ICRT

Posted on 2026-06-02 13:25:14

The military's Fourth Combat Zone conducted its largest artillery and weapons
exercise of the year today, firing simultaneously from three separate
training sites on the Hengchun Peninsula for the first time.

The exercise involved two army units along with several other artillery and
infantry formations.

Weapons tested include multiple launch rocket systems, self-propelled
howitzers, missile systems, and more.

The Fourth Combat Zone said conducting simultaneous live fire at multiple
separate locations enhances realistic combat training, helping to improve
coordination, command and control, and battlefield responsiveness across
units.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-02 13:25:14

The Central Weather Administration has expanded its heat advisory this
afternoon to cover nine counties and cities.

The CWA updated its high temperature alert at midday, placing Tainan under an
orange alert for extreme heat with readings potentially hitting 38 degrees.

Seven additional areas, that's Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi County,
Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung, are under yellow alerts, with
temperatures expected to exceed 36 degrees.

Before noon, Yuching District in Tainan had already recorded 38.8 degrees,
making it the hottest location in the country.

Nanhua District in Tainan followed at 37 degrees.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-02 13:25:14

A crowd-funded independent inquiry into Australia's landmark AUKUS submarine
deal will be led by the country's former environment minister Peter Garrett.

The review will examine the $263-billion US dollar agreement, Australia's
biggest ever defense project, through public hearings, with a report due in
October.

The inquiry will look at whether the nuclear-powered attack submarines will
make Australia safer, where nuclear waste will be stored, whether Australia
will actually receive the vessels it is paying for, and how the deal affects
the country's sovereignty and its relationship with China — its largest
trading partner.

Earlier this week, Australia announced changes to the agreement, with the
country now set to buy three second-hand U-S submarines instead of receiving
at least one new vessel under the original terms.

From 2027, the U-S and U-K will also be allowed to base a small number of
nuclear submarines in Perth.

Posted on 2026-06-02 13:25:14

The US is moving to reclassify two Brazilian gangs as terrorist
organizations...

in a decision that experts call political, with the intention of supporting
presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of elections later this year.

They think it aims to position Bolsonaro as "touhg-on-crime."

The US had already extended the designation to a handful of other gangs in
Latin America, but the latest additions do not operate in the US.

The son of former president Jair Bolsonaro visited the US last week, asking
Trump officials to designate the two gangs as terrorist organizations.

The younger Bolsonaro aims to unseat incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva, whose popularity peaked last year when Trump began imposing 50%
tariffs on Brazilian products.

Posted on 2026-06-02 09:09:13

Computex 2026 opens at 9:30 this morning in Taipei.

The four-day tech industry event will feature speakers from many of the
world's most important chip companies.

Executives from Intel, Qualcomm, Marvell, and Microsoft will be outlining the
ongoing revolution in Personal A-I Devices, edge computing, and Sovereign A-I
in a series of forums and keynote speeches.

The theme of this year's event is "A-I Together" and it will be focusing
heavily on A-I, robotics, mobility and other next-gen tech.

Computex 2026 runs through Friday at both the Nangang Exhibition Center and
at the Taipei World Trade Center.

Posted on 2026-06-02 09:09:13

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says that Canada is failing Jewish
Canadians and that the Jewish community is being targeted by hate.

Carney says, across Canada, antisemitism has surged to levels unprecedented
in the post-world war II era.

He added that last year, more than 2/3rds of all religion-motivated hate
crimes were directed at Jewish Canadians- who make up only 1% of the
population.

He noted that other Western countries also struggle with antisemitism, but
pointed out that Canada has specific and complex issues with anti-Jewish
sentiment.

Carney said antisemites in Canada have fired bullets at Jewish schools and
thrown firebombs at synagogues and attacked community centers.

He said they have targeted Jewish-owned businesses and drove Jewish students
from common spaces on university campuses.

The PM added that his government has introduced legislation to combat
antisemitism, with 54 million US dollars in funding for security for
faith-based institutions like synagogues.

Posted on 2026-06-02 09:09:13

In Peru,

shamans are gathering for a blessing ritual of the two candidates in the
country's presidential runoff.

The ceremony aims to ensure that the best candidate wins.

Conservative Keiko Fujimori and nationalist Roberto Sanchez are neck and neck
in the polls.

The shamans are using flower petals, coca leaves, and drums in the ritual.

Peruvian elections have in the past faced logisitcal issues that delayed the
finalization of contenders.

The winner of the runoff next weekend will be Peru's ninth president in 10
years and will be sworn in at the end of July.

Posted on 2026-06-02 08:08:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun says her 15-day trip to the United States is
aimed at helping keep Washington out of an "avoidable war.

Speaking to reporters prior to boarding her flight last night, Cheng also
said she would "very willing" to meet with U-S President Donald Trump if the
opportunity arose.

Although admitting she does not hold public office, is chair of an opposition
party and that such a meeting would be unprecedented since Washington severed
diplomatic ties with Taipei ...

.... Cheng went on to say she's not "ruling out any possibility."

According to Cheng, one goal of the trip is to help "our American friends"
understand that the K-M-T has been the most loyal and responsible force
capable of maintaining cross-strait peace ..

.. and such a role could "help prevent the U-S from being drawn into an
avoidable war that would seriously harm its national interests."

Cheng's trip to the U-S will include stops in San Francisco, Boston, New
York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

The K-M-T has said Cheng will be meeting with members of Congress and U-S
government officials, think tanks and members of overseas Taiwanese
communities.

However, the party has not disclose the names or ranks of the U-S officials
she could meet with, citing past practices and U-S protocols.

