ICRT

Posted on 2026-06-08 18:17:13

The Central Weather Administration is warning of heavy rain across parts of
Taiwan as a stationary front and strengthening southwesterly winds affect the
island.

Forecasters say the weather system could bring short periods of intense
rainfall to northern Taiwan, with Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung facing the
greatest risk.

Localized heavy rain is also possible in Taoyuan, Matsu, areas south of
Yunlin, and mountainous parts of Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung and Nantou.

According to the CWA, the highest accumulated rainfall as of late this
afternoon was recorded in Kaohsiung's Meinong District at 138 millimeters.

In Taipei, Zhongshan District recorded the highest total at 137.5 millimeters.

The weather administration is urging the public to watch for lightning and
strong wind gusts ... as well as landslides in mountainous places ... and
flooding in low-lying areas.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-08 18:17:13

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Sports have agreed to work
together to provide locally produced food for Taiwanese athletes competing at
this year's Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

Officials say the initiative is intended to help athletes maintain their
nutrition and energy levels during the competition.

Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) says the government will supply
agricultural, fishery and livestock products through the National Sports
Training Center and other facilities serving Taiwanese athletes during the
Games.

The two ministries say they hope to turn the cooperation into a long-term
partnership that promotes both Taiwanese sports and domestic agriculture.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-08 17:15:13

Taipei prosecutors have indicted independent lawmaker Gao Jin Su Mei on
corruption charges.

She allegedly took 7.87 million NT in fraudulent assistant fees...

while her assisstant is accused of taking even more.

Prosecutors indicted Gao Jin and 23 others in the case today, requesting at
least 12 and a half years behind bars for Gao Jin...

and 16 years for the assistant surnamed Zhang.

Investigators carried out searches back in February related to the case, and
brought Gao Jin and others in for questioning.

（AH）

Posted on 2026-06-08 17:15:13

The DPP is ushering in a new generation of leaders...

as Lawmaker Huang Jie takes office as the party's new Kaohsiung branch party
chair.

Huang says, she aims to create a new united environment in the southern
city...

with her first priority being to support the candidacy of her colleague Lai
Rui Long in running for mayor, as well as those city councilor candidates.

She added that she would conduct meetings with previous chairs while serving
as chair, in order to learn from their experiences.

Huang takes office just as fellow lawmaker Wu Pei Yi took over as the DPP's
Taipei chair, in what may signify a broader shift in party perspective.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-08 17:15:13

Taipei health authorities have found one product containing excessive levels
of aflatoxin in a pre-Dragon Boat Festival sweep of seasonal foods.

The Taipei City Department of Health announced today that it sampled 85
products from specialty rice dumpling shops, convenience stores,
supermarkets, and traditional markets ahead of the holiday.

One peanut powder product was found to exceed legal limits for total
aflatoxin and aflatoxin B1 under food contamination and toxin hygiene
standards.

The operator has been ordered to remove the product from sale.

The department notes that Taiwan's hot and humid climate makes improperly
stored foods particularly susceptible to mold growth and fungal toxin
contamination.

Consumers are advised to purchase from reputable suppliers and store food
products properly.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-08 17:15:13

ntl. security

Hong Kong's government is pushing to expand its national security powers...

This time, by proposing new legislation that would allow the city’s leader to
deem certain criminal acts as national security offenses.

Under this new proposal, the chief executive would hold the power to
designate acts as national security by issuing a certificate.

Critics have raised concerns that the laws continue to undermine the civil
liberty laws Beijing promised to enact following the handover from Britain in
1997.

Authorities, however, stress that the laws are essential for stability,
stating that no new criminal offenses are being created.

The move is the latest in a series of security measures from the city since
Pro-democracy protests shook the city in 2019.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-08 17:15:13

controversies

Pope Leo's ongoing visit to Madrid, where he hopes to inspire greater faith
amongst European youth, is seeing some friction in an increasingly secular
Spain.

Leo has been making waves in Europe and across the world since his
appointment in May of last year.

The pope today highlighted Spain's Catholic cultural roots with a hefty
Sunday Mass procession that drew over a million attendees, complemented by
elaborate flower carpets and altars.

However, the Spanish Catholic Church's decades' long sexual abuse scandal
remains a serious issue to be reckoned with.

The Pope is expected to meet with some survivors of abuse in Spain during his
visit...

but the total number of victims is estimated at 200 to 400 thousand.

(AT)

Posted on 2026-06-08 16:09:13

In New Taipei City, the KMT has put out a new poll indicating that their
mayoral candidate is leading the DPP's by over 6 percentage points.

According to local KMT officials in the city, their polls shows KMT candidate
Li Si Chuan's support at 39.2%...

while the DPP's Su Qiao Hui was polling at 33%.

That's a difference of 6.2 percentage points.

For her part, Su says that she will take into consideration polls conducted
by several different organizations before deciding which areas require
improvement.

KMT officials say that their polling indicates that Li has had at least a 6
point lead over Su for the past couple of months...

noting that that 6% gap exceeds the 3% margin of error.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-08 16:09:13

In international news,

Israel and Iran have traded fire in retaliatory strikes that threaten to drag
the wider Middle East back into a regional war....

... and in another new escalation today, Yemen’s Houthi rebels also fired on
Israel and warned Israel-affiliated vessels would again be a target in the
Red Sea.

Israeli authorities warned today of three waves of Iranian missiles targeting
the country, and urged the public to seek shelter.

Explosions could be heard in central Israel as Israeli air defenses sought to
intercept the incoming Iranian fire.

The Iranian fire came after Israel launched strikes on central and western
Iran early today in response to missile fire from Tehran.

This was the most serious crossfire since an April 8 ceasefire was reached in
the Iran war.

Tehran warned of retaliation on Sunday after Israel struck Beirut’s southern
suburbs without warning in defiance of Washington’s request days ago to stand
down.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-08 16:09:13

In Kosovo, the ruling party of Prime Minister Albin Kurti appears to have won
most votes in an early parliamentary election.

But it remains unclear if the outcome will bring an end to a political
impasse in the Balkan nation seeking closer ties with the European Union and
NATO.

The election on Sunday was Kosovo’s third in less than 18 months.

It was scheduled after the main political parties failed to agree by a March
deadline on who should be the next president.

