ICRT

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:14

Two Chinese official vessels briefly entered restricted waters near Taiping
Island in the South China Sea... triggering action by the Coast Guard
Administration.

It was the first time the Chinese vessels have been reported in the area.

The Coast Guard said it issued its "strongest condemnation" of China after a
patrol vessel and a supply ship were detected entering restricted waters
around Taiping Island twice on Thursday morning.

The administration says both vessels made two abrupt, sharp turns that could
have jeopardized the safety of its patrol boats, which tracked and monitored
the Chinese vessels while ordering them to leave the area.

The two Chinese vessels were later forced out of the area, which extends
4,000 to 6,000 meters from the coast.

The latest incident follows a series of similar incursions by Chinese coast
guard vessels into waters east of Taiwan and around Dongsha Island in recent
weeks.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:18

The U-S House Appropriations Committee has released its fiscal year 2027
defense appropriations bill, which includes 2-billion U-S dollars earmarked
to boost Taiwan's defense.

1-billion U-S dollars will be allocated to the Taiwan Security Cooperation
Initiative, with the funds remaining available through September 30, 2028.

The bill also earmarks another 1-billion U-S dollars for the replacement and
reimbursement of defense articles and services provided to Taiwan.

Under the bill, the secretary of defense, with the concurrence of the
secretary of state, would be authorized to draw on the Taiwan Security
Cooperation Initiative, funds to provide assistance to Taiwan.

The assistance includes the procurement of defense articles and services, as
well as military education and training.

The proposed funding follows action earlier this month by the House Armed
Services Committee.

That committee approved its version of the fiscal 2027 National Defense
Authorization Act, which authorized up to 1-billion U-S dollars for the
Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to help Taiwan bolster its
self-defense capabilities.

Both the appropriations bill and the National Defense Authorization Act,
within which it is included, must pass the House and Senate before being sent
to the president for signature.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:23

Taiwan ranks 42nd in terms of peacefulness in the 2026 Global Peace Index.

Taiwan fell from 37th place in last year's report.

The overall score measures a country's level of peacefulness, using 23
quantitative and qualitative indicators across three domains: ongoing
domestic and international conflict, societal safety and security, and
militarization.

Although Taiwan ranks 42nd worldwide, it's listed in 9th place among the 19
Asian-Pacific countries in the report.

Iceland remained the most peaceful country in the world for the 19th
consecutive year, followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia, and
Ireland.

The report is published by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and
Peace and covers 163 countries.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:23

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has held talks with several U-S senators and
representatives in Washington.

Cheng is said to have met with Republican Senator Steve Daines, Republican
Representatives John Rose and Chuck Fleischmann, and Democratic
Representative Thomas Suozzi.

The K-M-T says they discussed Taiwan's defense budget, arms purchases and
energy policy, among other issues.

Cheng said one reason for her visit to the U-S was to explain the K-M-T's
position on Taiwan's defense budget and arms purchases to lawmakers there, as
they have expressed concerns about those issues.

Cheng has insisted that K-M-T is not opposed to purchasing arms from the
United States, but the party wants defense spending to follow due process,
maintain fiscal discipline, and avoid potential corruption.

The K-M-T has also said during her visit to the U-S, that lawmakers have
raised questions about Taiwan's energy policy and nuclear power, with some of
them expressing "frustration" over the D-P-P's anti-nuclear stance and
"welcoming" the K-M-T's support for nuclear energy.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:28

The Ministry of Agriculture says Taiwan has now resumed pork exports after
regaining self-certification as free of three major swine diseases.

The first shipment of processed pork products is bound for Singapore later
this month.

Processed meat producer Taiwan Farm Industry held a container-sealing
ceremony in PingtungThursday to mark the occasion.

The shipment consists of 500 cartons, or 10,000 packs, of the company's
original-flavor Taiwanese pork sausages, which are scheduled to arrive in
Singapore on June 25.

Chairman Chang Hua-hsin says the company will initially focus on exporting
sausages before expanding to products such as braised pork belly and pork
meatballs, with fresh pork exports remaining a longer-term goal.

The resumption of pork shipments to Singapore comes after Taiwan regained
self-certification in April as free of foot-and-mouth disease, African swine
fever and classical swine fever, following authorities' containment of an
A-S-F outbreak reported last October.

Agriculture officials say the achievement is rare globally, as both Singapore
and the Philippines accepted Taiwan's export applications without dispatching
inspection teams, a sign of confidence in Taiwan's disease-control and food
safety systems.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:32

The New Taipei Transportation Department has launched four new bus routes
that cross that Danjiang Bridge.

The new routes provide 80 daily services between Banqiao and Tamsui, Tamsui
and Taoyuan International Airport, and Tamsui and Bali.

The new routes are designated 988, 989, 990 and 115.

Route 988 connects Banqiao Bus Station and Danhai New Town with 20 services
each way on weekdays and 18 each way on weekends.

Airport routes 989 and 990, provide limited daily services between Taoyuan
Airport and Danhai New Town, and Tamsui Metro Station.

The city's transport department says those airport routes take about 60
minutes, cost 120 N-T each trip and are covered by the TPass commuter
initiative and participating senior citizen cards.

The 115 route will operate as a commuter service between Tamsui and Bali on
weekdays and as a tourism-focused route on weekends and public holidays.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:32

And,

South Korean boy band Bigbang says it is bringing its 20th anniversary world
tour to Taiwan.

Bigbang is scheduled to perform at Taipei Dome on October 10-11, while
additional Taiwan shows are planned for February 27 and 28 next year at the
Kaohsiung National Stadium.

Ticket prices and sales information have not yet been announced.

Bigbang now join a growing lineup of South Korean entertainers set to visit
Taiwan over the coming months.

Jaehyun of N-C-T is scheduled to perform at the Taipei Music Center on July
4-5.

Actor Byeon Woo-seok will be performing at the National Taiwan University
Sports Center on September 25.

While K-Pop boyband, B-T-S will be performing at the Kaohsiung National
Stadium on November 19, 20 and 21.

Posted on 2026-06-12 06:54:33

to Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to Russian
President Vladimir Putin on Russia’s ‌National Day, voicing full support for
Moscow’s domestic and foreign policies.

Pyongyang state media quoted Kim as saying ties between North Korea and
Russia were strengthening into an alliance based on a comprehensive
strategic partnership treaty.

Kim also pledged to stand by Russia.

Ties between the two countries have been deepening amid North Korea’s
deployment of thousands of troops ‌to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Posted on 2026-06-11 19:38:13

Taiwan says its relationship with Israel has grown stronger through shared
challenges in recent years.

Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) made the comments at a reception
marking Israel's 78th Independence Day.

Wu said the two sides have faced challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic
and rising regional security tensions.

He said those tests have strengthened the resilience of both sides.

Wu also said Taiwan's semiconductor strengths can work with Israel's
innovation sector to create more cooperation.

Outgoing Israeli Representative Maya Yaron thanked Taiwan for its support
during her three years in Taipei.

She said Israeli visits to Taiwan grew from about 400 three years ago to more
than 10-thousand last year.

Yaron said she will continue supporting Taiwan-Israel ties after leaving the
post.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 19:38:17

President Lai Ching-te has congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on becoming India's longest-serving elected prime minister.

Lai posted the message in English on X today.

He said the milestone shows the Indian people's strong trust in Modi's
leadership.

Lai also said Taiwan will continue to deepen its partnership with India.

Modi first took office in May 2014.

He has now passed the previous record held by Jawaharlal Nehru.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 19:38:18

A reactor at Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant has resumed
operations as the country seeks to increase electricity generation.

The restart marks another step in Japan's effort to expand nuclear power amid
rising energy demand and higher fuel costs.

The facility is operated by the same company that ran the Fukushima Daiichi
plant, where three reactors melted down following the 2011 earthquake and
tsunami disaster.

The restart has renewed debate over nuclear safety and a longstanding
challenge facing Japan's nuclear industry.

Experts say the country is running out of space to store spent nuclear fuel
and has yet to establish a permanent solution for disposing of radioactive
waste.

Posted on 2026-06-11 17:09:13

Construction has officially begun on Nantou County's first large-scale indoor
sports complex.

The Nantou Lohas Sports Pavilion is being built on the site of the county's
former council building in Nantou City ... and is expected to open by the end
of 2028.

The facility will include a fitness center, multi-purpose sports areas,
indoor courts for basketball, volleyball and badminton, table tennis
facilities, a climbing wall and a dance studio.

County officials say the project has a total budget of 500 million NT — 20
percent of which is being funded by the Ministry of Sports.

The complex is designed to provide year-round recreational facilities for
residents of all ages and to support school athletics programs.

Officials also hope it will encourage greater participation in sports among
seniors and disadvantaged groups.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-11 17:09:15

The Ministry of Education says, it will launch inter-agency discussions in an
attempt to better protect teachers.

That's following several recent incidents in which teachers were attacked by
students.

The Elementary and Junior High School Principal Association is calling for
legislation to strengthen protections for educators.

The Deputy Minister of Education says that the ministry will work with the
Ministry of Civil Service to evaluate support measures for teachers.

MOE officials note that employers are currently required to assist when staff
face violence in the workplace.

They emphasize that the ministry has repeatedly urged local governments and
schools to support affected teachers with medical and psychological care.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-11 17:09:15

Korean group BIGBANG will perform at the Taipei Dome on October 10 and 11.

The group will also perform at Kaohsiung National Stadium on February 27 and
28 next year.

BIGBANG is marking its 20th anniversary this year.

Its tour is scheduled to begin in Seoul on August 21.

Ticket prices and sale times for the Taiwan shows have not yet been announced.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 17:09:15

Now turning to international news...

The death toll from Monday's powerful earthquake in the southern Philippines
has risen to at least 47, with 31 people still missing and more than 45,000
displaced.

Three days later, the crisis is far from over.

The mayor of one of the hardest-hit towns is requesting that air force
helicopters deliver food to villages cut off by landslides...

as ten communities remain inaccessible, and with power still yet to be
restored, phone service is still spotty.

Officials told media that people in those areas are going hungry.

The 7.8 magnitude quake, the largest to hit the Philippines in half a
century, damaged more than 12,600 homes across farming towns and cities.

Many residents remain too traumatized by aftershocks to return home.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-11 17:09:15

French and Swiss authorities have put in place tighter border restrictions
and regional security in preparation for the G7 summit on Monday.

The G7, headed by leaders from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy,
and Japan, will meet in Evian, a town near the French and Swiss border.

Organizers of the summit predict potentially violent unrest in the region as
activists plan protests against the event, which has been common in the past.

Protesters are especially outraged with the policies of US President Donald
Trump regarding tariffs, the Iran War, and climate change.

Activists further called for organized "resistance against fascism and
imperialism".

The Swiss army plans to deploy some 4,000 personnel in support of local
police, along with France's 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure
security along the border region.

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:52:13

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has returned to Taiwan after a five-day visit to
Palau, calling the diplomatic mission assigned by President Lai Ching-te a
success.

Hsiao's trip, her first to a diplomatic ally since taking office last year,
highlighted the results of Taiwan-Palau cooperation.

The vice president says, those highlights include surveying Taiwan-funded
infrastructure projects, Palau's national hospital, and several bilateral
cooperation projects.

During the visit, Taiwan also announced it would station Investigation Bureau
personnel in Palau to help combat cross-border crime and donate drones to the
Palauan government.

Hsiao further noted that Palau is Taiwan's closest diplomatic ally
geographically.

She encouraged Taiwanese tourists to visit, citing a shared Austronesian
heritage connecting the two peoples across the Pacific.

(AT/MW)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:52:13

Operations at part of Keelung Port were suspended today after toxic gas
leaked from a container.

The leak happened early this morning at the West 20 Pier dangerous goods
container area.

