legislators

Prosecutors have released the indictment details for leaders of recall
campaigns targeting DPP legislators Lin Jun Xian and Wang Ding Yu, revealing
charges of illegal petition activities, including alleged forged signatures.

The opposition KMT has responded, claiming the charges are fabricated and
accusing prosecutors and investigators of acting under the central
government's direction to suppress opposition.

This development follows the city prosecutors' previous indictment of the
campaign leaders for these alleged illegal acts.

City KMT deputy chairman Zhuang was also investigated and later released on
200-thousand NT bail after admitting to involvement.

Lawmaker Wang alleges that Zhuang received directives from KMT leadership in
January to provide 3-thousand recall proposals for each campaign.

The KMT has condemned what they believe to be a one-sided investigation,
stating that the prosecutors are targeting their party.

(AH)

Thai authorities on Tuesday officially ended the search operation at the
building under construction in the capital Bangkok which collapsed following
an earthquake that killed dozens over a month ago.

The 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 centered in Myanmar killed 96 people in
Bangkok.

Officials said eighty-nine bodies have been retrieved from the rubble while
seven people remain unaccounted for at the site.

They said they would continue to test hundreds of pieces of human remains to
identify those still missing.

The police said they are still investigating and will continue to collect
evidence from the collapse site until the end of this month.

President Lai Ching-te is reiterating his openness to meet with Chinese
President Xi Jinping over a cup of boba tea.

He emphasized that Taiwanese society has always been friendly and harmonious,
and he hopes that both sides can get along and have an amicable discussion.

Lai said he knew that Xi would be unlikely to accept his offer, but he still
wished to convey his openness to meeting.

Lai said he hoped that Xi and the PRC would respect the ROC, adding that
Taiwan has always offered a helping hand to China in the event of natural
disasters.

Finally, he emphasized that, should a conflict break out, it would be due to
China's aggression, not Taiwan's.

He made the comments in an interview with Nikkei Asia, but he originally
conveyed the sentiment when he was vice president.

(AH)

Taiwan's rice exports to Japan have surged due to a rice shortage and rising
prices in Japan.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Hu Zhong-yi (胡忠一) said today it's estimated
that rice exports to Japan will exceed 10,000 metric tons this year.

That's roughly three times the annual average over the past five years.

Hu explained that Taiwanese and Japanese rice are of the same variety, both
are japonica rice, which is stickier in texture, and the Taiwanese product
costs only about half the price of Japanese rice.

Rice prices in Japan have risen for 17 consecutive weeks, with a 5-kilogram
bag doubling to 4,200 yen, the equivalent of $870 NT.

In comparison, the wholesale price of Taiwanese japonica rice is only around
$40 NT per kilogram, and so Taiwan has a big advantage in the Japanese
market.

(JL)

Openings

The Pingtung County government held a job fair today at Tajen (大仁)
University to address the growing demand for long-term care professionals.

This comes as the county's elderly population now exceeds 21 percent.

The "2025 Pingtung Long-Term Care Job Fair" brought together 50 long-term
care institutions offering over 400 job opportunities across residential,
home-based, and community care, including roles for caregivers, nurses,
social workers, and support staff.

The County Magistrate emphasized the importance of long-term care and the
need for young talent.

While officials noted the workforce isn't keeping pace with demand.

Students from allied health schools, including one from Tainan Nursing
School, attended to gain insight into real-world opportunities and industry
needs.

(IG)

And in international news...

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization has found Russia
responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in
2014, killing 298 people.

The ruling raises the prospect that victims' families could receive
compensation.

An interational investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam to Kuala
Lumpur plane was shot down from Ukraine territory held by separatist rebels
using a missle system delivered from Russia.

Moscow denies any involvement in the tragedy.

The Netherlands and Australian governments brought the case against Moscow
before the Montreal-based global aviation regulator in 2022 and welcomed the
verdict today.

The governor of the US state of California is again calling on the state's
municipalities to ban homeless encampments.

Gavin Newsom's office provided blueprint legislation this week for
dismantling the tents lining streets, parks, and waterways ubiquitous in the
state.

Newsom has pumped money into converting old motels into housing.

His new model ordinance includes a prohibition on "persistent camping" and
asks cities and counties to provide notice and make every reasonable effort
to identify and offer shelter before clearing an encampment.

Meanwhile, studies have shown that encampment bans and other punitive
measures make it even harder for people to find stable housing and work.

Climate change is challenging agriculture in Nigeria.

Farmers in Africa's most populous country say that once-reliable water bodies
are drying up due to long periods without rain.

That's affecting food prices and availability in the coastal south of the
country.

It's part of the pressure that led Nigeria's government to declare a food
security state of emergency

Already 31 million people in the country already face food insecurity.

Experts say, farmers are facing low yields because the government has failed
to develop infrastructure like dams to help mitigate the effects of climate
change.

Over-extraction of water and deforestation are other factors contributing to
northern Nigeria's drying rivers, they say.

President Lai Ching-te said in an interview that T-S-M-C has committed to
investing in the United States at the request of its customers, and he
believes Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain will follow suit.

Lai stressed that they are unrelated to the U.S. tariffs.

However, he warned that if the U.S. were to impose tariffs on chips or
related industries, it would discourage Taiwan’s semiconductor and ICT
industries from investing in the U.S.

The president said that Taiwan will make that point clear to the U.S. in the
future tariff negotiations.

The Trump Administration has announced it could slap a 32-percent tariff on
goods imported from Taiwan, which Lai said would pose a very serious
challenge for Taiwan.

He noted that Taiwan’s approach is negotiation instead of confrontation, and
his government is seeking to engage in procurement, investment, and
addressing non-tariff trade barriers to effectively reduce the trade
imbalance with the U.S.

(JL)

The US State Department is reaffirming that US policy on Taiwan has not
changed after President Trump used the word "unification" in comments on
recent trade talks with China.

At a press conference, Trump spoke about what he believed were the gains made
by US trade talks with China in Geneva over the weekend.

He said, "They've agreed to open China- fully open China. And I think it's
going to be fantastic for China... I think it's going to be great for
unification and peace."

Although the word "unification" raised eyebrows in Taiwan, the State
Department said that Trump was not referring to Taiwan in the statement.

The State Department also reiterated that the US opposes any unilateral
changes to the status quo by either side.

Trump's comments followed two days of talks in Switzerland between the
world's two largest economies, during which the two sides agreed to ease
their tit-for-tat battle over tariffs.

(AH-CNA)

The German government has banned the largest “Reich citizen” group, an
extremist far-right organization that calls itself the “Kingdom of Germany”
and seeks to undermine the country’s democratic order.

Since early today, hundreds of security forces in several states have been
searching the association’s properties and the homes of leading members.

The so-called “Reich citizen,” or Reichsburger” movement does not
recognize Germany as a state.

Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore
the country’s democratic and constitutional structures.

The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be
confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for
extremist purposes.

A restive volcano in central Philippines has briefly erupted, spewing an over
4-kilometer ash plume and debris into the sky.

Seismologists said a moderately explosive eruption occurred at the summit
crater of Kanlaon Volcano before dawn today for five minutes.

Ash fell in at least nine villages southwest of the volcano on Negros island,
but no injuries or damage was reported.

The alert level from Kanlaon’s eruption in December remained unchanged, with
people told to stay out of the 6-kilometer danger zone around the crater.

Taiwan's military will receive a second batch of 42 M1-A2T tanks by the
second quarter of this year.

The Ministry of National Defence also expects to receive another 28 of these
tanks by the first quarter of 2026.

This is part of a 2019 U-S arms sale, which approved the delivery of 108
M1-A2T Abrams tanks and related equipment.

The first batch of 38 tanks was delivered in December 2024, and the ministry
says production is on schedule.

The MND said liaison officers have been visiting U-S production facilities
every two months to ensure progress stays on track.

Training for personnel operating and maintaining the tanks has already begun,
with a combat readiness evaluation planned for later this year.

