ICRT

Posted on 2026-05-13 20:10:14

No damage or injuries are being reported after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake
struck Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 6:43 PM today.

According to the Central Weather Administration, the epicenter of the temblor
was located in Hualien County, about 3.6 kilometers north of Hualien County
Hall, at a depth of 15.8 km, according to the administration.

The earthquake's intensity was highest in Hualien County, where it measured 4
on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale.

The quake also measured an intensity of 3 in Nantou County.

Posted on 2026-05-13 20:10:14

Puma Shen has secured the DPP’s nomination for the Taipei mayoral election
later this year ...

... and is pledging to transform Taipei into what he described as a top-tier
international city comparable to New York, Paris and Tokyo.

Shen, currently a DPP legislator, highlighted his international academic
background and said he chose to return to Taipei because he believes the city
can become a place residents are truly proud of.

He identified traffic congestion, limited green space and challenges facing
families raising children as key issues.

Shen says he plans to improve transportation, expand green corridors and
promote policies aimed at helping parents spend more time with their
children.

He is expected to face incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an of the Kuomintang
in the November election.

President Lai Ching-te praised Shen’s NGO and academic experience, saying it
would help prepare him for city leadership.

Posted on 2026-05-13 20:10:14

Authorities say that the first reported traffic accident on New Taipei's
newly opened Danjiang Bridge occurred yesterday night, just hours after the
bridge officially opened to traffic.

Police say a heavy motorcycle collided with the rear of a car while traveling
toward Bali District.

The motorcyclist, a 42-year-old man, suffered minor bruises and later sought
medical treatment on his own.

Authorities say both drivers tested negative for alcohol, and traffic resumed
shortly after the incident.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.

Officials noted that the motorcycle involved was a heavy motorcycle legally
permitted to use the bridge’s car lanes.

Posted on 2026-05-13 20:10:14

Current temperatures...

Taipei - 22

Taichung - 26

Kaohsiung - 27

Hualien - 24

Posted on 2026-05-13 18:12:13

A cosmetic clinic at the center of a suspected hidden camera scandal in New
Taipei has vowed to establish a trust fund to protect clients.

The case emerged earlier this month, when a member of the public discovered
what appeared to be a disguised surveillance camera at one of the chain's
branch stores in Banqiao District, leading to an expanding police
investigation.

Aesthetic clinic chain Dr. Shine issued a second apology today, and says it
will set aside $80 million NT to establish a member protection trust fund, to
be supervised by lawyers and accountants.

The chain says the trust amount may be increased depending on circumstances
and details will be announced publicly once the trust arrangements are
finalized.

The case follows a separate hidden camera scandal at Airee Clinic, which
first drew public attention to the issue of voyeurism at medical aesthetics
facilities.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-13 18:12:13

Hon Hai has confirmed a cyberattack targeting some of its North American
facilities, though the company says operations are gradually returning to
normal.

The Taiwan-based manufacturing giant, also known as Foxconn, says its
cybersecurity team activated emergency response measures to maintain
production and deliveries.

The confirmation follows reports of a major IT system disruption at a Foxconn
facility in Wisconsin that temporarily affected several production lines.

Media reports say the Nitrogen ransomware group claimed responsibility for
the attack, alleging it stole large amounts of internal company data.

The hackers also claimed the data may include information linked to major
technology clients such as Apple, Nvidia, Intel and Google.

Foxconn has not confirmed the extent of any data breach, but says affected
factories are resuming normal operations.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-13 18:12:14

Expecting mothers in Taichung now have more transportation options, as Uber
Taiwan officially joins the city's maternity taxi program.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the addition of Uber almost doubles the
total number of available vehicles to more than 91 hundred.

The city launched the maternity taxi program last July, offering pregnant
women subsidies for up to 30 rides, with discounts of up to 200 NT per trip.

Officials say more than 8 thousand mothers have already signed up, with
nearly 87 thousand rides completed so far.

City leaders say adding app-based ride services will make it easier for
younger users to book transportation and reduce wait times for expecting
mothers across Taichung.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-13 18:12:14

Current temperatures...

Taipei - 22

Taichung - 27

Kaohsiung - 28

Hualien - 24

Posted on 2026-05-13 17:08:13

The DPP is calling for the legislature to examine the central government
budget instead of trying to impeach the president.

The DPP Legislative Caucus slammed the KMT for wasting time on criticizing
the president rather than responding to the expectations of the public by
examining the 2026 government operating budget.

Meanwhile the opposition KMT and TPP are pushing ahead with their effort to
impeach President Lai...

saying the country needs to get back on track.

The comments come as lawmakers handle impeachment proceedings against the
president today and tomorrow before putting it to a vote on Tuesday.

Deputy Speaker Jiang Qi Chen today said that the legislature had invited the
president to appear to defend himself, but the president failed to show up.

According to the Constitution, impeaching against the president require a
two-thirds majority vote from lawmakers...

before going to the Constitutional Court.

If lawmakers vote along party lines, the opposition does not appear to have
the votes to pass the motion.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 17:08:13

A candidate for city councilor in Kaohsiung is facing accusations of racism
due to a billboard ad that he posted...

which features a "no" sign over an Indian flag and a man wearing a turban.

Many took this to be an expression of anti-Indian racism, especially due to
recent backlash to Taiwan potentially opening up to Indian migrant workers.

Li Hong Yi claims that the advertisement was only aoiming to express
opposition to bringing Indian migrant workers to Taiwan and that he did not
oppose migrant workers in general.

Li currently serves as Borough chief in Xiaogang district, and says that he
is in the TPP but will run for city councilor without the TPP's nomination.

Kaohsiung representatives of the New Power Party criticized Li for using
imagery intended to incite hatred...

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 17:08:13

Now turning to international news...

Flooding is wreaking havoc in Turkiye, inundating homes and businesses and
sweeping away cars.

State media is reporting that 12 people are hospitalized with minor injuries.

Heavy rainfall caused rivers in Samsun province to overflow, turning streets
into rivers.

Firefighters, police, and disaster teams have been deployed to rescue
stranded residents and clear debris.

Video footage showed a driver standing on top of a truck waiting to be
rescued from the flood.

Posted on 2026-05-13 17:08:14

The packaging on some snacks in Japan is going black and white as the war in
Iran disrupts the supply of an ingredient in colored ink.

But Calbee snacks, which makes potato chips and cereal, says the product
inside is the same.

The change to 14 products will begin May 25th, limiting ink colors on the
packaging to just 2.

Calbee says, the decision is necessary to respond flexibly to changing
geopolitical conditions.

How long the change may last remains unclear.

Posted on 2026-05-13 17:08:14

Taipei Zoo is inviting visitors to check out changes to its new Asiatic black
bear enclosure.

The zoo announced that 18-year-old Belle is settling well in her new home in
the temperate zone, after moving there last October.

Keepers say she has displaying a range of natural behaviors including
digging, splashing in a large pool, and using enrichment props to forage for
food.

To give her more opportunities to climb, keepers added a wooden perch
structure to the enclosure.

And they say she has since been spotted rubbing her back against various
parts of the frame and using it for eating and sleeping.

Belle is one of three Asiatic black bears currently on display at the Taipei
Zoo.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-13 15:53:13

Nobel-winning economist Peter Howitt says Taiwan and other advanced economies
should look beyond manufacturing as AI reshapes the job market.

Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Howitt said manufacturing jobs have been
falling for years, even in countries where output is still rising.

He said AI may cut some jobs, but over time it should also create new ones,
especially in service industries.

Howitt described AI as a general-purpose technology, like electricity or
computers, that can disrupt labor markets before wider gains appear.

He said governments should respond with more investment in education, worker
retraining, and new energy development.

Howitt also said innovation depends on competition, trade, intellectual
property protection, and cooperation between government, business, and
universities.

After the forum, he also engaged with a student delegation from Asia
University in a discussion on AI, education, and social fairness.

He pointed to TSMC as an example of how industrial success can grow from
close coordination with government support.

At the same event, he told students not to chase only the safest jobs, but to
build skills they care about for a fast-changing AI future.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-13 15:53:14

Taipei prosecutors and police have detained 21 people in an alleged romance
scam ring that used AI voice-changing software.

Investigators say a married couple surnamed Huang helped run the group
through dating platforms and fake online relationships.

They say male staff used AI tools to sound like women, while the group used
edited photos of attractive women to lure victims.

Victims were then asked to buy expensive items, including phones, Dyson hair
dryers, gold, and beauty treatment packages.

Police say the group used excuses such as medical bills or work pressure to
persuade victims to send gifts.

Investigators say the scam ring made more than several million NT.

So far, 10 victims have reported the case, and prosecutors are investigating
possible fraud and related crimes.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-13 15:53:14

Police in Hualien are investigating the circumstances of an accident that
resulted in the death of a construction worker yesterday.

A 27 year old worker surnamed Pan was hit by a falling LED light box while
working at the Hualien County Stadium.

Pan was trapped and was found OHCA before being rushed to the hospital where
he was pronounced dead.

An investigation is still underway.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 15:53:14

U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Beijing for talks with Chinese
leader Xi Jinping, saying he will press China to open more to American
business.

Trump added Nvidia chief Jensen Huang to his traveling business delegation
during a stop in Alaska, as U.S. companies push for better access to the
Chinese market.

Ahead of the summit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice
Premier He Lifeng in South Korea to shore up a fragile trade truce between
the world's two biggest economies.

