ICRT

Posted on 2026-07-02 15:59:13

DPP Lawmaker Lin Yi Jin 林宜瑾 has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for
fraudulently taking assistant fees.

Lin is accused of taking over 14 million NT in assistant fees.

In the first ruling in the case, the Tainan District Court also opted to
deprive Lin of her civil rights for 4 years.

The ruling can be appealed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-02 15:59:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is expanding eligibility for flood relief
subsidies following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall last week.

Under the new program, financial assistance is no longer limited to affected
households.

Businesses and factories with registered operations are now also eligible to
apply.

Households flooded by 30 to 49 centimeters of water can receive $10,000 NTD
for damaged appliances.

Those with flooding exceeding 50 centimeters can receive up to $30,000 NTD,
including compensation for appliance damage.

The ministry estimates about 8,000 households will benefit from the program.

The program will last for one year, with funding adjusted according to local
damage assessments.

It may be extended if necessary.

MOEA says the expanded relief aims to help residents and businesses recover
more quickly as Taiwan faces increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-02 15:59:13

Tainan is one step closer to getting its first MRT line.

The Tainan City government is announcing that it hopes to begin construction
soon on the city's first MRT system, with a budget of over 31 billion for the
blue line.

The city previously said it hoped to begin construction by the end of the
year.

The line will run about 8 and a half kilometers from the Taiwan Railways
Daqiao station in the north...

through Yongkang and the East District, into Rende District.

The elevated blue line will be comprised of 10 stations in total.

(MW/AH)

Posted on 2026-07-02 15:59:13

South Korean girl group Apink will perform at the Taipei Dome on July 31
after a CPBL game between the Wei Chuan Dragons and the CTBC Brothers.

The Wei Chuan Dragons announced Apink as the first guest act for this year's
Shin Kong Asia Music Festival.

The group debuted in 2011 and is known for songs including "NoNoNo" and "Mr.
Chu."

The team says Apink will appear with its full lineup after the game.

The Dragons are also preparing limited co-branded merchandise for the event.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 15:59:13

A U.S. House committee says South Korean authorities discriminated against
U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang after a major data breach last year.

The interim report came from the Republican-controlled House Judiciary
Committee.

It says South Korea launched dozens of investigations into Coupang after the
breach, with more than 10 agencies issuing over 4,000 document requests and
conducting hundreds of employee interviews.

Coupang is South Korea's biggest online retailer, but it is based in Seattle.

The report says the actions were part of wider discrimination against U.S.
and foreign companies.

South Korea's foreign ministry rejected the claims, calling the report
one-sided and saying the allegations do not reflect the facts.

The country's intelligence service has also denied forcing Coupang to carry
out recovery efforts linked to the breach.

Coupang says it hopes for a constructive resolution.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 15:59:13

Firefighters in southern France are working to bring a wildfire under control
in the Aude region, near the border with Spain.

Local officials say weather conditions remain difficult, with strong winds
threatening to fan the flames.

The fire comes as France continues to deal with the effects of Europe's
recent heatwave.

Reports say another wildfire in the Lancon area of southern France has
already been brought under control.

France's weather office says another round of extremely hot weather could hit
the country next week.

Authorities are continuing to monitor conditions as firefighters work to
contain the blaze.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 14:14:13

The DPP says, China's new ethnic unity law will have a few major negative
impacts on cross-strait relations.

The party's China Affairs Office says today that the so-called Law on
Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress represents another escalation of the
CCP's campaign to carry out cognitive warfare against Taiwan.

The DPP says, the law codifies the CCP's view that all ethnic Chinese people
belong to the country of China, conflating ethnic identity with nationality.

They add, the law represses diverse ethnic identities and reduces the space
for different political affiliations.

The China Affairs Office also said that the new law is in concert with other
so-called "anti-separatism" laws.

They emphasize that the new legislation also increases the risk for Taiwanese
politicians, academics, journalists, and those in the private sphere when
traveling to China.

And, the DPP says, the law also aims to increase the self-censorship effect
on pro-Taiwan voices overseas.

The office firmly condemned the new law.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-02 14:14:13

The Cabinet has approved a 4-percent general pay raise for military
personnel, civil servants, and public school teachers next year.

Professional allowances and supervisory allowances will also rise by a fixed
2-thousand NT.

Those allowance increases will take effect earlier, starting July 1st this
year.

Officials say the plan will benefit about 720-thousand people, including
public-sector workers, technical and manual workers, and contract employees.

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the goal is to better support rank-and-file
workers, encourage people to take on supervisory roles, and make
public-sector salaries more competitive.

The Cabinet says the combined effect means rank-and-file workers could see
raises of up to 9.98-percent.

Supervisors could see increases of up to 11.56-percent.

Cho is urging the Legislature to support the funding needed for the plan.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 14:14:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 46744
after losing 274

The turnover was 1.016 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-07-02 14:14:13

A powerful storm in the Romanian capital has killed 1 and flooded areas in 20
counties across the country.

The storm came right after an intense heat wave.

Emergency services pumped water from more than 350 houses and 100 streets.

The hardest-hit areas were Bucharest and Ilfov County, where a tree fell on a
car, killing one person.

Emergency services received over 2,200 requests for help.

Like much of Europe, Romania has been gripped by a heat wave this week, with
temperatures in some areas forecast to exceed 40 Celsius.

Posted on 2026-07-02 14:14:13

A breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics has openly defied Pope Leo the
Fourteenth.

The Society of Saint Pius the Tenth went ahead yesterday with the
consecration of four new bishops in Switzerland without the Pope's approval.

Under Catholic law, a consecration without papal approval carries the
harshest penalty the church has...

which is automatic excommunication.

The Swiss group says, their actions are a "sacred duty" and dismissed the
excommunications as invalid.

It's a big challenge for Leo, who made a last-minute appeal to call the
ceremony off.

But still, an estimated sixteen-thousand people attended, many in the pouring
rain.

Posted on 2026-07-02 12:25:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) says a cooking oil plant has been
ordered to halt operations after soybean oil used by three major brands was
found to contain excessive levels of a carcinogen.

Shih says Central Union Oil Corp. voluntarily reported the problem on Tuesday.

The case involves 18 products across 21 batch numbers, totaling about 1,300
metric tons.

The soybean oil was found to contain benzopyrene at about four times the
legal limit.

Authorities have launched a recall and are investigating whether the
contamination was linked to temperature control during production or another
issue.

The Taipei Public Health Specialists Association says consumers should stop
using affected products and follow return instructions.

But it says people who already consumed the oil do not need to panic.

The association says the risk comes from long-term repeated exposure, and
people should not rely on unproven detox products or folk remedies.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 12:25:13

Wistron says its forest carbon sink project has passed the Environment
Ministry's review, making it the first case of its kind in Taiwan.

The project uses an enhanced forest management approach.

It is being carried out with Yongzai Forestry in Pingtung's Checheng
Township, and covers about 96 hectares.

Wistron says the project will use forest tending, thinning, and sustainable
management to improve forest health and increase carbon absorption.

The company says natural carbon sinks are a meant to supplement corporate
carbon reduction efforts, not replace them.

The project will run for 20 years, with the option to apply for an extension.

Any reduction results must still be verified by a third party and reviewed by
the Environment Ministry before voluntary reduction credits can be issued.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 12:25:13

The Ministry of Education is urging schools and parents to keep a close watch
on student safety during summer break.

Officials say students may spend more time on social media and short-video
platforms, raising the risk of fraud.

The ministry is warning students not to share personal account information,
and to be careful when using third-party payment platforms.

It also says schools should help students deal with false information,
cyberbullying, and the risk of private images being leaked online.

The ministry is also warning against etomidate, known as "zombie vapes."

It says the drug has been listed as a Category 1 narcotic, with heavy
penalties for manufacturing, transporting, or selling it.

Officials are also reminding students that e-cigarettes are banned in Taiwan,
and are urging them not to try, buy, or recommend them.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 12:25:13

Indirect talks between the United States and Iran have ended in Doha, with no
clear sign of progress toward a lasting peace deal.

Reports say two sides focused mainly on maritime traffic in the Strait of
Hormuz and the release of frozen Iranian funds.

Those were key issues in an interim agreement announced two weeks ago.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry says the talks made "positive progress," and the
next meeting will take place after funeral processions for Iran's late
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the two sides were making progress on
possible limits to Iran's nuclear program.

But sources familiar with the talks say the nuclear issue did not come up
during the technical discussions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern for energy markets.

Before the war, it handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied
natural gas trade.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 12:25:13

South African police say more than 900 people were arrested during nationwide
anti-migrant protests that turned violent in some areas.

Reports say 120 marches were held across the country on Tuesday.

Police say most were peaceful, but 12 required intervention.

Officials say the arrests were linked to immigration violations, public
violence, robbery, and sheltering undocumented migrants.

One person was shot dead in Johannesburg's Alexandra township, where
residents were looting small shops owned by foreign nationals.

Police reinforcements were sent to several provinces, while soldiers were
deployed to Johannesburg's Hillbrow neighborhood after two people were
injured in a shooting.

The marches were organized around a deadline set by an anti-immigrant group
for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.

The protests follow months of unrest targeting foreigners, including attacks
on homes, businesses, and property.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-02 08:14:14

The Office of the President has issued a Presidential Order formally removing
the government's top trade negotiator from office.

The move comes after Premier Cho Jung-tai suspended Yang Jen-ni on Monday of
this week after an investigation found she had engaged in workplace bullying
of her late deputy, Yen Huai-shing.

Yen died in March at the age of 53, shortly after resigning from her job as
the deputy chief of the Office of Trade Negotiations.

A Cabinet report on its investigation into the matter concluded that Yang
created a difficult working environment for Yen.

The investigation also found that Yang consistently used her position and
authority to interrupt Yen's remarks and dismiss her views and determined
that such actions constituted workplace bullying.

Yang has persistently denied any wrongdoing and questioned the legitimacy of
the report - claiming the investigation lacked procedural fairness and relied
on limited testimony.

Yang is also threatening to take legal action over what she's describing as
damage to her reputation.

Posted on 2026-07-02 08:14:14

China ethnic unity law:

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Lai administration will redouble efforts to
protect Taiwan citizens following the introduction of China's Law on
Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress.

However, the premier is not saying what additional measures the government
will adopt, or how it will better protect Taiwan citizens.

According to Cho, the law seeks to eliminate the sovereignty of the Republic
of China and the public should watch how political parties here in Taiwan
react to the law, in particular which parties publicly endorse it and which
ones keep silent.

Cho says law has codified China's unification agenda and indicates that
Beijing might no longer tolerate and wants to eliminate the "Republic of
China."

Meanwhile, Deputy Mainland Affairs Council Minister Shen Yu-chung is urging
Taiwanese citizens not to visit China, Hong Kong and Macau unless necessary,
in the wake of the law taking effect.

Shen says his agency will work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
consult with foreign embassies and representative offices in Taiwan to
identify which countries have mutual judicial assistance agreements with
China and which countries are considered to lean toward Beijing.

Posted on 2026-07-02 08:14:14

Funds managed by the Ministry of Labor's Bureau of Labor Funds reported a
return of 27.7-per cent in the first five months of this year during a global
stock market boom.

The bureau says accumulated gains in the value of assets in the funds'
portfolios and income on investment totaled 2.13-trillion N-T from January to
May, after the funds posted 586-billion N-T in gains in May.

The bureau manages the Labor Pension Fund, the Labor Retirement Fund, the
Labor Insurance Fund, the Employment Insurance Fund, and the Arrear Wage
Payment Fund.

Data shows the combined value of the funds managed as of the end of May stood
at 8.61-trillion N-T.

The bureau say 55.2-per cent of its investments were made overseas from
January to May, while the remaining 44.7-per cent were invested in the
domestic market.

The Tai-Ex soared 54.45-per cent in the first five months of this year, the
M-S-C-I World Index rose 12.15-per cent, and the Bloomberg Barclays Global
Aggregate Bond Index also gained 0.5-per cent over the same period.

Posted on 2026-07-02 08:14:14

The Taipei City Government says Uber's plans for a "short-range cultural
experience" program to offer free motorcycle rides in Beitou District would
violate laws and the company will face penalties if carries it out.

The statement comes after Uber Taiwan announced that the pilot program was
due to begin yesterday afternoon and last for a month.

Uber had said it plans to have drivers provide short distances scooter rides
to passengers for free during the trial period in Beitou.

However, although announcing the program would begin at 2 o'clock Wednesday
afternoon, when local media outlets attempted to book a ride using the
scooter ride-hailing service, the system was not online and not a single Uber
driver was available.

