his 40s, who, along with his older
sister, had a genetic neurological disease, and decided to travel to
Switzerland in May to undergo assisted dying.

Ko said the case highlights not only the debate over euthanasia but also
whether Taiwan's long-term care system is sufficient for patients with severe
illnesses.

The health ministry is defending the government's decision not to consider
legalizing euthanasia by saying euthanasia aims to end a patient's life to
relieve suffering, while palliative care seeks to relieve suffering without
ending life.

The ministry said any future review on the matter will focus on better
integrating palliative care, patient autonomy and long-term care services,
including daily living support, symptom control, pain relief and caregiver
assistance, rather than legalizing euthanasia.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:14

A delegation from Paraguay's Alto Parana Department is visiting Taiwan this
week for talks on trade, technology and public health development.

The delegation led by Provincial Council President Gustavo Soria and includes
the council's first political secretary and a provincial councilor.

The group is scheduled to meet with members of the Taipei City Council and
the Yilan County Government during their four-day trip.

They will also visit the Department of Foreign Trade, the National Health
Insurance Administration and the International Cooperation and Development
Fund.

Alto Parana Department is hub for Paraguay's foreign trade, and a major
business location for Taiwan companies in the country, as its home to the
Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park.

The foreign ministry says the Lai administration is hoping that more Taiwan
businesses can expand into Paraguay's market.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:15

A man suspected of carrying out a knife attack on C-T-B-C Brothers' Passion
Sisters cheerleading team member, Wang Ching-wen is now in detention.

The 52 year old man was picked up after the Shilin District Court approved a
request for a detention order submitted by the Shihlin District Prosecutors'
Office.

The court says it accepted the request based on strong evidence of attempted
murder and assault, as well as the risk that he could reoffend.

Wang, who is known by her stage name Wen Wen, was taking part in a private
photo shoot at a photo studio in Taipei on Saturday when she was attacked by
a man with a knife.

She sustained a 5-centimeter wound to her neck and is in stable condition
following surgery at a local hospital.

Prosecutors say the suspect has a criminal record for theft, regularly
attended related events and spent large sums of money on the cheerleading
team's merchandise.

The motive for the attack remains under investigation.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:15

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan‑an has announced plans to begin trials of autonomous
buses.

Chiang says city's autonomous bus initiative will be rolled out in three
phases, the first of which is scheduled for later this year and will involve
trials of autonomous shuttle services in enclosed areas such as Taipei Zoo.

Chiang says the the city will launch an AI-powered autonomous vehicle
demonstration zone at Beitou-Shilin Technology Park in the first half of next
year ..

.. which will see an initial use of unmanned cleaning and watering vehicles
before passenger shuttle but services are introduced.

The third phase is set for the second half of next year.

That will involve pilot operations of autonomous buses on 15 dedicated bus
lanes across Taipei and after upgrades to road infrastructure, traffic
signals and sensor systems.

No details concerning who will be manufacturing or supplying the autonomous
vehicles to the city for the planned trials has been released.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:15

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Mekkhala is likely to come
closest to Taiwan on Thursday - when residents of western and northeastern
parts of the island can expect to see localized rain or thundershowers.

The storm is currently located some 750-kilometers east-southeast of Eluanbi
at the island's southern tip and is moving in a northwesterly direction at
15-kilometers-an-hour.

Typhoon Mekkhala still has a radius of 180-kilometers but its strengthening
... and is now packing sustained wind speed of 183-kilometers-an-hour, with
gusts of up to 226-kilometers-an-hour.

According to the weather administration's forecast center, Mekkhala will
still between 400 and 500-kilomters away from Taiwan when it comes closest to
the island on Thursday.

Mekkhala is forecast to move in a northeasterly direction toward Japan from
Friday and will weaken as it moves northward.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:17

And,

Taiwan's Tseng Jing-hua has won Best Lead Actor at the 2026 Global OTT Awards
in Busan, South Korea, for his performance in the Netflix distributed
coming-of-age romantic thriller "Had I Not Seen the Sun."

Tseng beat out other nominees in the category including Hyun Bin and Kim
Seon-ho of South Korea, Ryoma Takeuchi of Japan and Song Weilong of China to
take the top prize.