The two sides are expected to discuss trade, investment, and possible Chinese
purchases of U.S. goods, while Beijing wants Washington to ease some
chip-related export controls.

The summit is also expected to touch on the Iran war and U.S. arms sales to
Taiwan.

China has again voiced strong opposition to those Taiwan arms sales ahead of
Trump's arrival.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-13 15:53:14

Spain says it will move forward with new rules to make social media and
artificial intelligence safer, despite heavy lobbying from major tech
companies.

Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez says the measures would target
high-risk AI systems and force more transparency over how social media
algorithms work.

Spain is also pushing restrictions aimed at protecting minors, after earlier
plans to ban social media use by teenagers and hold platform executives
personally responsible for hate speech.

Lopez says the effort is driven by growing concern over cyberbullying, sexual
harassment, and AI-generated sexual deepfakes targeting children, especially
girls.

He says Spain wants a broader European approach, as the EU also prepares new
action against harmful and addictive platform design under its planned
Digital Fairness Act.

Spain has positioned itself as a strong supporter of what it calls
trustworthy AI, with rules aimed at protecting privacy, democracy, minors,
and public safety.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-13 14:07:13

Experts are warning that the legislature's failure to include funds for
developing the local drone industry in the special defense budget passed last
week poses a significant risk to Taiwan's security.

A resident fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, Peter Layton emphasized
that Asia Pacific partners recognize the importance of drones for detering
Chinese expansionism.

He described how recent joint drills with the US, the Philippines, Japan, and
several other countries underscored the key role of drones in such drills.

For instance, Layton noted that the deployment of certain weaponry was
accomplished with intelligence provided by drones.

He stated that Taiwan's budget cuts to the domestic drone industry is good
news for China, since it will force Taiwan to rely more on the US for arms
purchases...

meaning all that China must accomplish is to convince the US not to continue
arming Taiwan.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 14:07:14

The DPP is officially nominating lawmaker Puma Shen to contest the Taipei
mayorship today.

Shen will face Mayor Chiang Wan An in November.

Shen's colleague on the DPP's Legislative Caucus and tasked with developing
Shen's campaign policy platform, Chen Pei Yu stated that the first task of
Shen's campaign will be to understand the needs of the public...

before formulating responses to their needs and understanding shortcomings of
the Chiang and Ke administrations.

DPP Spokesperson Wu Zheng said that the election committee's decision to
recommend Shen was a unanimous one.

As for Hsinchu County, where the party still has yet to nominate a candidate
to contest the magistrate position, Wu neither confirmed nor denied reports
that the party was still trying to persuade Zhubei Mayor Zheng Chao Fang to
run.

Meanwhile Wu Yi Nong, who had declared his interest to run in Taipei,
congratulated Shen and said he would fully support the lawmaker's campaign.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 14:07:14

The Taipei City government says, residents can apply for rat detection
experts to come to their homes starting Friday.

That's as the city aims to combat fears of a rat infestation.

The city's Environmental Department says, residents can visit their website
to apply...

however, they emphasize that official cases will take priority.

City officials add that they aim to extend rat infestation prevention efforts
into the private sphere...

as experts say that rats are not actually more common in markets or outside.

Rather, private residences are a significant source of food for the rats.

The Environmental Department added that they hoped the service would address
blind spots and be a more proactive form of rodent control.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 14:07:14

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 41572
after losing 326 points.

The turnover was 1.143 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-05-13 14:07:14

Now turning to international news...

The International Red Cross reports that armed conflict in Colombia over the
past year has inflicted the worst impact on civilians in 10 years.

The number of people displaced by criminal gangs and rebels doubled last
year, reaching 235,000.

Lockdowns imposed by rebel groups in small towns nearly doubled last year.

For decades, rebel groups and drug traffickers have been fighting the
Colombian government for control of rural areas, including corridors linked
to the cocaine trade.

A 2016 peace deal reduced some violence but the security situation has
worsened as smaller groups vie for control.

Over the past four years under President Gustavo Petro, authorities have
tried to reduce violence in rural areas by holding peace talks with rebel
groups and agreeing to ceasefires with some of them...

But critics say ceasefires have allowed rebels time to regroup.

Posted on 2026-05-13 14:07:14

Researchers are warning that the US is experiencing a reading recession...

a trend that came even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new analysis of state test scores in over 5000 school districts across 38
states found that only 5 of those had significant growth in reading test
scores from 2022 to last year.

The findings allso show that students remain nearly half a grade level behind
pre-pandemic levels in reading.

Despite the fall in reading scores, almost every state in the analysis saw
improvements in math test scores over the same period...

while student absenteeism also declined in most states.

Experts are still trying to understand the cause of the fall, but some
researchers believe it's due to social media and a decline in recreational
reading.

Posted on 2026-05-13 12:31:14

Prosecutors are investigating suspected unauthorized access to sensitive
files at the National Institute of Cyber Security.

A deputy director surnamed Hsu was released on 200-thousand NT bail after
overnight questioning in Taipei.

Six others were also brought in, including managers and research staff linked
to different units at the institute.

Prosecutors say the case centers on claims that staff used an internal
loophole to view and download restricted documents.

Another employee, a woman surnamed Ou, was released on 100-thousand NT bail,
while the others were sent home.

The institute says it found improper access on an employee's work computer
and reported the case itself.

Officials are still trying to determine whether any of the material was
leaked outside the institute.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-13 12:31:14

U.S. defense-tech company Shield AI and Taiwan's Thunder Tiger Corporation
have signed a new agreement on autonomous unmanned systems.

The deal will bring Shield AI's Hivemind software into Thunder Tiger's
platforms, starting with the SeaShark unmanned surface vessel.

The companies say a live summer demonstration is planned, with Hivemind
serving as the AI pilot on the vessel.

They say the goal is to help Taiwan's maritime systems navigate, respond, and
carry out missions at sea more independently.

The project will move in phases, including simulator testing, hardware
integration, and live vehicle trials.

Shield AI co-founder Brandon Tseng, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, says the broader
aim is to support Taiwan's asymmetric defense capabilities.

Thunder Tiger says the partnership could strengthen Taiwan's domestic defense
industry and help unmanned air and sea systems operate as a coordinated team.

Shield AI also says the deal expands its growing presence in Taiwan, where it
already has agreements and an office in Taipei 101.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-13 12:31:14

Taiwan Railway Corporation says, service on the eastern trunk line is
experiencing delays due to a power equipment malfunction.

The issue is affecting stations between Shoufeng and Fenglin, including
Fengtian, Linrong, Shinkong, and Nanping.

Traffic between those two stations is currently forced to operate on one
track only.

It's not yet clear when the issue will be resolved.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-13 12:31:14

Turning to international news,

A Philippine senator says he will fight any attempt to send him to the
International Criminal Court to be prosecuted for an alleged crime against
humanity.

He adds that he never condoned extrajudicial killings when he led the
country's police force.

The ICC unsealed Monday an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a
former national police chief who first enforced then-President Rodrigo
Duterte's deadly anti-drugs crackdown.

Thousands of mostly petty suspects were killed.

Originally issued in November, the warrant charges dela Rosa with the crime
against humanity of murder of "no less than 32 persons."

The crime was allegedly committed between July 2016 and the end of April 2018.

When asked, Philippine officials suggested they were ready to enforce the
ICC's arrest warrant against dela Rosa.

They added that they could surrender him to the global court's jurisdiction
under a Philippine law enacted to address crimes against humanity such as
genocide.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-13 12:31:14

In Argentina, tens of thousands of protesters were flooding the streets of
major cities nationwide to protest funding cuts by libertarian President
Javier Milei to the public university system.

The system is a near-universal point of pride in this crisis-prone country.

Tuesday's protest gathered people of all ages and political persuasions as
Milei faces declining approval ratings over slumping economic activity,
falling wages and climbing unemployment.

Vast crowds marched toward the government headquarters to denounce budget
shortfalls eroding the financial foundation of higher education in Argentina.

The cuts came despite a law passed last year to fund universities'
operational costs and raise teacher salaries in line with high inflation.

Argentina's public university system is a cornerstone of its well-educated
workforce and is cherished by its large middle class.

It has been tuition-free since 1949 and produced five Nobel Prize laureates.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex lost ground this morning after Wall Street closed mostly lower
overnight.

The main board fell 697-point in early trading to retreat to 41,200 - which
is below the five-day moving average of 41,704-points.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's share price lost 50 N-T, as it dropped
to 2,205 N-T - which contributed loses of approximately 397-points to the
Tai-Ex's overall decline.

Other heavyweight stocks, including MediaTek, Delta Electronics, Hon Hai, and
ASE Technology also lost ground from yesterday's closes.

And that resulted in the electronics index falling by just over by 1.8-per
cent.

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:14

The Kinmen Defense Command held the second phase of it "Tai-Wu" live-fire
exercises earlier this morning.

The drill was carried out at the Houhu coastal area in Jinning Township.

Defense command officials say it simulated an enemy invasion it deployed
artillery, support, armored and amphibious reconnaissance elements to conduct
live fire exercises against maritime targets.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, troops fired Javelin missiles
simulating engagements with enemy amphibious units and they were supported by
M60A3 tanks and CM21 armored vehicles.

Defense officials say the exercise also utilized Taiwan's Tactical Network
and Force Awareness Application Suite - which is aimed at enhancing command
and control resilience as well as employing drones for target reconnaissance
and battlefield control.

