ICRT

Posted on 2025-04-30 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Navy Chief of Staff Qiu Chun-rong has admitted that the first domestically
built submarine prototype willl likely miss the date that sea trials were
scheduled to begin.

The Ministry of National Defense's timeline for the Narwhal to carry out sea
trials was supposed to begin in April and be completed by late September.

However, Qiu says the Navy is currently still working on improvements and
focusing on reaching the "technology readiness level" required for the vessel
to carry out sea trials.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo last week told lawmakers that no dates had
been confirmed for when the Narwhal indigenous submarine prototype would
begin its sea acceptance tests.

That statement followed reports of potential testing delays due to voltage
surges from a land-based power supply used in testing causing some components
in the submarine to fail.

Shipbuilder C-S-B-C was scheduled to the delivery the submarine to the Navy
before the end of last year.

However, the scheduled delivery has now pushed back to November this year.

Lawmakers have frozen 2-billion N-T of the funding proposed for the submarine
program with the proviso that the funds will only be unfrozen after the
Narwhal prototype passes sea trials.

Posted on 2025-04-30 08:14:13

Investigations into cases of alleged use of forged signatures by organizers
of recall campaigns targeting D-P-P lawmakers are continuing.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has detained K-M-T New Taipei
City Branch Secretary-General Chen Zhen-rong and released three other K-M-T
local officials after questioning.

Prosecutors say Chen is suspected of being involved in forging signatures in
a campaign to recall D-P-P lawmakers Su Chiao-hui and Lee Kun-cheng.

The Keelung District Prosecutors' Office has released Sean Chang, the
director of the city government's Department of Civil Affairs on bail of
400,000 N-T.

He was released late last night after being questioned on Tuesday in
connection with irregularities related to recall campaigns targeting D-P-P
Keelung City Councilors Zheng Wen-ting and Zhang Zhi-hao.

Two other suspects, K-M-T Ren'ai District branch director Chang Jin-fa and
the chief petitioner in that recall campaign, Ji Wen-chuan have been detained
as part of the investigation into allegations of using signatures of dead
people on the recall petitions.

Posted on 2025-04-30 08:14:13

Road safety groups are slamming the Highway Bureau for its plan to introduce
a mandatory "pointing and calling" requirement in driving tests.

The groups are describing the decision as being "stupid" as it could
compromise traffic safety.

The criticism comes after the Highway Bureau last week announced that driving
test for small passenger cars will include a new "pointing and calling"
requirement from June 2.

Learner drivers who fail to perform the newly required action during the test
will not pass.

"Pointing and calling" a safety confirmation method that originated in Japan.

Currently only drivers of certain bus lines are required to perform the
checks before turning at intersections.

The "pointing and calling" require drivers to stop, point to the left, front,
and right, and verbally confirm that no pedestrians are present,

Road safety groups says the move will significantly slow down traffic and be
difficult to enforce.

Posted on 2025-04-30 08:14:13

The National Defense University's Chung Cheng Institute has won a prize at a
university-level drone competition.

The "2025 UAV Defense Challenge" required participants to perform drone
reconnaissance missions without using satellite navigation systems, to test
their operational skills.

According to a Ministry of National Defense, the competition was based on a
scenario where drones are being jammed and cannot link to the Global
Navigation Satellite System ..

... forcing operators to operate them independently while conducting
reconnaissance missions and locating targets.

The National Defense University's Chung Cheng Institute beat out 14 other
teams and was among the competition's six finalists.

The institute says it will share its findings from the competition with state
weapons developer, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and
Technology and private drone manufacturers to facilitate research and
development.

The competition was held at the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center
in Chiayi County and hosted by National Cheng Kung University and overseen by
the National Science and Technology Council.

Posted on 2025-04-30 08:14:13

The Central Weather Administration says it has recorded the island's third
coldest spring this year since 2011 - largely because of the continental cold
air masses that moved in from the north.

According to the administration's forecast center, Taiwan was hit by two
rounds of cold spells during the February to April period, contributing to an
average temperature of 20.4-degrees during that time.

Center director Chen Yi-liang says the coldest and second coldest springs
over the past 14-years were recorded in 2011 and 2014.

The average temperature in 2011 was 19.46-degrees, while the average
temperature in 2014 was 20.3-degrees.

While the average temperature in the spring of this year was lower than the
average of 20.8-degrees recorded in the springs from 1991 to 2020.

Average temperature readings are based on 11 low-lying monitoring stations
around Taiwan.

And in the Taipei monitoring station, temperatures dropped to 14 degrees or
below on 30 days this spring - the most in almost 20 years.

Posted on 2025-04-30 08:14:13

And finally,

Organizers of the Golden Melody Awards have unveiled the main visual theme
for this year's event - a hexagonal screw symbolizing the unity of all roles
in the music industry.

According to award's ceremony visual coordinator Yang Shi-ching, he drew
inspiration from music when creating the visual theme, and the hexagonal
screw concept resonates with the number 36 - which represents balance and
unity.

The main visual also include three posters.

Yang says each of the posters depicts the screw's geometric beauty and its
metaphorical role in music's emotional flow and reorganization.

The 36th Golden Melody Awards will be taking place at the Taipei Dome on June
28.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has congratulated Canada following its
federal election - saying Ottawa has set a global benchmark for the
democratic processes.

The ministry said Taiwan and Canada share universal values such as democracy,
freedom, and human rights - and tie between the two sides have grown steadily
in recent years.

The ministry touted the bilateral Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection
Agreement in 2023 and the Science and Technology Innovation Agreement a year
later as evidence of the shared values...

... stating that the both agreements have further strengthened bilateral ties.

The ministry is also expressing the government's optimism about the
continuing growth of Taiwan's partnership with Canada.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:13

Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei says electricity supply will rely mainly on
fossil fuels once the last active nuclear power reactor is shut down next
month.

Kuo said coal, natural gas, and fuel oil, will account for 84-per cent of
domestic electricity production, but he expects renewables to account for
20-per cent by November 2026 and 30-per cent by 2030.

The statement comes as the nuclear reactor in the Ma-An-Shan Nuclear Power
Plant in Pingtung is scheduled to be shut down in mid-May.

That reactor currently accounts for just under 3-per cent of power during
peak demand periods.

Premier Zhu Rong-tai insists that shutting down that final reactor will not
affect electricity generation or lead to energy shortages in the next five to
seven years.

Zhu says three thermal power stations will be expanded with new units to fill
that gap, while the reserve margin is expected to remain above 15-per cent.

Data from the Energy Administration shows that in 2024, fossil fuels
accounted for 83.2-per cent of Taiwan's electricity generation, compared to
4.2-per cent for nuclear energy, 1.1-per cent for pumped storage, and
11.6-per cent for renewable energy.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a visiting delegation from the Youth
Division of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party will be meeting with senior
government officials this week.

The 11-member delegation is led by Youth Division Director Nakasone Yasutaka
and includes several members of the House of Representatives and the House of
Councilors.

The delegation is slated to hold talks with President Lai Ching-te, Vice
President Hsiao Bi-khim and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu during it ongoing
five-day visit.

The delegation will also meet with National Security Council
Secretary-General Joseph Wu, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Su Jia-chuan
- that chairman of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association.

The foreign ministry says the talks will focus on issues including bilateral
relations and regional situation.

The Taiwan-Japan Relations Association says several Japanese delegations are
scheduled to visit Taiwan in the coming days...

Japan is marking Golden Week... an extended holiday period that lasts until
May 6.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

Labor rights groups will be taking to the streets of Taipei tomorrow for the
annual Labor Day march.

The Labor Day 51 Alliance says participants will be making seven demands to
the government.

These include for the Labor Standards Act to be revised to provide more
special leave days for employees and gradually change to allow workers to
have three days off a week.

The Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions says participants will also be
pushing for designating Labor Day as a national holiday, and for protections
against bullying in the work place to be applied to both the private and
public sectors.

