In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has announced that she's "gladly accepted" an
invitation from Xi Jinping to visit China next week.

Speaking at a press conference after news of the invitation was released,
Cheng said she believe the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must firmly pursue
a path of peace to ensure regional stability, and the well-being of future
generations.

Cheng told reporters that the trip will "show the people of Taiwan and the
world that the two sides of the Strait are not destined for war, nor do they
need to remain on the brink of military conflict.

The K-M-T chairwoman went on to say that any efforts to improve cross-strait
relations during her upcoming visit must be based on the terms of the "1992
consensus" and opposition to Taiwan independence.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the invitation was
extended to Cheng by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and
Xi Jinping.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office head Song Tao is being cited by Xinhua as
saying the invitation is aimed at "promoting KMT-CCP ties and the peaceful
development of cross-strait relations."

The six-day trip includes stops in Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing.

A bipartisan delegation of U-S senators has visited the National Chung-Shan
Institute of Science and Technology - where they saw displays showing the
results of a live-fire test of a drone-mounted warhead.

The U-S senators were shown a display of a 50-millimeter high-strength steel
plate that was penetrated by a multipurpose warhead mounted on a Mighty
Hornet IV drone in live-fire testing.

The Mighty Hornet IV is a repurposed target drone with a range of
1,000-kilometers that has been produced by the institute and the US-based
defense company Kratos.

The delegation was led by by Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, and included Republican Senator John Curtis, who
also sits on the committee.

They arrived in Taiwan at Taipei's Songshan Airport early Monday morning for
a two-day visit.

The delegation also held talks with President Lai Ching-te at the
Presidential Office on Monday - at which they highlighted the importance of
"peace through strength" ...

.... and called on lawmakers to swiftly pass the government's 1.25-trillion
N-T special defense budget bill to fund planned purchases of U-S weapons
systems.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the U-S has agreed to defer the deadline
for an initial payment on a key American-made weapons system due to the
onging defense budget impasse.

Speaking at a legislative hearing, Koo confirmed that the first payment for
High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems has been postponed beyond its March 30
deadline to around May ...

.... when Koo said the U-S expects to finalize a contract with a supplier for
the 4.05-billion U-S dollar sale.

According to the defense minister, the military is also in talks with the U-S
on payment deferrals for three other weapons systems also approved for sale
to Taiwan and facing budget issues.

Koo told lawmakers that the initial payments for the four planned purchases
total approximately 79-million U-S dollars.

The U-S announced the sale of the artillery rocket systems, self-propelled
howitzers, TOW anti-tank missiles and Javelin missiles in December of last
year as part of a broader 11.1-billion U-S dollars arms package.

Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long is warning that the consumer price index
is likely to jump 1.9-per cent this year, if international crude oil prices
increase to an average of 100 U-S dollars per barrel.

However, Yang is stressing that spike in crude oil prices to between 95 and
115 U-S dollars per barrel is likely to be short-term.

Speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Financial Committee, Yang said
although the projected 1.9-per cent growth in the consumer price index is
higher than the central bank's recent estimate of 1.8-per cent, it is still
below a 2-per cent alert level.

Yang also told lawmakers that the central bank will raise interest rates to
deal with inflationary pressure - and if inflationary concerns take hold, the
bank will also take steps to tighten its monetary policy.

According to Yang, the central bank will continue to monitor the global
situation and update its inflation estimates.

The bank opted to leave its key interest rates unchanged for the eighth
consecutive quarter during its recent policy making meeting - meaning the
discount rate was left at 2-per cent, still the highest level in 15 years.

Shares of V5 Technologies surged more than 100-per cent on the Taiwan Stock
Exchange on Monday - when the semiconductor inspection equipment maker made
its debut.

The V5 Technologies shares had climbed 115-per cent to 1,680 N-T from its
issue price of 780 N-T in early trading.

Dealers says th stock surged past the 1,000 N-T mark not just based on the
usual honeymoon effects of a new listing, but also on an optimistic outlook
for the semiconductor industry amid the current A-I boom.

V5 Technologies was founded in 2014 and specializes in the production of
high-end semiconductor inspection and measurement equipment, leveraging
AI-powered image analysis.