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:14

Hantavirus information

And,

The Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau says a suspect has been
referred to prosecutors for spreading false information about the Hantavirus
on social media.

According to the bureau, the suspect was questioned last yesterday for making
claims that the Hantavirus was caused by an adverse reaction to the
Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Taipei District Prosecutors' Office says the suspect is under investigation
on charges of violating Article 63 of the Communicable Disease Control Act or
causing public concern about COVID vaccines and public panic about Hantavirus
infection

If found guilty of violating Article 63 of the Communicable Disease Control
Act, the suspect faces a fine of up to 3-million N-T.

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:14

In international news,

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is defying calls to resign - telling
ministers he will get on with governing.

That's despite two days of growing calls from within his own party for him to
set out a timetable for his departure following the Labor Party's heavy loses
in last week's local elections.

Starmer has repeated that, while he's taking responsibility for one of his
party's worst election defeats, there has been no official move to trigger a
leadership contest.

More than 80 Labor Party lawmakers have now publicly called on Starmer to set
a timetable for leaving office and four ministers have resigned due to his
continuing leadership.

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:14

A Dutch hospital has quarantined 12 staff members as a preventive measure
after blood and urine from a hantavirus patient were handled without
observing strict protocols.

It comes as medical teams around the world are working to stop the spread of
the outbreak - which began on a luxury cruise ship.

Dutch health officials say the 12 hospital employees will be quarantined for
six weeks - but the infection risk is very low.

The World Health Organization has increased the number of confirmed cases in
the outbreak to nine.

However, it's also warning that more cases could be reported due to the
hantavirus' long incubation period.

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:14

The European Commission is planning a first meeting with Taliban officials in
Brussels.

Officials say the meeting will be focusing on ways to deport some Afghan
migrants - that, despite warnings from human rights groups that such
engagement could endanger Afghans and violate core European Union values.

Western countries have refused to recognise the Taliban since the hardline
Islamist group regained power in Afghanistan in 2021 -after overthrowing a
US- and NATO-backed government.

The commission says the planned meeting is being coordinated with Sweden, at
the request of several other member states.

However, no date had yet been set.

Posted on 2026-05-13 11:06:14

And finally,

Conan O'Brien is returning to host the Oscars for a third time in 2027.

The A-P's Ed Donahue reports.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Assurances

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is refusing say whether or not U-S President
Donald Trump's remarks about discussing arms sales to Taiwan with China's Xi
Jinping would violate the U-S's longstanding policy on Taiwan.

Earlier this week, Trump indicated would raise the issue of arms sales to
Taiwan when he meets with Xi.

But when asked about Trump's remarks, foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao
Kuang-wei failed to give a direct answer.

Instead he told reporters that the government is closely monitoring the
high-level meeting between the U-S and Chinese leaders and maintaining close
communication with Washington on the matter.

Hsiao also said since Trump returned to the White House in 2025, his
administration has repeatedly reaffirmed support for Taiwan's self-defense
capabilities ..

.. and that support includes a record 11.1-billion U-S dollar arms package
approved in December of last year.

Trump is slated to meet with Xi for a leaders summit tomorrow morning in
Beijing.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

authoritarianism

President Lai Ching-te told attendees at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that
China's recent alleged obstruction of his state visit to Eswatini is evidence
of "consolidating" authoritarian regimes worldwide.

Lai said in a pre-recorded message that world was at a "critical inflection
point" in the competition between democracy and authoritarianism, in which
autocracies continue to consolidate.

Lai said such regimes have resorted to military intimidation, economic
coercion, cyberattacks and "grey zone" operations, all of which pose "ever
more serious challenges" to peace, stability and democracy.

The president also said that such actions demonstrate that China will not
hesitate to undermine aviation safety and order for political leverage.

He thanked democratic partners which have supported Taiwan while under
pressure, for "speaking out with moral clarity in support of regional
stability."

The Copenhagen Democracy Summit is an annual international forum organized by
the Alliance of Democracies Foundation that brings together political
leaders, academics and members of civil societies.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the government will begin fully
subsidizing newborn screening tests and add spinal muscular atrophy to the
list of publicly funded screening items starting in July.

Shih said the Health Promotion Administration is increasing the subsidy for
congenital metabolic disorder screening from the current partial coverage to
fully cover costs per test.

Currently, the Health Promotion Administration only partially subsidizes
screenings for 21 conditions, including 18 rare diseases, and parents pay for
the remaining balance.

The health minister says the expanded program will benefit the 90,000 to
100,000 babies born in annually and is being supported by a budget allocation
of nearly 100-million N-T.

Newborn screening is typically conducted 48 hours after birth and serves as
an infant's first health check.

However, because congenital metabolic disorders often lack visible symptoms
at birth, delayed diagnosis can lead to permanent neurological or physical
damage.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Institutions from Taiwan and the US state of Wyoming have signed memorandums
of understanding on carbon capture and sequestration technologies and on
small modular nuclear reactors.

Visiting Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon made the announcement while meeting
with President Lai Ching-te the Presidential Office.

The visiting state governor says the partnership between Taiwan and Wyoming
means the two sides have an opportunity to "lead the world" in carbon
capture, utilization and sequestration, and demonstrate the viability of
achieving net-zero emissions.

Gordon also said his administration looks forward to further economic
cooperation that will enable the construction of infrastructure in Wyoming.

The M-O-Us were signed between the University of Wyoming, Taiwan's National
Central University and the National Atomic Research Institute.

A letter of intent on cooperation on carbon capture, utilization and
sequestration technologies was also signed between the University of Wyoming
and the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Moth orchids and other flowering plants grown in Taiwan have been officially
cleared for export to New Zealand through an agreement that specifies the
measures local exporters need to follow to secure access to the new market.

The agreement was signed under a free trade agreement between the two
countries.

The deal calls for exporters to take systematic management steps, including
the use of clean growing media, disease-free seedlings, and suspended yellow
sticky traps, to target pests and diseases.

The production, harvesting and transportation processes must also include
traceable records.

The Ministry of Agriculture says it began preparing pest management and risk
assessment data in 2022 as part of its application to export moth orchids and
other flowering plants to New Zealand.

New Zealand finalized the agreement after four years of technical
consultations and submissions of additional information.

The agriculture ministry says the deal will expand overseas markets for
Taiwan's flower industry.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says two men have arrested for allegedly
breaking into six Shopee self-pickup stores over a nine-day period and
stealing around 1-million N-T in cash.

The thefts occurred in late March at stores in relatively remote areas of New
Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu County.

The suspects used angle grinders and metal bars to force open payment
machines inside the unmanned pickup stores before fleeing with the cash.

Law enforcement officials says surveillance footage and evidence collected
from multiple crime scenes indicated the same two men were responsible for
all six robberies.

Police identified the suspects as both having prior criminal records
involving drugs and theft.

Both men are facing charges of aggravated theft.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center is warning that
aftershocks of between magnitudes 4 and 5 could be felt across eastern parts
of the island in the coming week following yesterday's magnitude 5.6
earthquake struck off the southeast coast.

The magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Taitung and was located
66-kilometers northeast of Taitung County Hall, at a depth of 23-kilometers.

It was felt strongest in Hualien, nothern parts of Taitung as well as in
areas of Nantou, Yunlin and Changhua - where it registered a magnitude 3 on
the weather administration's intensity scale.

It registered a magnitude 2 in some west coast areas.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

A protected leatherback sea turtle has been returned to sea after it was
accidentally caught by fishermen off the coast of Chiayi County's Dongshih
Township.

The 200-kilogram sea turtle was found near the Waisanding Sandbar.

A joint inspection by the Ocean Conservation Administration and a veterinary
team from the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium cleared the rare
animal for immediate release after finding only minor abrasions.

It marks the Ocean Conservation Administration's first successful live rescue
and release of a leatherback sea turtle since the institute was established
in 2018.

Sightings of leatherback sea turtles are rare because the species mainly
inhabits deep ocean waters and rarely appears in the shallow coastal areas of
western Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Hungary's new Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, has been sworn in,
marking a shift from Viktor Orban's administration.

Magyar's pro-European Tisza party defeated Orban’s nationalist-populist
Fidesz at an election last month, gaining a two-thirds parliamentary
majority.

Magyar aims to reverse many of Orban's policies and tackle corruption.

He's also seeking to unblock 17 billion euros of EU funds frozen due to
rule-of-law concerns.

His administration includes 16 ministries, focusing on restoring democratic
institutions and the rule of law.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the test launch of a new
intercontinental ballistic missile as a key part of efforts to modernize the
country’s nuclear forces.

Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile
is intended to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda.

He announced that the Sarmat would enter combat service at the end of the
year.

Putin’s statement comes days after his claim that the conflict in Ukraine is
coming to an end.

This comes as Ukrainian drone pilots turned a military exercise in Sweden
into a critical warning for NATO.

The pilots, playing the role of the enemy in the exercise, said they
destroyed Swedish forces with drones — and that if the exercise had been a
real life scenario, the Western forces would have been dead.

The exercise was designed to test what Sweden and its allies would do in a
scenario where they are facing increased sabotage and critical infrastructure
attacks from an enemy.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to the Middle East and Europe
this week in what's being seen as his most high-profile diplomatic trip of
the year.

He's expected to boost energy ties with the UAE and bolster trade relations
with Nordic countries during the five-day trip.

Ishan Garg tells us more from New Delhi.

Posted on 2026-05-13 06:57:13

Two big entertainment events kick off in Europe this week...

