Former TPP lawmaker Li Chen-hsiu has applied to the court for an injunction
to temporarily maintain her party membership.

She was expelled from the TPP and lost her at-large legislative seat last
week.


She filed the application with the Taipei District Court last Friday, naming
the TPP as the respondent, and the case is currently under review.



Li has been embroiled in controversy over her nationality and legislative
eligibility.

The TPP's Central Evaluation Committee revoked her party membership after she
publicly allegedly that Hsin-chu Mayor Gao Hung-an had taken 7 million NT
from then-TPP chairman Ko Wen-je.

In response, TPP chair Huang Guo-chang said today that he's "not worried
about Li's action at all, " saying that he'll leave the whole thing to the
judicial system.

(JL)

Artists from around the world are gathering in Hualien for the 2026 Pacific
Ocean International Festival of Rock Balancing and Arts.

The festival, officially opening on May 1st, centers on the philosophy of
leave-no-trace creation.

County officials say participants must build their works entirely from
materials found on site, with each piece required to span at least two meters
in diameter.

Finished works must withstand sea winds and tidal forces without any
artificial support.

Fifteen teams of competitive stone stacking specialists from across Taiwan
began their ten-day challenge this week, and international artists are in
residence through April 25th.

The county says the top spot comes with winnings of $80-thousand NT.

Online public voting opens April 28th and 29th, giving the public a chance to
weigh in on their favorites.

(NS)

An investigation is underway into the cause of fire at a residential building
in Chiayi City that resulted in the deaths of three family members.

According to the city's fire department, a couple and their 5-year-old
daughter were found unresponsive on the third-floor balcony.

They were rushed to a nearby hospital, but but all three were pronounced
dead.

Fire department officials say they blaze broke out at around 8PM yesterday in
a detached residential building located in an alleyway off Daya Road, Section
2 ....

.. and when firefighters arrived at the scene and found flames spreading from
the top floor.

The fire was brought under control roughly an hour later.

Chiayi City Mayor Huang Ming-hui visited the scene to express her concern and
has instructed the city government officials to provide necessary assistance
to other affected residents and their families.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation says firework debris from the Baishatun Mazu
pilgrimage has been found scattered across parts track in the Miaoli area.

According to the rail operator, the debris resulted in temporary delays to
services between Tongxiao and Xinpu - and that section was operating on a
single track in both directions until 8:30 this morning.

The rail operator says is was made aware of the firework debris from the
pilgrimage at just before 7 o'clock this morning and sent teams to inspect
the track and overhead overhead wires.

The railways corporation is advising the public not to let off firecrackers
along rail lines, as debris can disrupt operations.

The annual Bai-sha-tun Mazu pilgrimage set off on April 13 from Miaoli County
for its eight-day procession to Yunlin County.

It's set to return to the Gongtian Temple in Miaoli this afternoon.

The annual Dajia Mazu pilgrimage has arrived in Yunlin's Xiluo Township -
where police deployed an additonal 500 officers for security purposes.

The larger than normal police presence in the township came after three
police officers were injured, and two suspects arrested following clashes in
Changhua this past weekend.

The Yunlin County Police Bureau says it had originally planned to deploy
2,000 officers, but increase that number to include more plain clothed and
uniformed officers, as well volunteer police and civil defense personnel.

Forty police officers are stationed around the palanquin as it entered the
town and arrived at the Xintian Temple.

Tens of thousands of people welcomed the Mazu palanquin as it arrived at the
Xiluo Bridge at around 8 o'clock last night and made its way to the temple.

The Xiluo Township Farmers' Association and the temple prepared over a
thousand dishes for a banquet for the pilgrims.

The 9-day, 8-night Dajia Mazu pilgrimage began last Friday evening and will
end this coming Sunday after covering 340-kilometers and passing through
Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi.

C-P-C has left gasoline and diesel prices unchanged at the pump again this
week - as the government seeks to stabilize consumer prices and keep a lid on
inflationary pressures.

It marks the third consecutive week that state refiner has maintained its
fuel prices at the same level - despite global oil prices remaining volatile
due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The move means 92 octane unleaded remain at 32.4 N-T per liter, while the
price of premium diesel stays at 31 N-T a liter.