The prolonged crisis has negatively affected Kosovo's economy and fueled
voter disappointment with mainstream politicians.

Kosovo, one of the youngest and poorest countries in Europe, declared
independence from Serbia in 2008.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-08 14:07:13

The Ministry of National Defense is accusing China of intentionally provoking
Taiwan...

following an announcement from Chinese officials that they were carrying out
a "special enforcement on maritime traffic" in Taiwan's eastern waters.

Defense minister Wellington Koo has called the announcement a form of
cognitive warfare that harms Taiwan's sovereignty.

Koo says, the MND and Coast Guard Administration are closely monitoring the
situation to protect Taiwan's maritime safety.

Taiwanese authorities yesterday also called China's announcement "out of step
with reality..."

not to mention that such actions violate international law.

Meanwhile, DPP legislative caucus secretary general Zhuang Rui Xiong is
emphasizing that Taiwan is not the instigator of tensions in the relationship
between China and Taiwan...

adding that he hopes there will be opposition agreeement to support the
government and CGA to increase Taiwan's defense preparedness.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-08 14:07:14

Kaohsiung City has raised its flood response center warning to Level 2 today,
as forecasters warn of heavy rainfall.

The Central Weather Administration is forecasting intense short-duration
rainfall for the city over the next two days,

The city's Water Resources Bureau, Fire Department, and related agencies are
now staffing the response center around the clock, monitoring rainfall, water
levels, and any developing emergencies.

Officials say flood prevention measures have been initiated in advance across
the city.

They are advising residents to closely follow city government alerts over the
coming days, inspect drainage facilities around their homes, and stay away
from rivers, coastal areas, and mountainous zones during the heavy rain
period.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-08 14:07:14

The Tourism Administration says no Taiwanese tour groups have been reported
affected in the Philippines after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the
south of the country.

The agency says it has checked with Taiwan's representative office in the
Philippines, major travel industry associations, and travel agencies, and
none have reported any tour groups being impacted.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning following the
quake.

Officials say they will continue monitoring the situation and respond as
needed.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-08 14:07:14

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 43502
after losing 1568 points.

The turnover was 1.132 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-06-08 14:07:14

Now turning to internaitonal news...

Israel launched aistrikes on Iran today following missile fire from Iran, in
what marks the first such attack since ceasefire took effect in April.

A US military base was also under fire in Saudi Arabia.

The strikes have raised concerns about the return of full-fledged attacks.

Iranian state media reported explosions in Isfahan, Tabriz, and Tehran.

The Israeli strikes came in apparent defiance to Washington's wishes, as they
said that they didn't think an Israeli response was necessary.

Posted on 2026-06-08 14:07:14

The Philippines is reporting 4 dead following an earthquake...

while there have been more than 200 injuries and a 1 meter tsunami in some
places.

Several buildings were damaged in the city of General Santos near the
epicenter of this morning's earthquake.

Officials in the Philippines, as well as in Indonesia and Malaysia, have
issued warnings to those in coastal areas.

The quake was the strongest to strike the Philippines this year, hitting the
city with a population of more than 700,000 people.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said that disaster-response agencies were on
standby.

Several aftershocks followed the quake this morning, while the inernational
airport was temporarily shut and some domestic flights were cancelled.

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

The food delivery workers' union is calling on the Fair Trade Commission to
investigate recent fee hikes by some food delivery platforms.

They say that food delivery platforms are using the delivery worker rights
protection and delivery platform management act as a pretext to raise service
fees for partner restaurants.

The act was passed in January, and established concrete regulations and
protections for delivery workers, customers, and partner restaurants.

The Taiwan Delivery Industry Union Alliance today points out that Uber Eats
recently notified merchants that it was changing its fee structure as a
result of the act, raising fees for partner restaurants by 2.5% in July.

They emphasize that partner restaurants are essentially powerless to
negotiate with the platforms, leaving small and medium-sized businesses
forced to continue relying on the business brought in by delivery platforms
with ever-increasing fees.

Advocates also warn that the potential acquisition of Foodpanda by Grab
Holdings risks making it even harder for partner restaurants to negotiate
fees and for drivers to get reasonable working conditions.

(AH)

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

The president of Palau is expressing his strong support for Taiwan's
sovereignty, as Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim continues her visit to the
country.

President Surangel Whipps said that the failure to recognize Taiwan's
sovereignty would call into question the sovereignty of all small countries.

He called on other countries to "stand up for freedom," "democracy," and "the
rule of law."

Whipps also noted that Taiwan has demonstrated leadership in healthcare,
technology, and other fields, and that they should be included in
international discussions.

He called on Taiwan to be included in the UN and the WHO as well as other
international organizations.

Meanwhile Hsiao noted that Palau is Taiwan's only diplomatic ally that can be
accessed by such a short flight, encouraging Taiwanese tourists to take
advantage of Palau's natural beauty and sustainable tourism.

Today is the third day of Hsiao's five-day visit to Palau, which is her first
to a diplomatic ally since taking office.

(AH-CNA)

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

In international news,

In Congo, authorities say that there have been 488 confirmed cases of Ebola,
including 86 deaths, as of last Friday.

The Central African nation recorded 71 new cases last Thursday.

Authorities on Sunday said that's a sign of active community transmission.

Health workers at the epicenter of the outbreak say they are working with
little rest and minimal resources.

The outbreak began in a mining town that attracts a huge number of laborers.

Crowded mining camps make transmission of the disease easier.

The virus spreads through close contact with sick or deceased patients’
bodily fluids.

Neighboring Uganda has had 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.

(KK)

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

The Hong Kong government is proposing to allow the city’s leader to classify
certain criminal acts as national security offenses.

The proposed subsidiary legislation would clearly state the classification
mechanism for “other offenses endangering national security under the law.”

This is the latest effort to stamp out challenges to its rule.

After massive democracy protests in 2019, the city enacted two national
security laws that critics say have stifled Hong Kong's freedoms.

Authorities insist the laws are crucial for the city’s stability.

(KK)

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

Peru's presidential runoff election on Sunday remains undecided as
authorities tally votes for the country's ninth leader in a decade.

Conservative Keiko Fujimori holds a slight lead over nationalist Roberto
Sánchez with 58% of ballots counted.