The Taiwan fantasy series "Agent From Above" won the prize for Best Visual
Effects at the annual streaming-content awards.

Taiwan Creative Content Agency chair and deputy culture minister, Sue Wang
says the participation of Taiwan actors reflects the strength and resilience
of the island's film and television industry.

The government is now hoping to bring more homegrown talent onto the global
stage.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:17

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked law enforcers to boost
security in schools and public areas... after two students opened fire in a
high school.

The students were armed with pistols and were students of the San Jose
National High School in Tacloban city, where the mid-morning shooting
happened.

An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the shooting in the
government-run school, which has more than 1,500 students.

The suspects, who were close friends, said in initial questioning that they
were bullied in school.

Although guns are prolific in the country, school shootings are relatively
rare in the Philippines.

Posted on 2026-06-23 07:00:17

North Korean leader Kim Jong ‌Un said exercising the country's position as
a nuclear weapons state is the only way to cope with an unpredictable and
complicated global security ‌situation.

The comments were made at a Central Committee meeting of the ruling
Workers' Party and reported by state media.

North Korea is loooking to permanently strengthen its nuclear forces and
frame its nuclear status as irreversible.

Recent developments—including advanced weapon tests and expanded fissile
material production—underscore Pyongyang’s accelerating military capabilities
and reinforce its narrative of regime survival and strategic deterrence.

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:06:13

The DPP is pushing for the opposition to support the Executive Yuan's special
budget for drones.

The legislative caucus says today that the budget aims to protect Taiwan's
national security and benefits local industries.

They're urging the TPP and KMT to support the budget, adding that they hope
it will be a priority for legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu upon his return from
the US.

DPP Caucus Whip Tsai Chi Chang says, he believes the US is aware of the draft
bill, adding that Han make take the trip as an opportunity to express the
KMT's stance on the matter.

Meanwhile Caucus leader Fan Yun stated that the bill aims to invest in
Taiwan's drone industry through large-scale, long-term contracts.

The Executive Yuan passed the proposal with a budget ceiling of 210 billion
NT for spending through 2031 after a previous defense spending proposal had
drone funding cut out by the legislature.

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan previously said that she would be in favor of the
KMT putting forward their own proposal for drone spending.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:06:13

A delegation from Paraguay's Alto Paraná Department is visiting Taiwan to
learn about trade, technology and public health development.

The group is led by departmental council president Gustavo Soria.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the delegation arrived yesterday and is
visiting until Thursday.

Officials are scheduled to visit Taipei City Council, Yilan County Government
and Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration.

They will also visit the International Trade Administration, TaiwanICDF,
Hsinchu Science Park and the National Palace Museum.

Alto Paraná is home to the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park.

The ministry says Taiwan is using public-private cooperation to support
industrial development in Paraguay and help Taiwanese businesses expand
overseas.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:06:13

A temporary YouBike service in Hualien's Guangfu Township will end on June 30
after helping meet post-disaster transport needs.

The service was launched after the Matai'an Creek barrier lake disaster
following Typhoon Ragasa in September last year.

Hualien County and YouBike set up 10 stations and 150 public bicycles last
December.

YouBike says the project has completed its phased mission.

The county says a wider public bicycle system is now in the bidding process.

Tourism Department Director Yu Ming-hsun (余明勲) says the county plans 150
stations and about 1-thousand-500 bicycles.

The first phase will cover northern Hualien this year.

The county says Guangfu service could be restored first if local demand is
urgent.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:06:14

Now turning to international news...'

British prime minister Keir Starmer says, he'll step down as the leader of
the ruling Labor Party...

but will remain caretaker prime minister until a successor is chosen.

Starmer made the remarks outside 10 Downing Street after facing weeks of
pressure from others within Labor following losses in a local election.

But the final nail in the coffin was intraparty rival Andy Burnham's special
election win...

with Burnham saying he would challenge starmer for leadership of the party-
and country.

Starmer's move paves the way for the UK to have its seventh prime minister in
just over 10 years.

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:06:14

Now turning to international news...