Its also calling for an increase in the employers' monthly mandatory
contribution of no less than 6-per cent of their employed workers' monthly
wages to their labor pension accounts under the new labor pension scheme.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

The Presidential Office has announced that former grand justice, Huang
Zhao-yuan has been appointed as Taiwan's representative to the World Trade
Organization.

The appointment was made via presidential order.

It means that Huang willl be representing Taiwan at the only major
international organization in which that island has full membership.

Huang replacing Luo Chang-fa, who is also a former grand justice and had held
the position since 2020.

Luo recently submitted a request to retire.

Huang sat on the Constitutional Court from 2016 to 2024.

Before that, he was a National Taiwan University law professor, specialising
in constitutional law, comparative law, international law, and international
human rights law.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

The Centers for Disease Control is warning in a rise in the number of COVID
infections.

The CDC says infections have now risen for three consecutive weeks and are
likely to peak between May and June.

Figures show that the number of people visiting hospitals with COVID symptoms
increased by 19-per cent last week from the previous week.

While 21 cases of severe COVID and seven deaths have been confirmed over the
past seven days.

C-D-C Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hong-wei says over 90-per
cent of patients who suffered from severe or who died from between October 1
of last year and this week did not get the latest COVID vaccine.

C-D-C Deputy Director-General Philip Luo is advised people to get vaccinated,
take a COVID-19 test if they develop symptoms seek medical help.

Health authorities say more than 3-million doses of government-funded COVID
vaccines are currently available.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

The Food and Drug Administration says it has seized several batches of
oysters and avocados imported from the United States after they were found to
contain excessive levels of the heavy metal cadmium.

The F-D-A said oysters, imported by Jing Yuan International Trading were
found to contain 2 parts per million of cadmium, exceeding the regulatory
limit of 1 part per million.

That means the F-D-A is now tighten inspections for Jing Yuan, increasing the
sampling rate from the standard 2 to 10-per cent to a stricter 20 to 50-per
cent,

Meanwhile, the avocados were imported by Chiawei Enterprise and Ourmart
Marketing and found to contain cadmium levels ranging from 0.08 to 0.12 parts
per million, surpassing Taiwan's permissible limit of 0.05 parts per million.

The F-D-A also raised the inspection rate for the avocado importers to
between 20 and 50-per cent.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum will exhibit the iconic
Japanese woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai
starting at the end of May.

The masterpiece is on loan from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.

It will be displayed for from May 30 to June 29 as part of the museum's
three-month exhibition "The Beauty of the Floating World in Edo."

Exhibition curator Zhu Long-xing said "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" creates a
"harmony between movement and stillness" in what is one of the most
recognizable images in Japanese art.

The print was created between 1831 and 1833 and was chosen by the Bank of
Japan in 2024 as main image for a new 1,000-yen banknote.

Most of those artworks on display at the exhibition are on loan from the
Tokyo Metropolitan Library, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum and the National Museum
of Japanese History.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

A man who worked for a prominent German far-right lawmaker in the European
Parliament has been charged with spying for China.

The office of the federal prosecutor announced the charges Tuesday.

Jian Guo is accused of working for a Chinese intelligence service and of
passing on information on negotiations and decisions in the EU Parliament.

He was arrested last year.

Guo is a German citizen and remains in custody. He also allegedly gathered
information on prominent politicians with the far-right Alternative for
Germany, or AfD.

Posted on 2025-04-30 06:53:14

The World Food Program and the United Nations refugee agency will slash jobs
because of funding cuts, mainly from the United States.

The WFP is expected to cut up to 30% of its staff.

The head of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the agency would
downsize its headquarters and regional offices to reduce costs by 30% and
would cut senior-level positions by 50%.

The cuts to the U.N. agencies underscore the impact of President Donald
Trump’s decision to pull back the U.S. from its position as the world’s
single largest aid donor.

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:10:14

Road safety groups are criticizing the Highway Bureau over a proposed rule
requiring "pointing and calling" in sedan driving tests, calling it rushed
and impractical.

The method, adapted from Japan, involves drivers making gestures and verbal
confirmations before turning.

Critics, including the Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance, say the policy lacks
public consensus and could disrupt traffic flow, arguing a simple "shoulder
check" would be more effective.

In response, the Highway Bureau said the rule is still under discussion and
that June 2nd is only a tentative date, not a finalized one.

It added that it would take into account "differing public opinions", and
continue to consult with relevant stakeholders to ensure the rule "better
meets practical needs".

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:10:14

National Yang Ming Chiao Tong University has requested police assistance
after its student association allegedly received a threatening email related
to its showing of a documentary "State Organs."

According to police, they will investigate based on the origin of the email
and trace the identity of the suspect.

The university's student association plans to show the documentary this
Thursday.

"State Organs" is a documentary film which interviews doctors who
participated in live organ harvesting of Fa Lun Gong practicioners in China.

The film explores how the CCP disappears people and conducts organ harvesting
for profit.

It has led to plenty of public outrage in Taiwan, with Taipei Mayor Chiang
Wan An facing backlash after cancelling a showing of the film.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:08:14

Premier Cho Jung-tai warned today that exchange rate fluctuations pose a
major challenge for the country, amid growing concerns over a possible
currency war triggered by U.S. tariff policies.

Premier Cho noted that while the New Taiwan Dollar has remained relatively
stable over time, the government is mentally prepared for future volatility
in both exchange rates and capital markets.

His remarks came in response to lawmakers, who raised alarms that U.S.
President Trump's new tariff measures could not only drive up export costs
but also lead to industrial relocation and currency appreciation.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's central bank governor Yang Chin-long sought to dispel
speculation that the United States is pressuring Taiwan to strengthen its
currency.

Lawmakers voiced concerns that Washington might be linking trade talks with
currency demands, but Yang firmly stated, "There is no such matter",
stressing that tariff and exchange rate issues are handled separately.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:08:14

Cash Payouts

In similar news...

Premier Cho Jung-tai has defended the government's plan to subsidize the
state-run TaiPower.

Cho argued that an increase of electricity prices would trigger broader
inflation and social pressure greater than that caused by a one-time cash
handout of 10-thousand NT, as proposed by the opposition KMT.

The Executive Yuan recently passed a $410 billion NT special bill that
includes $100 billion NT to subsidize TaiPower, aiming to prevent electricity
rate hikes.

Cho warned that without financial support, power rates could rise as early as
July or October, triggering widespread price increases.

He noted $93 billion NT is also allocated to stabilize jobs and support
industry, stressing that businesses are concerned about the combined impact
of tariffs and energy costs.

Cho added that the government has asked fiscal authorities to quantify how
electricity hikes would affect everyday living costs.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:08:14

New Taipei KMT chair Huang Zhi-xiong (黃志雄) has vowed to contend the New
Taipei District Court's ruling of putting the KMT New Taipei office's
secretary under detention incommunicado.

Huang said the judicial actions were politically motivated and exceeded
standard procedures.

Prosecutors searched KMT's Ban-qiao and San-chong offices a week ago as part
of their investigations into recall campaigns against DPP lawmakers over
forged signatures.

They also searched staff workers' residences and questioned more than 20
people.

Yesterday prosecutors searched the offices for the second time and brought
secretary Chen Zhen-rong (陳貞容) back to file a detention request.

The New Taipei District judge today ruled to detain her and prohibit any
outside communication on risks of flight and collusion, saying that there was
also strong suspicion of criminal activity.
　
(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:08:14

Chinese authorities say 22 people have been killed and 3 injured in a fire at
restaurant in the northern city of Liaoning.

They said the fire broke out at around noon Tuesday.

No word was given on the cause of the fire, but images from the scene showed
huge flames spurting from the windows and doors of the two- or three-story
building.

Industrial accidents occur frequently in China, usually due to staff ignoring
safety features.

