ICRT

Posted on 2026-03-07 16:08:13

A subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based company that has lost control of two ports
on the Panama Canal says it's seeking $2 billion of compensation from Panama
over its "illegal" takeover of the ports.

Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison Holdings, is
demanding the sum under international arbitration proceedings.

Panama's government last week seized control of the Balboa and Cristobal
ports on each end of the Panama Canal, after the country's Supreme Court
declared earlier that a concession allowing the company to run the ports was
unconstitutional.

Panama's move appears to stem from criticism of the ports by US President
Trump last year, when he claimed that China was "running the ports." CK
Hutchison tried to sell its controlling stake in the operations, but Beijing
intervened, calling the sale "kowtowing" to the United States.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 15:07:13

Taiwan staved off early elimination from the World Baseball Classic this
afternoon, with a 14-nil win against Czechia in Tokyo.

The Taiwan team lost its first two outings in the preliminary round of the
WBC at the hands of Australia and Japan. They need to win the next two games
to keep hopes alive of advancing into tournament play.

Stuart Fairchild hit a grand slam in the 2nd inning that helped to boost the
team's confidence after being shut out in the previous two games.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 15:07:15

Formula One appears to have delayed a decision on whether to cancel its races
in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April. The events have been placed in doubt
due to the Iran war.

Both countries have been struck during Iran's response after the United
States and Israel launched a wave of attacks.

The F1 is scheduled for Bahrain on April 12 and for Jeddah on April 19.
Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer says that no decision has been made
and there is no deadline in place.

Not coincidentally ...

The Formula One season is getting underway in Melbourne, Australia. Red
Bull's Max Verstappen crashed out in the first round, meaning he'll start
near the back of the pack in the race tomorrow.

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will start at the front
of the grid.

Posted on 2026-03-07 14:11:13

The Legislative Yuan looks set to top up the Central Election Commission,
which currently lacks sufficient commissioners to make decisions.

The commission currently has four members, one short of the quorum of five.

The Executive Yuan submitted a list of seven nominees for the roles late last
year. If approved, this would take the commission up to its full complement.
The LY is responsible for review and approval of the new CEC members.

The opposition KMT and TPP have agreed in principle to take up the matter,
with Speaker Han Guoyu including it on the legislative agenda for next
Friday.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 14:11:13

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has launched a campus recruiting drive
in Taiwan, with a target of hiring 8,000 new employees here this year.

TSMC says it's looking to hire engineers with expertise in a gamut of
specializations -- from electrical and chemical engineering to
optoelectronics and materials science. It's also looking to fill vacancies in
human resources, business management and accounting.

The average starting annual salary for newly recruited engineers with a
master's degree is expected to reach NT$2.2 million.

TSMC is concurrently recruiting third-year and above undergraduates to
participate in its summer internship program. The application deadline is May
8.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 13:07:14

A motion to condemn Premier Cho Jung-tai over his refusal to countersign
three legal amendments has advanced to a second reading in the Legislative
Yuan.

The Cabinet said Wednesday that Cho won't countersign revisions to the Act
Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and
Their Affiliate Organizations, the Satellite Broadcasting Act, and the
Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan.

He cited constitutional concerns in all three cases.

Under Taiwan's constitution, the president can't veto laws passed by the
legislature, but the premier can refuse to countersign, which effectively
blocks them from taking force.

Cho is the first premier to use this power.

The TPP motion admonishes Cho and President Lai Ching-te to "immediately
cease their illegal and abusive actions of not countersigning, not
promulgating and not implementing."

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 13:07:17

Taiwan's Ministry of Labor says that only 2.9 percent of employees at
companies with more than 30 workers have applied to reduce their work hours
for childcare reasons in the past year.

Under Taiwan law, employees at companies with 30 or more employees who are
caring for children under the age of 3 can request a one-hour reduction in
their daily work hours without pay ... or they can apply for an adjustment of
work hours.

Employees at smaller companies can also negotiate similar arrangements with
their employers.

Among companies that allowed employees to reduce their work hours, 90 percent
didn't provide pay for the reduced hour, while 5.8 percent offered full pay
and 4 percent provided partial pay.

Nineteen percent of companies said they rejected such requests, most
commonly citing the availability of alternative leave options, staffing
constraints and the nature of their business operations.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 13:07:26

Explosions are sending up plumes of smoke in Iran's capital city as the
United States says the most intense bombing of the weeklong campaign is
imminent.

The Israeli military announced new strikes on Tehran early today, while
saying it was also moving to intercept a salvo of Iranian missiles.

There was no foreseeable end to the fighting.

US President Donald Trump says he won't seek a deal with Iran without its
"unconditional surrender." Meanwhile, his administration has approved a new
$151 million arms sale to Israel.

The conflict continues to affect other Middle Eastern countries: Air sirens
sounded in Bahrain this morning, while Saudi Arabia said it shot down a
missile and drones targeting an oil field and an air base that hosts American
forces.

In related news, evidence has emerged to suggest that an explosion that
killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by US
airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regime's
Revolutionary Guard.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 12:08:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is warning that a special defense budget bill
unveiled by the KMT could derail the procurement of five weapons systems
approved by Washington for sale to Taiwan.

The KMT proposal sets a budget cap of NT$380 billion and would fund eight US
weapons systems announced for sale to Taiwan late last year.

Koo said the budget ceiling in the KMT bill doesn't account for potential new
arms sales that may be approved for Taiwan in the future.

Koo said the bill requires five of the eight US systems to be fully delivered
by the end of 2028, adding that it's an unrealistic time frame

The special defense budget bills proposed by the Cabinet and the Taiwan
People's Party both set a later deadline of late 2033.

Some weapons Taiwan previously ordered from the US have already fallen
significantly behind schedule. One example is F-16 Block 70 fighter jets,
which are scheduled to be fully delivered by the end of this year. None of
the jets have been received to date due to production-line issues

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 12:08:14

An anti-drone system developed by an American company and proven to work in
Ukraine will soon head to the Middle East to help defend against Iranian
drones.

The system fires drones against drones and has shown success in fighting
those used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

A US official called the US response to countering Iran's Shahed drones
"disappointing" so far. Another official said the US has limited anti-drone
defenses in the Middle East.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 12:08:14

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be
removed from the royal line of succession for his "deplorable" actions.

Despite being stripped of his status as prince in October over his close
links with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the former prince
Andrew remains eighth in line to become monarch.

His brother, King Charles III, is the head of state in Canada.

Under the current line of royal succession, Charles' son Prince William is
heir to the throne and his three children — Prince George, Princess
Charlotte and Prince Louis -- are next.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 11:07:13

Inflation in Taiwan accelerated to 1.75 percent in February. But it's
expected to remain below the 2 percent warning threshold in March, despite
rising oil prices driven by war in the Middle East.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said the
consumer price index rose from 0.7 percent in January, citing higher charges
in the service sector during the Lunar New Year as partly responsible for the
uptick.

Core CPI, which excludes fruit, vegetables and energy, rose 2.6 percent on
year from 1.2 percent in January.

The stats agency said dining-out costs rose 2.8 percent on year, ending a
15-month streak of increases of more than 3 percent.

The average increase in rent in February was 1.85 percent, continuing a
slowdown from January, when the increase was 1.99 percent following a
29-month stretch of growth.