Officials say the container was carrying chlorosulfonic acid, a corrosive
chemical.

No injuries or deaths have been reported.

Authorities sealed off the area and restricted the movement of people and
vehicles.

Workers downwind from the leak were evacuated as a safety measure.

Firefighters and chemical response teams are monitoring the scene with
detection equipment.

Officials say the cause of the leak is still under investigation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:52:13

Taipei officials are urging people not to chase or crowd around wild muntjacs
found in the city.

The city's Animal Protection Office says muntjacs are easily frightened and
can die from shock.

It has received reports involving 24 muntjacs so far this year.

Most of the cases were in Shilin and Neihu, where low mountain areas are
close to the city.

Officials say eight of the reported muntjacs died after being frightened.

They say people should call the 1959 animal rescue hotline instead of trying
to catch the animals.

Officials say strong light, loud noise and too much touching can also be
dangerous.

Two young muntjacs rescued in May are now being cared for before being
released back into the wild.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:52:13

Bill Gates has told U.S. lawmakers he did not fully understand the extent of
Jeffrey Epstein's crimes when he met with him.

Gates testified privately before a House committee investigating the Justice
Department's handling of the Epstein case.

He said his meetings with Epstein were related to raising money for his
foundation.

Gates also said he never witnessed criminal conduct by Epstein.

But he accused Epstein of trying to pressure him by using information about
his extramarital affairs.

Documents released this year showed Gates and Epstein had repeated contact
after Epstein's 2008 prison term.

The Gates Foundation says it has started an outside review of its past
engagement with Epstein.

Gates has said it was a mistake to meet with him.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:52:13

Pope Leo is heading to the Canary Islands for the final leg of his visit to
Spain.

He is expected to meet about 1-thousand migrants there on Friday.

The pope has been urging governments to treat migrants more humanely.

He is also set to meet groups that help newly arrived migrants.

Leo will lay flowers at a memorial for people who died trying to reach the
islands by sea.

An NGO says more than 3-thousand people died last year trying to reach the
Canary Islands.

The pope told Spain's parliament this week that failing to help migrants
challenges the world's ethical foundation.

Spain has taken a more open approach, but its migrant residency program has
faced criticism and delays.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:12:13

A U.S. House committee has released a defense spending bill that includes
2-billion US dollars to support Taiwan's defense.

The bill comes as China's military threat against Taiwan continues to grow.

The House Appropriations Committee says 1-billion US dollars would go to the
Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.

That money could be used for defense equipment, services, and military
training for Taiwan.

The bill also sets aside another 1-billion US dollars to replace defense
materials provided to Taiwan.

The committee says its defense subcommittee will review the bill behind
closed doors.

The measure is part of the U.S.' 2027 fiscal year defense spending bill.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:12:14

In Taipei, the staffing shortage of the city government is proving to be a
contentious issue in the capital city's mayoral election.

That's as the mayor and the DPP's pick to succeed him are sparring over
parental leave policies for city employees...

making it the second day in a row that the staffing issue has come up.

The DPP's Puma Shen yesterday hit out at Mayor Chiang Wan An's childcare
reduction work hours plan.

He says that the city government has failed to provide a comprehensive set of
policies, saying the approach taken by the city government more resembles a
"band-aid approach" to governance.

But Mayor Chiang says today that his government's policy is the first of its
kind across the country, with even the central government later adapting the
model.

This comes as the Taipei city government is reportedly facing a serious
employee turnover problem, with a shortage of roughly 8000 people, an issue
that city councilors on all sides have raised concerns about.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:12:14

The KMT chair is continuing her trip to the US, meeting with several
lawmakers in Washington DC yesterday.

Cheng Li Wen reportedly touched on issues of defense and energy with senators
and representatives on both sides of the aisle.

Cheng had previously stated that one purpose of the visit would be to explain
to US lawmakers the KMT's position on Taiwan's defense budget and arms
purchases...

as some of them had expressed concerns about those issues.

Cheng said that the KMT is not opposed to purchasing arms from the US, adding
that that was why KMT lawmakers left funds for arms purchases intact in a
special defense budget.

However, she added that the KMT wants defense spending to follow what she
called "due process."

She also said that US lawmakers raised questions about Taiwan's energy policy
and nuclear power, adding that she hoped Taiwan and the US could deepen
cooperation on nuclear energy technology.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:12:14

Now turning to international news...

In northwest England, 75,000 voters will be going to the polls in a highly
consequential vote.

The election in question may choose the UK's next prime minister...

or it could elect another lawmaker of the hard-right Reform UK.

If Andy Burnham of the Labor Party wins, he could replace Prime Minister Keir
Starmer.

But Reform is hoping to prove that the longtime Labor stronghold in
Makerfield is receptive to their anti-immigrant platform.

The special election next week has drawn attention from around the world and
is taking place amidst heightened tensions over immigration.

Some voters claim that heightened immigration is putting pressure on social
systems, but annual net migration reached 900,000 under the previous
government...

and fell to 171,000 under Labor last year.

Posted on 2026-06-11 15:12:14

China is hosting an international conference in Xinjiang aimed at promoting
economic development there.

Xinjiang is where China has imprisoned one million or more Uyghur Muslims and
those of other ethnic minority groups since 2017.

China claims it has shut down "most" of the denteion center, but at least
some of the camps were converted into prisons.

The government claims that the imprisonments are in response to attacks by a
small number of extremists.

China is now hosting the International Conference for Trans-Altai Subregional
Cooperation in the western province...

with officials from several central Asian countries in attendance.

China hopes to develop coal, oil, cotton, and other industries in Xinjiang,
which is on average much poorer than the industrial east coast.

Posted on 2026-06-11 14:17:13

The Presidential Office has put forward its nominees to lead the Control
Yuan.

For the position of Control Yuan President, they're nominating Chen
Yongxing陳永興.

Chen is the former president of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights.

They're also naming Wang Rong Zhang 王榮璋, who currently serves as committee
member, to take over as vice president.

In a press conference this morning, Vice President Hsiao Bikhim said, the
nominations aimed to work towards a Control Yuan "of the people."

Hsiao says, President Lai Ching-te's main considerations in putting together
the roster included range of expertise, human rights record, and local
connections.

She also announced the names of 27 others who've been tapped to serve as
committee members, with 6 year terms.

6 of the nominees currently serve as committee members.

The remarks come as longtime Control Yuan President Chen Chu announced that
she would retire, and the term limits of others approach next month.

The nominations now head to the legislature.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-11 14:17:13

Taiwan's university application results show medical departments have their
highest number of vacancies in five years.

Eleven medical departments offered 597 places this year, but only 460
students were placed.

That left 137 vacancies.

The admissions committee says duplicate admissions may be one reason.

Some students may have been accepted by several medical departments, or
through another recommendation track.

Dental departments also saw vacancies this year.

The overall university application track placed 44-thousand-82 students, with
an admission rate of 56.31 percent.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 14:17:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 120 points to
close the session at 43105.

The turnover was 1.19 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-06-11 14:17:13

Now turning to international news...

Police in Northern Ireland have deployed water cannons for a second
consecutive night as anti-immigrant riots continued in Belfast following a
stabbing.

The suspect is a 30-year-old Sudanese national named Hadi Alodid.

Alodid was charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a man and
leaving him blind in one eye.

Video of the attack spread quickly on social media, particularly by far-right
activists.

Masked men have set fire to homes believed to house immigrants, torched a
bus, and hurled bricks at riot police.

Firefighters rescued several people from fires than left more than two dozen
homeless.

Politicians on all sides of the aisle have condemned the riots.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes "shocking and completely
unacceptable", while the victim's own family appealed for calm, saying
migrants make a "deeply valuable contribution" to the country.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-11 14:17:13

Pope Leo continues to inspire faith during his visit to Spain, drawing a
crowd of 120,000 worshippers while leading a Mass at the La Sagrada Familia
Basilica.

Following the Mass, the Pope inaugurated the basilica's final Tower of Jesus
Christ, officially making the Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world
at 173 meters.

Pope Leo has also highlighted Catalonia's Catholic traditions with his visit
to the ancient Benedictine monastery in Montserrat, while speaking in both
Catalan and Spanish.

The service marked the highlight of Leo’s weeklong visit to Spain, the first
by a pope in 15 years to the once staunchly Catholic European country that,
like many others, has experienced secularizing trends.

Posted on 2026-06-11 12:59:13

Heavy rain has helped raise reservoir levels in southern Taiwan and ease
pressure on local water supplies.

Deputy Economics Minister Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信) says key reservoirs are rising
by about 2 centimeters per hour.

He says water levels are increasing at Wushantou, Tsengwen and Nanhua
reservoirs.

The Water Resources Agency says recent rain could bring 370-million metric
tons of water into reservoirs across Taiwan.

About 200-million metric tons has already flowed in.

Officials say the rain will help stabilize water supplies in Tainan and
Kaohsiung.

Lai says Kaohsiung's water supply is stable, though officials are still
watching water turbidity.

He says more rain is expected, and the ministry will continue responding
carefully

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 12:59:13

Taichung police say they uncovered 108 drugged driving cases in the first
nine days of June.

Police say the figure shows enforcement against drugged driving is increasing
across the city.

From May 1 to June 9, officers found 291 suspected drugged driving cases.

Police say drugged driving can be harder to spot than drunk driving.

They say some drug use does not always show clear signs at the scene.

The city police department has distributed 2-thousand saliva rapid test kits
to front-line units.

A civic group and a biotech company have also donated 500 more kits.

Police say the kits will help officers screen drivers faster and collect
evidence more efficiently.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 12:59:13

A traditional Dawu tatala, or plank boat, will leave Lanyu on Monday for the
Batanes Islands in the Philippines.

The Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation says the voyage will recreate a
sea route used 300 years ago.

The boat is called "Ovayan - Golden Friendship."

It was built by master craftspeople from six villages on Lanyu, and at 12
meters long, Ovayan is the largest traditional plank boat built in the modern
era.

Organizers say 60 people will take turns rowing during the trip.

The boat is expected to travel from Lanyu to Batanes in two days and one
night.

Seven escort vessels will provide support and safety assistance along the way.

Organizers say the voyage is meant to highlight Taiwan's Austronesian culture
and Indigenous navigation wisdom.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 12:59:13

The United States and Iran have exchanged new attacks, raising fears of a
wider war in the Middle East.

The U.S. military says it struck military surveillance, communication and air
defense sites across Iran.

It says the strikes were a response to Iran's continued aggression.

Iran says it launched counter-attacks on U.S. military targets in Kuwait and
Bahrain.

Bahrain sounded missile alert sirens and urged the public to take shelter.

U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. will launch more attacks unless
Iran reaches a deal.

Iran has also warned it could fire on ships trying to pass through the Strait
of Hormuz.

Qatar is still trying to mediate between Washington and Tehran.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 12:59:13

The U.N. refugee agency says global displacement fell last year for the first
time in a decade.

But it says the long-term refugee crisis remains severe.

The agency estimates 41.6-million people are refugees, or in refugee-like
situations.

It says 14.7-million refugees and displaced people returned home last year.

But many returned to places with damaged infrastructure and continued
insecurity.

The U.N. aims to cut long-term displacement in half by 2035.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 12:59:13

Canada has introduced a digital safety bill that would ban children under 16
from using social media.

The bill includes exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards.

It would also create a digital regulator to set safety rules for A.I.
chatbots.

Companies that fail to comply could face fines of 3 percent of global
revenue, or up to 10-million Canadian dollars.

Canadian officials say social media and A.I. chatbots can harm young people's
mental health and development.

The bill comes after Australia passed the world's first social media ban for
children under 16.

Officials say Canada's bill could take a year to pass.

They say the new digital regulator could take another 18 months to set up.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:42:13

The Tai-Ex opened down 53-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
43,172 on turnover of 11.9-billion N-T.