Posted on 2025-04-29 20:08:14

Meanwhile,

Three Chinese astronauts’ return to Earth has been postponed owing to
weather conditions.

The astronauts, Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, were originally due
to land Tuesday in Dongfeng, China’s northern Inner Mongolia region after
spending six months in space.

According to the official Xinhua news agency, the current weather conditions
were not optimal, and the landing was postponed to “guarantee the health and
safety of the astronauts”.

The Manned Space Agency had said that two of the astronauts, Cai and Song,
conducted a nine-hour space walk, the world's longest, during their mission.

Posted on 2025-04-29 17:06:14

Taiwan is experiencing a fresh COVID-19 wave, with officials warning the peak
could come in May or June.

Health authorities reported 21 new severe cases and 7 deaths last week.

Among the severely ill is a woman in her 20s with no preexisting conditions
who had not received a vaccine in three years.

She was hospitalized with pneumonia, and is in intensive care.

The dominant virus strain, XEC, is a JN.1 subvariant.

The CDC urges the public to get the updated Moderna JN.1 vaccine, with 3.21
million doses still available for anyone over 6 months old.

Elderly citizens are advised to receive two doses.

Taiwan's supply of antiviral medications is sufficient for over a year based
on current usage rates.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-29 17:06:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is condemning Chinese coercion leading to the
removal of the Taiwan flag at its Belgium office over 2 years ago.

MOFA further called on countries around the world to stand up against Chinese
pressure.

A local newspaper reported in 2022 that the Chinese embassy in Belgium had
requested that the Taiwan representative office there remove the national
flag.

It was taken down in the beginning of 2023.

Furthermore, the Brussels Book Fair had originally invited Taiwan to
participate last year but later rescinded the offer due to pressure from
China.

The ministry emphasized the importance of international partners' assistance
in standing together against bullying from China.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-29 17:06:14

Taipei City is expanding its medical emergency app to incorporate AI and
improve early detection of heart attacks.

The city says its system collects and shares real-time data from ambulances,
and hospitals receive this information through a visual dashboard, which also
estimates ambulance arrival times.

Officials say it has enabled emergency rooms to prepare in advance, enhancing
care for critical conditions like cardiac arrest, strokes, and severe trauma,
and has helped nearly 1-thousand-200 patients in the first quarter this year.

The city plans to incorporate an AI-based ECG reading function later this
year, and future updates will also include pre-hospital ultrasound imaging to
further enhance emergency response capabilities.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-04-29 17:06:14

Now turning to international news...

Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have temporarily shut more than half
of tourist resorts in the scenic Himalayan region following a deadly attack
on tourists.

Officials say the decision is a precautionary safety measure.

The attack one week ago saw gunmen killing 26 people, most of them Indian
tourists, near the resort town of Pahalgam.

India describes the massacre as a terror attack and accuses neighboring
Pakistan of backing it.

Pakistan denies any connection to the attack.

Both sides have since escalated the tensions by exchanging diplomatic and
trade sanctions against each other, raising fears of a military conflict.

Some tourists who survived the massacre have told Indian media that the
gunmen singled out Hindu men.

Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its
entirety.

Posted on 2025-04-29 17:06:14

A controversial Italian cardinal is announcing that he's withdrawing from the
upcoming conclave to pick a new pope.

Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu's status has dominated discussions in the days
after Pope Francis' death.

After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any
future conclave, but he recently asserted that he had a right to enter the
Sistin Chapel with other cardinals on May 7.

But today, he said that he would obey the will of Pope Francis to not enter
the conclave.

He was accused of being involved in embezzlement and fraud and later
convicted.

Posted on 2025-04-29 16:07:13

Levels

Some U.S. imports have been blocked at the border for containing excessive
levels of the toxic heavy metal Cadmium.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the imports include one batch
of oysters and nearly 4-thousand kilograms of avocados.

The FDA said the importers will have their random inspection rates increased
to between 20 and 50 percent...

The products have either been returned or destroyed.

The FDA reported that from October 2024 to April 2025, Taiwan inspected 63
U.S. oyster shipments, with 5% failing due to cadmium contamination.

According to FDA regulations, enhanced inspection is triggered when previous
shipments from the same origin and product category fail testing.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-29 16:07:13

KMT legislative caucus leader Fu Kun-qi's office said today that they will
act in accordance with the law, after Fu was allegedly accused of extorting
Fu'An Mining Company while serving as Hualien magistrate.

According to Mirror Weekly, Fu abused his position as magistrate in relation
to a mining company's application to the Hualien county government for a
mining tax claim.

The magazine reported that Fu told the company to withdraw their request,
threatening them if they did not do so.

In response, Fu's office accused the DPP of launching a smear campaign
against him when recall efforts targeting him enters its final stages.

His office also said that the report was the result of the DPP trying to wipe
out dissidents, adding that the mining tax was proposed and passed by the
County Council at the time and approved by the central government agencies.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-29 16:07:13

Yunlin County is preparing for the Matsu procession to arrive early next
month.

County authorities say the Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage will reach Bei-gang
Township on May 3rd, with over 320-thousand people registered to attend.

And officials say starting from 6am that day until midnight, vehicles will be
prohibited from entering the town center.

Free shuttle buses will also operate between Bei-gang and the Chiayi High
Speed Rail Station from 12:30pm to 9pm.

Several schools add public facilities in the area will open as rest areas for
procession participants.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-04-29 16:07:13

In world news....

Current Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney's Liberal Party has secured a
historic win in the country's federal election.

It culminates a process marked by U.S. President Donald Trump threats on a
trade war and of making the country the 51st American state.

In his victory speech, Carney tells supporters that President Trump is trying
to break them so that America can own Canada - that will never ever happen."

With this result, the Liberal Party's leader will remain in the job, and will
form a new government with a new cabinet.

It's still unclear if the liberals will have a majority in the Parliament or
whether they will need to look for alliances with other parties.

Posted on 2025-04-29 16:07:13

Frustrated with traditional dating, many young people in China are going on
livestreamed video chats to find love.

The chatrooms are hosted by what’s called a “cyber matchmaker,” all while
thousands of viewers watch and comment in real time.

In a 2025 survey report by a Chinese data analysis agency, over 30% of people
said they were single because work kept them too busy to date.

The number of single people in China over 15 reached a record-high of 240
million in 2023, according to government data.

Last year, the State Council, China's cabinet, mandated that local
governments build various online platforms for youth to have more
opportunities to date.

Posted on 2025-04-29 15:43:13

Economics Minister J.W. Guo has reassured lawmakers that TSMC's supply chain
probably won't move overseas for another 7 to 8 years.

Speaking at the Legislative Yuan today, the Minister says Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's current production levels are not
sufficient to draw its supply chain to the United States.

He says only when the company completes construction of its six fabs in the
U.S. would relocation become likely.

Asked by KMT lawmaker Niu Xu-ting (牛煦庭) on whether the industries such as
printed circuit boards, or P-C-B, and servers could also move there, Guo says
they've already had some operations in the U.S. and the growing demand may
lead companies to make adjustments.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-29 15:43:13

Premier Cho Rong-tai says the Executive Yuan expects to present candidates
for the National Communications Commission this week.

The term for former NCC chair Chen Yao-xiang (陳耀祥), Vice chair Ong Bo-zong
(翁柏宗) and two other members expired on July 31st last year, but the
Executive Yuan's nominees to take over the positions were rejected by the
opposition lawmakers.

As tomorrow's Cabinet meeting is the last one this month, Cho says there are
good chances that they'll pass the new candidates for the NCC job at the
meeting.

KMT lawmaker Li Yan-xiu (李彥秀) says everyone's hoping that the new
candidates will fulfill their duties free from outside influence.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-29 15:43:13

An upcoming concert is set to bring 7 K-pop acts to Kaohsiung next month.

Organizers say "KT POP" will be hosted by South Korean actor Ji Chang-wook,
and take place at the Kaohsiung National Stadium on May 31st.

