The Ministry of Defense says approximately 6,000 men have enlisted into its
one-year mandatory military service.

The announcement was made amid recent concerns over servicemen deserting,
highlighted by a specific incident where a serviceman had to be returned to
base by his parents.

Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) emphasized the robust psychological
support system within the military, designed to aid servicemen in their
transition from civilian life.

In a legislative review session today, enhancements to these support systems
were discussed, stressing professional intervention's necessity in preventing
crises like desertion and addressing mental health concerns.

Legislators are urging for more certified professionals to ensure
servicemen's well-being.

(PB)

Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium is set to welcome its first game after
renovation.

The stadium closed for improvement projects late last year, including
upgrades for field drainage and a sprinkler system, and energy-efficient
night lighting, and new outfield stands and seats.

The Chinese Professional Baseball League conducted a field inspection on the
18th, and after passing the inspection, a test match was arranged on the 21st
to confirm that the field was safe.

And now the Rakuten Monkeys ball club, which took over the stadium as their
home field years ago, announced that the first regular season game will take
place this Friday, with the Monkeys facing off against the CTBC Brothers.

The club says it hopes to bring fans a better viewing environment and
experience.

(NS)

The Taiwan Water Corporation has initiated an 18-hour water suspension
affecting over 76-thousand households across Taoyuan, due to construction at
the Longtan Water Treatment Plant.

The outage, starting at 8 AM today, impacts regions in Longtan (龍潭), Daxi
(大溪), Pingzhen (平鎮), Bade (八德), and Fuxing (復興) districts.

This is to facilitate a critical update involving high-voltage electrical
equipment inspections and integration of generators into the electricity
trading platform.

Residents have been advised to store water as the Department of Economic
Development coordinates with the water company to expedite the restoration
process.

The restoration of water services is scheduled for early tomorrow at 2 AM, as
the city works to minimize inconvenience and ensure safety.

(PB)

Premier Chen Jian-ren has promised prompt assistance for Hualien's recovery
and restoration.

He says the central government will present its plans for revitalizing local
industries and rebuilding collapsed or high-risk buildings as soon as
possible.

The Premier also says that relevant agencies will closely cooperate with the
local government and offer adequate help.

Noting that there are currently over 4,000 urban renewal projects approved
nationwide, Chen says the Cabinet revised the urban renewal laws from 2018 to
2021 with the aim of speeding up the procedures.

He also says the National Housing and Urban Regeneration Center is pushing
hard for old and dangerous buildings' reconstruction and will offer
incentives to make the process more smooth.

(JL)

The New Taipei City government has announced measures to facilitate the
rebuilding of 21 earthquake-damaged buildings by relaxing urban renewal
thresholds.

The consent requirement for rebuilding has been lowered to 80-percent, and
the allowable reconstruction volume increased to 1.5 times the original floor
area.

Additionally, for urban renewal projects in designated areas, the consent
threshold has been reduced from 80 to 50-percent.

These changes aim to accelerate the reconstruction process and enhance
safety.

The city's response follows the damage sustained by residential buildings and
over 200 school facilities due to the recent Hualien earthquake.

Further support will include subsidies for structural reinforcements and
facade repairs, ensuring residents can return to safer living conditions more
quickly.

(PB)

The Judicial Yuan highlights the urgent need for additional staff to cope
with increasing caseloads and overwork among personnel.

This follows recent incidents, including a judge’s fatal fall and staff
illnesses that have intensified the spotlight on judicial workload issues.

Discussions are underway with the Executive Yuan to amend the Judicial Yuan
Organization Act and other regulations to allow more hires.

A recent report revealed a 28-percent increase in new cases over the past
decade, with unresolved cases nearly doubling, stressing the judiciary's
capacity.

The Judicial Yuan, supported by lawmakers across parties, is negotiating to
lift the staffing cap currently set at 15,000 to manage the growing demand
effectively, calling for the addition of more than 5-thousand-500 new hires.

(PB)

Kaohsiung households struck by a sudden electricity outage early this morning
have now been reconnected to the power grid.

Taipower says an underground cable malfunctioned and exploded at around 3am,
causing over 400 households in Hsin-hsing District to lose power.

Many nearby residents heard the explosion and reported seeing smoke rising
from manhole covers.

The power company says crews were immediately dispatched, and repairs were
completed about an hour later.

The company is apologizing for the service disruption.

(NS)

Outgoing Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang today expressed confidence
in Huang Yen-Nan (黃彥男)’s capability to lead the ministry.

Huang, currently the Executive Officer at Academia Sinica's Research Center
for Information Technology Innovation, is set to take over the role.

Tang highlighted Huang’s expertise in cybersecurity, AI, and privacy
technologies as the transition process gets underway.

At a press conference, Tang addressed their departure and discussed
significant legislative efforts on the horizon.

These include the anticipated passage of the Electronic Signature Law,
amendments to the Cybersecurity Law, and a new anti-fraud regulation aimed at
enhancing online advertising platform management.

These measures are expected to reach the Legislative Yuan before May 20th,
preparing the ground for Huang’s term to begin with solid legislative
support.

(PB)

The Ministry of Education has launched a new digital learning platform,
developed in collaboration with local tech teams using artificial
intelligence.

This initiative, part of the Ministry's digital education policies, aims to
replace traditional teaching methods with interactive, AI-driven tools.

Available on the Ministry's website for all schools, the platform is
particularly beneficial in enhancing bilingual education in rural areas.

Jordan English's General Manager, Chiu Jun-De (邱俊德), highlights the
platform's potential to make learning enjoyable through innovative features
like fairy tale storytelling and vocabulary testing, easing the educational
journey for students and parents alike.

(PB)

The Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥) is saying current death
penalty regulations are constitutional, .

Tsai says whether death penalty should be abolished is another issue and
should be decided by the Legislative Yuan.

Tsai's remarks re-affirm the Justice Ministry's position at yesterday's
Constitutional Court debate on the constitutionality of capital punishment.

That debate was held after 37 death row inmates applied for constitutional
interpretations, arguing that the death penalty deprives them of the rights
to life and dignity as protected by the constitution.

Asked about how the Justice Ministry would react if the Constitutional Court
rules that death penalty is unconstitutional, Tsai only says he can not
predict the outcome of the court's decision.

