ICRT

Posted on 2026-03-26 13:09:13

The Ministry of Civil Service has proposed amendments to the Civil Service
Performance Evaluation Act, introducing a three-tier rating system:
“Excellent,” “Good,” and “Below Good.”

Under the draft, those rated “Excellent” or “Good” would receive a
one-grade salary increase, along with bonuses of 1.3 months and one month of
salary, respectively.

The proposal also defines six conditions for a “Below Good” rating, with no
pay raise and a six-month improvement period.

The draft would also scrap the current special evaluation system, replacing
it with “special rewards,” offering a bonus of two months’ salary, but
without a promotion.

The draft also states that evaluations should be based on routine
assessments, focusing on job performance and service attitude, and will no
longer consider an individual’s academic background or talents.

The M-O-C-S says these revisions aim to boost government workers' morale and
encourage them to pursue outstanding performance.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-26 13:09:17

Taitung is setting up traffic control measures as the 2026 Taitung Puyuma
Triathlon brings over 3-thousand-300 athletes to the region.

Organizers say the two-day event starting this Saturday includes a full
226-kilometer "ultra" triathlon, a half-distance event, and a youth
competition.

Up to 6,000 people are expected to arrive in the area before tThe
ultra-triathlon begins Saturday morning at 6 a.m. at Taitung Forest Park.

Taitung county officials say several major roads will be partially closed,
and police will block access to the Zhonghua Bridge from Guangfu and Zhonghua
Roads.

Large vehicles are strictly banned from the cycling routes, and sections of
Mahengheng Boulevard and Zhihang Road will also be restricted.

The standard distance and youth triathlons will take place on Sunday morning.

Drivers in the area are being told to follow all police instructions during
the weekend.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-26 09:07:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says thunderstorms are expected to affect
northern parts of the island from this evening.

According to the administration's forecast center, an approaching front will
bring rain and thunderstorms to coastal areas in Keelung and other areas in
the north.

The front will pass Taiwan tomorrow - as the northeasterly monsoon
strengthens - and that will bring rain to central and eastern parts of the
island.

The northeasterly monsoon is forecast to weaken on Saturday - when showers
can be expected in coastal areas of the north, mountainous areas in Greater
Taipei as well as in both Yilan and Hualien.

Posted on 2026-03-26 08:13:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Taipei District Court is slated to hand down its verdict in former Taipei
Mayor Ko Wen-je's corruption case.

The court session has been scheduled for 2:30PM.

Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of 28 years.

The case centered on allegations that Ko accepted 17.1-million N-T in bribes
from Core Pacific Group Chairman Shen Ching-jing to approve the expansion of
the floor area ratio at his Core Pacific City project.

Ko has faces charges of embezzling political donations and of campaign
finance irregularities.

He has persistently denied any wrongdoing is all of the cases brought against
him.

The district court has ordered four key defendants in the case to be present
for the verdict.

Along with the Core Pacific Group Chairman Shen Ching-jing, they include
Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying and Ko's former office manager Lee
Wen-tsung.

Posted on 2026-03-26 08:13:14

Former K-M-T lawmaker Jason Hsu is slamming the party's 380-billion N-T
defense bill proposal.

According to Hsu, the figure is "highly unfeasible" and should be raised to
at least 800-billion N-T to ensure that weapons systems approved by the U-S
for sale to Taiwan can be purchased.

The statement comes as lawmakers this week are reviewing the the K-M-T's
defense bill, the Cabinet's 1.25-trillion N-T proposal and the Taiwan
People's Party's 400-billion N-T defense budget bill proposal.

The review is being carried out over three-days in a joint session of the
Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and the Finance
Committee.

Taking to social media, Hsu said that as a former ruling party, the K-M-T
should know better than to propose a "highly unfeasible" budget for foreign
arms procurement ..

... as the bill's phased budget planning approach contradicts the nature of
foreign arms procurement packages, which are not made at random but require a
lengthy negotiation and assessment periods.

Hsu is currently a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C.

Posted on 2026-03-26 08:13:14

Taiwan's higher education system has seen a net 20-per cent decline in the
latest Q-S World University Rankings by Subject.

Taiwan contributed 299 entries from 30 universities, including 257 individual
subjects and 42 broad faculty areas.

Of these, 58 subjects rose, 119 fell, and 88 remained unchanged.

The National Taiwan University was the island's top performer -- with 39
subjects in the global top 100.

The university rose to sixth place in Classics & Ancient History, up from
19th last year.

It ranked 60th in Natural Sciences, 63rd in both Engineering and Technology
and Arts and Humanities and 67th in Social Sciences and Management -- all of
which were gains from last year's ranking.

However, the university fell three places to 83rd in Life Sciences and
Medicine.

The rankings use five indicators, which include academic reputation; employer
reputation; research citations per paper; H-index, which measures total
citations; and international research network.

Posted on 2026-03-26 08:13:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is touting its new trade promotion office -
saying it will serve as a platform to build public-private cooperation and
create business opportunities with Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

The Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Economic and Trade Office was first
announced this past Monday by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung.

However, Lin offered very few details of what it would entail then.

According to the foreign ministry, the office will be modeled on the Central
America Trade Office and be aimed at promoting economic development among
Taiwan's allies.

The ministry says the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Economic and Trade Office
will complement and expand on the Central America Trade Office by offering
services to allies and like-minded partners in the South Pacific and Africa.

The new trade promotion office is part of the government's Diplomatic Allies
Prosperity Project.

That project was created by the foreign minister and seeks to assist in
development projects in allied countries related to smart medicine,
sustainable tourism, sovereign AI and digital governance.

Posted on 2026-03-26 08:13:14

A 7-year-old boy had to be rescued by firefighters at Taoyuan International
Airport after jumping into anti-fall netting and getting stuck.

Witnesses say the unaccompanied child in the Terminal 2 arrivals hall climbed
on a trash can and crossed a guardrail above an escalator wellway before
jumping into the anti-fall netting in the wellway.

The boy began jumping and bouncing around in the net, but was unable to climb
out.

The Taoyuan International Airport Corporation says security guards had
immediately notified the fire department and firefighters pulled the child
out of the net some 30-minutes later.

Police have not pressed charges against the child or his parents.

Posted on 2026-03-26 08:13:14

And finally,

Taiwan's 7-Eleven chain will be partnering with its Philippine counterpart in
Saturday's Earth Hour campaign.

It means each store will turn off their sign lights from 8:30PM to 10:30PM.

According to Uni-President Chain Store Corporation, more than 4,500 7-Eleven
stores in the Philippines will join in the initiative, bringing the total
participating in the two economies to more than 10,000.

The 7-Eleven chain operators says that will be the largest ever cross-border
lights-off effort by convenience store chains in Asia.

The company estimates that more than 5,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity will
be saved, equivalent to about 3,000 kilograms of carbon emissions.

It's the fifth consecutive year that Uni-President Chain Store Corporation
has participated in Earth Hour and the third year it has headed the campaign
here in Taiwan.

FamilyMart and OK Mart are also marking Earth Hour this Saturday by turning
their sign lights off.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

Rights Protection Act

The Ministry of Health plans to release draft amendments to the Child and
Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act next month.

It will be the first major revisions to the Act in over a decade.

The draft is said to align Taiwan's laws with the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child and it will put greater emphasis on children's
rights.

The revisions cover online safety and children's right to express their views.

The draft amendments will be open for public consultation for two months
before they are sent to the legislature for review.

The ministry issued the statement after child welfare, youth rights and
student groups rallied outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei calling on the
government to make revisions to what they described the "outdated articles in
the Act."

Several lawmakers on the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee
are proposing their own amendments.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is criticising Beijing for telling delegates
at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon
that Taiwan's participation in the global trade body is reliant on the "one
China" principle.

The statement came after China's foreign ministry indicated the "one China"
principle was a political prerequisite for Taiwan's involvement in the W-T-O.

Taiwan was also listed as "Taiwan, Province of China" at the ministerial
conference - and Taiwan officials were prevented from attending the meeting.

