ICRT

Posted on 2026-04-27 18:13:13

The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board says that 'advanced driving
assistance' may have been a contributing factor in a fatal crash on National
Freeway 1 last year.

The board says that the system likely failed to detect lane markings before
shutting off, causing the vehicle to veer off course.

Investigators say the driver, who may have been relying on the system, did
not react in time to correct the steering or apply the brakes.

The crash, which occurred at the Yangmei Rest Area, left four people dead and
four others injured after the vehicle hit a divider caught fire.

Officials are now calling on the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications to accelerate the introduction of road safety inspection
mechanisms and expand ADAS safety education, particularly for rental car
users.

The board also recommends that rental car companies better inform drivers
about how to safely use these systems and understand their limitations.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-04-27 18:13:13

A man who took a shower on a Taiwan Railway local train, flooding part of a
carriage, has been identified and will face a fine.

Railway police say the incident happened Sunday morning on a train traveling
from Hsinchu to New Taipei.

Passengers reported water leaking from a bathroom and spreading across the
carriage floor.

By the time officers boarded the train, the man had already left.

Police later identified him using surveillance footage as a man in his 50s.

Authorities say he used a hose in a multi-functional bathroom, typically
intended for cleaning, to shower.

The man is known to frequent Taipei Main Station and has previously faced
fraud-related charges.

The Railway Act mandates fines of up to $7,500 NT for various types of
inappropriate behavior on trains.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-04-27 17:23:13

The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court has sentenced Chen Li-ming, a
former TSMC engineer to 10 years of imprisonment for leaking classified
information about the company's core technology.

The other three Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing employees received a jail
term ranging from 2 to 6 years for their involvement in leaking the
information to Tokyo Electron.

Prosecutors indicted the three in August last year after TSMC suspected that
the secrets of its advanced 2-nanometer process has been compromised and
reported the case to authorities.

In the indictment, prosecutors accused the three of violating the National
Security Act, stealing classified business information and the nation's core
technology.

The Court today also imposed a fine of 150 million NT on Tokyo Electron.

The case can still be appealed.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-04-27 17:23:13

The Ministry of Digital Affairs has launched a competition challenging
developers and civic tech communities to build tools for disaster response.

The competition uses a real-world scenario, the Mataian Barrier Lake disaster
as the design context, asking competitors to develop digital tools that can
be reused and recombined across different emergency situations

The ministry says the concept draws on the idea that disaster response
functions, such as reporting, data aggregation, and visualization, can be
broken down into reusable components.

When emergencies occur, these components can be quickly assembled into
operational systems, reducing setup time and improving response efficiency.

MODA says the goal is to build a growing library of open-source disaster
prevention components that can serve as shared digital infrastructure for
future use.

Submissions are open through June 1st.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-27 17:23:13

The Ministry of Education has announced an 83 million NT subsidy for its
'Foreign English Teaching Assistant Program' for the upcoming academic year.

As the name implies, the program aims to bring English native speaking
assistants into 611 elementary and junior high schools ...

... allowing students to practice English through interaction and cultural
exchange, rather than just traditional classroom learning.

The MOE adds that since the launch the program in the 2021–2022 academic
year, foreign teaching assistants have worked with local teachers to create
real-life English learning environments.

Examples include ordering food in English, outdoor learning activities, and
even bilingual sports and technology camps.

Education officials say these experiences help students build confidence and
connect with the world.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-04-27 17:23:13

Energy shocks linked to the Iran war are pushing households across Africa and
South Asia back to charcoal and firewood as cleaner cooking methods become
more expensive and unreliable.

This reversal is worsening deforestation and adding to pressure on wildlife
habitats.

Governments had promoted cleaner fuels like LPG for health and conservation
reasons, but rising costs are undermining those gains.

Experts warn the ripple effects from disruptions to fuel supply chains are
also hitting conservation systems, with more wood cutting, higher risks of
poaching, and falling tourism revenue that helps fund parks and anti-poaching
efforts.

Posted on 2026-04-27 16:09:13

Invited scholars at the Legislative Yuan's hearing on impeaching President
Lai Ching-te said the opposition-party's move is legitimate, legally
grounded, a last resort, and constitutional.

The DPP caucus has refused to attend the hearing, while both the KMT and TPP
caucuses submitted lists of invitees and designated their lawmakers to
conduct questioning.

The KMT caucus' guests include Dong-hai law professor Lin Teng-yao (林騰鷂),
while the TPP caucus invited Yang Chia-fa (楊家法), founder of the Climate
Vanguard Alliance.

Lin Teng-yao said President Lai has violated his constitutional duty of
loyalty, betrayed the people, and deviated from core constitutional
principles.

Yang said flawed energy policy is more dangerous than corruption, and the
president’s electricity policy has been inconsistent and can't meet the
demand.

After Premier Cho Jung-tai announced on December 15 last year that he would
not countersign the revised Allocation of Government Revenues and
Expenditures Act, the opposition lawmakers decided to impeach President Lai.

However, the chances of it passing the Legislative Yuan are low.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-04-27 16:09:14

The Kaohsiung City Government is working on converting an underused shopping
area into a spot with outdoor seating for restaurants and bars.

... I-C-R-T's Southern Taiwan reporter, Michael Smith, has more on plans for
the Central Park Shopping District.

Posted on 2026-04-27 16:09:14

Jailed former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has abandoned his bid to
serve the remainder of his sentence at home, according to local media reports
citing court documents.

Najib withdrew his appeal against a December court ruling that denied his
request for home detention.

He has been serving a six-year sentence since August 2022 after being
convicted of graft and money laundering linked to the multibillion-dollar
1MDB scandal, invovling the alleged theft of billions of dollars from a state
investment fund he helped establish in 2009.

The withdrawal marks another setback for Najib, who in December was handed an
additional 15-year sentence and fined for abuse of power and money laundering
in the largest 1MDB-related trial to date.

Posted on 2026-04-27 14:07:14

Newly appointed Central Election Commission chair Yo Yi-long officially took
office today, six weeks after his nomination was approved by the Legislative
Yuan.

Yo, with this year's local elections and the 2028 general elections ahead of
him, has pledged to safeguard Taiwan's democratic elections, and to uphold
the Commission's fairness, neutrality, transparency and professionalism.

As the local polls are only 7 months away, Yo said there's no time to waste.

The new chair has also laid out the major challenges that the CEC is facing,
including the issues of restoring referendums alongside elections and
absentee balloting.

The Legislative Yuan has amended the law to restore holding referendums
together with elections, and Yo said he wants to make sure that they won't
interfere with election operations.

He has also expressed support for absentee voting, saying that it's a
progressive concept.

With Yo and three others taking office today, the Commission now has eight
members, meeting the minimum five-member requirement for decision-making.

Meanwhile the Executive Yuan has nominated 3 more candidates for the CEC, and
they're now pending in the Legislative Yuan.

Premier Chuo Rong-tai had said he's hoping to bring the total number of CEC
members to 11.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-04-27 14:07:14

The government says 250-thousand people still have not claimed their
$10-thousand NT universal cash handout, with just four days left to do so.