The lineup inclues girl group IVE, which debuted in 2021 and SHOWNU and
HYUNGWON from MONSTA X, meeting fans in Taiwan as a duo.

Mark Tuan from GOT7 will also take the stage as a solo artist.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-04-29 15:43:13

Power had almost fully returned to Spain early Tuesday morning as many
questions remained about what caused one of Europe’s most severe blackouts
across Spain and Portugal.

By 6:30a.m., Spanish electricity operator said that more than 99% of energy
demand had been restored.

Power had returned to several regions across Spain and Portugal as the
nations reeled from the still-unexplained widespread blackout that had turned
airports and train stations into campgrounds for stranded travelers.

Monday night, many city residents, including in Spain’s capital of Madrid,
went to sleep in total darkness.

Spain's prime minister says authorities were still investigating what
happened, but there was no sign that the outage resulted from a cyber attack.

Posted on 2025-04-29 14:10:14

Taiwan Railway Corporation trains are delayed following an accident on the
tracks this morning.

An elderly woman was hit on the tracks between Neili and Taoyuan stations,
causing 30 trains to be delayed.

The TRC immediately notified railway authorities and police after the
accident.

Trains had to be switched onto a single-way track between Neili and Taoyuan,
causing a total delay of 691 minutes.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-29 14:10:14

Many people in the north feel that this past spring was exceptionally cold,
and the Central Weather Administration says it's true.

According to the CWA, this spring season is the third coldest over the past
15 years, with an average temperature at 20 degrees Celsius.

In Taipei alone, there were 30 days between February and April with the
mercury falling below 14, which is the third highest number in the past 20
years.

Looking ahead to the Plum Rain Season, which is expected to develop around
mid-May, the CWA's forecast is that rainfall will be normal to slightly below
normal.

Meteriologist Chen Yi-liang says Taiwan’s plum rain season occurs from May
to June, and during this period, the interaction between cold and warm air
masses often triggers short-duration heavy rainfall or intense rainstorms.

He says the plum rain is expected to start in early May in the north.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-29 14:10:14

The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum will present the iconic
woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai in a new
exhibition.

The exhibition will showcase Japanese art treasures from the end of May.

The masterpiece from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum will be displayed from May
30th to June 29th.

Experts describe the print as one of the most recognizable images in Japanese
art.

Regular admission to the southern brance of the National Palace Museum in
Chiayi is 150 NT.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-04-29 14:10:14

Taiwan shares are continuing their upswing today, closing at 20,323 after
gaining 198 points.

The turnover was 238.6 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-04-29 14:10:14

US President Trump is pushing Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to cede territory
occupied by Russia to Moscow to bring about an end to the invasion of
Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is pushing back, and Trump and top officials have made it clear
they are prepared to walk away if a deal is too difficult.

Europeans view the invasion as a tipping point in the continent's security,
and pressure is now mounting on Ukraine's European allies to find ways to
support Kyiv militarily.

But will the Europeans be able to fill in the gaps if Trump pulls out?

Any withdrawal of U.S. military aid to Ukraine could create serious
difficulties for Europe, experts say.

Kyiv's ability to keep fighting would depend on European political will to
muster money and weapons.

Posted on 2025-04-29 13:06:13

Premier Cho Rong-tai has reiterated that Taiwan's power supply is sufficient
without any nuclear power.

He says with three new power generators brought into the grid this year,
power supply shouldn't be a problem until 2032.

The second nuclear generator of number 3 nuclear power plant in southern
Taiwan is the last one still operating, and it's due to be decommissioned on
May 17th.

There's a major concern about whether this will impact household electricity
rates and whether fossil-fuel power will need to fill the gap.

Cho says today that two natural gas generators at Sen-ba (森霸) and Da-tan
(大潭) power plant, as well as a coal-fired one at Xing-da (興達) will be
coming online this year and their output will fully compensate for the loss
from the nuclear generator.

Currently the reserve margin for electricity generation is above 15%, and
according to Taiwan Power's estimates, the rate will decrease by about 3%
after the nuclear reactor's decommission.

But based on the demand, Cho says it's expected that daytime reserve margins
will remain around 10% and nighttime margins around 7%, all within safe
limits.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-29 13:06:13

The Taiwan High Speed Rail is joining hands with Pingtung County Government
to offer promotions for tourists to the county.

"Take the HSR, travel Pingtung, eat blurfin tuna" promotion offers a 30%
discount on ticket prices for those who purchase the tickets in combination
with hotel bookings.

There are also carefully planned trips as a part of the promo.

Those include round trip transportation from HSR Zuoying station to Pingtung
and a taste of the cuisine that Pingtung has to offer- including the seasonal
bluefin tuna.

Travelers can book the combo tickets on cooperating partner apps such as
Klook and K-K-day.

Please visit the HSR website for more information.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-29 13:06:13

Now turning to international news...

Four former Hong Kong lawmakers have been released after spending more than
four years in prison for their conviction under a Beijing-imposed law that
crushed a once-thriving pro-democracy movement.

Claudio Mo, Jeremy Tam, Kwok Ka Ki and Gary Fan were among 47 activists
arrested in 2021 for their roles in an unofficial primary election.

They were the first of the convicted activists to reunite with their families
and friends following years of separation.

The 2020 unofficial primary drew 610,000 voters, and its winners had been
expected to advance to the official legislative election.

Authorities postponed that, however, citing public health risks during the
COVID-19 pandemic.

During the trial, prosecutors said the activists aimed to paralyze Hong
Kong’s government and force the city’s leader to resign by aiming to win a
legislative majority and using it to block government budgets
indiscriminately.

Posted on 2025-04-29 13:06:13

Gaza health officials say, Israeli strikes killed at least 27 people
overnight.

Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with
Hamas last month.

It has cut off the territory's 2 million people from all imports, including
food and medicine, since the beginning of March.

The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gazans.

This comes as the United Nations' highest court began holding hearings
yesterday into Israel's obligation to facilitate humanitarian aid to the
territories it occupies.

Israel says the International Court of Justice is biased against it.

It says enough aid entered during the ceasefire.

Humanitarian workers say supplies are running desperately low, with most
people eating one meal or less a day.

Posted on 2025-04-29 13:06:13

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is heading to the Philippines seeking
to further boost an alliance in the face of China's growing assertiveness in
the region.

He plans to symbolically board a Japan-made Philippine ship that has
repeatedly clashed with the Chinese coast guard.

Ishiba will meet with President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila today for the
start of two days of talks expected to focus on alarm over China's agressive
actions in the disputed South China Sea and the barrage of tariffs imposed by
US President Trump.

The two sides are expected to start negotiations this year on two defense
pacts, including a proposed defense logistical agreement that would allow the
provision of food, fuel, and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the
Philippines for joint training under a major defense accord that was signed
last year.

Posted on 2025-04-29 08:07:14

raided in recall cases

K-M-T Chairman Eric Chu is accusing President Lai Ching-te of being a
"dictator" and alleging that he's "directing prosecutors" in ongoing
investigations looking into allegations of forgery in recall campaigns
targeting D-P-P lawmakers.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference at the K-M-T's headquarters, Chu
said he had "hoped that with only 22 days remaining until Lai has served one
year as president, he would 'lay down the hatchet ..

.. however, it seems the only word in Lai's lexicon is 'fight' - incessantly
fighting and attacking opposition parties."

According to Chu, he's instructed all publicly elected K-M-T city and county
councilors, township mayors, and borough chiefs to to assist in collecting
signatures from constituents to ensure the recall votes against D-P-P
lawmakers will pass.

The statements came hours after the New Taipei Prosecutors' Office raided the
K-M-T's New Taipei chapter office and the residences of three staff members.

The three staffers were taken in for questioning in connection with allegedly
falsifying signatures in the recall campaign.

A poll published online news outlet my-formosa has found that 59.3-per cent
of respondents believe prosecutors had been "selective in their
investigations" into alleged recall campaign petition forgery.