Its clients include wafer chip manufacturers, advanced I-C packaging and
assembly services providers, and memory chip suppliers.

V5 Technologies posted 2.08-billion N-T in sales last year.

And finally,

A man has apologized for slapping a part-time Chinese Professional Baseball
League worker at the Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadium.

The incident occured during a post match performance after the Uni-President
Lions beat the T-S-G Hawks 3-1 at the first regular-season game to have been
played at the newly opened stadium.

The apology came after video of the 49-year-old man arguing with three
C-P-B-L part-time workers and slapping one of them on the left side of his
head was posted on social media.

The man was questioned by police on suspicion of assault.

The C-P-B-L says it has zero tolerance for violence and will assist with the
lawsuit being brought against the man by the victim.

The man has also been banned from attending any future games at the stadium.

A group of visiting U-S senators are calling on lawmakers to pass the
government's 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget bill to fund planned
purchases of American weapons systems.

The delegation is led by by Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, and included Republican Senator John Curtis, who
also sits on the committee.

They arrived in Taiwan at Taipei's Songshan Airport early Monday morning for
a two-day visit.

During a meeting with President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Office,
Shaheen said the U-S recognizes Taiwan's moves to strengthen its own defense
and resilience.


Curtis said the Lai administration's steps to boost the island's defense are
being noticed in the U-S.


The President told the visiting U-S senators that his proposed special
defense budget is the most comprehensive proposal and he also took the time
to call on lawmakers to pass it as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs say the visiting U-S senators will also be
meeting with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung
..

.. and those discussions will be focusing on issues related to US-Taiwan
relations, regional security, and other matters of mutual interest.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says she believes the special defense budget
should prioritize drones over submarines and range from between 800-billion
and 1-trillion N-T.

During a Taichung City Council meeting, Lu said her proposal seeks to scale
back submarine procurement while increasing investment in drones.

Although also compared her proposal with the K-M-T's plan, Lu admitted that
the figures are not directly comparable as additional funding could be
adjusted through negotiations between the Cabinet and the Legislature.

Lu said her views are based on her experience serving on the Legislature's
Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

The Mainland Affairs Council is calling on K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun not
to echo Beijing's political agenda when she visits China next week.

The council also said China's ambition to eliminate the Republic of China and
annex Taiwan "will not change simply because they engage in exchanges with
any political party or individual in Taiwan."

The MAC's statement comes after Cheng announced she had "gladly accepted" an
invitation from Xi Jinping to visit China from April 7 to 12.

The six-day trip includes stops in Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing.

Cheng is expected to meet with Xi during the visit.

The KMT chair said the trip will "show the people of Taiwan and the world
that two sides of the strait are not destined for war, nor do they need to
remain on the brink of military conflict."

The K-M-T legislative caucus is calling for Premier Zhu Rong-tai open an
independent investigation into alleged workplace bullying that may have
contributed to the recent death of senior trade official Yen Hui-xin.

Yen served as a deputy representative at the Office of Trade Negotiations.

She died on March 12 at the age of 53.

There are allegations surfaced Yen experienced workplace bullying,
particularly from Yang Jen-ni, who serves at the Lai administration's top
trade representative.

The Commercial Times has published excerpts from what is say was Yen's
resignation letter - in which she criticized the government for a lack of any
concrete plans or timetable for joining the Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Yen wrote her resignation letter in February while she was in an intensive
care unit.

One K-M-T lawmaker is calling on the government to remove Yang Jen-ni from
her post pending the outcome of the investigation into Yen's death.

The High Prosecutors' Office says that it's stepping up efforts to prevent
hoarding and price gouging of daily necessities, as part of government
efforts to stabilize consumer prices.

The government has reportedly instructed prosecutors' offices islandwide to
activate a special coordination platform to monitor market conditions and
investigate suspicious spikes in prices.

The move includes strengthening cooperation between police and health,
agriculture, and consumer protection agencies to establish
intelligence-sharing mechanisms and respond to any potential violations.

A dedicated team has reportedly been set up to examine supply chain processes
and take legal action against any businesses or individuals involved in
hoarding, price gouging, or collusive price increases.

