ICRT

Posted on 2026-05-23 16:06:13

CPC Corp. said today that it will maintain fuel prices at the same levels has
it has for the past two months from May 25th to the end of the month.

This leaves 92-octane gasoline at 32.4 NT per liter and premium diesel at 31
NT.

CPC said it was keeping prices unchanged despite higher costs in the face of
war in the mideast in order to minimize the impact that higher prices would
have on consumers as well as industry.

The state oil company said it's taking a loss of 3.6 NT a liter for gasoline
and 5.4 NT a liter for diesel. It has absorbed around 15.7 billion NT in
costs for gasoline and diesel since the Israel and the US attacked Iran on
Feb. 28.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 16:06:13

A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's Shanxi province has killed at least
90 people.

Xinhua News Agency says the accident at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine
occured yesterday evening.

Around 247 workers were on duty at the time.

Nine people remained trapped as of this afternoon.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and rescue efforts
continue.

CCTV says that many of the injured were affected by toxic gas.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a full rescue effort and an
investigation to hold those responsible accountable.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 14:08:13

Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation is urging followers of the religious
group I-Kuan Tao against travel to China after three more Taiwanese believers
were detained there earlier this month.

SEF Secretary-General Luo Wen-jia said the three cases involved two separate
incidents in Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

He said the trio were restricted from leaving and later detained for unclear
reasons. He didn't say whether they are currently still being held.

According to the SEF, a total of 19 Taiwanese nationals in 17 separate cases
have been detained in China for religious reasons since 2019.

Luo said that 14 of the 19 were followers of I-Kuan Tao.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 14:08:13

The Supreme Court has upheld a seven-year jail sentence for a former Air
Force officer found guilty of leaking military documents to China in exchange
for money.

The court rejected an appeal by Hsu Chan-cheng (許展誠), saying the lower court
made no errors in its findings. It made the ruling final and unappealable.

While still on active duty, Hsu was recruited in 2021 by retired Air Force
Major Shih Chun-cheng (史濬程), who had been co-opted by Chinese intelligence
after leaving the military in 2008.

Over nearly four years, Hsu provided internal Air Force training materials,
including documents detailing fighter jets armed with Hsiung Feng III
anti-ship missiles and operational responses to Chinese military flights
around Taiwan.

He was found to have received NT$226,000 (US$7,175) in total.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 14:08:13

A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's northern province of Shanxi killed
at least 82 people.

State media said dozens are trapped underground.

Xinhua reports that the accident at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine
happened yesterday evening.

It initially reported that around 247 workers were trapped underground.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation and rescue work is pressing
on, according to Xinhua.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 13:07:13

US President Donald Trump will decide on Taiwan arms sales soon, a source
familiar with the matter told CNA, after media reports said Washington had
paused a proposed US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan.

The source refuted reports citing the war with Iran as the reason for a delay
in approving the arms package for Taiwan, saying, "These sales take years to
process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury."

Meanwhile, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said overnight that that
details regarding prospective foreign military sales and security assistance
QUOTE "remain pre-decisional until finalized by the President."

Parnell said, "Our Taiwan policy remains unchanged, and the US continues to
adhere to longstanding commitment consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act."

The comments follow Thursday's testimony from Acting US Navy Secretary Hung
Cao, who reportedly said the US was withholding the package to ensure it had
sufficient munitions for the Iran conflict.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 13:07:13

In community news,

The 2026 East Coast Land Arts Festival will take place in Taitung from June
to September.

The annual event brings together local and international artists, who'll
showcase a wide range of works for visitors to enjoy along Taiwan's east
coast.

The festival highlights sustainability, environmental awareness, and local
culture through art, music and community activities, including regular
Moonlit Sea Concerts

Visitors will also be able to take part in workshops and explore art markets
during the festival.

More information is available on the Taiwan East Coast Land Arts Festival
website.

Posted on 2026-05-23 12:08:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is calling for Taiwan and Europe to
deepen strategic cooperation.

Speaking at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, Lin said Taiwan and Europe should
work together to build resilience centered on democracy, rule of law and
trusted technology.

Lin said the partnership between Taiwan and Europe is built on decades of
economic cooperation and shared democratic values.

Lin said Taiwan's semiconductor industry and trusted supply chain position
have made it a natural partner for Europe in the AI era.

Addressing global security challenges, Lin said Russia's invasion of Ukraine
has demonstrated the risks posed by unchecked authoritarian aggression.

He also accused China of promoting an authoritarian model based on "control,
dependency and coercion" through military and economic pressure.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 12:08:13

SpaceX has launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet.

The rocket blasted off from the southern tip of Texas carrying 20 mock
Starlink satellites on a test flight extending halfway around the world --
ending at the Indian Ocean.

It's the 12th test flight of the rocket that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is aiming
to take people to Mars one day.

The mega rocket made its debut two days after Musk announced he's taking the
company public.

The spacecraft erupted in flames upon impact with the ocean. This was not
unexpected, according to SpaceX.

Musk called it "an epic" launch and landing.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman flew in for the launch and said Starship is
now one step closer to the moon. The spacecraft could play a part in Artemis
IV moon mission.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 12:08:13

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in India ahead of a meeting
next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan.

The four countries comprise the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the
Quad.

The visit comes as Washington is seeking to stabilize relations with India
after ties soured over President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Much of Rubio's four-day visit will focus on a multi-city tour, along with a
gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.

He landed in Calcutta, where he's scheduled to visit the headquarters of
Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity headquarters.

He's also scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart as well as Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 11:07:48

Southern Taiwan is hosting one of its biggest cultural celebrations of the
year this weekend: the Kaohsiung French Festival.

Running from yesterday through tomorrow, the festival is being held for the
first time at the iconic Weiwuying performing arts center. Co-organized by
the Kaohsiung City Government, the Bureau Français de Taipei, and the
Association des Français de Taiwan, the three-day event is free and open to
the public.

Organizers are expecting more than 200,000 visitors over the weekend.

Highlights include a sprawling French-style market featuring food, wine and
lifestyle brands ... along with workshops and hands-on activities throughout
the day. The main stage will host a full lineup of free public concerts and
performances -- including a special Saturday night show by French musical
theatre artist John Eyzen, who is making a highly anticipated return to
Taiwan.

Families are welcome ... with interactive activities and sports programming
for all ages.

That's the Kaohsiung French Festival -- free this weekend at Weiwuying.

Posted on 2026-05-23 11:07:48

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says Taiwan's
jobless rate dropped to 3.3 percent in April, the lowest level for that month
in 26 years.

The jobless rate fell slightly from March, ending increases over the previous
two months.

The data show that 397,000 adults were unemployed in April, down 5,000 from
March.

Nevertheless, the number of people who lost their jobs to downsizing and
business closures increased by 1,000.

A DGBAS Census official said the decrease is in line with seasonal trends, as
many workers who resigned around the Lunar New Year have found new
employment.

She said the rate will likely stay low in May and then climb again between
June and August, as new graduates enter the job market.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-23 11:07:48

husband's health

The US's national intelligence director is the fourth cabinet member to quit
since the start of President Trump's second term.

The AP's Sagar Meghani has the details on Tulsi Gabbard's resignation:

Posted on 2026-05-22 20:08:13

Taiwan's government says it has not received any notice that a planned
14-billion U-S dollar arms sale to the island has been put on hold.

The response came after acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate
committee in Washington that some foreign military sales were being delayed
to ensure the U.S. military has enough munitions for the war involving Iran.

His comments followed remarks earlier this week by U.S. President Donald
Trump who questioned continued arms sales to Taiwan ... after his state visit
to China last week.

Cao said the sales would resume when the administration believes conditions
are appropriate.

Taiwan presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said authorities are aware of the
reports, but so far have received no information from Washington about any
changes to the proposed arms package.

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

An all-day water outage is set to affect more than 23-thousand households
across New Taipei's Banqiao, Zhonghe and Tucheng districts on May 30th.

According to the city's Water Resources Department, the suspension is due to
pipeline replacement work being carried out by the Taiwan Water Corporation
... and will last for 23 hours.

The shutdown will begin at 9 AM on May 30th and continue until 8 AM the
following morning.

Officials say residents should begin storing water at least six hours before
the outage begins ...

... and avoid waiting until the last minute to prevent pressure problems in
the system.

Authorities are also reminding residents to switch off water pumps during the
outage to avoid equipment damage or fire risks.

They add that temporary water supply stations will also be set up in affected
areas.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on deceptive food
advertisements by introducing strict new guidelines for businesses and online
influencers.

The FDA released its guidelines earlier this week and announced today that
businesses using puns, misspelled words, or metaphors to imply that their
food products have medical benefits can face fines of up to $5 million NT.

Under the new rules, any promotion that encourages a purchase is considered
an advertisement.

This includes paid sponsorships or product reviews shared by internet
influencers.

And officials warn that even if an ad avoids mentioning a specific disease,
it can still be ruled illegal if a consumer is led to believe the food has
medical properties.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

The award-winning novel "Taiwan Travelogue" is set to be adapted into a
television series .... through a Taiwan-Japan co-production.

The book, first published in 2020, earlier this week became the first
Taiwanese literary work to win the International Booker Prize.

Written by Yang Shuang-zi and translated into English by Lin King, the
historical fiction work is set during the Japanese colonial era and follows
two women traveling across Taiwan by railway while exploring themes of
identity, empire and cultural exchange.

Taiwanese producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said his company secured the screen
adaptation rights after Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel.

Chang described the story as combining a sensory journey through 1930s Taiwan
with deeper reflections on language and colonial power.

He said the production team hopes to work with international partners to
bring the story to wider audiences.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 18:47:33

And now, a look at today's weather with Weather Risk's Lyle Lai.

And Lyle says high temperatures and precipitation look set to continue into
the weekend and next week.

Posted on 2026-05-22 17:20:13

New Taipei city councilors say, the city government should provide subsidies
to local elementary schools for disinfection.

That's after several elementary schools in Sanchong reported sighting of rats
or rat droppings.

DPP City Councilor Peng Jia Yun emphasized that school rodent infestations
cannot be solved simply by disinfection.

Instead, she said the issue is likely related to aging buildings and leaking
pipes.

She said the city government should give special budgets for rodent control
projects rather than leaving the costs to the schools themselves.

Education officials say, the city government established a special task force
immediately to address the issue.

They add that the Education Department will provide support for school that
wish to hire external companies, so long as the schools apply.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 17:20:13

The DPP is discouraging speculation over a pending arms sale from the US.