Taipei City Government's Department of Transportation says it will take legal
action against Uber if it goes ahead with its "Beitou cultural promotion
project."

According to city officials, the program violates existing regulations and
Uber will face penalties in accordance with the Highway Act.

The Ministry of Transport is backing Taipei's position.

With Deputy Transport Minister Chen Yen-po saying that Uber's attempt to
frame the service as an "experience" would make no difference to its legal
status and the service still constitutes an illegal transport operation

Posted on 2026-07-02 08:14:19

A D-P-P-nominated candidate for the Penghu's Magong City Council is among six
individuals who have caught illegally harvesting sea urchins the day before
the fishing season opened.

The Penghu District Prosecutors' Office says the six suspects were caught
harvesting sea urchins before the annual ban expired on July 1.

According to the prosecutors' office, the suspects took a private boat to
waters near uninhabited Jinyu Island in Baisha Township, where they were
spotted by drones operated by a joint enforcement task force targeting
illegal fishing activities.

Authorities seized 154 sea urchins and escorted the boat and its occupants
back to Magong's Anshan Fishing Harbor for investigation.

Prosecutors released all six suspects after questioning on bail ranging from
30,000 to 60,000 on suspicion of violating the Fisheries Act.

The D-P-P says it regrets the incident and the negative public perception it
has created, and fully supports the ongoing judicial investigation.

The party also says it will handle the matter in accordance with its charter.

Under the Fisheries Act, anyone convicted of illegally harvesting,
processing, selling or possessing undersized sea urchins during the closed
season faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 150,000 N-T.

Posted on 2026-07-02 08:14:19

New measures that broaden the scope of teaching jobs for which foreign
nationals are eligible have taken effect.

According to the National Development Council, public and private bilingual
schools from elementary through senior high school can now hire foreign
teachers to assist instruction in the arts, physical education, music and
activity-based classes.

The N-D-C says schools may do so through an additional staffing quota or by
having foreign teachers collaborate with local teachers on preparing classes.

Eligible schools can apply for help from foreign teachers through the
Ministry of Education's Application System for Work Permits of Foreign
Teachers.

Previously foreign nationals could only teach specific subjects in special
classes for foreign children and in experimental high schools.

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

President Lai Ching-te is calling for international support to counter
China's new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law.

The law took effect yesterday and requires all Chinese citizens to uphold
national unification and aims to strengthen the identification of Taiwan's
people as members of the Chinese nation.

Lai told members of a D-P-P Central Executive Committee meeting that Beijing
promulgated the law despite opposition from the United Nations, the European
Council, governments and human rights groups.

Amnesty International has said the legislation could “further
institutionalize … policies of forced assimilation.”

The president said the law the runs counter to international norms by
pursuing assimilation and elimination under the pretext of ethnic unity,
further highlighting the widening divide between Taiwan and China.

Lai stressed that his administration will respond to the law by proactively
making Taiwan's voice heard in the international community, evan as it works
with partners and allies to expand its international participation and expose
China's human rights abuses.

He added his administration would also strengthen public education on
China's transnational repression tactics to help civilians and public
servants better prepare for and respond to such threats.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

Canada's representative to Taiwan, Marie-Louise Hannan says Ottawa's
long-standing framework to interact with Taipei "has not changed."

The comments came amid concerns over ongoing efforts by Canadian Prime
Minister Mark Carney's to improve relations with China.

Hannan said Canada's economic security and our overall safety and security
are essentially the big priorities that have something to do with Taiwan.

She highlighted Canada's strong and growing presence in Taiwan, which she
said was an attractive market for Canadian products and services.

Outside of trade and investment, the two sides have also maintained close
people-to-people exchanges ..

... which she says are the "precious foundation" of Canada's relationship
with Taiwan.

Such exchanges began with early Canadian missionaries such as George Leslie
Mackay and continue today, with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei marking
the 40th anniversary of the founding this year.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

The High Court has revised an earlier ruling in a major child sexual abuse
case by sentencing Mao Chun-shen to a cumulative prison term of 2,878 years
and four months.

The ruling came after the court confirmed 35 victims and 544 offenses.

Mao was charged with child abuse of students at a privately run preschool in
Taipei, as well as the illicit filming of minors on school premises and in
public locations.

The ruling revises a September 2025 judgment by the Taipei District Court
judgment, which identified 40 victims and 510 offenses and calculated a
cumulative sentence of 3,552 years.

The High Court said the offenses include sexual assault of children,
production of child sexual abuse images, illegal possession of such material,
and privacy violations involving surveillance footage between 2021 and 2023.

The High Court ruled that some of the lower court's findings were erroneous,
including both guilty and not-guilty determinations, and therefore partially
overturned the earlier ruling.

The case remains under appeal, and a final combined sentence will be
determined after all related judgments have been finalized.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

dolphins

Conservation groups are accusing developers at the Port of Taichung of
planning to sidestep environmental reviews - they're warning that the
projects threaten the endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin.

The Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association says the Port of Taichung, C-P-C
and Tai-Power are pursuing harbor projects in ways meant to evade
environmental impact assessments.

The association says the planned projects include land reclamation by the
Port of Taichung for C-P-C's expansion of L-N-G Terminal 2 and Tai-Power's
construction of L-N-G Terminal 5, which cover about 20-per cent of the
Taichung Harbor's outer port area.

The association is accusing the developers are adopting a "divide and
conquer" approach, aimed at splitting large projects into smaller ones in
order to bypass environmental impact assessments.

The Port of Taichung says the outer harbor expansion project is still
undergoing environmental impact assessment and the findings will serve as an
important reference for subsequent project reviews.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

The Civil Aviation Administration has announced that passenger fuel
surcharges on international flights operated by Taiwan carriers will be
lowered from July 7.

Passenger fuel surcharges on international flights operated by Taiwan
carriers will be reduced to 27.5 U-S dollars for short-haul routes and to
71.5 U-S dollars for long-haul routes.

The administration says the downward adjustment reflects a recent decline in
global oil prices as tensions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East
have eased somewhat, reducing pressure on aviation fuel costs.

Passenger fuel surcharges have been adjusted based on the latest
international aviation fuel prices announced by C-P-C since 2005.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

And,

Video streaming platform Netflix will expand its film talent development
programs here in Taiwan as part of the company's efforts to cultivate the
local creative industry.

The Netflix Fund for Creative Equity will partner with Yiyi Pictures for a
second year to launch an expanded training program that goes beyond
screenwriting to include development producer training.

The program is aimed at creating more equitable opportunities at the early
stages of content creation, strengthen diverse perspectives in film and
television, and encourage a wider range of storytelling.

Netflix says it will recruit both creative and management talent, help
aspiring screenwriters transition into producing while supporting content
creators seeking to enter the film and television industry.

Applications close at on July 30, with successful applicants to be notified
in mid to late August.

Training will begin September 1.

Netflix has also announced a modified second initiative workshop co-organized
with Taiwan's Film and Television Production Association.

That workshop will expand its existing training for production assistants and
production accounting assistants to include post-production roles.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

U.S. and Iranian negotiators have met separately with Qatari and Pakistani
mediators and host Qatar is reporting positive progress in talks.

The plan is to continue discussions after the funeral of Iran’s previous
supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is set to start on Saturday.

The talks focus on ending the war and resolving issues over the Strait of
Hormuz. Iran insists on controlling ship routes and charging fees, which the
U.S. and Gulf Arab states oppose.

Posted on 2026-07-02 07:01:14

Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with ‌drones, triggering
a fire in a hotel on a central boulevard and leaving debris scattered in two
city districts.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the hotel roof was on fire on the central
Shevchenko Boulevard.

Another witness said ‌explosions had been heard in the capital's western
districts.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had earlier warned that an overnight attack on
the country was likely and said he was cutting short his stay in Dublin,
where Ireland marks the start of its EU Presidency.

Posted on 2026-07-01 20:10:13

The Control Yuan has launched an investigation into suspended Cabinet
minister Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) over allegations of workplace bullying.

The watchdog agency opened its inquiry after the Executive Yuan completed its
own three-month investigation, which led to Yang's suspension today.

The Executive Yuan says its investigation included 31 interviews and that its
findings can withstand public scrutiny.

Yang has denied any wrongdoing, saying the report relied on one-sided
testimony and failed to provide due process.

She has also indicated she may take legal action against those she says were
responsible for the premature release of information about the case.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-01 20:10:13

EVA Air and its sister airline UNI Air announced they will raise booking
service fees for international flights starting August 1st.

EVA Air said that the two carriers' flights departing from the Philippines or
Hong Kong, booking fees will be set at $28 U-S dollars per ticket, while
other flights will be charged $33 U-S dollars.

Taiwan's major airlines charge booking service fees on a per-ticket basis to
cover the cost of using global distribution systems (GDS) for reservations.

CHina Airlines also recently announced that it will raise its booking service
fee to $30 U-S dollars beginning July 9th.

Starlux Airlines increased its booking service fee $30 U-S dollars on April
1st.

Meanwhile, Tigerair Taiwan has kept its booking service fees unchanged at
$400 NT during peak travel periods, and $300 NT during off-peak periods.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-07-01 20:10:13

In similar news,

Starlux Airlines has launched its 2026 Snoopy-themed flights, bringing a new
collection of Peanuts-inspired onboard items to passengers on most of its
international routes.

The airline marked the launch with a special event at Taoyuan International
Airport today, where Snoopy appeared to greet travelers and pose for photos.

This year's theme, "Across Seasons, Across the World", follows Snoopy and
friends as they travel through spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Passengers will find the new designs on boarding passes, baggage tags, paper
cups, tissues and other onboard items.

The themed flights will operate through December 31 on Starlux's global
network, with the exception of flights departing from Los Angeles and Ontario
in California.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-01 20:10:13

Iranian state television says a foreign container ship has run aground in the
Strait of Hormuz after failing to follow an approved Iranian shipping route.

The report did not identify the vessel or provide further details about the
incident.

Iranian media said ships using the strategic waterway must follow
instructions from the country's Revolutionary Guard.

The grounding comes amid renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, despite an
interim agreement between Iran and the United States intended to keep the
vital shipping lane open.

Efforts to establish an alternative route near Oman's coast have also
continued following recent exchanges of fire in the region.

Posted on 2026-07-01 20:10:13

A traditionalist Catholic group has defied Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four
bishops without Vatican approval.

The Society of St. Pius X carried out the ceremony at its seminary in Écône
{PRO: EI - CONE}, Switzerland, despite a last-minute appeal from the pope to
cancel it.

The Vatican says the consecrations amount to a schismatic act and
automatically excommunicate the bishops involved.

The Society says it acted out of what it calls a sacred duty to defend the
Catholic faith.

The ceremony marks the first major crisis for Leo, who has prioritized church
unity and healing tensions with traditionalists that worsened during the Pope
Francis pontificate.

Posted on 2026-07-01 18:09:13

Taiwan has come a long way from receiving foreign aid to becoming a country
that now helps others.

Marking the 30th anniversary of the International Cooperation and Development
Fund ...

... Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Taiwan is now sharing its expertise
in various high tech industries with partner countries through what he calls
"integrated diplomacy".

*POT BURLI CHANNEL DOWN AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS

Lin says Taiwan, though the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, is turning
its strengths in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and
digital governance into practical cooperation with partner countries
overseas.

*POT BURLI BACK UP

Posted on 2026-07-01 18:09:13

The Philippines has extended its 14-day visa-free entry program for Taiwan
passport holders until June 30, 2027.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office says the extension continues the
visa-free policy introduced last July to encourage more Taiwanese visitors.

Taiwanese travelers planning to stay for more than 14 days will still need to
obtain a visa before entering the Philippines.

The office says the move is in line with the principle of reciprocity, as
Taiwan also offers visa-free entry to Philippine passport holders.

Official figures show nearly 94 thousand Taiwanese visited the Philippines
during the first five months of this year, a 12 percent increase from the
same period last year.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-07-01 18:09:13

Gravel

The Kaohsiung District Court has ordered Starbucks Taiwan to compensate a
customer after gravel thrown up during lawn maintenance damaged her car in
one of the company's parking lots.

The second-instance ruling is final ... and overturned an earlier decision
that had dismissed the woman's claim.

The court found that stones thrown up by a contractor's lawn mower struck the
customer's vehicle while it was parked in a free parking lot provided by the
coffee chain.

Judges ruled that the parking lot was part of the service offered to
customers and that Starbucks failed to post adequate warning signs before the
maintenance work began.

