ICRT

Posted on 2026-03-04 19:07:13

Aviation police are investigating a 58-year-old British man for allegedly
smoking an e-cigarette during a China Airlines flight from London to Taoyuan
International Airport.

Officers detained the passenger after landing yesterday evening and
confiscated the e-cigarette device, citing violations of the Civil Aviation
Act.

Social media posts also claim the man was verbally abusive, harassed cabin
crew, and even engaged in inappropriate physical contact.

However, police say they have not received a formal complaint regarding these
allegations.

In a statement today, China Airlines reiterated its zero-tolerance policy
toward disruptive behavior, stressing that flight safety remains its top
priority.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-04 19:07:13

The Ministry of Digital Affairs plans to more than triple its supercomputing
power this year to support the local artificial intelligence industry.

Digital Minister Lin Yi-Jing announced today that the ministry intends to
purchase 100 new G-P-U-s, bringing its total to 140.

The hardware will be made available to information service providers and A-I
startups.

But Lin says the expansion depends on the legislature approving the budget.

He noted that a similar plan was blocked last year due to budget cuts.

The minister says the government is now focusing on five key areas for A-I
development: computing power, data, talent, marketing, and funding, with six
investment projects for A-I startups already approved as of February.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-04 19:07:13

Court hearings for last year's fatal gas explosion at Taichung's Shin Kong
Mitsukoshi Zhonggang store entered their second day today.

Four maintenance and safety managers denied any wrongdoing ... following the
store manager and two others pleading not guilty yesterday.

In total, 13 individuals and the company’s headquarters face charges
including negligent homicide and occupational safety violations following the
blast, which claimed five lives.

The court is scheduled to summon construction workers involved in the project
at the next hearing on March eleventh.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-04 18:14:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an international operation to
help Taiwanese citizens leave the Middle East following the outbreak of war
between the United States and Iran.

MOFA says the largest group of stranded Taiwanese citizens is currently in
the United Arab Emirates, and an Emirates flight was expected to arrive in
Taiwan this afternoon.

Also for those in the U.A.E., the ministry says the border with Oman remains
open.

Since Taiwanese citizens can enter Oman visa-free, officials are planning to
help people travel there by land to catch commercial flights.

In Israel, where airspace is closed, the representative office is helping
citizens travel by land to Jordan, then fly to Europe or Southeast Asia.

The ministry is also coordinating help for citizens in Qatar, Bahrain,
Kuwait, Iran, and Iraq.

People in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan are urged to leave via commercial
flights as soon as possible while their airspace remains open.

A special service area has been set up on the ministry’s official website
with emergency contact numbers for all affected regions.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-04 18:14:13

Experts are warning against extreme dieting and unbalanced eating habits as
weight loss methods .... after new data showed that 40 percent of those
trying to lose weight in Taiwan have done so.

The findings come from a 2026 obesity awareness survey by the Taiwan Medical
Association for the Study of Obesity ... in which half of respondents said
they've tried to slim down.

Doctors say extreme weight loss methods such as eliminating carbohydrates or
replacing meals with small amounts of food can harm metabolism, cause muscle
loss, and lead to rapid weight regain.

Despite the risks, only 20 percent sought professional medical advice.

Doctors say safe, lasting weight loss should combine diet, exercise, and
medical guidance — not extreme measures taken alone.

Results also show growing awareness of obesity as a disease, with 80 percent
now recognizing it as such, up over 13 percent from three years ago.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-04 18:14:13

The Ministry of Environment warns that common mosquito coils may be harmful
to aquatic life.

Officials say many people rely on liquid electric coils or traditional spiral
coils ... as temperatures rise and mosquito activity increases.

However, officials say these products usually contain synthetic pyrethroids
— chemicals that are toxic to aquatic organisms.

Homes with fish tanks or garden ponds are advised to avoid using mosquito
coils nearby or to isolate those areas.

The ministry also reminds users to keep mosquito coils away from children and
flammable items.

Officials add that removing standing water where mosquitoes breed is more
effective at preventing infestations in the long term.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-04 17:09:13

The KMT has named You Shu Zhen to run as the party's nominee for Hualien
magistrate.

You currently holds the position of Ji-an township chief.

If she is successful in her campaign, she would succeed the wife of former
magistrate Fu Kun Chi, Hsu Chen-wei, who's being term-limited out of office.

Infighting has been fierce for the nomination... You was best supported by
polling, while a county councilor has called the nomination process unfair
and filed lawsuits against the party.

Meanwhile, County Council Speaker Zhang Jun, formerly of the KMT but now
independent, has been quite active in preparing to announce his candidacy
next week.

Zhang gained recognition after he previously staged a protest at a meeting
following the Matai'an disaster in which he kicked the table at which Fu
Kun-chi was sitting.

The DPP has yet to nominate a candidate in that race, but officials say that
they will combine forces within Hualien to oppose the Fu Kun-chi camp, and
say the candidate will be clarified next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-04 17:09:13

A potential KMT version of a special defense bill is revealing confusion
within the party.

That's as the Executive Yuan's version of the bill is set to be submitted for
committee review on Friday.

The KMT caucus is scheduled to convene tomorrow to discuss the party's own
version of the bill, but KMT lawmaker Xu Qiao Xin says, she has yet to see
the KMT thinktank's proposal or materials.

Blue-leaning media mogul Zhao Shao Kang called it "unbelievable" that a KMT
lawmaker would not have seen the thinktank's proposal.

But KMT Lawmaker Luo Zhi Qiang says that the issue will be discussed at a
caucus meeting tomorrow.

Recent negotiations also decided that any alternative versions- like the
TPP's already submitted one- should be reviewed along with the Executive
Yuan's version on Friday.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-04 17:09:13

The annual march commemorating the 1959 Tibetan uprising in Taipei is
scheduled for this Saturday.

The event will be themed around religious reincarnation, automony, and
resistance to transational repression.

Advocates say that automony over reincarnation is not just a religious issue,
but is at the core of Tibetan national dignity.

They say that Chinese authorities are attempting to control the recognition
of the Dalai Lama's recinarnation.

Activists say, his reincarnation must be decided independently by the trust
designated by the Dalai Lama himself, adding that any political interference
lacks legitimacy.

Since 2004, Tibetans in Taiwan and local NGOs have held an annual march in
Taipei in early March to commemorate Tibetan Uprising Day.

This year's march is set to gather at MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station at 1 p.m.
Saturday, pass by the Taipei branch of the Bank of China and end at Taipei
101.

A candlelight vigil will also be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Liberty Square.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-03-04 16:09:13

The DPP has released the results of polling conducted in Kaohsiung's 6th
district for the city councilor position.

Candidates in district 6, which comprises Qijin旗津, Gushan鼓山, and
Yancheng鹽埕, were vying for 2 available positions.

Ultimately, incumbents Li Qiao Ru 李喬如and Jian Huan Zong 簡煥宗were the
most popular in the polling.

Of the 3 candidates that ran for the nominations, Li was the most popular.

Polling that started yesterday will continue tonight in District 10, whlie
District 3 is also up to bat this evening as well.

Kaohsiung is the first of the 6 major municipalities for which the DPP is
conducting polling as a quasi primary to determine nominees for city
councilor positions.

Taipei and Tainan are set to follow Kaohsiung next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-04 16:09:15

A Latvian woman is facing drug trafficking charges after customs officials at
Taoyuan International Airport found more than three kilograms of heroin
hidden in her luggage.

The Aviation Police Bureau says the 49-year-old woman was stopped at Terminal
One after arriving from Malaysia.

Officers discovered the drugs, which have an estimated market value of over
$30 million NT, hidden inside a suitcase.

Police say the woman was transporting 3.63 kilograms of heroin, and claims
she was the victim of a romance scam.

She has been indicted for violating the Narcotics Hazard Control Act.

Under Taiwan law, transporting first-grade narcotics carries a potential
penalty of life in prison or the death penalty.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-04 16:09:19

Taipei officials are inviting the public to Da'an Forest Park this Friday for
the kickoff of the 2026 Taipei Azalea Festival.

The city's Parks Department says that over 200 thousand azaleas are now in
bloom.

This year's display includes rare varieties on loan from neighboring cities,
as well as a centerpiece ecological installation titled 'The A'rk'.

Visitors can also enjoy a weekend market, live music, and DIY workshops
running through the end of the month.

If roses are more your speed, the 2026 Taipei Rose Festival also opens this
Friday.

Head over to the Taipei Rose Garden in Zhongshan District to see more than 5
thousand roses and 800 unique varieties on display.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-04 16:09:20

Now turning to international news...

The Israeli defense minister is threatening whoever Iran picks as the
country's next leader...

saying that person will be a "target for elimination."

That's as Israel targeted a building associated with Iran's Assembly of
Experts, which will select a new supreme leader after Israel killed Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei in a strike.

Meanwhile strikes have continued in the Iranian capital as the war enters the
5th day following earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory
strikes by Iran across the Gulf region.

The US and Israel have so far killed nearly 800 people in Iran.

Posted on 2026-03-04 16:09:20

In the US, new health data shows that maternal deaths in the country have
continued to drop.

But, the US is one of only 7 countries that reported signficantly higher
maternal death rates in 2023 than in 2000.

