ICRT

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:34:13

The Cabinet has approved a plan to let families with one child under 12 apply
to hire migrant domestic helpers from April 13.

Officials say the move is meant to ease caregiving pressure and help more
women stay in the workforce.

Under current rules, only families with three children under 6 can apply, a
threshold the Labor Ministry says is too strict.

Under the new rules, eligible households must pay a monthly 20-thousand NT
salary and a 5-thousand NT employment security fee.

Special-needs families will pay a lower 2-thousand NT monthly fee and will
get priority review.

That includes single-parent families, families with a disabled parent, or
households with children who have rare diseases, disabilities, or
developmental delays.

Labor Minister Hung Shen-han (洪申翰) says the government will also set up a
matching platform to help local nannies and domestic workers find more jobs.

He says more training will also be offered as officials try to protect the
work opportunities of about 21-thousand local childcare and domestic service
workers.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:34:13

The Cabinet has approved a 2-year plan to expand services for elderly people
living alone as the island enters a super-aged society.

The government will invest 6-point-25 billion NT this year and next year.

Officials say the plan will expand in-person visits, with priority this year
for people aged 75 and older who live alone.

It will also widen subsidies for emergency alert systems to cover 70-thousand
seniors, including those in general households.

New meal delivery services will also be added, with workers checking on
seniors in person as they deliver food.

Officials say support services could grow from 70-thousand people to
350-thousand.

The plan will also add more home visits, phone check-ins, daily living help,
and medical escort services.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:34:13

Doctors say people with heart and cerebrovascular disease face a 40 percent
higher risk of shingles.

A new survey found more than 70 percent of those patients believe their
immunity is strong and do not worry about the disease.

But doctors say chronic inflammation, aging, and some treatments can weaken
the immune system.

They warn shingles can cause long-term nerve pain, blindness, hearing damage,
and in rare cases facial paralysis.

Doctors also say patients who have had a heart attack, stroke, or heart
failure face a higher risk of hospitalization if shingles develops.

Taiwan research shows stroke patients face a much higher shingles risk,
especially in the first year after a stroke.

Doctors are urging high-risk patients to ask about prevention, including
vaccination, and to keep healthy daily habits.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:34:13

Senegal is tightening its crackdown on gay people, and activists say fear is
spreading.

The country's Prime Minister has sought tougher prison penalties for
“unnatural acts," with a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

The president is expected to approve them.

Human Rights Watch says anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has intensified in recent years.

One nonprofit that helps gay people says it closed a safe house last year due
to concerns about security.

Senegal is the latest country in Africa, where homosexuality is widely
illegal, to pursue harsher penalties for it.

Gay people say they are scared and some are in hiding.

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:34:13

The latest World Happiness Report 2026 says that heavy social media use has
contributed to a stark decline in well-being among young people, with the
effects particularly worrying in teenage girls in English-speaking countries
and Western Europe.

The annual report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the
University of Oxford, also found that Finland is the happiest land in the
world for the ninth year in a row.

Other Nordic countries such as Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway ranked
among the top 10 countries.

But it highlighted how life evaluations among under 25-year-olds in the
United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have dropped over the past
decade.

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:19:13

Japan has rejected a US intelligence assessment that its position on a
possible Chinese attack on Taiwan marks a major policy shift.

The comment follows remarks last year by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a
Taiwan crisis could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Beijing reacted angrily to those comments, as it claims Taiwan as its own
territory.

Japan's top government spokesperson says Tokyo's position is unchanged and
remains in line with past policy.

The issue comes just before a summit between Takaichi and US President Donald
Trump in Washington.

The meeting is already under pressure from wider regional tensions, including
the war involving Iran and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

A new US report says China is likely to keep up pressure on Japan through
2026 over Taiwan-related statements.

But the report also says China is not currently planning to invade Taiwan in
2027 and still wants control of the island without using force.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:19:13

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) is questioning a
proposed meeting between KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and Chinese leader
Xi Jinping.

Chiu says Beijing has long linked peace across the Taiwan Strait to
unification.

He says that raises doubts about Cheng's call for a cross-strait peace
framework.

Chiu says Taiwan sees growing pressure from China, including military,
diplomatic, economic, and legal tactics.

He also cites official polling that shows about 70 percent of people in
Taiwan see China as hostile.

Chiu warns that Beijing's version of the 1992 Consensus leaves no room for
the Republic of China.

He says any party exchange with China must follow the law and must not help
Beijing's united front efforts against Taiwan.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:19:13

Hon Hai says it will invest another 25-million euros, or about 918-million
NT, in ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules.

The investment will be made through a subsidiary and will give Hon Hai Class
A convertible preferred shares.

The company says the move is a long-term strategic investment.

Hon Hai had already invested 30-point-1 million euros in the same venture in
December 2024.

Earlier, in July 2023, Hon Hai announced a broader partnership with Germany's
ZF Group on passenger vehicle chassis systems.

Industry sources say the company spun off from ZF's axle assembly business
and supplies Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Stellantis.

The deal gives Hon Hai a way into the supply chain of major traditional
European carmakers.

Japanese media also report Hon Hai is in talks to buy a 50 percent stake in
Mitsubishi Electric's auto parts unit, though the company has not commented.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:19:13

European leaders are rejecting direct involvement in the US-Israeli war
against Iran, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Iran must not threaten its neighbors,
but he doubts the logic behind the military campaign.

He says Washington did not consult Europe and gave no clear plan for how the
operation would succeed.

Germany says it will not join military efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
while the war continues.

France and Britain have also stopped short of joining the fighting, saying
they are not parties to the conflict.

European leaders appear worried about entering a war with no clear end,
especially as public opinion in several countries is against it.

Instead, some governments are looking at separate efforts to protect shipping
once the security situation improves.

The split adds to growing strain in trans-Atlantic ties, already under
pressure over Ukraine, trade, and European security.

Posted on 2026-03-19 15:19:13

Authorities in Karachi say heavy rains and strong winds overnight have killed
at least 15 people and injured several others.

Walls and roofs collapsed at multiple locations in Pakistan’s largest city.

The storm began Wednesday and continued into the night in Karachi, the
capital of southern Sindh province.

Authorities on Thursday advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Police say at least 15 bodies were brought to the city's main hospital.

More than two dozen people were injured and treated at hospitals.

Seven injured people were receiving treatment after weather-related
incidents.

Officials say the storm uprooted roadside trees in many areas and disrupted
traffic.

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:54:13

A Chinese coast guard ship entered restricted waters near Dongsha Island on
Wednesday, and Taiwan sent a patrol vessel to drive it away.

The Coast Guard Administration says the Chinese ship, numbered 3-1-0-2, was
first detected outside the area at about 9:15 yesterday morning.

Officials say the ship moved into restricted waters at about 9:40, and a
coast guard vessel stayed close and issued warnings in both Chinese and
English, telling the ship to turn away.

The vessel left the restricted waters at about 10:55 today.

The coast guard says this is the fourth such incursion involving three
Chinese ships in Dongsha waters this year.

It says China may be using gray-zone tactics to test Taiwan's surveillance
and response capabilities in the area.

It also urges Beijing to stop what it calls intrusive actions and says Taiwan
will defend its sovereignty and maritime security.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:54:13

Taiwan says nearly 2-thousand-400 people have returned safely from the Middle
East as regional tensions stay high.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) told lawmakers some tour groups still
plan to leave for Dubai in the coming days.

He said officials have warned people, but some travelers are still going
ahead with their trips.

Lin also said the government will not block people from leaving on any
airline, including Chinese carriers, if they need to get out.

He said many of Taiwan's overseas offices do not have full diplomatic
privileges, but staff are still working hard to help.

The ministry says its offices in the region have made over 6-thousand-700
welfare check contacts and handled close to 500 requests for help.

Officials now say there are no known cases of Taiwanese in the Middle East
seeking urgent evacuation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:54:13

Starlux Airline said it has been ranked 5th in the world’s best airlines for
2026, marking the highest ranking ever achieved by a Taiwanese carrier.

It has also won the award for World's Best In-Flight Catering.

The rankings were done by a global aviation rating organization, Airline
Ratings, which focuses on the actual passenger experience, including food and
beverage options, seat comfort, value, and overall service quality.

Starlux stressed that it is entering a peak aircraft delivery period this
year, with its fleet expected to grow to 43 aircraft by the end of the year,
significantly boosting capacity.

Its network has already expanded to 31 cities across 37 routes, and is
planning to launch its first European destination, Prague, as well as its
first South Korean destination, Busan.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:54:13

Thailand's parliament has reelected A-nu-tin Charn-vi-ra-kul as prime
minister, giving him a new mandate after last month's election.

Anutin, leader of the Bhum-jai-thai Party, beat the People's Party leader in
Thursday's vote.

He is the first Thai prime minister in 20 years to win another term through a
parliamentary vote.

His coalition held together and gave him well over the 251 votes needed for
victory.

Anutin says he will move quickly to form a cabinet and deal with the
country's problems.

His party gained momentum after benefiting from a rise in nationalism linked
to border conflict with Cambodia last year.

Analysts say the result could bring a rare period of political stability to
Thailand after years of turmoil.

They say Anutin's strong parliamentary backing and a divided opposition could
help his government last.

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:54:13

The United States has hosted officials from Congo and Rwanda for talks on the
stalled peace process in eastern Congo.

The meetings in Washington were the first since the US Treasury sanctioned
Rwanda's army and four senior officers in the beginning of March.

Washington says Rwanda has backed the M23 rebel group, which made rapid gains
in eastern Congo in January 2025 and still holds large areas.

Rwanda denies supporting M23.

A joint statement says Congo and Rwanda agreed to coordinated steps to lower
tensions and make progress on the ground.

Those steps include support for each other's sovereignty, a planned pullback
of Rwandan forces from defined areas, and stronger efforts by Congo to
neutralize the FDLR.

The statement also says all civilians must be protected.

The talks come after a peace deal signed in Washington in December, but
fighting later escalated again near Congo's border with Burundi.

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:19:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has welcomed St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock and his delegation in Taipei.

The visit comes as Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines mark 45 years of
diplomatic relations.

Lin says the trip is the first high-level visit from the Caribbean ally since
its new government took office.

He says Taiwan plans to expand cooperation under its comprehensive diplomacy
policy in agriculture, tourism, the blue economy, and the new economy.

Leacock also brought greetings from Governor-General Stanley John and Prime
Minister Godwin Friday.

He says people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are grateful for the results
of cooperation with Taiwan over the past 45 years.

Officials and business representatives at the luncheon also exchanged views
on smart healthcare, smart agriculture, youth empowerment, and bilateral
technical cooperation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:19:13

The CTBC Brothers have signed Venezuelan right-hander Angel Macuare to
complete a six-man foreign pitching staff for the upcoming season.

The 26-year-old pitcher has eight years of experience in the U.S. Minor
Leagues as both starting pitcher and long reliever.

Over his career, Macuare has recorded 372 strikeouts in 363 innings.

The Brothers say Macuare has already arrived in Taiwan to join spring
training, and its group of pitchers will provide the depth needed for a long
season.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:19:13

Taiwan shares fell today with the benchmark Taiex losing 659 points to close
the session at 33,690.

Turnover was $846-billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:19:13

Tens of thousands of Moldovans have been left without water after a Russian
strike on a hydroelectric plant in neighboring Ukraine resulted in oil
polluting a major river that flows through both countries.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has blamed Russia for the pollution on the
Dniester River following a March 7 attack on Ukraine’s Novodnistrovsk
hydropower plant, which supplies water to about 80% of Moldova’s population
of about 2.5 million.