The company was ordered to pay nearly 57 thousand NT in repair costs,
alternative transportation expenses and punitive damages.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-01 18:09:13

Netflix is expanding its investment in Taiwan's film and television talent
with a new round of training programs ... as part of efforts to cultivate
Taiwan's local creative industry.

The streaming platform says it is launching the second season of its Future
Talent Training Program in partnership with Yiyi Pictures, adding development
producers alongside screenwriters.

Netflix is also bringing to Taiwan for the first time ... its international
training initiative which it calls 'REEL LIFE' -- 'reel' as in 'film reel'
-- marking the program's expansion beyond Southeast Asia.

The initiative combines workshops with hands-on experience, giving
participants the opportunity to gain practical experience and intern on
Netflix productions.

Netflix says the goal is to help develop more industry professionals and
strengthen Taiwan's role as a hub for Chinese-language content.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-01 16:18:13

The American Institute in Taiwan says five landmarks in Taipei and Kaohsiung
will join a global lighting campaign for the 250th anniversary of U.S.
independence.

AIT says the "Freedom 250" campaign is being coordinated by U.S. missions
around the world.

On July 4, Taipei 101 will light up in red, white and blue from 7 p.m. to 10
p.m., with a message shown on its north-facing LED screen.

Taipei's Songshan Cultural and Creative Park is also holding a light show at
its Baroque Garden through July 9.

In Kaohsiung, the China Steel Corporation headquarters, Kaohsiung Music
Center and Weiwuying will also take part.

AIT's Neihu office is lighting up from June 29 to July 5 as part of its
yearlong "Freedom 250" events.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 16:18:13

Over 20,000 passengers boarded the new Sanying MRT Line on its inaugural day
of trial operations yesterday.

Metro officials say the Sanying Line carried 20,731 passengers during its
initial six-hour opening window from 2:00 p-m to 8:00 p-m yesterday.

Officials noted that the automatic driverless system ran smoothly, with train
intervals reaching a peak frequency of every 2 to 3 minutes to handle the
rush.

Now, to help residents familiarize themselves with the new line, the city has
launched a two-month "free trial ride" period starting today through August
31st.

During this time, trains will operate daily for 10 hours, from 10:00 a-m to
8:00 p-m.

And New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yih says the city will move swiftly to address
minor glitches, such as expanding bike availability, to improve the
experience for users.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-07-01 16:18:13

The Kaohsiung City Government Urban Development Bureau says a new childcare
rent subsidy program opens today.

The program is aimed at renting families with children age 12 or younger.

The bureau says families with two children can receive 50-percent more
support than before.

Families with three or more children can receive double the previous amount,
up to 36-thousand N.T. dollars a year.

Eligible households include those approved for the central government's
expanded rent subsidy, Kaohsiung City's additional rent subsidy, and
residents of social housing built by the city government.

The bureau says many existing subsidy recipients do not need to submit
documents again.

They will receive a confirmation letter and must reply within three weeks.

Social housing residents can apply by mail or in person.

Applications are open through December 31.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 16:18:13

Ukraine is asking European Union partners to direct 6.6-billion euros from
the European Peace Facility toward military aid.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov says the funding could help Kyiv make use
of what it sees as a six-to-nine-month window of opportunity on the
battlefield.

According to reports, Fedorov says Ukraine's defense needs this year are
estimated at about 136-billion euros.

He says Ukraine's own budget covers about 53-billion euros, while an EU loan
is expected to provide another 28.3-billion euros for defense.

But he says major funding gaps remain.

Russia's advances have slowed this year, while Ukraine has carried out
counterattacks and long-range strikes aimed at disrupting Russian logistics
and oil revenue.

Posted on 2026-07-01 15:55:40

The Civil Aviation Administration has announced lower fuel surcharges for
passengers flying international routes on Taiwanese carriers.

Officials say the international aviation fuel price published by CPC
Corporation has fallen below adjustment benchmarks, and the change will apply
starting July 7th.

Passenger fuel surcharge for short-haul international routes will decrease to
approximately $884 NT.

Long-haul international routes will see a larger reduction, to roughly
$2-thousand-299 NT.

The administration has asked airlines to disclose relevant information to
passengers in an appropriate manner.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-07-01 15:55:40

Taipei City's Department of Health says 13 out of 50 fresh fruit and
vegetable samples tested in May failed pesticide residue standards.

The samples came from markets, supermarkets, retailers and restaurants across
the city.

Officials say the noncompliant items included basil, white radish, cilantro,
bok choy, flowering chives, green beans, chili peppers, durian and iceberg
lettuce.

The department says cilantro from a restaurant in Shilin District had
pesticide residues above the legal limit for seven chemicals.

Basil from the same restaurant exceeded limits for four chemicals.

Officials say affected products have been ordered off shelves.

Cases involving products from outside Taipei have been referred to the
relevant local health departments.

The department says businesses responsible for pesticide residue violations
may face fines of 60-thousand to 200-million N.T. dollars.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 15:55:40

The Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau says children age 12 and under
can visit Shoushan Zoo for free through August 31.

The offer is open to children from across Taiwan.

The bureau says the zoo will also stay open later on weekends and holidays,
closing at 6:30 p.m.

Final ticket sales will be at 5:30 p.m.

Officials say the longer hours are meant to help families avoid the strongest
daytime heat.

The zoo has also prepared cooling treats for animals, including ice blocks
for tigers and lions, and frozen fruit and vegetable snacks for orangutans.

The zoo's water play plaza is also open, with misting areas and splash
facilities.

A new children's obstacle course will be held during the final two weekends
of July.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 15:55:40

Iran's Foreign Ministry says no direct meetings are planned with top U.S.
envoys in Doha, dimming hopes for quick progress on a wider peace deal.

U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve
Witkoff have arrived in Qatar for high-level talks.

But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says no meeting
with the American side has been scheduled.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry says lower-level technical talks are expected
instead.

Iranian officials say both sides must first settle the terms of a ceasefire
signed two weeks ago before moving to harder issues, including possible
limits on Iran's nuclear program.

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, says Tehran will continue to
control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance says Iran will not be allowed to collect tolls
from ships using the waterway.

Posted on 2026-07-01 15:55:40

Afghanistan's Taliban-run Defense Ministry says its forces launched strikes
inside Pakistan, as tensions rise along the border.

The ministry says the strikes targeted what it called an ISIS center in
Balochistan province, as well as sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan's military says its forces intercepted and shot down four basic
drones in Balochistan.

Provincial authorities say one drone was seen near a government school in the
town of Saranan, and two people were injured.

The exchange comes after Pakistan launched airstrikes near the Afghan border
on Monday.

Officials in Afghanistan say at least 28 civilians were killed.

Islamabad says those strikes were retaliation for attacks on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of sheltering militants, which the
Taliban denies.

Posted on 2026-07-01 15:55:40

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are widely rumored to be getting married this
week, though no date or location has been confirmed.

The couple has made no official announcement.

The New York Times reports city permits and other clues point to a possible
Manhattan wedding later this week.

Several outlets have suggested Madison Square Garden could be the venue.

Swift and Kelce announced their engagement last August, after a public
relationship that drew attention from music and sports fans worldwide.

Posted on 2026-07-01 11:51:13

National security officials say the government will strengthen travel
warnings and safeguards after China's new ethnic unity law took effect today.

The officials say the law gives Beijing a broader legal basis to target
people outside China over issues it defines as undermining ethnic unity or
supporting separatism.

They say people traveling to China, Hong Kong or Macau should be aware that
phones, social media accounts and digital files could face inspection.

The officials say journalists, scholars, NGO workers, religious groups and
businesspeople may face higher risks if they have commented on Taiwan, Hong
Kong, Xinjiang or Tibet.

They say agencies including the Mainland Affairs Council have already issued
risk reminders.

National security officials say the government is also studying ways to block
local support networks for transnational repression, including funding links
and information operations.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 11:51:13

Sports Minister Lee Yang is denying reports that he plans to resign.

Speaking before a legislative committee meeting today, Lee said he first
heard the rumor last night and was "a little surprised."

He says he currently has no plan to step down.

Lee says he hopes to complete his term with the support of Premier Cho
Jung-tai, and is focused on improving Taiwan's sports environment.

He also rejected reports of a rift with National Sports Training Center Chair
Lin Hong-dao, who recently resigned citing a heavy workload.

Lee says Lin informed him in advance, and he had asked Lin to stay.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports says preparations are underway for the
Nagoya Asian Games in September.

Administrative Deputy Minister Hung Chih-chang (洪志昌) says Taiwan is expected
to send 482 athletes, supported by nearly 150 coaches.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 11:51:13

Carrefour's new name is hitting stores across Taiwan today.

Uni-President Group previously announced that its 62 hypermarket locations
will be rebranded from Carrefour to "Wanjiafu," (萬家福) while its 221
supermarket locations will be renamed "Lejiagang." (樂家康).

Signage and branding across all stores will be updated gradually, with a full
rollout expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

Uni-President Group says the rebrand reflects three years of integration and
a push to strengthen local market responsiveness.

To mark the launch, the company is rolling out promotions worth more than 2
billion NT throughout this month.

(MW)

Posted on 2026-07-01 11:51:13

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will not leave
southern Lebanon while Hezbollah remains a threat.

Netanyahu made the comments Tuesday during a visit to Lebanese territory held
by the Israeli military.

The visit came days after Israel and Lebanon reached a U.S.-backed security
agreement.

Under the deal, Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from two pilot zones
and hand them over to Lebanon's army.

But Netanyahu says Israel will remain in southern Lebanon as long as
Hezbollah is armed.

Israel's military has set up a buffer zone about 10 kilometers inside Lebanon
along the border.

Israeli officials say the zone is needed to protect northern communities from
Hezbollah attacks.

Lebanese officials say Israel's campaign has killed more than 4-thousand
people and displaced more than a million since March.

At least 32 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed by Hezbollah.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 11:51:13

U.S. Vice President JD Vance says he disagrees with the Vatican's position on
immigration, calling some of its recent comments "troubling."

Vance made the remarks in a Fox News interview, after Pope Leo repeatedly
criticized President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

The pope has called for deeper reflection in the United States over how
migrants are treated. He has also criticized what he described as inhuman
treatment under the Trump administration.

Vance, who is Catholic, says he is not hostile toward Catholic leaders who
disagree with U.S. immigration policy. But he says mass migration also has
victims.

Trump says his policy is aimed at improving domestic security and curbing
illegal immigration.

Rights groups say the crackdown has violated free speech and due process
rights, and has raised concerns over racial profiling.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-01 08:16:49

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Keelung District Prosecutors' Office has detained three tech company
executives as part of an investigation into allegations of smuggling advanced
Nvidia chips to China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The detention of Albatron Technology's vice president, and two Super Micro
Computer managers comes after authorities searched the offices of both
companies and the residences of six individuals earlier this week.

Prosecutors say the two companies are believed to have smuggled 700 million
N-T worth of advanced Nvidia chips to China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Those raids took place after prosecutors searched the residences and offices
and three other individuals in late May, where artificial intelligence
servers using Nvidia’s high-end chips were seized

According to the prosecutors' office, those suspects are believed to have
exported the servers to Japan using falsified documentation, before shipping
them on to Hong Kong and and China.

The investigation is taking place as the government is seeking to introduce
stricter export controls on artificial intelligence chip sales to China.

A-I chip exports to China are currently not classified as criminal offense
here in Taiwan, but the sending of chips to China is in violation of U-S
laws.

Posted on 2026-07-01 08:16:51

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it's taking steps to strengthen the
security of its official document management system.

The statement comes after the ministry was accused of negligence over
suspected official document leaks.

According to the foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei, the agency has
been reviewing its electronic document management protocols and working to
strengthen system security after discovering suspected leaks of official
documents.

Hsiao says the ministry has now put measures in place to counter hacking
activities and will continue to enhance its cybersecurity protections and
monitoring operations against new hacking techniques by working with other
government agencies.

A Control Yuan investigative report released last week said that a total of
13 suspected foreign ministry documents were found to have been leaked and
offered for sale on the dark web in 2024 and 2025.

The government watchdog's report called into question some of the responses
taken previously by the foreign ministry -- saying that even after learning
about the alleged leaks that took place in 2024, it was still unable to
prevent the 2025 leaks.

Posted on 2026-07-01 08:16:52

Lawmakers have passed a law establishing a regulatory framework for Taiwan
cryptocurrency businesses.

The law includes licensing requirements for virtual asset service providers
and stablecoin issuers, as well as penalties for fraud and market
manipulation.

Under the act, virtual asset service providers must obtain approval from the
Financial Supervisory Commission before operating and comply with
requirements on internal controls, cybersecurity and business continuity.