Posted on 2026-06-02 08:08:15

The Military News Agency is reporting that the Navy's first domestically
built submarine prototype is now carrying out its latest round of sea trials
that includes dive tests.

The Narwhal departed from the Port of Kaohsiung on Monday morning.

According to the news agency, the trial marks the submarine's 15th sea trial
overall and ninth submerged-navigation test and it taking place after a sea
trial scheduled for May 29 was postponed due to unfavorable weather
conditions.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo us reiterating that testing would proceed
according to established procedures, with safety and quality taking
precedence and with the aim of meeting defense capability requirements.

Defense analysts say testing requires the collection of key performance
parameters, and the tests will include the highly anticipated seaworthiness
and deep-diving trials, including overnight evaluations.

Analysts also says if the submarine successfully completes the remaining
tests, the Narwhal could be delivered to Navy anytime between July and
September.

Shipbuilder C-S-B-C has been accumulating fines since missing a November 2025
deadline due to "testing delays," but indicated in February that it hopes to
deliver the submarine to the Navy in June.

Posted on 2026-06-02 08:08:16

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted the former head of
Taiwan's representative office in Guam for allegedly claiming personal
expenses as official expenditures, misappropriating public property, and
fraudulently obtaining housing subsidies.

According to the prosecutors' office, Paul Chen knowingly filed false rental
subsidy applications during a previous posting in Los Angeles between January
2011 and August of 2016 after purchasing a personal residence there in
January 2011 ..

.... despite regulations requiring him to declare the property and limiting
his housing subsidy entitlement to 671 U-S dollars a month.

Prosecutors say Chen claimed monthly subsidies and received excess payments
totaling just over 104,000 U-S dollars during the period.

Prosecutors also say Chen submitted personal receipts disguised as official
procurement documents while serving as the first director-general of the
reopened Guam office, misappropriated government-purchased items from the
Guam office ...

.. and fabricated records of guests attending diplomatic, overseas community
and consular affairs functions to fraudulently claim further reimbursements.

Chen has been charged with violating the Anti-Corruption Act and the Criminal
Code.

Posted on 2026-06-02 08:08:16

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research says the island's
manufacturing sector reached its highest level of activity in nearly five
years in May - as A-I demand continued to drive supply chain activity and
fuel strong exports.

According to the institute, the seasonally adjusted purchasing managers'
index rose 1.1 points from a month earlier to stand at 61.4 in May, marking
the eighth consecutive month of expansion and the highest P-M-I reading since
September of 2021.

That index gauges the manufacturing sector's climate and a P-M-I reading
above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 signals contraction.

The institute is attributed the increase mainly to continued momentum in the
electronics and optical industry, as well as the electrical and machinery
equipment industry, both key parts of the A-I supply chain.

Posted on 2026-06-02 08:08:16

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says his administration is working with Nvidia on
several "smart city" projects.

According to Chiang those projects including modernizing the Taipei Metro's
Wenhu Line - where AI-powered simulation and analysis will be conducted
across all 24 stations beginning next year.

Chiang says several major M-R-T transfer stations will also employ Nvidia
Omniverse technology to create advanced 3-D digital models for crowd-flow
simulation and operational planning.

Speaking to reporter, Chiang said that upgrades to the M-R-T lines will be
made by 2036 and will include improvements to rolling stock and signaling
systems.

The Taipei mayor aslo said the city plans to utilize Nvidia's technologies to
conduct passenger-flow simulations, focusing on platform evacuation during
peak hours, the impact of service disruptions, and ridership-capacity
management.

And Chiang went on to say that his administration also plans to apply A-I
more broadly to enhance public services and administrative efficiency.

Posted on 2026-06-02 08:08:16

And finally,

The Chinese Professional Baseball League has opted to move up its deadline
for teams to negotiate contracts with their foreign players before they
become free agents.

According to the league, the move is aimed at preventing breaches of its
anti-tampering rules.

Previously, under Article 96 of the C-P-B-L's rules and regulations, each
team retained exclusive negotiating rights to its foreign players until the
end of February of the following year.

The deadline was commonly referred to by many as the "228 clause."

The decision to make the change follows several cases in which teams
reportedly failed to adhere to the rule, including an apparent tampering
incident earlier this year during spring training involving the T-S-G Hawks
and Fubon Guardians.

League commissioner Tsai Chi-chang says the change effectively shortens the
period during which clubs hold exclusive negotiating rights to their foreign
players.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:13

The Presidential Office has announced that Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim will
travel to Palau on Saturday for visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic
relations with the Pacific ally.

Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo says, Hsiao will be representing
President Lai Ching-te on the trip, following an invitation from Palau's
President Surangel Whipps for the two Taiwan leaders to visit.

According to Kuo, Hsiao is slated to meet with Whipps and other government
officials during the five-day trip, and will visit sustainable tourism sites
and join Whipps in promoting the Pacific island country's tourism.

Kuo says Hsiao will also review the impact of bilateral projects in the
fields of healthcare, agriculture, and public infrastructure in Palau, as
part of an objective to strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two sides.

The vice president's delegation will include Deputy Health Minister Lin
Ching-yi and Deputy Foreign Minister Ger Bao-shuan.

The trip will be Hsiao's first visit to a diplomatic ally since taking office
as vice president.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:13

Visiting Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil says China cannot tell the
Czech Republic whom to befriend.

The statement came shortly after Vystrcil arrived in Taiwan on Monday heading
a delegation of around 40 people for a four-day visit at the invitation of
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu.

Speaking alongside Han at a press event at the Legislative Yuan, Vystrcil
told reporters that both Taiwan and the Czech Republic are "free and
democratic countries and do not take orders from other countries" ...