On top of that, maternal death rates for black women are much higher than for
women of other races.

The country's CDC reported nearly 650 maternal deaths in 2024 during
pregnancy or soon after childbirth.

That's down from nearly 670 the previous year, and a continued drop from in
2022 and 2021, when the level was at its highest in 50 years.

Maternal deaths spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic because the coronavirus
was particularly dangerous to pregnant women and burned-out physicians may
have ignored pregnant women’s worries.

Experts believe the waning of COVID was a major reason for the declines in
deaths since 2021.

Posted on 2026-03-04 16:09:20

Some farmers in West Africa are turning to Tiktok to sell their produce.

In recent years, they have increasingly used social meda to market goods and
share ideas.

Experts believe it's helping to improve yields and change perceptions of
agriculture.

One farmer posts videos of piles of cucumbers with Senegalese rap playing in
the background.

A caption reads "1.5 tonnes, available tomorrow, god willing" with his phone
number.

Platforms like Tiktok and instagram are popular for their video content and
accessibilty.

But challenges remain, including scams and limited access to technology.

Social media is helping farmers bypass middlement and reach new markets,
offering a farm fresh perspective on the profitability of agriculture.

Posted on 2026-03-04 14:06:13

In Kaohsiung, the city government says that over 1800 have benefitted from
travel subsidies set aside for Indigenous residents to seek medical care.

The city's health bureau offers the subsidies to Indigenous residents of
Maolin, Taoyuan, and Namaxia for travel for medical treatment, emergency
doctor's visits, prenatal checkups, and childbirth.

Kaohsiung officials say that the program aims to lower barriers to medical
treatment and improve health equality.

They also note that eligibility for subsidies was expanded last year,
allowing pregant women who live in Indigenous-majority areas but are not of
Indigenous descent to take advantage.

After that change was made, nearly 150% more people received the subsidies.

To get the subsidies, eligible applicants just need to apply at their local
health center within 3 months of their first medical visit...

making sure to bring their household registration, medical payment receipts,
referral form, and other relevant documents.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-04 14:06:13

In Changhua, a former DPP candidate for magistrate has rejected the KMT
candidate's invitation to join the opposition party in a contentious race.

Qiu Jian Fu is the former mayor of Changhua City.

He announced his interest in running for Changhua magistrate last year, but
the party announced that Qiu would be removed from elibility, as they say he
violated participation principles.

However, after the DPP conducted polling in the county to name Chen Su Yue as
the nominee, Qiu said that he would not rule out running as an independent.

In recent days, potential KMT nominee Xie Yi Feng invited Qiu to join the
KMT, who would support his run for magistrate.

Qiu emphasized today that he would absolutely not join the KMT.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-04 14:06:13

Asian shares took big hits today, with the South Korean Kospi plummeting 10%.

Worries over a widening war in the Middle East have hit most world markets.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 lost nearly 4%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell
almost 3%.

Taiwan shares likewise lost a lot of ground today, dropping 1494 points to
close the session at 32828.

The turnover was 1.032 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-03-04 14:06:13

Now turning to international news...

China says, its factory activity has contracted for a second straight month.

The weaker data comes as the country gets ready to hold its annual congress
tomororw.

The official manufacturing purchasing managers index slipped to 49 from 49.3
in January.

Officials attribute the data to seasonal factors including the Lunar New Year
holiday.

But a private sector survey found a PMI reading of 52.1, up from 50.3 in
January, remaining within the expansion territory.

China has been facing a sluggish domestic demand, weighed down by its
prolonged real estate sector downturn.

On the exports front, however, some economists believe that the US Supreme
Court ruling against Trump's reciprocal tariffs may provide a boost to
China's exports and manufacturing activity in the coming months.

Posted on 2026-03-04 14:06:13

In Greenland, fishermen are struggling as climate change makes sea ice
unreliable, and fish harder to predict.

One fisherman near the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk says that his trips now
swing between big paychecks and empty nets.

Experts say, ice started disappearing in the late 1990s.

Fishing accounts for up to 95% of Greenland's exports, and the territory's
biggest employer warns that the ice may disappear within decades.

That shift threatens traditional local communities.

Scientists also warn of overfishing sa more fish might come to the more
exposed and nutrient-rich waters...

but some fear certain fish will leave for colder waters.

Posted on 2026-03-04 13:06:13

Women's groups are calling for more support for those who have experienced
sexual assault or harassment.

That's as Taiwan approaches the 2 year anniversary of the passage of
amendments that strengthen protections for victims and punishments for
perpetrators of sexual assault following Taiwan's MeToo movement.

DPP Legislative Caucus Leader Fan Yun hosted a press conference today,
accompanied by The Garden of Hope Foundation, The Taipei Women's Rescue
Foundation, and the Student Alliance for Gender Equality.

Advocates emphasize that the amendments passed nearly 2 years ago were
intended to protect victims, rather than making the process of reporting more
complex.

Although the number of reports has significantly increased, advocates warn
that many case likely go unreported due to fear or distrust of the system.

They also say that manpower and current infrastructure are not enough to
support these victims.

Fan Yun called on the Ministries of Labor, Health & Welfare, and Education to
review exisitng regulations to determine if adjustments are needed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-04 13:06:16

And, the Central Weather Administaton says, snowfall was recorded on Yushan
this morning as chilly weather across the country persists.

Snowfall has stopped, but frost remains visible in the area.

That's as temperatures on Taiwan's tallest mountain hit negaitve 2.1 degrees
overnight, while in low lying areas they were as low as 13.5 in New Taipei's
shimen.

Tomorrow, though, we can expect a slight reprieve from the cold weather while
rain will be confined to the center, south, and east.

But, on friday, northeasterly winds will bring another drop in termperatures,
as well as rain to the north and east.

Posted on 2026-03-04 13:06:22

Nepal is holding parliamentary elections tomorrow.

This comes just one year after a youth-led uprising forced out the government
chosen in the last elections.

Nearly 1 million more people are registered to vote than in the last election
in 2022, as the uprising sparked greater interest in local politics.

This election is being held just three years after Nepal's last national
vote after the government collapsed and an interim government called for
fresh elections.

Political parties have pledged to amplify the voices of younger voters,
promising to tackle corruption and improve governance.

Voters will directly election 165 members to the House of Representatives...

while the remaining 110 seats will be filled by proportional representation
of political parties.

Previous governments have mostly been coalitions, with two or more parties
joining forces to secure a House majority.

Posted on 2026-03-04 13:06:22

Now turning to international news...

Israel is stepping up airstrikes on Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear
research site...

while Iran continues retaliatory strikes against Israel and across the Gulf
region.

While Israel said it struck Hezbollah militants in Tehran and Lebanon, US
embassies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates came under drone
attacks.

Israel and the US have already killed nearly 800 people in just four days in
Iran.

Meanwhile, the US identified four US Army Reserve soldiers killed in a drone
strike at a command center in Kuwait.

The strike also killed two other service members.

The US has offered various objectives as to its goals in this war, including
destroying Iran's missile capabilites, wiping out its navy, preventing it
from obtaining nuclear weapons, and ensuring it cannot continue to support
allied armed groups.

Posted on 2026-03-04 11:05:13

The Tai-Ex plunged 1,140 points in early trading today to reaching a low of
33,183.

The downward trend was a continuation of yesterday's slump and came after
Wall Street declined overnight due to investor concerns over tensions in the
Middle East.

Market leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price decline
by 55 N-T to drop to 1,880 N-T earlier this morning.

That reducing the chipmaker's market capitalization to 48.75-trillion N-T.

T-S-M-C's share price has now fallen by a 135 N-T over the past four trading
days - which has negativly impacted the overall market by approximately
1,083-points.

T-S-M-C's decline contributed approximately 441-points to the Tai-Ex's slump
this morning.

Posted on 2026-03-04 11:05:13

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected no Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Tuesday and 6AM
today.

It's the fifth consecutive day that no Chinese aircraft have been spotted
near, or in Taiwan's air defense identification zones.

China has only dispatched one balloon since February 28.

Five Chinese Navy ships and one maritime patrol vessel were spotted operating
in the general vicinity of the Taiwan Strait over the 24-hour period.

Posted on 2026-03-04 11:05:13

meeting

The visiting U-S Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Casey
Mace has held talks with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
during which he acknowledged Taiwan's regional contributions.

Mace was in town for meets with senior government officials and industry
leaders to discuss issues related to APEC, advancing US-Taiwan economic
cooperation, and showing support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in
the international community.

The talks focused key issues including on supply chain resilience, AI, and
the digital economy.

The foreign minstry says Mace met with Deputy Foreign Minister Ge Bao-xuan -
during which the U-S official reiterated Washington's firm support for
Taiwan's participation in APEC.

Posted on 2026-03-04 11:05:15

In international news,

U-S President Donald Trump is threatening to halt all trade with Spain, after
the country banned America from using its military bases there as part of its
war in Iran.

Trump told reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
that Spain had been "terrible" and suggested "we're going to cut off all
trade". "We don't want anything to do with Spain" .......

The U-S relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota
and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the country's leadership
said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran.

It is unclear whether the Trump administration will follow through on the
threat to halt all trade with Spain.