Existing virtual asset service providers that have completed anti-money
laundering registration before the law takes effect will have 12 months to
apply for licenses and 21 months to obtain regulatory approval.

The act also establishes Taiwan's first legal framework for stablecoins,
virtual assets pegged to one or more fiat currencies.

Stablecoin issuers will be required to maintain full reserve backing, with
segregated reserve assets held in trust by domestic financial institutions.

The reserve assets are protected from claims by other creditors if the issuer
enters bankruptcy and issuers must also undergo regular audits and are
prohibited from paying interest or other returns to holders.

The law was proposed by the Cabinet on April 2 before being sent to the
Legislative Yuan for review.

Posted on 2026-07-01 08:16:52

The Central Weather Administration says it recorded Taiwan's wettest plum
rain season since 2012 this year, as rainfall at the Taipei weather station
set a record for June.

According to the administration's forecast center, this year's plum rain
season was marked by below-average rainfall in May but significantly heavier
rain in June.

The center is attributing the June rainfall to stationary fronts,
southwesterly airflows and the outer circulation of a tropical storm, which
brought widespread rain to western parts of the island.

Rain fell for more than 10 days during the first half of June, with southern
Taiwan receiving between 40 and 80 centimeters of accumulated rainfall.

Data shows islandwide rainfall during this year's plum rain season averaged
nearly 70-centimeters -- a figure that's well above the historical average of
44-centimeters, and the highest since 2012, when there was 90-centimeters of
rainfall.

The Taipei weather station recorded 87-centimeters of rainfall in June,
making it the wettest June in the capital since records began in 1897.

The weather administration also says that between three and five tropical
storms or typhoons are expected to pass near Taiwan during the second half of
the year, within the historical average range.

Posted on 2026-07-01 08:16:52

Passengers on the Taipei Metro can use physical credit cards or digital
wallets linked to such cards from today.

However, those transactions will not qualify for the "frequent rider" reward
program.

Speaking to reporters while announcing the launch of the Taipei Metro's new
multi-payment initiative, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an described the move as
intended to align the city with international trends.

According to the metro operator, it will accept major international and
domestic credit cards as well as digital wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay, and
Samsung Pay.

The physical credit cards or digital wallets initiative follow the January
rollout of Q-R code payments, which allows passengers to use major electronic
payment platforms to board buses and M-R-T trains in Taipei and New Taipei.

The Taipei Metro Corporation says since the QR code payment system was
introduced, it has recorded over 1 million rides.

Over 80-per cent of those using QR code boarding are aged 35 or under.

Posted on 2026-07-01 08:16:52

And finally,

The Ministry of Finance says four 10-million N-T prizes and three 2-million
N-T prizes from the January-February uniform invoice lottery remain
unclaimed.

One of the unclaimed 10 million N-T-winning receipts was for a 2 N-T plastic
bag purchased at a McDonald's in New Taipei's Tucheng District.

Other unclaimed 10 million N-T-winning receipts were for a 39 N-T purchase at
a 7-Eleven in Taipei's Zhongshan District, a 1,579 N-T meal at a restaurant
in Taipei's Wanhua District, and an 80 N-T parking fee in Taoyuan's Guishan
District.

The three unclaimed 2-million N-T-winning receipts were all from Kaohsiung ...

.. and for a 45 N-T purchas at a beverage shop in the Renwu District, a 61
N-T purchase at a drink stand in a shopping mall in the Zuoying District, and
a 190 N-T purchase at a 7-Eleven in the Sanmin District.

The winners now have until July 6 to collect their prizes.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:14

The legislative caucuses of the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party have
unveiled drone procurement bills.

Both bills seek to use the general budget to fund the purchase of locally
made drones, rather than a special budget, as has been proposed by the
Cabinet.

Under the K-M-T's draft bill, the spending cap is set at 240-billion N-T over
six years, with annual spending capped at 40-billion N-T.

Government agencies will be required to brief the Legislature on procurement
plans worth 100-million N-T or more and report on the progress of each
procurement plan to lawmakers annually.

The draft bill also requires suppliers of critical drone components, to pass
information security and supply chain security reviews.

Meanwhile, the T-P-P's domestic drone procurement bill does not set a
spending cap and requires the government to formulate drone development
guidelines every four years and review them every two years.

The Cabinet submitted its special budget bill for drone procurement to the
Legislature for review earlier this month.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Beijing has "no right to comment" on
Taiwan's exchanges with other countries.

China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement last month praising Honduras for
upholding Beijing's one-China principle and said 'Taiwan independence' forces
and the D-P-P authorities' unjust pursuit have little support and will end up
in failure.

That statement came after Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi told
several Honduran news outlets while he was visiting Paraguay that Taiwan is
ready to "welcome back old friends" and rebuild relations with Tegucigalpa.

He also said China is pressuring Honduras to maintain control over its ties.

The Honduran Foreign Ministry responded to those interviews saying Honduras
is not engaged in any official talks or contacts with Taiwan authorities
aimed at "restoring diplomatic relations" ...

.. and the "country's foreign policy is conducted in accordance with its
existing diplomatic commitments."

Honduras' President Nasry Asfura, who took office in January, had pledged
during his election campaign to restore ties with Taipei.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

President Lai Ching-te has addressed to a graduation ceremony at the Fu Hsing
Kang College - telling military college graduates to defend freedom and
‌democracy.

Lai also called on the graduates to be aware of China’s spying activities and
to be able to "establish a clear awareness of friend and foe."

According to Lai, the graduates can best defend Taiwan's sovereignty and
security by resisting China's infiltration, division, sabotage, and
espionage activities targeting the island's armed forces.

He also urged the graduates to oppose communism, guard against infiltration,
firmly uphold democracy and freedom, and insist that the Republic of China
and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each ‌other.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by the ambassadors of Belize,
Guatemala and Paraguay.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

The 2026 Reagan Institute Summer Survey shows that nearly two-thirds of
Americans believe Taiwan's security is important to the United States' own
security and prosperity - with that view shared across party lines.

According to the results of survey conducted by the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation and Institute, 66-per cent of respondents agreed that
Taiwan's security matters to the U-S ... and that total included 72-percent
of Republicans and 62-per cent of Democrats.

The survey found that the bipartisan consensus around China-related issues is
one of the strongest among Americans on foreign policy challenges.

Regarding Taiwan, 74-per cent of respondents said they were concerned that
China could attempt to take the island by force, 75-per cent were concerned
over its military buildup, and 74-per cent were concerned over its human
rights abuses.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

The Centers for Disease Control says it will include the rotavirus vaccine in
its publicly funded children's immunization program starting next year.

According to C-D-C Director-General Philip Lo, two authorized rotavirus
vaccines will be included at public expense.

The vaccines currently cost between 5,500 and 6,000 N-T

Children are prone to rotavirus, which can cause serious diarrhea resulting
in hospitalization and the C-D-C says the highly contagious virus is
responsible for about half of gastroenteritis cases among children under the
age of 5.

Infants born after June this year will be eligible under the new policy.

The C-D-C says some 120,000 children are expected to benefit during the
program's first year.

Infants eligible for the vaccine must be at least six weeks old and not older
than eight months.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

C-P-C has announced that natural gas prices for residential, commercial,
service and industrial users will remain unchanged this month.

The state-refiner says the move is aimed at supporting the government's price
stabilization measures and it will cover the additional costs to mitigate the
financial burden on the public.

According to C-D-C, it has absorbed a cumulative 140-billion N-T in costs for
industrial users since March

Gas prices for utility users will decrease by 4.72-per cent to reflect lower
import costs beginning this month.

C-P-C says although international oil and gas prices have declined following
a cooling of Middle East tensions, the outlook for US-Iran negotiations
remains uncertain.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office says four tourists
caught walking on the tracks of the Alishan Forest Railway in Chiayi are
facing fines of up to 50,000 N-T each for violating the Railway Act.

The four were found during a joint patrol with police near Erwanping Station
earlier this month.

Walking on the tracks is illegal.

However, the railway line operator says it became common for visitors seeking
explore the forest, due to the low frequency of trains running on branch
lines, and the closure of the main line connecting Chiayi and Alishan due to
typhoon damage.

The main line resumed service on in July of 2024 and the Alishan Forest
Railway and Cultural Heritage Office says it has been cracking down on
visitors ignoring safety warnings to walk on the tracks since then.

A total of 33 people have been fined for trespassing on the tracks between
December of 2024 and May of this year.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

And,

The New Taipei M-R-T Sanying Line has officially opened and will be offering
free rides until August 31.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih said the
project's construction was exceptionally challenging, but the team
successfully navigated two national highway crossings, two railway crossings
and four river crossings.

The 14.2-kilometer line connects Tucheng, Sanxia, and Yingge districts and
cuts the commute from Yingge to Taipei by 20-minutes.

The Sanying Line has 12 stations and provides access to popular local
attractions, including the New Taipei City Art Museum in Yingge, Sanxia Old
Street, and the Yingge Ceramics Old Street.

The New Taipei Metro Corporation is describing the line as a vital link
designed to ease congestion in New Taipei's southwestern corridor, stretching
from Yingtao Fude Station to Dingpu Station, where it connects to the Bannan
Line.

The line will be further extending about 4-kilometers westward from Yingtao
Fude Station to Bade District in Taoyuan.

Work on that section of track is scheduled to begin at the end of this year
and be completed by 2034.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

A former general has emerged as a challenger to Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's upcoming election.

Gadi Eisenkot previously quit Netanyahu's war Cabinet over strategy
disagreements and is now gaining attention.

His rise has to potential to shift the spotlight from political insiders like
Netanyahu...

but Eisenkot has broadly supported Israeli military operations in Gaza,
Lebanon, and Iran.

Eisenkot is known for his military background and is seen as more of a
"regular person" than Netanyahu.

His platform includes a pledge to strengthen Israel's national security
through regional cooperation...

but he has said that he supports Jewish settlements that are- in his words-
"in line with Israel's interests" in the West bank.

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

Pakistan is cautioning against the "weaponization of water" as it cautions
India against trying to deprive Pakistan of its share of water under the
Indus Waters Treaty.

The World Bank-brokered treaty governs the sharing of water from the Indus
River system.

The treaty has come under renewed strain since India suspended its
participation in the agreement following the killing of 2 dozen tourists in
Indian-controlled Kashmir, which India blames on Pakistan.

That attack triggered one of the sharpest deteriorations in relations between
the two countries in years.

The Pakistani foreign minister says, the weaponization of water could pose a
serious threat to regional peace and security.

He added that shared waters should be a bridge between nations, guided by
cooperation, dialogue, and respect for international law.

The foreign minister further called India's decision to suspend the treaty
"illegal," adding that Pakistan considered the agreement to remain legally
binding. \

Posted on 2026-07-01 07:00:15

An explosive detonated in an apartment building in Monaco yesterday, wounding
three people.

The country's chief prosecutor says that one of those injured is a Ukrainian
tycoon with ties to Russia.

According to Ukrainian media, Vadym Yermolaiev was targeted by Ukrainian
sanctions in 2023 for his ties to Russia.

A witness said that a woman was also severely injured, having to have her
foot amputated.

He described the scene as "catastrophic."

A search is underway for the suspect, who escaped on foot.

Prosecutors say that a motive is unclear, but Western intelligence officials
have recently said that a campaign of targeted killings against Russia's
enemeies has ramped up since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of
Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine is also believed to have carried out attacks and targeted killings of
Russian figures in the course of the war, although those attacks have largely
been confined to Ukrainian or Russian territory.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said its embassy in France, which is also
responsible for Monaco, was in touch with local authorities.

Posted on 2026-06-30 19:58:13

Four tourists caught walking on the tracks of the Alishan Forest Railway face
fines of up to 50 thousand NT each.

The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office says the group was
discovered during a joint patrol with police near Erwanping Station earlier
this month.

Officials say walking on the tracks remains a common but prohibited activity,
despite the resumption of regular train services last year.

Authorities say they have stepped up enforcement and warn that anyone caught
trespassing on railway tracks, bridges or tunnels could face fines ranging
from 10 thousand to 50 thousand NT under the law.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 19:58:13

Business confidence in Taiwan's manufacturing sector improved in May,
reaching its highest level since March 2025.

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says its manufacturing composite
index rose from 14.03 in April to 15.75 in May.

The institute says the increase was driven by strong global demand for
semiconductors, electronic components and other products linked to artificial
intelligence.

It also says easing tensions in the Middle East and lower oil prices helped
improve business sentiment.