That's after the presidential office downplayed reports that a US military
official said that DC was stalling the package to ensure it had sufficient
weaponry for use in Iran.

The 14 billion US dollar sale was first reported on in Febuary.

The DPP legislative caucus says, they hope the public won't use the issue as
a pretext for what they called "anti US sentiment."

Caucus secretary general Zhuang Rui Xiong added that the US' focus on Iran
goes to show how important it is for Taiwan to build up its own domestic
defense industry.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 17:20:13

Now turning to international news...

Sudanese civilians are searching for loved ones, as Sudan's war enters its
fourth year.

More than 8000 people have gone missing during the war...

having been separated while fleeing, gone missing, or been detained.

It leaves their friends and family guessing as to their wherabouts.

Many of those missing in Khartoum state are believed to be in unmarked graves
where tens of thousands of bodies have been found since Sudan's army retook
the capital last year from paramilitary fighters.

The Red Cross says it has resolved over 1000 cases of the missing but didn't
say how many were alive or dead.

Forensic medicine specialists lack the ability to test DNA due to the war,
but say they are saving samples from unidentified bodies in hopes of being
able to match it with relatives at a later date.

Posted on 2026-05-22 17:20:13

The biggest annual Muslim pilgrimage is coming up amidst the backdrop of the
US/Israeli war in Iran.

Many Muslims head to Saudi Arabia to take part in a series of religious
rituals and worship as they perform the Hajj.

For the pilgrims, the Hajj is also seen as an opportunity to grow closer to
God and to walk in the footsteps of prophets.

The Hajj unites Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and economic
classes in performing rituals together.

This year, Hajj will officially start on Monday.

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Three Taiwanese men have been detained and held incommunicado ....

... over allegations that they forged shipping documents to smuggle AI
servers containing advanced NVIDIA chips into Hong Kong and possibly China.

According to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office, the suspects allegedly
bought high-performance AI servers made by Super Micro Computer, and falsely
declared the cargo's destination to evade U.S. export controls.

Authorities say the servers contained advanced chips made by NVIDIA, the
exports of which to China have faced strict U.S. restrictions since 2022.

Investigators believe more than 10 servers worth around 10 million NT each
were shipped through a third location before reaching Hong Kong.

Officials are still investigating whether the equipment was later sent onward
to mainland China.

Authorities conducted raids across northern and central Taiwan yesterday,
seizing 50 AI servers and 9 million NT in cash, computers, mobile phones and
luxury cars, among other things.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Heavy fog in Kinmen today has delayed dozens of local athletes trying to fly
to Taiwan for the National Disabled Games.

The event is scheduled to begin tomorrow in New Taipei City, but early
morning fog forced airlines to cancel several flights, stranding travelers.

These include 19 athletes competing in track and field, badminton, boccia,
and Special Olympics bocce, alongside students traveling for a technology
competition.

Flight operations began to resume around noon today as weather conditions
improved.

The county government says it is actively coordinating extra commercial
flights and military aircraft to ensure the team can arrive on time for the
competition.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration has nine extended
holidays that last three or more days for 2027.

These will begin with a seven-day Lunar New Year break.

Other extended three-day holidays include the Founding Day of the Republic of
China, Peace Memorial Day, Labor Day, Double Ten National Day, Taiwan
Retrocession Day and Constitution Day.

As the 2028 Founding Day of the Republic of China, whichs is celebrated on
January 1, falls on a Saturday, a make-up day will be observed on Friday,
December 31, 2027.

2027 will also see a four-day extended holiday from April 3 to 6 to mark
Children's Day/Tomb Sweeping Festival.

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Donald Trump said yesterday that the U.S. will send an additional five
thousand American troops to Poland.

This comes a week after the Pentagon cancelled a deployment of four thousand
troops to Poland, which it later called just “a temporary delay”.

Trump also said earlier this month that he would pull five thousand troops
from Germany in an effort to reduce total troop levels in Europe, not long
after German chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the U.S. was being
“humiliated” by the Iranian leadership.

Trump wrote on social media that this deployment stems from his good
relationship with Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki.

The decision to reduce forces in Europe has been criticised by both
Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike for being confusing and for sending
the wrong signal both to allies and to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Mountbatten-Windsor

British police appealed for witnesses today in their investigation into
potential offences, including sexual misconduct offences, by the former
Prince Andrew.

Thames Valley Police said they were in contact with lawyers for a woman who
says she was taken to a location in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes.

In January, a Florida lawyer said that he represents a woman who was
trafficked to Windsor by disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

Andrew has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in connection with allegations
against him.

Posted on 2026-05-22 16:31:13

Stephen Colbert wrapped up the final broadcast of CBS’s “The Late Show” last
night.

Paul McCartney joined him on stage for a lively performance of “Hello,
Goodbye” before he had the honour of turning off the power in the Ed Sullivan
Theatre, in an episode than ran seventeen minutes over schedule.

Other special guests for the last show included Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd,
and Tim Meadows.

Colbert took over from David Letterman in 2015 and has produced more than
1800 episodes.

CBS announced last summer that Colbert’s show would end due to economic
reasons, but it was the ratings leader in late-night TV.

Colbert, amongst others, has indicated that he thinks Donald Trump’s repeated
criticism of the show was a factor in its cancellation.

Fellow late-night show hosts on other stations, including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy
Kimmel, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers, also made an appearance.

Their networks ran reruns last night instead.

CBS will replace “The Late Show” with “Comics Unleashed,” in which comedians
share stories.

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:13

policies

The TPP legislative caucus is raising a motion that would ask the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs and National Defense to urge the US to stick to its
longstanding policy towards Taiwan.

They say that MOFA should display a resolute stance regarding US President
Donald Trump's recent comments about the Taiwanese people and its
industries...

especially considering his recent meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi
Jinping.

The caucus added that the measure aims to protect Taiwan's integrity on the
world stage, given what they've called inappropriate comments regarding the
Taiwanese chip industry by the US president.

DPP Caucus Secretary General Chuang Jui-hsiung 莊瑞雄 said that he supported the
proposal in theory but that some wording needed to be amended so as to avoid
giving the wrong idea.

Relatedly, the KMT and TPP have proposed inviting Premier Cho Jung-tai 卓榮泰
to give a special report to the legislature regarding the impacts of the
Trump/Xi meeting on cross-strait relations.

Both proposals are currently being negotiated by party caucuses.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:15

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says NVIDIA has not yet applied for a building
permit for its planned Taiwan headquarters ...

... and city officials have not received confirmed information about any
activities on May 27th.

The comments follow media reports that NVIDIA would hold a groundbreaking
ceremony on that day at the site in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park.

Taipei building officials say that without a construction permit, the project
cannot formally declare the start of its construction under the Building Act.

However, officials say landowners or developers may still hold ceremonial
activities or symbolic groundbreaking events before formal approval is
granted.

Chiang says the city respects NVIDIA's planning and that any announcements
should come from the company itself.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:15

Hundreds attended a protest outside the United States’s new consulate in
Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, earlier today.

The American consulate is now located in a 3000 square-metre high-rise
building in downtown Nuuk, an upgrade from its former location in a wooden
cabin.

Locals have nicknamed it “Trump Towers”.

The protesters chanted “Greenland is for Greenlanders” before standing in
silence with their backs toward the consulate.

Earlier this week, the US’s special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana governor
Jeff Landry, made his first trip to the territory to inaugurate the
consulate.

But Greenlandic politicians were mostly absent from the inauguration.

Greenland is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

But Trump has repeatedly said that he would like to acquire Greenland and
that it plays an essential role in guaranteeing American security.

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:15

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that an Air France flight bound for
Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from the Democratic
Republic of Congo boarded “in error”.

An Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the DRC has led the U.S. to restrict
passengers who have been in that country, South Sudan, or Uganda in the last
21 days from entering the U.S. anywhere besides Washington, D.C.

A spokesperson for the agency said that the passenger “should not have
boarded” the plane on Wednesday in Paris.

A Canadian official said that the passenger, who has been assessed as
asymptomatic, has flown back to Paris, and that the Air France flight
continued onto Detroit.

The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of
international concern last Sunday.

There is no available vaccine or medicine for this particular strain of the
Ebola virus.

Posted on 2026-05-22 15:48:15

University students from all over Serbia are planning for a major rally
tomorrow in the capital, Belgrade.

They want to oust right-wing populist president Aleksandar Vucic in elections
scheduled for later this year.

This will be 2026’s first big rally, with thousands expected to turn up.

Students led anti-corruption protests last year, following the collapse of a
concrete canopy in the train station of Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest
city, which killed sixteen people.

The then-prime minister was forced to resign, but the protestors – and the
public, in general – saw it as the result of deep-rooted corruption and of
negligence in state infrastructure projects.

Students have unsuccessfully tried to get Vucic to call for early elections.

But one professor says that the students should expect favourable results
this year, as they are finally large enough to threaten Vucic’s ruling
Serbian Progressive Party.

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:13

Kinmen authorities are investigating after the death of an endangered
Eurasian otter in a snare.

The Kinmen Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Association reported that
a male otter was found injured in Jinhu Township, on March 24th, and died
shortly after.

Conservationists discovered several unmarked, homemade snare traps, which are
commonly used in Kinmen for invasive blue peacocks.

This is the first recorded case of an otter dying from a snare in Kinmen.

The county government says it has ordered the immediate removal of all snares
in the vicinity.

Officials say they will share otter habitat data with pest control teams to
ensure snares are not used in high-risk zones.

The county is also discussing alternative methods to remove the invasive
peacocks, and will step up patrols to better protect local wildlife.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

from the January/February receipt lottery

The Ministry of Finance said today that there are still four unclaimed
special prize and four unclaimed grand prize receipts from the
January/February Uniform Invoice lottery.

Two of the unclaimed special prize receipts, each worth 10 million NT, come
from Taipei.

The other two are an 80-NT receipt from a Taoyuan parking lot, and a 2-NT
receipt for a plastic bag at a New Taipei City McDonald's.

All four unclaimed grand prize receipts, for 2 million NT each, come from
Kaohsiung.

Winning receipts from the January/February lottery must be redeemed, at the
latest, by July 5th, so there's still time!

(JM)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

The American Institute in Taiwan is warning of online scams targeting older
US citizens.

They say the scams involve organised groups building trust over long periods
before draining them of financial resources.