The pollution has forced the authorities to cut the water supply to several
districts, including Moldova’s second-largest city of Balti.

Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, such as
dams and river ports, since it fully invaded the country in 2022.

Posted on 2026-03-19 14:19:13

Kpop supergroup BTS will stage its long-awaited comeback concert on Saturday
night at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square.

Some 20-thousand fans are expected to pack the square, and about 240-thousand
others are expected to fill nearby areas to watch the concert on temporary
screens.

The K-pop juggernaut’s seven members, all South Koreans, will perform songs
from their first album in nearly four years.

The hourlong concert will be livestreamed on Netflix globally.

Officials are planning extensive safety steps to prevent crowd-related
incidents, including blocking roads, and having subway trains bypass nearby
stations.

Posted on 2026-03-19 09:05:13

In international news,

The White House says China has agreed to postpone President Donald Trump's
visit to Beijing - which was originally scheduled to take place in just two
weeks time.

According to spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, the White House is working to
secure a new date for the visit as soon as possible.

Trump cited the demands of the Iran war on Tuesday - saying he would take the
trip to Asia in "about five or six weeks."

However, he did not specify a date.

Posted on 2026-03-19 09:05:14

Pakistan and Afghanistan have announced that their pausing military
operations against each other for the Islamic festival of Eid.

The move comes two days after a drug rehab centre in Kabul was hit in the
deadliest strike in months.

The Afghan government has said that more than 400 people were killed and 265
wounded in the airstrike that took place on Monday night.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on
Wednesday that 143 people were killed and 119 wounded in the attack.

Pakistan has rejected the Taliban's statements about the strike, saying it
had "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support
infrastructure."

Posted on 2026-03-19 09:05:14

The British government is rolling out meningitis vaccines to students at a
university in southeast England after an outbreak of the disease killed two
people.

The number of new cases has now jumped to 20.

The U-K Health Security Agency says all those affected were young people.

A 21-year-old student at the University of Kent and a teenage student at a
school in the town of Faversham have died.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is describing the outbreak as "unprecedented
in its spread."

Britain has offered a MenB vaccine to infants since 2015, meaning most
current university students are unlikely to have received it.

Posted on 2026-03-19 09:05:14

And finally,

The Oscars draw fewer television viewers this year in America -- even as the
show stays a major live event.

Disney says 17.9-million people watched Sunday's ceremony which was broadcast
live on ABC and streamed on Hulu.

That is a 9-per cent decline from last year's 19.7-million viewers.

The show featured a faceoff between two Warner Bros. films, "One Battle After
Another" and "Sinners."

"One Battle After Another" won best picture and director.

Disney says the Oscars still rank as the top primetime entertainment telecast
this season.

Posted on 2026-03-19 08:15:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party have approved a cooperation agreement
for November's local elections.

The agreement was separately passed by the K-M-T Central Standing Committee
and the T-P-P's Central Committee and means that two party's will jointly
field candidates.

Under the pact's "nominate first, coordinate later" model, the two parties
will prioritize incumbent mayors or county magistrates seeking re-election.

The two parties will jointly nominate candidates only in cities and counties
where both sides have negotiated and agreed to cooperate, while candidates
will be selected through opinion polls in selected jurisdictions.

The agreement stipulates that unweighted samples must reflect distributions
of gender, age, education level and geographic area, and pass a
representativeness test showing no significant difference from the overall
population.

Each party will assign three representatives to facilitate communication in
future negotiations between the party headquarters and a joint KMT-TPP
campaign group will be established to support candidates nationwide.

Posted on 2026-03-19 08:15:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says C-P-C has absorbed about 3.3-billion
N-T in fuel costs over the past two weeks to help stabilize domestic prices
due to the US-Isreal war with Iran.

According to Vice Economics Minister, Lai Jien-hsin, the government has been
prioritizing price stability as global energy supplies face disruptions from
the conflict.

Under a price-stabilization mechanism, C-P-C absorbs at least 60-per cent of
cost increases while keeping domestic fuel prices among the lowest in
neighboring markets.

The government has also expanded fuel tax cuts to 50-per cent, lowering
gasoline tax to 3.415 N-T per liter and cutting diesel tax 1.995 N-T per
liter.

The vice economics minister says his agency will continue to monitor
developments and assist C-P-C with financing arrangements if needed, as
global oil prices remain volatile.

Posted on 2026-03-19 08:15:14

The central bank is expected to leave leave its key interest rates unchanged
for the ninth consecutive quarter due to the ongoing US-Israel war against
Iran following today's policymaking meeting.

According to economists, global energy prices have been on the rise due to
the Middle East conflict, which has raised concerns over inflation and the
global economy ..

.... both of which are factors that impact the central bank's monetary
policies

The central bank kept the local discount rate at a 15-year high of 2-per cent
following its last policymaking meeting in December.

It also left the rate on accommodations with collateral at 2.375-per cent,
and the rate on accommodations without collateral at 4.25-per cent.

Analysts say the central back could choose to focus on ways to respond to the
volatile global situation during today's policymaking meeting ..

.. as sustained increase in energy prices will push up shipping costs, which
in turn will result in higher imported and domestic product prices.

Posted on 2026-03-19 08:15:14

Nuclear Safety Commission chief Chen Ming-zhen says restarting nuclear power
generation will have to follow established procedures, with the exception of
an emergency order by the president.

The statement comes amid questions as to whether the government is
considering bringing the the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung back
on-line due to potential supply shortages from the Middle East.

Speaking during a legislative hearing, Chen told lawmakers restaring a
nuclear power plant will have to follow the legally mandated process,
beginning with a formal request by Tai-Power and then an inspection by the
Nuclear Safety Commission.

According to Chen, the only exception would be if President Lai Ching-te
issued an emergency order, but even then, there would still need to be a
formal request and safety inspection.

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin last week told lawmakers the Maanshan plant
could begin generating electricity as early as 2028.

The Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant was decommissioned on May 17 of last year.

Posted on 2026-03-19 08:15:14

Labor groups are urging the Ministry of Labor to place all migrant workers
under the newer pension system, as it will allow them greater acces to the
state pension program.

The call as labor groups were rallying outside the labor ministry building in
Taipei.

The rally was organized by the Taiwan International Workers' Association.

Protesters criticized the planned measure set to take effect on April 1,
under which employers will be required to place all blue-collar migrant
workers who have worked for them for 10 years or more under the older pension
system.

According to the labor ministry, employers will be required to enroll
eligible migrant workers in the older pension system ...

.... under which they must contribute 2 to 15-per cent of each worker's
monthly salary to a pooled labor retirement reserve fund rather than an
individual account.

The planned measure expands the application of the older pension system to
migrant workers.

However, labor groups argue the eligibility criteria means that pension
benefits will still be largely out of reach for most migrant workers.

Posted on 2026-03-19 08:15:14

And finally,

Police in New Taipei's Tamsui District have broken up an illegal mahjong
gambling venue patronized by retirees.

According to the New Taipei City Police Department's Tamsui Precinct, the
underground casino was located in a private residence on Zhongshan North
Road, Section 1 and came to its attention due to the frequency with which
people came and left.

Police raided the residence and seized gambling paraphernalia and over
100,000 N-T.

The underground casino's operators were also arrested during the raid, along
with nine patrons aged between 50 to 70.

The patrons were mostly of retirees and local housewives.

Police say the patrons claimed they thought playing mahjong in a private home
was just a way to pass the time, and that they did not know they were doing
anything illegal.

The two underground casino operators have been referred to the Shilin
District Prosecutors Office for further investigating.

While the nine patrons are facing a fine of 9,000 N-T each for violating the
Social Order Maintenance Act.

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

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has changed the designation of South Korean
nationals in government-issued alien resident certificates in response to
Seoul's mislabeling of Taiwan in its e-arrival card system.

MOFA says A-R-C holders from South Korea will now be identified as being from
"South Korea" rather than the "Republic of Korea."

The foreign ministry says if the South Korean government continues to ignore
the request to alter its e-arrival card system by March 31, it will also
change South Korea's designation on its arrival cards from "Republic of
Korea" to "South Korea."

The the designation change will only affect first-time applicants and those
renewing their A-R-Cs.

The foreign ministry says it decided to change how it refers to South Korea
in its A-R-C system in accordance with "the principle of reciprocity" after
receiving multiple complaints from Taiwan travelers.

Seoul rolled-out its online entry system on February 24 of last year to
replace paper arrival card.

Taiwan is listed as "China (Taiwan)" in dropdown menus for both "place of
departure" and "next destination."

The ministry says it has repeatedly asked Seoul to correct the "wrongful"
listing which idowngraded Taiwan's sovereignty status, but has not received a
positive response.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:14

The government is set to allow families with at least one child under the age
of 12 to apply to hire migrant domestic helpers from April 13.

The move is part of a new national policy aimed at easing the burden of
childcare.

Current regulations only allow families with three children under the age of
6 to hire migrant domestic helpers.

Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung has said that standard has been
widely seen as being too strict.

As a result, only 2,003 of the more than 870,000 migrant workers were
employed as domestic helpers as of late January.

Under the new rules, households with one child under the age of 12 can apply
to hire migrant domestic helpers, provided they pay a monthly salary of at
least 20,000 N-T, plus a 5,000 N-T employment security fee per worker.

The Workforce Development Agency says more than 1.4- million households could
qualify under the expanded rules and disadvantaged or special-needs
households will receive priority review of their applications.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:14

The Army's Kinmen Defense Command is carrying out its "Taiwu Exercise"
live-fire drills on the outlying island.

The first drill saw armored and artillery units firing live ammunition toward
waters off Donggang on Lieyu Island.

Lieyu Island is located some 5-kilometers from the Chinese city of Xiamen.

Defense officials says troops from the Lieyu Garrison Battalion deployed
standard-issue weapons to perform drills covering drone response, live-fire
defense, near-shore defense and beach combat, as well as final protective
fire.

The live-fire drill simulated combat scenarios in which real equipment and
live troops were deployed in an environment where situations evolved
continuously from gray zone threats to enemy landings.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:14

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says raised the issues of tariffs and military
preparedness during her ongoing trip to the U-S.

Lu also said she has conveyed Taiwan's "needs and views" even as she
expressed Taiwan's sincerity in strengthening cooperation with the U-S.

The Taichung mayor says she firmly believes that cooperation with regional
partners is critical, and the U-S has long been a key partner of Taiwan and
plays a crucial role in maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and the
broader Pacific region.

The mayor has described her meetings during the trip as exceeding
expectations, with in-depth discussions on a wide range of issues.

Lu met with with Ingrid Larson, the managing director of the American
Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Washington office, earlier this week.

Lu has been in the US since March 11, her trip is scheduled to wrap up on
March 21.

Her itinerary has included visits to Boston, New York and Washington D.C.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:14

The Ministry of Health denies reports that the government's free lung cancer
screening program has led to overdiagnosis.

The ministry's Health Promotion Administration has been offering free
low-dose computed tomography screening for heavy smokers and those with a
family history of lung cancer, since 2022.

That made Taiwan the first country in the world to do so.

However, in an op-ed published by a local media outlet, a professor at Taipei
Medical University's College of Public Health argued that the widespread use
of free L-D-C-T screening has led to lung cancer overdiagnosis.

The academic pointed out that he use of L-D-C-T screenings over the last 10
years has also subjected many patients to "unnecessary" lung surgery.

The National Health Insurance Administration says data shows the number of
patients undergoing lung-related resection surgery rose slightly in 2025.