(IG)

Kaohsiung is handing down fines after a local company was found to be
illegally dumping wastewater.

The city's Environmental Protection Bureau says red wastewater was recently
reported in roadside sewers in Ren-wu District.

After tracing the discharge upstream along Feng-shan River, a health
supplement company's manufacturing facility in Ren-wu District was found to
be responsible.

Officials say the company failed to properly collect and treat its
wastewater, instead discharging it directly into an external drainage ditch
and contaminating the river.

The company is facing fines of up to $3-million NT.

Since last year, the bureau says it has conducted over 300 inspections of
businesses operating along Fengshan River, and issued fines against 63
companies for illegal discharge.

(NS)

More HSR trips are being added for Mother's Day weekend.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation says it is scheduling 4 additional
train trips taking place from May 10th to 13th, to accomodate travelers
heading home for the holiday.

This makes for a total of 693 train trips over the 4-day period.

Ticket sales for the 4 newly-added trips will open on April 26th.

The corporation is advising passengers to plan their trips in advance, by
checking the THSRC website for information on seat sales, to avoid peak
travel times.

(NS)

Taiwan shares advanced today as did most other Asian stock markets after Wall
Street rallied for a second straight day Tuesday.

The Taiex gained 532 points to end the session at 20,131

The turnover was 427.5 billion NT.

More than 1,200 aftershocks had taken place as of 9:36 this morning after the
April 3 magnitude-7.2 major earthquake.

The Central Weather Administration says among the 1,224 aftershocks, 306 were
significantly felt, and there were 4 aftershocks with a magnitude greater
than 6.

The CWA's Seismological Center says based on the experiences of the last
magnitude-7.3 earthquake that happened 25 years ago in Nan-tou, the
aftershock can continue to occur for half a year or a year.

But seismologists says chances of tremors bigger than magnitude 6.5 are small.

(JL)

Requests for urban renewal have soared since the April 3rd Hualien
earthquake, but National Taiwan University geologist Wang Yu says
reinforcements are also an effective way of making buildings safer.
He says many schools and public buildings underwent structural enhancements
since the massive 9-2-1 earthquake 25 years ago, and those measures have
drastically reduced casualties in the subsequent tremors.

Professor Wang also calls on people to take some simple steps to protect
themselves.
That's NTU geologist Wang Yu.

(JL)

The High Court's Tainan branch has sentenced a man and his son to eight years
in prison for undertaking espionage activities on behalf of Chinese
intelligence.

According to the court, the two men were found guilty of developing a spy
network that recruited serving military personnel tasked with collecting
intelligence for China.

Both men pleaded guilty during the trial.

Prosecutors say the father and son ran a business in Xiamen in 2015 and were
introduced to a Chinese intelligence official who asked them to help develop
a spy network in Taiwan that recruited active-duty military personnel to
collect military secrets.

They recruited two Air Force officers and arranged for them to meet with
Chinese intelligence officials abroad after first signing a letter of loyalty
to Beijing.

The four men then obtained eight sensitive documents related to the annual
Han Kuang military exercises which they took to China in person or
transmitted to Chinese officials using mobile messaging apps.

The ruling can be appealed.

The Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital is denying claims being made on social media that
unethical acts have taken place in its operating theaters.

The denial comes after a self-claimed nurse took to the P-T-T platform to say
he witnessed nurses taking pictures of patients, including of their private
parts, after they were anaesthetized during his six-month stint working at
the hospital.

According to the man, nurses also touched patients inappropriately and that
children were among those filmed.

The man says the actions "disgusted" him "so much" that "he felt the need to
reveal these unethical acts in the operating theater before quitting."

The hospital says all the claims are untrue" and that it "adheres strictly to
patient rights and privacy."

The hospital also says it's initiated an internal investigation to trace the
source of the photos, the motive behind taking the photos and where they were
taken.

Police say the man who made the claims is now under investigation for
violating the Offenses Against Privacy for uploading inappropriate photos to
his post.

And finally,

Gymnast Ding Hua-tian has earned a spot in the balance beam event at the 2024
Paris Olympics.

Ting appeared initially to fall short of Olympic qualification after ranking
third in the four-leg 2024 Apparatus World Cup competition series in the
balance beam, in which only the top two secured Olympic slots.

However, the gymnast who ranked second in the balance beam in the World Cup
series with 61 points, Laura Casabuena of Spain, also earned a spot in the
floor exercise with 75 qualification points.

However, gymnasts who qualify for the Olympics in multiple events in the
World Cup series can only compete in the one in which they have earned the
most qualification points, and Casabuena vacated her balance beam spot and it
was taken by Ding.

Ding will be participating in the Olympics for a second time in a row.

She finished 50th and 63rd in the balance beam and uneven bars events,
respectively, at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center says a series of
strong earthquakes that rocked much of the island from Monday evening into
Tuesday morning have been classified as aftershocks triggered by the April 3
earthquake.

Center director Wu Jien-fu noted that aftershocks from that quake could
continue for six months and up to one year.

He also said that while aftershocks from the April 3 quake had been centered
in northern Hualien, they have now moved south to the Shoufeng and Fenglin
township area.

While the aftershocks will gradually decrease, the center cannot rule out the
possibilty that larger earthquakes will still occur.

More than a hundred earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher struck Hualien
County from late Monday afternoon to mid-morning Tuesday.

Twenty-seven of them were greater that magnitude 5... two were magnitude six
and slightly higher.

National Taiwan University Professor Wang Yu says the phenomena likely
indicates that a system of smaller faults underneath Hualian were triggered
by the magnitude 7.2 quake.


That was National Taiwan University Professor Wang Yu.

Five incumbent cabinet members are returning to their posts when the new
cabinet is sworn in on May 20.

These are Finance Minister Zhuang Cui-yun, Overseas Community Affairs Council
head Xu Jia-qing, Ocean Affairs Council head Guan Bi-ling and
Directorate-General of Personnel Administration head Su Chun-rong.

Acting Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-ji will formally take up the post he has
held since 2023.

Chen Shu-zi who is current head of Tainan City Government's Research,
Development and Evaluation Commission makes her debut head of the Directorate
General of Budget, Accounting and Statistic.