Posted on 2026-03-04 11:05:15

China's ceremonial parliament meets in Beijing this week as leaders use the
event to set policy and economic goals.

The National People's Congress and a top advisory body open the annual "Two
Sessions" tomorrow.

The party leadership sets the agenda and lawmakers then ratify decisions with
near-unanimous votes.

Experts say debate has narrowed under President Xi Jinping with the economy
taking center stage.

The premier gives growth and other targets and observers watch for more
detail on a new five-year plan.

China faces weak consumer demand, a troubled property market and U-S tariffs.

Posted on 2026-03-04 11:05:15

Voters in Nepal will be heading to the polls tomorrow in what is the
country's first general election since youth-led protests last September
demanded an end to corruption, more jobs and cleaner politics.

The protests led to the deaths of 77 people and forced the government to
resign.

The Himalayan nation has seen 32 changes in government since 1990, leaving
its economy hamstrung and forcing millions to seek work abroad.

Nearly 19-million of Nepal's 30-million ?people are eligible to vote to pick
a 275-member legislature, of which 165 candidates are directly elected and
110 selected via proportional representation.

About one million of these voters were added after last year's protests.

Posted on 2026-03-04 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement in support of the U-S
and Israel's war on Iran.

.. saying Taiwan supports efforts to help the Iranian people pursue freedom
and democracy and hopes that they can "enjoy these things soon."

According to ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei, Taiwan is a member of the
international democratic community and as such supports the international
community's "efforts to help the Iranian people."

... and hopes the "Iranian people can soon enjoy freedom, democracy and human
rights."

Hsiao also says Taiwan condemns Iran's recent "indiscriminate military
attacks."

Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu, who made a secret trip to Israel late
last year, has told reporters that the U-S and Israel want to "eliminate
terrorism."

Wu also said the government has no immediate plans to conduct mass
evacuations of more than 3,000 Taiwan citizens in the Middle East, but those
wishing to leave immediately can seek assistance from Taiwan's representative
offices in the region.

Posted on 2026-03-04 08:14:13

Meanwhile,

The Tourism Administration says a total of 87 tour groups consisting of 2,364
Taiwan citizens have been affected since a war broke out in the Middle East
on February 28 that led to several countries shutting down their airspace.

According to the administration, that figure includes 36 groups with 949
travelers who canceled their trips and received refunds and 51 groups with
1,415 travelers whose return flights to Taiwan have been disrupted.

Among those stranded abroad, five groups with 121 travelers have since
boarded flights home.

The Tourism Administration says travel agencies have been asked to help
arrange return flights for those who are still overseas and to provide
accommodation and meals while they await departure.

Posted on 2026-03-04 08:14:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the government is waiting for official notification
from the United States regarding the status of the Agreement on Reciprocal
Trade after the U-S Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump's "reciprocal"
tariffs unconstitutional.

Speaking to reporters before a legislative hearing, Cho said Taiwan's
negotiation team remains focused on ensuring the bilateral trade deal remains
intact despite the legal challenge to Trump's global tariff policy.

According to Cho, America has pledged to notify its trade partners once the
subsequent administrative and legal processes are finalized, and that
certainly includes Taiwan.

Taiwan and the U-S signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on February 12.

The agreement was originally slated for submission to the Legislative Yuan
for deliberation along with an investment Memorandum of Understanding
sometime this month.

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun sought to reassure the public in late February
that the U-S Supreme Court's decision would not undermine the core benefits
Taiwan secured under the agreement.

She said at the time that provisions within the investment M-O-U continue to
provide Taiwan with preferential treatment regarding potential tariffs
stemming from Section 232 investigations under the U-S Trade Expansion Act.

Posted on 2026-03-04 08:14:13

The Bureau of Labor Insurance says a majority of people enrolled in the new
Labor Pension Fund have received a boost of over 20,000 N-T to their pensions
following the distribution of record gains made from the fund's investment.

Investments made by the fund reported record gains of 746.89-billion N-T last
year.

That was up from 698.97-billion N-T in 2024.

According to the bureau, a total of 13.1-million people enrolled in the fund
had their pension accounts boosted yesterday -- as the earnings were
distributed.

Of those, 7.72 million people received more than 20,000 N-T each, while
4.93-million received more than 50,000 N-T each.

People wishing to check the balance of their new Labor Pension Fund can log
into the e-Service System on the Bureau of Labor Insurance website, at an
ATM, or at a local bureau office.

Posted on 2026-03-04 08:14:13

The High Speed Rail Corporation will be adding 191 train services during the
upcoming Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday.

The High Speed Rail operator will be implementing a six-day special service
schedule from April 2 through 7 to meet anticipated heavy demand.

A total of 191 additional trains - 73 southbound and 118 northbound - will
operate during the peak period, bringing the total number of services over
the six days to 1,162.

Tickets for the holiday period will go on sale from tomorrow.

They will be available via the High Speed Rail Corporation's online booking
system, partner convenience store ticketing services, the T-EX mobile app, as
well as station ticket counters and automated ticketing machines.

Posted on 2026-03-04 08:14:13

And,

UIltramarathon runner Tommy Chen has placed second at the Lapland
185-kilometer Arctic Ultra in Sweden.

Chen finished in a time of 1 day, 19 hours and 13 minutes.

Chen was among 35 athletes who competed in temperatures ranging from minus 10
to minus 30 degrees.

According to Chen, he slept for about one hour after 40 hours on the course
and completed the race in nearly two days and covered 110-kilometers in the
final 24 hours.

However, he says prolonged exposure to moisture caused symptoms of trench
foot and was forced to change socks quickly at each checkpoint to keep his
feet dry, while he endured pain and swelling in oroder to hold on to his
position.

The Lapland 185-kilometer Arctic Ultra was won by French athlete Mathieu
Blanchard, who finished in 1 day, 14 hours and 13 minutes.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:13

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin says the government has secured sufficient
natural gas supplies for this month and there will "absolutely be no power
rationing."

This comes amid concerns that escalating hostilities in the Middle East could
trigger rationing.

The Economics Minister says, gas shipments for early March have already
passed through the Strait of Hormuz, while supplies for the second half of
the month have been secured from "alternative markets."

Kung also told lawmakers that he hopes the conflict will be short-lived and
the government use of coal-fired power generation will be "a last resort."

After the hearing, the Ministry of Economic Affairs issued a statement where
it outlined what is called a "three-stage plan" for ensuring fuel supplies in
the event of "extreme conditions," - including a long-term Iranian blockade.

Under that plan, C-P-C will first redirect cargoe from non-Mid East sources
such as the U-S and Australia, then seek supply swaps with Asian buyers such
as Japan and South Korea.

It also plans to obtain oil from spot markets if necessary to ensure
uninterrupted domestic supply.

The ministry further plans L-N-G purchases from the U-S to strengthen energy
resilience.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:13

Former K-M-T lawmaker Jason Hsu has testified before the US China Economic
and Security Review Commission on the strategic importance of Taiwan's
undersea infrastructure.

Hsu, who is now a senior fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute,
warned of dire consequences if the 24 undersea cables Taiwan depends on for
its digital connectivity were cut.

The former lawmaker said such a disruption in connectivity would interrupt
semiconductor manufacturing that "underpins the global technology supply
chain," even as it paralyses financial markets and severing critical military
and government communications.

Hsu told members of the commission that Beijing needs to only sever three key
cable clusters to reduce Taiwan's bandwidth by 99-per cent.

He went on to urge the U-S Congress to pass and fund the Critical Undersea
Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act, establish an Indo-Pacific undersea
cable surveillance network, invest in repair capacity, and conduct joint
drills in the Taiwan Strait.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:13

The Centers for Disease Control is advising people who are Tokyo to attend
World Baseball Classic games to take precautions against measles, flu and
infectious gastroenteritis.

The agency says the warning is being triggered by an increase in incidents of
the diseases.

Travelers should be aware of a rise in measles cases in Japan, which have
reached their highest cumulative total for the same period since 2020... flu
activity in Japan also remains at a high level.

The CDC also warned travelers about infectious gastroenteritis in Japan,
saying the country recorded an average of 8.02 cases per clinic in the eighth
week of the year, the highest for the same period in five years.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:13

The government is seeking to promote Taiwan's gender equality push by
launching an advertisement campaign featuring an animation display atop
yellow taxis in New York.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of NGO International Affairs says
the event has been held annually since 2020 to back Taiwan's efforts to
advance gender equality and is organized by Taiwan's representative office in
New York

It will run from March 6 to 19.

The advertisement campaign coincides with a United Nations session in the
city on women's empowerment.

A MOFA official also says a "Taiwan Gender Equality Week" will be held to
coincide with the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women -
which is being held at the U-N Headquarters from March 9 to 19.

Bus shelters and subway stations near Midtown Manhattan as well as major
tourist attractions will also feature billboards promoting Taiwan's gender
equality push.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:13

The Childcare Policy Alliance indicate substantial support for the idea of
unmarried partners and single women having children if key institutional
protections were established.

But the childcare N-G-O also said that when such protections are lacking...
71-per cent oppose non-marital childbearing and 61-per cent oppose single
parenting.

The results of the survey were released ahead of International Women's Day on
March 8... the alliance indicates Taiwan's population is not as conservative
as imagined.