Posted on 2025-04-29 08:07:14

Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming says his office plans to establish an air
quality detection and forecast center next month.

According to Peng, when operational, the office will be tasked with improving
air quality forecasting capabilities and integrating air quality monitoring,
forecasting and prevention efforts.

Speaking at meeting of the Legislative Social Welfare and Environmental
Hygiene Committee, Peng told lawmakers that forecasting air quality and
responding to it have previous been handled by different units and the center
will integrate those functions.

Peng said the center will allow the the Ministry of Environment to speed-up
response times and be better able to handle air quality issues.

The environment minister went onto say it's hoped his office will be able to
secure more funds for the center in the future in order to boost its
capabilities.

The pending establishment of the air quality detection and forecast center
comes as the Ministry of Environment is finalizing its first air quality
white paper, which is slated to be released next month.

Posted on 2025-04-29 08:07:14

The Taipei District Court has given the deputy chairman of the Chinese
Unification Promotion Party a suspended prison sentence and fine after
finding him guilty of helping buy signatures to get Terry Gou onto the 2024
presidential election ballot.

The court sentenced Lee Zong-kui to two years in prison and fined him
6-million N-T, both suspended for five years, for violations of the
Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act.

However, the court has ordered Lee to pay a 3-million N-T fine and banned him
from seeking or holding public office for four years.

That ruling can be appealed.

Lee was indicted on charges of helping buy signatures for Gou to help him
reach the required number of endorsements needed to run in last year's
presidential election.

According to the indictment, Lee prepared 1.5-million N-T in funds to pay for
signatures and instructed seven of his employees and friends to help purchase
the signatures from members of the public for 300 each N-T.

Prosecutors have said group illegally collected over 1,000 signatures in
support of Gou's candidacy.

The 74 year old Chinese Unification Promotion Party deputy chairman admitted
to the offenses during his trial.

Posted on 2025-04-29 08:07:14

Taiwanese contestants have brought home five gold, five and one bronze medal
from Hungary's Moson Model Show.

The show is one of the world's leading competitions for creative and scale
models and drew nearly 2,000 entries by 800 competitors from 42 countries.

The medal winning model makers from Taiwan included Wang Cheng-yi, who one
gold for his scale reproduction of warship used by the Japanese Imperial Navy
during World War II - that him took seven years to complete.

While Chen Ze-ren won gold in the science-fiction bust and historical figure
categories and a silver in the science-fiction figure category.

Fan Cheng-bin, who led Taiwan's delegation to the event says the contestants
met with and learned from many of the world's top model builders there -
which will help them raise the quality of their craftsmanship in future
competitions.

Posted on 2025-04-29 08:07:14

And finally,

The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism has annouced that a
centenarian badminton player will be representing Taiwan at the upcoming
World Masters Games.

According to city government, 104-year old Lin Yu-mao is one of more than
2,000 athletes aged 65 and above who will be competing in the games.

Lin is the Guinness World Records-certified oldest badminton player.

Fifteen World Masters Games participants are aged 90 and over, including
eight from Taiwan.

Other participants aged 90 and over from Taiwan will be competing in sports
including woodball and swimming.

However, the oldest participant at this year's quadrennial athletics event is
a Thai centenarian track and field athlete who is 105 years old.

The 2025 World Masters Games is taking place in Taipei and New Taipei from
May 17 through 31.

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua says this year's edition of the World Masters
Games has attracted over 25,000 applications and the presence of over 2,000
athletes who are 65 and above is in line with the game's motto of "Sports
beyond Age & Life without Limits."

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has met with lawmakers and officials from the D-P-P,
K-M-T and Taiwan People's Party to try and garner legislative support for a
Cabinet-proposed, special budget bill.

The 410 billion N-T special budget is aimed at mitigating the negative
effects of impending U-S tariffs and helping industry, national defense, and
vulnerable groups meet economic and security challenges over the next two
years.

The Cabinet has said the special budget will be funded primarily through
fiscal surpluses, and it "won't increase the government's debt" through new
borrowing.

The premier has said the government's goal is to negotiate tariffs with the
U-S at rates "no higher than those imposed by the U-S on competitor
countries" ... even as it maintains Taiwan's industrial competitiveness and
safeguards consumer habits.

K-M-T caucus whip Fu Kun-chi said while his party supports actions to counter
U-S tariffs, it is concerned that only 23-per cent of the funding is directly
linked to trade measures.

And while Taiwan People's Party chair and caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang said
the T-P-P is "100-per cent" supportive of financial assistance for businesses
and workers, but the government has failing to provide a detailed impact
assessment report.

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

A former Japanese minister is calling on Japan, Taiwan, and other regional
democratic partners to form a "quasi-security alliance" to respond to what is
now seen as the unpredictability of the United States.

Sanae Takaichi told participants at a seminar in Taipei that since Donald
Trump returned to White House, Japan has seen him make contradictory
statements regarding the US-Japan Security Treaty.

And there are now questions over the U-S's ability to come to Japan's aid
when needed.

Takaichi said Taiwan and Japan are facing similar situations, and both need
to strengthen their respective self-defense capabilities...

As such and like-minded allies should join forces to face challenges, while
also building up their own defense needs.

Takaichi arrived in Taiwan on Sunday heading a delegation for a three-day
visit.

The group has met with President Lai Ching-te, Legislative Speaker Han
Kuo-yu, former President Tsai Ing-wen and lawmakers from across party lines.

Takaichi is a senior Diet member who most recently served as minister of
state for economic security from 2022 to 2024.

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research says the government should
seek a tariff exemption for the island's information and communications
technology products during negotiations with the United States.

The recommendation came after Washington and Taipei held their first
negotiations on April 11... and the government is seeking to ensure that
Taiwan will not face hefty tariffs on exports to the U-S market.

Institute President Lien Hsien-ming said the impact of such large tariffs on
the I-C-T industry could be enormous, as it would be difficult for Taiwan
suppliers to relocate production to the American market anytime soon, as
Donald Trump wants.

Lien says he firmly believes the government should not take tough action in
retaliation for the tariffs, as Taiwan's economy is much smaller than that of
the U-S ..

He expects the U-S to settle for a reciprocal tariff of between 15 and 20-per
cent on goods made in Taiwan.

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

The Formosa Republican Association has held a series of civil defense
exercises in Nantou County.

More than 10 civil defense groups from around Taiwan joined the two-day
drills at the National Fire Agency's Training Center.

The association says some 100 people participated in the exercises,where they
practiced essential skills, in an effort to build grassroots resiliency
against war and natural disasters.

Exercises included dealing with scenarios that required participants to
provide care to military personnel injured in battle... and to simulate
moving injured civilians and soldiers to safety at medical stations behind
the frontlines.

Participants also practiced search and rescue operations in the rubble of a
collapsed building.

The exercises were observed by Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shi-yuan, National
Fire Agency head Hsiao Huan-chang as well as members of the Presidential
Office's Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee.

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

The MacKay Memorial Hospital says it recently sent another team of volunteer
medical professionals to Ukraine, where they provided free medical services
to residents in several cities.

It's the fifth humanitarian mission to Ukraine to have been organized by the
hospital.

The 11-member team was led by the director of its International Medical
Service Center and was in Ukraine from April 13 until this past Sunday.

The team included medical professionals specializing in cardiology,
dentistry, oral surgery, emergency medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

The hospital says the team established clinics at churches in the four
cities.

The MacKay Memorial Hospital sent its first medical aid support group from
Taiwan to Ukraine in April of 2022, just two months after the Russian
invasion.

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

And,

The Kai-ching Whale-watching Boat company has reported spotting a rare albino
spinner dolphin in the waters off Yilan County.

It's the first time it has spotted an albino spinner dolphin in over a decade.

