Northbound traffic is expected to heavier across Taiwan's major freeways this
afternoon ... on the final day of the Tomb Sweeping holiday.

Serious gridlock is ongoing on the northbound lanes of National Freeway No. 5
between Yilan and Taipei.

Notably, traffic on the section between Yilan and Toucheng has slowed at
around 10 kilometers per hour ...

And officials warn this congestion could last into late this evening.

Traffic on western freeways, meanwhile, has so far remained mostly smooth,
but is expected to worsen from mid-afternoon before easing later in the
evening.

Officials report total traffic volume on Sunday reached 112.4 million
vehicle-kilometers, about 1.2 times the average weekday level.

Traffic early Monday morning also exceeded typical levels, and total volume
for the day is projected to reach 111 million vehicle-kilometers.

Traffic control measures include ramp closures on sections of Freeways No. 1
and No. 3 from noon to 9 PM, and high-occupancy vehicle restrictions on
northbound entrances to Freeway No. 5 between 1 PM and 6 PM.

A pedestrian has been killed and two others injured after a semi-trailer
truck lost control in New Taipei early this morning.

According to police, the truck veered off the road at an intersection in
Taishan District, hitting a pedestrian before crashing into a nearby
construction site.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, while two security guards
inside the site were injured and taken to hospital.

The 27-year-old driver was unharmed and tested negative for alcohol and drugs.

Authorities say the truck was traveling toward Taipei when it suddenly
mounted the sidewalk for reasons still unknown.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is posting a near-seventy percent approval rating
in a late-December public opinion poll.

The survey, conducted by the city's Research, Development and Evaluation
Commission, shows overall satisfaction is up by nearly 4.5 percentage points
from the previous poll in late November.

Among policy areas, healthcare ranked highest with over 80 percent approval,
while environmental protection and efforts to promote sports participation
also scored above 70 percent.

Other areas, including education, social welfare, public safety, and culture,
all received approval ratings above 60 percent, while transportation and
economic development saw satisfaction levels at around 60 percent.

Officials say the results show strong public support for the city’s
development and quality of life, with nearly 77 percent saying they’re proud
to live in Taipei.

And starting off with a quick look at traffic conditions....

Heavy congestion is being reported on National Freeway 5's northbound strech
between Yilan and Toucheng ... on this final day of the Tomb Sweeping
holiday.

Data shows traffic speeds on that section at around or below 20 kilometers
per hour -- the slowest nationwide.

Traffic authorities warn the congestion could last until after 10 PM.

As for the other main roadways ...

Traffic is fairly smooth on most of National Freeways 1 and 3 ... albiet with
some heavy congestion on northbound lanes of National Freeway 1 around
Taichung.

Authorities say that traffic conditions might worsen later in the afternoon
on Taiwan's main freeways before easing this evening.

A U-S Republican congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan this week for
talks with senior officials, including President Lai Ching-te.

The group is led by Congressman Zach Nunn and includes three other
representatives.

The visit runs through Saturday.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions will focus on
Taiwan-U.S. relations, regional security, trade cooperation, and developments
in the Taiwan Strait.

The delegation is part of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of
conservative lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Its National Security Task Force, led by Nunn, focuses on defense policy and
promotes what it calls a "peace through strength" approach.

Taiwan says the visit highlights continued engagement between Taipei and
Washington on key security and economic issues.

Taiwanese table tennis star Lin Yun-ju has secured a bronze medal at the ITTF
World Cup in Macau over the weekend, bouncing back after a narrow miss in the
semifinals.

The world number seven lost 3 games to 4 against Japan's Sora Matsushima,
despite having beaten him in all six of their previous meetings.

Lin dropped the opening game but fought back to take the next two.

Matsushima then regained momentum, winning two straight to move ahead.

Lin forced a deciding game with a dominant sixth game, but Matsushima sealed
the match in the seventh.

It marks Lin's second bronze medal at the World Cup, following his podium
finish in 2019.

One person is dead and two others are injured after a semi-truck crashed into
a construction site in the Taishan District of New Taipei City earlier this
morning.



Police say the accident happened around 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of
Taili Street and Section 6 of New Taipei Boulevard.

A 27-year-old driver was traveling toward Taipei when his truck reportedly
hit a median and spiraled out of control, striking a epdestrian and crashing
into a nearby construciton site.