The prosecutors' office is also encouraging members of the public to report
any suspected cases to authorities.

Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery giant Grab Holdings has applied for
regulatory approval to acquire the Taiwan operations of Germany-based
Delivery Hero's foodpanda.

The deal has been valued at about 600-million U-S dollars.

Grab said it submitted the filing to the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission on
March 27 and the deal is now awating regulatory review and approval.

The company says its independent governance structure will help foster a
healthy and competitive market in Taiwan if the deal is approved.

Grab also says although US -based Uber Technologies holds about 13-per cent
of its ordinary shares, that's less than 4-per cent of voting rights, and
does not participate in daily operations ..

.. and Uber's board representative has recused themselves from decisions
related to Taiwan.

Other major investors include SoftBank and Toyota Motor Corporation.

Grab has said it has no known Chinese institutional investor holding a stake
exceeding 5-per cent.

And,

The central bank says plans to redesign banknotes will include the 200 and
2,000 N-T bills - despite both denominations being less widely circulated.

The bills were included in the redesign plan not only because of demand, but
also in keeping with a trend in many other countries to include all
denominations in redesign initiatives.

The banknote redesign program was launched last October.

The central bank set up a cross-disciplinary advisory committee for what will
be the first large-scale redesign effort in more than 24 years.

A public vote to select a theme for the banknotes has been held and saw more
than 190,000 people participating in the poll.

The central bank's advisory committee has selected "Beauty of Taiwan" as the
theme for the new banknotes.

The redesign process is expected to take about two years.

In Penghu, momentum is gathering to support Penghu Magistrate Chen Guang Fu's
wife to run in November in his stead.

That's as Chen has been in the hospital in a coma since a fall during the
Lunar New Year.

A petition supporting Wu Shu Jin (吳淑瑾) to run has gathered 4000 signatures.

Organizers are asking the DPP to consider nominating her instead of her
husband.

Local DPP representatives said that the petition does not represent the
opinion of the party as a whole, but added they respected supporters'
opinions.

Some have also wondered if DPP Huxi township chief Mayor Huang Jian Zhong
(黃健忠) would be up for the task.

Whether Chen or someone else runs for magistrate, they will face the KMT's
Chen Zhen Zhong (陳振中) in November.

(AH)

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office is stepping up efforts to prevent hoarding
and price gouging of daily necessities.

Authorities have instructed prosecutors nationwide to activate a special
coordination platform to monitor market conditions and investigate suspicious
price hikes.

The initiative brings together law enforcement, investigation, health,
agriculture, and consumer protection agencies to establish
intelligence-sharing mechanisms and respond swiftly to potential violations.

Dedicated prosecutors will examine supply chain processes and take strict
legal action against businesses involved in hoarding, price gouging, or
nefarious price increases.

The public is also encouraging people to report suspected cases to
prosecutors or police, as authorities aim to stabilize prices, safeguard
livelihoods, and uphold social fairness.

Officials added that the move follows policy guidance from the Executive
Yuan, and businesses are urged to uphold corporate social responsibility.

(IG)

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan is walking the partisan line on the special defense
budget.

Lu, of the KMT, says today that she thinks a suitable amount for the budget
would be between 800 billion and 1 trillion NT.

Her comments come as several different versions of a special defense budget
are pending at the legislature, with the KMT's version expected to cost at
least 380 billion NT...

and the DPP's set at 1.25 trillion.

Lu also downplayed reports of internal strife within the KMT, saying what she
wants isn't too different from the KMT's version, as she emphasized their
budget sits at at least 380 billion and does not set an upper limit.

Noting that the Executive Yuan's version currently has the cash set aside for
8 submarines and 200-thousand drones, she says the budget should include less
money for the subs and more for drones.

Meanwhile DPP caucus whip Cai Qi Chang says that he hopes Lu will use her
influence within the blue camp to expedite the passage of the special defense
bill.

(AH)

Government investigators have raided nearly a dozen offices of Chinese
companies in Taiwan.

The businesses are suspected of illegally recruiting high-tech talent in
Taiwan by using fake identities and unauthorized offices.

The Ministry of Justice says the coordinated operation took place mid-to-late
March, with searches condcuted at more than 49 locations across Taipei, New
Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu.