C-P-C says it will absorb losses of 3.6 N-T per liter for gasoline and 5.4
N-T per liter for diesel prices in order to adhere to the government's policy
of ensuring that fuel prices remain lower than those of its neighboring
markets.

Under C-P-C's floating pricing mechanism, which uses a weighting of 70-per
cent Dubai and 30-per cent Brent crude, the average international oil price
last week stood at 107.44 U-S dollars per barrel.

That was down from 115.99 U-S dollars per barrel the previous week.

And,

The Central Weather Administration says we can expect generally stable
conditions today - but a weak northeasterly wind system is expected to bring
scattered showers to the Greater Taipei area and the east tomorrow.

Other regions will remain mostly cloudy to sunny with isolated afternoon
showers.

Conditions will briefly stabilize on Wednesday.

However, a weather front will moving through Taiwan starting on Thursday,
bringing with it an increased likelihood of showers or thunderstorms
islandwide.

Temperatures in the north and northeast are are expected to drop as the front
approaches - and rainfall likely in the north and center.

The unstable weather is expected to persist into Friday and Saturday under
the combined influence of the front and strengthening northeasterly winds -
when showers or thunderstorms are possible across the island.

Somaliland's foreign ministry has congratulated President Lai Ching-te on his
upcoming visit to Eswatini and his first trip to Africa since taking office
in May of 2024.

Taiwan opened a representative office in Somaliland's capital in August of
2020, and Somaliland reciprocated by opening a similar office in Taipei in
September that same year.

Lai is slated to travel to Eswatini from April 22 to 27.

The Presidential Office announced last week that the theme of the state visit
is "Celebrating Together for Taiwan and Eswatini, Working Hand in Hand for
Common Prosperity."

Lai will be attending celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King
Mswati III's accession to the throne and his 58th birthday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the trip will be a direct flight
with no transits.

Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming says the government plans to establish a
national "urban forest" initiative to expand tree cover and create continuous
shade along daily commuting routes.

According to Peng, the plan envisions that "in 10 years, people will be able
to walk from M-R-T stations to their offices under tree shade" if planting
begins now.

Peng says the proposal will be submitted to the Presidential Office's
National Climate Change Committee next week and a full plan is expected to be
released the end of the year.

The plan will prioritize native species and biodiversity, while avoiding
unsuitable trees, and will involve coordination across central and local
governments down to the neighborhood level ....

... and a dedicated tree-planting unit is also under consideration.

Peng also says each tree could be assigned a digital "identity" for long-term
monitoring and management.

Premier Cho Jung-tai says Taiwan has now regained its status as free of
African swine fever.

It comes after the Ministry of Agriculture announced earlier this month that
Taiwan's self-declaration of freedom from the African swine fever virus was
officially approved by the World Organization for Animal Health.

Taiwan detected its first A-S-F case on October 21 of last year at a farm in
Taichung - that after becoming the first country in Asia to hold disease-free
status for all three swine diseases following recognition in May of last
year.

The agriculture ministry applied to regain disease-free status on February 21.

According to the premier, the government has been working actively to seeking
international certification over the past six months and he's also thanking
the pork industry for working closely with the government to maintain strict
controls.

The premier says government will continue to strengthen border controls,
disease prevention systems, and cooperation with industry.

pilgrimage

Three police officers were injured, and two suspects arrested after clashes
broke out in Changhua as the annual Dajia Mazu pilgrimage passed through the
city this past weekend.

According to police in Changhua, the three officers were injured when they
tried to intervene in a dispute that erupted among members of a group
welcoming the procession.

Two suspects were arrested at the scene.

The Changhua Police Precinct says other individuals involved in the violent
are still being identified and will be summoned for questioning following a
review of surveillance footage from the area.

Another altercation along the procession route in Changhua was quickly
brought under control and two men were detained then.

Authorities are reiterating a zero-tolerance stance on violence during this
year's Dajia Mazu pilgrimage ..

.. and the National Police Agency has condemned "troublemakers that
undermined public authority" - saying such actions will be clamped down on
those responsible held accountable.

The Dajia Mazu pilgrimage began last Friday and will end this coming Sunday.

The Navy's goodwill fleet has wrapped-up port calls in St. Lucia and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines and is now headed to Belize.