The 79th Cannes Film Festival has kicked off.... Tuesday marked the start of
12 days of nonstop premieres that will culminate on May 23 with the
presentation of the prestigious Palme d’Or prize.

Meanwhile, the Eurovision Song Contest is starting in Vienna with tensions
simmering over Israel's participation.

Five countries are boycotting in protest over Israel's involvement.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are planned, and security is tight with police
from Austria and Germany.

The second semifinal takes place tomorrow, and the top finishers from both
advance to Saturday's final.

Posted on 2026-05-12 18:35:14

Seismologists are warning that aftershocks of between magnitude 4 and 5 could
strike eastern Taiwan over the coming week ...

... following a magnitude 5-point-6 earthquake off the coast of Taitung
County this afternoon.

The quake hit just before 3 PM ... at almost 67 kilometers northeast of
Taitung County Hall ... at a depth of just under 23 kilometers ... and was
felt across much of Taiwan.

Experts say the shallow depth made the shaking more noticeable, especially in
eastern areas near the epicenter, with maximum intensity reaching level 4 in
Taitung and Hualien counties.

Seismologists say the quake appears to be an isolated event, though residents
are still being advised to remain cautious.

Historical records show the area is prone to earthquakes, with 25 quakes
above magnitude 5-point-5 recorded within 30 kilometers of the epicenter
since 1980.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-12 18:35:15

Meanwhile,

The foreign ministry is also responding today to China's latest move to block
Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly … which opens in Geneva
on Sunday.

MOFA says China's Foreign Ministry yesterday incorrectly invoked the
so-called one China principle to claim Taiwan needs Beijing's approval to
participate in international organizations.

The ministry called the remarks an attempt to suppress Taiwan's sovereignty
and said they deserve strong condemnation.

MOFA says health is a fundamental human right that should not be subject to
political interference, and that Taiwan has made significant contributions to
global public health and pandemic prevention that are widely recognized.

It is urging the WHO to reject Beijing's political pressure, and promptly
invite Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly as an observer.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-12 18:35:15

Taiwan High Speed Rail says it will add extra train services with additional
half-price discounts ahead of the summer break for university students.

The operator announced 28 additional services offering half-price student
fares between June 11th and June 17th, as students begin traveling home for
the holiday.

The extra trains include northbound and southbound services stopping at all
stations.

THSR says the added services are on top of existing student discounts, which
already include selected 50-percent, 75-percent, and 88-percent fare offers.

Tickets for the additional discounted services will go on sale from midnight
on the morning May 14th, following the regular booking schedule.

The company is also reminding passengers using student discounts to carry
valid student identification when traveling.

Posted on 2026-05-12 17:08:14

Chunghwa post office ATMs experienced n outage today across the country...

with Users unable to withdraw or transfer money.

The issue went on for about half an hour before some branches started
reporting that the ATMs were back to normal.

But some have even said that online banking remains unavailable and it's
unclear if all branches' ATMs are back to normal or not

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-12 17:08:14

Leading tire maker Bridgestone has laid off 551 employees in Hsinchu,
including 360 Taiwanese and 191 foreign workers, as the company shuts down
its factory there.

The company said it is launching an operational transformation in Taiwan in
response to adjustments in its global business strategy and long-term market
development needs.

It has promised to offer a severance package that's better than what the
labor law requires.

The company arranged buses yesterday to take workers to four locations for
severance negotiations, with the first round of layoffs expected to begin in
July.

Bridgestone, a well-known Japanese tire company, established the factory in
Hsinchu 44 years ago, and most of the employees are middle-aged or older
people who have worked there for more than a decade.

Facing fierce competition from China and Southeast Asian countries, the
company said it had to make the decision, but it'll still operate sales and
services here in Taiwan.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-05-12 17:08:14

Protests in Nantou's Mingjian township have continued today, with protesters
being stopped by police after climbing over barriers separating panelists
from the public.

Nantou County is Taiwan's only municipality without its own incinerator, and
has in the past been forced to rely on neighbors for help.

But as those neighboring municipalities have no longer been able to help, and
trash continues to accumulate, the county government is looking to build its
own incinerator.

The plan has encountered opposition from local residents, who've raised
concerns about how an incinerator would affect the township's tea industry,
which employees one third of residents.

At today's meeting, residents asked the county government if they "had ever
asked Mingjian people if the incincerator should be built there" and called
for the head of the environmental department to be removed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-12 17:08:14

Now turning to international news...

Pakistani police say, 9 people were killed in a bomb attack at a market.

The attack took place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest
Pakistan.

Officials added that more than 2 dozen other people were wounded in the
attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on
the Pakistani Taliban.

That group is separate from by allied with the Aghan Taliban government and
has intensified its campaign against Pakistani security forces in recent
years.

The Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups have grown more emboldened
since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Posted on 2026-05-12 17:08:14

New Taipei City is offering free admission to its public museums and historic
sites on May 18-th to celebrate International Museum Day.

The city's Cultural Affairs Department says on that day, visitors can enjoy
six public museums for free, including the Tamsui Historical Museum, the
Yingge Ceramics Museum, and the Pinglin Tea Museum..

The New Taipei City Art Museum will also offer free entry to its main
sections, though some special exhibitions may still require a fee.

Special activities are planned throughout the city, including guided tours of
the Danjiang Bridge and an interactive event at the Lin Family Mansion.

The department says the initiative is part of its campagin this year to make
art and history accessible to everyone.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-12 16:15:14

An earthquake shook the east coast just before 3pm today with a magnitude of
5.6.

The quake was centered nearly 70 kilometers northeast of Taitung County Hall,
in the ocean.

The earthquake took place at a depth of nearly 23 kilometers.

It was felt at a maximum intensity of 4 in Taitung and Hualien. In greater
Taipei, the intensity level was 1.

Posted on 2026-05-12 16:15:14

U-S President Donald Trump has said he will raise the issue of arms sales to
Taiwan during his meeting with China's Xi Jinping later this week.

It comes as Trump was asked by reporters at the White House whether the
Taiwan issue wil come up during the meeting.

Posted on 2026-05-12 16:15:14

In a related news...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is warning that China is trying to distort
the issue of U-S arms sales to Taiwan ahead of the upcoming summit between
U-S President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The statement follows Trump saying he plans to discuss American arms sales to
Taiwan with Xi.

MOFA said that Beijing has repeatedly expressed what it called "unreasonable
and untenable positions" opposing the sales.

As China has continued to escalate threats to Taiwan and regional stability,
MOFA says it will work closely with Washington to strengthen deterrence.

It also welcomed recent statements by U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio
reaffirming that U-S policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-12 16:15:14

National Taiwan Library has announced the publication of the first complete
Chinese translation of a 17th-century book documenting Taiwan.

The work, originally published in 1669, was written by Swiss painter and
soldier Albrecht Herport during his travels with the Dutch East India
Company.

The book includes detailed descriptions of Taiwan's environment, agriculture
and diverse communities during the Dutch colonial period.

It also contains firsthand accounts of the siege of Fort Zeelandia by Zheng
Chenggong, along with historical illustrations from the era.

The library said the new edition provides valuable insight into Taiwan's
early connections to global trade and history during the Age of Discovery.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-12 16:15:14

Turning to world news...

The US has been holding regular negotiations with Denmark to expand its
military presence in Greenland, according to a BBC news report.

The report also said that the talks between the two sides are progressing in
recent months.

US officials are seeking to open three new bases in the south of the
territory, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, as they work to resolve a
diplomatic crisis sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump when he threatened
to seize Greenland by force.

Trump said in January that the US should "own" Greenland to prevent Russia or
China from taking it.

The White House confirmed the administration was engaged in high-level talks
with Greenland and Denmark, but declined to comment on details of the
negotiations.

A White House official said the administration was very optimistic about the
talks .

Posted on 2026-05-12 16:15:14

The global maritime industry is facing a looming shortage of the fuel that
powers ships as the Iran war chokes off the Strait of Hormuz.

About 80% of globally traded goods are transported by sea.

Ship operators rely on a sludgelike substance known as bunker fuel to move
those goods.

The world’s largest ship refueling hub is Southeast Asia, which places the
region at the center of growing concerns as prices skyrocket.

Experts say consumers and companies should brace for price spikes to shipping
costs and impacts to bottom lines.

They also say that Interest in so-called “green” fuels, which are more
expensive, could grow.

Posted on 2026-05-12 14:12:13

The DPP is expected to formally name Lawmaker Puma Shen to run for Taipei
Mayor tomorrow.

Members of the DPP's Election Strategy Committee were notified last night
that the committee would meet tomorrow morning to approve Shen's nomination.

Shen's eligibility is, though, contingent upon approval by the Central
Executive Committee.

A party spokesperson noted that Shen's campaign team has quitely begun
operations, naming Shen's colleagues to key positions, including Wu Si Yao,
Wu Pei Yi, Chen Pei Yu, and Fan Yun.

Shen is a freshman party list lawmaker known for being vocal on defense
issues.

He faces an uphill battle against current Mayor Chiang Wan An.

Local media began to speculate that Shen was considering a run after he cut
his trademark shaggy hair in favor of a neater style and began appearing at
city council campaign events.