Fujimori has 52.6% of the votes, while Sánchez has 47.4%.

The outcome is expected to be tight and may take days to finalize.

Crime was a major concern for voters, with both candidates focusing on
crime-fighting strategies.

Fujimori is linked to her father's controversial legacy, while Sánchez is an
ally of jailed former President Pedro Castillo.

Voting is mandatory in Peru.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:13

The Tai-Ex plunged in early trading following Friday's decline after big
artificial intelligence-related stocks saw sharp dips on Wall Street.

The main board shed 2,600 points shortly after opening this morning to drop
to 42,389 - as it fell to below the monthly moving average.

The fall was led by tech stocks ....

... and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price decline by 135
N-T to 2,230 - marking the chipmaker's largest ever intraday decline.

While A-S-E, Hon Hai, and Delta Electronics all fell by about 7-per cent.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is slated to address Palau's parliament today,
as part of her five-day trip to the diplomatic ally.

The Presidential Office says the address is seen as one of the most important
public events of her visit.

It will be made in the domed courtyard of Palau's National Congress and the
address will attended by Palau's President Surangel Whipps.

It's expected to focus on issues including Taiwan-Palau friendship,
democratic partnership, and regional peace and stability.

Hsiao is also scheduled to attend a drone donation and demonstration event ..

.... which officials say will showcase the partnership between Taiwan and
Palau in sharing democratic values, deepening technological cooperation, and
promoting sustainable development.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

And,

The Central Weather Administration says heavy rain is expected to affect
parts of Taiwan this week due to the annual "plum rain" season.

The center says unstable weather and rain can be expected from today and the
heaviest rainfall is forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday.

The rain is forecast to ease off slightly on Thursday as the front shifts
southward, but central and southern parts of the island could still see
scattered showers and thunderstorms.

The front is expected to move north again between Friday and Saturday,
bringing another increase in rain, which could effect the west and
mountainous areas in the east into late next week.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

In international news,

Israel says Iran has launched missiles at it in the first such bombardment
since a ceasefire took effect in early April and Israel's military has warned
it will retaliate.

Tehran had warned of retaliation after Israel struck Beirut’s southern
suburbs in defiance this past weekend.

Israel has said that strike came after Hezbollah fired at northern Israel.

Israel’s attack on Beirut came a few days after the Lebanese and Israeli
governments agreed to a ceasefire in US-hosted talks.

However, Hezbollah rejected the deal.

Iran wants any ceasefire deal to include the Lebanon situation.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to travel to Pyongyang in his first visit
in seven years.

The trip is likely meant to reassert China’s unique influence over North
Korea in return for providing economic and political benefits.

Xi's two-day visit starts from today and he's slated to meet North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un.

No specific agenda for the Xi-Kim summit has been released by both countries.

Foreign experts are predicting the meeting will have big ramifications on
bilateral ties and beyond, as they both seek to fully restore their
traditional cooperation in the face of separate confrontations with the U-S.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

Peruvians are voting in what is expected to be a tight presidential run-off
election.

Voters are choosing between two presidential candidates with starkly
different views.

Keiko Fujimori is a conservative and daughter of a disgraced former
president, while Roberto Sanchez, is a nationalist congressman.

Neither candidate secured even 20-per cent support in the first round in
April and polls show the candidates are tied.

Official outcomes of the ballot may take days.

Peruvian voters are concerned about crime - as homicide and extortion rates
have soared, leading to widespread protests and the ouster of the country's
former president.

Voting is mandatory for Peruvians aged between 18 and 70.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa says his government will crack down
on groups behind xenophobic violence.

The statement comes as anti-immigrant protests have been erupting across the
country - as immigrants are often blamed for economic woes such as high
unemployment and crime.

According to Ramaphosa, citizens should cease stopping people on the streets
to demand their identities, and enforcement of immigration laws is
responsibility solely for the state.

Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi and Mozambique have been repatriating some of their
citizens caught up ‌in the protests, which have sometimes turned violent.

Mozambique has said five of its citizens have been killed.

Posted on 2026-06-08 11:05:14

And finally,

A packed Danish crowd have celebrated the enduring mullet hairstyle.

Denmark’s 2026 Mullet Championship took place in central Copenhagen,
attracting 12 competitors and over a thousand spectators.

The event featured over-the-top performances, including beer-swilling and a
live saxophone show.

Thomas Berg won the top prize with a trampoline act.

The mullet has seen a global resurgence in recent years.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

The Coast Guard Administration is condemning China's announcement of its
maritime law enforcement operation in waters east of Taiwan -- saying Beijing
has no sovereign rights in the area and its claims violate international law.

The administration also rejected assertions by China's Ministry of Transport
that it's conducting a "special maritime traffic law enforcement operation"
in the area.

Officials say China does not enjoy any sovereign rights in waters east of
Taiwan and Beijing's actions violate international law.

The Coast Guard Administration says it closely monitored the situation and
took concrete steps to defend Taiwan's sovereignty and secure its waters.

Four Chinese ships reportedly sailed into Taiwan’s restricted waters
30-nautical miles southwest of Taiwan proper’s southern most tip.

Seven coast guard vessels were deployed to warn away the Chinese ships before
all four vessels were then "expelled" from the restricted waters.

China's state media has reported that that ships were deployed to carry out a
"special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation" in waters east of
Taiwan as a response response to a Japanese and Philippine announcement
defining their maritime boundaries.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun says the party aims to serve as a "bridge
builder" in cross-strait relations and will help chart a new path toward
peace and regional stability.

At a business community event in Boston, Cheng said the K-M-T remains
committed to upholding the Constitution of the Republic of China and
advancing what she described as its historic mission of promoting peace and
prosperity.

Cheng also said the K-M-T will not stand by while younger generations face
the risk of military conflict, and she believes there is an alternative to
confrontation across the Taiwan Strait ...

.. while Taiwan and China should pursue peace and mutually beneficial
development.

The K-M-T says more than 300 overseas Taiwan attended the event, waving R-O-C
flags to welcome Cheng and her delegation during their ongoing visit to the
U-S.

Cheng is expected to travel to Washington D.C. this week for talks with
lawmakers, policy experts and think tank representatives to discuss
cross-strait stability, regional security and Taiwan-US relations.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is urging more Taiwan tourists to visit Palau.