Once fully integrated and tested, the tanks will be deployed to frontline
units, strengthening Taiwan's ground defense capabilities.

(CNA_IG)

Former President Tsai Ing-wen is calling for Taiwan to cooperate more with
Lithuania and the greater European Union to address attacks on undersea
cables and other critical infrastructure.

Tsai described recent incidents in which undersea cables vital for data
transmission in both the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea have been severed
over the past year.

Authorities suspect Chinese sabotage of the cables in Taiwan's waters, while
EU leaders believe Russia is responsible for the breaches in the Baltic.

Tsai emphasized that Taiwan and Europe should work more closely in this field
so as to effectively respond to escalating attacks on critical
infrastructure.

Although ties between Taiwan and Lithuania warmed under Tsai's leadership,
Beijing has put in place punitive measures against Lithuania.

(AH-CNA)

The Centers for Disease Control is reporting a rise in acute hepatitis A
cases, with the trend possibly reported to increased overseas travel and
international outbreaks.

The CDC says Taiwan recorded 17 imported cases of the viral infection,
marking the highest for the same period in the past 8 years.

The island also confirmed 56 local cases, the highest in the past 3 years.

The CDC notes that the average age of infection is trending lower, with
nearly half of this year's cases occuring in individuals aged 30 to 39.

Officials say travelers returning from abroad may be the source of the local
spread, leading to the higher incidence among younger, urban populations.

The hepatitis A virus is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food
and water or through direct contact with an infectious person, and the CDC is
urging the public to practice good hygiene.

(NS)

The head of the global trade watchdog says global free trade is facing a
“crisis” as U.S. President Donald Trump disrupts world commerce with his
fast-changing tariffs and other policies.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, told
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that she has high expectations for
Japan as a champion of open markets.

She met with Ishiba today, and is visiting Japan to strengthen cooperation
between the two sides to maintain and reinforce the multilateral trading
system, Japanese officials said.

The two leaders agreed that WTO member countries should unite to restore the
organization's capacity to address challenges.

Japan is among many countries yet to reach a deal with the Trump
administration on hikes to U.S. tariffs, including those on autos, steel and
aluminum.

Premier Cho Rong-tai has insisted that number 3 nuclear power plant's second
reactor still needs to be decommissioned before its operations can be
extended.

The reactor is scheduled be decommissioned on May 17, effectively turning
Taiwan into a nuclear-free nation.

Opposition lawmakers are pushing to amend the Nuclear Reactor Facilities
Regulation Act later today, hoping to extend the standard 40-year reactor's
operational life to 60 years.

But the Premier said today that even if the law is amended, plants scheduled
for decommissioning must still be decommissioned.

He noted that even with the decommissioning of the reactor reducing power
supply by 3%, the overall reserve still exceeds the safe threshold.

The Premier said while he would not oppose the extension if the amendment
undergoes sufficient discussion, it does not mean that the unit can continue
operating after May 18.

If there is a future attempt to restart the unit, he saiid it must first
undergo a thorough safety inspection, which would take some three and a half
years according to TaiPower.

(JL)

The Shi-lin District Court has sentenced entertainer NONO to a prison term of
2 years and 6 months for one count of attempted rape.

The Court found him not guilty on other charges. The cases can still be
appealed.

Prosecutors indicted NONO, whose real name is Chen Xuan-yu (陳宣裕), last
year on three counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and two counts of
forcible indecency, involving a total of six victims.

In the indictment, prosecutors said NONO committed the acts between 2008 and
2013 using his connections and fame as a TV program host.

As he had denied knowing any of the accusers and all wrongdoing, prosecutors
recommended that the court impose a severe sentence on him.

(JL)

Taiwan stocks rose today, with the Tai ex gaining 200 points to end the
session at 21,330.

The turnover was 390.5 billion NT.

Food security experts say, the Gaza Strip is at critical risk of famine if
Israel does not lift its blockade and stop its military campaign.

Further, outright famine is the most likely scenario unless conditions
change, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

Israel has banned any food, shelter, medicine or other goods from entering
the Palestinian territory for the past 10 weeks, even as it carries out waves
of airstrikes and ground operations.

Gaza’s population of around 2.3 million people relies almost entirely on
outside aid to survive, because Israel’s 19-month-old military campaign has
wiped away most capacity to produce food inside the territory.

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte appears to be poised to become
mayor of his hometown... from the Hague.

Election results showed Duterte winning by a landslide.

That's a boost for Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, ahead of
an impeachment trial in the Senate in July over a raft of charges including
alleged misuse of public funds and plotting to assassinate President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The official election results will be known within a week.

Rodrigo Duterte has been in the custody of the International Criminal Court
since March, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity over a brutal war on
illegal drugs that left thousands of suspects dead during his 2016-2022
presidency.

The Taipei District Court is due to announce the verdict for 2 babysitters in
the one- year-old boy Kaikai case this afternoon.

Liu Cai-xuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Ruo-ling (劉若琳), who are sisters, were
charged with child abuse leading to death by prosecutors.

The older Liu was commissioned by the Child Welfare League Foundation in 2023
to take care of Kaikai, and she allegedly tortured the boy, obstructing his
freedom and causing him bodily injuries.

Prosecutors say her younger sister not only failed to stop her but at times
assisted in her cruel behavior.

The boy died after four months.

The court selected 6 citizen judges and 4 back-up ones, as well as three
judges for the trial of the case.

Prosecutors have requested death penalty or life imprisonment for Liu
Cai-xuan and 16 to 18 years of jail time for her sister.

(JL)

Taitung police are searching for 3 individuals suspected of assulting a man
early this morning.

The 3 people are suspected of attempting to kidnap a man, surnamed Hong, at
about 1am today before failing and resorting to stabbing him.

Witnesses say, Hong was going to his friend's store when a car pulled up to
the shop abruptly.

3 men got out of the car and attempted to kidnap Hong but Hong staunchly
resisted.

The attackers then resorted to stabbing him, injuring his left hand.

When police arrived, the three men had already fled the scene, and police are
tracking them down.

Hong sustained injuries to his hand and foot but was not in grave danger.

(AH)

McDonald's fans will soon be able to order its hamburgers on their cellphones.

The restaurant chain announced today that its mobile ordering feature will
begin rolling out on May 19, with plans to gradually expand it to all
McDonald’s locations across Taiwan by late June.

Taiwan becomes the latest market to adopt mobile ordering, following South
Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.



Other chains like MOS Burger and KFC have already launched similar services.

McDonald’s said customers will be able to place orders via its app without
waiting in line and choose from dine-in, take out, or Drive-Thru options.

Each purchase will accumulate M Points, giving users access to exclusive
member offers and rewards.

(JL)

Now turning to international news...

Ukraine's air force says Russia launched more than 100 drones at Ukraine in
overnight attacks.

The Kremlin has effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day seasefire in the
more than three-year invasion of Ukraine.

But Moscow reiterated tha it would take part in possible peace talks later
this week without preconditions.

The Kremlin did not respond yesterday to Ukrainian President Zelenksyy's
overture to meet face to face.

Hamas freed an Israeli-American soldier who was held hostage in Gaza for over
a year and a half.

The release offered a goodwill gesture towards the Trump administration.

The deal could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel.

Edan Alexander was released to the Red Cross, which transferred him to the
Israeli military.

His release was the first since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with
Hamas in March and unleashed fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds
of Palestinians.

Alexander was reunited with his mother before being flown to a hospital in
Tel Aviv.

A power outage disrupted multiple lines on the London Underground network
Monday afternoon local time.

At least three subway lines appeared to be suspended, while at least six
other lines had severe delays and partial suspensions during the afternoon
rush.

One line had severe delays late into the night while service was mostly
restored to other lines.

Some stations even had to close as it wasn't safe to operate without power.

Officials say, the issue was due to a fault on the National Grid'd
transmission network.

Last month, a power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation in
west London forced the closure of Heathrow Airport for almost a day,
disrupting thousands of flights.