Legal experts have said the World Trade Organization does not require its
members to be states.

The body recognises Taiwan as a separate customs territory, and is recognised
as ""Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" or Chinese Taipei.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

The Kaohsiung Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office are holding two people
after the arrest of a former C-P-C executive who went missing days before he
was sentenced to 25 years in prison for corruption.

Prosecutors say the two are suspected of helping him escape.

Hsu Han disappeared on March 19 after removing his ankle monitor in
Pingtung's Wanluan Township.

He was re-arrested Taitung's Jinfeng Township on Tuesday.

Hsu traveled to Chaozhou Station in Pingtung, where he used an angle grinder
and other tools to break off his ankle monitor, before heading to Wanluan
Township, where he visited several temples.

Hsu was then picked up by a man in his 30s, who drove him to the Kinchen
Mountain area, west of Taimali in Taitung County.

He was staying in bed and breakfast there when he was arrested by police, who
also seized over 200,000 in cash from Hsu.

Hsu is detention pending additional charges for jumping bail and destroying
his ankle monitor.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has been highlighting artificial intelligence
related cooperation between Taiwan and America at the US-led Pax Silica
initiative, at the Hill and Valley Forum in Washington D.C.

In a pre-recorded address, Hsiao said the Lai administration has launched 10
new A-I infrastructure projects covering robotics and next-generation
unmanned systems ...

.... and those efforts seamlessly align with the growing demand from U-S
industry for secure components and systems.

The Vice President went on to say Taiwan contributes to every layer of the
U-S AI hardware stack and is more than just essential, as Taiwan is
trustworthy partner.

Pax Silica is a US-led partnership that aims to boost economic security and
build a technology ecosystem covering semiconductors, A-I, critical minerals
and advanced manufacturing.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

The Supreme Court has upheld a 14-month prison sentence for a woman who
repeatedly used drugs beside her newborn, exposing the infant to toxic smoke.

The court rejected an appeal by the woman who was found guilty by the High
Court's Kaohsiung branch of harming a minor's physical and mental
development.

The case dates back to 2022, when the woman was arrested for dug use.

She regularly used heroin, methamphetamine and ketamine in close proximity to
the infant.

Police notified social services, and the infant was removed from the home and
placed in protective care... subsequent hair tests on the child returned
positive for drug exposure.

She was sentenced to eight months in prison by the Kaohsiung District Court
in her first trial.

Prosecutors appealed that ruling and the High Court's Kaohsiung Branch
increased the sentence to 14 months, citing the severity of the harm and the
high levels of drug exposure.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

The Tainan City Government says it aims to turn initial deals into long-term
orders after shipping 7,000-kilogram batch of diced frozen Irwin mangoes to
Japan for the first time.

The order was secured between Japanese businesses and Taiwan farmers at a
conference which took place in Tokyo earlier this month.

The Tainan Agriculture Bureau said local producers used liquid nitrogen
freezing technology to preserve the mangoes' texture and aroma.

Total shipments of the diced frozen Irwin mangoes to Japan are expected to
reach 15,000 kilograms.

The Tainan City Government says frozen pineapple and fruit juices are also
being considered for future export markets.

Posted on 2026-03-26 06:55:13

And,

Jay Chou has released his first new album in four-years.

The digital version of "Children of the Sun" hit download and streamer
platforms on Wednesday.

The physical album is scheduled for release on April 10.

Chou unveiled the album at a press event in Taipei earlier this week - at
which the music video for the title track also premiered on a Muvie Cinemas
titan screen for media and some 100 fans.

The singer said preparations are now underway for the Taiwan leg of his
upcoming tour.

Posted on 2026-03-25 19:58:13

Nutritionists in Taiwan warn that alcohol can help people fall asleep, but
might disrupt sleep quality.

They say alcohol reduces deep sleep ... and warn it can actually wake people
during early hours — leading to fragmented sleep and reduced overnight
recovery.

Alcohol increases the risk of sleep apnea by relaxing airway muscles, and may
lead to low blood sugar during the night — in severe cases causing
dizziness, sweating or even unconsciousness.

Instead of drinking, nutritionists suggest improving sleep through diet,
including nutrients like calcium and magnesium to help regulate the nervous
system and support deeper sleep.

They add that avoiding alcohol altogether remains the best option for overall
health, noting no level of alcohol consumption is completely risk-free.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

Taiwan's civil servants could see changes to their professional allowances
under reforms planned by the end of June.

Personnel Administration Director Su Chun-jung (蘇俊榮) says he's seeking a
pay raise for military personnel, civil servants and teachers, and expects to
send the plan to the Cabinet in April once it's finalized.

The government had previously decided not to raise salaries this year, citing
slower economic growth and other fiscal pressures, but officials now say the
issue is still under review.

A salary review committee is expected to meet before June to discuss whether
pay should be adjusted next year.

Officials say the changes are aimed at reflecting professional expertise,
addressing staff shortages, and narrowing the pay gap with the private
sector.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

Environmental officials say Taiwan’s air quality is improving after a global
report showed the nation’s pollution ranking dropped last year.

The Ministry of Environment says the latest data from the Swiss company IQAir
shows Taiwan is now ranked 71st out of 143 countries for pollution.

The list ranks countries from dirtiest to cleanest, a lower ranking means the
air is getting better.

The report shows that PM2.5 levels fell to an average of 13.3 micrograms per
cubic meter in 2025, improving from over 17 micrograms the year before.

Ministry officials say Taiwan's air is now cleaner than the air in South
Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Only Japan performed better among nearby Asian countries.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-25 17:00:14

New Taipei's Feitsui Reservoir is currently at 90-percent capacity, and is
helping ease pressure from declining levels at Shi-men Reservoir by supplying
water through downstream pipeline networks.

The Feitsui Reservoir Administration says rainfall in its catchment area has
reached only about 70 percent of the historical average so far this year, but
the reservoir's water level remains high due to careful water management.

Taoyuan's Shi-men Reservoirs, on the other hand, is just over half of its
capacity at the moment.

As Shi-men supplies water to New Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsin-chu, the
Administration has begun sending 780-thousand tons of water to the city's
Ban-qiao and Xin-zhuang districts every day to ease Shi-men's burden.

Water levels at the two Hsin-chu reservoirs, Bao-shan (寶山) and Bao-Er
(寶二), have dropped to just above 20 percent.

Officials are urging the public to conserve water as the dry spell continues.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Former CPC Refinery division CEO Xu Han, who was arrested in Tai-tung last
night, has been detained without communications.

The Qiao-tou District Court said this morning that Xu could flee again or
collude with accomplices and witnesses, and that the charges laid against him
are serious.

Xu jumped bail on the 19th by removing his electronic ankle bracelet and took
a train from Kaohsiung to Ping-tung.

He had remained missing until police found him hiding at a bed and breakfast
in Taitung's Tai-mai-li together with his driver last night.

That's after the Court sentenced him to 25 years of imprisonment yesterday
morning for corruption and other offenses.

According to prosecutors, Xu made over 17 million NT in illegal profits by
asking for bribe money from contractors in his capacity as the CPC official
between 2019 and 2022.

He was released on 5-million-NT bail in 2023, but then put under electronic
monitoring in May last year.

His lawyer has protested against his detention.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

The Ministry of Labor has amended the Labor Pension Act to give pension
recipients more time to change their minds about how they're going to get
their pension payments.

The MOL says workers who choose to receive monthly pension payments will now
have a 30-day grace period after their first payment to switch to a lump-sum
payout.

This new rule will start taking effect on the 27th.

The Ministry also seeks to strengthen employer compliance, making it clear
that employers cannot refuse to process workers’ voluntary pension
contributions.

Employers failing to comply will face fines and late payment penalties
starting August 1st.

The Ministry says the revisions are designed to safeguard basic retirement
rights and improve how 13 million workers can use their pension funds.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Taiwan shares rose today as did most other Asian stock markets over the
possibilities of a de-escalation of the Iran war.