Eggs surged 28 percent while pork rose 6.7 percent, the largest increases in
the CPI food basket.

The stats agency says the government has implemented several measures to
stabilize oil prices, including tax reductions on imports of certain
essential raw materials, as well as gasoline and petroleum, to keep Taiwan's
fuel prices lower than those of neighboring countries.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-07 11:07:13

Thousands of people gathered at a church on Chicago's South Side to pay a
final public tribute to the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden as well as and former Vice President
Kamala Harris spoke during the program.

Joe Biden said Jackson's passion set him apart:

Barack Obama stressed the breadth of Jackson's so-called rainbow coalition:
Jesse Jackson was a two-time presidential candidate. He died last month.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-03-06 18:17:13

The Taiwan Renewable Energy Association is recommending greater use of energy
storage systems ...

... amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

The group highlights Taiwan's heavy dependence on natural gas (and possible
supply fluctuations) ...

... noting that gas-fired plants currently provide nearly half of the
island’s electricity and consume 85 percent of all imported natural gas.

The association argues energy storage can reduce the load on gas-fired
generators and slow gas consumption.

It says this shift would not only slow the depletion of fuel reserves but
also strengthen the long-term resilience of the power grid against global
supply shocks.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-06 18:17:17

The Highway Bureau says it will process January cashback rewards for the
T-PASS 2.0 monthly transport pass program as soon as all procedures are
complete.

The rewards, originally scheduled for distribution on February 25th, were put
on hold after the central government's general budget was stalled in the
legislature.

But today the Legislative Yuan approved an opposition-led motion to
fast-track 71.8 billion NT for several key projects, including funding for
T-PASS.

According to the Highway Bureau, around 72 thousand passengers are eligible
for January cashback rewards, which totals around 7.72 million NT.

Officials emphasize that the delay did not affect the calculation of rewards,
and all passenger rights remain protected.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-06 18:17:17

Japanese popstar MISIA is set to return to Taiwan this summer, more than a
year after her previous concert was canceled due to the April 2024 Hualien
earthquake.

Following the disaster, the singer notably held a charity performance in
Japan to support affected communities in Taiwan.

Fans can now catch her at the Taipei Music Center on July 25th, which marks
the only overseas stop on her current 'Grand Horizon' tour.

MISIA is known for her powerful live vocals and cross-generational hits like
"Everything" and "Ai no Katachi".

Tickets go on sale March 21st.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-06 18:17:17

Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16.

In a statement, the country's Communication and Digital Affairs Minister said
she signed a government regulation that will mean children under the age of
16 can no longer have accounts on co-called "high-risk" digital platforms.

These include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and
Roblox.

The implementation will start gradually on March 28th.

Posted on 2026-03-06 18:17:17

London police say four men have been arrested on suspicion of aiding Iran by
spying on the Jewish community.

In a statement Friday, the Metropolitan Police said the suspects, one Iranian
and three dual British-Iranian nationals, were taken into custody on
suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The force said the men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested at addresses in
and around north London shortly after 1 AM local time.

They are suspected on spying on locations and individuals.

Posted on 2026-03-06 18:17:17

Intense Israeli airstrikes are pounding the capitals of Iran and Lebanon ...

... as the U-S apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea in its
unrelenting campaign against the Islamic Republic's fleet of warships.

Iran launched new retaliatory attacks early Friday against neighboring
countries that host U.S. forces.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The latest strikes mark a full week of attacks affecting countries across the
Middle East.

The Israeli military says the fighting has destroyed most of Iran's air
defenses and missile launchers.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warns that strikes against Tehran were
“about to surge dramatically.”

Posted on 2026-03-06 17:12:13

The Executive Yuan says, it's hoping that the legislature will examine the
2026 general budget...

rather than moving ahead with the "a la carte" items proposed by the
opposition.

That's as the opposition bloc passed the second reading of a 71.8 billion NT
motion that isolates a select few general budget items from the central
budget.

That includes subisides for TPASS, among others.

But the Executive Yuan notes that such an action is unprecedented, and
reiterated its hope that lawmakers will prioritize the central government
budget as a whole.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-06 17:12:13

Court hearings have begun today in the case of an influencer who made threats
against President Lai Ching-te on a stream.

Chen Zhi Han is charged with intimidation of the public and endangering
public safety.

He pled not guilty at the hearing of the New Taipei District Court today, and
accused prosecutors of making up "stories."

He also called on the president to make an appearance at his court hearing.

According to prosecutors' indictment, Chen in October made several statements
in a YouTube livestream calling for military action against Taiwan...

in addition to calling for Lai to be beheaded.

Prosecutors believe, those statements constitute a threat to the president's
safety, but Chen denies that the threat to Lai was legitimate.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-06 17:12:13

An 18-year-old leopard at the Taipei Zoo has passed away following a long
struggle with age-related illnesses.

Zoo officials announced today that "Hua-lang" (花郎) was humanely euthanized
after a team of veterinarians and keepers determined his quality of life had
declined too far.

The zoo says the leopard’s health had been declining since last year.

Keepers observed him struggling to walk due to bone spurs and deformed front
limbs.

Last month, medical exams revealed a fractured bone in his right front leg.

Veterinarians decided against surgery because of the leopard's advanced age
and the high risks associated with anesthesia.

In his final months, staff tried to make him comfortable by lowering his
feeding platforms and providing soft bedding and medication.

"

Hua Lang" had been a long-time resident of the zoo's Tropical Rainforest Area.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-06 17:12:13

Now turning to international news...

Sri Lanka is bringing more than 200 sailors from an Iranian ship to share
after the boat sough assistance near the country.

Sri Lankan leaders said they took control of the vessel after it reported an
engine failure, and that the decision followed talks with Iranian officials
and the ship's captain.

Officials say the sailors were being brought first to the port of Colombo,
and that the ship will later be moved to an eastern port on the island.

This comes after the US sank a separate Iranian warship off the coast of Sri
Lanka earlier this week.

That strike was one of the rare instances since World War II in which a
submarine sank a surface warship, and highlighted the expanding scope of the
US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Posted on 2026-03-06 16:07:13

All three versions of a special defense bill with pricetags ranging from 350
billion to 1.25 trillion NT are set to be referred for legislative committee
review today.

That's after the KMT proposed their own version of the special budget
yesterday.

The opposition parties and the ruling party had both previously agreed to
refer the Executive Yuan's 1.25 trillion and the TPP's 400 billion NT
versions for committee review today, as well as any other potential versions
like the KMT's.

However, defense officials have slammed the KMT's version, which sets a
deadline for 2028, saying that it kneecaps the projects and makes their
execution impossible.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-06 16:07:13

Foxconn Chair Liu Young-way (劉揚偉) says a proposed 15 percent universal
tariff by the United States would have only a limited impact on the company.

Liu made the comments after U.S. officials said that the U.S. was "likely" to
raise its global base tariff rate from 10 to 15 percent this week ...

... following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared U.S. President Donald
Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs to be unconstitutional.

Liu said Foxconn, as a contract manufacturer, is less directly affected by
tariffs than other sectors ... noting that most of its clients are major
global brands ...

... with strong bargaining power and stable supply chains, helping to cushion
potential impacts.

However, Liu said that the company will continue to monitor whether higher
tariffs will eventually push up consumer product prices and weaken demand in
global markets.

Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai, posted consolidated sales of nearly 596
billion NT for February — up by more than eight percent from the same month
a year earlier ...

... driven largely by strong demand for AI-related products as well as
electronics components.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-06 16:07:13

And now in international news ...

The United States and Venezuela have formally agreed to resume diplomatic
relations.

These relations had already been improving since the capture of former
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January.

However, this formal announcement marks a symbolic next step.

The U.S. State Department's declaration referred to a transition of power and
new elections, something that was notably absent from the Venezuelan
announcement.

Instead, the Venezuelans emphasised the "social and economic happiness of the
Venezuelan people".

Sources have said that diplomatic staff from the American embassy in Bogota,
Colombia will shortly be transferred to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

On Wednesday, Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the US
Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, said that the two countries would work
together to develop mining in Venezuela.

Venezuela is home to some of the world's largest gold and rare earth mineral
deposits.

Posted on 2026-03-06 16:07:13

Swaths of Cuba remain without power nearly a day after a massive blackout hit
the western part of the island.

This latest outage was blamed on a fragile electric grid and a lack of fuel.

Crews worked overnight to repair a broken boiler at one of Cuba's largest
thermoelectric plants.

But officials have warned that it could take three to four days for power to
be fully restored.

State media reported yesterday that 77 per cent of customers in Havana have
power.

The heat in Cuba has led to widespread food spoilage and has also made it too
hot and dangerous for crews to enter the power plant and repair it.

Several of Cuba's thermoelectric plants have been running for more than
thirty years and receive little maintenance because of both high costs and
U.S. sanctions that block the import of replacement parts.

Posted on 2026-03-06 16:07:13

The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Paralympics will take place tonight
in Verona in northern Italy.

This is the first time that athletes from Russia and Belarus will represent
their own countries at the Paralympics since the 2014 Games in the Russian
Black Sea resort of Sochi.

They were first banned because of widespread systemic doping, and were then
banned because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Previously, including at the recently concluded Olympic Games, Russian and
Belarussian athletes competed as "Independent Neutral Athletes".

Ukraine is, unsurprisingly, boycotting the opening ceremonies tonight.

They will be joined in this boycott by Germany, Finland, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Canada and the United Kingdom say they will also not be attending the
ceremony, but cite as a reason the participation of their athletes 250
kilometres away in alpine skiing in Cortina d'Ampezzo the next morning.

Posted on 2026-03-06 16:07:13

Jamaica’s foreign ministry says it is ending a decades-long agreement with
Cuba involving its medical missions. The unexpected move announced Thursday
comes as the U.S. pushes for ending such missions, with U.S. Secretary of
State Marco Rubio calling them forced labor. The ministry said both
governments were unable to agree on the terms and conditions of a new
arrangement after the previous agreement ended in 2023. It added that
Jamaica’s government is open to engaging Cuban medical professionals on an
individual basis as long as local labor laws are met.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Jamaica's foreign ministry said Thursday it was
ending a decades-long agreement with Cuba involving its medical missions.

The unexpected move comes as the U.S. pushes for ending such missions, with
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it “forced labor” and a “form
of human trafficking.”

The announcement was made via a statement issued by the office of Kamina
Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s foreign minister, according to local media. A year
ago, she said Cuba's medical staff was important to Jamaica's health care
system, noting at the time that there were more than 400 Cuban doctors,
nurses, biomedical engineers and technicians in Jamaica.

The ministry said that both governments “were unable to agree on the terms
and conditions of a new technical cooperation arrangement” after the
previous agreement ended in February 2023.

It added that Jamaica's government is open to engaging Cuban medical
professionals on an individual basis as long as local labor laws are met.

Last month, the Jamaica Gleaner, a local newspaper, quoted the island's
health minister as saying that while the agreement between both countries had
expired, nearly 300 Cuban doctors and specialists remained in Jamaica under
existing contracts.

Jamaica's announcement comes a day after more than 150 Cuban medical staff
departed Honduras after its newly elected right-wing government abruptly
canceled the agreement.

Honduran officials have previously dismissed claims that they canceled the
program under pressure from the Trump administration.

Last year, Caribbean leaders met with U.S. officials after the U.S.
threatened to restrict the visas of those involved with Cuban missions. At
the time, the prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago and of St. Vincent and
the Grenadines said they would gladly lose their U.S. visas.

On Thursday night, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio
criticized ongoing pressure from the U.S. regarding the island's medical
missions.

“Something very twisted has to motivate the (U.S. government) when for the
sake of collective punishment against the people of Cuba, it pressures
sovereign governments into depriving their own populations of quality health
services,” he wrote on social platform X.

Posted on 2026-03-06 14:25:13

DPP primary polling in Kaohsiung continued yesterday, with 6 candidates
battling for 5 nominations for city councilor.

In the city's Fengshan district, all 3 incumbents managed to secure their
party's nomination, while 2 newcomers also made the cut.

Councilors Lin Zhi Hong林智鴻, Zhang Han Zhong張漢忠, and Chen Hui Wen陳慧文
were the most popular candidates.

And newcomers Deng Qiao Pei 鄧巧佩and Su Zhi Rong 蘇致榮also received
constituents' approval.

Fengshan is the most populous district in all of Kaohsiung, with a total of 8
seats on the city council, 3 of which are currently held by the DPP.

One of those 8 seats was previously held by Lawmaker Huang Jie, who vacated
the position upon election to the legislature.

In 2022, Huang received the highest share of votes in her campaign for
councilor, and in this primary she support Deng Qiao Pei.

In nominating 5 candidates, the DPP intends to not only hold on to Huang's
vacant seat, but also hopes to turn one of the seats held by the KMT.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-06 14:25:15

A new government survey shows that very few workers in Taiwan are applying to
reduce their work hours to care for young children.

Under the Act of Gender Equality in Employment, employees at companies with
30 or more workers can request to work one hour less per day to care for a
child under age 3.

However, the Ministry of Labor reports that only 2.9 percent of these
companies had employees apply for the benefit in the past year.

The survey found that while over 81 percent of large companies agree to the
requests, the vast majority do not pay for that hour.

Application rates were highest in public administration and the information
technology sector.

Rates were lowest in the transportation and real estate industries.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-06 14:25:19

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 73 points to
close the session at 33599.

The turnover was 631.1 billion NT

Posted on 2026-03-06 14:25:19

And in related news...

Azerbaijan is accusing Iran of a drone attack on its territory.

Officials say that Iranian drones attacked its exclave of Nakhchivan,
injuring four civilians and damaging an airport building.

President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of carrying out a "groundless act of
terror and agression" and said his military was told to prepare retaliatory
measures.

Iran denied that it had launched such a drone towards Azerbaijani territory.

The incident highlights Azerbaijan's complex relationship with Iran, due to
military and economic ties with Israel.

Nakhchivan is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a swath of Armenia
about 40 kilometers wide.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have continued to target the capitals of Iran
and Lebanon, as the US apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea.

The newest wave of Iranian strikes do not appear to have caused any
casualties.

The Israeli military claims that strikes on Iran have destroyed most of
Tehran's air defenses and missile launchers.

Posted on 2026-03-06 13:07:15

32 KMT party workers have been handed suspended sentences for their roles in
a forgery scheme for a recall campaign.

The Taichung District Court handed down the heaviest sentence to the city's
KMT office head, at nearly 2 years' prison time with suspended 5 year
sentences.