Premier-designate Cho Jung-tai has said he considers the latest Cabinet picks
are current agency chiefs who have worked in the public sector for decades
and are all seasoned officials.

26 cabinet positions have now been filled.

The heads of Defense, Foreign Ministry, and Mainland Affairs Council have yet
to be named... as have between seven and nine new ministers without
portfolio.

A group of visiting U-S lawmakers say the recent passage of a Security
Supplemental Appropriations Act through the U-S Congress is a "tangible
demonstration" of Washington's support for Taipei.

Visiting Congressman Dan Kildee said "actions speak louder than words" and
the security supplemental is a tangible demonstration that America will be
there to defend Taiwan.

While Congresswoman Lisa McClain said the overwhelming and bipartisan support
for passing the act by the House of Representatives "speaks volumes to how we
view our relationship with Taiwan."

The three-member delegation is meeting with senior government officials here
this week.

They held talks with President-elect Lai Ching-te on Tuesday.

Lai told visiting lawmakers that the 8-billion dollar military aid package
passed over the weekend would "strengthen deterrence against
authoritarianism" and "boost confidence in the region."

The visiting U-S lawmakers are also slated to meeting with President Tsai
Ing-wen this week.

The foreign ministry says the talks are focusing on US-Taiwan relations and
cross-strait and regional security issues.

The Centers for Disease Control says over 11,000 people infected with
enterovirus visited doctors last week - the highest number of patients for
the same period in the past decade.

C-D-C data shows more than 11 thousand six hundred people sought medical
attention with an enterovirus infection from between April 14 and 20...

that's an increase of 22.3-per cent from the previous week.

The statistical hike indicates an enterovirus epidemic period has begun in
Taiwan, since the threshold to classify the onset of an enterovirus epidemic
period is set at 11,000 hospital visits per week.

The CDC says Coxsackie A viruses are the major viral strains circulating
within the community.

No reports of severe enterovirus cases were reported last week, and only one
severe enterovirus case has been reported so far this year.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a licensed
babysitter for abusing a 7-month-old infant in her care.

The prosecutors' office says the babysitter is accused of abusing the infant
boy between February 19 and 21 at her residence in the city's Xinzhuang
District.

Prosecutors says footage taken in the residence showed 20 instances in which
the babysitter pressed her feet against the baby's face for over 40 seconds,
dragged and threw him on the floor or bed, or hit his head.

The case came to light after the infant's father found him drowsy and limp
after taking him home on February 21.

After initially being treated at a clinic, the baby developed a high fever
and had seizures... his father rushed him to Mackay Memorial Hospital the
next day.

Doctors say the baby had experienced severe physical trauma, which triggered
hemorrhaging and epileptic seizures.

The Food and Drug Administration says it has seized a 17,920-kilogram
shipment of fresh kiwifruit imported from China after it was found to contain
excessive pesticide residues.

The F-D-A says the shipment contained a pesticide that can be used to kill
fungi at a concentration of 0.06 parts per million, which exceeded the 0.01
parts per million limit.

The F-D-A says the contaminated fresh kiwifruit was imported by Grand Bay
Fresh Fruits in Taipei under the brand "YANG SHI FRUIT."

And,

Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute has won one gold and three
silver medals at the 2024 Edison Awards.

The awards honor the world's most innovative new products, services and
business leaders.

The gold medal was won for a medical innovation entered in the Health,
Medical & Biotech category.

The Novel Dual-Targeted Therapy for Glaucoma was honored under the
Cardiovascular & Ophthalmic Innovations group.

One of its three silver medals was won in the health category as well.

The Genomic & Stem Cell Innovations group were lauded for new tech that helps
to identify potent therapeutic cells to create a stem-cell bank.

The institute's two other silver medals were won in the Engineering &
Robotics and the Resilient & Sustainable Solutions categories.

The silver medal for engineering was awarded for the High Resolution
Full-Color Micro LED Display, while medal in the sustainable solutions
category was given to ITRI's PureTex Sustainable Decolorization Solution in
the Water Treatment & Testing group.

The Hualien County Government has received reports of a 4th damaged building
following repeated earthquakes this morning.

The reports say a two-story residential house in Shoufeng (壽豐) Township
collapsed into a single story, with no reported casualties.

The Shoufeng Township Office said the building had been assessed as a
"red-tagged" building after the April 3rd earthquake, indicating compromised
structural integrity, and its residents were promptly evacuated.

The County Government said it will re-open building assessment for the
public, and that re-assessments for red- and yellow-tagged buildings from the
April 3rd earthquake will also be accepted.

(IG)

The Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in India was inaugurated on Monday, aimed at
fostering investment and providing support for Taiwanese businesses
interested in the Indian market.

Ho Chun-hsin (何俊炘), the newly appointed President of the Taiwan Chamber of
Commerce in Delhi, states that the organization would serve as a crucial
resource for information on daily life and investment opportunities in India.

This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Taiwan's economic
presence and leverage its soft power in the region.

Currently, around 250 Taiwanese companies are investing in India, with total
investments nearing $4.6 billion US dollars.

The establishment of this chamber coincides with a labor cooperation
agreement under review, intended to address workforce challenges in Taiwan
due to an aging population and declining birth rate by potentially
introducing Indian migrant workers.

(PB)

A bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation today arrived in Taiwan for
high-level talks with officials.

During their three-day visit, they are meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen,
President-elect Lai Ching-te, and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.

Discussions focus on enhancing Taiwan-U.S. relations, addressing the
situation in the Taiwan Strait, and bolstering regional security.

The visit underscores the U.S. Congress's robust support for Taiwan,
especially following the House's recent approval of a significant aid
package.

This package allocates $8.12 billion US-dollars for the Indo-Pacific region,
with $2 billion dollars dedicated to Foreign Military Financing to help
Taiwan and other regional allies counter Chinese aggression.

The initiative aims to expedite the delivery of military equipment to Taiwan,
including missiles, F-16Vs, and tanks, amidst a backlog in defense orders
worth over $19 billion dollars.

(PB)

Concerns over the safety of domestically produced pet food have prompted
calls for government action.

Legislators from both major parties today held a press conference urging the
Ministry of Agriculture to quickly address potential food safety violations
that have alarmed pet owners.

It comes after recent reports of pets developing health issues including low
blood potassium and even death.