She made the call after snorkeling with Palau's President Surangel Whipps
during her first visit to the diplomatic ally as vice president.

Hsiao arrived in Palau on Saturday on a direct flight from Taiwan.

She joined Whipps on a boat trip Sunday morning to Big Drop Off, a renowned
snorkeling and diving site in the southern part of Palau's Rock Islands.

Hsiao said after working hard in their daily lives, people in Taiwan deserve
to arrange an island getaway to relax and recharge, and Palau is a convenient
choice because it is close to Taiwan and served by direct flights.

Data from the Tourism Administration shows that the number of Taiwan visitors
to Palau has increased in recent years, rising from more than 10 thousand in
2023 to just over 14 thousand in 2025.

Hsiao also traveled to Peleliu on Sunday, one of the states in southern
Palau, where she visited a World War II memorial museum .

Sunday marked the second day of Hsiao's ongoing five-day trip to Palau -
during which she is representing President Lai Ching-te, following an
invitation from Whipps.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has used a ceremony marking National Oceans Day in
Kaohsiung to push the Lai administration's anti-crime efforts.

Zhu reaffirmed the government's commitment to combating drugs and organized
crime, highlighting the Cabinet's recently announced anti-crime and anti-drug
initiatives.

Those measures include plans to establish a central command task force
bringing together prosecutors, police, investigators, military police, coast
guard and customs authorities.

Zhy also said he hopes National Oceans Day will come to symbolize national
sovereignty, maritime security and environmental protection.

He touted plans to establish of marine survey teams and a national ship-model
testing laboratory and said the government will also continue to promote an
integrated sea-air coast guard to enhance maritime security and national
resilience.

The event also saw the first public display of the Coast Guard
Administration's newly acquired Penguin second-generation vertical takeoff
and landing drone drones.

The drones cost 7-million U-S dollars are were developed by US-based Edge
Autonomy and full delivery is expected by end of this month.

The drones are being assembled by Taiwan Color Optics and are designed for
maritime surveillance and aerial patrol missions.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

Taipei Songshan Airport was forced to suspend ground operations on Sunday, as
heavy thunderstorms battered northern Taiwan.

Bad weather triggered flight delays and disrupted services at airports with
scheduled flights to and from Songshan Airport.

The suspension took effect at 2:38PM due to thunderstorms and lightning
activity.

The disruptions came as the Central Weather Administration issued extremely
heavy and heavy rain advisories for cities and counties across western
Taiwan, Yilan and mountainous areas of Hualien.

The administration said a strong convective cloud systems brought
short-duration intense downpours, with New Taipei and mountainous areas of
Yilan facing the most severe conditions.

That resulted in both areas being placed under extremely heavy rain
advisories.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

And,

Taiwan's representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang has attended the Tokyo Pride
Parade.

Lee was invited to speak on the event's main stage by Britain's ambassador
to Japan, Julia Longbottom.

He was only official representative from an Asian country to do so.

Lee used his speech to tout Taiwan as the first country in Asia to legalize
same-sex marriage in 2019, describing the move as not only a legal milestone
but also a reflection of broader social progress.

He also noted that Taiwan ranks first in Asia and sixth globally in
gender-related rankings compiled by the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development.

Memwbers of Team Taiwan, a group formed by the Taipei Representative Office
in Japan, the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights and the
Taiwan AIDS Foundation attended the event.

The groups operated a booth themed around Taiwanese temples and night
markets, featuring divination slips highlighting milestones in Taiwan's
progress toward gender equality.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

Europe said it would play a role in any ceasefire talks between Russia and
Ukraine.

This comes as the leaders of Britain, Germany and France said they supported
a proposal for talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and
Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron "commended" Zelenskiy's
call for an end to the war... as well as his proposal for direct dialogue
between Ukraine and Russia, with active U.S. and European participation.

The leadershave an informal security alliance called the E3.

They were joined by Zelenskiy in Downing Street days after the Ukrainian
leader published an open letter to Putin.

He proposed face-to-face talks with Putin about ending the war, which is now
in its fifth year, but he was rebuffed by the Russian president.

Posted on 2026-06-08 06:56:13

U-S leader Donald Trump walked out an interview after reporter Kristen Welker
challenged unsubstantiated election claims.

The interview aired on Sunday's Meet The Press, the president claimed both
the current primary elections in California and the 2020 presidential
election were "rigged".

Much of the interview involved Welker questioning Trump over the conflict
with Iran, with him insisting the US needed to act to stop Iran from getting
a nuclear weapon and that it would not be "an endless war".

There has been no comment from the White House over the walkout.

Posted on 2026-06-06 15:12:13

Members of the Iranian World Cup soccer team have been granted US visas,
clearing them to enter the country ahead of matches near Los Angeles this
month.

The team had moved its training base to Tijuana, Mexico, because of problems
with processing the visas.

US officials speaking on condition of anonymity told AP that the way is now
clear for them to enter the country.

Three US officials said players, coaches, trainers and some support staff
received visas, but one official suggested some applicants affiliated with
the team had been rejected for requesting visas "under false pretenses."

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-06 15:12:13

Democrat Xavier Becerra has advanced to the general election for California
governor after pitching himself as an experienced choice to lead the US's
most populous state.

Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office, including as state
attorney general and US health secretary.

AP says the runner-up in the runoff is still too close to call. Republican
Steve Hilton is currently in second place, with Democrat Tom Steyer in third.

Becerra was once an afterthought in the race but surged in the final months,
after frontrunner Eric Swalwell pulled out.

Becerra has vowed to maintain the state's mantle as a chief antagonist to
President Donald Trump.

AP_JvW

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

The New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson hit a go-ahead free throw with less than
10 seconds left after a turnover by Victor Wembanyama moments earlier to
break a tie in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Moments later, Wembanyama missed a jumper that would have put the San Antonio
Spurs over the top in the game and even the series.

But in the end, the Knicks won 105-104 for a 2-nil lead in the NBA Finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Brunson and Mikal
Bridges each scored 20 for the Knicks, who have now won 13 straight, the
second-longest streak by any team in NBA playoff history.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-06 12:09:13

The New York Knicks have defeated the San Antonio spurs 105-104.