The market tumbled on Wednesday after heavy selling in major tech stocks
triggered a decline that sent the benchmark index back to below its monthly
moving average and erased all of the previous session's gains.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:42:13

Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens early Thursday morning after Iran
threatened to retaliate over a new round of U.S. airstrikes targeting the
Islamic Republic.

Bahrain's urged the public to seek shelter.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had threatened to strike Bahrain over
the attacks.

The second day of American strikes comes hours after Bahrain, Kuwait and
Jordan — all of which host U.S. troops — came under Iranian fire.

Iran has said it will close the Strait of Hormuz in response.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:42:13

Congo's Ebola outbreak has spread to another health zone in the country's
northeastern province of Ituri.

Health officials say the outbreak has now affected 26 health zones nationwide.

That includes 18 in Ituri where most of the confirmed cases have been
reported.

Officials reported 37 new confirmed cases and 12 deaths in the past 24 hours.

The outbreak has now recorded 635 confirmed cases and 127 deaths across three
eastern provinces.

It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

Officials say there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for that
strain.

Treatment activities are now underway at Ebola centers in two affected areas.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:42:13

Pope Leo has blessed the newest tower of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, making
it the tallest church in the world.

The 172-meter Tower of Jesus Christ is topped with a large ceramic cross
visible across the city.

Leo called the basilica an "architectural masterpiece" during a Mass attended
by Spain's king, queen and prime minister.

The ceremony came 100 years after the death of architect Antoni Gaudi.

The pope also used his sermon to say Christians "cannot believe in Jesus and
promote war."

Earlier in the day, Leo became the first pope to visit a Spanish prison.

He urged inmates at Brians 1 prison to make amends and choose better lives.

The Sagrada Familia was meant to be completed this year, but construction is
now expected to continue until 2035.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:06:13

In international news,

The U-S has launched airstrikes against Iran, and President Donald Trump says
more are coming.

Bahrain has sounded its missile alert sirens after Iran threatened to
retaliate over the new round of U-S airstrikeds.

Bahrain has urged the public to seek shelter.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard had threatened to strike Bahrain over the attacks.

The U-S Central Command said in a social media post that the military was
striking targets in Iran "in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued
aggression."

The second day of American strikes comes hours after Bahrain, Kuwait and
Jordan came under Iranian fire.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:06:13

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Albania's capital of Tirana
in the largest protest yet against the development of a luxury resort
planned by U-S President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The project is ‌expected to cost around 5-billion euros.

It has provoked outrage in the country because of its location near a
protected wetland home to flamingoes, seals and sea turtle nesting sites, but
also for a perceived lack of transparency surrounding the plans designed by
foreign investors.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is the focus of the protest.

He has been in power since 2013 and many people blame him for not
eradicating widespread corruption or doing enough to improve basic services
like healthcare.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:06:13

Social tensions are rising in Mexico as Mexico City is set to welcome the
world with the opening ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup on Thursday.

A protest camp threatens to shut down the event's main fan festival on
opening day and critics say the government has focused too much on
international visitors at the expense of residents.

Teachers have also blocked roads and toppled World Cup statues.

The Mexican Soccer Federation has said the competition is expected to bring
in 3-billion U-S dollars for hotels, restaurants and sports venues.

Thursday's inauguration and opening match between Mexico and South Africa,
are expected to draw more viewers than much of the competition.

Posted on 2026-06-11 09:06:13

And finally,

Glenn Close will be getting an honorary Oscar - as will director Ridley Scott
and animator Floyd Norman in mid-November.

The A-P's Jennifer King reports.

Posted on 2026-06-11 08:15:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim arrived back in Taiwan last night after wrapping
up her five-day, four-night trip to Palau.

The visit was dubbed the "Palau Prosperity Project" by the Presidential
Office.

Speaking to reporters Taoyuan International Airport ...

.... Hsiao said President Lai Ching-te's mission for her was successfully
completed and she was deeply impressed by the warm reception she received
from Palau's President Surangel Whipps.

Hsiao described the friendship between Taiwan and Palau as being a bond
between families across the ocean, due to the shared cultural connection
across languages among the Austronesian peoples ..

.. which she says gave her a sense of familiarity and reassurance.

She also reiterated calls for Taiwanese to visit Palau - telling reporters
that there are four regular flights per week from Taiwan, making it easily
accessible.

Data shows that Taiwanese visitor numbers to Palau totaled 13,367 in 2025.

That was up by about 18-per cent from the previous year, but still far from
the peak of 40,605 visitors in 2012.

Posted on 2026-06-11 08:15:15

Two leading U-S House Republicans have said they plan to meet with K-M-T
Chairman Cheng Li-wun in Washington,

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, and Young Kim, leads a
subcommittee overseeing East Asia policy have both said they're planning to
sit down with Cheng.

Mast has admitted he doesn't have specific expectations for the meeting, but
went on to say that as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee - he'll
intelligence from anywhere he can get it.

A spokesperson for Kim, says the lawmaker plans to encourage Cheng and the
K-M-T to support more defense spending because it would be an "important
demonstration of Taiwan's commitment to self-defense and deterrence."

Kim's office also says wants to discuss Cheng's April meeting with China's Xi
Jinping and "seek greater clarity on the substance of those discussions."

Cheng told the Financial Times in an interview conducted in New York prior to
he trip to Washington that she's calling on both Washington and Beijing to
cease treating Taiwan as a pawn.

The K-M-T chairwoman told the newspaper that "Taiwan can never become or be
reduced to a pawn traded away at a negotiating table by great powers."

Posted on 2026-06-11 08:15:15

to leave China

A Chinese national with residency in Taiwan was reportedly been released from
prison in May after serving a three-year sentence on secessionism charges.

However, Fu Cha is reportedly still banned from leaving China.

Fu Cha, who goes by the pen name of Li Yanhe, is the editor-in-chief of
Taiwan-based Gusa Publishing.

Fu Cha was detained by national security authorities in Shanghai on March 21,
2023, after returning to China to visit family and handle residency-related
matters.

He was sentenced by the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court to three
years in prison for "inciting to split the country" in February of 2025.

Fu Cha was born in Liaoning and is married to a Taiwanese woman.

He held residency in Taiwan since 2013.

Fu Cha founded Gusa in Taipei in 2009 and the company has published numerous
books that are often critical of the Chinese Communist Party.

Posted on 2026-06-11 08:15:15

The Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office has indicted four people on charges
of recruiting foreign nationals here in Taiwan on visitor visas, or who had
overstayed their visas to work on farms.

Those charged include one Thai national, who had overstayed her visa.

According to the prosecutors' office, they also charged the illegal workers
excessive brokerage fees.

Prosecutors says the group arranged for 19 Thai nationals who had overstayed
their visas to work on farms and in wholesale markets in Yunlin and Changhua
for an hourly wage of between 60 and 150 N-T since December 2023.

Prosecutors have not specified how many foreign nationals were recruited to
work illegally, but have said the group made more than 1-million N-T in
illegal profits.

The victims were charged between 6,000 and 65,000 N-T in brokerage fees and
2,000 N-T a month for accommodation and utilities.

Posted on 2026-06-11 08:15:15

And finally,

Greenpeace Taiwan says research shows that smaller fish are making up an
increasing share of Taiwan's inshore and offshore catches, a trend the group
says indicates larger fish are becoming rarer due to overfishing.

According to the study, the proportion of fish caught before reaching "Lm50"
-- or the length at which 50 percent of a species reaches sexual maturity --
rose from 77.7-per cent in 2022 to 93.3-per cent in 2025.

Greenpeace says Lm50 is an important indicator of fish population health and
a key reference point for fisheries management.

It says the survey was conducted primarily through sampling at seafood
auction markets, supplemented by data collected from fish vendors.
The study covered fishing harbors in Kaohsiung, Yilan County, Pingtung County
and Penghu County.

Ho Hsuan-ching, of the National Kaohsiung University of Science and
Technology, says the survey points to severe overfishing and shows that
without effective management measures, fish populations could face bottleneck
effects that result in progressively smaller fish.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is slamming Beijing's claims of sovereignty
over waters east of Taiwan - saying China is using its own interpretation of
law enforcement as ‌a pretext to pursue expansion.

Lin said Beijing has no right to intervene in matters concerning the waters
east of Taiwan, whether they involve Taiwan's sovereignty or jurisdiction...
China's actions are clear evidence that it is a "problem-maker" that is
damaging the status quo.

Cabinet Secretary-General Xavier Chang also condemned Beijing's sovereignty
claims over waters east of Taiwan - adding the actions not only endanger
Taiwan's sovereignty, but also violate international laws and international
conventions.

Chinese coast guard vessels have been carying out what Beijing calls a
"special maritime law enforcement operation" in the area since this past
weekend.

They've demanded that commercial shipping provide information concerning
their point of origin and destination and informing ships that it has
jurisdiction over the area.

China's state media has reported the operation was in response to Japan and
the Philippines announcing maritime boundary delimitation negotiations -
which it said "seriously violates China's territorial sovereignty and
maritime rights and interests."

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:13

The National Communications Commission has issued guidelines regarding
AI-generated content.

The commission says all AI-generated content in news reporting should be
clearly and consistently disclosed, as part of its guidance on the use of
artificial intelligence in broadcast media.

The N-C-C says its guidlines are in line with the Artificial Intelligence Act.

That Act came into effect on January 14, and requires regulators to assist
industries with developing guidance based on AI risk management needs.

The N-C-C says the rules were developed with input from experts and industry
stakeholders... they are positioned as "administrative guidance" intended to
serve as a reference for self-regulation by broadcast media.

News programs that adopt AI-generated content should prominently disclose its
use throughout the production... and if third-party AI-generated audio-visual
materials are used, the source of the content should be properly attributed.

The guidelines further call for compliance with laws and regulations,
protection of human rights, fairness, and the establishment of content
verification mechanisms in the use of A-I.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:13

The military's two-day drill in the Taichung area has included the
live-firing of US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.

It was the first time that rocket systems had been fired during a drill on
the west coast.

The Army received its first batch of these systems in late 2024, while
another 18 systems are due to be delivered by the end of this year.

The exercise involved the Army's 10th Corps and also included other heavy
artillery systems.

Defense officials say the drill simulated cross-regional precision strikes
from the Dajia River estuary to demonstrate rapid deployment and battlefield
reinforcement capabilities.

The 58th Artillery Command deployed three High Mobility Artillery Rocket
Systems on each side of the river.

A total of 36 rockets were fired over three waves during the exercise - and
they hit simulated targets located in waters some 9-kilometers offshore.

Eighty-two more of the rocket systems were approved for sale to Taiwan by the
U-S in December of last year, as part an 11-billion U-S dollar arms package
to the island.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen is in Berlin - where she held talks with German
lawmakers.

Lu visited the German national assembly and met with members of the
German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group .

After the meeting, Lu said the lawmakers are very concerned about the
cross-strait situation and she told them she firmly believes in safeguarding
Taiwan's national security and ensuring peace and stability in the
Indo-Pacific region.

Lu also signed a memorandum of understanding with the East German city of
Gorlitz while in Berlin.

The M-O-U establishes exchange mechanisms covering areas including energy,
technology, culture, education and disaster prevention, with the aim of
expanding practical cooperation.

Gorlitz District Administrator Stephan Meyer says his city was well
positioned to serve as a bridge for Taiwanese supply chains entering Central
Europe, adding that Taichung could act as Gorlitz's gateway to Asia.

Lu's delegation is on a city diplomacy trip to Europe this week, which along
with visiting Germany, also include trips to the Czech Republic and Austria.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:18

Fata from the Ministry of the Interior shows a total of 6,832 births were
recorded in May.