The Taiex rose 826 points, or 2.5-percent., to end the session at 33,439.

The turnover was 624.7 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-25 14:06:13

Formosa Chemicals and Fibre Corporation is warning customers of potential
supply shortages starting next month as fighting in the Middle East disrupts
global shipping lanes.

The company says it is declaring "Force Majeure" because it cannot get enough
raw materials through the Strait of Hormuz.

This legal move allows a company to miss contract deadlines due to
unpredictable events like war or natural disasters.

Formosa Chemicals says it will prioritize its domestic customers and those
with existing contracts in April.

However, the company warns that if the war continues, it may completely run
out of some materials by May.

Two other major firms, Formosa Petrochemical and Formosa Plastics, issued
similar warnings earlier this month.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-25 13:08:13

The finance ministry says it will review a new tax policy for small
restaurants following concerns that the rules could drive up food prices.

The Ministry of Finance recently announced that popular local eateries with
monthly sales over $200-thousand NT will no longer be exempt from issuing
official receipts starting in 2029.

But during a legislative hearing today, lawmakers warned that the shops may
pass the extra costs of bookkeeping and taxes onto customers.

There are currently about 70-thousand small restaurants in Taiwan that pay a
flat tax rate.

Government data shows about 5,300 of those shops have monthly sales that
exceed the $200-thousand NT limit.

The finance minsitry says it will conduct a full review of the policy a year
after it goes into effect, and officials will use the next three years to
help these businesses prepare for the change.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-25 13:08:13

Taiwan's convenience store chains, led by Uni-President 7-Eleven, will all
join the Earth Hour campaign by turning off their signage lights for one or
two hours.

Uni-President said the signboard lights will be shut across over seven
thousand 7-Eleven stores and other subsidiaries including Mister Donut, COLD
STONE, Starbucks and Cosmed between 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM on Saturday.

The company said it has also invited 7-Eleven in the Philippines to join the
campaign, and more than 4-thousand 500 stores there have agreed to do so.

It's expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by three thousand kilograms.

Meanwhile FamilyMart and OK Mart both said they are participating in Earth
Hour as well, and will switch off signage lights for one hour starting at
8:30 p.m. on the 28th.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-25 11:07:13

Former CPC Executvie Hsu Han reportedly hid out at a Taitung bed n breakfast
after jumping bail in his corruption case.

The owner of the guesthouse where Hsu stayed said that a driver brought Hsu
to the BNB, claiming that his brother was suffering from an illness and
needed a place to stay.

Because the driver had previously stayed at the guesthouse, the owner did not
feel the need to check the identification of the two men.

The owner said that Hsu and the driver both wore masks while they were at the
guesthouse, which he thought was strange, but said that he was not paying
attention to the news.

The owner said that last night four police cars suddenly appeared to arrest
Hsu, who cooperated with police instruction.

Hsu was sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison for 11 counts of
corruption.

He went missing nearly a week ago after removing his ankle monitor.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-25 11:07:13

The Central Weather Administration says, areas north of Taichung can expect
slightly cooler weather and some cloud cover today...

while temperatures will rebound slightly tomorrow.

The east is also expected to have some scattered rain showers during the same
period, while the south and center can expect continued warmer temperatures.

Meanwhile the CWA has also issued a dense fog advisory for Taoyuan and Mazu
through this afternoon.

Meterologists say that those two areas have already seen visibility fall to
less than 200 meters.

Although forecasters expect more moderate temperatures in the north through
Friday, they say weekend temperatures will be "summer-like" before dropping
again early next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-25 09:06:14

And,

An exhibition honoring the career of basketball's Lin Chih-chieh will open in
Taipei in late May at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

According to the Plus League's Taipei Fubon Braves, the "Be the Beast"
exhibition will tell the story of the 43-year-old shooting guard's journey
from street courts to professional arenas.s.

Lin began his professional career in 2001 with Taiwan Beer in the Super
Basketball League, before joining the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese
Basketball Association in 2009.

He returned to Taiwan in 2019, when he joined the Fubon Braves.

Lin announced his retirement in October of last year 2025.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Credit information agency, CRIF Taiwan is warning that the island faces
rising risks to consumer prices and energy supply as the US war with Iran
enters its fourth week.

According to the agency, pressure is building on supply chains, which could
affect energy supply stability, oil prices, consumer prices and exchange rate
movements here in Taiwan.

The agency says the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could prevent
natural gas shipments from Qatar from arriving on schedule, increasing
pressure on supply ...

... and companies face compounded pressure when oil prices rise and the New
Taiwan dollar weakens because crude oil and natural gas imports are priced in
U-S dollars.

CRIF Taiwan says the New Taiwan dollar's real purchasing power has declined
by between 3 and 5-per cent since the war began, increasing inflation
pressure on imports.

The organization is projecting that large restaurant chains may introduce
price increases of about 5 to 10-per cent from next month due to rising
ingredient and transportation costs.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urged the Danish government to correct its
description of Taiwan on residence permits that implies Taiwan is part of the
People's Republic of China or face retaliatory measures.

Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei says the Lai administration has
"condemned" the Danish government's listing of the nationality of Taiwanese
citizens on residence permits as "China" ...

.. which is not consistent with the longstanding foreign policy of European
Union member states nor with the principles of democracy and human rights.

According to Hsiao, the government has repeatedly issued protests to
Copenhagen in recent years, calling on it to correct the designation, but has
received no response so far.

Hsiao says if the Danish government continues to ignore the request due to
pressure from Beijing, the Lai administration will launch retaliatory
measures.

However, the foreign ministry spokesman did not say what those measures might
be.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung last week said the government has asked other
friendly nations around the world to jointly urge Copenhagen to make the
necessary changes as soon as possible.

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration has said the
listing is not a mistake, but reflects the Danish government's position that
it does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country and considers it
"under China."

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Kaohsiung Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office says a former C-P-C
executive who went missing days before being sentenced to 25 years in prison
for corruption earlier this week has been detained in Taitung.

According to the prosecutors' office, Hsu Han was arrested Jinfeng Township.

However, prosecutors have not said how authorities managed to track him down.

Hsu went missing on March 19 after removing his ankle monitor in Pingtung's
Wanluan Township.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Ciaotou District Court on
Monday.

The court found him guilty on 11 counts of corruption related to his
receiving 16-million N-T in bribes for steering eight purchasing contracts
worth almost 1-billion N-T to select companies ..

... and of holding an additional 4-million N-T in assets for which he failed
to explain the sources.

The district court verdict can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Criminal Investigation Bureau has confirmed reports that a Taiwanese
suspect linked to a money laundering case has been shot dead in Cambodia.

The statement comes after T-V-B-S reported that Lin Ping-wen was shot late
Monday night in the port city of Sihanoukville in south-west Cambodia.

According to the bureau, Cambodian authorities are still investigating the
circumstances surrounding to his death.

Taiwan's representative office in Ho Chi Minh City is assisting Lin's family
with various arrangements.

Lin was indicted by the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office in February
of 2023 for suspected money laundering in a case linked to Kuo Che-min - who
operated a now shuttered private club in Taipei called "88 Lounge."

Lin subsequently failed to appear in court after jumping bail and an a
warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2024.

Kuo was arrested in Thailand in July of 2023, repatriated to Taiwan and later
indicted for violating the Banking Act and Money Laundering Control Act.

Posted on 2026-03-25 08:08:13

The Water Resources Agency has raised its water alert level for the Taichung
area to green.

The green alert signals the strengthening of water supply allocation
measures,

The agency says Taichung's alert level was adjusted because water flow in the
Daan River remains low due to a lack of rainfall and the Liyutan Reservoir is
currently about 30-per cent full, significantly below levels seen in recent
years for the same period.

According to the agency, it is now prioritizing using water from the Dajia
River, drawing from drought-resistant wells in Taichung, and using subsurface
water as a supplementary source without affecting irrigation.

Science and industrial parks in Taichung will reduce water use by 7-per cent
voluntarily.

While the agricultural department will implement scheduled irrigation and
gate management to conserve water.