An ancient city on the coast of Lebanon is trying to recover following weeks
of Israeli airstrikes.

A new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is in effect, but past
ceasefires have failed.

Israel has killed over 4000 people in Lebanon since March...

while militant group Hezbollah has clashed with Israeli troops making their
deepest incursion into southern Lebanon in over 25 years.

Tyre, a city normally busy with tourists, is full of displaced people, many
of whom lost their homes and livelihoods due to Israeli attacks.

The city's heritage sites and environment have suffered significant damage.

Hospitals have been hit, leaving medical staff feeling unsafe.

Despite ongoing negotiations, long-term stability remains uncertain as
tensions persist in the region.

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:06:14

The war in Iran has helped reshape the global electric vehicle market, giving
Chinese automakers an opening across the developing world as fuel prices
surge.

However, it's not clear if those countries can build charging networks fast
enough to support a wave of EV imports.

Think tanks report that global exports of Chinese EVs have reached new
heights since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

As fuel prices have risen, the incentive to opt for EVs has risen.

While the US and some other wealthy countries are limiting imports of EVs
from China, drivers in Southeast Asia and East Africa have seen shipments
surge.

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:04:13

Taiwan's electrical machinery maker, TECO is expanding its green energy
business in Australia through new solar and energy storage projects.

The company says its Australian unit will work with Billion Watts and Tun
Green Power.

The partners will jointly develop the Seaspray solar and battery storage
project in Victoria.

They will also take part in a second distributed energy investment portfolio.

TECO says the Seaspray project will include solar capacity of 5-point-48
megawatt-peak and storage of 11 megawatt-hours.

The company holds a 45 percent stake in the Australian joint venture.

TECO says the projects show its shift from motors and power equipment into
renewable energy.

The company says it will keep expanding in Australia's renewable energy and
storage markets.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:04:15

Taiwan travelers heading to Japan can get more yen for their money, as the
Japanese currency keeps weakening.

Bank of Taiwan rates showed the yen's cash selling price at 0-point-1991 NT
this morning.

That is lower than the recent high of 0-point-2091 NT on February 12.

A 100-thousand NT travel budget could buy about 502-thousand Japanese yen
today.

That is about 24-thousand Japanese yen more than in February.

The difference is equal to about three adult tickets to Tokyo Disneyland.

Foreign exchange bankers say the yen has fallen more sharply than the New
Taiwan dollar.

They still suggest exchanging money in batches, instead of changing all
travel funds at once.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-22 17:04:15

"Toy Story 5" has topped 91-point-2-million NT in its opening weekend box
office in Taiwan.

The Disney film marks the franchise's 30th anniversary.

Its story pits digital devices against traditional toys.

The film also reflects family debates about screen time and digital
entertainment.

The distributor says the movie continues the series' humor, adventure and
emotional appeal.

It also highlights real interaction, imagination, companionship and play.

A Disney executive says the film set a new box office record in Taiwan.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-22 16:20:13

Taipei city's Senior Card program will be upgraded starting in July, with
monthly credits increasing from 480 points to 600 points.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said cardholders will be able to use their credits
to purchase daily necessities at supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies
and farmers' associations in the second half of next year.

Chiang said the city will speed up the rollout of the second-generation
cards, and the new cards will allow unused credits to roll over.

Beginning September 1st, the first round of Double Ninth Festival cash gifts
for seniors will be deposited directly into recipients' bank accounts.

Between September 7th and 18th, recipients can also load the money onto their
EasyCards by tapping them at Taipei Metro stations and major convenience
stores.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-22 16:19:13

Legislative Speaker Han Guo- yu has begun a visit to the United States by
leading a cross-party delegation of lawmakers.

Speaking at Taoyuan International Airport last night, Han said the trip is at
the invitation of the bipartisan Taiwan caucuses in both chambers of the U.S.
Congress.

He said the delegation's top priority is parliamentary diplomacy - exchanging
views with U.S. lawmakers on national security, constituency governance, and
ways to deepen cooperation between the two sides.

As this year marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S., Han also stressed that
the delegation will extend its warmest birthday congratulations to the U.S.
government and people.