.. and "we will decide who to befriend and who not to befriend."

Those comments are in response to a statement issued China's embassy in
Prague, which accused Vystrcil of "interfering in China's internal affairs,"
as Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

According to Vystrcil, the Czech Republic follows its own one-China policy
rather than China's one-China principle and there is nothing wrong with
parliamentary exchanges.

Along with meeting with representatives from the K-M-T and the D-P-P,
Vystrcil is also slated to hold talks with President Lai Ching-te and other
senior government officials this week.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

The Ministry of Transport says it is seeking harsher penalties for drivers
caught under the influence of narcotics.

The statement comes amid a recent spate of serious traffic accidents
involving drug-impaired drivers.

According to the transport ministry, it held inter-agency meetings last month
with the Judicial Yuan, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and
the National Police Agency to discuss related legal amendments.

Under the proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act,
the current one- to two-year license suspension for drug-impaired driving
will be raised to revocation, with a three-year ban on reapplying for a new
license.

The licenses of individuals who use Category 1 and Category 2 narcotics will
also be revoked, even if they are not driving or have a vehicle, while
possession of Category 3 and Category 4 narcotics would result in license
suspension.

The transport ministry says it will also establish a driving eligibility
management system for drug-impaired drivers and drug users.

Data shows 4,725 drug-related driving under the influence cases were referred
to prosecutors from January to April this year -- three times the number
recorded during the same period last year.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

long-term care services

The Ministry of Health says foreign professionals and their dependents will
soon be eligible for long-term care services.

According to the ministry, the move means foreign professionals with
permanent residency status along with their spouses, children under the age
of 18 will have access to the services beginning June 30.

Foreign professionals with permanent residency, dependants aged 65 or over or
with disabilities will also be eligible.

The services include transportation assistance, assistive devices for
individuals with disabilities or age-related limitations, home accessibility
modifications and respite care services.

However, eligibilty only applies to those who have legally lived in Taiwan
for 10 cumulative years and spent at least 183 days per year here.

The health ministry says the move is expected to benefit between 100 to 200
people.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

The Civil Aviation Administration says fuel surcharges on international
flights operated by Taiwan carriers will be reduced starting June 7 due to a
decline in aviation fuel prices.

The surcharge will be reduced to 35 U-S dollars for short-haul flights and 91
U-S dollars for long-haul routes.

The announcement comes after C-P-C said that international aviation fuel
prices have fallen from 208.78 U-S dollars per barrel in May to 160.1 U-S
dollars for this month.

The fuel surcharge soared to 45 U-S dollars for short-haul routes and 117 U-S
dollars for long-haul routes on April 7 after aviation fuel prices surged
amid tensions in the Middle East and remained at those levels.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration, it has airlines to disclose
information such as the percentage of their overall operating costs devoted
to fuel so that passengers can better understand the surcharge mechanism.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

Nvidia founder and C-E-O Jensen Huang has delivered a Keynote speech at
Nvidia G-T-C Taipei - in which he said that A-I has become a driver of
profits and G-D-P growth.

According to Huang, artificial intelligence is no longer just an experimental
technology lacking a revenue stream, but has now become a profit generator
and growing demand for A-I services is fueling investment in computing
infrastructure worldwide.

Huang told attendees that as A-I becomes more useful,, the units generated by
A-I models, have become "profitable units of revenues," encouraging companies
to generate more tokens, build more A-I factories and expand computing
capacity.

Huang also insisted that A-I technology will increase demand for people
rather than cause job losses, despite recent layoffs by major companies such
as Meta and Amazon as they prepare to compete on A-I and seek leaner
organizations ...

.. and AI-assisted coding has significantly increased productivity while
driving demand for more software engineers rather than replacing them.

Huang also highlighted what he said was Taiwan's role in the AI boom - and
described it as home to "the richest ecosystem" and "the world's best supply
chain ecosystem."

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

And finally,

A pygmy sperm whale that was stranded on a shore in Penghu's Xiyu Township
has been successfully released back into the wild.

Coast Guard Administration personnel discovered the live whale stranded
during a routine patrol.

Conservation personnel assessed the whale on site and found no significant
external injuries, with vital signs remaining relatively stable.

Officials coordinated with a leisure fishing vessel to transport the whale
out to sea, and the release was completed successfully before midday.

The Coast Guard is reminding the public that anyone who spots a stranded,
trapped, or distressed cetacean should not attempt to handle it
independently, and should call the coast guard emergency hotline at 118 or
contact conservation authorities immediately.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

In Israel,

tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people have protested against
mandatory military service in the country.

They blocked roads and trains, set fires, and attacked a soldier as police
struggled to contain the crowds with water cannons and horses.

The protest disrupted transit in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Military service is compulsory for most Jewish people regardless of gender in
Israel, with men typically having to serve 3 years in the military.

However, ultra-Orthdox parties have historically been able to get exemptions
for their constituents to study in a seminary rather than entering the
military.

Many Israelis are tired of the system that has allowed ultra-Orthodox men to
skip military service at a time when the military is stretched thin while
Israel wages multiple wars across the region.

Those exemptions may now be under threat, possibly forcing elections to come
a few weeks early as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is on the
verge of collapse.

Protesters remarked on the importance of their religious identities, saying
"we would rather die as Jews than live as Zionists."

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is confirming at least 282 Ebola cases
in its growing outbreak.

That's out of more than 1000 suspected cases.

The majority of cases are located in the eastern Ituri province.

The rare Ebola virus has no approved medicine or vaccine...

and has killed 42 people in the Congo and one in neighboring Uganda.