It further called on Legislature to prioritize passing widely agreed
provisions of the Assisted Reproduction Act so that single women can use
assisted reproduction and receive institutional and resource protections.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:13

One person has died and three others have suffered injuries after they
inhaled a noxious gas during operations at a Chang Chun Plastics plant in
Kaohsiung's Daliao Township.

Kaohsiung City labour officials say the accident occured at a factory in the
Ta Fa Industrial Park, when four workers who were replacing activated carbon
in a pipeline began to experience respiratory difficulties.

The workers are believed to have accidentally inhaled an unknown noxious gas.

That were taken to a nearby hospital, where a 69-year-old man later died.

The other three workers all remained conscious and were released from the
hospital after their blood tests came back normal.

The labor bureau has ordered the facility to suspend operations and officials
are carrying out an inspections.

The bureau says it will wait for the results of a autopsy on the dead work to
investigate whether the employer bears any legal responsibility.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:14

And,

The annual Dajia Mazu pilgrimage is scheduled to begin at 10:05PM on April 17.

The date and time for this year's pilgrimage honoring the sea goddess Mazu
were decided after the chairman of the Jenn Lan Temple board undertook a
traditional rite in front of a statue of Mazu, seeking the deity's approval.

The theme of this year's pilgrimage is "kindness," and it has replaced pork
offerings with "Ping-An" rice cakes this year, which could reduce the number
of pigs offered to the event.

The temple says the procession will showcase the "best things" in Taiwan,
with people along the route offering snacks, water, massage services and
medical assistance.

The pilgrimage route includes stops at several temples in Taichung, Changhua
County, Yunlin County and Chiayi County before returning to Dajia.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:14

The Trump Administration is threatening to impose a full U.S. trade embargo
on Spain after the European and NATO ally refused to let the U.S. military
use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

The U.S. has had to relocate 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from
the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the country's
Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran.

Trade scholars say Trump would have to declare a national emergency over
Spain as an "unusual and extraordinary" threat to the United States.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:14

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he has called on US leader Donald Trump
to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

Merz said Russia is playing for time here, and in doing so is also acting
against the will of the American president...

The United States, Russia and Ukraine are taking part in trilateral talks
aimed at securing a ?peace ?deal. Merz ?though said only a pact supported by
Europe could be lasting.

Merz also said Europe is not prepared to accept an agreement that is
negotiated over its heads.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy says U.S.-brokered talks between
Russia and Ukraine expected later this week may take place in Switzerland or
Turkey.

He also noted that Western countries have given no indication so far that
their delivery to Kyiv of vital air defense missiles could be disrupted by
commitments to Middle East defense.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:14

China opens its fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference today...

Chinese media is calling this year a "hinge moment" in China's economic and
social trajectory, because it marks the start of a new five-year plan.

The15th Five-Year Plan is seen as a blueprint that will shape fiscal
priorities, industrial policy, regional development and social reform.

Posted on 2026-03-04 06:52:14

North Korea will hold an election on March 15 to pick delegates for its
Supreme People's Assembly...

Pyongyang typically holds a parliamentary session after a party congress to
translate party decisions into law and carry out a personnel reshuffle to
implement them.

The elections are expected to reflect a shakeup in the country's senior
leadership.

The Assembley is also expected to codify the regime's policy defining the two
Koreas as "hostile countries" into the constitution

Posted on 2026-03-03 18:15:13

The Tourism Administration says over 2 thousand 300 Taiwanese travelers in 87
tour groups in the Middle East have seen their plans disrupted ...

... following a wave of airspace closures in the region.

According to the administration, nearly 950 people opted to cancel their
trips for full refunds, but over 14 hundred others remain stranded overseas
due to grounded flights.

So far, only 121 travelers from five groups have successfully made it back to
Taiwan since the conflict began.

While some limited services began to resume yesterday, all major flights
between the U-A-E and Taoyuan were canceled again today.

Travel agencies have been ordered to cover all lodging and meal costs for
those still waiting for a way home.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-03-03 18:15:16

Millions of workers in Taiwan saw a significant boost to their retirement
savings today ...

...after the Bureau of Labor Insurance distributed record-breaking investment
gains from the New Labor Pension Fund.

According to the bureau, nearly 60 percent of those enrolled, which is over
7.7 million workers, received a deposit of over 20-thousand NT into their
individual accounts.

Nearly 38 percent of workers — around 5 million — fared even better,
receiving over 50-thousand NT.

The fund's investments reported record gains of nearly 747 billion NT in 2025
— a significant jump of over 50 billion NT from the year before.

Workers can check their updated balances on the BLI website, at local ATMs,
or in person at a bureau office.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-03 18:15:18

Local media is reporting a gas explosion at Jianguo Market in Taichung's East
District.

Emergency crews say a bottled LPG cylinder exploded around 3:30 PM, injuring
a 70-year-old vendor.

Fortunately, the victim suffered only minor scrapes and declined a trip to
the hospital.

The Taichung Fire Bureau rushed 13 vehicles and 47 personnel to the scene.

By the time they arrived, the blast was out and the cylinder was secured.

Authorities have set up a safety perimeter while they investigate the exact
cause.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-03 18:15:19

Taiwan has blocked 1,000 kilograms of black sesame seeds imported from China
after tests found cadmium levels twice the legal limit.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the shipment contained 0.2
milligrams per kilogram of cadmium, and has been ordered returned or
destroyed.

It was the second failed inspection in six months for the same importer,
which operates the Michelin-recognized KaiKai Dessert brand.

As a result, its sesame imports will now face batch-by-batch inspections.

Separately, authorities also rejected Chilean nectarines and a German dietary
supplement found to contain excessive sorbic acid.

The supplement importer will likewise face stricter inspections after
repeated violations.

Posted on 2026-03-03 18:15:20

Taoyuan Airport MRT is set to open bicycle access at three more stations on
the line — meaning that all 22 stations will allow bicycles.

Starting next Tuesday, March 10th, passengers can bring bicycles into A12
Terminal One, A13 Terminal Two, and A14a Airport Hotel stations.

Previously, bicycles had to be folded or fully packed before entering those
stations.

The metro operator says travelers must purchase a special bicycle ticket at
station counters.

Bicycles are not allowed on express trains and must be boarded through
designated doors on commuters trains.

On weekdays, bicycles are permitted between 10 AM and 4 PM, and again after
10 PM.

On weekends, access is open all day.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-03 17:06:13

KMT lawmaker Chen Yu Zhen has been named as the party's nominee for Kinmen
county magistrate.

Chen was the only candidate to declare their interest to the party.

The party is expected to formally nominate Chen tomorrow.

Chen says she looks forward to helping Kinmen break the cycle of economic
stagnation.

She added that Kinmen should shoulder the responsibility of acting as a role
model in maintaining cross-strait peace, and should fight for more exchanges
between China and Taiwan.

The DPP and TPP have not yet named any candidates in the race.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-03 17:06:13

New data shows that nearly 70 percent of Taiwanese would support unmarried
couples and single women raising children — if proper support systems are in
place.

The survey from the Childcare Policy Alliance comes as Taiwan recently
surpassed South Korea to become the country least willing to have children.

Results show that without protections, over 70 percent oppose childbearing
outside marriage and over 60 percent oppose single women raising children.

But when measures such as shared parental responsibility, anti-discrimination
protections and public childcare are introduced, nearly 70% support the idea.

Advocates say the findings suggest concerns are pragmatic rather than moral,
focused on whether sufficient resources exist.

They're urging the government to re-think the idea that childbirth must be
tied to marriage ... and to introduce more flexible policies to address the
declining birth rate.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-03 17:06:13

Kaohsiung is kicking off the DPP's polling for city councilor positions this
week, with 3 candidates from district 11 now confirmed.

The port city is the first of the 6 major municipalities to undergo polling,
beginning with the 11th and 6th electoral districts yesterday.

In District 11, candidates Zhang Yao Zhong張耀中, Hong Cun Ming洪村銘, and Li
Yu Ting 李雨庭emerged victorious.

Of those 3, Li, an incumbent, is protected by the gender balance quota, and
beat out another candidate for that reason.

Polls in the country's second biggest municipality continue the rest of the
week, with polling tonight taking place in District 6 due to insufficient
sample size.

Also tonight is District 10, with results expected tomorrow morning.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-03 17:06:13

Now turning to international news...

2 people were killed when a civilian helicopter was forced tomake an
emergency landing in the Philippines.

It's not immediately clear why the helicopter was forced to land in clear
weather in Rizal province.

The landing killed 2 people and injured 3.

The helicopter took off from Manila and was enroute to Quezon at the time.

Authorities say that one person died instantly on impact and another died in
the hospital.

One of the dead was not a Philippine national.

Aviation officials say, an investigation is underway.

Posted on 2026-03-03 17:06:13

In the US,

strikes on Iran have revealed splits in the Democratic party, which typically
remains united against the US president.

Democrats condemn late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while also
pushing a war powers vote to limit Trump.

However, some pro-Israel Democrats say, they won't support the measure.

Trump says, the operation could last weeks, and warns that more Americans are
likely to die in the conflict.

The issue also fans the flames over Israel and a powerful pro-Israel
political action committes in an election year.