The Water Resources Agency has opted to leave the Hsinchu area's water alert
level at yellow, with reduced-pressure water supply from 10 PM to 5AM
continuing there.

However, the agency says this will not affect household or industrial water
supplies.

Yellow indicates reduced water pressure and partial supply suspensions in the
public sector.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:13

Taiwan Space Agency Director-General Wu Cong-xin 吳宗信 says he believes
recent passage of Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act will accelerate
the development of Taiwan-US cooperation in the space field.

Speaking at a discussion hosted by the Washington D.C.-based Center for
Strategic and International Studies, Wu said the U-S holds a leading edge in
space technology, while Taiwan has strong manufacturing capabilities.

According to Wu, that means, U-S companies can leverage Taiwan's strengths to
accelerate and industrialize the space sector and related infrastructure,
with both sides able to quickly finalize a cooperation framework.

Wu said that Taiwan's globally recognized strengths in electronics,
semiconductors, and precision manufacturing are already supporting various
space projects, including a planned lunar data center and equipment for
NASA's Perseverance Mars mission.

Wu is currently visiting Washington D.C., and says his trip is aimed at
strengthening ties with U-S industry and positioning Taiwan as a reliable
player in the global space supply chain.

The Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act was approved by a Senate
committee earlier this month.

The legislation seeks to expand cooperation between the Taiwan Space Agency,
NASA and the U-S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

The New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted the China-born
chairwoman of the Taiwan New Immigrants Development Association.

Xu Chunying 徐春鶯 has been charged with violating the Anti-Infiltration Act
and financial crimes.

According to the prosecutors' office, Xu frequently traveled to China under
the pretext of providing services for Chinese spouses, but met with Chinese
officials and regularly reported on Taiwan politics and elections.

Prosecutors say she sought assistance from China to organize other Chinese
spouses to campaign in support of Huang Shan-shan's 2022 Taipei mayoral run
as an independent candidate and to support Ko Wen-je is is his 2024
presidential campaign ....

.. action's prosecutors say violated of the Anti-Infiltration Act.

Prosecutors also say she "expressed her loyalty" to the Chinese Communist
Party.

Xu has also been charged with violations of the Banking Act, and with fraud
and forgery under the Criminal Code.

She has been accused of operating an illegal underground currency exchange
between 2020 and 2025, and illegally obtained a 26-million N-T loan.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

The Taiwan Higher Education Union says it will send a list of new member
teachers from the National Taiwan Normal University's Mandarin Training
Center to the school to begin the collective bargaining process.

The statement comes after teachers at the Mandarin Training Center protested
their working conditions last Friday.

They're accusing the university of failing to grant them basic rights such as
offering sick leave, marital leave and annual leave.

The teachers have released a draft collective agreement that requires the
university to comply with Labor Standards Act provisions on stable
employment, transparent systems for hiring, pay, evaluations and course
assignments, and better salaries and treatment.

Higher education union secretary-general Chang Zhi-lun 張志綸 says under the
Collective Agreement Act, a union may initiate negotiations if more than half
of the employees in the bargaining unit are union members.

According to Chang, more than two-thirds of Mandarin Training Center teachers
had joined the union as of last Friday.

The university has said it will verify the union's legal bargaining status
based on the Collective Agreement Act and will review the union's group
agreement draft.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

The Ministry of Finance says seven of the 17 10-million N-T winning receipts
from the November-December uniform invoice lottery remain unclaimed.

The winners have until May 5 to redeem their prizes.

The unclaimed receipts include one for a 173 N-T phone bill in Keelung, while
others were for a 5,913 N-T purchase at a Costco in Taipei's Neihu District,
a 49 N-T purchase at a FamilyMart in New Taipei's Tamsui District ..

... and a 500 N-T purchase at a tea shop in Shulin District in New Taipei.

Seven 2-million N-T grand prize receipts have yet to be redeemed.

The winning numbers for the January-February lottery will be released today.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

A survey by the Child Welfare League Foundation shows that nearly one in five
schoolchildren show signs of social anxiety.

According to foundation, the survey found that 18.6-per cent of children
exhibit traits associated with social anxiety and even among those who
self-identified as extroverts, 11.2-per cent still met the criteria.

The foundation is warning that some outwardly active children may be masking
anxiety - as children with social anxiety are significantly less likely to
express themselves.

The survey found that some 16.2-per cent of them said they rarely interact
with others in real life, compared with 8.2-per cent of other children

Meanwhile, 18.3-per cent of respondents said they are too nervous to express
themselves online, versus 4.3-per cent of their peers.

The foundation says family and peer dynamics may be associated with the
condition - as the survey showed that socially anxious children were more
likely to report being scolded or questioned about schoolwork at home.

Posted on 2026-03-25 06:54:17

And,

Premier Cho Jung-tai has confirmed that deputy trade representative Yen
Hui-shin has recently died.

She was 53.

Speaking a legislative hearing, Cho said he learned of Yen's death after
receiving her resignation and found that she had been suffering from health
issues for a long time due to stress from her job.

According to Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee, Yen made important
contributions to Taiwan-US tariff negotiations, before taking leave for
"health reasons" last September and submited her resignation at the beginning
of March.

The United Daily News has reported that Yen was hospitalized with an
unspecified illness at the beginning of the year and died on March 12.

News of her death was kept quiet until after her memorial service was held on
Monday on the wishes of her family.

Yen was the daughter of former Finance Minister Yen Ching-chang.

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

The Centres for Disease Control has confirmed Taiwan's first
enterovirus-related death of the year.

According to the CDC, the patient was a girl under the age of ten from
southern Taiwan with no underlying conditions.

She first sought treatment for vomiting and was diagnosed with acute
gastroenteritis, but later developed headache, diarrhea, and weakness, and
was found to have both enterovirus and rotavirus.

Health officials say enterovirus-related visits have risen in recent weeks
and are expected to remain steady or rise slightly before the Tomb Sweeping
holiday, with a more noticeable increase afterward.

They added that four severe cases have been recorded so far this year,
including the one death.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

Doctors in Taiwan say about 30 to 40 percent of infertility cases are linked
to male factors ... such as low sperm count and lifestyle habits.

They say this is often a case of so-called secondary infertility, where
couples struggle to have a second child even after a successful first birth.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
fertility declines after 35, with a higher risk of abnormalities.

Doctors also note that some women may develop conditions after childbirth
that can affect pregnancy.

Heterosexual couples trying to have a baby are advised to seek medical
evaluation if pregnancy does not occur after a year, or after six months for
women over 35.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

A 58-year-old woman from Palau has become the first patient referred to
Taiwan for a living-donor liver transplant.

The women, known as "Mildred", received a liver donation from her 33-year-old
son Chad, who works as a firefighter.

She had a chronic autoimmune liver disease, and doctors estimated her
two-year survival rate at less than 40 percent.

After four years of treatment between Taiwan and Palau, her condition
worsened.

The 12-hour transplant surgery was carried out last August at Mackay Memorial
Hospital, where she received 60 percent of her son's liver.

Her son was discharged after 10 days, while Mildred left hospital on day 25
... and is now set to return to Palau.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 20:10:14

Tainan City will make its debut at the UK's International Food and Drink
Event in London ... which kicks off on March 30th.

A "Tainan Pavilion" will be set up to showcase the city's agricultural,
fishery, and processed products ... with a design centered on a broader
"Taiwan" theme that blends cultural and agricultural elements.

Officials say selected items are tailored to European tastes to help expand
market opportunities.

They added that the city has seen strong export results in recent years,
including 500 million NT in orders at the recent FOODEX JAPAN 2026 in Tokyo,
along with growing sales to Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

Tainan says the event will serve as a platform to promote its products,
enhance brand visibility, and boost international exposure while highlighting
its cultural and agricultural identity.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

The Criminal Investigation Bureau has confirmed that a Taiwanese fugitive
linked to the "88 Lounge" money laundering case was shot dead in Cambodia
last night.