The Ministry of Agriculture has been tasked with tracing and investigating
the products involved.

If confirmed, swift action to remove compromised food from shelves is
demanded.

Lawmakers emphasize the government's role in enforcing existing safety
standards and supporting proactive measures to protect pet health, including
timely inspections and sanctions for violations.

(PB)

Hundreds of aftershocks have continued to strike on land and just off
Hualien's coast in the seas since yesterday afternoon.

But National Taiwan University's geologist Wang Yu says the energy that had
built up before the April 3rd major earthquake has yet to be adequately
released.

Professor Wang says people living in western Taiwan don't need to worry too
much about the magnitude-6 or so quakes taking place on land in Hualien, but
those in the eastern coastal areas should be more alert as magnitude-7 or
stronger tremors may take place offshore.

(JL)

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to laws regulating fishing and
related products.

The amendment that made it through a third reading by lawmakers this morning
prohibits the importing of illegally obtained, unreported, or unregulated
fishery products and catches.

Those who violate regulations will face fines of up to $30-million NT for a
first offence, and up to $40-million NT per incident for more than two
violations within a year.

The committee reviewing the laws also added an explanation, clarifying that
fishery products caught by local vessels are considered domestically-produced
items, and are not subject to the provisions of the amendment.

The issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities
has recently garnered international attention, and the amendment is aimed at
preventing such fishery products from entering the Taiwan market.

(NS)

Multiple earthquakes in Hualien have triggered rockslides, causing
significant disruptions along the Central Cross-Island Highway.

The area between Tianxiang (天祥) and Taroko Gorge is closed today due to the
ongoing threat of rockfalls and unstable terrain.

The Highway Bureau is assessing the situation and will decide tomorrow if the
road can be reopened.

Minor rockfalls on the Su-Hua (蘇花) Highway have Not disrupted traffic,
which remains open during specified hours.

Provincial road number 11, a coastal road that connects Hualien and Taitung,
also remains open despite experiencing landslides.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Railways confirms that the Heren-Chongde section of the
eastern railway line was reopened at 3 a.m. after it had been blocked by
mudslides caused by heavy rain yesterday.

People with train tickets that were not used due to the mudslides can apply
for a refund within one year

(PB)

The Disaster Relief Foundation announced that as of 8 a.m. today,
approximately 1.28 billion NT has been raised for relief efforts in Hualien.

Among this, the Japanese government donated 1 million US dollars...

...while the South Korean Government donated 500 thousand US dollars,
amounting to over 45 million NT from both.

The Japanese government's donation was marked by a ceremony highlighting
Taiwan-Japan friendship, while that of the South Korean government was
through the Korean Mission in Taipei, emphasizing mutual assistance and
cooperation between the two countries.

The fundraising project was initiated by the Ministry of Health, and will
continue until May 3rd.

(IG)

Tainan Airport

An unidentified laser beam interfered with an emergency transport helicopter
near Tainan Airport.

The helicopter was on a return flight after carrying two individuals to
hospital, when a laser beam struck it for over 10 seconds from around 10
nautical miles north of the airport.

Penghu authoritiess condemned the laser beam interference and vowed to hold
those responsible accountable under the Civil Aviation Act.

The law stipulates that anyone who shines a laser beam at an aircraft can
face a maximum fine of 900 thousand NT or imprisonment for up to 7 years,
with the death penalty imposed if it results in fatalities.

(IG)

Taiwan shares rose today as did many other Asian Stock markets after Wall
regained some ground overnight.

The Taiex were up 188 points to end the session at 19,599.

But the turnover was relatively quiet, at 344.8 billion NT.

Most residents in Hualien are used to earthquakes, but the over 240 felt
earthquakes there since the magnitude 5.5 tremor late yesterday afternoon
have put them on edge.

Ho En-yuan (何恩原), an English teacher at Hualien Girls' High School, says
he and his family had a hard time sleeping.

He also says they could hear sounds from underground nearly every time before
a bigger tremor hit, and it's more accurate than the pre-warning system.

The teacher says his school has switched entirely to online teaching since
April 3rd for safety reasons.

(JL)

As of 7 a.m., the Hualien County Government is reporting three collapsed or
damaged buildings, with no casualties reported.

This follows a barrage of quakes that shook the county throughout early
hours, including two strong consecutive quakes at around 2 AM., both
measuring 5 minus on the intensity scale.

The affected buildings are the Hotel Fouquet (富凱大飯店), the Tong Shuai
Building (統帥大樓), and an abandoned factory on Ziqiang Road (自強路) Road.

Hualien officials noted the abandoned factory -- previously assessed as
high-risk -- damaged nearby structures, prompting temporary closure of the
area.

The County Governemnt says it plans to demolish the collapsed factory and
assess nearby buildings for inclusion in the demolition list.

(IG)

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center says this morning's
magnitude 6.3 and 6 earthquakes have been classified as aftershocks following
the April 3 7.2 magnitude quake.

The magnitude 6 earthquake occured at 2:26 at a depth of 10-kilometers, while
the magnitude 6.3 quake struck six minutes later at a depth of
5.5-kilometers.

Both quakes registered a magnitude 5 in Hualien on the Central Weather
Administration's intensity scale.

According to the administration's Seismological Center, most of the
aftershocks since the April 3 earthquake occured in northern Hualien, while
the overnight quakes were all centered in the Shoufeng Township area.

Center director Wu Jien-fu says based on data from the 1999 earthquake,
aftershocks from the recent 7.2 magnitude quake could continue for between
six months to a one year.

And Wu also say says while the aftershocks will gradually decrease, the
center cannot rule out the possibilty that larger earthquakes will still
occur.

Meanwhile,

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing says its production lines were unaffected
by this morning's back-to-back magnitude 6 earthquakes.

However, the company says it evacuated some staff from a clean room as a
preventive measure to ensure their safety.

T-S-M-C says all of the clean rooms are now back-on-line and are currently
operating normally.

U-M-C says neither its Hsinchu or Southern Taiwan Science Park based
factories were affected by the earthquakes.

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Hualien has seen scores of quakes all night - ranging from upwards of
magnitude 3 - and both schools and offices in the county are closed today due
to the continuous occurrence of earthquakes and aftershocks.