The health ministry says it will now compare data with the Health Promotion
Administration to better track the subsequent treatment of patients who test
positive in L-D-C-T screening.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:14

The Ocean Conservation Administration says a leatherback turtle that died
following surgery earlier this week had nine meters of fishing net in its
digestive tract.

Veterinary surgeons found signs of a possible intestinal obstruction, as well
as significant kidney abnormalities during the autopsy.

The surgeons extracted a nine-meter-long wad of fishing net from the turtle's
stomach as they searched for the cause of death.

That was in addition to a 1.6-meter section of net pulled from the turtle's
digestive tract during earlier surgery.

The adult turtle was discovered by a fisherman on Saturday and sent to
Keelung for treatment, but later died despite efforts to treat its injuries

Leatherback turtles are the world's largest sea turtles and are listed as an
endangered species here in Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:15

And,

A visually impaired Taiwanese perfumer has created a sun cake-inspired
fragrance.

Liu is the world's first visually impaired perfumer and trained at the Grasse
Institute of Perfumery in France.

She led the team at the Chinxiang Academy to develop the fragrance - which
has been named "Bite of the Sun."

Liu says she inspiration from the sun cake, which has long been seen as a
symbol of central Taiwan's warmth and sunshine.

The perfume is set to debut at Scent Taipei 2026 - Taiwan's first
professional fragrance trade show.

Scent Taipei 2026 takes place at the Taipei World Trade Center from tomorrow
through Sunday.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:15

Meanwhile... the UN's shipping agency is calls for a safe maritime corridor
to free some 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf by war in Iran.

Hundreds more vessels have dropped anchor since Tehran threatened to attack
ships attempting to leave the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz.

The proposal submitted by Bahrain, Japan, Panama, Singapore and the United
Arab Emirates calls for "a framework such as a safe maritime corridor".

At least seven merchant sailors have been killed due to the conflict.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:15

Iceland's Foreign Minister has told Reuters she is optimistic her country
could join the European Union as early as 2028, adding she expects fisheries
and agriculture to be the toughest points of negotiation.

The Icelandic government is proposing a referendum on August 29 on resuming
EU membership negotiations...

Iceland has disagreed with the EU in the past over fishing quotas that impact
one of the main drivers of its economy.

Reykjavik first froze negotiations in 2013 when a more Eurosceptic government
took power.

Posted on 2026-03-19 07:04:15

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is planning to visit Hungary in the coming days
in a show of support for the country's long-time nationalist prime minister
Viktor Orban.

The trip would come after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to
Budapest in February to publicly back Orban ahead of his toughest re-election
fight since taking power in 2010.

The exact timing of Vance's visit was not immediately clear and sources have
told the Reuters news agency that his plans could change.

Orban is one of Trump's closest allies in Europe... opinion polls show him
trailing in the final month before the April 12 vote.

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

And starting off with a major political development...

Taiwan's main opposition parties are joining forces ahead of the 2026
Nine-in-One local elections.

The KMT and the Taiwan People's Party have signed a formal pact ... aimed at
integrating opposition support and avoid splitting the vote,

Under the agreement, the two parties will first nominate their own
candidates, then use public opinion polls to select a single unified
candidate in key battlegrounds, starting with New Taipei and Chiayi cities as
well as Yilan County.

The winner of those polls will receive the full backing of both parties.

Beyond the ballot box, the deal also lays the groundwork for "joint
governance".

If their unified candidates win, both parties have committed to sharing
administrative responsibilities to ensure stable local leadership.

Both parties say the strategy could maximize their chances in the 2026
elections.

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun said the agreement is about upholding fairness and
democratic principles ... while seeking the greatest chance of victory for
the opposition.

(IG)

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

A concert by Super Junior at the Taipei Dome last November helped drive
tourism and consumer spending in Taipei.

According to the National Credit Card Center, international visitor spending
on accommodation and dining rose by nearly 20 percent during the concert
period.

Data shows foreign tourists increased their hotel spending by about 19
percent and dining expenses by more than 21 percent compared to the same
period in 2024 when no concert was held.

Domestic visitors also contributed, with dining spending rising by nearly 12
percent.

Analysts say the findings highlight how large-scale concerts can attract
overseas fans, encourage multi-day stays, and generate broader economic
benefits for the tourism industry.

The report also notes that Taipei Dome is beginning to show growing appeal in
the international concert market, helping draw visitors from both within
Taiwan and abroad.

(IG)

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

Mandopop superstar Jay Chou (周杰倫) has officially announced his new
13-track album, Children of the Sun.

The title was inspired by a nickname from fellow icon Jacky Cheung ...

... who sent Chou mangoes printed with the words "Children of the Sun" and a
handwritten card during a rainy concert in Hong Kong.

Chou says the gesture made him feel like "the sun was in his heart",
prompting him to embrace the name for his first album release since 2022.

One hundred lucky fans will also get to catch a global MV premiere at MUVIE
CINEMAS in Taipei's Xinyi District on March 24th.

The album hits digital platforms on March 25th, with physical copies arriving
in stores on April 10th.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:13

A fire at a hotel in Alishan National Forest Recreation Area last night,
affected over 150 visitors, but caused no injuries.

The Chiayi County Fire Bureau says the blaze occurred at around 11 p.m. at
the Kaofeng Hotel in Alishan Township.

Nine fire brigades, various firefighting vehicles and a special
search-and-rescue unit were dispatched to the scene to deal with the fire
that started on the third floor of the four-story hotel.

Thick smoke affected the adjacent Guesthouse but did not spread indoors as
the blaze was extinguished at 2:30 a.m. this morning.

A total of 159 visitors -- all hotel and guesthouse guests -- were affected
by the fire, including five from Malaysia, three from Poland, and three from
Thailand.

Officials say all have been properly accommodated.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:17

The Nuclear Safety Commission says it has yet to receive Taiwan Power's plan
of reactivating the third nuclear power plant.

N-S-C chair Chen Ming-zhen (陳明真) says once the plan is submitted, the
commission will review it, but the timing of the restart remains uncertain
because inspections and verification procedures take time.

Taiwan Power chair Zeng Wen-sheng (曾文生) recently said the restart plan for
the number 3 nuclear power plant had been largely completed and would be sent
to the commission by the end of March.

He also noted that manufacturer Westinghouse's technical personnel had begun
independent safety inspections and equipment analysis at the plant.

The power plant's first generator was decommissioned in July 2024, and the
second in May 2025.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:18

Kaohsiung is launching Taiwan's first subscription service for public
transportation to make commuting easier and more automatic.

The city's Transportation Bureau announced today that the $399-NT QR monthly
pass now includes a subscription option.

Passengers can link a credit card to the MeNGo platform to have their passes
renew automatically every month.

This removes the need for commuters to buy a new pass manually every 30 days.

Officials say now the entire process can be done on a smartphone, and the new
system is part of a plan to make travel in the city fully digital.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:20

Asia shares are mostly higher today with benchmarks in Japan and South Korea
increasing sharply.

Taiwan shares have also gained ground. The Taiex rose 512 points to end the
session at 34,349.

The turnover was 897 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:20

In international news,

Venezuela has won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding
from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 on a
tiebreaking double in the ninth.

Despite a heralded roster of stars, the U.S. lost its second straight final
of baseball's premier international event.

Ahead of the Miami matchup with political overtones, players and coaches
avoided discussing the government turmoil between the nations, heightened
when the U.S. military captured Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro in
January.

The sellout crowd of over 36-thousand was heavily pro-Venezuela, with some
booing American players during the introductions.

Venezuela became the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, after the
Dominican Republic in 2013.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:20

US President Donald Trump says he is postponing his trip to Beijing to meet
Chinese President Xi Jinping by up to six weeks while he deals with the war
in the Middle East.

It comes as the war delays an effort to ease tensions between the world's two
biggest economies.

Laura Westbrook reports from Hong Kong.

Posted on 2026-03-18 14:07:20

Iran's judiciary says a man has been executed in the country for allegedly
spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.

The judiciary's news agency on Wednesday alleged he“provided images and
information on sensitive locations” to the Mossad.

Iran, one of the world's top executioners, has long put people to death after
convicting them of spying charges in closed-door hearings where they cannot
fully contest the cases against them.

(KK)

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

Health Minister Shi Chong-liang has promised to continue monitoring whether
the use of low-dose CT scans leads to an increase in unnecessary surgeries.

Local news media recently reported medical experts' criticisms against the
scans, saying that they often led to over treatment, which actually caused
more harm than benefits.

Taipei Medical University Professor Gao Zhi-wen said in some cases, patients
underwent unnecessary lobectomy surgeries.

Taiwan's National Health Promotion Administration in 2022 started sponsoring
LDCT scans for high-risk people with a family history of lung cancer or heavy
smokers.

The Minister today defended the policy, saying lung cancer has been the
leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan for years, and as early-stage lung
cancer often shows no symptoms, it is difficult to detect.

He said the LDCT program targeting high-risk groups has had a positive
detection rate of about 1.2 percent.

As to whether the scan would lead to excessive treatment, he said the Health
Ministry will continue monitoring differences among hospitals and physicians
and provided the analysis to hospitals with the aim of improving surgical
decisions

(JL)

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

Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-ji (陳駿季) says fertilizer raw material
inventories held by the state-run Taiwan Fertilizer Company are currently
enough to meet demand for up to eight months.

According to the media, much of the world's fertiliser is made in the Middle
East, with one-third of global trade in it passing through the Strait of
Hormuz.

Addressing concerns about fertilizer imports, Chen said today that Taiwan
sources fertilizer raw materials not only from the Middle East but from
Southeast Asia and Australia as well.

He noted that when factoring in existing stockpiles and shipments already on
the way to Taiwan, supplies of fertilizer raw materials should be enough to
last about six to eight months.

(JL)

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

Complete

Turning to world news...

Paraguay has ratified the Mercosur and European Union free trade deal to
complete South America's approval of a huge new trade zone.

Paraguayan lawmakers backed the pact on Tuesday.

The approval came days after the Senate signed off on it.

Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil have already ratified it.

Newer Mercosur member Bolivia didn't take part in the talks but it can join
the pact later.

The European Commission has said it would provisionally ratify the deal soon.

This means the agreement could take effect even as a legal challenge by
European lawmakers winds its way through the European Court of Justice.

Some EU countries, including France, still oppose it.

(KK)

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

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and his party pushed through a
constitutional reform that will permit life sentences in a country that has
imprisoned more than 1% of its population in its war on gangs.

The measure is slated to be ratified next week.

It comes as Bukele has pushed forward rounds of constitutional reforms, which
have been sharply criticized for chipping away at checks and balances as well
as undermining the country's delicate democracy.

The reform builds upon other measures Bukele has taken in his war against El
Salvador's gangs.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-03-18 08:14:13

The Air Force Command Headquarters says it has found and retrieved the flight
data recorder of the F-16V fighter jet that disappeared off the east coast in
January.

According to defense officials, the flight data recorder will now be sent it
to its manufacturer in the U-S to decode the data to determine the cause of
the plane's disappearance.

The Air Force Command Headquarters has not released any information
concerning the exact location where the black box was found by the salvage
company responsible for the mission.

The single-seat F-16V went missing on January 6 after taking off from Hualien
Air Base on a routine nighttime training mission.

The pilot, Captain Hsin Po-yi reported that the aircraft was losing altitude
shortly before he was about to eject from the aircraft.

The fighter jet's signal disappeared from radar eight seconds later off the
coast of Fengbin in Hualien.

Posted on 2026-03-18 08:14:13

The K-M-T legislative caucus is urging the government to conduct a
comprehensive review of its New Southbound Talent Policy in order to better
safeguard the rights of overseas and international students in Taiwan.