Han's visit will also include a visit to the American state of Arizona where
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's factories are located.

Noting that T-S-M-C has been investing in the U.S. for nearly five years, the
Speaker said the delegation plans to tour the facilities and speak with its
employees.

Han also pointed out and that they'll return to Taiwan on the inaugural
direct flight between Taiwan and Washington D.C., operated by E-V-A Air.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-22 16:19:13

Taipei city's Senior Card program will be upgraded starting in July, with
monthly credits increasing from 480 points to 600 points.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said cardholders will be able to use their credits
to purchase daily necessities at supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies
and farmers' associations in the second half of next year.

Chiang said the city will speed up the rollout of the second-generation
cards, and the new cards will allow unused credits to roll over.

Beginning September 1st, the first round of Double Ninth Festival cash gifts
for seniors will be deposited directly into recipients' bank accounts.

Between September 7th and 18th, recipients can also load the money onto their
EasyCards by tapping them at Taipei Metro stations and major convenience
stores.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-22 16:19:13

Authorities say confirmed cases of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo have
reached 1,003, including 254 deaths.

Congo’s Ministry of Health said a total of 100 people have recovered in the
outbreak concentrated in the Ituri province since it was declared on May 15.

The Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no vaccines
or treatment, has been the worst ever after just a month.

Officials admit there could be far more cases they still don’t know about and
that the peak of the outbreak is still ahead.

Posted on 2026-06-22 16:19:13

Police say 3 tons of cocaine found on a property on Sydney’s outskirts is
Australia’s largest ever seizure of the drug.

A law enforcement statement said today that the drug was found June 19th in
plastic tubs buried in underground bunkers hidden beneath three shipping
containers on a semi-rural property.

Two Sydney men aged 21 and 25 were arrested at the property and charged with
possessing a commercial quantity of an illicit drug.

They face potential sentences of life in prison.

Police said the cocaine found in Sydney landed by boat at Midge Point in the
sparsely-populated Queensland tropics.

They allege that a Sydney organized crime group transported the drug by road
to the city, a distance of 1,800 kilometers.

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

Taipei police say they cracked down hard on drugged driving over the Dragon
Boat Festival holiday, catching 56 cases in three days.

The Taipei City Police Department says officers ramped up checkpoints,
testing drivers who showed signs of impairment or whose cars smelled
suspicious.

Officials declared a "zero tolerance" policy on drugged driving, with Mayor
Chiang Wan-an echoing that sentiment at a meeting ahead of the holiday.

The push comes after a legal change in May allowed for preventive detention
in drugged driving cases.

Police say they're now working closely with prosecutors to trace drug sources
and crack down on the rising use of etomidate-laced "zombie vapes..."

while also equipping officers with more drug test kits.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

Cancer remains Taiwan's leading cause of death for the 44th year in a row.

Behind cancer were heart disease and pneumonia.

That's according to new figures from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The data also shows that nearly 200,000 people died in Taiwan last year...

marking a slight decrease for the third consecutive year.

Suicide moved up to 10th place, while COVID-19 dropped significantly from
14th to 19th on the list.

Within cancer deaths specifically, lung, liver, and colorectal cancers have
stayed the top three killers for 22 straight years.

However, health officials flagged a new trend...

noting that death rates from lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian
cancer all rose compared to the previous year, even as the mean death toll
has declined overall.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

Taiwan's game software industry saw revenue jump nearly 50 percent in five
years, as stay-at-home habits and digital leisure boosted demand.

The Ministry of Finance says revenue reached 71-billion NT in 2025, up 48.7
percent from 2020.

Game software publishing recorded the fastest growth, with revenue more than
doubling over the same period.

The ministry says game publishers saw the strongest growth...

...while programming and design firms faced higher costs and tougher
competition.

The industry remains concentrated in Taipei, New Taipei and Taichung, because
of talent, capital and business clusters.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

Asian stocks are mixed today, with Japan and Korea trading higher, while Hong
Kong lost ground.

Taiwan shares were strongly up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 1276
points to close the session at 47741.