The Ministry of Finance says nearly 99-percent of those eligible have claimed
the one-off payment.

Officials say among those who have not yet collected, nearly 30-thousand had
attempted to register for direct bank deposit but failed, and have not tried
any other collection method since.

People collecting at post office counters should note that the service ends
at 5 p.m. on April 30th.

The ministry also warns that the government will never send unsolicited text
messages, emails, or phone calls asking people to transfer money or enter
personal details at an ATM or online banking platform in connection with the
cash handout.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-27 14:07:14

Shares are mixed in Asia and Tokyo has hit a fresh record after U.S. stocks
ended last week with new highs.

The benchmark Taiex gained 684 points to end the session at 39,616.

The turnover remained robust at 1 trillion 184.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-04-27 14:07:14

North Korea has opened a memorial museum for its soldiers killed while
fighting for Russia against Ukraine, with top leaders of North Korea and
Russia pledging a push for greater cooperation.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and visiting Russian officials attended a
museum ceremony Sunday.

During the ceremony, Kim threw dirt over the remains of one dead soldier and
laid flowers before others whose bodies were already placed in a mortuary.

Kim also met with the Russian defense minister and said North Korea will
fully support the Russian policy of defending its sovereignty.

North Korea's state media report Monday also said Russian President Vladmir
Putin sent a letter to Kim saying he was convinced the two countries would
continue to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-04-27 13:08:14

Recent tests on peanuts and nuts on the market have found two samples of
peanut powder exceeding limits for aflatoxins.

The affected batch has already been pulled from shelves.

The Consumer Protection Committee, which conducted the tests, said 16
samples were collected from stores in greater Taipei, Hsin-chu, Taichung and
Tai-nan, while another 16 were purchased online.

The Committee said the 2 problematic peanut powder products were sold in
physical stores in New Taipei and Tai-nan.

As for labeling, the Committee said all physical stores were in compliance,
but 8 online products failed to meet requirements.

Issues included inconsistencies between net weight and nutrition labeling
units, missing ingredient lists, missing expiration dates, and absence of
Chinese labeling.

Local health authorities have ordered food businesses to make corrections
within a specified time frame or to recall and relabel products.

Officials also remind people that with Taiwan's hot and humid weather,
there's a risk of mold growth if peanuts and nuts are not properly stored,
which can lead to toxin contamination.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-04-27 13:08:14

Taiwan's Lee Hao-yu hit his first Major League Baseball home run today,
coming off the bench to deliver a go-ahead two-run shot that helped the
Detroit Tigers beat the Cincinnati Reds 8 to 3.

The 23-year-old became the fifth Taiwanese player to hit a home run in the
majors, and the youngest Taiwanese player ever to do so.

The blast came in his 19th MLB plate appearance.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Lee says he made an adjustment to his
back foot during his swing yesterday, and felt the results today.

The athlete also says he plans to keep the home run ball, and in his words,
"treasure it like a baby".

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-27 13:08:14

Chernobyl Disaster

In international news,

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory, and Russia have killed at
least 16 people.

The attacks on Sunday coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl
disaster, prompting warnings about risks near the plant during Russia's more
than four-year invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Russia, sparking fires.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian attacks risk
repeating history.

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency stresses the
need for immediate repairs to Chernobyl's protective shell.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimates that the
repairs will require at least 500 million euros, or about $18.4 billion NT.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-04-27 13:08:14

Mali's defense minister has been killed in a sweeping attack by jihadi and
rebel forces who seized several towns and military bases.

The death was confirmed by a spokesman and broadcast on state-run television
on Sunday.

Separatist fighters joined Islamic militants in one of the biggest
coordinated attacks on the Malian army on Saturday, leaving at least 16
wounded.

The separatists have been fighting for years to create an independent state
in northern Mali.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:13

President Lai Ching-te is thanking Eswatini for its support for Taiwan in a
pre-recorded video address broadcast at a gala dinner for international
dignitaries in Eswatini's administrative capital of Mbabane.

In it, the president said he had hoped to attend celebrations for its King
Mswati III, but his planned visit was disrupted by reported Chinese
interference.

Lai also congratulated King Mswati III on the 40th anniversary of his reign,
the king's 58th birthday, the 58th anniversary of Eswatini's independence,
and 58 years of diplomatic ties between the Taiwan and Eswatini.

The president praised Eswatini's achievements in infrastructure, social
welfare, health care and regional stability - noting that electricity access
in the country has surpassed 85-per cent, among the highest in sub-Saharan
Africa.

He further noted that Taiwan is a sovereign country that has right to engage
with the international community and the greater the external pressure Taiwan
faces, the more courage and resolve its people have.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

President Lai Ching-te has taken to social media to condemn political
violence following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents'
Gala in Washington DC.

Lai said he was "shocked and gravely concerned to hear about the gunshots
fired at the event" and was "relieved to hear" that President Donald Trump
and "other attendees remain safe from physical harm."

Lai went on to says his administration "strongly condemns any form of
political violence."

We'll have the latest on the incident a bit later on in the program.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

defenses

Former Japanese vice defense minister and sitting lawmaker Nakayama Yasuhide
is calling on Tokyo, Washington and Taipei to develop joint defenses, to
prevent China from taking military action.

Nakayama said Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is seeking defense reform and
re-evaluating of Japan's security strategy as part of efforts to assist in
collectively protecting its allies - which include Taiwan.

Former American Institute in Taiwan director William Stanton also spoke at
the event.

He said the U-S and Taiwan share values, such as independence, freedom, rule
of law and human rights, as well as shared interests.

The symposium was co-organized by the World Taiwanese Congress and the Taiwan
Nation Alliance in Taipei.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

A village chief in Yilan has been recalled after his handling of a mining
project in an Indigenous traditional territory triggered controversy.

The recall vote against Lunpi Village chief Wu Ping-tsung in Datong Township
passed with 214 in favor of the recall, 120 against, and four invalid
ballots.

The Yilan County Election Commission votes in favor of the motion exceeded
both the legal threshold and the number of opposing votes.

Initiators of the recall had argued that Wu ignored local opposition to the
mining project and instead supported the developer under the guise of
administrative neutrality.

They also says the recall was aimed at protecting future generations from
potential environmental harm.

Wu claimed in March that the project proceeded in accordance with the
Indigenous Peoples Basic Law and he denied accusations that he supported the
company that won the bid.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

The Taipei District Court has ordered the detention of man in his 40s for
allegedly attacking a 3-year-old Filipino girl at the Taipei Main Station
this past weekend.

Prosecutors said the man should be detained because could re-offend or try to
flee.

The man was arrested on Saturday afternoon outside the train station after
being identified by several witnesses of the attack.

Police say the man told them he went after the girl because she was making a
noise.

Surveillance footage shows the man kicking the 3-year-old girl in the
abdomen in the station's main hall.

She suffered injuries to her face and limbs and was taken to the nearby
National Taiwan University Hospital for treatment.

