ICRT

Posted on 2026-05-25 20:07:13

Taiwan High-Speed Rail says it will announce tomorrow's operating schedule
before service begins, after signal problems disrupted trains throughout the
day.

The operator says the exact cause still needs to be confirmed through
overnight inspections ...

... but preliminary findings suggest unstable electrical currents developed
after a power module was replaced in an SMC switch control unit.

THSR says the malfunction caused the system to lose track-position signals,
preventing normal system control of train operations.

Trains instead had to move under manual authorization, leading to longer
travel and dispatch times.

Repair crews are expected to work through the night, and the company says
tomorrow's service update will be posted on its website before operations
begin.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-25 20:07:13

The head of the Washington-based The Jamestown Foundation says recent remarks
by U-S President Donald Trump about Taiwan do not signal a change in
long-standing American policy.

Today in Taipei, foundation president Peter Mattis said the key point was
that Trump repeatedly stated U-S policy toward Taiwan had not changed during
a recent interview following his trip to China.

Trump had said he was 'not looking' for Taiwan to declare independence, while
also emphasizing that 'nothing's changed' in U-S policy.

Mattis said Washington's position has long been that Taiwan's future should
be decided peacefully and without coercion.

He also rejected speculation that pending U-S arms sales to Taiwan could be
tied to American military operations in Iran.

Taiwan's Presidential Office says it has not received any formal notification
from Washington regarding changes to planned arms sales.

Posted on 2026-05-25 20:07:13

The Ministry of Finance has released the winning numbers for the March-April
uniform invoice lottery, with the top special prize set at 10 million NT.

The draw also includes a 2 million NT grand prize and three first prizes
worth 200-thousand NT each.

Additional cash prizes are available for receipts matching the final digits
of the winning numbers, while separate rewards are also being offered through
the cloud invoice lottery program.

The ministry says prizes can be claimed from June 6th through September 7th
at designated banks, credit cooperatives and convenience stores across
Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-05-25 19:09:13

Taichung is moving ahead with plans for its proposed Orange Airport MRT Line
...

... as the city government opens public review for the next stage of project
planning and design.

The planned line would begin at Taichung International Airport and run
through districts including Daya, Xitun, Beitun, North, East, South, Dali and
Wufeng.

City officials say the project moved closer to the detailed planning stage
after the Ministry of Transportation and Communications resubmitted the
proposal to the Executive Yuan for review earlier this year.

The Orange Line is expected to stretch about 29 kilometers, with 26 stations,
including both elevated and underground stops.

Officials say the route is designed not only to improve transportation links
to the airport, but also to support broader urban development and boost the
city's competitiveness.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-25 19:09:14

Taiwan Seminconductor Manufacturing is denying rumors of a 15% reduction in
employee bonuses.

Recent social media speculation regarding bonus cuts sparked frustration
among some employees, with some threatening strike action similar to recent
protests seen at Samsung.

In a statement today, TSMC emphasized its gratitude for employee
contributions, and says it is confident that the annual growth rate of
employee bonuses will exceed the growth rate seen last year.

The chipmaker acknowledged that it is increasing the proportion of its
earnings allocated toward social sustainability initiatives to give back to
the community, but says it expects employee bonuses to continue increasing in
line with its steady future development.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 19:09:14

Over in the UK...

Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of former Scottish leader Nicola
Sturgeon, has pleaded guilty to embezzling over 400,000 pounds from the
Scottish National Party.

Authorities say he used the money to buy a motorhome and two cars.

Murrell, who was the SNP's chief executive, was remanded into custody after
his plea in the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.

He was originally arrested in April 2023 during an investigation into the
SNP’s finances.

Sturgeon, who resigned in 2023 after eight years as first minister, was later
cleared of any wrongdoing.

Murrell and Sturgeon announced their divorce last year.

Posted on 2026-05-25 18:34:13

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is planning to raise the
airport service fee starting in September.

In the first phase, the airport service fee will be increased to $750 NT
effective Sept. 1st.

And the MOTC says the second phase will be implemented on Sept. 1, 2028 and
raise the fee further to $1-thousand NT.