The World Health Organization has touted new supplies to under-resourced
health centers...

while other groups have committed millions of dollars to develop experimental
vaccines.

Officials say the main challenges in containing the outbreak include early
detection and rapid isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe burials, and
strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities.

The WHO has also remarked on the recovery of some nurses as a sign of hope.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

The president of the European Council says, a meeting between the European
Union with candidate nations will show that the opportunity to grow is real.

Antonio Costa says that bringing in new members is in Europe's best inrerest
and would be an invement in the continent's stability due to global
uncertainties.

The summit will gather leaders from Albania, Bosnia, North Maceonia, Serbia,
Kosovo, and Montenegro...

with Albania and Montenegro seen as frontrunners to join the EU.

Each of the six countries are at a different stage of the process, as the EU
has recently sought to encourage reofrm in candidate nations, fearing
influence from Russia and China.

Prospective countries must bring their laws into line in 35 policy areas
before getting agreement from EU member states.

Posted on 2026-06-02 06:47:14

And in the US,

the state of Wyoming is close to designating a migration corridor for
pronghorn, a mammal indigenous to the Americas.

Pronghorn seasonally make a journey of about 240 kilometers from Interstate
80 to Grand Teton National Park.

Conservationists have sought to urge land and wildlife authorities to take
steps to ensure that pronghorn could continue moving across the fradmented
landscape in the midst of a natural gas boom.

They have been pleased to see Wyoming make progress to protect the so-called
Path of the Pronghorn...

with the governor-appointed working group completing a review of the
migration corridor and recommendations headed for the governor's desk.

Pronghorns are the fastest land mammals in North America, with about 320,000
of the animals in Wyoming.

Posted on 2026-06-01 19:08:13

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says it's considering
tougher penalties for drug-impaired driving following a recent rise in
serious traffic accidents involving narcotics.

The ministry says drivers caught under the influence of drugs could face
license revocation instead of the current suspension, along with a three-year
ban on applying for a new license.

Officials are also considering higher fines and new penalties for adult
passengers who knowingly ride with drug-impaired drivers.

In addition, people found using certain categories of illegal drugs could
lose their driving privileges even if they are not caught behind the wheel.

The proposals are part of a broader effort to strengthen deterrence and
improve road safety.

Government data show more than 4,700 drug-related impaired driving cases were
referred to prosecutors in the first four months of this year, roughly three
times the number recorded a year earlier.

Posted on 2026-06-01 19:08:13

The Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection says applications are
now being accepted for the latest round of airport noise control subsidies
...

The program covers residents living in designated noise-affected areas near
Taoyuan International Airport ... covering about 55 thousand households
across both Taoyuan and New Taipei.

Eligible areas include all of Dayuan District, as well as parts of Guanyin,
Luzhu, Zhongli and Xinwu in Taoyuan, and one neighborhood in New Taipei's
Linkou District.

Depending on the level of noise exposure, households can receive between 10
thousand and 60 thousand NT.

Applications will be accepted through the end of 2027.

Officials are encouraging residents to apply online for faster processing.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-01 19:08:13

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing renewed political pressure
ahead of the release of files related to former U.K. ambassador to Washington
Peter Mandelson.

The documents, expected to be published later today, reportedly include
emails and text messages and could total more than 1,000 pages.

Mandelson was removed from the diplomatic post after nine months.

Critics say his appointment reflected poor judgment by Starmer because of
Mandelson's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The controversy comes as Starmer faces declining poll numbers and growing
challenges within the ruling Labour Party.

A senior minister has already resigned to mount a leadership challenge, while
another potential rival is positioning for a future bid.

Posted on 2026-06-01 19:00:13

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun announced details of a U.S. visit as she prepared to
depart for the United States today.

She said the delegation plans to meet federal officials in Washington,
including those from Taiwan-related offices, the State Department and the
Defense Department.

Cheng said the delegation will begin in California with discussions at
Stanford University's Hoover Institution before traveling to Boston for
visits and exchanges at Harvard University and MIT.

The group will then travel to New York for discussions with leading think
tanks before heading to Washington for meetings with lawmakers,
administration officials and policy institutes.

Cheng also said she would welcome a meeting with U-S President Donald Trump
...

However, She acknowledged that there is no precedent for such a meeting since
Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-01 19:00:13

Visiting Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil says China cannot tell the
Czech Republic whom to befriend.

He defended his visit to Taiwan and announced he has invited Legislative
Speaker Han Kuo-yu to visit Prague.

Vystrčil made the remarks earlier today during a meeting with Han at the
Legislative Yuan.

His comments came after China's embassy in Prague criticized the visit and
urged the Czech government to address what it called the adverse consequences
of the trip.

Vystrčil said the Czech Republic follows its own one-China policy, not
Beijing's one-China principle, and that parliamentary exchanges with Taiwan
are a legitimate part of Czech foreign policy.

Posted on 2026-06-01 19:00:13

Health officials are encouraging eligible students to get vaccinated early
and build protection against HPV-related cancers.

The call comes as Taiwan's free HPV vaccination program for junior high
school boys approaches its first anniversary.

The Health Promotion Administration says more than 81 percent of eligible
boys have received their first dose since the program was expanded last
September.

Meanwhile, vaccination coverage among junior high school girls has reached
more than 92 percent, surpassing the World Health Organization's target for
eliminating cervical cancer.

Officials say HPV can cause several types of cancer in both men and women,
and that adolescence is the ideal time for vaccination because it provides
the strongest and longest-lasting protection.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-01 18:58:13

In related news,

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says artificial intelligence is now generating
profits and driving economic growth, as demand for AI services fuels
investment in computing infrastructure around the world.

