Breaking through challenges through creativity; Taipei special education students’ joint art exhibition opens for registration
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Taipei City's 教育局 has opened submissions for an art exhibition for students at special education schools, aiming to support their growth through self-expression.
Innovative reading education: field trips and immersive experiences gain popularity
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Taiwan's 教育部 is promoting innovation in reading education, supporting experiential initiatives such as the use of AI and fieldwork at 752 schools nationwide.
A research team at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has developed “dual-mode dynamic plasma,” combining bromine-based and nitrogen-based reactive substances by integrating plasma technology widely used in aerospace. The technology has a dual “sterilization and healing” mechanism and can be used to treat chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores. It is also expected to have applications in a wide range of fields, including skin disease treatment, beauty and food sterilization. The team plans to promote technology transfer and industry-academia collaboration to accelerate the practical application of biomedical plasma technology.
Approval of his administration rises; Chiang Wan-an: We will continue to promote a smoke-free city and childcare measures
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's satisfaction rating has reached 69.1%, with healthcare receiving particularly high marks. He pledged to continue smoke-free city and childcare support policies.
Lin Yu-ting wins bronze at Asian Boxing Championships; jokes that meeting her goal earned her a congratulatory call from the sports minister
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. She said she was delighted to receive a long-awaited congratulatory message from Sports Minister Lee Yang.
Former Military News Agency lieutenant colonel Kong Fan-chia’s attempt to recruit spy fails; 5 years and 4 months’ sentence upheld
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
While serving, former Military News Agency lieutenant colonel Kong Fan-chia was recruited by officials of the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government of the Chinese Communist Party and received U.S. dollars and renminbi. He agreed to introduce serving and retired military personnel to travel to mainland China or a third location overseas, creating opportunities for the CCP to make contact. He invited an officer surnamed Wang and another retired service member surnamed Wang, but some attempts were unsuccessful. The Taiwan High Court overturned the original ruling and resentenced Kong Fan-chia to 5 years and 4 months in prison under the Anti-Corruption Act and the National Security Act. The Supreme Court rejected his appeal, making the case final.
Cheng Li-wun leads delegation to China: We want to prove to the DPP that cross-strait peace is not difficult
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
KMT lawmaker Cheng Li-wun will lead a delegation to visit Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing in China from April 7 to 12, and hold a press conference titled “2026 Journey for Peace.” The trip aims to prove to the DPP that peaceful cross-strait dialogue is not difficult and to broaden the foundation for cross-strait peace. Cheng stressed that while it is too late to prevent past wars, it is certainly not too late to prevent future ones and spare both sides of the Taiwan Strait the devastation of war. She also called on the KMT and DPP to reconcile and work together for Taiwan’s security.
China’s film market weakens; Qingming holiday box office falls 19% year over year
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
China's box office revenue during the Qingming Festival holiday fell 19% from a year earlier, suggesting a decline in domestic demand. Taiwan's “Sunshine Women's Choir,” meanwhile, has performed well.
NHK bureau chief released on bail after detention in Iran; may face trial in the future
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The NHK Tehran bureau chief, who had been detained in Iran since January, has been released on bail but is unable to leave the country and is expected to stand trial.
High school arts talent program special admissions practical exams to be held starting April 11
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Special entrance examinations, including practical tests, for arts and gifted programs at Taiwanese high schools will begin in stages on April 11. A total of 3194 students applied this year.
National airlines raise fuel surcharges; long-haul flights up to NT$3,739 and short-haul flights to NT$1,438
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
In response to a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices amid tensions in the Middle East, the Civil Aeronautics Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced an increase in fuel surcharges on international flights departing Taiwan. Short-haul surcharges will rise from US$17.5 to US$45 (about NT$1438), while long-haul surcharges will rise from US$45.5 to US$117 (about NT$3739). China Airlines, EVA Air, STARLUX Airlines and other carriers will apply the new rates from April 1 and absorb some of the increased fuel costs themselves.