Democrats have been faced with an internal debate over the party's
relationship with Israel over its war on Gaza...

as Former President Joe Biden's loyalty to Israel was starkly at odds with
younger generations outraged by Israel's actions in Gaza.

Posted on 2026-03-03 17:06:13

The Netherlands' Rijksmuseum says, a painting once dismissed as "not a
Rembrandt" has been confirmed to be a Rembrandt.

The museum has unveiled the painting, entitled "Vision of Zacharias in the
Temple" following two years of close study.

Experts used high-tech scans and compared pigments and paint layers with
other Rembrandt works.

They also dated the wood panel to before 1633, the year on the painting.

A private collector bought the work in 1961, and it has stayed out of view
for decades.

The owner, who has remained anonymous, initially asked the museum only if the
painting was Dutch.

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

Taiwan’s Economic Minister is reassuring the public that the nation has
enough natural gas to prevent power shortages despite the recent military
conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

Minister Kung Ming-hsin said today that the government has secured gas
supplies for March and has backup plans ready if the fighting continues into
April.

Kung explained that gas shipments for the first half of March have already
passed through the Strait of Hormuz and are safe.

And he says the government has successfully found alternative sources for the
rest of the month.

When asked if the conflict would cause electricity prices to rise, Kung said
any price changes must be decided by the electricity rate committee.

The minister also mentioned that using coal power to fill the gap would be a
last resort.

(NS)

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

KMT Deputy Chair Hsiao Hsu-tsen is doubling down on a meeting between Chair
Zheng Li Wen and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Hsiao says that the details around such a meeting are still up in the air,
but that if such a meeting happens it would be a major plus for the
"Taiwanese people."

Hsiao also downplayed internal strife regarding such a meeting, saying that
KMT politicians should not be too afraid to be smeared as being "pro-China."

Zheng Li Wen previously said that she hoped to meet her Chinese counterpart
in the first half of the year.

Hsiao noted that, as it's an election year, many politicians may be nervous
to speak out in support of the meeting, but he says they shouldn't be.

He also declined to offer a definitive timeline for such a meeting.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-03 14:06:18

Taiwan shares saw big losses, with the benchmark tai ex losing 771 points to
close the session at 34323.

The turnover was 1.05 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-03-03 14:06:18

Now turning to international news...

Both sides are continuing to launch strikes in the middle east, with Iran
hitting the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and the US and Israel pounding Iran
with airstrikes.

That's as US President Donald Trump suggested that the strikes were just the
start of a ongterm military campaign.

The attack from two drones on the US Embassy in Ruyadh caused what officials
called a "limited fire" and minor damage.

It follows an attack yesterday on the US Embassy in Kuwait.

Iran has also hit several countries that are typically considered safe
havens, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

US/Israeli strikes have killed hundreds in Iran and dozens in Lebanon.

11 were also killed in Israel when Iran launched missile attacks.

Posted on 2026-03-03 14:06:18

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are reporting 2 dead and over one dozen
injured in a bus accident.

The incident took place when the bus slid across a road in a popular tourist
area of La Romana, east of Santo Domingo.

Officials say that the dead were Canadian tourists, and noted that 2 of the
injured passengers were transferred to a specialized trauma hospital.

Canadian officials said that staff were providing assistance but did not give
further details.

The Dominican Republic has one of the world’s highest traffic fatality
rates, according to the World Health Organization.

Posted on 2026-03-03 14:06:18

A new traveling exhibit in the US tells the story of Japanese American
soldiers who fought for the US in World War II...

even as their families were locked up and deemed enemies of the state.

Decades after they returned home from the war to face more racism and
discrimination, the soldiers are now being honored in the exhibit.

Kicking off in San Francisco, the exhibit is titled "I am an American: The
Nisei Soldier Experience."

The 140 square meter exhibit features family photos, mementos, and short
biographies of the Nisei men shared by their relatives.

About 33,000 Japanese Americans fought in World War II, despite the fact that
the US government was shipping an estimated 120,000 people of Japanese
ancestry to internment camps at the same time.

2/3rds of those detained were US citizens, and many of their homes and
businesses were seized while they were imprisoned.

The United States didn’t offer a formal apology until 1988.

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

The Taiwan Railway Corporation says, in the 9 hours since sales opened for
tickets over the Tomb Sweeping holiday, they sold nearly 150,000 tickets.

The company adds that there are still many seats available on the eastern and
western main lines.

Booking opened this morning for tickets during the April 2nd to 7th period.

Meanwhile, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says, bookings will open
Thursday for an additional 191 trains in the same period.

The company will thus offer a total of 1162 train services during the
holiday.

Passengers can book those tickets with the THSR starting midnight on March
5th on the THSR app or website.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-03 13:08:16

Mandopop singer Sun Yanzi is set to perform twice at the Taipei Dome in May.

It'll be her first performance in the city in 12 years.

The Singaporean singer said that preparations for her AUT NIHILO tour are in
full swing.

She added that she would be performing at the Taipei Dome May 15th and 17th.

Those tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, March 20th via KKTIX.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-03 13:08:17

Now turning to international news...

China's National People's Congress is set to take place this thursday.

The meeting comes as China's progress in building a modern economy hits
limits, as a downturn in the housing industry drags on, small businesses
suffer, and young people struggle with unemployment.

The gap between Chinese leaders' tech-driven ambitions and the hard realities
of slowing growth is the backdrop of the largely ceremonial national
legislature.

During the meetings, in which about 3000 deputies flock to Beijing, top
leaders will outline China's annual target for growth.

The congress will also endorse a five-year blueprint of policy priorities for
the next few years.

Experts say, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will have to choose between the
priorities of industry and tech, or domestic demand.

Economists note that hitting positive growth targets will not be enough to
balance what they call "enormous structural problems."

Posted on 2026-03-03 13:08:17

In the US, the Supreme Court is clearing the way for schools to tell parents
if their children are transgender without the student's approval.

The action grants an emergency appeal from a conservative legal group.

The order- for now- blocks a California state law that bans automatic
parental notification requirements.

The lawsuit came to the court's emergency docket after religious parents and
educators challenged California policies aimed at preventing schools from
outing children to their families.

Parents claims that schools misled them and facilitated social transition
despite objections.

California says that students have the right to privacy, in particular if
they fear rejection from their families.

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

The Tai-Ex fluctuated, but also made moderate gains this morning.

The main board opened marginally higher, then initially fell by over 70
points, before rebounding to add 160 points to reach 35,257 in early trading.

Electronics, semiconductor, and financial stocks all weakened in morning
trading from yesterday.

However, the weighted index saw strong support from the traditional
industries such as shipping and plastics - which all attracted solid investor
interest.

Analysts say it's currently hard to predict the floor for the index, as
geopolitical unease about the Middle East continues and the price of oil
could dictate the market's movement for much of this week.

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

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected no Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Monday and 6AM today.

It's the fourth consecutive that no Chinese aircraft have been spotted near
or in Taiwan's air defense identification zones.

China has only dispatched one balloon since February 28.

The last time zero Chinese aircraft were spotted operating near Taiwan was
after the U-S military's surprise attack on Venezuela in January.

There is now speculation as why Beijing appears to have toned down its usual
daily harassment of Taiwan - with some experts speculating that the U-S and
Israel's attacks on Iran has sparked concerns in China about a lack of
available cheap fuel.

Five Chinese Navy ships were spotted operating in the general vicinity of the
Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

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

In international news,

Lebanon's government has banned military activities by Hezbollah.

It comes after the group opened fire on Israel to avenge the killing of
Iran's supreme leader, - a move likely to fuel tension with the Tehran-backed
group as it faces a new Israeli offensive.

The government's decision has been rejected by a senior Hezbollah politician.

Israel has launched heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern
suburbs of Beirut over the past days in response to the Hezbollah drone and
rocket strike.

It was Hezbollah's first attack on Israel since the 2024 war.

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

French President Emmanuel Macron says France will allow the temporary
deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries as part of its
new nuclear strategy.

According to Macron, the new strategy will "provide for the temporary
deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries."

He also says there will be no sharing of decision-making with any other
nation regarding use of nuclear weapon.

Talks about such arrangements have reportedly started with Britain, Germany,
Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark.

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

Haiti's government has opened a 10-day registration period for political
parties to run in an upcoming general election.

The move is a key step for a country that hasn't held one in more than a
decade as deadly gang violence persists.

Heavily armed soldiers and police surrounded the headquarters of Haiti's
Provisional Electoral Council on Monday as political operatives for long
established parties picked up the necessary paperwork.

At least one leader of a new political party also registered.

However, many people in Haiti remain concerned that gang violence won't allow
for an election in August and a runoff in December as planned.

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

social model

Cuba's president says his government should "immediately" focus on
implementing urgent transformations to the island's economic and social model
as oil reserves in the Caribbean country dwindle.

Miguel Diaz-Canel made the comments during a meeting of the Council of
Ministers ...

.. and it comes as Cuba is feeling the squeeze of a recent U-S oil blockade
coupled with a halt in oil shipments from Venezuela after the U-S attacked
the South American country in January.

State-owned media is quoted Diaz-Canel as saying that the pushes to transform
Cuba's economic and social model are tied to business and municipal autonomy
and the resizing of the state apparatus, government and institutions, among
other things.