Huang made the remarks Monday at Nvidia's GTC Taipei event, where he argued
AI has moved beyond the experimental stage and become a major source of
revenue.

He also pushed back against concerns that AI will eliminate jobs, saying the
technology is boosting productivity and increasing demand for software
engineers rather than replacing them.

Nvidia also unveiled a new AI-PC processor developed with MediaTek Inc. and
manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. using its advanced
3-nanometer process.

The chip will power a new generation of AI-enabled laptops expected to launch
this fall.

Huang also praised Taiwan's role in the industry, describing the country as
home to the world's best supply chain ecosystem.

Posted on 2026-06-01 17:08:13

President Lai Ching-te said the government will support the CPC as it works
to strengthen Taiwan's energy resilience.

He made the remark today ... at the state-run utility's 80th anniversary
celebration.

Lai went on to say that the CPC has played a key role in stabilizing oil and
natural gas supplies, helping to keep fuel prices and daily life relatively
stable ... despite fluctuations in global energy markets.

The president said the CPC must continue upholding the principle that "energy
security is national security" by strengthening oil and gas infrastructure,
diversifying import sources, and improving real-time dispatching and backup
capabilities.

Lai also urged the CPC to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies to
optimize processes, for equipment maintenance ... and for workplace safety
management.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-01 17:08:13

Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, the Hai Kun, resumed sea trials
this morning ... after testing was briefly delayed by poor weather late last
week ...

... drawing military enthusiasts to Kaohsiung's waterfront to watch.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo said no delivery timetable has been set,
stressing that the submarine must meet safety and performance requirements
before delivery.

Military analysts say the prototype still faces several key evaluations,
including endurance and deep-diving tests, some of which will require
overnight operations.

If those trials are completed successfully, analysts say the Hai Kun could be
delivered to the Navy sometime between July and September.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-01 17:08:13

A pygmy sperm whale that was stranded on a shore in Penghu County's Xiyu
Township this morning has been successfully released back into the ocean

Coast Guard Administration personnel discovered the live whale stranded
during a routine patrol this morning.

Conservation personnel assessed the whale on site and found no significant
external injuries, with vital signs remaining relatively stable.

Officials coordinated with a leisure fishing vessel to transport the whale
out to sea, and the release was completed successfully before midday.

The Coast Guard is reminding the public that anyone who spots a stranded,
trapped, or distressed cetacean should not attempt to handle it
independently, and should call the coast guard emergency hotline at 118 or
contact conservation authorities immediately.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-01 17:08:13

The French Navy, with support from the United Kingdom, has intercepted
another Russia-linked oil tanker accused of violating international
sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the tanker, known as the
Tagor, was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend.

Macron said enforcing sanctions remains important to limiting Russia's
ability to finance its war in Ukraine.

Oil exports are a key source of revenue for Russia, and European governments
have stepped up efforts to target what they describe as a "shadow fleet" used
to bypass sanctions.

French authorities say they have intercepted several other Russia-linked
tankers in recent years as part of those enforcement efforts.

Posted on 2026-06-01 17:08:13

A Philippine senator briefly surrendered to authorities after a court ordered
his arrest on a charge of plunder.

The Sandiganbayan issued a warrant last Friday for the arrest of Senator
Jinggoy Estrada in connection with a corruption case.

Because the charge is bailable, Estrada surrendered and was later released on
bail.

The 63-year-old lawmaker has strongly denied allegations that he received
more than 570 million pesos, or about 9-point-3 million U-S dollars, in
kickbacks linked to flood control projects.

The accusations were made by a former government public works engineer, but
Estrada continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Posted on 2026-06-01 16:09:13

Health authorities are pushing to tighten laws on e-cigarettes, saying the
devices are becoming a delivery vehicle for etomidate

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today that it is drafting
amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act that would for the first
time make simply possessing e-cigarettes and their components a punishable
offense.

Officials say the amendments also propose requiring internet platforms to
establish risk management and self-regulatory systems to take down illegal
listings.

So-called zombie vape cartridges containing etomidate oil are primarily
consumed through e-cigarette devices.

The ministry says cutting off access to the delivery mechanism is central to
reducing related offenses such as drug-impaired driving.

The draft has been submitted to the Executive Yuan for review.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-01 16:09:16

The 37th Golden Melody Awards has revealed its lineup of performers for the
June 27th ceremony at Taipei Arena.

The night will feature a mix of veteran Mandopop stars, a Taiwanese folk
queen, and a Japanese band that has become one of Asia's most talked-about
acts.

Karen Mok will perform alongside The Masters, and Hebe Tien will be returning
to the Golden Melody stage for the first time in six years.

Taiwanese singer May Sun will make her Golden Melody stage debut, and says
she plans to condense three decades of music into a highlights performance.

And Japanese band Hitsuji-bun-gaku, whose song "More Than Words" from the hit
anime series "Jujutsu Kaisen" has accumulated nearly 100 million music video
views, will also perform.

The ceremony will be broadcast starting at 5 p.m. for the red carpet and 7
p.m. for the awards show.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-01 16:09:20

In Japan, eight crested ibises have been released into the wild in a
north-central city, decades since the birds went extinct in the country.

The ceremony took place Sunday in the city where the birds were last seen in
the wild.

Residents cheered as the white birds soared into the sky after the crown
prince, crown princess, and other officials cut a ribbon around the birds'
wooden cage.

The birds went extinct on Honshu in the 1970s due to overhunting and
environmental degradation.