That's the second-lowest monthly total on record after February's all-time
low... it also extends a 29-month streak of year-on-year declines in births.

Keelung recorded the lowest birth rate of 1.9 per 1,000 people, followed by
Miaoli and Chiayi County.

At the same time, May

There were 15,158 deaths in May.

That was down by 224 from the same period last year and by 836 from April.

Annual household registration statistics, Taiwan's population stood at just
over 23.25 million at the end of May.

Taiwan became a super-aged society last year, meaning that 20 percent of its
population is aged 65 or older.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:18

The Taiwan Space Agency has released 15 photographic images sent from the
Formosat-8A satellite.

The high-resolution images show Taiwan's changing landscape, from its newest
landmarks to sites that bear the marks of natural disasters and include
images of several ports, where wharves, cargo ships and container yards can
be seen in detail.

The satellite photographed a number of landmarks including the Danjiang
Bridge in New Taipei, Taichung Mitsui Outlet Park, and the Great Harbor
Bridge in Kaohsiung.

It also focused on Penghu, Xiao Lanyu and Guishan Island.

The Formosat-8A satellite is the first in Taiwan's Formosat-8 constellation
and was launched in November of last year using a SpaceX rocket, from a
launch site in California.

It was designed to capture images that surpass the imaging capabilities of
its predecessor, Formosat-5.

It began taking images in January this year.

The eight satellites are expected to be in place by 2031.

The space agency has said it will strengthen Taiwan's ability to monitor
natural disasters and security threats.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:20

At the same time...

The U.N. atomic watchdog board demands Iran fully cooperate with the agency
and provide complete information about its nuclear material.

The resolution, passed Wednesday, stressed the urgency of granting inspectors
access to Iranian nuclear sites.
Twenty-one countries on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board voted
for the resolution, while Russia, China, and Niger opposed it.

The resolution, backed by France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United
States, aims to maintain diplomatic pressure on Iran.

It comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Iran insists its
nuclear program is peaceful.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:20

Aftershocks are rocking the southern Philippines days after a powerful
earthquake that left at least 45 people dead and 17 others missing.

Some are causing further damage and putting rescuers in danger as they search
for survivors.

The coastal city of General Santos was one of the areas that was devastated
by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that left a trail of destruction across
southern Mindanao, the country’s second-most populous region.

The earthquake has been followed by more than 2,100 aftershocks including a
few that ranged up to 6.4 magnitude, which is strong enough to cause more
casualties and damage.

More than 25,000 people remain displaced, many of them staying in 45
government-run emergency shelters and still too traumatized to return home,

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:20

Thousands took to the streets of Albania's capital Tirana in the largest
demonstration yet against the development of a luxury resort planned by U.S.
President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The project, ‌expected to cost around 5 billion euros, has provoked outrage
in the Balkan country because of its location near a protected wetland home
to flamingoes, seals and sea turtle nesting sites.

Its also dogged by a perceived lack of transparency surrounding the plans
designed by foreign investors.

Protesters held signs that said "Albania is not for sale" and chanted "New
Albania" outside Prime Minister Edi Rama's office as the crowd stretched half
a mile down one of the city's main boulevards.

The protests are the latest test for Rama, who has been in power since 2013
and who many now blame for not eradicating widespread corruption or doing
enough to improve basic services like healthcare.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:20

Federal authorities has announced the seizure of 13 ‌internet domains tied to
what the U.S. Justice Department called fake consulting firms designed to
recruit current or former U.S. government and military employees to provide
information to suspected Chinese agents.

These fake firms target people via job listings for consulting or analyst
roles, and then pressure applicants for exclusive or insider information.

The announcement of the domain seizures came a week after the United States,
Britain and the other Five Eyes intelligence alliance countries warned of
China aggressively and increasingly using job platforms to target people for
information.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said that "the
allegation of so-called 'Chinese espionage threat' ‌is ⁠entirely fabricated
and constitutes malicious slander.

Posted on 2026-06-11 06:56:20

Laurence Olivier, has been honored with a plaque at his childhood home in
London.

A plaque for the man seen as Britain's greatest stage actor was unveiled by
Ian McKellen and marks where Olivier began acting as a child.

Olivier lived at the home from ages 6 to 11, creating a makeshift stage for
performances.

Known for his Shakespearean roles, he won an Academy Award for playing Hamlet
in 1949.

He also helped establish the National Theatre.

McKellen called Olivier's influence on the profession is unforgettable.

Posted on 2026-06-10 17:08:13

The Army conducted its first live-fire verification of the HIMARS multiple
launch rocket system on the island's west coast today.

Military officials say launchers were deployed on both banks of the Dajia
River, simulating cross-area fire support against high-value targets in a
northern Taiwan combat scenario.

Of a planned 36 rockets, 32 were successfully fired.

Four rockets failed to ignite, and the Army says the cause is under
investigation.

The 58th Artillery Command says the exercise demonstrated HIMARS capabilities
in rapid deployment, precision strikes, and cross-area reinforcement,
contributing to the deterrence of potential ground force incursions.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-10 17:08:13

The DPP is raising concerns over KMT-proposed changes to the Nationality Act.

Lawmaker Wang Ding Yu took to social media to say that changes pushed for by
the opposition risk allowing Chinese nationals to run for president.

KMT caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei Xiang is calling the claim
"misinformation," stating that the Elections and Recall act says that Chinese
nationals cannot run for president or vice president.

This comes as KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun Chi has proposed to amend the
Nationality Act to allow Chinese nationals who have acquired Taiwanese
citizenship but not given up their foreign nationality to run for public
office.

If the amendment were to pass, it would negate Article 20 of the Nationality
Act, which states that those with dual nationality must give up the foreign
one within one year of taking office.

Lin Pei Xiang adds that the amendment aims to address controversy that
erupted earlier this year over former lawmaker Li Zhen Xiu...

who holds Chinese citizenship.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-10 17:08:13

The Executive Yuan says, the Tsai and Lai administrations have been clear
that their cross-strait policy rests on maintaining the status quo...

noting that these policies are in line with the overall consensus of the
Taiwanese people.

That's following comments made by KMT chair Zheng Li Wen, in which she said
that it would be difficult to get a referendum passed on what she called
"peaceful unification..."

but she emphasized that many Taiwanese people support cross-strait exchange.

Zheng made the comments on her ongoing trip to the US.

Executive Yuan Secretary-General Zhang Dun Han remarked on a quote by former
US President John F. Kennedy, that "In the course of world history, only a
few generations have been fortunate enough to shoulder the mission of
defending freedom in critical moments of crisis.。。"

adding that he believed every Taiwanese person should take on that
responsibility.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-10 17:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Hong Kong authorities have charged seven people and two companies in
connection with the city's deadliest fire in decades.

The blaze in November ravaged seven apartment buildings, killing 168 people.

Suspects were charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money
laundering, tax evasion, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The 7 individuals were involved in a renovation project at the complex.

Police previously detained 38 related to the case.

A lawyer for an independent inquiry into the fire has said that almost all
fire safety systems failed on the day of the blaze, due to human error.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-10 17:08:13

Civil unrest has erupted in the UK, after protesters set a bus on fire in
east Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Cars and trash cans across the city were also set ablaze.

The uproar was fueled by the recent stabbing and attempted murder of a man,
allegedly by a 30-year old Sudanese national.

This unrest comes as part of a larger anti-immigration movement in which
activists have argued for the deportation of migrants and more restrictions
on entry into the UK.

Some Northern Irish politicians have urged authorities to curb what they call
“uncontrolled immigration.”

Posted on 2026-06-10 17:08:13

New data from the US shows a difference in two generations when it comes to
students' academic recovery after the pandemic.

Nine-year-olds have bounced back to pre-pandemic reading levels, showing
improvements in math.

But 13-year-olds' scores are sitting at the same level as when the test first
launched back in 1971.

Experts warn this isn't just a pandemic problem.

Scores were already falling before COVID hit, peaking in 2012 and declining
alongside the rise of social media.

Today, only 14% of teenagers say they read for fun every day, which is down
from 37% in the early 90s.

With those 13-year-olds now heading into high school, officials say serious
action must be taken to combat this decline.

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:11:13

The DPP is nominating Zhubei Mayor Zheng Chao Fang to run for Hsinchu
Magistrate.

That's after the DPP's election committee convened this morning.

If he is confirmed by the DPP's Central Committee, Zheng will face the KMT's
Hsu Hsin Ing in November.

Zheng previously ran for the post back in 2018.

As for who the DPP will run to take over for Zheng in Zhubei, committee
member Chen Pei Yu says, the Hsinchu County party offices are working on that
nomination.

Chen also said that the party was still working on nominees for the remaining
Kinmen, Lienchiang, and Hualien counties, as well as Penghu, where the
incumbent magistrate remains hospitalized.

The announcement comes after there have been media reports indicating that
the DPP was attempting to convince Zheng to run, but that he was not
interested.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:11:17

The Taipei mayor and the candidate seeking to succeed him are trading fire
over an ongoing staffing crisis in the Taipei City government.

The DPP's pick to take over leadership of the capital city, Puma Shen has
been calling for the city government to do more to truly reduce the stress of
city employees.

He said that he would carry out a comprehensive review of friendly workplace
policies if elected...

offering more flexible working hours, increased incentives for city
government projects, and a comprehensive upgrade of employee support
programs.

But Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, these are measures that the city
government has already taken...

adding that he would continue working to create a friendlier working
environment.

The city government says, there are dedicated breastfeeding rooms for
employees, childcare facilities, and gender-neutral restrooms available...

with plans to expand employee medical services and an employee sports center
in the works.

The debate comes as there are about 8000 vacancies in the Taipei city
government, which city councilors on both sides of the aisle have raised
concern about.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:11:18

Asian shares are mostly down today following renewed US strikes on Iran,
which have led to qustions regarding a permnant end to the attacks.

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 43227
after losing 1477 points.

The turnover was 1.247 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:11:20

Now turning to international news...

Activists in annxed east Jerusalem are warning of increased discriminatory
policies against Palestinians in the territory.

They say, that's because Israel is no longer constrained by US pressure,
while global attention has shifted to Gaza and other war zones.

One rights groups says that over 260 homes and other structures were
demolished by settlers last year.

That's a 70% increase from three years prior.

Some neighborhoods have seen the most evictions in decades.

Israel has long worked to expand the Israeli presence in annexed east
Jerusalem, using discriminatory policies and archaeological claims to evict
Palestinians from their homes.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, in the
1967 Mideast War, and much of the international community considers them to
be illegally occupied.

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:09:48

The Coast Guard says Chinese ships are harassing commercial traffic in waters
east of Taiwan while claiming jurisdiction over the area.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) says China is using so-called law
enforcement as a cover for expansion.

He says China has no right to interfere in the area, whether the issue
involves Taiwan's sovereignty or jurisdiction.

The comments came after Chinese coast guard vessels used planned
Japan-Philippines maritime talks as a pretext for activity near Taiwan.

Cabinet Secretary-General Chang Tun-han (張惇涵) says China also has no right to
disrupt freedom of navigation in Taiwan's economic waters.

Chang says Taiwan will not give up any part of its "blue maritime territory."

He says Taiwan's navy and Coast Guard are closely monitoring the situation to
protect public safety.

Lin says Japan and the Philippines have both told Taiwan the talks do not
involve any third party.

He says Taiwan's sovereignty, fishing rights, maritime interests, and
fishermen's operating rights will be protected.

Chang also called on lawmakers to support the defense and Coast Guard budgets
now under review.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:09:48

A National Tsing Hua University team has developed the world's brightest
room-temperature single-photon source.

The device can emit more than 2.3-billion photons per second.

The team says that sets a new world record.

The research was led by materials science professor Lin Hao-wu (林皓武).

Lin says the device could be used in quantum encrypted communications within
five years.