The turnover was 1.441 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

Now turning to international news...

police in the Philippines say that 2 people opened fire in a high school in
the central city of Tacloban.

They killed 3 and injured 5 more people.

Two suspects were taken into custody, one of whom is a student at the high
school.

Police investigators are looking into what sparked the shooting in the
government-run school, which has more than 1,500 students.

Police also deployed forces to beef up security.

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

Political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella has managed to secure a narrow
lead in Colombia's presidential runoff election.

With almost all votes counted, he has overtaken progressive lawmaker Iván
Cepeda by one percentage point, taking 49.7% of the vote to Cepeda's 48.7%.

However, election officials have not formally declared a winner, and Cepeda,
along with incumbent President Gustavo Petro have vowed to challenge the
results.

De la Espriella, nicknamed "The Tiger," is a lawyer and businessman who has
been endorsed by US Presdient Donald Trump.

He campaigned on a tough-on-crime approach, promising to build mega-prisons
and end Petro's peace negotiations with armed groups.

A victory for de la Espriella would effectively be an indictment of Petro and
Cepeda's more "pro-dialogue" stance.

Posted on 2026-06-22 14:25:13

An explosion in Qatar has injured at least 54 people.

Another 18 are currently missing following the blast at the Ras Laffan
Industrial Area.

Ras Laffan is a key natural gas export terminal that was targeted by Iranian
munitions strikes earlier this year, shutting the plant down for several
months.

As the war began to settle down, Qatar attempted to restart its natural gas
infrastructure.

However, the restart sparked an explosion and subsequent fire at the Barzan
facility

The plant in Barzan had a production capacity of nearly 1.4 billion cubic
feet of gas each day, which was used for powering desalination and generating
electricity.

The blast is likely to cause more chaos for global energy markets,
particularly as Qatar remains one of the world's top natural gas producers.

Posted on 2026-06-22 13:07:13

Taipei is planning to roll out self-driving buses in three phases, with the
first phase starting in the closed grounds of the Taipei Zoo.

It'll be followed by a trial period in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, and
finally on 15 dedicated bus lanes in the second half of next year.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced today that the city will introduce the program
with the goal of making Taipei a major testbed for autonomous vehicles.

The Mayor said the first phase, to begin this year, will see driverless
shuttle buses tested in closed areas such as the zoo.

And then it'll advance to unmanned street-cleaning and water-spraying
vehicles before moving on to passenger shuttle services at the Beitou-Shilin
Technology Park.

The third phase will involve trial runs of autonomous buses on 15 dedicated
bus lanes across Taipei.

Chiang said the city will first upgrade road infrastructure, traffic signals,
and sensor systems.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-22 13:07:13

11 people have been injured in a bus accident in Taoyuan.

The tour bus and military minibus collided on a section of National Freeway 1
this morning.

The accident occureed on the southbound lanes of the Yangmei Elevated Section
of freeway in Guishan.

Firefighters say that first responders arrived to find the driver of the
military minibus trapped inside the vehicle.

They also determined that two people needed immediate medical attention,
while four others were moderately injured.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-06-22 13:07:13

In international news,

China has announced sanctions on 10 US defense companies.

The move is in response to a recent U.S. decision that bars some leading
Chinese tech companies from defense contracts.

China's Commerce Ministry said today that exporters will be blocked from
selling "dual-use" items to the sanctioned U.S. firms, which include military
drone makers and some involved in rare earth mining.

Such items have both military and non-military applications.

The ministry states this action is to safeguard national security and counter
the U.S. government's expansion of its list of Chinese military companies.

The U.S. Defense Department recently added several Chinese tech firms to its
list, preventing them from securing U.S. military contracts.

Separately, China's Finance Ministry said that government entities would be
prohibited from buying products from 46 US companies, including Lockheed
Martin and Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-22 13:07:13

In the U.K., expectations are growing that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will
announce his resignation soon, possibly today.

Pressure from his Labour Party has been mounting after intraparty rival Andy
Burnham's victory last week for a seat in Parliament.

Burnham aims to challenge Starmer for the leadership of the party and the
country.

Many Labour lawmakers are urging Starmer to announce a timetable for his
departure to avert a power struggle.