Investigators say the Chinese firms tried to hide their true origins by
posing as Taiwanese or foreign-funded businesses.

Authorities say these unauthorized activities threaten the island's
competitive edge in the semiconductor and tech industries.



Prosecutors have questioned 90 people so far as part of the ongoing
investigation.

(NS)

Health officials in Taipei are urging parents to check their pantries, after
several imported baby snacks sold online failed safety tests for heavy
metals.

The Taipei City Department of Health says it recently tested 50 different
snacks, including candies and seaweed products, ahead of Children’s Day.

While all 40 items from physical stores passed, four products purchased from
online platforms contained excessive levels of lead and cadmium.

Officials say they have traced the products to suppliers in other cities and
have ordered them to fix the issues.

Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to $3 million NT.

(NS)

The Health Promotion Administration is advising against outdoor activity for
those in Taipei and Kinmen...

as the air quality has hit a red-alert level in both areas.

Red alerts indicate unhealthy air quality for all groups.

They're also advising the public to wear a mask outside and to use an air
purifier inside if available.

In addition to Taipei and Kinmen, there are also orange level alerts in place
along much of the west coast.

That means, the HPA recommends that children, the elderly, and the
immunocompromised reduce outdoor activity and close doors and windows.

(AH)

Taiwan’s central bank says rising oil prices driven by tensions in the
Middle East could push inflation higher this year.



Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long said his bank has already revised
Taiwan’s consumer price index growth to 1.8- percent.



If oil prices rise further to 100 U.S. dollars per barrel, inflation could
edge up to around 1.9 -percent.



During today's trading, oil prices hovered around 108 U.S. dollars a barrel.

Responding to lawmakers' questions, Yang also said any spike between 95 and
115 dollars is likely temporary.

Asked if it could lead to interest rate hikes, Yang said tightening monetary
policy, including rate increases, remains an option if inflation expectations
take hold.

(JL)

Tree protection advocates are deeply concerned about the impact of Taipei
MRT’s construction on trees in the Neihu District.

Taipei Metro said it's planning to remove or transplant nearly 300 trees to
prepare for the Eastern Section of the Circular Line with two stations at the
Nei-hu Technology Park.

But the Taiwan Tree People Association says that will exacerbate the
so-called "heat island" issues, as Neihu is already mostly paved with cement
and has many high-rise buildings.

The Planting Trees group's polls also showed that most of those who worked
there weren't aware of the removal of trees.

According to the polls, 96-percent of the respondents supported preserving
the old trees along the MRT line.

In response, Taipei's Department of Rapid Transit Systems said trees near the
construction site but outside the path of construction will be preserved in
place.

The Department has also promised to plant more trees once construction is
complete.

(JL)

Taiwan shares took another hit today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 594
points to close the session at 32518.

The turnover was 64.6 billion NT

Local media is reporting that four U.S. senators who arrived in Taiwan early
this morning will call on the Legislative Yuan to pass a special defense
budget.

But TPP chair Huang Guo-chang said today that they should urge their own
executive branch to promptly release the second list of arms purchases.

He says it's necessary to provide a reasonable basis for deciding whether to
include them in the special defense budget.

The four U.S. senators, led by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Republican John
Curtis, are here on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening alliances in the
Asia-Pacific.

Huang said President Lai has proposed a $1.25-trillion-NT special budget, but
lawmakers so far only know the details of a $11.1 billion U.S. dollar, about
$355 billion NT, U.S. arms sale approved last December.

The TPP found that package reasonable and so included it in its own defense
budget proposal.

But Huang said it remains unclear what else the United States plans to sell
to Taiwan, and until that is clarified lawmakers can't decide whether to add
the items into the special budget bill.

(JL)

The central bank is confirming that an upcoming redesign of Taiwan banknotes
will include the less common 200 and 2000 NT bills.

The central bank said in a report to the legislature that the bills are still
in demand amongst some consumers, and maintaining their circulation offers
environmental and cost benefits.

That's as the legislature is set to hold a hearing today on the matter.

The central bank added that their reasoning for including both the 200 and
2000 NT bills in the redesign plan is not only to do with demand but is also
in keeping with international standards.