The fleet is officially designated as the 2026 Midshipmen and Cruising
Training Squadron of the Republic of China Navy.

It arrived in St. Lucia on April 11 for a three-day stop.

Two of the goodwill fleet's three vessels - the fast combat support ship
Panshi and the Kang Ding-class guided-missile frigate Di Hua - were opened to
the public there.

Taiwan's embassy in St. Lucia says the vessels draw approximately 2,000
visitors.

The third vessel, the Cheng Kung-class guided-missile frigate Yueh Fei was
not opened to the public.

The fleet then sailed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

A formal welcoming ceremony will be held in Belize on April 22 - and that
port call will mark the first visit by the Navy's goodwill fleet in 13 years.

The fleet left Taiwan in late February for its annual training voyage.

And,

Veteran cinematographer Lai Cheng-ying has died.

He was 95.

Lai's death was confirmed by Lu Jun-ming, the secretary-general of the
Chinese Society of Cinematographers, following reports of Lai's passing early
Sunday on a cinematographers' group social media chat.

Lai was born in Taichung in 1931 and co-founded the association 37 years ago.

He was among Taiwan's first generation of film professionals trained by the
predecessor of Central Motion Picture Corporation.

He entered the film industry in the 1950s, working his way up from assistant
cameraman to cinematographer and later director.

He was also sent to Japan to study color cinematography and film processing,
bringing back new techniques to Taiwan.

Lai won three Golden Horse Awards for best cinematography for the films
"Beautiful Duckling," "Stars Gathering," and "Execution in Autumn."

He was awarded the Golden Horse Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

CPC Corp. says it will continue a diesel and gasoline price freeze next week,
with prices ranging from 31 NT per liter for diesel to 35.9 NT per liter for
premium unleaded gasoline.

The move is aimed at keeping Taiwan fuel prices the lowest in the region ...
even as neighboring countries are also subsidizing pump prices in the face of
higher global oil prices due to shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

CPC says it has absorbed a total of 11.5 billion NT in losses since the war
started on Feb. 28 ... in the hope of keeping consumer and export prices
steady. It says the cost of absorbing increased costs was 3.6 NT per liter of
gasoline last week ... 5.4 NT for diesel.

CNA_zh_JvW

Police say they'll launch an investigation after a report that unidentified
individuals pepper sprayed a group of politicians including TPP founder Ko
Wen-je (柯文哲) during a campaign event at Fengjia Night Market in Taichung
last night.

Ko visited Dajia Jenn Lann Temple during the day before campaigning with city
councilor candidate Liu Chin-yu (劉芩妤) at the night market.

Liu said in an official report to Taichung's police that two people on a
scooter aimed pepper spray towards people in the procession while she and Ko
were campaigning on foot.

She said it happened three times within 40 minutes.

Police said the campaign route was a pedestrian-only area and they hadn't yet
found any evidence of two scooter riders or any spraying incident as
described.

But their investigation continues.

CNA_JvW

In Miaoli County, a diner at a branch of a chain cafe was killed when a
driver turned into the parking lot and failed to slow down.

The driver, a 71-year-old woman, said she tried to reduce her speed and
doesn't know why she lost control of the car.

Police say they have ruled out drunk driving in the accident. The exact cause
is still under investigation.

A man who took the brunt of the crash was disoriented and unable to speak
when EMTs arrived. After he was taken to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to
his injuries.

CNA_zh_JvW

Some Taiwan economists are forecasting that the Taiwan dollar will soon
stabilize around 31 NT per US dollar ... as a recent trend of depreciation
reversed this past week.

The apparent advances in efforts toward resolving the Iran conflict have led
to an influx of funds to Taiwan, resulting in rising stock prices and a
weaker dollar versus the NT.

The US dollar slipped from 31.7 NT to 31.5 by the end of the week.

Cathay United Bank chief economist Lin Chi-chao (林啟超) forecasts that so
long as the Iran conflict doesn't flare up again, the NT should return to
around 31 per dollar soon ... but any further strengthening is doubtful given
the uncertainty around what US President Donald Trump's next move that might
destabilize the global economy might be.