They say there's recently been a clear increase in romance and financial
scams targeting US citizens in particular.

Victims can visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime
Complaint Center to get help.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

Taiwan shares shot up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 941 points to
close the session at 42309.

The turnover was 1.14 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

Gunmen opened fire in two separate attacks on Honduras’s northern coast along
the Caribbean Sea yesterday.

At least twenty-five people were killed.

Police said that six of their officers, who had been assigned to an anti-gang
mission, were killed near the border with Guatemala.

And a government spokesperson said that at least nineteen plantation workers
were killed in a separate attack, in the middle of a highly militarised and
resource-rich region where 23 environmentalists have been killed in the past
two years.

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

The execution of Tony Carruthers, on death row in Tennessee, was postponed
yesterday because the medical team could not find the necessary two veins to
deliver a lethal drug.

Officials said that staff were able to find one vein, but the execution
protocol mandates a back-up vein for the administration of the drug.

Tennessee’s governor said that he would delay Carruthers’s execution by at
least one year.

Carruthers was convicted for kidnapping and murdering three people in 1996.

But he has always maintained his innocence, with advocates saying that his
trial was flawed because he was forced to represent himself and that there
was no physical evidence linked to him.

Kim Kardashian has also taken on Carruthers’s cause, but even in the face of
more than 130,000 signatures calling for the execution to be halted, Governor
Bill Lee ordered that the execution be carried out as scheduled … until
yesterday’s failed attempt.

Posted on 2026-05-22 14:54:14

Two luxury Birkin bags owned by a disgraced Vietnamese businesswoman have
sold at a government auction for more than 550,000 USD (16.9 million NT).

Truong My Lan is currently serving a life sentence for embezzling from Saigon
Commercial Bank, the country’s fifth largest lender, and its shell companies.

She has been ordered to pay $27bn (850bn NT) in reparations, after having
been accused of taking out $44bn (1.4tn NT) in loans and cash over ten years.

Truong said that she wanted to leave the crocodile-skin handbags – one of
which she claimed to have purchased in Italy, the other a gift from a
Malaysian businessman – as gifts for her children and grandchildren.

But officials in Ho Chi Minh City were not persuaded.

The value of Birkin bags, named after British actress Jane Birkin, have
increased steadily for years, largely due to Hermes restricting production to
low numbers.

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

The Presidential Office is downplaying reports that the US is stalling a 14
billion dollar arms sale to Taiwan.

Spokesman Karen Kuo said today that Taiwan has not received any such
notification...

adding that she hoped a new special defense budget could be examined in the
legislature as soon as possible.

Her comments come as foreign media reported that a US military official said
that the US would pause the arms sale due to the US and Israel's war on Iran.

Meanwhile Kuo emphasized that any updates on a potential phone call between
President Lai Ching-te and his US counterpart would be shared with the public
as soon as they became available.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

Commuters who have been waiting for their TPASS public transit loyalty
rewards can finally collect their payments this Sunday, after the Legislative
Yuan approved the release of previously frozen funds.

The Highway Bureau announced today that rewards accumulated from January
through April will be distributed together on May 25th, that's Monday next
week.

Recipients can collect their rewards at counters of the four major
convenience store chains, at EasyCard vending machines at Taipei Metro
stations, or through ticketing company apps by tapping their registered
cards.

Those who use electronic payment accounts will receive the money directly
deposited into their accounts.

From May onward, monthly rewards will return to the normal schedule, with
payments available from the 25th of the following month.

Rewards must be claimed within one year of becoming available.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

Penghu prosecutors say, they will conduct a verification of household
registrations ahead of this November's local elections.

They say, that's in an attempt to ensure the integrity of the polls.

Officials noted that, in Penghu's more hotly-contested areas, a double-digit
quantity of votes may decide the winner.

As a result, they aim to verify that there are no fake household
registrations that would allow unfair voting.

Officials emphasize that any attempt to influence election results through
fake household registration is punishable by up to 5 years' prison time.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

Now turning to international news...

In eastern Congo, people have set fire to an Ebola treatment center in one of
the towns at the center of an outbreak.

A group of people was stopped from retrieving the body of a local man by
health workers, clashing with burial rites.

That's as fear and anger grow over a heath crisis authorities are struggling
to contain.

Aid groups have warned of the uphill battle in slowing the outbreak of a rare
Ebola virus.

The affected region has long had security and facilities issues on top of
recent mass displacement.

Authorities have so far announced 148 deaths likely due to the disease and
nearly 600 suspected cases in total...

but the World Health Organization believes the scale of the outbreak to be
much bigger.

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

Puerto Rican governor Jenniffer Gonzalez is pledging to boost the amount of
electric energy available to the US territory...

as chronic outages persist.

She said in her annual address that a bidding process to install 3000
megawatts of additional power general capacity is underway...

and will likely be awarded by late summer.

Gonzalez added that nearly 1000 megawatts will be added to the system over
the upcoming months.

She did acknowledge "serious problems" with the island's water
infrastructure...

with dozens of communities reporting long periods with no service.

In 2017, Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico’s power grid when it hit the
island, but the grid was already crumbling given a lack of maintenance and
investment.

Posted on 2026-05-22 13:11:13

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he wants the European Union to consider
offering "associate membership" to Ukraine.

According to Merz, the proposal could revitalize talks with Russia on ending
the war.

In a letter to top E-U officials, Merz suggested that Ukraine could join E-U
meetings without voting rights.

His proposal comes as the E-U is considering its own negotiations with
Russian President Vladimir Putin as US-mediated talks bog down.

Hungary has in the past blocked Ukraine's membership negotiations, but its
new government might take a softer stance.

Merz says his plan could be extended to other countries, like those in the
Western Balkans where E-U leaders are gathering next month.

Posted on 2026-05-22 11:16:13

Now turning to international news...

Meterologists are predicting increased storm activity this summer in the
Pacific.

They say, a developing El Nino is forecast to get quite strong, expected to
weaken storms in the Atlantic.

An El Nino is the natural and cyclic warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean
that affects weather patterns around the world.

Scientists for decades have found a correlation between an El Nino and below
average Atlantic hurricane activity and stronger and more storms in the
central and eastern Pacific.

Colorado State University in the US is predicting the lowest overall activity
since 2015, which was the strongest El Nino in the last 75 years.

Experts say the odds os any storm becoming a super typhoon increase
significantly during an el nino.

Posted on 2026-05-22 11:16:13

There's growing concern that the Ebola outbreak in Congo is spreading faster
than originally believed.

According to health authorities in Congo, the outbreak has now resulted in
160 suspected deaths out of 670 suspected cases, of which 61 have been
confirmed.

Two Ebola cases have also been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda and figures
show the disease is now spreading to rebel-held areas of Congo - which are
hundreds of kilometers from the epicentre.

The World Health Organisation has declared a public health emergency of
international concern - and says the outbreak is almost certainly much
larger.

Experts believe the Ebola outbreak been circulating undetected for around two
months in the epicentre.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says the island's drone industry is expected
to expand significantly by 2030.

According to the ministry's Industrial Development Administration, Taiwan's
drone output value grew 2.5-fold last year to 12.9-billion N-T under a
government program to develop the unmanned vehicle sector.

The administration says current monthly drone production capacity is about
15,000 units, but the industry can quickly scale-up as demand increases -
meaning capacity is projected to exceed 100,000 units per month by 2030 and
50-per cent of that total will be exported.

Exports of Taiwan-made drones currently account for just over 20-per cent.

The top buyers are the Czech Republic, Poland and the United States.

Data shows that in the first four months of this year, the outbound shipment
of drones reached 147-million U-S dollars and drone exports totaled
93-million U-S dollars in 2025.

The economics ministry is stressing that Taiwan's drone industry is still
mainly driven by domestic demand, with commercially produced military-grade
products accounting for the bulk of output.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene is insisting that
Washington's long-standing commitments to Taiwan have not changed.

According to Greene, Trump and other senior U-S officials had reaffirmed that
there has been no change in policy toward Taiwan "and that this stance was
clearly conveyed to the Chinese side."

Greene says the policy has been consistent across U-S administrations from
both parties and has ensured peace across the Taiwan Strait for nearly five
decades ...

.. and the recent meeting between U-S President Donald Trump and China's Xi
Jinping meeting in Beijing produced satisfactory outcomes ... and
"establishing a stable framework for bilateral relations will help enhance
regional security, including in the Taiwan Strait."

Greene also says that White House has also made it clear that Washington does
not see "stable US-China relations and a strong US-Taiwan partnership as
being in conflict."

The statements are the first by the head of the de-facto U-S embassy here in
Taiwan since President Donald Trump described arms sales to Taiwan a "good
bargaining chip" in dealings with China ...

.. and Trump's telling Fox News that he's weighing whether to approve a
14-billion U-S dollars arms package for Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Cabinet plans to establish a national A-I
strategy committee and draft Taiwan's first A-I development blueprint.

According to Cho, the move is part of the implementation of the Artificial
Intelligence Basic Act.

That Act came into force in January and sets out principles for A-I research,
applications and governance while safeguarding children's development and
human rights.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the premier will head the new national
A-I strategy committee, which will coordinate, promote and oversee AI-related
affairs across the government.

The Cabinet-level National Science and Technology Council will lead the
drafting of Taiwan's first "national artificial intelligence development
guidelines," which will be submitted to the committee for review.

Government agencies has been asked to complete risk assessments for A-I use
by July and establish internal control mechanisms within a year.

Ministries must also formulate regulations and industry guidelines for A-I
applications within their jurisdictions by January 2028 and adjust existing
laws or administrative measures where necessary.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

The Ministry of Health says 35 cosmetic clinics across the island have been
found to have breached patient privacy regulations following a recent wave of
inspections.

The inspection were carried out after hidden camera were found in branches of
clinics operated by the Airlee Group, Dr. Shine and Saint Eir.

The health ministry says a total of 720 clinics have now been inspected.

The first wave of inspections into illegal surveillance cameras focused
almost entirely on cosmetic clinics, accounting for about 99-per cent of the
targets.

Fourteen clinics in New Taipei were found to have violated privacy laws.

Thay have been fined 500,000 N-T each.

That was followed by Taoyuan with six, Kaohsiung five, three clinics were
found to have violated privacy laws in both Taipei and Taichung, two in
Hsinchu City, and on each in Tainan and Changhua.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

A dispute between two elderly men in Changhua County involving a sickle a
skillet has resulted in three senior citizens being hospitalized

According to police, the incident occurred in Xianxi Township, when a
92-year-old man attacked an 86-year-old man with rice-harvesting sickle
following a dispute over reflective strips on farmland.