Officials add that the project will promote the use of the two bills to
encourage a more balanced use of all 5 types of banknotes.

Following a poll, it was decided that "Beauty of Taiwan" will be the theme of
the new bills, with the entire process expected to take about 2 years.

(AH-CNA)

The Tai-Ex tumbled in early trading as Israel continued its large-scale
bombing of Iran, and in oil prices surged at the end of last week - which
triggered selling pressure.

Wall Street also closed out its worst week since the Iran war began on Friday
-- for a fifth losing week in a row.

The main board lost over 600-points this morning - as it fell to a low of
32,430.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing lost ground and dropped to 1,780 N-T early
trading.

Other heavyweight stocks also badly - with Hon Hai, MediaTek and Delta all
falling.

The The electronics sector index fell 2-per cent, while the financial sector
sector lost 1.2-per cent.

indispensable

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is continuing to insist that the Cabinet's
proposed 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget is indispensable in
ensuring the acquisition of weapons systems to boost Taiwan's combat
capabilities.

The statement comes after Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen told the Liberty Times
in an interview published today that she believes it would be
reasonable for lawmakers to pass a budget of between 800-billion and
1-trillion N-T.

Lu told the Liberty Times that having spent 13 legislative sessions on the
Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, she is very familiar with
arms and commercial procurement procedures.

The defense minister thanked Lu for her her support.

However, Koo says based on overall threat assessments and operational
capability needs, the 1.25-trillion N-T budget is the best possible proposal.

And,

Racing driver Tiger Wu has won the ProAm class in the opening round of the
2026 Porsche Carrera Cup Japan at the Suzuka ircuit.

Wu drives for Bingo Racing and moved up to the ProAm class in 2025 after
winning the Am class title in 2023 and 2024.

Porsche Carrera Cup Japan was established in 2001 and is Japan's premier
one-make racing series.

All drivers compete in identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, ensuring that
results are determined by driver skill, race strategy, and team execution.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the Presidential Office at the
weekend to protest the Taipei District Court's sentencing former Taiwan
People's Party chairman Ko Wen-je to 17-years prison for corruption and
bribery.

Organizers say rally attracted over 10,000 people as of 2PM Sunday, but that
number had grown to around 80,000 by 5PM.

Police did not provide an estimate of the crowd size.

Ko told protesters the judiciary had become a "political tool" used to
persecute the public and that prosecutors had operated without sufficient
oversight or checks and balances.

Current T-P-P Chairman Huang Kuo-chang also addressed the crowd ...

... and he accused prosecutors of threatening witnesses and fabricating
interview records, saying they violated the legal principle of nonpublic
investigation in favor of "chaotic public disclosure."

Several K-M-T member also attended the rally - including 22 lawmakers.

K-M-T lawmaker party spokesperson Niu Hsu-ting accused the the government of
trying to eliminate political opponents and silence dissenting voices.

D-P-P spokesperson Lee Kuen-cheng says the party will not comment further on
individual judicial cases out of respect for the judiciary and is urging the
K-M-T and the T-P-P to not claim to be standing with the public while
"paralyzing" major budget bills in the Legislature.

The National Center for High-performance Computing says Taiwan's most
powerful supercomputer is expected to go online in the third quarter of this
year.

The center said the "Ching-chuang 26" has been built to boost artificial
intelligence development tailored to local needs.

The system is meant primarily to serve the public sector, academia and
industry - helping users develop and train A-I models in fields such as
finance and defense.

Taiwan's total supercomputing capacity is expected to more than triple within
about a year when the "Ching-chuang 26" goes online - rising to over 114
petaflops.

The new system alone to deliver around 82 petaflops.

A petaflop is a unit used to measure a computer's speed, especially for
complex calculations.

The center director-general says the supercomputer is equipped with NVIDIA's
H200-based computing system using advanced 4-nanometer process technology,
and has been undergoing testing since February.

The National Health Insurance Administration says National Health Insurance
spending on cancer treatment rose to a record 156.7-billion N-T last year.

That marks an increase of 26.5-billion N-T from 2020.

Government figures show the number of patients seeking cancer treatment has
risen by more than 970 thousand in 2025, reflecting an average annual
increase of 5-per cent over the past five years.