Authorities say the pedestrian died at the scene.

Two security guards at the site were injured and taken to a local hospital.





The driver was not injured and preliminary tests show he was not under the
influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.



Investigators are still working to identify the victim and determine the
exact cause of the crash.

(NS)

Highway officials are warning of heavy traffic across Taiwan today as
travelers head home on the final day of the Tomb Sweeping Day long weekend.



The National Freeway Bureau says northbound traffic on Freeway 5 started
building up this morning.

Major congestion is expected on western freeways starting this afternoon.

Total traffic volume for today is projected to reach 111 million
vehicle-kilometers, which is significantly higher than a typical workday.



To manage the flow, authorities have implemented high-occupancy vehicle
restrictions on Freeway 5 at the Su’ao, Luodong, Yilan, and Toucheng
northbound entrances until 6 p.m.

Several entrances on Freeway 1 and Freeway 3 will also remain closed until 9
p.m. to prevent bottlenecks.


(NS)

Taiwan's naval goodwill fleet, which departed the Marshall Islands last
month, was seen passing through the Panama Canal on Saturday as it heads to
another of the country's diplomatic allies in the region.

According to livestream footage from the Panama Canal Authority, the fleet --
consisting of the ROC Navy's fast combat support ship Panshi, Cheng
Kung-class guided-missile frigate Yueh Fei, and Kang Ding-class
guided-missile frigate Di Hua -- transited the canal, which connects the
Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, around midnight Saturday (Taipei time).

The fleet, officially designated the 2026 Midshipmen and Cruising Training
Squadron (MCTS) of the Republic of China Navy and led by Rear Admiral Chen
Ming-feng (???), departed Taiwan in late February for its annual training
voyage.

For security reasons, Taiwan's military does not publicize the fleet's
scheduled stops.

However, according to the Chinese-language United Daily News, the fleet is
believed to be heading to Belize.

Weather officials have issued heavy rain warnings for seven cities and
counties in northern Taiwan today as a front moves across the region.



The Central Weather Administration says residents from Miaoli northward
should prepare for sudden downpours, lightning, and strong gusts of wind.

Officials are also warning of potential rockfalls in mountain areas and
flooding in low-lying sections.



Meteorologist Wu De-rong says the rain is expected to clear out of northern
Taiwan late tonight.

However, another front is forecast to move south tomorrow, bringing more
showers and thunderstorms to central and northern parts of the island.

Temperatures in the north are expected to cool down tomorrow during the
stormy weather.


(NS)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says there are currently no Taiwanese
citizens in Israel looking to evacuate, despite a new security notice from
the Chinese government.



The Chinese Embassy in Israel issued a statement yesterday claiming it will
organize an evacuation on April 7 for citizens of China, Hong Kong, Macau,
and Taiwan.



However, Taiwanese officials say this is a routine propaganda tactic by
Beijing.


MOFA says it has contacted Taiwanese residents and visitors in Israel more
than 2,000 times since the conflict began in late February.

So far, the government has helped 13 people leave the country by land through
Jordan or Egypt.


And oOfficials say they say they are continuing to help any citizens who
wish to fly to a third country before returning home.



(NS)

Former President Tsai Ing-wen paid tribute to former President Lee Teng-hui
and Taiwanese independence activist Su Beng in a Facebook post Sunday marking
Tomb-Sweeping Day.

Tsai said she visited Lee's resting place at a military cemetery in New
Taipei, a few days earlier, crediting him with leading Taiwan through its
critical transition to democracy and ensuring that its people could decide
their own future through elections.

She added that she had also visited Su's grave in Bali District.

Lee, Taiwan's first directly elected president in 1996, is seen as a key
driving force behind Taiwan's democratization, and Su, an author, historian
and political activist, is widely regarded as a pioneer of the Taiwan
independence movement.

(NS)

Heavy rainfall is wreaking havoc for planes, trains and automobiles around
Taiwan. Here's a round-up of some of the hotspots.

Taiwan Railway Corp says floodwaters caused by heavy rain have disrupted
railway services in western Taiwan, with only single-track operations
available between Miaoli and Zhunan this morning.

The Civil Aeronautics Administration says traffic services at Taichung
International Airport were also affected by thunderstorms this morning.

The CAA said Tainan Airport suspended ground operations shortly after 1pm ...
due to thunderstorms.