The program was established by the Tsai administration in 2016 with the aim
of attracting some 200,000 applicants from Southeast Asia, Australia, and New
Zealand to Taiwan.

According to the K-M-T legislative caucus, it has since cost taxpayers
4.2-billion N-T and the retention rate stands at only 30-per cent.

Caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang says many private schools chose to
recruited students from Southeast Asian countries under the program which was
geared towards students studying and leaning Mandarin ...

.. but many of those students actually ended up working at restaurants,
factories and hotels as the schools formed a "profit chain" involving lower
and mid-tier private universities, and businesses.

Lin says that has resulted in the promise of studying in Taiwan becoming one
of working in Taiwan and filling labor shortages with "disguised migrant
labor."

The K-M-T is calling on the Ministry of Education to fully review the current
system, including recruitment mechanisms, broker oversight, industry-academia
cooperation programs and student working hours.

Posted on 2026-03-18 08:14:13

The Taipei District Court has rejected a request by former Taipei Mayor Ko
Wen-je for a short exemption from his travel ban to attend his son's
graduation ceremony in Japan.

The ruled the trip to be unnecessary - saying Ko's presence is not essential
for the graduation to take place and that his absence would not prevent his
son from successfully obtaining his degree.

Ko filed a request with the court to allow him to visit Japan from March
23-25 to attend his son's doctoral graduation ceremony at the University of
Tokyo last week.

The request was opposed by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office - which
argued Ko had not presented a concrete plan to ensure he would not flee or
collude with co-defendants.

The Taipei District Court stated that Ko failed to provide sufficient
rationale for the court to lift the travel restrictions imposed when he was
released on bail of 70-million N-T in September of last year.

Ko had been in custody for a year prior to that on corruption-related
charges linked to the Core Pacific City project and political donations.

The district court's decision can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-03-18 08:14:13

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih has visited the Asia-Pacific headquarters of
global architecture firm, Populous - which is known for stadium design as
part of his ongoing trip to Australia.

According to the New Taipei City Government, Hou and his delegation met with
Populous' Global Director Paul Henry inBrisbane, and heard a presentation on
several Major League Baseball stadium design projects from one of the
company's senior architects.

City officials say Populous also introduced their projects in Japan, South
Korea and Australia to illustrate their experience in large-scale public
construction in different cultural and market environments.

The visit to Populous comes after New Taipei announced plans last year for a
50,000-seat multipurpose domed stadium.

That stadium will be built in either in the Shulin District or at the Danhai
New Town Phase 2 site in Tamsui District.

The final location for the stadium is expected to be confirmed in the middle
of this year, following feasibility studies.

Hou is leading a delegation of local government officials and city councilors
on a 10-day visit to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Posted on 2026-03-18 08:14:13

And finally,

The Taiwan Smart City Summit & Expo is underway in Taipei - showcasing the
island's strengths in digital governance and smart public services.

The event is organized by the Taipei Computer Association and the National
Development Council.

Organizers say this year's expo highlights Taiwan's technological "soft
power" and features more than 2,250 booths and over 70 professional forums
through Friday in Taipei ...

.. before it moves to Kaohsiung from Friday through Sunday.

According to the organizers, this year's event includes representatives from
174 cities across 53 countries and is expected to attract more than 3,000
international visitors and over 250 startup teams.

Tokyo and Poland are participating with dedicated pavilions for the first
time.

This year's exhibition is being held under the theme of "Digital and Green
Transformation" and feature the world's first A-I City Pavilion ...

.... which combines A-I computing infrastructure, operating platforms, and
integrated smart city applications for international city leaders and system
integrators.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says he believes a U-S internal review
process for the sale of a second package of arms to the island is proceeding
on schedule.

The statement comes amid concerns the package could be delayed due to the
ongoing U-S Israeli war against Iran.

Koo said the government is coordinating closely with the U-S and he is
unaware of any related information indicating delays.

The 14-billion U-S dollar arms package includes advanced interceptor missiles

A defense official earlier this week denied reports that that delivery of the
first two MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from the U-S was delayed due to the war in
the Middle East.

Local media outlets had reported of the first two drones is set to take place
in the second half of this year in accordance with the original schedule.

Taiwan has ordered four MQ-9B surveillance drones from the U-S and delivery
timeline has been set for 2026 and 2027 in two batches of two each.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology will be
live-firing its newly developed air-launched variant of the Hsiung Feng III
supersonic anti-ship missile later this month.

The live-fire exercises take place on March 26 and 27 in waters near the
military's Jiupeng Base in Pingtung against a target ship.

An Air Force I-D-F completed the first test launch of an air-launched variant
of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile in December.

The air-launched Hsiung Feng III has a smaller airframe than the
ship-launched and land-based versions and is designed to be carried under the
wings of the fighter jets.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

bias

The Ministry of Labor has launched a free video legal consultation service
for workers facing suspected pregnancy or gender-based workplace
discrimination.

The ministry hopes to provide a consultation channel that is professional,
private and convenient and believes it will make workers less likely to feel
intimidated about seeking help than other channels ...

.... such as filing complaints directly with local governments.

The free video legal consultation service is being carried out in partnership
with the Legal Aid Foundation.

Workers who suspect they faced pregnancy or gender-based discrimination will
get the chance to hold
one-on-one video consultations with lawyers beginning April 1.

Migrant workers and foreign nationals who do not speak Mandarin are also
eligible for the service - the Legal Aid Foundation says interpretation
assistance will be provided if needed.

The labor ministry says the video consultation service is expected to handle
more than 600 cases a year and has been allocated a budget of 2-million N-T.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai is pushing the Smart Kaohsiung AI Lighthouse
Project on the sidelines of this year's Nvidia G-T-C conference in San Jose.

Chen said the project is aimed at applying a "sovereign AI" approach to city
governance as demand for computing power surges amid a shift toward
generative A-I inference and "AI factory" development.

The Kaohsiung city mayor said his administration plans to work with Nvidia
and Hon Hai to establish centers using compute unified device architecture.

The system was created by Nvidia to support demand for computing power and
for software development.

When fully developed, the system is expected to utilize the A-I platform for
large-scale event planning, traffic flow analysis, disaster prevention, and
industrial safety monitoring.

The Kaohsiung mayor also net with representatives from Amazon Web Services
and AT&T at the Nvidia G-T-C conference to explore ways to integrate telecom
services with Nvidia's vision-language model training results to address
urban challenges ..

.... such as traffic, flood prevention and environmental monitoring.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

The Centers for Disease Control says a man in his 70s from northern Taiwan
has been discharged from hospital after being diagnosed with a viral illness
tied to tick bites.

The patient sought emergency treatment in late February after developing
weakness and a fever, and was later admitted to hospital.

He was was released from isolation and discharged after more than two weeks.

It was was the third ever domestic case of the disease known as
"thrombo-cytopenia" ... it is primarily caused by tick bites but the C-D-C
says it can also spread between humans.

The source of infection remains under investigation.

The C-D-C and local health authorities have conducted an environmental
investigation at the patient's residence, and no ticks were found inside the
residence or on pets.

Although total of 16 ticks were collected outside the residence, none tested
positive for the virus.

Nine contacts have been identified and none have so far shown symptoms

They will continue to be monitored until March 26.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

The Taiwan Cetacean Society says a 280-kilogram leatherback turtle rescued
this past weekend has died despite efforts to treat its injuries.

It had undergone surgery meant to remove a 160-centimeter long net that it
had eaten... and which had become entangled in its mouth and gastrointestinal
tract.

The society says it will conduct an autopsy to assess the damage caused by
the net.

The turtle was estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old.

It was found in a set-net fishing ground near Gengfang Fishing Harbor in
Yilan County.

The animal was then sent to Keelung for treatment.

Leatherback turtles are the world's largest sea turtles and are listed as an
endangered species here in Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

And,

The Freeway Bureau will be offering a 30-percent discount on long-distance
highway tolls on the two weekends leading up to the April 3 through 6
Tomb-Sweeping holiday.

The move is aimed ease traffic congestion over the holiday weekend.

The discounted toll rate is set at 0.63 N-T per kilometer, which translated
into savings of about 130 N-T for a trip from Yuanshan in Taipei to
Kaohsiung.

But tolls will increase for travel of under 42-kilometers per day during
those weekends.

The Freeway Bureau is advising motorists making shorter trips to use city or
alternative roads to avoid higher fees and potential highway congestion.

Data shows that that traffic volume increases by about 10-per cent on
weekends when the discount is being implemented.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

President Donald Trump and his team are increasing the pressure on
journalists to cover the war in the Middle East the way the administration
wants.

The Republican president has complained on social media about stories he
doesn't like and berated a reporter on Air Force One over the weekend.

The government's top media regulator warned broadcasters risk losing their
licenses to operate if they don't stay away from “fake news.”

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have questioned the patriotism of
some news outlets because of their reports.

Posted on 2026-03-18 07:01:14

Peru’s prime minister has resigned from her post.

The resignation of Denisse Miralles comes ahead of a mandatory vote in the
nation’s Congress where she needed a majority of legislators to confirm her
recent appointment.

Miralles was appointed as prime minister in late February, after Interim
President Jose Jeri was removed from his post following corruption
allegations and replaced by congressman Jose Maria Balcazar.

Peru has seen eight presidents in the past decade, with several heads of
state removed by Congress amid corruption allegations.

Posted on 2026-03-17 18:22:13

Major Taiwanese shipping companies say their operations remain normal amid
reports that Chinese ports are increasing inspections of Panama-flagged
vessels.

News outlets had reported that Chinese authorities detained 28
Panama-registered ships between March 8th and 12th, a level far higher than
usual.

Some analysts suggestng the move may be retaliation, after the Panama
government revoked operating rights for two ports held by a Hong Kong-based
group.

Taiwan's three major container lines — Evergreen, Yang Ming, and Wan Hai —
report no major disruptions.

Experts say while the inspections might cause short-term delays, the overall
impact on global routes should be limited.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-17 18:22:13

Victims of workplace discrimination regarding gender equality will soon have
a more private way to seek help.

The Ministry of Labor says a new video consultation service will launch on
April first, allowing workers to speak one-on-one with legal experts about
gender or pregnancy discrimination.

Officials say the service is designed to protect privacy, as many workers
fear their identities could be leaked through traditional complaint channels.

Government surveys from last year show that over 50 percent of women reported
workplace pregnancy discrimination, and nearly 28 percent have experienced it
directly.

Over 40 percent of affected workers were willing to file complaints, but many
hesitated due to concerns over confidentiality and lengthy procedures.

The ministry says the service will be run in partnership with the Legal Aid
Foundation and is expected to handle more than 600 consultations each year.

It also reminds employers that they face fines of up to $1.5 million NT if
they're found to have violated the Gender Equality in Employment Act.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-17 18:22:13

New Taipei mayoral hopeful Huang Kuo-chang of the Taiwan People's Party has
unveiled a multi-million dollar plan aimed at making the city more friendly
towards older people.

Huang says the proposal focuses on expanding welfare, healthcare, and housing
support.

His plan includes a 2 thousand NT montly allowance for grandparents who help
care for their grandchildren, as well as expanding the senior welfare card to
cover pharmacies, farmers' association convenience stores, and increasing
taxi subsidies.

He also pledged to improve access to health services, including subsidized
check-ups and free taxi transportation for older people in rural areas to
attend those check-ups.

On housing, Huang is proposing major subsidies for aging buildings, promising
up to 10-million NT per building for elevator installations and accessibility
upgrades.