Breast cancer accounts for the largest number of cases at 198,878, followed
by colorectal and anal cancers, lung, trachea, and bronchus cancers, and
prostate cancer.

The cost of pancreatic cancer treatment was among the top 10 for the first
time in a decade.

The administration says the rising costs are mainly driven by Taiwan's aging
population and expanded cancer screening programs, reflecting increased
health investment and improved access to care.

The government has increased its funding for cancer prevention and treatment,
while the Health Promotion Administration has also boosted its cancer
screening budget by about 600-million N-T to expand early detection.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs is warning of data theft risks from fake LINE
sites.

The Administration for Cyber Security says it has discovered several cases of
people trying to download desktop versions of LINE falling into data theft
traps ..

.. and has released a list of nine websites that maliciously pose as the
official pages of social media mobile application LINE.

The administration is now warning of possible hacking and data breaches when
visiting and downloading software from the sites.

The administration says LINE was likely selected by threat actors due to its
popularity as the communications app of choice here in Taiwan and the
cyberattacks using the brand have shown signs of becoming increasingly
organized.

Once a fake version of the LINE desktop application has been downloaded onto
a computer, victims could have their personal information, such as passwords,
stolen.

The administration is urging the public to report any fake sites to its
scam-websites reporting page or the National Police Agency.

Police say the driver of a bus who ran over a 20-year-old student at Chang
Gung University in Taoyuan's Guishan District will be referred to prosecutors
on suspicion of negligent injury.

The incident occurred last Thursday evening, when a San Chung Bus Company
vehicle made a left turn on a campus road struck the student, as he was
walking on a marked crosswalk.

The student was trapped under the bus and remains in intensive care.

Police authorities say the bus driver tested negative for alcohol, but will
be referred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office on suspicion of
negligent bodily harm.

The company's manager visited the hospital the same night of the incident to
apologize to the family and pledged to cover all related costs.

The company says the driver failed to follow a rule requiring vehicles to
stop and check before turning on campus roads.

And,

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center is warning of
possible aftershocks over the coming week following Sunday's magnitude 4.7
earthquake that rattled the south Sunday morning.

That quake struck at 11:12AM and was centered some 29-kilometers
south-southeast of Pingtung County Hall at a depth of 23-kilometers.

It was felt across parts of Pingtung, Taitung, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Chiayi.

The administration's Seismological Center says the quake could result in
aftershocks of between magnitudes 4 and 5 on the weather administration's
intensity scale.

Data shows that no quakes stronger that magnitude 4 have been recorded that
area over the past 30 years.

The center says the quake was caused by the Eurasian Plate subducting beneath
the Philippine Sea Plate along Taiwan's Chaozhou Fault zone.

The Chaozhou Fault zone is an active high-angle thrust fault that marks the
boundary between the Central Mountain Range and the Pingtung Plain.

Forensic scientist Henry Lee, known for helping to put modern crime-scene
work at the center of trials, has died at 87.

According to a statement from his family and the University of New Haven, Lee
died yesterday at his home in Nevada after a brief illness.

Lee taught at New Haven for more than 50 years.

He was born in China in 1938 and a decade later moved with his family to
Taiwan, where he earned a degree in police administration and became a police
officer and later a captain.

He and his late wife moved to the US in 1964, where he earned advanced
degrees in forensic science and biochemistry.

He gained national attention in the US, most notably in the OJ Simpson trial.

Lee's expertise was often sought in Taiwan, including after President Chen
Shui-bian and his vice president were shot a day ahead of the election in
March 2004. Lee's analysis was in line with the pro-Chen narrative that the
incident was genuine -- and not staged as alleged by the opposition.

Chen won re-election, with a broad consensus that the result likely turned on
a sympathy vote in the aftermath of the attack.

AP_JvW

Taipei police say two bodies have been found inside a corrugated metal
factory that caught fire in Taipei's Nangang District early this morning.

The Nangang police precinct said the victims haven't been identified yet, and
the cause of the fire is under investigation. They didn't say what type of
factory it was.

According to various sources, the victims were a husband and wife in their
60s who had been living in a rented residence on the second floor of the
factory building.