The suspect, 55-year-old Lin Ping-wen (林秉文) was found in a secluded area
of Sihanoukville.

Preliminary reports from Cambodian police suggest the murder was a
premeditated ambush involving three to four suspects who fled the scene.

Lin had been a wanted fugitive since 2023 after failing to appear in court
for his alleged role in an underground gambling and remittance network.

The case drew significant attention due to its links to a private Taipei club
frequented by government officials.

Taiwanese authorities are working with Cambodian authorities to investigate
the shooting and assist Lin’s family with arrangements.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

Taiwan High Speed Rail is partnering with the Pingtung County Government to
launch special travel packages for a festival starting next month.

The "2026 Hengchun Festival" will take place over two weekends in April at
Hengchun’s North Gate Square.

To mark the event, the rail company is offering a one-day tour from Taipei
for $3-thousand-100 NT.

The package includes round-trip train tickets, meals, and guided tours to the
festival and the newly renovated Chuhuo Special Scenic Area.

The company is also offering packages including an overnight stay at the
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Kenting, or rides on the
"Breezy Blue" antique train.

Rail officials say these deals are designed to let travelers explore the
Hengchun Peninsula at their own pace.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-24 16:09:14

Taiwan says it will rename South Korea on its official entry forms next month
if Seoul does not stop listing Taiwan as part of China on its electronic
travel documents.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says South Korea’s electronic arrival card
currently labels Taiwan as "CHINA (TAIWAN)."

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says that if South Korea does not fix the
error by March 31-st, Taiwan will change the label for South Korea to "KOREA
(SOUTH)" on its own arrival forms starting April 1-st.

The ministry has already changed the name of "Korea" to "South Korea" on
resident certificates for foreign nationals as of March 1-st.

The South Korean representative office in Taipei has told the ministry that
the Korean government is working on a solution that should be acceptable to
Taiwan.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:13

DPP Lawmaker Puma Shen says he will "respect" the decision made by the DPP
election strategy committee regarding their choice of nominee for the Taipei
mayorship.

Shen has been named several times as being one of the top candidates for the
office.

Shen previously said he was not interested in running for mayor, with focus
now largely having shifted to Vice Premier Zheng Li Jun...

but Zheng reportedly has expressed little interest in running.

Shen today said that his attention is currently on his positions within the
DPP's legislative caucus and the foreign affairs and defense committee.

DPP caucus secretary-general Zhuang Rui-xiong also declined to name a likely
nominee to challenge Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:15

The Interior Minister has insisted that she deals with policy relating to new
immigrants- including so-called "mainland spouses"- in accordance with the
law.

Liu Shih-fang was responding to TPP founder Ko Wen-je, who called her
treatment of TPP lawmaker Li Zhen-hsiu “Nazi-like” and a form of racial
discrimination.

Liu says today that she believes Ke's understanding of the situation to be
incorrect, adding that his statements reflected a clear bias.

Liu also notes that government data in 2023 showed that the vast majority of
voters approved of the government's treatment of immigrants and mainland
spouses.

Liu adds that the Interior Ministry's treatment of those with dual
nationality seeking public office has been consistent.

However, the KMT has long criticized Liu for deliberately applying the
Nationality Act to Li’s case, saying that only the Relations between Taiwan
and Mainland Act should apply.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-03-24 15:06:15

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging Denmark to correct its
classification of Taiwanese nationals on residence permits.

It also warns of possible countermeasures without elaborating.

Officials say Denmark currently lists Taiwanese citizens as 'China', a move
Taipei has condemned as inaccurate and inconsistent with democratic values.

The ministry says it has repeatedly raised the issue with Copenhagen over the
years, but has received no response.

According to a Danish-language newspaper, Denmark is the only European Union
member state that lists Taiwanese nationality as China rather than Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-03-24 14:07:13

Premier Chuo Rung-tai has downplayed the government's about-face in energy
policies, saying that the Cabinet will stick to the 3 principles before
restarting the No. 2 and No. 3 nuclear power plants.

These include ensuring nuclear safety, proper disposal of nuclear waste, and
building social consensus.

Facing doubts and protests from anti-nuclear civil groups and some DPP
lawmakers, Chuo today insisted that "there's a long way to go" for the
procedures to be complete.

He also said that there are currently no discussions regarding an emergency
order from the Presidential Office to speed up the power plants reactivation.

Opposition KMT lawmakers are urging President Lai Ching-te to issue the order
after he announced over the weekend that the two nuclear power plants met the
conditions for reactivation.

Otherwise, the No. 3 plant is not expected to begin operations until 2028.

The premier says efforts are underway to secure natural gas supplies through
June, and if energy reserves are adequate for the rest of the year, an
emergency order may not be needed.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-24 14:07:13

Taiwan shares rebounded today like most other Asian stock markets.

The Taiex gained 110 points to end the session at 32,612.

But the turnover shrank to 664.3 billion NT as investors turned more cautious
amid uncertainties.

Posted on 2026-03-24 13:07:13

A new study suggests that one in five elementary school students in Taiwan
suffers from social anxiety, with many struggling to handle conflicts or make
friends.

The Child Welfare League Foundation released its 2026 report today after
surveying more than 1,200 fifth and sixth graders.

The data shows that children with such social anxiety are nearly four times
more likely to want to skip school compared to their peers, and over
60-percent of these students suffer from insomnia almost every day.

In addition, more than half of the students surveyed said they do not know
how to express their true feelings, and nearly 40-percent said they do not
know how to make friends, marking a significant increase from seven years
ago.

The foundation is calling on parents to offer emotional support instead of
criticism when children face social setbacks.

It also urges schools to teach students how to manage conflicts and rebuild
relationships.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-24 13:07:13

The family of an EVA Air flight attendant who died after working while ill
last year has filed a criminal charges for negligent homicide.

The Taoyuan Flight Attendants' Union, who speaks for the family, says the
family has taken legal action against the purser on duty, surnamed Yang, as
well as EVA Air Chairman Lin Bao-shui (林寶水).

The Union says after the flight attendant's death, the carrier only punished
Yang with a demerit and reassignment, but didn't release the results of its
probe or allow the family to participate.

The flight attendant worked round-trip flights between Taiwan and Milan in
late September last year, during which her condition reportedly worsened
rapidly but she still continued working.

She died on October 10th after returning to Taiwan.

The family argues that the failure to provide timely medical care and
assistance directly contributed to her death.

The Labor Ministry's investigations has concluded that the airline's
excessive use of attendance management seriously restricted employees’
ability to take sick leave, with most crew members “almost afraid” to call
in sick.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-24 09:06:13

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng has refused to answer
questions from Taiwan People's Party lawmaker-at-large Li Zhenxiu during a
legislative committee session.

It comes as Li is continuing to face allegations she failed to renounce her
Chinese citizenship.

Chiu claimed during the hearing that it would be "illegal" to answer someone
not legally qualified to hold office ..

... and told attendees at a meeting of the Legislature's Internal
Administration Committee that "if an administrative official responds to
questions from someone who is not qualified to serve as a legislator, that
would be unconstitutional and illegal."

The council minister went to accuse Li of failing to fulfill her obligation
under the Nationality Act to demonstrate "sole allegiance to the Republic of
China" ...

... by referring to Article 20 of the act, which stipulates that R-O-C
nationals with nationalities of another country "shall have no right to hold
government offices of the R-O-C."

The response came after Li made the opening remarks during the committee
hearing - in which she said that neither the Mainland Affairs Council, the
Ministry of the Interior, nor the Cabinet had the authority to determine the
status of a lawmaker.

Posted on 2026-03-24 09:06:13

The DPP says, it plans to meet again to discuss nominations for several
candidates to run for mayoral and magisterial positions early next month.

DPP Spokesperson Wu Zheng says that he expects several of those nominations
to be more concrete following the next election committee meeting on April
7th.

The party currently has yet to nominate candidates in Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu City and County, Hualien, Kinmen, and Mazu.

Wu noted that the nomination for Taoyuan mayor is nearly finalized, while the
Taipei position remains uncertain.