Shen has previously taught criminology at NTU, founded a civil defense
organization, and directed a lab that investigates disinformation against
democracies.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-05-12 14:12:15

Taiwan's real average regular wage posted its strongest first-quarter growth
in 11 years in 2026, as pay increases continued to outpace inflation.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says average
monthly regular wages in the industrial and service sectors rose nearly
2-point-7 percent from a year earlier ... averaging 48-thousand-706 NT per
month.

After adjusting for inflation, average real wages increased 1-point-4-5
percent, the fastest pace for a first quarter since 2015.

Average total earnings, at $57,500 with bonuses and overtime pay, also
recorded their strongest first-quarter growth in eight years.

Officials say continued expansion in AI-related industries helped boost
overtime, performance bonuses and overall salaries.

Median wage figures, which better reflect typical earnings, stood at a little
over $39-thousand NT in March.

Officials warned that rising global energy prices linked to Middle East
tensions could increase inflationary pressure in the months ahead.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-12 14:12:15

Now turning to international news...

US President Donald Trump is set to leave for Beijing for talks with his
Chinese counterpart.

The US has been trying to persuade China to use its influence over Iran to
reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

China insists it wants the war to end... even as the US accuses Chinese firms
of aiding Iran's military.

The US side has set lot expectations for the visit to change China's stance.

Instead, they're framing the focus on keeping trade relations stable.

Analysts say a win for leader Xi Jinping would mean a validation of China'
superpower status, stability vis a vis tariffs, and to reaffirm that Trump
has to deal with Beijing on Beijing's terms.

Posted on 2026-05-12 14:12:15

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 41898 after
gaining 108 points.

The turnover was 1.378 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-05-12 14:12:15

A new wave of gang violence in Haiti has forced hundreds of people to flee,
leaving them scattered along a road.

Clashes erupted over the weekend in northern neighborhoods of Port au Prince.

Gangs have overtaken more than 90% of the city since the assassination of the
president in 2021.

Police say they have now expanded activity into the countryside.

The U.N. Security Council has approved a 5,550-member force to help quell the
violence, but it has not fully arrived.

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

Legislative Speaker Han Guo-yu, who's leading a delegation of lawmakers on a
trip to France, visited the Paris-based French Institute of International
relations on Monday.

During a speech there, Han said Taiwan faces a great deal challenges and
threats, and if the situation in the Taiwan Strait were to change, the most
unpredictable factor would be the level of support from the international
community.

He said the more friends Taiwan has internationally, and the more attention
it receives, the safer Taiwan will be.

The Speaker also said he hopes more people from various sectors in France
will visit Taiwan to deepen bilateral ties, and that French universities
could establish branches in Taiwan.

The delegation will visit the U.K. after completing their trip to France.

(JL)

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

The Ministry of Culture is responding to controversy over a new logo for
TaiPower, saying that design is a highly specialized field, involving many
different considerations.

The comment comes after Taipower decided to change its company logo and font
design at an estimated cost of 960,000 NT.

The state-run company said the change is part of a broader transformation and
modernization of the company.

But the change has come under fire as some said that the new designer was
chosen due to their political leanings.

Some also criticized the company as wasting money on unnecessary changes,
seeing as it's already deep in the red.

Culture Minister Li Yuan, on the other hand, said today that people often
have different perceptions of a design and such matters are best left to
professional judgment.

(AH)

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

Taipei firefighters were called to Dadaocheng Wharf this morning after two
people fell into the river.

An elderly man fell in, leading a much younger bystander to jump in to try to
save him.

The two were both swept away, however, firefighters were able to retrieve the
unconscious elderly man a few hours later.

The man was OHCA on arrival and was sent to the hospital.

Rescuers are still searching for the younger man.

(AH)

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

10/7 attack

Now turning to international news...

Israeli lawmakers are moving to authorize death sentences for Palestinians
convicted of taking part in the October 7th, 2023, attack on Israel.

The measure to set up a special tribunal that would hear such cases passed
unanimously.

Rights groups have criticized the measure, saying it makes the death penalty
too easy to impose...

without enough safeguards to ensure a fair trial.

Defendants can appeal sentences, but the appeals have to be heard by a
separate and specific appeals court, rather than a regular one.

The bill is separate from a law passed in March that approved the death
penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis...

a measure harshly condemned by the international community and rights groups
as discriminatory and inhumane.

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

And in related news in the Occupied West Bank ...

A Palestinian family says that Israeli settlers forced them to dig up the
body of a relative that had just been buried.

The Israeli military gave permission to the family to use the cemetery, but
armed settlers claimed the land.

They then threatened to dig up the grave, forcing the family to move the
body.

The incident highlights the influence extremist settlers have gained during
the past four years of Israel's current government...

and the Israeli military's inability or unwillingness to halt settler
violence and land seizures.

Separately, a Palestinian man that Israeli police said was armed with a rifle
was shot and killed by Israeli forces near a school for refugees on the
outskirts of Jerusalem.

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

France and Kenya are cohosting the Africa Forward Summit this week as France
looks to push a new Africa policy that it calls a "partnership of equals."

This comes as France completes a military withdrawal from West African
countries.

France has long maintained a policy of economic, political, and military sway
over former colonies, called "francafrique," which included keeping thousands
of troops in the region.

But years of criticism from some in those countries led France to withdraw
most of the troops.

Kenya's newly ratified defense agreement with France has been criticized by
civil groups as granting too much immunity from local law to French troops...

a sensitive issue in a country where a similar agreement with the UK that
left a trail of hard-to-prosecute crimes.

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

A-I related stocks pushed the Tai-Ex to a new intraday high in early trading
the morning.

The main board added 367-points to reach 42,157 -- surpassing the seven-day
high of 42,156.

The markets four major heavyweights were mixed.

With Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing rising 15 N-T to 2,250 N-T and
MediaTek adding 30 N-T to hit 3,910 N-T.

However, Delta Electronics fell 25 N-T to settle at 2,220 N-T and Hon Hai was
marginally lower from Monday's close.

Analysts says investors are keeping a close eye on the pending US-China
summit as news from that meeting is expected dictate the market's direction
towards the end of the week.

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

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

Of those sorties, five aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan strait
and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern air defense identification
zones.

The aircraft included fighter jets, support planes and helicopters.

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

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

And,

Taiwan powerlifters have bagged the gold and silver medals in the women's
under 48-kilogram division at the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships in
India.

Huang Yi-chen secured the gold with a total lift of 193-kilograms, while Fang
Wan-ling followed closely behind by just 1-kilogram at 192-kilograms for a
silver medal.

Taiwan sent 15 competitors to this year's Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Taiwan's women's weightlifting ace and Olympic champion Kuo Hsing-chun chose
not to participate in this year's championship.

She has said she's preparing for the 20th edition of the Asian Games - which
will be taking place in Japan in mid-September.

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

In international news,

U-S President Donald Trump says the ceasefire with Iran is "on life support"
after Tehran's response to Washington's proposal to end the war made clear
the two sides were still far apart on a number of issues.

The A-P Sagar Meghani reports.

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

The Dutch luxury cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak is now heading to
the Netherlands after the last six passengers and some crew members were
evacuated from the vessel.

The ship now carrying 25 crew as well as a doctor and a nurse.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry says crew will complete their quarantine in the
Netherlands.

A Dutch couple and a German national have died since the start of the
outbreak on the ship of the virus.

The hantavirus is usually spread by wild rodents but can also be transmitted
person-to-person in rare cases of close contact.

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

Britain's Prime Minster Keir Starmer is coming under renewed pressure to step
down.

It comes after more than 70 Labour party lawmakers have publicly called for
the prime minister's resignation after his appeal for another chance
seemingly fell on deaf ears.

Starmer made an impassioned plea to both his party and voters to stick with
him in order to avoid a leadership contest he said would only bring chaos.

The four ministerial aides said they were resigning as they believe Starmer
was not fit to lead Labour into the next national election, which is due in
2029.

That could trigger a leadership contest that could last weeks, if not months.

Posted on 2026-05-12 11:06:13

And finally,

The Beatles are returning to one of their iconic sites with a new fan
experience in London next year.

The A-P's Haya Panjwani reports.

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

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the government remains confident that
Taiwan-US ties will remain stable, but will be closely watching how the
Taiwan issue will be addressed when U-S President Donald Trump meets with
China's Xi Jinping later this week.

Trump is scheduled to arriving in Beijing on Wednesday evening and hold a
summit with Xi on Thursday morning.

U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that although Taiwan will
likely be on the agenda, both Washington and Taipei view maintaining
stability in the Taiwan Strait as being in their interests.

According to the foreign minister, the government is maintaining close
communication with Washington through all available channels, and U-S
officials have provided repeated reassurances that U-S policy on Taiwan has
not and will not change.

Lin says Washington has indicated it wants to focus on issues related to the
trade war, fentanyl and the Middle East during the summit, while it is
Beijing that has been insisting on raising the Taiwan issue.

The foreign minister also says that while Trump may be less conventional in
his rhetoric, both his first administration and his current term have
continued to approve arms sales to Taiwan and view Taiwan as an indispensable
partner ...

.. and the government should be concerned, but not overly worried.

Posted on 2026-05-12 08:13:16

Tai-Power has announced that it will implement its annual summer electricity
rates for residential users from June through September.

The average monthly bill is expected to rise to 1,084 N-T during that period.

Summer rates for approximately 15-million residential and small commercial
users will begin June 1 and end on September 30.

While seasonal pricing for around 26,000 high-voltage and extra high-voltage
users begins this Saturday and runs through to October 15.