The ministry says the airport service fee, which is paid by departing
passengers, has been frozen for 10 years at $500NT, which is lower than the
same fee paid in neighboring countries.

Officials say the increase will be used mainly to fund infrastructure
projects at Taiwan airports, particularly the construction of a third
terminal and runway at Taoyuan International Airport.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 18:34:13

New Taipei officials say the newly opened Danjiang Bridge is quickly becoming
a popular weekend sunset spot — and that is now causing heavy traffic in the
area.

The city's Transportation Department says traffic has been mostly smooth on
weekdays since the bridge opened two weeks ago.

But on weekends, cars start pouring in after 10 in the morning, with the
worst congestion usually hitting between 2 and 6 P-M as crowds head to Tamsui
and Bali districts.

According to the department, traffic backups have sometimes stretched as long
as three kilometers.

The city says weekend crowds on the bridge now include growing numbers of
pedestrians and cyclists, and is reminding people to watch for strong winds
and slow down.

Transport officials are also urging visitors to take the MRT, buses or
YouBike to avoid long traffic jams.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

Taipei police have launched a special drug task force to crack down on drug-
and alcohol-impaired driving...

saying in the first day after launching, the task force caught 7 people
suspected of drug-impaired driving.

Police add that they dispatched 500 officers to support the effort, which
aims to launch in full by the end of August.

Authorities say that the operation will increase officers' knowledge of
saliva screening tools, enforcement procedures, and legal basis.

It will also aim to strengthen prevention efforts, targeting suspicious
vehicles and seeking out high-risk areas to improve efficacy.

This comes as there has been a string of drug-impaired driving cases recently.

Cabinet spokesman Michelle Lee says, Premier Zhuo Rong Tai has expressed that
he believes relevant existing laws to be insufficient...

and has ordered the Ministry of Justice to conduct a thorough review.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

The Central Weather Administration issued high temperature alerts for 13
municipalities today, with temperatures in Tainan hitting a sweltering 39.6
degrees Celsius by early afternoon.

As of 2:00 PM, the highest temperature was recorded in Tainan's Yujing
District at 39.6 degrees, followed by 38.6 degrees in the city's Nanhua
District.

New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung also reported temperatures
exceeding 37 degrees, while Taipei, Chiayi County, and Hualien saw
temperatures climb above 36 degrees.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

A woman has died after falling from the fifth floor to the second floor of
the Taipei 101 shopping mall this morning.

Emergency services received a call at 10:49 a.m. after mall security staff
discovered the woman and alerted authorities.

Paramedics found her without vital signs and transported her to hospital,
where she was pronounced dead.

Police say preliminary investigation has not found evidence of third-party
involvement.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

Now turning to international news...

Rescuers in the Philippines' Angeles City have pulled three people from the
rubble of a collapsed hotel that was under construction.

2 of the men were found dead, while efforts to save the third were
unsuccessful.

That brings the total death toll to 4.

17 others are still missing, with rescue operations still underway.

Most of the missing are construction workers.

The buidling collapsed after a thunderstorm, but the cause is still under
investigation.

Officials say the search is challenging due to precarious debris.

They add they are still hoping to rescue more people alive.

Posted on 2026-05-25 17:09:13

Colombia is heading into a national election later this week against the
backdrop of persistent safety concerns.

The vote is being seen as a referendum on the policies of President Gustavo
Petro...

particularly his "total peace" initiative, which aims to negotiate with the
country's remaining rebel groups.

But the numbers show that violence tied to armed groups has gotten worse
under Petro.

Voters who live close to a police station are especially concerned, given
that police stations are frequent targets for drone-dropped explosives.

Authorities blame the attacks on a rebel faction that rejected a peace
agreement with the Colombian government.

Experts say about one third of the country is vulnerable to violence from
illegal armed groups.

Government data shows that drone attacks hit over 300 targets last year,
marking a significant increase from 2024.

In Sunday's election, voters will choose between IvAn Cepeda of Petro's
"pro-dialogue" camp...

and those of the "hard-line" camp that appears to favor military pressure on
the armed groups, including Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella.

Posted on 2026-05-25 16:07:48

A proposed national rocket launch facility in Pingtung County has cleared its
first hurdle in the environmental review process, with some conditions.