Cho Jung-tai: Diverse policies support families raising children; applications for flexible parental leave surge
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Premier Cho Jung-tai reported on progress in implementing a range of policies to support families with children, saying applications for flexible childcare leave that can be taken by the day have increased significantly.
Xi Jinping: Accelerate planning and development of a new energy system to ensure energy security
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the need to accelerate the planning and construction of a new energy system to ensure China's energy security. Key policies include integrating hydropower development with ecological protection, actively and safely advancing the orderly development of nuclear power, and strengthening energy production, supply, storage and sales systems. The targets include having non-fossil energy account for 25% of total energy consumption and having new energy power generation capacity exceed 50% by 2030.
Cheng Li-wun visits China; Kuan Bi-ling: You cannot sense an atmosphere of peace inside “Taiwan’s cage”
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
As Cheng Li-wun prepares to visit China, Kuan Bi-ling strongly criticized China's military pressure on Taiwan. Kuan described the regular presence of Chinese military aircraft and vessels around Taiwan as “Taiwan's cage,” saying Taiwan was unable to feel any sense of peace. She also cited past visits to China by the Kuomintang that had damaged Taiwan's international standing, and warned that this visit could be used for Chinese propaganda.
Trump issues April 7 ultimatum to reopen Strait of Hormuz or face Iran’s destruction
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
President Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding it reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. on April 7 Eastern Time or face U.S. airstrikes on its infrastructure. Iran rejected the U.S. proposal for 45 days of ceasefire talks, insisting on a permanent end to the war, the lifting of sanctions and the collection of tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The EU warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure would constitute war crimes, but U.S. and Israeli officials maintain that such sites are legitimate targets.
Taiwan enters 20 pairs in Asian Badminton Championships; Lin Chun-yi’s first match since winning All England title
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Asian Badminton Championships offer total prize money of $550,000, and Taiwan is sending 20 pairs of players to compete for the title. Lin Chun-yi, ranked No. 8 in the world in men’s singles, will face China’s Weng Hong-yang in his first competition since winning the All England Open. Taiwan’s top player Chou Tien-chen has won a bronze medal, but his performance has fluctuated this season. Mixed doubles pair Ye Hong-wei and Chan You-cheng will also compete as All England champions. Wang Chi-lin will partner with Chiu Hsiang-chieh, with the world No. 2 Malaysian pair as their first-round opponents.
Fluorescent whitening agent found in paper ice cream cups from well-known Singapore brand; shipment intercepted
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Food and Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare released its latest list of border inspection failures, with 5 products failing inspection. Paper cups imported from mainland China by a well-known Singapore ice cream company were found to contain fluorescent whitening agents; 1 batch totaling 5.8 kilograms will be returned or destroyed as required. Liu Fang-ming, director of the Northern Center, said fluorescent whitening agents are “not permitted to be detected” under the Sanitation Standards for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages. In addition, squid imported from Japan by a company was found to exceed the limit for the heavy metal cadmium; 1 batch totaling 3 kilograms will be returned or destroyed as required. The FDA will subject the violating companies to intensified sampling or batch-by-batch inspections.
Evergreen Symphony Orchestra embarks on Asian tour, performing with 15-year-old violinist Himari Yoshimura
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra will tour Asia, performing in Singapore and Japan. Its performance with 15-year-old violin prodigy Himari Yoshimura is also drawing attention.
Emergency dredging of Taitung City’s Taiping River completed ahead of typhoon season
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The Taitung County Government has completed emergency dredging of 4 major rivers—Taiping River, Jinlun River, Taimali River and Wenli River—ahead of typhoon season. The work cleared 2.71 million cubic meters of soil and rock, including more than 610,000 cubic meters from the Taiping River, where the channel was dredged to a depth of 2.5 to 3 meters. County Magistrate Jao Ching-ling said heavy rainfall has become more pronounced in recent years, and the county government devotes considerable effort every year to clearing river channels. It also successfully secured NT$510 million in central government funding for dredging related to Typhoon Danas. Dredging of 6 rivers, including the Lijia River, totaling 4.33 million cubic meters is expected to be completed by the end of the year, significantly enhancing flood protection.