This puts the Knicks up 2 and "O" in the NBA finals, as they head to New York
to try to win two more at home.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-06-05 19:54:14

The Kaohsiung District Court has sentenced a 74-year-old man to death for the
murders of three women in separate incidents between 2024 and 2025.

The court says Chang Chieh-tsung was convicted of murder, desecration and
abandonment of corpses, as well as theft involving one of the victims.

Judges found that Chang killed three women, aged between 71 and 75, and later
disposed of their remains.

The court also ordered the lifelong deprivation of his civil rights.

The ruling can be appealed.

Court officials say Chang showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read.

Following the hearing, relatives of two of the victims rushed toward the
defendant and assaulted him before court officers intervened.

Chang was later remanded into custody.

Posted on 2026-06-05 19:54:14

Taiwanese manufacturing giant Hon Hai is reporting record high consolidated
revenue for the month of the May this year ... reaching almost 860 billion
NT.

That's up nearly 40 percent from the same month last year ... and over 3
percentage points higher from April.

Hon Hai's total revenue for the first five months of 2026 now stands at over
3.8 trillion NT — the company's highest figure ever recorded for that period.

The company says strong demand for AI products continues to boost shipments
and growth in its cloud and networking business.

Looking ahead, Hon Hai says its second-quarter performance is now expected to
come in better than previously forecast.

However, the company cautioned that it will continue to monitor risks
stemming from the changing global political and economic environment.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 19:54:14

Current temperatures...

Taipei - 26

Taichung - 28

Kaohsiung - 26

Hualien - 28

Posted on 2026-06-05 18:14:13

trip

The Legislative Yuan has unanimously passed a resolution condemning what it
described as Beijing's efforts to obstruct President Lai Ching-te's planned
visit to Eswatini in April.

The resolution denounces China's alleged use of diplomatic and economic
pressure to persuade third countries to revoke flight clearances for Lai's
chartered aircraft.

Lawmakers said such actions endangered flight safety, violated international
norms and undermined Taiwan's right to engage with the international
community.

The measure was adopted without objection after being proposed by the ruling
Democratic Progressive Party and endorsed by the opposition Taiwan People's
Party.

Lai's original trip was canceled after several countries along the planned
flight route withdrew overflight permission.

However, he later traveled to Eswatini aboard the private aircraft of King
Mswati the Third and returned to Taiwan in early May.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 18:14:14

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang says the company has doubled production capacity for
the second half of this year to meet strong demand for AI systems.

He says capacity remains extremely tight across the supply chain and is
warning suppliers to prepare for much stronger growth next year.

Huang says NVIDIA's Grace Blackwell systems remain in mass production, while
its next-generation Vera Rubin platform is beginning to ramp up.

He notes that NVIDIA now works with about 120 supply chain partners in Taiwan
and says the island remains at the center of the AI-driven computing
revolution and future demand for computing power.

Huang wrapped up his 14-day trip to Taiwan on Friday before departing for
South Korea ...

... where he says he will meet key partners, while industry observers are
closely watching developments in high-bandwidth memory, a key component in
advanced AI computing.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 18:14:14

The 11th annual Railway Bento Festival has opened at Taipei Main Station,
featuring a record selection of more than 80 bento varieties from 64 local
and international exhibitors.

The four-day event showcases railway-themed meals, including premium
limited-edition bentos made with ingredients such as eel, grouper and
scallops.

Organizers say this year's festival has attracted the largest number of
participating brands in its history.

Taiwan Railway Chairman Cheng Kuang-yuan (鄭光遠) says the event has become an
important platform for promoting Taiwan's railway culture and food
traditions.

Taiwan Railway estimates that the Taipei and Kaohsiung editions of the
festival will attract more than 600 thousand visitors collectively ... and
generate over 50 million NT in business opportunities.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 18:14:14

Current temperatures...

Taipei - 26

Taichung - 29

Kaohsiung - 25

Hualien - 28

Posted on 2026-06-05 17:08:13

DPP lawmaker Chung Chia-pin said that it's "hard to understand" why the
opposition KMT and TPP would block his proposal to support Taiwan's domestic
drone industry.

He added that the opposition parties have said that they support Taiwan's
drones and that the mayor of Taichung, KMT's Lu Shiow-yen, has even said that
she wants to make Taichung Taiwan's leading city in the drone industry.

Taichung lawmakers have also voiced their support for developing the local
drone industry.

However, he said, the two parties have prevented his proposal from moving
forward by voting against its being included in the agenda.

Co-proposer Chen Kuan-ting noted that the previous special defense budget did
not include funds for the drone industry, so he hoped that a special act
would fill that gap.

He added that he hoped the opposition parties would submit their own proposal
for drone-related development.

（AH）

Posted on 2026-06-05 17:08:13

In sports news,

Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) suffered his fourth loss of the season
as the Houston Astros were beaten 5-1 by the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday.

Teng gave up five runs over five innings, allowing seven hits while walking
two and striking out one batter.

After allowing a first-inning run, the 27-year-old settled down and kept the
Pirates scoreless over the next four innings.

However, Pittsburgh broke the game open in the sixth, highlighted by a
two-run home run from Ryan O'Hearn.

Houston struggled offensively, managing just one run on a solo homer by Isaac
Paredes.

The loss dropped Teng's record to 3-and-4 and raised his earned run average
to 3-point-0-6.

It was also his toughest outing of the season, with the five runs allowed
marking a season high.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 17:08:13

Peruvians go to the polls on Sunday to choose their ninth president in ten
years.

They will vote between two candidates in this run-off election: conservative
Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of a disgraced former president, and
left-leaning former psychologist Roberto Sanchez.

Both emerged from a crowded, 33-candidate field in the first round, and
neither secured more than 20 per cent of the vote.

Voting is mandatory for those aged between 18 and 70, with 27 million
Peruvians registered to vote.

Fujimori, in her fourth attempt at the president’s office, is campaigning on
being tough on crime, an issue of major concern to many voters, with rising
levels of extortion and homicide.

Sanchez is a former minister of foreign trade, and is campaigning on a pledge
of economic stability.

The vote is expected to be tight and results might not be available for
several days.

Posted on 2026-06-05 17:08:13

The latest lease sale for oil and gas development in Alaska’s Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge takes place today.