CNA_zh_JvW

Tuesday

The KMT and TPP's stalemate with the DPP administration could make progress
next week, with a plan for the budget review committee to convene on Tuesday.

Both sides reached a consensus on Wednesday for the committee to review the
Cabinet's 3 trillion-NT budget allocation for this year, which was submitted
to the Legislative Yuan in August.

A key stumbling block is the Cabinet's omission of pay increases for
military, police and firefighters sought by the opposition. Premier Cho
Jung-tai will be questioned on this and other budgetary matters on Tuesday
before the committee begins its review.

As part of the cross-party negotiations, the Cabinet agreed to amend laws
related to government personnel within six months to ensure their rights are
safeguarded.

CNA_JvW

President Lai Ching-te is calling for the swift passage of a special defense
budget.

He made the appeal during an inspection of the Army Infantry Training Command
in Kaohsiung.

The NT$1.25 trillion budget, which the Cabinet submitted to the legislature
for review in November, is under committee review.

The bill would fund weapons systems approved by the US for sale to Taiwan in
December as well as arms sale packages that haven't yet been notified to the
US Congress and initiatives involving local manufacturers.

The opposition KMT and TPP have submitted their own versions of the budget
bill due to disagreements over its scope and cost.

Lai said that the budget should be approved *without cuts* to support the
acquisition of highly mobile and precision weapons.

He said Taiwan's strategy is to avoid war through readiness and stop war
through strength, an assertion he has often repeated.

Meanwhile, four American senators who traveled to Taiwan in March have
published a letter to Taiwan's lawmakers ... informing them that an
announcement of new weapons sales to Taiwan is expected soon.

CNA_JvW

Health authorities say a recent rise in food safety incidents across Taiwan
is not a systemic issue.

The Food and Drug Administration says cases reported since the Tomb Sweeping
holiday show no common supply chain.

Instead, officials believe they were caused by management failures at
individual businesses.

The agency says 66 cases were reported between April 1st and 16th.

But officials say that it's only slightly above levels in recent years ... if
the unusual spike from 2024's Polam Kopitiam food poisoning incident is
excuded.

The FDA says it will strengthen cross-county reporting and inspections.

Officials stress Taiwan's overall food safety system remains intact, whilst
urging businesses to tighten self-management.

(IG)

Over in Kaohsiung's Qidu District ...

... mynah birds (八哥鳥) have been building nests on top of traffic lights
along the Chi-shyan (七賢) Bridge ...

... and officials are urging everyone not to approach the nests or drive them
away.

The city's Animal Protection and Quarantine Bureau says mynah birds are
currently in breeding season ...

... and that they tend to choose elevated, sheltered spots like traffic
lights, which offer both safety and favorable conditions for raising their
young.

Officials add that unless the nests pose a risk to traffic safety or signal
operation, they will be left undisturbed until the chicks mature and leave
the nest naturally.

(JM)

The opposition KMT is demanding that Premier Cho Jung-tai brief the
Legislature on the potential impact on social security and labor conditions
of a government plan to recruit Indian migrant workers.

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han announced earlier this month that Taipei is
getting ready to recruit an initial 1,000 Indians to work in Taiwan's
manufacturing, agricultural, and caregiving sectors.

He added that they could arrive by the end of this year.

The announcement has prompted strong opposition from local labor and civil
groups, saying the government should solve the problem of 93-thousand migrant
workers having absconded from their jobs.

Meanwhile 35-thousand people have signed on the Public Policy Online
Participation Network Platform to call for a halt to the policy.

The KMT's motion has passed a second reading and Legislative Speaker Han
Guo-yu will convene cross-party negotiations.

(JL)

A C-P-C petrochemical plant in Kaohsiung is facing fines after equipment
failure triggered a big fire that released excessive pollutants into the air
today.

The city's Environmental Protection Bureau said its monitoring system
detected black smoke from a flare stack at CPC's Lin-yuan plant before noon,
adding that the company is set to be subject to a fine of up to $5 million
NT.

An investigation found that a compressor in the plant's naphtha cracking
process had tripped, diverting gases to the flare system, where they were
burned off, resulting in elevated flaring and significant particulate
emissions.

The compressor has since been restarted, while the cause of the trip remains
under investigation.