Huang says the goal is to address the city's aging population and aging
housing.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-17 18:22:13

Taiwan's Freeway Bureau will offer a 30-percent discount on long-distance
highway tolls on the two weekends leading up to the Tomb-Sweeping holiday.

The measure is meant to ease traffic congestion over the April 3-6 holiday.

The discounted toll rate on the weekends of March 21-22 and March 28-29 means
savings of about $130 NT for a trip from Yuan-shan in Taipei to Kaohsiung.

However, tolls will increase for travel of under 42 kilometers per day during
those weekends to encourage those making shorter trips to switch to
alternative roads to avoid higher fees.

Freeway officials said traffic volume increases by about 10 percent on
weekends when the discount is implemented.

People can find more information on the bureau's website.

(JL)

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

The Air Force announced today that the company commissioned to locate the
so-called black box of the missing F-16V fighter jet has found and recovered
the flight data recorder.

The aircraft, flown by Captain Xin Bo-yi, went down on January 6th during a
nightime training session off of Hualian.

After over two months of search, the company has finally found the black box
and a large amount of aircraft debris.

However, no remains of the pilot have been found, and the search is ongoing.

The Air Force said it'll send the recorder to the American manufacturer for
analysis to determine the cause of the crash.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-17 17:06:15

The government is investigating reports of fraud involving a national rental
subsidy program.

The Ministry of the Interior says it is investigating reports of people using
fake rental contracts and false identities to claim funds from the $30
billion NT program intended to help people with the high cost of housing.

Officials say so far, people have been convicted in 34 cases, and another 140
cases are currently under investigation.

The ministry says anyone caught breaking the law will be forced to pay back
the subsidies they received.

The government is asking the public to report any suspicious activity to
local authorities.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-17 17:06:15

A leatherback turtle has died from injuries, a day after being rescued in
Yilan County.

The Taiwan Cetacean Society says the 280-kilogram turtle died Monday after
undergoing surgery to remove a 160-centimeter net it had ingested that had
become entangled in its mouth and gastro-intestinal tract,

The NGO said it will conduct an autopsy later today to determine the cause of
death and assess the damage caused by the net.

The female turtle was estimated to be 25 to 30 years old.

Leatherback turtles are the world's largest sea turtles and are listed as an
endangered species in Taiwan.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2026-03-17 17:06:15

In world news...

Gulf Arab nations came under renewed fire from Iran, which has been targeting
regional oil infrastructure and vowed again not to relinquish its
stranglehold on the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Dubai, a major transit hub for international travel, briefly shut its
airspace today as the military said it was “responding to incoming missile
and drone threats” around the city.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting a dozen drones Tuesday
morning over the country’s vast Eastern Province, home to oil
infrastructure.

In Qatar, the sounds of explosions boomed over the capital early in the day
as defenses worked to intercept incoming fire.

Meanwhile, Israel launched new strikes on Tehran and against Iran-backed
Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

The Israel military also faced new salvos of incoming missiles from Iran.

Fears of a global energy crisis continue as the war rages on.

Posted on 2026-03-17 14:07:13

The Defense Minister says Taiwan has not received any notice from the United
States about possible delays in weapon deliveries.

Wellington Koo told lawmakers today that the National Defense Ministry has
kept close contact with Washington D.C. and according to his understanding,
internal U.S. review procedures are continuing as scheduled.

The comment comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he's asked
Beijing to postpone a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jin-ping.

The Reuters News Agency reported last week that a major U.S. arms package for
Taiwan, including advanced interceptor missiles, could be signed by Trump
after his visit to China in late March.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-17 14:07:16

The Maritime Port Bureau's data shows that the number of yacht operator
licenses has increased by 57 percent over the past five years, with over
31-thousand people applying for yacht licenses last year.

The number of registered yachts has also risen by 35 percent, to 1-thousand
600 in 2025.

M-P-B officials said they are actively promoting yacht activities and
expanding yacht berthing facilities islandwide in an effort to boost the
so-called "blue economy."

The Bureau is also planning “tourism routes for yachts,” which aim to link
destinations around Taiwan and its offshore islands and allow fishing ports
and the yacht industry to thrive together.

Officials say they hope marine leisure activities will become a more popular
way for people in Taiwan to connect with the ocean.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-17 14:07:16

Shares are mixed in Asian trading after a drop in oil prices helped send the
U.S. stock market to its best day since the war in Iran began.

The Taiex gained .494..points to end the session at 33-thousand 836.

The turnover was robust, at $818.8 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-17 14:07:20

The beginning of 2026 ranks as the deadliest start to any year for people
trying to cross the Mediterranean.

an unprecedented 682 confirmed missing as of March 16 according to the United
Nations’ International Organization for Migration.

But the true count may be even higher.

Human rights groups are increasingly struggling to verify tolls as Italy,
Malta and Tunisia have gradually restricted information on migrant rescues
and shipwrecks.

The news barely makes headlines, in part because the lack of transparency
prevents journalists from confirming reports. After Cyclone Harry, activists
report more than 1,000 missing, but officials have not confirmed details.

Migrants families have pleaded for help identifying bodies washing ashore.

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

Premier Zhuo Rong-tai has promised to soon nominate another three people for
the Central Election Commission after the opposition-majority Legislative
Yuan rejected the Cabinet's previous nominations.

The Legislature last week approved the nominations of Yo Ying-long for CEC
chairperson, along with three other nominees for commissioner, two of whom
were recommended by the KMT, while another was recommended by the TPP.

The other three proposed by the ruling DPP failed to secure more than half of
the votes.

Zhuo today called on opposition lawmakers to "uphold their integrity" as they
had promised to cooperate with the ruling DPP in the nominations of CEC
commissioners.

In response, KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-xiang said his party has
only one standard when reviewing nominees, professionalism and impartiality,
so the CEC can truly function as an independent body.

according to the law., The CEC should have 9 commissioners and it needs to
have at least 5 for making decisions .

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-17 13:07:14

Wild bird conservationists are urging the general public not to disturb a
pair of endangered Oriental storks in Yun-lin.

The storks, white with sharply contrasting black flight feathers and red
legs, built a nest late last year on a high-voltage power tower along the
Yun-lin section of the Zhuo-shui (濁水) River.

Yesterday bird watchers reportedly spotted someone using a drone to film the
nest.

The parent birds were suspected to have been frightened by the drone’s
presence and the sound of its propellers, as one of them did not return to
the nest.

The Formosa Wild Bird Conservation Association is calling on people to keep
their distance and avoid disturbing the birds while they are raising their
young.

Fewer than 3,000 Oriental storks remain worldwide, and in Taiwan, it's
classified as a Category I endangered species.

The Association tried to find the person operating the drone but has so far
been unsuccessful.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-17 13:07:14

turning to world news...

The escalating Iran war is pushing parts of the world into energy
conservation.

Governments are deciding where to cut demand or absorb higher costs, while
prioritizing dwindling supplies.

In places like Bangkok and Vietnam, people are being urged to work from home,
take the stairs and keep air-conditioning above 24°C, while some businesses
are preparing for disruptions.

The conflict is disrupting critical oil and natural gas shipments from the
Middle East, sending prices soaring and threatening global growth — with
Asia facing the greatest risk from the shock.

During trading in Asian markets today, Brent crude was priced at around 103
U.S. dollars a barrel.

Posted on 2026-03-17 13:07:14

Officials in Cuba report an islandwide blackout in the country of some 11
million people as its energy and economic crises deepen.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines notes a “complete disconnection” of the
country’s electrical system and says it is investigating.

It was the third major blackout in Cuba over the past four months.

Cuban President on Friday warned that the island had not received oil
shipments in more than three months and that it was operating on solar power,
natural gas and thermo-electric plants.

Cuba has blamed its woes on a U.S. energy blockade.

President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that would
sell or provide oil to the island.

Posted on 2026-03-17 13:07:14

The Rakuten Monkeys have signed Japanese right-handed pitcher Motoki
Sakakibara to a developmental contract to strengthen the team's pitching
rotation.

The 25-year-old pitcher joins the Chinese Professional Baseball League team
after two standout seasons with the Gunma Diamond Pegasus in Japan's
independent BC League.

Last year, Sakakibara recorded 10 wins, a 2.18 ERA, and 73 strikeouts,
leading his division.

The Monkeys say Sakakibara has a wide variety of pitches and excellent
control, and the team plans to use its training system to help the young
pitcher reach his full potential and add depth to its pitching team.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex rebounded in early trading today after international crude oil
prices declined and Nvidia announced solid sales forecasts for its AI chips
overnight.

The main board added 500-point this morning to reach 33,871.

The bump was led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing - which saw its share
price rise by 35 N-T to hit 1,875 N-T after it announced its 2025 third
quarter dividend for common shares.

T-S-M-C's Q3 2025 cash dividend per share is 6 N-T, totals 155.5-billion N-T
and is expect to be paid out on April 9.

Delta Electronics, MediaTek, Winbond and Nanya Technology also all rose
sharply on the Tai-Ex on the back of Nvidia's announcement.

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

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

Of those sorties, both aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait
and entered Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone.

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

The defense ministry this past weekend said that 26 Chinese military aircraft
sorties were spotted on Sunday.

No Chinese aircraft were reported between February 27 and March 6.

The defense ministry says the sudden increase in air activity came as Beijing
was carrying out a "joint combat readiness patrol."

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

And,

Retired seven-time N-B-A All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge is slated to visit Taiwan
for the first time in early April to promote an N-B-A event

According to N-B-A Taiwan, Aldridge will meet fans at Banqiao Gymnasium in
New Taipei on April 4 and 5 during the Rising Stars Invitational Taiwan
Regional Qualifiers.

Tickets are available on FamiTicket.

Aldridge is best known for his time with the Portland Trail Blazers and the
San Antonio Spurs, where he played power forward and center.

He retired in 2022 after a 16-season N-B-A career.

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

In international news,

The White House says U-S President Donald Trump's anticipated meeting with
China's Xi Jin-ping could be postponed as he remains focused on the Iran war.

Trump is scheduled to travel to China from March 31 to April 2.

Trump has recently called on numerous nations, including China, to help ships
safely transit the key Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's request for assistance so far has largely been rebuffed.

China, which imported around 12 million barrels of oil daily in the first two
months of 2026, has not directly responded to Trump's request.

Trump told the Financial Times that he might postpone the meeting if China
did not help to unblock the Gulf waterway.

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

Afghanistan is accusing Pakistan of targeting a hospital for drug users in
the Afghan capital with an airstrike.

Afghanistan's deputy government spokesman says the strike has killed 400
people, while about 250 more have been wounded.

The strike marks a dramatic escalation of a conflict that began late last
month and has seen repeated cross-border clashes as well as airstrikes inside
Afghanistan.

Pakistan has dismissed the accusation, saying strikes which were also
conducted in eastern Afghanistan did not hit any civilian sites.

The strikes came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides exchanged
fire along their common border, killing four people in Afghanistan.

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

Officials in Cuba are reporting an island-wide blackout.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, there's been a "complete
disconnection" of the country's electrical system and it is investigating.

The ministry also says there were no failures in the units that were
operating when the grid collapsed.

It's the third major blackout in Cuba over the past four months.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned last Friday that the island had not
received oil shipments in more than three months and that it was operating on
solar power, natural gas and thermoelectric plants.

Cuba has blamed the issues on a U-S energy blockade.

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

Ecuadorian officials say they have deployed 75,000 soldiers to four
crime-ridden provinces, where the government is implementing a nightly curfew
under which people are banned from leaving their homes.

Officials says 253 people have been arrested for violating the curfew, which
started Sunday night and is expected to last for two weeks.