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

And finally,

A runner who was leading the women's race of the U-S half marathon
championships until she was mistakenly led off the course by a guide vehicle
is calling for U-S-A Track & Field to make right ....

..... an outcome that cost her a spot in the world road running championships.

Jess McClain was ahead by a wide margin with about 2.4-kilometers to go when
she and three other runners followed the guide vehicle on a wrong turn.

McClain says she followed a police escort, official lead vehicle and a media
motorcycle off the course for about one kilometer.

McClain ended up finishing ninth.

The top three finishers in the race qualified for the world championships in
Copenhagen in September.

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

Insurance plan

The Ministry of Health is calling for a full review of a proposal by the
K-M-T for the government the cover National Health Insurance premiums for
children aged 6 year and younger.

The K-M-T says the proposal is aimed at addressing the island's declining
birthrate and the party is pushing for the bill to be given priority during
the current legislative session.

However, the health ministry says as it involves major public spending, the
bill needs to reviewed - as National Health Insurance is based on social
insurance and mutual aid ...

... and any amendments requiring the central government to cover premiums
for all children under the age of 6 will need a comprehensive policy and
fiscal review.

The statements come amid concerns the K-M-T proposal seeks to exempt all
parents from paying premiums for all children under the age of 6.

And opponents argue it will allow wealthy families to benefit from subsidies
that are currently only intended for economically disadvantaged families.

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

Transport Minister Chen Shi-kai says the government is taking various steps
and working on measures to attract more international tourists to Taiwan.

According to Chen, cruise liner tourism has posted strong growth in recent
year - with 567 international cruise ships docking in Taiwan last year alone
...

.. and they brought 1.1 million passengers into the country - 41-per cent of
whom were foreign visitors.

Chen says more than 1,000-kilometers of the Round-the-Island Bike Route 2.0
will be completed by the end of this year, and three domestic carriers are
introducing new aircraft to expand capacity.

The transport minister is citing the reopening of the Ping-xi Rail Line and
the reopening of the full Ji-ji Rail Line in July as two other attractions he
says will help attract more international tourists.

Chen also says the Lai Administration is rolling out a new tourism initiative
dubbed the "Smiling South Bay IN Taiwan Plan," - which is aimed at
beautifying key tourists attractions and upgrading overall tourism quality.

Posted on 2026-03-03 08:13:17

The Bureau of Labor Funds is reporting record high monthly gains for January
-- citing booming global financial markets.

Data shows the funds' accumulated gains totaled 394.7-billion N-T in January.

That smashed the previous record of 300.6-billion N-T set in October of last
year

The bureau says the accumulated gains reflect overall increases in the value
of assets and investments from that funds it manages.

According to bureau deputy director Liu Li-ru, the gains were driven by the
surge in global financial markets, but she is expects a smaller return on the
labor funds in February, as the global financial markets are unlikely to
sustain all of their January spike.

Just over 57-per cent of its investments were made overseas in January, while
the remaining 42.96-per cent were invested in the domestic market.

As of the end of January, the combined value of the funds managed by the
bureau stood at 7.98-trillion N-T.

The bureau manages the Labor Pension Fund, the Labor Retirement Fund, the
Labor Insurance Fund, the Employment Insurance Fund, and the Arrear Wage
Payment Fund.

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

A man has been ordered detained following his arrest for allegedly sending
threats in late February to set fires, plant bombs and kill people at Taipei
Main Railway Station.

Prosecutors say they secured court approval to detain the Changhua County
resident surnamed - who police say admitted making the threats due to stress
and being in a bad mood.

According to a statement from Railway Police Bureau, the Taiwan Railway
Corporation and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation received separate
threats on February 25 and 26, respectively.

Police says they took steps to heightened security measures and formed a task
force to investigate the case, as the threats were made just ahead of the 228
Memorial Day long weekend holiday.

Authorities identified the suspect after analyzing digital evidence and
police raided his residence in Changhua on the night of February 27 and took
him into custody.

He is facing charges of public intimidation.

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

The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival begin this evening in Chiayi County.

It's the first time since 2018 that Chiayi County has hosted the annual event.

It will run from today through March 15 and feature more than 600 lanterns.

Those lanterns include the main lantern titled "Alishan, Veiled in Luminous
Mist."

There also a Super Mario Star Festival section, which has been sponsored by
Japanese gaming giant Nintendo - and it features a 10-meter tall lantern
depicting the video game maker's iconic Mario character.

This evening's opening ceremony will include performances by the air force,
the Rakuten Monkey's cheerleading team as well as dance troupes from Chiayi,
Japan and the Philippines.

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

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says rain and cooler weather can be
expected across Taiwan today - the opening day of the Lantern Festival.

According to the adrministration's forecast center, temperatures in the north
could drop to around 14-degrees this evening.

Central parts of the island are is expected to see lows of between 15 and
16-degrees, while lows will likely range between 17 and 19-degrees in the
south.

Some mountainous areas above 3,500 meters could also see localized snowfall
from today through Thursday.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it plans to increase energy imports in
response to the current situation in the Middle East.

The MOEA says it is set to diversify import sources and strengthen energy
supply security.

The ministry says Taiwan's current coal-fired power generation capacity of
13-gigawatts ...

... and Tai-Power has transitioned the 2.1 gigawatt Xing-Da coal-fired power
plant units 1 to 4 into reserve power facilities to serve as backup to ensure
a stable power supply when necessary.

The ministry says although the conflict is effecting some shipments oil and
gas import coming through the Strait of Hormuz, short-term energy shipment
arrivals remain unaffected ...

.. and long-term contingency plans are in place to maintain a stable power
supplies.

The government says it has cut Middle Eastern imports to 35-per cent, while
increasing imports from Canada and Australia.

The economic ministry's statements come as Premier Zhu Rong-tai met with
senior government officials for talks on the impact of higher international
oil prices.

Cho says the government remains committed to maintaining stable energy
prices, with C-P-C asked to ensure uninterrupted supplies.

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun is expected to a series of price stabilization
meetings.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

conflict

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised its travel warnings for several
Middle Eastern countries affected by the ongoing regional conflict.

The travel alerts for Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi
Arabia, and Qatar have been raised from yellow to orange.

That's the second-highest level and warns people to avoid unnecessary travel
to those destinations.

The ministry had already raised the travel alert for Israel and Iran to the
highest level after Israel and the U-S launched airstrikes on Iran on
Saturday.

The ministry operates on a four-tier colour coded system.

Even though it has heightened alerts, the government has no immediate plans
to evacuate Taiwan citizens in Middle Eastern countries, as it says Iran's
retaliation has been focused on U-S military sites in the region rather than
on civilians.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

The Tourism Administration more than two thousand travelers from dozens of
Taiwan tour groups have been affected by the Middle East conflict and the
closure of multiple countries' airspaces since last Saturday.

Several hundred have had to cancel their trips, while more than 12 hundred
are currently stranded overseas due to flight disruptions.

Travel agency operators have been asked assist travelers to return home, and
to ensure proper accommodations and meal arrangements for those who are stuck
and unable to return to Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

The Chunghwa Post Office says international mail sent from Taiwan to 17
countries can expect "severe" delays after air transport operations in the
Middle East were suspended for several days.

The delays will effect mail deliveries to countries including Israel, Iran,
the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Pakistan, Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Jordan, Greece and Egypt.

The post office says it has been in contact with partner airlines and is
closely tracking the latest developments regarding flight resumptions and
mail transport.

It's also urging senders to carefully assess delivery timeframes before
mailing items and said updates will be posted on its Global Information
Network Website.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

The American Institute in Taiwan says the U-S Senior Official for
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Casey Mace is visiting Taiwan to support
Taiwan's international participation.

Mace is set to meet with senior government officials and industry leaders to
discuss "issues related to APEC, advancing US-Taiwan economic cooperation,
and showing support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the
international community.

A-I-T says the talks will have a focus on supply chain resilience, AI, and
the digital economy.

Mace also heads the Office of Economic Policy in the State Department's
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Mace's visit to Taiwan comes as China is hosting the 2026 APEC meetings in
Shenzhen.

The government has previously expressed concerns over its participation in
this year's APEC meetings after China's foreign ministry said last year that
it would fulfill its obligations as host as long as Taipei complies with the
"one China" principle.

However, Taiwan's APEC senior official said earlier this year that Taiwan's
delegation successfully visited Shenzhen for an APEC-related event in late
2025 and did not receive any treatment that downgraded Taiwan's sovereignty.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

The High Court Taichung Branch has ordered the owners of the Qingjing Farm in
Nantou's Ren'ai Township and a contractor to pay 710,000 N-T in compensation
after a horse bit and injured a child's ear.

The incident occured in 2021, when the father of a 2-year-old boy lifted her
son for a photo outside an enclosure where children could feed the farm's
horses.

One horses reached its head out, bit the boy's right ear causing cartilage
damage that required reconstructive surgery.

The High Court ruling overturning a lower court's verdict absolving them of
any legal responsibility for the accident.

The parents were seeking 2.31-million N-T in compensation.

Although the High Court partially sided with the family's arguments that they
had not seen warning signs or staff member due to the large crowd of people
around the enclosure, it also noted that the contractor had taken additional
safety measures after the incident.

The ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

And finally,

The annual Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival in Tainan got off to an
explosive start... drawing large crowds to the two day event...

The festival is traditionally held on the 14th and 15th days of the first
month of the lunar calendar to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

The event is organised by the Yanshui Wu Temple, and it is one of Taiwan's
most iconic events... its both a folk festival and a religious celebration
that originated from efforts to ward off epidemics.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che kicked off the event by prayed at the temple for a
safe and smooth two days of activities before lighting a string of
firecrackers hoisted several meters into the air by a crane to signal the
official start of the annual festival.

Huang also said he hopes the coming year, with the help of the deity's
blessings, will be peaceful and free of natural disasters.

Posted on 2026-03-03 07:02:13

Ukraine is expected to complete the technical work needed to open
negotiations on all topics for its European Union's accession process within
days.

This, according to its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reiterated his call
on the EU partners to agree on a firm date for Ukraine to join the bloc,
saying that would provide an important guarantee of the country's future
security as Kyiv negotiates with Moscow to end the war.

Ukraine became a formal EU ?candidate country in the early days after
Russia's invasion in February 2022.

But Kyiv’s progress ?through the existing EU process has been held up by
Hungary, which has blocked the unanimous approval required to open formally
each of the six so-called accession "clusters" of issues to be resolved.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains close ties with Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

Posted on 2026-03-02 19:36:13

The opposition KMT has nominated sitting lawmaker and party legal consultant
Wu Zong-Xian to run in the Yilan magisterial race following internal polling.

KMT Chair Zheng Li-Wen says that a united party, cooperating with the TPP,
has a strong chance of winning the election.

Meanwhile, the TPP has put forward Chen Wan-Hui (陳琬惠).

And the ruling DPP has nominated Lin Guo-Zhang (林國漳).

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-02 19:36:13

Tainan saw a tourism boom over the 228 holiday weekend, drawing more than
1.23 million visitors — up over 10 percent from the same period last year.

Historic districts and shopping areas accounted for over 930 thousand visits,
especially in Anping, Xinhua, and Yanshui.

Hotel occupancy topped 90 percent.

Outdoor destinations and museums also proved popular, including the Chimei
Museum's Egypt exhibition.

Officials say crowds were further boosted by a massive fireworks event at the
Luermen Holy Mother Temple, which organizers say drew over one million
attendees ...

... and an international half marathon with more than 25 thousand runners.

With lantern festival events ongoing, authorities say they will tighten
oversight of hotel pricing and hygiene.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-02 19:36:13

Pakistan has deployed troops and imposed a curfew after deadly protests
erupted over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader in U-S-Israeli strikes.

Officials announced a three-day curfew in the northern cities of Gilgit and
Skardu, where police said at least 12 people died and 80 others were hurt
after attacking U-N offices.

Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman said Monday the situation was under
control and that the curfew would remain in place until Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the U-S Embassy and its consulates in Karachi and Lahore canceled
visa appointments and American Citizen Services after demonstrators tried to
storm the building in Karachi.

Posted on 2026-03-02 19:35:13

A research team from National Sun Yat-sen University has developed a new
drug-making technique that could help slow antibiotic resistance.

Researchers say the overuse of antibiotics has allowed bacteria to evolve and
survive treatments that once worked.

They say their new method — described as a "one-pot cooking" approach —
allows multiple ingredients to be mixed in a single step, rather than
building molecules one stage at a time.

By simply swapping one component, the scientists can quickly create new
potential treatments.

The researchers hope the technique will speed up drug discovery and shorten
the time needed to develop new medicines.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-02 19:35:13

Exhibitors can now register online for this year's Taiwan International
Travel Fair.

The event kicks off on November 6th at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center ...
and runs through the 9th.

Organizers report that strong demand is driving the event, following a record
high for Taiwanese outbound trips in 2025 and continued strength in domestic
tourism.

Last year's fair attracted over 360 thousand visitors and featured exhibitors
from 120 countries.

Organizers expect another wide showcase of options this year, ranging from
luxury cruises to independent themed travel.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-02 17:11:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai has convened an emergency meeting to address escalating
tensions in the Middle East and the impact on global markets.

While officials report that current fluctuations in the local stock and
currency markets remain controllable, the Premier says he wants the Cabinet
to take preemptive action against potential volatility.

He has directed the Ministry of Economic Affairs to activate an energy task
force to secure oil and gas supplies and asked that Vice Premier to convene a
price stabilization meetings.

On the diplomatic front, Cho also asked that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
take measures to help stranded Taiwanese travelers in the affected areas
return home safely.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-02 17:11:19

The Tourism Administration says at least 2 thousand Taiwanese travelers have
been affected by the military operations in the Middle East.

Officials say of those people, some 45 tour groups involving 1,200 people are
now stranded overseas due to flight cancellations and delays.

Another 31 tour groups, with 850 people set to depart from February 28th
onward, have been canceled, and agencies are now processing refunds.

The Administration is urging travel agencies to help travelers return home as
soon as possible, and to ensure proper lodging and meals if immediate return
is not possible.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 17:11:24

Now turning to international news...

US/Israeli strikes on Iran have killed 555 people so far, according to the
Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Meanwhile Kuwait's defense ministry says, Several US warplanes have crashed
in Kuwait.

They added that all pilots had safely bailed out.

The ministry did not elaborate on what caused the crashes, but it came during
an intense period of Iranian fire targeting the country.

The pilots are undergoing a medical examination and their conditions are
stable.

This comes after some embassies in the country appeared to have been struck.

There were no immediate reports on damage or casualties.

Posted on 2026-03-02 17:11:19

Changhua County is expanding its free milk for students program, with it now
set to benefit 120,000 kids in the fall semester.

The program allows Changhua middle and elementary schoolers, as well as
kindergartners to get a free bottle of milk every week.

For the 2026 school year the program has been expanded to include students at
private schools in the county, as opposed to only public schools.

Changhua Magistrate Wang Hui-mei says that 80 million NT was allocated to the
program last year, and after a strong public response, the budget has been
increased to over 105 million NT this year, benefiting another 40,000
children.

Wang touted the program as providing much-needed protein to kids, as well as
helping support the local dairy industry, however she did note that kids can
also choose to redeem soy milk instead.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-02 17:11:28

The head of Myanmar's military government has granted amnesty to more than
10,000 prisoners.

The majority of those are political prisoners.

They've also reduced the sentences of other inmates to mark a holiday in the
country.

State media reported the amnesty, but the releases are likely to take a few
days to complete.

There was no sign that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed.

The amnesty comes two weeks ahead of the newly elected parliament's first
meeting following a recent election that critics say was neither free nor
fair.

Posted on 2026-03-02 17:11:30

And, in China young people are increasingly moving to remote towns where rent
is as low as 168 US dollars monthly.

Burned-out young professionals are trading career ambitions for low costs and
a slower pace of life.

Experts say these young people are part of a broader trend that has seen a
growing number of people across China migrating to small towns and cities.

They're hoping to take advantage of cheap real estate prices that have
dropped since the COVID pandemic.

The trend is a stark reversal from previous generations that flocked to the
cities under a booming economy.

But as the economy slows, young Chinese people are struggling to find jobs.

As of December, 16.5% of 16-24 year-olds who aren’t in school were
unemployed.

Posted on 2026-03-02 16:06:13

The Changhua District Court has ordered a man detained for allegedly making
death threats against the nation’s two railway companies.

The order comes after the Railway Police Burea arrested a suspect in
connection with murder and bomb threats targeting Taiwan Railway and Taiwan
High-Speed Rail late last month.

Police say the two rail operators received messages threatening arson, bomb
attacks and killings at Taipei Main Station, just ahead of the busy 2-2-8
holiday weekend.

Authorities immediately stepped up security and through cross-checking
digital footprints, they were able to identify a man living in Changhua and
arrested at his home on the 27th.

Police say the suspect admitted posting the threats online, claiming he did
so to relieve stress.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-02 16:06:14

Transport Minister Chen Shi-kai says the government is working hard on
various measures with the aim of attracting more international tourists.

Chen said cruise tourism has posted strong growth, with 567 international
cruise ships docking in Taiwan last year, bringing 1.1 million passengers, 41
percent of whom were foreign visitors.

Chen said more than 1,000 kilometers of the Round-the-Island Bike Route 2.0
will be completed by the end of this year, and three domestic carriers are
introducing new aircraft to expand capacity.

On rail, the TRA’s Ji-ji (集集) Line is expected to fully reopen in July,
while the Ping-xi (平溪) Line has already returned to normal operations.

The central government is also rolling out a new tourism initiative dubbed
the “Smiling South Bay IN Taiwan Plan,” aimed at beautifying key
attractions and upgrading overall tourism quality.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 16:06:14

Team Taiwan's warm-up game at the World Baseball Classic has been canceled
due to rainy weather.

The team was originally scheduled to face the Orix Buffaloes' farm team at
Sokken Stadium in Kyushu.

But persistent rain forced the cancellation, leading the team to focus on
indoor practice instead.

The cancellation means that Team Taiwan has only one opportunity to fine-tune
play with the full roster before the WBC begins.