Flights both to and from Taichung and Tainan could be affected.

The CAA advises the public to pay attention to flight schedule updates and
contact their airlines for any flight-related issues.

Miaoli has reported flooding around the Tongxiao power plant, with several
roads and an underpass closed due to flooding.

The Miaoli Country Government says the risk of landslides in Tai'an Township
has prompted a cancellation of work and classes from noon to midnight.

Except for emergency responders, that is. Firefighters and water resources
staff are among the departments being asked to report for duty.

Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Government announced event cancellations
including the Children's Carnival and the Swan Lake Carnival.

A standoff between the executive and legislative branches of Taiwan's
government over Central Election Commission appointments is continuing.

In the most recent installment, the KMT caucus's deputy secretary-general, Xu
Yu-zhen, said today that the Cabinet's failure to issue personnel orders for
four nominees approved by the opposition-controlled legislature disrupts the
constitutional order.

The Legislative Yuan approved four of the Executive Yuan's seven nominees on
the nine-seat Central Election Commission two weeks ago. The commission can
only convene with five commissioners ... but not until the Executive Yuan
completes procedures for the most recent batch of nominees.

Previously, Premier Cho Jung-tai had said that the Executive Yuan would
cooperate on procedures if the Legislative Yuan demonstrates sincerity in its
part of the process.

The disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties is primarily over
the perceived neutrality of the prospective commissioners.

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Wet road conditions likely contributed to a fatal accident this morning near
the 150-kilometer mark of National Highway No. 3. That's near Miaoli.

The driver of a car survived the crash with minor injuries, but two
passengers were dead by the time firefighters reached the scene. An
investigation of the accident's cause is underway.

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The founder of the Lanyang Dance Troupe has died at 91.

Father Gian Carlo Michelini moved from Italy to Taiwan's Lanyang Plain, also
known as the Yilan Plain, in 1964 and established a non-profit dance troupe
two years later.

The group had the distinction of being the first international act to perform
before Pope Paul VI a decade later.

Michelini also helped found Yilan International Children's Folklore and
Folkgame Festival.

He was awarded Taiwanese citizenship in 2017 in recognition of his
outstanding contribution to Taiwanese arts.

He was also knighted by his native Italy in 2023.

Luodong St. Mary's Hospital in Yilan announced that he died peacefully in his
sleep.

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The Hsinchu District Court has sentenced two people charged with coercion and
usury after they exploited dozens of Vietnamese migrant workers by issuing
loans with predatory interest rates.

The court sentenced a woman surnamed Ho to seven years and two months in
prison and a man surnamed Ma to six years and two months. The ruling can be
appealed.

The court said that Ho, who headed the Hsinchu office of the "New Immigrants
Human Rights Hope Association," also operated a wellness center and a
supermarket. Ma, her boyfriend, served as an advisor to the association.

The court said the defendants targeted workers in urgent need of cash who
were unable to secure bank loans.

In one case, the defendants lent NT$200,000 but deducted NT$16,000 upfront
and required repayments of NT$16,000 every 15 days, equivalent to an annual
interest rate of 212 percent.

CNA_JvW

As we celebrate Children's Day, the Mandarin Daily News, or 國語日報, has
published its latest "Children's Future" survey. The poll of 1,286 primary
school students and 296 junior high schoolers found that most want to become
athletes, followed by e-Sports athletes and internet influencers. Doctor was
the fourth-most-popular profession.

Teaching entered the bottom-10 list of professions that respondents to the
annual survey aspired to -- for the first time.

The survey was conducted between March 5 and 25th.

Analysts say the results reflect the latest generation's upbringing in a
new-media environment, with teaching falling out of favor as children see the
profession as losing relevance in the face of AI's increasing role in
education.

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A task force under the Executive Yuan handling Taiwan-US trade says the
impact of new US tariffs on patented drugs will be "controllable," since most
of Taiwan's pharmaceutical exports to the United States are generic.

The comments came after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order
imposing tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports of patented drugs and
related ingredients, citing national security concerns under a Section 232
investigation.

The Taiwan task force says that more than 5 in 6 of Taiwan's drug exports to
the US are generic and therefore not currently affected. Those exports are
valued at US$265 million.

According to the order, the tariff-free status of generic drugs will be
reviewed within a year.

The task force said that exports of patented drugs, worth about US$41 million
a year, involve companies that have already planned US-based production.