Their population has been recovering since an artificially bred pair was
donated by China in 1999.

Ten more birds are waiting to be released.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-01 16:09:16

Nutritionists in Taiwan are reminding that traditional zongzi may be
difficult to digest, especially when eaten in large quantities during the
Dragon Boat Festival holiday period.

They say the glutinous rice used in zongzi can be harder for the digestive
system to break down, potentially causing bloating and discomfort.

They also note that it can cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly, leaving
some people feeling tired after eating.

Nutritionists recommend mixing glutinous rice with whole grains such as
purple rice, black rice or red quinoa to to boost health benefits while
maintaining the dumplings' chewy texture.

They also suggest choosing fillings such as fish, chicken and beans as
healthier alternatives to the traditional ones that tend to be higher in fat.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim will be heading to Palau this Saturday.

That's according to Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo, who says the
Vice President and her delegation will stay in Palau through Wednesday of
next week.

She says, the trip is expected to be focused on strengthening the
relationship between the two countries and promoting tourism.

This trip will mark Hsiao's first to a diplomatic ally since taking office 2
years ago.

Kuo added that the presidential office was honored to again receive an
invitation from the Palauan president to visit the country.

Kuo also downplayed the risk of a sudden cancellation of the trip- like what
happened in April to the President's trip to Eswatini...

adding that this trip would not make any additional stops.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

The National Archives is launching its first ever summer festival program,
with a lineup of lectures, music performances, family theater, and
interactive exhibitions.

The Archives Bureau says the festival kicks off on Saturday in New Taipei's
Linkou district... with a talk by Taiwan Space Agency Director-General Wu
Jong-Shinn (吳宗信)... on the stories behind Taiwan's space industry and rocket
program.

Later this summer, on August 29th, the National Archives will extend opening
hours until 9 p.m. for the first time.

That evening, the festival will feature several musical acts, alongside
themed guided tours, a karaoke session featuring songs that were once banned
under martial law-era censorship, and an interactive walking experience
through the archive building.

All the festival events are free to attend with some requiring advanced
registration.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

Looking at business news

Asian shares mostly advanced, with stock markets in Japan and South Korea
hitting fresh record intraday highs.... on enthusiasm over the artificial
intelligence boom.

Here in Taiwan, shares are up today, with the benchmark Taiex gaining 604
points to close the session at 45,337.

Turnover topped $1.47 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

In international news,

The U.S. military says it bombed Iranian radar and drone control sites in
Iran... after Tehran shot down an American MQ-1 Predator drone this weekend.

Kuwait meanwhile said early today its air defenses had opened fire early this
morning to intercept incoming drone and missile fire... as Iran acknowledged
launching a retaliatory strike.

The dueling attacks reflect the fragility of a weeks-long ceasefire in the
Iran war, which has seen repeated attacks... even as American and Iranian
officials try to negotiate a deal to extend it.

The U.S. military’s Central Command says it carried out the strikes in Iran
on Saturday and Sunday.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

An explosion and fire occurred at a defense company in South Korea today...
killing five people and injuring two others

The deadly incident happened at a worksite run by Hanwha Aerospace in the
South Korean city of Daejeon.

Other details, including the cause of the explosion, are not immediately
available.

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

In Ethiopia, polls opened today in an election that is widely expected to be
won by the ruling party.

A heavy military presence was observed in the capital, Addis Ababa, as
observers called for a peaceful election in Africa's second-most populous
country and host of the headquarters of the African Union.

Long queues began forming before the 6 a.m. opening time, with voters eager
to cast their ballots.

Ethiopians are choosing more than 500 members of the House of
Representatives, who will subsequently vote to select the prime minister.

Prime Minister Abiy (AH bee) Ahmed’s Prosperity Party is expected to secure a
majority of seats, paving the way for him to retain office for another term.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-01 14:18:14

Palestinian Health Ministry says... Israeli forces have shot and killed a
Palestinian man at a barrier separating the West Bank from Jerusalem.

The 26 year-old man, was shot in the thigh on Sunday and later died in
hospital.

He was attempting to cross into Israel for work due to the economic crisis in
the West Bank.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians formerly held Israeli work permits, but
access was sharply restricted after the attack by Hamas-led militants on
southern Israel on October 7, 2023... sparking the war in Gaza.

Many Palestinians from the West Bank have tried to enter Israel illegally for
jobs.

As unemployment has surged, around 50 workers have been killed by Israeli
fire, with over 38-thousand arrested, though many were later released.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-01 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex surged nearly 700-points in early trading to surpass the 45,000
point mark.

The main board opened at 44,872 and added 683-points to reach 45,53 and hit
yet another all time record high.

Tech heavyweights led the rise.

With Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing adding 5 N-T to reach 2,370 N-T, Hon
Hai 5-per cent to 304.5 N-T, Delta Electronics rose over 5-per cent to 2,470
N-T ...

... while MediaTek saw its share price surge by over 8-per cent and Quanta,
Wistron, and Compal all hit their 10--per cent daily limit.

The rises come as C-E-O's from some of the world's leading tech companies are
in Taiwan for Computex this week - where they're expected to gove solid
guidance for A-I at a series of forums and keynote speeches.

Posted on 2026-06-01 11:06:13

Intel C-E-O Tan Lip-Bu has arrived in Taiwan ahead of Computex 2026 - which
begins tomorrow.

Tan will be delivering a keynote address at Computex.

He's expected to showcase his vision for the next generation of computing and
how it related to Taiwan's position in the global tech supply chain.

Tan has previously said that if Intel wants to become a top player globally,
it must deepen its cooperation with the Taiwan supply chain.