Taiwan Tech and NTU develop sensor to monitor water pollution and kill bacteria
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
A team from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and National Taiwan University has combined its strengths in materials engineering and biomedical sensing to develop a self-powered water quality monitoring system that can detect pollutants and treat water. The system uses metal nanotubes made of nickel and tungsten, harnessing electricity generated by water droplets to power sensing and sterilization. It can detect heavy metal ions and common bacteria. The research team integrated sensing, sterilization and a monitoring platform into a “wireless sensing bottle” for distributed water quality monitoring and real-time treatment.
AIT: U.S. Senator Jim Banks to visit Taiwan and meet with senior Taiwanese officials
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a press release that U.S. Senator Jim Banks will visit Taiwan and meet with senior Taiwanese officials. Banks is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and previously served in the U.S. Navy, including taking part in military operations in Afghanistan. Before being elected to the Senate in 2024, he served as a member of the House of Representatives and as an Indiana state senator, and held key positions on several committees.
Cheng Li-wun visits China; Cho Jung-tai: Contact with the CCP must be subject to rigorous oversight
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Following Cheng Li-wun's visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan discussed strengthening oversight of visits to China by political party officials. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Shen Po-yang proposed establishing a joint review committee for party leaders with significant political influence, as is done for military and police personnel and civil servants. Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said a similar legal amendment had been attempted in the past but was not pursued this time. Premier Cho Jung-tai said that if illegal acts were confirmed, the government would rebuild strong legal controls using a “disaster recovery” approach, stressing the need to safeguard national security.
Kaohsiung’s “Dinosaur Fun Park” wraps up after attracting more than 1 million visitors in 4 days
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
The “Dinosaur Cool Park” in Kaohsiung drew more than 1 million visitors in 4 days and closed after generating significant spillover benefits for surrounding tourism and the economy.
Suspected food poisoning linked to Kaohsiung spring rolls; Chen Chi-mai: Tracing the source
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Salmonella was detected in a suspected food poisoning incident involving spring rolls in Kaohsiung, and 140 people sought medical care. The mayor ordered a thorough investigation into the source of the infection.
Cargo ship fire at Longmen-Jianshan Wharf in Penghu extinguished promptly
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
A fire broke out aboard the 1650-ton cargo ship “Hai Sheng No. 1” at Longmen Jianshan Port in Penghu, but firefighters quickly extinguished it without any casualties.
Cheng Li-wun set to visit China; Cho Jung-tai: No one in Taiwan can accept a hands-off approach
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Premier Cho Jung-tai strongly pushed back against Kuomintang member Cheng Li-wun's planned visit to China, saying that a “surrender (lying-flat) model” would not be accepted in Taiwan.
Is the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed? Wall Street analyst visits in person to reveal shipping conditions
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Wall Street analysts visited Oman's Musandam Peninsula to investigate shipping conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions between the United States and Iran are rising. According to the analysts' report, the strait is not completely closed, and about 15 vessels pass through each day, below the normal level. Because many vessels switch off their automatic identification systems (AIS), actual traffic is said to be higher than publicly reported. Iran selectively permits vessels to pass, a situation described not as a blockade but as a “functional checkpoint.”
Asked whether he would refuse to answer Lee Chen-hsiu’s questions, Cho Jung-tai says Cabinet members’ past responses already represent the government’s position
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Premier Cho Jung-tai said the government would respond according to consistent standards to questions from Lee Chen-hsiu, whose eligibility is being challenged over her dual citizenship.
Cheng Li-wun visits China; Chiu Chui-cheng urges her to directly demand that the CCP stop sending military aircraft and vessels around Taiwan
Published ・ Source Taiwan | 中央社 CNA
Song Tao, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, invited Cheng Li-wun to visit China. In response, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng urged Cheng to support equal exchanges without undermining national sovereignty and democratic values. Chiu warned that Cheng should not become a tool of China's united front work and stressed that she should directly demand that China halt military aircraft and naval vessel activities around Taiwan and recognize the existence of the Republic of China. He also cautioned Cheng against falling into the “one China” framework and crossing legal red lines.