Wu added that he believed the pool of candidates in the Taipei race had
slimmed down slightly following recent meetings...

with recent media reports naming Vice Premier Zheng Li Jun as a leading
option.

Wu noted that DPP Secretary General Xu Guo Yong is hoping to expedite the
process, and said the nominations would hopefully be largely finalized early
next month.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Control Yuan is calling on courts to hand down tougher sentences for
military personnel convicted of spying for China and violating national
security laws.

It comes after the government watchdog investigated two cases involving
military personnel.

The investigations were carried out by the Control Yuan's Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee and Judiciary and Prison Administration Committee.

According to the committees, the average prison sentences handed down in
cases involving national security and military personnel from 2017 to last
year was too low.

Data shows such sentences handed down by district courts averaged 12.8
months, those handed down by the High Court averaged 18.1 month, while the
average sentence handed down by the Supreme Court stood at 27.8 months.

The Control Yuan says the average sentences are often lighter than those
handed down by courts for elected officials convicted of bribery or people
found guilty of trafficking in category 1 or 2 drugs.

And the government watchdog says the light sentences for violating national
security laws do not act as deterrent.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:18

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says it is "feasible" that the first of 66
F-16V fighter jets purchased from the United States could be delievered to
Taiwan in September.

Speaking at a legislative hearing, Koo told lawmakers that 59 F-16Vs are
currently on the assembly line in the U-S, and if testing of the first
aircraft proceeds smoothly, it could be delivered in the third quarter.

The statement comes after the Ministry of National Defense issued a statement
this past weekend in which it said officials were shown the first of the 66
aircraft during a visit to the U-S last week.

A delegation led by Vice Defense Minister Hsu Si-jien visited Lockheed
Martin's F-16 assembly line in South Carolina on March 16.

According to the defense ministry, the aircraft will undergo a final
acceptance flight in the U-S before being delivered to Taiwan.

The first two F-16Vs purchased from the U-S were originally slated to be
delivered to Taiwan before the end of 2023, but the scheduled has been
revised numerous times since then.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:19

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a new trade and economic
office it says is aimed at boosting ties with the island's diplomatic allies.

The ministry says the new office has been created based on public-private
sector partnership approach and is based on the Central America Trade Office
- which works to encourage businesses to form social enterprises.

According to Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, twelve companies and
organizations have already joined the new trade and economic office and have
each provided 2-million N-T to the support the initiative.

Lin says those companies all have their own established distribution channels
to promote products from Taiwan's diplomatic allies, help them receive
organic certification and create local job opportunities.

The new trade and economic office is part of the government's Diplomatic
Allies Prosperity Project.

That project was created by the foreign minister and seeks to assist in
development projects in allied countries related to smart medicine,
sustainable tourism, sovereign AI and digital governance.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:19

A migrant worker has died after a fire broke out at a scrap metal and auto
recycling facility in Tainan's Rende District.

The cause of the blaze is now under investigation.

According to the Tainan City Fire Bureau, the fire at the open-air facility
on Bao'an Road was reported at around 7:15 last night and firefighters
brought it under control about an hour later.

Initial checks indicated one male migrant worker was missing and possibly
trapped inside.

However, rescuers were unable to enter due to the intensity of the fire.

Firefighters discovered the body of a man on the second floor of a
metal-sheet structure after the blaze had been extinguished.

Posted on 2026-03-24 08:13:21

And finally,

The Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 10 people for laundering
more than 33-billion N-T in illicit gambling gains through casinos in Macau.

According to the prosecutors' office, it opened the investigation in November
of last year after the Criminal Investigation Bureau received information
about a criminal group recruiting "money mules" to launder funds overseas.

Several raids were carried out in Taipei, Taichung and New Taipei, during
which nearly two dozen people were arrested.

The primary suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man remain at large
and are wanted on a 20-year arrest warrant.

The money mules traveled to Macau and use the credit cards at local casinos,
exchange funds for chips, pretend to gamble, and later convert the chips back
into legal currency in Macau.

Prosecutors say they traced over 278-million N-T processed by the mules,
while the total funds flowing through various accounts in the scheme reached
33-billion N-T.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the government's proposed 1.25-trillion
N-T special defense budget is the most comprehensive among competing
proposals and it supports long-term domestic weapons production.

The statement comes as lawmakers on the legislative Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee and the Finance Committee began reviewing three
special defense budget bills.

Along with reviewing the Cabinet's proposal, lawmaker are also reviewing the
K-M-T's 380-billion N-T proposal and the Taiwan People's Party 400-billion
N-T special defense budget proposal.

According to Koo, the government's proposal doesn't just focus on financing
US-made weapon systems already approved by Washington, but also covers
domestically produced weapons systems.

Both the K-M-T and T-P-P have criticized the Cabinet's proposal for including
domestic production programs from this year through 2033.

They've describing it as being fiscally irresponsible and argue funding for
locally made weapons systems should be made through the annual general
budget.

However, the defense ministry says acquiring drones through the annual
general defense budget would only meet the military's needs on a year-to-year
basis and would not support the long-term development of local drone makers.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Anti-nuclear political parties are demanding the government cease making
plans to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung and the
Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei.

The call comes after President Lai Ching-te this past weekend annouced that
his administration is reviewing a possible restart of the power plants.

An alliance of political parties opposed to a return to nuclear powers
includes the Green Party Taiwan, the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, the New
Power Party and the Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party.

They argue that amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act
made last year do not mean nuclear power plants can simply be brought back
on-line, but are a legislative basis for the continuation of operations.

According to the alliance, disposal sites for both low and high-level nuclear
waste have yet to be found and two nuclear power plants are in geologically
active areas prone to earthquakes - which poses a danger to public safety.

The alliance says the government should withdraw Tai-Power's ongoing review
process of the feasibility of restarting the plants.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is reiterating that Taiwan has stable
supplies of natural gas to last through the end of May.

The statement comes amid concerns of major disruptions to Qatari liquefied
natural gas supplies due the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran and the closure
of the Strait of Hormuz.

There have also been reports that L-N-G supplies from the Middle East could
end within 10 days.

According to the ministry, the government has made preparations for schedules
for the shipment of natural gas for the next two months and there is no
natural gas shortage crisis.

The economics ministry says it's also stepping-up plans to increase shipments
of natural gas imports from regions outside the Middle East in June to ensure
continuing stable supplies.

The ministry is also stressing that it has established an energy response
team - which is carrying out inventory checks on natural gas supplies on a
daily basis.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says President Lai Ching-te has been invited
to make a state visit to Eswatini.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Eswatini Cultural Fair in New Taipei,
Lin said the Kingdom has invited Lai to attend events marking the 58th
anniversary of Eswatini's independence and King Mswati III's 58th birthday.

Lin also said this year marks 58th anniversary of Eswatini's establishing
ties with Taiwan.

According to the foreign minister, he was hugley impressed when he visited
the Southern African country in April of last year - and that trip took place
as the two sides are expanding trade and investment and Taiwan establishes an
industrial innovation park there.

The Presidential Office has not released any information concerning Lai's
possible trip to Eswatini.

The Eswatini Cultural Fair has been organized by natural products retailer,
Leezen - which is owned and operated by Bliss and Wisdom, a Taiwanese
Buddhist organization - and the the government-backed International
Cooperation and Development Fund.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

The Kaohsiung Ciaotou District Court has sentenced a former C-P-C executive
to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty on 11 counts corruption.

The ruling was handed down despite Hsu Han being absent from the court after
he removed his ankle monitor and disappeared last week.

Police recovered the broken device in Pingtung's Wanluan Township.

The court said it requested Hsu's guarantor bring the defendant to court, but
he failed to show up.

Along with handing down the 25 year prison sentence, the also court forfeited
his 5-million N-T bail and issued an arrest warrant.

The court found Han guilty of receiving 16-million N-T in bribes for steering
eight purchasing contracts worth almost 1-billion N-T to select companies ..

... and of holding an additional 4-million N-T in assets for which he failed
to explain the sources.