The 86-year-old man had tried to remove them from the 92-year-old man's plot
of land.

And the 86-year-old man was stuck on the head with the sickle after trying to
defend himself with a skillet.

An elderly woman, who tried to break up the fight, was pushed to the ground
in the melee and suffered a fracture to her right leg.

All three were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police say the two elderly men will summoned for questioning as authorities
investigate the altercation.

Posted on 2026-05-22 07:17:13

And finally,

The Taipei Zoo is asking for public help in finding a lesser anteater that
escaped from its enclosure earlier in the week.

According to the zoo, the anteater named "Blackie" has not been seen since
Monday and 65 staff members have been searching for the 12-year-old animal.

"Blackie" was last seen on surveillance cameras around 6:55PM on Monday near
a visitor walkway in a bromeliad garden.

The zoo says lesser anteaters are nocturnal and tend to hide in dense
vegetation during the day, which makes the search efforts difficult.

The searches so far have been focused on the zoo's rainforest zone, nearby
trails, and hillsides around the giant panda exhibit.

Posted on 2026-05-21 17:26:13

Former Taipei Mayor Ke Wen Zhe has appealed his 17 year prison sentence...

saying he hopes that the second ruling will find him innocent.

He added that his actions in the Core Pacific City and political donations
case were in accordance with the law.

The Taipei District Court found Ke guilty on charges of accepting bribes,
misappropriation of public funds, and breach of trust.

Taipei prosecutors had already appealed the ruling.

Ke says that all the political donations have legal documentation, and said
decisions made in the Core Pacific City case are in line with precedents.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-21 17:26:13

The Economics Ministry says it wants to raise the country's drone production
capacity to 100-thousand units a month by 2030.

That would be more than six times the current monthly capacity of about
15-thousand units.

The ministry also wants exports to make up more than half of Taiwan's drone
sales by then.

It says exports are already growing fast, with first-quarter shipments
topping the total for all of last year.

Industrial Development Administration Director-General Chiu Chiu-hui (邱求慧)
says Taiwan's drone output value could pass earlier targets.

He says the industry should focus on higher-value drones, including
military-use commercial models.

Chiu says those models can compete through anti-interference systems,
autonomous flight and reliability.

The ministry says it will keep supporting local production and help companies
expand overseas.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-21 17:26:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says they're hoping the public can approach
Taiwan/India relations in a rational manner.

That's after a Kaohsiung city council candidate's billboard led to
accusations of disrimination...

as independent candidate Li Hong Yi's ad included what appeared to be
pictures of an Indian flag and a man wearing a turban with a "no" sign.

MOFA says, although it doesn't comment on internal political affairs, it
hopes the public can approach Taiwan/India relations in a rational manner.

They add that relations between the two countries have gradually matured over
the past few years...

saying they look forward to continued economic and cultural exchange with
India.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-21 17:26:13

Now turning to international news...

Myanmar's military-backed government says, it has regained control of 2 towns
near the country's borders with India and Thailand.

The developments mark a significant advance in the civil war.

This comes as the army regains the upper hand in the conflict, after
China-brokered ceasefires and a conscription-driven increase in troop
numbers.

It's also one month after the head of the military-backed government invited
the armed resistance groups to new peace talks.

The recaptured regions have seen intense conflict since the army seized power
from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.

Posted on 2026-05-21 17:26:13

Officials say a record number of climbers scaled mount everest in a single
day.

274 people successfully summitted the worlds tallest mountain in one day...

taking advantage of clear weather.

Earlier in the week, veteran mountain guide Kami Rita Sherpa scaled the peak
for the 32nd time, breaking his own record.

The Everest climbing season began late this year due to risks from a huge
piece of unstable ice over the key route.

Posted on 2026-05-21 15:50:13

The Cabinet says the country's chip industry was built through local
companies' own research and hard work.

The statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump again said Taiwan stole
the chip industry.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee says Taiwan's position came from decades of
effort and development.

She says there was no theft involved.

Lee says Premier Cho Jung-tai and other officials have made this point many
times since last year.

She says countries around the world now buy chips from Taiwan, and the island
would not have its current competitiveness if illegal methods were involved.

She says the government will keep explaining its position and clearing up
misunderstandings.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-21 15:50:16

Taipei is issuing safety guidelines for the escape room and immersive
experience industry following the death of a young employee.

The city released the guidelines today, covering public safety, activity
procedures and props, operator and employee conduct, and consumer protection.

Key requirements include having a designated person monitor activity spaces
either in person or through surveillance equipment at all times, and
prohibiting any situation where an employee is working alone in a performance
space.

The guidelines currently carry no penalties for violations.

This follows the death of a female employee at an escape room venue, who lost
consciousness while performing a role on May 10th and died five days later.

The city says it is also asking the central government to establish
nationally consistent mandatory standards under the Consumer Protection Act,
which would give the rules legal authority.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-21 15:50:16

Healthcare workers in eastern Congo say they are underprotected and
undertrained as a rare Ebola virus spreads rapidly in one of the world’s most
remote and vulnerable places.

The virus known as Bundibugyo had spread undetected for weeks and will take
months to control.

So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo, with two in Uganda.

The World Health Organization says the outbreak poses a low global risk but
that local case numbers will increase.

The arrival of any potential vaccine is months away.

The region faces immense pressure from conflict and a collapsing health
system, stretching limited resources even further.

Posted on 2026-05-21 15:50:17

A heat wave has gripped large parts of India, as authorities urge people to
stay indoors during the hottest hours.

The India Meteorological Department forecasts maximum temperatures of around
45 degrees Celsius in New Delhi today.

Authorities have opened temporary cooling zones to help people cope.

The weather department warns conditions will likely persist across several
northern regions.

Some farmers have switched to nighttime work to avoid the heat.

Schools have announced early summer vacations in some areas.

Climate experts say India’s rising temperatures are part of a broader global
pattern linked to climate change.

India has faced more frequent and intense heat waves in recent years, with
all of its warmest years on record occurring in the last decade.

Posted on 2026-05-21 14:06:13

Puma Shen is slamming China's Taiwan Affairs Office over remarks they made in
which they encouraged Taiwanese people to draw a clear line in the sand
between themselves and Shen.

Shen criticized the TAO for the comments, saying that someone who can't even
clearly draw their own boundaries should not be pointing the finger of blame.

The DPP mayoral candidate referenced how China previously sanctioned US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio...

before they just allowed him to visit the country.

Although it's not clear what exactly prompted the comments by the TAO...

this comes as Shen is "wanted" by China and is being "investigated" on
allegations of what they call "secession-related" activities in Taiwan.

Shen added in his comments today that the TAO loves to accuse him of various
things...

but he says it ultimately comes down to China's refusal to recognize Taiwan
and its desire to annex the country.

He added, being sanctioned by China is a badge of honor for him.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-21 14:06:13

Police in Taitung County are launching a three-day traffic enforcement
operation along the east coast this weekend.

Officials say the operation runs from May 25th through 27th.

Police will conduct mobile patrols and fixed checkpoints along Provincial
Highway 11 and at major intersections and tourist sites, focusing on areas
identified as accident hotspots along the east coast.

They say the the crackdown will target drunk driving, speeding, failure to
wear seatbelts, using mobile phones while driving, and more.

The police are urging drivers traveling along Highway 11's mountain and
coastal stretches to pay close attention to road conditions ahead and
maintain safe following distances.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-21 14:06:13

Taiwan shares shot up today, after the benchmark tai ex gained 1347 points to
close the session at 41368.

The turnover was 1.012 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-05-21 14:06:13

Now turning to international news...

Tensions have surfaced between NATO countries after Ukrainian drones recently
entered Baltic airspace.

Over the past months, Ukrainian drones have crashed into the chimney of a
power plant in Estonia, hit empty fuel tanks in Latvia and been shot down by
Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania.

The incidents have not killed or injured anyone, but the increasing airspace
incursions have prompted some Baltic officials to chastise Ukraine.

The incursions come as the US' war on Iran has driven up the price of oil, a
key stream of cash for Russia.

Ukraine has responded by ramping up attacks on Baltic ports used for Russian
energy exports in an attempt to hit Moscow's war chest.

As Ukraine’s drones have snaked up north, they have skirted the borders of
NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland.

Some of them were not detected before they crash landed in some of the Baltic
states.

Ukrainian officials apologized and said the drones were aimed at military
targets inside Russia but were sent off course by Russian electronic
interference.

Posted on 2026-05-21 13:07:13

The Water Resources Agency says, recent flooding in Hualien's Guangfu is now
under control.

That's after heavy rains last week caused parts of the village to flood.

The WRA adds that one reason for the flooding is that there are still
significant amounts of silt in the township's drainage system caused by
September's Matai'an flooding.

The second reason, officials say, has to do with a construction project
currently being carried out by the county government.

The flooding last week led to the evacuation of 12 homes near where severe
flooding killed nearly 2 dozen people last year.

However, the WRA emphasizes that there is currently no severe problem, saying
water flow is normal in the surrounding rivers.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-21 13:07:13

The Ministry of Education is touting its program for educational exchanges
between local and international schools.

The MOE says it has invested more than $100-million NT, providing subsidies
for over 350 schools in Taiwan to send students abroad, and host students
from overseas, as part of its international education plan.

Officials say the program encourages schools to combine local culture and
specialized curricula with real-world exchanges and long-term partnerships
with overseas schools.
Partner countries now span not only neighboring Asian nations but also Europe
and the Americas.

The ministry says it aims to build resilient and sustainable global
partnerships through in-person, two-way exchanges.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-21 13:07:13

The Taipei Zoo is searching for a lesser anteater that escaped from its
enclosure earlier in the week.

The zoo says the 12-year-old animal has not been seen since Monday, adding
that 65 staff members are involved in the search.

Keepers believe a banana tree inside the enclosure may have snapped under the
anteater's weight while she was climbing, creating a bridge to an adjacent
artificial rock formation and allowing her to escape.

The lesser anteater is 50 to 60 centimeters long with cream-yellow fur and a
prehensile tail.

The zoo describes her as timid and non-aggressive toward humans.

Keepers are asking anyone who spots the animal not to approach or try to
capture her, but to notify zoo staff or call the visitor service hotline.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2026-05-21 13:07:13

Now turning to international news...