The suspect was referred to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office and
police his is being investigated for attempted murder.

Railway police say they have stepped up security measures at the station.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

The Highway Bureau says a rock slide affected traffic in the Daqingshui
open-cut tunnel on Provincial Highway No. 9 in Hualien.

The rock slide struck the tunnel's rock shed, damaging its steel roof
structure.

The tunnel is part of Taiwan's Suhua Highway.

The tunnel was initially closed to traffic after the rockslide occurred
around midnight at the road's 159.4-kilometer marker... roads were later
reopened with alternating one-lane traffic in both directions following
emergency repairs.

The repair work is ongoing and traffic will continue to be limited to a
single lane.

The agency's Eastern Region Branch is warning motorists of possible hazards
as a weather front has brought intermittent showers and localized heavy rain
to parts of the area in recent days.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

Two Israeli political heavyweights say they will join forces in upcoming
elections in an effort by their parties to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are former partners who both served as prime
minister in a rotation agreement in a coalition government in 2021-22.

Bennett said the new government on its first day would establish a state
commission of inquiry into the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks if elected..
that's an issue that has dogged Netanyahu.

Bennett and Lapid have ideological differences but enjoyed a close working
relationship during their short-lived coalition.

Posted on 2026-04-27 07:01:14

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory, and Russia have killed at
least 16 people.

The attacks coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster,
prompting warnings about risks near the plant.

Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Russia, sparking fires.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Russian attacks risk
repeating history.

Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency stresses the need for
immediate repairs to Chernobyl's protective shell.

Pope Leo has described those who wage wars and appropriate the earth's
resources as thieves who rob the world of a peaceful future.

He also issued a warning about the use of nuclear power on the anniversary of
the Chornobyl reactor accident.

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:49:13

began

C-P-C Corporation says fuel prices will remain unchanged for another week,
from Sunday through next Saturday.

Prices at the pump stay at 33-point-9 NT for 95-unleaded gasoline and 31 NT
for super diesel.

C-P-C says it is continuing to absorb price increases to keep Taiwan's fuel
costs the lowest among neighboring Asian countries, amid ongoing Middle East
tensions.

Since the U-S-Iran war broke out on February 28th, the company estimates it
has absorbed a combined total of roughly 124-billion NT in fuel price
differences -- though the absorption margin this week is slightly smaller
than last week.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:49:13

drags on

Commuters using the T-PASS 2-point-0 transit pass program are going without
cashback rewards for a third consecutive month, as the central government
budget remains unresolved.

Under the program's rules, monthly cashback is supposed to be available by
the 25th of the following month -- but payments for January, February, and
now March have all failed to go out.

The cumulative unpaid amount has reached roughly 27-million NT, affecting
tens of thousands of eligible commuters each month.

The Directorate General of Highways says budget execution is being handled in
line with Executive Yuan policy directives, but offered no payment timeline.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:49:13

The Foreign Ministry says its diplomatic relationship with Eswatini remains
strong, despite President Lai Ching-te's planned visit being put on hold
after three countries revoked overflight permits under apparent Chinese
pressure.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said today that the long-standing
friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini is solid and not in question.

He described China's move as part of a broader pattern of influence-building
across Africa, saying it makes Taiwan's ties with Eswatini all the more
valuable.

Eswatini is Taiwan's only remaining diplomatic ally on the African continent.
A special envoy will be sent in President Lai's place to attend Eswatini's
national day celebrations, though Chen said the identity of the envoy will be
announced at an appropriate time.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:49:13

Palestinians will vote in local elections, the first in two decades in Gaza
and the first in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas
war.

Turnout in Saturday's vote for village and municipal councils may reflect the
level of public trust in a broader system led by aging leaders in the West
Bank and as Gaza prepares for an anticipated transition from Hamas rule.

The Palestinian Authority has promoted the local races following reforms it
enacted last year following demands from international backers.

Analysts say the lack of candidates and party participation reflect political
disillusionment under the authority’s aging leadership, including
90-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas.

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:49:13

birthday

Britain's King Charles the Third embarks on a state visit to the U.S., aiming
to strengthen ties between the two nations.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth the Second, set a high bar with her 1991 speech
to Congress, highlighting shared democratic values.

Charles plans to echo these themes as he celebrates America's 250th birthday.

The visit includes a commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks and a tribute to
fallen service members.

Despite political tensions, Charles seeks to emphasize the enduring
friendship between the U.S. and the U.K.

His speech to Congress aims to unite lawmakers across party lines, focusing
on long-term bonds over short-term disputes.

(AP)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:27:13

The Financial Supervisory Commission says domestic banks earned a combined
25-point-67-billion NT from New Southbound Policy countries in 2025.

The figure is part of a broader record, with total overseas branch profits
reaching 91-point-8-billion NT for the year, up 5-point-3 percent.

Taipei Fubon Bank says this year's growth in the region is being driven
mainly by India, Australia, and Singapore, and is working to upgrade its
Sydney office to a full branch while applying to open a branch in India's
GIFT City.

Cathay United Bank says it follows a dual strategy of supporting Taiwanese
businesses and building local presence, with a Mumbai branch application now
under formal review in India.

C-T-B-C Bank, which has more than 120 locations across the region, is also
expanding in Vietnam and India and recently opened its own GIFT City branch
in March.

All three banks cited steady economic growth, supply chain shifts, and rising
middle-class demand as key drivers of continued expansion in the New
Southbound region.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:27:16

The Ministry of Labor says newly employed graduates earned an average monthly
wage of 39-thousand NT in 2025, up 5-point-4 percent from the previous year.

The data covered 138-thousand graduates, with 73 percent holding a university
degree and 21-point-5 percent holding a master's degree.

University graduates earned an average of 36-thousand NT a month, while
postgraduate degree holders averaged 53-thousand NT.

About 17 percent of new graduates -- roughly 24-thousand people -- were paid
the minimum wage of 28-thousand-590 NT.

The data also showed a gender pay gap of 9-point-2 percent, with female
graduates earning an average of 38-thousand NT compared to 41-thousand NT for
male graduates.

The ministry attributed the gap partly to male dominance in higher-paying
science, technology, and engineering fields.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:27:17

Thousands of people turned out today for a public walking event on the
Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei City, ahead of its scheduled opening to traffic
on May 12.

The event was open to all without registration, drawing long lines of
participants across the 2-point-5-kilometer route from Tamsui Fisherman's
Wharf to the Bali end of the bridge and back.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih fired the starting gun at this morning's launch.

Live music and market stalls added a festival atmosphere, with many families
joining in and capturing the experience on camera.

The city says the Danjiang Bridge is the world's longest single-tower
asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, and is expected to become a major landmark in
northern Taiwan.

Once open, it will cut travel time between Tamsui and Bali districts by about
25 minutes and connect with the local light rail network.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 14:27:17

Peruvian police have raided the home of Piero Corvetto, the former head of
Peru's national election agency.

Corvetto resigned earlier this week amid investigations into ballot shortages
and irregularities during the first round of presidential elections on April
12.