The government ordered an investigation into the country’s “energy
resilience” after the fire, which raised concerns about the U.K.’s ability
to withstand disasters or attacks on critical infrastructure.

The Tai-Ex surged nearly 500-points in early after Wall Street gained ground
overnight after the U-S and China announced a 90-day truce in their trade
war.

The local main board gained 496-points with 15-minutes of the opening bell to
hit the 21,600-point mark - as it recouped nearly all the loses its seen
since U-S President Donald Trump announced his tariff measures on April 2.

Early turnover hit 104.3-billion N-T.

The surge was largely led by blue chips stocks - as Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing, Hon Hai and MediaTek all rose.

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected 31 Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Monday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, 30 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait
and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern air defense identification
zones.

Seven Chinese Navy ships and one maritime patrol vessel were also detected
operating in the general vicinity of the Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour
period.

And,

The Central Weather Administration says we can expect to see mostly sunny
skies and warm weather islandwide in the coming week.

Some areas may see brief showers and occasional afternoon thundershowers.

According to the administration's forecast center, daytime highs in the north
will be between 31 and 32 degrees, while residents of the center and south
can expect highs of between 32and 34-degrees from today until next Monday.

However, the weather administration says day-night temperature differences
could reach over 10-degrees over the coming seven days and the mercury could
drop to as low 17-degrees overnight in some areas.

According to the Central Weather Administration, the lowest temperature in
low lying areas of Taiwan proper this morning was recorded in Hualien's
Shoufeng Township and in New Taipei's Shiding District - where the mercury
dropped to 16.8-degrees.

That was followed by Taoyuan's Daxi District - where a low of 16.9-degrees
was recorded.

In international news,

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is warning that New Delhi will respond
strongly to what he's describing as a future "terrorist attack."

Modi says "if another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong
response will be given.

It was his first public address since military exchanges with neighbouring
Pakistan aerial incursions by both sides, began following a militant attack
in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.

India has blamed a Pakistan-based group for the attack.

But Islamabad has strongly denied backing the group.

A US-brokered ceasefire began at the weekend.

More than 100 people have been killed in a jihadi attack in northern Burkina
Faso.

Local residents says the attacks were carried out on several locations,
including a military base and the key town of Djibo, which has long been
besieged by the extremists.

Analysts are describing the attacks as evidence of the growing extremist
threat in the west African nation, more than half of which is controlled by
jihadi fighters.

A jihadi group aligned with Al-Qaida as claimed responsibility for the attack.

British police are investigating a fire that damaged the door of Prime
Minister Keir Starmer's house in north London.

Starmer has rented out the house since he was elected in July to lead the
country.

He now lives with his family in the official Downing Street residence.

London's fire department says the fire was put out within a half-hour early
Monday.

Nobody was hurt.

The fire's origin was deemed suspicious and London's Metropolitan Police
force says counterterrorism officers were involved in the investigation.

And finally,

The 69th Eurovision Song Contest party is officially underway in the Swiss
city of Basel and will culminate in the final on Saturday night.

Competitors representing 37 countries are in the Swiss city for disco
diplomacy and one of the world's biggest spectacles.

Organizers say last year's final was watched by more than 160 million people.

This year's contest is in Switzerland because Swiss singer Nemo won the
contest last year with the operatic anthem "The Code."

Countries from across Europe - and a few beyond, like Israel and Australia -
have sent an act to Eurovision.

The performers will take the stage in semifinals on Tuesday and Thursday that
will choose 20 acts to go through to the final.

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of National Defense has conducted its first live-firing of the
US-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system.

The drill was carried out by the Army's 58th Artillery Command at the Jiupeng
Base in Pingtung's Manjhou Township

Defense officials say a total of 33 rockets were fired, with 11 launch
vehicles each firing three rounds.

The 58th Artillery Command says the U-S supplier sent personnel to the site
to assist with technical issues during the live-fire exercise.

Taiwan has purchased 29 of the artillery rocket systems from the United
States.

The first shipment of 11 was delivered in 2024.

According to a report submitted to the Legislative Yuan by the defense
ministry in March, the second batch of 18 is scheduled to be delivered next
year instead of 2027 as was originally planned.

The Mainland Affairs Council says two public servants have been identified as
holders of Chinese ID cards, while 75 others have been found to have
residence certificates issued by China.

The statement comes as the council has been carrying out the first phase of
an investigation into public sector worker holding Chinese ID documentation.

According to council head Chiu Chui-cheng, the the investigation has so far
checked the status of approximately 370,000 military personnel, civil
servants and public-school teachers.

Chiu says of that total only two were found to have Chinese -ID cards and
99.87-per cent of the 370,000 workers investigated have signed an affidavit
declaring that they do not hold any form of Chinese identification.

The investigation is being carried out in stages, starting with those
categories of government workers and Chiu says the government has so fat
helped the 77 people revoke their Chinese documentation.

Labor Minister Hong Shen-han has attended the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting - at which he
spoke of the changing the nature of work.

This year's event in Jeju, South Korea was held under the theme "Sustainable
Labour Markets and Jobs for the Future" and paticipants were calling for
reforms to employment systems in response to aging societies and emerging
technologies.

Hong told delegates that the rise of artificial intelligence, digitalization,
and automation is fundamentally changing the nature of work, causing atypical
working schemes and part-time job platforms to quickly gain traction ..

.. and while these flexible work models are widely popular, they also expose
gaps in labor protections for those who adopt them.

Hong also identified Taiwan's aging society, low birth rate and gender
stereotypes as posing challenges to the country's labor policies and
increasing the importance of female, middle-aged, and senior workers.

The Ministry of Transport has announced that it will be releasing new
regulations regarding the use of window films for cars next month.

According to Deputy Transport Minister Chen Yen-po, the rules are being
implemented due concerns about the lack of mandatory standards for window
tinting.

Speaking at a legislative hearing, Chen said said the use of window film has
raised safety concerns and the Highway Bureau has drafted guidelines based on
road conditions and public safety needs.

Chen told lawmakers transparency standards will be incorporated into the
regulations and they will apply to both new and existing vehicles.

The deputy transport minister went on to say that enforcement of the rules
for new vehicles will begin next year and there will be penalties for car
owners who fail to adhere to the new guidelines.

Hualien's Yuli Township Office has sparked controversy after introducing 150
non-native fish into a local park pond as part of a campaign to enhance the
area's biodiversity.

The township office announced on social media that it had recently introduced
koi fish and red Nile tilapia to the pond to create a more appealing
recreational environment this past weekend.

That announcement sparked a backlash - with most of the 300 comments
criticizing the move.

The post followed the deletion of an earlier Facebook statement in which the
office said that keeping the two non-native species could "boost
biodiversity."

One commenter charged that the office had deleted the original post due to
the criticism, while other comments argued the office should have consulted
ecological experts to avoid adversely affecting the local ecosystem.

Yuli Township chief Gong Wen-jun is denying any wrongdoing - saying both
species of fish came from Hualien's Aquaculture Breeding Institute and were
genetically improved varieties that will not harm the environment.

The Control Yuan is asking foreigners living here in Taiwan to complete a
questionnaire about how well they believe the public sector is working to
improve road safety.

The survey is available in English, Chinese, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia,
Vietnamese and Thai and can be filled out anonymously.

According to Control Yuan member Yeh Da-hua, the questionnaire has been
launched to gain a deeper understanding of the transportation challenges
faced by foreigners and those who fill it out can share their experiences and
make suggestions.

The questionnaire asks whether respondents understand English instructions in
the cities or counties where they live, and whether they think such
translations are necessary.

One question asks respondents to rate drivers' awareness of pedestrians on a
scale of one to five.

The survey also seeks their views on local public transportation and how much
more information on safety measures they believe is needed.

Foreigners have until May 23 to submit the questionnaire.