The executive order sets a 20 percent tariff until April 2, 2030, for
companies with approved plans to establish production in the US, while
waivers apply to firms with agreements on pricing and domestic production.

CNA_JvW

Heavy rain over the past couple of days has caused disruptions for travelers.

This morning, thunderstorms forced Taichung's airport to temporarily suspend
operations, causing delays for some flights both to and from the city.

The Civil Aeronautics Administration advises passengers and people picking up
passengers to pay attention to flight updates.

Meanwhile, the Taiwan Railway Administration says there's flooding on tracks
between Miaoli and Hsinchu. While train traffic is still running in both
directions, some southbound trains will turn back at Zhunan, while some
northbound trains will turn back at Miaoli.

The TRA advises travelers to check its website for station announcements.

Many roads and streets between Hsinchu and Miaoli are also experiencing
flooding, with people posting images and video to social media of cars bogged
down in hip-high water.

CNA_zh_JvW

Three US House representatives have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at
strengthening the resilience of Taiwan's undersea cables and other critical
infrastructure against growing threats from China.

Under the proposed legislation, the US would enhance undersea monitoring with
advanced sensors designed to detect sabotage and provide Taiwan with
real-time intelligence to protect its cable infrastructure.

The bill would also require that the US collaborate with allies to help
Taiwan and regional partners build the capacity to recover from attacks on
undersea infrastructure and minimize service disruptions.

The bill follows a series of recent undersea cable disruptions involving
Chinese vessels that are often called "gray zone" tactics, including an
incident last month.

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A companion bill cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January.

CNA_JvW

Holiday traffic continues to be heavy on Taiwan's highways and byways. The
Highway Bureau says expressway connectors and roads leading to tourist
attractions will see particularly heavy traffic.

The bureau advises travelers to take public transportation if possible ...
reminding them that a 40% discount on national highway passenger
transportation is available over the long weekend. Meanwhile, TPass 2.0
members get discounts of up to 43%.

CNA_JvW

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration says that two weather fronts will
move across Taiwan in succession starting today, bringing significant
rainfall to northern Taiwan.

The CWA says that from today through tomorrow morning, a frontal system will
bring notable rainfall to northern Taiwan, with thunderstorms expected across
western parts of the island.

Short bursts of heavy rain are likely in northern areas, while eastern Taiwan
could also see scattered showers or thunderstorms.

The CWA says another front is expected to approach Taiwan on Monday that will
bring increased rainfall in combination with a strengthening northeastern
monsoon.

We should expect showers in areas north of central Taiwan, while other
regions are likely see cloudy skies with afternoon thunderstorms.

That system is expected to intensify on Tuesday, with heavier rain in the
north and brief showers or thunderstorms elsewhere.

The weather map show at least some rain all around the island today, with
highs of

N - 24 degrees

C - 25

S - 28

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A three-day festival recreating Tokyo's famous Akihabara district has opened
today in Taipei, bringing Japanese anime, gaming and pop culture to local
fans.

The event features cosplay, themed zones, and maid cafe-style experiences,
aiming to capture the atmosphere of Akihabara, a hub of Japan's 'otaku'
culture.

Organizers say the festival includes dedicated areas for gaming, merchandise
and anime, along with large displays inspired by Akihabara's iconic streets.

The event is officially licensed by Japan's Akihabara Culture Festival, with
support from Japanese partners and Taiwanese distributors.

Visitors can expect an immersive experience designed to mirror the original
district as closely as possible.

Organizers say the festival will not only celebrate pop culture, but also
strengthen cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.

The event runs through Sunday at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

Crews are working to contain a water leak on the Taoyuan Airport MRT at A1
Taipei Main Station.

The leak occurred early this morning on the B1 level of the station ...
affecting part of the pre-flight check-in hall.

Officials say it was linked to nearby construction at the nearby Taipei Twin
Towers project, combined with heavy rain that caused water to accumulate at
the site and seep into the station along structural columns.

Staff have set up water collection and isolation measures, while crews
continue drainage and cleanup work on-site.

Train services and passenger movement have not been affected.

Large crowds of anime fans are packing this year's Taichung International
Animation Festival as it opened today on the first day of the Tomb Sweeping
holiday.

The event is being held over four days at Taichung International Exhibition
Center ... and features around 300 booths from 72 exhibitors, showcasing
everything from comics and collectibles to limited-edition merchandise.