The anti-corruption police announced the raids on social media, targeting
Corvetto, five other former electoral officials, and a company responsible
for transporting ballots.

Corvetto has denied wrongdoing but said he resigned to boost confidence in
the upcoming June 7 runoff.

The election faced criticism after voting materials failed to reach centers,
affecting over 52,000 voters.

An EU mission found no fraud indications.

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:58:13

diverse

Taiwan's representative to the Netherlands says newly elected Dutch lawmakers
have pledged to keep strengthening support for Taiwan as bilateral relations
continue to deepen.

Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) made the remarks in an interview with the Central
News Agency in The Hague, marking one year in his post.

He described the relationship as gradually evolving, pointing to a Dutch
naval transit of the Taiwan Strait in 2024 and close cooperation between
T-S-M-C and A-S-M-L in semiconductors as examples.

Bilateral trade reached nearly 17-billion US dollars in 2025, up about 14
percent from the previous year.

Tien said many of the Netherlands' newer, younger lawmakers are familiar with
Taiwan and have expressed interest in joining the Formosa Club, a
cross-national parliamentary friendship platform.

He added that both sides see potential for expanded cooperation in water
management, agriculture, food security, and education, and that
Taiwan-Netherlands ties will continue moving in that direction.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:58:13

The National Institute of Cyber Security is warning the public about a new
scam pattern targeting online interest groups.

The agency says fraudsters are infiltrating communities built around
religion, sports, vegetarianism, and charity work.

Scammers typically begin by sending friend requests, then invite users into
groups or ask them to fill out surveys -- which are used to gather personal
and financial details.

The institute says the scheme follows a pattern seen in investment and
romance fraud cases, and is now shifting toward seemingly safe spaces like
hobby and charitable communities.

The public is urged to treat any combination of group invitations and
requests to add contacts on messaging apps as a warning sign -- especially if
conversations then turn to money or investments.

People are advised to verify any financial offers through official websites
or the government's 1-6-5 anti-fraud hotline, and to use only licensed
financial institutions for investments.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:58:13

Russia and Ukraine have each returned 193 captured personnel in a prisoner of
war exchange facilitated by the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the swap Friday, saying
some of those returned had injuries, while others had faced criminal charges
in Russia.

The returned Ukrainians included soldiers, border guards, and police.
Russia and Ukraine have conducted many such exchanges over four years of war,
returning thousands of captives in total.

In Ukraine, returning prisoners arrived by bus, many draped in their
country's flag and visibly emotional.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:58:13

Argentina's foreign minister has renewed his country's call for bilateral
negotiations with the United Kingdom over the long-running sovereignty
dispute over the Falkland Islands.

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno made the statement Friday in response to
comments from a spokesperson for U-K Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who
reaffirmed that sovereignty of the islands rests with Britain.

Quirno called for talks that would lead to a peaceful and definitive
resolution to what he described as a colonial situation.

The exchange comes after an internal Pentagon email suggested the U-S could
review its position on the Falklands as leverage over Britain's stance on the
Iran war.

Argentina, which calls the islands the Malvinas, has long claimed sovereignty
over the territory.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:42:20

Russia says President Vladimir Putin may attend the G-20 summit in Miami in
December, after U-S President Donald Trump said it would be helpful if he
did.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin may go, may not go, or may send
another representative.

The United States has invited Russia to the annual summit, which Washington
is hosting this year, and Moscow has accepted the invitation, according to a
U-S official familiar with the matter.

Putin has not attended a G-20 summit since 2019, first due to the COVID
pandemic and then Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Trump told reporters he doubted Putin would actually come, but added that he
believes in talking to everyone.

A U-S State Department spokesperson confirmed Russia has been invited to all
G-20 working-level meetings and is welcome to attend the leaders' summit.

Trump has taken a notably warmer stance toward Russia since returning to
office, and has said it was a mistake to expel Russia from the G-8 in 2014.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:42:16

Sixty-eight ambulances and fire trucks donated by Taiwanese groups have been
delivered to Ukraine to support frontline rescue efforts.

The vehicles were handed over at a ceremony held by the Lviv city government
Thursday.

They came mainly from fire departments across New Taipei, Taipei, Taichung,
Tainan, and Kaohsiung, with the remainder from non-government groups.

This marks the fourth round of donations by the Taiwan Association of
Community Advancement and partner groups, bringing the total to more than 200
vehicles delivered since the Russia-Ukraine war began.

Twenty-six of the vehicles will go to Kharkiv, which has faced repeated
bombardment throughout the conflict, while the rest will support military and
border guard units in cities including Lviv and Kupyansk.

Taiwan's representative to Poland attended the ceremony virtually and said
Taiwan will continue standing with Ukraine.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:42:13

disrupted

Italian and German representatives are voicing support for Taiwan after
President Lai Ching-te's visit to the African ally Eswatini was delayed when
several countries suddenly revoked overflight permits for his presidential
aircraft.

Italian Senate Deputy Speaker Gian Marco Centinaio said Taiwan's
democratically elected president and all its people should have the right to
travel freely and maintain relations with diplomatic allies.

He said China appears to be exerting serious pressure on third countries to
undermine Taiwan's legitimate diplomatic relations, and warned that Beijing's
military posture in the Taiwan Strait already threatens regional stability.

Three other Italian lawmakers -- including two who visited Taiwan in January
-- also posted statements on X, saying the sky should not become a tool of
political pressure.

Former Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Gianni Vernetti called the incident
"international bullying" and described it as a sign of China's growing global
influence.

The German Institute Taipei also weighed in, saying overflight rights are a
fundamental principle of international civil aviation and reaffirming the
importance of safe and predictable civil aviation operations under the
Chicago Convention.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 13:42:25

At least 12 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, including
six police officers, according to Palestinian health officials.

Strikes hit Gaza City, Beit Lahiya in the north, and Khan Younis in the south
on Friday.

The Israeli military confirmed the Gaza City strike, saying it targeted Hamas
militants, but did not immediately comment on the others.

Gaza's interior ministry says the strikes in Gaza City and Khan Younis
specifically targeted the local police force, with one hitting near a wedding
hall in Khan Younis.

Violence has continued despite a ceasefire deal that took effect in October
2025, with Israel conducting near-daily attacks.

At least 800 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect,
according to local medics.

Israel says militants have killed four of its soldiers in the same period.

More than 72-thousand Gazans have been killed since the war began in October
2023, most of them civilians.

Hamas' October 7th, 2023 attacks on Israel killed around 12-hundred people.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 11:38:13

The Legislative Yuan is set to hold a full chamber hearing Monday on the
impeachment case against President Lai Ching-te, with a final roll-call vote
scheduled for May 19th.

The hearing runs from 9 in the morning to noon, with government officials and
public figures invited to testify before legislators conduct questioning.

The K-M-T and T-P-P caucuses have each submitted witness lists and designated
legislators to ask questions.

The D-P-P caucus has done neither.

Review sessions are also planned for May 13 and 14, at which President Lai
will be invited to appear and address the legislature.