And finally,

The organizers of the World Masters Games have announced that baseball legend
Peng Cheng-min, centenarian badminton player Lin Yu-mao and Olympic boxing
gold medalist Lin Yu-ting will be torchbearers at the opening ceremony in
Taiwan on Saturday.

They are among the five torchbearers set to appear at the ceremony, with
organizers saying the other two to be announced "in due course."

The World Masters Games 2025 Taipei and New Taipei City Organizing Committee
say the three individuals were chosen because they each embodied one of the
following values -- sports, youth, technology, culture and inclusion.

And according to the committee, the torchbearers will play a key role in
conveying the 2025 event's motto, which is "Sports beyond Age & Life without
Limits."

The 2025 World Masters Games in Taipei and New Taipei will be taking play
from May 17 through 31.

More than 2,000 athletes aged 65 and over will be competing in this year's
games, with 15 participants aged 90 and above, including eight from Taiwan.

And finally,

Jockey Junior Alvarado is considering appealing a fine and suspension for
using his whip eight times on Sovereignty in winning the Kentucky Derby on
May 3.

Alvarado was fined 62,000 dollars and suspended two days by the Horse Racing
Integrity and Safety Authority, whose rules allow a rider to use a whip six
times in a race.

He has 10 days to inform the authority if he plans to appeal.

Alvarado was found to have used his whip seven times in winning the 250,000
Cherokee Mile, also at Churchill Downs.

He met with Churchill Downs stewards via video last week to discuss the Derby.

If Alvarado does not appeal, he will serve the two day suspension May 29 and
30.

The office of former President Tsai Ing-wen has confirmed reports that she
will visit the U-K during her ongoing European trip, which originally
included only Lithuania and Denmark.

Tsai's office SAYS the former head of state visit the U-K."for a few days,"
during which she will meet with politicians and Taiwanese professionals and
visit academic and research institutions.

Tsai's will be visiting the U-K at the "invitation of friends in the British
parliament," to further enhance the cordial relations between Taiwan and the
U-K.

Tsai was slated to travel to the U-K in October of last year, but that trip
was canceled, as then Foreign Secretary David Lammy was about to make a
"goodwill visit" to China.

Tsai arrived in Lithuania on Saturday on the first leg of her trip to Europe,
she will next head to Denmark to speak at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and
travel to the U-K on Thursday.

re-industrialization goals.

American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene says Taiwanese companies
will be "critical" to the achievement of U-S President Donald Trump's goal of
re-industrializing the United States.

During a reception for an investment summit held in the US state of
Maryland... Greene said just as Taiwan's companies were crucial to the
industrialization of China 30 years ago... the U-S expects Taiwan companies
to be just as critical to achieving President Trump's mission for
re-industrializing the United States."

Greene said A-I-T has helped support the growing interest of Taiwan companies
in America, particularly in fields like semiconductors, A-I, and quantum
technology . and Taiwan's delegation to the 2025 SelectUSA summit is the
largest among all the participants.

Cabinet Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin is leading a delegation to the U-S,
made up of representatives from industries, including information and
communications technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, chemical
engineering, aerospace and financial services.

Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei is also in the U-S to attend the summit and
hold talks with U-S officials.

The Cabinet is defending a decision to remove the term "Han Chinese" from its
website.

The term was apparently dropped when updates to an Executive Yuan webpage on
ethnic groups in Taiwan were carried out.

Critics claim the move is a deliberate attempt to obscure the Han Chinese
ethnicity of most Taiwanese.

But Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee SAYS the move was not politically
motivated, and that the ethnicities section is based on definitions taken
from different laws.

Lee said that in Taiwan, only Indigenous people legally register their ethnic
status, while other statistics are based on data from a person's first
household registration.

In December 2022, Control Yuan member Hung Yi-chang had indicated that the
use of the terms "Han" and "Indigenous" as two broad population groups was
not conducive to eliminating racial discrimination or promoting equality...

Hung then suggested suggested the Interior Ministry's Department of Household
Registration adjust the page's wording.

The Chang Gung Memorial Hospital plans to seek reputational damages from two
medical workers for misusing COVID data in a letter published in the Lancet
last month.

The hospital says it will also be asking for swift clarification from the
medical journal.

This comes after three medical professionals had letter titled "Taiwan's
national health care on the brink of systemic collapse" published in the
Lancet on April 26.

The hospital says it asked legal counsel to pursue damage to its reputation
and that of a research team led by Respiratory Thoracic Department head Lin
Shu-min at its Linkou branch from Li Jing-xing and Hsu Shu-bai for their
letter.

Both Li and Hsu work at the China Medical University Hospital based in
Taichung.

Chang Gung Memorial says Lin and Hsu referenced a 2025 study by Lin without
consulting with the specialist - the researchers inaccurately stated that
Taiwan's COVID hospitalization fatality rate was at 58.2-per cent.

What Lin and his colleagues actually found in their study was that 58.2-per
cent of critically ill COVID patients requiring intubation were infected with
the omicron variant.

Taiwan's representative office in Seoul says it has given list of recommended
lawyers to the family of two Taiwan nationals detained on suspicion of
illegally filming U-S military aircraft and facilities in South Korea.

The office says it has also requested the South Korean police to help in
notifying it of follow-up matters.

The statement comes after police detained the two under emergency detention
on Sunday for breaching the Protection of Military Bases and Installations
Act.

Police say they're facing charges of illegally photographing U-S military
facilities and equipment during an air show held at Osan Air Base located
about 60-kilometers south of Seoul.

A report by Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency stated that visitors were free to
take pictures at air shows.

But U-S military prohibits citizens of certain countries, including China and
Taiwan, from entering Osan Air Power Days events, due to a recent string of
illegal filming of South Korean military facilities by Chinese nationals.

The two Taiwan individuals allegedly entered the air show venue by mingling
among South Korean visitors.

The Food and Drug Administration says it has tested 716 fruit and vegetable
products as part of a pesticide residue monitoring program from January to
February and found 102 to be non-compliant.

This includes a strawberry sample from Mia C'bon's store in Yonghe District's
Beyond Plaza, which contained 0.06-parts per million of the pesticide
acrinathrin.

Breeze Super in Taipei sold strawberries containing multiple banned or
misused pesticides, including 1.26-parts per million of isopyrazam and
0.31-parts per million of norflurazon, neither of which are allowed.

While a sample from Lopia's Chunri Road store in Taoyuan contained 0.44-parts
per million of isopyrazam.

The -F-D-A Southern Center says the suppliers of the strawberries have been
fined between 60,000 and 240,000 N-T.

The latest "30 Hour Famine" launched by World Vision is advocating for
underprivileged children here in Taiwan.

The 36th edition of the group's annual event is aimed specifically at
bringing attention to the plight of underprivileged children, such as victims
of earthquake-affected locations.

World Vision Taiwan President Lee Shao-lin says her organization initiated a
three-year program following last April's magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit
Hualien aimed at supporting children affected by it.

Lee says a key part of the fund raising is World Vision's most recognizable
charity campaign known as the "30 Hour Famine" - where participants register
online, donate money and fast for between 30 and 40 hours.

The annual "30 Hour Famine" attract celebrities such as award-winning
actress-director Sylvia Chang, who has as participated in several famine
events.

Allies of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr looked set to win at least
half of the available Senate seats in a midterm election held Monday...

Its a contest seen as a referendum on his leadership and a fierce proxy
battle with his estranged vice president Sara Duterte.

Still, all was not lost for the Duterte family... the former Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte may be detained at the International Criminal Court
in The Hague...

But he's also most certain to be elected mayor of his home city by a
landslide.

The former president's two sons were also set to win posts, one reelected
congressman and the other winning the contest for Davao vice mayor and likely
to serve in his father's absence.

18,000 positions including mayors, governors and lawmakers were up for grabs
in Monday's polls.

The Trump administration has brought a small group of white South Africans to
the United States as refugees in what it says is the start of a larger
relocation effort.

President Donald Trump says the minority Afrikaners are being persecuted by
their Black-led government because of their race and there's a “genocide" in
South Africa.