The Ministry of Environment convened an initial expert committee review today
for the National Space Center's plan to establish a launch facility in
Jiupeng Village.

The proposed site covers about 26 hectares and would include a core launch
zone, and a space technology museum.

The committee echoed concerns of a nearby indigenous community about access
to coastal waters for fishing and shellfish harvesting, and worry that
pollution from rocket launches would blow toward the village.

They also called for stronger assessments of instantaneous noise, vibration,
and air pollution from test launches on nearby residents and ecosystems.

The committee voted to send the case back for supplementary revisions before
a second review.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 16:07:48

350 files related to the Core Pacific City case have arrived at the Taiwan
High Court.

That's after prosecutors and defendants both appealed an earlier ruling
doling out prison time.

The Taipei District Court sentenced Former Taipei Mayor Ke Wen Zhe to 17
years back in March...

while other defendants like KMT City Councilor Ying Xiao Wei got 15 and a
half years.

7 defendants in total appealed the sentences, while prosecutors appealed the
sentences of all 9 defendants found guilty, believing the rulings to be too
lenient.

The case is now in the hands of the Taiwan High Court.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-25 16:07:49

Officials said a speeding minibus has struck a bus parked along a motorway in
northwest Pakistan, killing 17 people and injuring five others.

The minibus was carrying passengers to the scenic Swat Valley.

The crash occurred Monday near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

An emergency response official said preliminary findings suggested driver
negligence caused the crash.

Posted on 2026-05-25 16:07:49

Hanukkah Attack

An Australian spy agency boss has told an inquiry he had pivoted resources
away from counterterrorism a few years before two gunmen massacred 15 people
at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration last year.

The director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization
testified today at a government inquiry into the spread of antisemitism in
Australia ahead of the attack, the nation’s worst mass shooting since 1996.

The agency reduced Australia’s National Terrorism Threat Level in 2022.

The director-general said the agency then shifted to increase its focus on
foreign interference and espionage investigations, but left its
“counterterrorism mission” with sufficient resources.

The Hanukkah event was given the lowest security priority by the police.

Only four police officers were at the event when the gunmen opened fire on a
crowd of around 1,000 people.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-25 15:24:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says business sentiment improved
across all three major industry sectors in April despite ongoing Middle East
conflict.

TIER released its April business climate monitor today, showing the
manufacturing sector index rising 0.9 points, the service sector edging up
0.5 points, and the construction sector ended three consecutive months of
decline with a 2.6-point gain.

TIER forecasters say the AI boom continues to fuel strong demand in IT
technology, and rising raw material prices linked to the Middle East conflict
have stimulated restocking and procurement activity in traditional
industries.

As for whether the institute will follow some forecasters in revising
Taiwan's full-year economic growth projection above 9 percent, TIER says an
upward revision is possible.

But key factors to watch include whether NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang's
prediction of a busy second half for Taiwan's supply chain materializes, and
how quickly the Strait of Hormuz reopens once the conflict ends.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 15:24:13

Taichung City is expanding its free school lunch program to include private
junior high and elementary school students starting next school year,

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says once the expansion takes effect, all public and
private junior high and elementary school students, as well as disadvantaged
students at senior high and vocational schools across the city, will receive
free school lunches.

The mayor says the change will benefit an additional 25-thousand students.

The expansion will increase annual spending on the program from roughly $3.6
billion NT to about $4 billion.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-25 15:24:13

Now turning to internatioanl news...

Experts say several simultaneous crises in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo have combined to make the Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the
country difficult to contain.

Those factors include violence linked to armed rebel groups, the displacement
of a large number of people, the failure of local government and
international aid cuts that have devastated health facilities.

Attacks on three Ebola treatment facilities show another complication for
health and aid workers: a backlash of anger in local communities.

Congolese health authorities say there are 904 suspected cases and 119
suspected deaths, mostly in a northeastern province

This is a significant jump from the previously announced number of suspected
cases.

They also warned the case numbers are likely much bigger and rising fast.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-25 15:24:13

In central Bangladesh, a truck carrying iron rods and passengers has
overturned on a major highway, killing at least 15 people and injuring 10.

Police said the truck was carrying day laborers traveling to join their
families for a festival.