In petroleum refineries, flare stacks are safety devices used to prevent
equipment overpressure by burning off excess gases.

(CNA-JL)

Taitung County says it aims to generate 60 percent of its own electricity by
2030 through renewable energy.

Officials say the county is developing small-scale hydropower and geothermal
energy as part of a microgrid system.

There are currently six small hydro plants — with four already in operation.

There's also four geothermal facilities, including one running and three
under construction.

Together, they are expected to produce around 600 million kilowatt-hours a
year — about 60 percent of the county's electricity use.

Taitung currently relies entirely on power transmitted from western Taiwan,
meaning a major disruption could lead to widespread outages.

Officials say expanding local energy production will improve resilience and
reduce dependence on external supply.

They add the projects have low environmental impact, while also supporting
local communities.

(IG)

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research has sharply raised its
economic growth forecast for this year to 7.2 per cent.

That's up from its earlier estimate of 4.1 per cent for this year.

CIER said the upgrade reflects strong demand for AI and semiconductor
products, supporting trade growth despite disruptions from the conflict in
the Middle East.

The institute says that Taiwan's economy is being driven by strong exports,
while domestic demand remains steady.

These exports pushed first-quarter growth to 13 percent.

Inflation is forecast at just below the 2 per cent warning level.

Analysts say future price trends will depend on the Middle East conflict,
energy prices, and whether domestic price controls remain in place.

They add that inflation could surpass 2 per cent if those controls are lifted.

(IG)

Taiwan's changing demographics are reshaping the housing market, with smaller
households under 25 ping becoming the new norm.

According to Yung Ching Realty, declining birth rates, later marriages, and a
rise in single living have pushed the average household size down to 2.89
people.

That's a noticeable drop from just over three people per household a few
years ago.

The trend is driving increased demand for smaller homes and especially
smaller units, which have seen a steady rise in transaction share across the
six major municipalities and Hsinchu city and county.

Analysts say high housing prices are also a factor, making lower-cost,
compact properties more attractive to first-time buyers and single residents.

In Hsinchu, the average price for smaller housing units rose from 3.3 million
to 5.2 million NT, or nearly 59 percent, over the past five years.

(IG/JL)

A seismic reinforcement project at a Kaohsiung public library has
unexpectedly uncovered structural remnants of a century-old Japanese
colonial-era township office.

Workers renovating the Caogong Branch of the Kaohsiung Public Library
discovered arched red brick windows from the original building during the
ongoing earthquake-proofing works.

Comparisons with old photographs and original brickwork confirmed the
remnants are authentic pieces from the site's earliest period.

Kaohsiung city officials conducted an on-site inspection today and say
they've consulted structural engineers to adjust the positioning of
reinforcement works so that the arched windows can be fully preserved.


(NS)

The Legislature has expanded the grounds for preventive detention, adding
drunk driving, killing of young children, sexual image offenses, child sexual
exploitation, and fraud to the list of crimes that can justify holding a
suspect in custody before trial.

The Legislative Yuan passed the amendment in a third reading this morning
with no objections from lawmakers present.

Under existing law, judges may order preventive detention when a suspect
faces serious charges, such as rape, homicide, or assault, and there is
concrete reason to believe the person is likely to reoffend.

The amendment adds a range of additional offenses to that list.

Lawmakers cited a rising number of cases involving fraud, sexual image
crimes, and organized crime, as well as the need to protect potential victims
and ensure smooth investigations.

(NS)

Taiwan shares are lower today amid mixed performances of other Asian stock
markets as investors watched for developments of U.S.-Iran talks.

The benchmark Taiex dropped 327 points to end the session at 36,804

The turnover remained robust, at 943.1 billion NT.

Travelers planning to fly between Taiwan proper and outlying Kinmen, Matsu
and Penghu during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday can start booking their
tickets at 9 AM next Monday.

This year's Festival falls on June 19th, and the Civil Aviation
Administration says the expanded air transport period is set from June 18th
through the 22nd.

The CAA says Peng-hu will see the largest capacity, with over 700 flights and
nearly 59-thousand seats, followed by Kinmen's 416 flights and Matsu's 134
flights during that period of time.

Officials remind passengers that a new refund policy will be in place and
cancellation charges can reach up to 30 percent of the ticket price,
depending on how close to departure changes are made.