X, formerly Twitter, has been fined 465,000 US dollars in Australia.

A judge says, that's for failing to provide informaiton to an online safety
watchdog about measures it was taking to address child sexual exploitation
content.

The judge also ordered the social media company to pay court costs for the
eSafety Comissioner.

The ruling brings an end to a 3 year legal battle in which X had argued it
was not obliged to answer eSafety's questions.

Posted on 2026-05-21 13:07:13

And in related news...

Japan is reporting that exports soared nearly 15% last month compared to a
year earlier.

That's as its trade remained robust despute worries over oil and gas
supplies.

Data shows that exports are stronger than expected, rising for the eighth
month in a row...

as shipments of semiconductors surged almost 42% by value.

Imports also rose nearly 10% from a year earlier.

Posted on 2026-05-21 08:13:13

Meanwhile,

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan is hoping sales of weapons by the U-S will
continue to support the defense capabilities it needs to maintain peace and
stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The statement came as Lai was speaking with reporters at Presidential Office
as he marked the second anniversary of his inauguration.

Asked what he would say if he could speak directly with U-S President Donald
Trump ...

... Lai said Taiwan would convey that it is committed to maintaining the
status quo in the Taiwan Strait and continuing to strengthen its self-defense
capabilities in response to growing military pressure from China.

According to Lai, "peace through strength" is the best way to preserve
stability in the Taiwan Strait and he hopes "this military procurement can
continue" - in reference to a pending 14-billion U-S dollar arms package
Washington is considering.

Lai accused China of being the main destabilizing force in the region and
went on to say that "Taiwan is a guardian of peace and stability in the
Taiwan Strait."

Posted on 2026-05-21 08:13:14

The K-M-T says it will hold its National Congress on July 25.

According to party officials, the event will serve as a major campaign rally
for the K-M-T's mayoral and county magistrate candidates as it seeks to build
momentum ahead of November's local elections.

K-M-T officials say most nominations for candidates have now been largely
finalized.

However the Chiayi County candidate remains undecided and some incumbent
nominations are still being processed.

The K-M-T also says it hopes to cooperate with the Taiwan People's Party in
some races, after it completes its own primary process.

Posted on 2026-05-21 08:13:14

Elements of the Army's 584th Combined Arms Brigade have carried out a second
round of off-base combat readiness patrol using their new Abrams M-1-A-2-T
main battle tanks.

The elite armored unit was established as Taiwan's first Abrams tank
battalion in October of last year and carried out its first off-base combat
readiness patrol in December of last year.

Wednesday's second such patrol was comprised of a formation of six tanks with
armored and support vehicles.

They the Hukou Base and traveled to the Hsinchu Air Force Base - covering a
distance of approximately 22-kilometers - to simulate the defense of the
airport in the event of a Chinese invasion.

The convoy had to cross several bridges and defense officials say although
the Abrams main battle tanks weigh nearly 70-tonnes, they did not affect the
civilian bridges they crossed in the Hsinchu area.

The Army is also denying reports concerning shortages of spare parts for the
tanks and is insisting that that they currently maintain a high readiness
rate of over 96-per cent.

Posted on 2026-05-21 08:13:14

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says inspections of retail spaces will extend to
17 big-box and department stores starting from tomorrow.

The statement comes after a camera invading customers' privacy was found in a
fitting room at a local store.

According to Lu, citywide inspections for illegal hidden cameras had
previously focused on cosmetic surgery clinics, sports facilities with
changing rooms, and saunas ..

.. but will now be expanded to department stores and other big-box stores
with fitting rooms, as they could be "hot spots" for covert filming.

The move is in response to the discovery of a surveillance camera pointing
toward a mirror inside a fitting room at the Under Armour store in Mitsui
Shopping Park LaLaport in Taichung.

The woman who found that camera reported it to the police - who found the
camera had recorded "inappropriate footage."

That case has now been handed over to the Taichung District Prosecutors'
Office for investigation.

Posted on 2026-05-21 08:13:14

And finally,

The "in89 Cinemax" movie theater in Taipei's Ximending shopping district is
set to close its doors at the end of this month.

The cinema has been in business for more than sixty years.

According to the theater's operator, the venue officially close on May 31 due
to adjustments in the company's business strategy.

The operator is thanking moviegoers for their support over the years.

The cinema opened in 1964 and has since become on of Ximending's best-known
movie houses and a landmark for filmgoers in the capital.

One of its screening rooms - known as "Theater Number Nine" - also gained a
lot attention due to its unusually long and narrow layout.

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:13

President Lai Ching-te says the future of Taiwan must not be decided by an
"external force" or hijacked by fear, division or short-term benefits."

Lai marked the second anniversary of his inauguration with a speech where he
said Taiwan's democracy is rooted in the sacrifices and devotion of many
generations of people.

He urged both ruling and opposition parties to demonstrate unity in
confronting external threats and upholding national interests and stressed
that "Taiwan's future must be decided collectively by its 23 million people."

Lai reiterated Taiwan is willing to engage with China on the condition of
parity and dignity but rejects China's "united front" work including
"unification attempts disguised as peace."

The president also said he will soon propose hundreds of billions of New
Taiwan dollars in subsidies to help small businesses improve their operations
and ease the financial burden of more families in raising their children.

He's proposing a 100-billion N-T acceleration plan to upgrade and transform
micro, small, and medium enterprises and traditional industries.

While Lai's proposals on addressing Taiwan's low birth rate included a
proposal to expand eligibility for the 5,000 N-T monthly child-rearing
subsidy from households with a child under the age of five to those with a
child under the age of 19.

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:14

Civic groups are welcoming the government's planned expansion of parental
leave policies aimed at addressing the island's decling birth rate.

However, they're also cautioning that monthly child-rearing subsidies alone
are unlikely to significantly boost fertility.

One group, the Childcare Policy Alliance said while reforms such as expanded
child care leave could help encourage employers to create more
family-friendly workplaces, the measures could face resistance from those
without children.

The alliance says without reform, overworked Taiwan will never achieve
compatibility between work and parenting, while direct cash subsidies for
child rearing alone have produced limited results in other countries.

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:14

The Cabinet has approved a special budget proposal that allocates nearly
295-billion N-T for a package of weapons already approved for sale to Taiwan
by the U-S.

The budget includes funding for five weapons systems: self-propelled
howitzers, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, anti-armor drones, Javelin
anti-tank missiles and TOW 2B anti-tank missiles.

The proposal was approved after lawmakers passed a special act earlier this
month authorizing up to 780-billion N-T in spending on two batches of U-S
arms purchases between 2026 and 2033.

Under the act, funding for the first batch of weapons purchases approved by
the U-S in December of last year is capped at 300-billion N-T, and the
Cabinet's proposal will request almost all of that amount.

The Cabinet's budget request earmarks around 8.8-billion N-T for 2026 as the
first annual allocation under the plan.

Funding will be covered by government borrowing in accordance with the Fiscal
Discipline Act.

The budget proposal is now being sent to the Legislative Yuan for a final
review,

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:14

Pro-Taiwan participants at a rally this past weekend in Geneva say they were
told by staff associated with the W-H-A to remove or cover up a T-shirt
printed with the word "Taiwan."

The rally was organized by several groups who traveled to the Swiss city
ahead of the opening of the W-H-A... and was supporting Taiwan's presence in
the World Health Assembly

The incident reportedly occurred as more than 100 participants had gathered
near the Place des Nations' Broken Chair sculpture across the street from the
United Nations complex, where the W-H-A is being held.

One participant says the W-H-A staff called out to participants gathered at
the site before the march began and asked them to cover up the word "Taiwan"
on their T-shirts or take the shirts off.

A Facebook post by another participant says rally organizers had completed
the required application procedures, and people at the Place des Nations were
carrying a large banner reading, "Who Cares, Taiwan Cares."

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:14

The Centers for Disease Control has raised the level of its Ebola travel
advisory for Congo and Uganda and is urging hospitals and doctors clinics to
ask patients about their travel and exposure history.

The C-D-C has raised its travel advisory for Congo and Uganda from "watch" to
the second-level "alert."

That advisory level urges travelers to "take enhanced precautionary measures"
in regions experiencing Ebola outbreaks.

Travelers to Ebola-affected regions should not touch the blood, body fluids,
or secretions of suspected or confirmed cases, attend funerals or handle
corpses, or come in contact with bats, primates, or other wild animals.

However, the C-D-C is stressing that it considers the Ebola outbreak's threat
to Taiwan relatively low and made the decision to raise its alert level based
on information from its U-S and European counterparts.

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:14

The Taichung District Court has sentenced a woman to 11 years in prison for
defrauding a family of over 15-million N-T and intimidation... which resulted
in five members of the family committing suicide.

The woman was convicted on three counts of fraud for financial gain,
extortion through intimidation, and violations of the Banking Act.

The judges found the woman promised the family a guaranteed 10-per cent
monthly return, illegally raising over 15-million N-T.

When the family noticed irregularities and refused to continue investing, the
woman then fabricated penalty fees and repeatedly sent threatening messages,
subjecting the victims to prolonged psychological pressure.

The court says the woman confessed to all the offenses during the trial.

Prosecutors had originally sought a 15‑year prison sentence.

The district court verdict can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-05-21 06:55:14

Israel’s national security minister has drawn a sharp rebuke from his boss
and triggered a backlash abroad after he released videos taunting detained
activists from a flotilla that tried to reach Gaza.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the detained activists that
they should be imprisoned for a very long time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the way
Ben-Gvir dealt with the flotilla activists “is not in line with Israel’s
values and norms.”

Ben-Gvir released the videos of himself walking among some of the
approximately 430 detainees.

One video shows activists with their hands tied behind their backs kneeling,
with their heads touching the floor.

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

President Lai Ching-te marked two years in office today .... which also falls
on the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election.

In a speech, Lai said U-S arms purchases were essential for peace in the
Taiwan Strait ... that Taiwan is a soverign and independent nation ...

... and that its future should be decided by its people.

The remarks come after recent comments by U-S President Donald Trump ... off
the back of his visit to Beijing last week ...

... who said he hoped tensions between Taiwan and China would ease and that
he did not want Taiwan to declare independence.

Trump also said Washington was considering a new round of arms sales to
Taiwan ... but gave no indication of whether he'd approve the package.

A-P correspondent Charles de Ledesma has more.

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

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the government plans to introduce a monthly
5-thousand NT growth allowance for every child from birth to age 18 ...