This is a region in northeastern Alaska more than twice as large as Taiwan
along the Arctic Circle and the border with Canada.

The Trump administration has pushed to expand drilling for oil and gas.

But a coalition of conservation groups sent a letter to oil company leaders,
urging them to stay away from the sale and citing financial and reputation
risks relating to, for example, ongoing lawsuits around the leasing
programme.

The region is considered sacred by the Gwich’in, an indigenous tribe whose
caribou give birth there.

But some native tribes in other parts of the state have embraced oil and gas
development, seeing it as essential to their economy.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that there might be between 4 and 12
billion barrels of recoverable oil in the wildlife refuge.

Posted on 2026-06-05 17:08:14

China’s National Radio and Television Administration said that it will crack
down on materialistic, violent, and sexual content in micro-dramas.

Micro-dramas are short, serialised clips developed for mobile phones that
often feature exaggerated, fast-paced plots designed to maintain viewer
engagement.

Common plot devices include romances (often with billionaires), revenge,
hidden identities, or time travel.

The Chinese government has, more broadly, tried to guide social norms in
recent years.

The directive also aims to eliminate content with, in their words, “distorted
views on marriage and relationships”, “feudalistic themes, violent revenge
content, vulgar titles, and copyright infringement”.

Micro-dramas originated in China and are now a multi-billion dollar industry
in the country.

Countries across the world, from the United States to France to South Korea,
have now created their own micro-drama studios.

Posted on 2026-06-05 16:26:13

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says that former Sunflower Movement figure
Johanne Liou has been arrested after being deported from the United States.

The bureau says Liou arrived at Taoyuan International Airport yesterday under
escort from U-S immigration authorities and was immediately taken into
custody.

Investigators say she is wanted in several jurisdictions on allegations
including embezzlement, fraud and drug offenses involving cocaine and
marijuana.

According to authorities, Liou traveled to the United States in 2019 and
later overstayed her visa.

U-S authorities arrested her in Boston earlier this year, and prosecutors say
a series of appeals delayed her deportation.

Liou was placed on a wanted list in 2023 after failing to appear in court in
a case handled by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 16:26:18

President Lai Ching-te is inviting NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to tour Taiwan's
nuclear power facilities...

in what may indicate future backtracking on the DPP's nuclear policy.

The president's comments follow remarks made by Huang in which he touted the
importance of Taiwan's energy security for the global supply chain.

Before departing Taiwan today, the NVIDIA CEO called the invitation an
"honor..."

and said that energy security is key to Taiwan being able to maintain its
economic stronghold in the AI sector.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-05 16:26:19

Construction has officially begun on Taiwan's first national museum dedicated
to Indigenous peoples, with a groundbreaking ceremony held today at
Chengching Lake in Kaohsiung.

The National Museum of Indigenous Peoples Preparatory Office says the venue
will approach history, culture, and contemporary life from Indigenous
perspectives through its collections, research, exhibitions, and education
programs.

The office says it will combine cultural storytelling, interactive
technology, and immersive displays to create a multisensory experience for
visitors.

The musem is expected to be completed and begin trial operations by the end
of next year.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-05 16:26:19

Leaders from across the European Union (or EU) and countries in the Western
Balkans are meeting in Montenegro today for talks on expanding the bloc.

The Balkans are seen as a key area for countering security and economic
threats posed by Russia and China.

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron; Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz;
and Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni are all present at the conference.

Montenegro aims to become the EU’s twenty-eighth member by 2028.

It is a small, mountainous nation of around 600 000 people that, last month,
marked the twentieth anniversary of its independence from a union with
neighbouring Serbia.

The EU has formed a working group for Montenegro’s accession treaty,
signalling that membership is within reach.

Other countries, considered to be further behind Montenegro in accession
talks, are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and North
Macedonia.

Posted on 2026-06-05 16:26:20

pandemic

A new vaccine entirely designed by artificial intelligence could protect
humans from a wide range of viruses and thus prevent future pandemics,
according to researchers from a team across the U.K. and Germany.

Vaccines usually contain components on the surface of a virus called antigens.

The body's immune system learns to recognise these antigens over time and
creates antibodies against them.

The next time the body sees that virus, the antibodies can immediately
recognise its antigens, and so fight off the virus without delay.

But viruses and their antigens are constantly evolving.

So AI has analysed the DNA from various coronaviruses to develop a
"super-antigen", like a master key to a set of apartments.

The researchers are now investigating flu vaccines that would not need to be
updated every year, and a vaccine against the H5N1 bird flu, in case it jumps
from birds into humans.

The vaccine's effectiveness has so far only been tested in lab mice and not
yet in humans, so researchers don't know whether it will elicit the desired
immune response.

However, the first study on humans has shown that it is safe.

Posted on 2026-06-05 16:26:20

Authorities in the Japanese city of Fukushima say that a bear that attacked
four people in a steel factory has evaded capture.

They say that it was confined inside a nearby electronics factory after the
attacks, but then opened a window by itself and fled under darkness.

Before it escaped, the bear was observed using its paws to open a faucet to
drink water.

Fukushima’s mayor said, “We believe it to be extremely intelligent.”

The bear managed to eat the fruit and honey inside food traps that had been
set for it without getting ensnared.

Seven people were killed by bears in Japan last year, with such attacks
rising in frequency over recent years.

Posted on 2026-06-05 15:55:13

Lawmakers and animal rights groups are touting the results of a sterilisation
programme for strays.

At a joint press conference today, animal welfare advocates and lawmakers
said that puppy intake at shelters has fallen by more than 88 percent in
areas where the program has been implemented, and public reports of stray dog
sightings in Taipei City have dropped by 92 percent.

The program locates and sterilises female dogs, both owned and unowned, and
targets a sterilisation rate of at least 80 per cent among females.

These lawmakers are calling for the approach to be expanded nationwide.

Government officials in attendance also announced planned changes to the
Animal Protection Act, which will require owners to get permission from their
local government before pets are exempted from sterilization.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-05 15:55:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail has unveiled three new bento box flavors at this
year's Railway Bento Festival, which opened today at Taipei Main Station.

The new menu includes a Hakka-style pork chop with kumquat sauce, braised
chicken with millet rice, and a vegetarian braised tofu skin meal served with
purple rice.