He says it may also become a key part of quantum computers within five to 10
years.

The team used perovskite quantum dots and tiny silver cubes to boost light
emission.

Researchers say the technology works at room temperature, which could lower
equipment costs and make future applications easier.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:09:48

Ukraine has signed a new drone cooperation deal with Latvia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the agreement during a summit with
Nordic and Baltic leaders in Tallinn.

Latvia says Ukrainian anti-drone experts will arrive immediately to share
battlefield experience and training.

The deal is also expected to support joint production between the two
countries' defense industries.

Zelenskiy says Ukraine wants every region of Europe to have enough protection
against Russian threats.

The Baltic states have reported several drones entering their airspace in
recent weeks.

The Kremlin says Europe is still not ready to mediate peace talks with
Ukraine.

Nordic and Baltic leaders say cooperation with Ukraine will focus on drones,
training, data sharing, and defense technology.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:09:48

The U.S. House has passed a 70-billion US dollar bill to fund immigration
enforcement.

The measure would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol
through the rest of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

It now goes to Trump for his signature.

Republicans say the funding is needed to support Trump's immigration
crackdown.

Democrats opposed the bill after earlier talks on reforms for immigration
agents failed.

The dispute had led to a 76-day partial shutdown of the Department of
Homeland Security earlier this year.

The Republican-led Senate passed the same bill late last week using a
fast-track process.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 14:09:49

Pope Leo has spoken in Catalan during a visit to Barcelona, in a nod to the
region's identity.

He greeted crowds at the city's 14th-century cathedral as part of a week-long
tour of Spain.

The pope used Catalan at the start of his homily, after regional officials
had hoped he would speak the language.

Catalan is widely used in local schools, churches, and politics.

The visit comes as Leo warns that global conflicts have pushed the world into
a deep crisis.

He is also calling for stronger protection for migrants and vulnerable people.

The pope will visit Montserrat and the Sagrada Familia on Wednesday.

His Spain tour ends Friday in the Canary Islands, where he is set to meet
about 1-thousand migrants.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 12:40:13

The central bank is not planning more housing credit controls for now.

Central bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) gave the signal ahead of a board
meeting on June 18.

Yang says "selective credit controls will stop here."

The meeting will also review interest rates, as inflation pressure rises and
Taiwan's stock market stays hot.

Yang says the central bank is still watching the latest data before making a
decision.

He says Taiwan's prices remain relatively stable compared with major
economies.

Yang says the bank can use interest rates, open market operations, and
reserve requirements to manage market liquidity.

He also says the US dollar will likely remain the world's most important
currency for the foreseeable future.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 12:40:13

Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) says domestic travel subsidies
could begin in September, if the Legislature approves the budget in July.

He says the program could start moving forward one month after funding is
approved.

Tourism Administration head Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) says birthday hotel vouchers
could be drawn first in August.

But she says people would not be able to use those vouchers until September.

The plan includes weekday hotel discounts of up to 2-thousand NT.

It also includes birthday hotel vouchers worth 1-thousand-200 NT, amusement
park discounts, company travel rewards, and Taiwan PASS discounts.

The subsidies are part of a tourism plan with a total budget of about
3.46-billion NT.

Officials say the final launch date will depend on when lawmakers approve the
funding.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 12:40:13

The United States has launched new strikes on Iran after Washington says
Tehran shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command says it targeted Iranian air defense, ground control,
and surveillance radar sites.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the strikes a strong and powerful response.

The U.S. military says two crew members were rescued by a Navy surface drone
after the helicopter went down near Oman's coast.

Trump says the pilots were not injured.

Iranian state media says Qeshm island and the port city of Sirik were
attacked.

Iran's foreign minister says Tehran will not leave any attack or threat
unanswered.

The escalation is adding pressure to efforts to keep a fragile ceasefire
alive and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 12:40:13

Police in Belfast have declared a critical incident after anti-immigrant
protests broke out across the city.

The protests followed a knife attack that left a man in his 40s with serious
injuries.

Police say a 30-year-old Sudanese national has been charged with attempted
murder.

He is due in court on Wednesday.

Masked youths set vehicles on fire, including a bus in east Belfast.

Police deployed armored vehicles as crowds gathered in several parts of the
city.

Police say the knife attack is not currently being treated as terrorism.

Northern Ireland's main political leaders have condemned the attack and
called for calm.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 12:40:13

Sydney's new international airport will welcome its first passengers on
October 25.

Western Sydney International Airport is about 60 kilometers west of the city
center.

It will operate 24 hours a day, unlike Sydney's current airport, which has a
night curfew.

Officials say that will give airlines more room to schedule late-night and
early-morning flights.

Jetstar will operate the first passenger flight to the Gold Coast.

Air New Zealand will begin Auckland service the next day.

Singapore Airlines will launch daily flights in November, including a
departure just before midnight.

The airport cost about 3.6-billion US dollars and is expected to serve up to
10-million passengers a year at first.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-06-10 08:08:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Coast Guard Administration says Chinese coast guard vessels have been
"harassing" commercial shipping operating in waters east of Taiwan.

According to the administration, the Chinese coast guard has been demanding
commercial vessels provide information concerning their point of origin and
destination and claiming jurisdiction over the area.

The administration says Chinese ships have broadcast messages to three
commercial vessels asking since Sunday requesting that information.

None of the commercial ships were baorded or inspected or approached by the
Chinese vessels.

Coast Guard Administration officials say they've been broadcasting their own
messages in response, telling commercial vessels that China has no
jurisdiction in Taiwan waters and they are not oblidged to respond to any of
the questions.

The administration also says it's vessels have been broadcasting messages
telling the Chinese vessels to ease harassing shipping in the area.

The incidents have been taking place after China this past weekend announced
it had launched what it called a "special maritime law enforcement operation"
and sent coast guard vessels into waters east of Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-06-10 08:08:14

Immigrants Committee.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office says it's seeking a 21 prison
sentence and fines totaling 23-million N-T for the former head of the Taiwan
People’s Party's New Immigrants Committee.

The statement comes as the New Taipei District Court wrapped up a case
against Xu Chun-ying.

Xu was indicted in March on charges of violating the Anti-Infiltration Act
and of financial crimes.

Prosecutors have argued that after moving to Taiwan from China in 1998, Xu
became chair of the Taiwan New Immigrants Development Association and
frequently traveled to China under the pretext of providing services for
Chinese spouses.

According to prosecutors, Xu met with Chinese officials during those trips
and acted under the instructions of Chinese infiltration sources to back for
former Taipei mayoral candidate Vivian Huang and former T-P-P presidential
candidate Ko Wen-je.

Prosecutors also alleged that Xu "expressed her loyalty" to the Chinese
Communist Party on numerous occasions.

Xu was released by the court on bail of 2-million N-T and banned from leaving
Taiwan after Tuesday's final hearing.

However, prosecutors say they are considering filing an appeal against the
court's decision to grant her bail.

Posted on 2026-06-10 08:08:14

The Centers for Disease Control says the number of COVID-19 cases is
continuing to increase - with outpatient and emergency room visits reaching
1,000 last week.

According to the C-D-C, the number of people seeking treatment for COVID-19
like symptoms during the week of May 31 to June 6, was up by 4.1-per cent
from the previous week.

C-D-C spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui says latest figures mark the third
consecutive weekly increase since the current wave reached a low point.

Tseng also says although weekly growth has remained modest at around 3 or
4-per cent, the upward trend warrants continued monitoring.

Health officials have reported five new domestic cases of severe COVID-19
complications during the week of June 2 to 8 - most of which involved people
aged 65 or older.

None had received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

However, no COVID-19-related deaths were recorded over the same period.

Posted on 2026-06-10 08:08:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it's expanding eligibility for its
online passport renewal service to people whose passports will expire within
one year.

According to the ministry, from July, citizens aged 18 or older will be able
to renew their passports online using a citizen digital certificate, provided
the passport is not lost or damaged and no changes are required to the
information page.

The online service was launched in 2025 to make passport renewals easier and
eliminate the need to visit a Bureau of Consular Affairs.

However, it was previously only available to those whose passports had
already expired or had less than six months of validity remaining and the
bureau says only around 110,000 people have used the service since it was
launched 18 months ago.

The bureau initially estimated that the service could benefit 200,000 to
300,000 passport renewal applicants each year.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs said last year that the requirement to possess
a government-issued citizen digital certificate to apply was one of the
barriers limiting the initiative's popularity.

Only around 4-million of Taiwan's roughly 23 million citizens currently have
the certificate, which is used in Taiwan as an official form of online
identification.

Posted on 2026-06-10 08:08:14

The Central Weather Administration says heavy rain is expected to continue
across central and southern parts of the island today as the plum front
gradually moves south.

The center, south and east are all likely to see heavy rain and localized
torrential downpours.

The rain is forecast to ease gradually from this evening.

However, another frontal system is forecast to move over Taiwan on Friday and
Saturday, bringing a renewed increase in rainfall to the island.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is slamming moves by Beijing to claim
ownership of waters east of Taiwan - its also accusing China of undermining
regional peace and stability.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei says China has no law enforcement
authority and no right claim jurisdiction over those waters... it also has no
right to use the talks between Tokyo and Manila to expand its claims to areas
near Taiwan.

Hsaio said Beijing is using the talks as pretext to normalize coast guard
patrols and law enforcement in the waters east of Taiwan - actions that
"challenge the international order."

The statement comes after China this past weekend announced it had launched
what it called a "special maritime law enforcement operation" and sent coast
guard vessels into those waters.

At the time, China's state media reported the operation was in response to
Japan and the Philippines announcing maritime boundary delimitation
negotiations in the waters east of Taiwan - which it claimed "seriously
violates China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

The Army's 10th Corps has conducted heavy artillery drills around the
northern and southern banks of the Dajia River estuary in Taichung... the
move said to simulate a scenario where Chinese amphibious forces attempt to
invade central Taiwan.

Troops carried out live-fire drills in an operational area with the
Thunderbolt-2000 multiple launch rocket system for the first time in seven
years, followed by exercises involving M-109-A-2 self-propelled howitzers.

The 10th Corps says the live-fire drills aimed to verify joint firepower
capabilities and the effectiveness of the kill chain while simulating efforts
to delay and weaken invading forces landing on Dajia Beach.

The Thunderbolt-2000 systems launched 180 training rockets with each vehicle
fired 60 rockets in about 30 seconds.

The first two launchers successfully fired their full loads.

However, the seventh rocket fired by the third launcher fell a short distance
from its launch location.

Defense officials say the rocket ignited properly and exited the launcher,
but the second-stage propellant ignition may have malfunctioned and National
Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is now analyzing the issue.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan and Japan face identical security
challenges along the First Island Chain.

In a pre-recorded address at the inaugural Shinzo Abe and Modern Japan
International Research Forum in Tokyo, Lai said the late Prime Minister's
declaration that "a Taiwan contingency is a Japanese contingency" highlights
the importance of continued peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The president also used the opportunity to thank Japan's Prime Minister Sanae
Takaichi for continuing Abe’s legacy.

The forum was cohosted by the National Chengchi University's Shinzo Abe
Research Center and the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals think
tank... it brought together experts from Taiwan, Japan and the U-S to discuss
Abe's legacy and strategy.

Taiwan's representative in Tokyo, Lee Yi-yang also addressed attendees,
saying Taiwan’s defense is not just a matter of regional security, but an
important part of the global supply chain.

Lee also said that Taiwan, Japan, the U-S and other like-minded countries
must seek to boost collaboration to jointly defend a free and open
Indo-Pacific region.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

Fire investigators and police are investigation the cause of an explosion
that left two people dead and two other in injured in Hsinchu City on
Tuesday.

The predawn gas explosion ripped through a lunchbox store on Gaocui Road in
the city's East District.