That has been strongly denied by the South African government. South African
authorities said a group of 49 whites traveled to the U.S on a private
charter plane.

They arrived Monday.

Refugee groups have questioned why the white South Africans are being
prioritized when Trump has suspended refugee programs from other parts of the
world.

And finally,

Jockey Junior Alvarado is considering appealing a fine and suspension for
using his whip eight times on Sovereignty in winning the Kentucky Derby on
May 3.

Alvarado was fined 62,000 dollars and suspended two days by the Horse Racing
Integrity and Safety Authority, whose rules allow a rider to use a whip six
times in a race.

He has 10 days to inform the authority if he plans to appeal.

Alvarado was found to have used his whip seven times in winning the 250,000
Cherokee Mile, also at Churchill Downs.

He met with Churchill Downs stewards via video last week to discuss the Derby.

If Alvarado does not appeal, he will serve the two day suspension May 29 and
30.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is now the 10th most valuable
company in the world.

That's according to Canadian market research firm Visual Capitalist.

As of May 5, T-S-M-C had a market capitalization of $915 billion USD, making
it not only the highest-ranked Taiwanese company, but also Asia's most
valuable firm.

Visual Capitalist praised T-S-M-C as the world's largest dedicated
semiconductor foundry, producing advanced chips for global tech giants like
Apple, Nvidia, and AMD.

Globally, Microsoft topped the list with a market cap of $3.24 trillion USD,
followed by Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet, and Amazon.

T-S-M-C came in just behind Qualcomm and Berkshire Hathaway.

The U-S dominated the top 50 with 32 companies, while China had five.

China's most valuable company was Tencent, in 16th place.

(CNA_IG)

American Institute in Taiwan director Raymond Greene says Taiwanese companies
will play a critical role in helping U-S President Donald Trump fulfill his
goal of re-industrializing the United States.

Greene was at the "2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland" on Sunday,
highlighting the shift in Taiwan's investment strategy...

He noted that while 80% of Taiwan's foreign investment once went to China,
the U-S has now become Taiwan's top investment destination.

Greene drew a historical comparison, saying just as Taiwanese firms were
essential to China's industrial rise three decades ago, they are now vital to
America's economic transformation.

He emphasized growing cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence,
and quantum tech.

The Taiwan delegation at the summit is the largest of all participating
countries, and is led by Cabinet Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin and
Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei.

Both officials also pushed for passage of the U.S.-Taiwan Double-Tax Relief
Act, which passed the House in January and is now awaiting Senate approval.

Taiwan's delegation includes companies from a wide range of sectors,
including ICT, biotech, smart manufacturing, and aerospace.

(CNA_IG)

In international business news,

U.S. and Chinese officials say they have reached a deal to roll back most of
their recent tariffs and call a 90 day pause so they can keep talking to
resolve their trade disputes.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Monday the U.S. has agreed to
drop its 145% tariff rate on Chinese goods by 115 percentage points to 30%,
while China has agreed to lower its rate on U.S. goods by the same amount to
10%.

Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the tariff reductions at
a news conference in Geneva.

They say the two sides have set up consultations to continue discussing their
trade issues.

The announcement by the U.S. and China sent shares surging.

The Taiwan Generic Pharmaceutical Association is warning about potential
ripple effects from U-S President Trump's plan to slash domestic prescription
drug prices by up to 80-percent.

The Association said the move, which comes into effect May 12, might lead to
shifts in the global medicine supply chain and price fluctuations here in
Taiwan, though the precise impact is still unclear.

The Association urges Taiwan to use this moment to reduce reliance on
specific countries and strengthen its pharmaceutical supply system.

Experts suggest offering incentives to boost local production of crucial drug
ingredients and finished medicines.

They also propose establishing a strategic reserve of essential medications
and updating biotech laws to prioritize local manufacturing.

Taiwan is being encouraged to examine the US approach to easing regulations
for complex generic drugs ... to improve access and ensure a steady supply of
vital medicines for patients.

(IG)

The Taoyuan City Government says hundreds have signed up for its eco-friendly
funeral program.

The city government says it launched pre-registration for the city program in
January, allowing residents to plan their final arrangements in advance.

And by the end of March, 667 people had signed up, choosing either a sea or
tree burial.

Officials note that there is increasing public acceptance of eco-friendly
funerals, with the number of tree burials in particular, rising from nearly
900 in 2020, to over 1-thousand-650 last year.

(NS)

The Mainland Affairs Council is investigating reports that members of China's
Fumei 富美 temple conducted unsanctioned religious activities of Taiwan.

MAC head Chiu Chui Cheng says, the temple may not have had the approval of
Taiwan's government, perhaps even seeking to evade regulatory procedures or
filing a false application.

Chiu told reporters that there was no application on record for the temple to
come to Taiwan for religious exchange.

This follows a report by the Liberty Times stating that a temple delegation
visited several Taiwanese temples and organizations.

The group also reportedly planned to join the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage.

Chiu said the incident reflects a broader pattern of China "using religious
and cultural exchanges as a means of United Front infiltration."

(AH-CNA)

comments; Chu calls them sheep

A coalition of pan-green political parties is calling on KMT Chairman Eric
Chu to apologize and retract his statements comparing President Lai Ching Te
to Hitler.

The New Power Party, Green Party Taiwan, Taiwan Obasang Political Equality
Party, and the Taiwan Statebuilding Party held a press conference outside of
KMT party headquarters today to condemn Chu's comments.

Chu responded by calling them sheep that follow the DPP, and said that they
just, quote, "hoped to show off their good behavior and see if Lai would give
them more work to do."　

The New Power Party emphasized that Chu's inappropriate comparison to the
Third Reich downplayed the severity of the Nazi's crimes.

Meanwhile the Taiwan People's Party said that the KMT's roots are similar to
those of the Nazi party, adding that the KMT sees the Nazis as a political
tool rather than a human trauma.

This comes after Chu last week said that Lai was doing "exactly what Hitler
did," referring to ongoing investigations and prosecutions of those who
forged signatures in recall campaigns targeting DPP lawmakers.

Chu responded to previous criticism by saying that international entities,
like the German Trade Office which condemned the remarks, should not
interfere in domestic issues.

(AH)

The first torch bearers for the 2025 World Masters Games have been revealed.

The organizing committee announced today that Taiwan baseball legend Peng
Cheng-min　彭政閔, Olympic boxing gold medalist Lin Yu-ting, and 104-year-old
badminton player Lin You-mao 林友茂 will carry the flame and take part in the
May 17th opening ceremony.

Officials say the three athletes embody the Games' spirit of lifelong sport
and inclusion.

The committee says the torchbearers will take part in a symbolic sequence at
the ceremony, where they jointly plant a sapling which grows into a
fantastical tree representing the beauty of Taiwan.

(NS)

Now turning to international news...

Hamas says, it will release an American-Israeli hostage later in the day.

Edan Alexander, the last living US hostage, will be freed as a goodwill
gesture to US President Trump, according to Hamas.

This comes as an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in the Gaza Strip
killed at least 16 people. '

Meanwhile, families of other hostages still held in Gaza are uneasy that
their family members dont have "the right citizenship" to be saved.

Some relatives also accuse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not
doing enough to free their loved ones.

They say, his insistence on continuing to bombard Gaza is politically
motivated.

(AH)

The Polish Foreign Minister is ordering the closure of Russia's consulate in
Krakow.

That's after Polish authorities said that Russia was responsible for a fire
that destroyed a shopping center in Warsaw last year.

The Prime Minister of the country said that Polish officials knew for certain
that the fire was the result of "arson commissioned by Russia services."

The fire broke out on May 12th in a mall housing some 1400 shops.

Many of the vendors there were from Vietnam, and the fire inflicted tragedy
on many in the Warsaw Vietnamese community.

This comes as there's rising concern in Europe that Russia is attempting to
destabilize the region through covert operations.