Discontent with Starmer within Labour's ranks has grown with a sluggish
economy and political missteps hammering the government's popularity.

In contrast to missteps on the domestic front, Starmer has won praise for his
international role, notably in rallying European support for Ukraine in its
fight against Russia's invasion, and working to mitigate the economic and
political turmoil unleashed by the US/Israeli war in Iran.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-22 13:07:13

In Australia, police say 2.7 metric tons of cocaine found on a property on
Sydney’s outskirts is Australia’s largest ever seizure of the drug.

A law enforcement statement issued today said the drug was found June 19 in
plastic tubs buried in underground bunkers hidden beneath three shipping
containers on a semirural property in a Sydney suburb.

The shipping containers had false floors that provided access to the cocaine,
which police estimate has a street value of 816 million Australian dollars,
or 18.1 billion NT.

Two Sydney men, aged 21 and 25, were arrested at the property and charged
with possessing a commercial quantity of an illicit drug.

They face potential sentences of life in prison.

Australians pay some of the world’s highest prices for cocaine, which makes
Australia a lucrative market for drug traffickers.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-22 08:17:13

C-P-C has cut gasoline and diesel prices ending an 11-week run of leaving its
retail fuel prices unchanged due military conflicts in the Middle East.

The price cuts see gasoline declining by 1 N-T per liter and diesel falling
by 0.7 N-T per liter - with C-P-C saying the move reflects reduced upward
pressure on international energy prices.

The move means that 92 octane unleaded costs 31.4 N-T per liter, while the
price of premium diesel has dropped to at 30.3 N-T a liter at the pump for
this week.

Posted on 2026-06-22 08:17:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration has issued heat warnings for much of
Taiwan today - as it's forecasting highs of up to 36-degrees ahead of Typhoon
Mekkhala's closest approach to the island on Thursday.

"Orange" heat alerts are in effect for New Taipei, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin,
Tainan, Pingtung and Hualien - where the mercury could reach 36-degrees for
three consecutive days.

While "yellow" heat alerts have been issued for Keelung, Taoyuan, Taichung,
Chiayi and Kaohsiung - where the daily maximum temperature could reach
36-degrees today.

All of the heat alerts are currently slated to remain in effect through this
afternoon.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:13

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is leading a cross-party delegation of
lawmakers to the U-S this week for a six-day trip.
Han said the trip was made possible through an invitation from a
Taiwan-friendly caucus in the U-S Congress.

Han says the main focus of the trip is to promote closer Taiwan-US exchanges
through "parliamentary diplomacy."

The delegation consists of Han and seven other lawmakers, including three
from the K-M-T, one from the Taiwan People's Party, and three from the D-P-P.

Reports say the group's itinerary will begin with a visit to TSMC's Arizona
and a banquet with overseas Taiwanese while in Phoenix.

The group will then head to Washington, D.C., to meet with U-S senators,
members of the House of Representatives and senior U-S government
officials...

They are also scheduled to attend a banquet hosted by Taiwan's representative
to the United States, Alexander Yui.

The delegation is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Friday aboard EVA Airways'
inaugural direct flight from Washington, D.C. to Taoyuan International
Airport - which Han said reflects deepening bilateral ties.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:14

The Ministry of National Defense is set to hold a five-day combat readiness
drill this week.

Defense officials say the drill are part of its modernization plans to shift
its training focus to more realistic exercises simulating war, away from
set-piece events.

The military has reportedly begun basing some of its drills on a scenario in
which China suddenly turns one of its regular exercises around the island
into an actual attack.

The "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise" begins today and runs until Friday.

The defense ministry is describing the drill as part of annual training plans
as part of joint operations for the armed forces.

They say the main objective is to train units at all levels to become
familiar with combat practices and the battlefield environment during the
readiness deployment phase.

Defense officials have also said the exercise will also help to strengthen
rapid peacetime-to-wartime transitions and priority deployments... with
"actual troops, on actual terrain, in ‌real time, using actual equipment, and
through actual implementation".