Another 30 party workers were handed suspended sentences.

The two lead office workers were also handed 2 year deprivation of civil
rights and ordered to pay 250 to 300,000 NT in fines.

The 32 defendants were charged for violating the Personal Data Protection
Act.

The sentences can still be appealed.

Prosecutors originally indicted 34 party workers for their roles in the
scheme, which forged the personal information of over 4200 people in order to
support recall campaigns.

2 were not prosecuted.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-06 13:07:15

Tainan will become the first city in Taiwan to implement city-wide artificial
intelligence literacy training in its schools later this month.

Mayor Huang Wei-cher announced today that "Tainan AI Learning Day" will
launch on March 25th.

More than 3,000 students from over 150 elementary schools are expected to
participate at the same time.

The curriculum focuses on core A-I skills including "asking" and "creating",
and lessons will be delivered through a live video streaming system.

Education officials say this format ensures that students in both rural and
urban areas have access to the same high-quality resources.

And the mayor says the city may eventually set up A-I learning centers to
provide tech education to the wider community.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-06 13:07:15

Now turning to international news...

Former Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai will not appeal his
national security conviction.

That's according to his lawyers, who did not comment on the reason for not
appealing.

He was handed 20 years in prison for the conviction for conspiracy to collude
with foreign forces, and conspiring with others to publish seditious
articles.

Experts believe Lai's conviction reflects the decline of press and other
freedoms in a Hong Kong under China.

The government insists the case has nothing to do with press freedom, and
claims that defendants like Lai used news reporting as a pretext for years to
commit acts that harmed China and Hong Kong.

After he was sentenced to 2 decades in prison, Lai's kids said a potential
visit by the US president to Beijing could be a chance to secure the release
of their father, who also holds UK citizenship.

Posted on 2026-03-06 13:07:15

Japan says a second Japanese national has been detained in Iran.

That's after the detainment of a Japanese journalist in the country was
disclosed last month.

The foreign ministry did not say whether the two cases were related, but it
requested the early release of both.

Both of those two Japanese nationals were detained prior to strikes on Iran
by the US and Israel that began last week.

The ministry said the detainee is safe and in good health, but gave no other
details.

Posted on 2026-03-06 08:07:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Premier Cho Jung-tai is refusing to countersign three legal amendments passed
by lawmakers earlier this year -- citing what he claims to be flaws in their
constitutionality.

The amendments were made in January to the Act Governing the Settlement of
Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations,
the Satellite Broadcasting Act, and the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan.

Cho's refusal to countersign the laws effectively means the revisions will
not be enacted.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the revision to the Act Governing the
Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties seeking to reverse a 2022 designation of
the China Youth Corps as a KMT-affiliate, contravenes a 2023 constitutional
interpretation.

According to Lee, the amendment to the Satellite Broadcasting Act is "case
specific" and therefore represents an "unreasonable differential treatment"
that is "unfair" for other TV news channels.

And the Cabinet spokeswoman also says the amendment to the Organic Law of the
Legislative Yuan will create a loophole that could encourage lawmakers to
pocket their aides' salaries and will increase the financial burden on the
central government.

The K-M-T is accusing the premier of trampling on the separation of powers
principle and usurping the power of the courts to determine whether a law is
constitutional.

And the Taiwan People's Party is slamming President Lai Ching-te - saying he
bears the ultimate responsibility for his administration's contempt for the
law.

Posted on 2026-03-06 08:07:13

difficult

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin is insisting that coal-fired power
generation could be used as a "last resort" if natural gas supply becomes
difficult amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to Kung, March still falls within Taiwan's air pollution control
season, and if coal-fired power generation is needed, authorities would wait
until April, when there are fewer restrictions, before evaluating the option.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with industry groups, the economics
minister said the island's energy supply for March is secure because oil
reserves exceed 100 days and natural gas inventories remain above the legal
minimum of 11 days ...

.. and the situation for April will be monitored through daily meetings.

Kung said that Taiwan receives about 30 natural gas carriers each month,
including about 10 from the Middle East, and authorities will seek
alternative gas sources if circumstances change.

And the minister went on to stress that the government has prepared three
measures, including coordinating with the U-S and Australia to move forward
delivery of long-term contracted gas shipments to April.

Posted on 2026-03-06 08:07:13

The U-S Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has has
approved the Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act.

The legislation seeks to expand cooperation between the Taiwan Space Agency,
NASA and the U-S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The bill will establish a channel allowing NASA personnel to conduct
exchanges with Taiwan's space agency and extend cooperation in satellite
program development, space exploration, and atmospheric and weather programs.

It was introduced by U-S senators Eric Schmitt, Tammy Duckworth and Michael
Bennet.

The bill must pass both chambers of the U-S Congress and be signed by the
president before it can take effect.

A House version of the Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act was approved
by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in early February.

That will also be submitted to the full House for consideration.

Posted on 2026-03-06 08:07:13

The Mainland Affairs Council is claiming that Taiwan People's Party lawmaker
Li Zhen-xiu is not qualified to register as a candidate, as she failed to
turn-in the cancellation her Chinese citizenship until only a year ago.

According to council minister Chiu Chui-cheng, Li said she didn't submit the
certificate renouncing her Chinese household registration until March is last
year, making her unqualified to run for public office.

Chiu says that is a violation of Article 21 of the Act Governing Relations
Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

That Article states that Chinese nationals can run for or hold public offices
in Taiwan after having a registered household in Taiwan for 10 years.

The council minister says as Li only submitted proof of renouncing her
Chinese household registration in March last year, she has been a naturalized
citizen for less than one year.

Chiu also says his office will submit its evidence to the Central Election
Commission, which will then determine whether it should file a lawsuit to
invalidate her qualification.

Posted on 2026-03-06 08:07:13

The Centers for Disease Control is reporting two cases of measles
infections, which mark the second measles cluster of the year.

According to the C-D-C, the first patient verified, is a man in his 40s who
was infected in Malaysia while on a business trip from late January to early
February - who developed symptoms after returning to Taiwan.

He was diagnosed with measles on February 13.

The C-D-C says all 57 contacts of the index case completed their monitoring
period on Wednesday.

The other patient in the cluster is a woman in her 20s, who developed
symptoms 18 days after coming into contact with the index case at a local
hospital.

The 87 contacts of that case will have their health monitored until March 22.

The C-D-C has confirmed four measles cases so far this year.

The ages of the four patients range from 1 to over 40 years old.

Two are listed as domestic cases while the other two are imported cases, from
Vietnam and Malaysia.

Posted on 2026-03-06 08:07:13

And finally,

Taiwan has lost its 2026 World Baseball Classic opener 3-0 to Australia at
the Tokyo Dome.

The Pool C lose means the team is now facing an uphill battle to make it to
the quarterfinals.

Despite a strong start on the mound, Taiwan was stifled by Australian
pitching and suffered the sudden departure of captain Chen Chieh-hsien due to
injury.

Chen was forced to exit the game in the sixth inning after being hit by a
pitch on his left hand.

According to the team physician, Chen suffered a distal fracture in his left
index finger - the finger has been immobilized in a cast, and the medical
staff took him to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Thursday's loss leaves Taiwan in a precarious position heading into today's
game against defending champions Japan.