Looking ahead, TIER says uncertainty remains over global trade policies and
geopolitical developments, but continued investment in AI infrastructure is
expected to support Taiwan's manufacturing sector.

Posted on 2026-06-30 19:58:13

Thai police have charged an Australian man with murder and concealing a body
following the death of a 17-year-old girl in Pattaya.

Police say security camera footage shows the teenager entering a condominium
with 38-year-old Simon Peter Carman early Thursday before he was later seen
leaving with a large suitcase.

Authorities arrested Carman at Bangkok's airport on Saturday as he was
preparing to board a flight to Australia.

Police say the girl's body was later found inside the suitcase.

Carman has denied the charges and remains in custody while the investigation
continues.

Posted on 2026-06-30 19:58:13

Animal welfare activists in Montenegro are raising concerns about abandoned
animals as a heatwave grips much of Europe.

Several horses have been seen roaming the outskirts of the capital,
Podgorica, without access to shelter, food or water, as temperatures approach
40 degrees Celsius.

The animals have been spotted near an illegal dumpsite and several informal
settlements.

Activists say the horses are at risk in the extreme heat, though it remains
unclear who owns them or how they came to be abandoned.

Posted on 2026-06-30 19:58:13

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered across parts of South Africa to
protest illegal immigration.

The groups blame undocumented migrants for unemployment, crime and other
social problems, and have called for them to leave the country.

The South African government has not recognized a deadline set by some
protest organizers for migrants to depart.

Police have deployed hundreds of officers in cities including Johannesburg
and Durban amid concerns about possible violence.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged demonstrators to protest peacefully after
meeting with some of the groups' leaders.

Posted on 2026-06-30 18:40:13

The Central Weather Administration says we'll being seeing a return to normal
summer weather over the coming week following last week's heavy rains.

Localized showers and afternoon thunderstorms are forecast for today and
tomorrow in some areas of the north.

However, from Thursday through Saturday, the weather is expected to become
more stable, with afternoon showers largely confined only to mountainous
areas.

The weather administration says it's also monitoring a tropical disturbance
southeast of the Philippines and another southeast of Guam.

The Philippine system is expected to move into the South China Sea tomorrow
and Thursday, but not strengthen significantly or directly affect Taiwan.

But the disturbance southeast of Guam could strengthen into a tropical
depression this coming weekend and may later become Tropical Storm Bavi, the
ninth named storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season.

Posted on 2026-06-30 18:40:16

In related news,

Taiwan recorded its wettest plum rain season since 2012, with Taipei
experiencing its wettest June since weather records began.

The Central Weather Administration says this year's May-to-June rainy season
brought nearly 610 millimeters of rain nationwide, well above the historical
average.

Forecasters say stationary weather fronts, southwesterly winds and the outer
circulation of a tropical storm combined to bring prolonged heavy rain,
particularly to western Taiwan.

Looking ahead, the weather agency expects normal to above-normal temperatures
from July through September and forecasts three to five tropical storms or
typhoons to pass near Taiwan during the second half of the year.

In addition, the CWA plans to introduce new coastal wave warnings tomorrow
... which marks the first day of Taiwan's typhoon season.

Cell broadcast alerts will be issued when waves of 6 meters or higher are
forecast along coastal areas.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 18:40:16

Labor rights groups, youth advocates and lawmakers are reminding students and
employers to be on guard against breaking labor laws ...

... as summer gets underway.

They cite Ministry of Labor figures showing that nearly one in four
workplaces inspected during the summer of 2024 was found to be violating
labor laws.

Labor groups say restaurants and other service industries, where many
students take summer jobs, accounted for many of the violations.

Common problems included delayed or no enrollment in labor insurance, pay
below the minimum wage and employers relying on verbal agreements instead of
written contracts.

The groups are calling on the Ministry of Labor to step up inspections in
industries, strengthen penalties for minimum wage violations and improve
labor rights education for students.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 18:40:16

The Centers for Disease Control has extended its free Ebola screening program
for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
through August 30th ..

... after it had been scheduled to end today.

The program applies to people who have visited either country within the
previous 21 days but do not have symptoms when they arrive in Taiwan.

The CDC is urging eligible travelers to report to airport quarantine stations
for free testing and complete 21 days of self-health monitoring after
arrival.

Officials say six travelers have voluntarily taken the test since the program
began earlier this month, and all have tested negative.

The CDC says the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda remain under a Level
Three travel warning and is advising the public to avoid Ebola-affected areas
in both countries.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 18:40:16

Taipei Metro will begin accepting contactless credit cards and mobile
payments at all station gates starting July 1st.

Passengers can tap contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners
Club credit cards, as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay linked to
eligible credit cards, to enter and exit the system.

Officials say the new service will save both local commuters and overseas
visitors from having to buy single-ride tickets or top up stored-value cards.

For iPhone users, Apple Pay's Express Transit mode allows passengers to pass
through fare gates without unlocking their phones.

Taipei Metro says the upgrade follows a six-month trial that recorded more
than one million rides.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 18:40:18

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expanding its online passport renewal
system beginning tomorrow at 10 AM.

Citizens whose passports have less than one year of validity remaining will
be eligible to renew them online, up from the previous six-month requirement.

To qualify, applicants must be adults with household registration in Taiwan,
have an expired passport or one with less than a year of validity that has
not been lost, and have no changes to their personal information.

Successful applicants can collect their new passport in person after 10
working days.

Also tomorrow .... the ministry is launching a new online document
certification, allowing people to complete applications digitally before
visiting a service office, reducing processing time.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 17:14:13

A new survey shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe Taiwan's
security is important to the United States' own security and prosperity.

The 2026 Reagan Institute Summer Survey also found little difference in those
views across party lines.

The survey indicated that the bipartisan consensus around China-related
issues is one of the strongest among Americans on foreign policy challenges.

Regarding Taiwan, 74 percent of respondents said they were concerned that
China could attempt to take the island by force, while 75 percent were
concerned over its military buildup.

The survey also found that people were more divided over U.S. President
Donald Trump's approach to China.

Following Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, 44
percent of respondents said the administration's policy was "about right,"
including 59 percent of Republicans and 32 percent Democrats.

Posted on 2026-06-30 17:14:13

The new Taipei MRT San-ying Line is officially open today.

New Taipei Mayor Ho Yo-yi thanked the central government for helping fund the
project at the opening ceremony.

He also announced that passengers can ride the line for free between 10 AM
and 8 PM through August 31st during its trial operation.

The 14.3-kilometer line has 12 stations linking Tu-cheng, San-xia and
Ying-ge, with transfers available to the Taipei Metro Blue Line and Taiwan
Railway.

New Taipei Metro said once official operations begin, daily operating hours
will run from 6:00 AM to midnight, with fares ranging from 20 to 35 NT and a
frequent rider discount program will also be introduced.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-30 17:14:13

Four $10 million NT prizes and three $2 million NT prizes from Taiwan's
January-February uniform invoice lottery remain unclaimed.

The Ministry of Finance said winners have until July 6 to collect their
prizes.

One of the unclaimed $10 million-winning receipts was for a $2 NT plastic bag
purchased at a McDonald's in New Taipei's Tu-cheng District, according to the
MOF.

Prizes can be claimed at several local banks.

Posted on 2026-06-30 17:14:13

Turning to world news...

Britain's future military will focus on self-flying jets, uncrewed submarines
and drones.

The Defense Investment Plan, announced today, aims to prepare the U.K. for
conflicts transformed by technology.

The plan has faced delays due to cost disputes between military leaders and
Treasury officials.

Former Defense Secretary John Healey resigned earlier this month, saying the
government was unwilling to spend enough on the military at a time of rising
threats.

The plan aims to increase military spending to NATO's target of 3.5% of GDP
by 2035.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it will equip servicemen and women with
cutting-edge capabilities. But the opposition Conservatives say it's too
little, too late.

Posted on 2026-06-30 14:07:13

The KMT legislative caucus has unveiled its own draft bill to boost Taiwan's
military drone capabilities.

The proposal would allocate $240 billion NT over six years through the
regular government budget, with $40 billion set aside each year.

Under the proposal, any single procurement project worth more than $100
million NT would require a report to the Legislature, while the government
would also have to submit annual progress reports.

KMT caucus head Lin Pei-xiang (林沛祥) says the funding would be limited to
military drone procurement, production, maintenance, training, testing
facilities, and the development of Taiwan's drone industry.

The draft bill comes after the opposition camp blocked the Executive Yuan's
version of the bill that sought approval for a $210 billion NT special budget
to procure domestically developed military drones.

The KMT and the TPP said national defense should not be listed under a
special budget as it lacks transparency.

Meanwhile the the TPP legislative caucus says its own drone procurement bill
would also fund the program through the regular government budget rather than
a special budget.

In a major difference from the KMT, caucus convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍)
says the actual level of funding should be determined by the Executive Yuan,
while complying with the Fiscal Discipline Act.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-30 14:07:13

Taipei's Dadaocheng waterfront is hosting its annual summer festival, with a
Spider-Man themed fireworks and drone display .

City officials say this year's Taipei Summer Festival at Dadaocheng Wharf and
Yanping Riverside Park will pair fireworks and drone performances with Sony
Pictures' Spider-Man for the first time, with major shows scheduled for the
opening night on July 25th and the closing night on August 15th, both
starting at 8 p.m.

Each will feature a 20-minute combined drone and fireworks display, with
Spider-Man imagery moving across the night sky over Taipei set to the
original film score.

And the light shows will be paired with live music performances from artists
including Golden Melody Award-winning and highly popular acts such as Wendy
Wander and Sweet John

And officials say local merchants will also offer special promotions during
the festival period.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-30 14:07:13

Taiwan shares were higher today as many other major Asian stock markets
tracking Wall Street gains.

The benchmark Taiex gained 1-thousand 126 points to end the session at 46,125.

The turnover also expanded to 1 trillion 203 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-06-30 14:07:13

Feliks’ journey resembles a Hollywood movie script, with kidnappers,
smugglers and secretive border crossing.

Feliks is actually a young eastern imperial eagle from Serbia, who last year
set off on his first migratory flight.

However, it was caught by poachers in the Middle East, sold illegally and
retrieved in a daring cross-border mission.

While Feliks returned to the Balkan country of Serbia safely last week, his
yearlong ordeal highlighted both the widespread practice of profit-driven,
illegal animal trade and the unfaltering struggle by animal protection groups
to counter it.

Posted on 2026-06-30 14:07:13

The Ocean Conservation Administration is launching a new certification label
for products made with recycled marine debris.

The agency says products containing at least 5 percent recycled material
derived from ocean waste can apply for the Friendly Ocean Label.

The label will be awarded in four tiers, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum,
based on the proportion of recycled marine debris material used in a product.

And each certified product will carry a QR code allowing consumers and
procurement buyers to verify the exact composition and origin of the recycled
material.

Applications open officially on July 1st, and the agency hopes to encourage
manufacturers to develop ocean-friendly products and give consumers a clear
way to identify and choose them.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-30 13:08:13

Cabinet Minister Without Portfolio Jenny Yang has issued another statement
after being suspended over findings that she committed workplace bullying.

She said she's not ruling out taking legal actions against those that she
described as making "fabricated allegations" about her behavior.

The former top negotiator said a supervisor's decision not to adopt
suggestions from colleagues should not, by itself, be considered bullying.

The Cabinet last week released the findings of an external investigation,
concluding that Yang had bullied her deputy Yan Hui-xin (顏慧欣), who died
earlier this year.

Premier Cho Jung-tai has since decided to suspend Yang from her duties
beginning July 1st.

In last night's statement, Yang again argued that the investigation relied on
one-sided accounts and denied her a fair opportunity to respond to the
allegations.

She also claimed the probe was driven by individuals with ulterior motives
who leaked information to the media in an effort to shape public opinion.

Meanwhile Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee said Vice Premier Zheng Li-jun
will continue to lead the Taiwan-U.S. Trade and Economic Working Group for
future negotiations.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-30 13:08:13

The Central Weather Administration says it's closely monitoring two tropical
disturbances, adding that they could strengthen into this year's ninth and
tenth named storms, Typhoon Bavi and Typhoon Maysak.

Forecasters say one system is currently passing through the Philippines south
of Taiwan and is expected to move northwest into the South China Sea, where
it could develop into a tropical depression or typhoon.

The second disturbance is located about 4,000 kilometers southeast of Taiwan
and could also strengthen over the next few days.

Forecasters say it may begin approaching the Ryukyu Islands around the
middle to latter part of next week.