The district court verdict can be appealed.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

3 years

The Ministry of Digital Affairs says more than 1,100 Employment Gold Cards
have been issued to foreign professionals in Taiwan's digital sector over the
past three years.

According to the ministry, a total of 1,124 cards had been granted as of
February this year, after digital-sector eligibility was introduced in May of
2023.

The ministry's Administration for Digital Industries says about 60-per cent
of recipients specialize in software development, followed by computer
programming and digital content production or distribution, internet security
and e-commerce.

Around 30-per cent of recipients are from the United States, while India and
Singapore each account for about 6-per cent.

The Employment Gold Card program was launched by the National Development
Council in 2018.

It aims to attract skilled professionals in 12 fields, including digital
technology, finance, arts and culture, law, and science and technology.

Posted on 2026-03-24 07:03:14

And,

The Nature Conservation Agency says the population of endangered Formosan
black bears has been initially estimated at around 1,200.

According to the agency, the estimate is based on recent nationwide
monitoring data, but remains preliminary pending more comprehensive local
population density data.

A more precise number is expected by the end of this year.

The new estimate follows a 2025 report showing increased bear activity, with
monitoring data since 2011 indicating the population is expanding from
mountain areas into foothills and plains near human settlements.

Human-bear encounters are rising due to that.

Authorities recorded 15 reported such cases in 2025 and four so far this
year.

Most sightings have occurred in Hualien and Taitung, as well as in Taichung,
Kaohsiung, Miaoli, Chiayi, and within Yushan and Shei-Pa National Parks.

The Formosan black bear is endemic to Taiwan and is listed as an endangered
species under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

Posted on 2026-03-23 18:18:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung says Taipei will take further action if South
Korea does not correct how it labels Taiwan in its online immigration system.

Lin announced a March 31st deadline for Seoul to change its current
designation of Taiwan as 'China (Taiwan)', which Taiwan says undermines its
sovereignty.

If no changes are made, Taiwan will respond by altering South Korea’s name
in its own system to 'Korea (South)'.

Taiwan has already taken a first step this month, changing how South Korean
nationals are labeled on residence permits.

Lin noted that South Korea previously asked Taiwan to use its official name,
'Republic of Korea', a request Taipei honored.

However, he says Seoul has not shown the same respect in return.

The dispute began after South Korea launched a new digital entry system in
February last year, replacing paper arrival cards, listing Taiwan as 'China
(Taiwan)'.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-23 18:18:13

Forestry officials estimate there are now about 1,200 Taiwan black bears in
the wild, leading to a new plan to build a permanent shelter for bears that
repeatedly clash with humans.

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says the bear population is
growing and moving into lower elevations, resulting in more reports of bears
entering human areas, mostly in Hualien and Taitung.

To manage these conflicts, the agency is planning a long-term shelter in
Taitung, expected to be completed by 2028.

Under new rules, a bear that invades chicken coops or farms three times will
be kept in permanent captivity instead of being released back into the wild.

Officials say they currently try to retrain bears to teach them to avoid
human food.

Until the new center is built, the agency says it will work with the Taipei
Zoo and other partners to house bears that can no longer live in the wild.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

The ruling DPP is stepping up efforts to choose its candidate for the Taipei
mayoral race.

Party Secretary-General Xu Guo-yong met Taipei party officials today to
gather views on the 2026 election.

Most DPP lawmakers and local officials named Vice Premier Zheng Li-jun
(鄭麗君) as their top choice, who over the past several months led Taiwan's
trade negotiation with the United States.

They also urged the party to speed up the nomination process to next month as
other cities move ahead.

However, officials said the decision depends on Zheng's willingness and
progress in tariff negotiations.

Other names discussed included lawmakers Wang Shi-Jian and Puma Shen and
Forward Alliance Founder Enoch Wu.

If Zheng declines, some see Wang as a strong alternative candidate, an idea
that Wang has resisted.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

Yunlin prosecutors have indicted 10 people for running a cross-border money
laundering ring that used credit cards at Macau casinos to hide billions in
illegal gambling profits.

The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office says the ring recruited high-income
professionals to act as "couriers", who would swipe credit cards at casinos
to get chips, pretend to gamble, and cash out the remaining chips for clean
currency.

Officials say the group processed an estimated $33 billion NT in suspicious
cash.

Police have carried out four raids in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taichung since
last November, and the two alleged leaders of the group remain at large.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 17:09:13

Taipei is expanding facilities to improve rest areas for teachers.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an said a pilot plan launched in 16 schools last year will
expand to 30 to 50 schools this year.

The city's Department of Education says each school can receive up to 1.45
million NT in funding ... with a total budget of 50 million NT planned for
the 2026 program.

At Songshan High School, pilot facilities include massage chairs and shared
spaces for dining or meetings.

Spaces are scheduled for both professional activities and relaxation, and a
set timetable that prioritizes professional learning activities at certain
times.

Mayor Chiang said he understands the pressure teachers face, and he hopes
dedicated rest spaces will help retain talent and attract more people into
education.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Environmental officials are warning of poor air quality across western Taiwan
through Thursday due to trapped local pollution and incoming smog.

The Ministry of Environment says the Air Quality Index is reaching the
"orange alert" level in many areas. Low wind speeds and heavy fog are
preventing local pollutants from clearing.

At the same time, offshore pollution from the Chinese coast is drifting over
Taiwan and is expected to linger until March 26-th.

Data shows PM2.5 levels reaching up to 50 micrograms per cubic meter in
western Taiwan, and levels along the western coast are even higher.

Conditions are expected to improve starting Friday afternoon as southwest
winds pick up, but for now, the ministry is advising residents in affected
areas to take protective measures.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Animal health officials have culled more than 62-thousand chickens at a farm
in central Taiwan after confirming an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1
avian influenza.

Changhua County officials say the infection was detected at a farm in
Fang-yuan Township during routine monitoring, and workers finished culling
birds and disinfecting the facility yesterday.

Officials say recent large temperature swings have stressed hens and lowered
resistance to disease.

They say failing to report suspicious deaths or a drop in egg production can
lead to fines of up to $1 million NT.

The county says it will continue to monitor nearby farms to prevent the virus
from spreading further.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-03-23 14:06:13

Asian shares were slipping today as oil prices continued to climb after the
conflict in the Middle East escalated.

Benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul fell sharply, down more than 3 percent and 6
percent respectively, while Hong Kong and Shanghai both dropped over more
than 2 percent.

Taiwan shares were also down today, with the benchmark Taiex losing 821
points, or 2.45-percent, to close the session at 32,722.

The turnover was 675.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-03-23 13:08:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo said today that deliveries of delayed F-16V
fighter jets will finally begin in September with production at "full
capacity".

Koo made the statement after senior defence officials visited the United
States.

The U.S. in 2019 approved an $8 billion-U.S.-dollar, that's 257 billion NT,
sale of 66 new Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that
would take the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets.

Koo said it is not yet possible to estimate how many F-16V fighter jets will
be delivered this year, but the first aircraft is expected to arrive in
Taiwan in the third quarter if it passes all tests smoothly.

He added that there are currently 59 jets on the production line.

The Legislative Yuan’s Defense Committee and Finance Committee are holding
joint meetings over three days starting today to review draft special defense
bills proposed by the Cabinet and opposition parties.

The Cabinet’s proposal totals $1.25 trillion NT over eight years, while
the KMT caucus has proposed a plan worth $380 billion plus additional
funding, and the TPP caucus has put forward a $400 billion proposal.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-23 13:08:13

The Ministry of Labor has defended its latest policy of relaxing the
eligibility requirements for hiring household helpers, saying it is not
intended to replace local nannies.

Labor Minister Hong Shen-han (洪申翰) says one needs professional licenses to
work as a nanny, while foreign helpers are mainly for assisting household
chores.

The Ministry of Labor recently announced that, starting April 13, families
with at least one child under 12 can apply for a foreign household helper.

They will be required to pay a monthly employment stabilization fee of $5,000
NT.