The impeachment process was triggered after Premier Cho Jung-tai declined to
countersign a revenue-sharing law last December, prompting opposition parties
to move against President Lai.

Under the constitution, the impeachment motion requires a two-thirds
legislative majority to be referred to the Constitutional Court, where a
further two-thirds of Justices must concur for the president to be removed
from office.

The K-M-T currently holds 54 seats, the D-P-P 51, and the T-P-P 8.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 11:38:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo has declared the conclusion of the Han Kuang
42 computer-assisted command post exercise, a 14-day joint operations drill
focused on real-combat simulation.

Koo praised participants for completing the exercise under high-intensity,
round-the-clock conditions, and urged commanders to turn lessons learned into
practical improvements for peacetime readiness and wartime operations.

The exercise featured scenarios progressing from gray zone harassment to
high-intensity conflict, incorporating multi-domain and complex threat
elements drawn from recent international conflicts.

Units operated under dispersed and off-site deployments throughout the drill,
testing the armed forces' ability to maintain command and control even under
simulated enemy strikes.

Koo said the armed forces must continue strengthening strategic early warning
and response capabilities as the threat environment grows more complex.

He added that the August Han Kuang live-fire exercise will be the next major
focus for advancing overall combat readiness and national security.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 11:38:13

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected 15 Chinese military
aircraft and vessels operating around the Taiwan Strait from 6 A-M Friday to
6 A-M today.

The ministry says 8 aircraft sorties were tracked in Taiwan Strait airspace
between 9:35 yesterday morning and just after 5 in the afternoon.

Seven P-L-A naval vessels were also detected in the area during the same
period.

The military says it monitored and responded using aircraft, ships, and
shore-based missile systems.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 11:38:13

boost trade

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez
have agreed to share intelligence and step up cooperation to combat crime
along their shared border.

The two leaders met Friday at the presidential palace in Caracas, also
agreeing to increase bilateral trade and work together on electricity supply
to western Venezuela, which suffers frequent blackouts.

Their roughly 2-thousand-200-kilometer border is a hub for more than
one-billion US dollars in annual trade, but is also home to drug trafficking,
smuggling, and armed criminal groups.

Rodriguez said the two governments will immediately establish mechanisms for
sharing intelligence to fight drug and fuel smuggling, among other crimes.
Both leaders are under pressure from U-S President Donald Trump -- Rodriguez
to open Venezuela's economy to foreign investment, and Petro to do more to
combat drug trafficking.

Rodriguez, formerly Venezuela's vice president, took over after her
predecessor Nicolas Maduro was removed in a U-S operation in January.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 11:38:13

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he has undergone
treatment for prostate cancer.

It was his first public acknowledgment of the diagnosis.

He said that roughly a year and a half ago he had prostate surgery.

Then two and a half months ago, his doctors discovered and treated a small
tumor at Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital with radiation therapy.

That was not announced at the time.

The 76-year-old Israeli leader said Friday that he requested a delay to the
announcement quote, "so that it would not be released at the height of the
war" against Iran.

(AP)

Posted on 2026-04-25 10:44:13

A cold front is bringing rainfall across Taiwan today, with temperatures
slightly lower than normal and cooler conditions in the north.

Rain is expected to ease tonight, with the front moving away on Sunday and
Monday, bringing sunny, hot weather and rising temperatures.

Northern Taiwan is seeing highs of around 23 degrees Celsius today, with the
south reaching up to 31.

The eastern half of the island may see brief showers through the weekend.

Another front is forecast to arrive Tuesday afternoon, bringing showers and
thunderstorms and a sudden drop in conditions, before clearing on Wednesday.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 10:44:13

A man in his 30s is in custody after attempting to rob a bank in Taipei's
Daan District yesterday afternoon.

The suspect entered a C-T-B-C Bank branch armed with a B-B gun and a fake
grenade, threatening staff before employees called police.

Taipei City's Police Commissioner says officers received the call at 3:32 in
the afternoon and were on scene within three minutes.

Police found the suspect inside the vault loading 10-million NT into a
suitcase.

After a brief standoff, officers subdued and arrested him.

Police say the suspect appears to have acted alone and is believed to have
been motivated by financial debt.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the full circumstances of the
case.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 10:44:13

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan,
raising hopes for a restart of peace talks with the United States after eight
weeks of war.

U-S President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that Iran plans to make an
offer aimed at satisfying U-S demands, though he said he did not yet know
what the offer would contain.

Iran's foreign ministry, however, said its officials do not plan to meet
directly with U-S representatives -- adding that Iranian concerns would
instead be conveyed through Pakistan.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said U-S envoys Steve Witkoff
and Jared Kushner are set to travel to Islamabad on Saturday, and that
Washington has seen some progress from the Iranian side in recent days.

The war has left Iran's oil exports blocked and pushed U-S gasoline prices to
multi-year highs.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, with only five ships
crossing in the last 24 hours, compared to around 130 a day before the
conflict began.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-25 10:44:13

Miro

Portuguese police have seized 278 artworks from a house in Portugal and are
questioning a former butler suspected of trying to sell some of them.

The works are believed to have belonged to a U-S citizen who lived in the
town of Penalva do Castelo and died last year.

Police say the collection is attributed to 27 artists, ranging from German
Renaissance master Albrecht Durer to Spanish modernists Pablo Picasso and
Joan Miro, to British Pop Art painter David Hockney.

The trove also includes sculptures and other artifacts.

Authorities carried out the raids under "Operation Butler" in collaboration
with experts from the National Museum Machado de Castro.

The authenticity of the works has not yet been confirmed, and an
investigation is underway.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-04-24 20:13:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research has raised its forecast for
Taiwan's gross domestic product growth in 2026 to 7.56 percent.

The institute the upgrade reflects strong global demand for artificial
intelligence, which is driving exports and investment.

The new forecast is significantly higher than earlier estimates and is close
to the government's official projection.

Exports are now expected to grow by more than 27 percent, with imports also
rising on the back of increased demand.

Investment is also set to expand, particularly in semiconductors and tech
infrastructure.

Analysts say AI-related industries have become the main engine of Taiwan’s
economic growth.

Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East pushing up costs, inflation is
expected to remain below the central bank’s two percent alert threshold.

Posted on 2026-04-24 18:10:13

Local media reports that a 30-year-old man robbed a CTBC Bank branch in
Taipei's Da'an District this afternoon.

The incident happened at around 3:30 PM on Zhongxiao East Road.

The suspect, surnamed Lin, reportedly carried a suitcase, a BB gun, and a
fake grenade.

He allegedly took a female manager hostage and forced her to help him take
around 10 million NT from the bank's vault, which he placed in the suitcase.

Police say they arrived within three minutes of being alerted.

Lin was unable to escape and instead confronted officers while holding the
manager at gunpoint.

After a standoff lasting about 15 minutes, police subdued him and took him
into custody.

Taipei City's police chief says Lin initially claimed financial difficulties
as the motive.

(JM)

Posted on 2026-04-24 18:10:13

Troubling new data shows that about 15 percent of children and teenagers say
they would send private photos in exchange for free game items.