That opportunity will take place tomorrow against the Fukuoka Soft Bank
Hawks' farm team.

Taiwan's first game of the tournament will take place against Australia at
11am Thursday...

before coming up against Samurai Japan on Friday evening.

(AH_CNA)

Posted on 2026-03-02 16:06:14

Global oil prices have risen after at least three ships were attacked near
the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran continues to launch strikes across the Middle
East in response to ongoing attacks by the US and Israel.

Two vessels have been struck, and an "unknown projectile" was reported to
have "exploded in very close proximity" to a third according to the UK
Maritime Trade Operations Centre.

Iran has warned ships not to pass through the strait, which carries about 20%
of the world's oil and gas.

International shipping has almost come to a standstill at the strait's
entrance, with analysts warning that a prolonged conflict could push energy
prices even higher.

Posted on 2026-03-02 15:13:13

KMT lawmaker Yang Chiong-ying says she will back her rival if she loses the
Taichung mayoral primary.

Yang emphasized the importance of unity for the opposition party and
underscored her hope to carry on the achievements of current Mayor Lu Xiu
Yan.

Yang is facing Deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Qi-chen in a party primary,
which is set to take place at the end of the month.

She says the loser of the compeition should fully support the winner in
seeking the Taichung mayoral position.

Chiang yesteday stated that he was more than prepared for the primary and
hoped to make Taichung a key city in Taiwan and in Asia.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-02 15:13:13

Taipei police are investigating whether a public bus driver committed
negligent homicide after hitting a pedestrian and then drove away without
checking her condition.

The incident took place this morning in the city's Zhongshan district where a
woman got off the bus from the rear door before making her way to the front
of the bus in order to cross the road.

According to a preliminary invesitgation, the bus driver likely failed to
check blindspots before driving away, hitting the woman.

Police have closed off the scene of the accident and have taken the bus
driver in for questioning.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-02 15:13:13

Two major travel agencies have suspended their packaged tours to Middle
Eastern countries after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an orange
travel alert for them.

Cola Tour says it'll suspend sales of Dubai tour packages scheduled to depart
before the end of March.

It says assisting stranded travelers to return to Taiwan is now its top
priority.

Travelers who have not yet departed may change their itineraries, while
cancellations will be handled in accordance with the contract.

Meanwhile Lion Travel says it has set up a special task force to monitor the
situation and is staying in close contact with airlines and local partners.

Lion adds that one tour group currently in Dubai is safe, saying that all
Dubai group tours scheduled to depart before March 8 have been canceled,

The Travel Quality Assurance Association says losses for both travelers and
tour operators could widen, as many insurance policies do not cover damages
resulting from acts of war.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 15:13:13

In world news...

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah attacked Israel have killed at
least 31 people. ....according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

The Hezbollah attack and the Israeli retaliatory strikes expand the ongoing
war gripping the Mideast after America and Israel launched an airstrike
campaign targeting Iran.

Lebanon also said the strikes also wounded 149 people. It said about two
thirds of the dead were in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, as Kuwait faced an ongoing attack, the U.S. issued an urgent
warning to Americans there to take cover and remain indoors.

It said today, “Do not come to the Embassy,” without elaborating.

In an indication the conflict could draw in other nations, Britain, France
and Germany said they were ready to work with the U.S. to help stop Iran’s
attacks, and a group of Gulf Arab countries said it reserved the right to
respond to Iranian strikes.

Posted on 2026-03-02 15:13:17

The massively popular K-pop girl group Twice marks a decade together by
widening its sound on and stepping into a massive Netflix hit.

Last year the group celebrated its 10th anniversary with the release of a new
album titled “TEN: The Story Goes On.”

It features solo tracks from all nine members, including Taiwanese singer
Zhou Zi-yu.

That's not the only thing they are celebrating. Twice is featured on the
soundtrack for “KPop Demon Hunters” on the songs “Strategy” and
“Takedown.”

Netflix says it is most watched film ever. Later this month, adding that the
movie is up for two Oscars at the Academy Awards.

Twice members say they keep evolving and hope to continue to connect with
their fans.

Posted on 2026-03-02 14:09:14

Police are seeking to arrest a man for making threats on the Taipei MRT.

MRT personnel received a report at 10:30 this morning that someone on the
train was threatening to kill people, but when police and MRT personnel
boarded the train, they did not discover anything unusual.

The incident took place this morning at the orange line's Xingtian temple
station.

Police say the culprit was likely mentally unwell, and they note that he did
not appear to be carrying any weapons.

An investigation is ongoing.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-02 14:09:16

TPP chair Huang Guo-chang says he fully respects Lee Si-chuan’s decision to
leave his Deputy Taipei Mayor's office to campaign on March 10th.

Lee, of the KMT, has tendered his resignation to prepare for the New Taipei
mayoral race, a position that Huang is also seeking.

Huang said today that Lee has always seen things through and believes Lee
will wrap up his current duties before formally entering the campaign.

As for how the KMT and the TPP may cooperate in that race, Huang says he
believes that the two parties will select the strongest candidate through
public opinion polling.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 14:09:16

Weather forecasters say, warm and sunny conditions in the north today will
not last long.

The Central Weather Administration has issued a strong wind alert for the
western coastal areas from New Taipei down to Tai-nan and Heng-chun
Pennisula, as well as the eastern coast of Hualian and Tai-tung from this
afternoon till tomorrow.

The CWA says with strengthening northeastern monsoon and a continental cold
air mass, weather will turn cooler with locally heavy rain in the north,
northeast and east.

High temperatures are expected to drop to 16 degrees Celsius tomorrow
compared with today's high of 26 or 27.

There are chances of thick fog over waters north of Taiwan and northern
Taiwan Strait as well.

Meteorologist Wu Der-rong also says the weather system will pass from north
to south on the Lantern Festival, bringing rain islandwide Tuesday through
Friday.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 14:09:16

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 35095
after losing 319 points.

The turnover was 966.8 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-02 14:09:16

Argentine President Javier Milei has opened the new session of Congress with
a fiery 90-minute speech praising his government's achievements.

He emphasized Argentina's potential as a key exporter of raw materials and
energy, highlighting his alignment with the US and US President Donald Trump.

Bolstered by electoral gains last year as well as new alliances in Congress,
Milei now holds significant legislative support, consolidating his reform
agenda and political influence.

In his remarks, Milei also scolded the opposition, calling them "murderers"
and "ignorant."

His speech follows a series of legislative victories, including labor reform,
and lowering the age of criminal responsibility, among others.

Posted on 2026-03-02 13:07:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has adjusted its travel advisories for
several Middle Eastern countries, warning against travel to Bahrain, Oman,
Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

Upgrading the alert level for those countries to the "orange" level from the
original yellow one, MOFA advises the public to avoid non-essential travel.

That's after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel launched an attack on
Iran, saying that military operations could continue for up to a month.

MOFA has maintained a red alert for Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine,
Jordan, Syria and Yemen, which means "leave immediately."

The Bureau of Consular Affairs reminds Taiwanese nationals facing emergencies
abroad to contact the nearest overseas mission using its emergency hotline
for immediate assistance.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 13:07:13

The Labor Pension Fund has again performed well in January, earning over 394
billion NT.

That's the highest monthly profit on record.

The return rate stood at 5.3-percent, boosting the total Labor Fund to nearly
8 trillion NT.

The Labor Fund Bureau has attributed the gain to the global and local
financial markets' rise, but cautions that international markets in February
have not performed as strongly as in January.

The Bureau says it may be difficult for the labor funds to maintain the same
momentum in the coming month.

Some 11 million workers are covered by the Labor Fund.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-02 13:07:13

The Taiwanese Association Denmark launched over the weekend to promote Taiwan
abroad.

Officials say, the association is meant to highlight Taiwan's cultural
diversity and democratic values.

They add, it will not only serve Taiwanese communities in Denmark, but will
also emphasize a shared commitment to remembering history and upholding
Taiwan's democratic natue abroad.

The local representative to Denmark emphasized at the opening ceremony that
Taiwan's standing in the international communtiy is not only due to the
efforts of its 23 million people...

but also from the active support and advocacy of Taiwanese people around the
world.

Organizers added that they were inspired to launch the association after an
incident a few years ago in which Danish authorities marked the residency
permits of Taiwanese people living there as "chinese."

(AH_CNA)

Posted on 2026-03-02 13:07:13

And in related news...

The Israeli military is urging people in nearly 50 Lebanese villages to
evacuate ahead of possible retalitory strikes after Hezbollah fired into
Israel.

The attack came in response to the US/Iraeli air campaign that killed the
Iranian leader.

The Israeli military is urging civilians in eastern and southern Lebanon to
evacuate their homes and move at least 1 kilometer away from villages into
open areas.

This comes as the US and Israel have dropped massive bombs on Iran's
ballistic missile sites as well as civilian targets as part of an
intensifying military campaign.

The campaign has killed more than 200 people so far, including several dozen
dead at a girls' primary school in the southern Iranian town of Minab.

Iran fired back at Israel and Gulf Arab states in a counteroffensive that the
US said resulted in the deaths of 3 service members.

And Israeli authorities said strikes hit several locations including a
synagogue where 9 people were killed, bring the over death toll in the
country to 11.

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