This year's Han Kuang live first exercises are expected to take place in
August.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:15

The Ministry of National Defense is amending the law on mandatory military
service by calling for non-commutable prison sentences instead of fines for
convicted draft dodgers.

Proposed changes are part of the government's efforts to reduce the incidence
of draft evasion.

The act currently stipulates that citizens who evade military conscription
can get a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

But most draft dodgers receive court sentences of less than six months, which
can be commutable to a fine.

As a result, most draft dodgers actually pay a fine instead of serving time
any jail time.

Defense officials believe prison sentences would be a stronger deterrent ---
and they now want prison terms of between one and five years for citizens who
evade military conscription.

The proposed amendments also seeks to revise the penalties for those who
evade reservist training and wartime mobilization, by calling for prison
terms of between one to five years.

The proposal follows a crackdown by authorities last year on entertainers who
allegedly were evading mandatory military service by obtaining falsified
hypertension diagnoses.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:15

Researchers at National Cheng Kung University say although climate change
could reduce overall PM2.5 pollution here in Taiwan, the benefits are likely
to be unevenly distributed.

The research team analyzed more than two decades of weather, air-quality and
geographic data.

Researchers found that average PM2.5 levels are likely to decline by between
1.25 and 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter nationally in the coming decades.

The study found that warmer temperatures and increased rainfall generally
help reduce PM2.5 levels, contributing to an overall decline in pollution
nationwide.

But researchers also say climate change could also alter local weather
patterns by impacting how pollutants accumulate and disperse, leading to
growing regional differences in air quality.

In that scenario, areas in northeastern Taiwan, the Taichung-Changhua border
region and parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung could emerge as pollution
"hotspots" between 2081 and 2100.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:15

And,

The Central Weather Administration has upgraded Mekkhala to a typhoon and
says it could come close enough to Taiwan later in the week to prompt a sea
warning.

The storm is currently located some 1,000-kilometers southeast of Eluanbi at
Taiwan's southern tip and is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at
26-kilometers-an-hour.

Typhoon Mekkhala has a radius of 150-kilometers and is packing sustained wind
speed of 118-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 154-kilometers-an-hour.

Mekkhala is currently expected to continue moving in a west-northwesterly
direction, before gradually turning north toward waters east of Taiwan proper
or south of the Ryukyu Islands.

The center says timing and angle of the turn remain uncertain, but current
forecasts show the storm will be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:15

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem says that Israel will not stay in Lebanon,
adding that the group would respond to any violation from the Israeli side.

His statements came as Israeli officials say that ‌troops are free to act
without restriction to eliminate threats in Lebanon despite an agreed
ceasefire that took effect on Friday.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed dozens of people despite a ceasefire
being in place...

Tehran says the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah
must end before any broader agreement can be reached.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry sait at the weekend that Israeli attacks since
March 2 have killed at least 4 thousand people and wounded more than 12
thousand.

At the same time, Palestinian health officials say Israeli strikes in Gaza
have killed at least six people, including two children and an Al Jazeera
cameraman.

Despite an October ceasefire with Hamas, Gaza officials say it has faced
near-daily Israeli attacks that have killed over 1,000 Palestinians,

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:15

A Spanish investigative judge has ruled that the wife of Spanish Prime
Minister Pedro Sánchez will face trial on charges of influence peddling and
corruption.

The judge also ordered Begoña Gómez to surrender her passport in his ruling
at the weekend.

The judge argued that Gómez represents a flight risk.

The case has intensified scrutiny of Sánchez’s Socialist-led minority
government before an election due by next year.

Government officials and the Socialist Party condemned the ruling as
politically motivated. Gómez denies any wrongdoing.

Posted on 2026-06-22 06:52:15

24 Filipinos who were detained without charges in Siberia have returned to
their country.

They arrived in Manila in two batches over the weekend after they were
released in eastern Siberia, where they had been detained for more than nine
months.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised concerns for them during a
meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, who accompanied Marcos in talks
with Putin, was set to welcome the first batch.

The release followed a bilateral meeting between Marcos and Putin on
Wednesday.

Most members of the group had worked as cleaners and some came from other
countries before ending up in Russia.