They died at the scene when the truck overturned around 5 a.m. today.

Bangladesh has a weeklong holiday ahead of the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha
on Thursday, and many people are traveling ahead of the festival.

Road accidents kill thousands in the country every year due to lax oversight
of safety rules, bad road conditions, and unsafe driving.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

The Tai-Ex surged over 1,000 points this morning at it broke through the
43,000-point mark.

The main board added just over 1,100 points to reach a high of 43,438 and
setting a new all-time record.

The electronics and semiconductor indices all rose by more than 2-per cent as
investors were buoyed by the arrival in Taiwan of Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rose 2.2-per cent from Friday's close to
hit a high of 2,305 N-T.

MediaTek hit its daily limit of 4,245 N-T, setting another new all-time high,
while Delta Electronics surged over 8-per cent to hit a high of 2,280 N-T.

Huang is scheduled to meet with T-S-M-C Chairman C.C. Wei and Quanta Computer
Chairman Barry Lam in Taipei this - boosting expectations of announcements of
new deals and sparking strong interest in tech stocks in early trading.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the first payment for the High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System from the U-S is due by the end of this month and the
government applied for emergency funding under Article 84 of the Budget Act.

The Article dictates the legal framework for reviewing and executing special
budgets.

According to Koo, after the Cabinet approves the 800-million N-T first
payment, it will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for approval, after which
Article 84 will be invoked and the first payment can be made.

Koo says he believes there should be no problem with meeting the May 31
deadline.

The Cabinet last week approved an initial 295-billion N-T special defense
budget for a package of weapons already approved for sale to Taiwan by the
U-S, which has been sent to the Legislative Yuan for a final review.

The budget items include the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems,
self-propelled howitzers, anti-armor drone weapon systems and anti-tank
missiles.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

The Central Weather Administration says hot and mostly stable weather is
expected across Taiwan through Thursday, before another seasonal rain front
moves in on Friday.

Temperatures in some areas are likely to hit 37-degrees or higher early in
the week.

A "red" heat alert - meaning maximum temperature could reaches 38-degrees for
three consecutive days - has been issued for the Tainan area.

"Orange" heat alerts are in effect in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Changhua,
Yunlin, Chiayi City, Kaohsiung and Pingtung - where the mercury could reach a
daily maximum temperature of 38-degrees today, or reaches 36-degrees for
three consecutive days.

While "yellow" heat alerts have been issued for Taoyuan, Chiayi County,
Hualien and Taitung, where temperature are forecast to reaches 36-degrees.

All of the heat alerts are currently in effect through this afternoon.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

In international news,

Regional officials say the United States is close to a deal with Iran to end
the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The regional officials say the agreement would see Iran give up its stockpile
of highly enriched uranium.

The strait's reopening would happen in parallel with the U-S lifting its
blockade of Iranian ports.

That would begin to ease the global energy crisis.

The deal would also end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, though Israel
remains concerned about Hezbollah's threat.

U-S President Donald Trump has said negotiations are proceeding
constructively, but he advised not rushing into a deal.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

difficult to contain.

Experts say several crises have combined to make the Ebola outbreak in
eastern Congo difficult to contain.

They include violence linked to armed rebel groups, the displacement of a
large number of people, the failure of local government and international aid
cuts that have devastated health facilities.

Arson attacks on two Ebola treatment centers show another complication for
health and aid workers.

The World Health Organization says there are now more than 900 ‌suspected
Ebola cases, including 101 confirmed cases, and have been 119 suspected
Ebola deaths.

That's a significant jump from the previously announced number of suspected
cases and health officials are warning the case numbers are likely much
bigger and rising fast.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

China has sent three astronauts to its space station - one of whom will stay
for a year, a record length for the country.

That comes as Beijing is seeking a crewed moon ‌landing by 2030.

The Shenzhou-23 vessel was launched using the Long March-2F Y23 carrier
rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

A former Hong Kong police inspector is the first astronaut from the city to
take part in a Chinese space mission.

China has sent astronauts to its space station almost a dozen times.