According state-generator, the average monthly household usage throughout the
year is about 345-kilowatt-hours, while the average monthly domestic usage in
the summer rises to 418-kilowatt-hours - pushing bills up by nearly 70-per
cent.

Tai-Power says higher costs to residential consumers during the summer, are
due largely to increased electricity usage rather than the rate hike ... and
electricity usage accounts for 73-per cent of the increase, while the higher
seasonal rates make up 27-per cent.

Posted on 2026-05-12 08:13:18

The Taipei City government is continuing a cleaning and sanitation drive
across all 12 administrative districts this week, as it seeks to combat
concerns about recent increases in rat sightings.

According to the city government, the cleaning drive that began last Friday
in Zhongshan District is is now being expanded to other city districts
through Thursday.

City officials say sanitation work focused on Datong, Wanhua and Zhongzheng
districts on Monday, and will focus on Nangang, Wenshan and Neihu districts
today.

It will continue tomorrow in Songshan, Daan and Xinyi districts, before
concluding on Thursday in Shilin and Beitou districts.

The city government says the sanitation drive will be carried out by teams of
disinfection and sanitation workers, as well as by local volunteers, who will
focus on cleaning parks and clearing debris piled up in alleys.

While some Taipei residents say they have noticed more rats recently, the
Centers for Disease Control says there is currently no indication of
increased disease risk.

Posted on 2026-05-12 08:13:20

The Ministry of Health says it plans to review the possibility of tightening
medical privacy regulations.

The statement comes after D-P-P lawmaker Lin Shu-fen warned that current
guidelines fail to adequately protect patients from illicit filming and the
potential leakage of sensitive medical footage.

Lin made that comment amid widening hidden-camera scandal involving several
major aesthetic clinic chains, where recording devices were allegedly
concealed inside smoke detectors.

According to Lin, the health ministry's current privacy guidelines as overly
loose and vague and lack a clear legal basis and impose no specific penalties
for violations.

Lin says relying primarily on the Personal Data Protection Act is
insufficient due to the particular sensitivity of medical privacy issues.

She is now calling on the health ministry to consider classifying medical
recordings as part of official medical records to ensure stricter safeguards
and security standards.

Posted on 2026-05-12 08:13:21

An employee at a horror-themed entertainment venue in Taipei's Xinyi District
has almost died after being accidentally strangled while playing the role of
a ghost who had died by hanging.

The employee at the escape room was found in a state of cardiac and
respiratory arrest when first responders from the Taipei City Fire Department
- who rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call.

Paramedics administered C-P-R to the woman and took her to a nearby hospital,
where she regained her vital signs.

An investigation into the incident has found that the woman was strangled by
a prop rope around her neck.

Police have questioned several witnesses and examined surveillance video
footage - ruling out foul play.

However, the woman's family filed a criminal complaint for bodily injury.

The Yongchun Hospital escape room run by Rostart Games has been referred to
authorities for labor and workplace safety inspections.

Posted on 2026-05-12 08:13:22

And finally,

The National Taxation Bureau is warning about a rise in fake tax refund
notifications during the current filing season.

The bureau says scammers are sending unsolicited emails and text messages
claiming recipients can collect large or overdue refunds.

According to officials say fraudsters are using A-I-generated messages that
impersonate government agencies and create a false sense of urgency.

The bureau has issued a list of four warning signs regarding fake tax refund
notifications ..

.. and they include unsolicited refund messages, pressure tactics like
"expires soon" or "act now," fake websites using non-government domains, and
requests for personal data such as I-D numbers or bank account details.

Officials says the tax bureau would never contact taxpayers about refunds by
text, email, or social media ... and will never ask for banking or credit
card information.

Anyone who receives a suspicious message are being urged to call the
anti-fraud hotline at 165 or contact their local tax office.

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is trying to arrange a trip to Geneva to take
part in events being organized by the government and N-G-O's there to
coincide with the annual World Health Assembly.

This comes after the government said Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation
to attend the event.

Yesterday, China said it had decided against letting the "Taiwan area"
attending this year's W-H-A - effectively ending the government's hopes of
getting and invitation.

It's the 10th consecutive year that Taiwan has been shunned by the W-H-A.

The foreign minister says his agency is drafting plans for a possible trip to
Geneva, but he didn't provide additional details, saying only that the
foreign ministry will publicly announce the visit if the plans are finalized.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang has said along with the regular side events
and seminars, this year's Taiwan W-H-A action team will also be holding an
exhibition showcasing the island's smart healthcare innovations and overseas
medical aid programs.

The 79th World Health Assembly is scheduled to take place in Geneva from May
18 to 23

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun says Taiwan should move beyond its Cold War-era
role as part of the "first island chain" in pursuit of regional prosperity.

Cheng said Taiwan's role as part of the first island chain mirrored its
position on "the front line of war" between eastern and western blocs during
the Cold War - and she believes that's a situation that should change.

The KMT chairperson said she hopes areas stretching from Japan and South
Korea to Taiwan, China's southeastern coast, Hong Kong and Singapore can
become peaceful and prosperous regions instead of strategic front lines
shaped by rivalry between major powers.

Cheng said she became more convinced of the possibility of peace and
stability across the Taiwan Strait after meeting with China's Xi Jinping in
Beijing in early April.

The K-M-T chairwoman went on to say that support from the U-S would be
crucial to such a shift in the geopolitical landscape -- and reconciliation
and cooperation between Washington and Beijing would be the "greatest
blessing to the world."

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

The Ministry of Health has announced draft amendments to Sexual Assault Crime
Prevention Act and the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act.

The planned revisions seek to change the starting point for the statute of
limitations in sexual assault cases involving minors to when a victim turns
20.

... and they are aimed at ensuring victims can seek justice after gaining a
better understanding of their victimization and having greater resources to
speak out.

Under current regulations, the statute of limitations begins from the date an
offense was committed, making it difficult for victims abused as minors to
pursue legal action after reaching adulthood.

The draft amendments will now undergo a 30-day public notice period before
being reviewed by the Cabinet and submitted to the Legislature.

The Ministry of Health is insisting that amendments align with a separate
Cabinet proposal in January to revise the Criminal Code that also addresses
the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases involving minors.

The statute of limitations in Taiwan for sex crimes involving minors
currently varies depending on the type of offense.

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

An appeal by a Chinese woman married to a Taiwanese national to obtain
"settlement residency" in Taiwan has been denied due to her past employment
in Chinese state-linked entities.

The Cabinet's appeal committee also upheld a previous Ministry of the
Interior review committee ruling that barred the woman from reapplying for
settlement residency for three years.

The woman can file an administrative appeal within two months of receiving
the decision.

The woman first applied for "settlement residency" in August 2025, but the
interior ministry's review committee rejected her application in early
November.

The Cabinet's appeal committee upheld that committee's view that her previous
employment "clearly" fell within the restricted category.

"Settlement residency" is intermediate status granted to Chinese spouses in
Taiwan, allowing them to apply for household registration in Taiwan within a
30-day window and thereby obtain Taiwanese citizenship.

Under laws governing residency applications by Chinese nationals, people who
currently or previously held posts in Chinese Communist Party, government,
military or political entities in China may be denied "settlement residency."

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien says Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing's investment project in Arizona is progressing
better than expected, but faces challenges such as water and labor shortages.

After a trip to the facility, Yeh said the chipmaker's Arizona site turned a
profit of 16.14-billion N-T in 2025 -- its first full year of mass
production.

T-S-M-C executives have reportedly said the company was surprised by the
smooth trial run of the first fab, which has left it optimistic about the
project's outlook.

But Yeh says the company is also voicing concerns about several challenges,
including water shortages, as Arizona's climate has made securing sufficient
water resources a major concern.

Yeh says T-S-M-C hopes to receive support from the Arizona state government.

The first fab at T-S-M-C's Arizona campus began mass production in the fourth
quarter of 2024, while construction of a second fab has been completed, with
mass production scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.

Construction of a third fab started earlier this year.

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

Taiwan's tertiary student population fell to 1.057 million in the 2025-2026
academic year - a decline of about 21.8-per cent over the past 14 years.

Ministry of Education data shows that Taiwan currently has 139 universities
and colleges in the 2025-2026 academic year, including 47 public and 92
private institutions.

The total number of tertiary institutions has fallen by 13, with the closure
of one public and 12 private institutions.

The ministry says there are 1.057 million tertiary students in the 2025-2026
academic year, including 208,000 postgraduate students and 849,000
undergraduates.

Compared with the 2011-2012 academic year, total tertiary enrollment has
dropped by about 295,000 over 14 years, or 21.8 percent.

The education ministry attributes the decline to a drop in undergraduate
enrollment.

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

Taiwan inventions have won 11 gold medals at the 125th edition of the
Concours Lepine.

The annual invention fair and competition is held in Paris and brought
together several hundred inventors from around the world.

Entries included categories such as daily life, artistic creation, health and
inclusiveness, and transport and industry.

Taiwan's delegation presented 64 inventions at this year's fair.

One of Taiwan's gold medal-winning daily life-oriented inventions was the
"StellartMag" created by junior high school student Kao Hsing-hang that uses
magnets to help cyclists attach their everyday shoes to pedals.

Other gold medal-winning Taiwan inventions included a one-handed injection
aid, an automatic sink-cleaning system, and sound-absorbing curtains.

The Concours Lepine was founded in 1901.

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

Philippine lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to impeach Vice President Sara
Duterte.