Russia has previously denied that it carries out such attacks, but two
Russian spies were previously charged with poisoning a UK double agent.

KMT legislators Lin De Fu 林德福 and Zhang Zhi Lun 張智倫 are calling on
voters to vote against their recalls.

That comes after campaigns targeting them turned in their second rounds of
signatures today.

Organizers in the campaign against Zhang say that they submitted about 36,000
signatures, far surpassing the minimum threshold of 28,000.

Meanwhile in Lin De Fu's campaign, organizers say they turned in about 29,000
signatures.

Although that's still above the minimum requirement of about 23,000
signatures, it is a bit short of recall campaign organzers' goal of 130% of
the minimu requirement, which in this case would need about 900 more
signatures.

Zhang took to Facebook to say that he felt the best means of confronting the
recall would be to continue working hard.

He also called the recall movement totally inappropriate.

Lin said that he trusted voters to have clear eyes and he thanked supporters
for their encouragement and affirmation.

(AH)

The PKK Kurdish militant group has announced that it will disband and disarm
as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey, ending four decades of armed
conflict. Monday's decision by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party promises to put
an end to one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East and could have
significant impact in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It comes days after the PKK
convened a party congress in northern Iraq. In February, PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, urged his group to convene a
congress and formally decide to disband, marking a pivotal step toward ending
the decadeslong conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The PKK Kurdish militant group announced Monday that
it will disband and disarm as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey,
ending four decades of armed conflict.

The decision by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which promises to put an end
to one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East and could have
significant impact in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, was announced by the Firat News
Agency, a media outlet close to the group. It comes days after the PKK
convened a party congress in northern Iraq.

In February, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island
near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group to convene a congress and formally
decide to disband.

The call by Ocalan, 76, who continues to wields significant influence in the
Kurdish movement despite his 25-year imprisonment, marked a pivotal step
toward ending the decadeslong conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of
lives since the 1980s.

Building on the momentum, the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire on March
1, but attached conditions, including the creation of a legal framework for
peace negotiations.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has spilled over into northern Iraq
and northern Syria, with Turkey carrying out numerous incursions into the
neighboring regions. The PKK is listed as a terror group by Turkey and its
Western allies.

In a statement carried by Firat news, the PKK announced it decision to end
its “organizational structure,” suggesting that its armed struggle has
successfully challenged policies that sought to suppress Kurdish rights.

The congress assessed that the PKK’s struggle had “brought the Kurdish
issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing
its historical mission,” according to the statement.

"As a result, activities carried out under the name ‘PKK’ were formally
terminated,” the statement said.

Turkey’s governing party welcomed the announcement “as a significant step
toward the goal of a terror-free Turkey.”

“If terrorism is completely eradicated, it will open the door to a new
era,” Omer Celik, spokesman for President Recep Erdogan’s party, wrote on
the X social media platform.

Celik, however, said the decision must apply to all “PKK branches,
affiliates and illegal structures.” He did not elaborate but the statement
appeared to be in reference to Kurdish fighters in Syria, who have ties to
the PKK and have been involved in intense fighting with Turkish-backed forces
on the ground there.

The leader of the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had
previously stated that Ocalan’s call for a ceasefire does not apply to his
group in Syria.

Details of the peace initiative have not been made public and it was not
clear how the process would proceed, including how weapons would be disposed
of and who would monitor the procedures.

The future of PKK fighters remains uncertain, including whether they may be
relocated to third countries. Any concessions the PKK might obtain in
exchange for its decision to disband have not been disclosed.

Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the group — most recently in 2015
— have ended with failure.

In recent years, the PKK has been limited to isolated attacks inside Turkey
as the Turkish military, backed by armed drones, has pushed PKK insurgents
increasingly across the mountainous border into Iraq.

The latest peace initiative was launched in October by Erdogan’s coalition
partner, Devlet Bahceli, a far-right politician who suggested that Ocalan
could be granted parole if his group renounces violence and disbands.

Some believe the main aim of the reconciliation effort is for Erdogan’s
government to garner Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow
him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his term ends.

Bahceli has openly called for a new constitution, saying it is essential for
Turkey’s future that Erdogan remain in power. Erdogan and Bahceli are
reportedly seeking parliamentary support from the pro-Kurdish People’s
Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM.

The PKK’s announcement could mark a major gain for Erdogan, whose government
is grappling with political tensions following the arrest of Istanbul’s
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges. Many see the imprisonment of the
mayor, who is the opposition’s strongest challenger to Erdogan’s more than
two-decade rule, as politically motivated. The government insists Turkey’s
judiciary operates independently.

A new poll says that support for same-sex marriage, transnational same-sex
marriage, and co-adoption have all declined six years after the legalization
of gay marriage.

The poll by the Taiwan Equality Campaign also found that that decline took
place despite the fact that over 40% of respondents reported having LGBT
friends or family.

That's an increase of 5 percentage points from last year.

The Taiwan Equality Campaign said the drop was due to the government failing
to invest more resources in educating the public about LGBT issues.

As far as artificial reproduction, the organization said that there is still
a majority support for same-sex female couples to undergo the process, while
support for same-sex male couples using a surrogate is lower.

Experts say, these two issues should be separated legally.

Taipei City Councilor Miao Boya said that, even though support for tongzhi
has decreased, there is still a high level of acceptance and the government
will continue to move forward and discuss with the public.

(AH)

The Consumer Protection Committee has published its new standardized contract
for pet grooming services.

The new regulations require businesses to clearly explain their fees to
customers, and outlines refund policies for cancellations or terminations.

The new contract also allows groomers to ask about a pet's potential
aggressiveness beforehand, and addresses situations where owners fail to pick
up their pets on time, allowing businesses to charge additional fees for
extended care in such cases.

The committee warns that businesses that fail to update their contracts in
line with these new regulations coudl face fines of up to $500-thousand NT,
with repeated violations subject to further penalties.

(NS)

Asian shares are higher today following two days of trade talks between the
US and China.

The benchmark Tai ex closed at 21,129 after gaining about 214 points.

The turnover was 279 billion NT.

The head of the Mainland Affairs Council says, a government probe found that
two public servants had Chinese IDs, while another 75 had Chinese residency.

According to Chiu Chui Cheng, the MAC has already assisted those two
individuals in cancelling their Chinese citizenship.

The probe investigated core military members, teachers, and other civil
servants- about 370,000 people.

It's part of an ongoing effort to crackdown on those who hold Chinese
residency or citizenship, this being the first wave in the three-wave probe.

Chiu also added that most of those individuals had signed pledges stating
that they did not hold Chinese residency or citizenship.

As for why the individuals who violated the Act Governing Relations between
the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area did not have their
Taiwanese citizenship cancelled, Chiu says, these are special cases.

(AH)

KMT Chairman Eric Chu says, he welcomes Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen to run
against him in the race for party chair.

The KMT has an election planned for the position which is likely to take
place this year, and media reports have said that Lu will announce her
candidacy before recall elections take place, theoretically late this summer.

When asked for his two cents on the matter, Chu said he thought it was great
and that he welcomes Lu to run.

(AH)

The Central Weather Administration says the weather front that brought heavy
rain to much of the island this past weekend will move into the Bashi Channel
today.

According to the CWA, sunny skies are forecast islandwide from tomorrow.

Tomorrow and Wednesday the mercury in some areas could reach highs of up to
35 degrees.

However, overnight temperatures could drop to as low as 17 degrees.

The sunny skies are expected to last through much of this week, with no new
"plum rain" fronts forecast for the time being.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, he's hoping for a full and
temporary ceasefire with Russia starting today.

He added that he would be in Turkiye to negotiate with Russian President
Vladimir Putin "personally." His comments come after US President Trump
insisted that Ukraine accept Russia's latest offer to hold direct talks last
week.

Meanwhile Ukraine and European allies demand that Russia accept an
unconditional 30-day ceasefire before holding talks.

It was not clear if Zelenskyy's presence in Turkiye was conditional upon the
Monday ceasefire.