The company says the dolphin didn't to be fully grown... and was swimming
next to a larger female, believed to be its mother, among a pod of hundreds
of spinner dolphins near Guishan Island.

A company tour guide says albinism in animals occurs at a rate of about one
in 30,000.

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

China says six Filipinos landed on a tiny outcropping that both countries
claim in the South China Sea.

The incident on Sunday came three days after photos emerged of Chinese coast
guard officers displaying a Chinese flag on the same group of sandbars.

A Philippine statement said that a joint coast guard, navy and maritime
police team had landed on Sandy Cay.

A photo posted on social media by a Philippine coast guard spokesperson
showed personnel displaying a Philippine flag on one of the sandbars.

A Chinese coast guard statement described the Philippine landing as
“illegal.”

Posted on 2025-04-29 06:55:13

The head of Israel’s internal security service says he will resign in June
over the failure of his agency to warn of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

It defuses an escalating battle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said Monday he will formally step down June 15.

Netanyahu moved to fire Bar last month over what he said was a crisis of
confidence surrounding Hamas’ attacks.

But it sparked an uproar because the agency is investigating ties between the
Israeli leader’s office and Qatar — a key mediator between Hamas and Israel
over the war in Gaza.

Posted on 2025-04-28 19:35:13

The Central Election Commission announced today that deadlines for the second
phase of recall petitions against 50 legislators will range from May 2nd to
June 24th.

Among opposition lawmakers, deadlines are mostly in May, with KMT's Huang
Chien-pin (黃建賓) due May 2nd and Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) by May 23rd.

For DPP lawmakers, most deadlines fall in June, including Chen Ying (陳瑩)
and Wu Li-hua (伍麗華) on May 31st and Chen Chun-yu (陳俊宇) on June 24th.

The CEC explained that once enough signatures are verified, voting must occur
within 20 to 60 days.

Recall petitions must meet strict requirements ....

Over 10% of eligible voters' signatures, and a recall passes only if "yes"
votes outnumber "no" votes and surpass one-quarter of all voters.

Other recall petitions include city and county councilors and Hsinchu Mayor
Kao Hung-an (高虹安), whose petition closes on May 4th.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-28 19:34:13

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research is urging Taiwan to seek
tariff exemptions for its ICT products in talks with the United States,
warning that new tariffs could seriously impact Taiwan’s electronics
industry.

C-I-E-R President Lien Hsien-ming (連賢明) noted that Information and
Communication Technology products make up about 70% of Taiwan’s exports to
the U.S., and relocating production to the U.S. would be difficult.

Trump has proposed a 32% blanket tariff on countries with large trade
surpluses, including Taiwan, though a 90-day pause is now in effect.

CIER also predicted Taiwan’s economic growth could slow to 1.66% next year,
much lower than earlier forecasts.

Lien advised against retaliatory moves, suggesting a reciprocal tariff rate
between 15 and 20 percent is likely.

Meanwhile, CIER suggested Taiwan could help the U.S. rebuild manufacturing by
sharing expertise in science parks and industrial zones.

(CNA-IG)

Posted on 2025-04-28 19:34:13

New Taipei City metro officials announced that construction on the second
phase of the Danhai Light Rail is "on track" to begin later this year.

This crucial extension has been in the works for some time, and the revised
plans have now been resubmitted to the Executive Yuan for final approval.

According to the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, preparatory work is
scheduled to start in the coming months ... which includes road upgrades and
utility relocation along Zhongzheng Road.

This will clear the way for the main light rail construction, ensuring
smoother commutes, especially once the Tamkang Bridge opens.

The route for this second phase was adjusted after discussions with local
residents, and after three and a half years and multiple revisions ... before
receiving the green light from transport authorities.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-28 17:06:13

KMT Chairman Eric Chu says, his party will launch a recall campaign against
President Lai Ching-Te on May 20th.

Chu says, the process will begin in the legislature, before going to every
corner of Taiwan to garner support for Lai's recall.

Meanwhile, TPP chair Huang Kuo-chang is also calling for Lai to step down and
says he knows many citizens share similar feelings.

This comes after the KMT held a rally over the weekend to "oppose the green
communist dictatorship!"

Chu accused Lai of aiming to extinguish the opposition parties, and stated
that the KMT opposes both the "red communists" and the green ones.

Chu also called the ongoing recall campaign targeting many KMT lawmakers a
referendum on a democratic election.

Recalling the president would require two thirds of the legislature, a number
that the opposition parties together do not have now but may be hoping to
achieve by recalling DPP legislators.

If the move were to pass the legislature, then it would go to a public vote.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-28 17:06:13

The Ministry of Environment is preparing to take legal action against the
source of recent misinformation on TikTok.

According to the ministry, the false claims include allegations that
motorcycles without inspection certificates will be fined $3-thousand-500 NT
and have their licenses revoked ... as well as disposable utensils being
subject to new charges starting July 1st.

Environment Minister Peng Chih-ming said these rumors were spread
deliberately by a group tied to a media company registered in Taipei's Neihu
District, not just random individuals.

He warned the disinformation targeted environmental policies to discredit the
government and resembled "cognitive warfare."

Peng is also reccomending the government ban TikTok.

He added that past efforts to correct misinformation with informational
graphics were largely ineffective, which led to the decision to take legal
action.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-04-28 17:06:13

An NGO called the Formosa Republican Association held a series of large-scale
civil defense exercises in Nantou County over the weekend.

Some 100 participants practices essential skills at the event, with the goal
of building grassroots resilience against war and natural disasters.

More than 10 civil groups around Taiwan joined the two-day drills at the
National Fire Agency's Training Center.

Government officials also observed the drills, with Ministry of Interior
officials saying they hope to see more public participation in similar
activities.

Participants divided into groups to deal with scenarios like providing care
to the injured and moving injured civilians to safety...

As well as searching for those trapped in rubble following a missile strike.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2025-04-28 17:06:13

And in internationla news...

Authorities say, a man suspected of killing a Muslim worshipper in France has
turned himself in to police in Italy.

French police began searching for the suspect after the attack on Friday.

Local prosecutors say, investigators are considering the possibility that it
was an Islamophobic attack alongside other motives.

The suspect is a man born in France in 2004 without a criminal record.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack, saying that "racism
and hatred based on religion will never have a place in France... Religious
freedom is inviolable."

But critics point out that France under Macron has limited certain
traditionally Muslim headcoverings, and it is currently illegal in France to
wear niqabs in all public spaces, while hijabs have been banned in state
schools since 2023.

Posted on 2025-04-28 17:06:14

Israeli officials are slamming a UN hearing looking into Israel's obligation
to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians.

The foreign minister said the move was part of a "systematic persecution and
delegitimization" of Israel and said the court was "completely politicized."

This comes as Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least 17 overnight.

That continues a streak of daily strikes on the Strip since Israel decidedly
broke its ceasefire with Hamas last month.

It has cut off the 2 million Palestinians in the territory from all imports,
including food and medicine, for nearly two months.

The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gaza’s
most vulnerable residents, including pregnant women and children.

Posted on 2025-04-28 17:06:14

China says, six Filipinos landed on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

The incident yesterday happened days after photos emerged of Chinese coast
guard officers displaying a Chinese flag on the same piece of land.

A Philippine statement said that a group had landed there, with a photo
posted by the Philippine coast guard on social media showing personnel
displaying a Philippine flag.

A Chinese coast guard statement described the landing as "illegal" and said
that China holds "indisputable sovereignty" over the area.

Posted on 2025-04-28 16:07:13

The TPP is urging the Cabinet to withdraw its decision to offer a $100
billion-NT subsidy to Taiwan Power.

TPP lawmaker Zhang Qi-kai (張啟楷) says the Cabinet included the subsidy in
its$410 billion-NT special budget titled the "Special Law to Strengthen
Economic, Social and National Security Resilience" draft bill, but the
subsidy was cut by the Legislative Yuan in its review of the central
government's 2025 budget.