Areas that are popular with tourists such as the Galapagos Islands and the
capital city of Quito have been spared.

Ecuador has been struggling to control drug violence, as cartels fight over
ports along its coast that are used to ship cocaine to the United States.

Posted on 2026-03-17 11:06:13

And finally,

Nvidia C-E-O Jensen Huang has elaborated on his vision for keeping his
company at the forefront of the artificial intelligence boom

Sporting his signature black leather jacket, Huang spent two hours sauntering
across a stage at the G-P-U Tech Conference in a packed arena in San Jose,
California, explaining how Nvidia's processors have became indispensable AI
components ...

.... and highlighting the products that he believes will keep the company in
the catbird's seat.

To hammer home his point, Huang said Nvidia will be grappling with a
1-trillion U-S dollar backlog in A-I chip orders, doubling his estimate from
a year ago.

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is planning to
develop low-cost munitions to counter China's potential use of such weapons
that could deplete Taiwan's stock of air defense missiles.

According to institute president Li Shih-qiang, test flights of such low-cost
munitions are expected to to take next year.

Defense officials say other sources are also being considered and the defense
ministry hopes to acquire munitions through multiple channels, for Taiwan's
"T-Dome," high-altitude coverage and for protection against long-range
rockets.

The statements come after the defense ministry presented a report to
lawmakers reviewing Taiwan's air and missile defense capabilities.

The report included explanations of low-cost interception methods and
counter-drone measures and said the development of affordable air defense
munitions capable of intercepting long-range rockets is being considered.

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

National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien says the government's
birth rate projections that appeared in a 2024 report were "too optimistic."

The statement come after data shows that births last year fell to an all-time
low - while there was all-time monthly low of 6,523 births last month.

According to Yeh, the previous estimates resulted in a relatively large
discrepancy with the actual birth figures, and his agency has now
revised its population projections for 2024 to 2070 - and the new data will
be released in August.

The N-D-C has now revised the hypothetical scenarios and statistical model to
assume the worst-case scenario for population conditions.

Yeh says there is a "serious" trend of people not marrying or having
children, stemming from factors including anti-natal workplace policies,
economic pressure, and changing values among young people ...

.. and he's citing Academia Sinica's research on the issue - saying stipends
and subsidies alone will have only a "limited" impact on the birth rate.

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

Economists are forecasting that the central bank will opt to leave its key
interest rates unchanged for the ninth consecutive quarter due to the ongoing
US-Israel war against Iran following its upcoming policymaking meeting.

The meeting is slated for Thursday.

According to economists, global energy prices have been on the rise due to
the Middle East conflict, which has raised concerns over inflation and the
global economy - both of which are factors that impact the central bank's
monetary policies

The central bank kept the local discount rate at a 15-year high of 2-per cent
following its last policymaking meeting in December.

It also left the rate on accommodations with collateral at 2.375-per cent,
and the rate on accommodations without collateral at 4.25-per cent.

Some analysts say the central back could choose to focus on ways to respond
to the volatile global situation during the policymaking meeting ..

.. as sustained increase in energy prices will push up shipping costs, which
in turn will result in higher imported and domestic product prices.

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

The government says real regular wages recorded their fastest growth for the
month of January in 11 years as steady pay raises outpaced inflation.

According to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics,
the average monthly regular wage among employees in the industrial and
service sectors reached 48,819 N-T in January.

That was an increase of 2.9-per cent from a year earlier and the largest
increase for the month in 16 years.

The government says after adjusting for inflation, average real regular wages
rose 2.18-per cent year-over-year in January, the fastest growth for the
month since 2016.

The median regular wage stood at 39,136 N-T.

However, data shows that real average monthly earnings, which includes both
regular wages and non-regular income such as overtime pay and bonuses, stood
at 76,495 in January ..

.. and that was a decline of 31.38-per cent from a year earlier.

The government is attributing that decline due to the timing of the Lunar New
Year holiday.

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

One person is dead and three others have been injured following a fire broke
at the Zhuyuan Extra High Voltage Substation in Hsinchu City.

The fire at the Tai-Power facility in the city's East District broke out at
yesterday afternoon.

The Hsinchu City Fire Bureau said firefighters received a report at 3:27PM of
a suspected explosion at the facility and arrived six minutes later to begin
extinguishing the blaze.

Three people were sent to the hospital for treatment, including one who was
later pronounced dead.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to Tai-Power, the fire occurred while voltage stabilization
equipment at the substation was undergoing testing and the incident caused a
brief voltage drop affecting some power users in the Hsinchu Science Park.

However, Tai-Power says the blaze did not cause a power outage or disrupt the
park's electricity supply.

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

The Chunghwa Post says international ePackets will replace registered small
packets as the primary means of sending parcels of up to 2-kilograms overseas
from April 1.

According to the post office, the launch of international ePacket services is
in response to new Universal Postal Union standards and the rapid growth of
cross-border e-commerce.

The post office says the move will offer customers lower-cost services, but
no compensation for lost or damaged packages.

Beginning April 1, international ePacket services will be expanded from the
current 24 countries and regions to any location where international airmail
can be sent or received.

Service for international registered small packets will be halted on April 1.

Chunghwa Post says certain features of international registered small packet
mail made it less efficient and increased labor costs.

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

And finally,

The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation says QR code single-journey tickets will
be launched on the Taipei Metro network starting March 18.

According to the company, the QR code single-journey tickets will be
available from ticket vending machines at all Taipei Metro stations beginning
that day.

Passengers will be able to enter and exit stations by aligning the QR code on
the ticket with the scanning camera on the fare gate.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

President Lai Ching-te is calling for closer cooperation to strengthen supply
chain and economic resilience.

Lai told participants at the Yushan Forum in Taipei that his administration
wants to work with like-minded countries to form "international teams" that
would present opportunities for regional and global cooperation.

The president said his government is looking to form national teams in
specific fields to keep making Taiwan stronger, and by building these
international teams to keep leveraging the power of solidarity with other
nations.

Lai said these groups will leverage the combined advantages presented by
politics, economies and technologies, to ensure the building of more
resilient supply chains and economies.

The two-day Yushan Forum runs through today.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says an initiative announced in January by
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an to limit smoking in public places in the city this
year is legally feasible.

Under Chiang's "smoke-free city" plan, smoking would be banned in public
spaces except for smoking areas or rooms set up by the city.

The scheme would be launched under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, which
authorizes competent authorities to designate certain outdoor locations as
smoke-free areas while setting aside spaces where smoking is allowed.

Shih says law does not require the installation of smoking rooms in outdoor
areas, but does not prohibit such facilities either, and designated smoking
areas may still be provided in outdoor areas where smoking is already
prohibited.

The Taipei mayor earlier announced his administration is evaluating the
installation of negative-pressure smoking rooms in the Zhongshan shopping
district and Ximending areas as the next step of its "smoke-free city"
initiative.

Chiang says smoke-free outdoor zones implemented at the Taipei Lunar New Year
Market in Datong District and the Taipei Lantern Festival proved that such
measures can be carried out successfully.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

The number of workers placed on formal unpaid leave programs in the first
half of March stood at around 3,800.

The Ministry of Labor says more than 70-per cent of those workers were by
affected by U-S tariffs on Taiwanese exports.

The ministry said just over 38 hundred workers at 240 companies were on
furlough as of Monday.

Most newly reported furlough cases in March were tied to changes in domestic
or export orders, and companies have not indicated they were already being
affected by the Section 301 investigation.

The labor ministry also says that companies in Taiwan have not reported
furloughs linked to oil price fluctuations caused by the US-Israel was in the
Middle East.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

The Yunlin County Animal and Plant Disease Control Center says about 900
geese at a poultry farm in Shuilin Township have been culled following
confirmation of an outbreak of the H-5-N-1 bird flu.

According to local authorities, a total of 15 poultry farms within a
one-kilometer radius of the outbreak are now being monitored.

The geese were culled after the Shuilin Township farm began reporting
unusually high death rates last Friday.

The farm is located within a kilometer of a chicken farm that saw an outbreak
of bird flu in earlier this month.

However, officials say the two cases are not thought to to related.

County Magistrate Chang Li-shan is urging poulty farmers to remain alert -
saying bird flu is a higher risk at this time of year due to sharp day-night
temperature fluctuations that can weaken livestock immunity.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih is in Australia this week to hold discussions with
local governments there on urban development, medical and public health
issues, and water resource management.

Hou leads a delegation of local government officials, including City Council
Speaker Chiang Ken-huang and several other city councilors, who are already
in Australia.

They are scheduled to visit Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne during the 10-day
trip.

Hou says the talks will include the planned construction of a multipurpose
stadium in New Taipei, water management, long-term care, and the management
of public celebrations that feature aspects such as large-scale fireworks
displays.

Hou says the aim of the trip is to tap into Australia's "abundant experience"
in those areas, as New Taipei prepares to build a "world-class" dome and hold
major riverside events that include fireworks.

Along with meeting local government officials, Hou and the delegation will
also be meeting with Taiwanese expatriate communities in the three cities.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

Beitun District

Tai-Power says electricity has been restored to over 400 households and
business affected by a power outage last night in Taichung's Beitun
District.

The affected business included the Costco north Taichung Warehouse.

Tai-Power says electricity was restored to all households and businesses by
10PM after emergency repairs were carried out and cause of the outage is
under investigation.

Tai-Power says an initial investigation has found that a fuse box failure in
the underground substation of a residential building was likely the cause of
the power outage.

The faulty equipment is being disassembled for inspection.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

And,

Comic artists Wu Shi-san and Rice Dumpling are set to showcase Taiwan's comic
scene during Manga-Comic-Con 2026 later this week in Germany.

The event is one of Europe's major cosplay and comic culture events and takes
place at the Leipzig Exhibition Center as part of the Leipzig Book Fair form
March 19 to 22.

The Ministry of Culture says Taiwan plans to showcase the diversity of the
island's comic scene through exhibitions, talks and autograph sessions.

The cultural division of Taiwan's representative office in Germany, in
collaboration with the Taipei Book Fair Foundation, will present 15 selected
Taiwan comic titles at the event.

Most of the selected works have won or were shortlisted for the 16th Golden
Comic Awards' Comic of the Year.

According the culture ministry, the program also includes cosplay activities
that will allow visitors to dress up as characters from Taiwan comics and
learn more about the island's comic creations.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

The Reuters News Agency is reporting that U.S. leader Donald Trump now
looking to delay a highly anticipated trip to China in early April by about a
month because of the Iran war.

China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.

Trump's requested delay in his scheduled March 31-April 2 trip to meet
Chinese President Xi Jinping underscores how the Iran war has upended his
foreign policy agenda.

The delay could also magnify tensions between Washington and Beijing, as the
Mideast crisis also become one in a spectrum of issues separating the world's
two biggest economies.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

The Philippines is rejecting Beijing's assertion of sovereignty over the
entire South China Sea.

Its disputing a claim by China's embassy that a Filipino diplomat had once
conceded the disputed Scarborough Shoal was not part of Philippine territory.

Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva said the
Philippines had "indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding sovereignty"
over Scarborough Shoal and the islands Manila holds in the Spratly
archipelago.

The remarks are the latest in a war of words between Philippine officials and
the Chinese embassy in Manila over disputes in the South China Sea.

China's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

Spain’s King Felipe says Spain’s conquest of the Americas involved abuse
and ethical controversy, as Spain and Mexico remain at odds over calls for an
apology.

On Monday, Felipe made the remarks during a visit to a museum exhibition in
Madrid.