Taiwan plays the Czech Republic tomorrow and South Korea on Sunday.

Only the top two teams advance the quarterfinals from the group.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

President Lai Ching-te is seeking to strengthen pharmaceutical resilience
through a four-year plan that will allocate 24-billion N-T to measures
including promoting domestic production of critical drugs.

During a meeting of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, Lai said Taiwan
relies heavily on imported pharmaceuticals and medical devices, with "some
items even subject to control by foreign hostile forces."

Lai said Taiwan's pharmaceutical supply stability also faces "major
challenges" due to logistical considerations and market-size calculations by
major international drugmakers.

Lai said he has now instructed government agencies to draw up a four-year
national pharmaceutical resilience preparedness plan, backed by his proposed
budget ...

... and the government aims to boost domestic production of active
pharmaceutical ingredients and strengthen Taiwan's capacity to develop drugs
through policy subsidies and market incentives.

But the president has not said how the plan would be funded, since the
central government's 2026 general budget proposal has yet to clear the
Legislature.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

The K-M-T says it will propose a special defense budget bill totaling
350-billion N-T to fund eight weapons sales announced by the U-S in December
of last year.

K-M-T caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang said the party "fully supports"
the eight systems listed in the U-S foreign military sales announced on
December 17.

They include High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems Javelin missiles, drones,
tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missiles, self-propelled
howitzers, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance systems,

... as well as Harpoon missile follow-on support and helicopter parts.

The total budget for those systems totals 11.1-billion U-S dollars.

Lin says in the event of a follow-on foreign military sales package, the
K-M-T's defense budget bill mandates that the Ministry of National Defense
draft a matching special budget bill and submit it to the Legislature for
review "promptly and without delay."

The Cabinet's proposed special defense budget bill totals 1.25-trillion N-T
and includes the eight systems, potential U-S arms sales that have not been
notified to Congress, and procurement plans involving domestic manufacturers.

The Taiwan People's Party has also introduced its own special defense budget
bill - which has a spending cap of 400-billion N-T.

Lawmakers are slated to review the bills later today.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has signed an agreement to avoid double
taxation and donate funds to cover the maintenance costs of Tuvalu's first
undersea cable.

Lin is currently visiting Tuvalu as a special envoy of President Lai Ching-te.

The foreign minister says the Agreement was signed during a banquet hosted by
Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo and is expected to boost trade and
encourage Taiwanese investment in Tuvalu.

Lin also donated funds to cover the maintenance costs for Tuvalu's first
undersea cable, to help ensure the country's communications resilience during
the banquet.

The foreign minister has not disclosed the amount of funding be donated by
the Taiwan for that project.

Lin and his delegation arrived in Tuvalu on Wednesday on what is his third
trip to the Pacific ally.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

The Shilin District Prosecutors' Office has once again declined to indict a
former McDonald's manager accused of raping a 17-year-old employee who later
took her own life.

The case had been returned to prosecutors by the Taiwan High Prosecutors
Office following an appeal by the plaintiff's mother.

However, the prosecutors' office continues to maintain there is insufficient
evidence so the case cannot move forward.

A lawyer representing the plaintiff's family says his firm will decide on its
next legal steps after receiving the written decision not to indict, while at
the same time continuing to provide assistance to the family as they "seek
justice for their daughter."

The 17-year-old employee resigned from her position at McDonald's in February
2024 and filed a police report against her manager in March of that same
year.

She died by suicide in November 2024.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

The Yunlin District Court has sentenced a part-time photographer to 21 years
in prison for filming and sexually assaulting underage girls under the
pretense of free photo sessions since 2016.

The verdict can be appealed.

The man met his victims through social media, dating apps, and cosplay
photography events between 2016 and 2024, and lured them with photo sessions
before forcing them into sexual activity and recording explicit videos.

The court says that number of victims could be as many as 30, and several
were aged under the age of 14 at the time.

Authorities raided the man's home was searched in November of 2024 after an
investigation into his alleged actions.

He was arrested and detained in May 2025.... and indicted on charges
including aggravated sexual assault, sexual activity or indecency with
underage girls, secretly recording others' private parts, and child and youth
sexual exploitation in November of last year.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

And,

The Health Promotion Administration has released a summary of its new daily
dietary guidelines.

The guidelines encourage the public to drink lots of water, eat more fruit
and vegetables, and have one cup of liquid dairy per day.

The summary of the draft guidelines was sent out pending the final review and
official publication of the document as early as next month.

The guidelines offer varying nutritional advice based on a person's gender,
age, height and weight, will recommend consuming a maximum of 3,500 calories
per day, up from 2,700 in the 2018 edition.

The guidelines suggest eating between 3 and 8 servings of vegetables per day,
up from 3 to 5, with one serving defined as a cooked portion that fills a
15-centimeter plate, or half of a small rice bowl.

The daily recommendation for fruit has be raised from 2 to 4 servings per day
to 2 to 6 servings per day.

The updated guidelines also include a chapter on water consumption for the
first time ever.

Males aged 19 and above are encouraged to drink around 2,400 milliliters per
day, while females aged 19 and above should drink 2,000 milliliters a day,
while accounting for adjustments based on body type, activity level, health
condition and the weather.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

The U-S Congress has officially opted not to immediately halt U.S.
involvement in the rapidly escalating Iran war after a pair of back-to-back
votes went down unsuccessfully in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The U-S House of Representatives has rejected a war powers resolution to halt
Trump’s attack on Iran, a day after the Senate voted down a similar measure.

The vote went nearly along party lines.

On the ground, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait shut down after retaliatory Iranian
strikes on the country, becoming the second American diplomatic mission to
fully halt work since the Iran war.

Kuwait is also where six American soldiers were killed by an Iranian drone.

and... U.S. leader Donald Trump says he should be involved in choosing
Iran’s next supreme leader.

Trump’s comments to the American news website Axios were likely to renew
questions about whether the U.S. and Israel seek the overthrow of the Islamic
Republic or just a change in its policies.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

Polls have closed in Nepal's general elections.

The Himalayan nation mobilised to select a new parliament nearly six months
after the deaths of 77 people in a crackdown on youth-led protests forced its
then prime minister to quit.

Election officials say early trends are likely to emerge sometime today,
although complete results could take a week.

At least half of the country's 19 million eligible voters had cast their
ballot by 3 pm local time.

Voting percentage in the country's last election in 2022 was 61%.

Posted on 2026-03-06 07:13:14

A spokesman for the Philippine National Security Council said some
information on the country's resupply missions in the South China Sea was
compromised and passed on to Chinese intelligence agents.

His statement came a day after the Philippine government said it apprehended
some of its citizens on suspicion of spying for China in a "serious national
security matter."

NSC spokesman Cornelio Valencia called the breach "alarming" but limited in
scope, adding that the channels used to transmit the information had been
shut down.

Philippine and Chinese vessels have frequent ?run-ins during Manila's
resupply missions to its occupied features in the South China Sea.

Posted on 2026-03-05 20:12:13

South Korea has responded to concerns raised by Taiwan's foreign ministry
over the labeling of Taiwan as a part of China on its e-arrival card system
...