Research from the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families found that nearly
three-quarters of kids use social media, and many add people they meet
online, with a smaller share even accepting friend requests from strangers.

Some are then asked to share personal information or photos.

Experts say online sexual exploitation is rising, with about 70 percent of
cases now involving the internet, and reported victims more than doubling
over the past five years.

While most children say they've learned about online safety, mainly at
school, fewer than half say their parents have discussed it with them.

Advocates are calling for stronger awareness and more family engagement, as
online threats become harder to spot.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-04-24 18:10:13

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to scrap amusement taxes on
cinemas, live performances and sporting events.

The move removes taxes previously charged on tickets, which had ranged from
up to 10 percent for sports to as high as 60 percent for movie theaters.

Under the new rules, cinemas, concerts, dance shows and other live
entertainment will no longer be subject to the tax.

Officials say the changes are aimed at encouraging greater public
participation in cultural and sporting activities.

Some venues, including dance halls and golf courses, will still face reduced
or limited taxes, though local governments may choose to suspend them.

The amendments were proposed by the Cabinet last year and received
cross-party support in the Legislature ... completing a preliminary
examination of the bill.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-04-24 18:10:13

The Ministry of Agriculture is reminding owners of certain pets to register
their animals.

Earlier this year, the ministry announced a ban on private households from
keeping raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, and two families of venomous snakes,
effective starting May 1st.

Authorities say escapes or abandonment of such animals pose serious risks to
both animal welfare and public safety.

Existing owners have until end of April next year to register their animals.

Those who fail to register and continue keeping or breeding the animals
without authorization face fines up to $250-thousand NT.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-24 18:10:13

Taiwan is sending a delegation of 27 startups to SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, a
major innovation conference opening this coming Monday, April 27th.

The National Development Council says the three-day event is expected to
attract over 60 thousand participants and 700 startups from around the world.

Taiwan will participate for the third year in a row, featuring its
largest-ever national pavilion to showcase strengths in artificial
intelligence, deep tech, and sustainability ...

... led by the Startup Island Taiwan initiative.

Officials say the delegation aims to secure new partnerships and investment.

Key highlights include the expected signing of a memorandum of understanding
between Taiwanese autonomous driving developer Turing Drive and Japanese
partners.

Officials say the event will also serve as a hub for regional exchange, with
plans for a dedicated "Asia MirAI Day" to connect Taiwanese founders with
peers from across Southeast Asia.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:16:13

The Modern Women's Foundation is calling for Taiwan to implement a
centralised system to support victims of image-based sexual violence.

The foundation cited data government data that shows that more than 1500
filed complaints in 2025 ...

... up almost 50 percent from a year earlier.

The foundation adds that hidden cameras are especially prominent, based on
both official data and media reports.

It warns that victims of such crimes face doxxing, harassment, and even
real-world safety threats.

Advocates say Taiwan lacks an integrated response system, forcing victims to
navigate multiple agencies and repeatedly recount their experiences.

They say Taiwan should implement a support model similar to the one in South
Korea, to better assist and protect victims.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:16:13

Taiwan's industrial production was 28 percent higher this March compared to
last March, marking the 25th straight month of growth.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says output reached a new record, driven
largely by strong global demand for AI and high-performance computing.

Manufacturing, which comprises the bulk of production, also hit a record
high, with semiconductor and electronics output leading the gains.

Production in the computer and optoelectronics sector saw especially strong
growth, fueled by global investment in cloud and AI infrastructure.

Officials say the impact of Middle East tensions has been limited so far,
with stable supply chains and continued overseas demand supporting growth.

However, some traditional industries, including chemicals, saw declines
amidst rising competition.

Looking ahead, authorities expect industrial production to continue expanding
in April, supported by ongoing demand in the tech sector.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:16:13

China's foreign minister Wang Yi has met with Thailand's prime minister
Anutin Charnvirakul during a visit aimed at strengthening the countries'
strategic partnership and expanding co-operation.

A Thai official said that the two countries agreed to work together on
fighting transnational crime and cyberscams.

Wang congratulated Anutin on retaining his office after the recent Thai
elections and expressed confidence that Thailand-China relations will
continue to improve.

China is Thailand's largest trading partner, and the King of Thailand made
the first-ever visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch last November.

Chinese investment in Thailand has increased in recent years, particularly as
many Chinese companies have moved production to Southeast Asia to avoid U.S.
tariffs.

Wang met with ministers in Cambodia earlier this week, and he will visit
Myanmar next.

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:16:13

Businesses have paid up to 4 million USD (126 million NTD) for their boats to
cross through the Panama Canal and avoid the Strait of Hormuz.

The average price to cross the canal ranges between 300 000 and 400 000 NTD
(9.4 and 12.6 million NTD), depending on the vessel.

But companies that need to re-route at the last minute pay an additional fee
in an auction for slots.

The highest bidder gets to pass imminently, instead of waiting for days off
the coast of Panama City.

Bids have jumped in recent weeks as Iran and the United States have
bottlenecked the Strait of Hormuz and companies purchase from other parts of
the world.

An analyst said that Panama's government is "maximising what it can earn from
the Panama Canal".

A company carrying fuel to Europe paid the 4 million USD to redirect fuel to
Singapore, a journey that had to be expedited in because Singapore was
running out of fuel, said a canal administrator.

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:16:13

Kenya's president William Ruto has said that the English spoken by Nigerians
was incomprehensible.

In a speech to Kenyans living in Italy, Ruto said that "Our education is
good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world."

He continued: "If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they
are saying - you need a translator, even when they are speaking English,"
leading to laughter in the room.

Nigerians and other Africans have reacted strongly, accusing Ruto of a deep
inferiority complex and of insulting a fellow African nation.

One commentator said that "English is … not a measure of intelligence,
capability, or national progress."

And a former Nigerian senator said that Ruto was "mocking the English of the
country with a Nobel Prize for Literature winner."

Online skirmishes between Kenyans and Nigerians are common and often both
intense and humorous.

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:08:13

A measles case has been confirmed involving a passenger on a recent flight
from Taipei to Japan, with dozens of contacts now under health monitoring.

The Centers for Disease Control has identified 54 people, including crew and
passengers seated within five rows, who will be tracked through May 5th.

The patient is a Japanese man in his 30s who flew to Nagoya on an April 17th
STARLUX Airlines flight.

Twenty-one Taiwanese passengers have returned home, with cases spread across
11 cities and counties.

Officials say crew members were vaccinated and are being monitored, with the
airline adding that none are showing symptoms.

Health authorities say vaccination reduces risk of infection but does not
guarantee full protection.

Taiwan has also contacted Japanese authorities for more details on the case
and the patient's travel history.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-04-24 17:08:15

A massive ice block on the route above Mount Everest's base camp is delaying
climbers seeking to scale the world's highest peak.

An aerial survey is planned to evaluate the serac that's between base camp
and Camp One.

Mountaineering officials said Friday the serac was unstable and risky to
climbers.