A hotel in Hualien City has tilted following this morning's magnitude 6.3
earthquake.

However, authorities say no one was trapped in the building and it has been
closed while undergoing renovation.

Meanwhile, another building on Mingli Road in Hualien City also tilted during
this morning's earthquakes.

Officials say that building was listed as "code red" structure following the
April 3 quake and was due to be due to be demolished.

Police and firefighters have cordoned off areas adjacent to both buildings.

The largest of the overnight quakes was of magnitude 6.3 earthquake - and
that struck at 2:32AM at a depth of 5.5-kilometers and was centered in
Shoufeng Township, some 17-kilometers south-southwest of Hualien County Hall.

It came six minutes after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck.

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck at 4:49 and a magnitude 5.7 earthquake
struck at 5:31.

All four of those earthquakes were felt islandwide.

A total of 93 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher hit Hualien County from
5:08PM Monday until 6 o'clock this morning - with 23 of them exceeding a
magnitude of 5.

The Taiwan Railways Corporation says its West Coast Lines are both operating
on regular schedules.

The South Link Line is also running on a regular schedule.

However, services on the east coast line are partial disrupted and delays are
possible.

The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation has not annouced any changes to its
services

The Navy is expected to commission two more domestically-built Tou
Jiang-class stealth missile corvettes into service next month.

Sources say the "Hsu Jiang" and the "Wu Jiang" will be officially
commissioned into the Navy at a ceremony.

The two corvettes were launched in February and June of 2023, respectively -
and delivered to the Navy this February.

They are the third and fourth mass-produced Tou Jiang-class stealth missile
corvettes.

The prototype, the "Tuo Jiang," was commissioned in 2015.

While the first batch comprised of six corvettes, with the fifth and sixth,
"An Jiang" and "Wan Jiang" - are set to be delivered to the Navy soon.

But no date has been put on when they will be commissioned into service.

The Navy is set to build a total of 11 Tuo Jiang-class corvettes by the end
of 2026.

The island's unemployment rate fell slightly in March - to stand at 3.38-per
cent.

That figure is the lowest level for that month in 24 years.

According to the government, the rate declined by zero-point-zero-one
percentage points in March from a month earlier.

After seasonal adjustments, the unemployment rate stood at 3.4-per cent in
March, the same as in February.

The government is attributed the lower jobless rate last month to people
finding new work following post-Lunar New Year holiday job transitions.

Officials say they also believe the unemployment figure could further improve
this month - with a decrease likely to range from zero-point-zero-one to
zero-point-zero six percentage points.

A hotel in Hualien has tilted following this morning's magnitude 6.3
earthquake.

However, authorities say no one was trapped in the building and it has been
closed while undergoing renovation.

The hotel had not been listed as either a "code red" or "code yellow" listed
building by National Land Management Agency following the April 3 magnitude
7.2 earthquake.

Meanwhile, another building on Mingli Road in Hualien City also tilted during
this morning's earthquakes.

But officials say that building was listed as a "code red" structure
following the April 3 quake and was due to be due to be demolished.

Police and firefighters have cordoned off areas adjacent to both buildings.

The magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck at 2:32AM at a depth of 5.5-kilometers
and was centered in Shoufeng Township, some 17-kilometers south-southwest of
Hualien County Hall.

It came six minutes after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck. That quake was at
a depth of 10-kilometers and centered some 30-kilometers south of Hualien
County Hall.

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck at 4:49 - and that was at a depth of
10-kilometers and also centered some 30-kilometers south of Hualien County
Hall.

And a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck at 5:31 - at a depth of 8-kilometers
and that was centered 16-kilometers south-south west of Hualien County Hall.

All four of those earthquakes were felt islandwide.

A total of 93 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher hit Hualien County from
5:08PM Monday until 6 o'clock this morning - with 23 of them exceeding a
magnitude of 5.

Both schools and offices in Hualien County are closed today due to the
continuous occurrence of earthquakes and aftershocks.

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center says the series of
earthquakes were aftershocks following the April 3 quake.

The Taiwan Railways Corporation says its West Coast Lines are both operating
on regular schedules.

The South Link Line is also running on a regular schedule.

However, services on the east coast line are partial disrupted and delays are
possible.

While the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation has not annouced any changes to
its services

The constitutional court will begin debating today about whether the current
death penalty system is constitutional.

The debate will see attorneys Nigel Li and Jeffrey Li representing 37
prisoners currently on death row who are challenging the constitutionality of
capital punishment.

The 37 petitioners argue that "the presence and implementation of capital
punishment violate Article 15 of the Constitution of the Republic of China,"
which stipulates that "the right of existence ... shall be guaranteed to the
people."

The head of the the Ministry of Justice's Department of Prosecutorial
Affairs, Guo Yong-fa, will be leading a team of three to defend the current
practice.

The case was initiated by 71-year-old Wang Hsin-fu, who was sentenced to
death for his involvement in the killings of two police officers in 1990.

It was brought to the constitutional court in 2022.

The court later decided to combine Wang's case and those of the 36 other
death row inmates.

According to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act, a majority of the
justices presiding over the case have to rule in favor of the petitioners for
the death penalty to be overturned.

Tai-Power President Wang Yao-ting wil remain in his post, despite submitting
his resignation this past weekend following a series of power outages in
Taoyuan and a tight power supply on April 15.

According to Wang, he's decided to stay on after being asked to do so by the
premier, the minister of economics, and the Tai-Power board.

However, he says the determining factor behind his decision was based on
comments by Taipower Union President Wu Yu-pin ..

.... who said Wang's departues would not stop the "malicious distortion of
facts" and lesd to "more anxiety among the Taipower employees."

Speaking to reporters, Wang said a lot of power outages since the April 3
earthquake had been caused by damage related to the magnitude quake that had
not been immediately detected.

Wang also said that he "despised the fact that the company has been used as a
tool for political feud" and "some people are seeking to frame and simplify
electricity issues as 'power shortage' or 'false energy policy."

And he went on to say that he will stay until the new Cabinet takes office
and leave the final decision on his future to it.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is condemning North Korea's latest test
firing of several short-range ballistic missiles.

According to the ministry, the actions are "reckless" and "disrupt regional
stability."