Visitors to the festival, which runs through Monday, can sample the meals
early at a special price of $110 N-T, which includes a complimentary bottle
of water.

The bentos will officially go on sale at T-H-S-R stations and aboard trains
from July 1st during lunch and dinner service.

T-H-S-R says the new menu is designed to showcase Taiwanese flavors and
regional food culture.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-05 15:55:13

Officials in Australia have announced they confiscated more than 100 000
illegal live cockroaches from a breeder in the state of New South Wales last
May.

These included two species of cockroaches, the Madagascar hissing cockroach
and the dubia cockroach, that are illegal to import, keep, or sell in
Australia because of environmental risks.

The cockroaches, some bigger than a human finger, were being sold online as
reptile food.

Australia imposes strict biosecurity controls at its borders to protect
native wildlife from pest infestations and to protect its agricultural
sector.

Its subtropical climate is hospitable to cockroaches, with more than one
hundred species native to the island – but not the Madagascar hissing or the
dubia.

Posted on 2026-06-05 15:55:13

Yesterday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed face-to-face
negotiations with Russia in a public letter addressed directly to Russian
president Vladimir Putin.

The letter notably acknowledged that Ukraine could not wait for the U.S. to
redirect its attention from the war in Iran back to Europe.

American president Donald Trump said that he thought "it would be great" for
the two leaders to meet.

Zelenskyy's letter included carefully worded barbs and drew attention to
recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory, including on St
Petersburg, where Putin is holding his annual economic forum.

It said that "after 26 years in power, age is beginning to take its toll" on
Putin.

Putin said last month that they could meet in a third country but only when
there is a deal to be signed.

But he also said that that would not be in the European Union, saying, "How
can Russia trust people who have been harping about the need to inflict a
strategic defeat on Russia for years?"

Posted on 2026-06-05 15:55:14

Andreeva vs Chwalinska tomorrow

There's still a bit of local interest at the French Open, which takes place
on the clay courts in Paris until Sunday.

Taiwan's Liang En-shuo (梁恩碩) plays in a women's doubles semifinal match today
with partner Shuko Aoyama from Japan.

The unseeded pair face the second seeds, Anna Danilina from Kazakhstan and
Aleksandra Krunic from Serbia.

This is Liang's first time playing doubles at Roland Garros, and she has
never yet won a WTA Tour doubles title.

The men's semifinals also take place today, with Germany's number-two seed,
Alexander Zverev, facing rising Czech star Jakub Mensik, followed by an
all-Italian battle between the unseeded Matteo Arnaldi and tenth seed, Flavio
Cobolli.

And tomorrow is the women's final, between Russian teen phenom Mirra Andreeva
and Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

Chwalinska is making her main-draw debut at the French Open and hopes to
become only the second qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam title, following
Emma Raducanu at the US Open in 2021.

If Chwalinska wins, Roland Garros could become, in the words of one British
sports journalist, Poland Garros.

Posted on 2026-06-05 14:49:13

The new chair of the DPP Penghu offices says, his office will be ready to
support the party's pick for magistrate as soon as they announce who will
run.

Lu Chang Zai made the comments at the handover ceremony today, as he takes
over from Yan Jia Kang.

That's as current magistrate Chen Guangfu has been hospitalized since
February and the party has not said if they will support someone else in
Chen's stead.

Outgoing Yan remarked positively on party affairs under his tenure, saying he
was pleased to see record support for the DPP in Penghu in 2022 and 2024.

Lu, who's returning as chair, says, his first task will be to ensure success
for the party in November's elections.

He says, the party offices will be ready to throw its full support behind
whoever the DPP chooses.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-05 14:49:13

Taipei Zoo is reminding visitors that it will close for ten days starting
June 22nd, before reopening for extended summer hours.

The zoo said today that it schedules an annual closure each year to carry out
major repairs with minimal disruption to the animals.

This year's closure runs from June 22nd through July 1st, and keepers are
advising visitors to plan accordingly.

Then every Saturday in July and August, the zoo will stay open until 9 p.m.,
with special nightime activities offering a unique experience.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the extended hours program, and
the zoo is planning a special exhibition centered around visitor memories.

Members of the public are invited to submit photos and recollections before
June 15th.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-05 14:49:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 662 points to
close the session at 45014.

The turnover was 1.156 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-06-05 13:07:13

A man who allegedly killed a post office worker yesterday appears to have a
history of issues with the post office.

The 61 year old worker, surnamed Yang, was allegedly attacked by a man
surnamed Liu, and stabbed 10 times.

The attacker was apparently upset about the noise coming from the Zhunan
branch of the post office.

Yang's brother says today that his brother's body was unrecognizable,
lamenting that "society is really sick."

A former coworker of Yang's says that the post office had frequently handled
complaints from Mr Liu, even reporting the concerns to superiors and
implementing improvements regarding the noise based on Liu's suggestions.

According to the former coworker, Liu sometimes appeared satisfied with the
changes, but would then have new complaints.

He noted that Liu previously brought a knife to the Zhunan post office,
threatening postal workers.

Liu was later convicted of endangering public safety and sentenced to 10 days
of detention.

Chunghwa post is expressing their regret over the incident, and has pledged
to assist with funeral arrangements, insurance payments, and a legal team if
the family opts to pursue civil compensation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-05 13:07:13

In Changhua,

the DPP's pick for magistrate is calling for unity as her fellow party
members threatens to give up his party membership to run as an independent.

DPP Lawmaker and magisterial nominee Chen Su Yue says, she hopes to unite the
strength of all supporters.

That's as former Changhua City mayor Qiu Jian Fu has indicated he may drop
his membership and run against Chen as soon as next week.

As to whether or not Chen would seek Qiu out to discuss the issue, she said
she sought out each of her 3 competitiors for the nomination following the
primaries.

So, she says, she'll leave it to the DPP to resolve.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-05 13:07:13

Pope Leo will be heading to two migration hotspots on a trip starting next
week.

He will go first to Spain’s Canary Islands in the Atlantic and then Italy’s
Lampedusa island in the Mediterranean.

These remote outposts of Europe have struggled with the arrivals of tens of
thousands of migrants on often deadly trafficking routes.

Even as new arrivals decrease this year, immigration and integration remain
vastly controversial politically in the historically Catholic countries.