It is located in the Khumbu Icefall, a difficult part of the mountain that is
known for its shifting glacier and deep crevasses.

Climbers and guides are waiting at Everest base camp as officials assess the
situation.

More than 400 foreigners have been issued permits to climb Everest during the
spring climbing season.

Posted on 2026-04-24 15:53:13

Two Asian elephants at the Taipei Zoo have moved in next door to an African
elephant whilst their regular enclosure undergoes renovations, giving
visitors a rare chance to watch two different elephant species size each
other up for the first time.

The zoo's Asian elephants You-shin and You-kai have temporarily relocated to
the African animal zone whilst their tropical rainforest habitat is being
upgraded.

Their new neighbor is African elephant Chian-huei.

After a gradual desensitisation program, the animals officially began living
side by side on April 10th, two Fridays ago.

The zoo says the temporary arrangement offers the elephants a richer
environment and valuable social stimulation.

They encourage visitors to head to the African animal zone to catch the rare
inter-species interactions whilst they last.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-24 15:53:13

Tainan City is reaching out to landowners along the planned Blue Line of its
metro ahead of construction, offering joint development opportunities at
eight designated transit development zones.

The city's Bureau of Transportation will hold public consultation sessions on
April 28th and April 30th (next Tuesday and Thursday) at community centers in
the Yongkang and East districts, giving landowners a chance to learn about
and discuss the joint development plans before formal urban planning
procedures begin.

The first phase of the Tainan Metro Blue Line is scheduled to break ground by
the end of this year, running at just over 8 kilometers.

Its ten stations are all in prime urban development areas, and the city has
identified eight transit development zones centred around certain stations.

The bureau says the arrangement is designed to increase land use efficiency
and share development benefits between the public and private sectors.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-24 15:53:13

The White House Director of Science and Technology Policy said that it had
new information that "industrial-scale campaigns" by "foreign entities,
principally based in China" were stealing AI technology developed in the U.S.

The White House said it would work more closely with US firms to combat these
efforts, though it did not announce any specific plans.

The Chinese embassy in Washington said that China's advances were "the result
of its own dedication and effort, as well as international co-operation".

The White House accused foreign entities of "distilling", or copying others'
AI technology.

They would operate thousands of individual accounts on one AI chatbot,
appearing to be normal users but actually carrying out a co-ordinated attempt
to expose how the AI chatbot actually works internally.

OpenAI and Anthropic have both said that they have encountered distillation,
including by popular Chinese-developed AI model DeepSeek.

Posted on 2026-04-24 15:53:13

Governments from nearly fifty countries will meet starting today in Santa
Maria, a city on Colombia's Caribbean coast, to discuss how to move beyond
fossil fuels.

There has been frustration that U.N. climate talks have failed to directly
tackle oil, gas, and coal production.

Over the next six days, the summit will try to build co-operation between
nations that are willing instead of securing binding commitments from them.

Countries are balancing energy security, financial constraints, and growing
calls to accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels, at a time of heightened
geopolitical uncertainty, including the disruption to energy markets due to
the war in Iran.

The Colombian and Dutch organisers also want to ensure "a just, orderly, and
equitable" transition.

They say that they want to provide a venue for a politically sensitive debate
that has long been avoided in international climate negotiations.

The United States and Saudi Arabia will not attend.

Posted on 2026-04-24 15:53:13

Pope Leo XIV is urging the United States and Iran to return to talks to end
the war.

He said that the conflict has left "an entire population in Iran of innocent
people suffering".

He also called for a new "culture of peace" to replace the recourse to
violence whenever conflicts arise.

Pope Leo revealed that he carries the photo of a Muslim Lebanese boy who had
been killed in Israel's recent war with Hezbollah.

The boy had been photographed holding a sign saying "Welcome Pope Leo" when
he visited Lebanon last year.

He also condemned capital punishment, which his predecessor, Pope Francis,
had already declared immoral in every case.

Addressing other issues, Pope Leo said that migrants deserve dignity and
should not be treated "worse than house pets or animals".

His words also indicated that he believes the church had reduced its moral
teachings to revolve around sex at the expense of other pressing issues, such
as justice, equality, and freedom.

Posted on 2026-04-24 13:55:13

Police in central Taiwan have broken up a major drug trafficking ring that
used popular cartoon characters and trendy toys to market illegal narcotics.

The Taichung City Police Department announced today that officers seized
4,200 drug-infused coffee packets with a street value of more than NT 1.6
million.

As well as the coffee packets, officers seized ketamine and NT 250,000 in
cash.

Four suspects, including a warehouse manager and several delivery drivers,
were arrested during the raids.

Two of the suspects are currently being held in custody as the Taichung
District Prosecutor's Office moves forward with drug trafficking charges.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-24 13:55:13

Taiwan is sending a delegation of 27 startups to one of Asia's largest
technology conferences in Tokyo this weekend, with a memorandum of
cooperation between Taiwan and Japan set to be signed on the sidelines.

The National Development Council will lead the delegation to SusHi Tech Tokyo
2026, running from April 27th to 29th.

The annual event, organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, is expected
to draw more than 60-thousand attendees and 700 startups from around the
world.

Officials say Taiwan will operate what organisers say is the largest national
pavilion at the venue, showcasing the island's strengths in artificial
intelligence, sustainability, and deep technology.

And during the event, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taiwan's smart
mobility sector will sign MOUs with Japanese counterparts, to share resources
and expand opportunities for collaboration.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-04-24 13:55:13

A US special forces soldier has been charged after he allegedly bet on the
removal of Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, in January, before that
information was publicly available.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke is an active-duty soldier who was involved in the
military operation that captured Maduro and his wife.

He allegedly won more than 400 000 USD (almost 13 million NTD) from his bets,
more than twelve times what he wagered.

US Department of Justice officials accuse him of placing bets on the timing
and outcome of the operation, "all to turn a profit".

The acting US attorney general said that "Widespread access to prediction
markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national
security information fully apply."

US president Donald Trump said that he is "not happy with any of that stuff",
when asked whether prediction markets could lead to insider trading.

Posted on 2026-04-24 13:55:13

The governments of France and the United Kingdom have signed a new
multimillion-pound deal to reduce migrant crossings across the English
Channel.

The U.K. will provide 500 million pounds (21.2 billion NT) over three years
to strengthen measures in northern France.

Up to an additional 160 million pounds (6.8 billion NT) will be provided,
depending on how successful France is in preventing migrants from reaching
England.

Proposed measures include boosting police numbers and expanded drone and
helicopter surveillance.

UK statistics show that in 2025, 46 000 people were detected entering the
U.K. illegally, with 89 per cent of them arriving via small boats.

But critics say that this deal does not address the underlying human
desperation that leads to people turning to small boats in the first place.

Posted on 2026-04-24 13:55:13

In a memo sent to staff yesterday, Meta said that it will lay off about 8,000
employees, or about 10 per cent of its staff.

It will also stop the hiring process for thousands of currently open roles.

Meta will redirect the money saved to other areas of the company, and
especially to its efforts in artificial intelligence.