Reports suggest the Filipinos may have been victims of illegal job
recruitment.

Posted on 2026-06-20 15:07:14

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration says a tropical depression near Guam
in the western Pacific strengthened into a tropical storm early today.

The CWA said that as of 8 am, Tropical Storm Mekkhala was located just under
2,000 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan, moving at 27 kilometers per hour
toward Okinawa.

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 90 kph near its
center, with gusts of 119 kph.

The CWA is advising fishing vessels in the area to stay alert.

It also issued heat alerts for parts of Taiwan today, warning of maximum
temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius or higher.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-20 14:07:13

A large fire has almost completely destroyed a luxury resort in the Dominican
Republic, forcing the evacuation of almost 1,700 tourists.

Local media reported an Italian tourist died in the fire ... and several
other tourists required medical assistance.

The Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort is located in Bayahibe, a popular
destination for US and international tourists on the southeastern coast of
the Dominican Republic.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation ... and the country's
Emergency Operations Center said it appeared it had spread rapidly due to
wind and because part of the resort's roof was made of thatch.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-20 14:07:14

In World Cup action,

Matias Galarza scored 65 seconds into the game and Paraguay held on for a 1-0
win over Turkey after playing a man down for more than half the match.

That was the fastest goal at this year's World Cup, eclipsing Morocco's goal
after just 72 seconds earlier in the day. That was enough to beat Scotland.

Paraguay was short-handed after Miguel Almiron was issued a red card late in
the first half for violating a new rule that allows referees to ban players
from covering their mouths during a confrontation.

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill made several key saves to preserve the lead.

The win assured the United States would win Group D and eliminated Turkey
from any chance of advancing to the knockout round ... with its second
straight loss.

Meanwhile, Brazil dispatched Haiti 3-0, with the Haitians becoming the
*first* team to be mathematically ineligible for advancement.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-20 14:07:14

James Burrows, the director behind iconic TV comedies like "Cheers," "Taxi,"
"Friends" and "Will and Grace," has died.

His family confirmed his death in a statement to People magazine, saying he
passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

Burrows directed over a thousand TV episodes.

He started his TV career at 35, working on shows that included "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" and "Laverne & Shirley."

His father was writer, director and producer Abe Burrows, whose Broadway hits
included "Guys and Dolls" and "Can-Can."

The elder Burrows also mentored Larry Gelbart, future creator and producer of
the TV show "MASH."

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-20 13:10:13

As people gathered to celebrate Juneteenth at events across the US, former
President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the
first visitors to his presidential center.

In a surprise move, the Obamas personally greeted the first 100 people to
walk through the doors of the new presidential center

A million visitors a year are expected to come together at the sprawling
campus honoring the nation's first Black president.

The center's grand opening arrives as a symbolic convergence of legacy and
liberation in this fifth year since June 19 became a federal holiday in the
United States.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-20 13:10:13

Five-time champion Brazil has eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0
victory.

Haiti had qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 ... only
to become the first team guaranteed NOT to reach the knockout round.

In other World Cup action, the US beat Australia 2-0 to unlock a berth in the
knockout round, while Morocco shut out Scotland and scored the only goal of
the match after just 72 seconds of play.

Paraguay is leading Turkey 1-0 in the second half. Paraguay midfielder Miguel
Almiron became the first player issued a red card at the World Cup ... for
covering his mouth.

The new rule is intended to stop players from concealing verbal insults.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-20 11:08:13

Ismael Saibari scored only 72 seconds into the game, and Morocco beat
Scotland 1-0 at the World Cup to keep alive its chances of advancing to its
second straight knockout round.

Morocco, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup, drew 1-1 with
Brazil in its Group C opener.

Scotland, which hasn't gotten out of the group stage in its eight previous
World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.

Earlier, the US team beat Australia 2-nil to secure a spot in the round of 32
knockout round, despite the absence of injured star forward Christian
Pulisic. 21-year-old Alex Freeman scored the second goal for the Americans in
the 43rd minute.

Brazil won its match against Haiti 3-nil. Haiti becomes the first team to be
eliminated in this year's World Cup.

AP_JvW

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