... saying it continues to maintain 'non-official substantive cooperation'
with Taiwan and will handle related matters under that framework.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had repeatedly urged Seoul to correct
the error, which appears in both the 'departure' and 'next destination'
fields, and says it will continue discussions and may consider reciprocal
measures if needed.

For now, Taiwan advises travelers to use paper arrival cards, as South Korea
still operates both electronic and paper systems with no plans to phase out
the paper option.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-05 20:12:19

Taiwan's government has signed a double taxation avoidance agreement with
Tuvalu and donated funds to maintain the Pacific ally's first undersea cable

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, while visiting Tuvalu as a special envoy,
said the agreement aims to prevent fiscal evasion and encourage Taiwanese
investment in the country.

During a state banquet hosted by Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo, Lin also
announced financial support for the undersea cable to strengthen the island
nation's communications resilience.

The amount of the donation was not disclosed.

Lin thanked Tuvalu for its long-standing support of Taiwan's participation in
the international community.

He noted that this is his third visit to the Pacific ally and the first time
he has stayed overnight in the country.

Posted on 2026-03-05 18:07:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the volatility in Taiwan's stock market following
the recent outbreak of war in the Middle East remains manageable.

Cho said the Tai-ex fell about 7.3 percent between the second and fourth of
this month.

But he noted the drop is smaller than losses seen in Japan and South Korea,
placing Taiwan roughly in the middle among major Asian markets.

Cho also pointed out that Taiwan shares rebounded sharply today.

He says the Ministry of Finance and regulators are closely monitoring
developments and will take stabilizing measures if needed.

Officials say that while geopolitical tensions have caused short-term
fluctuations, Taiwan's market fundamentals remain solid, with strong
corporate revenues and stable economic indicators.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-05 18:07:16

In international business news,

China has set an economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for this year, a slight
decrease in the face of a prolonged property slump and other headwinds and
global uncertainty.

The target was announced Thursday in an annual report presented by Premier Li
Qiang at the opening session of this year’s meeting of the National
People’s Congress.

The report set the goal and added “while striving for better in practice.”

The target was lowered from about 5% in each of the last three years.

The economy grew at that same pace in 2025.

Setting a range of 4.5% to 5% gives the government more leeway to adjust
policies this year.

Posted on 2026-03-05 18:05:13

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信) says Taiwan's oil
and natural gas supplies remain stable despite the ongoing conflict in the
Middle East.

Lai says the government has already arranged natural gas shipments for April
from sources outside the Middle East ...

... adding that Taiwan's energy imports are highly diversified, with oil
sourced from ten countries and natural gas from fourteen.

The MOEA says Taiwan also maintains energy reserves above legal requirements
— including at least 90 days of oil, 30 days of coal, and about 11 days of
natural gas.

On the pricing front, Lai noted that benchmark Brent crude spot prices
remained largely unchanged earlier today.

He added that the government will continue using existing fuel price
stabilization mechanisms to buffer domestic gasoline and diesel prices from
global volatility.

An emergency task force is also tracking global shipments and energy prices
daily to ensure stable electricity and fuel supplies.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-05 18:05:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan's representative office in Saudi
Arabia has successfully assisted 26 citizens stranded in Qatar who are
seeking to leave the region.

The first group of ten travelers departed Qatar by land on Wednesday and
arrived at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh
(ree-yaad), early this morning.

Taiwan's representative to Saudi Arabia met the group at the airport to
coordinate meals, lodging, and the rebooking of commercial flights for their
journey home.

MOFA explained that multiple airspaces across the Middle East remain closed
due to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the U-S, and Israel.

The situation in Qatar is part of a broader effort to protect overseas
nationals.

Earlier today, the ministry reported that roughly 3 thousand Taiwanese
citizens and expatriates are currently in the region, with at least 200
unable to leave due to widespread flight cancellations.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-05 18:05:13

The Centers for Disease Control is monitoring 87 people following Taiwan's
second measles cluster of the year.

The outbreak began with a man in his 40s from central Taiwan who recently
returned from a business trip to Malaysia.

About a week after arriving home, he developed a fever, cough, and rash.

Health officials say a woman in her 20s later tested positive after coming
into contact with the man at a medical clinic.

All 87 identified contacts are now under health monitoring until March 22nd.

CDC officials emphasize that while Taiwan's high vaccination rate makes a
large-scale outbreak unlikely, the virus remains a threat.

They are urging travelers to Asia, Europe, and the Americas to take extra
precautions, as measles cases continue to rise globally.

Anyone who may have been exposed is advised to monitor their health, wear a
mask, and contact health authorities immediately if symptoms appear.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-05 17:08:14

The Mainland Affairs Council says, TPP Lawmaker Li Zhen Xiu does not possess
the qualifications to be a lawmaker.

Chairman Qiu Chui Zheng says that Li did not turn in her cancellation of
Chinese citizenship until only a year ago.

Qiu adds, according to the Cross-Strait Relations Act, that makes her
unqualified to run for public office.

He says, the MAC will transfer the relevant materials to the Central Election
Commission, in hopes that they proceed according to law.

Article 21 of the Cross-Strait Relations Act states that one must have held
Taiwanese household registration for at least 10 years in order to register
as a candidate for public office.

Qiu notes that the act was amended in 2004 to stipulate that former Chinese
citizens who get Taiwanese household registration before 2004- as Li did-
must return proof of having canceled Chinese citizenship within 6 months.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-05 17:08:20

The DPP is releasing the results of polling conducted in Kaohsiung's 10th and
3rd districts to determine nominees for the city councilor position.

6 candidates competed for the three nominations in district 10, comprising
Qian Zhen and Xiao Gang.

Councilor Huang Yan Yu 黃彥毓was the only incumbent to be knocked out of the
race, while Zheng Guang Feng鄭光峰 held on to his nomination...

and newcomers Wu Yu Feng吳昱鋒 and Huang Jing Ya 黃敬雅 were also able to
secure a nomination.

Meanwhile in Dagangshan, Incumbents Lin Zhi Cheng and Huang Qiu Ying 黃秋?
held on to their spots, and Cai Bing Cong 蔡秉璁 took the third spot.

Tonight, residents of Fengshan district can expect a phone call as polling
continues.

After polling concludes in Kaohsiung, Taipei and Tainan will be up to bat
next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-05 17:08:24

Now turning to international news...

A mine collapse in the Congo has killed scores of people, as officials and
rebel groups sharply dispute the death toll.

Congolese officials say the collapse happened earlier this week and killed at
least 200 people.

But the M23 rebels, who control the mine, say that only 5 people died.

The collapse took place at the Rubaya mines, with one miner saying that he
personally helped to recover over 200 bodies.

Rubaya is in a mineral-rich area which for decades has been ripped apart by
violence from government forces and different armed groups like the M23.

Congo is a major supplier of coltan, a black metallic ore that contains the
rare metal tantalum, a key component in the production of smartphones,
computers and aircraft engines.

Posted on 2026-03-05 17:08:20

Drivers in Taiwan who repeatedly run red lights or fail to yield to
pedestrians when required may soon have to attend mandatory road safety
training.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has proposed a new policy
aiming to correct dangerous driving habits.

Under the plan, general motorists who commit specific violations three times
within a single year would be forced to attend a three-hour safety course.

The list of offenses includes running red lights, failing to yield at
unsignaled intersections, and failing to slow down when approaching
pedestrian crossings, schools, or hospitals.