Outlying island flights are also more vulnerable to weather disruptions, and
travelers should check the latest forecasts before leaving home.

(JL)

Taipei city officials say calla lilies on Yang-ming-shan are now entering
peak bloom, with the best viewing period running through the end of April.



This year’s Calla Lily Festival is already underway at Bamboo Lake with the
theme “Melody of the Flower Fields” .

The season is expected to last until early May, but officials say the most
stunning views will be before the end of this month.



In recent years, Bamboo Lake has also developed into a leisure farming
destination, with many farms offering dining options and afternoon tea,
giving visitors a chance to relax among the flowers and mountain scenery.



Officials add that most of the calla lilies in the area are the classic white
variety, which thrive in wetland conditions.

The Festival runs until April 26th.

(JL)

Weather Risk's Lyle Lai tells us about what to expect for conditions over
this weekend and into early next week.

That's Weather Risk's meterologist Lyle Lai.

American AI chip giant Nvidia will be holding its G-P-U Technology Conference
in Taipei for the second consecutive year.

The event will coincide with Computex Taipei - which takes place in early
June.

Nvidia founder and C-E-O Jensen Huang will deliver the keynote address on the
opening day of the G-P-U Technology Conference on June 1 at the Taipei Music
Center.

According to Nvidia, the conference will be taking place at Taipei
International Convention Center and several other venues across the city,
exploring "the next generation of AI."

Nvidia says this year's global A-I conference will bring together developers,
researchers, and industry leaders to dive into the latest breakthroughs
redefining what's possible .....

.... and will cover A-I factories and scaling infrastructure, agentic A-I and
reasoning A-I, A-I for science, physical A-I and robotics.

Computex Taipei is scheduled to take place from June 2 through 5.

This year's even is being held under the theme of "A-I Together."

The Eastern Media Group has announced that its new global headquarters in New
Taipei, Linkou is scheduled for completion this December.



The 38-floor building, at a cost of 14 billion NT, will feature a top
observation deck called “450 Taiwan Eye,” and it's expected to become a new
landmark attraction in northern Taiwan.

The name refers not to the building’s height, but to its panoramic view as
Linkou plateau is already 250 meters in altitude.

The company says visitors will be able to overlook the Taipei Basin and the
Tamsui River estuary.

The tower will also house a hotel operated by the Silks Hotel Group, located
between 29th and 36th floor, along with a performing arts venue with a
capacity of 3,000 people.



The Group's offices and business centers will occupy floors 12 through 25.

EMG management says the headquarters strategic location near Airport MRT A9
Station offers convenient access to both downtown Taipei and Taoyuan
International Airport, as well as major highways.


(JL)

The Coast Guard Administration says a search and rescue operation is ongoing
for the missing captain of a Taiwan fishing vessel that caught fire and
capsized in waters near the Diaoyutai Islands.

According to the administration, the "Chuan Yu 6" caught fire about
77-nautical miles northeast of the Diaoyutai Islands.

The six Filipino crew members were rescued by a nearby fishing vessel.

However, the captain remains missing.

The Coast Guard administration says it has deployed a patrol vessel for the
search and rescue operation, while Japanese authorities have also been
contacted to assist in joint search efforts.

The "Chuan Yu 6" left Badouzi Fishing Port in Keelung on April 12.

Police in New Taipei have met with K-M-T Vice Chairman and Secretary-General
Lee Chien-lung as part on an investigation into reports that a tracking
device was placed on his vehicle without his knowledge.

Storm Media is citing K-M-T Culture and Communications Committee Deputy
Director Yin Nai-ching as saying the device had been attached to Lee's
vehicle as part of the government's secret surveillance of opposition
politicians.

Yin has accused President Lai Ching-te of being involved in the scheme

The Presidential Office is denying the accusations.

.. with Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo saying Taiwan is a
democracy and any unlawful surveillance of a party official would be a very
serious violation that would undermine public trust in the rule of law and
the reputation of government official.

Kuo is also calling on Lee and the K-M-T to provide evidence of the alleged
government involvment and file a report with the police and prosecutors.

The New Taipei City Police Department has said neither Lee nor anyone acting
on his behalf had yet filed a formal report concerning the allegations.