The ministry says it will continue to monitor Pyongyang's "provocative
actions" and work with like-minded countries to stop authoritarianism and
protect the freedom, prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

North Korea fired the missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan.

It's the second such test since April 2.

A research team from National Taiwan Ocean University has discovered a
bacterial strain with the potential to degrade plastic.

According to the university's Institute of Marine Biology, the team found the
marine bacterial strain isolated from marine sediment on Taiwan's northern
coast.

The bacterium is believed to possibly a new member of the Ocean-EE-monas
genus.

And the university says a study found that it was able to biodegrade between
10 and 15-per cent of polyethylene in 120 days.

Polyethylene is one of the most commonly used plastics worldwide, in 120 days.

The findings were published in a international scientific journal that covers
microbiology in March.

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says back-to-back weather fronts will
affect Taiwan this week - resulting in rain islandwide over the coming the
days.

As the first front began affecting parts of the island yesterday - bring
brief showers - but the rain is forecast to intensify in the north, east and
center today, before moving south tomorrow.

According to administration's forecast center, a second weather system will
arrive on Thursday - bringing additional rain island-wide through Sunday.

The Taichung District Court today examined the case involving the suspicious
death of an 18-year-old high school senior surnamed Lai who'd inherited
properties worth $500 million NT.

The court focused on allegations of document forgery related to a same-sex
marriage registration between the teenager and the properties' land
administration agent's son, surnamed Xia.

During the hearing, the teenager's close friend testified about the Lai's
unrequited love for a female classmate and his disbelief in the teen's
potential for suicide.

The friend also described their friendship and clarified that Lai had no
romantic interests in men.

The incident occurred the day after Lai's father's funeral, leading to his
fatal fall from the Xia's residence.

The next court session is scheduled for May 3rd, as the defense seeks
additional time to prepare.

(PB)

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake took place at 5:08 PM in Hualien Shou-feng (壽豐)
Township and it affected nearly the entire island.

It's a very shallow tremor with a depth of 10 kilometers, and the intensity
level in the northern Hualien area, including Taroko National Park, reached
4.

The greater Taipei area mosty registered an intensity level of 1 or 2.

It was immediately followed by a magnitude 5.3 quake at 5:12 PM centered
nearby with the same depth.

The afternoon temblors come after a magnitude 5.3 quake occurred 23 minutes
after midnight last night in Hualien, and the epicenter was in the seas off
of Hualien.

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center says for those
three seismic events, the CWA all issued a public warning via people's
cellphones in Hualien County seconds beforehand.

The Center says warnings are issued for magnitude-5 earthquakes in regions
where the intensity level is forecast to reach 4 or beyond.

(JL)

Heavy rainfall in Hualien has caused a landslide, interrupting train service
between Horen (和仁) and Chongde (崇德).

Restoration is expected late night tonight.

Taiwan Railways reported the incident occurred earlier this afternoon,
prompting the formation of an emergency response team shortly after.

Ongoing landslides are preventing access for repair crews, maintaining the
suspension.

All southbound trains from Taipei towards Hualien and Taitung are halted from
4 PM, whereas other regional services continue as scheduled.

Taiwan Railways advises passengers to check updates before travel and offers
a fee waiver for ticket refunds within one year due to the disruptions.

(PB)

President-elect Lai Ching-te announced a comprehensive plan to accelerate
Taiwan's net zero transition with five strategic initiatives.

He spoke during the "Earth Solutions 2024 Sustainable Design Action
Conference", marking today's World Earth Day.

Key strategies include the second energy transformation, dual digital and
green industrial shifts, and enhancing renewable energy development such as
geothermal and hydrogen power.

Lai emphasized the urgency of these actions to align with global
sustainability trends and strengthen Taiwan's competitive edge.

He plans to establish smart energy systems and green finance, aiming to
integrate these initiatives into a national low-carbon lifestyle.

Government support will be pivotal, ensuring no sector is overlooked in the
transition.

(PB)

Race’

Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind triumphed as the first from her country to
win "RuPaul’s Drag Race," claiming the title of “Next Drag Superstar.”

Donning a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia captured the audience with her
declaration, “Taiwan this is for you,” following her win.

Known for her unique style that incorporates elements from her Asian
heritage, the 28-year-old consistently impressed throughout the season.

Nymphia, who has also mastered a blend of traditional and international art
forms in her performances, dedicated her victory to those “who feel like
they don’t belong.”

President Tsai Ing-wen, along with fans at Taipei's Cafe Dalida, where
Nymphia is a regular, celebrated her groundbreaking achievement.

(PB)

The Fair Trade Commission has imposed a $20 million NT fine on supermarket
chain PX Mart... for violating a key condition of its 2022 merger approval
with RT-Mart.

The FTC found that PX Mart did not comply with the stipulated condition that
prohibited the use of most favored pricing clauses with its suppliers.

This breach forced suppliers to offer PX Mart the same discounts they
provided to other distributors, unfairly shifting competitive risks onto them
and maintaining PX Mart's profit margins under the guise of consumer
benefits.

This action goes against the Fair Trade Act, which allows for fines up to $50
million NT for such violations.

Additionally, PX Mart could face further penalties, including operational or
managerial adjustments, mandated by the FTC.

(CNA-PB)

A research team at National Taiwan Ocean University have discovered a new
strain of bacteria capable of decomposing plastic and removing diesel.

They say the bacteria strain -- Oceanimonas pelagia /O-shee-a-nuh-mus
pe-LA-ghee-a/ -- was isolated from marine sediments off the northern coast of
Taiwan, and that it demonstrates a high degree of environmental adaptability.

The University says in addition to degrading plastic, it can also produce
environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional petroleum-based
plastics.

Going forward, the team at NTOU plan to conduct comprehensive research on the
environmental restoration and commercial potential of this new bacteria
strain ...

... as well as developing practical applications for environmental protection
and resource reuse.

(IG)

Taiwanese-American and Tibetan students disrupted a speech by the Chinese
Ambassador to the US at Harvard University, protesting his alleged
involvement in human rights violations.

During the Harvard Kennedy School China Conference 2024, the students accused
Xie Feng (謝鋒) of suppressing freedoms in Hong Kong and threatening Taiwan.

The protest caused a 45-minute delay in his speech.