Duterte was accused in an impeachment complaint of misusing public funds,
accumulating unexplained wealth and threatening the lives of President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife and the former House speaker.

Duterte denies the charges.

The complaint by activists, religious groups and lawyers was backed on Monday
by 257 lawmakers, easily passing the required threshold of one-third of house
seats, with 25 voting against and nine abstentions.

The Senate must now convene a trial with its members as jurors and if
convicted, she faces removal from office and a ban from politics.

Duterte's father is former president Rodrigo Duterte... who now awaits trial
at the International Criminal Court over a his war on drugs that killed
thousands of people.

Posted on 2026-05-12 06:57:13

Ukrainian authorities on Monday named President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's
powerful former chief of staff as a suspect in a major corruption probe.

In a statement, Ukraine's anti-graft agencies said Zelenskyy's right hand man
Andy Yermak is suspected of participating in a criminal group that laundered
around $10.5 million through an elite housing development outside the capital
Kyiv.

The agencies did not name Yermak, in line with Ukrainian law, but he was
widely identified by local media.

Yermak denies the allegations.

The case is part of a broader probe into high-level graft first unveiled last
November, when a former Zelenskiy business partner was accused of running a
$100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic agency.

Posted on 2026-05-11 19:57:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says the government is closely watching this
week's planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese
President Xi Jinping.

Trump is scheduled to visit China from May 13th to 15th, and Lin says Taiwan
has been in continuous communication with American counterparts through both
public and private channels, with Washington repeatedly affirming that its
Taiwan policy will not change.

Lin acknowledged that what China wants to gain and what it is willing to give
will only become clear at the negotiating table, but says American priorities
going into the talks are well known, covering trade, fentanyl controls, and
the Middle East conflict.

Lin says the foreign ministry will monitor developments closely and expressed
confidence that American policy toward Taiwan will remain unchanged.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-05-11 19:57:14

Taipei will continue a city-wide cleaning and sanitation campaign across all
12 districts this week in response to growing public concern over recent rat
sightings.

Officials say sanitation crews and local volunteers will focus on parks,
alleys and areas where trash and debris have accumulated.

The campaign began last week in Zhongshan District and will continue through
Thursday in districts across the capital.

Authorities say residents may notice more rats during the clean-up process as
hiding places are disturbed.

The city is advising people handling dead rats to wear gloves, seal the
animals in bags and disinfect affected areas.

The sanitation drive follows viral social media posts about rat sightings in
Taipei, including one report claiming a rat entered a home and bit a sleeping
resident.

Despite this, the Centers for Disease Control said there is currently no
indication of increased disease risk.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-05-11 18:17:14

Taipei authorities say they've received 90 consumer complaints linked to
suspected hidden-camera incidents at beauty clinics ... since the start of
the month.

According to the city's Department of Legal Affairs, almost all these
complaints involve Airlee Clinic ...

... which has been embroiled in controversy after a suspected pinhole camera
was found in a changing room at one of its branches.

The city government has also launched a special legal consultation program
for people affected by the Airlee case, offering one-on-one appointments with
lawyers.

They added that all consultations are being arranged through an online
reservation system ... due to the sensitive nature of the case.

Taipei officials say they're also cooperating with prosecutors and
considering the possibility of a class-action lawsuit to help protect
consumers' rights.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-05-11 18:17:14

Costco says its top-tier Executive cardholders will be able to enter stores
one hour before the general public starting May 25th.

Early entry begins at 9 A-M, compared to the standard opening time of 10 A-M.

Gold Star and Business members will continue to enter at 10 A-M as usual.

The move follows a similar policy introduced at U-S Costco locations in
September of last year.

Costco says the Executive card carries an annual fee of 3-thousand NT and
previously offered mainly a 2-percent annual spending rebate.

The company says early entry will help spread out peak-hour crowds and reduce
checkout wait times.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-11 14:07:14

The Ministry of National Defense says five People's Liberation Army aircraft
sorties crossed the Taiwan Strait median line from 6 A-M Sunday to 6 A-M
today.

It says the military detected seven P-L-A aircraft sorties in total, five of
which crossed the median line into Taiwan's central and southwestern air
defense zones.

Five P-L-A naval vessels and one government ship were also detected operating
in the area.

The ministry says military mission aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile
systems maintained close surveillance and took appropriate response measures
throughout.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-11 14:07:15

The Ministry of Education says, the talent excellence scholarship for
Indigenous students is now taking applications.

The program is open to Indigenous students in primary and secondary school,
and offers up to 10,000 NT.

Applications are open through Friday, and students can apply through the
school they're enroled at for the current semester.

The ministry says, the scholarship is meant to recognize the outstanding
academic and extracurricular achievement of Indigenous students.

The individual and group versions of the award regonize language, science,
music, art, dance, sports and other special talents.

The Ministry of Educaiton says, it will continue to promote the cultivation
of talent among Indigenous young people.

Applications are due this Friday.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-11 14:07:15

Asian stocks are mostly up today, driven by wins in AI trade.

Taiwan shares are up as well, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 186 points to
close the session at 41790.

The turnover was 1.113 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-05-11 14:07:15

Now turning to international news...

The Philippines will summon a former chief of police as part of an
investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings under former president
Duterte.

Ronald dela Rosa, who is now a senator, will be summoned by the Philippine
National Police to be investigated.

The thousands of killings of mostly drug suspects took place when Duterte was
mayor of Davao and when he became president in 2016.

The killings alarmed rights groups and Western governments.

Duterte was arrested last year and now faces trial at the Internaitonal
Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

The summoning of dela Rosa comes as there's been speculation that he faces
imminent arrest on order of the ICC.

He hasn't appeared at the Senate since November.

Posted on 2026-05-11 14:07:15

A contemporary art fair has opened in the Ukrainian capital with the theme
that art can help society cope with the realities of war.

Titled "This is Normal," the event features hundreds of works but
deliberately avoids any focus on the conflict.

Organizers say the event also aims to revive Ukraine's art market, which has
struggled from the impact of COVID and the Russian invasion.

The fair brings together prominent galleries, artists, and collectors.

The event is being held for the second time and describes itself as a place
where artistic experience, public discourse, and Ukrainian reality meet.

Organizers adds that the event aims to "work with reality as it is" rather
than waiting for a better moment.

Posted on 2026-05-11 12:46:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, the U.S. is hoping that Taiwan will
increase military spending from just the 780 billion NT special budget passed
by the legislature on Friday.

Minister Lin Chia-lung said the U.S. is hoping that the legislature will- in
his words- "rectify" the situation.

In particular, the minister added, the U.S. side was unhappy with the KMT/TPP
version of the defense bill's complete exclusion of commercial procurement
and commissioned projects.

Lin emphasized that Washington hoped that Taiwan would do more to support the
defense budget, particularly given its position in the liminal island chain.

Meanwhile premier Zhuo Rong Tai said the government would certainly take
action to bring back the public's and international partners' trust in
Taiwan.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-05-11 12:46:14

The Wall Street Journal reports Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary
agreement for Intel to produce some chips for Apple devices.

The paper says the two companies held intensive negotiations for more than a
year before finalizing the deal in recent months.

Apple has for years relied exclusively on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Company to make processors for its iPhones and MacBooks.

T-S-M-C declined to comment on what it called market rumors.

Market observers say Apple is diversifying its suppliers to secure production
capacity, as T-S-M-C's advanced chip lines are running at full load due to
strong A-I demand.

Analysts say T-S-M-C's process technology advantage means it will remain
Apple's primary chip producer.

T-S-M-C shares fell 35 NT dollars intraday, dropping below the 5-day moving
average to 2-thousand-255 NT, dragging the broader market down roughly 278
points.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-05-11 12:46:14

Iran has sent its response to the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal via
Pakistani mediators, but U.S. President Donald Trump quickly rejected it in a
social media post as, quote, "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!"

That was in capital letters.

Trump gave no details.

Sunday's development is the latest setback to resolve the standoff in the
Persian Gulf that has throttled shipping and sent energy prices soaring.

Iran's state media said that Tehran rejected the proposal from the United
States as amounting to surrender, insisting instead on "war reparations by
the U.S., full Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to
sanctions, and the release of seized Iranian assets."

The fragile ceasefire was tested on Sunday when a drone ignited a small fire
on a ship off Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported drones
entering their airspace.

The UAE said it shot down two drones and blamed Iran.

No casualties were reported, and no one immediately claimed responsibility.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-05-11 08:17:13

Trump-Xi meeting

In news from and about Taiwan this morning.

Taiwan's top envoy to the U-S, Alexander Yui has told Fox News that any
attempt by Beijing to take Taiwan by force would severely disrupt global
trade.

According to Yui, China needs to be aware that other countries with interests
in the region could respond to such an attack.

Yui said the Lai administration remains open to dialogue with China, but any
cross-strait talks must be based on mutual respect ..

.... and that the US position on Taiwan remains unchanged - as peace and
stability across the Taiwan Strait are beneficial to all relevant parties,
including the U-S, China, Taiwan, and Japan.

The interview comes as U-S President Donald Trump is slated to travel to
China Wednesday evening for talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday
morning.

Posted on 2026-05-11 08:17:13

The Yunlin District Court has ordered the son of the chairman of one of
Taiwan's most prominent Mazu temples to be detained after a group of men
allegedly attacked and injured the temple's former chairwoman at her home in
Yunlin County.