CNA_JvW

The Taiwan Railway Administration says it has signed a deal to transform
Yongkang Station in Tainan into Taiwan's first baseball-themed train station.

The announcement comes a day ahead of the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions' first
home game of the current CPBL season.

Lions have officially moved to the nearby Asia-Pacific International Baseball
Training Center.

The stadium is about a 10-minute drive from Yongkang Station. TRA says a
comprehensive shuttle bus system will be in place take take fans to and from
games.

Fans will be greeted by iconic baseball stars like Chen Chieh-hsien upon
entering the platform. The co-branding will also extend to "Home Run Bento
Boxes" available at the station, so fans don't go to the game hungry.

CNA_JvW

Taiwan stock index futures fell sharply overnight, in tandem with a sharp
selloff in US stocks in the face of rising global oil prices.

Taiex futures fell by nearly 900 points or 2.7 percent. That's after the
index lost 200 points yesterday.

Meanwhile TSMC shares fell 2.2 percent, extending a 1.1 percent loss in
regular trading yesterday.

Analysts say with political uncertainty at home and amid increasing
geopolitical risk in the Middle East, Taiwan's stock market could be headed
for a correction next week.

Taiwan's largest institutional investors and foreign investors increased
their net short positions on Taiwanese stocks over the past week. In other
words, they're betting on weakening stock prices.

CNA_zh_JvW

The crane set up at the main tower of the Tamsui-Bali Bridge has been
completely dismantled, marking a milestone in the megaproject.

The bridge was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and inspired by the
movements of the Cloud Gate Dance company. It will be the world's largest
single-tower asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge ... at 920 meters total length.

The Highway Bureau says the bridge will open to traffic on May 12.

The crane's dismantling was seen as the most crucial of the final stages of
construction. It was completed nine days ahead of schedule.

CNA_JvW

Taiwan Railway Corp. has resumed normal services in northwestern Taiwan ...
after major delays yesterday due to a fault in electric traction lines
between Shanjia and Yingge stations.

TRA said the first trains this morning departed on time in both directions.

The trains had been operating on a restricted basis yesterday afternoon,
using a single track in both directions.

The railway said a total of 201 trips were affected, resulting in cumulative
delays of nearly 350 hours.

Passengers who experienced travel disruptions can request a refund within one
year.

CNA_JvW

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an backed up the police department in its handling of
a TPP rally set for tomorrow on Ketagalan Boulevard.

The TPP applied for the permit to rally in front of the Presidential Office
after the sentence in founder Ke Wen-zhe's trial was announced yesterday.

Ke was sentenced to 17 years on charges of bribery and corruption.

He and his party said the charges and sentencing reflect political
interference.

DPP politicians have said that the swift approval for a rally tomorrow
contravenes a rule that applications for protests must be filed at least
seven days before the event.

Chiang Wan-an said he was satisfied that police followed appropriate
procedures.

Asked if he would attend the rally, he said he would but he had other plans.

CNA_zh_JvW

Bank SinoPac says its board has approved a merger with King's Town Bank

It said the merger will take effect sometime after regulatory approval.

Bank SinoPac said it will pay for the acquisition in shares and cash.

Following the merger, Bank SinoPac's total assets will reach US$100 billion,
ranking 12th among all banks in Taiwan and fifth among private-sector
lenders.

Its number of branches will increase to 191, making it the second-largest
network in the country.

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The Ministry of Economic Affairs' electricity price-review committee decided
yesterday that Taipower should keep the price of electricity unchanged next
month and at least for the next five months.

The decision was made to tamp down potential inflation stemming from wars in
the Middle East, particularly Iran's restrictions on shipping traffic out of
the Persian Gulf.

We reported yesterday on the price freeze for at least one month, but Taipei
Times reported that Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-hsin
(賴建信) told reporters the freeze would last for six months.

Lai said US tariffs also figured in the committee's rationale for the freeze.

He said Taipower reported a profit in excess of US$2 billion last year, so it
can absorb the cost of keeping prices steady in the face of crude oil prices
exceeding $100 a barrel.

The ministry's deputy chief added that the decision will be reviewed if the
US-Iran war exceeds three months.

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