At least 100 civilians in Burkina Faso were killed by government forces in an
attack in March.

That's according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.

The victims were all of the Fulani ethnicity, which the government has long
accused of supporting militants.

The government initially denied involvement, but has not yet commented on the
latest report.

An earlier report by Human Rights Watch said that government involvement was
likely due to video evidence from witnesses.

The country has been controlled by a military junta since 2022, which has
failed to provide promised stability, with about 60% of the population out of
government control, while millions have lost their homes and millions more
need humanitarian aid to survive.

The Tai-Ex broke through the 21,000 point mark in early trading this morning,
as investors were buoyed by reports of significant progress being made this
past weekend during US-China trade talks in Switzerland.

The main surged more 200-points to hit the 21,100-point mark.

The rise came as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing opened at 954 N-T - up 5
N-T from last Friday's close - which saw the company's market value climbing
to 24.73-trillion N-T, contributing about 40 points to the broader market's
total rise.

Other blue chip stocks, including Hon Hai, Quanta and A-S-E also moved higher
- which pushed the electronics index up by 0.7-per cent.

While the shipping sector rose by 1-per cent following news of breakthroughs
during the US-China trade negotiations.

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected 36 Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Sunday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, 17 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait
and entered Taiwan's northern, central and eastern air defense identification
zones.

Eight Chinese Navy ships and two maritime patrol vessels were also detected
operating in the general vicinity of the Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour
period.

And,

Taiwan's Gu Lin Ruei-yang has earned his second win in Nippon Professional
Baseball - leading the Nippon Ham Fighters to a 4-0 win over the Rakuten
Eagles with his first complete game shutout in the Japanese league.

The pitcher became only the third Taiwan-born player to record a
complete-game victory in N-P-B with fewer than 100 pitches.

It was Gu Lin's third N-P-B start after making the jump from the Chinese
Professional Baseball League.

The right-hander retired 17 consecutive batters before giving up his first
hit with two outs in the top of the sixth inning at the Fighters' home
stadium in Hokkaido.

Gu Lin now has a 2-1 record with an ERA of 2.91.

The last time a Taiwanese pitcher achieved the same feat was in 2011 - and
that was Chen Wei-yin when he was playing for the Chunichi Dragons.

In international news,

Some 68-million Filipinos are eligible to vote in today's mid-term elections
that will decide the fate of a long-running power struggle between the
country's two biggest political dynasties

The senate races pit candidates backed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong"
Marcos Jr against those supported by Vice-President Sara Duterte - daughter
of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

If Marcos' senate picks win more seats, it increases his chances of
impeaching Sara Duterte for alleged misuse of state funds - a move that would
bar her from seeking the presidency in 2028.

Also on the ballot are candidates for 317-member Congress, hundreds of
governors, mayors and city councillors.

India says its strikes into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan last
week killed more than 100 militants.

Residents and officials in the disputed Kashmir region say there was fighting
between Pakistani and Indian troops into Sunday morning - despite a
ceasefire.

However, but the clashes have reportedly now subsided.

As part of the ceasefire both sides agreed to immediately stop all military
action on land, in the air and at sea.

They accused each other of repeatedly violating the deal hours later.

The violence follows the killing of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir and
is the most serious military confrontation between them in decades.

And finally,

The Taliban has banned chess in Afghanistan until further notice due to fears
the game is a source of gambling.

Officials say the game has been prohibited indefinitely until its
compatibility with Islamic law can be determined.

Chess is the latest sport to be restricted by the Taliban.

Last year, authorities banned free fighting such as mixed martial arts in
professional competition, saying it was too "violent" and
"problematic with respect to sharia law."

The Tai-Ex opened up 81-points this morning from Friday's close, at 20,996 on
turnover of 4.6-billion N-T.

The market gained ground last Friday as it moved closer the challenging at
21,000-point mark.

The rise after after the U-S Federal Reserve left its main interest rate
unchanged overnight and as investors were pinning their hopes
(把希望寄托在…上) on weekend trade talks between China and the U-S.

Hamas says the last living American hostage in Gaza will be released as part
of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the
Israeli-blockaded territory and resume aid delivery.

Two Hamas officials tell The Associated Press they expect the release of Edan
Alexander in the next 48 hours.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is confirming in a message
to the AP that Hamas has agreed to release Alexander as a good will gesture
toward Trump.

The announcement of the first hostage release since Israel shattered (擊毀) a
ceasefire in March comes shortly before Trump visits the Middle East this
week.

Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the United States.

Pope Leo XIV has called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an
immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of hostages and delivery of
humanitarian aid.

In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Leo said, “Never again war!”
from St. Peter’s Basilica to an estimated 100,000 people below.

Recalling the end of World War II 80 years ago, Leo quoted Pope Francis in
denouncing the number of conflicts ravaging (摧殘) the globe today, saying it
was a “third world war in pieces.”

The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope on Thursday.

He has a busy week of audiences before his formal installation Mass Sunday.

President Tsai Ing-wen is reportedly set to make her first trip to Britain
since leaving office.

Reports say Tsai will travel to London from Denmark on Thursday after
speaking at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

Nikkei Asia cites sources involved as saying the visit to the U-K is an
unofficial but symbolic one... which demonstrates the two sides' warming
relationship amid growing pressure from China and Russia.

While there, Tsai is expected to give talks at several academic institutions
in England, pay a visit to the Houses of Parliament, and hold meetings with
lawmakers.

Tsai holds a Ph.D. in law from the London School of Economics and Political
Science.

She had been due to visit the U-K between in mid-October of last year.

But because that trip coincided with Foreign Secretary David Lammy's visit to
China... it was pulled.

Tsai instead traveled to France - where she was hosted by the French
parliament.

Tsai's trip to Britain is part of an extended trip to Europe...

She arrived in Lithuania on Saturday for her first visit to the Baltic state.

During a reception organized by the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary
Friendship Group, Tsai said while she was Taiwan's president she received
visits from many Lithuanian friends ..

.. and believes that Taiwan and Lithuania share similar fates as both are
neighbors to authoritarian countries.

Tsai praised the Baltic state for serving as an example to the world that
even small countries can make a difference with "principles and bravery" ...
saying Taiwan and Lithuania are united by shared values of freedom, human
rights, and the rule of law ..

.. and both also stand united against threats and challenges from their
authoritarian neighbors.

In related news.

K-M-T Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia will be traveling to Europe this week - with
scheduled stops in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.

The K-M-T says the visit is aimed at demonstrating the party's commitment to
defending freedom and democracy and contributing to peace and stability in
the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

The K-M-T says it plans to take the opportunity to exchange views with
politicians and scholars in the U-K, Belgium, and Denmark to help the
international community gain a better understanding of Taiwan opposition's
perspective.

Like Tsai, Hsia will be attending the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in the
Danish capital from May 13-14... he'll also attend the I-D-U Forum in
Brussels, Belgium from May 14-15.

Hsia is also scheduled to participate in a talk hosted by King's College,
Cambridge while in the U-K.

The K-M-T has not released any further details of Hsia's trip, including the
length of time he will be staying in Europe.

In other news...

The Taichung City Fire Bureau says 13 migrant workers were rescued this
weekend, after they were trapped by river surges caused by heavy rain.

They were rescued from a sandbar in the Dadu River - where they had spent the
night while on a fishing trip after encountering the unexpected surge early
Sunday.

There were no injuries and all 13 workers were brought to safety

In a separate incident, the Hualien County Fire Department rescued 23 people
trapped on one side of the Baliwan River during a hiking trip on Baliwan
Mountain.

The trekking trip to summit the 992-meter Baliwan Mountain involves crossing
the river several times.

A rescue team had to wait for the water level to subside before assisting
those trapped to cross the river.

The 23 trekkers also returned to safety.

A series of heavy rain alerts have been raised since late Friday, as a
rain-bearing weather front passes through Taiwan during the ongoing plum rain
season.