The rules are even stricter for professional drivers of large commercial
vehicles, who would face the mandatory training after just two violations in
a year.

If the proposal clears its final review, the new measures could take effect
as early as March 31st.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-05 14:19:14

Prosecutors have dismissed sexual assault charges for a second time against a
former McDonald’s manager following the suicide of a young employee.

The Shilin District Prosecutors Office says there is still insufficient
evidence to indict the former supervisor.

The case began in late 2024, when the mother of a teenage girl accused the
manager of sexually assaulting her daughter.

Prosecutors first dismissed the case last April.

The High Prosecutors Office later ordered a second investigation, ruling that
the initial probe was incomplete.

However, after further review and interviews with the mother and witnesses,
the Shilin office again cleared the manager of the charges.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-05 14:19:14

Health officials have completed a major winter relief program to protect
vulnerable groups from the recent drop in temperatures.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today it partnered with private
companies to deliver 48-thousand sets of winter gear across 19 cities and
counties.

The project focused on distributing gloves, scarves, and baby socks to
low-income families and children in remote areas.

And the ministry says the government is now launching a nationwide census of
seniors living alone, to provide in-person home visits.

These visits will determine if seniors need services such as meal deliveries,
phone check-ins, or community care support.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-05 14:19:14

Taiwan shares gained ground today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 844
points to close the session at 33672.

The turnover was 760.3 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-05 14:19:14

Now turning to internaitonal news...

The Sri Lankan navy has conducted search and rescue operations after the US
sunk an Iranian warship that was in international waters near the island.

They were able to recover 87 bodies and rescue 32 people.

The ship had 180 people aboard, leaving 61 unaccounted for.

US officials said that a torpedo sank what they called Iran's "prize ship."

That's one of the few instances in which a submarine sink a ship since Word
War II.

Sri Lankan officials sau they received a distress signal from the ship, but
by the time they reached the location, the ship had already sunk, leaving
only patches of oil and sailors floating in the water.

Posted on 2026-03-05 14:19:14

A blackout has left millions of people without power in Havana and the rest
of Western Cuba.

That's the latest power outage on an island struggling with dwindling oil
reserves and a crumbling electric grid.

Local media quoted officials as saying it could take as least 72 hours to
restore operations at one of the country's largest thermoelectric power
plants.

The state utility service said the outage was affecting people from as far
west as Pinar del Rio all the way to the central town of Camaguey.

That's the second such outage to affect western Cuba in three months.

Posted on 2026-03-05 14:19:14

In the US,

a Haitian man confined to an immigration detention center for months after
being denied asylum has died.

His brother says that Emmanuel Damas told officers he had a toothache last
month but was not sent for medical treatment.

He believes the staff at the facility did not take his brother's complaints
seriously, despite it being treatable.

He said, he would expect such a death in countries with less access to health
care- but not in the US.

Damas one of at least 9 people who have died in US federal immigration
custody just since the start of the year.

Posted on 2026-03-05 13:06:13

KMT officials say, their version of a proposal for a special defense bill
would hinge upon letters of acceptance from the US.

As of now, those offers total 350 billion NT.

Upper KMT officials stated that the central party headquarters and the
legislative caucus had reached a consensus on the matter.

They noted that, if the US were to issue another batch of letters of
agreement, then the KMT would consider it.

The KMT legislative caucus convened this morning to discuss the issue, with
the executive yuan's and the TPP's versions of a special defense bill slated
to be referred to committee review tomorrow.

Party officials add that the KMT has long supported arms purchases from the
US, but said that those purchases must fill a need by the military, comply
with procedures, and be consented to by the US.

Downplaying earlier reports of KMT lawmakers not having been informed of what
the KMT version of the defense bill would look like, central party officials
said that the party has maintained communication with lawmakers and kept them
informed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-05 13:06:13

Taipei Deputy Mayor Li Si Chuan's resignation will go into effect on Tuesday
to allow him to formally launch his campaign for the New Taipei mayor's post.

That's according to Mayor Chiang Wan an, who also stated that cooperation
between Taipei and New Taipei would be the best parting gift for Li.

Li previously said that he would resign from the deputy mayorship in order to
run in New Taipei but it wasn't previously known exactly when he would be
relieved of his duties.

Li is expected to receive the KMT's nomination and face the DPP's Su Qiao Hui
in the fall.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-05 13:06:13

Taipei City officials will begin inspecting more than 500 pet grooming
businesses this month to ensure they follow new consumer protection rules.

The city's Animal Protection Office announced today that inspections of 552
local businesses will start on March 16-th.

The move follows new federal regulations from the Ministry of Agriculture
regarding standardized contracts for dog and cat grooming services.

Under the new rules, grooming businesses must clearly post contract terms at
their shops or on their websites, as well as items that are strictly
prohibited from being included in these contracts.

City officials say they have already held training courses to help business
owners understand the new requirements.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-05 13:06:13

Now turning to international news...

The new president of Honduras has ordered a review of economic agreements
with China.

The move has fueled expectations that Honduras will distance itself from
Beijing, in line with a Trump administration campaign to reduce Chinese
economic sway in Latin America.

Honduras forged diplomatic ties with China three years ago after breaking off
relations with Taiwan.

At the time, some believed that there would be greater economic
opportunities, but the switch has been a disappointment for some...

like shrimp farmers, whose sales to Taiwan have plummeted.

President Nasry Asfura is expected to join other Latin American leaders for a
security summit this weekend.

Posted on 2026-03-05 09:05:13

And,

The 2026 Taipei Azalea Festival opens on Friday in Daan Park.

The city government says this years event will feature more than 200,000
azaleas in full bloom.

According to city's Parks and Street Lights Office, the festival will
showcase a wide array of azaleas in vivid colors and diverse forms, including
rare varieties on loan from neighboring cities.

They include the "Taoyuan No. 1 -- Red Rose" and "Taoyuan No. 2 -- Torch
Azaleas," as well as native azalea species from a flower production
cooperative in New Taipei's Jinshan District.

Posted on 2026-03-05 09:05:14

In international news,

Spain is denying that it's co-operating with the U-S and giving access to its
military bases for operations against Iran.

The denial came after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed
Spain had "agreed to co-operate with the US military.

Spain's foreign minister told radio station Cadena Ser that he can refute
what the White House spokesperson said ...

.. and the "position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the
Middle East, the bombing of Iran and the use of our bases has not changed one
iota."

Spain had refused to let the U-S use Spanish bases to launch military
operations against Iran, prompting U-S President Donald Trump to claim that
he's cutting off all trade with the country.

U-S diplomatic sources have been standing by Leavitt's statements and are
repeating the claim that Spain will now co-operate.

Posted on 2026-03-05 09:05:14

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

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

The country has seen 32 changes in government since 1990, leaving its economy
paralyzed and forcing millions lof people to seek work abroad.

Nearly 19-million of Nepal's 30-million people are eligible to vote today and
about one million of these voters were added after last year's protests.

They will be picking a 275-member legislature, of which 165 candidates are
directly elected and 110 selected via proportional representation.

Posted on 2026-03-05 09:05:14

A power outage is affecting parts of Cuba, including the capital of Havana.

According to the country's national electricity union says it's working to
restore services, and the blackout affected the island from the center to far
west of the island.