Zhang also criticizes the special bill as violating fiscal discipline because
it contained lots of excessive spending and hidden provisions.

TPP chair Huang Guo-chang slams the Cabinet's special bill as "utterly
irresponsible and disappointing," saying that Premier Cho Rong-tai only had
three pages of explanations for it.

He stresses that his party supports government measures of boosting local
businesses facing high U.S. tariffs, but they won't accept allocating a
410-billion-NT budget without analyses of the tariffs' potential impact.

Premier Cho this morning called on three major political parties' legislative
caucuses in hopes of garnering support for the 3-year special budget bill.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-28 16:07:13

Keelung investigators are questioning the leaders of two recall campaigns in
the city after searching the KMT office there.

They have searched their homes, the KMT Keelung office, and copied the names
of Keelung's KMT members.

THE moves are related to the investigation into recall campaigns targeting
DPP city councilors Zheng Wen-tinｇ(鄭文婷) and Zhang Zhi-hao (張之豪).

Zheng had previously said that there were 505 signatures in the campaign
against her, and said that 47 of those were "ghost signatures," while Zhang
said there were 32 cases of forgery in his respective campaign.

They said that's why they filed forgery charges at the Keelung Prosecutors
Office.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-28 16:07:13

In world news...

Russian President Vladimir Putin is thanking North Korean troops for fighting
Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

Putin hailed the heroism and dedication of the North Korean fighters, who he
said "defended our Motherland as their own.”

North Korea earlier today confirmed for the first time that it had sent
troops to Russia to help its forces retake the Kursk region that Ukrainian
forces seized in a surprise incursion last year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he decided to send the combat troops to
Russia under a mutual defense treaty the leaders signed last year that was
their countries’ biggest defense agreement since the end of the Cold War.

North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to
Russia as well.

Posted on 2025-04-28 16:07:13

The Vatican is closing the Sistine Chapel to the public as part of its
preparations for the conclave to elect the next pope after the death of Pope
Francis.

The date for the conclave has not yet been set, but it can only begin after a
nine-day period of mourning.

When it does, the scarlet-robed cardinals will enter solemnly to participate
in a secretive process said to be guided by the holy spirit that will result
in the selection of the next leader of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic
church.

For inspiration, they will also have the great beauty of the frescoes painted
by Michelangelo and other renowned Renaissance artists.

The secretive process is part of a tradition aimed at preserving the vote
from external interference.

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

Prosecutors searched KMT offices in Banqiao and Sanchong this morning in
relation to an investigation into forged signatures in recall campaigns,
leaving with three office staff.

They also searched the residences of some of the office staff.

KMT officials called for prosecutors and investigators to act fairly and
without political bias.

DPP officials, meanwhile, said that they respected the investigation.

Further, they said, if KMT supporters believed that the investigation was
biased, they should take it up with Taipei and New Taipei mayoral leadership.

They said the responsibility for reporting and verifying the accuracy of
signaures lies with the local election committee; when the committee
discovers information about fake signatures it reports that to local
prosecutorial and investigative units.

At the same time, prosecutors in Keelung conducted a separate search of a KMT
office in connection with a separate case.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

The Ministry of Transportation and Communication is touting Taiwan's
cost/performance ratio for tourists.

Minister Chen Shi-kai also invited people of all countries to come to Taiwan
to experience all that it has to offer.

That's after a US financial service company ranked Taiwan as the cheapest
country to travel to.

A travel writer ranked 16 of the cheapest countries in the world to travel to
in "nerdwallet", giving Taiwan the number one spot.

The author emphasized that US travelers do not need a visa to come to Taiwan,
and need not spend more than 325NT on a meal.

Plus, the robust public transit contributes to the affordability.

Further, the author touted Taiwan as a "food heaven," with affordable
breakfast shops and night markets, that also boasts beautiful national parks
and hot springs.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail Company is adding more trains for the Dragonboat
Festival at the end of May.

The company says, it will add another 127 trains for the period from May 28th
to June 2nd.

The additional trains can be booked starting Wednesday at 12:00am.

Of those added trains, 58 are southbound, and 69 are northbound.

That brings the total number of trains for the six day period to 1062.

Passengers are encoraged to use the T-Ex app or THSR website to book the
tickets starting tomorrow at midnight.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the Tai ex passing the 20,000 mark.

The Tai ex gained 161 points to close at 20,034.

The turnover was 215.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

And in international news...

Yemen's Houthi rebels say, an alleged US airstrike has hit a prison holding
African migrants.

The strike killed at least 30 and injured others.

US officials had no immediate comment.

The strike happened in Yemen's Saada governorate, a stronghold for the
Houthis.

Their footage shows what appears to be dead bodies and other wounded from an
explosion at the site.

The alleged strike comes amidst an intensified airstrike campaign by the
Trump administration targeting the rebels...

and that's just after strikes in the capital killed at least eight people
overnight.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

Murder charges have been filed against a suspect in a weekend car ramming in
Vancouver that killed 11.

Prosecutors charged a 30 year old man with eight counts of second degree
murder and say more charges are possible.

Investigators have already ruled out terrorism, and say that the man has a
history of mental health issues.

Hundreds attended vigils yesterday across the city for the victims at a
Filipino heritage festival ahead of today's national election.

The 11 dead were between the ages of 5 and 65.

About 2 dozen were also injured.

Posted on 2025-04-28 14:06:13

And in related news...

Canadians are set to decide whether to grant the ruling Liberal Party a
fourth term in power or hand over control to the Conservatives.

They will pick either Prime Minister Mark Carney or opposition leader Pierre
Poilievre on Monday.

The election is partially seen as reflective of Canadians' feelings about
what's going on south of the border.

The Liberal Party's poll numbers have been bolstered lately by rising
Canadian nationalism.

Trump's combativism has angered many Canadians, leading many to cancel US
vacations and boycott US goods.

But whether their outrage will translate to the polls has yet to be seen.

Poilievre had hoped to take back power from the liberals after a decade and
was seen as a shoo-in, but as Trump starting talking about making Canada the
51st state, polls began favoring Carney.

That election takes place on Monday local time, and it's likely to be called
that evening.

Posted on 2025-04-28 13:53:13

The Legislative Yuan has rejected DPP lawmaker Zhuang Rui-xiong's (莊瑞雄)
invitation for Secretary-general Zhou Wan-lai (周萬來) to make reports on
three different days at the Legislative Judiciary Committee.

Zhuang is the Judiciary Committee's rotating convener, and he made the move
after Legislative Speaker Han Guo-yu announced that he would participate in
Saturday's demonstration.

The blue-camp legislators have criticized Zhuang's invitation as a scheme to
disparage Han.

In a statement issued this morning, the Yuan says based on the law, its staff
workers are assigned to assist legislators in the committee meetings to
exercise their duties and the handling of administrative tasks.

It says such staff members are not the subjects of legislative oversight.

Therefore, committee conveners should not use the agenda of special reports
to invite staff to attend the meetings for reporting and questioning.

As Zhou did not show up at the committee today, Zhuang and the other four DPP
lawmakers have passed a censure against Zhou, accusing him of evading his
responsibilities.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-04-28 13:53:13

The Ministry of Education is launching a new intitative to promote Indigenous
education in high schools.

The ministry says schools may now apply for grants of up to $100-thousand NT
per semester to develop Indigenous-related courses.

Officials say the goal is to enhance teachers' knowledge of Indigenous
cultures and strengthen students' cultural awareness and sensitivity.

The MOE says applications will be reviewed by a panel, and expert teams will
be available to guide schools during implementation.

The ministry hopes the program can incorporate Indigenous education across
Taiwan's curriculum, and build a stronger understanding of Indigenous
knowledge and rights.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-04-28 13:53:13

The top United Nations court will begin hearing from 40 countries today on
what Israel must do to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to
Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The U.N. General Assembly has asked the International Court of Justice to
weigh in on Israel's legal obligations after the country effectively banned
the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees from operating.