Many on the front lines of helping migrants say they hope the papal visit
will help lower the temperature, and refocus attention on the human plight
and away from political slogans.

Posted on 2026-06-05 13:07:13

And,

a Sherpa guide on Mount Everest has been found crawling to base camp one week
after he went missing.

Dawa Sherpa was last seen around May 29th descending the mountain, but he did
not reach base camp.

He was located by a cleaning crew near the Khumbu Icefall, just above base
camp.

He was quickly carried to safety and flown to a hospital in Nepal, where his
family was waiting.

His wife and daughter had already begun funeral rituals, as they believed he
was dead.

Dawa had been guiding a Polish climber- who did reach base- during Everest's
busiest climbing season ever.

The Nepalese mountaineering communtiy has called Dawa's survival "miraculous."

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

The Cabinet says it will establish a review mechanism to restrict imports of
goods linked to forced labor.

The statement comes after the Office of the U-S Trade Representative named
Taiwan as one of 60 economies it says either failed to impose, or enforce a
ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.

As a result, Taiwan now faces an additional 10-per cent tariff.

The Cabinet says it will use the Foreign Trade Act as the legal basis to
ensure that supply chain governance more into line with international
standards on human rights, resilience and sustainability.

At the same time, the Cabinet's Office of Trade Negotiations says the
government is continues to help businesses prevent forced labor ..

Part of that effort includes proposed amendments to the Employment Service
Act that will "fully prohibit" employers from withholding workers' identity
documents or property.

Those amendments are pending legislative approval.

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil left Taiwan at around 11PM last night
on a China Airlines flight to Prague without making a statement.

Vystrcil and members of the delegation met with President Lai Ching-te, who
conferred the Order of Propitious Clouds on the Czech Senate President in
recognition of his longstanding support for Taiwan

He also held talks with lawmakers from the D-P-P, the K-M-T and the Taiwan
People's Party at the Legislative Yuan and met with heads of several
government ministries to promote political, economic, and cultural exchanges.

It was Vystrcil's second visit to Taiwan since 2020.

At the same time, the Lai administration has pledged to establish a new
50-million euro fund to encourage more Taiwan investment in the Czech
Republic, and more Czech investment in Taiwan.

The new fund is in addition to the existing 200-million U-S dollar fund for
investment in Central and Eastern Europe launched in 2022.

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has met with officials in Santa Clara as part
of her visit to the U-S as part of efforts to seek deeper strategic
cooperation with the California county.

Cheng is said to have met with Santa Clara City Mayor Lisa Gillmor and Otto
Lee, the first ethnic Chinese county supervisor in Silicon Valley.

The K-M-T says Cheng told Gillmor and Lee that he hope to see Taiwan engaging
in deeper strategic cooperation with Santa Clara by leveraging Taiwan's
strengths as a "Silicon Shield."

She also said that Taiwan is facing a serious power shortage crisis due to
what she described as flawed energy policies pursued by the D-P-P and Taiwan
should learn from Santa Clara's experience to stabilize its power supply.

The K-M-T says Cheng also reiterated that one of the main goals of her visit
is to help ease cross-strait tensions, reduce conflict risks, and advance
technology integration under a stable environment, which in turn will bring a
"peace bonus" to the Indo-Pacific region.

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

Some 500 people gathered yesterday evening for a candlelight vigil outside
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei marking the 37th anniversary of the
June 4 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

This year's memorial was themed "Memory Beyond Borders, Resistance Without
Boundaries."

Organizers say many of the participants were Hongkongers living in Taiwan...
despite the heavy rain they held electronic candles and observed 64 seconds
of silence at 8:09PM to mourn the victims of the crackdown.

The 500 people that turned up last night was considerably less than the 3,000
organizers say attended the event last year and heavy rain is be cited at the
main reason for that.

Taiwan-based Hongkongers held a separate candlelight vigil at 228 Peace
Memorial Park in Taipei, with around 60 people in attendance.

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

Meanwhile...

President Lai Ching-te is urging China to face up to the Tiananmen Square
Massacre on its 37th anniversary and grant fundamental civil rights to the
Chinese people.

In a social media post, Lai wrote "a truly great nation should not place its
faith in military might or the pursuit of force" and it should instead
"embrace diverse voices, protect the people's right to pursue their dreams,
and have the courage to confront the wounds of its history."

Lai said he sincerely hopes "that China will confront the June Fourth
Incident, 37 years ago, acknowledge the truth, heal the pain, and begin a
process of reconciliation and dialogue."

He added that Taiwan would continue to stand with those who strive for
freedom and democracy until the truth is revealed and until no one has to
sacrifice their lives simply to seek freedom.

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

Taipei

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a 41-year-old man
suspected of attacking a 3-year-old Filipino girl and a Taiwanese man at the
Taipei Main Station in April.

Lee Kun-rui is said to have first assaulted the Taiwanese man, kicking him in
the abdomen in the station's lobby, before targeted the 3-year-old some 15
minutes later at the same location.

The man hit the child with his hands and causing her to fall over, then
kicked the girl twice while she was on the ground, resulting in bruises on
her back and face.

The man then attempted to attack the child again when the girl's mother was
picking her up, but he was stopped by onlookers.

Lee was immediately arrested by police and held without bail.

The man has been charged with violating the Child and Juvenile Welfare and
Rights Protection Act and Criminal Code.

Prosecutors say they will seek the maximum punishment for Lee under the law,
given his violence against a child visiting Taiwan and the harm to the
country's tourism image.

Posted on 2026-06-05 06:50:13

And,

The National Development Council has launched what's it's calling a "one-stop
banking initiative aimed at making it easier for foreign residents to access
financial services."

The service will be available at C-T-B-C Bank, E.SUN Commercial Bank, Taipei
Fubon Commercial Bank, Taishin International Bank, Mega International
Commercial Bank and First Commercial Bank.

The service is aimed at providing streamlined account opening, credit card
and international transfer services.

Under the initiative, participating banks will be encouraged to accept
overseas proof of income and foreign tax records when reviewing credit card
applications and to waive Taiwanese guarantor requirements.

The designated branches will establish dedicated counters and assign
specialist staff to assist foreign clients.

The N-D-C says the banks are expected to offer these services at 17
designated branches across Taiwan.

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