Posted on 2026-05-25 11:05:13

And finally in soccer news,

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is calling on broadcaster TNT Sports to
show next weekend's Champions League final between England's Arsenal and
Paris St Germain of ‌France to viewers in the U-K who are not paying
customers.

According to Starmer, who is an Arsenal supporter, the issue is important
to soccer fans beyond those whose teams are in Saturday's final in Budapest
..

.. and is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and
pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most ‌elite players in
Europe.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

The Coast Guard Administration says it has been involved in a standoff since
early Saturday with a Chinese coast guard vessel found entering waters near
the Dongsha Island in the South China Sea.

The 5,500-ton Chinese patrol vessel was spotted operating outside restricted
waters near Dongsha Island early Saturday morning as it headed toward the
island.

The administration's Dongsha-Nansha Branch dispatched the 1,000-ton patrol
vessel "Taichung" to monitor the Chinese ship.

The "Taichung" approached the Chinese vessel after it entered Dongsha's
restricted waters and the two vessels exchanged radio warnings in both
Chinese and English, each ordering the other to leave the area.

The Chinese vessel claimed jurisdiction over the island, while the Taiwan
side rejected the claim.

The Chinese coast guard ship left the area Sunday.

The Coast Guard Administration says latest incident marks the sixth time a
Chinese coast guard vessel has entered waters near Dongsha Island.

Dongsha Island is located some 450-kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung and is
currently staffed by around 300 Coast Guard personnel.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

Reports say K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun will travel to the U-S on June 1
for a two-week trip to promote "normalization of cross-strait peace" and
exploring a "sustainable solution for cross-strait peace."

Cheng is expected to lead a delegation including K-M-T International Affairs
Department chief Tung Chia-yu and the head of the party's Overseas
Department, Wennie Wu.

The visit is expected to kick off on the West Coast, but no details of which
cities they will visit have been released.

Cheng will then travel east, with stops in New York, Washington, D.C., and
Boston, where she is expected to meet with U-S politicians and think tank
representatives before returning to the West Coast to meet overseas Taiwanese
communitiess.

The itinerary is being drafted by the K-M-T's representative to the U-S,
Victor Chin.

Details of Cheng's upcoming trip emerged days after American Institute in
Taiwan Director Raymond Greene said many U-S politicians and scholars are
looking forward to meeting with her to determine whether the KMT is
"fundamentally changing the party's political orientation."

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

An internal probe into two ex-employees of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation has
found no evidence of financial wrongdoing.

An investigation committee said its probe found that former foundation chief
executive Hsiao Hsu-tsen, who also serves as a K-M-T vice chair, had not
meddled in the foundation's finances.

It also confirmed that former foundation employee Wang Kuang-tzu had kept
comprehensive accounting records and documentation in her role handling the
organization's finances.

The three-person committee says it conducted the investigation via multiple
meetings held over a month and three days, using foundation records and other
internal documents sent to the foundation's board of directors on April 20.

However, the committee says its investigation was "anything but smooth."

Former National Security Council secretary-general King Pu-tsung has claimed
that he was authorized by Ma to handle the case, but the committee says he
never presented a letter of authorization.

Hsiao and Wang both left their positions in late February amid allegations of
a "power struggle" at the foundation.

Both Hsiao and Wang also persistently denied any wrongdoing.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed the first domestic dengue fever
case of this year.

The patient is a man in his 60s who lives in Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen District
who has tested positive for the dengue virus type 1.

The man didn't travel overseas during the incubation period and remains
hospitalized for treatment.

The Kaohsiung Department of Health says it has now launched a disease
prevention campaign and the area around the man's home has been disinfected

Similar measures are being taken in other high-risk areas of the city to
eliminate potential mosquito breading sites.

The C-D-C has also confirmed two new imported dengue fever cases in
Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen and Sanming districts.

They involve two university students who had recently traveled to Malaysia.

A total of 64 dengue cases have been confirmed this year - one local and 63
imported.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

President Lai Ching-te is promoting his administration's program to boost
childcare benefits and increases to farmers’ allowances.

During a visit to Chiayi County's Wangling Temple, Lai said families will
receive 5,000 N-T per month for each child from birth through the age of 18
starting from next January.

If payments continue for the full period, each child can expect to receive a
total amount of 1.08-million N-T when they reach adulthood.