The agency had been the main provider of aid to Gaza.

Israel over a month ago cut off all aid to Gaza and its over 2 million
people.

Israel has disputed that there is a shortage of aid in Gaza, and says it is
entitled to block the aid because it says Hamas seizes it for its own use.

The court has been asked to give a non-binding but legally definitive answer.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-04-28 13:53:13

Iran's president has visited those injured in a huge explosion that rocked
one of the Islamic Republic's main ports.

The facility is purportedly linked to an earlier delivery of a chemical
ingredient used to make missile propellant.

The visit Sunday by President Masoud Pezeshkian came as the toll from
Saturday's blast at a port outside of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran rose to
40 dead with some 1,000 others injured.

While Iran's military sought to deny the delivery of ammonium perchlorate
from China, new videos emerged showing an apocalyptic scene at the
still-smoldering port.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-04-28 13:53:13

U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen's capital killed at least eight people
overnight.

That's what the Houthi rebels said today as the U.S. military acknowledged
carrying out over 800 individual strikes in their monthlong campaign.

The overnight statement from the U.S. military's Central Command also said
its "Operation Roughrider targeting the rebels had killed hundreds of Houthi
fighters and numerous Houthi leaders," including those associated with its
missile and drone program.

The U.S. insisted it would continue to carry out its airstrikes, which began
March 15th under U.S. President Donald Trump as he seeks a deal with Iran
over its rapidly advancing nuclear program.

(KK)

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

Taiwan's former Vice President Chen Chien-jen says he hopes President Lai
Ching-te would be invited to the inauguration of a new pope.

He made the comments after Pope Francis' funeral at the weekend.

Chen said during the event, he had a brief conversation with former U-S
President Joe Biden... he also exchanged pleasantries with Japan's Foreign
Minister Takeshi Iwaya and with the delegation heads from Paraguay and
Guatemala.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Chen was seated next to Thailand's
representative, as delegations at the funeral were arranged according to the
French alphabet.

Chen said he believes he had completed his mission as Lai's special envoy to
Pope Francis' funeral service.

The former vice president had previously met with Pope Francis on six
occasions and was selected as Taiwan's envoy to the funeral in his capacity
as member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2021.

163 delegations attended Pope Francis' funeral at St Peter's

That included 12 reigning monarchs, 42 heads of state, six deputy heads of
state, six countries' speakers, and representatives from nine United Nations
organizations.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

The Ministry of Labor says it will work alongside the National Immigration
Agency to investigate claims that migrant workers were mobilized to attend a
K-M-T organized rally against the ruling D-P-P this past weekend.

The statement comes after video footage posted online allegedly shows foreign
nationals at the rally.

The video was shared by Lin Chih-chieh, a law academic who is also a member
of the D-P-P.

She's credited the video to a "private contributor" who told her the group
later boarded a tour bus heading north.

In the video, a woman can be seen interviewing a protester and asking him, in
Mandarin, why he decided to join the rally - the participant did not
understand the question ..

... and after another participant translated it into Vietnamese, said, "An
older man brought me here."

The two were part of a group whose members all wore blue caps sporting the
name and slogan of Hsinchu City K-M-T lawmaker Zheng Cheng-qin.

Zheng's office is denying that it mobilized migrant workers - and that caps
were given to several people due to the weather.

The office has also confirmed that some of participants were foreign-born
spouses of Taiwanese citizens - who also hold Taiwanese citizenship.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang is heading a delegation of lawmakers
to the U-S this week for meetings on issues including tariffs.

Chiang said he believes the tariff issue can be negotiated to reduce the
pressure on Taiwan manufacturers ...

.... and the delegation will do its best to convince U-S officials that lower
tariffs will benefit both sides.

The deputy Legislative Speaker also said the delegation hopes to discuss
security issues with U-S officials... and to push for defense and security
cooperation between the two sides.

The delegation includes K-M-T lawmakers Chang Zhi-lun and Huang Jien-hao,
D-P-P lawmakers Wang Ding-yu and Chiu Yi-yin; as well as Taiwan People's
Party lawmaker Lin Yi-chun.

All are members of the Taiwan-US parliamentary friendship group or the
Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

A statement released by the office of the deputy Legislative Speaker said the
legislative delegation will hold meetings with U-S lawmakers, as well as at
think tanks, companies and U-S government agencies.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

The China Medical University Hospital says a letter published in The Lancet
earlier this month authored by two of its doctors about Taiwan's healthcare
system contained factual errors.

The letter claimed the system was "on the brink of collapse"

This comes after Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan criticized the letter - saying
it contained multiple inaccuracies and harmed the morale of frontline health
workers.

The Taichung-based hospital says it has identified multiple mistakes in the
letter and the doctors are "deeply apologetic" over the erroneous content and
have formally requested that The Lancet publish a correction.

The letter was written by Li Jing-xing and Hsu Shu-bai and the hospital says
it inaccurately stated that Taiwan's COVID-19 hospitalization fatality rate
was 58.2-per cent - which was a misreading of a 2025 study by Chang Gung
Memorial Hospital.

The China Medical University Hospital also says the letter also erroneously
reported that Taiwan had 62 nurses per 10,000 people in 2021, when the actual
number was 78 nurses per 10,000 people.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has wrapped-up his trip to Eswatini with a
pledged donation to support local rhinoceros conservation efforts.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Lin pledged a 55,000 U-S dollar donation
to the Eswatini-based nonprofit trust, Big Game Parks, that manages four
parks in the country.,.. the pledge was made on the final day of Lin's visit.

The pledged donation was witnessed by Eswatini's Foreign Minister and its
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and will be used to help
conserve rhino habitats in the kingdom.

During the visit, Lin also named a new baby rhino recently born in one of the
parks under the Big Game Parks "Formosa" to symbolize friendship between the
two countries.

Lin returned to Taiwan on Sunday after a five-day visit to the African
kingdom...

He was there to attend King Mswati III's 57th birthday celebration as
President Lai Ching-te's special envoy.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

The Taoyuan City Police Department says officers raided an illegal cigarette
manufacturing site in Changhua County - detaining one suspect and seizing
5-metric tons of tobacco.

The Zhongli Police Precinct said a total of 315 bundles of unfinished tobacco
were seized, each weighing about 17-kilograms which could have been used to
make about 3.15-million cigarettes with a market value of nearly 20-million
N-T.

The precinct says the raid was carried out in conjunction with government
agencies in Changhua and Nantou counties as well as the Pingtung and Changhua
county police departments - which have formed a special task force to
investigate illegal tobacco cases.

Authorities say it's believed the illegal cigarette factory had bee operating
for about three months and mainly sold its products to migrant workers.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

And,

The New Taipei City Government has launched a sightseeing bus in the Ruifang
area - offering unlimited daily rides for 49 N-T.

The sightseeing bus is part of the city government's efforts to promote the
2025 World Masters Games - which wil be taking place in both New Taipei and
Taipei.

Speaking at a launch ceremony for the new bus, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih
said the city has issued 35,000 commemorative transit cards for Bus No. 177,
which will be free for international athletes attending the Games.

The new bus is decorated with a capybara motif and takes passengers to
popular Ruifang attractions such as Jiufen Old Street, Jinguashi Gold Museum,
and Shen'ao Fishing Port.

The 2025 World Masters Games takes place from May 17 to 30.

Posted on 2025-04-28 06:58:13

Saudi Arabia and Qatar say they will pay Syria’s outstanding debt to the
World Bank, a move that is likely to make the international institution
resume its support to the war-torn country.

A joint statement by the finance ministries of Saudi and Qatar said Sunday
that the decision to pay Syria’s nrealy $15 million debt to the World Bank
was made during this months meetings in Washington by the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been main backers of the country’s new
leadership... since the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December when
insurgent groups led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stormed his seat of
power in Damascus,

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