Tsai Chin-tsai is the 22-year-old son of Yunlin County Council Deputy Speaker
and Beigang Chaotian Temple Chairman Tsai Yung-te.

He was arrested and detained by prosecutors after 80-year old Tseng Tsai
Mei-tso was attacked at her home late last week.

Police questioned 21 people following the incident - detaining three suspects
and releasing several others on bail.

Posted on 2026-05-11 08:17:13

And,

C-P-C has once again opted to keep gasoline and diesel prices unchanged this
week as part of government efforts to ease the impact of rising international
crude oil prices amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

It marks the sixth consecutive week that the state refiner has held fuel
prices steady.

The move means 92 octane unleaded remains at 32.4 N-T per liter, while the
price of premium diesel stays at 31 N-T a liter.

According to C-P-C, it expects to absorb 2.6 N-T per liter for gasoline and
4.2 N-T per liter for diesel this week.

However, the amount absorbed by the state refiner has declined from last week
due to lower average crude prices and a stronger New Taiwan dollar.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Paraguay's President Santiago Pena has wrapped-up his first state visit to
Taiwan with a meeting with former President Tsai Ing-wen.

Pena described Tsai "as great friend of Paraguay" and said they "reviewed the
extraordinary bilateral agenda that unites the two countries and all they
have built in these years of a solid and committed alliance."

Pena went on to say that the friendship has been exemplified by concrete
cooperation projects and investments that have created opportunities for the
Paraguayan people.

He didn't say when the meeting took place.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accompanied Pena to the Southern Taiwan
Science Park and the National Center for High-performance Computing in Tainan
on Saturday ...

.. saying the visits gave the Paraguay president a first-hand understanding
of Taiwan's achievements in artificial intelligence, computing, and
technology governance.

Pena and his delegation left Taiwan for the Philippines on Sunday afternoon
for the next stop of their regional trip.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is leading a delegation a cross-party
delegation of lawmakers to France and the U-K this week as part of efforts
to boost parliamentary diplomacy.

Before his departure, Han said it was the first time the Legislative Yuan had
organized a delegation to visit the two European countries.

The trip is being undertaken after invitations from the French Senate's
Taiwan Friendship Group and the Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in
Europe.

Han says he plans to showcase five major advantages of Taiwan to his
European counterparts, starting with its globally leading semiconductor and
contract chipmaking industries.

The delegation includes 10 lawmakers from the D-P-P, the K-M-T and the Taiwan
People's Party.

The delegation's itinerary includes attending the Council of Taiwanese
Chambers of Commerce in Europe's annual general meeting in London.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

The Reuters News Agency is reporting disappointment out of the U.S. over the
Legislative Yuan's approval of the 780 billion NT special defense budget last
week.

The amount is said to be short of what Washington believes is needed, because
it "left some stuff left on the cutting room floor that we believe still
needs to be funded."

780 billon NT represents about two-thirds of the amount sought by the
Executive Yuan to bolster the armed forces in the face of a rapidly
modernizing Chinese military.

The special funds are to be spread out over eight years and would be in
addition to normal defense spending that is included in the government’s
annual budget.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

The K-M-T's representative in the U-S, Chin Jih-hsin says party chairwoman
Cheng Li-wun is currently finalizing the itinerary for her planned trip to
America.

Cheng is slated to travel to the U-S early next month.

Although no dates for the visit have been announced, the K-M-T chair has said
she's received invitations from members of the U-S Congress, think tanks, and
overseas Taiwanese groups.

She reportedly plans to travel to New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Los
Angeles - while reports say she could also make a stop in Texas.

Cheng says she will be talking with people from across the political spectrum
while in the U-S and exchanging views on issues of mutual concern.

Cheng has previously said she's arranging meetings with senior officials in
Washington, D.C., to explain what was discussed during her recent meeting
with China's Xi Jinping.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

A delegation led by Tuvalu's transport, energy, communications, and
innovation minister has arrived in Taiwan for a five-day visit.

Simon Kofe is leading a four-member delegation for talks on digital
infrastructure, communications, and energy security.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the delegation is slated to meet with
several government agencies and private sector companies to discuss
information and communications technology, digital governance, network
resilience, and energy development.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will also host a banquet for the visiting
delegation.

Lin traveled to Tuvalu in March, where he held talks with Tuvalu's Prime
Minister Feleti Teo.

Those talks included a submarine cable project, Taiwan-Tuvalu cooperation on
digital resilience, and secure network infrastructure.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Unions representing nurses at six hospitals are criticizing the Ministry of
Health for delaying the implementation of newly legislated three-shift
nurse-to-patient ratios to 2028.

The unions accuse the ministry of "shirking responsibility" - saying the
government need to accelerate implementation of the new legislation, rather
than delaying enforcement.

The statement comes after lawmakers passed amendments to the Medical Care Act.

Those revisions formally incorporated nurse-to-patient ratios introduced by
the government in 2024 into law, and establishing penalties for hospitals
that fail to comply.

Nursing groups had called for the law to take effect in December 2027.

However, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang has said implementation will begin
on May 1, 2028 - citing year-end scheduling concerns and the Lunar New Year
holiday period.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Prosecutors is Tainan have released the owner of a cosmetic clinic on bail of
300,000 N-T after a hidden camera was said to have been found at the
facility.

The clinic's manager was also released on 50,000 N-T bail.

Both were questioned after the Tainan City Health Bureau expanded its
inspections of cosmetic clinics.

Authorities say they found a device believed to be camera concealed inside a
smoke detector on the ceiling of a beauty treatment room at the Yanyimien
Clinic in the city's West Central District.

Prosecutors have since summond the clinic's owner and manager for questioning
over alleged privacy violations.

Another branch in Tainan's Yongkang District was inspected, but no recording
devices were found.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says a dedicated women and children's hospital
will officially open in June -- marking its transition from a branch of
Taiwan City Hospital into a fully independent specialized medical
institution.

Chiang said he recently visited the facility to inspect preparations for its
relaunch and described it as a "a warm medical environment tailored to the
needs of mothers, women and children.

The Taipei mayor says it includes Taiwan's first breast milk bank equipped
with cold-chain delivery services, family-style delivery rooms and an
all-female medical team offering women-focused outpatient services.

The new facility is located at the Taipei City Hospital's Heping Fuyou Branch.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

And finally,

Taiwan fire dancer Yang Li-wei has advanced to the final of Britain's Got
Talent -- after receiving a Golden Buzzer during her live semifinal
performance.

Yang is a member of Taiwan's Coming True Fire Group.

She nailed her place after a high-intensity fire performance featuring
flaming umbrellas, fire swallowing and spinning metal structures balanced
with her legs.

Judge Simon Cowell praised Yang as a superstar, while guest judge K-S-I used
the Golden Buzzer to send the dancer straight to the finals.

The dance troupe said via social media that the Golden Buzzer was "the
highest honor" on the talent show and - "twenty-three years of hard work
became a golden light."

Yang first appeared on the program in February, when she earned unanimous
approval from all four judges after a five-minute fire dance performance
inspired by Taiwanese folk arts and circus techniques.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Israel has deported two activists detained for over a week after leading an
aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza.

The activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Avila, were intercepted by the
Israeli navy off Crete.

Both are members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to bring
humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry called them "professional provocateurs."

Spain and Brazil condemned their detention in international waters.

This comes as an Israeli strike in Gaza killed at least three people,
including a Hamas police officer, and in the midst of a fragile ceasefire
between Israel and Hamas.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

British Prime Minister Keir Starmerbegins a political fightback today by
delivering a speech that defines his government's mission as rebuilding
relations with the rest of Europe.

This comes as more than 30 of Starmer's lawmakers have called for him to quit
or to set out a timetable for his departure after the local election
defeats-- the worst for a governing party in more than three decades.

In his statement to be delivered today, Starmer is expected to say that the
scale of reforms needed to revive the economy, rebuild Britain's military,
and boost energy security are bigger than he had realised,

Starmer's future was thrown into doubt after his Labour Party suffered heavy
losses in local elections last week.

A former minister threatened to seek lawmakers' backing for a leadership
contest if he fails to offer radical change.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

The Philippine National Police will summon its former chief as part of a new
investigation of officers suspected of involvement in alleged extrajudicial
killings in anti-drug crackdowns ordered by ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. said Ronald dela Rosa, who is
now a senator, will be summoned today to be investigated for the killings.

Thousands were executed when Duterte was a city mayor and when he became
president in 2016.

Duterte was later arrested in March 2025 and taken to the Netherlands, where
he now faces trial at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes
against humanity.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Indonesian police have arrested 321 foreign nationals in a raid on an alleged
online gambling operation in the country’s capital.

They were arrested at a commercial building in West Jakarta that
investigators described as a hub for more than 70 online gambling websites,
targeting players outside Indonesia.

Those arrested include 228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese and the rest came from
Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Authorities have detected signs that online gambling operators previously
based in Cambodia are relocating operations to other countries, including
Indonesia, after authorities there stepped up crackdowns.

Online gambling is illegal in Indonesia.

Posted on 2026-05-11 06:55:13

Venezuela said that an oil spill that originated in Trinidad and Tobago has
caused serious environmental damage along the coastlines of at least two of
its states and in a gulf area near the Caribbean nation.

Trinidad and Tobago are two islands just off the coast of Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said that initial assessments found “severe
risks” to ecosystems like mangroves, wetlands and the environmental balance
of the region.

Venezuela didn’t say when it first detected the spill or specify how much
was spilled.

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