For this week, the CWA says with the influence of a Pacific high-pressure
system, we should see hot and sunny days with high temperatures around 36 or
37 degrees Celsius and afternoon thunderstorms.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-30 13:08:13

The United States and Iran have separately announced they are sending
delegations to Qatar this week, though Tehran insists it has not agreed to
meet with the U.S. “at any level.”

The announcements came after weekend attacks in the Persian Gulf challenged
efforts to negotiate an end to the war.

U.S. President Donald Trump has tried to preserve a fragile interim deal as
hostilities mounted in recent days in the Strait of Hormuz.

After four days of trading strikes, both sides appeared to pause their
attacks yesterday.

A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says its delegation traveling to
Qatar plans to discuss terms of the deal without U.S. involvement.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to an interim deal earlier this month that calls for
Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Posted on 2026-06-30 13:08:13

China says its factory activity picked up pace in June.

The survey released by the National Bureau of Statistics said the
manufacturing purchasing managers index, or PMI, expanded to 50.3 in June
from 50 in May.

That's better than had been expected despite worries over China’s economy
losing steam.

A P-M-I reading above 50 reflects expansion, while below 50 indicates
contraction.

Some economists believe China's economy has been regaining momentum recently
but it still heavily relies on high-tech exports.

China’s consumers remain cautious after a long decline in the property sector
and domestic demand is still sluggish.

Posted on 2026-06-30 11:14:13

The Marshall Islands' Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kalani Kaneko
has arrived in Taiwan for a five-day visit.

Kaneko is leading a seven-member delegation that includes his wife.

The delegation was greeted on its arrival at Taoyuan International Airport
late last night by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ge Bao-xuan.

Speaking briefly to reporters on his arrival, Kaneko said the Marshall
Islands is hoping to deepen bilateral cooperation and friendship with Taiwan
...

... and will continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the
United Nations system and other international organizations

Kaneko also said that this year marks the 28th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the
partnership has flourished, built on a shared commitment to democratic
values, mutual respect, and human rights and the rule of law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs here in Taiwan has not released any details
concerning the Marshall Islands' delegation itinerary.

Posted on 2026-06-30 11:14:13

A former Tainan fire chief has been sentenced on corruption charges.

The Tainan District Court handed Li Ming Feng a 4 and a half year prison
sentence in the first ruling in the case.

Li is accused of lobbying and encouraging private donations and accepting
bribes of over one and a half million NT from the companies.

The ruling can be appealed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-06-30 11:14:13

And,

The Central Weather Administration has issued heat warnings for parts of the
island again today.

"Yellow" heat alerts are in effect for Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu
County, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Yilan -
meaning the daily maximum temperature could reaches 36-degrees.

All of the heat alerts are currently slated to remain in effect through this
afternoon.

Posted on 2026-06-30 11:14:13

Now turning to international news...

Serbian President Aleksander Vucic says, early general elections will be held
in the next few months.

He plans to resign before the vote.

Vucic made the announcement at a rally, suggesting it may be his last address
as president.

Rather than giving up power due to mass protests against government
corruptiom, the move likely signals his intentions to move into the most
powerful position in Serbia: prime minister.

Vucic is in his second presidential term and cannot run again.

Once the populist leader formally resigns, the presidential ballot must be
held within the next 3 months.

Vucic has faced more than a year of mass street protests that first started
in response to a train station tragedy in Serbia's north which killed 16
people.

A youth-led movement demanding accountability for the station canopy collapse
has shaken Vucic's firm grip on power more than ever in the past.

Before he became president in 2017, Vucic had previously already served as
prime minister.

Vucic has also faced European Union criticism over Serbia’s democratic
backsliding, including a media clampdown.

Posted on 2026-06-30 11:14:13

The San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese has agreed to pay 395 million US
dollars to settle over 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church
officials.

The settlement also includes implementing child protection and transparency
reforms, such as creating a list of accused clergy.

The announcemtn comes 3 years after the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy and
will cover about 530 survivors.

The Archibishop must also write an apology letter to each survivor.

An attorney for the plaintiffs called the settlement unprecedented and
hopeful.

Several archdioceses in California filed for bankruptcy after facing hundreds
of lawsuits brought under a law approved in 2019...

which allowed decades-old claims to be filed by the end of 2022.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:49

Central Election Commission Chairman Michael You is urging lawmakers to limit
the number of referendum initiatives that could be held alongside November's
local elections.

The call comes amid concerns about the election system's administrative
capacity as opposition lawmakers have been discussing plans to advance five
referendum proposals.

Those proposed referendums include restoring nuclear power generation,
opposing the abolition of the death penalty, and introducing absentee voting.

Lawmaker's passed an amendment in November of last year enabling national
referendums to be held on the same day as the local elections.

Speaking to reporters, You called on lawmakers to take the election system's
capacity into account when promoting referendum initiatives ...

.... saying "one referendum would be manageable, two would already be
demanding, and three would be more than election authorities could reasonably
handle."

You also reiterated his opposition to introducing absentee voting in local
elections, arguing that combining absentee voting with the nine-in-one polls
would be - in his words "a disaster."

You said broader public discussion and political consensus will be needed
before absentee voting can be introduced.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

The Ministry of Environment has held a cross-agency tabletop exercise
simulating an extreme heat scenario of 40-degrees.

The exercise focused on compound disaster impacts and support measures for
vulnerable groups.

According to the ministry, it involved 34 central and local agencies and
simulated three consecutive days of 40-degree-heat in Taipei's Neihu
District, New Taipei's Wugu District, and Taoyuan's Luzhu District.

The ministry says the exercise's first stage focused and substation failures,
localized power outages and heat-related medical emergencies among vulnerable
groups.

The second stage escalated to railway speed restrictions due to overheated
tracks and rising heat illness cases among outdoor workers and chronic
patients.

While the final stage focused on response efforts, including garbage fires
and road surface deformation.

The environment ministry says although heat is not classified as a disaster
under the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act, it can develop into
systemic risks when combined with heavy electricity demand, infrastructure
strain and vulnerable populations.

The ministry says it will hold a review meeting and incorporate lessons into
future interagency response planning and will publish relevant information
online to help the public understand response measures following heat alerts.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

The Centers for Disease Control says its planning to expand HIV treatment
subsidies to more foreign nationals.

The statement comes after C-D-C Director-General Philip Lo said new HIV
infections have steadily declined among Taiwanese but not among foreign
nationals in Taiwan.

According to Lo, he is hoping a change in policy will improve the trend line
for foreign residents.

The C-D-C says data shows that new cases among Taiwanese have fallen from
over 2,000 a year from 2012 to 2017 to 1,069 by 2022 and around 850 in 2025.

However, cases among foreign nationals have remained steady, averaging 106
per year over the past five years.

Under existing program for those who are diagnosed with HIV, the C-D-C covers
costs for an HIV patient's first two years on medication, after which
expenses are covered by the national health insurance system.

Support during the first two years to cover monthly expense for
antiretroviral therapy only currently extends to three categories of foreign
nationals who are legal residents.

The C-D-C director-general says proposed new eligibility rules could take
effect by the end of this year and will cost the government an additional
1-million to 5.5-million N-T, which can be covered within the existing
budget.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

rollout

Advocacy groups are urging the Ministry of Labor to ensure migrant workers
are not overlooked in the rollout of the new workplace bullying prevention
rules.

The rules are set to take effect tomorrow and are being introduced under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The move means that employers are required to establish workplace bullying
prevention and complaint-handling mechanisms.

The Taiwan Association for Human Rights says while it fully support for the
new rules, the government must also ensure that outreach, training and
complaint channels are accessible to migrant workers.

According to the association, workplace bullying against migrant workers is
widespread, and they are unlikely to report it due to their vulnerable
position and their need to keep their jobs.

The Ministry of Labor released a workplace bullying prevention guidance
manual, FAQs and educational materials,

All of which is currently available only in Chinese.

The labor ministy has since responded to questions as to whether it will be
available in other languages for foreign workers, by saying it will study the
feasibility of providing multilingual versions.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

EVA Airways has annouced plans to to launch direct flights to Delhi at the
end of this year as it seeks to tap into demand for transit between South
Asia and North American markets.

EVA Airways President Sun Chia-ming says the carrier has filed an application
to provide direct flights to Delhi and hopes the new service will start in
early December.

According to Sun, Delhi is positioned well strategically as the city is able
to link North America to South Asia and EVA Airways plans to target Indian
software engineers who work in Silicon Valley with the upcoming new flight
service.

The airline already provides early morning direct services to several major
U-S cities from Taoyuan International Airport.

Sun says he firmly believes that EVA Airways will be able to compete with
Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines in the North America-South Asia
transit market after launching the service to India.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

And,

Taiwan-themed floats participated in the New York City Pride March and the
San Francisco Pride Parade this past weekend.

The New York float featured Taiwan drag performers, and was themed around the
Taiwan "betel nut beauty."

It was curated by Taiwan celebrity drag queen Nymphia Wind and featured other
Taiwanese drag performers.

The Taiwan contingent in the New York procession included Tom Lee, the head
of Taiwan's representative office in the city, his wife, office staff,
overseas Taiwanese, and students.

Taiwan's tourism mascot, Oh Bear was part of the show in San Francisco -
where the float was designed under the banner "Taiwan in SF."

That float was sponsored by the Tourism Administration and the Taipei
Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco.

David Wu, the head of Taiwan's representative office in San Francisco, and he
and his wife joined the parade for the first time since he took up the post.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

Tensions in southern Syria have escalated as Israel occupies a UN-patrolled
buffer zone.

Residents of Abdin in southern Syria were trying to resist a military
incursion...

blocking roads and throwing stones at Israeli troops.

In response, Israeli forces fired warning shots and artillery rounds.

No one was hurt, but many residents fled.

Israel seized the buffer zone in 2024, claiming it was to protect against
militant groups.

The Israeli military presence has led to resistance and clashes.

Syria has condemned the incursions and called for Israel to withdraw.

Residents say the Israeli military regularly enters the village, sometimes
breaking down doors to enter houses.

Israel's presence in Syria is part of a shift to a more aggressive strategy...

with the Israeli military also taking over large portions of Gaza and Lebanon
since a Hamas attack back in 2023.

Posted on 2026-06-30 06:55:50

Police in Nigeria say, gunmen have attacked and kidnapped students taking
exams in Borno state.

A spokesman said it wasn't clear how many students were taken, but 10 people
were rescued hours later.

No group has yet claimed responsibility.

Amnesty International reported that two teacchers and a student were killed.

They emphasized the need for safe schools.

This comes after the army rescued over 300 people abducted by Boko Haram
earlier this month.

Posted on 2026-06-29 19:41:13

Netflix has announced that "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2" will premiere this
fall, nearly four years after the hit anime debuted.

The new 10-episode season will tell a standalone story with an entirely new
cast of characters in Night City.

Studio Trigger returns to produce the series, which is expected to have a
darker tone than the original ... that is, if it's even possible.

A full trailer is set to be released this week after new details were
unveiled at the Annecy International Animation Festival in France.

The first season, released in 2022, became one of Netflix's most successful
video game adaptations and helped revive interest in the video game
"Cyberpunk 2077."

Posted on 2026-06-29 19:41:14

Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce really getting married at Madison Square
Garden?

Speculation about the superstar singer and football player's upcoming wedding
has spiked over the past few days.

Reports are swirling that the two are getting married the first week in July
at this arena, which seats up to 19,500 people

Yet nearly a year after Kelce and Swift announced their engagement with the
caption “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” they
have disclosed little about their plans.

The New York Times reports they are planning a gathering of 100 people at
Madison Square Garden on July 2 and a second event there for about 1,000
guests on July 3.

Public records show the city issued permits for loading and unloading
theatrical materials at the arena during that time period.

A company that does red carpet events also applied for a permit to set up a
canopy outside.

But some believe all this might be a smokescreen to distract from the
couple's real plans.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-29 19:39:13

Taiwanese internet personality Sun An-tso (孫安佐) has been indicted on firearms
and public intimidation charges ...

... over allegations that he made and publicly tested a homemade flamethrower.

Prosecutors also accuse him of illegally possessing an unregistered shotgun,
an air gun capable of causing injury and a prohibited imitation pistol.

The case has now been transferred to the Shilin District Court, which will
decide whether to extend Sun's detention

Sun, the son of television personalities Sun Peng (孫鵬) and Di Ying (狄鶯), has
been in custody since May.

Prosecutors say Sun carried out several flamethrower tests in public areas of
Taipei and New Taipei, creating a danger to passersby.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-06-29 19:39:13

The Mainland Affairs Council says reported offers of free trips for young
Taiwanese to attend a cross-strait forum in China bear what it calls
"obvious" signs of Beijing's united front efforts.