... with the program expected to begin next year.

Cho says the measure is part of a broader strategy to address Taiwan's
declining birth rate.

Under the proposal, children under six would receive the full monthly amount
to help parents care for their children.

For children between six and 18, the government hopes parents will place half
of the monthly allowance into a youth future fund ...

... allowing children to accumulate a base fund of about 360-thousand NT by
the time they reach adulthood.

Cho says the program would cost the government about 200 billion NT annually
...

... but stressed that Taiwan has the financial capacity to support it.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-20 19:06:14

Taipower says it is trying to keep this year's losses from growing worse ...
as higher natural gas prices continue pushing up electricity generation
costs.

Taipower Chair Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) says the company had originally
projected losses of around 28 billion NT for the year ... but warned the
figure could grow if natural gas prices fail to fall.

Tseng says conflict in the Middle East has continued driving up international
energy costs ... although global conditions have recently shown signs of
easing, with suppliers gradually increasing production.

Lawmakers are also closely watching whether higher fuel costs could create
pressure for an electricity rate hike in October.

Tseng says a clearer picture of natural gas conditions should emerge ahead of
the electricity rate review meeting in September.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-20 19:06:14

The "in89 Cinemax" movie theater in Taipei's Xi-men-ding shopping district is
set to close at the end of this month ... after more than sixty years in
business.

The theater says it will officially shut down on May 31st due to adjustments
in the company's business strategy ... and thanked moviegoers for their
support over the years.

Originally opened in 1964, the cinema became one of Ximending's best-known
movie houses and a longtime landmark for filmgoers in the capital.

One of its screening rooms -- Theater Number Nine -- also had gained online
attention due to its unusually long and narrow layout.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-20 19:06:14

In international news ... and over in central Africa ...

Aid efforts are ramping up in eastern Congo as health officials try to
contain an outbreak of a rare strain of Ebola that the W-H-O warns could last
for months.

The Bun-di-bu-gyo strain has been linked to 134 suspected deaths and more
than 500 suspected cases.

Officials say the virus was initially missed because tests focused on a more
common form of Ebola.

There are currently no approved treatments for the strain.

Residents in the city of Bunia, where the first death was reported, say face
masks are becoming harder to find and disinfectant prices are rising sharply.

Congo is expecting shipments of an experimental vaccine, but experts say it
could take time before it has an impact.

Posted on 2026-05-20 18:35:40

The Centers for Disease Control has raised its travel advisory for specific
outbreak areas in Africa ...

... following a recent outbreak of a rare Ebola strain in the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Affected areas are now under a Level Two "Alert" ... advising travelers to
'practice enhanced precautions'.

Those returning from Congo, Uganda, or nearby affected countries are urged to
monitor their health for 21 days.

The CDC says the "Bun-di-bu-gyo" strain has a fatality rate of about 30 to 40
percent, and there is currently no vaccine or related medication available
for prevention or treatment.

Health officials are also warning people not to touch dead bodies, and to
avoid contact with wild animals ... such as bats and primates.

*The World Health Organization, meanwhile, says the risk of global spread of
Ebola outbreak is low, but high at national, regional levels in Congo and
Uganda.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-20 18:35:40

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan’s future should be decided by its people,
not outside forces.

He says Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country - whether it’s
called the Republic of China, Republic of China Taiwan, or simply Taiwan.

The remarks came as Lai marked two years in office and Taiwan marked 30 years
since its first direct presidential election.

Lai also urged members of the ruling D-P-P to defend Taiwan’s democracy amid
growing pressure from China.

On ties with Washington,

Lai says he hopes the U-S will continue arms sales to Taiwan, calling them
essential for peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Posted on 2026-05-20 18:35:40

Meanwhile on the opposition front ...

The K-M-T says it will hold its National Congress on July 25th ... as part of
efforts to build momentum for the year-end local elections.

Party officials say the event will serve as a major campaign rally for the
party's mayoral and county magistrate candidates.

K-M-T officials say most nominations have now been largely finalized ...
although the Chiayi County candidate remains undecided and some incumbent
nominations are still being processed.

The party also says it hopes to cooperate with the Taiwan People's Party in
some races, including the Zhubei mayoral contest, after the K-M-T completes
its own primary process.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-20 18:35:40

Mandopop star Jay Chou has dropped a new music video for his song "Aurora in
July" ... from his latest album "Children of the Sun".

Chou says the song was inspired by a family road trip two years ago, when he
saw both the aurora and a shooting star while traveling with loved ones.

The track was co-created with longtime lyricist Vincent Fang, who says part
of the song's lyrics came from Chou's belief that the best wishes are the
ones shared with the people closest to you.

Chou had previously hinted at turning the experience into a song in an
Instagram post shortly after the trip.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-20 17:20:13

The Executive Yuan has proposed another special defense budget after the
legislature passed less than 2/3rds of what the cabinet had originally
proposed.

The new proposal comes with a total pricetag of 294.9 billion NT.

The Executive Yuan last year proposed a special defense budget that would
have cost 1.25 trillion NT...

but what the Legislature ultimately passed was 470 billion NT less than that
figure.

The proposal today outlines spending year-by-year, with 8.8 billion NT
earmarked for spending this year.

In announcing the new proposal, Premier Zhuo Rong Tai emphasized that the
deadline to purchase HIMARS systems from the US is approaching at the end of
the month.

He urged the legislature to move quickly to pass the measure so that the
purchase could proceed as planned.

In addition to the HIMARS system, the special budget includes 4 other items,
including howitzers and Javelin anti-tank missiles.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-20 17:20:13

President Lai Ching-te says the government plans to offer a monthly allowance
for children and teenagers.

Lai made the announcement during his second anniversary address at the
Presidential Office today.

He says each child from age zero to 18 would receive 5-thousand NT a month.

The plan is part of a new national strategy to respond to Taiwan's declining
birth rate.

Lai says the family support package includes 18 measures covering marriage,
pregnancy, childcare, workplaces and housing.

He says part of the allowance could go into a future account for children.

That money could then be used for education or starting a business after they
turn 18.

Lai says the plan would cost about 200-billion NT a year, and Taiwan can
afford it without cutting other budgets.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 17:20:14

Wulai District in New Taipei City has received international certification as
a safe community.

The World Health Organization's International Safe Community Certifying
Centre officially certified Wulai as an "International Safe Community".

The Safe Community framework was developed by the W-H-O to promote equal
health and safety rights for all people, including vulnerable groups.

Local officials say after Wulai was severely damaged by Typhoon Soudelor in
2015, residents built a more comprehensive community safety system covering
traffic, home safety, aging populations, school environments, injury
prevention, and natural disaster response.

They say community-based disaster preparedness has been central to Wulai's
resilience, with Indigenous villages training disaster response volunteers.

The mountain district is the the 443rd certified in the world, and the first
Indigenous community in northern Taiwan to receive the designation

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-20 15:26:13

President Lai Ching-te has delivered an address marking the second
anniversary of his inauguration.

Lai presented the address from the Presidential Building accompanied by Vice
President Hsiao Bi-khim, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Meng-an,
and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu.

Lai called on the island's main political parties to unite and stand on the
side of national interests - arguing that while there will be competition
between the ruling and opposition parties, the nation cannot be divided as it
is facing external threats.

According to Lai, Taiwan's future cannot be decided by foreign forces, nor
can it be held hostage by fear, division, or short-term interests - and the
nation's future must be decided by the 23-million people of Taiwan.

Lai also said the government plans to respond to the island's declining birth
rate by proposing a new population strategy to support families - and one
aspect of that is to initiate a monthly allowance of 5,000 N-T per child aged
from the ages of 0 to 18.

The president went on to explain that the allowance aims to provide
assistance to families by helping young people balance work and family life
and encouraging them to marry, have and raise children.

Posted on 2026-05-20 15:26:13

Carrefour Taiwan is set to change its name at the end of June...

...though Uni-President Chairman Alex Lo (羅智先) says the new name cannot be
announced before June 30.

He says the company must stop using the old name from July 1 because of
regulations and contract limits.

But Lo says signs and other changes cannot all be completed overnight, so
some work will have more time.

Uni-President announced last year that Carrefour Taiwan would begin a
name-change plan.

Lo says the company is not rushing to open new stores, but will expand when
there are good opportunities.

He says retail lines are becoming less clear, as consumers care more about
whether stores meet their needs.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 15:26:13

Two Chinese oil tankers have left the Strait of Hormuz, raising hopes for
progress toward ending the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Shipping data shows the tankers were carrying about 4-million barrels of
crude.

U.S. President Donald Trump says the war could end very quickly.

Vice President JD Vance says Washington is in a good position in talks with
Tehran.

Iran is seeking an end to sanctions, the release of frozen funds and an end
to the U.S. marine blockade.

The conflict has caused major disruption to global energy supplies, with many
tankers blocked from leaving the Gulf.

Oil prices eased after the comments from Washington and the tankers' movement
through Hormuz.

But Vance says negotiations remain difficult, partly because Iran's position
is not always clear.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 15:26:13

Emergency services say eastern Turkey has been struck by a magnitude 5.6
earthquake.

It hit the Battalgazi district of Malatya province at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

There were no immediate reports of damage, but TV images showed schools being
evacuated and residents rushing outside.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency recorded the quake’s depth
as a shallow 7 kilometers.

In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey
and 6,000 people were killed in neighboring Syria.

Posted on 2026-05-20 15:26:13

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz faces a deepening crisis as protests and
blockades grip the country.

Two weeks of road closures, led by unions and miners, have emptied markets in
La Paz and depleted hospital oxygen reserves.

The government reports at least three deaths due to blocked medical
assistance.

On Monday, supporters of ex-President Evo Morales clashed with police,
demanding Paz's resignation.

The unrest challenges Paz, who lacks a legislative majority.

Business groups say the blockades drain $50 million US dollars daily from
Bolivia's economy.

Morales, accused of fueling protests, denies charges against him.

The U.S. supports Paz's efforts to restore order.

Posted on 2026-05-20 15:26:13

Torrential rain and floods have hit parts of China, killing at least 12
people and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.

State broadcaster CCTV reported today that five deaths and 11 missing people
are in Shimen County, Hunan province.

The rescue operation is underway. By Tuesday evening, more than 19,000 people
had been relocated.

In nearby Hubei province, streets turned into rivers, and rescuers deployed
inflatable boats.

Three people were killed and four others were missing.