For families with special needs, such as those with children having rare
diseases, the fee will be reduced to $2,000, and their applications will be
given priority review.

Currently households must have three children under the age of six to be
eligible to apply for a foreign helper.

Hong stresses that the policy aims to offer parents peace of mind and ease
their burden as dual-income families become much more common.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex plunged in early trading after surging oil prices sent Wall Street
sharply lower at the end of last week.

The main board fell 1,082-points to drop to 32,461 - as investors were
spooked by the escalating global energy crisis due to the US-Israel war with
Iran.

Market heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price
temporarily fell below the 1,800 N-T mark to reach a low of 1,785, after
shedding 2.99-per cent - which erased 1.42-trillion N-T in market
capitalization

Other heavyweight electronics stocks - including Delta Electronics, MediaTek,
and A-S-E Technology Holdings fell by more than 5-per cent, while Hon Hai
fell by more than 3-per cent.

Oil, electricity, and gas stocks bucked the downward trend and rose sharply.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:14

Police in Kaohsiung are investigating deaths of two Vietnamese migrant
workers.

According to police, the bodies of a man and woman found lying on bed covered
in blood in a an apartment in the city's Gangshan District earlier this
morning.

Police say the brother of the woman called authorities after going to the
apartment and found the front door was locked from the inside.

Law enforcement authorities say there were no signs of struggle or forced
entry into the building.

Police are currently reviewing surveillance footage of the area and the case
has been submitted Qiaotou District Prosecutor's Office for autopsies and
further investigation.

Posted on 2026-03-23 11:06:16

And,

President Lai Ching-te has attended the finals of the High School Basketball
League finals at the Taipei Arena.

The Presidential Office says Lai was accompanied by Sports Minister Lee Yang,
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, and the head of the Chinese Taipei School Sports
Federation.

According to the Presidential Office, Lai attended the finals to show his
support for domestic sporting events.

Lai presented the championship trophies to the women's championship winning
Yangming High School and the men's champion Songshan High School.

Lai praised the players' for their outstanding performances.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Lawmakers are expected to begin reviewing three special defense budget bills
later today.

The bills include the Cabinet's 1.25-trillion N-T proposal, the K-M-T's
380-billion N-T proposal and the Taiwan People's Party 400-billion N-T
proposal.

The bills will be reviewed at a joint session of the Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee and the Finance Committee today, Wednesday and
Thursday.

According to the Legislature's agenda, today's session will focus on
questioning defense officials on the various measures proposed, while
line-by-line reviews of the bills will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

The funding provided for in both the K-M-T and T-P-P bills is enough to cover
the 11.1-billion U-S dollars in arms packages approved for sale to Taiwan by
the U-S in December of last year.

The Ministry of National Defense has said that military investment planning
must follow a program-based budgeting system, and any version of the special
budget act must comply with this system to be implemented.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

President Lai Ching-te says reviewing a possible restart of nuclear power
plants is compatible with his continuing push for renewable energy.

According to Lai, his administration will continue developing green energy,
alongside any assessment of nuclear restarts, as he believes two approaches
can move forward together without any contradiction or conflict.

Lai says renewable energy has compensated for the loss of nuclear power
generation under former President Tsai Ing-wen's green-energy initiative,
helping maintain a stable power supply.

However, Lai is stressing that Taiwan's energy strategy now needed to be
reassessed due to an expected rise in electricity demand driven by economic
growth and A-I development as well as low-carbon standards and geopolitical
shifts.

All of which he says have to be accounted for to ensure an adequate,
resilient and low-carbon supply of electricity.

The statements come as Tai-Power is slated to submit a plan to the Nuclear
Safety Commission regarding the reactivation of the the Maanshan Nuclear
Power Plant in Pingtung.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Meanwhile,

Local officials and residents in Pingtung are calling for comprehensive
safety measures before any restart of the decommissioned Maanshan Nuclear
Power Plant.

Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi says the central government's
priority must be "safety, safety and safety again" if the plant in Hengchun
Township is to be brought back online.

According to Chou, although Tai-Power is currently conducting inspections and
reviews to restart the plant, it has failed to suggest any other measures
that could bolster the plant's safety if restarted.

The Maanshan plant, located near the resort town of Kenting, began operating
in July 1984 and was decommissioned in May of last year.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Vice Defense Minister Hsu Si-jien has attended a ceremony to mark the
delivery of the first two of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones that Taiwan
purchased from the U-S.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Hsu led a delegation that
included Taiwan's top envoy to the U-S Alexander Yui to ceremony.

The ministry did not release any information as to where the ceremony took
place.

However, it is thanked the U-S government and the drone manufacturer, General
Atomics Aeronautical Systems, for facilitating the delivery, and says it will
continue to work closely with Washington to ensure delivery of the remaining
drones on schedule.

Taiwan has ordered four MQ-9B surveillance drones from the U-S.

Deliveries are scheduled in two batches of two this year and next year.

The defense ministry last week denied reports that delivery of the first two
MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones has been delayed due to the war in the Middle East.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Korea" to "South Korea"

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is reiterating that if Seoul continues to
ignore a request to alter its e-arrival card system by March 31, his office
will change South Korea's designation on Taiwan's arrival cards from
"Republic of Korea" to "South Korea."

It comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week changed the
designation of South Korean nationals in government-issued A-R-Cs in
response to Seoul's mislabeling of Taiwan in its e-arrival card system.

A-R-C holders from South Korea will now be identified as being from "South
Korea" rather than the "Republic of Korea."

Seoul rolled-out its online entry system on February 24 of last year to
replace paper arrival card.

Taiwan is listed as "China (Taiwan)" in dropdown menus for both "place of
departure" and "next destination."

According to the foreign minister, the South Korean government has ignored
repeated requests from Taiwan to change the designation, but the Lai
administration has not received a response.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

The German Institute Taipei has celebrated the life of late National Taiwan
University professor Wolfgang Kroll - who was the first scientist in Taiwan
to publish in an international scientific journal.

Kroll was a theoretical physicist.

The German representative office in Taiwan honored the late scientist on what
would have been his 120th birthday with a video posted across the institute's
social media accounts.

The institute's science and technology officer, Julian Goldmann, praised
Kroll as an example of academic exchanges between Taiwan and Germany.

Kroll came to Taiwan in 1941 when Taiwan was still a Japanese colony to teach
at the Imperial University of Taipei, which later became N-T-U.

Kroll decided to stay at N-T-U following Japan's defeat in World War II and
was promoted to the position of associate professor in the university's new
physics department.

He became one of the pioneering founders of the department.

Kroll died in Taipei in 1992 at the age of 87.

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

Thousands of people gathered at Daan Forest Park in Taipei on Sunday for an
Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadan.

The event was organized by the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism.

The department has not released a figure for the exact number of people who
attended last night's event, but has said it likely exceeded 30,000.

Previous Eid events at Daan Forest Park have attracted about 30,000.

But the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism, the number was likely
higher than the past couple of years due in part to the good weather.

The event featured performances, workshops and a halal bazaar with around 40
booths offering everything from food and Muslim-themed merchandise to public
service information.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said the event
reflects Taipei's identity as "a diverse, inclusive and welcoming city," and
that "regardless of ethnicity, culture or national borders, we are all one
family."

Posted on 2026-03-23 06:51:14

And,

South Korean all girl K-pop group Twice has wrapped-up its three-night
concert run at the Taipei Dome.

Some 40,000 fans packed the stadium last night for the final Taiwan show of
the group's "This is For You World Tour."

Taiwanese singer, Chou Tzu-yu - who is a member of the group - cried, covered
her face and knelt on the stage to thank her fans for allowing her to fulfill
her wish of performing in Kaohsiung and Taipei ...

... before the group's final encore at the Taipei Dome.

Prior to that, fans at the stadium had been chanting Chou's name, while
waving light sticks.

Twice performed three encores last night and told fans the concerts in Taipei
were the most fun they'd ever had, and they look forward to performing in the
city again.

Twice performed at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in November of last year.

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