The blast collapsed a wall onto a neighboring bakery - where the two elderly
victims were sleeping.

Firefighters found the couple trapped under debris in their second-floor
bedroom when the wall between the two buildings collapsed.

Both were later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Two people sustained minor injuries.

Firefighters believe gas may have accumulated overnight inside the lunchbox
store after it closed.

The shop contained four liquefied petroleum gas cylinders and was also
connected to a natural gas pipeline, and if only one cylinder had leaked, the
explosion would not have been powerful enough to cause such damage.

The blast was strong enough to blow up a car parked across the street.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

The Food and Drug Administration has seized two shipments of Japanese mitten
crabs after test found they contained excessive levels of dioxins.

It's the first border inspection violation involving the product in three
years.

Officials say the shipments weighed a combined 10-kilograms and were found to
contain dioxin levels of 4.5-picograms and 8.0-picograms per gram,
respectively.

The second shipment also recording a combined level of dioxins and
dioxin-like P-C-Bs of 10.1 picograms per gram.

The regulatory limit is 3.5 picograms per gram for dioxins and 6.5 picograms
per gram for the combined concentration of dioxins and dioxin-like P-C-Bs.

The F-D-A says future Japanese mitten crab imports will be subject to
batch-by-batch inspections through June of next year.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

The owner of Taipei's Causeway Bay Books says he's temporarily closing the
store due to health concerns.

Lam Wing-kee can't say when the bookstore might reopen, or whether it will
resumes operations at all - as both will depend on his health.

The 70-year old relocated to Taiwan in 2019 after being detained by
authorities in Hong Kong in 2015 over allegations that his bookstore sold
books critical of the Chinese Communist Party.

The bookstore was closed in 2016.

Lam reopened Causeway Bay Books in Taipei's Zhongshan District before
relocating to Zhongzheng District in 2024.

Lam has not disclosed what his health problems are.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

And,

The Taipei City Government Department of Labor has announced that a second
round of free health check-ups for migrant workers will be held at Taipei
Main Station this coming Sunday.

The department says the check-ups will run from 12:30 to 3PM in the station's
main hall... these will include general health screenings as well as
consultations in dentistry, ear, nose and throat issues, internal medicine,
gynecology, and traditional Chinese medicine.

City health officials say information on healthcare resources will also be
available at the venue.

The first 20 migrant workers to complete the check-up will receive a voucher
for a 15-minute massage.

The department is reminding migrant workers to bring their Alien Resident
Certificate and National Health Insurance card.

The city is partnering with the Tzu Chi International Medical Association...
its the second of four free health check-up sessions planned for this year.

The remaining two sessions are scheduled for August 16 and October 4.

Posted on 2026-06-10 06:57:13

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
reached an "important consensus" and agreed to safeguard regional and global
‌peace.

Pyongyang's state media said the comments came in a message of thanks sent
after Xi's two day trip to North Korea.

Xi said the two sides had “exchanged in-depth views on issues of common
concern... they are both said to have reached a series of important joint
consensus,” reflecting their determination to further deepen ties.

Xi said he was willing to work with Kim “based on fundamental and long-term
interests” to “steadily safeguard, consolidate and develop” bilateral ties
and contribute more to regional and global peace and development.

He also said the visit had been “successfully concluded” and that relations
had entered “a new historical stage,” while expressing hope ‌to meet Kim
again.

Xi visited Pyongyang from Monday to Tuesday in his first trip to North Korea
in seven years

Posted on 2026-06-09 19:09:13

A coalition of four pan-green parties is nominating 11 more candidates to run
in local elections this year.

Taiwan Go Go announced the nominees for councillor and other positions in
Taipei, New Taipei, Yilan, Keelung, Yunlin, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung.

This is the fourth round of nominees that the four parties, including the New
Power Party, Taiwan Statebuilding Party, Green Party, and Obasang, have put
forward this year.

NPP Chair Claire Wang says that she hopes local councils will be made up of
policymakers with firsthand experience, who are able to bring their knowledge
to the fore to solve problems faced by local people.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 19:09:13

The first instance judgement in a case involving accusations against
so-called "Chinese spouse" Xu Chunying will be read out in mid August.

Xu is accused of working with Chinese Communist Party officials and was
indicted on charges that violated the Anti-Infiltration Act, the Banking Act,
and the Criminal Code.

Arguments concluded in the case today, and a judgement will be read out on
August 11.

Xu's bail, meanwhile, has been set at 2 million NT, with restrictions on her
travel and residence.

According to New Taipei prosecutors, Xu led the Taiwan New Immigrant
Development Association and took orders from Chinese officials to liaise with
designated Taiwanese candidates for public office.

She is also accused of engaging in fraud.

Xu pleaded guilty only to loan fraud and underground money transfer offenses,
denying charges of violating the Anti-Infiltration Act

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 19:09:13

Rocks falling on the Da’an Road Suspension Bridge in Miaoli County’s Tai’an
Township temporarily blocked traffic in both directions earlier today.

This was due to heavy rainfall overnight.

The chief of Hsiangbi Village, sanitation workers, and members of the nearby
tribe cleared some of the smaller rocks by hand this morning.

After that, vehicles could pass by in one direction.

Larger rocks were later cleared by engineers from the township office.

All work and classes were suspended for the day, due to the increased risk of
further landslides due to the loose soil in the mountains.

The fire department urged the public to pay close attention to road
conditions when going out and to avoid mountainous areas, low-lying areas,
and bodies of water.

(JM)

Posted on 2026-06-09 19:09:13

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is in Estonia today as a guest of a
summit of the eight Nordic and Baltic leaders.

This is amidst some annoyance in the region at Ukrainian drones.

These drones have repeatedly strayed into Baltic countries in recent months,
as Kyiv has stepped up its strikes on Russia’s Baltic Sea ports.

Estonia holds the rotating presidency of the NB8, a regional grouping of the
five Nordic and the three Baltic countries.

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Estonia also held talks, notably about
Ukraine’s security and its bid to join the European Union.

Estonia supports such a move.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued to attack Ukraine.

The head of the regional administration of Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine,
said that three were killed and 25 others were wounded over the past 24 hours
there.

And three were wounded in Dnipropetrovsk overnight, according to that
region’s administrative head.

And emergency officials said that a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone
hit the Russian city of Belgorod, 40 kilometres from the border with Ukraine.

Posted on 2026-06-09 19:09:13

French singer and actor Patrick Bruel is in police custody over allegations
by at least thirteen women of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.

That is according to the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris.

Bruel, 67, who has been in custody since yesterday, denies the allegations.

He has been a major star across the French-speaking world since the 1980s,
with a string of hit songs and appearances in film and TV productions.

French authorities can either file preliminary charges or release him by the
end of the day.

Posted on 2026-06-09 19:09:13

Actress Natalie Ng (吳文忻), the second runner-up in the Miss Hong Kong beauty
pageant in 1998, has passed away.

She was 51.

Ng had been battling cancer for the last few years.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, which came back in 2024,
and which later spread to her liver, bones, and brain.

After participating in Miss Hong Kong, Ng starred in various TVB series such
as 2000’s “The Kung Fu Master” and 2020’s “Iron Ladies”.

She leaves behind two daughters, aged 9 and 12, who will be cared for by
their father, Ng’s ex-husband.

Posted on 2026-06-09 18:21:13

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan is ready to provide assistance to the
Philippines after a powerful earthquake struck the southern island of
Mindanao.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines says it's
discussing possible relief supply donations with Philippine authorities
following Lai's offer of support.

Philippine disaster officials say the magnitude-7-point-8 earthquake has
killed at least 37 people, injured more than 160 others and left four people
missing.

Authorities say nearly 20,000 households, or about 88,000 residents, have
been affected by the quake.

Officials also report hundreds of aftershocks, landslides and damage to
infrastructure in the affected areas.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-09 18:21:20

The Centers for Disease Control has reported Taiwan's first locally acquired
case of paratyphoid this year, a bacterial infection caused by a strain of
Salmonella.

The patient is a man in his 50s from northern Taiwan who developed a fever
and other symptoms in late May.

Health officials say he was hospitalized and treated with antibiotics before
making a full recovery.

Authorities say he had no recent travel history, and the source of the
infection remains unclear.

One household contact and seven workplace contacts have all tested negative.

The CDC says paratyphoid is usually spread through contaminated food or water
...

... and urges everyone to maintain good hand hygiene and ensure food and
drinking water are properly prepared.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-09 18:21:20

Chunghwa Post says 46 ATMs in fraud-prone areas across Taiwan will be
equipped with new face-covering alert technology by the end of this month.

The system is aimed at deterring scam runners, who often wear masks or
helmets while withdrawing cash to avoid being identified.

If someone approaches an ATM with their face covered, access to transactions
will be delayed for up to two minutes.

During the final 30 seconds, the machine will sound an alert asking the user
to remove the covering.

Transactions can still proceed after the delay expires, even if the person's
face remains covered.

Chunghwa Post says the program will be expanded further in August.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-09 17:07:13

The former mayor of Changhua city has announced that he's withdrawn from the
DPP and will run for magistrate as an independent.

Qiu Jian Fu had been threatening to make the move after the DPP named
lawmaker Chen Su Yue as their pick to run Changhua.

Qiu remarked on his long history with the DPP, and said he was thankful for
the party's support in bringing him up...

but added that the party had turned away from its founding ideals and said
that party factions had become too baked into decisions made by the party
leadership.

He emphaiszed his belief that there is shrinking space for democratic
decision-making within the DPP.

Qiu's move comes after there's been infighting in both the blue and green
camps in the Changhua race.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 17:07:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expanding eligibility for its online
passport renewal service starting July 1st.

MOFA says the change will allow anyone whose passport has expired or has less
than one year of validity remaining to apply through the internet rather than
visiting a consular office in person.

From 10 a.m. on July 1st, ROC citizens aged 18 or older may renew their
passports online using a citizen digital certificate, provided the passport
is not lost or damaged and no changes are required to the information page.

The online passport renewal system launched in January 2025 and was first
expanded last July to cover passports with less than six months of validity.

Officials say more than 110-thousand people have used the service to date.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-09 17:07:13

National Taiwan University says power has been fully restored following an
outage that affected parts of the campus during finals week.

A high-voltage equipment failure struck the main campus at around 9:30 AM,
interrupting some classes and exams, with students reporting they had to
continue taking tests in the dark.

Emergency repair crews were dispatched immediately, and power was restored
around noon.

The university says maintenance staff had previously identified problems with
the power equipment and had already scheduled a replacement project which is
expected to go ahead later this month.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-09 17:07:13

Now turning to international news...

Officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are reporting 100 deaths
from ebola less than one month after authorities declared an outbreak of the
disease.

Skepticisim from angry residents remains challenges to stopping the spread.

Out of the 550 confirmed cases of the disease, there have been 101 deaths and
19 recoveries.

The number of cases is believed to be much higher, however, as the outbreak
was confirmed atfer it likely started.

But authorities say, the rapid increase in cases in likely partially due to
the scaling up of diagnostic capabailities.

This strain of ebola has no vaccine or treatment.

Posted on 2026-06-09 17:07:13

Rescuers in the southern Philippines are still combing through collapsed
buildings today...

one day after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the region.

It killed at least 37 people and displaced more than 20,000, making it the
strongest to hit the country in nearly 50 years

The quake struck yesterday morning off the coast of Mindanao, leaving 500
injured.

In General Santos, a coastal city of over 700,000, at least 13 have died from
collapsed buildings and falling debris.

Major tsunami damage following the quake was largely avoided despite some
waves being recorded as far north as southern japan.

The quake hit on the very first day of the school year, injuring young
students who had gathered for flag-raising ceremonies.

Authorities say thousands of school buildings must be inspected before
Classes can resume.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-06-09 17:07:13

South Africa is rolling out a new injectable drug for HIV preventation.