In Guizhou Province, heavy rain and floods caused four deaths and left five
others missing.

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

President Lai Ching-te in comments marking 2 years in office has announced
how the Executive Yuan seeks to provide more funds for defense spending.

That's after the legislature passed just over 60% of what the Executive Yuan
originally proposed to fund additional defense spending over the next 8
years...

exempting, among other things, funds for developing the domestic drone
industry.

The president says that the cabinet will propose another special act to raise
spending for procurement, commissioning, international cooperation, and
promotion of the domestic defense industry.

Lai underscored the necessity for Taiwan to develop defensive capabilities...

adding that the government will also attempt to use annual budgets to
facilitate defense development.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

The TPP is tapping Hsinchu Deputy Mayor Qiu Chen Yuan邱臣遠 to run as mayor of
Zhubei.

TPP Chair Huang Kuo Chang says that Qiu has already presented his resignation
to Mayor Gao Hong An, effective immediately.

He said that the party's election committee had reached a high consensus on
the matter.

The announcement comes as the DPP reportedly attempts to persuade current
Zhubei Mayor Zheng Chao Fang 鄭朝方　to run for Hsinchu magistrate.

（AH）

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

Taiwan Railways trains running between Nangang and Songshan stations are
currently delayed and running on a single track.

TRC says, the slowdown was caused by a death on the tracks.

It's not currently clear when the trains will be back to normal.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

Just before Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi's historic Booker Prize win, she
remarked that advancing to the final round of the prize represents a "new
imagination."

Yang just became the first Taiwanese author to win the prestigious Booker
Prize for her novel Taiwan Travelogue.

The 50,000 British pound prize will be split evenly between Yang and English
translator Lin King.

When asked if the two had any plans with how to use the over one million NT
that they will each receive, Yang joked that she would go "all in" on buying
shares in TSMC...

while King said she would probably take half a year off.

But in earnest, Yang remarked that the achievement shows Taiwanese literary
minds that "we can do it."

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

And speaking of buying stock in TSMC

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 40067
after losing 107 points.

Thr turnover was 916.5 billion NT

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

Now turning to international news...

The Israeli finance minister is ordering the eviction of a Palestinian
village in the West Bank.

He says the measure is in response to reports that he may be a target of
international war crimes prosecutors...

but the International Criminal Court keeps requests and plans for warrants
confidential.

Although it's not clear if they will take any moves in the finance minister's
case, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for other top Israeli officials,
including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He faces war crimes charges over Israel's war on the Gaza Strip.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has led an aggressive expanion of Israeli
settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Past attempts to evacuate the village in question have been challenged in
court.

An anti-settlement civil group says that the demolition of village structures
may take place within weeks.

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

Floods in China have killed at least 12 people and forced the evacuation of
tens of thousands.

State media reported that 5 of those deaths, plus 11 missing, are from Hunan
province's Shimen County.

Rescue operations are underway.

As of last night, more than 19,000 people had been relocated.

In Guizhou province, meanwhile, heavy rain and flooding killed 4 and left 5
others missing...

and in Hubei rescuers were forced to deploy rafts to help stranded residents.

Posted on 2026-05-20 14:08:14

And,

local primary elections in the US have seen anti-Trump republicans rejected
by voters.

Most notably, Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky has lost his primary bid
for reelection.

That's after the US president launched an expensive attack on him...

showcasing the president's power to remove adversaries within the Republican
party.

Massie opposed Trump's tax cuts and miltiary actions, and pushed for the
release of the Epstein files.

Despite his popularity in his district, Trump's relentless criticism
ultimately led to Massie's defeat.

Posted on 2026-05-20 12:18:13

Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi (楊双子) and translator Lin King (金翎) have won
the International Booker Prize in London.

Their novel, "Taiwan Travelogue" (臺灣漫遊錄), is the first Taiwanese literary
work to win the award.

It is also the first winning book originally written in Chinese.

The story is set in Taiwan under Japanese rule in the 1930s, and follows two
women caught between love, language and power.

Jury chair Natasha Brown called the book fascinating, restrained and full of
ingenuity.

Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) says the win shows Taiwan's literature and
culture are ready for the world stage.

The 50-thousand-pound prize is split between Yang and King, and the book's
rights have now sold in 24 countries.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 12:18:13

The Taichung District Court has sentenced a woman surnamed Li (李) to 11 years
in prison in a fraud case linked to five deaths in Fengyuan.

The court found Li guilty of fraud, extortion and other offenses in the first
ruling today.

Prosecutors said Li ran a group-buying business and used gold-investment
claims to defraud a Wang (王) family and other victims.

They said the total amount was more than 15-million-360-thousand NT.

The Wang family of five was found dead at home in July last year, after
reportedly facing debt and pressure tied to the case.

*Prosecutors identified carbon monoxide poisoning as the main cause of death.

Prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Li to more than 15 years in
prison.

The court handed down an 11-year sentence, and the ruling can still be
appealed.

(PB)

*can omit

Posted on 2026-05-20 12:18:13

Starlux Airlines has again received a five-star airline certification from
Skytrax.

It is the second year in a row that Starlux has won the international rating.

Skytrax evaluates airlines through on-site audits, covering airport service,
cabin design, in-flight service and food quality.

Starlux CEO Glenn Chai says the award is an important milestone for the
airline.

He says it shows the company's service standards have received international
recognition.

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted praised Starlux's cabin design, service culture,
in-flight dining and digital experience.

Starlux says it will launch Taipei and Taichung flights to Busan in South
Korea on June 1st.

It also plans to open its first Europe route, from Taipei to Prague in the
Czech Republic, on August 1st.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 12:18:13

Health officials say suspected Ebola deaths in eastern Congo have risen to
131.

Authorities reported 26 more suspected deaths in 24 hours.

Congolese officials say there are now more than 500 suspected cases and 33
confirmed cases.

Two confirmed cases have also been reported in neighboring Uganda.

The World Health Organization says it is deeply concerned about the scale and
speed of the outbreak.

The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved
strain-specific vaccine or treatment.

Some border movement is being restricted, but the WHO is warning countries
not to close borders.

The U.S. says one American has tested positive, and six other exposed
Americans are being moved to Germany for monitoring.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 12:18:13

Banks in Bolivia's capital, La Paz, have temporarily closed some branches as
anti-government protests grow.

Unions, miners, transport workers and rural groups are demanding President
Rodrigo Paz roll back austerity measures and address rising living costs.

Some protesters are also calling for Paz to resign, just months after he took
office in November.

Roadblocks have stranded trucks and caused shortages of food, fuel and
medical supplies.

A public transport strike was also reported in nearby El Alto.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau says he is concerned about
attempts to overthrow Paz.

European diplomats are calling for dialogue and peaceful demonstrations.

Paz has raised the minimum wage and increased some benefits, but the measures
have not eased tensions.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-20 11:06:14

No damage or injuries are being reported following this morning's magnitude
4.8 earthquake the rattled the Taitung and Hualien areas.

The quake struck at 9:11 and was centered some 65-kilometers north-northeast
of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 28-kilometers.

It was felt stongest in Taitung's Changbin Township and Chenggong areas -
where it registered a magnitude 4 on the Central Weather Administration's
intensity scale.

The quake registered a 3 on the scale in other areas of Taitung and southern
parts of Hualien and it registered a 2 on the scale in parts of Yunlin,
Chiayi and Changhua.

It was followed some three minutes later by a magnitude 4.1 earthquake -
which was centered in the same area - which was felt strongest in the
Changbin Township area - where it registered magnitude 2 on the weather
administration's intensity scale

Posted on 2026-05-20 11:06:21

30-day stay

R-O-C passport holders may soon no longer be granted 60-day visa-free travel
to Thailand.

It comes after the country's foreign ministry announced that it's cutting
visa-free stays for travelers from more than 50 countries, to just 30 days.

Along with Taiwan, those countries include Japan, the United States, Canada,
the U-K, France, Germany, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The Thai government has said the adjustments to its visa policy are based on
considerations of national security, tourism and economic interests, and the
principle of reciprocity.

Posted on 2026-05-20 11:06:21

The Ministry of National Defense is reporting 24 Chinese Air Force sorties
operating near Taiwan between 6AM Tuesday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, 13 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan strait
and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense
identification zones.

The aircraft included fighter jets, support planes and one U-A-V.

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

The defense ministry has said that China has been carrying out joint air-sea
exercise near Taiwan since yesterday morning.

Posted on 2026-05-20 11:06:21

The United Nations has lowered its forecast for global economic growth and
raised the prospects for inflation in response to Middle East crises and
rising oil prices.

U-N economists say global G-D-P growth is now forecast at 2.5-per cent for
this year -- down from a forecast of 2.7-per cent in January.

The economists are also warning that it could fall to 2.1-per cent "in a
more adverse scenario."

That would be one of the weakest rates this century, outside the COVID-19
pandemic and the global financial crisis of 2008.

Posted on 2026-05-20 11:06:21

The World Health Organization's director-general is expressing concern over
the rapid spread of a rare type of Ebola in eastern Congo.

Authorities there have reported at least 134 suspected deaths and over 500
cases.

The W-H-O has declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of
international concern, requiring a coordinated response.

Posted on 2026-05-20 11:06:21

And finally,

Britain's free-to-air public broadcaster, Channel 4 has pulled all episodes
of "Married at First Sight UK" after three contestants claimed they were
sexually assaulted by on-screen partners.

The broadcaster is calling the allegations "very serious."

While the British government says there must be "consequences for criminality
or wrongdoing."

The claims were made during a BBC investigation, but the claimants have not
contacted the police.

The men involved dispute the allegations.

The show matches strangers, who move in together after mock weddings.

Posted on 2026-05-20 08:15:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

President Lai Ching-te is slated to deliver an address at 10 o'clock this
morning marking the second anniversary of his inauguration.

Lai will present the address from the Presidential Building accompanied by
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan
Meng-an, and other senior members of his team.

Reports say Lai will use the occasion to review his achievements since his
inauguration two years ago, focus on the 30th anniversary of direct
presidential elections and outline his future policy directions.

Those future directions are expected to include issues related to
strengthening democracy, national security, economic resilience, and social
welfare ...

.. as well as plans to invest in industrial revitalization and measures to
address the declining birth rate.

Lai is also expected to call on Taiwan's major political parties to agree and
a common base line in the face of external threats and to reject China's
united front tactics.