The comments follow media reports that participants aged 16 to 45 were
offered full subsidies for the forum in Guangdong Province, with only airfare
to and from Macau to be paid out of pocket.

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) says Taiwan supports
healthy cross-strait exchanges conducted on the basis of equality and
dignity.

However, he says heavily subsidized arrangements offered only to Taiwanese
participants raise concerns about political influence efforts by Beijing.

Posted on 2026-06-29 19:39:13

rollout

Rights groups are urging the government to ensure migrant workers are not
left behind when Taiwan's new workplace bullying rules take effect on
Wednesday.

The groups say many migrant workers are reluctant to report workplace
bullying because they fear losing their jobs, and are calling on the Ministry
of Labor to provide multilingual information and complaint channels.

The new rules will require employers to establish workplace bullying
prevention and complaint mechanisms.

The Ministry of Labor says English information is already available, the 1955
migrant worker hotline is ready to provide consultations, and additional
materials in Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai and Tagalog will also be released.

Posted on 2026-06-29 19:39:13

Australian police have arrested a Thai airline employee accused of smuggling
more than one kilogram of heroin into the country.

Authorities say the 26-year-old woman was on duty on an international flight
when she arrived at Melbourne Airport on Thursday.

Police say baggage screening led officers to search her luggage, where they
allegedly found heroin concealed in 12 tote bags.

The drugs have an estimated street value of about 345,000 U.S. dollars.

The woman has been charged with importing and possessing a commercial
quantity of heroin. Thai Airways says it is cooperating with the
investigation.

Posted on 2026-06-29 18:29:13

Agriculture authorities in Taoyuan are considering trapping wild macaques
after a series of attacks on residents in Guishan District neighborhood.

A city councilor says one resident was bitten and scratched after the animal
attacked from behind while the person was tending plants outside his home.

Residents say the macaques have been appearing frequently in the neighborhood
in recent days, leaving some afraid to go outside.

The Department of Agriculture says officials have inspected the area and are
assessing whether the animals should be captured.

The department is also reminding people not to feed or approach wild animals,
and to keep food and kitchen waste out of reach to help prevent conflicts
with wildlife.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-29 18:29:16

The Centers for Disease Control plans to expand government-funded HIV
treatment to cover two additional groups of foreign residents.

CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun says the proposed change would include
permanent foreign residents and foreign minors under the age of 18 who are
legally living in Taiwan.

Currently, only three categories of foreign nationals qualify for government
subsidies, while others must pay between 12 thousand NT and 18 thousand NT a
month for HIV medication.

The CDC says foreign nationals account for about 10 percent of Taiwan's 800
to 900 new HIV cases each year, even as infections among Taiwanese continue
to decline.

The amendments are expected to be released for public comment in August and,
if approved, could take effect by the end of the year.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-29 18:29:21

Nearly 70 percent of international hotel guests in Taiwan stay in Taipei and
New Taipei, prompting calls for more tourism development in other parts of
the island.

The head of the Taiwan Tourist Hotel Association says the figures reflect a
structural imbalance in the country's tourism industry.

Association Chair Lai Cheng-yi (賴正鎰) says many regions have strong tourism
potential but lack the transportation, hotels, attractions and international
marketing needed to encourage visitors to stay longer.

He is proposing five large-scale international resort zones modeled on
Singapore's Sentosa island resort, including possible sites in northern
Taiwan, central mountain areas and the Alishan region.

Lai is also calling for a Cabinet-level task force to coordinate tourism
development and attract international investment.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-29 18:29:21

In international news and in the latest from the Middle East ...

An Israeli airstrike has killed at least three Palestinians, including a
child, in central Gaza.

Palestinian officials say the strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people
in Deir al-Balah on Monday.

Israel's military says it targeted a member of the militant group Islamic
Jihad who was involved in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Despite a ceasefire reached in October, Israeli forces have continued
carrying out airstrikes in Gaza, while Israel says it is responding to
attacks by militant groups.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 1,045 Palestinians have been
killed since the ceasefire began.

Israel says five of its soldiers have also been killed during that period.

Posted on 2026-06-29 18:29:21

Andy Burnham ... who's widely seen as a leading contender to become Britain's
next prime minister ...

... has unveiled plans to give more powers to local governments as part of a
long-term strategy to spread economic growth across Britain.

In a speech on Monday, Burnham is expected to outline a 10-year vision aimed
at boosting prosperity in communities across the country.

His proposals include moving part of the prime minister's office to
Manchester and giving regional mayors greater control over housing, welfare
and education.

Burnham says the changes would help drive growth beyond London by giving
local leaders more authority over regional development.

Posted on 2026-06-29 17:31:13

Central Election Commission chair Yo Ying-long (游盈隆) has reiterated that
referendums held alongside this year's local elections will be an "inevitable
trend."

Yo said as long as lawmakers pass the referendum proposals in time, the C-E-C
will review them based on the law, approve them and hold the vote together
with the local elections.

He also stressed that the C-E-C is not a rubber stamp and will independently
exercise its authority free from outside interference.

But he's also reminding the opposition of his agency's capacity, saying one
referendum would be "just right," two would be "a bit too many," and three
would be "more than the system can handle."

The opposition KMT is considering proposing three referendums, with the main
one opposing the abolition of the death penalty.

Meanwhile, the TPP could propose two referendums, including one on absentee
voting that would allow voters to cast their ballots at a different polling
place in presidential and legislative elections, as well as nationwide
referendums.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-29 17:31:13

Agricultural losses for the month of June have climbed to more than 332
million NT.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Agriculture show that damage from
last week's rainstorms alone made up the bulk of that figure, totaling more
than 200 million NT.

Pingtung County was hit the hardest, accounting for more than 176 million NT
in losses, followed by Kaohsiung at 59 million NT.

Among crops, guavas suffered the greatest losses at over 37 million NT,
followed by papayas, bananas, bitter melons and lemons.

The ministry also reported over 35 million NT in aquaculture losses, with
grouper the hardest hit.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-06-29 17:31:13

In world news...

Afghan officials say overnight airstrikes by Pakistani forces have killed at
least 36 civilians and injured more than 160.

Pakistan says it targeted militant hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border in response to multiple militant attacks across Pakistan.

Afghanistan condemned the strikes as acts of aggression.

The tensions follow a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan, with authorities
blaming the Pakistani Taliban and allied groups.

The escalation follows months of tit-for-tat military action.

Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting since February,
when Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes after Pakistan carried out
airstrikes inside Afghan territory.

International efforts to broker peace, including talks hosted by China in
April, have proved to be ineffective.

Posted on 2026-06-29 17:31:13

Iran’s president said $6 billion U-S dollars in frozen Iranian assets would
be released by Qatar.

His remarks come as negotiations with the United States were challenged by
attacks at the weekend across the Persian Gulf.

President Masoud Pezeshkian is the highest-ranking official within Iran to
reference the release of the funds held by Qatar, a key mediator in the
negotiations with Pakistan.

So far, U-S officials say no frozen Iranian assets have been released.

Iranian President's remarks, reported by the country's official news agency,
appeared to be aimed at selling the Iranian public on the interim deal.

Iran launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on
Sunday following new U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic Republic, and
threatened a “complete halt” in negotiations to end the war if Washington
continues its attacks.

Posted on 2026-06-29 14:08:13

Taoyuan City is launching subisidies for commercial food waste processing
equipment for restaurants and institutional caterers, ahead of a ban on
kitchen scraps as pig feed.

The city's Department of Enviornmental Protection says from July 1st through
November 30th, food service businesses in the city can apply for subsidies
covering 50 percent of the purchase cost of commercial food waste processors.

The subsidies apply up to a maximum of 200-thousand NT per unit.

Officials say the program is aimed primarily at large-scale restaurant and
institutional catering operators to help them build in-house food waste
handling capacity and reduce dependence on traditional disposal channels.

The city is also calling on businesses to reduce waste through precise
procurement, and is encouraging the public to adopt a food-saving mindset to
reduce kitchen scraps.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-06-29 14:08:17

The American Institute in Taiwan is reminding US citizens that now is the
time to prepare for November's midterm elections.

All US citizens can vote in federal elections to fill US House and Senate
seats.

And they may be able to vote in local elections in their home states, too.

The first step is for US citizens to register in their home state, and to
request an overseas absentee ballot.

The federal web site www.fvap.gov can help US voters, directing them to their
respective state offices to complete registration and ballot requests.

Voters can return registration applications and ballots via mail ... or they
can drop them off at AIT's Taipei or Kaohsiung offices.

AIT warns that transit times can take up to three weeks, so act early to
ensure your vote is counted.

US midterm elections are on November 3rd this year.

Posted on 2026-06-29 14:08:23

In world news...

In Venezuela, local and international rescue teams raced against the clock to
pull survivors from the rubble four days after two powerful earthquakes
shook the northern state of La Guaira.

The government reported 1,450 dead from the quakes Sunday afternoon as it
faced growing criticism from Venezuelans that its response was inadequate and
overshadowed by civilian-led search-and-rescue efforts.

Thousands have been reported missing.

Even as the likelihood of finding people alive diminished with each passing
hour, rescuers continued to free survivors from mountains of debris, offering
anguished families reason to keep hopes alive.

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Sunday night that even as
the threshold passed, the search for survivors would continue.

More than 2,600 rescue workers from around the world have arrived with
trained search dogs and machinery, the government said.

The U.N. said up to 6.8 million of Venezuela's nearly 30 million residents
may be affected by the earthquakes.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-29 14:08:21

Asian shares are mixed as tech shares fall following a rout on Friday.

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark Taiex gaining 428 points to
close the session at 45,000.

However, the turnover shrank to 998 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-06-29 14:08:25

In international news,

Chinese dissident Dong Guangping (董廣平) has finally reached Canada after a
perilous escape from China.

Dong, 68, was repeatedly imprisoned in China for charges including inciting
subversion of state power.

He faced constant police monitoring and was unable to receive retirement
benefits or renew his passport.

Last month, he set off on his fourth attempt to flee China.

This time he took a dinghy and aimed for Japan.

When his phone battery almost died during the 40-hour journey, he switched
course to South Korea, where he was detained.

Eventually, he was sent to a refugee center and then to Canada.

Dong now plans to continue his activism for China's democratization.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-29 13:07:13

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu-yan has voiced strong support for the KMT's alternative
drone procurement bill after the opposition blocked the Executive Yuan's
proposal in the legislature on Friday.

Lu says she backs a $240- billion-NT plan to be funded through the regular
budget over six years, rather than through a special budget, adding that the
exact amount can still be adjusted through negotiations.

She argues that Taiwan should strengthen its domestic drone industry as
recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have shown the growing
importance of drones.

The Executive Yuan's version of the bill has a cap of $210 billion NT in
special funding for domestically developed military drones and unmanned
vessels.

The Yuan said the funding would be used over five years to procure drones
and drone boats after those items were left out of the $780 billion NT
special defense procurement bill passed by the legislature in May.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-29 13:07:14

Knives Control Act

Shi-lin prosecutors have indicted youTuber Edward Sun on charges of violating
the Firearms, Ammunition, and Knives Control Act and the Criminal Code.

Prosecutors said Sun, also known as Sun An-zuo (孫安佐), built a homemade
shoulder-mounted flamethrower, publicly tested it multiple times on roads and
parking lots in greater Taipei, and posted the videos online.

According to the prosecutors, Sun and his friends turned the gas valve to its
maximum setting, producing long-range, high-temperature flames, thus creating
a danger to the public.

The indictment said Sun made profits from posting the videos of those
activities.

He was also found in possession of an unregistered shotgun, an air gun
capable of causing injury, and a prohibited replica firearm.

Sun has been under detention without communications since May 17th and the
Shi-lin District Court will decide whether to extend his detention today.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-06-29 13:07:14

Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms,
including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children
from holding accounts.

Critics argue the world-first ban on under-16s was failing.

Australia's communications minister today blamed the platforms’ resistance to
the age restrictions to the laws that came into force on December 10.

The government announced Sunday it would introduce draft legislation into
Parliament this week that would double the maximum fine to the equivalent of
$2.2 billion NT for platforms that fail to prevent children from holding
accounts.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-29 13:07:14

In the U.S., NASA is racing to save its Swift telescope from falling back to
Earth with a daring rescue mission.

The salvage effort, costing the equivalent of 950 million NT, gets underway
as soon as this Tuesday with the planned launch of a three-armed robotic
lifesaver.

NASA is planning to boost Swift to a higher orbit where it can continue
hunting for some of the universe's biggest explosions.

Launched in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent
intense solar activity.