The president calls the drug a turning point for the country with the world's
highest burden of HIV.

Over 8 million South Africans have the virus.

The government has acquired enough doses for 456,000 people for a year.

But health advocates say the country deserves many more doses after South
Africa's central role in the work that brought the promising drug to the
world.

Posted on 2026-06-09 16:28:13

President Lai Ching-te has called on the legislature to examine the 2026
central government budget.

He also said that the opposition's decision to cut funding for Taiwan's drone
budget was surprising.

Lai added that he would not give up, and said that he hoped all parties could
work together to make Taiwan a centre for drone production in the
Asia-Pacific region.

In that vein, the president said that his administration would promote a few
main initiaitves, including establishing a national alliance for drone
production, and allocating special budgets for support, as well as relaxing
regulations in order create a supportive environment for the industry.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 16:28:13

The Executive Yuan has approved a major overhaul of supervisor pay at the
Taiwan Railway Corporation, which take effect retroactively from June 1st.

Premier Cho Jung-tai announced the reform at an event marking the TRC's 139th
anniversary, saying that the current system has long resulted in uneven
workloads and compensation for managers.

Under the new changes, the number of supervisor pay grades will increase from
eight levels to twelve, with larger raises for lower-level managers.

The government said the aim is to encourage more employees to take on
leadership roles and to improve operational efficiency.

Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai says some supervisors previously earned less
than the employees they managed and that the new system will better reflect
the responsibilities of management positions.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-09 16:28:13

The Israel Defence Forces, or IDF, has just issued an urgent evacuation order
for the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

Iran agreed to stop attacking Israel yesterday, but threatened to resume
strikes on Israel if Israel continued its attacks in southern Lebanon.

Tyre is situated 20 kilometres north of the Israeli border, and the entire
city is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It has been continuously inhabited for almost five thousand years and is home
to roughly two hundred thousand people.

Tyre’s Christian quarter has, for the first time, been included in the zones
that have been told to evacuate.

The IDF’s spokesman wrote on X that one’s “presence near Hezbollah elements …
endangers [their] lives.”

Posted on 2026-06-09 16:28:13

David Sullivan, a co-owner of West Ham, a football club based in East London,
has been accused of preying on women since the 1980s.

At least seven women have independently come forward with allegations against
him.

They say that he dangled opportunities to regularly model for his papers in
front of them, if only they would have sex with him.

Sullivan resigned as joint chair of the club on the weekend and he denies the
claims.

Through his two tabloids, the 77-year-old Sullivan was a gatekeeper for young
women looking to further their careers in glamour modelling.

He has, in the past, admitted to hiring sex workers and to paying for sex
with a girl he believed to be 16 or 17 years old – which was legal in England
at the time.

West Ham played in the Premier League, the highest level in England, this
season, but finished eighteenth out of twenty teams and was relegated to the
EFL Championship.

Posted on 2026-06-09 16:28:13

OpenAI says that it eventually plans to go public.

It said yesterday that it has filed with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission to pursue an initial public offering, or an IPO.

This comes one week after its AI rival, Anthropic, said that it was also
planning on going public and listing on the stock market.

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, and Anthropic, maker of Claude, are fierce rivals.

Another rival, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, develops the controversial AI chatbok
Grok, and plans to list on Nasdaq this Friday.

SpaceX says it expects to be valued at around 1.75 trillion USD (55 trillion
NT), while OpenAI and Anthropic are valued at around half that.

Listing is expected to inject these companies with billions of dollars in
capital.

This will come in handy with the cost of the infrastructure and processing
power required to develop and train their chatbots and make them available to
the public.

OpenAI is not currently profitable.

Posted on 2026-06-09 15:06:15

Coast guard officers have seized nearly 1,900 kilograms of ketamine hidden
aboard a Pingtung-registered vessel, making it the largest drug haul ever
found on a fishing boat in Taiwan's history.

The Coast Guard Administration gave details on the case today, saying
officers acting on intelligence boarded the vessel about 30 nautical miles
west of Mao-bitou in southern Taiwan in January.

They found the packages of ketamine disguised as tea.

Authorities say the drugs had an estimated street value of $3-billion NT, and
was sufficient for 7.5 million individual uses.

The boat owner and a crew member have been indicted on charges of violating
the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.

The Coast Guard is urging members of the public who observe suspicious
activity at sea to call the maritime emergency hotline at 118, noting that
successful tip-offs may be eligible for rewards.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-09 15:06:15

Five mountainous districts in Kaohsiung have suspended work and classes today
and completed the evacuation of nearly 1,900 residents ahead of expected
heavy rainfall.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai says mountainous areas are the primary concern, as the
Central Weather Administration forecasts accumulated rainfall of up to 400
millimeters, meeting the threshold for suspending work and classes.

Taoyuan, Liugui, Namaxia, Maolin, and Jiaxian districts are all off work and
school today.

Landslide alerts have been issued for some areas, and Chen says the
evacuations were completed by last night as a precaution.

The mayor is urging residents in mountainous and low-lying areas to remain on
high alert, and asked the public to stay away from beaches and riverbanks.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-09 15:06:15

Nithya Raman advances

Democrat Nithya Raman has edged out Republican Spencer Pratt to move on to
the second round of the race to become mayor of Los Angeles.

Pratt was best known for being on the cast of the MTV reality TV show “The
Hills”.

Raman will face incumbent mayor Karen Bass, who easily secured more votes
than both Raman and Pratt in the first round.

Bass served six terms in the U.S. Congress and was the first black woman to
serve as the Speaker of the House in any state legislature.

But while the city’s left-leaning electorate has been generally supportive of
her handling of Donald Trump’s immigration police, ICE, there has widespread
dissatisfaction with her handling of the Palisades Fire, which destroyed
thousands of homes – including Spencer Pratt’s.

Raman is a city planner and has been on City Council since 2020.

The second round of the election will take place in November.

Posted on 2026-06-09 15:06:15

Donald Trump was booed on Monday night in New York City’s Madison Square
Gardens, as he became the first sitting U.S. president to watch the NBA
finals.

The New York Knicks lost game 3 at home against the San Antonio Spurs, 111 to
115, after winning the first two games in San Antonio.

The increased security in place for Trump’s visit led to a security queue
longer than two city blocks.

And the booing erupted when a jumbotron showed Trump as the national anthem
was being sung.

Trump, who was born in the New York City borough of Queens, was invited by
the Knicks’ owner, James Dolan.

He attended with several members of his administration, including the
Transportation Secretary and the Interior Secretary.

Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, was also in attendance, as were
celebrities like Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, Spike Lee, and Timothee Chalamet.

Posted on 2026-06-09 15:06:15

And staying with Donald Trump, the U.S. president says that the two crew
members on board a helicopter that crashed around the Strait of Hormuz are
“fine”.

The strait remains under an Iranian chokehold.

It was the New York Times that first reported that a U.S. Army Apache attack
helicopter went down near the strait in unclear circumstances.

Apache helicopters have been a key asset for the American military as it
enforces a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers, seeking to
pressure Tehran into reaching a deal.

The US military and the Defence Department have not responded to requests for
comment, but Trump said that they will issue a report on Tuesday, Washington
time.

Posted on 2026-06-09 14:07:13

Officials are warning of potential landslides and flooding as most of Taiwan
continues to be pounded by heavy rain.

The National Park Service is urging hikers to stay up to date on the latest
weather information, and to take steps to protect their safety.

They're advising hikers to immediately stop in the case of heavy rain,
lightning, or other dangerous weather, and to avoid high-risk aras.

They emphasize that, even after the rain stops, there is still a heightened
risk of landslides due to increased soil moisture.

Meanwhile, the Central Weather Administration is warning of continued heavy
rain in the mountainous regions of Pingtung and Kaohsiung.

The Nuclear Safety Commission says, it's already asked Taipower to carry out
flood prevention measures for the No. 3 power plant.

And in Taipei, the city government is warning against heading into the
mountains or near large bodies of water for risk of landslides or flooding.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 14:07:13

Taipei City is holding its second free health screening event for migrant
workers this weekend.

The city's Department of Labor announced today that the checks will run from
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday, in the main hall of Taipei Main Station.

Officials say the health checks cover general health examinations, dentistry,
ear nose and throat, internal medicine, gynecology, psychiatry, and
traditional Chinese medicine.

Migrant workers are asked to bring their Alien Resident Certificate and
National Health Insurance card.

The labor department says two more screening events are scheduled for August
16th and October 4th.

Officials are asking employers and recruitment agencies to pass the
information along to migrant workers in their care.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-09 14:07:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 44704 after
gaining 1201 points.

The turnover was 1.151 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-06-09 14:07:18

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake has struck near Cuba.

No injuries or damage have been reported yet.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was about 26 kilometers underground
in waters just west of the capital, Havana.

Shaking was also reported in the US state of Florida

Officials in Miami said they were evacuating several buildings as a
precaution.

Posted on 2026-06-09 14:07:18

Pope Leo the fourteenth is set to visit some Catholic landmarks today on his
ongoing trip to Spain...

including a medieval monastery in Montserrat that many locals consider
sacred.

He will then celebrate Mass at the famous Sagrada Familia Basilica.

The evening Mass will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of
architect Antoni GaudI.

Leo's visits demonstrate his balancing act of upholding time-honored
traditions in a country where faith in waning.

Ongoing construction on the Sagrada Familia began 144 years ago, with the
first cornerstone laid in 1882.

Spain underwent a religious crisis in the late 20th century during its return
to democracy.

Just over half of Spanish people in 2024 identified as Catholic...

but less than half of them called themselves practicing Catholics.

Posted on 2026-06-09 13:07:13

A foreman of dredging and slope stabilization at Hualien's Mataian River has
been found.

The foreman, surnamed Deng, was swept away in his car yesterday following
heavy rain.

Emergency workers today worked together with local Taoroko tribesmen to pull
off the rescue, with one man describing the scene as a "road to heaven."

Tribe member Lin Zhi Jun explained this his friend was near the accident site
yesterday when he heard someone shouting for help for several minutes.

When he and 3 others went to get to Deng, they walked through mud, streams,
and sludge.

When they caught up to Deng, he was stuck in the mud and unable to move.

Firefighters worked together with the local men to get Deng on a small boat,
but due to the strong suction of the mud, the boat was stuck.

Authorities dispatched 16 more personnel to the site and, with an excavator,
they were able to rescue Deng around 4:30 this morning.

He was sent to the hospital for treatment.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 13:07:13

Hsinchu City officials say that 2 people were killed in an apparent gas
explosion this morning.

The two dead were OHCA at the scene and were pronounced dead at the hospital
after efforts to resucitate them failed.

2 others were also injured in the blast...

while authorities say that, in total, 8 households and 18 people were
affected.

The incident took place this morning, with a resident calling the fire
department to report a suspected gas leak just before 4 am.

Less than 20 minutes later, an explosion occurred.

Mayor Gao Hong An says, her office is coordinating the efforts of local
officials at differnet levels to confirm the needs of affected residents and
assist with resettlement.

Search and rescue efforts are still underway.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-09 13:07:13

China is reporting higher exports for the month of May, shooting up nearly
20% from the same time last year.

That's stronger than what economists forecast, and marks an improvement from
April's over 14% year-on-year exports growth.

Exports remained high despite the US/Israeli war in Iran...

with the Chinese economy supported by shipments of cars, technology, and
AI-related products like semiconductors.

Imports jumped over 27%, also at a faster pace compared to April.

Trade with the US contracted further, continuing a trend that began when US
President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on China and other major trading
partners last year.

Posted on 2026-06-09 13:07:13

Sweden is getting ready to ban phones in schools from the next school year.

It's part of a broader reversal on the use of screens int he classroom.