Reports say Intel's main focus at this week's Computex will be to showcase
its Edge AI, next-generation Xeon data centers, and dedicated gaming handheld
processors rather than standalone consumer desktop C-P-Us.

Posted on 2026-06-01 11:06:14

The Central Weather Administration says typhoon Jangmi's outer rim will be
bringing showers to north and northeast today, as it move towards
Okinawa.

The weather in other parts of the island is forecast to mostly clear skies -
with highs of between 32 and 35-degrees.

The storm is currently located some 600-kilometers east of Hualien and moving
in a northerly direction at 20-kilometers-an-hour.

Jangmi has a radius of 250-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds of
126-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 162-kilometers-an-hour.

Posted on 2026-06-01 11:06:14

In international news,

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered troops to move
further into Lebanon in the battle against Hezbollah -- that, despite a
ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.

In the latest advance, Israeli troops seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle
and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon.

The fighting in Lebanon has displaced more than 1.2-million Lebanese through
Israeli strikes and evacuation orders since March 2, when Hezbollah began
firing rockets and drones into Israel to back its ally Iran.

According to the Lebanese government, the incursion has so far killed more
than 3,370 people.

While tens of thousands of Israelis in the country's north have also been
displaced by Hezbollah rockets and drones.

Posted on 2026-06-01 11:06:14

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says 263 confirmed
Ebola cases have now been reported in Congo and Uganda.

According to the center, more than 1,100 suspected cases are being
investigated and 43 people are confirmed to have died as a result of the
rare strain of Ebola effecting the areas.

The Ebola outbreak is the 17th in Congo and the third-largest since the
virus was discovered half a century ago.

Health officials and aid workers say they lack basic supplies such as masks
after the outbreak spread was undetected for weeks

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak in Congo and Uganda
a public health emergency of international concern

Posted on 2026-06-01 11:06:14

accounts.

And finally,

Malaysia has begun enforcing its ban on children under 16 having social media
accounts.

It's part of a global push to enhance online safety for young users.

Starting today, platforms like Facebook and TikTok must implement
age-verification systems or face fines.

The rules set expectations for service providers to ensure age-appropriate
safeguards.

Australia, Brazil and Indonesia have similar bans.

Malaysia's government aims to protect children from harmful content and
excessive use.

However, concerns about data privacy and the effectiveness of age-based
restrictions remain.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:13

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun will leave for a two-week trip to the U-S later
today.

Cheng will heading a 14 member members delegation.

The delegation includes K-M-T International Affairs Department head Tung
Chia-yu, former Taiwan representative to the U-S Jason Yuan, KMT Central
Standing Committee members Lee De-wei and Vivi Chin as well as K-M-T overseas
affairs head Wu Liang-i.

According to the K-M-T, Cheng and her delegation will begin their visit on
the West Coast with a stop in San Francisco before traveling to the East
Coast, where they will visit New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

Cheng is expected to arrive in the U-S capital on the evening of June 9 and
remain there through June 12.

The K-M-T says Cheng is expected to meet with members of Congress, visit the
headquarters of the American Institute in Taiwan and and participate in
closed-door discussions at three major think tanks while in Washington D.C.

The K-M-T says those talks center on peace and stability in the Taiwan
Strait, regional security, and the future of Taiwan-US relations.

The trip will end with a stop in Los Angeles, where Cheng and the delegation
will meet with with members of the overseas Taiwanese community.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil is visiting Taiwan this week.

Vystrcil will be heading a delegation of around 40 people to Taiwan from
today through Thursday.

It will be his second trip to Taiwan country since he first visited in August
of 2020.

Vystrcil has said the primary goal of the trip is to demonstrate mutual
support between the two sides and help further strengthen mutual
understanding and cooperation on both the political and people-to-people
levels.

He's scheduled to meet with senior government officials and attend a series
of events.

Those events include a symposium on former Czech President Vaclav Havel at
the National Chengchi University, the unveiling of a "Havel's Bench"
installation at Taipei's Daan Park, and a screening of the documentary, which
chronicles his 2020 trip to Taiwan.

According to Vystrcil, the events also carry important symbolic significance,
as they not only commemorate Havel's legacy, but also reflect the shared
values of the Czech Republic and Taiwan as democratic societies.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has refused to provide a government
aircraft for the trip, saying he did not want it to be seen as an official
endorsement that could harm Czech business interests in China.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

NT$446

Tai-Power's summer electricity rates for residential customers kick-in today.

It means that the average household can be expected to pay about 446 N-T more
per month through the end of September.

According to Tai-Power, the seasonal rates will apply to about 15-million
residential and small commercial users from today through September 30.

Around 26,000 high-voltage and extra-high-voltage users are subject to summer
rates from May 16 to October 15.

The state-generator says electricity demand rises sharply during the summer
months, mainly because of increased air conditioner use ..

.. and that means more expensive power-generating units have to be brought
online to meet peak demand, pushing up overall generation costs.

Based on data from last year, the average monthly household electricity bill
rose to 1,084 N-T during the summer, nearly 70-per cent higher than in
non-summer months.

Average household electricity use also increased from 308-kilowatt-hours per
month in non-summer months to 418-kilowatt-hours per month
during the summer, up about 40-per cent.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

interview

The Presidential Office is condemning China after it expelled a New York
Times correspondent from Beijing, following the newspaper's publication of an
interview of President Lai Ching-te.

According to Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo, he Lai
administration has noted a series of recent incidents in which Beijing had
used similar tactics to "threaten and pressure international media and
journalists ..

.. and the move highlighted Beijing's suppression of press freedom and its
threat to international media outlets.