Outside the venue, more demonstrations echoed similar sentiments, criticizing
Xie's role in policies affecting Hong Kong, Taiwan, East Turkestan, and
Tibet.

According to an online press release by the Chinese embassy in the U.S.
regarding Xie's Saturday speech, Xie warned Washington to stop "interfering
with China's internal affairs."

Xie also stressed that the "Taiwan question is the most important and
sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations."

(CNA-PB)

Here's a heads-up for train services..

The Taiwan Railways Corporation's North-link railroad was cut off by
mudslides this afternoon, and currently the section between Ho-ren station
and Chong-de station is impassable.

The TRC says the accident happened due to torrential rain-triggered muslides
flooding the tracks.

The ROC Navy is set to boost its maritime defense capabilities with the
commissioning of two new Tuo Chiang (沱江)-class corvettes, the Xu Jiang
(旭江) and Wu Chiang (武江), in early May.

These advanced warships are equipped with sophisticated weaponry including
Hsiung Feng (雄風) II and III anti-ship missiles...76-millimeter rapid-fire
guns...Phalanx close-in weapons systems...and the Hai Jian (海劍) II
air-defense missiles.

This move comes as part of Taiwan's ongoing efforts to enhance its naval
strength through domestic shipbuilding.

The latest additions aim to reinforce Taiwan's readiness against maritime
threats.

The commissioning ceremony will officially integrate these vessels into the
Navy's operational fleet.

(PB)

Environmental groups have marked Earth Day today, but issuing recommendations
for the government's work on carbon fees.

The groups, which include the Green Citizens' Action Alliance, and Citizens
of the Earth, called for the government to finish formulating carbon fee
rates before a new government takes office on May 20th.

The coalition also says minutes of meetings for deliberating carbon fee
matters should be made public.

The groups point out that to date, two meetings have been held to discuss the
issue, and aside from invited civic representatives and experts, the public
remains unaware of what progress has been made.

They are calling on the government to complete its work on relevant laws and
regulations, in order to demonstrate its determination to reduce carbon
emissions.

(NS)

The Ocean Conservation Administration, along with the National Museum of
Natural Science and the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, have
renewed their Memorandum of Understanding to mark another five years of
collaboration.

Celebrating today's World Earth Day, this renewed partnership aims to deepen
marine conservation efforts and enhance science education.

Initiatives include the opening of a Marine Conservation Education Center
this July, which will showcase marine biology and conservation themes.

Significant achievements from their previous collaboration include the
successful rehabilitation and release of 40 sea turtles, part of a broader
effort involving 76 turtles since 2020.



(PB)

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to hold a hearing on the
constitutionality of the death penalty tomorrow.

The KMT, citing a Ministry of Justice survey, reports that 77-percent of the
public oppose the abolition of the death penalty.

The opposition party insists that such a decision should respect public
opinion and remain within the legislature’s jurisdiction.

At a press conference today, key party members and representatives from the
Taiwan Victim Human Rights Association argued that matters of life and death
penalties should not be prematurely decided by the courts without broader
social consensus.

They emphasized the importance of considering the perspectives of victims'
families and maintaining a balance in legal protections.

The KMT warns against declaring the death penalty unconstitutional without
societal consensus in a haste, which could deepen societal divides and
potentially diminish judicial credibility.

(PB)

The Finance Minister has told lawmakers that Vice President-elect Bi-khim
Hsiao complied with relevant regulations when she applied for customs
clearance for personal use alcohol last month.

Zhuang Cui-yun (莊翠雲) stresses that there was no privilege for Hsiao,
saying that the regulations are the same for all government personnel
stationed abroad returning to the country on official duty.

Zhuang says in Hsiao's case, the Foreign Affairs Ministry had previously
communicated with the Finance Ministry with a list of her personal things
attached, including the alcohol.

Zhuang says her Ministry approved it after reviewing the list and found it
compliant with the rules.

She says last year 55 government personnel stationed overseas all followed
the same rules.

According to local media, Hsiao brought back 23 bottles of alcohol weighing a
total of 15 liters.

For ordinary people, the limit for duty-free alcohol is 1 liter.

If it exceeds this amount, it must be declared and taxed with the maximum
additional amount of 5 liters.

(JL)

Tai-Power President Wang Yao-ting has accepted calls for him to remain in his
post.

Wang tendered his resignation this past weekend, after a series of power
outages and other related issues earlier this month.

Premier Chen Chien-jen, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Tai-Power
Labor Union all expressed support for Wang remaining in his post, while the
opposition KMT contended that he was being made a "scapegoat" for the
government's failing energy policy.

Wang says in a press conference today that he submitted his resignation to
take responsibility for the company, and he is now staying, also for the
company.

He says he expects there will be some criticism of the move, but says he
believes it is in Tai-power's best interests.

(NS)

Taiwan shares dropped today while most other Asian stock markets advanced.

The Taiex lost 115 points to end the session at 19,411..

The turnover was 480 billion NT.

The Tai-Ex rose 150-points in early trading this morning - after opening down
60-points.

Market watchers say the local main board remains under pressure from last
Friday's slump, when it recorded its highest single-day decline - as
investors are concerned about rising tensions in the Middle East.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's share price continued to fall this
morning from last Friday's close - hitting a low of 740 N-T in early trading.

Artificial intelligence development related stocks also lost ground, with
Wistron falling more than 3-per cent and both, Quanta and Inventec declining
by more than 2-per cent.

However, transportation stocks bucked the downturn - as Evergreen Marine,
Yang Ming Marine Transport and Wan Hai Lines all gained more than 3-per cent.

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected 10 Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Sunday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, eight aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

Six Chinese ships were also spotted operating in the general vicinity of the
Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

Defense officials say the Chinese maneuvers were closely monitored by the Air
Force, the Navy and land-based missile defense systems.

The Central Weather Administration says four earthquakes struck off the coast
of Hualien since midnight.

There have been no reports of damage or injuries.

The quakes ranged in magnitude 4.1 to 5.3.

The 5.3 magnitude quake occurred at 12:35AM and was centered 24-kilometers
north-northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 23-kilometers.

That was followed by a magnitude 4.8 quake at 2:53AM, which was centered
5.5-kilometers south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 16-kilometers.

Two other quakes of magnitude 4.1 and 4.3 were recorded at 8:01 and 8.03AM.