It is expected to spend 135 billion USD (more than 4.2 trillion NTD) on AI
this year, which is roughly what it spent in the last three years combined.

These job cuts had been anticipated since comments from Meta's boss, Mark
Zuckerberg, in January, where he said that a single person could now do the
work that entire teams used to do.

Meta announced earlier this week that it would start to track and log their
workers' clicks and keystrokes in order to train its AI models, something
that one employee called "dystopian" in view of the impending layoffs.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

provisions

Legislative party caucuses have failed once again to reach a consensus on
several of the major provisions of the Cabinet's 1.25-trillion N-T special
defense budget.

They did, however did reach a preliminary consensus on basic administrative
provisions.

One of the agreements: for the Ministry of National Defense would be required
to submit a special report to the legislature on the progress and performance
of projects that are included in the special defense act.

They also agreed that the special defense budget takes effect from the date
of its promulgation until December 31 of 2033.

But they remain divided over key elements, including the specific procurement
items and a ceiling for the budget.

The latest round of cross-party negotiations was hosted by Legislative
Speaker Han Kuo-yu and took place after a similar session last week failed to
produce any substantive discussions.

The Legislative Speaker has now slated a new round of negotiations for next
Monday.

Lawmakers from the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party continue to demand
that President Lai Ching-te brief lawmakers directly on the defense budget
proposal.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

The Mainland Affairs Council is slamming Chinese authorities for saying there
is no such thing as the president of the Republic of China.

The statement comes after China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang
Han earlier this week told reporters at a press briefing in Beijing... that
there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China and there is
no such thing as a Taiwan president.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jia-kun that same day also said
that "the so-called 'president of the R-O-C has long ceased to exist in the
world."

Both of those remarks were made in response to questions concerning the
cancellation of President Lai Ching-te's planned state visit to Eswatini.

Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh said the comments
reflect Beijing's position that "it does not recognize the existence of the
R-O-C" and that "the R-O-C has no president."

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

The Fair Trade Commission says Grab Holdings planned acquisition of
foodpanda's Taiwan operations has yet to enter the formal review stage.

The commission says regulators are still waiting for supplementary
documentation from the Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery giant.

Acting F-T-C Chairman Chen Chih-min says although Grab submitted its
application on March 27, the case has not been officially accepted because
the required materials remain incomplete.

Chen also told lawmakers that the F-T-C will launch a formal probe into the
deal, focusing on issues such as cross-shareholding and potential
restrictions on market competition one the filing has been finalized.

Grab announced in March that it plans acquire foodpanda's Taiwan business
from Germany-based Delivery Hero.

The deal is worth about 600-million U-S dollars and subject to regulatory
approval.

If the sale is approved, Grab expects to close the deal in the second half of
this year and complete platform integration by the first half of 2027,
migrating all foodpanda users to its own app.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

The Centers for Disease Control says Taiwan has over half a year's supply of
condoms.

The statement comes amid reports of deepening supply chain disruptions caused
by the US-Israel war on Iran.

C-D-C spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui, her agency has contacted Taiwan's three
largest condom manufacturers ...

.. and they have confirmed that current domestic supplies were sufficient for
at least half a year and that they had not received notifications from their
parent companies to raise prices.

Tseng says the delivery time of future batches of condom shipments is being
delayed by geopolitical constraints, and will depend on price quotations from
international manufacturers.

However, the C-D-C spokeswoman says an initial assessment is that the supply
of condoms will not be affected for the next six months.

The supply disruptions stem from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

And concern about condom supplies has been sparked by a B-B-C report saying
that Karex, which supplies global brands like Durex and Trojan, relies on
materials derived from oil, including the ammonia used to preserve latex, and
silicone-based lubricants.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

The Supreme Court has upheld Liang Yu-chih's life sentence for the 2020
murder of a Malaysian university student.

Liang was initially sentenced to death by the Ciaotou District Court in March
2022 after being found guilty of rape resulting in death, robbery causing
death, abandoning a corpse, and attempted rape in a separate case.

The High Court's Kaohsiung Branch upheld the death sentence on appeal.

However, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial on the rape and murder
charges... even as it finalized separate sentences of two years and two years
and 10 months for abandoning a corpse and attempted rape, respectively.

The death sentence was upheld in the first retrial, but the Supreme Court
ordered a retrial.

In the second retrial in January, the High Court's Kaohsiung Branch
overturned the death sentence and instead imposed life imprisonment.

The court ruled that Liang's primary intent was robbery and sexual assault
rather than premeditated murder, and that the crime did not meet the
threshold of the "most serious crimes" required for capital punishment.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

A study by the National Taiwan University has found that nearly 90-per cent
of drinks sampled from beverage shops contained more sugar than requested by
customers.

Researchers collected 125 samples of both sugar-free and half-sugar drinks
plain tea, milk tea and fruit tea from major chain beverage outlets
islandwide that have a significant market share.

The study found that 85.6-per cent of the drinks tested contained more sugar
than requested.

While 55.6-per cent of "no added sugar" drinks still contained detectable
sugar.

The research team said this could be due to naturally occurring sugar in
ingredients such as fruit juice, dairy products or toppings, which could
mislead consumers.

An online survey conducted in 2024 found that respondents consumed an average
of 329-milliliters of beverages per day, with intake higher among men than
women, particularly those aged between 31 and 40.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

And,

The Taiwan Creative Content Agency says Taiwan will achieve its
strongest-ever showing at this year's Far East Film Festival in Italy, with
six films selected for competition.

The festival opens today in Udine and is one of Europe's largest showcases of
Asian cinema.

The selected titles include "A Foggy Tale," which won best feature film at
the 2025 Golden Horse Awards and "Sunshine Women's Choir", which is the
highest-grossing Taiwan film of all time.

The other three works are "Deep Quiet Room," "Kung Fu," "A Mighty Adventure"
and "I Blew Out the Candles Before Making a Wish."

Agency Chairperson Sue Wang says the six films span everything from
action-packed spectacles to deeply rooted historical narratives.

Three digitally restored Taiwanese classics will also premiere in the
festival's "Restored Classics" section.

The Far East Film Festival is scheduled to announce its awards on May 2.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

Ukraine has secured a crucial European Union loan to support the country's
wartime efforts.

The 90 billion-euro or $106 billion package was approved Thursday after
Ukraine repaired the Druzhba pipeline.

Approval had been delayed because of EU political friction including
resistance from outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

At the same time, the Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin can meet
Ukrainian President Volodymyr – but only for the purpose of finalising a
peace agreement ending the 4-year long conflict.

Posted on 2026-04-24 07:02:14

Jurors at the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition say they wwill not
consider artists from countries whose leaders are facing charges at the
International Criminal Court...

The comment is seen as an apparent reference to Russia and Israel.

The five jury members, who will select the winners of the Golden and Silver
Lion awards among the 110 participants, said they felt compelled to commit
"to the defense of human rights" as part of their role at the event, which
opens on May 9.

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The decision has sparked protests from the European Commission and the
Italian government.

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