Kuo says such actions concerns not only press freedom and freedom of
expression, but also the safety of journalists, and Taiwan and relevant
partners are paying close attention to the situation.

The statement came after the New York Times confirmed that China expelled
Vivian Wang in February of this year.

She had been based in Beijing since 2022.

An Associated Press report published this past weekend, said that Wang was
expelled after The New York Times hosted President Lai Ching-te in a recorded
interview for its DealBook Summit 2025, which aired in December of last year.

Wang had no role in the interview.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

The Taipei Department of Health's smoking ban in Ximending takes effect
today.

Smoking is now banned in the shopping district, except in designated smoking
areas.

People caught violating the ban face fines of between 2,000 and 10,000 N-T
under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.

The smoke-free zone was originally planned to cover the area bounded by
Section 1 of Zhonghua Road, Xining South Road, Chengdu Road, and Section 2 of
Hankou Street.

However, the Taipei Department of Health has since expanded it to include the
area around Exit 4 of Ximen M-R-T Station, Yanping South Road, Xiushan
Street, and Hengyang Road.

People who wish to smoke in the Ximending shopping area in Wanhua District
are advised to use negative-pressure smoking rooms and other designated
smoking areas.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

The Taipei Zoo has marked World Parrot Day with a special educational event
featuring a sulphur-crested cockatoo.

The zoo used the occasion to urge the public not to abandon pet parrots and
to reject the illegal wildlife trade.

According to the zoo, parrots are popular companion animals because of their
colorful plumage, ability to mimic sounds and strong learning skills ..

.. but demand from the pet market has also fueled illegal capture and trade,
threatening wild populations.

To raise public awareness, the zoo held a pop-up educational session in the
Children's area, with a sulphur-crested cockatoo serving as a "teaching
assistant" to help visitors learn about parrot behavior and social habits.

The zoo also cited data from the International Union for Conservation of
Nature showing that about one-third of all parrot species face threats to
their survival in the wild.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

Ukraine has launches strikes on Russian enery sites...

with Russian authorities saying that drone debris set fire to a fuel storage
facility in the Rostov region, while civilian infrastructure was damaged in
Saratov province.

Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian's oil and gas facilites, saying they
fund Moscow's invasion.

Meanwhile, Kyiv denied Russian claims that a Ukrainian drone struck the
Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Russian authorities accused Ukraine of a deliberate attack... but Ukrainian
officials said they did not target or strike the plant, describing Russia's
claims as propagandistic.

The plant has repeatedly come under fire since Russia launched its full-scale
invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:15

Polls have closed in Colombia's presidential election, with a runoff
confirmed for June.

Pro-Trump Abelardo de la Espriella and the incumbent's favorite for the
presidency, IvAn Cepeda, will face off later this month.

This weekend's vote came 10 years after Colombia signed a historic peace pact
with guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in a deal that
many hoped would end decades of armed conflict in the country.

Since then, the violence has resurged.

Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes, armed attacks have
plagued the race and last June, the politician and presidential hopeful
Miguel Uribe Turbay was fatally shot at a political rally.

De la Espriella has sought to portray himself as "tough on crime..." while
Cepeda favors dialogue with the armed groups, in a similar manner to current
president Gustavo Petro.

The outcome of the election is expected to act as a bellweather for the rest
of the continent at a time when voters are increasingly ditching leaders that
pitched progressive policies and turning instead to more populist rhetoric.

Posted on 2026-06-01 07:02:16

An explosion in Myanmar has killed several dozen people as media reports that
the building where the blast took place was storing explosives.

On top of 46 dead, about 70 more people were injured.

The area where the explosion took place is near the Chinese border and is
controlled by a rebel ethnic armed group.

Rescue workers say they were able to recover 46 bodies by last night, while
they say the injured were taken to a local hospital.

100 houses near the site were damaged in the blast.

Rescue operations are ongoing.

Posted on 2026-05-30 14:08:13

A Canadian man accused of running an online operation selling lethal products
has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of counseling or aiding suicide.

A lawyer for Kenneth Law says Canadian prosecutors will withdraw 14 murder
charges in exchange for the plea.

Police in Canada and internationally have been investigating more than 100
suicides linked to Law.

Canadian police say he used a series of websites to market and sell sodium
nitrite. The substance is commonly used to cure meats and can be deadly if
ingested.

Police say Law is suspected of sending at least 1,200 packages to more than
40 countries.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-30 13:07:27

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies today that
Washington remains committed to the region.

At the same time, he softened past comments that described China as an
imminent threat.

Speaking at the Shangri-La defense conference in Singapore, Hegseth said US
policy aims to preserve a favorable balance of power and prevent any country
from dominating the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth said there is no change in US policy toward Taiwan, but he declined
to address the reported pause in moving forward with a pending arms package.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-05-30 12:08:14

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 to clinch the Eastern
Conference Final in five games and earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup
Final since 2006.

Taylor Hall opened the scoring for Carolina, which entered the third period
with 5-nil lead.

Seth Jarvis capped off the rout with an empty-net goal.

Carolina went 12 and 1 through the Eastern Conference playoffs to earn a
matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Posted on 2026-05-30 11:08:30

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's
administration from paying claims through a new $1.8 billion settlement fund
for allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.

US District Judge Leonie Brinkema also barred the government from moving
forward with the fund's creation while litigation is pending to challenge it.

The judge scheduled a June 12th hearing for arguments on whether to extend
the order blocking payouts from the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund that
the government created to resolve Trump's lawsuit against the Internal
Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

The White House has declined to comment.

AP_JvW

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