It needs to get to a higher orbit as soon as possible to survive.

The spacecraft will take about a month to catch Swift, and another couple of
months to raise its orbit.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-29 13:07:18

5th Ld-Writethru

Pakistani officials say security forces have targeted militant hideouts in a
major operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The country's information minister says the operation follows multiple
militant attacks across the country.

Afghanistan said women and children were among the dead and wounded.

On Saturday, militants attacked the paramilitary Rangers' headquarters in
Karachi, killing three soldiers.

Security forces killed three attackers and captured another.

A Pakistani Taliban faction claimed responsibility.

Pakistan's operation targeted two militant hideouts, killing 29 fighters.

The countries have engaged in months of military action despite international
efforts to broker peace.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-06-29 09:08:13

The Israeli Cabinet has approved a proposal to designate violence against
Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide.

The step still needs Parliament's approval, but it reflects worsening ties
between Israel and Turkey.

Turkey has long lobbied to prevent countries from officially recognizing the
mass deaths of Armenians around 1915 as a genocide, even as Armenians have
pushed for it.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman
Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by scholars as
the first genocide of the 20th century.

Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been
inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

Israel's decision marks a shift in its stance, influenced by deteriorating
relations with Turkey over the past two decades.

Turkey criticized the move as politically motivated.

Israel and Turkey were once allies, but tensions have risen, especially
regarding Israel's war on the Gaza Strip.

Posted on 2026-06-29 08:07:13

US-Taiwan ties

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The U-S State Department is crediting parliamentary exchanges as being key
elements aimed at strengthening US-Taiwan ties

According to a state department spokesperson, the robust unofficial
relationship between the U-S and Taiwan is strengthened through regular
interactions between officials and lawmakers from political parties from both
sides.

The statement comes after Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu and members of
a cross-party delegation returned from Washington, D.C. on Saturday.

Han and the delegation met with several senators, more than 30 bipartisan
members of the House of Representatives, and with officials from the White
House and the U-S Department of War during the trip.

The talks focused on US-Taiwan security cooperation, the development of the
drone industry, assisting Taiwan in expanding its international
participation, and improving the ease of investment for Taiwanese businesses
in the U-S.

A State Department official says the "the strong unofficial relationship
between the U-S and Taiwan is boosted through regular interactions."

Posted on 2026-06-29 08:07:13

Former President Tsai Ing-wen has taken to Facebook to says her visit to the
Italian Senate last week showed growing momentum in Taiwan’s exchanges with
Italy.

Tsai traveled to Italy to attend the Global Women Leaders Summit and says she
meet with lawmakers from both governing and opposition parties there.

Tsai also held talks with the deputy speaker of the Italian Senate

Taking to Facebook, Tsai said the visit allowed her to explain the pressures
facing Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, and democratic countries.

Tsai also said that European interest in Taiwan has expanded in recent years
and the island is now being increasingly seen for its role in technology,
democratic governance, women’s leadership, and resilient supply chains,
rather than solely as international hotspot.

According to Tsai, more Italian lawmakers across party lines are now paying
attention to Taiwan and supportive of closer ties.

Posted on 2026-06-29 08:07:13

The Kaohsiung City Government has announced a series of relief measures
following days of heavy rains, that have inundated several districts.

According to city officials, it is offering subsidies of up to 35,000 N-T for
residential and commercial premises that were flooded by 50-centimeters of
water or more ..

... and 10,000 N-T in financial assistance for residential and commercial
premises flooded with less than 50-centimeters of water.

City officials say an additional 10,000 N-T will be provided to owners of all
flooded premises for damage to electrical appliances.

The city's relief measures are in addition to the central government's
providing 20,000 N-T subsidies for homes or businesses that were flooded by
50-centimeters of water or more.

The Kaohsiung City Government also says it has implemented a compensation
program for vehicles damaged by flooding.

Posted on 2026-06-29 08:07:13

The Ministry of Transport has announced that a new category of fully
enclosed, three-wheeled scooters will be permitted on public roads from
tomorrow.

According to the ministry, manufacturers and importers must obtain a vehicle
safety type approval certificate under the Vehicle Safety Type Approval
Management Regulations before the vehicles can be sold and registered.

That approval process is expected to take three to six months before the
vehicles can receive license plates and be legally operated on public roads.

The transport ministry says drivers of such vehicles will be required to hold
a standard automobile driver's license.

The vehicles will have the same road rights as passenger cars, but will not
be permitted on freeways, expressways or national highways.

Posted on 2026-06-29 08:07:13

And finally,

C-P-C has cut gasoline and diesel prices for a second consecutive week after
the U-S and Iran last week began negotiations for a ceasefire and an increase
in shipment volumes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The price cuts see gasoline declining by 1 N-T per liter and diesel falling
by 0.8 N-T per liter.

The move means that 92 octane unleaded costs 30.4 N-T per liter, while the
price of premium diesel has dropped to 29.5 N-T a liter at the pump for this
week.

Under C-P-C's floating price mechanism the average international oil price
fell to 69.8 U-S dollars per barrel last week.

That was down from 76.39 U-S dollars the previous week.

The state-refiner says although more ships have been passing through the
Strait of Hormuz, an attack on a container cargo ship owned by Taiwan's
Evergreen Marine last Thursday has renewed safety concerns.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has wrapped-up a trip to Poland and Italy.

Lin was heading a trade delegation to the two countries aimed at
strengthening Taiwan's partnerships with both Warsaw to Rome.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the six-day trip began with Lin
leading a delegation of business representatives to the 2026 Taiwan Expo
Europe in Poland, before visiting the Polish Parliament.

Lin also announced the establishment of Taiwan Language Centers in Europe.

The first centers will be set up in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and
Poland and Lin says that will serve as hubs for Mandarin-language education
and talent exchanges.

Lin's trip to Italy included attending a business forum, as well as an event
organized by the Regional Council of Lombardy on strengthening supply chain
resilience and Taiwan-Italy exchanges.

The event focused on semiconductors, I-C-T, and advanced manufacturing.

The foreign ministry says it was the largest business delegation from Taiwan
to attend an industry event organized by the Regional Council of Lombardy.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:20

The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office says autopsies have confirmed that
four hikers killed in a rockfall died of traumatic shock caused by falling
rocks.

The statement comes after prosecutors and forensic examiners conducted the
autopsies after the victims' bodies were taken to a funeral home in Taichung.

The prosecutors' office has ruled that the four deaths were accidental, and
issued death certificates after the victims' families raised no objections to
the findings.

Prosecutors says they are continuing to investigate whether the accident
involved criminal negligence.

The victims were among a 16-member hiking group organized by the Republic of
China Primitive Life Education Association that traveled from Taipei on
Saturday to hike the Butterfly Valley Waterfall Trail in Taichung's Heping
District.

Authorities says rocks struck five members of the group on the trail, killing
four and leaving one with minor injuries.

Association Chairman Wu Swei-pi says the weather was clear when the group set
out and forecasts had shown no rain was expected in the area Saturday
afternoon and the they were struck by falling rocks while crossing a stream.

Wu says warnings or a temporary trail closure could have alerted hikers to
the danger.

The Taichung Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says the
trail remained open because rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Mekkhala
had not met the threshold for closure.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:20

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has installed a water level meter
at the barrier lake on the Wanli River in Hualien.

The agency says it will allow authorities to receive water-level data every
10 minutes to improve monitoring and emergency response times.

The water level meter was installed with assistance from the National
Airborne Service Corps.

According to the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, data is now being
transmitted to the Ministry of Agriculture's Forest Disaster Prevention
Response and Barrier Lake Monitoring System.

Installation of the water level meter comes amid concerns of the barrier lake
overflowing.

The risk of the barrier lake bursting has been downgraded from a "red" to a
"yellow" alert, but authorities are still warning that the landslide-dammed
lake still poses a risk of breaching within 10 days.

The Hualien County government has urged the public to stay away from the
Wanli River, Matai'an Creek and surrounding hazardous areas.

Nearly 200 residents of Wanrong and Fenglin townships have been evacuated as
a precaution.

Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei says police patrols and fire
department drones were monitoring the riverbed to prevent people from
entering hazardous areas.

The lake's water level stood at 1,067 meters late Sunday.

The barrier lake has an estimated storage volume of 2.4-million cubic meters
and the overflow elevation is estimated at about 1,080 meters.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:22

A total of 500-kilograms of Taiwan Irwin mangoes has been air-shipped to the
U-K.

According to the Tainan City government, it is the first such shipment of the
popular fruit to the U-K.

The shipment of mangoes headed for the U-K is being transported using cold
packaging, which means they will be refrigerated in low temperatures during
the entire trip.

The city's Agriculture Bureau says th cartons containing eight to 10 mangoes
will be sold at high-end supermarkets, with each mango priced at between 18
and 20 euros.

Cartons containing 10 to 12 mangoes will be sold at retail supermarkets, with
each mango priced at between 15 and 18 euros.

While, cartons containing 10 to 12 mangoes will also be sold as whole cartons
to wholesale supermarkets, and cartons containing 12 to 14 mangoes will be
distributed to fruit and vegetable wholesale markets.

The mangoes have been transported to be Frankfurt Airport in Germany and
beeen transferred to Manchester Airport in northern England.

The total production of Taiwan mangoes in 2025 was 102,578 tons, of which,
836 tons were exported to different markets.

Along with the U-K, Taiwan's Irwin mangoes have been exported to France this
year.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:25

The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation says blood supplies have fallen to five
days, as the recent heavy rain resulted in a decline in the number of people
making donations across the island.

According to the foundation, one week of supply is its minimum safety line
and supplies of type B are the only blood group still above the level -- with
7.1 days available.

The tightest overall supplies are in Taipei and Taichung, where blood centers
have an average of 4.7 days of supplies.

The foundation says the decline in donations was due to the closure of some
donation sites and blood drives because of the heavy rains.

It is urging people to give blood now the rains are weakening and says
hospitals in the center and south could face serious shortages in the coming
days if supplies are not replenished.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:26

Local and international rescue teams are racing to find survivors in
Venezuela, four days after 2 powerful earthquakes.

The government has so far reported a death toll of 1450.

Officials have faced criticism from Venezuelans who believe that the
government's response is inadequate and not as widespread as those of
civilian-led search and rescue efforts.

Thousands are still missing.

More than 2600 rescue workers from around the world had arrived by yesterday,
with support from specially trained dogs.

Authorities say that more than 770 buildings had totally or partially
collapsed in the two earthquakes..

while twice as many were reported destroyed or damaged.

The risk of further damage remains, as aftershocks continue.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:26

Pakistani officials say, security forces launched a major operation along the
border between Pakistan and Afghanistan...

targeting militant hideouts and killing 29 fighters.

Officials say, the operation follows multiple militant attacks across the
country.

Over the weekened, militants attacked the headquarters of a paramilitary
group in Karachi, killing 3.

A breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the
attack.

Officials say that Pakistan's latest operation targets the safe havens of the
Pakistani Taliban.

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:26

Israel has killed at least 4 more people in the Gaza Strip in the latest
round of strikes.

The first strike targeted a group of people in northern Gaza, killing 2 and
wounded another.

Another strike in the south killed a man, while Israeli tank shelling
shrapnel killed a 13 year old child.

This comes as a ceasefire has been in place since October, but Israel
continues strikes in Gaza, with new deaths reported almost daily.

Since the ceasefire went into effect, Israel has killed more than 1040 people
in Gaza alone.

Israel claims that one of the most recent strikes targeted a "Hamas
terrorist."

Posted on 2026-06-29 07:04:26

Ukraine is intensifying its drone attacks on Russia, setting fire to a major
oil refinery and killing at least 2.

Kyiv's long-range strikes aim to disrupt Russian fuel supplies and military
deliveries, pressuring Moscow to the negotiating table.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on teh Slavyansk
refinery, and claimed another hit in the Yaroslavl region.

Ukraine's campaign targets Russian military industries and energy facilites
to cut Moscow's revenue and apply pressure.

Zelenskyy has called the strikes "long-range sanctions," saying that each
strike means a hit to Russia's war machine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time over the
weekend that the country was facing a "certain deficit" of fuel.

He vowed to strengthen protection of oil facilites and boost fuel output.

Western officials say that the attacks have stalled Moscow's war effort...

but Russia remains among the world's top exporters of oil and natual gas.

More recently, Ukraine has attemped to cut off fuel deliveries to the
illegally Russian annexed Crimea.

Last weekend, Kremlin-installed officials in Crimea suspended gasoline sales
to civilians, after Kyiv's targeting of supply routes triggered the worst
energy crisis there since the annexation.

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