He told Mexico’s ambassador to Spain that parts of the conquest do not make
Spain proud by today’s values. He also said people should study the past in
context and avoid “moral presentism.”

Mexico has demanded a formal apology for years, which Spain has refused to
do.

Mexico’s president said she needed to review Felipe's comments but
acknowledged similar conciliatory remarks made last year by Spain's foreign
minister.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:13

Cuba's national electric grid collapsed on Monday leaving around 10 million
people without power.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines notes a “complete disconnection” of the
country’s electrical system and says it is investigating.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday warned that the island had not received
oil shipments in more than three months and that it was operating on solar
power, natural gas and thermoelectric plants.

Cuba has blamed its woes on a U.S. energy blockade.

Posted on 2026-03-17 06:53:15

The BBBC has asked a U.S. judge to throw out President Donald Trump’s $10
billion lawsuit over an edited documentary clip.

The broadcaster filed a motion on Monday saying a federal court in Florida
has no jurisdiction over it, and that it never aired the documentary in
Florida or anywhere in the U.S.

It also says Trump cannot show it meant to mislead viewers, and warned that
the case could have a “chilling effect” on robust reporting on public
figures and events.

Trump sued in December and claims defamation and unfair trade practices.

The BBC has apologized for the edit, but denies defaming the president.

Posted on 2026-03-16 18:54:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai today reassured that Taiwan's energy supply will remain
stable in the coming months despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Cho said the government has closely reviewed energy supplies ... saying
natural gas and other energy resources are sufficient through March and
April.

For May, Cho said the government is working to secure additional supplies
from the spot market, with officials holding meetings to closely monitor
availability.

He added that new energy contracts with other countries are expected to take
effect starting in June, which should further strengthen Taiwan's supply.

Cho said the goal is to ensure stable energy for both households and industry.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-16 18:54:13

Former KMT lawmaker and former Central Pictures Corporation chair Cai
Zheng-yuan (蔡正元) is now waiting to serve his time in jail.

Cai was convicted of occupational embezzlement and last year the High Court
upheld a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, and the verdict is now final.

The High Court has transferred the case files and evidence to the Taipei
District Prosecutors, who are expected to soon notify Cai to report to
authorities to begin serving his sentence.

The case stems from allegations that Cai embezzled more than 280 million NT
dollars from Apollo Company while handling a share transfer involving the
Pictures Corporation years ago.

Tsai served as a KMT lawmaker for 12 years until 2016 and has since remained
active on online political talk shows.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-16 18:54:13

Chunghwa Post is launching a new international shipping service next month
that will offer cheaper rates for small packages sent overseas.

The company announced today that the "International ePacket" service will
begin on April 1st.

The new service offers deliveries at competitive prices, and allows customers
to track their packages online, but does not require a signature upon
delivery.

Chunghwa Post says the new system is more efficient because it reduces the
need for manual processing and written inquiries.

At the same time, the post office will stop accepting international
registered small packets for items containing merchandise.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-16 17:17:13

Defense officials say the first two U.S.-made MQ-9B drones will arrive in the
third quarter of this year.

The Ministry of National Defense told lawmakers today that the delivery of
the high-altitude drones is currently on schedule, and a shipment of 102
advanced Patriot missiles is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

The ministry says international conflicts have not changed the delivery
timeline for these weapons.

The MND says it remains in close contact with the United States to ensure
that all weapons purchases arrive as planned.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-16 17:17:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, his administration is considering piloting
the Zhongshan or Ximen areas for his "smoke-free city" program.

The mayor's plan was originally to erect glass rooms in which smokers could
smoke without affecting bystanders, akin to those in major Japanese cities...

but he had concerns that there may arise legal issues with the central
government.

Mayor Chiang says today that the city will consider "negative pressure
smoking areas" while potential legal issues surrounding the smoking rooms are
worked out.

However, Health Minister Shi Chong Liang says that designated smoking areas
would not run against the law, adding that Taipei city can also specify
certain street sidewalks to be smoke-free.

Although smoking indoors in Taipei has long been illegal, outdoor smoking
regulations are often ignored or under enforced.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-16 17:17:13

Hsinchu Mayor Gao Hong An is heading to Japan for a trip aimed at tech
exchange and city governance.

Her office says, the mayor will plan to sign several Memorandums of
Understanding during the trip to a few Japanese cities.

Gao and the city council also aim to visit various research institutions and
cultural sites on the trip, and exchange opinions on industrial innovation
and urban governance.

The Hsinchu city government trip will head to Tsukuba and Sendai this time
around.

Gao noted that, since she took office in 2022, delegations from Kumamoto,
Ibaraki, and Miyazaki have visited Hsinchu to gain understandings of
industrial development.

The mayor says, she hopes it will prove to be a good opportunity to
strengthen Hsinchu industries' connections abroad.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-16 17:17:13

Now turning to international news...

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 12 Palestinians in strikes on a
home and a police vehicle.

According to local health officials, the dead include 2 boys, a woman
pregnant with twins, and 8 police officers.

A local hospital reported that the first strike hit a house in the Nuseirat
refugee camp, killing a couple and their son, as well as a 15 year old
neighbor.

They also recorded a second strike that his a police car in Central Gaza,
which wounded 14 people on top of killing 8.

Despite a ceasefire being in place since October, Israeli fire remains
frequent, with health officials recording repeated airstrikes near
military-held zones.

Meanwhile,

Israel launched new attacks on Beirut and Tehran, while Dubai's airport
suspended flights after an Iranian drone hit a nearby fuel tank.

Iran also launched missiles towards Israel, with Israeli officials reporting
damage in central areas.

Posted on 2026-03-16 17:17:13

Ballot counting is underway in the Republic of the Congo following a vote
that keeps the incumbent president on track for a 5th term.

Officials say that results are expected within 2 weeks, but some say the
outcome feels predetermined...

with officials recording low voter turnout and opposition parties calling for
a boycott.

Authorities shut down the internet and restricted traffic in the capital
during the election.

Analysts say, six challengers lack the strength to seriously threaten 82 year
old president Denis Sassou N'Guesso.

Sassou N'Guesso has ruled for 42 years, aided in part by a 2015 referendum
that removed term and age limits.

The Republic of Congo boasts one of the largest oil reserves in sub-Saharan
Africa, but the country struggles with high international debt.

The election is the latest in a trend of octogenarian African leaders
clinging to power.

Sassou N’Guesso is the third-longest-serving African president, only behind
the leaders of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

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

The National Development Council says its past population projections may
have been too optimistic, as Taiwan’s birth rate hits a new record low.

Data from the Ministry of the Interior shows there were 107,812 births in
2025, marking the tenth consecutive year of decline.

Taiwan’s total population has also continued to shrink, falling to roughly
23.3 million people.

The numbers are lower than the government’s previous "worst-case scenario"
estimates, and NDC chair Ye Jun-xian told lawmakers today that the government
will update its population report in August using more realistic models.

Ye cited factors including high economic pressure, a lack of family-friendly
workplaces, and changing values among young people, as reasons for the trend.

(NS)

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

The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office has arrested 12 individuals suspected
of involvement in illegal street racing in parts of the city and county.

Prosecutors took stricter-than-usual measures against the suspects.

The prime suspect was released on 100-thousand NT dollars bail, while the
other 11 people were released on bail ranging from 20-thousand to 50-thousand
NT dollars and placed under residence restrictions.

The suspects include a man who runs a vehicle modification shop, several
racers, and a woman hired to rent a van used to transport modified
motorcycles.

Investigators say the group used messaging apps to coordinate late-night
weekend gatherings, where they blocked traffic to perform dangerous stunts
like burnouts and wheelies.

Authorities also seized 11 vehicles ... including 10 modified motorcycles and
a van used for transport.

(IG)

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

New Taipei City is set to kick off its first campus career fair of the year
this Wednesday at Tamkang University in Danshui.

According to the city’s Labor Affairs Department, a total of 95 companies
will take part, offering more than 3 thousand job openings.

Officials say about 44 percent of the participating employers come from the
technology manufacturing sector.

The Taiwan Space Agency will also attend the fair, recruiting engineers to
join its team.

Organizers say more than 400 part-time positions will also be available.

The city government added that it's planning more campus job fairs at several
universities through May, as part of efforts to connect graduates with
employers.

(IG)

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

In world news...

U.S. President Donald Trump says it would be "very bad for the future of
Nato" if allies don't help secure the Strait of Hormuz - a critical waterway
for global oil shipping.

A BBC news report has quoted Trump to say today that he expects China to help
unblock the strait and could delay a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if
it doesn't.

Noting that he's speaking to "about seven" countries about "policing" the
strait, the President adds that he "will remember" if they do not help.

However, according to the latest Reuters news, Trump's demands for a
coalition to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz appeared to be unsuccessful as
allies Japan and Australia said they were NOT planning to send navy vessels
to the Middle East to escort ships.

Meanwhile, Israel says it has begun "limited and targeted ground operations"
against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

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

Renewable energy projects in Africa that depend on Middle Eastern sovereign
wealth funds and state-backed companies will likely press ahead despite the
Iran conflict.

The continent is seeing surging appetite for power and fuel.

Experts say that critical mineral supply chains and economic diversification
strategies continue to drive interest from Gulf countries in the region.

Over $102 billion U.S. dollars has flowed into African renewable projects
from Gulf investors in recent years, with investors targeting markets such as
Egypt and South Africa.

Those countries have more advanced regulatory frameworks and electricity
systems.

At the same time, disruptions to supplies of oil and gas and higher prices
may strengthen the case for renewable energy investment.

Posted on 2026-03-16 14:14:13

The Legislative Yuan has recently passed a $71.8 billion NT budget to cover
initiatives such as T-Pass and childbirth subsidies, and the Auditor General
said the government can now spend the funds.

The head of the Director-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said
today that while the Legislative Yuan's move is "unprecedented", she has
notified relevant government agencies to begin using the funds.

The Legislative Yuan has yet to review the central government’s general
budget for this year, but the opposition KMT and TPP lawmakers decided to
allow early spending on new capital expenditures and programs.

Responding to lawmakers' questions about the potential economic impact of the
Iran war, officials said with a price-stabilization mechanism in place, fuel
price increases would remain moderate for now.

But if there's a 10-percent rise in oil prices, she said it would reduce GDP
by about 0.12 percent.

She also expects the consumer price index to go up by around 0.24 percent.

She noted that GDP forecasts are reviewed every three months, with revisions
to be made at the next meeting in May.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-16 14:14:13

Taiwan Railway Corporation says, it's adding 20 more train trips for the Tomb
Sweeping long weekend next month.

Tickets for those added trains will be available to book tomorrow evening.

The company says, they're adding the additional trains due to increeased
demand during the April 2nd to 7th period, bringing the total number of
trains during the holiday to 165.

The majority of those added trains will be on the western main line, while 4
will be added to the eastern main line.

Passengers can book tickets via the TRC website or app starting at 12am on
the 18th.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-16 14:14:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 57 points to
close the session at 33342.

The turnover was 730.3 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-16 14:14:13

Now turning to international news...

Myanmar is opening its first parliamentary session in more than 5 years
following an election that did not include any major opposition parties.

The military and its allies hold nearly 90% of seats in the parliament.

This ensures that the army can exercise the control it has held since it
seized power from an elected government in 2021.

The new Parliament's first task will be to elect a speaker for each house,
and to elect a president and two vice presidents.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing currently heads the military government, and is
widely expected to assume the presidency.

Posted on 2026-03-16 14:14:13

Chinese state media is reporting that representatives from China and the US
have begun their economic and trade talks in Paris.