Lai said parents will be advised to set aside part of the allowance for the
children's college or future business plans.

Meanwhile, Lai also said his administration plans to raise the old-age
farmers’ allowance to 10,000 N-T a month.

That comes as the Cabinet has proposed amendments to the Provisional Act
Governing the Welfare Allowance for Older Farmers, which is still under
review in the legislature.

Older farmer current subsidy payments 8,110 N-T.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

Premier Zhu Rong-tai is urging a crackdown on drug driving and for new laws
to be enacted to tackle the issue of drug driving accidents.

This comes after two separate suspected drug-impaired driving incidents in
New Taipei and Changhua County killed three people and left two others
injured.

The drivers of the vehicles involved in both accidents have been arrested.

In Changhua County a truck, crashed into a residence Friday night, killing a
man and his daughter, leaving the man's wife injured.

The driver Lee sustained minor injuries... police found etomidate vape
products in his vehicle.

The other incident occurred in New Taipei's Zhonghe District, when a car ran
over motorcycle rider and a passenger.

Police say the driver of that vehicle tested positive in a rapid drug
screening, and an etomidate vape cartridge and vaporizer were found in his
possession.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

And,

Uni-President Group Chairman Lo Chih-hsien says Cosmed and Starbucks Taiwan
will continue their retail expansion after hitting a milestone of 600 stores
for each brand nationwide on Sunday.

Lo says the company is already gearing up to establish "the next 600 outlets."

The Uni-President Group chairman made the announcement at the opening
ceremony of a new mega-combination store in Taipei's Nangang District.

That location marks the simultaneous launch of both Cosmed's 600th outlet and
Starbucks Taiwan's 600th branch.

Named "Yuen-Hsiu," the flagship store honors the Uni-President Group's late
founder Kao Ching-yuen and his daughter, Kao Hsiu-ling, who is Lo's wife and
heads Uni-President's beauty and wellness businesses.

The venue was jointly launched by Cosmed, Starbucks, and 7-Eleven, which are
all subsidiaries of Uni-President Group.

Sunday's opening also marks the first time that Cosmed has overtaken its
major foreign-backed competitor Watsons in total store count, making it
Taiwan's largest drugstore chain by number of outlets.

Posted on 2026-05-25 07:01:47

A nine-story building under construction in a city north of the Philippine
capital has collapsed, leaving at least one Malaysian tourist dead and 21
workers trapped.

Officials say the building fell before dawn on Sunday.

Two trapped workers have been located alive but could not be immediately
rescued.

At least 24 workers managed to escape or were rescued after the building
crumbled.

The collapse occurred in a crowded neighborhood near a former U.S. Air Force
base.

Police say nearly 200 officers are assisting in the rescue efforts, which
will continue until everyone is accounted for,

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

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

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

Around 247 workers were on duty at the time.

Nine people remained trapped as of this afternoon.

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

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

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

AP_JvW

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

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

State media said dozens are trapped underground.

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

It initially reported that around 247 workers were trapped underground.

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

AP_JvW

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

SpaceX has launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet.

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

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

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

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

Musk called it "an epic" launch and landing.

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

AP_JvW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AP_JvW

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

husband's health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(CNA_IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

Now turning to international news...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This year, Hajj will officially start on Monday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(CNA_IG)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mountbatten-Windsor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their networks ran reruns last night instead.

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

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

policies

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

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

especially considering his recent meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi
Jinping.

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

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

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

Both proposals are currently being negotiated by party caucuses.

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(IG)

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

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

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

Locals have nicknamed it “Trump Towers”.

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

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

But Greenlandic politicians were mostly absent from the inauguration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(NS)

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

from the January/February receipt lottery

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

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

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

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

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

(JM)

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

The turnover was 1.14 trillion NT.

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

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

At least twenty-five people were killed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But officials in Ho Chi Minh City were not persuaded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rewards must be claimed within one year of becoming available.

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

Now turning to international news...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

as chronic outages persist.

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

and will likely be awarded by late summer.

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

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

with dozens of communities reporting long periods with no service.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now turning to international news...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All three were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

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

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

And finally,

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

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

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

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

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

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