Organizers estimate the festival will attract up to 320 thousand visitors
over the holiday period.

Long lines formed both inside and outside the venue on opening day, with many
young fans lining up to enter.

Officials say the event showcases Taichung's ambitions to become an 'anime
capital' and a hub for creative industries.

Taoyuan International Airport is packed with holiday travelers as the Tomb
Sweeping holiday gets underway.

Airport officials estimate up to 162 thousand departing passengers today,
marking the peak day for outbound travel during the long weekend.

Crowds began building early in the morning, with long lines at check-in
counters and security, and some travelers arriving up to three hours in
advance.

Peak departure traffic was concentrated between 8 and 10 this morning.

Authorities say additional staff and security personnel have been deployed to
handle the increased demand and keep operations running smoothly.

Overall traffic during the four-day holiday period is expected to exceed 920
thousand passengers, with average daily volumes up about 12 percent compared
to last year.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have downsized green energy
technology into a system the size of a backpack.

This portable device is capable of continuously producing biodiesel, offering
a flexible solution for decentralized power.

The system uses a novel separation technology to handle high-viscosity
liquids and wastewater — a major hurdle for traditional, bulky equipment.

Despite its small size, the device achieves fuel yields of over 90 percent,
meeting national quality standards.

Using sources like waste cooking oil, the team envisions this tech powering
everything from street food stalls to emergency medical facilities.

The researchers are now partnering with the CPC to explore commercializing
the device to strengthen the island’s energy resilience.

Officials say traffic on Taiwan's freeways is heavy but within expectations
on the first day of the Tomb Sweeping holiday.

The Freeway Bureau says total traffic volume today is projected to reach 123
million vehicle-kilometers, with 42.2 million already recorded by 11 AM.

By around midday, several sections of National Freeways 1 and 3 were
congested, with speeds dropping below 40 kilometers per hour — particularly
around Hsinchu and parts of central Taiwan.

Officials say more congestion is expected this afternoon, especially on
southbound routes, and are advising some drivers — particularly those using
National Freeway 5 — to depart after 5 PM to avoid peak traffic.

Authorities are also coordinating across agencies through a joint traffic
response center to monitor conditions and ease traffic flow.

Taipei authorities say there is no shortage of official blue trash bags and
no plans to raise prices.

The city's Department of Environmental Protection says supplies remain stable
despite recent concerns linked to plastic supply disruptions amid Middle East
tensions.

Officials confirm that manufacturers and retail outlets have sufficient
stock, with inventories expected to last between three to six months.

They say any temporary shortages at stores are likely due to restocking gaps
— not a supply issue — and that logistics providers have been coordinated
to speed up deliveries.

The bureau is urging residents not to panic-buy, stressing that the bags are
not limited items and there is no risk of running out.

Officials also note that prices reflect waste disposal fees rather than
production costs, and will remain unchanged.

Heavy traffic is building along the Suhua Corridor toward Hualien ... with
the Tomb Sweeping holiday already underway.

The Directorate General of Highways says southbound traffic began surging as
early as 1 AM ... and is expected to remain heavy until around 5 PM.

According to the Highway Bureau, as of mid-morning, more than 10,000 vehicles
had already headed south, far exceeding the road's capacity.

Travel times have increased significantly, with the journey taking more than
two hours on some sections.

Officials advise drivers to detour or spend time in Yilan before continuing
south to avoid peak congestion.

Meanwhile, rail services are also seeing large crowds, with around 25
thousand passengers expected daily and about 100 thousand passing through
Hualien over the holiday period.

Forecasters say that weather conditions should improve across Taiwan today
... as we head in to the afternoon.

Independent meteorologist Wu De-Rong says a few thundershowers could linger
in the north and in the mountains, but other areas will see some sunshine,
with highs topping 30 degrees Celcius.

Earlier today, scattered showers and thunderstorms affected northern and
northeastern Taiwan, with mostly cloudy skies elsewhere.

-----

Looking ahead, a weather front arrives Saturday, bringing more showers and
cooler temperatures to the north.

Conditions gradually ease on Sunday, though brief showers may linger,
especially in western areas.

Early next week remains a bit unsettled, with spotty rain on Monday and
another round of island-wide showers expected Tuesday.

More stable, warm weather returns from Thursday onward.