Heavy rains didn't stop large crowds from turning out for the end of the
annual Bai-sha-tun Mazu Pilgrimage.

Crowds were on hand to welcome Mazu's return from an over 300-kilometer, 10
day pilgrimage to the Bei-Gang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin and back.

Organizers say this year's Bai-Sha-Tun pilgrimage was the largest ever and
saw more than 700,000 people participating in the event.

The pilgrimage also saw the palanquin carrying the effigy of Mazu visitng
Nantou for the first time since the event was held began in the 1860s.

The palanquin was taken to the Song-Bai-Ling Shou-Tian Temple in Nantou's
Ming-Jian Township.

Unlike the larger Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, the Bai-Sha-Tun Mazu Pilgrimage does
not follow a predetermined course to its destination in Yunlin.

The pilgrimage began at the Gong-Tian Temple in Miaoli on May 2.

Police in Taipei say they've arrested a 38-year-old unemployed man in
connection with a string of perfume thefts at department stores in the city.

The Taipei City Police Department said its Xinsheng South Road Police Station
received several reports earlier this year about perfume being stolen from
department store counters.

Police managed to identify the suspect after reviewing surveillance footage
provided by department stores - and found he used items such as a hat,
umbrella or bag to apparently disguise himself before or after committing the
crimes.

Police say the man initially stole three bottles of cologne, valued at 7,200
N-T each, from a Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in mid-February.

He later stole a 16,000 N-T bottle of cologne from a SOGO department store
before continuing with thefts at several other department stores in Taipei's
Xinyi District.

And,

A trial pedestrian zone was launched in Taipei's Yongkang Street this past
weekend.

The trial will run on weekends through June 10 and sees the popular road
closed to most vehicles.

The Taipei City Government says the aim of the exercise is to promote a more
pedestrian-friendly environment.

The campaign limits vehicle access from 2 to 8PM on Saturdays and Sundays and
covers approximately 250 meters of Yongkang Street -- from its intersection
with Xinyi Road Section 2 to Lane 14.

It also includes nearby alleys around the popular tourist destination.

During the trial period, only vehicles with local access permits or those
making deliveries were allowed through, with police and traffic volunteers
onsite to enforce the restrictions.

Polish officials say a massive fire that destroyed a large shopping center in
Warsaw last year was the result of arson ordered by Russian intelligence
services.

The fire broke out May 12, 2024, in a vast shopping complex in a northern
district of the Polish capital that housed some 1,400 shops and service
points.

Many of the vendors were from Vietnam, and it inflicted tragedy on many in
Warsaw’s Vietnamese community.

Officials said the arson was part of a coordinated sabotage campaign directed
from Russia.

Some perpetrators are in custody, while others have been identified and are
being sought.

Polish authorities are also cooperating with Lithuania, where some suspects
allegedly carried out related activities.

Russia has denied allegations that it is orchestrating arson and sabotage
operations across Europe.

Hamas says the last living American hostage in Gaza will be released as part
of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the
Israeli-blockaded territory and resume aid delivery.

Two Hamas officials have told The Associated Press they expect the release of
Edan Alexander in the next 48 hours.

The announcement of the first hostage release since Israel shattered a
ceasefire in March comes shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump visits
the Middle East this week.

Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the United States.

He was abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that ignited the
war in Gaza.

Taiwan's Premier says that preparations for measures to tackle espionage,
infiltration, propaganda and other national security threats from China are
under way.

In an interview with the Central News Agency, Premier Cho Jung-tai said the
Cabinet has identified more than 100 measures and law revisions to better
address Chinese threats after President Lai Ching-te convened a national
security meeting in mid-March.

Following that meeting, Lai pledged to reinstate military courts, restrict
private-sector exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, expand the screening of
cross-strait flows of talent, goods, and capital, as well as work with
partner countries to reject Beijing's claims over Taiwan.

The president specifically raised the alarm over the growing number of former
and active-duty military personnel in Taiwan who have been accused or
indicted for spying for China in recent years.

Firefly Season Is Upon Us. These glowing bugs light up the night in major
scenic areas across the country from March to May each year.

Thanks to Taiwan's unique climate, the island is home to 65 varieties of
firefly - about 3% of the world's more than 2,000 varieties.

In the north, these spectacular insects can be seen at Yangming Shan National
Park or Taoyuan's Dongyanshan Forest Recreation Area.

Meanwhile, Hualien's Da-nong-da-fu (大農大富) Forest Park and Miaoli's West
Lake Resortopia also offer excellent viewing sites.

Kaohsiung's mountainous Namasia District is another great location for
firefly viewing.

Don't miss the chance to witness these magical creatures lighting up the
night during their peak season this spring!

(AH)

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) this morning issued heavy rain or
extremely heavy rain advisories for the western half of Taiwan, which will
stay in effect until nighttime.

Extremely heavy rain advisories were issued for Taoyuan, Taichung, Hsinchu
County, Changhua County and Chiayi County, warning of accumulated rainfall
exceeding 200 millimeters (mm) in 24 hours, or rainfall exceeding 100 mm
within three hours.

Heavy rain warnings, meaning accumulated rainfall exceeding 80 millimeters in
24 hours, or rainfall that exceeds 40 millimeters within one hour, were
issued for Taipei, New Taipei, Tainan, and Kaohsiung municipalities, Keelung,
Hsinchu and Chiayi cities, and Yilan, Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin and Pingtung
counties.

Also this morning, flash flood alerts were issued for residents located in
areas in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Hsinchu County, advising
them to be careful when engaging in activities near rivers and streams.

The rain will also bring down temperatures, especially in the northern half
of the island, with daytime highs at 24-26 degrees Celsius and nighttime lows
dropping to 19-21 degrees.

The CWA has also issued strong wind advisories for coastal regions stretching
from Taoyuan to Changhua, the Hengchun Peninsula in southern Pingtung, and
outlying Penghu County, Green Island and Orchid Island.

India’s biggest domestic cricket tournament has been suspended for one week
following the escalating military tensions with Pakistan.

The Indian Premier League, which features top players from around the world
and attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers, was halted with immediate
effect.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's decision came after a night of
artillery exchanges between Indian and Pakistani soldiers across their
frontier in Kashmir, amid a growing military standoff that erupted following
an attack on tourists in the India-controlled portion of the disputed region.

The IPL is the most popular cricket tournament in the world and runs between
March and May.

Taiwan and Central Europe have important lessons to share in the battle
against misinformation.

The Supply Chain Resilience Center, the Czech Hub in Taiwan, and the
Association of International Affairs... sponsored a conference this week on
China's efforts to undermine democratic institutions.

Participants stressed that China is prepared to capitalize on tensions in the
West, brought on by changes in US foreign policy, the prolonged Russian
invasion of Ukraine, and other geopolitical volatility.

Dr. Ivana Karaskova... from the Association for International Affairs, a
Prague-based NGO and independent foreign policy think tank... says Central
European nations and Taiwan can learn from each other as they both work to
counter foreign disinformation campaigns.

India has fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan but most of the
missiles were intercepted, marking the latest escalation in a conflict
triggered by a gun massacre last month that India blames Pakistan for.

Pakistan’s military said today it targeted an Indian missile storage
facility and airbases in Pathankot and Udhampur in retaliation. Pakistani
army spokesman, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said the country’s air force assets
were safe.

He added that some of the Indian missiles also hit India’s eastern Punjab.

There was no immediate comment from India.

International aid agencies warn that plans presented by Israel to control aid
distribution in Gaza will only increase suffering and death in the devastated
Palestinian territory.

They called on Friday for an end to Israel's total blockade of Gaza that has
blocked all food and other supplies from reaching its 2.3 million people for
nearly 10 weeks.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel said that a new aid distribution system was
being launched with deliveries to begin “very soon.”

But Ambassador Mike Huckabee gave few details.

A U.S.-backed group has put forward an aid distribution plan along the lines
of that demanded by Israel.