Posted on 2026-05-20 08:15:14

Premier Cho Jung-tai has unveiled a package of family support measures as
part of ongoing government policies to address the island's declining birth
rate.

The latest package of incentives includes expanded parental leave and housing
tax incentives for parents.

According to Cho, the government will be introducing a "0-to-18 full support"
policy covering childbirth, child-rearing and education and the overall plan
is expected to be submitted for Cabinet approval on May 28.

Under the proposal, the government will provide support through increased
subsidies, reduced financial burdens, greater workplace flexibility and
expanded caregiving services, with the aim of creating a more family-friendly
environment.

The premier says one of the key measures will expand the current parental
leave system by extending eligibility to parents of children up to 6 years
old, up from the current age limit of 3.

He also says the government will introduce housing tax incentives for
families raising children and review regulations governing marriage leave,
maternity leave and paternity leave with the aim of encouraging parents to
share caregiving responsibilities.

Posted on 2026-05-20 08:15:15

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says Taiwan's delegation attending events on
the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva have been facing
monitoring and pressure from China during this year's gathering.

According to Shih, although many like-minded countries continue to express
support for Taiwan's participation, Beijing's pressure can be felt in private
interactions.

Shih says individuals believed to be Chinese nationals were seen monitoring
the movements of members of Taiwan's delegation during a walking event ..

.. while attendance by representatives from Taiwan's diplomatic allies and
international organizations at a "Taiwan Night" event organized by civic
groups was noticeably lower this year, which may have been linked to pressure
from China.

However, the health minister is stressing that despite the absence of U-S
health officials this year, exchanges with other countries and participation
in technical meetings and forums on the sidelines have not been not
significantly affected.

The minister also says Taiwan's W-H-A action team adopted a more flexible
approach to international exchanges this year, using side events,
professional forums, and banquets to deepen interactions with health
officials and delegates from other countries.

Posted on 2026-05-20 08:15:15

humans

The Centers for Disease Control says a man in Keelung who contracted
hantavirus after being bitten by a rat was infected with a strain that is
non-transmissible between humans.

The statement comes after the C-D-C confirmed Taiwan's third hantavirus
infections this year following earlier cases in Taipei and New Taipei.

According to the C-D-C, genetic sequencing identified the latest case as
being the Seoul virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and
to date there have been no reports of person-to-person transmission involving
that strain.

The C-D-C says the Seoul virus strain has an estimated fatality rate of
between 5 and 15-per cent.

The patient is a man in his 40s from northern Taiwan with no recent travel
history or chronic illnesses and was bitten by a rat while working on April
7.

Health authorities say 11 household and workplace contacts have been
identified, none of whom have shown symptoms, while rodent control and
disinfection operations have been carried out at the patient's home and
workplace.

Posted on 2026-05-20 08:15:15

And finally,

Taiwan has jumped to 20th place in the 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index
rankings.

That's up five places from last year.

The ranking index is compiled by StartupBlink, an Israel-based global startup
ecosystem mapping and research center.

It covers more than 1,500 cities and 100 countries worldwide.

According to the National Development Council, this year's ranking was
Taiwan's best-ever result and reflects the joint efforts of the government,
industry, and the startup community.

The N-D-C says Taiwan performed especially well in the Hardware & Internet of
Things sub-index, ranking seventh, which its says reflects Taiwan's strong
base in semiconductors and related industries.

Posted on 2026-05-20 07:01:13

Looking at Tuesday's main world markets, where Wall Street fell as tech
stocks stumbled, oil prices eased and pressure mounted on bond markets.

The A-P's Seth Sutel has the latest.

In Europe ..

The FTSE added less then 0.1-per cent.

The DAX rose 0.4-per cent.

And the CAC 40 fell less than 0.1-per cent.

Earlier in Asia ..

The Nikkei lost 0.4-per cent.

The Kospi tumbled 3.3-per cent.

The Hang Seng added 0.5-per cent.

And the Shanghai Composite gained 0.9-per cent.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the government remains "cautiously
optimistic" about future arms sales Taiwan by the United States despite
reports suggesting that Washington could indefinitely delay such sales.

This, after a New York Times report which said comments by U-S leader Donald
Trump describing arms sales to Taiwan as a "very good negotiation chip", had
sparked concern within Trump's administration over security assurances to
Taiwan.

The report also raised the possibility that Washington could "indefinitely
withhold" an 14-billion U-S dollar arms sales package to the island.

Koo told lawmakers that U-S officials have repeatedly stated that
Washington's Taiwan policy remains unchanged.

Koo added the government has consistently made clear that it is a maintainer
of the cross-strait status quo rather than a provocateur and that China is
the party undermining regional peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The defense minister also stressed that the Lai administration will continue
communicating with the U-S, while remaining "cautiously optimistic" that arms
sales will continue.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:15

A proposal initiated by Taiwan's diplomatic allies calling for the island to
participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer has been rejected by
World Health Organization member states, in a widely expected move.

Member states voted down the proposal with a "two-on-two debate."

Palau and Paraguay backed Taiwan's participation, while China and Pakistan
opposed it.

China's permanent representative reiterated Beijing's long-held stance that
the People's Republic of China fully represents Taiwan and argued that
participation in the W-H-A must be handled in accordance with the one-China
principle.

The representative cited United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and
W-H-A Resolution 25.1 as being the basis for that and the argument was
supported by Pakistan's representative

Palau's representative told delegates that Taiwan's exclusion from W-H-O is
unjustified and weakens global disease surveillance and also argued that that
neither resolutions cited by China mention Taiwan or authorize another
government to represent it in the U-N system.

Paraguay's representative made a similar argument in support ..

.... saying Taiwan has proved itself to be a "responsible and effective
partner in public health" and deserved to participate in the assembly as an
observer.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

An impeachment motion initiated by the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party
against President Lai Ching-te has failed to meet the constitutional
threshold in the Legislature.

Lawmakers voted 56 to 50 in favor of impeachment.

However, the 56 "yes" votes were far short of the 76 needed for the motion to
succeed.

The outcome was a foregone conclusion, as the motion needed to gain the
backing of at least two-thirds of all lawmakers before being able to proceed
to another vote by the Constitutional Court's grand justices.

The K-M-T, T-P-P, and two independents together only make up 55-per cent, of
the total 113 legislative seats.

It was the first ever impeachment vote to have targeted the president.

The motion was proposed in December of last year after Lai failed to
promulgate a bill passed by lawmakers that would have increased the share of
tax revenue given to local governments.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

The Ministry of Labor has announced plans to launch a new investigator
training program and expert database as part of efforts to combat workplace
bullying.

The ministry says the program aims to train over 1,000 specialists from
different professional fields, including lawyers, psychologists, labor
mediators and occupational health personnel.

20 training sessions will be held across the island beginning in June.

The program is being launched ahead of new workplace bullying regulations -
which take effect on July 1.

Under revised rules, employers who are made aware of workplace bullying
complaints will be required to take immediate action, protect complainants
and conduct formal investigations.

Authorities say the new expert database is intended to help employers and
local governments quickly find qualified investigators to assist with
handling complaints.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed a recent mpox case... one of
which was imported.

It's one of two new cases of mpox that have been confirmed this month.

The cases involve a man in his 40s in northern Taiwan and the imported case
involving a man in his 20s.

The C-D-C says neither of the men had not been vaccinated against the disease.

Data shows a total of 530 cases of mpox have reported since it was listed as
a notifiable communicable disease -- these include 493 local and 37 imported
cases.

A total of 14 cases - 12 local and two imported - have been reported so far
this year.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 17 Taiwan nationals
for allegedly operating a telecom fraud ring in the Philippines and
defrauding more than 100 victims in Taiwan of over 60-million N-T.

Prosecutors are recommending a prison sentence of more than 25 years for the
alleged ringleader, while the other 16 defendants are facing recommended
prison terms ranging from 10 to more than 20 years in prison.

According to the prosecutors' office, the suspects were arrested last year in
a joint operation by Taiwan and Philippine law enforcement authorities
targeting a scam operation in Cebu.

The suspects were deported from the Philippines to Taiwan in January and
later detained.

Prosecutors says the group established the scam operation in April of 2024
and used fake charity campaigns and online romance schemes to target victims
in Taiwan.

Authorities have seized assets worth nearly 20-million N-T linked to the
suspects.

All 17 suspects have been charged with fraud, money laundering, organized
crime offenses, and operating overseas fraud-related equipment.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

The Food and Drug Administration has seized a 75,000-kilogram shipment of
imported Vietnamese black rice after it tested positive for pesticide
residue.

According to the F-D-A, the shipment was found to contain 0.04 parts per
million of oxolinic acid.

Under the Standards for Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods, oxolinic acid must
not be detectable in rice, with the limit of quantification set at 0.02 parts
per million.

The F-D-A says seven of the 38 Vietnamese brown rice shipments submitted for
inspection between November of last year and May 11 failed to meet standards,
all due to pesticide residue violations.

That represents a non-compliance rate of 18.4-per cent.

All imported rice is subject to a 100-perc ent inspection rate.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

Israeli forces have intercepted the remaining vessels from an activist
flotilla challenging Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
The flotilla aimed to highlight the dire conditions faced by nearly 2 million
Palestinians in the territory.

Activists claim Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets and damaged boats.

Italy’s foreign minister has called for a review of Israel’s alleged use of
force. The flotilla had departed from Turkey and carried a symbolic amount of
aid.

Israel describes the flotilla as a provocation.

Critics argue the Gaza blockade amounts to collective punishment.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in China for meetings with
Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The visit comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up
his own trip to Beijing.

Putin's two-day visit is likely to be closely watched as Beijing seeks to
maintain stable relations with the United States while also preserving strong
ties with Russia.

The Kremlin has said Putin and Xi are planning to discuss economic
cooperation between the two countries but also key international and regional
issues.

The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Treaty of
Friendship signed in 2001.

Posted on 2026-05-20 06:50:16

Looking at Tuesday's main world markets, where Wall Street fell as tech
stocks stumbled, oil prices eased and pressure mounted on bond markets.

The A-P's Seth Sutel has the latest.

In Europe ..

The FTSE added less then 0.1-per cent.

The DAX rose 0.4-per cent.

And the CAC 40 fell less than 0.1-per cent.

Earlier in Asia ..

The Nikkei lost 0.4-per cent.

The Kospi tumbled 3.3-per cent.

The Hang Seng added 0.5-per cent.

And the Shanghai Composite gained 0.9-per cent.

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