Cuba has experienced a series of major blackouts in recent years and this is
the second such outage to affect Cuba's western region in the past three
months.

The power cuts have caused the government to ration key services.

Posted on 2026-03-05 09:05:14

And finally,

A company has created a smartphone for pets that lets them call their owners

The A-P's Julie Walker has the story.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

The Taiwan People's Party and the K-M-T are set to unveil a joint local
election policy platform on March 13.

T-P-P Chairman Huang Kuo-chang called the joint policy platform a prelude to
a formal cooperation agreement ahead of November's elections.

This comes after T-P-P held a meeting of its central committee, at which the
party chair said platform will cover issues including social welfare, housing
justice, environmental sustainability and industrial development ..

Huang said the platform will be the first part of a three-stage electoral
cooperation plan.

He added the second stage of the plan will be the signing of a written
cooperation agreement, which the parties have begun discussing and hope to
release by the end of March.

The T-P-P and the K-M-T will then consult on how to put forward the
strongest slate of candidates for the November 28 elections.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

The Ministry of Labor has announced an expanded subsidy scheme aimed at
encouraging businesses to provide more childcare support for its employees.

The scheme include higher subsidies for employer-provided childcare
allowances... which will also cover foreign employees.

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han says the expanded subsidy scheme was created
after his office found employer-provided childcare efforts taken so far have
been insufficient.

Hung said many business owners understand Taiwan's low birthrate problem and
are willing to help employees with childcare, but they face significant
difficulties in terms of institutional support and resources.

Hung says his office will be introducing a total of nine new or expanded
subsidy measures which build on existing policies in the hope that more
businesses will take that "extra step to support employees."

Currently, only employers with 100 or more employees are legally required to
provide breastfeeding rooms and either "childcare facilities or suitable
childcare measures," while childcare allowances are not mandatory.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is visiting Tuvalu this week in his capacity
as a special envoy for President Lai Ching-te.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs says the trip is aimed at strengthen ties
between the two sides...

Lin held talks with Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo after being received
at a traditional welcome ceremony.

Li expressed his gratitude for the welcoming ceremony, which included
traditional dances arranged by the Tuvaluan government on the delegation's
arrival.

MOFA says Lin will be inspecting joint projects focused on smart medicine and
smart agriculture as part of the trip, which looks to boost partnerships in
areas including digital technology, healthcare, and climate change.

It is Lin's third visit to the Pacific ally

Tuvalu's prime minister visited Taiwan in November of last year on what was
his first state visit since taking office.

Then, Feleti Teo held talks with President Lai Ching-te and signed three
pacts, including one to establish the legal framework to further strengthen
bilateral ties, another to promote fisheries cooperation and a third to
foster sports exchanges.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

Nongovernmental organizations are calling for more staffing and professional
support to handle sexual harassment reports.

The call comes ahead of the second anniversary of three gender equality
amendments that took effect on International Women's Day in 2024.

Garden of Hope Foundation C-E-O Wang Yue-hao says administrative and
investigative personnel, along with professional training and support
systems, remain insufficient.

Wang said reports of sexual harassment have risen significantly since
amendments were made to gender equality and sexual harrassment legislation.

Wang cited statistics indicating general sexual harassment reports rose about
45-per cent between 2023 and 2024, substantiated campus sexual harassment
cases increased 8-percent over the same period.

The Garden of Hope Foundation C-E-O says overlapping provisions in relevant
laws and unclear divisions of responsibility among authorities force victims
to repeatedly verify the legal grounds for their complaints and determine the
appropriate contact point ....

.. all of which creates additional barriers to reporting and undermines the
amendments' goal of strengthening protections for victims.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

The Ministry of Agriculture says pineapples from Taiwan could soon enter the
continental U-S market for the first time pending final approval of
regulatory revisions.

Its US counterpart filed a notice in the Federal Register on Tuesday of this
week proposing revisions to import requirements for Taiwan pineapples.

The government here in Taiwan filed an application in 2020 seeking market
access for the island's pineapples.

The agriculture ministry later provided data on pests, climate conditions,
cultivation practices, postharvest handling and export volumes at the request
of U-S authorities.

The ministry says the application was finally approved earlier this year
following multiple technical reviews.

Data shows that Taiwan exported more than 16,800 metric tons of pineapples in
2025, valued at 750-million N-T.

Major export markets for Taiwan pineapples include Japan, Hong Kong,
Singapore, South Korea, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

The Control Yuan has censured the New Taipei City Government for lapses in
oversight after the city failed to prevent a sex offender from running an
illegal Go class where he was found guilty of molesting 12 children.

The body said the New Taipei Government failed in its community oversight and
risk evaluation of sex offenders... as well as its inter-departmental
coordination to prevent further offenses.

The man was previously imprisoned in 2010 for assaulting two people..
including a minor.

The man is now in custody awaiting retrial... last month, the Supreme Court
returned the case to the High Court -- which gave him a 21 year sentence for
the new offenses carried out in New Taipei.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

And,

The Hualien Agricultural Bureau says a partially decomposed 15-meter whale
carcass was found in a set-net fishery in Chongde Bay.

The Coast Guard Administration, said it was notified of the dead whale by the
fishery operator... whose site is located about 20-kilometers north of
downtown Hualien.

The Ocean Conservation Administration says based on its appearance, the whale
was likely either a fin whale or a dwarf fin whale, and had died some time
before it washed into the bay.

Authorities have been advised by the Taiwan Cetacean Society to leave the
carcass on the beach.

This, after a 17-meter sperm whale being transported on a flatbed truck
through Tainan to be autopsied in 2004 exploded in due to gases from internal
decay - sending rotten blood and organs onto nearby shops and cars.

The Taiwan Cetacean Society will visit the site later today to perform an
autopsy on the whale and determine its cause of death.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:13

An independent United Nations probe investigating rights violations in Iran
condemned attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran... as well as
Tehran's retaliatory strikes across the region, saying they violated the UN
Charter.

It also expressed deep shock over a strike that hit a girls school in
southern Iran on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The U.N. fact-finding probe said the Iranian population was now caught
between a large-scale military campaign that may go on for weeks and a
government in Tehran which has a long record of human rights abuses.

The United Nations Charter bans the use of force against the territorial
integrity or political independence of any state.

Posted on 2026-03-05 07:30:14

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed the Middle East
conflict with the king of Bahrain and the crown prince of Kuwait.

In his nightly video address... Zelenskyy also said that his administration
was in daily contact with the U.S. and once the security situation around
Iran permitted it, trilateral talks with Moscow and Washington on a
settlement of the war with Moscow would resume.

The president added said Ukraine's partners, including the U.S., had sought
Kyiv's help in defending against Iranian drones, like those used by Russia in
the four-year-old war with Ukraine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH-CNA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taipei and Tainan are set to follow Kaohsiung next week.

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

Now turning to international news...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

Qiu Jian Fu is the former mayor of Changhua City.

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

The turnover was 1.032 trillion NT

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

Now turning to international news...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That shift threatens traditional local communities.

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

but some fear certain fish will leave for colder waters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nepal is holding parliamentary elections tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now turning to international news...

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

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

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

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

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

The strike also killed two other service members.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

China has only dispatched one balloon since February 28.

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

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

meeting

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

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

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

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

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

In international news,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meanwhile,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It will run from March 6 to 19.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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