The meetings are expected to pave the way for US President Donald Trump's
state visit to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The US says that Trump will travel to China on March 31, but Beijing has not
officially confirmed the dates.

Last week, Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi said that it would be a "big
year" for China-US relations.

Trump's visit to China will be the first for a US president since he went
during his first term in 2017.

His trip will follow a prior meeting between Xi and Trump in Busan last year.

Posted on 2026-03-16 11:05:13

The Tai-Ex fluctuated this morning.

The main board added 300-points in early trading, but selling pressure
emerged and the weighted index fall back into negative territory ...

.. with the market settling at 33,411 - a rise of only 11-points from
Friday's close.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing gained 15 N-T, to reach 1,880 N-T, before
losing 10 N-T to fall to 1,855 N-T.

Other tech heavyweights, including Hon Hai and Delta Electronics were trading
in a narrow range.

Market watchers says investors will be closely watching what the U-S Federal
Reserve will say about America's economy after its policymaking meeting,
which will likely dictate market direction later in the week.

Posted on 2026-03-16 11:05:13

And,

Taiwan's Olympic bronze medalist Tang Chia-hung has won gold in the
horizontal bar 2026 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Turkey.

Tang secured the top spot with 15.200 points in the event.

Tang participated in the qualifying rounds for the floor exercise, still
rings, and horizontal bar, successfully advancing to the finals in both
events.

However, he caught a slight cold after arriving in Turkey and opted not to
compete in the floor exercise and still rings, and focus solely on the
horizontal bar.

Tang's win in Turkey is his his second consecutive World Cup gold medal this
year, after taking the horizontal bar title in Azerbaijan earlier this month.

Posted on 2026-03-16 11:05:13

In international news,

U-S President Donald Trump says administration is talking to seven countries
about helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz - calling on them to help
protect ships in the vital waterway that Iran has mostly blocked to oil
tanker traffic.

Trump has insisted that nations relying heavily on oil from the Gulf have a
responsibility to protect the strait as turmoil across the Middle East caused
by his war against Iran is shaking up global energy markets into a third
week.

Trump has declined to identify the governments that his administration has
contacted - but has claimed that he expects many countries will send
warships.

Trump said in a social media post he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea,
Britain and others would participate.

Posted on 2026-03-16 11:05:13

North Korea has held an election for the Supreme People's Assembly to select
delegates to the legislature that formally approves state policy and appoints
the country's top officials.

According to state media K-C-N-A, nearly 99.99-per cent of eligible voters
have cast their ballots.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un cast his ballot at a coal mine run by young
workers, where he said the coal industry is essential to driving the
country's economy and his five-year economic plan.

North Koreans living in China and other socialist countries have also cast
ballots.

Posted on 2026-03-16 11:05:13

Exit polls for a referendum show voters in Kazakhstan have approved a new
constitution that may allow the country's currently President to stay in
power in the beyond 2029.

Two exit polls say around 87-per cent of voters had backed the new
constitution.

The electoral commission has said turnout stood at 73-per cent.

The new constitution streamlines the country's parliament, and recreates the
office of vice president, which was abolished in 1996.

It gives the president the right to appoint the vice president, as well as a
host of other key officials.

Posted on 2026-03-16 11:05:13

And finally,

A closing ceremony boycotted by Ukraine has signaled the end of the
Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics.

Sunday's ceremony came hours after the U-S Para ice hockey team won the final
gold medal of the Games that were marked by the return of the Russian flag
and national anthem to the global sports stage.

China continued its dominance as a Paralympic powerhouse and topped the
medals table with 15 golds, two more than the United States, which matched
its total from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.

The Milan Cortina Games marked the 50th anniversary of the Winter
Paralympics.

Ukraine led the boycott of both the opening and closing ceremonies to protest
the presence of the Russians.

Posted on 2026-03-16 08:05:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

No damage or injuries are being reported following this morning's magnitude
3.3 and 4.3 earthquakes that rattled the Tainan area.

The magnitude 3.3 quake struck at 7:15 and was centered some 40-kilometers
northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7-kilometers.

That quake was felt strongest in Tainan's Zengwen area - where it registered
a magnitude 3 on the Central Weather Administration's intensity scale.

The 4.3 magnitude quake struck at 7:19 and was centered in the same area and
also had a depth of 7-kilometers.

It was was felt strongest in Tainan's Zengwen area and the Nanxi District -
where it registered a magnitude 4 on the Central Weather Administration's
intensity scale.

That quake was also felt in parts of Chiayi and Kaohsiung - where it
registered a magnitude 2 on the weather administration's intensity scale.

Posted on 2026-03-16 08:05:14

C-P-C has opted to leave gasoline and diesel prices at the pump unchanged
this week, despite continuing surges in international oil prices.

According to the state refiner, international crude oil prices rose sharply
last week amid growing concerns over potential supply disruptions in the
Middle East and tanker security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Under C-P-C's weekly pricing mechanism, gasoline prices should have risen by
9.5 N-T per liter and diesel prices should have gone up by 10.9 N-T a liter.

However, C-P-C says it is adhering to government policy to keep prices at the
pump lower than in neighboring countries, and will absorb the increase as
part of the government's efforts to stabilize consumer prices.

Posted on 2026-03-16 08:05:14

And finally,

Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu says the mercury is expected to gradually
rise from today through Thursday.

However, Wu is warning of significant day-night temperature differences.

Wu says a weak northeasterly monsoon is expected to move southward on Friday,
bringing scattered brief showers to northern and eastern parts of the island
and a slight drop in temperatures.

The northeasterly monsoon will weaken by the weekend, leading to improving
weather conditions.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:15

The Ministry of National Defense says China has resumed carrying out
large-scale Air Force sorties around the island.

Defense officials reported 26 Chinese military aircraft sorties on Sunday.

Sixteen of those aircraft entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern
air defense identification zones.

The last time that many sorties were reported was on February 25, when 30
aircraft were detected operating in the Taiwan Strait and in Taiwan's air
defense identification zones.

The defense ministry says the sudden increase in air activity came as Beijing
was carrying out a "joint combat readiness patrol."

No Chinese aircraft were reported between February 27 and March 6.

Sunday's sorties came after China's Taiwan Affairs' Office slammed President
Lai Ching-te for a speech in which he discussed the need to boost defense
spending and protect the island's democracy.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:15

A defense official has denied reports that that delivery of the first two
MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from the U-S has been delayed due to the war in the
Middle East.

Delivery of the first two drones is set to take place in the second half of
this year in accordance with the original schedule.

The unnamed Ministry of National Defense official also says the required
ground control stations to remotely pilot the advanced drones are currently
being built in preparation for their arrival ...

.. and both the Air Force and Taiwan's defense mission in Washington, D.C.,
have been in close contact with the U-S side to ensure delivery will be on
time.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo questioned the credibility of the report
concerning the delay in delivery last week - saying no weapons deliveries
from the U-S have so far been affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Taiwan has ordered four MQ-9B surveillance drones from the U-S and delivery
timeline has been set for 2026 and 2027 in two batches of two each.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:16

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen continues her 11-day trip to the U-S... she
arrived in New York following a stop in Boston.

She visited the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in Manhattan's
Chinatown, where she met with association President Eric Ngo and other
community leaders.

She later traveled to Columbus Park to lay flowers at a statue of Sun Yat-sen
- where she outlined the goals of her trip ahead of a banquet with Taiwanese
expats in Flushing.

Lu said the U.S. has the largest number of Taichung's sister and friendship
cities, and she hopes to further strengthen exchanges with them during the
visit.

The Taichung mayor maintains her trip has three main goals - deepening
city-to-city exchanges, engaging with overseas Taiwanese communities, and
reinforcing Taiwan-US relations.

Lu is scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. this week.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:16

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Poland's former President Lech Walesa
and former Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry are among the foreign
guests set to attend an annual Yushan Forum this week.

The ministry says other prominent figures set to speak include Keiji Furuya,
the head of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council; Gustavo
Villate, Paraguay's minister of information and communication technologies
...

.... and Lee Jun-seok, the leader of South Korea's Reform Party.

President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim will both speak at
the forum later today.

This year's Yushan Forum is being held under the theme "Indo-Pacific
Partnership Prospects: Taiwan's Values, Technology, and Resilience."

The foreign ministry says the event - which is taking place today and
tomorrow - aims to promote regional collaboration through solutions "based on
Taiwan's values and incorporating technology and resilience."

The Yushan Forum was launched in 2017 under former President Tsai Ing-wen.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:16

Some 1,000 participants joined the Taiwan Demo Day in Silicon Valley this
past weekend -- marking the largest scale yet for the event held ahead of
Nvidia's annual G-T-C conference this week.

The Taiwan Demo Day 2026 Spring was co-organized by the Taiwan Next
Foundation and the Startup Island Taiwan -- Silicon Valley Hub.

It was held at the Computer History Museum in California and showcased 12
teams focused on Physical A-I and Agentic A-I technologies.

According to Taiwan Next Foundation founder, Katie Hsieh the event
highlighted the strength of the Taiwan-US startup ecosystem, with six
Taiwan-based teams selected by StarFab Accelerator joining others from the
U-S to showcase their innovations.

Hsieh says nearly half of attendees came from the international startup
community, expressing hope that the event would foster new connections for
Taiwan-led companies.

StarFab was founded in 2016 and is regarded as Taiwan's largest industry
accelerator, is dedicated to fostering collaboration between startups and
enterprises to accelerate innovation and growth.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:16

And,

The Taipei City Government has launched a limited-time promotional campaign
ahead of K-pop group TWICE's three-night concert run at the Taipei Dome.

The campaign is titled "ONCE CITY MAP" and sees the city government is
inviting fans to visit themed attractions and take part in citywide check-in
events.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the eight official fan events and themed
attractions will "turn Taipei into ONCE CITY," making the whole city feel
immersed in TWICE.

The events include a pop-up store at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a touring
merchandise store at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, photo spots at the
Taipei Dome and lighting displays at The Sky Taipei.

TWICE's three-night concert run at the Taipei Dome starting begins on March
20.

It will be the K-pop group's first concert in Taipei, following its
first-ever performances in Taiwan in November last year in Kaohsiung.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:16

Palestinian hospital officials say Israeli airstrikes hit a home and a police
vehicle in central Gaza and killed at least 12 Palestinians, including two
boys, a woman pregnant with twins and eight police officers.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported the first strike hit a house in the
Nuseirat refugee camp killed a couple and their 10-year-old son, as well as a
15-year-old neighbor whose body went to Awda hospital in Nuseirat.

The Hospital also reported a separate strike hit a police vehicle in central
Gaza and killed eight police officers. There was no immediate comment from
the Israeli military.
There has officially been a ceasefire since October but Israeli fire is still
frequent, Gaza officials say.

Posted on 2026-03-16 06:55:16

Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials wrapped up the first of two days of
talks in Paris at the weekend to iron out kinks in their trade truce and
clear a path for U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing to meet with
Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.

The discussions were led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese
Vice Premier He Lifeng... they were were expected to focus on shifting U.S.
tariffs, the flow of Chinese-produced rare earth minerals and magnets to U.S.
buyers, American high-tech export controls and Chinese purchases of U.S.
agricultural products.

U.S.-China trade analysts said that with little time to prepare and
Washington's attention focused on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, prospects for
a major trade breakthrough are limited, in Paris or at the Beijing summit.

A Treasury spokesperson said talks are scheduled to resume on Monday morning.

Trump and Xi could potentially meet three other times this year, including at
a China-hosted APEC ?summit in November and a U.S.-hosted G20 summit in
December that could yield more tangible progress.

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