The Mainland Affairs Council has confirmed that the government has received a
message from China calling for the "full normalization" of direct
cross-strait passenger flights.

According to the council, the Chinese side sent a letter on April 7 saying it
hoped several destinations, including Urumqi, Xi'an, Harbin, Kunming and
Lanzhou could be reopened.

However, council deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh has not said
when the government will issue a response, as existing services still have
spare capacity.

The request by China for the "full normalization" of direct cross-strait
passenger flights is part of 10 measures announced by Beijing on April 12
following K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Direct cross-strait passenger flights to the destinations were were among the
routes suspended when Taiwan first scaled back direct cross-strait passenger
flights in February 2020 as part of its COVID border control measures.

Services have since only partially resumed on some other routes and passenger
volume remains well below pre-pandemic levels.

cases

Public health experts are raising concerns following several recent
high-profile cases of suspected food poisoning.

The cases in Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Yunlin resulted in some 450
people seeking medical treatment.

Two major outbreaks in New Taipei and Kaohsiung each affected more than 170
people - and Salmonella was detected in both.

Experts say it is not a series of isolated incidents, but a systemic risk
driven by multiple factors -- including rising temperatures, labor shortages,
shifting consumption patterns, and holiday demand surges.

According to public health experts, warmer weather can speed up bacterial
growth, while heavy workloads and limited staffing increase the risk of
cross-contamination, delays, and problems with food storage.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang earlier this week said local governments
need to increase the number of food safety and inspection staff in order to
better incidents of food safety violations.

And finally,

Local government agencies and the Taiwan Railway Corporation has been
stepping preparations for the annual Dajia Mazu pilgrimage which begins this
evening in Taichung.

The nine-day, eight-night procession will depart at 10:05PM from the Dajia
Jenn Lann Temple.

It will travel through more than 100 temples across Taichung and Changhua,
Yunlin and Chiayi.

A birthday celebration ceremony for the sea goddess is scheduled for April
21, before the procession returns to Jenn Lann Temple on April 26.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation has scheduled 38 additional train services on
April 17 and 26 in order to better handle a huge increase in passenger
volume.

Meanwhile, police in Changhua have signed agreements with local temples and
organizations to ensure orderly conduct during the pilgrimage and are
pledging "high autonomous management, zero street brawls, low environmental
hazards and smooth traffic."

The theme of this year's Dajia Mazu pilgrimage is "kindness" - with
organizers highlighting the collective spirit of participants, volunteers and
support stations that provide food, messages and medical services along the
route.

The Legislative Finance Committee has approved a schedule for reviewing the
central government's 2026 budget.

It comes after lawmakers agreed during cross-caucus negotiations earlier this
week that Premier Cho Jung-tai and other senior Cabinet officials will
present the budget proposal during a hearing next Tuesday.

If lawmakers are happy with the response they get from the premier and other
Cabinet officials, other legislative committees will then review the budget
from April 22 until May 14.

The Finance Committee will then consolidate the findings of those reviews and
hold a plenary session on May 21 to discuss the administrative budget review
report.

Committees will then review attached separate sections of the budget -
covering business and non-business operations - from between May 18 and May
25.

Meanwhile,

The Cabinet has instructed government agencies to begin allocating
71.8-billion N-T for certain budgetary items prioritized by opposition
lawmakers as soon as the general budget is formally referred to legislative
committees next week.

Lawmakers approved the early release of funds for certain projects early last
month.

surveillance

The National Academy of Maritime Research says it plans to build up to nine
new radar stations and improve data integration between 57 existing radar
stations by 2028.

The move is aimed at boosting maritime rescue and navigational safety as well
as environmental monitoring capacity.

According to academy president Chen Zhang-ling, the initiative began last
year and seeks to address perceived format compatibility and information
sharing issues.

Chen says the project also aims to build eight to nine new radar stations at
traditional blind spots, including maritime areas near the Pengjia Islet, the
Luzon Strait and the Taiwan Shoal.

When completed, the project will expand the total monitored surface current
area from 155,000 square kilometers to 210,000 square kilometers and improve
both the resolution and density of return signals.

Funding for the initiative totals more than 400-million N-T has been approved
by the Legislature.