The Swedish center-right coalition government is opting to prioritize more
reading time and less screen time, particularly among younger students.

They say, that's because officials have seen a decline in the general ability
to read and write in Sweden.

And the Swedes aren't the only ones rethinking how screens should be used in
schools.

Around the world, many countries have outfitted campuses with laptops,
tablets, and learning apps for students.

But a growing number of parents, teachers, and school districts are saying
that it's time to cut back.

Posted on 2026-06-09 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has addressed Palau's National Congress.

Speaking in the congress building in Palau's capital, Hsiao said the Lai
administration is preparing to assign Investigation Bureau personnel to the
Pacific ally to help it combat transnational crime, including fraud and
cybercrime.

According to Hsiao, fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, drug trafficking and
other forms of transnational crime threaten communities across the Pacific
...

... and Taiwan is committed to being a "trusted partner" in strengthening law
enforcement cooperation and safeguarding the security and well-being of
people in both countries.

Palau's President Surangel Whipps attended the address and he told lawmakers
that he welcomes the announcement that investigators from Taiwan will "work
alongside" local law enforcement personnel.

Whipps also described Taiwan's support for Palau's efforts to clampdown on
transnational crime as being "invaluable."

Whipps last year told the B-B-C that "crimes linked to China, including
scamming, illegal casinos, and cyberattacks" and being reported in Palau.

While an American think tank has warned that China is using transnational
criminal organizations to advance its political agenda in Palau.

Posted on 2026-06-09 08:13:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the military will formulate a
replacement plan for its aging T-34C basic trainer aircraft.

The statement comes after a T-34 trainer crashed at the Gangshan Air Base in
Kaohsiung last week during a routine engine failure test exercise - leaving
two pilots dead.

According to the defense minister, although the Air Force's T-34 prop
training aircraft have not yet reached the end of their service life, the
defense ministry plans to complete plans for a new primary trainer aircraft
next year.

Speaking prior to a meeting of the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National
Defense Committee, Koo told reporters that his office is drafting a plan to
replace the T-34s with new basic trainer aircraft, either through overseas
procurement or domestic production.

Koo said a final decision will be made before the end of May next year and
the defense ministry hopes to secure funding by 2028 to begin implementing
the replacement plan.

The Air Force's T-34C fleet has been in service for over 40 years, after 49
were purchased in 1985 for use as basic trainers.

Posted on 2026-06-09 08:13:13

The Legislative Finance Committee has frozen nearly a quarter of the funding
Taiwan has proposed to give the Asian Development Bank this year in protest
over the bank's change of Taiwan's designation.

That designation was changed to "Taipei, China" in 1986, after Beijing joined
the bank.

Lawmakers across party lines have agreed to freeze 30-million N-T of the
126-million N-T 2026 A-D-B funding budget, which was proposed by the Ministry
of Finance.

Lawmakers say the funding will not be unfrozen until the A-D-B responds to
Taiwan's concerns over the designation.

D-P-P lawmaker Wu Ping-jui says the A-D-B has persistantly failed to treat
Taiwan fairly, despite annual protests against the designation that has seen
no response.

While K-M-T lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao says Taiwan has been belittled at the
A-D-B, and he initially suggested not providing any funding to the bank other
than its 1-million N-T in annual basic administrative fee.

Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun protested Taiwan's designation at the
A-D-B's 59th annual meeting in May for the third time since assuming her post
at the end of January 2023.

Posted on 2026-06-09 08:13:13

EVA Airways President Sun Chia-ming has become the first Taiwan member of the
International Air Transport Association's board of directors.

According to the carrier, Sun was elected as one of the board members at the
association's 82nd Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro this past
weekend.

EVA Airways is describing Sun's election as being a major milestone,
indicating that the airline had earned the recognition of its global peers
for its dedication to international civilian aviation and its status in the
industry.

International Air Transport Association Director-General Willie Walsh is
being cited as saying he expects board members to take advantage of Sun's
experience in passenger and cargo services to define the agency's policy
directions and aviation development strategies.

Sun began his career in the Evergreen Group in 1986 and started with EVA
Airways in 1991.

He was appointed company chairman in 2018.

Posted on 2026-06-09 08:13:13

The Kaohsiung District Court has sentenced a male elementary school teacher
to four years in prison after finding him guilty of molesting three young
boys.

The court found Yeh Shang-min guilty of two counts of violating the video
production provisions of the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention
Act and one count of underage provisions of the Criminal Code.

According to the court ruling, Yeh coerced three students into exposing their
genitalia and convinced two of them to let him take a photo of them while
exposed.

The first incident occured in 2018, when Yeh was working as a substitute
fifth-grade teacher in Hsinchu City.

The other two incidents occured in Kaohsiung in 2023, after Yeh had became a
full-time elementary school teacher there.

The district court's ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-06-09 08:13:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says short-duration heavy rainfall can be
expected islandwide today and tomorrow, while thunderstorms could occur in
the western half of the island and in Yilan in the northeast.

According to the administration's forecast center, mountainous areas in the
center and south will also likely see extremely heavy rainfall.

The frontal system is forecast to move south toward the Bashi Channel on
Thursday, when the rain will ease off in the north, but central and southern
part of the island are still expected to see brief showers or thunderstorms.

The same weather patterns are expected to persist from Friday through June 15
before more stable conditions return to the island's north and east.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:43

Palau's President Surangel Whipps has reaffirmed his strong support for
Taiwan as Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim continued her visit to the Pacific
island ally.

During Hsiao's welcome dinner, Whipps said the failure to recognize Taiwan's
sovereignty calls into question the sovereignty of small countries, and if
Taiwan's sovereignty is not recognized, then all small countries may as well
be eliminated.

Whipps said Taiwan is "a prosperous and growing nation" that has demonstrated
leadership in healthcare, technology, aviation and other fields, and should
be included in international discussions.

He added that Taiwan needs to be a part of these discussions, needs to be a
part of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and International
Civil Aviation Organization.

Hsiao arrived in Palau for five-day visit on Saturday.

It is her first trip to a diplomatic ally since she took office in May of
2024.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:46

Defense Minister Wellington Koo has called Chinese Coast Guard patrols in
waters east of Taiwan a "provocative act."

The defense minister called China's actions were a form of cognitive warfare
aimed at claiming Taiwan's eastern waters as belonging to Beijing - which
shows serious disrespect for Taiwan's national sovereignty.

Koo also says the Coast Guard Administration and the military will work
closely together to respond to such actions if they happen in the future.

His statement comes after four Chinese ships, including three coast guard
vessels, sailed into Taiwan's restricted waters 30-nautical miles southwest
of the island's southern most tip on Sunday.

The Coast Guard Administration eventually dispatched seven if its vessels the
area to warn away the Chinese ships.

China's state media reported that that four ships were deployed to carry out
a "special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation" in waters east of
Taiwan in response to a Japanese and Philippine announcement delimit their
maritime boundary.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

Justice Minister Cheng Ming-chien says his office is taking steps to
reclassify etomidate, which is also known as "zombie vape."

The Narcotics Review Committee is scheduled to hold talks next week, which is
when the drug could be upgraded from a Category 2 narcotic to Category 1 due
to its potential for abuse.

Cheng says if the committee agrees to reclassify the drug, those convicted of
manufacturing, transporting or selling etomidate could face life in prison or
the death penalty.

The National Police Agency recently reported that large numbers of people
have been arrested for driving under the influence of etomidate in recent
years.

But law enforcement authorities say the substance metabolizes in the body
very rapidly and is difficult to detect.

Premier Zhu Rong-tai last week told reporters that authorities will be
stepping up border inspections targeting the so called "zombie vapes."

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted independent lawmaker Kao
Chin Su-mei and 23 other people on corruption and fraud-related charges
related to the embezzlement of public funds and imports of unapproved
COVID-19 test kits from China.

The prosecutor's office says Kao fraudulently obtained more than 7.87-million
N-T in public funds through false claims for legislative assistant salaries,
overtime pay, bonuses and childcare subsidies.

They add the lawmaker knowingly registered several individuals, including her
siblings, as publicly funded legislative assistants despite them not
performing any actual duties.

She also allegly helped a staff member obtain childcare subsidies through
false claims and of authorizing her office director in 2022 to exploit
customs regulations to allowing individuals to import COVID rapid test kits
from China.

Prosecutors say 74,400 unapproved test kits were received from a manufacturer
in Xiamen by circumventing medical device regulations.

Kao Chin has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has served in legislature since
2002, prosecutors are recommending a prison sentence of more than 12 years.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

The Yilan District Court has sentenced the owner of a private Taoist temple
to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a female devotee.

The court found Huang Kuo-ching guilty of 39 counts of sexual assault
committed between December 2020 and November 2023.

The court says Huang founded the temple in 2015 and also served as its shaman.

The unnamed victim who was said to be suffering from long-term emotional and
mental stress, was referred to Huang's temple in 2015 by one of her husband's
coworkers, who recommended it as a treatment option.

The court says evidence showed that Huang sexually harassed and assaulted the
woman after she complained about being haunted by evil spirits and affected
by terrible karma from her past life.

She reported the incidents to police after being sexually abused by Huang for
nearly four years.

The district court ruling can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

The Central Weather Administration says we could see the heaviest rainfall of
this week today and tomorrow, as a weather front and seasonal southeasterly
winds continue to hover over the island.

Extremely heavy rain or torrential rain advisories have been issued for
mountainous areas of Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

Heavy rain or extremely heavy rain advisories are in effect for Yunlin,
Chiayi County and Tainan, as well as for low-lying areas of Kaohsiung,
Pingtung and Taitung ...

.. and also for mountainous areas of Miaoli, Taichung and Nantou.

Heavy rain warnings are up for Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu, Hualien, Changhua, Chiayi City, Yilan and Hualien, as well as for
low-lying areas of Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou.

All of the rain advisories are in effect through tonight.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

And,

The heavy rain that's battering much of the island has resulted in school and
office closures today in some areas.

Schools and offices are closed today in Taichung's Heping District and
Nantou's Ren'ai Township.

In Chiayi, schools and offices are closed in Zhuqi, Meishan, Fanlu, Dapu and
Alishan townships.

The Kaohsiung City Government has announced closures in the mountainous
districts of Namasia, Taoyuan, Jiasian, Liouguei and Maolin.

While in Pingtung, schools and offices are closed today in accross Wutai,
Sandimen, Majia, Laiyi, Taiwu, Chunrih, Shizi and Mudan townships.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

In Europe,

Ukrainian forces have struck oil facilities in Russia and occupied Ukraine as
part of their campaign to impose economic costs on Moscow.

Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed the attacks on Monday.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy also says that Roman Abramovich acted as a
mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, delivering messages from Russian President
Putin.

Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down 310 Ukrainian drones
overnight.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces targeted Russia’s
Krasnodar Krai region and Crimea, sparking fires at oil facilities.

Russian drone strikes injured civilians in several Ukrainian regions,
including Kharkiv and Odesa.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan ‌has been
suspended pending a vote by member states on his fate.

The court's governing body's executive bureau has ruled Khan had committed
serious misconduct following an 18-months long probe into ‌accusations that
Khan had non-consensual sexual interactions with a lawyer in his office.

Khan has always denied the charges.

The ICC's governing body will send its conclusion on to all 125 ICC member
states who are expected to put Khan's possible removal from office to a vote
at a later date.

Posted on 2026-06-09 06:57:48

The death toll from a powerful quake that struck the southern Philippines is
now at 35..

Most of the deaths from the 7.8 temblor occurred in Sarangani province due to
a landslide.

The quake, which struck early yesterday, caused buildings to collapse and
triggered small tsunamis... with waves were detected as far away as Japan.

Officials are also reporting more than 200 injuries and significant damage in
General Santos city.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered disaster-response
efforts.

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