Both of them were centered some 39-kilometers northeast of Hualien County
Hall, at the same depth of 8-kilometers.

The Centers for Disease Control says the epidemic period of enterovirus will
likely start at the end of this month.

An epidemic period is defined as 11,000 hospital visits per week.

According to the C-D-C, there were 9,256 hospital visits for enterovirus
during the week of April 7 to 13 and that figure was most recorded for the
same period in nearly 10 years.

Health officials say enterovirus infections occur most commonly during the
summer, with cases typically increasing in April, peaking in June and ebbing
in July and August during the summer break.

Another wave usually starts when schools open in September.

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The government thanking the U-S lawmakers for approving a foreign aid package
for Taiwan.

Under the passed legislation, 2-billion U-S dollars in Foreign Military
Financing Program funds will go to Taiwan and other regional security partner
to counter Chinese aggression.

While another 1.9-billion dollars will be used to replenishing defense
articles and defense services provided to Taiwan as well as other regional
partners.

U-S President Joe Biden has promised to sign it into law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says both passage and bipartisan support for
the foreign aid package once again reaffirms Washington's "rock-solid"
commitment to helping Taiwan defend itself.

While the Ministry of National Defense is also thanking the House of
Representatives for approving supplemental funding .. ..

.... and says it will continue to negotiate with the U-S via existing
channels to ensure the funding will be spent in the right places to boost
Taiwan's defense capabilities and safeguard regional peace and security.

The Central Weather Administration says the mercury soared to a high of
39.7-degrees in Tainan's Yujing District on Sunday - as warm southwesterly
winds pushed temperatures higher islandwide.

However, the administration's forecast center says the measurement won't be
included in official heat records since Yujing is an automatic rather than
manually operated weather station.

Highs recorded in other areas on Sunday were 38.7-degrees in Kaohsiung's
Neimen District, 38.2-degrees in Chiayi City, and 38.1-degrees in Pingtung's
Sandimen Township.

The hot weather is expected to continue through the first half of today.

An incoming weather front will bring rain and slightly cooler temperatures to
the north from this afternoon, before moving south tomorrow.

A second weather system is forecast to arrive in Taiwan on Thursday, bringing
additional rain to much of the island through Saturday.

And finally,

Lai Guan-jie has become the first Taiwanese canoeist to qualify for the
Olympic Games after winning a silver medal at the 2024 Asian Canoe Sprint
Championships in Tokyo.

Lai finished in a time of 4-minutes, 11.577 seconds in the men's C-1 1000
meter canoe sprint final.

Lai's was the first canoeist from Taiwan to bag a gold medal at the Asian
Games in 2023 in the same event.

He his coach, Yu Zhi-wei says Lai was only at about 80-per cent of his best
in Sunday's final because of how nervous and stressed he was.

Resignation

Premier Chen Chien-jen is urging Tai-Power President Wang Yao-ting to remain
in his post, despite his announcing his resignation this past weekend
following a series of power outages in Taoyuan.

Wang submitted his resignation on Saturday to take responsibility for the
power outages over the past few days and a tight power supply on April 15 due
to generator trips.

Wang also apologized in his letter of resignation for those outages, which
have brought into question the stability Tai-Power's electricity supply.

However, Cabinet spokesman Lin Zi-lun says the premier called Wang and left
him a text message in an effort to persuade him to continue in his post.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says it is also working convince Wang to
stay on, while the Tai-Power Labor Union is expressing its strong support for
Wang to retain his position.

The K-M-T says Wang is being made "scapegoat" for the power outages and
Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua and Deputy Economics Minister Tseng Wen-sheng
should be the ones to step down, as outages stem from the government's bad
energy policy.

The Ministry of Environment says the island's annual use of plastic shopping
bags has declined by more than half since regulations to restrict the use of
plastic products were first introduced in 2002.

According to ongoing Environment Minister Xue Fu-sheng, data shows that nine
billion plastic shopping bags were used in 2023 and that's down from 20
billion in 2002.

Xue says the government has plans to further reduce plastic consumption.

Speaking at an event in Taipei to encourage reducing plastic use, Shieu said
the government has restricted the use of plastic bags over time at 14 kinds
of institutions including the public sector, shopping malls, hypermarkets,
convenience stores and fast food restaurant.

Xue says the environment ministry plans to expand the range of restricted
locations in a bid to restrict and ban plastic use and reduce plastic
production by 2030.

However, he also indicated that plastic reduction is facing a bottleneck at
the moment - but in stressing Taiwan will have no choice to improve in the
near future.

A-U-O Chairman Paul Peng says this year's Computex will be the biggest since
the coronavirus pandemic and the theme of "Connecting AI" will boost the
show's popularity.

Peng also serves as the chairman of Computex's co-organizer, the Taipei
Computer Association.

According to the display panel maker's boss, this year's event will feature
some 1,500 exhibitors and see keynote speeches from people leading the A-I
boom, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, A-M-D's Lisa Su and Intel's Pat
Gelsinger.

Peng says new opportunities related to the emergence of A-I personal
computers have ensured that those C-E-Os will be showing up, "especially with
the growth of the I-T industry in the first half of 2024 being a bit
lackluster."

He also says that executives want to know more about the region and believes
that "Taiwan has became the optimal place for them to obtain the
information."

Computex Taipei begins on June 4 and is taking place at the at Nangang
Exhibition Center until June 7.

And,

A number of Taiwanese artisanal marmalade producers made a splash at the
latest edition of an annual U-K marmalade competition.

The wins more than double the number of honors they won last year.

Products from Taiwan won eight gold, 13 silver and 27 bronze awards at the
Artisan Competition of the 2024 Dalemain World Marmalade Awards.

Although none of Taiwan's producers were able to get a double gold award, the
highest achievement at the festival, their 2024 haul of over 40 honors more
than doubled the 20 awards Taiwan's marmalade artisans raked in last year.

Marmalades made by Taiwan's artisans also received 25 "commended" honors at
the annual festival.

Taiwan's Rose Garden was the biggest winner among Taiwanese brands, with
three gold, four silver, and seven bronze awards and six commendations.

While Taiwan's Keya Jam raked in total of 18 honors - one gold, four silver
and eight bronze awards and five commendations.